Android in Canada Blog » Videos

How to Side-Load Applications onto your phone [Video]

Ryan Moore — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:00:14 +0000

It sounds simple enough, and for most of our readership this will be basic Android. For those of you who don’t know … hope this helps.

The other day I uploaded a ‘whack’ of files for you to try this out. In case it stumped you how to make use of them, watch this video:

How to Side-Load Applications onto your phone [Video] is a post from: Android in Canada Blog

Gameloft is Going Unreal on Android

Tom Gray — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 01:00:09 +0000

Gameloft has announced that their first game developed using the Unreal Engine, “March of Heroes,” will be making its way to Android. Gameloft has produced some excellent games on iDevices and a couple for the Android as well, such as the recently announced 9mm, Modern Combat 2, and Asphalt HD. Now they’re bringing some real power to the Android using the Unreal Engine.

The Unreal Engine is widely used amongst console games such as Xbox360 and PS3. When the same engine is placed in to mobile games it’s just… well, unreal. Of course the Unreal Engine is found on the revolutionary Apple iDevice game “Infinity Blade” as well as some others. The fact that the Android will share some of the Unreal love is nothing short of brilliant.

9mm *This video contains adult language*

March of Heroes

Gameloft is Going Unreal on Android is a post from: Android in Canada Blog

Get Netflix For Android Now Instead of Later

Ryan Moore — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:13:07 +0000

So, stumbling through the internet I see that XDA is up to their awesomeness and found a way to get Netflix to work.

It seems that XDA user maptec has been able to share the version of Netflix that came with his phone and shared it with everybody as it was updating and started to let people view the ‘flix’. The post thread jumped to 34 pages in about 24 hours! It tells you what kind of appetite there is for a service like Netflix.

I know myself, I’m paying the $8 a month for the service and I was upset at first that Netflix didn’t quite happen to have the selection I thought it would, but it’s starting to grow (only about 2 years out of date at the moment). And heck, I’m paying for it, I’d like to be able to access it whenever I want. Getting to watch Arrested Development anytime I’d like would be pretty nice.

Seeing that there was an app, which did work is good to see. Last time we heard news from Netflix was about mid last month where they were mentioning that a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip that it would be compatible with the first generation of the Netflix app which was months after they had officially described their issues with developing for the Android community. So seeing any development, even unofficial gives the movement some good traction. Besides, we all know that every developer steadily follows the XDA forums!

Get Netflix For Android Now Instead of Later is a post from: Android in Canada Blog

VideoLan VLC Media Player For Android Soon!

Ryan Moore — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:15:22 +0000

You know how you’ve always had issues with your windows media player, sometimes it just won’t play that file you made so you switched to VLC and never looked back? Well, that experience is coming to your Android handset very soon.

No more fussing around with codecs or resampling files for proper playback on your device. Just install and watch! Now we were teased with ‘a couple weeks’ back in December, but sources are saying it’s imminent.

In and interview a board member with VideoLan commented on the delay of the program being developed for Android and comments that it will be ready in 1-2 months. Just in time for some spring time hanging out on your patio!
[Get your translators on: http://handy-sparen.de/erste-beta-des-vlc-player-fuer-android-erscheint-in-1-2-monaten/]

My hopes for this app will be that it will allow phones, like my wife’s, that do not recognize .avi file types to be able to be played. Wouldn’t that be sweet? (she’s always taking my phone)

VideoLan VLC Media Player For Android Soon! is a post from: Android in Canada Blog

First dual-screen Android phone Kyocera Echo announced for Sprint in the U.S.

Pedram — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:46:47 +0000

Android has had multitasking since its existence. But when we refer to multitasking on a mobile phone, we usually mean having things running in the background and being able to quickly switch between running applications. The Kyocera Echo from Sprint is here to change things.

It’s the first dual-screen smartphone ever and it’s pretty groundbreaking. It’s got two seperate 3.5-inch 480 x 800 displays that can be put next to eachother giving you a combined 4.7-inch 960 x 800 screen to work with. A liquid-metal hinge is used to flip the phone between standard single-screen , tablet (flat and unfolded) and PC mode where the top sits at an angle like a laptop.

The Kyocera Echo runs on a 1GHz second-gen Snapdragon processor, has 1GB of RAM and 512 MB ROM with an 8GB microSD card and an extra spare battery in an external charging case included. Single 5MP back camera that can record 720p video. Comes with Android 2.2 on-board and seven optimized apps that take full advantage of both the screens. For example you can have your browser window on the bottom and email up on the top screen or view your message inbox on one while reading the message content in the other display. They’re calling it “Simul-Tasking”.

Any third party apps will just show as if the surface was one big screen. An SDK is due for those developers wanting to take advantage of the hardware. There’s also a bit of confusion as to how the simultaneous apps are treated and whether you’d be to use both at the exact same time like watching a video on one screen and browsing on another for example.

This device is 3G-only and won’t be using Sprint’s WiMAX network. Should hit Sprint stores this spring for $199 on a two-year term. The international availability might depend on how well it sells at launch and if this is really the sort of thing customers are demanding.

I’ve occasionally ran into the issue of wanting to have two separate windows open on my phone. It’s especially useful when trying to write an article like this to have the source window on one side and a word processor on another. I feel this might be one of the biggest things that would draws me away from my phone onto a computer (other than the full physical keyboard for typing of course) so I have to say, the idea is tempting. It does add a good bit of bulk and might not be so practical in day to day use so we’ll just have to wait and see. What do you think?

[via LAPTOP Mag]

[Sprint]

First dual-screen Android phone Kyocera Echo announced for Sprint in the U.S. is a post from: Android in Canada Blog

Leaked Best Buy ad confirms the Motorola Xoom for $799 on February 24th in the U.S.; Full Super Bowl commercial now available

Pedram — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 08:01:50 +0000

We already knew the Motorola Xoom would cost around $799 and was due to arrive on the 24th in the U.S. but thanks to this newly leaked Best Buy ad, we’re more sure of it now. The ad lists the typical Verizon Wireless data plan prices as well which range from $20-$80 for 1GB-10GB monthly data limits respectively.

But one thing that has caught the eyes of Engadget on this is a line that reads “To activate WiFi functionality on this device, a minimum of one month data subscription is required.”

Could Verizon actually be disabling WiFi on these units until you buy a month of their data service? This is particularly important for people outside the U.S. during launch since some customers may be importing the tablet in different countries around the world. Does the device need to be turned on and activated with Verizon? Is it fair for Verizon to force charge everyone a minimum $20 fee to unlock simple WiFi functionality? We really hope this isn’t the case.

Lastly, the full version of the Motorola Xoom Super Bowl ad finally aired and is now available online for your viewing pleasure. It’s a pretty cool ad against the iPad and certainly has higher production values than the last few times Motorola tried to market the Xoom.

[Engadget (1), (2), Electronista, Motorola]

Leaked Best Buy ad confirms the Motorola Xoom for $799 on February 24th in the U.S.; Full Super Bowl commercial now available is a post from: Android in Canada Blog

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play made official, announcement on February 13th

Pedram — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:12:10 +0000

After a gazillion number of rumours and leaks, Sony has finally decided to stop beating around the bush and has made the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play official. The announcement will be made on February 13th at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The teaser image released for the big event shows the Xperia Play running Gingerbread in all its glory. There’s a full commercial to go along as well and… you should probably watch it, it’s pretty weird.

[via Engadget]

[Sony Ericsson (Facebook)]

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play made official, announcement on February 13th is a post from: Android in Canada Blog

Miss the Google Android event? Watch it in full on Youtube

Pedram — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:00:36 +0000

If you happened to miss the live stream of Google’s Android event on Youtube (and shame on you if you did), don’t fret too much. It’s now available in its entirety on Youtube for you to watch on your own time. Android Market web store with OTA installations and in-app purchases might have been the big two highlights but there was so much more.

Tons of full Honeycomb user interface demos on the upcoming Motorola Xoom tablet, native media app showcases, tablet gaming and much more is packed into a roughly hour-long presentation. Definitely worth a watch.

Miss the Google Android event? Watch it in full on Youtube is a post from: Android in Canada Blog

Google Goggles Gets Updated, Ruins Sudoku For Everyone

Pedram — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 07:22:48 +0000

Looks like Google Goggles has been updated yet again. This time bringing new improvements and features including one that is very interesting.

First, barcodes and QR codes now scan much faster. Big speed improvements to quickly view results. Second is the ability to scan print ads in magazines and newspapers. This only applies to print ads from August 2010 onwards in major U.S. publications. Last and most interesting, is Sudoku. Goggles can now solve Sudoku puzzles simply by scanning the grid. It’s very cool to watch but doesn’t this really kill Sudoku?

[Official Google Blog]

Google Goggles Gets Updated, Ruins Sudoku For Everyone is a post from: Android in Canada Blog

Motorola Calls iPad “a giant iPhone”, Revealing A Honeycomb Tablet: CES 2011

Pedram — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 04:40:17 +0000

Motorola has sure got anyone interested in tablets excited today. They’ve revealed a video that goes through the “timeline” of tablet existence and manage to take a few stabs at the Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab while they’re at it. The iPad is critisized for being a big iPhone and the Galaxy tab for running Android that’s made for a smartphone (2.2 Froyo).

Now regardless of the remarks made here, the clip ends with a bee hovering around a motorola logo followed by CES 2011 so we can expect this thing to be revealed in January at the event. Though we will have to see if they’ll be the first ones out of the gate with a Android Honeycomb tablet, or at least a good one.

For those of you with a good memory, this is almost certainly the same Tablet we saw Andy Rubin playing around with earlier this month. Is this gonna be the Android tablet that we’ve been waiting for?

Motorola Calls iPad “a giant iPhone”, Revealing A Honeycomb Tablet: CES 2011 is a post from: Android in Canada Blog