Archives

The Flappy Bird phenomenon did not end a week ago with its developer taking the app down out of guilt. Instead, after the unexpected disappearance of the addictive game, many clones popped up in app stores, trying to bank on the popularity of Flappy Bird. But TechCrunch reports that won’t be possible anymore, as both Apple and Google are apparently taking action against developers who submit clones to the App Store and Google Play Store, respectively. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

Last week Koushick Dutta mentioned on his Google+ page that he was working on mirroring Android devices to Chromecast. He is back at it, this time with a video showing the mirroring in action. He still has not indicated whether this capability will be added to his AllCast app or if he is developing this as a separate, standalone project. You can check out his work thus far after the break. Back when Google first released the Chromecast, Koush was one of the first developers out of the gate with the ability to cast local content from and Android device. Google promptly shut down the ability to do that, only making it available to developers, and thus consumers, in the l…

As many of us know, Android originally started as a project by Andy Rubin as a company completely separate from Google. It wasn’t until 2005 that Google scooped up the mobile operating system, and a few more years until we actually saw it make an impact on the mobile market. However, it turns out that Google wasn’t Rubin’s first choice to find funding for Android. The Android team originally tried to get one of the biggest manufacturers to take up the project. In 2004, Andy Rubin and the Android team flew to South Korea to talk with Samsung about securing funding for Android, but instead of any enthusiasm, Samsung reportedly laughed the team out of the board room, c…

The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC is using Google Glass to create a very unique exhibit for President’s Day. Titled “Portrait of America,” the exhibit is made up of tons of eye glass lenses across an American Flag, and they’ve integrated Glass into the exhibit in a pretty amazing way. Behind each lens is an icon of a famous America from history, ranging from JFK to Lady Gaga, which visitors can see when wearing Google Glass. Not only are the images of the icons revealed, but you can also watch short clips and videos about the person you’re looking at. It’s a pretty complex and interesting take on combining art and technology. The exhib…

Things continue to heat up regarding the Galaxy S 5 and the HTC One successor. We are only one week away from the GS5′s unveiling, and we already have a good idea of what the hardware and software will look like, but will there be a version with a 2,560 x 1440 display? LG decided to make a little noise before MWC with the unveiling of the G Pro 2. Will one week really give them any kind of a boost? Flappy Bird is gone for good, but the clones will live on forever. Is Dennis Woodside’s departure from Motorola a good or bad thing? And is Nokia readying a higher-end Android phone? It’s time to get caught up and get ready for another exciting week. Accessories HTC Doubl…

Although the original Flappy Bird app is no longer available through Google Play or Apple’s app store, players hoping to give the title a try have plenty of alternatives to choose from as developers rush in with spin-offs and mock-ups. As some developers have discovered, although the game is history the name lives on as Google and Apple allegedly are trying to police potential copyright issues for games with the word “Flappy” in the title. One example of this is Flappy Dragon from Mind Juice Media. Founder Ken Carpenter reported the app was rejected because the “app name attempts to leverage a popular app.” In another case, an app named Flappy Bee changed its named to …

SlickLogin, which announced a new sound-based security system a few months ago at the TechCrunch Disrupt event, has been acquired by Google for an undisclosed amount. The goal of the SlickLogin team is to make logging in “easy instead of frustrating” and that it should not get in the way of a user even when two-factor authentication is used. According to their announcement, SlickLogin says Google agrees. SlickLogin’s model utilizes a sound played through computer speakers which is detected by a mobile device, processed through an app, with the results then sent back to the SlickLogin server. This would supposedly verify the identify of the user, although in reality it …

Qualcomm Technologies announced the Snapdragon 802 chip targeted at Smart TVs last month during CES 2014. Just over a month later, citing weak demand, the company has announced it is killing off the chip. When announced, Qualcomm noted that the processor was uniquely designed to power Smart TVs running Ultra HD resolutions as well as smart set top boxes. The Snapdragon 802 was powered by a Krait CPU running at 1.8GHz, an Adreno 330 gpu, and came with Qualcomm’s Hollywood Quality Video processing engine on board. Qualcomm also packed in a Hexagon DSP for sound processing duties and hardware for dual-band 802.11ac support. The Snapdragon 802 was not expected to be ava…

Samsung has decided to take advantage of unused processing power, and allow the user to dedicate it to science. Samsung announced that they were collaborating with Cheil Worldwide, and the result of this collaboration is the new Samsung alarm app, called “Power Sleep.” The app essentially uses unused CPU cycles to create a “supercloud computer” which is accessible to researchers all over the world. The app only works in the background while the user is asleep, and the cycles are used to compute data that is under 1 MB. The data is then collated by researchers at the University of Vienna, and turned into an open-source protein-calculation database that can be used to fi…

Earlier this week, the Nexus 7 LTE received an update that allows “full compatibility with Verizon’s 4G LTE network” . Google has now released a factory image and three binary files for it labeled as Android 4.4.2 build KVT49L . The software image contains a new edition of the baseband radio while the binary files bring more complete compatibility with various hardware components such as Audio and Sensors from Asus, NFC from Broadcom and Graphics,Camera and other components by Qualcomm. The factory image lets you restore your Nexus 7 LTE back to the latest stock Android firmware. The factory image and binaries are most useful to developers who want to create a custom …

There have been a number of rumors about the upcoming HTC M8, as well as some leaked photos. Now some more photos have surfaced, giving away some of the specs of the device. The photos that have surfaced show that the device will in fact have a dual camera, as well as a dual LED flash. On the front of the device, we can see that there is a lack of hardware buttons, which really comes as no surprise. The HTC M8 is expected to include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 as well as a 5″ 1080p display, 2GB of RAM, and include Android 4.2.2 out of the box. Source: No Where Else Thanks Steve Come comment on this article: New HTC M8 photos leaked Visit TalkAndroid for…

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 (SM-T530) and 8.0 (SM-T330) have successfully passed through the FCC. The 8-inch model has already been spotted in an Indian shipment listing while all three Galaxy Tab 4 models’ specifications leaked a few days ago. Not included in this FCC pass through is the 7-inch model; however, that will likely come in the near future. Above, you see the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 and we have an image of the Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 after the break. Source: FCC (1), (2) Via: Phone Arena Come comment on this article: Samsung SM-T530 and SM-T330 pass through the FCC, 10.1 and 8.0 Galaxy Tab 4 tablets Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and…

Today, Chinese handset manufactuer Xiaomi has announced a brand new device. The Hongmi 1s is the successor to the Hongmi and does not feature very many differences. Behind this 4.7-inch 720p IPS display is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.6GHz with 1GB of RAM. Graphically, Adreno 305 is the GPU. Despite having 8GB of internal memory, Xiaomi has included a microSD card slot. Xiaomi’s MIUI V5 sits atop Android 4.3. An 8MP camera is on the rear and a 1.6MP one is up front. Keeping this device going through the day is a 2000mAh battery. Source: Xiaomi Come comment on this article: Xiaomi announces the Hongmi 1s, a decent handset powered by the Snapdrag…

LG has decided to announce a new series of smartphones prior to Mobile World Congress later this month. The L Series III is comprised of three mid-range devices. The name of the three devices are the L90, L70, and L40. Hit the break for the specifications of each device and the full press release. LG L90 specifications: 4.7-inch IPS Display (qHD 960 x 540) 1.2 GHz Quad-Core Processor with 1GB of RAM 8GB of memory 8MP rear camera 1.3MP front camera 2,540mAh removable battery Android 4.4 KitKat 3G (HSPA+21Mbps) LG L70 specifications: 4.5-inch IPS Display (800 x 400) 1.2 GHz Dual-Core Processor with 1GB of RAM 4GB of memory 8MP or 5MP rear camer…

The HTC M8 may not be the only device the company plans on releasing in the near future. According to @evleaks, we should be on the lookout for “a music-centric handset from HTC this half.” This is the first time we have heard of such a device. What could be so special about this device? Right now, no one knows. But if I had to guess, I would say HTC’s BoomSound audio would be a major component. Also, HTC could release special headphones with the device. Or maybe, just maybe, they would create their own music streaming service? I don’t think the latter is very likely. Let us know in the comments what you think will make this device so special. Look for a music-ce…

A few days ago, we reported that T-Mobile would be changing its JUMP! plan to include tablets and unlimited upgrades. The rumor turned out to be true as T-Mobile officially announced that the change will take place starting on February 23. After the change, JUMP will no longer restrict customers to 2 upgrades per year. Instead of requiring customers to wait up to six months before upgrading their phone, they can now upgrade whenever they want without any restriction. However, they will have to pay off at least 50% of the cost of the device to be eligible for an upgrade. In addition, customers can now purchase tablets with a JUMP plan. This means that if you frequent…

Earlier this week, a photo of the unannounced Sony Xperia G alongside with the Xperia Z1 surfaced on Twitter. However, this time, ViziLeaks took it to twitter yesterday to post an image of what appears to be the rear of the Xperia G as well as its specifications. The handset on the top appears to be the Xperia Z1. According to the tweet, the Xperia G sports a 4.8 inch display, 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage, LTE connectivity with an 8MP rear camera which is situated in the center of the rear case. The tweet also mentions that it doesn’t have an IP rating so it means that the device might not be waterproof. Sony might unveil the Xperia G at the Mobile World Congre…

The HTC EVO 4G LTE has been out since mid-2012, but HTC and Sprint have been facing difficulties updating the device to Android 4.3. It was supposed to be available by the end of 2013, but it was re-scheduled for this month. However, it looks like HTC hasn’t forgot about this update yet. Bad news for folks who own Sprint’s EVO 4G LTE. HTC posted a notice on Reddit yesterday that the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean will not be available as an over-the-air (OTA) update for the device because of its memory limitations. However, HTC is working on a new process which will allow the more “technical customers” to update the device manually. HTC hasn’t provided further details about…

Without a Valentine on this special day? Indulge in what Google is celebrating with this year. In the Play Store, Google says they have “More Apps to Love” and “More Games To Love.” The offerings are either free or carry a decent discount. There are twelve apps and fifty-three games listed. And in case you really went to celebrate Valentine’s Day, you can order a red Nexus 5 from the Play Store. Source: Google Play Store [Apps] [Games] Come comment on this article: Google offering Valentine’s Day app and game deals in the Play Store Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more! News via TalkAndroid

A tweet from @evleaks revealed that Samsung is working on a device called the “K Sport.” What’s a K Sport, you ask? Well, we don’t know either. But if we had to guess, it’s most likely a workout-centric wrist band, much like the Nike FuelBand SE, the Adidas Smart Run, the Jawbone Up, etc. It could be unveiled at Mobile World Congress in a few weeks in Barcelona, where the company also is expected to launch its Galaxy S5 flagship, but the K Sport could be seen as well. We’ll just have to wait and see. Source: @evleaks Come comment on this article: Samsung reportedly working on “K Sport” device Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and m…

With hectic schedules, it can be hard to keep track of everything in your news feed. That’s why we created the TalkAndroid Daily Dose. This is where we recap the day’s hottest stories so you can get yourself up to speed in quick fashion. Happy reading!! Apps Google offering Valentine’s Day app and game deals in the Play Store Chromecast Dayframe 2.1 brings back Chromecast support Gaming Google offering Valentine’s Day app and game deals in the Play Store The memory of Flappy Bird lives on thanks to over 174 indie developers Google Google adds indicator for In-App purchases to its Play Store website Phones Nokia X “Normandy” full specs leak…

Motorola was offering its Valentine’s Day sale up until today, but now you can still take advantage of the deal until Feb. 22. All Moto X models will have $70 deducted from the off-contract price, including Moto Maker devices, Developer Editions, etc. Get it while you can— you never know what kind of deals Lenovo is going to offer once it takes full control of the reins. Source: Motorola Come comment on this article: Motorola extends $70-off deal for all Moto X models Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more! News via TalkAndroid

We have seen enough of Nokia's mysterious Android phone to piece together a pretty clear image of the device ahead of its official reveal, but that doesn't mean the leaks have been plugged quite yet. Ever vigilant @evleaks posted another list of specs for the Normandy on Friday, some which had already been noted in earlier leaks and others that appear to be brand new. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

Did your Valentine's date cancel on you right as your Xbox Live Gold subscription expired? If so, you might want to reconsider the date when you resubscribe for another year of Xbox Live, but don't fret, Microsoft has got your back. This weekend only, in order to celebrate the launch of the free-to-play title World of Tanks, Microsoft has made Xbox Live Gold free for all Xbox 360 owners. Xbox One owners looking to join the Titanfall beta without signing up for Xbox Live Gold are out of luck, but gamers that have yet to transition to the next generation can hop online free of charge from Friday, February 14th to Sunday, February 16th. Via BRG - Boy Genius Report

Now that Google has rolled out Google Play Services 4.2 complete with the full Google Cast SDK for the Chromecast, developers have already started adding Chromecast functionality to their apps. One such app, Dayframe, has already been updated to offer users the ability to cast local files right to their TV sets, including images and GIFs stored on their tablets and smartphones or in the cloud. The app supports Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Dropbox, Flickr, 500px and other social services. Continue reading... Via BRG - Boy Genius Report