Android Central

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• Galaxy S4 versus HTC One in New York's Central Park
• Remember The Milk updated to v3.0 with new interface
• Qualcomm FQ2 2013 results: Record quarterly revenues of $6.1 billion
• Samsung Galaxy S4 available at U.S. Cellular April 26 online, April 30 in stores
• New NFC capable Soundbars reportedly coming later this year from Sony
• Sony Xperia P, Xperia go, and Xperia E dual Jelly Bean updates rolling out soon
• Fieldrunners 2 now available for your tower defending pleasure
• HTC One gets updated with camera and audio enchancements in Europe
• T-Mobile and MetroPCS merger becomes official May 1st
• HTC One now available in T-Mobile stores
• HTC One announced for China with dual-SIM and microSD support
• Amazon Mobile for tablets now available in 9 countries
• Verizon Galaxy S4 preorders start April 25 [Updated]
• Sprint reports net loss of $643 million in Q1 2013
• LG Q1 2013 earnings: Profit down slightly, mobile business performing well
• Sprint retail locations to see Samsung Galaxy S4 delays
• Deal of the Day: LLOYD HD Clear Screen Protectors for Google Nexus 7
• Swype finally makes its debut in the Google Play Store
• BBC launches iPlayer Radio for Android devices, including Kindle Fire
• Samsung Galaxy S4 Review Podcast Special
• Samsung Galaxy S4 review
• Samsung Galaxy S4 photo gallery
• Using the Samsung Galaxy S4 on Sprint
• Samsung Galaxy S4 'S View' case review
• Samsung Galaxy S4 versus HTC One: The editors face off

Galaxy S4 versus HTC One in New York's Central Park Posted: 24 Apr 2013 03:36 PM PDT New Yorkers weigh in on the big Android question of the year Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One? It's a question that's bound to be asked over and over in the coming weeks and months, as Samsung and HTC do battle over the crucial U.S. market. As we've now got both phones in-hand, we headed down to New York's Central Park to find out what a handful of real, live human beings thought of this year's leading Android phones. Check out the video above, and be sure to share your own thoughts down in the comments. More: Samsung Galaxy S4 review; HTC One review

Remember The Milk updated to v3.0 with new interface Posted: 24 Apr 2013 03:14 PM PDT Redone interface, new widgets and full tablet support all in one update Popular to-do list app Remember The Milk has just updated in the Play Store with a completely redesigned and improved user interface. The basic interface of the app new follows what it is calling a "card stack concept", which Android users should be familiar with as sliding panels that show/hide information when it is needed. The interface is smooth and intuitive, with the added bonus of scaling extremely well for tablets. This version 3.0 release focuses on having a tablet-specific design that looks great all the way up to the 10-inch screen. The update goes beyond just the main app as well. Users running Android 4.1 and above will enjoy expandable and actionable notifications, which give you more information and let you "complete" or "postpone" tasks right from the notifications pane. The entire set of widgets has received a facelift as well. You can grab a download of the latest redesigned free version from the link at the top of this post. More: Remember The Milk Blog

Qualcomm FQ2 2013 results: Record quarterly revenues of $6.1 billion Posted: 24 Apr 2013 02:03 PM PDT 173 million MSM chips shipped in the quarter; raising fiscal 2013 guidance Qualcomm, which powers many of the gadgets we know and love, has just reported its Fiscal Second Quarter results. Here's your quick breakdown of the headline numbers for the quarter: $6.12 billion in revenues for the quarter, up 24-percent year-over-year $1.88 billion in operating income, up 24-percent y-o-y but down 10-percent q-o-q $1.68 billion in net income, down 16-percent y-o-y $2.22 billion in operating cash flow, up 17-percent y-o-y 173 million MSM chips shipped in the quarter, up 14-percent y-o-y This is overall a bit of a mixed bag for Qualcomm this quarter. While its revenues hit a record high, net income decreased year-over-year and most financial metrics dipped quarter-over-quarter. Some of this can be attributed to increased R&D (Research & Development), which jumped 27-percent from the year previous to $1.21 billion. Qualcomm says the increased R&D costs come from increased development time spent on CDMA-based 3G and OFDMA-based 4G LTE products. Source: Qualcomm; PDF

Samsung Galaxy S4 available at U.S. Cellular April 26 online, April 30 in stores Posted: 24 Apr 2013 01:32 PM PDT 16GB models in both White Frost and Black Mist will be available for $199 for eligible customers Folks looking to pick up a Samsung Galaxy S4 on U.S. Cellular can now start counting down with everyone else. The device will be available Friday April 26 for people purchasing online, and in stores on the shelves Tuesday, April 30. Both the White Frost and Black Mist version in 16GB will be available, and at the cash register, you'll need to part with $199 if you're eligible for an upgrade price. U.S. Cellular tells us that phones preordered online will start shipping April 26 as well, and include the promotional S View flip cover as part of the preorder promotion.  The Galaxy S4 looks like an incredible phone (see our review) and will surely be a crowd pleaser. It's great that U.S. Cellular can offer their customers access to this one in the same time frame as the bigger carriers. If you're interested, the order page will go live tomorrow right here.

New NFC capable Soundbars reportedly coming later this year from Sony Posted: 24 Apr 2013 12:37 PM PDT New NFC capable Soundbars will allow easy pairing and streaming with a range of mobile devices According to a report from the folks over at Pocket-Lint, Sony has confirmed that they will be releasing a new range of premium Soundbars later this year. Of interest is the news that they will be NFC capable too, which means with a simple tap you should be able to share your music from your mobile device, to the Soundbar.  There's very little else to go on at the moment. As you may expect with un-announced products, Sony is being somewhat scarce on details beyond this initial teaser. Considering we'll be on the ground in Berlin this September at the annual IFA show, it's quite possible we'll get our first look then.  Source: Pocket-Lint

Sony Xperia P, Xperia go, and Xperia E dual Jelly Bean updates rolling out soon Posted: 24 Apr 2013 12:18 PM PDT Android 4.1 updates will be available starting this week Following the announcement that there would be an announcement, we now have the official roll out schedule of three Sony Xperia phones: Xperia P, Xperia go, and Xperia E dual. All three phones will get Android 4.1 updates beginning this week. The update roll out is planned to happen in phases, so not all phones will see an update notification by Saturday. Sony says as we finish April and get through May, the update schedule will ramp up and eventually reach all users. The convergence of Sony's software with Google's Android 4.1 Jelly Bean promises to bring some useful features to these three Xperia phones. New versions of the WALKMAN, Album, and Movies apps are included in the update. A 'Battery STAMINA Mode' is now part of the OS, and aims to shut down battery draining apps when device screens are off. Sony's launcher gets new features for its homescreen and app drawer, making it more customizable and easier to use. The normal Jelly Bean features, like Google Now, are also included. Not all Xperia models will be able to download the update over the air. Updates that are especially large, like the one for the Xperia go, will need to be downloaded using Sony's PC Companion or Bridge for Mac. An in-phone notification will alert those still running Ice Cream Sandwich. The next devices in line for updates are the Xperia S, Xperia SL, Xperia ion, and Xperia acro S, which will be getting Android 4.1 starting at the end of May. Good news indeed for Xperia users. Source: Sony

Fieldrunners 2 now available for your tower defending pleasure Posted: 24 Apr 2013 11:38 AM PDT Fieldrunners 2 introduces elevation to the classic tower defense formula The sequel to one of the most widely-loved tower defense games has finally come to Android. Fieldrunners 2 expands on the cute graphics and wide strategic elements of the original with new maps, new towers, new creeps, and upgraded visuals. The biggest change is the introduction of trenches, bridges, and tunnels. Adding elevation to the mix introduces a whole new challenge to the classic tower defense formula.  Puzzle, sudden death, and time trial game modes are all available across a bunch of different landscapes.  read more

HTC One gets updated with camera and audio enchancements in Europe Posted: 24 Apr 2013 10:49 AM PDT While a significant update at over 200MB, the Android version remains the same Owners of the international version of the HTC One are reporting that an OTA update is currently being pushed to devices in Europe. The new software version is 1.29.401.12, which makes improvements to the phone's camera, audio, and system stability, among other things. Thanks to a screenshot posted by hamdir on XDA Developers, we have the change log and update size. HTC Zoe gets sound quality improvements, and the camera gets 'parameter fine-tuning.' The Beats Audio 'sound experience' has been improved, and the One gets location service updates. System stability and miscellaneous improvements, along with bug fixes, round out this software update. If any HTC One users are getting the update, hit the comments and let us know if these improvements are noticeable. A screen shot of the change log and update size can be found after the break. Source: XDA read more

T-Mobile and MetroPCS merger becomes official May 1st Posted: 24 Apr 2013 10:25 AM PDT Shareholders at MetroPCS made the final vote to approve the carrier marriage After FCC approval, a planned shareholder vote, and a revised deal by T-Mobile, MetroPCS shareholders have finally voted to approve the reverse merger between the two companies. In this 'reverse merger,' the smaller company, MetroPCS, will be buying the larger T-Mobile. René Obermann, the CEO of Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile's parent company), says this is an important step in the company's plans going forward, as "it enables us to be more aggressive in the USA." With T-Mobile's recent and continuing network improvements, revamped monthly plans, and its ability to offer phones like the Galaxy S4 and iPhone, the company is working hard to improve their competitive position in the United States. With the recent approval by MetroPCS, the deal to merge the two carriers is set to close on May 1, 2013. MetroPCS shareholders will receive $1.5 billion in advance, and get 26 percent of the shares of the newly merged company. The changes that subscribers on both ends of this deal will see are still yet to be determined. Expect more as this milestone deal develops. Source: Telekom

HTC One now available in T-Mobile stores Posted: 24 Apr 2013 10:04 AM PDT For $99 down and $20/month, the HTC One can be yours As promised, the HTC One went on sale at "select retail channels" at T-Mobile for $99 down and $20/month for 24 months. Those "select retail channels" probably means that stock is going to be limited, so be sure to call ahead. You can also snag one online if you'd rather get it right at your doorstep. You can get more information on availability elsewhere in our big round-up post here. read more

HTC One announced for China with dual-SIM and microSD support Posted: 24 Apr 2013 10:02 AM PDT A removable back cover houses the extra goodies, but the battery still remains untouchable The HTC One is steadily making its way into hands around the world, and the next big launch announcement is for China. The HTC One has been announced for all China's main carriers, but comes slightly customized for the region from its international counterpart.  Beneath a removable rear cover, the Chinese HTC One houses slots for dual-SIM cards, and for a microSD card to expand the total storage. The battery still remains non-removable however, as it sits in the middle of the device still as on the international variants.  No carrier subsidized prices have been announced at present, but the One is set to go on sale direct from HTC on Friday, April 26.  via Engadget Chinese

Amazon Mobile for tablets now available in 9 countries Posted: 24 Apr 2013 09:43 AM PDT Amazon brings their tablet-optimized experience to shoppers outside the US When Amazon launched their Amazon Mobile version that had been optimized for tablets, it was only available in the United States. This, of course, frustrated many who live elsewhere  who wanted to access the app, because it's pretty well done. Over the past few months, Amazon has been making it available in more locales and the total is now at 9 countries, including the United States. Here is the full list: United States Canada United Kingdom Germany Spain France Italy Japan China If you're located in any of these places and have not yet checked out the tablet optimized version of Amazon Mobile, hit up the Play Store link.

Verizon Galaxy S4 preorders start April 25 [Updated] Posted: 24 Apr 2013 09:11 AM PDT Device to cost $200 with new agreement and $50 mail-in rebate; $650 off contract Update: May 30 date has been confirmed on Twitter as well Verizon will open preorders for the Samsung Galaxy S4 on April 25, according to their official Twitter account. The 16GB version will cost $200 with a new contract and a mail-in rebate, or $650 for those who are buying outright in order to keep existing unlimited data plans. They haven't said when we should expect to see it on the shelves, which is an important detail. The device will be available in stores on May 30. We've seen delays from both Sprint and T-Mobile in getting the Galaxy S4 out the door, meanwhile AT&T says they will be shipping devices slightly earlier than expected. The logistics of getting millions of devices from factories in Asia to the hands of consumers surely isn't easy, and maybe Verizon is being smart by keeping any potential dates close to their chest -- you can't have a delay on what was never announced. Anyhoo, if you've been hankering to get Samsung's new Galaxy S4 from Verizon, tomorrow is your chance to get things started.  Source: @VZWNews

Sprint reports net loss of $643 million in Q1 2013 Posted: 24 Apr 2013 08:55 AM PDT $7.1 billion in revenue, 5 million phones shipped, $29 million in operating income Sprint reported their first quarter financial results for 2013 today, which included $7.1 billion in revenue - that's 9% up from Q1 last year, and their new all-time high. Sprint boasted that this quarter they've enjoyed the fastest year-over-year increase in operating income in more than six years: $29 million, which is up 25% from the same figure in 2012. After all was told though, Sprint still reported a net loss of $643 million, which isn't quite as bad as the $863 million loss last year, and definitely the $1.3 billion loss last quarter.  Sprint felt it necessary to point out that 1.5 million of their 5 million smartphone sales this quarter were iPhones, because nobody cares about where the other 3.5 million phones came from, I guess?  read more

LG Q1 2013 earnings: Profit down slightly, mobile business performing well Posted: 24 Apr 2013 08:38 AM PDT Record smart phone shipments of 10.3 million offset weaker performance company-wide It's earnings time, and today it's LG's turn to let us know how it performed in the last three months. The company posted what it calls "solid first-quarter performance", but the overall numbers certainly aren't as great as some would have hoped. The mobile division (which we really care about) however posted some impressive results. Here's your quick breakdown of those "Mobile Communication" division numbers: Revenues of $2.96 billion, up 28.5-percent year-over-year Operating profit of $122.69 million, nearly four times revenue the year previous 10.3 million smart phone shipments for the quarter, a record for the company LG gives credit for such great performance in its mobile division to its high-end LTE devices such as the Optimus G and G Pro, as well as successful new 3G-only device lines like the Optimus L series. Even the Nexus 4 is called out by name as helping improve sales numbers and profits. The Korean manufacturer expects even stronger shipments in Q2, with a worldwide rollout of the Optimus LII Series and greater availability of the Optimus G Pro in markets with LTE. As a whole, LG Electronics had less than impressive results, with profits dipping year-over-year even with amazing growth in the mobile division. On the bright side, LG says revenues for the quarter did increase overall, but again mainly due to strong mobile division performance. The "Home Entertainment" division, which is LG's largest, contributed most to the declining profits with a less than stellar quarter. There are still several high points for the quarter that should keep LG pointed in the right direction going forward. Source: LG

Sprint retail locations to see Samsung Galaxy S4 delays Posted: 24 Apr 2013 07:45 AM PDT Though you'll still be able to order the Samsung Galaxy S4 from Sprint online starting Saturday, finding one in stores will be tough.  We just got a note from Sprint saying that though they're still aiming to have the Samsung Galaxy S4 available for sale online and over the phone starting this upcoming Saturday as originally planned, retail and other channels may be a little behind.  read more

Deal of the Day: LLOYD HD Clear Screen Protectors for Google Nexus 7 Posted: 24 Apr 2013 06:22 AM PDT The April 24 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the LLOYD HD Clear Screen Protectors for Google Nexus 7. These screen protectors are custom designed to protect your Nexus 7's screen while giving you an ultra-clear, high definition look and feel to your device. Durable and scratch resistant, the TruTouch sensitivity gives these custom protectors a more natural feel on your touchscreen. Includes 3 per package. The LLOYD HD Clear Screen Protectors are available for just $7.00, 72% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last! Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts

Swype finally makes its debut in the Google Play Store Posted: 24 Apr 2013 04:50 AM PDT 99 cents gets you one of the best-known third party keyboards on Android Hell may have just frozen over today, because Swype is now available for purchase in the Play Store. Previously, as many of you are aware, the only way to have Swype on your device was to sign up for the beta test and install it manually, or have one of the many devices with it pre-installed. A $0.99 purchase now gets you a proper and easy to manage Play Store download, ready to install on your devices. Its hard to believe that one of the most used keyboards on Android -- Swype claims 250 million users -- wasn't available through the primary app store up to this point, but we're glad today's the day. You can grab a download of the latest Swype from the Play Store link at the top of this post.

BBC launches iPlayer Radio for Android devices, including Kindle Fire Posted: 24 Apr 2013 03:10 AM PDT Now available from Google Play for smartphones and tablets, the iPlayer Radio app will shortly follow in the Amazon Appstore The BBC first launched their iPlayer Radio application on iOS in late 2012. Essentially, a way to gorge yourselves on all the best BBC radio content national and local, as well as podcasts, in much the same vein as the main iPlayer app. Some 6 months on from that, the app today launches on Android for the first time, and will follow shortly in the Amazon Appstore as well.  In coming to Android, the iPlayer Radio app has been made available for tablets for the first time. The UI has also been tweaked to better suit the Android user, so while it retains the same general look and feel of the iOS version, there are platform specific changes. Additionally, the Android version will make use of the notification tray to allow an easy return to the app.  The BBC has acknowledged an issue with the app on the Galaxy S3, which it says it hopes to rectify soon. For more on this and the full run down on the Android app, hit the source link below.  Source: BBC read more

Samsung Galaxy S4 Review Podcast Special Posted: 23 Apr 2013 09:06 PM PDT Podcast MP3 URL:  http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/acpc-gs4-review.mp3 Samsung Galaxy S4 coverage: Samsung Galaxy S4 review Galaxy S4 photo and video samples Galaxy S4 device photo gallery Samsung Galaxy S4 'S View' case review Quick display comparison: Samsung Galaxy S4 versus the competition Using the Samsung Galaxy S4 on Sprint

Samsung Galaxy S4 review Posted: 23 Apr 2013 09:01 PM PDT The Galaxy S4 represents a refinement of Samsung's earlier efforts, but is that enough to guarantee its success in the smartphone market of 2013? Enter, the Samsung Galaxy S4. Despite the abundance of unique hardware from a wide variety of manufacturers, the smartphone space remains a two-horse race, dominated by Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy series. Arguably a triumph of marketing as much as technology, the Galaxy S3 emerged as the Android king in 2012, selling some 30 million units worldwide. Longtime foes HTC and Motorola struggled to compete with Samsung, and the Korean behemoth cemented its position as the alpha Android later in the year with the pen-toting Galaxy Note 2. Now, as tick follows tock, it’s time for a successor to the Galaxy S3 -- and the Galaxy S4 is as incremental and familiar as its name might suggest. Rounded edges. TouchWiz. SuperAMOLED. A big clicky home button. At first inspection it seems it’s business as usual for Samsung owners. On the other hand, the Galaxy S4’s feature list is staggering, bringing new tricks to the table beyond faster hardware and a larger screen. “Air view” can detect your hands at a distance. A front-mounted IR blaster and TV app allow the phone to serve as a viewing companion. The video player tracks your eyes. The web browser scrolls with a tilt of your head. Add to that more new software features than you can shake a very large stick at -- including everything from the Galaxy S3 -- and you’ll see why the S4 could be the most feature-laden smartphone out there. Conversely, the S4’s design -- in both hardware and software -- is essentially unchanged. Of course, not every smartphone upgrade needs to be revolutionary, and those manufacturers who’ve reinvented themselves lately -- HTC, for example -- have arguably been strong-armed into doing so by Samsung’s dominance. Like arch-rival Apple, Samsung’s new product is all but guaranteed widespread success. The company’s colossal marketing budget and newfound consumer mindshare will take care of that. Expect a relentless advertising campaign and news of tens of millions of sales in the months ahead. So plenty of other humans will buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 this year, but should you? Does it deserve its inevitable success, or is it all parlor tricks and gimmickry? The one place you’ll find out for sure is after the break, in our extensive Galaxy S4 review. read more

Samsung Galaxy S4 photo gallery Posted: 23 Apr 2013 09:01 PM PDT Take a closer look at Samsung's new flagship phone in the Android Central Galaxy S4 photo gallery If you've checked out our review of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and watched all our accompanying videos, but are still want to see more of Samsung's new flagship phone? Look no further than our Galaxy S4 photo gallery, which shows the phone in all the detail you could possibly ask for. We've got a few dozen photos waiting for you after the break. More: Samsung Galaxy S4 review read more

Using the Samsung Galaxy S4 on Sprint Posted: 23 Apr 2013 09:01 PM PDT Poor network performance can handicap even the fastest of smartphones This is the Sprint Galaxy S4. There are many others like it, but this one is Sprint’s. Externally, the phone bears no Sprint branding, and the bundled Sprint apps are relatively tame, if numerous. Unfortunately for the carrier there’s one unique aspect of its Galaxy S4 tha's not quite so praiseworthy. That’s right, once again a Sprint device’s Achilles’ heel is its network performance. More: Samsung Galaxy S4 review read more

Samsung Galaxy S4 'S View' case review Posted: 23 Apr 2013 09:01 PM PDT The humble flip cover becomes a smart accessory Flip covers for smartphones are nothing new -- ever since smartphones have had screens, users have sought a convenient way to keep it protected and scratch-free. But the latest flip cover for the Samsung Galaxy S4 takes things a step further, building in new functionality based around a touch-capable window and a magnetic sensor. While we've been reviewing the Galaxy S4, we've also had the chance to take the official 'S View' case for a spin, and we've been pretty impressed with what Samsung's brought to the table. We've got more photos, words and video after the break. More: Samsung Galaxy S4 review read more

Samsung Galaxy S4 versus HTC One: The editors face off Posted: 23 Apr 2013 09:01 PM PDT The UK's Alex Dobie and the USA's Phil Nickinson take on two of the year's hottest phones With the release of the Samsung Galaxy S4, the Android smartphone battle lines are drawn. Samsung’s new flagship will go up against the HTC One, and it’s sure to be a fierce fight. Samsung needs to maintain the lead it established in 2012; for HTC, the future of the company depends on the success of the HTC One. So which one should you buy? As always, it’s never as simple as recommending one device over the other. That’s why we’re launching into a little discussion with Alex and Phil, where we’ll try to spell out exactly where each device is strongest. Join us after the break as we go back and forth on the HTC One versus Galaxy S4. There’s also a good old-fashioned video comparison, if you’re into that sort of thing. More: Samsung Galaxy S4 review read more

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