Android Community |
- OpenCL drivers on Nexus 4 and 10 is a hint at the future
- Archos reveals FamilyPad 2 release details
- Toy Story: Smash It! game arrives for Android
- ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10 US availability set for March 5
- Verizon confirms Galaxy Nexus update coming soon
- OUYA Kickstarter shipments will begin on March 28
- Samsung contracts UK ex-judge that ruled against Apple
- HTC Sense 5 update confirmed for the One X, One X+, One S and Butterfly
- T-Mobile Q4 2012 earnings and 4G LTE status update posted
- Huawei Ascend Plus and Ascend G710 images leak
- Samsung invites everyone to the Galaxy S IV announcement
- Qualcomm and others won’t be launching 8-core processors this year
- Angry Birds Toons will deliver weekly cartoons for the kids
- Scroll Excel III is a 7-inch dual-core Jelly Bean slate for $165
- TuneIn Radio updated with new Google+ sign in features and more
- CAT B15 rugged smartphone hands-on: Built to last
- Android and Chrome: No merge in sight
- Google Chromebook Pixel hands-on and first impressions
- Pentagon will open networks for Android in early 2014
- Chrome for Android update adds background audio and more
| OpenCL drivers on Nexus 4 and 10 is a hint at the future Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:55 AM PST An interesting story is making the rounds and flooding our inbox this morning regarding OpenCL drivers in Android devices. The folks from AnandTech have confirmed that both the Nexus 4, and Google’s Nexus 10 have OpenCL drivers in the stock firmware. For those that don’t understand what this means, it’s a hint at the future of both CPU and GPU performance on our mobile devices. Read on for more details.
The folks from AnandTech received a few tips regarding the OpenCL drivers on these devices and after doing a bit of digging were able to confirm both did indeed have it present. OpenCL is a standard that with the right API and drivers, will allow developers to access and use the computational power of parallel devices like multi-core CPUs and GPUs. More importantly, this will allow our mobile devices to offload some of the CPU intensive tasks onto the GPU. That might sound a bit confusing, but essentially what it means is we’ll be able to squeeze the full potential of power out of our devices GPU for daily tasks, instead of just gaming and things of that sort. A processor like the Tegra 4 which is a quad-core device, also has 72 GPU cores. When we start to see OpenCL in Android those cores will be used to the full extend. Making our devices even faster, more powerful, and thus more efficient too. We’ve been hearing that both Samsung and Qualcomm have been working on this, and in some instances have demoed the exact thing mentioned above. So far it appears the Samsung Mali T604 in the Nexus 10, as well as Qualcomm’s Krait S4 Pro in the Nexus 4 both are rocking these drivers, and possibly other devices will be too. This technology has been shipping from Intel, AMD, and GPU manufacturers like NVIDIA for some time, and will be interesting to see something like CUDA from NVIDIA possibly in our smartphones. Instead of Folding@home we might even be able to do Folding@Android in the near future. That probably means nothing for most, so carry on. In the end it looks like we’re one step closer to getting more and more power out of these mobile devices like never before. [via AnandTech] |
| Archos reveals FamilyPad 2 release details Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:51 AM PST Archos may have been showing off the FamilyPad 2 tablet back in January during CES, however they were pretty quiet when it came to some of the finer points such as a release date and pricing. On that note, it looks like Archos has begun to open up a bit. The company has announced some pricing and release details for the tablet and it looks like it will be available for purchase “very soon.”
Unfortunately we have yet to see a specific release date and Archos has offered just what we mentioned, that the tablet would be available soon. Needless to say, that is much better than what was given during CES. As for the price, they have said the FamilyPad 2 will debut at 299€. That bit should give some hints as to where we can expect this tablet to arrive first — in Europe. As of now no specific mention of a US release date or price. Otherwise, the FamilyPad 2 is obviously a follow-up to the original Archos FamilyPad. This new model comes with some spec bumps in terms of hardware and software. To begin with, the FamilyPad 2 will arrive running Jelly Bean, specifically, Android 4.1. Other specs for the FamilyPad 2 tablet include a 13.3-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800, dual-core 1.6GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot (with support for 64GB cards), Wi-Fi, HDMI, a 2 megapixel front-facing camera and a 2 megapixel rear-facing camera. [via Facebook]    |
| Toy Story: Smash It! game arrives for Android Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:17 AM PST If you’re a fan of the popular Toy Story series, you’ll be happy to know that your favorite toys are back for an all-new game on Android and iOS. It’s called Toy Story: Smash It! and this new puzzler action game aims to keep you busy for hours. Buzz Lightyear and all of his friends are back for some fun. More details and the launch trailer can be seen below.
From the folks right at Disney comes this new physics puzzle game with the usual 3-star system to progress throughout the levels and all. It isn’t free and will cost you just $0.99 but for those interested it looks quite fun. We have a feeling the kids might enjoy the break from Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja too. Disney explains it as a block-breaking physics puzzler game full of interactive fun. It offers 4 exciting and imaginative episodes, over 60 levels to try and finish all with 3 stars, and hours of replayability. Not only can you play as Buzz, but you’ll encounter and meet your favorite Toy Story friends along the way. It isn’t just about completing each level either. You’ll be throwing balls and smashing bricks, but the natural life-like physics is where you’ll get the extra points – so keep that in mind if you give this game a try. The brand new Toy Story: Smash It! puzzle game is available as we speak for Android so hit the link below and give it a try today. [via Play Store] |
| ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10 US availability set for March 5 Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:06 AM PST ASUS unveiled the MeMO Pad Smart 10 tablet earlier in the month and then later released a teaser video showing the features. As of today though, it looks like there is a bit of good news for those in the US market. Simply put, ASUS has confirmed that the MeMO Pad Smart 10 will begin shipping on March 5. Basically, those interested only have a few days left to wait before they can make a purchase.
Otherwise, as was previously announced, the MeMO Pad Smart 10 will be priced at $299. For that price you will be getting a 10.1-inch tablet that is running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and with a display resolution of 1280 x 800. The tablet will have a quad-core 1.2GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and 1GB of RAM along with 16GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, microUSB, microHDMI, 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera and a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. ASUS has also said that the MeMO Pad Smart 10 will have Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0+EDR as well as a battery that should provide up to 8.5 hours of run time. The tablet will measure in at 263 x 180.8 x 9.9 mm, weigh in at 580 grams and be available in three colors — Crystal White, Midnight Blue and Fuchsia Pink. In addition to the tablet, ASUS has also announced the Folio Key case for the MeMO Pad Smart 10 tablet. The Folio Key is a wrap-around protective cover with a Bluetooth keyboard. The catch here, ASUS has yet to give a price or say exactly when the Folio Key would be available for sale. [via Liliputing] Device Info
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| Verizon confirms Galaxy Nexus update coming soon Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:52 AM PST The Samsung Galaxy Nexus over on Verizon Wireless hasn’t been getting the attention it deserves. The smartphone is actually four updates behind the other Nexus devices, but that could soon be changing if recent tweets by Verizon are to be believed. Don’t get your hopes up but a recent discussion has them saying an update for the LTE Nexus is coming soon.
As we mentioned in the link above, the Verizon Galaxy Nexus is four updates behind other Nexus devices and is still stuck on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. With 4.2 already being released and updated a few times, the Galaxy Nexus isn’t receiving the ‘Nexus’ treatment. However, the folks from Droid-life stumbled on a tweet from Verizon that has us hopeful.
After a frustrated user took to Twitter and asked for an update, the official Verizon Wireless Support page answered stating an update is coming soon. We’ve heard ‘coming soon’ for a long, long time, but we’ll take whatever we can get. In fact the Verizon support page has said coming soon since 2012, yet we’re almost in March – I’m just saying! Whether an update is coming, and which version, still remains unseen but hopefully it will arrive at some point in the near future. The other problem is is the VZWSupport claims it will come directly from Samsung over the air, when we know Verizon gives the final okay. Either they know something we don’t, or are confused about the “upcoming” update. For the 5 of you still running stock we hope this is true, for everyone else enjoy the latest CM10.1, BB, or AOKP. [via @VZWSupport] Device Info
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| OUYA Kickstarter shipments will begin on March 28 Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:27 AM PST Some good news has arrived for those who backed the OUYA game console on Kickstarter, a shipping date has been set. Granted, it would have been much nicer to say those were beginning now, but lets focus on the positive — a date has been set. The folks at OUYA have announced that the Kickstarter shipments will begin in just about a months time, on March 28. In addition to that date, they have also been talking games.
Sticking to the talk of shipments. Aside from the March 28 date, not much else new in this respect. OUYA has said that the “parts are in the factory and assembly lines are buzzing” and also noted that they will “gradually ramp up production” as they make sure things are working. It was also (once again) mentioned that the OUYA will have the full launch in June when the console makes its way into retail stores. Moving over to the games and we have talk of a brand new and exclusive title. Specifics have yet to be given here, however this is coming by way of Kim Swift (of Portal, Left 4 Dead, and Quantum Conundrum fame). In this case, it was said that the game will “appeal to core gamers in terms of skill and difficulty” and that it will have a “completely unexpected, imaginative slant that's totally at home on this console.” Otherwise, Minority Media will have an “adventure puzzler” that will make use of the touchpad and buttons, Tripwire Interactive is going to be releasing The Ball in March along with a new exclusive title at a later date and nWay will be releasing ChronoBlade. With that, those with a console coming will likely want to check out our OUYA Starter Guide. [via OUYA] |
| Samsung contracts UK ex-judge that ruled against Apple Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:49 AM PST Samsung has contracted the judge that once forced Apple to make a public apology. If you remember back, this case dates back to November 2012 and was the one that resulted in Apple having to post a notice on its homepage stating that Samsung did not copy the design of the iPad. The interesting part here, the judge, Sir Robin Jacob then ordered Apple to repost that message so it was a bit more clear. Previous history aside, Samsung has since contracted this same person.
It should be made clear, this case and the work Sir Robin Jacob is doing with Samsung does not involve Apple. Instead this is for a case involving Ericsson. Jacob will be acting as an expert in an investigation regarding a patent infringement case against Samsung. Ericsson is looking to get a US import ban on several Samsung devices. The judge, who has since retired will be included in a group of nine experts. It has not yet been revealed in what way he will be advising Samsung. While nobody has suggested that the judge was on Samsung’s payroll at the time of the decision and he is not in any way barred from taking such a role with Samsung, it does appear to have sparked some controversy. This could end up being nothing more than a PR mess, however Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents did bring an interesting point. Mueller has said this may bring a potential for allegations suggesting that this may be a reward for that earlier decision. We suspect this will end up being more of a PR mess than anything, but we also suspect that this will not be the last we here about this matter. [Update] To help clarify the situation, Samsung has offered a statement; "Sir Robin Jacob is not a legal representative of Samsung Electronics. A highly reputed intellectual property expert and academic, Sir Robin has been contracted as an expert by a law firm that represents Samsung Electronics in its case against Ericsson." [via FOSS Patents] |
| HTC Sense 5 update confirmed for the One X, One X+, One S and Butterfly Posted: 28 Feb 2013 07:59 AM PST Coming by way of a user question on the official Facebook page for HTC, the company has confirmed that Sense 5 will be coming for several of the previously released HTC smartphones. In fact, four currently available HTC smartphones will be getting an update that includes Sense 5. Or more specifically, an update that will include at least some of what Sense 5 has to offer. Yes, there will be a catch with the update.
HTC has said that the One X, One X+, One S and Butterfly will get the update. Nothing specific was given in terms of a timeline and at the moment, it was left simply as that it will arrive sometime in the “next few months.” Also just to clarify, this update is coming for the global variants of those devices. We should note that HTC didn’t specifically call this a Sense 5 update and instead said they will be “offering updates.” That brings us to the not so good part of this update news. HTC has said that “some features enabled by the new HTC One hardware will not be available in the software updates.” Basically, it looks like HTC will be rolling out a modified version of Sense 5. The disappointing part here is that they have yet to give any specifics as to which features would be missing. We suspect that the missing features will be camera related, however we still need some confirmation on that. Otherwise, given HTC only named four devices, there are sure to be some upset users. We can think of those carrying a Droid DNA to start. That handset is only a few months old at this point and will hopefully be updated. Of course, given that is a carrier branded (Verizon Wireless) device, that update may take some additional time. Bottom line here, we wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the DNA (and other current devices) getting an update with some of the Sense 5 features, however as of now it seems HTC has the focus on un-branded global models. [via Facebook] |
| T-Mobile Q4 2012 earnings and 4G LTE status update posted Posted: 28 Feb 2013 07:32 AM PST T-Mobile has recently posted their Q4 2012 earnings report and along with that came some news regarding their 4G LTE network. The carrier is still touting themselves as being the “un-carrier” and comments from John Legere, President and CEO of T-Mobile USA include both how they ended 2012 on a “strong note” and that moving forward they plan to “put customers at the center of everything” they do.
CEO comments aside, lets get into the 4G LTE side of this news. T-Mobile has said they are going to accelerate the launch of LTE services. This means they should have coverage available for 100 million people by the middle of this year and for 200 million people by the end of this year. As for current coverage, T-Mobile notes included how the LTE networks in Las Vegas, Nevada and Kansas City, Missouri have been completed. Aside from LTE, T-Mobile is still pushing the other 4G coverage — HSPA+. In this case the carrier now has coverage available for 225 million people with 142 million of those covered on the 1900 MHz spectrum. Some recently completed upgrades include Orlando, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan and Richmond, Virginia. Moving over to the earnings and we were given a look at the net customer additions, details on branded pre-paid and contract customers, total revenues and more. The revenues were $4.9 billion which made this the second consecutive quarter of sequential growth. Other details include the fourth quarter branded contract churn was reduced to 2.5 percent, branded pre-paid customers have grown for the sixth consecutive quarter and how net customer additions were 61,000 for the quarter. On that net customer addition number, that comes as an improvement as compared to the fourth quarter in the previous year. [via T-Mobile] |
| Huawei Ascend Plus and Ascend G710 images leak Posted: 28 Feb 2013 06:52 AM PST It seems a few Huawei branded smartphones have recently leaked. We are talking about the Ascend Plus and the Ascend G710. The images have appeared with some basic details in terms of the specs and it would seem as if at least one of these devices will be coming to the US market. That said, lets kick things off with the Ascend Plus (seen below).
This handset is the one destined for the US. We have yet to see anything official from Huawei, however based on the branding on the handset, it seems clear this one is heading to TracFone. In other words, we are looking at a device that will have some lower end specs and most likely, a low price point. Details that came along with the image show the handset as having a 4-inch display, 1GHz processor, 4GB of storage, a microSD card slot, 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and Ice Cream Sandwich.
Next up is the Ascend G710 (seen above), this is the handset that may or may not make it to the US market. Details for this device show a 5-inch 720p display and quad-core 1.5GHz processor. No mention of which version of Android the G710 will be running, however it was noted as having GSM and CDMA support. Otherwise, based on the image we can see what appears to be a brushed metal backing with a speaker grill towards the bottom of the back. The handset also has three capacitive buttons — one for Back, Home and Menu. These are what we can consider early leaks. Basically, we have an image and some specs, however most of the details remain missing. We will keep an eye out for more, but at least in the case of the Ascend Plus, we suspect this will be a quiet launch and the handset will simply come available without much fanfare. [via Twitter @evleaks] |
| Samsung invites everyone to the Galaxy S IV announcement Posted: 28 Feb 2013 06:27 AM PST We had already seen the press invite for the Samsung Unpacked event on March 14. Given the use of the “4″ and based on the countless rumors and leaks, it seems to go without saying that this will be for the unveiling of the Galaxy S IV. Press invite aside though, Samsung has recently invited everyone to see the announcement. Based on the invite that was posted on the Samsung Mobile Twitter account, the company will also be holding an event in Times Square.
The Times Square event will take place at 7PM on March 14, 2013 and allow those in attendance to watch the livestream of the Samsung Unpacked event. The details are still at a minimum and we only have the invite to go off of, however Samsung has said that “you can watch the Samsung Unpacked via livestream and experience Samsung’s new flagship smartphone at Times Square.” Basically, if you are in the New York area and happen to be curious about the Galaxy S IV — you now have an opportunity to experience some of the announcement excitement in person. Additionally, for those not able to attend in person, Samsung will also have you taken care of. They will also be streaming the event on YouTube, you can catch the stream at www.youtube.com/SamsungMobile. The other interesting part with this invite (and similar to the press invite), Samsung has dubbed this event as Episode 1. More specifically, Samsung Unpacked Episode 1. Bottom line here, while we are not certain how high those episode numbers will go, it does imply that there will be more Unpacked events to follow during the year. So how about it, anyone in the New York area planning to head into Times Square to watch the event? [via Twitter] |
| Qualcomm and others won’t be launching 8-core processors this year Posted: 27 Feb 2013 04:36 PM PST The arms and spec race on mobile devices, especially Android, has really been supercharged lately and is almost getting out of hand. In all honesty does your smartphone really need an Octa-core processor to keep Facebook and YouTube running smooth? The answer would be a no. While we don’t know exactly what to expect in the foreseeable future, Qualcomm and MediaTek apparently won’t be dropping Oct-core SoC’s this year.
The first to dual-cores, then quad, and now 8-cores has been a big race. Everyone has their hands in the quad-core battle at the moment, and Samsung already announced their impressive sounding Exynos 5 Octa 8-core mobile processor back at CES this year. Now however, we’re hearing a few big names like Qualcomm and MediaTek won’t be venturing down that path until next year. According to industry sources close to DigiTimes, Qualcomm has confirmed that they’ve put the brake on any 8-core processor plans this year, and instead will continue to lead the charge with their quad-core offering. The same holds true for MediaTek, who we’ve already seen making huge strides lately. This makes more sense given recent rumors that Samsung themselves will use the Snapdragon 600 for their Galaxy S IV, and only the European model will use their new 8-core chip. Qualcomm is an industry leader and their new quad-core Snapdragon 600 already appears to put nearly everything available today (and coming soon) to shame, and we have proof right here. Then their 800 series is coming later this year promising huge gains. So while it might sound bad that they won’t have an 8-core to compete with Samsung, they probably don’t even need one. We can’t confirm these rumors at the moment, but hopefully more details surface in the coming days. [via PocketDroid] |
| Angry Birds Toons will deliver weekly cartoons for the kids Posted: 27 Feb 2013 04:06 PM PST Sigh. Will it ever end? The Angry Birds success just keeps on rolling. For some the Angry Birds collection of games, gear, apparel and more might be getting old, but millions and millions still play it daily. Not only that, but the kids still love it and I’m sure parents love the quiet time too. Well Angry Birds just one-upped that, and have a new cartoon coming soon.
With plush toys, t-shirts, movies and more the Angry Birds game is really a smashing success. Being the biggest mobile game to date, and still running strong – this isn’t much of a surprise. Yes what you read above is correct. Rovio Mobile will soon be bringing their hit game Angry Birds to a TV near you. Well on the web at least. The company announced Angry Birds Toons will be coming soon, and the exclusive webshow premiere will be March 16th and 17th. Have you (or your kids) ever wanted to know what makes Bomb Bird so Angry, or how some of those pigs fly? Well the new cartoon series will be revealing all of that and more. This new animated web series sounds pretty fun right? The cartoon will be fun, upbeat, and show viewers what is happening “deep in the heart of Piggy Island.” Viewers will be able to get up close and personal with all of their favorite characters. We’re not sure if this will ever make it on TV, but for now it’ll be streamed via the web once a week in their new animated cartoon series. For those parents that have kids who just love this game, be prepared to have some extra quiet time once a week while the little one watches Angry Birds Toons! [via Rovio] |
| Scroll Excel III is a 7-inch dual-core Jelly Bean slate for $165 Posted: 27 Feb 2013 03:45 PM PST There’s no shortage of cheap budget friendly tablets these days, but occasionally we find one with a pretty good price and figure you’d all like to weigh your options. Meet the new Scroll Excel III Android tablet. It isn’t as expensive as the Nexus 7, and has specs better than the cheap Acer Iconia B1. Read on for more details on this dual-core Jelly Bean tablet.
It certainly doesn’t have the best specs in the world, you won’t be getting a quad-core Tegra 3, but for $165 you can’t really complain too much can you? The Scroll Excel III offers a 7-inch 1024 x 600 resolution display, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and even rocks a dual-core processor to keep things somewhat smooth. There’s no telling how smooth, but we have a feeling it isn’t too shabby. Under the hood is a 1.6 GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 Boxchip processor with 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. Then here’s the good stuff. You also get a micro-SD slot (unlike the Nexus 7) to expand storage, a decent 3,000 mAh battery under the hood, as well as dual cameras. 2 megapixel on the rear and VGA front for some video chatting. Oh and did we mention it also has HDMI-out. Basically everything the Nexus 7 is missing, but it also lacks a nice screen and processor. Not bad right?
The specs are hit and miss, but for a baller on a budget this slate is currently available now for £109.99, or around $165 USD. Overall this tablet doesn’t look too terrible, and will probably give those new Lenovo tablets a run for their money we got hands-on with this week. If you’ve been looking for a cheap dual-core Jelly Bean tablet you can learn more by clicking here. Personally, I’d pay the different for the Nexus 7 or wait for the rumored second-gen Nexus 7 coming in May. [via UnwiredView] |
| TuneIn Radio updated with new Google+ sign in features and more Posted: 27 Feb 2013 03:18 PM PST Yesterday Google launched the new Google Services 3.0 for Android, which also integrated Google+ sign in features and more. Today one of the first apps to access this new feature is the popular music service TuneIn Radio. The update landed last night and allows listeners to sign in using their Google+ profile, and from there the music gets a flowing.
Most likely TuneIn was one of the launch partners for Google’s new sign in feature, but we haven’t seen too many other apps update so quickly with full support and integration. Just like you sign into Facebook for some apps, now with TuneIn’s latest update you can sign in using Google+. From there everything syncs and you’ll be set within a matter of seconds. It’s just like signing in with Facebook or Twitter, only you don’t have to put in all the credentials or anything. It’s that easy. From there we can expect the usual array of social features. You’ll be able to quickly and instantly share what you’re tuned into with your Circles. That isn’t all that’s new either. TuneIn also added calender support. This means you’ll now be able to set a calender reminder for certain concerts, a soccer game, or anything else you’d like to listen to without forgetting. This will enable reminders to alert you of a concert you’ve been dying to hear. Now you’ll get notified and instantly “TuneIn”. Fun stuff! Get the latest update from the Play Store today. |
| CAT B15 rugged smartphone hands-on: Built to last Posted: 27 Feb 2013 02:30 PM PST During the show here in Spain for Mobile World Congress an interesting device from the rugged construction company Caterpillar was announced. It isn’t their first Android smartphone, but the new CAT B15 could be a good alternative for those out in the field. This is one of those rugged smartphones that actually might be worth taking a look at thanks to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
This beast of a smartphone rocks a 4-inch display, and is wrapped in armor that makes it almost look like a tank – but in a good way. One of the only downfalls is the low resolution display in this 720p HD world (for mid-range phones) so we’ll take a few points off for that. Overall the rest is pretty decent and should handle those menial tasks with ease. The B15 sports a 4-inch 480×800 resolution display, and is powered by a 1.0 GHz dual-core processor and 512MB of RAM. You’ll get only 4GB of internal storage but it also supports micro-SD to add additional storage options. The size is perfect that it’s bigger than most rugged phones, but small enough to still stay tightly fitted in a construction workers hand. With an aluminum frame to keep it safe, shock absorbent rubber and more this phone will never – ever – need a case. As you saw in the video a few hard drops were nothing for this phone, but it also stands up to more severe drops, shock absorbent rubber keeps it safe, and is water resistant. The aluminum wraps slightly over the sides of the glass so you’ll never worry about a drop cracking the 4-inch screen, and that display is protected by Gorilla Glass 2 to stand most abuse.
It can be dropped, hit with water, and even handle the weather elements. Heat protection lasts safely up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit as well as cold, down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Sadly it only has 512MB of RAM, which was depressing, but it does enjoy Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean according to CAT. So that’s a plus. This certainly isn’t for everyone, but if you need a durable and rugged smartphone look no further than the CAT B15. It will be available starting next month.        |
| Android and Chrome: No merge in sight Posted: 27 Feb 2013 02:00 PM PST There has been ongoing talk about Google merging Android and Chrome. Despite seeing some crossover such as the touchscreen display being added to the Chromebook Pixel, or peripheral support being improved back in Honeycomb — Google is not pushing to merge the platforms anytime soon. In fact, Matias Duarte recently spoke with SlashGear and said that the “two platforms meet different needs."
That is not to say that a merge could not happen at some point in the future though. Duarte noted that Android and Chrome will remain independent platforms as long as it makes functional sense. One interesting aspect, it seems that despite Android being the bigger of the two platforms, Chrome (the team) has been an influence. Duarte mentioned that “Chrome on Android is the best browser we've ever had, and we would not be at that level without the Chrome team doing the work that they do.” Maybe this will have some reverse crossover in that Android will help to improve the touchscreen functionality in Chrome OS. More specifically at the moment, on the Chromebook Pixel. In fact, it seems Duarte believes that all devices should be touchscreen. He noted that he thinks “every screen should be a touchscreen in the future, regardless if it has a keyboard or not." It seems that at some point the two platforms would converge. Whether that means Chrome OS merging into Android or the opposite. Of course, given the current dominance of Android, we suspect that if this ever happens — it will be Chrome coming to Android. Speculation aside, at the moment we have two platforms coming from Google and judging from the comments from Duarte, it looks like that is how it will remain for the foreseeable future. [via SlashGear] |
| Google Chromebook Pixel hands-on and first impressions Posted: 27 Feb 2013 01:25 PM PST Google blasted onto the high end laptop scene last week with their all-new Chromebook Pixel. We had a pretty good idea it was coming based on a few leaks, but they shocked everyone with a quick announcement last week. Not to mention the price also being a shocker – to say the least. Offering a 12.85-inch 2560×1700 ‘Pixel’ display, dual-core Intel Core i5 power and more but that price sure is daunting. Read on for our initial impressions.
It might not run Android but you can’t blame us for wanting to take a peek anyways. This is completely Google built, and screams of quality with a hint of their Nexus lineup in there. We were excited to give it a look so lets check it out. The Chromebook Pixel was certainly needed. In a market full of cheap Chromebooks this is Google’s attempt to change everything. Is the Chrome OS ready though? Lets find out. The Pixel is a Chromebook with specs that clearly match the competition – whoever that may be. Not only that, it also passes them on many levels. The Pixel features a stunning 12.85-inch ‘Pixel’ display with a 2560 x 1700 resolution at 239 PPI and 4.3 million pixels. Do you really have to ask? Yes, yes it look amazing! With a Gorilla Glass 2 protected multi-touch panel and decent viewing angles we’re enjoying it, but sadly the screen glare is awful. This is the fastest Chromebook yet. With a 1.8 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 32GB SSD for storage. As well as a 64GB 4G LTE option coming in April. That isn’t a lot of space but with your purchase users get 1TB (1000GB) of free Google Drive cloud storage. Google wants you to push anything and everything to the cloud. Then you'll get two USB 2.0 ports, Displayport, and a full SD slot to add to that internal storage limit.       Everything about Google’s new Chromebook is premium. Everything. The build quality is great, the design is elegant, and since we know you’re dying to hear it again – that screen is beautiful. Lets talk about the screen. It certainly is on par with the MackBook Retina, but the viewing angles aren’t quite as good. Color reproduction is excellent, and the touchscreen feature seems great. We’ll need plenty of time to test this out, but so far everything is butter smooth. For a quick look at the Pixel as it arrives at your door, and the experience going from boxed up to ready to browse in a matter of minutes be sure and check out the video below. You’ll see how smooth the touchscreen and OS is, as well as a look at the hardware. This is the fastest Chrome OS we’ve used to date. That’s for sure. Thanks to Google finally aiming for the high end we have a stunning 4.3 million pixel display, Intel’s powerful Core i5 1.8 GHz dual-core processor, and a SSD to keep things very speedy. As we said above, this is the best Chrome OS and Chromebook yet. This is one of the most exciting things from Google we’ve seen yet, and we have a feeling this is just the start – and not just for Chromebooks. So far our initial impressions are extremely favorable in terms of the hardware and design. This thing is a work of art. However, this work of art isn’t being displayed properly thanks to Chrome OS being in its infancy. We’ve only just got started but so far we’re loving everything about this device. Build quality is top notch, the screen is wonderful, oh and the integrated speakers under the LED backlit keyboard sounds amazing. I was truly shocked to hear such loud, crisp, and clear sound from the Pixel. Well done Google!
We will obviously need to spend some serious time with the Chromebook Pixel. Flipping through webpages with that touchscreen, installing web apps and Angry Birds, and everything else you’d expect to do in a browser. Since that’s essentially almost all we have here — a glorified browser. It’s a tough pill to swallow. This is one of the best looking laptops I’ve seen to date, but I’m worried about the OS. Google’s certainly tempting those who love technology here, but only time will tell how things turn out. The Chromebook Pixel is on the Play Store as we speak for $1,299 or you can opt for the 64GB Verizon 4G LTE model for $1,449 coming in April. It certainly isn’t cheap, not at all. Who’s up for it?           |
| Pentagon will open networks for Android in early 2014 Posted: 27 Feb 2013 01:05 PM PST The topic of Android and the government has been ongoing. In fact, the Dell Streak 5 and Android 2.2 Froyo were both certified by the Department of Defense way back in 2011. Looking towards the future though, it appears as if Android handsets will begin rolling-out to government employees beginning in February of 2014. This news comes by way of a Department of Defense announcement and in addition to Android, will also include iOS.
We should point out though, while Android will be coming to the Pentagon on a larger scale in early 2014, this does not mean they are ditching the BlackBerry. As it stands, the Pentagon currently has about 470,000 BlackBerry devices with roughly 41,000 Apple products and 8,700 Android devices. The Apple and Android devices are said to be in place only for testing at this point. The February roll-out will bring a mix of 100,000 Android and iOS devices including smartphones and tablets. The reasoning here is that the Pentagon wants employees to have the option to use commercial products on its systems. By this they are referring to the exiting networks, of which there are two — one unclassified and one classified. Taking this a step further, the Pentagon also has plans to build a military mobile applications store that can support up to 8 million devices. For those thinking this move is just about allowing Pentagon employees to have the latest in smartphone and tablet technology, that is not the only reasoning here. Teri Takai, the department's chief information officer, said that it is “about keeping the department's workforce relevant in an era when information accessibility and cybersecurity play a critical role in mission success." But the bottom line here, Android (and iOS) will soon be giving the BlackBerry some competition in a market where they still dominate. [via Bloomberg] Image via Flickr (gregwest98) |
| Chrome for Android update adds background audio and more Posted: 27 Feb 2013 12:11 PM PST If you happen to have an Android device running Chrome, you may want to head over to the Play Store and grab this latest update. The update is for Chrome 25, specifically for version 25.0.1364.123 and it has brought some new features along with some notable improvements on existing features.
Just to begin with, Chrome 25 for Android has arrived with improved scrolling performance and an increased responsiveness when it comes to pinch-zooming. The update also brought faster interactive pages (courtesy of the latest version of the V8 javascript engine) and expanded support for HTML5 features. The other big addition is background audio. Simply put, Chrome for Android will now allow the audio to remain playing while the app is in the background. This one should be good for those who find themselves bored and needing to do something else while listening to audio. Google also noted that this release of Chrome brought “other important stability and performance fixes” as well as some minor user interface adjustments. Chrome 25 for Android is currently available by way of the Google Play Store. Additionally, those looking to do a bit of playing and testing can also look for the Chrome Beta app. The Chrome Beta release will give you a look at the latest features before they come available in the stable build. Those interested can find the Chrome Beta release using this link. [via Chrome Releases] |
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