Android Authority |
- HTC’s sales down 45% in July compared to a year ago
- Google, Apple start bidding for Kodak’s digital patents
- T-Mobile slashes HTC One S price to $149
- Want an Android-powered microwave oven? Here’s MAID!
- Samsung allegedly copied iPhone app icons too, Apple says and it may be right
- Motorola Xoom 4G LTE to get Android 4.1 soon
- Deal: Amazon Wireless offers high-end Sprint Android phones for a penny, Samsung Galaxy S3 at half-price
- HopeLine Android app brings hope and resources for domestic violence victims
- Jawbone Jambox bluetooth speaker review [video]
- UK’s Clove to sell unlocked white Sony Xperia Go for £210
| HTC’s sales down 45% in July compared to a year ago Posted: 07 Aug 2012 03:30 AM PDT
HTC doesn’t seem to be doing too well lately, even after the big launch of the One series, and the much praised HTC One X smartphone. Yesterday they said that their sales fell by 45% in the month of July compared to the same month last year, from T$45.11 billion to T$25 billion ($834 million). The sales were also down compared the previous month by T$5 billion. Things seem to be going downhill for HTC, and with the next iPhone being just a month away from launch, it doesn’t look like they will recover too soon. However, they are rumored to make a 5″ phone with a 1080p screen for this fall, but I’m not sure if that will be enough to help them. I think what will do a lot more to get them back on track would be a very well made Nexus phone for this fall, but we aren’t sure if there will be just one company making it, and if that company is HTC, or several of them, in which case HTC’s chances would increase.
Either way, HTC should surprise the world by making some stock Android phones. People would be very happy about that and would start recommending HTC’s phones again, even over those from Samsung, that have Touchwiz. I think there’s little chance of this happening, which is puzzling considering HTC was oh so happy to build very similar looking WP7 phones. These were not just in software, but also in hardware, and they will probably continue to do that with WP8. In the same time they seem unwilling to do the same with Android. It very well may be their loss, because I don’t see how else they can recover quickly, unless they have some hardware innovation up their sleeves and are ready to show it off this year. No related posts. This article, HTC’s sales down 45% in July compared to a year ago , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Google, Apple start bidding for Kodak’s digital patents Posted: 07 Aug 2012 02:45 AM PDT
WSJ reported yesterday that Kodak’s upcoming patent auction already has 2 bidders: Google and Apple, and each has bids between $150 million and $250 million so far. Kodak, however, is expecting up to $2.6 billion for its 1,100 digital patents to pay off its creditors. This may be wishful thinking for Kodak, but who knows how fast the bids will escalate with Apple in there. Apple doesn’t really care about the money they have to spend, so they will try to at least raise the cost for Google as much as possible provided Google does retain them eventually. The two companies are not actually bidding by themselves, but are leaders of 2 consortium of companies. On Google’s side, there seem to be Android manufacturers genuinely interested in defending themselves against the likes of Apple and Microsoft, like Samsung, HTC and LG, while on Apple’s side there’s Microsoft and the known patent troll, Intellectual Ventures. You can only imagine that these companies are not looking to use those patents defensively. If Apple gets some of Kodak’s patents, they will probably use them to put more injunctions on Android manufacturers. Microsoft would try to get even more money from the companies they are charging for alleged patent infringements. Intellectual Ventures would just spread them out to certain patent troll shell companies to sue other companies, including Android manufacturers. Kodak has denied the leaked information, which makes sense as they don’t want to upset some of the bidders. Google and their consortium would have the most to suffer from this because if Apple and the others know they are bidding, they will just keep raising the price. But I think they already knew there was a high chance Google would bid for them. Hopefully, history won’t repeat itself like with the Nortel patents, and Google and their partners will obtain the goods without incident. No related posts. This article, Google, Apple start bidding for Kodak’s digital patents , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| T-Mobile slashes HTC One S price to $149 Posted: 07 Aug 2012 02:35 AM PDT
Even though it seems to be hip these days to cut the prices of some of the best-selling smartphones around, we can't help but suspect some of these discounts have ulterior motives or strings attached to them. Take T-Mobile's HTC One S, for example. This hasn't exactly been a star, but it sold decently enough at $200 on-contract to be untouched for at least a few more weeks. However, T-Mo has already decided a price slashing is needed and is now selling the elegant 4.3-incher at $149.99. The "special offer" will be lasting until August 21, so you have 2 full weeks to decide whether to take advantage of the deal or not. Then again, we're almost certain that at the end of this promotion, or at the worst a few weeks after that, HTC will come out with a spanking new high-end phone, known around the web as the One X+. We've picked up a benchmark of that supposed new HTC flagship just a few days ago, and according to it, the One X+ might come packing a quad-core 1.7 GHz Tegra 3 processor, a full HD 1280 x 720 pixels resolution display, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box. That'll certainly raise the bar over the One S and X in terms of raw performance. It's safe to assume that it'll also go up for sale with a much steeper price point than T-Mo's current line-up of phones.
Leaving speculations aside for a moment and getting back to T-Mo's current deal, we should tell you that the One S is powered by a dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 processor. The 4.3-incher sports a qHD Super AMOLED screen with 960 x 540 pixels resolution and features 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of on-board memory, built-in Beats Audio technology, 4G speeds, an 8 MP rear-facing camera, as well as the running of Android 4.0 ICS with the Sense 4.0 UI on top (an upgrade to Jelly Bean is also “planned”). To get the One S for just $149.99, you'll have to sign a new two-year carrier agreement and go for one of the carrier's individual plans starting at $39.99 per month. The offer includes a mail-in rebate, while the usual $35 activation fee is waived for a limited time only (until August 12, to be more exact). Will anyone be picking up one of the discounted One S’? Are you all planning to hold out until the One X+ will be made official?
No related posts. This article, T-Mobile slashes HTC One S price to $149 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Want an Android-powered microwave oven? Here’s MAID! Posted: 07 Aug 2012 02:02 AM PDT
Android has surely gone a long way since its 2007 inception, now powering more smartphones and tablets than ever, but the mobile OS' expansion might well go beyond what anyone over at Google imagined a few years back. It might not come as a surprise to many when hearing that Android-powered TVs were in pre-production, but we have to admit we never thought we would see the day when household appliances will be powered by Google's operating system. Well, as hard as it might be to picture, a little Indian company called SectorQube has unveiled an Android-powered microwave oven, going by the name of MAID. Technical details about the pioneering device are still a bit scarce, but it seems that MAID might enter production by the end of the year. The "Make All Incredible Dishes" or "Microwave Android Integrated Device" (clever, eh?) is advertised as an appliance that "literally knows how to cook every dish". Without being able to sneak a peek at some photos of MAID it's a bit difficult to understand how it will work, but based on the manufacturers' statements, the device will connect to the Internet (we hope through WiFi) and will be operated by touch and voice commands. MAID will offer access to more than 50,000 online recipes and will be able to prepare the respective dishes with only a minimum help from you. That means you'll have to get the ingredients ready based on smart-microwave's instructions, and then be off to doing your business while your delicious dish is being prepared by your own personal maid. This is, of course, a device meant to make bachelor life so much easier (no more eating French fries and scrambled eggs every day, guys!), but it should also draw the attention of independence-seeking women or couples who simply don't have time for themselves anymore.
An old American proverb says that a cook is no better than her (or his) stove, so the Android-powered MAID might well increase the number of master chefs among technology enthusiasts. And you can't be a top chef without making innovations, which is why MAID's recipe database will be open to propositions and suggestions. India-based SectorQube, the small company behind MAID's making, has already announced the future device's pricing, which is yet another thing that makes us truly believe the microwave will not die as a prototype. MAID should go up for sale in a matter of months for just 7,000-8,000 rupees over in India, which would translate into $125-145. That's surely not an enormous price to ask for such an innovative device, but we should probably refrain from making such judgments before:
Any top chef wannabees out there who might be tempted to give MAID a try? And is this just a quirky fad, or do you think we will be seeing many other Android-powered microwave ovens, fridges and washing machines following suit?
No related posts. This article, Want an Android-powered microwave oven? Here’s MAID! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Samsung allegedly copied iPhone app icons too, Apple says and it may be right Posted: 06 Aug 2012 08:10 PM PDT
The U.S. Apple vs Samsung trial continues today with new testimonies and evidence submitted by each party to make it case. We're going to share with you an interesting slideshow, as posted by CNET, that shows us a variety of images in which we can compare various app icons as found on the iPhone and/or iPad and on Samsung Android devices. Apple says that Samsung has allegedly copied app icons design including the app icon for the Phone app, Music app, Contacts app, Phpto app, Notes app and Settings app. And it will surely be interesting to see how Samusng will explain to the jury why its icons are so similar to Apple's app icons. From where I'm looking I will say that they are awfully similar, and makes you wonder what Samsung designers must have had in mind when coming up with these app icons in the first place.
Let's take the Phone app: it has to be green, because we're used to having green drawings on phones representing the button we have to push when initiating a call. We’ve associated green with making phone calls form before smartphones were launched. But does the phone image on that green background has to be tilted in the exact same position? What if the background was white and the phone was green in Samsung’s designs?
The Contacts app is a bit different, although it does remind one of the iPhone Contacts app icon. Here, Samsung was able to use a different color, although the general idea is pretty much the same, we have a profile of a person posted over what seems to be an agenda or a notebook
Samsung almost got it right when it comes to the Settings app too. We're looking at a blue app icon, which is nothing like the gray app found on the iPhone. Too bad though that there's the same wheel on both icon sets.
Moving on to the Notes app, we have Samsung using almost the same color option as Apple does in its iPhone Notes app. While it's clear why the phone icon has to be green, why does the notes app have to be yellow on Samsung devices too? Can't it be white, or any other color?
I left the most disturbing icons for last, as Samsung will really have to explain why its Photo app on some devices has to contain elements of a flower, which is what is found on the iPhone' Photo app. Are people only taking pictures of flowers?
The weirdest choice Samsung made for an icon is represented by the Music app icon that looks too much like the kind of icon Apple has been using for a few years for its iTunes music service. The same kind of concept was then brought to iOS devices, and Samsung seems to have been really interested not only to use a variation of purple, or thereabouts colors, for its various Music app icons, but so many of them show a CD design and a note on top of it, which is too similar to Apple's Music app found on iOS devices. So while it'll certainly be a lot more easier for Samusng to argue that touchscreen-based smartphones and tablets have to be rather square with rounded corners, it'll be a lot more difficult to explain why UI elements from various Galaxy handsets look so much like elements from the iPhone. And there are plenty of Samsung devices that use the icons above including:
Of course, this is not the first time we see these icons, they were there all along, although they make quite an impression when merged together like that. And they may not be found to be infringing on Apple tech – a jury will still have to tell us if that’s the case – they surely paint a pretty clear picture, that Samsung was, in fact, inspired in its smartphone design, by Apple elements. Maybe too much so when it comes to some of the apps described above. We'll be back with more news from the trial, but in the mean time, tell us how you’d defend Samsung when presented with such compelling evidence? No related posts. This article, Samsung allegedly copied iPhone app icons too, Apple says and it may be right , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Motorola Xoom 4G LTE to get Android 4.1 soon Posted: 06 Aug 2012 06:28 PM PDT
We recently saw that the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS is already available on 0.8% of current Android devices. Granted, this is mostly because of the very successful release of the Nexus 7 tablet, and the quick upgrade rollout to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the WiFi version of the Motorola Xoom, as promised by Google. Needless to say, the current distribution of Jelly Bean is in a far better state than ICS, after it was first announced last year. Even though the WiFi version of the Motorola Xoom received the update a while back, the rollout for the 4G LTE version, available from Verizon, would take a while, as it’s once again dependent on the network carrier. The good news is that it may not take as long as first expected. One Droid Life reader says that he received the official update to Jelly Bean over the weekend. The screenshot above shows that the Android version is 4.1.1 with the build number JR003H. The baseband version, and the 4G notification at the bottom left of the screenshot proves that it is indeed the 4G LTE version of the Motorola Xoom. He also sent in a screenshot of Google Now, which as we all know, is a feature available only on Jelly Bean. It’s unclear whether this update was pushed out by mistake during Verizon testing, as there has been no official word yet of the carrier being to ready to rollout the upgrade. Either way, that is one lucky customer, and this hopefully means that the latest Android OS is on the way for every Xoom 4G LTE owner out there very soon. What are your thoughts? Mistake by Verizon, or the start of the official rollout? If you use a Xoom 4G LTE and have received the update, let us know in the comments section below. No related posts. This article, Motorola Xoom 4G LTE to get Android 4.1 soon , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Posted: 06 Aug 2012 05:20 PM PDT
Sprint launched its 4G LTE network less than a month back, with further expansion already on its way and set to arrive by the end of September. Granted, the third largest network carrier in the U.S. is still playing catch up to the more extensive 4G LTE networks of the top two operators, Verizon and AT&T. However, if you were looking for a reason to switch to Sprint, it doesn’t get any better than this. Amazon Wireless is offering a slate of high-end Android devices from Sprint, for only a penny, with the Samsung Galaxy S3 going at half the original on-contract price. Of course, the two-year contractual commitment is still required and these deals are available to only new Sprint subscribers. But with similar devices going for as much as $200 on other networks, these deals are absolutely amazing and a great reason to wait out to current lack of 4G LTE connectivity. Here’s a quick roundup: Samsung Galaxy S3Amazon Wireless offered the Galaxy S3 for only $119.99 only a few days back. If you were someone you decided to not jump on that particular deal, you’re in luck because the Sprint Samsung Galaxy S3 now features an even further price cut, and it’s only $99.99, which is half the price of the original on-contract subsidized rate.
You can avail this offer from the Amazon Wireless website here. HTC EVO 4G LTEThe HTC EVO 4G LTE (Sprint’s HTC One X variant) is another great device, but seemingly loses out when compared to the Galaxy S3. If this difference isn’t that big a factor, the new price for the EVO 4G LTE certainly should be. Yes, the HTC flagship from Sprint is available for $0.01.
You can avail this offer here. Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4GThe Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G was released last year, but it’s still standing strong against the test of time. A good reason to get the Galaxy Nexus is that it will be one of the first devices to receive an update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Another reason? It’s only a penny!
Of course, that is one penny too much, as Sprint is offering the device for free, but that’s alright, especially if you’re a frequent user of the Amazon Wireless site. Think of it as a $0.01 convenience charge. You can check out the offer here. Other devicesApart from the above high-end smartphones, there are a lot of other deals available from the site as well. The LG Viper is also available for $0.01, and is still at that price point even if you are an existing customer. All other deals require you to be a new subscriber, so the Viper is a good option for anyone looking to upgrade for practically free. The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G, and the Samsung Epic 4G are also available for one penny – to new customers only. You can find the complete list of Sprint Android devices available from Amazon Wireless, and all the above deals, here. What are your thoughts? Will you be taking up any of these offers? If you’ve already done so, or are planning to soon, let us know in the comments section below.
No related posts. This article, Deal: Amazon Wireless offers high-end Sprint Android phones for a penny, Samsung Galaxy S3 at half-price , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| HopeLine Android app brings hope and resources for domestic violence victims Posted: 06 Aug 2012 05:14 PM PDT
Domestic violence is an issue not to be taken lightly, as it affects more people than you know. According to studies, 1 in 4 women, 1 in 9 men, and over 3 million children have to deal with this harrowing problem. Clearly, we're not just talking about celebrities. Verizon is hoping to bring more awareness about domestic violence by releasing the HopeLine app for Android devices. Verizon Wireless executive director of community relations and multicultural communications Elva Lima said that the HopeLine app offers "necessary resources for victims seeking help, as well as individuals looking to get involved." The HopeLine app provides quick access to resources and assistance for victims of domestic violence. With direct access to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, help is but a touch away. The app also lets survivals share their inspirational stories, either through words, pictures, or videos – all from within the app. Volunteers can provide assistance and reach those who need help in the online community. You can help take action against domestic violence by donating used phones to HopeLine or make a $10 donation through text to the National National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) directly from your Verizon devices. All donations will go to the victims of domestic violence. If you want to show your support for the cause, the HopeLine app is a free download on Google Play Store. No related posts. This article, HopeLine Android app brings hope and resources for domestic violence victims , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Jawbone Jambox bluetooth speaker review [video] Posted: 06 Aug 2012 05:10 PM PDT
There are a lot of features packed into our smartphones, but for many, nothing is more important than the ability of the device to function as a music player. Manufacturers are putting a lot of effort into making sure that their high-end flagship devices don’t give consumers a reason to complain when it comes to this key feature. We’ve seen this happen recently, with the Beats Audio integration with the HTC One X (and all other new HTC releases), and the Samsung Galaxy S3 being no slouch in the sound quality department either. Granted, the best way to enjoy the high-quality capabilities of our smartphones is by using a earphone/headphone. External speakers, no matter how high-end the device, still don’t match the high standards set by audiophiles everywhere. More often than not, they’re just not loud enough, even in a small gathering. This is where the need for add-on external speakers comes in. There are a lot of external speakers available, both wired as well as wireless, covering all parts of the price spectrum, and suited to meet various individual needs. Today we take a look at one such innovative external speaker, the Jawbone Jambox. What is the Jawbone Jambox?
The Jambox is a portable, wireless speaker with is connected to your device via a 3.5mm stereo audio port, or wirelessly using Bluetooth. The company that is well-known for releasing amazing mono Bluetooth headsets, such as the Jawbone ERA, eventually moved into the world of high-quality stereo audio solutions. On the other hand, anyone familiar with the Jambox will know that it was first released way back at the end of 2010. So why are we reviewing this product now? This is primarily because of a recent firmware update, to version 2.2, which, apart from introducing some new features, also added support for the Jawbone Companion for Android devices, allowing you to access several features through a smartphone app. And more importantly, even after all this time, the Jambox is still one of the best portable wireless speakers available. Jawbone says that the Jambox is “simply the smallest, best sounding wireless speaker and speakerphone on the planet.” Let’s see if Jawbone stands true to its claim Specifications and Features
Specifications of the device include:
The small, portable box boasts a variety of features such as:
ReviewWhat stands out right away about the Jambox is its stylish yet simple design. It features a stainless steel construction with industry-weight molded rubber casing, which makes it very sturdy. Granted, this does make the device a little heavy, but is worth it if you’re worried about accidental drops or slips. The built-in battery is chargeable using a microUSB slot, a 3.5mm input jack, and the built-in Bluetooth connectivity comes in handy for wireless use. The design is elegant and minimalistic, with only the mentioned ports and power button on one side, and a large volume rocker and speakerphone button on another. It is very easy to pair the device with your Android device, requiring only to push and hold the power button for a few seconds. Once paired, any sounds from the phone will play through the speaker, including any calls you make or receive. The Jambox promises plenty, so let’s check out the video to take a look at the audio quality of this device. VideoYou can check out Clayton’s video review of the Jawbone Jambox here: ConclusionAs you can see, the sound quality is excellent, with the bass kicking in amazingly well. This is a great buy for anyone looking for a great portable, wireless speaker and speakerphone. Unfortunately, even with all its features and the high-quality output, at $199.99, the price of the Jambox may be a little steep for many consumers. Granted, with big brother Jawbone “Big” Jambox going for $299.99, the “original” Jambox is still the more portable and cheaper option. If you’re interested in buying the Jawbone Jambox, the device is available in four color options, including black, grey, blue, and red. There is also a limited edition yellow color available on the site, with the green one (shown in the video) also a limited-edition version. You can find out more about the Jambox, and even buy it, from the website here. What are your thoughts? Will you buy looking to buy the Jawbone Jawbox to complement your Android device? Do you think the price point is too high? If you already own and use a Jambox, let us know your experience in the comments section below. No related posts. This article, Jawbone Jambox bluetooth speaker review [video] , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| UK’s Clove to sell unlocked white Sony Xperia Go for £210 Posted: 06 Aug 2012 02:55 PM PDT
We're sure everyone has that moment when they wish that their smartphone was built like a tank and came with a waterproof body; you know, something along the lines of the Sony Xperia Go. What we've seen so far concerning Sony's rugged smartphone is that not only can it take some serious beating, but it also plays nice with water. If you haven't been enamored with the black Xperia Go, the white variant is now available in the UK. The white Xperia Go will be offered SIM-free by mobile retailer Clove starting August 7 for £210 (tax included). For that amount of money, you'll get the unlocked Xperia Go and some peace of mind when out and about. It's slightly more expensive than the black model, as that one's going for £198. Whether you purchase the black or white model, the retailer will include a free Norton Mobile Security app with a 1-year license. Specs-wise, the Xperia Go has a 3.5-inch HVGA display, a dual-core 1GHz NovaThor processor, 512MB RAM, 8GB onboard storage, 5MP rear camera, 1,305mAh battery, and Android 2.3 Gingerbread (should be upgradable to Android 4.0 at some point). And let's not forget that the Go has received the highest level of water and dust resistance, thanks to its IP67 certification. For folks on the other side of the pond, there's no information yet of when the Xperia Go will be available stateside. The phone did turn up for its FCC appointment in late June, which could only mean that a release is almost certain in the following months. Expect to see it being called as the Sony Xperia Advance. No related posts. This article, UK's Clove to sell unlocked white Sony Xperia Go for £210 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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