Android software

While iOS users were today treated to a huge Facebook app update, Android users got a little something as well.

With the newest update to Facebook for Android, you can now easily create events from the app, share photos faster with a new upload process, and add photos and emoji to messages.

Sure, the Android update is nowhere near as big as the iOS update. But still, it's nice to see Facebook showing support for both platforms.

The newest version of Facebook for Android is available now on Google Play.

The U.S. Department of Justice has taken aim at three sites that allegedly pirated Android apps.

According to the Justice Department, it seized three Web sites -- applanet.net, appbucket.net, and snappzmarket.com -- that were allegedly offering copies of copyrighted Android apps. It marked the first time that sites were seized over allegedly pirating copyrighted mobile apps.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the sting operation by downloading "thousands of copies of popularity copyright apps" from the sites, the Justice Department said. The agency didn't specify the apps, but the servers hosting them were … Read more

With its newly designed user interface, Norton Mobile Utilities makes it a bit simpler to manage your Android device's performance. The four main modules are all reorganized, and it's easy to jump into any function, right from the get-go.

But version 2.0 doesn't just come with a prettier face. The updated app now offers a few premium paid features that Android users are sure to find interesting. For the $9.99 upgrade fee, you can get an automatic task killer, customized battery saver profile, data usage tracker, and more.

Norton Mobile Utilities Lite is free to … Read more

Book publishers offer large-print editions for elderly readers and people with vision problems.

Now there's a "large-print" interface for Android: Big Launcher.

This ingenious app replaces the stock home screen with one that's large, easy to read, and easy to operate. That makes it a good choice not just for seniors, the eyesight-challenged, and the tech-unsavvy, but also folks who like to mount their phones on their car dashboards.

True to its name, Big Launcher provides an interface that's, well, big. In place of Android's usual assortment of small icons and even smaller icon … Read more

A handful of tips and tutorial videos for a Motorola XT926 landed on YouTube this morning only to disappear shortly thereafter. Widely considered to be the Droid Razr HD, the clips were the first semi-official look at Verizon's next Android smartphone.

Those who were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the five videos saw demonstrations of various features such as managing e-mail, Wi-Fi, messaging, and battery life. More tellingly, it also was a chance to peek at Motorola's ROM. As it appears, Verizon's next handset closely resembles the same UI as found on AT&T'… Read more

Sony today confirmed that the Xperia P is the latest Android smartphone to receive its 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update. A post on the company blog advises that consumers will receive a notification when their respective update is ready to download.

As is the case with all other 4.0 releases, the handset will benefit from an enhanced lock screen, improved handling of data consumption, and scalable widgets. Sony has also taken steps to ensure a more rounded media experience for the Xperia P, introducing Walkman, Album, and Movies apps. … Read more

When you're mobile, running errands, or even traveling, there may not always be time to write a response to those who contact you. It's easy to forget what you need to do with an e-mail you've already read sitting in your inbox. Maybe a family member sent you something they want feedback on, or maybe a business client needs a question answered. In either case, you want to let the person on the other end of the e-mail know what's going on with you and when you'll be able to devote time to … Read more

Once a dominant player in the Android space, HTC now struggles against the likes of Samsung and Motorola.

It's a sad state for a company that gave us the first Android phone in 2008 with the T-Mobile G1. Yet, after disappointing financial results, HTC is now in the unenviable position of discussing a comeback.

A company-wide e-mail from CEO Peter Chou recently leaked to the Internet, casting light on what HTC views as a hindrance to success. In a word, it's bureaucracy. Politics and internal regulations, and not just Samsung, are standing in the way of realizing bigger … Read more

At an event in New York today, Samsung launched its new flagship tablet, the quad-core Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 with Android 4.0 and a stylus capable of performing a long list of tasks.

The Note 10.1 is Samsung's best tablet yet, and the S Pen stylus gives it a boost. There's just one problem: while the S Pen's touch-pad tricks look impressive on any canvas, once digital pen hits digital pad, the experience becomes riddled with an inflexible learning curve, logical skips, and interruptions in execution. Most of these accumulate around Samsung's home-grown … Read more