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Mobile Miscellany: week of August 13th, 2012

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Clove teased the October arrival of the black Samsung Galaxy S III and a security vulnerability was uncovered for Android's pattern unlock feature. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of August 13th, 2012.

Sprint to start wooing families with $400 rebate incentive

Mobile Miscellany week of August 13th, 2012

A leaked advertisement courtesy of PhoneArena suggests that Sprint is set to kick off a new promotion in an effort to draw family plan subscribers away from the competition. From August 19th through September 15th, the Now Network is said to offer a $400 instant credit to those who switch over three or more lines to an Everything Share Data plan. There are a few stipulations, as tablets, data cards and accessories don't qualify, and customers of Sprint's subsidiaries such as Boost and Virgin Mobile aren't eligible for the promo. [PhoneArena]

Still want to install Flash on your Android handset? Use this.

Mobile Miscellany week of August 13th, 2012

Adobe Flash is no longer available for new installations on Android devices, and if you missed the August 15th installation deadline, you might've thought you were out of luck. Fortunately, those intent on sneaking a final whiff of Flash can easily do so, thanks to a simple app from MoDaCo, which grabs the latest APK file from Adobe's servers. Naturally, this workaround will function only so long as Adobe continues to host the file, so you may wish to toss the APK into your cloud storage account. [Android Police]

Android pattern unlock exploit discovered, made possible with USB debugging

Mobile Miscellany week of August 13th, 2012

Here's a good reason to disable USB debugging when you're not using it: the feature renders your phone fundamentally less secure. M.Sabra of xda-developers has revealed an exploit within ADB that allows one to bypass the pattern unlock function of Android devices with only a few steps. The hack is said to work regardless of whether root privileges are enabled. So long as it's on your mind, take a moment to check the USB debugging status of your device right now. [Phandroid]

Black Galaxy S III with 64GB storage said to hit Clove next month

Mobile Miscellany week of August 13th, 2012

The black Galaxy S III first greeted the world at the Olympics, then again on T-Mobile's website, and now it's said to land in consumer hands next month. Clove Technology in the UK has announced that it'll receive the ebony superphone in the elusive 64GB flavor, which will become available in early October. The company has yet to announce pricing, but intends to begin accepting pre-orders in the near-term. [Android Central]

Oppo Finder debuts in a whiter shade of pale

Mobile Miscellany week of August 13th, 2012

The sibling of the black Oppo Finder, a super-slim Chinese smartphone, greeted the world this week. Set to become available for pre-order on August 23rd, it'll sell for approximately $425. Noteworthy specs of the Oppo Finder include a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU, a 4.3-inch, 800 x 480 Super AMOLED Plus display and an 8-megapixel camera. [M.I.C. Gadget]

Other random tidbits

  • HTC has released the kernel source for the Droid Incredible 4G LTE. [Android Central]

  • The Motorola Atrix HD is now available from Bell Mobility in Canada for $50 on a three-year agreement. [Phandroid]

  • Wind Mobile is now selling the BlackBerry Curve 9320, which is available for $199 outright or free with all WindTab plans starting at $25. [MobileSyrup]

  • AT&T has extended its LTE network to Waco, Texas and Fayetteville, Arkansas. [MobileBurn]