Friday, December 28, 2012

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Google Android News Android Forums

Samsung releases another clever ad, this time aimed at us working schmucks

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 05:01 PM PST

 

Samsung is on a roll with their clever, catchy, and effective advertising. A new commercial released by the Korean company shows how your new Galaxy Note 2 can be used to multitask in both work and play, this time in an office environment. The ad keeps you entertained and shows you the effectiveness of their product…the opitome of great marketing. With advertising like this, it’s no wonder they are the number one smartphone manufacturer in the world. Keep it up Sammy.

Click here to view the embedded video.

More images of Huawei Ascend D2 surface

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 04:25 PM PST

Smartphones with 5-inch screens capable of displaying 1080p video seem to be the sweet spot that several manufacturers are targeting at the moment. Another phone slated for unveiling at CES 2013 is the Huawei Ascend D2. As we recently reported, Huawei’s Senior Vice President Richard Yu believes the device is Huawei’s version of a “dream phone” with the impressive display backed by a quad-core 1.5GHz cpu. More images of the device have surfaced, revealing some additional details.

The initial impression seems to be a bit of a cross between an iPhone design and Samsung materials. We can see the 3.5-mm headphone jack will be on the bottom of the device while the top gets what appears to be an SD card slot and possibly a lock button. Earlier images indicate the power and volume controls will be on the side of the device.

Like the Sony Xperia Z, we hope to get some hands on time with the Huawei Ascend D2 during our coverage of CES 2013.

huawei_ascend_d2_image_leak_01 huawei_ascend_d2_image_leak_02 huawei_ascend_d2_image_leak_03 huawei_ascend_d2_image_leak_04

source: PhoneArena

Samsung Galaxy S IV Unofficially Rendered, Invites The World To Take A Sneak Peek Into The Future

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 03:04 PM PST

 

As the world patiently awaits for the “Next Big Thing” from Samsung, some ambitious folks took some time to give us an idea of what to possibly expect from Samsung’s next superphone. A recent hands-on video has surfaced which is more or less giving us a teaser of what the Galaxy S IV should bring including a thin profile complimented with an incredible 2GHz quad-core processor, full 1080p AMOLED display, 13MP camera and Android 5.0— aka Key Lime Pie. The real kicker isn’t just what’s inside of the device, it’s the potential accessories that may accompany the device. The hands-on video highlights what looks to be a revolutionary keyboard dock: a "projection laser keyboard dock" that beams a keyboard layout to whatever surface it's sitting on and can be typed on— as if it was a real keyboard in front of you.

Naturally viewers of the video should take extreme caution: the hands-on video is by no means real or what the Galaxy S IV will look like. All it is really is a sort of wish-list of items that would make it more awesome than other phones out there.

I know you’re all itching to see what all this potential hubbub is about, so be sure to hit past the break to check out the video.

 

Click here to view the embedded video.

QP Optoelectronics to bring portable workstation to Android phones via CloudView, the worlds’s first DLP ultra short throw pico projector

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:41 PM PST

I am expecting pico projectors to grow in popularity over the next year. Samsung tried it with the Galaxy Beam with minimal success, but it might make a lot of sense as a standalone unit. QP Optoelectronics will be showcasing such a device at CES called the CloudView, but what’s cool about it is that it’s a short throw pico projector. This means it can give you a decent sized display at short distances. For example, the CloudView can give you a 50-inch screen at only a half meter away from the target, as opposed to conventional pico projectors that would need 2 meters to give you the same result.

Why could this short throw technology be important? They can create a portable workstation with your Android phone. By connecting an Android phone through micro-HDMI or MHL to the CloudView device, you will get a projected 30-inch display plus a projected keyboard. Hit the break for the video demo.

Click here to view the embedded video.

As you can see in the video, you need two devices, one for the projector and one for the keyboard. That is a limitation, but this is just the beginning as I can only assume the future will bring this kind of technology to one device. It’s also possible this technology could be built into our phones as well.

Full press release:

QP Optoelectronics to Launch CloudView™ - the world's first DLP® ultra short throw pico projector - at CES

Suzhou, China. December 26, 2012 –   QP Optoelectronics Co. Ltd. announced today that it will be launching its CloudView™ pico projector at the CES 2013 exhibition in Las Vegas, January 8-11, booth # 35786, South Hall.  Touted as the world's first ultra short throw pico-projector, CloudView™ can project an image five to ten times larger than other pico-projectors from a given distance as indicated in the photo below.  The big screen projection capability of CloudView™ is enabled by QP Optoelectronics' patent pending short throw light engine projection technology.

"Consumers are wanting to have the largest displayed image possible at even the closest distances, such as desk surface, table cloth, or even someone's hand" stated James Lupino, QP Optoelectonics' Vice President of Business Development.  "Our innovations and this product in particular is the first to solve this demand of consumers and we expect that it will appeal to most users who expect pico-projectors to produce a big screen display in close proximity." 

Dr. Yong-jing Wang, CTO of QP Optoelectronics, states that "the importance of short throw in pico projectors has been underestimated over the last several years.  Conventional pico projectors can only produce a big screen at about 2 meters away; at this distance they generate a perceptive image similar to that of a 4.3" smartphone screen.   There are many limitations and at times a compromise of the value added in cases where the image size is limited.   Our pico projector can produce a 50 inch screen at a half meter throw distance, thus providing a large display anywhere.  We feel our short throw projection technology will enable many disruptive and futuristic applications for pico projectors."

QP Optoelectronics has partnered with Texas Instruments, DLP Products.  ”We are excited by QP Opto's innovative CloudView™ product that creates a big image in a small space from the palm of your hand – uniquely enabled by DLP Pico™", stated Frank Moizio, TI's Business Unit Manager for DLP Pico™. "Texas Instruments, DLP is proud to enable a very wide variety of world class products planned for CES 2013 such as this handheld ultra short throw projector."

In addition to CloudView, QP Optoelectronics will be showcasing other applications of its novel short throw projection technology including LightPad™, which was released at last year's CES show.  LightPad™ connects to smartphones to enable the functionality of a notebook PC.   This year's LightPad™ includes an improved keyboard and screen that rivals the brightness of tablets.  

Also on display will be a novel user model for smartphones – a "Portable Workstation" which you can carry in your pocket.  It is comprised of a smartphone connected to a CloudView™ and a virtual projected keyboard to provide for 20 inch display screen and full size keyboard on the desktop.  

Another display will combine the CloudView™ with a novel 3D screen technology from a Japanese partner.  All applications on display are enabled by the short throw projection technology of QP Optoelectronics.

QP Optoelectronics plans to initiate production of CloudView™ in Q1-2013 and will be establishing channel partners at CES, including pre-orders for Q2 delivery.  The company also will also seek to engage with OEM partners that are developing or considering to develop unique products which are enabled by short throw pico-projection.

Sony to announce Sony Xperia Z at CES 2013

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:11 PM PST

Chinese web site ePrice is reporting Sony will unveil the forthcoming Sony Xperia Z at CES 2013. The new Sony handset is quickly morphing into a device similar to LG’s Google Nexus 4 in that so many images and leaks are coming out, any official announcement is almost anti-climatic. We have already been treated to a detailed review of the device going by the name Sony Yuga and reports have already surfaced indicating the name would be changed to the Sony Xperia Z. With this new 5-inch device, Sony is trying to remain in the market and compete for buyers looking for 1080p display devices. The addition of water and dust resistant coatings to improve survive-ability in harsh climates or against the occasional mishap may help set it apart from competitors.

ePrice indicates the new handset, after debuting at CES 2013, will hit the Chinese market on January 15th where it is expected to sell for 4289 yuan ($690 USD). No word yet on what the future release schedule will be like for other markets. Up to now, we only knew the new device would be announced some time in the first quarter of 2013. We are glad to see it will be near the beginning of 2013. With luck, TalkAndroid will get some hands-on time with the Xperia Z during CES 2013.

source: ePrice

Samsung Galaxy Camera Review: Redefining What A Connected Camera Should Be

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 01:58 PM PST

 

Let’s face it, we live in a world connected through the internet where we are constantly looking at (and for) noteworthy photos from our friends, family or anyone of any sort of relevance. It’s no secret that as we become more and more connected through the web, we are looking to share our precious moments with our family and friends faster than ever using our smartphones– especially since we can share photos to our friends and loved ones instantly with blazing fast cellular networks. It’s also no secret while we can share our photos faster than ever, the quality of the photos from many smartphones are average at best— especially compared to a photo taken from a traditional point-and-shoot or DSLR-type camera. Samsung quickly realized this and unveiled the Galaxy Camera: traditional a camera  that takes quality photos, while allowing the ability for users to be always connected to the internet in order to instantly share the photos with family and friends.

So in case you’re not familiar, let’s remind ourselves of what the Galaxy Camera is exactly: a camera that’s stuffed with TouchWiz-infused Jelly Bean running the show. The device is more or less what we identify as a connected camera: a camera allowing us to share quality photos and videos with our friends and family instantly thanks to an always-on internet connection via the camera’s built-in SIM card. As it always does with many of its products, Samsung takes a gamble by using its brand name to market a basic camera that’s connected to the internet via the Android platform, but does it succeed in trying to bring yet another “unique” device to the marketplace? We know that certain celebs have taken a strong liking to the device, but for the rest of you– you’ll need to read on past the break to see if it is worth your fancy in our review.

 

 

Design

 

 

For the most part, the Galaxy Camera is one hell of a looker, albeit a bit on the overweight side of things. Taking a page from the Galaxy smartphone series, the Galaxy Camera features a sort of chalky or pearl white finish and sleek blue lines along with smooth and sleek curves all-around— there are no hard, sharp or jagged edges and corners to be found on the camera. When looking at it for the first time, it’s hard not to think that the Galaxy Camera is what a Galaxy S III smartphone and regular camera would look like if they were molded together. But that’s the reality of the Galaxy Camera– it’s more or less a traditional camera on the front with the Galaxy S III’s screen on the back. On the front of the device, you’ll find the enormous 21x zoom lens that actually protrudes out (even when fully closed) and the LED light. To the top of the device, you’ll find the zoom dial (which also controls the volume level on the device) and the camera’s action button, while the left-hand side features a cleverly placed flash button (which reveals the camera’s flash to the top of the device). The right-hand side of the device headphone jack and microUSB plug, while the bottom of the device features the battery door giving you access to the HDMI-out, SIM and microSD slots. Those are the only buttons you’ll find as the Galaxy Camera is otherwise operated via touchscreen only… which we will dive down into further in the review.

 

 

The camera itself is 5.07 x 2.79  inches which isn’t too big height and width-wise… but is 0.75 in overall thickness while also coming in at a whopping 10.76 ounces! This is probably due to the fact that there’s not only a massive lens included on the front, but also the device has a mesh of both camera materials and Android materials found in a typical smartphone. Toss in the fact that the Corning Gorilla Glass 2 glass backing does feel a bit heavier than most typical Android smartphones. Despite the fact the camera is a bit heavier than the average camera, the camera is fairly comfortable to hold. While most of the camera feels smooth and can be a bit slippery, the right-hand side features some nice material that gives it some solid grip, allowing for better control when taking photos.

 

 

Hardware

The design is solid for the most part, but what about the camera’s guts and internals? Well rest assured that you will find some quality parts that power the camera. Samsung opted to use the latest and greatest pieces of technology in order to ensure the camera operates at an optimal level, so it decided to go with its in-house quad-core Exynos chip coupled with a generous 1GB of RAM. In addition, the Galaxy Camera features a modest 8GB of storage (5GB of which is actually usable), an expandable microSD-out slot, Bluetooth 4.0 and of course– the aforementioned 16.3 MP camera that’s capable of shooting up to 4608 × 3456 pixels plus the 21x optical zoom lens and auto-flash light.

 

Display

 

 

Many of you are thinking the Galaxy Camera’s display looks a wee bit familiar to you right? Well you’re not crazy— the Galaxy Camera features a display that’s roughly based off of guessed it— the Galaxy S III smartphone. That means users will be treated to a similar 4 plus-inch Super LCD screen with a resolution of 1,280 x 720 along with a healthy 306ppi pixel density and rich, vibrant colors. Because there is no pesky or annoying bezel to deal with, users of the camera will be able to see greater photo and video quality, thanks to the extra real estate found on the display. As with most other displays found on Samsung devices, the display shows all the content with awesome clarity and detail.

 

Software/Interface

 

 

Now here is part one of where the real heart of the camera lies: its use of Android to power the camera. As described briefly in the beginning of this review, Samsung managed to cram its TouchWiz-infused Jelly Bean interface into the camera, allowing users of the device operate all of the major functions via a touchscreen-based interface. In short, Samsung has actually done a stellar job of implementing all of the necessary functions into the Android OS. When users first power on the device, they’re instructed to set up and register the Galaxy Camera much like you would any other Android device. Once done, you’ll immediately see the oh-so-familiar TouchWiz-infused Jelly Bean homescreen. However, upon further glance– users will immediately note that many of the camera or photo-related icons and applications presented on the homescreen. Among the noteworthy apps that are available initially are the main Android photo/video Gallery app, Paper Artist, Instagram, Photo Wizard, the Video Editor and the main Camera app.

Pressing on the Apps button from the homescreen brings up the complete and full app drawer, which allows for users to bring up additional applications like Google’s Play Store that are found on a typical Android smartphone or tablet. While most Android apps should operate on the Galaxy Camera with no issues, it’s assumed that users of the camera will only download apps that have something to do with photo editing and modifications or apps that allow for for the immediate upload of photos to your online storage or social network of choice— rather than trying to play that Need For Speed or Angry Birds.

 

 

Samsung did a pretty solid job of squeezing Jelly Bean into the camera, but it did an exceptional job of having the full allotment of camera features utilized by the customized Android interface. As mentioned before, Samsung opted to use virtual buttons for all of its settings. So in essence, when using the standard camera function on the Galaxy Camera, all of the various dials and buttons are seen on-screen. When powered up for the first time, users will see three standard buttons available: the main camera icon that acts as a sort of shutter button, the Mode dial where you can either choose from the Auto, Smart or Expert functions and of course, the camcorder function. The camera and camcorder functions are straightforward, but let’s dive down into the Mode button, which gives users a full compliment of camera features found in any typical DSLR or point-and-shoot camera.

 

 

The Mode button brings up additional dials which allows users to adjust the camera settings depending on the environment. Samsung has included traditional enhancement modes from Night mode, which obviously allows for the images to benefit from enhanced lighting in darker settings to the Rich Tones mode, which allows for your photos to be greatly enhanced by richer, sharper and brighter color tones.

 

 

It doesn’t stop there as Samsung included a full assortment of photo-editing software as mentioned earlier– allowing users to edit photos on the go, so there is no real need to connect the camera to a computer in order to edit your photos or videos.

 

Photo/Video quality

 

 

Sample outdoor shot in Auto Mode

Sample outdoor shot in Rich Tone Mode

 

OK kids, here’s part two of where the Galaxy Camera’s heart lies— the actual photo and video quality. In short, the photos and video taken from the Galaxy Camera are solid for the most part, but let’s be real— most users will probably get better quality photos from a traditional point-and-shoot or DSLR camera. For all intents and purposes for this review, the sample photos taken were all in .jpeg format which is the more traditional and common format used among average and professional photographers alike. When using the traditional Auto mode, the resulting photos did a pretty good job of replicating what was in real life and capturing the surroundings, though many of the images weren’t as sharp or bright as they should have been.

 

 

 

Generally speaking, many of the photos looked sharp on the Galaxy Camera’s gorgeous LCD display, but dare I say average on another screen. However, when fiddling with the Smart Modes and changing a few items, images became much sharper and vibrant than what was in the Auto mode, albeit on a minor level. Case in point with the photos below: you’ll note that the photo taken in Auto mode looked incredibly dull and were generally dark in tones; on the flip side, the photo taken in the Rich Tone Mode looked rich, sharp and vibrant. Most of the time I was on one of the Smart Modes when taking the photos because the Auto mode produced images that even a smartphone with superior image optimization software like the Galaxy S III, HTCs One X or DROID DNA could compete with.

 

 

On the flipside, photos can be further enhanced thanks to a full assortment of advanced camera features. The touchscreen interface gives users the simplified access to the camera’s shutter, aperture, exposure compensation and course, the ISO settings which can all be customized to your liking. An example of this is seen in some photos during a recent visit to my hometown of LA.

 

 

Video quality on the other hand is on par with most other cameras in general. Videos in this review were recorded in full 1080p HD looked solid for the most part and there was little distortion and some really nice clarity as well. A major plus is the file sizes of the 1080p videos were generally reasonable in size, so users won’t have to worry about having too big of files that can bog down the device. You can check out an example of the Galaxy Camera’s 1080p video quality in the video below.

 

Click here to view the embedded video.

 

Network Quality

The Galaxy Camera operates on AT&T’s faux-g network, so the speeds are average at best. The camera features a built-in HSDPA chip capable of speeds up to 21Mbps, though real-world speeds only came up to be a fraction of that. Speeds averaged about 3.5 to 4Mbps down and 1Mbps up in the New York City area, while speeds were 2.5 to 3.5Mbps down and 1.5Mbps up in the Los Angeles area. It’s not really a major problem except for the fact that the images generated by the Galaxy Camera are fairly large in size, so the uploading of images to the cloud or a social network can be a cumbersome or dreadful process due to the sheer size of the photos. Thankfully Samsung recently released a 4G LTE variant for Verizon, so the network speeds should fare better for those who opt to go for that variant of the device, but if you do end up deciding to go for AT&T’s version– do yourself a favor and stay close, very close to a WiFi signal.

 

Battery Life

The battery features a 1,650mAh Li-Ion battery which is average at best. While Samsung offers the claim that the camera is capable of up to 280 hours of standby time, users will not be letting the camera stand idle and will want to use the camera often. We found that with moderate to heavy use, the camera averaged roughly a mere 10-12 hours. The hunch is that the camera has to do double duty of processing images and video at a higher level. Furthermore, it doesn’t help that much of the device’s resources are needed to power items like the powerful zoom lens and the camera’s display as well. Considering Samsung prides itself on having devices with superior battery life, it’s somewhat surprising Samsung didn’t really put much focus in optimizing the Galaxy Camera’s battery life. For the average person, the battery life will not be a problem, but if you’re the type to take photos of anything and everything, you’ll want to carry a spare battery or have your battery charger handy.

 

 

Final Thoughts

The Samsung Galaxy Camera is a really neat concept. Like its first Galaxy S or Galaxy Note smartphones, consumers knew the potential was there for something great, but Samsung needed to work through some growing pains to really bring a breakthrough smartphone to the marketplace and the first generation Galaxy Camera is no different. Samsung is a reputable brand at this point and you know that the Galaxy Camera can only get better once Samsung hones in and refines the little things about the camera like the bulkiness & average photo quality. The fact that it gives users a useable camera in an Android package that’s user friendly is reason enough for consumers to at least consider giving this puppy a try.

However— the truth is that Samsung’s Galaxy Camera is more or less has stuffed a $200 camera into a $300 Android package… and that might be a bit tough to chew on for most users. More importantly, consumers should realize that there are cheaper options out there that provide just as good, if not better picture and video quality. If you really (and I mean REALLY) want to have all your precious photos and video look a smidge better on a social network like Facebook or Instagram, have the money and want to try something new and unique— go ahead and purchase the camera. Otherwise, stick with your traditional point-and-shoot or DSLR camera since you’ll get better quality photos for a cheaper price.

 

 

 

Toshiba Working On Refocusing Camera For Smartphones & Tablets

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 11:15 AM PST

 

It appears that Toshiba is clearly intent on making our smartphone cameras just a smidge better in the immediate future. How, you ask…? Well Toshiba has quietly been working on a new camera sensor module that contains 500,000 tiny lenses in front of the actual camera sensor in a 1cm-thick unit. What the lenses do is capture variations of each lens arrangement, which are then combined to make a “complete” picture using Toshiba’s in-house software and technology. Additionally, reports are indicating the new camera module will have the capability to measure the distance between objects in any given shot, with users being able to shift the focus of both photos and video between close and distant detail– kind of like how 3D imagery works.

The technology is still very much in development and probably won’t be ready until at least the end of next year, but this is awfully exciting though, isn’t it? Let’s just hope Toshiba is able to get smartphone manufacturers to utilize the technology in countries outside of Japan.

source: Engadget

LG to unveil ultra high resolution screens for phones and tablets at CES

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 11:15 AM PST

LG has never been afraid of boasting about their displays in their mobile devices, and it looks like they’re ready to show up the competition at CES this year. In a lineup of incredibly high resolution displays, LG is set to show off a 1080p 5.5-inch screen for mobile phones, as well as a 1920 x 1200, 7-inch screen. They’re also showcasing a 12.9-inch 2,560 x 1,700 display. It’s likely to end up in laptops, but with that one little rumor about a 12-inch touch Chromebook to show up in 2013, it’s not a stretch to say we may see that display used in a few other things. We can hope, right?

source: Engadget

Google’s Music Match function may be cleaning users’ *!?^%$# explicit music

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 10:18 AM PST

Just before Christmas, Google released an update to their Google Music app to incorporate the heavily requested “scan and match” function. Scan and match is a process for users uploading music to the cloud to help save bandwidth. Instead of actually uploading a music file to the Google cloud servers, the scan and match function will examine the music file being uploaded and if it can match the music, it will just copy over the song from Google’s catalog to the cloud drive. Unfortunately, it looks like Google users may be heading down a path already trodden by Apple users as Google appears to only copy over a “clean” version of songs that include explicit lyrics.

At this time, indications are the scan and match function is forced on users with no option to avoid the cleansing of your library if you are trying to get it to the Google cloud to share with your other devices. This means users who want to keep the explicit versions of their music will need to just listen to it locally or find another method or service to share songs between devices.

Anyone out there using Google Music? Have you run into problems putting your explicit music in the cloud?

source: Droid Life

Google Announces The 12 Best Apps Of 2012

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 10:15 AM PST

 

As 2012 comes to an official close, Google decided to take some time and announce its picks for the best apps for 2012. While many of these have been outstanding apps for some time now, Google made its picks based off usability, functionality and most of all— the 12 apps’ contributions to more users adapting the platform. In addition, Google also touts the fact that these apps are available for users worldwide, not just out in pockets.

The full list of apps can be found below— many of them are staples among Android users while others… not so much. Regardless, here’s the full list after the break:

Zappos

Evernote

Pinterest

Snow White

Pocket

Expedia

Ancestry

Fancy

Mint.com

SeriesGuide

Pixlr Express

TED

 

source: Google’s 12 Best
Posted by at 6:42 AM

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