Chimo NgeBlog : Android 3.2.1 Honeycomb Update Now Rolling Out To HTC's EVO View 4G

Sprint's variant of the HTC Flyer - the HTC EVO View 4G - is finally getting a taste of Honeycomb, bringing it up to par with competing Android tablets. Originally launched with a heavily customized version of Android 2.3, the View 4G is now receiving an over-the-air update to Android 3.2.1. As you'd expect, the update brings Honeycomb to Sprint's version of the Flyer, featuring HTC's Sense overlay, and on-screen buttons which replace the View 4G's capacitive keys – here's the full changelog for this 217MB update:
This update adds Android 3.2.1 (Honeycomb) and a new virtual and holographic user interface. Updates include:
Physical Hard keys replaced with on screen Soft keys New Google search, available on every page System Bar: Quick access to notifications, status, and soft navigation buttons available at the bottom of the screen Notifications menu moved to the bottom right corner of the screen, on the System Bar. The Action Bar—which can be accessed by touching the Plus Sign icon at the top right of the screen—is the key to contextual, changing menus that are controlled by each application. Enhanced security including Sprint Data Link and 3LM
Fixes include:
Google video chat Bluetooth capable in Airplane mode
If you're the owner of an HTC EVO View 4G, just hit Menu > Settings > System Updates > HTC Software Update > Check Now, and start enjoying the Honeycomb goodness!

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Chimo Ngeblog : Mengamankan Handphone Android saat liburan

Saat perjalanan mudik bisa saja pemilik
smartphone Android menghabiskan waktunya
dengan men-download aplikasi dan
menjalankannya dari beragam tempat yang dilalui.
Tapi apakah anda tahu bahwa saat inilah
smartphone Android Anda justru terancam
disusupi virus. Anda bisa saja asyik bermain games
yang diunduh dari layanan berbagi di internet, lalu
tiba-tiba Anda akan mendapatkan link menuju
situs yang siap 'membuat hang ' ponsel Anda.
Ini bukannya hal yang mengada-ngada, setidaknya
Trend Micro, mencatat di pertengahan tahun ini
saja terdeteksi malware Android berupa 3 installer
palsu untuk update aplikasi, yakni Androidos_
ADSMS.A , Androidos_Dordrael .l, dan Androidos_
crusewin.A . Yang terbaru tentu saja ditemukannya
malware android, bernama Droid Dream Light
(DDLight), yang telah memakan korban 25 aplikasi
terinfeksi serta antara 30.000 hingga 120. 000
pengguna percaya mereka telah dipengaruhi.
Nah, buat mengeleminir hal tersebut, dengan
mengamankan smartphone Anda dari hal-hal
yang paling sederhana. Team dari Trend Micro,
telah merumuskannya untuk pengguna, terutama
agar Anda bisa nyaman dan aman menjalankan
aplikasi selama perjalanan mudik nanti:
1. Gunakan standar fitur kemananan yang ada di
dalam smartphone Android Anda.
Masuklah ke dalam menu > Setting, lalu Pilih >
Location & Security > masukkan data seperti no
PIN dan Password untuk menlock smartphone
Anda. Hal ini sangat bermanfaat untuk
mengamankan data-data pribadi saat ponsel Anda
hilang secara fisik
2. Jangan Pilih setting auto connet untuk WiFi.
Masuklah ke dalam menu > Wireless & Network,
lalu pilih > WiFi Setting, nonaktifkan fungsi auto
connect untuk WiFi. Banyak WiFi yang tanpa Anda
sadari ketika memanfaatkan fasilitas ini
memungkinkan data Anda disalin, jadi baiknya
Anda berhati-hati membuka laman seperti internet
banking saat menggunakan WiFi
3. Yakinkan Anda tidak meng-install aplikasi
selain dari Android Market.
Saran terbaiknya adalah menginstall aplikasi yang
ada dalam android market, dengan demikian
terhindar dari Trojan android. Baru-baru Trojan
android ditemukan dari sebuah penyedia layanan
aplikasi pihak ketiga di Cina.
4. Hati-Hati Saat Sebuah aplikasi meminta ijin
Anda untuk membuka akses data pribadi.
Pada beberapa aplikasi yang diinstal biasanya
meminta ijin Anda untuk membuka beberapa
data, tapi Anda harus yakin tidak memberikan ijin
akses untuk masuk ke dalam data pribadi seperti
list kontak telepon
5. Gunakan aplikasi keamanan khusus
smartphone Android.
Hati-hati dalam menginstal dan membuka link
tertentu adalah cara sederhana, tapi lebih dari itu
disarankan Anda juga menginstal aplikasi
keamanan untuk smartphone. Pada Trend Micro
Mobile Security for Android, bukan saja
mengamankan pasword Anda,tapi juga
mengamankan semua data transaksi mobile
banking Anda. Jadi perjalanan mudik pun nyaman
dan tenang tanpa khawatir lagi apakah data Anda
sudah aman atau belum.

READ MORE - Chimo Ngeblog : Mengamankan Handphone Android saat liburan

Chimo NgeBlog : Tips aman download aplikasi di Android Market

Kata siapa mengunduh aplikasi di
Android Market itu bebas dari penyusupan
Malware. Buktinya, tim keamanan Trend Micro
baru saja mendeteksi adanya serangan malware
dengan kode, ANDROIDOS_RUFRAUD.A , masuk
sebagai aplikasi resmi yang seolah-olah ditawarkan
dari dalam Android market. Beberapa pengguna
telah menginstal aplikasi tipuan tersebut sebelum
Google menghentikan layanannya segera setalah
mendapat reaksi dan respon dari pengguna yang
waspada.
Setidaknya hingga tahun depan, saat Android
menawarkan aplikasi seharga 10 cent saja untuk
merayakan 10 milyar download, pengguna
biasanya cenderung terpancing untuk menginstal
aplikasi dengan biaya murah tersebut tanpa sadar
mereka telah menggiring masuk malware.
Karena itu lah untuk membantu pengguna, Trend
Micro memberikan panduan agar pengunduh bisa
memperhatikan hal kunci sebelum menginstal
aplikasi dari Android market
Tips pertama: Cek lah developer dibalik
pembuat aplikasi yang ditawarkan
Penjahat dunia maya secara teratur selalu
mengikuti aplikasi apa yang sedang populer,
kemudia mereka membuat tiruannya. Misalnya
malicious aplikasi untuk game terkenal Angry Birds,
besutan Rovio Mobile, pernah dibuat tipuan
malicious-nya dari developer Logastrod.
Untuk memastikan si pembuat aplikasi memiliki
reputasi, cek lah bagaimana si developer
memberikan catatan pada aplikasi yang pernah
dibuat. Jika developer tersebut miskin informasi,
lebih baik Anda abaikan untuk menginstal
aplikasinya.
Tips Kedua: Cek rating dan review terhadap
aplikasi
Pada aplikasi yang asli biasanya mendapatkan
banyak rating dari beberapa reviewer di dalam
Android market, sedangkan aplikasi palsu hanya
memberikan kurang dari dua puluh rating.
Semakin banyak rating dan review yang diberikan,
artinya Anda memasuki halaman aplikasi yang
dijamin benar.

By Anton Chimo

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Chimo NgeBlog : 5 Antivirus gratis untuk Android

beberapa aplikasi Antivirus untuk
perangkat Android Anda :
1) Lookout Mobile Security
Aplikasi ini bekerja dengan
memonitor semua software yang
terinstall dan men-scan mereka
setiap hari atau mingguan. Aplikasi ini
memiliki fitur "Find My Phone" yang
dapat menunjukkan perangkat
Android kita dalam sebuah peta.
Misalnya kita lupa meletakkan HP kita
di rumah atau kantor. Ini merupakan
salah satu fitur canggih yang
disediakan aplikasi ini. Fitur lainnya
aplikasi ini juga menscan file-file
untuk mengetahui apakah ada virus
atau tidak, menghapus data-data
yang tidak berguna, dan membackup
data-data penting dalam perangkat
Android kita.
2) Phone Spam Blocker USA
Apabila kita mendapatkan call spam,
sms spam atau miscall yang
mengganggu dari orang-orang yang
iseng, maka aplikasi ini cocok buat
Anda. Aplikasi ini juga menyediakan
update untuk memblokir nomor-
nomor yang terdaftar suka
menyebarkan spam lewat telepon.
3) Super Security
Aplikasi ini bekerja dengan
menggunakan mesin antivirus
berbasis cloud computing, yang
dapat membasmi banyak malware
dan melindungi data-data kita. Fitur-
fitur lainnya seperti mencari
perangkat yang hilang, antimalware,
strongbox.
4) SmrtGuard Mobile Security
Aplikasi ini untuk melindungi
perangkat Android kita dari virus.
Fitur lainnya 'Find Phone' via GPS
untuk mengetahui posisi HP kita
apabila lupa,'Audio Ping', 'Remote
Lock', 'Call Blocker' dan 'SimCard
Guardian'.
5) AntiVirus Free
Ini juga antivirus gratis buat Android,
selain dapat melindungi perangkat
Android kita dari virus, fitur lainnya
adalah mencari data-data sampah
yang ada di perangkat Anrdroid kita,
juga mencari pesan, file atau folder
yang bermasalah.
Ok selamat mencoba.

READ MORE - Chimo NgeBlog : 5 Antivirus gratis untuk Android

Chimo NgeBlog : Samsung will releas two dual-SIM versions of the Galaxy Y

Samsung just recently announced they will be
releasing two dual-SIM versions of the Galaxy Y in
Q1 2012, the Galaxy Y DUOS and the Galaxy Y Pro
DUOS.
The specs have the Galaxy Y DUOS sporting a
bigger 3.14" display than the original (3") , 3MP
camera (instead of 2MP ), slightly larger dimensions
at 4.32 " x 2.36 " x 0.47 ", 4GB onboard and of
course 2 SIM slots .
The Galaxy Y Pro DUOS has the same QWERTY
keyboard as the original, virtually identical
dimensions to the original, 3MP camera (over the
2MP) , 4GB onboard and the 2 SIM slots.
There really doesn't seem to be any need to
upgrade unless you need the dual-SIM
functionality. No word on which carrier these will
be appearing on.

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Chimo NgeBlog : 7 Virus Android Terpopuler

Mungkin Android bisa dibilang menjadi OS populer saat ini
bahkan sekarang banyak 'bertebaran'  gadget berbasis Android dengan spesifikasi yang lumayan lengkap namun dijual dngan harga yang cukup murah. Namun ditengah tingginya popularitas maka banyak juga yang memanfaatkannya.Diantaranya adalah para hacker yang menyisipkan berbagai macam malware,spyware,adware dan virus ke dalam berbagai aplikasi Android yang mana aplikasi tersebut disediakan secara free atau gratisan yang kemudian diupaload ke dalam Android Market dan bisa di download secara mudah oleh para pengguna Android. Berikut ini adalah 7 virus android
yang terkenal sebagaimana ditulis detiknet (6/8 /11).
1. Android.PjappsM
Awal tahun 2010, penyerang mendownload
program sah dari Android Market lalu
menginfeksinya dengan malware Android.Pjapps.
Versi modifikasi itu didistribusi ulang ke
marketplace Android pihak ketiga. Selain menyedot
pulsa dengan mengirim SMS premiun, malware ini
menurut Symantec bertujuan mencuri data
personal user yang perangkatnya terinfeksi.

2. Android.Geinimi
Trojan yang dikenal bernama Geinimi ini
menyebar terutama di China. Ia menginfeksi game
Android dan begitu terinstall di perangkat
pengguna, perangkat itu jadi botnet mobile yang
bisa dikendalikan penyerang dari jarak jauh.

3. AndroidOS.FakePlayer
Menurut Symantec, program jahat ini
menyamarkan diri sebagai aplikasi media player.
Jika terinstall, secara diam- diam akan mengirim
SMS premium pada nomor di Rusia.

4. DroidDream (aka, Android.Rootcager )
DroidDream termasuk malware yang menggila
dengan menginfeksi sekitar 60 aplikasi berbeda di
Android Market serta menginfeksi ratusan ribu
user di kuartal pertama 2011. Malware ini
mengubah perangkat terinfeksi menjadi botnet,
menembus sekuriti Android, menginstall software
tambahan dan mencuri data.

5 Android.Bgserv
Beberapa saat sesudah terjangan DroidDream,
Google merilis tool untuk 'menyembuhkan'
perangkat yang terinfeksi. Namun penjahat cyber
turut mendompleng momen ini dengan merilis
versi palsu yang jahat. Beruntung tidak terlalu
berbahaya meski tetap bisa mencuri data.

6. GGTracker
Ancaman GGTracker dinyatakan cukup canggih.
Penjahat cyber mengelabui user dengan membuat
halaman web mobile yang terlihat seperti Android
Market di mana sebagian user terjebak
mendownload aplikasi penghemat baterai palsu.
Jika terinstall, malware ini akan mengirim SMS
premium dengan biaya sampai USD 40 per SMS.

7. DroidKungFu
Taktik pembuat malware ini adalah mendistribusi
aplikasi sah di Android Market, menunggu banyak
user mengunduhnya, kemudian menginjeksinya
dengan malware kala user melakukan update over
the air (OTA). Beruntung, DroidKungFu sudah
diketahui 'kejahatannya' sebelum menginfeksi user
sehingga tak jadi masuk ke Android Market.

READ MORE - Chimo NgeBlog : 7 Virus Android Terpopuler

Chimo NgeBlog : Android Under Attack

Google Inc.’s Android software was the “exclusive” platform for hackers targeting mobile devices in the last quarter, McAfee Inc. said in a report Monday.
The amount of malicious software (read: malware) targeting Android devices jumped 37% between late June and late September, according to the digital security company’s third-quarter threats report. Following a previous quarter of spiking threats against Android devices, McAfee said 2011 is on track to be the busiest year in mobile malware history.
All new mobile threats identified by McAfee during Q3 were specifically designed to target Android users, the report said. Android’s popularity among cyber criminals has been growing in parallel to its popularity among consumers as hackers seek the largest possible group of victims.
Last week, communications equipment maker Juniper Networks Inc. identified what it called an “exponential” increase in Android malware over the last few months, noting 472% growth malicious software samples since July. Accelerating attacks against Android led Juniper to say “the months of October and November are shaping up to see the fastest growth in Android malware discovery in the history of the platform” in a Nov. 15 blog post.
“We’re seeing a mix of the traditional hacking community [working] on malware very similar to organized efforts on the PC side, as well as people who are just a little smart, the ’15-year-old kid crowd,’ who are able to hide some malicious content in an app,” Dan Hoffman, Juniper’s chief mobile security analyst, explained in an interview with ITbusiness.ca on Monday.
Far more attack apps have appeared in Chinese app stores that distribute Android software, Mr. Hoffman said.
Most of the new threats came in the form of apps on Google’s Android Market disguised as benign programs that secretly record and transmit a user’s activities once downloaded in hopes of obtaining sensitive financial information. However, the McAfee report also noted a rise in what many would consider an even deeper privacy invasion: malware capable of recording and transmitting phone calls.
“Two examples are Android/NickiSpy.A and Android/GoldenEagle.A — both of which record user conversations and forward them to the attacker,” reads an excerpt from page four of the report.
“Attackers can’t be sure that the first one or two calls have the information they seek, so these malware remain on the devices for extended periods without being detected; that’s a very persistent threat indeed!”
Researchers blame Google’s lax approval process of new Android apps in addition to the platform’s general popularity as the reason for the dubious honour. As the following excerpt from Juniper’s blog post explains, the process of removing an allegedly malicious app from the Android Market is reactionary based on user complaints and therefore open to sustained vulnerability.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Android+under+attack/5750900/story.html#ixzz1eX8HPidw

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Chimo NgeBlog : The 12 Most Vulnerable Smartphones

How vulnerable is your smartphone to malware attacks? Android is by far the most targeted mobile operating system, but some popular Android phones made by Samsung, HTC, and Motorola, fare a lot worse than others.
Bit9, an enterprise-oriented security vendor, ranked the 12 most vulnerable cell phones (the "dirty dozen") based on how dated its software is out of the box. Android fragmentation is well documented, but your average cell phone user probably doesn’t care if he or she’s on Android 2.3 or Android 2.3.7. Functionally, the versions are similar.
However security-wise, it matters. A lot. For instance if a malicious app breaches an older version of Android, Google patches the vulnerability and releases an incremental update so that app can never exploit your phone again. Then it’s up to the cell phone operator to send your phone that update.
The timing of when you get these updates depends upon your cell phone operator and cell phone manufacturer, rather than Google, which is fundamentally different from how PC security is distributed (it would be akin to buying a PC from Dell and relying on Dell to coordinate with your home Internet provider, instead of Microsoft, to update your Windows software).
Unfortunately, not every Android phone gets updated to the latest version at the same time; pundits say carriers have no economic incentive to send updates to old or unpopular phones.
As a result, according to Google, 56 percent of Android smartphones are stuck on the 18-month old Android 2.3 Froyo, or older versions.
“We need to put pressure on the carriers. Why are they alone responsible for updating your security?” Harry Sverdlove, CTO of Bit9, told PCMag.
Honorable Mention: Apple iPhone 4 
Apple's iOS is less fragmented because Apple retains full control over when it releases its software update. But fragmentation still exists, because newer versions of iOS either don’t work or perform uber slowly on models that are over two years old. Others iPhone owners are simply turned off by slow download speeds or excessively large files. Lookout Mobile recently discovered that 30 percent of iPhone users don’t download the latest version of iOS when it comes out, and therefore miss out on time-sensitive iOS patches.
As a result, Bit9 gave iPhone 4 an honorable mention.       
Bit9’s “dirty dozen”:
1. Samsung Galaxy Mini (T-Mobile)
2. HTC Desire (U.S. Cellular)3. Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 (AT&T)
4. Sanyo Zio (Sprint, Cricket Wireless)
5. HTC Wildfire (T-Mobile)
6. Samsung Epic 4G (Sprint)
7. LG Optimus S (Sprint)
8. Samsung Galaxy S (T-Mobile)
9. Motorola Droid X (Verizon)
10. LG Optimus One
11. Motorola Droid 2 (Verizon)12. HTC Evo 4G (Sprint)
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), but not an Android!
Bit9’s findings may be preaching to the choir here, but its study is really aimed towards business workers who are ditching their BlackBerries for other popular operating systems—in droves. This week, one study claimed iPhone has surpassed BlackBerry as the most popular smartphone used in the office. But Bit9 and PCMag’s networking analyst Samara Lynn still believe BlackBerry is “tops for IT,” because it uses an enterprise server that gives companies full control over issuing updates.
As mobile malware matures, the targets will inevitably grow bigger and more lucrative.
“We’re going see more and more corporate attacks on smartphones, more spear phishing, more targeted email attacks. Given the landscape, it’s a ripe field that’s growing faster than the security itself,” said Sverdlove.
Fore more on Android fragmentation, see Why Ice Cream Sandwich Might Make Things Worse.

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Chimo NgeBlog : Ice Cream Sandwich Android to Be Released to Sony Ericsson Xperia Phones

A confirmation was recently released by Sony Ericsson on the Ice Cream Sandwich Android OS update for some of the Xperia smartphones of the company. Among the Sony Ericsson devices that will reportedly receive the Ice Cream Sandwich Android OS update would include the Xperia Arc and the Xperia Play.
Despite the confirmation by the company, the release date of the Ice Cream Sandwich Android OS update remains to be seen as indicated on the blog site of the company. According to the post, the detailed information in connection to the Ice Cream Sandwich Android update of Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) will reportedly be revealed through the blog along with its release schedule and its availability in the international market.
Aside from the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc and the Xperia Play, the other devices that will reportedly receive the Ice Cream Sandwich Android OS update includes the Xperia Ray, the Mini, the Mini Pro, the Xperia Neo and the Xperia Neo V.

Ice Cream Sandwich

Some observers have noted that the absence of the Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman from the list of devices that will receive the update for the latest Android OS of Google. However some have indicated that the Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman is reportedly a low-end smartphone since it only has a 3.2-inch screen which has a resolution of 320 by 480.
Aside from the confirmation that a number of Sony Ericsson devices will be receiving the Ice Cream Sandwich Android OS update, reports have also revealed that Sony Ericsson is set to release it first HD smartphone into the market. The upcoming Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc HD will reportedly feature large-size 720p HD screen and will be released with the Gingerbread Android OS.
The device, which will reportedly be launched by the company during the CES in January, will also feature an 8MP camera, 1.5 GHz Snapdragon processor and 1GB RAM.
However since a number of new Android smartphones using the Gingerbread Android OS will be receiving the Ice Cream Sandwich Android OS, some observers have indicated that the upcoming product offering of Sony Ericsson will likely receive the same Ice Cream Sandwich Android update in the future.
The confirmation on the Ice Cream Sandwich Android OS update for a number of Sony Ericsson products comes as the first device to utilize the latest version of the Android OS of Google was released into the UK recently.

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Chimo NgeBlog : How to Stop Your Smartphone from Constantly Tracking Your Location

Your smartphone tracks your location for all sorts of useful things—driving navigation, updating the weather forecast, and even live traffic updates. However, if you'd rather not have Google and Apple tracking that information—not to mention having it available on your phone for thieves to find—here's how you can turn off location tracking.
Photo remixed from an original by Yurchyks/Shutterstock.
Location tracking actually provides lots of useful things to us, but while Google and Apple collect all that data anonymously, it's still stored on your phone (and in Apple's case, your computer). Anyone with the right tools could easily find out where you've been with your phone over a significant period of time, so if you're worried about this, you may want to turn this features off. Here's how.

Disable Location Caching on Android

Full size

Luckily, Android's location tracking is actually an opt-in feature. You may or may not have enabled it when you first set up your phone. To find out, head to Settings > Location and Security, and uncheck "Use Wireless Networks". This will make applications like Maps a bit slower to grab your current location, and it won't be quite as accurate, but Google won't be collecting any location data, nor will it be stored on your phone thereafter. However, if you want to clear the previously cached locations from your phone, you'll need to rooted your device. Then after installing the free Location Cache app, you can view a map of your tracked locations on it, as well as clear them from your phone and disable the cache with one tap.

Disable Location Tracking on iOS

Full size

In iOS, the situation is a bit more complicated. Turning off location services will stop sending data back to Apple, but it will still cache your location on your phone, so anyone with access to your computer or your phone can see where you've been (since iOS syncs all that information back to iTunes). The only way to do anything about it is to jailbreak your device and install the previously mentioned Untrackerd app. Untrackerd is very simple, though, just install it, and it'll clear your location cache and prevent it from recording anything in the future. It doesn't even have an icon on your home screen—just install it and forget it.

---

Location tracking can be a great thing—in fact, we think it's one of the best things about smartphones. However, if you don't like the idea of big brother knowing your whereabouts—or if you're concerned about what could happen if your phone was lost or stolen—these simple tips should help keep your phones clean of location information.

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Chimo NgeBlog : Android Game Review : Captain America

We all have biases and when I saw Captain America appear in the Android Market around the time the movie was released I think I created what the game would be in my mind. I figured that it would be a game about a super hero with puzzle elements to solve based around super human abilities. Oh, and I figured tossing my shield around to activate a switch and knock an enemy down here and there would be part of the mix. I didn't think it would be anything special, but I thought such a game had promise. THIS isn't that game so please forget what you just read.

Captain America is a game that upon playing it I was immediately reminded of Stellar Escape. It's a pretty straight forward running and jumping game with baddies thrown in for good measure. In true super hero fashion you start off with a mission to rescue three cohorts. However, you, being Captain America and all, don't need any help so you're going to do it all by your lonesome. Off you go. The game has a fantastic in game tutorial that explains moves only as you need them. I really love that kind of system as I can't stand games that require me to read an hour's worth of instructions before jumping in. I want to learn as I play. First up, swipe right to run right.

So now I'm running right. My first obstacle appears and the game pauses to show me that a diagonal southwest to northeast swipe will allow the Captain to jump. Then it's sliding. Then it's throwing my shield and beating the crap (not killing!) out of the bad guys. So how does this stack up to Stellar Escape? Well, there's a lot more to it in terms of moves, but it's also trying to be something a little (just a little) different.

Graphically the game has a nice 3D style engine, despite the action being 2D, and the sound effects are of professional quality. I like the fact that they didn't try to incorporate an on screen DPad or on screen buttons to move Mr. America and really appreciate the gesture system although throwing your shield does require use of an on screen button. The game plays smooth. Each step of the mission is reasonable short and takes a couple minutes to play through making this is a decent game to bite away at a chunk at a time.

Pricewise the game is an enigma to me. It was initially launched at 80% off during its initial weekend and priced at $0.99. Here we are a month later and it's still $0.99. At that price this is worth every penny and it's a great game for a buck unless you abhor running and jumping games. Will it ever actually go up to $5? Do the people at Marvel Entertainment have some sort of 'super hero' calendar they use? At $5 the purchase becomes questionable given other games that are available at lower prices (or even free).

I like Captain America. It does a good job of what it tries to do. It plays well, it's enjoyable, and I have no reservations in recommending it at a buck. It even plays well on my tablet. 4/5 stars.

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Chimo NgeBlog : Android Game Review: Cut the Rope

You might think physics is boring, but wait just a minute. Did you enjoy games like Worms and Angry Birds when you first played them? Well then, you actually love physics. A popular iOS game which found its way to Android, Cut the Rope, is yet another physics based game, with hilariously cute graphics. To play this one you’re going to have to brains and quick reactions.

Cut the Rope is an adorably illustrated puzzle game. The very first screen when you start playing the game is a cartoon style scene inside a house, of an open front door with a box containing an abandoned creature, with instructions to feed with candy. That creature turns out to be a little green guy called “Om Nom” (full marks for plugging into Internet memes!).

Om Nom arriving on your doorstep

Your job is to feed Om Nom with candy. Because he’s such a hungry guy, you can’t just hand him the stuff, it has to be passed to him via rope. After all – safety is no accident!

Similarly to Angry Birds, Cut the Rope has sets of levels, each with a different theme. In the case of the Cut the Rope, each theme is based around a different box to keep Om Nom in, along with certain little gadgets to differentiate the game play.

As you start the first few levels, hints and tips appear, and this carries through to the higher levels whenever there are new game elements to play with. The whole experience is there to help you along and enjoy things. This ethos even goes to the the point of letting you skip entire levels.

Your first level, showing you how to play

The early levels are simply a case of cutting the rope at the right moment, so that the candy will either swing to the next rope, or land straight in Om Nom’s waiting mouth. Anyone who has studied physics and has an intuition for momentum, and oscillatory motion could well have an advantage here. In other words, if you like to give your phone or tablet to the kids, to keep them quiet for a while, this is a sly way to get them thinking like the next Isaac Newton!

As you progress, you find various new elements, like bubbles which will float the candy, until your pop them. There are sliding rope tethers, which you can use to carry the candy around, and if the candy is hooked onto two ropes at once, you can slide one end back, until the rope turns red. That means the rope under tension and when you cut the rope (TM!), all that energy is released and you can fire the candy like a shot! Other devices include air puffers which allow you to push to your candy, whether it be on a rope or a bubble. In the later levels you even take to space where you can invert artificial gravity! In addition to these devices, there are hazards too, like electrical arcs, and spiders that crawl down the rope wanting the candy for themselves!

Hazards while feeding Om Nom

An added challenge to the game is to collect stars, by having the candy touch them. This adds structure to each level. In many cases, it would be much easier just to get the candy to Om Nom directly. Instead though, you have to come up with plans and tricks to get the candy all around the screen to pick up the stars. Of course, simply feeding Om Nom is enough to progress to the next level, but it’s only by collecting enough stars throughout the course of the game that you can unlock the last two sets of levels.

Magic hats give you Portal-like gameplay

At its heart, Cut the Rope is a puzzle game. Zeptolab deserve great credit for keeping the game fresh by differentiating the types of puzzle you encounter from level to level. Some levels are complicated puzzles where you can take your time and go step by step. While other levels pose a challenge to your reaction speed, either by having to avoid hazards, or by needing to keep the candy’s momentum going, just like sugary Tarzan! Many of the higher levels require both of these traits, and so you’ll need to make multiple attempts just to work out your game plan. It’s this switching of styles that keeps the game fresh, and keep you wanting to come back for more.

Each level set (or ‘box’) has seventy five levels, and there are seven sets in total. That is enough to keep you busy for weeks. Even then, the ‘box’ selection screen promises that more levels are ‘coming soon’. That’s extremely good value when you consider that Cut the Rope only costs $1.00 / £0.62.

I heartily recommend you try out Cute the Rope! (Yes, the pun was completely intentional).

Click or scan to buy Cut the Rope from the Android Market Place

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Chimo NgeBlog : Android Game Review: apzOrb

apzOrb is a new game for Android. Despite having significant differences I can’t help but think of the classic Snake game genre. You’re in control of a creature that is composed of groups of swirling cubes. Its only aim in life is to consume more and more blocks and survive as long as possible. Sounds fun, but read on to see whether it has long term appeal!

Delving into our gaming heritage, it is perhaps unfair to compare apzOrb to snakes as they are fundamentally different. The Snakes genre had you navigating (in up/down or left/right directions) a continually moving line (the snake) around a game grid, picking up tokens for points. Each time you picked up a token the snake would get longer. If the snake collided with its tail, it would be game over.

apzOrb's main menu

Similarly with apzOrb, you are guiding a continually moving linear sprite around the game, picking up tokens (cubes) for points. The difference is that the the ‘snake’ doesn’t get longer when it apzOrbs anything. The penalty system in this game (and thus what you have to avoid) is based on color. There’s a wide spectrum of colours that fill the game arena, and you have to collect colors that match your snake’s color. Fortunately, it seems to be ‘okay’ within the rules to eat similar colors, the snake will take on the colour of whatever it last ate. For example if your snake is red, you’re allowed to eat red, orange, pink, and purple blocks. Eat a blue, cyan, green, or yellow block though, and you will lose a life and big letters will spell out across the screen that you got the “WRONG COLOR!”.

apzOrb gameplay

apzOrb is more forgiving than the original Snakes game too. You have a number of lives, and you can switch to any color as long as you go in a rainbow-like progression. The more ‘correct’ colours you pick up the more you build up a bar on the right of the screen which appears to be a bonus accumulator for scoring higher on further correct colors.

The other difference with apzOrb is that there is complete freedom of movement. Dragging anywhere in the screen will make the snake move in that direction. However, there’s an interesting physics model at work here. It very much looks and feels like the snake is swimming in a fluid. Therefore, best speed is achieved by moving your finger back and forth to make the snake move in a kind of rippling motion. As the snake turns, the blocks that make up its body all follow in a nice curved trajectory.

Here’s an example of the game in action,

The artwork in apzOrb is interesting too. While you are clearly playing in a two dimensional plane, there is an animated background with distant, out of focus, snakes swimming around eating up blocks, just like you are. It really does give you a feel of being a tiny creature swimming in a pool, rather like the early levels of Will Writght’s Spore. The downside of this is that you’re sometimes not sure if a block is in your plane or not.

There are two game modes, a simple survival mode game, where you keep going until you make too many mistakes, and the time trial mode. In the time mode you have 90 seconds to do as well as you can. Not only are you scored on the blocks you collect, but also on the efficiency of your collecting, a percentage of collecting the correct color versus the wrong color.

Overall, I liked apzOrb. It’s engaging but it’s not frantic, which means it’s an ideal chill out game. You can pick up an ad-supported version for free, or get rid of the ads by buying the full version for $2.29 / £1.39.

Click or scan to install apzOrb Free

Click or scan to install apzOrb HD

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Chimo NgeBlog : Motorola PHOTON 4G Review by Aaron

Choice is always a good thing, and if you're Sprint, you're quickly becoming the go-to carrier for awesome Android handsets. Announced at a special event in June, the Motorola PHOTON 4G is the manufacturer's first WiMAX smartphone. It follows the popular HTC EVO 3D, and with a 1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, 4.3-inch qHD display, 8-megapixel camera, global roaming capabilities, and Android 2.3 preinstalled, it comes out of the box swinging. Is it the must-have Android device on Sprint, or is the EVO 3D (and HTC's Sense user interface) the reigning champion? Better yet, is it worth holding off for Samsung's Galaxy S II line?

Design & Features

At first glance, PHOTON looks a lot like it belongs on the NEXTEL side of the network. Coming in at 5 inches tall by 2.63 inches wide by 0.48 inch thick and weighing in at 5.57 ounces, its boxy design and brash curves resemble a larger version of the Motorola i1. The left side of the unit houses the microUSB and HDMI ports, the volume rocker and camera shortcut button can be found on the right side of the unit, and the power button and 3.5mm headphone jack are located on the top.

Sprint ships the PHOTON 4G in a rectangular box with an AC adapter, microUSB cable, and instruction manuals. The PHOTON packs a 4.3-inch qHD display with PenTile technology, meaning that the display is brighter and easier to read outdoors versus the competition. Where that technology falls behind the competition is in pixelation - when holding up a PenTile display beside a competitor (Retina, Super AMOLED Plus, etc.), there's a noticeable level of pixelation.

Usability & Performance

Packing a 1 GHz dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, the PHOTON 4G is speedy. Apps loaded up with ease, pictures and videos popped up quickly, and the device scored a respectable 2,383 in Quadrant Standard. PHOTON ships with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and a new build of Motorola's Applications Platform, formerly known as MOTOBLUR. Take every perception you had about BLUR and throw it out the window, though - this build of Motorola's custom user interface is a night-and-day difference over the original. With a blue color scheme, MAP (which is what I'll call it for the remainder of the review) offers an app dock similar to TouchWiz and Apple's iOS. It's not going to win any design contests (admittedly, HTC's Sense 3.0 looks far better), but it's incredibly functional and is a huge improvement in the speed department. It also offers some nifty features like the ability to remove individual items from the notifications bar, improved transition effects, and a dedicated app dock at the bottom of the screen.

The usual Sprint bloatware like NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile, Sprint Mobile Wallet, Sprint Music Plus, Sprint Radio, Sprint TV, Sprint Worldwide, and Sprint Zone can be found on the PHOTON, though I was surprised to see Sprint ID preinstalled considering PHOTON's high-end status. Fortunately, Sprint has listened to its customer base and allows most of the apps to be uninstalled.

The 8-megapixel shooter offers 720p HD video recording. It's not going to replace your regular camera and pales in comparison to other smartphone camera leaders like the iPhone 4 and myTouch 4G Slide, but it's decent. There is a dedicated camera button on the side, though it doesn't offer the ability to autofocus (you have to use the on-screen button for that). Editing options include several scenes (auto, portrait, landscape, sport, night portrait, sunset, macro, steady shot) and effects (black and white, sepia, negative, solarize). In the 720p HD video test, the audio was impressive, though the video was average in comparison to other recent Android releases. It's not going to replace your main camcorder, but for the casual video, it works just fine.

The PHOTON 4G's biggest strength lies in call quality. The wireless radio on the device is the best I've ever used on Sprint. Calls are exceptionally clear, my callers had no issues hearing me, and the earpiece and overall call quality were exceptional on my end. I took the PHOTON to a Sprint dead zone that I test at regularly, and while other Sprint devices typically register 0-1 bars of service, the PHOTON held strong at two bars. Calls were slightly choppy at times, but far better than other Sprint devices I've tested in the same area.

PHOTON is the first Sprint 4G device to offer global roaming capabilities via a SIM card slot in the back. There's a Sprint SIM card preinstalled in the unit, though a quick Google search suggests Sprint is accommodating to unlocking requests. Unlike the United States, GSM is the predominant wireless technology in the rest of the world, and thanks to the slot, you can either utilize Sprint's international services while traveling through Europe, Asia, and the like. Those that globe-trot regularly will be relieved to find a high-end Android device that also sports global roaming capabilities. No more switching between that Android phone and the BlackBerry Bold 9650!

Unfortunately (and not by the fault of the PHOTON 4G), Sprint's data speeds are incredibly inconsistent. When 3G and 4G work, they work extraordinarily well. At some points, I saw 3G download speeds between 1.01 and 1.91 Mbps, and 4G download speeds between 7.73 Mbps and 12.01 Mbps. Most of the time, however, the network's 3G speeds are abysmal. Again, it's not the PHOTON's fault, but given the phone's data-centric features, it's often challenging to get things done (browse the web, download apps) in a reasonable time frame. I won't deduct points since the PHOTON's not to blame, but those considering a migration to Sprint should take advantage of the 30 day trial to ensure that the data speeds are adequate for daily use.

With a 1,650 mAh battery, overall longevity has been on par with most other Android phones I've worked with in recent months. With moderate use like calling, sending a few text messages, browsing the web, downloading apps, and keeping the PHOTON synced to my email accounts, I was able to make it into the evening before I had to drop it into the charging dock. With heavy use, you'll want to snag a car charger or a spare battery. Motorola and Sprint offer an HD media dock, which doubles up as a charging station.

Conclusion

The Motorola PHOTON 4G is the best smartphone available on Sprint right now. The user interface may not be as animated as Sense 3.0 on the HTC EVO 3D, but the device more than makes up for it with astounding call quality and a great list of specifications. The Tegra 2 processor is incredibly fast, Motorola's revamped custom UI is far better than MOTOBLUR, and the global roaming capabilities make it a great choice for those that travel internationally. It's the first WiMAX device from Motorola, and as far as I'm concerned, Motorola nailed it with an exceptional device that competes with similarly-spec'd units from HTC and Samsung.

Wrap-Up

What's Good: Fast dual-core processor; vibrant display; Android 2.3 and Motorola's new UI out of the box; global roaming capabilities; exceptional call quality.

What's Bad: The PenTile technology used in the qHD display is more pixelated than the high-resolution competition (Retina, Super LCD, Super AMOLED Plus).

The Verdict: The PHOTON 4G is an all-around fantastic smartphone with a wireless radio that bests anything on Sprint at the moment. If you need a great phone with a killer specifications list, the PHOTON is the device to get.

Source : http://www.phonedog.com/2011/08/15/motorola-photon-4g-review-by-aaron/

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Chimo NgeBlog : Norton Mobile Security Lite

Symantec today announced the release of Norton Mobile Security Lite (free), a simple antivirus and anti-theft product for Android. Today also marks the release of Norton Mobile Security 2.0 from beta testing.

Norton Mobile Security Lite offers exactly the same antivirus Android-specific protection as the non-Lite edition. It scans all files and updates downloaded to your phone and automatically removes any threats. LiveUpdate ensures that malware definitions remain up to date. It refrains from updating while you're roaming, to avoid unnecessary data charges. Naturally you can launch a manual scan at any time.

In the event your smartphone is lost or stolen, you can use Norton Mobile Security Lite to lock it, so a thief can't also steal your data. That's the extent of the free edition's features. If you want the ability to wipe or locate the phone remotely or require a password before allowing the SIM card to be changed, you'll need to update to the full product. Kaspersky Tablet Security also offers antivirus protection, but without remote locking or any phone-specific features.

Specifications

Type

Business, Personal, Professional

Free

Yes

Tech Support

Forum-based support.

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The non-Lite edition includes a number of other features such as phishing protection. If you browse to a fraudulent site on your mobile phone, it will warn you. Webroot Mobile Security for Android offers a similar feature to keep you away from malicious sites, while Trend Micro Mobile Security for Android blocks both malicious and phishing sites.

The full, paid edition also can block unwanted phone calls or texts. Users can review the call log or SMS log to choose numbers that should be blocked. A prominent "Upgrade to Full Version" button allows users to pay and perform the upgrade from within the free edition.

Norton Mobile Security Lite is available as a free download from the Android Market.

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Chimo NgeBlog : HTC Ruby 1.5GHz Dual-Core Android Smartphone Details Leaked

The last time we spoke about the possibility of a device by the name of HTC Ruby, it was an image reflected in a tablet screen – very strange! Since then, we’ve gotten word that HTC will be releasing several new handsets by the end of 2011 and our sister-site Android Community has seen the HTC Ruby photographed by Mr Blurrycam. Now we’ve got a whole boatload of details and some additional leaked photos that you’re gonna love.

Two of your humble narrator’s favorite devices of late are the myTouch 4G Slide for its awesome camera and camera application and the HTC Sensation 4G for its awesome dual-core processor and superior build quality. What the HTC Ruby appears to represent is a perfect marriage between the two. This device has the speaker grille of the myTouch 4G Slide, the camera app of that same device, and a processor inside that’s more advanced than either device: a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon. Sound like a sweet enough package for you?

This device will sport a 4.3-inch high-resolution qHD display, 1GB of RAM, and the same set of cameras we’ve been seeing in all the best big-time Android smartphones as of late: 8-megapixels on the back and 2-megapixels on the front. This device will also of course be featuring Android 2.3 Gingerbread and MAYBE Sense UI 3.5, that being the newest version of Sense on the market. No matter what the version number, Sense will be advanced – as evidenced by every single HTC device released lately having its own unique features based on the build of the device.

Will you wait for this device, or will you be grabbing a version of the Samsung Galaxy S II if it’s released first? How about the Motorola DROID Bionic with its dual-core processor and Verizon’s 4G LTE? Which shall win for you?

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Chimo NgeBlog : Download Official Facebook Messenger App for iPhone, iPod and Android

The worlds largest social networking client has realeased a new app for iPhone and Android ‘Facebook Messenger’. You’ll be wondering that it is an update to the existing facebook chat but its not. It is a completely new app designed to cater the needs of instant messaging with auspicious features. WhatsApp and Blackberry Messenger are the best examples that can be related to this app. You can now message your friends or anyone on the contact list using this app with exclusive features.

Facebook reckons that messaging should be easy. They want to give you the ability to hit “Send” and know that the message has reached the person you sent it to. For that purpose, the new Facebook Messenger iPhone app has been released. It simplifies messaging and makes communicating with friends or groups considerably faster. You can use the Messenger app to send messages to your Facebook friends as well as people in your contact list, even if they are not on Facebook.

Messages that you send using the Facebook Messenger iPhone app, are delivered via Notifications and text messages meaning that there is a 99% chance of the recipient actually getting the message. No more “i didn’t get your message” excuses?

The new Facebook Messenger app is actually an extension to Facebook Messages meaning that all of your conversations, be it texts, emails, chats, messages are in one place. You can access the full history of your conversations through mobile or a web browser.

The Messenger iPhone app also allows you to send messages to multiple recipients at the same time, thus making it easier for you to coordinate the evening’s plans with your buddies or stay in touch will all your staff back at the office, through one single medium.

You can also share your location with those you are chatting with using the new Facebook Messenger app, should you do that, all people in the conversation will be able to see your location, and you their’s, on a map. Attaching photos with the messages that you send is an added plus.

The download link for iPhone, iPod Touch and Android devices is given below, though it can be installed on iPad as well but with a hazy magnified version as it is not an iPad native.

Download Facebook Messenger for iPhone or iPod Touch. [Itunes Link]

Download Facebook Messenger for Android. [Android Market Link]

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Chimo NgeBlog : Hands On: Google+ App for iPad

Google has released an updated Google+ iPhone app that is now available on all iOS devices, including the iPad. However, the update doesn't add anything new to the Google+ mobile app for iPhone, which has been available since mid July.

The new release simply makes the app work on the iPad. It even keeps its original size, floating in a sea of blackness, although you can tap a "x2" button to magnify the app and view it in all its granulated iPad glory.

Regardless of the fact that, for now, the app isn't any different on the iPad than on the iPhone (and, while we're at it, let's note that Google delivers a remarkably similar experience on the Google+ mobile app for Android, too), mobile apps are essential to the whole social-networking experience. Apple iPad owners wanted an app, and now they have one. I think most iPad owners would rather have a cloned app than none at all while they wait for a fully fledged version to come their way.

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The Google+ mobile app came out of the gate strong, due to its clean interface and Spartan design. The search giant is sometimes criticized for designs that are too austere, but on a smartphone, simplicity counts. Less screen space means every inch of it has to be used effectively. The iPad, with its mid-sized screen, could certainly support more stuff—buttons, panels, slider bars—and in time, perhaps it will. Still, the app is clean and easy to navigate without too many menus and unnecessary words cluttering the screen.

How to Get Google+ Mobile App for iPad
You can get the iPad app by downloading it through iTunes. Once you find and install the free app, just sign in using your Google account. You do need Google+ access, so if you don't have an invite yet, ask around. They're much easier to come by this month than last.

Select Features
If you've used the Google+ site, you've likely already established Circles, or subsets of your connections, grouped by whatever classification you want to create, such as close friends, co-workers, extended family, and so forth. All those Circles will be present and ready to go when you load your iPad app and log in.

Notably missing in the app is the Hangout feature, or video group chat, which is Web-only. Given the iPad's support for video, I'd wager that this is a feature that's in the works for when (or "if") a full iPad version is developed and released.

Replacing Hangouts, for the time being, is Huddle, a group instant messaging tool. To use Google+'s Huddle, select Huddle and click the speech bubble icon at the top right to start a new chat. You can invite individuals to group chat with you, or an entire Circle.

Managing Friends
The ease with which you can manage Circles from the iPad is shocking. Google has laid out the app in such a way that you can scroll through a long list of possible connections—some of whom you'll know, and some complete strangers—and add them to existing Circles or new ones that you can create on the spot.

At the very bottom of the main screen is a Notifications box containing a number. The box is gray if it's 0 and red if it's 1 or greater. Nearly identical to Facebook's mobile Notification feature, Google+'s pops up a screen that you can refresh by dragging down and releasing.

Mobile and Social
Bear in mind that the app is only in version 1.0.2. It's likely that Google will push out improvements, including a true iPad app, in the coming weeks or months. I'd put my money on the Google+ iPad app having support for Hangouts, as well as a few more buttons, tools, and interface items. Yet I doubt Google will clutter the space, as it tends to err on the side of being too sparse.

The Google+ iPad app works well due to its smart design and comprehensible interface. The mobile apps are helping strum more interest in the social network, which is exactly what it needs to stay active and interesting—on all the devices where you can access it.

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Chimo NgeBlog : LG Flip II Android Dual Screen Slider Smartphone for T-Mobile Revealed

While this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of such a device, this is the most detail we’ve had in photos. What we’ve got here is a dual-screen slider smartphone device made by LG, utilizing some form of Android, and carried by T-Mobile. This device will most than likely use its lower smaller touchscreen to hold a drawer of apps along with whatever else developers find themselves developing into the platform. According to a leaked T-Mobile roadmap discovered back in May, this device will be released on the pink carrier by September 14th, 2011.

Certainly what we’re looking at here is some competition for the ancient T-Mobile Sidekick, a T-Mobile favorite, or it’s much more recent Android version the T-Mobile Sidekick 4G. In both of those devices it’s the screen which flips up rather than sliding up as we’re seeing in the LG Flip II. There’s been only one other Android device on the market thus far that’s carried a dual-screen orientation, that being the Kyocera Echo. What the Flip II seems to offer that no device like it has offered before is the draw of a second screen WITH a keyboard beside it.

Or on either side of it, it seems. Look for this device to be rather affordable sub-$200 price running Android 2.2 FroYo or above with some custom Android action to allow the second screen to work for you and your multitasking needs. Also look for this phone to NOT compete with the upper-tier, instead attempting to beat out such mid-range devices at the HTC Wildfire S and the Samsung mid-range trio in the Dart, Exhibit 4G, and Gravity Smart, another slide-out device with no second screen.

T-Mobile certainly seems to have a whole boatload of Android devices these days, wouldn’t you say? Everything across the board!

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Chimo NgeBlog : Gadget review: HTC ChaCha

Let's face it, you'll either love it, or hate/be ridiculed for owning a phone by the name of "ChaCha". Then again, it may just be a conversation piece. To its credit, the HTC ChaCha (Dh1,299) is a lot more than that, though.

The ChaCha is an Android-powered phone featuring a full QWERTY keyboard and deep Facebook integration, including a dedicated Facebook button.

With a candy-bar form factor, the phone primarily features a 2.6-inch screen and a four-row QWERTY keyboard. Dedicated "call" and "end" buttons make a comeback on this phone too, something we haven't seen in a while. On the left of the phone is a volume rocker and a USB post, while the right features, nothing! No really, the right side of the phone is all smooth; space that could and should have been used for a dedicated camera button. The top features the power button and the 3.5mm headphone port.

Coming back to the screen, it features a landscape orientation with a resolution of 480x320. If you've been using a full-touch screen phone prior to this, you will definitely notice the lack of screen real estate. As a result, you'll find yourself scrolling a lot more. Of course this isn't a flaw of the device, and rather the feature, or the design.

By design it has reduced the size of the screen to fit the keyboard. They keys are shaped like pebbles and don't take long to get used to. That being said, I did find myself looking at the keyboard and typing rather than looking at the screen. If I didn't, mistakes were made and lives were lost. OK so the former is a lot truer than the latter. The keyboard is great, but it is not the best.

The ChaCha features a modest specification sheet; it isn't trying to be a powerhorse of the a phone. That being said, everything seems to work smoothly on ChaCha without any hiccups. Even high-quality YouTube videos worked perfectly.

The camera on this is a 5-megapixel shooter on the rear with a 0.5-megapixel or VGA on the front. Not going to turn any heads, the camera quite simply gets the job done. You won't find it replacing your actual camera but it serves pretty well for a quick snap.

The ChaCha is powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) featuring its add-on layer of HTC Sense. It's actually an excellent and necessary add on as it re-formats the layout for the smaller screen size, making the phone much more usable than it would have without it.

Probably the most important defining feature of the ChaCha is the Facebook integration. Featuring custom applications for just about all of Facebook's features, including Chat, the ChaCha does deliver what it promises.

A quick press of the Facebook key brings up the application to send in a status update or post a picture. A longer press of the button brings up venues and lets you check in. The dedicated Facebook Chat application works extremely well too.

Those whose social lives overlap with the social network will find few devices better than this. The great keyboard, touch screen and latest Android-powered make the ChaCha a great device. At its price, the ChaCha is an excellent phone with near-perfect Facebook integration that will be its central selling point.

Tags: htc evo 4g, htc pro 2, htc cha cha, new htc phones, htc pro, htc g2, htc phones, htc apps, htc 2, best htc phone, htc shooter, htc incredible 2, htc support, htc phone, htc incredible s, htc sync, htc diamond, htc phones 2011, htc 3d, htc evo 3d, htc arrive, htc evo shift 4g

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