Android World: Android Authority

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Android Authority

Google beating Facebook in the advertising war
Android 4.0.4 ICS update heading to AT&T’s Sony Xperia Ion
PlayStation Mobile with 30 games comes to Android on October 3
T-Mobile to offer The Avengers movie for free for Galaxy S3 owners starting September 25
Rhapsody on Android gets much needed update
LG’s official Optimus G demo video shows off features we didn’t know about
Third series of famous Android toys out next week
Facebook is testing an automatic photo uploading feature for Android
Samsung to build a new R&D Center right in Google’s backyard
What’s up with HTC and Windows Phone? Where’s the Android love?

Google beating Facebook in the advertising war

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 03:20 AM PDT

It's easy to forget that Google is primarily an advertising company. Everything it does is about capturing more eyeballs for adverts and getting better at serving those ads to the right demographic. The company is very good at it too.

According to EMarketer estimates, Google is the undisputed lord and master of online advertising. We already knew it was topping the charts for Web-search ads and mobile ads, now we learn it is beating Facebook on display ads too. Display ads are basically bigger ads with graphical or even interactive elements and also video ads. Google has been selling them to millions of non-Google sites and also using YouTube to serve them up to the masses.

The EMarketer report suggests that has led to net display-ad revenue of $2.31 billion for Google, which is 15.4 percent of the total U.S. market. That compares to $2.16 billion for Facebook, which is 14.4 percent of the total U.S. market. That figure doesn't take into account what Google pays to partner sites, its so-called "traffic acquisition costs" but it is still an impressive chunk of change.

Google has been fighting hard for this market. It outlaid over $4 billion to acquire companies like DoubleClick and to develop an easy-to-use platform for advertisers and publishers. Google is really aiming to be a one-stop-shop capable of covering everything a marketing campaign needs. It is gobbling up market share from Yahoo and AOL and more than holding its own against Facebook.

We heard the Facebook search rumor recently about the possibility of the social media giant attempting to get into the search engine business. That was probably just Zuckerberg trying and succeeding in getting a share price boost. What is certain, though, is that Facebook and Google will be going toe-to-toe in the advertising market for the foreseeable future and it could get nasty.

This article, Google beating Facebook in the advertising war , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Android 4.0.4 ICS update heading to AT&T’s Sony Xperia Ion

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 02:41 AM PDT

Releasing a flagship phone with an outdated version of Android was one of the factors that led to a not-so-impressive Sony Xperia Ion. But to the delight of owners of the phone, Sony is making good on its promise to provide a swift upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich. After we saw the Android 4.0 firmware hitting the LTE variant of the phone a few days back, the update is reportedly coming to the Xperia Ion on AT&T.

You should already see the update notification on your Sony Xperia Ion LT28AT. However, the update may only be downloaded and installed when you connect the phone to your PC and run Sony's PC companion software, SuS.

It looks like there are two updates available: build 6.1.c.1.105 and .107. Since there's no official change log yet, we can't tell the difference between the two at this time. Some folks have reported that they were able to go to .107 without a hitch, while some said that the .105 update keeps popping up even when they're already on .107. Hopefully AT&T can clear this confusion by the time they make the update official today.

Regardless of the not-so-smooth roll out, it's an update that's worth the slight hassle. Aside from the smoothness that it brings to the Xperia Ion, there are also the many perks that ICS comes with. If you’re an Xperia Ion user, please do share if you have encountered any difficulties while updating the phone. How do you like ICS on your Ion?

No related posts.

This article, Android 4.0.4 ICS update heading to AT&T's Sony Xperia Ion , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

PlayStation Mobile with 30 games comes to Android on October 3

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 02:38 AM PDT

Gen Game

Sony's PlayStation Mobile will be open for business on the Android platform from October 3. It's basically a section in the PlayStation Store which Sony will use to sell a hand-picked selection of “bite-sized games” for Android smartphones and tablets.

It will work on PlayStation Certified Android devices including the majority of Sony's Xperia line-up and also the PlayStation Vita. Sony has also announced a few partners that will release PlayStation Certified devices at some point – so far we have HTC, Fujitsu, Sharp, ASUS, and Wikipad.

We learned a few PlayStation Mobile details last month, including the fact that the new service will launch with 30 games. We now know it will launch in Japan, USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Australia on October 3 and the games will cost between 50 yen and 850 yen (that's about 40 pence or 60 cents and £6.70 or $10.90).

Following up the release there's also the news that the PlayStation Mobile SDK will roll out in November and you can get a developer license for an annual fee of $99.99. Developers like THQ and Team 17 have already signed up to develop content for the service and they're sure to be joined by a new wave of indies when the SDK is made available.

Any game purchases you make will be tied to your PlayStation Network ID so you'll actually be able to buy a game once and then play it on any PlayStation Certified device you own.

It will be interesting to see what the games are, especially those developed by Sony and other major game development studios.

No related posts.

This article, PlayStation Mobile with 30 games comes to Android on October 3 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

T-Mobile to offer The Avengers movie for free for Galaxy S3 owners starting September 25

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 02:19 AM PDT

The overall excitement surrounding Marvel's The Avengers movie might have toned down a bit in the past couple of months — after all, everybody's seen it — but I'm sure there are a still a lot of comic book and film fans eagerly awaiting the Avengers’ assembly on Blu-Ray and DVD.

The biggest blockbuster of the year, and the third highest-grossing movie of all time, is one piece of cinematic art you absolutely need to own. But if you're not keen on spending money on the DVD there's a more convenient way for you to get the film. And no, it doesn't involve any illegal torrent downloading activities (not that we'd know anything about something like that).

Instead, all you’ll need is a T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S3 — these phoneswill get the exclusive opportunity of downloading the HD Avengers movie for free starting on September 25. You will be able to get the movie by simply visiting Samsung Media Hub on your GS3, and the offer will have no catches, no special conditions and no hidden agendas, so it is what it is: a licensed movie completely for free.

Moreover, you'll be able to enjoy the blockbuster not only on your phone, but also on any HDMI-capable TV set courtesy of the Samsung AllShare Cast Wireless Hub. That's an accessory we've heard a lot about for a pretty long time, but which we haven't seen available for sale at many retailers.

Until now that is, because T-Mobile will be putting the Wireless Hub up for grabs online and in retail stores starting September 24 for $99.99. The price might seem a bit steep, but the dongle does let you share any kind of licensed content, including TV shows and movies, from Samsung Media Hub to an HDTV of your choice (including non-Samsung brands).

Like The Avengers, the Samsung Galaxy S3 might have gotten itself a bit overshadowed these past couple of months by newly released high-end phones like the Galaxy Note 2, LG Optimus G or Apple iPhone 5. This marketing move, however, should help bring some of the spotlight back and make people remember that this is still one heck of a phone, probably the best in the world. If you think the same and you haven’t purchased it yet, T-Mobile has it for as low as $279.99.

There’s a lot of Avengers excitement going on in the Android world, with an official game being teased by Marvel, so fans of the franchise should not get too bored while waiting for the sequel. Not to mention there’s also an Iron Man 3 just around the corner. Groovy!

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This article, T-Mobile to offer The Avengers movie for free for Galaxy S3 owners starting September 25 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Rhapsody on Android gets much needed update

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 02:13 AM PDT

You remember Rhapsody right? It’s the free-for-all streaming service, direct competitor to Pandora and Last.fm. It seems Realplayer Studios is upping the ante with a few updated or entirely new key features.

First off, the ability to download individual albums and tracks to phone storage or memory card is quite nice. For those of in congested signal areas or not living in LTE-rich cities, this is a great option to “offline buffer” your music. The last update, which included better streaming by 30% will only help your chances of an uninterrupted listening experience.

For those of you who prefer the Android version to the web interface, there’s some quirks in amongst the goodies offered in this latest release. For instance, the web version shows artist bios but the Android app doesn’t. We can’t quite determine why, but we figure Rhapsody is a work in progress. Pricing structure and rules are a bit odd as well: It’s a free app from the Google Play Store, but a trial or subscription is required for music playback. What gives?

Speaking of pricing, a summer sale is still underway. The usual $10 for unlimited music streaming is now slashed to a measly $5 for the first 3 months. Sounds like a win to us!

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This article, Rhapsody on Android gets much needed update , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

LG’s official Optimus G demo video shows off features we didn’t know about

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 01:57 AM PDT

LG has just uploaded a six minute video to YouTube where they demo several of the new features in their most recent flagship device, the Optimus G. We’re a little upset with some of the language that the company used. They say the video is the “first review” of the device, which it isn’t, because companies can’t review their own devices. They also say that the 13 megapixel camera in the Optimus G is the highest megapixel camera on the market, but again, it isn’t. HTC made the 16 megapixel Titan II Windows Phone, and Nokia made the 41 megapixel 808 PureView. We also can’t help but laugh when LG shows off their lock screen. The guy doing the demo taps the display and guess what sound the Optimus G makes? The exact same water droplet noise that Samsung put in the hugely popular Galaxy S3.

But enough about the bad things, what’s awesome about this phone? You know pinch to zoom and how that works on photos, right? Well, LG has now done that to videos. They’ve also added the pinch to zoom gesture to the photo gallery, so you can view teeny tiny thumbnails, or huge thumbnails, whatever suites your taste. Most impressive is the voice activated shutter. Say “cheese” or “LG” while using the camera app and it’ll snap a photo for you!

We’ll know more about the Optimus G once we get our hands on one. It’s expected to hit the market in November, which isn’t too far off. There’s even rumors floating around that LG is going to make a Nexus version of the Optimus G. If true, that would be totally wild, because there’s nothing out on the market that currently compete’s with the G in terms of specs.

It’s a device that’s in a class of its own.

No related posts.

This article, LG’s official Optimus G demo video shows off features we didn’t know about , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Third series of famous Android toys out next week

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 01:39 AM PDT

So you say you like Android? You like to collect robot figurines? Well, fellow Android enthusiast, you’re in good company with Dyzplastic, maker of Android figurines worldwide. The company’s third series is due starting next week via Dead Zebra.

You have to admit, the logo for Android is a cute little fella, and a few of us out there have gone completely nuts. Some of us have stickers on our vehicles, little robots pervading our desks like Christmas fare year round, and even Android inspired clothes. For those I just mentioned, the idea of having another little lovepiece for public view is no big deal. In fact, it may be a source of pride!

Here’s what you’re looking at for the 3rd series:

As you can see the clear Android has a little Android inside. The well-crafted and articulated head, arms and feet can be twisted to have the figurine sit up, prop up against a cubicle wall or lay down on a vehicle dash. Really, the possibilities to place it are endless. The clear model comes at a 1/16 ratio while the red model has a 2/16 scale.

As far as where to go besides Dead Zebra, you should be able to find them at the same place you pick up other collectibles, toys or comics. As for dates, if you order online, shipments are planned to go out on the 26th, and if you buy at a physical retail store, the 24th is your best bet for getting your Android collectible fix.

How many of you are planning to buy these little cuties? If so, have you bought any from the other two series?

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This article, Third series of famous Android toys out next week , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Facebook is testing an automatic photo uploading feature for Android

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 12:15 AM PDT

You know that person at the party who takes a photo of someone doing something stupid and then spends the next 60 seconds or so fiddling with their device to put that image on Facebook so that everyone in their timeline can see how much “fun” they’re having? No one likes that person, and Facebook is trying to eradicate that kind of behavior. According to The Verge, Facebook is testing a feature whereby every photo you take is automatically uploaded to a special private album. Here’s how it works: You’re at a party, you’re taking a bunch of photos, and then when you come home you go to that private album and figure out which photos to share with your friends. It’s something Apple does with Photo Stream, it’s something Google does with Google+, and we’re delighted to hear that Facebook is jumping in on this too.

Privacy nuts are probably going to freak out, but again, we want to emphasize that this isn’t automatic sharing. It’s simply automatic uploading. Can Facebook do something really evil like run facial recognition algorithms to spot who’s in your photos? They could, but why would they?

Back to the new feature, it’s not turned on for all Android users just yet. It’s currently being tested at a “really small” scale. That being said, if you want the convenience of automatic photo uploading then you could just as easily do this sort of thing with a service like Dropbox. You could also install an app called “AirDroid” that will let you access your photos from your computer without the need to go through a third party cloud service. That option in particular should appease the ultra paranoid.

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This article, Facebook is testing an automatic photo uploading feature for Android , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Samsung to build a new R&D Center right in Google’s backyard

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 11:45 PM PDT

Google, the company that makes the Android operating system that everyone should be using, is based in Mountain View, California. Samsung, the company that makes a significant portion of the Android devices that we spend our hard earned money on, has just announced that they’re going to open a new R&D Center in that very same city. Construction is set to begin during the second half of next year, and Samsung hopes that people will actually start working there in 2014. When complete, the campus will stretch across a massive 8.5 acre plot of land. Two six story office buildings will be erected, giving Samsung approximately 385,000 square feet of space to let their employees do their thing.

How should you interpret this news? There are multiple angles here. First, Samsung could be acknowledging that without Google, they can’t succeed. When you stop and think about it, Samsung was just a “meh” handset maker before they started making Android phones. Putting an R&D Center in Google’s backyard could be seen as a gesture of good will, a sign that the company wants to collaborate even further with Google.

The second, more sinister interpretation, is that Samsung wants to hire some of the talent in the area, possibly even steal some Google employees, so that they can build their own operating system. That would let them control their future, make them less dependent on Google, and possibly create something new and beautiful. Knowing TouchWIZ however … we doubt the “beautiful” part.

And finally there’s the business angle. Remember how Nokia created a brand called “Ovi” and then bought up a bunch of small companies so they could give their users services such as file sharing, photo sharing, instant messaging, and so on and so forth? Samsung could be planning to do the same thing. They could hire a bunch of startups, shove them all in a building, and hope that whatever they pop out is awesome.

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This article, Samsung to build a new R&D Center right in Google’s backyard , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

What’s up with HTC and Windows Phone? Where’s the Android love?

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 11:18 PM PDT

HTC announced two Windows Phones at an event in New York City yesterday. We didn’t cover those devices on this site for obvious reasons, but everyone at Android Central tuned into the live blogs to hear what HTC had to say about their relationship with Microsoft. Apparently these new handsets, dubbed the 8X and the 8S, are going to be “flagship” Windows Phone 8 devices that will be co-marketed with Microsoft. What exactly does that mean for HTC’s relationship with Google?

Taking a step back for a second, let’s look at HTC as a whole. The company peaked in 2010 thanks to their stellar portfolio of Android devices. When Samsung announced the Galaxy S II in February 2011, that’s when things started going to, pardon our French, complete and utter shit. HTC’s flagship device that year, the Sensation, failed to impress anyone. The company had to cut their sales forecast in November of last year, citing increased competition. When HTC announced the One X in February 2012, people sure liked it, but then again everyone wanted to see the Galaxy S III first before buying a new smartphone. That response dragged sales down even further. Let’s also not forget the sales ban thanks to Apple.

Back to Windows Phone, is HTC looking to cozy up with Microsoft because they need money? In case you haven’t heard, Microsoft gives Nokia $250 million every quarter to stay alive. Could HTC be looking for a similar type of deal? We don’t have access to that information, we’re just speculating out loud.

HTC’s problems, when you really stop and think about it, stem from the fact that they don’t actually make anything. They buy components from various companies, pay another company to put them together, and then sell those fully assembled products to consumers. They’ll never get the type of margins that Samsung gets because Samsung actually makes their own screens, their own processors, their own memory chips, and so and so forth.

We certainly hope HTC doesn’t bet the farm on Windows Phone, like Nokia did, but at the same time we wouldn’t be surprised to see that actually happen.

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This article, What’s up with HTC and Windows Phone? Where’s the Android love? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.