My new laptop came with “AVG Secure Search” as the default engine and it was pretty annoying. Typing a query in the addressbar and hitting enter would throw up AVG’s SERP. Here’s how to change it:
In firefox’s addressbar, type about:config
In the filter bar, copy paste this browser.search.defaultenginename

Double click the entry and change it to the Search engine of your choice (It must be installed and the name should match that of an existing one)
For changing the default Address Bar Search Engine, you have to follow a similar method: in about:config filter, type in keyword.url

Type in http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&q= (Google default search) to make Google as your default addressbar search engine.
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I've some not so good news for the AT&T (and perhaps T-Mobile) clients available. Based on some gossips, Ma Bell will quickly begin to throttle the very best 5% clients who make use of the most data. Allegedly, you may expect this bandwidth throttling to enter effect this October.

Particulars are scarce about this rumor, and we’re not really confident that it is true or otherwise. However, if the in some way turns into a reality, many people will have it. And never in an optimistic way. We, like Gizmodo, are hopeful this can only affect individuals AT&T clients who have an limitless plan. As everyone knows, AT&T wiped out limitless plans a very long time ago. But there have been some who handled to “grandfather in” their limitless plans but still benefit from the miracle of browsing the net without worries.

Despite the fact that we’re not in support of data throttling of any sort, it might take advantage sense to throttle just individuals on limitless data plans-not individuals already assigned with a certain data limit. If the is relevant to everyone, clients on tiered data plans could be getting screwed two times. They’d need to pay $10 for each extra 1GB of information, while being throttled simultaneously. It doesn’t have any worse than that.

Only in america would you pay a company an additional $10 to possess a dial-up-esque wireless connection. Amazing. Let’s expect our sanity’s sake that case a rumor and little else. Because frankly, I don’t think we are able to dislike AT&T’s money-drawing tactics any longer than we already do.

UPDATE: AT&T just confirmed the rumor, folks. And it is both great news and not so good news. What's promising, this speed throttling is only going to make an application for individuals individuals with limitless data plans. Unhealthy news, well, individuals individuals with limitless plans will begin to see some serious speed degradation should you fall on topping 5% category. AT&T also made really sure we realize that this can only affect 5% of their clients. That they say it’s an extremely small percentage, however it means a minimum of millions of people will begin to see some kind of speed throttling. Yikes.

Motorola Android X2

The Motorola Android X2 might be a 3rd generation phone however it packs among the best shows associated with a smartphone available on the market. Large or small. The Android X2 utilizes a 4.3 inch display that inspections along with qHD resolution. Which means it sits at 540 x 960 pixels. That can be a may not appear like a boost from 480 x 800 on individuals TFT products, it certainly is.

We examined the Android X2 from the HTC ThunderBolt outdoors and also the Android X2 absolutely blew it away so far as readability can be involved. So, if you would like your giant screen to possess high res and you need to have the ability to utilize it effectively outdoors, the Android X2 is certainly a telephone to have a look at.

Samsung Android Charge

Besides rocking 4G LTE speeds, the Samsung Android Charge also utilizes among the best shows on the market. A 4.3 inch, Super AMOLED Plus screen. Should you seem like some.5 " Samsung Infuse 4G is simply too large, this is actually the phone to take a look at. Just what does AMOLED Plus mean? This means the Android Charge’s display has has 50% more sub-pixels than the usual regular Super AMOLED display. Translation: Everything ought to be better and that’s precisely what we found. From the vibrant colors to its wealthy shades of black towards the non-pixelated look of text, the Android Charge’s display is ideal for web browsing, videos, gaming, and reading through.

HTC EVO 4G

Age-repel creature referred to as HTC EVO 4G has returned in internet marketing again. Yes, we understand the HTC EVO three dimensional is being released the following month but that does not remove anything from the truth that the EVO 4G continues to be among the best large screen Android products available. The EVO is among the original 4.3 inch mobile phones as well as for several months, it's been dazzling proprietors using its display.

While its TFT (thin-film transistor) LCD quality screen is probably not top quality, it’s still ideal for gaming, movies and reading through. Toss in the truth that it's 4G speeds which will be another smartphone among individuals searching for a large display.

Specifications: 4.3-inch TFT display (480 x 800), 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 8MP facing to the rear camera with 720p HD video recording and dual Brought expensive, 1.3MP front facing camera, 512MB of RAM, Bluetooth 2.1 w/ EDR, TV-Out, High-definition multimedia interface, 1500 mAh battery.

Operating-system: Android 2.2 Froyo

Company: Sprint

4G: Yes, WiMax

Release Date: June fourth, 2010

Cost: $100

Large-Screen HTC Android Phone Expected for China

What we should have here appears to become a large-tested (we’re thinking 4.3 inches, a minimum of) Android phone destined for China. It’s transporting exactly the same swirl logo design that people saw about the HTC Oboe, that is on China Telecom right now. This new phone includes a new speaker grill design without any front-facing camera.

The telephone is quite squarish in the edges, which makes it remeniscant of the Htc Hd2 Mobile Phone or Desire HD. Beyond that, very little else is famous relating to this mystery device. Possibly we’ll learn more about this around Mobile World Congress.

Since its beginning at the end of spring 2010, Google TV continues to be on the ride of success and failure. Similarly, Google TV is constantly on the offer an excellent entertainment experience in a rather reasonable cost. Alternatively, the woking platform still hasn’t removed like Google might have loved. And that’s okay. The connected family room experience continues to be in the infancy, and everybody in the overall game includes a lengthy approach to take. Before we obtain there, let’s have a look in the evolution of Google TV and also the connected family room experience.

The Web? In your TV?

When Google I/O folded around within the first 1 / 2 of 2010, the web was whistling readily over Google’s first attempt for getting the web for your family room. Nobody understood just what the experience would come with, but when it in some way squeeze into the Google ecosystem, there isn’t any way it may be all bad. Because it works out, that excitement wasn’t wasted. Sure, the live demo at I/O didn’t exactly are planned and content partners were a large mystery, but Google TV demonstrated promise.

Because the summer time continued, Google and partners Logitech and The new sony were working hard ensuring you have that “I’ve gotta acquire one of these” feeling by ramping up ads and shedding teaser games as frequently because they could. As gorgeous because the teaser games looked, the pre-release advertising didn’t exactly sit well with customers. Rather than beautifully revealing what something similar to the Logitech Revue could do, videos counseled me over online revealing precisely how creepy an enlarged eyeball along with a lonely TV might be.

Through the fall, it didn’t appear type of botched promotional initiatives made their way online. The thrill was back, and both Logitech and The new sony needed release a their Google TV products. The first one to hit shelves was the Logitech Revue.

Initial reviews on items from both Logitech and The new sony were generally pretty positive. Beginning at $249 dollars, you can enjoy a built-in cable television knowledge about Netflix, Chrome and YouTube as well. Lots of everyone was glad to get on the bandwagon the moment the floodgates were open:

I compensated $249 for that Revue if this arrived on the scene and that i still utilize it every single day.Taylor WimberlyNetShelter

Others, like TechnoBuffalo’s Noah Kravitz, couldn’t agree less:

I'd a GTV box - the The new sony. I required it back. Why? Since it drawn. It had been almost entirely useless, and extremely over-designed and overcomplicated.Noah KravitzTechnoBuffalo

Regrettably, Noah wasn’t alone who felt by doing this. Some really loved having the ability to make use of a complete keyboard to navigate the net through their TV. However it just wasn’t for everybody.

As time continued, the storyline of Google TV grew to become much less about engineering and increasingly more about content.

Submissions are king

Following the Google TV have been out for some time, the overall consensus appeared to become, “What next?” YouTube and web browsing on the internet TV was great, but development made an appearance to become in a complete dead stop:

It's fun in your own home to look at YouTube videos with buddies or showing work on work but at this time the Google TV project feels abandoned or at best heavily neglected. Where would be the updates? The OS is buggy (a lot more about the The new sony box for whatever reason), and with no application market designers aren't interested.Adam JohnsonMonolith New york city

Systems began obstructing content, updates were missing for action, and customers were flat-out bored. Something needed to give. The promise that Google TV displayed at I/O 2010 was now gone. Sales went lower to date that, at some point, returns were outpacing sales and among Google’s “key partners.” Consequently, the service was rarely spoken about-when. Things remained this way until before summer 2011. Only at that year’s Google Developer Conference, the Large G managed to get obvious the service wasn’t going anywhere.

Throughout the Google TV part of the conference, Google displayed an exciting new Google TV. By integrating Honeycomb (Android 3.) in to the Google TV OS, Google intends to bring notices, icons, a brand new interface and also the Android Sell to a TV in your area. The update continues to be in particular however, departing many customers feeling omitted:

I truly had wished which i might have seen the Google Market application on my small Google TV right now. Basically could request Goole two questions, (...) it might be when will the following Google TV release emerge and can us early adopters be supported? I am wishing my Google TV does not become my G1.Trey HenefieldIT Security

Google TV continues to be a cutting-edge and potential filled idea however, there is a large amount of work in front of them before they meet the hype.Oluseun OgunleganCommenter from Google

I would like the marketplace onto it now, it's this type of discomfort which i taken care of it expecting to have it, 8 several weeks later still waiting and that i did not buy it on launch day. Please!Michael KennedyKinsley Food Pride

I'd say it's more Google that wiped out Google TV. They did not obtain the deals in position with content proprietors either by not offering enough money or otherwise trying.Tim HigginsSmallNetBuilder

Does Google get it takes to obtain in the overall game?

The way forward for Google TV

If Google can finally obtain the Honeycomb update to TV products and supply designers using the support they badly need, Google TV continues to have a fighting chance.

A devoted number of cyber-terrorist from GTVhacker took it upon themselves to obtain Honeycomb onto their Revue prior to the official update hits the environment. The precise way of doing this still hasn’t been launched, but several particulars about the the GTV update to Honeycomb happen to be confirmed. Our very own Alberto Vildosola creates:

Searching in the photo from GTVhacker, you can observe not really a lot has transformed since Google first demonstrated Google TV 2. to us in May. That blue bar across the bottom has returned once more. I’m speculating this can appear by pressing the “Home” button in your Google TV remote. ... The area above that blue bar will allegedly house icons, as shown at Google I/O. It’s still unknown whether customers will get access to various homepages like we now have on phones and pills. That can be a might appear as an apparent factor to complete, I am not so sure Google is going to do it for Google TV. However I might be wrong.Alberto VildosolaAndroid and Me

To be able to keep things going before update is formally available, the initial Google Television set-top box, the Logitech Revue, went lower to some mere $99 completely new. Only at that cost point, a sizable number of customers ought to be enticed to provide GTV a go. And don't forget forget, as numerous pitfalls because the service has, there's still a loyal group of followers:

I do not always watch television... However when I actually do. I usually use my Google tv.Ough BartlemanCommenter on Twitter

I personally use Gtv everyday (...) If only it were cheaper after i bought it in December, however with the present 99$ cost I am considering getting another for my bed room tv!Dork KellerDriven 2 Excellence

I Simply first got it, and to date I Really Like it.Brently AdamCommenter on Twitter

If your $99 Revue still isn’t enough to enable you to get about the GTV bandwagon, maybe that Market-presenting update is. At I/O i was guaranteed a summer time launch date, and around September continues to be searching good. Hopefully Google can meet it.

What about you? Use Google TV? Like it? Hate it? Allow it to full-scale within the comments below. We’d like to hear that which you think about Google’s, or anybody else’s for your matter, connected family room experience.

Every time we push an update here, we obtain a number of questions from customers asking about changes, where everything has gone, etc. But there's one question we’ve been requested (and also have clarified) so frequently through the years that people figured it had been finally time for any blog publish.

Setting your And Me Account user picture

While we have an incredibly awesome group of default Android symbols, your best option is setting a custom user picture, a choice we’ve provided through Gravatar. Why would you use a 3rd party, you request? Because we hate registering for any new site every day and needing to upload an image. It's not only an additional step at registration, however you’re playing a large number of instances to update when you wish to modify your picture.

Sometimes I forget some people is probably not conscious of Gravatar’s masterdom. I’ve been building using blogging platforms for a long time, where it’s reigned supreme for universal user pictures. The procedure works such as this:

you register at Gravatar.com

you upload a photograph

blogs like Android and Me can instantly grab the picture

You’ve only got to register once, and it takes approximately thirty seconds. Then you’ll start to see that person everywhere. You may also link extra emails for your Gravatar account to pay for all of your bases.

About the new site, we use Gravatar to source all user pictures. We rely on them within the comment threads. We utilize them for the writer pictures. We rely on them within the sidebar using the top ranked comments. And it is not only us, setting the picture once at Gravatar allows any blog you possess an account with to instantly source the image. Change it out once? All sites up-to-date.

A small peak in to the future

I pointed out it within our latest update publish, but we have large plans for the And Me Accounts. At this time we’re certainly inside a transition phase, but we desired to start moving out features once we had them ready.

Presently, your And Me Account does nothing more than permit you to comment and score from one account. Soon, you’ll obtain a full report page that shows your title, picture, score, phone, company, recent comments, etc. Right you can now only score points from departing a comment or someone up-voting your comments, but soon we’ll unveil a variety of new point mechanics. We have double point weekends, point-unlockable content, awards restricted to user groups with certain point totals, etc. To obtain things began, any And Me Account that leaves a discuss this publish can get double points.

Hopefully everyone will be pleased with the consumer-centric features we’ll be pushing within the coming days. We're feeling we’ve finally got a few of the kinks ironed using this whole blogging factor and it is time to pay attention to you, the loyal readers. If you’ve still not registered, that can be done here.

Inside a multi-platform world, Google depends on mobile products. You've seen the Google Mobile site acquire some a redesign, but where’s the fascination with tablet customers? We understood a tablet-enhanced Search was coming that might be a combination between desktop and mobile search. And Google’s now introduced this tablet-enhanced Search (for Browser) is moving in the approaching days. We gotta say, it's excellent.

As you can tell within the images below, the brand new experience includes bigger buttons, text along with other “touch targets.” Individuals who’ve used Search on the tablet browser know it's really a nuisance to tap more compact links. This really is something the brand new Search for pills will improve, making the search experience faster, simpler and much more comfortable.

Gallery

tabletimagesearch tabletsearch

In addition, there's new drop-lower menus below the search box. These buttons enables you to to classify and additional define your research. The very first button is an essential it offers use of the categorized results everyone knows from Google (images, videos, places, shopping, etc).

Image searching has additionally become simpler and faster. Pictures is going to be a little bigger and really should preview faster. Also, you’ll have the ability to infinitely scroll lower, exactly like you would within the desktop Search.

Overall, the brand new Search experience looks a lot more defined and intuitive. We’ll hold judgement until we obtain to make use of it, though. Still it hasn’t proven on my tablet. Google mentions the brand new tablet experience will begin moving out over the following couple of days. This new experience is going to be readily available for Android 3.1 and iPad products, so be on the lookout should you fall within that category. Are everyone liking the way it looks? Tell us the way it feels when you have it!

The still air from the firing range. The load of cold steel inside your palm. The odor of gun powder exciting your senses. Thanks for visiting ARMA II: Firing Range, an authentic firing range simulator for Tegra-based Android products. Fresh on the market from developer Bohemia Interactive, ARMA II: Firing Range may be the first ARMA series game to land on Android products. Hopefully it will not function as the last.

Several game modes in ARMA II permit you to test out highly realistic guns, review specs and fully examine all of them with ultra-top quality three dimensional graphics. Features include:

Huge variety of high polygon weapons open to examine and check out out
Several unique firing ranges with easy to customize game modes
Accurate weapon visual, sounds and ballistics
Realistic weapon optics
Online leaderboards and accomplishments
Two adjustable control modes

If you are looking for an excellent first person shooter in a great cost ($1.99), don’t wait. Download ARMA II today.