planet android

Google looking to expand Voice tie-ins to more carriers

2012-03-27T03:42:00.000-07:00

Google Voice, which is currently only available to Sprint users (without the $20 charge to port one's number to Voice), may not be so exclusive for much longer. According to Vincent Paquet, the Group Product Manager for Google Voice, they're talking to other carriers about getting the service integrated. This is sure to please thousands, if not millions of customers on other carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T, who use Google Voice regularly. Of course, no official partnership with another carrier has been announced, but Paquet's statement obviously points to talks between Google and a second, or possibly even third carrier.

Tie-ins with another carrier would bring mutual advantages to both Google and the respective carrier. As Sprint said last year when the two teamed up,

This is an extremely important event for Sprint.

That proved to be true, as Paquet is claiming that Sprint integration has worked well, with a steady stream of people signing up for Google Voice since day one. Again, we haven't heard any official announcements from Google or any carriers, so this is one of those wait-and-see situations. More on this as it develops.

So are you excited by the possibility of Google Voice on your carrier? Do we have any Sprint users out there that currently use Google Voice? Drop a comment below

Yet Another Motorola Android device leaked, looks familiar

2012-03-27T03:40:00.000-07:00

Recently, a Motorola device was leaked under the name Droid Fighter, which we expect will be hitting Verizon sooner or later. Now another Motorola device has been leaked out somewhere in China, and it looks a lot like the Fighter, but it's being called the "Blade". Something about the name points us to another Razr device from Motorola, which wouldn't be surprising.

We know from the photo above that the device has a large screen, a front facing camera, and the typical Android capacitive keys as well. There's a kevlar covering on the backside, and we have seen it on devices from the Razr line. Rumor has it that the Blade will come with a 13MP HD camera, and hopefully a good-sized 3,300 mAh battery.

At any rate, let's see if the device is destined for Verizon Wireless or if Motorola is planning to make it exclusive to China. Based on the rumored specs above, who's looking forward to the Moto Blade?

AT&T HTC One X benchmarked, results are surprising

2012-03-27T03:38:00.000-07:00

If there's an Android phone that I can't wait to get my hands on, then it's none other than the HTC One X. It was announced last month at MWC as a flagship device for HTC, and now some benchmark results are out proving yet again that the One X is no ordinary device. The benchmarks are actually of AT&T's version of the HTC One X,which comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, instead of a Tegra 3. We have the LTE capabilities to thank for that one.

Even with Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4, a dual-core chip, the results are proving that it's not less than any other dual-core chip. Have a look at the benchmark below:

In this one, you can see the device's score is superior to even the Transformer Prime, which is actually a quad-core tablet. This is one of the devices I am really looking forward to, and these results only reaffirm that. So anybody else looking forward to it? Tell us in the comment box below.

Android 4.0 build leaked for AT&T’s Galaxy S II Skyrocket

2012-03-27T03:34:00.000-07:00

Just few days ago, AT&T confirmed that an Android 4.0 update is coming for some more recent Android devices, including the Samsung Galaxy S II SkyRocket. However, AT&T didn't tell us when they are planning to bring the update to the devices, as usual. But fret not, because if you are using the SkyRocket, then today might be your lucky day.

The ICS update for the SkyRocket has been leaked over on RootzWiki, and it looks to be the real deal, based on the build.prop below.

ro.build.description=SGH-I727-user 4.0.3 IML74K 107 release-keysro.build.fingerprint=samsung/SGH-I727/SGH-I727:4.0.3/IML74K/107:user/release-keys
ro.build.characteristics=default

At the moment, only Windows users can use the file, so Mac and Linux users are stuck with waiting and admiring from afar. So if you can't wait for the official release, download the update (at your own risk, of course) and give it a try. Be sure to leave your thoughts about it in the comments below!

Pair of unannounced mid-range Motorola handsets emerge in leaks

2012-03-27T03:32:00.001-07:00

After going somewhat silent for the last few months, Motorola appears to be readying a number of new Android smartphones. A pair of new models have landed on our radar in the form of mid-range Gingerbread handsets. While the hardware details for both models aren't exactly high-caliber, we're still anxious to see where the MT680 and XT760 ultimately end up.

Early details for MT680:

Android 2.3 Gingerbread
WVGA TFT LCD screen (480x800)
Either a dual-core 1 GHz or a single-core 1.5 GHz CPU
5-megapixel rear camera
HSDPA and HSUPA support
135 grams (4.76 ounces), 10.3 mm thickness

Early details for XT760:

Android 2.3 Gingerbread
qHD TFT LCD screen (960x540)
1 GHz dual-core ST-Ericsson chipset,
8-megapixel rear camera with auto focus
125 grams weight and 9.88 mm waist

As of right now there is no indication as where either of these models will end up, however Motorola has a record of releasing some models across China and other parts of the world and then maybe here in the United States. Judging by the leaked images, this appears to be the case for both of these. The form factor is close to some of their recent devices and continues the Kevlar/squared shoulders of 2011's handsets and could be siblings/successors of the Motoluxe introduced a few months ago.

Google IO registration opens tomorrow (March 27)

2012-03-27T03:27:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder for all of you Android developer types looking forward to the annual extravaganza known as Google IO. Registration for the 3-day event gets underway nice and early tomorrow (7AM PDT) and will likely end in around one hour's time. If the last few years are any indication then the level of interest for the 2012 conference will be off the charts.

Here's a quick, last-minute recap of what to expect and/or need for registration. You can head to Google IO's website for the full details.

Google IO 2012 takes place June 27–29, 2012 at the Moscone West Convention Center (San Francisco, CA)
The hours of the event are as follows:

June 27 from 9:00 am–5:15 pm, with the After Hours evening event from 6:30 pm–10:30 pm
June 28 from 8:30 am–5:45 pm
June 29 9:00 am–5:00 pm

An individual can only purchase one ticket.
Tickets may be transferred at Google’s sole discretion
In order to register, users must have a Google Account and access to Google+
General attendee tickets are $900
A limited number of Academia tickets are $300
Registration payments may only be made using Google Wallet through the online registration form.

We will no longer be accepting payments without a Google Wallet account

Rovio touts 10M Angry Birds Space downloads in first 3 days

2012-03-27T03:25:00.000-07:00

The casual gaming juggernaut known as Angry Birds is showing no signs of a waning interest, according to its developers. Taking to Twitter early this morning, the guys at Rovio advise that their latest release, Angry Birds Space, has seen 10 million downloads in the first three days following launch.

We were one of those millions of users and couldn't wait to get our hands on the game, if only to see what sort of mechanics or gameplay was employed. While we've been pleased with the results thus far, it appears that some of you have a dissenting opinion.

Have you downloaded Angry Birds Space yet? What do you think of the new birds and gameplay for these first 60 levels? Are you ready for more or have you moved on to other games to kill your time

Gameloft: all future games to include in-app purchases

2012-03-27T03:18:00.002-07:00

Gameloft expects to offer in-app purchases for the remainder of its 2012 Android games, according to announcements made during its financial report. Additionally, Gameloft plans to incorporate social elements into its games, tying Twitter and Facebook accounts in for an enhanced experience. Both the freemium model and social networking aspect have polarizing effects on users and players however we feel Gameloft should handle both of these right. We're pretty confident that Gameloft won't litter our timelines with every single unlocked feature, high score, and in-game progress.

We're anxious to get our hands on some of Gameloft's upcoming titles, including Ice Age and Men in Black III. Taking things even further, we're super-geeked to see the newly announced The Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers, and The Amazing Spider-Man.

Wirefly offering Sprint EVO 3D for free on new lines and upgrades

2012-03-27T03:17:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to those of you looking to grab a new line or upgrade at Sprint - Wirefly has a great deal on for the Evo 3D for the next few days. The Android-powered HTC handset is free for both new customers and existing subscribers eligible for a new smartphone. Why is this noteworthy? Whereas most outlets who discount handsets to a penny or free with new activations, this is also for current customers. It's not often that they get the same love as a new user.

OMGPOP outlines upcoming Draw Something features

2012-03-27T03:14:00.000-07:00

OMGPOP, the developers behind the incredibly popular Draw Something, recently sent out an email detailing some of the app's future features. We recently learned that the ability to save images would be coming down the road, as would be in-app chatting. Apparently this is but the beginning and OMGPOP/Zynga have plenty of other fun stuff ahead.

You may have already received this email yourself but here's the details.

Sharing drawings on Twitter and Facebook
Save drawings to your devices' photo library
Notifications for Android devices
Increase of the max streak from 99 to 999 (you guys are rocking it!)
Pull down to refresh game status
UNDO button for your last brush stroke
Even better performance
More words
And a slew of other fixes and tweaks

coins, colors, and bombs not displaying (If you don't see them right now, don't worry, your stuff is safe!)
Games crashing or getting a black screen
Bugs that prevent you from completing your turn

Photographers Rejoice! Instagram posts a sign-up page for Android users

2012-03-25T07:18:00.000-07:00

Instagram is just one of a handful of apps that have truly made iOS a must-have. The other being the beautifully designed and addictive Flipboard. After seeing hundreds of Instagram pics uploaded to Facebook and Twitter, et al, I finally downloaded the app to my iPod Touch to see what all the fuss was about. While I have only used it a few times, I do understand the novelty of having a brand new picture look like a vintage Polaroid that's been left on the dashboard of my mom's 1977 Vega. I kid. I have already signed up to preview the app and can't wait to start taking Instagram photos on my Samsung Galaxy Nexus. 27 million iOS users can't be wrong, and when this app lands on Android it will be truly ubiquitous.

Angry Birds making Galaxy line even more popular

2012-03-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

Since the summer of last year, Samsung and Rovio Mobile have been teaming up to draw more attention to the Galaxy SII line. Two weeks ago, Angry Birds Space made its first appearance at SXSW in Austin, and yesterday the game was officially released to the Google Play Store. It's already garnered many rave reviews. I downloaded the game to my tablet, and was so hooked after 5 minutes of gameplay that I decided to get the game on my phone due to some exclusive perks for Samsung Galaxy owners.

To commemorate the launch the game, an exclusive Samsung Galaxy Note level has been added along with an add-on package called "Danger Zone" (normally an in-app purchase), available free to Samsung Galaxians for the next three months. Samsung is even holding several contests, which you can check out here. Users can join contests and win anything from some of the best Android phones out there all the way up to their very own star.

So clearly, Rovio and Sammy are working together to promote the Galaxy Line and Angry Birds at the same time. With the rumored GSIII possibly around the corner, we could see even more from these two companies in the months to come.

Who's excited for more bird slingin', pig poppin' action? If you aren't already addicted, you can download Angry Birds Space below, and leave us a comment with your thoughts!

creazione software per android

Angry Birds Space
Rovio Mobile Ltd.
FREE
<50
Link Android Market

Google re-evaluating Wallet strategy, may share revenue with carriers for higher adoption

2012-03-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

When it was announced, Google Wallet was a sensation. The convenience of paying with a smartphone represented a huge leap in the way we see and use technology. Sadly, the mobile payment service has not been very successful, and the search giant finds itself re-evaluating its strategy to improve adoption.

Internal sources are claiming that Google is thinking of offering part of the revenue with Verizon and AT&T. This would further entice the two largest U.S. carriers to support Google Wallet. The service is currently only available from Sprint (officially), lacking enough range to become popular.

Furthermore, it is only officially available for one device - The Nexus S 4G. Though this will be changing soon: The Sprint Galaxy Nexus is said to come soon (possibly during April), and Sprint is planning to bring 10 Google Wallet-supported devices during 2012. But in order to succeed, such service would need leverage from other carriers, as well.

It is yet to be seen if AT&T and Verizon would be willing to do this, though. The carriers, along with T-Mobile, are working together to launch ISIS, a competing mobile payment service. Investments in this service have been substantial, and ISIS seems to be ahead of Google Wallet even before its debut, with a plethora of partnerships.

Google seems to have a back-up plan, though. If carriers reject the offer, Google is looking to set them aside and rely solely on payment terminals. Instead of the payments being authenticated via the carrier, transaction information would be sent to Google's servers. These would then clear the transaction and allow purchases to be completed.

Regardless, such work-arounds would require a large investment. Payment terminals would need extra hardware in order for this process to function. Google will probably try to work things out with the other carriers. But if all goes wrong, we could see a very risky future for Google Wallet. ISIS is almost ready, and it looks very promising.

So where do you see Google Wallet going? Think the carriers will bite? Drop a comment below!

New Kindle Fire months from production?

2012-03-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

BGR is claiming that the next Kindle Fire is only months from production, and that it's poised to be bigger, badder, and a whole lot faster.

Rumor has it that the new Fire will bring a 10-inch display to the table, and pack a nice NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core. It's supposedly launching sometime during the second quarter of this year. Amazon hasn't actually said anything to this effect, but DigiTimes has leaked that Amazon ordered a chassis for the new device from Catcher in Taiwan. That's all that we know at this point, so it could be the next Kindle Fire, or just a big hoax cooked up by someone to keep us busy. More on this as it develops.

I don't know about you, but I certainly enjoyed the first Kindle Fire. Is anyone planning on picking up this quad-core piece of Amazon goodness if/when it drops? Sound off in the comments!

Five for Friday: News and RSS readers

2012-03-24T05:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our weekly column where we aim to help users find new applications for their Android smartphones and/or tablets. Called Five for Friday, these are small collection of apps or games centered around a common theme.

While we recognize that there are going to miss a bunch of titles or appear to have a partially completed list, that's hardly the case. Rather, these are just five apps that we've picked to get you going in the right direction.

We understand that each of you is unique and typically have your own preferred apps for various tasks. For this reason, we ask that you add your titles to the comments below. This way other Android users can discover the stuff that we may overlook or omit.

This week's topic: News and RSS readers

Keeping up with websites, blogs, and news outlets is pretty tough stuff if you don't have the right tools. And while there are plenty of ways to manage things efficiently and cleanly on a desktop, the same could not always be said of mobile. Fortunately, the last few years have given way to some pretty sharp Android apps that put a twist on traditional news and rss readers. Here's a collection of five fun and fresh news rss and news apps for Android smartphones and tablets.

Flud News

Flud News

Developer: Flud
Available for Android 2.1+ smartphones
Cost: FREE

Keep your news in a clean and clutter-free layout with this new Android app. After finding success with iOS devices, Flud recently came to Android smartphones and will soon grace tablets as well. Find and share news across a variety of topics and sources including your favorite blogs and outlets. Keep aneye on what your friends are up to with the Activity Feed or share your favorite articles over social network, email, and more. We love the easy setup and immediate integration with Google Reader, Facebook, and/or Twitter. Extra credit for the ability to read articles offline making this one sharp app to have on the daily commute. Here's to hoping for an equally impressive tablet design in the near future!

Here's our hands-on demonstration of Flud for Android

Pulse

Pulse

Developer: Alphonso Labs
Available for Android smartphones and tablets, Kindle Fire
Cost: FREE

One of the first of its kind to see Android 3.X Honeycomb support, it has been a favorite of ours for keeping up with various websites and blogs. We're big fans of the optimized layout and and split-screen summary display for articles, but we love being able to open directly into web browser. Offline sync keeps things up-to-date for those long road trips or daily subway rides.Additional features include multiple pages for large volumes of feeds, integration with Google Reader, Read it Later, and much more. Once you get hooked on the sliding rows and tiles you will have a hard time reading news any other way.

Google Currents

Google Currents

Developer: Google
Available for Android smartphones and tablets.
Cost: FREE

Google's official way of handling magazines, news sources, blogs, and other outlets, it's among the best. Thanks to working relationships with publishers such as Forbes, Popular Science, Good, and Fast Company, the Publisher Editions really shine with videos, photography, slideshows, live-maps, and more. Updated hourly, Currents will keep a list of items trending across Google and deliver them in categories such as world, entertainment, sports, and science. As you would expect, integration with Google Reader is a breeze and turns your feeds into a magazine-like experience. Toss in some offline reading and you can see why we're in love with Google Currents.

News Republic

News Republic

Developer: Mobiles Republic
Available for Android 1.5+ smartphones, Android tablets, Kindle Fire
Cost: FREE

Recently updated to a 2.0 design, this is one of the more customizable news apps we've encountered along the way. We love the ability to set alerts for specific topics and seeing them arrive on our notification bar, like an instantly-delivered Google Alert. Thousands of news sources with multiple angles on the same stories ensures you get every side of the situation. When done reading a story make sure to share your mood on the topic or share it across your social network(s). For those of you into the geekier tech side of things, the developers have an equally impressive APPY Geek worth exploring. Gossip lovers and entertainment hounds are also encouraged to check out Glam Life.

News360

News360

Developer: News360 LLC
Available for Android 2.2+ smartphones, Android tablets, Kindle Fire, Google TV
Cost: FREE

More than 10,000 different news sources from around the world help make this one of our favorite apps to install across multiple devices. Bonus points are awarded for Google TV optimization as not too many developers have embraced the platform. Features include personalized news based on your Facebook, Twitter, Google+ accounts, GPS-based local coverage, and the ability to search quickly from links to companies and brands.

Your Turn!

What app(s) did we not mention above that are still worth sharing? List them and some of the reasons you really enjoy using each so that other Android users can discover their next favorite app

Updated Kindle app gives new access to comics, graphic novels, more

2012-03-24T05:08:00.003-07:00

Amazon updated their Kindle app for Android this week, adding in support for a wider assortment of illustrated children's books, graphic novels, and comic books. It's now possible to access popular titles such as Brown Bear , Curious George, and Superman and enjoy them in a much richer format.

The second major feature added into the update gives users the ability to "Send-to-Kindle" any documents that they want to view later. These documents are stored in the cloud using Amazon's Cloud service and are automatically synchronized much like books and other media. Once tied to your account (via email) you can access these files across all of your devices, including the Kindle Fire.

If you haven't had the chance to check out Amazon Kindle for Android, head to Amazon's site or Google Play Store for more information.

Full details for LG Lucid arrive online

2012-03-24T05:08:00.000-07:00

The full set of hardware details for Verizon's LG Lucid have landed online weeks ahead of its expected official announcement. Specifications point to a mid-range Gingerbread handset so we're expecting something far below the $299 price point that typically accompanies 4G LTE devices. The LG Lucid should arrive at Verizon sometime in April so we should anticipate a few "in the wild" images to hit the internet soon.

LG Lucid specifications:

Android 2.3 Gingerbread
4-inch IPS display (Gorilla Glass, 800X480, 262K Color TFT)
1.2GHz dual-core processor
8GB of internal storage
Dimensions: 4.69 x 2.45 x 0.45 inches
Weight: 5.0 oz
4G LTE
Mobile Hotspot capable
Bluetooth v3.0, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), USB 2.0
Standard Battery: 1700mAh

Standby time: Up to 350 hours
Usage time: Up to 8 hours

Micro USB Charging port
Wi-Fi Direct
S-GPS support for location accuracy
Share Genie

AT&T promises Android 4.0 updates for ten more devices

2012-03-24T05:07:00.000-07:00

AT&T has offered up a list of their Android devices expected to see an Android 4.0 update in the coming weeks and months. Much like Verizon recently did, the carrier has put together a collection of smartphones and tablets that will get their Ice Cream Sandwich update.

As some of you know, AT&T announced yesterday that the 4.0 update is now ready for HTC Vividsmartphones and can be manually installed by users. For whatever reason, there are no other HTC models on the list below, including that expensive Jetstream tablet. Perhaps there were not enough sold to even consider the update.

Although AT&T has not set up a dedicated tracking page for the Android 4.0 update, we know it should include the following:

LG Nitro
Motorola ATRIX 2
Motorola ATRIX 4G
Pantech Burst
Pantech Element
Samsung Captivate Glide
Samsung Galaxy Note
Samsung Galaxy S II
Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9

Are you an AT&T subscriber anticipating Ice Cream Sandwich? Is your phone or tablet listed here?

Zooz’s credit card SDK now available to all Android developers

2012-03-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

Perhaps one of the toughest thing for an Android developer to figure out is how to monetize their application. With so many options to choose from, things can become pretty daunting pretty fast. One particular model that has emerged over the last year or so is the ability to make in-apppurchases

A lot of developers have started offering up a free, limited version of their app with the option to unlock the full edition through in-app billing or purchases. Some have chosen to use the Google Play Store billing method while others are looking to Paypal and alternate players.

After six months of beta, Zooz has entered the fray with a pretty appealing option that requires very little back-end work. Featuring an SDK that consists of three lines of code, Android and iOS developers can monetize their apps with credit card and Paypal acceptance.

Claiming to have the“best rates in the industry”, ZooZ says developers can look to 2.8% plus $0.19 per transaction. What's more, the service works in 150 countries around the world, ensuring large-scale compatibility. Developers who integrate the SDK can expect to payout via a bank draft, PayPal, or through a dedicated MasterCard.

If you are an Android developer looking to offer a premium model game or app, we invite you to check out ZooZ and their publicly available SDK

Google Voice app updated with better Android 4.0 integration

2012-03-24T05:03:00.001-07:00

Google today announced a new version of their Google Voice application for Android handsets. This v0.4.2.54 release sees the addition of two key features that center around Android 4.0 devices. For starters, the app will now integrate with your handset's dialing application so that you can better check missed calls and voice mails. It is no longer quite so tedious to toggle between visual voice mail and missed calls. Additionally, the update also gives users the ability to slow down playback for messages. This will be especially helpful in cases where one might leave a phone number, email address, or website as part of the message.

Download and install Google voice for your Android 1.6 device and higher, including tablets.

10-inch Acer Iconia Tab a510 officially debuts in U.S. and Canada

2012-03-24T05:02:00.002-07:00

Acer has officially announced that their Tegra 3-powered 10.1-inch Android tablet, the Iconia Tab a510, is now available in the United States and Canada. Initially unveiled early in the year, this marks the company's first Android tablet to feature a quad-core processor. Specifications include 1GB RAM, 10.1-inch 1280x800 display, a 5-megapixel camera on the rear, and a battery rated at 12 hours of video playback.

The Iconia Tab a510 will ship with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and a few Acer enhancements however the exact timing remains unclear. If you're interested in placing an order for one of these $450 tablets, you are encouraged to check various retail outlets.

AT&T releases Android 4.0 update for HTC Vivid

2012-03-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

HTC today announced that the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update has begun rolling out to HTC Vivid handsets around the country. If you're on AT&T and have one of these massive beauties and can't wait to get your hands on the latest version of Android, head to AT&T's site for more information. Not only does this update bring Ice Cream Sandwich, but it also adds an optimized audio experience with Beats By Dre and an updated HTC Sense experience as well!

Selected New Features

Beats Audio - Enhance your music and video experience with Beats Audio.
Face Unlock - Face Unlock is a new screen-lock option that lets you unlock your device using face recognition.
Improved email - Easier to send, read and manage through recipient auto-completion, stored text, and nested sub-folders.
Bluetooth Mouse and keyboard - Use a Bluetooth mouse and/or keyboard with your device and adjust its settings.
UI Improvements - Access the notification bar on the lock screen. Drag apps/shortcuts on top of one another to create folders. New fully customizable Launch Bar at the bottom of the screen. Resizable widgets.
Advanced Voice and Text Input - More robust and can be used to dictate an entire email. Intelligent enough to recognize pauses, breaks and punctuation. Advanced Spell Checker

Lookout announces “Mobile Lost and Found”

2012-03-24T04:59:00.001-07:00

Lookout, the guys behind some of our favorite mobile security apps, have just released some pretty troubling data. This time we're not talking about malware or other threats of that nature. Nope, now we're discussing your missing mobile phones. Did you know that lost mobile handsets will cost U.S. consumers more than $30 billion this year alone? Yikes!

After helping more than 9 million people recover their lost smartphones last year, Lookout is ready to go the extra mile. Today sees them announcing a new website called Mobile Lost and Found. The aim here is to educate users as to when and where phones are left behind or lost.

Using anonymous data collected across 15 million worldwide users, Lookout is able to help you better understand the alarming trend of misplaced smartphones. Thanks to Foursquare's API and some crafty coding, we can get a much clearer look at where we are likely to leave our Android's behind. If anything, we learn where to be careful with our phones and which cities are the toughest on us.

Lookout Projects Lost and Stolen Phones Could Cost U.S. Consumers Over $30 Billion in 2012

Lookout Study Identifies Top U.S. Cities for Phone Loss: Philadelphia, Seattle and Oakland

San Francisco — March 22, 2012 — Lookout, the global leader in mobile security, today released findings from the first-ever phone loss study, which revealed that lost phones, if unrecovered, could cost U.S. consumers over $30 billion this year. As part of the study, Lookout today released the Mobile Lost & Found, an interactive website for people to discoverthe places where phones are most often lost, the likelihood of losing a phone by region, and the financial impact of lost phones.

Lookout’s data analysis from more than 15 million users found that regional location and behavior are the largest factors influencing phone loss. Over the course of 2011, Lookout located 9 million lost smartphones, which equals one phone every 3.5 seconds. In total, Lookout found that U.S consumers lose their phone about once a year. If uncovered, that could cost smartphone users upwards of $300 a year.

“Each day, $7 million worth of phones are lost by Lookout users alone, and if unrecovered, it would take a significant toll not only on our wallets, but on our psyche too,” said Kevin Mahaffey, co-founder and CTO Lookout. “Safeguarding your smartphone starts with protecting it from the number one risk you face – losing it.”

What are the odds?

People in some U.S. cities have a higher chance of losing their phone: Philadelphia residents lose their phone three times more than New York City dwellers, while San Franciscans and New Yorkers lose their phones three times more than Chicagoans.

Lookout determined the top ten cities in the U.S. for phone loss during 2011, inconveniencing residents’ daily lives and resulting in financial losses:

Philadelphia
Seattle
Oakland
Long Beach
Newark
Detroit
Cleveland
Baltimore
New York
Boston

Interestingly, many of the cities with highest rates of lost and stolen phones also were in the top ranks for the FBI’s most recent crime statistics. Cleveland, Detroit, Oakland and Newark, were amongst the 10 cities with the highest crime rates in the U.S.

Dude Where’s My Phone?

Lookout also discovered that specific locations invited loss more than others, with coffee shops and bars topping the list. In addition, people lose their phone most often at night, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.

The top ten places for lost or stolen phones in the U.S. were:

Coffee Shop
Bar
Office
Restaurant
Apartment & Condo
Grocery Store
Gas Station
Residential
Pharmacy or Drug Store
Park

As part of the study, Lookout unveils interesting findings on where phones are lost in specific cities, shedding insights into the character of each:

In Chicago, the 3^rd most common venue to lose your phone is a church.
In New York City, the top place to lose your phone is a fast food restaurant.
In San Francisco, the leading venue to lose your phone is a coffee shop.

About Mobile Lost & Found

Lookout’s Mobile Lost & Found data is based on Lookout’s more than 15 million global users. The findings in Lookout's Mobile Lost & Found are based on anonymized phone “locates” data performed by Lookout’s 15 million global users in 2011. Lookout Mobile Security has users around the world who use the Lookout application to locate their lost or stolen device. To determine popular venues where phones were lost in cities across the globe, the study used the FourSquare API. Each “locate” was mapped by FourSquare’s API to a venue type closest to the lost phone’s location.

About Lookout Mobile Security

Lookout is a mobile security company dedicated to making the mobile experience safe for everyone. Lookout delivers award-winning protection from the growing threats facing mobile users today, including malware, phishing, privacy violations, data loss, and loss of the phone itself. Cross-platform, Lookout is designed from the ground up to provide advanced mobile protection while remaining lightweight and efficient on the phone. With 15 million users across 400 mobile networks in 170 countries, Lookout is the world leader in smartphone security. Headquartered in San Francisco, Lookout is funded by Accel Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, Khosla Ventures and Trilogy Equity Partners. For more information and to download Lookout, please visit www.mylookout.com.

U.S. Cellular adds 4G LTE Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to lineup

2012-03-24T04:56:00.001-07:00

U.S. Cellular has officially kicked off their new 4G LTE lineup with today's release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Available for $399.99 (after $100 mail-in rebate), the Android-based tablet can be found in select markets. Specifications are identical to those found in other versions of the Tab 10.1 save for the 4G LTE connectivity through U.S. Cellular's new network.

Highlighted features of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 include:

10.1-inch WXGA PLS TFT 1280x800 HD display
Slim and lightweight at 1 pound, 3.9 ounces and .34-inch depth
Battery life up to 12 hours of usage, with standby time of up to 400 hours
1 GHz dual-core NVIDIA^® Tegra™ 2 processor
Powered by Android™ Honeycomb
Front and rear camera: 3.2 megapixel rear camera with auto-focus, LED flash and HD (720p) video recording, 2 megapixel front camera
32 GB memory

As far as the 4G LTE network, U.S. Cellular offers service in select cities in Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Later this year, the carrier plans to expand to additional markets in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.

U.S. Cellular

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 10.1 AVAILABLE ON U.S. CELLULAR ONLINE AND IN STORES TODAY

Tablet Launches U.S. Cellular’s Line-Up of 4G LTE Devices

CHICAGO (March 22, 2012) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) have announced that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1^™ is available today, both in stores and online at uscellular.com. The Android™-powered tablet runs on the 4G LTE network, with speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G, and is the first device introduced in U.S. Cellular’s 4G LTE device line-up. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available for $499.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. For a limited time, the tablet will be available for $399.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate in markets currently covered by the 4G LTE network and in those scheduled to be covered by the end of 2012. Visit uscellular.com for detailed pricing.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 features a widescreen display and dual surround-sound speakers, ideal for streaming video or watching movies while keeping families entertained on-the-go. The 2 megapixel front camera’s high-quality image is ideal for video chatting and the 3 megapixel rear-facing camera has HD video capabilities to ensure users will capture every memorable moment. Galaxy Tab 10.1 users have access to nearly half a million apps available through Google Play, formerly known as the Android™ Market, helping multi-taskers get more done throughout the day with calendars, email, news, weather and more. Google Play also features downloadable digital movies, books and music.

“The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the first of many cutting-edge devices slated for use on the 4G LTE network,” said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. “This sleek and functional tablet makes it easier than ever for busy customers to simplify and organize their lives.”

Highlighted features:

10.1-inch WXGA PLS TFT 1280x800 HD display
Slim and lightweight at 1 pound, 3.9 ounces and .34-inch depth
Battery life up to 12 hours of usage, with standby time of up to 400 hours
1 GHz dual-core NVIDIA^® Tegra™ 2 processor
Powered by Android™ Honeycomb
Front and rear camera: 3.2 megapixel rear camera with auto-focus, LED flash and HD (720p) video recording, 2 megapixel front camera
32 GB memory

The enhanced wireless experience on the 4G LTE network builds on the 3G data services U.S. Cellular customers already enjoy on the carrier’s nationwide network that has the highest call quality and network satisfaction. U.S. Cellular, in partnership with King Street Wireless, currently offers 4G LTE service in select cities in Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. In the second half of this year, 4G LTE coverage will expand to cover select cities in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available to all U.S. Cellular customers and will run on the 4G LTE network in markets where it is available and on U.S. Cellular’s nationwide 3G network in all other areas. By the end of 2012, 54 percent of U.S. Cellular customers will enjoy faster 4G LTE speeds.

U.S. Cellular customers enjoy the only 4G LTE network with unique benefits, such as new devices faster without continuously signing contracts, free Overage Protection and free Battery Swap. U.S. Cellular also offers customers the only points-based rewards program in the industry, which rewards customers for simple things, such as paying bills on-time, adding a line or referring friends and family. Points may be used for faster phone upgrades, additional lines, devices, accessories and ringtones. It’s one of the reasons U.S. Cellular has the happiest customers in wireless.

For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G. For information about all of U.S. Cellular’s deals, plans and phones, and other restrictions on these offers, visit any U.S. Cellular store, go to uscellular.com or check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available for $499.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. For a limited time, the tablet will be available for $399.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate in current and upcoming 2012 4G LTE markets. Visit uscellular.com for detailed pricing. Purchase of a data plan is required and a new two-year agreement and activation fee may apply for new customers. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply.

About King Street Wireless, L.P. King Street Wireless, L.P. currently holds 700 MHz wireless spectrum in 27 states and is partnering with Chicago-based U.S. Cellular to deliver high-speed 4G LTE service to U.S. Cellular’s customers in several of the carrier’s markets. King Street Wireless is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia where it is recognized for its involvement in its community both through its economic development and philanthropic efforts. To learn more about King Street Wireless, visit www.kingstreetwireless.com.

About Samsung Telecommunications America Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2010 consolidated sales of US$135.8 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices across 68 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

About U.S. Cellular U.S. Cellular rewards its customers with unmatched benefits and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed nationwide network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Champion in 2012 for the second year in a row and received PC Magazine’s 2011 Readers’ Choice Award. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

The Golf Edition MOTOACTV brought to you by Motorola Mobility and Bubba Watson

2012-03-24T04:53:00.000-07:00

The wearable fitness device powered by Android. Now that spring time is among us, Motorola is looking to grab the attention of golfers worldwide. Marketed towards users wishing to "amp up their game" the latest MOTOACTV is now available for pre-order at a somewhat pricey $299. The first devices will start shipping April 1st (no jokes here). Three-time PGA Tour winner, Bubba Watson claims this "could eliminate the caddy" in the promo video on Youtube.

Bringing more "social" to your golf game. The Golf Edition includes over 20,000 courses worldwide and allows you track your entire game using GPS coordinates, as well as provided a virtual caddy to keep track of scores.

Check out this youtube video, as well as the full press release below.