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Category: Must Read

Lenovo K91 puts ICS on a Smart TV

By Chris Davies
on 8 Jan, 2012

Lenovo has unveiled a new, Android-powered smart TV at CES today, the K91, running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and delivering tech specs we'd more expect to find on a smartphone. The K91 smart TV has a dual-core Snapdragon 8060 processor and a 5-megapixel camera in the bezel, above a 55-inch 3D-capable 240Hz HD IPS LCD display.

What to expect from CES 2012

By Michael Crider
on 5 Jan, 2012

The biggest tech show of the year is almost upon us. It's known as Geek Mecha, Nerdvana and (for those who get the somewhat rare experience of working through it) a bloody nuisance. CES 2012 promises to be at lease as big for Android this year as it was last year, and if you're in the market for a new device or just get a kick out of following the news, prepare to wear out your F5 key starting next week. But what shall we find when we get to Las Vegas? Here are our best guesses.

400,000 active apps in Android Market

By Chris Davies
on 4 Jan, 2012

The Android Market now contains over 400,000 active applications, checks from Distimo have revealed, with the growth of Google's software store accelerating at a faster pace than Apple's rival App Store. 68-percent are free or freemium, versus paid, a possible reaction to the increase in in-app purchasing noted recently. While Google lagged behind Apple when it came to hitting the 200,000 apps point in the Android Market - taking 31 months versus Apple's 22 - subsequent milestones were racked up more quickly. Android apps reached the 300,000 mark in a further four months, then 400,000 in four after that. In contrast, it took iOS developers eight months to go from 200k to 300k, and seven months beyond that to get to 400k. Nonetheless, iOS users still have more choice in titles, but if the pace of submissions continues then that may not be the case for much longer. Google also nears the 100,000 active developer milestone, with each submitting 4.1 apps on average. [via SlashGear]

Asus US: Transformer Prime getting ICS January 12th, unlocked bootloader later

By Michael Crider
on 3 Jan, 2012

It's been quite a tumultuous 24 hours for Asus, as user complaints about the high-end Eee Pad Transformer Prime have mounted. The main concern among Android modders is the locked and encrypted bootloader, which keeps users from installing their own ROMs, kernels, recoveries and what have you. Poor GPS performance when not connected to networks is also an issue. Refuting public relations posts that came out of Italy earlier this morning, Asus' United States branch said via Facebook that they'd be providing Android users with a bootloader unlock tool some time in the future.

The 5 Best (and Worst) Android Devices of 2011

By Michael Crider
on 31 Dec, 2011

Ah, New Year's Day. A time for reflection and resolution, and in many cases, staying up too late in the company of good friends and large amounts of alcohol. Here at Android Community, we like to ring in the new year sitting quietly in wingback chair, staring contemplatively into a roaring fire and guzzling a $5 gallon of brandy while watching the Times Square ball drop on our Android tablets. Before we start getting the old DT's, we'll wrap up the best - and worst - devices of 2011.

Samsung’s Galaxy S III may show up at Mobile World Congress in February

By Michael Crider
on 27 Dec, 2011

Now that the Galaxy Nexus is well and truly released in most markets, it's time to start looking towards the next pie in the sky superdevice to make Android fans drool. For many that device is the often-rumored and rarely seen Samsung Galaxy S III, the inevitable follow-up to some of the most widespread Android devices out there. According to ETNews, the manufacturer will be bringing its A game to Mobile World Congress in February, leading with the first Galaxy S III models.

Happy Holidays: Top apps for your new Android Smartphone

By Cory Gunther
on 25 Dec, 2011

It's the holiday season and everyone should be full of good food and surrounded with friends or family. You might be having hot cocoa this Christmas morning, or maybe even some Mimosa -- either way we hope you enjoy it. Here at Android Community we decided to round up a small list of our must have top apps for that new smartphone anyone may have received for Christmas. Below are just a few of many we thought were worth mentioning. Hit that little white and green icon shaped like a shopping bag titled "Market" and get started.

Galaxy S III press shots leak, details attached

By Chris Burns
on 23 Dec, 2011

There's a couple of press shots out there today with the name Galaxy S III attached to them, and although we do suggest a bit of caution in believing these details as Bible truth, the possibility that this "leak" is accurate still does exist. The Samsung line of Galaxy S devices is the best selling series in the history of Android, and continues to impress the whole Android community with each iteration: your humble narrator uses the AT&T Galaxy S II as one of his daily drivers, in fact - so this is no small news to us, I can assure you. And with such strange details included here, such as this device dual-booting Android and Samsung's own Bada operating system, we're crossing our fingers for an odd future reality.

Dear Google: Android deserves a Nexus Certification Program

By Michael Crider
on 16 Dec, 2011

If Verizon's ridiculous handling of the Galaxy Nexus US launch has taught us anything, it's that the carriers are still firmly in control of the mobile world, at least in the United States. While there's no confirmation, strong evidence indicates that Verizon's desire for a carrier-controlled NFC payment system, which isn't even anywhere near launching, caused weeks and weeks of delays. Consumers in Google's own country stewed while seemingly everyone else in the world got a hold of the very first Android 4.0 hardware. All we could do was cry foul until the release, something that a few of Google's top brass must have been doing as well.

Galaxy Nexus LTE on sale at Verizon

By Chris Davies
on 15 Dec, 2011

Verizon's Galaxy Nexus by Samsung is now on sale through the carrier's website, with the LTE 4G version of the Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone priced at $299.99 with a new, two-year agreement. The unsubsidized price is $649.99. Announced officially yesterday, the smartphone is the first to officially run Android 4.0. That makes a big difference in usability, with Ice Cream Sandwich pulling together elements from Gingerbread and Honeycomb to make Android feel more consistent and improve things like multitasking. More details in the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus review over at SlashGear. Verizon brick & mortar stores will be offering the Galaxy Nexus LTE from this morning, and we know plenty of you are preparing to head down and pick up this third Nexus device. Let us know in the comments if you're going to grab a new Nexus! [timeline]