Welcome to DroidForums.net - the original Android Forum and Android News site with an emphasis on Verizon Android Phones. We cover all Droid Phones, Samsung Android Phones, Motorola Android Phones, HTC Android Phones, and LG Android Phones. If it's Android related, we cover it! This site contains the largest collection of Android News, Android Apps, Android Accessories and Android Reviews gathered from around the web! The first step would be to REGISTER for free so you can take advantage of all the features we have to offer.
Android News - The latest Android News from around the web!
The tradition continues with the DroidForums.net May 2013 Dev of the Month! This contest is to support those who spend countless hours doing what they love doing, developing for Android. DroidForums.net was founded with one thing in mind - a home and place to discuss all Droid and Verizon Android phones. The... [Read More]
Ladies and gentlemen it is time to get ready for the launch of Verizon Wireless's much anticipated Samsung Galaxy S4 on May 23 and do we have a treat for you. In anticipation of the launch, the fine folks over at Clarivue and Seidio are sponsoring a giveaway for DroidForums members! If cases and screen protectors are a 'must have' then you are in for a treat.
Clarivue has been producing high-quality, scratch-resistant films since 2005, and their quality is unsurpassed. Their lifetime warranty is a testament to the quality of their product and we here at DroidForums find them to be one of the best in the biz in customer service and satisfaction. If you have ever owned a Seidio case they need no introduction. Their cases offer top notch protection and beautiful looks. The fit and finish of Seidio's line-up is something to behold and their cases are always a perfect fit.
RULES FOR ENTRY: In the comments below please let us know what device you are upgrading from, what color case you want (Black or White) and what type of Screen protector you prefer (Ultra Clear or Anti-Glare.) Only ONE entry per member is permitted. The giveaway will close May 23, 2013 at 12:00pm Central and the five (5) randomly drawn winners will be announced later that day.
Before signing off, Clarivue informed us that they are offering anyone who enters, but doesn't win, a discount of 20% off any of their screen protectors. Stay tuned for that info on May 23, 2013!
Samsung Electronics announced that global channel sales of its GALAXY S4, has surpassed 10 million units sold in less than one month after its commercial debut. Launched globally on April 27, the phone is estimated to be selling at a rate of four units per second.
A statement from J.K. Shin, Samsung's CEO and President of Mobile Business:
On behalf of Samsung, I would like to thank the millions of customers around the world who have chosen the Samsung GALAXY S4. At Samsung we’ll continue to pursue innovation inspired by and for people.
The GALAXY S4 sets a new record for Samsung, generating sales quicker than any of its predecessors. Sales of the GALAXY S3 reached the 10 million mark 50 days after its launch in 2012, while the GALAXY S2 took five months and the GALAXY S seven months to reach the same milestone. Samsung isn’t resting and aims to make the GS4 available at 327 carriers in 155 countries by the end of June. In addition, the next level of estimations have the company selling upward of 22 million Galaxy S4 device by the end of Q2.
Samsung is aslo planning to introduce more color variations to meet various consumer tastes and preferences. In addition to the currently available White Mist and Black Forest, new color iterations will be added this summer, including Blue Arctic and Red Aurora, followed by Purple Mirage and Brown Autumn.
If you are awaiting release day tomorrow and you would like to give your Galaxy S3 one last rom before updating to the Galaxy S4 Rom tomorrow you are in luck. Developer "PureMotive" has put together the AxisM Rom for your flashing needs. This is a Touchwiz Rom based on 4.1.2 VRBMB1 so it includes the TouchwizUX interface that you are familiar with. The Rom has been Debloated for improved speed and storage. It includes all sorts of performance enhancements like full qualcomm s4 snapdragon rendering, v6 supercharger script, maximum ssd performance, and more. Customizations include the TN Advanced Power Menu, 23 extended lidroid toggle settings, hacked hotspot, call/ message blocking, smart rotation, smart stay, multi window, muted boot sound and more.
There are several other tweaks including Axis Shell, Status bar mods, Notification panel, date and time mods, lockscreen mods, touchwiz launcher, phone tweaks, and other function tweaks. You can grab this Rom at the source link below.
If you have been following the Galaxy S4 Bootloader saga then you know that their is currently an unreleased method for unlocking both the AT&T and Verizon variants. DjrBliss is biding his time waiting probably until tomorrow for the official release before releasing his method. So far all we know is that it is a "hack". We have a picture of a screen that says "Recovery Booting" "Samsung Galaxy S4 bootloader hacked by Dan Rosenberg". This seems like more than just Kexec. It feels like a full bootloader unlock however Dan has not even officially said that the bootloader has been unlocked, only hacked.
There is a bright spot though. He has officially booted Cyanogen MOd on the AT&T variant of the S4 with "no issues". This may be good news for Verizon folks as well. Even if this is a bypass I will be just as thrilled. If it is just a bypass though we may not see CM and other roms officially supported on this device which would be a bummer. Luckily whatever the method is will more than likely be released tomorrow. Keep an eye on your twitter follow @DjrBliss.
Developer "Open1your1eyes0" has been the go to guy for Root on the Stock builds for the Verizon Galaxy S3. He has already achieved root on the Verizon variant of the Galaxy S4 even though we still don't have a public method for unlocking the bootloader. The guide at the source link is very simple as long as you are good with following directions.
You will need to first prepare your PC and phone for the process by installing the Samsung USB drivers and downloading a few files. You will then flash a special Kernel that removes the "Root Block". Lastly you will Root your device. There is a disclaimer attached to the guide.
Warning, this method will leave you with a miss matched kernel/modules. This may cause problems unless corrected.
If you can wait a few more days @DjBliss will be releasing his method for unlocking the bootloader. Once that is accomplished you should be able to easily flash a custom recovery, and then install superuser.zip. That would be a cleaner way with minimized risk.
Verizon had a big announcement today. Folks who were expecting the announcement of a VZW version of the HTC One were probably disappointed. There was no announcement of an HTC One or any other device. Instead, Verizon is apparently teaming up with celebrity Jennifer Lopez (J. Lo), to offer their new Viva Movil mobile experience. The new service is designed to offer the U.S.-based Latino population a new mobile shopping alternative.
Despite the fact that Google Now in other forms has been out longer than Siri, it looks like Apple has added the service to its long list of lawsuits against Samsung, referring specifically to the Google Now functionality on the Galaxy S4. Here's a quote with some additional detail,
Apple has updated an earlier lawsuit filed against Samsung with claims that the Galaxy S4 and its Google Now feature violate two Apple patents covering functions of its own virtual personal assistant, Siri. Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents relayed news of the updated complaint on Wednesday, and he noted that two of the patents — U.S. Patent 8,086,604, and U.S. Patent 6,846,959 — cover technologies related to Siri. Both filings describe a “universal interface for retrieval of information in a computer system.” Apple also added three more patents to its earlier complaint that are not related to Siri, according to the report.
As you can see, Apple is up to its old tricks again. It's interesting that they are targeting Google Now on the SGS4, but not going after Google in the courts directly. Perhaps it's just a publicity stunt to convince people Apple had voice search and assistance first, even though it had been on Android for quite a bit longer. At this point it almost looks like Apple's lawyers are simply throwing stuff at the wall to see what they can get to stick.
Several reports have come in today indicating the HTC executive leadership team is in anarchy. The once-great mobile hardware maker may have a new hit on their hands with the HTC One, but that won't matter if the internal damage within the company brings it down from the inside. A large list of executives left the company recently, including a couple of them today. One of them, ex-strategy head Eric Lin, even tweeted the above message after leaving, suggesting that all his friends quit and "leave now." Another high-profile executive to leave today was the HTC Asia CEO Lennard Hoornik. Here's a breakdown of all the execs who recently left the company including their former titles,
Eric Lin - Strategy Head (left today)
Kouji Kodera - Chief Product Officer
Jason Gordon - vice president of global communications (left on Friday)
Rebecca Rowland - global retail marketing manager
John Starkweather - director of digital marketing
Lennard Hoornik - HTC Asia CEO (left today)
According to unnamed sources, the morale is so low at the company it is described as being in "utter free fall." Also, this same source said that even though the HTC One has been a solid success, the HTC First was a disaster.
Ouch! A mass mutiny at the command level on an already floundering ship is a bad sign. What do you guys think? Could we be seeing the beginning of the end for HTC?
Just yesterday we shared a rumor about a phone which could be the Verizon and/or Sprint version of the Motorola X Phone. Some .inf USB drivers showed a device called the XT1060 with CDMA capabilities, that was loosely identified as the elusive X Phone. Today, some new intel suggests a different device is headed for Sprint which is speculated to be their X Phone.
This one has the model name XT1056 and it just passed through the FCC with Sprint radios. If this info and our previous story are accurate it would mean the following model numbers correspond to the listed carriers:
AT&T X Phone = XT1058
Verizon X Phone = XT1060
Sprint X Phone = XT1056
All of the pieces seem to be falling into place for the X Phone, and not all of them are terribly exciting. We have seen pics and specs which seem to confirm Google execs' previous statements that the current pipeline of Motorola products will be lackluster. It looks like the device will come with a Snapdragon S4 Pro. This is a capable and powerful quad-core chip to be sure, but it is still technology from last year. Of course, it's still possible we will see some other innovations which will generate excitement fo the new X Phone, but we will have to wait and see when it actually is officially announced.
Previously, we covered Verizon's announcements of new "services/products" in which they will be selling user collected location data to other companies. This product is obviously not designed for the end user, but is for Verizon to make additional profits selling valuable marketing information to other corporate entities. You can see our previous stories regarding the subject, here and here.
Today we have a little more info to share,
Whenever a Verizon Wireless customer visits a website on his or her smartphone, data such as the name of the site visited, demographic info about the user and his/her location, is being sent out to Precision Market Insights where it is collected and analyzed. This is a product that Verizon launched last October which is offered to certain subscribers like malls, billboard owners, stadiums, etc. These subscribers see the age and location of cellphone users in a certain area, and learn which websites these people are viewing. ~ PhoneArena
Supposedly, Verizon claims they are not selling individual data to other companies, but are instead simply sharing data about groups. This doesn't necessarily allay fears, especially from privacy advocates like Chris Soghoian of the ACLU.
To be fair, Verizon does offer an opt-out program, and you can hit up the link below to do so. In the meantime, sound off in the thread and let us know what you think of Verizon selling your location data to other companies.
Here are instructions on how to opt-out:
Log into your Verizon Wireless account and navigate to their privacy page.
You will see three sections: Customer Proprietary Network Settings, Business and Marketing Reports, and "Relevant Mobile Advertising."
Go to the first section, opt out, and click Save.
You will then need to repeat this in each section. (Remember to hit save each time for all three opt-out sections)
Here's something funny that came out of Google I/O 2013 this year. During the conference Google "Trolled" their own attendees by showing off tidbits of Key Like Pie easter eggs sprinkled throughout the events. Here's a quote with more of the details,
During Reto Meier’s “Android Protips 3: Making Apps Work Like Magic” session at Google at IO13, Google did what they do best, tease their fans with upcoming Android release juicy nuggets. His session teaches developers how to use advanced Android techniques to build good apps. Apps so good, users will think they’re magical. Besides learning the tricks of the trade, at about 25 minutes in, there’s an Android wearing an magicians cap, eating a piece of Key Lime Pie. Oh, Google. We love it when you tease us like this.
The trolling didn’t stop there either. Later on during the session, Google showcased a crude game (Is that some sort of Cthulhu?). The boss attributes include Chrome, Jelly Bean, and Key Lime Pie.
You can't help but appreciate those crazy Googlers even when their sense of humor boarders on the sadistic.
The new flagship Android tablet from Sony just went global a couple of days ago. Sony announced the world-wide availability of their new Xperia Z tablet. You can get it in the United States starting at $499.99 at Amazon. That price might seem a bit steep for an Android tablet, but this the main advantage of this tab is you can use it in nearly any conditions, rain, snow or sunshine. It is also the thinnest and lightest tablet on the market. Here's a spec-list and Sony press release,
10-inch 1080p
Quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU
2GB of RAM
16GB of internal storage (and other larger options available)
A microSD slot for additional expansion
8MP Sony Exmor R camera
Optional 4G LTE connectivity (for a price jump)
LONDON, May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
World's slimmest*, lightest** tablet hits shelves across the globe
Ultimate entertainment tablet comes in 4G or WiFi and a choice of black or white
Red Dot Design Award 2013 joins growing list of accolades
Sony Mobile today announced that Xperia Tablet Z - the world's slimmest, lightest premium Android tablet - is now available to buy across the globe through Sony's retail and operator partners as well as online channels. The multi-award winning product - which recently picked up a Red Dot Design Award 2013 - has received the largest number of pre-orders of any Sony tablet to date.
Xperia Tablet Z captures the very best of Sony's technology, design, connectivity and entertainment in a premium high-performance water-resistant tablet. It's incredibly slim and lightweight and includes Sony's stunning and now familiar OmniBalance design that perfectly complements its smartphone sibling - the smash hit Xperia Z. Xperia Tablet Z is available in black or white finishes and in 4G or WiFi versions.
"Xperia Tablet Z has received an incredibly positive response since it was announced and this is demonstrated by the strong pre-orders the product has received," said Tomokazu Tajima , Senior Vice President, Head of UX Creative Design and Planning, at Sony Mobile Communications. "We believe we have created the ultimate tablet experience and one that is uniquely Sony. Who else would design a tablet that can be used as a media center, a TV remote control - as well as sync seamlessly with Xperia Z and be submerged for 30 minutes underwater!?"
Xperia Tablet Z is also the best connected tablet available and continues Sony's unique one-touch function story using NFC. No other company is making it easier to enjoy content between multiple products such as TVs, speakers and smartphones than Sony.
A number of companion accessories are also available from Sony Stores and registered retailers including a charging cradle, an LCD Screen Protector and stylish leather Carrying Cover that comes in black, white or red.
For further details and specifications please visit here. Please visit your local Sony website for further details on availability and pricing.
About Sony Mobile Communications
Sony Mobile Communications is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation, a leading global innovator of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for both the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world. Through its Xperia™ smartphone and tablet portfolio, Sony Mobile Communications delivers the best of Sony technology, premium content and services, and easy connectivity to Sony's world of networked entertainment experiences. For more information:
Join this discussion
44 Replies
|
1,312 Views
![[ROM] AXISm Release 19 For Verizon Galaxy S3-axisdisplay.png](/forum/attachments/android-news/63112d1369261343-rom-axism-release-19-verizon-galaxy-s3-axisdisplay.png?cmps=1)
ROM: Not setMay 13th, 2013
ROM: Droid RAZRMay 12th, 2013
ROM: Galaxy S3May 12th, 2013
ROM: Galaxy S3Apr 25th, 2013
ROM: Droid RAZRApr 2nd, 2013
ROM: Droid 4Mar 20th, 2013
