Category Archives: Mobile

Useful Android 4.4 (KitKat) links

By Sergey Povzner | Published: November 7, 2013
Just released Android 4.4 (KitKat) introduced a number of new features: integrated messaging app (Hangouts), wireless printing, improved immersive full screen mode, new Dialer app, improved stock Email app, NFC update which allows apps using NFC (e.g. Wallet) to function without the access to secure element on the device, and many more. Android 4.4 has also […]
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[Tip] How to save offline map in Google Maps v7

By Sergey Povzner | Published: August 1, 2013
Downloading maps for offline access is useful not only for travelers worried about roaming charges, but also for any heavy Maps users with limited data plans. If you are worried that the ability to save offline maps in Google Maps has disappeared after major update in v7, you are not alone. The good news is […]
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[Follow up] List of phones that work with “How to move almost all apps to SD card” procedure

By Sergey Povzner | Published: May 2, 2013
How to move almost all Android apps to SD card (no root required) remains the most popular post on this blog despite being 2.5 years old. One of the most common questions about that procedure is which phone does it work on. To help answer this question, I added a Google Form to record success/failure reports and […]
Also posted in Android, How To | 11 Comments

Resources every Android developer must know

By Sergey Povzner | Published: March 20, 2013
As Android platform continues its incredible growth, more and more developers start working on Android apps. If you are beginning Android development in 2013, you are a lucky person, as the platform has greatly matured in the last few years. While the number of available developer resources may seem overwhelming, this post points to the most […]
Also posted in Android, Dev | 43 Comments

Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 are back in stock at Google Play store

By Sergey Povzner | Published: February 19, 2013
Google’s November refresh of Nexus devices did not go smoothly: the most attractive of new devices, Nexus 4 has been out of stock most of the time since its launch. Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 were also out of stock for extended periods of time. Nexus 4 stock issues even prompted a n4checker site which was set […]
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Google announces Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, and Android 4.2

By Sergey Povzner | Published: October 30, 2012
Google has expanded its Nexus line of Android devices by announcing new Nexus 4 phone, Nexus 10 tablet and updating Nexus 7. All Nexus devices will be shipping with new Android 4.2 and go on sale on Tuesday, November 13. Nexus 4 The specs of Nexus 4 were mostly covered by numerous leaks in the last […]
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Android 4.1.2 update adds landscape mode, rolling out to Nexus 7

By Sergey Povzner | Published: October 9, 2012
Nexus 7 is an interesting Android tablet: I tend to use it much more frequently than 10″ Samsung Galaxy Tab, because Nexus 7 is so much more comfortable to hold. One thing that has been bugging me is the absence of the landscape mode support in native launcher. It wasn’t bad enough to make me switch the […]
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The rollout of Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, begins

By Sergey Povzner | Published: July 12, 2012
In the next few days Galaxy Nexus phones will be receiving over-the-air updates to Android 4.1, Jelly Bean. Galaxy Nexus is a “Google experience” phone which originally shipped with Android 4.0 and is the first phone to receive Android 4.1 update. Jelly Bean includes improvements such as smoother graphics, expandable and actionable notifications, more accurate […]
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Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ is back on sale at Google Play store

By Sergey Povzner | Published: July 12, 2012
Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ went back on sale at Google Play store and is again available unlocked and without a contract for only $349 + tax. The estimated delivery time is 3-5 business days. This brings the flagship Nexus phone back on sale after a brief US sales ban due to a court injunction issued last week. Galaxy Nexus is […]
Also posted in Android, Jelly Bean, Nexus | 2 Comments

CM9 RC1 is released

By Sergey Povzner | Published: June 26, 2012
Just in time for Google I/O 2012 conference, awesome CyanogenMod team has released CM9 RC1 for 37(!) devices. Get the images from http://get.cm/ or http://jenkinsmanifest.clockworkmod.com/ or via ROM Manager. For install instructions, check out wiki.
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Walking the talk: Galaxy Nexus

By Sergey Povzner | Published: April 30, 2012
Following up to the previous post: Let’s be honest, US wireless providers are truly awful. With generally crappy coverage they charge excessive fees for substandard service coupled with ridiculous restrictions. Any action that takes power away from them is a good karma, and buying Galaxy Nexus without a contract certainly qualifies. … Wednesday will be an […]
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News: Google Drive arrives with 5GB of free storage

By Sergey Povzner | Published: April 27, 2012
Catching up with the other big news of this week: Google Drive has launched with 5GB of free storage. For details, watch this introductory video, check out review by The Verge and see this chart by Endadget comparing Google Drive to Dropbox, SkyDrive and iCloud. For me, as a heavy user of Google Docs for at least 5 years, […]
Also posted in Android, News | 1 Comment

News: unlocked GSM Galaxy Nexus now sold directly by Google for $399 w/o contract

By Sergey Povzner | Published: April 27, 2012
This was a great week for Android’s Nexus brand. Google has started selling unlocked GSM version of Galaxy Nexus for $399 without a contract (US only for now). Given that this 5-month old phone was first sold for $299 with a 2-year contract, this is an excellent deal. Both T-Mobile and AT&T offer no-contract “unlimited” data plans, […]
Also posted in Android, News | 1 Comment

Apple approves app to toggle Bluetooth from the home screen

By Sergey Povzner | Published: April 20, 2012
Apple approves app to toggle Bluetooth from the home screen Apple is famously strict with the apps it approves for use on the iDevices, but it has just approved one uncharacteristically useful utility called Bluetooth OnOff. This app adds a simple Bluetooth toggle to the home screen of an iOS device, thus saving numerous taps […]
Also posted in Humor, iPhone | 6 Comments

Thoughts on Google IO 2012 registration process: stop the giveaways

By Sergey Povzner | Published: March 27, 2012
This morning at 7AM registration for Google I/O 2012 conference has began and all tickets sold out in about 28 minutes. Russell Holly estimated that roughly 7 million requests were sent for 5500 tickets. Do the math and you can see why the likelihood of getting in was slim. I barely got my ticket and the process left […]
Also posted in Android, Dev | 8 Comments

How to manually upgrade Nexus S from Android 2.3.6 to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

By Sergey Povzner | Published: December 17, 2011
If you own T-Mobile’s variant of Samsung Nexus S (i9020t) and don’t want to wait for the official OTA Android 4.0.3 update, you can install it manually. The procedure below will upgrade stock Android 2.3.6 build GRK39F to Android 4.0.3 build IML74K. With a rooted phone the easiest update process is to use ROM Manager (Download ROM […]
Also posted in Android, How To, Ice Cream Sandwich | 56 Comments

Official roll out of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to GSM Nexus S begins

By Sergey Povzner | Published: December 17, 2011
Just one day after Galaxy Nexus went on sale in the US, owners of GSM versions of Nexus S rejoice: Google has began the roll out of the Android 4.0. Users running stock Android 2.3.6 should receive OTA update within the coming month. Impatient owners can also install this update manually. Once upgraded, check out […]
Also posted in Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, News | 2 Comments

Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.0 released by Verizon in the US

By Sergey Povzner | Published: December 15, 2011
The wait is over and Galaxy Nexus is finally available in the US from Verizon Wireless. Galaxy Nexus can be purchased online or at Verizon Wireless, Best Buy, Costco and Radio Shack stores. Verizon’s price is $299 with a contract and $649 without a contract, but before rushing to the store, check the online deals such […]
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CyanogenMod 7.1 is released

By Sergey Povzner | Published: October 10, 2011
The most popular Android custom ROM CyanogenMod has released today a new stable version CM 7.1. With almost 6 months since the last stable CM 7.0 release it’s been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait. The new release adds support to 24 more devices, which brings total number of supported devices to 68! […]
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News: 7″ Amazon Fire, Microsoft and Samsung sign a deal, Cyanogenmod and Xperia, Google Voice, Google+, Skype, Hipmunk, Google Wallet and more

By Sergey Povzner | Published: September 30, 2011
It’s been a while since the last news update, so this roundup of the most interesting news from the past few weeks covers a lot: 7″ Android-based Amazon Fire tablet was unveiled and will start shipping in US for $199 on Nov 15 . The main selling point besides its low price will be access to the vast library […]
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