Friday, November 30, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


Surface RT production cut in half as Microsoft announces ridiculously high priced Surface Pro

Posted: 30 Nov 2012 12:57 AM PST

Sometimes I don’t know if to laugh or cry. Microsoft has been responsible in so many ways for shaping the way we work and play, but at the moment it really is struggling to find its feet. The Redmond company has released its ridiculously high pricing for the Intel based  Surface tablet with Windows 8 Pro, while at the same time rumors are surfacing (sorry, no pun intended)  that Microsoft has ordered a cut in the production of its ARM based Surface RT tablets.

The  Surface tablet with Windows 8 Pro will cost $899 for the 64GB version and $999 for the 128GB model. Other than the odd gold plated or diamond studded tablets that have been made especially for the insanely rich, these are the most expensive tablet on the market. Well done Microsoft, great way to launch a new product, make it the most expensive – ever.

With a budget of $899 it is possible to buy a 10.1 inch netbook with Windows 7 (for $250 or less), a Google Nexus 4 with a quad-core CPU, 2GB RAM, 4.7 inch display and an 8 megapixel camera (for $299) and buy a Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ (for $299) and still have change to take the whole family out for pizza. So either I buy an Intel based Surface tablet or I get a netbook, a smartphone and an Android based tablet for the same money… Hmmm… tough choice!

But the pain doesn’t stop there. According to an official tweet from Microsoft, the Surface Pro will have approximately half the batter life of Surface RT. To be fair, Microsoft are aiming the Surface Pro at the Ultrabook market and it does have a 1920×1080 full HD resolution display, a full-size USB 3.0 port and it will run your current Windows 7 desktop applications as it is a full PC.

As for the Surface RT, Microsoft’s attempt to enter the ARM based, low power consumption tablet market, the outlook (sorry, too many puns today) isn’t that good. According to sources from upstream suppliers of the Surface RT, Microsoft has cut the production in half. Microsoft wanted to sell four million Surface RT tablets by the end of 2012, but it has now changed its estimation (and therefore the production quota) to just two million.

Healthy competition is good, it spurs innovation. What would you suggest Microsoft does to get back on its feet in the tablet market.

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Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 new buyers, remember to get your free Google Play content

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 04:56 PM PST

Samsung Nexus 10

In case you happen to have purchased a new Nexus 4 smartphone or a new Nexus 7 or Nexus 10 tablet, you should know that you're entitled to some free content for your shiny new devices.

We're not talking about the $25 Google Play credit that was offered with initial Nexus 7 purchases. That ended a few months ago, so now it's time for a new promo for Nexus buyers. Depending on what device you purchased and where you're located you'll get different content, but it's all still free of charge.

Nexus 4 owners get to download and/or stream Transformers: Dark of the Moon, the series premiere of Falling Skies (2-hour episode) and an episode of Planet Earth.

Nexus 7/10 buyers will get Ice Age and Planet Earth only, while all devices have access to some free music and magazines from Play Music and Play Magazines, respectively.

Naturally, if you purchased a mix of devices, namely Nexus 4 and a Nexus tablet, you'll get access to all of the above.

We'll add that this offer is available in the U.S. and may change depending on where you get your Nexus from. In fact, if you're reading this from other countries, let us know what free content you're able to download from your local Google Play Store on your Nexus gadgets!

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T-Mobile iPhone 5 coming next week analyst says, Nexus 4 getting serious competition?

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 03:30 PM PST

The T-Mobile iPhone rumor has had its ups and downs ever since AT&T was the sole U.S. mobile operator to sell the iOS handset in the country, but Apple never launched any of its iPhone models with the carrier.

Fortune on Thursday reported that an analyst is expecting T-Mobile to get the iPhone (most likely the iPhone 5 in case it happens) as soon as next week:

Now Merrill Lynch’s Scott Craig is out with a note reporting that “speculation is heightening” that Deutsche Telecom (DT) will announce a deal to bring the iPhone to its U.S. subsidiary at next week’s analysts day (12/6-7).

One of the reasons T-Mobile has been ignored by Apple is that the carrier's GSM network can't offer 3G support to the iPhone. Or better said couldn't do it so far, as T-Mobile has upgraded its HSPA+ network in several markets to offer 3G coverage to its iPhone subscribers that were limited to 2G speeds so far. And there are over 1.5 million iPhone users who chose to either jailbreak their GSM iPhones or purchase unlocked devices and move to T-Mobile instead of sticking it out with AT&T.

But will T-Mobile backtrack on its most recent statements? Just last week we reported that T-Mobile doesn't seem too interested in getting the iPhone. The carrier's COO said that the company "would love to carry the iPhone," but added that "however, we want the economies to be right for us."

Just like Sprint did before getting its own iPhone model, T-Mobile isn't doing that great, financially speaking, and the inability to offer Apple's smartphone to potential customers is certainly one of the factors affecting its bottom line.

T-Mobile has tried over the years to compensate for the iPhone's absence in stores by doubling down on Android. The carrier has a wide variety of Android devices in stores for all budgets, and has quite a collection of high-end Android devices, including the Galaxy S3, the Galaxy Note 2 and the Nexus 4, which is an exclusive in the U.S.

However, its main competitors, the other three major carrier in the region, all offer about the same hot Android devices to their subscribers, while also stocking various iPhone models. But Verizon, AT&T and Sprint don’t have the Nexus 4 in stores this Christmas, and the handset has proven to be quite appealing to the Android-loving crowds.

How will a T-Mobile iPhone 5 affect the U.S. smartphone landscape remains to be seen. While we wait for some confirmation that this thing is indeed happening let's hear it from you, what T-Mobile smarpthone would you rather buy this Christmas, an iPhone 5 or a Nexus 4?

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Sprint Galaxy S2 Jelly Bean build leaks, could be final Android 4.1.2 OTA version for the Epic 4G Touch

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:36 PM PST

The Jelly Bean leaks continue today, and now we're looking at the Android 4.1.2 version for the SPH-D710, also known as the Samsung Epic 4G Touch, or Sprint's Galaxy S2 model.

Sxtpdevelopers has download links and instructions that can help you install this unofficial ROM, if you so desire, on your Sprint Galaxy S2 and try out Jelly Bean well ahead of its official roll out. Naturally, keep in mind that we don't encourage you to install any unofficial software on your devices, and that everything that happens during, or after such procedures is entirely your responsibility.

That said, what we're mostly interested in today is the fact that the leak could end up being the final Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OTA for Sprint's Galaxy S2:

POSSIBLY THIS BUILD WILL BE OTA INSIDE SOURCES TELL US. [sic]

Word on the street is that Samsung is almost done with the Galaxy S2 Jelly Bean update, and that we'll see it rolled out in the near future, quite possibly by the end of the year.

We'll be back with more details once we have them. Are you going to install this leaked firmware?

Thanks, Andrei!

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Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade coming to North America

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:31 PM PST

Final Fantasy

DeNA and Square Enix are teaming up to bring us the very first free-to-play Final Fantasy game to be released in English. The upcoming title is called Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade, and is available right now in Japan.

The new Final Fantasy adventure is a cooperative title that places you in charge of an airship. Throughout the game you can team up with other players’ airships and work to take down enemies in order to gain experience points. All the items and inventory will be familiar to Final Fantasy fans, though the gameplay itself seems considerably different from titles like Final Fantasy Dimensions.

For those looking for a hardcore MMORPG experience, this isn’t it. Square Enix is billing Airborn Brigade as an " easy-to-play social game where players cooperate and adventure through a world inspired by the popular FINAL FANTASY series". Basically this means it is casually-oriented, but should still appeal to Final Fantasy fans because of the familiar items and references in the game.

If you happen to have friends that own an iDevice or if you own multiple devices yourself, you’ll be happy to know that the game is cross-platform and free for both ecosystems. So when exactly is the game coming? Square Enix has yet to give an official date for the game, but you can pre-register at Square Enix’s website for more information and updates about Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade.

Keep in mind that this Final Fantasy title is only expected to arrive in English for the North American market, at least initially. What do you think, interested or not?

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Google Nexus 10 review! [video]

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 11:44 AM PST

Before we begin, a quick look back.

There's something about working with a new kind of device that helps you learn something about yourself. Android, as an operating system, is growing at a rapid pace and will mature from Jelly Bean and soon become a delicious Key Lime Pie; and there's no doubt that with it, Google will be hoping to show us horizons of everyday tech that we didn't even realize existed. With each release comes new features, and with new features come new experiences.

But the operating systems aren't the only things that are growing – no, Google wants to make it clear to us that even though the Android market does seem a bit spread way too far, they are here to point us in the right direction of their ultimate plans. Thus came the Nexus line, a group of devices that not only show the versatility of the Android platform, but also showcase its growth from simple phone interface into something much more. And the devices themselves are testaments to that.

The Google Galaxy Nexus was the first phone to be widely accepted not only as the Google phone, sporting the newest operating system not available on any other device (at the time), but as a device that brought with it a great deal of freedom – with a little guidance, tinkering with the phone's operating system proved easy for even the common consumer. Those without such zeal could still rest assured that their devices' updates would be ahead of the rest. But growth needed to continue.

Then came the Nexus 7. While there were already tablet offerings from the likes of Samsung and Amazon, none had the spirit Google instilled in the Galaxy Nexus. The Nexus 7 changed the game, bringing a very affordable price for competitive specs and all the promises involved with having Google in your corner – the regular user would be on the cutting edge, while the adventurous types would potentially have a software 'blank slate' to do with as they pleased.

And now, we come to a new generation of Nexus devices. With the Nexus 4, Google has applied the manufacturing experience of LG to bring a powerful but accessible new entry in the smartphone market. But with the Nexus 10, Google is hoping to reach another new base of consumers who are looking for the same cutting edge software in a bigger package – and of course, the promise of being part of an exclusive, always up-to-date Nexus club. And now the big brother has come out to play, and Android tablet veteran Samsung has been taken to task.

But does the Nexus 10 continue this tradition of successful Nexus offerings? Read on to find out, and see my video review at the end.

Build and Design

Sometimes it's hard to be fully prepared for what you're going to get, and even with its to-the-point name, the Nexus 10 is certainly a sight to behold when you first take it out. The 10.1 inch screen makes for even more girth all around, making a side to side measurement a total of almost 10.4 inches (263.9 mm). From bottom to top, the device spans 7 inches (177.6 mm), and the thickness comes out to almost 9 mm.

Yes, we're dealing with a pretty serious device here, and anyone looking to get their first tablet this holiday season better come prepared – if you've ever said before that 'smartphones are getting bigger and bigger,' you're definitely going to be taken aback by the sheer size of the Nexus 10. It takes a little getting used to – at 603g, however, this tablet brings enough weight to feel sturdy without feeling like a medical textbook.

Some of the stagger fades away once you hold the tablet in your hands. Despite the size of it all, the Nexus 10 does feel like it fits – even for a smaller guy like me, I immediately felt like I knew how to handle it. The button layout and placement of the peripherals lead one to holding the tablet in the landscape mode, making the experience with the Nexus 10 decidedly different from the 'sometimes-portrait-sometimes-landscape' versatility of the 7.

On your left hand side you'll find the power and the volume rockers in the top corner, found quite close to one another. The volume rockers are quite prominent and are easy to find without looking, but it felt like the power button, shaped slightly into the curve of the corner, blended in a little too well. While certainly not a tough button to find, I fear for the first time in quite a while that the power button may one day sink in and become unusable.

The left side holds the headphone jack, while right above it is the microUSB charging port. Opposite these two, on the right side, the mini HDMI port can be found. The bottom houses the pogo pins flanked by some magnetic strips – features that will hopefully be made useful due to docks that actually get released for once.

The top fifth of the back end is the only part reminiscent of the Nexus 7, with the patterned design and familiar texture. In the middle of this area is the 5 megapixel camera. Below all this action are the words 'NEXUS' and below that, 'Samsung,' all made of a material that felt satisfying to the grip. Tacky is the word to use, as skin seems to stick to it just well enough to make holding the Nexus 10 feel safe and secure. Just be ready for all of the fingerprints that are sure to adorn your new tablet's back.

Tacky, however, is also the word I would use to describe how I feel about the look of the back. Branding obligations aside, having the two words on the back etched into a bland slate without texture or pattern to add color or any form of uniqueness felt quite stale. The overall look of the back reminded me of the back of a laptop screen, like someone had just ripped it right off of an old notebook from the early 2000s. Samsung is more than capable of designing sexy products – it's any wonder why this all felt so, for lack of a better term, boring.

Perhaps all of this drab is supposed to bring eyes to the front – and the 10.1 inch screen absolutely beckons. Flanking the screen are two speakers, well hidden in the very edges of the side bezels. Above it is the front facing, 1.9 megapixel camera surely made for Hangouts, video chats, and silly self-portraits. Near the bottom of the front end is a notification light, a cosmetic but nonetheless potentially useful addition for those who take advantage of it.

And then there's all that space inbetween.

Screen and Display

Samsung manages to put in its Nexus 10 one of the most impressive screens on not just any tablet, but nearly any device. For those looking for the technical terms, the Nexus 10 sports a WQXGA True RGB Real Stripe PLS screen capable of 300 dpi. Though '10.1 inch', or just merely '10', will certainly be hammered into your minds due to this tablet, there's a much larger number that you should keep in mind: 2560 x 1600.

That behemoth set of numbers is the resolution of this screen, and being able to put such a display on what is supposed to be a highly mobile device is nothing short of a feat. Think for a second how some of your favorite videos on YouTube can be as high quality as 1080p – then realize that that number is the second value in a resolution measurement. Yes, this 10-inch screen will dwarf even some of your favorite YouTube Justin Bieber covers. As a result, perusing videos and Netflix on this display always turned out to be a wonderful experience.

Video aside, text and pictures pop on this dazzling display which has already been compared to Apple's Retina display on their smaller laptop offerings. Viewing media on the Nexus 7 was already a blast, but with its insanely high resolution, the Nexus 10 takes it to another level. Jelly Bean's colorful interface is as crisp and pleasing as ever, while web browsing proves a wonderful experience.

The brightness is adequate on this screen, though you may have a little trouble seeing things clearly in broad daylight. Viewing angles are also fine, and I learned that the nice thing about a screen this big is that you can zoom into content otherwise too small for normal sight without sacrificing too much real estate.

Apps and games fare very well, too, as the Play Store ecosystem has ensured that apps are always viewable on larger screens. While some may criticize the Android platform for having a lack of tablet-optimized options, you almost forget about all that when seeing the scaled up results on such a nice screen. Almost. You may wish for a bit more polish here and there from certain apps and games, but then again, you also might be having too much fun to care.

All of this beauty is protected behind a slate of Corning Gorilla Glass 2, so you can rest assured that your screen won't be plagued by the tiny and simple scratches that most other devices might get. Of course, having a screen protector for added security is always a good idea.

Hardware

While it might not pack the most advanced specs found in the tablet market, the Nexus 10 does bring some power to the table. Sporting a dual-core, 1.7 GHz A15 processor, this tablet also comes with 2 GB of RAM for running a bunch of apps at once.

One might scoff at the lack of cores in this particular offering, but the proof of performance is definitely felt in practice – the Nexus 10 felt consistently smooth throughout my experience, and I found no lag in web browsing, running apps, and multitasking.

Gaming is also on the agenda, as games I tested ran smoothly without any hiccups. This is due to the Mali T604, which is listed as a quad-core graphics processor. There is definitely some power behind the video capability of the Nexus 10, and it shows when you're racing down to the finish line in Asphalt or using the Force in the new Angry Birds.

Benchmark tests show the Nexus 10 among some of the mid-to-top performers currently in the market, and while it might not sit completely atop the rest, I must reiterate that the performance is definitely felt in practice. Samsung has managed to provide a great user experience in their Nexus 10.

As far as capacity goes, this tablet comes in only 16GB and 32GB varieties – and that's all you're going to get. With a screen so crisp and sound (described in the next section) this good, you might want to take advantage and throw all of your content in – unfortunately, the Nexus 10 has fixed memory and expandable options are unavailable. While OTG (on-the-go) USB adapters are certainly an option, I found myself feeling like an opportunity was missed – throwing an SD card in to show others pictures I took seemed like a nice idea, given the high resolution screen. I suppose that it has become a trend to leave out expandable memory to keep the cost down on these devices.

Sound

The next piece of hardware is a part of this tablet I am definitely happy to report on – if you have seen my previous tips video regarding the Nexus 7, you will know that I usually hate the speakers found on phones and tablets. The Nexus 7 was unfortunately not immune to this disdain, as the small slit on the back proved not only lacking in power, but even lacking in overall clarity. I have my own Bluetooth speaker to mitigate that shortcoming, and the solution works perfectly.

However, Samsung has taken all of this into account and not only added in an extra speaker, but put them in brilliant positions – stereo on both sides and flanking the screen, presumably aimed right at the user. While you're not getting surround sound or a loudspeaker in the Nexus 10, you're sure to be surprised at how much louder and fuller it is compared to pretty much any other mobile device.

Having the two speakers positioned the way they are is incredibly ingenious, making the sound experience seem as if it is just for you. The Nexus 10 was able to deliver very adequate sound when viewing videos, and only when other people wanted to participate did I feel the need to get the Bluetooth speaker out.

Music is, of course, a different beast – the speakers don't do audiophiles any further justice than being better than the competition. In this case, external sources are undoubtedly the better option. Nonetheless, Samsung is to be applauded for putting some thought into the sound department of the Nexus 10.

Battery

All of this craziness packed under a 10 inch screen should be backed by a powerful battery. Thankfully, the Nexus 10 can hold its own, even if its battery performance doesn't particularly shine. Obviously because of the display, this tablet can go a full day if you're quite frugal with your usage. Working continuously with this tablet will unsurprisingly limit your overall longevity.

The Samsung designed tablet comes with a charger and microUSB cable, which I should mention is longer than your average cord bundled with phones and some similar devices. Perhaps this is just me, but the placement of the microUSB charging slot makes the cord stick out like a sore thumb.

I put the Nexus 10 to task by using Netflix over my WiFi connection to continuously stream episodes of one of my favorite shows while broadcasting the audio to my Bluetooth speaker. With the brightness fixed at full, the tablet was able to last about four and a half hour long episodes. With some tinkering in-between episodes, the total battery life seen from this particular test was just under 5 hours. I imagine that for tasks much less intense on the wireless connectivity, the Nexus 10 should certainly be able to hit the 8 hour mark of continuous, non-stop usage.

Essentially, this means that if you are going to be working for extended sessions of time with the Nexus 10, chances are you will be in a setting with outlets, anyway. This doesn't feel like a device made primarily for run and gun usage, but rather for longer periods of reading, browsing, and viewing; as far as work goes, I imagine a café with plugs and maybe even a wireless keyboard for good measure. Bottom line, you're probably going to get used to bringing that power cord along and treating the Nexus 10 like a netbook (only it's so much cooler than that).

Camera

Samsung has made waves with its camera offerings in the past – the optics on the Galaxy S3 were certainly worthy of mention, and the recent Galaxy Camera definitely help cement the Korean manufacturer as a true Android supporter and seasoned camera producer. With such a nice screen found on the Nexus 10, one would hope that the camera would shine and the resulting images would prove to be great viewing material.

Unfortunately, this simply isn't the case with Samsung's latest offering. The camera brings with it a measly amount of 5 megapixels to work with, and it just feels like another missed opportunity considering Samsung's pedigree of photographic devices. Even smartphones come with more megapixels than this, like the LG Optimus G with a whopping 13 – not to mention, Samsung's own Galaxy S3 comes with 8.

Click here to see the full picture.

Unsurprisingly, then, the camera underwhelms and resulting images lack true clarity or depth. While no one will complain about the mere ability to have a camera on the Nexus 10, expectations for it should be the same as all with all other tablet cameras – low. The front facing camera can do 1.9 megapixels, but it's just there, as always, to make sure your video caller can see your face.

That being said, there are a few nice features available in the camera software provided in this 4.2 version of Android's operating system. Extensively covered already is the new camera software, which leaves behind traditional menus for a touch and swipe interface that just feels right for touchscreen devices.

Google has also put into its new OS the Photo Sphere, a camera feature akin to panorama that instead allows for full 360-degree shots. While having the same technology that creates Google Street View images is certainly a nice novelty, in execution, getting those pictures just right is rather tough. This is especially true for the Nexus 10, as it just doesn't have a good enough camera to take full advantage of these new features.

I definitely follow the 'the best camera is the one on you' mantra, but I would put the Nexus 10 down as 'only when you have nothing else.' And let's be honest – you'd probably get the same reactions taking pictures with the Nexus 10 that many an iPad user have suffered.

Software

The camera wasn't the only thing enhanced in the new version of the Android operating system, 4.2 Jelly Bean. As this is a Nexus device, it is definitely a plus to know that it comes with the latest and greatest offering from Google HQ. Jelly Bean is as snappy and fun to use as ever, and along with the Nexus 4, Google further cements its devices as 'official' by ensuring they are at the cutting edge of software.

New features that adorn the experience of the Nexus 10 are the new keyboard, which takes a page from popular alternative Swype and adds gesture typing. I personally never had a problem with the original keyboard offerings of previous Android versions, and touch typing remains as easy as ever. The larger screen does allow for better full keyboard-like typing, but having the ability to swipe for words is still nice to have. However, that's about all it is, as the gesture typing is adequate but probably won't keep you from installing your own favorite keyboard anyway.

The interface of Jelly Bean brings with it new notification drop down menus that show you your notices on the left pull-down while having your most used options easily accessible on the right. This is a nice touch for Google to throw in, as I always loved the easy-to-use power widgets that typically come bundled in with custom ROMs. Sure, these buttons only bring you to the actual page found in Settings instead of just toggling the feature on and off, but there's something about it that just feels proper. The extra presses were soon nothing but an afterthought.

Google Now has proven itself a well-received addition to the Android ecosystem with Jelly Bean 4.1 and continues to please in this new version. Cards appear appropriately after certain acts are performed across all of your synced Google experiences, as directions to a location you might have searched for magically appear in your notification dropdown and reminders for upcoming calendar events keep you on task. If you get annoyed by your tablet always reminding you how and how long will take to get 'home', you can always swipe away the card until it's finally useful.

Voice commands remain as good as ever due to the included software in Google Now, taking from the well done Voice Search application found in previous Android versions. As many should already have experienced by now, Voice Search remains delightfully accurate at capturing the correct words and phrases – it remains a useful tool in this Nexus 10.

Having a Nexus device means that when the next iteration of Android comes out, you will most likely be one of the first who get to enjoy it. After all, it's the Google Nexus 10 by Samsung and not the other way around. Android has already come a long way, but it's always exciting to know that new experiences are always on the horizon.

Conclusion

The Nexus 10 has a lot going for it – with a powerful and delightfully crisp screen and the backing of Google's update schedules, users will likely have a great time experiencing the latest and greatest that Android has to offer. Videos, games, and even reading are smooth, fast, and easy on such a device.

However, there are also a lot of things that are working against it. The Nexus 10 hopes to bring with it enough incentives for consumers to forego its competitors, but it comes in just a little late in the game after tablets like the Galaxy Tab and the ASUS Transformers have already established ground. Without packing in the best specifications to trump its rivals, the Nexus 10 is a moderately priced device that excels in certain aspects but remains average among its peers due to areas like battery life and camera.

And that isn't even the end of the question – the Nexus 7 remains as a very viable alternative to this new device. Despite its growing age and the lack of good sound and a camera, the 7 remains one of the best smaller tablets available and its great early ratings still hold up. Personally, I love the size and experience my Nexus 7, so the learning curve of a much larger device was a little steep.

Ultimately, the decision will come down to personal preference. While the screen of the Nexus 10 is one of the best among all tablets, users will have to decide if that and Jelly Bean 4.2 and beyond are enough to justify a purchase. Then, the next layer is the size – with the Nexus 7 still available, one can opt for the smaller, more portable alternative rather than this behemoth of a device.

Which brings me full circle – I said at the beginning of this review that working with new devices always seem to make me learn something new about myself. With the Nexus 10, I had quite a bit of fun and would definitely recommend it for anyone looking to get a 10 inch tablet. Given all that its package offers, people looking to break into the larger tablet market will get a wonderful start with the capable Nexus 10.

However, I think I'm going to stick with my Nexus 7 – I learned that while I might love the larger screen and enhanced viewing performance therein, I just can't see myself bringing this 10 incher everywhere with me the way I bring around my Nexus 7. Taking the tablet out for quick calendar entries, notes, and even quick reading or video sessions felt cumbersome, especially considering the ease with which the smaller 7 inch tablet could handle such tasks. The Nexus 10 felt right only in the comfort of my home, in a cafĂ©, or anywhere I could just sit down and enjoy the experience.

But that's just with me – and such is the beauty of technology today. With so many choices, anyone can choose which device would work best for them. For a device capable of handling a faster (or more hectic) pace, smaller offerings may prove easier and more useful, as the Nexus 7 proves. When you're just looking to enjoy a movie, read a book, or simply browse your favorite websites in perhaps a calmer matter, larger devices bring greatly enhanced experiences, as was the case with the screen and snappy performance with the Nexus 10.

In the end, however, the choice is all up to you. See my video review above and stay tuned for more Nexus news here at Android Authority!

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Social Network OverView Lite: Your social feeds in one place

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 11:00 AM PST

Social networking sites have become essential parts of some people’s lives. Keeping connected to friends and family using the Internet is now one of the activities one cannot afford to skip out on, most especially when the Internet is accessible anywhere and everywhere.

Settling for just one social networking site today is not that common anymore; the more social networking sites you maintain, the more chances of not missing out on anything your friends or the whole community is currently into. With that said, news feeds are definitely important. Want an easier way to access not only your Facebook news feed but your Google+’s and Twitter’s, as well? Social Network OverView Lite is the answer, my friend.

Social Network Overview Lite or SNOView Lite by Mario Ostwald sports a very clean and simple interface. There are no unnecessary frills and the app is actually really tidy to look at. Depending on your preference, you can set how many posts will be shown both in landscape and portrait mode.

Whether you choose to show less or more, the posts don’t look cluttered and are neatly organized. There are three skins you can choose from if you want to change the interface’s look — modern, classic, and original.

What’s great about this app is that you don’t need to key in your accounts’ passwords to integrate them into the app. Providing your username is enough and the app searches the username for you. After you’ve set up your accounts, your news feeds will automatically be shown on the app’s main screen.

If you have set the number of posts to be shown either in portrait or landscape mode, for example, two posts, you can swipe from right to left to show earlier posts presented in pairs. Changing the number of posts to be shown also changes the number of posts that will be revealed every time you swipe to see more.

SNOView Lite doesn’t only limit you to your own Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ news feeds. If you want to know each and every tweet about Gotye for example, you can look him up using the app’s search function. This function also works in Google+ and Facebook but may be a bit challenging compared to searching for a Twitter username. There are some Facebook usernames that can’t be searched, so using the app’s search function may not work.

A widget may also be placed on your home screen for easier access to the app. You can also opt to disable update notifications from the app if you are heading to bed, especially when someone just updated her or his status on Facebook. Aside from disabling notifications, you can set the app’s update frequency while it is running in the background. If you still want to know who posted what, you can set the app to update you every 5, 15, or 30 minutes, or even every 8 hours.

In the case of adding Google+ posts and news feeds, searching for my username didn’t work. Apparently, the username is composed of string numbers you can find on the address bar when you click on your Google+ account. Keying in the numbers worked for me and the app successfully added my Google+ news feeds and posts.

Social Network OverView Lite is a very convenient app you should not overlook. Just take note, this app shows you an overview of your friends’ posts and news, but it doesn’t allow you to compose a tweet or update your status. If you want to see all your news feeds from Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ in one convenient place, you don’t need to look anywhere else; SNOView Lite does the job well.

Download Social Network OverView Lite for free. Check out the paid version, as well, if you want to keep more than three news feeds. Head on to the Google Play Store and download this app to keep yourself updated on what your friends and family are posting.

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Android 4.2.1 firmware update now heading to the Galaxy Nexus

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 10:38 AM PST

We've seen Google pushing out the “December bug fixer” update to the Nexus 4, 7, and 10 just a few days back. Showing once and for all how it pays to go the Nexus way, the Galaxy Nexus has now joined the ranks of other Nexii that sport the latest Android software.

The Android 4.2.1 software update (build JOP40D) is now rolling out to the GSM Galaxy Nexus, both takju and yakju variants.

Bear in mind that this really is just a minor update. Aside from the aforementioned bug fix, we're seeing conflicting reports on whether or not it fixes the Bluetooth issue that’s plaguing Android 4.2, but it’s looking increasingly likely that it won’t. Nevertheless, the update is heading your direction.

If you know your way around the Galaxy Nexus, you can install the new firmware on the phone by first downloading the update package. Click here for the takju variant and here for yakju; these are direct links from Google. Please note that we won't take any responsibility should something go haywire. You might as well wait for the update to arrive on your device.

Have you gotten the Android 4.2.1 update yet? How's the phone running on the JOP40D firmware?

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Huawei T8830 on offer in China for just $104, features dual-core Mediatek MT6517

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 10:35 AM PST

Huawei T8830

Not everyone wants or needs a super-powered quad-core beast of a smartphone, and this is especially true for many Chinese smartphone buyers. In China, there are tons of cheap single and dual-core smartphones that are more than capable of offering a basic smartphone experience without costing a fortune. The newly released Huawei T8830 is one of these highly affordable yet reasonably spec’d handsets.

For the U.S. equivalent of just $104 you can’t expect the world, but this Huawei handset does offer a dual-core Mediatek MT6517 CPU, 512MB of RAM and a 3.2MP camera. The screen is reasonably sized at 4-inches and has a resolution of 800 x 480, while also providing an anti-scratch layer. As for the operating system? The handset is powered by Android 4.0 ICS.

While far from impressive specs, Huawei is a solid brand and $104 isn’t a huge asking price by any means. Still, for Chinese smartphone buyers there are many even cheaper offerings with similar hardware from Chinese budget brands such as JiaYu, Zopo and Mogu. What do you think of the Huawei T8830, is it worth the asking price or not?

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Sharp announces AQUOS SH930W with Full HD display in Hong Kong

Posted: 29 Nov 2012 10:28 AM PST

After HTC released the HTC Butterfly J in Japan and HTC Droid DNA in the U.S., it’s Sharp’s turn to announce a new Android powered device with 1080p display in Hong Kong. Called the Sharp AQUOS SH930W, the Android smartphone was already spotted in Russia a few weeks ago.

The high-end smartphone features a Full HD 5-inch display (443 pixel-per-inch), Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core MSM8260A Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor alongside 2GB of RAM.

The Sharp AQUOS SH930W comes equipped with an 8-megapixel rear and 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video calling. As for internal memory, the handset offers 32GB of storage. Other features of the Sharp AQUOS SH930W include Bluetooth 4.0, LAN IEEE 802.11b/g/n and a 2100mAh battery.

While the Sharp AQUOS SH930W seems like a good device, the fact that it only has a dual-core processor at a time when most flagship smartphones are equipped with quad-core CPU may be a deal-breaker for some people.

The new Sharp AQUOS SH930W will be available for the public in December 2012 and it’ll cost HK $4,488 which is equivalent of $579 USD.

 

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