Android and Me |
- Google’s upcoming 3D maps are stunning
- As expected, Google Maps is going offline
- Galaxy S III pre-orders live on Sprint, AT&T and Verizon
- Apple files new ITC complaint against HTC – alleges HTC’s ‘data tapping’ workaround still infringes on Apple patent
- TomTom for Android finally coming this summer
- Rumor: Nexus 7 tablet pictured in press images
| Google’s upcoming 3D maps are stunning Posted: 06 Jun 2012 12:24 PM PDT  Google Earth has always been impressive. The amount of time and resources it takes to create an accurate, interactive map of the globe is far beyond the grasp of most companies. But Google has taken the challenge head-on. With the new 3D maps Google has revealed at their maps event today, they’ll be taking that challenge to the next level. Created by using entirely automated technology, Google’s new 3D maps are breathtaking. By using a fleet of planes, Google has been able to capture aerial images at a 45-degree angle, from several different angles, autonomously lacing them together to paint an accurate 3D model of the world around you. While it wasn’t revealed exactly when Google’s new 3D mapping technology would be made available to the public, it should be coming soon. Whether or not 3D mapping will come to Google maps, and not just Google Earth, is still unclear. From what we’ve gathered, it will be available in Google Earth only, at least initially. Whenever Google Earth with enhanced 3D drops, look for it on both Android and iOS. What do you think of Google’s new 3D maps? Just a gimmick, hardly worth its own press event, or will it change the way we interact with maps from this point forward?
|
| As expected, Google Maps is going offline Posted: 06 Jun 2012 10:12 AM PDT  Google has announced today that it will be taking Maps offline, right down to street level detail. An update to Maps for Android will go live in 100 countries over the next few weeks to provide users with offline access to Google Maps data for selected locations. This will give you access to essential navigation and mapping features without needing to be connected to a data network, perfect for areas with weak coverage. It’s unclear exactly how Google will be implementing this feature, though a Maps for Android Labs option has been available for quite a while now. Under this feature, users could long-press on the screen select an area they’d like to download a map for, and Maps would initiate a download for offline access. We expect this feature will simply shed the beta tag and land on the updated maps application, hopefully with some bugfixes and feature enhancements. Regardless, the time for rejoicing is nigh, as Google Offline Maps is coming soon to your Android device.
|
| Galaxy S III pre-orders live on Sprint, AT&T and Verizon Posted: 06 Jun 2012 09:32 AM PDT  The Samsung Galaxy S III is shaping up to be the most uniform non-iPhone launch across U.S. carriers in recent memory and certainly in Android history with all four major carriers releasing identical hardware (AT&T’s odd Verizon-red option notwithstanding) within just weeks of one another. In keeping with this lock step launch plan we had three of the four put their versions of the Galaxy S III up for pre-order in the last 24 hours with Sprint, AT&T and Verizon all ready to take your money. While the hardware is virtually identical there are a couple minor differences depending on the carrier that you may want to pay attention to if you are shopping for a carrier as well as the phone. It’s also worth noting that the price on contract is the same across all three, but if you want to pick the Galaxy S III up off contract it’ll cost you extra on Verizon as their retail price for the 16GB is $599 versus the $549 that Sprint and AT&T are asking. Sprint was the first to throw their hat in the ring with pre-orders going live yesterday afternoon. Sprint’s claim to fame with their Galaxy S III will be having Google Wallet installed and operational when you receive it. It does of course also support Sprint’s LTE network, so if you are in one of the six locations that will have it soon or if you just want to future proof yourself that’s a nice touch. Sprint is vowing to do their “best to get it to you before others get a glimpse on Thursday, June 21.” AT&T got into the act this morning and you can pre-order the white or blue models at the moment, but if you have your sights on that exclusive red version you’ll just need to wait as apparently it’s still fermenting. The AT&T model does support their whole host of network options so you can enjoy whatever is fastest in your area be it “4G” or 4G. If you are a crazed digital hoarder you may be a little upset by AT&T’s lack of a 32GB Galaxy S III, but with the microSD slot it shouldn’t be a problem for 99% of you. AT&T is going to try to just edge out Sprint by shipping on June 18th. Bringing up the rear is the Verizon pre-order. Why do I put it that way you ask? Well yesterday’s rumor proved true and they are planning to ship “by July 9th” which for those keeping track at home puts them over two weeks behind everyone else. Does that wording leave a flicker of hope that it will ship earlier? Sure it does, but I wouldn’t hold your breath. Moving on there is some positive news for potential Galaxy S III owners on Big Red and that is that global roaming will be enabled on the phone in the future with a software update. Verizon’s incredibly dominant LTE coverage map isn’t of course unique to the Galaxy S III, but it seemed worth mentioning when comparing the three. That’s all the current Galaxy S III pre-order news that’s fit to Have you already gotten your pre-order in and what carrier did you go with if you did?
|
| Posted: 06 Jun 2012 08:29 AM PDT  The ’data tapping’ dispute between HTC and Apple is back in play. Back in December, the ITC sided with Apple in its “data tapping” patent infringement complaint against HTC. The patent itself is a "system and method [which] causes a computer to detect and perform actions on structures identified in computer data," which covers how Android interacts with the UI, automatically identifying a phone number, email address or hyperlink and presenting the user with multiple execution options when tapped. The ITC gave HTC until April 19, 2012 to update the software on its phones before an exclusion order would prevent all infringing devices from being imported in the the United States. After a short holdup and inspection by U.S. Customs, all HTC handsets were cleared and said to be in compliance with the ITC’s ruling. Unfortunately, Apple was not satisfied with the U.S. Customs stamp of approval and has issued another complaint with the ITC regarding the same ”data tapping” patent. Apple claims that HTC’s software workaround still infringes on Apple’s #5,946,647 patent even though HTC’s tweaks change the way the OS interacts with links, phone numbers and emails by allowing users to select application associations within the phone’s settings. At the time of the ITC’s initial ruling, HTC claimed “the '647 patent is a small UI experience and HTC will completely remove it from all of our phones soon.” Apple’s complaint shows images of the functionality within the Gmail application which they claim infringes on its patent. Upon inspection, Apple is showing off Android’s menu which shows up when long-pressing a link which gives users the option to open the link in the browser, share it with another application, or copy the URL – which are present on all modern-day computer operating systems and most likely do not fall under Apple’s #5,946,647 patent. Do you think Apple’s new complaint against HTC will get any traction from the ITC or will Apple have to resign to the fact that its ”data tapping” patent is trivial and can easily be avoided by HTC and other OEMs.
|
| TomTom for Android finally coming this summer Posted: 06 Jun 2012 08:26 AM PDT  We were excited a few years back when TomTom indicated it would be launching an Android version of their navigation application. After all, TomTom offers slick voices for a price, and who wouldn’t want to have Yoda or Darth Vader ordering them to their destination? Today, TomTom co-founder Peter-Frans Pauwels told Pocket-Lint that they’re still working on an Android application, and that it’d likely come sometime this summer. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of an imminent launch for TomTom, as they told us the same thing over a year ago, which itself was about a year after we learned that they were working on an Android version. Since that time, Google has come out with Google Navigation, a free navigation feature now found commonplace in Android devices, which works beautifully when you’re connected to the internet. The question that begs asking is whether a market for TomTom still exists on Android, especially when you consider that TomTom’s iOS applications retail for at least $50, a heavy premium for a service that will soon be free on all Android devices. Google is widely expected to announce an offline version of Google Navigation at its Google I/O conference in June, which should fill the one gaping hole that still remains in Google’s Navigation service. In just under a month, there will simply be no room in the market for a standalone Navigation application that provides offline maps, especially with a $50 price tag. Sorry, TomTom, your Android version is too little, too late.
|
| Rumor: Nexus 7 tablet pictured in press images Posted: 06 Jun 2012 08:04 AM PDT  Phone Arena was just sent alleged press images of the upcoming ASUS-Google Nexus 7 tablet. If the images are real, the Nexus 7 will be a three-toned tablet, with a white front to the tablet and a two-toned black and gray backplate. I’m not quite sold on the three-tone look, so here’s hoping the Nexus 7 will come in two color schemes (white and black/gray) similar to other Android tablets. Sources for Phone Arena confirmed that the device will in fact feature a Tegra 3 processor, and that the tablet would launch with Android 4.1, commonly believed to be the launch version number for Jelly Bean.
From the press shots, we noticed that the Nexus Tablet features a speaker on the front of the device, a common placement for speakers on phones as opposed to tablets, where speakers are normally located on tablets. This speaker location leads us to believe that the Nexus Tablet will likely be able to make phone calls using Google Voice or other VOIP services. If not, having a speaker on the front of the device still makes sense to us, as it tends to result in better sound output. We should be learning more about the Nexus Tablet at Google I/O at the end of this month, with a widespread launch slated for July. The Nexus Tablet is expected to retail in the $150-$250 range to take on the Kindle Fire and a rumored 7″ iPad that could be launching later this year. Stay tuned for updates.
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android and Me To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment