Android Authority |
- Sony Xperia Tablet Z now available worldwide starting at $499 in the USA
- Google Trolls IO13 Attendees with Android Key Lime Pie Teasers
- AT&T plans to start opening up mobile video chat to all customers
- Yahoo revamps Flickr, adds 1TB free space and redesigned Android app
- Sony Xperia UL heading to Japan, capable of taking 15-frame burst photos
- Consumer Reports: Galaxy S4 best smartphone, Galaxy Note 8.0 beats iPad mini in rankings
- Nexus experience Galaxy S4 to be available only in the USA for now, report says
- My evening with Google Glass
- KDDI’s HTC J One announced in Japan, boasts microSD card support up to 64GB
- Google Voice coming to Hangouts
- Get the SwiftKey Android keyboard at half-price, for a limited time!
- Samsung launches a new App Challenge, $800,000 in prizes up for grabs
- Samsung Galaxy S4 in gold!
- Google Plus Android app updated with photo enhancements, locations (Latitude), and more
- Verizon smartphone prepaid plans now bring you more data
- New Samsung Galaxy S4 “Boarding” advertisement
- Google Maps goes underwater, here’s how that’s possible
- First Jolla phone comes with Android app support, is available for pre-order
- CyanogenMod 10.1 release candidate and nightlies out for Xperia Tablet Z
- Pixel Press lowers Android stretch goal, brings hand drawn games closer to reality
- First images of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active
- Galaxy S4 Mini set to contain a Snapdragon S4 Plus processor – benchmark
- YouTube turns 8, 100 hours of video are now uploaded every minute
- Cheaper AT&T HTC One and Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4 available on Amazon
- Galaxy S4 vs HTC One – Display Comparison
| Sony Xperia Tablet Z now available worldwide starting at $499 in the USA Posted: 20 May 2013 11:58 PM PDT
The Tablet Z is generally seen as the best tablet Sony has made to date and so its global release has been greatly anticipated. Sony are touting the device as “the world’s slimmest, lightest premium Android tablet.” The 10-inch 1080p tablet has a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, 2GB of RAM and a minimum of 16GB of internal storage. Along with a microSD slot for additional expansion, the device comes with an 8MP Sony Exmor R camera and optional 4G LTE connectivity. Until this official word from Sony there has been several different rumors about the Tablet Z’s launch including hopes of a mid-April launch in the UK. This was then pushed back to May. In the USA Amazon.com are currently listing the 16GB version for $499.99. The current estimated delivery date is May 24th. In the UK Clove are listing the 16GB LTE version of the device for £499 with a slightly later delivery date of June 1st. According to Sony’s UK website there will be three versions available the 16GB Wi-Fi version for £399. A 32GB Wi-Fi version for £449 and the 4G at £499 as Clove are listing. In the US the official Sony prices are $499.99, and $599.99 for the 16GB and 32GB Wi-Fi versions. As well as weighing just 1.09 lbs (495 grams), the Sony Xperia Tablet Z is water and dust resistant. Sony reckons the device can be submerged in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes without any problems! Now that the device will be hitting the stores are you going to get one? If you can’t make up your mind, checkout our Sony Xperia Tablet Z vs Google Nexus 10 comparison and watch our hands on video below. 
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| Google Trolls IO13 Attendees with Android Key Lime Pie Teasers Posted: 20 May 2013 06:51 PM PDT
During Reto Meier’s “Android Protips 3: Making Apps Work Like Magic” session at Google at IO13, Google did what they do best, tease their fans with upcoming Android release juicy nuggets. His session teaches developers how to use advanced Android techniques to build good apps. Apps so good, users will think they’re magical. Besides learning the tricks of the trade, at about 25 minutes in, there’s an Android wearing an magicians cap, eating a piece of Key Lime Pie. Oh, Google. We love it when you tease us like this. The trolling didn’t stop there either. Later on during the session, Google showcased a crude game (Is that some sort of Cthulhu?). The boss attributes include Chrome, Jelly Bean, and Key Lime Pie.
Rumor has it that we’ll see Android 4.3 launch on June 10th, along with a white Nexus 4. Will the next version of Android be Jelly Bean or Key Lime Pie? We’re not entirely sure. To be honest, names and numbers really don’t matter as long as we’re getting new features. Android 4.3 is rumored to bring Bluetooth Low Energy support (BLE) and additional graphics enhancements. Until then, check out the video below to see the above teasers for yourself. 
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| AT&T plans to start opening up mobile video chat to all customers Posted: 20 May 2013 05:59 PM PDT
There’s a lot to love about the new cross-platform Hangouts app. Unfortunately, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows for AT&T users, though. For whatever reason, AT&T users are greeted with a message that tells them they "must be connected to a Wi-Fi network to join a video call". AT&T previously laid the blame on Google, stating that the company needed to officially enable Hangouts with AT&T in order for it to work. Luckily, they are preparing to change stance on the way video chat programs work.
What does this mean for you? In a nutshell, AT&T currently only lets pre-loaded apps (which Google Hangouts is considered to be) work with Tiered and Mobile Shared plans. In the near future, all video apps will work just fine with any data plan, pre-loaded or otherwise. While it was arguably a douche move to limit pre-installed apps from working with video chat to begin with, at least AT&T seems ready to make a change. 
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| Yahoo revamps Flickr, adds 1TB free space and redesigned Android app Posted: 20 May 2013 04:21 PM PDT
Just when we thought that we could almost shrug Yahoo off completely, it seems that the company still has a few cards up its sleeve. Not only has the company now announced plans to purchase Tumblr, Yahoo is also introducing a complete redesign for Flickr, bringing with it one terabyte of free storage space for your photos. Outside of the massive increase in storage space, Yahoo’s new look for Flickr is all about putting images front and center, eliminating white space and simplifying the UI to create a cleaner, easier to use look. The new Flickr also allows the uploading of full-resolution photos and makes it easier than ever to share photos through Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Pinterest. The new look is sharp, and really catapults the site’s design forward. For us Android users, Flickr also is finally pushing out a massively improved Android app! Like the new Flickr website, the new app puts major focus into removing white space, instead filling the app with great looking photos with extremely thin borders and infinite scrolling. It’s great to see Yahoo doing it a bit more to push Flickr back into the spotlight, and the new changes could potentially be good news even for those of you that use other services to store photos. Why? Because competition is a good thing, and when a company makes a major change – like adding a crap-load of extra storage space – you can bet that other sites aren’t too far behind. Now what remains unseen is whether the changes will be enough to give Flickr an edge against its competitors. 
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| Sony Xperia UL heading to Japan, capable of taking 15-frame burst photos Posted: 20 May 2013 03:04 PM PDT
Sony has had a pretty epic year so far with devices like the Sony Xperia Z and Tablet Z paving the way for a potential Sony comeback. Not wanting to leave it at that, Sony has already released several devices that build on the design aesthetics and features of the Z Series, such as the Xperia ZR and Xperia A. Now comes the new Sony Xperia UL. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about the Xperia UL. Previous rumors pegged the Xperia UL as a Xperia ZL-like handset that would see an upgrade to the Snapdragon 600 processor. The aesthetic rumors were right on, but in reality the UL actually bares a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro. Processor aside, the Sony Xperia UL is a very capable handset with 2GB RAM, an Adreno 320 GPU, 16GB internal storage and a 2,300 mAh battery. Some of the other specs include a 5-inch 1080p display, NFC, IPX5/8 and IP5X water/dust resistance, IR-port and a 13MP back cam capable of taking burst photos at up to 15 frames per second. There is also a dedicated camera button found on the UL, which is a nice extra that at least sets it apart a little from its Xperia Z brethren. Not surprisingly, Sony has no plans for the Xperia UL outside of Japan. We have no word on pricing at the moment, but we can tell you it will arrive on May 25th through KDDI and NTT Docomo with a choice of three colors: white, black and hot pink. 
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| Consumer Reports: Galaxy S4 best smartphone, Galaxy Note 8.0 beats iPad mini in rankings Posted: 20 May 2013 01:37 PM PDT
Two of Samsung's latest mobile products, a smartphone and a tablet, have been praised for their performance by Consumer Reports. We're looking at the recently launched Galaxy S4 (our review here) and Galaxy Note 8.0 (our review here), with both receiving plenty of positive remarks from the publication. Galaxy S4The Galaxy S4 is Consumer Reports' new "top-rated" smartphone, displacing the LG Optimus G from the top spot it has occupied in its ratings for several months. The phone has been picked up as the best handset with three major mobile carriers in the U.S. including AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile – it's worth noting that the Verizon Galaxy S4 model is only shipping now to consumers. In addition to the Big Four, we'll also remind you that the handset is available from various other regional mobile operators in the region. The Galaxy S4 has received top scores for various categories, including usability, voice calls and messaging. Consumer Reports found that "battery life and voice quality varied slightly between cell carriers," just like with the former top-rated smartphone, the Optimus G. The publication reminds us that a special edition Galaxy S4 device running stock Android will soon be launched and that it could run Android 4.3 right out of the box, as some rumors suggest. Galaxy Note 8.0The Samsung-made iPad mini rival has also impressed Consumer Reports, with the device receiving 84 points in the company's survey, outscoring its iOS rival. Having received top marks in the "7- to 8-inch Wi-Fi tablets" rankings, the tablet "offers stellar performance." While being $70 more expensive than its most important competitor, the Galaxy Note 8 packs some features the iPad mini doesn't offer including a stylus, a memory card reader that makes up for the limited 16GB storage and GPS support. In addition to the Galaxy Note 8.0, the publication also remarks other products such as Coby tablets (in 7-, 8- and 10.1-inch sizes), the Archos GamePad and the Windows 8-based Dell Latitude 10 Essentials. 
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| Nexus experience Galaxy S4 to be available only in the USA for now, report says Posted: 20 May 2013 11:00 AM PDT
A report reveals that the Nexus experience Galaxy S4 model will only be available in the USA, at least at first. The handset was unveiled during the lengthy software-centric Google I/O 2013 keynote last week, although Google only revealed a few details about it. The device will cost $649 – it's carrier unlocked and comes with an unlocked bootloader – and will start selling via the Google Play Store on June 26. At the time of the announcement, Google did not mention what markets will get the Nexus experience Galaxy S4, and it seemed logical to assume that the device would be launched in various countries that have access to Play Store hardware purchases. However, that turns out not to be the case, as SlashGear tells us pointing to a CNET UK report that has flown under the radar so far. It looks like Google has confirmed to the publication that the handset will only be sold in the USA, at least at the beginning. At this time, it's not clear whether the handset will be launched in other markets or not, and we don't know why Google would choose not to expand the launch to more markets right from the beginning. Despite its high price, especially when compared with the six-month old Nexus 4, the Galaxy S4 "Nexus" may be an interesting choice for plenty of buyers that do not want to buy the regular TouchWiz version of the handset and/or don't want to ink a new two-year contract with a carrier. But potential international buyers will have to wait for the handset to reach their markets, or somehow get their hands on one directly from the U.S. Before you ask, the Play Store seems to be the only place that will stock this special edition Samsung smartphone, unlike the Nexus 4 which is available in international markets from plenty of third-party retailers. However, the Galaxy S4 Google Edition is not a true Nexus device, just a handset that would offer buyers a Nexus user experience – Google did not mention its product name during the keynote – so we wouldn’t expect Google to try to push it through as many channels as possible. We're certainly looking forward to find out more details about the Nexus experience Galaxy S4 launch plans, and we expect Google and Samsung to share more information once we get closer to June 26. 
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| Posted: 20 May 2013 10:39 AM PDT
During I/O, my colleague Joshua Vergara and I were lucky enough to have the chance to try on and demo Google Glass for you. A friend of mine, Peter Schmitz of Arke Inc., was kind enough to walk us through the Glass experience. After that video, and interesting thing happened. A journey began, taking me through a night I'll not soon forget. As I was doing the video with Joshua, I noticed a friend in the distance. A developer, Glass Explorer, and smirking at me. A little later on, he approached me with an offer I couldn't refuse. "Want to wear Glass for the night?" he asked. Only a fool would turn down that opportunity, so I accepted. No catches, no parameters. We'd go out for dinner and catch up, me wearing his set of Glass all the while. "Don't get creeped out if a weird message comes up" he'd say. "No judgement" I told him, as we agreed not to put it into guest mode. In regular mode, we agreed I'd get a much more accurate experience. What I ended up getting was different, but expected. Fit and finishGlass is a very personal experience, literally fitted to each wearer. Luckily, his cranium was near the same size as mine, so it worked out fairly well. The fit was comfy, but probably more cohesive if I had been fitted myself. After this experience, I paid strict attention to others at I/O, and their Glass. The fit was clearly custom for each user, so I tried to keep that in mind when judging them. Glass is surprisingly light, though noticeable. I don't wear glasses out of necessity, so the experience was new. I do wear Gunnar glasses, but that's more for eye fatigue when working, and they're exceedingly light. After seeing the prescription Google Glass frames, I feel like I'd prefer them. They also seem more mainstream, and thus acceptable. Glass may not be intrusive, but they're noticeable to the user. I found the screen in my line of sight, and had to concentrate to look past it. Perhaps this changes with time, but I never got used to it in the hours I had it on. While out and about on the streets of San Francisco, I went largely unnoticed wearing Glass. Not surprisingly, our server at the restaurant gave a few curious looks, but never asking what was on my face. I can only assume she found me to be a cyborg, enjoying what humans call "Mexican food". Aside from that, and a few head-tilting long looks at a bar later on, there was no interest. Big cities have bigger issues than some guy wearing funny head gear, I suppose.  Credit: Engadget Use caseWhile no odd messages or notifications popped up, the night was absolutely revelatory. First, the screen is really nice, producing bright colors, while being very responsive and accurate. I never strained to read text, or had to guess at what picture I was looking at. It may be small, but that screen is powerful. The touch pad on the side of the unit was responsive, and gestures were always recognized. Google really has built some beautiful, intuitive hardware with Glass. The apps available are well built, too. CNN and Twitter had been announced at I/O, so I took them for a spin, along with The New York Times. Twitter is a natural fit, as the abbreviated form factor suits the smaller screen well. News sites were a bit different, and seemed to me a bit like an RSS feed. I didn't really get too in depth, because reading a news story on a small screen didn't appeal to me. If I were on the go, and wanted to keep abreast of news while I went about my day, the read-aloud function is probably the best bet. The bone conducive speaker is surprisingly crisp and clear. Short videos were fine, but longer ones were tiresome to watch. The real benefactor of Glass is the tech-centric power user. That person who gets emails every ten minutes, and has Twitter updates nearly constantly. That user who is too busy for a tablet or smartphone, and needs a life assistant. If wearable technology is their desire, Glass will suit them really well. What’s it like?In a word: weird. Jerking my head about, swiping the temple — it's all very strange. I've heard many Glass pioneers say it changes the way they do things, and they're right. If you let it, Glass has the ability to change your methodology. Once I stopped using Glass, I wasn't yearning for it, nor did I attempt to touch my temple to check a message. I simply let it go once I let it go. Long term wear really wouldn't be an issue. Google Glass is light, easy to use, and delightfully comfortable. During the course of a day, I can't see myself tiring of them physically. Battery life seemed to be fine. I took a few pics and videos during the evening, with no noticeable power drainage. The owner of my Glass loaners is a very busy guy, and many messages popped up throughout the evening. Still, no real issue with power. My privacy!Here is the hard truth about Glass privacy concerns: there aren't any. I'm more adept at taking sly videos and pics with my phone than Google Glass. With a phone, it's easy to act nonchalant about checking messages or just holding your device loosely, taking photos or video the whole time. I'm sure it's how we end up with some of the YouTube fodder we have. With Glass, I have to stare directly at you to video or snap a picture of you. Rather than coyly observe you, I have to gawk. It's awkward for everyone involved. Those issues of being taped or photographed without consent simply don't hold water. Even without a light or indicator on the headwear, the best way to know if your privacy is being "violated" is when someone is staring at you for an extended period of time.
Mainstream appealDuring the course of my evening, I found myself feeling a bit out of sorts. While stylish, Glass is also different enough to make you self conscious. Not everyone pays attention to this kind of tech, and it probably looks silly to the non-nerd. Again, I think the prescription style would have been more welcome by myself and others. Even with the actual Glass apparatus on the side, there should be more style options on offer. There was also a point in which I discussed the pricing, and whether I'd pay what is currently being asked for a pair. Having used them for an evening, I can comfortably say I understand what Glass is about, and how it would fit into my life. I can also say that I'd not soon spend $1,500 for them. I find them interesting, and fun, but not something that (in their current form) would really be useful day-to-day. At the end of the night…Glass Explorers and Pioneers should be commended for their efforts as early adopters, but also realize that they're just that. My good friend the developer was objective enough to hear my points, and passionate enough to argue some others. We had a healthy exchange all evening about Glass, both conceding points and agreeing to disagree on others. I got exactly what I expected with Glass, really. It's fun, and exciting, but doesn't fit into my lifestyle. What Glass offers and what I'd like to see from it are just too disparate right now. Down the road, Glass has the potential to change how we navigate through our day, but not right now. Not for most. Even though I currently don't have the slightest desire to own them, these are still early days for the product and program that is Glass. With time, and effort on the part of these early adopters, we could be sitting on the precipice of a radical shift in technology. Then again, Google is hinging that sea change on the very visceral feeling of tech being a part of your physical being. That's a big bet on the little dynamo that is Glass. Only time will tell us if it's a smart wager. 
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| KDDI’s HTC J One announced in Japan, boasts microSD card support up to 64GB Posted: 20 May 2013 10:15 AM PDT
The HTC J One comes equipped with the features that make the HTC One such a sought-after handset. There’s HTC BlinkFeed, HTC Zoe, the UltraPixel camera, the use of Android Jelly Bean as the operating system, and more. Based on the information found in the official press release, it appears that the HTC J One will be shipped with a free set of accessories, some of which may prove useful (such as the HTC J One mini) somewhere down the line. Anyway, something else that it will have is support for microSD card storage, and it supports up to 64GB microSDXC cards right out of the box. This should help make things easier when it comes to managing stored data on the device itself. The rest is just combined hardware and software. To help you recap on more of the HTC One’s standard features, KDDI put together the following promo video (it’s also worth watching because it highlights some new features that will be present in the camera): 
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| Google Voice coming to Hangouts Posted: 20 May 2013 10:05 AM PDT
At Google I/O last week, we were formally introduced to Hangouts. The messaging app, meant to replace and cobble together all of Google's various apps of a similar nature, has been well received. There was only one problem, and it was a pretty big one. With Google Talk, users could make calls from the app inside of GMail. Hangouts ended that functionality, concerning some who used it for business, or to handle a bulk of their calls. Of course, you can simply choose not to activate Hangouts inside of GMail until the problem is fixed, but many users didn't know that function was going away, and chose to opt-in. Thankfully, they were also able to revert back to Talk if they chose to. Today, Google has confirmed that Google Voice will fall under the Hangouts umbrella. This accomplishes the main goal Google has set forth, which is to have one app that rules them all. With Voice, we'll get our call functionality back, and one less app to worry about. While Google confirmed the Voice-Hangouts news in a Google+ posting, there was no timeline set for full integration. Rolling Google Voice into Hangouts would also take care of that pesky SMS functionality many want with the service, which is curiously mentioned in the permissions for the app. We'd like to see Hangouts do it all. As it stands, Hangouts is little more than a Google Talk reboot, and that's just not good enough.
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| Get the SwiftKey Android keyboard at half-price, for a limited time! Posted: 20 May 2013 09:37 AM PDT
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| Samsung launches a new App Challenge, $800,000 in prizes up for grabs Posted: 20 May 2013 09:27 AM PDT
Samsung has announced that it will be hosting another contest for budding app developers. The electronics manufacturer previously ran an event where developers could submit apps for its web-connected TV's, but this time the competition centers around app development for its flagship Galaxy smartphones, specifically the new Galaxy S4. According to Won-Pyo Hong, President and Head of Samsung Electronics Media Solution Center:
The obvious aim of the event it to strengthen Samsung's software collection in an attempt to one-up its competitors when it comes to proprietary software. As we all know, unique pieces of software can often be the deciding factor when choosing between two equally good handsets. Think about the choice between Samsung's TouchWiz or HTC's Sense, for example. However, this contest is aimed particularly at apps which work alongside Samsung's Group Play service, the new Galaxy S4 feature which allows users to share files with each other. All of the submissions must be built using the Samsung Chord SDK, which will assist developers in creating real-time solutions for multi-group devices. All entries will be submitted under the "Smart Chord Apps" category, which really means Group Play services, from which a panel of judges will pick the winning entries. Prizes will be handed out to the ten most innovative applications which use group functionality in interesting, useful, and experimental ways. The prize pot comes in at a mouth-watering $800,000, which will be split amongst the various winners. But as well as a juicy jackpot to motivate the developers, the winners will also receive a variety of promotional benefits and the chance to pitch their app to Samsung Venture Investment after the prize ceremony. A successful pitch could result in even greater rewards and an additional financial investment for the best apps. Okay, so the majority of us aren't developers and don't stand a chance at winning something from the prize pool. But this is good news for the general consumer, too, as it means that we could all be receiving some useful new features for our handsets in the future. At the very least, the Galaxy S4 should see some interesting, and hopefully useful, new apps, providing that the quality of the entries is good enough. Better yet, some of the apps could always be made available for other older Galaxy handsets. It's great to see Samsung supporting the development community, and it's a no-lose situation for consumers. Now we'll just have to wait and see what the developers can come up with. 
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| Posted: 20 May 2013 09:18 AM PDT
Interested in the Galaxy S4? What if I told you it were gold? How about if it had a $2,200 price tag? If you're still in the market, keep reading. We have found the perfect phone for you. Goldgenie, a company that seems to enjoy the midas touch, is offering the Samsung Galaxy S4 draped in a variety of precious metals. You can get the handset in gold, platinum, or rose gold. It's also free of SIM cards and unlocked, freeing you up for any network. If you can afford to get service after paying for the phone, that is. We're left to wonder why one would want a gold phone. I suppose it would be one of a kind amongst your friends and family, unless you're a Kardashian or something. It definitely solves those nagging issues about Samsung and their plastic build quality, right? Nothing more solid than gold! Perhaps the biggest selling point is that this will be the only device you'll ever own which appreciates in value. If you ever decided to sell it, it would be the only phone worth its weight in gold. Literally. Check out our Samsung Galaxy S4 review, then ask yourself if gold is for you. If a mobile device encased in gold is something you'd seriously consider, see a doctor. We're concerned for your mental well being. 
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| Google Plus Android app updated with photo enhancements, locations (Latitude), and more Posted: 20 May 2013 08:49 AM PDT
The latest version of the Google Plus Android app brings some of the features that came last week to the web version. We now know what kept Vic Gundotra from sleeping last night. After last week brought us a major redesign and no fewer than 41 new features to the web version of Google Plus, the 42nd feature has just been revealed (with a sweet reference to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to boot). The Google Plus Android app has been updated with a series of features that were until now only available on the web version. Check them out. New photo functionality
New Locations section
Related hashtags
Others
According to Google's Bradley Horrowitz, the new Google Plus version 4.0 app will roll out throughout the day, so keep an eye open for a notification. What do you think of the new changes? Do you like the web version of the new Google Plus? 
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| Verizon smartphone prepaid plans now bring you more data Posted: 20 May 2013 08:47 AM PDT
Verizon smartphone prepaid plans now include bigger data allowances, while keeping unlimited talk and messages in place. As you may remember, the Verizon smartphone prepaid plans have been made available in February, and you could choose between two options. The smaller plan included unlimited talk and texts and 500MB of data for $60 a month, while the more expensive one, at $70, also had no limits on voice calls and messaging, but included a data allowance of 2GB. Both plans only worked on Verizon’s 3G network and, if that part hasn’t changed, the good news is that the data you’ll be receiving with each one of them has been increased. The $60 plan will now include 2GB of data, with the $70 one will be offering you 4GB. If you’re already using one of the two prepaid plans, you’re getting the bigger data allotment right now, according to what Verizon says on its website. However, if you plan on switching to one of the two Verizon smartphone prepaid plans, the new data allowances will only be available to you starting on June 6. This should be pretty good news if you’re already using one of the two plans, or you’re thinking about taking the Verizon prepaid route in the future. Do you use a prepaid plan or do you prefer a contract? 
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| New Samsung Galaxy S4 “Boarding” advertisement Posted: 20 May 2013 08:29 AM PDT
Are you still undecided about whether to buy yourself a swanky new Samsung Galaxy S4? Perhaps Samsung's latest advertisement for its flagship handset will help you part with your cash. It is, after all, "the next big thing". It looks like Samsung has manage to find some form again with this short ad, especially after the disappointing advertisements seen around the launch event for the Galaxy S4. Personally, I think that it tops the selection of ads we saw a couple of weeks ago too, but sadly there’s no Apple mockery this time. Amusing? Yes I suppose, but will it help you decide if the Galaxy S4 is really the right phone for you? Like many others of it’s kind, this one is meant to showcase a very cool feature, and the S4 is definitely packed with them. If having to touch your phone to pause a video is troublesome, then the S4 may be perfect for you. If advertisements aren't your thing, then feel free to check out our own review of the Galaxy S4, which might be a little better at helping you make that all important decision regarding your next handset. It’s a great handset, but like anything Android, there are many other options. Let us know which device you have in the comments section below! 
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| Google Maps goes underwater, here’s how that’s possible Posted: 20 May 2013 08:14 AM PDT
Google Maps is a go-to source for finding just about anything. The service is so well designed and built, you can go just about anywhere, virtually. Curious if that new restaurant has enough seating for your party of ten? Go inside the establishment via Maps! Everything from street views of local neighborhoods to standing at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial is covered in Google Maps. The only thing we don't see much of are the great oceans of our planet. Teaming up with Catlin Seaview Survey, Google is working on mapping the Great Barrier Reef, and has six locations overall currently in the works. Of course, this promises to be just the beginning. The mapping is currently done by humans, taking shifts diving to capture images. The team hopes to create a diverless system that can stay under the ocean surface for 12 hours or better. Driverless cars, diverless dive mapping. How Google-y! What about the camera? Do they just take a street view backpack system and throw it into a waterproof housing? Not at all. The underwater cameras are specially designed and built for this task, costing about $50,000 each. There are currently four in existence, and Google hopes to map much of the ocean someday. Think of all the interesting photos that would come of underwater mapping! You think a donkey laying down on the side of the road is fun, wait for the giant cephalopods to make their appearance. 
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| First Jolla phone comes with Android app support, is available for pre-order Posted: 20 May 2013 07:44 AM PDT Details about the first Jolla (Sailfish OS) mobile phone in the world have hit the web revealing that the handset is available for pre-order and that it would support Android apps. The phone will apparently be called the "Jolla" and, according to available information, it will pack a 4.5-inch Estrade display with "HD" resolution (supposedly 720p), unspecified dual-core processor, 16GB of storage, microSD support, 8-megapixel camera with auto-focus and 4G LTE and a user-replaceable battery. Interestingly, the device comes with various color case options (“The Other Half”) and matches the theme of the handset accordingly, allowing you to set up "your other half, exactly as you want it to be." While the Jolla would run the "gesture-based" Sailfish OS, it looks like the handset will be able to also run Android apps. That doesn't mean that Jolla buyers would immediately be able to install apps from the Google Play Store, as the Android app support is not clearly detailed. In case Sailfish OS doesn't ring any bells, you'll have to know that we're looking at a mobile operating system based on that old "MeeGo" platform that was unveiled only just over three years ago at MWC 2010 by Intel and Nokia. The Linux-based OS, a result of the merger between Nokia's Maemo and Intel's Moblin platforms, was soon ditched by both companies. Nokia focused on Windows Phone while Intel formed a partnership with Samsung to develop Tizen, also a Linux-based mobile platform.                The Jolla will cost €399 and is expected to ship by the end of the year, although actual launch dates are not available at this time. Interested buyers can pre-order the device for €100 and once they do that they'll get a voucher of €100 that will be deducted from the phone's price "at the time of purchase," an exclusive "Other Half" case that will ship at some point near the Jolla phone's launch and a Jolla t-shirt. For €40, buyers will also get to pre-order a limited edition Jolla phone and a t-shirt. In case you don't want to pay anything upfront, you can still pre-order the handset to be among the "very first ones to obtain a genuine Jolla.” 
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| CyanogenMod 10.1 release candidate and nightlies out for Xperia Tablet Z Posted: 20 May 2013 07:37 AM PDT
Here's some good news for Xperia Tablet Z owners who like tinkering around with customer ROMs. A test build, release candidate (RC), and a new nightly build of CyanogenMod 10.1 (Android 4.2) have appeared on the custom ROM’s download page. Initially, a test build showed up on the 18th, followed by a release candidate build a couple of hours later. This is an excellent opportunity for those users put of by the sometime unstable nature of nightly versions to test out CyanogenMod on their new tablet, as release candidate builds are considered very stable. Whilst the release candidate build is already suitable for daily use, a nightly build has also shown up for those of you keen to stay on top of the latest features. But how come these stable builds were made available so quickly, I hear you ask? Well, don’t forget that the AOSP code was released just a few days ago, and not to mention that the Xperia Tablet Z shares the same chipset as its smartphone brother, the Xperia Z, so a lot of the work had already been done for the CyanogenMod team. Xperia Tablet Z owners who are eager to test out this custom ROM will have to look up how to unlock the device’s bootloader, but fortunately there's a handy official guide available from Sony. If you're all set to flash CyanogenMod 10.1, then head over to the CyanogenMod downloads page for the latest zip files. 
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| Pixel Press lowers Android stretch goal, brings hand drawn games closer to reality Posted: 20 May 2013 07:35 AM PDT
A few weeks ago, we reported on a really interesting kickstarter campaign which allowed users to create their own game by simply drawing it. With Pixel Press, users draw the level out on graph paper, scan it with the camera, and then play it on their mobile device. The upside is huge. The downside was they weren't supporting Android initially, and their stretch goal for doing so was exceedingly high. We usually don't get behind an iOS kickstarter, but when I spoke to the Pixel Press team, they were really excited for Android. They were starting to see potential in the openness of the platform, and pointed to things like Ouya and the recent update to Play Games as benefits to Android development. "Android really is the best platform for this" one of the developers told me. Today, via a Reddit AMA, the developers behind Pixel Press announce they have lowered that original Android stretch goal. The threshold for Android support was originally $350,000 after the $100,000 kickstarter goal. The feedback from Android fans was clearly loud and well received, because that stretch goal is now $125,000. With 24 days to go, and about 70% needed to make it happen, Pixel Press needs our help to make this one a reality. You can pledge as little as $1, but the $25 is my favorite option. A pre-printed sketchpad, and a playable Android character? Yes please! 
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| First images of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Posted: 20 May 2013 07:26 AM PDT
The "rugged" Galaxy S4 Active was confirmed last month, and will probably be heading our way some time in the near future. If you're interested to see what the S4 Active looks like, then you'll want to take note of the first images that have cropped up on GSMArena. The tougher dust and water resistant build has lead to a slight design change, like a few bolts on the back to tighten the handset’s seal, but overall the Active doesn't look too dissimilar to the mainstream Galaxy S4. Also, Samsung seems to have opted for physical buttons rather than the traditional capacitive keys, which might be a turn-off for those who prefer a minimalist appearance. Similar to the benchmark result that was spotted over the weekend, which suggested that the Galaxy S4 Active would be opting for an older Snapdragon S4 CPU, the Galaxy S4 Active's hardware specs are still a little up in the air in these pictures too.
According to the snap of the handset running AnTuTu, the device is running on a quad-core 1890MHz processor combined with an Adreno 320 GPU. This pretty much matches the clock speed of the regular Snapdragon 600-powered Galaxy S4, but it could also be using an overclocked Snapdragon S4 Pro. If that’s the case, we'd be a bit concerned about the battery drain and heat output of a S4 chip at those speeds. Other than the processor, all the other specs appear to be the same. The handset still has a 5-inch 1080p display and should ship with the same software and Android version as the regular Galaxy S4. Whilst there's still no official information available on the specs or a release date, we're expecting to hear an official announcement about the Galaxy S4 Active in the near future. 
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| Galaxy S4 Mini set to contain a Snapdragon S4 Plus processor – benchmark Posted: 20 May 2013 07:10 AM PDT
The Samsung Galaxy S4 has been blazing a trail throughout the world for almost a month now, while its rumored little brother, the Galaxy S4 Mini, has been punching its way through benchmark sites left, right and center. The latest batch of benchmarks have tacked a 28nm 1.7Ghz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus onto the Galaxy S4 Mini, with an Adreno 305 GPU also said to be found under the hood. It seems Samsung has again decided to forgo the use of its own Exynos processors, compounding its decision to put a Snapdragon 600 in the majority of its flagship Galaxy S4 units. The screen resolution seems to have been confirmed at 960 x 540, which pales in comparison to high end devices like the HTC One and Galaxy S4, but with its smaller screen size, the PPI should be decent enough.
The benchmark result also reveals connectivity options like Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and dual-band Wi-FI 802.11n. Although the version that has been benchmarked appears to not support LTE connectivity, another version, the GT-19195 is expected to support 4G LTE. Like its big brother, the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S4 Mini will be running a skinned version of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, with TouchWiz Nature UX 2.0 on top. The benchmark doesn't make it clear what camera will equip the Galaxy S4 Mini, but taking into account leaked photos on Picasa, it appears that the smartphone will have a 6 Megapixel camera.
No release date has been confirmed, although rumors are pegging the release of the Galaxy S4 Mini to be sometime in June. As always, these are simply benchmarks and, as we know, they can be manipulated, so remember to take the news with a grain of salt, even though these rumors seem legitimate. What do you think of the specs of the Galaxy S4 Mini? Enough to interest you into buying it? Or are there better options on the market? 
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| YouTube turns 8, 100 hours of video are now uploaded every minute Posted: 20 May 2013 04:45 AM PDT YouTube is now eight years old, and decided to thank all of its users for helping it reach this milestone. While the service won’t be closing on its eighth anniversary, as the joke went on April Fools Day, the blog post does mention a fascinating fact — over 100 hours of video content are getting uploaded every minute (a pretty amazing figure, you have to admit). The blog post also reminded us the previously known fact that it has over a billion users every month. The post links to some examples of what YouTube can do, including offering access to news (the example is some surveillance video footage related to the Boston bombings) or offer answers to questions (with a video on how big is the Universe provided to prove the point). Of course, it would have been impossible not to mention the extremely annoying (for some) Gangnam Style, which serves to show the influence of YouTube, at its current 1.6 billion views (and growing). What will the next eight years bring?The Google-owned video service still has a lot of room to grow from here. There have been rumors of the service going into the streaming music business, which certainly makes sense, given that the success of artists nowadays is measured in the number of YouTube views their music videos get. Still, the most important direction in which YouTube will develop over the next few years seems to be paid subscriptions. The pilot program for paid subs has already started, and, with more content providers presumably joining in the future, it could totally change the way we consume video. What do you think the future will bring for YouTube? 
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| Cheaper AT&T HTC One and Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4 available on Amazon Posted: 20 May 2013 04:33 AM PDT
The AT&T HTC One and Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4 are now available for you to buy at lower prices than the ones the two carriers are currently selling them for. First of all, Amazon Wireless currently sells the AT&T HTC One for $129.99 with a two-year contract, whether you buy it in Stealth Black or Glacial Silver. We’re looking at the 32GB version, the same one you can get directly from AT&T for $199.99, so that’s $70 cheaper. The price is the same if you buy the HTC One (a device recently used to make the first smartphone video call from the Mount Everest summit), with an Individual or Family plan, and also if you upgrade your current phone or add a new line of service. The AT&T HTC One is not the only device available for a cheaper price these days on Amazon Wireless. If your sights are set on the Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4, you should know that you can also purchase it for a better price than the one the carrier offers. However, the discount isn’t as big as the one for the AT&T HTC One. If the Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4 is sold for $149.99 by the mobile operator, Amazon Wireless offers it for $129.99, and you have to sign up for a new two-year agreement in order to get it for the price, be it an Individual or Family Plan. If you’re still considering which one of the two flagship devices to get, our comparison should help you quite a bit. You can check out the video below. Do you plan on taking advantage of the Amazon Wireless prices? Which one of the two smartphones do you plan on buying? 
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| Galaxy S4 vs HTC One – Display Comparison Posted: 20 May 2013 04:33 AM PDT
The current Android titans — that’s how the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One are referred to these days. They’re Samsung’s and HTC’s most powerful offerings to the high-end Android market, and the two phones bring with them not just processing might or camera power, but also display prowess. Both 1080p Full HD phones, the S4 and the One can be expected to deliver rich details, amazing color, and overall visual pleasure on their respective screens. However, at the end of the day, what will most likely sway you will not be what technical experts say but what your very own eyes tell you when they see the awesome display on either phone. And, I’m telling you right now that whichever of these two phones you choose, you’ll find very few reasons — if at all — for disappointment over its display. I’m not saying that the two phones are equals in terms of display power. They aren’t. One simply has an edge over the other in certain aspects in the display department. In this comparison of the Galaxy S4 vs HTC One displays, we take a closer look at the display on both phones and find out which one seems better, how, and in what area. (For a video version of this comparison, jump ahead to the end of this post.) Display Specs
The HTC One packs all its Full HD glory inside a smaller screen (0.3 inches smaller than the Galaxy S4′s), resulting in higher pixel density, which technically makes the HTC One’s display sharper and crisper. The two phones also differ in screen technology: Full HD Super AMOLED on the Galaxy S4 and Super LCD 3 on the HTC One. Samsung’s Super AMOLED screens have been quite known for bright, vibrant, and saturated colors, while Super LCD 3 screens are known for realistic colors and overall brighter display.
For protective cover, the Galaxy S4 uses Corning Gorilla Glass 3 while the HTC One uses Corning Gorilla Glass 2. According to Corning, Gorilla Glass 3 has Native Damage Resistance, which makes it more damage-resistant than its former glass components and up to three times damage-resistant than Gorilla Glass 2. Though scratch-resistant, both phones aren’t shatter-proof. See our drop tests for both HTC One and Galaxy S4 for more info. Matrices: PenTile RGBG vs RGBThe HTC One’s display uses the RGB (red-green-blue) matrix, a pixel arrangement in which each pixel consists of three subpixels — one each for red, blue, and green. Here’s how the HTC One’s RGB matrix looks like up close:  RGB matrix on the HTC One (image credit: AnandTech) In contrast, the Galaxy S4 stayed with the PenTile RGBG (red-green-blue-green) matrix, which the Galaxy S3 also used. In this pixel arrangement, a picture element consists only of two subpixels (either red and green together, or blue and green together). Since the two subpixels need a third one to form the trinity of primary colors, they do so by borrowing the appropriately colored subpixel from a neighboring pixel. According to DisplayMate Technologies’ Raymond Soneira, screens using such pixel arrangement reportedly are easier to make, cost less, appear brighter, and “reduce aging effects.” On the Galaxy S3, the PenTile RGBG matrix looks like this:  PenTile RGBG matrix on the Galaxy S3 (image credit: AnandTech) But, on the Galaxy S4, the subpixel shapes and layout have changed :  PenTile RGBG matrix on the Galaxy S4 (source: Samsung via DisplayMate Technologies) Soneira explains that, to pack the most number of subpixels and reach the highest possible density (ppi), Samsung used Diamond Pixels — for red and blue, in particular — the shape of which caused what Soneira calls a “45-degree diagonal symmetry in the subpixel layout.” This pixel arrangement, however, uses two times more green subpixels than red or blue subpixels, a condition that often causes a greenish or bluish tint on the display. To learn more about PenTile RGBG and RGB matrix, see our article comparing the PenTile matrix on the Galaxy S3 and the RGB matrix on the Galaxy Note 2. You can also read more about Samsung’s Diamond Pixel. Screen ModesOne of the few things that I like about the Galaxy S4 is that through Screen Modes, I can change the color contrast of the phone’s screen. If you find the default settings too saturated or the colors too bright, you can set the display to render subdued but more realistic colors. The nice thing about this feature is that the Galaxy S4 gives in to your visual whims.
These Screen Modes are available on the Galaxy S4:
The HTC One doesn’t seem to have any means for the user to manually adjust display settings in a similar manner as the S4′s Screen Mode does. However, AnandTech found out in the HTC One’s logs that the phone has a dynamic contrast function that adjusts the screen according to the content. Display comparisonTechnical gobbledygook aside, which display is better? Like many things in this world, the answer to that is a subjective one. Some people don’t want to be told, “It all depends on what your eyes are most comfortable looking at.” Yet, most people base their purchase decisions on subjective perceptions, especially those coming from first-hand contact with the object. In addition to that, the answer may also vary according to your phone usage habits. At first look by a casual user with an unsophisticated eye, there are no differences between the Galaxy S4′s Full HD Super AMOLED screen (with its PenTile RGBG matrix) and the HTC One’s Suer LCD 3 screen (with its RGB matrix). But, we took a second closer look and found that there’s more than meets the eye. Brightness and visibility (indoor)We displayed a color chart on each phone and took photos of the two phones indoors, in the dimmest part of the house. The photo below shows the phone’s screens at 50% brightness:  Indoor shot, both screens set to 50% brightness The colors shown on the Galaxy S4 in this photo appear brighter, with many of the darker shades still visible. The HTC One’s colors in this photo appear darker, less saturated, and seem natural. Also, some of the darker shades are no longer visible on the HTC One. Brightness and visibility (outdoor)To compare the two screens in terms of outdoor visibility, we brought the two phones outside and took photos in broad daylight. Here’s how a mix of text and graphics appear on the two screens when placed under sunlight:  Outdoor shot (daylight); screens on auto brightness The HTC One’s display appears brighter and more visible in this set, most likely because its whites are whiter, compared to the Galaxy S4′s tendency for bluish whites.  Outdoor shot (daylight); screens on auto brightness; backward tilt at about 45 degrees In the set above, the phones were leaning backwards at an angle of about 45 degrees. At this angle and time of day, the screens reflected some of the midmorning sun. The Galaxy S4 seems to reflect more sunlight more brilliantly, reducing its visibility effectively. Next, we also wanted to compare how images looked like. In the set below, both displays are visible and clear under the mid-afternoon sun. However, I personally find the HTC One’s screen brighter, while the Galaxy S4 seems to show richer color but darker tones.  Outdoor shot (daylight); screens on max brightness; Then, we tilted the two phones backwards to about 45 degrees, and the result appears to favor the Galaxy S4:  Outdoor shot (daylight); screens on max brightness; backward tilt at about 45 degrees We also made the two screens reflect some afternoon sunlight, just to see which one has more glare. In this case, the Galaxy S4 still showed more glare, diminishing the visibility of the display. Here’s how the two looked like:  Outdoor shot (daylight); screens on max brightness; screens reflecting sunlight We brought the two phones under a shade and tried to see which one delivers a more pleasant display:  Outdoor shot (daylight, shade); screens on max brightness The photo above shows the Galaxy S4 with richer color and more marked contrast. The HTC One’s display, though, appears brighter. However, the One’s brightness seems diminished, resulting in dimmer and subdued color when tilted backwards about 45 degrees, while the Galaxy S4′s brightness, contrast, and rich color remain, although also a bit diminished, as reflected in the photo below:  Outdoor shot (daylight, shade); screens on max brightness; backward tilt at about 45 degrees Lastly, a few photos of a mix of images and text:  Outdoor shot (daylight, shade); screens on auto brightness  Outdoor shot (daylight, shade); screens on auto brightness; backward tilt at about 45 degrees The two photos above show the bluish-greenish hue on the Galaxy S4′s display; the black text on the S4 look thicker and more solid. The Samsung phone also shows darker shades of black. Meanwhile, the HTC One shows an overall brighter display and whiter whites. So far, our observations have remained consistent:
Color, sharpness, and resolutionWhich phone delivers sharper and crisper display? Which has better color? We had these questions at the top of our heads when we took the photos featured in this section. In the studio shot below (with the phone screens set to 50% brightness), our test image turned out crisp and sharp on both phones.  Studio shot showing HD photo; screen brightness at 50% I find the colors of the HTC One’s display more realistic than the seemingly washed out colors of the Galaxy S4. The HTC One’s colors also appear richer, and the contrast appears higher, than on the Galaxy S4. I observe that the red-orange tinge in the center of the flower and the pink of the flower petals appear deeper and more vibrant on the HTC One display. The Galaxy S4 screen appears brighter overall. We took a closer look to see things in greater detail.  Magnified screen showing portion of HD photo (left — Galaxy S4; right – HTC One) There are more blue/green pixels on the Galaxy S4 screen than on the HTC One. The pixels on the Galaxy S4 appear bigger than those on the HTC One. Also, the pixels on the HTC One appear tightly packed. We can see here the difference in pixel densities on the two displays: there are more pixels per unit area on the HTC One screen than on the Galaxy S4. The higher pixel density on the HTC One gives it a sharper display.  Magnified screen showing portion of HD photo (left — Galaxy S4; right – HTC One) On the Galaxy S4, the bluish tint somehow alters the redness of the petals. The HTC One’s red is more vivid and vibrant than the Galaxy S4′s.  Magnified screen showing portion of HD photo (left — Galaxy S4; right – HTC One) The bluish-greenish pixels are visible in the photo (above) of a magnified section of the Galaxy S4′s display. These pixels tend to make the image appear brighter. On the HTC One, I notice more accurate and more realistic colors. We got curious about how plain black and plain white looked magnified on both phones. The set below is a magnified portion of each phone’s screen showing plain black at full screen brightness.  Magnified screen showing plain black (left — Galaxy S4; right – HTC One) The Galaxy S4′s black is blacker, as the comparative photos above show. AMOLED-based displays generally have pixels that emit light. To create black, the pixels are usually just turned off. This can probably explain why the S4 displays deeper and more solid blacks than the HTC One does, especially for text and gradients of black. The black on the HTC One’s LCD screen appears a bit bright and somewhat maroonish or very dark brown/red. LCD screens generally use back lighting, and the layer of liquid crystals block out parts of the light to produce the needed colors.  Magnified screen showing plain white (left — Galaxy S4; right – HTC One) Between the two, I observe the HTC One’s white as truer and closer to real white than the Galaxy S4′s. The magnified screen photos above seem to validate my observation. On the S4, you’ll see some bluish-greenish pixels, which are not very apparent on the HTC One. Next, we wanted to compare the quality of text display on both the Galaxy S4 and HTC One. Below are studio shots of the same Android Authority page loaded onto the stock Android Browser on both phones. The display brightness was set to 50% on both phones.  Closeup view of webpage text on HTC One stock browser  Closeup view of webpage text on Galaxy S4 stock browser Undoubtedly, text appears readable, crisp, and sharp on both displays. However, I observe that the black text on the S4 seems thicker and bigger. On the HTC One, text appears narrower/thinner and smaller; I actually find the text on the HTC One crunchier. This, of course, can be explained by the difference in pixel density. I personally find the HTC One’s text display generally bright enough for quick, short reading sessions. Yet, the brightness and high contrast can cause eye strain during long reading sessions. As for the Galaxy S4, reading text (even with screen brightness maxed out) may not be as strainful to the eyes as on the HTC One, owing to the S4′s generally dimmer, slightly lower-contrast white. Below are magnification photos of text on both screens (50% brightness):  Magnified screen showing portion of text (left — Galaxy S4; right – HTC One) The S4 screen still shows the green/blue pixels in the white areas of the photo. There are also some noticeable red and green highlights around each letter, creating some sort of fuzziness around the text edges. The HTC One, on the other hand, simply has crunchy text and solid lines with minimal outlining. Lastly, we wanted to check which phone renders app icons much better. As far as I’m concerned, my naked eyes see no glaring difference in the sharpness or color by which the app icons are rendered on the Galaxy S4 and HTC One. They’re as perfectly sharp as they can be. But, if you look more closely, there are actually differences, as shown in these magnified photos of the Play Store icon (with the phone’s screen at 50% brightness):  Magnified screen showing app icon (left — Galaxy S4; right – HTC One) As expected, the white parts of the icon on the S4 show bluish-greenish pixels. The fuzzy edges and green highlights are also noticeable, as in the text comparison earlier. But, all these don’t seem to affect sharpness or the crispness of icon. The photo of the icon on the HTC One has some reddish, light-brownish tint, although that’s not visible to the naked eye. Video comparisonWatch our video comparison of the Galaxy S4′s and HTC One’s display: ConclusionThe displays on both the Galaxy S4 and HTC One are amazing. On the basis of screen and display alone, I find it hard to take sides. Based on this comparison, the following positive points can be ascribed to each phone: Galaxy S4 pros
HTC One pros
Which display suits much better your usage habits and needs? Which phones provides a display that works for you or that satisfies your visual preference? Let us know in the comments. (with contributions from Alvin Ybañez) Works cited
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At long last Sony’s Xperia Tablet Z is available world wide. According to an official statement released by the huge Japanese electronics company the device is now available for purchase through Sony’s retail stores and via third parties.
The SwiftKey Android keyboard can now be purchased for a discounted price, but only for a limited time only. The app, which offers arguably one of the best third-party keyboards for Android, is now available for you to buy at a 50 percent discount. The keyboard will run you $1.99, £1.49 or €1.99, depending on your location. The offer is a limited one, so make sure you grab yours quickly. The blog post announcing the discount also talks about the app receiving a new update, which brings the SwiftKey Android keyboard to version 4.1. This is not a big update, like 
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