The Amazon Kindle Fire is one of the better selling Android tablets as a result of its low entry price and deep integration with Amazon products and services. The giant online retail company looks to keep the train rolling with a high-end 10.1 inch Kindle Fire tablet featuring a faster, quad-core processor. The rumored 10.1 inch tablet is expected to launch in Q3 of 2012, according to a Digitimes report. Amazon is gearing for a fight against Apple, and feels a 10.1 tablet up their sleeves will sell more than an 8.9 inch tablet. Previously, Amazon planned to launch a 8.9 inch Kindle Fire, but that tablet has reportedly been suspended in production. Of course, there is no official word from Amazon on the matter; and there likely won’t be until we get closer to the third quarter. However, there is a strong chance we will see an upgraded Kindle Fire model in the form of a 10 inch device come to the market in the near future. [ Digitimes ]
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Androinica.com recaps the new and interesting apps in the Google Play Store each week. We select these apps by weeding through the Play Store and trying to find things we think people might be interested in. This week, the theme is “Everything is Social” because every app mentioned, save one, is built around the concept of connecting with others. Click on the install button to get download links. QUICK HITS hi5 has finally released an official Android app for members of the social gaming network, used primarily in Latin America and some parts of Asia. The app lets members of the social gaming network view profiles, message or chat with friends, view photos, connect with others, and manage their Pets Profiles.
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In order to commemorate an important milestone for DoubleTwist, the folks behind the app have decided to launch a special sale promotion for its current paid apps which includes AirSync , DoubleTwist app upgrades, and the DoubleTwist Alarm Clock . Over two million users are actively using the DoubleTwist apps available in the Google Play store. The sale is 50% off on the paid apps, so the AirSync app, which is usually $5.00 is now $2.49. In addition, the DoubleTwist Alarm Clock app is typically $2.00, but with the deal it is just $0.99. There is no word on how long the DoubleTwist promotion will last for, but my bet is at least through the weekend. If you wanted to test out some of the DoubleTwist apps but never wanted to pay the price, now might be the time to indulge your curiosities. [ DoubleTwist Blog ]
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I’ve often overlooked ugly Android apps because they performed well enough. But as time passed and more apps emerged that are just as pretty as they are functional, it’s become hard to put up with apps that aren’t easy on the eyes. Solid Explorer has found that balance between beauty and power to quickly become my favorite Android file explorer, and it’s not even out of beta yet. Solid Explorer is an Android 2.2+ app that looks incredible. The app features a white-to-gray gradient design with great icons and sensible menus that put the cluttered look of other apps to shame. There’s even a dark theme that looks just as good, and the ability to view by list, grid, or detailed list or grid. The interface then makes it easy to filter, organize, bookmark, or search to quickly locate items. And if you need to move a file, wait until you get a look at two-panel browsing. Aside from the looks of Solid Explorer, the features are also beautiful. The app can read ZIP, TAR, and RAR archives, as well as create ZIP or TAR archives from the files stored on an Android device. Users can even connect the app to their box or Dropbox cloud storage. That makes it easy to manage files directly from Solid Explorer, enabling things like cut, copy, rename, delete, and open files. Solid Explorer is still in beta, but its feature set is rock solid. The app is available for free in Google Play. Here are just a few more features supported, as well as quick video demonstration: Two independent panels for browsing Drag and Drop inside and between panels FTP, SFTP and SMB/CIFS clients File sharing via FTP Root access (file rooted devices) Indexed search, also available from the system (search for files from the Google Search widget/app)
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Okay, here we go again. Verizon said it’s killing unlimited data plans when users upgrade, then said it would be nice enough to give you a warning first. Then hours later, the company clarified that it will provide an out for current customers with grandfathered unlimited data plans – you can keep operating under a meter-free model, but you’ll no longer get phone subsidies. The New York Times Bits blog reports that Verizon issued this statement when questioned about how it would transition customers to 4G. Customers will not be automatically moved to new shared data plans. If a 3G or 4G smartphone customer is on an unlimited plan now and they do not want to change their plan, they will not have to do so. When we introduce our new shared data plans, Unlimited Data will no longer be available to customers when purchasing handsets at discounted pricing. Customers who purchase phones at full retail price and are on an unlimited smartphone data plan will be able to keep that plan. The same pricing and policies will be applied to all 3G and 4GLTE smartphones. Sounds like a fair trade. The key point to take away from this is that Verizon isn’t taking away unlimited data plans. If customers want to continue watching videos, browsing the web, and video chatting without eyeing restrictive data caps, they can. The downside is that they’ll have to pay full price for phone upgrades, but that might be in their best interest. S Consider the cost of the lowest tier of a single data plan on Verizon – $30 for 2 GB of data per billing period – is the same as grandfathered unlimited plans. Over the course of a two-year agreement, that’s $720. Anyone still clinging to an unlimited plan probably wants more than 2 GB, so the monthly 5 GB ($50) or 10 GB ($80) plans are more desirable. Those plans cost $1,200 and $1,920 respectively. Even if a user pays the $500 to $700 full price for their next phone, it might be more cost effective to pay the upfront costs. You’ll save a couple of dollars, have more flexibility in your contract, and have higher data access. At worst, you spend more up front, spend comparable amounts of money, and get the peace of mind of not having to temper your usage habits like the rest of us.
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It’s a shame that the HTC EVO 4G LTE for Sprint and the HTC One X are being held up at Customs until a review is completed of these two devices as result of an ITC ruling. The HTC EVO 4G LTE was scheduled to launch tomorrow across Sprint and other third party retailers, but the date is going to pass as Sprint informs its customers of the issue at Customs. Unfortunately, Best Buy has been heavily promoting its pre-order promotion for the EVO 4G LTE, but those orders will clearly not be delivered on time. Today, however, Best Buy has been reportedly emailing customers who pre-ordered the EVO 4G LTE saying it would ship on May 23. Now, there isn’t an official post from Best Buy, Sprint, or HTC on the shipment matter, but the email screen below (received by AndroidCentral) does look legitimate. I imagine we will find out in a couple of days whether the HTC EVO 4G LTE will, indeed, ship to Best Buy customers who pre-ordered the device. [ AndroidCentral ]
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New Orleans played host to the U.S. mobile industry last week for the CTIA Wireless show, and it looks like AT&T left a little gift behind to thank the Big Easy for being so welcoming – a 4G LTE network. AT&T announced today that 4G LTE service is now officially available in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as well as Naples, Florida. These three cities join the small but growing list of cities to gain LTE service from AT&T this year. Customers from the Northshore and Southshore should now see mobile Internet speeds that are up to 10 times faster than 3G. That’s provided that the customer has an LTE-capable device like the Samsung Galaxy Note or the AT&T One X (though I hear those are hard to come by these days .) Aside from the faster download speeds, there should be a considerable increase in upload speeds and improved network performance. LTE offers faster responses to data transfer with lower latency, which comes in handy for things like viewing or broadcasting higher quality video. Based on what we’ve heard from some AT&T customers who have been in LTE markets, subscribers can expect some great speeds for the first few weeks since there are fewer users when it first launches. However, expect network performance to taper just a bit as more people log on. (It will still be much better than your current speeds.) UPDATE: Naples, Florida got 4G, too! UPDATE #2: Baton Rouge, too. Geaux get it!
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We live in a time-shifting world. DVR’s play TV shows whenever we want, music is streamed on-demand, and reading apps allow us to bookmark articles to peruse at our pace. But which is the best app? Which reading queue app reigns supreme when comparing Instapaper, Readability, Pocket (formerly Read It Later), and Pulse? Good question. Androinica.com has reviewed most of these apps previously, but all have been updated since then. Below is a look at the top apps that allow users to bookmark articles and have them formatted for easy reading on mobile devices. Compatibility and performance may vary across devices, but a comparison chart below compares major features. Disagree with the findings or think an app was left out? Let us know in the comments section below. Papermill (Instapaper) Instapaper ranks among one of the highest-rated reading queue apps, but its creator is shamelessly anti-Android and refuses to support the OS. Papermill steps in to support Instapaper with a great grey, blue, and white design. (Users can switch to a dark mode or adjust text size.) Papermill imports a user’s Instapaper list and can filter according to Likes and items that have been archived. Content is available offline, and an article can be opened in a browser. Users can set a download limit (10-100) and a time of day when to automatically sync with Instapaper. The downside of Papermill is that it requires an Instapaper subscription. It’s tough to warrant the $3.99 purchase when one considers you’ll have to consider spending a $1 per month to continue using it. Sure, it’s only a buck, but it’s still a buck more than you’ll pay to the other apps. The only reason to buy Papermill is if you love Instapaper and need support on Android, because this is the best-looking Android Instapaper app around. Pulse Pulse is known more as a stylized reader for RSS feeds and pre-programmed channels built around interests or subjects. However, people often fail to realize that the app actually has a built-in component that can import a reading list saved from the desktop. Connecting the app to a Pulse.me account allows the user to click a bookmarklet in their browser and automatically add articles to a special section of the app that organizes a queue according to date. Interestingly enough, it even can import from Instapaper, Pocket, Readability, or Evernote. Users can mark items as favorites, share to other apps, and adjust the text size or look of the basic design. The downside of Pulse is that it lacks the intricate filters and tags available in the other reading apps – it’s a last come, first displayed list. The reason to favor this option is that it’s an all-encompassing app. Pulse can display your saved feeds, popular trending articles, and your personalized queue. No, it’s not as customizable as the other apps, but it offers a centralized solution that the other apps mentioned here don’t have. If you want all your reading in one place, this is your app Pocket Pocket was Read It Later, a desktop and mobile app that specialized in earmarking articles to be read at a later time, formatting the articles to only have the important text and photos. The app has been rebranded to Pocket with a much better design that shows thumbnails and headlines as you browse. And unlike the other app, Pocket is prepared to import articles and photos or videos, as well as let users filter according to category. (You can also browse by tags or search to locate an article.) Pocket also does a great job of importing from other apps, so you can save pretty much anything. The downside of Pocket is that the design, while absolutely beautiful on a phone, needs a little bit of touching up on large-screen tablets. Formatting in the navigation was a little off and images are downsized, but the app does an overall decent job and it’s still compatible with tablets. This is the app to use if you are as likely to bookmark a YouTube or Vimeo video as you are an article at your favorite news site. Readability When it comes to customization and style, Readability earns high marks. The app has great light and dark themes, as well as a beautiful set of. Readability makes it easy to browse through a queue, favorites, and archives, and it has the best desktop adding mechanism of any app. Users can click a bookmarklet, browser icon, or use a keyboard shortcut to add a current page to the queue. It’s also great for switching between the stripped-down content view or going to the full web version. The “Read It Now” option especially comes in handy when looking to remove unnecessary content on a mobile device. The downside is that Readability has experienced some stability and consistency issues on some device models. Crashes and sluggishness have been reported, and updates have yet to completely address these issues for everyone. The app has done well to limit the polling frequency for updating the reading list, but it needs more options to control how often it searches for new items. Readability is best for users who love the desktop service and fall in love with the instant “Read Now” feature and desktop features. Try the app and if it works well on your device, this may be the best option. And the winner is…. Click image to see full-size As always, we stress that what works for one person doesn’t work for everyone. Try out all these options and see what works best for you. For my money, I’d have to say that the best is Pocket. I’m a sucker for a good design, and Pocket can compete with any app in that regard. Throw in better handling of multimedia, solid sharing and intents functions, and a free price tag, and Pocket stands out as the benchmark reading service for which all others should aspire to beat.
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Someone in my Google+ circle previously posted a video of a user interface for tablets that made me want to throw my tablet in a box until I could have it. The design managed to pack more information on to the home screen in a much better style that turned many heads across the web. Teknision, the company behind that tablet UI that I fell in love with, is hoping people will be just as excited as it tries to deliver a better home screen for Android tablets. Teknision is seeking $50,000 through a Kickstarter campaign so it can offer its Chameleon launcher as an Android 3.2+ app in Google Play. Chameleon is a customizable, widget-filled home screen replacement app that fits a user’s needs based on the time of day or location. In the morning, it’s full of tweets and breaking news that get you caught up on current events; at the office, it’s a quick-look at your calendar and emails to keep you focused on work; in the evening, it has guides for entertainment. Chameleon presents a different view, along with certain groups of apps you’re likely to launch, based on the content and features that users define as relevant to a given situation. And should you need to access a different dashboard outside of its intended setting – like your work view while at home – just swipe left or right. Teknision plans to release Chameleon to Google Play in September, but it wants to raise $50,000 through Kickstarter so it can transition Chameleon from prototype to full-fledged product. Backers who pledge at least $5 will gain access to Chameleon in August, and provide a boost to their home screen. Get more information on rewards and frequently asked questions at the Chameleon Kickstarter page.
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Verizon CFO Fran Shammo said earlier today that his company will move away from 3G unlimited data plans and shepherd customers into its tiered data plans the next time they upgrade their phones. Shammo made the comments today at a J.P. Morgan tech conference while noting that Verizon will use its 4G LTE network as leverage to force customers into transitioning to a tiered data plan. Shammo explained: “LTE is our anchor point for data share. As you come through an upgrade cycle and you upgrade in the future, you will have to go onto a data share plan – moving away from the unlimited world and moving everybody into a tiered, data share type structure…As [3G customers with unlimited data plans] start to migrate into 4G, they will have to come off of unlimited and go into the tiered data plan.” Shammo’s comments echo statements Verizon has already made about its network. The carrier stopped offering unlimited data plans in 2011, but it grandfathered existing users who signed-up prior to the introduction of tiered pricing in July . Those customers were able to retain their unlimited plans even if they upgraded to a 4G device, but that’s not the case under Verizon’s updated LTE model. However, it’s unclear what will happen to people who already signed up for unlimited data on an LTE device. Shammo alluded to LTE as leverage to end unlimited data, but will current 4G users also be forced to dump their unlimited data plans when they purchase a new phone? I personally know someone who regularly uses more than 25 GB’s per month on his Thunderbolt, and someone upgrading to the Droid RAZR from a Thunderbolt the day I got my Galaxy Nexus managed to retain his unlimited plan. We’ve put in a request for more info and clarity from Verizon and will update this post once we receive a reply. [Verizon] via FierceWireless
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Instagram hit the ground running when it debuted last month, amassing more than 10 million downloads and $1 billion in the process . To celebrate the launch, Androinica.com partnered with CanvasPop to give Android users a chance to turn those filtered digital photos into tangible canvas prints that they can place on their wall. After a month of giveaways, we decided to check it out up close and personal. CanvasPop agreed to send me a 12 x 12 print of an Instagram photo to review how it looks. After going through my 15 photos, I settled on an image of a local performing arts center. The original photo taken with a Samsung Infuse featured a greenish-blue tone because of reflective glass, and by the time I applied the Walden filter in Instagram, the resulting image just made me feel peaceful. The 12 x 12 print arrived a few days later. My photo was printed smoothly on a nice canvas and surprised me. I expected the image to be blurry, grainy, or pixelated because Instagram by nature diminishes photo quality. It pretty much has to when you force a square resolution on a picture taken with a smartphone designed to share photos online. Then common sense kicks in and says, “Hey, an image meant for phones probably won’t scale that great when printed.” That’s not exactly the case. Yes, the print does look like you’re zoomed in when you’re up close, but how often will you be a foot away from something hanging on your wall? The print has clarity as long as it’s held from a distance of two feet or farther, which you will be most of the time. An Instagram print might not be the best solution if you plan to keep the canvas in your cubicle, but it’s perfectly fine when on the wall in an office or mounted on a wall with other images. I love my current canvas, but the 12 x 12 size is too small for the living room. I decided to place it on a smaller wall in a bedroom until I can anchor it with other prints or objects. (FYI Canvaspop has a larger 20 x 20 size for Instagram prints.) The canvas material and mounting quality were all good. A pair of plastic knobs is at the bottom to prevent scratching or unevenness, and the image bleeds nicely into the black edges. I’m pleased with the results and plan to order a couple more that will complement my current canvas. CanvasPop prints are available starting at $39.99 plus shipping. Visit Canvaspop.com to upload your image and place an order.
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LG today introduced its latest software by announcing the LG Optimus UI 3.0. The newer version of LG’s custom user interface is based on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and is part of the Korean manufacturer’s efforts to better compete with its rivals. The Optimus UI 3.0 is a step-up from its previous incarnation, which was often criticized for being too similar to Samsung’s Touchwiz and not adding enough. Version 3.0 is a little more fluid and has “simpler” design to provide quick access to app. There’s also the Quick Memo annotation system and enhanced video playback that we mentioned previously , and a Pattern Lock feature that goes directly to a specific feature based on the pattern entered. So if you want to go directly to your most frequently used function instead of the home screen, a specific pattern would offer a shortcut. Optimus UI 3.0 is a slightly tweaked version of the ICS-based software first seen on the LG Optimus 4X HD at Mobile World Congress. It will debut to consumers in the Optimus LTE II launching in Korea this week, then on the Optimus 4X HD launching in Europe next month. It will be interesting to see how – and if – it attracts customers to the new slate of phones. LG has languished behind companies who have been more successful with their Android phones, but maybe solid hardware and better software might make those decisions easier. The ability to unlock the phone by dragging anywhere on the screen A new Pattern Lock that allows users to preset the most frequently used function, such as the camera, which automatically opens once the phone is unlocked; A simpler version of Optimus UI 3.0 for new smartphone users which organizes the main applications so that they are the easiest to access A new Voice Shutter that allows users to capture photos using only voice commands A special camera feature that enables users to pick up the best shot among multiple images including the moment just before the shutter button is depressed An Icon Customizer that provides an additional level of personalization by allowing users to set their own photos as icons and shortcut images The addition of a Download category to the menu for easier organization. [ LG News ]
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Remember how we told you that many Sprint stores would be open at 8 AM later this week for the HTC EVO 4G LTE launch? Well, don’t set your alarm clock just yet because you might end up waiting in line for something you can’t have. HTC’s shipments of the EVO 4G LTE are stuck in customs pending a review of the ITC for possible patent violations. You may recall that Apple previously won an injunction against HTC phones for a way that HTC’s software handles certain functions. HTC quickly stated that it already developed a workaround for this issue and it was expected t have been resolved, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. TheVerge reported that both the HTC EVO 4G LTE for Sprint and the HTC One X for AT&T have been delayed while the devices undergo what HTC describes as a routine check to ensure compliance with the ITC ruling. The Taiwanese manufacturer issued this statement: The US availability of the HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE has been delayed due to a standard U.S. Customs review of shipments that is required after an ITC exclusion order. We believe we are in compliance with the ruling and HTC is working closely with Customs to secure approval. The HTC One X and HTC Evo 4G LTE have been received enthusiastically by customers and we appreciate their patience as we work to get these products into their hands as soon as possible. (emphasis mine) There’s no definitive indication yet that the Sprint won’t be able to have the 4G LTE ready to sell this week, but the use of the word “delayed” doesn’t leave room for a lot of hope. Likewise, the One X is out of stock through most AT&T channels, so be sure to contact your local retailer to know when the device will be ready in your area.
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Facebook has gobbled up another photo-sharing service, only this time it’s not officially making an acquisition. Lightbox , the Instagram alternative that millions of Android users relied on while that other app took more than a year to arrive, is following the competition and joining Facebook. The difference is that Facebook isn’t acquiring the company, just the people who built it. On the Lightbox blog, a message credited to co-founders Thai Tran and Nilesh Patel states that “the Lightbox team is joining Facebook, where we’ll have the opportunity to build amazing products for Facebook’s 500+ million mobile users.” As a result of the Lightbox staff joining the Facebook mobile team, Lightbox will shut down on June 15. New sign-ups have already been closed and the entire system will be shutdown next month, so members have until then to download all of their Lightbox photos. Current photo and user databases will not be transferred to Facebook, so be sure to grab your content while you still can. Lightbox was among my favorite apps from the Google I/O 2011 Sandbox, and it’s now being shut down just over a year later. I eventually stopped using the app, but this is a rather disappointing move to many. Androinica writer Ben wrote about how much he liked it, and several others reported similar adulation. That wasn’t enough to compete with Instagram, which is in the process of being acquired by Facebook , sadly. Any guesses where Lightbox’s orphaned users will turn up? [ Lightbox ]
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Ever wanted to unleash your inner T-Pain? Now you can with Songify , a new app for Android 2.2 and higher that automatically converts speech into music. You may be familiar with Songify as a popular iOS app endorsed by the Gregory Brothers, the musically-inclined group behind YouTube channel AutoTune the News. The app has finally crossed over to Android and is available now as a freemium app. Songify lets users select a song as the background music and then has them record vocals. The vocals are then run through audio processing the over-corrects the pitch to give it that distinct sound. The app comes free with backing from the “Double Rainbow” song and a couple other songs, but the “k coins” virtual currency is required to get other songs like the “Bed Intruder” (hide your kids, hide your wife) or some original beats made for the app. Users can earn coins by liking Samsung on Facebook or downloading an app, or they can just purchase a package that strips the app of advertising and provides more options to upgrade the audio. I’ve spent a few minutes playing with Songify and will be back later with my impressions of the app (and perhaps a video?) once I’ve had more time with it. I’m anxious to see how it compares to the last music app in which I embarrassed myself, MicDroid . [Download from Google Play]
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LG has officially confirmed that the Optimus 4X HD, unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February, will go on sale in Europe next month. The Optimus 4X will launch in key Western European markets beginning in June. There was no list of countries that will support the sale, but we can reasonably assume the United Kingdom is among those “key markets” considering that the news comes courtesy of the official UK blog for LG. Clarity on availability should arrive soon as LG wants to get this phone into as many hands as possible. LG UK also announced that the company has been hard at work since Mobile World Congress, quietly upgrading its flagship phone. The Optimus 4X HD has been upgraded with SIO+ battery technology, Quick Memo, and Media Plex. SIO+ is designed to make the 2,150 mAh battery have more power and extend its run time. Quick Memo is a system-wide feature that allows for note creation in any app and save memos placed over a serene image. This newer version allows for URL to be embedded into the device. MediaPlex enhances the way users play video. It can pinch zoom on live video, adjust playback speed, see thumbnails of other videos without disturbing current playback, and seeing a screenshot preview while seeking a specific point on a video progress bar. All of these features are designed to sweeten the pot on the many specs already revealed for the LG Optimus 4X HD. That includes a 4.7 inch True HD IPS display, NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 16GB of internal memory, MHL, and more. [ LG UK Blog ]
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Facebook is heading towards a multibillion dollar IPO this week, so the company is putting its best foot forward. We already know that Facebook is going to introduce ads soon, but first it’s introducing a slightly better design for its mobile website and apps, a huge source of traffic. The Facebook for Android app will soon be updated to feature some improvements and user interface changes. The most noticeable tweak will be that images will be larger and take up the entire screen in the timeline. Rather than just show a thumbnail that has to be tapped, the entire image will appear – similar to how it already does when viewing on someone’s profile page. The size difference can be up to three times larger and fill a mobile screen “from edge to edge” according to a Facebook post . The change is rolling out today to the mobile website and the Facebook for Android app. Today’s update adds to the improvements made last week. Facebook removed the multiple icons it had in the app drawer, slightly refined the navigation, and introduced “bug fixes and performance,” which is kind of redundant considering that the change log always has the phrase yet never seems to actually fix or improve anything. My Facebook Android activities have wholly been replaced by Friendcaster , so I haven’t paid much attention to the official Facebook for Android app since last month. I used the version released last week and did find the app to be slightly faster than I remember. One can only hope that continues when the newer app is released. Keep an eye on the Facebook Google Play page to see when the new version is available.
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The Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX recently received a price cut from $299 to $199. The most attractive aspect of the device is its battery life as it has a 3300 mAh battery providing up to 21 hours of continuous talk time. For some customers, it was hard to justify a $299 price tag for a great battery life, but now the price may be a little easier to swallow since it is just $199 on a two year contract. Ironically, the Motorola DROID RAZR still costs $199 on a two year contract, but I imagine Verizon will lower its price soon enough. The DROID RAZR MAXX at the same price is definitely the better deal with the bigger battery, but at $199, it is one of Verizon’s top smartphones. Recently, Verizon and Color for Facebook teamed up and the app on the DROID RAZR MAXX can be used to live stream 30 second HD clips powered by 4G LTE. While this app sounds kind of cool, I can’t imagine myself using it that often. If Android 2.3 is holding you back from purchasing the DROID RAZR MAXX for $199, then you should know that Android 4.0 should be right around the corner. [ Verizon Wireless ]
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Sunday was a huge day for sports. The last time a big sporting event took place on a Sunday, I spent much of the day watching television and using an interactive Android app. During yesterday’s drama-filled finale of the Barclay’s English Premiere League, I decided to do the same thing; however, this time I put PlayUp to the test. PlayUp is similar to OnSports, my previously covered sports app , because it’s part scoreboard and part social network. The Android 2.2 or higher app is designed to create a designated hangout that allows members to discuss live and upcoming sporting events with their friends or likeminded individuals. The app links with Facebook or Twitter to find your friends and lets users create hangouts to discuss the match. I was disappointed to see that there isn’t any indication of which friends on my networks use PlayUp, but that could be because none of my friends downloaded the app. It’s easy to invite friends to download PlayUp from within the app. PlayUp supports several sports, including basketball, football/soccer, hockey, cricket, baseball, football (NFL), NCAA sports, and rugby. When members tap on a specific sport, they see a scoreboard with live updates on all the games that week or day. Each individual game then gets a section highlighting live match stats and discussions from other PlayUp members, news and rumors associated with the two teams playing, and an ability to create a hangout – private or public – to discuss the game. Most of my friends and family who would be interested in this app already get their fix bombarding their Facebook/Twitter feeds with live updates from the game, so I thought this might be a useful way for us to connect when we can’t be there. Unfortunately, people were too busy with Mother’s Day to participate. At least my U.S. based connections were. When I went into the public “Live Match Stats” section, I found more than a few people discussing the key matches of the day. There were also PlayUp employees providing live commentary and action updates throughout the game. This proved to be incredibly useful during Sunday’s EPL slate that featured 10 games being played simultaneously. My father is a dedicated Arsenal supporter and pretty much forced us to watch Arsenal vs. West Brom instead of the Manchester City vs. Queens Park Rangers clash that determined the league champion. I often had to turn to PlayUp to know what was happening around the league. Having the commentary go beyond just the standard “Cisse scored a goal” was nice to have, and gave me a clue as to when I should sneak a quick channel change and know which games had the most drama. The problem with PlayUp is trying to decide who the audience should be, and if it’s worth their dedication. Twitter already meets my live sports commentary needs, but I have only a few contacts there that discuss certain clubs and franchises. It was easier to have an established social network of people there for identical reasons. While I like the ability to become friends with other users and invite fellow fans, it’s not always a popular hangout. PlayUp comically has the opposite problem from what I experienced when reviewing OnSports – there are plenty of soccer fans using this app, but not many basketball followers. What it boils down to is that PlayUp can be a very useful app if you can convince friends to join. The app can cross-post updates to Facebook and Twitter, but the real appeal is to have private hangouts built around sporting events. I know there are people who can’t or don’t want to share their commentary out in the open, so PlayUp can be a good way to speak freely in a private setting. It’s also an encouraging sign that PlayUp is securing partnerships with sporting events to promote the app and increase awareness. If you’re looking for a new way to talk about the game on your phone, download PlayUp from Google Play for Android 2.2 or higher. (You can also recommend the iOS version to your friends with iPhones.)
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In case you plan on picking up the new HTC EVO 4G LTE bright and early on Friday, May 18 when it officially becomes available, then you may want to see if a Sprint store near you will be opening early. Several retail stores will open at 8AM on Friday in order to sell the EVO 4G LTE even earlier to interested customers. The participating retail stores include: California: 320 Gellert Boulevard, Daly City, CA New York: 175 Fifth Avenue, NY Washington DC: 1101 South Joyce Street, Suite B15, Arlington, VA Colorado: 9992 Commons Street, STE 100, Lone Tree Washington: 148th Ave NE Redmond Massachusetts: 422 Boylston Street, Boston Florida: 12540 SW 120th Street, Miami Georgia: 3400 Around Lenox Road, Atlanta Texas: 1913 Preston Road, Suite 100, Plano In terms of specs and features, the HTC EVO 4G LTE features Android 4.0, 4G LTE, a 4.7 inch HD display, 1GB of RAM, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 8MP rear facing camera, 1.3MP front facing camera, 2000 mAh battery, and a kickstand. [ Sprint ]
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