Android Authority

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• Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 to arrive later than expected
• Check out this list of games that already have integrated Google’s Play Games services
• Google Hangouts – Everything you need to know
• Rumor: Android 4.3 release date set for June 10, white Nexus 4 to launch on same day
• Microsoft is at it again: New Scroogled video ‘leaks’ to the net
• Recon Jet goes up against Google Glass, aimed at outdoorsy crowd
• Field Trip goes global with support for 80 countries and auto-translate
• Sprint HTC One to get it its first update, promises to solve key sensitivity problem
• LG Optimus GJ reportedly coming to Taiwan next week, IPV7 waterproof certified
• Google, Play Store permissions confirm Hangouts will support SMS
• Rumored Sony Xperia UL poses for the camera, features Snapdragon 600 processor
• Microsoft: we’re happy to include ads in YouTube Windows Phone app, if Google lets us
• Google+ Hangouts video chat blocked by AT&T
• Google IO 2013 vs IO 2012: How did this year’s keynote compare?
• Rumor: Android 4.3 and new Nexus 7 arriving in July
• ASUS Fonepad receives a spec boost
• Google TV gets latest Android and Chrome versions, promises faster updates
• Rumor: HTC One coming to Verizon
• Nvidia Shield hands-on and interview at Google I/O
• Rumor: Galaxy Note 3 not to offer metal design or flexible display
• Hands-on with the new Google Maps at I/O (video)
• Google Wallet support coming to Sprint Galaxy S4, HTC One, and Galaxy Note 2
• Acer Liquid E1 Review
• Samsung responds to Galaxy S4 storage woes, part two: possible fix through “further software optimization”
• Missed the news-filled Google I/O keynote? Watch it here

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 to arrive later than expected Posted: 17 May 2013 02:02 AM PDT The Samsung Galaxy Mega may have been delayed. Upon confirming the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3, Samsung said that the two jumbo-sized devices would launch globally, and that they would hit Europe and Russia in May. Well, there are some clues that seem to point in a different direction at the moment. While we already knew that the Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 won’t be coming to the U.K. at all, there is some news on the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 front. The huge smartphone (as you can see in these hands-on pictures) won’t get in the users’ hands by mid-May, as previously thought. Carphone Warehouse listed it as “coming soon”, with an expected availability date in July, as you can see in the screenshot below. The apparent delay is also suggested by data on Dutch site GSM Helpdesk, which lists week 23 (starting June 3) as the release date for the Galaxy Mega 6.3, and week 30 (starting July 22) for the Galaxy Mega 5.8. Also, despite two FCC filings of the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3, there is no official news of a U.S. release yet. The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 has a 6.3-inch LCD display with 720p resolution, a 1.7 GHz dual-core CPU, 1.5 GB of RAM, as well as 8 or 16 GB of storage space, expandable via a microSD slot. Te Mega 6.3 also features an 8 megapixel rear camera, a 1.9 front one, and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with the TouchWiz interface. Its smaller, but not small by any means, counterpart has a 5.8 inch display with qHD resolution (960 x 540 pixels), a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor, and 1.5 GB of RAM. The expandable internal storage is 8 GB, and the cameras are also 8 and 1.9 megapixel ones. The Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 also runs Android 4.2. Are you looking forward to any of these two devices? If so, which one?

Check out this list of games that already have integrated Google’s Play Games services Posted: 16 May 2013 11:37 PM PDT Mountain View yesterday at Google I/O announced something very exciting: Google Play Games services. At the time of this writing, the new Play Games features have only been integrated in a small handful of games, but we should see more integration as time goes on. There’s only a few games that have implemented the new features, including popular titles like World of Goo, Triple Town, Plague Inc., Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, and Beach Buggy Blitz. Not every game you come across in the Google Play Store is going to offer the new Play Games features. ”We won’t make it a mandatory exercise, or have any certification process around it,” Google lead product manager Greg Hartrell told Engadget. “We create fantastic services that allow developers to create these great game experiences, and help promote their discovery, help retain their users and keep them engaged.” As much as I’d like to see the Play Games services become a mandatory implementation, it’d at least be nice to see a category in the Play Store that showed you which games are using the new APIs. In the meantime, Droid Gamers has a forum thread with all the games using the new services, which will be updated “until it becomes impossible to do so”. Are you excited to see more games implement Google’s new Play Games services? Do you think it should be a requirement for all games to implement the new games services? Let everyone know in the comments!

Google Hangouts – Everything you need to know Posted: 16 May 2013 03:58 PM PDT Mountain View yesterday at Google I/O announced their new messenger app, Hangouts, for Android, Chrome, and iOS! It has been a long time in the making, and it’s finally here. The Google Talk replacement is available for Android, Chrome, and iOS. Hangouts brings with it a plethora of new features to toy around with, including group messaging, inline pictures, and more! As per the usual, if you’d rather watch the video review, just head down to the bottom of the article. Design When you first open Google Hangouts you’ll be met with a new and fresh interface. The app opens to a window that shows your current conversations. Similarly to Gmail, you can archive messages by sliding your conversations to the left or the right. By sliding to the right of the app you can start a new Hangout with someone. In the New Hangout page, you’ll see the people that you most frequently contact, and below that you’ll see everyone in your Google+ circles. If you have a lot of people circled, this list is pretty gigantic. Thankfully, you can easily search for a name or circle you want to chat with. Hangouts doesn’t use the green or grey dots that Google Talk used to identify if someone is online or offline. Instead, you can tell if a contact is online if their profile picture is faded or clear. A faded profile picture means your contact is unavailable, and a clear picture means they’re online. One downside is that Hangouts doesn’t support the “invisible” status like Google Talk did. After opening a conversation simply slide back to the left to go back to your active conversations list. At the top right is a plus sign that lets you start a new hangout. Similarly to Gmail, if you want to archive a conversation, simply slide them off the screen. You can view them later in the archived hangouts section of the app or your “Chats” category in Gmail. Next to the plus sign is the menu button, which is made up of the usual three dots. In this menu you can access your archived hangouts, hangout invites, and you can set a notification snooze for an allotted amount of time. If you want to sleep and you keep your phone by your bedside, you can set it to eight hours. During that time Google Hangouts won’t bother you. The settings menu isn’t really anything special. Really all you can do there is change your notification behaviors (i.e. set a new ringtone or turn notifications off entirely) or vibration settings. There’s also a way to control the blocked users list and customize invites for your circles. There also seems to be an option that’ll quickly take you to your Google+ profile page. Functionality When you get down to the core of Hangouts, it basically functions the same way Google Talk did. You can have text conversations with people and start video chats just like you could on Google Talk. The difference here is that video chats are now Google Hangouts like they are on Google+ instead of normal video calls on Google Talk. Google has had some new functionality to the app though. You can now have group chats, which was a much needed feature in Google Talk. In my testing, this worked seamlessly. It’s a great feature if you often need to have group chats with your team at work or with a bunch of gaming buddies during your downtime. One of the best features of the new Google Hangouts app is the amount of emojis there are. Hundreds of them are available at your fingertips. There’s smileys, animals, dragons, and much, much more. I think you can easily say that there’s an emoji for every expression in Hangouts. In the Chrome extension of Hangouts, you can make unicorns dance across the chat window. Considering that it has dancing unicorns, I’m quite disappointed with the lack of a nyan cat. Unfortunately, dancing unicorns (and nyan cats) aren’t available in the mobile app. Lastly, one of the great things about Hangouts is that you can now share images directly through the app. This functionality wasn’t really there with Google Talk. Normally people would have to upload the picture elsewhere, such as imgur, and then paste the link. Now you can easily share files straight from your device. Conclusion Overall, the new Google Hangouts app is a vast, and welcome improvement over Google Talk. As was expected, Google has had a few launch problems. Some people aren’t able to get the Hangouts app working on their tablets, and some people aren’t getting switched from Talk to Hangouts a full day or longer after updating. Issues like these really dull the excitement of a big release. It shouldn’t be long before all of the kinks are worked out, as Google seems to be on top of things after already pushing out a new update since the app’s release yesterday. SMS support for Google Hangouts also still seems to be up in the air. We’re not sure if that’s going to get added, but if it does, there’ll be a more positive outlook on the new Hangouts app. It’d also be nice if AT&T would unblock video calling through the Android version of Hangouts on their network. I guess you can’t have everything, can you? Aside from the kinks that’ll eventually get worked out, there really isn’t a reason to not like Google Hangouts. Of course, at the time of this writing, the lack of SMS support is a tad disappointing. You can update the old Google Talk app to get the new Google Hangouts. Keep in mind that it may take up to a few days to get the new interface though. You could also just download the new Hangouts app from the Google Play Store.

Rumor: Android 4.3 release date set for June 10, white Nexus 4 to launch on same day Posted: 16 May 2013 02:18 PM PDT A new report claims that Google intends to launch its next-gen Android OS version next month alongside a new Nexus 4 version. The white Nexus 4 is said to hit the Google Play Store on June 10, at which point Android 4.3 would also be released. Android and Me has apparently managed to get some hands-on time with the white Nexus 4 which appears to be a "carbon copy of the previous Nexus 4, just with a different color casing." Therefore, this white Nexus 4 model doesn't appear to be that 32GB Nexus 4 LTE model that appeared in various rumors. We’ve seen the white Nexus 4 in a bunch of photos in the days leading to Google I/O, with one set of images revealing that the handset spotted at a mobile event in Dubai had the same FCC ID as the regular black version. At the time, we wondered whether this was the upgraded Nexus 4 version we mentioned before, or whether it was a special Google I/O edition meant to arrive in the hands of developers – since then we learned that Google gave attendants a free Chromebook Pixel instead. Earlier today we looked at a different rumor that suggested Android 4.3 could be launched at some point in July alongside a new Nexus 7, with various pieces of evidence backing up the fact that a new Android OS version would be released in the near future. Now, the publication says that Android 4.3 has been intentionally removed from the show as the company "wanted to demonstrate their ability to roll out new services and APIs without upgrading Android firmware," which, if accurate, is pretty much in line with some of our earlier speculations regarding the lack of new hardware and of a new Android OS version from the keynote. Android 4.3 features are not known at this time, other than Bluetooth Smart (BLE), which was confirmed by Google to be included in the next Android update. We'll be back with more details about Android 4.3 and future Nexus-branded hardware in the near future, so stay tuned!

Microsoft is at it again: New Scroogled video ‘leaks’ to the net Posted: 16 May 2013 01:57 PM PDT Ah… Microsoft, when will you ever learn? The Scroogled campaign hasn’t done a whole lot of good for your rep, and still you continue down this road with yet another new video. This time, Microsoft claims that the latest ad was supposedly "for internal use" only and "accidentally" leaked to the net. Obviously that’s a little hard to believe given Microsoft’s previous attacks on Google, but let’s say this really is an internal use video. If that’s the case, that means this was used for what, training? Or maybe an attempt by Microsoft to bully/scare its employees into fearing that Big Brother Google is watching them? I suppose it could of also been just for chuckles. Who knows really with Microsoft. There is also the (STRONG) possibility that this was a controlled leak, timed to coincide with Google I/O – especially since Google just announced it is basically bringing Google Now functionality to the desktop Chrome browser, which doesn’t bode well for competing browsers like Internet Explorer. We obviously can’t prove it one way or another, but Microsoft hasn’t exactly flooded the web with take down notices for this ad or anything. What’s really interesting is that this latest Scroogled video directly parodies a real Google Chrome ad: Besides being a direct parody (same Chrome logo, same music, etc), the message is largely the same as always: Google be a’watching you! Duck and cover! Looking at Microsoft’s latest video, I have to admit that is at least a little funny, but the whole campaign is just getting old. Personally, I don’t mind Microsoft. I have a dual-boot of Ubuntu and Windows 8 on my main PC after all. I just feel that this current tactic is doing the company more harm than good. Let’s move on Microsoft, find another way to win them customers over, besides fear and bullying.

Recon Jet goes up against Google Glass, aimed at outdoorsy crowd Posted: 16 May 2013 12:37 PM PDT Google might be one of the first players to have thrown their chip into the pot, but the Mountain View giant isn’t the only company betting on wearable computing. One of the other players is Recon, who took the opportunity yesterday to unveil their new HUD sunglasses, the Recon Jet. These unique sunglasses might be a bit hefty at 60 grams, but they are still very sexy and quite a bit more rugged than Google’s own wearable computer. Obviously they are targeted at the extreme sports and outdoorsy types as opposed to the casual wearer, providing a permanent sunglasses design that makes them less practical for indoor and low-light usage. So what kind of tech to these babies boast? The Jet features an unspecified dual-core processor, dedicated graphics, ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a microphone, GPS, HD camera, and a "comprehensive suite of sensors". According to Recon’s press statement, this makes their solution a standalone device that has capabilities similar to what you’d find in mobile devices like tablets or smartphones. As for the software side of things, the Jet runs on Android 4.2 with a custom UI and will feature an open SDK that is expected to arrive for developers sometime this summer. You might think that Recon Jet is simply a clone of Google Glass aimed at athletes, but it is important to note that this isn’t Recon’s first rodeo. The company has been making HUD devices, such as specialized ski goggles, since 2008. The Jet is the company’s most ambitious implementation yet, though. The company is currently demonstrating the device at Google I/O and already has native apps that allow video streaming, smartphone connectivity and Facebook integration. Besides being targeted for outdoor use, another major difference between Google Glass and the Recon Jet, is that this headset is modular in design. This means that you can swap out broken lenses, replace batteries and other components. It also means that if you bust your frames during your epic outdoor adventures, you can simply buy new ones and pop in the electronics from your old set. Right now, the Recon Jet is a prototype product, just like Glass. There is currently no set price for the headset, nor can we say for sure when it will arrive in commercial form. The wearable computing revolution This is just the beginning ladies and gents! We stand at a crucial turning point in mobile tech, arguably as big of a change as when the smartphone first started making noticeable waves in the early 2000s. With the Jet Recon and Google Glass headsets we look at two very different approaches to glasses design. And that’s just scratching the surface on what else is out there. This is great because that’s exactly how things started with the smartphone. Back in 1992, the IBM Simon was the only smartphone, but soon enough new designs and approaches started to arrive that targeted to different kinds of users. The same thing seems to be slowly happening in the wearable computing world as well. What do you think of the Recon Jet, compared to the more casual-oriented Google Glass? How would YOU design a wearable computer if given the chance? Conversely, do you feel that wearable glasses and watches are merely a fad that will eventually lose steam? Recon Instruments Reveals Recon Jet Heads-up Display Integrated with High-Performance Sunglasses Groundbreaking Product Revealed at Google I/O 15th May 2013, San Francisco - Recon Instruments, the award winning technology company behind the world’s first consumer Heads-up Display (HUD) for sports, is proud to be showing an early version of Recon Jet, their hotly anticipated high-performance HUD at Google I/O, Google’s annual developer conference, which starts today. Recon Jet delivers information instantly, effortlessly and unobtrusively via a microcomputer and high-resolution widescreen display. All this is mounted on a precision-engineered, fashionable pair of sunglasses on par with the best in the world. Recon has pioneered the miniaturization of affordable wearable technology since launching their first product, for snowsports, three years ago. With Recon Jet, the company is launching a faster, smaller, and more powerful new platform. ReconJet includes: a dual core processor, dedicated graphics, Wi-Fi, ANT+, Bluetooth, GPS, HD camera, and a comprehensive suite of sensors. This makes Recon Jet a connected, standalone computing solution comparable in capability to a tablet or smartphone. At Google I/O, Recon is demonstrating the open nature of their platform, showing native apps running on Recon Jet including live activity tracking, video streaming, web and smartphone connectivity and even Facebook integration. Recon’s open SDK empowers developers to create native apps for any activity to run on Recon Jet. The company is already working with some of the top fitness companies and communities to develop on the platform. Hamid Abdollahi, CTO of Recon Instruments said: “We are excited to be showingRecon Jet at Google I/O. Since we started the company in 2008, we have developed HUDs with a purpose; to relay instant, activity specific, user defined information effortlessly to the user’s eye. This philosophy is inherent in Jet which marries a powerful open platform, a widescreen display and high-performance polarized optics to offer what we believe is a great value proposition.”

Field Trip goes global with support for 80 countries and auto-translate Posted: 16 May 2013 12:22 PM PDT Mobile and travel go really well together, considering that location-based tools on your mobile device are way better than paper maps and printed tour guideboks. When Google’s Niantic Labs released Field Trip for the US and the UK, the app received acclaim for enabling users to find interesting places nearby through the phone’s location-awareness features. Field Trip “speaks” to you and gives you suggestions about interesting places nearby. You can then give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to teach the app which kinds of places interest you. The limitation, of course, was that Field Trip only worked within the US and the UK. This made the app great for use on local trips and for tourists within the country, but not for the rest of the world. With Niantic Labs’ latest update, you can now literally “go on a Field Trip anywhere” as the app update says, as the Android app release now supports 80 countries and 30 languages. Going beyond support for additional locations, Field Trip also makes it easier to spot interesting places from your current vicinity, with automatic translation of foreign-language cards, done through the Google Translate engine. This makes Field Trip all the more useful when traveling to unknown places. This update is an Android exclusive for now, but the Field Trip update for iOS is coming soon. Early reviews say that Field Trip can be hit-or-miss, and some major cities around the world are not getting the adequate coverage they deserve, but with more data and with more usage, the app will likely improve. If you’re fond of getting alerted of any interesting things while on the go, such as landmarks, restaurants, historical places and events, shopping discounts, art, or other recreation, then Field Trip would be an excellent addition to your smartphone.

Sprint HTC One to get it its first update, promises to solve key sensitivity problem Posted: 16 May 2013 10:57 AM PDT The Sprint HTC One is ready to get its first software update and, while a small one, it does aim to solve an important problem. The update, which is confirmed on the Sprint website, will bring your device to version 1.29.651.10 and and will include three fixes. First of all, it comes with improvements to BlinkFeed, but no exact details are given regarding what those improvements are. Second, you’re getting a new Sprint Zone client, but the most important thing is that it improves the Back and Home key sensitivity. This has been an issue that quite a few users have been complaining about and that HTC has acknowledged and offered a fix for. That only happened for some versions of the device, though. Now users of the Sprint HTC One are also getting it, but the interesting thing is that HTC also pushed some other improvements as part of updates that solved the key sensitivity problem. These included camera, Beats Audio and Bluetooth improvements, but they don’t seem to be mentioned for this update. If you have a Sprint HTC One (which is also available in Stealth Black), you should know that the update is coming OTA and will be released in stages, so you’ll eventually get it, even if it doesn’t happen immediately. If you haven’t made up your mind about buying the HTC One or not, maybe our review will help you make a decision. Sprint HTC One users, have you already received the update?

LG Optimus GJ reportedly coming to Taiwan next week, IPV7 waterproof certified Posted: 16 May 2013 10:32 AM PDT The LG Optimus G is a spectacular device, in part responsible for LG’s smartphone sales growth, and the Korean company is reportedly preparing a successor, the LG Optimus G2. In the meantime, and according to E-Price, LG has sent out launch invitations to the Taiwan media for the LG Optimus GJ on May 22. According to the publication, the Optimus GJ will simply be a waterproof version of the Optimus G. Features and hardware specs will remain the same – the only differentiating factor is that the Optimus GJ will have the IPX7 waterproof standard. This rating will let you submerge the Optimus GJ in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes, whereas the IPX6 waterproof standard is resistant from powerful water jets (i.e. heavy splashes, rain, etc). The Optimus GJ isn’t a surprise considering that the Korean company already has a waterproof version of the Optimus G available that released on Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo last year (pictured below). While the launch event for the Optimus GJ is set for May 22, a few days after that on May 30 in Macau, LG has another launch event scheduled for a smartphone in LG’s popular “G” series. We’re not sure what the Korean company plans on announcing then, but it’s not a far-fetched idea that we’ll see the Optimus G2, or even the Optimus GK. While I can’t imagine many people would go out and get the Optimus GJ simply for its waterproof prowess, at the core of it, it still has some excellent hardware. Similarly, Samsung is also going to launch a rugged Galaxy S4 version – the Galaxy S4 Active – at some point in the coming months. Are you looking forward to seeing the Optimus GJ become available in Taiwan?

Google, Play Store permissions confirm Hangouts will support SMS Posted: 16 May 2013 10:11 AM PDT When Hangouts was launched, it was all that we hoped for. Android finally had a unified messaging service which swallowed up all of the fragmented services that Google offered had offered previously. Hangouts even offered an iOS application, meaning Hangouts was truly cross-platform. But one glaring omission from the Hangouts application which made it slightly inferior to Apple's iMessage application, was its lack of support for SMS. However, it looks like the wait may be temporary, according to the permissions list in the Google Play Store. One eagle-eyed user Kenny Strawn, who clearly reads that permissions page many of us are guilty of skipping, found that Google was already asking for the permission to read and send text messages. This could mean that the feature could roll out in an update and is still currently being worked on. If Hangouts had support for SMS, then you would be able to send messages to people who aren't using the application. This is one of iMessages biggest features, and it would put Hangouts as the premier messaging application, as you wouldn't need to have your friends on Hangouts to message them. This would help you slowly wean your friends and family off of their 20th century ways. Of course Google is already using SMS in Hangouts, but only in emerging markets, as TechCrunch reports: Google tells us that in some countries, feature phone users, but not smartphone users, can participate in Hangouts via SMS. This should help it reach more people in the developing world, a core area for growth of messaging apps. Looking to clear the air, Google Hangouts Community Manager Dori Storbeck, confirmed on Google Plus that SMS support for Hangouts is coming, but gave no definite time frame for the arrival of the feature. But Storbeck did say it was the most requested feature, so it shouldn’t take Google to roll out the feature. There are also claims on Google Plus, that those in the U.S. may already have SMS capabilities. One Google Plus user said: It already works, kind of, go to settings, SMS for Hangouts, click the box to send sms, and you are all set.. If you are in the US, you need to click on GUAM as your country. These claims are as yet unconfirmed, and it may have something to do with the aforementioned support for SMS in developing countries. This would mean that the change would allow you to recieve text messages, but not send them. Of course this is still speculation, and the main thing we can get out of all of this, is that SMS support is coming to all of us very soon. How is the new application working for you? Is SMS support a big deal?

Rumored Sony Xperia UL poses for the camera, features Snapdragon 600 processor Posted: 16 May 2013 10:07 AM PDT While HTC has become much more conservative when it comes to releasing flagship devices and variants this year, the same can’t be said for Sony, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sony has received a lot of attention with its Sony Xperia Z and ZL, and isn’t stopping there. Recently the Sony Xperia ZR was officially confirmed and rumors suggest that a Sony i1, Sony Togari and Sony Xperia UL are also in the works. The latter of these devices has now allegedly landed in the wild, smiling for the camera. Last we heard of the Sony Xperia UL, it was believed to sport a design somewhat similar to the ZL and would slightly upgrade the specs with a Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB RAM and 32GB storage. It would also have a 5-inch full HD display and 2,300 mAh battery. Looking at the pic in the photo above, I’d say that the rumors that UL would follow the ZL’s design seem pretty spot on. Apparently the rumored specs haven’t changed either. Now it is important to remember that we can’t say for sure that the pictured handset is really the Sony Xperia UL, or that the UL even exists. Still, we can’t say it would surprise us too much. If real, the big question is whether or not we’ll see an international launch of the Sony Xperia UL. Previously it was rumored that the phone would be exclusive to the Japanese carrier KDDI, but nothing is set in stone. With the Sony i1 rumored to feature a Snapdragon 800 processor, it is unclear whether or not Sony would bother releasing both handsets outside of Japan. What do you think of the Sony Xperia UL, interested or not?

Microsoft: we’re happy to include ads in YouTube Windows Phone app, if Google lets us Posted: 16 May 2013 09:58 AM PDT The Windows Phone YouTube app quarrel between Google and Microsoft has a new episode to it, as Microsoft says it will include ads, under certain conditions. Google has recently sent a cease and desist letter to Microsoft about the Windows Phone YouTube app, mentioning the lack of ads when videos are being played back, as well as the fact that videos could be downloaded. The letter also said that the app had no problem playing videos that Google’s partners didn’t want played on certain devices, like mobile devices with certain feature sets. Microsoft was quick to respond to the letter, doing so through a spokesperson, quoted by ZDNet. The response attacks Google for not working with Microsoft on developing an app “on par with other platforms,” as the Windows Phone YouTube app is one of the most downloaded on the platform. Microsoft also adds that the latest update, which tries to bring the same experience users get elsewhere, has yielded very positive feedback from its platform’s users. Here’s what Microsoft said on the ads topic: We'd be more than happy to include advertising but need Google to provide us access to the necessary APIs. In light of Larry Page's comments (yesterday after the Google I/O event) calling for more interoperability and less negativity, we look forward to solving this matter together for our mutual customers. Microsoft Microsoft refers to some comments that Google CEO Larry Page has made during his Google I/O keynote speech, which showed that things are not too good between the two companies. Namely, he criticized Microsoft for giving its users on Outlook.com the option to use Google Chat. He added that it’s not possible for people to “milk off one company for their own benefit.” The two companies have been known to take swings at each other, but this one seems to be a pretty serious one. It will be interesting to see if Google will go on with the argument, or just help Microsoft design an app that’s according to its requirements. What do you think? Will Google and Microsoft find a way to resolve their differences?

Google+ Hangouts video chat blocked by AT&T Posted: 16 May 2013 08:54 AM PDT If you've been trying to connect to video chat using the new Google+ Hangouts app and you happen to be an AT&T customer, then it's no accident that you're being told to connect over a Wi-Fi network, as it turns out that AT&T is deliberately blocking the application from running over its network. This isn't the first time that the carrier has blocked video chat apps from working properly on its network, iPhone users may remember that FaceTime shared similar problems when it first launched as well. AT&T has responded to the issue with the following statement: All AT&T Mobility customers can use any video chat app over cellular that is not pre-loaded on their device, but which they download from the Internet. For video chat apps that come pre-loaded on devices, we offer all OS and device makers the ability for those apps to work over cellular for our customers who are on Mobile Share. In other words, AT&T seems to be saying that if an app comes pre-loaded on a handset then OS and device manufacturers have to contact AT&T in order to have their app approved. Now that sounds like a fairly reasonable policy, the aim being to prevent manufacturers from pre-installing software which eats up AT&T's bandwidth. But is the new Hangouts app really "pre-loaded" and what criteria has to be met before an app is allowed on AT&T's network?\ Image Credit: The Verge The policy also seems a little lacking in common sense, considering that the iPhone version of Hangouts, which is a separate download, works fine when video calling over AT&T's network. But rather than realising that these apps are the same, the Android version remains blocked. Of course, there's always the more sinister angle that AT&T simply doesn't want users to be able to video chat for free over a data connection. Sadly, it looks like we'll just have to wait and see whether AT&T removes this restriction.

Google IO 2013 vs IO 2012: How did this year’s keynote compare? Posted: 16 May 2013 08:51 AM PDT Earlier this week Sundar Pichai warned us not to expect Google I/O 2013 to be anything like we’ve seen in the past. There would be less in the way of new products or a new operating system. Instead, the I/O 2013 Developer’s Conference would focus on, well – developers. How right he was. I/O 2012 saw the introduction of the Nexus Q and Nexus 7. It had an exciting Google Glass skydiving demo. Then there was the announcement of Google Now and further detailing of the (then) new Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Google also updated Google+ with Calendar integrations, and introduced the Google Compute Engine as an infrastructure-as-a-service that enabled customers to spin up Linux virtual machines with high-performance networking. What did we see at I/O 2013? A very different animal. There was no Key Lime Pie, hell there wasn’t even the rumored Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. No Nexus 7 refresh. There were no skydiving demos or anything outrageous. Instead, we saw a major update to Google Plus’ interface. A major Google Maps update. There were new APIs introduced for Google Play and the new Google Play Games service was a pretty big deal. Google also announced it would take on streaming companies like Spotify with its own Google Play Music All Access. Then there were several improvements to Chrome, Google Search and Google Now. Lastly, Google unveiled its Android Studio. The new developer tool is designed to make life easier for developers, which might not affect everyday users in the short-term, but in the long-term it means better apps. That’s a whole lot of software and services shown off at Google IO 2013, where’s the hardware? Actually, no new hardware was announced at all – though Google did reveal that Google Play would be getting the Galaxy S4 running stock Android. In many ways this was a calmer I/O than seen in previous years. But is that a bad thing? The deeper impact of Google I/O 2013 I would have loved a slightly updated Nexus 4, a new Nexus 7, the X-Phone, a smartwatch and a new version of Android. But to be honest, I was very impressed with this year’s keynote. Last year’s I/O saw some great announcements, but I/O 2013 really hit one out of the park. Google’s keynote didn’t rely on new hardware or Android versions to excite the masses – instead it laid the groundwork for a better Google and a better future. Just about everything we saw at I/O 2013 screamed of polish and nearly every announcement will have long-term impact on both developers and everyday Google users. I was practically on the edge of my seat when I saw the improvements to search for Google Chrome on the desktop, and started thinking about how these kinds of natural and smart voice systems could effectively change the landscape of search as we know it. Ditto for the improvements to Maps. While I might not be a developer (my programming knowledge goes about as far as old-school versions of Basic and HTML…), I can appreciate the impact that Android Studio will have, especially when it comes to allowing developers to see how their apps will look across a variety of different devices and screen sizes. Maybe it’s just me, but I really walked away with a sense that this is just the beginning of a bigger plan. Most of the services announced were cross-platform when possible (Hangouts, Search, etc), and worked to give a similar experience regardless on what kind of device you are using it on, such as Google Search on iOS, desktop, Android. I think that convergence and cross-platform interoperability will continue to be an important focus for the mobile tech industry in the years to come. It’s great to see Google getting onboard with these changes early, and unlike Microsoft with their Windows 8, the Mountain View giant seems to be making all the right moves. Another key focus for Google seems to revolve around data, and how they will more effectively use it going forward. Obviously data has always been an important driver for Google, but what we are now seeing is a much ‘smarter’ system that can preemptively figure out what you want to search/ask about, auto-tag your social posts and more. We are just at the beginning of seeing where that can take us. Putting aside Big Brother-esque fears and privacy concerns, I think that the road to smarter data and information usage will have a positive long-term effect. The stage is set, now we just need to see where Google takes us throughout the year, and into the future. What did you think of Google I/O 2013, compared to last year? Do you agree that this year’s focus is about laying the groundwork for a better future? Conversely, do you think Google dropped the ball this year?

Rumor: Android 4.3 and new Nexus 7 arriving in July Posted: 16 May 2013 08:42 AM PDT Following Google's I/O 2013 keynote that lacked any new announcements of new Nexus-branded hardware or new Android OS versions, new reports suggest that the company will unveil such products at some point in the coming months. Specifically, it is believed that a new Nexus 7 tablet will be launched at some point in July, which is when Android 4.3 would also be made official. It's still speculation at this point, but it wouldn't be completely out of the realms of common sense to see that happen. In fact, when talking about the missing hardware and Android updates at Google I/O 2013, we did say that such products would almost certainly be unveiled later down the road. Android 4.3 For the moment, Android 4.3 seems to be the most likely new Android OS update, although, just like Android 5.0, it's not confirmed by Google. However, many Android 4.3 references have been already found in the wild, including server logs that indicate Android 4.3 will be another Jelly Bean version and a Google page on its Android site that briefly mentioned the new version a few hours ahead of the Google I/O keynote before being removed. Whatever the next Android OS version will be, it's clear though that it will support Bluetooth 4.0 Smart Ready (also known as Bluetooth Low Energy or BLE), according to a press release issued by Google yesterday (see it at the end of this post). This particular detail was not mentioned during Google I/O, but it's important considering that Google's Android has lacked support for BLE so far. Google's press release says that BLE support will come "later this year," without specifying exactly when that will happen. But Android Beat tells us that someone said during one Google I/O session that "Android API release 18 will get Bluetooth Smart functionality in 'a couple of months:'" Android API 18 (released in a couple of months) will support Bluetooth Low Energy, also called Bluetooth SMART. #io13 — icyerasor (@icyerasor) May 15, 2013 Now, Android API release 17 happens to be Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which means that the next Android version – API release 18 – could be unveiled around July. Finally, we're also going to remind you that the Nexus 4 has received Bluetooth 4.0 certification just recently so it would be able to offer BLE support once Android API release 18 is launched. New Nexus 7 In addition to a new Android OS version we could see that rumored new Nexus 7 arrive at about the same time in the coming months. The device has appeared in various unconfirmed reports leading to Google I/O 2013, but Google did not mention a product refresh during its software-oriented three-hour keynote. Of those reports, a particular one stood out from the crowd – a note to investors from an analyst – revealing plenty of "new Nexus 7" details that made a lot of sense on paper. Digitimes, a publication that doesn't have an always-accurate rumor-reporting track record, on Wednesday said in a post about upcoming affordable second-generation Microsoft Surface RT models that a new Nexus 7 would be launched in July. Here's the full quote: In addition to Surface [launching in June], Google is also set to start selling its second-generation Nexus 7 in July with a sales target of 6-8 million units for the second half. The upcoming Nexus 7 will feature Japan Display’s (JPI) 1920 by 1200 LTPS TFT panel and a Qualcomm processor, and be priced the same as the first-generation model. Naturally, we can't verify these details at this time, but considering that there's plenty of evidence suggesting that an Android OS update is in the works, we wouldn't be surprised to see Google pair a new Android OS release with the launch of new Nexus-branded hardware. Of all the devices it could possibly unveil in the coming months, the new Nexus 7 makes the most sense, considering that the first-generation model is almost one-year old, and a product refresh is more than logical. Also somewhat logical would be the launch of a mid-cycle 32GB Nexus 4 LTE around the same time, but we'll cross that bridge when and if we get there. Google Announces Bluetooth® Smart Ready Support for Android Coming Later this Year Consumers win as developer opportunity explodes for Bluetooth Smart with support from Apple, Microsoft and Google Kirkland, Washington – May 15, 2013 – Today at Google I/O, Google’s annual developer conference, Google announced that in the coming months, Android will include native support for Bluetooth Smart Ready and Bluetooth Smart devices. Phones and tablets with a dual-mode Bluetooth chip running the coming version of Android will qualify as Bluetooth Smart Ready. Bluetooth Smart Ready is the premium designation for devices that are compatible with virtually any Bluetooth enabled product, from keyboards or audio headphones, to the next generation of ultra power-efficient Bluetooth Smart appcessories, like the FitBit Flex or the Pebble watch, coming to market now. “Working with the big OS providers to offer native support for Bluetooth Smart Ready has been a major initiative within the Bluetooth SIG – we’re thrilled to welcome Android to the family,” said Suke Jawanda, CMO of the Bluetooth SIG. “It’s the hardware and software support that enables Bluetooth Smart Ready devices to seamlessly connect with the billions of Bluetooth devices in use today, and the exploding new market of Bluetooth Smart appcessories. With today’s announcement, Google joins Apple, Microsoft and BlackBerry in providing native software support which is great news for phone and tablet manufacturers, application developers and ultimately, consumers who count on Bluetooth to connect more of their technology.” The native Android support for Bluetooth Smart Ready technology available in the coming months means Bluetooth Smart developers will have an easy way to connect their devices to and distribute their applications within the massive Android ecosystem. Developers will be able to use the new Android API to feed data collected from Bluetooth Smart appcessories, like fitness monitors or medical devices, to their apps running on Bluetooth Smart Ready products, like smart phones or tablets. Once released, any new Bluetooth enabled phone or tablet running Android and featuring a dual mode Bluetooth radio chip will be Smart Ready. ABI projects the market for Bluetooth appcessories (defined as an accessory device with a companion application) to grow from 220 million units in 2013 to nearly one billion in 2016. To support this growth, the Bluetooth SIG has launched a Bluetooth developer enablement initiative which includes a web portal featuring a community forum, training and other resources to make designing with Bluetooth easier and faster. The Bluetooth Quick Start Kit (available now) serves as an introduction to Bluetooth Smart technology. For the Android developer community, the Bluetooth Application Accelerator (coming soon) will provide detailed implementation and developer guidelines to speed time-to-market for appcessory devices. “The real winner here is the consumer,” adds Jawanda. “Bluetooth is truly the people’s technology – it is recognized, trusted, and can already be found in the end user’s pocket. Additionally, it is the only wireless technology to offer the ultra low power consumption and ubiquity needed to bring connectivity to the millions of appcessories coming to market. The Bluetooth Smart products we are going to see in the coming months are going to make life better, give more insight, and enable us all to make more informed decisions.”

ASUS Fonepad receives a spec boost Posted: 16 May 2013 08:08 AM PDT The ASUS Fonepad was perhaps a bit of an odd product to begin with, a little too large to really be useful as a phone and not really cutting it as an amazing tablet either. But perhaps it's even weirder to release a slightly beefed up version of the same product shortly after the product’s initial launch, talk about trying to confuse your consumers. According to Engadget, the updated version will be available with a faster Intel 1.6GHz Z2460 CPU and 32GB of internal memory, whilst keeping the SDcard expansion slot too. Compare that to the 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z2420 processor and 16GB of built-in storage which the device originally shipped with, then it's not a huge difference at first glance. Ok, offering devices with different storage capacities is a fairly regular business practice. However, the change in processor is a much bigger deal and is no doubt a result of the rather lacklustre reviews regarding the Fonepad's performance. The jump up to an Atom Z2460 only brings a 400MHz increase in clock speed over the Z2420, there's no change in die size, no cache increase, and the number of cores remains stuck at just one. In our own review of the Fonepad, the performance was a little sub par with the occasional stuttering occurring in more demanding applications, but overall it wasn't terrible. The main problem with the device’s performance seemed to stem from the slightly slow graphics chip, at least in our own experience, which isn't being addressed with this hardware update. On the whole, it seems fair enough to offer consumers a better performing product, but if you're planning on buying the new version, bear in mind that you're certainly not looking at a whole new device with a huge jump up in performance. The beefed up ASUS Fonepad will retail for around NT$10,900, which works out to roughly $360. We're still waiting on confirmation regarding availability of the new device in different regions.

Google TV gets latest Android and Chrome versions, promises faster updates Posted: 16 May 2013 07:55 AM PDT Google TV has been moved to the latest versions of Android and Google Chrome, according to a post on the Google TV Developers Google+ page. While the news was not announced during the Google I/O keynote (you can get a roundup of our coverage here), the post comes with good news for you, both if you’re a developer or a user. Google says that it has updatedd Google TV to Android, 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and has optimized the code so that updates take less for its OEM partners from now on: “weeks rather than months.” Also, developers will be able to use the latest APIs when working on their apps, including the Android NDK. Engadget has confirmed with the folks at Google that this translates into the end of Flash on Google TV, since it is no longer supported in newer versions of Android. The focus will be moved on improving HTML5 streaming and interactive content. Chrome on Google TV will also be moved, the announcement says, to the latest version, and updates will come on a six-week cycle. If you’re a developer, you’ll also be happy yo hear that Chrome on Google TV now offers hardware-based content protection, which translates into more possibilities of offering copyrighted HD content. And now, for the most important part – that all sounds great, but when do existing Google TV devices, like the newly launched Asus Cube, get updated? In the coming months, says Google, also adding that new devices are expected later this year. LG has already announced that it will update its existing devices to Android 4.2.2 in the third quarter and the company has even posted a hands-on video of its GA7900 model running after the update, which you can see below. The video also mentions that the update will come “in a few weeks,” with the video also showing the models planned to get the update: GA7900, GA6400 and G2. LG’s 3D Game Changer technology, allowing you to convert 2D games to 3D, should be something to make you look forward to the update. No update news from the other manufacturers, but we should probably hear from them soon enough. Do you think these updates will mean that Google TV will start playing a more important part on the market?

Rumor: HTC One coming to Verizon Posted: 16 May 2013 06:48 AM PDT The oft-rumored Verizon HTC One has again reared its head today. It seems this is one rumor that simply won't die, but today, we have some new information to share with you. But first, if you would like to know more about the HTC One, click on over to our review. A new HTC smartphone received Wi-Fi certification, and this could turn out to be the Verizon HTC One. The smartphone's model number is PNO73XX, and it features dual band Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity. Blog of Mobile claims that the model ID corresponds to the model number "M7_WLV", and is an HTC One headed to Verizon. To add more fuel to the fire, AT&T's HTC One has a similar model ID of PN07120. Verizon currently has the HTC Droid DNA in stock and is offering the Full HD smartphone for free on contract until May 21. It just so happens to be that the day after the deal for the Droid DNA ends, Verizon has a "special announcement" scheduled at CTIA 2013 (May 22) and this may very well be the HTC One announcement. Even though the stars seem to be aligning, the smartphone business is a tricky one and this new smartphone isn't necessarily the HTC One destined to Verizon, if there ever is a HTC One headed for Verizon. But one thing’s for sure, we'll keep our eyes peeled and share anymore information to you, when we get it. Have you been waiting for the Verizon HTC One? Or have you moved to another carrier to experience that all-metal goodness?

Nvidia Shield hands-on and interview at Google I/O Posted: 16 May 2013 06:31 AM PDT There was plenty to see and do at Google I/O, but our own Joshua Vergara still managed to find the time to get hands-on time with Nvidia Shield and conduct an interview with Nvidia. We've been hearing plenty of information about Nvidia's gaming platform over the past few months, but we can now offer you Android Authority's first hands-on experience with Nvidia Shield. What surprised me the most about our first look is that Shield remains a true Android device at its heart. Unlike some of what we've seen from OUYA, where the entire Android UI is replaced, Shield runs stock Android Jelly Bean and seamlessly integrates its own dashboard into the experience just like any other app. The dashboard shows all the Shield specific and optimized games for the device at a glance, and looks pretty easy to navigate. But you won't be limited to games which appear in the dashboard. Other games, apps, and emulators work perfectly just like they would on any other Android device. As with all gaming controllers, layout, design, and weight is key to making the experience feel just right. Josh found the 720p display and weight of the device pretty spot on, and with the ability to stream to PC screens it looks like we could have a mini console replacement on our hands. But sadly, we'll have to wait until E3 to see Shield / PC streaming in action. If you want to watch Josh slay some zombies in the yet unreleased Tegra 4-optimised version of Dead Trigger 2, then check out the video below. If the footage has managed to wet your appetite for Nvidia's Shield, then you'll be pleased to know that pre-orders are right around the corner, going live on May 20. The handheld console will be priced at around $349 at launch, which is probably just about right considering all the features that are packed in.

Rumor: Galaxy Note 3 not to offer metal design or flexible display Posted: 16 May 2013 05:58 AM PDT Galaxy Note 2 (left) vs Galaxy S4 (right) A new unconfirmed report reveals that Samsung has decided to stick with the current design line of its flagship device and build materials for the third-generation Galaxy Note model. According to Sam Mobile's insider, Samsung will not use the "renewed metal design" for the Galaxy Note 3 and the phone will not pack a flexible display either. Recent rumors did say that the company had to choose between different Galaxy Note 3 design prototypes, with one of them packing a flexible display. More recently, an investment firm looking at Samsung's display business, concluded that the Galaxy Note 3 won't actually use a flexible display, because the South Korean giant can't mass-produce flexible screens in sufficient quantities for such a device. Apparently making enough metal cases for the Galaxy Note 3 is not possible either, which is why Samsung would rather use the Galaxy S4 design and build materials for the third-gen Note model. Naturally, this is a rumor for now, so take everything with a grain of salt, as we'll surely see plenty of reports detailing Galaxy Note 3 features by the time the handset is official. Supposedly, the new Note model will be unveiled at some point in the third quarter of the year, most likely around IFA 2013. Samsung Flexible Display The Galaxy S4 became the fastest-selling smartphone in history to date, and while the Galaxy Note 3 will not move as many units as fast as the Galaxy S4, it will surely attract plenty of attention from buyers, just like its predecessors did. If today's rumor is accurate, it seems that Samsung would rather sell as many plastic Galaxy Note 3 handsets as fast as possible after announcing it rather than delay the launch of a metal Galaxy Note 3 that would also pack a flexible screen. The Galaxy Note 3 is said to have a bezel smaller than its predecessor and to pack a 5.99-inch Full HD AMOLED display, Exynos 5 Octa processor (1.9GHz quad-core Cortex-A15 and 1.6GHz quad-core Cortex-A7), 13-megapixel camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera and "the latest version of Android" with TouchWiz on top.

Hands-on with the new Google Maps at I/O (video) Posted: 16 May 2013 05:48 AM PDT We go hands-on with the completely reworked web version of the Google Maps, which is due to roll out in the following months. At the I/O keynote yesterday, Google dedicated a lot of time to Maps, one of the core applications for both mobile and web users of Google products. While the Android app has received a bunch of new features, the most dramatic changes came to the web version of Maps. The new Maps web application boasts a fully redesigned interface, several new features, and many improvements under the hood that should make the user experience faster and smoother than ever before. The biggest change is probably the way Google Maps tries to create the optimal map for each occasion. As Maps manager Bernhard Seefeld put it, the new Maps "can build a unique map for every place on every click". For instance, click on a restaurant and the map will instantly change to show you the easiest route from your current position. Our Nate Swanner and Joshua Vergara got to spend some hands-on time with the new Map web application. Check out the video below for a demo of the new "unique map" direction that Google is pursuing. We were particularly impressed with the Street View integration. As you can see in the video, the jump from map view to Street View is made at "warp speed", thanks to the behind the scenes work that the Maps team did. Of course, the fact that the Pixel is a beast of a machine doesn't hurt either. What do you make of the new Maps? What are the features that impressed you the most?

Google Wallet support coming to Sprint Galaxy S4, HTC One, and Galaxy Note 2 Posted: 16 May 2013 04:31 AM PDT Some good Google Wallet news for you, provided you’re using a Sprint Galaxy S4, a Sprint HTC One, or the Galaxy Note 2 on Sprint or U.S. Cellular. The extended availability of the service has been announced on the official Google Wallet Twitter account: Google Wallet app now on Samsung Galaxy S4 (Sprint), HTC One (Sprint) & Samsung Galaxy Note II (Sprint & US Cellular) goo.gl/w9Xrs — Google Wallet (@googlewallet) May 15, 2013 If you’re among the lucky users of the devices listed above, you will be able to use the service simply by downloading and installing the Wallet app. A quick look at the replies to the tweet shows that users from other carriers would really like to be able to use Wallet. Google certainly wants to make the service available to more users, but carriers also need to like the idea. Google Wallet (which was rumored to get its own physical card, a feature that was scrapped in the end) has been significantly updated, as the company announced at the I/O keynote. The app now lets you make one-click purchases from the phone and send money to friends even if they don’t have a Gmail account. You can view a video showcasing the new features below. Do you own one of the devices mentioned above? Are you already using Google Wallet?

Acer Liquid E1 Review Posted: 16 May 2013 04:31 AM PDT Early this year, world-famous netbook and laptop maker Acer unleashed the mid-range Acer Liquid E1 V360 into the Asian and European markets. Not a few of the critics quickly passed judgment: ho-hum, another forgettable phone. Acer’s releases into the Android smartphone market are usually either easily lost from memory after a brief sizzle, or simply maligned by critics and thereafter erased from humanity’s consciousness. Will the same fate befall the Acer Liquid E1 V360? Allowed to stand and shine on its own merit, does this new release from Acer have even a bit of sparkle and glitter to catch the wandering eye? Read on and find out. (Or view our quick video review of this phone.) Physical Build and Design Dimensions and Weight Length 132 mm ( 5.20 in) Width 68.5 mm ( 2.70 in) Thickness 9.9 mm ( 0.39 in) Weight 130 g ( 4.59 oz) At first glance, the Acer Liquid E1′s design (especially its front panel) reminds me of the Galaxy Nexus. Both phones have similar shapes and have round corners though the Liquid E1 is rounder and has a flat screen. This phone is also slightly smaller than the Galaxy S3. I like the Liquid E1′s size because it makes the phone easy to carry and handle. All hardware buttons are accessible with one hand and my thumb can reach the 4 corners of the screen. The plastic frame, though, adds a few more millimeters to the phone’s width. Front and sides At the front is an all-black touchscreen panel, accented by the Acer logo on top and surrounded by a plastic frame. The black and white combo of my test unit looks nice, but I don’t feel any air of class or sophistication. No such vibes for me, truly. Rather, it looks just like a black touchpanel encased in pearly white plastic frame. Though, don’t get me wrong — it’s not bad-looking at all. The black variant of this phone actually looks more elegant with its black and red combination. On the plastic frame, you can find two grilles: one grille at the bottom for the phone mic and another grille at the top for the phone’s speaker. The E1 also doesn’t have physical or capacitive navigation buttons, yet it has a wide and empty bottom bezel. Such a waste of space! Sides The hard plastic serving as the phone’s frame also makes up the sides of the phone. The phone’s bottom edges round and smoothen towards the back — a shape that makes the phone comfortable to hold. You can find the Power button and the headphone jack at the top side. The Micro USB port sits at the left side. The volume rocker is on the right side. You can identify which volume key is up or down by the number of raised dots on the key: two dots for volume up and one dot for volume down. Back At the back is a removable back cover. It’s not glossy, but a bit smooth matte, so it’s not prone to smudges. The back also has a dimpled texture (like those on golf balls, but smaller ones) in the central region of a hyperbolic design. It seems to work well for good traction. The stereo loudspeaker grilles, camera, LED flash, camera mic, Acer logo, and DTS logo are all located at the back of the phone. The backplate is removable. On the underside of the hard plastic cover is the NFC chip. Protected by the backplate are the 1,760-mAh Li-ion battery, the Mini-SIM (2FF) slot, and the microSD card slot for up to 32 GB of additional storage. The back cover snaps into place via plastic hooks on its underside. I do not guarantee the durability of the said hooks. In my experience, after carefully removing the plastic backplate of my test unit a few times, the hooks seem to lose their grip, resulting in a backplate that doesn’t snap tightly into place anymore. Here’s how the top part of the back of my unit looks now: Screen and display The phone’s screen size still remains within the comfortable range for smartphones. Packed into its 4.5-inch IPS LCD is a display of 960×540 pixels (qHD) resolution, with pixel density of about 245 ppi. It’s a clear, crisp, and sharp display. Colors are quite brilliant, but not oversaturated as those on OLED-based displays. The touchscreen itself is quite sensitive and responsive. Navigating the homescreens and the App Drawer is fluid and smooth. I notice the vertical striping in the display, though. I find it annoying. But, most people probably won’t mind. Most people won’t probably even notice. Processing Power Chipset MediaTek MT6577 CPU 1.0 GHz dual-core ARMv7 GPU PowerVR SGX 531 RAM 1 GB Internal memory 4 GB External memory microSD, up to 32 GB The phone is generally fast and smooth enough for moderate use and enjoyment. Although I observe occasional lag when scrolling through homescreens, the jitter and lag are most perceptible in the browsers — both stock Android Browser and Google Chrome. When rendering webpages, the page shows some tearing; when scrolling up or down a page, you’ll notice the lag. Launching apps, though, is quick and easy. The phone can easily deal with HD apps, such as HD games like Cut the Rope: Time Travel HD. Most of the the phone’s 4-gigabyte internal storage is used by the system and only a small portion is available to the user. This means that you will need to invest in a high-capacity microSD card if you intend to keep a lot of data and files on your phone. Benchmarks The following benchmarks may provide a closer look into the Acer Liquid E1′s overall performance: Benchmark Score Quadrant 2957 AnTuTu 6533 CF-Bench 5018 Vellamo Mobile Benchmark HTML5 1369 Vellamo Mobile Benchmark Metal 376 Geekbench 2 821 Linpack for Android Single Thread (in MFLOPS) 39.193 Linpack for Android Multi-thread (in MFLOPS) 56.581 Nenamark 1 (in fps) 44.3 Nenamark 2 (in fps) 24.9 An3DBenchXL 27274 SunSpider 0.9.1 JavaScript (in ms, lower is better) (using Google Chrome) 1814.5 BrowserMark (using Google Chrome) 2110 Google V8 Benchmark Suite (using Google Chrome) 1225 Battery Life Providing power to the phone is a Li-ion 1,760 mAh battery that can last up to about 400 hours on standby or 8 hours of talk time. The battery is removable, so you can buy spare or replacement battery packs if you need them. Connectivity For connectivity, the Acer Liquid E1 provides these: GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) HSDPA (900/2100 MHz) Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Micro USB 2.0 Near Field Communication Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP, EDR 3.5-mm headphone jack standard Mini-SIM (2FF); dual SIM on some variants Camera The Liquid E1 carries a 5-megapixel camera at the back and a VGA camera on the front. Camera performance is quite fast and surprisingly snappy. Autofocus is fast and shutter speed is acceptable. There is some shutter lag, but it’s barely noticeable, especially in bright lighting. The lag becomes more pronounced when the camera is used in low lighting or when Night Mode is active. You can choose any of these available shooting modes: Normal, Panorama, Multi-angle View, HDR, Auto Scene Detect, Continuous Shot, and Beautification. You can also specify one of the available scenes: Auto, Night, Sunset, Party, Portrait, Landscape, Night Portrait, Theatre, Beach, Snow, Steady Photo, Fireworks, Sports, and Candle Light. Or, if needed, you can use lower image sizes for photos such as 3 MP, 2 MP, 1.3 MP, or VGA. The highest maximum image size is 5 MP. For videos, you can record at 720p, 480p, HVGA, or MMS resolution. Here are some sample outdoor photos that I captured using the Liquid E1: Sample photo (outdoor, daytime, Normal Mode, Auto Scene) Sample photo (outdoor, daytime Normal Mode, Auto Scene) And, three more sample indoor shots (Auto Mode, Night Mode, and with flash): Sample photo (indoor, Normal Mode, Auto Scene) Sample photo (indoor, Night Mode, Auto Scene) Sample photo (indoor, Night Mode, Auto Scene, flash active) Media Playback Video playback on the Liquid E1 is not stellar, but it’s not awful either. The phone can play Standard Definition (SD) videos with no problem at all. It can play 720p HD videos decently with some occasional lag. It’s in the 1080p Full HD videos that the phone clearly starts to show its multimedia limitations; the lag becomes very noticeable along with pixelation and screen tearing. Sound quality, however, is surprisingly wonderful. I suppose much of the accolade goes to the DTS technology that the phone uses, and the dual stereo loudspeakers at the back of the phone. You’ll get even better sound quality by using headphones and by setting equalizer presets. Software and UI The Acer Liquid E1 comes with a slightly modded version of Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean with Acer UI 5.0. The user interface hasn’t deviated much from the AOSP interface or the interface on the Nexus. As such, it has a simple and fast interface. Even the lockscreen itself has a simple unlocking animation: shutter blinds effect. Navigation is purely virtual. The phone uses no hardware or capacitive navigation buttons. Acer, to its great credit, has provided on the Notification Shade what HTC has never provided yet: toggle buttons. The Float Caller feature is quite a useful one. It pops up an interactive alert box for incoming calls instead of opening the Phone app and blocking whatever is on your screen. Acer has also thrown in several apps integrated into its AcerCloud service. There’s also a File Manager app and a ToDo app — both of which I appreciate. The phone’s UI can be easily personalized, although the customization options aren’t as extensive or as flexible as in other phones. But, I do appreciate the power scheduling feature, wherein you can define when to automatically turn on or turn off your phone. The My Style app also lets you alter the phone’s look and feel a bit: set homescreen and lockscreen wallpapers (including video wallpaper); enable shortcuts on the lockscreen and decide what shortcuts to place there; set custom ringtones, notification alerts, and volume levels; and set homescreen transition animation effects. Price and Availability The Acer Liquid E1 is already available in certain markets in Europe and Asia. The handset’s off-contract retail price falls within the range US$260 to US$300 (about 200 to 230 euros). Video Review Find out more about the Acer Liquid E1 in our video review on YouTube: Conclusion Don’t expect the Liquid E1 to make your eyes pop with stunning visuals or stunning performance. It is not meant for that, nor does it pretend to be that kind of Android phone. For what it’s worth, it’s a mid-range phone that can do mid-range smartphone tasks — and quite well, I might say. With an okay design, adequate cover and protection, fairly fast processing power plus fast OS and UI, and basic multimedia features, the Liquid E1 can be a perfect phone for those who don’t need the extra power or superlative performance. What about you? What do you like or dislike about the Acer Liquid E1 V360? Would you consider buying this Acer phone? Share your thoughts in the comments. (with contributions from Alvin Ybañez)

Samsung responds to Galaxy S4 storage woes, part two: possible fix through “further software optimization” Posted: 16 May 2013 03:26 AM PDT About two weeks ago, Samsung issued a response for all those who expressed concerns over the Galaxy S4′s then burgeoning storage issue. It said that users should learn to deal with the situation, considering that the Galaxy S4′s storage space was being put to good use through all of the extra software features that come with it. This wasn’t really the response that most people were looking for, and in the comments section of that article, we saw people say just as much. Fortunately, it looks like Samsung never stopped looking at the issue, and now it has issued a new response. We think this is one that a lot of people won’t have any trouble getting behind now. According to a statement just released to the guys over at CNET UK, Samsung can “appreciate this issue being raised,” and that they will work on improving communications for a better understanding of it. And not only that, but they are also looking at “the possibility to secure more memory space through further software optimisation.” That’s one way of saying that a future software update could soon arrive to slim down, if not completely take away, some of the Galaxy S4′s more superfluous software features. Samsung wrapped up its statement by saying this: Samsung is committed to listening to our customers and responding to their needs as part of our innovation process. If the recent unveiling of the Vanilla Android-flavored Galaxy S4 at this year’s Google I/O is any indication, we’d say that Samsung is listening quite well to its customers. That, or it’s just gotten extremely lucky, and was at the right place and the right time when Google decided to choose to support a non-Nexus flagship handset. Either way, we’re looking forward to seeing how Samsung rolls out these much-needed “software optimizations” to see if the storage problem goes away. Do you think Samsung can do it? Let us know what your thoughts are by commenting below.

Missed the news-filled Google I/O keynote? Watch it here Posted: 16 May 2013 03:15 AM PDT The opening keynote of Google I/O was full of news and updates from the Google team. The recording of the full livestream is now available for you to watch. From the great additions to the toolkit of Android developers to the groundbreaking Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition and the awesome new Maps and Google Plus apps, yesterday's Google I/O keynote offered a little something for everybody. No, there weren't any genuine "wow" moments, even though, in our book, the fact that the CEO of the most important technology company in the world is willing to take open questions from the audience is pretty amazing. We haven't got any skydiving stunts and not even an appearance of the hyped Glass, except on the brows of some of the attendants. By the way, Larry Page told Robert Scoble that he didn't appreciate his infamous shower picture. Priceless. While some may find the absence of new devices disappointing, we thoroughly enjoyed the keynote. If you haven't seen it yet, or if you just want to watch again some of the best moments, you can do so below. Enjoy. What were your favorite moments from the Google I/O keynote?

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