Android Authority |
- LinkedIn acquires news reading service Pulse for $90 million
- Google Keep updated with more features including lists
- CyanogenMod 10.1 ‘M3′ builds out for Samsung Galaxy SIII, Kindle Fire and others
- ASUS Fonepad arrives in South East Asia
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 now available in the US for a steep $400
- Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 won’t be headed for UK any time soon
- Asus Qube finally landing on April 23 with $130 price tag
- Chromebook Pixel LTE to start shipping on April 12
- Rumor: Google X Phone release date delayed to ‘August or later’
- Prince of Persia – The Shadow and the Flame getting modern mobile makeover [video]
| LinkedIn acquires news reading service Pulse for $90 million Posted: 12 Apr 2013 02:36 AM PDT With over 200 million members, LinkedIn is, by far, the biggest professional social network of the moment. Not content with dominating its niche, the business-orientated network is looking to expand its horizon by purchasing the news app Pulse. Pulse isn't exactly a small service in itself, with 30 million users choosing the content aggregating app to read articles from hundreds of online publishers. The value of the acquisition has been initially ballparked at around $50-$100 million, but AllThingsD has stated that the purchase cost LinkedIn $90 million. The move tells us that LinkedIn is looking to be more than just a business site, and Pulse could be just the first move in that direction. LinkedIn VP Deep Nishar commented on the corporate blog that "We believe LinkedIn can be the definitive professional publishing platform – where all professionals come to consume content and where publishers come to share their content."
Despite the purchase, Pulse's existence is not under threat — the app’s developers have said that they will be continuing development of the app for the immediate future. However, LinkedIn has a somehow similar service of its own – LinkedIn Today. It wouldn't be too surprising to see a merger between the two services somewhere down the line. |
| Google Keep updated with more features including lists Posted: 12 Apr 2013 02:12 AM PDT
Since its release less than a month ago, the app has been downloaded millions of times, has received over 20,000 comments on Google Play and has been rated by its users with 4.5 stars. Impressive! Now the latest update adds new features including the ability to create lists with checkboxes. The check box feature is quite neat in that you can create a note as a list (by tapping on the big tick sign) or you can convert existing text into a check list. On every note tapping the menu reveals an option to either show or hide the checkboxes. Any existing notes can be converted to a list by showing the checkboxes. When you do this each line of text will become a item in the check list. Hiding the checkboxes returns the note back to plain text! This is a neat feature for those who started to create lists manually on Keep. With the checkboxes enabled each item can be marked as completed and Keep will strike out the item on the list. The full list of changes according to Google is as follows, but notice that some of these seem to be existing functionality and aren’t necessarily new!
Are you a Google Keep fan? Did you abandon Evernote in favor of Keep? Let me know your thoughts. |
| CyanogenMod 10.1 ‘M3′ builds out for Samsung Galaxy SIII, Kindle Fire and others Posted: 12 Apr 2013 01:18 AM PDT
CyanogenMod 10.1 is based on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and the M3 snapshots can be download from the CyanogenMod downloads page. If you wanted to try out an alternative Android firmware and you have one of the popular devices above then now is a good time to try! |
| ASUS Fonepad arrives in South East Asia Posted: 12 Apr 2013 01:02 AM PDT
The 8GB version of the ASUS Fonepad with 3G mobile data and voice-calling has just been launched in South East Asia. This 8GB version features a microSD slot that is expandable to 32GB, and has 9 hours of battery life. Unlike most 7-inch tablets in the market, the Fonepad comes with a 1.2GHz Z2420 Intel Atom processor, built on Intel’s 32nm process technology and optimized for the Android platform. According to Prakash Mallaya, Country Manager of Intel Malaysia and Singapore, the Intel Atom Z2420 chip delivers the power efficiency, performance capabilities, and flexibility needed to accommodate a range of devices and market needs. “Consumers do not wish to wait for anything”, he added. This new chip is in fact, made in Malaysia, in the state of Penang. The Fonepad has a 3MP rear camera (capable of 720p video recording) and a 1.2MP front camera. With a 1280 x 800 (HD) display, the Fonepad is more than capable of managing hardware-accelerated 1080p video decoding. Everything’s packed into a sleek metallic design. The Fonepad is available in 4 colours and can be purchased with an optional VersaSleeve 7, a wrap-around cover that doubles as a stand. Asus Fonepad full specifications
Like other ASUS tablets, the Fonepad will features preloaded apps like SonicMaster, Floating App, SuperNote, and 5GB of free lifetime ASUS WebStorage. The Fonepad is available in Malaysia for RM 849 (283 USD) for the 8GB model.              |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 now available in the US for a steep $400 Posted: 12 Apr 2013 12:30 AM PDT
Unveiled less than two months ago, the S Pen-toting Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is already available in the US of A via a number of online retailers. That's the good news, seeing as Sammy has kept its promise from a few days ago, but we also have some bad news for you. The 8-incher is up for grabs for a pricey $399.99, as expected. And that's with just 16 GB of on-board storage and no cellular connectivity, mind you. How steep is that price? Pretty steep, but then again the GNote 8.0 doesn't exactly play in the same league as Google's Nexus 7 or Apple's iPad Mini. Instead, this snazzy-looking slab of silicon ups the ante considerably in the hardware department, with a zippy quad-core 1.6 GHz Exynos 4412 CPU and 2 GB of RAM. The 4,600 mAh battery is pretty comfortable, while the 1,280 x 800 pix res panel is nothing to sneeze at. Oh, and did I mention the S Pen support? Anyway, you probably know already if the Note 8.0 suits your needs and, if it does, you're only a couple of clicks away from purchasing it. Some of the bigger online retailers that have it in stock are Amazon, Best Buy, Staples and Newegg, all of which offer the white Wi-Fi only version for the same $399.99 with free shipping. A "charcoal black" model is to possibly come your way in the future too, but before that we should probably see the 3G-enabled and 32 GB variants up for sale. As for the 16 GB white model, none of the retailers currently selling it mention anything about the preloaded $200 worth extras Samsung promised. Hopefully, you will still get all those advertised freebies, including the 50 GB of free Dropbox storage for 2 years and the $25 Google Play credit. If you're still not sold on the idea of coughing up 400 bucks for an 8-inch tablet, maybe our first look video from MWC (embedded above) will help seal the deal. So how about it, guys, too expensive or too darn nice to look away? |
| Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 won’t be headed for UK any time soon Posted: 12 Apr 2013 12:28 AM PDT
If you’re hoping for a chance to own a Samsung Galaxy Mega, you may have to wait for the 6.3-inch version to arrive some time in mid-May, because reportedly it will be the only such Galaxy Mega smartphone from Samsung that will be officially sold in the U.K. It’s a bit strange, but the smaller model just won’t be made available for purchase at all. At least not through Samsung itself, that is. If you really want to get a hold of a Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8, then you could try and turn to third-party retailers who will surely step up to the plate and offer it if the demand for it shows. For now, that seems to be your only hope if you’ve got your eye on the tinier Galaxy Mega smartphone. It’s either that, or just get the 6.3-incher instead. |
| Asus Qube finally landing on April 23 with $130 price tag Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:51 PM PDT
According to new information from the guys over at GTVSource.com, the Asus Qube will finally be released to the market this month. To be more specific, it’s set to become available with a price tag of $130 two weeks from now, on April 23. The Asus Qube comes with 50GB of free cloud storage from Asus as well as a modified Google TV user-interface. It will offer access to all the goodness of YouTube along with "100,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix and Amazon Instant Video.” At the same time, users of the Asus Qube will also be able to access other media stores and apps. Are you waiting for the Asus Qube to arrive? What about it excites you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments. |
| Chromebook Pixel LTE to start shipping on April 12 Posted: 11 Apr 2013 05:28 PM PDT
The 4G LTE version of Google's recently launched Chromebook Pixel laptop will reach those customers that ordered it via the Google Play Store on April 12, Google announced. The company posted a short message on Google+ a few hours ago confirming that the Chrome notebook is finally ready to ship:
The device was expected to arrive in the first week of April, according to Google's own estimates, but it looks like it has missed the mark by a few days. Nevertheless, early buyers will be happy to hear that their unit is heading their way. The Chromebook Pixel LTE is priced at $1,449 and features a 12.85-inch multitouch display with 2560 x 1700 resolution and 239PPI, dual-core 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB SSD, HD webcam, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, 59Wh battery, 4G LTE support and Chrome OS. Those of you that haven't ordered one of the Chromebook Pixel versions yet but are toying with the idea should check our Chromebook Pixel series of posts in which we looked at the hardware, at Chome OS, tested it during day-to-day activities and came up with our own final verdict on the device. |
| Rumor: Google X Phone release date delayed to ‘August or later’ Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:29 PM PDT
A new Google X Phone report says that the handset won't be released in "late June or July," as previously rumored, but in "August or later." According to Phone Arena's sources, the handset is still in prototype phase but there's "no word on why the release date has been pushed back." The same source says the phone will pack a 4.7-inch display with 1080p resolution and a thin bezel. The prototype reportedly lacks a microSD card slot and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, although it's "not pure stock." An image of the handset is not available at this time, but the phone could look like the device that was featured in an earlier X Phone blurry render, not that the image provides clear details about the handset’s design (see below).
Since we are apparently talking about prototypes, we’ll remind you that a Motorola handset that was spotted in Vietnam a few days before the Galaxy S4 was officially unveiled was later said to be an early prototype of the X Phone. That handset (see following image) has not been announced by Motorola yet.
The publication says that Google may not be happy with the smartphone yet, as the X Phone is apparently "on of the last" devices in Motorola's pipeline that Google was not impressed with to begin with. Other recent unconfirmed reports claimed that Motorola has at least three new smartphones in the works, and could be even working on a Nexus model of its own. The unconfirmed X Phone has been making the rounds of the Internet for quite a while now, but we're yet to see Google make this Motorola handset official. When it comes to such reports, we'll remind you to take these X Phone details with a grain of salt, because not all the rumors point in the same direction. For example, just recently a variety of sources suggested the handset will come with customizable hardware, while others said that won't be the case. That said, the device was rumored to be unveiled at Google I/O in mid-May, and we're certainly curious to see whether Google will announce the phone next month regardless whether these launch delays are real or not. |
| Prince of Persia – The Shadow and the Flame getting modern mobile makeover [video] Posted: 11 Apr 2013 03:07 PM PDT
Prince of Persia – The Shadow and the Flame, the second game in the series, is getting a modern makeover from Ubisoft, and the company has already posted a trailer. The new game will be available on tablets and smartphone, says the video. Considering the fact that the previous remake (Prince of Persia Classic), is available for Android devices (at $2.30), there’s no reason why anyone should think our favorite OS will be left out. The new Prince of Persia game promises “stunning visuals and new gameplay,” and the truth is that the trailer below does show some promise. The creator of the initial game, Jordan Mechner, has posted a few more details about the new version on his blog. He says that the game will have updated graphics, and sound and touch controls, in the spirit of the game. He also mentions that we’re not talking about a port of the original (but that’s pretty visible in the trailer). No word on a release date yet. Are you looking forward to the new member of the Prince of Persia family of games? |
Google’s efforts to become the only online service you need continues with an update to Google Keep that adds more features. Google Keep, which is aimed at services like Evernote, is a note taking app which allows you to save your ideas, thoughts and reminders on your Android device and then access them from any of your Android devices and your Desktop via the built-in synchronization which works via Google Drive.
Like in politics 24 hours is a long time in the world of custom Android ROMs. CyanogenMod, the most popular alternative Android firmware, is updated regularly by its many contributors and there is a nightly build system which makes the bleeding edge releases available for download. However these nightly builds can, from time to time, be unstable due to recent and as yet not exhaustively tested changes. Because of this the CyanogenMod team started releasing monthly builds which are intended to be mostly stable and ready for everyday use. These stable builds are made for the most popular devices and now M3, the third monthly build of 2013, has been released for a variety of the best known phones and tablets including the Samsung Galaxy SIII, the Amazon Kindle Fire and the HTC One X. The full list is as follows:![1 Asus FonePad [aa] (5) - 600px](http://cdn04.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/1-Asus-FonePad-aa-5-600px.jpg)
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