Samsung has the perfect new year pick-me-up -- it'll push out the Android Ice Cream Sandwich update for the powerful Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note early next year. But users of the Galaxy Ace and original Galaxy S may get a serious headache to learn their phone will miss out on the upgrade altogether.
"The platform update for Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note will start in the first quarter 2012, and other Galaxy devices will soon follow," reads an entry on Samsung's official blog. We knew the S2 was getting ICS already, but it's useful to have a timeframe to work from. Let's hope it's the beginning of the quarter rather than the end.
That full list of other devices to get the upgrade is: the Galaxy R, the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Galaxy Tab 8.9, the Galaxy Tab 7.7, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (the dual-core variant of the 7.0) and the Galaxy S2 LTE, which isn't available in the UK.
We asked Samsung for an explanation as to why certain devices are being upgraded and others not, and we'll update this story when it responds. Also uninvited to the ICS party are the Galaxy Fit, and the super-budget Galaxy W and Y. It may be that these older or cheaper phones don't have the grunt to mix it Ice Cream Sandwich-style, or Samsung just doesn't think it's worth the effort.
Ice Cream Sandwich brings a host of new features, including the ability to unlock the device using facial recognition and resize widgets on screen. Yesterday we reported the Nexus S is being updated to Ice Cream Sandwich over the next month, but if you don't want to wait you can get it right now by following our handy guide.
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus was the first handset to come with Ice Cream Sandwich, and once its pesky volume bug had been fixed, we absolutely loved it.
Are you looking forward to Ice Cream Sandwich? Or have you already got it? Is your phone missing out? Let us know your opinions in the comments below, or over on our Facebook page.
Friday, January 6, 2012
BY Kirstin Benson7.36 PM EST 01.06.2012 ‘Wizards Of Waverly Place’ Is Ending Tonight — Selena Gomez Must Return To TV Soon!
Selena Gomez charmed the socks off us over the course of the last four seasons of ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ on Disney Channel. Hopefully she returns to the small screen soon!
It’s hard to believe it’s already been four years since Wizards of Waverly Place first began, starring a wide-eyed rambunctious 15-year-old girl named Selena Gomez. For many of us, it was the first time we’d ever laid eyes on the talented actress — and little did we know, she was about to become a mega star.
Flash forward four years to Jan. 6, 2012 and Wizards is coming to its end, with an action-packed and dramatic series finale. Although all the cast members have said ending the show was bittersweet, Selena especially seems eager to begin her new film career, starting with two films in the coming months.
I’m thrilled for Selena’s success. She’s talented, gorgeous and hard working — all ingredients that are essential for someone who has successful fashion lines, films, albums and more. However, as I’ve stressed before, I truly hope she returns to the small screen in the nearish future. Her personality is perfect for the small screen. In fact, I’d love to see her host a talk show, a sketch comedy show or a sitcom starring her exclusively. Television is where Selena truly thrives.
In fact, it seems even she is beginning to realize that, as she mentioned in a recent interview she’d love to star on a TV show a la Friends. Perfect!
It’s hard to believe it’s already been four years since Wizards of Waverly Place first began, starring a wide-eyed rambunctious 15-year-old girl named Selena Gomez. For many of us, it was the first time we’d ever laid eyes on the talented actress — and little did we know, she was about to become a mega star.
Flash forward four years to Jan. 6, 2012 and Wizards is coming to its end, with an action-packed and dramatic series finale. Although all the cast members have said ending the show was bittersweet, Selena especially seems eager to begin her new film career, starting with two films in the coming months.
I’m thrilled for Selena’s success. She’s talented, gorgeous and hard working — all ingredients that are essential for someone who has successful fashion lines, films, albums and more. However, as I’ve stressed before, I truly hope she returns to the small screen in the nearish future. Her personality is perfect for the small screen. In fact, I’d love to see her host a talk show, a sketch comedy show or a sitcom starring her exclusively. Television is where Selena truly thrives.
In fact, it seems even she is beginning to realize that, as she mentioned in a recent interview she’d love to star on a TV show a la Friends. Perfect!
Justin Bieber has a new tattoo; Elin Nordegren knocks down mansion to build new one
Since the last time Justin Bieber ’s bare legs were photographed, he has added a tattoo to the back of his left calf. Of what, you ask? Why, the face of Jesus Christ, of course!
The 17-year-old pop star already has the Hebrew word for Jesus inked on his rib cage and a tiny bird one of his hips. See pictures of his new tattoo at the link. (Hollywood Life)
Elin Nordegren, the ex-wife of Tiger Woods, has demolished a $12 million mansion so that she can build a new one in its place. (Early Lead)
Etta James has left a hospital following a two-week stay for breathing troubles. The “At Last” singer is suffering from terminal leukemia and dementia. (AP)
Ryan Seacrest may have to take a cut to his $15 million a year paycheck if he wants to host “American Idol” beyond season 11. Let’s hope he gets through this trying time. (THR)
Mila Kunis is the new face of Dior. Check out her ads at the link, if you’re into that sort of thing. (Celebuzz)
A former boy-bander saved a baby, after the jump.
JC Chasez of ‘N Sync fame saved a baby from a flying umbrella at a Miami beach on New Year’s Day. What’d you do lately Joey Fatone? (People)
The first poster for the Golden Globes features Ricky Gervais cutting some sort of gag from his mouth. Get it! Because he says outrageous things! You’ve done it again, Hollywood. (HuffPost)
Peaches Geldof, the 22-year-old journalist/model daughter of Bob Geldof, is pregnant and engaged. (Press Association)
Singer Jason Derulo fractured his neck during a tour rehearsal and has been forced to cancel upcoming appearances. (E!)
“Why Does America Love Skrillex?” Please tell me Vulture, because I just don’t know. (Vulture)
Perhaps I didn’t make this clear, but I’m pretty outraged that Taylor Swift has been cast as Eponine in Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables” movie. Fellow musical theater nerd, Best Week Ever’s Michelle Collins, is, too, and she’s written a Gif-tastic piece to express her pain. (BWE)
Sometime during the past year, Gary Busey starred in commercials for Kia dealerships and no one noticed. Let’s make up for it now. (via Buzzfeed)
The 17-year-old pop star already has the Hebrew word for Jesus inked on his rib cage and a tiny bird one of his hips. See pictures of his new tattoo at the link. (Hollywood Life)
Elin Nordegren, the ex-wife of Tiger Woods, has demolished a $12 million mansion so that she can build a new one in its place. (Early Lead)
Etta James has left a hospital following a two-week stay for breathing troubles. The “At Last” singer is suffering from terminal leukemia and dementia. (AP)
Ryan Seacrest may have to take a cut to his $15 million a year paycheck if he wants to host “American Idol” beyond season 11. Let’s hope he gets through this trying time. (THR)
Mila Kunis is the new face of Dior. Check out her ads at the link, if you’re into that sort of thing. (Celebuzz)
A former boy-bander saved a baby, after the jump.
JC Chasez of ‘N Sync fame saved a baby from a flying umbrella at a Miami beach on New Year’s Day. What’d you do lately Joey Fatone? (People)
The first poster for the Golden Globes features Ricky Gervais cutting some sort of gag from his mouth. Get it! Because he says outrageous things! You’ve done it again, Hollywood. (HuffPost)
Peaches Geldof, the 22-year-old journalist/model daughter of Bob Geldof, is pregnant and engaged. (Press Association)
Singer Jason Derulo fractured his neck during a tour rehearsal and has been forced to cancel upcoming appearances. (E!)
“Why Does America Love Skrillex?” Please tell me Vulture, because I just don’t know. (Vulture)
Perhaps I didn’t make this clear, but I’m pretty outraged that Taylor Swift has been cast as Eponine in Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables” movie. Fellow musical theater nerd, Best Week Ever’s Michelle Collins, is, too, and she’s written a Gif-tastic piece to express her pain. (BWE)
Sometime during the past year, Gary Busey starred in commercials for Kia dealerships and no one noticed. Let’s make up for it now. (via Buzzfeed)
Elin Nordegren: Tear Down This Wall
Despite the troubled market, the idea of knocking over an expensive waterfront home on a valuable piece of land, just because you feel like it, remains appealing for those who can afford it. After all, billionaire David Tepper, who runs the giant hedge fund Appaloosa Management, tore down a $43.5 million mansion in Sagaponack, N.Y., last year to build a new house overlooking the Hamptons waterfront.
Or consider the case of Elin Nordegren, the former model and ex-wife of golf star Tiger Woods, who bought and then tore down a $12.3 million mansion along the beach in Palm Beach County, Florida, the Palm Beach Post reported Thursday.
Of course, the super-wealthy are entitled to do what they want with their money (Nordegren’s wealth comes from a reported $100 million divorce settlement from her husband, who admitted to repeated infidelities over their five-year marriage), but one expert in real-estate teardowns said that a demolition of a property this large is unusual.
“It’s an absurd decision to make. The kind of waste involved in a demolition like that is just obscene,” says Justin Hollander, a professor at Tufts University who has written about teardowns. “You can tear down a home that’s worth millions and reuse some of the materials, but there’s absolutely no economic justification for doing something like that.”
More typical reasons for teardowns of valuable property might include a “strong real estate market” situation, in which some neighborhoods show “demand for luxury homes, but the existing homes are more modest,” Mr. Hollander said. Teardowns seemed to fade when the housing market collapsed, but not as much in wealthy enclaves shielded from the pain. This seems to fit Ms. Nordegren’s case: The Palm Beach Post reports that her oceanfront lot is in a development near North Palm Beach with plenty of lavish multi-million dollar listings.
“I’ve had customers go into a home, and they don’t like the kitchen, and next thing you know, they’re tearing down a $5 million home,” John True, a real-estate agent in nearby Juno Beach, Fla., told Developments. He said some people prefer a teardown to a renovation in the wealthy communities near Ms. Nordegren’s house. “If they’re going to spend all this time, get their Bruno Magli shoes a little dusty, they figure, ‘Let’s just tear it down and start it anew.’ It’s mind-boggling.”
Or consider the case of Elin Nordegren, the former model and ex-wife of golf star Tiger Woods, who bought and then tore down a $12.3 million mansion along the beach in Palm Beach County, Florida, the Palm Beach Post reported Thursday.
Of course, the super-wealthy are entitled to do what they want with their money (Nordegren’s wealth comes from a reported $100 million divorce settlement from her husband, who admitted to repeated infidelities over their five-year marriage), but one expert in real-estate teardowns said that a demolition of a property this large is unusual.
“It’s an absurd decision to make. The kind of waste involved in a demolition like that is just obscene,” says Justin Hollander, a professor at Tufts University who has written about teardowns. “You can tear down a home that’s worth millions and reuse some of the materials, but there’s absolutely no economic justification for doing something like that.”
More typical reasons for teardowns of valuable property might include a “strong real estate market” situation, in which some neighborhoods show “demand for luxury homes, but the existing homes are more modest,” Mr. Hollander said. Teardowns seemed to fade when the housing market collapsed, but not as much in wealthy enclaves shielded from the pain. This seems to fit Ms. Nordegren’s case: The Palm Beach Post reports that her oceanfront lot is in a development near North Palm Beach with plenty of lavish multi-million dollar listings.
“I’ve had customers go into a home, and they don’t like the kitchen, and next thing you know, they’re tearing down a $5 million home,” John True, a real-estate agent in nearby Juno Beach, Fla., told Developments. He said some people prefer a teardown to a renovation in the wealthy communities near Ms. Nordegren’s house. “If they’re going to spend all this time, get their Bruno Magli shoes a little dusty, they figure, ‘Let’s just tear it down and start it anew.’ It’s mind-boggling.”
Samsung Galaxy S III May Debut in February
A mock-up of the Galaxy S III.
Samsung is preparing the successor of the Galaxy S II, one of the most popular Android handsets and iPhone rivals to date. The Samsung Galaxy S III is expected to debut in February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, while the first photo taken with the phone’s camera has been purportedly leaked.
The first evidence of the Samsung Galaxy S III comes from Pocketnow, which unearthed what appears to be a test photo taken with the yet unreleased and unannounced device. The EXIF data of the photo, which can be easily faked, indicates it was taken with a phone carrying the model number GT-I9500, following the numbering patters of previous Galaxy handsets from Samsung.
The photo’s metadata indicates it was taken inside Samsung’s R&D labs in South Korea, and you can also see the back of another Samsung PC. Pocketnow reports the shooter of the photo appears to be the same person who leaked test photos of the Samsung Galaxy S II in January, months before the device was released. Further inspection of the photo shows the resolution of the camera was dialed down to 5 megapixels, apparently in an effort to mask its full capabilities. TechRadar believes the image was a plant by Samsung.
Samsung is preparing the successor of the Galaxy S II, one of the most popular Android handsets and iPhone rivals to date. The Samsung Galaxy S III is expected to debut in February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, while the first photo taken with the phone’s camera has been purportedly leaked.
The first evidence of the Samsung Galaxy S III comes from Pocketnow, which unearthed what appears to be a test photo taken with the yet unreleased and unannounced device. The EXIF data of the photo, which can be easily faked, indicates it was taken with a phone carrying the model number GT-I9500, following the numbering patters of previous Galaxy handsets from Samsung.
The photo’s metadata indicates it was taken inside Samsung’s R&D labs in South Korea, and you can also see the back of another Samsung PC. Pocketnow reports the shooter of the photo appears to be the same person who leaked test photos of the Samsung Galaxy S II in January, months before the device was released. Further inspection of the photo shows the resolution of the camera was dialed down to 5 megapixels, apparently in an effort to mask its full capabilities. TechRadar believes the image was a plant by Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy S II experimental CM9 build released [ICS port]
Devs have released the first experimental CyanogenMOD 9 build for Samsung Galaxy S2. This build is highly unstable and is in no way meant for normal users. According to the devs working on making CM9 work on SGS2, overall CyanogenMod is under very heavy development right now including the device specific parts for Galaxy S II, and they would be able to release stable ROM only by Jan or February 2012.
If you are an advanced user and want to have a feel of the build, you can grab the download right now from XDA thread. You will to be able to flash it using ODIN or via CWM, detailed instructions are available at thread.
If you are an advanced user and want to have a feel of the build, you can grab the download right now from XDA thread. You will to be able to flash it using ODIN or via CWM, detailed instructions are available at thread.
10 Reasons to Root Your Android Device
If you're a member of the little green army, chances are you've either rooted your phone or tablet, have at least thought about it. If you're one of the latter? It's time to take the plunge. And here are ten good reasons why you should do it today.
When you root your Android device, you gain access to the entire file system, with full admin rights. You can customize your own boot image, create a full backup of your phone, or install a full-blown Linux distro. But even if you don't want to get that geeky with it, there are a plethora of everyday reasons to root your Android, and thanks to many smart developers, we have rooting processes that are fairly accessible to the average computer-savvy Joe.
There are a couple of excellent forums that provide up-to-date information on how to root just about any popular Android devics. Go to Android Forums or the XDA-Developer Forums, find your device, and then drill down for the rooting guides and other resources that will be there for most models. And for a couple of sample guides that should show you that rooting is not that crazy of a thing, see Maximum Tech's How To Root Your Android Phone Without Bricking It.
And now, on to our reasons to root, in no definitive order.
10. Bloatware
Also known as crapware and some other choice euphemisms, bloatware infects the vast majority of Android phones. You'll recognize Samsung Touchwiz, HTC Sense, and Motorola MotoBlur as the custom UIs and feature packages that those makers throw on top of stock Android. While some of that bloatware is actually useful, most of it offers nothing that you couldn't arrange on your own with other apps, and it can bog down performance or even block features from your device. Worse yet is that much of the time, bloatware apps are blocked from uninstalling, unless of course, you root your phone.
9. Overclocking
When you root your Android, you gain some control over the hardware components, making overclocking and undervolting possible. It's not uncommon to overclock a 1GHz Android CPU up to 1.6GHz, of course with a greater tendency toward instability. Several root-only apps available in the Android Market handle both overclocking and undervolting, such as SetCPU ($1.99) and Voltage Control (free or $3.36 for the Extreme version).
8. Performance
Besides mere overclocking, rooted users can gain other performance enhancements through kernal tweaks performed by some of the apps we've mentioned here, custom ROMs, or through your own means, if you know what you're doing. Such tweaks in combination with overclocking have been known to increase overall performance on a Nexus S by 250 percent.
Also, as we've previously reported on Maximum Tech, "most Android devices incorporate an EXT3 filesystem with considerable overhead to ensure safe file I/O interaction. Once rooted, however, many of these devices can be upgraded with the faster EXT4 filesystem, resulting in faster load times and overall smoother software performance, while sacrificing a bit of storage stability. Yes, the less stable memory can lead to app crashes and even data loss, but that's pretty rare."
7. Screenshots
For whatever reason, Google didn't write native screenshot ability into Android until Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). A few devices include it as an added feature out of the box, but there's no reason for you to wait for a new ICS device or update if you want to take screenshots today. If you root your Android, you can take advantage of screenshots apps such as Screenshot or PicMe at your leisure.
6. Other Root-only Apps
Once you've successfully rooted your Android, you'll be privy to hundreds, if not thousands, of useful apps that the other suckers of the world can't access. Here are 10 reasons to root your 'droid in one. Just a smidgeon of the root-only app selection includes stuff like:
• DroidWall - Android Firewall (free) can show you any app that is using your wireless data, so you can restrict data use that is chewing up capacity on you plan, as well as see if there is any nefarious and unwanted data use happening.
• Dual Mount SD Widget - ($0.99) lets you mount your SD card to both the phone and a PC at the same time.
• Hexamob Recovery Pro - ($1.39) helps you recover files that you accidentally deleted from your internal memory or SD card.
• Keyboard Manager - (free) lets you choose one keyboard for portrait view and another for landscape.
• LEDs Hack - (free) lets you turn off LED notifications.
• Root Call Blocker - ($5.98) lets you block specific numbers at the system level, so the phone never rings when they call.
• Samba Filesharing - (free) makes your Android's files available as a Windows shared folder over Wi-Fi.
• Sixaxis Controller - ($1.62) lets you mount a PS3 controller to your Android.
• With Theft Aware - (£10), an uber-security program, you can remotely track and wipe a lost or stolen phone, call it, and apparently spy on the person on the other end without them knowing it.
• Titanium Backup - root (free version or $6.58 for Pro) provides a powerful backup tool with extensive features, including letting you remove that pesky bloatware.
5.Custom ROMs
The general feeling among the modder community is that carriers make their Android UIs to benefit their businesses, not the user. If you want the best user experience, you have to flash a custom ROM that was actually made for users.
The term custom ROM is somewhat of a misnomer, but basically it is a customized UI for Android, and there are many from which to choose. Some of them focus on giving you the latest version of Android before your carrier releases an official update, while others focus on extra functionality or speed and stability.
There are too many Android mods to cover here, but you'll want to determine your priorities and pick one that's best for you. Or, you could get Boot Manager ($2.99) from the Android Market, which lets you choose between five different installed custom ROMs at startup.
When you root your Android device, you gain access to the entire file system, with full admin rights. You can customize your own boot image, create a full backup of your phone, or install a full-blown Linux distro. But even if you don't want to get that geeky with it, there are a plethora of everyday reasons to root your Android, and thanks to many smart developers, we have rooting processes that are fairly accessible to the average computer-savvy Joe.
There are a couple of excellent forums that provide up-to-date information on how to root just about any popular Android devics. Go to Android Forums or the XDA-Developer Forums, find your device, and then drill down for the rooting guides and other resources that will be there for most models. And for a couple of sample guides that should show you that rooting is not that crazy of a thing, see Maximum Tech's How To Root Your Android Phone Without Bricking It.
And now, on to our reasons to root, in no definitive order.
10. Bloatware
Also known as crapware and some other choice euphemisms, bloatware infects the vast majority of Android phones. You'll recognize Samsung Touchwiz, HTC Sense, and Motorola MotoBlur as the custom UIs and feature packages that those makers throw on top of stock Android. While some of that bloatware is actually useful, most of it offers nothing that you couldn't arrange on your own with other apps, and it can bog down performance or even block features from your device. Worse yet is that much of the time, bloatware apps are blocked from uninstalling, unless of course, you root your phone.
9. Overclocking
When you root your Android, you gain some control over the hardware components, making overclocking and undervolting possible. It's not uncommon to overclock a 1GHz Android CPU up to 1.6GHz, of course with a greater tendency toward instability. Several root-only apps available in the Android Market handle both overclocking and undervolting, such as SetCPU ($1.99) and Voltage Control (free or $3.36 for the Extreme version).
8. Performance
Besides mere overclocking, rooted users can gain other performance enhancements through kernal tweaks performed by some of the apps we've mentioned here, custom ROMs, or through your own means, if you know what you're doing. Such tweaks in combination with overclocking have been known to increase overall performance on a Nexus S by 250 percent.
Also, as we've previously reported on Maximum Tech, "most Android devices incorporate an EXT3 filesystem with considerable overhead to ensure safe file I/O interaction. Once rooted, however, many of these devices can be upgraded with the faster EXT4 filesystem, resulting in faster load times and overall smoother software performance, while sacrificing a bit of storage stability. Yes, the less stable memory can lead to app crashes and even data loss, but that's pretty rare."
7. Screenshots
For whatever reason, Google didn't write native screenshot ability into Android until Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). A few devices include it as an added feature out of the box, but there's no reason for you to wait for a new ICS device or update if you want to take screenshots today. If you root your Android, you can take advantage of screenshots apps such as Screenshot or PicMe at your leisure.
6. Other Root-only Apps
Once you've successfully rooted your Android, you'll be privy to hundreds, if not thousands, of useful apps that the other suckers of the world can't access. Here are 10 reasons to root your 'droid in one. Just a smidgeon of the root-only app selection includes stuff like:
• DroidWall - Android Firewall (free) can show you any app that is using your wireless data, so you can restrict data use that is chewing up capacity on you plan, as well as see if there is any nefarious and unwanted data use happening.
• Dual Mount SD Widget - ($0.99) lets you mount your SD card to both the phone and a PC at the same time.
• Hexamob Recovery Pro - ($1.39) helps you recover files that you accidentally deleted from your internal memory or SD card.
• Keyboard Manager - (free) lets you choose one keyboard for portrait view and another for landscape.
• LEDs Hack - (free) lets you turn off LED notifications.
• Root Call Blocker - ($5.98) lets you block specific numbers at the system level, so the phone never rings when they call.
• Samba Filesharing - (free) makes your Android's files available as a Windows shared folder over Wi-Fi.
• Sixaxis Controller - ($1.62) lets you mount a PS3 controller to your Android.
• With Theft Aware - (£10), an uber-security program, you can remotely track and wipe a lost or stolen phone, call it, and apparently spy on the person on the other end without them knowing it.
• Titanium Backup - root (free version or $6.58 for Pro) provides a powerful backup tool with extensive features, including letting you remove that pesky bloatware.
5.Custom ROMs
The general feeling among the modder community is that carriers make their Android UIs to benefit their businesses, not the user. If you want the best user experience, you have to flash a custom ROM that was actually made for users.
The term custom ROM is somewhat of a misnomer, but basically it is a customized UI for Android, and there are many from which to choose. Some of them focus on giving you the latest version of Android before your carrier releases an official update, while others focus on extra functionality or speed and stability.
There are too many Android mods to cover here, but you'll want to determine your priorities and pick one that's best for you. Or, you could get Boot Manager ($2.99) from the Android Market, which lets you choose between five different installed custom ROMs at startup.
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