Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


The iPhone vs. Android battle

Posted: 28 Mar 2012 02:37 AM PDT


When we begin to compare the market presence of the iPhone and Android platforms, it’s difficult to ignore the fact that the iPhone was the first mover and essentially created the modern touchscreen smartphone market from scratch. Since its launch in 2007, the iPhone has consistently grown its presence in the market, powered by Apple’s marketing and ability to create a cult following. Today, iOS is the second largest smartphone platform in the industry behind Android. The smartphone industry itself has grown by nearly 50% over the last year. Looking at the figures, it’s natural to assume that the iPhone will continue its growth trajectory, just like Android has.

Not so fast, let’s take a deeper look.

Short term

Apple’s products, specifically the iPhone and iPad, follow a sales cycle where sales peak at the launch of a new product and tail off just before the launch of the next version (for example, before the launch of the iPhone 4S). Now that the iPhone 4S launch is complete, expect the same trend to continue, with demand slowing and tailing off until the launch of the iPhone 5.
But there were a few more aspects that were responsible for the iPhone’s Q4 performance:

(i) Pent-up demand for the iPhone

The gap between the launch of the iPhone 4 and the 4S was 15 months, creating great pent-up demand for the new iPhone model. Apple’s strategy of following two year contracts created demand from the iPhone 3GS users that were not able to upgrade to the iPhone 4 the year before.

(ii) Selling older iPhone models at lower prices

In order to compete with Android at the lower end of the market as well, Apple decided to sell older models at lower price points. This undoubtedly boosted sales, but has possibly cannibalized sales of the iPhone 4S as well.

(iii) Late launch of Galaxy Nexus 

In conjunction with the issues above, the most anticipated Android handset, the Galaxy Nexus, didn’t launch in the US until December 15. This created a similar sales cycle effect on Android sales in Q4, with buyers holding off purchases until the Galaxy Nexus was available. Due to this impact, Android smartphone sales in the US slowed in Q4 and Android’s share of handsets sold in the quarter reduced to about 48% (in the US market).
 
apple-android

Long Term

Now that we’ve understood the iPhone’s Q4 performance and its impact on the smartphone market, let’s have a look at the long-term outlook of the iPhone. Despite the iPhone being a premium product, it’s available from carriers in the US and Europe on contracts, for carrier subsidized prices. Even though the iPhone is available on contract for the same prices as high end Android phones, Apple demands a much higher subsidy from carriers (at $450 per device) than what Android manufacturers ask. As a result, the iPhone is far more expensive for a carrier to sell than an Android handset. The impact of these subsidies gets even worse once we take into account the move by Apple to sell older iPhone models at lower prices.

Why do carriers go along with these terms?

The easy answer is because they want to maintain their market share and are afraid of losing customers to other carriers. But the real answer is a little more complex than that. One of the reasons is that increasing smartphone penetration (currently around 50%) drives increasing data usage, which is the real revenue driver for carriers. As smartphone penetration increases, carriers would have less motivation to continue their massive subsidies on the iPhone. As a result, they would either demand better terms from Apple or increase prices of contract iPhone sales to consumers. The most likely outcome is the increase of contract prices, which would have a direct impact of sales volume. Another factor compounding this problem is the network data crunch caused by the staggering growth in data usage. As carriers need further investments to shore up their network infrastructure, they will be even more unwilling to allow Apple to bully them into submission.

Why does Apple need carriers?

Apple’s profitability is driven by the large margins it makes on its products. As the iPhone is responsible for over 60% of Apple’s revenues, the iPhone’s pricing model is one of the key factors driving their profitability. In developed markets, with the carrier subsidized model, this isn’t a problem for consumers. But in emerging markets, where Android is even more dominant, carriers aren’t as willing to bow to Apple’s demands. In addition to this, carrier subsidized smartphones haven’t really taken off in countries like India, where outright purchases are more popular. In India, the iPhone is priced at least 20-25% more than high end Android handsets, while Samsung is overtaking Nokia and RIM to be the market leader, by targeting all price points. Apple clearly has had a difficult time penetrating emerging markets, which makes its dependence on carriers in developed markets even more critical.

In conclusion

The smartphone industry will continue to be dominated by these two platforms, with Windows Phone coming in a distant third for now. Carriers will have no choice, but to raise prices of iPhones on contract. This will undoubtedly impact the market share of the iPhone, while Android market share continues to surge.


This article, The iPhone vs. Android battle , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Zynga is fattening up the cash cow: Draw Something to get big update

Posted: 28 Mar 2012 01:48 AM PDT

draw-something-huge-update

The rising giant of the casual gaming world, Zynga, has recently acquired OMGPOP, the struggling game developer behind the hugely popular Draw Something game for Android and iOS. Now, it seems that Zynga is hard at work whipping Draw Something into even better form, to ensure that the Pictionary-style game maintains its momentum.

Just days after the $180 million acquisition was announced, we found out that a huge update to Draw Something is coming, one that has the game’s legions of fans very excited. And for good reason – the upcoming features will give the game some much needed polish. If you got an email yesterday from Zynga/OMGPOP, you probably already know about these changes, but just in case you didn’t, here’s the gist of it.

Draw Something: New Features & Changes

As you probably know, Zynga is laser-focused on the social side, more precisely, on building communities around its casual game titles. So, a lot of the new features that will be added to Draw Something reflect Zynga’s social obsession, although quite a few are based on popular demand. Here are the changes:

  • Drawings can now be shared via Facebook or Twitter. This is an update that is mostly aimed at iOS users, but Android fans will welcome it as well.
  • You’ll  be able to save your drawings to your device’s photo library (a feature that was requested by many users). As of now, Draw Something doesn’t have a save option, meaning that your “masterpieces” are forever lost with each new round. Sure, you can take screenshots (which many people did), but not everyone can do this and not on every phone. The save drawing option is probably one of the best features that are being added into the game.
  • An Undo button is being added for your last brush stroke.
  • Additional words are being added (finally!)
  • Android devices will now get notifications (also a frequent fan request).
  • The max streak number will be set to 999.
  • Game speed and performance will be improved.
draw-something-game-android

Like any game, Draw Something has some problems that require urgent fixing. The bug fixes will include:

  • Fixing a known bug that caused the game to crash.
  • Fixing display errors.
  • Fixing bugs that caused the bombs and coins to no longer display.

Where is Draw Something heading?

Draw Something is at the top of the Google Play Store games charts (well, Angry Birds Space took the first spot, but DS is still in top 3), holding for many weeks the first position in both free and paid app charts. The relatively small download makes the app easy to acquire and start playing. The sense of competitive play and the sharing of ideas between players really make the Draw Something experience enjoyable.

draw-something-zynga TheVerge

Zynga spent A LOT of money to buy the game from the OMGPOP, and you can be sure they want to get their money’s worth! There is no doubt that Zynga will keep improving and promoting Draw Something, but just what the future holds is uncertain. In just a few weeks, Draw Something may be a thing of the past. Or who knows – it may go on to achieve Angry Birds-level fame…

For now, lets focus on this big update that made many obsessive-compulsive scribblers so happy. What are your thoughts? Will you enjoy the game even more now?


This article, Zynga is fattening up the cash cow: Draw Something to get big update , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google’s Deep Shot: Sync apps to your Android device in a snap

Posted: 28 Mar 2012 01:08 AM PDT

Google Deep Shot

I'm a geek, so it makes perfect sense for my vision of a perfect world to involve mobile devices (such as smartphones, tablets and laptops), as well as static devices (such as desktop computers and gaming consoles), all converging together into a single, multifaceted experience. I'm quite tired of having to feel the impact of jumping from one device from another, although they are capable of roughly the same tasks. Fortunately for the optimistic monkey inside me, Google’s Deep Shot project represents an evolutionary step towards convergence.

To illustrate how devices inter-operate in their current state, let me give you an example: I can start writing this article in Google Docs from my desktop, drop a few words, and then decide to continue working on it from my tablet. But that transition is nothing if not noticeable, despite being quite a simple function. I want it to be instant and seamless: at a push of a button, I want the current state of the document in my Firefox browser to be automatically transferred to my Android tablet. The same for when I'm browsing, writing code, or even playing games, independently of the platform.

This is exactly what a fresh Google patent addresses!

Originally developed at MIT (Google now has exclusive rights to the patent and it currently employs one of the researchers that worked on the initial project), Deep Shot uses a smartphone's camera to identify the state of a system, and then provide roughly the same state on your smartphone, scaled down when needed. Here's an official introduction video:

According to Google, the same technology could also work with games. This PS Vita ad reflects the same principle, but remember that this is just one of Deep Shot's applications:

Since the patent was revealed, people across the web showed hope that Google's Deep Shot will be integrated into the upcoming Google Assistant (a competitor to Apple's Siri), further adding to its appeal. Obviously, there is a lot you can do with this technology, but given the fact that Google also needs the support of other platforms (Windows, macOS, iOS, PSN), we're still a long way before we think of Deep Shot as the technology that made platform convergence simple.

What do you guys think? Will Google be able to work together with its competitors to provide a revolutionary app? Or will they choose exclusivity over platform parity? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!


This article, Google’s Deep Shot: Sync apps to your Android device in a snap , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Barcode Cache: App for managing and sharing scanned barcodes

Posted: 27 Mar 2012 11:29 PM PDT

With a plethora of applications at Google Play Store, our Android smartphone never ceases to surprise us with new and exciting apps that can make it a pocket-size convenience.  Barcode scanners, for instance, belongs to a type that shoppers can use frequently to immediately fetch info about an item.  But, with hundred—or even thousands—of codes that need to be scanned, we need an app that organizes things.  This is where Barcode Cache comes to our aid.

Barcodes and QR codes are scanned to identify certain information about a product. With the creation of barcode scanners and the ability of smartphones to scan codes, these codes are now used to rapidly spread a variety of information on the web. You can share a website link, your business card, or a personal message via QR codes.

The Barcode Cache app is a simply designed application that collaboratively works with your barcode scanner. The app's  primary function is to organize and store your scanned codes. You can also use this app to easily share your scan codes to your friends.

For the Barcode Cache app to work, you will first need a barcode reader installed on your phone. The developers recommend you to download and install Barcode Scanner or Google Goggles. You can get these apps for free from Google Play Store.

Opening the app for the first time will bring you to an empty list. You will need to create a category in order to store your scanned codes. To do that, tap the Menu button and select "Create Label." From there, you will need to type the name of the category and hit the Save button to create a list.

To begin storing your QR and bar codes,  tap the desired category and it will automatically open the barcode scanner you installed on your device. Take note that Barcode Cache only serves as a storage for your codes. You will need a barcode scanner for this app to work. Otherwise, an error message will pop up on the screen.

If you have 2 or more barcode readers installed on your Android phone, the app will ask you to select which scanner to use. After successfully scanning the codes, the app will automatically store the scanned codes in the selected category.

For your personal preferences, tap and hold the selected category and an Option menu will appear. From there, you can edit the name of a list, delete a list, share it to your friends, and add a color marker to the selected category.

Download and install the Barcode Cache for free from Google Play Store so you can easily organize, store and share your scanned codes.

Do you use barcode readers when shopping?  What barcode reader do you use?  How do you manage the barcodes that your phone scans/reads?


This article, Barcode Cache: App for managing and sharing scanned barcodes , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Adding more life to your battery with Trend Micro Longevity

Posted: 27 Mar 2012 04:29 PM PDT

It’s very frustrating to run out of battery power at a time when you’d need your Android phone or tablet to run a bit longer for more urgent tasks.  If you’re near a power outlet and you have your charger cable with you, then you’re in luck.  But, what about those times when you’re on the go?

There are several tools and apps that can help you optimize the battery consumption of your device, but many of them still aren’t good enough. A lot of users are still looking for the perfect app that would solve their battery problem.  In the quest for the perfect battery optimization app joins Trend Micro’s battery saving tool: Longevity.

Trend Micro already has a reputation as a computer security solution provider and now it brings Trend Micro Longevity, a tool to help optimize the battery consumption on Android devices. What’s great about this app is that it is very comprehensive, covering all aspects for the very purpose of saving battery life, yet it is very simple to use with its user-friendly interface.

Trend Micro Longevity has two main features dedicated to save your battery power. The first is the Just-a-Phone mode.  This mode essentially works by turning your phone into a device just for texting and calling. All the other things such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are put to rest, and it even lets you see which apps are causing your battery to drain faster.

The second main feature of this app is called Power Hog App Alert, which shows to you a list of all the things using the battery and lets you filter, stop or uninstall the application that is consuming most of  your battery power, thereby presumably making your phone more efficient in using precious battery power.

Using Trend Micro Longevity

To use this app, you must first subscribe to the service by providing a valid email address and  your country information. Once you open the app, you will immediately see the aforementioned features on the homescreen, which houses the on-screen controls and three main tabs.

The battery dial lets you know how much power is still remaining in your battery and when you tap it, you will be shown battery-related information like as the temperature, the voltage, even the type, and current health.


If you want to use the Just-a-Phone mode, the app asks you which currently running apps you want to stop (e.g., Bluetooth and Wi-Fi).  It also reduces screen brightness. You can also save your settings so that you will not need to set it again every time you open the app.


When you tap the Power Hog tab, it will show to you a pie chart showing all the apps and services that are using battery power. From there, you can choose to filter, stop, or uninstall an unapproved app by just tapping the option on the screen.


When using the Alert Tab you can specify which events or circumstances you want the app to alert you to (e.g., battery is fully charged, other system resources are over-hogged, or your battery power drops to a certain level).

If the other battery saving apps on the Google Play Store have not lived up to your expectations, try Trend Micro Longevity and see whether it gives you what you need.  You can download Trend Micro Longevity free from the Google Play Store.

What battery saving techniques do you employ?  What battery saving apps do you use on your Android device?


This article, Adding more life to your battery with Trend Micro Longevity , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


WiGig technology to reach smartphones and tablets in the near future

Posted: 27 Mar 2012 01:02 PM PDT

wigig smartphones tablets

If you ever wondered where the IT industry will go from Wi-Fi, the answer (at least a part of it) is WiGig, a new technology that allows for wireless data transfer rates of up to 7 Gbps, an impressive 10 times faster than 802.11n Wi-Fi. However, due to the fact that these high speeds are obtained by using the 60GHz band, the range of action is drastically lowered to no more than a few meters, not to mention the signal's inability to pass through walls. Despite this disadvantages, however, WiGig remains a great way to transfer/stream files between devices.

In addition, judging by the fact that founding WiGig Alliance members include companies such as Intel, AMD, Cisco, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and many others, WiGig is shaping up to be a standard that most big companies endorse, something equally important as actual performance when it comes to the global adoption of a standard. Backwards compatibility with current Wi-Fi standards, as well as the small price difference between WiGig and Wi-Fi chips should help with its adoption as well.

When the WiGig 1.0 standard was first released back in 2009, many believed that only stationary devices will able to use it, as the 60GHz band was considered to power-greedy to run on a battery. Fortunately for smartphone users of the future, this train of thought has stopped recently, as Panasonic has announced that they've developed a WiGig radio chip that sucks up less than one watt of power, making it especially suitable for smartphones and tablets. Although capable of speeds of ‘only’ up to 5Gbps, Panasonic claims that the chip is able to facilitate the transfer of 30 minutes of HD video in just 10 seconds, definitely an impressive feat. The Panasonic-built WiGig chip is already commercially available, so I wouldn’t find it that strange if we bump into a WiGig enabled smartphone before 2012 ends.

Just don't imagine that you'll be able to use this tech in campuses, squares, or from one floor to another one in the same building. On the other hand, streaming HD video from your tablet to your TV might be something the WiGig technology will facilitate in the near future.


This article, WiGig technology to reach smartphones and tablets in the near future , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


World’s first Android powered OEM car stereo!

Posted: 27 Mar 2012 12:54 PM PDT

How do you like the idea of a car stereo that can play Angry Birds? Well thanks to Clarion and their new Mirage car stereo system, it’s something that may arrive in the mass-marketed vehicles very soon. The new stereo was shown off in Penang this afternoon, and the system’s claim to fame is that it’s the first Android-based automotive grade car stereo in the market.

When you have Android, you have apps! Imagine being able to upgrade your car stereo’s firmware just like you do with your phone. At the demo, Clarion showed one of these units running Facebook, Twitter, and Angry Birds. With this device aiming to be a car stereo, it’s important to note that it is an AVN style double-DIN player, accepting SD cards, USB devices, and will even connect to devices over Blueooth. Sadly it doesn’t have a CD slot, but are CD’s a thing of the past? I would like to see your views in the comments thread at the bottom of this page. The Clarion Research and Development team said that the lack of a CD slot makes the device more reliable and longer lasting, since there are no mechanical components to break down.

The Mirage is also iOS friendly, so you can plug in your iPod or iPhone just as easily as you can with an Android device. There are many additions that show Clarion is thinking of marketing too, such as a vehicle data display, rear-view camera, steering wheel buttons, and additional back-seat screens and a DVD player.

The GPS navigation engine is provided by Navigon AG, a part of Garmin. They’ve compiled maps of Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, so it’s likely that this stereo system will take off tremendously over there, since this is among the first device to have high-quality mapping of these areas.

The device boasts a 6.5-inch LCD hooked up to a touch screen graphical interface. A Samsung Galaxy Note user described the interface as “instantly familiar”. The software version is Android 2.2 Froyo, but don’t forget, although Froyo is now considered “outdated”, it is a great build that continues to serve people well! It’s also been customized for a car platform by Wind River, a wholly-owned division of Intel who provided modified software for the project.

Right now, Clarion is marketing the Mirage to car manufacturers and assemblers. The boss divulged that the company is talking with Proton, Perodua, GM Thailand, Nissan Thailand, and Nissan Malaysia. How long before they try marketing to the rest of the world, or before other companies come up with their own versions!

Would you like to have an Android-powered stereo system, or perhaps full on Android integration throughout the car?


This article, World’s first Android powered OEM car stereo! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Nvidia’s CEO does a little trash talking: “Intel should manufacture our processors”

Posted: 27 Mar 2012 12:26 PM PDT

nvidia-intel
In a recent interview with Forbes, Nvidia's CEO Jen-Hsun Huang stated that the group of companies that manufacture ARM-based mobile processors are beginning to create a dent in Intel's impressive global CPU market share lead. Granted, as smartphone sales have recently surpassed PC sales, this is obviously something Intel should watch out for in the future. But when it comes to numbers, Intel still accounts for more than 80% of PC and server processors sold in 2011. I wouldn't call that a dent.

The entire interview seems more like a marketing jab, especially considering the fact that Intel is about to release their own smartphone processor (codenamed Medfield). On this note, Huang went on to claim that Intel is so far behind in the mobile SoC game that their factories should focus instead on manufacturing ARM-based chips for companies such as Nvidia (of course), Qualcomm, Apple, and Texas Instruments. It's much like telling Pepsi that they should give up their battle with Coca-Cola and start making Fanta and Sprite instead.

As it turns out, Intel spokesmen were polite in their statements regarding the matter. I would have personally went for a "go shove it up…", but the Intel representative was more eager to point that Intel's semiconductor technology is so advanced, there is no way they would give that advantage up to produce another company's products: "Our process technology is a huge advantage going forward in 2012 and 2013, so our focus at this time is on building Intel products, not on building products for our competitors", said the spokesman referring to Intel's latest 22nm manufacturing technology.

A few years ago, many speculated that a clash between Intel and ARM was inevitable, with both companies aiming to expand into the markets controlled by the other. Fast forward to present day, and it seems Intel was faster to expand (probably mostly due to their vast resources) to the smartphone processor market, than ARM was to provide a solution for personal computers.

While there still are concerns regarding its power-consumption, preliminary benchmark results showed that the Intel Medfield might be a lot faster than Nvidia's Tegra 3 CPU. Recent reports also claim that the Medfield chip might make its way into the entry-level smartphone market, so there is a chance the Medfield will be a cheaper alternative for OEMs.

The major difference between Intel and other companies that make processors rests in the closed circuit of the Santa Clara company: Intel designs, Intel implements, and Intel manufactures the processors, while Nvidia, Qualcomm and the rest of the bunch use ARM designs for their processors, in turn manufactured by silicon companies such as TSMC and Globalfoundries.

If you're into more Intel trash talk from Nvidia's CEO, you can read the Forbes article here, but let me assure you that everything Jen-Hsun Huang says needs to be ingested with the proverbial grain of salt.


This article, Nvidia’s CEO does a little trash talking: “Intel should manufacture our processors” , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


LG Optimus 4X HD vs HTC One X

Posted: 27 Mar 2012 11:46 AM PDT

Today’s match includes two phones that were announced at the Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona a few weeks ago. LG had announced the LG Optimus 4X HD, the successor to the LG Optimus 2X from last year. Meanwhile, HTC also revealed its HTC One X. Naturally, we can’t resist seeing how these potential giants measure up to each other in the ring.

Design and Display

The LG Optimus 4X HD is rocking a 4.7 inch True HD IPS display with 1280×720 pixel resolution. LG is promising the “finest viewing experience with high resolution, clarity and no color or shape distortion.”

Despite the size of its display, the LG Optimus 4X HD is surprisingly super slim at 8.9 mm in thickness. We don’t have additional details on the phone’s dimensions as of this writing, but we’re told that the LG Optimus 4X HD fits comfortably in the hand.

Similarly, the HTC One X boasts a similar 1280×720 pixel resolution with its own Super IPS LCD2 capacitive touchscreen. Its display is also the same size as LG’s phone, at 4.7 inches. The phone has dimensions of 134.4 x 69.9 x 8.9 mm, which means that it will be just as super slim as the LG Optimus 4X HD. Unfortunately, however, it may not actually feel as comfortable in the hand and may just be a little too big for smaller hands. It weighs about 130 grams.

Storage

The LG Optimus 4X HD has an internal memory of 16 GB and 1 GB of DDR2 RAM. For those of you who want additional space, the LG Optimus 4X HD has a microSD card slot and allows you to expand memory up to 32 GB.

The HTC One X on the other hand is packing more internal memory at 32 GB. Unfortunately, it seems that the HTC One X doesn’t have a card slot and cannot be expandable. That may discourage users who would like to carry a lot of files with them. The HTC One X also packs 1 GB RAM.

Camera

Both phones appear to be evenly matched as they are both equipped with an 8-megapixel camera and a front-facing, 1.3-megapixel camera.

Processor and Operating System

The LG Optimus 4X HD is equipped with Nvidia’s powerful 1.5 GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor with 4-Plus-1 technology. Out of the box, it’s powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Sources say that the LG Optimus 4X HD also have a fifth “companion core for less intensive tasks such as standby mode and music playback.” The idea is to keep all of the power of the four main cores until when it’s actually needed. It has a GeForce GPU.

Not to be beaten, the HTC One X also packs a 1.5 GHz quad-core chipset with four high-performance CPU cores. Just like the LG Optimus 4X HD, it runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. It wouldn’t be an HTC phone without HTC Sense 4.0, which has been “streamlined”, in HTC’s words.

HTC Sense 4.0 appears to be lightweight and nippy, with minimal transitions and elegant 3D effects. Even HTC has picked up on the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and the GeForce GPU.

Battery

The LG Optimus 4X HD is equipped with a 2100 mAh battery while the HTC One X, by comparison, is packing a less powerful 1800 mAh. As of this writing, there have been no real battery tests on either of these phones so we don’t know yet for sure how long these phones will last on standby mode and after continuous calls.

Verdict

These phones appear evenly matched in terms of the gear they pack inside as well as their gorgeous displays. The one thing that truly sets them apart, however, is the HTC One X’s lack of a card slot which means that you’ve got to make do with the 32 GB internal memory it comes with. Until these phones reach consumers’ hands, we can only guess which of them will emerge victorious.

The era of quad-core Android phones has come.  Which of these two quad-cores is making your eyes twinkle?


This article, LG Optimus 4X HD vs HTC One X , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


FreeSpace motion detection technology coming soon to smartphones, no touch required

Posted: 27 Mar 2012 11:41 AM PDT

You know how you sometimes try to avoid seemingly crazy people who are yelling at themselves while walking down the city streets? Most of the times, it turns out to be a false alarm, and they are just talking, albeit crazily, on their phones using a headset. Now prepare for a different type of awkward moment, as the scientists at Hillcrest Labs have perfected their gesture recognition technology for smartphones.

What exactly can a gesture-enabled phone do? Imagine having the ability to control your smartphone without physically touching it. Instead of pressing the green capacitive button to pick up a call, you can simply flick your hand above the screen. Check out the technology in action on the Pantech Vega LTE:

Back to Hillcrest, the company seems very sure that their FreeSpace motion engine will be used in various tablets and smartphones by the first quarter of next year. Talking to AllThingsD, the company's Senior VP, Chad Lucien, said that they already have a customer – a secret one, you see – eager to harness the power of gesture recognition.

The FreeSpace motion engine has been deployed in a number of TVs and set-top boxes (notably on the Roku), so we're inclined to believe that the first gesture-enabled phones will come sooner rather than later. The right question to ask is just how useful the technology will be.

Lucien said that the technology would work great for gaming and augmented reality. Utilizing the FreeSpace technology, the phone can also change its UI automatically from normal mode to GPS, mode once inside the car.These are just some of the things that gesture motion technology for smartphone has in store.

If you can’t wait until next year, check out the Sony Xperia Sola and its touch-free control that will come in Q2 2012. And the next time you see someone on the street waving frantically to a phone, you should know better not to judge and run away.

Would you be interested in using a gesture-enabled smartphone or tablet?


This article, FreeSpace motion detection technology coming soon to smartphones, no touch required , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.