My Android

Google’s JBQ speaks out on Android updates, Google selling the Galaxy Nexus and more

2012-04-28T19:08:00.000+05:30

Jean-Baptiste Queru is the technical lead for the Android Open Source Project at Google. When he talks, we tend to listen. Many a time now, JBQ (as he’s more commonly known) has come to the aid of speculating bloggers and explained situations with updates, Nexus devices and much more. Today, with the Sony Tablet S getting updated to Android 4 and Google selling the Galaxy Nexus directly recently, JBQ took a moment to share his thoughts on updates on Google+.

When it comes to Sony updating their Tablet S, JBQ says that the five months time it took them to complete the update was, “very reasonable.” He continues on to say that the changes from Android 3 (Honeycomb) and Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) to Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) are huge. A lot has changed from previous versions of Android to now, and the only reason Sony has managed to stay as up to date as they are is thanks to their contributions to the AOSP. ASUS’ updates have also been very timely, but that’s because of the tight relationship between ASUS and NVIDIA. Both companies are extremely focused on keeping their products up to date.

Continuing on the subject of updates, JBQ isn’t too happy on how the Nexus program is playing out. But Google selling the Nexus directly will help that:

Personally, I take two important things out of this. For one, Google is most definitely aware of the woes delayed updates cause. Especially when it comes to Nexus devices. And number two, those delays aren’t going to change if you buy a carrier regulated device. If you really, truly want your updates from Google, you have to buy your device from Google.

While none of that may be new information (in fact, it’s starting to feel like we’re beating a dead horse here), it’s especially relevant after this past weeks news of Google deciding to sell the Galaxy Nexus directly. Even the support website for the Google sold GSM Nexus will be directly managed by Google. And that’s all there is to it.

What do you think of a five month wait between updates for carrier regulated devices? Is that too long, or is it worth the wait? And while we’re at it, is anyone planning to buy an unlocked Nexus from Google? Have you already? Let us know in the comments.

The part that blows my mind is that some variants of the Google-engineered flagship devices still haven't received Ice Cream Sandwich (or are stuck with older versions of Ice Cream Sandwich) because of delays introduced by operator approvals. I'm very glad that Google is back in the business of selling phones directly without any middlemen to interfere, and I'll be even happier when I see that program expanded to more countries.JBQGoogle

Sprint’s Galaxy Nexus users reporting data connectivity issues – fix already in the works

2012-04-28T19:02:00.003+05:30

Anyone planning on buying the newly launched Galaxy Nexus from Sprint may want to hold off for a week or two. A handful of new Galaxy Nexus owners are reporting issues connecting to Sprint’s 3G network. From what we can tell, affected users are able to send and receive phone calls and text messages, but the data connection to the phone simply remains in “connecting” status without ever making a complete connection.

Several affected users have been given replacement phones at local Sprint stores, but others have been turned away since a fix for the issue is apparently already in the works. No specifics about the software update have been revealed, but a Sprint Community moderator claims that Sprint is hoping to have the issue resolved by early next week.

Have any of you experienced any data connectivity issues with the Sprint Galaxy Nexus? It seems a bit ironic that Sprint’s first 4G LTE phone can’t even get a 3G connection.

Sprint/Samsung are aware of this problem and will be releasing a software update to resolve the issue. Can't commit to a date yet, but they are trying really hard to get it released early next week. Sorry for your troubles.MODERATORSprint Community

MIUI Launcher modded for any ICS ROM

2012-04-28T18:59:00.000+05:30

No two ways about it: the MIUI family of ROMs has a unique visual approach. Blending elements from Android, iOS, WebOS, and plenty of manufacturer skins to boot, it’s become one of the most popular ROMs for those who love to tinker with their user interface. The Android 4.0 version MIUI 4 is still a work in progress, but if you’ve got an Ice Cream Sandwich phone or ROM, you can try out the MIUI 4 launcher and lockscreen now, thanks to RootzWiki member “hoppermi”.

There’s nothing in the MIUI home app that you haven’t seen before in launchers like Nova or Apex, and those have a lot more features. MIUI just looks good doing it. The launcher tends to take its iPhone inspiration pretty seriously, but it’s also got a lot of customized widgets that fit in with its own theme. Most of these replace Android’s standard widgets or duplicate others, like the HTC clock.

Performance is a bit of an issue, but this is a beta release. After installing and activating the launcher for the first time, the slowdown from the app itself and its many transitions and animations tends to go away. I also with it had more settings, but then again, MIUI is all about style. On that note, the ported launcher technically supports themes, but there are few or none available for the Galaxy Nexus’ 720p resolution, so I didn’t get to try them out.

QuickOffice Pro updates with a ton of new features

2012-04-28T18:54:00.002+05:30

Mourning the loss of Google Docs from your app tray? (Don’t, by the way – all that functionality is still in Google Drive.) Looking for something with a little more oomph to edit documents on your lunchbreak? Then you’ll want to check out the latest version of QuickOffice Pro. We’ve covered this app before, but the sheer number of additions in version 5.5 warrants attention. You can buy the standard version in the Google Play Store for $14.99, and the tablet version for $19.99.

How has QuickOffice improved? Oh, let me count the ways. There’s more fonts and keyboard shortcuts (for QWERTY phones or Bluetooth keyboards) across all the included apps. The PDF viewer gets in-text comments, shapes and annotations, as well as better selection tools. The word processor gets spell check, line spacing options, tables, and improved chart and table management for DOCX files.

The presentation viewer gets a laser pointer software tool, numbered lists in addition to bullet points, and duplicate slides in the PowerPointX format. Spreadsheets get a relatively small update, allowing users to move or resize charts and update them with live data. Best of all, if you’ve already bought a previous version of QuickOffice, you don’t need to repurchase it – just check the Google Play Store for the update.

Top 10 Android app updates: Photowall, AVG Antivirus, Nova Launcher, Samsung Unpacked

2012-04-28T18:52:00.000+05:30

Welcome back to our weekly Top 10 Android App Updates column, where we take a look at the most upgraded apps for the week. I’ve found that one of the best ways to discover useful apps is to look at what people are actually updating, and not focus on which apps have the most installs.

To find the most updated apps, I turn to AppAware. It’s a great tool that shows me which apps have active support from their developers and sometimes reminds me of an old app that I might have removed long ago. Make sure to install it so your activity can help determine our weekly top 10 list.

This week I’m going to do things a little different. I normally filter out apps that have over 10 million installs, but I’m going to make an exception for popular apps that had significant updates. I hope you enjoy this weekly feature and discover some apps that you might find useful.

Twitter – Version 3.2.0

What’s new in this version:

Updated design and improved relevance of Discover stories
Activity in Discover tab shows who your connections follow, updates to their lists, and which Tweets they retweet and favorite
Spelling suggestions and related searches in search results
Username autocomplete in search
New push notifications for when your Tweets have been retweeted, favorited, or when you have new followers
New languages: Traditional Chinese, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Polish, Hungarian, Thai

Most of you have the Twitter app and know what it does, but this week they rolled out a pretty big update. The design of the Discovery tab got a makeover to show more activity, push notifications received more control, and eight new languages were added.

PhotoWall Live Wallpaper – Version 1.4

What’s new in this version:

NEW Instagram photo feed! (beta)
Reduced memory use, increased performance.
Lots of bug fixes. A couple crash fixes.

PhotoWall is a cool app from top Android developer Larva Labs that shows your photos as your wallpaper. This week the app saw an update that added Instagram support, and increased performance. It’s free so check it out if you need a new wallpaper.

Taptu – Version 2.1.3

What’s new in this version:

New features now available:
Synching across multiple devices: Log in to Taptu using Facebook, Twitter, Linked or G Reader to synch between your different devices. When logged in, your streams and stories that you’ve read or bookmarked will be there for you.
Create a stream for everything: If you are looking for something in particular, you can now create a keyword-based stream.
Speed and performance improvements: faster and more fluid, Taptu has gotten a significant boost in speed.

TapTu saw a minor update last week, but they are back again with a new look. Their major new feature this time is user accounts that let you set up your streams on any Android device and have them automatically populate on another device. There is no need to register with Taptu, as your user account just requires you login to your Google, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn account.

Antivirus Free – Version 2.11

What’s new in this version:

Scan SD card – Enhanced file scanning feature.
Tune Up – allows you to view your phone’s battery and app storage consumption to help you optimize your mobile device’s resources. It is available for users of the Free version of the app for a trial period of 14 days.
New look – Fresh new look added for an improved look and feel.
Widget – We removed the app widget following feedback for users and are now working on a new and improved widget with better functionality and ease of use.

Some say Android doesn’t need antivirus software, but there’s no harm in being extra cautious. AVG just updated their Antivirus Free app with a new look, new widgets, and a Tune Up feature that lets you optimize your device’s resources.

AfterFocus – Version 1.0.2

What’s new in this version:

Supports moving to SD-card
Crash-fix
Fixes the bug not showing drawing lines in Galaxy Nexus
Supports more phones

AfterFocus has become a fan favorite of the site and been featured several times, and this week they released their first update. The latest version is mainly bug fixes, but we also hear a Pro version is coming next month.

Opera Mini Next – Version 7.0.2

What’s new in this version:

Fixed:

Crashes related to virtual keyboard on some HTC devices
Crashes related to non-standard ROMs (e.g. CyanoGen)
Crashes related to text selection
General stability issues

Opera Next gives you a sneak preview of what’s to come in future versions of Opera. This browser app lets advanced users try out new features still under development and provide feedback on how to make it even better. The latest update includes mostly bug fixes.

MX Player – Version 1.6c

What’s new in this version:

Increased maximum volume of S/W audio to 200%
Improved text subtitle drawing speed.
Improved integrity checking of internal modules.
Added options for on-screen elapsed time, battery/clock display; Background color and Bottom placement.
Added support for .mov text subtitle.
Added shuffle/loop option. (Long click the next video button)
Added border thickness option for text subtitles. (except SSA)
Added fade-out option for subtitle text.

MX Player is one of the more popular alternative video players that can handle just about any video codec out there. The latest update increased volume, improved subtitles, and added several on-screen video controls.

Nova Launcher – Version 1.1.2

What’s new since Version 1.1.0:

Custom app drawer tabs and folders (Prime)
Vertical scroll in app drawer
Configurable drawer transparency
Bulk add to desktop or folder
1×1 widgets in dock
Tablet optimizations (Dock, full screen app drawer)
System shortcuts for app drawer (Works with AOKP Navbar)
Activities shortcut
Many optimizations and bug fixes
Fix folder custom icon scaling
Fix FCs
Updated Translations
Fix startup FC and misc fixes

Android users have a ton of options for alternative home screens and Nova Launcher is one of the newer apps on the rise. It only has 100,000 installs, but the average review score is 4.6. It is targeted for devices with Android 4.0+ and includes a ton of performance tweaks and eye candy.

Samsung Unpacked – Version 1.1

What’s new in this version:

Worked on more devices

This week Samsung updated their Unpacked app so that it actually works on Samsung phones. Make sure you grab this app if you want to watch the unveiling of the next Galaxy on May 3rd.

Camera360 Ultimate – Version 3.2

What’s new in this version:

5 new second-class effects are added to ‘Sketch’ and there are 9 in total.
Newly add @ function, available for Sina and Tencent only at present.
Newly add User Guides and Shooting Skills in Settings.
Click the thumbnail image on share page and you can preview shared photo in big size. ‘Rotate’ is also available there.
Newly add Guides for greenhands when start Camera360.
Tips of shooting is added when photo processing.
Optimize share function and make it easier and faster.

Camera360 is another one of our favorite camera apps. The latest update brings new effects, user guides to help you take better photos, and optimized share functions.

Is this the Samsung Galaxy S III?

2012-04-28T18:16:00.001+05:30

Previously on Is this the Samsung Galaxy S III?, our hero asked… “Is this the Samsung Galaxy S III?” Nothing has changed since the last episode, and nothing will change after this one other than a new image to ask about. We’ve seen a lot of those recently and felt fairly confident that none were authentic, but there’s a new claimant that we’ll withhold judgement on.

BGR, PhoneArena, and KnowYourMobile all “exclusively” reported a watermarked image claiming to be the Galaxy S III. All of the bloggers received an anonymous tip that contained the image below; that’s usually not the way people like to do things. Tipsters tend to give images to their favorite site or one they think can spread the word quickly, but this person chose to carpet bomb the web with a leaked image and hope everyone reported on it.

Let’s suspend our Cynic Radar for a moment and pretend this is indeed the GS III. If it is, we can see that Samsung has basically taken the Galaxy Nexus and added hardware buttons for menu, home, and back. You know what, I’m going to turn the CR back on and say, nah, this isn’t the Galaxy S III either. Count on more of these things popping up until the May 3rd unveiling in London.

In related Galaxy S III news, there’s talk that the phone won’t have the recently announced Exynos processor when it comes to the U.S. This was to be expected considering that all of the major carriers prefer the Qualcomm S4 chipsets that have tested well with their networks. It would actually be news if the Exynos made it stateside, so don’t be surprised if you hear that only the global version will get Samsung’s new quad-core processor.

Droid Incredible 4G Launching on Thursday, May 10th?

2012-04-28T18:11:00.001+05:30

A few days ago we got a sneak peak at Verizon’s Droid Does landing page for the Droid Incredible 4G. According to sources close to PhoneDog, the device may actually be released in just a couple weeks, on Thursday, May 10th. Unfortunately their sources don’t have any pricing information, but according to what we’ve already seen on the Droid Does website, it should be listed at $299.99 on contract. This is pretty standard fair for Verizon when they release a new Droid device.

As it goes with anything unofficial, we need to take this launch date with a grain of salt. Although the premature showing on the Droid Does website leads me to believe that the launch can’t be too far off, and May 10th is a Thursday which has historically been the day Verizon likes to launch phones. Luckily for us the 10th isn’t too far off and we should know more soon enough – we will keep you posted. Anyone looking to get this new Droid phone?

ARCHOS 80 G9 Turbo ICS review: Cheap with Ice Cream Sandwich

2012-04-28T18:09:00.000+05:30

ARCHOS released the G9 tablets in October of last year, but since then released Turbo versions with Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich in the box. I thought I would give one a shot since it’s one of the few tabs with ICS and it’s priced right. ARCHOS hasn’t been known for quality, but this newer G9 series is supposed to be a step in the right direction for them. Still, with many tablets to choose from in the 7 to 8-inch screen size, how does it stack up? Without looking at anything else, the price is right at $249, but what about the rest?

Design
As soon as you take the G9 Turbo ICS out of the box, you quickly see how this is an economy tablet. It’s full of plastic, even more so than a Samsung device. It does feel solid, but the overall look and the size of the bezel doesn’t scream incredible quality. One of the highlights is a kickstand on the back, which works great and tucks in nicely when not in use. Also on the back is a compartment that has a USB slot. This isn’t for transferring data, but instead for an optional 3G stick so you can get data anywhere. This is the first tablet I’ve seen with this feature and it’s nice because it allows ARCHOS to produce one tablet, but at the same time give flexibility to the consumer whether they really need a mobile data connection or not.

There is one other highlight, and to me this might be better than the kickstand. It features a microUSB port for charging. This is refreshing because so many tabs are going to a proprietary connection which is very annoying especially when traveling. They also included a mini HDMI port for all your big screen needs.

This isn’t the thinnest tab at 11.7mm. Many competing tabs are in the 8 to 9mm range so it’s not close, but it doesn’t feel all that terrible. As far as weight goes it comes in at a hefty 465 grams, which again is a little heavier then most of the competing tabs.

Overall, I’m not in love with the look of the G9 80, but it does feel comfortable in the hands.

Hardware
The G9 80 Turbo ICS features an 8-inch 1024 x 768 LCD display, a 1.5 GHz dual-core OMAP4 processor, 1GB of RAM, choice of 8GB or 16GB of internal storage, front facing 720p camera (no rear facing), microSD for up to an additional 32GB, mini HDMI, GPS, Bluetooth, and Wifi. There are number of variants available like non-turbo versions that have a 1 GHz dual-core as well as another Turbo (sans ICS) version with a 1.2 GHz dual-core and a 250GB hardrive. Frankly it’s a little confusing, but the one that this review is based on is the Turbo ICS with 8GB of internal storage. It should also be noted that they offer 10.1-inch versions which are called the G9 101.

Battery
The battery life is rated at 7 hours of video or 10 hours of web surfing. I always do a video rundown test in which I play continuous video with the display turned up to about 2/3′s. I was able to get 6 hours and 50 minutes so not bad at all. It’s not as incredible as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE, but should satisfy most people.

Performance
The 1.5 GHz dual-core performs very well, but once in a while, I did notice an occasional lag. What it’s from I’m not sure since this is pretty much a stock ICS device. I’m not into benchmarks, but to appease the audience I usually run an AnTuTu, which came in at 5328, which was better than the Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE I recently reviewed, and has a 1.4 GHz dual-core Exynos. All in all for a $249 tablet, I don’t have any complaints.
The display is adequate, but doesn’t have the wow factor of the Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE’s 1280 x 800 display. Again, this is a $249 tablet. Based on that, I think it’s more than adequate for the average user.

For speakers, you only get one so no stereo sound, but it doesn’t sound bad.

Software
The G9 is basically stock Ice Cream Sandwich and let me tell you it’s a treat. The UI is pretty much untouched, but ARCHOS added in some of their own apps for music and video which are very nice. The music app has a nice navigation feature, which lets you swipe all your cover art. The video app plays anything you can throw at it. Before Android, ARCHOS was always known for personal media players so it’s nice that part of the business transferred to these tablets. You will find your usual bloatware like Nook and Evernote, but it’s not to daunting.

Camera
ARCHOS was smart enough to leave out the rear camera. It’s nice to have for emergencies, but it seems better to omit for cost purposes. The front facer is a 2MP, which is right up there with the higher quality tabs and is good for any of your video chatting needs.

Closing
The ARCHOS G9 80 Turbo ICS isn’t bad at $249, plus it has Ice Cream Sandwich. I would take it over the Amazon Kindle Fire, but the question is if it’s a better buy than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, which has a some lower specs, but made by a more reputable company? I will be reviewing that one shortly, but for now, if you’re looking for something inexpensive that can get the job done, the G9 80 Turbo ICS isn’t a bad buy.

Adobe Photoshop Touch – Worth $9.99?

2012-04-28T14:38:00.000+05:30

I used to own an old Windows Tablet that supported pen input, and being able to use Photoshop with a pen was fantastic. Ever since capacitive screen tablets have become popular, those of us who create graphical images have been clamoring for a powerful photo editing and drawing app that puts fingers to good use. The loss of pen input (Galaxy Note users notwithstanding) has made drawing on a tablet a bit tougher, and though you could never get as accurate with the tip of your finger as you can with the tip of a pen, the software could help make the touch experience better.

There have been many drawing apps for Android tablets, such as AutoDesk’s SketchBook Mobile, and Fresco. Though these apps are good in their own ways, to me they have always felt slightly lacking. This is probably because I have been using Adobe Photoshop since the early 90′s and have become accustomed to the way Adobe does things… layers, filter effects, selection tools, etc.

Last year, I had the opportunity to be part of the beta team for an Adobe tablet app codenamed “FunTa”, short for “Fun Tablet”. Yeah, I know, not the best name, but it was just a codename. This tablet app is what is now known as Adobe Photoshop Touch, part of Adobe’s Touch series of apps, which include Adobe Photoshop Touch, Adobe Collage, Adobe Debut, Adobe Ideas, Adobe Kuler, and Adobe Proto.

Before I get into the review, here’s a couple of sample drawings I created using the beta version of Photoshop Touch.

Beyond the Beta

After the beta testing of FunTa was over, I decided to pay the $9.99 for the released version of Adobe Photoshop Touch. Installing the public release I noticed just a few minor differences between it and the beta. Mostly, it was just a final bit of polish added, and the social side was enabled, namely integration with Facebook and Google images. Also, the Creative Cloud, Adobe’s own free 2GB of cloud storage, was now fully active.

The Creative Cloud

Adobe is positioning Photoshop Touch more as a supplement to the full desktop version of Photoshop. To that end, they use the Creative Cloud as a “Dropbox” for your Touch projects that can then be opened in your desktop Photoshop with all layers intact. This is useful if you are using Photoshop Touch to do some work while mobile, and later plan to finish on your desktop. One limitation, however, is that Photoshop Touch can only work on images up to a maximum size of 1600 x 1600 pixels. That’s pretty small for most serious art work. You could, with a little work, use the Creative Cloud to work on smaller portions of a larger desktop project. The reason for the size limitation is purely hardware based. The larger the image, the more memory is required to handle it. Tablets are limited both in RAM and storage space for swapping to disk. Placing a hard size limit to your images allows Adobe to make sure the app runs smoothly on most tablets. In other words, it’s a necessary evil.

Built-in Tutorials

When you first launch Adobe Photoshop Touch, you are presented with two choices: Begin a Tutorial, and Begin a Project.

If you are familiar with the traditional desktop Photoshop, the user interface of the touch version won’t be too unfamiliar, at least in a general sense. But for those who have never used Photoshop at all, there is a bit of a learning curve, especially since most options are presented as simple icons, so it’s not immediately obvious what each icon does. Also, how to use each feature in a useful workflow can only really be learned by doing it. This is why Adobe included a set of tutorials walking you through some common real-world use cases, such as how to add or remove people in images, create camera layers, make photo frames, etc.

These tutorials are great since they walk you through the process step-by-step while actually using the tools in the app. By the time you finish any of these tutorials, you will know how to use all the tools that tutorial was focusing on, plus you get a good idea of some ways to apply those tools. Very nice touch, Adobe.

Starting a Project

When you start a project, you get the option to import an image from your camera, your device’s gallery, Facebook, the Creative Cloud, or Google. If you don’t want to start with an image, you can simply create a blank image of any size up to 1600 x 1600 pixels. In my example, I am going to import a picture from my Facebook feed.

I chose this picture of a cat statue we have in our backyard.

Adding Depth of Field – Blurring the Background

So let’s say you want to take this image and blur the background to create a greater depth of field to the photo, making the cat statue stand out more. To do that, we’re going to have to select the background. Photoshop Touch provides many selection tools and modes, just like the desktop version, but it adds one new selection method unique to the touch version: Scribble Select.

Scribble Select is a special selection mode that takes advantage of your fingertip. The way it works is that you use your fingertip to draw around the very edge of what you want to select, then you draw a second line just outside the first, basically around the edge of what you don’t want to select. Sounds harder than it is. Here’s the first line:

And here’s the second:

Once the second line is finished, the selection is made. Of course, I said I wanted to select the background, but I selected the cat in the foreground. So next I have to invert the selection. This is done through the selection menu dropdown at the top of the screen.

Once the background is selected, it’s usually a good idea to feather that selection, which essentially just makes it a softer edge. The feather option is available from the same menu dropdown as above. Once you select it, you can control the edge of the selection.

Now that we have the background selection how we want it, we need to apply a blur. The blur effect is found under the FX menu.

Select the Gaussian Blur tool and adjust the parameters until satisfied.

As you can see, the background is now blurred and the foreground pops.

Color Adjustments

Other features ripped from the desktop version includes a whole slew of color adjustments.

Let’s apply Black & White.

Make it Look Old

Making a photograph look old is usually done using a Sepia tone filter. Adobe Photoshop Touch makes it easy by including an Old Sepia filter under the FX menu.

The Old Sepia filter has a couple of adjustable parameters, namely saturation and intensity. This is a nice addition since it makes it easy to dial in the exact amount of “oldness” you want applied to your photo.

Adding Text

All this image needs now is some text. I decided I wanted to name our little statue “Old Mr. Whiskerson”. The text tool is available under the ampersand icon in the top menu.

The fonts available are plentiful and you should be able to find one that matches your design.

After selecting a font and entering text, you can select a color, change text size and position, and more.

Layers

One of the most powerful features of the desktop version of Photoshop is the concept of layers. Layers contain designs, such as images or text, and can be stacked on top of each other and operated on independently. In this example, when the text was added, it was created in its own layer on top of the cat layer.

Layers can be hidden or deleted, reordered, and their opacities can be adjusted. Also, the blend mode of each layer can be changed to create some interesting effects between layers. Blend Mode basically adjusts how one layer is displayed over another layer, with options such as Darken, Multiply, Lighten, Difference, and more. The best way to see what each mode does is to try it.

Saving and Sharing

Once your work of art is complete, you can just touch the back arrow at the top left of the screen to get the save prompt.

Once you save your project locally, it will show up on your main projects page.

From here you can choose to share your image. The icons across the top of this screen act on the projects. The first icon allows you to upload your project to your Creative Cloud account. The second icon displays the share options, which include Save to Camera Roll (local gallery), Share to Facebook, and Share by Email.

Interestingly, the email option would better be labeled “Share by Email or Other” since what it actually does is open up the standard Android share list so you can choose any app to share to.

Here’s what the final image looks like:

Conclusion

What I’ve done in this review is go through an example project from start to finish to give you a good idea of some of the features that Adobe Photoshop Touch provides. It is indeed very powerful, but also comes at the cost of a moderately steep learning curve. Users of the desktop version should feel right at home after half an hour of use, but newbies will need a little more time to digest all the concepts and tools this powerful app provides. The built-in tutorials are highly recommended for all users to go through at least once.

Let me list what I feel are the pros and cons of the app:

Pros:

Layers support
Creative Cloud integration
Many color adjustment filters
Many special effects filters
Designed with the fingertip in mind
Full set of powerful selection tools, including Scribble Selection
Facebook image integration
Google image search
Very well done tutorials built in to app
Makes great use of your tablet’s camera (importing as well as live camera fill during editing)

Cons:

Maximum image size of 1600 x1600
Touch is still not as good as pen for precise drawing
Can get slightly laggy with large images or multiple layers
Text is not editable after being added
No Google+ images or Picasa integration.

Overall, I give Adobe Photoshop Touch a huge thumbs up. For those of us who use traditional Photoshop on a daily basis, a powerful mobile version is a nice supplement. Will it ever take over for the full version? No, but that’s not what it’s meant to do. I can see using it to create small images for blog posts or websites, but not for doing a final print ad or poster design. Also, it’s a great tool to get inspired and work out some ideas while on the go, a sort of mobile digital sketchpad with enough depth to get your ideas across meaningfully.

For me, it is certainly worth the $9.99 I paid for it. For those just looking for a simple drawing app for your tablet and don’t plan to do anything serious, it’s probably over the top. This is truly a professional tool.

Download Adobe Photoshop Touch from the Play Store link

T-Mobile’s HTC One S experiencing poor battery performance during WiFi calling, patch inbound

2012-04-28T14:13:00.000+05:30

There has been little chatter among early adopters in regards to battery performance issues with the HTC One S, but that isn’t stopping T-Mobile and HTC. The pair is pre-emptively prepping an update for the newly released handset that should address excessive battery drain occurring during WiFi calling.
WiFi calling is one of the few unique features T-Mobile has to entice customers considering their carrier options, so addressing any possible drawbacks to the service is high on the totem pole. There is no expected delivery date for the patch, but given the expediency shown in jumping on top of the reported issue we expect it won’t be too long.

Software update in the works for reported Sprint Galaxy Nexus connectivity issues

2012-04-28T14:11:00.001+05:30

The Sprint Community forums have been receiving complaints of connectivity issues with the recently released Samsung Galaxy Nexus — aside from the fact that no 4G LTE network currently exists for the device to connect to, that is. Users are reporting that the Galaxy Nexus on Sprint is having a hard time acquiring a connection to the carrier’s 3G data services. Some have returned their device to be issued a replacement, but others have been turned away as a software fix is apparently in the works.
A moderator on the forum says that Sprint and Samsung “are trying really hard to get [the update] released early next week,” but could not commit to an official date.

Ice Cream Sandwich build 6.14.84 leaks for Droid RAZR/RAZR MAXX

2012-04-28T14:09:00.001+05:30

A new Ice Cream Sandwich build for the Motorola Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR MAXX has surfaced, and sings point to it being an official release for the Verizon Android duo. The leak bears software version number 6.14.84 and measures in at roughly 343MB, matching the file size listed on a recently exposed Verizon update schedule. Further suggesting that the build may represent a nearly final form of Android 4.0 for the RAZR series is the fact that it requires the most recent 6.12.181 Gingerbread update in order to install. The file should be going public via the folks at DroidRzr.com by the end of the day.
According to the above mentioned release schedule, the update for the RAZR and RAZR MAXX recently entered testing and is expected to go live towards the end of May.

Original Xperia Play design had additional QWERTY slider, could have been a Nexus

2012-04-28T14:07:00.001+05:30

Rumors of a “PlayStation Phone” eventually panned out in the form of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, but the gaming handset we were left with could have turned out much differently. New information is coming to light from several sources that reveals Google’s desire to launch the phone as an Android 2.3 flagship along with a unique form factor that never came to fruition.

A US patent application has surfaced showing an early concept for a phone with two sliders, one a gamepad and the other a full QWERTY keyboard. The design dates to October of 2010 and was likely passed over due to hardware constraints before even reaching the prototyping phase. Elements of the initial patent did carry over to the Xperia Play, however. The unique design would have offered greater functionality and helped to target a wider audience, not those looking for a portable game console that could double as a smartphone. The extra bulk of a slider form factor was hard to justify for many consumers who didn’t see game controls as an essential part of their mobile experience.
If Google had their way, Android fans would have had even more of a reason to pick up the handset. When the Xperia Play launched, Verizon carried a version of the device that shipped with a stock Android 2.3 build. The anomalous offering seemed a bit perplexing but makes more sense in the light of information emerging from the Google v. Oracle trial. A slide detailing “lead” devices for the various Android platforms listed the Play (then codenamed Zues) as the flagship handset for Gingerbread. Instead of earning the title of “Nexus Play,” the honors eventually went to Samsung and their Nexus S. The rest is history

Sony Xperia LT29i specs revealed? Snapdragon S4 Pro, 13MP camera (with samples) & more

2012-04-28T14:04:00.000+05:30

Sony LT29i Hayabusa protoype

Last month, Sony was rumored to be bringing out a flagship phone this Summer. Codenamed LT29i Hayabusa, we had little to go on than an idea of what it’d look like and what chipset it’d house (Snapdragon S4). Today, a Chinese blog may have revealed the full slate of details we’ve been looking for. We’ve learned that the variant of the S4 processor may be that of the S4 Pro, an SoC with an upgraded GPU compared to the norm.

Sony LT29i Hayabusa sample photo

There’s also supposed to be a 13MP camera with HDR video recording capabilities and superior lowlight performance, a 4.55 inch HD reality display, a 2200mAh battery and will be around 7 millimeters thin. It looks to be a beast of a phone whenever it launches, a phone that may hit store shelves as the Xperia GX. As a quick added bonus, check out some photo samples from a phone said to have the same sensors below.

Dropbox enhances photo support; brings automatic photo and video uploads out of beta (and how to get 3GB of extra space)

2012-04-28T14:00:00.002+05:30

With all the excitement surrounding the launch of Google Drive this week, Dropbox probably found it necessary to respond in a big way. They’ve been holding on to a handy feature that’s been in beta for a while now and they’re finally bringing it to all who’ll take it. Automatic photo and video uploads are now enabled for any Android device, as well as support for automatic upload support on both Windows and Mac.

With Android, if you plug your camera in Dropbox will automatically find all new photos and will upload them without you having to lift an arm and an arm (unless you type with your feet, then…). Additionally, they’ve added a new photos page that will show you all your photos with a nice big preview, and you can look through photos by month uploaded if you so choose.
Finally, this gives users a chance to earn 3GB of free additional space. You’ll get 500MB for each photo automatically uploaded until you hit 3GB. It’s not yet clear if this applies to those who already got the 3GB upgrade from using the beta, but if you got in on that be sure to try this and let us know in the comments section.

Stop Everything You’re Doing, And Do A Google Search For “Zerg Rush”

2012-04-28T13:56:00.004+05:30

Sometimes it’s just so hard to not love Google. Especially when they do crazy, wacky, cooky, fun stuff like this. Just like I said in the title, stop what you’re doing and do a search for “zerg rush” on Google. When you do, you’ll be treated to an interactive game I like to call — GoogleCraft. Apparently, this is in reference to StarCraft and whether or not you’ve ever played the PC megahit, I can guarantee that you’ll smile. Post your high score with a screenshot! :)

Samsung Galaxy S III Could Launch In The US With Qualcomm’s S4 Processor Instead Of Quad-Core Exynos [Rumors]

2012-04-28T13:55:00.000+05:30

Okay, you should know I am only the messenger and this new Galaxy S III rumor should only be taken with a grain of salt. That being said, the The Korea Times is reporting that Samsung’s Galaxy S III might not come equipped with their quad-core Exynos processor some Android fans have been lusting after since it was announced yesterday. Apparently, a Samsung executive explained to them that the Samsung will, in fact, be using the 4 Quad in Europe where it will compatible with their 3G bands, and in Korea where their LTE will be fully compatible as well. When it comes to us in the states, it’s being said Samsung will use Qualcomm’s (still very adequate) dual-core S4 processor.

I’m no expert, but it could have something to do with the unique combination of T-Mobile/AT&T’s HSPA+/LTE bands throwing Samsung off. Seeing how one of Korea’s largest carriers, SK Telecom, uses a combination of CDMA and LTE technology, there could still be a good chance Sprint/Verizon’s versions will feature Sammy’s quad. Adding to the drama is talk of a possible S4 shortage with Qualcomm reportedly not being able to keep up demand. If that turns out to be true, we can only wonder what Samsung will do then.

What do you guys think? Potentially bad news? Does the Galaxy S III’s processor even matter to you? If this actually pans out, will this send you, and your wallet, to another device? Of course, nothing has been confirmed and before you start chucking rotten tomatoes onstage, it’s best to wait for Samsung’s official announcement in just a few short days.

This Galaxy Nexus Tablet/Phone Hybrid ROM Makes Me All Hot And Bothered

2012-04-28T13:53:00.001+05:30

Is it a phone? Or is it a mini tablet? That’s the question your iPhone toting friends will lose their minds over, after seeing your Galaxy Nexus running this tablet/smartphone hybrid ROM I came across on XDA. It’s called “Paranoid Android” (seriously, coolest logo ever) and it transforms your phone into a mini tablet of sorts, while still giving your device the full phone functionality you need.

Apparently, this isn’t a simple build.prop edit — no, sir. Well, okay, maybe it looks that way for now. But this ROM strives to be so much more than “tablet mode” running on your Galaxy Nexus. It’s looking to reshape ICS as we know it, but it needs some work. If you want to help this ambitious ROM grow into something a bit more than just a “cute novelty,” head on over to source link where you can find all the deets.

Official HTC Extended Battery For Droid Incredible 4G LTE Now Available Online

2012-04-28T13:50:00.001+05:30

Verizon hasn’t officially announced a launch date for the Droid Incredible 4G LTE, but that hasn’t stopped HTC from going ahead and shipping out some official accessories for the handset. The 2,150mAh extended battery ($35) and extended battery cover ($20), are now available from online retailer HTCPedia, and will give the Incredible 4G that extra lasting power most Android devices crave.

Unfortunately, it looks like the extended battery does give the Dinc 4G a little junk in the trunk, but I’m sure that wont bother too many users who don’t mind the trade-off for a few extra hours of battery life. The HTC Droid Inc 4G will ship with a 1,700mAh battery which sounds a little skimpy when compared to its cousin’s 2,000mAh battery found inside the HTC EVO 4G LTE (yet still manages to keep a slim profile).

Samsung’s Q1 2012 Rakes In Record $4.46 Billion In Profits – Samsung Exec Confirms “Galaxy S III” Name?

2012-04-28T13:44:00.000+05:30

As if you needed any further proof that Samsung is dominating the Android (and mobile) market, look no further than their Q1 2012 earnings report. Today, Samsung reported that they managed to rake in a cool $40 billion in sales with a record $5.1 billion in operating profit (appox $4.46 billion after taxes). Samsung is up with a 98% gain over this same time last year, and it’s all thanks to their smartphone division which accounted for 73% of their profits.

And it looks like “record earnings” is a phrase you’re going to hear a lot this year when it comes to Samsung. Their Galaxy S III has already generated worldwide “next-gen iPhone-like buzz” with Samsung saying, “We are anticipating strong demand for the Galaxy S III,” and that they expect it to be their “most successful smartphone ever.” Looks like it will be called the Galaxy S III after all? Only a few more days until we get to see the GS3 unveiled next week and hopefully it lives up to all of our expectations. Full press release below.

Samsung Electronics Announces First Quarter 2012 Earnings Results
(SEOUL–Korea Newswire) April 27, 2012 — Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced revenues of 45.27 trillion Korean won on a consolidated basis for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, a 22-percent increase year-on-year.

For the quarter, the company’s consolidated operating profit reached an all-time high of 5.85 trillion won representing a 98-percent increase year-on-year. Consolidated net profit for the January-March period was 5.05 trillion won.

Despite a decrease in sales of semiconductor chips and TVs due to seasonal factors, an increase in profitability in display panels and mobile phones pushed up quarterly operating profit margins by 1.7 percentage points to 12.9 percent.

In its earnings guidance disclosed on April 6, Samsung estimated first-quarter consolidated revenues would reach approximately 45 trillion won with consolidated operating profit of approximately 5.8 trillion won.

Samsung’s strong performance in the quarter was driven mainly by the IT & Mobile Communications (IM) segment, which is comprised of four businesses, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, IT Solutions and Digital Imaging. In particular, solid growth in the Mobile Communications business, with brisk sales of flagship GALAXY Note and GALAXY S II devices contributed to the company’s profitability.

The consolidated operating profit for IT & Mobile Communications businesses reached 4.27 trillion won on revenue of 23.22 trillion won. The Display Panel business rebounded in the first quarter with operating gains of 280 billion won, following an uptick in demand for high-margin panels used in tablets, 3D/ LED TVs and premium OLED panels.

“Despite difficult business environments including seasonal low demand for major products such as PCs and TVs amid a global economic slowdown, we achieved record quarterly results based on our differentiated products and technology leadership. We cautiously expect our earnings momentum to continue going forward, as competitiveness in our major businesses is enhanced,” said Robert Yi, Senior Vice President and Head of Investor Relations.

Looking into the second quarter, Samsung expects to improve profitability in the chip business with a recovery in PC DRAM price and by expanding its new product category with mobile application processors based on 32 nanometer-class process technology. Samsung plans to also bolster its competitive edge in mobile phones with the debut of new high-end smartphones, and by reinforcing the full lineup of products and its presence in emerging markets.

Capex 7.8 Trillion Won in Q1

Capital expenditure in the first quarter was 7.8 trillion won, with 5.8 trillion won invested in the Semiconductor Business and 1.3 trillion won in the Display Panel segment.

Earlier this year, Samsung announced plans to spend a total of 25 trillion won in capex for 2012.

Fifteen trillion won will be invested in the Semiconductor Business that consists of Memory and System LSI. For the Display Panel segment, 6.6 trillion won has been allocated for investment.

Organizational Change

Starting from the first quarter, the business segment financial disclosure will reflect the organizational changes, which took place in December, 2011. We will provide sales and earnings of Device Solutions, including Semiconductor and Display Panel businesses; and Digital Media & Communications, including IT & Mobile Communications and Consumer Electronics (CE) divisions.

IT & Mobile Communications includes Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, IT Solutions and Digital Imaging; and CE includes Visual Display and Digital Appliances.

Seasonal Factors Dampen Chip Demand

Samsung’s Semiconductor Business - including Memory and System LSI - posted an operating profit of 760 billion won in the first quarter. Revenue retreated to 7.98 trillion won on-year, a 13-percent decrease compared with the same period last year.

Weaker-than-expected off-peak season demand and a global supply crunch of HDDs coupled with low demand for PC DRAM chips and the oversupply of mobile DRAM impacted profit margins, in which the memory portion saw its revenue slip to 4.89 trillion won. For NAND, spot price remained weak due to sluggish demand compounded by early stage products from geometry migration flowing into the channel market.

Despite adverse market conditions, Samsung’s chip business was buoyed by strong demand for server DRAM and by expanding our value-added product mix such as products based on the 30-nanometer-class and 20-nanometer-class process technologies.Increased orders for Solid State Drives (SSDs) and Embedded Multimedia Cards (eMMC) also helped the chip business to cushion the market squeeze.

Looking ahead, the global HDD supply shortage is expected to be alleviated in the second quarter and demand for specialty DRAM products including mobile and server DRAMs will be strong. However, elevated competition among manufacturers of 30-nanometer-class chips will lead to a price decline.

In the second quarter, Samsung is poised to ramp up supply of high-capacity, power-efficient DRAM for servers based on our green memory solution. As for NAND, we will spur growth by expanding the 20-nanometer-class portion. Sales of CMOS image sensors will remain high in the April-June quarter, as demand for smartphones equipped with high-resolution cameras is expected to be strong.

Display Business Swings to Profit

Operating profit for the Display Panel Business turned around from the previous quarter to register 280 billion won on revenue of 8.54 trillion won in the first quarter.

Despite traditionally weak seasonality, continued economic stagnation in Europe, and the prolonged supply shortage in the PC industry, the Display Panel Business was able to improve profitability by expanding sales of high-end premium panels such as LED TV and 3D panels, which pushed TV panel sales up in the mid-20 percent range on-year. Increased sales of high-resolution panels for tablet PCs and OLED panels for smartphones also helped boost profit in the quarter.

Looking ahead, although the market for monitor panels will remain stagnant, demand for tablet and notebook panels is expected to increase on seasonal education-related demand while TV panels are expected to lift due to Chinese Labor Day sales and the London Olympics.

Moving forward with the establishment of Samsung Display Corporation, the company will continue to enhance profitability by expanding sales of premium panel products such 3D, large size and LED panels, while smartphone demand is expected to continue to fuel OLED panel sales.

Profits Propped Up by Strong Sales of Smart Devices

The IT & Mobile Communications division - including Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, IT Solutions and Digital Imaging - registered quarterly operating profits of 4.27 trillion won for the first period. Revenue reached 23.22 trillion won, and the mobile unit accounted for 18.90 trillion won, up 86 percent year-on-year.

Growth in shipments of Samsung’s flagship GALAXY Note and GALAXY S II and other premium mobile devices yielded high returns, with significant growth in China, Central and South America, the Middle East and Africa.

Samsung is expected to continue its strong growth momentum in the second quarter, following the announcement of the next GALAXY device in London on May 3.

The Telecommunication Systems business saw growth both in revenue and operating gains due to an increase in LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless broadband technology equipment. In the case of IT Solutions, a boost in sales of mid-to-high-end products, including PCs and printers improved quarter-on-quarter earnings.

We expect to further solidify our leading position in LTE business in the US market and make further inroads into countries newly adopting the service.

Premium TV Sales Lift Profitability

Samsung’s Consumer Electronics businesses, which encompass Visual Display and Digital Appliances, registered an operating profit of 530 billion won in the quarter, up 550 percent year-on-year, on revenues of 10.67 trillion won.

Although weak seasonality led to a quarter-on-quarter dip in revenue, strong sales of premium TVs in developed markets and LED TVs in emerging markets saw shipments outstrip market growth and drive a sharp increase in profitability. Highlights for the quarter included an increase in sales of more than 50 percent for Samsung’s flagship 7000/8000 TV series on-year, while the Digital Appliances Business improved profitability, both on-year and on-quarter, by increasing its portion of premium product sales.

In the second quarter, market growth for flat panel TVs in the mid-single digits is expected on rising demand in emerging markets and increased sales of LED TVs which are forecast to account for over 60 percent of the TV market in the quarter. In emerging markets, Samsung aims to expand its presence with region-specific LED TV models, while its range of Smart TV models with enhanced features will continue to maintain the company’s leadership in developed markets.

As for digital appliances, demand is expected to rise led by growth in emerging markets. Samsung will aim to improve profitability in the quarter by enhancing R&D efficiencies, expanding sales of premium products and sales in emerging markets, and capitalizing on strong seasonal demand for air conditioners.
News Source: Samsung Electronics

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 unboxing and initial hands on review

2012-04-27T21:52:00.000+05:30

There is no shortage of tablets from Samsung, expecially in the 7-inch category. They started with the original Galaxy Tab, then the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, and finally the Galaxy Tab 7.7. Samsung isn’t resting as they showed off the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 / 10.1 at Mobile World Congress. The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 isn’t an upgrade from previous tabs, but more of a price-driven concept. The specs aren’t jaw-dropping, but will satisfy the average consumer. It’s priced at $249, which makes this the first tablet from mainstream Android manufacturers that can actually compete with the Amazon Kindle Fire in terms of price.

As for the specs, the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 has a 7-inch (1024 x 600) display, 1 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 3MP rear camera, VGA front camera, 8 GB of internal storage, microSD for up to an additional 32GB of storage, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and the latest edition of TouchWiz.
Another notable is that all users will get 50GB of Dropbox storage for one year. You will be able to get your hands on it on April 22, but for now check out our initial hands on video (after the break) and look for our full review soon.

GroupMe: The Best Group Messaging App Around

2012-04-27T21:48:00.000+05:30

Let’s face it, we live in a world of internet-based communication. In fact, most of us tend to keep in contact with our friends and loved ones with messaging clients, especially if your friends and loved ones are spread out around the country or world. The most famed and successful international messaging client is no doubt the Blackberry Messenger by RIM, especially because it featured the popular group chat function. My friends and family aren’t particularly fond of the Android platform, so most of them are on either iPhones or Blackberries. That means unless we use some sort of cross platform IM client like AIM or Facebook messenger, we can’t communicate with each other in real time. Enter: GroupMe— one of the most important apps I use daily. This is not only the best group messaging client, it’s one of the best IM clients, period.
GroupMe works in a simple way. Once you install the app, it scans the contacts in your device in order to give you the ability to create “groups” or categories for certain people– no matter what the platform is. That means those of your contacts who are on an iOS device, Android, Blackberry or even a Windows Phone 7 can communicate with each other at the same time. Once that’s done, the group is given a unique identifier (a special phone number) and you as well as other members of that group will be able to communicate in a group chat in real time— no delays, no lag, all instant! In addition, the UI is seamless with features such as being able to share items like photos and your actual location on a map. It’s easy to transition from IM window to IM window and it’s fairly straightforward to edit and change your various groups. Oh and for those who are in the corporate world like I am— there’s a handy conference call feature that is available which allows any user to call the group’s phone number in order to open up an instant conference call among all the members of the group.
Sure there’s WhatsApp, KIK and other IM clients out there, but GroupMe trumps them all. It features a simple UI, allows for sharing of photos and user locations and features conference calls. It doesn’t get much better than this folks. It’s available for all Android 2.1+ devices now. So if you are one who is in constant communication with your friends and family, getting this app is a no brainer, so make sure you get it— now. You can download it from Google Play

Radiant Particles: One of the Coolest Live Wallpapers I Have Ever Used [Video]

2012-04-27T21:41:00.001+05:30

Live wallpapers are a dime a dozen these days and many of them simply just fall flat. I am usually not even a big fan of them, especially not the “particle” ones that all do pretty much the exact same thing. That was until I tried Radiant Particles, the particle live wallpaper that actually kicks ass.

The $1.59 paid version of this live wallpaper allows you to customize up to 50,000 tiny particles, altering their shape, color, movement and touch-response actions. Tap or swipe your screen and watch the particles swirl behind your touch and then slowly dissipate on their own. There is even an auto motion feature that makes the particles move by themselves without requiring your touch interaction. If you are ready to turn the live wallpaper off to save on battery, just double tap the screen and freeze all particle movement.
The free version is definitely a good place to start to see if this is an app that you will like. You won’t get all the cool options but you do get a choice of either blue or orange particles with a black background and either version works on both tablets and smartphones. I am pretty confident that once you check out the free version you will want to unlock all the possibilities of the paid version so you can tweak it to your liking. Jump past the break for a short demo video and download links, you wont want to miss out on this one!

Google Play link for Free Version and Paid Version

Review: Cruzer Lite’s Androidified Case for the Galaxy Note

2012-04-27T21:37:00.000+05:30

After being such a huge fan of Cruzer Lite’s Androidified cases for the Galaxy Nexus I figured it was about time to wrap the Galaxy Note in one as well. I have tried many upon many a case for my devices and find I always favor the fit and finish of the TPU case from Cruzerlite. Not only do they fit perfectly, they provide just enough protection to keep your investment safe all the while reppin’ your favorite OS’ mascot, Andy. As you can see below, the Androidified case is the perfect way to show your undying affection for Android. The Android logo is emblazoned on each Androidified case in a stylish way that makes the case stand out from the rest.

The case is made from a flexible TPU material and provides enough coverage to protect against drops and scratches. There is even a little lip around the screen that keeps the screen safe from scratches if you set the phone on its face. All ports are exposed allowing full functionality of the device and you can even slide out the S Pen with ease. The case even has a nice ridged texture along the sides to provide a better grip so you don’t drop you new toy. The Galaxy Note can take some time getting used to and its large size is often cumbersome. This case should help you from fumbling it to the ground.

Available in 12 colors, the A2 TPU case from Cruzer Lite is by far my favorite case available and it’s super affordable, too. You can get one of these cases from Cruzer Lite’s Amazon storefor just under $10. Also check out the new artsy line of cases for the Galaxy Note and Galaxy Nexus called Personas of Andy. These are pretty awesome too! I’ve included a picture of the available designs below.

Video Review: Audiobooks.com for Android

2012-04-27T21:28:00.000+05:30

If you're a fan of audiobooks (who isn't?) and happen to own an Android device (who doesn't?) then you'll definitely want to check out the Audiobooks.com experience. Rather than offering up an app to download, Audiobooks.com lets users visit their website from any mobile browser. Once there, the site acts like an application and scales properly to fit your screen. Additionally all of your features from the website are converted to easy-to-navigate buttons and tabs so that things work efficiently.

Here's a quick look at Audiobooks.com on desktop, smartphone, and tablet!

Audiobooks.com runs $24.95 for unlimited access to 10,000 books and also comes with a 7-day trial!