Android Authority |
- Google Play Music receives update, allows you to share tracks from Now Playing screen
- Galaxy S4 Mini official: specs, features, release date and pricing
- Moto X Phone launch set for late summer, but no actual release date given
- Acer Computex 2013 preview video teases mysterious new devices
- Do you manage Google Apps for your business? There’s an app for that
- Tim Cook not worried about Android’s market share, says Apple still makes the best devices
- Moto X (Google X Phone) confirmed at D11, will be “contextually aware”
- New Nvidia Shield video shows off pre-loaded games and what to expect from the upcoming handheld
- Android 4.3 hints present in Gmail UI redesign presentation video?
- Alcatel One Touch Idol coming to the U.S. for $299
- Twitter 4.1.0 rolls out to Google Play, includes new compose window and improved notifications
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Active and Zoom specs leaked ahead of launch
- Study shows Android users spend larger percentage of time browsing than their iOS counterparts
- Looking to better manage your time? Check out the Best Productivity apps for Android!
- Are smartphone component shortages here to stay?
- When it comes to mobile devices, how important is brand loyalty to you?
- ASUS Transformer AiO updated to Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean, support for multiple accounts in tow
- Pebble ready to ship out more pre-ordered smartwatches soon
- Intel buys ST-Ericsson’s GPS chip division, first acquisition under Intel’s new CEO
- Amazon announces its new “Login with Amazon” service for Android
- The new Gmail is here!
- Verizon’s Galaxy S3 gets a major update, brings Multi-Window and support and more
- Samsung Galaxy Exhibit (T-Mobile Galaxy S3 mini) now available on T-Mobile
- LG Optimus G Pro named king of the large-screen jungle, takes the Galaxy Note 2′s throne
- Audio engineer extols the virtues of the HTC One – but do you feel the same? [Poll]
| Google Play Music receives update, allows you to share tracks from Now Playing screen Posted: 30 May 2013 02:03 AM PDT
The Google Play Music app has been recently updated, adding a series of useful tweaks to the user experience. While it may not look like a huge update, what’s been improved can be very helpful in your everyday use of the app (and I’m sure you’ve started to use it even more if Google Play Music All Access is available in your country). First of all, the app now has the option to delete tracks, so you can get rid of the songs you’re not listening to straight from the app, freeing some space on your device in the process. Another useful thing is that you now have the ability to add a song to a playlist straight from the Now Playing screen, useful especially if you’re into creating playlists for various occasions. You can now also share a song from that same Now Playing screen, allowing you to show your friends on Google+ what you’re listening to, providing them with a preview of the track, as well as a link that allows them to buy it in an instant, as you can see in the screenshot below.
Finally, you can also remove items from your Library. Are you a Google Play Music user? Do you find the new update useful? 
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| Galaxy S4 Mini official: specs, features, release date and pricing Posted: 30 May 2013 01:36 AM PDT
Despite rumored to announce the Galaxy S4 Mini at its June 20 media event, Samsung on Thursday went ahead and quietly announced the handset. Is this a direct response to Motorola's Moto X unexpected announcement? It doesn't really matter, as by now we already knew a lot of details concerning this Galaxy S4 variant. Specs and featuresJust a few days ago we looked at a new set of specs and features for the handset, and it looks like they were pretty accurate. Here are the official specification for the Galaxy S4 Mini (GT-I9190):
The Galaxy S4 Mini is not a flagship device – not that we ever expected it to be – but JK Shin seems to think that it has good enough specs to provide a "Galaxy S4 experience." Here's his full quote: "We want to give people more choices with Galaxy S4 Mini, similar look & feel of Galaxy S4 for more compact and practical usages," he said. "The new Galaxy S4 Mini provides consumers with a new way to enjoy the flagship Galaxy S4 experience." Release date and pricingActual availability details are missing in action at this point, but we'll update the post accordingly once more information becomes available. In its press release (available below), Samsung says that the phone will be available in two colors at launch, White Frost and Black Mist and that it will have various versions out in various markets including a 4G LTE model, a 3G model and a 3G dual SIM model. May 30, 2013 – Samsung Electronics today announced the Galaxy S4 Mini, a powerful, compact version of its bestselling smartphone, the Galaxy S4. The Galaxy S4 Mini delivers the superior performance, intuitive ease-of-use and sleek design of the Galaxy S4 in a portable chic and compact design. Simon Stanford, Vice President of IT & Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland said: “Demand for the Galaxy S4 has been phenomenal since it launched in April and we hope to build on this success with the Galaxy S4 Mini. This new handset is the ideal smartphone companion for anyone who wants a compact device packed with innovation.” With a 4.3″ qHD Super AMOLED display, the Galaxy S4 Mini offers stunning images and content. At just 107g, the lightweight and compact design enables you to carry and use the device easily with one hand. The Galaxy S4 Mini also boasts powerful performance, equipped with a 1.7GHz dual core processor and supports many of the same intuitive features as the Galaxy S4, designed to enhance different aspects of life. Capturing Memories Sharing and Connecting Environment Features Wellbeing Features Availability 
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| Moto X Phone launch set for late summer, but no actual release date given Posted: 30 May 2013 01:04 AM PDT  X Phone concept After unexpectedly confirming the Moto X Phone during a D11 interview, Motorola has issued a brief press release for the handset, mentioning a launch window for the device. During the interview, Motorola's Dennis Woodside told the audience that the handset will be manufactured in the USA in a former Nokia-owned facility that will employ 2,000 people by August. At the time, we speculated that the phone should be unveiled at some point after that, once mass production has started. Woodside revealed the device would be launched by October, with multiple carriers that have apparently offered a great response to the Moto X. In the short press release that focuses on the fact that the Moto X is "the first smartphone assembled in the USA," Motorola says that the handset will hit stores this summer. A specific release date is not provided, but Droid-Life has confirmation from Motorola that we're looking at a "late summer" launch. Other important details including complete specs, features and pricing are not official at this time, so we'll just have to wait for more information. Not even a press image of the device is available. What we know is that the Moto X will be a flagship device, an iPhone and Galaxy competitor, and that it will feature contextual awareness capabilities. We also know that three unannounced Motorola handsets have passed through the FCC, all potential Moto X candidates, including the XT1058 (AT&T), XT1056 (Sprint) and XT1060 (Verizon) Are you looking forward to buy the Moto X? Moto X: The First Smartphone Assembled in the USA There are more than 130 million smartphones in use in the USA today and not one of them was assembled here…until now. May 28, 2013 Today at the AllThingsD conference Dennis Woodside revealed how we are reinventing Motorola through a portfolio of products starting with Moto X, a new flagship smartphone that will be designed, engineered and assembled in the USA. We're not talking about just a handful of units either — available this summer, every Moto X sold in the USA will be assembled in Fort Worth, Texas, making it the first smartphone ever assembled domestically. There were a few reasons why we decided to do this. There are several business advantages to having our Illinois and California-based designers and engineers much closer to our factory. For instance, we'll be able to iterate on design much faster, create a leaner supply chain, respond much more quickly to purchasing trends and demands, and deliver devices to people here much more quickly. And as a part of Google we're being encouraged to take big bets on things that make a difference. We still have a network of global operations, and that won't change. Our global manufacturing partner remains Flextronics and we'll continue to assemble devices locally in China and Brazil. But Flextronics is busy looking for people for the new Fort Worth facility now. If you're interested, we encourage you to check the available positions and apply. This is an incredibly exciting time to be in the mobile device industry. Our role in inventing the mobile phone is well known. We're happy to be shaping its future as well. 
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| Acer Computex 2013 preview video teases mysterious new devices Posted: 29 May 2013 11:08 PM PDT
Acer has posted a simple 1-minute preview video for Computex 2013 up on YouTube, and it stars the same guy that introduced the somewhat acrobatic Aspire R7 laptop a couple of weeks back. The focus of Acer’s new video? An veiled mystery device, referred to only as a “tablet that lets you do more than just use apps and surf the Web.” But that’s not all, because in the video, a second mystery device is also present. It’s not a tablet, but is described as “cool” nonetheless. What could it be? I attended the 10th year anniversary celebration of Acer Philippines here in the city of Manila last week, and I learned that there are indeed some new Acer devices that will be launched at Computex. For instance, through Acer Philippines senior product manager Dio Vasquez, I found out that that there will be an updated version of the Aspire S7, Acer’s flagship Windows 8 touchscreen notebook. If the “other” veiled device featured in the video is not a tablet, then it could likely be this. Also, even though Acer just launched a couple of new tablets, including the 7.9-inch Iconia A1, I was told that there are plans to unveil new tablets yet again at Computex 2013. For now, we can only speculate what Acer’s announcements will really be about. It could very well be for tablets that are running Windows 8 instead of Android. But we won’t know for sure until they make it official. We’ll update you on the latest info as soon as we have them next week. 
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| Do you manage Google Apps for your business? There’s an app for that Posted: 29 May 2013 07:20 PM PDT
Google has changed the way enterprises run their IT resources. For one, Google Apps for Business lets organizations run their productivity and collaboration apps on the cloud, whether they’re small firms or big enterprises. This includes mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets, and this also involves various platforms. Android has an advantage, of course, with Google services being more tightly integrated into Android itself. For one, Google has recently launched Google Admin, which enables Google Apps administrators to manage their organizations’ accounts on the go. Google Admin is available for Android smartphones and tablets, and offers control over common tasks, which include the following:
In addition, the app offers quick access to contact details, so admins can easily call, text, email or chat with members of the organization. The app requires API access to be enabled. And because the app allows access to administrative tasks and tools, Google recommends that admins use tight security on their devices, such as a lock screen PIN, password or pattern. Google Admin works not only for the paid Google Apps for Business accounts, though. Administrators of the (now-unsupported) free Google Apps, as well as google Apps for Education, can also use Google Admin to manage accounts. Just be sure to enable API access so administrators can use the mobile app. Do you manage your organization’s cloud and collaboration services through Google Apps? Check out Google Admin now. 
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| Tim Cook not worried about Android’s market share, says Apple still makes the best devices Posted: 29 May 2013 07:18 PM PDT
To be more specific, Cook said that Apple has never viewed winning as “about making the most” of anything — never mind, of course, the fact that Apple celebrates selling millions upon millions of its iPhones and iPads each month. His thoughts are that despite not outselling everyone, they’re still the ones making the best devices out right now, anyway. When asked what he thought of the fact that Android seems to have fully overtaken Apple in terms of sales, Cook had this to say:
According to Cook, there are other factors to consider such as usage stats — what customers are doing with their devices — as well as the level of overall customer satisfaction. He then proudly stated that iPhone and iPad users browse more on their devices, plus on the iPad alone, there are “twice as many e-commerce transactions than all Android devices combined.” Perhaps he’s right, but as Mossberg rightly kept pointing out, there’s no denying that Android is now pretty much everywhere. At least everywhere that iPhone and iPad are, and then some. What does Apple have to say about that? As Cook sees it, some of these so-called smart devices, which are said to contribute to Android’s ever growing market share, might not even be actual smart devices at all. Some of them might be, according to Cook, “phones that are featurephones, [but] labeled smartphones.” And in a way, he might be right. But still, there has been a steady stream of all kinds of Android-powered devices, and after a few years, it’s easy to see that Apple can now barely keep up with the competition. Last year, it was revealed that the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs had planned to “go thermonuclear” on Android as a whole, but now it looks like that exact same strategy has been used on Apple instead. What happened to Think Different?
And it’s not like the Android attack on Apple has been a concerted effort. It kind of just happened, it’s one of the consequences of Android being an open platform. Even inside the walls of any one company, you’ll find dozens of different products, all targeted towards different segments of the market. Just ask Samsung, or Sony, or Huawei, or Acer. We believe that Apple has started to realize it’s only going to get harder and harder to pinpoint any one company to attack as part of its efforts to combat Android, so now we have comments coming from its CEO such as the ones mentioned above. They can’t blame Google now, and besides, the Internet giant has generally been using a hands-off approach when it comes to growing Android anyway. Plus, Apple is too dependent on Samsung to really cut its ties with the South Korean company. Is there still hope for Apple?Apple could still try to redeem itself through sheer effort and by adapting to the rapidly changing market. It used to be that people didn’t know what they want. Then along came the iPhone, and now with all the different kinds of mobile computing devices out there, many people can truly say exactly what they want — for work, for school, for personal use, and so on. With the release of the iPad mini, Apple has shown that it knows what might be the right direction. Now, all that’s left is for it to go all the way through and give it their full effort. Do you think the Apple CEO’s comments are true? Is he right in claiming that Apple makes the best devices despite being outsold by other manufacturers? Throw your thoughts on this out in the comments. 
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| Moto X (Google X Phone) confirmed at D11, will be “contextually aware” Posted: 29 May 2013 05:05 PM PDT X Phone concept Motorola officials have unexpectedly confirmed the Google X Phone – apparently called Moto X – during a D11 interview. Moto's Dennis Woodside and Regina Dugan took the stage at D11 to talk about, well, Motorola-related things, and the Moto X came out. The phone has not actually been shown, but Woodside confirmed that the device is called Moto X and that he had it in his pocket but was unable to show it. This is most likely the Google X Phone we've been talking about for so long, and Moto X is most likely the device spotted at the FCC recently in various versions: XT1058 (AT&T), XT1056 (Sprint) and XT1060 (Verizon). Motorola did say that the phone will be “broadly distributed” with carriers offering a “great” response so far. Woodside did not reveal that many details about the Moto X, but he did say that the phone will be the first smartphone to be built in the U.S., with components coming from 12 states, but also from Taiwan (processors) and Korea (OLED displays). Most of the assembly process (around 70%) will take place in a plant near Fort Worth, Texas in a 500,000 sqft facility that belonged to Nokia, and which will employ 2000 people by August. Interestingly, Woodside revealed that the phone will be smarter than others thanks to its sensors that will make it "contextually aware." The device will be able to recognize some of the things you’ll want to do and it would set up for them accordingly. That may sound a bit creepy, but it’s right in line with Google's recently improved intelligence in various services including Search, Maps and Google+ Photos. And, for what it's worth, it also sounds very familiar since a rather old Google X Phone rumor did mention that the phone will get said contextual awareness. Woodside also revealed some other interesting things for the more distant future, such as electronic tattoos and vitamin pills that could be used to turn the body into an "authentication token" for the phone. The pill would feed off of your stomach's acids like an "inside out potato battery," and thus it would be able to communicate with the phone. The Moto X will apparently be the company's flagship handset, which will take on the iPhone and the Galaxy flagship smartphones, but there is no official date as to when it will be formally announced and launched. Considering that hiring at that Texas-based plant will finish by August, the release date of the Moto X should be set much later after that, with Woodside saying the phone will arrive “by October.” In addition to the Moto X, other mid-range handsets will also be available from Motorola later this year. We'll be back with more details about the Moto X as soon as we have them, and considering that Woodside already spilled some of the Moto X beans, we shouldn’t be surprised to see the handset announced at some point in the near future. 
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| New Nvidia Shield video shows off pre-loaded games and what to expect from the upcoming handheld Posted: 29 May 2013 04:40 PM PDT
Boys and girls, the Nvidia Shield is almost here! The unique Android gaming handheld has been up for pre-order since the 17th of May and is expected to ship starting in June. With the console’s launch imminent, Nvidia took to its blog to talk about what was involved in getting the Shield ready for its commercial phase. While interesting and worth a read, the more exciting news is that the company has released a new video, which further highlights the final hardware and gives us a look at what to expect when the Shield arrives. According to Nvidia, the handheld will come with the full versions of two preloaded games that are optimized for the Shield and for Tegra 4, Sonic 4: Episode 2 and Expendable Rearmed. You can also expect the PC Game Streaming service to be available from day one, though it will be in beta form. For those that need a reminder on the specs, the Nvidia Shield is powered by a Tegra 4 processor and includes 2GB of RAM. There is 16GB internal memory, microSD and Android Jelly Bean. The display is 5-inches and comes in a 720p resolution. At $349, the Nvidia might be more expensive than dedicated handheld consoles like the Nintendo 3DS and Sony PS Vita, but it also has the full power of tons of Android apps, a 5-inch display, easily hooks up to your big screen TV and has a lot of potential when it comes to game streaming. What do you think of the Nvidia Shield, excited or not? 
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| Android 4.3 hints present in Gmail UI redesign presentation video? Posted: 29 May 2013 04:27 PM PDT  Screenshot from promo video highlighting new Gmail UI A Google promo video for the newly announced Gmail UI redesign may include hints that would suggest that Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is coming soon. The short 60 second video shows a Nexus 4 near the end whose clock is set at 4:30, which may be an actual indication that the rumored Android 4.3 OS update is indeed coming at some point in the near future. In case you missed the recent series of Gmail redesign-related posts, we'll remind you that only a few days before Google actually unveiled the new automatic filtration features, various reports detailed the upcoming changes. Following those reports, a reddit user put everything together and concluded that the leaked screenshots showing Gmail's redesigned mobile apps actually told another story. After looking at press images for existing devices, he reminded us that each Nexus device starting with the Nexus S and going all the way up to the Nexus 10, had press images that indirectly revealed what OS the device ran, at least at launch. The Nexus S came with Android 2.3.0 Gingerbread on board, therefore the clock showed 2:30. Likewise, the Nexus 10 came with Android 4.2.0 Jelly Bean on board, hence the clock showed 4:20.  Leaked Gmail screenshots | Image via Android Police The initial leaked Gmail screnshots, which were criticized by a publication for their inconsistencies, showed a 4:30 time, implying that Android 4.3 was close (see above). Google released different screenshots when announcing the new features – but we’ll note that the initial images were said to be included in a draft of the blog post that was supposed to go live on Wednesday. The blog post was published today, but the images were changed. And, much to our surprise, the time reverted back to 4:20 in the Android app’s screenshot (on the left below).  Actual images promoting the new Gmail app UI However, that's not the whole story. Just take a look at the new Gmail promo video, included in the same blog post, and you'll notice 4:30 is clearly shown on that Nexus handset. Is it all just a big coincidence? Wishful thinking? Call it whatever you like, but since we're used to see Google hide all sorts of things in various places, this clock thing makes some sense. Not to mention that we have already seen a Nexus 4 running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean at a mobile show in Thailand, which could mean the update is coming soon indeed. That said, we're back to waiting for Android 4.3 to become official, with the latest rumored release date for it still being June 10. 
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| Alcatel One Touch Idol coming to the U.S. for $299 Posted: 29 May 2013 03:16 PM PDT
Looking for a cheap, unlocked smartphone around the $300 mark? Alcatel is hoping you will consider its One Touch Idol ($299), which is now making its way over to the United States for sale directly via Alcatel’s website. The big question is whether you should care. In a pre-Nexus 4 world? Sure, it might have been worth giving it a glance. Unfortunately, the Nexus 4 has really changed the way we think about off-contract handsets. We just expect more at this point, even if that is a bit unfair, considering it is difficult to compete with the Nexus’ pricing. The One Touch Idol features a 4.7-inch display with a 540 x 960 resolution and is powered by a dual-core 1GHz processor. Other specs include 512MB RAM, a 2MP front cam, 8MP rear cam, 4GB storage, microSD and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. We don’t want to tell you what you should or should buy, but unless you REALLY care about microSD and its splash resistance capability, this just doesn’t seem like anything worth getting excited over. While we’d like to see more from Alcatel in the states (like maybe the One Touch Idol Ultra), the company needs to learn how to be a bit more aggressive with its pricing. If this was $200 or less, it wouldn’t be too hard to recommend to those that just need a phone that works, without all the extra trimmings. As it stands, I can’t see this selling, even with Iron Man himself directly approving of the phone. What do you think, is there any reason you could think of that would make this phone worth picking up? FEATHERWEIGHT SMARTPHONE, ALCATEL ONE TOUCH IDOL, NOW AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. ALCATEL ONE TOUCH broadens smartphone category by delivering impressive style and practical technology at an affordable price with the ONE TOUCH IDOL. Irvine, Calif. – May 30, 2013 — ALCATEL ONE TOUCH, a mobile device brand under TCL Communication, today announced the world’s lightest 4.7 inch-display smartphone, the ONE TOUCH Idol, is now available for purchase in the U.S. at www.alcatelonetouchidol.com for $299. The unlocked device works on most GSM networks and is the first of the IDOL smartphone family to arrive in the U.S. The ONE TOUCH IDOL appeals to consumers who are looking for style, great design and uncomplicated technology. Currently ranked #7 in worldwide shipments of mobile devices (Gartner 1Q13), ALCATEL ONE TOUCH has become one of the fastest growing OEMs in the world. Through a continued commitment to its brand promise of well designed, stylish products at affordable prices, with no compromise on quality or customer experience, ALCATEL ONE TOUCH has widened the U.S. smartphone market by providing the next generation of options to consumers and carriers. “Making the ONE TOUCH IDOL smartphone available in the U.S. is part of the company’s objective to deliver innovative design and smart technology to everyone,” said Steve Cistulli, Senior Vice President of North America for ALCATEL ONE TOUCH. “Pragmatic shoppers and those looking to make their first smartphone purchase, now have the option to choose a device that has both great looks and has features normally reserved for higher priced smartphones.” The ONE TOUCH IDOl weighs in at a mere 3.88 oz (110 grams) and delivers best-in-class value, reliability and style. The smartphone’s durable, scratch-resistant glass, anti-virus software and all-over splash-proof water protection allows it to standup to everyday wear-and-tear for the long haul. 
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| Twitter 4.1.0 rolls out to Google Play, includes new compose window and improved notifications Posted: 29 May 2013 01:31 PM PDT
Are you a Tweet-a-holic? If you can’t get enough of Twitter on your Android device, you’ll be happy to know that version 4.1.0 has arrived to the Play Store. The latest version of Twitter includes several changes, including photo enhancements, a new compose window and improved notifications. Probably the biggest change is the compose window, which is no longer a pop-up and instead runs in fullscreen. Additionally, the compose screen gives you full-sized previews of photos you are going to share and allows you to quickly switch to different accounts inside the window.
For those with Android 4.0 or higher, the enhanced notifications are also a pretty important change. Notifications now include the profile picture of the person interacting with you and additional info like if its a direct message, mention or retweet. You will also get notified when your friends join Twitter. Beyond that, it seems like there are also a few bug fixes in the latest version. The change log also mentions you will “enjoy wider and taller timelines in all parts of the app including profiles, search, and discover". Anyhow, head over to Google Play now to check it out for yourself. For those that have already snagged the update, what do you think of the changes? 
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| Samsung Galaxy S4 Active and Zoom specs leaked ahead of launch Posted: 29 May 2013 12:30 PM PDT
If you weren't already excited for Samsung's upcoming smartphone launches, information leaked ahead of the company’s June 20 press conference might just pique your interest. High-Tech.Mail.Ru, a Russian technology website, reportedly obtained the specifications of both the highly anticipated ruggedized Galaxy S4 spin-off – the Galaxy S4 Active – and the Galaxy S4 Zoom, which allegedly appears externally similar to Samsung’s incoming S4 Mini. The Galaxy S4 Active is, as has been rumored, a water- and dust- resistant version of the Galaxy S4. It has a 5-inch Super AMOLED Full HD display and the following internals:
Unfortunately, we don't have any word on the Samsung S4 Active camera's megapixel count. The latest rumors point towards a slight downgrade from the S4's 13-megapixel camera, but we haven't heard any more on that front since last week. The Galaxy S4 Zoom's specs are typical of a mid-range Android device. The display is of the Super AMOLED variant, 4.3-inch in size and 540 x 960 pixels. Here's what's inside:
All in all, nothing too surprising. Of note is the Galaxy S4 Zoom's 16-megapixel camera with 10x optical zoom, specs had already been tentatively confirmed. It would appear that the S4 Zoom's focus, so to speak, will definitely be on picture-taking. Hopefully Samsung learned from the shortcomings of the Galaxy Camera, and decided to include a shooter of better quality. Android Authority will be covering Samsung's press event on June 20. Stick with us for more in-depth coverage and news about Samsung's latest smartphones. 
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| Study shows Android users spend larger percentage of time browsing than their iOS counterparts Posted: 29 May 2013 12:23 PM PDT
Are you reading this on your smartphone? If so, you've got about 14 minutes to finish up. A new study by Simmons Connect finds that smartphone users spend about 14 minutes a day looking at websites. They also compared Android to iOS users, and found some interesting statistics which may cast doubt on previous claims of iOS usage over Android. Interestingly enough, this all comes to light the day after Tim Cook noted (again) that iOS users spend more time visiting websites than their Android counterpart. Android users spend about 49 minutes on their mobile device daily, whereas iOS users spend a whopping 75 minutes a day squinting at their screens. That averages out to about an hour, which is a good median number for comparison. We'll keep in mind, though, that percentage of use versus overall time will have an integral part of the discussion.
The statsOf the time spent using our smartphones, some interesting similarities come to light, as well as some discrepancies. For instance, Android users spend more time talking, 28% compared to 22% for iOS users. Those iOS fans spend a bit more time texting, 22% compared to 16% for Android. We spend the same amount of time on social media (16%), and roughly the same time on email (10% for iOS, 8% for Android). The most interesting statistic is that iOS users spend 12% of their time visiting websites, while Android users devote 16% on the same task. Just yesterday, at the D11 conference, Cook noted that 59% of web traffic comes from iOS devices. While that encomapsses both tablets and smartphones, it seems disproportionate to these numbers. However, if we break the numbers out of their average, that's a fair claim. When compared on time spent on the device versus percentage spent visitng websites, iOS users comprise about 54% of overall web traffic (9 minutes compared to 7.84 minutes). When factoring in the iPad, which has the lion's share of the tablet market, that claim becomes more approachable.
IssuesLet's focus on those internet numbers once again. The iOS user spends about 50% more time on their iPhone, yet represents only an extra minute visiting websites. They also text quite a bit more, and when factoring in the extra time spent on the device, that becomes a consumptive issue. This also forces us to consider fragmentation. It's fair to bulk Android users together, but it gets a bit convoluted when we consider which device and iteration of the OS is being used. Some older Android versions simply don't do browsing efficiently, or the service plans don't allow for it as a means to consider that function viable. We're also considering the device and operating system used, not the browser. If we compare browser statistics, Chrome is a clear winner over Safari, with some studies noting the discrepancy as much as 10-to-1 in favor of Chrome. Chrome is available on any platform, so if an iOS user were using Chrome, it's still a tip of the hat towards Google. Heart of the matterStatistics are fun, but time spent on the device is the most confusing statistic. While an hour isn't much time, the overall use discrepancy is troubling. Our iOS friends spend an extra half hour on their phones, which is concerning. In that extra minute visiting websites, I'd think they'd be searching for cool things to do. Field Trip tells me what's going on. So does Google Now. I really don't have to look at my device at all, it just keeps me informed. It's as though Android just suits users better, and gets out of the way so we can enjoy life. Oh… Now I get it. 
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| Looking to better manage your time? Check out the Best Productivity apps for Android! Posted: 29 May 2013 12:21 PM PDT
Time is a fickle thing. If you’re looking for apps to help you manage it better during the work or school day, we’ve gone into the depths of Play Store searching for some of the best productivity apps out there, and we’re here to share the fruit of the work with you. As usual, if you’d rather watch the video, just head down to the bottom of the article. Juice Defender
You mine as well throw productivity out the window if your phone’s dead. I’m not the only one who feels cut off from the world when my phone’s dead, right? It’s a pandemic! So, how about an app that’ll keep your phone trucking a little longer until you can hopefully reach a charger? Juice Defender can do just that. Juice Defender has a number of features that’ll help you get every last bit of juice out of your battery. Most of the options are to modify your connectivity settings, but there are some more advanced settings along with other settings that require root access. However, simply messing with some of the connectivity settings should help your battery out a lot, especially if you’re on 4G LTE. Kingsoft Office
A lot of office apps on Google Play cost a pretty penny, which most of us don’t want to pay for, as we’re already running office software on our desktops. This is where Kingsoft Office comes into play. It’s free of charge and has support for Word, Powerpoint, and Excel. Kingsoft Office has a lot of features and options that keep the experience from being bland too. Additionally, controlling documents, spreadsheets, and presentations are extremely simple. Not only that, but navigating through the app is very easy. It all feels very natural. So if you’re looking for an office app, but don’t want to shell out any money, Kingsoft is at least worth a shot. After all, what is there to lose? Lecture Notes
Lecture Notes is a loved and highly rated application on Google Play. In fact, when we did our Best Note Taking apps for Android list, we received a lot of flak for not including it. There’s a reason for that, and that is because it fit more in this list than anything. This particular app lets you use your phone like you would use a notebook. However, if you’d rather type than write, this app may not be for you. Lecture Notes is stylus and drawing based, and there’s no option for simply typing. If you can get used to that though, this app is worth picking up. Root Explorer
When things are a cluttered mess, your productivity tends to drop. If you use your Android device for work a lot (i.e. transferring files) having a clean way of searching through your device to find files is an essential. Root Explorer will help you accomplish this easily. Without root access, the app is a very nice file explorer with a number of features. If you have root access, Root Explorer is simply the best file explorer available on Android. As you might have noticed from the name, you’ll get the most features if your device is rooted. If you don’t have root and you aren’t interesting in rooting at all, don’t discount the app just yet, as you can still get a lot out of this app without root. It has a simple interface and can handle files like zip and tar. The visuals aren’t the best, but that’s not really necessary. After all, you’re just file browsing. Time Recording
Remembers when you took a card, punched it, and put it in a slot every day to clock in? Time Recording Timesheet works a lot like that. It’s essentially a clock-in-clock out app with a whole host of features. It’s the perfect app for those who work irregular hours or for those who need to keep track of how long they work. There’s features for archiving and sending your hours anywhere, so if that’s something you need, this app will get the job done! Conclusion
If you take a look at our leaderboard, you can see how these apps compete with one another. As per the norm, the rankings are based on Google Play ratings, so there’s no bias on our part. As you probably know, there are a lot of productivity apps out there, and the definition of productivity is different for everyone. So if there’s a particular productivity app you think we missed, be sure to let us know about it in the comments below! 
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| Are smartphone component shortages here to stay? Posted: 29 May 2013 12:11 PM PDT
We already know that the reason behind the Snapdragon 600 and Exynos Octa split in the Galaxy S4 came down to production issues, and how can anyone forget the HTC One’s component shortages. It's obvious that there's a growing trend with production difficulties in the smartphone market, and it seems that other component manufacturers are also struggling to keep up with the growing demand for smartphone hardware. Today we learn that SK Hynix Semiconductor, the world's second largest chipmaker, will not be supplying mobile dynamic random access memory chips (DRAM) to Samsung Electronics. Unsurprisingly perhaps, the problem seems due to a lack of production capacity and a failure to meet Samsung's demand. According to one anonymous industry watcher on Wednesday:
With devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4 taking a record number of pre-orders and proving to be phenomenally popular, it’s easy to see how the industry's production capabilities can be put under strain. The smartphone market has grown substantially over the past few years, and yet manufacturing capabilities appear to be failing to keep the pace. However, it also seems that a downward market pressure on prices is also becoming a major factor in these shortages. Looking specifically at SK Hynix, PC DRAM has been was showing much better margins than mobile DRAM, which has caused manufacturers to look elsewhere for suppliers. Whilst this switch in demand caused PC DRAM prices to rise over 90%, overall the increased competition in RAM production and the need to secure the best deal with big handset manufacturers has driven prices down, which could be stifling investment in new manufacturing facilities. It's clear that the industry needs to invest in new production technologies to prevent further problems with future handset launches. Samsung already owns and produces some of its own components, and it would make sense for other manufacturers to start producing their own components to avoid relying on other suppliers. Having said that, Samsung is in quite a unique position as the dominant market leader, and without the spare capital to invest or the additional bargaining power, smaller manufactures may be stuck with limited production capacities for the foreseeable future. 
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| When it comes to mobile devices, how important is brand loyalty to you? Posted: 29 May 2013 11:46 AM PDT
Just yesterday I wrote an opinion piece about whether or not LG deserves another chance at making a Nexus device. As you might expect, the opinions I received varied wildly. Some folks felt that it wouldn’t matter who built the Nexus, as long as it was provided an excellent Android experience. Others thought that their "brand of choice" could do it better. This brings up a good question. How important is brand loyalty to you? Is it a driving force behind your buying decisions, or just a minor consideration? For me, it is an important consideration, but not the only one. For example, over the years I have generally purchased Samsung mobile devices, even before the smartphone era really took off. I also tend to gravitate towards Google products and services, Android obviously included. So does that mean I have all Samsung and Google products in my household? Nope. I currently own an LG Nexus 4. I have a Windows PC. And I still primarily use Yahoo for my email services (I don’t know why either). For all of these decisions, it wasn’t at all about the brand. It was about how a particular device fitted my needs at the time, all while giving me a reasonable price and quality experience. I have nothing against rooting for a particular brand. Unfortunately, some people seem to get carried away here and stop being loyal to brands – and instead start worshiping them. How brand loyalty can hold back innovation in the mobile worldThe hottest stars in the mobile world are arguably Apple and Samsung. They both have extremely loyal fanbases that would buy their devices regardless of what features they came with. For the most devoted Apple fans, it doesn’t matter that Android offers more screen sizes, NFC, a flexible operating system and better pricing. Apple IS the only company that matters on Earth to these folks and it can do no evil. I’m not just picking on Android’s rival platform here. Samsung devotees are often equally guilty of many of the same things. Sure, Samsung’s latest Galaxy S4 packs great technology onboard, but they have also been pushing the same plastic design for as far as I can remember, in a world that has quickly shifted to preferring metal-bodied designs. And then there is TouchWiz, which depending on your own preferences, you either love or hate. Yet any time anyone points these less desirable aspects out, a few rabid Samsung or Apple fans seem to turn to "attack mode". Now keep in mind I’m not saying that the Galaxy S4 is a bad device (I actually REALLY am impressed with it), and I’m not even trash-talking the iPhone. My point is that these devices and companies aren’t perfect, despite what Samsung and Apple’s advertising dollars work to tell us. If a device doesn’t meet your expectations, don’t be afraid to turn it down, even if you enjoyed past generation devices from a specific brand. If you do buy it just "because it’s the flagship from my favorite brand", you could potentially be hurting innovation. Think of every dollar received by a company as a vote in favor of the brand’s current direction. The more votes they get, the less likely they are to change direction or consider major changes that push the industry forward. The less votes (dollars) they get, the more likely they are going to take a long, hard look in the mirror. An example of this is HTC. While some of you might still not have love for HTC, I have to give the company props for the HTC One. It is a solid smartphone with an aesthetically pleasing design, and is the by-product of a lot of time and reflection. If HTC hadn’t seen declining profits, the innovative and beautiful HTC One wouldn’t exist. Does your favorite company deserve your loyalty?You love Samsung, HTC, Apple, or Google with a passion. But do they love you back? No, they love the $$$ you bring. That’s just how businesses work. That said, there are good reasons to stick to a specific company or brand. This includes companies that regularly push out timely updates, continually display exceptional build quality or always deliver epic customer service. The common denominator here is consistency. If you find a brand that meets your expectations every time, you probably have little reason to give anyone else a try. Just be careful, and don’t forget that there are other choices out there. Also be quick to realize when a company is no longer consistently delivering the aspect that drew you to them in the first place. For example, whether you love or hate Apple, the company’s original iPhone and iPad were certainly innovative devices. Today though? We see minor hardware revisions and few major, ground-breaking changes. So is Apple really innovative or are they living on past glory and brand loyalty? There’s no right or wrong answer to that, it’s just food for thought. Don’t let brand loyalty keep you from finding your perfect phone or tabletWhile I absolutely love Android and am a big Google fan, would I let blind loyalty hold me to it? No, I can’t say I would. If Ubuntu, Tizen or even iOS rolled out superior features and services, I would still respect Google and all it offers but I would seriously consider a different path. Some could say that means I’m fickle and will go wherever the wind takes me. Maybe they are right, but I certainly wouldn’t make these changes easily or without serious thought. I’m just saying I try to keep an open mind about other companies and technologies around me, despite where my loyalties might lie. We’ve seen Apple advocates switch to Android before, despite their loyalty. Why? Because they wanted more and finally saw past the marketing bullshit. This includes big names like Guy Kawaski and Andy Ihnatko. On the other side of the fence, there have also been a fair amount of Android users that have made the switch to iPhone, realizing that it met their own personal needs in a way Android apparently did not. I respect both sides here, as they weighed the pros and cons of a brand/device and went with it, regardless of their own bias and/or past loyalties. Don’t let your love for a brand hold you back from the device you’ve always dreamed of. Pure and simple. What do you think, do some folks take brand loyalty way too far? Does this get in the way of innovation? Or do you feel it is only natural to aggressively defend and love a product/brand that serves you well? 
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| ASUS Transformer AiO updated to Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean, support for multiple accounts in tow Posted: 29 May 2013 11:42 AM PDT
ASUS's Transformer AiO, the company's all-in-one PC/tablet hybrid that dual-boots Windows 8 and Android, is a strange beast. To call the 18.4-inch device unwieldy is a massive understatement. Much to ASUS's credit, though, the concept behind the AiO is interesting: instantaneous switching between Windows and Android with the touch of a button. That kind of flexibility is certainly nice to have, and even more so now that ASUS seems dedicated to improving the usability of the device through software enhancements, most recently with the upgrade to Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean. The next-to-latest version of Android brings welcome improvements to the Transformer AiO, which shipped with Android 4.1 onboard. In addition to Gesture Typing, Daydream, notification toggles, and multiple lockscreens with widgets, the 4.2.1 update includes support for multiple user accounts, a feature that seems right at home on the AiO. If you're the lucky owner of a Transformer AiO, you should receive a notification to download the update soon. If you'd like to speed up the process, check for the new software manually be navigating to Settings > About tablet > System updates. On the fence about purchasing an AiO or interested to learn more? Check out our hands-on of the device, and stay tuned. 
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| Pebble ready to ship out more pre-ordered smartwatches soon Posted: 29 May 2013 11:25 AM PDT
It's been four months since Pebble first started shipping out smartwatches to its Kickstarter backers, and after some technical glitches and a few delays, Pebble is finally just about ready to start shipping watches to those who pre-ordered after the initial Kickstarter campaign. In a forum post, Pebble announced that customers who ordered Jet Black and Cherry Red Pebble's will be receiving an email to confirm their shipping address at some point this week. In fact, there could be an email sitting in your inbox right now, so go and check. Other colour variants will be shipping in the next few weeks, as Pebble is still trying to clear Kickstarter orders for the orange, grey and white colored watches. The company had been having trouble with its manufacturing capabilities, and even had to resort to offing customers a change in colour to ease the strain on its manufacturing line. If you're still waiting for your order then it seems that patience is the key, as Pebble has received much stronger demand than its manufacturing capabilities were prepared for. It could well be a couple more months until all of the Kickstarter backed and pre-ordered Pebble's are finished shipping out. 
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| Intel buys ST-Ericsson’s GPS chip division, first acquisition under Intel’s new CEO Posted: 29 May 2013 11:16 AM PDT
With PC sales continuing to decline, the mobile market is becoming increasingly important for Intel. The company already has several Android and Windows-based mobile devices that run on its x86 chips, and could even soon be adding the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 to that list. All of this is certainly a step in the right direction, but if Intel really wants to compete against more established mobile chipset companies like Nvidia and Qualcomm, it is going to need to take its game to the next level. With that in mind, Intel has officially announced it has bought the satellite navigation chip business unit of ST-Ericsson, a joint venture operated by STMicroelectronics and Ericsson. This purchase is Intel’s first acquisition since the start of its new CEO, Brian Krzanich, who has currently only been on the job for just twelve days. For those wondering the costs of the agreement, no official terms have been disclosed. So what happens next? In the deal, Intel will acquire 130 employees across various locations that currently work for ST-Ericsson’s sat-nav chip division and that they will become part of Intel’s mobile chip unit ran by Herman Eul. Beyond that, we can’t say exactly what Intel plans with the new GPS chip division, though it will certainly play into their future mobile strategy, and could help the company further compete with their ARM-based rivals down the road. What do you think of the acquisition? Could Intel eventually become a bigger play in the mobile world or will the company always play second fiddle to ARM and its licensees? ST-ERICSSON ANNOUNCES SALE OF ITS CONNECTIVITY (GNSS) BUSINESS May 28, 2013 Geneva, May 28, 2013. ST-Ericsson, a joint venture of STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), today announced the signature of a definitive agreement to sell the assets and intellectual property rights (IPR) associated with its mobile connectivity Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) business to a leading semiconductor company. The sale of these assets represents another step in the execution of Ericsson's and ST's announcement of March 18th 2013. In addition to the assets and IPR associated with this business, a world class team of 130 industry veterans located in Daventry (UK), Bangalore (India) and Singapore are anticipated to join the buyer at closing of the transaction. The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and standard conditions and is expected to be completed in August, 2013. ST-Ericsson estimates the proceeds from the sale, combined with the avoidance of employee restructuring charges and other related restructuring costs, will reduce the joint venture's cash needs by approximately $90 million. "Today's transaction validates the leading innovation developed by ST-Ericsson in mobile navigation systems and marks a further important step towards the execution of our shareholders' decision to exit from ST-Ericsson" commented Carlo Ferro, President and CEO of ST-Ericsson. "I am pleased that this organization will continue to develop leading-edge technologies and delighted that the team found a new home at a leading player in the semiconductor industry." ABOUT ST-ERICSSON ST-Ericsson is a world leader in developing and delivering a complete portfolio of innovative mobile platforms and cutting-edge wireless semiconductor solutions across the broad spectrum of mobile technologies. ST-Ericsson was established as a 50/50 joint venture by STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) and Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) in February 2009, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. 
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| Amazon announces its new “Login with Amazon” service for Android Posted: 29 May 2013 11:15 AM PDT
Tired of remembering dozens of usernames and passwords for each e-commerce website and gaming service? I know that I certainly am, and so does Amazon, as the company has just announced its all new "Login with Amazon" service. The new functionality will be making its way to Android, iOS, and other websites as soon as developers can implement it. The idea is to expand Amazon's business model, allowing for a broader range of developers and businesses to take advantage of existing Amazon account features and some of the company’s newer ideas. For a start, the service can be used by developers to add in-app purchases linked with customers Amazon accounts, and will allow more developers to open their apps up to the Amazon AppStore. There's also a specific focus on gaming. Amazon's new GameCircle service adds all sorts of features familiar to gamers, such as achievements, leader boards, and friend lists. If Amazon can find broad adoption within gaming apps, this could bring a much needed level of cohesion to gaming on Android. Although today's announcement was targeted mostly at developers, what this means for consumers is that we'll soon be able to start using our Amazon accounts with a variety of other apps either on Android or on the web. Michael Carr, Amazon Vice President of e-commerce services, summed the service up with this statement:
If you'd like a look at what Login with Amazon aims to do for developers and consumers alike then check out the promotional video below. But I have a question: when it comes to Android, will consumers really choose to move over from Google’s Play Store, which already enables a lot of these features, to a third party service? Well it turns out that Login with Amazon already appears to be having some success, as a trial with Zappos.com revealed that customers opted to log in using Amazon's solution 40% of the time. Similarly, another trial conducted with Woot found that customers used Amazon sign-in twice as often as any other social login on their site. To help Amazon’s sign-in service get off to the best possible start, the software development kit (SDK) is being made available to developers free of charge, so we could see a pretty quick adoption of this new service. SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May. 29, 2013– (NASDAQ: AMZN) — Today, Amazon launched Login with Amazon, a new service that will enable the over 200 million active Amazon customers to securely and simply login to apps, games, and websites. Login with Amazon allows developers to easily reduce sign-in friction for their customers, leading to higher engagement and order conversion. According to a 2012 Harris Interactive study, over half of all American Internet users have five or more unique passwords to remember. Login with Amazon reduces sign-in friction by eliminating the need for users to create an account and password, and instead allows them to sign-in using their existing Amazon account information. Amazon customers can choose to share certain attributes of their account profile with apps, games, and websites by using Login with Amazon. "Login with Amazon enables app developers and website owners to leverage Amazon's trusted sign-in solution, allowing them to focus on providing a great experience for their customers," said Michael Carr, Amazon Vice President, eCommerce Services. "Amazon customers now have a hassle-free way to quickly and securely sign-in to apps, games and websites, without having to remember yet another password." As early adopters of Login with Amazon, Zappos and Woot, both Amazon subsidiaries, saw significant customer adoption. Zappos saw 40 percent of its new customers choose to sign-in to Zappos.com with an Amazon account. Woot found that new customers picked Login with Amazon two times more often than any other social login on their site, and those customers had the highest rate of order conversion. Login with Amazon is available at no charge to developers of apps, games, and websites. The service is easy to integrate, as developers can typically go from registration to launch in a matter of hours. It is based on the OAuth 2.0 authorization framework, allowing developers to leverage a widely-adopted open protocol. For additional details about Login with Amazon, including code samples and the SDKs for Android and iOS, please visit login.amazon.com. Login with Amazon is the latest offering in an array of services that make Amazon the most complete end-to-end ecosystem for developers building, monetizing and marketing their apps and games. These capabilities include: The ability for app developers to use Amazon Web Services' (AWS) technology platform for their infrastructure needs. Building blocks such as Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), and Amazon DynamoDB allow developers to focus on what differentiates their app rather than the undifferentiated heavy lifting of infrastructure. 
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| Posted: 29 May 2013 10:04 AM PDT
It's official: Gmail has been updated. That update, rumored for quite some time, is now a reality. All the features previously noted, like tabs showing up in your inbox on mobile, and the left hand menu sliding out, are here. While the mobile version of Gmail has had a few iterations, this is the first significant update for our desktop Gmail in quite some time. The new design is meant to keep you organized above all. For those of us who have several accounts feeding into one inbox, this could prove to be very helpful. This will also be useful for navigating those emails that may not be spam, but tend to get in the way. Essentially, it takes a few of those labels on the side menu and puts them above the inbox. Your full list of labels will still be there, but the most used ones will be at the top of the windows. Of course, with tabs like "Promotions" and "Social", the new Gmail has another focus altogether. Google seems keen to get you involved with their ecosystem, and using Gmail to generate interest is smart. A little hand-holding into Google+ via the "Social" tab may be just what the average Gmailer needs, and Offers is sure to make an appearance in the "Promotions" folder, whether you're signed up for it or not. It's definitely time for a new Gmail, and this one fits in well with other Google sites and services. The new look Gmail is not radically different, but feels wholly refreshed. It will be rolling out over the next few weeks to both desktop and mobile, so keep your eyes open for the update. In the meantime, check out the official Gmail update video below, and let us know what you think. 
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| Verizon’s Galaxy S3 gets a major update, brings Multi-Window and support and more Posted: 29 May 2013 09:25 AM PDT
Samsung Galaxy S3 owners on Verizon’s network will be happy to hear that the last-generation flagship device is receiving a major update — Android 4.1.2! The update comes with a pretty extensive changelog noting that it brings support for features like Multi-Window multitasking, Multi-Screen, S Beam’s Auto Share Shot, and more. There’s a whole host of bug fixes for the device too. The full changelog is pictured below.
In addition to these changes, there’s been quite a few enhancements to make the device a more pleasant and fluid experience, too. For example, NFC is now easier to turn on, Burst shot is no longer the default setting in the stock Camera application, and a web browsing issue is fixed that would cause the device to reset. There’s a ton of others changes, which you can find below.
The update to Android 4.1.2 is approximately 129MB in size, and can be downloaded over-the-air. Simply go into Settings > About Phone > System updates. After that, just tap the Restart and Install button and you should be good to go. Once the process is finished your device’s software version should be JZO54K.I535VRBMD3. Verizon hasn’t officially announced the update just yet, so we don’t know when users will start seeing it. However, it shouldn’t be a long wait since the update can be seen in the support page. Did you get the update from Verizon yet? Let us know in the comments! 
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| Samsung Galaxy Exhibit (T-Mobile Galaxy S3 mini) now available on T-Mobile Posted: 29 May 2013 09:18 AM PDT
The Samsung Galaxy Exhibit, or the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S3 mini, is now available for purchase, and it’s a pretty good option for those not wanting to shell out a lot of cash on a new phone. The Samsung Galaxy Exhibit was certainly not a secret, as its presence on T-Mobile has been discussed as early as February. It did take a while, but the device is now here for you to buy (with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini almost upon us). This is not a device that will impress with incredible specs, but it does give you some bang for your buck. T-Mobile customers can buy it for a down payment of $19.99, followed by $9/month over the course of 24 months. You don’t have to choose that option, though, as you can also pay for the device in full, at $235.99. For that amount of money, you get a decent device, with a 4 inch screen, at a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, and powered by a dual core CPU, running at 1 GHz. It also has a 5 megapixel camera, as well as a 1 megapixel front one, and runs Android 4.1.2. Do you plan on purchasing a Samsung Galaxy Exhibit? 
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| LG Optimus G Pro named king of the large-screen jungle, takes the Galaxy Note 2′s throne Posted: 29 May 2013 09:11 AM PDT
Samsung spawned a new market when it released the Galaxy Note, and while it has taken a while for other manufacturers to catch up, LG looks to have hit a homerun with the LG Optimus G Pro. U.S. consumer magazine Consumer Report has stated that the Optimus G Pro is both better and cheaper than the current king of large-screen smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. LG held an event where it invited 182 participants who have had previous experience with large phones, to participate in a one month trial where they tested the user experience of the Optimus G Pro and compared it to their previous experiences with other smartphones. Incredibly, 95% of the participants chose to replace their current devices with an Optimus G Pro, and 80% of those who chose to swap were coming from a Samsung Galaxy Note. The features that participants saw as the most interesting were the Full HD front and back cameras, as well as a feature we've also seen on the Galaxy S4, called dual recording mode. This allows both the subject and the taker to be in the video, and uses both the front and rear camera simultaneously to shoot videos. Unlike the Galaxy S4, it can not take still shots. With a 5.5-inch Full HD display, a Quad-core Snapdragon 600 clocked at 1.7 ghz and a 13 megapixel camera, the Optimus G Pro has specifications which rival and even exceed the Galaxy Note 2 in some aspects. However, some would argue that it isn't the Galaxy Note 2's size that makes it such a great device, but rather it is Samsung's software optimizations and the S-Pen, which allow you to fully utilize the screen space. If you still can’t decide if the LG Optimus G Pro is for you, check out our “By the numbers” comparison of the Optimus G Pro and the Galaxy Note 2 by clicking here, or check out the video review of the Optimus G Pro below. Do you think the LG Optimus G Pro is the best large-screen device? Or are the software editions of the Galaxy Note 2 enough to continue its reign as king? 
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| Audio engineer extols the virtues of the HTC One – but do you feel the same? [Poll] Posted: 29 May 2013 06:41 AM PDT
HTC One, perhaps the best smartphone introduced in the first half of this year, has been analyzed by our team in almost every way possible. We've seen its sharp aluminum body subjected to torture tests, we dropped the bugger and compared it to the iPhone 5, and we carefully rated its camera quality, display, and general performance. But what about the sound? As you well may know, HTC decided to integrate not one, but two stereo speakers in their flagship this year. Unlike the vast majority of Android phones that come with a back-mounted speaker, the HTC One has both units mounted on the front, on both sides of the screen. Overall, the design is classy and should provide high-quality audio, but we have yet to see a proper analysis of the setup. Moments ago, HTC posted a so called "Audio Review" video on their official YouTube account, containing the remarks of Jimmy Muna, a sound engineer and music producer who works for ATM Studios. During the five-minute video embedded below, Muna talks about the impressive audio capabilities of HTC's latest phone and how it raised the bar for other manufacturers. Muna claims that the One can render sound frequencies inaccessible to other phones, mostly those in the lower-end of the spectrum. Moreover, the addition of the secondary speaker allows the phone to properly distribute certain sounds to both sides, without altering the audio experience that users would get when using headsets. But is this just marketing or is the HTC One really so much better than competitors when it comes to sound? A bit of background…As mentioned in the first part, the HTC One comes with two identical front-mounted stereo speakers that pack quite a punch. Baptized BoomSound, the audio technology on the HTC One is the fruit of the cooperation between the Taiwanese manufacturer and the well-known Beats Electronics LLC, a company founded by Dr. Dre and partially owned by HTC. Besides the large speakers and the amplifier implemented by Beats, the software component of BoomSound enhances the low end of the sound spectrum, which allows the phone to pump out a deeper bass. The high-end part is also enhanced, though not as dramatically as the bass, with several other Android handsets (like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2) being able to do a similar job. The rich sound delivered by the One makes it, in theory, ideal for consuming video and music. When it comes to daily use, the power of the twin speakers may be a bit much for some users – people have complained that the loud notification sounds or even the ringtones have startled them… Moreover, some reports claim that two seconds after the sounds stops, when the processor shuts off the power to the speakers, an irritating crackling noise can be heard. Other users observed the same issue when watching YouTube videos or playing back audio in other apps, but they blamed it mostly on a firmware glitch. What's your take?We've been hearing different reports about the HTC One’s audio prowess and we're looking to clear the matter once and for all. From your personal experience with the One, how would you rate its audio performance? Does the device rise to the hype or is BoomSound simply a clever marketing scheme? Vote in our poll. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
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