Android Archive

Google is currently offering “millions” of music singles for $0.49/track or $4.99/album. Usually this type of music sale is just a bunch of unwanted tracks but so far the selection for this sale is far and wide! The music is all DRM-free and can be used on any device including Apple devices (iPod, iPad, etc). To download the music, you can either do a browser download (limited to 2 times) or use Google Music Manager. The nice thing is that it appears the music will always be available in your Google Music Library and you can stream it anytime and/or download it to your device.

A warning: you will spend a lot of time browsing the millions of songs on the deal. From what I can tell, the songs on sale include every genre of music and seems to include all of today’s top hits.

Some of the artists/songs include (the whole albums are available too):

• Nirvana – Smells like Teen Spirit
• Hanukkah Music – this cd has 25 tracks so buy the cd for $4.99 – includes popular hits Dreidel and Dayenu
• Katy Perry – Last Friday Night
• Beastie Boys – No Sleep Til Brooklyn
• Rachel Stevens – Negotiate With Love
• LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
• Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby
• Other artists include: Guns ‘n Roses, Elton John and every other artist you could imagine

I am not sure how long this deal will be running for so make sure you grab the songs that interest you asap.

Google has apparently released a brand new smartphone called the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. This device has the new Android 4.0 software on it which is codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich. It runs on the Verizon network and has the ability to use the LTE network which is the fastest I’ve heard. I would have been interested in reviewing the Galaxy Nexus as most of you know that I am still using my Samsung Ace Windows Mobile Phone version 6 but alas I was told back at Google IO that I am not on Google’s press list. No worries and my Ace is still happy to be warming my pocket.

For decades now I’ve always liked Samsung’s build quality and design and assume this phone continues this pattern. There are lots of reviews out there for the device in which all seem to indicate it’s awesome. I am guessing over the next few days we will see lots of photos on Google Plus of the devices as people receive them around the country.

You can buy the phone direct from Verizon for $299 with a two-year contract (Greg notes in the comments that an upgrade is $249). But you know that I won’t allow that – so here are some other options for ordering the Galaxy Nexus smartphone while saving some money to buy apps and music to use on your new device.

LetsTalk – this appears to be the best price out there – the deal will start at midnight Pacific time and will be offered for $155 for a new line of service or $175 for an upgrade on an existing contract. You will need to enter the code ‘$75VZN’ to get the special pricing.

UPDATE! As I expected, Amazon has dropped the price of the Nexus to $149 for new line and $249 for an upgrade. It shows backordered but you should still assume it will ship soon.

Amazon – currently Amazon shows the smartphone at $199 for a new line of service and $249 for an upgrade. The phone is listed with an 8-day backorder but this may change tomorrow. There is chatter that Amazon may actually reduce their price for the device as they have been heavily price matching this holiday season.

You should always read all of the terms of the contract carefully when you purchase a smartphone as each merchant may have special restrictions. Now I am off to play solitaire on my Ace.

My best advice is if you want one of these phones, you wait a few days before ordering as I am sure we will see more deals on Sunday for the device. I will continue to update this post as I find more deals for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone.
Continue reading “Best Prices for the Google Galaxy Nexus Smartphone” »

Based on a number of conversations on the deal boards and confirmed by PreCentral, it appears that beginning tomorrow you will be able to purchase a HP Touchpad for $99 for the 16GB model and $149 for the 32GB model.

I have read a good number of blog posts about HP’s decision to discontinue their newly launched TouchPad and so far I haven’t found any posts that discuss what HP will offer to early adopters who ran out and bought the device during its short retail run. In fact, it’s not just early adopters — I watched several presentations on QVC pumping the HP TouchPad as a much better device than those “pad devices” because you could run multiple apps, etc.

Several years ago Apple offered a store credit for the early adopters who paid a higher price for their iPhones – and those devices weren’t canceled! HP really needs to do something here for those customers who ran out and purchased their “better tablet” — and they probably should have announced an offering before deciding to liquidate all HP Touchpad inventory.

I am not a mobile OS expert by any means but I wonder if there is a way to get Android to run on the HP Touchpad. The device apparently has the needed hardware and chipset to run Android. Frankly HP should hire a team to quickly make a utility to do the conversion. I asked on Twitter if it was possible to convert the software but didn’t receive any responses.

Maybe there is a golden quick flip business opportunity here for a mobile hacker – offer a conversion utility to make Android run on the HP Touchpad and charge $50 for it – so for $150 you get a great hardware offering running a mobile OS that isn’t going to discontinue operations tomorrow.

Something tells me that if you want one of these HP Touchpad devices for $100 – you better be quick because many will hedge their bets that eventually Android will run on the device and it will be a big win over spending an average of $400 for a current top-tier Android device.

As part of my fully paid registration at Google IO back in May,  I received a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Immediately I realized it was a nice device. I am working on a post about how the Tab helped me immensely during my doctor-ordered bed rest the past couple of months. I think it’s one of the best tech gadgets I’ve ever owned.

The Galaxy Tab launched to the public about a month ago. Amazon currently lists the device at $499.

I found a deal that can help you score the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the 16GB WiFi version for $399. The deal is at Staples and using this coupon the price drops to $399. Alternatively the 32GB WiFI version is also available for $100 more. The deal is a brick-and-mortar only deal so make sure to check stock levels before driving over to Staples. The deal is valid through July 30th.

And yes, the Galaxy Tab will run Google+!

The State of Texas has announced the launch of their first Android application today. Apparently a lot of residents in Texas use Android devices although most of the ones I see holding their phones while driving are using iPhone devices.

“In the first two months of 2011, nearly 40,000 visits to Texas.gov were from a mobile device. Of these visits, 37 percent were from an Android. In response to this growing trend, it is important for us to continuously provide Texans with new tools that allow them to conveniently access government information and services on their mobile devices,” said Doug Holt, Deputy Executive Director, Department of Information Resources.

The app contains maps and directions to local government offices, photos of Texas landscapes, a Q&A section, an information search and options to connect with the State on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Flickr. Popular sections of the app include information on driver license renewals, concealed handgun permits, vehicle registration and birth certificates.

So far the app has one review from Eric, “I hate Texas but this app is helpful.”

The app is free and you can download the State of Texas Android app in the Android Market.

T-Mobile, the company that might be acquired by AT&T for $39 billion, posted on their Facebook page that tonight beginning at 9pm Pacific (that’s midnight for you Yankees fans and 10pm for all of your hook’em horns fans), they will provide web-only specials on two of their 4g smartphones. There are some questions on the Facebook posting whether the deals will be valid for existing customers or only for new customers – no official reply as of yet.

It looks like T-Mobile currently has three 4g smartphones: the myTouch 4G, Samsung Galaxy S and the T-Mobile G2.

TalkAndroid is also reporting that, beginning tomorrow, T-Mobile will offer two new unlimited plans. T-Mobile will offer a $59.99 pre-paid unlimited Even More Plus plan and a $79.99 unlimited Even More plan for two-year contracts.

What I’ve noticed in my shopping research as I look to get a new phone (although this LG Optimus isn’t bad!) is that Amazon and other online shops offer much better deals than going directly through the carriers especially if you want the latest and greatest Android smartphone.

This is no April Fool’s joke – this is damn serious. To celebrate the launch of the Amazon Android Appstore, Amazon is offering one application for free each day. Earlier this week Amazon offered the SwiftKey Keyboard for free — now it’s back to $1.79.

Today Amazon is offering the popular game Fruit Ninja for free. The Fruit Ninja team of ninjas note that they have sold over six million copies of the game worldwide. The game creators describe the game as, “a juicy action game enjoyed by millions of players around the world with squishy, splatty and satisfying fruit carnage! Become the ultimate bringer of sweet, tasty destruction with every slash.”

Amazon is also offering Angry Birds Rio for free — this appears to be a longer running deal but if you want the game, I’d suggest downloading soon because there is no specific end date listed. The game is basically the same as the Crush the Castle except instead of chucking rocks and bombs you chuck birds. The free game is ad-free and contains all 60 levels.

To get the free games, you need to install the Amazon Android Appstore onto your Android device. Here’s an overview of how to install the Appstore.

You can download both Fruit Ninja and Angry Birds Rio from the Amazon Android Appstore homepage or from within the Appstore after you load it onto your Android device.

If you are on an iPhone, sorry this deal isn’t for you. You can purchase both games from the iTunes App Store for $0.99 each.