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Android 4.0

Skytex announces pair of budget Android 4.0 tablets

The Android tablet wars gained two new combatants today when Skytex Technology announced a pair of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich devices for release later in July. Priced lower than most products in their class, the tablets might have been much more appealing if only they arrived a few months earlier.

On the lower end of the spectrum, the Skypad Gemini is a 7-inch tablet with a $179 price tag and your standard fare of Android features. Inside are a 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. Like nearly every other … Read more

Get Google Now on your (rooted) Android 4.0 phone

Google Now is the Mountain View, Calif.-based monolith's apparent answer to Apple's Siri -- a voice assistant that responds to requests for information and other commands, while also trying to anticipate what bits of data you might want by digging into your search history and other interactions with the Googleverse. It's a buzz-worthy feature available only on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which is only on Google's new Nexus 7 tablet and some lucky updated Galaxy Nexus phones.

At least, that was the only way to get it a week ago.

It didn't take long for the community on the XDA developers forum to come up with a port to bring Google Now to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich devices, with one caveat -- you need to have a rooted device running an Android 4.0 AOSP ROM like CyanagenMod. In other words, if you're running Ice Cream Sandwich on an unrooted phone from the one of the carriers, it's not going to work for you.… Read more

Play time with the new games of Wii U

The world is annoyed with Facebook, but I'm stressed out over zombies:

Last week, Facebook automaticly changed the email address displayed in profiles to be the Facebook email that no one uses. Well the drama doesn't end there. Some smartphones that sync contacts with Facebook have auto-updated address book info with Facebook emails. Do yourself (and your friends) a favor and make sure the right email is listed in your profile. If you think you're missing emails because of this change-up, click on Messages in the left-hand column, then click on Other. That's where Facebook hides … Read more

Droid Razr Maxx ICS update hands-on

It took a while, but Motorola has finally bestowed the gift of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upon its legendary Droid Razr Maxx. Sure it may not be Jelly Bean, but this fresh infusion of software breathes new life into an already superb smartphone. … Read more

AT&T's Samsung Galaxy S2 gets its Android 4.0 update tomorrow

Starting tomorrow, the Samsung Galaxy S III won't be the only member of its family to use Google's Android 4.0 operating system on AT&T. The network will begin to roll out Ice Cream Sandwich updates to the Samsung Galaxy S II as well.

Unfortunately for AT&T customers, making the leap from Gingerbread to ICS will take a little more legwork than a simple over-the-air bump. You'll have to first visit Samsung's Web site from your computer, then download the Samsung Kies Upgrade Program to your desktop or laptop.

It seems a … Read more

Android 4.0.4 update reaches Sony's Xperia S

Sony is rolling out the latest flavor of Android 4.0 to its Xperia S customers starting today.

Users can update their phones over the air via a mobile network or WiFi, or sync their phones with their PCs using Sony's Xperia Update Web site, PC Companion, or Bridge for Mac software.

The update weighs in at around 200MB, so using Wi-Fi directly or syncing with your PC are better options than updating over your carrier's cell network.

Xperia S owners will receive a notice when the update is ready. The rollout will run over the next few … Read more

Samsung Galaxy S III review: The phone that would be king

Samsung's goal for the Samsung Galaxy S III is clear: set in more hands around the world than any other phone.

The electronics giant knows you can't do that without a favorable price tag and handsets on almost every carrier. More importantly, Samsung understands that it can only reach great heights with a smartphone worthy of the hype.

High-flying specs like Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 4G LTE speeds, and a sharp-shooting 8-megapixel camera push the Galaxy S III much of the way up the hill. Its large HD screen and friendly design give it another boost; … Read more

Galaxy Tab series readies for Ice Cream Sandwich

A number of Samsung tablets are anticipating a cool serving of Ice Cream Sandwich come July and August, according to details posted on SamMobile. Among those expected to see Android 4.0 in the coming weeks are Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi/3G iterations of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 8.9, Galaxy Tab 7.7, and Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus.

It's unclear exactly when each model will see the Android 4.0 update update, though the source advises most will arrive in August. Not only will these tablets get the standard suite of 4.0 features … Read more

Twelve ways to customize your Android device

Customizing your smartphone, or any device for that matter, is a rite of passage for all of us. By customizing, you turn a standard looking device that millions of users may be carrying around, into something that is truly ours. It goes from a slab of plastic and rare metals, to something that is very personal.

Android users and abusers know very well how customizable their beloved devices are. We rounded up 12 ways for you to customize your Android device; whether you're a seasoned Android vet or an Android noob, you'll want to take a look.

The … Read more