Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


Google Play Music now available in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK

Posted: 13 Nov 2012 02:34 AM PST

The Android ecosystem has always been mostly about apps, with the rest of Google's entertainment services being either unavailable to a lot of users or simply not very attractive. But with Google Play apps so close of overtaking iOS in both quality and quantity, we can finally say that Google is looking to up the ante in the music and movies departments, too.

And how do you do that? Through promotions and special offers, of course, but also by making the services available to previously "underprivileged" users. Starting today, Google Play Music is officially and legally accessible to new users in "select" European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.

This still leaves all of Asia in the fog, as well as Canada or Australia, not to mention a large part of "The Old Continent", but it's clearly a big step in the right direction. It also closely follows Google's newly signed partnership with Warner Music Group, which ensures Google Play Music users that they can download all their favorite tracks and albums across all of the major record labels globally.

To wrap it all up with a pretty little bow, Google has also updated the Play Music app for Android and Google TV. The 4.4811H version of the app brings the usual bug fixes, but also the adding of a much awaited gapless playback feature (only for Jelly Bean-based mobile devices), improvements for keeping music on gadgets for offline playback, and the added ability to keep Thumbs Up, Last Added, and Free and Purchased playlists on your devices.

Meanwhile, Google Play movies have been recently made available to new users in Australia, Canada, Germany, France and the UK, while other countries should get the service "over the next few months". Now that’s what we’d call commitment towards creating a unified and solid ecosystem across the world!

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Microsoft vs Motorola trial could reveal patent deals and sales figures

Posted: 13 Nov 2012 02:31 AM PST

Microsoft

You'd be forgiven if patent war fatigue is starting to set in. The petty squabbling over patent licensing has reached epic proportions in the mobile industry. The good news is that juicy details you'd never otherwise hear about the giants of tech are often revealed in the courtroom and it looks as though that will be the case in the Microsoft vs Motorola trial which kicks off today.

Microsoft and Google-owned Motorola both submitted a request to Judge Robart ahead of the trial to request that he keep certain financial details secret – they actually want him to clear the Seattle courtroom when licensing deals or sales projections are discussed. Robart said no. The actual documents won't be made public, but testimony will be given in open court.

In his statement he wrote that if a witness discloses "pertinent terms, rates or payments" the information will be public and so will any documents the judge relies on to reach his opinion.

If you missed the news Microsoft and Motorola are fighting over fair rates for patent licensing on standard essential patents or FRAND patents. Basically Motorola requested 2.25 percent of the sale price of infringing hardware and software, in this case that includes the Xbox 360. Microsoft said, no way, that would cost us over $4 billion, and then suggested $1.2 million would be fair. As you can see there's a bit of gulf between the two.

This case will have serious ramifications going forward. Google acquired Motorola Mobility in large part to get its hands on a patent portfolio which is packed with essential patents and has been trying to use them to combat major patent infringement suits from Apple and Microsoft. If the judge decides that a relatively low royalty is fair then his opinion is likely to be referred to by other courts and it will seriously weaken Google's arsenal.

The ultimate aim is to keep these essential patents out of courtroom disputes by establishing a fair rate. It won't stop Apple from aggressively pursuing cases with its portfolio of non-essential patents. A similar case with Apple claiming Motorola's demands for royalties on its FRAND patents were unfair was canceled last week because Apple refused to pay more than $1 per iPhone and the judge felt that was inappropriate.

It seems the judges are getting sick of all this too. Judge Robert actually said back in the summer that he feels the companies are using the courts “as a pawn in a global, industry-wide business negotiation”.

We'll keep you posted on what he decides, and on any juicy financial details that might emerge.

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Walmart’s Head of Mobile doesn’t believe in NFC, says there’s no problem with using cash and plastic

Posted: 13 Nov 2012 01:19 AM PST

Gibu Thomas, Senior Vice President of Mobile and Digital at Walmart, doesn’t think mobile payments are going to be a big thing according to FierceWireless. He even went so far as to say that people are already used to paying for products with cash and credit cards, so what’s the point of introducing a third payment method? Does this mean Walmart doesn’t understand the future? Not in the slightest. In fact, the company is looking into launching a smartphone application that helps customers navigate their massive stores. Using the latest in indoor location technology at their San Jose, California store, customers will soon be able to search for items and then see exactly where to find them on a map. In the future, Walmart shoppers might also be able to scan barcodes using their phones to help speed up the self checkout process.

But back to his comments about NFC, does he have a point? As much as it might pain you to hear this, we think Thomas hit the nail on the head. Cash and plastic work, there’s no denying that. All these companies fighting over making NFC the next big thing are just “more mouths to feed”, says Thomas. What he means by that is that Visa already takes a chunk out of processing payments. Operators and handset vendors want NFC to become the defacto payment method because they too want a slice of every transaction to flow into their pockets. This “battle”, if you want to call it that, is why the whole NFC scene today is a mess. When multiple parties fight for control, no one wins.

All that being said, we’re super excited that there are rumors floating around the internets that say Google is planning to launch a plastic credit card. Even if it means manually having to top it up, just imagine what online banking would look like if Google got in the game?

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Apple’s new “Blue Sky” initiative sounds a lot like Google’s 20% time

Posted: 13 Nov 2012 12:24 AM PST

Google is famous for the “perks” that they give their employees. Things like gourmet free lunches, shuttle service to and from work, an on-campus laundromat, but their most recognized program is easily “20% time”. In case you haven’t heard of it by now, Google basically gives employees one day of the week to work on whatever it is they want. Here are some Google services you might have heard of that started out as a 20% project: Gmail, Google News, and AdSense. Apple, looking to copy the best parts of Google, began something called the “Blue Sky” initiative earlier this year according to The Wall Street Journal. Here’s the exact wording:

“Earlier this year, Apple told some employees about a new initiative called “Blue Sky” that allows a small group of staffers to spend a few weeks on a pet engineering project, according to three people told about the program.”

It’s obviously not as widespread as Google’s 20% time since “Blue Sky” is only open to a select few, but it is a sign that even Apple is starting to recognize that some of their ideas are getting a bit stale. Scott Forstall, the former Head of iOS, is said to have been a part of this program.

Will Apple’s employees come up with something as ground breaking as Gmail or as profitable as AdSense over the coming years? That’s hard to say. As much as the media loves to give Apple attention and call them an innovative company, they’re fundamentally in the box moving business. By that we mean they make money by selling you physical goods. That’s made them the biggest company America has ever seen, but all it takes is a few misteps for the empire to crumble. Google meanwhile, as long as advertising exisits, they exist.

We don’t see the death of advertising happening anytime soon.

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The first drop in text message use among Americans has just been recorded

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 11:36 PM PST

Text messages, those lovely succinct 160 character bursts of the human expression that are infinitely more practical than a phone call, are in danger. According to a report published earlier this week by the analyst firm Chetan Sharma, the average American sent 678 text messages per month during the third quarter. That’s down from 696 text messages in Q2. Why is this seemingly small drop so significant? Because this is the first time that a decline has been recorded.

So why are people texting less? Here’s a few obvious ideas: Since smartphone penetration in the United States has now exceeded 50%, that means the average American carries a device in their pocket that can do email, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, and various other services. Those services don’t need to use the ancient text message infrastructure to operate. Just look at Apple’s iPhone, which by default uses iMessage to text between other iPhone users. Considering how many people in America have iPhones, this drop was pretty much guaranteed to happen.

What are operators going to do to recoup the revenues lost from the decline of texting? Easy, they’re going to start charging more for data. Most operators have also already made text messaging an unlimited or nothing proposition. You either pay $20 per month and can send as many texts as you want, or you pay absolutely nothing on your monthly phone bill, but then get price gouged to the tune of $0.25 per text. That scare tactic forces people to sign up for the unlimited plan, irrespective of the amount of text messages they know they’ll send in any given billing cycle.

Back to iMessage for a second, we’re really curious as to why Google hasn’t rolled out something similar. Yes, every Android device has Google Talk, but that’s not the same. Services like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Viber are tied to your phone number, not your email address. That’s the key difference.

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Tech juggernauts Microsoft and Motorola to match up in court over royalty payments

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 11:00 PM PST

Motorola
If you’re one of those who aren’t sick of the patent wars, then this will be good news for you. Motorola and Microsoft are due in court soon to battle it out once again. Most patent war battles involve a company accusing another of violating their patents without paying for it. This time for Motorola and Microsoft, it’s a little different. Microsoft has already lost that patent battle. Now, they’re trying to decide what constitutes a fair patent payment.

For those who don’t know, here is pretty much how it works. When a company uses a patent from another company, they pay the patent holder royalties. All these lawsuits are stemming from companies claiming that others aren’t paying royalties for their inventions. We’re talking real inventions, not imaginary ones.

Microsoft has taken it a step further by claiming that Motorola is charging an unfair amount for use of their industry standard patents. Industry standard patents are patents that are absolutely required for tech. Things such as wireless connectivity and video playback.

As the Seattle Times reports, courts in Wisconsin were supposed to determine what is fair for patent payments. However, the courts there didn’t do it, so Microsoft is taking Motorola to court to try again. Even though the trial is taking place in Seattle this time, don’t be fooled. The decision for this case is very important and could cost or save companies billions of dollars.

How much is Motorola even asking for these patents?

According to the Seattle Times, Motorola asks for 2.25% of the sales price. So if a product costs $500, Motorola would make $11.25. It may sound trivial. However, when you add in the cost of building materials, other patent payments, distribution, and other costs, it adds up quickly.

The results of this trial could also have big impacts on other cases involving the two tech juggernauts. This includes a potential injunction on Microsoft products in Germany as well as the United States. At this point, it’s hard to determine a side to root for anymore. Is Microsoft correct in thinking Motorola charges too much? Is Motorola going too far with the product injunctions? Let us know your thoughts.

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Google Music update brings better offline listening using the recent played lists and gapless playback

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:00 PM PST

Google Music
When Google Music was first released, a lot of people had high hopes for it. Being able to upload your entire music collection and listen to it anywhere is definitely a feature you can’t usually get with a storage device. Popularity for the service has been improving. Now, Google Play developers believe that they can make their offline listening a little bit better.

Currently, there is a very efficient way of getting music onto your device from your Google Music account. You open the app, hit the menu button, and select to choose on device music. From there you can pick songs by artist or individual songs. It’s very handy to keep a small cache of your favorite tunes always available for offline consumption. The only downside is if your music collection is huge. Then it could take some time to weed out your favorites.

Google Music is changing this by allowing users to create Instant Mixes by automatically selecting music from their Recent tab. This can be useful in a number of niche scenarios. Like if you just listened to an album you’d like to pull off your Google Music and keep on your phone to show to your friends. That’s just a single example out of many other uses.

Did Google Music add anything else to the update?

There were some other things included in the update. There is now gapless playback support. According to The Next Web, that part of the update is only applicable for devices running Jelly Bean 4.1 or higher.

When combined with all the other features of Google Music, it shows Google Music is doing its best to improve. There are various sharing options, offline options, and they still let you add up to 20,000 of your own songs. After their rough start, there are many who’d like to see Google Music become a force in the music business. Is anyone excited about using the new offline features? Is anyone on Jelly Bean or higher experienced the gapless playback yet? Let us know what’s up.

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Galaxy Nexus Android 4.2 update rolling out now, only GSM units getting it so far

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 08:57 PM PST

It's November 13, at least in some regions of the world, which means we're about to get flooded by a variety of Nexus and Android 4.2 news. Earlier today we found out that the 16GB Nexus 4 is already sold out in Australia, but we also learned that Google is issuing an Android 4.2 update for Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 units that certain individuals have had the pleasure to work with in the past few weeks.

Now, it's time to deliver some good news to (some) Galaxy Nexus owners. In case you own a GSM version of the handset, you'd better check out for updates, as Android 4.2 Jelly Bean may be closer than you think.

Android Police reports that some GSM Galaxy Nexus users have already received the update, version JOP40C, but Verizon and Sprint Galaxy Nexus may have to wait a while until they'll be able to enjoy the new Android 4.2 features, at least officially.

We're certainly curious to hear more from Galaxy Nexus owners out there. Have you received your Android 4.2 update yet?

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Android 4.2 update for Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 rolling out: lock screen widgets and multi-user support included

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 08:35 PM PST

While the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 are just about getting ready for launch – or were just launched in certain markets – some lucky folks got to play with Google's new smartphone and tablet for a few days now. And it looks like those units were not running the final Android 4.2 Jelly Bean version Google had in mind for them.

Engadget reports that an Android 4.2 update for the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 has been rolled out, enabling features such as lock screen widgets and multi-user support (this feature is going to be available only on Android tablets).

According to the same publication, Google confirmed that this Android 4.2 build will be found on the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 units that are getting ready to ship, which means buyers will be able to enjoy features like lock screen widgets and multi-user support from day one.

We'll definitely have more detailed Nexus and Android 4.2 coverage for you in the coming days, so don’t go anywhere!

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Black Nexus 4 bumper spotted in the Play Store, costs $19.99

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 08:05 PM PST

It's almost November 13, which means new Nexus devices will be available for pre-order in various markets in the following hours. In fact, Australians can already order the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10, with the 16GB Nexus 4 being sold out minutes after its official launch in the country.

While you anxiously wait to purchase you next Nexus smartphone, we'll remind you that Google also has a special protection accessory for the handset, a bumper that's very much like the iPhone 4's bumper that got famous due to the Antennagate issues in 2010, and which was confirmed only a few weeks ago.

The Nexus 4 bumper has apparently been listed in the Google Play Store already, so future Nexus 4 buyers will be able to get one for $19.99. The accessory is available in black only at this time, measures 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1mm and weighs 20g.

The other, more interesting Nexus 4 accessory which should also be available from the Play Store later on, the wireless Charging Orb, is not yet available to interested consumers.

Are you buying a bumper for your Nexus 4?

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Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Nexus 4 and 10 now available… in Australia

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:04 PM PST

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Looks like our Android brothers from Australia are reporting that the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 have officially gone live in their Play Stores. As expected, it didn’t take long for the 16GB version of the Nexus to sell it, we’re expecting this to be the Nexus of choice. We’re guessing the same fate will fall the 8GB version next, followed by some version of the Nexus 10 tablet (or not). While we’re not sure if Australia is getting a smaller allotment than the rest of the world, let’s hope it doesn’t sell out as quickly here in the states or across the pond. This is going to be intense.

[AusDroid]


Official Nexus 4 Bumper arrives in the Play Store ahead of launch

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 05:28 PM PST

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It was only a few weeks ago that Google’s Dan Morrill clued us in that an official Nexus 4 bumper was on its way. And now, just before the launch of the device goes live in the Google Play Store, this mysterious bumper emerges. While the accessory still isn’t available for purchase, this is the first glimpse we’re getting of the bumper which looks nice from the single image.

You’ll notice the side of the bumper has what looks like some kind of aluminum, while plastic trim adorns the rest. For $20, it doesn’t come cheap, and if you’d like, you can sign up now to be notified when it is officially available for purchase.

Looks like my Nexus 4 grand total just jumped to $370 excluding taxes and shipping n’ handling charges. Now we just have to wait for the wireless charging dock. Anyone else picking up a bumper?

[Play Store]


It’s Nexus Eve! Crack open the Play Store and get your index fingers ready

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 05:04 PM PST

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Here we are on the eve of the Nexus 4 and 10 and I must admit, I’m feelin’ a lot like a kid on Christmas Eve. What is sure to be a frenzy of Android and tech enthusiasts across the country making a mad dash to the Google Play Store, I hope you’re all ready. Google announced that both devices would be hitting the Play Store on Tuesday, November 13th, and while we don’t have an exact time Google will open the floodgates, we have plenty of good reasons to believe it will launch at midnight tonight (pacific time).

First, Google is based in San Francisco here on the the west coast, and if they’re going by Apple’s typical release schedule (which hasn’t seemed to garner too many complaints) it only seems logical that the the N4 and N10 will arrive as soon as the clock strikes midnight. Because the the Nexuses will be launching globally, it seems the other parts of the world will have to wait until the later part of Tuesday — which is still November 13th for them. They’ll just need to wait for the rest of the world to catch up. You also might want to take into account a German Googler who said to expect the device sometime during the “breakfast” hours (for Germany) which — depending on when you crack open your Kellogg’s Frosties — could very well mean 12AM PT, 3AM ET.

Of course, without an official word from the mother ship, the exact time is anyone’s guess. We expect the Nexus 4 to sell out within minutes of going live in the Play Store (the Nexus 10… not so much), so if you really had your heart set on being one of the first to get your hands on one, depending on where you live, you might have a long night ahead of you. I have my browser auto-refreshing the page for the 16GB version and as soon as it goes live, you guys will be the first to know.

All that being said, when do you guys think the Nexus 4 and 10 will go live in the Play Store? Anyone staying up late to make sure they’re not left out in the cold?

Nexus 4: 8GB | 16GB

Nexus 10: 16GB | 32GB


HTC One X+ and HTC One VX headed to AT&T November 16th

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:50 PM PST

November 16th is shaping up to be a really huge day for AT&T, the nation’s second largest wireless carrier. The company already has the Samsung Galaxy Camera and the Samsung Galaxy Express launching that day, and now two of its phones are confirmed to be launching at the end of this week, as well.

The HTC One X+ and HTC One VX are going to be joining the gigantic stable of Android smartphones on Ma Bell’s 4G LTE network, with the former costing you $200 on a two-year contract and the latter costing you $50 for the same terms. You can pre-order the HTC One X+ starting November 13th if you can’t wait to throw your money straight into AT&T’s coffers.

The One X+ is a nice refresh on HTC’s early 2012 model. It featured Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 processor, and while that dual-core bundle of goodness served its purpose well folks should be happy to know that the One X+ will be outfitted with NVIDIA’s 1.7GHz quad-core Tegra 3 chipset.

Beyond that you’re also getting a 4.7 inch HD display, a whopping 64GB of internal storage, a 2,100 mAh battery, NFC, an 8 megapixel 1080p HD camera and more. More importantly, the phone is coming with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box and will feature HTC Sense 4+.

On the other hand, the One VX is a bit more modest but looks to be a fantastic offering for those looking for a mid-range Android handset. It offers a 4.5 inch qHD display, a 5 megapixel ImageSense camera with HD video recording, NFC, and more. Unfortunately this one won’t debut with Jelly Bean, but AT&T promises it’s in line for the upgrade (along with a promise for the original HTC One X) at some point down the line. Read on for full press details.

HTC One X+ and HTC One VX Arrive at AT&T Nov. 16; Pre-orders for One X+ Begin Nov. 13

DallasTexasNovember 12, 2012

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Customers looking for a smartphone that combines outstanding design, authentic sound, an amazing camera, HD entertainment, and the power of a quad-core processor will surely add the HTC One™ X+ to the top of their wish list.  Available in AT&T* stores and online beginning Nov. 16 for $199.99 with a two-year agreement, customers can also pre-order the HTC One X+ beginning Nov. 13 atwww.att.com/onexplus.  A look at the HTC One X+ in action is available in this video.

Additionally, AT&T announced the HTC One™ VX, an affordable Android smartphone that offers a premium mobile experience, will be available in-store Nov. 16 for $49.99 with a two-year agreement.  Running on AT&T's 4G LTE network, the HTC One VX delivers an amazing camera and authentic sound experience in a more compact size for even greater mass-market appeal.

HTC One X+

The HTC One X+ will be the first smartphone to combine Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) with the 1.7 GHz NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 '4-PLUS-1™' quad-core processor with a battery saving fifth core. The HTC One X+ will also be the first smartphone in the U.S. to feature performance improvements and benefits of HTC Sense 4+.  Continuing with the iconic HTC One X design, this powerhouse now comes in an exclusive Carbon Black finish and adds increased performance, longer battery life and 64 GB of internal storage.

Improved battery life comes from a larger 2100 mAh battery and the smartphone's ability to allow the four cores to operate in the most efficient way possible with each core independently and automatically enabled and disabled based on workload. The single battery-saver fifth core (or companion core) handles low-power tasks like active standby, email, browsing, music and video. Intelligent Power Saver settings further optimize battery life, giving you all the power you need, when you need it.

The HTC One X+ has a 4.7-inch, 720p HD screen and builds on the camera of the HTC One X.  It has a superfast auto-focus and integrates the HTC ImageChip which reduces noise, removes color bias and enhances the overall picture quality.  The 64 GB of internal memory is non-partitioned to store more high quality photos, video, music, movies and apps however the user wants.

The HTC One series set the standard for imaging with HTC VideoPic™ (the ability to take still photos and shoot videos at the same time), one-press Continuous Shooting and better quality images in low light environments.  The HTC One X+ combines the outstanding camera capabilities of its predecessor** with a series of intelligent features powered by HTC Sense 4+. The new Auto Portrait mode on the front camera helps you capture high quality photos by detecting the human face at various angles. Sightseeing mode makes it easier to capture the moment, as only one touch of the power button bypasses the lock screen and launches directly into camera mode. Additionally, two new ways to view photos and videos in the gallery allow you to display albums according to when or where they were taken.

For more information, please visit www.att.com/onexplus.

HTC One VX

Exclusive to AT&T, the HTC One VX sports one of the slimmest unibody form factors in the industry at just 9.19 millimeters thin, making it easy to hold and navigate at a size that fits easily in anyone's hand.  The stylish new smartphone comes in a crisp white color finish with silver accents and features a 4.5-inch qHD display protected with scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass which aids in durability and reduces light reflection.

Featuring advanced imaging capabilities, the HTC One VX includes a 1080p HD video recorder and 5-megapixel camera with HTC ImageSense™, improving every part of the camera and integrating HTC ImageChip.  Within seconds, customers can launch the camera from the lock screen and enjoy one-press continuous shooting at four frames per second.  The One VX also features HTC VideoPic.  The HTC One VX is NFC-ready for the seamless, wireless sharing of playlists, Web sites, contacts and more with other NFC-enabled devices.

The HTC One VX runs HTC Sense 4 with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). In the future, the original HTC One X and HTC One VX are planned to be upgraded to HTC Sense 4+ with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), which will include the improved camera capabilities and new Tap and Go function currently available on the HTC One X+, which allows customers to connect the phone and music to Beats speakers' when tapped them together***.  The HTC One VX comes equipped with a microSD card slot for up to 32 GB of additional storage space.

For more information, please visit www.att.com/onevx.

HTC has the only smartphones, including the HTC One X+, HTC One X and HTC One VX, that include Beats AudioTM which provides authentic, studio-quality sound that delivers the spirit of the original recording, from crisper vocals and deeper bass to more immersive gaming effects and video.

AT&T customers have access to the nation's largest 4G network****, covering 285 million people. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. That means AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you may be on a much slower 3G network.

For more information, please visit www.att.com/onexplus.

 

 

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**8MP smartphone with an f/2.0 wide aperture lens, backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor, VideoPic, HDR and one-press Continuous Shooting with HTC Sense 4

***Tap and Go only works on selected Beats speakers, which are sold at a separate price to the handset

**** 4G speeds not available everywhere. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

The names of companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available athttp://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at@ATT.

 

 

© 2012 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 4G not available everywhere. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.


Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere 2 officially announced for Verizon; coming soon for $130

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 01:06 PM PST

The Samsung Stratosphere 2 (which we’re now learning is known as the Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere 2) has been rumored for quite some time, and we’ve had about all the leaks and rumors we care to handle at this point. Samsung has gone ahead and made it official, though, as the OEM has announced its existence.

The Stratosphere is headed straight for the big, red shores of Verizon and will pack some pretty respectable specs inside a slide-out keyboard package. You’re getting a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4G LTE, NFC, global capabilities and Android 4.0,  and we TouchWiz will be on board to give it that unique Samsung flare.

Those wondering when they might be able to get their hands on this will have to wait a little while longer as Samsung and Verizon are not willing to provide availability details just yet. It’s coming, though, so if this is the one device you’ve been holding out for this holiday season then you shouldn’t have to wait much longer. Set aside $130 (that’s if you plan to sign another two years of your wireless freedom away in a legal binding contract) and read on for full press details.

Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere II Coming Soon to Verizon Wireless

 

The Samsung Galaxy™ Stratosphere® II, featuring a full QWERTY keyboard, 1.2 GHz dual core processor, 4G LTE and Android 4.0, aims to balance business and a rich multimedia experience.

The Stratosphere II offers a number of entertainment features. Users can rent or purchase movies from the Samsung Media Hub™ that they can watch right on the Stratosphere II's 4-inch Super AMOLED™ touchscreen display for high quality video entertainment. S-Beam™ uses NFC to easily share photos, and videos to other compatible devices.

On the business side, the smartphone is Global Ready with the ability to call and email from over 200 countries, has built-in Virtual Private Network (VPN) connectivity when on the road and supports multi-vendor Mobile Device Management (MDM). With numerous security features like Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and on-device AES 256-bit encryption, the Stratosphere II aims to protect personal and professional information.

The Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere II will be available online and in Verizon Wireless Communication Stores in the coming weeks for $129.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.


Apple could bank $280 million per year as part of HTC licensing deal

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 12:28 PM PST

Over the weekend news broke of a licensing deal between HTC and Apple. The exact details of the 10-year agreement, which sees the two smartphone makers cross-licensing certain technologies related to mobile devices, were not released, but an industry analyst claims to have a bit of inside information. Shaw Wu of Sterne Agee says he has learned that Apple will pocket $6 to $8 in fees for every handset HTC ships.

While both sides will earn the rights to implement various features without fear of infringing on any patents, a source speaking to the Wall Street Journal confirmed that Apple would come out ahead. With HTC predicted to ship near 35 million handsets in 2013, this could equate to $280 million dollars in the bank for the maker of the iPhone.

HTC executives are apparently relieved by the truce in an otherwise brutal patent war, but HTC cannot afford to lose anymore money on their smartphone business. With quarterly financials looking more and more dire, the Taiwanese company will need to turn around their fortunes if the added licensing fees are to be easily absorbed.

Apple, on the other hand, might look towards the deal drafted with HTC as a model for future settlements with the likes of Samsung and Motorola, though attempts to reach such agreements in the past have been fruitless.

[via CNET]


Staples clearing Nexus 7 8GB stock with $160 price tag

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 12:09 PM PST

While many think 8GB and even 16GB of storage wasn’t enough for their tablet needs, there are some deals that might make purchasing the lower capacity Nexus 7 tablets a bit irresistible. With the Nexus 7 32GB on its way it looks like some retailers are trying to clear stock, and Staples is the latest to offer an eye-popping deal.

Folks at SlickDeals are reporting that the retailer is selling the 8GB Nexus 7 for a mere $160 in its stores. This is by far one of the most attractive prices we’ve seen for this tablet. With no microSD card slot to make up for the mere 8GB of internal storage some of you might still be a bit turned off, but for this price we’re sure a couple of you “on the fence” folks will find a way to justify the minuscule amount.

The Nexus 7 features some very beefy internals, including NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 chipset, 1GB of RAM, NFC and more. The 7 inch display makes it a nice, comfortable compromise between phone and the 10-inch tablets that seem to have been popular over the past two years.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive tablet to give someone for Christmas then I don’t see how you can’t consider this deal. Be sure to call your local Staples store to confirm they have them in stock (and for the $160 price tag that will draw most of you in the first place).


Samsung Galaxy Camera coming to AT&T November 16th

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:08 AM PST

AT&T will bring the 4G-enabled Samsung Galaxy Camera to their network beginning November 16th. The Android 4.1 camera recently launched in the UK and will soon see its American release courtesy of the wireless provider. While not an actual smartphone, the Galaxy Camera’s Jelly Bean interface will allow for much of the same functionality.

The camera features a quad-core Exynos CPU and 4.8-inch Super Clear LCD touchscreen display, but it’s true hallmark is a 16MP backside illuminated CMOS sensor and 21x optical zoom, providing a camera experience unmatched by the typical Android device. Expert Mode allows users to fine-tune camera settings to provide even better results

The Galaxy Camera can be paired with AT&T’s Mobile Share or DataConnect plans starting at $15/month. As a limited time offer users purchasing a Galaxy Camera device will receive $100 off a second Galaxy device from Samsung. Read the full press release below.

SAMSUNG GALAXY CAMERA AVAILABLE ON AT&T'S 4G NETWORK BEGINNING NOV. 16

For a Limited Time, Buy any Samsung Galaxy Smartphone and Receive up to $100 off a Second Connected Samsung Device, including the new Samsung Galaxy Camera1

DALLAS, NOV. 12, 2012 — AT&T* today announced the Samsung Galaxy Camera™, the 4G connected camera, will be available for customers beginning Nov. 16 for $499.99.2 For a limited time, AT&T customers will receive up to $100 off the purchase of a second Samsung Galaxy handset or other Samsung connected device, including the new Samsung Galaxy Camera, when they purchase any Samsung Galaxy smartphone (w/ two-year agreement incl. qualifying voice and data plans).

The Galaxy Camera combines high performance photography with Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean and AT&T 4G mobile internet, resulting in a powerful point-and-shoot camera with a familiar, intuitive user interface and access to Android applications from the Google Play™ market.

The Galaxy Camera is a perfect fit for those who wish to shoot, edit and share brilliant photographs and video easily and quickly through social networks without connecting to a laptop or PC. The Galaxy Camera features a 4.8-inch HD Super Clear LCD™ screen, boasts a 21x optical zoom lens and a super-bright 16MP backside illuminated CMOS sensor for shooting high-quality images close up and in low light conditions. This device is powered by a quad-core 1.4 GHz processor for quick and responsive performance. Galaxy Camera includes powerful manual controls with its Expert Mode, which allows for manual setting of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Smart Mode gives amateurs the tools of the pros, with Rich Tone HDR mode, Light Trace for 'light painting' photos and features like Best Face and Best Photo, which help users pick the best shot.

"By connecting the Samsung Galaxy Camera through the AT&T wireless network, users can instantly share photos, giving family and friends a glimpse into their favorite holiday moments," said Chris Penrose, senior vice president, AT&T Emerging Devices. "Customers will receive $100 off the purchase of the new Samsung Galaxy Camera when they purchase any Samsung Galaxy smartphone, making the Samsung Galaxy Camera the perfect gift this holiday season."

In addition to being able to share to social networks and cloud services on-the-go, consumers can harness the speed and connectivity of AT&T's wireless network to share images and videos between Galaxy Camera and a range of Galaxy devices including the Samsung Galaxy S® III, Samsung Galaxy Note® II and Samsung Galaxy Tab® 2 10.1. 3

Customers purchasing Samsung Galaxy Camera from AT&T have more options in choosing the plan that's right for them and their mobile devices. With new AT&T Mobile Share plans, new and existing customers can share a single bucket of data across smartphones, tablets and other compatible devices. AT&T Mobile Share allows customers to build a plan to fit their devices and usage. Customers can select one of the new shared data plans or choose one of AT&T's existing individual or family plans. 4

The full range of data plan options include:

  • AT&T Mobile Share: $10 to share between 1 GB and 20GB
  • AT&T DataConnect 250MB: $15 for 250MB
  • AT&T DataConnect 3GB: $30 for 3GB
  • AT&T DataConnect 5GB: $50 for 5GB

The Galaxy Camera will have access AT&T Locker, a free and easy-to-use photo and video sharing service for AT&T customers. AT&T Locker users get 5 GB of storage for free – enough for 5,000 average sized photos. AT&T Locker provides users the ability to upload images and video to secure online storage and quickly share on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or e-mail. Users can create and customize albums for photos and video on the device or online in the AT&T Locker website.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera will be available in select AT&T company-owned retail stores nationwide and online at www.wireless.att.com.

For more information on AT&T, please visit www.att.com.


For HTC’s Jelly Bean plans, 2012 phones are the priority

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 09:46 AM PST

This news won’t come as a total shocker to anyone who knows how these sorts of things tend to go, but in case you were wondering where HTC’s priorities stood for bringing Jelly Bean to its smartphones the OEM is making it clear. It’ll be working hardest to get its 2012 smartphones (the HTC One X and One S are already confirmed) up to the latest version of Android.

In addition to the HTC One X and HTC One S, we are actively reviewing our product portfolio to identify candidates to receive Jelly Bean. Our goal is to prioritize review for devices launched in 2012 with our numerous carrier partners across multiple regions and then consider our ability to provide updates to products from 2011.

It should be a pretty easy process to identify which smartphones released this year are able to handle Jelly Bean in a technical sense considering HTC has released mostly high-end smartphones this year.

Even most of its mid-range offerings should be able to handle the upgrade no problem, though a few exceptions will have to be made for devices that only have 512MB of RAM such as the HTC One V and HTC Desire C — little RAM = no update. As for phones from 2011 HTC will have to scrutinize those a bit more as they determine the feasibility of providing upgrades to the older handsets.

We work hard to ensure each of our products has the optimal user experience and therefore some products will remain at their current version of Android. In general, devices with 512MB RAM or less will not be upgraded to Android 4.1. At present, these devices include the HTC One V and the HTC Desire C. As we identify other devices that will not be upgraded, we’ll provide updated information.

We’d be surprised if at least a handful of you will not be able to get it, but HTC’s not promising anything to anyone at this point and that’s probably the best course of action — it’s better to be sure than to overestimate and fail to deliver (we’re looking at you, HTC Desire HD).

The most we can ask for is honesty, and HTC’s delivered its stance in a clear and concise way.  All you can do now is hope that you device is in line for Jelly Bean, and in case you’re worried it might be time to sign up for an account at a site like XDA or RootzWiki to see if some of the folks in the development community can help bridge the gap.

[HTC via A&M]


Get great gift ideas from the Phandroid Holiday Gift Guide!

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 09:06 AM PST

With the holiday season at the forefront of our calendars it’s important that you start looking for gifts now… and even yesterday for some of you. The process can be long and excruciating, and waiting too long to find what you want could result in frustration, desperation, and even minor bloodshed (things tend to get intense at those last minute checkout lanes!)

We at Phandroid want to do our part by helping you folks find the gifts that will be perfect for almost any Android-loving techie in your life. The Phandroid Holiday Gift Guide features gift ideas for a multitude of personalities, ranging from smartphones and Android-controlled quadricopters to wireless gaming peripherals and some killer tablets.

All the wares we want to feature won’t be revealed all at once, though — the revelation of the Phandroid Holiday Gift Guide will be gradual, and we’ll be taking the entire week to unwrap bits and pieces of it so you folks can savor and enjoy it more deeply than your typical Sunday morning circular.

Several members of the Phandroid staff, including Chris, Rob, Kevin, Edgar and yours truly, contributed several categories to this rich river of ideas based on our very own personalities.

Today, for instance, as a huge gamer and a general techie I’m going to be introducing the categories that will suggest gifts perfect for those types of folks in mind. I’ll also suggest other miscellaneous gifts that I personally wouldn’t mind having stuffed into my own stocking or neatly nestled beneath my own tree for the traditional Christmas morning wrapper massacre.

Below are just a few items from today’s featured categories, and remember that you can check the full list out by visiting the Phandroid Holiday Gift Guide homepage. Be sure to check back every day through the end of the week as the rest of the guide is unveiled!

The MOGA controller to fit (almost) every Android phone

One item you and your gaming friends will want to populate your holiday wish lists with is MOGA’s gaming controller for Android. A featured item from our gaming list and coming in at just $50, this little device is a Bluetooth enabled controller that can cradle many smartphones of varying sizes. The odd exception aside, the fact that it’s Bluetooth means it’s compatible with pretty much any Android device with firmware 2.3 or higher — and yes, that includes your tablets.

The sleek, stylish device features four face buttons, dual analog sticks and two shoulder buttons for maximum comfort and compatibility no matter which games you’re playing. There’s no internal battery, but the fact that you can swap out the two required AAA batteries at any time will prove to give most users more flexibility than they could hope for. (I suggest buying four rechargeable AAA batteries for seamless swapping.)

For your money you’re also getting free downloads of Namco’s Sonic CD and Pac-Man, two games that I’d say are well worth your time. MOGA’s Pivot App will also guide you to some games that are compatible with the controller (because what’s a gaming controller that can’t be used to play games, right?) You can find this thing for sale over at Amazon.com.

Share tunes anywhere with Jabra’s Solemate

When I reviewed the Jabra Solemate earlier this year I knew it’d be the perfect device to put under someone’s Christmas tree — that’s why I had no problem shoving it into my personal “fave five” of the Phandroid Holiday Gift Guide. It’s funky, cool, and relatively inexpensive if you’re in the market for something like this. It delivers exceptional sound while boasting a well-rounded and robust suite of features.

Popular names like Jawbone and Bose shine through but Jabra’s Solemate provides a healthy balance of performance, features and pricing. It costs $200 on Amazon as of the time of this writing, and the 4.5 star rating it currently enjoys should do well to ease your mind to let you know that whoever’s getting this thing for Christmas won’t be disappointed.

The fact that it pays homage to a tennis shoe will probably captivate your recipient first more than anything, but things like 8 hour battery life, full speakerphone capabilities and Bluetooth connectivity will likely make the Solemate one of their most used gifts this holiday season. Be sure to read our full review from earlier this year. You can find one at Amazon.com.

Get smarter climate control for your home with Nest

Although no season is too unpredictable for proper climate control, there is no time more crucial to pay attention to your home temperatures than winter. Making sure your home is properly cooled or heated is important to things such as the health of your plants, the stability of your pipes and the level of humidity in the air.

Nest’s smart thermostat has been proven to make life easier for those who find themselves fiddling about with the tired solutions of yesteryear. Its shining factor is the ability to “learn” your house-warming habits.

Nest can learn the times you leave for and return from work, and it will automatically set your temperature at those times to values it’s learned through everyday use. Nest knows when all the lights are out, and will automatically warm the house up a little if you tend to turn the heat on to combat cold winter nights.

Since Nest is WiFi-enabled you can use your Android smartphones and tablets to adjust the thermostat from any room within your home. And the geekiest of geeks on your Christmas list will find the process of installation more fun than anything as Nest requires a tad bit of tinkering with your heating and cooling system to get things going. Find more information about it over at Nest.com.

Those are just a few of the many gift ideas from today’s crop of categories being unveiled in the Phandroid Holiday Gift Guide! Remember, we’ll be unveiling new categories and staff picks from Kevin Krause, Rob Jackson, Chris Chavez and Edgar Cervantes every day throughout this week. Don’t forget to check back tomorrow, the next day, the day after that and so on to see what we think will light up the faces of your loved ones this holiday season. Happy holidays!


Verizon hosting live DROID DNA unboxing November 19th; launching a day after

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:51 AM PST

Although the HTC DROID DNA has yet to be officially unveiled (we’re expecting that to happen tomorrow) Verizon has accidentally dropped clues ahead of time. The DROID DOES site was accidentally updated to show that there will be a “DROID DNA Unboxing” November 19th.

The site was promptly updated to remove mention of the exact phone, but the message that a live unboxing for a new 4G LTE DROID phone will occur on the aforementioned date still remains. Verizon on Twitter said this device — whatever it may be —  will be launching the day after the unboxing so a November 20th launch is all but certain

As for the unboxing, you’ll want to add the official Verizon Wireless account to one of your Google+ circles for a chance to be invited to a live Hangout where they’ll be undressing the package in all its glory. It’s all going down November 19th at 12pm eastern so be sure to get your affairs in order if you’re looking to sit in on it.

[Google+Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]


Indian government offers Aakash 2.0, subsidized tablet will cost $40

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:40 AM PST

Remember the original Aakash tablet? The experiment in government subsidized electronics was successful enough to warrant a followup, which was debuted by president Shri Pranab Mukherjee as part of National Education Day celebrations. The 7-inch slate will be made available to Indian citizens for 2,236 INR, the equivalent of about $40. For students the cost will be even lower, with subsidies bringing the tablet to a price of 1,132 INR, or $20.

The Aakash 2.0 continues the original programs goal of providing a low-cost entryway into current technology, which the Indian government hopes will provide new avenues for education through custom-built applications that will serve to connect the most remote areas of the country with the classroom. Manufactured by Datawind, the tablet features a 1GHz Cortex A8 CPU, 512MB RAM, a 3,000mAh battery, and 4GB of internal storage with microSD expandability. The Aakash 2.0 will launch with Android 4.0.

We had a chance to check out the original and came away disappointed despite its price tag. But that’s the opinion of those of us spoiled with easy access to the latest and greatest Android has to offer. For some folks living in the more remote areas of India the Aakash tablet provides something they otherwise might not have access to. With improvements (including a capacitive touchscreen), the Aakash 2.0 will likely be equally welcomed.

[via New York Daily News]


HTC and Apple end patent dispute with 10-year licensing deal

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:42 AM PST

In a move that could signal a shift in the so-called smartphone patent wars, HTC and Apple have reached a settlement that shelves current legal disputes in favor of a 10-year licensing deal between the two companies. The exact details were not disclosed, but the agreement comes at a time when HTC desperately needs to stop bleeding money quarter after quarter and after Apple scored a $1 billion victory over Samsung this past summer.

Both parties issued similar statements from their chief executives, saying the settlement will allow the focus to remain on “innovation instead of litigation,” as HTC’s Peter Chou phrased it. The disagreement between the two goes back to 2010, when Apple sued HTC for allegedly infringing upon patents relating to the iPhone. Later, Apple was able to secure a ban on the import of certain HTC handsets based on the rulings of the International Trade Commission.

HTC’s shares saw a spike Monday morning after news of the settlement broke, though the licensing agreement is not expected to have a direct impact on the company’s short-term financials. Analysts also warn that HTC still has plenty of other challenges to overcome in order to turn around a trend that has seen the company become less and less profitable over time.

While the deal has given HTC a boost, it is the implication it could have for other current patent disputes pertaining to Apple that is perhaps most intriguing. Apple has long taken a stance that it would simply use its money and muscle to crush the competition both in and out of the courtroom. Coming to terms with HTC could mean Apple finally sees such legal wrangling as a waste of both time and money, with licensing deals and settlements a much better alternative for all involved. It will be interesting to see if Samsung, Motorola, and Apple all follow suit.

[via Reuters]