Pictarine consolidates your social media photo streams so you don’t have to

Photos make up a large part of the social networking experience, but with so many pictures spread across so many different services, it’s fair to say some of the best might be missed. Pictarine aims to change that, offering a consolidated stream culled from 11 different networks and pared down to a singular experience. The new app makes it easy to view, comment on, share, and like photos posted by friends and the other you follow. It also promises to help you “rediscover” some old favorites you may have forgotten while enabling the ability to bookmark new images that meet your fancy.

The app’s concept is simple, and so is using it, but for the budding photographer or photo fan it’s definitely worth a try (it’s free through Google Play). Hopefully greater functionality and new features will be added in future updates, but Pictarine gets the basic job done without much fuss.

[via GooglePlay]

Apple wins stay on posting notice that Samsung did not infringe on products

It looks like Apple’s humiliation will have to wait just a little while longer. They’ve won a temporary stay of the UK ruling that would have forced the bitten fruit company to post a notice on their website saying their products did not infringe on Samsung’s. The stay will be in place until Apple can be heard in October.

Apple’s response to the ruling was that it obviously did not want to “advertise” the competition on their own website. We’re not talking about calling Samsung’s line of devices the next best thing since sliced bread, of course, but no company likes to acknowledge their competitors in any sort of positive light.

It wasn’t made clear whether or not Apple would be seeking an alternative way to post the notice or if they were trying to duck the ruling altogether, but we won’t know either way for at least another 3 months.

Asphalt 7: Heat now available for just $.99

Gameloft promised the latest version of Asphalt would be racing to the Google Play Store right around this time, and we’re happy to say their word has been upheld. Asphalt 7: Heat is now available in the Google Play Store.

The game was introduced at a very attractive price point of $.99 which is currently the same price of the previous rendition. Gameloft is offering 60 different cars to race across 15 different tracks, and you will experience those in 6 different game modes with 150 different unique races.

Add all that up and I’d say you have a ton of content to sink your teeth into for less than the cost of an adjunct chicken sandwich. Head to the Google Play Store if any of this sounds good to you.

Team Great Britain honored with limited edition Galaxy S3

We definitely needed yet another Galaxy S3 limited edition, didn’t we? Carphone Warehouse in the UK has just announced a limited edition version of the Samsung Galaxy S3.

The special version of the phone honors Team Great Britain in the Olympic games with unique UK-related designs. As with other limited editions the biggest (and probably only) difference is with the device’s custom battery door.

You’ll also get the original battery door in case you are no longer interested in representing Team GB after the games are over. The package will be available August 1st for free on a £28 per month tariff with Vodafone, Orange, O2, T-Mobile, Talk Mobile and Three. Read on for full press details.

LG Nitro HD to get Ice Cream Sandwich July 31st

AT&T has annnounced availability of Ice Cream Sandwich for the LG Nitro HD. This forgotten phone launched earlier this year to a mixed bag of reviews, but no matter how good or bad you think it is you can’t deny that it’s great to finally be getting Ice Cream Sandwich. The wait will be short as AT&T will be pushing the update out to users starting July 31st.

They’ll be employing LG’s mobile support tool made available for Windows PC to allow users to download the upgrade. The update will bring Optimus UI 3.0 and a whole heaping of new features that were introduced with Android 4.0. Head to this blog post by AT&T for more details.

Final Fantasy now available from Google Play, relive the adventure ‘that started it all’

Whether you are a fan of the Final Fantasy series or just of old school RPG gaming in general, Square Enix is giving you every reason to head to the Google Play Store today. The original Final Fantasy, the 1987 RPG that kicked off the entire franchise, is now available for Android. It isn’t exactly cheap at $6.99, but it sure beats having to hunt down an original copy of the game. The game has been graphically enhanced and outfitted with the necessary touchscreen controls, but otherwise you will battle your way through the same dungeons and encounter classic enemies as part of that epic journey that spawned one of the biggest gaming franchises of all time.

Google Play Link: Final Fantasy

HTC Provides Even More Details On Why Desire HD Won’t Be Seeing Android 4.0

Most HTC customers were generally pleased when HTC officially announced that lineup of devices that would be seeing an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Just about every dual-core device made the cut, and to many’s surprise — a few single-core devices like the the HTC Desire HD made the roster as well.

More recently, there were murmurs around the net coming from users who heard from HTC reps in various countries that the HTC Desire HD would, in fact, not see an upgrade to ICS. HTC was quick to come clean confirming the rumors, saying this was due to hardware constraints. Many Desire HD customers were understandably upset at the news, going as far as calling BS.

Today, HTC has officially spoken out regarding the update, giving customers more details on exactly whythe HTC Desire HD wont be updated to Ice Cream Sandwich relating to memory constraints. Here’s what they said via their blog:

We’ve heard your feedback on our decision not to update the HTC Desire HD to Android 4.0. We completely understand that this is a controversial decision.

For more background, due to how storage on the HTC Desire HD is partitioned - and the larger size of Android 4.0 - it would require re-partitioning device storage and overwriting user data in order to install this update. While technically advanced users might find this solution acceptable, the majority of customers would not. We also considered ways to reduce the overall size of the software package, but this would impact features and functionality that customers are currently using. Even after installing the update, there were other technical limitations which we felt negatively impacted the user experience.

We believe an update should always improve the user experience and carefully evaluate each update based on this criteria. While we are very aware of the disappointment from this decision, we believe the impact to user experience was too great. We recognize this is a change from our previous statement and for that we’re truly sorry.

I’m sure this explanation isn’t likely to quell upset Desire HD owners who were looking forward to Android’s new firmware. I’ve seen the argument that if hobbyist ROM chefs can cook up ICS ROMs, HTC should be able to do the same. But as HTC said in their statement, user experience for majority of their customers is their key focus and they’re not about to drop Sense UI for a newer firmware. But, as goes the story… When it comes to Android updates, they are almost always filled with anxiety, betrayal, anger, and relief — all the components of a good daytime drama.

[HTC Blog]

ZTE Grand X launhces early through Phones4U in the UK

Early August? If you were eyeing up the budget-friendly ZTE Grand X you won’t even have to wait the extra week. The phone, which is available via Virgina Mobile, has gone on sale early through UK retailer Phones4U. The Grand X is priced at free when bundle with a tariff of £20.50 per month. Or if you don’t want to sign away months of your mobile life, £190 will afford you the device as a pay-as-you-go option. The Grand X offers plenty of bang for the buck. It’s Android 4.at the clip of a 1GHz Tegra 2 dual-core processor on a 4.3-inch qHD display with a 5MP camera.

[via Engadget]

Motorola Photon Q will have unlockable bootloader.

Good news for those of you who are waiting for Motorola to come through with their promise of unlockable bootloaders: the Motorola Photon Q will be the first device to have such capabilities. It’s taken a very long time for them to take action on their initial promise, but we couldn’t be more happy that they’re finally addressing this issue.

Motorola has mentioned other devices will follow the Photon Q in regards to unlocking their bootloaders, but understandably was not keen on letting us in on more details. This could mean that older devices will be supported, and that others yet to come out may also have this functionality.

Unfortunately we can’t expect every single device to be supported in this manner. While Verizon locking down the Galaxy S3 has no bearing on this situation it indicates there is a chance they could do the same for any of their Motorola devices.

It’s ultimately up to the carriers, and we can’t be too sure which devices will get the green light until Motorola is able to confirm them individually. The Motorola Photon Q will be available this August. [Motorola]

Sprint Galaxy Nexus and Samsung Galaxy S3 Receive OTA Updates – EVO 4G LTE To Follow

Sprint has been busy updating the software on their 4G LTE lineup, starting with the Galaxy Nexus andSamsung Galaxy S3. Both these devices received similar updates addressing the usual bug fixes, with the common fix involving flipping the switch on the default 4G LTE setting from off, to on. I’ve been chatting with my Sprint buddy, and a similar update will soon be rolling out to the HTC EVO 4G LTE as well. Here’s the changelog as posted in the official Sprint Community forums:

If you’re not currently in one of Sprint’s few LTE markets and are looking to save on some battery life, now you know to use the appropriate method to turn the LTE switch back to off. Expect a changelog for the EVO LTE coming sometime in the next few days as well.

[Sprint Galaxy Nexus | Sprint Galaxy S3]

Motorola Mobility brings the RAZR V XT885 to China

Motorola Mobility has announced that it's releasing the RAZR V XT885 in the Chinese market. Just a couple of weeks ago, the phone was announced for Canada, and now China represents the latest part of the rapid expansion for the RAZR line.

The RAZR V XT885 comes with a 4.3-inch screen, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), and is 8.35mm thin. It's also sporting on-screen buttons, similar to what's found on the new AT&T Atrix HD.

The Motorola RAZR V will be available throughout mainland China for RMB 3,298 (~$515). Check the full press release after the break for more details.

Source: Motorola Mobility

Of $12.4 billion Motorola acquisition cost, Google paid $5.5 billion for patents

Google has shed some light on exactly how they came to value the acquisition of Motorola Mobility at $12.4 billion, and, as initial speculation surrounding the deal initially suggested, the largest sum went towards patents and developed technologies. Nearly half of the total cost was assigned to acquiring Motorola’s intellectual property, a total of $5.5 billion. The rest of the $12.4 billion was broken down to $2.9 billion for cash acquired, $730 million for customer relationships, $670 million for net assets, and $2.6 billion as a gesture of goodwill, which relates to “the synergies expected to arise after the acquisition.”

[WSJ via PandoDaily]

Huawei to challenge 7-inch tablet market with MediaPad 7 Lite

Huawei, known for producing budget friendly mobile devices, does not want to be beat at their own game by the likes of the Amazon Kindle Fire and Nexus 7. Hence, the Huawei MediaPad 7 Lite. While details are thin, the slate is being touted for it’s 7-inch unibody design, full view angle IPS screen, 1080p video playback (presumably via a video output on the tablet), and 3G/WiFi support. That’s about all the Chinese mobile maker has to share at this point. To be clear, there is no confirmation that the MediaPad 7 Lite will retail for the same $199 price point of the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire, but if we know Huawei the number won’t be too far off. We’ll just have to wait for release details to confirm.

[via Huawei]

Toshiba Regza T-02D is an insane camera-heavy smartphone for Japan

Toshiba is continuing its smartphone line with the addition of a new Regza phone. It’s the Toshiba Regza T-02D and it comes with an insanely, ridiculously high resolution camera for smartphone standards.

It’s a 13.1 megapixel and it uses Sony’s Exmor R backlit sensor. The camera can achieve ISO levels of up to 25,600, something that a lot of DSLRs can’t even achieve (though who would really want that much image grain to make up for a lack of light?)

It also has a 4.3 inch “new AMOLED Plus” qHD display, and will house a dual-core processor (make and model unknown) clocked at 1.5GHz. Android 4.0, LTE, and more round out the specs for this thing.

It sounds like it might actually be a very decent smartphone, but don’t expect much of the world to get a chance to own it. This one’s headed to Japan first and we wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t venture much further outside of Asia. Read on for full press details.

Tokyo, July 23, 2012 – Fujitsu today announced that its new docomo NEXT series REGZA Phone T-02D smartphone will be available in Japan from NTT DOCOMO, Inc., beginning July 26, 2012.

REGZA Phone T-02D is equipped with Mobile REGZA Engine 6.0-the latest version of Toshiba’s high-definition imaging technology-and an OLED “NEW AMOLED Plus” display, enabling the most superb graphics in REGZA Phone history.

In addition to supporting ultra-high-speed Xi communications and NOTTV(1) broadcasts for smartphones, the high-spec smartphone boasts a rich lineup of features including a 13.1 megapixel camera and a high-performance dual-core CPU, thereby enabling users to enjoy stunning visuals.

In line with the advent of high-speed communications and multimedia broadcasts for smartphones, video content services have been improving on almost a daily basis, including such enhancements as support for high-resolution video. To make the most of these advances, REGZA Phone T-02D brings together Mobile REGZA Engine 6.0-the REGZA series’ latest high-definition imaging technology-with an OLED “NEW AMOLED Plus” display.

The result is a video entertainment-oriented smartphone that has been developed to allow users to enjoy video with unparalleled image quality. As the new smartphone is powered by ultra-high-speed Xi communications, users will find it convenient to download or stream high-resolution video, and support for NOTTV ensures a wide variety of video content to enjoy.

T-02D works with REGZA Link Share, which can connect the device to a REGZA Blu-ray player to play recorded TV shows, making it possible for users to enjoy their favorite recorded content wherever, whenever. Moreover, in terms of usability this smartphone is in a class of its own thanks to a high-performance 1.5 Ghz dual core CPU and the latest version of the Human Centric Engine, offered by Fujitsu to make for easy operations through technology that adapts to users and usage environments.

Furthermore, the smartphone features a host of standard and convenient features, all packed into a single handset, such as a smart fingerprint sensor, an 1,800mAh large-capacity battery, water- (IPX5/8) and dust-resistant (IPX5)(2) technology, ATOK, infrared communications, and Osaifu-Keitai®. REGZA Phone T-02D is available in three colors: Pink, Black, and Blue.

docomo NEXT series REGZA Phone T-02D

Larger View

HUMAN CENTRIC ENGINE

Product Features
1. Mobile REGZA Engine & REGZA Link Share

Mobile REGZA Engine 6.0, the latest in high-definition imaging technology
The handset offers new support for two technologies: Active Noise Reduction technology, which performs noise processing in a manner that best suits the image, and Sharpness Equalizer technology, which produces a clear picture by adjusting the contours of the photo. These technologies ensure that 1seg broadcasts and web video, as well as still photographs(3) and movies captured with the phone are visually even better looking.
REGZA Link Share(4) connects with REGZA devices and REGZA Blu-ray(5)
T-02D also supports REGZA Link Share, which enables REGZA devices to be connected with REGZA Blu-ray players. As a result, users can enjoy both live and recorded high-definition programming from anywhere in their house(6), in addition to being able to make high-quality copies(7) of programs that can be enjoyed while on the go.

2. Support for NOTTV broadcasts for smartphones

With the stunning graphics produced by Mobile REGZA Engine 6.0 combined with Dolby® Mobile v3 virtual 5.1-channel surround sound(8)-equivalent to that of a home theater-users can fully enjoy realistic and thrilling high-resolution NOTTV video. Transmitting the REGZA Phone’s display to a big-screen TV(9) makes for an even more enjoyable experience.
3. 4.3-inch OLED “NEW AMOLED Plus” display featuring Corning® Gorilla® Glass

The smartphone features an OLED “NEW AMOLED Plus” display that renders video with remarkable clarity in a full spectrum of 16.77 million colors. A wide color gamut that can produce 110% NTSC(10) ensures vivid, lifelike pictures.

In addition, the phone’s super-durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass is tough enough to withstand drops and the rigors of daily life.
4. Ultra-high-speed Xi communications and a 1.5 GHz dual-core CPU

With ultra-high-speed Xi communications and unparalleled processing power through a high-performance 1.5 GHz dual-core CPU, users can enjoy HD video and online games without a hitch.
5. Latest Human Centric Engine delivers ultimate convenience through dedicated LSI

“On” when held
Based on the smartphone’s orientation and motion, the handset automatically determines whether or not it is being held in the user’s hand. As long as it is being held, the screen will be kept lit.
Intellicolor
The phone detects the kind of lighting in use at the user’s location-such as fluorescent, incandescent, and natural lighting-and automatically adjusts the screen’s color balance to the optimal setting.
Shake-activated screen recovery
Even if the user unintentionally tilts the phone, the screen orientation can be returned to its original state by simply shaking the handset two or more times. This is useful for quickly returning the screen orientation to the desired state when the user is lying down.
Sleep log(11)
With its built-in accelerometer and microphone, the smartphone can detect the state of the user’s sleep and provide detailed information about the user’s sleeping habits, including the duration of sleep, the number of times the user rolls over during the night, and snoring-related information. The handset will also offer advice to users about how to improve their sleeping habits.

6. High-resolution 13.1-megapixel camera among the top of its class of smartphones

T-02D’s camera is equipped with an “Exmor R for mobile” back-illuminated CMOS sensor, along with the “Milbeaut Mobile” image processing engine that incorporates a wide range of photography capabilities, including high-sensitivity capturing and noise reduction. The combination of these features allows for stunning high-resolution photographs and videos.

Highly responsive
The camera has a launch time and shot-to-shot wait time of about 0.5 seconds(12). As a result, users never miss out on the perfect moment, and can capture it with a great looking picture.
Super nighttime mode
In addition to T-02D’s ISO 25600-equivalent high sensitivity, the phone also comes equipped with a nighttime mode that allows users to take beautiful photos at night while minimizing camera shake and noise, two problems commonly encountered with previous low-light photography technology.

7. Smart fingerprint sensor with on-off switch

Rather than using a passcode or swipe pattern to unlock the phone’s screen, the new handset’s fingerprint sensor allows users to simply press and slide a finger across a switch to quickly unlock it. The screen can also be turned on and off using the switch, enabling one-touch operations.
Compatibility with Key Services

This includes sp mode mail, iConcier, Shabette Concier, dMenu, dMarket, docomo Palette UI, docomo Anshin Scan, Area Mail, FOMA® high-speed (max. downlink speed of 14 Mbps/uplink speed of 5.7Mbps)
Product Specifications

Size: Approx.130 �-- 64 �-- 9.9 mm (10.4 mm at thickest point)
Weight: Approx. 139 g
Continuous Standby Time:
Approx. 430 hours in FOMA 3G
Approx. 380 hours in GSM
Continuous Talk Time:
Approx. 330 minutes in FOMA 3G voice mode
Approx. 400 minutes in GSM voice mode
Main Display: 4.3-inch qHD LCD (540 �-- 960 pixels)
Camera:
Back side: 13.1 megapixel effective resolution, CMOS sensor
Front side: 1.3 megapixel effective resolution, CMOS sensor
Colors: Pink, Black, Blue

Samsung Galaxy Reverb surfaces for Sprint

Sprint looks to be getting a new mid-range Galaxy phone, according to the folks behind the @evleaks Twitter feed. Pegged with model number SPH-M950 and rumored as the Samsung Galaxy Reverb, the Ice Cream Sandwich handset slides in under the Galaxy S3 with a 1.4GHz MSM8655 Snapdragon processor, 4-inch WVGA display, and 5MP camera. The phone is also said to carry 768MB of RAM, a 5MP rear camera, and 1.3MP front-facing camera.

Going off this single image alone, it appears the phone will not use Android 4.0+’s software navigation keys, instead carrying a row of physical soft keys. While the arrangement of these soft keys doesn’t quite line up, the phone looks similar to one we saw leaked for Verizon last week. No word on pricing or release date for the Sprint model, but Samsung does plan to hold an event on August 15th to unveil a new Galaxy device. Might these mid-range handsets make an appearance?

[@evleaks via BriefMobile]

Google posts first Nexus 7 ad to YouTube

What do camping, dinosaurs, and The Little Prince have in common? No, it’s not a new family-friendly Steven Spielberg flick, it’s Google’s first ad for the Nexus 7. The spot, which features a father and son enjoying the great outdoors and bonding over the Google’s 7-inch Jelly Bean tablet, appeared on YouTube over the weekend and touts “the playground is open” after a twist that I won’t spoil here. You will have to check out the full ad above for that. So is this one a hit or a miss? Sound off below.

[via Reddit]

ZTE N880E will relaunch with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

ZTE has announced a relaunch of an old device of theirs. It’s the ZTE N880E, and aside from any Nexus devices they’re boasting it as the first phone to come shipped with Android 4.1 out of the box. If you don’t remember this forgettable phone originally came out in May 2012 with Gingerbread.

Unfortunately the phone isn’t all that impressive. It almost seems as if ZTE just wanted to get something out there so they could have a nice marketing tagline to use. Its specs include 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, a 4 inch WVGA display, a 3.2 megapixel camera, 4GB of internal storage, and a 1,650mAh battery.

Yep, nothing special at all. But hey, it runs Jelly Bean now. See if you can’t get your hands on it over in the company’s home turf of China. [via ZTE]

HTC Comes Clean – Officially Confirms Jelly Bean Updates For One X, One XL, and One S On AT&T, T-Mobile, and More

Yesterday night we told you guys about how Australian carrier Telstra may have let the cat out of the bag, confirming the unconfirmed, that HTC has been busy preparing the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for theHTC One S and HTC One XL. With no official word from HTC on exactly which of their devices would be updated to the newest Google dessert, many were left scratching their heads. That changes today with HTC officially confirming for the first time that Jelly Bean will, in fact, be coming to their HTC One X, HTC One XL (S4 equipped version), and HTC One S. Here’s what HTC had to say,

“We know HTC fans are excited to get their hands on Google’s latest version of Android. At this point in time, we can confirm that we have plans to upgrade our HTC One X, HTC One XL and HTC One S to Jelly Bean. Please stay tuned for more updates regarding device upgrades, timing and other details about HTC and Jelly Bean.”

As you can see, no word on the timing of updates (carriers play a large role in when they can and will roll out) but we’ll keep you posted.

[Engadget]

Sony Xperia GX Hits The FCC – Boasts AT&T and T-Mobile Compatibility, S4 Processor, HD Display

The Sony Xperia GX is exactly what we’ve been asking Sony for all along. Featuring a 4.6-inch 720p HD display, Qualcomm S4 dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and a curve reminiscent of the arch on a woman’s back, it seems Sony may have hit one out of the park in terms of power, and sex appeal. That is, whenever this thang is going to be released.

The Xperia GX just passed through the FCC today meaning its launch is closing in fast. Not much else was revealed other than its global pentaband radios (meaning it can run on both AT&T and T-Mobile’s 4G HSPA+ networks) but if you feel so inclined, you can check out the filing for yourself via the link below.

[FCC | Via Engadget]

Google buys e-mail client vendor Sparrow

Google and Sparrow have just announced that the former would be purchasing the latter in a deal for an undisclosed amount. Sparrow is a software development studio that makes one of the most highly acclaimed email clients for Mac and iOS. Mail is a big deal for Google so their interest in a company with that expertise is no shocker: we’re just surprised they decided Sparrow.

The team reassured everyone that Sparrow would continue to be supported, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be actively developing new features. The most we can be promised are security and stability updates going forward. Sparrow will eventually be integrated with the Gmail team so a majority of their focus will likely be on Google stuff. But what exactly?

Well, it’s hard to say for sure. Since they specialize in native UI clients and not web clients we’re not sure they’ll be working on that front. And since Sparrow is an iOS and Mac specialist studio we’re not sure if their talents will be put to use on Android.

Perhaps this move is to help Google get their admittedly sub-par iOS email client up to speed with the times (in which case this doesn’t really concern us too much). In short, anything is possible and neither Google nor Sparrow are keen on revealing too much of what this is all about just yet. Thoughts? [viaSparrow]

DEAD TRIGGER’s big update available now from Google Play, zombie shooter now free to play

News of a new update to MadFinger’s DEAD TRIGGER arrived yesterday without word of a launch date, but fan’s of the zombie shoot-em-up didn’t have to wait long to get their hands on a new chainsaw weapon and more. The mobile game maker has announced the availability of the update, which includes several additional weapons, gadgets, environments, and enemies. What’s more, the game is now free to play. MadFinger will focus on in-app-purchases as a means of generating revenue but promises the game will “still remaining funny and fully playable” for those not wishing to spend any dough on virtual items and upgrades. If price was holding you back from checking out DEAD TRIGGER, that certainly isn’t a factor anymore. Head over to Google Play to download now. Hit up the PR below for more details.

Google Play Link: DEAD TRIGGER

Dead Trigger on Android Free To Play and with Massive Update

Brno, Czech Republic - July 20th 2012 – Dead Trigger, visually stunning first person zombie shooter arcade from Madfinger Games, today gets the new update the whole Android world has been calling for.

The new update brings more fun, more blood, more gadgets. From now on players can:

• experience personally four new savage weapons (including two melees): Chain Saw, Lewis Heavy Machine Gun, Marine Engine with sharp-edged blades and Repeating rifle, a classic of the American West
• enjoy the new funny and handy gadget - the Head-Flator X100 enables to inflate the heads of zombies to XXL size and... Headshot!
• meet new zombie creatures - mutated mobsters or armoured SWAT members
• explore new fantastic environments - underground car park or secret research base institute
• try out new gadgets or get more money – reveal deadly survival arena, that is tailor-made for massacre of hordes of zombies
• visit Casino and try your luck with a slot machine
• and finally safe game data with cross platform cloud backup.

This huge update brings Dead Trigger also to Adreno 205, including Sony Xperia Play!

Moreover, Dead Trigger is now available on Google Play free to play while still remaining funny and fully playable without necessity of IAP.

Analyst cuts projected Kindle Fire sales numbers in light of Nexus 7

The early popularity of the Nexus 7 is great news for Google, but not so much for their competitors. Amazon, who is said to be gearing up for a late summer launch of an updated version of their Android-based Kindle Fire, has the most to lose in the 7-inch tablet market. The retailer surely won’t like news that Cowen analyst Kevin Kopelman is reducing his sales forecast for the Kindle Fire in 2012.

Kopelman now says the Kindle Fire, which competes directly at the Nexus 7′s $199 price point, will sell in the range of 12 million units, a reduction of 2 million from his initial forecast of 14 million. The lower sales numbers equate to a 2 percent reduction in projected revenue in 2012 and a 3 percent reduction in 2013.

We’ve yet to see any hard data comparing first month sales figures of the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire, but it is known that sales of Amazon’s tablet have dropped off since an initial holiday boom. Rumored specs for a Kindle Fire 2 put it closer to the Nexus 7 in terms of hardware, but it remains to be seen if the new model will spark sales.

[CNET via DroidDog]

Instagram for Android adds Nexus 7 support, Flickr sharing

It was once believed that Instagram for Android wouldn’t be avialable for the Nexus 7 due to absence of a rear camera on the device. After all, what good is a photo app on a device that doesn’t have a main camera? Fortunately, the folks at Instagram realized that a front-facing camera was still a camera, and that the device should be supported for those who are into self-portraits. Instagram also has the ability to share photos to Flickr, functionality I’m sure many people won’t mind having. Get on over to the Google Play Store and grab the 13MB download.

Dead Trigger to get a huge new update soon

Dead Trigger has been out for a relatively short time on the Google Play Store and it is already in line for a brand new update. MadFinger games threw everything at us with this update (yep, that’s even including the kitchen sink). New zombies, new weapons (chainsaw!), new areas to visit (the money-hole AKA a casino) and more will all be featured in the massive update.

The update will also add support for the Adreno 205 GPU for older Snapdragon phones. MadFinger made special mention of the Xperia Play so we expect there to be full support for its controls once the update hits the Google Play Store. There’s no launch date just yet but we’re promised it’ll be here soon.

We’re also not sure if this update will require an in-app purchase to unlock all these cool new things but MadFinger didn’t say either way. Get your eyes over to the juicy trailer up above.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies Coming Soon To Android

Call of Duty. Zombies. Android. Once you’re done freaking out, we can continue. Cool? Okay, now I can give you a little more info on exactly what I’m talking about. The fine folks at XperiaGamer dug up this nugget of a find when, after rummaging through the official Call of Duty website, they stumbled upon a field manual for the Android version of COD Blops Zombies. Strange because an Android port has never been announced. Inside the manual they found the usual information regarding the game, highlighting the ability to play locally with friends using Bluetooth.

No word on exactly when we can expect face eating zombies to hit our Android devices but it’s looking everything is all but ready to go. The zombies… they’re coming. Prepare yourself.

iPhone 4S Will Fry Your Brain 3 Times Faster Than The Galaxy S3 [Infograph]

Remember a few years back when there was a huge concern over the amount of radiation our cellphones were emitting? I can’t even tell you how long it’s been awhile since I’ve read a FUD piece on how our smartphones are slowly cooking our brains into oversized chicken nuggets. I’m not gonna lie to you guys. Whenever I hold my Android device up to my head to make a call, there’s always this little voice in the back of my head telling me that 1. I could be giving myself brain cancer and 2. “Redrum” (whatever thatmeans).

Today I found out that if you’re a Galaxy S3 owner, the chances of you developing a tumor on the side of your head with human teeth are significantly less than, say, I dunno… an iPhone user who, chances are, could be making a trip to their local neurologist sometime soon. Don’t take my word for it. The guys at Tawkon are experts at this sorta stuff and they recently released this infograph breaking it all down for you.

Tawkon made headlines not too long ago when they released an app for iOS that was quickly removed from the App Store after the results didn’t exactly display the iPhone in the best light. No worries, their beautifully designed app can be found in the Play Store where you can monitor your cellphone radiation and even compare your exposure with your friends. Good times.

[Play Store]

ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity starts to hit US retailers a few days early

ASUS has been making rounds across the US, nearly selling out all its Nexus 7 devices on day 1. Those that want a top-of-the-line device have been waiting around for a certain other tablet, though – the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity. If you consider yourself one of these patient tablet fans, you are probably biting your nails by now. The tablet is set for release come July 16th (this Monday). But what is even more exciting is to see the tablet showing up in third-party retailer sites.

Office depot happens to be the among the first, offering the tablet for $499.99 and now displaying it in stock. We are sure this bad boy will not sell out as quick as the popular Nexus 7, but it will definitely have some good demand. Office Depot is limiting customers to two devices per customer. Something that probably won’t be an issue for most of us, but some of you might want to get one for each family member.

If you need a refresher, the tablet comes with a Quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1 GB of RAM and Android 4.0. You may not get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box, but ASUS is known to be very efficient in keeping its devices up-to-date. We expect Jelly Bean to hit the TF700T rather soon. But if you need a little extra incentive in the meantime, do remember this bad boy sports a stunning 10.1-inch 1920x1200p IPS+ display (which happens to be the tablet’s main highlight).

If you are in a rush to get your Transformer Pad Infinity secured, you might as well go with Office Depot now. Or you could take a bit of a risk and see if it is in stock at your local stores this Monday. What do you say?

Add Fujifilm to the Android patent wars, goes against Motorola

The growing trend of companies suing Android manufacturers continues to grow along with the platform’s success. Just in case Google partners don’t have enough to worry about already, Fujifilm has decided to join the party. The camera maker has recently filed a lawsuit against Motorola, claiming that a large amount of the manufacturer’s devices are infringing on its patents.

Fujifilm is bringing 4 specific patents to court, which include the following:

• Patent #6,144,763
• Patent #6,915,119
• Patent #7,327,886
• Patent #5,734,427

These patents involve processes mostly related to imaging (of course) and communications. In short, they relate to image conversion, processing, face detection and devices communicating with other devices “over a path other than the telephone network.”

Needless to say that some of these are pretty general patents, and many other companies could very well be blamed for the same. There could be a certain process these patents refer to, which usually includes the way the coding and/or hardware is set up. But for now, the only thing to do is wait and see which patents are considered valid in court.

So there you go, guys! Fujifilm joins the rest of the tech world in the war against Android.

[Source: Document Via: FOSS Patents]

HTC One V update enables Media Link HD compatibility

A new update is available for HTC One V owners in the UK that will enable support for the HTC Media Link HD, a wireless media streaming box that was launched concurrently with the company’s One Series devices. The 46.77MB update brings the One V’s software version to 2.08.401.2 and enables the ability to stream HD content from the One V to a larger display, such as an HD television. To check if your device is eligible for the new software, a system update check can be performed under the Settings menu of the phone. There is no word on how widespread this release is, but it should spread to other areas soon.

[via Clove UK]