Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums

The iPad Mini is upon us, how does it match up against the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD?

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 03:51 PM PDT

The impossible has happened. The 7-inch iPad that Steve Jobs himself spoke against has come to the world in the form of the iPad Mini. In a world where price is ultimately king, can Apple persuade you into buying it’s option for over 50% more than its competition? Lets take a look at the specs and see how they stack up.

Apple’s latest tablet sports a 7.9-inch IPS (1280 x 768) display. This display is a far cry from the iPad’s Retina Display or even it’s top competitor’s in terms of pixel density as both the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD sport a higher resolution on a smaller display. The pixel density (163 ppi) is half of the latest iPhone’s (326 ppi) and still a far cry from the Macbook display (227 ppi) as well. After producing such high quality displays with their last big releases, Apple has sort of left the iPad Mini out in the cold on this one.

Next, lets have a look at the second most noticeable specification when comparing these giants: processing power. The iPad Mini sports last generation’s A5 processor, which is the equivalent of the current dual core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor. This processor is still somewhat underpowered when put next to the Kindle Fire HD’s 1.2 GHz dual core OMAP 4460 and really shows its age when matched with the Quad Core 1.5 GHz Tegra 3 that powers the Nexus 7. Did Apple throw in last generation’s processor to save battery life? Possibly, but even then, it only matches the Nexus 7′s 10 hours of usage time.

Possibly my biggest gripe with Apple’s latest is the pricing. $329 is just too big of a pill to swallow for a 16GB tablet when consumers have the option of a $200 Kindle Fire HD with the same storage, as well as the 32GB Nexus 7 replacing the 16GB version at the $249 price point (note the chart above doesn’t show the upcoming 32GB version). Asking customers to pay an extra $80 to $130 for lesser specs just isn’t a smart game plan from Apple.

As for software, I really dont want to get too much into that since iOS versus Android has been debated time and time again, but I will say that the Kindle Fire HD’s custom Android skin is definitely the weakest of the three.

Of course the Mini packs cameras that match it’s competitors as well as Apple’s fancy new Lightning connector, but NFC is still nowhere to be found and the slight advantage in weight and size still dont justify buying an iPad Mini over a Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire for now. As of now, I would still recommend a Nexus 7 as the best tablet on the market for most consumers and don’t see any major selling point besides “Its Apple” to justify purchasing the newest member of the iPad family over any of the other great tablet options on the market.

source: cnet

LG Spectrum Ice Cream Sandwich will start rolling out tomorrow

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 12:27 PM PDT

Starting tomorrow owners of the LG Spectrum will be able to upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich and I think the only thing that can come to mind for these owners is FINALLY. From the original leak of the update back in May to finding out Saturday that Verizon has finally approved the update, Spectrum owners have been patiently waiting for the Ice Cream Sandwich experience. Well starting tomorrow the wait will be over and owners can rejoice in the improvement that is Ice Cream Sandwich. It may sting to know that they are getting this update well after Jelly Bean has been released and with the anticipation of Android 4.2 growing, but better late than never right?

 Source: Verizon

Full HD smartphones from Samsung, LG to surface first half of 2013

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 11:40 AM PDT

Full HD displays seem to be the next logical step in mobile device advancement. While HTC is one of the only manufacturers with an upcoming, listed device sporting such high resolution, Samsung and LG look to get in the game soon. Not surprisingly, according to “industry sources,” Samsung and LG will launch devices with full HD AMOLED and LCD displays in the first half of next year. With the boost in resolution comes a nice boost in ppi. We’ll be looking at over 400ppi with these devices. That will obviously yield a gorgeous display. At this point, we can only speculate as to which devices from Samsung and LG will be the first to incorporate the displays. Will we see the Galaxy S IV rocking full HD? The rumored timeline certainly makes sense.

 

source:  MK

Xbox jumps into immersive entertainment with Xbox SmartGlass app for mobile platforms

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 10:02 AM PDT

A recurring theme that seems to be repeating itself during 2012 is the move by developers to try to meld the TV viewing experience with interactive features via a smartphone or tablet. We have seen Netflix upgrade their app within the last month to enable a mobile device to serve as a remote control while providing additional content regarding a movie or TV show. Earlier this year we saw apps from IntoNow and Shazam introduce similar capabilities, especially on the social media side. Microsoft is getting in on the action with a new app, Xbox SmartGlass, being introduced with the roll out of Windows 8. Like these other apps and services, Microsoft has plans to make SmartGlass available on multiple platforms, with Android and iOS versions coming in 2013.

The Xbox Smartglass app, as demonstrated on Windows 8 devices, gives you an option when watching a movie on a tablet or smartphone, to play it on your Xbox 360. This streams the content to the Xbox for display on a big screen. Meanwhile, the device recognizes this streaming and instead of showing the content, displays controls like reverse, forward, pause, play and provides background content like actors, musical artists, and other information. Social media interaction will be available as well.

Perhaps unique for Xbox Smartglass is the ability to do the same thing with music in addition to TV shows and movies. SmartGlass will enable a user to run an Internet Explorer browser on their device with the output mirrored on their TV, again via their Xbox 360. Microsoft indicates the app will let users watch, pause and resume watching in sync across different devices.

Xbox SmartGlass will be available with the release of Windows 8 later this week for Windows devices. Users will need an Xbox Live Gold subscription for some features. When Android and iOS versions are released, it is not clear exactly which features will be available.

Below is an official video demonstrating Xbox SmartGlass as well as some screenshots of the app on different platforms.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Print Print xbox-smartglass-iphone-android-early-2013-0 xbox-smartglass-iphone-android-early-2013-3

source: Pocket Lint

Samsung Galaxy Note II hits AT&T on November 9 for $299, pre-orders to begin October 25

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 08:37 AM PDT

The Samsung Galaxy Note II will land on all major U.S. carriers in time for the holidays, and if you’re an AT&T customer, they just announced that you can grab yours on November 9. It will be priced at $299 and pre-orders will start on October 25th. It will carry the same specs as the international Galaxy Note II, which include the whopping 5.5-inch (1280 x 720) display, quad-core Exynos processor, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The Galaxy Note II will be the second quad-core LTE phone to hit AT&T, while the LG Optimus G will be the first because it will debut one week earlier. The upcoming HTC One X+ will be the third. It’s going to be one speedy holiday season.

Full press release after the break:

AT&T Announces Samsung Galaxy Note II Available Nov. 9, Pre-orders Begin Oct. 25

Dallas, Texas, October 23, 2012

Beginning Nov. 9 customers interested in picking up a Samsung Galaxy Note® II will be able to purchase one for $299.99 with a two-year agreement in all AT&T* stores and online.  Online pre-orders for this highly anticipated device are planned for Oct. 25 at www.att.com/galaxynoteii.

Announced last month, the Samsung Galaxy Note II is one of the first smartphones launching at AT&T to feature a quad-core processor.  Galaxy Note II uses a 1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos™ processor with powerful graphics capabilities.  The Galaxy Note II is thinner and narrower than the first Galaxy Note, and it improves upon the original with longer battery life, as well as enhancements to the S Pen™.  AT&T is the only carrier to offer the original Samsung Galaxy Note™ at $199.99 with a two-year agreement.

The Galaxy Note II will run on AT&T's 4G LTE network. It will ship running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) on its beautiful 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED™ display, perfect for customers who want the productivity of a tablet with the portability of a smartphone.  The 8-megapixel camera allows users to easily share their photos with friends through Share Shot, while S Beam™ lets you quickly share videos, pictures, maps and more with other Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S® III devices.

AT&T customers have access to the nation's largest 4G network**, covering 275 million people. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. That means AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you may be on a much slower 3G network.

 

 

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

** 4G speeds not available everywhere. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

Samsung, Galaxy S, Galaxy Note, Exynos, S Beam and Super AMOLED are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.  Battery power consumption depends on factors such as network configuration, signal strength, operating temperature, features selected, vibrate mode, backlight settings, browser use, frequency of calls and voice, data and other application usage patterns.

Artist Uses Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 To Create An Artistic Masterpiece

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 07:41 AM PDT

 

You may recall that there’s a ton of things (like this or this too) you can in with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, but an artist just took things to a different level. An artist named Gérémy Arène took the tablet and when paired with Sketchbook Mobile, he created a masterpiece from scratch. Don’t take our word for it— hit the source link below to check out the art piece used solely with the S Pen in action.

source: Android Central

Sony Trademarks “MyXperia” Name, Indicates Possible Cloud Storage Solution Is On The Way

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 06:59 AM PDT

 

Sony definitely has a few aces up its sleeve for its devices, thanks to a listing on the Office of Harmonization for the Internal Market (OHIM) in Europe. According to the listing, Sony has successfully trademarked “MyXperia”, which provides a means to “upload, storage, retrieval, download, transmission and delivery of digital content and media“. All in all– this clearly points to Sony likely set on introducing its own type of cloud storage solution for its wide range of Xperia devices, but we won’t assume too much until we hear what “MyXperia” is exactly directly from Sony.

source: Xperia Blog

USPTO Find’s Apple’s Rubber-Banding Patent Invalid

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 06:30 AM PDT

 

In a stunning turn of events, the US Patent and Trademark Office has filed an initial ruling declaring Apple's rubber-banding patent invalid. If you recall, the patent focuses on an effect that can cause a page on a device to bounce back up after a user has swiped to the bottom of the screen on a mobile device. While this ruling isn’t final, this means that all 20 claims of Apple's patent (No. 7,469,381) are now invalid— which includes an important one used against Samsung during their epic battle in the U.S. courts. The effect of this is major too: while we have a long way to go during the appeals process, this is perhaps the first step needed for Samsung to have the courts potentially overrule at least some of the major rulings.

Developing…

source: The Next Web

LG Optimus G to officially have locked bootloader

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 06:21 AM PDT

I know the Optimus G on AT&T and Sprint is on many an Android fan’s wish list this fall. However, this bit of news may curb that enthusiasm just a bit. Our pals over at Android Central have personally written LG and received this response from LG themselves:

 

The Optimus G doesn't support an unlocked bootloader.

 

Straight and to the point. I can’t say that this comes as a huge surprise, it’s just a little perplexing why manufacturers continue to do this.  But there it is, right there in black and white. How will this decision affect your decision on a new device, if at all? LG Nexus anyone?

 

source: Android Central

 

 

 

Kindle Fire HD earns best-seller title at Amazon, receives OTA update to celebrate

Posted: 23 Oct 2012 01:00 AM PDT

Amazon has just announced that its brand-new Kindle Fire HD has become its best selling product since launch. No specific number of sales was mentioned, but the company did reveal that a fresh OTA update would be arriving soon, bringing with it a new feature called “FreeTime”. The new FreeTime service will allow parents to restrict their child’s access to specific applications, inevitably allowing for complete control over their children’s tablet use. Parents can create a list of restricted applications and set a time limit on those that aren’t. We suspect this will be a huge benefit for families that share their Kindles.

The Kindle Fire HD has undoubtedly proven itself to be a major competitor in the inexpensive tablet game. Although, with the impending release of a 10-inch Nexus tablet, it’s hard to recommend that anybody purchase one. Additionally, the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire  HD will be making its way to market on November 20th, so if your mind is set on a Kindle Fire you may want to wait until then. For more information you can read the full PR after the jump.

-          Since launch, the $199 Kindle Fire HD is the #1 best-selling product across all of Amazon worldwide.  Kindle Fire has been the bestselling product across Amazon.com since the launch of the original Kindle Fire last fall, and this continues Kindle Fire's run as the world's #1 bestselling 7-inch tablet.

-          Today, we are starting to roll out a new, free, over-the-air software update that will make Kindle Fire HD even better, including bringing Kindle FreeTime.  With FreeTime, parents can select all of the content their kids see, limit their kids' screen time by content type and kids can't exit FreeTime without a password.

-          Kindle Fire HD offers customers premium hardware features:

o   Stunning, custom HD display with 1280×800 resolution and a custom laminated touch sensor

o   Dual-antenna, dual-band Wi-Fi  with MIMO

o   Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Digital Plus audio

o   16 GB and 32 GB of local storage

o   High-performance processor and graphics engine for snappy and smooth performance

o   11 hours of battery life

o   X-Ray for Movies, X-Ray for Textbooks, Immersion Reading, Whispersync for Voice, Whispersync for Games, and Kindle FreeTime

o   Front-facing HD camera with custom Skype application

o   Bluetooth and HDMI out

-          Kindle Fire HD offers deep integration with the world's best content ecosystem, offering over 22 million movies, TV shows, songs, apps, games, books, audiobooks and magazines.

-          We offer the best cross-platform interoperability – the content customers purchase from Amazon isn't just available on Amazon devices, it's available on the largest number of devices and platforms, so customers can access content anytime, anywhere.

-          We increased our exclusive content selection and the Kindle Owners' Lending Library to more than 200,000 exclusive titles. We also expanded Kindle Owners' Lending Library to the UK, Germany and France.

Kindle Fire HD is the best-selling product since launch and we haven't even shipped the best tablet we've ever built. Kindle Fire HD 8.9" is shipping November 20, and starts at only $299. The holiday season is upon us and our customer service teams are ready for millions of people to unwrap Kindle Fire HDs around the world.
Posted by at 5:51 AM

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