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Google Play Music All Access is now live with free 30-day trial
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Google, Music
Google Play Music All Access is now live and official. Just head on over to Google Music and you can sign up for the absolutely free 30-day trial. Remember, if you sign up before June 30th, you lock in $7.99 per month pricing. After that, it jumps to $9.99 per month.
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Google announces Samsung Galaxy S 4 with stock Android Jelly Bean, drops June 26th for $649
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Google, Handhelds
Google has announced a new version of the Samsung Galaxy S 4 during the opening day Google I/O keynote, which runs the latest stock version of Android Jelly Bean. This means that the specialized smartphone sports the Nexus experience. It's compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile LTE networks, completely unlocked. The bootloader is unlocked as well, and the device sports 16GB of on-board storage, expandable with a microSD card. One major benefit is the promise of immediate system updates to newer Android versions, thanks to the stock Android being used. Since the phone has no contract, it won't be cheap. The stock Android Jelly Bean version of the Galaxy S 4 will go on sale on Google Play on June 26th for $649.
Facebook Home now available for download on Google Play store
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Google, Software
Facebook Home is now available for download on Google Play, as promised last week at the Facebook Home announcement event. If you're the owner of an HTC One X, HTC One X+, Samsung Galaxy S III, or Samsung Galaxy Note II, you are good to go and can download and apply Facebook's launcher right away. You can also pick up the HTC First, which ships with Facebook Home built right in. The HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4 will also be capable of running Facebook Home.
As a reminder, Facebook Home is a replacement lock screen, home screen, and chat experience for compatible Android smartphones, bringing pictures feeds to the forefront, and the new Chat Heads feature that will allow you to stay manage Facebook messages in a much more efficient way.
Read More 
| Facebook Home
Google Play Store 4.0 update begins worldwide rollout
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Google, Software
The Google Play Store is getting a fresh coat of paint beginning today with the release of the official 4.0 update. What's so great about Google Play 4.0? Well, for starters, the images are larger, making it easier to see what exactly your about to download. Content grouping has also been improved, providing better recommendations of other items you might be interested in, and the checkout process also sees a slight overhaul as well. Google Play 4.0 starts worldwide rollout today, and may take a couple of weeks before hitting your particular device. It'll run on any smartphone or tablet running Android 2.2 or later.
Read More | Android Blog
Google Play Books for Androids Adds New ‘Read Aloud’ Feature
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Google, Software
The new version of Google Play Books for Android has a new feature that reads books to users on its own. The feature is titled, obviously, "read aloud," and works with most books without the need for the book to come with a "read aloud" enabled feature.
You'll also find a new pinch-to-zoom feature, as well as double-tap-to-zoom. Further, the app now makes recommendations on other books you might find enjoyable after you finish reading one book. Though, if you're like me, you prefer to soak in the totality of a one book world before even thinking about diving into another.
Read More | Google Play
Samsung Galaxy S III, other Android devices susceptible to malware through Google Play
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Cell Phones, Google, Software
A "severe vulnerability" has been identified within the Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note II, and possibly other Android devices.
The vulnerability leaves these devices open to malware downloaded in remote apps, which can then read user data and even brick your phone completely. "The good news is we can easily obtain root on these devices and the bad is there is no control over it," said xda-developers user Alephzain. Usually, vulnerabilities like this require physical access to the phone, while this vulnerability allows it to be attacked from apps downloaded from the Google Play Store.
Samsung is apparently aware of the problem, but has not publicly acknowledged the problem. Millions of devices are reportedly at risk right now as public knowledge of the issue spreads.
Read More | The Verge
Google and Developers Discount App Prices through Thanksgiving Weekend
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Google, Hot Deals, Software
For techies, the Black Friday deals are just beginning. Google and other app creators are looking to extend the Black Friday madness into the Thanksgiving weekend, with deals on a wide range of apps and media.
Android apps are especially discounted, with apps like SwiftKey 3, Shadowgun, and Documents To Go among the cheapest, but there's no shortage of deals in categories across the board. You'll also find some nice deals on books, movies and music, from Diana Krall to Kendrick Lamar. Head on over to Google Play to check out all the deals on the apps you wish you had.
Read More | Google Play
Nexus 7 32GB exists, purchased at Staples
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Google, Handhelds, Rumors
Rumors have been circulating that a 32GB Nexus 7 tablet is imminent, and now those rumors have materialized to be factual. First, what you see above is an image of the sticker from a Nexus 7 32GB box. Need more proof? The Verge has received proof of purchase from a tipster and posted the receipt. Google has yet to announce any official news of the bump in storage capacity for the Nexus 7, and our hearts go out to early adopters of the tablet as, based on the receipt, it sells for the same price that the 16GB version currently sells for. Also, it appears that it doesn't come with the $25 Google Play gift card as was offered when the product first debuted.
If you're itching to get a tablet and enjoy (pure) Android, this Jelly Bean tablet isn't a bad deal. Try your luck and call your local Staples to see if they have 'em in stock. Make sure to holla back at Gear Live and tell us about it if you find one! We expect Google to officially unveil this one at its October 29 Android event.
Click to continue reading Nexus 7 32GB exists, purchased at Staples
Read More | The Verge
French authorities nab Android Trojan horse maker
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Google, Misc. Tech, Mods / Hacks, Software
Yet another case of malware found on Google Play. A 20-year-old man suspected of an elaborate Android Trojan SMS scheme was arrested in France. The alleged hacker tallied over 17,000 Android users that installed malicious software posed as copy cat apps. The scheme works by sending SMS messages at a premium cost. The hacker then earns a micro-transaction fee, leaving the unsuspecting user with an unexpected hefty monthly bill.
The hacker informed French authorities that he was more motivated by the technical aspect than monetary gain and had goals of becoming a software engineer. Cyber criminals have made inroads into making malware in the Android platform partly because the Google Play Store is open and is not curated and vetted for security like Apple's App Store. Hackers have created clone malware of popular apps like Skype, Instagram, and Angry birds. Some of these apps steal personal information and passwords and can capture pretty much anything you type.
Computer venders Security, like Sophos, strongly advise Android users to be vigilant and also install their free anti-virus security suite.
Read More | The Register
Instagram 3.0 introduces Photo Map feature
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Photography, Social Networking, App Updates, Free Apps
Instagram 3.0 was released today, and with it comes a host of new features and bug fixes. One of the major additions is the Photo Map, which makes it easy to find images that have been geo-tagged to specific locations. Users will find a new Photo Map section in their profiles that will allow them to see their own images overlayed on a map as well. Other features include infinite scrolling on photo feeds, redesigned profile and upload screens, and other performance improvements. Grab Instagram 3.0 now from the App Store or Google Play for free. Check out a video explaining it all after the break.
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