Sunday, December 2, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


Star Trek style communicators could be a reality with CommBadge

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 11:00 PM PST

Star Trek

Photo courtesy of Pocket Now

Over the last few months, the big talk has been about Star Wars. From Disney buying LucasFilms to the Angry Birds Star Wars spin off, it’s been all about Star Wars. Until now, as Star Trek may be getting its moment in the sun.

There is a fun new project on IndieGoGo called CommBadge. As the name implies, it’s a communication device. That you pin on your shirt like a badge. Just like a communicator from Star Trek. Words cannot express the awesome.

So how does this Star Trek style communicator work?

If you’re a watcher and not a reader, there is a promo video at the bottom explaining things. CommBadge is a Bluetooth speaker that clips on to your shirt. You then press a button and either issue voice commands to Google Now or Siri. Star Trek support red and command gold costumes not included.

It isn’t available for the masses yet, but if you donate over at their IndieGoGo page, you can have on in your hand by next February. Is anyone looking to get one of these when they’re released?

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Get EA’s Daily Deals widget for great discounts on great games

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 10:05 PM PST

Who doesn’t love a bargain? Every day EA puts a range of games, in-app purchase packs and other add-on content on sale for both iOS and Android. Rather than visit the Play Store constantly if you are looking for a deal, you can simply download EA’s Daily Deals widget and leave it on your home screen.

The widget updates in real time as old deals expire and new ones are available. It cycles through everything that is on sale, so if you like something, all you have to do is click on the app and it will take you straight to the Play Store.

Even if this widget may not deserve a permanent place on your homescreen, I would recommend that you leave it up until the end of the holiday season. EA is bound to have some deals around Christmas, and this widget will help you snap them up.

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T-Mobile starts 12 Days of Value Promo, brings big discounts on smartphones and up to $120 for traded in devices

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 10:00 PM PST

T-Mobile
Tis the season, as they say. With the holidays in full swing, we will all soon be treated to a plethora of holiday sales events. However, there are some companies who are going for the holiday spirit as early as possible to get those early shoppers. T-Mobile is one of those companies and they just started a promo called the 12 Days of Value.

The 12 Days of Value will give potential customers 12 days to take advantage of discounted smartphones and T-Mobile’s value plans. It started on December 1 and will run through December 12. It should be noted that these deals are only for brick and mortar stores. So you won’t find these deals online.

So here’s how it works. Customers can get a spanking new Value plan on T-Mobile for only $12 down. If you’d prefer, you can trade in one of the mobile devices on T-Mobile’s list for $120 back. Included on that list are a lot of older devices and most of them are on T-Mobile. But there are some newer devices too, like the Samsung Galaxy S III. Why anyone would sell theirs for $120 is a tough question to answer, though.

Is this a good deal by T-Mobile?

It’s really not bad. The big deal here is the T-Mobile Value Plans. They’re cheaper than their classic contract plans on average. You can get unlimited everything, including HSPA+ 4g, for $69.99. That’s not bad for a contract plan.

For those who may be switching carriers this holiday season, does this look like a deal worth checking out? Let us know what you think.

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$103 Beidou Chi with 5-inch screen coming December 4

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 07:21 PM PST

beidou chi 5 inch android phone china

Chinese E-commerce group Beidou has really taken the phone market by storm. The company launched its first phone earlier this year, the Beidou Little Pepper, and recently teamed up with ZTE to launch a quad-core Tegra 3 phone for just $128!

Now that it has the market’s attention, Beidou is readying a low-cost 5-inch phone called the Beidou Chi. The Chi will be Beidou’s first 5-inch phone and faces tough competition from similar models in China, but at just 799 Yuan ($103) the Chi is likely to be a sell out hit!

While the design, size and price of the Chi all look great, this won’t be a high performance device as it features just 512MB RAM and Mediatek’s dual-core MT6577 CPU. The rest of the specification is solid, if not show-stopping, and includes a 8-megapixel camera, Android 4.0 ICS, 2000mAh battery and a 854 x 480 resolution screen.

Sources close to the company suggest only 100,000 units will be available in the initial release phase, which begins on December 4th, and that only customers in China will be able to purchase the bargain phone.

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LG Optimus G vs Google Nexus 4 [video]

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 07:13 PM PST

You might feel like LG shot out of nowhere in the past month or so, and if you've been buried under the Samsung, Apple and HTC storms, then that certainly seems like the true story. In reality, however, LG has never really gone away – it has just been focused on the mid-tier market and has consistently put out device after device that unfortunately moved into obscurity rather quickly.

But Google has thrown LG into its Nexus product line and allowed the company to come out with a seriously hot device, the Nexus 4. As the spiritual successor to the Google Galaxy Nexus by Samsung, the Nexus 4 brings with it some great specifications and the promise of Google's consistent Android update schedule. For $199 on contract from T-Mobile, customers can get the Nexus power they want in a nice package. For those not on a contract, the Nexus 4 is available in the Play Store for $299 or $349, the 8GB or 16GB version, respectively.

It's been difficult for just about everyone to get their hands on the Nexus 4, and since I just did, my in-depth review is coming soon. But we can definitely give a quick snapshot on the new Google phone by putting it up against what can be described in some ways as its fraternal twin.

So, not to be undone by the backing of the search giant, LG has come out with its own variety of Android device by releasing the LG Optimus G. This phone, officially, came out before the Nexus 4 and surprised users by being the first device to sport a quad-core Snapdragon CPU, 13 megapixels stuffed into its camera, and top-notch performance. Currently available on AT&T and Sprint for $199, LG has pulled a confident move – it has created competition for itself.

So what is one to do with this choice? Which LG phone takes the cake? Read on as we try to nitpick and find any reason to pick one over the other.

Look and Feel

The LG Optimus G, like I stated in my previous review, is one of my favorite looking phones. The capacitive keys on the front hide so nicely under the 4.7-inch screen that the entire flat front looks like a 'black slate.' The True HD IPS Plus Display is literally behind just one layer of flat glass. A silver lining edges around the front, and the rest of the device just looks like added body for the screen. Overall, the phone looks like a hybrid of a blocky Motorola and a very rounded Samsung – and it works.

Around the phone, the button layout is familiar, with the power button on the right and volume on the left. The back, however, houses a slightly popped out camera that might be prone to scratches and is vaguely holographic, showing a patterned design in certain angles. This is called “Crystal Reflection” and is a very welcome and nice touch.

In the hand, the phone fits very nicely, and I attributed this to the device being just a smidgen smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S3 and to its almost rectangular shape. There was no fear of this phone leaving my hand without my permission. The AT&T version is slightly bigger to accommodate a couple different features not found in the Sprint version, which is the one I have. Maybe the slightly larger AT&T LG Optimus G would garner a different opinion, but I have not really heard that to be the case.

Now, the Nexus 4 happens to bring some of these same features in a different shape and form. Instead of a completely flat screen like the Optimus G, the screen on the Nexus 4 is protected behind a slightly but noticeably shapely Corning Gorilla Glass layer. Even if it doesn't evoke the 'black slate' look, it is still quite nice to look at.

The back of the phone has its own “Crystal Reflection,” as the NEXUS designation on the back is surrounded by a square-like pattern that you can see at certain angles. Other than that, you have the same button layout all around. Also much like the Optimus G, you have two Torx screws flanking the bottom charging port – it seems LG has found some recognizable tropes to throw into its devices.

One thing you'll notice about the Nexus 4 – especially if you are a previous Samsung Galaxy Nexus user – is how much it looks like its predecessor. It's almost uncanny and, quite frankly, not all that surprising that the Nexus phone line will continue to retain its general look – but I definitely mistook the Nexus 4 for my own Galaxy Nexus and it was always a little startling to realize I picked up the wrong one. That being said, the experience is largely the same. There isn't much size difference between the two, but the much more rounded top and bottom of the Nexus 4 make the phone feel just a bit smaller. This size differentiation makes the phone comfortable and easy to handle without any fear.

So, between the two, it is, objectively, up to the user to decide which look and feel is better than the other. And I mean that – I thought for a while about this one and while I love the look of the LG Optimus G, I found myself accustomed to the Nexus look. I like the way the Nexus 4 looks because I'm used to it and it feels familiar. On the other hand, some change could be nice and there are times when I take the Optimus G out and just look at it after I've performed my task. It's an incredible looking phone, and on that alone, I'd go with the Optimus G. But nostalgia and my experience as a Nexus user make my opinion waver. It's a tough one.

Verdict: It really depends on you – if you've had the Galaxy Nexus before, you might like to continue in the familiarity of the Nexus line but, on the other hand, you also might want a change and go for the LG Optimus G's industrious 'black slate' look. Both devices are great lookers, so it kind of just depends on your situation and preference.

Display

Here's where there might be a point of contention – the display and screen. Both of these phones bring with them 4.7-inch screens with 1280 x 768 resolution and Zerogap technology – which means that protective glass layer is the only thing between you and the display itself. It is claimed to help improve responsiveness of the user's touch and I found it to work quite well in practice. Both phones come bundled with Adreno 320 graphics processors, so the displays should pack the same amount of punch.

I guess I was wrong, then – there is no contention between these two displays because they bring the same specs to the table. Which means I have to put on my nitpick hat. While both screenss are great and display content smoothly and without any real, gaping flaws, I had to notice even the slightest detail.

And I got nothing. Both displays are great and even at highest brightness and putting both phones, side by side, running the same application, as close to my eyes as possible, I could see no real difference. If I ever leaned toward one device either way between these two, it probably wasn't because of the actual display but because of app itself being optimized for the Nexus 4's updated Jelly Bean over the Optimus G's Ice Cream Sandwich.

Verdict: Both displays will give you a wonderful viewing experience – and after about half an hour of eye strain right up against the two phones, I could not see anything in the colors or sharpness of these two screens to put one over the other. Now, excuse me while I get some eye drops.

Software

Seeing as I just mentioned the software, I can talk about the operating systems included in both phones. Since the Nexus 4 is an official Google device, it is no secret that it will come bundled with the latest and greatest that Android has to offer. This is the experience of Android as envisioned by Google, and since this phone will always get the most updated software, you're dealing with the cutting edge here.

Which is a boon for phones without Google's official backing, unfortunately – all too often, we see that the software in great phones is plagued by delays because phone companies are working to bring the latest official Google OS into their own visions. HTC has the Sense UI, Samsung has TouchWiz, and LG has the Optimus UI. The sad part here is that while the companies work to get their versions of Android out of the gate, Google continues to churn out more and more updates to their original operating system. And most phones suffer from not being fully up-to-date as a result. This is the case with the LG Optimus G, as it comes with 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich and is, now, a couple versions behind in the Android game. It lacks Jelly Bean features like Google Now, expandable notifications and the overhauled camera.

However, LG has done a great job of bringing in new features that make up for this shortcoming. For example, the Optimus UI is one of the most customizable stock operating systems on the market, as it allows for changes in the theme, the power widget in the notification drop down, and even the lock screen. Even the camera has Time Lapse Shot, which constantly pulls the shutter shortly before and after hitting the capture button so that you have multiple shots to choose from. The Optimus UI is also very smooth and easy on the eyes, while being useful given its feature set.

Ultimately, if you're reading this, you're probably an Android nut and you want the most updated operating system for the latest and greatest features. Jelly Bean might be on the way for the LG Optimus G, but it's still not here right now, and 'right now' is what Google achieves with the Nexus 4. Don't be mistaken, you might be missing some features in LG's version of Ice Cream Sandwich, but they put in enough extra bits to make sure the experience still feels complete.

Verdict: I have to be a purist here and go with the Nexus 4 with its most up to date OS, as it will always be on the cutting edge while LG works to take the latest updates and wrap them up in some Optimus UI. If you have the LG Optimus G, however, the features and customizable built-in options more than make up for its core operating system being a little bit behind in the game.

Performance

Here's another situation that will seem a little rough to tackle, as LG has put the exact same quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor in both phones, as well as 2GB of RAM. You get a lot of speed from this phone and coupled with the screen technology, the experience on both devices is seamless and buttery. I experienced no hiccups on the Optimus G during my couple weeks of usage and, so far, the Nexus 4 has been largely the same.

I did run a couple benchmark tests with both phones to compare, and with the Optimus G sitting atop the performance grids of current Android phones, I expected the Nexus 4 to sit right alongside it. Technically, the numbers brought in by the Nexus 4 were just below that of the Optimus G, but that might be because of the LG-optimized OS that is catered to its creation. Jelly Bean is a ubiquitous Google operating system and might not be fully optimized for the way LG puts the hardware together.

Verdict: You will be getting top-notch performance out of these two phones, so there really isn't a lot you can say in favor of either device.

Camera

Now I come over to the camera, a situation in which the LG Optimus G might seem to blow the Nexus 4 away, on paper. The LG Optimus G comes with a staggering 13-megapixel camera (the AT&T version has an 8-megapixel variant) over the 8-megapixel offering found on the Nexus 4. As I mentioned before, the camera on the LG Optimus G does come with some nice additional features like Time Lapse Shot. I praised the Optimus G's camera for being a good example of how far photography can come in the Android market, as 13 megapixels is certainly not something easily brushed off.

When compared to the Nexus 4's camera, the feature set and megapixels count seem to trounce it. The Nexus 4 does bring its own tools to the table, sporting an updated interface that does away with traditional menus and brings a touch and swipe interface. It's a great way to handle your settings and makes sense on touchscreen devices. After that, Photo Sphere is definitely a fun tool to take Street View-like pictures but it may come off for most as nothing more than a novelty.

So, we have to look at the images themselves. Obviously, the pictures from the Nexus 4 will be smaller in size than those from the Optimus G, but there is more to a picture than how big it is. I looked for some colorful content and took a shot with both phones. You can see the two pictures below.

Obviously, zooming in brings up a bit of fuzz to the overall pictures, but we never expect DSLR quality from a phone camera. Under some close scrutiny, you begin to realize what it is you want out of a picture. The quality of both images seems comparable, but you realize that the less pronounced color palette of the Nexus 4 is a little easier on the eyes than that of the Optimus G. The Christmas ornament in the picture from the Nexus 4 has a little more detail in its face that is otherwise blown out by the way the Optimus G captures all the flooding light.

Verdict: All in all, both cameras will prove useful tools for basically any user, however amateur or professional they may be. The LG Optimus G takes it in megapixels count and feature set, but the Nexus 4 puts a little more finesse into its picture rendering.

Capacity

A quick mention here, as there is a bit of an easy answer to this one – the version of the Nexus 4 that I was given was the 16 GB variety, and it doesn't come with expandable memory. The story on expandable memory is the same in the LG Optimus G I have from Sprint, but it carries twice as much memory internally at 32GB.

I do know that the AT&T version of the LG Optimus G was outfitted with a microSD card slot for expansion, so that is definitely a plus in terms of greatly increasing your space.

Verdict: I have to give the Optimus G the edge on this one, as the Sprint version comes with 32 GB included in either stock package.

Connectivity

Finally, I come to the connectivity of the devices, which is a quick sell as well. It has been widely reported that the Nexus 4 does not come with native 4G LTE capability and this has been a point of contention for many people. Instead, the official Google device utilizes HSPA+, a data network somewhere between 3G and 4G. Many people have reported that while the speeds are not as fast as 4G, HSPA+ on the Nexus 4 still gets respectable speeds above 20mbps that is certainly adequate for most tasks.

The LG Optimus G is natively capable on its carriers to connect to 4G LTE, so it would seem that it has the edge on the speed. However, the Sprint version, as I mentioned in my review, is plagued by a widespread lack of LTE coverage across the States. If you live in an area without this coverage, you're kind of dead in the water. You will fare better with the AT&T version, but I cannot report on that.

Verdict: The Nexus 4 doesn't have 4G LTE and instead goes for a slower data network, giving it some minus points at first glance. However, the Optimus G can't use a data network that isn't even available in the first place. Ultimately, you have to decide for yourself if 4G LTE is that important to you, but if you go with the Nexus 4, I have heard that HSPA+ is quite adequate for general users. I guess it is up to what carrier you align yourself with – just remember that 4G LTE is more widely available on AT&T than Sprint.

Conclusion

If you haven't noticed by now, I found it hard to really give the edge to either of these phones, as there are just too many things to love about both of them. In reality, the choice here comes down to what carrier you use, whether or not you want the most updated Android operating system, and, honestly, your personal preference.

I personally love the LG Optimus G's look and it comes with a slew of features that LG has done well to create and provide. My inability to use an LTE network to test its speeds was unfortunate, but the overall device's performance was unparalleled – at the time. The Nexus 4 is the fraternal twin to the Optimus G, as it comes with almost all the same specs as its non-Google counterpart. As such, the smooth and crisp experience on it is basically identical. As a Google device, however, the much talked about enhancements of Jelly Bean and any updates coming in the future will greatly benefit the Nexus 4 more than its competition.

There are too many things going for both phones that the choice is up to you. So, you can definitely let us know what you think in the comments – which phone would you go for and why?

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Deal: 32GB Nexus 7 Wi-Fi for just $229 via eBay seller

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 06:33 PM PST

This year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping sprees are behind us, but that doesn't mean we're done seeing some great deals on new Android devices.

Today 9to5 Google points us to eBay top-seller Buy Dig, an authorized Asus dealer which is running a special Nexus 7 promotion on the Google Nexus 7.

The 32GB Nexus 7 Wi-Fi version can be purchased from the eBay store for just $229, which is $20 less than the official Google Play Store price. Mind you, we're looking at new, unused and unopened devices here.

At the time this post was written, the Nexus 7 sale page says that Buy Dig sold 1,334 32GB Nexus 7 units at this special price. Obviously the quantity is limited, so the deal may expire before the time runs out.

The sale expires on December 4, 8 AM PST, so you still have time to make up your mind whether to purchase the discounted tablet or not, that's assuming stock doesn't run out.

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8GB Nexus 4 sold out again, as Google apparently closes ‘pre-orders’

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 04:59 PM PST

Just yesterday we reported that the average shipping times for the 16GB Nexus 4 have slipped to 6-7 weeks, and now it looks like we have similar bad news for the 8GB model.

While you can still "pre-order" the 16GB Nexus 4 from the Play Store – because essentially that's what you're doing when you're buying an item that will ship almost two months from now – the 8GB model is out of stock.

Google is not letting interested customers purchase the device anymore, after shipping time went up to 9-10 weeks, and it's currently listing the $299 smartphone as "Sold Out."

Obviously, the Nexus 4 is selling like hot cakes, but we have no idea really how hot the cakes are since Google isn't sharing and Nexus 4 sales numbers yet, and it probably won't do so in the near future either.

What seems to be clear is that LG can't keep up with current Nexus 4 demand. And we'd definitely be interested to see how many Nexus 4 units have been sold to date. While we're talking about sales numbers, we'd also be interested to see how well the Optimus G is selling since the handset is basically an upgraded Nexus 4 version.

While we wait for sales numbers, tell us, have you "pre-ordered" your Nexus 4 in this second purchasing round? What version did you get and how much time do you have to wait for it to ship?

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Samsung, Apple lead the U.S. mobile space, new comScore study reveals

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 03:21 PM PST

iPhone 5 versus Galaxy S3

comScore on Friday released a new study that takes a look at the U.S. mobile landscape revealing that Samsung and Apple are the top handset makers in the region.

The company analyzed mobile data for the three-month period ending in October 2012 and surveyed over 30,000 American mobile subscribers in the process.

The research reveals that Samsung is still the top handset maker in the U.S. with 26.3% market share (0.7% increase since July 2012) followed by Apple with 17.8% (1.5% increase), LG with 17.6% (0.8% decrease), Motorola with 11% (0.2 decrease) and HTC with 6% (0.4% decrease).

comScore reports that 121.3 million people now own smartphones in the U.S., a 6% increase compared with July numbers. When it comes to smartphone platform, Google is still king of the hill with 53.6% market share (1.4% increase), followed by Apple with 34.3% (0.9% increase), RIM, Microsoft and Symbian with less than 15% combined.

The study also looked into what people do with their mobile devices and found that 75.9% subscribers used text messages (0.3% increase), 54.5% used downloaded apps (1.9% increase), 52.7% Internet browsing (1.5% increase), 37.9% accessed social networks or blogs (1.5% increase), 33.8% played games (0.3% increase) and 28.3% listened to music (0.4% increase).

What kind of smartphone do you currently own?

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Lenovo A586 brings Android voice unlock to China

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 02:03 PM PST

While companies are busy trying to patent face unlock technology, it seems that it may soon be left behind. What’s the cool new way to unlock your phone? Voice unlock, of course, and the Lenovo A586 is bringing it to China later this month.

It’s easy to imagine how little security this method of unlocking a phone could offer, and that’s why Lenovo is using a speaker verification technology that was “pioneered by A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) and enhanced by the Baidu-I2R Research Centre (BIRC).”

The downside is that the phone itself isn’t too impressive: a 4.5-inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 854 and a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor aren’t exactly the newest, hottest technology.

Assuming the “voiceprint” system works well, the specific phrase you use may not matter too much, but why let that stop us from imagining? What sort of passphrase would you use for your phone?

Show full PR text

BAIDU-I2R RESEARCH CENTRE (BIRC) BRINGS FIRST SPEAKER VERIFICATION TECHNOLOGY INTO SMARTPHONES WITH BUILT-IN VOICEPRINT FEATURE

Baidu-I2R Research Centre (BIRC) Brings First Speaker Verification Technology Into Smartphones With Built-In Voiceprint Feature

BIRC’s state-of-the-art technology unlocks Lenovo-Baidu smartphones with user’s voice

1. Singapore, 30 November 2012 – Using your voice as a unique identification to unlock your smartphone is no longer a fantasy or just another scene from a futuristic movie. The technology will be embedded in Lenovo’s smartphone – Lenovo A586, which will be available from 30th November 2012 in China through major telecommunications providers and online shops. This innovative Speaker Verification technology was pioneered by A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) and enhanced by the Baidu-I2R Research Centre (BIRC).

2. The adoption of the Speaker Verification technology in the Lenovo A586 smartphone demonstrates A*STAR’s success in translating results from research collaborations with corporations in Singapore to industry applications. It also marks a major milestone for BIRC, a joint laboratory between A*STAR’s I2R and Baidu, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU), the leading Chinese language Internet search provider. BIRC, Baidu’s first overseas joint R&D facility, officially opened in Singapore in July this year.

3. The Lenovo A586 smartphone is the first in the industry that incorporates this Speaker Verification technology into its operating system. With this distinctive feature, an authorized user can unlock the smartphone simply by speaking a passphrase, without the need to use PINs, passwords or finger swipe patterns.

4. Dr. Li Haizhou, Co-Director of BIRC said, “We are delighted that our months of hard work and efforts are bearing fruits with the launch of the Lenovo A586 that incorporates our Speaker Verification technology. This is a strong endorsement of user-inspired research and cutting-edge speech and language technology in I2R and BIRC. We look forward to more innovative products from the Baidu and I2R partnership.”

5. “Lenovo A586′s adoption of the Speaker Verification technology that is developed through our joint effort with Baidu demonstrates I2R’s commitment to translate their expertise in speech and language technologies into products that benefits consumers and the industry. It is indeed encouraging that an A*STAR-developed technology is being deployed in China, the largest and world’s fastest growing smartphone market,” said Dr. Tan Geok Leng, Executive Director of I²R.

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Will we see flexible display technology from Samsung in 2013?

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 12:44 PM PST

As we become more used to rapid advancements in technology, it gets more and more difficult to wait for them. Case in point: Samsung’s flexible display technology, which was displayed at CES 2011. And it’s still not out yet! However, rumor has it that we may see these displays beginning to roll out in 2013.

As most other components in smartphones are not yet flexible, we’re not going to see phones you can bend in half to fit in your pocket just yet. What we can expect, however, is the effective end of worrying about screens cracking. Flexible displays can also lead to thinner, more ergonomically shaped devices.

Samsung is likely to use OLED technology, but the company is apparently also looking into graphene, which is one atom thick, incredibly strong and lightweight. Not to be left out, other major players like LG, Sony and Nokia are also working on flexible displays.

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Android Phone Fans


Android Overload: Google acquires BufferBox, Jelly Bean updates, HTC One VX release date and more

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 06:09 PM PST

This is where we bring you all the stories that didn’t make it to our home page. These are still good reads, so make sure to check them out. After that, you can go ahead and enjoy the rest of your weekend in peace!

  • Google acquires BufferBox [Financial Post]
  • HTC One VX coming to AT&T December 7th [Android Authority]
  • Even more affordable Nexus 7 tablet shows up in benchmarks [Brief Mobile]
  • Microsoft products won’t be embargoed due to FRAND patents [Scribd/Robard]
  • Ingress updated to be less hacker-friendly [Into Mobile]
  • HTC One X and One X+ soon to get Android 4.2? [Pop Herald]
  • Samsung Galaxy S Advance to get Jelly Bean this January [Samsung Germany]
  • Google Maps Navigation now available in Mexico [Google Mexico]
  • Dolphin Browser updated to version 1.2: Android 4.2 support, faster page loading and more [Android Police]


Will the ASUS Qube be the Nexus Q’s replacement?

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 03:12 PM PST


Android fans jumped off their seats when reports of an FCC filing for an upcoming Google TV started spreading, yesterday. Google TV’s potential hasn’t been taken to its fullest just yet, and seeing new manufacturers jumping in is always exciting. Especially if it’s one like ASUS, which is said to be releasing the ‘Qube’ Google TV USB stick soon. There might be a bit more to it, though.

Most seem to have ignored The Verge’s sources, who claim that the ASUS Qube will be a Nexus device to be released this January. Furthermore, this project is said to be the reason why Google postponed the Nexus Q, making this new unit the orb’s replacement.

After seeing Google’s constant ignoring of its smart TV platform, many of Google’s moves were upsetting for Google TV fans. The Nexus Q’s announcement was filled with comments about the omission of Google TV. Adding Google TV would alleviate the Nexus Q’s high price ($300) and make the device much more enticing. The aesthetically-pleasing orb already had streaming features, so why not make it a full-fledged Google TV?

For these reasons, the idea of the ASUS Qube with Google TV somehow coming to replace the Nexus Q makes much more sense. We still have nothing specific to go on, but some state this will work as a companion accessory (maybe to an upgraded Nexus Q?) while others believe it will be a standalone USB Google TV of sorts.

Regardless, we will simply have to wait and see. We must take these rumors with a healthy dosage of sodium, but hopefully we will know more by January. But what do you guys think – could this be the Nexus Q’s epic return?

[The Verge via GTV Source]


8 GB Nexus 4 goes out of stock… again

Posted: 01 Dec 2012 01:25 PM PST

Those estimated shipping notices for the popular Nexus 4 just have to have a limit, and it seems we have finally reached it. After shipping estimations went up to 9-10 weeks, the 8 GB Nexus 4 has finally been marked out of stock, meaning it will probably take about 3 months or more for users to be able to snatch this device from the Google Play Store (ouch!).

Most of us have figured out that Google is simply trying to make it seem like the device is “in stock”. It really isn’t. Those of us who purchased a Nexus 4 during the second batch are pretty much pre-ordering them. But the sweet Nexus 4 has proven to be so popular that even these masked pre-orders have to be stopped.

The 16 GB version is still available for purchase. I managed to grab one that is shipping in 4-5 weeks, but those who order it at this point will have to wait 6-7 weeks before they get it shipped. Let’s just hope this one doesn’t reach the 10-week limit any time soon. Waiting until February (or later) is not a nice thought.

[Google Play Store]