Android Phone Fans |
- AT&T responds to DMCA complaints, promises to keep unlocking cellphones for their customers
- First look at gameplay from upcoming Shadowrun Returns, coming soon to Android [VIDEO]
- ‘UltraPixel’ camera component shortages forcing HTC One delay?
- 1SaleADay app now available for Android – Jelly Bean ready Toshiba Excite 10.1 only $250 [DEALS]
- New AMOLED technology could make Galaxy S4 display 25 percent more efficient
- Google files patent for backside touch controls
- HTC Myst gets specced, rumored as next ‘Facebook phone’
- German court sides with HTC in Nokia patent dispute
- HTC designers wax poetic on their One flagship
- GoGo Inflight data shows Android gaining ground in the air
- Google Glass app InSight identifies friends based on what they wear
- Android Overload: Google to cut 10% of Motorola’s workforce, Microsoft wants to ban Google apps from schools, and more [VIDEO]
- App wants to pay you up to $50 per month to view ads on your lock-screen [VIDEO]
| AT&T responds to DMCA complaints, promises to keep unlocking cellphones for their customers Posted: 08 Mar 2013 01:03 PM PST
Most of us already know the story. On January 26, 2013, it became effectively became illegal under the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) for consumers to unlock a cell phone provided from a carrier for use on another network, unless they had approval from the original carrier. That means where you could normally unlock, say, an AT&T phone for use on T-Mobile’s newly refarmed 1900MHz network, it has now become illegal. Just about everyone has been up in arms over the law, sparking a petition seeking legislative action, even gaining the attention of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, who stated that the unlocking ban “raises competition concerns,” as well as “innovation concerns." Well, AT&T has finally decided to weigh in on the matter in a post found on the company’s Public Policy Blog. Their thoughts? “Chillax, boo, we’ll still unlock our cellphones for you… but there are some caveats.”
60 days. Good standing. No longer on contract. Sounds reasonable enough. If you’re a new AT&T customer and buy a subsidized phone for $200, you’ll have to wait until your current contract is up before you can unlock that phone and sell it to someone else for use on another network. The problem? Those people who buy used locked AT&T phones for use on other networks — they’re the ones getting stiffed. Well, those and unsavory types who sell falsely reported lost or stolen smartphones. I have sort of mixed feelings about the whole thing. While I agree this kinda sucks for Android junkies looking to refresh their handset with a new one every 6 months by selling their phones on eBay/Craigslist/etc, there’s really nothing stopping anyone from selling their phone to someone already on AT&T’s network. I guess the real issue is with non-AT&T customers looking to score a used-deal on an AT&T phone for use on T-Mobile or in another country, and of course, isn’t something AT&T seems too concerned with. Curious to hear your thoughts on the matter. Do you think AT&T’s stance on the whole matter is unreasonable? Or do feel like they really shouldn’t have an obligation to provide unlocking services for non-customers? |
| First look at gameplay from upcoming Shadowrun Returns, coming soon to Android [VIDEO] Posted: 08 Mar 2013 11:23 AM PST
The boys at Harebrained Schemes have been putting their $1,895,722 dollars to good use, giving gamers everywhere their first glimpse at gameplay from their upcoming tactical, isometric turn-based RPG, Shadowrun Returns. The pen-and-paper role playing game was more than successful on Kickstarter, where the team managed to raise just a hair over their $400,000 goal, raking in the aforementioned $1.8 million in backing from gamers around the world. If you’re still relatively new to planet Earth, Shadowrun is a franchise that’s been around for a long time, with a history spanning back to the early PC/ Super Nintendo era. Just to give you the gist of what Shadowrun is all about, it’s a rich world that manages to blend fantasy and cyberpunk, mixing orcs and cyborgs into a single setting that somehow work. Think Lord of the Rings meets Bladerunner, and you’re on the right track.
Keep in mind Shadowrun Returns is completely different from Shadowrun Online, a rehash of the old-school PC title that will making its way to OUYA and other Android devices at a later date. Shadowrun Returns is currently up for pre-order on PC and Mac for $15 with a general summertime launch date. It’s only after that, we can expect a release on Android and iOS tablets. So, it looks like we’ve still got a lot of waiting ahead of us, but in the meantime, grab a sandwich and check out this awesome 19-minute gameplay video from the creators, giving us a first look at the world of Shadowrun Returns. Dear, god… I’m drooling over here. |
| ‘UltraPixel’ camera component shortages forcing HTC One delay? Posted: 08 Mar 2013 10:33 AM PST
According to sources inside Taiwan’s manufacturing industry HTC is having difficulty sourcing enough components to keep up with production of their HTC One flagship. The result could spell worldwide delays for the handset pegged to launch next week. Specifically, the voice coil motor and compact camera module are to blame. The latter makes up HTC’s new UltraPixel camera sensor. With current supply and resources, analysts KGI Securities estimates HTC will only be able to produce between 800 thousand and 1.2 million over the next few months. We could see HTC pull back from smaller markets in an effort to reduce delays and stock shortages in regions like the US. HTC’s One is on track to launch March 15th, just a day after Samsung is poised to launch their Galaxy S4 flagship. [via BriefMobile] |
| 1SaleADay app now available for Android – Jelly Bean ready Toshiba Excite 10.1 only $250 [DEALS] Posted: 08 Mar 2013 10:01 AM PST
Good news for bargain hunters looking to do a little more shopping from their Android smartphones and tablet. It’s been a long time coming and today, the official 1SaleADay application is now ready and available for download on Android (and iOS) devices. The app gives shoppers full access to everything they love from the daily deals site, allowing full viewing of galleries, account login, shopping cart management, and even provides a handy countdown timer down to the second to ensure you never miss a deal. If you find a truly great deal and want to share it with friends (after you’ve already gotten yours, of course), there’s a handy share button for easy posting to social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.
Oh, and if you hurry. The Toshiba Excite 10.1 (16GB) is today’s deal and currently up for grabs at a very reasonable $250 (it’s still going for $375 on Amazon). Our own Edgar Cervantes reviewed the the 10.1-inch tablet a few months back and had largely great things to say about it. The tab’s best feature? It’s full sized SD card slot allowing for, not just memory expandability, but it’s super useful when transferring files to and from and computer/camera/etc.. Sure it’s “only” got a Tegra 3 and 1GB of RAM, but don’t forget Jelly Bean was officially announced for the tab in late December, making this deal all the more enticing. Only 11 hours left! Now we only have to wait for DailySteals to get on the ball with their own mobile app and I can say bye-bye to my savings. [1SaleADay on Google Play | Toshiba Excite 10.1 on 1SaleADay] |
| New AMOLED technology could make Galaxy S4 display 25 percent more efficient Posted: 08 Mar 2013 09:47 AM PST
Samsung’s Galaxy S4 will be their first device to feature a full 1080p AMOLED display, but the new screen will be different on more than just the surface. A new report says Samsung is utilizing a new AMOLED technology called Green PHOLED to produced a display that is 25 percent more battery efficient than previous Super AMOLED formats. The new display utilizes phosphorescence (hence the PHOLED name) over fluorescence to achieve its lower power draw, an element that could go a long way in adding to the Galaxy S4′s battery life. The same reports again floats the idea of touchless gestures being introduced in with the GS4, as well. The new system could allow for Air View-like functionality using a finger instead of the Note’s S Pen. A user could preview a gallery item simply by hovering their finger over it. The Galaxy S4 is set for its official debut next week. March 14th is the date to watch for Samsung’s biggest unveiling of the year. [via SamMobile]
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| Google files patent for backside touch controls Posted: 08 Mar 2013 08:58 AM PST
Google has filed a patent for “simple backside device touch controls,” a concept that could change the way we interact with smartphones in the future. The concept is simple: introduce touch controls to the rear casing of a device. The control could be smartly reconfigured (by remembering the last performed action) to allow for quick recall of common functions simply by tapping the rear the the phone. Google’s patent details how variations in touch strength could be used to either trigger a function or allow for a preview, eloquently providing users with one more way to interact with their phones. Of course, a patent filing does not necessarily equate to a technology we will see any time soon. Such is the case with Apple. The company filed a similar patent for tablets back in 2006. I can see the lawsuit now, and it gives me a headache. [via PatentBolt] |
| HTC Myst gets specced, rumored as next ‘Facebook phone’ Posted: 08 Mar 2013 08:23 AM PST
Rumors of the next “Facebook phone” are heating up in the form of the HTC Myst (formerly the HTC opera). The device is said to be a three-way collaboration between the Taiwanese company, the social network giant, and AT&T. The partnership has its origins in AT&T’s HTC Status, the US version of the HTC ChaCha. That phone was more or less a standard Android device with a dedicated Facebook button. Could the Myst be even more? The latest news concerns specs, and it sounds like we’ll get another mid-range device targeted at tweens and the socially obsessed. Hardware is said to include a 1.5GHz dual-core MSM8960 CPU, 4.3-inch 720p display, 1GB RAM, and 5MP camera and 1.6MP front-facing camera. The handset features 16GB of internal storage and no SD card support. The LTE-enabled handset is built around Android 4.1.2, and at this point it’s impossible to say how much of a Facebook-oriented treatment the OS will get. It’s safe to assume we will get plenty of Facebook-driven content (a full app suite including Messenger and Instagram), but will the device otherwise sport a standard HTC Sense overlay? Or are we looking at an entirely original software layer? Just another Facebook button? How the software side is handled will be the focus for this phone. There is no solid word on when we can expect to see the phone launch, but the companies behind it should be ramping things up over the next few months. A summer release isn’t out of the question. [via UnwiredView]
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| German court sides with HTC in Nokia patent dispute Posted: 08 Mar 2013 07:56 AM PST
Nokia has lost on claims that HTC infringed upon two patents help by the Finnish company. The company brought the allegations in front of the District Court of Mannheim in Germany where a judge ruled in favor of the Taiwanese manufacturer of Android devices. The patents in question relate to a “method for using services offered by a telecommunications network, a telecommunications system, and a terminal for it and electronic display device and lighting control method of same.” HTC thinks that Nokia is attempting to overstep the boundaries of that patent in an effort to gain “unwarranted licensing royalties from Android handset manufacturers.” Of course, Nokia doesn’t feel the same way following their loss. There has been no decision on whether or not the company will seek an appeal, but this is only the beginning, either way. Nokia is currently pursuing claims on 30 additional patent violations across Germany, the UK, and US. [via WSJ] |
| HTC designers wax poetic on their One flagship Posted: 08 Mar 2013 07:39 AM PST
Yes, much of the video is peppered with buzz words, black shirts, and carefully curated stubble, but we also get a look at HTC’s “electro-chemical etching process” as a single block of metal is carved to the perfect shape. Diamond cutters, nano-matrix structures, this short clip has it all. It’s a neat little look into the making of the One, but am I the only one that thinks it comes across as trying too hard? [via TMoNews] |
| GoGo Inflight data shows Android gaining ground in the air Posted: 08 Mar 2013 06:37 AM PST
Here is an interesting slice of data. GoGo Inflight recently rounded up the stats for devices connecting to their WiFi networks during flights and the results show good growth for Google’s platform. In comparison to Apple, Android devices accounted for only 3.2 percent of mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) connecting to GoGo in 2011. So far in 2013, the number has grown to 16 percent. When taking into account smartphones only, Android accounts for 26 percent of all devices connecting to GoGo. It’s still a far cry from Apple’s 73 percent, however. Overall, smartphones and tablets make up the majority of traffic on GoGo’s networks, a total of 67 percent.
The data suggests you are more likely to see someone surfing the web from their iPad or iPhone during flights, which is interesting when considering the fact that in terms of overall smartphone market share Android has been dominating for quite some time. You would think the numbers would look a bit more even. Perhaps the info says more about the type of person purchasing in-flight WiFi from GoGo than it does about any actual device distribution. [via CNN] |
| Google Glass app InSight identifies friends based on what they wear Posted: 08 Mar 2013 05:11 AM PST
Yes, Google Glass sits in your field of vision, but what if it can actually enhance it? That’s what a team of Duke University scientists are attempting to do with InSight, and app that could find its way to the platform and allow for the identification of people based on more than facial recognition. It could determine who you are looking at based solely on what they are wearing. For the app to work, you will need to gather a few samples from friends showcasing what they normally wear. The app uses colors, patterns, and textures to mark an individual (you can see where this could get complicated quickly). It might be useful for picking out somebody recognizable in a crowd. Imagine if InSight had the power to crawl the Facebook photos of all of your friends, quickly filling out a database of individuals linked to you. The idea seems like a slightly heavy-handed approach. After all, you likely will have identified your friends visually on your own before a set of computer-powered glasses does so. But perhaps the use here isn’t to help you figure out who someone is, rather it could be used to instantly tag photos or geographically link you to friends. There certainly are a number of possibilities. We want to request a “Party Mode.” Snap a quick shot with Glass upon meeting someone at a party and when we run into them again later the headset quietly reminds us of their name. Now that’s problem solving. [via Engadget] |
| Posted: 07 Mar 2013 08:58 PM PST The Android Overload is where we feature the biggest news stories from throughout the day (see above video), as well as stash all of the stories/articles/news bits that didn't make it onto our front page. But just because they weren't featured doesn't mean they aren't worth taking a look at. In fact, there's almost always a little something here for everyone. So, take a look around and let us know what you find.
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| App wants to pay you up to $50 per month to view ads on your lock-screen [VIDEO] Posted: 07 Mar 2013 08:14 PM PST Mobile advertisement is somewhat of a tricky scene these days. Your typical 30-second clip before or after a 5 minute block of gaming or the persistent banner ad at the top or bottom of an app is fine, but companies are always looking for ways to evolve. We already saw a bit of that evolution with AirPush, an advertising system that allows developers to push ads to users’ notification pane. This is highly undesirable for the end-user, of course, and it’s because of this risky practice that most developers are hesitant to get on board with it. Well what if I told you a company wanted to start pushing ads to your lock-screen? I know… ugh. But here’s the catch: they actually want to pay you to do that. It’s called SmartAds, and for now it only exists as a project on IndieGoGo. SmartAds will target you with relevant ads before you unlock your smartphone, and each time you view an ad you might earn a small commission. SmartAds claims users can make up to $50 per month ($25 on your phone and another $25 on a tablet) doing this. I immediately had my doubts, of course — that “up to” is the oldest trick in the book. I would be shocked if I could make more than 25 cents going this route. Still, it’s an interesting proposal that throws a very significant wrench into the fold. We gravitate toward unconventional development like this. It’s not because we want something like this, but because we’re simply interested in seeing how it’ll all play out. That said, I feel really, really iffy about backing an IndieGoGo project whose sole purpose is to serve you ads. It’ll be an interesting day if it can make it to the funding goal of $50,000 in two weeks, for sure. We imagine most backers will be ad publishers or cheeky investors simply looking for a piece of the pie, but if SmartAds can pull this thing off you can bet we’ll have the most sensitive microscope we can find looking down on it. Watch the video above, and let us know in the comments section below if you’d ever try your hand at something like this. |
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