Android Community |
- Google extends free Gmail calls through 2013
- Google testing ‘quick view’ for mobile search results – on iOS at least
- Original DROID RAZR and MAXX get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update
- Nook Tablet gets Android 4.2 by way of an unofficial CM10.1 release
- Samsung SGH-T999L could be the LTE capable Galaxy S III for T-Mobile
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (GT-N5100) benchmarks spotted
- OPPO reveals a 32GB version of the Find 5 smartphone
- ZTE Grand X FCC filing reveals support for T-Mobile USA
- ZTE Nubia Z5 with a 5-inch 1080p display officially announced
- Automating your smartphone to improve battery life
- Motorola Electrify M Review (US Cellular)
| Google extends free Gmail calls through 2013 Posted: 26 Dec 2012 10:39 AM PST One of the more interesting features of Gmail, as many of you already know, it that it lets you make voice calls in addition to just sending off emails. Google allows free domestic calls within the US and Canada, which is a major bonus, but today it announced that the free calls won’t be ending anytime soon. Google has revealed that it will extend free domestic calling for the US and Canada through 2013.
So, users will have another free year of calls to look forward to at the least. We wouldn’t be surprised if Google opts to continue offering the popular feature as we move into 2014, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, just know that Google isn’t planning to pull the plug in the near future. In the surprisingly short post over on the Official Gmail Blog, Google also pointed to the fact that you can get pretty low rates in other areas of the world. Though free calling is only offered within the US and Canada, Google Voice currently allows for calling in places like Mexico, India, Germany, and France, with rates ranging from 15 cents per minute all the way down to just 1 cent per minute if you’re calling someone in the US. We’re pretty big fans of Google Voice and Gmail in general, so it’s great to hear that US and Canadian users have more free domestic calls to look forward to. We’re sure we’ll be hearing more about both services soon, but in the meantime, be sure to have a look at our story timeline below for additional information on Gmail and Google Voice! |
| Google testing ‘quick view’ for mobile search results – on iOS at least Posted: 26 Dec 2012 10:28 AM PST The popular desktop “quick view” feature for Google search results appears to be headed to mobile in the near future. Google seems to be testing out this new quick view feature, at least on iOS, where users can instantly get a quick view of the webpage without loading the full site — and data. It’s called quick view and as you can see there’s a big nice button on some mobile browsers.
A lucky Google+ user noticed the ‘quick view’ option on his iPhone 5 while browsing the web and searching for SEO on Google. As you can see instead of just opening the page and waiting for it to load, as well as sucking down data, the Google quick view page appeared with a nicely laid out mobile version of Wikipedia for the user. The lightweight quick view page loaded almost instantly, and is essentially a pop-up like we’re use to using on many Android apps that require browser access. Google currently offers this “quick view” feature for viewing PDF files on Google search, and for now this appears to only be functioning for Wikidedia. Just like instant search results which eventually came to mobile devices, it looks like we’ll be seeing this awesome quick view in our mobile search results soon. I’ve tried to recreate the “quick view” button on Android using both a Galaxy Nexus and a Nexus 7, with both the stock browser and Google’s Chrome browser with no luck. Are any of you Android users seeing Google’s new quick view feature on your own devices? I can’t imagine iOS getting this first, but then again Google’s iOS team has been doing some good work lately. Thoughts? [via Ubergizmo] |
| Original DROID RAZR and MAXX get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update Posted: 26 Dec 2012 10:05 AM PST For those proud owners of the original Motorola DROID RAZR or the RAZR MAXX we have some excellent news for you this afternoon. The folks from Verizon and Motorola nicely surprised everyone this holiday season by sending out the update to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean on Christmas morning. If you didn’t get too many gifts, this should be one to enjoy.
Multiple reports surfaced that Christmas morning Verizon started sending out the update to 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, which is newer than even the DROID RAZR HD Jelly Bean, and we’ve had multiple confirmations that it indeed is rolling out. It appears that Verizon or Motorola might have flipped the switch early, because later in the evening the updates started failing and it may have been pulled. Verizon usually posts the update changelog and details on their support page, which has yet to happen, but the update is up and running again. For those rocking the original DROID RAZR this is quite the surprise and a nice little gift from Motorola and Verizon — to say the least. Jelly Bean brings that new keyboard, Google Now voice actions, and of course the informational and detailed expandable notifications are a welcomed edition. You won’t get those on-screen navigation buttons, but you’ll be able to enjoy everything else from Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. Now we’re just waiting for Verizon to allow the Galaxy Nexus to receive a similar update. Or possible 4.2 since all the others are already enjoying that. As usual the update should hit your RAZR soon, or feel free to head into settings and check for updates yourself under the “about phone” section. Happy Holidays! Update: Download files can be found at the Droidrazr forum. Device Info
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 – Thanks to all who sent this in, even on X-mas! |
| Nook Tablet gets Android 4.2 by way of an unofficial CM10.1 release Posted: 26 Dec 2012 09:27 AM PST The Nook Tablet is no stranger to CyanogenMod. In the past we have seen builds for the tablet, and as of today we have word of an unofficial CM10.1 build for the Nook. And for those of you who have stuck with the stock ROM and are now ready to make the jump to custom ROMs — as you will be going from Gingerbread to Jelly Bean, this will be a big jump. That said, read on to find out a bit more about this release.
This build is based off of CM10.1 (Android 4.2), though, it has been released by developer Kuzma30 as opposed to coming directly from CyanogenMod. Regardless though, if you are rocking a Nook Tablet and looking to get Android 4.2 Jelly Bean installed, this is likely the path you will choose. According to the details we are seeing, this release brings a ROM that has “many of the most important features” working. Some of those include the lock screen widgets along with the notification and settings pull-down menu and the updated keyboard. Also noted was support for Wi-Fi Direct as well as deep sleep and multiple user profiles. In terms of not working items, it was said that the microphone is not working and that video can be hit or miss. Brad Linder from Liliputing took this ROM for a test drive and found that Netflix and the YouTube app worked (after a reboot) however the audio and video were not perfectly synced up. Bottom line here, this release looks decent enough, but as always — take caution when installing and make sure you go in knowing there may be some quirks. Device Info
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[via xda developers] |
| Samsung SGH-T999L could be the LTE capable Galaxy S III for T-Mobile Posted: 26 Dec 2012 08:37 AM PST We would be lying if we were to say that we were not a bit skeptical on this one, however sometimes that is the fun that comes with a rumor. In this case, a recently discovered Bluetooth SIG filing suggests that an LTE capable Galaxy S III could be heading to T-Mobile.
The filing is showing a handset with the model number of SGH-T999L. And just to make the point clear, the currently available T-Mobile Galaxy S III is the SGH-T999. This Bluetooth SIG filing has added the L and the speculation is that L stands for LTE. The rest of the filing notes that the T999L is a GSM phone with Bluetooth 4.0 supporting “HSP, A2DP, AVRCP, GAVDP, HFP1.5, OPP, PBAP, MAP, PAN, HID etc.” Of course, given where this discovery is coming from, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), we wouldn’t have expected much more. All that said, a revamped Galaxy S III would be a nice LTE capable device for T-Mobile. It would arrive as a nice addition to the Galaxy Note II and hopefully arrive in-time, if not a little before T-Mobile begins rolling out their LTE network. Otherwise, assuming the L in the T999L does stand for LTE, it seems the next step would be an FCC filing. And then maybe confirmation from Samsung and/or T-Mobile. [via phoneArena] |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (GT-N5100) benchmarks spotted Posted: 26 Dec 2012 08:04 AM PST We have seen previous rumors about a 7-inch Galaxy Note coming from Samsung. In fact, earlier this month we saw some NenaMark 2 results for the GT-N5100, the device believed to be the Note 7. And well, flashing back to the present day and it looks like we now have another set of benchmarks for the GT-N5100.
This latest round comes by way of GLBenchmark and while it has not revealed a bunch of new information, it is confirming those previous details. For example, this GLBenchmark filing is also showing a device with a 7.7-inch display at 1280 x 800 and begin powered by a quad-core 1.6GHz processor. The processor is believed to be an Exynos. Other goodies include the device running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. And from the previous filing, we also know that the tablet will have ARM Mali 400 graphics. Of course, assuming this is indeed Note branded, we would also expected it to also have the S Pen. All said and done, there is obviously still lots to learn. We need something official from Samsung, which at this point — even an official confirmation would be nice. In terms of an announcement, there is always CES and Mobile World Congress coming up, however we suspect Samsung may end up announcing the Note 7 at an event of their own. [via SamMobile] |
| OPPO reveals a 32GB version of the Find 5 smartphone Posted: 26 Dec 2012 07:05 AM PST We saw the official announcement for the OPPO Find 5 smartphone earlier in the month. Nonetheless, it looks like OPPO has taken to Facebook and offered some additional details. This latest includes a 32GB model and a wider international release.
Diving right in here, according to the teaser image that was posted on Facebook, the OPPO Find 5 will be available in a 16GB and 32GB model and priced at $499 and $569 respectively. The one catch here, while we are expecting the release to begin in early 2013, OPPO has yet to offer anything more specific.
Otherwise, aside from a Chinese and US release, the latest details also show the Find 5 as coming to the following countries; Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, Germany, France, Belgium, Malaysia, Sweden, Singapore, Finland, Greece, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Japan and Hong Kong. Simply put, it looks like the OPPO Find 5 will indeed be launching on a global basis. Finally, as a recap on those specs. The Find 5 has a 5-inch 1080p display with a 441 PPI, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 2,500 mAh battery, HSPA+ connectivity and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The handset will also have a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera and 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera as well as other goodies such as NFC, GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. [via Facebook] |
| ZTE Grand X FCC filing reveals support for T-Mobile USA Posted: 26 Dec 2012 06:40 AM PST We have yet to see any announcement from T-Mobile, however this recently discovered FCC filing leaves little mystery as to where this handset is heading. In short, it is looking like T-Mobile is going to be bringing the ZTE Grand X to the US market. That said, we have the specs but nothing in terms of when the handset may come available.
Not to mention, not even any rumors suggesting a price point. Anyway, in terms of the Grand X coming to T-Mobile, that was made pretty clear by the carrier branding on the back side of the device. Of course, the filing also confirmed support for the T-Mobile WCDMA 1700 (AWS) network.
Otherwise, the ZTE Grand X feature set includes a 4.3-inch IPS display at 960 x 540, dual-core 1GHz processor, microSD card slot, 1,650 mAh battery and 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. In addition to the few images of the handset (not to mention one of the battery), the FCC filing also included the complete user manual. The manual didn’t offer all that much new. Of course, that probably comes as little surprise to anyone that has read one of these manuals before. It did mention that the handset would have the Swype keyboard pre-installed though. Moving past the keyboard and into another sort-of perk. The Grand X will arrive running a stock version of Android. That is the good part, the not-so-good part of that includes which version — Ice Cream Sandwich. [via phoneScoop] |
| ZTE Nubia Z5 with a 5-inch 1080p display officially announced Posted: 26 Dec 2012 06:18 AM PST ZTE was expected to release the Nubia Z5 a short while back, however a last minute change pushed that release back. The new release date was pushed to December 26, and well, that day seems to have arrived and so has details for the release. In short, the ZTE Nubia Z5 smartphone has been officially announced for those in China.
Anyway, given we were previously expecting this handset to come available, some of these details will be coming as a refresher. That being said, the handset is running Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean and with hardware features to include a 5-inch (1920 x 1080) IPS display, quad-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064) processor, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage space. Other goodies include a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera, 2 megapixel front-facing camera, HSPA+ connectivity, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and a 3,000 mAh battery. Those looking for size can expect to find a handset that measures in at 138 x 69.2 x 7.6mm and weighing in at 126 grams. All things considered, comparing spec to spec — the Nubia Z5 is a rather nice handset. Othherwise, ZTE has announced the Nubia Z5 in back and white with a rumored third model coming later. The black and white models will be available beginning in January and priced at 3,456 yuan (about $555 US). The handset has been announced for, and will initially only be available in China. No mention yet as to whether or not the Nubia Z5 will launch in other markets. Finally, as for that third model, we have yet to see a launch timeframe for that one, however it is expected to be titanium and priced at 7,890 yuan (around $1,265 US). [via unwired view] |
| Automating your smartphone to improve battery life Posted: 25 Dec 2012 07:44 PM PST While our smartphones are able to do more and more these days, battery life remains an issue for most. Well, maybe aside from Galaxy Note II users with the massive 3,100 mAh batteries. But in my case, I am rocking a Galaxy S III with the stock 2,100 mAh battery. And well, I would probably fall into a power user category and that means I am often looking at a quickly draining battery.
When dealing with battery life issues, the most common tip you hear seems to be something along the lines of simply turning (enter setting name) off when you are not using it. Sure, that does make sense, but you know what, I want these features on when I want them and don’t want to have to worry about turning things like Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth off and on. I just want them available when I need and/or want them. To me, turning them off manually is just not an answer. That being the case, I began looking at ways to automate my setting adjustments — because truthfully, I don’t need my GPS on while I am home and I don’t need my Wi-Fi constantly scanning while I am out and about. Enter apps such as Atooma. And in my case, I also added Silence and the use of NFC tags.
Atooma is an app that touts itself as making your smartphone smarter. And well, it does just that. For example, I have Atooma set to turn my Wi-Fi off when I leave my home and then turn it back on when I return. In addition to adjusting settings such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, Atooma is also able to do cool things with services such as Gmail, Facebook, Twitter and even SMS messages. Keep in mind, there are similar automation apps, such as Tasker, however in my experience, Atooma is the easiest to use. In fact, if you have ever used IFTTT on the web, you will have a good understanding of how Atooma works. As I tell people when they ask about what it can do, I generally tell them most everything, and that I find the only real limit is what you can dream up.
Silence is another automation type of app, though this one is based more on time than location. Similar to Atooma, Silence is easy to set up and easy to use. Silence is available for free (ad-supported) or for $1.99 (ad-free). This app will allow you to adjust your ringer, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Airplane Mode settings based on a time schedule. And while some of this can also be done with Atooma, this is a good option for someone that doesn’t need all the power of Atooma. For example, I use Silence to turn my phone on silent at 10PM and then have it revert back at 6AM — that way I can use my phone as an alarm clock and not have to listen to message alerts all night long.
And lastly, the use of NFC Tags. This one will be limited to those with an NFC capable device, however if you have that feature in your phone — these are great. In my case I have a Galaxy S III and use the Samsung branded TecTile app with the TecTiles. The app is free and the actual sticker tiles are available in packs of 5 for around $15. These can be used for often changed settings, for example — Bluetooth. I sometimes use this around the house and I sometimes use it in the car. I have a tag on my desk, next to my portable Bluetooth speaker and can tap the tag to turn Bluetooth on when I want to use the speaker. I also have one in my car, this one turns the Bluetooth on so I can make sure any incoming calls will be routed through a headset keeping me hands-free while driving. Bottom line here, assuming you are willing to do a bit of playing around, using apps to automate your smartphone settings can be a good way to improve battery life. They are also good is you are like myself and refuse to think that simply turning things off and on manually is the answer. Of course, these are only a few of the many available apps, so feel free to search around the Google Play store and find the ones that work best for you. |
| Motorola Electrify M Review (US Cellular) Posted: 25 Dec 2012 02:00 PM PST The Motorola Electrify M recently landed at US Cellular, and with it we’re getting a very strong feeling of deja vu. Despite the new name, we’ve seen this phone before, as its nearly identical twin – the DROID RAZR M – is currently gracing Verizon‘s shelves. The DROID RAZR M was a pretty solid handset, though it was somewhat overshadowed by the release of the DROID RAZR HD and the RAZR MAXX HD. Can Motorola keep the quality train rolling with the Electrify M? Read on to find out.
Design Most of the differences between the Electrify M and the RAZR M are found in the design of each phone. Whereas the RAZR M was decked out in Kevlar, the Electrify M isn’t, opting instead for a silver plastic battery cover. It doesn’t look half bad, but then again, I have to say that I’m more a fan of the Kevlar than I am of the plastic. Still, the silver and black mesh well and come together to form one nice looking handset. The Electrify M isn’t very big at all, thanks in large part to its 4.3-inch screen. This is the exact same size as the screen found on the the RAZR M, save for one key difference: the RAZR M’s screen was considered "edge-to-edge" by Motorola, but the Electrify M’s screen doesn’t stretch all the way across the face. This probably isn’t going to be a problem for most as it doesn’t do anything to the detract from the look of the device, it’s just that I feel the need to point out differences when I see them considering there are so few.
On the left side of the phone is where you’ll find a slot for the micro SD and micro SIM cards and the micro USB port. Over on the right side, you’ve got the volume rocker and the power button, while there’s a standard 3.5mm headphone jack up top. There isn’t anything happening on the bottom of the device, while around the back you’ve got a small opening for the speaker that’s located right next to the camera lens. The phone comes in a hair under four ounces in weight, which gives it just the right amount of heft. At 0.34-inches thick, it isn’t the thinnest smartphone we’ve seen (it isn’t even the thinnest smartphone Motorola makes), but to be honest, I don’t mind the additional thickness. I don’t want my phone to be a brick, but I also don’t want it to feel like it’ll break if I dare to pull it out of my pocket when there’s a breeze. It feels good in the hand, though those who want a phone on the smaller end of the spectrum will enjoy the Electrify M the most. If you like big smartphones, you might want to look elsewhere.
The Electrify M is rather unextraordinary in design, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad looking handset; there just isn’t much to make it stand out from the sea of other smartphones. Motorola has definitely taken some design cues from the Electrify 2, which launched earlier in the year, so this definitely feels like a member of the Electrify family, despite the fact that it has so much in common with the RAZR M. Just look at it as if you’re getting the best of both worlds with the Electrify M. Hardware While there are some pretty big differences between the RAZR M and the Electrify M in terms of design, there are almost no differences when it comes to hardware. The Super AMOLED Advanced screen not only has the same dimensions, but also the same resolution – 540×960 to be exact. That’s qHD resolution, which means visuals won’t be as sharp as some would like. Sharpness aside, colors actually look great, so in a way that makes up for the sub-HD resolution.
There’s a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz running the show, and while some of the technophiles among us probably stopped reading there, the S4 will be speedy enough for most. We have to remember whose attention Motorola wants with phones like the Electrify M and the RAZR M. It definitely isn’t the hardcore consumers, but rather the mainstream crowd. For folks who just want a solid phone that doesn’t cost a ton of money, the dual core S4 will provide more than enough speed. You could literally rattle off a list of RAZR M specs, and the hardware in the Electrify M would match to the last digit in the last model number. 1GB of RAM? The Electrify M has just as much. 8GB of internal storage? Check. Rear-facing 8MP camera? You know it! Both phones even have the same 2,000mAh battery. If you’ve used the RAZR M before, you’ve already used the Electrify M; it’s as simple as that. Software The Electrify M comes running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, and since Motorola is now owned by Google, you’re about as close to stock Android as you can get. There won’t be too much that shocks users as far as the operating system is concerned, but we’re sure many Android fans wouldn’t want it any other way.
Of course, there’s a decent helping of apps already installed from the get go, with some inevitably more useful than others. I imagine a lot of folks will skip out on US Cellular’s apps – those being Daily Perks, Your Navigation, and Tone Room Deluxe – and maybe also Gameloft’s HD Games hub (which seems a little out of place on the Electrify M). Others, like Facebook, Slacker Radio, Twitter, and the suites from Google and Amazon will see some more finger traffic, but that isn’t any surprise. With everything tallied up, that 8GB of internal storage drops down to about 4.15GB. That isn’t bad and will likely last some users for quite some time, but people who can’t get enough apps or want to store a lot of music will want to invest in a micro SD card when they go to pick up their Electrify M.
It’s worth pointing out that Motorola plans to begin upgrading Electrify M handsets to Jelly Bean in Q1 2013, which is right around the corner. If you buy one of these, you probably won’t have to wait very long for Ice Cream Sandwich to be replaced with Jelly Bean, and that’s a big bonus. The prospects of future software support are very important to some consumers, so if that’s you, know that Motorola is at least planning to bring the Electrify M up to Jelly Bean by the time everything is said and done (and may even upgrade it past Android 4.1 if we’re lucky). Battery As stated above, the Electrify M comes with a relatively beefy 2,000mAh battery, which means you’ll have a fair amount of juice at your disposal on a full charge. With moderate use, I didn’t have any problem getting the battery to last nearly two days. You’ll still probably want to plug the phone in every night when you hit the sack, as it seems to drain somewhat quickly while asleep if you’ve got it connected to Wi-Fi or US Cellular’s mobile network.
Still, even with usage that borders on heavy, you should be able to get a day out of a full charge. The only downside is that the battery isn’t removable, so you won’t be able to swap it out when the battery the Electrify 2 ships with begins to have problems holding a charge. Non-removable batteries are common in Motorola phones, but that doesn’t make it any less of a drag. Benchmarks Unsurprisingly, the Electrify M isn’t ranking at the top of the benchmark results, but it’s still powerful enough to hold its own. In AnTuTu, the phone scored 10,499, enough to put it a fair distance behind the ASUS Transformer Prime and ever so slightly ahead of the original Galaxy Note. We get similar results in Quadrant, with the Electrify M coming in a fair amount ahead of the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Nexus. Dual-core definitely can’t hold a flame to quad-core, but in this case, a dual-core processor is still enough to get the job done.
Sadly, I wasn’t able to carry out a speed test that actually means anything, because US Cellular doesn’t have any stores near me. Therefore, it doesn’t have the best coverage in my area, which is understandable considering that it probably doesn’t have too many customers where I live. I was able to get something on the carrier’s 3G network, but if you live in an area that’s actually serviced by US Cellular, there’s a very good chance that you’ll get much better results. That’s especially true if you live in US Cellular’s 4G LTE coverage area, as the Electrify M is primed and ready to take advantage of LTE.
Camera We’re working an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera on the Electrify M, and like the shooter on the RAZR M, it takes some respectable pictures when you’re in a well lit area. These images aren’t good enough for me to recommend using the Electrify M’s snapper over a dedicated camera, but if you want a phone that can take some decent pictures, you could definitely do worse than the Electrify M. Check out the sample shots below to see what the Electrify M is capable of.
Wrap-Up I don’t know what else to do other than point once again to the fact that the Electrify M is the RAZR M, aside from some largely inconsequential cosmetic changes (though I do miss the Kevlar). That isn’t a knock against the Electrify M, as the RAZR M was a solid handset. The Electrify M is just as solid, but since we’ve seen all of this before, I’m finding it hard to get excited about this new handset.
Regardless of that little hang up of mine, the Electrify M is a good choice if you’re looking to get a quality phone without breaking the bank. The Snapdragon S4 is still a nice processor, and the Super AMOLED Advanced display is colorful despite the fact that its resolution leaves something to be desired. At $149, the price US Cellular is asking isn’t too bad at all, but that price tag drops down to just $99 if you happen to live within the carrier’s 4G LTE service area. If you’re not one to care all that much about having top tier hardware, then I think you’ll be pleased with the Electrify M. I’m a fan of Motorola’s handsets in general, and the Electrify M is just another handset to add to the ever growing list. With that said, I have no problem recommending the Electrify M if you count yourself among the mainstream crowd.                   |
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