Android Central |
- Manually update your Galaxy Nexus, Switching phones [From the Forums]
- Android 4.0.3 source code being pushed to AOSP
- How to manually update your GSM Nexus S to Ice Cream Sandwich
- Google starting to push Ice Cream Sandwich for Samsung Nexus S
- Android App Review: BaconReader
- Android 4.0.2 update now rolling out to GSM Galaxy Nexus
- Android 4.0.2 is so yesterday -- say hello to Android 4.0.3!
- Sprint says it's no longer collecting analytics via Carrier IQ
- Star and Pocket Legends ring in the holiday with new content, level cap
- Sen. Al Franken gets answers from Carrier IQ, carriers -- 'still very troubled by what's going on'
- AT&T's use of Carrier IQ extends to its own analytics app, not just embedded on phone
- Deal of the Day: Seidio CONVERT Combo for Motorola Droid Bionic
- Sprint: 26 million devices with Carrier IQ, but we only ping a fraction at one time
- Samsung: 25 million phones with Carrier IQ; other devices have 'dormant' code
- HTC: 6.3 million devices with Carrier IQ -- including some that shouldn't have it
- AT&T Galaxy S II Android 2.3.6 update pushed out
- Google Music opens up to everyone ... if you're in the US
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 headed to Cricket Wireless Dec. 16
| Manually update your Galaxy Nexus, Switching phones [From the Forums] Posted: 16 Dec 2011 02:57 PM PST Wow, exciting way to close out the week. Nexus updates galore, Nexus S updates now pushing out -- that's a lot to take in. If you missed out on anything, make sure you flip on back a page or two and get caught up. Don't be shy to hit up the forums as well, should you need any help or are just looking to talk Android some more.
If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today. 
  | ||
| Android 4.0.3 source code being pushed to AOSP Posted: 16 Dec 2011 02:14 PM PST Googler Jean-Baptiste Queru has just announced the push of Android 4.0.3 to the Android Open Source Project tree. This build is for the Motorola Xoom (U.S. Versions), the Nexus S (all versions), and of course the mysid and yakju builds of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Yes, one set of sources and build number for several different devices -- that's a first for AOSP and if it's pulled off well (I'll bet it is, these fellows know their schtuff) it's a big leap in Android development. As JBQ mentions, this is the first time AOSP works for a tablet, the first time it works on a device that's neither a Nexus or an Android Developer Phone, and the first time it works for devices on Verizon. Mr. Queru also has this to say:
Those are the kinds of words we all love to hear. Wait for the announcement that it's ready for syncing, then prepare yourselves -- this is going to be one helluva ride. Source: Android Building 
  | ||
| How to manually update your GSM Nexus S to Ice Cream Sandwich Posted: 16 Dec 2011 02:08 PM PST Want Ice Cream Sandwich on your Samsung Nexus S but down't want to wait on the update to push out over the air? The dowload location has been found, and we've got your update instructions. We've already updated our Nexus S, and it takes just a couple minutes. Again, folks, this is the GSM verison. And, specifically, the T-Mobile version. If that's not your phone, keep out. Now, instructions:
That simple! Now you've got the all new Android 4.0.3. More: Nexus S forums
  | ||
| Google starting to push Ice Cream Sandwich for Samsung Nexus S Posted: 16 Dec 2011 01:06 PM PST
We've had unofficial builds of Ice Cream Sandwich on the Samsung Nexus S for a number of weeks now. But today Google announced that the GSM version of the Nexus S will see its Android 4.0 update push out over the next month, starting today. Not a bad turnaround. Now let's see some carrier-branded phones get some love, shall we? Source: @GoogleNexus 
  | ||
| Android App Review: BaconReader Posted: 16 Dec 2011 12:25 PM PST Not too long ago we mentioned a new Reddit app called BaconReader for Reddit. The screenshots looked so clean and slick I decided I had to try it out and give it the courtesy of a full-blown review. After having spent some time with it, I'm glad I did. If any of you members of the Android Central nation are also Redditors, you know how hard it is to find a good Reddit app in the Market. Interfaces aren't intuitive, comment threads are a mess, and clicking links opens up your browser, which takes away time from more browsing. BaconReader manages to remedy all of those things in a tight, beautiful package. The interface is incredibly minimalist, with white and grey being the dominant colors. The monochromatic look of it gives an almost metallic look, not overbearing on the eyes while also not being boring to look at. It's so efficiently tidy, it just works. If you tap any thread, you'll be taken either to the link it links to or the text. If there's loads of comments on it, the comment thread is not only color-coded, but also optimized for your mobile screen. Long paragraphs are neatly arranged within the confines of your display, and that's a victory in and of itself. You can also login to your Reddit account, and from there, post or change your preferred subreddits, all from the app. If you tap the "front page" button, you'll be given a dropdown menu of all the subreddits you're subscribed to, and if you tap the "what's hot" button, you can filter your results based on what's new, rising, top, etc. Posting from BaconReader is also a breeze. Simply tap the top-right button (that looks suspiciously similar to a generic compose button), and you're taken to the submit screen. From here you can submit a link, type in text, or upload a picture, just like you would on Reddit's full site. There's also the ability to both check your received messages and send messages, all from inside BaconReader. Add in a fully-featured settings menu that lets you define if thumbnails are loaded, if you open links from inside the app, or what domains are black or whitelisted (to name a few), and you've got what is probably the most powerful mobile Reddit experience available in the palm of your hand. BaconReader for Reddit is by far the best Reddit app on Android right now, hands down. The clean interface, ease of use, and powerful rendering of Reddit all put this one ahead of the pack, and if you're even a light user of Reddit, I wouldn't go without it. BaconReader for Reddit is free in the Android Market. We've got pictures and download links after the break. 
  | ||
| Android 4.0.2 update now rolling out to GSM Galaxy Nexus Posted: 16 Dec 2011 11:50 AM PST The GSM (international) version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus has just received its update to Android 4.0.2, hot on the heels of the Verizon version, which got the update on its launch day. Several GSM Nexus owners are now reporting that they've received the new version of Android, which carries the build number ICL53F. The update weighs just 8.7MB, and according to the update message contains "important bug fixes", most likely the same fixes detailed in Verizon's latest update statement (excluding the LTE-specific stuff, of course). To see if your phone is ready to receive the update, head to Settings > About phone > System updates. If it's still telling you you're already up-to-date, you may have to wait a few days before it's your turn to be updated. Don't want to wait? If you're comfortable with unlocking bootloaders and fiddling around with command-line stuff, once the files URL is located you'll be able to download them from Google and use Jerry's clever manual update method. Now we get ready for Android 4.0.3. Isn't having a Nexus phone grand? 
  | ||
| Android 4.0.2 is so yesterday -- say hello to Android 4.0.3! Posted: 16 Dec 2011 11:24 AM PST Know that Android 4.0.2 update the Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners were so proud of yesterday? It's old news today. Google just announced Android 4.0.3 and an increase in API level (it's now 15). So what's new? Google gives us the big strokes:
So the next question is when will we start seeing it on the Galaxy Nexus? Time to start those fingers a'tappin'. Source: Android Developers Blog; more: Platform Highlights 
  | ||
| Sprint says it's no longer collecting analytics via Carrier IQ Posted: 16 Dec 2011 09:56 AM PST Sprint today told Android Central that it is no longer using Carrier IQ to collect diagnostic data from its devices. The statement comes in response to our asking Sprint about an anonymously sourced report on Geek.com under the headline "Sprint orders all OEM’s to strip Carrier IQ from their hardware." Said Sprint spokeswoman Stephanie Vinge-Walsh: "That report does not appear to be accurate." Vinge-Walsh did go on to tell us that Sprint has "weighed customer concerns and we have disabled use of the tool so that diagnostic information and data is no longer being collected. We are further evaluating options regarding this diagnostic software as well as Sprint’s diagnostic needs. "At Sprint, we work hard to earn the trust of our customers and believe this course of action is in the best interest of our business and customers." HTC, also cited in Geek.com's report as an anonymous source, had no comment and referred us to Sprint. Not collecting data is a far cry from "stripping" the Carrier IQ code out of its phones, but it also makes far more sense, at least in the short term. Flipping a switch to cease collecting data undoubtedly is easier (and cheaper) than rewriting ROMs for the 17 or so devices it told U.S. Sen. Al Franken contained Carrier IQ. That's not going to make the die-hard Android hackers happy, but chances are they're already stripped the ROM anyway. Not including Carrier IQ software in future updates and new releases would make sense as Sprint's not collecting the data anymore anyway. As for the causal (read: normal) Android user, you can rest easy in knowing that Sprint's no longer using Carrier IQ to collect its analytics data. We've got Sprint's full statement after the break. More analysis
  | ||
| Star and Pocket Legends ring in the holiday with new content, level cap Posted: 16 Dec 2011 09:25 AM PST For all of you mobile-MMOers out there, take notice: Spacetime Studios is spreading holiday cheer to their gaming base by unveiling a slew of new content for this time of year. Depending on which game you play will determine what content you see, and Spacetime says it best: Star Legends
Pocket Legends
With this much new content, we might as well say Christmas came early this year. 
  | ||
| Sen. Al Franken gets answers from Carrier IQ, carriers -- 'still very troubled by what's going on' Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:37 AM PST U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., didn't like what he'd heard about the whole Carrier IQ saga. And after receiving answers from the analytics company, he still doesn't like what he hears. On Thursday, Franken, chairman of the Senate Subcommitte on Privacy, Technology and the Law, issued a statement on the reponses he received. More analysis
  | ||
| AT&T's use of Carrier IQ extends to its own analytics app, not just embedded on phone Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:28 AM PST AT&T's responses to questions posed by U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., over the use of Carrier IQ analytics software are probably the most interesting we've seen thus far. AT&T has been using Carrier IQ only since March 2011, with the Motorola Bravo the first device to have it integrated. However, AT&T has had its own analytics tool in use since 2009. Called Mark the Spot, or MTS, it differs from Carrier IQ in that it's a traditional application, downloaded and installed by the consumer and not preloaded onto the device before purchase. The idea is that if you experience a network hiccup -- like a dropped call -- you'd fire up the app and let AT&T know. Mark the Spot was released for the iPhone in December 2009, and for Android in June 2011. In February 2011, AT&T began packaging Carrier IQ code with the MTS application, first for BlackBerry, and a month later for Android. Android devices that have Carrier IQ software installed include the Pantech Pocket, LG Thrill 4G, ZTE Avail, Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, Motorola Atrix 2 and the aforementioned Motorola Bravo. AT&T says only about 900,000 devices -- or about 1 percent of the device on its network -- have Carrier IQ on board, either preloaded or with the MTS app. And of those devices, 575,000 report back to AT&T. AT&T also says it does not share any of its CIQ data with "any other non-AT&T company." and that it has not shared data with any federal or state law enforcement. It does, however, comply with court orders, subponeas and other legal orders. Data collected from AT&T devices is inaccessible after 60 days from being uploaded. AT&T says it has "three downstreem systems receiving personally identifiable CIQ data from the AT&T server." One of those servers stores data for just 45 days, another has data from September 2011, and the third data from May 2011. Like Sprint, AT&T explained that it indeed collects phone numbers "in the ordinary cource of its business" and for "Voice Call Performance and Messaging Performance metrics." It does not collect contents of e-mails, URLs of websites visited, contents of search quereies, names or contact information from address books, and none of its CIQ profiles is set to collet the content of text messages. More: AT&T's response (pdf) 
  | ||
| Deal of the Day: Seidio CONVERT Combo for Motorola Droid Bionic Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:52 AM PST The Dec. 16 Deal of the Day is the Seidio CONVERT Combo case for the Motorola Droid Bionic. It eliminates the need for two cases by combining a layer of rugged skin and skeleton and mating it to the Seidio Locking Holster. Don't need the extra protection one day? Just remove the rugged skin and skeleton and use the holster. The entire combo is available today only for just $26.95 -- that's 46 percent off! Get yours while supplies last. 
  | ||
| Sprint: 26 million devices with Carrier IQ, but we only ping a fraction at one time Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:43 AM PST Update: Sprint says it's no longer using Carrier IQ Sprint, in its reponse to U.S. Sen. Al Franken over its use of the Carrier IQ software, goes into great detail about how and why it needs and uses such analytic data, reiterating that "The Carrier IQ diagnostic tool can help Sprint engineers understand the functionality (or not) of handset appliations when connecting with the network and steps that Sprint might take to improve services ..." Sprint also told Franken that it has Carrier IQ installed on some 26 million devices, but that the Carrier IQ software doesn't actually collect any data until Sprint itself tells it to. In fact, says Sprint, only 1.3 million devices -- that's 5 percent of the 26 million total -- may be "tasked" to collect data at a given time. And, Sprint says, that number often is much lower -- 30,000 -- when responding to specific research requests. Sprint didn't spell out exactly which of its devices use Carrier IQ -- which has been in service of the carrier since 2006 -- but we've already seen answers from HTC and Samsung. (Motorola's are forthcoming.) The phones listed thus far include:
Sprint also told Franken that it does not share any of the data it receives with third parties, that it "is used internally for Sprint's own use, for analysis by Sprint employees and contractors to assist wtih device certification and functionality on its own network, for network maintenance and improvement." But, Sprint added, "In the course of certifying device funcationality, prior to selling phones to customers, Sprint does share and receive certain testing results with handset manufacturers." The emphasis there is ours. Anything it shares with the manufacturer comes before it's in your pocket. Sprint also indicated that it does nto share any Carrier IQ data with law enforcement. Sprint also explained how long Carrier IQ data is stored. Carrier IQ itself stores some of the data on its services for "approximately 30-45 days." Sprint keeps some data on its own servers for 6 months or so, and stores aggregated reports from Carrier IQ for 12 months (varies depending on the analysis being conducted, Sprint says). Probably our favorite part of Sprint's repsonse, though, comes from a footnote in its introductary statement, wherein Sprint reminds us all that it already knows the cell site you're using, the people your calling and texting, and the websites you're visiting. It has to to be a carrier, and you're paying it to do so. Here's the full passage:
More: Sprint's response (pdf) 
  | ||
| Samsung: 25 million phones with Carrier IQ; other devices have 'dormant' code Posted: 16 Dec 2011 07:09 AM PST Samsung Mobile, in its response to U.S. Sen. Al Franken over the Carrier IQ saga, says that it's sold some 25 million cell phones preloaded with Carrier IQ software, which it's been using since 2007. Many of these phones are non-Android feature phones, and Samsung repeats the response we've already heard from HTC in that it's not a customer of Carrier IQ, therefore it doesn't see the data collected. Interestingly, Samsung also echoes HTC by saying some of its phones also may contain components of Carrier IQ and therefore may trigger the various CIQ detector apps available, but that the software is "dormant." Unlike HTC, however, Samsung did not say whether it was working to remove these dormant components. Says Samsung:
Samsung did not say which phones contain the dormant CIQ code. Following are the Android smartphones Samsung says contain Carrier IQ:
More: Samsung's response (pdf) 
  | ||
| HTC: 6.3 million devices with Carrier IQ -- including some that shouldn't have it Posted: 16 Dec 2011 06:28 AM PST Now here's where it gets interesting. In HTC's response to questioning from U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., it listed some 6.3 million "active devices" that have Carrier IQ installed. They include:
However, HTC also disclosed that "components of the Carrier IQ solution" are on the HTC Merge, Acquire, Desire, Wildfire, Flyer and a variant of the Hero. But, the components on those phones "are not requested by the wireless service providers who sell these devices. HTC is currently working on an update to remove these software components from these devices. HTC, in its response, reiterates that it neither receives nor stores any data the Carrier IQ software collects because the carrer, not HTC, is Carrier IQ's customer. And that's repeated in the bulk of the responses. More: HTC's response (pdf) 
  | ||
| AT&T Galaxy S II Android 2.3.6 update pushed out Posted: 16 Dec 2011 05:17 AM PST The AT&T Galaxy S II is getting a nice little update this morning that brings its Android version number to 2.3.6. A number of people have reported that the update failed at first, but others have installed it with nary a hitch. Go to Settings>About Phone and give it a shot, then hit the link below to see how it's going for everyone else. Discuss: AT&T Galaxy S II forums; more: Samsung 
  | ||
| Google Music opens up to everyone ... if you're in the US Posted: 16 Dec 2011 04:52 AM PST Google Music has gone and gotten itself an update in the Market, and that Beta tag has finally been lost. That's right folks, invitations are no longer required and Google Music is open to all. Open to all though still only applies if you're within the U.S., so for the rest of us, there's still no official way of setting up an account. The application update also brings with it a host of bug fixes, and the seamless integration with the Music store in the Android Market. All your purchases will now automatically appear within the app. If you're about to start using Google Music for the first time, you'll want to check out our complete guide to using the service. 
  | ||
| Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 headed to Cricket Wireless Dec. 16 Posted: 15 Dec 2011 05:50 PM PST Cricket plans to release their first tablet package tomorrow (Dec. 16), consisting of the 16GB Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and a Crosswave Mobile Hotspot (with one months service) for $595. The Galaxy Tab has a retail of $499, and the hotspot rings up at $149.99, so in reality this isn't a bad deal if you're looking for cheap monthly mobile broadband access and a shiny new tablet to go with. According to the press release (find it after the break) corporate Cricket stores should have the bundle, as well as just the Galaxy Tab for $499, on shelves starting tomorrow. You'll be able to enjoy everything you love about Android and the Galaxy Tab, with some no-contract 3G data to go along with it. More: Cricket 
  |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Central - Android Forums, News, and Help To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
Comments