The Android Thread

[BaaBaa.]

Free stuff. http://forum.mobilism.org/viewforum.php?f=398

Don't download Plants vs Zombies whatever you do.

[Super Joe]

It's probably not news to anyone, but it is me.... MX Player. Movie player with unreal customizability. Best features for me are you can swipe screen left-right for FFW-REW, swipe up-down on left side screen for brightness and up-down right side screen for volume.


SJ

[BaaBaa.]

Nice one SJ, I was looking for a player, I've been messing with custom roms and most come without any "stock" apps.

I'm currently using D4 Rom, it's basically Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich, it's nice and ICS is a definite improvement on Gingerbread. I've even dumped GoLauncher as the stock one is so slick.

I found an app called icon changer though because that was 1 of the best features on go.

[buksida]

Android could be in for a lot of changes if Oracle get a win ...

This week's legal showdown in the technology industry has been between Google and Oracle over the use of Java on Android.

Oracle is seeking up to a billion dollars in damages and a court order blocking distribution of Android unless Google pays for a license. If the court rules in Oracle's favor it could spell a major shakeup of Google's Android platform, the smart-phone market, and possibly rewrite the rules for the software industry.

Oracle is claiming copyright violation, specifically Google's use of 37 application programming interface packages (APIs) for the Java programming language without paying licensing fees. Google has said it didn't need a license to use the language, which is free, when it developed Android, now running on more than 300 million devices, according to Bloomberg.

Oracle, which acquired Java along with its buyout of Sun Microsystems, has been angling for the search giant since the 2010 purchase. Deals were brokered but nothing evolved that satisfied both sides, Google offered payment to make the case go away but Oracle wanted more and has now turned to the courts to decide.

Analysts have said that Android handsets could cost more if Google loses this suit - which is good news for rivals Apple and Microsoft - and a wave of further lawsuits against Android is bound to follow.

The software development industry itself could come under heavy scrutiny following an Oracle victory as complex legal restraints would need to be introduced into the development of new or existing platforms and operating systems. This in turn would stifle innovation and probably kill the concept of open source software.

A Google victory would mean that third party hardware manufacturers such as Samsung and HTC could go about their business without fear of lawsuits over the software partner they choose and would not have to fear making large payouts for loading Android onto their devices.

The future of Android hangs in the balance with this suit as it is based largely on Java APIs. If the platform needs to be written again from the bottom up or becomes toxic to vendors they may well switch to Microsoft's Windows mobile operating system, which may be the only outright winner in this battle.

http://atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/ND21Dj02.html

[Pleng]

Hmm does anybody know if anybody is developing an open alternative to Java, as people seem to be doing with pretty much every other product Oracle has screwed (Open Office, and MySQL)?

[Dr Michael]

Could someone please tell me step by step how to download BBC and NPR.
Assume I know NOTHING

[Dr Michael]

Forget it--got thru iTunes

[BaaBaa.]

This come in pretty handy today. Wifi File transfer. You just start the app, type the address it gives into your PC browser searchbar and you've got full access to all your files on your phone. https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... Fuc2ZlciJd

[hhfarang]

The Galaxy S III has some incredible new features; time to upgrade BaaBaa?



Full story here:

http://news.yahoo.com/new-galaxy-s-iii- ... 20503.html

[pharvey]

The Galaxy S III has some incredible new features; time to upgrade BaaBaa?



Full story here:

http://news.yahoo.com/new-galaxy-s-iii- ... 20503.html

Has some great reviews, but I'll be sticking wit my SII for a while yet....... not just a case of further expense, I've still not found out all the SII can do!!

[pharvey]

Just picked up a Kindle Fire which uses Android as an OS. Absolutely superb IMHO - at least for what I want.

I guess half to a third of the price of an iPad, easy to carry even in your pocket. No 3G, just wireless but that's fine for me - I only use this to download newspaper/magazine subscriptions and check email occasionally. My SII will do everything else.

The advantage with the fire is that with the larger screen you can watch movies/shows, surf the Internet (if need be) etc. My major use of it is still by far as an eBook reader, but having the Android OS really makes this a great device, with lots of applications/uses.

Only on sale in the US at the moment, but purchased mine through eBay for around 150GBP.

[BaaBaa.]

It's nice but it's nowhere near worth purchasing for me, the only real day to day advantage is a slightly higher resolution.

I'm waiting for the next generation after this, and happily flashing all the latest custom roms on mine.

[BaaBaa.]

Has Thailand had Ice Cream Sandwich yet? Any of you even checked?

If so this Browser is a slightly polished version of stock https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... rowserplus
The little circle menu system is one of the best things about ics.

[BaaBaa.]

The Galaxy S III has some incredible new features; time to upgrade BaaBaa?


Full story here:

http://news.yahoo.com/new-galaxy-s-iii- ... 20503.html

Has some great reviews, but I'll be sticking wit my SII for a while yet....... not just a case of further expense, I've still not found out all the SII can do!!

Exactly, I'm on contract anyway and I'd obviously go for that if it was new phone time but I can't see me needing a quad core processor just yet, my S2 has never even blinked.

It usually takes a while before the software is even out to take advantage of the hardware anyway. S2 blew everything away on its release and is still competing.

[m_right]

I have an S2 and I'm going to try and sell it soon. It has an echo problem which is very common. I have to use a bluetooth headset when making calls. A defect in Manufacturing that Samsung refuses to address. They may have changed the manufacturing now but that is too late for people like me that bought too soon. I will have to get it fixed by Samsung but I'm out of the country for a few months.