Android Authority |
- Touchscreen Google Chromebook confirmed by WSJ, Pixel or Link codenames not mentioned
- Intel takes a few swings at ARM while demoing the new Lenovo IdeaPhone K900 (video)
- Optimus G2 to feature LG’s eight-core ‘Odin’ processor
- Beautiful Widgets gets updated with tablet widgets and more
- Sprint ZTE Force smartphone leaks, due out on March 1 for $50 on-contract
- Sony’s Xperia Z proving popular in Europe and in Japan
- PlayStation App for Android brings second screen to PlayStation 4, not for gaming though
- LG Optimus F5 and F7 official with mid-range specs and features
- Android 4.2 Jelly Bean changelog updated after Android 4.2.2 launch
- Yota signs production deal for its dual-screen Android phone
| Touchscreen Google Chromebook confirmed by WSJ, Pixel or Link codenames not mentioned Posted: 21 Feb 2013 02:57 AM PST
A Chromebook laptop with Google branding and featuring a touchscreen display could be one of the most interesting Google products of the year, and a new Wall Street Journal report seems to back up previous rumors on the matter. Just a short while ago we saw a concept video of the Chromebook Pixel (also known as Link,) and various proof that seem to confirm the existence of this particular Google project. The Search giant has not acknowledged it yet – and did not comment on the matter when contacted by WSJ – but the fact that the publication has ran a story of the unreleased product is itself a very important indication that the touchscreen Chromebook is coming. However, the WSJ article is not that revealing when it comes to actual details for the device. We still have no idea who's making it for Google, when it will be announced and launched, how much it will cost and what features it will have to offer, you know, in addition to a touchscreen display and cloud-based Chrome OS running under the hood. Are you buying a Chromebook this year? |
| Intel takes a few swings at ARM while demoing the new Lenovo IdeaPhone K900 (video) Posted: 21 Feb 2013 02:54 AM PST
Lenovo's IdeaPhone K900 might have not been the shiniest star of last month's CES (darn that Xperia Z), but it was definitely in the top 3. I mean, what was not to like about that beast? It looked different, it boasted a sensational 5.5-inch IPS display, and, best of all, it packed one of Intel's brand new Clover Trail+ chips. And when the first benchmark came we were more in love than Kim Kardashian is with Kanye West's bank account. Unfortunately, our enthusiasm grew weaker with each passing day. Not only had we not heard a thing about pricing and availability, but the hype-building campaign seemed to end before actually starting. But now it's back. And, hopefully, it's here to stay. Expected to be shown off during next week's MWC, the Lenovo K900 stars in a neat little video teaser. Or, as Intel likes to call it, a demo. The chip maker starts off the clip by throwing a couple of jabs at ARM. "They told you it was not possible" and "we could not do it" says Intel and points at a couple of printed-out online articles in which ARM battered its rivals. The video then takes an unexpected turn. The K900 is unveiled, preceded by the "x86 is in business in Phones" message. We then get a glimpse of how smooth Epic's Citadel is on the phone. The game is closed and Texture Mark, a popular benchmark measuring a device's responsiveness, is opened. Just smoke and mirrors, because instead of taking the actual benchmark test, the Free Mode is opened. Sneaky devils! You can still get an idea of how responsive the new Intel GPU is, just no specific numbers. Well, I got chills watching the video. And I don't even want to think about how I'd handle actually holding the device. But were they wrong? We shall see about that. |
| Optimus G2 to feature LG’s eight-core ‘Odin’ processor Posted: 21 Feb 2013 02:28 AM PST
It's not just Samsung that's interested in using eight-core processors on future mobile devices – although the Galaxy S4 is said not to pack the Exynos 5 Octa CPU – as a new report now reveals that LG has its own big.LITTLE eight-core project, a SoC that will apparently power the Optimus G2. According to South Korean publication DDaily, the eight-core processor – dubbed Odin – will use a 28nm HKMG process, with LG hiring TSMC to produce it. The processor should be ready for market later this year, and should be found inside the Optimus G2, which we can only assume it's coming in late 2013, about a year after the Optimus G. The Odin will feature four Cortex A15 cores for heavy-duty requirements, while four Cortex A7 cores will deal with more mundane activities. Just like the Exynos 5 Octa, LG's eight-core processor aims to offer high performance when needed, but also improved battery life, thanks to the big.LITTLE architecture. The SoC will apparently offer eight-core graphics capabilities as well with support for Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) and higher, but it will lack a baseband modem. We'll have more details about Odin as we get closer to the Optimus G launch. What's clear though is that we'll see an interesting battle between processors later this year, with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800, Samsung's Exynos 5 Octa and LG's Odin being some of the high-end SoCs to follow. |
| Beautiful Widgets gets updated with tablet widgets and more Posted: 21 Feb 2013 02:06 AM PST
Aren't widgets great? Functions are one thing, but if you also need your widgets to look darn pretty, then the aptly named Beautiful Widgets is a fine app to have on your device. The app received its last major update back in December, as it moved up to version 5.0, now the developer is bringing more improvements and features. Version 5.1 of Beautiful Widgets is now available for download on Google Play. Here's what you can expect to see.
In addition to AccuWeather, you can now get those weather forecasts from Weather Underground. Other improvements include the ability to remove geolocation and disable weather animations, hide home fragment, new translations, and more. That's not all – as the updated app also offers loads of bugs fixes. To name a few, they have fixed the Daydream animation issues, live wallpaper background color, display issue with double digits negative temps, and others. You can find the full change log for Beautiful Widgets 5.1 at the developer's website right here. Loving the update? Tell us in the comments below.
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| Sprint ZTE Force smartphone leaks, due out on March 1 for $50 on-contract Posted: 21 Feb 2013 01:47 AM PST
With MWC just around the corner, the race is on as to who can deliver strong contenders for Sony's Xperia Z and HTC One the fastest. We're also dying to see if there are any new affordable 7-inch tabs coming to Barcelona. Or maybe even that mythical 10-inch "iPad killer". But, with the show still not on the road yet, we have to quench our thirst for new gadgets with something much more down to earth – the Sprint Force. It sounds pretty kewl, we know, but it's not. Based on a leaked Sprint product page, the 4-incher is due out on March 1 with mediocre specs. There's a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, which is nice we guess, but only Android 4.0 ICS. Scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass on the display, but most likely WVGA resolution (800 x 480 pixels). 4G LTE speeds, but a measly 1,730 mAh battery. And finally 1 GB of RAM, a 5 MP rear-facing snapper, a 1 MP front-facing cam and 4 GB of internal memory. Chances are the fellow will be branded as the Sprint Force, but we have to give credit where credit is due and say ZTE is responsible for its manufacturing. And while the handheld is not yet official, this is the second time we're hearing about it, so we're certain it's real. The first was back in December 2012, when the Force was supposedly heading to Boost, one of Sprint's subsidiaries. Unfortunately, we've saved the worst for last. According to today's leak, Sprint will sell the Force for $49.99 with 2-year contracts. After $50 mail-in rebates. Which is a terrible deal, to be frank. You can currently get the Flash for no charge after a similar rebate. And that fellow packs a punch – dual-core Krait CPU, 4.5-inch 720p display, 8 GB of storage, 12.6 MP camera. What is Sprint thinking? |
| Sony’s Xperia Z proving popular in Europe and in Japan Posted: 21 Feb 2013 01:43 AM PST
The success of the Xperia Z in France was mirrored in Japan. Reports from the Japanese press say that DoCoMo, the predominant mobile phone operator in the country, sold 140,000 units in the first week. DoCoMo sees this as a “fairly encouraging start.” Clearly getting a full HD phone out into the market before Samsung is proving to be a successful strategy for Sony. But the cool display isn’t the only reason consumers are keen on this smartphone. Other neat things about this LTE 4G phone is that it is dust and water resistant, supports NFC, and packs 2GB of RAM. Importantly it also has support for a micro SD card, something many of the leading smartphones don’t have. The 13.1MP camera with Exmor RS sensor is also proving to be a key selling point, with the HTC One switching to UltraPixels could it be that the lure of big megapixel numbers is still a key factor when people buy a smartphone? So it looks like the Japanese and the French are giving the Sony Xperia Z a thumbs up, what about you? Will you be getting one? |
| PlayStation App for Android brings second screen to PlayStation 4, not for gaming though Posted: 21 Feb 2013 01:41 AM PST
The leaks were right, the new PlayStation 4 will come with companion apps for Android and iOS, unfortunately Sony's event yesterday was rather boring when it comes to actually revealing details about the new product. Never mind that Sony did not actually show the PlayStation 4 during the 2-hour long presentation, nor did it mention pricing and release dates, but it didn't share that many details about the PlayStation App either. And we would have expected the company to somehow link the PS4 to its Xperia smartphones, although the company can't really do that, not when it still wants to sell PlayStation Vitas. The support for a second screen (tablet or smartphone) has been briefly covered during the event, with just one gaming studio revealing that users will be able to interact with the game via mobile devices. But the smartphone and/or tablet won't act as an actual game controller, in case you were hoping for that. Again, the company can't really offer that as long as it wants to sell you the new PS4 controller. That's not to say that PS4 buyers won't appreciate a companion app on their smartphones and tablets, especially one that will offer added features compared with the existing PlayStation Official App. The press release doesn't offer more details either:
But it does specify that depending on OS version – mostly referring to Android – the app may or may not be supported on certain devices.  PlayStation Official App – screenshots from current Android app Just like we assumed before, the PlayStation App (which will probably be available this holiday season when the console launches) will be similar to Microsoft's SmartGlass app, also a console companion app. Users will be able to view maps on the second screen while playing but also watch streaming gameplay footage from other people playing certain games. Moreover, using the app, PS4 will be able to buy games no matter where you are, and have them downloaded on the console at home (most likely automatically after the purchase is made, whether the console is turned on or not) to have them ready to play for later. We have no screenshots for the PlayStation App at this time – like we said, Sony revealed little during the show – so we'll have to wait for the new console to arrive before we can tell you more. Will game developers add extra smartphone and tablet features to their PS4 titles? That's something that could happen, but gamers will need to install additional apps on their mobile devices. During the show, just one studio revealed such plans. Evolution Studios' said that its upcoming DriveClub racing game – which will offer some sort of team racing and plenty of social interaction – will have a DriveClub companion app which will let users choose tracks, cars and setup challenges right on the mobile device of choice. Let's hear it from future PS4 buyers out there that also happen to use Android smartphones and tablets. What would you like the PlayStation App to offer you in the future? |
| LG Optimus F5 and F7 official with mid-range specs and features Posted: 21 Feb 2013 01:06 AM PST
We knew better than to get super-excited when LG vaguely teased the new F-Series, and yesterday's F5 and F7 leaks seemed to confirm our fears. There was nothing really special about the duo's design, so we didn't expect the specs and features to blow us away either. And now that the two phones are official… it’s clear we weren't too far off from reality. Don't get us wrong, the Optimus F5 and F7 don't look awful. And their specs are not exactly run-of-the-mill. It's just, we can't see the wow factor. And don't even get us started on how crowded LG's smartphone line-up is becoming and how tough it's going to be in a couple of months to distinguish each slightly different device. But enough with that and let's see exactly what we're dealing with here. In a nutshell, the F7 is a 2012 high-ender dressed in 2013 mid-ranger clothes. You have your 4.7-inch True HD (aka not Full HD) IPS panel, your 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal storage, microSD support, 8 MP rear-facing snapper, 1.3 MP front-facing cam, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, LTE and 2,540 mAh battery. Again, nothing terribly wrong there (besides the 8 GB of on-board memory, maybe), but nothing to scream innovation either. The CPU is undetailed at the moment, but we're guessing it's going to be of Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 variation.
Meanwhile, the design still feels like an Optimus G – Optimus L combo. Stylish, no doubt about that, but maybe the bezel and overall thickness of the device could have been shrunk down a tad. As for the F5, that's even easier to forget, despite a better design and slimmer profile. The 4.3-inch IPS screen only boasts a 960 x 540 pixels resolution, the dual-core CPU is clocked at a lower 1.2 GHz, the RAM is cut in half, while the main camera is a 5 MP unit. The 2,150 mAh battery doesn't sound half bad, as do the on-board Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, LTE speeds, 8 GB of internal memory and microSD support. And yet there are too many common points between this fellow and another new mid-ranger from LG, the Optimus L7 II. LG has worldwide rollouts planned for both the F5 and F7, but there are no details on pricing yet. The lower-end model will be made available sometime in Q2 in Europe, “followed soon by the F7 in selected markets”. We expect to hear more on that come next week’s MWC, when we’ll also most likely get some quality one-on-one time with the duo. The question is, is anyone interested? |
| Android 4.2 Jelly Bean changelog updated after Android 4.2.2 launch Posted: 21 Feb 2013 01:02 AM PST
Google has updated the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean changelog to reflect the new features available to Android users now that Android 4.2.2 is out in the wild, at least for Nexus devices. After checking out the unofficial Android 4.2.2 changelog a few days ago, you can now go to the official Android Jelly Bean page and check out what's new – all the new features are marked that way, so you can easily spot what Android 4.2.2 brings to the table. Some of the main new features have been wildly covered already, while some of the minor tweaks and performance enhancements may have been missed in the first Android 4.2.2 previews. Without listing the new features here – the full changelog is available at the Source link below – we'll tell you that you can expect various updates when it comes to accessibility, camera and gallery, clock, graphics, fonts, keyboards, lock screen, messaging, networking, phone, settings and system improvements. Android 4.2.2 is officially available on most Nexus devices that are compatible with the OS, although some carriers out there are yet to push out the update. This is most likely the last Jelly Bean update we'll see before Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie arrives, which is expected to be unveiled in mid-May at this year's Google I/O event. |
| Yota signs production deal for its dual-screen Android phone Posted: 21 Feb 2013 12:54 AM PST
Along with the new production deal, Yota Devices also announced that it is establishing an R&D and Asian sales office in Singapore. This makes sense since that is where the phone will be made and it will make it easier for the company to iron out any production issues. With the production deal signed and a new office in Asian, it is expected that the phone will be ready for sale first, in Russia and then globally, in the second half of 2013. What do you think? Would you buy a smartphone with an e-ink display on the back? |
Just a few days ago I wrote about the release of Sony’s new 5 inch full HD smartphone, the Xperia Z, 
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