Samsung Galaxy S 2 sighted & detailed; Galaxy Tab 2 to be 200g lighter than iPad

Details of Samsung’s various MWC 2011 wares have leaked, ahead of the company’s big reveal tomorrow evening in Barcelona. First spotted in a low-res press shot, the Samsung Galaxy S 2 (aka Samsung Galaxy S II) was caught at Paran along with some specs, before a higher-res version of the image was dug up. Meanwhile, partial specs for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 have emerged, and we’ve thrown in some info of our own on the slate after the cut.


According to the pre-announcement info, the Galaxy S 2 runs Gingerbread on a 1GHz dual-core processor, with a 4.3-inch display – presumably Samsung’s new Super AMOLED Plus panel – and HSPA+ connectivity. There’s also WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0, and the whole thing is believed to be 116g and just 8.49mm thick.
As for the Galaxy Tab 2, as we heard yesterday that has a 10.1-inch screen, 8-megapixel camera with Full HD video recording, and dual surround sound speakers. According to what we’ve heard, however, Samsung is using NVIDIA’s dual-core Tegra 2 processor, not a Qualcomm or Exynos CPU, and the display is a TFT not AMOLED-type panel.
We’ve also been told it has 16GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot, and is around 200g lighter than the current iPad despite having a bigger screen (and, supposedly, a smaller bezel). Samsung is, according to the people SlashGear has been talking to, attempting to beat Motorola’s XOOM to market as the first Honeycomb slate, in Europe if not in North America, though we don’t yet know which carriers it has partnered with (if any so far). We’ll know for sure tomorrow.
[via Samsung Hub and via Engadget]

samsung galaxy 2

We’re just about ready to ship off to Barcelona and the leaks continue to leak. A couple devices we’ve been waiting for information on are from Samsung: the Samsung Galaxy S 2 (or Samsung Galaxy S II,) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. We’ve got details now on both – the Galaxy S information coming from Korean news source Paran, the info on the Galaxy Tab 2 coming from SlashGear. Have a look and open up your pocketbooks because you’re about to stock up.


First, the Samsung Galaxy 2 will be running Android 2.3 Gingerbread and will have a 1GHz dual-core processor blasting information into your face, but not before it gets through a lovely 4.3-inch display which is more than likely Samsung’s brand new Super AMOLED Plus panel. As for connections, this handset has HSPA+ connectivity, works with Wifi a/b/g/n, and has Bluetooth 3.0. The whole phone will weight right around 116 grams and will be a tiny 8.49 millimeters thick.
Then, for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is going to blast forth with a 10.1-inch screen with what we’re pretty sure will be a TFT panel (as opposed to any kind of AMOLED type panel.) On the back is going to be an 8 megapixel camera with Full HD video recording. This tablet will have dual surround sound speakers. This tablet will be working with an NVIDIA dual-core Tegra processor instead of an Exynos or Qualcomm CPU. Inside this tablet, there’s said to be 16GB of internal storage plus room for expansion via a microSD card slot.
Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is said to not only have a bigger screen than the iPad, but a smaller bezel and will be weighing in at around 200 grams lighter than the Apple tablet. Can Samsung beat the Motorola XOOM to the punch with Android 3.0 Honeycomb? That’s what we hear they’re trying to do with this, trying with all their might and fury. If our poll over on SlashGear has anything to say about it (it’s been running strong for about 2 days now,) Samsung doesn’t stand a chance. What do you think?

Furthermore, I’ve got to remind you again that we’re going to be in Barcelona this whole next week, starting early tomorrow, bringing you every bit of Mobile World Congress 2011 news we can muster! Take a peek at our [MWC 2011] portal, keep it bookmarked, have it added to your Google Reader, or heck just look at every single post on Android Community if you have to – just get into it!
[via SlashGear]

5 Best Augmented Reality Games for Android

Augmented Reality is going to be the future of most apps, all it takes is a decent processor, a camera, a compass and a GPS -- all of which are becoming increasingly common on smart phones. I have talked about it before too, like AR Apps for Andoird, AR Games for iPhone.
This futuristic world for Android is quite small as compared to iOS and only a handful of apps/games are available for it, but still, some of them are really good. I'm listing such 5 games in this post:

1. Parallel Kingdom

Parallel Kingdom is the first and most popular massively multiplayer role playing game (MMORPG) that uses your actual GPS (or WiFi) location to place your character on a map filled with monsters, treasure, and other real players. Parallel Kingdom overlays a real-time, perpetual game world on top of your real world using your phone’s GPS capabilities.
It is a cross-platform game so this means you can compete with iPhone gamers too.

Download: Download this Game (or scan above QR code with your camera

2. Zombies, Run!

Zombies, Run is a trans-reality game for the Android platform that pits you against a world full of zombies in a race for your life.
You need to choose the Zombie Count which will determine how many zombies populate the area around you while speed let's you decide whether you're running from Dawn of the Dead zombies or 28 Days Later zombies. After you’re done with these options, let the game find your location and then choose your endpoint for your journey.
Once you do that, the game begins and it's your job to get to your endpoint without running into any of those red dots, which, the developers claim are zombies. This game may sound ugly but its really cool.

Download: Download this Game (or scan above QR code with your camera)

3. Sky Siege

Sky Siege is maybe the most addictive AR game for Android. It transforms your physical environment into a deadly battlefield. Your Phone becomes a true Virtual Reality display – it is a window into a 3D virtual world full of hostile helicopter gunships and jet bombers coming at you from all angles in 32 levels of increasingly difficult numbers and tactical formations. You are alone on a flak tower armed with an Ack-Ack gun, Rockets, and a limited supply of guided missiles.

Download: Download this Game (or scan above QR code with your camera)

This game demands big hardware (1Ghz) and a reliable digital compass for smooth gameplay but not all Android Devices are so powerful. So if your phone doesn’t meet these specs, be ready to experience lags sometimes.

Free Version	Paid Version ($2.73)

4. SpecTrek

SpecTrek is another awesome augmented reality ghost hunting game. You have to Walk or run around using GPS and your phone's camera to find and catch virtual ghosts.
The game offers statistics, awards, titles, records, and most of all a whole lot of fun!

Download: Download this Game (or scan above QR code with your camera)

5. iSnipeYou

iSnipeYou is an AR Sniper game. You have to use your camera to shoot targets. Features include Multiple reticle styles, dynamic blood splats, accelerometer based aim drift, face detection for scoring.
You can also share your shots with your friends (or whoever you want) via email, Flickr, Facebook etc.

Download: Download this Game (or scan above QR code with your camera)

Free Version (With Ads)	Paid Version ($0.99)

Concept AR Games

1. ARhrrrr!

ARhrrrr provides your phone a window into a 3D town overrun with zombies. Point the camera at our special game map to mix virtual and real world content. Civilians are trapped in the town, and must escape before the zombies eat them! From your vantage point in a helicopter overhead, you must shoot the zombies to clear the path for the civilians to get out.
Watch this game in action:

2. Rock’Em Sock’Em

Another Stunning AR game, Rock’Em Sock’Em is game by Qualcomm Augmented Reality Game Studio, established at Georgia Tech University. It mixes both real-world and rendered visuals to create a unique gaming experience.
Players just point their phones at a printed arena map and the robot characters are displayed in full 3D. The technology uses the compass for location, so you can move around the play area and the 3D objects will turn with you.
Watch this game in action:

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To download the games, use your phone's camera on the QR Code which will take you directly to the Android Market or simply search for them in the Market. I would love to hear your comments on these games, which one you liked or not, by leaving a comment :)

leaf case

 leaf case

• All the sleeves that we make are handmade.
• We use elegant materials like hand-woven silk, natural suede, pure wool, %100 cotton...
• Sleeves made for perfect fitted for devices.
• You can design your own sleeve with your preferred shape, and with any material, for your favorite tablet or for any dimesions. 

website: http://www.leafcase.org/

Root Access for Milestone XT720

Just to simplify the procedure for root access:

1. Download the attached archive and expand it to a folder you can find (eg. c:\desktop)
2. Set up ADB
3. On the phone: Home, Menu Button, Settings, Applications, Development: Make sure the "USB debugging" option is enabled/checked.
4. Status bar, USB connection: Make sure "PC Mode" is selected.
5. Open a command prompt (Windows: Start, Run, "cmd", OK; Linux: Terminal)
6. Run "adb devices". If you don't see your device listed under "List of devices attached", return to step 2 and follow the link to setup ADB (use that topic for support) and return here when "adb devices" lists your X.
7. Run "CD c:\desktop" (or where ever you expanded the archive)
8. Run "adb push Superuser.apk /sdcard/Superuser.apk"
9. Run "adb push su /sdcard/su"
10. Run "adb push busybox /sdcard/busybox"
11. Run "adb push exploid /sqlite_stmt_journals/exploid"
12. Run "adb shell"
13. Run "cd sqlite_stmt_journals"
14. Run "chmod 755 exploid"
15. On your phone, navigate to a screen where you can switch wifi/bluetooth on/off easily (settings, or a home screen with a widget)
16. IMMEDIATELY after executing the next step, toggle wifi or bluetooth off and back on
17. Run "./exploid" and follow directions on screen. Once this completes you'll be back at a shell prompt.
18. Run "rootshell". You'll be prompted for a password.
19. Type in password "hola mundo" and press Enter then you are root! (You'll know because your prompt will now be a "#" instead of "$")
20. Run "cp /sdcard/Superuser.apk /system/app/Superuser.apk"
21. Run "cp /sdcard/su /system/bin/su"
22. Run "cp /sdcard/busybox /system/bin/busybox"
23. Run "chmod 4755 /system/bin/su"
24. Run "chmod 4755 /system/bin/busybox"
25. Run "rm /system/bin/rootshell"
26. Run "exit" to drop from root to a non-root user shell (on phone still)
27. Run "exit" to drop back to your machine command prompt (instead of phone)

Thanks to mariomsg1 for finding the post and http://www.grupoandroid.com/modding/...d-rootear.html

Let the fun begin and hopefully we will get cooked roms soon...

Samsung Galaxy S 2

Samsung Galaxy S II official: dual-core 1GHz CPU, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus, coming this month (hands-on with video)

One of the worst-kept secrets of MWC this year -- the Galaxy S II -- is finally official, and we'd say it definitely lives up to its name as a proper successor to the original Galaxy S that lit the Android marketplace on fire last year. Major (and largely expected) features include a 4.27-inch 800 x 480 Super AMOLED Plus display, an 8 megapixel primary camera with 1080p video capture accompanied by a 2 megapixel cam up front, Gingerbread with TouchWiz 4.0, integrated NFC support (on some versions), and a shell measuring just 8.49mm thick, making it likely the thinnest smartphone ever to roll off an assembly line -- in fact, it's over 0.2mm slimmer than the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc's thinnest point. The biggest news here, though, might be that Sammy's going with an NVIDIA Tegra 2 core -- the same as the LG Optimus 2X, Motorola Atrix 4G, and Droid Bionic -- despite the fact that its own Exynos 4210 was just announced for March production.

Update: We were originally told that the Galaxy S II would be using an NVIDIA Tegra 2 SOC, but have been informed that was incorrect -- the phone will indeed have a dual-core 1GHz Samsung chip, and quite possibly the Exynos. There's also 1GB of RAM.

We were able to spend a little bit of time with the Galaxy S II today, and we can conclusively say that this is one gorgeous device. It shares the Infuse 4G's aspirations as an ultra-thin Android device and arguably shares most of its industrial design elements, but interestingly, the Infuse steps down from 4.5 to 4.3 inches -- either a nod to the fact that 4.5 is too big for a mainstream smartphone, or a sign that the 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus component simply isn't ready yet. You totally notice how ridiculously thin the phone is as it rests in your hand, and the effect is amplified by the fact that it's got so much surface area -- the screen-to-edge ratio is off the charts. Though we still prefer the stock Android experience, TouchWiz 4.0 (as it's being called) on top of Gingerbread is clearly Samsung's most refined custom Android skin to date; a new Game Hub in ROM has potential to do battle with Sony's PlayStation Suite and allows developers to bypass the download size limits of the Android Market, but we weren't able to test it on the preproduction unit we were given.

Owing to a lack of time and connectivity, we weren't able to put the phone through a suite of speed tests, but the entire UI felt perfect fast and smooth, a testament to the processor's chops. As at CES, we were blown away by the clarity and brightness of the Super AMOLED Plus display -- picture the already-excellent Super AMOLED technology amped up on steroids, and you'll have a good sense of what we're talking about here. All told, this seems like a great upgrade to the Galaxy S; if anything, we're a little concerned that it's going to be a smidge too big for people that were perfectly happy at the 4-inch tier, but odds are good Samsung will continue to crank out smaller devices for those folks. It'll be on the market in parts of Europe and Asia as soon as this month; no word on North America, but as always, there's little doubt Samsung has some plans in the works. Follow the break for our quick video and the full press release.