[Android-Apps] - 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 (720x480) 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.

Source: Androidcentral.com

Permanent root for the HTC EVO Shift 4G now available

If you're an HTC EVO Shift 4G owner who has been looking for a permanent root solution, we now have some great news for you all. You no longer have to wait any more. The HTC EVO Shift 4G permanent root solution has been found and as such, has been posted for all. You will have to proceed with caution and follow the guide to a tee but everyone should be used to that by now, especially if you frequent rooting devices. Hit up the source link for more details and instructions on how to get started. You can also check out forums to discuss it further. [XDA]

Source: Androidcentral.com

Fix for Nexus S rebooting coming 'within one to two weeks,' Googler says

You know that rebooting problem that's been plaguing the Samsung Nexus S since its launch? Sounds like Google's just about got it nipped in the bud, and a fix should ship in the next week or two. Googler Ry Guy posts as such in Google support forums:

The initial results of our tests look very promising. At this rate we will most likely be rolling out an OTA to resolve this issue within one to two weeks. We really appreciate your patience as we do our final verifications on this fix before sending it out.

Do us a favor though -- if it takes Google 15 or 16 days to get this pushed, try not to threaten anyone with a class-action lawsuit, m'kay? [Google Support Forums via Android Central Forums] Thanks, Grimmy!
Edited to correct that Ry Guy and Google's Romain Guy are not the same person.

Source: Androidcentral.com

Bluegrass Cellular gets Samsung Gem for a mere $59 on contract

Been wondering where the Samsung Gem is headed? Wonder no more, as it's appeared on regional carrier Bluegrass Cellular for the low, low price of $59 on contract. But for our money, we'd just buy this sucker at its outright price of $205 and skip the mess of contracts. That said, you're getting an entry-level Android phone, with Android 2.1, a 3.2MP camera and 3.2-inch touchscreen, all powered by an 800MHz processor. So it'll get the job done, but likely not win any awards doing it. One more pic after the break. [Bluegrass]  Thanks, @ibegary!

Source: Androidcentral.com

Samsung Continuum software update now rolling out

Samsung Continuum owners will want to be on the lookout for an update being pushed from Verizon today. Although it is not Froyo, it is a release that contains quite a few bug fixes in it so you'll want to be sure to get it installed of you're having any weird issues. In addition to all the bug fixes, you'll also be installing VCAST apps onto your device. (Grrrr.) You can download the update if it hasn't yet pushed by going to Settings > About Phone > System Update. [Verizon]

Source: Androidcentral.com

Best Buy believes Dell Streak getting Froyo starting Feb. 1

Have an AT&T Dell Streak and haven't hacked the hell out of it yet waiting for Froyo to finally arrive? Looks like we might have some good news for you, via the latest Best Buy Employee News.

You've been asking and now there's an answer! The Dell Streak will receive an over-the-air (OTA) update to Android 2.2 on Tuesday, Feb. 1. This information should help generate excitement with customers who have been asking for the update. You've been asking and now there's an answer! The Dell Streak will receive an over-the-air (OTA) update to Android 2.2 on Tuesday, Feb. 1. This information should help generate excitement with customers who have been asking for the update.

You know how it goes with OS updates -- we'll believe it when we see it. But the poor not-so-little 5-inch tablet may finally see Froyo in the U.S. next week -- and none too soon, with the Dell Streak 7 on the way. Thanks, Mr. Snuffleupagus!

Source: Androidcentral.com

Motorola Atrix 4G apparently priced at $150 by Costco, too

 

Never would we have guessed that third-party wireless retailers would be aiming to launch AT&T's powerhouse Atrix 4G for just $150 on contract -- $200 or $250, sure, but not $150. Alas, just a few hours after AmazonWireless' peep show, we're seeing an alleged leaked screen shot of Costco's inventory system showing the same blockbuster price. Now, bear in mind that AT&T itself will probably sell the phone for at least $50 more -- third parties usually have a second ETF on top of the carrier's that allows them to subsidize a little more heavily -- but it's a good sign regardless. 

 

Source: Engadget.com

Android 3.0 Honeycomb emulator has traces of smartphone support

Thought Honeycomb was just for tablets? Well, it's not! Sure, tablets might be Google's main thrust with the release, but we've been able to dig up enough evidence in the preview SDK's emulator released yesterday to suggest that these guys are still keeping their eyes on the smartphone prize.

Here's how it works: the emulator can be set to load at an arbitrary screen resolution. By default, that's WXGA, 1280 x 768 -- perfect for tablets, but obviously a wee bit large for even the biggest smartphones. Well, it turns out that setting the emulator to WVGA (like you might find on a modern mid- to high-end smartphone) triggers a moderately different shell UI that lacks most of the whiz-bang home screen stuff Google's shown on the Honeycomb tablets. In fact, the default launcher crashes out entirely, which means you need to install a replacement (Launcher Pro works nicely) just to play around.

Once you get in, it's pretty raw, but you immediately notice that the emulator's got some traces of smartphone support. Notably, the status bar reverts to a more smartphone-friendly form, albeit one with pre-Gingerbread background coloration and incorrectly-inverted font colors. The lock screen (pictured above) is back to its old form, not the webOS-esque circular lock in the Honeycomb tablet UI. The browser -- which has been completely revamped in Honeycomb -- works, though without visible tabs; Google might be thinking that they'd take up too much real estate on a screen this small.

Again, you can't glean much here, but it's interesting primarily because the emulator knows to revert to a smartphone UI layout at the lower resolution -- a possible sign that Honeycomb will be a true dual-mode, dual-purpose platform from day one. And even if it isn't, it looks like they're setting themselves up for a two-UI strategy down the road.

For more Images

Source: Engadget.com

Nook Color earns its very early, very unofficial Android 3.0 Honeycomb wings

One of the first things that happens after a new platform emulator breaks loose is that a bunch of hackers far smarter than ourselves get hold of it, tear it apart, and port it to whatever's convenient. In the case of this week's Android 3.0 Honeycomb preview, "whatever's convenient" would be the Nook Color, which reigns as perhaps the cheapest decent-quality Android tablet money can currently buy. Naturally, xda-developers has a thread going on the subject as we speak; the current port is said to be really slow and mostly broken -- but then again, that kind of describes the current state of the emulator itself. Good news is that the developer says he plans on working on graphics acceleration to improve performance over the weekend, so with any luck, the Xoom might have some unofficial competition before too long. Follow the break for another shot.

[Thanks, s30zgt]

Source: Engadget.com

Google announces Android event for February 2nd

Had enough Honeycomb this week? Perhaps -- but next week is a whole new week, and Google's got your back. Mountain View has selected Wednesday, February 2nd for an event that'll include "an in-depth look at Honeycomb, Android ecosystem news and hands-on demos," so by all accounts this seems to be more than a mere wrap-up of everything they've announced in the past few weeks. New tablets? Honeycomb for smartphones? Android 2.4? Something else entirely? We'll be there to find out, of course.

Source: Engadget.com

LG Optimus 2X and Optimus Black priced at €499 by Amazon Germany, not yet available to buy

Amazon's German outlet has started listing LG's two latest and undoubtedly greatest phones: the Optimus 2X (seemingly renamed the Optimus Speed here) and the Optimus Black. Both run Android 2.2 on 4-inch screens, with the former offering a dual-core Tegra 2 processor capable of 1080p video recording and HDMI output, and the latter cranking up the display brightness to a quite unreasonable 700 nits. The Optimus Black also has one of the thinnest profiles on a smartphone of its class at 9.2mm, and will be one of the first phones to offer WiFi Direct connectivity. Intriguingly, Amazon's Optimus Speed / 2X listing also shows a brown color option for the handset, though only its black SKU is subject to a neat €50 discount bringing its price to €499, the same as the cost of the Optimus Black. We don't know when either one will drop, but you can go and reserve yourself one (or a dozen) at the links below.


Source: Engadget.com