News

Max Payne Mobile for Android AWOL?

Fri, 25 May 2012 16:31:30 +0000

Four weeks ago we shared the unfortunate news that Max Payne Mobile for Android had been delayed by "about a week", following a tweet from Rockstar.

So where is it? Have they announced another delay? What's going on?

The short version? Stony silence - never a good sign.

The PR/marketing folk manning the official RockstarGames account are happy to chat if you want to discuss the new release, Max Payne 3, but enquiries about Max Payne for Android are flatly ignored.

I'd like to think that they've had a breakthrough and are working diligently on compatibility for an even broader range of devices than first intended, but it's much more likely that significant issues have been found following the issues which dogged the launch of GTA 3 towards the end of last year.

We've contacted Rockstar directly to try and get an update. In the meantime, if you're looking for a gaming fix, may we suggest checking out the list of 56 titles discounted in the 'Because We May' sale?

RIM: We'll keep our crown jewel (BBM) to ou...

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:58:41 +0000

Since the dawn of time (well, it feels that way) there have been reports, even leaked screenshots, of efforts to bring Blackberry Messenger (BBM) functionality to platforms other than RIM's own. It now appears that RIM have - sensibly - decided that this is a bad idea.

An article at the Wall Street Journal journal is reporting that although Executives at the company did come up with a detailed strategy aiming to license BBM as a service to other vendors, this has now been shelved through fears that it would damage a key part of buyers' motivations to buy a RIM device.

I have to say I agree with their new stance on the situation. Although i'd actually quite like BBM on my Android device (for some reason I just don't really get on with any of the multitude of 3rd party alternatives) and it would no doubt open up a new revenue stream for the company, I know of many people personally who still buy Blackberry handsets purely on the back of BBM, something that RIM just can't do without at the moment.

Of course, with financial pressures what they are at the company it's definitely a 'never say never' situation, but for now it seems, if you want BBM, buy a Blackberry.

Updated: Sony Android ICS roadmap loses Xperia...

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:48:42 +0000

Sony seem to have left the Xperia Play out of their upgrade plans to Android 4.0. The Xperia Play was the closest thing to a "Playstation Phone" out there, but was not as wildly successful as hoped. It is now not on the list of devices that will be getting the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update from Sony, either accidentally or deliberately!

Other arguably less powerful devices from the 2011 Xperia line up will be getting the Ice Cream Sandwich goodness from Sony, but - if this omission not the first "Playstation Certified" device.

We have reached out to Sony for comment, but at the time of writing they are unable to confirm the situation - we'll update you here as soon as we have the official line!

Are you surprised by this turn of events given Sony's apparent commitment to device updates of late? Are you a Sony Ericsson Xperia Play owner? Let us know in the comments!

[Via: SONY]

Update:

Sony have posted more information on the decision in this blog post:

Quote

In regards to Xperia PLAY, after extensive in house testing with our developer teams and working with our partners, we have concluded that a consistent and stable experience, particularly with gaming, cannot be guaranteed for this smartphone on Ice Cream Sandwich – therefore, we will not make the Android 4.0 upgrade available for Xperia PLAY.

This decision was also verified when we received similar feedback from the developer community; both experienced developers and advanced users, along with game content providers following our ICS beta ROM for unlocked Xperia PLAY smartphones.

Our priority has and always will be, to provide the best possible user experience on Xperia smartphones. In this instance the ICS upgrade would have compromised stability, where we look to ensure a quality gaming experience with games optimized and developed for Xperia PLAY.

So, it took less than a year for all of the top Google partners to break the OHA upgrade guarantee, impressive!

HTC Explorer Now £80 On PAYG

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:26:20 +0000

The HTC Explorer, a budget and pocket friendly Android 2.3 handset, is now selling for £80 at Vodafone on Pay As You Go. Considering the handset is still selling for around the £120 with other networks and retailers, this is a comparative bargain.

That said, the HTC Desire C is just around the corner and has similar specifications. Is the marginal utility of the Beats Audio logo, the extra internal storage and Android 4.0 worth paying double the price for? Or for an extra £20 do you get much better value for money from a Huawei G300, also from Vodafone?

We'll let you figure these consumer decisions out, let us know what you think in the comments.

Source: Vodafone

Bump app update adds desktop photo sharing

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:01:09 +0000

Bump, the Android and iOS application used for transferring files between devices by (as the name suggests) 'bumping' them together, has now added support for photo transfer to desktop machines.

Actually, that's not entirely true... although that is the end product, the Bump application on your phone actually uploads the images to the Bump website which you can then in turn download to your computer, as well as sharing easily on social networks or sharing directly via a URL. There is no limit to the number / size of images you can store in this way.

The service works REALLY well, although I did notice that images are optimised for upload speed rather than quality so while the service provides a cool way to transfer images quickly, i'll certainly continue to use my Dropbox upload service to ensure I have full resolution images available too!

The beauty of the solution for me is that nothing needs to be installed on the target and as a technology demo, it's super impressive!

I've always liked the concept of bump and tended to keep it installed for occasional use... now I just found one more reason to keep it to hand!

[Via: Mashable]

In Russia, 'Parking Douche' names and s...

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:00:39 +0000

This is awesome... a new application by the name of 'Parking Douche' lets Russians snap pics of inconsiderately parked vehicles which are then displayed on a popular website going by the name of 'The Village', complete with geo-targetting to show perpetrators in your local area!

Use of the app is straightforward - simply grab your phone when you see someone 'parked like a douche', snap a pic, fill in a few bits of additional data and your entry is uploaded to the Parking Douche database. That data in turn then appears on The Village - a Moscow-based online newspaper - in the form of a banner that is removed by sharing the offending parking on a social media network!

The application itself looks pretty advanced - it even seems to include (based on the screenshots) number plate recognition.

I'm not sure if this kind of application would really be acceptable here in the UK (I love the concept though)... but heck, if we're recognising number plates, let's tie that into the DVLA database and REALLY name and shame.

OK, OK, maybe not...

[Article via: Mashable, video from lookatmespecials]

Three UK increasing contract prices by 3.6%

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:05:02 +0000

Three UK have announced that they are to increase contract prices by 3.6%, in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) rate published on 17 April 2012. This applies to all customers except those who joined on or after 8th March 2012 or have a 30 day SIM only contract.

Unfortunately this is something that 3 are allowed to do without giving customers the ability to terminate their contract, as it is covered within their terms & conditions.

If you are paying £25 a month for example, you will see an increase of 90p a month.

So lets recap - when the interest rate is in their favour, Three UK will increase their prices by the RPI. But when the rate turned negative in 2009, Three UK refused to reduce their prices. Having their cake and eating it?

Three's justification is as follows...

Quote

While we know a price increase is never welcome, this is the first time that we've ever raised the price of our Pay Monthly phone contracts and we're confident that your plan still represents excellent value for money.

Anyone affected by the change should be receiving a SMS, e-mail or letter advising of the change, arriving between the 21st May and 1st June 2012.

[Via: Three UK]

Bootloader unlock your AT&T HTC One X

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:27:38 +0000

No sooner have I posted my guide to the One X locking situation and it all gets turned on it's head! You can now bootloader unlock your AT&T HTC One X!

The solution, detailed here at XDA-Developers, is beautifully simple.

Basically, the process is:

Root device
Dump MISC partition
Edit CID in dump to change from AT&T to Rogers
Flash patched MISC partition
Use official HTCdev unlock tool

Fantastic! Of course, flashing the MISC partition is potentially (very) dangerous, but this is great news for AT&T One X owners. I'm off to unlock mine.

Picture courtesy of sk806 @ XDA.

Google adds in-app subscriptions to the Play Store

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:06:56 +0000

Google have announced that they are today adding in-app subscription functionality to the Google Play Store. Developers are now able to sell monthly or annual subscriptions directly from their apps!

Subscriptions created using the in-app billing model are auto-renewing and developers need only set the price and billing interval for Google to handle the payment processing via Google Wallet, as for existing in app purchases.

As a user, an in app subscription will be presented in the same familiar Google Store user interface, with purchased subscriptions displayed and managed via a new tab in the 'My Apps' section of the mobile Play Store application.

Not only are Google rolling this out on mobile devices, they are also implementing a new API that allows these purchases to extend beyond Android. By using the new API, publishers can potentially offer content outside of the application based on the subscription status. For example, a user signed up to a subscription in the application of web site X could potentially automatically have access to premium content in the website on their desktop. Pretty neat!

More details can be found at the Android Developers Blog, in the in app billing documentation or by checking out the updated in-app billing sample code.

I'm sure we'll see some pretty innovative uses of this feature.. interesting times ahead.

Now, Google... coupon codes next please? Thanks!

Samsung releases source code for the Galaxy Not...

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:43:21 +0000

Samsung have just released kernel sources to match the version shipped with the ICS update for the Galaxy Note. The downloads, which cover all markets where the update has shipped, enable custom development for the device at the lowest level and are particularly useful for ROMs that are not based on the original release (such as CyanogenMod).

The kernel sources are a 190MB download from Samsung's Open Source site.

Are you planning to cook up something real nice with the new release? Come and share in our Galaxy Note forum.

[Via:Samsung Open Source]

More Xbox LIVE Games for Windows Phone are only...

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:24:45 +0000

Last month, Microsoft announced that 7 of their Xbox LIVE games for Windows Phone were available for the bargain price if $0.99... and now they've added 6 more!

In addition to the existing bargain titles...

...Microsoft have also added...

Bargain eh! I'm a fan of Fruit Ninja, now where is my Windows Phone...

[Via: Xbox.com]

How locked down are the various One X iteration...

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:10:07 +0000

The situation with bootloader unlocking, rooting etc. and the various One X models across the world is rather confusing, not only due to the different hardware in use but also because of different constraints put in place by operators. Here's our easy guide to knowing what you're getting!

EDIT: Since I posted this, it has become possible to effectively turn your AT&T One X into a Rogers One X and unlock the bootloader! Details can be found in this topic.

Bootloader Unlock (official HTCdev)

HTC One X Tegra 3 SIM free on all operators - UNLOCKABLE (see notes below)
HTC One X Qualcomm S4 AT&T USA - NOT UNLOCKABLE
HTC One X(L) Qualcomm S4 SIM free on all operators except AT&T - UNLOCKABLE

If you have a One X Tegra 3 you can unlock your bootloader via htcdev regardless of where it came from! There is a caveat however - at the time of writing the bootloader unlock leaves the phone in a 'sort of unlocked' state where, while you can ultimately flash what you need to, some core functionality doesn't work. Examples of this are booting kernels directly via fastboot ('fastboot boot') and flashing boot images from recovery.

If you have a HTC One X Qualcomm S4 on AT&T, you're out of luck. AT&T have decided not to allow you to unlock your bootloader and appear unlikely to reverse this decision.

If you have HTC One X Qualcomm S4 (aka One XL) on any other operator, you're sitting prety. Your bootloader is unlockable and everything appears to work as intended.

Remember that if you unlock your bootloader, you invalidate your warranty. Even if you re-lock it, HTC can see that it was previously unlocked (it shows 're-locked' rather than 'locked') so your warranty is still toast!

Rooting (unlocked via HTCdev)

All models that can be unlocked via HTCdev (i.e. everything but the AT&T model) are easily rooted if you have completed the bootloader unlock.

Rooting (NOT unlocked via HTCdev) - S-ON assumed

HTC One X Tegra 3 SIM free on all operators - TEMP ROOTABLE (see notes below)
HTC One X Qualcomm S4 AT&T USA - ROOTABLE ON SHIPPING RUU (see notes below)
HTC One X(L) Qualcomm S4 SIM free on all operators except AT&T - ROOTABLE ON SHIPPING RUU (see notes below)

If you have a One X Tegra 3 it is possible to exploit a security loophole in the boot image in order to gain temporary root access. However, due to the NAND lock that is applied to the /system partition, it is not possible to gain permanent root (root that survives a reboot) at this time.

If you have a HTC One X Qualcomm S4 on AT&T, your device can be rooted provided you are on a pre 1.85 software version. The root is effectively permanent, but will be removed if you flash another RUU. OTA updates should also not be applied without using an appropriate root-keeper utility. I believe I have found an exploit for 1.85 but I am not releasing this at the current time so that I can try and prevent the loophole being closed.

If you have HTC One X Qualcomm S4 (aka One XL) on any other operator your device can be permanently rooted. The root is effectively permanent, but will be removed if you flash another RUU. OTA updates should also not be applied without using an appropriate root-keeper utility. It is likely that device updates will close the loophole in the very near future.

If your device is not unlocked by HTCdev and you alter any of the partitions, a 'tamper' flag is triggered in the bootloader. This appears to be cleared by flashing a RUU (the warning goes away), but bear in mind that we do not know whether a counter is incremented internally.

S-OFF patch

HTC One X Tegra 3 SIM free on all operators - CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE (see notes below)
HTC One X Qualcomm S4 AT&T USA - CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE (see notes below)
HTC One X(L) Qualcomm S4 SIM free on all operators except AT&T - CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE (see notes below)

S-OFF capability is not currently available for any HTC One X devices, however there are several teams working on this. Any solution will likely rely on temporary or permanent root access, so if this gets prevented by new updates, this will likely lengthen the wait. There is no ETA for S-OFF.

So there you have it! You know how HTC are the developer friendly manufacturer and have a simple unlock solution for their devices? Not so much.

Google+ for Android gets its UI overhaul

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:46:48 +0000

Following on from the recent major update of the Google+ app for iOS, it's the turn of the Google+ app for Android to get a UI overhaul. And it's shiny!

The update, which wears version 2.6 and is available immediately from the Google Play Store, emphasises improvements to 'polish and performance' according to a launch post on the Google blog.

New features in the release include...

Start a hangout on the go
Edit posts inline—as well as a stream that celebrates the rich content shared across Google+
A navigation ribbon that slides in and out, providing quick access to just about everything
Download photos directly from Google+, and turn them into wallpaper

I've just downloaded the app and given it a quick whirl... so what's it like? It sure is a lot more 'flashy' in its design, but at first glance it feels a little busy... hopefully not design at the expense of usability?

There's no doubt that Google are putting significant effort behind Google+, but I still have trouble determining exactly what will get the network to the point where it can become a significant challenger to Facebook and Twitter's dominance.

Share your thoughts!

Runkeeper exits Windows Phone Marketplace

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:26:57 +0000

Runkeeper, a popular fitness app with 1m-5m downloads in the Google Play Store, is withdrawing from Windows Phone citing low user numbers, with Windows Phone and Symbian combined making up only 1.5% of their userbase.

Given those statistics and the feeling that they were 'spreading themselves too thinly' it arguably makes sense... but it's no doubt a bitter blow to Microsoft and Windows Phone fans as the platform desperately tries to grow in the face of formidable Android / iOS opposition.

The real kicker is in Runkeeper's view of the future though...

Quote

We don’t see this changing any time soon, these platforms simply haven’t kept up with Android and iPhone, and we only see this gap increasing over time. We can’t justify giving our Windows and Symbian apps the support they need to be up to our quality standards, and if they can’t be up to our quality standards, they shouldn’t be at all. And don’t even get us started on Blackberry

There are other good (maybe better!) fitness tracker applications on Windows Phone such as Endomondo (one of my personal favourites) but every departure from the ecosystem is unfortunate.

As Runkeeper themselves point out, for Android / iOS fans, Windows Phone / Symbian's loss is your gain as they can commit more resource to making the best possible experience for you!

[Via: Runkeeper blog]

Mix and match your One X Sense v Stock with MoD...

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:26:59 +0000

MoDaCo Custom ROM Ir1 is now available for the HTC One X (Tegra 3). Available in Sense and Vanilla prebakes as well as an online kitchen, the ROM allows the user to pick their level of Sense vs stock Ice Cream Sandwich.

The ROM is based on the most recent release available for the One X - 1.29.401.11 - and is built upon a deodexed, updated and optimised (DUO) base with a number of tweaks and improvements, lots of configuration choices, as well as a custom MoDaCo application which allows the user to re-odex their ROM on demand when they are happy with their setup, saving valuable storage on the /data partition.

Head on over to the MoDaCo Custom ROM Ir1 topic to learn more.

Nvidia reveals 'Kai' to lead the $...

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:18:46 +0000

After teasing their '$199 tablet this summer' plans, Nvidia have finally revealed more details by introducing their Tegra 3 based 'Kai' - a low cost, quad core platform - at their annual stockholder meeting.

Although the platform has a name, details are still thin on the ground aside from the confirmation that it will retain the quad core (likely 4+1 as we have seen to date) architecture albeit optimised for that lower price point.

From the stockholder meeting recording (33 mins in if you want to listen!)...

Quote

Our strategy on Android is simply to enable quad-core tablets running Android Ice Cream Sandwich to be developed and brought out to market at the $199 price point, and the way we do that is a platform we've developed called Kai. So this uses a lot of the secret sauce that's inside Tegra 3 to allow you to develop a tablet at a much lower cost, by using a lot of innovation that we've developed to reduce the power that's used by the display and use lower cost components within the tablet.

Another interesting point mentioned in the call was that Tegra 2 lives on, and also be will be present in the low end phone market.

Nvidia have stated that the reference platform is already out there with manufacturers, so we're likely to see products appearing very soon. Google I/O anyone...?

[Via The Verge]

Hands on with 'Orange Signal Boost'

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:05:38 +0000

As a T-Mobile UK subscriber I haven't had much exposure to Orange's UMA based 'Signal Boost' solution from Kineto, which provides the ability to make / receive calls on your mobile number via WiFi networks... so when I was offered a HTC Explorer with Signal Boost on board, I figured i'd give it a go!

So how does it work? Signal Boost uses the 3GPP UMA/GAN standard that we have seen implemented in other markets (T-Mobile in the US being a key proponent of the technology) to offload mobile traffic onto a WiFi connection.

From a user perspective, the key advantage of Signal Boost is clear - it provides the ability to maintain mobile connectivity, not just for calls but for all mobile services - MMS, SMS etc., even when the network coverage is poor. For rural subscribers for example, this is pretty awesome! A secondary benefit is that generally speaking WiFi uses less power than the mobile network, so battery life can also be improved.

It goes without saying of course that there are benefits for the operator. Aside from being able to provide a better customer experience, offloading traffic to WiFi also allows networks to help avoid capacity issues on cells particularly in metropolitan areas.

That's the theory... but how does it work? Seamlessly!

I was provided with a box-fresh HTC Explorer with an Orange SIM card. The process was simple - turn the device on, run through the setup wizard (including configuring my home WiFi network), launch the signal boost application from the launcher, enable it and a small 'house' icon appears in the notification bar. Initially it is red and when it turns greenafter 30-60 seconds, (the signal indicator also turns grey), you're connected! It is important to make sure that the WiFi connection is set to not turn off when the screen goes off.

Once set up, due to my naturally suspicious nature , I had a little dig around to be doubly sure that the mobile network wasn't active before making and receiving some calls as well as sending and receiving some SMS. No problems, and indistinguishable from using the device on the 'real network'.

So that's the good... what about downsides? For me there are two key issues that would ideally be fixed for the technology really to take off.

The first is handover. The current implementation by Kineto Wireless doesn't hand over calls between WiFi and the mobile network, not too useful if you happen to stray away from your home WiFi. The GSM standard does allow for this, so I imagine this will appear in a future release.

The second is device compatability. While Orange are supporting the service on the Cha Cha, Desire S, Explorer and Wildfire S from HTC, the Optimus ME and Optimus One from LG, the Orange Monte Carlo from ZTE and the Orange Barcelona and Stockholm from Huawei, it is dependent on having an Orange supplied device with an Orange approved software build. Users with devices not on the list above or with SIM free devices need not apply. Being able to just download an application from the Play Store to use Signal Boost would be excellent.

All in all, Signal Boost is a neat technology that's genuinely worth having and a viable alternative to dedicated Femtocell hardware. I'd love to see all the UK networks picking it up.

Verizon finally release Android 4.0.4 for their...

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:30:32 +0000

Verizon have finally released the long, long awaited version 4.0.4 (IMM76K) update for the Galaxy Nexus... dropping over 3 months after the first 4.0.4 leak for the handset!

Available now over-the-air (the OTA file can be download directly if you're feeling brave), the update will only apply to unmodified 4.0.2 installs as it is a ~40MB delta update rather than a full install.

The new version brings minor UI tweaks, various fixed and updated basebands.

The 'Because We May' game sale has star...

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:37:44 +0000

We first revealed the 'Because We May' games sale on Sunday and it has now begun... with no less than 56 (!) Android games on sale, as well as games from other platforms.

The games, which are all available via the Google Play store, are:

Aftermath XHD
All My Enemies
All My Enemies Revenge
Anomaly Warzone Earth HD
Apsis
Avadon: The Black Fortress
Babylonian Twins Premium
Bag It!
Bean's Quest
Bugs Race
Canabalt HD
Car Tracks
Cogs
Denki Blocks! Deluxe
Edge
Edge Extended
Fieldrunners HD
Great Little War Game
Ground Effect Pro HD
Gunman Clive
Hard Lines HD
Holiday Bonus
Holiday Bonus HD
Juggle! HD
Kraut Attack
Little Stars For Little Wars 2
Megafarkle HD
Megayatzy
Megayatzy HD
Mixt HD
Mobile Montessori
Osmos
Pancakes!!!
Polarstorm HD
Pro Zombie Soccer
Rebuild
Riptide Gp
Shadowgun
Skullpogo
Smiles
Smiles HD
Smuggle Truck
Snuggle Truck
Spirit HD
Spirited Heart
Star Fighter
Star Sloth
Swords And Soldiers
The Chicken Bandit
These Robotic Hearts Of Mine
Tilestorm Eire HD
Tilestorm HD
Upsat: You Probably Suck At This
Whale Trail
World Of Goo
Zen Bound 2

There are some really great title in there!

Head on over to the Because We May website to buy or learn more about the promotion.

Microsoft Office coming to Android tablets in N...

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:53:20 +0000

Mobile news site 'Boy Genius Report' is quoting a source who claims that Microsoft Office is coming to Android tablets (and the iPad) in November this year, marking another foray for Microsoft into what some might consider opposing ecosystems.

Microsoft has always made sure that it's own products have what they consider 'best of breed' experiences for things such as Office and Exchange, but as relatively autonomous business units inside the company, they have also shown that they are not afraid to leverage the platforms of their rivals to drive up profits.

BGR claims that their source has had first hand experience of the iPad version of the Office suite, and it matches almost exactly the leak posted by 'The Daily' in February.

Functionality wise, the original leak claimed that Word, Excel and PowerPoint files can be created and edited locally and online and that OneNote will also be undergoing a facelift to coincide with the office release.

For me personally, this can only be a good thing - a quality app injection is certainly what Android tablets need. While third party solutions are in some cases half decent, a 100% Office compatible official Microsoft product would be a very welcome addition to the platform.

[Via: Boy Genius Report - image courtesy of The Daily]

Patched Amazon MP3 app for non-US cloud player...

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:42:30 +0000

I have just updated my patched Amazon MP3 app to match the latest release available on the Google Play store. The patched APK allows you to use the Amazon MP3 Cloud Player and US Store functionality on a device with the locale to set to UK English, something that is not normally possible.

The patched application, which can be downloaded in this topic is re-signed and therefore requires you to uninstall your existing Amazon MP3 application.

In order to use the Cloud Player functionality you will need to use a Amazon.com (US) account - I am doing so and it works great. 5GB of cloud storage is free, with paid plans allowing you to ugprade your space - $20 gets you unlimited storage of music + 20GB of file storage. It's worth noting also that Amazon MP3 music purchases do not count towards your 5GB limit.

You can read more about Cloud Player at the Amazon Cloud Player page.

LogMeIn Ignition currently 30% off in the Googl...

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:41:20 +0000

I'm quite a LogMeIn fan. I use the free service for remote supporting family PCs and for connecting into my home machines when i'm away. It's great, but sadly the Android application is crazy expensive... so a 30% discount that's currently available is definitely welcome!

Now priced at £12.64 / $19.99, the application still isn't cheap, but it is more reasonable, and arguably justifiable as the service itself is at least free (I'd be a bit more disgruntled if I was also paying for the Pro LogMeIn service)!

One of the features that really sells me on LogMeIn is that after setting the server up once on the target PC, connection and device management is extremely easy through the web interface, something i've not found with the other alternatives i've tried. The only thing that would really be the icing on the cake for me in LogMeIn would be an Android server, so I could remote support my families Android devices. *dreams*

If you are using an alternative that you're happy with, please share it with us!

LogMeIn haven't stated how long the 30% off promotion lasts... so head on over to the Google Play Store to buy.

Nokia blocks Skype for the Lumia 610 due to poo...

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:30:58 +0000

Nokia have announced that Skype will no longer be available in the Windows Phone Marketplace for the Lumia 610, due to the fact that 'the user experience does not guarantee to Nokia and Skype the expected level'.

Skype initially confirmed that their Windows Phone application was unsuitable for WP devices equipped with 256MB back in April, however it seems to have taken a month for Nokia to decide that actually, Skype really weren't making it up and they do know what they're talking about.

As Microsoft looks to drive Windows Phone handsets down towards the budget segments of the market the lack of compatibility with Skype is rather unfortunate, as it's an application that's popular in developing markets where low cost handsets are key.

Here's hoping Microsoft can work some magic to improve the experience and Skype will return for low memory devices.

The full statement (translated):

Quote

Nokia values the user experience provided by its products and services. Therefore, although the Skype Windows Phone version is workable on Nokia Lumia 610, after in-depth testing, we found that the user experience is not up to par with Nokia and Skype’s expectation and decided not recommending users using Skype on Nokia Lumia 610. In the future, users of Nokia Lumia 610 would no longer be able to download Skype Windows Phone version from Window Phone Marketplace. However, Skype Windows Phone version would still be available for other users.

[Via: WMPowerUser]

HTC issues revised ICS update timetable

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:04:19 +0000

HTC have issued a revised timetable detailing which devices will be receiving an update to Android 4.0 - Ice Cream Sandwich and when availability should be expected.

The majority of ugpradeable devices will receive their releases in June and July 2012, with HTC expecting to finish upgrades in August 2012 for all announced devices.

The schedule is as follows...

DROID Incredible 2 by HTC - To be determined (by the end of August)
HTC Amaze 4G - May-June
HTC Desire S - June-July
HTC Desire HD - July-August
HTC EVO 3D - June-July
HTC EVO 4G+ - May-June
HTC EVO Design 4G - June-July
HTC Incredible S - June-July
HTC Sensation - March-June
HTC Sensation 4G - March-June
HTC Sensation XE - March-June
HTC Sensation XL - April-Jun
HTC Rezound - June-July
HTC Rhyme - June-July
HTC Thunderbolt - July-August
HTC Velocity 4G - March-June
HTC Vivid - March-June

Still notable by their absence are HTC's tablets. And it's not good news...

Quote

HTC tablets, including the HTC Flyer, HTC EVO View 4G, and HTC Jetstream, will remain on their current Android version (Honeycomb).

Pretty weak, especially in the case of the HTC Jetstream which was very expensive and was only released in September. Bad HTC!

More details on the update and a FAQ on the update schedule are available at the HTC help page.

Bootloader unlock tool now available for Asus T...

Wed, 23 May 2012 08:55:59 +0000

If you're looking to do a bit of low level tweaking on your Asus Transformer TF300 then we have good news. Asus have released their bootloader unlock tool for the tablet!

The utility, available for download from the Asus TF300 support page, WILL invalidate your warranty, something Asus are keen to make clear with this rather sinister warning...

Quote

Before you download, install, and use the Unlock Device App you acknowledge and assume complete risk to the quality and performance of this App, including but not limited to the following: once you activate the App you will not be able to recover your ASUS product (“Original Product”) back to original locked conditions; the Original Product with the activated App will not be deemed the Original Product; the Revised Product will no longer be covered under the warranty of the Original Product; the software of Revised Product will no longer be deemed the software of the Original Product and can no longer receive ASUS software updates; your purchased digital content may also be affected.

But, hey, fortune favours the brave right?

Kudos to Asus for providing the tool, I do however feel like the warranty situation around bootloader unlocked devices is a bit too 'all or nothing' at the moment and i'd like to see a manufacturer approaching this in a more sensible fashion...

Bargain Watch: Motorola Defy+ for £170

Wed, 23 May 2012 08:45:18 +0000

It may not be getting ICS officially (thanks for that, Motorola!) but the Motorola Defy+ is still a great little handset if you want a compact size and a little bit of ruggedness. And now it's only £170 too!

The Defy+ is another Asda bargain, following on from the Evo 3D deal that proved wildly popular earlier this year.

Full details / specs on the handset can be found at the Motorola product page, but the key specs are:

1GHz processor (up from 800MHz on the original Defy)
1700 mAh battery (up from 1540mAh on the original Defy)
Android 2.3 Gingerbread (no official ICS update planned)
512MB internal RAM, 1GB available internal ROM
3.7" 480 x 854 WVGA touchscreen
5 Megapixel camera with LED flash
GSM 850/900/1800/1900; WCDMA 900/2100; HSDPA 7.2 Mbps (Category 7/8), EDGE Class 12, GPRS Class 12, HSUPA 2.0 Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b,g,n
Bluetooth Class 2 Version 2.1+ EDR
microUSB connector
microSD expansion
118g
107 (h) x 59 (w) x 13.4 (d) mm

I found the original Defy to run nicely with great battery life, so the 1GHz processor here and the 1700mAh battery are nice additions.

One of the key features of the Defy of course is it's water resistance (and indeed general resistance to drops and knocks). I happily dropped the original Defy in a bucket of water with no ill effects

Looking to order? Head on over to Asda. TopCashBack are also offering 2.02% cashback (it all helps right?)

[Via: HotUKDeals]

Mass Effect Infiltrator launches on Android

Wed, 23 May 2012 08:29:06 +0000

The huge Mass Effect franchise has arrived on Android courtesy of Electronic Arts, in the form of 'Mass Effect Infiltrator', available now from the Google Play Store.

Priced at a not-cheap-but-not-horrendous £3.99 including tax, the game is a rather large 450MB download (downloaded on intial launch rather than using the Play Store's new add-on download feature). The game features an 'all-new, original Mass Effect storyline' and is brought to you by the team behind the critically acclaimed Dead Space.

The sales pitch...

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YOU’RE A CERBERUS AGENT – GONE ROGUE!
As Commander Shepard battles Reapers across the galaxy, veteran Cerberus agent Randall Ezno procures aliens for illicit experiments at a secret facility. But when the Director of the facility goes too far - Randall fights back and vows to bring Cerberus down!

Can you fight your way off the hostile Cerberus base and deliver their secret research to the Alliance?

ENTER A NEW DIMENSION IN ANDROID GAMING
Move freely through massive exteriors and a fully realized Cerberus base. Featuring groundbreaking graphics and intensified audio, enjoy a console-like experience that marks the next leap in Android gameplay.

ENGAGE ENEMIES WITH SWIPE & TAP COMBAT
Featuring both manual and assisted aiming, use intuitive tap controls and for fast-paced fighting. Fluidly dive and roll for cover with a simple swipe. Engage in epic boss battles against Cerberus Mechs and twisted experiment victims. Simply disable the "tap-to-aim" function in the Options section to try it.

IT’S YOU AGAINST AN ARMY!
Harness the fury of high-tech armor and weapons. Unleash biotic powers, stealth cloak abilities and devastating melee attacks. Upgrade your gear and performance with credits – the quicker and more stylish your kills, the more credits you’ll earn. Also, access the bonus Turian mission and escape the medical bay...alive!

IMPACT YOUR MASS EFFECT 3 EXPERIENCE
Gather valuable intel and upload it to Galaxy at War to boost your Galactic Readiness Rating in Mass Effect 3. Complete the game to increase your War Assets. Improve your chances in the final Mass Effect 3 battle – on the go!

I have to confess to being not the biggest fan of immersive shooters on any platform... but the game does look pretty great! If you are partial to a bit of Mass Effect and you've bought the game, let us know how you get on!

Google Play store moves to a 'tax inclusive...

Wed, 23 May 2012 08:21:24 +0000

Having previously listed prices on the Google Play Store exclusive of tax, Google have now switched to tax inclusive pricing - the price you see is the price you pay!

Detailed on the Google Play Store support page, the new tax inclusive pricing support applies to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. If you are developer selling apps based in a country other than those listed above, you are responsible for determining the applicable tax rate for the sale of your apps in all jurisdictions where your apps are sold and for remitting the taxes to the appropriate taxing authority (which may be different to the tax authority in your own location).

Google will of course continue to pass the tax collected to the developer for payment to the appropriate authority. If you have applications in the Google Play Store already, then your existing prices will be used for calculations, so you may wish to update those as appropriate.

Google is making this change as some countries require that prices shown to buyers on the search and detail pages equal exactly the amounts paid at checkout.

Microsoft blocks the Windows Phone Marketplace...

Wed, 23 May 2012 07:20:00 +0000

Following on from it's shutdown of the Windows Mobile 6.x Marketplace, effective 22nd May 2012, Microsoft has blocked access to the Windows Phone Marketplace for pre Windows Phone 7.5 devices.

In Microsoft's own words...

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Most phones are already running Windows Phone 7.5, which was released last fall, and so most of you won’t notice anything different about how the Marketplace works. However, if your phone has an earlier version of our software installed, you’ll soon start seeing an error message when you try to download a new app, or update one you already own.

So what does this mean?

If your WindowsPhone is running a software version that is less than 7.10.7720 (Windows Phone 7.5), you will no longer be able to access the Windows Phone Marketplace. The solution is simply to install the free Windows Phone 7.5 update. A guide to updating to Windows Phone 7.5 ('aka 'Mango') can be found at the Microsoft site.

This is a good demonstration of the need for Microsoft to look at incorporating OTA updates into Windows Phone, as to do the above upgrade you will need a Windows PC, or a Mac. I'd even like to see the option to upgrade via plugging your device into your Xbox, negating the need for a computer.

[Via: Windows Team Blog]

Dexim's 'Visible G' cable lights up...

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:02:33 +0000

Have you ever looked at your USB cable and thought 'it'd be really cool if that lit up when it was charging and turned off when charging was complete'? Yes? No? Well, that's exactly what Dexim's 'Visible G' cable does!

Available in black with blue illumination or white with blue illumination priced at £11.34 from handtec, the microUSB cable 'adds flair to your technology while helping you save time and energy'.

The 80cm cable features EL technology and glows, telling you that your device is charging. At full battery capacity, the glowing stops to let you know your device is ready for use. I know it seems like a bit of a gimmick, but it actually turns out to be pretty useful in my experience!

Similar cables are also available for the Apple dock connector should you desire.