Thursday, March 21, 2013

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Xiaomi Mi-3 pictured in the wild, could be one of the first handsets running Snapdragon 800 [RUMOR]

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 07:10 PM PDT

With all the quad-core processors hitting smartphones this year, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU remains one of the most coveted. This might have something to do with processor’s 4 cylinders firing at a blazing 2.3GHz. While we most likely wont see the 800 hitting these shores until the end of this year, it looks like China could be one of the first in line when the 800 drops. Reportedly the next-gen Xiaomi Mi-3 phone will have the Snapdragon 800 housed inside and that’s not all…

Word has it that by the time the Mi-3 is released, it will come out of the box running Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, along with the next version of MIUI as a topping. And let’s not forget a 5-inch 1080p display, 13MP camera, 3,000mAh battery and anything else considered “high-end” these days (like an aluminum body from the look of these supposed “leaked” images).

Of course this is all rumor at this point with no word on pricing, but going by Xiaomi’s previous Mi-Phones, we can expect it to launch for around $310. Like always, there’s a slim-to-none chance these will ever make it outside of their homeland of China. If it looks anything like the above pics, I might be making a trip to China sometime in the very near future.

[iT163 via UnwiredView | Images via GizChina]

First look at the all new Google Play Store 4.0 with revamped Card-ified UI [VIDEO]

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 05:08 PM PDT

While the vast majority of us are currently running Google Play Store version 3.10.14, it appears as if a leaked build of the all new, Card-ified Play Store version 4.0.16 has leaked into the wild and it has completely revamped Google’s online marketplace. As we mentioned, things look a whole lot more simpler and easier to view than before with a cleaner, more card-like interface.

One of the biggest changes — besides the UI of course — is the removal of the “App will be downloaded and installed” screen, meaning that when you click on “install,” Google Play does just that and you can continue viewing the app listing. No more annoying back button, no more “Keep Shopping” button. Also, it appears as if all apps are auto-updated by default, with a new option to select if you don’t want an app to auto-update. An interesting move, no doubt.

You can watch the full hands on via the video below, we don’t imagine it’ll be too much longer before we’ll be enjoying this latest update on our own devices (at the very longest it’ll be introduced with Key Lime Pie during Google I/O in May). What do you guys think of the new Google Play Store? Anyone absolutely hate it?

[via Droid-Life]

Review: Sidebar Pro and Lite, multitasking the Ubuntu Touch way [VIDEO]

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 04:45 PM PDT

The greatest part about Android is the sheer flexibility developers have with the platform. Sometimes we see a rival OS come out with some pretty interesting ideas and features and as Android users, we don’t have to mope around wondering when Google will introduce something similar to their mobile OS. No. A random developer from the Play Store can create an app with much of the same functionality.

Take the Ubuntu Touch OS which, back when it was introduced, showed off a slick way of jumping to your favorite apps using a sidebar gesture. Have to say, I was a bit envious. Well, I wasn’t green for too long as developer Mohammad Adib has created an app called Sidebar (Lite and Pro) that mimics Ubuntu’s multitasking behavior, granted it doesn’t always work perfectly. Let’s dive into it.

What I Liked

Alright, so Sidebar behaves much of the time exactly how you’d expect it to behave. Pulling from the side of your screen (this can be configured to either the left or right side) pulls up a list of apps and widgets that can be customized with the app shortcut of your choosing. In the latest update, the developer has added the ability to list your recently used applications, making it loads more useful for quickly switching applications (especially since I loath using Sense 4′s multitasking menu). And it’s not just applications. You can even add shortcuts to toggle WiFi, Bluetooth, Torch, even music player functions like play, pause and skip. Configuring Sidebar to your specific tastes is also easy an intuitive (see above screenshot). There’s a variety of toggles to adjust the sensitivity or how big the icons appear in Sidebar. If you have a favorite theme you’re using and want Sidebar to match, you can even change it’s color and opacity. All in all, this sounds pretty epic, right? Well, now let’s talk about what I didn’t like.

What I Didn’t Like

Customizing Sidebar with your favorite apps or quick toggle shortcuts is a chore. Adding and deleting is simple enough, but once they’re in your Sidebar, it’s impossible to arrange them without first deleting one and adding another to the bottom of the list. This could be easily fixed (in theory anyway), but enabling some kind of drag and drop interface that I’m praying will come in a future update.

Another issue I had with the app was its speed. You would think tapping the icon of an app recently opened and still waiting in RAM would pull it up instantly — this was not the case. There was often times a 2, even 3 second lag time waiting for a summoned app to open. In that downtime alone I could either use the horrible Sense 4 multitasking system, or jump to my homescreen and select a shortcut from a folder.

Lastly, Sidebar doesn’t play well with other apps. If you have an app that needs to run in the foreground, Sidebar will push it somewhere in the back, knocking it on the floor and giving it a few quick kicks while it’s down. When playing Rdio for instance, I couldn’t get through a single song without the app closing on me. Other times, I’d unlock my phone only to be greeted with a blank or transparent screen where the only thing I could select was my notification bar. Almost as if an invisible app was open, just not behaving properly. It wasn’t until I uninstalled Sidebar that my phone once again started behaving itself, and I regained my sanity.

Verdict

The idea of Sidebar is what I love and I think it has the potential to become great. A few updates from now, after all the bugs have been ironed out and everything is working the way it should, I’ll revisit Sidebar. Until then, there’s no way I can keep this admittedly brilliant idea installed on my phone. If you guys want to give it a try for yourselves, the free “Lite” and paid $2 “Pro” versions can be found below. Maybe you’ll have better luck than I did. Or perhaps you prefer another multitasking application? Let me know if you’re using another app with similar functionality in the comments below.

[Google Play Links: Sidebar Lite and Sidebar Pro]

Meet Fuel, a portable battery charger that fits on your keychain [VIDEO]

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 03:40 PM PDT

This interesting little Kickstarter project caught my eye, and for a few different reasons. Its status as a simple battery charger isn’t the most exciting bit in the world — after all, portable chargers have been around for quite some time. Perhaps it’s the fuel can-shaped body that caught my eye. Perhaps it’s the tiny size, a size so small that you can attach fuel to your keychain.

Developed by Massachusetts-based Devotec, a maker of solar-powered Bluetooth speakers and phone changers, Fuel is said to be the next small gidget (not quite big enough to be a gadget) for your collection.

Looking at the device, you’ve probably guessed there can’t be much room for a big battery inside. You’d be right — fuel is only rated at about 220mAh, or enough to get you 20-30 minutes of talk time or 2-3 hours of extra standby time on typical smartphones. That’s not enough to get you going for the rest of your day should you run out of juice by noon, but it’s a nice pick-me-up for those days where you just can’t get to a wall outlet and need to stretch your phone’s life a tad longer.

The device plugs into your phone using a male microUSB cable, and receives charge through a female microUSB port on the other end. It is regulated by standard PCM and PCBs inside, has an on-off switch, and has LED indicators to let you know the status of the device. Fuel is rated for at least 500 charges, so it should be quite a while before you’ll need to replace it.

Kickstarter pledges start as low as $1 and the highest tier goes up to $20, so it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg for you to help make this into a reality. The goal is $20,000 April 19th, so if you’re interested in seeing this come to market be sure to get over to Kickstarter and put your dollars into the pool.

Rumor: Meizu MX3 to be first third-party device with Exynos 5

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 03:10 PM PDT

According to new rumors by MyDrivers, Meizu and Samsung will soon be in bed together for the former to fit one of the latter’s latest silicon into a new smartphone. That’s right, the Meizu MX3 could be coming to us later this year with Samsung’s Exynos 5 Octa chipset stuffed inside. The handset will reportedly be a 5.1 inch device with a ridiculous resolution of 1,920×1,200.

Despite the size, the device should be even more of a joy to carry than the MX2 as we’ll apparently get super-thin bezels to cut down on size and a heaping bowl of ugly. On the software front, another Smart Bar app is expected to be introduced, as well as Weibo integration and a new music service. We shouldn’t expect this thing to launch outside of China and other parts of Asia, but it’s still something worth getting excited about.

Although Meizu doesn’t have much traction outside of its homeland it is still doing a fine job of cementing itself as a premier device OEM. We’ll continue to pray to see these beautiful handsets in places like Europe and North America someday, but for now all we can do is dream about what could have been.

[via Unwired View]

Rumor: Samsung to announce Galaxy Tab 3, Note 3 at IFA Berlin

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 02:44 PM PDT

We’re less than a week removed from the official (and very flamboyant) unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S4, and the Samsung rumor mill is already spinning back up. This time, the folks at SamMobile are hearing that Samsung will be looking to unveil new products in the Galaxy Tab line and Galaxy Note handset line at the IFA conference in Berlin, Germany, a show typically held in September.

Specifically, Samsung could be gearing up to release the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, which — if other devices in this particular arc are anything to go by — could be a 7-inch device. Samsung could also look to launch a new 10-inch variant in this particular arc, but that isn’t being confirmed or denied either way. The third edition of the Galaxy Note will also be in tow, apparently, and early thoughts are that it will feature Samsung’s Exynos 5 Octa chipset, a full-HD display not to exceed six inches (but could be lower than that), and more.

In related news, it’s being reported that these launches would officially kill support for the original 7-inch Galaxy Tab. The second Galaxy Tab will still hold up, though, as it will reportedly receive Android 4.2.2 at some point down the line. We can’t say we didn’t see this coming considering the age of the original, but if you are shocked or saddened to hear this news then it’s time to get all of the emotions out of your system now and look into after-market development. You can find more info about all of that over at the All Things Root subforum at AndroidForums.com’s Galaxy Tab section.

Google Search sports cards now more interactive

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 01:57 PM PDT

Google has announced that its search results for sports-related queries have been enhanced with a greater degree of interactivity and functionality. The biggest change will be the ability to group sports schedules by day and week, so you’ll get an easier view of who’s playing and when.

Going further than that, clicking on individual games will give you more detailed information on that game and links to sites where you can read up more on it. League standings, player stats, and more are also served up in an easy-to-view manner. Oh, and Google’s making it easier to keep up with the March Madness madness by giving you a full bracket view of the tournament. You can try it out via your mobile and tablet browser, or any desktop browser, really, by visiting Google.com.

[via Google+]

Google launches Keep, a note-taking app [VIDEO]

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 01:37 PM PDT

The other day, we were let in on an early sneak peak of Google Keep. The site went live ahead of Google’s readiness, but quickly went down and left us all watering at the mouth. Welp, fast forward to Wednesday and Keep has gone live at drive.google.com/keep, and it also has a nice application to go along with it in the Google Play Store.

Keep offers a lot more than we were originally lead to believe, which makes sense considering the first early look at the service didn’t look all that “done.” Welp, you can liken this to a nice, juicy rare steak now. Google Keep allows you to jot down your thoughts in pure text, create lists, add pictures with annotated text, and even take voice notes that can be transcribed to text. Notes can be color-coded, titled, searched for, and easily deleted at the swipe of your finger.

You can take notes using home-screen widgets and place those notes on your home-screen without having to go through the app. The app isn’t hugely complex, and that’s the very chord Google wanted to strike with this one — simplicity to create usefulness, and powerful enough to make it a must-have app on your device.

Its existence under the Google Drive URL means your notes stay backed up to your Google account, and you can access them from any device that has a web browser or a Google Keep app. Google says Keep will eventually be accessible right through the main Google Drive URL, but for now there is no direct integration. Enough said — give it a try at the website and in the Google Play Store here, and let us know what you think!

[Update]: The site is giving an error message right now, but it’s not a 404 page and it’s still live. Google has also officially announced it on its own blog so we’re fairly certain this wasn’t another slip-up. We’ll keep an eye on the site to see if things improve, but the site itself is still live so keep trying (no pun intended) over the course of the day.

[via Google]

Pebble smart watch firmware 1.9 now available

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 12:57 PM PDT

A few days ago, we were told about a new firmware upgrade headed to the Pebble smart watch. We were told to expect new watchfaces (including a snake clone), as well as some under-the-hood changes, tweaks, and fixes that would make the experience better for users and developers (in the future) alike. Welp, that update is finally officially available.

Version 1.9 introduces everything as promised, as well as tweaks to the ambient light sensor that will improve performance of the device’s backlight feature. In order to update you’ll want to head to the update menu inside the Pebble app, which can be downloaded for free in the Google Play Store. Get to it, and let us know how you’re liking it in the comments below.

Sprint letting MVNOs take on Android smartphones

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 12:22 PM PDT

While the allure of big names such as US Cellular, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, MetroPCS, Cricket, T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T and Sprint would have you thinking these are the only carriers in the United States, that isn’t the case. MVNOs still do exist, and Sprint is still just as willing to serve them up with devices than anyone else.

The Kansas-based carrier has announced that it would be allowing MVNOs to custom-brand select devices from Sprint’s line of Android phones. The first three phones in the program are the LG Optimus G, the LG Mach, and the Sprint Flash. This particular group covers the ground nicely from entry-level to high-end, and I can’t imagine there’s an MVNO out there who wouldn’t be happy with any of them to fill a particular need.

Sprint has mentioned that other devices would continue to be added at some point down the line, with several coming as soon as the end of this month.. These devices can be enabled with Mobile ID (the generic version of Sprint ID), and Mobile Zone (again, the generic version of Sprint Zone).

These two software features, with the former being a device customization tool and the latter providing account information and updates, aren’t groundbreaking at a user level, but should be something nice for MVNOs searching for something unique to add to their devices.

"The Android operating system provides such incredible flexibility and supply chain economy of scale that, when coupled with the Sprint Mobile ID and Mobile Zone products, can now extend a value and a new branding opportunity to our wholesale customers," said Bill Esrey, vice president of Emerging & Wholesale Solutions at Sprint. "The Custom Branded Device Program enables our MVNO customers to extend a personal and direct relationship that transcends outside of the store walls, at Sprint's volume pricing."

If you’re with a smaller MVNO carrier and they don’t have the device selection that swoons you as soon as you take a look then keep your fingers crossed that they pick some hand-me-downs from Sprint through this program. Read on for full press details.

Sprint Introduces Custom Branded Device Program, Enabling MVNOs to Custom-Brand White-Label Android Phones

For the first time, MVNOs have greater access to completely de-branded devices from Sprint

Coupled with white-labeled Mobile ID and Mobile Zone products from Sprint, MVNOs can extend their brand elements to end users more efficiently

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 20, 2013 – As the proliferation of smartphones continues to grow, Sprint (NYSE:S) Emerging & Wholesale Solutions today introduced the Custom Branded Device Program. Through the program, MVNOs will have greater, and potentially quicker, access to a large selection of completely de-branded marquee Android handsets out of Sprint and Boost Mobile device inventory with volume pricing included.

Select Android devices can be automatically modified through Mobile ID and Mobile Zone, giving MVNOs the ability to extend their own brand directly to end users through over-the-air activation. Currently, Sprint has three devices available for this program – LG Optimus G, LG Mach and Sprint Flash. Several additional devices are expected to be added to the lineup by the end of this month.

Industry analyst firm Strategy Analytics reported in January that 70 percent of the world smartphone market share belonged at the end of 2012 to Android Meanwhile, in early February, research firm comScore released its quarterly U.S. smartphone market share numbers, which showed Android leading in market share with 53.4 percent of the total smartphone market.

"The Android operating system provides such incredible flexibility and supply chain economy of scale that, when coupled with the Sprint Mobile ID and Mobile Zone products, can now extend a value and a new branding opportunity to our wholesale customers," said Bill Esrey, vice president, Emerging & Wholesale Solutions at Sprint. "The Custom Branded Device Program enables our MVNO customers to extend a personal and direct relationship that transcends outside of the store walls, at Sprint's volume pricing."

Sprint continues its commitment to the "open" mobile ecosystem through open platforms Mobile ID and Mobile Zone, which are white-labeled variations of the popular Sprint ID and Sprint Zone applications. These platforms enable Sprint's international and wholesale customers to replicate Sprint's success with the retail versions of the same services – driving enhanced customer engagement and revenue growth opportunities for MVNOs.

  • Mobile ID – Mobile ID delivers a complete mobile experience – centered on consumers', students' or businesses' interests or favorite brands – including applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers, all in a couple of simple clicks. With more than 6 million downloads in the United States, Sprint smartphone users have already begun to harness the power of ID packs to create their own experiences while catering to different tastes and hobbies. Mobile ID enables personalization for the end user that offers access to a broad array of categories, allowing MVNOs to deliver a successful customized application to defined markets and customer segments.
  • Mobile Zone – Mobile Zone provides a messaging gateway for end users to receive communication from their MVNO and enable customers with self-help services. Mobile Zone can enhance the user experience while improving MVNO-to-customer interaction. An interactive and relevant mobile application, Mobile Zone allows users who are always on-the-go a way to manage their account and discover new content anywhere and at any time.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years.Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011 and 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

This TouchWiz ‘security flaw’ is so ridiculous it’s no wonder Samsung overlooked it

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 11:05 AM PDT


There is a new Samsung TouchWiz security scare being bandied about the internet today. In a video demonstration, a Galaxy Note 2 owner shows how a glitch gives anyone opening the phone’s emergency dialer access to the handset’s home screen…for less than a second.

Yes, the video successfully demonstrates that an individual, with enough effort, can gain access to a Samsung device using this method to bypass the lock screen. It involves downloading a lock screen removal app from the Google Play Store via a series of deftly placed taps during the infinitesimal period of time the would-be phone thief has access to the device’s software.

The only problem is that a whole bunch of things need to go right in order for this to happen. There is the small matter of navigating to the Google Play Store, activating voice search, finding the proper app, and hoping the app shortcut lands in an easy to tap area. There is the matter of registering that tap (or any of the taps before it) within the allotted time. In other words, this seems like an awful lot of work for the average crook looking to get inside your phone. We doubt anyone would have even thought of this if it wasn’t for the obsessed tinkering of this individual Note 2 owner.

Anyway, freak out if you want. It seems like a super easy fix for Samsung, if they even bother patching it. To us, though, this security “flaw” smells more like a security fail.

[via Terrence Eden]

Google Currents updated with audio support

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 10:47 AM PDT

Google Currents has been updated, bringing a host of audio-related functions to the news reader app. These include foremost the ability to create playlists from editions containing audio. Along with that ability comes new in-app playback controls as well as status bar audio controls when Currents is running in the background.

The new functionality could help to grow Currents as a podcast distribution platform while also providing a richer experience for readers and content providers alike. It’s a completely different take on the news reader than Google’s other, soon to be defunct, syndication platform.

The latest update to Currents is currently available via Google Play. Grab at the link below.

Download Link

 

Amazon to offer $99 Kindle Fire HD [RUMOR][UPDATE]

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 09:10 AM PDT

In a tablet market where manufacturers are competing more and more on price, Amazon might have a $99 trump card up their sleeve. According to a new report, the retailer will soon offer a 7-inch Kindle Fire HD at just below $100. The tablet will sport a TI processor and 1280 x 800 display, specs not unlike those available in the current $199 model.

It could be that Amazon is simply cutting the price of the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD, as they recently did with the Kindle Fire HD 8.9. That tablet’s LTE version dropped from $499 to $399, while the WiFi edition saw more modest savings. It could also be a version subsidized with “special offers.” If the low-cost 7-inch slate is a new model, how the specs will vary from the current generation is unknown.

The 7-inch tablet range has seen its fair share of quality offerings below $200, but offering a $99 tablet could push Amazon’s sales numbers ahead of the pack.

Update: An Amazon spokesperson has extinguished rumors of the $99 Kindle Fire, stating simply, “It’s not happening — we are already at the lowest price points possible for that hardware.” So that’s that.

[via TechCrunch]

UK will get Galaxy S4 with quad-core Snapdragon 600 and LTE

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 07:49 AM PDT

We’re getting a better picture of which version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available in certain regions of the world as we inch closer to the flagship phone’s launch. Earlier in the week we added Sweden to the list of countries that will see the quad-core Snapdragon 600 variant of the phone at launch. Now, a statement from Samsung confirms the same for the UK.

"Samsung Galaxy S4 is equipped with a 1.9GHz Quad-core AP or a 1.6GHz Octa-core AP. The selection of AP varies by markets … In the UK, the Galaxy S4 will be available as a 4G device with a 1.9GHz Quad Core Processor."

The 1.9GHz quad-core model will also launch in the US and Canada. The major deciding factor is the on-board LTE radio. It’s safe to say regions without LTE access should see the Exynos 5 Octa-equipped GS4. As for the UK, the statement does not definitely say the UK won’t see that model, only that the LTE version will be available. That leaves open the door for both versions to become available, but the likelihood of that is unknown.

[via EuroDroid]

Motorola’s Guy Kawasaki talks phone personalization, could hint at X Phone sales model

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 07:32 AM PDT

Motorola advisor (and former Apple evangelist) Guy Kawasaki posed an interesting question recently via Google+: “Wouldn’t it be great if you could personalize your phone like this?” The this of his question referred to a video clip highlighting Porsche Exclusive, the auto makers offering allow for buyers to create a completely custom vehicle, from paint job to stereo and more.

So what does this have to do with Android and rumors of the X Phone? You might recall a report from last week detailing how Moto will approach the brand. It was said that Motorola and Google will offer buyers the option to customize different aspects of their new handset at time of purchase, including RAM, storage size, and color. The idea would be akin to the sort of upgrades offered when buying a PC or laptop.

Is Kawasaki’s post a hint at what we can expect when the X Phone is unveiled later this year? It seems more than coincidence based on the recent speculation. It would certainly add an interesting twist to smartphone buying, treating the devices more like the mini personal computers they really are and less like the mobile phones they started as.

[via DroidLife]
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