Android Authority |
- Jawbone UP now compatible with Android, fitness band to hit more countries in April
- ZTE Quantum leaks: a Sprint-bound 5-inch mid-ranger with a different design
- Google receives delivery of Nexus 4 phones in the UK, now back in stock
- Swype keyboard update introduces advanced language models for Hindi and Belgian Dutch
- Google and LG to throw a Nexus 4 launch party in Brazil next week
- The Best Google Reader replacement apps for Android
- Dual-SIM HTC E1 available to pre-order in China
- GameStick dev-kits expected to ship out later this month
- Infrared: back with a vengeance?
- Sony SmartWatch gets new firmware update, brings new watch faces and notifications previews
| Jawbone UP now compatible with Android, fitness band to hit more countries in April Posted: 20 Mar 2013 02:34 AM PDT
Three months into the year and you've forgotten all about your healthy New Year's resolution(s)? If all you need is a reminder every now and then to get up and do some exercise, Jawbone UP can provide that tough, but often necessary love. But wait, isn't Jawbone UP only available for iOS users? That was previously the case, but now Android users can get in on the fitness action as well. The company has unleashed the accompanying software to its popular fitness band on Google Play. The UP app can be downloaded for free, but you'll need to get the accelerometer-equipped wristband to use it, which you can grab from Jawbone's online store for $130. The UP helps you keep track of your physical activity, including the distance you’ve covered, potential calories you’ve burned, activity intensity, and more. It also keeps track of your sleeping pattern, such as the hours slept. Since it comes with a vibrating motor, you can easily set it up so that it will alert you if you've been sitting on the couch for too long. Of course, this is just one of its many uses.
Here's how the app – in combination with the UP wristband – can help you get fit:
Got your attention? Please note that the UP app only works on Android 4+ devices. If you prefer to see the movement-tracking device up close and personal in real-life first before purchasing it, Jawbone said that it will be available in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East next month. Meanwhile, those in Europe should already be able to purchase the UP bracelet in Apple stores. Ready to move? The post Jawbone UP now compatible with Android, fitness band to hit more countries in April appeared first on Android Authority. |
| ZTE Quantum leaks: a Sprint-bound 5-inch mid-ranger with a different design Posted: 20 Mar 2013 02:30 AM PDT
After introducing the Grand S during CES, the Grand Memo at MWC, the Grand X Pro sometime in between and after leaking out the stunningly cheap U935, you might have expected ZTE to take a breather and chill for a while. But how can you rest when you want to claim that much coveted last spot on the smartphone manufacturer podium behind Samsung and Apple? You can't, which is why ZTE is reportedly prepping another addition to its already large family of mobile devices – the Quantum, aka N8910. The new guy is apparently planned as a US-exclusive, being slated for a Sprint release this spring. And while it's clearly not as exciting as the Grand S or Memo, it might just have enough pizazz to help put ZTE on the map in America.
The design is clearly eye-catching and different, even though we're not sure if that's a good thing. The Quantum is decently thin and it's probably going to be light also, but what's up with the camera module? We get it, the shooter has a 13 MP sensor and you want to draw attention to it, but you could have done that with a little more style. Oh, well, let's leave these "shallow" things aside and talk specs. Besides the 13 MP cam, there's nothing to really scream high-end here, but there's enough to make the Quantum a decent upper mid-end device. The 5-inch screen boasts a nice 1,280 x 720 pixels resolution, the dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 processor was top of the line only a year ago and you should also get 4G LTE speeds.
As for the 1 GB of RAM, on-board Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, dual-band Wi-Fi and NFC, they're fairly standard, but that doesn't make them any less special. What's not special is the 0.9 MP front-facing camera and 4 GB of internal memory, but you can't always get what you want, right? Even if it’s not an official device yet, we’re pretty certain the Quantum is real, based on the complexity of today’s leak, but also on its recently acquired Wi-Fi and DLNA certifications. The only question now is how much it’s going to cost, but, based on U935′s uber-low price tag, we’re thinking not that much. The post ZTE Quantum leaks: a Sprint-bound 5-inch mid-ranger with a different design appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Google receives delivery of Nexus 4 phones in the UK, now back in stock Posted: 20 Mar 2013 01:34 AM PDT
There is some good news for those of you in the UK who have been trying to get your hands on a Nexus 4. Google has taken delivery of a new batch of the phones and they are now officially in stock. According to the Google Play store delivery is now 3 to 5 days. The 8GB version of the phone, made by LG on Google’s behalf, is £239, while the 16GB version costs £279.00. The Nexus 4 has been a great success for Google, so much so that it has had supply and demand problems! All over the world the phone appears in stock and then shortly disappears again as enthusiastic users snap up the current batch. The device is highly coveted. Its amazing price point plus the great Android experience along with some excellent hardware makes its popularity understandable. Another key point is that the Nexus 4 is just pure, unadulterated Android. No extra user interfaces added on top, something that companies like Samsung and HTC love to do. This is Android as Google intended! The magic pricing, experience and hardware combination in the Nexus 4 has caught LG off guard and the company admitted last year that “demand via the Play Store has been very high.” Likewise in January, Google’s CEO Larry Page acknowledged that there was a problem in meeting demand for the phone, however he said that solving the phone shortage problem is a top priority Google. Did you buy a Nexus 4? Let me know what you think of it by leaving a comment below.
The post Google receives delivery of Nexus 4 phones in the UK, now back in stock appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Swype keyboard update introduces advanced language models for Hindi and Belgian Dutch Posted: 20 Mar 2013 01:30 AM PDT
Swype, the very popular third-party keyboard developed by Nuance, which is still in its beta testing phase for Android, has recently been updated yet again, this time, adding advanced language models for Hindi and Belgian Dutch, along with a host of other changes. With the use of advanced language models, which is a “super aggressive” word completion tool, along with context and word prediction algorithms, a word choice list will be populated right of the bat, making typing that much faster and more accurate. The complete change log introduced with the update, which takes the version 1.4.9, include -
Because the current version of Swype is still beta, it’s not available for download from the Google Play Store. If you want to try out Swype, you can download it directly from the website here from your Android device browser. All existing Swype users will be receiving the update within the next 72 hours. If you’ve tried out the latest beta version of Swype, do share your experiences in the comments section below. The post Swype keyboard update introduces advanced language models for Hindi and Belgian Dutch appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Google and LG to throw a Nexus 4 launch party in Brazil next week Posted: 20 Mar 2013 12:12 AM PDT
Despite being the country where Android 4.2.2 was first spotted running on the Nexus 4 in the wild, as well as one of the places where LG builds the phone, Google's flagship Nexus handset hasn't been officially released in Brazil. That's about to change soon. As reported by the folks over at Gizmodo Brazil, they have received invitations from Google and LG to attend an event next week that's highly expected to be launch of the Nexus 4. One Google exec later confirmed – albeit indirectly – that N4 will be the main attraction. The event will be held at Google's HQ in São Paolo and is expected to be graced by the presence of Hugo Barra, the company's VP. As for the date, you can mark down March 27 on your calendar. It hasn't been confirmed yet whether the phone will hit stores on the same day, but we might have to wait a few days for that. Likewise, the price is still being kept under wraps. Here's hoping that we'll get to hear more details soon. Still looking forward to grab the Nexus 4? How much do you think it will retail? The post Google and LG to throw a Nexus 4 launch party in Brazil next week appeared first on Android Authority. |
| The Best Google Reader replacement apps for Android Posted: 19 Mar 2013 10:28 PM PDT
So if you somehow haven’t heard, Google Reader is set to be discontinued on July 1st. To put it bluntly, it sucks. While not as many people use Google Reader as there used to be, those of us left that do use it do so religiously. So the hunt begins for a Google Reader replacement and we’d like to help by putting together a list of the best Android Google Reader replacement apps. Word on the internet is that the Google Reader link is no longer available on Google+, but it’s available on every other Google service. So this list may be a temporary solution as Google+ may be getting its own news service. That’s strictly conjecture, but hey, just saying. As usual if you’d rather watch than read, there’s a video posted at the bottom!  Source url To download Feedly from the Google Play Store, click the source link. Feedly – Google Reader ReplacementWe start our Google Reader replacement list with Feedly. The reason is because a whole bunch of people have already chosen Feedly as their replacement. According to some reports, over half a million people have already migrated. Feedly was among the first to offer a solution to the Google Reader replacement problem as they’re developing their own back end service called Normandy. Many of us here at Android Authority are big fans of Mass Effect references. As an app, Feedly looks very good. It’s got a polished interface with a variety of views that will make anyone feel at home. There is a card view for people who like to look at pictures, a magazine style view, and a list view for those pros who like to view a lot of content very quickly. Also, there are a couple of themes, it’s free in the Google Play Store, and come July 1st, it’ll still be running. All great things going for Feedly.  Source url To download Google Currents from the Google Play Store, click the source link. Google Currents – the unofficial Google Reader replacementIf you’re trying to stick with Google built applications when replacing Google Reader, then Google Currents is the unofficial Google Reader replacement. This really didn’t make a lot of people very happy at first, but depending on what you use RSS readers for, Google Currents could actually be a pretty decent replacement. By that, we mean if you’re one of those types that uses RSS to find something fun to read while waiting for an appointment, Google Currents could be for you. If you’re one of those people who blaze through content quickly, you may want to find another alternative. Google Currents has a very nice interface, but it’s definitely geared for the casual reader. You can swipe left and right to change feeds and up and down to scroll articles. That’s pretty much all there is to it. It’s very simple and quick. However, as stated, getting through a lot of content really fast takes a lot of time. Also, as mentioned above, Google+ has been estranged from Google Reader specifically, so Google may not be going with Google Currents as its main news source. Again, though, that’s just conjecture right now.  Source url To download Flipboard from the Google Play Store, click the source link. Flipboard – the Google Reader replacement for casual usersIf you are a casual reader, there are few readers better than the popular Flipboard. It features a magazine style layout with large pictures, big text, and an ease of use that many readers on this list don’t share. When Google Reader goes dark, Flipboard will still be around so switching over now and getting used to it means come July 1st, you won’t have to worry about Google Reader replacement. Getting around the app is pretty simple. Pretty much everything is controlled with up and down swipes and screen taps. Swipe up and down to view feeds, then select a feed and swipe up and down to view articles. Click and article and read. For those who like to chew through content in their RSS apps, Flipboard will be frustrating as it takes a lot of swipes to get anywhere. The casual reader, though, should really enjoy the polished interface.  Source url To download gReader Pro from Google Play, click the source link. gReader Pro – the Google Reader replacement for prosSo far our list has been dominated by beautiful applications that, while gorgeous, aren’t great for pros who like to get through a lot of content quickly. gReader Pro is nothing like that. It features a much more traditional interface for an RSS app and one that much more closely resembles Google Reader itself. In their app description, gReader Pro throws their bid into the pile for Google Reader replacement as they plan on continuing service after July 1st. As stated, the interface is simple and traditional. It features list views, a much more minimalist app structure, and getting through a lot of content very quickly is very simple. So if you’re a blogger who is looking for the big stories going on or just someone who likes knowing everything that’s happening, gReader Pro could be the best replacement. In addition to being simple to use, gReader Pro also has a variety of settings to customize your experience. There are a few themes, a few different ways to set things up, and it really tries to make their users feel at home. The casual user may balk at the simplicity of the app and it’s lack of flash, but the pros will feel right at home once Google Reader kicks the digital bucket.  Source url To download News360 from the Google Play Store, check the source link. News360 – a different kind of Google Reader replacementSo far, most of the apps on this list more or less perform the same task. You select some RSS feeds, then shuffle through them every day looking for news. News360 differs in this area. While there are some feeds available and you can select your areas of interest (i.e. Technology, Android, Sports, Cooking, etc), News360 actually takes a different approach. When you use News360, you have an option to like and dislike articles that it shows you. Based on which feeds you choose to read and what you like and don’t like, News360 adjusts the content to your liking. This makes News360 the most unique Google Reader replacement app on this list. Using it is very simple. You load the app, swipe left and right to view new stories, and click to read the article. Inside the article, you can actually select different blogs that covered the same stuff. So if you’re reading an article from The Verge, there may be an option to read Ars Technica’s write up of the same event. This is great for article comparisons and seeing more than one point of view on a topic. Due to manually built feeds taking a total backseat in News360, this will appeal to the casual reader more. Still, it’s a really cool concept.  Source url To download Press Reader from Google Play, click on the source link. Press Reader – the Google Reader replacement app aimed at everyonePress Reader is kind of like a mix between Feedly and gReader Pro. It has a little flash to it to appease the casual reader who wants to read their news on something that looks good. However, it also has it’s content well laid out for the pro who wants to fly through content quickly. It isn’t the highest rated app on the list, but for people who want a little of column A and a little of column B, Press can be a decent Google Reader replacement. Press has a simple enough UI. You start with a categories list followed by a feeds grid. Where it starts to get interesting is when you select a feed you get a list of articles. Select an article and a page slides in where the article appears. You can read it and there are two buttons in the bottom that let you go back and forth between articles. Then you swipe the page away to go back to the list. So it’s a little flashy but still functional. However, it definitely has that jack of all trades, master of none quality that may chase people to other Google Reader replacements.  Source url To download Taptu from the Google Play Store, click the source link. Taptu – A better looking Google Reader replacementThe last two apps on our list, which is Taptu and Pulse, have a very similar layout and it’s wildly different from the other Google Reader replacement apps. The first we’ll talk about, Taptu, has the advantage of being a very good looking application and a very functional one. Taptu does focus more on the flashy side of RSS reading rather than the functional side. In the unique layout, users select feeds as they would any normal RSS app. The feeds are listed vertically and the articles are listed horizontally. So you scroll up or down to find the feed you want. You can then scroll left and right to view content from that feed. What makes Taptu truly fun is the ability to merge feeds. So if you wanted to merge, say the popular hockey blogs Puck Daddy and Down Goes Brown into a single NHL feed to save space, you could do that. Of course, the most important feature, is that Taptu remains alive after Google Reader dies in a few months.  Source url To download Pulse from Google Play, check out the source URL. Pulse Reader – the Google Reader replacement Steve Jobs would recommendYes, you read that right. There was a point when Steve Jobs once recommended Pulse to everyone as an RSS reader. Even though we’re not always fans of iPhones around these parts, a recommendation from the guy who saved Apple is worth looking into. As it turns out, Pulse is not only Apple approved, but it’ll also outlive Google Reader. It features an interface similar to Taptu’s but a little more flashy. At it’s core, it’s the same vertical feed list with the horizontal article scrolling. The good news is that Google Reader content is very easy to port in. Once it’s in, it becomes Pulse content so when Google Reader bets the digital farm, Pulse will have your content waiting for you. The bad news is that there are some serious limitations to this app. During testing, I maxed out my Technology category and had to create a category with the brilliant and original name of Technology 2. So if you’re a pro user with a whole bunch of content, you’ll either have to make multiple categories to house the same type of news or find a different Google Reader replacement. For the casual user, though, Pulse should work really well.
Wrap UpAs you can see from the leader board, some of these apps are better than others. If you’re wondering what our rating system is, keep guessing because we don’t have one. These apps were ranked based on their overall rating in the Google Play Store. So this is how the people who use these apps every day have rated them. We’d also like to give a honorary mention to Pocket. Pocket is an application that saves articles from most of these RSS feeds for offline reading. It doesn’t aggregate news on it’s own, but it seems to be working on just about all these apps so it’s worth mentioning. You can find it in the Google Play Store here. It’s an unhappy time that Google Reader is leaving. Some people never got into Google Reader and didn’t use it. Some used it religiously. Even some of our writers and editors here at Android Authority used Google Reader to help find great content to bring to you guys, our readers. However, it’s about that time to spend a few final days with Google Reader and find a replacement. As always, if there’s a great Google Reader replacement that we missed, feel free to leave a comment below telling us about it. Also, there is a very high probability that more Google Reader applications will continue to run after the service goes dark and just hasn’t announced it yet. So if your favorite reader happens to be on that list and it’s not on ours then, again, feel free to drop a comment and let us know. The post The Best Google Reader replacement apps for Android appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Dual-SIM HTC E1 available to pre-order in China Posted: 19 Mar 2013 06:30 PM PDT
The HTC E1 has Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on board with an update to Android 4.2 later this year. The handset has Sense 4+, a 4.3-inch WVGA Super LCD2 display, dual-SIM capabilities, a dual-core Qualcomm CPU (clocked at 1.15GHz according to the official spec sheet), 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage and a microSD slot. It also has a 5MP rear shooter, a 2.1MP front facing shooter and Beats Audio. The new smartphone is currently available for pre-order on HTC China’s official website. At the time of this writing, only a white model is available and there’s no telling if it’ll come in black somewhere down the line. The HTC E1 is a device made for China, so we probably won’t see it coming to any other countries, especially if the Taiwanese based company is having issues with component shortages. Are you planning on getting an HTC E1 or are you waiting for the HTC’s new flagship, the One, to arrive? The post Dual-SIM HTC E1 available to pre-order in China appeared first on Android Authority. |
| GameStick dev-kits expected to ship out later this month Posted: 19 Mar 2013 03:25 PM PDT
Although the Ouya seems to be the crowd favorite when it comes to upcoming Android game consoles, the Gamestick still has managed to gain quite a bit of attention as well. The GameStick might not quite be ready for prime-time just yet, but the company behind the console has now announced the first dev-kits will be shipping out later this month. The GameStick dev-kit is a "pre-production prototype" of what the company hopes to bring out with the finalized hardware, though it adds a few extra features for debugging and loading apps. The dev-kit also has a Type A USB port for mouse and keyboard. Besides the news of the dev-kit shipping, GameStick also updated its Kickstarter page with a few other details. First, the company has now finalized the game controller. Second, Gamestick’s makers revealed that more than 500 developers are interested in the device and that there has also been a strong level of interest from retailers around the globe. The GameStick might not seem to have the same level of developer support or as powerful of hardware as the Ouya, but it is also a bit more affordable and has a design that is even more portable. At $79, it is still sure to appeal to some Android gamers out there, as evidenced by 5,691 Kickstarters that have backed the project. What do you think of the Gamestick, are you excited or do you feel that the Ouya will stomp all over it? The post GameStick dev-kits expected to ship out later this month appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Infrared: back with a vengeance? Posted: 19 Mar 2013 03:17 PM PDT
If you’ve been familiar with mobile devices long enough to remember the 1990s, then you would know that infrared was a big thing back then. In fact, IrDA — which stands for Infrared Data Association — was supposedly a feature in top-of-the-line devices, including mobile phones, PDAs and laptops. You could do all sorts of things with IrDA-enabled devices, such as exchange contact details, beam data and even control your TV. But with the rise in popularity of alternative wireless communication standards like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, IrDA seems to have gone the way of the dodo. In fact, it is reported that by 2012, there were no current IrDA-compliant devices. My last IrDA-enabled device was a Nokia E-series bought in 2008. But with the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 launching with an Infrared blaster, does this mean that infrared technology is coming back with a vengeance? IrDA was an excellent means of transferring data back when no other wireless protocols were available. The standard back then was connecting your device via serial port — yes, the 9-pin variety and not USB! — to sync your PDA or mobile phone with your computer. The supported speed of 115.2 kbps or so seems to have been adequate for most needs. Of course, there is one inherent disadvantage: infrared communications require line-of-sight, which is not exactly ideal in all scenarios. Read also: HTC OpenSense SDK now includes Infrared API. Better remote controls, anyone? IrDA was excellent for beaming data across two devices and for controlling your TV set. But you couldn’t use it to keep a consistent connection when your phone is in your pocket, making it useless for applications that will require movement breaking line-of-sight. As such, it may be a surprise that infrared is coming back when it now seems to have a niche application.  An IrDA dongle, back in the day Both the Galaxy S4 and the One have IR blasters or emitters. But these are not exactly the same as the IrDA-compliant devices of old. The two flagship Android smartphones carry a “blaster” which means it only goes one way. Good enough? Here are a few points to consider.
It’s a question of whether our devices will still support infrared as a remote-control technology in the future. Right now, we’re moving toward IP-based content, where we beam videos to our TV sets (or set-top boxes). But basic TV controls are still done via infrared. A few years down the line, we might do away with IR-based remotes altogether and just control our TV straight from the wireless LAN or the Internet. Read also: Android invades the home: Can we get some Android home automation? Which makes me wonder: why the resurgence of IR-enabled devices? Is this just a passing fad that only a small minority will enjoy? Will you get all excited about your new S4′s or One’s TV remote-control capability, but only end up actually using it for a few days and forget it had that feature? So is infrared here to stay, or is it just a passing fad best left behind in the 1990s? Thoughts? Pitch in. The post Infrared: back with a vengeance? appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Sony SmartWatch gets new firmware update, brings new watch faces and notifications previews Posted: 19 Mar 2013 02:32 PM PDT
Samsung and Apple might be preparing to revolutionize the smartwatch world, but in the meantime there are several decent options already out there, including Sony’s SmartWatch. Sony’s watch likely doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that Samsung or Apple will bring to the table, but it is still a solid choice at just $130. Now it is getting even better thanks to a new firmware update. The update is available through Google Play and brings with it several new features, including six new watch faces. Each of these watch faces has their own style as you can see in the image directly below.
Outside of the new faces, Sony is also bringing notification previews to its SmartWatch. This change makes it possible to see snippets from incoming tweets, texts, Facebook posts and more. Unfortunately, the device doesn’t really provide a way to respond to these messages, but at least it helps you keep aware of what is going on, for those times when you can instantly pull out your smartphone. Sony also has improved its searching system, so it makes it easier to find the right apps for you out of the 200+ SmartWatch apps that are available for the watch. Last but not least, Sony promises the update will be able to more accurately gauge battery life. Have you downloaded the update yet? If so, what do you think of the new features? The post Sony SmartWatch gets new firmware update, brings new watch faces and notifications previews appeared first on Android Authority. |
The HTC E1, previously known as the HTC 603e, is a mid-range Android handset headed for the Chinese market. The device, as is usual for a lot of Chinese handsets, comes with dual-SIM support and will cost interested buyers 1,799 CNY or $290 in USD.
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Authority To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment