Android Central |
- HTC One review
- NVIDIA reveals future Tegra roadmap and 'GPU computing'
- Nexus 4 up for sale once again in the UK Play Store
- HTC One: Zoes and Video Highlights
- Citrix updates Podio app with improved task management, language support
- Verizon Galaxy Nexus gets Android 4.2.2 starting today
- Neatly for Twitter beta: A smooth and functional new client
- Deal of the Day: Seidio 3500mAh Extended Battery w/ NFC for Galaxy S3
- Of course HTC filmed itself outside Samsung's Times Square event
- Google Flight Search now available in Europe
- CM developers passing on Samsung Galaxy S4 - should you?
- Samsung confirms it's already working on a smart watch of its own
- Contest winners: Nexus 7 charging docks!
- Samsung, HP, and Acer Chromebooks coming to 6 new countries starting today
| Posted: 19 Mar 2013 03:48 PM PDT
HTC returns with a sleek aluminum design, re-imagined software and a bold new camera experienceWe’re all out of poetic ways to describe HTC’s current situation. A frustrating 2012 saw some of the year’s best mobile hardware being met with declining sales and market presence for the Taiwanese manufacturer. Once the leader of the Android pack, HTC is increasingly seen as an also-ran. That, in part, was down to the confused marketing strategy around last year’s HTC One series. The One X and One S were soon joined by Ones V, VX, XL, XT, XC, SU, SV, SC, and X+, further diluting the value of an already watery brand. In 2013, however, there is only one One. The new HTC One is, as the name suggests, the singular focus of HTC’s high-end efforts. The company’s best build quality, software, screen and optics are to be brought to bear in a “kitchen sink” product that aims to leave no holds barred. It’s also a device that seeks to achieve differentiation at every point on the spec sheet. As other smartphones are increasingly faceless, monolithic black slabs, HTC sandwiches its screen between two bassy front-facing speakers. BoomSound. As competitors crank out 13-megapixel shooters, HTC bucks the trend with a much lower megapixel count, but larger pixels and improved optics. UltraPixels. Add to that a new way to shoot and share images and video. Zoe Share. Plus, a new home screen experience that brings the world to you. BlinkFeed. And let’s not forget how rare it is to come across a decent aluminum smartphone these days. If HTC is to recover, it’ll be through a combination of intelligent marketing and great products. We can’t review the former, but you can bet we’re going to get stuck into the latter. In fact, we’ll do it right after the break, in our definitive review of the new HTC One. 
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| NVIDIA reveals future Tegra roadmap and 'GPU computing' Posted: 19 Mar 2013 03:00 PM PDT
Speaking at today's GPU Technology Conference in San Jose, NVIDIA co-founder and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang took the wraps off the future of the Tegra platform. That future looks pretty bright, as NVIDIA says they want mobile devices to be able to "do everything a modern computer should do." Enter the next-generation "Logan" and "Parker" Tegra processors. The Logan (that's a code name for what will likely be the Tegra 5) will offer a Kepler GPU, with support for CUDA and OpenGL 4.3. The Kepler GPU is a big boost from previous GeForce models, and offers two pretty exciting (for developers, anyway) features -- Dynamic Parallel computing, where the GPU can spawn it's own threads without going back to the CPU, and Hyper-Q threading which allows more than one CPU core to simultaneously utilize the GPU. Nerdy stuff to be sure, but it means even better gaming and 3D performance for the apps and games we all love. CUDA is GPU computing. While your mobile CPU works hard to crunch the numbers, normally the GPU sits idle unless it's supposed to be drawing something. With CUDA implemented, that array of high clock speed GPU cores is doing a lot of work right along with the CPU cores. Modern desktops use GPU computing, as do many "supercomputers" we read about at research facilities and laboratories. Expect CUDA support to make a significant impact on applications specially designed for it. Expect to see Logan chips in production early next year. Things wont stop there. Jen-Hsun also talked a little about the "Parker" (Tegra 6?). Parker will sport the all-new 64-bit Denver CPU and Maxwell GPU cores, The big news here is the use of FinFET transistors. Hardware geeks and EE's everywhere are pretty excited about FinFET transistors, and the way they are going to radically change the way ARM chips are designed and built. They cut "leaked" (read: wasted) power by up to 90-percent, and are about 40 to 50-percent faster while using half the power of the current transistor model. This means they can process information twice as fast as chips we have now, without using any extra power. Of course, that also means chips can be designed to process data as fast as they do today, while using half the power. NVIDIA is excited about what they have in store for mobile computing, and so are we. As this sort of technology works its way onto ARM devices, we'll have phones and tablets that are as powerful as the current best-in-class laptops -- with games and apps designed to take advantage of it all. 
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| Nexus 4 up for sale once again in the UK Play Store Posted: 19 Mar 2013 01:40 PM PDT
After a not-so-brief hiatus from the U.K. Play Store, the Nexus 4 is back up for sale. In both 8GB and 16GB versions for £239 and £279, respectively. We can't say how long this will last, but if you have yet to get your hands on one directly from the source, now is the time. It's been well over a month since the last availability, and the device has kept in stock steadily for the U.S. as of late, so let's hope that the stock also sticks around for our friends across the pond. Source: Nexus (Google+) 
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| HTC One: Zoes and Video Highlights Posted: 19 Mar 2013 11:57 AM PDT
Two of the most important features on the HTC One are also two of the most confusingOne of the most important -- and impressive -- features of the HTC One is, of course, the camera. We're not going to dive into the whole "UltraPixel" thing here, nor is this a review of camera quality. We'll worry about how the sausage is made later. Right now it's time to learn a few important terms when it comes to the HTC One camera. When it comes to the new features in the HTC One Camera, you'll be hearing a lot about Zoes (pronounced zoh-ee, as in Zoetrope) and Video Highlights. Zoes can stand on their own, or they can be part of a Video Highlight. Following is a walkthrough of what a Zoe is compared to a Video Highlight, what you can do with them, and how you can share them. 
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| Citrix updates Podio app with improved task management, language support Posted: 19 Mar 2013 11:31 AM PDT
Podio, the collaboration platform from Citrix, has just received a notable update to its Android app to improve management of tasks and add new languages. The new Android app brings options for complete control over tasks, so users can now edit due dates, times, assignees and references all from the mobile interface. Along with the new editing features, users can now add images to tasks, which can be extremely helpful for getting your point across to the group. Citrix is also adding new language support in the latest version of Podio. Japanese and Dutch are added to the list this time around, bringing the total languages supported to 11. You can give Podio a try for free from the Play Store link at the top of this post. More: Podio Blog 
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| Verizon Galaxy Nexus gets Android 4.2.2 starting today Posted: 19 Mar 2013 08:34 AM PDT
Finally. Verizon has announced that starting today, its much-maligned Samsung Galaxy Nexus will finally get Android 4.2.2, some time after nearly every other version of Google's 2012 flagship smartphone.
Be sure to note that line stating the update will push out in phases. So if you don't get it first thing, keep an eye out. That said, we expect to see the manual download location any time now, so you probably won't have to wait too long. Hit up the forum link below to find out what's what. Source: Verizon; More: Verizon Galaxy Nexus forums 
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| Neatly for Twitter beta: A smooth and functional new client Posted: 19 Mar 2013 07:30 AM PDT
Twitter's recent API limit enforcement has put a bind on many developers that are making clients, but that doesn't seem to have deterred Neatly from releasing its own. Currently in a "final beta" release, Neatly is a simple and clean (hence the name) client that performs well and gives simple settings for managing timelines and muting users. Hang with us after the break and see how Neatly for Twitter hangs with other clients in its current beta state. 
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| Deal of the Day: Seidio 3500mAh Extended Battery w/ NFC for Galaxy S3 Posted: 19 Mar 2013 06:24 AM PDT
The Seidio 3500mAh Extended Battery w/ NFC is available for just $54.00, 28% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last! Deal also available in the Canada store Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts 
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| Of course HTC filmed itself outside Samsung's Times Square event Posted: 19 Mar 2013 05:40 AM PDT
In my Sunday column I wrote about HTC hitting up the queue outside the Samsung Unpacked event at Radio City Music Hall, handing out swag and showing off the HTC One. Turns out HTC was a couple blocks away at 46th and Broadway, hitting up Samsung's outdoor Times Square extravaganza as well. And this time, it took video cameras. No surprise there. If a troll strikes in the woods and no one is around, it doesn't count. So HTC this morning posted a well-produced video of folks on the street getting their hands on the HTC One and learning a little bit about the features. They're all unsurprisingly excited to see it. One thing they still didn't learn: When they'll be able to buy one. Hit the break for the full video. 
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| Google Flight Search now available in Europe Posted: 19 Mar 2013 04:02 AM PDT
Previously limited to journeys starting in the U.S., Google Flight Search is making its European debut this morning. Starting today users in UK, France, Italy, Spain or the Netherlands can use Flight Search to compare trips to the hundreds of supported destinations. As well as searching the most affordable travel times and airlines, Flight Search allows you to compare alternative airports in the same country or region, and there's a handy map view to make this a little easier. Sure, there are many other sites offering this kind of functionality, but Google's implementation is clean and functional. And interestingly, Google seems to use your search and location history to pre-populate the list of "destinations for you," which could be either pretty awesome or pretty creepy depending on your perspective. Google Flight Search is live now at google.com/flights on the web, and there are full-sized and mobile versions of the site available. More: Google Flight Search; Source: ITA Software by Google 
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| CM developers passing on Samsung Galaxy S4 - should you? Posted: 19 Mar 2013 02:51 AM PDT
Update: CyanogenMod on its Google+ account reminds us all that of its official position on the Galaxy S4 -- which is to say it doesn't have one yet. CM also reminds us all that individual developers' do not speak for CM as a whole. (Which is why the quotes in the following piece are from Team Hacksung and not CyanogenMod.) CM adds that it intends to wait for retail release of the Galaxy S4 before commenting on support, as it does for all new devices. Original story: With the Samsung Galaxy S4 presumably coming soon, many are excited about the possibility of running a more stock Android-based experience, like CyanogenMod, on the hardware. It looks like that's going to be a slower transition than many were hoping, as the current Samsung CM maintainers have said that they have no plans to support the device. The relationship between Samsung and the people trying to hack CM onto Samsung phones has been pretty tumultuous as of late. On one side, Samsung has to try to protect their IP. Some of the decisions they have made to help do this just aren't very developer-friendly, and some even violate the GPL (an open source license that covers everything in the Linux kernel used in Android). On the other side, you have a group of people that have to have a little access to this IP so they can build a working firmware for the device. They need everything covered under the GPL, and even a little friendly advice from the manufacturers is what it takes sometimes to get everything working just right. With the two sides unable to get together, frustration has set in and the developers have spoken. XpLoDWilD, speaking for Team Hacksung states:
The other developers are saying basically the same. Codeworkx, Entropy512, and kernel developer Gokhan Moral have said they refuse to develop for the Galaxy S4. Read through the break for some discussion of what this might mean for users like us. Discuss in the Galaxy S4 forums
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| Samsung confirms it's already working on a smart watch of its own Posted: 19 Mar 2013 02:47 AM PDT
Samsung has confirmed that it's working on its own smart watch product, and has been for some time. The device will presumably be a major rival to Apple's anticipated iWatch, rumored to be released later in the year, as the mobile device space is increasingly seen as a two-horse race between Samsung and Apple. Samsung executive vice president Lee Young Hee revealed the information in an interview with Bloomberg, but offered no clues as to which features might be included --
Of course, there's no indication that such a product would run Android, but given Samsung's history with the platform there's at least a possibility. And given Samsung's history with Apple, it should come as no surprise to see the two companies preparing to compete in the wearable tech space too. So might you be picking up a Galaxy Watch in the next year or so? Shout out in the comments! 
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| Contest winners: Nexus 7 charging docks! Posted: 18 Mar 2013 11:52 PM PDT
If you're a registered member here at Android Central then you know our forums always have a contest happening. And if you're not registered, well -- now is as good a time as any. This week's winners are as posted after the break, and if you were chosen watch your email as we'll be following up during the week. Stay tuned for more upcoming contests folks. Congrats to the winners! 
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| Samsung, HP, and Acer Chromebooks coming to 6 new countries starting today Posted: 18 Mar 2013 11:32 PM PDT
Turns out Australia getting access to the Samsung, HP, and Acer Chromebooks was just the tip of the international iceberg, Starting from today (March 19) folks in Canada, France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands will be able to purchase one of the three best-selling Chromebooks without knowing a friend who will ship across the borders. While the Samsung Chromebook has sat at the top of the Amazon best-selling list for laptops for quite a while, Chrome OS and Chromebooks have yet to explode like Android has. Basically the Chrome Browser turned into a platform for development (read our Chromebook Pixel review for more details), some people are reluctant to try. We don't blame them, Chrome OS clearly isn't for everybody. But if you've been wanting to pick up a Chromebook and live in one of the six new countries where they will be sold, hit the source link and get the details on where you can pick one up, and when. Source: Google Chrome blog 
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