Portable media players are not exactly the bomb right now, with most technology geeks going for either smartphones or tablets, but there are a few exceptions to that rule. Philips, for example, has a couple of pretty cool Android-powered PMPs, one of them being available for a special price today on Woot.

The Philips SA3CNT08K, or as we all know it the Android Connect, can be bought for 89.99 dollars only today, plus five bucks you will have to pay for shipping. That’s a total of 95 dollars, which is much less than the item’s list price on most online stores right now (around $180).

For that money, you get the 8 GB version of the media player sporting a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen with 480 x 320 pixels resolution and running Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Other features include Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi connectivity, a micro USB 2.0 port, a 3.5 mm headset jack and a 1100 mAh battery capable of running for around four or five hours between charges in video playback. There’s also Android Market access, so you can download all the apps you would ever need.

All in all, the Philips Android Connect on sale at Woot.com is pretty much as nice and functional as any entry-level smartphone right now. Sure, you can’t make phone calls and stuff, but for 90 bucks you get an elegant and good-looking Android-powered gadget. What more could you want?

Hurry up, because even though the Woot offer is set to run through the whole day, the Philips PMPs in stock might well run out in the next few hours or so!

If you are still undecided what to get your significant other this Valentine’s, we don’t exactly have the ideal solution today, but you can start off by following our advice. And our advice would be to go for one of the three Sega titles for Android discounted starting tomorrow.

First off there’s Sonic CD, the very popular original title of the Sonic series, redesigned and refreshed especially for your Android gadgets. The classic, but fun arcade game will be made available for four days for 2.99 dollars, which is a whole two bucks less than its current price.

The second title to go on a more than welcomed sale is the latest title in the Sonic series, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1. The game we ourselves reviewed and praised just a couple of weeks ago will be made available starting tomorrow, February 11, and through February 14, at 23:59, for just $1.99 (discounted from $3.99, which is its price today).

These two together would be a perfect gift (or at least a perfect part of a gift), as far as I’m concerned, especially considering that Sonic 4 Episode 2, optimized for Tegra 2 and 3 powered gadgets, is expected to hit the market in just a couple of months.

The third and last Sega title to have its price slashed is a rather mystery for us American (and European, for that matter) Android users, called Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition.

I for one have heard of the original Super Monkey Ball arcade game, but am yet to spot it on the Android Market. On the other hand, our Japanese readers will be happy to find out that this special ”Sakura” Edition of the game is an exclusive title for their market and will be available for 72 hours for as less as 99 cents.

A dozen of roses, a box of chocolates, a romantic dinner, a couple of Sega Android games and you’re all set, wouldn’t you say?

Via Droidgamers

Just as we thought the Brits couldn’t come up with any better deals, contracts or plans after that rocking Full Monty offer from T-Mobile launched about a week ago, another UK retailer, Phones 4u, has just announced a potential game-changing kind of contract.

The JUMP contracts (short for ‘’Just Upgrade My Phone’’) give you the flexibility to switch to a new phone every six months with minimum additional costs, provided that you keep each phone in a decent state.

You’re a bit confused, aren’t you? Well, I was too, but fortunately, the nice guys at Phones 4u have provided us with a couple of clear examples in their press release so as to figure out how this deal works.

What you do is you pick, say, a Samsung Galaxy S2 or a Galaxy Nexus on a £35 a month contract and pay an extra  £2.99 to get the JUMP option, which makes your contract a total of  £37.99 pay a month. During those 24 months of contract, you can choose to keep your original bought phone or to upgrade to a new phone each six months.

Pretty simple, so far, and pretty interesting, right? Well, things start to get a little bit more complicated if you get down to the actual costs you will have to undertake each six months, because actually those  £37.99 are split up into two sections, £15 service fees to a carrier and  £22.99 to the retailer for your phone.

If and when you choose to upgrade your smartphone, you are actually trading it in and the amount left on your balance on your 24-month contract determines the actual cost of your new monthly commitment.

If you still haven’t grasped the whole process, you could take a look at the screenshot below, explaining all the details you would need to upgrade from a non-iPhone device to an iPhone 4S after six months. Why would you need to upgrade to an iPhone 4S? Well, you wouldn’t (or at least I personally wouldn’t), but that’s just an example so as to understand how this new offer works.

As far as I’m concerned, this JUMP contract looks exciting as heck, which is yet another reason to be jealous of those of you who live in the UK right now.

Via Recombu.com

As you’ve probably heard by now, Google Chrome (beta) has finally come to Android. The wait is over! At least it is if you’re one of the lucky ones already running ICS. For the rest of our devices that haven’t made the leap to Android 4.0 or never will, we’re stuck on the outside looking in. And the Honeycombers and Gingerbread men and women are jealous.

When I first switched to Android I was very surprised to find that Chrome wasn’t already the default browser. As a dedicated Chrome user in spirit from the day they posted their famous pre-launch comic, it has been my primary browser ever since. Well, until I switched to Android. Now with my tablet (soon to be ICS), and handset (sadly among the relics that will forever be confined to Gingerbread-land) the main ways that I interact with the internet, I miss my Chrome. I miss it for my bookmarks, the nice Google integration, better speed and stability.  But the wait continues.

Why did it take so long for integration-mad Google to bring the official Google browser to Android?

Were they waiting for specific breakthroughs to the OS itself that ICS made possible? If that’s the case, then the outsiders may be permanently fragmented, at least in their available browser choices. With enough chatter out there about the fragmentation between the different manufacturers and their own takes on Android, do we really want Google to be making their own flagship products a part of that fragmentation?

Did they want to wait for more powerful devices so that the mobile version could be a full representation of everything Chrome instead of a pale imitation? Many of the people who soured on the early versions of Firefox for Android and never went back might actually agree with this part of the plan, not to mention some serious refining of the browser before the actual release. Does that mean that some of the older devices just wouldn’t be able to handle Chrome? Is this a plot to force us to upgrade our devices even sooner?

Was it that Chrome has really only been making serious headway in the desktop browser market more recently, previously being the preferred option for only the seriously tech savvy? Except that the tech savvy Chrome users were also the hardcore of early Android adopters and have been irritated by this disconnect ever since. Ironically, I know a lot of Apple users who have been turning to Chrome as their primary browser, which would make for an interesting marketing tactic for ICS devices. On the other hand, if Chrome moves to the iPad and we’re all left out, there will be some angry Android users. Is a browser ever worth switching phones for? It was a major black mark on my pre-Android BlackBerry, so for some it might. Chalk that up as another reason why Google should make this more widely available as soon as possible.

Whatever the reason for the long wait in the first place, hopefully Chrome will be finding its way to other flavors of Android soon. We know that the modding community is already sinking its teeth into getting this to work on more devices. It requires an ARMv7 processor and Hardware Acceleration to be able to handle it, so that does rule out some older devices that can’t use the Android version of Firefox either.

So while you’re lamenting being left behind, do you want to make yourself feel a little bit better by taking a look at some of the early complaints?

• No Flash – with Adobe deciding to slow down on Flash Mobile, Chrome won’t be winning over the people who saw this as an advantage over the iPad.

• No Desktop – at this point even though you’re using the mobile version of a desktop browser, its forcing you to view the mobile version. If that’s important to you (like it is for certain sites I use), then Chrome isn’t the full solution for you yet.

• Doesn’t Replace the Stock Browser – it may never fully displace it, but for now as a Beta you can understand that Google might not feel comfortable completely removing the backup option.

Of course Google will likely rapidly remove the issues they can control, so by the time you are able to get it on your device you may be working with the browser you really want. With the overall trend for Google being massive integration, I expect Chrome to be a major part of this push. This release is only the very beginning, with a lot more to come.

While you continue to swim with Dolphins, go to the Opera, hunt with Firefoxes, keep things stock, and choose mini,  mobile or HD, your ICS-wielding friends will count my favorite browser among the features that they get to show off, and I don’t. At least until my Transformer upgrades. That wait continues as well.

Are you a happy first day adopter of Chrome? Or are you unhappy out in the cold? Or happily sticking to your browser of choice? Let us know!

HTC has sold many different kinds of Android smartphones all around the world and Android consumers are hoping their device made the list of HTC smartphones to be upgraded to Android 4.0.  Today, the Taiwanese based company announced which phones would be upgraded to Android 4.0 and when, but the list is not as comprehensive as one might expect or hope.

To begin, four HTC Android 2.3 smartphones will be upgraded to Android 4.0 by the end of March with numerous others expected to receive an upgrade “later this year.”  The four devices that will receive Ice Cream Sandwich in a little over a month include the HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation 4G, HTC Sensation XE, and the HTC Sensation XL.

Slated to receive the update later this year include: Rezound, Vivid, Amaze 4G, Incredible S, Desire HD, Desire S, EVO Design 4G, and EVO 3D.  Unfortunately, there is no mention of the HTC Incredible 2 or the HTC Thunderbolt, which has certainly disappointed early adopters of those two devices.  However, I’m sure HTC is going to continue to explore options for devices not mentioned at this time.

It’s nice to see HTC be up front about which devices will receive ICS and when, but hopefully we will have more specific launch dates than “later this year” in the coming weeks.  If you would like to read the full report, then feel free to click the link below.

[HTC Facebook]

What would you think if your carrier offered full integration of your mobile account on your computer? Giving you all of your phone capabilities from your desktop or laptop, and made it all free?

Canadian carrier Rogers Wireless announced Rogers One Number^TM yesterday, that does all of the above, and more. Any Rogers wireless (personal, not business) customer can go register for this new service for free at www.RogersOneNumber.ca.

Where are they coming from? The company spokesman had this to say in the press release:

“Canadians have told us that with more and more technology, their lives have become more confusing and complicated. We now have a seamless and easy-to-use solution for them with Rogers One Number,” said John Boynton, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers Communications. “By extending your Rogers wireless number to your computer, we’re transforming and simplifying how Canadians connect with family and friends.”

“When you’re a Rogers wireless customer it’s not just about you and your phone, Rogers One Number extends your mobile number to your computer, unifying your communication and giving you an enhanced identity,” said John Boynton. “This service reflects our commitment to customer-driven innovation and creating world-leading internet experiences that evolve with our customers’ relationship to technology.”

Watch a quick video summary of the features on their registration page, which include:

• Unified inbox and contacts – not just for e-mail, but for voicemail and even texts, making them available and synched between your the website and your phone.
  

• Talk and send texts Canada-wide from your computer with no additional wireless charges: The ability to switch wireless calls to your computer and back, and to have them come from your regular number.

• Call or text any Canadian number on your computer, from anywhere for free: No matter where you are, all calls, video chats with other Rogers One Number users and outgoing text messages sent to Canadian wireless numbers are free of charge, even if you are in the US or an international destination.

• Available Add-Ons for Unlimited US or International Calling from your Computer: $10/month for US, $20/month international

With features like this, and assuming the voice call quality is good, many people could significantly reduce their minutes and long distance plans, especially if they travel significantly. They specifically mention travellers and out of town students as some big potential beneficiaries. Even more significantly, think of what you can do if you misplace or lose your phone and still have access to incoming and outgoing calls and texts!

Some of the capabilities are similar at first glace to what works in the opposite direction for the US-only features of Google Voice, which the CRTC has yet to allow into Canada, but much more tightly integrated since its the carrier that is providing them.

Its not too surprising that they would be the carrier to come up with something like this, as Rogers prides themselves on being innovators in the Canadian market. They were first in the world with the BlackBerry, and first into Canada for Android and the iPhone, and more recently first to bring LTE to some of the major markets.

So what about those of us that are not with Rogers, or are enviously eyeing this service around the world? Will the other Canadian carriers follow? How about some of the big US carriers? Since Rogers is one of the largest internet and cable providers in the country, this gives them additional capabilities, bandwidth, and bundling opportunities to make the most of this idea. Is this yet another innovation that will help the consumer by giving us more ways to get long-distance, texts and now even wireless minutes for free? This could prove a tough one for other companies to replicate, or to justify the economics.

So what do you think of a service like this? Would you use it a lot? Do you have Rogers-envy for a day?

Canada is once again getting a jump on its neighbors to the south when it comes to carrier competition. Though the first major LTE network in North America was launched in the United States, Canada can now lay claim to having more LTE choices now that TELUS has confirmed it will launch its network on February 10, 2012.

Starting tomorrow, TELUS will offer 4G LTE service in 14 markets in Canada. Those markets include: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, Kitchener, Waterloo, Hamilton, Guelph, Belleville, Ottawa, Montreal, Québec City, Halifax and Yellowknife. By the end of 2012, the coverage area should reach an estimated 25 million people.

TELUS joins Bell and Rogers as the top carriers in Canada to offer an LTE network. The top-rated download speeds peaked at 75 Mbps, but customers can expect a more consistent speed ranging from 12 to 25 Mbps depending on the area. And should a customer find him or herself in an area without LTE coverage, the phone will fall back on TELUS’ 4G HSPA+ network, which has a peak of 42 Mbps, 7 to 14 average.

The LG optimus LTE, Samsung Galaxy Note, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE tablet will be the first devices capable of running on the LTE network. The Note goes on sale February 14, but the other devices should be available on launch day. Get more information here.

A security company announced yesterday that it has discovered a “significant vulnerability in the Google Wallet mobile phone payment system.” The company found that a Wallet PIN is susceptible to a brute force attack – trying all possible key combinations until the PIN is discovered – that can make it possible for thieves to make purchases with a Google Wallet-enabled phone.

But Zvelo, the security company in question, buried the lede; a phone must be rooted ahead of time in order for its hack to work. An attack will not work on a non-rooted device, and rooting the phone post-theft would wipe away the PIN information and be of no use. Google made that important distinction in a statement to The Next Web.

The zvelo study was conducted on their own phone on which they disabled the security mechanisms that protect Google Wallet by rooting the device. To date, there is no known vulnerability that enables someone to take a consumer phone and gain root access while preserving any Wallet information such as the PIN.

We strongly encourage people to not install Google Wallet on rooted devices and to always set up a screen lock as an additional layer of security for their phone.

Zvelo did note in the bottom of its announcement post that root is required for the hack to work. However, the company claims that because Nexus devices are more likely to be rooted, that doesn’t diminish the danger of the way that Google Wallet data is stored on a device. The only solution is to move PIN information into the Secure Element, an area in which all data is encrypted. Google is already working on this adjustment.

So the simple solution here is to not root your phone if you want to use Google Wallet. And if you are rooted, you already know that doing so exposes you to a lot more security risks than the average customer. That naturally means the onus is on you to keep your information secure. Employ a pin code lock screen on your phone and don’t lose your phone.

It’s still safer than losing your actual wallet and credit cards that thieves can use for a shopping spree before you realize its gone.

LTE smartphones are the bomb right now in the United States, but if you live outside the US you don’t have many such high-speed gagdets to choose from. Technology enthusiasts in Japan, however, should get ready for the coming of a pretty great LTE smartphone from DoCoMo, the Medias N-04D, manufactured by NEC and Casio.

The 4.3-inch smartphone will be made available in less than a week (February 15, to be more exact) and, at least on paper, it looks like a more than decent mid-range to high-end gadget.

Powered by a dual-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm APQ8060 processor, the MEDIAS LTE N-04D looks stylish and fashionable as heck, rocking an all-black dust-proof body. With a 10.9 mm (0.42 inches) ‘’waist’’, the N-04D will not become the world’s slimmest smartphone, but is not very far away from such a title.

The N-04D is also very, very light, weighing in at just 149 grams (5.25 ounces) and comes with a premium 8.1-megapixel shooter on the back, capable of capturing a photo just 0.8 seconds after the last pic.

The 4.3-inch touchscreen sported by this new Android-based smartphone should itself be pretty great, as it features a 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, while other features include 16 GB of on-board memory (kudos for that!), infrared connectivity, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, 3G, LTE (duh!) and a microSDHC card slot for expanding the memory to up to 32 GB.

As far as software goes, the handheld will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread with no mention of any impending Ice Cream Sandwich update, while the smartphone is also said to be waterproof to a certain extent (whatever that might mean).

In terms of pricing, we have no news right now, which means that we will most likely have to wait until next week to see if the 4.3-incher from NEC will actually be competitive enough to have a say on the Japanese smartphone market.

Also, there has to be said that we have no idea when and if the MEDIAS LTE-N04D will be made available in the Europe or the US of A, but I for one would feel really bad to see this pretty cool smartphone kept exclusive for the ”Land of the Rising Sun”.

Via Plusd.itmedia.co.jp

Google has continued its hot streak of updating Android apps this week. The latest app treated to a new version is Google+, which has added “massive performance improvements across the app” according to its Android Market page. A quick scan of the app reveals that there are a couple other things to rave about as well.

The “What’s Hot” section has made the jump to mobile. The Google+ version of trending topics, which highlights the most shared and commented posts on the network, is now available in the Android app by swiping to the left from the main stream. A key difference here is that it’s easier to keep scrolling to see more popular posts rather than just view the Top 8 as seen on the desktop version.

Google+ also allows users to see who +1′d a post or comment. Before, the app revealed only the number of people to do so. And when you’re browsing through those comments, the stream has improvements. Posts are “Shortened to fit more per scroll,” the stream doesn’t jump back to the top of the screen every time a user refreshes, and photos now continuously scroll when browsing the “From your circles” section.

Download the update from the Android Market. If you’re unable to see an update on your phone, click the Install button from the Market website to force an update.