Google Maps Navigation now available in Mexico

Sure, most have the world has been utilizing Google’s free turn-by-turn navigation via Google Maps for years, but until now users south of the border have been left out of the action. Well, that’s changing today as Google has announced that Google Maps Navigation is now available to users in Mexico, albeit in beta.

Much like its other-wordly counterparts, the Google Maps app features full turn-by-turn directions, directions by point of interest, Spanish-language voice search, voice playback and even real-time traffic updates.

Users will need to be running at least Android 2.2 Froyo to take full advantage of Google’s new application. Those who fit the bill can head to the Play Store to find the official download.

Source: Twitter

Apple’s App Store generates four times more revenue than Google’s Play Store, but Google is gaining ground

App Annie just unveiled the App Annie Index, which will be a monthly report that provides revenue and download analysis of the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. They have some pretty interesting things to report in their first month. The first of which is that Apple’s App Store generates four times more revenue than Google’s Play Store. That is so interesting when you consider that close to 75% of the smartphones are Android and it’s inline with the Android Engagement Paradox we wrote about earlier in the week. It’s not all doom and gloom though because Google Play revenue grew 311 percent for the year-to-date as compared to iOS revenue, which only grew 12.9 percent.

“The gap between global revenue on iOS and Google Play is still there,” said Schmitt, “but the gap is shrinking every month, creating more opportunities for publishers to generate significant revenue growth in several countries on Google Play.”

Another interesting tidbit is that the U.S. is no longer the top country when it comes to revenue for the Play Store. Japan is the now the number one country as of October, and this is the first time the U.S. wasn’t number one since January 2012.

Smartphone Buyer’s Guide For Budget-Minded Customers: The Best Devices For $99.99 Or Under

It may be the start of the holiday season, but there are always great deals available for prospective smartphone shoppers looking to grab a sweet phone that won’t break the bank. In fact, there used to be the notion that in order to grab a phone under $100 on-contract, you’d have to settle for an outdated or budget-level device. However that notion is no longer the case as customers across all carriers can easily find a decent (if not great) device for a reasonable price. Of course figuring out which device may be a bit difficult, but don’t fret— Talk Android has you covered as we’ve come up with a solid guide with our recommendations of the best devices for under $100 on-contract for your respective wireless carrier. So without further ado, head on past the break to see our picks of the best devices that won’t break the bank.

Amazon Appstore opens its doors in Japan

Two months ago Amazon began accepting submissions from developers for its up-and-coming Japanese Appstore launch. Today Amazon has flipped the switch and the Japanese branch of its Appstore is now available for any of our friends across the sea to get their download on. Japan has always been known for its love for technology, so if you’re a developer you may want to consider submitting your app to this newly opened market, as it could be a great source of additional revenue.If you’d like to see the Japanese Appstore, or learn how to submit an app, hit our source link below.

Source: Amazon Japan

[Deal] Grab The Samsung Galaxy Camera For $450, A $49 Savings

It’s the holiday season and I’m sure many of you may be in the market for a new camera, right? WellDailySteals.com may have a reason for you to pull out the wallet and fork over the cash for a new camera— a solid one at that. It currently has the Samsung Galaxy Camera listed for a cool $450.00, which is a $49 savings off the original list price. What this deal gets you is a Exynos quad-core CPU powering the device, a 16.3MP resolution, 21x optical zoom, 23mm wide-angle lens and a 4G LTE radio— all powered by a buttery smooth Jelly Bean.

We’ll be sure to post our review of the Galaxy Camera in the coming days which should help you decide whether you should splurge on the deal or not.

source: DailySteals.com

Android 4.2.1 Update Now Ready For The (“Takju”) Galaxy Nexus

We’ve already seen the Android 4.2.1 update being pushed out to the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10— but now the venerable Galaxy Nexus smartphone is starting to get some love too. Thanks some keen eyes, we now know the minor Android 4.2.1 update is now available for the takju variant of the Galaxy Nexus. Unfortunately, there’s no word on when the other variants of the Galaxy Nexus will see the update, but the hope is that it will be sooner than later… especially since the latest Android buildis already in the open for all the tinkerers out there.

If you’re on the “takju” variant of the Galaxy Nexus, hit the download link below to grab the update and flash that sucker on your device today. All of you other G-Nex owners just sit tight and be patient for now— your update will be here before you know it.

Download: Android 4.2.1 for takju Galaxy Nexus

Google Branded Touch Chromebook Rumored To Be Released Early 2013

The Chinese news organization, The Commercial Times is reporting Google will launch its own 12.85-inch touch notebook with Chrome OS in the first quarter of 2013. Yes, that said TOUCH. The news agency says Compal Electronics and Wintek are already working on OEM and touch panel production. The screen will reportedly combine the touch sensor and glass via a process called optical lamination which allows for a much thinner device. New iMacs and some smartphones also use this process to achieve razor thin form factors.

Since Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility there has been a great deal of speculation regarding when Google would produce its own hardware. That speculation along with comments from former CEO Eric Schmidt about Google’s desire to be in the hardware business and you get a sense this might be the beginning of Google hardware. A touch chromebook would certainly place Google in a position to compete with Microsoft’s Surface and maybe even go after Apple’s iMac market.

Source: The Commercial Times
Via: The Next Web

Android 4.2.1, AOSP, Google, Jelly Bean, Nexus 10, Nexus 4, Nexus 7

Over the course of the past day, we have seen Google start to rollout an Android update, first to Nexus 10 devices, then to Nexus 4 devices, and most recently to Nexus 7 devices. The OTA update to version 4.2.1 is probably still in the process of propagating to all device owners. In the meantime, the source code has landed in the Android Open Source Project according to Technical Lead Jean-Baptiste M. Queru. Factory images for devices are expected to be available in a few days according to Queru.

The update is small, but packs an important fix in correcting the missing month of December. According to sources, the update also includes support for HID gamepad/joystick devices and some improvements to handling of vibration notifications.

source: Android Building Google Group

Official AdBlock Plus app now available in the Play Store

Blocking ads on your device is moral grey area, but it’s hard to argue that it has benefits. AdBlock Plus is one of the most popular ad blocking plugins for browsers available, and it works extremely well. And luckily for Android users, an official app has made its way onto Google’s Play Store.

Three flaws Google needs to fix to make stock Android even better

Our favorite little green robot has made a lot of progress over the last four years. From humble (and ugly) beginnings with Android 1.0 to the smooth and sleek styles of Jelly Bean 4.2, we have seen some tremendous growth and progress of our favorite mobile operating system. Google has worked hard at ironing out the kinks and improving the user interface with some exciting new features. The result has been a much smoother, better, faster, prettier operating system, but it has surprisingly left some simple yet important features out in the cold. Here are three features (or lack thereof) that I believe are major oversights in Google’s current OS.

New Huawei MediaPad 10 Link surfaces on certification sites

China’s Huawei appears to have some new versions of their MediaPad 10 FHD 10-inch tablet set to be released in the near future. According to NotebookItalia, at least three different model numbers have surfaced at the WiFi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG sites. The models – S10-201W, S10-201U and S10-202U – have all received WiFi certification. Details are still sketchy, but it appears the 201U and 202U versions probably contain antennas for 3G and 3G/4G connectivity.

Dubbed the MediaPad 10 Link, the devices do appear to possess the MediaPad 10 FHD’s 10.1-inch IPS LCD HD display. NotebookItalia compared images of the new device with the MediaPad 10 FHD and noted some very minor variations in the cases. The question remains as to whether the new devices are low-cost alternatives Huawei is trying to bring to market or the next evolution of the MediaPad 10 FHD. Perhaps we will find out during CES 2013.

source: NotebookItalia

Featured Android Game Review: Word Search Little Books [Brain & Puzzle]

Oh boy do I remember playing word search when I was younger, so I was excited to find Word Search Little Books from SmartyPantsGaming. It’s been so long since I played, I forgot how much fun it was. I am sure there are other versions of this game in the Play Store, but Word Search Little Books gives you various topics to choose from like Animals, Food, Sports, Variety (4 versions), Cities, Comic Books, Harry Potter, Holidays, Movies, Music, Star Wars, TV Shows, United States, and Video Games. There are 17 books in all with 10 puzzles in each one.

Gameplay is as simple as pie. You just highlight the words with your finger, but if you own a Samsung Galaxy Note (I, II, or 10.1) you’re in for a real treat because you can use the S Pen to draw around the words just like paper books. Actually this game was originally for the Galaxy Note, but the developer modified it for all to use. Using your finger is fairly easy, but sometimes it’s hard to see if you’re finger is over the last letter or not before releasing it. This was only an issue when I first started playing, and I got the hang of it quickly.

The other thing I love about this game is that the puzzles don’t have a zillion words to solve. Each puzzle has about 15 or so words to find, which makes it easy to play casually. Best of all, the games are saved automatically so when you return, you can finish where you left off.

Word Search Little Books is free. For starters, 5 of the 17 books are unlocked, but for 99-cents you can get 4 keys to unlock any books you want. You also get one key for simply sharing the game with your friends and when you complete any of the unlocked books, one random book will get unlocked. They are also adding books regularly, which insures that the fun will never end. Check out their demo video below and hit one of the download links to get started. As always, let me know what you think.

Heads Up: The Nexus 4 will be available to order in the Play Store today at 12:00pm PST (U.S. only)

Look what just hit the inbox! You read it right, the Nexus 4 will be back in stock at 12:00pm PST / 3:00pm EST today in the U.S. Last time Google didn’t even send an email out, but at least we knew the day. Any chance this will go smoother than 2 weeks ago? Just hit one of the links below this afternoon and get ready to refresh your pants off.

16GB version / 8GB version

Lenovo launches the P770 Android phone with 26 day battery life

No that is not a typo. Lenovo recently launched the P770, a new Android smartphone that boasts an incredible 644 hours (26 days!) of standby-time. The phone carries some junk in its trunk, sporting a hefty 3,500 mAh battery that bests the RAZR MAXX (HD) capacity by 200 mAh. Estimated talk time on the device is a little more humble, coming in at 29 hours of continual use. That means, according to Lenovo’s estimates, you could spend an entire day and then some making voice calls to friends before the P770 gave up the ghost. Pretty impressive! Of course, actual usage will provide varied results depending on how you personally use your phone. Still, it is good to see manufacturers putting more of an emphasis on long battery life because at times it has taken the backseat to more visible features like thinness and screen size (here’s looking at you Droid DNA).

Besides the massive battery, the P770 features a 4.5-inch IPS display with 960 x 540 pixels, a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal memory (with expandable storage), a 5MP rear camera with LED flash, and a VGA front-facing camera, all running on top of a slightly skinned version of Android 4.1. The phone is available now in China (no word on if it’s coming to Western markets) and costs about $273 US dollars.

How many of you would be interested in a phone with this kind of battery life? Are you willing to sacrifice thinness for longevity?

Source: Levono China

Featured Android App Review: invi – Is this how texting apps should be?

Texting has become the main source in communicating with your friends, family or people in general. It’s fast, easy and efficient. The people over at Invi Labs has taken the simplicity and functionality of a texting application and gave it a gorgeous UI along with some really great options and features.

Upon opening Invi, you’re greeted with a welcome screen and a short tutorial on what the app entails and what it offers. Just simply swipe right to continue until you’re hit with a “register” screen. Upon registering you’re prompted to choose a “banner photo” and a “profile” photo of yourself. In the screen shots below you’ll see what each looks like in the app.

HTC One X Jelly Bean Update Going Global

The Jelly Bean update for the HTC One X seen on Taiwanese devices last month is starting to make its way around the world. The update has been confirmed for unlocked CID_038 and CID_044 devices in India, Argentina, Russia, Dominican Republic, Peru, Brazil, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. The HTC update includes: upgrades to Android 4.1 and Sense 4+, UI enhancement, camera performance tweaks, new gallery event/map view and improved power management. The software update (3.14.707.24) is 364.56MB and prompts users to use WiFi.

Source: HTC Source

The Android Engagement Paradox: Engagement continues to be a struggle despite market share domination

We have heard numerous times that Android users don’t invest in apps like iOS users, and now a new study is showing that Android users aren’t spending as much time purchasing goods through mobile. According to IBM’s Digital Analytics Benchmark, U.S. Black Friday online sales grew by 17.4% over last year, and mobile online sales made up 24% of the traffic. Of this traffic, 13% came from phones and 11% from tablets. In looking at the phone traffic, iOS devices represented about 67% of the traffic, while Android made up roughly 33%. It gets worse with tablets as the iPad represented about 88% of the traffic. What’s even more interesting is that iOS is actually growing at a pretty good rate. Back in 2010, Android represented 1.43% of the Black Friday shopping traffic, and now it’s 4.92%. In looking at iOS, it was 3.85% back in 2010, but now it’s 18.46%.

How is this possible when you consider the growth that Android has enjoyed over the last 2 years? This is what Horace Dediu is calling the “Android Engagement Paradox”. Other than it sounding like the name of a “Big Bang Theory” episode, it appears to be seriously real. Take a look at the images below. The left image shows the growth of Android phones as opposed to the iPhone. The right one shows the percentage of traffic per device.

Two years ago, iPhone users were two times more engaged than Android users and now it’s three times more. Not only that, the percentage of traffic per Android device has dropped. For tablets the results are similar and expected since the iPad has dominated that market for so long.

This is only one area of engagement, but as I mentioned, developers seem to agree when it comes to app purchases as well. So as far a pure device sales, there’s no argument that Android wins, but are Apple devices likely to generate more dollars? Google has recognized Android’s short-comings in this area and made some changes like re-introducing the Android Market as the Play Store and recently they added Google Wallet support for mobile. The real question is why is this paradox happening? Maybe Android’s growth has come from consumers who were unlikely to buy a smartphone, but chose to because of the price was right, and as a result, they aren’t into using it to the fullest extent. Anyone else have any ideas?

source: Asymco

LG Already Rumored To Be Working On Optimus G Follow-Up, Includes Even More Quad-Core Goodness

The LG Optimus G has only been out for a little over a month, but that doesn’t mean LG can’t think about the future already and have its sights set on what could be one hell of a successor. The successor looks to bring some topnotch features including a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor clocked at a whopping 2.0GHz or 2.5GHz, 2 gigs of RAM, a possible 13MP (or higher) camera, a new display featuring full 1080p resolution and the latest Android OS running the show (presumably Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie). The specs sound mighty attractive, but unfortunately we’ll have to wait a while to see the device in person as LG is expected to unveil the successor by Q3 2013.

Of course it’s a little too early for this kind of speculation, but we’ll be sure to give up all the details to you all as we get them.

source: MK (via)
via: GSM Arena

Holiday Gift Idea for the Kids: Talking Friends Superstars will communicate with Android (or iOS) apps

If you’re looking for something different this holiday season for the kids, then you might want to take a look at Talking Friends Superstars by Out Fit 7. These guys are the makers of Talking Tom and Friends, but these new Talking Friends Superstars can be controlled by an Android (or iOS) device. As you can see in the videos below, your child’s new friend will respond to the app with catchy tunes, witty riddles, amusing jokes, and a number of whimsical sounds. I can also imagine that they will annoy the pants off the parents, but it it puts a smile on your child’s face it’s worth it right? They have three friends available for $49.99 each: Angela, Tom, and Ginger. The app itself is free. Hit the break for a couple of videos, and hit the source link for more information.

source: tfsuperstar

[Deal?] Nexus 4 16GB shows up on Daily Steals for $499 for those that just can’t wait

The Nexus 4 16 GB version is available on Daily Steals today for $499, but it sure doesn’t feel like a “steal.” It’s literally $150 more than what you can buy it for in the Play Store. One problem though, you can’t actually get one, and who knows when it will be available again. If you’re someone who just can’t wait any longer, then head over to Daily Steals and grab one before midnight tonight (or when inventory runs dry). Already this sale has lasted way longer than Google’s opening day fiasco. What I would like to know is how these guys have stock, but Google doesn’t?

source: Daily Steals

UX Corner: Apple’s Simplicity Is Not Enough – Elegant Design Requires Ingenuity

If you know anything about User Experience (UX) Design, you’ve read Steve Krug’s popular book “Don’t Make Me Think”, now an industry manual on how best to approach Web usability. The basic premise of good UX, according to Krug, is to reduce the amount of thinking a user is required to do to successfully use a Web site. This is also known as the K.I.S.S. method (“Keep It Simple, Stupid”), and is today being applied not only to Web sites, but to all software, including mobile operating systems.

Hit the break to find out why this may not be the most elegant approach to mobile OS design.

HTC DLX not heading to European markets

Earlier this month we reported on the pending release of the HTC DLX to global markets. The HTC DLX is virtually a mirror image of the HTC DROID DNA recently released in the U.S. market. The device is almost certainly heading to Asian markets. When we reported on a possible name change to market the device as an HTC Deluxe, we wondered whether the device would hit European markets. Unfortunately, the answer to that question appears to be “no.”

According to a Facebook posting by HTC’s German account, the device is not coming to European markets. The post was made in response to another Facebook user who was inquiring about some images that had surfaced. This turn of events is some bad news for European buyers as we have found the DROID DNA to be an extremely capable device and would expect the HTC DLX to match its performance.

source: HTC Dach Facebook
via: PocketNow

Nexus 10 toolkit now available for all your rooting needs

The Nexus 10 may not be selling as well as LG’s Nexus 4, but that hasn’t detracted from its surmountable capabilities. A little more than a week after making its global debut, the Nexus 10 has received a fully functional root toolkit.

This custom toolkit will allow users to easily root the Nexus 10, as well as perform various root-related functions like unlocking your bootloader, backing up system partitions and installing USB drivers, all without a need to touch that often-feared command line. It’s a fantastic tool for those who are new to rooting their device, or simply want to save valuable time.

Be sure to check out the full list of features, as well as the official download at the source link below. Before proceeding, ensure that you read the instructions at least twice before initiating the rooting process. Godspeed, friends.

Nexus 4 has functional LTE (in Canada)

I’m sure we’re all aware of the Nexus 4′s lack of LTE, and some of us are more than a little disappointed about it. Well, depending on what carrier you’re on and what part of the world you live in, we’ve got good news for Nexus 4 owners and potential buyers. Thanks to our Canadia friends, we’ve some videos of the Nexus 4′s hidden LTE chip working on the Telus network with a simple carrier menu code.

It’s a simple tweak that only involves dialing *#*4636#*#* and changing the preferred network type to LTE. Now, here’s the bad news; this only works if your carrier uses band 4 LTE. Reports are that it isn’t working in the UK, or on AT&T’s LTE network. T-Mobile customers are in luck, as that is exactly the type of LTE T-Mobile will be rolling out soon.

Any Canadian Nexus 4 owners having luck trying this out?

source: Engadget

Roundup of Google Play apps and game deals for Black Friday

While all the retailers are going crazy this Black Friday, it doesn’t mean there can’t be some great sales in the Google Play Store because some developers are putting their apps and games on sale. Many of them started yesterday and will run through the weekend. If you were thinking about grabbing any of these apps, don’t hesitate and grab them now or have the feeling of regret. Hit the break for the full list. We will update as more get added.

• AccuWeather Platinum $0.99
• Adventures of TinTin $0.99
• BackStab $0.99
• Business Card Reader $1.99
• Documents To Go Full $8.99
• Gangstar Rio $0.99
• GoneMAD Music Player Unlocker $0.99
• IM+ Pro $2.99
• MyBackup Pro $2.99
• Navigon U.S.A. $24.95
• Need for Speed Most Wanted $4.99
• Neuroshima Hex $0.99
• Quick Office Pro $0.99
• Quick Office Pro HD $4.99
• OfficeSuite Pro 6 + $6.99
• Poweramp Full Version Unlocker $2.99
• RDM+ $1.99
• Shadowgun $0.99
• Samurai II: Vengeance $0.99
• SwiftKey 3 Keyboard for Phones $1.99
• SwiftKey 3 Keyboard for Tablets $1.99
• The Amazing Spider-Man $0.99
• The Bard’s Tale $2.99

Samsung begins Jelly Bean rollout for Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

Owners of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 are in for a tasty treat today (and we’re not talking about your Thanksgiving turkey and gravy). Reports are rolling in that Samsung has begun its much anticipated Android 4.1.1 update for its popular tablet. The update is only available for the carrier-less WiFi model, and strangely enough seems to be relegated only to France for now. We’ll keep you posted as the update rolls out to other areas.

If you’re in France and have a WiFi Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, you can manually check for the update by going into your settings menu an clicking “About phone”, then “System updates”. The update is also available via Samsung Kies.

Enjoy the Jelly Bean…and your turkey and gravy! Happy Thanksgiving!

Source: Sammobile

Gameloft starts Thanksgiving sale on several games

Gameloft is kicking off the holiday shopping season with some big sales on a few of their popular titles. All of the games on sale are priced at only a dollar, which is a great deal on some of these games.

The first title is The Amazing Spiderman, a tie-in for the summer movie. Gangstar Rio is a Grand Theft Auto inspired open-world game, and BackStab is a more action-oriented game set within England’s Royal Navy. The Adventures of Tintin is a more fun game aimed at younger audiences, and the last title is the extremely popular N.O.V.A. 3. N.O.V.A. is only available on the Amazon AppStore, however.

So who’s going to pick up a few these for the holidays?

White ASUS PadFone 2 Outed, Shows Off Its Sexy Skin In The Process

Those of you who have been hankering for a white version of the PadFone 2 are in luck as ASUS has finally delivered on its promise to bring the white PadFone 2 to the masses. Thanks to VR-Zone, we now see a clear view of what the white PadFone 2 and its tablet dock looks like. As you can see, everything retains its sleek and simple design— the only difference is its almost pure white finish. What’s even more impressive is the fact the device is almost completely white not just on the back, but on the front too.

So now that the phone has officially been outed, all we need now is for ASUS to break down and give up the details on when we can expect the device to hit retailers worldwide. Hopefully prospective customers won’t have to wait too long.

source: Unwired View

Motorola Atrix HD soak test preparing to get underway

Motorola has sent out a message via their Motorola Feedback Network advising members that testers are needed for a new software release for their Motorola Atrix HD smartphone. The invite reads:

We are inviting owners of the Motorola ATRIX HD on AT&T to participate in an early preview of a new software release, and provide feedback. If you are not currently using a Motorola ATRIX HD, please excuse and ignore this email.

Unsurprisingly sparse in details, the invite does not give us any clue as to whether this may be the planned Jelly Bean update. We will keep a watch for word about the update once it starts to roll out to testers.

Thanks George!

441 PPI Screens Reportedly Too Much For Samsung To Handle

We typically caution against getting overly excited about rumors so it’s only fair to advise against getting too down about them as well. The Samsung 4.99-inch full HD AMOLED screens that seemed like a sure thing just a few days ago don’t feel quite so certain today. The latest round of Samsung super-screen rumors, courtesy of DigiTimes, suggest the company is having a hard go of producing 441 PPI (pixels per inch) screens for its handsets. They cite an industry insider as attributing the problem to “lacking high-end technology.” The unnamed source said Samsung had even sought help from 3M with LITI (Laser Induced Thermal Imaging) technology to no avail.

As most tech blog readers will tell you, you probably shouldn’t take a DigiTimes rumor to the bank but they have nailed a few early rumors in the past.  And no, I’m not making a broken clock is right twice a day joke either… or am I?

Source: DigiTimes

Verizon now offering Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 for $499

Samsung and Verizon announced today the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will be available for $499 through Verizon, fully equipped with LTE. The specs are similar to the WiFi version we’ve already reviewed, but it does come with a little less memory and is likely to be slightly heavier to account for the cellular radios. It packs a dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal memory, and a 7000 mAh battery under the 10.1 inch HD screen.

The $499 is the retail price, as Verizon no longer offers tablet subsidies. Not a bad tablet to add to your Verizon plan, but it’s not going to blow you away, either. Anyone planning on picking up one of these?

source: Verizon Wireless

How to get the most out of your phone’s battery

A little over a year ago, we did an article on how to squeeze some extra battery life out of your phone. Most of those tips still apply, but Android has changed a lot since mid-2011, and I’m sure everybody could use a few extra tips on how to get your phone to last a few hours longer. A few of these things are simple, and have already been in past articles, but there’s a few tricks that most people don’t think about when they’re trying to conserve battery life. We’ll start with the basics and move up into the more complex things you can do to keep your device alive.

Four new ZTE phones announced, covers full spectrum of specifications

ZTE announced its line up of smartphones for late 2012 to early 2013 in a press conference in Russia. Ranging from the quad-core 1.5GHz packing Grand Era, to the lowly single-core 1GHz V790, ZTE is looking to have a device for nearly every consumers needs.

Hit the break for full details and specifications.

Starting at the top, the Grand Era sports a 4.5 inch 720p HD display, a 1.5GHz quad core processor (No word on exact model), HSPA+ connectivity, 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera, and a 1800 mAh battery. Judging from the specs, it is aiming to be a strong competitor to the international version of the Samsung Galaxy SIII. So far, no word on the version of Android, but my guess would be a version of 4.1 Jellybean.

QuickShot HD Camera app helps you capture those easy-to-miss moments

Has it ever happened to you? You know, a sweet or silly moment with your kids…or a cool, rare sports car driving by. You try to get out your phone to capture the moment, but by the time you fish it out of your pocket, unlock it, fumble to find the camera app, wait for it to load, focus and snap, the moment is long gone; forever lost. Isn’t there a better solution to capturing those hard to get shots?

Enter QuickShot HD. This awesome app is a super fast way to quickly capture those fleeting moments. Simply add an icon to your homescreen and the next time you see something you want to photograph, point your phone in that general direction and tap the icon. That’s it. The picture will then be saved to your gallery. You didn’t have to wait for the app to open, focus or even click the shutter button. It’s a one step process that will ensure you capture those easy-to-miss moments. Some of you might be thinking, “Ya right…how am I supposed to take a decent picture without seeing what I’m shooting?” Well, the developer of the app has you covered. There’s a second icon that you can add to your screen that will take multiple, continuous shots until you press the icon again, ensuring that you’ll get at least one good shot out of the few dozen snapped.

The app costs $3 and is available on Google Play. Three dollars is a little pricey for a camera app, but if making sure you don’t miss any more important photos is a high priority for you, it might be worth your coin. Just hit one of the download links to get started.

Play Store Download Link

Orgarhythm THD released for Tegra 3 powered devices

More gaming news today for owners of Android devices. Acquire Corporation recently released a new title, Orgarhythm THD for Tegra 3 powered devices. Orgarhythm is a game that combines strategic thinking necessary to figure out your way through the different challenges with some “sensing” brain activity. The latter occurs as users have to figure out a tapping rhythm to employ to defeat enemies. The game play itself sets up the player as the God of Light battling the God of Darkness, with both sides deploying armies of elemental soldiers.

Acquire will let you download the game for free, but the number of levels available is rather limited. StagePacks are available that add more levels to the game, but each stage pack costs in excess of $8.50. Grabbing all three packs will set you back a good $25. If you are interested in trying out Orgarhythm THD, use one of the download links below.

 

Google Play Download Link