James DeRuvo

Author: James DeRuvo

Skype Video for Android ready & waiting on Verizon

By James DeRuvo
on 25 Apr, 2011

Word on the street is that Skype has finished testing it's Video feature on Android handsets and is waiting for Verizon to distribute. The news came from a support reply to a query by Android user "Dmitri." The issue is that Verizon controls updating of Skype to phones on their network and as such, users have to had to wait patiently for it. Skype has a partnership with Verizon, so it makes sense that they wouldn't release it without Verizon's "check."

SugarSync for Android automatically backs up images

By James DeRuvo
on 25 Apr, 2011

There's a new app which will automatically back up images wirelessly when users get near their computer. The app, dubbed SugarSync, automatically backs up any images, documents, and folders to all your computers. In addition, SugarSync backs up to the cloud as well. There's no connecting, no selecting, and Sugar Sync doesn't even have to be running resident for it to happen.

Lenovo Android ThinkTab leaked

By James DeRuvo
on 24 Apr, 2011

Okay, it's not called that, it's called the Android ThinkPad Tablet. But don't you think ThinkTab is more catchy? Regardless of what it's called, details of the new Lenovo Honeycomb Tablet have been leaked. And Lenovo looks to be catching the Android, and leaving Windows behind.

Amazon promotes Android with app money

By James DeRuvo
on 24 Apr, 2011

Amazon is joining forces with Verizon to offer $25 to spend in the Amazon App Store for Android with the purchase of a Verizon Android Device. The promotion begins tomorrow and will run all week. The offer is valid only on Verizon phones including the HTC Thunderbolt, which Amazon recently dropped to $129.99 with a two year deal. The promotion will certainly drive traffic to it's new AppStore but will also give a boost to Amazon's Wireless portal and the Verizon 4G phone which has been cut in price more than once.

Skype takes action, removes vulnerabilities

By James DeRuvo
on 24 Apr, 2011

If you're following the scoreboard, last week we reported that Skype for Android had a vulnerability which allowed a third party to harvest a user's data without their consent. Skype replied that they were taking action, but didn't tell us what it was. Now we know. Skype has solved the issue for now by removing the ability of a hacker to do so. And there's more ...

HTC Flyer preorders start Monday at Best Buy

By James DeRuvo
on 24 Apr, 2011

HTC Flyer fans, you're wait is nearly over. As we reported here, Best Buy is now making it official with preorder details and pricing. Beginning on Monday, April 25, 2011, you will be able to pre-order the WiFi version of the Android Tablet for $499 through the Best Buy website. One thing though, the Flyer will not come with Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), but has Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) preloaded instead, with HTC Sense. Google hasn't made Honeycomb available just yet to HTC. And it may not, since we reported last month that Google is requiring separate license for the Honeycomb OS and is blocking updates from all Android 2.x tablets.

LG G2X users reporting rebooting issues

By James DeRuvo
on 23 Apr, 2011

Users who have picked up the LG G2X at T-Mobile USA are reporting random freezes or reboots from the handset. Removing the battery or performing a soft reset is not solving the issue. And a full on hard reset does little to solve it either. As you may recall from our post last week, this isn't the first time the G2X has been acting quirky. In that story, we reported screen bleeding affecting screen colors, especially on a black screen. Now this issue and it can only point to one thing ... Go Fever. Back in the 60s during the Apollo program, the ongoing worry was being so eager to get there that problems and defects were overlooked. And with the wild west competition for getting out the latest and greatest handset and riding the wave of hype and interest, it can often be easy to release a product first, and fix the bugs later in a firmware update. But quality control issues can also kill the wave, causing future users to look elsewhere. Fortunately, G2X users have been able to exchange the defective handsets for another. But if it's a design issue, it's not really clear what good that does. And if it's a software issue, then they'll have to wait for that update. Then again, it isn't happening to every G2X user just yet, so only time will tell what the answer is. Stay tuned. [via Gotta Be Mobile]

Screen capture comes to the LG Optimus and G2X

By James DeRuvo
on 23 Apr, 2011

One thing that has been missing from the Android platform has been a fairly simply method to do screen captures. With the iPhone, for example, users only need to hold down the sleep button while clicking the hold button. Do it right and you're taking a picture of your screen. That function has been missing from the Android platform and LG has decided to do something about it with the Optimus and G2X.

Intel cozies up to Android, boosts shares

By James DeRuvo
on 22 Apr, 2011

In their first quarter shareholder announcement, chip maker Intel announced that they would be embracing the Bot by porting the Honeycomb Android source code. The move was welcomed by Wall Street as shares of Intel rose 7.8% on the news. Intel plans to offer chips for Android based tablets within the next few months. There's also plans for smartphones running on with Intel inside.

T-Mobile G-Slate gets $100 earlybird discount

By James DeRuvo
on 22 Apr, 2011

It's said that good things come to those who wait. Well, sometimes it pays to jump in early. T-Mobile is offering a $100 discount on a two year contract when users purchase the LG G-Slate and data plan before April 27th. But there's a catch.