Android Central

Android Central


Motorola Xoom Family Edition packs Zoodles kid-friendly software

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 05:15 PM PDT

Android Central

Motorola might just be on to something here with the yet to be announced Motorola Xoom Family Edition. Aside from the notably different retail packaging, this Motorola Xoom found in a big box eleectronics shop has some slight modifications when it comes to software.

While it still has Honeycomb loaded onto it, it's also noted to have the Zoodles application loaded onto it. Zoodles offers a "kid mode" option that is reccomended for kids 8 and under but also offers access to games, videos all in a same environment seperate from other functions of your device. No telling when Motorola will announce this new version to the masses but it can't be that far off.

Question is, will it be priced more affordably for families as well? We hope so but if not -- you can always download the Zoodles application from the Android Market right now. It's available for free and you'll find the video for it past the break so that you get a better idea of what, exactly it does.

Source: Engadget

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US Cellular's HTC Flyer available Oct. 7 for as low as $399

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 03:32 PM PDT

HTC Flyer

US Celluar has announced that its HTC Flyer, a 7-inch Android tablet, will be available Oct. 7 -- that's tomorrow. You've got a couple choices on pricing. You can get it for $399.99 (after $100 mail-in rebate) if you sign up for a 5GB, $54-a-month data plan. Or you can get it for $599.99 (after the same rebate) if you opt for a 20MB, $14.99 data plan.

Full presser's after the break.

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Taptu Reader app debuts on Barnes & Noble’s NOOK Color

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 02:55 PM PDT

Taptu

While many have been making use of the Taptu application available in the Android Market, the folks from Barnes & Noble and Taptu have npw annaounced the availability of Taptu on the NOOK Color.

“Taptu on NOOK Color just makes sense. Our goal is to provide the best way to consume media on-the-go and Barnes & Noble provides an incredible canvas for people to access and read what matters most to them—a perfect match,” said Mitch Lazar, CEO of Taptu.

Taptu of course allows you to, as they say DJ the news -- mixing topic-based stories, publications, blogs, RSS feeds and social media posts and updates from Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn into customized streams.

Instapaper and “Read It Later” integration for saving articles and themes to choose from to avoid eye strain, Taptu's services are a unique way to consume media. The Taptu app is available now on the NOOK Color, you'll find the press release and the download link past the break.

Source: Barnes & Noble

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Sensation XL, ICS wait times after reveal [From the Forums]

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 02:49 PM PDT

From the Forums

Well.. Certainly an intersting day of you're keeping an eye on ICS and Nexus rumors. That said; the Android Central forums are having some fun with all the news as well so make you stop by and join in.

If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today.


Lenovo IdeaPad A1 tablet now available for your ordering pleasure

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 02:29 PM PDT

Lenovo

We have taken a look at the Lenovo IdeaPad A1 tablet in the past, and the forums have been building up in anticipation of its arrival, and that time appears to be now. Lenovo has made the IdeaPad A1, the little brother to the IdeaPad K1, available for order on their site starting at $199 for the 2GB model, and $249 for one with 16GB of storage. Is the $199 price tag enough to make you overlook the fact that it runs Gingerbread, or will you be passing in favor a Honeycomb tablet?

Source: Lenovo; Thanks, Dan!


Android Developers YouTube channel confirms what you already knew: Ice Cream Sandwich at CTIA

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 02:12 PM PDT

ICS on Youtube

Given how ridiculously goofy the Internet's gotten today, we suppose one more story won't hurt. The Androiddevelopers YouTube channel has a placeholder live event up, cryptically named "Android ICS Launch." It's timed to go live on Tuesday. That's also when the Google-Samsung event is scheduled for CTIA, but that might just be a coincidence. We're going to check with our super secret anonymous sources later tonight in a dark parking garage, just to make sure.

More: Androiddevelopers on Youtube
Thanks, Barry and Eric!


Amazon updates Appstore Developer Portal FAQ for Kindle Fire

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 01:41 PM PDT

Kindle Fire

Amazon has added their developer FAQ with a section specific for the Kindle Fire, covering requirements and the submission process for those who are getting ready for Novembers big launch.  For the most part, it's a pretty standard read -- an overview of the process, the device specific requirements (they even tell developers how to set up the Android SDK emulator -- 600x1024 px display, 169 LCD density, API 10 and 512MB RAM), and content guidelines.  If you have any plans to develop and submit apps to Amazon for the Fire, you should hit the source link and have a read.

For the rest of us, let's have a look at a couple highlights from the "infamous" Amazon developer agreement's Q&A about the Fire:

Amazon will be reviewing each app in the appstore for compatibility with the Kindle Fire.  This will be done automatically, and if any issues are found during the testing, developers will be contacted with more information.  They say app approval for new apps will "generally take a week", but some apps will take longer.

The have a list of no-nos, which your application can't require (as in, need for correct operation) to run.  This list includes a gyroscope, camera, WAN module, Bluetooth, microphone, GPS, or micro-SD.  In addition, if your app uses Google's mobile services, like cloud to device messaging, they need to be removed "gracefully".  Amazon gives us an example of graceful as "an error message such as "This feature is not currently available on this device".  There's also a notice that Google's in app billing won't be supported, but they're working on their own solution.

There's also two interesting notes about content in addition to their normal guidelines.  No themes or wallpaper apps will be allowed, or any app "that manipulates the user interface of the device", and that the "Kindle Fire does not support apps that require root access".  The former, while a little surprising, makes a lot of sense -- they want Amazon content to be front and center.  The latter is a bit less clear, as there are already apps on the Amazon appstore that require root access.  These may be blocked from the Fire, or it may just be confusing wording.  We'll have to wait and see.

Here's the part where I start bitching about open -- but not this time.  Amazon makes no bones about what they are, which is a for profit business.  They don't claim to be anything else (at least not at the retail level) so I'm good with these decisions.  They can, and should, curate their user's experience any way they see fit, and a lot of people will benefit from it.  Tight control will guarantee a level of consistency that a whole lot of people want.  They should be allowed to have it.

Source: Amazon


Galaxy Nexus specs possibly revealed -- but they're really not the important part [updated with more blog-on-blog action]

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 01:01 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Possible specs for the next Nexus phone have been published by BGR this morning for the phone you see above. They are: a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display with 720p resolution, a dual-core TI OMAP 4460 processor at 1.2 GHz. 1GB of RAM. Some 32GB (!) of storage. A 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front shooter. 1080p video recording. NFC, and a 1750 mAh battery. "Pure Google" experience. It's a Nexus phone, after all. On Verizon.

None of that should really surprise you. Hell, a good bit of it we broke in our forums (here and here) months ago. But even that shouldn't surprise you. The specs will always get better (though we're interested to see what's going on with a "mere" 5MP camera; presumably we've got some better optics coming). And we all love new hardware, especially when it's a Nexus device. (And this is all assuming BGR's source is correct, of course.)

Hardware is sexy. It's tangible. And it's short-lived. Something better is always coming. What we're really interested in seeing next week at CTIA is Ice Cream Sandwich. It's the building blocks for the next generation of Android phones. And tablets. And who knows what else. It's going to (or at least supposed to) bring the tablet and smartphone experiences back into the same stream. And we're expecting it to return Android to the the open-source fold, which it (understandably) got away from with Honeycomb.

Don't get us wrong. We're going to gush all over the next Nexus device like it's ... well, the next Nexus device. But specs are just that. Specs. Ice Cream Sandwich is the big deal here.

Join us next week.

Update: GSM Arena just put up a post basically saying BGR's post is full of it, and their unconfirmed anonymous source is better, and the specs are different and better, and their dad can beat up your dad. Or something like that.

Here's an idea. We're actually going to go to San Diego and find out. And regardless, what we said above is still true. Specs are just specs.


Google Books finally lands in the UK

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 12:44 PM PDT

Android Central

Until now, only our friends across the pond have been able to purchase content from Google Books. That changes today as the service finally arrives in the UK.

The usual plethora of free public domain ebooks are available, as well as as content from some of the largest publishing houses in the UK. 

As with the U.S. version of the service, it's designed to be open with your content available to read on the web reader, Apple devices, e-readers from the likes of Sony and Kobo, and of course your Android devices. With the books stored remotely in the cloud, you can change device and pick up where you left off, much like Amazon's Whispersync. 

Google also claims to have been working with independent retailers, to allow the sale of Google Books through other bookstores in the UK. 

Check out the links below for more about Google Books in the UK, and to download the Google Books app. 

Source: Google

More: Google Books in the UK, Google Books Web Reader

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Tonight, on the Greatest Android Podcast in the world

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 12:14 PM PDT

Our CTIA/Nexus whatever/Ice Cream Sandwich preview,
plus, the massive HTC Sensation XL

Android Central Podcast

Times a'tickin', folks. We're just a few days away from the Samsung/Google event in San Diego. So let's break down all the Nexus/Ice Cream Sandwich news, take a look at the new HTC Sensation XL, and maybe tackle a few of your questions.

So join Phil and the gang -- and, of course, the chat room -- live tonight at 9 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. PST for the live broadcast. You should be there. You will be there. You must be there. After all, you are what makes it the Greatest Android Podcast in the World.

Not at a computer? Pick up the free UStream Viewer from the Android Market [link] and search for Android Central a little before the show (it won't appear until we go live). We'll see you there! AndroidCentral.com/live


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