Sunday, November 25, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority

Rumored Xbox TV could compete with Google and Apple TV devices

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 04:14 PM PST

Recent rumors suggest that Microsoft is looking to take on Google and Apple TV with a set top box of their own known as Xbox TV. Sources close to the company seem to believe that Xbox TV will be competitively priced, and will run on Windows 8.

Much like the Xbox Surface tablet, Microsoft has yet to confirm or deny any Xbox TV rumors. If Xbox TV can match the prices of Apple TV, and Google TV devices like Vizio’s Co-Star, then Microsoft will have a good chance of winning the battle for the living room.

Microsoft’s flagship console, the Xbox 360, already offers a wide variety of non gaming uses, such as streaming movies, music, live sports, and web browsing. It’s no secret that many Xbox 360 owners use their consoles as a dedicated Netflix box, and Microsoft could capitalize on this with Xbox TV.

The real question is whether or not consumers will flock to the Windows 8 powered set top box simply because of the Xbox branding. Image has long been a concern of Google TV, a platform that is still struggling to break-out in terms of sales. Apple has had a fair amount of success with its Apple TV largely because of Apple’s successful image, and has yet to heavily market the device.

If these rumors are to be believed, Xbox TV is set to launch late 2013, just in time for the holidays.

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Germany’s Federal Environment Agency backs ban on sealed smartphone batteries

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 12:00 PM PST

Germany
For the longest time, Android owners put removable batteries on the list of pros that they’re phones had over arch rivals, iPhones. Recent offerings from OEMs like HTC and Motorola have been devices with non-removable batteries. The Federal Environment Agency in Germany wants to do something about it.

The Federal Environment Agency in Germany has called for a ban on sealed smartphone batteries. Also called non-removable batteries, The President of the agency is quote as calling them grotesque and environmentally unfriendly. After all, if you can’t remove the battery, how are you supposed to recycle them?

They aren’t pushing for a ban like the bans you read about in patent lawsuits. What the FEA would like to see is an amendment made to the Ecodesign Directive to include restrictions on non-removable batteries.

Is Germany on the right track with this?

They made a number of logical arguments, so it makes a lot of sense. Android OEMs only use non-removable batteries to give devices a larger battery without affecting the size. However, the aforementioned environmental concerns seem to make more sense. Many OEMs have no trouble keeping a low profile while including bigger batteries.

Phone Arena has also mentioned the cost of replacing non-removable batteries as well as the lives of the batteries themselves. According to Phone Arena, iPhone batteries only hold 80% of their charge after a year of use and they’re pretty expensive to replace.

Is Germany on the right track with asking for bans on sealed batteries in smartphones? Let us know what you thought.

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Sony applies for patent for stylus with friction-based haptic feedback

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 10:41 AM PST

While a lot of patent-related news these days is a slightly more complicated take on who is taking their ball and going home, Sony’s latest patent application is actually sort of interesting. Who would have thought that was still possible?

Sony’s patent application is for a new sort of haptic feedback, in addition to the vibration that phones currently use. A stylus with a ”rolling contact ball gripping mechanism” would be able to make it easier or harder to move the stylus on the screen.

The possible uses for this type of system are certainly interesting. For example, the stylus could replicate the feel of a ballpoint pen on paper to make writing using the stylus easier, something that Samsung has already tried to do by increasing the friction of the S Pen on the Galaxy Note 2.

Sony has some more interesting ideas in its patent application, which includes a scenario where the stylus “simulates the manipulation of objects depicted on a display, including at least one of a game object and a game character.” Another is a situation where “rotary stylus motion triggers a game event.”

What do you think some interesting uses for this stylus could be?

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Finnish startup Blaast launches Android app store in Asia

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 10:15 AM PST

Third-party app stores for Android aren’t doing so well in the U.S. and Europe. Manufacturers and carriers are closing their own app stores, and those that remain open are increasingly coming under fire as being sources of malware. Finnish startup Blaast is hoping that it will find better luck in Asia.

Blaast, which was founded in 2010, is focusing on building a platform that will allow carriers to sell data plans that include free access to apps. While Blaast could have targeted a more multi-platform solution, they’re putting all their chips on Android.

While Android is doing well worldwide, it is absolutely exploding in emerging markets, thanks to the availability of sub-$200 handsets.  CEO of Blast, Joonas Hjelt told Reuters that “Android is going to own over 75 percent of smartphone sales in emerging markets.”

This is the exact market that Blaast is targeting. Carriers in Malaysia and Bangladesh have already launched Blaast on some phones, and the Blaast Android store will launch in Indonesia and the Sony Xperia J.

In addition to being useful for carriers wanting to offer bundled apps, this could be a boon to manufacturers who are unable to obtain Google certification and therefore can’t include the Google Play Store on their handsets.

Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing for Android as a whole? On one hand, it introduces more of the dreaded “fragmentation,” but on the other hand, it offers users in emerging markets access to more apps. Where do you stand?

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Patent Chief claims US patent system isn’t broken

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 10:15 AM PST

patent
Thoughts on the patent system aside, we’re all pretty tired of the constant litigation. OEMs are spending money and time in court battling one another instead of on their products. As it turns out, not everyone shares that opinion. Patent Chief David J. Kappos believes everything is working fine.

Yes, there was no typo. Despite some ups and downs, Mr. Kappos believes that our patent system isn’t broken and is functioning as it should be. A study conducted by the USPTO showed that over 80% of patents being used in high profile cases right now are valid. Apparently, four out of five is good enough for the USPTO.

According to The New York Times, Mr. Kappos talked about the patent wars with a little indignation. He defended the patent wars, stating that it’s just the process working as it should. As the New York Times put it, all these lawsuits aren’t a bug, but a feature.

So Mr. Kappos thinks there is nothing wrong with our patent system?

For the most part, yes. Mr. Kappos stepped back from his defense once to admit that software patents aren’t everything they should be. He’s quoted as saying, “We know that inconsistency in software patent issuance causes uncertainty in the marketplace and can cause threats of litigation that in turn can stifle innovation and deter new market entrants.”

That couldn’t be further from the truth. With Apple frequently obtaining patents on such bleeding edge technology as the page turning animation, software really should be given more scrutiny. Unfortunately, there is some room to disagree that the rest of the patent system is okay. After all, Apple was granted a patent for a basic geometry shape.

So for those who were hoping that the patent system would be changed up, you’re going to be very disappointed the the USPTO. While the words of Mr. Kappos bring hope for at least the software side of patents, it seems the system as a whole isn’t making any significant changes. Let us know what you think about that.

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Boid Twitter client ends official development, goes open source

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 08:56 AM PST

While official development of the Boid Twitter client may have ended, there is a glimmer of hope for fans of the app, as the development team have decided to turn Boid into an open source project. Boid is dead. Long live Boid.

In an unofficial statement made a few days before the official announcement, developer Graham Macphee said “In my mind, Boid is over. It was a success. And now its job is done.” The official statement continues this theme, stating that “it is the opinion of the team that Boid was made to stir competition in the Play Store and to aid the Holo design pattern in gaining mass adoption by developers – a target which now appears to be met.”

The Boid team has already created a Git repository for the code, hoping not only to see development of Boid continue, but also that developers looking to create their own apps will be able to learn from the code.  Boid, including updates from the community, will continue to be available in the Play Store.

Are you a fan of the Boid Twitter client? Do you plan to continue using the app now that it is an open source project?

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Google Fiber is impressive, says analysts, but when will it launch for the rest of us?

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 07:32 AM PST

You might have heard of Google’s latest foray into the Internet and entertainment industries. Google wants its presence to become even more pervasive in your home. You already use Google Search, an Android device, Gmail and all kinds of services. But current broadband connections are not enough for Google. With Google Fiber, the company wants you to run these services on their own pipes.

Google Fiber is basically a fiber-optic service that offers 1 Gbps of speed both down- and upstream. For $70 per month, you can get the basic Internet service, but an additional $50 monthly also gets you a subscription to Google’s cable TV killer. Sure, Google’s content partners are still limited at this time. But given Google’s industry clout, it’s probably just a short time until they get more content into Google Fiber.

BTIG Research went to Kansas City — where Google is doing its initial run of the service — to look into how Google Fiber fares. Their conclusion: it’s awesome. Business Insider gives us a glimpse of what the analysts think of Google’s latest broadband service. Here is a quick summary.

  • Installers set an appointment and make it on time. You might have been used to having to wait all day for the cable guy to fix your installation. With Google Fiber, they arrive on time so you need not waste half a day waiting during their window period.
  • Installation is two-step. Different teams take care of the outside and indoor setups.
  • The first step involves connecting your house to the utility pole with fiber-optic cables. These are literally a single thread of glass. It’s amazing how these pipes can carry data at 1 Gbps.
  • The second step involves installing sleek TV and Internet boxes in your house. Who said Apple was the only company into great looking hardware? Google’s boxes are not like the usual cable or satellite boxes, which are bulky and cumbersome. The boxes support WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, reducing the need for wires.
  • The “TV” services comes with several functionalities. These include a channel guide with DVR functionality and a recommendation engine. The box comes with 2 Terabytes of storage for all your DVR needs.
  • The service comes with a free Nexus 7. The tablet acts as the Google Fiber remote and the TV remote, as well. Note that this comes with a two-year subscription contract.

Limitations

Google Fiber is far from perfect, as it still lacks some services and content you would expect Google to have taken care of at this point. For instance, there’s still no YouTube integration, nor can you access content from HBO. But if you’re out for raw speed at this point,then Google Fiber will be sure to excite.

At this time, Google Fiber is running only within Kansas City, although the company looks serious in expanding to more areas and regions soon. I attended a conference keynoted by Google VP for infrastructure Dr. Eric Brewer this October, and he says Fiber will connect even the remotest of islands in the next five to ten years. Is this an ambitious plan by Google? And with this plan, should telcos and cable providers be afraid?

Word has it that Google has made a deal with the city government for a city-wide WiFi service. This might render cellular data plans obsolete if Google Fiber plus city-wide WiFi service will be the norm in the future.

The BTIG analysts say that in their site surveys, cable providers are already going door to door to check if customers are satisfied with their service. This only means that providers will need to step up their game in order to better compete against Google Fiber.

Are you excited for Google’s latest broadband and TV service? Do you think this is how everyone will get online and watch content a few years down the line?

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Mobile payments booming this Thanksgiving; eBay, PayPal report massive growth over last year

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 05:11 AM PST

ebay_thanksgiving

Thanksgiving and Black Friday mark the beginning of the year-end shopping season, and this year retailers pulled out all stops to ensure that they capture the buyers' attention. For some retailers, preparing for the shopping madness meant ensuring that customers that prefer to shop on their mobile devices could check out orders hassle free. But just how many users took to mobile to pay for their stuff?

According to eBay and PayPal (a subsidiary of eBay), Thanksgiving 2012 brought a 2.5-fold in the global volume of mobile transactions over the same day of 2011. Also, the number of customers that used tablets or smartphones to shop this Thanksgiving was 164% higher than last year.

PayPal also offered a couple of details about the most mobile-friendly shoppers in the US. Apparently, people in Houston, LA, Chicago, Miami, and New York made the most mobile purchases, while the hourly interval with the most activity in this area was 12pm to 1pm PST.

Did you try out mobile shopping? Have you ever paid for an item from your smartphone or tablet?

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Another brick in the wall: Samsung no longer supplies batteries to Apple

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 04:47 AM PST

samsung battery

Samsung, South Korea's largest industrial conglomerate, is supplying many crucial components that go into Apple's insanely popular devices, including displays, processors, and memory modules. If you've been following us over the past few weeks, you might know that the once rosy relationship between the two industry titans is slowly turning sour.

Apple is trying to give up its Samsung addiction, by looking for other suppliers for processors, displays, and other components. Now, news broke that Samsung will no longer sell batteries for tablets and laptops to Apple, and that the American company has switched to two Chinese manufacturers for future battery orders.

It's not clear from the original news report if it was Samsung or Apple that initiated the break up. Given the contentious nature of the legal and commercial relationship between the two, either option it's possible. All we know is that Samsung and Apple are drifting apart at increasing speed, and, in a year or so, their collaboration might be history.

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Android 4.2 Jelly Bean gets ported to the Nexus S

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 03:38 AM PST

For an Android phone that was released in 2010, it's nothing short of amazing to see how the Nexus S has made the jump from Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich, before finally resting on Jelly Bean. Then again, we're talking about a Nexus here.

Although Google has announced that the Nexus S won't get updated beyond Android 4.1.2, this inconvenience doesn’t seem to deter developers from trying to bring Android 4.2 to the aging phone.

A member of XDA-developers forum by the handle knzo has released a working build of Android 4.2 for the Nexus S. While there are the usual issues and bugs that currently stop the latest flavor of Jelly Bean from becoming a daily driver, the ROM is deemed stable and usable.

Unfortunately, the Android 4.2 ROM has been taken offline by the maker. The developer said that it'll be put back up when it's "ready to be used a daily driver". Check out the original thread for more details and future announcement of when you can test the ROM out on your Nexus S.

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