Android Phone Fans |
- T-Mobile’s HTC One S experiencing poor battery performance during WiFi calling, patch inbound
- Software update in the works for reported Sprint Galaxy Nexus connectivity issues
- Ice Cream Sandwich build 6.14.84 leaks for Droid RAZR/RAZR MAXX
- Original Xperia Play design had additional QWERTY slider, could have been a Nexus
- Samsung denies involvement in Apple Store ‘Wake Up’ protest
- Sony ST21i Tapioca pictured, quite the chunky Android
- Salt Lake City getting AT&T LTE this year
- Sony Xperia LT29i specs revealed? Snapdragon S4 Pro, 13MP camera (with samples) & more
- Australians can now enjoy movie rentals from YouTube and Google Play Store`
- Google’s Queru reiterates carriers are often to blame for slow updates, says ICS adoption takes longer due to different framework
- Dropbox enhances photo support; brings automatic photo and video uploads out of beta (and how to get 3GB of extra space)
- Samsung Galaxy S III Pictured Again – Sheds Prototype “Dummy Case” For The Camera
- Android Overload: DIRECTV/Skype/Draw Something Updates, LG Optimus True HD LTE Now Available In Germany, Portugal and Sweden, and More
- Stop Everything You’re Doing, And Do A Google Search For “Zerg Rush”
- Samsung Galaxy S III Could Launch In The US With Qualcomm’s S4 Processor Instead Of Quad-Core Exynos [Rumors]
| T-Mobile’s HTC One S experiencing poor battery performance during WiFi calling, patch inbound Posted: 27 Apr 2012 02:32 PM PDT
There has been little chatter among early adopters in regards to battery performance issues with the HTC One S, but that isn’t stopping T-Mobile and HTC. The pair is pre-emptively prepping an update for the newly released handset that should address excessive battery drain occurring during WiFi calling. WiFi calling is one of the few unique features T-Mobile has to entice customers considering their carrier options, so addressing any possible drawbacks to the service is high on the totem pole. There is no expected delivery date for the patch, but given the expediency shown in jumping on top of the reported issue we expect it won’t be too long. [T-Mobile via AndroidCentral]
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| Software update in the works for reported Sprint Galaxy Nexus connectivity issues Posted: 27 Apr 2012 01:49 PM PDT
The Sprint Community forums have been receiving complaints of connectivity issues with the recently released Samsung Galaxy Nexus — aside from the fact that no 4G LTE network currently exists for the device to connect to, that is. Users are reporting that the Galaxy Nexus on Sprint is having a hard time acquiring a connection to the carrier’s 3G data services. Some have returned their device to be issued a replacement, but others have been turned away as a software fix is apparently in the works. A moderator on the forum says that Sprint and Samsung “are trying really hard to get [the update] released early next week,” but could not commit to an official date. [via Android and Me]
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| Ice Cream Sandwich build 6.14.84 leaks for Droid RAZR/RAZR MAXX Posted: 27 Apr 2012 01:13 PM PDT
A new Ice Cream Sandwich build for the Motorola Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR MAXX has surfaced, and sings point to it being an official release for the Verizon Android duo. The leak bears software version number 6.14.84 and measures in at roughly 343MB, matching the file size listed on a recently exposed Verizon update schedule. Further suggesting that the build may represent a nearly final form of Android 4.0 for the RAZR series is the fact that it requires the most recent 6.12.181 Gingerbread update in order to install. The file should be going public via the folks at DroidRzr.com by the end of the day. According to the above mentioned release schedule, the update for the RAZR and RAZR MAXX recently entered testing and is expected to go live towards the end of May. [via DroidLife]
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| Original Xperia Play design had additional QWERTY slider, could have been a Nexus Posted: 27 Apr 2012 12:26 PM PDT Rumors of a “PlayStation Phone” eventually panned out in the form of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, but the gaming handset we were left with could have turned out much differently. New information is coming to light from several sources that reveals Google’s desire to launch the phone as an Android 2.3 flagship along with a unique form factor that never came to fruition.
A US patent application has surfaced showing an early concept for a phone with two sliders, one a gamepad and the other a full QWERTY keyboard. The design dates to October of 2010 and was likely passed over due to hardware constraints before even reaching the prototyping phase. Elements of the initial patent did carry over to the Xperia Play, however. The unique design would have offered greater functionality and helped to target a wider audience, not those looking for a portable game console that could double as a smartphone. The extra bulk of a slider form factor was hard to justify for many consumers who didn’t see game controls as an essential part of their mobile experience. If Google had their way, Android fans would have had even more of a reason to pick up the handset. When the Xperia Play launched, Verizon carried a version of the device that shipped with a stock Android 2.3 build. The anomalous offering seemed a bit perplexing but makes more sense in the light of information emerging from the Google v. Oracle trial. A slide detailing “lead” devices for the various Android platforms listed the Play (then codenamed Zues) as the flagship handset for Gingerbread. Instead of earning the title of “Nexus Play,” the honors eventually went to Samsung and their Nexus S. The rest is history. [via The Verge]
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| Samsung denies involvement in Apple Store ‘Wake Up’ protest Posted: 27 Apr 2012 11:50 AM PDT
Yesterday we reported on a flash-mob-esque protest that broke out outside of an Australian Apple Store. A group of people dressed in black and holding signs reading “Wake Up” emerged from a bus with the slogan plastered on its side. The overall professional appearance of said signs and bus coupled with a level of organization that bests even the Occupy Wall Street movement roused some suspicion about the spontaneous demonstration. Given recent history, it wasn’t too far of a stretch to believe that Samsung, on the verge of releasing their next flagship Android device, might be behind the protest. Now a Samsung Australia rep is denying that the company had any involvement in the events that took place. A website expressing the same sentiment as the protesters was discovered and linked to marketing firm Tongue. The closest link that company has previously had to Samsung comes from Tongue’s past work with carrier Vodafone. It’s hard to imagine that the cellular provider is behind the stunt, however, as they carry Apple’s iPhone and iPad. Even with Samsung’s denial, we’re not sold that they had nothing to do with dozens of uniformed citizens spontaneously arriving via chartered bus to rally against the Korean manufacturer’s biggest mobile competitor. It’s called viral marketing, and Samsung wouldn’t want to tip their hand too soon. There is a chance that another group is behind the protest, but, given its ties to a marketing agency, the calls for Apple to “wake up” are anything but genuine. [via Android and Me]
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| Sony ST21i Tapioca pictured, quite the chunky Android Posted: 27 Apr 2012 11:38 AM PDT
The first image of what is said to be the Sony ST21i has leaked, and its appearance takes very little inspiration from recent Xperia design language. While phones like the Xperia S emphasize clean, simple lines and a thin shell, the handset codenamed Tapioca is plump and curvy. Based on the image, the phone will ship with Xperia branding (not that we thought it wouldn’t). Rumors put the ST21i on the low end of the smartphone spectrum, a contrast to the Hayabusa concept leaked earlier today. The Tapioca will feature an 800MHz single-core CPU, 512MB of RAM, and a 3.2-inch display. Somewhat redeeming is the inclusion of Ice Cream Sandwich. The outward appearance of the device suggests the possibility of a slide-out keyboard below the display. It has also been suggested a dual-screen model could be in the pipeline. Either case would help to better justify the extra bulk. [via AndroidCommunity]
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| Salt Lake City getting AT&T LTE this year Posted: 27 Apr 2012 09:31 AM PDT
AT&T has just confirmed another market that will be getting 4G LTE this year. Salt Lake City, UT is the lucky city which will get access to their real 4G network, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson announced. No concrete date was offered, but at least we know it’ll be here at some point. To be honest, we figured a lot of markets would get it this year and we’re confused AT&T wouldn’t wait until they have a better idea of when the network will go live for this particular market to make an announcement. In any case, you can go ahead and stock up on LTE phones this year as they promise you’ll be able to use it to its full advantage sooner or later. [AT&T]
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| Sony Xperia LT29i specs revealed? Snapdragon S4 Pro, 13MP camera (with samples) & more Posted: 27 Apr 2012 06:58 AM PDT
Last month, Sony was rumored to be bringing out a flagship phone this Summer. Codenamed LT29i Hayabusa, we had little to go on than an idea of what it’d look like and what chipset it’d house (Snapdragon S4). Today, a Chinese blog may have revealed the full slate of details we’ve been looking for. We’ve learned that the variant of the S4 processor may be that of the S4 Pro, an SoC with an upgraded GPU compared to the norm. There’s also supposed to be a 13MP camera with HDR video recording capabilities and superior lowlight performance, a 4.55 inch HD reality display, a 2200mAh battery and will be around 7 millimeters thin. It looks to be a beast of a phone whenever it launches, a phone that may hit store shelves as the Xperia GX. As a quick added bonus, check out some photo samples from a phone said to have the same sensors below.     [Baidu via Brief Mobile]
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| Australians can now enjoy movie rentals from YouTube and Google Play Store` Posted: 27 Apr 2012 06:24 AM PDT
Google Australia’s blog has just announced that the country will now be able to enjoy thousands of movies for rent on Google Play Store and YouTube. Content from Walt Disney, NBC, Sony, and more will provide new entertainment options for those down under. While they don’t have as good a selection as Americans, it should still be a pretty attractive catalog. What you see now is not all you’ll get in the future, of course, as more content will be added periodically. Get started at YouTube or the Google Play Store.
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| Posted: 27 Apr 2012 05:31 AM PDT With news of Sony’s Tablet P receiving Ice Cream Sandwich and after the revelation that Google is back to selling their own devices, known Google Jean-Baptiste Queru took to Google+ to lay some of his thoughts out on the table. He says Sony got the upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich out so fast (even though they weren’t the fastest) because they contribute a lot of what they did with their tablets back to the Android Open Source Project. Since they already had a grasp on a lot of the things that make up the inner workings of Ice Cream Sandwich, they didn’t need as much testing as other manufacturers.
He says other tablet manufacturers take long because the framework differences going from Android 3.2 to 4.0 on tablets is more different than one would think. They say phones launched with Gingerbread take even longer because the difference is far greater — this, we already knew. What’s more interesting is that Queru was frustrated about some Nexus devices who either received Ice Cream Sandwich late, or haven’t received the latest versions yet. With that, he’s ecstatic that Google’s back to selling devices of its own which allow them to better control the upgrade process. There has yet to be a Galaxy Nexus launched by a GSM carrier in America, so the illusion that the idea of a “true” Nexus phone being dead is far more overstated than it should be. With CDMA carriers, proprietary network provisions, activation processes, and code most be taken into account, so the carriers control much of the testing and the OTA process. It’s alarming that less than 3% of known Android users are on Ice Cream Sandwich and we’re already talking about Jelly Bean (or whatever the final name may end up being). More than anything, his thoughts let us know that this should be expected as the norm now. Even going from one sub-version of Ice Cream Sandwich to the next will take a month or two, and that’s just the way things have to be with the advent of custom skins and carrier testing. Read his full post at Google+.
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| Posted: 27 Apr 2012 04:27 AM PDT With all the excitement surrounding the launch of Google Drive this week, Dropbox probably found it necessary to respond in a big way. They’ve been holding on to a handy feature that’s been in beta for a while now and they’re finally bringing it to all who’ll take it. Automatic photo and video uploads are now enabled for any Android device, as well as support for automatic upload support on both Windows and Mac.
With Android, if you plug your camera in Dropbox will automatically find all new photos and will upload them without you having to lift an arm and an arm (unless you type with your feet, then…). Additionally, they’ve added a new photos page that will show you all your photos with a nice big preview, and you can look through photos by month uploaded if you so choose. Finally, this gives users a chance to earn 3GB of free additional space. You’ll get 500MB for each photo automatically uploaded until you hit 3GB. It’s not yet clear if this applies to those who already got the 3GB upgrade from using the beta, but if you got in on that be sure to try this and let us know in the comments section. [via Dropbox] [Update]: It appears that you will, in fact, be able to get the additional space if you participated in the beta. Upload away!
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| Samsung Galaxy S III Pictured Again – Sheds Prototype “Dummy Case” For The Camera Posted: 27 Apr 2012 02:49 AM PDT
I was just about to hit the lights and turn in for the evening when this popped up. What is it? Well, it appears that we’re looking at a real, bonafide Samsung Galaxy S III. Well, without that hideous prototype “dummy” casing we keep seeing over, and over again. If this design looks familiar to you, it’s most likely because this devices looks almost damn near identical to another flagship device, Samsung and Google’s own Galaxy Nexus. If you hold a G-Nex up to the screen, you’ll notice a few small differences like less bezel (due to a larger 4.8-inch display) and what could be a slightly different speaker grill. Oh, and there’s that glowing physical “home” button, complete with capacitive buttons along each side of it. Remember, current rumors have it that the Galaxy S III would only be a slight update from current GS2′s. I honestly can’t say I was expecting too much from Samsung, but this is… I’d say this looks about right. Earlier today, a leaked service manual showed us the Galaxy S III design that matches this to a tee. Yup, I’m going to call it in, folks. This is the real deal. Got my shorts ready. What do you guys think? Love it? Hate it? Still calling shenanigans?
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| Posted: 27 Apr 2012 01:14 AM PDT
In an effort to keep our readers up-to-date on every, single, last bit of Android related news we could find — we have the Android Overload. These are all the stories that didn’t quite find their way onto our front page but since we like to cover all our bases, we place them here for you to check out. There’s always a little something here for everyone so have a look around.
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| Stop Everything You’re Doing, And Do A Google Search For “Zerg Rush” Posted: 27 Apr 2012 12:56 AM PDT
Sometimes it’s just so hard to not love Google. Especially when they do crazy, wacky, cooky, fun stuff like this. Just like I said in the title, stop what you’re doing and do a search for “zerg rush” on Google. When you do, you’ll be treated to an interactive game I like to call — GoogleCraft. Apparently, this is in reference to StarCraft and whether or not you’ve ever played the PC megahit, I can guarantee that you’ll smile. Post your high score with a screenshot! :) Thanks, Jeffrey! [Google]
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| Posted: 26 Apr 2012 10:39 PM PDT
Okay, you should know I am only the messenger and this new Galaxy S III rumor should only be taken with a grain of salt. That being said, the The Korea Times is reporting that Samsung’s Galaxy S III might not come equipped with their quad-core Exynos processor some Android fans have been lusting after since it was announced yesterday. Apparently, a Samsung executive explained to them that the Samsung will, in fact, be using the 4 Quad in Europe where it will compatible with their 3G bands, and in Korea where their LTE will be fully compatible as well. When it comes to us in the states, it’s being said Samsung will use Qualcomm’s (still very adequate) dual-core S4 processor. I’m no expert, but it could have something to do with the unique combination of T-Mobile/AT&T’s HSPA+/LTE bands throwing Samsung off. Seeing how one of Korea’s largest carriers, SK Telecom, uses a combination of CDMA and LTE technology, there could still be a good chance Sprint/Verizon’s versions will feature Sammy’s quad. Adding to the drama is talk of a possible S4 shortage with Qualcomm reportedly not being able to keep up demand. If that turns out to be true, we can only wonder what Samsung will do then. What do you guys think? Potentially bad news? Does the Galaxy S III’s processor even matter to you? If this actually pans out, will this send you, and your wallet, to another device? Of course, nothing has been confirmed and before you start chucking rotten tomatoes onstage, it’s best to wait for Samsung’s official announcement in just a few short days. [The Korea Times | Via The Verge]
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