Sunday, March 17, 2013

Android Central

Android Central

iRig Recorder for Android now available from Google Play

Posted: 16 Mar 2013 04:34 PM PDT

Android Central

IK Multimedia first announced that their iRig Recorder app would be coming to Android back at CES in early January. Back then, we were told to expect it to land by the end of January. All went quiet, January became a memory, and the app never appeared for download. Better late than never though, iRig Recorder is now available as a free download from the Google Play Store. While the app is free, full functionalities can be unlocked for the one time fee of $4.99.

Besides being a full featured recording and editing app, iRig Recorder is compatible with the existing iRig hardware, previously only supported by iOS devices. Accessory makers have been notoriously slow to adopt Android, but the arrival of the iRig suite of audio equipment and the Recorder app is fantastic news for anyone who needs to make good quality recordings on the go.

Apple's new web page talks up the iPhone as expected, but in reality it's good news for everyone

Posted: 16 Mar 2013 03:26 PM PDT

Apple's new ad

Apple has put up a new web page (and sent out an email blast to spam folders everywhere) praising the iPhone 5 against the competition. Plenty of Android fans are going to debate every single word Apple says until we're all blue in the face, but what I can see is that Apple is finally taking the competition seriously, out in the open, in front of everyone.

When a company wants your attention, they bash the competition. See all of Samsung's ads from last year as an example, or the "I'm a Mac" ads from Apple. Android OEMs are pulling out all the stops and bringing us features we didn't even know could be done in both the hardware side (HTC's new microphones have me excited) and the software side (the way dual-camera video chat looked in the Galaxy S4 Unpacked event has me itching to try it). Apple wants to take your attention away from all this. Ads like the web page they launched today try to do just that.

But getting your attention is easier than keeping it. To do that, Apple will have to ramp up on software changes, and take a few risks that they haven't been taking for a while. That's great news for the face of mobile, regardless of which side of the fence you're on. We all scream "copycat" (and Apple has been quick to call up their lawyers) when one company brings something we've already seen on some level from another. But when one company does something great, the rest do everything they can to do deliver something just as "innovative" (I'm starting to hate that word) of their own. Since we're the ones buying, we all benefit.

Make no mistake -- Apple has some of the best people in the business working on what's next. The worry that phones like the HTC One, the LG Optimus G Pro, and the Samsung Galaxy S4 are going to steal a little more thunder than they have in the past is good for us all.

More: iMore

Xiaomi to trial super cheap Android powered set-top box in three Chinese cities

Posted: 16 Mar 2013 03:09 PM PDT

Android Central

Google TV may not yet have really taken off, but that hasn't put Chinese manufacturer, Xiaomi, off the idea of an Android powered set-top box. The Xiaomi Box is set to come to market on March 19, initially in a three city trial -- those being Shanghai, Hangzhou and Changsha. The initial batch of the device will be limited beyond location too, with just 10,000 units initially being made available. 

The release of the Xiaomi Box has come about through a partnership with Chinese broadcaster, iCNTV. The Box itself is priced to move, costing the equivalent of $48. It becomes the latest in the Xiaomi ecosystem of Android based products, that to date include smartphones, and the MiUi software. Streaming from an Android device is possible with the Xiaomi Box, as it is from an iOS device too. In the absence of the Apple TV in China, the Android powered Xiaomi Box could also attract the nations iOS users too.

via The Next Web

Apps of the Week: The Walking Dead, MightyText, Feedly and more!

Posted: 16 Mar 2013 01:18 PM PDT

Apps of the Week

Things around here have been pretty busy (if you haven't noticed) because of the Samsung Galaxy S4 announcement, but we still managed to get together some great app picks for you. This week is a little utility-heavy, as we have a great crop of apps that will help you get things done. There's still a couple of fun ones thrown in though, naturally.

Hang around after the break and see how our app picks stack up this week.

read more

Samsung Galaxy S4 reportedly set for early May launch in India

Posted: 16 Mar 2013 09:16 AM PDT

Android Central

There's a lot of folks all around the world that are excited for the Samsung Galaxy S4. Following on from the massively successful Galaxy S3, there's no doubts that this is going to be one of the biggest sellers in mobile this year. Since the official unveiling in New York City, we're gradually beginning to build up a picture of availability, and next up is news for our friends over in India. 

According to AndroidOS.in, Samsung is set to launch the Galaxy S4 in India in the first week of May. They go on to say that a press event is likely in late April to officially launch the device in the country. Considering global availability is slated to begin from the end of April, this is great news for Indians eager to get their hands on one of the hottest devices of the year. 

India's Galaxy S4 will also be carrying the new Exynos 5 Octa inside, and not the Snapdragon 600 of the U.S. version. There are no details of pricing or any word on carrier partners for the Galaxy S4, but considering we're still 6 weeks or so out from launch, there's still plenty of time yet. 

Samsung Galaxy S4 Forums | Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S4 |Samsung Galaxy S4 Details

Source: AndroidOS.in

Reports suggest Three paid EE absolutely nothing for 1800MHz LTE spectrum

Posted: 16 Mar 2013 08:46 AM PDT

Android Central

The latest chapter in the UK's LTE saga is an intriguing one, concerning the spectrum 'sale' from EE to rival carrier Three. Before the recent spectrum auctions even began, EE was instructed to sell off a chunk of its existing 1800MHz spectrum -- used for their 4G LTE service -- by regulators. Three picked this up, but a recent report suggests it may have been the ultimate bargain. 

According to a report in The Guardian, Three paid a grand total of £0 for the chunk of spectrum. Thats right. Nothing, nil, nada. Considering the estimated value lay in the region of £450million, this all seems very, very strange. After all, the other carriers need additional spectrum to launch their own LTE services, so why would EE just give it away?

EE reportedly decided the safest bet for them was to forego offers from Vodafone and O2, and give it away to the UK's smallest network. Despite having probably the best contract deals in the UK, Three's customer base is around 10million, compared to EE's 27million. 

The deal was also supposedly designed to help tip the spectrum auction in EE's favor, leaving them more chance of picking up a good portion of the valuable 800MHz spectrum. As it turned out, both EE and Three emerged with a small piece of 800MHz, and if all this is indeed true, Three has kickstarted its LTE network without spending a whole lot of money. 

Source: The Guardian

Samsung Galaxy S4 or the HTC One

Posted: 16 Mar 2013 06:41 AM PDT

HTC One and the Galaxy S4.

Making a decision between the HTC One and the Galaxy S4 isn't going to be easy for many folks​

The battle lines have quickly been drawn between two of 2013's hottest Android smartphones -- phones that, by the way, not a whole lot of people have actually touched yet -- the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4. The HTC One is just now going on sale in parts of Europe. We're still waiting on any U.S. carrier to announce availability for either of the phones.

We've been using the HTC One for a week now. (I've been using it as my main device, actually.) And we got to spend some time with the Samsung Galaxy S4 on Thursday in New York City. And we got to put both phones up against each other.

Know what? Folks are going to have a tough decision to make. 

Read on for some initial thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S4 versus the HTC One.

read more

Jelly Bean update rolling out for European LG Optimus L9

Posted: 16 Mar 2013 03:47 AM PDT

Android Central

The LG Optimus L9 was introduced to European markets in the second half of last year as the then newest member of the Optimus L-Series of devices. We first went hands with the LG back at IFA 2012 in Berlin, we found a surprisingly nice mid-range device. Since launch, the L9 has been running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, but now it seems that European owners are getting a Jelly Bean flavored treat on their devices. 

According to reports, the update to Android 4.1 is rolling out in the Baltics region, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania and for the European Open devices. It can be downloaded via the LG Update Tool as well as OTA, but it's a pretty weighty one coming in at 575MB. What's more is the relative speed at which this update has appeared. LG traditionally isn't too good with software updates, but the L9 has received Jelly Bean now within six months of the device's launch. Still not amazingly fast, but given LG's record it's still pretty impressive. 

Source: XDA via GSM Arena

Save 15% on ALL Android Accessories in our St. Patrick's Day Sale!

Posted: 15 Mar 2013 07:00 PM PDT

Android Central

Saint Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday this year, so we're going to celebrate all weekend long here at Android Central with a ShopAndroid sale!! Until Sunday, Midnight PST, you can save 15% on ALL Android accessories by using coupon code shamrocks at checkout.

Take me to ShopAndroid.com!

From 'S Life' to 'Life Companion': The original Galaxy S presentation meets the Galaxy S4

Posted: 15 Mar 2013 04:49 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S4 event

It's good to take a look back sometimes. The mobile business moves ridiculously fast. It has its hits. It has its misses. Sometimes it has both simultaneously. 

I can't say I'm a theater connoisseur. Haven't been to enough shows to get anywhere near calling myself a critic. Is it good theater? Is it bad? I dunno. I do think you generally have to take it with a bit of a nod and a wink. Working on the stage means over emphasizing. Expressions and emotions have to reach folks in the back row.  And there was a pretty big difference in watching Thursday night's night's Samsung Galaxy S4 event at Radio City Music Hall from the fourth row than when I watched it again today on YouTube, with multiple camera angles and close-ups. (It also makes a big difference when you watch it instead of work it.)

But I couldn't help think that we'd seen a bit of this before.

 

More: Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S4​; Galaxy S4 forums

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