Android Quick App: Videocam Illusion
Videocam Illusion for Android is a camera effects application that works with the video camera on your Android phone. We’ve seen similar apps that manipulate still pictures, and while they’re really fun and useful, Videocam Illusion takes it to the next level by adding effects on-the-fly to live video you shoot from your phone. You can shoot up to 480p (720×480) video through the app, and the free version has four filters, four effects, and two masks to choose from. You can also shoot video at 1.33x speed.
The paid version has 18 filters, 13 effects, six masks, and your choice of five different recording speeds. They both work really well, saving the video to your SD card in .mov format for easy playback on your computer. And since stock Android doesn’t playback .mov files, the Videocam Illusion app includes a player to preview — and show off — your masterpiece. There’s a video demo, some screenshots, as well as the download link for the free version after the break.
Android Quick App: Videocam Illusion posted originally by Android Central
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Viewsonic Tablets Hands-on. Hands-ons. Just a bunch of tablets, really
Feeling burned by that Viewsonic gTablet you bought at Staples despite our review’s best efforts to warn you? Perhaps if it was called the Viewpad 10s you’d feel better about the fact that the 10.1" inch screen is fronting a mere 1024×600 set of pixels. Or perhaps our look at the 7-inch version at IFA wasn’t enough and you’d like another peek at that running Android 2.2. Or maybe you’d like to see how the dual-booting Windows 7 / Android 1.6 Viewpad 10 (nee Viewpad 100) has progressed in the past few months.
We can tell that you want all of these things. Heck, you probably want to know that there’s also a 4" version floating around at CES that we may try to track down later. We’re comfortable with Viewsonic pushing out lower-end tablets and we want you to be too, so go on and watch some videos and photos of Viewpads after the break
Viewsonic Tablets Hands-on. Hands-ons. Just a bunch of tablets, really posted originally by Android Central
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LG Revolution First Look
One of the big three new devices Verizon saw fit to directly present at their press conference today was the LG Revolution. The handlers were pretty adamant we not put our grubby hands on their classy phones, but nevertheless watching them go through their paces gave off good impressions. As with the others, there wasn’t a working Skype demo, but web pages loaded fast (4G LTE will do that) and rendered fast enough to keep us from feeling the lack of a dual-core processor.
The 4.3 inch screen was good but perhaps a little shy of Samsung’s Super AMOLED-level quality. Android 2.2, a 5mp shooter, HDMI-out, mobile hotspot for 8 devices, and 16gb internal memory round out the topline specs here.
You know the drill, more images and a quick video after the break!
LG Revolution First Look posted originally by Android Central
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Quick look at the LG Optimus U
The LG Optimus U is the latest in the Optimus line to show up, this time making the rounds on US Cellular. I’ve make no secret that I’m a big fan of what LG has done here — they have brought quality Android phones to market, with current (Froyo, build FRF91) software, and all at great pricing. The specs match the rest of the Optimus line, and while not the top of the line we see in some other phones, they are enough for an enjoyable experience: 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM7627 CPU, 512 RAM, 170 MB application storage, 3.1 inch capacitive HVGA screen, 3.2 MP camera, and the usual range of radios and sensors that make Android work.
We’ve looked in-depth at LG’s Optimus line before, and things haven’t changed. The Optimus U sticks to the basics, and does what it does well. With the Optimus U comes a sleek tapered profile, and a dedicated voice search/voice action button. After using it for a while, I’ve had a revelation — all phones need this. Call quality was just fine, not outstanding, but not terrible, and battery life was excellent for an Android phone. If you’re not looking to play the latest 3D games, and are more interested in a very pocketable, quality built phone, this one is for you. Often, having everything work properly makes up for the fact that the specs aren’t high end, and the Optimus U is proof.
Hit the break for a video overview and some pictures of the hardware itself.
Quick look at the LG Optimus U posted originally by Android Central
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Samsung Nexus S review
Google’s latest developer phone brings Android 2.3 Gingerbread and new hardware, but is it the right choice for the average consumer?
One of the biggest gripes many of us have about Android is the way manufacturers and carriers change the software. Whether it’s an OEM skin in place of the stock launcher and desktop, or value added extras like Sprint TV or V-cast, or even the removal of core Google services like search and maps — the first thing many new phone owners want to do it remove the "bloatware." Enter the "Pure Google" phones. The name Nexus gets us plenty excited because we know we’re in for a pure Google experience, and the Samsung Nexus S is no different.
But is it a good choice for the average Joe? Join us after the break, and follow along as we have a look at the latest additive-free Android phone.
Samsung Nexus S review posted originally by Android Central
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Gingerbread feature: Download manager
Another updated feature that comes to us with Gingerbread is the download manager. Just like a download manager on your computer, or the one built into your computer’s web browser, it’s designed to help you keep track of things you come across on the web that are worth downloading and saving. For many of us, downloaded files — whether they be installable apps, pictures (like our pal Lloyd), or other documents — can build up, and having one centralized place to view them all, sorted by history or size, is quite the valuable tool. You can see a short video after the break that shows the download manager in action.
Gingerbread feature: Download manager posted originally by Android Central
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Gingerbread feature: The Android 2.3 keyboard
On any phone without a physical set of keys, the on-screen keyboard is one of the most important parts of the operating system. Android has a leg-up over other platforms here, as third-party replacement keyboards (like the crowd favorite Swype) are easy to install, and many of them are excellent in their own right.
That doesn’t mean the keyboard that comes with the operating system should be a slouch, though. With Gingerbread (Android 2.3 for those keeping score at home), Google has really outdone itself. The new multitouch keyboard is easy to use, offers most everything we’ve been asking for, and is a huge improvement over the previous versions.
You don’t have to wait for your phone to get it’s Gingerbread upgrade to try it out, either. XDA member hotaru has worked a little magic and you can load up the Gingerbread keyboard on most any device running Android 2.1 or higher — check that out right here, and check out the video of it in action after the break.
Gingerbread feature: The Android 2.3 keyboard posted originally by Android Central
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Review: T-Mobile myTouch 4G
T-Mobile’s popular myTouch line gets a showcase phone
The myTouch 4G is T-Mobile’s latest and greatest addition to the venerable myTouch line, which has been around about as long as Android itself has. This go around, we have T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network to add into the mix, and when combined with some nice specifications, this is one to take notice of.
Of course, there’s more to a phone than speed, both the network kind and the hardware kind, and the myTouch 4G is full of features as well. Make no mistake, this phone is high-end and designed to appeal to both those looking for an easy to use model as well as folks looking for something that flat-out screams. Did T-Mobile succeed? Hit the break to see for yourself.
Review: T-Mobile myTouch 4G posted originally by Android Central
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Nexus S Hands-on Photo Gallery; Update: Video
Happy Nexus S day, gents and ladies. We high-tailed it over to our local Best Buy Mobile and picked one up to put it through its paces.
The screen is curved, yes, but not enough to elicit wows from anybody. The overall feel is very Galaxy – which is to say lighter than you might expect but also, sadly, a little cheaper-feeling in the materials than we’d like. The Super Amoled screen is darn pretty and actually performs quite nicely in direct sunlight. Unlike the Nexus One, the capacitive buttons on the bottom are blissfully distant from the main screen and so mis-taps are unlikely to be an issue. What is an issue is that like all Samsung Galaxy phones, those buttons disappear when the screen is off and they’re darned-tough to see in sunlight, so better get used to that new button order quickly.
Who are we kidding, the niggles pale in comparison to the speed, which comes partly from that 1GHz hummingbird processor but mostly from Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
In the box you’ll find the standard fare: charger, USB cable, and a set of not-horrendous headphones. It’s Google-branded, that box, though ours at least had a T-Mobile SIM in there, courtesy of Best Buy.
Obviously expect a full review of the device and a look at its performance, but in the meantime gather round for a quick photo gallery (update: and video!) of this week’s "Best Android Phone Ever."
Nexus S Hands-on Photo Gallery; Update: Video posted originally by Android Central
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Gmail 2.3.2 changes [video]
The changes that came along with the latest update to the Gmail app are pretty substantial. Google seems to have listened to the users, and gave us the two things we’ve been whining asking about the most — decent priority inbox support, and sending from another address. And they managed to pull it off without slowing down the app, which is pretty damn important if you ask me.
The one drawback? This is only available for Android 2.2 or higher. We’re seeing a lot of that, and we’re bound to see more as Google updates its core applications to their 2.3 versions. That’s called progress, folks. You can’t stop it. Hit the jump, and see it in action.
Gmail 2.3.2 changes [video] posted originally by Android Central
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