Facebook is hosting an Android-oriented event next week and speculation is sure to run wild. Reports emerging today may shed some light on what we can expect come April 4th. According to the most recent chatter, Facebook will unveil a custom version of Android with a focus on the social network?s apps and experience.
Think of it like Facebook?s version of Amazon?s custom Kindle Fire UI. Based on Android, the new build will tie directly into a user?s Facebook profile, bringing interactions via the social network front and center. Facebook Messenger and a presumably Instagram-oriented camera will replace the stock Android implementations.
The new OS experience will launch on an HTC-made phone, likely the Myst of rumors past, but could eventually find its way to other hardware. The goal is to prioritize Facebook, bringing it from a secondary app experience to the forefront of a user?s mobile world. We?ll keep our ear to the ground as the date quickly approaches when Facebook will make their big announcements official.
We?ve seen our share of customized Xbox controllers, but this Dishonored-inspired Xbox 360 controller is one of the best. It was designed by Devin Smith of End of Line Designs and this is not just some painting or skinning of the controller. It is a real work of art. As you can see, almost every component on the controller is custom: the buttons, the grips and even the Microsoft Xbox logo with the Dishonored symbol which looks like it lights up. The metal ?stitching? effect is awesome, but I wonder if it makes playing a pain.
Great work Devin. This is a beauty of a controller.
Julie mentioned this app in her article on using NFC tags�and promised a followup review. Well at the moment it?s on sale on the Google Play Store�for $1.99. That?s 69% off it?s normal price of $6.49. I?ve played with Tasker and it?s a fantastic and powerful program allowing you to automate and manipulate all sorts of settings though it can be a bit complicated to wrap �your head around at times. �Well worth a look though if you want to extend �the functionality of your Android smartphone or tablet. No idea how long it will be on sale for so if you?re interested get on to it!
For those that like to live life on the edge, it?s always good to have a backup plan. In the case of Android users, that comes in the form of an official factory image, which can be flashed to restore a phone to its original state should anything go awry. Considering the Nexus line of phones are intended as developer-friendly handsets, Google does its best to keep an up-to-date library of factory software for users. Now they have refreshed the list with the latest factory images for the Verizon and Sprint versions of the Galaxy Nexus.
The Verizon (toro) factory image is build number JDQ39, based on Android 4.2.2. For Sprint (toroplus), the build is GA02 and Android version 4.2.1. If you own either device and do any sort of root work or tinkering with phone?s code, it?s always a good idea to download the factory image and store it in a safe place. Head over to the source link �below to do so.
If you find that charging your USB-chargeable devices takes too long, you may be interested in the ChargeDr USB Charge Booster from Digital Innovations. �The ChargeDr uses an unspecified method of boosting the power from your computer?s USB port, so that a normal�5V, 0.5A-2.1A port always outputs�5V, up to 2.1A of power. �The ChargeDr is about the size of a normal USB flash drive, so it?s convenient to carry when you travel and are more likely to need a quick boost in power. �You just plug it in the USB port, and then plug your device?s cable into the ChargeDr. �Data at the Digital Innovations website shows that a 3rd-gen iPad can charge in about 340 minutes compared to more than 1300 minutes without the ChargeDr, or a Kindle Fire HD will charge in about 240 minutes compared to more than 1200 minutes. �It can even be used with AC wall adapters for a little extra boost. �The ChargeDr works with Apple products using either the 30-pin or Lightning connectors and with most devices using a standard microUSB cable. �(It doesn?t work with the Google Nexus 7 (non-standard microUSB) or devices that use a proprietary connector, such as some Samsung, Acer, and Asus tablets.) �The ChargeDr is $29.99 at Digital Innovations.
Android gaming is about to take off in a big way thanks to the the OUYA and PlayJam GameStick getting ready to enter into the mini-console war. Where as the OUYA is emphasizing a beefy NVIDIA GPU to keep graphics relatively console quality, the GameStick is focusing more on portability and the ability to take your Android games anywhere? provided you have access to a television.
At the PlayJam booth, they were showing off both the developer kit (grey) and consumer versions of the GameStick (white)
Successfully funded on Kickstarter in early February, GameStick hit way above their $100,000 goal, raising a whopping $647,000. The GameStick is about the size of a stick of gum, essentially an HDMI stick that nestles itself snugly inside it?s own dual-analog controller for easy transport. When it comes to specs (Android peoples are all about those nowadays), the GameStick features a dual-core Amlogic 8726-MX A9 processor, 1GB of RAM, and runs on Android Jelly Bean. Like the OUYA, this means it should be relatively easy for Android developers to port their games over to the console (which uses a separate marketplace than the Play Store). This will no doubt be the GameStick?s biggest hurdle as you?re only as good as the games you offer.
We?ve been spending the last few days in San Francisco here at GDC 2013 and ran into the boys at PlayJam who were nice enough to give us a tour of their micro-console, along with some of the GameStick?s user interface. I can?t say I was expecting much out of the GameStick?s paltry dual-core CPU even though 1GB of RAM would be more than adequate for gaming (you?re not going to be doing a lot of multi-tasking on a gaming system). As it turns out, I was wrong. Well, the first part anyway. The GameStick?s UI was silky smooth, games opened up nice and quick, and best of all, they were all running in HD. If you?d like to go on a fantastic voyage, check out the GameStick for yourself in our hands-on video:
The GameStick is currently looking towards an April launch and in a press release, has successfully nabbed funding from GameStick (along with support from both Android and iOS games developers like Madfinger Games among others. You?ll be able to nab your own for $79 and for $20 more, there will be a handy dock that, not only opens up the number of ports on the GameStick, but also wirelessly charges 1 controller by simply resting on top. Keep in mind the only working GameStick was the developer kit, while the white consumer version wasn?t an actual working model.
Sprint?s Galaxy S2 variant, the Samsung Epic 4G Touch, is the latest to receive an update to Android 4.1. Only available via Samsung Kies, the new software version has been assigned build number GB27. Sprint?s support page says due to file size the update is ?only available over-the-wire.?
Users can expect the typical Jelly Bean treatment that has reached other version of the GS2, including such new features as Google Now and rich notifications. It comes skinned with Samsung?s TouchWiz interface.
Users are reporting that the update is available for download and installation now. Epic 4G Touch users out there, let us know what you think!
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Tom
