Android Authority |
- Rogers pushes back Android 4.1 Jelly Bean updates for Razr HD and others to next year
- Lava Xolo A800 gets released in India for $220, a dual-SIM phone with 4.5-inch display and ICS
- 16GB Nexus 4 now sold out on Google Play
- Google shutting down unpopular services and apps starting January 2013
- “Android does not do much,” says former webOS investor
- Verizon offers discounts on Motorola DROID RAZR HD and more in holiday sale
- Nook HD and HD+ from Barnes & Noble available now from Walmart
- Galaxy Note 2 knockoff offers 5.5-inch screen and Jelly Bean at $150
- It is estimated that 18 million Android devices will get Malware in 2013
- HTC One SV goes through FCC, hints at U.S. release with 4G LTE
| Rogers pushes back Android 4.1 Jelly Bean updates for Razr HD and others to next year Posted: 15 Dec 2012 02:48 AM PST
While Samsung Galaxy S3 owners on Rogers are already enjoying their Jelly Bean treat, those sporting other devices that have been promised the software upgrades aren’t as lucky. The carrier's latest Android 4.1 rollout schedule reveals that the updates for some phones have been pushed back. For example, the Motorola Razr HD has been promised to receive Jelly Bean in "late December". The new schedule now puts down "late January" as the estimated date of when the phone will be upgraded. It's worth to note that the Verizon and international variants are already sporting JB.
Other phones that are slated to receive Android 4.1 in late January include the Samsung Galaxy S2 LTE and the Sony Xperia T. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Note and the HTC One X can expect to get the buttery smooth software in early January, assuming that the dates won’t be changed yet again. Bum out about the JB update delay for your phone? Share your thoughts with others below. Related Posts |
| Lava Xolo A800 gets released in India for $220, a dual-SIM phone with 4.5-inch display and ICS Posted: 15 Dec 2012 02:43 AM PST
The India-based Lava Mobiles gained worldwide attention when they released the first Intel Medfield-based Android smartphone, the Lava Xolo X900, back in April. The company is now back with its latest Android offering, the Xolo A800. Despite the name, the Lava Xolo A800 doesn't come with an Intel CPU inside, as it takes the ARM route instead. Powering the phone is a 1GHz MediaTEK MT6577 dual-core processor. The Xolo A800 boasts a 4.5-inch IPS display with 960 x 540 resolution and comes with features like an 8MP main camera, VGA front-facing camera, 12GB internal storage, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. Completing the specs are the two available SIM card slots that offer 2G and 3G connectivity. There's currently no plan to market the Lava Xolo A800 outside India. If you like what you see of the phone, you should be able to find it in stores in the country for 11,999 rupees, which translates to about $220. How about it – do you think the A800 is a worthy phone to add to your Android collection? Related Posts |
| 16GB Nexus 4 now sold out on Google Play Posted: 15 Dec 2012 01:28 AM PST
Two weeks ago, we reported that the 8GB Nexus 4 has sold out on Google Play. Those who managed to grab the last few units of the phone were told to wait up to 10 weeks for the shipment. Now, the 16GB Nexus 4 is following the steps of the smaller variant, as it's become unavailable on the Play Store. Before Google ran out of the 16GB Nexus 4, the shipping date was listed as "8-9 weeks". This means if you ordered the Nexus 4 in 16GB flavor before it was sold out, the phone may only arrive in February. Here's hoping that Google will have more stocks of both variants sooner rather than later. If you simply must have the Nexus 4 before the end of the year, you might be able to score one from T-Mobile. While the phone is currently still listed as "out of stock" on the website, we heard that T-Mo will have more units coming in soon. We'll keep you posted. Related Posts |
| Google shutting down unpopular services and apps starting January 2013 Posted: 15 Dec 2012 12:27 AM PST  Image credit: Robert Scoble / Flickr Do you use SMS to schedule appointments via Google Calendar? Do you still sync your Symbian-based Nokia smartphone with Google Calendar? Do you use Smart Rescheduler from Google Labs? If you do, you might want to start looking elsewhere to fulfill your calendaring and syncing needs. Google is shutting down several services this wintertime, in an effort to ensure they can focus on services that matter more to users. Google wants to focus on “creating beautiful, useful products that improve millions of people’s lives every day.” In line with this, the company is moving away from working on products that not that many people use, or that are considered archaic. Take for instance calendar synchronization for Symbian Series 60 devices. Does anyone still use a Nokia S60 device? Probably so. But consider the sheer number of Android and iOS users who use mobile apps to access their Google Calendar data, which outnumber Symbian users today. Google wants to focus on improving their service to the increasing number of users on the bigger platforms like Android and iOS. (Never mind Windows Phone for now, unless the platform gains traction in the future, somehow.) Here are some of the apps and services that will be given the kill switch treatment come January or so.
Google VP for Engineering Venkat Panchapakesan says these are all meant to ensure a “seamless, amazing Google experience,” which means the company is likely to be focusing on the platforms and applications that matter today. And we know what this means: Android and iOS. Related Posts |
| “Android does not do much,” says former webOS investor Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:53 PM PST
We’ve heard a lot of criticisms about Android as a platform, including fragmentation, patent infringements, a copycat mentality, and a platform that has been made cheap by the proliferation of inexpensive, low-end devices. But a recent interview with a venture capitalist has brought Android criticism to a whole new level. Elevation Partners co-founder Roger McNamee says that using Android “is the equivalent of having a motor scooter at the Indianapolis 500.” Now let’s put things into perspective. McNamee’s company was among the investors of the webOS platform, when it invested into Palm, which then touted the connected operating system as an alternative to the iPhone. McNamee has once been hailed as a hero by webOS fans. As such, he may have some vested interest in his criticism toward Android, having once evangelized a platform that would end up being bought by another company (HP) and eventually dying a slow death. But Elevation Partners is also an investor in successful social media companies like Facebook, points out BGR, which may put some credence and clout to his analysis. Profitless prosperityAmong McNamee’s criticisms of Android is that it has grown in numbers and has overtaken iOS worldwide, but Apple is still taking the lion’s share of the profits in the smartphone and tablet market. “Android has been managed essentially to make it a profitless prosperity,” McNamee says. Additionally, there is a danger — at least from Google’s perspective — that its association with Android will be diluted, in favor of Samsung. “Right now, if Google is not careful, Android will be Samsung or Samsung will be Android,” he adds. Of course, there’s the praise for Apple, which has “showed that a large company can not only innovate, it can transform and really rebuild markets.” Adding value?I know Android fans will be appalled at these statements. But I think that McNamee is taking a wrong appreciation of Android as a platform, and Google as a business. The value of Android for Google is not really in the raw profits it makes from the devices that Android manufacturers sell. Google, after all, is a software and services company (except perhaps for its hardware subsidiaries like Motorola Mobility), and value is derived from advertising dollars brought about by market knowledge they are able to gather through their free services . As such, every time someone buys and Android phone or tablet, Google does not care for the profit margin. But when that person starts using services like Gmail, Google Search, Google Now and the like, this adds value to Google’s business. You can check out the full interview at Bloomberg through the source link. I know a lot of us Android fans would have violent reactions against this kind of thinking regarding the platform. But let’s be constructive with our comments. Would you agree that Android is not giving any value to Google? Is Samsung becoming too dominant a player in the Android ecosystem? Is Apple taking too much of the mobile industry’s profit, and is this sustainable in the long run? Related Posts |
| Verizon offers discounts on Motorola DROID RAZR HD and more in holiday sale Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:11 PM PST
As if being some of the most well-equipped Android-powered handsets ever wasn’t reason enough, Verizon has now decided to take $50 off the prices of both the Motorola DROID RAZR HD and the DROID RAZR MAXX HD, making them more wallet-friendly than ever before. The DROID RAZR HD is now available for $149.99 while the DROID RAZR MAXX HD goes for $249.99. The price cut on these two handsets comes as part of Verizon’s holiday sale for 2012, through which customers can also purchase a Motorola DROID RAZR M without paying more than $49.99 a piece. There’s also a bunch of non-Motorola smartphones up for sale, which include models from LG, Pantech, and HTC. The HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE, which was originally available for $99.99, can now be purchased for only $49.99. And the Pantech Marauder, which used to be $49.99, is now available for free. It’s the same story for the LG Lucid, which dropped from $19.99 to free after the holiday sale discount. Verizon also offers free cranberry Motorola DROID RAZR units to all those who purchase any of the discounted Motorola DROID RAZR phones mentioned above. The catch is, the free DROID RAZR comes with an accompanying contract, just like all of the handsets listed here. Related Posts |
| Nook HD and HD+ from Barnes & Noble available now from Walmart Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:00 PM PST
That’s right, you can now get the Nook HD and the Nook HD+ from Walmart. The Nook HD will run you $199 while the Nook HD+ runs you $229. They’re available both online and at stores. If you buy online, even the slowest shipping option promises that they’ll be at your house by Christmas Eve. So it’s good if you’re doing a little holiday shopping. Is the Nook HD or HD+ worth the price over the competition?It really depends on what you look for in a tablet. The Nook HD is a 7 inch tablet while the HD+ is about 9 inches. Neither of them have a front or back facing camera or GPS functionality. It only comes with 8GB of storage, but unlike more popular options, there is a MicroSD card slot available. In most other cases, it’s on par with the competition, with a HD screen and a sleek form factor. If you’re a power user who needs the fastest, most powerful tablet available, then the Nexus 7 is probably more your speed. If it’s Amazon content and multimedia experiences you crave, then you might be better off with a Kindle Fire HD. However, if you’re looking for a powerful e-reader that performs most other tasks well, then the Nook HD and HD+ may be an option worth considering. You can find the Nook HD at Walmart’s site here and the Nook HD+ here. Does the increased availability make the Nook HD and HD+ a more attractive option as a tablet? Let us know what you think. Related Posts |
| Galaxy Note 2 knockoff offers 5.5-inch screen and Jelly Bean at $150 Posted: 14 Dec 2012 10:50 PM PST
Officially dubbed the Star S7180, this Galaxy Note 2 knockoff bears a striking resemblance to the original, that is to say that it closely matches the looks of the current flagship Samsung phablet. It even comes with a 5.5-inch touchscreen display and has Jelly Bean pre-installed by default. But sadly for all you clone handset connoisseurs out there, that’s where its similarities with the real deal end. Compared to the real Galaxy Note 2, the Star S7180 has modest specs. It uses a dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM and has 4GB of internal storage. It also features an 8-megapixel camera at the back. But at least it’s cheaper — it can be purchased for just $150 and a tiny shred of your dignity. Related Posts |
| It is estimated that 18 million Android devices will get Malware in 2013 Posted: 14 Dec 2012 10:45 PM PST
According to BGR, anti-virus companies like Lookout Mobile are predicting a pretty frightening year in terms of Malware on Android. As it stands, an estimated 18 million Android devices may catch a digital code next year. There are a number of contributing factors. For one, Android is the most popular mobile operating system on Earth. As Lookout Mobile notes, more than a billion Android devices are slated to be sold in 2013 alone. Another fun fact, those phones will download 70 billion apps. This is much like Windows computers catching viruses. It’s no so much that the virus is easy to catch, just that the sheer number of users makes it all but certain that someone will find a way to get it. In addition, there is sure to be an increase in Malware-bearing applications as well. So more Malware plus more devices capable of catching it equals more devices getting Malware. Is there any truth to these Malware numbers?Yes, there is. However, there is a total lack of context. If 18 million devices catch the virtual flu next year and 1.2 billion are purchased, that’s a paltry 1.5% of devices. In other words, 15 out of every 1,000 devices will get Malware. That’s not very many. As our loyal readers will no doubt point out, there are few companies out there who rely on sensationalism to sell products as much as anti-virus companies. Of course, there are other numbers to consider as well. For instance, BGR notes that a security firm estimates that 34.7% of Russian Android devices will get Malware as opposed to 0.40% in the United States. So, of course, location has a lot to do with it. At the end of the day, common sense rules all. Keep an eye on what you download and don’t install applications unless you trust the developer and trust the website or app store you got it from. Are these statistics just taken out of context or are anti-virus companies trying to make things sound worse than they are? Let us know your thoughts. Related Posts |
| HTC One SV goes through FCC, hints at U.S. release with 4G LTE Posted: 14 Dec 2012 10:41 PM PST
Were you disappointed when you first found out that the 4G LTE-enabled HTC One SV was only going to become available exclusively through EE in the UK? It was fairly disappointing news indeed, especially for those who were enticed by the HTC One S but saw the lack of built-in 4G LTE connectivity as a major deal breaker. Sure, it may be headed to Australia, but what about all those people looking forward to its release in the U.S.? Well, thanks to documents posted recently on the website of the FCC, it looks like it might be up for a U.S. release after all.
Evidently, it has already received FCC approval. It has been approved for use with GSM bands 850 and 1900 as well as WCDMA bands II and V. It also includes other wireless features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, according to the documents posted on the web site of the FCC. Strangely, the documents don’t mention anything about it being approved for use with LTE. So it looks like it’s all set for launch in the U.S., though its LTE capabilities are in question. Will people buy it without 4G LTE? Would you? Post your thoughts down below. Related Posts |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Authority To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment