Tuesday, March 26, 2013

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Google Android News Android Forums

Sony Xperia ZL Finally Priced For The U.S., Be Prepared To Pay A Premium

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 03:40 PM PDT

Sony Xperia ZL

The Sony Xperia ZL has been available for pre-order on Sony’s US web store for several weeks now, and finally received a price. At $720 for the HSPA+ version and $760 for the LTE version, it’s definitely at the higher end for an unlocked smartphone. As shown in our hands on, the Xperia ZL is no slouch. You can expect a 5-inch 1080p HD display, 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and 13 megapixel camera. Maybe Sony thinks the high price is warranted thanks to its water resistance and all glass design. However, with the upcoming unlocked Galaxy S 4 costing less, the Sony Xperia ZL could be a tough sell.

Source: Sony Store


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Pac-Man + Tournaments hits the Play Store for free

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 02:23 PM PDT

Pac-Man_Tournaments

 

The original Pac-Man quite simply revolutionized video gaming as we knew it with its insane graphics and incredibly addictive gameplay. So it’s fitting that as part of a special commemoration of the famed game, Namco has placed a special edition of the game called Pac-Man + Tournaments available for free exclusively in the Play Store— not on Apple’s platform as of this time. Here’s Namco’s reasoning for why Android fans get first dibs on this new take on the classic game:

 

“Android is the biggest OS in terms of installed base today. While PAC-MAN is already very present on iOS, it can benefit from a lot more visibility with Android users. Additionally, Google's recent initiatives on games have really won us over, and it was a logical step for us to launch this new title first on Google Play.”

 

The game will come jam-packed with custom goodies as well. In addition to the standard mazes the game will come with, gamers will have the option of obtaining weekly updates containing additional mazes and levels to play. Of course individual gamers will try and beat out the scores of other folks all across the world, allowing for hours and hours of gaming fun. So what are you waiting for…? If you’re a Froyo+ user, hit the break and grab the game today using the Play Store or QR code link.

 

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Pac-Man_Tournaments_Play_Store

Play Store download link


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Samsung Galaxy Note III Rumored To Have Unbreakable Display

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 12:40 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Note III

The Samsung Galaxy Note III will be out later this year and may feature an unbreakable display. According to South Korean news site Asiae, the display will be unbreakable thanks to flexible AMOLED technology, measuring in at 5.9-inches and in full 1080p HD. As far as specs are concerned, we’re still hearing a Exynos 5 Octa processor, 2GB RAM, 8 megapixel camera, bigger battery, and Android 4.2.2 onboard. However, with Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie being announced at Google I/O, the Galaxy Note III could ship with that. Either way, even if the Note III doesn’t feature an unbreakable display, we’ll be sure to see a better HD display, performance, and many new features that debuted in the Galaxy S 4.

Via: Unwired View
Source: Asiae


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Rumor: Motorola X phone to be launched in November with a 4.8-inch display, Sapphire glass, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 800

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 11:27 AM PDT

motorola-x-Logo

Another day, another Motorola X rumor. Unlike previous rumors claiming the Motorola X will be a series of phones rather than a singular phone, the latest rumor shows specs for a single Motorola X phone. PhoneArena received a tip from an anonymous source stating that the Motorola X phone will have a 4.8-inch display made out of sapphire, which is said to be three times tougher to break than Gorilla Glass. Other specs mentioned are a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU clocking in at 2 GHz and a 4,000 mAh battery. The device is said to also be water resistant with a design that includes a carbon fiber back and rubber bumpers on the corners. Whether or not there is any legitimacy to this rumor remains to be seen, but if they are indeed true, this is sure to be a very impressive smartphone.

Source: PhoneArena


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HTC’s marketing chief talks about brand making a bolder approach

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 11:01 AM PDT

htc_marketing

 

HTC certainly has one heck of a smartphone that the world is anticipating, but it’s up to the marketing chief to ensure that the masses recognize not just what the HTC One is, but how HTC as a whole can get its groove back. That’s why its marketing chief Benjamin Ho took some time to answer some of the ever-growing concerns that we here in the Android world are thinking and pondering about. In regards to why the One smartphone is delayed, Ho stresses that “there is some shortage, because the phone's camera was designed specifically for us, and production cannot be ramped up so quickly”, which confirms what we have heard before.

As far as it goes with its marketing strategy, HTC appears to be pulling no stops either. Ho highlights that HTC has “a lot of innovations but we haven't been loud enough". What this will mean is the fact that HTC will be much more bold with its promotions and marketing of its devices and the features of its devices. It certainly didn’t take long for the brand to be bold too, considering it launched a full-fledged attack against Samsung during its flagship announcement which also included a pretty clever “#theNextBigFlop” Twitter campaign.

Looks like HTC is finally moving from being “quietly brilliant” to being boldly brilliant— which may be a good thing of course.

source: Wall Street Journal


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Evernote Launches Version 5 For Android: New Camera, Document Search And More

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 10:15 AM PDT

Evernote for Android

Evernote is a very popular notetaking service and with Google Keep on its heels, has released a major update. Version 5 brings several new features, one of the first being a new camera. Users can now take multiple photos and save them into a single note. With Page Camera, Evernote essentially turns into a scanner by scanning the page for text, removing shadows and improving contrast so an easy to read copy is saved. For Mac users, shortcuts have been added which allow you to quickly jump to frequently accessed notes, notebooks, and tags. You can easily create a new shortcut by swiping from the right edge of the screen and shortcuts will sync across all platforms.

For Evernote Premium users, advanced Document Search has been introduced. Now when you search your account, any documents or files containing your search terms, will be displayed for easy access. There is also advanced PDF search which makes your scanned PDFs now searchable. Evernote Business users can now utilize Business tags that can be filtered under tag view as well as edited within Business Notebooks. Evernote 5 for Android also brings redesigned note lists, icons, tweaks, and performance improvements.

QR Code generator
Play Store Download Link


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Android tethering could be threatened by judge’s patent ruling in favor of Nokia

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 10:10 AM PDT

nokia_tethering_drawing

In case you missed it among the seemingly constant back and forth between Samsung and Apple in the world’s courtrooms, there is a patent case about to get underway between HTC and Nokia regarding some alleged patent infringements. The bad news for Android fans is that Judge Thomas Pender has issued a ruling that could negatively impact any Android devices that make a tethering feature available. Nokia has asserted that HTC is infringing on U.S. Patent No 5,884,190 describing a “method for making a data transmission connection from a computer to a mobile communication network for transmission of analog and/or digital signals.” The court case between Nokia and HTC is scheduled to start in a couple months, but this ruling regarding the interpretation of the 190 patent makes it difficult for HTC to deny infringement.

The case between the two companies involves about 40 patents that Nokia has asserted HTC infringes. Google is involved in the case as a third-party intervenor supporting HTC. Both HTC and Google had hoped to narrow the scope of the 190 patent, but failed to do so. The two companies will now have to somehow prove the patent is invalid, such as due to prior art. Proving the existence of prior art could be a challenge since Nokia obtained the patent in 1995, a time when the web was still in its infancy and mobile devices were closer to bricks than what we have today. If HTC fails to make their case during the trial, they may also try to sway the ITC commission to overrule the judge.

If Nokia succeeds during the trial in showing HTC has infringed on the 190 patent, one of the likely results will be an import ban on all HTC devices into the U.S. Nokia will also be in a strong position to pursue other Android device manufacturers, much like they have already done against Apple and Blackberry. In the end, most companies will probably opt to pay a royalty to Nokia in order to keep the feature available.

source: FOSS Patents
via: PhoneArena


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Steve Kondik leaves Samsung, shares thoughts on Samsung Galaxy S 4

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 09:39 AM PDT

steve_kondik

CyanogenMod founder Steve Kondik started out a Google+ post this morning with this, “I got to spend some quality time with the S4 (final hardware) before I left Samsung.” (emphasis added) The post contained his thoughts on the new Samsung Galaxy S 4 smartphone and what he sees as some strengths and weaknesses. Needless to say, the subtle announcement that he had left his position with Samsung has generated as much interest, if not more, than his thoughts on the Galaxy S 4. In a follow-up comment to the original post, Kondik indicates he thought Samsung was a “great” place to work, but he just decided he was interested in trying something new.

With regard to the Galaxy S 4, Kondik’s opinion seems to be a bit of a mixed bag. He praises the hardware of the Galaxy S 4, indicating “this device blows the competition out of the water.” A couple unique features he specifically mentions are the “hover”-aware touchscreen and the IR blaster. Kondik also mentions the GPS circuitry seems to be much better than in past devices. On the downside, he thinks Samsung’s TouchWiz UI is a bit of step back despite Samsung’s attempt to clean it up a bit and give it a lighter look. This perception may be attributed to a return to a fully tabbed UI and extensive use of popup windows.

Kondik indicates the Samsung Hubs are featured more prominently, possibly as part of an effort to distinguish Samsung from the rest of the Android ecosystem. Kondik thinks anyone upgrading from a Galaxy S II will be more than pleased. While Galaxy S III owners will probably like the device as well, though the justification for an immediate upgrade is not as compelling.

source: +Steve Kondik


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Rumor: Huawei currently working on a Galaxy S 4 competitor featuring a 4.9-inch 1080p screen and quad-core processor

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 09:08 AM PDT

Huawei_rumor_quad-core_processor_Mali_4.9-inch

Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 may be getting all the headlines, but more than a few competitors are out to show that there are more attractive options out there. Despite the recent introduction of the Ascend D2, there is rampant speculation that Huawei is currently working behind the scenes to develop what is going to be one heck of a beastly smartphone. The device is rumored to certainly be no slouch in comparison to other flagships like the Galaxy S 4 by featuring a next-generation 1.8 GHz K3V3 quad-core chip with a Mali T604 GPU, 2GB of RAM, a 4.9-inch 1080p display, 13 Megapixel camera, 2,600 mAh battery. In keeping up with the Galaxy S 4 slim figure, Huawei’s upcoming superphone will be only be 6.3mm in total thickness.

The device is rumored to be available for a 10-20% discount from the Galaxy S 4 in Chinese markets if or when it is officially announced. Of course a sexy, smooth and fast smartphone that’s priced just right would sound appealing to customers— especially those out there in China. We’ll wait and see however, if this latest rumor holds up any weight.

 

source: 163
via: Unwired View


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Report says 70% of first 10 million Galaxy S 4s to have Snapdragon 600 processors

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 09:00 AM PDT

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A Korean news report suggests that 70% of the initial 10 million units of Samsung's Galaxy S 4 smartphone will have Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600 processors rather than Samsung's Exynos 5 Octa processors. According to the report, Samsung's LSI team, who is responsible for the next generation of Exynos processors, were unable to correct all the performance and production issues in time for the Galaxy S 4 launch in late April. Samsung confirmed production issues when they announced a couple of weeks ago that the Exynos 5 applications processor would not be mass produced until the second quarter of 2013, well after its initial launch.

Samsung faced a similar problem last year when production problems regarding the case delayed initial sales of their Galaxy S III devices. Rather than risk early losses, Samsung is now looking to Qualcomm to supply them with their Snapdragon 600 processors which have been reported to be exclusive to U.S. variants of the Galaxy S 4. Qualcomm has done well partnering with Samsung in the past and it is sure to come to Samsung's rescue until production issues can be sorted out with their Exynos 5 Octa processors.

Source: UnwiredView


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