Thursday, September 6, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


We’re Here: Amazon Kindle Fire Event

Posted: 06 Sep 2012 10:37 AM PDT

We’re here live at the Amazon press event in Santa Monica, California, where the online giant plans to unveil their newest lineup of Android tablets. We’ve been speculating about what will be shown for weeks but in a matter of minutes they’ll be up on stage revealing it to everyone. There’s even talk of an Amazon Kindle smartphone.

If you haven’t been following the news lately, we’ve heard countless reports that Amazon will be sticking to their popular and successful 7-inch form factor and will be showing off at least two 7-inch Kindle Fire tablets. Previous reports suggested an improved model all around with a front facing camera, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich covered in their own Kindle Fire skin.

Then talk of the original getting a slight software upgrade and possibly a price drop has been on the horizon for some time now. The most exciting possible news however, is that they’ll be showing off their new Kindle Fire Smartphone — although we have no clue what that will actually be named.

Sources yesterday suggested it isn’t quite finished so we’ll only be getting a sneak peak today of their new phone so we’ll just have to wait and see. Stay tuned for anything and everything Android related from Amazon later this afternoon.


Amazon smartphone reportedly confirmed for debut tomorrow

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:21 PM PDT

Amazon is getting ready to unleash a few new Android devices soon and will be unveiling them tomorrow in their press event. We’ve already seen countless reports of two Kindle Fire tablets but now the rumors are stirring up yet again regarding an Amazon Kindle Fire powered Android smartphone. Lets take a peek at the rumors below.

The folks from The Verge have been all over Kindle Fire leaks as of late, and apparently have someone close to the source feeding them some reliable information. We received our first look at the upcoming Kindle Fire 2 from these sources early last week. Now these same tipsters have apparently “confirmed” an Amazon Kindle Phone is currently in the works and will get announced tomorrow.

We are hearing this will run the Amazon Kindle Fire UI version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and be split off from any real Google ties aside from running a heavily skinned version of Android. With Motorola announcing three new smartphones today, Nokia doing the same with the Lumia Windows Phone 8 series, and HTC having an announcement later this month it all makes sense for Amazon to reveal some details — even if the phone isn’t complete.

That’s right. Sources have confirmed the Kindle Phone is indeed real and currently under construction and not in the final stages. We’re hearing multiple reports that Amazon will be showing off this new device to the press tomorrow along with at least two new Kindle Fire Tablets and a few Kindle E-readers. Sources from The Verge reported that the phone is unfinished and will only get a very brief unveil to peak our interest.

With Nokia Maps replacing Google Maps, Amazon App Store replacing the Play Store and Amazon Cloud Player replacing Google Music can this compete in this tight market? We’d love to hear your thoughts. We’ll be live from the Amazon event to get all the details so stick around folks!


Mysterious 5-inch HTC phablet leaks again

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 03:16 PM PDT

Earlier this week we got our first glance at the upcoming and still very mysterious rumored 5-inch Galaxy Note rival from the folks at HTC. Fast forward a few days and now we are getting our third picture of the unknown handset only this time we can see that 5-inch screen in all it’s blurry glory. The photo surely isn’t clear — but we’ll take what we can get.

Over the past few months we’ve been hearing subtle rumors that HTC is planning an impressive 5-inch 1080p smartphone phablet to take on the competition from Samsung with their Galaxy Note II, as well as LG’s Optimus Vu. After a few leaks suggested the phone could head to Verizon we got a little excited.

Monday’s leak showed a rather large device that is most likely the rumored 5-inch smartphone with plenty of red accents like we’ve seen with recent HTC devices on Verizon like the Incredible. While that was the initial thought multiple other sites are stating this could be the tight lipped HTC One X+ we’ve heard a few rumors about in the recent past.

Whether this is a quad-core Tegra 3 packing One X+ boosted to 1.7 GHz like rumors have suggested, or the 5-inch HTC phablet we’ve been waiting for either way we want to know all the details — and soon. The folks from TechOrz managed to snag this front facing photo and are calling this the Endeavor C2, which would make it be a successor to the HTC One X, and not a 5-inch device. Either way we’ll be finding out more details soon, possibly at HTC’s event slated for later this month.

What do you guys think? Or is it too blurry to tell?


Eric Schmidt outs 1.3 Million Android activations daily, 500 million devices worldwide

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 02:44 PM PDT

Today during Motorola‘s announcement of a few new DROID RAZR HD smartphones for Verizon Wireless we received a few heartfelt words from Google’s own Eric Schmidt. Since Google’s now the proud owner of Motorola Mobility he took the stage to talk about the future, then talked Android numbers.

The staggering and simply amazing numbers you see above is what the number one mobile OS in the world if capable of. Put Android out for the masses and this is what you get it return. 1.3 million Android devices being activated each and every single day. That’s seriously quite impressive.

We’ve slowly seen this number climb from 500,000 to 800k and then a few months back it had passed the 1 million a day mark. Now just a few short months after Google IO and the activations daily are approaching 1.5 million a day. Schmidt then went on to blow our minds even more by stating that there is currently almost 500 million Android smartphones, tablets, and devices worldwide to this day. If that isn’t a serious rate of adoption I don’t know what is.

Eric Schmidt quickly took the time to talk Motorola, numbers, the future, and then finished by saying do the math! With Dennis Woodside here to take Motorola to the next step, and Google to continue to push the cutting edge with Android things should be exciting. The added bonus of Google and Motorola being one should only help these numbers continue to climb.


Motorola DROID RAZR HD and MAXX HD Hands-on

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 02:28 PM PDT

Motorola surprised everyone this morning when they announced not one DROID RAZR HD, but two. Just like the previous generation you’ll also get the RAZR MAXX HD option for those needing truly all day battery life and more. These impressive new 4.7-inch ICS smartphones were announced this morning and we’re taking a quick look on video below.

Yup, today Verizon kicked off the end of summer with three brand new Motorola DROID RAZR smartphones to grace their network. What we’re looking at below is their flagship model in the DROID RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD. Both of these smartphones are nearly identical like last years, only one offers a massive 3,300 mAh battery. Before we start with the videos lets take a look at the specs.

This truly shouldn’t be anything new as these phones have been leaked near a half a dozen times the past few months. Motorola didn’t really surprise us with anything and you have a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED HD display (1280 x 720p) with on-screen navigation keys, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is on board for the official release although the models we are looking at have Jelly Bean. Motorola promises the update to Android 4.1 is coming soon.

Other specs to round out these phones is the popular 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor under the hood, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, micro-SD and HDMI support, and of course Verizon 4G LTE. You have 8 megapixel rear shooters for the camera, VGA front for self portraits, and a few large batteries. Motorola chose a happy-medium 2,530 mAh for the regular RAZR HD — which should last you all day with ease. Then 3,300 mAh on the MAXX that gives you over 21 hours of talk time. Enough about specs though lets see these phones in the flesh.


Overall as you can tell the new RAZR lineup is extremely similar in all areas to the original. the Kevlar coating on the back has been slightly redesigned and now covers the entire device. The rounded off edges feel nice but the phone is still rather wide. Personally we like the more industrial design choice Motorola took with the new RAZR HD and find it quite pleasing to use and hold. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean while not final seems to be running quite amazing here so far.

With the RAZR HD being extremely thin still at 8.3mm and the RAZR MAXX only adding a millimeter or so to that these devices are super thin and lightweight while still remaining strong and durable thanks to the Kevlar. So far we like what Googlrola has done and hope for more good stuff to follow. These devices will ship later this year although no exact details were given, and they should be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box.

Thoughts on the all new Motorola DROID RAZR line?

IMG6764-L IMG6786-L IMG6784-Lmain IMG6785-L IMG6783-L IMG6782-L IMG6781-L IMG6780-L


Motorola DROID RAZR M Hands-on

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 01:54 PM PDT

The newly announced Motorola DROID RAZR M might not be their new flagship smartphone, but we could certainly see it steal some of the sales. The RAZR M is an impressive budget smartphone from the folks at Motorola and Verizon — only it isn’t a budget device. It offers near top of the line specs for a great price. Lets take a look.

Announced earlier today alongside the new RAZR HD the RAZR M is a unique smartphone. It isn’t quite as nice as the new devices while slightly outpacing the older original RAZR in most categories. The specs were all leaked weeks ago and confirmed today but one more time before our quick video here’s the rundown, plus what makes the M special.

The RAZR M you’ll get the same 4.3-inch AMOLED qHD (960 x 540) resolution display as the original RAZR only in a smaller package. Motorola managed to make this nearly an edge-to-edge display device as we speculated on earlier this week. Running with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (Jelly Bean coming soon) you have the popular Qualcomm 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. The screen and built-in storage are its only downfalls though.

Other specs include a 2,000 mAh battery which is quite impressive for such a small device, and will offer awesome battery life better than the leading budget phones available. We also have an 8 megapixel camera and VGA front for video chat. All this is quite nice considering the RAZR M will only be $99 dollars. As far as hands-on and our first impressions — this device is rather nice. The design is a bit industrial with marks on the sides, but the display is awesome. Sadly it’s only qHD but having nearly no bezel around the device really makes it stand out during usage.

The device is one of the first to come with Google Chrome browser pre-installed out of the box and offers an exceptional browsing experience with the speed of Chrome and Verizon 4G LTE. The hardware has always been great from Motorola and this was no exception. The DROID RAZR M feels durable, well built, but has a slight industrial look to it. It should make tons of people proud especially for only $99 and a new 2-year contract. It’s available for pre-order starting today and will hit Verizon stores early next week. Who’s excited?

IMG6777-L IMG6775-L IMG6776-L IMG6774-L IMG6773-L IMG6771-L IMG6764-L


Motorola announces DROID RAZR HD, RAZR MAXX HD, and RAZR M

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 01:08 PM PDT

Today Motorola announced three new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich powered smartphones for Verizon Wireless at their press event in NYC this afternoon. Two were expected and one was somewhat a surprise. That being the RAZR MAXX HD. The DROID RAZR HD and RAZR M have leaked multiple time the last month, but rumors of a MAXX version were squashed long ago. Head down below for full details.

The Motorola DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD are a subtle yet much improved smartphone over their older counterparts. The original RAZR had a wide 4.3-inch screen of low resolution, and an aging processor powering Android. Today they’ve matched the top-tier crowd once again by announcing the all new RAZR HD complete with a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED HD display (1280 x 720p) and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Just like previous models they are super RAZR-like thin, wrapped in Kevlar coating for superior protection while remaining lightweight, and are powered by Verizon 4G LTE. The regular RAZR HD comes in at just 8.3mm thin while the bigger brother in the MAXX is a respectable 9.4mm instead for the added battery under the hood. Full specs you ask? These devices are powered by the popular 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdraon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage (with micro-SD support) 8 megapixel rear camera with LED flash, 1.3 VGA front for video chat, and run on Android 4.0 ICS. Motorola showed them off running Jelly Bean here today — so we can expect that update to arrive very soon. The devices however will launch with Ice Cream Sandwich. The RAZR HD gets a large happy-medium 2,530 mAh battery while again the RAZR MAXX is 3,300 mAh promising 21 hours of talk time, 13 hours of video playback or eight hours of continuous web browsing.

Then Motorola also announced the DROID RAZR M which has been receiving tons of play in the news as of late. This edge-to-edge display packing smartphone is smaller than the original RAZR while having the same size 4.3-inch qHD (960 x 540) AMOLED display. It is also powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the 1.5 GHz dual-core S4 processor as the others. We still have 1GB of RAM and an 8 megapixel camera but instead comes with 8GB of internal storage. This is Motorola’s new budget smartphone. It is available for pre-order starting today for only $99 with a new 2-year contract, and will hit the streets starting next week.

We have hands-on pictures and videos coming up in a matter of minutes thanks to our sister site SlashGear, so stay tuned for a quick peek at the all new DROID RAZR line for Verizon Wireless.

IMG6764-L IMG6759-L IMG6755-L IMG6745-L IMG6700-L IMG6743-XL


Google Alert - android

News9 new results for android
 
Ice Cream Sandwich On 21% Of Android Devices
InformationWeek
Android 4.0 has increased its share for several reasons. In the last two weeks, several new Android 4.0 devices have hit the market, including the Motorola Photon Q for Sprint and the Pantech Marauder for Verizon Wireless. Add to these a bunch of ...
See all stories on this topic »
New Motorola phones first to get Chrome for Android browser
Computerworld
Because Chrome for Android requires Android 4.0 and later -- in other words, the editions dubbed "Ice Cream Sandwich" and "Jelly Bean" -- it has made little headway on the usage charts. Together, Android 4.0 and 4.1 power about 22% of all Android ...
See all stories on this topic »
Is Amazon's one more thing an Android smartphone?
ZDNet
All indications are that we will see new Kindle Touch and Kindle Fire devices, but The Verge also has information that we may see a first glimpse of an Amazon Android phone. If we do see one, you can bet it will run a custom flavor of Android similar ...
See all stories on this topic »
Worldwide market share for smartphones, a market dominated by Apple and ...
Washington Post
Nokia and Motorola revealed new smartphones this week in hopes of generating interest before Apple's expected announcement of a new iPhone next Wednesday. Nokia's devices are its first to run the next version of Windows, which will have a lot of ...
See all stories on this topic »
Fox Picks Up Pilot For J.J. Abrams Android Buddy Cop Drama
Screen Rant
It looks as though J.J. Abrams is heading to the future with his newest batch of television programs. In addition to the near-future setting of NBC's Revolution, Abrams is set to re-team with newly appointed, sole Fringe season 5 showrunner, J.H. Wyman ...
See all stories on this topic »
uTorrent beta app arrives on Android
Engadget
Fans of the torrent-juggling desktop client can now get their downloads direct to their mobile device, because uTorrent's launched a beta app for any Android device running version 2.1 or higher. It's currently free, with RSS support, fully adjustable ...
See all stories on this topic »
Oh My Tech!: Android over iPhone? Just maybe
Salt Lake Tribune
It's certainly the closest I've ever come to jumping the Apple brand for the ever-greener pastures of the Android camp, thanks to recent innovations in Google's mobile operating system. Many readers have accused me of being a shameless Apple fanboy who ...
See all stories on this topic »
Spotify for Android App Updated With NFC Music Sharing
PC Magazine
The update also comes with new audio effects for ICS Android devices, which users can check out by visiting Settings > Audio Effects. There's also an improved offline mode bar with more information explaining why you're offline as well as several bug ...
See all stories on this topic »
Samsung Racks Up 20 Million Galaxy S III Sales in 100 Days
DailyTech
When it comes to the most popular Android smartphones on the market, Samsung traditionally has held that honor. Samsung has announced that it has sold more than 20 million Galaxy S III smartphones in the device's first 100 days of availability.
See all stories on this topic »

DailyTech

Blogs5 new results for android
 
Android Breaks 80% Smartphone Share in China
By Josh Ong
Analysys International's Enfodesk tracker shows Android eating up significant share of device sales from Symbian over the past year. In the second quarter of 2011, Google's mobile OS had an estimated 47.6 percent of the market, compared to ...
The Next Web
ICS now on one in five Android devices, Jelly Bean grows to 1.2 ...
By Steve Dent
Last month was the first time Jelly Bean poked its head up in the Android distribution charts, debuting at 0.8 percent. It's bumped that stat by a.
Engadget
Quora Arrives on Android, Complete With Voice Search, Widgets ...
By Kim-Mai Cutler
After a long wait, Quora just arrived on Android today. The knowledge-sharing site from Facebook's first chief technology officer Adam D'Angelo and early Facebooker Charlie Cheever sees about a quarter of its traffic coming through mobile ...
TechCrunch
Tablets Are Just 5.8% of Android's Daily Activations [STATS]
By Christina Warren
Google Chairman Eric Schmidt made an appearance at Wednesday's Motorola and Verizon's Droid event, and he shared some updated stats on Android's market.
Mashable » Mobile
Rayman Jungle Run 'balts to iOS and Android as auto-run - Joystiq
By Ludwig Kietzmann
Take a page from Adam Atomic's auto-run platformer, Canabalt, and embellish it with the vivid artwork of Rayman Origins. Now you've got Rayman Jungle Run, a challenging iOS and Android outing for Ubisoft's legendary and largely legless ...
Joystiq


Tip: Use a minus sign (-) in front of terms in your query that you want to exclude. Learn more.

Delete this alert.
Create another alert.
Manage your alerts.

Android Authority

Android Authority


More than 20 million Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphones sold in 100 days

Posted: 06 Sep 2012 02:39 AM PDT

It seems like only yesterday we were hearing the news that the Samsung Galaxy S3 had surpassed the 10 million sales mark. It took less than two months for Samsung's Android flagship to hit that milestone. Now, less than two months on, we hear that the best Android smartphone on the market right now has sold 20 million units. So, 100 days after release, Samsung has managed to sell 20 million Galaxy S3 handsets.

Anyone who thought defeat in the US patent case against Apple would put a dent in Samsung's popularity was obviously wrong. The Galaxy S3 has clearly kept up its momentum and is selling three times faster than the S2 and six times faster than the original Galaxy S. They racked up sales of 28 million and 24 million respectively, so we can safely assume the S3 will surpass them both.

Samsung broke down the numbers further and revealed sales were 6 million in Europe, 4.5 million in Asia, 4 million in North America, and 2.5 million in South Korea.

How long can it continue to sell 200,000 Samsung Galaxy S3 handsets per day? There are certainly plenty of competitors on the horizon, including Samsung's own Galaxy Note 2. We've also seen new releases from Nokia and Motorola this week and it's Amazon's turn later today ahead of Apple's new iPhone unveiling next week.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 certainly has its work cut out if it wants to stay top dog in the smartphone market, but we think it will be there a while longer.


This article, More than 20 million Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphones sold in 100 days , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Mystery HTC device may be part of Big Red’s lineup

Posted: 06 Sep 2012 02:17 AM PDT

Yesterday, we brought you rumors of a new HTC phablet in the works. Today, we’d like to update to this announcement: Verizon may actually have this device in their possession for rollout soon. My, how time flies quickly in the world of mobile tech.

The image above shows the HTC 6435, which could also be the HTC Endeavour II, as mentioned by Chinese forums. Things are still at a rumor level but this image does confirm that the device is not just a prototype anymore. In fact, a carrier’s device management system will only show devices prior to rollout, so this is good news for people excited about the possible release of an HTC phablet soon.

As always, we’ll keep you fresh on the heels of what appears HTC trying to reclaim their former glory, and doing so with the biggest carrier in the US! Stay locked in to our Google + page for breaking developments!

Related Posts

LG Now Part of Microsoft Android Patent Licensee, [Updated] Mystery Motorola event scheduled for 2pm tomorrow [watch it live now here], Craving Some Ice Cream Sandwich on your Motorola Device? Prepare for a Long(ish) Wait


This article, Mystery HTC device may be part of Big Red’s lineup , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Motorola Razr HD coming to Rogers Canada “this fall”, pricing not revealed yet

Posted: 06 Sep 2012 02:14 AM PDT

Although Motorola only (vaguely) talked about the Razr HD's US availability at the phone's unveiling event, it was obvious that it was only a matter of time before we started hearing about it hitting other markets worldwide.

Unsurprisingly, the first market we're hearing news about is Canada, where the Razr HD is now officially slated for a release "this fall". The 4.7-incher will be branded as the Motorola Razr HD LTE up North, and, right now, the only carrier confirmed to put it up for sale is Rogers.

Canada's largest wireless service provider will be selling a GSM version of the Razr HD (unlike Verizon's model, which will be CDMA), but unfortunately the exact release date and pricing are kept secret for the time being.

Mobile Syrup is speculating that the handheld will probably hit Canada in October, and, although the website doesn't have much to back up that assumption, their sources are usually right on the money. As for pricing, rumors say that the new Razr will hit the States for around $199 with a two-year contract, so chances are Canadians will have to pay the same for the phone (albeit with a three-year carrier agreement).

Aside from being a GSM phone, the Canadian Razr HD LTE should not be that different from the US version. The same "eye-catching" 4.7-inch high-def display, Kevlar backing, "impossibly thin" body and "all-day" battery life are the main focus points of Motorola Canada's announcement. Oddly, there's no full spec sheet posted just yet for this model, but  we have no reason to think it'll come with any special features over the American model.

Even more bizarre is that Moto's press release is keeping mum on the matter of the Jelly Bean update promised in the US, so Android 4.1 might not hit the Razr HD in Canada anytime soon. Now that's disappointing!

Disappointing might also be the fact that the Razr Maxx HD, a Razr HD model with a bulked up battery, is yet to be announced for Canada. The first-edition Maxx never went North of the border, so history might painfully repeat itself.

I'm sure that you all noticed the omnipresent "coulds" and "mights" in this post, so be sure to take the speculations about the Razr HD's release date, pricing and JB update, as well as the one about the Maxx HD's Canadian launch, with a pinch of salt.

Who’s excited about Rogers’ Razr HD LTE?

Related Posts

Motorola Razr V heads to Canada in Q3 on multiple carriers, Rogers has Exclusivity of Motorola RAZR in Canada, Bell to launch Motorola RAZR V on August 2, WIND to follow in fall


This article, Motorola Razr HD coming to Rogers Canada “this fall”, pricing not revealed yet , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Galaxy Note N7000 gets new features with software update

Posted: 06 Sep 2012 01:58 AM PDT

Samsung has said that the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy Note will come "very soon". It's not too early to start preparing for the jelly party, but owners of the Note may want to first welcome what appears to be the last major ICS update for the original phablet that the company is cooking up.

The build number for the new firmware is IMM76D.XXLRQ and it will bring your Galaxy Note N7000 up to par with Samsung's current flagship models, such as the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2. The update not only contains the latest TouchWiz interface, but along with it, you will also get features that previously could only be found on the S3 and Note 2. Check out the unofficial change log that XDA member garytube has compiled below.

Features taken from Galaxy S3:

  • New TouchWiz launcher
  • Direct Call
  • Lockscreen rotate to camera

Features taken from Galaxy Note 2:

  • Resizable Pop Up Play
  • New Gallery (minus Air View)

The new firmware also brings improved performance, new setup procedure, new contact list, and the ability to back up some files to a Samsung Account. Sounds like a pretty solid package to have before the arrival of Jelly Bean.

The update is currently only available via OTA and Kies in Germany.

Related Posts

Galaxy S3 Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update rolling out "very soon," Galaxy Note 10.1 and original Galaxy Note also to get it, Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update coming in Q3/Q4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.1 upgrades to follow, Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean coming on August 29 alongside Samsung Galaxy Note 2?


This article, Galaxy Note N7000 gets new features with software update , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Eric Schmidt admits Google was ‘late to tablets’

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:44 PM PDT

Eric Schmidt, Google’s chairman, speaks during a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012 in New York, where Motorola introduced three new smartphones, the first since it became a a part of Google. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Google may have overtaken the iPhone with its Android platform. While Apple changed the smartphone game when it first released the iPhone in 2007, Android has fast overtaken iOS in mobile phone shipments. However, tablets are a different thing altogether, and Google’s own executive chairman Eric Schmidt admits it.

In a speech at the Motorola press event this Wednesday, Schmidt highlighted how 1.3 million new Android devices are activated each day. However, only 70,000 of these are tablets. The former CEO admitted Google was “late to tablets.”

Apple radically changed the concept of tablet computers when it introduced the iPad in 2010. Prior to that, tablet computers were mostly touch-enabled implementations of otherwise clunky desktop-based OSes like Windows. After the iPad’s launch, manufacturers ported Android into devices with bigger screens, but none of these have really caught on to the market’s interest, except perhaps for a few devices, like the Amazon Kindle Fire and the Google Nexus 7.

Google’s own Nexus 7 is rising in popularity, and Android fans are anticipating the launch of amazon’s next Kindle device. Will these eventually help increase Android’s market share in tablet computers? It’s better late than never, I guess. And even Apple itself was not exactly the first company to the tablet market. Google may yet have the chance to make a big impression on the tablet market in the future.

Related Posts

Eric Schmidt confirms Google is interested in the hardware business, whatever that means, Eric Schmidt Talks Future and How Google Will Shape It, Eric Schmidt: over 1.3 million Android devices activated daily, 480 million users


This article, Eric Schmidt admits Google was ‘late to tablets’ , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


The Verge: Amazon to introduce an Android-based phone tomorrow

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:23 PM PDT

amazon logo 4 [aa]

Amazon will launch a smartphone September 6, sources say (Hopetts/Flickr).

Rumors about an Amazon-branded smartphone have cropped up since early part the year. It was back in May that one Citigroup analyst said that the Amazon phone would be out by the end of 2012, which seemed doubtful at the time. But here we are today apparentlyjust one day away from the unveiling of Amazon's first ever phone.

Our good friends at The Verge have received confirmation from several sources that during the Kindle maker's planned event tomorrow, an Android-powered smartphone will take the stage amongst the slew of new Kindle Fire and e-readers.  Like the Kindle Fire, the phone will run a forked version of Google's mobile OS — to be specific, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Details are still light on the phone, but that's because it's not completely finished yet, according to the sources. We're rather curious to see what retailer giant will pack inside the phone. At the very least, we’d like to be able to see its exterior.

Another aspect that we can't wait to hear about tomorrow is the price point of the phone and what kind of scheme that Amazon will put in place to push the price down. Will Jeff Bezos offer the phone for $100 or even $50? Is he planning to involve major carriers? Will it be called as the Kindle Phone?

Hopefully we'll get the answers to all these questions and more tomorrow. Be sure to check back again for our coverage of the event.

Related Posts

No related posts.


This article, The Verge: Amazon to introduce an Android-based phone tomorrow , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Motorola RAZR M to launch in UK with Intel Inside

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 07:59 PM PDT

razr m

 

Motorola Mobility has confirmed that the Motorola Droid RAZR M, announced earlier today by Motorola and Verizon, will be coming to the UK with a slight name change and a new processor. The UK variant will drop the Droid branding and be simply called the RAZR M. The Qualcomm S4 processor will also be replaced with an Intel processor. The form factor, including the edge-to-edge display will stay the same. And, the rest of the hardware specs seem to be unchanged (besides the basebands of course).

This will be the first Motorola-Intel phone to hit the market. Doing a bit of digging, this makes sense. Motorola announced their partnership with Intel way back at CES 2012. During their announcement, they fully expected products to ship later this year. Will the RAZR M sport the same Medfield processor that’s in the Lenovo K800 or will it be something new and different?

To further confirm what Pocket Lint learned, the “edge-to-edge” design on the RAZR M fits perfectly with the flyer below. Notice how the text goes from edge-to-edge, without margin. The flyer is also sporting the Intel logo.

If you’re in the UK, check back in about two weeks for the official product announcement on September 18th. Oh, one more thing. Rumor has it that the UK variant will come in White!

Related Posts

Motorola RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD expected to launch in October, Motorola Razr HD, Razr Maxx HD, and Razr M: image gallery, Will Motorola be unveiling the Intel-powered Blade phone on September 18?


This article, Motorola RAZR M to launch in UK with Intel Inside , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean arriving for Sprint Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S 4G

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:01 PM PDT

The guys over at Android Central have obtained a screenshot from Sprint’s internal systems stating that the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S 4G are finally getting Android Jelly Bean 4.1.1 tomorrow. That’s right, Sprint’s CDMA Nexus devices are getting Jelly Bean nearly two months after their GSM counter parts received the over the air update back on July 10th.

The Galaxy Nexus software version will be FH05 and the Nexus S 4G will have version JRO03R, both are the latest and greatest version of Jelly Bean.

The following internal memo is being sent around Sprint as well:

To Sprint Business Sales

September 5, 2012

Software updates for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (L700) and Nexus S 4G will be available beginning Thursday, 9.6.12. Galaxy Nexus Software Version: FH05 Nexus S Software Version: JRO03R Software updates will be pushed to all handsets via Google. Customers cannot initiate a download on their own.

Fixes/Enhancements:

Upgrades Device Operating System to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) Fastest and smoothest version of Android released Better search experience Expandable, actionable notifications A smarter keyboard And more!

After Sprint devices get their Jelly Bean update, the last remaining developer devices are Verizon’s Motorola XOOM LTE and the Verizon Galaxy Nexus. The Galaxy Nexus recently received a Jelly Bean ROM leak, making all of us think Verizon’s Nexus update can’t be too far behind.

Congrats Sprint Nexus owners, you’re going to love Jelly Bean.

Related Posts

Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean factory images for Nexus 7, Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus available, Hey Verizon, where’s Jelly Bean for my Galaxy Nexus?, Verizon Galaxy Nexus Jelly Bean upgrade coming up as JRO03O update?


This article, Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean arriving for Sprint Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S 4G , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google granted multiple user Face-To-Unlock patent, coming to Android in the future?

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 02:41 PM PDT

Google multi-user face-to-unlock

Google has had an optional way to log into Android using your face for a while now but soon the company may be taking things even further. A new patent has been awarded to Google that allows multiple accounts on a computer device to be accessed via face recognition.

While Google’s Android OS isn’t specifically mentioned here, it’s more than likely where the technology could be heading. At the same time, Google Chrome OS could also be a target of this camera patent technology.

The idea here is very simple. In order to log in, users would simply have to show their face and the software would automatically send them to their accounts. If another family member comes up, the camera will instead send him or her to the corresponding user profile. Since more consumers are sharing tablets with their families, having an easy way to do this could prove to be very helpful.

Here's the official, technical description for the patent:

"A method of logging a first user in to an computing device includes receiving a an image of the first user via a camera operably coupled with the computing device and determining an identity of the first user based on the received image. If the determined identity matches a predetermined identity, then, based at least on the identity of the first user matching the predetermined identity, the first user is logged in to the computing device."

When could such a feature make its way to Android? It’s hard to say, but Jelly Bean’s successor is a likely target.

What’s even more interesting is that Apple also applied for a patent for face-to-unlock features. With Google getting this new patent, it’s hard to say what that means for Apple’s own patent claim. Could the Google multiple user Face-To-Unlock patent become a point of litigation down the road?

Related Posts

No related posts.


This article, Google granted multiple user Face-To-Unlock patent, coming to Android in the future? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx HD official: specs, features, pricing and release date

Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:46 PM PDT

Nokia wasn’t the only company to showcase new smartphones today, as Motorola also had a New York-based media event that has just ended. Naturally, we're mostly interested in the latter's new devices, which were made official today. These are, as expected, the Droid RAZR HD and the Droid RAZR M, but also the unexpected, but-not-totally-unpredictable Droid RAZR Maxx HD, which is basically a version of the Droid RAZR HD with an even bigger battery.

Unlike with the original Droid RAZR, which was quickly followed by a Droid RAZR Maxx released that pissed off buyers that hurried to get the former version, Motorola has learned from its mistakes and announced both the Droid RAZR HD and the Droid RAZR Maxx HD at the same time.

Specs and features

So, without further ado, here's what the Droid RAZR Maxx HD has to offer:

  • Size: 131.9 x 67.9 x 9.3mm
  • Weight: 157g
  • 4.7-inch Super AMOLED HD Display with 720p resolution
  • Corning Gorilla Glass display
  • DuPont Kevlar casing
  • 1.5GHz dual-core processor
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 32GB memory of which 26GB is available to the user
  • microSD support
  • 8-megapixel camera with 1080p video capture
  • 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
  • LTE support
  • Bluetooth 4.0 LE+EDR
  • Wi-Fi with Mobile Hotspot for up to 8 connections
  • 3,300mAh battery ready to offer up to 8 hours of web browsing on Chrome for Android (4G LTE speeds) and up to 8 hours of voice-guided turn-by-turn GPS navigation. Up to 32 hours of mixed usage.
  • Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, upgradable to Jelly Bean

Annoyingly, the Droid RAZR Maxx HD will come with ICS on board instead of Jelly Bean – you'd think Motorola would release new devices running the latest Android OS version but that's not apparently the case.

Droid RAZR HD vs Droid RAZR Maxx HD

In case you're interested in what's different between the Droid RAZR Maxx HD and the Droid RAZR HD then don't be surprised to find out that the former is slightly bigger than the latter. The RAZR HD weighs 146g and measures just 8.4mm in thinness. The added 11g of body fat and the extra 0.9mm thickness give the RAZR Maxx HD a 3,300mAh battery (compared to 2,530mAh) capable of up to 32 hours of mixed usage (compared to 24 hours of mixed usage). Moreover, the RAZR Maxx HD also packs an extra 16GB of built-in memory, while everything else stays the same.

Pricing and release dates

Neither Motorola nor Verizon were willing to announce pricing details for the new HD-branded RAZR smartphones. Since the Droid RAZR M will sell for $99 on contract, we wouldn't be surprised to see the Droid RAZR HD priced at $199 and the Droid RAZR Maxx HD priced at $299 – these are guesstimate subsidized prices from our part, meaning they will require two-year commitments with the carrier.

Motorola said the devices will be launched by the end of the year in the U.S. – except for the Droid RAZR M that's going to be available for pre-order starting today – but it did not mention international availability dates for either model.

motorola-droid-razr-maxx-hd-press-photo-2 motorola-droid-razr-maxx-hd-press-photo-6 motorola-droid-razr-maxx-hd-press-photo-5 motorola-droid-razr-maxx-hd-press-photo-4 motorola-droid-razr-maxx-hd-press-photo-3

Anyone picking up a new Motorola handset this year? What will you choose?

Show full PR text

Verizon Wireless and Motorola Add Three New and Exclusive 4G LTE DROID RAZR™ Smartphones

All the power, battery life and cool design of DROID RAZR™ with the speed of 4G LTE three times over

Sept. 05, 2012

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility today announced that they are adding three new and exclusive smartphones, DROID RAZR™ M, DROID RAZR™ HD and DROID RAZR™ MAXX™ HD, to the DROID RAZR™ by Motorola family on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network.

All three devices offer the power and reliability that customers have come to expect from Motorola and Verizon Wireless. DROID devices give customers speed, power and revolutionary technology, while the RAZR design delivers a thin, compact device built with strong, top-of-the-line materials and long-lasting battery life. The new smartphones are powered by the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, giving customers the capability to simultaneously talk and browse the Web and also access the blazingly fast speeds that cover more than 75 percent of the U.S. population. With three brand new options, this lineup has something for everyone.

DROID RAZR M: The Full-Screen Phone
DROID RAZR M is an unbelievably compact smartphone that puts the world in the palm of your hand with an edge-to-edge 4.3-inch Super AMOLED™ Advanced display. Customers will be amazed with the DROID RAZR M's design, which is significantly shorter and narrower than the original DROID RAZR, yet includes the same size display, making it the most compact 4.3-inch 4G LTE smartphone.

DROID RAZR M also features powerful Web browsing capabilities by combining Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network with the speeds of Chrome™ for Android™ mobile browser for an unrivaled mobile Web experience.

The DROID RAZR M's SMARTACTIONS™ feature maximizes battery efficiency with every charge, allowing customers to browse the Web and watch videos without worrying about draining their device's battery.

DROID RAZR HD: Performance and Power
Building on the DROID RAZR legacy, the new DROID RAZR HD expands the innovation with a new 4.7-inch Super AMOLED HD display that allows movies, photos, magazines and even websites to appear with vivid clarity. DROID RAZR HD provides customers with 78 percent more pixels for a more vibrant display and features 40 percent greater battery capacity than the original DROID RAZR.

The viewdini app is at its best with the HD display and 4G LTE speeds to watch movies, television shows and other video content. Viewdini brings the power of Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network to the screen by streamlining access to videos from a wide range of content providers, including cable operators, websites and other popular video sources. The viewdini app can be downloaded from Google Play.

DROID RAZR MAXX HD: Long Live the Battery
Packed with the same leading features as DROID RAZR HD, the DROID RAZR MAXX HD raises the industry standard for battery life with 32 hours of normal use. The DROID RAZR MAXX HD is remarkably thin, yet packs sufficient battery power for 13 hours of straight video playback, enough to watch a movie trilogy without needing a charge. Customers also have enough battery life to talk the day away with up to 21 hours of continuous talk time or browse the Web on 4G LTE for up to a full eight hours.

A Trilogy of Premium Design, Speed and Features:
● 4G LTE – customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE coverage areas.
● Interactive Circles Widget allows quick access to notifications, weather, time and more
● Quick Settings can be accessed directly from the home screen so customers can easily manage their volume profile, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, GPS and more
● Enhanced Help Guides provide interactive tutorials, help topics and tips to become a DROID RAZR expert
● Global Ready so customers can have voice and data service in more than 205 countries
● Business ready with enterprise grade security and data encryption, remote wipe, complex password support, IPsec multi-headed VPN client and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync® support
● 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 1 GB RAM
● Mobile Hotspot – Share a 4G LTE connection with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices
● 8-megapixel camera with LED flash and 1080p HD recording
● Front-facing camera for video chatting
● NFC-enabled so customers can send contacts, links, maps and more directly to compatible phones with Android Beam™
● Corning® Gorilla® Glass display, DuPont™ KEVLAR® fiber and water-repellent nanocoating
● microSD™ card slot with support for up to 32 GB

The new DROID RAZRs run Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (upgradeable to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean by end of 2012) and come with the best of Google Mobile Services, including:
● Chrome™ for Android™, giving a personalized Web experience
● Google Play™, apps and games, millions of books and songs, thousands of movies and TV shows
● Google Maps™ for Android (Beta) for voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions
● Voice Actions for Android™, letting customers control their phones with their voice
● Google+™, which can automatically upload photos to a private album online
● YouTube™, watch videos in stunning HD, Preload subscribed channels or individual videos and the YouTube app will automatically download videos over Wi-Fi while the phone is charging – making them ready to watch in an instant

Pricing and Availability:

● DROID RAZR M will be available for pre-order starting today, September 5th, at 5 p.m. ET at http://www.verizonwireless.com/droidrazrm and will be available on September 13th in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at http://www.verizonwireless.com for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. The DROID RAZR M will be available either Black or White.
● DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD will be available before the holidays. The DROID RAZR HD will be available in either Black or White and the DROID RAZR MAXX HD will be available in Black.
● Customers who purchase a DROID RAZR M, DROID RAZR HD or DROID RAZR MAXX HD will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless data plan. Share Everything Plans allow customers to add smartphones to their account for $40 monthly access. For additional information, customers should go to www.verizonwireless.com/shareeverything

About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, owned by Google, fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

Related Posts

No related posts.


This article, Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx HD official: specs, features, pricing and release date , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.