Sunday, April 15, 2012

Update - 278



Posted: 23 Mar 2012 02:22 AM PDT
We see a lot of research reports every day, showing market share data for the smartphone and tablet markets. In most cases, these figures are based on the number of units shipped to retailers and not on actual sales to end consumers. Apple, as an exception, does release actual sales figures, as they make most of their sales through proprietary retail stores, and thus, have direct access to data.
I’ve heard a lot of talk from pundits who claim Android’s market share is unreliable because it’s based on shipping figures rather than actual sales. Their argument is that, since shipping figures also account for devices just sitting the store’s shelves, they don’t make an accurate measure of market presence.
Let’s have a closer look at the basis behind these figures, and try to understand when shipping figures make sense and when they don’t.

Android Devices

Android devices are available in every major market that exists today. The amount of variety presented to the consumer is unparalleled. Now, when we look at Android’s shipping numbers every quarter, we see consistent and massive growth. Not only annual growth, but sequential quarter-on-quarter growth, as well. For the purpose of this article, it is these sequential growth figures that matter. Huge sequential growth in shipping implies huge sequential growth in sales.
If Android devices were just sitting on store shelves, no retailer would order for more, simple as that. Now, because these devices have been selling out, and there is huge, growing consumer demand for more, this drives increasing shipments for the next quarter, and so on. In short, shipments are a leading indicator for sales in case of Android. So a trend of sharply rising shipping figures, indicates strong sales and strong upcoming sales.

Nokia (Lumia)

Now, Nokia Lumia devices have seen a scaled launch in a limited number of markets over the past few months, in which they shipped 1.3 million units. Now, these numbers by themselves make no sense. We have no idea how many Lumia phones have actually been sold, as we have no follow up or previous shipment data. But, if Nokia Lumia’s shipments will rise in the next quarter, does that mean that sales have taken off? Not necessarily in this case, no. For the simple reason that Nokia has staggered the launch of Lumia handsets. So if the number of targeted markets goes up in the next quarter, we don’t know if the increased shipments are new shipments coming from the previously untapped markets or from sales growth in existing markets.
So Android enthusiasts, go ahead and bookmark this page for the next time someone gives you the argument that shipments don’t matter.

This article, Why Android shipments matter just as much as sales , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 02:50 PM PDT
panasonic-eluga
It seems like Panasonic decided to step things up and make the Panasonic Eluga available in Japan a month ahead of the scheduled European launch. There are different theories as to why Panasonic decided to reschedule (seemingly out of the blue) the launch of the Eluga, but it’s certain that the phone will hit the stores in Japan on March 26 via NTT Docomo.
For Panasonic, the assumed objective of the Eluga is to make a difference on the unique Japanese phone market, by moving away from the look and feel of most competing phones. As a company representative said, Panasonic is "trying to offer a great experience free from the bells and whistles found on phones for the Japanese market". At the same time, the sleek Eluga is Panasonic’s bid to make a comeback to the Western markets, which, for many years, were largely ignored by the Japanese tech giants (with the notable exception of Sony).
The Eluga was supposed to come to Europe in March, but the launch date has been postponed, according to the official site of Panasonic Europe. For unknown reasons, the European public will have to wait a couple of weeks longer to try out this great-looking, yet sturdy phone.

A Glance at the Panasonic Eluga

We have already seen the Eluga at MWC, so we have a pretty good idea about its specs and features. The screen will be a 4.3-incher running at 960×540 resolution, while the Panasonic Eluga Power (the big brother) is expected to have a beautiful 5-inch display. The two devices are expected to offer a 8MP camera. The most unique trait of the Eluga is its slim profile of just 7.8mm. We haven’t got the chance to evaluate the smartphone hands-on, but we’ve heard from those who have handled it that the Eluga feels even slimmer than it looks, thanks to it smooth curves.
On the down side, such a slim phone cannot offer too much in terms of battery life – just an 1,150 mAh battery, which Panasonic claims to provide 300h of functioning in standby. To sweeten the pill, Panasonic included a special feature, the "super charging" mode, which is supposed to dramatically decrease the amount of time need for the Eluga's battery to fully charge.
panasonic-eluga-water-resistant
The Eluga will come with Android Gingerbread (v2.3.5), however, an update to Ice Cream Sandwich will be available this summer, promises Panasonic. The weight of the phone will be only 103 grams, which is very impressive, considering the generous size and the fact that the device is water and dust-resistant.
How will the Eluga perform once it’s finally officially released? We will find out very soon!


This article, Panasonic Eluga available in Japan on March 29th, Europe in April , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 12:17 PM PDT
Nokia N9 Android
Launched back in September 2011, the Nokia N9 was the Finnish phone maker's last attempt to use the Linux-based, open source mobile OS called MeeGo. Although the hardware specs on the Nokia N9 were actually not that shabby (a 1GHz TI OMAP 3630 single-core CPU, backed up by 1GB of RAM, on a 3.9-inch AMOLED display), many users found that the MeeGo OS was no match for another Linux-based mobile OS — you guessed it – Android.
Nokia officials, somewhat renowned for their bold (and slightly odd) statements, might say what they want about how N9 sales spiked during Q4 of 2011, but it's worth noting that the Linux Foundation eventually gave up on MeeGo, in order to focus on another Linux-based mobile OS, this time a more HTML 5-oriented one, called Tizen. Much like Nokia's own Symbian OS, MeeGo is – for all attempts and purposes — dead.
Fortunately for Android fans packing a Nokia N9, a group called NITDroid has just released an Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich port for the N9. Although in its first stable release ever, the Android port, called Project Mayhem, is fairly functional, and should provide a smooth ICS experience.
Granted, you'll encounter a few problems with the accelerometer and the YouTube playback is a little choppy, but the rest of Android's functions should work as intended, including the multi-touch capable touchscreen, audio and video playback, as well as the hardware buttons and USB / Bluetooth connectivity. There isn't much you can't do, making Project Mayhem one of the best Android ports to ever reach non-Android smartphones.
Here's a quick video preview of the Project Mayhem ICS port for the Nokia N9:

If you decide to give it a try, you can find the all the install instructions here, but make sure you pay attention and do exactly as the people from NITDroid tell you to, or, you might end up with a lovely looking  brick of a phone.

This article, Meet Project Mayhem: an Android 4.0 port for the Nokia N9 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 12:06 PM PDT

Following this rant on how Google’s home-cooked apps, particularly the Gmail app, don't seem to be on the best of terms with their new Ice Cream Sandwich buddy, the timing has never been better (sorry, Google) to report this little hiccup. Our reader Jeff has tipped us off that many Gmail users have been experiencing difficulties accessing the Gmail app on their phones and tablets since yesterday. And we're not just talking about ICS.
One common problem that users are experiencing is how the screen of the app just freezes and stops responding after being launched. Some people also report continuous screen flickering between the app and the homescreen. Unfortunately, the problems persists even after hard rebooting the device.
From a quick check, devices that are affected include Photon 4G on Sprint, Motorola Atrix on AT&T, Nexus S 4G, LG Optimus S on Sprint, Epic 4G on Sprint, HTR Raider on Rogers, MyTouch 4G Slide, Acer A500, and the list goes on. This is definitely one problem that does not discriminate, since it has been noticed on various Android platforms, both stock and rooted devices.
Have you been experiencing some abnormality with the Gmail app on your device? Chime in below and share the information. We'll update this post as we hear more.
Thanks for the tip, Jeff!
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

This article, Gmail app trouble hitting users. Are you affected? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 11:27 AM PDT

So, Galaxy Note owners, we have both bad news and good news for you today. The bad news is Samsung decided to push back the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for your phone/tablet hybrid. The good news is they are bringing instead a new Premium Suite that increases the functionality of the S Pen. Aren’t you excited?
Initially, the Samsung Galaxy Note was to become one of the first devices to be given the Ice Cream Sandwich makeover. When Samsung rolled out the first wave of the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Galaxy S2 smartphone on March 13, hopes were building up that the ICS update for the Galaxy Note would follow suit. Alas, it was just not meant to be — Samsung is now promising a Q2 ICS update for the Galaxy Note.
What you do get is the so-called Premium Suite software package, which brings some nifty new tricks to the arsenal of your beloved phablet.  The new S Note apps comes with the Shape Match and Formula Match features. The former helps straighten those uneven geometric shapes that you create (on purpose, obviously), while the latter helps solve the math formulas you draw using the S Pen. Say goodbye to calculator and all that. Also,when you draw tables and grids, they will be instantly digitized by the software, which might save you a lot of time. Wish I had something like that in high-school…

Also new to the Galaxy Note is an app called My Story. Think of My Story as MMS on steroids, an app that lets you create personalized digital cards that include videos, photos, text, voice, and notes.

Galaxy Note’s surprising impact

The Galaxy Note is Samsung's attempt to push the size boundary of smartphones. With its 5.3-inch Super AMOLED screen, the device finely straddles the line between a tablet and a smartphone. Unlike a regular touchscreen, the Galaxy Note has a Wacom active digitizer layer with pressure sensitivity. This allows for a more precise use of the capacitive stylus, otherwise known as the S Pen.
It's a gamble that has paid off extremely well. Samsung was able to silence critics and naysayers after the company sold 2 million units of the Galaxy Note within three months of the device's availability and sales are expected to reach a staggering 10 million units by the end of the year. Based on the unprecedented success of the Galaxy Note, Samsung has announced plans to release a bigger version of the device, the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet.
How about you? Do you find the S Pen and the apps that come with it useful?

This article, ICS for Samsung Galaxy Note delayed to Q2, Premium Suite offered as consolation , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 10:10 AM PDT
Nowadays, it seems that there are two standard news we can expect from tech sites, over any given day. One, a new Android 4.0 running tablet is rumored/announced/launched/shipped, and two, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is “leaked”.
Although we received official confirmation from a Samsung official in China about the Galaxy S3 being released as soon as April (or in May, in the worst case), the Koreans have been very secretive about the actual specifications of their future flagship phone. This has given rise to endless rumors and "leaked photos" of phones and designs claimed to be the vaunted S3.
If you aren't tired of the whole craziness yet or if you love playing detective with tech rumors, here's another juicy one for you.
Samsung Galaxy S3
Phone Arena claims to have received leaked photos of the supposed Samsung GT-i9300 and is claiming that the device is the "real deal". Of course, these are most likely real images of an upcoming phone from the Galaxy line-up (unlike the renders we’ve seen before). But it’s still not clear if the GT-i9300 is the codename  of  the Galaxy S3 or of another device.

There are a few key points to note from the images (if they are real), which suggest that what we are seeing is an unreleased phone.
  • The OS shown on the screen is definitely Android 4.0 with TouchWiz applied
  • The device features the ICS recommended three capacitive button strip and no physical buttons. (All other non-ICS Android phones released so far had, in most cases, at least one physical button)
  • The screen certainly seems large enough to fit the rumored  4.7-inch size of the Galaxy S3
  • The Samsung logo has been moved below the screen. So far, only the US models have featured this, with the carrier logo going on top.
  • The phone seems to feature a prominent bezel, which contradicts the general consensus so far
Not being an expert at Photoshop or a photographer, my amateur eye says that these images are real. This is most likely an upcoming Android 4.0 model from Samsung, maybe the mid-range counterpart to the Galaxy S3 (similar to the three-pronged HTC One series), but is probably NOT the Galaxy S3. Other rumors (yes, more of them, I know) suggest that this might be the Galaxy S2 Advance. This could also be a Samsung developer phone used for testing purposes.
The Galaxy S3 is a phone I've been looking forward to since the rumors first started circulating and is the only thing making me hesitate from buying the HTC One X as soon as it is released. A part of me would be very disappointed if this actually IS the Galaxy S3. So here's to hoping that this latest addition to the rampant rumors swirling around Samsung's next flagship phone is not the “real deal”.
One more thing. Will the REAL Galaxy S3 please stand up?
What are your thoughts? Is this what you’ve been looking for? Are we any closer or moving further away from the truth? Are we going to have to beg Samsung to up and make an official spec sheet announcement already?

This article, Will the REAL Galaxy S3 please stand up? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 09:13 AM PDT
Acer Iconia Tab A510
The list of tablets featuring NVIDIA's quad-core Tegra 3 processor is slowly but steadily extending and here’s another one joining this illustrious group. Acer announced that the Acer Iconia Tab A510 is available for pre-order starting today.
The Acer Iconia Tab A510 was first introduced to us at CES, at the NVIDIA booth, to showcase NVIDIA's Tegra 3 processor, but Acer had been relatively silent about this device. This 10.1-inch tablet features a 1280×800 vanilla LCD screen which, while not quite IPS, has a certain attraction to it. The first Acer tablet to feature Android 4.0 right out of the box, the A510 is billed as the successor to the Acer Iconia Tab A500, released last year.
Other specifications include:
  • 1.3 Ghz NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor
  • Android 4.0 OS
  • 10.1-inch multi-touch capacitive touchscreen
  • 1280×800 screen resolution
  • 32GB built in memory, expandable to 32GB with SD card
  • 5 MP with flash rear camera, 2 MP  front camera
  • 802.11 b/g/n
  • Mini USB port, HDMI out port
  • 9,800 mAH battery

Most specifications are "standard" for a high-end ICS device these days, but the Iconia stands out through its generous 9,800 mAH battery. Housing such a big battery is bound to affect the form factor, hence the slightly bulky line of the deviece. On the flip side, the Iconia Tab A510 can do 12 hours of video playback, which is slightly better than the ASUS Transformer Prime.
The Acer slate features Google's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS with Acer’s UI, which is a minimalistic skin that gives users easy access to their apps. Apart from the standard set of media software,  pre-loaded software includes Polaris Office 3.5. If you are curious about the Olympics Games logo at the back, that is mostly because of Acer’s sponsorship of the London 2012 games. Whether the logo will be available in production units sold after said games is unknown, and a bit unlikely.
The ever-growing list of Android tablets (220 says Apple) is bound to create confusion among consumers. So here’s the essential thing you should know about the Acer Iconia Tab A510: if price, performance, and battery life are your main priority, this tablet,  priced at a relatively low $449.99,  is the device for you.
The Acer Iconia A510 Tab is available for pre-order now in the US and Canada, but actual shipping dates are yet to be  confirmed.
Here is a short video of a Acer Iconia Tab A510 hands-on at CES 2012, courtesy of Phandroid.com:


This article, Preview: Acer IconiaTab A510 Android 4.0 tablet (available for pre-order today) , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 08:46 AM PDT
DefeseZoneHD
If you enjoy playing tower defense games like Defense of the Ancients, you’ll find great joy in Defense Zone HD, a newly launched Android game that provides many hours of action-packed gameplay. Like any tower defense game, Defense Zone puts you into the role of a master strategist that must decide what defenses to build and where to concentrate firepower. DZHD is powered by the popular Unity 3D game engine, so you can expect some good graphics and visual effects. You can buy it on the Google Play store or download the Lite version from the same source.

Defense Zone HD Plot

DZHD is built on the classic tower defense formula — you hold your ground against hoards of enemies that just keep coming at you, wave after wave. The goal is to prevent enemies from reaching the end of their path, and you have various tools and weapons that you can use to stop the badies in their tracks, including various machine guns, flame throwers, and rocket launchers, of different strengths and abilities. Defense Zone will test your resource management skills as well as your sense of logistics. Not only do you have to decide which weapons to buy and where to place them, you must also manage the upgrading and restoring of veteran turrets.
The graphics of Defense Zone HD  are excellent, and, in fact, one of the issues of the game is the fact that phones with older specs may not be able to enjoy an optimal visual experience. The landscape changes with levels and you may find yourself battling in forests, the Arctic, or on rocky outcrops. Each level is unique and there are many different types of enemies you will get to obliterate. Speaking of which, there are several difficulty levels for you to chose from, including the Hard mode, for those who appreciate a challenge. But don’t worry if you just want to relax and have fun, as there are difficulty levels for casual players, as well.
zone-defense-review

Online Scoreboard

You can keep track of your score and progress in Defense Zone HD via the OpenFeint system. The online scoring system lets you compare your performance against other players, which certainly adds an element of competitive gameplay that many players (including casual tower strategists) will appreciate.
DefeseZoneHD_gameplay

Gameplay Mechanics

Enemy troops will spawn and attack you in successive waves and it is your task to stop them. Simple, huh? You can use the many different towers that are available to you. Apart from the “regular” waves, every three or so waves, you might have to withstand an air raid as well. Enemy aircraft don't follow the same path as the other enemies and can only be attacked by special antiaircraft towers.
The machine gun and the rocket launcher will form the foundation of your defense, so you should build them first on most levels. As you advance, you will see different and more expensive turret upgrades showing up, each with its own unique effect and damage.

Controlling the Turrets

As the commander of the defense force, you have to organize the barrier and issue out all the orders before the next wave is upon you. To add a turret, simply tap it and drag it. The goal isn't to just build as many turrets as you can, so you’ll need to learn when (and how) to upgrade them, and when to sell and replace them with something more efficient.
In general, there are many different tactics you can try out in Defense Zone. You can even control in which order your turrets should be firing. So, you’ll often find yourself making decision such as – do I order the machine guns to weaken the enemies that have the largest amount of health? Or should I order them to attack the weaker ones and quickly clear them out?

The Interface

Defense Zone isn’t that complicated to play, while it’s relatively difficult to understand and fully master all its subtleties. The user interface itself is spot on, giving you quick access to all the relevant information and all the major options.
On the upper part of the screen, you’ll see information such as:
  • The number of the current wave and the waves remaining
  • Your current money
  • Your remaining health
On the lower part of the screen you will see details such as:
  • Available towers and their costs.
  • The menu button.
  • Pause and fast-forward buttons.
zone-defense-hd-lite-review 

Additional Features

Defense Zone HD features some really nice visual effects and environments that look great, but all the eye-candy will cause lag, when playing on phones with less processing power. The soundtrack is also engaging and energetic, contributing to the atmosphere. In short, the beats will get your blood pumping in those difficult snow levels, but of course, you can always turn it off if you don’t fancy it. If you feel that a wave of enemies is walking to slow towards their rocket-inflicted downfall, you can use the fast-forward button, which should be a standard feature in TD games, yet a lot of developers neglect to add it.
Another awesome feature that many developers neglect, yet is present in Defense Zone HD are the in-game tips that you can read while you wait for the next level to load. When you first start out playing the game, make sure you read them carefully. The only thing the game really needs is a decent tutorial, though the first levels are easy enough to catch on and learn everything by yourself.

Final Thoughts on the Defense Zone HD

Admittedly, Defense Zone HD is nothing revolutionary. However, we feel that most tower defense fans will enjoy it. It provides hours of captivating gameplay, and the online rankings and high score system add a touch of competition to an otherwise solitary game. The style of Defense Zone HD is quite unique and the visual effects are amazing. The devs did a splendid job with DZHD, yet they neglected some basic features that should’ve made it to the game, like a tutorial and minor interface customizations. Perhaps in the future, we will see a better version of the game, but, until then, enjoy Defense Zone  HD!

This article, Defense Zone HD for Android – tower defense game review , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 08:36 AM PDT

The CyanogenMod  project has finally acknowledged that the 1,000,000+ devices running CyanogenMod  come with a gaping security hole – default root access. With privacy issues and app permissions becoming more of a concern to smartphone users, running a jail-broken (rooted) device negates any security and data safeguards that Google has tried to build into the OS.
So, in an attempt to keep everyone happy, while improving security, the team has decided on a compromise that will allow enthusiasts to keep using root privileges but also provide better default security for the majority of users. Starting with the first public CyanogenMod 9 alpha builds, root access has been disabled by default but with the option to enable it again. The new changes allow root access to be selectively enabled with four states available:
  • Disabled
  • Enabled for ADB only
  • Enabled for Apps only
  • Enabled for both ADB and Apps.
This means that on a default CyanogenMod 9 installation, root usage will have to be explicitly enabled by the user. If a user is fully aware of the implications of enabling root (including the fact that any root enabled application  may perform actions that can compromise security and privacy), then they are free to enable it. As before, apps that request root (by calling the su binary) will be redirected to SuperUser.apk where the user can grant access. SuperUser.apk is also used to manage which apps have root permission as well as monitor the usage of the permission.

Why the concern?

With root enabled, any app installed on the phone has unrestricted access to functionality that would normally be off limits to an app. This super user access has given rise to specific types of Android malware that can circumvent smartphone security mechanisms either by using the existing root access or by actually jail-breaking the phone during its installation process. With root access, the malware can access parts of the API that are supposed to be protected by the permissions system.
“We honestly believe there are limited uses for root on CyanogenMod, and none that warrant shipping the OS defaulted to unsecured” wrote Jef Oliver, a member of the CyanogenMod team.

This article, CyanogenMod 9 to disable default root access , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 22 Mar 2012 08:32 AM PDT

Whoever said that fast and efficient web browsing had to be limited to your computer? Though smartphones these days have been continuously getting smarter, a lot of people believe that the ultimate web browsing experience just cannot be found on mobile phones.
Maxthon Android Web Browser is here to debunk that theory. This browser claims itself to be the world’s “fastest and smartest Android browser” and looking at what features it packs, we’re pretty much convinced.
Maxthon Android Web Browser certainly packs functions that every web surfer absolutely must have. Tabbed browsing and lightning fast web surfing are just the tip of the iceberg of Maxthon Android Web Browser’s features.

The app even comes with the ability to sync to the cloud so that your bookmarks and favorite sites don’t need to just sit at home on your computer; now you can take them with you anywhere on your Android phone.
You even have the option to browse without saving any of your browsing history. Put your phone’s gorgeous screen to full use by browsing the web in full screen. Make Maxthon Android Web Browser your perfect browsing platform with small but useful add-ons such as Screenshot Assistant, RSS Reader, Boomark Backup, Web Snapshot, Task Killer, and File Manager.
To give it an additional custom touch, select a skin from Maxthon’s library of browser skins. If you’re not satisfied with the stock gestures that other mobile browsers come with, you can make your own touchscreen commands to surf with your fingertips.

Have you strayed too far along to make going back to a previous page a hassle? Maxthon Android Web Browser allows you to visit previous pages at lightning-fast speed. Maxthon’s Download Manager makes it easy to sort, schedule and grab the downloads you need.
You can also easily switch between WWW and WAP versions of the web, as well as have quick access to the Internet’s best sites.
Maxthon Android Web Browser is quickly shaping up to be a new favorite among Android users, with the host of features it packs and the ability to maximize your browsing experience by using every gorgeous inch of your device’s display. You’ll never have to wait until you get home to enjoy surfing the web, nor will you have to despair that you’ve left your bookmarks on your computer.
The best part is that Maxthon is free and isn’t cluttered by ads. Get Maxthon Android Web Browser today from the Google Play Store.
Still on stock Android browser?  What alternative Web browser do you use on your Android device?

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