Sunday, August 26, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Lexibook Kid tablet to hit the US on September 15 – fails to impress

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 06:25 PM PDT


Parents looking for an Android tablet fit for the kiddos will have another option soon. Lexibook has announced that its kid tablet is hitting the US come September 15, with a preview launch coming from Toys R’ Us.

Simply put, the tablet fails to impress, with specs that match smartphones from years ago. The device sports a 600 MHz single-core processor, 256 MB of RAM,4 GB of internal storage and runs on Android 2.2 Froyo. But with those specs, we have to figure the tablet will be rather affordable, right?

The company is keeping its lips tight about pricing, but if the British price is a sign of anything, the company has much to be worried about. This device goes for £150, which equals about $237 USD. This is more expensive than the $200 Nexus 7, which comes with far superior specs.

The tablet will probably cost less once it hits America, but we can’t see the price going low enough to make the tablet enticing… even for the kids. A Nexus 7 can take care of any task this device can, and more. Yes, it may have some cool features and apps for education, but that is nothing that can’t be fixed by downloading a few apps from the Google Play Store.

It would make more sense if the device was rugged, but it does not look much more durable than most Android tablets out there. Regardless, the 7-inch tab will be available next month, so hit your local Toys R’ Us store if interested.

Lexibook® Tablets Launch In USA

NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Lexibook®, Android® educational kids tablet leader, is delighted to announce the official launch of its new tablets for kids nationwide from September 15, 2012. With a preview launch at Toys’ R Us stores across the country, parents will discover tablets with content tailored to the needs of the new generation.

With a high definition tactile screen and a kid friendly interface, the tablets offer an unprecedented content offer for toddlers to pre-teens. The educational content is adapted to the curriculum with 500 sheets of general education, tests and interactive quizzes. School Zone™ apps and 200 pre-loaded e-books are also included to complete the educational offer. Children will discover their favorite stories, rhymes and Susie Tallman’s top songs and karaoke videos. For even more fun, 25 games and 52 discovery activities are included as well as a camera with photo editing software.

Wireless internet browsing through a high speed built-in Wi-Fi connection is kept safe through embedded parental control, while kids can still download more than 10,000 must-have apps on the Lexibook® Market including Pig Rush™, Angry Birds®, Fruit Ninja®, Pandora®, Skype®, and learn while having fun with educational apps adapted to every age group.

With the Lexibook® Videostore by Kabillion™ and Spotify® music portal, cartoons, music, and other favorite videos are available in one click!

Lexibook® Tablets are a concentrate of educational, multimedia and interactive activities allowing children to finally have a tablet just for them. Parents and children will share amazing moments and kids will learn fast in a fun way. Great accessories will also be available: tablet skins, cases, stylus, keyboards, headsets and more.

Aymeric Le Cottier, CEO, comments: “We’re really excited to present this new innovative range that will enable kids to change the way they learn and play. Our great content and fantastic features bring an immediate unique user experience and the built-in gaming and apps download center bring endless possibilities for kids.”

[Via: Engadget]


Watch out! Malicious app developers making fake Adobe Flash Player installers (download from Adobe instead)

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 05:38 PM PDT

Adobe Flash Player’s end was inevitable, and we knew it was coming for a long time. The company’s product has been great to all Android users, but it is time to move to greener pastures. The product is no longer available, save for those who installed it before August 15th, and we know many of you must be missing it. You should be careful resorting to other methods to get Flash back, though, as multiple malicious Flash .apk files have been making rounds across the internet.

It seems we tend to desire that which is not available to us, and people are set on keeping Flash Player on their Android phones. This is where the bad guys come in, trying to cash in on eager Flash Player fans. Reports include multiple fake Flash apps, hitting your phones with adware and invading your personal information, as well as your notification bar (ads) and even your contacts.

So next time you are going around those third-party app stores (especially Russian ones), you should stop yourself and worry about your phone and private information. These fake apps are said to install a modified XDA version of Flash, so you would not even notice there was an issue, at first.

Instead of taking the risk, you should head over to Adobe’s official site for your download if you are still missing Flash. That is right! Adobe still has Flash Player for Android available from their very own website. The only caveat is that you will not be getting automatic updates from the Google Play Store when/if Adobe releases any bug-fixing updates. Sure beats getting a malicious app, though.

[Via: PC World]


Rumor: Samsung to announce Galaxy S Camera alongside Galaxy Note 2

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 04:32 PM PDT


IFA 2012 is almost upon us and all manufacturers are getting all their new toys ready. The latest rumor claims that there is going to be a little special something coming from Samsung, though – the Samsung Galaxy S Camera.

We have heard about an Android-based camera coming from Samsung for some time. The rumor has been dying, but it seems Samsung might have not given up on the idea. GSM Arena’s sources claim that this camera is in the works, and will be announced during IFA, next to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

The device is described as a “Galaxy S3 glued to the back of a point-and-shoot camera.” It will be 1.5 to 2 times thicker than Samsung’s flagship device and feature a curved right side (ergonomics) and a pop=out Xenon flash.

It is also said to sport a 16 MP sensor and run Android 4.0, available in both WiFi-only a 3G versions. Of course, the Samsung Galaxy S Camera would not be meant to replace your smartphone, so carrier connectivity is said to be limited to data. We simply can’t see who would want to pay an extra monthly fee for a camera, but that is the rumor, and some of you just may need that.

Remember that this is simply a rumor, so it might be a bad idea to hold your breath on it. Android cameras may seem a bit far-fetched at this point. It surely seems like an odd market to target, but Polaroid and Nikon are taking their shots. Who is to say Samsung can’t make a Samsung Galaxy S Camera?

IFA 2012 is just around the corner, so let’s stick around and see what comes from Samsung and all other manufacturers. But what do you guys say – would you be down for a Samsung Galaxy S Camera?

[Via: GSM Arena]


ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity with LTE coming to Germany

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 03:34 PM PDT


The Nexus 7 may be the hottest Android tablet right now, but those looking for an extra punch are looking towards devices like the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity (TF700T). Sadly, many of us want data-enabled tablets, making options much more limited. Well, the latest announcement from Vodafone Germany may bring a bit of hope to all of us.

ASUS will be bringing an LTE-enabled version of the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity for German Vodafone customers. The tablet (TF700KL) will hit Deutschland with a €819.90 price tag (about $1026 USD), but it is discounted to €169.90 ($213) after signing a contract.

Not the most affordable device out there, but those looking for a high-end 10-inch tablet that is LTE-connected can now enjoy one of the best tabbies around. It will definitely not disappoint, carrying at least a 1.5 GHz Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, Android 4.0 (should get Android 4.1 soon enough) and a stunning 1920×1200 Super IPS+ display.

Definitely not a bad tablet, but is it worth over $1000 USD, or sticking with it for years? Maybe, maybe not – but I sure wouldn’t mind if it came to the US (hopefully at a lower price).

[Source: Vodafone Via: The Verge]


Was Samsung’s defeat its best advertising campaign to date?

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 02:38 PM PDT


Samsung may have lost the battle against Apple in Northern California, but this doesn’t necessarily prove that the South Korean manufacturer could be losing the war. In fact, it could be argued that Samsung’s billion dollar loss is one of the best advertising investments it has made (seems to work better than Asian models). That is right, this defeat against Apple could turn out beneficial in some ways.

As the hype settles down, newspapers across the world start reporting on the Apple vs. Samsung outcome. This is when Enrique Gutierrez from Digithrive (web developing company) gave us a bit of light in his recent Google+ post.

He mentions a very interesting phenomena noticed while spending some time at his local Starbucks. Conversations between people would spawn after reading about the Apple vs. Samsung case, in which people seem to believe that “Samsung is the same as Apple.”

Guy: “Wait, so what they’re saying is, Samsung is the same as Apple?”

Friend: “I know, right? Makes me think twice about how much I paid for my Mac Book”

Guy: “Seriously”

Soon after the first incident, a couple with the same newspaper start a similar conversation:

Husband: “… Samsung’s iPad is the same as Apple’s iPad, and I paid how much for the Apple one? Honey, I told you they were a ripoff.”

Wife: “Oh wow,” looking at the screen, “… that’s a lot cheaper. Think we can return it?”

According to Gutierrez, 4 groups expressed similar concerns at the moment of publishing his post. They all somehow believe that Samsung products are the same as Apple products, but much cheaper. Now, how is that for shocking outcomes? I am sure Samsung will feel a lot better after realizing that this defeat could give them more customers.

If tech enthusiasts and tech blog readers are getting confused with these court cases, imagine what it is doing to the general consumer. People out there are not focused on processors, RAM, features, etc. Apple devices are popular and considered “the best,” and people tend to follow such technology trends. This case could simply be creating major confusion amongst users. Now we will have a substantial amount of users believing they are simply getting a “Samsung iPad” for a much lower price.

We are not saying all users will start opting for Samsung products instead of Apple ones. The Cupertino Giant will definitely continue to succeed. This mass confusion could very well bring some more users to the Android side, though.

It will be interesting to see how the numbers look in the quarters to come. But more importantly, it would be interesting to see if this is something that is happening all over the country/world. Was this specific newspaper article simply written a bit unclearly? Are many customers now thinking of switching to Samsung because they are realizing it is “the same,” but cheaper? Is this really the best advertising campaign Samsung has conducted?

Please join us in the comment section and share your stories and opinions with us. We would love to know if any of you have been noticing any similar situations around you.

[Via: Enrique Gutierrez (Google+)]


First images of LG Optimus G leak, showing all its goodies

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 01:26 PM PDT

Manufacturers are ready to bring their latest and greatest to the table for the second half of 2012, but LG is becoming much more notable as details of the rumored LG Optimus G start spreading. This device is simply a beast, with some of the best specs we have ever seen, but until now, we have had no idea what this bad boy looks like.

The guys from AndroidMX.net have managed to treat us with a few shots of the next device, after claiming to have spent some time toying with the super phone. We won’t be able to see the device’s performance first-hand for a while, but these guys claim that the device simply “flies,” despite the fact it is still a pre-production model.

We have reasons to believe them – this device features some stunning specs. A 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 2 GB of RAM, a 4.7-inch IPS HD display and a 13 MP camera are enough to make this one of the most exciting devices of 2012. It may be running Android 4.0.4, but we have no doubt this phone will be getting the Jelly Bean treatment soon enough.

We haven’t seen many leaks come from Mexico, but remember an important source of income for the country is factories. Most major tech manufacturers have factories south of our border and work with the latest devices, many of which are confidential. I would bet this is how the guys at AndroidMX got a hold of an LG Optimus G. Regardless, the images seem legit and the specs are in accordance to all rumors.

IFA 2012 is coming very soon, and you can be sure we will be all over the LG Optimus G, as well as all other Android goodies. Your best bet is to stay tuned and find out if this phone is worthy of being in your pocket!

[Via: Android MX]


The jury form from the Samsung v Apple case made public

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 11:56 AM PDT

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For several reasons, the verdict from the Samsung v Apple case bummed me out yesterday. Firstly, the fact that they actually received a verdict itself so soon raised a red flag for me. A couple of verdicts here and there made me wonder if the jury was being excessively harsh on Samsung, possibly due to their attorney’s behavior over the course of the trial. And then the fact that they made errors in awarding damages to Apple in cases where the decision didn’t even go their way seemed like a surprising oversight.

Going through each verdict online can be difficult through a 3rd person’s narrative, especially considering there are so many devices at play. So it’s good to see that the entire juror form itself has been made available online, and I’m definitely going to be having a detailed look at it.

[via Electronista]

Update: The jury form has been removed from the post since it was breaking the Phandroid News app. It can still be viewed by visiting the source link.


Rogers pushing out ICS updates to the Moto Razr

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 11:34 AM PDT

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Good news, our Canadian Moto Razr users: the ICS update to your phones seems to have been released a wee bit earlier than the “early September” launch we had expected. Once done with the download-and-install process your phone would make the sizable jump to Android 4.0.4. As always , if you’re not seeing the update notification, perform a manual check from within the Settings app.

[via Mobile Syrup]


These rumored Sony Xperia Tablet devices look pretty sweet

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 08:41 AM PDT

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One thing that cannot be denied about Sony: they make some beautiful hardware. And that continues to be the case with the accessories of the upcoming Xperia Tablet if the pictures distributed by Tablet-News is anything to go by. We’ve got a keyboard case, a stand that allows the tablet to be used in both portrait and landscape mode and a media dock with a remote control.

[Tablet-News via IntoMobile]


To all those who have been ribbing me for still using the MyTouch 4G, I’ve finally upgraded

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 07:34 AM PDT

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Right from my first day at Phandroid, till last week there’s always been some good natured banter in the comments regarding me still using the T-Mobile MyTouch 4G. Despite your kind requests, Rob chose not to get a new device for me so I ended up having to act on my own: I bought myself an HTC One X.

I had to choose between the Galaxy Nexus, the One X and the Samsung Galaxy S III. The Nexus lost out because of a poorer camera, and between the other two I went with the One X because of it’s brilliant screen, drop-dead gorgeous looks and price (I got a really sweet deal on CraigsList).

Also, thanks to Robert Scoble’s wife Maryam for that gorgeous image that I’ve set as my wallpaper.


International Trade Commission Clears Apple of Violating Motorola’s WiFi Patent, Only 1 Left To Go

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 01:42 AM PDT

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It was back in April, Apple found themselves in a bit of hot water after an initial ITC ruling found them in violation Motorola’s standard-essential WiFi patent. Phandroids everywhere rejoiced, but they may have popped the champagne a little early.

Today the International Trade Commission finished its review of the initial determination and, as it turns out, cleared Apple of not just the WiFi patent mentioned above, but 2 other Motorola patents as well. If this sounds like good news for Apple — not so fast. The ITC also ended up reversing a previous indefiniteness claim on a “sensor controlled user interface for portable communication device” (US Patent No. 6,246,862). This means there is still a chance that Apple could be found in violation of the aforementioned patent at the very least, making an import ban possible.

I guess now we’ll just have to play the waiting game before we hear anything. Whenever the ITC has to take another look at a case (which means yet another ruling and review), that whole process can easily take another calendar year. This gives Apple plenty of time to figure out their game plan/next target.

[FOSSPatents | Engadget]


Apple vs Samsung: The Fun Is Just Getting Started – Injunction Hearing Set for Sept 20th

Posted: 24 Aug 2012 08:51 PM PDT

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The verdict has been given and Samsung will have to pay Apple $1.049 billion — but now it’s time for Apple to go for the jugular. According to The Verge, it looks like Samsung and Apple have agreed to a preliminary injunction hearing that has been scheduled for September 20th. The hearing will deal with either the banning of Samsung’s infringing products — most of which are no longer being sold in the US — 0r some kind of licensing agreement, which could see Samsung forking out even more dough to use Apple’s completely valid hardware and software design patents (sarcasm).

Judge Koh said that Apple will file its motion by August 29th, after which Samsung will have 2 weeks to come up with a proper response. If you though the battle was over, the war has just begun.


Samsung and Apple Issue Statements On Trial Verdict – Microsoft Too (Kinda)

Posted: 24 Aug 2012 07:18 PM PDT

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The verdict just came in hours ago, and we now have official statements from Samsung and Apple with their thoughts on the ruling. Let’s just jump straight to it.

Samsung

"Today's verdict should not be viewed as a win for Apple, but as a loss for the American consumer. It will lead to fewer choices, less innovation, and potentially higher prices. It is unfortunate that patent law can be manipulated to give one company a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners, or technology that is being improved every day by Samsung and other companies. Consumers have the right to choices, and they know what they are buying when they purchase Samsung products. This is not the final word in this case or in battles being waged in courts and tribunals around the world, some of which have already rejected many of Apple's claims. Samsung will continue to innovate and offer choices for the consumer."

Apple

"We are grateful to the jury for their service and for investing the time to listen to our story and we were thrilled to be able to finally tell it. The mountain of evidence presented during the trial showed that Samsung's copying went far deeper than even we knew. The lawsuits between Apple and Samsung were about much more than patents or money. They were about values. At Apple, we value originality and innovation and pour our lives into making the best products on earth. We make these products to delight our customers, not for our competitors to flagrantly copy. We applaud the court for finding Samsung's behavior willful and for sending a loud and clear message that stealing isn't right."

And finally, we have Microsoft who hasn’t issued a formal statement, but is no doubt grinning to ear. That sentiment can be seen from Bill Cox, Microsoft’s senior director of Windows Phone marketing communications and Frank Shaw who tweeted moments ago:

“@billcox: Windows Phone is looking gooooood right now.”

“@fxshaw: Using Bing Local Scout on my Windows Phone to look for a place to drink a pint. Love that UI. Fresh. Unique. Different. That is all.”

Easy, Bill. Not that good. Franks comments were interesting in that, when in reference to today’s verdict, he’s talking about a version of TouchWiz UI no longer featured in any devices currently on the market. I’ll bite my tongue for now…

[WinSource | TheVerge 1, 2]


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