Sunday, September 23, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


Motorola takes a jab at Apple Maps

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 04:47 PM PDT

Apple has been getting a lot of backlash for its new native Maps app in iOS 6, which released earlier in the week. Many phone manufacturers have been taking advantage of the moment, including Nokia. Now, Motorola has taken their turn to take a shot at Apple’s failure.

Motorola launched an ad on their Google+ page comparing the Maps app of iOS 6 with Motorola’s Droid Razr M running Google Maps. The tagline says, “The real world that’s fit for your hand,” which could mean they’re referring to Apple Maps’ messed-up Picaso-style 3D Flyover feature. Motorola prefaces the ad with a short quip:

“Looking for 315 E 15th in Manhattan? Google Maps on DROID RAZR M will get you there & not #iLost in Brooklyn.”

In the ad, the Razr M shows an overhead satellite view of the correct destination, while the iPhone 5 shows the incorrect destination. We’re not sure what significance 315 E. 15th Street holds for Motorola — there’s nothing too special at the address, nor at 315 Marlborough Road in Brooklyn, which is what shows up on the iPhone 5.

Motorola does sort of have a point, though. Apple screwed the pooch quite a bit with their new Maps app, and Google Maps is pretty awesome, so it’s not surprising Android phone manufacturers are savoring this moment and attacking the iPhone as much as possible. This is only the beginning, so we’re pretty excited to see what other phone manufacturers come up with.


Android Authority

Android Authority


Motorola brings us up to date with Android upgrade schedule, DROID Bionic finally seeing ICS

Posted: 23 Sep 2012 02:12 AM PDT

Motorola has been annoyingly silent when it comes to its Android upgrade schedule. As a result we’ve seen quite a bit of anger and frustration from Android users. Well, they’ve now broken the silence by releasing a refreshed upgrade schedule. While this is definitely good news, the information contained in the schedule may not be.

Taking the spotlight is the DROID Bionic. It was supposed to have its Ice Cream Sandwich update in Q3 of this year. Now Motorola is claiming that it will be a Q4 release instead. In addition, the DROID Xyboard 8.2 and XOOM Family Edition are also slated to receive ICS updates in Q4. While this is great, there are still some troubling facts about Motorola’s other phones. The Atrix, Atrix 2, Photon 4G and Electrify are all displaying a status of “Further Plans Coming Soon.” This is very disappointing as it appears these devices won’t be seeing ICS until at least next year, if at all.

While it’s no secret that Bionic owners have been left out in the cold, this news just comes as another hard blow. In fact, Motorola’s own executive has admitted that the company’s treatment of the handset has been less than ideal. But apparently, the same executive has stated that there is indeed a “plan” for the handset regarding future updates.

With all this buzz about Motorola’s update schedule, I find myself scratching my head. Why on earth is Motorola working so hard on getting ICS on these devices? By the time it’s actually released, it will be so outdated that people will immediately start itching for Jelly Bean. But still, progress is progress.

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This article, Motorola brings us up to date with Android upgrade schedule, DROID Bionic finally seeing ICS , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Note – video comparison

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 02:03 PM PDT

Apple’s latest iPhone 5 is already available in its initial markets, and in the words of my colleague Darcy LaCouvee, it truly is an engineering marvel. And that’s coming from a die-hard Android fan. After all, the iPhone 5 won against the Samsung Galaxy S3 in our drop tests.

But not everyone is going to drop their phone from ear-level on a cobbled Hong Kong pavemenet. Let’s see how well the iPhone 5 stacks up against another flagship smartphone — this time, the Samsing Galaxy Note. While we’re sure this won’t exactly be an apples-to-apples comparison, we will look at the benefits and disadvantages of each device.

Not enough time to go through all the text? Jump straight to the Video Comparison or the Pros and Cons sections!

Specs

Display

One of the biggest arguments for buying the Samsung Galaxy Note is its bigger screen. At 5.3 inches, you definitely have bigger space to work on, which makes it easier on the eyes to read e-books and websites. You also get a bigger display for playing games and doing artwork or notes with the S Pen.

The iPhone 5, meanwhile, has a marginal improvement over its predecessor in terms of screen size, at 4 inches, which gives you a 0.5 inch increase in size diagonally. The iPhone 5′s advantage, however, is its resolution. At 326 ppi versus the Galaxy Note’s 285 ppi, you have a smoother and crisper display with the iPhone 5′s Retina Display, and with a bit more screen real estate (as opposed to raw size).

Additionally, there’s the argument of screen size versus usability. Apple designers wanted the iPhone to be usable one-handed, so the screen was stretched by height, but retaining the same width as the previous iPhone, which means your thumb should, in theory, still be able to reach from corner to corner.

Build quality and design

The iPhone 5 retains the same distinctive rounded corners as the iPhone 4S, although the height has been increased. The new iPhone also sports an aluminum back instead of glass, which should help distinguish it from the 4S. The iPhone 5′s integrated display (meaning no additional capacitive layer is needed since this is integrated), contributes to its thinness. Apple also used a new proprietary connector on the iPhone 5, which helped give way to the thinner design.

Our Android Authority drop tests showcase how durable the iPHone 5′s aluminum construction can be. The iPhone 5 has survived ear-level drops with only cosmetic scratches on the body.

The Samsung Galaxy Note, meanwhile, features a polycarbonate construction, which means the phone is not as structurally rigid as the iPhone 5, but offers some flexibility over its Apple counterpart. The Note also offers a removable battery, which can be a plus for users who want to be able to switch battery packs in times of emergencies.

Hardware

Comparing specs on two different platforms is like comparing apples to oranges, especially with the Samsung Galaxy Note being a 2011 device. But the Note does have some advantages over the new iPhone at least in terms of raw specs.

In the processor department, the Note offers a faster dual-core Samsung Exynos/Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 processor clocked at 1.4 or 1.5 GHz (depending on market). The iPhone 5, meanwhile, features an Apple A6 dual-core processor clocked at 1 GHz. In terms of actual performance, though, we know Apple has optimized its A6 platform for iOS, which should offer real-world improvements, especially given how Apple tightly controls its OS and app platform. As a side-note, analysts point out that Samsung very much likely produced the A6 for Apple, judging from due markings on the chip.

Elsewhere, both devices come with 1 GB of RAM and an 8-megapixel camera. The iPhone 5′s rear cam features backside-illumination, which means better performance in low-light situations. The iPhone also has an advantage in internal storage, with the highest-spec’d model coming at 64 GB.

The Galaxy Note trumps the iPhone 5 in some hardware specs, such as the presence of NFC, better front-facing camera resolution and bundled S Pen stylus. The Galaxy Note also has a higher-capacity battery, and is rated at 13 hours of talk time, versus the iPhone’s 8 hours. The Note’s storage is also expandable with microSD.

Software and ecosystem

Apple’s iPhone 5 launched with its latest iOS 6, which comes with at least 200 identified features and improvements over iOS 5. These include improvements to SIRI, the much-awaited Passbook application that acts as a virtual wallet, and FaceTime over cellular connections.

The Samsung Galaxy Note, meanwhile, still runs Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. An upgrade is due by October, depending on carrier and region, although users can expect performance improvements, better notifications, better camera software and the inclusion of Google’s Smart Now voice-based interface, among others.

The iPhone 5 is a clear winner when it comes to content such as songs, movies and videos from iTunes. The iTunes App Store also trumps Google Play in terms of raw application count, at about 700,000 versus Android’s 600,000. It may also be noteworthy that Android has been criticized for malware and virus risks associated with a fast-growing platform.

However, if Maps are a big thing for you, then you should note that iOS 6′s built-in maps drew some flak for inaccuracies and lack of features. You can either wait for Google to release a native Google Maps app for iOS 6, or use the mobile web Google Maps app via the browser.

Video comparison: Galaxy Note vs iPhone 5

Pros and cons

iPhone 5 pros

  • Great build quality
  • Thinner and lighter than predecessor and competitors
  • Latest iOS 6
  • LTE battery efficiency
  • Almost global LTE support
  • Updated SIRI voice assistant
  • Passbook
  • iTunes apps and content

iPhone 5 cons

  • Higher price, starts at $649 unlocked
  • Smaller screen than the Galaxy Note (if screen size is an issue)
  • Apple Maps inaccuracies
  • Lack of NFC support
  • New charger/USB connector (support for older accessories necessitates $29 accessory)
  • Limited customization (unless jailbroken)

Galaxy Note pros

  • Bigger screen
  • S Pen and built-in stylus-specific apps
  • Cheaper at $520 unlocked (given its age)
  • NFC payments with Google Wallet
  • Google Play content

Galaxy Note cons

  • Bigger screen and physical size can be a usability issue for some (no one-handed operation)
  • Age – the Galaxy Note was launched October 2011
  • No Jelly Bean support yet

Conclusion

Surely, this is not an apples-to-apples comparison (more like an apple-to-note one), especially given that the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Note are different class devices. The iPhone 5 is a smartphone, while the Galaxy Note is a tablet-smartphone hybrid. As such, the “phablet” will be geared toward users who want  a bigger screen and the ability to interact with the screen using a stylus.

The question here would be your purpose for buying a phone or phablet. The iPhone should be adequate for any smartphone user, be it a first-time one or a smartphone aficionado. The Galaxy Note’s main advantage would be its tablet-like size and functionality, including S Pen support. If you really intend to buy a phablet, though, you might want to wait for the recently-launched Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to ship, as it’s just around the corner.

Your choice should also be dependent on the platform you’re already using. If you’ve been a long time iPhone user, then better stick with the apps and services you’re already using. But if your digital life deeply integrates Google services like Gmail, Google Maps and the like, then the Android platform would be the better option.

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This article, iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Note – video comparison , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


iOS 6 fragmentation more evident in iPhone, iPad and iPod touch universe, but is it really an issue?

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 12:58 PM PDT

One of the valid arguments behind adopting an iOS device is the fact that Apple's devices are always receiving updates on time and that carriers have no say in when these updates are rolled out – that also means they have no bloatware included in any iPhone version.

But the more iOS devices come out and the higher the iOS version, the more fragmentation elements appear in this mobile ecosystem.

Fragmentation, or ‘differentiation’ – the in-denial term Eric Schmidt used at CES 2012 to describe this phenomenon – is mostly an annoyance for Android fans and developers, and no matter what spin you put on it, at the end of the day you'll find plenty of evidence that proves that annoyance. Just look for one of the latest Android updates for one of the recently launched devices and see what users are saying about it, especially if it's being delayed without answer, or at the apps that take their time to become compatible with certain Android devices.

Today we're going to look at Apple's iOS 6 state of fragmentation, what's causing it, and whether it's comparable to the same phenomenon in the Android unverse.

Hardware fragmentation

Just like with any other operating system, whether mobile or not, it comes a time when older devices will no longer be able to run the features of the latest OS version. The same thing is valid for Android and iOS.

Looking at iOS 6, even if the OS still has the same overall look and feel, older devices will not support some of these features. According to Apple, iOS 6 will not be compatible with a variety of devices, including the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPod touch, iPod touch 2G, iPod touch 3G and the iPad. We're especially surprised to see the iPad not get updated to iOS 6, despite being a newer device than the iPhone 3GS, which can be run iOS 6.

Marketing fragmentation

While devices from 2009 to 2012, including the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch 4G, iPod touch 5G, iPad 2 and iPad 3 will run iOS 6, the fact remains that not all iOS 6 features will be available on all these iOS devices.

Why is Apple doing this? Well, first of all the company may be interested to offer certain features only on certain devices, using them in its pitches and TV ads to convince buyers to buy that particular device in order to take advantage of said update. Take the 2011 iPhone 4S and its exclusive Siri feature that wasn't officially available on any other iOS device that supported iOS 5.

iOS 6 – Siri

Secondly – and here the hardware fragmentation also plays a part – Apple maybe wants to avoid bad press and publicity that would result from allowing certain features to run on older devices. Its engineers have probably tested extensively some of these features on compatible devices to conclude they shouldn't be supported on older gadgets.

So what are the iOS 6 features that you won't be able to use on some older devices?

  • Siri – only on iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 3 and iPod touch 5G
  • Turn by turn navigation (Apple Maps feature) – only on iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 2 and iPad 3 (only versions that have cellular connectivity)
  • Flyover (Apple Maps feature) – only on iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 2, iPad 3 (only versions that have cellular connectivity), iPod touch 5G
  • FaceTime over cellular – only on iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 3 (only versions that have cellular connectivity)
  • Offline reading list – only on iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 2, iPad 3
  • Panorama (Camera feature) – only on iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and iPod touch 5G
  • Made for iPhone hearing aids phone feature – only on iPhone 4S and iPhone 5
  • Passbook – only on iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch 4G, iPod touch 5G
  • AirPlay Mirroring – only on iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPod touch 5G

From the looks of it, in order to get all the iOS 6 features (I have not included phone features in the list above except for the “made for iPhone hearing aids” thing, since they are available only on the iPhone), you'll have to buy an iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 3 or iPod touch 5G.

Comparatively, when Jelly Bean becomes available on supported devices, we expect that all Jelly Bean features to be accessible on those devices, no matter what custom UI lies on top of the OS. Sadly though, not as many Android devices will be Jelly Bean-upgradeable – looking at numbers, we’ll probably conclude that a lot less Android devices will run Google’s latest mobile OS version compared to iOS devices that run the latest Android version.

iPhone 5 fragmentation

When it comes to apps though, all iOS 6 apps will be compatible with all iOS 6 supported devices, so there's no reason to worry there. But does the iPhone 5 cause any app fragmentation? While Android fans would like to hear that it would, the real answer is that it won't really happen.

All current iOS apps that have graphics optimized for 3.5-inch displays (no matter what resolution, because not all 3.5-inch iOS devices come with the same resolutions) will work on the iPhone 5. Yes, those apps will get a black frame at the top and bottom of the device, but they'll still work – in case you have seen a black bar on an Android device that you desperately tried to get rid off then you'll know what it means.

Considering the popularity of the App Store, and the revenue it drives to so many developers, chances are that the most used and downloaded apps, but not only, will soon support the new iPhone's higher resolution, and eliminate those black bars.

iPhone 5 vs Galaxy S3

Moreover, if its iPhone 5 fragmentation sounds familiar that’s because a couple of years ago the media was exploring the effects of the iPhone 4 would have on the app ecosystem, a device that came with a much higher resolution than its predecessor. It turned out that the introduction of that Retina display resolution was not exactly a major problem for developers.

Region-specific fragmentation

In addition to everything mentioned above, we'll also point out the fact that some iOS 6 features won't be available to users depending on where they live. The lists includes Apple Maps functionality, Siri support and Dictation (as long as you’re not happy using them in English) but also App Store and iTunes content (especially the later in certain markets.)

Comparatively, Android users will have access to Google Maps in any region of the world, but when it comes to Google Play content, especially movies and music, Google is yet to bring to various markets.

Jailbreak and user fragmentation

This last iOS fragmentation "tool" isn't Apple's doing, as the company does not condone jailbreaking/unlocking its iOS devices, even though such procedures are legal.

Jailbreaking lets users customize iOS to a greater extent than what Apple's default OS permits. The procedure is also needed for unofficial carrier unlocks and for side-loading apps from a different source than the App Store, which is the only place where iOS users can get their apps from – and yes, that includes pirating paid apps from the App Store.

Because there are millions of iOS users that jailbreak their devices for various reasons, not all the eligible iOS devices will be upgraded to iOS 6 just yet, at least not until hackers give the go ahead. That means jailbreaking is another fragmentation factor, as a percentage of existing iOS devices will still run older iOS versions.

From a different point of view, sometimes jailbreaking allows developers to port some of the iOS features that are available by default on only certain iOS devices to unsupported devices.

Comparatively, Android users can always flash custom ROMs to their devices to take advantage of the latest Android OS released by Google which is used by developers to create such ports for Android handsets and tablets that would otherwise have to wait months to get updated.

One last thing that needs to be said is that not all smart device users are aware updates are coming, especially the less-savvy, less-interested ones. To those, the fragmentation problem does not exist no matter what mobile OS they choose, because chances are they may not be interested in timely updates in the first place.

Conclusion

iOS 6 further expands iOS fragmentation, although it's worth noting that Apple is trying to minimize the impact of this process, and iOS fragmentation will not be felt as acutely by iOS device owners as Android handset and tablet buyers feel the effects of this phenomenon in the Android ecosystem.

Microsoft is taking a similar approach with its Windows Phone 8 OS, which won't be available on current Windows Phone 7 handsets as WP8. Instead the Redmond-based company will offer users a WP7.8 version that will include some of the WP8 features, but not all of them.

Getting back to iOS 6 fragmentation, we'll tell you again that it's more pronounced than the fragmentation caused by previous software updates. At the same time we'll tell you that the devices that aren't supported by iOS 6 (iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPod touch, iPod touch 2G, iPod touch 3G, iPad) represent only a few millions from the over 400 million iOS devices out there – of those that are incompatible with iOS 6 most of them are probably original iPads.

But if you're a hardcore Android fan that wants to finally use the fragmentation argument against iOS users, you'll have to know you don't have a very strong weapon in your hands, as Apple's controlling its iOS fragmentation a lot better than Google, so use it wisely.

We'll stop here before we get into the closed vs open model business for the two environments, which are the main factors that affect fragmentation.

It’s worth mentioning that while iOS 6 is used by millions of iOS users already, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean are taking their time to deploy, even on certain Nexus devices which should get updates as soon as Google releases them. Will Android fragmentation ever be fixed? While one can hope that ‘Yes’ is the answer, considering Google's steps in that direction (see our PDK coverage here), the fact remains the Search giant can't control the agendas of OEMs and carriers that are more interested in selling as many devices and cellular services, respectively, than updating past devices in a timely manner.

Has anyone given up on Android due to its fragmentation problem? And while we're asking, are you moving to Android because of iOS 6 fragmentation? Hit us up in the comments section below!

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This article, iOS 6 fragmentation more evident in iPhone, iPad and iPod touch universe, but is it really an issue? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google Play Store starts its own Twitter account to continue bringing news and deals to you

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 10:00 AM PDT


It seems like everyone is using Twitter these days. That includes the very popular and often used Google Play Store. It joins the plethora of other Google services that you can already find on Twitter, including: Google, Google Adwords, Google Nexus, Google Mobile, and Google Chrome. There are a lot more Google services on Twitter and really you have to follow all of them to stay up to date on the latest Google news.

The Google Play Store Twitter account was made just a few days ago and has culminated a sarcastically impressive total of four tweets thus far. This is likely just the calm before the storm, as there is speculation that the Google Play Store will use this Twitter account to bring news, updates, special offers, and a plethora of other content for its fans.

What will be interesting to see is if this brings new content, or simply the same deals and offers you can find via other Google Play offers. In other words, it is unknown at this time whether this Twitter account will simply redistribute old offers or there will be special offers strictly for its Twitter followers. In either case, the Google Play Store just picked up a whole new way to advertise itself.

What has the Google Play Store Twitter done so far?

It’s brand new, so nothing yet. However, they are trying to get a little back and forth going with their customers. Their latest tweet asks users about the most unusual places they’ve used the Google Play Store. So far it’s gotten two answers. One was an airplane, another was an unspecified place that was far above sea level.

Additionally, it is worth noting that a Twitter account can afford the Play Store more opportunities than their standard newsletter. As an example, it is much easier to throw a contest on Twitter than it is via an email newsletter. Here’s hoping the Google Play Store Twitter account isn’t just another brand advertising their deals of the day.

Are you going to follow the Google Play Store? If so, you can find it here.

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This article, Google Play Store starts its own Twitter account to continue bringing news and deals to you , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Official CyanogenMod 10 Nightlies now available for the T-Mobile Galaxy Note

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 09:00 AM PDT


The T-Mobile Galaxy Note has had a rough life. It was released on T-Mobile on August 9th, 2012 only to get the ax just a few weeks later. Presumably, it is because of the impending release of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Even so, a decent number of people bought Samsung’s most popular phablet before it was removed from shelves. Those customers need love too. That’s why the CyanogenMod Team has begun releasing CyanogenMod 10 nightlies.

In case you’re unfamiliar with what nightlies are, they are experimental builds that are released every day –or every couple days– that help test new features and bug fixes. The CyanogenMod team has been using them for a very long time to let their fans run CyanogenMod without having to wait for a stable release.

This is not to say that the nightlies may be unusable, as they are actually quite stable. However, due to the bleeding edge nature of their releases, there’s very likely some bugs you’d find in a nightly that you wouldn’t find in a stable release.

Where can I find these CyanogenMod nightlies?

If you take a little trip over to the official CyanogenMod website, you’ll be able to find the download. This is a very new addition so there is only one nightly to choose from currently. T-Mobile Galaxy Note owners can expect that number to grow as days go by and new nightlies are released. You will also need the official Google Apps –commonly known as GAPPS– which you can find here.

It really is too bad that the Galaxy Note went down seemingly as soon as it came for T-Mobile customers. The now iconic phablet has been a hit worldwide, but T-Mobile is probably doing the smart thing waiting for the Galaxy Note 2 to drop. Even so, the original Galaxy Note would’ve looked nice on T-Mobile Magenta Deal Days promotion. T-Mobile Note owners, are you going to give the official CyanogenMod 10 a shot?

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This article, Official CyanogenMod 10 Nightlies now available for the T-Mobile Galaxy Note , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Want to switch from your old iPhone to an HTC One X? How about a free urBeats headset?

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 08:21 AM PDT

Apple's iPhone 5 might be the talk of the town now that it has started selling, but if for some reason "the thinnest, lightest and fastest iPhone ever" doesn't cut it for you, there might be a way to go over to the Android side and come out with a lucrative deal.

HTC has just launched its own trade up program, which offers you with the perfect excuse of getting rid of your old iPhone and get the One X, one of the best Android smartphones around, if not the absolute best.

Through HTC's new program you can get up to $280 for a used, but fully functional iPhone 4S, which you can then use to cover for buying the One X. However, if you've passed on the 4S too and you're still the "proud" owner of a first-gen iPhone, iPhone 3G or 3GS, the financial compensation you'll get from HTC won't even be worth the effort of going down to a post office and sending the device in.

But how about a nifty pair of $99 urBeats headphones? Would that be worth the effort? We think it might, even if you'll end up selling the cool headset on Ebay yourself (not that we're recommending doing that).

You can of course get the free headphones for trading in any model of the iPhone, but for newer versions than the 3GS we're not exactly feeling the deal. Even the 8GB iPhone 4 can get you $115 cash, so why not take that, spend it on the headset and you'll have enough left to buy yourself a nice (fast food) meal?

There is a catch for owners of the first three iPhones too, as there's a pretty slim chance you've been able to keep such old devices in mint conditions, with no liquid damage, corrosion or breakage to the screen. But if “care” is your middle name, do go over to the official webpage of HTC’s Trade UP program and check out the deal before October 21, when it’s set to expire. You’ll find the full terms of use here, and then it’s all up to you.

Will you choose the dough or the Dr.Dre approved headset for “deep, rich and immersive sound”? Or neither, as there’s no deal on the face of the Earth that can drive you away from the iPhone 5?

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This article, Want to switch from your old iPhone to an HTC One X? How about a free urBeats headset? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Nexus – video comparison

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 08:05 AM PDT

As you already know, yesterday was iPhone 5 day. The new iOS smartphone was launched in nine countries and will roll out in 100 markets by the end of the year. Naturally, the device will be compared to every existing and upcoming high-end smartphone. In fact, we have a few such comparisons ourselves featuring the iPhone 5 against some of the hottest Android handsets available (and yes, they include video).

In what follows we're going to pit the new iPhone against the latest Nexus-branded smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus that was launched in late 2011.

Not enough time to go through all the text? Jump straight to the Video Comparison or the Pros and Cons sections!

Specs

Display

One of the most obvious features of the new iPhone 5, even to Android fans that would never touch the device in their life, is the bigger 4-inch touchscreen display. The iPhone 5 is the first one to break the Apple pattern when it comes to displays, as it's 0.5-inch bigger (diagonally) than all its predecessors. Apple increased the size of the handset by making it taller but keeping the same width of the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. That translates into a 1136 x 640 resolution that's still able to offer a reliable, Retina-quality display, at 326 pixel per inch (ppi) but also a 16:9 aspect ratio.

The Galaxy Nexus offers a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED curved display with a 1280 x 720 resolution. And in case you're wondering, the third-gen Nexus handset will also offer you a Retina-like quality, registering 316 ppi, which is awfully close to the iPhone's display performance.

While we can continue the Super AMOLED vs IPS LCD debate, and still not reach an objective conclusion, as each side will tell you their display version is the best, we can tell you that the iPhone 5 has a small advantage on the Galaxy Nexus when it comes to display type. The new iPhone's display comes with integrated touch, which allows Apple to shave more millimeters off of the thinness of the device, not to mention making it brighter than its predecessors.

Build quality and design

The iPhone 5 is slimmer, lighter and smaller than the Galaxy Nexus, as Apple tried to reduce its dimensions as much as currently possible, while offering a larger display, and a battery capable to offer enough battery juice for LTE-related purposes and not only. Compared to its predecessors, other improvements and/or changes include an aluminum back that replaces the glass used in the previous two models, the relocation of the headset jack to the bottom of the handset and a smaller 9-pin dock that, while incompatible with any iOS device accessory without a $29 adaptor, is a feature needed to make the handset smaller.

The Galaxy Nexus is slightly thicker than the iPhone 5 (8.95mm vs 7.6mm) and slightly heavier (135g vs 112g) but features an original curved design dubbed as Contour Display. Unlike the iPhone, the Galaxy Nexus does not feature actual physical buttons, but instead comes with three on-screen buttons. As for build quality, we're not looking at the same sturdiness on the Galaxy Nexus that the iPhone 5 seems to offer. See our Galaxy S3 vs iPhone 5 drop test to see how the latter performs against a device that's newer than the Galaxy Nexus.

Hardware 

When it comes to hardware, it is somewhat strange to compare a late 2011 device with a late 2012 one, especially if the former is an Android handset. Every few months, new Android devices are released that trump the "older" models in the hardware and performance department – that's all the more true when looking at high-end smartphones.

That said, when looking at the specs sheet above you'll notice a few similarities. At first sight, the Galaxy Nexus's 1.2GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4460 seems to beat Apple's 1GHz dual-core custom A6 processor, but when it comes to benchmark tests, the new iPhone 5 surpasses in performance some (in many cases all) of the hottest Android handsets of 2012. And some of those devices already pack quad-core CPUs and offer an overall better performance than the Galaxy Nexus.

Moving forward, both devices feature 1GB of RAM and, as for storage, the Galaxy Nexus comes in 16/32GB flavors, while the iPhone 5 is available in the traditional 16/32/64GB versions. Worth noticing is that neither device comes with microSD support.

When it comes to battery life, the Galaxy Nexus packs the bigger battery, which is logical considering it's bigger than the iPhone 5. The non-LTE Galaxy Nexus features a removable 1750mAh battery, while the LTE-enabled version has an extra 100mAh of juice. On its part, the iPhone 5 features a non-removable 1400mAh battery that's still able to offer users 8h of 3G talk time, which is on par with the Galaxy Nexus's battery efficiency, but also 8h of LTE efficiency, which is more than what the Galaxy Nexus can offer.

Looking at cameras, the iPhone 5 comes out a winner with its 8-megapixel shooter that features a back-illuminated sensor, sapphire crystal, f2.4 aperture, auto focus, LED flash and 1080p HD video recording. The Galaxy Nexus has a 5-megapixel rear shooter with single LED flash, auto focus and 1080p HD video. As for front-facing cameras, both of them offer a similar performance: 1.3-megapixel shooter with 720p video recording for the Galaxy Nexus compared to 1.2-megapixel shooter with 720p video recording for the iPhone 5.

One last thing that we have to mention when talking about hardware is connectivity. The iPhone 5 is the first to offer LTE connectivity, with Apple supporting a wide variety of global carriers that have adopted the 4G standard. Some Galaxy Nexus versions also come with LTE support, namely Verizon's and Sprint's. But the Galaxy Nexus trumps the iPhone 5 when it comes to NFC support, with the latter lacking a near field communication chip that would offer users NFC-based mobile payment solutions as well as other NFC-based features. The Galaxy Nexus also features microUSB and MHL support.

Software and ecosystem

Both the iPhone 5 and Galaxy Nexus run the latest mobile versions, iOS 6 and Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, respectively.

iOS 6 is advertised to offer over 200 new features and improvements. Among those, worth mentioning are the improved Siri that's available in more languages and offers support for movies, sports and restaurant reservations, the Apple Maps that replaces Google Maps, but which is not yet able to offer the same reliability and functionality, the new Passbook application that's Apple's limited wallet (for coupons, tickets and offers) version and FaceTime over cellular.

Depending on what carrier you ask, the Google Nexus runs Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean or Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich – hopefully it's the former. Despite being a Nexus device, the Samsung-made handset was not updated as fast as Verizon and Sprint subscribers would have initially believed. If running Jelly Bean, you'll notice several performance improvements across the board, a buttery speedier overall experience, improved notifications, widgets, camera and other core features, not to mention the complete overhaul of Google's new Search and addition of its smart Google Now feature that supports advanced voice commands, which are, according to several tests, superior to at least the Siri version found on iOS 5. [Here's an in depth Jelly Bean vs Ice Cream Sandwich video comparison, with both Android OS version running on the Galaxy Nexus.]

Each device has access to an impressive ecosystem with Apple having a slight edge on Google. The App Store has 700,000 apps compared to the 600,000 apps Google Play available for the Galaxy Nexus, and Apple's iTunes will offer users access to more music, movies and TV shows in more markets than Google, at least for the time being.

Video comparison: iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Pros and cons

iPhone 5 pros:

  • Lighter than most competitors and predecessors
  • Slimmer than almost all competitors and predecessors
  • Latest iOS smartphone
  • High build quality
  • LTE battery efficiency
  • Almost global LTE support
  • Runs latest iOS version
  • App Store content
  • Worldwide availability by Christmas
  • Siri voice assistant

iPhone 5 cons:

  • High price, at least for higher capacity versions
  • Display size, in case 4-inch is not enough
  • Apple Maps functionality
  • Siri voice assistant
  • Lack of NFC support
  • Limited customization (only available via jailbreaking)

Galaxy Nexus pros:

  • Nexus-branded device – should run upcoming Android version almost immediately after launch
  • Customization-friendly
  • Cheaper price – currently available for $349 unlocked in the U.S. due to its "age"
  • Google Play content
  • NFC mobile payments support with Google Wallet
  • Google Now smart search
  • MHL support

Galaxy Nexus cons:

  • Age – newer Nexus devices are already rumored to be launched later this year
  • Lack of microSD support
  • Battery performance during LTE usage
  • Delayed Jelly Bean updates with certain carriers
  • No Google Wallet support with certain carriers
  • Size – too big for certain users

Conclusion

What phone between the two devices should you buy? At this point it shouldn't even be a contest anymore. The iPhone 5 is the choice if you're a fan of the company and have the budget to afford it (whether you buy it full price or on-contract,) or if you want a new device right now no matter what mobile OS it's running. The iPhone 5 is definitely the best iPhone made to date and a smartphone that will sell in the millions in the coming days, quarter and year, challenging the competition to come up with tougher and tougher rivals.

In case you’re an Android fan, or you aren’t necessarily tied to Google but don’t have the budget for a new iPhone either, then buying the Galaxy Nexus is something we would highly recommend, but not right now, especially since we're very much aware of existing Nexus-related rumors. If you are going to go Android, then picking a Nexus-branded device is definitely a great choice, although there are plenty of hot alternatives out there: Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, LG Optimus G or HTC One X to name just a few. But that Nexus-branded device doesn’t have to be the Galaxy Nexus, if you haven't already purchased it by now. Better wait for new Nexus smartphones to come out this fall/winter and forget about the Galaxy Nexus for the time being, no matter what hot Galaxy Nexus deals you'll find around. Of course, if its price keeps dropping then you should definitely get yourself one in addition to that next-gen Nexus handset we just told you to wait for.

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This article, iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Nexus – video comparison , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


HTC One X vs iPhone 5 – video comparison

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 07:30 AM PDT

htc one x vs iphone 5

The iPhone 5 became officially available on Friday, and everybody rushed to see how it fares against the best of the Android world. On our part, we drop-tested the new iPhone and the Galaxy S3 and brought you the results in the first ever iPhone 5 vs Galaxy S3 drop test. Plus, we showed you how the Galaxy S3 does against the iPhone 5 in our hands-on comparison video.

Now it's time for the magnificent HTC One X to face the mighty iPhone 5. We looked at all the important stuff, from specs and hardware, to software and ecosystem. Check it out.

In a hurry? Jump straight to the Video Comparison or the Pros and Cons.

Specs

one X vs iphone 5 specs

Display

The displays of the HTC One X and the iPhone 5 are both IPS LCD. While the resolutions are slightly different (the One X is 720 x 1280, while the iPhone is 640 x 1136), the pixel densities are close enough to call it a tie.

The beautiful Retina display on the iPhone 5 features in-cell touch technology, but that will have little impact on the user experience. With in-cell touch, the touch sensors are built right into the display, instead of on a separate glass substrate, thus allowing for a thinner device (Apple claims the iPhone 5 is the world's thinnest, but we are not convinced).

The much larger display of the HTC One X has been praised for its crispness and great color rendering (being an LCD, colors are less saturated than on AMOLED). HTC used a true RGB pixel pattern, which is sharper than the Pentile layout on the GS3 and other phones. Being laminated, it appears that the image floats on the glass, rather than sitting beneath a chunk of glass. That's something I love about the HTC One X.

Build quality and design

I'll say it from the beginning – both phones are exquisitely designed, although their design philosophies are markedly different. The One X features a sleek unibody made of strong polycarbonate, which makes it more likely to survive accidents and water splashes. HTC did a wonderful job designing their flagship, and the resulting product is modern, solid, and a joy to use.

The Apple iPhone 5 is equally solid – that aluminum casing and the front glass did amazingly well in our drop test. In terms of appearance, the only qualm you might have is the somehow boring design. The phone is essentially just an elongated iPhone 4S, so if you got bored with that, the iPhone 5 might not be satisfying. Other than that, it's hard to find a classier phone than the iPhone.

Hardware

Although the One X was launched over six months ago, the hardware on it is actually pretty similar to the iPhone 5. Apple was never on the cutting edge in terms of raw specs, and this shows with the iPhone 5. Both phones feature powerful processors: a quad-core Tegra 3 on the international version of the One X and a dual-core custom design on the Apple 5. Early benchmarks suggest that the iPhone 5 beats the One X, but again, Apple had time on its side.

In terms of features, the One X and the iPhone 5 are quite similar. Both phones feature non-removable batteries and no microSD card, so if you want that, better choose a GS3 or something else. Because of the larger display on the One X, it's beefier 1800mAh battery will offer about the same uptime as the iPhone's 1400mAh unit.

Software and ecosystem

HTC's Sense overlay used to be praised as a great enhancement to stock Android, but these days, we don't see how it improves on Ice Cream Sandwich. Anyway, some like it, and the latest variant of Sense, which is featured on the One X, is lighter and more subtle than before. Plus, HTC baked some unique features into its implementation of Android, including the Beats Audio software (a fancy equalizer basically) and ImageSense, HTC's custom camera firmware.

The iPhone 5 features iOS6, which critics say it's not Cupertino's best effort in terms of software. The half-baked Apple Maps app is a particularly jarring misstep, one that has even spawned websites dedicated to exposing its shortcomings. Other than that, iOS6 is business as usual – a polished user experience that sacrifices some features and flexibility for the sake of ease of use. If you like the "it just works" philosophy, you'll just love the iPhone 5.

Video comparison: iPhone 5 vs HTC One X

In a nutshell

HTC One X Pros

  • Large 4.7-inch display
  • Android 4 is a flexible, powerful OS
  • NFC
  • Beats Audio
  • Cheaper
  • A thriving enthusiast community that produce custom ROMs

HTC One X Cons

  • Android updates are slow and unpredictable
  • Larger and heavier than the iPhone 5 – might be a problem for some

iPhone 5 Pros

  • Lightweight and thin
  • Solid and stylish design
  • Simple, clear updates for iOS
  • Great support
  • Great ecosystem

iPhone 5 Cons

  • Small screen by today's standards
  • iOS is a bit dated and inflexible
  • Apple Maps is poor
  • More expensive if you buy it unlocked

Wrap up

Once again, we looked at two phones that are really hard to differentiate in terms of value.

The HTC One X has Android, a larger screen, and some unique features on its side. The iPhone 5 is a beautiful phone that is lightweight yet solid, but on the software side, it's playing catch up. And, in terms of specs and performance, the six months old HTC One X is on par with the brand new iPhone 5.

I would definitely choose the HTC One X over the iPhone 5, although, I must admit that I really like the build and design of Apple's phone. But I understand that some people want a smaller device, and for them I have no problem recommending the iPhone. For everyone else, go with the One X.

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This article, HTC One X vs iPhone 5 – video comparison , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Sony starts selling unlocked Xperia acro S, miro, tipo and tipo dual in the US

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 05:13 AM PDT

Despite being one of the busiest Android bees of the past few months, Sony seems not to care too much about its US fans. Very few of those fresh handhelds made their way stateside, and even fewer came to major carriers in subsidized forms.

The status quo shouldn't drastically change too soon, but we are getting signals that Sony is ready to show just a little love to Americans. The recently unveiled Xperia T passed its FCC inspection with flying colors, being just about confirmed for a T-Mobile launch, and now four slightly older devices are up for grabs in the US.

The Xperia acro S, miro, tipo and tipo dual each have their selling points and a certain wow factor, but unfortunately they are all only available for sale in unlocked versions. That means you'll have to scrape together more than just a few pennies to get the phones, although the upside is you won't tie yourself to a long-term carrier agreement.

If that sounds good to you, you'll probably be most interested in the Xperia acro S. That's by far the most generously equipped phone out of the quartet, being powered by a dual-core 1.5 Ghz Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon CPU with 1 GB of RAM.

The 4.3-incher has a beautiful LCD touchscreen with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, 16 GB of on-board memory, microSD storage, a 12 MP rear-facing shooter, and a 1,910 mAh battery. Although it comes with IP57 certification for dust and water resistance, the acro S is rather slim, weighing in at 147 grams and measuring 11.9 mm in thickness.

Available in black and ceramic white, the Xperia acro S will set you back a $649.99 if you choose to get it from Sony's official store.

The Xperia miro is far more affordable, going for just $239.99 in white, white/gold, black/pink, and metal black. However, the 3.5-incher is more modestly equipped, with an 800 MHz Qualcomm MSM7225A CPU and 512 MB of RAM under its hood. The 480 x 320 screen, 4 GB of internal memory, and 5 MP rear-facing camera are themselves not highly attractive specs, although you will be happy to know that this little guy runs Android 4.0 ICS and comes with microSD support.

Even lower on the Android evolutionary chain you can find the Xperia tipo and tipo dual. The two phones look identical, having 3.2-inch screens and 800 MHz MSM7225A CPUs, but the tipo dual allows accommodating two SIM cards at once.

The tipo is available in navy blue, deep red, classic black and classic white for $189.99, while its dual SIM "brother" goes for $209.99 in either classic silver or serene black.

You can place your orders for all four phones right now through Sony US, with the acro S and tipo shipping right away, while the miro and tipo dual will only reach you starting October 4.

Is anyone thinking of getting the ruggedized, but elegant SIM-free Xperia acro S? How about the budget-friendly miro, tipo and tipo dual?

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This article, Sony starts selling unlocked Xperia acro S, miro, tipo and tipo dual in the US , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Samsung starts selling the Verizon Galaxy S3 Developer Edition

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 04:57 AM PDT

As a knee-jerk reaction to the locked bootloader debacle of the Galaxy S3 released on Verizon Wireless, Samsung promised that a Developer Edition of the phone, made especially for the carrier, will be introduced. This was announced back in July. Two long months have passed since we first saw the product page for the Galaxy S3 developer edition going live. For those who are still interested, you can now get your wallet out and make the purchase.

The Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3 Developer Edition comes in two flavors: 16GB and 32GB. The former, as expected, will set you back $599. As for the latter, be prepared to plunk down $649.

We're not sure if there's still a market for the special edition. After all, the landscape has changed and we're not exactly short of methods to unlock the bootloader on the vanilla version of the phone anymore. The fact that it comes with an unlocked bootloader is the only thing that sets it apart from the regular Verizon Galaxy S3, while the rest of the specs stay the same.

It's likely that Verizon and Samsung just want to push the phone out, regardless of the reception. Interestingly, if you try purchasing the phone, the website says that it's currently out of stock. So either Verizon and Samsung only have a couple of units available or we're wrong and there's actually pent-up demand for it.

What do you think?

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This article, Samsung starts selling the Verizon Galaxy S3 Developer Edition , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Android and Me

Android and Me


Top 10 Android app updates: Springpad, SoundCloud, Zillow

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 12:47 PM PDT

Welcome back to the return of our weekly Top 10 Android App Updates column, where we take a look at the most upgraded apps for the week. I've found that one of the best ways to discover useful apps is to look at what people are actually updating, and not focus on which apps have the most [...]

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Apple requests $707 million be added to Samsung verdict, permanent injunctions as well

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 11:05 AM PDT

Apparently a billion dollars isn’t cool with Apple, but in a court filing late last night they outlined that what would be cool is just $707 million more. As you are no doubt aware the jury in the Apple v. Samsung patent case awarded Apple the tidy sum of 1.05 billion dollars last [...]

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