Android Authority |
- Could Google Fiber go nationwide?
- International Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Note 2 LTE now getting Android 4.1.2 update
- HTC One SV: Think of it as the 4G LTE enabled One S, but with a worse screen
- Twitter adds photo filters to Android app after Instagram split
- EA’s Dead Space now on sale on Google Play for $0.99
- Google hands over Motorola’s factories in China and Brazil to Flextronics
- Google avoided paying $2 billion in taxes last year by moving money to Bermuda
- HTC gets three more of its devices PlayStation Certified, including the HTC EVO 4G LTE
- Live Wallpaper Daydream finally makes Android 4.2′s Daydream feature awesome
- Verizon says they’re not “blocking” Google Wallet, they’re just restricting access to the secure element
| Could Google Fiber go nationwide? Posted: 11 Dec 2012 03:04 AM PST
Since Google rolled out its high-speed internet and cable service in parts of Kansas City there has been lots of speculation about whether the search engine giant might look to take the service nationwide. The response from people eligible for the service seems to have been pretty positive so far. Here's a full breakdown of the Google Fiber service on offer, the top tier plan offers a 1Gbps Internet connection with Fiber TV and a Nexus 7 as remote for $120 per month. The tech press has also generally been impressed with Google's Fiber proposition, as the company appears to be offering a better quality service than the ISPs everyone is currently stuck with. There have been some "come to my city" pleas popping up across the web, but Google execs are not in the habit of sharing their long term plans. Is Google Fiber an experiment, or the first wave in Google's move to completely control and own every aspect of your online experience? A recent report from Goldman Sachs is looking to throw a big spanner in the works as it claims that building a cable network is prohibitively expensive and it could cost over $140 billion to cover the whole country. The report discusses how many homes Google could hope to cover and what it would cost, claiming that covering even 50 million households would cost $70 billion. There's also an estimate that Verizon has spent $15 billion to cover 17 million homes with its FiOS fiber network. It's really no surprise to learn that building the network would be expensive, but who would expect Google to cover the entire country overnight? Why would the company have to outlay $140 billion straight away? Surely the sensible plan would be to cover populous urban areas first and build up the income from customers to fund further building. Google has $45 billion in the bank, it saved another $2 billion just last year by avoiding paying taxes, and we're pretty confident getting credit would not be a problem. Realistically there always comes a point with networks where serving a small number of people in rural areas does not offer enough of a return for a company to support the infrastructure. Usually they simply don't bother, but often government will step in with subsidies that make it worthwhile. The benefit of building out Google Fiber goes beyond the subscriptions to the service for Google – it would benefit their entire empire. No doubt the company will crunch the data on Kansas and gauge public demand before it makes another move, but don't be surprised if Google Fiber spreads. What do you think? Hands up if you want Google Fiber to come to your home. Related Posts |
| International Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Note 2 LTE now getting Android 4.1.2 update Posted: 11 Dec 2012 02:48 AM PST
The three-month old Galaxy Note 2 has been Samsung's first device to run Android 4.1, so it was only natural to expect it to be the first to get 4.2 as well. And while that's still in the cards, it seems that we're all going to have to wait for a bit longer because the GNote 2 is being upgraded right now, but only to 4.1.2. This is not a major shocker however, because the maintenance update for the second-gen phablet got leaked just last week, previewing the official bump that's going on as we speak. We've also seen a couple of Galaxy S3 models getting the same 4.1.2 upgrade, so it was all building up to this. For the time being, we have only been informed about two specific GNote 2 versions getting Android 4.1.2, but it's obvious the rollout will increase in intensity very soon – at least across Europe. Poland is once again the icebreaker, with the Note 2 on carrier Play (model number GT-N7100) getting the update a few hours ago. Sweden is number two on the list, but the phablet upgraded there is an LTE-enabled version (model number GT-N7105), so you can say the Swedes are road-openers as well. Both countries are getting the same software package though, with a JZO54K build number and a November 26 build date.
The upgrade's changelog is pretty massive, but at a first glance there aren't as many new features to get excited about as on the Galaxy S3. It's no wonder though, because the piece de resistance on the S3 was definitely Multi-View, a feature that the Note 2 packed for a while. Here are some of the tweaks, though we're not sure the list is an official and complete one:
As usual, expect the update to be available both OTA (over-the-air) and through Samsung Kies and to generally hit unlocked phones before carrier branded versions. As for North American GNote 2s, those should themselves get the new software package "soon", though if we were to speculate we would say you're faced with at least one more week of waiting. Now, who’s got the upgrade already, where and how? Are there any new features or tweaks you’d like to add to the above list? Related Posts |
| HTC One SV: Think of it as the 4G LTE enabled One S, but with a worse screen Posted: 11 Dec 2012 02:44 AM PST
HTC has just announced a device for the UK market called the One SV. If you go back to February of this year, when HTC announced announced the One S, they pitched that device as a highly competent 4.3 inch Android smartphone. And it was, but it didn’t have 4G LTE. The One SV fixes that, but at a cost. Whereas the One S had a 960 x 540 pixel display, this new handset only does 800 x 480. The camera has also been downgraded from 8 megapixels to 5 megapixels, though admittedly it still has that awesome f/2.0 lens. The One SV comes with 8 GB of storage which can be expanded via a microSD card slot, it’ll come in two colors (blue, white), and we’d like to tell you the price, but that information wasn’t provided. What should you think of this phone? It’s yet another HTC device that shouldn’t have seen the light of day. Why couldn’t HTC have waited just one month until CES or two months until Mobile World Congress to announce a midrange phone that featured the company’s new 2013 design language? The Droid DNA (Butterfly in Europe/Asia) offers us a sneak peak as to what HTC’s portfolio is going to look like next year. The One SV on the other hand, it looks like a cross between the two year old Desire and the one year old One X. And then there’s the more important question: If you’re in the UK, should you buy a 4G LTE phone? Not really. Coverage is horrible, there’s only one operator (EE), and worst of all the pricing plans are expensive. The One SV is basically a device that was tailor made to make one operator in one country happy. We don’t like when handset companies to that. Go global or go bust. Update: The One SV hit Australia in November. Update: The German website BestBoyZ has hands-on photos; one is below.
Related Posts |
| Twitter adds photo filters to Android app after Instagram split Posted: 11 Dec 2012 02:17 AM PST
Twitter has improved its photo support for Android devices by updating the official app to include basic tools for editing and eight filter effects. You can crop any image and there's an auto-enhance button. You'll also find a pretty familiar batch of filters including Vignette, Black & white, Warm, Cool, Vintage, Cinematic, Happy and Gritty. The simple interface has three buttons at the bottom and you can preview your photos in a grid format. When you select a filter it's easy to just swipe the touchscreen to see the next one. The filters were designed by Aviary specifically for Twitter. Here's a video that explains the update. It's no accident that these new features pop up just a couple of days after Facebook removed support for Instagram images to be shown in Twitter via Twitter cards. If someone posts an Instagram image in Twitter now it just appears as a text link, though CEO Kevin Systrom said last week, “we will always be integrated with Twitter in a way that you can tweet out from Instagram to Twitter,” and went on to claim it was nothing to do with Instagram's acquisition by Facebook. Instagram is also about to roll out a big update for its Android app which will add a new "Willow" filter, a handful of features, and make some interface tweaks. It will also be integrating Foursquare data. Could these moves signal growing antipathy between the social media giants Facebook and Twitter? Any Instagram fans out there? What do you think about the split with Twitter? Are these additions to the Twitter app enough for most people or do you want more photo tools? Related Posts |
| EA’s Dead Space now on sale on Google Play for $0.99 Posted: 11 Dec 2012 01:24 AM PST
If your idea of a relaxing evening after a hard day's work is to load up some action games on your Android devices, you must have heard of Dead Space, the third-person shooter from EA that takes place in a Necromorph-infested space station. Dead Space has garnered a lot of praise for its console-like visuals and gaming experience. If the game has been sitting idle on your Wish List, it’s time to hit the purchase button. As part of EA's Daily Deal promotion, the cinematic horror game is now offered for only $0.99. Aside from the great graphics, Dead Space also boasts "a fully voice-acted stereo soundtrack, plus a movie-quality score and sound effects." One of the best aspects about the game is that you don't have to worry about making in-app purchases in order to advance, as it features no such thing. Get Dead Space now from Google Play right here if you’re in North America. For international gamers, you'll have to cough up $1.29 to download the game. Better move fast because the deal could end at any time now. Related Posts |
| Google hands over Motorola’s factories in China and Brazil to Flextronics Posted: 11 Dec 2012 01:12 AM PST
Google, which officially acquired Motorola Mobility in May of this year, has just announced that Flextronics will acquire Motorola’s factory Tianjin, China. Flextronics will also “assume the management and operation” of Motorola’s factory in Jaguariuna, Brazil. Who exactly is Flextronics? You know how Foxconn is the largest company that spits out consumer electronics? Flextronics is the second largest. Assuming both companies get all the required approvals, this deal will close during the first half of 2013. Financial terms were not disclosed, though we expect them to be leaked rather quickly. What should you make of all this? Let’s look at Apple. They design the iPhone, but then pay Foxconn to do all the dirty work. Let’s also look at Nokia, who used to have massive factories in Germany and Romania, but then they closed them because it was cheaper to rely on Chinese labor. When put in that context, Google getting rid of Motorola’s factories makes a lot of sense. Why have dedicated factories when you could just outsource? Here’s what Mark Randall, Senior Vice President or Supply-Chain and Operations at Motorola Mobility had to say about the deal:
When will we see what Google has in store for Motorola? Again, we can’t stress this enough, the acquisition closed in late May. That’s barely half a year ago. It takes time to think up, design, and then mass produce new devices. We’re hoping to see Motorola’s first “Google Phone” during the second half of 2013, but if we don’t then we’re not going to be surprised. Update: Motorola’s factory in Chennai, India to be closed; 76 people impacted. Related Posts |
| Google avoided paying $2 billion in taxes last year by moving money to Bermuda Posted: 11 Dec 2012 12:20 AM PST
In case you haven’t noticed by now, the global economy isn’t exactly doing too well. Countries are struggling to pay off their debts, which means they’re being really anal about making sure everyone is paying their taxes. Large companies, by the very nature of the fact that they’re massive, make a ton of money. Do they store that money where the bulk of their employees live? Nope. They often use what’s referred to as “tax shelters”. In other words, countries where taxes are so low they might as well not even exist. Bermuda is just such a shelter, and according to Bloomberg, Google moved $9.8 billion there in 2011 to avoid paying $2 billion worth of taxes. They continue by saying $9.8 billion was roughly “80 percent of Google’s total pretax profit in 2011.” Who’s most angry about all this? Europe. Algirdas Semeta, the European Commission’s Commissioner for Taxation told members of the press that the EU is losing about 1 trillion Euros a year because of the kind of stuff that companies like Google routinely do. Which brings up a good question: Can the government stop companies from avoiding their taxes? Technically what Google did is perfectly legal. The European Commission wants to create some new rules to prevent these sorts of things from happening, but you know how lawyers work, they’ll just figure out some other way to hide their client’s money. Now we’re not exactly economists, so we’re not going to pretend like we have an answer to all this, but why don’t countries levy a financial transaction tax? If Google wants to move close to $10 billion to Bermuda, then let them, but tax that wire transfer up to the hilt as to make it seem like an undesirable course of action to take. And in case you’re wondering, we’re not singling Google out. Starbucks is downright criminal. Related Posts |
| HTC gets three more of its devices PlayStation Certified, including the HTC EVO 4G LTE Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:00 PM PST
Some time ago, HTC got the One V, the One S, and the One X certified. This gave HTC devices the ability to access the PlayStation content for the first time. However, over the last couple of weeks, HTC has gotten PlayStation Certification for three more of their top tier devices. These include the One XL, the new One X+, and the insanely popular EVO 4G LTE on Sprint. What will PlayStation Certification do for HTC devices?It will allow them to play exclusive PlayStation games from Sony’s PlayStation Mobile store. There aren’t a lot of games in Sony’s PlayStation Mobile store yet, but the number is growing. It will be a lot better as time goes than it is right now. Interestingly, the three devices don’t show up on Sony’s compatibility list yet. However, Phone Arena reports that everyone is working on making it happen as quickly as possible. HTC owners, are you excited about getting PlayStation mobile? Or is the lack of quality games make it not a big deal? Related Posts |
| Live Wallpaper Daydream finally makes Android 4.2′s Daydream feature awesome Posted: 10 Dec 2012 10:15 PM PST
The app is called Live Wallpaper Daydream and it allows Android fans to use their favorite Live Wallpapers as a Daydream. While it doesn’t really add to the usefulness, having a pretty screen saver is a lot better than many of the stock Daydream options. According to Android Police, the app is very simple to use. You simply apply your favorite live wallpaper and the app will make it your screen saver. Where can I get Live Wallpaper Daydream?It’s currently available free of charge over at App Brain or the Google Play Store. This may finally give users a reason to actually use Daydreams. Do keep in mind that not all live wallpapers are compatible with Daydreams. Live wallpaper developers will have to make it compatible first. To try it out, follow the App Brain and Google Play links above. Who is going to give this a try? Related Posts |
| Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:41 PM PST
Google unveiled a mobile payments service to the world called Google Wallet back in May 2011. It’s been over a year and a half since that press conference and it’s pretty obvious that Google Wallet has failed to take off. Why? It’s not a technological issue, it’s pure politics. Whenever you pay for something using your credit card or debit card, the company that’s handling the transaction takes a slice. If companies start letting people pay for things using a mobile phone, then who is going to take a cut of the transaction? Is it the company that made the phone? The company that made the OS powering the phone? The operator that subsidized the phone? You can quickly see how complicated this gets. An XDA forum member by the name of “Joshua” complained to Verizon about the inability to use Google Wallet on his Android powered smartphone. Verizon sent him a letter saying they’re not “blocking” Google Wallet, and that many other applications such as Square, PayPal, and the Starbucks card work just fine. Google Wallet is special because it wants access to the secure element inside the phone in order to authenticate users. The “secure element” Verizon references is more often than not the SIM card. Can Google do anything to get operators and handset makers to get onboard the Google Wallet train? We hate to say it, but the answer is no. Visa, the largest payment processor in the world, has already created their Google Wallet competitor. It’s called V.me. Banks have to sign up for it so that they in turn can offer it to their customers. One of America’s largest banks, Bank of America, has already said they’re going to offer their members V.me. You didn’t honestly think that your bank would just sit on the sidelines and watch the mobile industry fight over mobile payments, did you? Related Posts |
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