So excited about selling the NVIDIA Shield are retailers that they have begun offering pre-orders early. Effective immediately, you can place an order for the gaming console/controller/Android device through places like Newegg, GameStop, and NVIDIA.

Gamers look to Gamestop as their defacto gaming destination,” said Joe Gorman, vice president of mobile at video game retailer GameStop. “As Android gamers look for a place to get the latest and greatest gear, it made total sense for us to carry SHIELD. We believe this handheld console will revolutionize the Android gaming market.”

We had a chance to play with the SHIELD at Google I/O this past week and really enjoyed the experience. Buttons were intuitive in the games we played; the 5-inch screen is quite stunning stuff.

• NVIDIA – store.nvidia.com/buyshield
• Newegg – www.newegg.com/buyshield
• Gamestop – https://www.gamestop.com/android/consoles/nvidia-shield-16gb/109517
• Canada Computer – http://canadacomputers.com/nvidia/nvidiashield.php

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The Xperia UL looks to feature a nice sized 5-inch touchscreen display and a powerful quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, as well as 2GB of RAM. On top of that, the device is also rumored to include 32GB of internal memory and a high-capacity 2,300 mAh Li-Ion battery. In the end, this is not meant to be a top-tier Andy, but a nice replacement for the Xperia Z. We’re not exactly sure if the UL will include a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera like the Xperia Z, however if you look at the images, it’s clear that it will come with an LED flash for night pictures, and a secondary front-facing camera for video calls.

We still believe the Xperia UL will ship with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, but just like most rumors, there is no confirmation quite yet. As for availability, we are still hearing that it is headed to Japan, more specifically to KDDI, one of the carriers over there. Whether it will be a KDDI exclusive is still anyone’s guess.

The post Sony Xperia UL pictures and specs leaked: 5-inch display and Snapdragon 600 CPU appeared first on AndroidGuys.

This week features an old school Kickstarter, Google I/O news, an app that turns your phone into a steering wheel, a “shot” at $1000, information on Indie Press day, and much more!

Here we go…

• This Kickstarter takes us back to the classic puzzle and platform gaming we all loved.
• Indie Press Day is almost here!
• The launch of a new localization tool at Google I/O can now help developers translate their games easier!
• Here’s something for you outdoors-men in need of a baseplate and/or bearing compass.
• OpenKit enables developers to add “smart social invites” and more across the Android platform.
• In the market for a folio-designed case for your S4? UNIEA has plenty of options.
• Take a 7 day test drive; Ultimate Car Dock (the voice recognition app) is now available on Google Play.
• Slash your writing code with Dagger: included in Square’s 7 Days of Open Source!
• Tilt Racer turns your smartphone into a steering wheel for nearly any game on a PC.
• Drone pilots can now make sure they never lose flight data with AR. Drone 2.0 Academy for Android.

BONUS: 6 extra app shout outs!

• Now through May 25th, mini-golf putting pros can “take a shot” at winning $1,000!
• Agent Dash is now available worldwide on Google Play and the Amazon Appstore.
• Have the itch for a new free-to-play MMORPG? Prepare yourself for Warspear Online!
• Multiplayer now available in PBA Bowling Challenge on Google Play.
• Need a live sports app for your Andy? Livescore from SportyTrader is ranked among the best!
• Looking for an app the not only entertains your child, but will tutor them as well? Check out Magic Paint!

The post In Brief: A few android-related things you should know (May 17, 2013) appeared first on AndroidGuys.

• Small, compact and sturdy build
• Wireless play from up to 10 meters away
• Built-in microphone for hands-free calls
• 8-hour rechargeable battery

This reviewer had a review unit in blue, and it looked great. The device is easy to hook up to your phone or tablet, and – by the way – did I mention the sound quality? This speaker packed a punch that was completely unexpected, with noticeable highs (treble), along with seriously impressive bass. Like, seriously impressive. Bumping up the low end on the EQ from my Note II and hooking the Bluetune Solo really helped put the “Bass” in “Bassnectar”, if you know what I mean. Setting the Bluetune outside when I had some friends over had them looking around, trying to figure out where my “sound system” in my backyard was, only to find that it was coming from “that lit up blue thing” sitting on my barbecue.

The battery lasted around 8-9 hours for me when being used constantly. As far as standby time, it took the Bluetune Solo well over a week to die when not in use. When completely turned off, I found myself able to pop it back on and use it for the expected amount of time afterwards, meaning no residual battery leak. I would bet you could turn this thing off, forget about it in a box for 8-12 months, come back, and find it has the same battery level it did to begin with. Charging is also made simple with the fact that it takes a standard smartphone power adapter, so you can just hook it up to whichever of the 15 phone chargers you have laying around the house. Is it just me that has that? Surely that isn’t just me.

There’s also another cool feature you don’t see in a lot of wireless speakers, which is an auxiliary passthrough. Hook the device up via Bluetooth, move it, and now you can even plug in something else – say, your complete sound system or a pair of headphones – into the speaker. The only real downside, though, is that the passthrough is passive, meaning that audio will come through the speaker and whatever you have plugged into it, meaning you can’t really use this feature to plug in headphones and use it as a sort of Bluetooth headphone adapter. What it lacks in that department, however, it makes up for with the full Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and full A2DP stereo support.

the bottom of the device lights up to the main color of the speaker, which looks pretty slick. On top of great sound, it has a great look when hooked up and being used. There’s also a call / play / pause button on the top, so you don’t have to go dashing for your phone or tablet when you want to answer that important phone call or hold the music for a second. In fact, the built-in microphone makes the job of taking said calls even easier, which is definitely a plus. Something this reviewer likes as well is the fact that you can hook up to your Android device’s audio only, and continue taking calls through your phone, or even a second headset.

All-in-all, this device gets about an 8.5/10 from me. Great sound, great looks, great functionality – however, I just can’t get past the passthrough that doesn’t stop the device from playing through the actual speaker when you plug headphones into it. Is it a small deal? Of course it is, but hey – I’m a bit picky. Sans that, this is a wonderfully refreshing little speaker, packed full of sound quality that will leave you wondering how all that sound is coming from something so small.

You can pick up a Bluetune Solo from Divoom at their website today for $49.99. For that price, you’ll be sure to be majorly impressed by the increase in sound quality you can get from your device, and you can do it for less than going with a bigger name that’s sure to sound just as good. The speaker comes in black, blue, white, red, and yellow.

The post Review: Divoom Bluetune Solo bluetooth portable speaker appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Archos has announced its latest Android tablet, the 80 Xenon, will be available in June with a $199 price tag. The 8-inch tablet is 3G-ready (SIM unlocked HSPA), runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and features the gull Google Play Store experience.

“We designed the ARCHOS 80 xenon to meet the growing need and desire for large screen connectivity while on the go,” says Loïc Poirier, CEO of ARCHOS. “Taking advantage of the recent arrival of affordable 3G subscriptions, the ARCHOS 80 xenon provides a full connected tablet experience anywhere, anytime.”

Additional details include a quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor, 1GB RAM, 2-megapixel rear camera, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Display resolution is listed as 1024×768 pixels however the IPS technology should provide for a better than average image.

The Archos 80 Xenon will be available in June.

The post Archos intros 3G-ready 80 Xenon tablet appeared first on AndroidGuys.

To the dismay of a few of us, Google I/O 2013 did not reveal the much-rumored white version of the LG Nexus 4. Okay, so not officially, bit was here.

The guys over at AndroidAndMe were able to see one of the yet-announced model and learned a few things in the process. Reportedly, the white Nexus 4 will arrive on June 10 where it will run Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Save for the hardware looks to be nearly identical in every aspect.

According to the source, Google was not quite ready to announce the 4.3 release as they were watching how new Google Play Services worked out. As some of you know, this added layer of Android lets Google update phones running v2.2 and above without having to push out a new install of Android. As this keeps the handset makers and carriers happy, the new APIs and tools can hit a much wider audience in a considerably faster time frame.

Now that Google has been able to do just that, the next version of Android should include the API level 18 stuff as well as support for Bluetooth Smart (light energy, smarter), Bluetooth Smart Ready, and other minor touches.

It’s not clear what the price point will be for the new Nexus 4 however we suspect it will be very close to the current $299 sticker.

AndroidAndMe

The post White Nexus 4 with Android 4.3 due on June 10, report says appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Click to view slideshow.

The initial launch will feature 72 levels of gameplay and will include a variety of awesome features. Here’s a quick list of the stuff that accompanies the Facebook app. We’ll just go ahead and advise that you set aside some free time every day for this one; it’s the same team that brought you Candy Crush Saga.

• A fantastic playable fairy tale, alive with animals and wonders
• Seconds to learn, with hours and hours of fun challenges
• Grand and colorful gameplay
• Puppies, bunnies, piglets and more! Over 10 different lovable pets
• Spectacular boosters and bonus rewards
• Diamonds, bombs, locks & keys, animal cages and more await to challenge you
• An exciting Leaderboard to compare your progress against your friends

The post King to release Pet Rescue Saga on Android this summer appeared first on AndroidGuys.

The newest t-shirt design from Dion Briggs in the Android Vs. Apple series is out and it’s about as blunt as it gets. Called “Android kicks Apple’s Ass” it’s a simple shirt with neon green text and a direct message. If you’re on the Android side of the fence and want to show off your love of the platform, we definitely recommend scooping one of these up.

We’ve had a chance to try some of the previous designs and simply live the shirts. Comfortable to wear, they are 100% American Apparel and cost only $17 in the United States. Shipping is expected to begin on May 24! While you’re at it, grab a Mountain View Mashers shirt, why don’t ya?

AndroidStuff.com

The post Latest t-shirt in Android Vs. Apple series: Android Kicks Apple’s Ass appeared first on AndroidGuys.

In “news that we thought would have happened by now”, Sega today announced that Sonic the Hedgehog is officially available for Android devices. Priced at $2.99 in the Google Play Store, it’s the classic Sega Genesis title that introduced us to the speedy fella and his nemesis, Dr. Eggman. Yes, there have been other iterations of Sonic games on Android over the years, but this is the old school title that kicked off the series.

In Sonic the Hedgehog, Dr. Eggman has used his wicked ways to turn all of the animals of Mobius into mechanical monsters – and it’s up to Sonic to save the world! Players can sprint, run and spin their agile blue hero through electrifying loop-de-loops to gather rings, navigate challenging Special Stages, and collect the fabled Chaos Emeralds in order to stop Dr. Eggman’s schemes for world domination.

Sega

The post Sega releases Sonic The Hedgehog for Android appeared first on AndroidGuys.

We had a chance to test these new features a few weeks ago and were really impressed with the options. As Google and others continue to step on the gas, we’re happy to see companies like TeleNav innovating and keeping pace.

Chances are good that your Android device comes with Scout so definitely give it a spin. While you’re at it, check out the Scout Plus experience for $4.99/month or $24.99/year. There you’ll find additional options such as red light cameras, speed traps, incident alerts, and more.

• New My Dashboard – Refreshed dashboard features a larger local map and one-tap access to recents and favorites.
• Always There navigation – Offline maps so you never lose sight of wherever you are if without cell coverage. The country is divided into three downloadable regions.
• OnMyWay – ETA sharing lets others know when you’ll be there and enables them to see your real-time progress on a map as you drive.

Scout and Scout Plus for Android is immediately available onGoogle Play.

The post Scout for Android gets ETA sharing, offline maps, more appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Thankfully Samsung heard all of their users not-so-pleasant responses and has said they will look into ways to free up more storage in the new handset (only after the issue was recently featured on the consumer BBC TV show Watchdog of course.) Samsung had previously defended its position, saying the lack of space was necessary to provide owners with “more powerful features,” however with only 8GB of free space on the 16GB model, CNET reports that the company will review “the possibility to secure more memory space through further software optimization.”

No word yet on when or if an update will be rolled out. My best advice for now; be prudent of how many games and apps you install.

The post Samsung finally hints at an update for Galaxy S4 storage problems appeared first on AndroidGuys.

The Wallet app can be downloaded directly from the Play Store, using this link. Be sure to let us know your thoughts if you download it on one of these devices.

The post Sprint Galaxy S4, Note 2, HTC One get Google Wallet support appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Check out the video below.

The post Watch Google I/O full keynote [video] appeared first on AndroidGuys.

What’s the first question that everyone starts asking when a new version of Android is announced? “When is my phone or tablet getting the latest release?”  Just the simple act of not announcing a new build helps cut that down – for now. But, going deeper, Google did the Android space a favor with the new Google Play Services stuff. By that, I am referring to stuff like the new Google Play Music (All Access), Google Play Games, and separate apps. In a nutshell, Google is updating features and apps for phones that run very old versions of Android, dating back to 2.2 Froyo.

Think about it: a year ago, it would have been easy to convince you that in order to get the new Google+ gaming and Google Play Games you would have to get the latest verison of Android. Not this time, just about every phone sold in the last few years gets to take advantage of the new stuff.

Rather than worrying about how carriers and handset makers fold in updates and services, Google is taking things under control and updating stuff from within. And it’s not just for 4.0 and 4.1 products either. If you have a phone from 2010 on the chances are very good that you’ll see the new stuff. The tide rises for everyone at once and provides little tweaks and adjustments that might otherwise come with an incremental, say v4.3, release.

Assuming we are still a few months off from the next release of Android, handset makers and carriers can bring newer devices up to date with the 4.1 and 4.2 builds. Indeed, there will be products left in the shadows and kept behind with older releases, but Google is not forgetting them.

The same thing goes for Google Now improvements – it’s easier to roll out features on a per app basis that really move things forward in the same manner that a brand new version of Android would have. Speaking of which, I’m really excited about location, date, and time aware reminders and notifications.

Sure, I would have loved to been given at least a glimpse into some of the upcoming features of Android; we saw plenty about the future of Maps and other services. With that in mind, I’m hopeful that Google is going to slow the release cycles down for Android yet continue to build things up from within.

No new hardware

Yeah, so that was a pretty big letdown, actually. I was hoping to see at least minor refreshes in hardware for the Nexus 4 (additional storage, LTE) and/or the Nexus 7. Alas neither device was mentioned and everything stays the same for now.

Samsung Galaxy S4 with stock Android

It’s not exactly new hardware, but we do have a Samsung Galaxy S4 with a stock Android 4.2 experience coming in June. Priced at $649, the device features an unlocked bootloader, 16GB storage,and  4G LTE support for AT&T and T-Mobile. Sadly, it’s twice the price of a Nexus device; the target audience will likely skip this in favor of a Galaxy Nexus.

On the positive side of things, it’s great to see Samsung embracing the stock Android experience. I would love nothing more than to see companies release alternative versions of their phones. HTC, Sony, and LG could all do well to follow the model.

The post Google I/O 2013: No new Android release this year, but that’s not a bad thing appeared first on AndroidGuys.

You’ll be able to do this over the coming months as the ability rolls out to Gmail users for U.S. residents over 18. The option won’t be available on mobile via the official Gmail app, but will be able to be done via the Google Wallet mobile site.

What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments below!

via google commerce

The post ‘Send Money’ option added to Gmail and Google Wallet [video] appeared first on AndroidGuys.

The new app is a refreshing overhaul in the user interface department, with a sleek new look, and an intuitive experience. You can start new chats by name, email address, circle – or even a phone number. Even better, the new Hangouts is broken free completely from Google+ as a standalone application.

You can check out the Android app at the source link below, and get to chatting.

via google play

The post Hangouts announced as Google’s messaging overhaul, app replacement to Talk ready for download appeared first on AndroidGuys.

The Google Edition will run Android 4.2.2 stock, which means no TouchWiz UI overlay. Just pure, simple, Vanilla AOSP Android. It will go on sale June 26th via Google Play, and will run on AT&T and T-Mobile’s US bands. Also on board will be MicroSD expansion, LTE, 16G onboard storage, an unlockable bootloader (yay!), and software updates on the double. To make things extra sweet? Google promises users the total “Nexus user experience”. The device will sell for $649.

The post “Google Edition” Samsung Galaxy S4 confirmed, to be available June 26 on AT&T and T-Mobile US appeared first on AndroidGuys.

• Reminder
• Music Albums
• TV Shows
• Public Transit
• Books
• Video Games

Reminders will allow you to set reminders to do things like “buy a wrench”, where as the rest are set to give you information.

Also, Google showed off new “hot words” in voice search, which allow for broad inquiries like “show me restaurants near work”, or “when does my flight leave”. Google is looking to make the experience with Voice Search a little less like talking to a machine, and more like asking your personal assistant a question.

The post New Google Now cards include reminders, TV shows, video games, music albums, and more appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Google, at the I/O conference, just announced their new all-access music service, appropriately named Google Play Music All Access. It combines your personal music uploaded to Google Music with a universal catalog of music, and appears to work very well.

The best part? If you head to Google Music, you should get a prompt to start your All Access trial free for 30 days. If you get your trial started before June, you’ll only pay $7.99 / month, as opposed to the soon-to-be standard $9.99 / month. You can also create radio stations based on your favorite music.

This editor has already started using it, and it looks terrific so far. Be sure to keep it here for more updates from I/O.

The post Possible Spotify killer Google Play Music All Access revealed, start your trial now appeared first on AndroidGuys.

According to The Verge, you will be able to grab the HP SlateBook x2 for $479.99. It runs the newest Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean operating system on the latest quad-core Nvidia Tegra 4 processor, making it unique as one of the first devices to use that chip, in fact. At 10.2 inches, it’s smaller than the new 13.3-inch Split x2, but it has the highest-quality screen with a full 1920 x 1200 resolution IPS panel.

While its expandable 16GB of storage and 2GB of system memory won’t be anything special, the keyboard dock certainly might be. This little keyboard adds one USB port, an SD card slot, an HDMI jack, as well as an extra battery that could nearly double the tablet’s battery life to somewhere around eight hours. Unlike many previous convertible devices, the keyboard dock is included in the SlateBook x2′s price.

On the flip side, we should mention that if you are in the market for a Windows 8 computer, the $799.99 HP Split x2 (with the included keyboard dock) will also be available. The muted black Split x2 includes a 7W Core i3 processor and 4GB of memory, as well as a 500GB hard drive that is tapped into the included keyboard base. The 13.3-inch screen is definitely of the low-resolution 1366 x 768 variety, but HP stated that it should get as much battery life as your average notebook.

The prices of both options may come as a shock at first, but honestly if you’re looking for a personal computer that can easily double as a tablet these options may be fitting. According to HP, both devices will arrive in August, just in time for school shopping season.

Source: The Verge

The post HP announces Android SlateBook x2 just in time for next school year appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Chances are, we’ll be seeing the release of this new Android iteration at Google I/O this morning. The update is expected to include Bluetooth Low Energy and OpenGL for Embedded Systems 3.0 graphics specifications.

via theverge

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We hope you enjoy using Google Play Games to save and share achievements!

We’re expecting Google Play Games to become official as the keynote at Google I/O begins, so be sure to hang here for further details.

via google play

The post Google Play Games verified by Play Store changelog appeared first on AndroidGuys.

An AOSP version of Android, for those who don’t know, is simply Android without the manufacturer overlays. It is the pure, stock Vanilla experience from Google, just wrapped up and set to work with the Galaxy S4.

This is a major step for Samsung. In the past, if users wanted to have the option to go AOSP on a device that runs with an overlay user interface, they would have to root their device, and install a custom ROM. Even then, the experience had the capacity to be not-quite-optimal, as drivers and such had a tendency to spend a long time in development before being released for these ROMs, making some functions of the device not work at all.

This new version of the Galaxy S4 is expected to be available in june on T-Mobile’s USA bands. We don’t have any information on pricing, nor do we know what kind of retail outlets will be selling, if any at all – with it being a pure Google experience, they may choose to sell it via the Play Store.

What do you think? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

via geek

The post Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition set to be announced at Google I/O appeared first on AndroidGuys.

I had a chance to sit down with members of Epson and APX today and see just how the new concept works and what lies ahead for developers. Everything will be introduced at the developer conference, especially if you’re involved in developing with/for YouTube.

Before going further I should point out that this is not a consumer-minded concept (yet) and that it’s still going through some design changes.  Physically the glasses are still big and bulky and the test versions still use an older version of Android (2.2). With that in mind, the team I spoke with today is very optimistic about the eventual form factor believes we’re not that far from the sleek and sexy stuff that consumers might expect.

In a nutshell, the concept that Epson and APX will introduce at Google I/O revolves around touchless gestures for selecting and viewing YouTube videos. Imagine seeing a carousel-like roll of YouTube videos to choose from, right in front of you. You can look left and right to scroll through and then a long press-like focus will automatically start the video.  Look up and the clip stops – tilt left for rewind, right for advance.  It’s pretty intuitive stuff and works well.

What does it look like? Instead of the picture-in-picture stuff that Google Glass provides, this is like having a big television display sitting right in front of you. I think the official description calls for an 80-inch TV around 5 meters away. It’s big and easy to see yet doesn’t clutter or obscure your view.

Sure, the demo unit I tried on was a little heavy and wonky but the big picture scenario is fun to imagine. Immediately I thought of how cool it would be to watch YouTube videos or other clips without interrupting others in the room or making things too bright. Then I thought of seeing Google Maps overlayed with POIs or other apps. However, this is getting ahead of things and looking at more consumer-minded focus. Rather, this is more enterprise and business-like.

There were two devices shown off today, one with a front-facing camera and microphone and the other without. Given that the YouTube stuff did not use either, the model I wore was without. Both, however, featured a 9-axis sensor for looking around in all directions.

I also saw a demonstration of how one might see a pump assembled and disassembled in 360-degrees, moving around the unit in real-space. Imagine a workforce being able to see what is in boxes on trucks, where staff is in real-time, or what is on the shelf. Imagine a fleet of drivers knowing where everyone else is or a doctor using augmented reality to see where instruments are inside a patient.

My understanding is that developers will soon be able to get their hands on SDK’s and kits later this summer.  Yes, you can purchase the BT-100 for around $699 through Epson today (only $400 through Amazon), but I sense much better stuff is coming. Given that the team was ready to show press and other developers the proof-of-concept stuff, it feels like we’re nearing that retail-ready rollout. Along those lines, there are specific Android devices which host the content and provide the apps; in this case YouTube was delivered from a Samsung Nexus 10. Once things go live, developers will get a clear idea as to which products provide the needed connections.

I asked about how developers will be able to develop and distribute apps and it appeared that nothing concrete has been established. The partners are looking for the most viable options around, including Google Play and direct. In the spirit of Android, I was told that Epson and pals want to keep things very open.

The post A sneak peek at Epson’s next-generation Moverio wearable Android glasses appeared first on AndroidGuys.

He said that upgraded version of Nexus 7 is coming out at the upcoming Google I/O event, but along with that, he said that  an Android powered notebook, a new TV product, and a Google SmartWatch is on the list of the products Google will be releasing later this year. Have a look on what he said about the Androidbook:

Android Book – Android Book won’t be introduced at the upcoming Google I/O as development of Android 5.0, which is targeted at NB, is incomplete. We think Android Book featuring Android.4x will be rolled out in the coming 3-4 months because some brand vendors, like Samsung (Korea), want to move first. But shipments will be limited as the current Android OS isn’t well supported for laptops.

Also Google is working on an Apple TV competitor, which will be coming out a little late because of the transfer to a NVIDIA Tegra chip from TI OMAP.About the Google SmartWatch, it is coming soon and it will work alongside the recently introduced Google Glass.

What we know is Google have a lot of good stuff for their customers, so I guess we are looking forward to an amazing year by Google. What are your thoughts about it? Do you think Google should step in and focus on other things like TV and notebook? Tell us about it in the comment box below.

Source: 9to5Google

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