Thursday, November 8, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Sony Yuga pictured in the wild with 5-inch 1080p display and glass panel battery cover

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 05:00 PM PST

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The much rumored Sony Yuga and Odin have been a few devices shrouded in mystery. Rumored for a CES 2013 unveiling, we’ve seen the devices pop up in benchmarks and unlike Sony’s previous efforts, the Odin and Yuga are said to come decked to the nines with top of the line, high-end specs.

Up until now, we haven’t actually seen the device pictured in the wild (despite some fan’s attempts at recreating renders of the Odin). Thankfully, the folks at Android Schweiz have gotten their hands on a device they’re calling the Sony C6603, aka the “Yuga.”

Just like the Odin, the Yuga is said to carry a 1080p full HD 5-inch display along with a quad-core S4 processor, 2GB of RAM and 12MP camera, all running on Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. Yeah, Sony’s not messin’ around anymore. While the device doesn’t feature a removable battery, Sony was nice enough to include micro SD expansion and HDMI mirroring.

Looks-wise, this is a departure from what we’ve seen from Sony in the past. But maybe there’s a reason for that. I’ve long held this theory that when manufacturers submit their top of the line devices for Google’s Nexus program and are rejected, we see ‘em pop up later with OEM UI’s slapped on instead of stock Android. Maybe that’s why the glass backing we’re seeing on the Yuga is so similar to Google/LG’s design on the Nexus. Just a hunch.

While I would love to finally get a well spec’d Sony device in my hands, I can’t say I’m a fan of this new glass back panel trend. I didn’t like it on the iPhone 4, and I sure as heck don’t like it now. How are you guys feeling about the Yuga?

[via XperiaBlog]

Factory image for Sprint’s Galaxy Nexus 4.1.1 firmware available for download

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 02:34 PM PST

The Sprint Samsung Galaxy Nexus has long evaded the section of Google’s developer site that houses factory images for Nexus devices. It’s a shame, really, considering even Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus had been supported all this time, but the wait for Sprint’s version seems to finally be over.

A factory image for the “toroplus,” or Sprint’s Galaxy Nexus, has finally found a home alongside all the other Nexus devices out there. It’s an image for firmware 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, and we imagine 4.1.2 and 4.2 will be on their way if/when those respective upgrades are released for Sprint’s second Nexus device.

If you’re not sure what these files are for, listen up. A factory image will help you get back to completely stock Android no matter what. It’s a compressed file that includes a script that’ll restore your firmware, bootloader, radios and the like. As such, you’ll need the Android SDK because fastboot is required to use it. Hopefully you’ll never have to, but it’s good to have it ready just in case. The file can be had over at the Android Developers site for your convenience.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Blender Test: iPad Mini vs Nexus 7 vs Kindle Fire HD [VIDEO]

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 12:33 PM PST

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Tom Dickson, our favorite fun loving, mad scientist from Blendtec is back and he’s brought some new friends with him. Last time around we saw what happened when you put an iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3 against each other inside a blender and this time he’s pitting the all new Apple iPad Mini against Google’s Nexus 7, and the Amazon Kindle Fire HD.

You know how this works. All the tablets go into Blendtec’s heavy duty blenders and are grounded up until they reach a smooth, carcinogenic powder. Less of a stress test (the tablets have to broken in half to fit inside the blenders) and more of some good old fashioned entertainment, I think it goes without saying — don’t try this at home.

Leaked Lenovo P770 said to have 3,500mAh battery

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 12:31 PM PST

While battery technology has largely remained stagnant as the rest of technology grows, OEMs have had to figure out more interesting ways to get more battery life. Whether it be through more power-efficient chips and displays, larger batteries, or a mixture of both things have improved in the smartphone space, but not by much.

Motorola first showed us that you could fit a big 3,300 battery into a slim package with its original RAZR MAXX, and took things a step further when the RAZR MAXX HD’s chipset brought in a juice-sipping solution for even bigger battery gains. Samsung followed suit with the Galaxy Note 2 as they were able to stuff a 3,100mAh solution into a small package.

Well, it looks like Lenovo is said to be the latest player to have gone the “bigger is better” route as the company will reportedly launch a smartphone which comes stock with a 3,5000mAh battery inside.

It’s being called the Lenovo P770, and it seems to stretch the bar for battery capacity while still maintaining a slim profile. The leaked photos don’t give us a sense of how much girth it’ll add but it doesn’t look like we’ll be suffering the hideousness that comes with the likes of adding a Seidio kit to a phone not designed for big batteries.

The device itself is said outfitted with a dual-core MediaTek MT6577 clocked at 1.2GHz, 1GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel camera  and a 4.5 inch qHD display. The resolution concerns us, but perhaps that’ll do even more for battery life. We’re also not too trustworthy in MediaTek, but most Taiwanese (and, by extension, Asian) partners don’t seem to have a problem with them.

Most of us in Europe and North America shouldn’t have much confidence that we’ll be seeing this thing widely available anyway. Lenovo is still a relatively small player in mobile and the company has no problem sticking to Asian territories, even when it comes to selling its best devices. Regardless, we’d love for more companies to strive to put bigger batteries into average-sized smartphones while the battery world figures out a better way to keep our favorite devices juiced up.

[via Electronista]

Android adoption rate six times that of the iPhone, mobile to surpass PC in 2013

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 10:53 AM PST

Mary Meeker, best known for her yearly Internet Trends report, provided an update to some of her figures from earlier in 2012 while speaking at a Bloomberg event in San Francisco. Her focus was strong mobile growth, which was highlighted by news that the adoption rate of Android smartphones is now six times that of Apple’s iPhone. Back in May the figure was four to one.

By the end of 2013, Android is expected to far surpass the 90 million devices shipped per quarter quoted for Q1 of 2012, which is double the expected number for Apple. Meeker’s estimates have 80 million iOS devices shipped per quarter by the end of the next calendar year.

The numbers all contribute to a growing mobile field that will overtake the PC industry by the middle of next year, according to Meeker. With an expected 6 billion mobile users (1 billion of which are smartphone users) by the end of 2012, the combined install base of tablets and smartphones will outnumber the install base of desktop and notebook computers. Android has already overtaken Windows PCs in terms of units shipped per quarter.

It all adds up to a reality that is becoming more apparent every day as users shift from a single computing experience to one that features multiple devices backed by cloud storage. Has the smartphone completely replaced the personal computer for anyone out there? It would be interesting to see if Meeker’s figures correlate directly to user habits in that way.

[via TechCrunch]

RadioShack offering Nexus 7 32GB for $230

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 09:51 AM PST

If you want to take a quick $20 off your Nexus 7 32GB you might want to consider it buying from RadioShack instead of the Google Play Store. The retailer is offering the device for $250 — that’s Google’s price, too. But Google isn’t offering this cool coupon code that’ll take $20 off any order of $125 or more.

This deal effectively brings the price down to $230, and while that’s not a terribly steep door-busting deal it should prove helpful for those who want to offset tax or shipping chargers they might otherwise accrue.

The Nexus 7 32GB should be quite the awesome device with its Tegra 3 chipset and completely stock, pure Android. But many were vexed to find out that there is no room for expandable storage. For most, 8GB isn’t enough, and 16GB is just barely acceptable. This new 32GB option was a must, and Google bringing it in at the the 16GB model’s original price tag means the Nexus 7 has gone back onto a lot of people’s radars and wishlists.

Unfortunately the device appears to be out of stock as of the time of this writing, and we expected that considering many people are likely to jump at a juicy deal like this without delay. But keep an eye on it and see if it doesn’t pick back up over the course of the week. You’ll want to keep coupon code RMN20 handy if you want to take advantage.

[RadioShack via Droid-Life]

Microsoft Office for Android will require Office 365 subscription

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 08:43 AM PST

If you’ve been patiently awaiting the arrival of Microsoft Office for Android, you’re not alone — we’re curious to see how Microsoft treats its Office suite on competing platforms. While we’ve known about its early 2013 launch since, well, almost forever, The Verge’s news that it’s coming in the first quarter of the year is nothing shocking or surprising.

The outlet did get a few details on how things would be carried out from a licensing standpoint, though. According to its sources, Microsoft Office for Android (and iOS, we imagine) will require an Office 365 subscription to get the most out of the suite of tools. With it, you’ll be able to both view and edit documents on the go.

For those just wanting to view documents you do need a Microsoft account but those are free and easy enough to sign up for. We’re told not to expect nearly the same deep level of editing that you can get on the desktop suites, and that’s fine — we weren’t expecting much to begin with.

But you have to wonder whether or not the official suite will be enough to make current third party options seem useless. I got a full editing suite from a Google Play Store sale for $.25, and it does just fine for me.

Even at the typical prices of $10 and $15 we usually see these apps go for, that’s a one time fee. We’re not sure if Microsoft is planning to introduce a new tier for its mobile apps, but for comparison purposes the current cheapest plan costs $4 per month, which amounts to $48 per year.

We won’t know what, exactly, the software giant will end up doing until we inch closer to that Q1 2013, but these early details aren’t leaving the best taste in my mouth. Anyone else not feeling the love from Microsoft or are you just happy to see that the company is supporting Android at all?

First software update for Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy Note 2 brings Multi Window View

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 08:23 AM PST

Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will be seeing its first software update rollout over the coming days. The refresh brings the phablet’s software version to L900VPALJC and features a several minor tweaks in addition to the quiet introduction of one of the cooler features to grace the Note 2. First seen on the international version of the device, after updating Sprint users will be privy to Multi Window View, a feature that allows the handset to run two apps simultaneously, displaying windowed versions of both on the large 5.5-inch display.

In terms of fixes and enhancements, the new software will better handle outgoing emails when without coverage, sending the drafts to the Outbox. Incoming text messages will also now produce an audible notification if received while in a call. And with Multi Window View you could theoretically check that text message while composing an outgoing email at the same time.

The update will arrive over the air. Users anxious to receive the new features can check to see if their handset is eligible by navigating to the About Phone section of the Settings menu and checking for available updates.

 

Sprint buys Midwest customers and spectrum from US Cellular for $480 million

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 07:29 AM PST

US carriers Sprint and US Cellular have announced a spectrum sale between the two that will see the former selling key Midwest spectrum to the latter for $480 million. For that price, Sprint will take control over the PCS spectrum in areas like Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. The Midwest is US Cellular’s biggest breeding ground so it’s a very significant deal to behold.

Sprint is also said to be receiving US Cellular’s customer base in those areas, though how many new contracts they’ll be snapping up isn’t being disclosed at this time. The deal is expected to close at some point in 2013, and there doesn’t appear to be any worry about resistance.

This is good news for Sprint which is banking on a “network vision” movement that will deliver a vast LTE network to its consumers by 2013′s end, and will also have considerable impact on the performance of its current 3G and voice networks.  Considering how bad the network has gotten for many users in this region I’d say this purchase couldn’t have come at a better time.

Sprint will apparently pay cash for the deal, and will assume any liabilities that may come with it. The company no doubt has the assets to do so considering it was just bought out by SoftBank Corp. last month for $20.1 million, and received $3 billion out of that last month.

Cash flow was never a huge concern for Sprint even before this network vision project took off so there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that the carrier can complete it now (and within the time frame that was originally promised). More details have yet to roll in, but we won’t need them until it’s confirmed whether or not the deal will close at some point next year.

[via Business Week]

Motorola Atrix HD Developer Edition opens handset to user customizations

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 07:28 AM PST

Motorola has announced the latest of their devices to earn its very own developer edition. This time it’s the Motorola Atrix HD for AT&T, which launched over the summer. The latest member of the carrier’s Atrix lineup — a series of phones that featured one AT&T’s first LTE devices — was not made eligible for Motorola’s standard bootloader unlock program. As is the case with Verizon’s Droid RAZR, users wishing to obtain a version of the Atrix HD open to software customization and other hacks will need to pay up front.

While pricing has not yet been revealed, don’t expect to pay much less than the $549.99 buyers must fork over for the Droid RAZR M Developer Edition. The unsubsidized versions of these popular Moto handsets feature all the same specs as the models sold in carrier stores, and likewise remain compatible with those networks. The decision comes down to how much value is placed in having an unlockable bootloader. For a handset like the Atrix HD, which has already been out for some months, it’s hard to imagine many users will flock to such a device.

 

Sam’s Club Black Friday flyer shows Galaxy S3 for 96 cents

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 06:35 AM PST

As retailers start gearing up for the biggest shopping day of the year, we’re already getting a pretty good idea of what sort of deal to expect come Black Friday. As has been the case for the past several years, expect smartphones and tablets to top holiday wishlists everywhere. If your loved one happens to want a shiny new Samsung Galaxy S3, Sam’s Club looks like a good place to camp out come the Friday following Thanksgiving.

According to their flyer that will make the rounds ahead of November 23rd, the Galaxy S3 will be available for a mere 96 cents. A qualified two-year service agreement is required to achieve such pricing, but it is unclear if the advertised price will apply to all US carrier options. For those that plan to avoid long lines by instead shopping online at home, it’s worth noting that this deal is only available in stores.

Keep your eyes peeled for word of other great Black Friday deals. Whether your shopping for family and friends or just looking to treat yourself, there are definitely going to be plenty of opportunities to save a bundle.

[via GottaDeal | Thanks, Mike!]

Titanium Backup for root users gets new flashable zip backups

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 12:15 AM PST

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Easily one of the most useful apps to ever come out of the Android Market, the fan favorite Titanium Backup (Pro) saw a noteworthy update in the Play Store today. One of the most important tools in any ROM flashers utility belt, Titanium Backup was one of the first apps ever to give rooted users the ability to backup all their apps (including data) onto their SD card/internal storage.

Today, the app was updated to version 5.7.0 and now gives users the option of creating flashable zip files of their backed up apps, cutting down on the lengthy restore process. Now, you can zip up your must-have apps and/or their data, and flash them quickly from recovery whenever you jump to a new ROM. This was a much requested feature and as usual, developer Titanium Track listened to customer feedback. The feature is only enabled for the Pro unlocked version of Titanium Backup and can be downloaded from the Play Store for $7.

[Play Store Link]
Posted by at 8:52 AM

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