Tuesday, October 30, 2012

AndroidGuys

AndroidGuys

No LTE for Nexus 4, Andy Rubin explains why

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 03:10 PM PDT

With all the hub-bub going around today about the Nexus bomb that Google dropped, some have noticed that in the specifications for the Nexus 4, there’s no mention of LTE. Google covered every base with the Galaxy Nexus, launching it in LTE variants on Verizon and Sprint, and of course an unlocked HSPA+ device for the GSM carriers. But with the Nexus 4, it appears that they’ve taken a different approach.

It might not make too many Big Red customers very happy, but in an interview with The Verge, Andy Rubin explains the reasoning behind Google’s choice to launch the Nexus 4 with only HSPA+ radios. It’s a great interview, and Rubin makes some very valid points from Google’s perspective. When asked about the Galaxy Nexus, Rubin had this to say:

“A lot of the networks that have deployed LTE haven’t scaled completely yet — they’re hybrid networks.. which means the devices needed both radios built into them. When we did the Galaxy Nexus with LTE we had to do just that, and it just wasn’t a great user experience.”

As if the user experience with LTE radios wasn’t enough motivation, we all know how Google had to play by Verizon’s rules when it came to bloatware and updates with the Galaxy Nexus. The point of the Nexus line is to provide users with a purely stock experience, and this is another reason Google may have stayed away from the CDMA carriers with the Nexus 4. Furthermore, the unlocked GSM variants were updated to Jelly Bean almost immediately after the release, but Verizon users had to wait for months to get their hands on Project Butter and Google Now.

When it comes to the GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile, however, it’s a different ballgame. These carriers allow unlocked devices to run on their network, and AT&T is even allowing any unlocked device to access their LTE network (although the technical details are still being worked out). There’s also the question of financial motivation (or lack thereof) for Google to make LTE variants of the Nexus 4. Providing LTE versions of a device can be costly without subsidies from the carrier, and the incentives aren’t really there for Google just yet anyway. LTE is still a growing technology, and it wouldn’t really be in Google’s best interests to sully their device just to get a few more Nexus 4′s sold. Some say that if Verizon would allow unlocked LTE devices to work on their LTE network, this might change. But for the time being, Big Red users won’t be getting any Nexus 4 love.

In the end, it really boils down to one of two things, each with its own arguable point. Google either doesn’t have time to play by the rules of LTE-equipped carriers (read: Verizon) when it comes to Nexus devices, or those carriers are adding too many unnecessary bells and whistles for Google’s taste. While it is a somewhat controversial move on Google’s part, Andy Rubin sums it up pretty well:

“Tactically, we want to make sure the devices are available for every network on the planet.”

So, what are your thoughts on the lack of LTE in the Nexus 4? Anyone on Verizon thinking about switching carriers just for the Nexus 4? Drop a comment below!

 

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Rovio provides first gameplay footage of Angry Birds Star Wars

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 11:53 AM PDT

Up until now we’ve only heard about Angry Birds Star Wars and its upcoming November 8 launch.  Sure, we’ve seen teaser footage of the game but nothing that shows how the game will look when we get our greasy fingers on it.  That changes today as Rovio has given us our first in-game footage of Angry Birds Star Wars.  We’ll not say anything else here except we are really, really digging what we’re looking at.  Pigs dressed as sand people?!  Shut up and take our money

Continue reading: Rovio provides first gameplay footage of Angry Birds Star Wars

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T-Mobile touts fall and holiday smartphone lineup

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 11:28 AM PDT

Even though T-Mobile decided to scrap plans for their New York press event this evening,they went ahead and issued a press release tied to the same topic. It was expected that they would show off their fall lineup of devices, including stuff running Android and Windows Phone, and other products.

You’ll see from the press release (below) that T-Mobile does have quite a bit to choose from this coming holiday shopping season.  In terms of Android alone, the carrier has the Nexus 4, Galaxy Note II, Optimus L9, Galaxy S III, and Galaxy S Relay 4G.Continue reading: T-Mobile touts fall and holiday smartphone lineup

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Nexus 10 specifications

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 11:10 AM PDT

  • OS: Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
  • Processor:1.7 GHz A15 dual-core processor
  • Memory: 16/32GB User memory + 2GB (RAM)
  • Display: 10" WQXGA (2560×1600, 300 ppi) display
  • Camera:
    • Main(Rear): 5 Megapixel Camera
    • Sub(Front): 1.9 Megapixel Camera
  • Video
    • Codec: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, VC-1, DivX VP8,
    • Format: 3GP(MP4), WMV(ASF), AVI, FLV, MKV, WebM
    • Full HD(1080p) Playback & Recording @30 fps,
  • Audio
    • Codec: MP3, OGG, WMA, AAC, ACC+, eAAC+, AMR(NB,WB), MIDI, WAV,
    • AC-3, Flac
    • 3.5mm Ear Jack, Stereo speaker
  • Google Mobile Services: Google Chrome, Gmail, Google Talk, Google Maps for Android, Google Search, Voice Search, Google Now Google+, Gmail, YouTube, Google Currents, Google Play Store, Google Play Books, Google Play Movies, Google Play Magazines
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth® v 3.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n (MIMO+HT40), microUSB, microHDMI, Pogo pin, Dual Side NFC, GPS+Glonass, Sensor, Barometer. Accelerometer, Gyro, Digital Compass, Light, Opening sensor
  • Network: WiFi only
  • Dimension:263.8 x 177.8 x 8.9 mm, 603g
  • Battery: Li-ion 9,000mAh

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What’s new in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean?

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 10:17 AM PDT

It’s official, there’s a new Nexus smartphone coming in about two weeks.  Oh, and there’s also a new Nexus tablet coming on the same day.  Both are set to hit Google Play store on November 13 and will come loaded with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.  What’s new about this version of Android?  Well, here’s what we’ve pulled together from the news today.  We’ll update this if we come across more details, so be sure to check back.

New to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean:

  • Photo Sphere – capture images in every direction to create 360-degree photos that can be shared on Google+, Google Maps, etc.
  • Gesture Typing – glide your finger over the letters you want to type on the keyboard (think Swype, SwiftKey Flow)
  • Support for wireless display – Wirelessly watch movies, YouTube videos and play games right on Miracast-compatible HDTV.
  • Support for multiple users - Users can log in and have their own homescreen, background, widgets, apps and games (high scores and levels). Available only on tablets.
  • Daydream: Set your tablet to display photos, news and more when docked or idle.  Same applies for Nexus 4 on wireless charger.
  • Enhanced, Actionable Notifications: Same stuff we saw in Android 4.1 but enhanced a bit for this release.

Other new stuff:

  • Updates to Google Now – New cards for flight information, restaurant reservations, hotel confirmations, shipping details, nearby attractions, interesting photo spots, movies times at nearby theaters or concerts by your favorite artists.
  • Updates to Google Play – Movie purchasing in Canada, the U.K., France, Spain and Australia. New magazines and content from Time, Inc. (InStyle, PEOPLE, TIME, etc) as well as music from Warner Music Group.  Google is now working with all major record labels globally, and all the major U.S. magazine publishers, as well as many independent labels, artists and publishers. Google Play Music is coming to Europe (U.K, France, Germany, Italy and Spain) on November 13.

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Nexus 4 Gallery

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 10:16 AM PDT

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Google intros new Nexus 7 options

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 10:10 AM PDT

The hits keep coming today as Google has introduced its newest versions of the Nexus 7 tablet.  As we’d come to expect over the last few weeks, the 16GB version of the Asus tablet has been dropped down to $199 to make room for a larger, 32GB capacity model.  The new offering is listed at $249.99, or the same price that the 16GB edition was just one day earlier.  In a related note, we can expect to see the tablets offered across retail partners such as Gamestop, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples, Walmart.

Today also sees Google unveiling a version of the Nexus 7 with a  (HSPA+)data connectivity, giving us the 32GB model as an unlocked device at $299.  Look for that to show up on November 13 in Google Play stores for U.S. (AT&T), U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain and  Canada

Continue reading: Google intros new Nexus 7 options

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Google announces Nexus 4 for November 13

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:42 AM PDT

And just like that, another rumor goes off to die.  Google today announced that there’s a new Nexus smartphone to consider, giving us the 4.7-inch LG Nexus 4.  Long expected to be the unlocked, Pure Google version of the Optimus G, the smartphone runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and features cutting-edge hardware such as wireless charging. The first wave of markets to see the Nexus 4 hit Google Play will be U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain and Canada

Pricing and availability for the Nexus 4 are as follows:

  • 8GB for $299 unlocked/no-contract
  • 16GB for $349unlocked/no-contract
  • 16GB through T-Mobile USA (with 2-year service agreement) for $199

Who is picking one of these up and which one are you considering?

NEXUS 4 GALLER

Continue reading: Google announces Nexus 4 for November 13

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Google announces Nexus 10 for November 13

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:28 AM PDT

Not even a hurricane could stop it; Google has officially announced the Nexus 10, the Android 4.2 “super” tablet from Samsung.  Arriving on November 13, the tablet runs the latest build of Jelly Bean and is called the “ultimate tablet for watching movies or reading magazines”.

Details include front and rear cameras, a 1.7GHz processor, 2GB RAM, and a 10.1-inch screen running at 2560×1600 pixels. Pricing for the 16GB model will be $399 while the 32GB version comes in at $499 when it is made available in U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan

Continue reading: Google announces Nexus 10 for November 13

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Prepare for disaster with these 30 essential Android apps

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:14 AM PDT

You’d have to be completely unplugged from the world right now not to know about Hurricane Sandy and the impending Frankenstorm. Things are gonna get bad over the next couple of days and you need to be ready for whatever happens. This week can and will see canceled flights, closed transit systems, power outages, and much more.  In fact, we understand that some of these things have already affected some of you readers.

We felt obligated to put together the following list of Android apps to help you out in the event you run into trouble.  This is a collection of titles you ought to consider installing on a smartphone or tablet so that you can arm yourself in the event of a hurricane, storm, wildfire, or something equally disastrous.  No, this is not an exhaustive list, but it’s a great place to start.

Note, it’s also possible that your local radio or television stations have a dedicated app or mobile-optimized website.  If so, definitely check that out or bookmark the page.  Another idea is to use Facebook, Twitter, or another social network to update your status.  Don’t be stupid about it, though, and flood timelines with useless junk.  Doing so will hurt your chances of being noticed should something really bad happen

Continue reading: Prepare for disaster with these 30 essential Android apps

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Short video of Nexus 4 shows quick settings, multi-user

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 08:01 AM PDT

A short video landing online today confirms a couple of details for the upcoming (should have been announced by now) Nexus 4.  You’ll see in the clip, embedded after the break, that the Nexus 4 appears to be very much like all of the photos we’ve seen over the past few weeks.  Good or bad, the form factor looks a bit like something that Samsung might have put together.

You’ll notice that we also get a quick glimpse of a secondary screen accessible through the drop-down notification shade.  As a quick way to get to some of the more popular settings (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, battery, etc), this is a welcome, albeit subtle improvement

Continue reading: Short video of Nexus 4 shows quick settings, multi-user

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Leaked Nexus 4 manual confirms wireless charging

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 07:40 AM PDT

The Nexus 4 will have wireless charging (induction) capability out of the box, so says a leaked copy of the user manual.  Found online at LG’s website, but subsequently removed, the manual shows the rear of the handset features an “induction coil”, confirming rumors of the new-ish charging technology.

Continue reading: Leaked Nexus 4 manual confirms wireless charging

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Recent filings suggest GT-N5110 is new Galaxy Note product

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 06:45 AM PDT

Newly discovered details for a Samsung GT-N5110 suggest we could be in for yet another model in the Galaxy Note series.  The hint comes in the model number which seems to tip their hand; previous Note products start with GT-Nxxxx.

  • GT-N7000 – Galaxy Note
  • GT-N7100 – Galaxy Note II
  • GT-N8000 – Galaxy Note 10.1

Considering there’s nothing between the 5.5-inch Note II handset and the 10.1-inch Note tablet, it stands to reason there’s plenty of void to fill.  Maybe a 7-inch or 7.7-inch Note could be in the works.  Let’s also not rule out the possibility that there is something in the 8.9-inch space, too

Continue reading: Recent filings suggest GT-N5110 is new Galaxy Note product

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PSA: Google, T-Mobile events scrapped in wake of Hurricane Sandy

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 06:09 AM PDT

Here’s a quick and friendly public service announcement to let you all know that Google’s Android-related event has been scrapped today as a result of Hurricane Sandy.  What’s more, T-Mobile has also decided to push their fall showcase as well.  It’s not immediately clear if there will be a specific follow-up event for either company, but we’ll be sure to share what we learn.  With that in mind, we’d suggest keeping a close eye on various retailers, blogs, and outlets as more “official” details trickle out.  There’s a chance that Google cannot completely stop the train that’s already in motion.

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32GB Nexus 7 found at Office Depot

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 05:42 AM PDT

A 32GB Nexus 7 was spied at an Office Depot over the weekend, adding more credibility to the rumors of it replacing the 16GB model.  Priced at $249.99, the tablet is not found on Office Depot’s website as of yet; only the 8GB and 16GB models are listed as ”in stores only.”

As of now it appears that the 16GB model will drop to $200 whenever the 32GB version arrives.  The 8GB edition, for its part, has been rumored to see a price drop of its own.  Some have speculated that this could be the tablet that ends up as the $99 Google offering.  Other rumors swirling about suggest we’ll have a single-core Nexus tablet with the attractive price point

Continue reading: 32GB Nexus 7 found at Office Depot

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