Top apps for your new Android device - Part One of Three

The Play Store

If you've been lucky enough to receive a brand new Android device or two this Christmas, then you're probably trying to figure out just what apps to install. If you're new to Android – or smart devices in general – you might be struggling to find the best apps. Or perhaps you're just an old hand looking for a new toy. This is where we come in.

Here at AndroidNZ, we have researched long and hard to find a list of apps we can confidently recommend to you. These are all apps we use ourselves and recommend from experience. Some of these are free, some of them cost money; all of them are great.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, then continue reading after the break.

Video Review: Spigen Ultra Crystal Dual Screenshield for Nexus 4

Upon first hearing that the Nexus 4 would be constructed of front and rear glass panels, I immediately thought of all the issues that have plagued the iPhone - easily cracked screens, scratched glass and a slippery surface leaving little to hold on to. Don't get me wrong, the design makes the Nexus 4 look absolutely stunning, but it makes it a much more delicate phone than it should be.

That said, I contacted Spigen right away to get my hands on their Ultra Crystal Dual screenshield, which contains a set of front / rear screen protectors. Due to their ultra-thin and clear nature, you cannot tell they are installed as they function identically to the glass panels. You'll still find build ups of grease and fingerprints - but at least you will be protected from scratches.

Retailing for $13.99, there are certainly cheaper alternatives out there, but I choose to use Spigen's as I believe they provide the most 'natural' experience, since they don't distort the display. Check out the full video review below for more info;

Merry Christmas from AndroidNZ

Image credit PocketDroid.net

While some sites might like to be completely politically correct and remove any wording with religious connotation, I think to water it down is to lose some of the history and flavour.

Whether you are observing Christmas due to your faith, your culture or just because it means you get cool presents, here at AndroidNZ we wish you well and hope you have a very merry Christmas. Hopefully some of you get great new Android toys to play with and come here looking for advice (on this note feel free to contact us via Twitter or Facebook)

Have a Merry Christmas and we hope to see you all again in the New Year with great new content and more coverage of up and coming devices.

AppSales App Review - how to find great deals on Android apps

So many Gameloft titles for so cheap!

If you're keen to get in on all of the holiday deals for apps in the Play Store make sure you check out AppSales which is available for free on the Play Store. This app is great for finding apps that are currently on sale and you can even track apps in a 'Watchlist' to keep an eye out for any app you are interested in getting. Not only is this app essential for getting good deals on the Play Store, it follows Android Design guidelines so is attractive and easy to use.

Have a read after the jump if you want to know more before diving in.

Good Deal - Motorola Atrix 2 - Update $199 at The Warehouse

Motorola Atrix 2

UPDATE: News just in - The Motorola Atrix 2 will be available at The Warehouse (NZ equivalent of Walmart) for $199 NZD on Boxing Day December 26th. This is also for the Telecom NZ model which has an upgrade to Android 4.04 Ice Cream Sandwich available. 


If you're looking for a great Christmas deal to get a new Android smartphone for yourself or a loved one then look no further!

Harvey Norman currently have the Motorola Atrix 2 for Telecom NZ priced at only $268 NZD. This device has a powerful dual core processor, 8MP camera and a nicely sized 4.3" qHD display. While some might feel sorry for Motorola having their device relegated to the bargain bin, you certainly can't complain paying such a low price for such a great phone. If you're the type that needs reviews - check out this one over at The Verge.

If you're keen to grab this bargain, either head to your closest Harvey Norman store or go here to purchase online

While the device comes with Android 2.3 it should be upgradeable to 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich according to a quick search on Google. If you get stuck upgrading after purchase then check out the Atrix 2 forums over at XDA Forums. Be aware that all Motorola devices have locked bootloaders so this might be trickier than flashing a Samsung Galaxy device.

Huawei disappoint - No Jelly Bean for the Ascend G600

Telecom NZ Huawei G600

Huawei recently released the Ascend G600 (U8950D) here in New Zealand through Telecom NZ for the reasonable price of $399 NZD.

Video Review: Generic TPU S-Case for Nexus 4

The Nexus 4 is here! I felt so much joy holding the device in my hands after having to jump several hurdles for the initial purchase. As most of you know, the Play Store sold out within minutes and I resorted to buying it from my carrier. The first thing you'll notice is how fragile the phone feels, mainly due to the front and back glass construction.

Normally, I am patient and can wait until manufacturers start sending out their first batches of cases, but with the Nexus 4 it was a completely different story. I don't usually buy generic eBay cases, but I needed something to protect my investment, as least for the time being. That said, I ended up purchasing the TPU S-Case for a mere 5$ (free shipping too!). 

The case impressed me upon first glance. It was well made, had all port cutouts and button coverings in the right place and most importantly, featured a moderate amount of drop/scratch protection. You can tell some attention to detail was taken into account, as the edges have a textured pattern to improve grip. Simply put, this case is a steal! Not only does it serve as a great temporary case, but I can see people using it as their main case.

Check out the full video review below for more information:

Video Review: Rearth Ringke Slim Lite for Samsung Galaxy Note 2

As my Galaxy S3 case coverage comes to an end, due to the impending release of the Nexus 4 - I was offered the chance to use a Galaxy Note 2 for a few days. In that time, I received a few requests for case overviews, so I got my hands on the Rearth Ringke Slim Lite for starters!

This is a thin, polycarbonate case coated in a matte finish - not only does it feel great in the hand, but it adds virtually no bulk to an already large device. Due to its thin form factor, this case won't provide much drop protection, but the back and sides are well covered against scratches.

The ports and cutouts line up nearly perfect, which is expected from Rearth. They always do a great job of producing high-quality cases at an affordable price. The Slim Lite for the Galaxy Note 2 is no exception, coming in at just above 11$ (with free shipping within the USA!). For that price, there's no way you can go wrong with it.

Check out the video review below for more info;

Galaxy Note 2 Smart Dock - exclusive first look video review!

I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of these very cool pieces of kit over the last couple of days, check out the video for a detailed demonstration of what it can do. I have to return it to Samsung very quickly, so if you have questions please ask them at the YouTube channel as quickly as possible.

Galaxy Note 2 Connectivity Demo

So, here it is, the Note 2 connectivity video to end all connectivity videos. Want to know what devices you can connect to your Note 2? Watch on...

As promised in the video description here is a list of everything used in the video, wherever possible with links to places to purchase them:

• USB OTG cable
• Externally powered USB hub
• Logitech K400 wireless USB keyboard/mouse combo
• Xbox 360 for Windows controller
• MHL adapter for Note 2
• AllShare Cast Dongle
• Datel Retro Wireless Controller - not available any longer as far as I can tell - keep an eye on Amazon and Ebay as it still appears there sometimes
• Logitech "For Android" bluetooth keyboard
• Logitech "For Android" bluetooth mouse (note that any HID profile bluetooth mouse should work)
• Seagate GoFlex Satellite drive
• Apps: N64oid, FPse, MX Player, Bubble UPnP, Wind Up Knight, USB/BT Joystick Centre
• Beastwars bandcamp page - stream the whole album and purchase there with all proceeds going to the band!

Hope you enjoyed, any questions feel free to drop them here or at YouTube. We'll be back really soon with a lot more Note 2 content for you, including the (belated) first part of the review.

Review: Nexus 7 Cruzerlite Androidified Clone Army Case

The Nexus 7 has been out for nearly 3 months now, and if you're at all like I am, you absolutely love this nifty little piece of hardware but have been searching for compatible accessories to further improve the user experience with it. Normally, manufacturers tend to focus the majority of their attention on smartphone cases (with the exception of the ever-so popular iPad), so other tablets are left in the dark.

Luckily, the hype of the Nexus 7 got the attention of a few companies that decided to release quality cases for it, Cruzerlite being one. The Androidified Clone Army case is a variation of their popular smartphone design, which is a TPU case outfitted with a unique Android imprint.

Due to the TPU construction, the case is easy to install on the Nexus 7 and will offer a good amount of protection from scratches, however due to its svelte form factor - drop protection levels are minimal. The ports and cutouts are easily accessible and buttons are easy to press as well. The case is pleasing to use and should get the job done for the majority of users.

At $20, it is on the affordable side of cases, however there is not much extended value for money in this product - mainly because it doesn't include a screen protector, built-in stand or something similar - as other Folio cases do.

Check out the full video review below for more information:

[At Your Own Risk] How to disable Fast Dormancy on the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II

UPDATE October 2012 - Confirmed working with the Galaxy Note II N7100 as well!

Now easier than ever before!

Welcome to the guide to disabling Fast Dormancy on the Samsung Galaxy SIII (And Galaxy Note II).

Naturally as this one comes with the [At Your Own Risk] moniker, Root privileges are required. If you haven't Rooted your Galaxy SIII yet, it's super-easy, and we even have a wonderfully easy to follow guide right here (Or for the Note II, you're going to want to hit up our friend Chainfire's Auto-Root in this XDA thread). Before you do that however, be sure to familiarise yourself with our standard weasel-words disclaimer at the beginning of this piece. If you can't be bothered reading the disclaimer, and want to foolishly plow into things without understanding what you're up to, be aware that our disclaimer is fairly dire, and we mean every word of it (even the bit about pointing and laughing at you, Nelson styles). That said we don't publish any guides requiring Root privileges here at AndroidNZ that we haven't personally road tested, so there is that.

If you happen to be making your first steps in the world of Rooting, modding, hacking and generally making your Android device truly yours, you should probably also check out our guide to backing up your shiny toy before getting any further.

Anyways, make the jump and join us after the break where we explore what Fast Dormancy is, why you might want to disable it and a full-on guide on how to do just that on your Samsung Galaxy S3! Or Note II!

[DOWNLOAD] Droid RAZR HD wallpapers

Here's a little something out of the ordinary for Android NZ - a dump of stock wallpapers from the freshly-released Droid RAZR HD from Motorola and Verizon.
Extracted by yours truly from from the system dump posted yesterday at Android Taskforce - As I've mentioned in the past, I'm a big fan of the Droid series' stock wallpaper, and eagerly await the release of each device simply to steal its goodies. The RAZR HD's been out for a few days, but since I couldn't find the wallpapers posted online, I yanked them out of the HomeConfig.apk myself.

There's a selection some may recognise from the original Droid RAZR - now in a more 2012-standard 720p instead of qHD - and some Moto have been trucking around for a few release cycles, along with a couple of brand spanking new ones. Enjoy.

Download the lot from SendSpace - Zip - or grab them individually below.

Google's stock Calender hits Play Store as stand-alone official release

Except which day of the month it is, because it's forever the 31st.

The Google Calender app from stock Jelly Bean, which will be familiar to anyone who owns a recent Nexus device or has ever tried Cyanogenmod 10, has today been released as a stand-alone application on the Play Store for Android devices running 4.0.3 and up. That in and of itself is not particularly noteworthy, as the Jelly Bean calendar has been on the Play Store for a while - what sets today's release apart is it being an official Google app, with all the support and updates that entails. A curious move, and one we certainly hope continues with other vanilla Android apps, as many won't have tried them. We're sure plenty of users will appreciate an alternative to, say, Samsung's S Planner.

Unfortunately for this editor, at least, Google's shiny new calendar commits the cardinal sin of having a static date (The 31st) perpetually on the icon, a puzzling choice considering the version included on devices to date has shied away from that particular piece of tacky design. Did this one slip past Matias Duarte?

Regardless, if you're keen for more megabytes of Google-endorsed goodness (And have a device with the requisite Android version), hit up the Play Store now.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2: review incoming!

The successor to our first ever review device is in our hands...

Hi everyone!

Quick post to let everyone know that the Note 2 is of course in our hands and undergoing the usual gruelling 'real-user' treatment here at AndroidNZ. If you read our review of last years phablet flagship, then you probably know that while there may be many other reviews of the Note 2, there is really only one that is going to do this epic device justice (ours, if I haven't been obvious enough there!).

If ther Note 2s arrival at AndroidNZ is news to you, then you clearly aren't following us on Twitter - why aren't you following us on Twitter?! Hit up @Android_NZ to put things straight. We're not prolific, so there's no need to worry about us spamming up your timeline, you just get to enjoy the cosy feeling of security that comes with always being up to the minute with happenings here.

Oh, and things are going to unfold slightly differently this time around too, since two editors will be contributing to the review - myself (@NZtechfreak) and Nik (@onslaught86). We're also worth a follow in Twitter, if I do say so myself, particularly if you want to see how we're getting on with the Note 2 as it happens.

Naturally, if you have questions you'd like addressed in the review please feel free to fire away in the comments below, or via social media.

Anyways, catch you again soon with all of our Note 2 content, kicking off soon with the first part of the review, Root guide, top ten apps, connectivity demo video and more...

[UPDATE: Confirmed working in the Galaxy Note 2] Sandisk 64GB Micro SDXC cards confirmed WORKING in Galaxy S II, HTC Sensation, Galaxy S, ASUS Transformer & Transformer Prime, Motorola Razr, Huawei G300, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 2, and Galaxy S3!

Well, the headline really says it all doesn't it. Read on anyway if you want all the nitty gritty, replete with a geeks best friend, benchmarks.

Today Fedex delivered my 64GB micro SDXC card direct from Sandisk (you have to love mail forwarding services when it comes to buying from US-only online stores). Naturally this was accompanied with the usual new-toy excitement, heightened on this occasion by knowing it would work despite Sandisk's protestations to the contrary, thanks to confirmation from two XDA users who had already received theirs (big thank you to 3waygeek and Ghost77!).

[Scroll down to the bottom for the latest update in relation to the Galaxy Note 2]

The best thing about Google Play Services that nobody is telling you about (this is big)

Is there more to Google Play Services?

If you've been paying attention to your RSS feeds or daily-click tech news sites, you may have seen that Google is now commencing the roll out of Google Play Services. Google Play Services were announced at this years Google I/O conference, and bring a few really nice developer- and user-facing features to Android. Knowing how clued-up the readership is here I expect you're probably already aware of what these changes mean, so I won't waste your time recounting them here. Instead, what I want to do is talk about another really great upcoming feature that will be enabled by the roll out of Play Services.

Google Play hits 25 BILLION downloads, throws an app sale to celebrate

Quick heads-up that the official Android blog has announced that the Play Store has passed the latest app-download milestone, this time crossing the 25 billion mark. If that seems quite soon after the 10 billion mark, hit the graph pictured above to see a good example of an exponential curve... Anyways, to commemorate this there is going to be a 5-day app sale starting later today with lots of the choicest apps selling for 25c. Be sure to check it out.

Finally, and I don't want to be alarmist here, but if that curve keeps going I see a celebratory app sale for a trillion app downloads in our not-to-distant future where individual apps costs $10 each on sale. If you follow that logic forward the only conclusion is mind-numbing wallet agony. I don't want to live in that dystopian vision of the future, so I'm making a start on my protest banner before 25c games distract me from the real issue issue here.

Source: Android official blog

Serious potential security flaw in Samsung Android handsets [UPDATE: New information, HTC handsets also reported vulnerable]

Quick note to inform Samsung users that there is a potentially very serious vulnerability on all Samsung's non-Nexus handsets that would allow a browser link to invoke a remote wipe via an iFrame USSD trigger. What that jargon means is that you could click on a link in the browser and suddenly find yourself staring at a freshly factory reset phone. Bad news.

To avoid this browse in Chrome, which will not automatically dial numbers like USSD triggers.

More technical users should also be aware that revoking CALL_PHONE permissions would serve to block this attack within any HTML-rendering app (via chrisfu at XDA).

On waking this morning we see there have naturally been further developments overnight in relation to this issue.

Firstly, it has become clear that for the most part only handsets running TouchWiz are affected. That said, users have replicated it in CM7 based ROMs, and a number of HTC devices also. It does seem quite solid at this point that if you're happily running a more recent version CM/AOSP/AOKP you're unaffected. Furthermore, it seems the vulnerability is tied at least as much to the dialler as it is to the browser, as the optimistic early advice to just use Chrome appears flawed, with users able to replicate the exploit from within Chrome also.  There are also reports that recent Samsung firmwares, such as the DLIB official Jelly Bean build from Poland are unaffected for this, but it seems slightly premature to suggest this is confirmed.  Bottom line is that the full extent of this vulnerability is not presently known.

To put of this in context lets not forget that the Galaxy SII is affected here: this means the exploit has likely been available for over a year now, and there are ZERO affected users. This could just end of being the a typical "Android security scare" non-event. That said, now that the exploit is widely known that may change, and as always it's better to take preventative measures than suffer the potential consequences.

With that in mind, the best information presently to hand suggests installing Dialler One as a workaround, which doesn't automatically open the codes (also, if you do not set the default dialler after installation you will be offered a choice of which dialler to invoke giving you an opportunity to back out of opening the link).

Source: XDA-Developers

Official Jelly Bean starts rolling out to the Galaxy S3

Jelly Bean.
It has arrived.

The news Galaxy S3 owners have been waiting for is finally here - as of now the official Jelly Bean update is rolling out starting with Poland. It will no doubt roll out over other regions in the coming days, but if you just can't wait to get a taste of Jelly Bean you can naturally download the Polish ROM - PDA I9300XXDLIB CSC I9300OXFDLI1 MODEM I9300XXDLIB - here now and install it to your Galaxy S3 in Odin (or better yet, Mobile Odin using the EverRoot option to make sure that your Root privileges don't evaporate in the update process).

Via: Sammobile.com


UPDATE: Just flashed this to my International S3 minutes ago, can confirm that flashing in Odin with EverRoot/inject Super SU/inject Mobile Odin and wipe went swimmingly. All up and running, completely perfect so far. Just running some benchmarks now and thought I would leave you with this one, a little something to show your iPhone 5 toting friends who seem suddenly to have started caring about benchmarks this week...

[At Your Own Risk] ROM Update - AndroidME CM10 Galaxy Nexus GSM

AndroidME CM10 For the Galaxy Nexus GSM

Release Date: 22 September 2012

Change log:

• Updated to latest CM10 source
• Fixed Wallpaper issue
• Fixed Browser issue
• Removed Centre clock option for now, Causing issues

Download:

AndroidME_CM10_1.8.0.zip

MD5: aaf3dd797de468c162b0d682d2969881

[At Your Own Risk] How to install Jelly Bean to your Huawei MediaPad/T-Mobile Springboard

(Bonus 'beginners guide to Fastboot' included!)

In our MediaPad Rapid Review I mentioned that I was running a near-perfect CM10 build of Jelly Bean on my MediaPad. If you're a present owner of the MediaPad/Springboard, I can imagine that may have grabbed your attention. Since we're giving sorts here at AndroidNZ, you'll find the promised guide for installing the latest flavour of Android on your MediaPad just over the break. 

Rapid Review: The Huawei MediaPad/T-Mobile Springboard

So, as promised a couple of weeks ago, here is our inaugural Rapid Review.

First up? The Huawei MediaPad (also known as the T-Mobile Springboard Stateside).

It might seem an odd choice to review now, being an end-of-life (EOL) product, about to be relegated to the side-lines as Huawei refreshes its tablet line up. But then, it might just be one of those unappreciated gems worth grabbing at EOL prices, mightn't it? You'll have to read on to find out I guess. Well, actually, I know you're clever enough to realise we wouldn't even be here if we didn't like it, but there still might be a few tasty surprises just past the break nevertheless...

[At Your Own Risk] ROM Release: AndroidME CM10 N7 1.0.0 - Nexus 7

Welcome to the latest version of AndroidME CM10 for the Nexus 7 - 1.0.0

Compiled from Cyanogenmod 10 source on a regular basis

Release Date: 01 September 2012

Change log:

• Initial Release 

Download

AndroidME_CM10_N7_1.0.0.zip

Install Instructions:

• Boot into recovery 
• Backup current setup
• FULL WIPE (Data, Dalvik and Cache)
• Flash ROM
• Reboot

See XDA Thread for details

Rapid Reviews; introducing a new review format at AndroidNZ

The Tomahawk, the worlds fastest bike. A metaphor for the spirit of
rapid reviews, and no, I'm not referring at all to the obvious there...

Brief reviews are something I've wanted to do for a while here at AndroidNZ. Not because I don't like really going to town exploring a device and taking it to it's limits, but because sometimes devices deserve reviews, but don't necessarily deserve that  kind of review.

I'm talking here about devices whose time may already have passed, but which may have taken on a new relevance in light of some other context, or that perhaps escaped our attention in their prime but shouldn't have. Devices that have some really interesting aspects, some technology or idea that is simply too revolutionary not to write about, something so astonishing it makes the device assume a significance beyond it's market share in terms of how it defines the discussions we have about smartphones, tablets, and technology.

(or, if we drop the grandiosity a notch for a few moments, maybe just that end-of-life bargain that you shouldn't miss)

At any rate, we'll have the first of these reviews up shortly, covering none other than the humble Huawei MediaPad. If a nine month old Android tablet doesn't immediately seem like something worth spending print on to you, then I guess you'll just have read the review to see why we beg to differ. Without wanting to give everything away right now, let me just say that I prefer my MediaPad to my Nexus 7. If you did a double-take just now, let me assure you: that is exactly what I meant to say.

Catch you then.

[At Your Own Risk] How to Root your Huawei MediaPad or T-Mobile Springboard

The Huawei MediaPad, one of the most underrated 'Droids ever made

...and here is the second rapid-fire Root 'guide' for the day. Like the guide for the AT&T SIII this isn't really so much a guide, as a pointer to where to find the Root method, because the method itself is so simple. In fact, I can safely say the MediaPad is the easiest to Root Android device I've ever used. So, if you own a MediaPad, and the thought of Rooting your Android device has always seemed tempting, but just too scary and difficult to try, then this might be just the thing you need to get your first taste.

For reference the T-Mobile Springboard is to all intents and purposes the same device, this guide will also work just as well for those of you packing the carrier-branded version of the MediaPad.

Here is what you'll need:

• A well charged MediaPad
• A microSD card
• One of either of these custom ROMs - take a little look at their threads and decide which looks the best for you - Osimood or HWMod

Once you've got those together you're virtually there, just do the following:

• Use the Huawei "AllBackup" app to back up your apps and data to the external SD card, since installing the Rooted-ROM will wipe your device (if you don't have anything you particularly need to retain post-flash, or you've just unboxed your MediaPad you can just skip this step)
• Extract the zip file the ROM came in, you'll find a folder called "dload" 
• Copy that folder to the root directory of the SD card, insert the card into the MediaPad's card slot
• Restart the MediaPad and follow the onscreen instructions to install the ROM (Note:  If the update doesn't start automatically at restart, then restart again and additionally press and hold the Volume+ button)
• When it is finished it will prompt you to remove the SD card or press the power button to exit the update utility and reboot the device - use the remove SD card option (everytime I've been in set-up, even including when it came fresh out of the box, it has crashed during set-up, and if the card is still in that will cause it to re-do the ROM install)
• While the SD card is removed delete the dload folder before putting it back in the device, that way if you do happen to get a random restart on your MediaPad you don't re-flash the ROM and wipe everything again (!)

Congrats, your MediaPad is Rooted.

Yes, it really was that simple.

Honestly, you're finished. All done here.

Are you still here? 

Well, in that case let me recommend installing this custom kernel, which lets you do two great things for your MediaPad. Firstly, it allows you to overclock the MediaPad CPU cores to 1.5GHz, which gives performance a really nice bump (Sensation users, on the same SoC the MediaPad possesses, have demonstrated this is a very safe long term clock speed). It also fixes the difficult touch screen sensitivity of the MediaPad on its stock kernel, probably the most vexing fault on an otherwise excellent Android tablet.

[Notes: There is a more up to date version of the boot.img file out there, but it'll be a couple of days before I can get a download link for it - this version is perfectly functional though. Secondly here is the original thread at XDA, just be aware that the dev has now narrowed the kernels focus to CM9/AOSP builds for the MediaPad, so you shouldn't try and flash the downloads currently in the thread]

To install the kernel you're going to need to be able to use Fastboot, but that's a matter for another guide on another day (and hopefully another editor, if I can twist his arm hard enough). If you want to widen your Android-horizons in the meantime, why not make a start on some reading about Fastboot here, and here. You might even feel empowered enough to try it on your own!

Video Review: Tridea True Shield Screenshield

Sometimes a manufacturer's design decisions lead to difficulty producing certain 3rd party accessories, which can be frustrating to consumers. Examples of this are seen with the HTC One X and its non-removable battery (which makes it very difficult to increase battery life), the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (which featured slightly curved display, causing screenshields to bubble on the edges) and now the Samsung Galaxy S3, that has bevelled edges, once again causing most screenshields to bubble.

Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had been using screenshields that were cut short and only covered the touchscreen portion of the display - a bit annoying but something I learned to live with. That all changed when I was introduced to the Tridea True Shield, a full coverage 3D screen protector. Whatever the technology used may be, it works - pretty well for the most part!

The True Shield is a crystal clear protector that offers good clarity, protection and a nearly invisible design - although it is quite the fingerprint magnet, showing these off very well. I shouldn't use the term full coverage however, as there is still a slight gap between the edges and the protector, but this is almost negligible and most cases will cover this gap up.

At 12$, it is priced higher than other options, especially since you only receive 1 in the package. I've got the SGP Curved Crystal in for review, which is a direct competitor to the True Shield, so if you're interested in these types of protectors - stay tuned for that review before making your decision.

Check out the full review down below;

[How To] SIM Unlock your AT&T Galaxy S III

A different glamour shot of the Garnet Red S3, why not?

SIM unlocking. Bleh. If you've ever looked into doing this in the past, you'll know the kind of sordid and potentially scam-filled world you're getting into.

We're generally lucky in the Android realm, since usually a developer will at some point come along with a way to do this on your Rooted device without ever having to go near one of those probably-fake paid unlocking services. Sometimes though you pick up a device before that development is done, and have little option but to look into said paid services. Since I'm in New Zealand on the Telecom network here, the latter scenario applied to me.

[For reference to anyone here in NZ looking at getting a US variant for whatever reason, be aware that the AT&T SIII will only work really well on the Telecom XT network where data is concerned. It has 3G in the 850 and 2100MHz bands only, and the upshot of that is that outside main centres it is likely to drop off 3G coverage if you're on Vodafone, and 2Degrees customers will need to purchase National 3G Data Packs to operate at all and will suffer the same poor coverage. If you're still interested, you can pick up AT&T SIIIs via Ebay for about $800NZD all up.]

So, how to unlock my AT&T SIII?

[At Your Own Risk] How to Root your Samsung Galaxy S III (AT&T, US T-Mobile, US Sprint, US Cellular, Rogers, Bell, or Telus versions)

Introducing the blogs AT&T Garnet Red Galaxy SIII

This is the first of two rapid-fire Root guides we're going to push out today at the blog (the second being a brief guide for the Huawei MediaPad). I say brief because the methods for each device are so simple there really isn't much point in labouring a guide, we're just basically alerting you to the method that worked for us, since you may recall that you will never, ever, see a guide here at the blog that we haven't personally road-tested.

So, how did I come to have a US-variant SIII here in NZ?

Well, recently I had the opportunity (excuse?) to get my hands on one of the Garnet Red AT&T SIIIs, so I jumped at the chance to satisfy my gnawing curiosity about the how the S4-Krait based SIIIs would stand up to their international brethren (don't worry, a post about that is coming soon to help guide those of you in a position to choose between them). All of which is really only said to verify that I actually have one, and have personally used the Root method linked to below.

Before you rush to click the link to the Root method, you should familiarise yourself with our usual disclaimers at the beginning of this post. I say this not because we don't care if you have problems, it's just that our capacity to trouble shoot is limited, and you shouldn't have embarked on an adventure to Root your device unless you did your due diligence first and had some understanding of what you were up to. While we're in disclaimer mode. I should also be very clear that I only have an AT&T SIII, and have not tested the other models supported by this Root method (I see a number of Rogers users have used it without issues).

What you'll need to do is head to this thread at XDA, and download a Root Toolkit (or grab it here, or here). Simply install it and follow the very straightforward onscreen instructions, and you'll be Rooted in only a matter of minutes. For simplicities sake I'd recommend using the "allinone" option, which will also install CWM recovery and Busybox to your device.

Once you're done it is obviously advisable to head to the backup section of the Toolkit and make both Nandroid and EFS backups (you can even send those backups to your PC from within the Toolkit, just in case some mischief were to afflict your on-device storage, nice). If you have any issues with making a Nandroid backup from the Toolkit itself, simply boot into recovery and do it from there.

Lastly, you'll want to reset the flash counter (in case you're going to need to return to stock via Odin for warranty purposes). For that you just need to grab Triangle Away from Chainfire. Simples.

Finally, all that is left to do is make a donation to mskip, the developer of the Toolkit, and make a suitably gushing thank you post to his thread.

The Nexus 7 "Real-user" Review: Part 2 - User Interface and Entertainment - Media, Gaming, Browsing and Jelly Bean

Welcome to Part 2 of the Nexus 7 review. We'll be covering the abilities of the Nexus 7 when it comes to Music, Video, Browsing, Gaming and Other Media. If you missed Part 1 of the review you can find out about Murray's Initial impressions, Design/Build quality, synthetic benchmarks and performance in actual-use right here

If you want to know how the Nexus 7 performs when it comes to media consumption then keep reading after the break

Android blitzes iOS in Q2, Samsung rules...

IDC reports that Android has significantly increased its lead in smartphone OS share with a massive 68.1% of the Q2 ’12 market compared to its arch rival, Apple’s iOS, which lost share, posting a 16.9% figure for the second calendar quarter of 2012. In fact, Android was the only smartphone OS besides WinPhone to show any growth over Q1 and Android smartphones are currently outselling iPhones four to one.

Video Review: Speck FabShell for Samsung Galaxy S3

I test out a lot of cases. I get 2 or 3 packages weekly (sometimes more!) from different case manufacturers trying to promote a new product. For the most part, the majority of cases are very similar to another and don't 'think outside the box'. Whenever I find a case that does, I'm eager to try it out. Now, a lot of people don't care for a unique or exclusive case, they simply want something protective and reliable. I completely understand that, but as a reviewer, I see so much of the same stuff that I like something out of the ordinary occasionally.

The Speck FabShell does a good job at fitting into that space with its unique fabric backing. The case itself is pretty straightforward, featuring a TPU body that is backed with plastic for added durability and protection. What sets this case apart from others is the fact that the plastic is lined in fabric, which not only adds grip, but features a characteristic design.

I'm not a huge fan of the design options that Speck has released, but the case itself is not a let down. Offering great protection, the FabShell features nearly perfect ports and cutouts, falling short due to its lack of responsiveness with the power button. Other than that however, it is well made.

Check out the video review below for more information and my full thoughts:

[At Your Own Risk] ROM Release: AndroidME v1.5.0 Galaxy Nexus GSM

Welcome to the latest version of AndroidME for the Galaxy Nexus - v1.5.0

THIS NEEDS A FULL WIPE! DONT REPORT ISSUES IF YOU DONT DO A FULL WIPE!

Release Date: 23 July 2012


Change log:


**Full wipe needed in any case! Newly compiled AOSP base from Google source code**

• Fully rebuilt base from AOSP Google source
• Added T9 Dialler from
• Added new Google Apps
• Removed "Software Update" from settings menu, as it cant be used anyway.
• Notification sounds are now louder thanks to Google source
• Battery should also be better
• Rebuilt all MODs for new base
• ROM is now 35MB slimmer due to new base.
• This is not now based on OTA updates, this is pure AOSP with Gapps.

Bugs:

• T9 Dialler has a vibration issue when pressing numbers, just turn off vibration under Settings>Sounds until i fix it.

Download

AndroidME_Gnexus_v1.5.0.zip

Install Instructions:

• Boot into recovery 
• Backup current setup
• FULL WIPE (Data, Dalvik and Cache)
• Flash ROM
• Reboot

[How To] Restore on-device search to your Galaxy S III

No on-device search?!

As we previously reported, Apple succeeded in getting an injunction placed against the Galaxy Nexus in the US on the strength of a patent on a Unified Search Field – Or, as we know it, the Google search box that brings up a myriad of results, both online and on-device. This was ‘fixed’ by simply removing the on-device search function, reducing the Google search box to web-only results.

Samsung has since taken a proactive stance, bringing the same update to (Or, more accurately, removing the same functionality from) its US Galaxy S III variants as well as the Galaxy Nexus. Although Apple has not yet taken Samsung to task for this particular patent outside of the US, that hasn’t stopped Sammy from stripping the functionality away from the international Galaxy S III as well – As of yesterday, the XXLG6 update had started rolling to open market UK handsets, and sure enough, no more contact/bookmark/Twitter/et cetera on-device searching for those who’ve updated.

[At Your Own Risk] ROM Release: AndroidME v1.4.0 Galaxy Nexus GSM

Welcome to the latest version of AndroidME for the Galaxy Nexus - v1.4.0

In extra news, AndroidME's version of CM10 "AMKP" is now released! Get it HERE

Release Date: 23 July 2012


Change log:


**No wipe needed unless coming from another ROM**

• Added low brightness patch - Thanks Thyrus
• Made LED notification light blink faster
• Made LED notification light a Blue colour
• Modified framework to make animations faster and scrolling smoother
• Fixed a few random FC's

Download

AndroidME_Gnexus_v1.4.0.zip

Install Instructions:

• Boot into recovery 
• Backup current setup
•  > Full wipe IF coming from another ROM
• Flash ROM
• Reboot

How to Root your Nexus 7

It's been with us since last Thursday.... Of course it was Rooted day one!

UPDATE 22/7/12 - Official ClockworkMod Recovery available, read on for details

It seems that the Nexus 7 will be arriving to peoples doorsteps at any minute, with shipping having already started on select pre-orders. Users after our own hearts here at AndroidNZ will no doubt be wondering how they can Root the device as soon as it comes out of the box, and like usual we're here to tell you how to do it. Make to jump to see how to makes your Nexus 7 truly yours...

Top 10 Apps to customise your Samsung Galaxy S3

Time to customise this baby?

Perhaps you recently read our article about the top 10 standalone apps for the Galaxy S3 and wanted more, or perhaps you've just bought a Samsung Galaxy S3 after reading part one or part two of our review. Frankly we aren't fussed about where you came from as long as you're keen on customisation. One of the best things about Android is the ease and breadth of customisation. Even with a phone as great as the Galaxy S3 there will be things that you might like to change.

Once again this is where we come in. This article is part two in a series about Top 10 Apps; this time we're covering apps you can use to customise your S3 to your liking, all without the need to root your phone.

If you're interested then read on after the jump!

[At Your Own Risk] ROM Release: AndroidME v1.3.0 Galaxy Nexus GSM

Welcome to the latest version of AndroidME for the Galaxy Nexus - v1.3.0

In extra news, Theme developer "Thyrus" a well known developer on XDA is now the official theme dev for AndroidME!

Release Date: 19 July 2012


Change log:


**No wipe needed unless coming from another ROM**

• Changed back to stock DPI navbar (Includes standard white icons with menu button RH side when needed (Hidden otherwise)
• Added back Beats mod
• ROM is now adfree (No more adds in free apps)
• Fixed missing Symlinks in updater-script
• Updated Busybox
• Cleaned up xbin folder
• Fixed /system mount issue (Fixes issues with GetRIL app etc)

Download

AndroidME_Gnexus_v1.3.0.zip

Install Instructions:

• Boot into recovery 
• Backup current setup
•  > Full wipe IF coming from another ROM
• Flash ROM
• Reboot

[Homegrown] NZ tablet buyers bargain alert!

Hi everyone!

This one has our [Homegrown] tag, which means that the content here really only has any relevance to New Zealand readers, so you might like to spend your time elsewhere if you're not from our fair shores...

Anyways, what I wanted to alert people to today was a very nice sale price on Huawei's MediaPad, a 7 inch 3G-capable Android tablet. It is presently being sold from the Warehouse Online for a mere $255 shipped, offering a whole lot of tablet for your money.

Sure, it doesn't have Jelly Bean and instead runs on ICS, and sure it runs with the now-dated (and yet still thoroughly respectable) dual core Snapdragon SoC that powered last years HTC flagship the Sensation, but it does have wonderful build materials, an attractive design, an HD IPS LCD panel, 3G connectivity, expandable memory, and display mirroring via a standard MHL port. In many respects the MediaPad suits my own use far better than the Nexus 7, which will retail here in NZ for around $440!

I ordered one last night, so obviously you can expect a brief AndroidNZ review to come along shortly, but if you're in the market for a well-specced budget tablet right now you might want to jump on the special while it lasts. For the money I don't think you can do better right now in New Zealand.

German court bins Apple’s patent case against Motorola

Following a recent UK court decision, Apple has again lost in its attempt to have a competitor banned. The Dusseldorf court found that Motorola’s Xoom tablet doesn't infringe on Apple's Community design patent for the iPad while oddly upholding the validity of the actual design patent itself.

This outcome is just the latest in a series of setbacks for Apple, the company having failed so far to achieve any significant and permanent ban on its competitor’s products. And bans are what each and every case has attempted to extract, in Apple’s “thermonuclear” litigation programme against Android-powered devices. As Android has constantly increased its lead in market share over Apple’s iOS-powered iPhones, and although no single competitor tablet has enjoyed the success of say, Samsung’s Galaxy S III in the smartphone arena, the danger to the iPad’s media tablet market share is very real to Apple.

Samsung buys Cambridge Silicon Radio

Blowing this week’s pocket money in one place, Samsung has picked up Cambridge Silicon Radio, designer and developer of mobile connectivity semiconductor systems. Besides the acquisition of whatever technologies the company has and is in the process of developing, there will also be the benefit of the patent horde that is undoubtedly part of the deal.

Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR) provides numerous technologies for multifunction connectivity, audio products and location platforms, supporting Bluetooth, GPS, FM broadcasting, WiFi, audio, near field communications and ARM processors. OEMs using CSR technologies include Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Nokia, Sennheiser and Creative among others. 

The Nexus 7 "Real-user" review: Part 1 - Initial impressions, Design/Build quality, synthetic benchmarks and performance in actual-use

The first device to sport Android OS version 4.1, Jelly Bean, and a
serious salvo fired over the bow of Amazon - is it good enough?

So we come to part one of the Nexus 7 review. If I'm not very much mistaken a great many of you are watching this device eagerly, and I'm quite sure it is already well on its way to achieving its goal of making inroads for Android into the tablet market. But does it deserve to? That's the fundamental question here really. Is it good enough for the asking price to deserve your dollar, or do the inevitable compromises for cost harm the end result in the Nexus 7 too much?

Read on to find out whether our early impressions suggest this is the best way to spend your $200...

[Oh, and if you've already made the leap and purchased an N7 you might like to head to our guide for Rooting the N7 so you can start making the most of your shiny new toy]

[At Your Own Risk] ROM Release: AndroidME v1.2 Galaxy Nexus GSM

Hi everyone!

This is pretty exciting day here at AndroidNZ, not just because we've posted a great guide to Rooting your brand spanking new Nexus 7, and will be posting the first part of our "real-user" review later tonight, but also because we're able to announce that we'll now be hosting some custom ROM goodness right here at the blog. If you've been living under a rock it may have escaped your notice that a talented ROM developer joined our writing crew a little while back - none other than CdTDroid of AndroidME ROM fame! [Sorry Chris, I know you'll be squirming at being praised publically like that when you get to reading it, but your many fans will back me up here - Ed]. Anyways, without interfering with his ROM post any longer, make the jump to grab yourself AndroidMe v1.1 for your Galaxy Nexus!

Jelly Bean is here! And what a wonderful taste it is...

Editors note: On the eve of the Nexus 7 arriving here at AndroidNZ we thought we'd take a little look at some of the clutch features of the newest iteration of Android, Version 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Anyways, we'll let renowned Android ROM developer, and fresh AndroidNZ contributor CdTDroiD take it from here, since he has actually been doing some development work on a Galaxy Nexus and is the first of our crew to really get some hands-on with Jelly Bean...


Ever since getting into Android I must admit there was always some things that I wished I could have that the iPhone had… Super-fast scrolling was always an issue with Android, we could get it fast but not super “Buttery” smooth. The new SIRI got me a little emotional, I wanted a phone that would talk back to me and be accurate enough to actually be useful.

All this has changed with Jelly Bean, I no longer feel I’m missing out in certain aspects, Google has bought it even closer to the perfect device. So lets talk about Jelly Bean’s.

Apple's suit against Galaxy Tab bombs in UK

Following the recent loss gainst HTC, a UK court has thrown out Apple’s claim that its iPad design was illegally copied by Galaxy Tab maker, Samsung. The judge found that the design of Samsung’s three Tab devices doesn’t infringe Apple’s “registered” design, and ruled that consumers are unlikely to confuse them with the iPad.

Following the judgement, Samsung released a statement slamming Apple for its anticompetitive tactics, claiming… “Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited”.

[At Your Own Risk] How to select your own apps in the "headset detected" notification for the Galaxy SIII

Oh yeah!

Very quick heads-up that one of my minor gripes from the SIII review has been fixed - the inability to configure which apps appear in the "headset detected" notification.

All you need is to be Rooted with BusyBox installed, and then install Headset Shortcuts for SGS3 v0.3 from developer rickythefox and you're good to go. Please note that the BusyBox installation that comes bundled with Titanium Backup is not sufficient, and the app will fail to detect Root privileges unless you have this one installed.

Enjoy, and please consider donating to the developers charity of choice, the WWF Tiger Conservation Project.