Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Current Generation Galaxy S Phones Recieve Touch Whiz 4 Port [Video]

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 05:29 PM PDT

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With only a few more weeks until the Galaxy S II is released in the UK, you can find bits and pieces of Samsung’s new Touch Whiz 4 strewn about all over XDA-Developers. I’m sure if you asked Samsung whether or not current generation Galaxy S phones will receive an update to the newest Touch Whiz, they will give you some excuse of a lack of hardware to support it.

Well, the guys over at XDA are here to disprove that. Some developers have actually managed to get a system dump from the Galaxy S II, alive and kicking on the first generation Galaxy S. Although the ROM is far from bug free, it will let you test drive Samsung’s new Touch Whiz 4 (at the risk of bricking your device of course). As you can see by the video below, Touch Whiz 4 seems to be running rather smoothly on Samsung’s “old” hardware. Once the developers get to squashing a few more bugs, I will definitely be flashing this onto my brother’s Samsung Vibrant and will most likely record the entire process for your viewing pleasure.

[Via XDA]


HTC Flyer Making It’s Way To T-Mobile This July?

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 04:51 PM PDT

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Our friends at T-Mo News received a tip from an inside source that the HTC Flyer will be landing onto T-Mobile come this July, 6th.

The 7-inch, single-core tablet hasn’t been causing too much of a buzz from the Android-elite (the kids are all about the dual-cores these days) but the fact that HTC is attempting to ressurect the stylus shows they company may be trying to focus on features and ease of use. And that – is what sells tablets, kids. Also, lets not forget you can pre-order the Flyer right now at Best Buy for $499 without a contract which may hint that the Flyer could hit that $200 mark with a 2 year agreement on T-Mobile.

With the current movement of dual-core Honeycomb tablets flooding the market, do you think this tablet will make a splash? If the recent sales of the Motorola Xoom are any indication, I’d say HTC is going to be fighting an uphill battle when the Flyer hits the market this summer.

[Via TMoNews]


Dog Wars Now Missing From the Android Market [Was it Vick?]

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 03:51 PM PDT

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Much noise has been made over a controversial game that had you playing the role of a dog owner participating in dog fighting rings for cash. Debates have raged on about morals and all of that good, juicy stuff. And even one once-incarcerated NFL quarterback Michael Vick spoke out about the game – he went to jail and lost his football fortune for participating in this sort of stuff in real life.

That may have just pushed either Google or the developers who created the game over the edge, though, as it’s been removed from the Android market. In a statement earlier, the developers stated they’d be looking to introduce a game with a modified concept so as to no offend those who have – well – taken offense. It’s possible they could have removed the application themselves in preparation.

On the other hand, Google can remove any application they want if a developer’s app violates the terms of service. And the last time I checked, their terms of service explicitly states that they have every right to move obscene apps – depending on who you are, Dog Wars is quite obscene.

No statement has come out from neither of the parties, though, so we can’t assume who did what just yet. Just know that it’s no longer there. You fans of it had better make an APK backup if you already have it because I foresee this one being tucked away for quite some time. [via AllThingsDigital]


Report: Android’s Global Dominance Will Get Help From Significant Sales of Cheap Smartphones [Smart Cheapphones?]

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 03:04 PM PDT

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We’ve long said that the key to Android’s long-term success would be choice. Keyboard or no keyboard? Big screen or small screen? Camera on the front of 4G? Do you want a fingerprint scanner? The ability to hook your phone up to your TV using an HDMI cable? Or even the ability to use your phone to power a web-based netbook? Choice is extremely important to a consumer at the point of sale.

And now DigiTimes is reporting that Android will see tremendous growth due to perhaps the most important choice of all when considering any purchase – price. Android phones can be had at all sorts of price points. Here in the US, you can get a cheap or free smartphone on a cheap plan that does a lot of what the fastest and biggest phones on the market do. And you don’t even have to be tethered to a contract to get a phone for under $200 at some carriers.

Then there’s the UK where you can get any phone for “free” at the point of sale. (Granted you’ll be subject to a pricey tariff.) The research firm reported that that 2.5 to 3 million sub-$150 (after subsidization) Android handsets were shipped in 2010. In 2011? That number will increase to 20-25 million and should make up for a pretty sizable slize of a very large pie – up to 15% of 165 million Android handsets expected to ship in 2011.


Motorola DROID Bionic Slowly Being Wiped Away From OEM’s Site?

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 02:37 PM PDT

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Some odd activity is going on over at Motorola’s site today. The Motorola DROID BIONIC – a device headed straight for Verizon but was said to be cancelled for a more “enhanced” device – appears to be slowly disappearing from Motorola’s website. A link to the device’s main product page on their front-page carousel takes us to their overall phone support page for all of their products. Clicking on “Android Phones” under “Mobile Phones” in their main navigation bar takes us to a list of their Android-based devices where the DROID Bionic is missing.

We also stumbled across a link where it would appear that the page still exists, but looking closely at the link we were sent shows a different localeid – the original link doesn’t include this. Our friend Kellex – who reported the same over at Droid-Life – says it could be due to the fact that Motorola missed this page in some horrible, horrible purging of the device’s existence. This is possibly evidenced by the “Compatibility” link on that same page taking us to that same general support section.

I’m not sure how accurate that may be, though, considering the device’s page is still up on MOTODEV. And the fact that they haven’t taken it off the front page carousel makes me suspicious of it just being an error, as well. Or they could just be making room for the Motorola Targa Who knows? We’ll be keeping our eye on this one. [Thanks Dave!] PS: No, Motorola, it most certainly isn’t the end of waiting. We’ve been waiting for this thing since January, after all.


HTC Sensation Coming With Swype-Like Keyboard from HTC

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 01:47 PM PDT

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HTC’s sprinkling quite a few surprises into HTC Sense 3.0 and another one of those surprises have been revealed on the HTC Sensation – a new keyboard! This one isn’t much different in style from the HTC-bred keyboard we’re used to on other Sense devices, but the one here does one very cool thing – it lets you Swype! That’s not what they’re calling it, of course – their official name for it is HTC Trace. There isn’t much to explain here if you’ve used Swype before, but in case you haven’t allow me clue you in.

You simply take your finger and trace through the letters of the word you want to spell without lifting them until you want a space character. If all goes right, the word will magically pop up as if you typed each letter individually. Once you get the hang of it, this style of keyboard feels really natural and can be a lot faster than typing on a hardware QWERTY keyboard. (I’m actually slower using one of those.) It’s expected to be a part of all Sense 3.0 devices which – for now – are only the HTC Sensation and the HTC EVO 3D [Android Central]


Amazon Giving Away a Motorola XOOM As Part of Prime Sweepstakes

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 01:38 PM PDT

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Amazon has announced a new sweepstakes to celebrate the savings their Amazon Prime users get on shipping. They’re going alphabetically and the guess what the first letter is – A! You’d know that if you had a brain, of course, but I bet you’re wondering what the A will stand for. Nope, it has nothing to do with red (and sometimes green), crunchy, delicious, round fruit. No, it has to do with robots. Namely, Androids.

The Android they’ll be giving away is a WiFi-only Motorola XOOM. Although the contest celebrates prime members, it’s open to anyone in the United States with a Facebook account. Simply “like” their page there to unlock a form where you can submit your drawing. It doesn’t take long at all and considering what you get should you be lucky enough to win, there shouldn’t be much complaining. Go ahead and get started over at the book of faces. [via Android Police]


Twitter for Android Brings Many New Enhancements

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 01:21 PM PDT

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The folks at Twitter have just issued an update to their Android application to fix many bigs and to add many enhancements and improvements. Sadly, the one enhancement missing is proper Android 3.0 support – something many other clients have yet to implement. (There’s only one known Twitter client that’ll get you the tablet-optimized goodness you need, but we hear it isn’t up to snuff.) Anyway, take a look at the list of changes below and see if this update fits your bill. If it does, don’t hesitate to download it in the Android market. [via Droid-Life]

What’s in this version:

  1. Displays search results in a tabbed view
  2. Add and remove saved searches from universal search suggestions
  3. SSL used for network requests
  4. Font size setting
  5. Tapping on a map in detail view searches nearby Tweets
  6. Launch links directly from a message
  7. Ability to delete messages
  8. Added Tweet count to user profile
  9. Improved avatar loading
  10. Improved the way data is cleared to conserve more space
  11. Fixed a bug where music skips when refreshing, etc.
  12. Many other improvements and bug fixes

 


Google’s Phone Gallery is RSS Enabled, And There Are a Few Phones Here We’ve Never Heard Of

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 01:15 PM PDT

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It’s been a long, long time since we’ve visited Google’s phone portal (which once served as the storefront for the now-discontinued Nexus One where they showcase the hundreds of different Androids available for many different carriers around the world. When it first began they only showcased the newest handful of devices from America’s major carriers but they promised they’d be adding more regions and carriers as time went on. (And that they did – we went from just the UK and US to nearly every major region in the world.)

We stumbled across something neat, though – it’s RSS enabled! By adding this to your favorite RSS reader (ours is Google Reader, of course), you’ll be able to check out the latest phones the moment they make their way into Google’s database. We added it ourselves and actually came across a few devices we’ve never heard of. Let’s take a look at some of these:

LG Optimus Chat

Judging by the name, this one sounded like it’d be an Optimus-style phone with the added luxury of having a hardware QWERTY keyboard. That’s exactly what the Optimus Chat is. Much like other devices in the same family, it has a 3.2-inch HVGA display, Android 2.2, a 3 megapixel camera and a 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 processor. The carrier listed is NTT docomo, a Japanese carrier. We’ve also learned that this one was released on several carriers in India.

SKY Mirach

This is one from Pantech offered by SK Telecom in South Korea. It joins one device we’ve heard of before – the SKY Vega – as one of three phones in this lineup. It’s a bit similar to the Optimus Chat we talked about above, but has a bigger display at 3.5 inches and a higher WVGA resolution. Processor, amount of RAM, and version of Android are all similar – 600MHz MSM7227 by Qualcomm, 512MB of RAM, and is powered by Android 2.2. The camera is a bit beefier, though, delivering 5 megapixels of still photo goodness.

SKY Izar

This litttle fella – which we’ll call the smaller cousin of the SKY Mirach above – belongs to Korea Telecom. It does away with a hardware button for home for an all-touch experience, but also has a smaller screen and only runs Android 2.1. (It’s said to be upgraded to Froyo soon enough.) The display itself is 3.2 inches, but the resolution of 480 x 800 means you’ll have a lot more screen real estate than you normally would on a display this size.


They aren’t the newest, fastest, prettiest or most attractive phones in the world, of course, but still interesting. It makes us wonder if there are other phones tucked away on this site that we’ve never heard of. Head over to Google.com/phone to check it out if you’re curious and see if you can spot a lesser-known phone from your region.


Motorola Issues Updated Statement About Bootloader Outcry, But Not Much is New

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 12:02 PM PDT

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Motorola has thankfully reiterated their plans to work to provide developers deeper access to their devices by allowing them to unlock their bootloaders. Unfortunately, that’s all they did – no timeline or other pertinent details were given outside of the fact that it’ll be launched in “late 2011″. Here’s the full quote for your consideration:

"In terms of your question - we completely understand the operator requirement for security to the end user, and as well, want to support the developer communities desire to use these products as a development platform.  It is our intention to enable the unlockable/relockable bootloader currently found on Motorola XOOM across our portfolio of devices starting in late 2011, where carriers and operators will allow it."

The response comes from the efforts of the thousands of souls who’ve signed a petition over at Groubal asking Motorola to follow through with their word. I imagine they were also pressured by an embarrassing response to an innocent question they posed to their fans on Facebook a couple of weeks back.

And, to be honest, we’re still not all that happy about Motorola’s efforts. “Late 2011″ is such a ways away from now and they say that ultimately the carriers will decide whether or not bootloaders remain locked. Fortunately most carriers don’t seem to mind (we know there are tons of Samsung and HTC phones with the freest of free bootloaders) so we’ll see if Motorola’s just blowing smoke once that time comes. [via AusDroid]


UK’s Eee Pad Transformer Said to Be Getting Software Update Thursday

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 11:41 AM PDT

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The folks at ASUS UK have tweeted that their newly-launched (in the US, anyway) Eee Pad Transformer will be getting an update across the pond from us. They left no hints as to what it’d bring or provide, though, so I guess a surprise is in order for those of you who have one. As for you folks over here in the States? It’s possible these versions of the Transformer already have the latest and greatest software available, but we’ll be on the lookout for a similar upgrade regardless. [Thanks Marco!]


Android Mac Users: Are You One? [POLL]

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 09:20 AM PDT

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I’m a little embarrassed to admit it… but I just bought my first Mac. Before I explain how this occurred and why I’m somewhat ashamed, I’m curious to ask how many of you are Android-loving Mac users.

I’ve disliked Macs for the same reason I disliked Dave Matthews Band: I refused to be part of a trendy bandwagon jumping “movement” whose characteristics seemed defined by how unapologetically obsessed and irritating their fans are rather than by the merits of the product itself. Can I admit that DMB has an amazing amount of talent and has some great songs? Absolutely. Do I ever plan to get drunk and run around like an idiot in the middle of a field singing “Tripping Billies”? Won’t happen. And thus is also why I never wanted to own or use a Mac.

I’m not denying that this approach could be considered short-sighted, stubborn, and stereo-typical, but explained another way: how many sports fans who hate the Yankees, Patriots, or Lakers with a passion would suddenly start rooting for those teams because they like a rookie or two?

I’ve never used anything but a PC. I grew up with Windows. It’s my hometown team in the league of computers. No matter how hard you tried to convince me that Macs are superior and no matter how valid your arguments, nothing could change my mind. Several key intangible factors made PCs infinitely more valuable in my opinion, but most of all, habit and familiarity. There are plenty of other reasons one might suggest a Mac or PC is better or worse, but one extremely valuable asset was that for me, PCs had no learning curve.

If you’ve ever tried to learn something new as an adult – such as riding a bike or skiing – you’d know that it’s much easier to learn as a child. Why is that? I’d say muscle memory and habit. Children have a clean slate while adults come to the table with many different preconceptions, ideas and experiences. So while using a PC isn’t a sport or daring physical activity, I very much feel like using a PC is like the old adage of learning how to ride a bike. My day-to-day life is so busy as it is, I don’t want to have to learn a complete new system when the old system works just fine. Actually, learning the new system is only half the battle, the other half is unlearning the old system.

Game Over?

My opinion can’t be defeated. I’m familiar with PCs and even if Macs are better, I don’t want to learn a new system and don’t really care what you say – PCs work just fine for me. I’m sure you’re wondering, “but you said you bought a Mac?”

New Game

My PC broke and the stars aligned. After it took a pummeling in airport security, I mourned the loss of my computer at the hotel bar. Knowing I had a bundle of work to do the next morning, I plotted my trip to Best Buy after drinking 1 beer over the course of exactly 1 hour because I am the safest driver in the universe. But who was at the bar surrounding me? Apple fans.

The Apple fans insisted (as they always do) that a Mac was the way to go, only this time they had offered an intangible of their own: the Apple store was half a block away while the only place to purchase a PC was at a Best Buy 15 miles away. They each bought me a beer and demanded I buy a Mac. I obliged. What can I say… the stars aligned.

Once I decided I would buy a Mac I instantly filled with excitement. It wasn’t excitement centered around Mac being the greatest thing in the universe, but instead I realized that after years and years of deferring on any discussion of Mac and being ideologically disgusted at the brand in general, I didn’t really know anything about the product itself.  As a tech journalist, the opportunity to explore the unknown is exciting and owning a Mac is like suddenly finding out I’m not allergic to peanuts. By the way, I’m allergic to peanuts, but I don’t know why anyone would eat them on purpose… they’re repulsive.

Android vs. Mac

Because Google and Apple are such bitter rivals and “Android vs. iOS” steals the limelight on the Mobile Tech Stage, the concept of a Mac-toting Android enthusiast seems a bit awkward. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how and why the public does feel and should feel when sorting out opinions on Google, Microsoft, Apple, Android, Windows, iOS and Macs.


[Image via LaiHiu]

The whole thing started with Microsoft vs. Apple which of course is fueled by Windows vs. Mac. Now, many think Android is becoming the “Windows” of the Mobile world (pour some out for WinMo) and Google is becoming the next Microsoft. But if Google were Microsoft then wouldn’t most Android Fans dislike Macs? Afterall, many of them dislike iPhones – isn’t it practically the same?

And thus begins the circular tail-chasing debate.

In my opinion, Google straddles the line drawn between Microsoft and Apple. Yes, (like Microsoft) Android was built for mass consumption and from a market share standpoint is already becoming the most influential player in the mobile world based sheerly on numbers. Yes, (like Microsoft) Google leverages their current success to launch new products and services that attract the watchful eye of federal regulators and privacy concerned citizens.

But Google isn’t Microsoft. Google, (like Apple) was the underdog not too long ago. Android, (like Mac) had a “cool factor” associated with prioritizing differently – Apple focusing on build quality and style, Google demanding openness, simplicity, and functionality. Both fueled an intense sense of community lasting long after they shed the underdog image.

I know for a fact there are a legion of Android fans who wouldn’t dare buy an iPhone but who swear by their Mac – I talk to them every day. It presents an interesting and off-balance discussion about the brands we support, what they say about us, and if any of it makes sense or matters. Hopefully you’ll continue that conversation below… feel free to provide tips and tricks on learning the curve and/or Android-friendly Mac suggestions!


Michael Vick Speaks Out Against Dog Fighting Game for Android

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 08:28 AM PDT

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It’s not too often that an Android app receives the scorn of activists, celebrities, and public officials alike, but that is exactly the sort of controversy Dog Wars has sparked. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who served time for his involvement in an illegal dogfighting ring, is speaking out along with the Humane Society of the United States, calling for the immediate removal of the app from the Android Market. Vick believes the game “[glorifies] this form of animal cruelty” and moves “a step backward” in creating public awareness about the evils of the underground dogfighting industry.

Paul M. Weber, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, called the  game “absolutely sickening.” Players raise a pit bull to be a violent fighter and enter into fights to win money, street cred, and the ability to move up the dogfighting ranks. Responding anonymously out of fear that activists might seek out and attack those behind the game, an official from Kage Games, makers of Dog Wars, said, “We are in fact animal lovers ourselves,” and “this is our groundbreaking way to raise money/awareness to aid REAL dogs in need.” While the company is, in fact, donating a portion of proceeds from the game to animal rescue organizations, does the negative message delivered outweigh any good that could arise from such donations?

The developers also reference Apple’s strict app policies, saying the Dog Wars makes a statement against limiting developer freedoms.Though the company seems ripe to justify the bad press their game is getting, Kage Games is promising a “more socially conscious” version of their app in the future. Maybe that version won’t arm players with a gun to protect from police raids or will do away with injecting your dog with steroids.

[via LA Times]


Qik for Android Updated, Now Features Live Video Calls for All

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 07:41 AM PDT

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Qik is updating their Android application, bringing a wider set of features including live video calls to all users. Up until now, unless you owned a handset that shipped with Qik pre-installed many of the applications features remained out of reach. Just as parent company Skype recently updated their application to spread 3G voice calling, a feature that had been Verizon-exclusive, Qik’s latest update brings all of the service’s features to the Android Market version.

Features that will be new to some are live video streaming and chats over 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi; contact list integration; cross-platform chat; and the ability to use either to phone’s front or rear camera. You can also pre-record video mail and share content through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and more.

With Skype with Video just around the corner, how the two companies plan to tackle the video chat market simultaneously isn’t clear. It doesn’t look like one will replace the other anytime soon. The new update does suggest that Qik will move ever increasingly in a social direction.

Android Market Link: Qik

[via TechCrunch]


Official: Casio g’zOne Commando Available April 28 for $199

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 06:48 AM PDT

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Verizon will be quite busy this Thursday, as an already crowded launch day featuring the Droid Charge and Droid Incredible 2 officially welcomes one more Android handset. The Casio g’zOne Commando has been announced for an April 28th release at Big Red. The Commando is built to be secure in more ways than one. Aside from the rugged construction the Casio g’zOne lineup is known for, the handset features high-security encryption and is designed with business users in mind. The Android 2.2 phone is water, shock, dust, vibration, and solar radiation resistant and is designed to operate at extreme altitudes and temperatures. It features a 5MP camera and Mobile Hotspot capabilities. The Commando launches at a price of $199.99 on a two-year contract.

Verizon Wireless And Casio Introduce The CASIO G’zOne Commando
First Ruggedized Android Smartphone for Verizon Wireless

BASKING RIDGE, NJ -- Verizon Wireless and Casio today announced a new addition to the rugged wireless category and a new Android-powered smartphone in the marketplace, the CASIO G’zOne Commando™. Deployment ready, the Commando is a mobile office with high security features for secure corporate email; Wi-Fi for high-speed Web access; XT9 and T9 trace input for efficient typing; and snap-out menu for customized access to high-use applications.

Designed to withstand the most extreme conditions, the CASIO G’zOne Commando easily transitions from work to play with advanced G’zGEAR software. As the ultimate outdoor tool in a mobile device, G’zGEAR operates in eight modes to enhance the active, adventure-driven lifestyle. With the help of its Triple Sensor technology utilizing direction, acceleration and temperature, G’zGEAR enables adventurers to perform at their peak.

The Casio Commando is ideal for the business environment, especially for fields such as construction, transportation, manufacturing, utilities and healthcare. Workers in hazardous environments, such as construction sites, warehouses and factory floors, need a smartphone that has the capability to download blueprints, files and pictures; update project plans; access field force management, inventory access and corporate applications; and capture signatures.

Key features:

Android™ 2.2
Meets Military Standards 810G for Immersion, Rain, Shock and Dust Resistant, Vibration, Salt Fog, Humidity, Solar Radiation, Altitude, Low and High Temperature Storage
5-megapixel camera with auto-focus, still photo, video capture, LED light
High-security encryption for corporate email
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity
Stereo Bluetooth™
VZ Navigator® for GPS and audible turn-by-turn directions
Mobile Hotspot capable-share 3G connection with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices
Lifestyle features:

G’zGear operates in eight modes
Earth Compass - Functions as a standard compass, the GPS shows the distance and direction to several domestic and international landmarks, including Yosemite National Park and Mt. Everest.
Walking Counter - Measures steps, distance and energy consumption, and total steps for the day, week or month. It also provides virtual treks for famous North American trails and roads including Mt. Kilimanjaro, Annapurna Circuit, Torres Del Paine Circuit, John Muir Trail and Transcontinental.
Adventure Training - Takes training to a new level by allowing users to run with virtual opponents, like world-record holders, wild animals, or their own best personal performance stored in the training history.
Trip Memory - Plots and records outdoor activities along with location information to share with friends and family on Twitter™ and Facebook®.
Tides - Showcases the tidal graph for the day; time of tide ebb and flow; and current, past and future sea tide levels. GPS displays the nearest location map.
Thermometer - Displays current temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit with numeric and graphic thermometer readings and compares the current temperature across multiple locations.
Sun / Moon - Checks the time of the next sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonset, and tracks the moon phases for your current location.
Star Gazer - Utilizes GPS to display the stars and constellation names based on the current season and time.
Pricing and availability:

The CASIO G’zOne Commando will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com on April 28 for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. CASIO G’zOne Commando customers will need to subscribe to a data plan. Unlimited data plans are available to customers starting at $29.99 monthly access.
Business customers who want to purchase the device can contact their Business Sales Representatives at 1-800-VZW-4BIZ.
For more information on the CASIO G’zOne Commando or for other Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. Customers can visit www.CasioGzOne.com to experience the CASIO G’zOne Commando.


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