Saturday, December 29, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


LG Display looks to take Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 off the market with ban

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:51 PM PST

What, you thought Apple was the only problem Samsung had to deal with in the mobile realm? It looks like two South Korean companies will get ready to battle in court over display patents. LG Display is claiming Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 infringes on display technology that makes it easier to view the tablet’s display at many different viewing angles.

The goal for LG Display is to get the tablet banned at all levels, including importation, retail and even manufacturing. While such a ban likely won’t phase Samsung it’s a strong first punch to throw at the manufacturer’s biggest slate. Samsung Display’s vice president — Shim Jaeboo — has already responded, saying LG Display’s claims are unjustified. He didn’t go into much detail as to how, but to release a statement so swiftly and boldly suggests Samsung has confidence that this case won’t go far.

Should LG get its way, it will also look to rake in around $933,000 per day for each day of “continued non-compliance.” We’re not sure if they’re counting the days since the tablet has been on sale as “non-compliance,” but in that case a bit of quick, dirty math tells me that would be about $130 million to date.

Samsung has been hit with much harder, of course, as they once faced a possible $1.1 billion penalty for its scuffle with Apple, though it looks as though Samsung will successfully ward that one off. That seems like pocket change for such a big electronics company that has been breaking sales records all year, but we’re sure they’d still hate to take the loss. We’ll keep half an eye on this one, folks.

[via Taipei Times]

Got a Galaxy S3 or Galaxy Note 2? Get a free Flip Cover and NFC Tectiles by registering it with Samsung

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:23 PM PST

This image has no alt text

If you’re on Facebook, you might want to run on over to Samsung Mobile USA’s Facebook page here and register your new Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2. Why? Because if you do, Samsung will send a “care package” your way as a free gift. Inside, you’ll find one of their official Flip Covers (in either pink, blue, orange, or guacamole) and a few NFC TecTiles.

What’s more, newly registered Samsung owners will also receive a 50%-off coupon code for the accessory of their choice on Samsung’s official web store. There you can get a spare battery for the device of your device, bluetooth headset, or even additional Flip Covers for half off. Not too bad, right?

UPDATE: If you don’t have a Galaxy Note 2 or Galaxy S3, you wont receive a Flip Cover or the TecTiles. You do still get the 50% off coupon as a door prize.

You’ll need to enable the Facebook app first, then revisit the link to get the popup for registering your device. Enter in the necessary information and you’ll then receive an email to receive your care package. Better hurry as supplies are limited.

Thanks, Steven!

[Samsung Facebook]

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 coming in black

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:27 PM PST

Just like clockwork, Samsung seems to be prepping a black version of its Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Just as the OEM did with the Pebble Blue edition of the Samsung Galaxy S3, it decided to pair the white Galaxy Note 2 with a more interesting color than the typical jet black. It was pretty close, though, as the dark titanium grey could easily be mistaken for a black device (though the texture and shading still made it stand out from typical smartphones).

It’s believed Samsung won’t be ready to introduce this alternate color until Mobile World Congress goes down in Barcelona this coming February, though, and by that time it might be getting overshadowed by the possible introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S4. The timing would be inconvenient if Samsung’s trying to roll some thunder into an alternate color launch, but those types of launches aren’t typically met with a huge parade so we imagine that’s not much of an issue.

The biggest question is where, exactly, will this black version launch? And could Samsung be preparing higher capacity editions? Most folks in Europe and North America are bound by a meager 16GB of internal storage, so we’re sure a lot of people would be happy to hear about possible 32GB and/or 64GB editions coming to town. There’s a microSD card slot, of course, but the more on-board storage, the better. I’m just going off on a wishful thinking tangent, though, so don’t mind me. Take a look at what you can expect above.

[via SamMobile]

PSA: Don’t download any apps from “apkdeveloper”

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 10:06 AM PST

Well, guys, it looks like we have another unfortunate episode of a malware scare on our hands. An illegitimate developer account in the Google Play Store has recently been uncovered, and it’s been uploading some very suspicious apps. For starters, many of the apps are total ripoffs of other people’s work. The more well-known victims include Imangi and its Temple Run game, as well as Glu Mobile and its Contract Killer Zombies.

The developer, simply named “apkdeveloper,” seems to be decompiling the APKs, injecting potentially harmfiul code, and recompiling and reuploading them to pose as legitimate games and apps in the Play Store. All of the apps have “super” at the end of their names, but the only thing super about them is the super huge list of device permissions in comparison to the legit copies of these games.

For instance, Imangi’s Temple Run only asks for full network access and the ability to perform read and write operations to storage. The infringing Temple Run Super, on the other hand, asks for all of that alongside location information, phone status and identity, access to accounts on the device, the ability to run at startup and more.

As many are understandably afraid to install the application we’re not yet sure what the code might be capable of, but several reports suggest it delivers unwanted ads to several parts of your device. You could see an ad on the home-screen or your notification bar, for instance. And while that might not seem harmful it’s still downright annoying, obtrusive and there’s no telling what else is going on behind the scenes.

As I always say when it comes to downloading apps: be thorough. Check the name of the developer, check the reviews, check the descriptions and make sure you’re always downloading from legitimate sources. Do yourself a favor and find a few of these apps on the Play Store from your device — not to download, of course, but to report them to Google. Not only will this get the apps out of the Play Store, but Google will probably shut the developer account down entirely if it gets too many flags.

These are the unfortunate pitfalls we have to deal with on occasion if we want a more open market for downloading apps, but just as Smokey the Bear always reminds us that forest fires can be prevented, I’m here to remind you that this doesn’t have to become a bigger issue than it is.

Be safe, folks, and be sure to help some of the more oblivious Android users out by taking the time to report a few of these straight from your Android device. PS: Google, you REALLY need to implement a report link on the web version of the Play Store

[via Reddit, thanks Ashley!].

Motorola DROID RAZR M coming in HD flavor?

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 08:48 AM PST

The Motorola DROID RAZR M was a bit underwhelming when it was announced earlier this year, but it was never a bad device. In fact, the main complaint against it was the fact that the display wasn’t HD. Instead it launched with qHD resolution, and it was placed onto Verizon’s store shelves at the mid-range point.

It seems that might not have been enough for the OEM and carrier, though, as an HD variant is said to be in the works. PhoneArena picked up on the news from an unnamed source, and even has a nice, long list of specs for us to go over.

The device will reportedly house a 4.5 inch 720p display which gives us an astounding 326 ppi, a 3,300mAh battery which should give up to 21 hours of talk time, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and more.

If all this sounds too familiar, the it’s probably because it sounds an awful lot like a DROID RAZR MAXX HD. The battery certainly matches that device’s capabilities, we’re looking at the same chipset, and aside from the rumored DROID RAZR M HD being .2 inches smaller it should house many of the same components. We can’t be too sure what the motive for this refresh is with the base RAZR series already out there, but we’re not mad to be getting more options at all.

We have no idea when Motorola would be bringing the device out, but it’s quick turnaround for a simple refresh. The original RAZR M was released in September so a turnaround time of less than half a year would be insane. Heck, anything short of 10 months would be ridiculous.

That said, it’s just a rumor so there’s not much sense in putting a ton of stock into it. A word of advice, though: if this excites you then just go ahead and get yourself a RAZR MAXX HD because it’s almost the exact same device as far as internals go.

Rumor: Samsung Galaxy S4 coming with S Pen

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 08:22 AM PST

Yesterday we got a look at some concept renderings for a group of Russians’ idea of what the Samsung Galaxy S4 would turn out to be, but now it’s time turn our attention to some actual rumors. Today’s report won’t contain a massive list of specs to rundown, but the one detail we do get to ponder is one that could drastically change the landscape of Samsung’s 2013 lineup.

According to Korean sources, the Samsung Galaxy S4 will come with the very S Pen support that sets the Samsung Galaxy Note series apart from everything else. This would imply Samsung’s looking to go at least 5 inches as far as display size goes, but that’s another story for another day. The S4 would introduce all the familiar S Pen features we’ve come to know and love, as well as new features that Samsung’s sure to be cooking up as I type.

The implications for the Galaxy Note line would be unclear at this point. It’s likely Samsung could be looking to merge the two lines with the Samsung Galaxy S name taking precedence. Perhaps Samsung found it less desirable to market two flagship devices — after all, the Galaxy Note is poised to become just as big as the Galaxy S4 at the rate Samsung is going.

Samsung found quite the niche market with the Samsung Galaxy Note, and combining the two would help line its pockets even more. After all, what sense does it make to have your main flagship play second fiddle to the “little big brother” each year? While some characteristics of the Galaxy S3 — such as its less encumbering size — are more desirable for some people, it’s no secret that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 either matches it or outclasses it in every other way.

And it’s not like the Galaxy Note name would die. Samsung still has a tablet line to uphold the name with, and if other recent rumors are to be believed then it could be looking to round that portfolio out soon. The OEM is said to be coming to town with a 7 inch version of the tablet to complement the 10 inch version currently available.

None of this is 100% certain, of course, but should Samsung decide to go this route then it would make a lot of sense. If the rumor mill that was spinning leading up to the Galaxy S3′s launch is anything to go by we won’t know much until the very last possible second. Still, we’re hoping to hear more about what the Samsung Galaxy S4 will bring to the table as we get close to an eventual late Sprint or early Summer launch. What say you to all of this?

[Enuri via PhoneArena]

OUYA development console gets unboxed, developer portal now open [VIDEO]

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 07:12 AM PST

Yesterday, we reported that OUYA was beginning to ship development consoles a day early. Over 1,200 development consoles were shipped to those who applied for the pricey package on Kickstarter, and many are scheduled to arrive today (most will get their consoles starting next week). Instead of waiting for shaky, blurrycam unboxings from those who ordered one, though, the OUYA team has taken it upon itself to release an official unboxing.

The development console will be visibly different from the final package. For starters, the hardware is housed by clear plastic. You’ll be able to see the guts of the controllers and the console itself at all times. This doesn’t help much, but it does look cool and drives home the fact that OUYA is an open console for developers t do whatever they want.

The kit comes with the console, two controllers, batteries for each controller, a microUSB cable, an HDMI cable, a power cable and an international power adapter. This development console can easily be taken apart for any developer wanting to give the components a deep tissue massage — simply screw the top off and pull the main circuit board out.

Seeing them do it on the video was kind of like seeing that scene in Vampire in Brooklyn when Eddie Murphy pulled that guy’s heart out. Yea, like that. The team revealed an internal fan as one of the newest additions to the package to ensure the OUYA would stay as cool as it can if developers want to push the most they can out of it.

The OUYA team stresses that the console does not come with any games out of the box. This thing isn’t for fun just yet — that’s why they’re development kits. Developers’ jobs are to provide the fun, so the only thing you should be focused on after getting your development console is downloading the ODK and getting started on bringing your great wares over. You can find the developers’ portal here for everything you need to get started.

[via OUYA]

Android Overload: Sony Xperia Z coming to CES 2013, 50% off sale on Hyperdevbox games, and more

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:58 AM PST

This image has no alt text

The Android Overload is where we stash all of the stories/articles/news bits that didn't make it onto our front page from throughout the day. But just because they weren't featured, doesn't mean they aren't worth taking a look at. In fact, there's almost always a little something here for everyone. So, take a look around and let us know if you find anything of interest.

  • Hyperdevbox Studio discounts $14 strategy RPG’s to $7 – That’s half off! [Google Play]
  • 17.4 million iOS and Android devices activated on Christmas. Smashes previous record. [Flurry]
  • Sony Xperia Z to be unveiled at CES 2013. Top of the line specs, 5-inch 1080p display. [ePrice]
  • 1 in 4 Americans now own a tablet. [Pew]
  • Hyundai announces NFC unlockable automobiles. [Slashgear]
  • Pebble Watch gets torn down by the FCC. Launching imminent? [WirelessGoodness]

New images of Huawei Ascend D2 leak: Looks like Frankenstein’s iPhone Galaxy X

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 08:04 PM PST

This image has no alt text

The Huawei Ascend D2 is gearing up for its CES 2013 debut in a few weeks but before we could even get our hands on it, the company’s flagship device seems to have popped up in a handful of leaked pics. Announced back in October, the Huawei Ascend D2 is the successor to the Ascend D1 and features a slew of top of the line specs. Notably a 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core 1.5GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 13MP camera, and Jelly Bean. All of this running off a beefy 3,000mAh battery. Intrigued? So was I…. until I saw what it looked like.

A mishmash of bits and pieces from from some of the most popular smartphones in the world, Huawei’s Ascend D2 might take home the Ms. Congeniality award. Your eyes will no doubt notice a metal band along the edges of the device complete with billet drilled speaker on the bottom. iPhone, anyone? The plasticy white front mirrors that of an LG or Samsung device, and on the back there’s big camera nipple similar to the one found on the HTC One X (although HTC’s nudity is more classy). It’s all of these design choices that give the Huawei Ascend D2 our unofficial title of “iPhone Galaxy X.”

We’ll reserve judgment until we can get the final product in our hands. With CES 2013 just a few more weeks away, it wont be too much longer. What do you guys think of the design? Perhaps we’re being a bit too “iPhone sensitive?”

[via Unwired View | ITHome]

No comments:

Post a Comment