Android Community |
- Samsung confirms Exynos 8-core CPU supports all major LTE networks
- Lenovo looking to buy NEC’s mobile division for Android push
- Google patent has camera checking local weather for optimal settings
- MLB At Bat 2013 updated with redesigned team and news pages
- OUYA game console ships with over 100 available games
- Facebook announcing their own flavor of Android
- Vine glosses over Android with new Embeds for web
| Samsung confirms Exynos 8-core CPU supports all major LTE networks Posted: 29 Mar 2013 03:41 PM PDT An interesting comment was made this week by the official Samsung Twitter account. Confirming the companies impressive Exynos 5 Octa 8-core mobile processor not only has support for LTE, but all 20 4G LTE bands currently being used around the globe. Our first thought immediately was why aren’t they offering this in their GALAXY S 4 flagship smartphone.
As we all know, the Samsung GALAXY S 4 flagship smartphone will be released with two models being available. One being their Exynos 5 Octa processor mentioned above with all 8-cores, and the majority of the smartphones in the US and UK will all come with Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 600 series quad-core instead. Originally the thought was Samsung was using Qualcomm for their wide array of full 4G LTE support in the US and UK, as Samsung’s previous Exynos CPU’s didn’t have full support. However, the Galaxy Note II launched with Samsung’s latest Exynos quad-core and it works on AT&T, Verizon, and many other LTE networks without a problem. So what gives? Supply and demand is the problem here folks. While many of you are probably shocked to hear Samsung isn’t using their own impressive 8-core in their new smartphone. The reason is supply. With Samsung expecting to ship nearly 100 million GALAXY S 4 devices, they need to have someone keep up with that demand. That clearly is Qualcomm. The Note II had high sales, but nothing near the projections for the GS4. Most likely that rumored Galaxy Note III will be rocking this 8-core though, that’s for sure. [via SamMobile] |
| Lenovo looking to buy NEC’s mobile division for Android push Posted: 29 Mar 2013 02:57 PM PDT We’ve been hearing a lot of different rumors lately surrounding the fact that Lenovo wants to jump deeper into the Android smartphone market. They have plenty of impressive phones, but we’ve heard they are looking to buy RIM (BlackBerry) and now new reports claim NEC could be selling their mobile division to Lenovo.
According to CNET NEC’s ailing mobile unit is possibly on the auction blocks, although nothing has been officially reported or confirmed at this point. Reuters claims someone close to the situation is stating they are looking at Lenovo for a possible acquisition. NEC is a Japan-based company and their smartphones while decent, haven’t made it to any US soil for the most part. We’ve seen various odd dual-screen smartphones from the company but nothing major that has gained any traction. The same could also be said about Lenovo’s smartphones, so the two combining efforts could be a good move.
The quote above comes from NEC in a statement to investors earlier this week, so at the moment nothing is even official. The company also denied any buyout talks, but that is to be expected. Lenovo has some impressive 5-inch 1080p phones with impressive battery life, Intel-powered smartphones and more so it will be interesting to see if anything comes of this report. [via SlashGear] |
| Google patent has camera checking local weather for optimal settings Posted: 29 Mar 2013 02:01 PM PDT Google’s been on a roll lately with patents and they aren’t slowing down anytime soon, even if a few of those patents are for odd features we might never see in a smartphone. That or Google is taking the way Google Now works to other aspects of our devices. This new patent has our cameras checking GPS and local weather to enable optimal settings for the perfect photo-taking experience.
Yeah, you read that right. According to the USPTO Google’s just applied for a rather odd patent. This patent will use things like GPS, local weather, time of day and more all combined into an application or software built into our camera. The end result of the gathered information will be up to the minute optimal settings for your phone to take the best photo possible. We’ve heard Google big wigs mention upcoming Nexus devices will have insanely great cameras, and this could just be one step in many to perfecting the mobile cameraman’s daily activities. The patent even covers GPS in a way that the camera app knows if you’re indoors, and if so, adjusts accordingly and increases the ISO for a better image vs being out in the sunlight.
ISO options, white balance, shutter speed and more may all be a factor in this upcoming camera application patent. Something that will make even the worst environment easier for our phones to handle. Automatic and pre-set modes are pretty popular, but Google’s looking to get rid of all that and offer an easier and quicker experience. Pretty interesting to say the least. This would really help Google Glass take better photos and video too, not just our smartphones. [via Engadget] |
| MLB At Bat 2013 updated with redesigned team and news pages Posted: 29 Mar 2013 01:04 PM PDT Just in time for the 2013 season to officially get under way, the folks from the MLB development studio have just released their brand new app for Android. It just arrived on the Google Play Store with fastball-like speeds and is full of new features, an improved design, and more. All you MLB fans will be happy to know the tablet layout got improved too.
The app was recently updated for the 2013 season with plenty of action for Spring Training, but today is all about a new app with better visuals, more content, live audio and more all for the fans. Today they’ve added multi-platform live audio for MLB subscribers, something I’m sure many will be happy to hear about. There’s full subscriber support on both smartphones and tablets, and both have received a small UI change for the better. The MLB states the smartphone app now features redesigned individual team pages for a better more personalized experience, then they’ve also improved the look and navigation of the news section. That isn’t all either. We will now have a much better experience with the video highlights. You’ll be able to get game highlights easier than before, so that’s a plus. As usual the MLB At Bat subscription for the entire year will run you $19.99 so if you want the latest and greatest information, get it now. The new app is available as we speak from the link below. [via Play Store] |
| OUYA game console ships with over 100 available games Posted: 29 Mar 2013 12:53 PM PDT We had known the OUYA game console was set to begin shipping to Kickstarter backers on March 28. And well, that seems to has begun without any delays. The OUYA team shared the news on their company blog in a post titled Shippin’ — the interesting part here, they begin with a thank you. You see, they are thanking the backers for well, backing them and making the console a success.
Or maybe more accurately, a success to date. You see, there is still the non-internet crowd that they will need to please. We are not going to see how well that turns out until June 4 when the console makes its way into retail outlets. The good news for now though, the OUYA team managed to drive enough buzz and enough hype to convince developers that it will be worth their time to bring games to the console. According to details coming from OUYA, they were able to launch the console with 100 plus games. As of last evening they were claiming 104, but that number may have already grown. Regardless of the specific amount, some of the game titles new OUYA users can look forward to playing include one called Save the Puppies as well as Final Fantasy III, Beast Boxing Turbo, Stalagflight and Knightmare Tower. Time will tell which, and how many additional games will follow. OUYA has also said they signed up over eight thousand developers. The eight thousand developer count makes it seem like additional games are a given, however looking at this from the other side brings us to wonder why eight thousand developers and only 104 games. [via OUYA] |
| Facebook announcing their own flavor of Android Posted: 29 Mar 2013 12:28 PM PDT Last night Facebook sent out invites for an upcoming event focused all on Android, and it has the rumors a swirling this afternoon. We’re hearing their own Facebook phone, a home screen replacement full of News Feeds and all sorts of craziness. One in particular from the New York Times seems to be logical, but anything is possible.
According to the New York Times Facebook will be announcing their own version or flavor of Android next week, one that will obviously completely cover up stock Android in favor of Facebook. I’m sick to my stomach already. The entire term “Facebook Phone” just needs to die, as does this entire concept but it never will. The details simply state the Android flavor will make Facebook more prominent. Sources are reporting that Facebook will have their own skin, or basically their own version of Android much like Amazon’s Fire UI that will resemble and be all about Facebook. HTC is said to be on board as the first to partner with their new UI. On first boot you’ll be instantly greeted with your news feed, full of pointless details from your friends and family. Then all of the core apps will feature Facebook instead of regular Android. Right down to the camera being specially designed by them like we’ve seen in the past, and of course it will auto-upload right into Facebook to share with the world. Essentially things like messenger, camera, gallery and more will all be core features and apps with a touch of Facebook. With free Facebook friend calling with VoIP, their integrated messenger service, and core Camera app we saw last year all the pieces are potentially in place – even if I don’t want them to be. We’ll be there to capture all the details for you Facebook fans, so stay tuned for more details. [via NYT] |
| Vine glosses over Android with new Embeds for web Posted: 29 Mar 2013 11:55 AM PDT Android users were given another reminder about an app that they cannot use. That app is Vine and the reminder came along with news of web embeds and an update to the iOS app. Vine originally launched back in January. That initial launch was clearly intended for iOS, however some hints of an Android app arrived about a month later by way of a Vine job posting.
It seems Vine had been looking for a lead Android engineer, which sort of implies they are at least considering an Android app. The catch though, Vine has yet to say anything specific. And since that point, the talk of a Vine app for Android has remained quite. Well, more specifically, there hasn’t been anything said since that point in time. The Vine news today did bring back the desire to create some 6-second looping videos and while that cannot be done on Android, we did begin the search for alternatives. The problem is, there isn’t really any viable alternatives. Sure there are some other apps that bill themselves as social video, but even with that you lose what comes with Vine, the simplicity and the network of Vine users. This is sort of like it was trying to find a replacement for Instagram before it launched on Android. That is to say, there are some options, but none of them are Vine. Just like none of them were Instagram. There is however, a Vine viewer for Android. You know, just in case you feel like you must have a way to view Vine videos while on the go. Of course, watching on your Android device aside, we suspect Vine uploads will get a little kick today given the news. And as part of that news included web embeds — we suspect that you will be seeing them in more places than before. Basically, we are just looking for that official word from Vine. But in the meantime, they seem to have forced this Android user to do the unthinkable — grab an old iPhone 4S, download the Vine app and begin playing. While the iPhone 4S feels pretty tiny as compared to my Galaxy S III, at least I will be have some Vine videos at the ready for when (or if) the app finally launches for Android. [via Vine Blog] |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Community 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