Google Fixes Wallet Security Hole

Google officially announced that they "restored the ability to issue new prepaid cards to the Wallet". Additionally, the company "issued a fix that prevents an existing prepaid card from being re-provisioned to another user". 

These improvements in the update above come hot on the heels of exploits discovered recently related to Google Wallet. The easiest among them was to clear the app's data under settings; once done, the application was asking for a new PIN but Google prepaid card information was remembered. Now that you're safe once again, let us know whether you have any doubts in using the offering (knowing that the brute-force method is still present, though requiring root access). 

Amazon MP3 Updated With Optimized Layout on Tablets, More

If you purchase music online using the Amazon MP3 app, you might want to update your client regardless if you have a smartphone or a tablet. There's a new version out which brings a couple of improvements and new additions to the table. 

First of all, if you have an Android-powered tablet, the new Amazon MP3 features an improved layout on slates. There's a new color scheme which will match the one on the Kindle Fire and if you have a smartphone running Android 4.x Ice Cream Sandwich, you'll love the addition of lock screen player controls. Aside from some other minor UI improvements also on-board are personalized recommendations which have been now added to the store (but only if you're in the US). 

ZTE Launches Gingerbread-Powered Light Tab 2 In the U.K.

After recently seeing two affordable Chinon Android tablets being unveiled with Gingerbread on-board, here comes another one, this time from ZTE. The Light Tab 2 is a seven-inch Android tablet which is now available in the U.K. 

For £235 (around $370) you get a Qualcomm MSM8255 processor clocking at 1.4GHz, 4GB of internal memory, 0.3-megapixel webcam, three-megapixel rear camera, microSD card slot and radio for GSM, UMTS, and HSPA network compatibility alongside WiFi. Gingerbread might not be what you're after on a tablet but there is no word on either a Honeycomb or an Ice Cream Sandwich update. 

New App Promises Accurate, Crowd-Sourced Carrier Coverage Maps

In the United States, one of the biggest considerations when selecting a smartphone is what carrier works best in your area -- not whichphone best suits your needs. It's unfortunate, but that's the state of cellular networks in the US today. 

What's the best way to know what carrier provides the best coverage for where you need to use it? After all, you'll need good coverage at home, at work, at school, and any other places that you frequent. 

Do you look at the coverage maps provided by the carrier that wants to sign you up for a two-year contract? Of course they're going to make their coverage areas look good. They even go as far as printing in very small letters that coverage is "estimated" or "not guaranteed". It's almost like they're embarrassed about their actual coverage. (Perhaps they should be, but I digress.) 

A new app is hoping to change all that. Users like you and I can install the Carrier Coverage application on our smartphones and every few minutes (or more if you'd like) the app checks your location and signal strength. It tallies all that up into a nice little report, and sends it off to Carrier Coverage. 

All of this is done in the open with you, the end-user, being able to opt-in to whatever reporting you're comfortable with. The more people that run the app, the more data points are collected and real coverage maps begin to appear. 

One downside: currently the app only runs on non-rooted phones, which is a shame because it's us power-users that are perhaps more likely to run this kind of app. Luckily the makers of the app have changed their stance on rooted devices and plan on releasing an updated version within the next week or so which will welcome us "rooties" to the party. 

Carrier Coverage 

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by CarrierCoverage.com

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Free

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Download Carrier Coverage from the Android Market

Samsung confirms Galaxy Nexus White arriving in UK mid-February, misses the snow

Well, we thought it would already be here, but it looks like Samsung had other ideas. It's confirmed that the HSPA+ version of its premier Android 4.0 phone will be available across UK retailers from February 13th -- that's next week. The suitably snowy smartphone packs all the specifications of the original and, well, it just suits that Ice Cream Sandwich OS a little bit better, doesn't it?

SAMSUNG LAUNCHES THE GALAXY NEXUS WHITE

Samsung's latest Android device coming to UK shores 13th February


6th February 2012, London, UK – Samsung has today confirmed the availability of a white variant of the Galaxy Nexus in the UK. The first smartphone to feature Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Galaxy Nexus White can be bought in a range of stores across the country from 13th February.

Simon Stanford, UK & IRE Telecommunications & Networks Division said: "After much speculation, we are pleased to announce the availability of the Galaxy Nexus White which follows the great reception the phone has received since it was launched back in November. One of the things we at Samsung pride ourselves on is the choice we offer customers, and we've enjoyed huge success to date by introducing white variants of our most popular models to our product portfolio."

The Galaxy Nexus™ White offers customers all the features found in the original Galaxy Nexus, from the 4.65'' HD Super AMOLED display which boasts a market-leading resolution of 720p (1280x720), to the 5 megapixel camera and super-fast 1.2GHz dual core processor and HSPA+ connectivity so owners can connect to and browse the internet quickly and easily when they're out and about.



As the first smartphone to run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Galaxy Nexus White offers customers an entirely new look and feel, including a redesigned user interface with improved multi-tasking, notifications, Wi-Fi hotspot, NFC support and a full web browsing experience. In addition to a rounded slim design, the Galaxy Nexus White also introduces new innovations such as 'Face Unlock', which uses facial recognition to unlock the phone. Whilst integration with Google+™ means owners can easily stay in touch with friends and family and talk over Google+ Messenger.