Cranking out news for the geeks, music buffs and gossip junkies, my way. -Greg

Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS) is a service that provides safety alerts based on the geographical location of a mobile user. You know the “This is a test and only a test, should this be a real emergency…” that you get on your TV now and then. Well its basically the same idea, but for mobile devices. CMAS is not new and in fact was first introduced in the U.S. by Sprint back in November. Now AT&T is currently underway pushing this out to the new Samsung Galaxy S II™ (SGH-i777). According to AT&T this was to begin on December 16 with the release of new software. It’s not clear if this will be an update to Android or a carrier side update. The update will allow Presidential, Imminent threat, and Amber alerts directly to the mobile device. Here is some of the official info:

Beginning December 16, 2011 AT&T will release new software on Samsung Galaxy S II™ (SGH-i777) to support Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS).
CMAS is a new public safety system that allows customers who own an enabled mobile device to receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area. Consumers will receive only three types of alerts through CMAS:
Presidential Alerts (automatic alerts that cannot be disabled by the customer) Imminent Threat Alerts (FEMA type alerts – customers can opt out of receiving these messages) Amber Alerts (e.g., child abduction alerts – customers can opt out of receiving these messages)

I’m an owner of this exact phone and I myself haven’t received any type of update or notification about this specifically. We should hear more about this in coming days I’m sure. Presidential Alerts are not optional, hopefully this doesn’t include anything of less than National Security as I myself don’t want to hear about Obama’s new health plan via forced mobile messaging. If you have received this update or maybe know more about it I’d love to hear what you have to say. -Greg

**Update – Looks like a number of users have started receiving the update to Android version 2.3.6 on December 16th as note above. Some of these users had failed attempts, so maybe the update as been slowed or pulled temporarily. Either way looks like this is definitely underway.

That’s right Google is celebrating 10 billion Android Market downloads by offering 10 apps for just $.10 each. That’s 10 apps for a buck for those of you counting on your fingers right now. Google is going to keep this promotion going for the next 10 days with a different 10 apps each day. Here is an easy  link to get to the 10 apps I’d bookmark it and check back each day – Android Market 10 Billion Promotion. Google made the announcement today on their developers blog. Here’s more about what they had to say. -Greg

One billion is a pretty big number by any measurement. However, when it’s describing the speed at which something is growing, it’s simply amazing. This past weekend, thanks to Android users around the world,Android Market exceeded 10 billion app downloads—with a growth rate of one billion app downloads per month. We can’t wait to see where this accelerating growth takes us in 2012.

To celebrate this milestone, we partnered with some of the Android developers who contributed to this milestone to make a bunch of great Android apps available at an amazing price. Starting today for the next 10 days, we’ll have a new set of awesome apps available each day for only 10 cents each. Today, we are starting with Asphalt 6 HD, Color & Draw for Kids, Endomondo Sports Tracker Pro, Fieldrunners HD, Great Little War Game, Minecraft, Paper Camera, Sketchbook Mobile, Soundhound Infinity and Swiftkey X.

Of course, none of these apps would have existed if it weren’t for the developers who created them. Every day, these developers continue to push the limits on what’s possible and delight us in the process. For that, we thank them.

Please join us in this 10-day celebration and check in every day to see what new apps our developer partners are making available on Android Market—for only a dime.

The SGP Neo Hyrbrid has to be one of the best aftermarket purchases I have ever made for any cellular device. I know that is a pretty strong statement considering I have had numerous cell phones and endless accessories to accompany them. I have not been so excited about my previous cases as I like the fact the new phones are slim, sleek, and light. Most cases change all of that simply by adding one. Cases range from cheap silicone jellies to the massive and heavy Otter-box. I’ve had them all and to be perfectly honest, they suck. Enter the Neo Hybrid case from SGP. It’s lightweight, durable, and almost adds nothing to the phones mass in anyway.

SGP Neo Hybrid Case not only protects the Galaxy S2 efficiently, but also perserves the original design of the Galaxy S2. The Body part of the case is high polymer coated Premium silicone case, and the Frame part is UV coated Polycarbonate frame

• Slim and form fitted to show the perfect shape of your device.
• Easy access to all control and ports.
• Available in 8 Colors.
• Ultra Crystal screen Protector included (1PC)

I have it for my Galaxy S2 for AT&T and it’s almost unnoticeable to everyone who has touched my phone. It’s design is a hybrid similar to most, it has the soft silicone with a more solid frame around it. Again, what makes it better is the fact that it can do all this with out losing the original size, shape, and weight of the phone itself. It protects the phone from everyday scratches and drops with out sacrificing the sleek design of the phone. This thing still fits in my pocket and doesn’t feel like I’m carrying a military issue phone in a crate. If you’re looking to protect you phone from the average abuse and still want your the original design of your phone, then the Neo Hybrid is perfect for you. Yes, they make it for the iPhone. -Greg

The Samsung Galaxy S2 has actually been around for a while, but hadn’t quite made its way to the US until more recently. I have upgraded from my Captivate, the Galaxy S, recently and I’m very happy with my decision. I’ll be the first to admit that the first generation had 2 major flaws. The first being poor if any GPS performance and the second was the ridiculous delay in receiving the official Froyo ( Android 2.2) update. Both of those issues have since been resolved and the phone is still in my opinion a fantastic device. That being said choosing to replace it with the newest Galaxy S2 was fairly easy, with the exception of the choosing between the 2 versions, Galaxy S2 and the Galaxy S2 LTE or “Skyrocket“. Both these phones have 4G and are very similar with the main differences being the obvious LTE, as well as the Skyrocket has a larger screen (4.5″ vs 4.3″) and faster processor (1.5GHz vs 1.2GHz). Key factor to note is LTE is still unavailable in the Saint Louis, MO area and I am not a fan of anything larger that 4″ screens. So, you can see why my choice wasn’t the LTE version of the Galaxy S2.

Enough about my decision, the phone itself is outstanding. I see NO lag at all when opening apps, swiping pages, taking pictures, or anything that doesn’t require Internet. The 4G HSPA+ is no slouch either as I flip through web pages with ease. I have seen pretty good speed tests around a consistent 3Mb down and 1.5 up. This is comical in comparison to the LTE network, but I’m also not downloading uncompressed 1080P movies onto my phone either. The phone comes with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and is very good looking in itself. The phone included “AllShare“, as in the previous Galaxy S, which I was happy to see. Samsung’s AllShare makes its a cake walk to share media across DLNA supported networks and devices. The physical attributes of the phone leave it one of the thinnest and lightest phones made to date. It has a 4.3″ Super AMOLED screen made with none other than Gorilla Glass. The upgraded 8MP camera includes an LED flash this time around and supports 1080P video. They also included a 2MP front facing camera which has worked well video chatting using the included video app Qik. Some other features new to the GS2 worth mentioning are Samsung’s Kies Air and Voice Talk by Vlingo.

Kies Air lets you manage your phones content and more when it’s connected to a WiFi network by using a web browser.

Voice Talk from Vlingo takes voice control a step forward and using your phone using voice commands only pretty easy.

Overall I think they have really made a great phone even better. It’s going to be interesting to see what they will have in store for the GS3. I’m sure it will have a faster processor, but as you can see they add a lot more than voice apps and faster CPU’s when they create their next gen phones. When designing their phones Samsung takes it Siri-ously. -Greg

Google finally made its official release of Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich. Packed with more new features than you can imagine and a polished look that will make your hair stand on the back of your neck!

According to Matias Duarte, Android 4.0 was created with 3 principles in mind:

1. Enchant Me
2. Simplify My Life
3. Make Me Awesome

Here are the goodies that ICS has to offer:

• Designed with 16:9 1280×720 as the native resolution
• New “Roboto” font throughout OS
• Navigation buttons are virtual, but can hide when not in need
• Side swiping will be used across the platform (say goodbye to scrolling apps menu)
• Make folders by dragging and dropping icons onto each-other
• App launch is now customizable
• Quick application switching with previews (swipe a preview off screen to remove from list)
• Built-in screenshot taking
• Improved notifications, including music controls
• Swipe to remove individual notifications (ehem, kang’d from CyanogenMod?)
• New and improved keyboard with in-line spell checker
• Improved cut, copy, and paste, usable throughout OS
• Instant talk to text
• Face Unlock!!!!
• Redesigned Google Apps
• All new browser that syncs with Chrome from your desktop (and much more)
• Completely new Gmail experience (it’s awesome)
• Pinch-to-zoom in calendar
• Data usage management
• New camera with easier sharing capabilities, panorama mode, 0 shutter lag, etc.
• Photo editing capabilities
• Take photos while recording video
• People app that pulls info from all services that are linked
• Full-screen high res pics during calls and ability to reject calls with quick response message
• New phone app with built-in visual voicemail
• Android Beam – allows you to send things via NFC by just touching phones together

Larry Laffer will return in HD and even a mobile format thanks to Replay Games. The Leisure Suit Larry Series was easily one of my favorites on a PC back in the day. Larry was brought back to life in 2003 for a couple new adventures without the help of the original creator Al Lowe. Now once again Larry and the entire series will return with new life. Replay Games obtained the rights to the franchise and plans to re-release the originals in HD and also create new ones. They have also agreed to team up with the original creator Al Lowe, which should make for an added classic Larry touch.
According to EGM “The first project under the agreement will be an HD re-mastered version of the original, Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards, on every platform Replay can figure out how to port it onto, including: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, XBLA, PSN, On-Live, Steam.”
Needless to say I’m very excited about this and will be first in line to grab the first release. –Greg

EGM

Google’s official blog announced today that they have acquired Motorola Mobility to the sum of 12.5 billion dollars. Google is quoted as saying “Supercharging Android”, which I think is a perfect way of putting it. Android will now have a long time proven mobile hardware company in its shop to work even closer with Android developers. BOOM goes the dynamite, as the headline will read to good old Steve Jobs. This will definitely be putting enormous pressure on Apple and likely become the slow demise of the iPhone and iPad as we currently know it. Good show Google, good show. –Greg

Credits:
Android Guys