HTC One X DROP TEST

We found an interesting unofficial drop test of the new HTC Flagship, the HTC One X:



In this test you will see me drop the HTC One X three times. Once on its back from waist height then the same way from shoulder height. The next thing that I did was chest high face down to get a full shot on the Gorilla Glass.

After the first two drops you will notice the shell of the HTC One X can really take a beating only showing minor scratches and dings, except for the scratch that we noticed going across the camera lens.

The difference between the HTC One X drop test and other drop tests, is that there is no removable battery that will pop out when you drop it. Just watch the video and you will see what happens..

source: www.youtube.com

Stories you shouldn't have missed this week

It is once again time for a short recap of the past week. Perhaps the most significant event that we reported was the Motorola Mobility acquisition by Google, which is now a done deal. As a result, CEO Sanjay Jha was replaced by Dennis Woodside, and who knows, Mr Jha may not be the only person in need of a new job as thousands of Motorola employees might be given the sack soon, if rumors are to be trusted.

In other news, NVIDIA unveiled its Kai platform, which is the company's recipe for delivering Tegra 3 Android tablets at the very reasonable price point of $199. While no device announcements have been made yet, it would not be surprising if such affordable slates hit the market before the year's end.

Want an iPhone-related story? Here's one: it is rumored that two iPhone prototypes are being tested, and both of them flaunt a 4-inch display. But as with all Apple rumors, whether this is true or not will be known once the next iteration of the device is announced officially.


source: Phone Arena

Google Nexus tablet details leaked, will be quad-core and may include Jelly Bean

A “trusted source” speaking to TechnoBuffalo has confirmed many of the details about the upcoming Nex

us tablet…although whether or not Google’s 7” tablet is actually named “Nexus” is not one of those details. The source did confirm that it will be built by ASUS and will be one of the hardware giveaways for Google I/O on June 27th, something we’ve been expecting ahead of its July ship date.

One exciting tidbit is that they also were receiving “conflicting reports” on whether or not the tablet would come preinstalled with Jellybean, the next major version of Android. That would come as something of a pleasant surprise, since many analysts were not expecting the next major version of the little green robot operating system to appear until late fall or early winter.

Also of great interest is the source indicated that the tablet would indeed be rocking a quad-core Tegra3 device, not the dual-core solution that some had expected in light of Google’s attempts to price their tablet aggressively. Of course NVIDIA has said on more than one occasion that part of their project strategy is to help bring to market a sub-$200 Tegra3 tablet, so we may still get the low price point that many of you have been hoping for.

Who out there would be interesting in a $199 quad-core Nexus tablet running Jelly Bean this summer? We reckon quite a few people would be. Is it too good to be true? Most of the hardware and pricing rumors seem reasonable. We have no idea how close Jelly Bean is to fruition, although in the past Google has turned out major software updates in less than a year, so it’s not impossible, even if it’s far from certain. And in a way it’s just a matter of months either way – even if Jelly Bean doesn’t hit until this fall, we’re sure the vanilla Android tablet would be one of the first devices to get the update.

source: TechnoBuffalo via Droid-Life

Supposedly Google's Majel will be called Google Assistant

It looks like Google's next iteration of its voice command software is starting to take shape. TechCrunch is reporting that the product may have shed its codename "Majel" in favor of an official name: Google Assistant. This is especially interesting given that Android chief Andy Rubin, notoriously said that he doesn't "believe your phone should be an assistant". 

Another interesting thing is that TechCrunch is reporting that Google Assistant is now in the hands of the Android team (along with search engineer Amit Singhal) not the mysterious Google X project, which is where Majel had lived. Word has it that Google has been building this product with three goals in mind:

1. Gather all information and make it understandable by computers.
2. Create a personalization layer
3. Build a mobile, voice-powered productivity engine, which is focused less on finding information and more on getting things done

All of this sounds pretty logical. The current voice controls from Google are mainly focused on finding info or communication, so adding in more productivity tools makes sense. The personalization layer is the "plussification" of everything Google that we've been seeing, which is an effort to gather more individual and local data. And, the first goal seems like that has been one of the overarching goals of Google since before it was even called Google. 

Of course, many will call this nothing more than a Siri competitor, but as always, there is the Google openness to consider. Word has it that Google is planning to "extend this service to developers" just like it has with its current voice control app. So, there will likely be APIs allowing developers to hook into the Assistant platform, and just like the current voice control, we may even see a number of third party apps built on top of Google's software. 

The bad news is that the newest info has this product not being released until Q4 of this year.

source: TechCrunch

Control your own Tankbot with your Android or iOS device for only $24.99

We often justify our technology purchases in the name of ‘business’ or ‘productivity’, but, honestly, who doesn’t want to be able to use that same tech to control a robot? We have great news for you fellow robot aficionados. DeskPets is now offering Tankbots, a toy that can be controlled with your iPhone, iPad, or Android powered device.

In addition to being controlled with a smartphone, they can also be put into “Autonomous Personality Mode”, which allows the Tankbot to use infrared technology to avoid walls and obstacles. For multi-player fun, that same infrared system can be used in battle mode to fire shots at an enemy Tankbot, although we think it’s quite obvious that any battling between these guys in the real world is going to consist of smashing them into one another.

These little bots have a built in USB charger that give you 15 minutes of fun on a 40 minute charge. They come in several colors and are available at Toys ‘R’ Us, Brookstone, and Radio Shack for only $24.99.





source: DeskPets via AndroidGuys

Anyone can steal a Subaru Outback with an Android phone

Don Bailey and Matthew Solnik from iSec Partners demonstrated how to break into a car and hack into its remote control system.

Their research was shown at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas, and they unlocked a Subaru Outback and started the engine from a distance using an Android handset and the so-called 'war texting'. You need to set your own GSM network around the car for that, and then intercept the password authentication text messages between the server and the car, all in just a few hours.

Actually the researchers are not worried about stealing cars, but rather that the same remote control systems with text messaging updates are in traffic lights and security cameras, as well as the power grid and water supply infrastructure. If anyone with skills, an Android handset and some relatively inexpensive wireless network equipment can hack into the remote control system of popular car brands, what's to stop someone from doing it on a grander scale, they argued.

"I could care less if I could unlock a car door. It's cool. It's sexy. But the same system is used to control phone, power, traffic systems. I think that's the real threat.", said Don Bailey for CNN.

source: TGDaily via Engadget

Starbucks app for Android video

Starbucks had finally released its app for Android powered handsets. The app can turn your handset screen into the barcode on your Starbucks card and get scanned at the register to pay for your drink. There are also some other features of the app, including the ability to help you find a specific Starbucks location using Google Maps.

Starbucks made a little video showing you what the Starbucks app can do. Simply pick up your Android phone, head over to the nearest Starbucks location and let the coffee retailer's app do its magic.



source: YouTube via AndroidCentral

March of Heroes is Gameloft's first game with the Unreal engine

 

Gameloft is surely one of the best mobile game developers out there. It just revealed a trailer for one of its first games with the new Unreal engine graphics technology, and said it will be available for both Android and iOS.

The game is called March of Heroes and is a first-person shooter, everyone's favorite type. The graphics are breathtaking, so we can't wait for this title to hit the application stores.

When will March of Heroes be released, and how much it will cost are minor details that Gameloft didn't consider necessary to share. Have a look at Gameloft's official March of Heroes trailer in the video below.

Source: GSMArena

Windows Phone 7 is now the "most secure" smartphone OS

Android and iOS have Windows Phone 7 squarely beaten when it comes to phone sales. But the recent security threats and privacy issues surrounding Android and iOS works in Microsoft's favor.

Microsoft claims that WP7 is inherently more secure because of memory compartmentalization: "We keep applications away from the bones of the OS. When an application fires up, the OS will give it a dynamically allocated security bubble, for lack of a better word, and every app has its own one of those."

These so called 'security bubbles' are in contrast to both Android and iOS, in which some apps have been found to steal information from one another. Microsoft says that "there's no other smartphone on the market that's as secure."

What do you guys think? 
Will this make Windows Phone 7 competitive with iOS and Android, or WP7 can never get to their level?

Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below.

source: Silicon Republic via WMPoweruser

First image of the next Nexus branded phone got leaked

After Sprint customers recently managed to get comfy with the Google Nexus 4G, now it seems that we’re beginning to see the first tide of worthwhile news regarding a true successor to the Nexus line of Android powered phones. We’re getting a first glimpse of the handset in its prototype stage.

You can see that the front is completely clean looking with no sight of any physical or capacitive buttons that we tend to associate with Android phones.

A Google employee who works in the Android development team says that HTC and LG want to get in on the action of producing the Nexus 3. The new smartphone will not be available until December, with Android Ice Cream Sandwich of course.

What do you guys think? Should HTC produce the new Nexus? Or is LG is the better choice? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play will have Minecraft before anyone else

Are you one of the lucky owners of the first dedicated Android gaming phone, you have reason to be happy about the fact that SE keeps its promise about having games on your mobile phone before anyone else can play them.

Such is the case with the very popular game Minecraft, he game that has more than 8 million registered users building awesome things with just simple blocks.

Mojang said :"When playing on smartphones you will have a different screen size compared to PC, different hardware, different attention spans and thus the game needs to be customized to fit the mobile specifications"

That means Minecraft will be specifically coded to take advantage of the gamepad on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, which might mean we most likely won't see it soon on other Android devices.

What do you guys think? Will Minecraft make you think about buying the SE Xperia Play ? Or the game won't be as cool as the desktop version? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below.

source: Gamasutra

Google Talk's video chat over 3G blocked by T-Mobile

If you want  Google Talk's video chat to work, you will need an Android phone with a front-facing camera and the 2.3.4  build of Google's OS. For example the T-Mobile Nexus S and the Sprint Nexus S 4G. If you want to use the feature anywhere where your carrier has coverage, you can only use the Sprint model. Why? Because T-Mobile is blocking the video chat feature over its 3G pipelines.

If a T-Mobile Nexus S user tries to use the Google Talk video chat, he/she gets a message saying "You must be connected to a WiFi network to start a video chat."

Most future Android phones are equipped with front-facing cameras. Once the new handsets are launched with Android 2.3.4 and the other models receive upgrades to that build, the number of phones able to use Google Talk's video chat will grow in number tremendously.




What do you guys think? Are you with Google on this one? Or T-Mobile is right to do whatever they want with their network? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below.

source: AndroidCentralForums via Google

iRobot will use Android tablets to power service robots

iRobot CEO Colin Angle hopes to create a market for mid-range service robots. And is there something better than a robot serving as your daily helper? The robot, named AVA, will be powered by Android tablets! The Android tablet, a Motorola XOOM in this case, will serve as the processing and sensory core, while the iRobot machinery underneath will provide the mobility and physical functions.

Colin Angle explains how the tablet and AVA came together: "We in the robot industry realized this is a fantastic head for a robot...what was missing was the body." With the front-facing camera, microphone, speakers, and accelerometer, the XOOM has everythings needed.

Some keen readers might remember that AVA was initially demonstrated with an iPad at CES. Colin explains that the change was made for features like voice and video chat. "We're tablet-agnostic...Right now, Android has what we need," explains Colin.

Android powered Motorola was chosen over Apple's iPad.
What do you guys think?
Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below.

source: CNET

Google has Good Humor; next OS release nearly confirmed as Ice Cream Sandwich

The next build of the Android OS is expected to be nicknamed Ice Cream Sandwich. This continues the tradition of naming each new build of Google's open source OS after a dessert in alphabetical order. So far, we have seen Cupcake, Donuts, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb and now Ice Cream Sandwich.

While not officially announced by the Mountain View based company, in a reply to an emailed question about an unknown issue by an AOSP forum member, Google's Romain Guy replied, "A bug fix will be provided in Ice Cream Sandwich." We could get confirmation at the approaching Google I/O.

While the thought of ice cream and bugs doesn't really sound too good, makes us wonder what dessert will be used after this one.

source: AndroidCentral

Aircell is the first in-flight smartphone (Android powered)

The open model of Google's Android is everywhere. One part is in-flight communication, where Aircell has announced the first in-flight smartphone.

It's called the Aircell Smartphone and it operates on the 800MHz spectrum, which is reserved for Aircell's wireless communication. Aircell reports that the device will enable passengers to "place and receive voice calls aboard business aircraft as easily and conveniently as they do with mobile phones on the ground." And that desire for familiarity is probably what led them to choose Android.

Aircell's new device will be available later this year. As the device is a drop-in replacement for the Axxess systems currently on many business flights, we expect the Aircell Smartphone to be implemented fairly quickly.

Source

Phone app gets a student out of a speeding ticket

College student Sahas Katta was scared when he received his first speeding ticket. In 2010, he got pulled over by an officer and accused of doing 40 mph in a 25 mph zone. Even though the student was sure he wasn't speeding, he handed his license and registration with no comments. Luckily for him, Sahas later realized that he had My Tracks by Google running on his Motorola DROID all along, which eventually helped him avoid getting fined.

When the student had to defend himself in traffic court, he presented the log of his trip, which clearly showed a maximum speed of only 26 mph. It turned out the officer could not recall when his laser gun was calibrated for the last time, which questioned the credibility of the laser gun data.

Even though most people do not stand a chance in traffic court, the student was declared not guilty.


Source

Minecraft coming to iOS, and soon to Android

Love Minecraft ? If you own an iOS Apple device or an Android phone, you'll be glad to know that Minecraft is coming to iPhones and iPads later this year. Even an Android version is also in the works for this year.

While there is a number of unofficial ports for iOS, this will be the first official one. It will include features relevant to the mobile form factor and will eat up even more time of your life ! ( is that good news ? )

You will not be alone, there is more than 1.3 million registered users who voted with their dollar to participate.

Would you buy minecraft for your device?


Source

INQ CEO: The cool kids have an iPhone or BlackBerry, Android is for geeks.

It's not very often that we see a manufacturer of an Android phone bash other manufacturers of Android phones, basically telling them that they have no idea what the general public wants, and that Apple and BlackBerry are, like, so much better for the cool kids.

But that's exactly what INQ CEO Frank Meehan has told Mashable:

"If you go to a nightclub in any city in the world, the pretty girl has an iPhone or a BlackBerry. She doesn’t have an Android phone. She has no emotional attachment to an Android phone. It’s too complicated. It’s a geek device, it’s all wrong."

So do you guys think Android is more suited for geeks ? Or that dumb girls know to shop only clothes ?

Let us know in the Comments Section below !

Source

Burgler arrested after leaving his phone charging in his victim's home

With many Android models losing battery power too quickly, it is no surprise that 25 year old Cody Wilkins was upset. His Cricket Sanyo was running out of power and the fierce blizzard had cut off power to Mr. Wilkins' home in Silver Spring, Maryland. So he packed up his charger and phone and broke into another home to plug in his phone. But at the same time, Wilkins was also helping himself to some jewelry. When the homeowner's son came home and startled the intruder, Wilkins jumped out the window leaving a valuable tracking tool for the cops.

When the police found Wilkins' Sanyo recharging in the wall, they called a number from the contacts list and tricked the caller to find out the name and address of the owner of the device. With this connection, authorities were able to catch a break on 42 burglaries that had occurred in the Silver Springs, Maryland area just since January. The cops were able to charge Wilkins with 10 robberies based on his MO and witness accounts. And even though one burglary netted the criminal over $30,000 in jewelry, Savings Bonds and cash, he never did buy the one thing that he could have used the most-an extended life battery.

Source

White Nexus S revealed

Although we're already made known about a white version of the Nexus S after rendered shots were leaked, we're finally getting the opportunity of seeing it in the flesh for the very first time.

The handset in question was recently snapped on film showing us the pristine white back cover of the Nexus S – which follows accordingly to what we saw in the rendered images. As you can tell, the back of the Nexus S is coated with a white paint job, but we can also see the evidence of some texture that adds character to the device. In terms of release, it's reportedly headed to Vodafone in the UK – but there is no word if we'll be seeing it elsewhere outside of Europe.

Granted that it does stand out, it would have been nice to see the entire device covered in white – as opposed to seeing the front retaining its usual color. However, we're sure that there are still some people out there that will pick up the handset – but it would be unlikely to find current owners of the smartphone making the switch.