Why Can’t You Add The Google Play App Store To Kindle Fire HD – Makes No Sense

SEE ALSO:  The New Kindle Fire HD — Only $199

One thing that frustrates me more than anything is why Amazon doesn’t allow Google Play – Google’s Android app store – to be installed on the Kindle Fire HD.  Certainly, Kindle Fire HD’s have been flying off the shelves over at Amazon.  And with the holiday season, this trend will continue is overly aggressive fashion.

But outright preventing the installation of Google Play onto the Kindle Fire HD?  Really?

This is not only frustrating to so many unsuspecting Kindle Fire HD buyers, but also a bit perplexing as to why Amazon would do this!

I know, I know… Amazon is ultimately forcing everyone onto their store via the Amazon App Store.

So now, the only way people are installing Google Play onto the Kindle Fire HD tablets is by simply rooting the device.  But of course, once you root your Kindle Fire HD you immediately discredit the warranty associated with it.

I would have thought Amazon would want to do whatever they can to encourage more people to buy their Kindle Fire HD tablets.  But by not allowing the Google Play store to be installed is creating more of a backlash than anything else.

Sure, you can get apps from Amazon’s app store, but it’s nothing like having the lineup of apps you get from Google Play.

What do you think about this?  Do you find it frustrating that Amazon is not allowing easy, or pre installed, access to Google Play on their Kindle Fire HD’s?

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More topics:  amazon, amazon apps store, Apps, august, google, google apps, google play, google play kindle fire, kindle fire apps, kindle fire hd, top

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Nexus 4 teardown reveals LTE chip, we pine for what could have been

As often happens with the biggest mobile releases, iFixit has procured a Nexus 4 and done the dirty work of tearing the whole thing apart. The biggest reveal wasn’t the device’s orderly construction or relative ease of repair, however. It was the  discovery of something no one was really expecting: an LTE chip.

Now before those of us hoping for an LTE-enabled Nexus 4 get too excited, the chip is completely useless. The phone’s hardware does not include an LTE radio, so the chip hangs around like a vestigial organ and we are left longing for what could have been.

The chip is likely a carryover from the LG Optimus G, the phone that the Nexus 4 is largely based off of. While one might ask why a company would include a component in the device that has no function and could simply add to costs, it probably stems from LG wanting to consolidate the manufacturing flow for both devices. Instead of putting together a unique  circuit board for each phone, the two can share the component.

An LTE chip could also suggest that perhaps a 4G version of the device could find its way to retail, but we’re not holding our breath just yet. Andy Rubin has been pretty explicit in explaining Google’s reasoning behind leaving LTE technology (aside from this newly discovered anomaly) out of the Nexus 4.

We wish enabling LTE on the device would be as easy as a few software commands, but with the hardware as it stands you’d need a soldering iron and a lot more technical know-how than your average bear. But we can keep the dream alive, right?

[via Gizmodo]

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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You Won’t Believe How Isreali Soldiers Are Using Instagram In Their War Against Hamas (Images)

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One thing that might not surprise you is that Instagram is Facebook’s #1 mobile app – this according to the Facebook App Center which tracks and ranks all of the apps, including mobile apps, that are integrated into their world’s largest social network.  And yes, I’m thinking Facebook made a pretty smart decision when they purchased Instagram for $1 billion.

Wait a minute… that’s an awful lot of money – maybe it wasn’t a good idea!  I don’t know… I digress.

Instagram is making news today in ways other than just being Facebook’s #1 mobile app.  Instagram is apparently the app of choice for the IDF – Isreali Defense Force – as they snap and share pics of themselves in the midst of one of the worst conflicts to date with Hamas where bombs are raining in from both sides.

In the midst of a terrible conflict between Israel and Hamas, and in a situation that seems to never have an end or peaceful solution, these are not the types of images you’d expect to be rising to the top of news feeds.

These images seem to add a more human side to situation that is seemingly surreal:

Did you share yet?

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More topics:  august, facebook instagram, facebook mobile app, hamas, idf, instagram, instagram in israeli, israel hamas, mobile apps facebook, top

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Sony Xperia Advance comes to the US in unlocked form

Sony has surprised us with a quick announcement that the Sony Xperia Advance is now available in the United States. You’ll have to grab this thing in unlocked form from Newegg, and it’ll cost you just $250 to walk away with it without being attached to any annoying two-year contracts.

The 3.5 inch form factor of the device makes it look smallish up against today’s behemoths, but we imagine there’s still a market for this size out there somewhere.

It sports a WVGA resolution, a 1GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 processor that comes with a Mali-400 GPU, 512MB of RAM, a 5 megapixel camera, 8GB of internal storage (but only 4GB are open to users) and more. The device is also built to be dust proof and water resistant, but as we always say it’s best to just avoid situations where your smartphone might be vulnerable wherever possible.

This is not meant to be a stud of a device, obviously, but for $250 anyone looking for a decent off-contract option to introduce themselves into the world of smartphones shouldn’t leave the checkout screen disappointed. This will work with all GSM carriers, but you’ll be limited to 2G on T-Mobile.

You will get 3G with AT&T, but it doesn’t look like HSPA+ is an option. The shortcomings in the radio department might be a little off-putting, but if your reason for buying this is strictly based on your budget then we’re sure you’ll find a way to cope with that. You can get started over at Newegg.com, and be sure to read on for full press details.

Sony Mobile Communications Brings Its Water-Resistant Android Smartphone, Xperia™ advance, to the U.S.

 

o    The highest level of dust and water resistance available on any Android smartphone*

o    Stylish, sleek and durable smartphone made to withstand whatever life throws at it without compromising on design or functionality

o    Reality Display for razor sharp clarity and fast capture camera to go from sleep to snap in just over a second

What:         Sony Mobile Communications brings the Xperia advance to US consumerslooking for a full-featured Android smartphone and beautiful design with extra durability and water resistance. Xperia advance has a scratch-resistant display with wet finger tracking to offer functionality and protection against dust and water immersion.

As Sony’s most durable, water-resistant smartphone, the Xperia advance is built to handle life’s unexpected moments. It has a scratch-resistant mineral glass display and meets the IP67 ratings for protection against dust and water immersion** in depths between zero to 39 inches for up to 30 minutes. Xperia advance is a fit for Xperia fans who don’t want to worry about protecting their phones when caught in the rain.

With Xperia advance, consumers can watch the latest movies and TV shows in razor sharp quality and with fast performance.

This powerful device conceals its rugged nature in a slim and attractive design, and, at only .4 inches thick at its thinnest point, users can enjoy its lightweight feel and easily carry it in a pocket or bag among keys, change and other items with reduced susceptibility to marks or scratches. The Xperia advance’s sleek and stylish design means durable and water-resistant smartphones no longer have to look bulky and rugged.

Xperia advance features easy connectivity through DLNA® technology to share and enjoy content on a TV. It also comes preloaded with Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited from Sony Entertainment Network***, giving access to millions of songs, Hollywood blockbusters, and TV series.

*Based on smartphones available in the US as of October 29, 2012.

** An IP (Ingress Protection) rating of 67 means the device is dust tight and is protected against the effects of immersion in water in depths between 0 to 39 inches for up to 30 minutes.  Despite your device’s resistance qualities, you should avoid exposing it to environments with excessive dust or moisture. Damage to your device, (even if through ordinary use) can limit or lessen resistance to dust or moisture. You should not submerge the mobile phone in water. The water resistance of the micro USB port and the headset connector is not guaranteed in all environment or conditions. All compatible accessories including batteries, chargers, hands-free devices, micro USB cables, microSD™ cards, and so on are not dust and water resistant on their own. Warranty does not cover damage or defects caused by abuse or improper use of your device.

***For Sony Unlimited services, a subscription is required and additional requirements, terms, and conditions, may apply. All apps require compatible wireless service connection and usage rates apply.

Pricing & availability:

The Xperia advance is available now at Newegg and other online retailers. For additional availability and pricing, please check with each retailer.

• ·         MSRP $299.99 (unlocked), in tactile black, pure white, or warm yellow

Network compatibility:

Xperia advance is compatible with the network bands below.

• ·         UMTS HSPA 850, 1900, 2100
• ·         GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900

Product Resources:

• ·         Xperia advance product page & demo video

Specs:

Xperia™advance specifications

Size: 4.3 x 2.3 x .4 inWeight: 3.92 ouncesScreen: 3.5” (diagonally)Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine®, 480 x 320 pixels, scratch-resistant mineral glass, wet-finger tracking Camera: 5MP camera, 16x digital zoom, LED Flash and autofocus, 720p HD video recording Phone Memory: Up to 512 MB RAM, up to 8 GB internal memory (up to 4 GB user accessible memory) Operating System: Android™ 2.3, upgradeable to Android™ 4.0 Processor: 1GHz Dual Core Connectivity: 3.5 mm audio jack, aGPS, Bluetooth™, DLNA® Certified, Wi-Fi®, USB Host

 

Legal:

Features and applications described require a compatible Android phone and may require additional, compatible applications and services. Additional requirements, terms, conditions, and fees may apply.

“Sony” and “XPERIA” are registered trademark or trademarks of Sony Corporation and its subsidiaries.  “XPERIA”® is a registered trademark of Sony Mobile Communications AB. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Hands-On: HaxSync fills your phone book with high-res contact photos quickly and easily [VIDEO]

Now, I don’t know if it’s just my OCD talking, but when it comes to my Android device, one thing that really gets under my skin is a blurry contact pic. You know the images you’ve set for your friends and family on your phone? Yeah, those. Most of us have set them on a device long ago, and since then, they’ve been forever synced to Google’s cloud. Sure, you can manually set each individual pic by taking a picture of every single person in your phone book, but then again, you also have Halo 4 to beat. Not to mention that when these contact images sync with Google’s server, it’s going to squeeze that image down to the size of a postage stamp, and blow it up every time that person calls you. Sounds like a silly thing to worry about, I’m sure, but it bugs me to no end and I’m sure it bugs some of you too.

More recently, Google has attempted to combat this “problem” by automatically incorporating high res Google+ profile pics directly into your contacts. There’s only one problem — your contact actually has to be on Google+ (and let’s be honest, no one is using that thing). Of course you could always go the official Facebook route to sync contact images, but even then the pics aren’t that high res and a bug in the application will add every single acquaintance from your friends list onto your device. So, unless you wanted that one person you used to go to middle school with in your phone book, the official Facebook app isn’t a viable option. Does this mean us Android users are forever doomed to an existence of muddy friends and pixelated family members? Not at all. Enter HaxSync.

HaxSync is an application in the Google Play Store that works much the same way that the official Facebook app was supposed to work. It takes high resolution 720×720 photos of your friend’s Facebook profile pics and syncs them to your phone. Simple, yes. But that’s not all. HaxSync can also sync calendar events, notify you of friends birthdays, and display their Facebook status updates straight from your phone book. It’s pure genius. To further illustrate how well HaxSync works, here’s a before and after of my ex-gf, Chasity. I don’t talk to her anymore because she’s a lying $#%@&, but she’s still my friend on Facebook and that’s how the world works, folks.

Before and After

In the before image, she was a muddied image of her nieces from an official Facebook sync gone wrong. The image is so blurry, that might not even be her nieces at all. Who knows. The after, however, is leaps and bounds better. There she is at the top of some random hotel in Vegas, in search of a baby daddy and apparently imitating a duck. Now, there’s the Chass I know.

HaxSync just saw an update today that aside from bugfixes and performance enhancements, adds a handy setup wizard upon installation and the ability to sync your Facebook contact pics with your Google account. Awesome. Oh, and for the 2.7% of you guys on Jelly Bean (guilty!), there is now a separate app the developer that fixes some problems caused by Google’s new app encryption.

[Play Store Link: HaxSync | Jelly Bean Workaround]

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Microsoft Surface RT is an Overhyped Product: Analysis of a Rant (Video)

The folks of Techcrunch posted an interesting rant on how overhyped the whole Microsoft Surface RT thing is and we decided to analyse their arguments. First, they claim that Microsoft rushed to the market with a product that doesn’t feel quite complete. They do find Windows 8 to be a solid OS and a great step forward, but that’s about it…

The unification of Windows Phone and Windows Phone is already embraced and the future will ease the process, as the public gets used to the common experience. Techcrunch also claims that Microsoft, in its usual fashion launched its worst product first. The thing is that all reviewers out there are out to get Windows RT and criticize it, especially for being slow and not totally taking advantage of the provided hardware. Microsoft is a bit to blame for this, since they created huge expectations around the product and the hype was killed by the wave of negative reviews.

We actually did a positive review for Windows RT, highlighting what’s positive about it and the potential it leaves open for the future. It’s true that the OS feels rather “green” and young, but we are dealing with a desktop OS morphed for mobile use, so what did you expect? Apple and Google came out with a totally new platform for mobile, while Microsoft has to turn something that feels old into something new, that’s infinitely harder than inventing something new… So what’s your take on Windows RT and the Surface, loved more for its hardware and design than anything else?

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Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Microsoft Surface RT is an Overhyped Product: Analysis of a Rant

The folks of Techcrunch posted an interesting rant on how overhyped the whole Microsoft Surface RT thing is and we decided to analyse their arguments. First, they claim that Microsoft rushed to the market with a product that doesn’t feel quite complete. They do find Windows 8 to be a solid OS and a great step forward, but that’s about it…

The unification of Windows Phone and Windows Phone is already embraced and the future will ease the process, as the public gets used to the common experience. Techcrunch also claims that Microsoft, in its usual fashion launched its worst product first. The thing is that all reviewers out there are out to get Windows RT and criticize it, especially for being slow and not totally taking advantage of the provided hardware. Microsoft is a bit to blame for this, since they created huge expectations around the product and the hype was killed by the wave of negative reviews.

We actually did a positive review for Windows RT, highlighting what’s positive about it and the potential it leaves open for the future. It’s true that the OS feels rather “green” and young, but we are dealing with a desktop OS morphed for mobile use, so what did you expect? Apple and Google came out with a totally new platform for mobile, while Microsoft has to turn something that feels old into something new, that’s infinitely harder than inventing something new… So what’s your take on Windows RT and the Surface, loved more for its hardware and design than anything else?

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Analysis Claims that the Surface Display Res is Actually Better Than the iPad 3 Resolution
2. Microsoft Surface 2 Tablets Already in Development?
3. Microsoft Surface Tablets Outsourced to Pegatron; Priced Above $599 Apparently

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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