android

Six juicy Samsung Android rumors

2012 may be drawing to a close, but that just means Android-makers like Samsung are getting ready for a big 2013. Here are six Samsung rumors being whispered about in dark alleys and blogs.

1. Samsung Galaxy S4 Rumors already abound for Samsung's next-generation flagship phone, likely called the Samsung Galaxy S4. While Samsung will do its best to keep things under wraps, we can be sure that there will be no shortage of leaks, rumors, and early benchmarks.

Even though it hasn't been announced, the Galaxy S4 is already tied to a number of purported specs that … Read more

Enable swipe-to-delete in Gmail 4.2 on Android

One feature Android users have been asking for in the Gmail app has been the ability to swipe and delete or archive a message. With the release of Gmail 4.2, that's now possible.

By default, the swipe gesture is set to archive or delete a message, depending on whether the message has already been archived. Should you want to change it to always delete (or disable the feature altogether), you'll need to dive into the settings.

To enable swipe-to-delete, make sure you have the latest version of Gmail running on your Android device. After you've updated, … Read more

Android 4.1 reaches Samsung Galaxy S3 on AT&T

Android 4.1, aka Jelly Bean, is now spilling out for AT&T customers with Samsung Galaxy S3 phones.

As of today, AT&T subscribers can update their phones using Samsung's Kies software. This method requires users to download the new Android flavor onto their computers and then apply the update to their phones through a sync.

Users can update their phones by following the steps provided on AT&T's Jelly Bean upgrade page. AT&T will not offer the update over the air, so Kies is the only way to get Jelly Bean … Read more

Facebook Android Messenger only needs name, phone number

Facebook today made a few tweaks to its Messenger feature, allowing Android users to create an account with just their name and phone number.

Unlike in the past, people now aren't required to have a Facebook account to access Messenger.

The move is a way for Facebook to reach a bigger audience, attracting people who don't already have Facebook accounts and getting them to gradually use more Facebook services. In addition, it could also become a way to increase the Facebook usage of existing members by giving them a way to communicate via Facebook with friends who aren'… Read more

Get into Cricket's ZTE Groove

Though "new" to the market, the entry-level ZTE Groove from Cricket Wireless feels dated already.

First, it's called Groove -- which no one says anymore except when referring to that Madonna song. Second, it ships natively with the outdated Android Gingerbread 2.3.

Other than that, it features Muve Music, Cricket's music subscription service that lets you stream thousands of albums and songs.

The 3G handset also has a 3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 3.5-inch HVGA touch screen with a 480x320-pixel resolution.

It's powered by a 1,500mAh battery that has a reported … Read more

Pay as you go with the AT&T Z431

Manufactured by ZTE, the AT&T Z431 is a prepaid GoPhone that's equipped with a four-row keyboard and a 3G data connection.

The device also houses a 2-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2.4-inch touch screen with a 1,600x1,200-pixel resolution, and 58MB of internal memory.

In addition, the handset includes an expandable microSD card slot, and a 1,000mAh battery that offers roughly 4.5 hours of talk time.

The phone is available from AT&T and other retail outlets like RadioShack for $49.99 and requires no carrier contract.

iOS, Android, and Web traffic: Same old, same old

Apple and Google are very nearly in the same spot as they were six months ago when it comes to Web traffic, a new study says.

Advertising and analytics company Chitika today put out new numbers from a six-month study of U.S. and Canadian Web traffic collected from ad impressions by iOS and Android devices. The main finding is that both mobile operating systems are still very nearly in the same spot as where they started, despite major product launches on both sides.

Apple closed in on 67 percent of the overall Web traffic that Chitika recorded, ending on … Read more

PengPod, a true Linux tablet, hits its mark on Indiegogo

Not satisfied with the current crop of Android tablets and the restrictions Google often places on its mobile OS? Finally, the Linux army has its own portable, touch-screen option.

As of this morning, PengPod, a spin-off of a Florida-based importing company, officially closed its crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo for its line of open Linux and Android-based tablets and mini-PCs on a stick.

It wasn't a barn-burner campaign like some of those seen on Kickstarter for things like the Ouya game console or Pebble smart watch, but it did raise more than $72,000 to meet its $49,000 goal and be able to start production.… Read more

Asus may be cooking up another low-cost Android tablet

A new tablet could be in the works from the folks who brought us the Google Nexus 7.

A few specs about the potential tablet recently popped up on benchmark site GLBenchmark.

The limited details revealed so far point to a Jelly Bean flavored tablet with a 1GHz processor, a Mali 400 graphics chip, and a screen resolution of 1,024x552 pixels (likely 1,024x600), as described by blog site Cult of Android.

Codenamed the Asus ME172V, the new tablet doesn't match the specs of the Nexus 7, which sports a 1,280x800-pixel resolution and a maximum processor speed … Read more