Friday, September 21, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


Patent troll hits Google and Apple with a big fat patent infringement claim

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 02:34 AM PDT

Google And Motorola Ordered To Share Android Development Data With Apple

Unwired Planet has filed patent infringement claims against Google and Apple. Both companies are charged with infringing on ten patents, but is seems likely that more claims might follow.

The "intellectual property" company is claiming that Apple infringes on ten patents relating to its mobile devices, content systems, messaging, and maps (iPhone, iPad, iPod, iTunes, App Store, Apple Apps, Siri, Apple Push Notification Service, Apple Maps, Local Search, iAds, Safari web browser, Find My iPhone, Find My iPad, and Find My Friends) .

Google is also charged with infringing on ten patents relating to its mobile devices, search and advertising, content systems, messaging, maps, and short-range radio communications (Motorola and Nexus mobile phones and tablets running Android, Google Search, Google AdWords, Google Places, Google Mobile Ads, Google Play, Google Apps, Bouncer, C2DM, GCM, Android Location, Google Maps, Google Street View, Google Latitude, Google My Location, Google+, Google+Local, Google Wallet).

This is a wide ranging attack on both company's devices and services. The Unwired Planet CEO, Mike Mulica, said in the press release:

"Apple and Google generate substantial revenues from devices and services that rely on the intellectual property that Unwired Planet developed and patented over the last 15 years. They should compensate us for the use of our patented technologies, which are foundational to mobility,"

Unwired Planet was previously known as Openwave, Software.com, Phone.com, and it started life as Libris, Inc. Mulica describes it as:

"Today's actions follow a careful review that we launched in late 2011 as we began to transform Unwired Planet into an Intellectual Property company,"

In other words it is a patent troll. He went on to say:

"This litigation marks a key step in our multi-pronged strategy to maximize shareholder value through the licensing of our robust portfolio of patents and to protect our IP through litigation against unlicensed parties as necessary."

So this troll is angry and on the warpath. It actually filed a case last year before the ITC attacking Apple and RIM over four other patents.

This gives Apple and Google a common enemy so can we expect them to join forces? You can bet they are weighing up the seriousness of these claims and maybe even considering an acquisition rather than a court battle. If one of them snapped up the Unwired Planet portfolio it would presumably give them a considerable arsenal to use in the ongoing patent war.

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This article, Patent troll hits Google and Apple with a big fat patent infringement claim , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Facebook mobile apps to be refreshed on a 1-2 month basis

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 02:19 AM PDT

We’re friends, aren’t we?

So you say the Facebook app sucks? You said you don’t like Timeline’s look on your mobile browser? Then you’ll enjoy the news straight from Menlo Park, a promise of epic proportions, that Facebook will be updating its entire armada of mobile apps every 4-8 weeks.

The reasoning behind this new strategy straight from the source:

We now schedule predictable and explicit dates when we cut from mobile feature development to testing, stabilization, and polishing. This allows engineering to move fast, keeps the apps in a shippable state, and generally removes ambiguity about when code will ship. Moving to a date-driven model means that stability and performance updates, or user-ready features, don't need to wait on another feature to ship.

In laymen’s terms: better, faster, harder, stronger. It used to be the case, Facebook would only “ship out” releases to their mobile apps when an itemized bunch of goodies was ready. Facebook noticed a repetitive problem with this assembly line technique. They quipped,”We'd decide on a bundle of features, furiously work on them, test them, and ship. Great updates we had already finished sometimes took longer to get into people's hands because we often had to wait for additions and tweaks that threw us off schedule."

Now the mantra seems to be to combine efforts into bettering the mobile experience, as it has been over time with its Web interface. Recently, the company has been spinning out two updates a day for that version. Unfortunately, the resource-intensive task of doing the same for mobile apps is not in the task list for the social media giant. That’s fine by us: today’s Facebook for Android update was available for screens worldwide a measly 4 weeks after the last version was unveiled. Not bad, Mark. Not bad.

What is your take on the Facebook promise? Do you think they can hold to it long-term? Will it change your usage of the mobile app, knowing it may get better with time?

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This article, Facebook mobile apps to be refreshed on a 1-2 month basis , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Apple is in trouble for copying Switzerland’s famous railway clock

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 01:50 AM PDT

Hans Hilfiker, an engineer, designed a clock face for the Swiss Federal Railways in 1955 that quickly became an internationally recognized symbol for his native country. Apple, with Wednesday’s release of iOS 6, used Hilfiker’s design as the icon for the clock application in the iPad. According to the Swiss site Blick.ch, the SBB (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen; aka Swiss Federal Railways) is “angry”. One of their spokespeople told the site that they’re trying to get in touch with Apple to discuss the financial and legal implications of the unauthorized use of their design. That’s all we know about the story thus far.

So let’s count the number of things Apple screwed up in iOS 6: One, they pulled out YouTube, but that’s OK since Google launched a YouTube iOS app. Two, they pulled out Google Maps, which is making everyone upset because the new maps in iOS 6 are not only ugly, but they’re inaccurate too, which makes them doubly useless. Third, this whole clock thing. For a software release that’s been out for less than 48 hours, we’re curious to see how many more controversies occur.

Should we all be furious at Apple? Normally we’d say no, that it’s OK for companies to compete because that drives society as a whole towards a better future, but this is different. Apple sues damn near everyone who uses Android, going in so far as to have devices taken off markets in certain countries, and now they’re blatantly copying a design that’s synonymous with an entire country. What’s worse?

Is there anything good about this story? Potentially yes, if you’re in Switzerland that is. Apple will likely pay the SBB some money, and hopefully that money ends up being spent on upgrading trains, renovating some of the older railway stations, and other such infrastructure related projects.

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This article, Apple is in trouble for copying Switzerland’s famous railway clock , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


NexPhone, an Ubuntu version of the ASUS Padfone and Moto Atrix

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 01:13 AM PDT

When Ubuntu first came onto the computing scene, very few people knew how popular it would get in just a short amount of time. Sounds similar to Android doesn’t it? Now the boundaries between smartphone, tablet and notebook are blurring even further, with the advent of ideas like the Ubuntu for Android NexPhone.

dockable phone has been a recent innovation spawned by the increasing need to minimize gadgetry, and simultaneously, always have access to data at one’s fingertips. This is where the ASUS Padfone, Motorola Atrix, and now Canonical NexPhone comes in. A tepid reception for the Atrix does not spell failure for the NexPhone, however. In the words of NexCrea, the driving force behind this device:

"NexPhone will be one single device that can be used at home, at the office, or on the road without the need of synchronizing content or contacts with other devices. The ‘brain in your pocket’ concept is what people have been waiting for, and we envision a world where we carry only our smartphone and connect to any screen in the world to turn them into tablets, laptops, and PCs.”

Sounds good to us! NexCrea is currently having a fundraiser over at Indiegogo and the campaign ends Nov. 14. Unfortunately, total funds raised amount to just under $3K. You would think that a device that can do all of  the following would be a hit with the public:

  • Act as a full desktop PC solution using Ubuntu for Android with a premium suite of desktop apps
  • Act as a tablet when docked to the NexTablet, a superior solution for light Web browsing and Skype calls.
  • Act as a full-blown notebook when docked to the NexLaptop.
  • Act as a 16:9 touchscreen when docked to the wide-screen NexMonitor.

If NexCrea pulls out of its current funding stalemate, the pricing looks to be about $149 for the NexTablet, $199 for the NexLaptop and NexMonitor, and finally, $499 for the NexPhone and associated NexDock that makes the transformative magic happen.

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This article, NexPhone, an Ubuntu version of the ASUS Padfone and Moto Atrix , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google Maps and Apple iOS 6: Here’s everything we know thus far

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 01:07 AM PDT

When Apple showed the world the iPhone for the first time in early 2007, they invited Eric Schmidt on stage, who at the time was the CEO of Google, to say a few words about how both companies worked closely together to deliver an amazing experience. Fast forward five years and the world today is practically upside down. The first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1, launched more than a year after the first iPhone, but today Android dominates the smartphone market. Forget about the technical and aesthetic differences between iOS and Android, the main driver of Google’s success with their mobile operating system has been its flexibility. If a company wants to make a $150 Android smartphone, then so be it. They can also make a $750 “phablet” if they want; the sky’s the limit. That, compared to Apple’s one phone every year business model, is why you see more devices running Android out there than you see iPhones.

Now Apple, looking to get back at Google for making Android, has not only taken several Android handset makers to court, but with the latest release of their software platform, iOS 6, they stripped out two key Google apps: YouTube and Maps. Google already has a YouTube app in Apple’s App Store, and it’s the number one free download, but Maps is where things get complicated and nasty.

Some people say Google has already made an iOS version of Google Maps and that it’s just waiting to be approved. Other’s say that’s not the case. Where’s not going to support either rumor, but we do want point out that Google releasing an iOS Google Maps app is all but guaranteed at this point.

Why is Google Maps important? Because the maps that Apple put it in iOS 6 are terrible. They not only look worse than Google Maps, but they’re frighteningly inaccurate. Google, being a services company that monetizes their operation using targeted advertising, will, without a shadow of doubt, release Google Maps for iOS.

The question is when? And that’s all we know about about this hullabaloo at the moment.

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This article, Google Maps and Apple iOS 6: Here’s everything we know thus far , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Sprint Galaxy Note 2 handled in the wild: no release date, pricing or weird branding present

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 12:38 AM PDT

A few days ago Samsung confirmed that five carriers in the U.S. will have the Galaxy Note 2 in stock by mid-November including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular. Of those five, Sprint and U.S. Cellular already announced the device, with the latter ready to take pre-orders for the phablet at $299.99 with new two-year contracts.

But neither operator mentioned precise release dates for the device, with Sprint expecting to have the device in stores this fall and U.S. Cellular offering a "late October" launch window.

Sprint went ahead and scheduled a press event in New York City where those attending were actually shown the device, and allowed to play with it. Engadget reports that Sprint's version is pretty much similar with the international Galaxy Note 2 that we've seen, in person, at IFA 2012 in late August.

More importantly, Sprint's unit did not come with any weird branding, and by that we do mean it hasn’t adorned the Home button with the carrier's logo, a branding option revealed by a questionable Verizon Galaxy Note 2 leak recently.

Moreover, there's no Sprint branding on the back of the phone either, although that could change by the time the handset is launched. Ultimately, this shouldn't be a buying impediment for anyone interested in a Galaxy Note 2 from the carrier.

As for a clear release date and pricing details for Sprint's first Samsung phablet, carrier representatives were not able to provide an actual answer. They did say the device will come "this holiday season," without even mentioning the month, or what it will cost.

While you wait for the device to launch with your favorite U.S. carrier – as long as it's one of the five mentioned above – we'll remind you that you can still register for our Galaxy Note 2 giveaway and win your phablet long before it launches in America.

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This article, Sprint Galaxy Note 2 handled in the wild: no release date, pricing or weird branding present , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


IFTTT to stop supporting Twitter triggers on September 27th

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 11:53 PM PDT

IFTTT, which stands for “if this then that“, is an awesome online service that lets you build little scripts. Say for example you’re using Last.fm and an awesome song comes on. You click the like button and with IFTTT you can program it to automatically tweet out the track you just liked, post that track to Tumblr, share it to Evernote, and so on and so forth. IFTTT calls these little scripts “recipes”, and the community is more than eager to share what they’ve come up with so you can get the most out of the service. If you love Android because it lets you tweak just about everything in the operating system, you’re going to fall head over heels with IFTTT and all the things it can let you do.

Now Twitter, in an effort to make more money, is discouraging people from using their API. They told IFTTT that they can no longer give their customers Twitter “triggers”. What’s a trigger? Say you setup IFTTT to send you an email anytime your favorite band sends out a tweet that has the name of your city in it. That tweet, with that keyboard, “triggered” IFTTT to do something. Starting September 27th, you’ll no longer be able to do things like that.

If you want to tell IFTTT to send out a tweet on your behalf, then that’s cool. Twitter doesn’t have a problem with IFTTT sending tweets. Twitter just doesn’t want IFTTT to be constantly hitting their servers, waiting for specific tweets so they can perform specific actions.

We’re huge fans of IFTTT at Android Authority, so we’re deeply saddened by this, but at the same time we understand why this had to happen. Many, probably all, of the online services we use are free. The people who create and run those services have to figure out how to pay their employees. If it means they have to turn off certain features that are too cost prohibitive, well, that’s life.

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This article, IFTTT to stop supporting Twitter triggers on September 27th , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


iOS 6 vs Jelly Bean, a tale of two updates

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 11:45 PM PDT

Yes, we know it's iPhone 5 and iOS 6 week this time of year, as Apple has released its sixth major mobile OS refresh a couple of days ago which was followed by the sixth iPhone launch – currently taking place in Asia and Australia and quickly spreading to Europe and the North America. But what we're strictly interested in today is the inevitable iOS 6 vs Jelly Bean update comparison when it comes to availability and adoption rate among existing consumers, which you know from the get go that it’s not going to be a battle Google can win just yet.

Cost and availability

Whether you're updating your device to iOS 6 or Jelly Bean, you'll have to know that each update comes free of charge for no matter how many supported iOS and/or Android devices you own, as soon as either update is available.

iOS 6 was demoed on stage during WWDC 2012 in June, and became available in beta version soon after that, with developers and non-developers being able to run those betas ever since. The OS has been presented one more time during the September 12 iPhone 5 event, and released to the public on September 19.

Jelly Bean was also unveiled in June during the Google I/O event and shipped a few weeks later on Google's first tablet, the Nexus 7 that was running the OS right out of the box. Updates followed for other Nexus-branded devices, including the Google Nexus and the Nexus S, but they were not released as fast as one would have hoped for, especially for some U.S. versions of those phones.

What you get and who is involved

With iOS 6, you get mostly the same features for a variety of iOS devices, from iPhone 3GS to iPhone 5 – the list includes all iOS devices launched from iPhone 3GS to iPhone 5, except for the original iPad and iPod touch 3G (third-generation) – although there are some differences depending on what device you use and in which country.

Image Credit: Chitika

Apple is the only company in control of pushing out the updates, with carriers left at the door watching the whole thing. Crapware on the devices is not available.

With Jelly Bean, you also get the same features across supported devices. But unfortunately, in addition to Google who's in charge of directly updating Nexus-branded devices we also have OEMs and carriers having a say in the whole thing. OEMs are interested in applying their custom user interfaces on top of Android, while carriers want to add in various apps they think the users would want to have installed on the devices they purchase. That's why Jelly Bean updates are taking their time.

As for the smartphones and tablets that are compatible with Android 4.1, one would expect to see all the devices that run Ice Cream Sandwich to get Jelly Bean as well. But that's not up to Google to decide.

With Android, there's always the choice of going with Jelly Bean custom ROMs, thus getting the latest OS a lot faster and doing away with the carriers' influence. However, while we do have plenty of How To posts that show you how to install several custom ROMs on a variety of devices, we don't recommend you go for unofficial ROMs. That's entirely your call to make, especially if you're well-versed in Android customization.

Jelly Bean on Nexus S 4G (left) vs iOS 6 on iPhone 4S (right) | Image credit: ZDNet

With both iOS 6 and Jelly Bean, you can expect existing apps to run on the iOS or Android device that's being updated immediately after performing the update, without expecting developers to release updates of their own for those apps. However, you'll notice that a variety of apps will be updated to make better use of the features of the latest mobile OS available. And that's probably especially true with iOS apps for the new iPhone 5 and fifth-generation iPod touch, as both devices come with a larger 4-inch display.

As for future iOS devices, it’s safe to say all upcoming Apple mobile gadgets will run the software out of the box – the list is probably limited to the iPad Mini (rumored to launch later this year) and iPad (fourth generation that’s coming next year). What’s annoying for the Android ecosystem is that devices still launch with Ice Cream Sandwich on board (if not an even earlier version for certain devices) despite the fact that Jelly Bean has been available to OEMs for a few months – and yes, Motorola, we’re mostly looking at you right now.

A tale of two updates

A story on the matter featured on ZDNet comes just in the nick of time, comparing the update process to the latest mobile OS for either platform for two handsets, the iPhone 4S and the Nexus S 4G. James Kendrick writes:

Like millions of device owners, yesterday I updated my iPhone to IOS 6. Coincidentally, my Nexus S 4G update to Jelly Bean rolled out and I updated it, too. Seeing the two platform updates side-by-side reinforces the reality of Android updates.

According to Kendrick, he was able to perform the updates at the same day on those two devices, and the winner was the iPhone 4S:

Like millions of device owners, yesterday I updated my iPhone to IOS 6. Coincidentally, my Nexus S 4G update to Jelly Bean rolled out and I updated it, too. Seeing the two platform updates side-by-side reinforces the reality of Android updates.

Meanwhile, the Jelly Bean update for the Nexus S 4G – which arrived a lot later than expected for the second-generation Nexus handset – "started off nicely" but was soon hit by Google Play bugs and issues communicating with Google's servers.

This update comparison verifies what is frequently said about iOS and Android. Apple’s devices get updates all at once with no waiting. The update process tends to go without issues, and life goes on.

Android on the other hand, is a mixed bag. Some phones still haven’t received the Jelly Bean update and perhaps never will. My experience with the Nexus S 4G shows that even going with a flagship phone for Android isn’t a sure bet for prompt updates. I have been waiting for months for each major Android update, even while Google was promising that wouldn’t be the case.

Market share

A new Chitika report reveals that 15% of eligible iOS devices have been updated to iOS 6 on the first day, compared to Jelly Bean "which only saw a 1.5% adoption rate within its first two months." Comparatively, it took iOS 5 three days to reach the same market share, and since we're talking about previous-generation mobile OS version, we'll also note that some Android devices are just getting the Ice Cream Sandwich update they deserve, with ICS currently found on around 20% of Android devices.

Now, without actually trying to figure out how many devices are compatible with iOS 6 or Jelly Bean, we will say that there are over 400 million iOS devices out there and over 500 million Android devices. So that 15% share is quite impressive for a first day update.

Image Credit: Sandvine

 

Another report from Sandvine goes to show that the iOS 6 update generated in a spike of traffic for Apple's iTunes stores – App Store and Mac App Store. In addition to the iOS 6 update, Apple also released a Mac OS X 10.8.2 update, while various developers have already optimized their apps for iOS 6. Venturebeat said about these traffic spikes:

As you can see from the chart [above], the surge began as soon as Apple released iOS 6, and actually increased as people got home from work in the evening. Sandvine estimates that traffic levels for Apple stores were nine times higher than average levels.

What I'm curious about is what impact this will have on app and media sales. If people are simply pressing all the new buttons and opening all the native apps to see what's different, then the traffic boost isn't really that big of a deal. Apple did actually revamp its digital stores, so it makes sense that people would want to spend more time browsing.

As for Jelly Bean, Google is less likely to experience similar spikes in Google Play traffic because of the way the Android updates are handled. We can only imagine that in case Google would have a stronger say in the way updates are performed, traffic to its own stores would increase at least during the updates and immediately after, which could lead to an increased number of digital content sales.

A foregone conclusion

iOS 6 beats Jelly Bean when it comes to update availability and adoption from existing user base and there's no way around it – again, we’re not looking today at iOS 6 vs Jelly Bean features. In fact, we can already say that iOS 7 will beat Key Lime Pie, or whatever the latest Android OS version will be when iOS 7 rolls out in 2013, because that's the nature of these two major mobile platforms that dominate the smartphone ecosystem, at least right now.

Naturally, Android fans can only hope that more Nexus-branded devices will be released in the near future, especially considering the various rumors that have recently mentioned the potential launch of a Samsung Galaxy Nexus 2, an LG Optimus Nexus and a Sony Xperia Nexus. And don't even get me started on the recently announced RAZRs that don't run Jelly Bean out of the box – it's not like Google paid a tremendous amount of money to buy the company in order to focus more on hardware. Or was it patents?

What OS are you running on your mobile device?

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This article, iOS 6 vs Jelly Bean, a tale of two updates , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Amazon Kindles are no longer available for purchase from your local Wal-Mart

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 11:19 PM PDT

Wal-Mart, America’s largest supermarket chain that sells damn near everything at prices so low you start to wonder how people in China survive, has decided to stop selling Amazon’s various Kindle devices in their stores. Why? Because Amazon, when you stop and think about it, is basically Wal-Mart, but in the cloud. Both Wal-Mart and Amazon will sell you pretty much everything your little heart desires. They’re both incredibly price competitive. And they both have very well known brands. So why then would Wal-Mart sell you Amazon’s devices when Amazon’s devices are nothing but a gateway to Amazon’s massive online store? It’s just bad business.

Put yourself in Wal-Mart’s shoes. Do you want to sell a product that encourages people to do their shopping from the comfort of their homes instead of your brick and mortar stores? Absolutely not. Target, another chain that’s often billed as the “upscale” version of Wal-Mart, recently decided to stop selling Amazon’s Kindles as well.

Will these decisions have an impact on the Android tablet ecosystem? First of all, what Android tablet ecosystem? A Kindle may run Android, but it’s not really the same version of Android we all know and love. And as for tablets from the likes of Samsung, ASUS, and other companies … they haven’t exactly been doing all that well. Besides, Wal-Mart and Target customers usually live in suburbs, which means they have cars, so there’s a high probability that they live next to an electronics store. They’ll have to go to two stores instead of one if they want a Kindle, but really, is that such a bad thing?

If someone really wants a tablet, they’ll figure out how to buy it. It’s as simple as that.

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This article, Amazon Kindles are no longer available for purchase from your local Wal-Mart , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


CIRP provides smartphone market share through the eyes of the carriers

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 09:24 PM PDT

When looking at the current market share of smartphones, we commonly look at manufacturers and operating systems. However, what do the smartphone sales of each individual carrier look like? The Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) have provided us with exactly that information.

The results paint a very interesting picture. Android will sit on top taking the crown as it outsells all other devices on 3 out of the 4 major carriers. However, when looking at AT&T's statistics, there have been more iPhone activations than Android activations. The most logical explanation for this is that AT&T was the first carrier to carry the iPhone, so I'm sure a lot of people never saw any reason to switch. However, it is still very surprising given the recent AT&T order to push non-iPhone devices. In addition, Verizon has been supporting Android longer than any other carrier since the introduction of their DROID line. It is no secret that Verizon has been favoring Android over iOS as well.

The data collected by CIRP also showed that the majority of Verizon's phone sales occurred in their retail stores. This is far different from the case with the other three major carriers. As a matter of fact, 25% of all smartphone sales took place right in a Verizon Wireless store. That might mean that Verizon's sales representatives are actually doing their jobs, or maybe it just means that Verizon stores are more convenient than its online services. Whatever the reason may be, it is certainly shocking considering the explosion of online purchases in the past couple of years.

The final piece of information revealed is somewhat embarrassing for Blackberry and Windows based devices. Basic phones outsold both Windows and Blackberry devices combined. This is certainly not a good sign. Luckily, there are reportedly big things coming in the future for both Windows Phone and Blackberry.

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This article, CIRP provides smartphone market share through the eyes of the carriers , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Vince Vaughn And Owen Wilson Shooting New Movie “The Internship” At Google’s HQ

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 07:37 PM PDT

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Looks like the dynamic duo from the Wedding Crashers will be hitting the big screen once again for an upcoming movie being shot right now at Google HQ. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn were on set for their new movie “The Internship,” where real live Googlers will appear as extras in the film. Google co-founder Sergery Brin was even generous enough to host a dinner at his home where some of the crew was invited and Vince Vaughn even spent some time with Eric Schmidt as part Google’s employee talk sessions to air soon on YouTube.

If you’re wondering what other Google goodies will show up in the film it’s said that Google’s self-driving cars as well as Google Glass will make cameos in the film. The movie will be a comedic take on life in Silicon Valley though we’re not sure when it will be released in theaters.

[AllThingsD]

 


Jelly Bean Update For HTC One X Coming In October, One X+ Launching Same Month [Rumor]

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 06:13 PM PDT

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If you’re an HTC One X owner, you’ve no doubt been eagerly awaiting any word on the planned Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for your device. Seems the man known as MoDaCo has gotten some valuable intel regarding the firmware update for the One X and, if all goes according to plan, it’s said that HTC will begin pushing out the update by October.

Before you jump out of your seat, keep in mind this is only HTC’s update and will be subject to inspection from your local carrier before it can be approved for your device. Even then, the update will arrive for all devices — carrier branded or not — before Christmas time. In an extra bit of news, Mr. O’Brien also got word that October will also be the month we can expect the fabled HTC One X+ to launch and it will come preloaded with Jelly Bean out of the box. No update required. Let’s hope the One X+ makes it’s way to more carriers than just AT&T this time around.

[MoDaCo]


Google, Stack Exchange, and USPTO Giving The People Power To Squash Patent Trolls For Good

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 05:18 PM PDT

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Starting today, you can help make the world a better place thanks to a (desperately needed) change in patent law allowing 3rd parties the ability to challenge ridiculous patents filed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. At one time illegal, now all you’ll need to do is dig up enough evidence to support your claim and along with your comments, it can all be sent directly to the USTPO for review and further analysis.

Brought to you by good guy Google and the folks at the Stack Exchange who’s work in conjunction with the Patent Office, make the whole process even easier for those wanting to keep the world safe from patent trolls. Jumping onto patents.stackexchange.com will give “patent troll hunters” the resources they need to discuss sketchy patents, validity, or prior art with others, where evidence can be filed to the USTPO with minimal effort. Google is doing their part by linking disputed patents found on their handy patent search site to Stack Exchange discussions. Bad boys, bad boys, what’cha gonna do when we come for you…

Currently, there aren’t rewards in place for patent busters, but users will awarded badges for bragging rights once they’ve successfully taken down a patent. This is yet another instance where crowd sourcing can work in everyone’s favor and I can already hear the patent trolls squealing in horror. As a bonus, here’s a quick link to a patent I dug up, filed by some dudes named Jonathan Ive and Steve Jobs. It’s an electronic doohickey they apparently “invented” and you might find vaguely familiar. [Patent D504889]

“Ahhhh, what’s up, doc?”

“Shhhhh… I’m huntin’ patents.”

[Wired | Thanks, Adam!]


Shoddy NFC security could allow free metro rides; could lack of maturity fail NFC? [POLL]

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 03:38 PM PDT

NFC is a great technology, but like anything in this digital age security is perhaps the most important element of all. A group of hackers at the EUSecWest security conference in Amsterdam showed how it was possible to manipulate some NFC-based fare cards to allow a metro rider to get free rides.

Using an app called “UltraReset,” riders can roll their balance back up to, say, ten rides should they use all of them up. The way that it works is that the application reads a balance of ten rides from the initial card you purchase.

Once you’ve used all those rides up, your Android phone will write that information back to the fare card and use it as if you’ve purchased another ten rides — and you can keep doing this as much as you want to. Apparently this works for NFC-enabled subway systems in New Jersey and San Francisco, and it may work for even more that have yet to be tested.

One of the presenters, Corey Benninger, demonstrated an ability to read the card’s data using a modified version of “UltraReset” called “UltraCardTester.” The latter only demonstrates the ability to read, not write.

The full app is not being released for fear of abuse by those looking to save some bucks, but Benninger notes that it is so easy to code an app to manipulate the metro cards that someone with little programming experience can just as easily make their own app.

The reason for bringing this up is not to dangle some desirable functionality in our faces, of course — they simply want these cities to get the message and plug up holes that could eventually cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue due to false rides. Benninger says the fix is easy, and that it simply requires a more secure NFC chip or a better way of handling the “on/off” bits that represent each ride in the back-end.

Both cities confirmed to be vulnerable are said to be using Mifare Ultralight chips, and unless other cities have a more secure and practical back-end to handle the “bits” there’s a good chance they could be just as vulnerable if they employ these chips.

It’s an interesting development that has us wondering if many of these industries are ready for NFC. Whether it be due to lack of competence by engineers or lack of understanding of what, exactly, NFC is providing in terms of the balance between convenience and security, one thing is for sure — it’s still a relatively new technology that could mean dire financial consequences for a government or business if they’re not on their P’s and Q’s.

Unless those who are employing it completely understand what they’re doing with it we could see NFC failing fast if it happens to become an economically-taxing fumble. Let’s get it together, guys. [via Computerworld]


Netflix for Android users seeing new user interface?

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 02:35 PM PDT

Some people are claiming to see new user interfaces in their Netflix for Android applications despite Netflix not having an update in the Google Play Store. That would, of course, be explained by the fact that Netflix likely uses an HTML5 webview for its main content pane, a setup that would allow them to update several UI and functionality elements without having to submit an update to the Google Play Store.

The new interface apparently delivers a side-scrolling experience not unlike what we’ve seen on tablets, the desktop, and other devices. It has a darker look and feel, and new options to single-tap a movie/show card to show info on it or double-tap a card to play are present. Even on a fresh download of Netflix I was presented with the old user interface, but enough users are reporting the changes that this just might be true. Let us know in the comments if things look a litle bit different from you. [Droid-LifeGoogle Play Store]


Facebook Messenger gets UI refresh; stock app also gets update treatment

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 01:54 PM PDT

Facebook Messenger has been updated in the Google Play Store, and it brings with it some nice UI changes that Facebook hopes will make conversational reading more natural.

They’re using speech bubbles to separate text, the ability to swipe left to see who’s online and available to chat, improved speed and reliability, text messages, the ability to add friends to the top of your favorites, and more.

The stock Facebook app also got some update love, though it’s not quite the native UI refresh we’ve been waiting for. They’ve also updated its Messaging UI to reflect the Messenger application’s new look, as well as a new button in the News Feed screen to see who’s available to chat, the ability to see who’s active before sending a message, and stability improvements.

Facebook says it is all part of the company’s new update strategy. Instead of letting users wait long periods of time for new features and bug fixes for the sake of having bigger updates, the social networking giant will instead issue more frequent updates that’ll sprinkle in new features and bug fixes for a more progressive approach.

I love it, and hopefully the truly big update — the one where the dastardly HTML5 nonsense is put to rest — will be out sometime soon. Head to the Google Play Store here and here for Facebook and Facebook Messenger, respectively.


Walmart apparently kicking Amazon out its stores

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 12:57 PM PDT

The list of many different places you can go to buy Amazon Kindle devices has just gotten smaller. Reuters is reporting that Walmart is dropping all things Kindle. They apparently see no need for Amazon’s devices with the likes of, say, Barnes and Noble, Sony, and others with fine products on the market. It follows a similar move by Target, which also gave a similar spiel about how the Kindle line just doesn’t fit between their many options anymore.

Right away it all sounds like bitter drivel to me, and I know I’m not the only one that feels that way. The general belief is that these brick and mortar retailers are feeling threatened by Amazon’s presence in retail.

With its online-only model, Amazon has become the biggest e-commerce site there is, and to drive sales like they’ve been able to without a brick and mortar format probably irks these big-box retailers to no end.

So why not attack Amazon where it hurts? The Kindle business is a huge part of Amazon’s cash flow, and retailers feel like supporting the products in brick and mortar would be like supporting Amazon’s ability to cut into their retail traffic.  But these retailers still support retailer Barnes & Noble’s line of tablets and e-readers, do they not?

Well, they’re specialists. They sell books and multimedia, so they’re not a direct threat to Walmart or Target. Amazon, on the other hand, probably sells more different products and brands than Target and Walmart combined.

Also, because Amazon’s devices tend to be priced ridiculously cheap it’s believed Target and Walmart are as unhappy with the profit margins of selling these devices as they are with Amazon quickly rising up in sales.

Amazon’s retail sales grew 42% last year, while Walmart and Target grew a combined 6.7%. Sure, it’s hard to improve much when you’re already at the top but to do what Amazon has been able to do in an online-only capacity is nothing to sneeze at.

Can you see why there would be some animosity between Amazon and these retailers? I’m not saying this will become a trend and we’ll see a mass-exiling of Amazon products in physical retail outlets, but Amazon has been specifically targeted (no pun intended) by the two biggest big-box retailers in the world — they must be doing something right. [via Reuters, Stores.org]


Archos 101 XS now available in Europe

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 11:55 AM PDT

Archos has made its 101 XS tablet available across Europe today. Users will enjoy a pretty respectable Android 4.0 tablet that has room for TI’s OMAP 4470 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and more.

While it doesn’t sound extraordinary up against the many tablets currently available from Samsung, ASUS, and more, it does attempt to entice users with a nice keyboard dock that comes bundled with every purchase.

The package will cost you £300, but we know Archos’ history will make it difficult to trust this thing in the long haul. Head to the official Archos site if you’re interested. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]


Roku for Android app now includes “Play on Roku” feature

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 11:06 AM PDT

Roku’s companion app for Android has made great strides in functionality, and some great new additions are being introduced today.

The company updated its app to include a “Play on Roku” feature, a utility for streaming photos and music from your phone to your Roku player using your home’s WiFi network.

It’s also announced that the app is now available in every country where Roku is sold, meaning none of their customers should be boxed out from the ultimate Roku experience.

Photos streamed on TV using Play on Roku can be viewed individually using a swiping gesture on the mobile device, or in automatic slide show mode. When music is streamed using Play on Roku, a screen saver with the song title, artist, album name and cover art will appear on the TV while the song plays. Photo slide shows can also be viewed with music streaming at the same time. Play on Roku is compatible with MP3 and M4A audio files and JPG and PNG image files.

Roku boxes are a low cost option for those who want internet TV-like features without wanting to pay the hefty costs usually associated with the likes of Google TV, Apple TV, and more. Check it out at Roku’s site if you’re in need of a cost-effective multimedia solution, and be sure to get the app from the Google Play Store. Read on for full press details.

Roku Announces Mobile App Updates; Introduces Play on Roku

'Play on Roku' Lets Customers Stream Photos and Music from iOS or Android Mobile Devices to Roku Streaming Players

SARATOGA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Many Roku® customers take photos and download music on smartphones or tablets for easy access anytime, and anywhere. For these customers, Roku today announced updates to the Roku mobile app that include Play on Roku, a feature that allows customers to stream photos and music from a mobile device wirelessly to a Roku streaming player. The Roku mobile app – which essentially turns a smartphone or tablet into a Roku remote control – is now also available in all countries where Roku players are sold, including the U.K., Canada and Ireland.

"For most people, mobile devices are an extension of their lifestyle – they use their smartphones and tablets for almost everything, including capturing photos and curating music"

Photos streamed on TV using Play on Roku can be viewed individually using a swiping gesture on the mobile device, or in automatic slide show mode. When music is streamed using Play on Roku, a screen saver with the song title, artist, album name and cover art will appear on the TV while the song plays. Photo slide shows can also be viewed with music streaming at the same time. Play on Roku is compatible with MP3 and M4A audio files and JPG and PNG image files.

"For most people, mobile devices are an extension of their lifestyle – they use their smartphones and tablets for almost everything, including capturing photos and curating music," said Jim Funk, senior vice president of product management at Roku. "With this in mind, we wanted to provide a mobile experience that gave customers different ways to enjoy their photos and music, while getting even more value out of their Roku players."

With the Roku mobile app, customers can control their Roku player without using the included IR remote. Additionally, customers can:

  • Assign names to Roku players
  • Instantly replay favorite movie moments
  • Quickly add and remove channels
  • Control and switch between multiple Roku players
  • Enter text easily with the included keyboard feature

Available for iOS and Android mobile devices, the Roku mobile app can be downloaded for free from the iTunes App Store or Google Play. Play on Roku works with all Roku 2, Roku LT and Roku HD (model 2500R) players today and will work with the Roku Streaming Stick, expected to ship in October.

About Roku Inc.

Roku is the leading dedicated streaming platform for delivering video, music and casual games to the TV. Roku launched the first player to stream Netflix to the TV in 2008, and today the Roku platform streams more than 600 channels to millions of devices in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and the Republic of Ireland. Roku was founded by Anthony Wood, inventor of the DVR. The company is headquartered in Saratoga, Calif. For more information, visit www.roku.com.

Roku and Roku Ready are registered trademarks and the Roku Streaming Stick is a trademark of Roku, Inc. in the United States and other countries, and all other trade names and logos used herein are registered trademarks or are trademarks of their respective owners.


SoundCloud for Android now lets you edit audio directly on your phone

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 08:57 AM PDT

A pretty substantial update of SoundCloud for Android has been released today, bringing the music sharing network’s app to version 2.3.0. The app adds in some pretty nice functionality, namely the ability to manipulate and edit audio files directly on your Android device. You can now trim clips and add fades to recordings made with your smartphone. For a little more control over sound creation, recordings can now be paused and resumed.

The new features create some interesting possibilities for those looking to user their Android phone as part of the creative process rather than simply as a media consumption device. It isn’t full-fledged multi-tack recording by any means, but it should make SoundCloud a little more useful. Grab the latest version of the app from Google Play now.

Google Play Link: SoundCloud

[via AndroidPolice]


ASUS schedules dual Padfone 2 launch events for October 16

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 08:10 AM PDT

ASUS isn’t keeping any secrets with an invitation they just sent out to press in Italy and Taiwan. Emblazoned in bold lettering at the top of the invite is “Padfone 2.” So, yep, the cat’s out of the bag. Interestingly, ASUS is actually holding two concurrent events to introduce the followup to the phone/tablet combo released earlier this year, on in Milan, Italy, and another in Taipei, Taiwan. Few other details were provided, but with no attempt to keep the subject of the event a secret, we couldn’t as for much more.

Speculation points to the Padfone 2 receiving an upgrade in processing power to a quad-core Snapdragon S4 chipset. Otherwise, we expect the device to cosmetically mirror the first edition. Other potential improvements include more RAM, a higher resolution display, and Jelly Bean at launch. What ASUS should really consider addressing is the pricing and release strategy of the device, which attempts, like the device itself, to straddle the line between smartphone and tablet computer.

[via NotebookItalia]


Are Apple’s Fancy 3D Rendered Maps Better Than Google Maps? See For Yourself [Images]

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 08:07 AM PDT

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Apple made a controversial decision when they decided to ditch Google Maps in iOS 6 entirely in favor of their own mapping and navigation service. When it comes to software, I think it’d be safe to say this has been one area Apple has always excelled in. You may have heard some of the hype surrounding Apple’s new 3D mapping invention technology, giving users the ability to fly around a map like Peter Pan, soaring around photo-realistic 3D structures and gazing into young women’s bedrooms.

Google Maps has long been Google’s feather in the hat, a crowning achievement of modern technology in the digital age. But can Google Maps even hold a candle to the “magic” of Apple’s 3D rendered maps? Let’s take a quick look at some famous landmarks when viewed through the eyes of Apple’s new 3D maps, and compare ‘em to Google’s tried and true Street View. Maybe you can tell me which you think looks best.

Would make a really cool sequel to Fallout, not really functional in real world usage though…

Looks like this 3D modeling stuff is nothing more than a gimmick. A ruse. A pretty box that inside, is empty. The most unfortunate part about all this is that when Apple goes to war, sometimes it’s their own users that get caught with the short end of the stick. The perfect example of Apple cutting off their nose to spite their face. 3D maps isn’t even the half of it. A Michael Degusta said it best in a blog post when he pointed out all the features iOS users would be losing upon updating to iOS 6:

“On the plus side, at least people are getting turn-by-turn directions and Apple's Flyover feature in exchange, right? Not so fast: 20 countries (population: 3.2 billion) are losing transit, traffic, or street view and getting neither turn-by-turn nor Flyover. The biggest losers are Brazil, India, Taiwan, and Thailand (population: 1.5 billion) which overnight will go from being countries with every maps feature (transit, traffic, and street view) to countries with none of those features, nor any of the new features either.

It gets worse. Even in countries where turn-by-turn and/or Flyover are available, the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and the 4th generation iPod touch won't support them. These devices are owned by tens of millions of users who may update over-the-air when prompted, only to find they've lost features and haven't even gained any of the marquee Maps features in return.”

So why have I dedicated an entire post to Apple’s maps on an Android blog? With the iPhone 5 hitting new sales records its first weekend, you’d be fooling yourself to think that Apple hasn’t wooed more than a few Android users with promises of security and their “fancy” apps. Just when it comes to maps and navigation — arguably the biggest weapon in the smartphone war — Google Maps still finds itself unmatched. To put it bluntly, Apple’s maps app sucks. Big time. Hey iPhone users, I see you got some pretty 3D maps and I’m happy for you, I really am. But maybe it’s time to switch to an OS from a company that doesn’t tell you what they think is best for you. Just a thought.

[Via Gizmodo | Additional reading: The New York Times]


AT&T’s Sony Xperia Ion now receiving Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 07:24 AM PDT

Last week the rollout of Android 4.0 for the international model of the Sony Xperia Ion began, but AT&T users were left with a big question mark about when the update would arrive for their devices. Luckily the wait wasn’t very long at all, as today owners of the phone on AT&T’s network are reporting that the update has started hitting handsets.

The update should be identical to the build released for the LT28i version of the Xperia Ion, which itself differs very little from the version of Ice Cream Sandwich being delivered to other members of the Xperia family. Any AT&T Xperia Ion users received the update yet? Let us know how it’s working out for you!

[via DroidDog]


AT&T-ready Sony Xperia T shows face at the FCC

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 06:31 AM PDT

The last time we saw the Sony Xperia T at the FCC, we were disappointed to learn that the version in question did not show signs of support for AT&T’s network. We remained hopeful that rumors of a 4G version for the US carrier would pan out, and it looks like it’s paying off. The Xperia T has made another visit to the regulatory committee, this time bringing along support for AT&T’s LTE network.

While Sony hasn’t commented officially, images have surfaced showing an Xperia T handset with AT&T branding, leading to speculation that the two would launch the device in the US. This FCC filing only serves to further support the idea, which now seems all but a done deal.

[FCC via PhoneArena]


MetroPCS announces ZTE Anthem 4G

Posted: 20 Sep 2012 05:41 AM PDT

Plenty of ZTE news this morning. After announcing their Blade III smartphone for a European release, MetroPCS is launching the ZTE Anthem 4G, the smartphone maker’s first LTE handset available in the United States. The Anthem is an Android 2.3 device and features a 4.3-inch display, 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, and HD video playback via HDMI, and is priced at $219 after mail-in rebate. The phone is available with any of MetroPCS’s all-incusive service plans ranging from $40 to $70 per month. MetroPCS hasn’t provided and exact launch date, saying only that it will launch “in the coming weeks.”

MetroPCS Adds ZTE Anthem™ 4G to its Expanding 4G LTE Smartphone Portfolio
Anthem 4G is first ZTE 4G LTE AndroidTM smartphone in the U.S.

September 20, Richardson, TX – MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) and ZTE Corporation (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ) ("ZTE"), a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today announced the availability of the ZTE Anthem™ 4G, the first 4GLTE Android™ smartphone from ZTE available in the United States. The Anthem 4G will be available at MetroPCS stores and online in the coming weeks.

The ZTE Anthem 4G features 4GLTE connectivity, a dual-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon™ processor and a 4.3" WVGA capacitive touchscreen, making it an ideal choice for the style-conscious consumer who also demands speed, performance and ease of use. Available with any of MetroPCS' tax and regulatory fee-inclusive 4GLTE service plans ranging from $40 – $70 per month and including the new $55 unlimited 4GLTE promotional plan, the ZTE Anthem 4G makes it possible for value-conscious customers to experience the power of MetroPCS' 4GLTE network.

"As our first U.S. 4GLTE smartphone, we're proud to launch the Anthem 4G with our long-time partner MetroPCS because we share their goal of providing consumers with outstanding value and a strong 4G LTE experience," said Lixin Cheng, CEO, ZTE USA, and president, North America Region, ZTE.

The ZTE Anthem 4G offers an exceptional user experience for customers who want to do more with their smartphones, such as share multimedia content in the moment. The Anthem 4G features HD video output via a HDMI connector, which makes on-the-go HD video playback a reality. Consumers can connect the Anthem 4G to a television or computer monitor via the HDMI port to share their favorite HD videos and films on the big screen with family, friends and colleagues, and with Dolby® Surround Audio, the multimedia playback experience becomes more realistic and immersive.

The Anthem 4G also features dual microphones with noise cancellation, delivering impressive sound quality by extracting surrounding noise from the primary microphone. The smartphone runs on Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread).

The Anthem 4G will be available in the coming weeks for $219 plus tax after mail-in-rebate for a limited time at local MetroPCS stores or online at www.metropcs.com. The ZTE Anthem 4G supports MetroPCS' 4GLTE Mobile Hotspot service for an additional monthly charge.