Thursday, August 30, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


HTC Desire X launched as a budget 4-incher with ICS and dual-core S4 chip

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 02:06 AM PDT

Both Samsung and Sony had a pretty busy opening day at the IFA 2012 in Berlin, which might have raised the bar of expectations for other companies present at the tradeshow. HTC, however, doesn't seem to have many aces up its sleeve for the event, despite early rumors that HTC would come out with a “hero” phone at the event.

The first (but hopefully not last) gadget to be unveiled by HTC in Germany is a far from impressive budget-friendly phone which might get lost in the crowd if it won't be priced correctly. The Desire X has been leaked for a while, has starred in a bunch of unofficial photos and has had an almost complete spec sheet since a couple of days ago.

Basically all the rumors were spot on, so there aren't many things to surprise or shock us. As suspected, the Desire X will sport a 4-inch Super LCD WVGA screen with 800 x 480 pixels resolution. That might not sound like the greatest panel ever, but the guys at The Verge, who've caught some alone time with the fresh new mid-ranger, are reporting it as “one of the nicest WVGA units we've seen.”

That seems to be due to the fact that HTC has used optical lamination technology found on the One X too, aiming to “bring the technology from the One Series to a more affordable price point.”

The Desire X is powered by a dual-core 1 GHz Qualcomm MSM8225 processor and features 768 MB of RAM, which is again a decent hardware configuration, but not the absolute best you could hope to find on a mid-ranger. The chip is a Snapdragon S4 “Play” reported to drain more battery life than the S4 “Plus” procs. That might well be a major hassle, especially that the battery is a rather modest 1,650 mAh unit.

However, HTC has straightened out one of their biggest errors with the One Series phones and has equipped the Desire X with a user-removable battery. The 4-incher's 4 GB on-board memory could be yet another hassle, but there's microSD support and 25 gigs of free Dropbox cloud storage to make up for that inconvenience.

The Desire X runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box with Sense UI on top (probably version 4.0), and comes with integrated Beats Audio sound enhancement, a 5 MP rear-facing shooter with autofocus, LED flash, HDR capture and continuous shooting. The camera is reported to be below average by The Verge, but we wouldn't sweat it too much just yet, as the software on their test unit was “unfinished.”

In terms of design, the new handheld looks basically identical with what we saw in those early leaked pics, so expect a pretty elegant and slim little guy (measuring 9.69 mm thick) available in black and white. Unfortunately, that metallic frame around the camera is still there and kind of bugs us, especially at the white version of the Desire X.

HTC is keeping mum on the phone's pricing and availability for now, although company officials have confirmed that the Desire X will go out in select European and Asian markets starting next month. It's also very likely for the new 4-incher to be made available slightly cheaper than the One V, so a $250-280 price point is in the cards.

What do you guys think of this new budget-oriented phone from HTC? Is it a winner? And could we hope for more from the Taiwanese at this year’s IFA?

 

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This article, HTC Desire X launched as a budget 4-incher with ICS and dual-core S4 chip , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Firefox 15 now optimized for Android tablets, significant speed improvement promised

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 01:52 AM PDT

Ever since Mozilla Firefox found its way to Android devices, it has been one improvement after the next for the browser. Slowly but surely, Firefox is catching up with popular browsers on the platform like the native Android browser, Dolphin and Chrome. While there are some imperfections, one thing that is also still missing is a tablet-optimized version of Firefox, one which Mozilla has now dealt with.

The latest version of Firefox for Android not only adds tablet support, but it also comes with a new native UI for that wholesome tablet experience. Aside from that, Mozilla said that the startup and page load times have been significantly improved.

Another new feature you'll find is the Awesome bar, which is basically a personalized home screen for the browser that lets you quickly access browsing history, bookmarks, passwords, and form data.

Here's the rest of the change log for Firefox 15:

  • Find in page
  • Text Selection fixed
  • Desktop sites can be requested from the menu
  • Better tabs experience – swipe to close
  • Support for SPDY networking protocol v3
  • Bookmarks & history can be imported from stock browser in the Settings

Head the Google Play to download Firefox 15 and see if the latest iteration is a keeper. Don't forget to drop a comment below.

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This article, Firefox 15 now optimized for Android tablets, significant speed improvement promised , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google patents new object recognition technology, likely has plans to use with YouTube

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:02 PM PDT

object recognition technology

A new patent from Google could potentially change the way we publish videos onto the net in the future. What is this patent exactly? It’s known as "automatic large scale video object recognition."

This object recognition technology works in a similar way to other face recognition techniques, but it takes things a step further. How so? It can actually recognize the difference between a variety of objects, not just human faces.

Whether you are talking about a cat or even a bike, the patent is designed to recognize it. After recognizing an object it then labels it with certain tags. If you are wondering how it does this, there is a special object name repository involved. This database would hold at least 50,000 object names, information and shapes that would allow for easy identification.

Essentially this is just another way to tag and better track videos for things like SEO. Ultimately it makes it easier for YouTube and Google to tag and track videos, but it also could make it easier for us to search for them. The system would still allow for manual tagging of objects and animals, but would do a lot of the work itself through an automated process.

It’s unclear when and where exactly object recognition technology will be put into place, though it is pretty much guaranteed to make its way over to YouTube.

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This article, Google patents new object recognition technology, likely has plans to use with YouTube , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


TomTom Android app confirmed to arrive in October

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:00 PM PDT

The Android ecosystem has its fair share of navigation system apps, with Google's home brewed offering doing a mighty fine job already. However, it certainly won't hurt to have TomTom finally jumping onboard. After a not so subtle hint two months ago, TomTom for Android is ready to direct you to your destination and stop you from getting lost — and it’s coming pretty soon.

The Android version of TomTom, which will be showcased at IFA event, is bringing along many features that one expect to see from TomTom, such as on-board maps with new map interface, updated routes, traffic redirection, intelligent routing, advanced lane guidance, spoken street names, 2D/3D driving view, and even speed camera alerts.

Optimistic about the October launch of TomTom on the platform that it has seemingly forsaken in the last couple of years, TomTom managing director Corinne Vigreux said that bringing TomTom navigation app to Android smartphone is a significant milestone for the company.

While many features on the app can be used for no extra cost, users will have to cough up more dough for the use of HD traffic and speed camera alerts through in-app purchasing.

There's no word yet on how much TomTom will cost, but we should be hearing more details  as we near the release date. In the meantime, how excited are you about TomTom finally finding its way to Android?

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This article, TomTom Android app confirmed to arrive in October , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Sony unveils Xperia V at IFA 2012: 4.3-inch display, Snapdragon S4, 13MP camera and more

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:11 PM PDT

There seems to be a race between Sony and HTC to claim every alphabet under the sun for their phones. Following the carefully coordinated release of the Xperia S, P, and U, a new trio of Xperia phones is set to replace the older models. Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai has just introduced the Xperia T, Xperia V, and Xperia J at the IFA 2012 event in Berlin. Let's see what the Xperia V is packing inside.

In terms of specs, the Xperia V sits nicely in the middle between the top-of-the-line Xperia T and the more affordable Xperia J. Similar to the Xperia T, the Xperia V boasts a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, though you will find the latter to carry a smaller 4.3-inch HD display with 342 ppi pixel density. Apart from that, the phone is also equipped with the same 13MP rear camera, front-facing camera, and the all-important PlayStation certification – which makes it a must have for gamers.

Sony seems to have learned from its mistake of not providing timely updates. You'll find Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich running on the Xperia V — an upgrade to Jelly Bean has been promised to come not long after the phone is launched. Sony also mentioned that the Xperia V will have a water and dust resistant body, thanks to its IP57 certification.

The Xperia V is set to hit stores in the latter part of the year. Do you think the V will end up being victorious? Or is it a vapid offering from Sony?

Show full PR text

New Xperia smartphone series with Sony’s best HD experiences deliver next step in connected entertainment

Xperia T combines Sony’s best HD experiences, easy connectivity with ‘One-touch’ sharing enabled by NFC and award-winning arc design. Xperia J makes stylish smartphone design affordable with a standout screen size

29 August, 2012 – London, UK – Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today announced a new range of Xperia™ smartphones, along with the first Xperia Tablet from Sony Corporation at the consumer electronics show IFA. Featuring in the upcoming James Bond cinema release Skyfall, Xperia T is the new flagship model for the UK, providing Sony’s best HD smartphone screen, camera and easy ‘One-touch’ functions enabled by NFC (Near Field Communications).

Xperia J has eye-catching design with a stand-out screen size for consumers looking to combine great style with affordability. Xperia Tablet S brings Xperia to the world of tablet for the first time. Xperia T will launch in the UK next month. Xperia J will launch in calendar Q4 2012.

“This year’s IFA marks an important milestone for Sony and Sony Mobile Communications. Xperia smartphones are at the heart of Sony’s mobile strategy of delivering a consistent user experience across devices, enabling consumers to easily and quickly access the world of entertainment that Sony delivers,” commented Kunimasa Suzuki, President and CEO of Sony Mobile Communications.

Xperia smartphones: best of Sony’s technology and design

Xperia T combines Sony’s best screen, camera and connectivity to provide consumers with the best HD experience with which to enjoy content on any screen, any time. Xperia T and Xperia J build on the same design language first introduced by the award-winning* Xperia arc and Xperia arc S – combining a slim form factor with an emphasis on the display for excellent viewing.

More entertainment with new Sony’s media applications and Music Unlimited

Sony’s media applications (“WALKMAN®”, Album and Movies) combine the best of Sony’s technologies and connect consumers to a variety of entertainment services. The Sony media applications are an integral part of the UI on Xperia smartphones, tablets and VAIO PCs to deliver a consistent and superior entertainment experience.

Furthermore, with Album and Movies applications, consumers can remotely enjoy their photos and movie content stored in their home digital media servers.

Xperia smartphones shipping from September until the end of the year will come with a free 60 day trial of Sony Entertainment Network’s** cloud-based digital streaming music service Music Unlimited giving consumers the opportunity to subscribe directly from their Xperia and enjoy access to millions and millions of tracks.

‘One-touch’ functions for content sharing

Sony is putting NFC at the heart of content sharing through its ‘One-touch’ function, taking NFC beyond the traditional uses such as eticketing and payments. Now, consumers can easily and instantaneously enjoy their music and photos across an array of NFC enabled Sony devices, by simply touching one to another to establish a wireless connection without a cumbersome pairing process. For example, Xperia T users can stream music wirelessly with ‘One-touch’ to the new Sony SRS-BTV5 NFC enabled speaker, also announced today at IFA.

Product Details

Xperia T key features:

  • 4.6″ HD Reality Display powered by the Mobile BRAVIA® Engine for razor sharp clarity
  • 13MP fast capture camera that goes from sleep mode to snap in just over a second
  • Full 1080p HD video recording capabilities and a 720p HD front camera for the highest quality content
  • Easy connectivity with ‘One-touch’ function enabled by NFC
  • PlayStation™ Certified
  • Latest generation 1.5GHz dual core processor for improved battery life, fast performance and ultra sharp graphics
  • ·Android version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Will be upgraded to Android version 4.1 (Jelly Bean) following launch. Detailed timing to follow
  • MHL connectivity for viewing content on a big screen without the need for a charger
  • Use Xperia TV Dock with MHL to HDMI converter and charging connector to enjoy photos and videos on an HDMI enabled TV
  • In some markets Xperia T will be known as Xperia TX
  • Available in Black, Silver and White colours

Xperia J key features:

  • 9.2mm slim stylish design
  • Large 4.0″ FWVGA Display
  • Social media updates by illumination
  • 5MP camera
  • Front chat camera
  • Available in Black, Gold, White and Pink colours

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This article, Sony unveils Xperia V at IFA 2012: 4.3-inch display, Snapdragon S4, 13MP camera and more , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Sony officially announces budget-oriented Xperia J

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 07:43 PM PDT

Today Sony has announced three new Xperia smartphones, although none of them were really a surprise. The handsets are known as the Xperia T, Xperia V and the Xperia J.

What exactly does the new Xperia J bring to the table though? While we still don’t know tons about this model, we do know a few things. The phone is the "budget" entry, featuring just a 1GHz processor, a 4-inch screen, and 5MP camera on the front. The phone is also said to have social media updates with illumination, a 9.2mm design and four different color schemes- black, gold, white and pink.

All three handsets will arrive with ICS, but T and V have already been confirmed to be getting updated to Jelly Bean shortly after launch. Unfortunately, Sony makes no mention of the Xperia J getting in on Jelly Bean.

No word on pricing or official launch target for the Xperia J yet, though we do know it is coming sometime in Q4 of 2012.

Show full PR text

New Xperia smartphone series with Sony’s best HD experiences deliver next step in connected entertainment

Xperia T combines Sony’s best HD experiences, easy connectivity with ‘One-touch’ sharing enabled by NFC and award-winning arc design. Xperia J makes stylish smartphone design affordable with a standout screen size

29 August, 2012 – London, UK – Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today announced a new range of Xperia™ smartphones, along with the first Xperia Tablet from Sony Corporation at the consumer electronics show IFA. Featuring in the upcoming James Bond cinema release Skyfall, Xperia T is the new flagship model for the UK, providing Sony’s best HD smartphone screen, camera and easy ‘One-touch’ functions enabled by NFC (Near Field Communications).

Xperia J has eye-catching design with a stand-out screen size for consumers looking to combine great style with affordability. Xperia Tablet S brings Xperia to the world of tablet for the first time. Xperia T will launch in the UK next month. Xperia J will launch in calendar Q4 2012.

“This year’s IFA marks an important milestone for Sony and Sony Mobile Communications. Xperia smartphones are at the heart of Sony’s mobile strategy of delivering a consistent user experience across devices, enabling consumers to easily and quickly access the world of entertainment that Sony delivers,” commented Kunimasa Suzuki, President and CEO of Sony Mobile Communications.

Xperia smartphones: best of Sony’s technology and design

Xperia T combines Sony’s best screen, camera and connectivity to provide consumers with the best HD experience with which to enjoy content on any screen, any time. Xperia T and Xperia J build on the same design language first introduced by the award-winning* Xperia arc and Xperia arc S – combining a slim form factor with an emphasis on the display for excellent viewing.

More entertainment with new Sony’s media applications and Music Unlimited

Sony’s media applications (“WALKMAN®”, Album and Movies) combine the best of Sony’s technologies and connect consumers to a variety of entertainment services. The Sony media applications are an integral part of the UI on Xperia smartphones, tablets and VAIO PCs to deliver a consistent and superior entertainment experience.

Furthermore, with Album and Movies applications, consumers can remotely enjoy their photos and movie content stored in their home digital media servers.

Xperia smartphones shipping from September until the end of the year will come with a free 60 day trial of Sony Entertainment Network’s** cloud-based digital streaming music service Music Unlimited giving consumers the opportunity to subscribe directly from their Xperia and enjoy access to millions and millions of tracks.

‘One-touch’ functions for content sharing

Sony is putting NFC at the heart of content sharing through its ‘One-touch’ function, taking NFC beyond the traditional uses such as eticketing and payments. Now, consumers can easily and instantaneously enjoy their music and photos across an array of NFC enabled Sony devices, by simply touching one to another to establish a wireless connection without a cumbersome pairing process. For example, Xperia T users can stream music wirelessly with ‘One-touch’ to the new Sony SRS-BTV5 NFC enabled speaker, also announced today at IFA.

Product Details

Xperia T key features:

  • 4.6″ HD Reality Display powered by the Mobile BRAVIA® Engine for razor sharp clarity
  • 13MP fast capture camera that goes from sleep mode to snap in just over a second
  • Full 1080p HD video recording capabilities and a 720p HD front camera for the highest quality content
  • Easy connectivity with ‘One-touch’ function enabled by NFC
  • PlayStation™ Certified
  • Latest generation 1.5GHz dual core processor for improved battery life, fast performance and ultra sharp graphicsAndroid version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Will be upgraded to Android version 4.1 (Jelly Bean) following launch. Detailed timing to follow
  • MHL connectivity for viewing content on a big screen without the need for a charger
  • Use Xperia TV Dock with MHL to HDMI converter and charging connector to enjoy photos and videos on an HDMI enabled TV
  • In some markets Xperia T will be known as Xperia TX
  • Available in Black, Silver and White colours

Xperia J key features:

  • 9.2mm slim stylish design
  • Large 4.0″ FWVGA Display
  • Social media updates by illumination
  • 5MP camera
  • Front chat camera
  • Available in Black, Gold, White and Pink colours

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This article, Sony officially announces budget-oriented Xperia J , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Samsung Galaxy Note 2 VS Galaxy Nexus

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:55 PM PDT

It's been four long months since what's undoubtedly become the best Android smartphone was introduced to the world, the Samsung Galaxy S3. The phone easily slays the competition as it racks up mega sales, helped by the puny offerings that the competitors can muster up. What little competition it has is about to change with the arrival of the Galaxy Note 2 – its biggest rival in every sense of the word.

The Galaxy Nexus, meanwhile, is last year's top device. But like a good wine, Google's flagship phone has actually gotten better with age. The secret to its great performance, despite the seemingly lackluster hardware, is the continuous software support from Google, which consistently puts the Galaxy Nexus ahead of others.

So what do you get when you pit Android's latest and shiniest phablet with the older but reliable defender of the Nexus series? There will be no holds barred: welcome to Galaxy Note 2 VS Galaxy Nexus.

Design

You don't get to be called as a phablet for nothing. The Galaxy Note 2's dimensions (80 x 151.1 x 9.4 mm) can be quite intimidating for some. The Galaxy Nexus, of course, is a little bit easier on the hand and wrist with its 135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9 mm body. Should we talk of the weights? Holding the Galaxy Note 2 (180 grams) for a long period of time, compared to the Galaxy Nexus (135 grams), can probably causes more stress to your joints at first – but hey, our body is great at adapting to a new environment.

Winner: Galaxy Nexus. We're looking at this one from the practical side of things. We just find the Nexus to be a little more comfortable to use than its bigger foe.

Display

Starting with the Galaxy Nexus and its familiar face: the phone boasts a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED HD display with 316 ppi pixel density. Meanwhile, the newcomer Galaxy Note 2 comes with a show stopping 5.5-inch Super AMOLED HD display with 267 ppi pixel density. Apart from the size advantage, both phones feature similar PenTile display and have the same 1280 x 720 resolution. This makes it easier to decide.

There's no beating around the bush, the public demands bigger displays and this is definitely one area that the Galaxy Note 2 excels.

Winner: Galaxy Note 2. Who wouldn't love that extra screen real estate to watch those funny cat videos on YouTube and HD videos?

Hardware

Fearing for the fate of Galaxy Nexus in this round? Don't be. While the Galaxy Nexus only employs a dual-core 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4460 processor alongside its PowerVR SGX540 GPU, the phone can run most things that you throw in its direction well enough. Unfortunately, when faced with the beast that is Galaxy Note 2's quad-core 1.6GHz Exynos processor – well, this is where thing gets a little bit awkward. Coupled with a generous 2GB of RAM, double that of the Galaxy Nexus, the Galaxy Note 2 is setting a new bar of high performance device.

Galaxy Note 2 vs Galaxy S3 vs Galaxy Nexus

But how does the rest of the specs hold up? We'll go through them quickly.

  • Internal Storage: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB (Galaxy Note 2) – 16GB, 32GB (Galaxy Nexus)
  • Expandable storage (microSD card): up to 64GB (Galaxy Note 2) – none (Galaxy Nexus)
  • Camera: 8MP rear & 2MP front (Galaxy Note 2) – 5MP rear & 1.3MP front (Galaxy Nexus)
  • Battery: 3,100mAh removable (Galaxy Note 2) – 1,750mAh removable (Galaxy Nexus)

Storage-wise, Google's decision not to ship its Nexus series with a microSD card slot may prove to be the downfall of the Galaxy Nexus. The Galaxy Note 2 also comes with a higher capacity model.

As for the camera, much has been said about the poor performance of the Nexus when taking pictures in low-light condition, and nothing has really changed. The Note 2 uses the same superior camera sensor found on the Galaxy S3, and is considered to be the better shooter.

While the Galaxy Note 2 comes with a bigger battery, note that it has to accommodate a quad-core processor and a much bigger screen – so the advantage may not be as clear cut in real life.

Winner: Galaxy Note 2. We all saw this coming didn't we? Let's not forget about the S Pen as well, as one of the Note 2's strongest and unique features.

Spot the Galaxy Note 2! (the left one, obviously)

Software

The Galaxy Nexus was the first one in the Google block to sport Ice Cream Sandwich and now Jelly Bean, but will this put the phone ahead from the Galaxy Note 2? The bad news is (for the Nexus) the wonder phablet is running the same jelly goodness out of the box.

Winner: Tie. We cherish the Galaxy Nexus for its hackability. But at the same time, we have to give some props for Galaxy Note 2 for coming out with Android's latest and greatest software iteration. We're pretty sure the premium suite found on the latter will come handy for many.

Overall

It looks like the fight hasn't been as one sided as we thought it would be. In the end, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is the one to beat, though it will ultimately depend on your needs and wants. If you crave for the huge display and raw power that the quad-core Exynos can provide, as well as a side of doodling and note-taking using the S Pen, then by all means jump on the Galaxy Note 2 train.

Let's hear it from you now. Let us know what you think of the two great devices in the comments below!

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This article, Samsung Galaxy Note 2 VS Galaxy Nexus , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Sony unveils the Sony Xperia T flagship smartphone

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:55 PM PDT

Today, at IFA, Sony unveiled three new smartphones, each for a certain price range and category: Sony Xperia T, Sony Xperia V, and Sony Xperia J. Out of these three, the Sony Xperia T  (Sony LT30) is the high-end flagship device. Let’s see what we can get with this phone.

As far as specs go, we get a dual core 1.5 Ghz S4 processor, the same one that is available in the HTC One X and the Galaxy S3 in the US, a 13 MP camera with an Exmor R sensor, a 1.3 MP front-facing camera, a 4.6″ display with an HD 1280×720 resolution, 16 GB of storage, microSD expansion, MHL connectivity, and a 1,850mAh battery.

The specs look good, especially the camera, but Sony has yet to release a phone with a cutting-edge processor. So I’m hoping for another flagship by the end of the year (perhaps the Xperia S successor?) to come out at least with S4 Pro, like LG’s upcoming flagship.

As far as software goes, they also seem to fall behind a little, launching it with Android 4.0, considering the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will launch with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Sony promises the Jelly Bean upgrade will be available shortly after the phone’s launch, but we would’ve been a lot more impressed if it came directly with it.

Sony’s skin doesn’t seem to be too deep, with slight customizations and some custom apps of their own, so it shouldn’t be too hard to upgrade from ICS to Jelly Bean. Here’s hoping that the upgrade will arrive weeks and not months after the phone’s release.

I think Sony is making some very solid phones lately, and they could easily make a  Nexus phone, especially with Google’s guidance. It’s actually something I’d like to see, because of Sony’s more unique designs compared to everyone else (although they are starting to use them a little too often), because of their cameras, which I think are the best on the market as fast as “normal” phone cameras go, and their high-quality sound, thanks to their Walkman history.

It’s important to note that Sony also announced a Sony Xperia TX variant (Sony LT29) that has mostly the same specs, but with a dual core S3 processor instead. The TX comes in pink, and it will be available in some specific markets.

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This article, Sony unveils the Sony Xperia T flagship smartphone , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Cricket now includes its Muve Music service with all Android smartphone plans

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:24 PM PDT

Wish that Cricket offered Muve Music with all of its Android smartphone plans? Wish granted.

Today Cricket has announced that it is offering unlimited text, picture, and video messaging, mobile web and a large catalog of great music all starting at just $50. For $50 you will get 1GB of data, $60 for 2.5GB, and $70 for 5GB, but no matter the plan you choose, Cricket has you covered with all-you-can-download access to its Muve music service.

Keep in mind that this deal is exclusive to Cricket’s Android devices, and doesn’t apply to non-Android smartphones. This includes models like the Huawei Mercury, Ascend Q, Ascend II, Samsung Vitality, and the upcoming HTC One V.

Pretty good deal, any Cricket customers excited by this announcement?

Show full PR text
–~ New Rate Plans Offer Flexibility and Simplicity –~~ Muve Music Now Included in All Cricket Android Rate Plans

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Cricket Communications, a leading provider of innovative and value-driven wireless services, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leap Wireless International, Inc. LEAP -2.28% , today announced sweeping enhancements to its rate plans offering customers greater choice and flexibility in their unlimited wireless service. Adding to Cricket’s unlimited value proposition, the new plans include more full-speed data choices, Muve Music included in all Android rate plans, and enhanced international calling products that allow customers to make any plan an international calling plan.

“Our new rate plans enhance the choices available to our customers and are unique not only in no-contract wireless, but among postpaid offerings as well,” said Doug Hutcheson, president and chief executive officer. “We understand our customers’ data needs and these new plans give customers the flexibility to select the right usage plan [that best fits their needs] at a great value with the option to buy additional full-speed data when their needs change. In addition, our Muve Music service will be included for no additional cost in all Android rate plans so even more customers can experience the enjoyment of high-quality unlimited music downloads. All together, we believe these new plans bring value-packed features into the mainstream of wireless services for all Cricket customers.”

Rate Plan Features Cricket Wireless’ new rate plans, available to customers beginning September 2 at Cricket company-owned stores, dealers and online at www.mycricket.com , start at $35 and $45 per month for feature phones and offer unlimited nationwide talk and text. New smartphone rate plans start at $50 for unlimited talk, text and 3G data plus 1GB of full-speed data per month. The new $60 smartphone plan contains 2.5GB of full-speed data per month and the new $70 smartphone plan offers 5GB of full-speed data per month. Both the $60 and $70 plans include the ability for customers to tether their device to power additional wireless devices.

Cricket PAYGo(TM) plans, offered in national retailers where Cricket products and services are available, have also been enhanced and are now more uniform with Cricket Wireless plans. Feature phone calling plans start at $25 with limited voice minutes and range to $50 and $60 Android plans that include Muve Music.

Easy to Use Data FeaturesCricket’s new smartphone plans include unlimited 3G data and enable customers to choose between three quantities of full-speed data per month. In addition, Cricket customers on these plans can now use new data tools on their phones to track their data usage throughout the month and buy additional quantities of full-speed data if needed. Under the new service plans, when customers need more full-speed data than their selected rate-plan provides, they can change to a rate plan with more full-speed data, add one or more 1GB full-speed data add-ons to their plan for $10 each (excluding Cricket PAYGo), purchase additional full-speed data as needed at a rate of $1 for 50MB, or make no change and use unlimited data at reduced speed through the rest of their month.

All Cricket rate plans are competitively priced and contain unlimited talk and text, allowing customers to select the plan that provides the features and services that are just right for them. For music lovers, Cricket’s innovative Muve Music service is now available for the first time in all Android plans at no additional cost. For as little as $50 per month, customers can experience all the features of an Android phone and unlimited music downloads from Muve Music’s library of nearly six million songs. Muve Music has quickly become one of the fastest growing digital music subscription services in the US offering truly unlimited song downloads, ringtones and ringback tones.

International Calling FeaturesCricket is expanding the world-class value available in its suite of international calling products with the launch of the Global Plus Bundle, now available to all new and existing Cricket Wireless customers on all Cricket Wireless rate plans. With the Global Plus Bundle, any rate plan can become an international rate plan for an additional $15 per month.

With the Global Plus Bundle Cricket customers receive a Global Local Number – a local telephone number in the country of their choice and 500 outgoing international landline minutes and 30 outgoing international mobile minutes. When friends and family dial the Global Local Number, the calls are forwarded straight to the customer’s Cricket phone in the United States without the premium per minute cost of an international call charged to the caller.

Additional Features

Visual Voice Mail provides customers the ability to use their device to quickly prioritize and manage their messages in the order they prefer.

New ‘My Account’ features allow customers to make credit card and debit card payments from their device.

Cricket Wireless customers can now add up to six additional lines (on the same account) and receive a $5 Multiline Discount per each additional line.

About CricketCricket is the pioneer and leader in delivering innovative value-rich prepaid wireless services with no long-term contracts serving approximately 6 million customers. Cricket offers wireless voice and mobile data services over the latest, high-quality, all-digital 4G (LTE) and 3G CDMA wireless networks. In 2011, Cricket launched its award-winning Muve Music® product, the first music service designed for a wireless phone that now has more than 600,000 customers. Cricket’s innovative products and services are available at Cricket branded retail stores, dealers, national retailers and at www.mycricket.com . For more information about Cricket, please visit www.mycricket.com .

Android is a trademark of Google, Inc.

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This article, Cricket now includes its Muve Music service with all Android smartphone plans , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Samsung Galaxy Camera hands-on image gallery

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:15 PM PDT

GALAXY Camera_D2 small

The awesome Galaxy Note 2 wasn’t the only cool new gadget that Sammy showed off tonight. The Galaxy Camera is just as impressive, offering the promise to breathe new life into a dying product category. Check out our scoop on the Galaxy Camera and a collection of hands-on images that we captured today. Enjoy.

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This article, Samsung Galaxy Camera hands-on image gallery , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.