Nova Launcher Updates With Jelly Bean 4.2 Compatibility, Quick Settings, And Other Goodies

There are only a few launchers that have stood out from the pack since Ice Cream Sandwich came along, and one of them is TeslaCoil's Nova Launcher. Just in time for the brand new Nexus devices and Android 4.2 update, the developers have freshened up Nova with a compatibility update. The latest version has been updated to play nice with 4.2 (Jelly Bean+) as well as add a couple of features for those of you lucky enough to be running the latest version of Android.

The biggest change is the addition of the Quick Settings function on the tablet layout, just like the stock launcher. A Quick Settings Action has been added to Nova's long list of shortcut tricks, and the stock Jelly Bean icons have been updated to match 4.2. A few extra bug fixes, including a rather annoying one for the TeslaUnread add-on, round out the package.

What's in this version:
Fixes for 4.2 (Dock, QSB, expand notifications)
Added Expand Quick Settings Nova Action on Android 4.2
Update Stock Jellybean theme for 4.2 icons (Camera, Clock)
Fix unread counts in drawer not always updating
Fix Widget Picker on some Samsung 4.1 devices
Fix drawer tab sometimes not being selectable
Optimizations

Nova Launcher is free, but to get extras like hidden apps, gestures and unread counts, you'll have to shell out for the $4 Nova Launcher Prime - well worth it, in my opinion.

Via: Nova Launcher Updates With Jelly Bean 4.2 Compatibility, Quick Settings, And Other Goodies

OtterBox Acquires Boston-Based Protective Film Manufacturer Wrapsol 'To Expand World-Class Product Lineup'

OtterBox, one of the leading names in protective cases and accessories for just about every popular mobile device under the sun, announced today the acquisition of Wrapsol, a Boston, Massachusetts based manufacturer of several lines of protective film wraps for smartphones, tablets, and e-readers, and makers of an interesting "Grip Pad" line introduced at CES 2012 that provides a, well, grippy surface to hold onto so your device can avoid the drops Wrapsol's films protect it from.
For those unfamiliar with Wrapsol's work, here's a quick demo:

Exact details of the acquisition are as yet unknown but Brian Thomas, President and CEO of OtterBox, assures readers the deal is a match made in heaven.

Wrapsol is a promising company with similar values and similar culture whose product aligns with the OtterBox mission of complete, premium device protection. Adding Wrapsol to the OtterBox portfolio of world-class protection significantly enhances our ability to provide our customers and consumers an expanded variety of high-quality products.

Wrapsol's VP of Sales, Brett Webster emphasized the deal's significance as "a chance to join another world class team."
While we don't often see accessory manufacturers making acquisitions like this, Wrapsol seems like a great choice for a fast-growing case maker looking to expand their business. The deal is interesting because while OtterBox touts sturdy, yet none-too-trimming case options, Wrapsol's protective skins aim to protect an entire device with an incredible thin layer of film.
Though we can't be certain what effect the acquisition will have on either company, from the tone of OtterBox's press release, we might just see OtterBox-branded super-tough screen protectors some time in the future. For the full press release, hit the link below.
Source: OtterBox

Via: OtterBox Acquires Boston-Based Protective Film Manufacturer Wrapsol 'To Expand World-Class Product Lineup'

Download: Latest Google Play Store 3.10.9 With New Post-Install UI, Translate Button, And More

• What's New
• File Size History
• Download

Google is pushing out an updated Google Play Store version 3.10.9 that follows the previous versions 3.9.16 and 3.9.17. As always, we have the APK for your downloading pleasure (thanks, @WinDroidGuy!).

What's New

So far, I noticed a new screen that pops up after you start installing new apps. The screen serves as an interstitial between the last installation step we're all used to and jumping back to the screen with the progress. It does help shine additional spotlight on app discovery thanks to a clickable Users Also Installed block of apps, but it feels more like an annoying filler page that you want to skip when opening an article on something like Forbes.com. The additional screen only increases the amount of clicks needed to install a new app and go back to other parts of the Play Store, so I'm definitely not a fan. To be clear, Keep Shopping returns you to the app you are installing (also shown on the right):

^{Left: 3.10.9; Right: 3.9.17}

Next up: a Remove icon in My Wishlist similar to the icon that was added to the All tab of My Apps last time around. A small but welcome change for quicker wishlist cleanup.

^{Left: 3.10.9; Right: 3.9.17}

Update 1: The Play Store now requests two more permissions: ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION and ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION - both location permissions of varying accuracy. It's unclear right now what it uses them for.
Update 2: A large chunk of the additional space (300KB) is taken up by a new library Google has bundled in called keyczar. I don't think there's anything interesting here, as the Wallet APK (and probably other Google apps) bundles it as well, and it's related to cryptography.
Update 3: There is a new Translate button next to app descriptions that shows up if your system language is set to something other than English (or maybe it tries to match the declared app language with your system language - I'm not sure). Either way, it's a great addition for those of you who may need help with translation (thanks, Floris and Marius for spotting this change!):

^{Left: before translation - description still in English; Right: translation}

I'm still digging through the internals of the APK because I think it's hiding something else - the file size bump of about 500K is too significant to ignore. I'll update the post as soon as I find more goodies.

File Size History

• com.android.vending-3.5.19.apk 3.81MB (4,000,309 bytes)
• com.android.vending-3.7.11.apk 5.07MB (5,319,551 bytes)
• com.android.vending-3.7.13.apk 5.07MB (5,322,241 bytes)
• com.android.vending-3.7.15.apk 5.07MB (5,322,517 bytes)
• com.android.vending-3.8.15.apk 5.35MB (5,618,814 bytes)
• com.android.vending-3.8.17.apk 5.35MB (5,618,730 bytes)
• com.android.vending-3.9.16.apk 5.22 MB (5,482,490 bytes)
• com.android.vending-3.9.17.apk 5.34 MB (5,610,397 bytes)
• com.android.vending-3.10.9.apk 5.87 MB (6,158,861 bytes)

Download

The APK is signed by Google and installs right on top of any other Play Store version. It is safe to install it if you don't wish to wait for an automatic update to be pushed to your device on a schedule you don't control. Just download it and install as you would any other APK.

• Android Police mirror 1
• Android Police mirror 2
• Android Police mirror 3
• Android Police multi-mirror

Via: Download: Latest Google Play Store 3.10.9 With New Post-Install UI, Translate Button, And More

Teardown Of Nexus 4 Finds World Band 4G LTE Chip That You Probably Can't Use

It was a little surprising to see Google announce a new Nexus device this year without LTE support. While LTE deployment is still lagging behind in many regions, the good old USA is fast becoming blanketed with speedy 4G. Now that the Nexus 4 is in the wild, iFixit has taken it apart, and you'll never guess what they found. Yes, a 7-band 4G LTE radio chip. The plot thickens...

The chip in question, the Qualcomm WTR1605L (highlighted in green above), supports all currently operating LTE networks around the world. This chip is probably a hold over from the LG Optimus G design, which the Nexus 4 is based on. Never the less, here we have a pentaband HSPA+ phone with a dormant LTE chip inside. Forums are already abuzz with posts calling on ROM devs to wake up the chip, but that probably isn't going to happen.
First, there's no guarantee that the device even has an antenna that supports this radio. Should that not be an issue, iFixit found no LTE power amplifier on the board. That's the part in a phone that takes electricity and turns it into radio waves. It's also the principal reason your device gets hot enough to fry an egg. Basically, it's important, and the Nexus 4 only has a UMTS power amplifier inside. We also know that devices like the T-Mobile Galaxy S III have permanently disabled LTE chips inside. Even if everything else was sorted out, the chip could still be dead.
We're probably going to have to live with HSPA+ on the Nexus 4. This discovery is just a reminder of what could have been.
[iFixit; Thanks, armyman966]

Via: Teardown Of Nexus 4 Finds World Band 4G LTE Chip That You Probably Can't Use