Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


Google Nexus 4 review! [video]

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 02:39 AM PST

The Nexus One, Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, and now, the Nexus 4. What a coincidence! Google’s newest official smartphone device is not only the fourth in its line, but sports a 4.7” screen. You have to love when things just seem to come together.

Jokes aside, it is really time to pay attention to Google and its newest offering in the Nexus line of devices for a couple of reasons: first off, the newest device brings with it the latest software, as this and the Nexus 10 tablet come with the most recent iteration of Android, Jelly Bean 4.2. And being a Nexus device means that this phone will be getting all the future updates first, before the rest of the Android bunch.

Secondly, this phone carries on its shoulders the weight of a phone manufacturer, with hopes of bringing it back from its unmemorable mid-tier game and back into the big leagues. Yes, Google has put its faith in LG, the Korean electronics giant whose recent phones have unfortunately drifted off into obscurity all too soon.

Perhaps luckily and definitely thankfully, LG might as well have included even the kitchen sink in their newest high-end phones, the Optimus G and the Nexus 4. If the Optimus G is any indication, Google bet on the right player.

Find out in this review if LG’s potentially greatest phone lives up to the Nexus name, and see my video review at the end.

Build and Feel            

Let’s get the obvious out of the way before we even begin – if you think this phone looks familiar, you’d be right. The Google Nexus 4 looks so much like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus that one might accuse it of blatantly copying its predecessor. But the onset of the Nexus 4 and its familiar design likely hearken to a design template that Google is hoping to instill in its official line. I personally wouldn’t be surprised if we saw shades of the Galaxy Nexus throughout the next generation of the Nexus line, as well.

But it really isn’t a bad thing that the Galaxy Nexus seems to be echoed here – after all, its design was received well, and it translates well to LG’s own vision of the Nexus. Perhaps you will feel as I did in my comparison of the Nexus 4 to its fraternal twin, the LG Optimus G, when I found the familiarity of this phone actually added to its appeal.

The button layout is pretty standard, with the power button found on the right and the volume rockers found on the opposite side. Due to past experiences, I am quite paranoid that the power swtiches on any of my phones will eventually sink in and become unusable. While the one on the Nexus 4 doesn’t feel as meaty as the one found on my Galaxy Nexus, I think it is sturdy enough to stand constant presses.

Below the volume rockers is the microSIM slot, where SIM cards from your carrier of choice (GSM) will be inserted. An extra tool is provided with the phone to assist in reaching the release found in the tiny hold right beside it. At first usage, you will have to perform this minor surgery and correctly place the SIM card into the tray, after which it becomes a semi-permanent fixture of the phone. While having a small, slightly weird looking tool (or ‘poker’, as I called it once) might seem weird, it also makes sense – you don’t want people popping out your SIM card easily and crippling your phone.

The headphone jack is found on the top of the phone, along with one microphone. The other microphone is found on the bottom, where the microUSB charging port is flanked by a seemingly new trope with LG phones – the Torx screws. As with the LG Optimus G, these Torx screws are actually an aesthetically pleasing addition, but they also mean that this phone is not supposed to be opened easily. This also means that the battery is not removable.

The back of the phone sports the eponymous ‘Nexus’ word across the upper half, while the 8 megapixel camera and coupled flash are directly above the ‘N.’ The entire back panel is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, which is supposed to give it some good protection – unfortunately, a number of users have reported that even small drops can make either the back or the front render cracks pretty easily. So, be careful with this one.

LG’s Crystal Reflection design brings back a nice aesthetic originally seen on the back of the Optimus G – at certain angles, a pattern of blocks can be seen. It serves as no more than eye candy but thus does its job quite well.

In the hand, the Google Nexus 4 further echoes its predecessor. At 139 grams, the phone is actually a tad heavier than most other devices, but you have to consciously think about it to feel the difference. Skin slides across the entire glass covered body, while the plastic and somewhat matted bezel connecting the two panels give the feel a little variety. Without a curved glass screen like the Galaxy Nexus, the Nexus 4 is a little thicker and thus has a bit of a blocker feel – which adds to its sturdiness in the hand.

There are certainly bigger phones out on the market, but the Nexus 4 manages to be big and balanced at the same time. I easily kept grip of the phone and was able to reach all parts of the screen without really having to fumble around to get there. All in all, this is a well designed phone by LG, and while it might look very much like the device that came before it, this is more a sign of things to come rather than a case of blatant design plagiarism.

Screen

LG put in its Google Nexus 4 the same True HD IPS screen that is found in the Optimus G, protected behind a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 2. Between these two layers is, quite literally, nothing – this is due to LG’s Zerogap technology that does away with all layers usually found under the protective glass panel and above the actual display itself. LG claims that this technology not only enhances the display experience, but also helps make content ‘glide underneath the finger.’

At 1280 x 768 resolution and 320 pixels per inch density, you are certainly getting a good display out of this phone. Details shine through, crisp and clear, and even small text is easy to read. Videos are enjoyable to watch, as colors are all very well pronounced and vibrant. All of this beauty can also be attributed to the Adreno 320 graphics processor that helps bring your content through the Gorilla Glass. As it did in the Optimus G, all of these elements put together make for quite a viewing experience.

This is easily one of the best displays available on any phone, so LG should be commended for its offering on both of its top-tier devices. Viewing in broad daylight brings little to no trouble, as having the brightness at even around the 60% mark makes the display easily viewable. Angles are also all pretty much covered, as even in some precarious positions, the phone’s content is still in plain sight. I don’t imagine anyone trying to read stuff on this phone at an acute angle, but all this just provides more testaments to LG’s offering on the Nexus 4.

As far as touch responsiveness goes, especially considering the Zerogap technology, I personally was able to fly through menus, select content, and make Barry dodge and duck zappers in Jetpack Joyride with ease and speed. The claim by LG that Zerogap should make content ‘glide underneath your finger’ certainly seems to hold true here.

I do have to mention, as it was brought to my attention in the Nexus 4 vs Optimus G comparison, that some users have been experiencing touch issues with their new devices. In some cases, the screen would not register touches as immediately as one would expect from such a device, while another case involved multi-touch issues like the late response of pinch-to-zoom functionality in the Chrome web browser. I looked for myself and did find that the degree in which Android zooms content on the Nexus 4 (running 4.2) is less than experienced on my Samsung Galaxy Nexus (running 4.1.2). This held primarily true for Chrome, however, as I did not experience the same issue while viewing pictures in the gallery.

Issues with touch sensitivity are certainly problems that have to be mentioned and dealt with, but I believe that there might be more to it than just the screen or the Zerogap technology (which has been solely blamed at times). Comparisons with the pinch-to-zoom effects on the Galaxy Nexus have brought ideas that perhaps Chrome or even the new Jelly Bean OS are at fault. Many expect there will be an incremental update to Jelly Bean that addresses some of the lag issues seen beyond even just those experienced with the Nexus 4. Sometimes users simply tried a replacement device and found that their issues were resolved. Placebo effect or not, there is more to the issue than is easily discerned.

Investigations are ongoing, but the issues do not seem to be affecting everyone. On the flip side, I have heard just as many people state that while they might see a difference in multi-touch sensitivity, it ultimately comes down to an adjustment to be made by the user and is far from a deal-breaker. So, bottom line: I had a great time viewing and using the screen on the Nexus 4. It is one of the best displays available and you should be able to fly through the phone’s content with ease. You may or may not experience some of the sensitivity issues that some users have reported on, but remember that it can be due to more than just the possibility of having a dud.

Hardware

You're getting some pretty incredible specifications on the Nexus 4 – LG was sparing no expense when creating this and the Optimus G. A quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor bestows incredible power to this device, making the whole Jelly Bean experience snappy and almost seamless. The processor is backed by an already mentioned Adreno 320 GPU that really helps make the video and graphics look great behind the True IPS display.

It still boggles me how I can talk about a handheld device – much less, a phone – and be able to say that it has a quad-core processor. I remember when it was a big deal for a desktop computer to have that, and now the same power is in the palm of my hand. It also goes to show you how easily mobile devices can become out-of-date – the Samsung Galaxy Nexus remains as a very well-received and memorable phone, but that's all it is at this point: a memory.

Benchmark tests put the Nexus 4 atop the device food chain, though admittedly just a smidgen below its fraternal twin, the LG Optimus G. This can happen for a number of reasons – also as mentioned before, some attribute lag in certain users' general experiences to a lack of optimization in Jelly Bean 4.2. Whether or not this is the reason why the Nexus 4 (with the same guts as the Optimus G despite running a different version of Android) does not blow away the rest of the pack, remains to be seen.

You get 2GB of RAM for all the multitasking you want, and when your apps are being backed by such a powerful processor, you can pretty much have as much going on at the same time as you want. 8GB and 16GB internal memory options mean that there is no expandable memory capability – you're stuck with what you got in there.

LG gets another notch on its belt for putting out one of the current greats in the smartphone market, and it just gets sweeter with Google’s backing of software updates and reasonable pricing. The Nexus 4 certainly seems like the real deal, and the on-paper hype most certainly translates well in practice. Apps load faster and smoother than ever while the new transition animations included in Jelly Bean 4.2 seamlessly bring some gorgeous eye candy to multitasking. All in all, this is one serious package stuffed in a pretty shell.

Battery

Battery life on the Nexus 4's fraternal twin, as I reported in my review of the LG Optimus G, was more than adequate. I remember being able to get through full days of normal usage without much worry. The Nexus 4 comes with all the same guts of its non-Nexus counterpart, so the battery life should be around the same, right?

There have been some reports of poor battery life, though certain sources like Engadget have been able to update their reviews with news that more current replacement units brought better results. I believe I have one of these particular devices because I was able to get adequate battery life throughout a day's usage. Using my borrowed microSIM card, I got from breakfast to bedtime (about 15 hours) without needing to plug in. When I did plug in the phone, the battery was down to the last few percent left, though I imagine different degrees of daily usage will make this situation vary.

I did do a battery drain test. Okay, so my dedicated battery life test with the Nexus 10 was a little too intense – streaming videos via WiFi and then streaming the resulting sound to my Bluetooth speaker at the same time (which brought the tablet's battery to its knees at around 5 and a half hours). This time, I went with something a little more practical: a looping video playing while WiFi is connected to a network. This particular test drained the Nexus 4 down to about 5% just under the 7 hour mark. Having the HSPA+ running will likely bring this number down a bit, but such things are expected.

There is one thing you might miss about the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, in terms of its battery – the fact that it was replaceable. LG has fastened their Nexus device with those two Torx screws on the bottom that essentially seal the phone shut. The official word is that the battery, then, is irreplaceable – or at least tampering with it brings a lot of potential dangers, as we have reported. I remember the Galaxy Nexus coming with a cheap extra battery and charger/dock that felt like a steal when bundled with the plan and device. Having an extra battery is always handy when the phone is feeling power hungry; but with the Nexus 4, you'll have to just bring along that charger for when the juice runs out.

Connectivity

So, here comes a hotly contested portion of the Nexus 4's features – the connectivity. We will dive right into the main point everyone is talking about, which is the lack of 4G LTE. Yes, the Nexus 4 is capable of LTE and it is an option that can be enabled deeper within the settings, but it only works in particular areas like Canada. In the United States, however, there have been no reports that the publicized method of enabling LTE has worked – this is due to the Nexus 4's connectivity being limited to certain bands of the 4G service. Without these bands enabled across the States' LTE spectrums, it remains to be seen if people in the US will be able to take advantage of this seemingly uncovered capability.

That being said, the Nexus 4 is able to connect to 4G HSPA+ networks, which are not supposed to be as fast as LTE. Given that my model of the Google device was standalone and not from any carrier, I used someone else's T-Mobile microSIM card to test out the call quality and mobile network on the phone. The phone did well in call reception, as the few calls I made to people were clear and there were close to no lapses in the feed.

Which brings me to the question about mobile network speed. I have to admit that the difference in speed is noticeable – as a 4G LTE user on Verizon, I am used to some pretty breakneck speeds with my data, such as a HD YouTube video loading very quickly (it's funny when my phone can load a YouTube clip faster that my laptop sometimes) or a Spotify song playing immediately.

In general tests, however, the Nexus 4's HSPA+ is quite adequate – for most all tasks, the speed of downloading websites didn't really bother me and I was able to enjoy viewing the internet with relative ease. Putting the T-Mobile HSPA+ side by side to my Verizon LTE showed that my Galaxy Nexus would load a webpage just before the Nexus 4. YouTube videos proved a little more of a challenge, however, as I would sometimes have to wait for even the low quality videos to load on the Nexus 4 – something I'm not often used to doing on my Galaxy Nexus.

I must mention that there was an interesting development in some instances my speed comparison test – when the Nexus 4's HSPA+ would keep right up with my Galaxy Nexus' LTE, I noticed differences in the reception strength. Given my location east of Los Angeles, my Verizon LTE had my Galaxy Nexus at half reception strength while the T-Mobile HSPA+ was running at full blast. This seems to have some bearing on the speed, as the Nexus 4's full reception to the mobile network seemed to bring in some good results, though it was only really comparable to my Galaxy Nexus LTE going at half of its full capability.

So, while there are noticeable differences between HSPA+ and LTE, there isn't a disastrous lack of speed on the Nexus 4. Those who are LTE loyal will have some gripes with the slowdown, but I believe the vast majority of people will see it as a small setback on an otherwise great phone and experience.

Other connectivity options include Near Field Communications. As this is a Nexus phone, one would hope that the capabilities of NFC Beam between such devices are backwards compatible. Luckily, I have a previous Nexus device, so I was keen to see. I did two tests, back and forth, using websites and pictures – both transferred seamlessly between the two devices. I figured it was worth a mention, because I have had trouble in the past doing Beams between my Galaxy Nexus and at least a Galaxy S3. It's good to know that the Nexus line does retain continuity in this regard.

Newer features in the Nexus 4 include Miracast, a display streaming service that has become an official part of Android in version 4.2. I don’t have a Miracast-enabled television, so this is a part I cannot report on. This is the same deal regarding the Qi wireless charging ability – the Nexus 4 can handle this standard and Google has created a peripheral geared for wireless charging. I didn’t have any wireless charging mats or docks, but it has been reported to work as expected – I look forward to checking out the Orb soon.

Camera

The Google Nexus 4 comes with an 8 megapixel camera that performs decently well. It is certainly an improvement over its predecessor, which sported a 5 megapixel camera at below average quality – the only real claim to fame that the Galaxy Nexus had for its camera was the fast shutter. You could quite literally just keep pressing that shutter button and rack up a large number of shots.

Photo quality on the Nexus 4 was actually quite good, as I found that the shutter speed used by the optics was adequate enough to get in enough light without blowing out the details the way the LG Optimus G did. From shutter to picture, the speed was not like that found in the Galaxy Nexus. It is still adequately fast, however, so users will just have to be aware of their photos and demand retakes when the shot goes blurry.

Click to see the full image

The flash, on the other hand, is quite powerful and can sometimes hurt the resulting photos instead of helping. It might be nice to throw some light into that dark indoor shot, but the sheer amount this flash puts out might blow out your content a little too much – not to mention your subject, who will be momentarily blinded.

Essentially, the interface and new features that Jelly Bean 4.2 brings to the table are the story here. A new camera app in the updated Android OS makes some changes to the way users take pictures while remaining somewhat familiar – your shutter button retains the blue color and look… and that’s about it. The interface has been quite overhauled, doing away with traditional touch and tap menus and opting for settings accessible by swipes. Simply touch and hold on any part of the viewfinder and swipe to the appropriate settings – the options will appear and then you just have to move your finger over to what you want and release. It is an elegant way of managing your camera that is very welcome and useful.

Aside from that, however, the options for picture taking are pretty standard, without really adding too much that we already know. HDR is available and helps you get a bit more punch out of the colors in your picture, while a small number of scene modes will help you get an effect you may want out of your content.

The main and pretty much only addition made to the general camera infrastructure is the inclusion of Photo Sphere. The much talked about feature allows for Street View-like pictures, as your phone uses the accelerometer to gauge positioning and you are guided around the grid with small blue dots that you center in the viewfinder. The captured shots are then all put together and a resulting 360 degree view of your surroundings is created. It is a very novel feature that I am sure many will find fun to use – I personally just don’t have much use for it.

Software

All this talk about the camera app brings me to one of the main stories of the Nexus 4, its included version of the Android operating system. As a Nexus device, this phone will receive all of the future updates from Google before everyone else. To a lot of people, this is a very big deal, and rightfully so – new features mean new experiences.

Jelly Bean 4.2 certainly lives up to that idea, as enhancements to the already tried and true Ice Cream Sandwich interface make the overall experience of Android more useful and enjoyable. For example, the new notification drop down menu has been added to, with a side of it now dedicated to the most used settings. After pulling down, a button on the right corner will rotate the notices and reveal tiles of various settings like WiFi and GPS. You can also reveal just the settings by doing a two-finger pull down.

This is a very welcome addition to the stock Android OS, as power widgets and apps embedded in the notification drop down were previous ways that users could change their device’s settings. Now, Google has recognized that need and has baked those capabilities in.

The lockscreen has also been enhanced to include features previously only found on custom ROMs or installed replacements – now, on the lockscreen, swiping left and right from the edges of the screen brings widgets to the front. The lockscreen clock is an included widget, as is a camera launcher that is seen below. There are also widgets for calendar entries, e-mails, and messaging. This makes your most important information easily accessible without having to swipe the lock and go through your applications.

A new keyboard has been included with Jelly Bean 4.2, as well – actually, it is the same touch typing keyboard that we already know and love, but gesture typing has been added in. This is much like Swype, where you just have to swipe around the letters for the word you want. It works well enough, but is simply an added feature and might not keep you from installing a replacement keyboard anyway. I do have to admit that seeing the word you are swiping right above your finger is a nice touch and is very Google.

And of course, there is Google Now – the information and search hub has seen some updates in 4.2, with added cards that show you flight information (after digging in your GMail account for received confirmation notices) and even a birthday card that appears on, when else, your birthday. Voice search has been updated to receive more inquiries, and whole questions are now Googled if a specific function isn’t triggered. Other commands include opening apps (“open GMail”) and setting alarms (“set alarm for 7:30am, label, weekdays).

The last feature that would like to mention is the Daydream function. Smartphones can be more than just pieces of glass and plastic sitting on your dock or charging on your desk with black and blank screens. Google seems to have noticed this, as well, and they have included functionality that makes devices running 4.2 display pictures, colors, or even just the time after an elapsed time charging or docked. I actually really like this function, as it brings a little more usage from such a nice screen when I’m not using my phone.

The clock is adequate enough, especially when the phone is functioning as a side table alarm clock; however, for when the phone is just docked nearby, you can use it as a photo frame. Imagine using this on the Nexus 10 sometimes. Just having the ability to use it when the desire arises is nice.

All in all, the newest version of Android is a pretty compelling reason to choose the Nexus 4. While the rest of the smartphone market tries to keep up, Google continuously brings out new versions of Android with new features that consistently feel like improvements on an already enjoyable and useful platform. With the Nexus 4, you’re already ahead of the game – for quite a few Android users out there, that’s one of the most important aspects of the Nexus line.

Conclusion

To answer the question of whether LG’s Nexus 4 lives up to its pedigree, one would have to look at the sum of its parts. It is already a feat to pack such high-end specs into this device, but the great translation into actual user experience is even more impressive. You’re getting top-notch Android in the Nexus 4 and that is a huge selling point right there.

As far as design goes, I have say that LG has improved on the previous Nexus offering by making a pretty smart move – taking what was already well-received and just building upon it. The Galaxy Nexus was already a fine looking device and the form factor was simplistic while retaining a sleek and inviting profile. In the hand, the Galaxy Nexus just fit and despite the large screen, discomfort was never a part of the experience. LG has taken all of this form and given it some shiny new front and back panels with some Crystal Reflection eye candy to top it off – and the result is an elegant phone that packs a lot of power.

And finally, the elegance and power helps bring Google’s vision of Android to life. The screen pops beautifully, making text easy on the eyes and graphics and video a treat to view. With updated, useful features that blend in with the already nice Android aesthetic, the update to Jelly Bean is worthwhile and enhances the Android experience. With the promise of first dibs on all future updates, it’s hard not to be happy with all that the Nexus 4 offers.

So, killer specs, a crisp and very pleasing display, a familiar aesthetic, and the latest and greatest software put the Nexus 4 just where Google wanted it to be – among the best. This device is available unlocked for $299 at 8GB and $349 at 16G – if you are looking to get one on contract, T-Mobile has the 16GB version at $199.

http://youtu.be/JV3kvQDf0Do

For all of the news and updates on the Nexus 4, keep it tuned here at Android Authority, your source for all things Android.

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Sprint’s BOGO promotion starts on December 7, includes the Samsung Galaxy S3

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 02:34 AM PST

Don't give yourself a hard time if you missed all the smartphones that Sprint paraded during its Black Friday promotion, because there's more seasonal offer from the carrier heading your way. While the information hasn't been officially released yet, we're hearing that Sprint is readying a BOGO offer for some of the hottest Galaxy phones.

As reported by Engadget, Sprint will start its special "Buy one, get one" promotion at the end of the week, where it's expected to run from December 7th all the way to the 24th. Phones that are up for grabs include the Samsung Galaxy S3, the Samsung Galaxy S2, and the Samsung Galaxy Victory.

The promo is valid for new and upgrading customers. You can get your second handset for free, but remember that you still have to sign for a new two-year contract.

The Galaxy S3 is certainly the standout here, but there's still a lot to like about the mid-range Galaxy Victory.  The 4G LTE phone is powered by a 1.2GHz Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, and boasts a 4-inch WVGA display, 4GB internal storage, microSD support, 5MP main camera, 1.3MP front camera, NFC, 2,100mAh battery, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Does this give you a Christmas present idea?

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Nokia’s new Lumia 620 sets an example for midrange Android smartphones

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 02:28 AM PST

We’re not ashamed of the fact that we love Android, just look at the name of our website. That being said, everyone here does keep track of what’s going on with other platforms. Nokia announced a new Windows Phone 8 device today called the Lumia 620. For $249 they’ll sell you a device with a 3.8 inch 800 x 480 pixel display, dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, 512 MB of RAM, and a 5 megapixel camera. Not only that, but the phone is really pretty, and it even features exchangeable back covers. Put another way, the Nokia Lumia 620 is to the Lumia 920 what the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini is to the Galaxy S III. So why then is Samsung asking $399 for the GS3 Mini on Amazon?

Every handset maker should look at what Nokia announced today and learn a few things. One, midrange phones don’t have to be ugly. Say what you will about the Galaxy S III or the HTC One X, we think Nokia is one of the few companies out there who is actually trying to push the envelope in terms of smartphone design. Two, you can make a decent phone for less than $300. Had Samsung priced the Galaxy S III Mini a bit more fairly, there would have been a lot less hate.

Why are we so hung up about the midrange market? Because that’s where we expect to see the most growth over the coming years. China is the world’s largest smartphone market, not Europe, and definitely not North America. Almost 80% of the phones sold there in Q3 of this year cost less than $260. That’s the price point that everyone should (and will) be focusing on in the future. Anyone can make a high end $700 phone and put the best components in it, but it’s the company that can mass produce a high quality affordable smartphone that will reap the spoils.

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Amazon intros Kindle FreeTime Unlimited for kids, all-you-can-eat content for $2.99 per month

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 02:26 AM PST

When the new lineup of Kindle Fire tablets was announced several months ago, Amazon also introduced FreeTime, a parental control feature that lets parents limit the time their kids can use the tablet for reading books, watching video, or playing games – while blocking access to web browser and the app store.

Just in time for the holiday, the kid mode has received a boost with the introduction of the Kindle FreeTime Unlimited.

The new subscription service gives your kids unlimited access to a plethora of books, movies, TV shows, games, and apps at a monthly flat rate of $2.99 per child for Amazon Prime members or $4.99 for non-Prime members. The price goes up to $6.99 and $9.99, respectively, if you want to add up to 6 children to the service.

The content comes from Disney, Nickelodeon, PBS, Sesame Workshop, and more. All in-app payments and advertisements are removed from the apps – making the playground more conducive for the little ones.

The all-you-can-eat plan is available for owners of the Kindle Fire HD tablets, as well as the refreshed Kindle Fire. You will be getting a free software update on your Kindle Fires in the coming weeks to enable the Kindle FreeTime Unlimited feature, and it will come with a free one-month trial.  This should help keep the kids occupied during the long holiday trips.

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Oppo Find 5 specs are now officially official, heading to the US for $499 contract-free

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 01:54 AM PST

Talk about stating the obvious. Oppo, who's been tormenting us with a far too long and exhausting hype-building campaign for the Find 5 phone, has finally decided to make the 5-incher's spec sheet public surprising no one.

There's nothing there we haven't already heard about at least a couple of times, which has got to be frustrating. Then again, the actual specs remain impressive, starting off with that Full HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 2, going through the 16 GB of internal memory, 2 GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, DLNA, Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, 2500 mAh battery and wrapping it all up with a quad-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU.

What the spec sheet doesn't reveal is the Find 5's design, which has remained the only mystery about the "beast". Not only do we still not have official pics starring the phone, but we've also heard some troubling rumors about an increase in bulk which we'd like denied ASAP.

Oh, right, almost forgot – the spec sheet has been posted on Oppo's US website (really, it is, even if it doesn't look like much), which means the States are going to get this soon. And for a pretty decent unsubsidized price of $499. Slim chances of any American carrier picking the Find 5 up however, so unlocked will probably be the only flavor of this big guy this side of the Pacific.

Remember, Oppo is scheduled to present the Find 5 next Wednesday, on the 12th, in Beijing, so that’s when we’ll get the answers to the couple of questions that are still racking our brains.

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DigiTimes: Samsung and TSMC are going to start producing 20 nm chips in 2013

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 01:51 AM PST

Every Android smartphone worth buying today uses either a chip made by Qualcomm or a chip made by Samsung. Qualcomm’s chips are manufactured by a company called TSMC; they use 28 nanometer technology. Samsung on the other hand, they make their own chips, and they use 32 nanometer technology. When it comes to transistors, smaller is better. Smaller transistors consume less energy, and since the transistors are smaller, the chips end up being smaller, so you get more chips our of a silicon wafer. That means cheaper chips.

According to our favorite Taiwanese supply chain rumor website DigiTimes, here’s what we can expect in 2013: Samsung is going to jump to 20 nanometer technology while simultaneously building factories that can produce 14 nanometer transistors. TSMC is also going to make 20 nanometer chips, but production is going to start in the second half of the year. Said production will also be low volume. Our gut tells us that we’re not going to see any 20 nm Snapdragons from Qualcomm until very late 2013 or early 2014.

And as for the leader of chip building, Intel, they’re producing 22 nanometer chips today and they’re on track to begin mass producing 14 nanometer chips in 2014. Now we know what you’re thinking, who in their right mind would buy an Intel based smartphone? Motorola’s RAZR i, which only started shipping a few weeks ago, has proven itself to be competitive. By this time next year, Intel is going to have something that’s even better. It’s perfectly reasonable to make fun of them right now, but be warned, when Intel wants something, they get it.

Back to TSMC for a second, they also make chips for NVIDIA, so all you Tegra fans should have something to look forward to during Q3/Q4 2013. By then we should start seeing the ARM Cortex A15 packing Tegra 4.

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Qualcomm announces two new quad core Snapdragons for the Chinese market

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 01:14 AM PST

Qualcomm just unveiled two new chips today: the MSM8226 and the MSM8626. They’re both 28 nanometer chips, they both have four Krait cores, and they both support TD-SCDMA, which is the 3G technology that China uses. So what’s the difference between these two products? Thanks to Brian Klug, Senior Smartphone Editor at AnandTech, we now know the MSM8226 has GSM/WCDMA support, while the MSM8626 adds support for EV-DO.

Here’s where things get a little bit weird. Qualcomm’s quad core chips, until now, have used the Adreno 320 graphics processor. Such a beefy GPU is needed to power the 1080p screens we see in devices like the HTC Droid DNA. The chips that were announced today don’t use that GPU, they use the weaker Adreno 305. This actually doesn’t come as a surprise to us since the Chinese market is a bit more cost conscious, but still, we would have rather seen something a bit faster.

When are these chips going to hit the market? Qualcomm says they’ll start giving handset makers samples by Q2 2013. Assuming that companies can make a smartphone in 90 days, then you’re looking at next summer. We don’t know how much devices with these chips are going to cost, but Qualcomm says they’re meant for “High-Volume Smartphones”. In China that means anything under $250. Isn’t it crazy that quad core Kraits are soon going to be in midrange devices?

And if you’re an American or European, then don’t worry. A little birdie has told us that Qualcomm will have some awesome new things to announce in Q1 2013. The Krait architecture is going to get a few tweaks to make it even faster, and the clock speeds are also going to go up by a couple hundred megahertz. We’d tell you more, but we’d have to kill you.

Not really, we love you.

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HTC Droid DNA price drops to $150 via Amazon Wireless, $50 off list price

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 01:12 AM PST

Mind-boggling full HD display – check. Decent battery, at least considering the size and resolution of that panel – check. Absolute software freedom, spiced with an unlockable bootloader and kernel source code released – check, check and check.

Still not happy with HTC and Verizon's Droid DNA? How about if you can check the box for affordable on-contract pricing too? Oh, now you're interested. Well, if that's so, head on over to Amazon Wireless and get this bad boy for just $149.99.

That's $50 off the regular list price, but you're going to have to commit to a new two-year agreement with Big Red, upgrade or add a line to an existing family account. Amazon might also test your patience a bit, with the device currently listed as "backordered", but you should still get it in time for Christmas.

Or you can try via Wirefly, the first retailer to have this up for grabs for 150 bucks, though things might get even trickier there – the phone is listed with a pretty discouraging "ships when available" tag. What will it be, guys?

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Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update hitting Galaxy S3s in Poland, other countries to follow soon

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 12:40 AM PST

Well, what do you know, folks, Samsung can actually deliver on its promises on time every now and then. Thus, after the Android 4.1 updating for the Galaxy S3 took much longer than expected (or is still yet to go live in some cases), the bump to the next software level might just go according to plan.

The bad news – we're not talking about a leap to Android 4.2, which is still months down the road. The good news – we are talking about 4.1.2, the obvious next best thing and one solid upgrade with loads of new features and enhancements.

According to Sam Mobile, the 4.1.2 upgrade for the S3 will be a fractionate one (quelle surprise), so, while some users will get to taste the new treats this year, many will have to wait until January or February of 2013.

The first country on the list is Poland, but even there only owners of unbranded S3s can grab the firmware through Samsung's Kies software or OTA (over-the-air). Fortunately, many other countries are  potentially next in line, so if you're residing in Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Singapore or Spain (to only name a few), be prepared – especially if you’ve got an unlocked S3.

Now, for the "what to wait for" part of the report. Hmm, we don't even know where to begin – that's how many cool new features and tweaks will be in this thing. Multi-View (aka Multi-Window) is definitely on top of many wishlists, but the New Gallery App or the Smart Rotation could be equally as exciting.

Other more basic changes will add some customizable features to the notification panel and will bring apps like Paper Artist or Group Cast. Last, but not least, there'll be the customary bug fixes (though there are really not that many glitches to start with), but also an "improved stability" and enhanced performance all-around.

Definitely not the most critical software update of all time, but clearly something to look for, don't you think? Unfortunately, this puts S3s still on Android 4.0 two if not three steps behind software-wise and that's not very cool, is it?

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Three new Intel smartphones just hit the FCC, will they be announced at MWC?

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 12:28 AM PST

Something amazing happened this year, something that didn’t get a lot of attention: Smartphones powered by Intel chips finally hit the market. The Motorola RAZR i was arguably the best one, but it definitely wasn’t the first.

That honor goes to the Indian made Lava XOLO X900. Now just to be clear, what Lava sold to consumers was pretty much an Intel reference design. By that we mean Intel designed a smartphone internally, with a screen, battery, everything, and they then let other companies license that platform. Why do it like that? Two reasons. One, because it makes a handset maker’s job really easy. Two, because Intel wants to make a lot of money, and if they can sell Lava/Motorola more parts, that means more revenue.

Click for full size

According to a new FCC filing, Intel is working on three new smartphones, kind of. Here’s what an official FCC document had to say about the Intel BT210, BT230, and BT510:

“All relevant parts are identical products. The only hardware difference between the products is the naming convention. There are differences in the software from BT210/BT230 and BT510. The BT 210/BT230 only has one SIM port active and BT510 has both SIM ports active.”

Curiously, Intel refers to the BT510 as the “Lava X500″. That should give you a clue as to where this new device is positioned. The X900 had a dual core Intel Midfield chip and a screen that pushed 1024 x 600 pixels. According to the Indian website Technology Blogs Simplified, the X500 will have a single core 1.2 GHz processor, 480 x 320 resolution screen, and it’ll run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Why go low end? Because that’s the market that’s going to see the most growth over the coming years. The Taiwanese supply chain website DigiTimes published an article yesterday that said a third of the smartphones sold in China during Q3 2012 cost less than $160.

That’s the new “hotness”, to use internet parlance.

Related Posts

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Microsoft is at it again, wants to hear your Android horror stories for a chance to win a free Windows Phone

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 06:29 PM PST

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It was almost this same time last year Microsoft launched their “Droid Rage” campaign in an attempt to convert disgruntled Android users “infected with malware” into switching over to Windows Phone. Apparently, they had over 3,200 submissions which left many scratching their heads (really, who could pass up a free phone?). Well, starting just a few minutes ago — they’re at it again. This time it’s the official Windows Phone Twitter account asking people to tweet them with the hashtag #DroidRage, accompanied by their Android malware “horror story.” Really?

Adding insult to injury, @WindowsPhone gave a few helpful tips for those suffering from a virus ridden Android device, and they are as follows:

  1. Wait for your Android phone to get infected with malware
  2. Recover from SMS scam bill shock
  3. Skip steps 1 & 2, buy a Windows Phone and connect with people you care about instead of some hacker plotting in a dank basement

By now your blood is, no doubt, already boiling and you’re not the only one. Seems the relaunched campaign has already caused some backlash with Android fans all over Twitter rising to the occasion, defending their favorite mobile OS with witty sarcasm.

Out of pure curiosity, anyone out there have a real Droid Rage story they’d care to share? We’re all friends here, right? While I, personally, have yet to experience malware “Droid Rage” (Android’s inconsistent back button is a whole ‘nother story), I will tell you about an experience I had yesterday with a family member of mine.

Turns out my aunt was complaining her Android phone suddenly had a “mind of its own.” I decided to provide some tech support only to find that her entire homescreen was filled with spammy icons linking to external websites. While this was more or less adware, I would bet money that whatever could have been downloaded from those links would have been bonafide malware. The cause? Come to find out my little cousin — God, bless her soul — had been downloading any app with the title “Hello Kitty” onto my aunt’s device. I wiped the whole sucker clean and started her from scratch. #DroidRage.

[Winsource]

iOS still spanking Android in total web traffic despite Android’s leading market share

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 04:55 PM PST

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We’ve all seen the stats, Android is outgrowing iOS by a ridiculous number, something like for every 4 smartphones shipped, 3 of those are running Android (albeit, Gingerbread — but that’s neither here, nor there). More recently, a study by Gartner showed that Android tablets reached 44% of the market last quarter, just 11% under iPad’s share. There’s no question — there are a lot of Android devices out there.

So, can somebody please tell me why this new data from Chitika is showing that iOS web traffic is almost double that of Android’s? From May to November of this year, iOS tablets and smartphones accounted for 65% of total web traffic, where Android straggled behind at 35%. So, what gives?

To be fair, it’s almost a dead heat when comparing smartphone web traffic alone, which shows us that this new number involves mostly iOS users on their iPads. I guess the simple explanation would be that iOS users really like surfing the web on their tablets. Meanwhile, Android users are just… I don’t know, watching Netflix or something?

Another explanation is that the default view when surfing the web from an Android tablet is set to “desktop view,” which may have skewed those results a bit. As a man who has chosen to forgo Android tablets altogether, I’m curious. What kind of activities do you find yourself doing when on your tablet? Anyone ever crack that browser open for a good web surfing sesh?

Rayman Jungle Potpourri update adds 10 new levels

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 02:06 PM PST

You didn’t think Ubisoft was going to release Rayman Jungle Run and let it go untouched, did you? Of course not — that’s why you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that the developer will soon be releasing a great new update for the game in the Google Play Store.

Titled “Potpourri,” this update will add 10 new levels that all offer something a bit different from what’s already available. The jungle has gotten a bit cold in these winter months and snow has fallen upon its inhabitants. You’ll also make use of a new water slide ability to help you tackle those pesky waterfalls that stand in your way.

The game already featured 40 great jungle-themed levels for its standard affair so a free upgrade with 10 extra levels is nothing to sneeze at. Let’s hope they keep rolling well into 2013, but we’ll enjoy this one for now. Unfortunately Android users will have to wait a bit later in the day to download it, but keep an eye on the Google Play Store as it’s sure to pop up any moment now. You can buy Rayman: Jungle Run for $3 at the source link ahead.

[Google Play Store]

T-Mobile’s smartphone insurance rates to increase in March, creates new tier for the Galaxy Note 2

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 01:43 PM PST

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At $370 (after $50 mail-in rebate) with a 2-year agreement, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is far from wallet-friendly. But you know what stings more than that? Trying to pony up the $650-$700 and buying one full price (no contract). Now that is sure to break the bank.

Given that the G-Note 2 is one of T-Mobile’s most expensive offerings ever, it seems they have to create a whole new tier for those wanting to make sure their investment is protected through Asurion. Starting March 17th, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will cost a whopping $175 to replace, while paying anywhere from $6, to $12 a month to keep it insured. That’s not all. It looks like the standard deductible to insure any smartphone on T-Mobile will also go up an extra $20, jumping from $130 to $150 with the monthly charges remaining the same.

Some quick math tells us that you could be paying upwards of $288 over the life of your contract (and that’s if nothing were to happen to your device). If your phone drops and breaks requiring a replacement — that’s around $463 total. While I could see it making sense to insure a brand new phone like the Note 2 upfront, I can’t see how it would be worthwhile after a year (phones depreciate quickly). A year from now you’ll most likely be able to find a Note 2 on Craigslist for around $200.

Of course, there are always alternative insurance providers like SquareTrade who will insure a device for around $7 with a $100 deductible. Question: do any of you guys insure your Android devices? If so, for how long? Or perhaps you prefer to let fate decide when it comes to your smartphone’s future?

Gameloft: Modern Combat 4 is coming to Android “shortly after” Dec. 6 iOS release

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 11:54 AM PST

I’ve got some good news, and some bad news for those of you who enjoy first-person military shooters. The good news is that Gameloft’s Modern Combat 4 is finally going to be launched for at least one platform December 6th. Great, right? Well, the bad news is that one platform isn’t Android.

The game developer has confirmed that the title will release December 6th for iOS devices, but us Android folks will have to wait a tad longer than that to pick up our rifle and recite the famous rifleman’s creed. Gameloft didn’t say how long the wait would be, and also declined to give us a clear reason as to why it has been delayed.

We assume Gameloft has more testing to do as testing for a multitude of Android devices can take a lot of time. If this is the cause for delay then put those pitchforks down because everyone should appreciate that extra QA to make sure the launch goes without fail. A less plausible scenario is that they’re giving Apple a timed exclusive in some sort of deal.

While we’re almost certain that isn’t it, it has to be something to consider until we can get more concrete information from Gameloft itself. We’ve reached out to the Gameloft team to see if we can get a better idea of when to expect the Android version.

The Modern Combat series has been lauded as the Call of Duty of mobile devices and has delivered exceptional shooter gameplay and cutting edge mobile graphics. Online multiplayer is another great achievement for the series even if people tend to abandon the servers after a week’s time (let’s hope the community is a bit more active this time around).

We’ll be dying to get our hands on it whenever Gameloft decides to push it to the Play Store, but you can check the official trailer out above in the meantime. We’ll update this post with any information we can gather on the delay so be sure to check back periodically.

Google I/O 2013 scheduled for May 15-17

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 11:23 AM PST

Google’s yearly developer conference will take place May 15th through 17th of next year. Google I/O, which is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Android devs and tech media personalities alike, features three days of keynote addresses, product announcements, and developer panels and sessions. The event typically sells out as quickly as a new batch of Nexus 4 smartphones, though Google won’t announce registration details until February of 2013.

Last year’s event saw the introduction of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and the flagship Nexus 7 tablet (as well as the ill-fated Nexus Q), and this year promises even more. We should be getting our first look at Key Lime Pie as well as device refreshes, but we have plenty of time to speculate on what exactly to expect.

It should go without saying that Phandroid will be there bringing back live coverage, a look at what’s new, and any giveaway goodies. As in previous years, Google will host offsite events and live streams of keynote addresses and developer sessions. Mark the date on your calendar now and start counting down the days.

[via Google+]

Fun-filled “nabi Jr.” children’s tablet features dual-core Tegra for $100

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 10:05 AM PST

Parents undecided on which tablet to get their children for Christmas may want to consider a new Tegra-enabled option by the folks from Fuhu, inc. The company has announced the nabi Jr, something they’re calling a “leap forward in the toy tablet category.” The proverbial leap will cost you just $99, and as a kid I’ve never gotten a “toy” as cool as this.

The 5 inch WVGA features NVIDIA’s dual-core Tegra chipset and will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s not the latest version of Android but it’s modern enough so children won’t have to worry about compatibility issues with their favorite games and apps. And what child is really foaming at the mouth for Jelly Bean anyway?

This device isn’t just going to be for gaming, though. Parents can breathe easy knowing that the nabi Jr’s software has been designed with education in mind just as much as it was designed to be fun.

The Wings Education System is integrated with learning tools for children from kindergarten all the way through 6th grade. Books (with assignments), educational games and more will allow parents to feed the entertainment needs of their children while simultaneously improving basic reading, writing and mathematical skills. Parents can even assess their children’s education level to identify problem areas and suggest a learning track to improve the child’s understanding of a particular subject.

Additional accessories and features, such as video baby monitoring, a karaoke setup, a cash register (with virtual currency) and a game controller will all be available to enhance the experience even further. And children can even get their own virtual pet to care for in case you want to start preparing them for the real deal whenever you decide to get them a cute dog or cat for Christmas.

The device will be available in 4GB and 16GB models for $99 and $130, respectively, and you will start to see them retail in the middle of this month. Accessories will be available starting February 2013 at varying prices. Read on for full press details.

 

Fuhu, Inc. Announces nabi™ Jr., A Leap Forward in the Toy Tablet Category with a $99 Full-Featured Learning Tablet Built Just For Kids

 

nabi™ Jr. is the first full-featured, NVIDIA®-powered, $99 Android tablet with 5-inch capacitive touch screen, Android ICS and pre-loaded with educational apps, games, and videos

 

EL SEGUNDO, CA., Dec. 4, 2012 – Fuhu, Inc., the leading innovator in tablets made just for kids, introduced today the new nabi™ Jr., featuring an NVIDIA® Tegra® dual-core processor, Android 4.0 ICS, 5-inch high-resolution (800×480) capacitive touch screen and rotating front and back camera for only $99. nabi Jr. is a breakthrough in a category filled with low-quality toys.

 

"nabi 2 is one of the hottest products for kids in 2012, we took everything kids and parents loved from nabi 2 and adapted it to a younger market at a $99 offering for nabi Jr.  We are confident that we will redefine the toy tablet category and that kids and parents will be blown away with the incredible experience this product delivers," said Jim Mitchell CEO of Fuhu, Inc. "The amazing educational system combined with the content partnerships we have lined up with the performance of this tablet will redefine expectations unlike ever before."

 

nabi Jr. redefines education with the first tablet-based adaptive learning system that takes a holistic approach to courseware vs. individualized text books and stand-alone apps

 

Pre-loaded with Wings™ Education System (Pre-K and K), nabi Jr. is a revolution in learning, digital reading and creativity. Covering Pre-K through 6th grade in reading, writing, math and arts, Wings was built with common core, state-standardized requirements in mind and, from the ground up, innovative and fun user interfaces and amazing graphics.  Wings is the most advanced tablet education system to help give your child a head start and develop a love of learning, strong study skills and confidence.

 

Wings™ Adaptive Learning System

Wings is the first tablet-based adaptive learning system that creates individualized lesson plans based on your child's proficiency across over 2,500 fundamentals in reading, writing and math.  Wings helps your child achieve success through skill set mastery in reading, writing and math with over 40,000 challenging lessons with amazing graphics and characters.

 

Wings™ Challenges

Wings Challenges puts the challenge of games into learning; it's a learning system we coined "game-u-cation" a system that motivates your child to progress through a series of challenges, unlocks, hidden maps, character discoveries, achievements and bonuses as they master fundamentals in reading, writing and math.

 

Wings™ University

Wings University is a comprehensive bookstore filled with additional lessons (1st – 6th grade), read-a-long books and innovative creativity apps and activities.

 

Wings™ Learn & Earn

Wings™ Learn & Earn is an incentive-based learning program that rewards your child with nabi™ Coins for educational achievement that can be utilized to redeem apps, games and real accessories.

 

N-Site™ Reports

The first in real-time metrics, Wings™ N-Site gives you an immediate understanding of your child's proficiency, trouble spots, time spent and areas of improvement.  It's the most powerful tool for parents to have true insight into their child's educational progression!

 

No cartridges; no AA batteries and includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

 

Redefining the toy tablet category, nabi Jr. includes a full-featured app store made specifically for children as well as the ability to side-load Amazon app store.  You'll never be short of activities, apps, games or movies and music for your child on the nabi Jr.  With over 1,000 apps and games available there is really no necessity for costly cartridges.  Whether your child wants fast-action gaming or to explore their inner Picasso, nabi Jr. has an app for that.  Simply connect to Wi-Fi and access the nabi Jr. store made just for kids.

 

Made durable and kid-safe

 

Like its older sibling nabi™ 2, nabi Jr. was made to withstand drops, bumps and the occasional spills that are inevitable in a child's hands.  With its food-grade, drop-safe bumper nabi Jr. is sure to last whatever your child puts it through.  Of course, nabi Jr. comes with its industry defining standards of parental controls that help you easily manage usage and access of web, apps and games.

 

Integrated Plug and Play Toyccessories™

 

Your child's first tablet, that grows with them!  From their first days in the cradle, the nabi Jr. transforms into the world's most powerful baby monitor.  Leveraging nabi Jr.'s 800×480 high-resolution 5-inch screen for a clear view, and optional infrared night vision camera and remote zoom and turn functions, and microphone this baby monitor is simply incredible.  Utilize nabi™ Cloud and any Android phone to stream and see what baby is doing anytime, anywhere.  And when you're with your baby, utilize nabi Jr. to keep their attention with nabi Jr. apps, games and videos! Best of all, once your child has outgrown the necessity of a baby monitor you still have the power of nabi Jr.

 

Baby Monitor

 

Enjoy the peace of mind with the nabi Jr. wireless video baby monitor.  The video monitor comes with a camera to let you keep watch over your baby.  The parent unit is your nabi Jr. 5-inch, high-resolution tablet, and the zoom function offers convenient use.  Infrared night vision lets you keep an eye on your little one, even in low-light conditions, and the high-sensitivity microphone allows for two-way communication.  The monitor features an out-of-range alert, a room temperature display, a sound level indicator and a low-battery alert.

 

Karaoke Machine

 

The nabi Jr. Karaoke Player comes with an amazing portable hi-fi speaker and microphone.  Be the life of any party with the nabi Jr. Portable Karaoke Player! When the mega-bass sound kicks in you've got the ultimate karaoke experience! Plug into your TV to watch scrolling lyrics from your television (when used with HDMI plug).  Featuring Auto Voice Control, speaker balance and echo control you'll always sound your best.

 

Cash Register

 

nabi Jr.'s cash register brings fun and learning together in one talking register.  Each transaction is tracked on the tablet screen in large, easy-to-read numbers.  Play money is included, allowing kids to learn about saving and spending money the easy way.  Each transaction is replayed back with the amazing talking feature, so your cash register can teach while you play.

 

Kids have fun counting bills and coins, making change, running the credit card, scanning items, weighing things on the built-in scale.  Life skills increase exponentially in the context of meaningful play!  Transactions are also rewarded with lights, sounds and positive voice messages.  Addition, subtraction, place value, and coin recognition games are included!

 

Game Controller

 

Take full control of the gaming experience with nabi Jr. Game Controller.  No need to compromise with awkward and frustrating touch screen control for the games that demand a real console gamepad.  It combines the best new hardware and software available with great innovative design to make the perfect game controller.  Ultimate responsiveness equals ultimate game play.

 

Introducing nabi Pet

 

nabi Pet is an interactive toy that kids can name and raise by feeding it, walking it, playing with it and even cleaning it!  Each pet develops its own personality based on how children interacts with it and takes care of it.  Kids will have fun seeing how their pets respond to their actions.  Remember that as kids tilt it, shake it, hold it and squeeze it, nabi Pet may surprise you by how it responds!  nabi Pet not only becomes a fun companion for your children, but it also teaches them to be responsible for raising their pet.

 

Pricing and Availability

 

The nabi Jr. will be available mid-December for a suggested retail price of $99 for the 4GB model and $129 for the 16GB model.  nabi Jr. will be available at nationwide retailers in stores and online.  nabi Jr. will be available in North America, United Kingdom, Japan, Korea and China.  Accessories will be available in February 2013.

 

###

 

About Fuhu, Inc.

Fuhu, Inc., creator of the nabi tablet, is a leading designer, seller and innovator of thoughtful consumer products and services for children.  Fuhu is committed to creating children’s solutions that are: (1) socially responsible, (2) made right, (3) make a difference in people’s lives, (4) for parents by parents, and (5) dedicated to the intellectual development of children.  Fuhu is headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., with other U.S. offices in Denver and San Jose.  For more information, visit www.fuhu.com and www.nabitablet.com.

Verizon shutting down V Cast video December 15th, will promote Viewdini instead

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 09:05 AM PST

It looks like more V Cast-branded services are going the way of the dodo bird. Verizon has started notifying its customers about the shuttering of V Cast Video, a service for watching video clips that, 9 times out of 10, were of no interest to whoever was watching them. The deed will be fulfilled on December 15th.

Verizon Wireless is constantly working to bring the best experiences to our customers. To better serve the demands of consumers, on December 15, 2012, Verizon Video will be Shut Down from use. This will allow us to focus on bringing you the best video experience in wireless. With more choices and even more content, we introduce VIEWDINI, a new video service for your 4G Android/Apple device. Whether you enjoy exploring the universe of video for hours or quickly find exactly what you are looking for, viewdini is FREE to download and use.

Thank you for your continued support of Verizon Wireless.

The service was more relevant back when feature phones were still prominent and smartphones were just beginning to come out of the starting gate, but has since been antiquated in a few short years thanks to the likes of YouTube and mobile browsing in general.

Verizon will only maintain one video subscription service from here on out, and if you guessed that it was NFL Mobile then you would be right. The carrier has an exclusive agreement to be the official mobile sponsor of the National Football League so you had to imagine that NFL Mobile wouldn’t be going anywhere. That service will remain $5 for the privilege of watching live NFL Network coverage — including Thursday Night Football — and all the news, stats, clips and photos you can handle.

Verizon will focus on promoting Viewdini from here on out, a video discovery app that’ll point you to even more popular clips that V Cast never could. The app is already pre-installed on some of Verizon’s latest phones, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and the HTC DROID DNA.

The service has powerful backing as it’s powered by TV.com, though the app itself leaves a lot to be desired from the little bit I did use. Regardless, it’s there if you need it and hardly in the way if you don’t so take that for what you will.

I’m personally curious to know how many of you out there actually used V Cast in any capacity — I can’t imagine the number in ranks is terribly large. If you are one of the folks who haven’t completely abandoned it, though, then prepare yourself as you will be forced onto greener pastures by the middle of this month.

[via Verizon]

Samsung S Pebble coming to US as Muse music player, retails for $49

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 08:15 AM PST

Samsung will be selling a rebranded version of their S Pebble music player as the Muse in the US. The player, which is equal parts companion to popular Samsung smartphones such as the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note 2, can store up to 4GB of music.

The idea behind the Muse is that it gains most of its functionality via its connection to a smartphone through the use of a sync app found in the Google Play Store. You can move music from your Galaxy phone to the Muse easily and rely on the small, ultra portable player to listen back to your tunes with enhanced SoundAlive technology.

While it might not be chock full of features, the Muse makes up for it with its $49 price point and stylish looks. Still, most users will likely be left asking why they need an additional music player when they can skip the hassle of transferring songs and listen directly from their phone.

[via SammyHub]

Nexus 4 going back on sale in the UK today

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 07:57 AM PST

With all the Nexus 4 craziness going on here in the United States it’s easy to forget that our friends in other parts of the world are also having a tough time getting their Nexus 4 units from Google Play. The UK and Australian stores had just as many problems as the US store, and it looks like Google has finally gotten some more units in to help meet demand for our those across the pond.

That’s right, UK consumers will have another opportunity to purchase the Nexus 4 later today. The sale will go live at 5pm GMT, and remember that there’s a chance things could go live early so give yourself enough time to get online and prepare.

That means there’s just about an hour left so hurry to the Play Store and make sure your account is ready as you’ll want to do everything you can to shorten the checkout process. Set your cards up on Google Checkout, double check your billing and shipping addresses, and do whatever else you have to do to give yourself a better chance.

Unfortunately a second sale doesn’t immediately guarantee units for all those who missed out the first time around. If the US relaunch is anything to go by then there’s a high chance that the Play Store could experience just as many problems, and there’s no telling how much stock Google has to meet demand.

Be sure to circle back and let us know how everything goes as we’re interested to see if Google’s finally made strides in both server capacity and customer service to help facilitate this second launch. Any strays out there still looking for a Nexus 4?

[Thanks Bladesman!]

Facebook Messenger aims at ubiquity, opens to users without Facebook accounts

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 07:15 AM PST

Facebook wants their Messenger app to be the default way people communicate, and they know the only way to accomplish that goal is to open the service to as many people as possible. That is why the social media giant has stripped the account requirement for Facebook Messenger from the app’s most recent Android version.

Instead of having to log in to Facebook, users can sign into the app using only their name and phone number. From there, it’s as easy as drafting up a message and sending it off. It’s a curious approach from a company that at one point limited membership to only those with a college email address, but it’s all in the name of ubiquity.

Just yesterday, as the SMS turned 20, we asked if the text message still holds a relevant place in the smartphone era. Over 50 percent of our readers say that the text is still their primary form of communication, but 35 percent say they rely at least in some part on other messaging services such as Facebook, GTalk, and email. SMS is still in heavy use largely thanks to the fact that it is compatible with all mobile phones. A messaging service won’t do much good if your friends and family aren’t also using it.

In the end, removing an account requirement from the Messenger app is a win-win for Facebook. The service becomes more intriguing to those looking for a ubiquitous experience and should entice the few stragglers left to sign up for a full-fledged Facebook account. But there is still a ways to go. For starters, access for users without a Facebook account will be limited to India, Australia, Indonesia, Venezuela, and South Africa. The update will reach other countries (and the iOS version of the app) down the road.

[via The Verge]

Toshiba announces the $350 Excite 10 SE

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 06:51 AM PST

It looks like Toshiba is still sticking it out in the Android tablet game as the OEM has announced a new device for those who want an affordable 10 inch tablet. The Toshiba Excite 10 SE is what they’re hoping will set the world ablaze this holiday season. It’s a 10.1 inch tablet that comes equipped with NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor and will cost just $350.

Toshiba is proud of the device’s slim and light profile as it has been engineered to weight just 22.6 ounces and is only 10.16mm thin. The device will come out of the box with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and we imagine Android 4.2 will be on its roadmap at some point down the line.

Other features of the Excite 10 SE include SRS-enabled stereo speakers for enhanced video chat and multimedia experiences. It also has a 3 megapixel rear camera accompanied by an HD front-facing camera. For connectivity, you’re looking at Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi N, a microSD port and a micro USB port (which will be used for both data and charging, thankfully).

We’re only a couple of days away from launch as Toshiba tells us the Excite 10 SE will be available starting December 6th at the Toshiba Direct store. Other “select” retailers will carry the device, as well, so be sure to look around at the likes of Best Buy and Wal-Mart if ordering straight from Toshiba isn’t your thing. Read on for full press details.

Toshiba expands excite family of tablets with new 10-inch modelNew Excite 10 SE Tablet Powered by Android 4.1 Starting at $349.99 MSRP

IRVINE, Calif. — Dec. 4, 2012 — Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the availability of the Excite™ 10 SE tablet, a multimedia-rich tablet with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, powered by Android™ 4.1, Jelly Bean. The Excite 10 SE offers an affordable option for people looking for a powerful and versatile tablet for the home, starting at only $349.99 MSRP[i].

"Our Excite family of tablets continues to grow with options to suit a wide range of consumer needs, from portability and gaming to versatility and power," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "We designed the Excite 10 SE to be a full featured tablet that offers a pure Android, Jelly Bean experience, while maintaining an attractive price point."

The Excite 10 SE features Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, which improves on the simplicity and usability of Android 4.0. Moving between customizable home screens and switching between apps is effortless, while the Chrome™ browser and new Google Now intelligent personal assistant and Voice Search apps makes surfing the web fast and fluid.

Slim and light at only 0.4 inches thick and weighing 22.6 ounces[ii], the Excite 10 SE is encased with a textured Fusion Lattice finish, making it comfortable to hold and easy to carry. The tablet offers a vibrant 10.1-inch diagonal AutoBrite™ HD touchscreen display[iii] plus the NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 Super 4-PLUS-1™ quad-core processor[iv] that delivers smooth web browsing and outstanding performance for games, HD movies and more.

Stereo speakers with SRS® Premium Voice Pro create an optimized audio experience for music, video and games, while providing greater clarity for video chatting via the tablet's HD front-facing camera. The Excite 10 SE also includes a 3 megapixel rear-facing camera with auto-focus and digital zoom for capturing HD video and photos. Featuring a wide range of connectivity, the tablet includes 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth® 3.0, as well as Micro SD and Micro USB ports for expandability. The tablet also charges conveniently via the Micro USB port.

Availability
The Excite 10 SE will be available starting at $349.99 MSRP for the 16GB model at select retailers and direct from Toshiba atToshibaDirect.com on December 6, 2012.

Image Gallery: http://bit.ly/Excite10SE

Connect with Toshiba on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ToshibaUSA, on Twitter at twitter.com/ToshibaUSA, and on YouTube atyoutube.com/ToshibaUS.

About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS)
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of three business units: Digital Products Division, Imaging Systems Division, and Telecommunication Systems Division. Together,  these divisions provide digital products, services and solutions, including industry-leading portable computers; televisions, TV/DVD Combination products, Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD products, and portable devices; imaging products for the security, medical and manufacturing markets; storage products for computers; and IP business telephone systems with unified communications, collaboration and mobility applications. TAIS provides sales, marketing and services for its wide range of products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation. For more information on TAIS visit us.toshiba.com.

About Toshiba Corporation
Toshiba is a world-leading diversified manufacturer, solutions provider and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products and systems. Toshiba Group brings innovation and imagination to a wide range of businesses: digital products, including LCD TVs, notebook PCs, retail solutions and MFPs; electronic devices, including semiconductors, storage products and materials; industrial and social infrastructure systems, including power generation systems, smart community solutions, medical systems and escalators & elevators; and home appliances. Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 550 consolidated companies, with 202,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 6.1 trillion yen (US$74 billion). Visit Toshiba’s web site atwww.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.

PhoneJoy Play transforms smartphone to handheld gaming console, fund it now

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 05:58 AM PST

We’ve seen quite a few controller peripherals for Android devices, but we haven’t quite seen anything like the PhoneJoy Play. The latest accessory from PhoneJoy takes everything great about their previous wireless gamepad for Android and combines it with a simple, intuitive mounting system to create a handheld console experience using any smartphone.

The PhoneJoy Play appears like a portable gamepad at first glance, but once you pull apart its two halves to reveal the proprietary easy slider mechanism it becomes much more. The Play can accept any smartphone in portrait or landscape mode, including big boys like the Galaxy Note 2. Once docked your handset takes on a second life as a powerful gaming machine.

What about the games? The PhoneJoy crew is providing an SDK for developers to directly integrate Play controls into their upcoming and available titles. For everything else, an app included with the Play allows for quick and easy configuration of controls. It seems like they thought of everything.

The PhoneJoy pay looks to be one of the most intuitive and unique gamepad experience we have ever seen for Android, and you can be a part of making it a reality. Kickstarter funding just went live, giving all the option to pick up the Play for as little as $50. Provided enough people contribute, the controller ships in April.

 

Android Overload: AT&T LTE now available in 6 new markets, CM10 Nightlies now available for Nexus 10, and more

Posted: 03 Dec 2012 11:00 PM PST

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  • Sony begins rolling out updated Ice Cream Sandwich version for the Xperia P, Xperia U, Xperia go and Xperia sola. [Sony]
  • Google Play Services v2.0 for developers introduces new Maps and PhotoSphere API’s. [AndroidDevelopers]
  • AT&T LTE comes to Albuquerque, N.M; Reading, Penn; and Salt Lake City. [CNET]
  • CyanogenMod Nightlies are now available for the Google Nexus 10. [GetCM]
  • Get Charitable is an app for Android that gives ad revenue to needy children around the world. [Google Play]
  • Ericsson files request with the ITC to ban Samsung products in the US. [Reuters]

AT&T Galaxy S3 now receiving Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update via Kies

Posted: 03 Dec 2012 08:39 PM PST

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After months and months of waiting and watching smaller carriers like T-Mobile push out their Jelly Beans, Samsung Galaxy S3 users on AT&T can finally get in on Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. The update, which should start rolling out over-the-air any minute now, is currently available via Samsung Kies and weighs around 738MB. I wont even pretend I’ve ever updated using that method, but just be prepared to install some extra software on your computer. Here’s some of the goodies you can look forward to in Samsung’s TouchWiz’d Jelly Bean:

Camera

  • New camera/camcorder filters: warm vintage, cold vintage, black and white, sepia, color highlights(blue, green, red/yellow), and many more.
  • Pause and resume recording
  • Low light mode (uses HDR)

Phone-wide

  • Pop Up Play can be resized and paused
  • Introduction of Easy Mode: large Easy widgets (for first-time smartphone users)
  • Introduction of Blocking Mode: disable incoming calls, notifications, alarms, and LED indicators for a designated period of time
  • Introduction of Swype® Keyboard (bundled)
  • AllShare® Cast Wireless Hub support
  • NFC One Touch Pairing Support: pair a supported Bluetooth device via NFC

Give us a shout if you are prompted for an over-the-air update on your device. In the meantime, crack open Samsung Kies! Godspeed.

[XDA]