The Nook Color and Nook Tablet get the most attention out of Barnes & Noble’s e-reader line, at least from an Android modder standpoint, but many forget that all of the Nook devices run Android – and all have been thoroughly modded. Even the humble Nook Touch has been thoroughly rooted with custom apps and ROMs, though the e-ink reader’s hardware limitation prevents some of the more basic Android tasks from being completed. One of those can be disregarded now: XDA members wheiltijohnny and Mani100 have devised some custom code that enables multi-touch gestures for the diminutive e-ink reader.
The mod should be a simple one for anyone who’s already rooted their Nook Touch: just load their ZIP file into ClockWorkMod recovery, flash it, and you’re good to go. The results are impressive considering the hardware that they’re running on. Multi-touch gestures work just as you’d think they would in the web browser and games like Angry Birds (naturally). While the Nook Touch’s e-ink screen means that it can’t display animations as fast as normal LCD screens, and certainly not as fast as your fingers, three or four frames per second is more than enough for most tasks.
Black and white isn’t ideal for anything but reading (and possibly the more sedate versions of sudoku) but’s perfectly serviceable for most applications. The Nook Simple Touch, the latest version of the hardware, costs just $99 in the US. Not bad for a device class that cost $300 or more a few years ago, and a bargain for those who can modify it to their liking.
Yesterday we posted scattered reports coming from members of ASUS’ official support forums, indicating that the company was planning on releasing free GPS dongles called the “GPS Extension Kit” to combat the tablet’s well-documented lack of signal. Now ASUS itself has told AllThingsD that indeed the program will go forward, with signups for the free extension beginning on April 16th (two Mondays from now). All owners of the Transformer Prime should be eligible for the free GPS dongle.
The Eee Pad Transformer Prime has a hard time locking on to signals from global positioning satellites, possibly because of its all-aluminum case. If that is indeed the cause, no amount of software modification (and there have been many official updates since the problem came to light) would completely solve the problem. Many users have reported unusually low WiFi reception as well, but this problem seems to have been at least somewhat mitigated by software tweaks.
According to a post on the XDA forum earlier this week, the dongle will fit into the Transformer Prime’s docking power on its bottom edge. While the poster said that it would fit flush with the tablet itself and match the color of the exterior casing, he or she didn’t say whether there would be some kind of pass-through port. Without a pass-through, the Transformer Prime will be unable to charge or dock while the GPS dongle is inserted – making for a very cumbersome extension of something that probably should have been fixed during QA. Later models of the Transformer shown off at MWC in February do not feature the full-body metal design.
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is Google’s current flagship device, not because of the hardware but because of the software. Being the first to run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich has made it incredibly popular. While many are using it on AT&T, T-Mobile and others unofficially with the unlocked version, new reports are claiming AT&T is in the final stages of releasing an LTE edition themselves.
According to reports from Andro Rev this isn’t a rumor, but actually been confirmed by sources very close to the matter. Only time will tell of course. Apparently AT&T is testing 4G LTE powered Galaxy Nexus phones with standard size LTE SIM cards, not micro-SIM like the iPhone 4S and recent Verizon devices. With phones and SIM’s in testing that means they are possibly in the final stages, and we could see them available from the carrier within the next month.
At the same time they could also be testing 4G LTE Samsung Galaxy S III phones, although that might be a bit of a stretch. We know they are coming this summer so you can’t rule that out. Andro Rev seems to know the SIM card SKU numbers and more, making this sound all but confirmed at the moment. Obviously until Samsung or AT&T make any announcements, we’ll be sure to keep this in the rumor bin.
Would you sell your unlocked HSPA+ capable international Galaxy Nexus for an AT&T 4G LTE model with more storage, or opt for something better like the HTC One X or the Galaxy S III?
NVIDIA’s current flagship Tegra 3 quad-core processor is the current king of the hill, getting all the attention as of late. While we’ve been comparing it to other offerings from the competition a new slide has leaked today possibly showing off their new Tegra 4 coming later this year. The current Tegra 3 is still new, but they’ve already got the next big thing in the works.
NVIDIA’s CEO himself has said we can expect a new Tegra line every year, and that appears to be the case according to the leaked slide provided by VR-Zone. What you see below is possibly a roadmap showing what’s in store from the folks in green. With 2.0 GHz quad-core processors, LTE and more on the way.
With Tegra 3 still being in its infancy we should probably take this with a grain of salt, but the specs and timeline seems pretty accurate and highly possible. The current Tegra 3 is made up of four A9 processors and it only makes sense for the next iteration to be the A15, similar to the Qualcomm S4 and Samsung’s upcoming Exynos.
While NVIDIA’s plans for late 2012 and early 2013 is still a mystery and will not be official until they release the details themselves, this roadmap could be giving us an early look. Take notice this shows LTE versions coming pretty late in the game. We hope they have something sooner than that but you never know. We’ll let you be the judge.
ASUS Giving Free GPS Dongles to Fix Issues Technorati As many have reported, the GPS issues within the ASUS Transformer Prime Android tablet have not necessarily been resolved after a few updates have been released for the known bug. Many owners of the Transformer Prime have reported their frustration in ... See all stories on this topic »
Instagram for Android updated to support tablets, Wi-Fi handsets, SD ... By IBNLive.com editor@ibnlive.com It's been not even a week since Instagram, the popular photo-taking and photo-sharing app, hit the Android market, and now the the company is pushing out updates to enhance support. IBN Top Headlines
Instagram for Android updated; now includes tablet support - Neowin By John Callaham The just released Android version of the popular Instagram app has already received a fairly big update, adding support for Android-based tablets and WiFi-only handsets along with other features. Neowin
Doctor Who clockwork android cosplay is delightfully creepy By Lauren Davis Sometimes the scariest thing is the face behind the mask. Reddit user hpierce snapped this clockword android, from the Tenth Doctor episode "The Girl in the Fireplace," which has escaped 18th century Versailles and invaded Boston for PAX ... io9
I need a real android phone now - help - GameDev.net Ive started developing for Android recently, Ive had some good results on the emulator with openGL es. Now I want to take it more seriously plus I ap... GameDev.net Forums RSS
With our devices featuring advanced graphics and lightning-quick processing power these days, it is no wonder why we see so many games being developed for today’s latest Android smartphones and Android tablets. Yeah, awesome graphics are pretty darn sweet, but the main issue at work is that devices lack the ability of a decent controller.
Since these "high-tech" toys come standard with Bluetooth, why not develop a controller compatible of playing nice? Touchscreen gaming is lackluser at best, and so, ladies and gentlemen, we we proudly present the DRONE. Yes, because its name is capitalized, it’s obviously absolutely incredible.
The simplicity of the controller is great, reminding me of a cross between a Nexus device and a Sega controller. As it works with Bluetooth devices, it does require the installation of an app to get started. Though, it’s not all candy and roses, dear reader. The image you look at before you represent a controller only that is, somewhat unfortunately, not even the mid-stages of development.
The folks over at Kickstarter are looking for a "kick start" in investment dollars to get the project off of the ground. Developers are also making it open source, allowing easy access for those with a bit of coding savvy.
Why not help out the developers by giving them feedback? This product seems like it could be a hit to the creative, and gamer-friendly audience.
What do you think of the DRONE? Do you see possibility of this device hitting production? Would you buy one? What is the perfect price? I would love to hear your comments.
Unlike other smartphone operating systems, Android gives you the ability to change your keyboard anytime you like. There are so many keyboards on Google play, that it can be difficult to the write (get it?) one for you. Whether you want a keyboard with a variety of themes, or one that is inspired by the famous Swype keyboard, or one that is highly customizable, you’ll find it below. I’ve looked and played with virtually every keyboard on Google Play, and I think the ones below are the best. And so, without further ado, I present to you what I think are the best keyboards for Android! Drum roll, please!
The Android 2.3 Gingerbread keyboard is a great keyboard. While it’s a little on the simple side, and features nothing too flashy, it excels in two very important areas where keyboards should – predicting text and correcting spelling errors. While you probably already have on your device, it’s still worth mentioning here. What I truly enjoy about this keyboard is the overall layout, as it seems to flow very well with my fingers. and I rarely make errors whenever I use it. The emoticon button is a nice touch too, which I found myself using more then I initially thought I would. The keyboard comes from stock Android 2.3, and so chances are if your phone is running Android 2.3 Gingerbread you have this keyboard and know how great it is. If you don’t have the keyboard preloaded on your handset you can download it today!
The Go Keyboard is the dream keyboard for those of you that have a guilty pleasure for switching up different themes on your keyboard – aka themaholics. Go Keyboard has the most themes available for a keyboard on the Google Play Store. However, that of course isn’t the only good feature this keyboard brings to the table. It also features amazing autocorrection and text prediction capabilities – among other features – including 8 different key press sounds, customizable key height, customizable font, and a user dictionary. The best thing about this keyboard is that it is free. Even though some themes will cost you up to $1.99, this is the keyboard that will make people say, “Oooooh, where did you get that? Check it out!
My number one for the best keyboard for Android is Smart Keyboard Pro. No matter how many keyboards I try out, I always find myself coming back to Smart Keyboard Pro. In my humble opinion, it has the best user experience of any keyboard out there. It has tons of themes available – with most being free – and is very customizable. I text and write emails all day long, and I hardly ever have one error when typing words out. The layout is just perfect, and the gestures are very helpful at times. Other great features and settings on this keyboard include T9 input, transparency, key height adjustent, bottom arrows, four input sounds, and a dictionary that learns how you type. To me it’s the perfect keyboard, and I simply can’t live without it. I can’t imagine a better keyboard to have.
Enjoy the full in-depth video below, if you want more.
So, how did I do? Anything keyboard I missed that you feel is worth mentioning? What is your favorite keyboard and why? Let us know in the comments below, we are mighty curious.
From a skunkworks project developed in the secretive Google X labs, the rumored “Google Glasses” have stepped out of the shadows and right into the limelight. Dubbed Project Glass, Google is developing eyewear with HUD (Heads up display) display technology in an attempt to deliver real-time information right in the user’s field of vision. If this device functions as promised in the project’s unveiling video, it is likely to radically revolutionize mobile communication as we know it.
Some of the expected features of the device are:
It uses a small see-through display placed above the wearer’s eye that will show data, including maps and incoming calls and messages.
Built-in microphones allows control through voice commands
A tiny camera that enables you to take pictures
A (likely) bluetooth device allowing the user to listen to music on the move
A variety of sensors to assist in the devices functioning
It remains to be seenwhether the device will work as an add-on accessory to your smartphone or as a stand-alone device. The prototype images that we’ve seen so far certainly don’t seem like it has the working area to house even a microSIM card(this might also be an indication of the first application of the nano-SIM), and there doesn’t seem to be a bluetooth headset attached for voice calls or music. Of course, it is still very early in its development phase, and more information will become available the further we move along. But, it has certainly caught everyone’s attention.
And, of course, this brings us to Google’s competition. Even though “Project Glass” was unveiled just last week, it seems that competition has already reared its head, according to Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White. White is currently in meetings with supply chain companies in China and Taiwan and has provided very useful insights on the current and future state of the market, in a letter to investors. In one, he mentions that “Project Glass” already has “competitors working on similar initiatives to improve consumer’s mobility around Internet access.” He did not provide any information on who the potential competitors are or what the features of these rival products might be.
This news is, of course, expected. These devices are still in their conceptual stage and it will most certainly be fun to see how this alln plays out. All we know at this point is that the next step in innovative mobile technology is closer to being a reality than everyone previously thought.
If you’ve missed the introductory video of “Project Glass,” or just want to watch it again, you can view it here
What are your thoughts? Is Google Glasses(or similar tech) the next big thing? Anyone want to take a guess on who the competition is? If this product was on the market right now – and performed as per the video above – would you buy it?
Around 1999, RIM pretty much invented the first smartphone. It had a keyboard with tiny buttons, and a small display on which you could easily identify pixels. That didn’t matter though, as it was one of the very first companies that enabled people to do so much more on the go, and, for the first time, businessmen could easily manage their work on the move.
So, why is it that today RIM’s stock rating is in the gutter, and why is this once grand company falling back on their marketing of the last few years? Let’s explore, shall we?
Some thoughts on the company’s decline
RIM’s downfall probably stems from the fact that, a few years ago, companies like Google, Apple, and even Microsoft were throwing billions into the creation of revolutionary technology. RIM stood their ground in the hope that their popular devices would hold firm through this period of booming technological development. I believe it is because RIM failed to adapt to new technologies, stood their ground, and made plenty of bad management decisions, that they sank lower and lower in the mobile market they once had under their control.
But it’s not like RIM got itself into this mess overnight. The process took years and is still unfolding. After years of losing market share and, more importantly, mind share, RIM’s joint CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis finally resigned at the beginning of the year.
With the ill-fated power couple gone and a new German boss in place, RIM’s share of the smartphone market is nowadays at about 15% and dropping fast. In fact, the share of Windows Phone devices is rising at the same rate RIM’s is falling.
Businessmen and their daughters
Industry leading encryption. Push email. Web browsing. These are all things that came to the masses via Blackberry’s first. But, let’s step back a little and see how a small Canadian firm managed to top the worldwide technology mobile market in the first place. As I see it, there are two big reasons for RIM’s initial success:
The first is Businessmen. Huge corporate deals amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars ensured that every businessman went around with a Blackberry device in his pocket. It was RIM’s golden age, a time when no device could even aspire to beat the indomitable and omnipresent Berry.
Which leads me to the second reason for the company’s success - Daughters. When new Blackberry models were issued in offices across the world, many companies preferred to save the money and time used on recalling old devices, and offer employees the chance to erase them and keep them for themselves. And since Dad had already been given a new phone for work, he gave his Blackberry to his daughter, who was eager to join the text-message revolution her friends were already a part of. What better device than a Blackberry? It’s small, ‘cute’, and, it even has a keyboard to make typing quick and snappy. Perfect.
So, the daughters of businessmen all got lovely new phones, which then led to subliminal peer pressure and general chit-chat that made Blackberries the must-have devices for teenage girls. Soon, RIM noticed their sales were booming in the consumer sector, and began to re-focus its marketing efforts on young adults and away from corporations.
This would have been fine, except RIM stopped working hard on their creations. Every now and then a new device had a better camera or a larger screen, but it was always the same trackball, keyboard, and overall, the same design. As RIM sat on its laurels, Apple and Google were developing their own devices, with impressive hardware and powerful, easily upgradable software.
I’m sure you know the rest.
Android has a rich set of applications available to its users, as does iOS and, now, even Windows Phone. RIM never foresaw that apps are the future, so it never developed a software infrastructure that people could easily develop for. The new ability for Blackberries to run Android apps won’t save RIM either. Why would anybody want to own a device that attempts to use applications aimed for another device? They will buy the Android device first.
Blackberry OS, the Playbook, and all the new devices RIM are/were launching are just attempts at catching up. What RIM should really be doing is funding development of new technologies which they themselves could release as revolutionary. After all, I thought it was in the name – Research. Right?
RIM has realised that it can’t compete against Android and the dozens of manufacturers that support it, nor Apple and their uberpopular iDevices. So they have (I think wisely) fallen back to making bespoke devices for businessmen, which may be the only way to save the company.
How can RIM turn things around? Is it too late for them? Was your first smartphone a Blackberry?
Just like many of you out there, I spend my day rushing from place to place, trying to get a thousand things done at once. Sometimes though, there’s just too much stress. So, I like to make everything better by plugging into some beloved tunes and let the music wash away all the problems. Oh yeah!
Whether it’s riding the subway to work, jogging in the park, or simply chilling at home, music is arguably the best way to help us get into a good mood. If you’re the type that needs to have music on hand at all times, then rest easy, because Android Authority has you covered!
Android offers a multitude of apps dedicated to music lovers, so you can listen to your favorite tunes with just a few taps and swipes. Whether you’re a neat freak who organizes music according to artist, song title, and genre (alphabetically, of course), or you love to shuffle tunes around until you find the perfect song for the moment, Android really offers everything you need to enjoy your music collection.
Let’s go through some of the best Android apps for music lovers.
For many Android lovers out there, Shazam is theapp when it comes to music discovery. By playing 10 or so seconds of virtually any son, it connects to the cloud and finds the tune for you. If you’ve never tried it before, you absolutely must do it now. You can simply hold up your Android device to the music and let Shazam work its magic, even going so far as to find lyrics for you. It also allows you to share tags of your favorite music on Facebook and Twitter. If you want to go a step further, you can look up music videos of your songs on YouTube or download the newest tracks from the Amazon MP3 store. Shazam will help you stay up to date on your favorite songs and artists, without ever breaking a sweat. Absolutely awesome!
There are times when even your list of hand-picked songs just won’t make the cut, and you’re looking to have a fresh supply of tunes delivered right to your Android device. Well, with the Digitally Imported Radio app, you will be able to choose from 37 different radio channels, each dedicated to playing the hottest and newest songs from every genre you can imagine. No more shuffling around the songs available on your device for a song you haven’t heard in a while. With Digitally Imported Radio, you’ll be listening to songs you haven’t heard at all!
Have you ever experienced hearing a snippet of a song, then having it stuck in your head for the rest of the day without ever finding out the artist or the song’s title? If you’re anything like me, you try and remember, but often cannot, after the fact. Much in the way Shazam functions above, Soundhound does, too. With SoundHound, you’ll never have to worry about suffering from UIS (Unidentified Song Syndrome) ever again! You can pretty much input anything related to the song into this app — a 4-second snippet, a single line lyric, or even just your own voice humming out the tune of the song — and this great app will identify the song for you. No more searching around on the Internet looking for “that song” ever again! You can identify an unlimited number of songs with the SoundHound, as well as share them on Facebook or Twitter as soon as you find them.
Also, commenters all across this site and the blogosphere claim that this one works much better than Shazam, but we will that for you to decide. Let us know! Both are great to have, though.
There are a lot of people out there who love being meticulous about their song lists, and if you’re one of them, doubleTwist Player is a wise app to have in your arsenal! This great app not only automatically arranges your songs depending on title, artist, and genre, but it can also rank them according to most plays or on their age. Of course, you can arrange the songs according to your own criteria, too. doubleTwist Player also automatically searches for the cover art of the albums online. This function is pure gold, folks. Download this immediately if you have more than a few hundred songs, and want to be able to organize them in a way that lets you get access to the tunes you crave instantaneously.
Mixzing Media Player is the best app for those who just want to lay back and let their Android device do the heavy lifting (that little device in your hand is actually packing some serious horsepower). Whether you want your song lyrics identified, your cover art found online, or your song lists arranged, this app will definitely do all of the above, and much more. If you’ve ever fallen asleep while listening to music and found your device drained the next day, worry no more, as Mixzing has an auto shutdown feature that turns off the player at a preset time. You can also put your device on music lock so that you won’t accidentally switch tunes or turn off the app while doing those crazy dance moves that you are famous for.
Sometimes, your artistic side just wants to get out, and with the Ringtone Maker, you will be able to get your creative juices flowing. If you’ve ever wanted or customize the ringtones or notifications on your Android device (or create them from scratch), the Ringtone Maker has got you covered. You can customize every component of sound coming out of this app, from the length of the piece, to the sound format, and those subtle nuances, like bass and voice. For customizers of their devices, and for those that don’t like paying for ringtones, this is a must have.
Possibly one of the best known music apps out there, Winamp lets you easily sync up your music to your computer. No worries about being a PC or Mac user here; Winamp is supported by both operating systems. Complete with many song arrangement options and even a device lock player (you can play, pause, or shuffle your music while the device is locked) Winamp delivers full versatility when it comes to usage and features. Seriously recommended for those looking for a different music player.
Sometimes, the best things come in small packages. With the AudioManager widget, you can adjust the volume on your Android device by simply tapping the widget. No need to find that app to adjust your volume settings anymore! You can also customize your AudioManager with dozens of available skins, to give your device a unique look.
Every once in a while, we have to let that musician inside us come out and rock, and with the xPiano Android app, you can do just that. This great app offers ten different virtual instruments, as well as 4 different octaves, so that you can choose what beautiful music to make. It also integrates multitouch controls, and a record and play function. Bust out that inner Mozart now! I guarantee this one is a hoot when you’re with people after a few.
This one is for you aspiring composers and DJs out there – ok – maybe not really. But if you’re hooked on bassy beats, or tippity-tap highs, then you can accelerate onset hearing loss even faster! But more seriously, it’s awesome to be able to tweak your tunes to your liking. You can tweak the music on your Android device with this app, letting you fully customize the sound and quality of your tunes. Whether you love that deep, heart-thumping bass, or you want to tweak according to the 11 stock music presets (such as Rock, Latin or Jazz), the choice is all yours.
So, there you go music lovers! A list of the best music and music-related apps available on Android. Whether you’re waiting in line, cruising your way to work or just chilling at your favorite spots, make sure to let your Android device supply you with your favorite tunes.
Think we’ve missed out on your favorite music app? Let us know in the comments and we will check them out!
European folks who want to get their hands on the Droid Razr Maxx can now pre-order the phone from UK online store Clove for a tax-including price of £430, or roughly $680. Never mind that four months have have passed since the phone was first launched; that 3300mAh battery deserves your full attention.
Pre-ordering the Droid Razr Maxx now will ensure that you'll be one of the first to walk away with the phone when it ships in mid-May. To sweeten the deal, the online retailer will also throw in a free MOTOROKR EQ3 Wired Compact Folding Speaker, that's worth £20.
With such a huge battery, you can squeeze 17.6 hours talk time and up to 380 standby hours out of the Droid Razr Maxx, or roughly 16 hours of video playback. Not bad at all for a device that's only 8.99mm thick. The internals are nothing to scoff at either; with its 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch super AMOLED Advanced qHD display, 1GB RAM, 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera, and Kevlar rear cover, the Razr Maxx holds its own against any mobile device out there. While the US version of the Droid Razr Maxx on Verizon comes with 4G radio, the European version only supports 3G.
It's worth mentioning that the Droid Razr Maxx will only ship with Android 2.3 Gingerbread. A recent leak from Best Buy's internal document system has indicated that the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the phone would come on April 4. Since that date passed without no track of ICS in sight, owners of the phone had no choice but to breathe a collective sigh of despair and cross their fingers once more.
Samsung's gamble with the Galaxy Note has paid off reasonably well, with the phone and tablet hybrid selling more than 5 million units since it was released. Building on the phablet’s momentum, the Galaxy Note 10.1 was introduced in Barcelona last February, bringing the same S-stylus pen support to a much bigger screen. Though the release date of the Galaxy Note 10.1 has never been confirmed, word has it that pen-equipped tablet has been pushed back to June.
There's a perfectly good reason for which the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 was delayed. Apparently, Samsung isn't too pleased with the 1.2GHz dual core Exynos processor initially pegged to power the tablet, so the Note 10.1 will be upgraded to a quad-core processor instead. According to mk News, the local newspaper from where the information originates, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 would sport a 1.5GHz quad-core Exynos 4412 processor.
Now, Sherlock Holmes would probably agree that this last-minute strategic move was taken in response to the availability of a certain tablet from Apple that just came out. Within hours of the new iPad being announced, Samsung released a comparison chart detailing how the Galaxy Note 10.1 is more worthy of your hard-earned money (except in the processor department, we might say, but that’s about to change).
Reasons aside, there's plenty to cheer about Samsung's decision to equip the Galaxy Note 10.1 with a quad-core processor. After all, quad-core is fast becoming the new black in 2012. It's also a great way to ensure that the Galaxy Note 10.1 stays ahead of the competition — or at least keeps up with it — for the rest of the year.
Does this mean that the Galaxy Note 10.1 will be the Korean’s flagship slate this year? That is a possibility. With the mid-range Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 coming out soon, we wonder if there's more room to accommodate another 10-inch tablet from Samsung. Of course, a Retina-crushing 11.6 Tab tablet was also rumored…
For all the goodies that the HTC One series devices are packing inside, one can't help to wonder why Beats headphones are conspicuosly missing from the package. Other recent high-end smartphones from the company, after all, have come with those distinctive red and black earbuds. If you hope to find a pair in the box of any of the new HTC phones, such as the HTC EVO 4G LTE, you're bound to be disappointed.
HTC product executive Martin Ficther explained to CNET that, for the time being, they have shelved the idea of bundling Beats earbuds with HTC smartphones. The company learnt it the hard way that, at the end of the day, the headphones weren't really a drawing factor for customers that bought HTC phones, such as the Sensation XL or the Rezound.
According to Ficther, “an accessory like the headphone doesn’t factor in when someone is buying a smartphone.” He then added that, “if they want a Beats headphone, they’ll buy it directly.”
In an attempt to stand out from their competitors, HTC purchased 51% of Beats Electronics for $300 million, in the hope that it will get a mind share boost with young, hip music lovers. Given the less than impressive response from customers, as well as from carriers, tech pundits now question the expensive move. The bundling of Beats headphones wasn't enough to save the sales of HTC Rezound on Verizon from mediocre results, with the carrier chosing to push the Droid Razr instead over the lucrative holiday season.
So, what's next for the synergy between HTC and Beats? For one thing, HTC will continue to integrate the Beats Audio sound enhancement technology (a fancy equalizer, basically) in most of its devices. Though it may not be pulling in as good of a number that HTC was expecting, the integration helps create product differentiation.
Lest we forget the recent acquisition by HTC and Beats of cloud music service MOG, which can potentially help cement the HTC devices’ status as the designated Android music phones, and create a complete music ecosystem for HTC users. This is something that the Taiwanese can pull off if they play their cards right.
Will you miss those questionably trendy Beats earbuds from future HTC phones?
Ok, so maybe this story won't make it into the script of the next James Bond movie, but it does go to point out that the IT industry is not based entirely on honesty and trust. So here it goes: according to the South Korean police, 11 people were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of leaking AMOLED technology from Samsung Mobile Display to a local competitor.
According to the police spokesperson, a 46-year-old former employee of Samsung Mobile Display leaked key information on the "small mask scanning" technology, for the sum of roughly US $170,000. As this technology is of key importance in producing large AMOLED displays for television sets (please bear in mind that AMOLED panels are, for now, mostly restricted to devices such as smartphones and small tablets, so this new tech is obviously “a big deal”), it does make sense for the information to be this expensive.
The story is simple in essence: the former Samsung Mobile Display researcher exchanged the secret info after moving to a rival Korean company back in November 2011, but when denied an executive position at his new firm, he also attempted to sell the info to a Chinese display maker (a shady fellow as I'm sure you'll agree). As it stands, Samsung is the only company in the world capable of mass producing AMOLED displays, that's how far ahead in the game they are. Considering the fact that Samsung has invested billions in AMOLED research, rival company officials surely believed that they've made a very profitable deal. That's of course, until they were caught by the police.
10 other people involved in the transaction were also arrested. As reported, all suspects work (or have worked) either for Samsung Mobile Display or the rival firm (LG?) that attempted to buy the new tech info.
Recently, we received disappointing news about the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, which has been pushed to late April in the UK, with a worldwide release to follow soon after. The delayed release is most likely because of Samsung’s difficulties in optimizing its TouchWiz interface on Android 4.0, as exemplified by the delayed release of the ICS update for the Galaxy Note.
We now have some more information on the imminent arrival of the Tab 2 10.1, courtesy of, surprisingly, Office Depot. Of course, Office Depot probably isn’t the re-seller of choice for Samsung, but they are the first to give us the expected pricing of the Tab 2. The cost, as seen below, is likely going to be $399.99 for the 8GB Wi-Fi version.
The specifications of the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1” are:
10.1″ multi-touch capacitive touchscreen
1280×800 resolution
Android 4.0 OS with TouchWiz 4.0
3MP rear camera, VGA front camera
1Ghz dual core processor
1GB RAM
8/16/32 GB internal memory, expandable by microSD
7,000 mAH battery
The Galaxy Tab 2, although touted as the successor to Samsung’s original 10.1″ tablet, doesn’t bring a lot of changes over the initial version. Substantial updates include a thinner chassis, front facing speakers, a larger battery, and Android 4.0 out of the box. With the advent of quad-core and faster dual-core processors, the inclusion of an 1Ghz processor from last year, while still fast, is slightly disappointing. This could also be Samsung’s attempt at moving the Tab series to the middle of the price spectrum, with the announced Galaxy Note 10.1 on its way.
This seems to have translated to the Galaxy Tab 2 being one of the most affordable 10.1″ tablets available on the market. It is increasingly difficult to find a high-end 10-inch tablet for less that $500, but at only about $400, it seems that Sammy is attempting to change that. Of course, this is for the 8GB WiFi only model, so we can definitely expect the 16/32GB and 3G versions to be pricier.
The product page has since been pulled by Office Depot, but, at least, we now have a fair idea of how much is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 going to cost.
Are you looking forward to Galaxy Tab 2? Are the specifications good enough? Would you rather hold out for the Galaxy Note 10.1?
