[At Your Own Risk] Rooting the ASUS Transformer on stock ICS

Over the weekend my ASUS Eee Pad Transformer received an update to the much anticipated Ice Cream Sandwich. In order to upgrade I needed to remove CWM. The OTA updates are only successful if you’ve got stock recovery. I had added CWM so that I could apply root. Now I had to do without CWM, and with it root.

You can use Voodoo OTA RootKeeper to temporarily remove root, and then after the upgrade you can restore root. This worked for me as I went from Honeycomb 3.0 to 3.1, but not when going to ICS. Though many others it worked even on ICS. I’ve decided the problem is gender related.

So here I am with my nice sparkly ICS running perfectly on the pad but I’m sulking because I can’t get root. And without root I can’t use Titanium Backup, Root Explorer and AdFree. All are staple apps for me.

Join me over the break to see how to to fix this.

Android's growth stalling?

Android's Andy Rubin has blogged his update to the platform's status, and it's more of the same really. Maybe...

It's difficult to imagine the sheer scale of Android's growth even when the numbers are presented - there are now more than 850,000 new activations each day, up from 700,000 announced on December 20 last year. Yet that doesn't include those thousands of Android powered devices that don't use Google Services and make no mistake, that's a lot of uncounted phones and tablets. Like the Kindle Fire, for example, the best selling Android tablet with nearly 10% of the tablet market. Or basically any Android device sold in China, a bigger mobile market than the US now. Which could mean in reality that the daily total is a massive 15% larger than reported, or North of 970,000.

[App Review] Trade Me for Android

It's finally here, for better or worse.

After a lengthy period as an iOS exclusive, New Zealand’s popular auction site has finally seen fit to push a dedicated application to the Android Market. In a sense, this marks the coming of age of Android as a viable second platform in this country – Trade Me is the second most visited page in NZ, only losing top spot to Google itself. Yet it has only now released its own app for Froyo and above, despite the Android platform meriting a dedicated application quite some time ago (I would argue around the end of 2010, when local carriers finally began making an advertising push for Android devices). Many major NZ services such as banks have offered Android support for months if not over a year, notably including the news site Stuff.co.nz, which is owned by Fairfax media who also own Trade Me .

What’s to blame, here? Fragmentation? Real usage stats by useragent showing a lack of Android uptake? Lack of development support, or revenue for the project? Or was the mobile version of Trade Me’s website simply deemed ‘good enough’? While I don’t have the answers to the above, there is one pertinent question I intend to explore: Having waited so long, is the app worthwhile?

Download the app here, and read on for the full review.

Video Review: Rearth Ringke for Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Last month I had the pleasure of meeting up with the folks from Rearth here in Las Vegas at their CES Booth. After a quick chat thanking them for all the support they've shown me in the past year, they handed me one of their new Ringke Slim cases for the Galaxy Nexus. This is an ultralight, ultra-thin polycarbonate shell that snaps onto your device. The matte-black model I received looked and felt amazing once I pulled it out of the packaging, unfortunately the coating picks up dirt and oils easily, so over time this builds up.

Since it is such a slim case, protection is very minimal, so users who want to pick it up should be careful with their phones (you should be at all times, anyways!). The minimalistic design and approach to the product definitely shows.

Check out the full video review below;

[IMPORTANT UPDATE - DO NOT UPGRADE TO ICS - RISK OF HARDBRICK] Samsung Galaxy Note: ICS installation guide, detailed impressions with video walkthrough [At Your Own Risk]

Up until a few days ago I was really beginning to worry that Samsung wasn't on track with it's release schedule for bringing ICS to the Galaxy Note. I'd been watching leaked ICS ROMs come to the Galaxy S II with an alarming frequency for weeks and weeks, but nothing for the Note. Given Samsung seem to be as leaky as a sieve when it comes to keeping their firmwares in-house, this just made me think the Note might have been getting a bit neglected. Fortunately those fears have proven unfounded, as an ICS build for the Note leaked a couple of days ago. Naturally I flashed it ASAP, I mean, what's a self-respecting Android geek to do?

The video above is a walkthrough through some of the highlights and lowlights of this early build [Spoiler alert: it's nearly all highlights]. After the break I throw down a few more thoughts, and, possibly more importantly, lay out how you can flash this onto your own Note.

...and trust me, you'll want to.

The Transformer Prime 'Real-user' Review: Part 2 - "A tale of two concepts..."

Transformer Prime and dock, flash drive inserted in dock's USB port.

The Asus Transformer Prime is probably, as I write this, the quintessential Android media tablet. Besides the fact that it appears to be the only Android tablet running Ice Cream Sandwich that the public can actually get their hands on, it also has a hardware specification basically unequalled in Androidville, or anyplace else for that matter. Yet the Prime's dock most certainly adds another dimension entirely.

In Part One of this review, we explored the concept of the media tablet. Or perhaps, more accurately, we explored the difficulty in defining the role of the tablet. In this second part, we'll see that it's even more of an enigma than we might have expected, especially given the rapid evolution the category is undergoing.

At the conclusion of this review, we'll come back to this point and hopefully make some sense of the ever-morphing beast, but as a starting point it's helpful to recognise that there's the iPad - and there's the tablet - and they're not the same thing at all.

Video Review: SGP Ultra Hybrid for Samsung Galaxy Nexus

We're back and it guys! I've been pretty idle for the past week, but not for naught, as my time has been well spent trying out new accessories so I can report my findings back here. With that said, today I bring you the new Ultra Hybrid case from SGP - this is a one-piece hybrid style case, which through SGP's marvelous manufacturing process, manages to incorporate TPU and plastic into a single layer.

As I'm accustomed to with SGP, this is another very high quality case. By incorporating two materials into one, this allows for the case to be extremely thin, adding just a slight thickness to your phone's profile. The polycarbonate plate is covered in a smooth matte finish, while the TPU has a slight grippy texture to it. The ports and cutouts are spot on, so you'll have no issues with those. On the down side, due to the slimness of the Ultra Hybrid, drop protection is next to non-existent - so you're going to have to be careful when using this one.

Check out the full review below for more info;

Apple wins patent suit against Motorola in Germany

A regional court in Germany has ruled that Motorola's implementation of its "swipe to unlock" infringes on a patent owned by Apple, although how one can patent swiping on a touch screen beggars belief. Still, the Munich court has sided with Apple and ordered a permanent injunction against certain 'infringing' Motorola devices. Motorola has announced its intention to appeal and while Apple can enforce the injunction virtually immediately, it must put up a bond to do so, with the risk that should Motorola prevail on appeal, the bond would be paid to Motorola in compensation for loss of sales. However, such a bond would be trifling for Apple, considering its US$100 billion cash reserves.

Android eats into iPad sales in 2011

According to iSuppli, Apple's market-defining media tablet suffered a market share setback in 2011, dipping from the spectacular 87% share it held in 2010, down to 62% in 2011, a 29% drop year on year. This will probably come as a surprise to nobody since the iPad was the tablet market for all intents in 2010, Apple having reinvented the category much as it did with the iPhone.

The Android NZ Apps of the Week 16/02/2012 [AOTW]

Apps, get 'em while they're hot just over the jump!

Gartner weighs in with smartphone market results...

Last analyst cab off the rank, Gartner has added their two cents on the state of the mobile market, broadly agreeing with those figures previously reported.

As AndroidNZ predicted, Android saw more than double the market share of its smartphone platform rival iOS despite the hype that surrounded the iPhone's "super quarter" in which pent-up demand, a new product launch and the holiday season all combined to artificially inflate its sales for the period.

According to Gartner's figures, 35.45 million iPhones were sold during Q4 for 24% share, (helping sneak Apple's total handset share past LG's by half a percent for the whole of 2011 and into third place in the process). However, Android powered smartphones accounted for 75.9 million phones in the fourth quarter, taking 51% of the market, despite the "perfect storm" of advantageous conditions that helped Apple's 24% Q4 performance.

Comparing fourth quarter performance year on year, iOS grew 150% while Android handily topped that with 170% growth.

Googlorola gets blessing from EU and USA

The acquisition of Motorola Mobility by Google took a step closer today when both the European Union and USA's DOJ gave their approval for the buy-out to take place.

Speculation has run rife since the announcement that Google and Motorola had agreed in principle to the purchase, that the real reason is in the thousands of patents that Mountain View's finest will inherit. This, it's increasingly believed, will provide the 'plex with the patent muscle it needs to ward off attacks from its rivals, Apple primarily, and increasingly Microsoft which has shown itself to be highly inclined to bully royalties from handset makers selling Android powered devices.

It's rumoured, although not confirmed, that Microsoft has demanded US$15 from each handset sold that it claims uses its patented technology. That's 3.3% of the average mobile handset price (based on a $450 average retail), significantly more that the heavily criticised 2.25% cap Moto was allegedly offering in its patent battle with Apple. If true, then MS is certainly in no position to lecture other corporates on the morality of their patent claims.

While China and India, both enormous marketplaces in their own right, have yet to OK the Googlorola mashup, few doubt that the approval will be granted. Since those territories and the EU plus US make up the lion's share of the mobile market, it's really immaterial if the remaining territories add their blessings, so it would be a serious gambler who'd bet against the deal being done in the coming weeks.

Source: All over the flippin' web

The Galaxy Tab 7.7 "Real-user" Review: Part 1 - Unboxing, Initial impressions, Design/build quality, Screen and Benchmarks

So, I've had the Galaxy Tab 7.7 for a few weeks. I'm tired of people asking me about when my review will start going up, so I decided now is good (seriously, in a microcosmical way I start to understand how the Cyanogenmod guys must feel sometimes). Make the jump past the break to see how the Tab 7.7 stands up to our usual intense scrutiny!

[Review] ICS on the Galaxy S II – the waiting game

I'm not one to sit patiently on the sidelines waiting for the official Samsung Galaxy SII ICS version to be rolled out. I've flashed a couple of ICS ROMs now, and at the moment on I'm running Resurrection Remix ICS. Make the break to see what I've noticed.

Android USB Host for audio devices #FAIL and what we can do about it. People who, like, use their phones for listening to music need your help!

Meet the FiiO E17, one of a number of self-
powered USB Digital Audio Converters,
we should be able to use these to enjoy
awesome audio quality with our Droids,
but we can't. Yet. Can you help?

Sometimes, with enough voices, you can be heard. I'm hoping this is one of those times.

You see, I have an issue with Android devices. For me, and others, it's a major issue. I want great audio quality out of my Android devices, but for the most part I just can't have it. But it doesn't have to be this way. 

Let me explain:

Right now, the audio quality of your device is determined by whatever Digital to analog converter  (DAC) the device's manufacturer has seen fit to ship it with. Guess what? They're mostly shipping with DACs that are average, at best. 

I can actually understand that from the manufacturer's point of view to be honest, they shave a few dollars off the devices unit production cost with a compromise that the majority of users actually won't care about a great deal in the overall scheme of things (providing audio is good enough for most). I was probably one of those people up until I installed Voodoo Sound on my Galaxy S, and discovered just how good music can sound when it isn't hobbled by terrible hardware and/or terrible software.

Like others I was really looking forward to ICS and it's USB Host functionality;  it offered a potential way forward for those of us who do care - USB DACs. You can think of these as an external sound card if you like, they take over audio processing duties from the connected devices sound hardware. These are a particularly attractive offering because for a one-off investment you can ensure that all your Android devices now and in the future have great audio quality, regardless of how cheap and nasty the manufacturer's choice of sound processor may be.

As you may have surmised by now, they don't work. Really they should work, since this is a software issue, but they don't. 

That irritates me. You know what irritates me even more? Finding out that some XDA-dev could make them work with a few lines of code inserted into a kernel. Reflects rather poorly on a certain multinational corporation with scores of coders at it's disposal. You know what irritates me even more than that? Finding out that the iPhone, without any jail-breaking or other such carry on, is able to line-out to these devices and take advantage of their superior sound quality. I found that out a few days ago, and I am in all honesty considering getting an iPhone because of this.

OK. 

/end rant

So let's get to the bit where we can help each other out here.

You can go here and vote this issue up Android's "issues" ladder. To vote simply star this issue.

If the issue gets a further 1150 or so votes it will be in the top ten user-flagged issues for the Android operating system. If you think about the head-spinning numbers of daily Android-device activations that doesn't seem like too big an ask, does it?

I actually started posting about this issue in a number of forums and in my own social media networks earlier today - since then it's accrued another 61 votes, and risen 16 places up the issues ladder.

In brief: I'd love to see this issue take Google's attention, but I need your help. The Android community needs your help. 

If you can spare 10 seconds to open that link above and star the issue, and perhaps a few seconds more to share this post to your social networks, this might be one more first world problem we can put behind us. So please, let's get behind this one. 

A little geek waits.

The Android NZ Apps of the Week 08/02/2012 [AOTW]

It's that time again, join us after the break to find out which apps we're touting this week!

The Week in Android News for 5 February 2012

This week as per usual has been pretty hectic in the world of Android. Unfortunately life has also been hectic in the world of this Editor, meaning this post has been delayed. On the bright side I can include some extra news that wouldn’t have made it into the article so be forewarned; there is fair bit of content.

As usual the week (and a bit) in Android News is ready and waiting after the jump.

The Transformer Prime 'Real-user' Review: Part 1 - "A first time for everything..."

Prologue...

The Transformer Prime with optional dock.

This is my first ever media tablet review. In order to review it, I had to work out how - you have to understand what it's supposed to do if you're to determine how well it does it and that, my friends, is not as easy as it sounds when you say it fast.

For background, I took time to read web articles and talked to friends and family about their expectations for tablets. I read blog posts and Wikis and encouraged people to play with the Prime. I looked at the software and the hardware. And especially the form factor to see how well it interfaces with those with little or no previous media tablet experience (including me).

In the end, that's really all you can do without a predetermined set of expectations. So the following review is very much from the point of view of a tablet neophyte – somebody who is looking for an answer to the question “what's it for?” while at the same time trying to determine whether or not it succeeded in achieving that.

It's safe to say that I had a few surprises.

Android extends market share lead in 2011

Despite the overwhelming media hype regarding sales of Apple's iPhone in the final quarter of 2011, Android-powered devices accounted for 51.6% of global smartphone shipments for the quarter, versus iPhone's 23.4% as reported Friday by researcher Canalys. Android smartphone shipments grew 148.7% compared to the same quarter in 2010, to 81.9 million units, and a total of 237.8 million for the full year, up a huge 244.1% over 2010.

In contrast, second placed Apple sold 37.0 million iPhones, in a December quarter that for the first time combined an iPhone model launch with the Christmas holiday period, a "perfect storm" of favorable conditions for the iDevice maker. For the whole of 2011, Apple shipped 93.1 million iPhones, demonstrating a growth of 96% over 2010 - a strong result but still far shy of Android's performance.

Review: SGP Neo Hybrid for Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Another review, you ask? Absolutely! We've been busy trying out new cases to help you make an informed choice on what is best for your device. With that said, today we got our hands on the SGP Neo Hybrid - a unique approach on hybrid cases, comprised of a high-quality silicone layer which is wrapped by a polycarbonate 'bumper'. Fit and finish on this product is terrific, cutouts are spot on and once installed, the case feels solid like a brick. Unfortunately, the thin profile means you won't get much protection from this one.

Full review below;

The Android NZ Apps of the Week 01/02/2012 [AOTW]

Well, it's been a fairly long sojourn between our regular weekly app recommendations, and I think you'll all agree it's well past time we picked up again for the new year.

After all, can anyone really have enough apps?

Hit us up after the break and see what our editors are enjoying at the moment.

[Update] Apple wins injunction against Tab 10.1. Again...

[Update] Apple has been at it again, with a preliminary injunction awarded by a German court yesterday against the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

If you haven't been keeping up, Samsung got the original ban sent to appeal, based on Apple's community design having been considered "too broad" by the judge. Which might have let Samsung sell the 10.1 in Germany alongside the Galaxy Tab 10.1N, a Germany-only derivative designed to circumvent the original ban.

Review: Case-Mate Pop! for Samsung Galaxy Nexus

In our third installment of the pursuit for the perfect case, we've stumbled upon the Case-Mate Pop! The design is unique, featuring a one-piece hybrid style enclosure that tightly slips on your device and offers a snug fit. The hard plastic backing is used for reinforcement of the silicone and to provide rigidity, while the silicone aids with grip and shock protection. Although relatively thick, the case still feels comfortable to hold and you'll be provided with a great level of scratch, bump and drop protection.

Here you may check out all of MobileFun's Samsung Galaxy Nexus cover

You can find the full review in video format below;

Humble Bundle comes to Android

The latest Humble Bundle game pack, previously only available for Linux, Mac and Windows is now available for Android as well!

If you've never heard of the Humble Bundle before it's essentially a pack of indie games where you choose the price. You also get to choose how much of your hard earned cash goes to the developers, to child's play charity and to the Humble Bundle Inc to help them keep the lights on. The game are all DRM-free and you can also request codes to redeem them on Steam if you so desire.

The latest Android-compatible Humble Bundle contains Anomaly: Warzone Earth, Osmos, and EDGE and if you pay more than the average price you get classic indie game World of Goo as well.

The goodies don't stop there either:
When you buy the pack you're getting it for not only Android but Linux, Mac and Windows as well.  To top it off you also get the soundtracks for the games free.

If you aren't sure about the quality of the games for sale then there are even demo versions to try them out. You really cannot go wrong and I urge you to go buy it now! (also don't be a cheapass)