Android Community |
- Sony Xperia SP compared to the Xperia V in latest image leak
- ABI study shows 800 million Android smartphones being used daily in 2013
- Winamp updated with notification controls and bug fixes
- Samsung to launch the Galaxy Discover without TouchWiz
- Google reportedly ditching the large scale booth for MWC 2013
- Google Maps adds Ski Resort runs and lifts to help you hit the powder
- BlackBerry Z10 users will be able to sideload Android apps
- Samsung rumors point towards a March 15 Galaxy S IV announcement
- HTC teaser points to something that will soon be alive
- LG begins teasing a “new series” of mobile phones
- Samsung Galaxy Discover coming to Straight Talk and Net10
- Huawei Ascend P2 images leak ahead of an official announcement
- AT&T announces more 4G LTE network expansions
- Nexus 10 finally launches in Japan Play Store
- Neo smartphone offers 5.3-inch HD display and quad-core for $160
- Motorola RAZR i Jelly Bean update now rolling out for those in the UK
- Android 4.2.2 update reportedly coming later this month
- Android usage report released showing the slow and steady climb of Jelly Bean
- Samsung GT-P8200 tablet looks to be heading towards Europe
- 3DMark coming soon to Android – One benchmark for all mobile devices
| Sony Xperia SP compared to the Xperia V in latest image leak Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:22 AM PST Details have slowly been emerging for the Sony Xperia SP, the device previously known as the C530x and the HuaShan. We have also seen a few images of the handset in the past. As of today however, it looks like some additional images have leaked. This time they have arrived offering a side by side look at the Xperia SP and the Xperia V.
This latest rounds of pics has arrived by way of the Android Hilfe forums and are showing a look at the front of the devices. The Xperia SP is seen on the left side of the images and the Xperia V is on the right side. Nothing all that surprising is revealed in the pics. We see your basic Xperia device with a full touchscreen. The Xperia SP does appear to be a bit on the larger side. For comparison sake, the Xperia V has a 4.3-inch display. This would suggest that the Xperia SP has a 4.5-inch display. Previous rumored specs for the Xperia SP include a dual-core 1.7GHz processor and Adreno 320 graphics. The display is expected to be 720p. Otherwise, these images do offer a look at the version of Android, which happens to be 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.
All said and done, the rumors for the Sony Xperia SP appear to be mounting, however we have yet to see much in terms of when an announcement can be expected. Given the time of year, one could think that Sony will offer something at Mobile World Congress. While that is yet to be seen, we do want to remind you that Android Community will be at MWC so if, or when Sony makes this official, we will bring you the news. [via Unwired View] |
| ABI study shows 800 million Android smartphones being used daily in 2013 Posted: 06 Feb 2013 11:00 AM PST A new study by ABI Research has been published showing some pretty impressive numbers for the green army we all know and love as Android. If you didn’t think the Android platform was the king of smartphones before, you’ll surely think so after reading these details. According to ABI, by the end of 2013 there will be 1.4 billion smartphones being used daily. And around 800 million will all be Google‘s Android.
The folks from ABI have released all the details on a recent study which factors in an annual smartphone growth rate of 44 percent for the 2013 year. Based off of previous years numbers and growth, they’ve estimated the green army to have a pretty significant lead over all of the competition — combined. Apple’s iPhone still comes in second place just under 300 million, and then the rest trickle down to those other smartphones. There will be a small surge from both Windows Phone, as well as the brand new BlackBerry 10, but nothing will come close to Android. The study shows Microsoft’s baby increasing to 45 million by the end of 2013. Interestingly enough it also mentions their predictions that the new BlackBerry 10 will sell 20 million units in 2013. Pretty bold considering that’s half of what Windows Phone will push. In the end this really just tells us what we already knew. And that being that Android is the number one mobile and smartphone OS, and is showing no signs of slowing down. By early 2014 there will be over 1 billion Android powered smartphones being used each and every single day. That’s just crazy! This research firm also thinks there will be nearly 268 million tablets being used in 2013. Interestingly enough they state smartphone growth and adoption will actually decrease 1% from 2012. We’ll see how it all plays out as the year continues. We know there’s tons of Android devices activated daily, so it’s odd to see these “usage” numbers. Keep up the good work Google! [via SlashGear] |
| Winamp updated with notification controls and bug fixes Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:35 AM PST The aging yet very popular media manager and player we all know as Winamp has just received an update in the Google Play Store. For those that love Winamp back to the old Napster days and beyond, you’ll be happy to know this music player for Android got a little better this week. They’ve integrated notification controls and fixed a few bugs.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Winamp, all the way back to the days of 56k and Napster. Forget Metallica, lets talk about Winamp as the ultimate music manager. It certainly isn’t Google Music, but for those who love all the options, add-ons, equalizers, and the old school look and feel you’ll want to check out the latest version. The entire design still feels a bit dated and could use an overhaul, but that probably isn’t happening any time soon. Honestly I still enjoy Winamp simply for the add-ons and nostalgia, but there’s tons of better options available in the Play Store. I’ve resorted to PowerAmp long ago, and that’s only when I’m not using Google Music for my needs. The guys at AndroidPolice state that the several of bug fixes include SHOUTcast and AAC audio playback, but the listing on the Google Play Store doesn’t confirm any of the changes. Simply listed as “fixed miscellaneous bugs”. So if you’re a Winamp fan get the update below. Otherwise, let us know in the comments what your go-to music player is on Android. [via Play Store] |
| Samsung to launch the Galaxy Discover without TouchWiz Posted: 06 Feb 2013 10:24 AM PST The Galaxy Discover was revealed as coming to Straight Talk and Net10 earlier this morning, however it seems Samsung has opted to do something unique with this particular handset. They are going to launch it without the TouchWiz user interface. This will not change the fact that the device is launching with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but still, we suspect some may prefer a vanilla ICS as compared to a TouchWiz filled Jelly Bean experience.
The Galaxy Discover price and release dates have yet to be revealed by either carrier at the moment. Instead the details are coming direct from Samsung. The page that Samsung posted notes that the Galaxy Discover will be running “a taste of pure Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.” And just in case there was any doubt as to what that means, they further note that the Galaxy Discover will let you “experience mobile life without carrier or Samsung overlays.” Simply put, no TouchWiz on the Galaxy Discover. While that may sound really good to some, the specs are going to be a limiting factor here. Basically, the Galaxy Discover is a lower-end device. The feature set includes a 3.5-inch (320 x 480) HVGA display, 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7225A processor, 2.7GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, 1300 mAh battery, 3.0 megapixel rear-facing camera and HSDPA 7.2Mbps connectivity. Lower-end specs aside, the one saving factor here could be the price. Well, the price and the carrier plans. We know that Straight Talk and Net10 have unlimited plans beginning at $45 per month. Finally, while we cannot make a direct comparison here, Net10 has similarly spec’d devices available for $179.99. Device Info
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 [via SammyHub] |
| Google reportedly ditching the large scale booth for MWC 2013 Posted: 06 Feb 2013 09:48 AM PST Rumor has it that Google will not be offering the same booth experience at Mobile World Congress this year. In fact, it is being reported that Google France has confirmed the lack of a booth during the show. Needless to say, we are not all that convinced Google will be offering anything less as compared to what they had last year.
Of course, there is always the time a company scales a show appearance down so we cannot rule this out entirely. The report is coming by way of the French language Test Mobile blog who have reportedly received word from Google France. The statement they have posted mentions that Google will not have a stand at MWC this year. Further details from the Google France statement include how they will still have the Android team present during the show. This all seems to stem from the fact that Google has yet to post an updated Android at Mobile World Congress page for 2013. Last year Google had published a teaser page at android.com/events/mwc/2012/, however we have yet to see anything for 2013. A change of the year in the URL results in a 404 page at the moment. This could lend some credibility to the report, however we should point out that the Android at Mobile World Congress page was published just after the middle of February last year. In other words, that 2013 page could still be coming. Anyone think Google will not be doing the large scale booth at Mobile World Congress this year? You can get a brief look at what Google had last year in the above image. But what that pic isn’t showing is the fact that the booth was two stories and had goodies such as dancing Androids, a full display of Android handsets, candy, a smoothie bar, a claw-machine with prizes and a machine that created custom backs for the Galaxy Nexus. You can get a better idea about at the 2012 MWC Android booth right here. And don’t forget — Android Community will be on-site for Mobile World Congress 2013. [via Pocket Now] |
| Google Maps adds Ski Resort runs and lifts to help you hit the powder Posted: 06 Feb 2013 09:35 AM PST Are you ready to grip some edges and hit the powder for a day of snowboarding or skiing at your favorite winter destination? Would you love a detailed map showing all the trails, runs, and even ski lifts for easy viewing on the go? Well say hello to the newest added feature to the always improving Google Maps. Today Google’s announced new features to help you hit the fresh powder on the mountain top.
Google Maps has integrated different locations around this great country we call the US of A, offering over 38 different location with full details maps, runs, and details for the ski lifts – and even a few up in Canada. It looks like Google wants to become our “go-to guide” for the mountains. I can’t wait for this same feature to arrive for some of my favorite mountain bike destinations so I can hit them on my Trek EX8. Google claims they’ve added around 38 of the most popular Ski Resorts and destinations in the country, and they also have tons more coming soon. If your favorite spot isn’t on the list don’t worry, because they’ll probably be adding it soon. Being in Vegas I was hoping for Brian Head, but I guess I’ll have to head to Park City, Utah, for my next Ski and Bike trip to test out this new feature.
Google is happy to bring the fun locations above to their Mapping service on both Android and iOS, and expect more to arrive soon. If you’re wondering about service way up in the Mountain tops, you’ll probably have it. If not just use Google Maps cache or save map feature for later viewing before you head out. A few select slopes even offer street view, now that’s just awesome. Check out more details from the via below. [via Google Blog] |
| BlackBerry Z10 users will be able to sideload Android apps Posted: 06 Feb 2013 09:01 AM PST We have seen details stating that BlackBerry 10 would be launching with 28,000 repackaged Android apps. And while that may sound like a good start, it seems that many more will be available for those willing to do some sideloading. This process is not necessarily as simple as grabbing an APK file and installing it, however thanks to the work of others — the process should be able to be done by just about anyone that can follow some directions.
The process of sideloading Android apps on the BlackBerry Z10 has been detailed by the folks at Good e-Reader who not only offered some text based directions, but a video as well. The sideloading of apps will help those looking for goodies such as the Amazon Kindle app, which is available for Android but not natively available for BlackBerry 10. On the flip side, it is said that apps made in Java or Adobe Air will work and apps that use a proprietary framework, such as those from Rovio or Gameloft will never work. We are getting ahead of ourselves though, to begin the process you will need a BlackBerry Z10 that has Developer Mode turned on. From this point you will have to connect the Z10 to a PC using the microUSB cable and begin looking for Android apps that have been converted from the standard APK format to a BAR file. Those feeling confused by those terms, you can rest easy because there is already a list of converted apps available. You can find that right here. You will also need to download and install a program called DDPB — this needs to be installed on your PC. Once theses steps are completed you will be able to pick the apps you want and begin the installation process. The installation time will depend on the size of the app and is said to range anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes for each. All said and done, the ability to sideload Android apps on a BlackBerry Z10 sounds like an appealing prospect. But on the flipside, there is some work involved and we suspect that work will be a turn off for the average user. [via Good eReader] |
| Samsung rumors point towards a March 15 Galaxy S IV announcement Posted: 06 Feb 2013 08:22 AM PST Based on the frequency of Galaxy S IV related rumors one thing seems clear, we are going to be seeing an announcement sooner rather than later. Of course, the key here seems to be exactly when that announcement will take place. Earlier rumors have suggested that Samsung was going to be holding a Mobile Unpacked event on March 22, however as of today it looks like we now have another potential date.
While Samsung has yet to confirm any of these dates, the nice part about this new date is that it is a bit earlier than March 22. In fact, the latest rumor is suggesting that Samsung will be announcing the Galaxy S IV on March 15. Taking that a step further and in addition to a rumored March 15 announcement date — Samsung is expected to have the handset available for sale in early-April. These latest rumors are coming by way of SamMobile and a person they are describing as a “trusted insider.” Other details remain a mystery though. For example, the location of the event remains unknown at the moment. The other point we should mention in terms of the availability — that will likely vary by market and by carrier. We have seen a rough timeline for release and it looks like it will be spread from April through June. The breakdown here shows the handset as coming to eastern Europe first with the remainder of Europe as well as Asia seeing a release before the end of April. Other markets including North America, Australia and Africa are said to be getting the Galaxy S IV in May or June. Bottom line here, while these details all seen believable enough — they remain rumor until we get the official word from Samsung. [via SlashGear] |
| HTC teaser points to something that will soon be alive Posted: 06 Feb 2013 07:54 AM PST HTC has posted their latest teaser and what can we say, this one is rather interesting. The image reads “Alive Soon” and the interesting portion comes into play with the graphic — a heart sitting on a circuit board. Given the timing one can only assume this will have something to do with the M7 smartphone, however the alive soon and heart image seems like it could be pointing towards something else.
Maybe say, something software related. Could HTC be prepping some sort of virtual assistant service that will have your phone feeling alive. Maybe, maybe not. We hope we are going to see something regarding this come the February 19 event the company has previously announced. Or at the very least, we hope to see some additional teasers in the lead up to the 19th. So how about it, anyone have any guess as to what a realistic looking heart on a circuit board could mean? The way the heart appears to bleed out leads one to believe the heart is connected to the circuit board. Of course, we suspect that is sort of implied by the alive soon text. The only other bits on the teaser include the HTC logo on the bottom and the mention of the htc.com/de website. If nothing else, HTC does seem to be attracting a fair amount of attention in the lead up to the February 19 event. We have seen plenty of M7 related chatter (both from inside and outside of HTC). Not to mention, while this latest teaser doesn’t reveal all that much — it is interesting enough to leave us scratching our heads wondering what the company has planned. [via BestBoyZ] |
| LG begins teasing a “new series” of mobile phones Posted: 06 Feb 2013 07:27 AM PST LG Mobile has recently taken to Facebook with a teaser. The details are at a minimum, however LG has said that a “new series will be unveiled.” Given the timing, one could take this to mean the new series is going to be unveiled during Mobile World Congress. Of course, depending on the level of splash that LG wants to make — they could always choose to do this at a private event.
Aside from the image (seen above), LG has said that this surprise will arrive with an “unexpected distinction.” This teaser aside, we haven’t been hearing all that much about (or from) the company recently. There were some Optimus G Pro leaks which lead to an outing by Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo. We also saw the LG Optimus L7 II Dual a short while back. The key here though, neither of those seem to fit in the category of being a “new series” with an “unexpected distinction.” We are a bit curious to see what LG has in store for everyone. And if nothing else, LG does have some leverage to build upon at the moment considering the success they have seen with the Nexus 4. The one thing that we hope is this unexpected distinction proves to be something more than a catchy gimmick. Not that we think LG will bring another 3D handset, but that is the sort of feature that one could describe as being gimmicky. Naturally, we saw this teaser from LG Mobile and assumed something Android, however there is always the possibility they are making a move to another platform — say something with Windows Phone. So how about it, what would LG have to unveil to live up to the “unexpected distinction” comment? [via Facebook] |
| Samsung Galaxy Discover coming to Straight Talk and Net10 Posted: 06 Feb 2013 06:51 AM PST According to some recently published details coming from Samsung, they are going to soon be launching a new smartphone with Straight Talk and Net10. The handset is the Samsung Galaxy Discover, the SGH-S730G. We have yet to see an official announcement from either carrier, which is really just to say that pricing has yet to be revealed. Given the specs though, we suspect the Galaxy Discover will be attractively priced.
The Galaxy Discover will be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and with hardware to include a 3.5-inch (320 x 480) HVGA display, 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7225A processor and 3.0 megapixel rear-facing camera. Other goodies include 2.7GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, 1300 mAh battery, GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi and HSDPA 7.2Mbps connectivity. Otherwise, the handset will measure in at 4.59 x 2.42 x 0.45 inches and weigh in at 4.4 ounces. Bottom line here, the Galaxy Discover seems like a device that will be attractive for the person that wants to have a smartphone but cannot (or does not want to) spend a small fortune to make the purchase. Given the details have been posted on the official Samsung website we suspect the carriers will have the Galaxy Discover listed as being available fairly soon. Also to keep in mind, both Straight Talk and Net 10 are contract free carriers with some attractive plans. For example, both companies have an unlimited talk, text and data plan available from $45 per month. Device Info
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[via phoneScoop] |
| Huawei Ascend P2 images leak ahead of an official announcement Posted: 06 Feb 2013 06:24 AM PST Another set of Huawei Ascend P2 images have surfaced. These latest are offering a look at the backside of the device as well as a slightly blurry look at the front side. Basically, these are certainly not the best leaked images we have seen, however on the flip side — it is nice that the pics are showing an actual phone. As you will likely notice in the image of the back, the camera details are covered up by a finger.
Details that have come along with these images have the rear-facing as being a 13 megapixel and with the ability to record 1080p HD quality video. That does fall in line with previous Ascend P2 leaks. Otherwise, not much else to mention in terms of the image of the back. You can see the volume rocker on the side of the device as well as the Huawei logo but otherwise, the backside is pretty basic looking.
The pic of the front is the blurry image in this series, however you can still see that Huawei look. That sort of shiny black that you often see on Huawei devices. The display is said to be 4.7-inches and 1080p in quality. If nothing else, these images do appear to lineup with the previously leaked renders. Other rumored specs of the Ascend P2 include Jelly Bean along with a quad-core 1.8GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 8/16GB of internal storage and a 3000 mAh battery. In addition to the images we are also seeing some details in terms of pricing. The handset is expected to arrive priced at 3000 Yuan, which is around $480 in terms of US dollars. Of course, as we often see, the price doesn’t always translate perfectly so we are going to have to consider that a ballpark figure and wait for the official word from Huawei. And speaking of, rumor has it that Huawei will officially unveil the Ascend P2 during Mobile World Congress. [via GizChina] |
| AT&T announces more 4G LTE network expansions Posted: 05 Feb 2013 04:19 PM PST Today AT&T has confirmed that their continued efforts to increase and rollout 4G LTE networks is moving along quite well. While they still haven’t been able to match the speed and frequency of Verizon, AT&T has 4 new markets to grace their 4G LTE network today, as well as 6 locations getting expanded. If you’ve been waiting for faster speeds and are in Georgia, get excited.
Yup, starting today AT&T will be flipping the power-on switch for 4 new 4G LTE markets. While this is just a small number compared to the more than 15+ each time Verizon makes an announcement, we’ll take what we can get. The new locations include Albany, GA; Calhoun, GA; Dalton, GA; and Norfolk, VA. The updates to Norfolk Virginia also include Virginia Beach and Portsmouth, and those in Georgia include Cecil County and parts of Northwest Georgia although the actual locations weren’t all extremely clear from AT&T’s press room. AT&T also confirmed that as many as three cities have been expanded throughout Pennsylvania, and the same amount was mentioned for Virginia. Their expansions have been as slow as their actual rollout, but AT&T has big plans for 2013 that is for sure. They just purchased plenty of additional network spectrum so expect their network improvements to continue to get faster and faster throughout the year. |
| Nexus 10 finally launches in Japan Play Store Posted: 05 Feb 2013 03:19 PM PST Google and Samsung’s impressive Nexus 10 tablet has only been available for a few months, but that hasn’t been the case for everyone. Sadly those in Japan have been stuck waiting without any realistic option for the slate. The same thing happened originally with its smaller sibling the Nexus 7. Today Google Play in Japan has full stock and the slate is available as we speak.
Originally we were expecting the Nexus 10 tablet to go on sale shortly thereafter the US and other regions, but sadly that was never what ended up happening. Those in Japan have been stuck trying to import the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean powered HD tablet. The Nexus 10 is an awesome super HD tablet from Samsung with their new Exynos 5 dual processor and more. For those who’ve forgotten, the Nexus 10 rocks a 2560 x 1600 resolution display for an unparalleled visual experience pushing over 300 pixels per inch. The screen is truly a site you need to see yourself to truly enjoy it. The Google and Samsung powered tablet will set buyers in Japan back a few bucks, but it’s certainly worth it. See our Review! The Nexus 10 is available on the Google Play Store in Japan as we speak. It’s that simple to get, although is listed as “shipping soon” but we all know what that means with Google. Whenever! It will cost users ¥36,800 (almost $400 USD) for the 16GB model, and around ¥44,800 ($480) for the 32GB versions respectively. More details can be found by heading to this site. Device Info
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[via IntoMobile] |
| Neo smartphone offers 5.3-inch HD display and quad-core for $160 Posted: 05 Feb 2013 02:38 PM PST Those Chinese manufacturers sure do have a way at offering some impressive sounding device for dirt cheap. Take this new Neo N003 for example. You’ll get everything that makes the Galaxy Note II worthwhile, with a better camera, thinner design, and it will only cost you $160. Read on for more details on this Chinese powerhouse smartphone.
It’s called the Neo N003 and we’re hearing it will be announced early next month and hit shelves shortly thereafter. It offers a 5.3-inch HD display, a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and even a 13 megapixel camera. Sounds interesting right? You’ll also get a 3,000 mAh battery all for that extremely low price. Now for the bad parts. The screen is only 1280 x 720p and not 1080p, but still is HD and should look extremely crisp. Then the quad-core is a MediaTek processor instead of something from Samsung or Qualcomm, but they hold their own quite well. For now we aren’t sure about the rest of the specs but once it gets announced we’ll have all the details. We can clearly see on-screen looking Android 4.0 and above buttons, but we’re expecting Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or higher on this beast, especially being announced this late. While this will probably only appear in China initially, would you pay $160 for this top-tier device completely unlocked and ready to roll? We have a feeling a few of you will. We’ll update as soon as Neo officially announces this new smartphone. [via UnwiredView] |
| Motorola RAZR i Jelly Bean update now rolling out for those in the UK Posted: 05 Feb 2013 02:03 PM PST Jelly Bean began rolling-out for Motorola RAZR i users in France a short while back. And as of today, the update has been announced for those in the UK. Those in the UK can expect the update to arrive as Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and should be on the lookout for an update notification to arrive on their handset.
While Motorola has made an official announcement, they didn’t offer much in terms of a timeframe. We do know that the update is available, and that it is coming in phases. What we have yet to see is how many phases there will be in total and when the update is set to arrive for all users. Regardless, those in the UK with a RAZR i have two options in front of them — sit back and wait for the update notification to arrive or take the pro-active route and check manually. We suspect many will take the latter approach and if they have not already checked manually, they will be doing that really soon. However the update comes though, the features and perks will be the same. Many are familiar with what getting Jelly Bean means — three of the bigger perks include the Google Now, Google Voice Search and improved notifications. Touching on the improved notifications, these basically mean you will now be able to take actions directly from the alert. For example, missed call notifications will allow you to return the call and meeting reminders will allow you to email those involved or snooze the alert for later. One maybe not so obvious notification tip is that you can expand them by pinching out with two fingers. Of course, Jelly Bean also comes with Project Butter which just adds a smoothness to Jelly Bean. Device Info
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[via Motorola] |
| Android 4.2.2 update reportedly coming later this month Posted: 05 Feb 2013 01:26 PM PST It appears that the last update to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean could arrive as soon as mid-February, then of course be followed by Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie in May. We’ve heard a few tips and seen reports of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean being found on a few Nexus 4 devices, but now it appears to also be on the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7, 10 and Google employee phones.
According to IBTimes, who claims to have already used a Samsung Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, the update is miniscule at best and only offers a few small tweaks and changes. This was expected however, since Google’s preparing their main update for the Google I/O event in May. While we haven’t heard anything official from Google, multiple reports and videos have surfaced showing at least the latest LG Nexus 4 running 4.2.2 Jelly Bean for a select few. Google hasn’t pushed 4.2.2 to AOSP and it hasn’t been confirmed, but either way it’s coming soon. The leakster claims Google is aiming to release the last update to Jelly Bean sometime this month, possibly around mid-February and then continue their efforts on Key Lime Pie. It looks like the 4.2.2 update will mainly be a security and bug fixing update, and we’ll get all the new goodies come 5.0 KLP. Sources mention Bluetooth updates and improvements across Android, as well as a few important security bugs have been patched. This should arrive soon, but we’re already looking forward to Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie and the Google I/O event in May. |
| Android usage report released showing the slow and steady climb of Jelly Bean Posted: 05 Feb 2013 01:21 PM PST The latest Android usage numbers have been released by Google. if you remember back to last month we were excited because Jelly Bean reached a double digit percentage and Cupcake officially dropped off. This month, we have to say that the numbers came with not quite as much in terms of surprise. Basically, Jelly Bean usage increased a bit and Gingerbread usage decreased a little bit.
Looking at Jelly Bean, Android 4.1 currently has a 12.2 percent share and 4.2 has a 1.4 percent share for a total combined of 13.6 percent. This is up from 10.2 percent combined in January. One interesting perspective here is that the Jelly Bean usage has nearly doubled since December when it accounted for 6.7 percent of the usage. Gingerbread usage dropped by 2 percent going from 47.6 percent in January to 45.6 percent this month. In both cases, small changes that happen to have gone in the expected directions. Ice Cream Sandwich has remained just about the same as compared to the January numbers. The February report shows Ice Cream Sandwich as having a 29 percent share. In January the Ice Cream Sandwich share was 29.1 percent. While this was only a very small change, if anything we would have suspected this number to have been on the increase. Otherwise, Honeycomb currently accounts for 1.3 percent, Froyo has 8.1 percent, Elcair has 2.2 percent and Donut continues to remain with a scant 0.2 percent.
As we have mentioned in previous reports, these numbers come direct from Google and are based on data collected during a 14-day period. The data is based on the number of devices accessing Google Play and this time around that 14-day period ended on February 4, 2013. We do have to wonder though, just how much longer are we going to see Donut holding a place in these reports. [via Google] |
| Samsung GT-P8200 tablet looks to be heading towards Europe Posted: 05 Feb 2013 12:46 PM PST It is not as if we needed further evidence of the Samsung GT-P8200 tablet, however thanks to a recent Bluetooth SIG filing we may now have an idea of where this particular tablet is heading. According to the report, the geographic availability is Europe. Granted, that does not necessarily mean we will not see this model in other regions, however it looks destined to arrive first for those in Europe.
Otherwise, the Bluetooth SIG filing contains the usual details including how the GT-P8200 is a “mobile device with Bluetooth wireless technology.” That is a fairly standard line, however it was shown to have Bluetooth 4.0. Previous details that we have seen for this particular model touch on the display. If you remember back, the GT-P8200 was the tablet shown to have the 2560 x 1600 resolution display.
Aside from pointing towards a European release, it remains unclear as to when the tablet will be officially announced. Or for that matter, when it will be available for purchase. Speculation of course suggests that Samsung will make the announcement towards the end of February — during Mobile World Congress. In addition to the GT-P8200 tablet, Samsung is also expected to announce a few others. The other tablets include the GT-P5200 and the GT-P3200. All three models are expected to arrive running Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean and according to previous benchmark filings, the P3200 will have a display resolution of 1024 x 600 and the P5200 will have a display resolution of 1280 x 800. [via Unwired View] |
| 3DMark coming soon to Android – One benchmark for all mobile devices Posted: 05 Feb 2013 12:36 PM PST We are no strangers to benchmark apps here at Android Community, as it’s one of many different ways we test performance and battery life for powerful smartphones and tablets. One group many might not be as familiar with is FutureMark and their extremely popular PC suite of benchmark apps. Recently they’ve announced their brand new program simply called 3DMark, and it will be the ultimate cross-platform mobile benchmark application for Android and iOS.
FutureMark has been very popular with PC gamers testing their latest and greatest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 graphics cards, Intel Core i7 quad-core processors, 32GB of RAM and everything else PC gamers do these days. I can’t talk because my PC is watercooled, and who can forget the old 8800GT days. However, now that same level of benchmarking precision and knowledge is coming to Android and all of our favorite mobile devices. Earlier this week FutureMark released their brand new 3DMark Benchmark suite, but currently it only works for Windows. Their new suite has three different tests and “maps” to test hardware, but one will be designed specifically for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. The map and test will be called Ice Storm and will be cross-platform. We’ll be able to compare the latest Samsung Exynos-powered tablet to upcoming iPads — fun. Check out the demo below: The Android benchmark from 3DMark looks pretty impressive to say the least, and will certainly tax the highest end of smartphones and tablets to the fullest. In the past you’ve been able to post scores online, compare with others, and share to social networks. We’re expecting the same sort of options for their Android benchmark app and can’t wait to give it a try. It will be interesting to see how scores are tallied and compared with other OS versions, different screen sizes, and varying resolution displays. FutureMark hasn’t announced when the mobile benchmark will become available, but we’ll update when we hear more. [via 3DMark] |
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The keyboard is also positioned at the front of the Websurfer's base, leaving limited area for a touchpad. The Websurfer does feature one, however it is just 19 by 13mm in size, with an equally little button on either side. To move the mouse cursor from one side of the screen to the other, you'll need to swipe multiple times, but the trackpad works better than you might expect, though we'd still prefer a standard-size pad.
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