Thursday, August 2, 2012

Google Alert - android

News10 new results for android
 
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Adoption Jumps
InformationWeek
Google Thursday offered a peek at the distribution of different versions of Android and the news is good for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The October 2011-era version of Android saw a significant climb in adoption and is now installed on 15.9% of all ...
See all stories on this topic »
Android 4.1 'Jelly Bean' hits 0.8 percent market share
ZDNet (blog)
Android 4.1 'Jelly Bean' was officially unveiled at Google's I/O conference on June 27th, and was released as an over-the-air (OTA) update for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus on July 11, and was preinstalled on the Nexus 7 tablet which has been making its way ...
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ZDNet (blog)
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is growing, but Gingerbread still rules them all
BetaNews
As manufacturers release upgrades to Android 4.0, and people buy Ice Cream Sandwich-based smartphones, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) accounts for 15.9 percent market share of the Android operating system family, which is the highest ...
See all stories on this topic »

BetaNews
As CyanogenMod 9 Rolls Out, Snapdragon S1 Devices Miss Out
PCWorld (blog)
While CM 9 is already rolling out to a variety of Android gadgets, both version 9 and the upcoming version 10 will have something in common: Neither will support models based around the Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 processor. This basically means that if ...
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Ice Cream Sandwich on 16 Percent of Android Devices
PC Magazine
At June's Google I/O developer conference, the company took the wraps off Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which is now on the Nexus 7 tablet, the Motorola Xoom , and Galaxy Nexus. HTC has also committed to bringing the mobile OS to its One smartphones.
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Gingerbread still dominant Android OS
CNET
You ask Google about its fragmented Android OS, and a spokesperson will likely tell you that it shows "differentiation" instead. But the numbers don't lie--plenty of Android handsets are still stuck on Android 2.3 Gingerbread--60.3 percent, to be exact.
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CNET
Q&A: Checking Android App Permissions
New York Times (blog)
When you install a new app on your phone, the program presents you with a list of "permissions" it requires to function and it is up to you to decide if you want to continue installing that app. These permissions can include access to your contacts list, network ...
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Android Smartphones Benefit From Robust China Sales: Canalys Report
eWeek
The smartphone market, and Google in particular, couldn't have asked for a bigger, better gift than China. With its 199 percent year-over-year smartphone growth, the country helped drive overall shipments to 158.3 million units during the second quarter, ...
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Android 4.0 lands on Samsung Galaxy Tab tablets
CNET
The company's U.K. division told TechRadar that "Samsung U.K. can confirm the roll out of the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus WiFi and Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi devices is live. Any further updates for the Galaxy Tab range ...
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Six Xperia Android smartphones unveiled in Southeast Asia
TechRepublic (blog)
The new smartphones in the company's Xperia lineup (which already includes Xperia P, Xperia U, and Xperia sola smartphones) are Xperia ion, Xperia go, Xperia acro S, Xperia neo L, Xperia miro, and Xperia tipo (Figure A), all of which run on Android 4.0.
See all stories on this topic »

TechRepublic (blog)

Blogs5 new results for android
 
Cricket ships Huawei Ascend Q, offers Android chatting for $140 ...
By Jon Fingas
Huawei had said it would deliver the Ascend Q in August, and it didn't waste a moment -- Cricket is selling the Android.
Engadget
Google Updates The Gmail Android App, Now Works Better With 7 ...
By Matt Burns
The latest Gmail Android app update brings several new features, but this is a must-have for 7-inch tablets. Google slightly reworked the UI and it now works better with 7-inch tablets. Previously, when in landscape mode, the app would ...
TechCrunch
Google Is Cracking Down on Terrible, Malicious Android Apps in ...
By Mario Aguilar
Google just introduced new content restrictions for apps in Google Play in hopes that it can crack down on the malicious apps that pollute the Android ecosystem.
Gizmodo
The Latest Distribution of Different Android Versions
By Amit
What percentage of Android mobile phones and tablets are running on different versions of Android?
Digital Inspiration Technology Blog
Raspberry Pi Android port: Ice Cream Sandwich available soon
By Brad Reed
Raspberry Pi — the super-ugly, super-affordable $35 computer — is about to lose its Linux-only shackles and move into the modern touch interface.
BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech

Web1 new result for android
 
ZTE Flash headed to Sprint with 4.5-inch IPS 720p display and 12.6 ...
ZTE recently announced the Grand X for Europe and the Asia Pacific in the third quarter, but it looks like they have something else up their sleeve for the U.S. in ...
www.talkandroid.com/124710-zte-flash-headed-to-sprint-with...


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Android Authority

Android Authority


Are iPhone users richer & better-educated than Android users?

Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:30 AM PDT

Image credit: Shutterstock

Media consumption differs according to platform, a study by the Reynolds Journalism Institute has found. This is also influenced by demographics, including age, education and earning capacity. In the recently-released 2012 RJI Mobile Media News Consumption Survey, researchers have determined that Apple iPhone users are generally older, better-educated and earn higher than those using Android. This may account for Apple’s market dominance over Android since the beginning.

RJI’s Roger Fidler has found that — surprise! — iOS and Android are the leading mobile platforms in the consumption of news and content from subscriptions and apps. However, a big portion of the respondents admit to using more than one platform in consuming media, which include a mix of smartphones, tablets and Android-powered e-readers.

In terms of demographics, more Android users fall under the below-34 age group. Meanwhile, iPhone and Blackberry users tend to fall under the over-35 group. In terms of income a majority of Android users earn under $75,000 annually. Most iPhone and Blackberry users earn more than this amount. Education-wise, almost half of the Android users surveyed say they have college or graduate degrees. iPhone and Blackberry users that have bachelors or post-grad degrees are at 64%.

So yes, iPhone and Blackberry users tend to be more affluent.

This might come as an affront to Android users. However, considering that some markets have a preference for iOS and Blackberry devices, then education, age and earning capacity will surely be skewed toward these levels. For example, enterprise users — including big corporations and small businesses — are found to prefer iOS over Android. As such, users will tend to have higher-paying jobs and more advanced studies than the general consumer market.

Additionally, Poynter points out that iPhone users are more attractive to news publishers, with these statistics. Consumption patterns seem to agree. A higher percentage of iPhone users subscribe to national newspapers, news magazines and other mobile publications, compared with Android.

However, going beyond the research, publishers will still need to cover a lot of ground, since less than 33% of mobile users are regular subscribers to mobile publications. This can be a good opportunity for publishers and newsstand services to tap more users and potential subscribers in order to improve their reach and revenues.



This article, Are iPhone users richer & better-educated than Android users? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Lenovo to launch IdeaTab A2105, A2107 and A2109 in September, pricing and spec sheets unknown

Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:00 AM PDT

Usually, when we first hear about an unreleased smartphone or tablet that is "set to come soon", it happens through leaks that unveil at least part of the gadget's spec sheet, while leaving its official branding and ETA to mystery.

Lenovo has decided to break this "tradition", however, and has made three of its future gadgets official, way ahead of their public release, without letting much slip about their spec sheets. The IdeaTab A2105, A2107 and A2109 form an intriguing tablet trio that will hit the market sometime in September. Let's see what we know about each of these gadgets and why you should be interested in them.

Lenovo IdeaTab A2105

"Tablet, smartphone, all in." That's how the A2105 is advertised on Lenovo's official website, and we have to say it's not a bad way to get our attention. However, it's unlikely that this will be another Padfone that you can easily turn from a phone to a tablet and the other way around.

Instead, we think that Lenovo has just found a clever way of marketing what we have come to call a "phablet". The A2105 is set to sport a 5-inch touchscreen, and will come with a "stainless steel internal roll cage", offline GPS navigation, "long battery life", and dual SIM configuration. By the looks of it, the 5-incher might just be one of the first high-end dual SIM phones around, but the question is whether high-tech fans are interested in that particular function.

We don't know how the A2105 will be technically equipped, but we do know that it will come with "up to Android 4.0". Hopefully, the "up" is either a spelling error or a precautionary method, because we can't even conceive seeing mid-range or high-end phones released in September 2012 with Gingerbread on board.

Lenovo IdeaTab A2107

The "affordable palm size entertainment" device will sport a 7-inch touchscreen, will have 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, as well as Android 4.0 ICS, and offline GPS navigation. Based on the tablet's name, but also on the official pic published on Lenovo's website, there's a good chance this will be the global version of the recently released China-bound LePad A2107.

The LePad came with a single-core 1 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, a 3,550 mAh battery, dual 3 MP/2 MP cameras, and a microSD card slot. In addition to all that, the Chinese 7-incher had dual-SIM support, but there's a good shot the global IdeaTab A2107 will lack that particular feature.

Lenovo IdeaTab A2109

The last device of Lenovo's trio is not the high-end flagship you would expect, but rather advertises to bring "full size fun on a small budget". The A2109 will be a rather bizarre 9-incher with an HD 1280 x 800 pixels resolution display. Other known features include the running of Android 4.0 ICS, dual 3MP/1.3 MP cameras, and an aluminum shell that could make this quite the elegant gadget.

It's hard to make any predictions without knowing the tab's other tech specs, but there's a chance this might actually prove to be an attractive device (provided it comes at the right price).

So, what do you think? Will you be looking for any one of these three tablets when they are up for sale?

 


This article, Lenovo to launch IdeaTab A2105, A2107 and A2109 in September, pricing and spec sheets unknown , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Report: Android tablets finally rising, iPad’s reign over?

Posted: 02 Aug 2012 02:45 AM PDT

Whether we like it or not (and we don't), Apple's iPad has dominated the global tablet market with ease, making Android eat its dust since… well, ever. The much awaited and anticipated iPad killer hasn't come, and all the latest reports and surveys, be it official or unofficial, have shown Apple selling more of their tablets than all Android manufacturers together.

Meanwhile, Samsung has admitted "we're not doing very well in the tablet market" some six months ago, making even the most optimistic of us lose hope for Android to ever challenge Apple's iPads for their crown.

And when everything seemed lost, a research consulting firm based in New York conducted a study, and found the first evidence of Android getting close to Apple. According to Frank N. Magid Associates' numbers, it seems that 50% of tablet owners have an iPad these days. That might not seem too shabby for Tim Cook's tech giant, but if we take into account that earlier reports showed the company's tablets holding a 72% market share, we can finally say Android is on a roll.

Unsurprisingly, the Android pack's leader is a newcomer, Amazon's Kindle Fire, launched last fall. According to this report, the $200 7-incher has leaped from zero to a 22% market share in less than a year, which is truly impressive anyway you look at it.

We suspected the Fire to be hitting it big ever since last year, but given Amazon's reluctance to release any official sales figures, we didn't think the tablet did that good. "That's what made up the difference" said Tom Godfrey, executive director of mobile strategy for Magid, referring to Fire's booming success and its role in Android's seemingly unbelievable ascent.

Godfrey didn't refrain from making some interesting predictions for the global tablet market's near future, saying that his research company expects "to see the iPad as the leader, but with the Surface, Kindle Fire, and Nexus 7 as three solid competitors with significant market share."

The Nexus 7 in particular could steal some of iPad's spotlight, as it's a tablet that follows Kindle Fire's successful path, offering extra portability, more than decent speed and a very fair quality-price ratio. Kindle Fire's successor(s) should be taken into account as well, although it (or they) aren't yet confirmed as hitting the market soon. On the other hand, we suspect Apple to be prepping its own 7-inch "low-cost" tablet, the iPad Mini, which could turn the tables in its favor.

Getting back to the report on hand, we can't wrap up this post without making three more observations. First off, although Kindle Fire's success can be attributed partially to Android, we have to stress the fact that the 7-incher has never been marketed by Amazon as a full-fledged Android tablet. As you probably already know, the Fire runs a forked version of Android, which some might consider a new OS altogether.

Secondly, we have to urge you to not take the survey's results very seriously, as they are based on the answers of "4,734 cellphone and smartphone owners". That's hardly what you would call a representative sample for the global tablet market, so the actual shares of the iPad, Fire and others might be way off Magid's numbers.

Finally, it's pretty obvious we don't want to take Apple's part here, comparing iPad's sales numbers with Kindle Fire's is like comparing apples and oranges. The new iPad is more than double the Fire's price, so even if Amazon managed to get somewhat close to iPad in terms of unit sales, Apple is still doing great financially.

That said, it’s surely nice to be treated with some optimistic numbers for a change, making some of us hope again that Apple’s domination could be undercut soon enough. What do you guys think? Can the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire(s) help lift Android close to Apple?

 


This article, Report: Android tablets finally rising, iPad’s reign over? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


IDC report shows Samsung leading the way in Q2 smartphone shipments

Posted: 02 Aug 2012 02:01 AM PDT

IDC (International Data Corporation) is a global market research and analysis firm that specializes in IT and telecommunication technology. Along with predictions and forecasts, the market intelligence firm periodically releases reports showing the current state of the telecommunication market. After an IDC report confirming Android’s dominance on the world stage, it’s more good news for Android and the leading Android device manufacturer, Samsung.

According to the latest report released by IDC, Samsung is leading the way in smartphone shipments in the second quarter of 2012, extending, for now, its lead over Apple, with other device manufacturers like HTC and Nokia having reason to worry. Granted, this is far from surprising, since we knew that Samsung was heading towards a record-breaking quarter, with the shipment of over 50 million smartphones, spearheaded by the Samsung Galaxy S3. IDC confirms Samsung’s smartphone shipments to be 50.2 million.

Apple was a distant second with a shipment of 26 million devices, which is still very impressive. Apple’s numbers did tend to dip in this quarter, with the imminent release of the next iteration of the iPhone just around the corner. It will be interesting to see whether Samsung, who will also have the Galaxy Note 2 joining the Galaxy S3 (possibly as early as August 15), will be able to keep up its momentum against what is likely going to be another very successful Apple product.

Other highlights of this report include:

  • The smartphone market grew at a year-over-year rate of 42.1% in Q2 2012. If you thought that was impressive, you’ll be surprised to know that this is the lowest growth rate since Q4 of 2009.
  • Vendors shipped 153.9 million smartphone units in this quarter, up from 108.3 million units during Q2 2011.
  • Samsung has doubled its market share from 17% (in Q2 2011) to the current 32.6%.
  • HTC has had a better quarter compared to the last two (Q1 2012 and Q4 2011), but the numbers have dropped significantly from last year.
  • ZTE is a surprise entry in the Top 5, which is because of its increasing popularity in the Chinese market. ZTE’s numbers are only set to grow, with the Chinese company’s foray into the international market soon.
  • Nokia hasn’t found a way to stop, or even slow down, its slide to the bottom, with its market share numbers slipping to 6.6% from 15.4% last year. This number is very disappointing as Nokia recently launched its flagship Lumia 900 running Windows Phone 7, but hasn’t been as popular as expected.

Check out the Press Release below for the complete report from IDC.

What are your thoughts? Were you surprised at the market share numbers in the report? How do you think Q3 results are going to shape-up with the iPhone 5 on the way? What does Nokia need to do to get back in the game? Let us know in the comments section below.

Show full PR text

Strong Demand for Smartphones in Second Quarter Continues to Drive the Worldwide Mobile Phone Market, According to IDC

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. July 26, 2012 – The worldwide mobile phone market grew 1% year over year in the second quarter of 2012 (2Q12), as Samsung and Apple shipped almost half of the world's smartphones. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors shipped 406.0 million units in 2Q12 compared to 401.8 million units in the second quarter of 2011.

Samsung and Apple have more than doubled their combined market share over the past two years, which has created more distance between the companies and the competition. "Samsung and Apple have quickly become the global smartphone heavyweights though both employ somewhat different approaches to the market," said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. "Samsung employs a 'shotgun' strategy wherein many models are created that cover a wide range of market segments. Apple, in contrast, offers a small number of high-profile models. While both companies have expanded their geographic presence in pursuit of market share, the two companies will inevitably come into greater conflict as both try to generate additional gains."

Market share gains will be harder to generate, however, if the worldwide smartphone market grows at rates similar to the 42.1% year-over-year rate at which the market increased in 2Q12. This was the lowest growth rate since the fourth quarter of 2009. Vendors shipped 153.9 million smartphones in 2Q12 compared to 108.3 million units in 2Q11. The 42.1% year-over-year growth was one percentage point lower than IDC's forecast of 43.1% for the quarter.

The spectre of further economic woes puts growth prospects for the mobile phone market at risk. "With half of 2012 behind us, vendors are looking ahead to 2013 and how key markets – particularly Europe and emerging markets – will play out," said Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC's Mobile Phone Technology and Trends team. "Despite recent maneuvers to shore up several countries within the Eurozone, the effectiveness of these efforts remains to be seen. Meanwhile, emerging markets will continue to be strong contributors due to their sheer size and growth trajectory, but how much they can offset potential declines in other countries is unclear."

Nonetheless, IDC expects long-term mobile phone and smartphone shipment demand to grow steadily in 2012 and through the years ahead due to the central role mobile phones play in people's lives. "For many users, the mobile phone has become the essential communications link to others and to the world," noted Llamas.

Smartphone Vendor Highlights

Samsung extended its lead over Apple during the second quarter, taking advantage of Apple's release schedule and launching its flagship Galaxy S III. In addition, Samsung experienced continued success of its smartphone/tablet hybrid device, the Galaxy Note. As a result, Samsung topped the 50 million unit mark and reached a new quarterly smartphone shipment record in a single quarter. What remains to be seen is how the company's smartphones will fare against Apple's next-generation iPhone expected later this year.

Apple posted an expected sequential decline last quarter, similar to years past. The quarter-over-quarter shipment decline came six months after it unveiled its latest iPhone. The decline is not unusual as iPhone shipment volume is highest in the first two quarters after its release. The company's once-a-year release cycle usually results in two quarters of lower volumes leading up to the next-generation model introduction. Nonetheless, Apple made significant inroads into new markets and segments, including smaller regional carriers and prepaid service providers.

Nokia smartphone business underwent another quarter of transition. Demand for Symbian and MeeGo units declined, reaching levels not seen since 2005 though the company almost doubled its Windows Phone shipments from the previous quarter. Nokia's Lumia sales were not terribly affected by Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 announcement, which will prevent current Lumia owners from upgrading to the new mobile operating system. However, Lumia sales have remained steady and key enhancements available on the new platform will eventually become available to current Lumia owners. Nokia, however, has a long path to travel before it can reclaim previous volume levels and challenge Apple and Samsung for smartphone supremacy.

HTC rebounded from its struggles in the two previous quarters to reclaim the number 4 spot in the smartphone vendor rankings. Its relatively strong performance in the Asia/Pacific region allowed it to climb back up the rank order as did the correction of its channel inventory issues. The company's streamlined portfolio means future share gains will be predicated upon the success of its One products.

ZTE climbed into the smartphone Top 5 for the first time thanks primarily to shipments of its lower-cost entry-level smartphones in China, where it's based. However, the vendor has also grown its international smartphone sales, particularly in the U.S. where its smartphones can be found under other brands. Latin America is another source of significant smartphone growth for the vendor. Despite impressive gains last quarter, brand equity may prove to be an issue for ZTE in future. Strong brand recognition is a necessity if high-growth smartphone sales abroad are a priority for the company.

No related posts.


This article, IDC report shows Samsung leading the way in Q2 smartphone shipments , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Apple wants the jury to know that Samsung destroyed evidence

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 04:05 PM PDT

The U.S. Apple vs Samsung legal odyssey continues today with new developments in one of the most important patent-based cases in the world right now. It's not just a fight between titans, between business partners, between closed and open ecosystems, but also a battle that could have decisive consequences on the future of the mobile ecosystem.

The trial started on Monday with jury selection, and we saw yesterday the opening arguments from both Apple and Samsung. Each party is accusing the other of violating its patents, with Apple claiming Samsung has copied the look and feel of its iPhone and iPad and with Samsung saying that Apple is infringing various of its 3G patents.

The trial will last for at least four weeks, and we're bound to see more interesting things emerge from this fight.

Earlier today, we showed you pieces of evidence from Samsung's case, which were not allowed to be used in court. Therefore, Samsung's legal counsel released them to the media, annoying the judge in the process. Consequently, Samsung's attorneys had to formally explain why they leaked those documents, which they did earlier today.

Now we hear that Apple wants the jury in the case, formed by nine members that have to unanimously agree on each claim presented in the case, to know that Samsung destroyed evidence relevant to the case. According to Apple, this sort of thing happened not just once, but twice so far in Samsung’s legal war history.

A few days ago a judge found Samsung to have wrongly destroyed email correspondence between Samsung employees, which could have been used in courts by Apple:

Magistrate Judge Paul Grewal agreed that Samsung wronged Apple when the company “continued throughout this case automatically to delete e-mails.”

Grewal also wrote that Samsung “kept the shredder on long after it should have known about this litigation and simply trusted its custodial employees to save relevant” e-mails.

Grewal found that “Samsung ‘consciously disregarded’ its obligation to preserve relevant evidence.”

The judge issued an "adverse inference jury instruction," which Samsung is contesting. The Android device maker is asking Judge Lucy Koh, presiding over the U.S. Apple vs Samsung case, not to reveal the instruction to jurors.

But, apparently this isn't the first time Samsung was found to withhold evidence in such a manner. In a different patent case dating back to 2004, a district court in New Jersey "issued adverse inference instructions against Samsung because it never flipped the 'off switch on its… automatic computer e-mail policy [that] allowed e-mails to be deleted."

Apple basically argues that Samsung failed to preserve emails from the files of Lee Min-hyuk, the main designer of Galaxy S handsets:

“Relevant e-mails once existed.” Apple’s lawyers say they know this because Samsung produced 75 of them dated after Lee received a document-retention notice and because other “custodians” of the e-mails preserved them.

On that note, we close another small chapter in this complex battle, but we'll be back with more details in the following days.


This article, Apple wants the jury to know that Samsung destroyed evidence , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


OUYA passes the $6 million funding mark, partners with Vevo for music video hub

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 03:32 PM PDT

OUYA is approaching the end of the funding campaign, with 7 days left to donate if you want to help them succeed or “pre-order” an OUYA console for yourself. In the past few days the company has announced partnerships with OnLive and Square Enix for Final Fantasy 3, and now it’s announcing another major partnership, although this one doesn’t have much to do with gaming, but with music. Vevo has agreed to make its music videos available to OUYA users, which  make OUYA a media device rather than just a gaming device.

To celebrate the passing of the $6 million mark, which is more than 6 times its original goal of $950,000, OUYA is also showing a limited brown-metal edition that you can get for a pledge of $140 or more. If you still prefer the silver version, then you only need to pledge $99. The Kickstarter campaign will end on August 9th.

I expect OUYA to get a lot more deals between now and March 2013, when the device should be launched. I expect to see more big name publishers wanting to optimize their games for OUYA with full HD resolution and better looking graphics. At the very least, we should see more Android game developers promise to optimize their existing Android games for OUYA as well.

I also believe most Tegra Zone participants will want to port their games to OUYA . Nvidia is working closely with the company, so it’s certainly possible that  Nvidia will promote OUYA to developers, as a way to test new Android games. With all the good things happening to OUYA, all we can hope for is that the device doesn’t disappoint when it’s finally released.

 


This article, OUYA passes the $6 million funding mark, partners with Vevo for music video hub , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Samsung lead lawyer explains decision to share rejected evidence, anger judge

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 03:26 PM PDT

samsung leaked evidence

Earlier today we showed you a few images that came directly from the U.S. Apple vs Samsung trial. Only they're not allowed in court as evidence for Samsung, and since Samsung's counsel can't use them to defend against Apple claims, it decided to leak them to the media.

The decision angered Judge Lucy Koh, who is presiding over the case and who wanted to know exactly how this happened. And when a judge asks, you can only answer, which is what John Quinn, Samsung's lead counsel did.

The attorney filled a personal declaration today in which he explained that he is the one that authorized the release of the Samsung evidence. Here are relevant fragments of his declaration – the entire document is available at the Source link at the end of this post.

On July 31, 2012, I approved and authorized the release of a brief statement—it was not a general press release—and proposed trial demonstrative exhibits. This followed multiple requests from members of the media seeking further explanation—including requesting the demonstrative exhibits at issue—as to the basis for Samsung's claims, made in open court and in its public trial brief, that it had the right to present evidence that the iPhone was inspired by "Sony style" and that Samsung had independently created the design for the F700 phone—that was alleged in Apple's opening statement to be an iPhone copy—in 2006, well before the announcement of the iPhone.

A true and correct copy of a sample of the press inquiries seeking precisely the information that was provided—including requesting the trial demonstrative exhibits at issue—is attached as Exhibit A.

Contrary to the representations Apple's counsel made to this Court, Samsung did not issue a general press release and more importantly, did not violate any Court Order or any legal or ethical standards. These false representations by Apple's counsel publicly and unfairly called my personal reputation into question and have resulted in media reports likewise falsely impugning me personally.

[…]

As this Court has acknowledged, this is a case with genuine and substantial commercial and public interest and with enormous potential commercial impact. The media has been reporting in salacious detail Apple's allegations of Samsung's supposed “copying”, causing injury to Samsung's public reputation as a company. Moreover, Apple's baseless and public assertions that Samsung's transmission to the media of public information constituted contempt of court and that these actions were intended to pollute the jury were themselves glaring falsehoods, highlighting why Samsung has every right to defend itself in the public domain from unfair and malicious attacks.

Samsung's brief statement and transmission of public materials in response to media inquiries was lawful, ethical, and fully consistent with the relevant California Rules of Professional Responsibility (incorporated by N.D. Cal. Civil Local Rule 11-4) and legal authorities regarding attorneys' communications with the press. California Rule of Professional Responsibility 5-120(B)(2) specifically permits attorneys involved in litigation to disclose "information in a public record." As shown above, all of the information disclosed was contained in public records.

As you can see, Quinn firmly believes that he was not wrong to share with the media evidence that's not allowed in court but that already is part of the public record. The lawyer argues that Judge Koh decided that this trial would be open to the public and therefore the public needs to know what each party has to say. Furthermore, Quinn says the object of his actions was not to influence the jurors.

Now we'll have to wait for Judge Koh to rule on the matter, and it will be interesting to see which party she will side with.


This article, Samsung lead lawyer explains decision to share rejected evidence, anger judge , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Motorola Electrify 2 now available from U.S. Cellular for $179.99, Defy XT to hit stores August 3

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:33 PM PDT

Fresh from the very successful launch of the top of the line Samsung Galaxy S3, U.S. Cellular is hoping to jolt its Android roster some more by introducing two new mid-range phones from Motorola, the Electrify 2 and Defy XT.

The Motorola Electrify 2 is the sequel to Moto's Photon 4G, which was released a year ago for Sprint. At the heart of the phone is a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, though we're not sure what SoC it’s sporting since it's not mentioned. It also boasts a 4.3-inch ColorBoost display, 1GB RAM, 8GB onboard storage, microSD card slot, 8MP rear camera with LED flash and 1080p HD camcorder, and 1,780mAh battery.

If you're a fan of the RAZR series, you'll feel right at home with the Electrify 2, as it too has that durable Kevlar fiber casing. Size-wise, the phone is a mere 8.4mm thick. The Android 4.0 phone will be sold online for $179.99 with a two-year contract, after a $100 mail-in rebate. You'll be able to find the Electrify 2 in physical stores starting tomorrow.

The second offering is the rugged Motorola Defy XT, which comes with a dustproof, scratch- and water- resistant 3.7-inch Gorilla Glass display with 854 x 480 resolution. The Defy XT's other features include a single-core 1GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 5MP rear camera with 720p camcorder, and 1,700mAh battery. Unlike the Electrify 2, the XT only comes with Android 2.3 Gingerbread on board.

The phone will go on sale on August 3, though U.S. Cellular is yet to share its price. It's worth to mention that Republic Wireless is selling the Motorola Defy XT off-contract for $249.

Are you interested in getting any of two mid-rangers above?


This article, Motorola Electrify 2 now available from U.S. Cellular for $179.99, Defy XT to hit stores August 3 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google Wallet can now add any credit card or debit card

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:27 PM PDT

Google Wallet promised to replace physical wallets with a virtual wallet that can be accessed from your Android phone. However, the momentum has been slow in the U.S. because carriers are trying their best to avoid using it on the handsets they sell, because they are preparing their own competing solution called Isis. The only carriers in the U.S. that have been friendly to Google Wallet are Sprint and Virgin Mobile, which have adopted a total of six Google Wallet-enabled phones. The Nexus 7 tablet also comes with Google Wallet support.

Google Wallet has also experienced some security issues initially, and Verizon has even claimed that the reason they are not embracing it is because it’s not secure enough – although I still think the main reason for rejecting it was its own payment system, Isis.

Today, Google is announcing a new version of Google Wallet, one that is powered by the cloud and dramatically increases security by keeping your credit card information stored only on Google’s highly secure servers instead of your own device. The phones will be getting a virtual card number that is tied to the real one, and will be stored in the secure area of your phone. This will help ensure that the transaction process works smoothly, but without compromising on security.

Google Wallet has always required a PIN so only you can have access to it. But now, in case your phone is stolen or lost, you’ll be able to remotely disable the Google Wallet functionality on that device. In such a scenario, no more transactions will be authorized from that handset.

One of the biggest improvements in Google Wallet is that you can now add any credit card or debit card from various providers including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. To save a card’s information to Google Wallet you’ll have to use the mobile app or the official website to complete the form and sign-up.

Having a Google Wallet account also allows you to buy any sort of content from the Google Play Store, so even if you don’t have an NFC-enabled phone, you may still want to use Google Wallet for purchases from the Play Store.

 


This article, Google Wallet can now add any credit card or debit card , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Sony Xperia SL goes white and silver, other colors are up for grabs

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:09 PM PDT

It's hard to keep up with so many Xperia models that Sony Mobile has been and will be churning out, but at least the Xperia SL – the successor to the Xperia S – is something that we already knew about (albeit a little) and have reported before. Following earlier leaks that showcased the many colors of Xperia SL – black, pink and purple – what you're seeing now are the official images of the white and silver variant of the phone.

The latest leak comes from ePrice, which has been a steady source for unreleased Sony goodies. Apart from the new promotional pictures, there's not much else to share – except that the Xperia SL may come with a dual-core 1.7GHz processor. It's almost certain it will not be a Snapdragon S4, but rather the older S3 chip that is now powering the international version of HTC One S. So really, it'd only be a minor improvement from the processor – clocked at 1.5GHz – used by the Xperia S.

Those hoping that the Xperia SL will come with a mind-blowing sheet of specs over its predecessor should probably look elsewhere. But hey, the specs aren't confirmed yet. If you are looking for some raw power though, the Xperia SX and the Xperia LT30p Mint may better suit your need for speed.

We'll see what Sony has to say about the specs of the Xperia SL, and loads more, on its upcoming Berlin event at the end of the month. We're pretty keen on finding out what the Japanese Android maker has in store for its new Xperia tablets as well.


This article, Sony Xperia SL goes white and silver, other colors are up for grabs , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.