Android Phone Fans |
- New Sony Xperia SP rumors swirl in
- Nikon licenses Microsoft patent to use Android on cameras
- LG Optimus G finally heads to Europe
- Pantech Perception hits FCC, does horrible job of hiding Verizon affiliation
- White House must respond to questions about cellphone unlock law as petition reaches 100,000 signatures
- Report: Huawei Ascend P2 won’t have 1080p display
- Google ChromeBook Pixel goes official, starts at $1,300 [VIDEO]
- Sprint’s EVO Design 4G gets minor software update
- Ubuntu Touch developer preview now available for download and installation
- Patent details how Google Glass might look on a different frame
- Motorola tempts smartphone buyers with $50 Google Play gift card
- Leak reveals budget-friendly Sprint Force from ZTE arriving March 1st
- Snapchat adds video in latest Android update
- HBO GO/MAX GO get HDMI-out support in version 2.0 update
- LG announces LTE-enabled Optimus F5 and Optimus F7
| New Sony Xperia SP rumors swirl in Posted: 21 Feb 2013 06:43 PM PST Ready for yet another rumor regarding yet another Sony device that was named by picking random letters from the alphabet? The latest bit comes from XperiaBlog, and the outlet has apparently gotten word about the Sony Xperia SP (or the C530X, as it was once called). According to a “trusted” source of theirs, The SP will feature a 1.7Ghz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, Adreno 320 graphics, and possibly a 4.6 inch 720p HD display.
The phone will also feature Sony’s 8 megapixel Exmor camera sensor, 8GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, and will sport an aluminum construction with the only exception to that being the back plate (said to be plastic). It doesn’t sound like something Sony’s going to be touting as the next big thing, but it could be a very solid offering for those who don’t need to biggest and baddest smartphone on the planet. We’re not sure when to expect Sony’s next round of wares but the company has a history of surprising us with a few things at Mobile World Congress. We’ll have to wait and see if there’s anything in-store for us once we make our way to Barcelona next week. |
| Nikon licenses Microsoft patent to use Android on cameras Posted: 21 Feb 2013 05:55 PM PST Microsoft has made quite the reputation for itself in these patent wars. Its most notable claim to infamy in the mobile space has been the ability to strong-arm several Android manufacturers into paying a licensing fee for every device sold. Now, it looks to be getting another piece from the point-and-shoot camera pie.
Renown camera manufacturer Nikon has come to agreement with Microsoft to enable them to make Android-based cameras. The terms and amount of the deal weren’t enclosed, of course, but Microsoft will likely receive a small stipend for every device sold running Android. Since Nikon already has one on the market with the Coolpix S800C there might be some back-pay going to Microsoft, as well. We’re not sure how much further Nikon is looking to go with the “Android on cameras” experiment, but you know we aren’t complaining to see more manufacturers get on the train. It’s just a shame that Microsoft has its hands in the pockets of nearly anyone who tries to come near Android. Still, these OEMs see the platform for what it is — the fastest growing mobile operating system ever, and one that commands a vast majority of the market. A few dollars for each device sold won’t hurt too bad in the grand scheme of things. [via Microsoft] |
| LG Optimus G finally heads to Europe Posted: 21 Feb 2013 04:48 PM PST The LG Optimus G is one of LG’s best phones, and while we’re fully expecting the Optimus G Pro to take that crown in under a week’s time we’re sure there are still more than a few of you out there who wouldn’t mind having it. Our friends in Europe will finally be able to get their hands on the device starting this month, with Swedish folks getting first dibs on the flagship smartphone. Following this month’s launch in Sweden, those in France, Germany, and Italy will get their own respective cracks at it.
LG’s Optimus G is an Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean Smartphone that features Optimus UI 3.0, a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset, a 4.7-inch 1280×720 display, and more. LG’s banking on unique features like Q-Slide to capture the attention of those who are in the market for a new smartphone. If you’re looking to get some opinions on the device you can start with our very own review right here. Long story short, it’s a very solid device that has a lot going for itself. More exciting options are on the horizon, of course, and there’s still tough competition from the ranks of Samsung, HTC and more captivating users just as well. Read on for full press details, and be sure to check with your local carriers and retailers to see when this might be headed to a network near you.
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| Pantech Perception hits FCC, does horrible job of hiding Verizon affiliation Posted: 21 Feb 2013 03:49 PM PST It’s no secret by now that the Pantech Perception is real and on its way to Verizon, but in case you needed a reminder of that fact the FCC has exposed each and every corner of the device for all to see. The photos included in the filing don’t show any Verizon logos, but considering each carrier’s 4G LTE logo is unique it’s not hard to figure out that this is still a device headed for Big Red.
The Pantech Perception is rumored to be coming with an HD display of unknown size, 4G LTE, Qualcomm’s 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and more. As with most Pantech phones we imagine this will be an affordable option for those not willing to spend $200-300 on a phone, but without official word from Verizon it’s tough to say. With this stop at the FCC we imagine we’re a bit closer to it being ready for a grand unveiling, but for now just take a second to look at its Coke bottle-like curves in the images above and below.     [FCC via Unwired View] |
| Posted: 21 Feb 2013 02:57 PM PST When the White House first launched its petition website, the goal was to create a direct medium of communication between government and the people. Petitions made a lot of sense as it was a great way to gauge which issues are most important to people. The White House promised to respond to any petition that reached a certain threshold before a certain amount of time. The original threshold was set at 30,000 signatures, but because it was so easy for pranksters to get the White House to respond to a request to build a death star, the threshold was tweaked to 100,000. That made it more difficult to get discussion on real issues going, but we understand the need.
That said, the one petition us phone lovers really care about — the one to make the unlocking of cell phones legal again — reached the 100,000 mark just before the cut-off date. The Librarian of Congress put into effect a rule that effectively banned the act of unlocking your phone without carrier consent. Most scoffed at the law and the idea that the government could scare citizens away using court fines and possible prosecution, but regardless of how you feel about the ridiculous nature of the enforcement or the law itself most would still rather it be done away with. With this milestone reached, an official from the White House must respond to the request laid out in the original petition. That doesn’t necessarily mean the White House has to comply with the request, but we will at least get a nice, thoughtful response. And note that even if the White House officials agree with the movement, it’s not entirely up to them whether or not the law stays, goes, or is changed. The best case scenario would be to see the new law rescinded by the Librarian of Congress at the request of the Obama administration. In other words, don’t get your hopes up just yet — just be happy that we’ll even be able to get a real, meaningful response at all. We’ll keep our eye out for the update from the White House in the weeks to come. |
| Report: Huawei Ascend P2 won’t have 1080p display Posted: 21 Feb 2013 02:11 PM PST Information about Huawei’s Ascend P2 couldn’t come soon enough. It seems rumors about the phone change by the day, and now the latest one — regarding its display — is perhaps more troubling than anything, depending on who you are. According to Zol, Huawei decided not to put a 4.7 inch 1080p panel inside the Ascend P2 as the company will instead opt for a 720p display. It’s said this decision was made for one of two reasons.
For starters, Huawei believes that particular pixel density — a staggering 468 ppi — is overkill for the human eye at such small display sizes. Secondly, having such high resolution would eat up unnecessary amounts of battery. Those are two very good points, and a friendly reminder that, sometimes, more doesn’t always equal better. Remember that Huawei’s goal with the P2, as it was with the P1, is to reclaim the world’s thinnest smartphone title. If it has to sacrifice battery life for higher resolution, it would have to throw in a thicker battery to compensate. That compromise would effectively chuck the P2 out of the running for the title that changes hands faster than I can change my underwear. Even with a lower resolution panel we’re still expecting an impressive device to debut at Mobile World Congress. Other rumored specs include a 1.8GHz quad-core processor that was built in-house, 2GB of RAM, a 13 megapixel camera, 16GB of internal storage, and should come pre-installed with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. We’ll be on our way to Barcelona to get up close and personal with it if Huawei decides to announce it (there’s no reason they won’t) so stay tuned to Phandroid if you’re eager to see how it turns out. [via Unwired View] |
| Google ChromeBook Pixel goes official, starts at $1,300 [VIDEO] Posted: 21 Feb 2013 12:09 PM PST It wasn’t long ago that we were discussing the rumored ChromeBook Pixel, and the fine souls Google made quick work of dispelling those rumors by, well, confirming it themselves. What you see below is the absolute best ChromeBook we’ve seen to date, and its high cost (starting at about $1,300) is seemingly justified. So why, exactly, would Google ask you to pay that much for a ChromeBook? Well, for starters, the display has a lot to do with it — it is called the ChromeBook “Pixel,” after all. Google says it boasts the highest pixel density of any laptop computer to date, with 239 pixels per inch crammed into the display. It does that by having a 12.85″ display 2,560 x 1,700 resolution. With 4.3 million pixels in all, and “extra-wide” viewing angles, sharp text and vibrant colors, Google says this is the most crisp display you’ll have ever used on a laptop. Oh, and did I mention it’s touch-enabled? No? Well, there you go. The laptop was constructed out of anodized aluminum alloy, and it was crafted in order to hide the ugly vents, screws and other necessary bits holding it all together. Google didn’t even want you to see the stereo speakers tucked as it has hidden that below the backlit keyboard the Pixel has. The touchpad is made from etched glass, and apparently was tested with a laser microscope for extremely accurate performance. Inside will be Intel’s Core i5 processor, and like any ChromeBook this thing relies on 32GB of built-in solid-state memory for extremely fast performance and boot-up times. Google’s handling storage with the cloud as it’s giving users 1 terabyte of Google Drive space to store all your necessities. The device will come in WiFi-only and LTE configurations for $1,300 and $1,450 respectively, and Google will even throw in 12 free GoGo flight passes for those times when you need to connect in the air.
It really does look like a beautiful device, but you’re probably interested in knowing when you’ll be able to purchase one. If you have the coin to spare you can actually head to the Play Store right now and grab one if you’re in the United States or the United Kingdom, but if you prefer brick and mortar you’ll have to wait a while before Best Buy begins stocking them (though several select locations have them up for display right now). Be sure to take a closer look at the ChromeBook Pixel in the video above. [Google via ChromeSpot] |
| Sprint’s EVO Design 4G gets minor software update Posted: 21 Feb 2013 11:18 AM PST
Sprint has posted a notice to its support site informing HTC EVO Design 4G owners to expect a small update to soon reach their handsets. There isn’t much of note in software version 4.02.651.2. The update corrects issues with the phone’s hotspot functionality, improves message load times, and brings the Sprint Connections Optimizer. Sprint is offering the update as of today for this that perform a manual software check under the System Updates menu. The standard over-the-air rollout will begin on February 26th. [via AndroidPolice] |
| Ubuntu Touch developer preview now available for download and installation Posted: 21 Feb 2013 10:03 AM PST
A couple days removed from offering a first look at Ubunutu Touch for tablets, Canonical has launched a developer preview of the new mobile OS. Designed to play nice with Android development phones, the linux-based Ubuntu Touch features support for the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10. But if you are thinking about moving to the operating system as a daily driver, take note of the “developer preview” tag. As the build is being released with development for the platform in mind, it does not support the full range of functions you would get from a fully-baked smartphone experience. The software is described as “very new and unfinished.” Still, if you are tempted to take a look, take heed. Installing Ubuntu Touch will wipe your device of all data. You will want to be sure to make a proper backup in advance. Check out complete details on device compatibility as well as installation instructions at the source link below. [via Ubuntu | Thanks, Ethan!] |
| Patent details how Google Glass might look on a different frame Posted: 21 Feb 2013 09:18 AM PST
A newly published patent is giving us one of the more detailed looks into Google’s Project Glass to date. The filing comes a day after Google opened applications for their Glass Explorer program to members of the general public. Shown among the pages of the document are detailed illustrations of the Glass headset we have become familiar with. Also included is a look at what the concept might look like when mounted in a more traditional set of glasses. For the technically inclined, the patent gives a great overview of how Glass operates, detailing the process of projecting the headset’s UI, keeping it consistent within the field of vision, and even how the device can be used for augmented reality applications. There is even talk of a display method that would project an overlay directly onto a person’s retina. With all the hype Google has been pumping lately, you would think the futuristic headset would be rolling off the production line soon, but we’re far from seeing Glass in the real world, and I suspect even farther from seeing it built into traditional eyeglasses (side note: wouldn’t it be nice if Google sold a kit that could turn any pair of glasses into a Project Glass device?). [via TechCrunch] |
| Motorola tempts smartphone buyers with $50 Google Play gift card Posted: 21 Feb 2013 08:25 AM PST
The deal extends to such devices as the Droid RAZR family (including the RAZR M and RAZR MAXX HD), older devices like the Atrix 2 and Droid 4, as well as lower-end fare such as the Electrify and Defy XT. To receive their gift card, however, new owners must complete a mail-in form, meaning if you are in search of instant gratification, better to look elsewhere. But when the gift card does arrive, that’s plenty of dough to fill out a newly purchased smartphone with apps, games, music, books, and more. [via DroidLife] |
| Leak reveals budget-friendly Sprint Force from ZTE arriving March 1st Posted: 21 Feb 2013 07:43 AM PST
A new budget-friendly Android is headed to the Now Network. Bearing the carrier’s badging and manufactured by ZTE, the Sprint Force is a low-cost Android 4.0 handset featuring a 4-inch display, 1.5GHz processor, and 5MP camera. It will also reportedly take advantage of Sprint’s ever-growing LTE network. Other specs include 4GB if internal storage, 1GB RAM, and a 1730mAh battery. All of this for only $49.99 on a two-year contract after rebates, or so the product sheet details. The phone’s launch should only be about a week away, with the handset pegged for a March 1st release. [via Engadget] |
| Snapchat adds video in latest Android update Posted: 21 Feb 2013 07:02 AM PST
After a beta period, video recording and sharing has made its way into Snapchat for Android as an official feature. The updated version of the app, which is now available from Google Play for phones running Android 2.2 or higher, was made available to a small group of Android users last week, the large variety of devices running the OS being a major hurdle in getting video to play nice. Video functions the same as still images in the updated version of Snapchat. A brief clip will self-destruct after playback, making it the preferred app of those looking to get a bit risqué with their messaging. While the feature has made its official debut, Snapchat is still seeking feedback to improve overall video performance. Check out their blog for more details. [via Snapchat] |
| HBO GO/MAX GO get HDMI-out support in version 2.0 update Posted: 21 Feb 2013 06:14 AM PST
HBO subscribers are getting another way to view their favorite television shows on the go as both HBO GO and MAX GO have been updated to feature the ability to display content via HDMI. Previously, subscribers had no option but to enjoy the premium content on the small screen. Version 2.0 of the app provides a surprising amount of freedom from a company that has done its best to keep its content exclusive while adapting to modern viewing trends. The initiative is happening across the board, as HBO recently enabled AirPlay streaming for Apple devices. You can grab the latest version of HBO GO from Google Play now. [Thanks, Anon!] |
| LG announces LTE-enabled Optimus F5 and Optimus F7 Posted: 21 Feb 2013 05:36 AM PST
LG isn’t looking to keep any secrets for Mobile World Congress as the company has announced yet another new member of its smartphone family. Make that two. The LG Optimus F5 and LG Optimus F7 are outfitted with dual-core processing (1.2GHz and 1.5GHz, respectively), LTE, and run Android 4.1.2. The F5 sports a 4.3-inch display at 256 ppi while the F7 gets a larger 4.7-inch True HD IPS display. The Optimus F5, which also features a 5MP camera and 8GB of internal storage, will first launch in Europe during Q2. There are no firm launch details on the Optimus F7. Pricing for either device was not revealed. [via LG] |
If you’re in the market for a new smartphone, plenty of options abound. The recently announced HTC One, a new lineup from LG, and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 account for only a few of the many new devices worth checking out. But one company having a quiet beginning to the new year is hoping to lure customers their way with a special offer. Now through March 4th, Motorola will give anyone buying one of their handsets a $50 Google Play gift card.
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