Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


Qualcomm calls out Apple, claims “willing licensee mask fell off”

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 02:49 AM PST

court

The patent wars have been raging on for years now and it feels even longer. Apple has sued a variety of companies and in the Android sphere a major defensive strategy, for Samsung and Motorola in particular, has been to fight back with SEPs or standard-essential patents. These patents are, as the name suggests, essential standards, and as such they have to be licensed. This is where FRAND comes in, SEPs are supposed to be licensed under fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms.

Samsung and Motorola claim to have offered fair terms to Apple over the use of several SEPs, unsurprisingly Apple claims the terms were unfair. Apple is now arguing that the failure to negotiate down is FRAND abuse and has successfully blocked injunction attempts based on SEPs in the U.S. at least. It seems Qualcomm is far from impressed with Apple's strategy as you can see from the answers given to questions posed by the investigating ITC Commission, reported on FOSS Patents,

“Of course, Apple’s premise of ‘a willing licensee with a good-faith disagreement who wants nothing other than for a disinterested party to determine what terms are FRAND’ is itself a sham and a pretext. At the recent proceedings before Judge Crabb in the Western District of Wisconsin, Apple’s ‘willing licensee’ mask fell off, when it absolutely refused–even at the cost of having its case dismissed–to commit to take a license to Motorola’s SEP portfolio on whatever terms the court might determine to be FRAND. Having literally walked away, minutes before trial, from an opportunity for an adjudication as to whether Motorola had offered FRAND terms to Apple, Apple should be embarrassed–but apparently is not–to demand that the Commission divest itself of jurisdiction unless and until a ‘U.S. Court has determined [the relevant license terms] to be FRAND’.

If Apple is not a willing licensee, and in any event there is no risk of an exclusion order (or injunction) shutting down a truly willing licensee, what is the real agenda? It is to shelter the unwilling licensee–the infringer that, like Apple, has no interest at all in paying market-validated royalty rates. It is to ensure that SEP infringers can only be called to account under rules, and in fora, in which they may gain yardage, but can never lose."

It's a pretty damning indictment of Apple's strategy and somewhat surprising considering that Qualcomm is still a major Apple supplier. Florian Mueller suggests, quite convincingly, on FOSS Patents that what is really behind this vitriol is Qualcomm's own desires to monetize its large SEP portfolio. We'll keep you posted on what the ITC decides.

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Yahoo! launches speedy new e-mail client for Android and other platforms

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 02:17 AM PST

yahoo logo 600px

How important is e-mail in your daily life? Do you check to see if you’ve got new e-mail in the morning and make it a point to check again before you go to sleep at night? If so, then Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer might have been talking about you in her introduction to the latest version of the Yahoo! e-mail client, which has just been updated for multiple platforms including Android, iOS, Windows 8, and the Web.

According to the official announcement posted by Mayer on Yahoo!’s corporate blog Yodel Anecdotal, the new Yahoo! e-mail client was redesigned with speed in mind. And if you try it out for yourself, you’ll find that it is indeed faster than the version that was available before the update. Also, there is now consistency in the look and feel of the e-mail client across all devices and platforms. So if you’ve already used it in the past but didn’t quite like the overall user experience, perhaps you will now.

Right now, the newest form of Yahoo! Mail for Android can be downloaded directly–and without a fee–from Google Play. It’s also available for download from both the Apple App Store and Microsoft’s Windows Store for Windows 8. It’s better-looking and at the same time faster than ever before. This is all so that users can “quickly login, communicate, and get on with your day.”

Web users can also access the new Yahoo! Mail simply by going to mail.yahoo.com.

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Nexus 7 monthly shipment to pass 1 million units in December

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 02:09 AM PST

nexus7

The Google Nexus 7 is one of the hottest tablets that have been released this year. Since it was introduced in late June, the quad-core slate has captured the interest of tech geeks and mainstream customers alike due to its awesome specs and low price point.

We learned a while back that Asus was shipping out close to 1 million units of the Nexus 7 per month. With the recent introduction of the Nexus 7 3G alongside the new 32GB variant, and buoyed by the holiday shopping season, DigiTimes reports that the monthly global sales are expected to break the million unit barrier in December.

According to the publication, the figures were taken from supply chain makers across Taiwan. Quanta Computer, the ODM partner of Asus in the region, said that shipment of the Nexus 4 for Q4 alone will reach 2-3 million units.

While these aren't exactly Apple-like numbers yet, it's comforting to know that a non-forked Android tablet can compete with the best of them in the highly competitive market. Let's see what other surprises Google has inside its Android bag come May of next year, when Google I/O 2013 event will be held. A refreshed Nexus 7 anyone?

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Russian operator announces YotaPhone, comes with an LCD and an e-ink display

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 12:50 AM PST

Yota is an operator in Russia with plenty of ambition. They bet on WiMAX technology more than half a decade ago, thinking it would be the next big thing. When they realized they picked the wrong technology, they quickly migrated their network over to LTE. Now the company is looking to enter the device market.

Today they announced a smartphone called the “YotaPhone”. Terrible name aside, it’s quite an interesting piece of kit. It runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, has a dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, 4G LTE (of course), but what makes it interesting are the displays. Yes, displays. The YotaPhone features a 4.3 inch 720p LCD manufactured by JDI on the front of the device, and an electronic ink display on the back. Why put an e-ink display on the back of a smartphone?

Vlad Martynov, the CEO of Yota Device, says it best:

“Today if you want to check your email, calendar or social media page, you have to pick up your phone, turn it on, open the application and only then can you receive the information. With YotaPhone, this information will appear on the electronic paper display effortlessly, continuously and updated in real time.”

To put it another way, they know that people look up a handful of things over and over again. Instead of wasting energy powering up a smartphone’s display just to check if someone liked the photo you just uploaded to Facebook, now you just have to check the back of your phone.

Is this innovative? Absolutely, but we’re not convinced that developers are going to take advantage of this technology. Yota controls the e-ink display, so Yota dictates which services are integrated and how often they’re checked for new information. That means Yota has an incredibly responsibility to not mess this up, because if they do … forget about it.

When will the phone come out and how much will it cost? The latter question we can’t answer. And as for the former, the company says the second half of 2013. Ouch.

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Android 4.0 update rolling out to AT&T’s Galaxy Tab 8.9 via Kies

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 12:33 AM PST

Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-8.9-LTE-ATT-01-600x414

Two weeks ago, we saw the international 3G variant of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (GT-P7300) finally got their Android 4.0 package signed, sealed, and delivered. If you own the device on AT&T (SGH-i957), we're happy to report that the Ice Cream Sandwich update is now available for your tab.

For now, the firmware upgrade "will not be made available over-the-air". Those who'd like to make the jump to ICS will have to get it via Samsung's PC companion software Kies. It's extra work for users, but one that should be worth the hassle.

Ice Cream Sandwich is leaps and bounds better than Honeycomb in terms of performance, stability, and features. Plus, you can run apps that are only available for Android 4+ devices, such as Chrome and others.

If you can't quite figure out how to get and install the I957UCLK4 upgrade through Kies, check the following website for detailed instructions. Let us know how the machine runs after the update in the comments below.

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Innolux to join JDI and Sharp in mass producing 5 inch 1080p displays

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 12:03 AM PST

Sharp, back in October, was the first company to announce that they’ve begun mass producing 5 inch 1080p LCD panels for smartphones. Japan Display Incorporated, better known as JDI, published their 5 inch 1080p press release less than a week after Sharp. According to DigiTimes, the Taiwanese company Innolux will begin mass producing their own 5 inch 1080p panels in Q1 2013. They’re going to use something called AAS (Azimuthal Anchoring Switch) technology. We’re not going to lie to you, we have absolutely no idea what that means.

Who else is working on 5 inch 1080p technology? LG showed off a prototype of just such a display in May, but we haven’t heard anything about it since. And then there’s Samsung, who has been very quiet. Depending on which rumor sites you trust, Samsung is either having an incredibly hard time making a 5 inch 1080p screen that use AMOLED technology, or they’ve successfully figured out how to do it and we’re going to see said display show up in the next generation Galaxy S.

So what does this all mean for consumers? It’s clear that any 2013 smartphones worthy of being called a “flagship device” needs to have a 1080p display. If it doesn’t, then it’s “midrange”. We find it incredibly difficult to classify 720p smartphones as “midrange” since they’ve barely been around for a year, but that’s how this industry works. You can’t control the product release cycle, you just have to brace yourself and ride the wave of innovation that leaves you and your wallet in a confused and depressing relationship.

HTC may have been the first company out the door with a 1080p smartphone (DNA/Butterfly), but we expect everyone to catch up within the next two quarters. This writer spends an unhealthy amount of time starting at his pocket computer, so he’s looking forward to 443 PPI displays.

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Official Oppo Find 5 image gallery

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 11:44 PM PST

oppo find 5 press 600wide

The full HD Oppo Find 5 just launched at a Beijing event and we have the official image gallery. The phone looks sleek, and packs some equally impressive specifications. We have the full rundown on the Oppo Find 5 specs and availability here, and very soon we’ll pitch Oppo’s latest creation against some of its direct competitors.

Check out the image  gallery and let us know what you think.

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Official Oppo Find 5 specs

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 11:33 PM PST

oppo find 5 press shot

Today in Beijing, Oppo, the makers of the ultra-thin Finder, revealed their newest flagship the 5-inch full HD Oppo Find 5.

The Oppo Find 5 packs some of the best specifications currently available on any smartphone, starting with a powerful Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core chip (APQ 8064) clocked at 1.5GHz. Naturally, the Find 5's piece of resistance is its stunning full HD display, an AH-IPS LCD panel manufactured by LG. At 1920 x 1080, the panel packs 441 pixels on every square inch, which (in case you were wondering) is 35% better than the iPhone 5's much touted Retina display.

The rear shooter of the Find 5 is fitted with a 13MP sensor, while the front camera packs 1.9MP. In the product press release, Oppo claims that the camera comes “with the most advanced 1/3.06-type 13-megapixel camera sensor available on the market”. The stacked CMOS sensor delivers  ”f/2.2 aperture, 4-layer coating and blue glass filters”.

Another impressive feature of the Find 5 is the ability to record videos and snap photos, in HDR, at the same time. Oppo’s device is the first phone in the world with this ability. Media capabilities are enhanced by the Dolby 3D surround and Dirac HD, a high-end audio system that has never been integrated on a mobile device before.

The Oppo Find 5 only comes in a 16GB version with no option to expand the storage via an microSD card. The powerpack is a 2500mAh unit, which is adequate, but less impressive than the battery of the Note 2.

Check out the Find 5 official press shot gallery.

Here are the official specs of the Oppo Find 5:

OPPO Find 5 Specifications

Network:

  • UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA/HSPA+/HSPA+42 (850, 1700, 1900, 2100MHz)
  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz)

Processor:

  • Qualcomm APQ8064 quad-core 1.5GHz

Display

  • 5.0" 1080P 441PPI IPS (1,080×1920)

Memory

  • 16GB ROM
  • 2GB RAM

Camera

  • Main: 13 megapixel Stacked CMOS sensor with HDR
  • 120 FPS video recording, f/2.2 aperture, blue glass filters
  • Front: 1.9 megapixel

Connectivity

  • 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
  • Wi-Fi Direct
  • Bluetooth
  • NFC

Features

  • Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
  • GPS
  • Wi-Fi Display
  • DLNA
  • Gyroscope
  • Digital compass
  • Microphone
  • Sensors (light, proximity, magnetic and gravity)

Battery

  • 2500 mAh built-in lithium-ion battery

Included Accessories

  • Power adapter
  • USB Cable
  • Headphones

Price and availability

The Oppo Find 5 will launch in “early 2013″ across select markets. Judging from the existence of an US site, we can speculate that the Oppo Find 5 will sell in the United States, but we have no official news on this. The US site says that the device will cost a reasonable $499 SIM-free. In China, the device is slated to go for ¥2,998 (about $480). We’ll keep you posted as soon as we find more.

Show full PR text

OPPO Find 5 Unveiled With 5" 1080P Screen, 13 Megapixel HDR Camera and More
BEIJING -December 12, 2012 -At the OPPO Find 5 "The Fifth Element" Launch Event held in 798 Art District today, OPPO introduced one of this year's most mysterious and anticipated mobile products, the OPPO Find 5. The all new, industry leading OPPO Find 5 was announced to an audience of over 500 members of the international press, OPPO fans, developers, and partners, in what marks a spectacular end of year for the mobile industry.

See – like you've been blind all along
The OPPO Find 5 features a 5.0" 1080p IPS screen with a staggering 441 PPI pixel density, allowing you to experience a world of crystal clarity and the most realistic colors. With OGS technology that combines touch sensors with display, colors are more vivid and lifelike, and you'll feel as if the screen contents are floating on its surface.

Despite its large screen, the OPPO Find 5 is easy to hold thanks to its super slim 3.25mm bezel. When the screen is off, the front becomes a borderless sheet of pure black, mysteriously calming yet satisfying to the eye.

Touch – and your fingers won't stop
Industrial design has always been one of OPPO’s core strengths. An example is the Find 5 front frame. Although it only weighs a mere 6.3 grams, the front frame alone takes four hours to craft. Starting with a 210 gram piece of stainless steel, it undergoes 12 manufacturing processes, after which it is given a black chrome plating in a 1470 °F (800 °C) vacuum environment. The result from this demanding process not only protects the screen from impact, it also contributes to the Find 5's amazing look and feel.

The overall design of the Find 5 is minimalist, relying on straight lines and simple shapes that removes distractions, while at the same time being built using the best materials and techniques available, giving OPPO Find 5 a simple and understated, yet refined and premium look and feel.

Cherish and share, the beauty from every journey
On the backside, OPPO Find 5 comes with the most advanced 1/3.06-type 13-megapixel camera sensor available on the market, adept at taking great photos in low light conditions. With market-leading Stacked CMOS technology, it features an f/2.2 aperture, 4-layer coating and blue glass filters. On the front, Find 5 it is fitted with a 1.9-megapixel camera.

OPPO Find 5 is the world's first smartphone with hardware supported HDR photography and video recording. It redefines smartphone video recording, with its capability of recording video in 120 FPS, five times the speed that the human eye can perceive. Apart from videos being silky smooth in normal playback, they will also be smooth during slow-motion playback and clear during freeze-frames. In addition, the camera on the Find 5 is capable of taking 100 photos at 5 per second with Burst Mode.

OPPO Find 5 will bring you into a new era of wireless sharing. With NFC functionality, gently touching two phones will pair them in less than a tenth of a second, 50 times faster than Bluetooth pairing. OPPO's NFC SmartTags with preset actions will add simplicity and convenience to your life. Find 5 also supports Wi-Fi Display and DLNA, two technologies that allow you to wirelessly project screen contents onto your television in HD.

Listen, and rhythm will touch your heart
Find 5 comes with the powerful Dolby 3D surround sound technology and the exciting Dirac HD technology, combination of hardware and software usually only found in high-end audio and cinema sound systems. With Dirac, you will clearly hear a difference, and become immersed in music the way the artist originally wanted to express it.

Love, for it is the Fifth Element
OPPO never set out to create the most powerful phone. Internally, we have always said that we create products in the intersection of romance and technology, and Find 5 is a product that OPPO employees worked passionately and relentlessly on. Just like Plato was convinced of quintessence, an element beyond thematerial world, there is more to the Find 5 than the mere sum of its parts. There is an element beyond the purely rational, and that element is love. OPPO Find 5 is infused with of our love, a love we wish to explore with the world.

OPPO Find 5 is set to launch in early 2013 across selected markets.
OPPO Find 5 Specifications

Network: UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA/HSPA+/HSPA+42 (850, 1700, 1900, 2100MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz)
Processor: Qualcomm APQ8064 Quad-Core 1.5GHz
Display: 5.0" 1080P 441PPI IPS (1,080×1920)
Memory: 16GB ROM, 2GB RAM
Camera: Main: 13 megapixel Stacked CMOS sensor with HDR, Front: 1.9 megapixel, 120 FPS video recording, f/2.2 aperture, blue glass filters
Connectivity: 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, NFC
Features: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), GPS, Wi-Fi Display, DLNA, Gyroscope, Digital compass, Microphone, Sensors (light, proximity, magnetic and gravity)
Battery: 2500 mAh built-in lithium-ion battery
Included Accessories: Power adapter, USB Cable, Headphones
About OPPO
OPPO is a globally registered technology brand with a long history of serving customers in North America, Europe and Asia. With offices in 6 different countries, we deliver products that receive praise from all over the world. Our core value is to explore with courage and never stop finding, and since entering the mobile market in 2008, we have been restless in our pursuit of the latest technology, the highest quality and the most user friendly products. For more information, please visit http://en.oppo.com.

Samsung gets bashed in Motorola’s most recent advertisement

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 11:06 PM PST

motorola
OEMs go after one another in advertisements all the time. One popular marketing method is showing the opposition’s inferiority. Like if a device has a bigger screen, they’d show that their competition has smaller screens. That’s why Samsung always goes after Apple products. Motorola has decided to take some cheap shots at Samsung in a new ad.

You can see the ad above. It was posted on Motorola’s Facebook page 6 hours ago at the time of this writing. As you can see, Motorola is showing that their devices get faster download speeds on Verizon’s 4G LTE network. They do this by showing that Rovio’s Angry Birds were already downloaded on the RAZR HD while the Galaxy S III is at 60%.

Is that all Motorola has said about the Samsung Galaxy S III?

Nope, that’s just the beginning. On Motorola’s official webpage, they compare the RAZR HD to the Galaxy S III in several other areas. Included is battery life, protection, and design. What they don’t provide information on is where Samsung can get some Aloe Vera to soothe the burn.

Of course, Motorola phones have pitfalls they don’t talk about. Like no removable batteries, being available on only one carrier, and for the root users among us, locked bootloaders. Do these advertisements make the Motorola RAZR HD look better or is Moto just being petty?

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MediaTek makes the quad core MT6589 official, turns out it’s barely faster than a dual core Snapdragon S4

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 10:57 PM PST

Earlier this month we published an article that said quad core smartphones using MediaTek’s newest chip are going to flood the market in Q1 2013. When we wrote that article, said chip wasn’t announced. Today that changes. Here’s everything we now know about the MT6589: It’s built using 28 nanometer technology. It has an integrated modem that can handle both HSPA+ and TD-SCDMA, China’s version of 3G. It uses four ARM Cortex A7 processors and an Imagination Technologies PowerVR Series5XT graphics processor. The chip supports 13 megapixel cameras, 1080p displays, 1080p 30 fps recording and playback, and it also has integrated 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, and GPS.

Myriam Joire, our good friend over at Engadget, had a chance to benchmark the first phones that use the MT6589. We’re not going to republish her data, but we will say that we’re not too surprised with the results. MediaTek’s new chip is essentially a slightly faster dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4. Now we know what you’re thinking, how can this be? It’s because ARM’s Cortex A7 core isn’t as fast as Qualcomm’s Krait core. Despite lumping four of them together on a piece of silicon, they’re barely faster than the two cores we’ve seen inside devices since the beginning of the year.

We’re thrilled that MediaTek was able to produce the MT6589, but we’re also realistic. Phones using MediaTek chips usually don’t leave Asia. Why? We’re going to assume patent issues. But don’t be disappointed. Last week Qualcomm announced two quad core A7 chips called the MSM8226 and the MSM8626. They have the exact same specs as the MT6589, except for the graphics processor. Qualcomm uses their own Adreno GPU instead of licensing a solution from Imagination.

So what should you take away from today’s news? Progress is amazing. Three years ago, single core 1 GHz processors and 800 x 480 screens were considered bleeding edge. Now MediaTek is going to supply cheap quad core chips that can drive 1080p smartphone screens to the Chinese market.

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Android and Me

Android and Me


Day 11: Win a Fujitsu STYLISTIC M532 Tablet

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 09:00 AM PST

With 11 days on file, it’s time we introduced a challenge with a little style. To enter to win today’s 25 Days of Tegra device, you’ll need to submit an original haiku (you know, the Japanese poetry that follows a 5-7-5 pattern?). You’ll also need to be logged in, but I...

Visit our site to read the full article.

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


HTC EVO 4G LTE, One X+, and One XL are the latest PlayStation Mobile certified devices [DOWNLOAD]]

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 06:44 PM PST

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It was back in early October that Sony finally released their long awaited PlayStation Mobile app for a few certified HTC devices — the HTC One X, S, and V. But as many of readers pointed out in the announcement post, there were a few notable exceptions curiously left out of the PlayStation party. Today, Sony is fixing that by adding a handful of new One cousins to the mix, adding the HTC One X+, One XL, and EVO 4G LTE to the list of officially certified PlayStation mobile devices.

Download: PlayStation Mobile App

I’d say that’s a pretty sweet selling point to owning an HTC device, one the manufacturer could definitely do a better job of advertising. Also, new to PlayStation Mobile tomorrow is a new title called Surge, a head-ache inducing puzzler that involves matching up colored blocks in a fun new way. Here’s a quick trailer you guys can marinate over while you’re installing PlayStation Mobile.

[PlayStation Certified Devices | via AndroidGuys]

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 N-7100 gets Android 4.1.2

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 03:26 PM PST

Folks with the international version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 — aka the N-7100 — will be pleased to know that they’re one step closer to being on the absolute latest version of Android. Well… it’s a tiny step, really, as the device is moving from Android 4.1.1 to Android 4.1.2. At the core there’s not much to be had, though SamMobile claims there are some new TouchWiz features to look out for.

They state that features like the ability to disable multi-view, the new Swype-like features and the lock-screen ink blotch effect are new as of 4.1.2, but many of us here in America have had those features since 4.1.1. It’s possible that the firmware is on different tracks for each region, but we’ll have to get confirmation from Samsung regarding all of that.

Nevertheless the international Note 2 is only one step away from the next major version of Android. We have all the confidence in the world that Samsung is readying an upgrade to Android 4.2, though it’s anyone’s guess how long it’ll take before we actually see it arrive. We aren’t sure what new features they might bring once it does arrive but you should know that Samsung tends to be one of the better OEMs when it comes to adding new features with each major upgrade.

Regardless of whether or not they decide to drop a bombshell it will be nice to see the device move on up to Android 4.2. In the meantime 4.1.2 is still great and anyone who isn’t on the latest should definitely make a concerted effort to get there in no time. Be sure to check the settings menu on your phone or check your desktop Kies software to see if some new goodness is awaiting you. Read below for what’s said to be the full list of changes.

  • Android 4.1.2 – JZO54K
  • New Additions in Notifcation Toggles
  • Notification Panel can now be customized
  • Brightness Slider in Notification Panel Can Now Be Disabled
  • Multi-View Can now be disabled
  • Browser Is Smoother Then Before
  • Status Bar has been changed from Grey to Black
  • Continues Input in Samsung Keyboard (Like Swipe or Android 4.2 Keyboard)
  • New Ink Effect On Lockscreen
  • New Group Cast Application

Yahoo Mail upgrade brings much needed redesign

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 12:17 PM PST

Yahoo Mail for Android hasn’t always been the greatest Android application to behold. It did what it did decently, and looked quite alright doing it, but it quickly outgrew its own skin and was badly in need of a hit of the reset button. Well, it looks like that button was finally pressed today as a new upgrade has hit the Google Play Store that many of you Yahoo faithful will enjoy.

The biggest change in this upgrade will be the redesigned interface. It still has that purplish Yahoo flair you’ve come to expect, but the company has tightened things up with Holo UI elements such as the overflow menu button and context-sensitive action bars. The app features a side-bar navigational system that makes it easy to jump between your different inboxes and folders.

Folks will also be happy to find that pinch-to-zoom is now supported. This is a feature that even Google’s own app didn’t have until just recently so we can’t necessarily be mad that it took this long for them to implement. Oh, and ads have been completely obliterated from the experience — total win, I’d say.

In typical Yahoo fashion you still get a nice set of rich text editing controls at your finger tips. You can change colors, bold, italicize and underline text, insert pictures and attachments and even adorn your emails with those charming emoticons Yahoo has become famous for. Yahoo’s also touting more reliable push notifications, better battery efficiency, SSL turned on by default and more.

If I weren’t such a heavy Gmail user I’d probably make a Yahoo account just to have a reason to use this beautiful app. Alas, I don’t — that’s OK, though, because there are more than enough of you Yahooers out there to give it a spin and let me know how you’re liking it in the comments section below!

[Google Play Store]

Sprint looks to fully acquire Clearwire, sets eyes on spectrum

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 11:36 AM PST

Two months after Sprint took a majority stake in Clearwire, the company is now looking to take complete control of the remaining 50 percent. CNBC is reporting that the carrier, itself not far removed from agreeing to sell off 70 percent of the business to Japan’s SoftBank, is in “active negotiations” with Clearwire in a bid to increase overall spectrum.

Clearwire and Sprint have a long history of dealings, stretching back to the rollout of a the Now Network’s now defunct WiMAX network. Reports of an attempted acquisition date back to 2011. The latest attempt still has a few hurdles to overcome, including the approval of aforementioned SoftBank, which will have to sign off on any deal to be struck between Sprint and Clearwire.

As of now, the report states that no deal is imminent. Sprint hopes to come to terms simultaneously with the finalization of the SoftBank deal. That should occur by March or April of next year.

 

New York Times for Android app gets tablet UI

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 11:28 AM PST

We love it when more and more apps make their way to Android tablets with user interfaces that look like they belong. New York Times is the latest entity to add a tablet-optimized app to the catalogs of the Google Play Store with its official app. Today’s upgrade stretches things out about giving users a compelling user interface that’s more appropriate for the bigger screens.

You’ll get a multi-pane layout that will introduce more text, bigger pictures, and more content for all that screen real estate that was going to waste before. The previous app was merely the phone version of the New York Times, except stretched out. That wasn’t all that bad considering it’s mostly text, but a more appropriate user interface goes a long way.

Alongside the new beautiful UI you’re also getting greater control over how you receive breaking news alerts, “at-a-glance” access to other news in the Top News section and the usual round of performance enhancements and bug fixes.  You’ll want this upgrade ASAP so be sure to hit the Google Play Store for the download if the New York Times is your publication of choice.

Nexus 4 Bumpers back in stock on Google Play – Better hurry!

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 11:25 AM PST

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Great news coming out of the Play Store today. After they were wiped clean off of Google’s virtual store shelves within minutes of being released, the official LG Nexus 4 Bumpers are finally back in stock on Google Play. You may remember we gave you guys a quick review a short time ago, covering the bumper’s build quality, as well as the overall value offered. Our verdict? This high quality case is one of the best money can buy.

Remember — just as the name states — this is a bumper and only meant to keep your device safe from bumps and bruises, not a fall down a flight of stairs. For the truly clumsy, you’ll want to go with a 3rd party option. But, if you were looking on giving your device just the right amount of protection with minimal (read: no) bulk, you better act fast. We can’t imagine these will last very long.

[Google Play]

Samsung Galaxy Camera with 4G LTE headed to Verizon Dec. 13

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 10:48 AM PST

After the cat was let out of the bag via Samsung’s official site (among other leaks), Verizon has officially announced the Samsung Galaxy Camera will be available starting December 13th. The camera, which will take advantage of Verizon’s 4G LTE network (a first for the Samsung internet-connected point-and-shoot), will retail for $549.99. For $5 a month, subscribers can add the Galaxy Camera to their Share Everything plan.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera is an Android 4.1 device with a 16MP lens and 21x optical zoom. It features a 4.8-inch Super Clear LCD touch display and quad-core Exynos processing. Consider like any other high-end Galaxy device minus the ability to place calls (through traditional means, anyway). The Galaxy Camera is currently available in the US from AT&T and can also be found in the UK. Verizon will carry the camera in two color schemes, white and an exclusive Cobalt Black.

4G LTE Connectivity: Beyond Smartphones and Tablets

Connected devices are a new way to think about wireless beyond smartphones and tablets.

Having your smartphone or tablet connected to 4G LTE means you're constantly ready and one step ahead. When a great idea comes to you, there's no need to wait, you can save it as a note on your smartphone, e-mail it to a friend or share with the world if you'd like.

Now, innovative technology is bringing 4G LTE connectivity to other kinds of personal devices you use, such as the camera. Available online starting Dec. 13, Verizon Wireless will offer the Samsung Galaxy Camera™, the first 4G LTE camera in the world. With Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean, high performance photography, and Verizon's 4G LTE network, the Galaxy Camera allows users to shoot, enjoy, edit and share high quality images and video.

Social media enthusiasts will be able to connect to their accounts through their camera and upload pictures and videos of outings, concerts and parties as they happen. Shutterbugs and bloggers who post images on their sites will be able to upload photos over 4G LTE instead of waiting to use their computers at home.

The Galaxy Camera features a 4.8-inch HD Super Clear LCD touch screen and runs Android Jelly Bean, so users have full access to Android apps from the Google Play store like Instagram.

This is all combined with other high quality features such as a 16-megapixel lens, 21x optical zoom lens and optical image stabilization for clearer pictures even while moving.

The Galaxy Camera will be available for $549.99 and come in two colors, Cobalt Black, exclusive to Verizon Wireless, and White. Innovative technology needs an innovative plan. Users will be able to add the Samsung Galaxy Camera to their Share Everything account for the promotional price of $5 per month.

Samsung and Galaxy Camera are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Are you having problems buying apps from the Play Store? [POLL]

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 10:02 AM PST

Late last night, Gameloft released Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour for Android. All was well in the world… that is, until the highly anticipated first person shooting game was eventually pulled. Folks were experiencing download issues in the Play Store, apparently. It turns out most were met with error “941.”

Well, it looks like that problem might not have been exclusive to Gameloft. Nova Launcher’s developer reached out to us to let us know that users of his app have had trouble purchasing it, as well. He apparently received numerous emails from customers complaining about error 941 last night.

Despite initial errors it seems those downloads resumed early this morning without fail. Early indications are that the problem has been cleared up — the emails to Nova Launcher have subsided and I personally didn’t have a problem trying to purchase a paid app prior to writing this article — but we’re curious to know if a few of you experienced this with trying to download other paid apps in recent hours.

If error 941 was, in fact, the main cause for Gameloft’s Modern Combat 4 woes and the issue has been resolved on Google’s end then it’s possible we could see the title relaunched as early as today. In the meantime, though, we’re just interested in knowing how many of you might have experienced this problem, and if it’s still going on.

Be sure to leave a vote in the poll below, and comment with any more information you might have that could help us figure out just how widespread this issue turned out to be. Also, if you happen to be experiencing issues don’t forget to get in contact with Google using one of several options at their support site — no one wants to pay for something they can’t use, after all.

Chitika: Nexus tablets make up less than 1% of web traffic

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 08:56 AM PST

As hot as Google’s tablets have been since the Nexus 7 launched earlier this year you’d think they were in the hands of pretty much everyone under the sun. Well, Chitika’s latest web traffic report, where they compared traffic between Google’s Nexus tablets and the Microsoft surface for a period of 7 days in November, says Google’s tablets are barely making a dent in web traffic. In fact, the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 make up for less than 1% combined. How could this be?

Well, demand for Google’s products are seemingly high with the way delays have been going, but there is always the issue of relativity to consider. Demand looks like it’s through the roof because Google had problems meeting supply at one point, but perhaps supply was extremely low in the first place. No one knows how many units of the Nexus devices Google has sold thus far, really.

The Nexus 7′s supply/demand struggle leveled out quite some time ago, and it looks like the Nexus 10 is beginning to level out as well. If web traffic is still this low after the dust has settled then it implies the Nexus devices aren’t quite as hot as we’d be led to believe. There are a ton of variables to consider, of course.

For starters, Chitika is only one research firm, albeit a very significant one in the mobile advertising space. There’s also the aforementioned issue of not knowing Google’s exact shipment numbers. There’s little doubt that the Nexus tablets are hot within the techie crowd, but it appears it’s still a mere tadpole in the sea up against the rest of the crop (particularly Apple’s iPad).

For comparison’s sake, Chitika also showed where the Microsoft Surface resided for web traffic. It accounts for just .13%, a very minuscule amount even compared to the Nexus devices’ .91%. Again, slick marketing and a hush-mouth operation for shipment numbers would have Microsoft leading folks to believe that it’s happy with market penetration of its first Windows RT tablet, but third party analytics such as the kind Chitika provide tell the more accurate story in the absence of official numbers.

Long story short, if your name isn’t “Apple” then you probably aren’t enjoying a healthy market share in the tablet space right now. The iPad Mini surely helped fend the competition off even more effectively with its more attractive price point.

It would be interesting to see where other OEMs’ devices end up on the scale, such as the Amazon Kindle Fire or Samsung’s line of tablets. These enjoy more robust marketing campaigns so perhaps they’re faring a lot better in the overall scheme of things. We won’t have a clearer picture on a lot of that until early 2013 when the Q4’2012 reports are out, but we wouldn’t expect more than 10% of market share  between Google’s Android and Microsoft’s Windows combined. We could be wrong, and you’d better believe we hope we’re wrong, but only time will tell.

[via WinSource]

Potential sale of Motorola’s set-top box division not a good sign for Google TV?

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 08:52 AM PST


While the focus of Google’s buyout of Motorola was patents first, then mobile hardware, also acquired in the transaction was the hardware maker’s Home division. The business, which manufacturers set-top boxes typically distributed by cable and other television providers, has been floated for sale, with reports now stating a deal could be inked before the end of the year.

According to Bloomberg, Google has been approached by both Arris Group and Pace Plc over a potential sale of Motorola’s TV business. The report is also quick to state that the chance of a deal being reached so soon is still only about 50 percent. Google is still seeking to retain equity in the company as well as a stronghold on its associated patents.

Never mind what it says about Google’s continued downsizing of Motorola after spending $12.5 billion to acquire the company last year, the move could speak volumes about how the search giant currently feels about its Google TV offering.

While no solid plans ever surfaced, owning Motorola Home opened up some intriguing possibilities for bringing Google TV to a larger audience. Shipping set-top boxes with the internet TV platform pre-installed could have pushed the service to a much wider user base via bundling with cable providers. It also presented the possibility for Google to work closer with such providers to create a more integrated Google TV experience.

The truth is, though, Motorola Home was likely never going to be Google TV’s savior. Other than providing Google with an outlet to create a great piece of hardware, the platform would likely still suffer from the same sort of issues it has seen thus far. As things stand, Google seems content to put minimal effort into what is becoming more and more a pet project, even as hardware partners attempt to push better GTV hardware to market.

We would have loved to have seen a Nexus set-top box power by Google TV. It would sure go over better than the Nexus Q. Motorola afforded Google with the opportunity, but if anything was ever to come of it we likely will never know.

Larry Page discusses a Motorola Nexus, competition with Apple, driverless cars, and more

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 07:52 AM PST

Unlike chairman Eric Schmidt, Google CEO Larry Page tends to keep himself out of the spotlight. As the leader of a burgeoning tech giant, he likely feels his time is better spent on his work rather than stepping into a three-ring media circus. It’s a treat, then, to read excerpts from a recent interview with Fortune in which he discusses everything from search to driverless cars, with some interesting Android tidbits sprinkled throughout.

Page spends most of the interview skirting any direct answers to tougher questions. When asked about a lack of Motorola involvement in the Nexus program, the leader of Google first pointed out a simple lack of time the two would have had in developing such, saying “we haven’t owned the company long enough.”

When pushed to elaborate on how a Motorola Nexus device might affect relationships with other Android partners, Page said, “there’s a lot of complexity in that question.” He then fell back to a more generic dialog on delivering “an amazing device” that highlights the best aspects of the Android ecosystem while keeping the likes of Samsung, LG, and others happy.

Page was hesitant to play up any competition or bad blood between his company and Apple, instead insisting that he encourages employees to look beyond what others are doing and focus on solving problems in an effort to “stay two or three steps ahead.” He did admit that while the two still rely on each other in many ways, that “it would be nice if everybody would get along better and the users didn’t suffer as a result of other people’s activities.”

To read more of Page’s comments, including his thoughts on driverless cars that can pick you up from the mall based on your phone’s location, head over to the source link below. It’s definitely worth a read for anyone interested in the evolving tech landscape.

[via Forutne]

Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour pulled from the Google Play Store

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 07:34 AM PST

We were excited to see that Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour finally went live in the Google Play Store late last night after an initial delay. Gameloft originally had some polishing to do before getting it out to us Android-loving folks, but it appears another snafu has forced them to pull the game from the Play Store.

There’s no official word on what happened just yet, but it appears an issue with the game’s downloading mechanism was giving folks errors. These games often come with additional data to download after the initial Play Store transaction, so if this process errors out then the game would pretty much be deemed unplayable.

Hearsay can only go so far, though, so we’ve reached out to a Gameloft representative to see just what it is that’s keeping us from spilling the blood of our political war enemies onto the various pavements of the world. The game launched for $6.99 in the Play Store, a tough cookie to swallow for a game that you might not even be able to play for quite some time.

This isn’t the only high profile launch in the past week that has gone awry. Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was supposed to launch December 6th, but an issue with the developer’s authorization process kept folks from enjoying the $5 classic. That particular game still isn’t out yet, and Rockstar only estimates that it should be back in the Play Store by the end of this week.

It’s important to remember that situation has no bearing on what’s going on with Gameloft’s woes, though. We naturally want to expect the worst case scenario — a delay that lasts a week or two — so as to not get our hopes up, but we’re looking to pinpoint an official timeline from Gameloft as soon as possible. Be sure to keep an eye on this post for the latest as we’ll update it with any information we hear.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

YouTube for 10 inch Android tablets gets refreshed UI with “Guide” feature

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 06:54 AM PST

YouTube for 10 inch Android tablets has enjoyed a visually appealing carousel-driven UI ever since the Motorola XOOM launched, but it seems to have run its course in Google’s eyes. The company has upgraded the Android application today to introduce a brand new user interface for 10 inch devices.

At first glance this new design takes after those which can be found on phones and 7 inch tablets so there’s nothing too “new” here for those of us who have seen the latest from that crop of devices. The new YouTube Guide feature will feed you video recommendations, hot items from your subscriptions such as video uploads and comments, and more.

Google’s all about content discovery now so it was expected to happen in one way or another. The 10 inch interface is a tad different from the 7 inch interface as the former has a two-pane UI while in landscape mode. Other than that they appear to be the same so those coming from 7 inch tablets or even phones should be right at home here.

Google has also updated its mobile YouTube site to incorporate similar changes, mainly to drive users to the new YouTube Guide feature (though there are also easier controls for sending YouTube videos from your tablet to your internet-connected television). All these new goods can be had by upgrading the app in the Google Play Store or by hitting m.youtube.com.

[via Google+]

HTC One SV announced for the UK

Posted: 11 Dec 2012 06:47 AM PST

The UK will receive yet another addition to HTC’s One series lineup in the coming weeks. The HTC One SV, which was first announced at the beginning of November for Asian markets, is a mid-range handset featuring a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.2GHz and a 4.2-inch LCD 2 display.

The phone shares much in common with the HTC One VX, which recently launched for AT&T, including a 5MP camera and Beats Audio support. The One SV is and Ice Cream Sandwich handset draped in Sense 4 clothing, and gains enhancements previously found on phones like the One X and One S.

The One VX will be available through various carrier partners and retail channels, including an LTE-enabled version likely headed to Everything Everywhere. Buyers will get their choice of Pyrenees Blue or Glacier White color options. Pricing has not been announced at this time.

HTC EXTENDS ACCLAIMED ONE SERIES WITH HTC ONE SV

Super-fast LTE connectivity boosts the amazing camera and authentic sound of the award-winning One series

LONDON – 11TH DECEMBER, 2012 – HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today unveiled the latest model in its award-winning One series, the HTC One SV. This new model combines the superfast speed of 4G LTE, an amazing camera and studio-quality sound with HTC’s stunning signature design. Running HTC Sense™ 4 on Android™ ICS, it is designed for those who want their smartphone to keep pace with their hectic lifestyle.

“The HTC One SV heralds the next generation of smartphone performance and lightning fast mobile internet,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “We’re delighted to help fuel the spread of 4G LTE networks worldwide with models that enable our customers to enjoy web browsing, movie streaming and Internet radio more quickly and more smoothly than ever before.”

Dependable, superfast performance
Featuring a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual core processor, and taking full advantage of the latest mobile network technology, the HTC One SV offers exceptional performance, enabling high-quality video streaming, gaming and seamless multitasking.
Never run out of space for documents, movies, pictures and apps with Dropbox and SkyDrive integration, which, supported by HTC One SV’s Micro SD card slot, expands the onboard memory by up to 32GB per card. Thanks to the latest NFC technology and Android Beam, you can also share your content with a simple tap of the phone to another NFC-enabled device.

Amazing camera, authentic sound
The HTC One SV offers the amazing camera synonymous with the acclaimed One series. Advanced functions, including one-press Continuous Shooting and VideoPic combined with advanced low-light performance for beautiful shots in challenging lighting conditions. The HTC One SV’s 5 megapixel, f/2.0 Back Side Illuminated main camera with Panorama and 1080p HD Video Recording is complemented perfectly by a 1.6 megapixel front facing camera, which also features backside illumination, and an f/2.2 lens. Whether at sunset or in candlelight, the HTC One SV’s front camera promises a self-portrait to treasure.

Exclusively available on HTC smartphones, Beats Audio™ transforms the listening experience of the HTC One SV, offering studio-quality, authentic sound across all music, gameplay and video playback. New HTC Sync Manager also makes syncing and managing your music collection even easier, ensuring your entire library is as mobile as you are.

Signature design
True to HTC’s heritage, the HTC One SV, with its 4.3 inch super LCD-2 touch screen, sports
an elegant design in a range of exciting colours: Pyrenees blue and Glacier white. Its
polycarbonate body is solid yet soft to the touch and is set off by matching silver or metallic
rim belts, and colour-co-ordinated mesh for a premium finish.

Availability

The HTC One SV will be available in the UK via selected operator, retail and distribution partners in the coming weeks.

[Update]: Gameloft’s Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour is now available in the Google Play Store

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 07:56 PM PST

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[Update]: It looks like the game has been pulled from the Google Play Store, likely due to some technical difficulties. Be sure to keep an eye on the post at this link for the latest as we get word from Gameloft regarding this issue.

After launching last Thursday on iOS, Android users everywhere can finally get in on some fresh FPS action with Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour. As the name suggests, MC4 is the fourth installment in Gameloft’s Modern Combat franchise, a game closely resembling console favorites like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. This is what Gameloft does and sometimes, they do it well.

The name of the game is simple: shoot to kill. Only difference is this time around, Gameloft is allowing players to step in the shoes of the opposing forces, giving them the chance to experience both sides of the “cops vs robbers” story-driven gameplay. Gameloft has also raised the ante in terms of visuals, introducing all new special effects courtesy of the new Havoc Engine. Enemies can blown across battlefields with dynamic rag-doll physics, with objects that react to bullet fire, and vehicles that respond more realistically across terrain.

The best part for many will, no doubt, be the inclusion of a fully redesigned multiplayer mode. With online profiles, custom weapon configurations, and online leader boards — there’s a lot here to keep you playing long after the campaign has been completed.

For all the vocal freemium-haters out there, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is. Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour is available right now in the Google Play Store for $7 straight up.

[Google Play Link]