Android

While Google Hangouts has a few flaws, there are countless things it does right. Besides group messaging, video calling is probably one of the most compelling features of Google’s new messaging app. We’ve taken video calls out for a spin a few times and it’s worked flawlessly in nearly every situation. The only time the service did not work was when we tried a video call with a friend who owns an iPhone on AT&T. We could take a jab at Apple, but the issue lies with AT&T’s policies regarding video calling on its 3G and 4G network. As of now, Apple, Samsung and Blackberry are the only companies which have approved pre-installed applications which can operate on AT&T’s Mobile Share or Tiered plans. But things are about to change. Starting in mid-June, those same applications will also be able to make video calls on unlimited LTE plans with all pre-loaded video chat apps gaining access to AT&T’s network by the end of this year. It’s nice to see AT&T change its stance on video calling, but we’re sure you’d agree that they’re a little late to the game. Show Press Release For video chat apps that come pre-loaded on devices, we currently give all OS and device makers the ability for those apps to work over cellular for our customers who are on Mobile Share or Tiered plans. Apple, Samsung and Blackberry have chosen to enable this for their pre-loaded video chat apps. And by mid-June, we’ll have enabled those apps over cellular for our unlimited plan customers who have LTE devices from those three manufacturers. Throughout the second half of this year, we plan to enable pre-loaded video chat apps over cellular for all our customers, regardless of data plan or device; that work is expected to be complete by yearend. Today, all of our customers can use any mobile video chat app that they download from the Internet, such as Skype.

During Reto Meier’s “Android Protips 3: Making Apps Work Like Magic” session at Google at IO13, Google did what they do best, tease their fans with upcoming Android release juicy nuggets. His session teaches developers how to use advanced Android techniques to build good apps. Apps so good, users will think they’re magical. Besides learning the tricks of the trade, at about 25 minutes in, there’s an Android wearing an magicians cap, eating a piece of Key Lime Pie. Oh, Google. We love it when you tease us like this. The trolling didn’t stop there either. Later on during the session, Google showcased a crude game (Is that some sort of Cthulhu?). The boss attributes include Chrome, Jelly Bean, and Key Lime Pie. Rumor has it that we’ll see Android 4.3 launch on June 10th, along with a white Nexus 4. Will the next version of Android be Jelly Bean or Key Lime Pie? We’re not entirely sure. To be honest, names and numbers really don’t matter as long as we’re getting new features. Android 4.3 is rumored to bring Bluetooth Low Energy support (BLE) and additional graphics enhancements. Until then, check out the video below to see the above teasers for yourself.

Happy Monday my Android friends. Time for some Device Updates in your face. Galaxy S III users will be happy to try out some Android 4.2.2. The download is still a test build, so there still might be some bugs. Couple of HTC updates are talked about as well. Enjoy the video! Device Updates Android 4.2.2 download for the Galaxy S III Sprint HTC One gets minor update LG will bring Android 4.2.2 to their Google TVs Android 4.2 coming to the HTC One in 2-3weeks

Whether you're using Apple's FaceTime and Google's Hangout apps to video chat, AT&T is promising to make them fully compatible with its cellular network without data plan restrictions."Throughout the second half of this year, we plan to enable preloaded video chat apps over cellular for all our customers, regardless of data plan or device," AT&T said in a statement today.The second-largest U.S. carrier expects to complete this phase-in approach by the end of 2013, according to The Verge.A spokesperson for AT&T confirmed that depriving its entire customer base was a "deliberate" approach for pre-loaded apps that have a high usage, according to the publication.Goodbye, AT&T unlimited plan banAT&T's ban on using video chat apps over its cellular network has been a bone of contention for smartphone owners ever since FaceTime was first announced by Apple in 2010.iPhone 4 and iPad 2 owners were none too happy to find out that Facetiming was limited to WiFi, and that the new iOS feature would remain hamstrung for two years.Although AT&T enabled FaceTime over cellular for some of its customers with the launch of iOS 6 in 2012, the carrier initially left out anyone who didn't pony up for one of its expensive Mobile Share plan.This amounted to "extortion" for individual plan holders in the eyes of net neutrality advocates, who argued that it should be up to customers how they use the data they pay for every month.That led to an Federal Communications Commission complaint, which AT&T sharply criticized at first. Eventually, though, the carrier let those with tiered data plans in on cellular FaceTiming.Finally for grandfathered in plansAT&T's "deliberate" phase-in still leaves its most loyal iPhone owners, those with grandfathered data plans, out of the video chat revolution when away from WiFi.However, the promise that the video chat ban will end by the end of 2013 means that AT&T is finally able to match what Verizon and Sprint have been able to offer all of its customers for years.With new iPhone 6 rumors swirling, check out what features may be next for Apple's smartphone line.

Otterbox is here in Vegas at CTIA 2013 with its Defender and Commuter series cases for the Samsung Galaxy S4 CTIA is always a hotbed for the latest and greatest accessories and this year's show is no different -- Otterbox was onsite tonight at the Showstoppers kickoff event in Las Vegas' Venetian Hotel with both its Defender and Commuter cases for the Samsung Galaxy S 4. Otterboxes probably aren't the most attractive cases you can buy for your shiny new S4, and they certainly aren't the sleekest, but they provide the ultra-protection you've come to expect from the company. Both the Commuter and Defender series come in a slew of color options and they're both available now for $34.95 and $49.95 respectively. Some more shots can be found in the gallery after the break. read more

Field Trip is a somewhat experimental project out of Google's Niantic Labs, an internal start-up that is also responsible for the game Ingress. Field Trip is a location-aware experience just like Ingress, but its purpose is to alert you to notable stuff in your general vicinity. Showing you mildly interesting landmarks is one thing, but Field Trip can now get you free admission to 13 museums in addition to telling you where they are. Wander near any of the participating institutions and Field Trip will pop up a card (in the Nearby tab) that contains instructions on how to get your free culture injection. Done With This Post? You Might Also Like These:[New Game] Google's Niantic Labs Releases "Ingress" In Closed Beta - A Virtual Reality MMO, Or Geotagging Game, Or Something Google Wants To Take You On A Field Trip With Its Newest Location-Aware Exploration App Google Field Trip Expands To 80+ Countries And 30+ Languages, Adds Automatic Translation Google Is Throwing A City-Wide Ingress Event At I/O 2013, And Every Attendee Is Invited Google's Field Trip App Finally Does Something Useful By Offering Free Admission To 13 Museums Around The US was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

The one word you think of when you see those three letters. CAT. As in Caterpillar. As in construction equipment. Rugged. And that's translated nicely to the Cat 15 ruggedized Android smartphone. Available now for $349 after its unveiling a couple months ago at Mobile World Congress, it's billed as a durable smartphone for the active set, whether that's on the side of the mountain or atop a rather impressive piece of construction equipment. In fact, we watched this sucker hit the floor hard in Las Vegas. Hard. As in up all night gambling and you can't take it anymore hard. read more

There’s a lot to love about the new cross-platform Hangouts app. Unfortunately, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows for AT&T users, though. For whatever reason, AT&T users are greeted with a message that tells them they “must be connected to a Wi-Fi network to join a video call”. AT&T previously laid the blame on Google, stating that the company needed to officially enable Hangouts with AT&T in order for it to work. Luckily, they are preparing to change stance on the way video chat programs work. Throughout the second half of this year, we plan to enable pre-loaded video chat apps over cellular for all our customers, regardless of data plan or device; that work is expected to be complete by yearend. Today, all of our customers can use any mobile video chat app that they download from the Internet, such as Skype. What does this mean for you? In a nutshell, AT&T currently only lets pre-loaded apps (which Google Hangouts is considered to be) work with Tiered and Mobile Shared plans. In the near future, all video apps will work just fine with any data plan, pre-loaded or otherwise. While it was arguably a douche move to limit pre-installed apps from working with video chat to begin with, at least AT&T seems ready to make a change.

It's that time of year, again, folks. We're live from the spring CTIA event in Las Vegas, where the mobile industry comes together to show off the nuts and bolts that makes all this stuff work. We'll also get a little consumer-friendly fare, so stick around for that as well. So sit back, relax. Re-live the past, and stick around for the future, and we bring you all the Android news from CTIA. read more

Google+ received a nice update today that bumped up the build number to 4.0.0.46852618 from 3.6.0.44338848. This update brought all the amazing features of their Photos service to the mobile app. Just in case you don’t recall, Google announced some pretty damn amazing Photo features that will help the bring out the best in your photos at I/O. This however was only shown on the desktop version and the status of the mobile implementation of this was left in the dark. Well after much anticipation the update has arrived, but it arrived with bugs. The main problem being reported internet-wide is incompatibility issues (first image on the left above). As you may have seen online there are various devices experiencing the “Your device is not compatible with this version” error my faithful Galaxy Note 2 included. This is something that I am sure will be fixed soon but until then I am here to help. I have included the apk to the new Google+ update down below for all your sideloading pleasure. For those of you not familiar with sideloading it is pretty easy,first make sure you have the “Unknown Sources” box checked, it can be found in a few places but if you have a Samsung device it is located in the security section of settings menu. Once you have that done just download the apk (links below) then using a file manager go into your downloads folder and tap on the apk to install, easy as that. There is an alternative method to install the update by simply doing the installation on the web instead. If you chose to go that route you can click on the link HERE to be taken directly to the Play Store for Google+. Well there you go I have given you the two best ways to get that Google+ update on your device, let me know how you like the new G+ update in the comments below. Google+ Update APK/Mirror/Mirror #2