Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


LG Optimus G coming to KDDI on November 2, available in Astro Blue and White Prism

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 02:36 AM PDT

Are you planning to stay for an extended period in Japan in the near future? If the answer is yes, you may want to take note of what KDDI will have in store soon. Alongside the HTC J Butterfly, the Japanese carrier said that it's bringing LG's latest flagship offering, the Optimus G, to its customers.

Similar to its international counterparts, the Japanese variant of the Optimus G will sport the same 4.7-inch True HD IPS+ display, and a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor.

Dubbed as the LGL21, the phone also features 2GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, microSDXC support (up to 64GB), 13MP rear camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 4G connectivity, 2,210mAh battery, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The LG Optimus G will be available on KDDI starting November 2, and it'll come in two flavors: Astro Blue and White Prism.

In case you missed the quad-core phone's confirmed release date in the U.S., the AT&T variant will hit stores early on November 2, while the Sprint version will come out only on November 11. Both will be offered for $199 with a two-year contract.

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Angry Birds ‘Early Bird Coffee’ and ‘Explosive Espresso’ coming to Finland

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 02:01 AM PDT

Finnish winter is absolutely brutal. It’s freezing outside, there’s about 90 minutes of sunlight each day, and you’re guaranteed to slip and fall at least once, no matter how adept you think you are at walking. These reasons, plus several others, are why Finnish people drink more coffee per capita than the peoples from any other nation. Paulig, one of the biggest coffee brands in Finland, got together with Rovio, makers of Angry Birds, to introduce two new flavors today: Early Bird Coffee and Explosive Espresso. The Early Bird Coffee uses 100% Arabica beans from Brazil, Columbia, and Africa, and is medium roasted. The Explosive Espresso on the other hand is primarily made from Brazilian and Columbian beans, though there’s some Indian robusta thrown in for that “extra kick”.

Paulig says sales should start during week 44, which is basically the last week of October. This writer is looking forward to picking some up from his local supermarket, because if it wasn’t for coffee then he wouldn’t be able to get out of bed.

Back to Rovio, they’ve practically taken over Finland. Name just about any household object, and chances are you can buy it with an Angry Birds logo. There’s Angry Birds soda, Angry Birds bed sheets and pillow cases, there’s Angry Birds clothing, and there are even Angry Birds parks in two Finnish cities: Espoo and Tampere.

According to an editorial on BGR written by Tero Kuittinen (Finnish), roughly 40% of Rovio’s revenues this holiday season will come from merchandise. We’re not surprised by that figure, but we wonder what the company is going to be like half a decade from now. Will the Angry Birds brand be as strong or will it be just another fad?

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Even though Google owns Motorola it still has to ship custom versions of Android because that is what the carriers want

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 01:47 AM PDT

When Google bought Motorola it was hoped that Google would turn the handset and tablet manufacturer into a shining example of how Android can be used in its stock, unaltered flavor and how a smartphone manufacturer should support its customers in terms of updates and upgrades. However, so far, that hasn’t been true.

A good example is the RAZR M and RAZR HD phones which Motorola distribute via Verizon. These phones don’t ship with Android 4.1, the latest and greatest released version of Android and nor do they come with a pure, unadulterated version. Instead owners of these new phones get Android 4.0 with a Verizon skin and extra Verizon software.

Motorola Senior Vice President, Product Rick Osterloh recently commented on the direction the company is taking in terms of stock Android versions and software upgrades. Here is what he said:

Going forward, we're going to try to be as close to the base as we can be, because we think that's the right thing for users. We think users also want fast upgrades and upgrades for their phones over the long haul, so we're going to be focus on that as well. It's a little bit different than what a lot of OEMs are doing and certainly what Motorola did in the past, but going forward that's going to be our strategy.

So clearly, and understandably, Motorola needs to ship the device that Verizon wants and since Verizon is Motorola’s biggest advocate then it needs to keep the carrier happy. However one good thing is that Motorola is going to be more active in making updates and upgrades available.

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Xiaomi teases MI-One S Youth Edition launch, lets you guess the phone’s specs

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 01:43 AM PDT

Though it's still viewed as a somewhat exotic name by many tech enthusiasts in the West, Xiaomi is definitely making waves in its native land of China. After selling 3.5 million units of its first ever Android phone, the MI-One, in less than a year, the company is driving people nuts with the second gen Mi-Two and MI-One S phones.

The first 200,000 MI-One S units got sold out in about half an hour, and, while we don't even want to think at the demand for the Snapdragon S4 Pro-powered Mi-Two that will go on sale "by the end of the month", the MI-One S Youth Edition is currently teased.

The student-targeted handheld should go on sale on October 23, and with only 450,000 units being prepared for launch, you might want to hurry up, pre-order and reserve your place in front of the line.

There is a catch though, because the new phone doesn't yet have a full spec sheet. Instead, Xiaomi is doing everything in its power to increase the hype, asking people to guess what features will the device come with.

A 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, an 8 MP rear-facing shooter and a 2 MP front-facing camera are people's preferences at the moment. And it figures, because those are the top choices of the polls, and who would want to choose anything less than the best for his or hers phone?

Then again, there is a good possibility that those specs will prove to be more than wishful thinking, considering that the standard MI-One S is powered by a dual-core 1.7 GHz CPU while featuring 1 GB of RAM and dual 8 MP/2 MP cameras.

What we do know for sure about the "Youth Edition" is that it will come with a 1,930 mAh battery, run the ICS-based MIUI V4 OS and cost RMB 1,299 (around $205). Any takers already? Or would you rather wait and see the spec sheet, even at the risk of stocks being exhausted by then?

 

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Foreign telecom companies to control almost half of U.S. wireless market

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 01:30 AM PDT

The news that Japan-based Softbank is about to take Sprint under its wing is just another example of globalization at work. If the $20.1 billion deal between the two companies is approved by regulators and shareholders, it'll add to the growing list of American wireless carriers that are mostly owned by foreign companies. Here's a quick look at who's behind the top mobile network operators in the U.S.

Verizon Wireless

With over 108 million subscribers, Verizon is undoubtedly the country's largest U.S. carrier, and it’s one that  is still mostly owned by an American-based company – though not by a huge percentage. While 55% of the company's shares belong to Verizon Communications, the other 45% is owned by Vodafone, a British multinational company.

AT&T

Thanks to its 100 million subscribers, AT&T is the country's second largest wireless carrier. AT&T is fully owned by AT&T Inc., which is based in Texas, USA. The failed attempt of acquiring T-Mobile has cost the carrier the top spot.

Sprint

As mentioned, Softbank is currently in the process of acquiring Sprint with a deal that is reportedly worth $20.1 billion. When the process is completed, Softbank will get 70% ownership of Sprint, and take a 17% slice of the country's overall wireless subscribers.

T-Mobile

German telecom powerhouse Deutsche Telekom AG bought Voice Stream Wireless Inc. in 2001, which was then renamed as T-Mobile USA – now the fourth largest wireless carrier in the States. Merger talks between T-Mo and prepaid regional carrier MetroPCS are ongoing.

Overall, according to estimation made by Betanews, about 45.3% of the wireless market in the country will be controlled by non-U.S. multinational companies, should the Softbank-Sprint deal comes through.

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Verizon Galaxy S3 update available, no Jelly Bean love yet

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 12:44 AM PDT

One of the things Galaxy S3 owners out there are anxiously waiting for is the official Jelly Bean upgrade that was promised to arrive "soon." At least that's what Samsung said in late August, just at the end of its Galaxy Note 2 event at IFA 2012. We're in mid-October, and Android 4.1.1 is only available on certain Galaxy S3 models.

In case you own a Verizon Galaxy S3 version you'll be thrilled at first to hear that the carrier has just released a software update. But the excitement will go away the minute you realize you'll still be “stuck” in Ice Cream Sandwich universe.

Nevertheless, Verizon is "pleased" to announce the IMM76D.I535VRALHE update for your Galaxy S3, which packs several "enhancements" such as:

  • Enhanced Zooming Feature has been added to user interface for Web browsing, reading emails and more.
  • Reduced device resets.
  • Enhanced Stability in Google Play.

The update is 62MB in size, and you should complete it within 15 minutes, download included, according to Verizon's estimates.

The official documents from the carrier, available at the links below, don't say anything about Jelly Bean availability for the device, but we'll definitely let you know when Big Red rolls out the official Android 4.1.1 update.

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$99 Nexus 7 tablet coming by the end of the year, according to ‘Taiwan makers’

Posted: 17 Oct 2012 12:24 AM PDT

The biggest threats to Android tablets are almost here: the Microsoft Surface is already available for pre-order while the iPad mini will be official in just a few days. Is Google ready to respond to this increasing competition in the tablet market?

Digitimes seems to think so, as it brings back to the front an older rumor, the $99 Nexus 7 tablet. According to the publication, which has spoken to "Taiwan-based supply chain makers," the even-cheaper Google tablet is coming this quarter. An exact launch date is not available at this time, so don't get too excited.

Even if the $99 Nexus 7 is indeed in the works, we will remind you that such a cheap Nexus tablet will probably pack just 8GB of storage. Meanwhile, a 32GB Nexus 7 is almost confirmed by third-party retailers. Digitimes further details some internal changes for this tablet version:

The US$99 Nexus tablet is equipped with an ARM-architecture single-core processor 8950 developed by China-based WonderMedia Technologies, and a HUVA TN panel made by Taiwan-based HannStar Display, the sources said. The tablet will be produced by Taiwan-based Quanta Computer.

Compared to the starting prices for competing products – $159 for the Kindle Fire (2012 model) and the rumored $249 for the iPad mini, a $99 Nexus 7 tablet sounds like a great choice especially at this time of year. But isn't Google going to hurt the Android tablet ecosystem while trying to stay on top of the competition?

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Cube U9GT4 on sale now for $129.99, a budget 7-inch Android tablet with Jelly Bean

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:51 PM PDT

Budget Android tablets are not exactly a rarity these days, but you might be surprised at what some of the no-name tablets pack under the hood. While the upcoming Cube U9GT4 won't try to challenge the new iPad's Retina display like its bigger sibling, it does come with a rather similar sheet of specs.

Let's start with the not-so-good part. The Cube U9GT4 boasts a 7-inch display that only offers a 1,024 x 600 resolution. It obviously won't please those who are seeking a higher resolution tablet, but given the price, we guess it's a part of the budget experience.

The tablet's saving grace seems to be the use of a 1.6GHz Cortex-A9 dual-core processor. Combined with the tried-and-tested Mali-400 GPU, you're looking at an able performer. Other features include 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage, microSD support (up to 32GB), 0.3MP front camera, WiFi, and 3,000mAh battery. It also supports 1080p video playback.

Unlike some major manufacturers that seem reluctant to put the latest and greatest Google's mobile OS on their devices, the Cube U9GT4 will run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box.

Hit the source below to get the Cube U9GT4 for $129.99 with free shipping.

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HTC J Butterfly: The rumors about a 5 inch 1080p smartphone were true!

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:44 PM PDT

We’ve been hearing rumors about HTC making a 5 inch 1080p Android flagship device for several months now. At first we didn’t believe them, but then both Sharp and Japan Display (JDI) confirmed that they’ve begun mass producing the ultra sharp panels. Today we’re pleased to announce that the HTC J Butterfly has been unveiled in Japan, and it has that oh so delicious screen we’ll all soon be lusting after! According to The Verge, the name of the new screen technology is “Super LCD 3″. That makes a lot of sense since the HTC One X uses “Super LCD 2″. The new panel can pump out an astonishing 440 pixels per inch, easily making it the clearest display to ever be shoved into a smartphone.

So what about the rest of the phone? It’s got all the new flagship specs you’ve come to expect: quad core Snapdragon S4, 2 GB of RAM, though surprisingly the camera only does 8 megapixels. That and the battery is a little bit weak at just 2,020 mAh. The phone is 9.1 mm thick, has ultra thin bezels, but for reasons we fail to understand, HTC decided to put capacitive buttons of the front of the device.

Now for the important questions: When is the J Butterfly going to come out and how much is going to cost? Let’s start by saying we have absolutely zero clue as to when this thing will hit Europe and America, but we do know it’s going to land in Japan in December. It’s going to be offered by KDDI, which means it’s going to be subsidized, so we have no idea how much it’s actually going to cost.

We can now rest easy knowing that 5 inch 1080p phones aren’t just some lustworthy fantasy, they actually exist. Let’s just hope HTC makes a Nexus version of this thing!

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Verizon criticized for selling app usage and web browsing data

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:42 PM PDT

If you’re a Verizon subscriber, you may just have reason to be concerned. Starting this October, Verizon has been offering reports to marketers that show what Verizon subscribers are doing on their smartphones, including app usage and mobile web browsing data.

“We’re able to view just everything that they do,” boasted Bill Diggins, who heads the marketing initiative in the U.S. called Precision Market Insights. “And that’s really where data is going today. Data is the new oil,” Diggins said.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has criticized the move as a violation of federal wiretapping laws, which stipulate that telecommunications carriers may not “divulge the contents of any communication.” However, Verizon says the customer information is aggregated, and that no user-identifiable information and identities are revealed.

The Precision program complies with the law and protects the privacy of our customers. The reports available through the program will not disclose the content of specific customer communications because each report will contain aggregate data from a large number of customers to protect privacy. Customers who do not want their data used as part of the program can opt-out at any time.

CNet likens the move to how Google and Facebook collect information from users and monetize these through ads and other marketing initiatives. However, the difference is that Verizon — and other telecommunications carriers — are paid subscription fees, which means they should not be looking into other means to monetize their users’ usage.

Any Verizon users out there? Are you concerned that Verizon might be selling your information?

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Android and Me

Android and Me


Best Buy’s house brand tablet coming Nov. 11th for $239-259

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:45 PM PDT

Could Best Buy find success in the low-priced Android tablet market? We should find out next month as their house brand Insignia is set to launch a 9.7-inch Android tablet for around $239-259. Insignia teased the product on their Facebook page last week and now Reuters reports it will hit stores on...

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What would a name like the Nexus 4 mean for the Nexus program?

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:18 PM PDT

Just a couple weeks ago, I found myself complaining about the lack of Nexus rumors and leaks. Now my brain can hardly keep up. At this point, it’s safe to say we know who’s going to manufacture the next big Nexus device, along with what it will look like and what version of Android it...

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Top 5 most wanted Android smartphones for October 2012

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:20 PM PDT

Hundreds of Android phones are released every year, but only a handful of products get all the attention. The big releases are normally saved for the fall shopping season and we are expecting new flagship phones from HTC, Samsung, Motorola, LG, Sony, and many more. Read on to see which phones...

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iGrill comes to Android devices

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:16 AM PDT

If you love to grill and show off your Android phone, you might want to take note of the new iGrill accessory. This cool Bluetooth gadget allows you to remotely monitor food temperatures from the convenience of your Android smartphone. It has been available for iOS devices for a couple of years,...

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Android Game Trailers: Need for Speed Most Wanted, Avengers Initiative, Crazy Taxi

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:29 AM PDT

Every week we cover the latest Android game releases, but we thought it would be fun to have a separate column that only focuses on upcoming titles. Today we will start a new experiment called Android Game Trailers, where we highlight the best video teasers for new games that are coming soon to...

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HTC unveils white HTC One S with 64GB of storage

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:19 AM PDT

The HTC One S has been one of the most impressive Android powered handsets to launch this year. Since its debut, it’s had to live in the shadow  of the HTC One X and the Samsung Galaxy S III, but HTC is hoping to re-capture consumer interest in the device by releasing [...]

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Microsoft opens preorders for Surface RT tablets, not quite what we hoped for

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 08:57 AM PDT

Everyone knows this is a blog dedicated to all things Android, but some might be surprised to learn that the majority of our visitors come from Windows devices. Over the last 30 days, we have seen 52% visits from Windows, 30% from Android, 8% from Mac, and 5% from iOS. For this very reason, we [...]

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AT&T opens preorders for LG Optimus G, available Nov. 2

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 08:01 AM PDT

Starting today, AT&T customers can now preorder the LG Optimus G for only $199 with 2-year contract. Customers who buy the AT&T LG Optimus G off contract will pay $549, which is a pretty good price for a high-end Android phone with 4G LTE. We are expecting Google to reveal the LG Nexus...

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Deal: Unlocked Galaxy Nexus on sale today only for $319

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:44 AM PDT

We are expecting a new Nexus device to drop any week now, which means the current Galaxy Nexus should be seeing a price drop soon. Today Daily Steals has the unlocked GSM Samsung Galaxy Nexus (i9250) on sale for only $319.99. These deals sites are notorious for slow shipping, but that sale price is...

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ASUS unveils Padfone 2, no US availability announced

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:14 AM PDT

Today ASUS announced the new Padfone 2, but just like the first device, it does not appear to be coming to the United States. The unique product once again combines a smartphone and a tablet, this time with a faster quad-core chip, LTE-equipped smartphone and a completely redesigned tablet. ASUS...

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