CyanogenMod 7.2 Release Candidate 1 now available for 69 devices

If you are a custom ROM user and CyanogenMod fan, we have good news for you. The CyanogenMod 7.2 RC1 (Release Candidate) has just been released, and is available for 69 devices. If you are new to this, a Release Candidate is a ROM version that is considered mostly ready for use. There will be a few bugs and issues here and there, but the ROM is at its final stages and should be stable enough to use as a daily driver. No, this is not based on Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich. The CyanogenMod team has added some improvements and fixes from the Android 4.0 software, though. Aside from this, there are many bug fixes and new features included. One of the most important fixed issues is the vanishing ringtones from the SD-card. As it goes with such topics, there is the usual disclaimer. Flashing a ROM requires root access and may harm your device and/or void your warranty. Please be careful and do your research before performing any of these tasks, as the responsibility will fall on your hands if anything goes wrong. With that said, head over to CyanogenMod's site to see the list of supported devices, as well as the equally long changelog. If you are still ready to enjoy CM 7.2 RC1, head over to their mirror network to download the files. Happy flashing!

iFixit pries apart the Droid 4, strips slider to see its silicon insides

Verizon's Droid 4 was officially released last week, so naturally, iFixit spent the weekend pulling the phone apart for all to see. Among the nuggets of knowledge uncovered during the teardown is the discovery that the fourth iteration breaks from Droid tradition in a couple of not-so-positive ways. First off, Motorola decided to integrate the keyboard into the motherboard, meaning if one of your keys quits working, you'll have to replace the motherboard, too. Not only that, but the Droid 4′s battery is purportedly no longer user-replaceable, though iFixit's deft disembodied hands were able to pry it loose with some effort. It's not all bad, as the teardown did confirm that the handset does, in fact, pack the promised 16GB of onboard storage. Don't take our word for it, though, there's a bevy of pics of the flayed phone for your perusal at the source link below, so hop on over for the full monty.

Google Maps for Android 6.3 is now available

For those of you who rely on Google Maps on your Android-powered smartphone as your primary means of finding your way around, here is some good news – Google has recently released Google Maps for Android 6.3 to the masses, where it will deliver a bunch of bug fixes as well as an improved battery life, which will be most noticeable if you happen to be one of the few who rely on the Latitude and location history often. After all, to get a grip on where the other 1,000 friends of yours are across town, it would definitely require a whole lot of processing power – and that eats into your phone's battery life. For those who have already updated their Google Maps for Android to version 6.3, how do you find it so far? Has it performed up to your expectations, and are there any other bugs or discrepancies that you have discovered on your own along the way?

CyanogenMod 9 State Of The Union Address: Device Support, Drivers and Pitfalls

For some Android users out there, if it wasn’t for CyanogenMod — they probably wouldn’t even own an Android device. Well, TeamDouche and friends have graciously provided an update for the everyone in the Android modding community, giving us some insight on the progress of CyanogenMod, as well as newly and upcoming supported devices, and some pitfalls the team has been facing. When it comes to roadblocks, CM has been hit with a big one, dealing specifically with closed-source device drivers. If you were hoping you local “dev” would get that camera app working in the Ice Cream Sandwich ROM you’re running, it might be awhile. We’re all at the mercy of OEM’s who will have to release them in a devkit or new device release. Officially, CM9 (a modified Android 4.0 ROM) is supported on devices like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, HP TouchPad and Motorola Xoom. New devices being added to the fold are Samsung devices using Exynos processors, with Qualcomm MSM 8660 and 7×30 chipsets in the near future. Where things become a little more uncertain is when dealing with devices powered by the aging 1st gen Snapdragon processor, but CM would like to remind everyone that when dealing with the Android community, workarounds can usually be found for these types of things. The ultimate goal of CyanogenMod is to create a seamless, near-stock, Android experience for users that’s makes them feel as if their device should have shipped with the ROM out of the box. Where normally the CM team is able to beat OEM’s to the punch when dealing with firmware updates — Android 4.0 in this case — it seems at the soonest, you can expect a fully working and stable CM9 ROM on your device is around the same time manufacturers officially update their devices. In the meantime, if you appreciate CyanogenMod and the hard work their team puts into bringing the stock Android experience to your Sensified/TouchWizzed/Blurred out device and others like it,

WNM Live delivers free VoIP calls for Windows Phone 7 users

Are you one who believes that Windows Phone 7 is the future of mobile operating systems? Well, if you answered in the affirmative, then might we interest you in an app that will enable you to make free VoIP calls? Known as WNM Live, this location-based social network is the first to deliver free VoIP calls to the Windows Phone 7 platform, beating out Microsoft at their own game (who owns Skype btw). SynergeTech Solutions is the company behind this app, where we will look at the list of features below.

With WNM Live, you are able to search profiles of other users based on criteria such as distance, interests, gender, or age. Feeling lonely? Look for users who are on the lookout for friendship, chat, networking, or romance, and you can also make your wallet heavier each month since you are able to send free text and picture messages to other users.

Well, what are you waiting for? Have you given WNM Live a go, and do you think it will be your brand new favorite Windows Phone 7 app?

Opera Mobile 11.5 update for Android

If you're rocking to an Android-powered smartphone and also love the Opera Mobile browser to bits, then you would be pleased to hear that there is a new update for the app – where Opera Mobile for Android has just been bumped to version 11.5, and it sports a spanking new mobile data monitor. This built-in support allows you to keep track of the amount of mobile data that you have consumed as the browser keeps a running count of traffic. This is perfect for those who are on a limited data plan, but I suspect most of us bite into unlimited data plans already on our devices.

Another function of this feature would be to work as an advert for its server-side compression tool, Opera Turbo. Opera has also "implemented adding bookmarks to Home Screen" that would most probably allow the user the option to send Web links to the Home screen as icons. If you're interested in the entire bunch of changes, then hit the source link that will lead to Opera Mobile's blog.

TripIt for Windows Phone launched

TripIt for the iPad launched a few months ago, and the useful planning app has finally made its way over to the Windows Phone platform today. In case you're unfamiliar with TripIt, it is an app that allows users to enjoy their holidays - by helping them to get the planning process out of the way as soon as possible. TripIt stores your flight details, dates, hotel numbers, directions, maps, and basically everything you need to know for your trip at your fingertips.

In addition to storing the details, TripIt can also be used to share details with other users. This means that travelling in a large group isn't going to be a problem anymore - within a few taps, everyone on the trip can have a copy of the itinerary, maps, contact numbers etc so nobody will forget to inform anybody and nobody will be left out. Definitely sounds like a useful app to have in such situations. TripIt for Windows Phone is free and is available now from the Windows Marketplace.
source:Ubergizmo

Netflix Support all Android 2.2 and 2.3 Devices

Though unofficial methods have existed to get Netflix on nearly any Android device you desire, the app has officially been updated to support all Android 2.2 and Android 2.3 devices. It took the streaming movie service some time to reach this point, slowly growing the number of supported handset from a handful of phones at the apps initial release, slowly adding more. Tablet support may still be spotty, but just like smartphones there has been little keeping the developer crowd from finding ways to stream your favorite flicks right to your Honeycomb device.

Android Market Link: Netflix

New Gingerbread Build (EP1H) Leaks for the Droid Charge

Following a leak of Android 2.3.4 for the Samsung DROID Charge earlier in the month, an even newer build known as EP1H has been uncovered and made available to all courtesy of p3droid. The leak is most likely not the final software build, though initial reports are that the update feels fairly polished. There is no known timeline for the official rollout of Android 2.3.4 for the Droid Charge, but if you want to get a taste of what is in store head over to the source link below for more info and the download links. As always, use caution when installing unofficial/unfinished ROMs to your pricey Android handset.
source: Android Phone

Apps of the Day: SPB Brain Evolution, Zinio, and More

What time is it? It's time for Apps of the Day. We once again dove headfirst into the Android Market and came out on the other side with some of its latest and greatest apps. Today we train our brains, read up on back issues of a wide selection of Magazines offered through Zinio, and once again sync our SMS messages with our tablets. Read on for more.

SPB Brain Evolution – Didn't train your brain well enough with other brain training games? If you're still stuck with “Schoolchild” as your Brain Evolution status, you'll be glad to know that you have another suite of compelling games to test your intelligence level. Sudoku, memory games, mathematics – it's all here. You'll unlock more games as you perfect the others. Play two games per day minimum for a better chance at increasing your intelligence level. If you've been out of the school loop for a while and need to jog your brain, download the free version now. [Market]

Zinio - It wasn't that long ago – less than a month, in fact – that Zinio for Honeycomb tablets made its way to market. Aside from offering a boatload of magazines from a boatload of publishers, one interesting feature was its hardware acceleration. While those features, by nature, aren't available in the handset version that's just come out, we're glad that a handset version is available. For free, in fact. But the app is driven by you buying subscriptions, of course, so if you're a fan of reading your magazines digitally Zinio is a sure bet. Go ahead and find it in the Android market. [Market]

DesktopSMS - Another option for gaining access to texts on your Android tablet or desktop PC, DesktopSMS from ClockworkMod cleverly intercepts messages and forwards them to your Gtalk or Gmail. Reply to the message and the opposite occurs, pushing a message to your phone and sending it as an SMS. An elegant solution, to say the least. The app is still in beta, so bugs are to be expected, but definitely worth checking out. [Market]
source: Android Phone