Thursday, November 22, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


Want a Nexus 4? You can get in now from T-Mobile, says Google

Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:12 AM PST

If you have been eyeing the sexy Nexus 4 this holiday season, there is both good news and bad news in this report. The good news is that, although you can still see a red message saying "Sold Out" on the Play Store Nexus 4 sales page, you can still own Google’s sweet new handset. Google is now directing customers to purchase the Nexus 4 from T-Mobile. The message reads "Special Offer from T-Mobile: Get Nexus 4 for only $199 after a $50 mail-in rebate. Requires a new 2-year contract on a qualifying plan."

Of course, the bad news is you’ll have to sign up for a lengthy T-Mobile contract. We say bad news, because for many, the selling point of the Nexus 4 is its contract-free availability at an amazingly low price.

Is the T-Mobile Nexus 4 still a sexy deal for you? Would you accept a two-year agreement or do you prefer to wait for a new batch to arrive on the Play Store?

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 with 4G LTE from Verizon is out for $499

Posted: 22 Nov 2012 02:51 AM PST

Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1  4G LTE is available from Verizon.

The 10.1 HD screen tab is equipped with 1GB of RAM and is available at a retail price of $499, and by retail price we mean no contract. Verizon has eliminated contracts for tablets since the launch of its Share Everything plans. The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is a decent tablet at a reasonable price, with specs like 8GB internal storage, 4G LTE, 7000mAh battery and dual cameras.

It will be interesting to see how the Tab 2 10.1 competes against the plethora of similarly-priced mid-range tablets that were launched during the onset of this holiday season.

You can get your Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 4G LTE from Verizon today and can attach it to your shared data plan for $10 per month.

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Meizu MX2 pictured again, rumored starting price drops to just $402

Posted: 22 Nov 2012 02:43 AM PST

Though it's still not a name to be reckoned with in the global smartphone world, Meizu sure knows how to build the hype around its flagship devices. The MX2 phone is to be unveiled on November 27, but until then we have plenty of things to keep us warm and excited.

We heard about this big guy's mind-blowing specs a while ago, we saw its very stylish body pictured soon after and we heard about the very low starting price just a few days back. But the teasing is not over yet.

Not in the least, as Meizu has let a couple of fresh new pics slide while "dropping" the starting price once again. The new images are much higher quality than the first and confirm what we knew already – this is going to be a beau-ti-ful phone!

Unfortunately, these still show the MX2 exclusively from the front and turned off, so we're yet to see its sexy back or the Jelly Bean/Flyme sprinkled OS. As for what we can make of the pics, we can now undoubtedly say the MX2 will be thinner than its predecessor, with a high-quality glass covering the front.

There don't seem to be any physical buttons, which is definitely a good thing, while the front-facing camera might be housed at the phone's bottom.

Enough with MX2's looks, and let's talk pricing. According to new rumors, the phone might only start at 2,499 yuan, or around $402. That's 100 yuan less than the previously speculated price for the 16 GB version and a whopping 500 yuan less than the first rumored tag.

Of course, this is in no way official info, so grain of salt, okay? Also, don’t forget that the unveiling event is just around the corner, so tune in on Android Authority next Tuesday to find out everything about the Meizu MX2.

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Motorola Atrix HD soak test incoming, might be Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Posted: 22 Nov 2012 02:41 AM PST

When Moto updated its Jelly Bean rollout schedule a month ago, we saw that only the newer Droid devices have been promised to receive Android 4.1 before the end of 2012. Phones like the Atrix HD and the Photon Q 4G LTE are expected to get the software bump up as well, but no specific date was shared.

We're now hearing that Moto is planning to start a soak test for the Atrix HD, one that may bring Jelly Bean early to a select few. The soak test reportedly will be pushed out in the coming days for willing Atrix HD owners.

It hasn't been confirmed yet whether Motorola is preparing to roll out the Android 4.1 update for beta testers. But seeing that owners of the phone have been enjoying a leaked version of Jelly Bean for a while now, it's possible that the official JB is what folks can expect.

If the soak test went without a hitch, it should be followed by a wider software update roll out soon after. Will we see Jelly Bean running on the Motorola Atrix HD before the end of the world new year? We'll keep you posted.

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Pictures of white Asus PadFone 2 and PadFone Station surfaced

Posted: 22 Nov 2012 02:33 AM PST

It has been over a month since the Asus PadFone 2 has been officially unveiled. We know that the unique smartphone will come in black and white variants, but the latter variant has proven to be quite hard to spot in the wild. It doesn't help either that the PadFone 2 in white is nowhere to be seen on the company's website.

Thanks to the folks over at VR-Zone, we can now get a closer look of the white Asus PadFone 2, as it poses for the camera alongside the PadFone Station.

The shots confirm that we'll be getting an all-white handset, in the sense that there's none of that dual-tone look that some manufacturers sometimes go for. Can we expect the same from the tablet shell? Not quite. While you see that the back side of the PadFone Station is clad in white, the front part will have a black bezel.

For the uninitiated, the handset boasts a 4.7-inch Super IPS+ display (1,280 x 720 resolution), a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, 2GB RAM, 16/32/64GB internal storage, 13MP rear camera, 1.2MP front-facing camera, 2,140mAh battery, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (upgradable to Android 4.1).

As for the tablet shell, it has a 10-inch IPS display with 1,280 x 800 resolution, 1MP front camera, and a 5,000mAh battery.

The smartphone and tablet combo will be available in select European and Asian markets before the end of the year. We still haven't heard from Asus of when it's planning to bring the PadFone 2 to America.

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Samsung set to shift over 60 million smartphones in Q4 2012

Posted: 22 Nov 2012 02:05 AM PST

Leaving all the courtroom drama to one side this has been a good year for Samsung. The company took the lead as the world's top smartphone manufacturer and it is not letting go. Back in Q1 of 2012 Samsung sold 42.2 million units. Now analysts from investment bank UBS are predicting sales of 61.5 million units in Q4. That figure will be driven by stellar sales of the popular Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

In Q3 Samsung sold around 55 million smartphones, and that included 18 million Galaxy S3 units. In fact the Galaxy S3 outsold the iPhone in Q3. UBS analysts predict a hefty jump again to over 60 million in Q4 and even suggest that the figure could go as high as 63 million. That's partly because the Galaxy S3 is still selling well, but also because of the Galaxy Note 2 which has shipped 3 million units in its first five weeks on sale.

Just like its predecessor the success of the Galaxy Note 2 has been something of a surprise and UBS upgraded its forecast from an expected 5 million sales in Q4 to 7 million. Analysts are also suggesting that the expected downturn in demand for the Galaxy S3 that they thought we would see when the iPhone 5 hit the market has not occurred. They expect sales of 15 million S3 units in Q4.

It looks like Samsung will be hanging on to that top spot for some time to come. We're already seeing rumors about the Galaxy S4, and you can bet Samsung won't be resting on its laurels.

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This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for our industry’s remarkable rate of innovation

Posted: 22 Nov 2012 12:25 AM PST

Image Credit: The New Yorker

It’s easy to get jaded as a journalist, and I admit that I used to be that guy, the one who always complained about everything, but these past few years have given me an incredible amount of perspective. Remember the first Nexus device, the Nexus One? It started shipping in January 2010. Less than three years later, we have the Nexus 4. So what’s changed?

Starting with the processors, the SoC inside the Nexus One was made by Qualcomm, had a single core, and was clocked at 1 GHz. Less than three years later, a point I can not stress enough, the Nexus 4 bumped that up to four Qualcomm designed cores, each clocked at 1.5 GHz. Forgetting about the GPU improvements for a second, the increase in compute power alone should astound you. If it doesn’t, there’s something wrong with how you see the world.

Then there’s RAM. The Nexus One had 512 MB. The Nexus 4 on the other hand, it has 2 GB. Again, we’re seeing a quadrupling in the span of just three years. The laptop I bought in 2007 had 2 GB of RAM. When it died in 2010, I replaced it with a machine that came with 4 GB of RAM. When are smartphones going to come with 4 GB of RAM? When companies start shipping 64 bit ARM chips, something we should expect to see in 2014.

Next up is my favorite component of a smartphone, the screen. For me, if a device has a terrible screen, it doesn’t matter how good the rest of the hardware is, I’m not going to enjoy using it. Some people can put up with a subpar panel, but I’m not one of them. The Nexus One had a 3.7 inch 800 x 480 pixel display, which at the time was considered ultra high resolution. Now with the Nexus 4, the display is not only bigger at 4.7 inches, but it pushes a resolution of 1280 x 768. That’s 2.56x the number of pixels. The first 1080p smartphone hit the market this week; that has 5.4x as many pixels as the Nexus One. Let that sink in for a moment.

As for network performance, the Nexus One maxed out at 7.2 megabits per second using HSPA technology. The Nexus 4 does 42 megabit per second HSPA+, but the chip inside is capable of delivering 100 megabit per second LTE speeds. So in three years we not only quadrupled HSPA/HSPA+ performance, but we also saw the introduction a new wireless technology that’s an order of magnitude faster. If this stuff isn’t making your head explode, I question your geek credentials.

The younger Android Authority readers might not understand the point of this editorial, but the older audience will definitely appreciate where I’m coming from. It feels just like yesterday when I first tethered my feature phone to my Palm PDA and downloaded text while out and about. That was magical moment. Today we’re all watching HD videos on our phones while getting notifications in the background from the two or three social networks we use on a constant basis. Had you told me in 2007 that in half a decade there would be phones with quad core processors, 2 GB of RAM, and 1080p screens, I would have laughed in your face.

And yet, this is the world we live in. Which brings me to today’s holiday, Thanksgiving. Despite living on the other side of the Atlantic ocean, I still reserve a day of the year to be thankful for everything that I have. Today I’m thankful, humbled even, that companies are relentlessly innovating. People might be annoyed that the devices they buy get rendered “obsolete” in just a a year or two, but they’re missing the point.

Progress is relentless, and it’s an absolute joy to watch.

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Pay for Nexus 4 with Google Play Store balance? You can’t!

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 07:40 PM PST

LG Nexus 4

The Nexus 4 isn't available for purchase for the time being, but as soon as Google starts taking orders again, make sure you have an alternative payment method to Google Play Store credit. Because no matter how much credit you may have accumulated to make sure you have enough money to purchase a new Nexus device, Google won't take your money that way.

The Consumerist tells Michael’s story, a potential Nexus 4 buyer that was prevented from buying Nexus devices from the Play Store using his Google Play Store credit worth $350.

He tried placing orders for a 16GB Nexus 4 version, but was unsuccessful. He then tried to order a 32G Nexus 7 3G for his wife, but Google would not take money from his Play Store balance.

According to his research, Google isn't making it clear to consumers that Play Store credit can't be used to purchase the new Nexus 4:

Google Play Balance $350.06 – Unsupported Payment Method (entire line was greyed out)

After talking to the Play Store support team they told me that I would need to contact customer service for the gift cards at 1-855-466-4438. Before calling I looked at the terms of service I was able to find. They are as follows:

Devices on Google Play Terms of Sale: "To place an order, you must have a Google Wallet account." Every purchase I've made through the Play store has used Google Wallet for checkout, so how is the average consumer supposed to know the difference between a Play Store balance and Google Wallet?

Google Play Gift Card Terms of Service: "Google Play Gift Cards must be redeemed toward the purchase of eligible products on http://play.google.com." Has anyone been able to find a listing of which products are eligible? I spent half an hour looking this morning, and I have yet to find this information on their site.

When I called the customer service line for the gift cards they told me that this was a known issue that has been reported starting about five days ago and the terms of service state that you cannot buy a device using the Play Store balance. Really now? Per my research on the site there is nothing that specifically excludes devices. And the worst part of this call? They have no ability to refund me for the balance!

Then again maybe not that many buyers have as much balance left to actually buy devices, not that would be an excuse for Google’s failure to foresee such potential problems.

The company should at least try to fix issues such as this one. After all this particular customer does have a lot of cash at his disposal inside Google Play that he'd like to use to buy Google stuff. Furthermore, he made it clear that he wants to buy more than one Nexus device in the near future, so why not just take his money and ship his desired products?

Did anybody else experience anything similar? Let us know in the comments section!

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Samsung can’t just buy HTC to settle with Apple; but gets to see Apple-HTC deal details

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:47 PM PST

A few days ago we were somewhat surprised to hear that Apple and HTC decided to settle their squabble over patents out of courts, with both companies inking an undisclosed cross-licensing agreement that's valid at least ten years.

This gave Samsung ammunition for its own legal matters against Apple, with the company asking U.S. courts to grant it permission to see the details of the Apple vs HTC settlement, which could be important for the future Apple vs Samsung proceedings.

Apple and HTC agreed to show Samsung the settlement documents, at least a heavily redacted version that would not let Samsung lawyers in on various crucial details including royalty rates.

CNET now reports that Magistrate Judge Singh Grewal sided with Samsung on the matter, deciding to let its lawyers see the Apple-HTC documents. But only them:

Many third parties to this case have had their licensing agreements disclosed — without any redaction of financial terms — subject to an Attorneys-Eyes-Only designation because the confidential financial terms were clearly relevant to the dispute between Apple and Samsung. HTC is not entitled to special treatment, especially when it has recognized the general sufficiency of the protective order and the integrity of Samsung’s outside counsel.

That means the public will not be told, at least not officially, how much HTC is paying Apple for use of some of their patents on the handsets it produces – apparently it's not $6-8 as some stories suggested, which prompted HTC's denial via its CEO, Peter Chou.

But the public will get to look at a heavily redacted version of the Apple-HTC deal, which is available in the wild according to FOSS Patents. While the main details of the settlement are unavailable, the document does contain a "Change of Control" clause according to which the deal is void if a change of control occurs.

In other words, if a third party were to get control of over 50% of either company, the settlement would be void, at least until new negotiations take place.

Of the two, Apple is hardly in a position where it can be purchased by a different company, considering its market cap and the huge cash reserves it's sitting on. But HTC is not as lucky, with the Taiwanese company experiencing problems when it comes to meeting profit goals. It wouldn't surprise anyone if a giant were to decide to purchase HTC at some point in the future, with Samsung potentially being one of the giants.

However, that wouldn't mean that Samsung would inherit the Apple-HTC settlement deal, according to this particular "Change of Control" clause. Sure, Samsung did recently say that it's not considering settlement talks with Apple, but who knows what will happen in the future.

What we do know is that a new round of hearings is set to take place on December 6 in the first U.S. Apple vs Samsung lawsuit, the one that awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages. At the same time, the ITC will have another look at Samsung patent claims against some Apple products, claims that were previously dismissed.

In other words, patent wars are still to stay, at least for the immediate future.

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Virgin Mobile Black Friday deals unveiled: Galaxy S2 4G and HTC EVO V 4G included

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:01 PM PST

We've seen a variety of Black Friday Android deals so far, and we have collected them, including the best available offers, in a handy guide to help you out when deciding what discounted Android gear to get this coming Friday.

But that doesn't mean all electronic retailers have shared their Black Friday 2012 plans well in advanced. CNET reports that Virgin Mobile announced on Wednesday its Black Friday deals. And while we're not looking at discounts on hot high-end flagship handsets, there still are some interesting offers you should look at:

  • $99.99 Samsung Galaxy Reverb – $100 in savings
  • $199 HTC EVO V 4G – $100 in savings
  • $299.99 Samsung Galaxy S2 4G – $70 in savings
  • $35/month Beyond Talk unlimited data and messaging plan for Android phones
  • 50% off Overdrive Pro 3G/4G mobile hotspot

What Android devices are you buying this Black Friday?

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Android and Me

Android and Me


Droid DNA by HTC now available from Verizon

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 10:06 AM PST

The long-awaited launch of the HTC Droid DNA is finally here! If you’re looking for the best equipped smartphone on the planet, there’s no doubt that the Droid DNA is sitting at the very top of your wish list. The Droid DNA is the first smartphone in the western hemisphere to feature a...

Visit our site to read the full article.


Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Review: Avengers Initiative by Marvel Games [VIDEO]

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 03:45 PM PST

This image has no alt text

Good news for those looking to do a little gaming on their Androids this Thanksgiving. Marvel Games has finally released Avengers Initiative into the Google Play Store. The first episode in a series of updates that will eventually unlock Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor (not necessarily in that order) — Avengers Initiative puts you in the shoes of the Hulk (and his fancy new Jordans) as he battles enemies like Wendigo, Kronans, Skrulls, and the Abomination. Once locked up in a secret tower, these baddies have escaped and it’s up to the newly assembled Avengers headed by Nick Fury to round ‘em up.

Gameplay

Avengers Initiative plays eerily similar to titles like Infinity Blade or Blood & Glory. Think of AI as a boxing game on steroids (it’s all about the 1-0n-1 matches). That means players will have to execute well timed blocks, dodges and combos to take down the baddies. Attacks are performed by swiping in different directions on the screen, and you’ll need to perform combos to rack up the maximum amount of damage onto your opponent. A large portion of AI’s battles are all about that D — defense, that is — and involve either swiping the opposite direction of an enemies strike, dodging, or blocking to stun the opponent and leave them open for the counter attack. So much of the game involves reacting, that it was a little stressful for me (I’m used to playing a good offense in my video games) and tough for me to adapt. Here’s a quick list of available combos at Hulk’s disposal

Players wont be able to directly control Hulk as he walks around various landscapes and backdrops in search of evil doers. Instead, tapping on enemies just leisurely hanging out will result in Hulk strolling up to them and initiating a fight. Scattered through backgrounds are items used to power up Hulk and/or regain health, and can be tapped during the games many “walking cutscenes,” or right before a battle with an enemy. Similar to bonus levels in games like Street Fighter (where you have to pummel a car), Hulk can initiate quick battles by tapping on crystal pillars made of ISO-8′s (Avengers Initiative’s form of currency). From there players will be given a set amount of time to wallop the crustal pillar and tap on the ISO-8′s that come popping out.

There are some RPG-like elements to Avenger’s Initiative and defeating opponents results in XP (experience points). You can gain bonus XP by fighting well during a battle and by performing finishing moves (almost like a mini game in themselves). Once leveled up, players can upgrade Hulk’s total health points, stamina (used for blocking), Rage (used for power moves), and damage (self explanatory). It’s pretty much up to the player and his/her’s own fighting style to decide where the points will be distributed. Once you reach higher levels, Hulk gains access to new “Powers” (supermoves), so you can see how it definitely behooves players to do well in battle.

Hulk can also soup up his stats by the use of Augments (crystals of varying levels of power that can be equipped to a slot), and through snazzy alternate costumes. You can either work hard, perform well, and earn enough ISO-8′s to purchase these costumes, or they can also be bought with real life monies through in-app purchases — not by any means necessary, just for those that don’t want to work at powering up their character the hard way.

Graphics

Graphically, the game looks great. Visuals look crisp on a tiny 720p display, and character models are well detailed featuring a variety of lighting effects and normal mapping (the Skrulls even have individual teeth!). Both the main character and enemies are well animated and don’t have the typical stiff movement plaguing titles of less-funded games in the Play Store. Apparently, there’s some extra visual effects that are enabled on Tegra 3 devices. Things like varying levels of body damage that are represented on enemies, flowing clothing, and even ISO-8 effects. Since I couldn’t actually test the game on my ASUS Transformer Pad Tegra 3 tablet (there’s only a handful of supported devices at launch), I wont be reporting on those aspects at all. There is, however, a nice little comparison shot showing the battle damage portion of the Tegra 3 effects (see below). The only thing I didn’t like about the visuals was the lack of detail in the environments. Textures were often flat and blurry, but this could have something to do with me playing the game on a non-Tegra device.

Verdict

Avengers Initiative is a fun title that scores high marks in almost every area. Perfect for quick gaming sessions on your smartphone or tablet, the included RPG elements give players something to work towards while keeping things fresh. The in-app purchases are done the right way, and the prospect of even more Marvel super heroes and enemies to be revealed in later updates ensures you’ll be coming back for more. Marvel Games did a slammin’ job with this one. You can download Avengers Initiative right now from the Google Play Store for the introductory price of $5. Still not convinced? Check out my video below for the first 12 minutes of gameplay.

[Google Play Link]


Nexus 10 root toolkit now available

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 03:21 PM PST

Some device owners tend to have to wait weeks for a root toolkit, but things are a bit different when it comes to Nexus devices. Just a week after its launch a root toolkit has already been released for the latest edition to the tablet side of the Nexus family, the Nexus 10.

These toolkits make it easy to apply root and perform root-related functions for users who aren’t too savvy with a command line. You can do things like unlock your bootloader, root the device, install proper USB drivers to your PC, flash a recovery, backup certain parts of your system and more.

The tools are so valuable that many donate for full access whether they need it or not. I know I did for several of my devices, and while I could have just gone the manual route for many of these functions the toolkits save a lot of time and headache.

It’s a great asset for those who have never rooted a device or seen a command prompt before, so if that describes you then you’ll definitely want to grab this download. The following are just a few of the features you can expect to find:

FUNCTIONS OF GOOGLE NEXUS 10 TOOLKIT V1.0.0 [20TH NOVEMBER 2012]
* Install correct adb/fastboot drivers automatically on Windows xp/vista/7/8 32bit+64bit
* Backup/Restore a single package or all apps, user data and Internal Storage
* Backup your /data/media (virtual SD Card) to your PC for a Full Safe backup of data
* Unlock/Re-Lock your Bootloader
* Root Stock Jelly Bean builds (upto 4.2.0 JOP40C)
* 1-Click For All to Unlock the Bootloader, Root, Rename the Restore File and Flash Custom Recovery
* Perform a FULL NANDROID Backup of your system (Boot, Cache, Data, Recovery and System) via adb and save in Custom Recovery format on your PC which can be Restored via CWM Recovery
* Pull /data and /system folders, compress to a .tar file and save to your PC
* Dump selected Phone Partitions, compress to a .zip file with md5 and save to your PC
* Install BusyBox on your phone

If you head to the source link you’ll find that this excerpt is very small compared to the full list. Be sure to glance over that, read the instructions three times over, grab the download links and set your device as free as it can be. And don’t worry about praying to the gods about not bricking your Nexus 10 — it’s so hard to do that you probably won’t need divine intervention.

[via XDA, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]


LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 now available from Verizon

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 12:22 PM PST

Verizon is the latest carrier to pick up the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, and just in time for the holidays. Priced at $499, the LTE-enabled version of the slate is set to ship by November 26th. Verizon is not offering the tablet (or any, for that matter) with subsidized contract pricing. Instead, a month-to-month data plan or Share Anything plan with tablet access is required to take advantage of the device’s cellular connection.

The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 features a 10.1-inch 720p HD display and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The version Verizon is selling comes with 8GB of internal storage (thankfully, microSD expandability adds to the total storage capacity). The tablet also features a 3.2MP rear camera and VGA front-facing camera. You can use either or transfer your own photos from another source to take advantage of the slate’s photo sharing features, which Verizon is touting this holiday season.

The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 recently launched on T-Mobile’s network and is also available from AT&T and Sprint. You can catch up on what’s good with the slate by heading over to our very own AndroidForums.


Big money on the line as Microsoft v. Google patent trial wraps up

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 10:49 AM PST

The final testimonies in a week-long trial in which Google has sought up to $4 billion per year in royalties from Microsoft have wrapped up. In a trial that could decide just how much leverage the patent library obtained through the purchase of Motorola last year affords Google, an expert witness testified that Microsoft will earn nearly $94 billion using the company’s patented technology through 2017.

Michael Dansky of Motorola Mobility made the claim, citing sales of Microsoft’s Xbox and newly released Surface tablet, as well as a wireless adaptor no longer produced by the company. How far back in time his calculations extend are not clear.

Microsoft is arguing that at most it should pay Google a little over $1 million per year for a licensing agreement, but the decision of US District Judge James Robert will extend beyond a simple monetary value. The trial wrapping up in a Seattle courtroom is one of the first instances that sees Google attempting to use its Motorola patents to strong-arm the competition. A ruling in Microsoft’s favor could significantly weaken Google’s ability to pursue other claims based on their proprietary wireless technology.

In his testimony, Dansky asserted that without the use of Motorola’s tech, Microsoft would “have a difficult time selling smartphones or tablets,” a warning that extends beyond the initial foundation of the suit as the Windows Phone maker pushes further into the mobile market.

Judge Robert will take the next few weeks to mull over the hearings as well as additional briefs submitted by the parties involved before delivering a verdict. In the meantime, we can all look forward to the next phase of another monumental patent suit: Apple v. Samsung.

[via Yahoo]


Mint for Android update adds enhanced UI for phones, split transactions and more

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 09:53 AM PST

Mint, one of my personal favorite finance apps, has gotten a pretty useful upgrade in the Google Play Store. New features have been added for both phones and tablets, with the former receiving a much needed boost in its ability to manage budgets. Specifically, adding and editing budgets has now been enhanced on the phone side of things. It’s something that should have been done a long time ago but, as usual, it’s better late than never.

Another big change for phones is an upgraded UI. The UI now fits Android 4.0′s new design guidelines so those of us on modern versions of Android will have a prettier, faster and more efficient experience. The tablet app already had these changes so there was no need to do anything on that front.

Other changes include an updated widget for the phone version, the ability to split transactions for both versions, and the ability to see your net income over time in the tablet version. This 6.2 megabyte upgrade is waiting for you in the Google Play Store now, so be sure to head over there to get the goods. And if you’re wondering what this Mint business is all about be sure to head to the company’s website to see how it aims to help you keep tabs on the status of your finances.


Grand Theft Auto: Vice City launching December 6th for $5

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 08:44 AM PST

Last month we reported on news that Rockstar Games would be bringing its highly-regarded Grand Theft Auto: Vice City to Android as a way to celebrate its 10th year anniversary. Already flanked by its predecessor Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City takes the Grand Theft Auto story back to 1980s Miami to follow the story of a man you know as Tommy Vercetti.

Vercetti’s job is to set up shop in this foreign location, but things get interesting between himself and his boss, Sonny Forelli, as his operation gets bigger and bigger. It’s a very nice tale that is told with interactive gaming bliss, and it’s one of the most iconic video games released in the early 2000s. It’s 10 years old, and it may not have aged great for today’s console standards, but it’s a game that I’m sure many people won’t mind having on their phones and tablets.

Well, we now know when, exactly, to expect this digital masterpiece on Android. Rockstar has confirmed a December 6th launch, and it’ll be just $5 to play instead of the $7 Grand Theft Auto 3 was originally priced at. Unfortunately not every Android device will be able to get in on the fun, but this was to be expected. Here’s the official list of supported devices:

Android Phones: Motorola Razr, Razr Maxx, Razr Maxx HD, Motorola Atrix, Motorola Photon, Motorola Droid Bionic, HTC Rezound, HTC One X, HTC One S, HTC Evo 3D, HTC Sensation, HTC Droid Incredible 2, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Samsung Nexus S, Samsung Galaxy Note 1 & 2, Samsung S2, Samsung Galaxy R, Sony Xperia Play, Sony Xperia S, P, T & TL, Sony Walkman Z Series Media Player, Samsung Galaxy S2, Samsung Galaxy S3, Google Nexus 4

Android Tablets: Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, LG Optimus Pad, Medion Lifetab, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 / 10.1, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Sony Tablet P, Toshiba Thrive, HTC Flyer, Google Nexus 7, Google Nexus 10

In a perfect world every game would work on every device, but this is the life of an Android user so don’t be too bummed if you don’t see your device on this list. There’s a chance you may still be able to play this game if you don’t own one of these devices, however, as Rockstar hasn’t stated they would flat-out deny access to devices not on this list. We’ll be working to get further confirmation from the studio, but for now these are the only devices they’re promising.

The game features enhanced visuals so your playing experience should be even better than it was on the original Xbox and PS2. Higher resolution graphics, updated character models, lighting, tighter mobile controls, fully customizable controller layout and more are just a few of the things you can expect. Be sure to mark your calendar for December 6th if this is something you’ve been waiting for.

[via Rockstar Games]


Nexus 7 shipment expectations double through the holiday season

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 07:57 AM PST

The Nexus 7 was bound to be a popular device throughout the tech community. For starters, it’s Nexus — geeks everywhere watered at the mouth for one, and it was the first device of the Nexus line in tablet form. Secondly, it’s friggin’ cheap — why not spend $200 (at minimum) to own a great tablet that’s going to have great support straight from El Goog?

Well, even Google didn’t anticipate how popular their tablet would be as sales have apparently doubled through the holiday season. Google originally expected to sell through 2.5 million shipments in 2012, but DigiTimes reports that another 2.5 million has been added to its sales expectations, and that orders have been made as recently as this month to help keep up with that demand.

Demand tends to begin to dissipate this late into the holiday season, but it appears the Nexus 7′s cheap base price makes it an attractive buy at any point in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Google recently launched a version of the Nexus 7 with 32GB of storage and HSPA+ radios, and stock has been up and down since the week or so it’s been available. Things seem to have stabilized for now, but Google is no doubt happy with the results they’re seeing.

All of this is fascinating, but it makes us wonder why Google didn’t see the same type of demand for the Nexus 4? With the way the Galaxy Nexus performed, and with initial sales of the Nexus 7, Google had to see the same type of response coming for the Nexus 4 from a mile away. Instead, many orders remain in limbo and customers are having money held with little to no response from Google as to when the situation will be rectified.

It seems Google didn’t implement a hard cap for its Play Store ordering process. Instead, they let orders continue to be placed despite demand clearly outweighing supply. The company has taken a lot of heat for that, but most people would be happy if Google would be just a little more vocal and transparent with the state of their orders, but alas the company — as it has admitted before — is not too savvy when it comes to customer service.

Regardless, Google’s looking at a very successful holiday season despite lost revenue on each device sold. Their goal is not to make money on the device themselves, but to make money by getting as many devices in as many hands as they possibly can. Search and ads drive their revenue, and at this rate they’ll make their money back ten-fold.

[via DigiTimes]


Delays in Samsung’s 1080p AMOLED manufacturing process could push back Galaxy S4

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 07:40 AM PST

Last week we got our first Samsung Galaxy S4 rumor with any meat on the bone, a report that stated the Korean manufacturer’s display division had developed a 5-inch AMOLED display with a full 1080p HD resolution. Reports now state that Samsung doesn’t possess adequate technology to mass-produce the 441 ppi display, an issue that could lead to a shift in plans to launch the next member of the Galaxy S family.

We likely will still see the screen tech shown off at CES 2013 as initially reported with the Galaxy S4 debuting later in the year. Following Samsung’s recent trend, most expect a launch sometime around May. However, Samsung is working to outfit their manufacturing lines with new 3M tech that would aid in the production of the 1080p display on a mass scale, but issues persist.

How, exactly, the outlook for the Galaxy S4 will change is anybody’s guess, but it’s hard to imagine Samsung abandoning plans to go with the new display in their flagship device, especially with devices like the HTC Droid DNA already on the market. Until we have hard details on the new phone, though, all is conjecture at this point.

 


Now available: HTC Droid DNA from Verizon

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 06:24 AM PST

HTC’s latest flagship device has made its way to the US under the guise of the HTC Droid DNA for Verizon. The carrier’s latest Droid model is available now for $199 with a new two-year contract.

The Droid DNA features a 5-inch, 1080p display, quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, and an pair of HD cameras located on the front and rear. Running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the DNA ships with the latest version of HTC Sense, which features camera and audio enhancements in the form of ImageSense and Beats technology.

Picking up the Droid DNA today? Head on over to AndroidForums to chip in your two cents. We’ll be adding ours with a full review, which will be served up shortly.

 


Android Overload: Nexus 10 now in stock on Google Play, CyanogenMod making progress on 4.2 update, and more

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 09:14 PM PST

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  • CyanogenMod tinkering around with Android 4.2 source. Progress is being made, but it’s far from complete. [Google+]
  • Samsung’s pumping out more Nexus 10′s. Both storage options now available in the Play Store. [Google Play]
  • Android 4.2 factory images now available for Yakju Galaxy Nexus models. [Google Developers]
  • Mimic a Windows Phone 8 homescreen on your Android device using a handful of apps. [WinSource]
  • Google TV gets gesture controls using a hacked Kinect. Pretty neat stuff. [GigaOM]
  • United States Department of Justice wants more info from MetroPCS on their proposed T-Mobile merger. [Engadget]
  • HTC DNA no longer supported using official HTCDev bootloader unlocking tool. [XDA]
  • First casualty from Twitter’s new 3rd party policy: Tweetlanes development ceases. [Google+]
  • Another Android 4.2 bug rears its head. Vibration settings are wonky. [Google Forum]
  • Samsung cooking up new “La Fleur edition” Galaxy S3 for the ladies (or men). [SamMobile]
  • Sony PlayStation Mobile program now open for developers. SDK ready for downloading. [PlayStationBlog]