Android Authority |
- Sony Xperia Tablet S teardown by … Sony itself!
- Android Authority On Air – Episode 28 – Motorola DROID RAZR HD and Kindle Fire HD
- Amazon and Google no longer friends? Kindle Fire HD integrates Bing instead of Google
- Could Apple be doing a simultaneous launch of the iPhone 5 internationally?
- Leaked: Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update for Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and Galaxy Note 10.1
- Amazon slashes Verizon Galaxy S3 price to $139.99
- Motorola’s newfound vigor captured in latest Razr ad [video]
- EA, Activision, and Crytek put their weight behind new Kindles, announce Kindle Fire optimized titles
- Samsung, LG compete to secure camera sensors from Sony, Note 2 falls victim
- Amazon: No opt out for Kindle Fire ads on all new models
| Sony Xperia Tablet S teardown by … Sony itself! Posted: 08 Sep 2012 08:43 PM PDT
Folks, we usually get teardown features from the likes of IHS iSuppli and iFixIt, and are primarily meant to confirm the components and even the prices of devices. In time for the UK and U.S. releases of the Sony Xperia Tablet S, we get a product teardown of the ICS tablet. But what’s interesting is that Sony itself did the teardown of its own tablet computer for fans and analysts alike.
Sony’s Tablet S teardown showcases the device’s components, ports and peripherals, which include (from outside in) the multi-port connector and LCD ribbons, memory, battery, motherboard, communications radios, camera and screen. Sony’s engineer, Takuya Inaba, also compared the new Xperia Tablet S with the older-generation, which reveals the upgraded hardware specs and a few changes in construction and design. A few notable observations:
Of course, being an in-house teardown, Sony did not share prices of components, which are usually used by iSuppli and iFixIt to estimate how much a device actually costs to build. Here’s a rundown of the specs:
Another interesting part of the teardown is how the Sony engineer was able to re-assemble the Xperia Tablet S. Check out the video below. Related PostsSony Xperia Tablet S goes on sale in the UK, 64GB WiFi model only available in the U.S., Sony Xperia T and J coming early to UK's Carphone Warehouse, Xperia Tablet S to follow soon, Sony Xperia Tablet S now shipping StatesideThis article, Sony Xperia Tablet S teardown by … Sony itself! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Android Authority On Air – Episode 28 – Motorola DROID RAZR HD and Kindle Fire HD Posted: 08 Sep 2012 08:37 PM PDT
If you happened to catch our attempted LIVE show last night, you’re aware that we had all sorts of technical difficulties. Our Hangout On Air on Google+ was lagged. We were getting disconnected, some people even thought all of our fan girls were using up all of our bandwidth. After a few failed attempts we decided to reschedule the show, a day later. Fast forward to today, we went live, without issue. This week we focused on Motorola and Amazon’s recent announcements. Motorola announced the Droid RAZR HD, Droid RAZR MAXX HD, and the Droid RAZR M. The latest round of RAZR’s are pretty amazing, if we do happen to say so ourselves. Motorola is also giving you a $100 credit to buy a new phone if your 2011 Motorola phone won’t be getting Jelly Bean. Besides phones, this week we also saw Amazon drop 3 new Kindle Fire tablets onto the world. We saw an upgrade to the original Kindle Fire, a new Kindle Fire HD 7 inch, a new Kindle Fire HD 8.9 inch and even one with LTE. Sprint decided to finally update their Nexus devices. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S 4G have begun receiving Android Jelly Bean 4.1.1 and a few other devices finally got their Android 4.0 ICS updates. uTorrent arrived on Android and last but not least HTC plans to sue Apple with their LTE patents. The Give Away We're giving away a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (International) here in the near future. If you're interested and want another chance to win, during the show we give away a super secret entry code. Once you get the code, just head on over to the contest page and enter your code into the Rafflecopter. Miss the show? Tune in or watch below:
Related PostsKindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD coming to UK & Europe on October 25, Amazon: No opt out for Kindle Fire ads on all new models, New Motorola Droid RAZR model coming to Verizon sans bezel?This article, Android Authority On Air – Episode 28 – Motorola DROID RAZR HD and Kindle Fire HD , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Amazon and Google no longer friends? Kindle Fire HD integrates Bing instead of Google Posted: 08 Sep 2012 07:17 PM PDT
We earlier learned that a few major companies are trying to reduce their dependence on Google for content and services. For example, Apple is ditching YouTube on iOS 6 and is also moving away from using Google Maps. Amazon is itself going for Nokia Maps instead of Google Maps in its new Kindle line. But in an even more drastic move, Amazon actually integrates Bing search instead of Google in the Kindle Fire HD. Eliane Fiolet of Ubergizmo was able to get a hands-on experience with a Kindle Fire HD, and were quite surprised to find that the tablet’s Silk mobile browser had Bing as the default search engine. “Bing comes as the default for Silk, Amazon says, but users will have the option of switching to Google or Yahoo if they wish,” writes Eric Abent at Slashgear. Eric speculates that Microsoft may have sponsored Bing’s prominent placement in Amazon’s Silk browser, although the company would not comment on the matter. But given that Microsoft is having a hard time getting users to switch from Google to Bing on the desktop, this could be one of their ways of aggressively pushing their homegrown search engine to reach more users. Some commentators, however, say that Amazon is doing this on their own accord, given that Google may already be challenging Amazon’s dominance in e-commerce, with its own sale of ebooks, music and the like. The question now is this. Will more smartphone and tablet manufacturers follow suit? Related PostsNew Amazon Kindle Fire won’t have Google Maps, but goes with Nokia instead, Silk Browser No Longer Exclusive to Kindle Fire, Amazon Kindle Ice Next in Line to Kindle Fire, Say RumorsThis article, Amazon and Google no longer friends? Kindle Fire HD integrates Bing instead of Google , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Could Apple be doing a simultaneous launch of the iPhone 5 internationally? Posted: 08 Sep 2012 06:50 PM PDT
While we don’t usually feature non-Android related announcements here on Android Authority, we do have space for relevant industry news. And the next-generation iPhone launch is surely a significant event for many reasons. Apple has a media event on September 12, and rumors have it that this will include the sixth-generation iPhone (the “iPhone 5″), an upgrade to the iPod line, and possibly an iPad Mini. What’s interesting to note is that the international launch and release dates may also coincide with the U.S. launch of the new iPhone. While historically, developing nations in the Asia Pacific and Europe get product shipments two to three months after their launch, some carriers are already hinting that they may already have the new iPhone coming. According to our sources in the Philippines, local carrier Globe Telecom has been sending SMS messages to this effect:
We can take it to mean that “iP5″ means the iPhone 5, which is what the sixth-generation iPhone is rumored to be branded. Moreover, Globe has an ongoing Weekend Sale, offering significant discounts for the iPhone 3GS (8GB), iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Could Globe be finishing off its inventory of current iPhones to give way to the new one? If I were a hardcore iPhone fan, I’d be waiting for the release of the new model. But perhaps first-time smartphone buyers or long-time Globe postpaid subscribers who are still on feature-phones might find the weekend sale interesting. But wait. Other analysts speculate that Apple may be facing supply constraints, which could lead to a delay in releasing the new-generation iPhone, even in its primary markets. Knowing Apple, however, it is able to exert strong pressure on suppliers and component manufacturers, such that it could usually command its own price, leading to a hefty markup on each iDevice sold. Any readers particularly interested in the iPhone launch out there? I know most of our audience consists of Android fans, but we can’t deny that a new launch by Apple is a major industry event. If Apple could start penetrating emerging markets more quickly with new products, then this could threaten Android’s dominance in the lower- and mid-range markets in these places. Related PostsTake that, Apple! The iPhone 5 has an Android-based clone even before its launch, iPhone 5 to launch with 4G LTE features? Samsung to sue., iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 discounted by $49.01 in Apple stores – what does it mean for Android?This article, Could Apple be doing a simultaneous launch of the iPhone 5 internationally? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Leaked: Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update for Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and Galaxy Note 10.1 Posted: 08 Sep 2012 04:17 PM PDT
Good news for Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and Galaxy Note 10.1 owners who have cravings for Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The folks at Sam Mobile have gotten a hold of the pre-release OTA update of the buttery smooth OS for the two tablets. To be more precise, the leaked OTA files are for the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (GT-P3100) and the Galaxy Note 10.1 (GT-N8000). You can find download links of the leaked Jelly Bean firmware for the two slates, as well as the instructions, on Sam Mobile's website below. The instructiuns don't really involve any complicated steps, but you do need to make sure that your tablet has the specific firmware base (N8000DDALH1 for the Tab 2 7.0 and P3100DDBLH3 for the Note 10.1) beforehand. Then it's only a matter of using ODIN to flash Jelly Bean. Make sure you back up all important files, documents, and apps if you do decide to test out the leaked Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean (JRO03C) firmware. But be warned that this is a pre-release version, so there's a possibility that you'll come across some unwanted bugs. As always, proceed at your own risk. Related PostsGalaxy S3 Jelly Bean OTA update leaked – Android 4.1.1 build I9300XXDLI1 dated September 3 [download], Leaked Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean ROM appears on video, suggests Android 4.1 update is near, Bell Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update leaked, works with Rogers and Telus versions tooThis article, Leaked: Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update for Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and Galaxy Note 10.1 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Amazon slashes Verizon Galaxy S3 price to $139.99 Posted: 08 Sep 2012 02:12 PM PDT
The world's favorite Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S3, has now reached a certain point of popularity where it's more apt to ask the question of who doesn’t have the phone yet. But we're sure there are still many who are waiting for the price to come down. If Verizon is your carrier of choice, you're just in luck, because Amazon Wireless has some pretty sweet deal on Big Red’s variant of the Galaxy S3. Are you a new Verizon customer? You can take advantage of the offer by paying only $139.99 for a brand new Galaxy S3 – Marble White or Pebble Blue, that’s your choice to make. The price tag is $60 cheaper than what the carrier is charging for the phone on its website. Of course, both require you to activate a two-year service. If you're looking to upgrade to the Galaxy S3, you need to pay an extra $10. This means for $149.99 you can soon sport the hottest Android phone in town, while at the same time getting $50 in savings when looking at Verizon’s price. The standard two-year contract agreement also applies here. Sounds like a great deal? Head to Amazon Wireless now if you don't want to miss the limited-time offer. Related PostsAmazon Wireless slashes price of HTC EVO 4G LTE to $129.99, T-Mobile slashes HTC One S price to $149, Verizon drops Galaxy Nexus price to $99This article, Amazon slashes Verizon Galaxy S3 price to $139.99 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Motorola’s newfound vigor captured in latest Razr ad [video] Posted: 08 Sep 2012 05:53 AM PDT
Having the full backing of Google is an advantage that Motorola has over other manufacturers. It's not that the Droid maker was in the dump pre-Google days, but we sure like to see Moto make the best of use of its position. It also certainly won't hurt for Motorola to flaunt a little. There are some moves that have Google stamp all over them, but we are yet to see the full effect of the takeover. What could the latest commercial for the recently announced family of Droid Razr phones, entitled "Every feature comes standard", possibly tell us? The ad provides a glimpse of where Moto is heading: a company that is more confident, and one that wants to shout to the world that it’s now faster, smarter, brighter, and ultimately better. Check out the ad yourself and tell us if you think that Motorola has achieved that goal.
Related PostsMotorola Razr HD, Razr Maxx HD, and Razr M: image gallery, Motorola: Droid Razr and Razr Maxx getting ICS in the next six weeks. What about other devices?, Motorola Razr V heads to Canada in Q3 on multiple carriersThis article, Motorola's newfound vigor captured in latest Razr ad [video] , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Posted: 08 Sep 2012 05:49 AM PDT
Just a couple of days have passed since Jeff Bezos summoned the press in an aircraft hangar in Santa Monica to introduce Amazon's new Kindle Fire family of tablets. Now, a number of high-profile game publishers have already revealed that they are working on games that are optimized for the new Kindle Fires. First off, Electronic Arts announced they are hard at work bringing their mobile games to the new Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD. According to Droid Gamers, EA already has ten games that are optimized for the Fire HD slates, including Madden NFL 12, Tetris, The Game of Life, and Plants vs Zombies. Moreover, the publishing giant has a number of other games in its Amazon Appstore that we could expect to see optimized for the new Fire HD at some point. Another video games heavyweight, Activision, announced a new title for the Kindle Fire and Fire HD – Skylanders Cloud Patrol, a gallery style shooter currently available for iOS. The title will feature a unique game mechanic (or should we call it a selling mechanic?) that Bezos showcased during the launch event. Players will be given the opportunity to buy physical toys right from the game. You like the Trigger Happy character? Buying a real life version is just a few taps away, and you won't even have to leave the game. As a bonus, purchasing the toy will also unlock its virtual version in the game. I just hope that Activision and Amazon have put some thought into making the system kids-proof. Otherwise, I could just write the "5-year old buys $2,000 worth of toys in Skylanders Cloud Patrol" post right now.  Fibble for iOS gameplay Finally, Crytek (of Crysis and Far Cry fame) has announced that owners of the new Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD will be able to buy Fibble, a physics-based puzzler that's currently only available on iOS. As you would expect from a game made by Crytek, Fibble features beautiful 3D graphics that will definitely look gorgeous on the 1920 x 1200 resolution screen of the Fire HD 8.9. The title will go for 99 cents and should hit the Appstore in the following weeks. We'll keep you posted about new titles announced for the Kindle Fire family. Meanwhile, tell us, which game do you look forward the most? Related PostsNo related posts. This article, EA, Activision, and Crytek put their weight behind new Kindles, announce Kindle Fire optimized titles , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Samsung, LG compete to secure camera sensors from Sony, Note 2 falls victim Posted: 08 Sep 2012 04:43 AM PDT
Sony has been investing heavily in its CMOS production facilities, spurred by the huge demand for imaging sensors for mobile devices. Apparently, the billion dollars that the Japanese have been pouring into their Nagasaki factory hasn't been enough to ramp up production to satisfy the high demand for its new 13MP CMOS image sensors. According to a report from the Korean website DDaily, Samsung had initially planned to fit the newly launched Galaxy Note 2 with a 13MP image sensor supplied by Sony. The report explains some of the rumors about the Note 2 that circulated a few months ago, which eventually proved inaccurate. The Galaxy Note 2 is fitted with "just" an 8MP camera, identical with the one in Samsung's other flagship, the Galaxy S3. So, what prevented Samsung from carrying out its plans? It appears that Sony has been unable to satisfy the demand for 13MP sensors, which forced Sammy to settle on the safer 8MP solution. That didn't stop the other large phone maker in Korea, LG, from securing an order of 13MP sensors for its upcoming Optimus G. Was LG's CMOS order the reason why Samsung was unable to get enough sensors for its Galaxy Note 2? Not likely. LG estimates that it will sell a relatively small number of its Optimus G flagship – about 1 million according to an analyst quoted by DDaily. Samsung on the other hand, expects to push between 5 million and 10 million Galaxy Note 2, a figure that is perfectly feasible considering the success of the Galaxy S3 and the original Galaxy Note. Most likely, Sony is simply unable to produce that many 13MP sensors right now. I expect however to see the new sensors integrated in Samsung next-generation devices, the Galaxy S4 and the Note 3. Do you consider the 8MP camera on the Note 2 a letdown? Related PostsNo related posts. This article, Samsung, LG compete to secure camera sensors from Sony, Note 2 falls victim , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Amazon: No opt out for Kindle Fire ads on all new models Posted: 08 Sep 2012 03:59 AM PDT
However unobtrusive it may be, some people aren't ecstatic to hear that the entire new lineup of Kindle Fire will come with "Special Offers" promotion, otherwise known as spammy ads that will show up on the device's lock screen. The latest confirmation from Amazon ruins whatever hope that consumers have that they would be able to opt out from receiving such ads, as previously thought. A spokesperson for the online retailer giant has confirmed that the Kindle Fire ads are here to stay, and that consumers can't opt out of the offers — regardless of the model that they choose to purchase. Like it or not, they will see the ads on their device. We understand the logic behind providing options for buyers who don't mind getting the ads in exchange of a reduced price for the device. But to force the ads on some of the more premium models, such as the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD 4G LTE, which Amazon is selling for $499, is certainly a head-scratching decision. What do you think? Is this potentially a deal-breaker for you? Or do you think you'll enjoy getting those special promotions on your Kindle Fire? Related PostsAmazon Kindle Ice Next in Line to Kindle Fire, Say Rumors, Amazon Kindle Fire Under Fire for Patent Infringement, Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD coming to UK & Europe on October 25This article, Amazon: No opt out for Kindle Fire ads on all new models , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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