Android Authority |
- Solar cells could soon add power to your smartphones and tablets
- HTC One will now launch on April 2 in the Netherlands, UltraPixel shortage to blame
- Pantech’s 5.9-inch Vega No. 6 now out in Hong Kong for $774, wrist support not included
- $99 Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt gets performance boost with firmware update
- No cheap BlackBerry 10 devices for now, says CEO Thorsten Heins
- Android Authority On Air – Episode 54 – Chameleon Launcher 2 Live Q&A
- Xperia Z is waterproof so models can talk on the phone in the shower [NSFW]
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini – will we see it at Samsung’s Unpacked event?
- 1SaleADay app hits Google Play, Toshiba Excite 10.1 on sale for just $250
- MessageMe: more than just another instant messaging app?
| Solar cells could soon add power to your smartphones and tablets Posted: 09 Mar 2013 02:14 AM PST  Soon you can charge your smartphone while sunbathing, with a gallium arsenide solar cell chemistry from Alta Devices. Power efficiency can make or break a mobile device. If we weren’t constrained with the power supply, then our mobile devices would probably be even faster and more powerful than they are now. But even as mobile CPUs and GPUs are increasingly becoming power efficient, we still find ourselves finding the need to plug in at the end of the day (or even at the middle of the day). If all goes well with a new technology being developed by Alta Devices, we might be able to rely on the sun or other light sources to augment our batteries or even power our devices altogether. As it stands, solar cells are currently very inefficient at absorbing energy from the sun, especially if the surface area were only to cover, say, the back end of a mobile phone or tablet. The highest-efficiency solar cell chemical could, theoretically, power a mobile phone, but in its current form, it would be very impractical to incorporate in a mobile device. Gallium arsenide is better-able to capture light than traditional solar cells, and is currently used in space-bound craft such as satellites. The problem is that gallium arsenide is usually synthesized in a crystalline form — quite cumbersome to add onto a mobile device. Alta Devices, a Silicon Valley startup, has found a way to synthesize the material onto a thin film, and the resulting solar cells can convert up to 30.8% of the energy from light into electricity.
The resulting film is about 1 micron thin — about a fourth of the width of human hair. The solar cells have two layers, one of which consists of indium gallium phosphide, which converts light with lower wavelengths into electricity. The end result: a smartphone battery cover that can output about 1.5 watts of electricity at peak, such as when exposed to sunlight. Alta Devices has actually developed a prototype for a Samsung galaxy smartphone (model unspecified). CEO Christopher S. Norris says this can charge a mobile phone in about three times the time it would take to charge from a wall outlet. But while that’s still less than ideal, the point here is to reduce dependency on he grid. “If you're in full sun, a watt and a half for 10 minutes will give you an hour of talk time.” At this point, the main benefit would not necessarily be taking out the need to plug in altogether, but to augment power from the grid and to extend usage while unplugged. If you’re curious, you can check out Alta Devices’ battery life extension calculator, to determine how much you can extend your battery life. If you’re mostly outdoors and if you carry your phone on your belt, this could be as much as an 83% extension. Students with time spent outdoors get about 54% extension of their battery life. While this would be a great addition to smartphones in the developed world, the real benefit would be in emerging markets, where mobile devices have proliferated faster than the electricity grid, reports the New York Times. But going beyond mobile phones, Alta Devices’ technology can also be applied to cars. While Alta Devices solar cells mounted onto a car’s surface area would not necessarily be able to power the entire vehicle, it can help reduce the load on the internal combustion engine by, say, delivering power to the electronics. This is something that certain hybrid vehicles currently do with their gas-powered engine, plus battery technology. Would you be willing to carry your smartphone on your belt, in order to absorb as much energy from the sun possible? Featured image credits: Shutterstock / Solar cell film image credit: Alta Devices The post Solar cells could soon add power to your smartphones and tablets appeared first on Android Authority. |
| HTC One will now launch on April 2 in the Netherlands, UltraPixel shortage to blame Posted: 09 Mar 2013 01:44 AM PST
The streak of bad news for HTC – and its flagship handset, the HTC One — continues. Following our report yesterday about the company's inability to produce enough of the phone's camera modules, which is expected to have an adverse effect on its supply and availability, we now have the first UltraPixel casualty. If you're in the Netherlands, you can put your money back into your wallet, as HTC has confirmed to a Dutch media that the launch of the phone in the country has been pushed back from March 15 to April 2. While the reason wasn’t given, it’s quite likely that the delay is related to the above problem. Now, two weeks might not seem like a long time, but let's not forget that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be unveiled very soon. People might just have a change of heart about their desire to grab the incredible HTC One if it isn't within grasp. Initially, HTC is aiming for a mid-March worldwide release for the One, which sort of explains why the unofficial launch in Singapore was cancelled this week. Here’s hoping that the delay virus will not spread to other markets. Disappointed that you won’t have the One by next week? Hit the comments below. The post HTC One will now launch on April 2 in the Netherlands, UltraPixel shortage to blame appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Pantech’s 5.9-inch Vega No. 6 now out in Hong Kong for $774, wrist support not included Posted: 09 Mar 2013 12:08 AM PST
The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has been rumored to come with a 5.9-inch display, which will put it almost at tablet territory, but it won't exactly be the biggest phone in the market – not when there's the Huawei Ascend Mate and other upcoming genre-bending devices. One device that shares the Note 3's purported display size is the Pantech Vega No. 6, released in South Korea just last month. Will it be made available for those outside of the country? The answer is yes if you live in Hong Kong. Granted, you can find all sorts of gadgets and gizmos in the streets of Hong Kong, but this is different, since the Vega No. 6 has actually been officially launched there. If you’re interested, you’ll have to plunk down 6,000 HKD ($774) to take the full HD smartphone home. The 1080p screen isn't the only feature that'll attract your attention. Check out the full specs below:
Do you find the almost 6-inch Vega No. 6 — or any other huge phones — appealing? It looks pretty awkward to hold, right? The post Pantech's 5.9-inch Vega No. 6 now out in Hong Kong for $774, wrist support not included appeared first on Android Authority. |
| $99 Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt gets performance boost with firmware update Posted: 08 Mar 2013 08:57 PM PST
The Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt caught our attention for being an affordable Jelly Bean device. After all, for just $99, you get a 7-inch tablet running a quad-core Cortex A9-based processor clocked at 1 GHz with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. Sure, that’s nothing to phone home about for hardcore Android fans, but for the price it’s a good buy — good enough that Cherry Mobile stores reportedly had very long lines during launch day. Read also: Cherry Mobile unveils Fusion Bolt tablet: quad-core power and Jelly Bean for just $99 But what’s quite disappointing for the Fusion Bolt is the performance, as some have noted lags and delays, especially when playing games. Even the benchmark results were a bit disappointing. However, tweakers might have their excitement rekindled, as the Fusion Bolt can actually get a stellar performance improvement with a firmware upgrade. YugaTech was able to flash an updated firmware from the Ainol Novo Venus Lite, which was the OEM device the Fusion Bolt was based on. The result: an increase in Antutu score from 5,985 to 11,053, and an increase in Quadrant score from 2,722 to 2,802. And it’s not just about benchmark scores. The tablet is “now noticeably smoother and faster,” notes contributor Louie Diangson. Early reviewers of the Fusion Bolt say their firmwares were pre-release and some retail versions might already come with an updated firmware. Yet another reason to get excited about this inexpensive tablet? Image credit: Noypigeeks The post $99 Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt gets performance boost with firmware update appeared first on Android Authority. |
| No cheap BlackBerry 10 devices for now, says CEO Thorsten Heins Posted: 08 Mar 2013 06:40 PM PST
BlackBerry has launched its Z10 smartphone initially in emerging markets, with some success. But as inexpensive Android devices has proliferated in the market, CEO Thorsten Heins says BlackBerry is not likely to sell $50 BB10 devices anytime soon. Could this break BlackBerry’s attempt to regain its share in the mobile market? In a question-and-answer session at a conference in BlackBerry’s Waterloo, Ontario home town, Heins says the company is not “getting into the 50-, 60-buck segment,” reports Bloomberg. That is “not BlackBerry,” he says. Heins adds that this does not result in value for the company. “Understand where you are playing and resist being talked into segments that you know will not serve your purpose and will not result in shareholder value.” Here are a few highlights:
BlackBerry has somehow held its market share in places like Indonesia and India, where the inexpensive BlackBerry Messaging Service has become a mainstay. To illustrate, the basic BBM would usually cost in the vicinity of US$2.50 per month for unlimited service, which is cheaper than most data plans and SMS charges. Market share is shrinking, though, especially with the rise of cheap data plans and free cross-platform messaging services. A good idea?BlackBerry seems to be holding on to its enterprise-oriented roots in focusing on the higher-end of the market. But given BlackBerry’s ailing market share, is this such a good idea? Here are a few thoughts. Android skyrocketed to popularity in both established and emerging markets because of the wide array of devices offered within the platform. You have flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, middle-of-the-road smartphones like the LG Nexus 4, and even basic entry-level devices like the Samsung Galaxy Pocket. While it is arguable that this wide array of offerings has resulted in fragmentation and a wide disparity in user experience, there is no question that Android is the market leader in smartphones today (and tablets are rising, as well). But perhaps BlackBerry wants to continue offering its older devices for the lower-end of the market, much like how Apple services this segment with previous years’ devices. For instance, the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 are still being offered on contract as either the $100 or free smartphone in the U.S. There is one big difference, however. BlackBerry’s latest BB10 platform would only be supported on new devices. Apple, meanwhile, continues to push upgrades to previous models, as long as the devices are still capable. For example, even the four-year old iPhone 3GS supports the latest iOS 6.1.2. Is BlackBerry willing to alienate this segment of the market that would not necessarily pay for an expensive high-end device? Still, BlackBerry will be launching more affordable devices after its focus on the high-end. While this will not necessarily mean devices as cheap as US$50, BlackBerry fans can still expect devices aimed at the mid-range. It’s a question of keeping the user experience consistent with BlackBerry’s aims. If you’re familiar with how low-end Android devices result in a disappointing user experience, then you will know how that will tend to turn off users. So it’s a tradeoff between gaining market share and ensuring a consistent user experience. Which will it be for BlackBerry? The post No cheap BlackBerry 10 devices for now, says CEO Thorsten Heins appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Android Authority On Air – Episode 54 – Chameleon Launcher 2 Live Q&A Posted: 08 Mar 2013 06:11 PM PST
This week on Android Authority On Air, we held a live Q&A session with Tony MacDonell from Teknision, the company behind Chameleon launcher. If you recall, Chameleon launcher debuted last August for tablets only. Yesterday for the first time, Chameleon launcher became available for smartphones. Along with the addition of smartphone support, Chameleon launcher got a slight name change to simply Chameleon 2. Besides phone support, the latest version added folder and linked folder support, widgets have been completely overhauled, the context based home screen philosophy has slightly changed, and there’s been some performance and stability enhancements. But, don’t take our word for it. Just listen to Tony from Teknision, he discusses with us every new feature from inside and out. The vast majority (probably 50 minutes) of the show was dedicated to Chameleon and Tony sure likes to talk. We’re not complaining one bit, it was a great show. We did manage to squeeze in a few minutes or so of Android news from the past week. The Verizon Galaxy Nexus received a substantial leak, Android 4.2.2 which can be downloaded directly from Google’s severs, so you know this is legit. The Motorola RAZR and RAZR MAXX got debloated with their long, overdue Android Jelly Bean OTA update. For patent wars, Judge Koh reverses course, orders new trial on $450 million of Apple's $1.05 billion 'win'. Koh wants the new trial to wait until after the appeals. It's increasingly clear that the appeal is likely to overturn a lot of Koh's decisions. Microsoft to pay $750 million fine to EU for browser choice snafu. Big name companies like Qualcomm and Ericsson file comments with FTC opposing recent Google settlement as damaging to the industry. We even managed to squeeze in a giveaway teaser. Miss the show? Tune in or watch below: SoundCloud |Stitcher |iTunes | Miro | RSS The post Android Authority On Air – Episode 54 – Chameleon Launcher 2 Live Q&A appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Xperia Z is waterproof so models can talk on the phone in the shower [NSFW] Posted: 08 Mar 2013 06:00 PM PST
By now the Xperia Z doesn't need any more introductions, as it's one of the best Android handsets of the first half of the year. Sony is already selling it in a variety of markets with sales described as off to a good start, but it looks like certain local Xperia Z launches are more creative than others. Take the T-Mobile Xperia Z which was launched in the Czech Republic recently. You'd think that Sony and its carrier partners would focus on the Android phone's high-end features when presenting it to new buyers, but you'd be wrong. Instead T-Mobile turned its attention to showing the world how somewhat-naked models take showers while talking on the phone, the Xperia Z to be exact. Because, if you don't know it already, the Xperia Z is waterproof and could be used for such purposes – not that we encourage you to do it. We can only assume that the Xperia Z performed gracefully in such company, and we invite you to check out the marketing campaign in the following image gallery for yourself:         That's definitely one way of selling a hot Android phone, and we can't but wonder whether it worked or not. After all, sex does sell everything, doesn’t it? The post Xperia Z is waterproof so models can talk on the phone in the shower [NSFW] appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini – will we see it at Samsung’s Unpacked event? Posted: 08 Mar 2013 05:03 PM PST
It should be common knowledge by now that Samsung is holding its Unpacked event in New York City on March 14, where it will unveil the Galaxy S4. While the spotlight might be on the Galaxy S4, rumors are saying that Samsung won’t just be announcing the Galaxy S4 but the Galaxy S4 Mini as well. What do current Galaxy S4 Mini rumors say?We reported in early February that a rumor surfaced claiming that the Galaxy S4 Mini is a part of the Project J family, codenamed Serrano. The Galaxy S4 Mini is reportedly confirmed, which makes sense considering that a Galaxy S3 Mini accompanied the Galaxy S3 a few months after the Galaxy S3 was launched. It wouldn’t be surprising to see this trend continue. A few days after the claim of the Galaxy S4 Mini being reportedly confirmed, we received wind that the device could be releasing as early as May, a month after the Galaxy S4 is allegedly supposed to launch. Considering that a Galaxy S4 Mini seems to be a given at this point, will we see it at the event next week? Is it even worth manufacturing a Galaxy S4 Mini?We more than likely will not see a Galaxy S4 Mini unveiling alongside the Galaxy S4′s announcement, and for a good reason too. That’s not to say that Samsung won’t make an S4 Mini though, as there are many demographics Samsung caters to. Let’s use the Samsung Note devices as an example. All of Samsung’s Note devices, in essence, are the same. There are a lot of Note sizes though, and that is so that Samsung can appeal to a wider array of customers. Some people think that the Note 2 is too small, so Samsung made an 8-inch Galaxy Note tablet for those buyers. The only real difference between the 8-inch Note tablet and 5.5-inch Galaxy Note 2 is its size. Some think Samsung won’t make a Galaxy S4 Mini because the Galaxy S3 Mini was not very successful. But the South Korean company will most likely release a Galaxy S4 Mini though, as it’s part of its business model. Besides, all the pieces seem to be in place to make it, so why not do it?
Will the Galaxy S4 Mini get announced alongside the Galaxy S4?It’s in the realm of possibility, but it will more than likely not get announced next week. Obviously, we’re just speculating at this point, as there’s no official information available on the matter. Compared to the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S4 Mini should be cheaper to make considering that it is supposed to be smaller than the Galaxy S4. But Samsung would have to manufacture the device and its rumored accessories differently, which would take more time. Samsung may also not want to announce an S4 Mini right away, so that consumers can focus on its flagship device instead of a bunch of renditions of its flagship smartphone. There’s no doubt that Samsung would want to earn as much cash off of its new top-of-the-line handset after seeing how much success the Galaxy S3 had in 2012. While it could make sense for Samsung to release an entire Galaxy S4 family at once, what will happen to marketing for these products? If the spotlight is on the Galaxy S4 with no mention of a smaller and cheaper variant of the device, the majority of consumers may rush for the Galaxy S4. Lastly, we didn’t see the Galaxy S3 Mini until long after the Galaxy S3′s original announcement. In fact, the Galaxy S3 Mini didn’t even launch in markets where Android was very strong, such as the U.S. That said, it would be a surprise to witness a Galaxy S4 Mini unveiling at Samsung’s Unpacked event on March 14. If we do see the Galaxy S4 Mini at the event, why get excited about it? Chances are, it won’t be making its way to a lot of countries, just like the Galaxy S3 Mini. If you don’t remember the Galaxy S3 Mini, check out our review: Do you think we’ll see a Galaxy S4 Mini announcement at the Unpacked event in New York City next week? The post Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini – will we see it at Samsung’s Unpacked event? appeared first on Android Authority. |
| 1SaleADay app hits Google Play, Toshiba Excite 10.1 on sale for just $250 Posted: 08 Mar 2013 04:08 PM PST
Today is a good day for Android loving individuals looking for good deals on the net. 1SaleADay has now released its official Android app to Google Play. Even better, they also are offering a great deal on the Toshiba Excite 10.1. As you would expect from this kind of app, it gives you access to everything that you would normally be able to do from the web. This includes using the shopping cart and checking out using PayPal or a credit card, all from the convenience of the new app. There is also a sharing button that allows you to easily post great deals you find to various social networks like Google+ and Twitter. For those who have never shopped at 1SaleADay before, essentially it focuses on one major deal every day that is significantly slashed down from the average selling price. Today’s major deal is for the Toshiba Excite 10.1 16GB model, where it is going for only $250.
The Excite 10.1 might not be the most advanced Android tablet on the market but it isn’t a pushover either. The device has a 1280 x 800 resolution, a 1.2GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and 1GB of RAM. Other specs include a 5MP rear cam, 2MP front cam, micro-HDMI, micro-USB 2.0, full-sized SD, Bluetooth 3.0, a docking connector, stereo speakers, and a battery that holds about a 10 hour charge. As for the OS? While it originally ran Android 4.0, an update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has since become available. If this sounds like the deal for you, you have a little under five hours until the one-day sale officially comes to an end. What do you think, is $250 for the Excite 10.1 a steal or not? The post 1SaleADay app hits Google Play, Toshiba Excite 10.1 on sale for just $250 appeared first on Android Authority. |
| MessageMe: more than just another instant messaging app? Posted: 08 Mar 2013 03:42 PM PST
Just in time for SXSW this year, a Valley-based startup has launched MessageMe, which is an instant messaging app for Android and iOS platforms. We might be tempted to say it’s yet another instant messaging app for mobile devices, trying to carve its share from under Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, Viber and the like. But I’ve taken MessageMe for a spin, and I can say I like the app, which lives up to its promises. In gist, here are some of the things I like about MessageMe:
MessageMe promises to be a simple app that focuses on context. Just like popular regional messaging apps like Japan’s LINE and South Korean Kakao Talk, MessageMe offers rich multimedia content, such as pictures, videos, songs and audio recordings. But what makes it more fun is its inclusion of Doodles — that small applet that lets you pass around sketches either to a single correspondent or a group of friends. You can even doodle on existing pictures – perfect for adding that mustache or glasses to your unwitting subject. MessageMe was built by a team of experienced social media app developers, led by Arjun Sethi, who is a veteran of Tapjoy and about.me, among other startup companies. I did a quick interview with Arjun — over MessageMe, of course — where I got to pick his brains on his opinions about the supposedly crowded IM space, developing for iOS vs. Android, and their business model. Is the market for mobile messaging apps already saturated?Basically, Arjun says he doesn’t believe the mobile messaging app space is saturated, especially in North America, South America and Europe. While bigger competitors like Facebook Messenger theoretically have a captured audience (1 billion users on Facebo0k), MessageMe competes on a couple of advantages: speed and context. Meanwhile, in Asia, the likes of WeChat (300 million users), LINE (100 million) and Kakao Talk (70 million) are dominant, although MessageMe still has something unique to offer. MessageMe promises to be lightweight and not eat up too much of your smartphone’s resources, which can be very important in maintaining a smooth user experience. But the app’s more important focus is context. “Our team’s core principle is to adhere to the media in which people communicate, and bringing those contexts more naturally into a 1:1 or group conversation.” This is done by incorporating sensory elements, which is accomplished by the user linking YouTube videos or music tracks, adding photos, sending voice clips and exchanging doodles. Again, the focus is on context. iOS vs. Android: the developer’s perspectiveDeveloping for Android and iOS each has their own nuances, Arjun admits. “We had to tailor our design and development not just for the platforms, but for the type of devices customers would use and the carriers under which they would operate. Android has more 'hedge' cases. iOS is a bit more straightforward because it has many standards and policies laid out.” In a way, building for iOS might be easier, given that you are only writing code for a limited set of devices. On Android, you have to consider a wider variety of screen sizes, processing capability and the like. MessageMe doesn’t currently have a business model yet, although the company is venture-funded. Arjun admits that the “focused on customer experience and growth at this time.” It’s sure that they won’ be running advertisement on the platform any time in the future. And while BlackBerry ad Windows platforms are being considered in future builds, right now the’re sticking with Android and iOS. “We'll decide over time as we work on the customer experience on iOS and Android.” Stickers, mobile paymentsHowever, there are currently greyed-out “stickers” and “money” buttons, which means MessageMe might soon let users exchange free and premium stickers. These are quite popular in some markets like Asia, where IM services earn millions of dollars per month from stickers and premium games. And if you’ve heard about BlackBerry opening its BBM Money in some markets, an IM-based payment system might be a game changer in doing small transactions like splitting the bill, paying at the checkout counter or paying for freelance services. MessageMe connects with friends through Facebook authorization, and friends can also be added through either email address or a unique PIN that the app will generate for each user. The app is a free download from the Google Play Store (and also the iTunes App Store for iOS devices). You can also head on to msg.me and click the “download app” link, which leads you to either iTunes or Google Play downloads, depending on your device. The post MessageMe: more than just another instant messaging app? appeared first on Android Authority. |
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