Android Authority |
- Samsung Galaxy S4 to feature plastic casing, according to Eldar Murtazin
- Watch Project Shield run a PS3 game without a hitch
- ZTE U935 leaks: a 5-inch Full HD smartphone with quad-core power for just $240
- Asus rolls out Android 4.2.1 update for Transformer Pad TF300
- HTC’s One was supposed to launch in Taiwan today, but now it’s due on the 7th
- Google will launch Play Store gift cards in the UK pretty soon, perfect for children
- ZTE doesn’t want to “burn” money on ads, says that’s not part of their “character”
- ZTE Grand Memo could be the first to use the Snapdragon 800 CPU after all
- Charcoal Black Galaxy Note 8.0 spotted in leaked photo
- Galaxy S4 specs and features revealed in new benchmark: LTE, Exynos 5 Octa and PowerVR SGX 544MP
| Samsung Galaxy S4 to feature plastic casing, according to Eldar Murtazin Posted: 04 Mar 2013 02:30 AM PST
Samsung Galaxy S4's D-Day is nearing, and, as expected, the rumor mill is grinding at full throttle. But after several benchmarks and numerous stories focused only on specs and hardware, it's time to turn to something that could really make or break the "next big thing" – design. Specifically, build materials. You've probably noticed that, as much as the GS4 has been leaked lately, the big guy's looks have been very neatly kept under wraps. There've been a few renders and depictions thrown around, but for the most part these have been guesses or "what ifs". Meanwhile, not one word has been mentioned of the phone's build materials, although Sammy seemed to (faintly) hint at GS4's body being made out of glossy plastic. And as bad of an idea that sounds, it's still the best guess we have so far. Only now it's more than just a guess. It's a full-fledged possibility, based on an account of Eldar Murtazin's first interaction with the S4. Wait, what? There's someone out there that has already seen the phone? It appears so, though we have our doubts.
If we are to blindly trust Murtazin, Samsung showed off the plastic S4 behind closed doors at MWC to a bunch of selected members of the press. The Russian is the guy to invite at these sorts of things, so it's definitely likely he was there. We also heard a long time ago that the S4 was going to make a similar appearance at CES, so everything checks out. Murtazin is even the first source to tell us about the March 14 New York unveiling event and we all know that rumor proved legit. And yet we can't just forget about one of the few black spots on the journalist's excellent record of leaking stories before anyone else. And, what a coincidence, that black spot involved the build materials of the last Samsung flagship, the S3. No ceramic for last year's big kahuna, so maybe no plastic for this year's? We certainly hope so, especially when hearing Murtazin that "all the weaknesses that are widely discussed for Galaxy S3 will be carried over to this product". With HTC's One built out of premium aluminum, Samsung can't really afford to miss the mark on S4's design, can it? And yeah, we know, there are different kinds of plastics, polymers and so on, but the fact of the matter is that metal is better. It just is. As for the numero uno controversial GS4 spec – the processor or processors – Murtazin seems to think the super-phone will be after all released in several versions with different chipsets, including one from Qualcomm. Okay, but will one of the others pack the Exynos 5 Octa? Sorry, but we'll just have to wait and see. The post Samsung Galaxy S4 to feature plastic casing, according to Eldar Murtazin appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Watch Project Shield run a PS3 game without a hitch Posted: 04 Mar 2013 01:30 AM PST
Mobile technology evolves so fast, it's mind boggling. Only a few years ago, gaming on the go meant crude graphics and simplistic gameplay, and here we are today, talking about console titles ported to run on a Android mobile device. As part of its Android Thursdays series, which shows off Android gaming on the Tegra 4-equipped Project Shield, Nvidia demoed a complete port of a previously PS3-exclusive title, Burn Zombie Burn! While not the most graphics intensive PS3 title, Burn Zombie Burn! is still a game that was designed to take advantage of the (still) powerful silicon inside a video console. So it's impressive that Nvidia not only managed to port the game to the Shield, but also added some extra eye candy, just to showcase the prowess of the Tegra 4 processor inside. The game seems to run smoothly, and thanks to the extensive set of controls that Nvidia put on the Shield, gameplay is very similar to the console version. We still don't have much information on when would the Project Shield become available, although Nvidia did give us a hint about the price tag of the device – it won't be cheap. Are you interested in Project Shield? The post Watch Project Shield run a PS3 game without a hitch appeared first on Android Authority. |
| ZTE U935 leaks: a 5-inch Full HD smartphone with quad-core power for just $240 Posted: 04 Mar 2013 12:46 AM PST
Contrary to popular belief, we don't really like to play favorites here at Android Authority. And yet how can we keep a clear head and not fall hopelessly in love with a company like ZTE? Okay, maybe that U9810 packing 4 GB of RAM is bonkers (and not entirely in a good way), but the Grand S, Grand Memo and now U935 are positively dreamy. What's so special about this U935? In a nutshell, it's so crazy cheap that it makes even the Nexus 4 look overpriced. Or rather it should be, as the pricing point is not yet official. The phone itself is not confirmed, but this is the second time we're hearing about it, so there's no reason to doubt its existence. And now let's talk numbers. Based on rumors, the ZTE U935 is to cost 1,500 Yuan in China, which translates into around $240 ($236, to be more exact). That's peanuts compared to how most other high-end phones are priced these days. And the thing is, the U935 is high-end. Okay, maybe not top of the line high-end, but the fellow does sport a 5-inch Full HD screen. And it also packs a punch, with a quad-core 1.2 GHz Mediatek MT6589 CPU and 1 GB of RAM beneath the hood.
You might remember seeing that low-cost processor perform sub-par in some benchmarks and it's definitely no Tegra 4, but at $240 it's blazing fast. And it's also supposed to be a power saver, meaning the 2,500 mAh battery inside the ZTE U935 should be enough to keep you going for a while. An 8 MP rear-facing camera, a 0.3 MP secondary snapper, 8 GB of on-board storage, microSD support, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 wrap up a truly outstanding spec sheet… considering. Now, the U935 is definitely not what you'd call elegant, with a pretty chunky figure, but that's the least you could sacrifice, isn't it? Unfortunately, the U935 is probably never going to leave its native land, which means our friends in China will be the only ones spoiled by the phone’s incredible bang for the buck. Unless we start planning a trip across the Ocean right now and bring back as many as these as we can. Who’s in? The post ZTE U935 leaks: a 5-inch Full HD smartphone with quad-core power for just $240 appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Asus rolls out Android 4.2.1 update for Transformer Pad TF300 Posted: 04 Mar 2013 12:37 AM PST
Asus has done it again. After the Transformer Pad TF300 became the first non-Nexus device to sport Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which was rolled out to the slate last year in August, the TF300 now holds the title as the first tablet outside of the Nexus family to receive the newer Jelly Bean flavor. The Nexus 7 maker has announced that the Transformer Pad TF300T in the U.S. will be getting Android 4.2 starting today via an OTA update, with similar software update to be pushed out to the tablet in other markets not long thereafter. While the specific build wasn't mentioned in the press release, we're seeing reports from users who have made the jump that it's Android 4.2.1. It may not be the latest JB version, but at least you don't have to deal with the many bugs that the previous build was ridden with. Alongside new JB features like Daydream and multiple user account logins, the firmware also includes some performance and stability enhancements. Meanwhile, those who own the Transformer Pad Infinity – as well as other newer Asus tabs — can expect to get upgraded to Android 4.2.1 in Q2 2013. Have you gotten the JOP40D update yet on your trusty Transformer Pad TF300T? Android 4.2 released for the ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 Fremont, CA (March 4, 2013) — ASUS is excited to announce Android 4.2 is now available in the US region for the ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T. Android 4.2 will be released to Transformer Pad owners via a free over the air update starting today in the United States and will be available in other regions during March. This new version of Android enhances performance and stability, improves the user experience with new features as well as providing multiple user account logins. The ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 is one of the most successful ASUS tablets to date and offers a full notebook PC experience when attached to the innovative mobile dock. ASUS is committed to providing the best customer experience, and is the first manufacturer to receive Android 4.2 for partnered tablets. The ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity, ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10", and ASUS MeMO Pad will receive Android 4.2 in Q2. ### The post Asus rolls out Android 4.2.1 update for Transformer Pad TF300 appeared first on Android Authority. |
| HTC’s One was supposed to launch in Taiwan today, but now it’s due on the 7th Posted: 03 Mar 2013 08:04 PM PST
HTC announced their 2013 flagship smartphone, the One, on Febrary 19th. That’s less than a month ago. According to Focus Taiwan, the company wanted to launch the device in their home market today, but the launch had to be postponed until the 7th. That’s this Thursday. Why was the launch delayed? We don’t know. Strangely enough, when HTC unveiled the One, they said it would be available in 32 GB and 64 GB configurations. The One that’s meant for Taiwan will have just 16 GB of on-board storage. Why? Again, we don’t know, but it probably has something to do with cost. When will the HTC One reach your respective country? Oh boy, that’s a tough one. If you want to wait until your operator offers it, then you could be looking at April or even May. If you want to import one from a site like Expansys, then you could probably have yours by the end of March. It really depends on what channels you prefer going through. Should you even buy the One? We feel that you owe it to yourself to wait until the 14th to see what Samsung does with the Galaxy S4. Then, and only then, will you be able to make a fair comparison between what are arguably the two most important Android smartphones that are going to be released during the first half of this year. What’s going to happen during the second half of the year? We’re looking at the Note III, the next Nexus, the first real Motorola phone from Google, and as much as it hurts to say this, an upgraded version of the One. Similar to how the One X got refreshed as the One X+ in 2012, we expect the same thing to happen this year. The post HTC’s One was supposed to launch in Taiwan today, but now it’s due on the 7th appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Google will launch Play Store gift cards in the UK pretty soon, perfect for children Posted: 03 Mar 2013 07:14 PM PST
Once upon a time, not that long ago actually, you had to be an adult with a fairly decent job in order to own a smartphone. Today, thanks to budget devices and operator subsidies, damn near anyone can own the latest and greatest device from HTC, Samsung, or even Apple. This means that younger folks are getting into smartphones as well, but there’s a small issue with that. Young people don’t have credit cards, and because they don’t have credit cards, that means they can’t buy apps. Apple figured out how to solve this ages ago with the introduction of iTunes giftcards. Now pretty much any major online service has figured out a way to sell gift cards at retail outlets such as 7-11. Google is taking their sweet time to get Play Store gift cards into people’s hands though. They exist in the good ol’ US of A, but not anywhere else. That’s soon going to change according to a Google Play Store support page that references UK Play Store gift cards. They’ll be available in the same denominations as the US Play Store cards (10, 25, and 50 GBP), but sadly we don’t have a precise launch date to share with you at this moment. And what about other countries? Keep waiting. Suckers. The post Google will launch Play Store gift cards in the UK pretty soon, perfect for children appeared first on Android Authority. |
| ZTE doesn’t want to “burn” money on ads, says that’s not part of their “character” Posted: 03 Mar 2013 06:26 PM PST
Why did Samsung kick HTC’s ass last year and why are they probably going to kick their ass again this year? Advertising. HTC’s marketing budget is practically non-existant compared to the billions that Samsung spends every year to make sure you know what a Galaxy is and that there’s a new one out on the market. In fact, Samsung spends more money on ads in one year (about $14 billion) than HTC makes in phone sales. It’s kind of sad, but that’s just the world we live in. Now when you look at the smaller players, they’re even less hesitant to run an ad or two. According to ZTE USA CEO Lixin Cheng, who spoke to FierceWireless during Mobile World Congress, ZTE doesn’t want to “burn money to increase brand awareness”. He says that’s “not our character, it’s not our strategy.” What is ZTE’s strategy? “B2B2C”, short for business to business to consumer. ZTE wants to court the operators, who in turn will tell their customers about ZTE’s devices. It’s a quaint concept, that needs to be said, but it appears to be working, albeit slowly. And what about Huawei? That’s ZTE’s number one enemy. Huawei says they’re going to go big with a marketing campaign this year, telling people that their new corporate slogan is “Make it possible”, but we don’t know how much money they plan on spending. Huawei is the third largest phone maker according to the analysts at IDC, which means they’ve definitely reached the point where they need to flex their public relations muscles. Can any company honestly get anywhere without advertising? Small companies can, but if you’re talking about markets where you’re pushing 50+ million units of a commodity every quarter, then you need some way to tell people to buy your wares. The post ZTE doesn’t want to “burn” money on ads, says that’s not part of their “character” appeared first on Android Authority. |
| ZTE Grand Memo could be the first to use the Snapdragon 800 CPU after all Posted: 03 Mar 2013 10:52 AM PST
The ZTE Grand Memo, a new 5.7-inch Android handset unveiled at MWC a few days ago, happens to take the grand scandal title for this year's edition of the popular Spanish show. In case you missed it, ZTE announced that the Grand Memo would be the first handset in the world to pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. Why is that important? Because no flagship device from any of the main Android makers out there will equip that particular processor, which happens to be the top of the line Qualcomm SoC for this year. Devices like the HTC One and the LG Optimus G Pro pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 CPU and even the Galaxy S4 is said to use the same processor, at least in some versions. That's why having ZTE say the Grand Memo would use a Snapdragon 800 processor was a very important, and unexpected, revelation. However, things turned sour when it was discovered that the Grand Memo would not come with the Snapdragon 800, not even the Snapdragon 600, as ZTE claimed later on, but with a Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU. But now we hear that ZTE may indeed launch multiple Grand Memo versions which will not be completely similar. Some of them may indeed pack a Snapdragon 800 SoC, which could make the Grand Memo the first device in the world to use Qualcomm's top of the line mobile processor – unless someone beats ZTE to the punch. ZTE is yet to tell us what Grand Memo versions will come with the flagship Qualcomm CPU on board and when that will happen, although considering that the Snapdragon 800 is only expected to hit OEMs in the second half of the year, you may be in for quite a wait. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor is also in the cards for certain Grand Memo models. Moreover, some of these devices will come with 1GB of RAM, while others will have 2GB under the hood. While we wait for the first Grand Memo versions to hit stores, ZTE has plenty of time to make sure such PR disasters don't occur in the future. After all, this whole mess could have been avoided before becoming the MWC 2013 scandal. Will you buy the Grand Memo this year? Are you ready to wait a while for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 model? The post ZTE Grand Memo could be the first to use the Snapdragon 800 CPU after all appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Charcoal Black Galaxy Note 8.0 spotted in leaked photo Posted: 03 Mar 2013 08:30 AM PST
Samsung's response to Apple's iPad mini was unveiled at MWC 2013 – the Galaxy Note 8.0 – where we had a chance to play with the device, whose existence wasn't really a secret as we got ready for the official announcement. At the event, we only took the white version for a first hands-on preview and we compared it with the iPad mini and the Nexus 7, but today we're going to show you the Charcoal Black Galaxy Note 8 version that was apparently leaked. The black Galaxy Note 8 is yet to be confirmed by Samsung, but considering that the iPad mini comes in black and white we wouldn't be surprised to see this Charcoal Black model become official. Not to mention that Samsung is already used to launching differently colored versions of its newest devices at some time after the official announcement, so a black Galaxy Note 8 would make plenty of sense.
In case you haven't been keeping tabs on MWC 2013 this week, we'll remind you that the Galaxy Note 8 will feature an 8-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution, 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16/32GB memory, microSD support up to 64GB, 5-megapixel camera, 1.3-megapixel rear-facing camera, voice call support, 4600mAh battery and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. Will you buy a Galaxy Note 8 this year? The post Charcoal Black Galaxy Note 8.0 spotted in leaked photo appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Galaxy S4 specs and features revealed in new benchmark: LTE, Exynos 5 Octa and PowerVR SGX 544MP Posted: 03 Mar 2013 07:59 AM PST
With less than two weeks to go until Samsung unveils its fourth-generation Galaxy S model, a new benchmark leak seems to reveal its specs and features. According to a new AnTuTu test, here's what the Galaxy S4 will have to offer:
Obviously, we can’t confirm any of this right now, and we're certainly looking forward to Samsung's March 14 New York-based Galaxy S4 event for official specs and features for the handset. However, assuming we're looking at an actual Galaxy S4 benchmark here, we'll notice a few interesting things. First of all, these AnTuTu screenshots seem to suggest that the Galaxy S4 will indeed sport an Exynos 5 Octa processor. We've seen many reports to date that claimed either that the handset will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 SoC or that some Galaxy S4 versions (namely LTE ones) will pack Qualcomm processors, while the others will feature a Samsung-made next-gen CPU. With that in mind, we'll also focus on that listed GSM/WCDMA/LTE support which is very interesting, and seems to suggest that Exynos 5 Octa-based Galaxy S4 units will come with LTE capabilities. In such a case, will Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processors be still needed?      As for overall performance, it looks like the Galaxy S4 is ready to blow past some of the competition, topping the AnTuTu Benchmark test with a total score of 24894. However, while the Galaxy S4 does much better than the LG Optimus G, the Nexus 4, the Galaxy Note 2 and the Galaxy S3 in this test, none of the recent flagship devices are listed including the Sony Xperia Z, LG Optimus G Pro or the HTC One. We'll be back with more Galaxy S4 details in the coming days, as we expect plenty of leaks to hit the web before the device is officially announced. The post Galaxy S4 specs and features revealed in new benchmark: LTE, Exynos 5 Octa and PowerVR SGX 544MP appeared first on Android Authority. |
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