Thursday, October 11, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

HTC concedes defeat in US tablet space; Samsung, ASUS and Amazon smile

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 04:08 PM PDT

It’s no lie that the Android tablet scene is a tough cookie for OEMs. While Android phones took off with nary a problem, the growth of the tablet side of things has been a little more stagnant. We knew some OEMs were feeling the effects of it, and it appears HTC is the latest. The Taiwanese company has bowed out of the tablet game in the United States for the foreseeable future. HTC might even be the first big OEM to make such a move.

Things started off slow for HTC in the early going. It had a bit of an advantage as the Flyer was one of the first mainstream tablets available that didn’t have the Archos or Coby name slapped on. It seemed the timing was off, however, as Samsung had beaten them to the table and the Flyer launched way too close to Android 3.0. They were too early and too late at the same time.

HTC tried to redeem themselves with the Jetstream, but by that time the Galaxy series had taken off and the company also suddenly found itself contending with very compelling offers from the likes of ASUS with the launch of its Transformer line.

A spokesperson from HTC says the company will play the wait and see approach. The strategy is to take a step back and gauge the market. The company says they don’t want to offer “me, too” experiences just for the sake of competing and would rather wait until they can offer something unique to the masses.

That claim could be challenged a couple of different ways. For starters, HTC did offer something unique at the time it first tried its hand at this growing market. The Flyer showed a lot of promise with its capacative stylus and unique applications that were based on it.

Then, the HTC Jetstream attempted to go bigger and bolder. With the latest version of Android and HTC Scribe support it was sure to be a hit, no? Well, some would say AT&T made a huge blunder by making the stylus take a backseat and with the egregious pricing strategy it employed.

My second point would be to simply look at the phone space. Let’s call a spade a spade, here — that’s about as big of a “me, too” market as you can be involved in. Innovation comes at a premium and the fact of the matter is that there’s very little separating one phone from the next. HTC has no problem competing there, however, because it makes them a ton of dough.

Perhaps the question isn’t whether or not I believe the stance HTC is taking; after all, the job of public relations is to say what you have to say in the least offensive and least self-hurting way possible. But it would be nice to know which side of the “it’s not you, it’s me” shtick they’re on.

Regardless, they’ve let it be known that the market simply isn’t for them right now, and perhaps it’s for the best for both HTC and users of its handsets, Read the full statement below. [via Fierce Wireless, quote source]

"HTC is pleased with the results of our first foray into tablets—the HTC Flyer, EVO View 4G, and HTC Jetstream—and like any products in the mobile space that were release some time ago, our tablets have run through their planned lifecycles. We're continuing to watch the tablet market very, very closely for the right opportunity to re-enter in a way in which we're not just offering a "me too" tablet, but a product that's compelling, differentiated, and inspiring to our customers."

Samsung confirms Galaxy Note 2 unveiling October 24th (as if it needed confirmation)

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 02:26 PM PDT

We received a save the date notice not too long ago, and all signs strongly pointed to the unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 here in the US. As obvious as it was then (the original only had the pen in its image and made no mention of the phone itself), here’s a bit more added confirmation for you from the final invitation sent to us by Samsung. You can bet Phandroid will be heading to New York to take it all in so circle back here October 24th for hands-on and full coverage of all the goings-on.

Factory images for Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7 Android 4.1.2 posted

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 01:56 PM PDT

Need some reassurance for your Nexus devices in case they ever go coocoo? One of the most important things to have on hand is a factory image, and Google has delivered the latest for its latest Nexus devices.

The Nexus 7′s 4.1.2 update build JZO54K is available, and an image for that same build is available for the GSM/HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus. More will become available once more versions of these devices get the upgrade, but for now only unlocked GSM/WiFi users apply. Go ahead and get everything you need at the source link ahead. [Google]

French outlet says LG Nexus coming October 29th

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 01:29 PM PDT

October 29th has been an interesting date to keep an eye on. It’s rumored as the launch date for the LG Nexus, and there hasn’t been nothing too concrete to keep faith in it. But a French media outlet seems to confirm that October 29th is, in fact, the launch date for the Nexus 7.

The translation is a tad rough, as usual, but they claim to have gotten the information from inside sources. If this thing really is scheduled to come out by the end of this month we’re going an awful long time without any news regarding a press event.

It’s possible Google and LG won’t even bother with all of that, though, so it’s tough to say that means anything. Time tends to inch by slowly when you’re waiting for something so it’ll be a long half two and a half weeks to see if this turns out to be true. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Bad Piggies-inspired Angry Birds update brings 15 new levels

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 12:29 PM PDT

Ready for yet another Angry Birds upgrade? This time, Rovio’s core game — simply dubbed Angry Birds — is getting itself 15 new levels. This one isn’t related to any upcoming season or holiday (though it would appear Rovio will have something up its sleeves for either Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas), but it actually brings another one of Rovio’s titles into the mix.

This update actually brings some pig-themed flavor as Rovio celebrates the success of Bad Piggies. If you don’t remember, Bad Piggies is a game which lets you construct unique vehicles which you can use to transport them. We’d hoped these vehicles could be used in some sort of counterattack on the birds, but perhaps we were thinking a bit too far ahead.

Regardless, the “piggest levels ever” can be had as a free download in the Google Play Store right now. It’s a 24MB update so turn that WiFi on and get going.

MOGA Controller Hands-on at CTIA MobileCON 2012 [Video]

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 12:20 PM PDT


We recently reviewed an accessory called GameKlip, which allows you to clip a PlayStation 3 controller to a device for gaming. If you read our review, you found there are definitely some complications that come with it, though. It is complicated to set up the wireless connection, you need to have a PS3 controller before hand and some devices simply don’t fit very well in it.

We have found a solution that is similar but much more full-featured and convenient. The MOGA controller is manufactured by PowerA and is pretty much a bluetooth controller with a dock for placing your phone. Since it is features a vertical clip, it can fit any device regardless of width, size or any other physical factors.

You don’t necessarily have to use it with your phone. The controller’s clip can fold in and hide inside the controller. The user can then simply pair the controller with any smartphone or tablet. We are rather impressed by the controller’s performance by its own. It has a rubberized back, the buttons and dual joysticks are placed very comfortably and it is very responsive.

We consider the device holder to be simply an extra; a major one, but still simply a cool addition. If you were interested in the GameKlip but don’t have a PS3 controller, or simply don’t want to deal with the pairing process, this might be the controller for you.

To make it more convenient, the MOGA will be available at T-Mobile stores. It is also available on Amazon, though. It does cost $50, which seems like a lot compared to the $15 GameKlip, but keep in mind this is a full-featured controller and not just a clip. Many of us don’t have PlayStation controllers laying around, and if you add up the costs it would end up being about the same (PS3 controller + GameKlip).

It is fun, it is comfortable and it is easy to pair. What more can you ask of a good mobile controller? Check it out and let us know what you think!

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Firefox for Android 16 brings Reader Mode, performance improvements and more

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 11:57 AM PDT

One of the world’s most popular browsers has gotten an upgrade in the Google Play Store. It’s the one with the orange fox-like critter — Firefox, to be exact — and today’s update brings it up to version 16.

There are a lot of new goods to be had, the biggest of which being “Reader Mode.” Reader Mode will put everything in an easy-to-read format that strips out the extra nonsense that most people tend not to need.

Other changes include using the Share button to send tabs to your other desktop and mobile browsers through Firefox Sync, the ability to block URLs which are designed to maliciously attack your phone, performance improvements through improved javascript garbage collection, and more.

Unfortuately Mozilla still hasn’t been able to get that file-size in check as it’s still a whopping 19MB, but Firefox for Android has come quite a long way and we imagine most aren’t really bothered by that. If you can spare the bandwidth then get on over to the Google Play Store for the download.

T-Mobile LG Optimus L9 Hands-on at CTIA MobileCON 2012 [Video]

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 11:00 AM PDT


The LG Optimus L9 is a bit of an interesting device. It doesn’t look very impressive on paper and lacks all the hype it was expected to have. It is interesting how one really starts liking it after playing around with it for a while, though. And with it coming to T-Mobile “this Fall,” we just had to take a look at it.

Don’t get us wrong, the device is still no high-end Optimus G, but it is impressive for its specs. It has a very heavy manufacturer UI, a 1 GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4430 and 1 GB of RAM. These specs are comparable to the Galaxy Nexus (save for the custom skin) and we can say the Optimus L9 runs faster and smoother. This is, running Android 4.0 and not even taking advantage of Project Butter and other Jelly Bean improvements.

The build quality is as good as what we saw with the Optimus G and LG Mach, so it is not bad at all. The only difference is that this device happens to be very light. It almost feels too light for a 4.5-inch device, especially for those of us that like devices with a bit of weight. It does carry a 2,150 mAh, so it is not like there is nothing behind that battery door.

Over all, the Optimus L9 is a great device for anyone who wants a mid-end device for T-Mobile’s network. It performs as well as some devices we would consider high-end, so there is not much to complain about. Of course it has its sacrifices, the qHD display and older Android 4.0 software being the most notable. For a fair price, though, we would not doubt to recommend this one to those looking for a good mid-end device.

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Microsoft narrows Office 2013 mobile launch to begin March 2013

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 10:52 AM PDT

Microsoft has long been rumored to be bringing its Office suite to mobile, and we’ve been throwing as many dates as we can to see which one will stick to the wall. No amount of throwing will get us anywhere without official word from Microsoft, and with today’s news we have just that.

Product manager Peter Bobek has confirmed that Microsoft Office 2013 will be headed to mobile platforms starting next year. To be more specific, they say to expect the suite to rollout “from” March 2013. That verbiage suggests it’s possible not all platforms will get it at the same time, though that’s hardly anything concrete.

It’s said that the suite “will work across Windows Phone, Android, and iOS,” though we’re not sure if they mean they’ll all have the same features or if they’ll have some sort of synchronization or collaboration service.

Whatever the case may be, we couldn’t be happier to get the most complete suite of document editing tools in the game. Google Drive is great, of course, but there’s nothing like Microsoft Office in the flesh. We’ll be looking forward to it. [Ihned via The Verge]

Updates ready for Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy S2 Epich 4G Touch and ZTE Fury

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 08:53 AM PDT

Sprint has a couple of minor updates ready to roll for two members of their handset lineup. The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G is receiving a maintenance update to software version S:D710:10S:F127, which fixes some issues with VPN and MMS over 3G as well as adds the ability to edit the Email apps’ out of office message. It’s still Ice Cream Sandwich, which is all fine and dandy, but if you see a prompt to update your device, don’t expect Jelly Bean.

The ZTE Fury is also moving up in software version to N850V1.0.0B14, which provides a few minor improvements to battery life and speaker phone as well as an updated Network Options menu under settings.

So there you have it. Some fresh software for slightly aging devices. Check out Sprint’s Community pages for more info.

[Epic 4G Touch, Fury via AndroidPolice]

Google Play gets free trials for in-app subscriptions

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 06:37 AM PDT

Google has a new policy to let users wary of in-app subscriptions get a taste of what the services might offer. Users can now initiate a free seven-day (at a minimum) trial of recurring subscriptions for apps and games purchased through Google Play, though the process does involve entering payment information. While the trial can be cancelled at any time before it ends, once the period is up users will be billed the normal fee and the subscription will continue.

Free trials should have a two-fold benefit, drawing more users towards subscriptions and putting money in the pockets of hard-working developers. The policy should already be in effect on Google Play.

[Android Developers]

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini confirmed for tomorrow, photo and details leak

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 05:28 AM PDT

Most of the speculation leading up to an event that Samsung will hold in Germany tomorrow has centered around the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, but it’s not speculation any longer. Samsung’s JK Shin has confirmed to reporters that the device will indeed make its debut and is geared toward the European market, where the company feels there is high demand for a device with a 4-inch display. Yes, the 4-inch display is also confirmed, which immediately begs the questions: when did we start considering a display larger than the first iPhone’s mini?

No sooner could Shin let the cat out of the bag than did German blog MobileGeeks get their hands on a leaked photo of the device. In case there is any confusion, it’s the smaller of the two phones pictured (I kid, you already knew that). The site also claims the phone will feature an 800×480 display resolution, a 1GHz STE U8420 chipset, 1GB RAM, and a 5MP camera. Pricing is said to be around 399 euros, but we’ll know the official deets as of tomorrow.

[via SammyHub, MobileGeeks]

LG Nexus pictured again, shows up in Carphone Warehouse inventory

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 05:08 AM PDT

The unveiling of the LG Nexus phone is less than a month away, according to rumors, and with the way the leaks are picking up I’m inclined to believe we will be seeing the device officially by the end of October. Another set of images has made its way online, this time by way of an XDA Forums member, and they were accompanied by a fairly detailed list of specs.

For starters, the device pictured here only houses 8GB of internal storage. It also carrier an 8MP camera. The processor is said to be a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro clocked at 1.5GHz and backed by 2GB of RAM, while the screen is pegged with a 768×1184 resolution.

In related news, the phone has appeared in Carphone Warehouse’s inventory as the LG Nexus 4, available in both white and black. We’re guessing this is a placeholder name and not the actual final branding of the device. But it does make us wonder, what do you think Google and LG will call the phone? I’m still leaning toward LG Optimus Nexus, but LG Nexus G might not be out of the question.

[via XDA, TheVerge]
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