Android and Me |
- The Big 4 shootout: Who has the fastest network speeds?
- Android Rumors Report: RAZR HD to AT&T, Galaxy S III minor update, Tab 2 delay, Tegra 4
- Chrome Beta for Android now available in more countries and 32 languages
- T-Mobile’s network is fast, their web team is not
- ASUS Transformer Pad 300 appears on Amazon with April 22nd ship date
- Read It Later is now Pocket, available on Google Play for free
- Hard times ahead for HTC amidst increased competition, CFO-ousting?
| The Big 4 shootout: Who has the fastest network speeds? Posted: 17 Apr 2012 02:50 PM PDT  If you pay attention to the different ad campaigns that AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon keep in their everyday arsenal, chances are you’ve heard every single one claim they have the fastest network on the block. Whatever they use to calculate those claims, it doesn’t always translate into real world use for every individual on that network. So how could you possibly pinpoint who really does have the fastest network? PC World has put eight different Android phones to the test, including a 3G device and a 4G device from each major carrier in the US. They selected 13 cities for their, “varying population densities, physical topography, and cellular environments.” Each network was tested at ten locations in each city, five times indoors, and five times outdoors.
When it comes to which carrier in the US posted the best 3G download speeds, T-Mobile took the crown. Thanks to HSPA+ 21, T-Mobile’s average 3G download speed was 3.84 Mbps. T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 42 managed to keep a slim distance when it came to 4G, but AT&T and Verizon’s LTE networks couldn’t be held back. AT&T had the best download speeds, coming in at 9.12 Mbps. Verizon was a close second at 7.35. The absolute worst carrier if you care about download speeds is Sprint. Their WiMax 4G test numbers were lower than T-Mobile’s 3G numbers. And their 3G numbers were enough to drive any sane man mad, at a pathetic 0.59 Mbps. Of course these tests still don’t paint an entirely accurate picture of whose networks provides the fastest network speeds, but it does give you a good idea. What kind of speeds do you get with your service? Let us know in the comments. Gallery
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| Android Rumors Report: RAZR HD to AT&T, Galaxy S III minor update, Tab 2 delay, Tegra 4 Posted: 17 Apr 2012 02:44 PM PDT  Welcome back to our weekly column where we round up all the Android-related rumors and discuss the validity of each one. Everyone seems to love our original rumor reports, but we thought it would be fun to examine the rumors from around the web and share our thoughts on the possibility of them coming true. Read on for this week's latest Android rumors. Motorola RAZR HD coming to Verizon and AT&T?
Rumor: The Motorola RAZR HD (Vanquish/Fighter/MB886/qinara/Atrix3?) is coming to Verizon and AT&T. Our thoughts: Last week a trusted source was telling me they played with the Motorola Vanquish (aka Droid Fighter) and said it featured Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 processor. We already knew from previous rumor reports that the Vanquish/Fighter was an upgraded version of the RAZR MAXX, with a 720p display. This week a new benchmark result appeared for a Motorola device with the model number MB886 and product name Qinara. This device also features a Snapdragon S4 processor and 720p display. AT&T released the Motorola Atrix (MB860) and Atrix 2 (MB865), so this leads us to believe that the MB886 is also headed to AT&T, possibly as the RAZR HD or Atrix 3. You could say I’m stretching the facts, but it looks pretty likely that the “RAZR HD” will make an appearance on both AT&T and Verizon this summer. Specs for the devices should include a 4.6 inch 720p HD display, 13 megapixel camera, dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, and massive 3,300 mAh battery. Probability: 75% Galaxy S III is a minor update?
Rumor: Andrew Royal of CNET UK reports the Galaxy S III will be a minor update compared to the Galaxy S II and says an unnamed source told him, “It’ll be like the iPhone 4S was to the 4.” Our thoughts: This is just dumb. The next Galaxy is going to be Samsung’s flagship device, and they will do everything in their power to make sure it tops the upcoming iPhone 5. It’s looking more likely that the next Galaxy will feature the first processor with ARM Cortex-A15 CPU cores, which would easily make it the most powerful phone to date. Samsung execs have also been talking up all day battery life, so we think the next Galaxy will have a few surprises. CNET UK also mentions that the device will feature eye tracking technology that can detect when a user looks away from the display. This could be used to turn off the display when not used, which would help extend the battery life. Finally, to compare the next Galaxy to the iPhone 4S upgrade is just silly. The iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S featured identical design on the outside, and all signs point to Samsung doing something different. Rumors suggest the next Galaxy will have a ceramic case and wireless charging, two unique features not found in the Galaxy S II. Probability: 0% Samsung stopped production of the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1?
Rumor: Sascha Pallenberg of Netbooknews reports that Samsung stopped the production of the GT-P 5100 aka Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 so they could upgrade the tablet to a quad-core CPU. Our thoughts: Multiple rumors have been suggesting that the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 had been delayed, and Samsung has a history of changing product specs after they announce them. Last year Samsung revealed the original Galaxy Tab 10.1 at Mobile World Congress, then redesigned it one month later to make it thinner than the iPad 2. When the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 was first announced at this year’s Mobile World Congress, many questioned if this product even earned the “2″. It featured the same old dual-core 1.0 GHz processor, and the rest of the specs were underwhelming. Samsung said they would release the Tab 2 10.1 for $399 in early May, but other products like the quad-core Transformer Pad 300 have already outclassed it at the same price point. We know Samsung has their quad-core Exynos 4412 ready to use, since Meizu is shipping it in a phone in June. Samsung could use that same processor in the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, or they could also use the even newer Exynos 5250. Sascha has been in this business a lot longer than me and I trust his sources, so look for the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 to be delayed. Probability: 85% Tegra 4 has 4 CPU cores
Rumor: Technology news site VR-Zone reports that Tegra 4 will feature a quad-core Cortex-A15 design. Our thoughts: When NVIDIA first showed us their Tegra roadmap, they said Wayne (aka Tegra 4) would be coming at the tail end of 2012. Given the history of delays with the Tegra 2 and Tegra 3 launches, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Tegra 4 launch was moved to early 2013. NVIDIA has yet to share any official details about Wayne, which puts them behind their schedule this time last year. We first learned of Tegra 3 in February of 2011, and the first devices began shipping last December. We are now in April, and I don’t think NVIDIA is in any rush to talk about Tegra 4. The leaked roadmap posted by VR-Zone shows that NVIDIA will go with a 4-PLUS-1 configuration, using ARM Cortex-A15 CPU cores. NVIDIA already hinted they would use A15 in the next Tegra and they seem pretty committed to the 4-PLUS-1 architecture, so this doesn’t come as a surprise. We also see a new part SP3X, which might be the chip called Grey spotted in previous roadmaps. This should be NVIDIA’s first chip to integrate their Icera modem, which will bring LTE connectivity to mainstream phones. An earlier leaked roadmap placed this part at Q1 2013, but it now appears to have slipped to Q3 2013. Overall we don’t see a lot of new information to report with this latest leaked roadmap. Tegra 4 will likely feature quad-core A15s, an improved GPU, and arrive in devices by early 2013. Probability: 95%
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| Chrome Beta for Android now available in more countries and 32 languages Posted: 17 Apr 2012 11:32 AM PDT  If your device was recently updated to Android 4.0 and you haven’t installed the Chrome Beta browser, now is a good time to check it out. Today Google updated Chrome Beta for Android with a bunch of requested features and made it available in 31 additional languages. Now Android 4.0 users in all countries where Google Play is available can install the app. New features include:
I started using Chrome as my alternative Android browser, but I recently gave up on it because I couldn’t request desktop sites. It’s nice to see that has been fixed, so I’ll give Chrome another chance as my default browser and see how it goes. If you use Chrome on your desktop, you might also want to check out the latest Chrome Beta that now lets you access tabs on “other devices” including your phone and tablet. The mobile version of Chrome could already access tabs open on the desktop version, so it’s nice to see this feature finally included. For the 97% of users with devices not on Android 4.0, you will have to keep waiting. Google sometimes updates their apps to support older versions of Android, but there are no signs that will happen with Chrome.
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| T-Mobile’s network is fast, their web team is not Posted: 17 Apr 2012 10:54 AM PDT  Yesterday we learned that T-Mobile was ready to makeover their image with a new $200 million campaign that would “set the record straight” on who has the fastest 4G phones. We saw a teaser video of Carly putting on a leather suit, and today the full TV spot was posted online. Peter DeLuca, T-Mobile SVP, brand, advertising and communications, authored a blog post to explain the new “Alter Ego” series of ads. Peter said, “The ad is a metaphor for what T-Mobile is all about – challenging the status quo and taking bold steps in the marketplace as a challenger brand. The makeover from the girl-next-door to an edgier, more tech-savvy and spirited Carly is synonymous with the evolution of the T-Mobile brand as we continue to push the envelope with device and service innovation to deliver amazing 4G experiences at an affordable price.” Both the new video and blog post invite the audience to visit t-mobile.com/testdrive to check out their competitive 4G experience first-hand. Unfortunately, the site is not live yet and just loads a blank page. We reached out to find when the page would be up and a T-Mobile representative responded, “The test drive site will go live later today in line with the ad, which airs tonight on national television.” Check out the full ad below and be on the lookout for the Test Drive site to go live soon.
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| ASUS Transformer Pad 300 appears on Amazon with April 22nd ship date Posted: 17 Apr 2012 10:09 AM PDT  If you want to own the best 10-inch Android tablet available, but don’t want to spend $499 ASUS’s new Transformer Pad TF300 is almost identical to the Transformer Prime TF201, but is loses the IPS+ display for a regular IPS display, and it’s slightly thicker. We knew the cheaper device was coming soon and today the blue 32 GB model appeared on Amazon for $399 Those who pre-order the Transformer Pad 300 now should see it early next week, around April 22nd. I have owned the original Transformer Prime since last year, and I still use it daily as my preferred Android tablet. The IPS+ display is incredibly bright and suitable for outdoor reading, but I don’t use my tablet much outdoors so I wouldn’t mind getting the regular IPS display and saving $100. Looking out over the next couple months, the Transformer Pad 300 looks to be the best deal on a premium 10-inch Android tablet. The only device out there that might eclipse the Transformer Pad in performance is the rumored Samsung Galaxy Tab 11.6, but we don’t know when it will arrive (and there is no way it will be priced as low as $399.) Also coming soon from ASUS is the upgraded Transformer Prime Infinity TF700T, which features a higher resolution 1920 × 1200 display. That will be the highest resolution display of any ASUS tablet, but it will likely debut at a higher price around $499.
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| Read It Later is now Pocket, available on Google Play for free Posted: 17 Apr 2012 08:50 AM PDT  Read It Later for Android was not enjoying the same success as the iOS version, but things might change after the service decided to rebrand their app as Pocket, redesign the user experience, and make the app free. Pocket is one of a growing number of apps that allows users to save web pages and other content for reading later. Videos quickly became one of the most popular items that users were viewing later and the Pocket team wrote, “We soon realized that Read It Later was outgrowing its own name.” I never used Read It Later, but I constantly save URLs to view later in Google Docs, so maybe I need to check it out. The new Pocket app is one of the best designed I have seen and it integrates with 300+ apps. For original users of Read It Later, here is what’s new in this version:
If you want to give the service a try, grab it from the link below. After you try out the Pocket app, be sure to come back and let us know what you think in the comments below.
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| Hard times ahead for HTC amidst increased competition, CFO-ousting? Posted: 17 Apr 2012 07:40 AM PDT  The HTC One series has me excited for an HTC smartphone again. The One X (or, Evo 4G LTE) matches HTC’s notorious styling with top-notch innards, and a toned-down version of the popular HTC Sense custom UI. Similarly, the One S and One V phones are stellar phones for the mid-range market, and should easily steal customers away from the competition. In a way, the One series is a make-or-break product for the Taiwanese manufacturer. Over the past year or so, HTC has continued to lose market share to Apple and Samsung, the latter of which is not resting on it’s previous successes. A huge deal between HTC and Beats Audio has left the company with a financial bottleneck that has just seen the ousting of HTC’s CFO Winston Yung after just a year on the job. Yung is being replaced by former Goldman Sachs partner Chia-lin Chang. What’s worse, Samsung is about to take the spotlight off of the One series, just as the HTC One line begins to go on sale in the United States. Samsung will soon take the wraps off their next flagship device, the Galaxy S III, and if sales of the Galaxy S and Galaxy S II lines are any indication, the Galaxy S III will sell phenomenally well when it launches later this quarter. These two situations spell potentially bad news for HTC, and HTC’s shares have taken a tumble this morning as a result, shedding over 5% in early trading. We’re sure this will even out over time, and we hope that sales of the HTC One X and S smartphones in the U.S. will give HTC the boost it needs to remain successful in the Android handset market.
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on the Transformer Prime, then you might want to check out its younger brother the Transformer Pad 300.
. Another 16 GB model is said to be coming at $379, but it is not currently listed for pre-order yet.
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