Friday, December 7, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


HTC Butterfly launching in China in mid-December for $760 contract-free

Posted: 07 Dec 2012 02:19 AM PST

Although many frowned upon the launch of a new HTC flagship phone so close after the One X and One X+ releases, the Droid DNA (aka J Butterfly) might have just brought the Taiwanese a much needed breath of fresh air financial-wise.

With that in mind, HTC is doing everything possible to continue milking the 1080p cash cow that's only been available in Japan and the US so far, releasing it internationally hours ago as simply the "Butterfly". What HTC failed to announce at the time, but did so eventually is when people should expect the "beast".

For now, we only know when Chinese folks should start looking for it in stores, but that's a start, isn't it? China Unicom is scheduled to make it available around "mid-December" (which is only a week away) for a pretty hefty price in black, white, but also brown (funky!).

The Butterfly will go for 4,799 yuan off-contract, which translates into around $762 based on the current conversion rates. That's definitely not affordable, but it's not very bad either and it keeps the hope up of seeing the big guy go for $650 or around that mark in Europe.

Aside from availability details and specs (which are identical to DNA's features, save for the adding of a microSD slot), HTC has also showed a nice new commercial. You can check it out below, but try to focus on the phone and not just the pretty girl(s).

Related Posts

Video: Samsung’s Galaxy S3 Premium Suite Upgrade is downright hilarious

Posted: 07 Dec 2012 02:05 AM PST

Samsung posted a video today that demos several of the new features that are going to come to the Galaxy S3 via a software update at some point in the future. It’s not very long, so I recommend you watch it. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Now that you’re done, do you feel as sick as I do right now?

The first feature, Page Buddy, is a poor implementation of what Motorola calls “Smart Actions“. Basically you plug your headphones into your device and something happens. The page that pops up in this case, it brings up the generic MP3 player widget. Can you customize the page? No, you can’t.

Context Menu, I’m not going to lie, is a genuinely good idea. Instead of listing applications based on the order you installed them or their alphabetical order, Samsung gives you an option to list them by the frequency that they’re used. It’s something that seems so obvious you wonder why it hasn’t always been this way.

Contextual Tag is … let’s just say that it took about 50 taps to turn it on and I still have no idea what it’s for. Can you help me figure it out?

Next up is Multi Window, something we first saw on the Galaxy Note. Put simply, you can have two applications opened side by side. Not all your apps will be able to support this mode, but a majority of the ones you use on a daily basis should work just fine.

Auto Share Shot Pairing, like Contextual Tag, not only has a terrible name, but you need to go through about 15 submenus to enable the feature. Is it even useful? I can’t tell.

Reader Mode is something Apple put in Safari in iOS over a year ago. Apple even called it “Reader”, so for Samsung to call it “Reader Mode” is a bit funny and somewhat awkward.

And finally there’s Facebook Lock Ticker. Samsung has written something that lets you check your Facebook feed while your device is locked. Where have we seen this before? Oh right, on Windows Phone 8.

Some of you might be wondering if I have something against Samsung. I honestly don’t, and I hope Santa gets me a Note II for Christmas. But some of the promotional videos that this company puts out just completely boggle my mind.

Related Posts

Google Play Movies and Books are now live in Brazil

Posted: 07 Dec 2012 01:59 AM PST

The importance of making the Google ecosystem accessible to all users isn't lost on the Mountain View company, but obviously it's going to take some time until we see a worldwide rollout of the many services offered on the Play Store.

After bringing Google Play Movies to Australia and Canada – as well as making it available in UK, Germany, and France – Google has announced that it is opening the door to its bustling online movie store for Brazilian customers.

Movies that are up for grabs include Hollywood blockbusters like The Amazing Spider-man. You can also find local titles like Diálogos Impossíveis. The rent price starts from R$3.90 ($2) and goes up to R$6.90 ($3) for newer titles, while the starting selling price is R$19.90 ($9.6).

Aside from showing some Latin love with the expansion of its Movies service, those in Brazil can also get their daily dose of reading materials from Google Play Books.

Related Posts

HTC Butterfly specs

Posted: 07 Dec 2012 01:37 AM PST

The HTC Butterfly was just announced without fanfare. The full HD device is the international version of the Droid DNA and is coming to European and Asian markets at an undisclosed date.

You can check out the image gallery here.

Here are the HTC Butterfly specs:

  • Size: 143 x 70.5 x 9.08 mm
  • Weight: 140 grams
  • Display: 5-inch SLCD 3, Gorilla Glass 2, Full HD (1920 x 1080)
  • CPU: Qualcomm S4 Pro, 1.5GHz, Quad-core
  • RAM: 2GB
  • Storage: 16GB
  • MicroSD slot: yes, up to 32GB
  • Networks: HSPA/WCDMA, GSM/GPRS/EDGE
  • Battery: 2020mAh
  • Camera: back — 8MP, autofocus, LED, BSI, HTC ImageChip; front – 2.1MP (1080p)
  • Sensors: Gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity, Light
  • Connectivity: GPS+GLONASS, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, DLNA, micro-USB 2.0

Related Posts

HTC Butterfly image gallery (international version of Droid DNA, aka DLX)

Posted: 07 Dec 2012 01:13 AM PST

HTC Butterfly

The HTC Butterfly is out, sporting a full HD screen, a Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, and an 8MP camera. The phone is the international version of Verizon’s Droid DNA and the Japan-only HTC J Butterfly. Previous rumors have suggested that this phone will be called HTC DLX/Deluxe, but HTC decided for something less tacky. We have more details on the Butterfly in this post, but here’s the official HTC Butterfly image gallery.

Related Posts

The international HTC Butterfly/DNA/DLX is now official, but when is it coming out?

Posted: 07 Dec 2012 01:04 AM PST

HTC announced a 1080p smartphone in mid-October called the J Butterfly. We wondered when it would land in other countries, and sure enough it launched in the United States about a month later as the Droid DNA on Verizon. But what about Europe and other Asian countries? We heard it was going to be called the DLX, but it turns out those rumors were incorrect. HTC has finally made this thing official, and it’s simply called “Butterfly”. It looks exactly like the device we first saw almost two months ago, it obviously has the exact same specs, but sadly we still don’t know two key pieces of information: When is it going to come out and how much is it going to cost?

Another thing that bugs us is just how many flagship devices HTC has announced in the span of 12 months. The One X was unveiled in February, then it started shipping two months later. Then the upgraded One X+ was announced in October, and it shipped during the same month. Now we have the Butterfly. Whatever happened to the One series and HTC’s attempt to stop diluting their brand? And with Mobile World Congress just two months away, how long will the Butterfly be the cock of the walk?

We hate when companies do this, and regrettably HTC isn’t the only one. Remember the Optimus 4X HD and how it was supposed to be the world’s first quad core smartphone? It hit the market during the summer. Then in September LG announced the Optimus G. Seriously, what are the people working at these companies thinking?

So should you buy the Butterfly? If it’s on store shelves in your country by the end of this month, and you need a smartphone, then sure, why not?

But if you have patience then we say wait.

Update: We skipped over something important. The Butterfly has a microSD card slot, whereas the Droid DNA does not. We know this is important to some of you.

Related Posts

Free Droid Razr Maxx from Best Buy between 9-22 December

Posted: 07 Dec 2012 12:41 AM PST

Motorola Droid RAZR

You can now own the Droid Razr Maxx, which is usually worth $149.99 on the Verizon network, for free.

Best Buy has decided to bring back this Sunday its most popular Black Friday deal, which offers the Droid Razr Maxx for free to new Verizon customers. It could be an ideal gift to friends and family this holiday season for people who would want to be stay touch with their loved ones. However, you need to act quickly as this is a two week promotional offer lasting through December 9-22.

We think that it is a pretty cool deal! The 4G LTE phone comes packed with a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED touch-screen display, slim design, and a battery that churns a whopping 21.5 hours of talk time. The phone is powered by Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).

This heavy duty phone can be grabbed from a Best Buy brick-and-mortar stores, but you can also order it from the Best Buy online store with a guaranteed delivery before Christmas.

Related Posts

Germany gets indoor Maps, courtesy of Google

Posted: 07 Dec 2012 12:26 AM PST

Many would argue that Google does not show favoritism towards the US and launches products all over the globe as soon as possible. However, this has not been the case with Indoor Maps, and understandably so. The service requires immense amounts of data collection and collation, and I can understand why the rollout of this particular service might be staggered.

After bringing Indoor Maps to the US and UK, Germany is now the next European country that has received the service. Users will now be able to find their way around a number of German shopping malls, airports, museums, and other public places of interest. Germany is the latest in a list of European countries that has access to the service, with France, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Belgium already enjoying these features.

Hit the source below for the full details (in German).

Related Posts

Google ships the Nexus 4 bumper in the UK

Posted: 07 Dec 2012 12:21 AM PST

Finally putting the weary minds of many Nexus 4 owners at ease, we're now hearing reports that the black bumper for the latest Nexus phone is on its way to some lucky UK customers.

Those who managed to snag the Nexus 4 bumper from Google Play Store in the UK have reportedly received shipping confirmation from Google. Interestingly, some folks who ordered during the second wave of availability have gotten their confirmation ahead of those who ordered at launch day. We'll put it down to yet another one of Google’s snafu.

The bumper case shortage has given way to the jacking up of its price tag on eBay. In the UK, the price has ballooned up to £40 – £60, quite a markup from its original £15.99 pricing.

Now, let's hear it from our readers. Did you order a bumper case alongside the Nexus 4? Was it because you're worried about the back glass? Have you heard anything back from Google regarding the shipment?

Related Posts

T-Mobile: Goodbye, free phones by 2013!

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 11:27 PM PST

t-mobile logo Axel Schwenke/Flickr

T-Mobile is changing its mobile phone subscription model by 2013. In gist, the carrier will only offer Value Plans, and it wants you to buy smartphones at full-price rather than go for a subsidized phone.

The pricing model for mobile service in the U.S. has traditionally been subsidy-based. Phones are free or cheap because the carrier pays for the phone upfront. As such, you can get a $650 smartphone cheap or for free, but the carrier will recoup this investment by adding on to the monthly charge. This cost is imputed into the plan, though, and is considered a hidden charge. T-Mobile wants to change this by 2013, as they start offering the iPhone for the first time.

T-Mobile is finally offering the iPhone, but unlike other carriers, the telco will offer it to customers at cost. Tmo will start pushing only its Value Plan offerings, and will no longer offer Classic Plans. Value Plans are about $20 cheaper per month for the same service than its classic ones.

But why the move away from subsidy? T-Mobile offers the following benefits.

  • Tmo says this will encourage “BYOD” or bring-your-own-device setups among customers. You can simply go for a plan with your existing unlocked smartphone or tablet if you choose to.
  • This will also encourage device upgrades even without having to wait for contract to mature.
  • The new plans are also meant to help customers appreciate just how expensive smartphones are. These are $650 to $800 (or more) devices, after all. With “free” offers, users tend to feel these are just throwaway devices, when in fact they’re paying for it in their monthly bills.
  • With subsidies, consumers continue paying for the subsidized cost of the phone even after the contract has expired. With non-subsidized phones, users pay only for the services they use.

T-Mobile will not just let users bear the full cost of devices outright, though. The mobile provider will continue offering Equipment Installment Plans (EIP), which lets users pay for the device cost in monthly installments for 20 months, which will depend on how much the phone will cost (usually a downpayment plus $5 to $20 monthly).

In an investor call, T-Mobile CEO John Legere says this move is expected to appeal to customers who feel limited by carrier restrictions on upgrades because of their subsidies. It also means that customers get to save in the long run. “We think there is huge room for a challenger to change some of that, in a way that the larger players will not be able to or will choose not to respond to,” Legere said, expounding on the current subsidy-based business model that most carriers are following.

$20 multiplied by 24 months is $480, after all — an added cost that you’re probably better off using toward the purchase of a new phone or for your device installments.

Is this a good move on T-Mobile’s part? Are American consumers ready for a radical change in mobile phone pricing?

Related Posts

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


T-Mobile going hard in 2013: $4.7 billion in spending cash, new 4G markets, LTE, and no more discounted devices

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 05:06 PM PST

This image has no alt text

T-Mobile has been at the center of a many a headline today. After announcing that they would soon do the unthinkable and carry the iPhone at their stores, it seems that’s only the tip of the iceberg for 2013, which is shaping up to be their biggest year yet.

Lots ‘o money and network upgrades

First up, T-Mobile will be receiving a hefty sum of $4.7 billion from parent company Deutsche Telekom ($3 billion is also promised in both 2014 and 2015). This will help with the rollout of their upcoming LTE network, and in the refarming of their existing 2G network to 3G/4G. Speaking of refarming, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Atlanta are the latest cities to receive some of T-Mo’s network modernizing, bringing the official grand total to 18 markets in the US that have been upgraded.

While the focus of the 2G network upgrade has always been to snatch up existing iPhone users away from AT&T (of which there are supposedly already 1.7 million customers using iPhones on their network), there’s also a plethora of Android devices that will suddenly find themselves compatible on T-Mobile. AT&T exclusives like the HTC One X (or One X+) or even Verizon’s HTC Droid DNA, which works just fine on AT&T’s HSPA network thanks to its global roaming capabilities. T-Mobile’s merger with MetroPCS is also said to clear in 2013, a move that will help gain them even greater network coverage, along with better LTE penetration as well.

Bye, bye Classic

Probably the wildest news in all this is T-Mobile decision to kill off their Classic Plan, moving away from tried-and-true method of carrier subsidized handsets. You know, the way other carriers offer you a heavily discounted smartphone in exchange for a high monthly bill? Before you freak out — this doesn’t mean customers will have to shell out $600-$700 for the latest smartphones. Not upfront anyway. I mean, that would never fly with Americans, no matter how much they’d save in the long run.

Instead, T-Mobile will allow for customers to pay for their handsets in installment payments over the course of their 2-year agreement. These payments — anywhere between $15-$20 a month — would be tacked on top of their low priced monthly plans. This will apparently save customers more at the end of their contract than if they went the traditional route (cheap phone, expensive rates).

Will T-Mobile survive?

As you can see, T-Mobile is doing more than outfitting Carly in black leather, they seem to be offering consumers with a real alternative. I’m excited to see how it all pans out. Anyone planning on sticking it out with T-Mobile a little longer? Any readers out there suddenly seeing T-Mobile as a viable network option for your new Android device? Oh, and if you got some time on your hands, you can watch the full announcement streaming from YouTube below.

[via TMoNews | Telekom | YouTube]

Archos GamePad goes up for sale in Europe

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 03:19 PM PST

The Archos GamePad is one of just a few tablets that are outfitted with hardware controls for gaming. Since the WikiPad failed to make it to market on time then Archos gets the privilege of saying it has beat other major competitors as its device is now available for sale in Europe. You’d be buying the device for €149.99 if you’re interested, but as the currency suggests this one is going to be available for Europeans to start.

What you’re looking at is a 7 inch 1024x600beaut that has a 1.6GHz dual-core processor (outfitted with a quad-core Mali-400MP GPU) and will run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. You’ll get 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded by up to 64GB using a microSD card, it has a micro HDMI port and the device is only .3 inches thin while weighing just .7 pounds.

GamePad controls flank the left and right of the display and feature dual analog sticks, four main face buttons, four directional buttons, dual shoulder buttons and more. In other words, this thing is like a PS Vita, except bigger and has the backing power of the Google Play Store.

Those of us in the United States will have our chance to purchase one of these bad boys come Q1 2013, but Archos is not interested in giving us a solid date to look forward to right now. We’re expecting to see more of this thing at CES, and perhaps that is when we’ll also find out when we can line up to purchase one. Read on for full press details.

ARCHOS GamePad Available

The first true Android games console, the ARCHOS GamePad combines powerful tablet hardware with revolutionary gaming software

Denver, CO – December 6, 2012 – ARCHOS, announces the retail availability of the highly anticipated GamePad, a new type of tablet that combines physical gaming button controls and an ARCHOS patented mapping tool with a full AndroidTM-powered tablet experience. Bringing physical buttons and analog thumb-sticks to mobile gaming, the ARCHOS GamePad blends power with unique mapping software that allows you to link the virtual controls of any game to physical controls. A thin and light Android 4.1 Jelly Bean device, the GamePad also features full access to Google PlayTM and Google Mobile Services and is now available in Europe for 149.99€ with a North American release scheduled for early Q1 2013.

"Android device users spend more than 9 hours a month gaming on their devices and yet are not completely satisfied with the touch-screen experience," says Henri Crohas, Founder and CEO of ARCHOS. "We feel this area of gaming is proven and will continue to grow. With the introduction of the GamePad we are uniquely positioned to feed the demand of gamers who want a better gaming experience on a tablet."

By combining the GamePad's 14 physical buttons and dual analog thumb-sticks with the revolutionary ARCHOS game mapping tool (exclusive to ARCHOS), the GamePad brings the physical aspect back to the gaming experience. Adding to the experience is the 16 million color, seven inch, five point capacitive, 1024 x 600 pixel screen. At only 10 mm (0.3 inch) thin and with a weight of 330g (0.7 lbs), the ARCHOS GamePad is the perfect on the go gaming console.

REVOLUTIONARY MAPPING TOOL

Thanks to the revolutionary ARCHOS mapping tool, even back catalog games that weren't made for physical controls can work with the physical controls of the ARCHOS GamePad; 'map' any on-screen virtual control to the physical controls of the GamePad for hundreds of games within the tool or use its drag-and-drop interface to 'map' any game in seconds.

Check out our YouTube video showing how easy it is to use: HOW TO MAP BUTTONS

The mapping profile for each game is automatically saved so whenever that game is launched in the future, the ARCHOS game mapping tool will automatically load the corresponding mapping profile.

FEATURES & SPECS

Operating System: Google Certified Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Smooth Gaming Experience with 3D Graphics: Quad-core Mali 400 MP GPU paired with a 1.6GHz Dual-core CPU.

Memory: 8GB of internal memory with microSD slot or up to 64GB of additional space.

Mini-HDMI: Use the mini-HDMI port to connect the GamePad to your TV for a big screen viewing experience.

Google PlayTM: 700,000 apps and games and includes DRM support for downloading books, magazines, music, movies and TV shows.

ARCHOS Media Center applications: tailor made apps for video and music that include metadata scraping, auto-subtitles and of course, the best format and codec support around including 1080p video decoding.

For more information about GamePad visit www.ARCHOS.com.

ATTENTION DEVELOPERS
Developers interested in getting their current and upcoming games mapped for the ARCHOS GamePad can contact GamePad@archos.com.

ABOUT ARCHOS
ARCHOS, pioneer in the portable audio and video player market, and now specializing in Android Tablets, has repeatedly revolutionized the market for consumer electronics since 1988. Today, ARCHOS offers Android Tablets, Tablet PCs and MP3/MP4 players. In 2000, ARCHOS launched the Jukebox 6000, the first MP3 player combined with a hard disk. Then in 2003 ARCHOS introduced the first portable multimedia players with TV recording. In 2006 Wi-Fi is implemented and then touch screens in 2007. In 2008, ARCHOS launched the first generation Internet Tablets, and then the first ever Android powered tablets in 2009. ARCHOS has offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. ARCHOS is quoted on Compartment B of Eurolist, Euronext Paris, ISIN CodeFR0000182479. Website: www.archos.com.

AT&T LG E940 boasting 1080p full HD display pops up in GLBenchmark

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 01:04 PM PST

This image has no alt text

With the infamous “quad-core wars” of 2012 drawing to a close, it looks like we’re now entering into the next great spec war — full HD 1080p displays. HTC officially started the latest trend after they were first to the US market with the HTC Droid DNA launching on Verizon Wireless last month with a 1080p SCLD3 display (despite Verizon keeping mum on the new tech in their latest commercial).

As predicted — and some have feared — other manufacturers are already following suit. Today, we’re seeing a new device from South Korean manufacturer LG popup in a benchmark, boasting a eye bleeding 1080p display. The device, known by the codename LG E940, is apparently the AT&T version of the Korea-only LG F240K, launching later this year on KT Telecom (Nexus 4 is the E960).

While a benchmark doesn’t give us much of an indication on potential release dates, we’d expect the LG E940 to launch sometime in early 2013, shortly after it’s Korean counterpart. I think this all but guarantees Samsung will launch a similar resolution display with the Galaxy S4. Not because they want to (or even because consumers demand it), but because that’s where competition is headed.

How are you feeling about a 1080p displays coming soon to an Android near you? Do you feel like it’s a bit of overkill? I can tell you that after playing with the HTC Droid DNA for a few minutes, it made even real life feel like “low res.” I’m sold.

[GLBenchmark]

More Nexus 4 orders starting to ship, but some still being snubbed [FORUM TALK]

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 01:02 PM PST

Google is still having trouble meeting demand for the Nexus 4 (LG themselves even attributed abnormally high demand as being the main issue for the shipping woes), but you should know that the company is trying its best to catch up to all the orders they’ve received. It looks like a new batch of shipments are starting to go out, though, as we’ve received a number of new reports of folks receiving Nexus 4 units this week.

We have folks in our inboxes and our very own forums telling us they’ve either received shipping notifications for the device to arrive this week, or that they’ve arrived as early as today. There is something odd going on, though — it doesn’t appear that devices are being sent out on a first come first serve basis.

Folks who ordered a device during Google’s second round of sales on November 27th are among those said to be receiving shipping notifications and actual device shipments. We’ve also seen reports from a few stragglers who’ve ordered as recently as December 4th who either already received their devices or are set to receive them today or tomorrow.

The problem is that those who were able to get an order in with the initial sale — which took place on November 13th — still aren’t seeing anything from Google. Dozens of said people have been convening in places like this massive 35,000-post XDA thread, and if it’s true that they’re being snubbed in favor of the more recent orders then we agree with their sentiment of disappointment in Google.

We’re not sure how difficult it should be to employ a first come, first serve shipping strategy in a period of low supply/high demand like we’re in now, but we’d hoped Google was taking the downtime to get its  issues in order while LG raced to produce more devices. If there really are people who ordered on November 13th still being left in the dark about their orders while more recent orders have been fulfilled then Google certainly has a terrible issue on its hands.

Thankfully Google’s too big of a company to handle this situation like the folks who make the Matrix One handled theirs, but it’s still saddening to know that things haven’t been completely ironed out. Like we said in regards to the Matrix One yesterday: it’s one thing to have supply problems, but it’s another to handle it in a poor manner.

Google has been considerably better, of course, but if you have fresh shipments going out to customers who’ve only ordered within the past few days while those who ordered (and were charged) on day one are still without word then that simply isn’t fair. Unfortunately it’s been tough to pinpoint when, exactly, this madness might end.

Some folks have been given backorder notices of 1-2 weeks, some 2-4 weeks, and some as many as 4-5 weeks. This would suggest that regular supply of the device might not be available until Christmas at best, and that could be as long as some of those who’ve ordered devices on November 13th might have to wait with the way Google’s doing things.

The best thing you can do right now is call or email Google’s customer support line and let them know about the situation. Let them know that people who ordered several days and weeks after you are receiving orders while you’re still in the crowd of original orders forced to wait.

It won’t hurry the production process, of course, but if enough complaints are received then it’ll at least show Google that something is still messed up with its ordering system and they could begin to right the ship sooner rather than later. A perfect situation would be everyone would getting their Nexus 4 devices at the same time, of course, but in this case we’ll have to side with the November 13th folks: it’s only right that the first ones to order are prioritized. Be sure to update us on the status of your order in the comments section below!

Redacted HTC/Apple settlement documents released to Samsung, reveal little

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 11:52 AM PST

At the request of Samsung, Apple has handed over a redacted version of their 10-year licensing deal with HTC. If you were craving juicy details, such as just how much HTC could be shelling out to the maker if the iPhone, you’re out of luck. As per the court’s orders, details on royalties and fees to be paid remain sealed.

What the documentation does reveal is that Apple’s design patents are not covered by the deal. Samsung has sought to determine whether Apple also included certain “user experience” patents that the Cupertino company had previously named as off the table. If Apple is indeed providing licenses for some of the patents covered in their suit against Samsung, it could weaken their case for permanent sales bans.

Such bans are no longer the worry of HTC, as a list of undisclosed products now fall under the deal with Apple agreeing to not seek further legal action against covered devices. A similar agreement with Samsung would see the end to one of the biggest patent-based lawsuits in history, but sadly this outcome seems unlikely. Both companies seem resigned to duking it out in front of a judge’s bench.

Google+ Communities provide digital gathering places for whatever your interests are [VIDEO]

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 11:39 AM PST

Google made an exciting announcement earlier this morning regarding the launch of Snapseed for Android, but another interesting piece of news shouldn’t go unnoticed. Google has rolled out a new feature for Google+ called Communities.

You can probably imagine what Google has enabled here, but for those who need a little help Communities will allow Google+ users to commune with other folks to talk about a common interest. For interest, those of us who frequent this very site might be interested in joining a community about Android where we discuss news, post photos and can invite other community members to Android-related events.

Communities are less “private” than your typical groups feature on other social networking sites as it is viewable by the world. There’s no need to be invited, and there’s no real reason you wouldn’t be able to find a community that’s perfect for you. Anyone can participate in any way they choose so you’re always sure to have a great and active community available for whatever it is that interests you.

You can access the feature by clicking the Communities tab on the left hand side of the site, and off you go into a joyous rabbit hole filled with people who are passionate about the same things you are. Give it a shot by signing into Google+ today. We’re not sure when Google will be bringing this feature to mobile but we certainly can’t wait for the Android app to get some community loving of its own.

Samsung Galaxy S4 could feature ‘unbreakable’ display, launch as soon as April

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 10:23 AM PST

Samsung’s flexible OLED technology has been in the works for sometime now, but it could finally debut as part of the upcoming Galaxy S4′s hardware complement. But before you start conjuring up visions of a bendable, foldable handset, it is sounding like the technology will be deployed more for its resistance to breakage than for its pliability.

The screen of the Galaxy S4 has already made headlines after rumors that it will be Samsung’s first 1080p display. With a size of 4.99 inches, a pixel density of 441 ppi is generated. Adding in Samsung’s “unbreakable” tech, which takes advantage of the fact that OLED displays can be manufactured from plastics instead of glass, the screen will likely be one of the GS4′s key marketing points (as it has been with previous Galaxy models).

Analyst Nicolas Gaudois says signs point to an earlier release for the Galaxy S4 than previous Galaxy models, which typically have hit shelves around May or June. An accelerated schedule could see the phone debut as early as April (though we have already heard manufacturing delays involving the very screen tech in question could be hampering Samsung’s plans). As for those foldable displays, Stanford Bernstein analyst Mark Newman thinks those will emerge closer to 2014 as unbreakable screen technology develops.

T-Mobile gets the iPhone — will Android take a back seat?

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 09:24 AM PST

Exciting news just hit the wire for those on T-Mobile. Magenta has finally reached an agreement with Apple to carry the iPhone. Deutsche Telekom confirmed that the US carrier would have the phone — and other iOS products, like the iPad –starting in 2013.

“But this is Phandroid,” you exclaim. Yes, that’s true — this news is a tad unrelated — but it does bring up an interesting situation that could impact the landscape of Android devices on T-Mobile’s network. Will T-Mobile change up its device strategy and put all of its eggs in the iPhone basket?

Since T-Mobile was unable to convince Apple that it deserved to carry the extremely popular iPhone after the OEM’s exclusive AT&T contract was up, the carrier took a different approach to the snub. T-Mobile actually embraced it, and launched a few different advertising campaigns promoting its Android line of products more than anything.

Throughout that time, T-Mobile still showed an interest in wanting to support Apple’s devices. They sold accessories, provided network support and even sold micro SIM cards when it didn’t have any micro SIM devices of its own on the market yet. Still, T-Mobile showed a great commitment to Android.

The carrier was more about being that “picture perfect” carrier than anyone else in the states. T-Mobile operated more like carriers in Europe where they give OEMs more freedom. Every device under the sun wasn’t renamed, and T-Mobile didn’t need to drop big bucks and a “refusal to carry” ultimatum to make sure they got an exclusive phone. T-Mobile embraced Android’s openness and encouraged rooting and unlocking devices.

The question, then, is could all of that change once the iPhone launches? At first we were reluctant to consider such a thing might happen, but history shows that a carrier tends to make big changes when they finally get the iPhone. For Verizon and AT&T, their defining moment was killing unlimited data. Sprint decided not to go that particular route, but it did end things like Sprint Premier, long return windows and more curiously around the same time it was set to receive the iPhone.

Fortunately for us, the three biggest US carriers didn’t allow their device portfolio to suffer. Verizon continued to push its DROID line further, Sprint continued to secure the year’s most exciting devices, and while AT&T initially showed hesitation in taking Android seriously it eventually started to build a very respectable portfolio of devices.

For those reasons it’s hard for us to believe T-Mobile will change its device strategy. After all, the iPhone is just one phone, and T-Mobile’s going to need more than one phone to stay competitive in today’s market.

We’d say there’s nothing to worry about for now, so be sure to welcome your iPhone-craving friends with open arms, and tell them to go easy on the data as T-Mobile’s network will surely take on a few extra pounds once people inevitably start migrating from a hodgepodge of other carriers without the iPhone (or from carriers with the iPhone that they just aren’t happy with). PS: if you’re an Apple fan and you happen to need an iOS blog to follow be sure to check out iSource.com for all the latest and greatest from the land of the bitten fruit!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Toshiba Excite 10 SE now available for $350

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 08:42 AM PST

Just a couple of days ago we told you about the latest tablet to hit the Toshiba Excite family — the Toshiba Excite 10 SE — and now it’s already available at retail. The 10 inch tablet has hit Toshiba Direct and other select retailers for $350, and while something like the Nexus 10 might deliver a better overall experience the Excite 10 SE is nothing to sneeze at.

Alongside that 10 inch display “AutoBrite” HD display (likely 1280×800 resolution), you’re getting NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor, dual cameras, a tablet that’s just 22.6 ounces light and .4 inches thick, and runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box. It also features some nice bells and whistles for ports and connectivity, including Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi N, microSD and microUSB ports (the latter of which can be used to both sync data and charge the tablet’s battery).

For now we’re only certain that a 16GB model will be available for the base price of $350, but it’s possible Toshiba will add more SKUs a bit down the line. Even if they don’t, though, the advent of a microSD port should help feed the storage needs of anyone looking to pick this up. Head to ToshibaDirect.com if this tablet happens to fit the bill of what your proverbial “perfect cup of tea” looks like.

SnapSeed comes to Android with unsurprising Google+ bias

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 08:26 AM PST

SnapSeed has been one of the most popular mobile applications there is, and with Google’s purchase of the developers who makes it an Android release was only inevitable. We last caught wind of an Android version being in the works back in October when Vic Gundotra teased us with some photos taken from the Android version of the app, and now all of us can join in on the fun as SnapSeed is officially available in the Google Play Store.

The app — which, in typical Google fashion, is now free for all to use on any platform — puts a great deal of image filters and editing tools at your finger tips. It’s an “Instagram on steroids,” if you will. It’ll give you even more image editing freedom than Instagram.

For instance, instead of applying a general “high contrast” effect to a photo that may or may not be what you were looking for, SnapSeed will let you change the intensity of the contrast. Instead of defining one area of an image for a “blur” effect, SnapSeed will let you select the area of the image, the intensity of the blur and the size of the blur.

All of this is done with very intuitive controls so you’ll have a vast array of options without a daunting user experience.  The best part of SnapSeed is that it allows you to share your creations with pretty much any app on your phone that allows photo sharing.

SnapSeed does have a bit of bias for Google+ and that’s understandable, but I could just as easily share my pictures to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or via age-old methods like MMS and email, if I wanted. Heck, even Instagram will accept the photo if that’s something I wanted to do. I could even just save the new version of the photo to my SD card for safe keeping if I decide I don’t want to share it with the world.

SnapSeed definitely isn’t the end all, be all of image editing — after all, Photoshop Touch gives users even more control. But when it comes to delivering a blissful, simple experience with a powerful set of tools and an interface that’s intuitive for mobile devices nothing beats SnapSeed. The fact that we won’t have to pay the $5 the app was previously being offered for is another big bonus that should have everyone wanting to download it. Find your download in the Google Play Store.

MetroPCS announces Samsung Galaxy Admire 4G, available now for $169

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 07:44 AM PST

Today MetroPCS has released an updated version of their Samsung Galaxy Admire, this time with more power, a larger screen, better battery life, and 4G LTE support for good measure. The Samsung Galaxy Admire 4G features a 3.65-inch TFT display, 1GHz CPU, and a 3MP camera. The Android 2.3 device comes pre-loaded with john, a service offering “ an intuitive way to unify mobile-to-mobile communications and use enriched services like integrated instant messaging or chat, WiFi and video calling and simplified content sharing.”

The Galaxy Admire 4G is available today online and in store, and retails for $169 before tax. Service plans start at $30 per month, with an unlimited 4G option currently offered for $55 per month, contract free.

MetroPCS Adds Samsung Galaxy Admire 4G to its Collection of Powerful and Affordable 4G LTE Smartphones

New 4G LTE version of popular Galaxy Admire delivers versatility and high performance with incredible value

DALLAS (December 6, 2012) – Just in time for the holiday season, MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) is welcoming a new member of the Samsung Galaxy portfolio with the introduction of the Galaxy Admire™ 4G from Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile).

This new smartphone is an enhanced version of MetroPCS' popular Galaxy Admire™ and features a faster processor, larger battery, bigger screen, the addition of a front facing camera and of course, the 4GLTE connectivity that gives consumers the ability to quickly navigate the Web, stream multimedia and stay connected with friends and family. Beginning today, the Galaxy Admire 4G is available online at www.metropcs.com and in MetroPCS stores for $169 plus tax.

With tax and regulatory fee-inclusive 4GLTE service plans beginning at $30 per month, for a limited time, MetroPCS is offering consumers an unmatched value without being shackled by a long-term contract. For consumers interested in unlimited talk, text and 4GLTE data, MetroPCS delivers with the $55 per month promotional plan, which is perfect for unlimited 4GLTE browsing, content streaming and application interaction.

Samsung Galaxy Admire 4G Features at a Glance

  • 3.65" HVGA TFT screen
  • 1 GHz processor for multitasking and quick navigation
  • Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) operating system with access to Google Play™
  • Support for MetroPCS 4GLTE Mobile Hotspot service (available for an additional monthly charge)
  • joynTM- capable for an intuitive way to unify mobile-to-mobile communications and use enriched services like integrated instant messaging or chat, WiFi and video calling and simplified content sharing. The official joyn app can be downloaded via Google Play and the @metro App Store™.
  • 3MP rear facing camera and VGA front facing camera allowing for easy video capture and chatting

ASTRO File Manager update adds Facebook photos integration

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 07:26 AM PST

ASTRO File Manager for Android has been a force ever since the operating system’s launch back in 2008, and the application is getting even better today. Today’s update adds Facebook Photo integration, functionality which allows you to view and download your Facebook photos directly within ASTRO’s user interface.

That’s not all, though. Those on the older Froyo, Gingerbread and Honeycomb versions of Android will finally be stepped up to the stylish interface that ASTRO v4 brings, though Holo UI elements won’t be emulated for the former two here. It goes deeper than aesthetics for those users, too, as SkyDrive, Google Drive and DropBox support have all come to these users, as well.

The ASTRO v4 interface also includes an intuitive side-sliding control scheme to bring up more options. For instance, sliding to the left will bring up tools (including App Backup, Task Killer and SD card usage), settings and help, while sliding to the right will allow users to access cloud services, network locations and saved searches.

ASTRO reminds us that its user-base sits at 40 million, and that it has reached another milestone today with over “1 billion sessions.” We’ve asked for clarification on what a session is, but in the meantime we’re assuming it either means how many times the app is opened or how many times you use one of the app’s connected features.

Regardless, 1 billion of anything is a big number and there aren’t many who can achieve the same success Metago has with ASTRO. We’re told to expect even more great updates very soon so stay tuned as we’ll bring you the skinny on that whenever Metago is ready. The new version of the file manager is available for free through the Google Play Store, and remember that you can also get several great add-ons at cost  so be sure to check those out. Read on for full press details.

 

ASTRO File Manager Includes Facebook Photo Albums &
Surpasses 1 Billion Sessions in 2012

New ASTRO release rolls out to user base of 40 Million downloads and adds Facebook photos
alongside Google Drive, Dropbox and SkyDrive.

Marietta, GA – December 6, 2012 – Metago, the leading provider of file and content
management applications for Android devices, today announced ASTRO has surpassed 1.1
billion sessions already in 2012 and today's release includes Facebook integration for viewing
and downloading pictures directly inside of ASTRO.

ASTRO is a powerful mobile application that acts as a network file system, not only managing
files on device, but network and cloud storage locations as well. This release includes its
latest integration with Facebook, allowing users to easily view and copy pictures from their
Facebook photo albums. For Froyo, Gingerbread and Honeycomb users, this update brings the
new ASTRO v4 interface, which is more intuitive, faster, has side screens for quick access to
almost anything in the app and includes integration with Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft
SkyDrive.

"This release is significant to Metago and our user base of over 40 million," says Kevin Payne,
chief executive officer at Metago. "Integration with Facebook to make viewing, downloading
and sharing pictures via ASTRO easy and social is a powerful new feature. And, as a Digital
Lifestyle Management™ company, we will continue to enhance Facebook and all of our other
cloud integrations with exciting new features, making ASTRO easier to use and more socially
interactive."

To find out more information regarding Metago, or to download ASTRO File Manager, you can
visit us online at http://www.metago.net or follow us at http://www.twitter.com/metagoinc or

http://www.facebook.com/ASTROfilemanager.

About Metago
Metago is a leading mobile device application firm headquartered in the Atlanta, Georgia metro
area. The Company sells Digital Lifestyle Management™ applications for organizing, managing
and sharing files and content whether on their mobile devices, cloud services or PCs. For more
information on Metago, visit us online at www.metago.net.

###

Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

Android fans turn #droidrage into #windowsrage

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 06:41 AM PST

Ah, social media. When handled correctly, it can be a powerful and cheap marketing tool. When it goes wrong, it more often than not leads to the person or company responsible looking like a marketing tool. Such is the case with Microsoft and their who-thought-this-was-a-good-idea #droidrage Twitter campaign. As could be expected, things quickly went south when loyal Android fans flipped the script and created their own #windowsrage hashtag.

This is not the first time Microsoft has pushed the #droidrage tag, but we don’t remember it backfiring so hilariously. But is it really all that surprising? A quick search for either hashtag reveals gems like this:

Normally we’d feel sorry for Microsoft, but they set themselves up for this one. #fail

[via Winsource]

 

HTC revenues get a holiday boost, still down overall

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 06:19 AM PST

HTC revenues were up in November thanks to a seasonal sales boost. Sales grew from NT$17.2 billion in October to NT$21.23 billion last month, a gain of 23 percent. That is good news for the company that has been bleeding money since this time last year, reporting consistently declining revenues after months of record-setting gains, but the Taiwanese manufacturer isn’t out of the woods yet.

Overall revenues were still down 31 percent from the same period last year, a reversal of fortunes that has brought the company NT$267.5 billion in sales since January. The number is nothing to scoff at, but consider that at one point in 2011, HTC brought in over NT$45 billion in a single month.

It will be interesting to see how HTC fares through the remainder of the holiday season. It will be even more interesting to see if the gains will be long term. HTC has revised their approach to handset production, choosing to focus on few handsets with a higher-quality experience while diversifying with new Windows Phone 8 options to compliment their Android lineup.

[via BGR]

SwiftKey Flow Beta now available for download, we go hands-on [VIDEO]

Posted: 06 Dec 2012 12:01 AM PST

This image has no alt text

After weeks of teasing, I think it’d be safe to say that Android junkies everywhere are clamoring for the next release of SwiftKey, an app renown around the world for its almost scary, mind-reading prediction engine. For their latest release — now available for SwiftKey’s VIP members (don’t worry, it’s free to sign up) — the team is introducing a completely new feature dubbed SwiftKey Flow.

The “flow” part in SKF describes the new way of using swiping gestures (ala Swype) and when combined with SwiftKey’s already tried and true prediction engine, should make for a winning combination. As a long time Swype user, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve swiped the wrong word in Swype and thought how cool it’d be if they just had Swype’s prediction engine for better accuracy. Now, what really blew people’s minds is when SwiftKey leaked a little video showing off their all new “Flow Through Space” feature. Instead of swiping and lifting your finger between words, users can now simply swipe down to the spacebar and continue with the next word. Let’s see Swype do that.

Alright, so there’s no question that SwiftKey Flow is the company’s answer to Swype — this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a newcomer try and dethrone the swiping king. But does SwiftKey Flow really have what it takes when it comes to real world usage? Well, we were lucky enough to snag an advanced of copy of the SwiftKey Beta and I have been using it as my primary input method for the past few days now. Here’s a quick hands-on video sharing my own experience with the keyboard replacement, specifically, SwiftKey’s all new swiping feature, including “Flow Through Space.” Keep in mind this is SwiftKey Flow Beta and while fully functional, is not the final release.

Flow

Okay, so as you can see from the video, the swiping gestures of Flow worked without a hitch, for the most part. There was, however, a little difficulty in getting Flow to recognize some words. Just everyday words like “it’s” and various words of the genital region were near impossible to accurately swipe out (guess that leaves sexting out of the picture). If you absolutely loath the idea of swiping with SwiftKey and feel like it taints the experience, no problem. The Flow feature can be turned off in the SwiftKey’s settings. Just pretend it never happened and be on your merry way.

Flow Through Space

While Flow was pretty solid in this early beta form, it’s “Flow Through Space” that was an almost completely broken experience. Stringing together very short sentences could work — but it was nowhere near consistent. In fact, the longer the sentence, the greater the chance SwiftKey would become confused and either incorrectly guess words, capitalize others, or give up altogether aborting the sentence completely. For instance, attempting to FTS with the sentence “It’s the best food in the world,” resulted in “Is The Best good in the world,” and “It hates me,” was interpreted as “Its batsman.” It was definitely fun to experimenting with, but I think overall it was simply too much for SwiftKey to handle. In fact, I suspect that it might even be Swift’s super advanced prediction engine causing confusion in Flow Through Space.

So while Flow Through Space is broken in its current state, this wouldn’t have been as big of an issue if SwiftKey simply allowed the user to revisit a flowed message, editing incorrect words by tapping and pulling up a list of possible predictions (like Swype). Instead, the cursor must be placed at the very end of each word, causing you to get frisky with your phone like you were in middle school. It’s this that makes swift corrections an impossible and grueling chore.

Verdict

SwiftKey Flow Phone Beta | SwiftKey Flow Tablet Beta

SwiftKey 3 on Google Play

Overall I’d say SwiftKey Flow is a worthy update to SwiftKey 3. Flow Through Space certainly isn’t the “Swype killer” many thought it’d be and turns out it needs to bake in SwiftKey’s ovens just a little longer. One area where SwiftKey still has a leg up over Swype is that SwiftKey is easily accessible and can be purchased securely from the Google Play Store. The best part? They aren’t even going to charge current customers who have already purchased previous versions of SwiftKey. A generous gesture, for sure. It’s for that reason I have no problem recommending Android users fork down their money to purchase SwiftKey, especially after seeing how far it’s come, and where it’s going.