Text message exploit can force your Nexus phone to reboot (updated)

Google Nexus 5

Watch out if someone sends a flood of text messages to your Nexus phone -- they may be trying to break in or otherwise cause havoc. IT administrator Bogdan Alecu has discovered an Android bug that triggers exploitable behavior in the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 whenever they're hit by a large volume of Class 0 SMS messages, or texts that aren't automatically stored on the phone. The denial of service attack usually forces the handset to reboot, but it can also disable the network connection (if temporarily) or crash the messaging app. Non-Nexus hardware appears to be safe, although Alecu notes that he hasn't had a chance to test a wide variety of gadgets. Regardless of the problem's scale, affected users will have to be cautious for a while; Google tells PCWorld that it's looking into the exploit, but there's no word on just when we can expect a patch.

Update: There's already a firewall app in Google Play that protects against the exploit. Thanks, Chipsy4!

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PCWorld

Source: DefCamp, Google Play

Android 4.4 KitKat arrives on Nexus 4 handsets

Last week, Google announced that KitKat would arrive on the Nexus 4 and data-packing Nexus 7 models "soon." Well, it appears that around seven days was the wait time as Android 4.4 is rolling out to last year's Nexus handsets -- a day after Verizon starting pushing the update to the Moto X. We've seen multiple reports of the update's arrival with the promise of improved performance and a wealth of new features in tow. Keep an eye on those notifications, as the latest version of Google's mobile OS should be on it's way to your Nexus 5 predecessor.

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Source: @fakeninjitsu (Twitter)

Wireless Charger for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 available today on Google Play

Wireless Charger for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 available today on Google Play

Google's Nexus Wireless Charger, designed to work with the Nexus 4 and 5 smartphones and the Nexus 7 tablet, is available for purchase today on Google Play. The compact Qi power cube ships with a 9-watt AC adapter and a micro-USB cable, and it may make it to your doorstep by the end of the week (if you opt for the $17 overnight delivery). For residents of Hong Kong and India, the good nws is that the Nexus 5 and Nexus are now available on Google Play. The charger will run you $50 plus tax on its own, and another $5.29 for ground shipping. Snag it now at the source link below.

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Via: Nexus (Google+)

Source: Google Play

Google launches Android game vending machines, puts first ones in Tokyo (naturally)

Google launches gaming app vending machines, places first ones in Tokyo naturally

In a country that has no shortage of vending machines, Google Japan has decided to join the fray. The company has announced three dedicated Google Play machines that will sell 18 different gaming titles which are a mix of free-to-play and paid-for titles. To use the machines, you'll need a smartphone running Android 4.0 and NFC -- and that's about it. You rest the phone on the tray below the screen, and NFC pairing takes care of the rest. We put the machine to the test with our LG G2 on hand, and had no troubles choosing and downloading a free game through the machine. There's a slick unified animation from the giant touchscreen (which looks almost identical to drinks machines elsewhere in the country) to your Android phone of choice when the download kicks in. Also, for trying out another Google app, you'll get a 'present' which 'drops' down from the screen and into the vending tray once your download is complete.

Not an Android user? Don't worry, because the vending machine will offer up a Nexus 4 for you to try out, although you do have to give it back, however. Several boiler-suited Google employees will man the machines when they're switched on tomorrow in front of the Parco department store in Shibuya. For now, it looks to be a Japan-only promotion -- but it's another great excuse to hit up the country's vending machines. %Gallery-slideshow99512%

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Google’s KitKat statue unveiling may have leaked a new Nexus phone (update: video removed)

Google KitKat statue unveiling video may have leaked new Nexus phone

We always enjoy Google's new statues for each version of Android, however the one posted just now for KitKat / 4.4 may have a bonus treat. The Googler in the green shirt is holding a device that reads Nexus on the back, however compared to the woman conveniently holding a Nexus 4 just inches away, it's clearly not the same. The word Nexus is spelled out in a different direction, the camera seems different, and it looks bigger than the Nexus 4, but it appears to have an LG logo on the bottom. The video is embedded after the break, you can catch a glimpse of the mystery unit about 38 seconds in. It's certainly curious timing for a new device to pop up, right after the old one dropped in price and is out of stock for at least one version.

Update: Well, you could have seen it in the video but Google has suddenly yanked it from YouTube, adding even more intrigue to the situation. We've contacted the company for a statement and will let you know if we hear anything.

Update 2: One of our commenters linked another video of the unveiling that also shows the device. It's taken from behind the people shown above, and while we can't get a clear look at the screen you can get a better idea of the phone's dimensions. Whoops! It looks like that one's gone now too.

[Thanks, Mike and everyone else who sent this in]

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Source: YouTube

8GB Nexus 4 is sold out at Google Play and it won’t be coming back, new Nexus handset on the way?

8GB Nexus 4 is sold out at Google Play and it's not coming back, new Nexus handset on the way

If you were still holding out before committing funds for a Nexus 4, seems like you missed your chance at the 8GB version. The $200 handset has sold out at Google Play in the US and the folks in Mountain View tell The Verge that it's not coming back. Those still eyeing the device can splurge for the 16GB option, while 8GB phones remain available in other global locales until the current stock is depleted. This certainly begs the question: is a new Nexus device on the way? With the Nexus 4 quickly approaching the year-old mark in October and a new version of Android on the horizon, this could be a signal that the new Nexus is just around the bend. We've reached out to Google on the matter and we'll update here as soon as we hear back.

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Via: The Verge, Droid Life

Source: Google Play

Weekly Roundup: Peripheral Vision, Samsung’s rumored Galaxy Gear, Nexus 4 price drop, and more!

The Weekly Roundup for 12032012

You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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Daily Roundup: Portable Audio buyer’s guide, Nexus 4 price drop, Nintendo 2DS, and more!

DNP The Daily RoundUp

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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Nexus 4 price drops by $100 to $199 for 8GB, $249 for 16GB (update)

The cheapest unlocked stock Android phone you could buy just got even cheaper: Google has dropped the price of the Nexus 4 8GB to $199 (£159) from $299 (£239), and the 16GB model to $249 (£199) from $349 (£279). It's fast approaching the anniversary date of the latest Google phone, so the timing is about right for the discount. However, we do wonder if this means a replacement is nigh. After all, Google has yet to introduce the next Nexus successor, and we certainly don't think the Moto X is all the Mountain View company has to offer. Until then, the Nexus 4 is pretty much the best smartphone deal for stock Android lovers who hate carrier contracts. So if you feel like snatching one up, you had best hit the store link below before it sells out yet again.

Update: The Google Play Twitter account just sent out a tweet stating that the 25 percent discount (or more) applies not only in the US, but also Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, Korea and the UK. We've embedded the tweet after the break.

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Source: Google Play Store, Google Play (Twitter)

Android 4.3 update causing problems with Nexus 4 handsets, rendering some unusable

While Android 4.3 is a relatively minor upgrade in the grand scheme of things -- bringing restricted profiles and some added graphical grunt to the platform -- it seems that the new OS version is wreaking havoc on some Nexus 4 devices. On Google's Product Forums, most people having problems report that after the update is downloaded and installed, their handsets either freeze on the 'X' splash screen or get stuck in a never-ending boot loop. For now, folks report that the only fix is to factory reset their handsets or flash to an older version of Android, and lose all of their saved data in the process. While there are no shortage of people apparently stuck in update purgatory, it's unclear exactly how widespread the problem is; our own in-house Nexus 4 received 4.3 without issue.

Additionally, the new Android version isn't playing nice with Netflix on Nexus 4's, either. After upgrading, launching the Netflix app is causing some handsets to freeze up -- and only resetting the phone with a long press of the power button will get the phone working again. Android engineer Dan Morrill has said that Google is aware of the Netflix issue, however, and that its working on a fix. Regardless, Nexus 4 owners might want to think twice before upgrading. We've reached out to Google for an official comment on these problems, and will update this post should we receive one.

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Via: Phones Review

Source: Google Product Forums