Android Authority

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• CyanogenMod 10.1 RC3 available for download
• Real Racing 3 for Android to get Dubai update soon
• Airpush SDK 6.0 released: Adds in-app banner ads, developer analytics tools, and more
• Raspberry Pi used to avoid Internet censorship in China
• Samsung may sell 80 million Galaxy S4 units this year
• DARPA develops Android-based sensor for future use in UAVs and more
• Glu Mobile adding (real money) gambling to its games, starting with Deer Hunter Reloaded
• Three UK releases first promotional video for the Galaxy S4 Mini
• The Best Apps of the Month: May 2013
• HTC One “Google Edition” isn’t without some sacrifice: won’t support IR blaster, HTC Zoe or Beats Audio software switch
• Android will soon overtake Apple in tablet shipments, says ABI Research
• LG Optimus L4 II and L4 II Dual apparently on the way to Russia this summer
• More sources confirm Sony Xperia L4 Togari, provide more details
• 5.9-inch Key Lime Pie-running HTC T6 to challenge Galaxy Note 3, report says
• Is Asus preparing to take on the Galaxy Note series with 6-inch Transformer?
• Is Samsung’s success a problem for Android? Not according to Sundar Pichai
• Chrome security features in Android? The boss, Sundar Pichai, says yes.
• Rumor: Despite what you’ve heard, an LG Nexus 5 prototype is in the works
• Samsung GT-P5210 passes through the FCC, is this the long awaited Galaxy Tab 3 10.1?
• How to install Adobe Flash Player on Android
• Android chief Sundar Pichai says Google will continue leading Nexus development
• See the Motorola D11 talk about the X Phone here!
• Motorola shows off digital tattoos and smart pills, not afraid to think outside the box
• “HTC One with Nexus User Experience” unveiled, will ship on June 26
• GamePop Android gaming console by BlueStacks to cost $129 after free promo offer

CyanogenMod 10.1 RC3 available for download Posted: 31 May 2013 01:32 AM PDT In the push towards a stable release of CyanogenMod 10.1, the development team has published its third release candidate (RC) with a boat load of bug fixes including a fix for the preview issues seen after using the camcorder. In software development circles release candidates are used for public testing and to squash bugs. The idea is that the software is functionally ready and a release candidate is created for testing. If serious bugs are found they are fixed and another release candidate is created and so on. This process normally only lasts for three or four iterations. Depending on the release strategy of the development team the final release will either be a relabeled release candidate with no changes what so ever (this is the safest methodology) or it will be a latest release candidate with some more bug fixes. According to a CyanogenMod Google Plus posting other fixes in this release include a fix for a bad launcher icon alignment on tablets, various fixes for disappearing widgets, a fix for a crash in the T9 launcher, and a ton of translation updates. Various popular devices are supported for CyanogenMod 10.1 including (but not exhaustively): Sony Xperia Z Sony Xperia Tablet Z Google Nexus 7 (GSM and Wi-Fi) Motorola Droid Razr Amazon Kindle Fire LG Optimus G (Intl) Samsung Galaxy S III (Verizon, US Cellular, Sprint, Metro PCS, Cricket, T-Mobile and AT&T) Acer Iconia Tab A700 Asus Transformer Pad Infinity LG Optimus 4X HD Google Nexus 4 HTC One X For a full list of the available downloads visit: http://get.cm/?type=RC

Real Racing 3 for Android to get Dubai update soon Posted: 30 May 2013 08:47 PM PDT We last saw an update to Real Racing 3 for Android about a month ago, when new cars, events, and a bunch of other stuff got added to the game by EA. Now, in case any of you mobile racing game enthusiasts are hungry for more, there is yet another software update scheduled to arrive soon. This will no doubt get you excited just as all of the previous ones did. Real Racing 3, which is tagged by its creators as something that sets a new standard for mobile racing games, is set to receive an upcoming “Dubai update” which will add twilight racing at the Dubai Autodrome, as well as even more new cars and new events to play. Right now, the game only lets players race in real world tracks located in Belgium, California, Germany, and the U.K. This will update is likely to make things much more exciting. EA also posted the above teaser video for the upcoming Real Racing 3 Dubai update. It only really offers a quick glimpse at what’s in store for those who are looking forward to the update, but it’s easy to see why it’s something that’s worth looking forward to in the first place. EA hasn’t promised an exact date of release for the Dubai update, but you can expect it to arrive not only for Android but for iOS devices too very soon.

Airpush SDK 6.0 released: Adds in-app banner ads, developer analytics tools, and more Posted: 30 May 2013 08:01 PM PDT Airpush, the second largest mobile ad network for Android developers, recently announced the release of Airpush SDK version 6.0. This brings a number of major changes to the platform that will benefit not just Android devs but Android end users as well. One of the biggest changes to Airpush in the latest SDK release is the addition of in-app banner ads, which is expected to drive higher revenue for developers who may now use it on top of notification tray ads that get sent to user devices via push notification. Another big change is the introduction of new and improved advanced developer tools, which now offer devs access to certain analytics tools that can only help them maximize revenue while increasing app user satisfaction. Other Airpush SDK 6.0 highlights include push ad enhancements, which improve on the original Airpush push ad design, as well as SmartWall upgrades for rich media and video, which give developers more options for presenting users with ads as part of their apps. The release of the latest SDK was also announced alongside info that Airpush is now being used in 90,000 apps, and that developers who have signed up to become part of the platform are now getting their share of a total of $4 million USD in monthly payouts. I’m an Android developer. Should I be excited about this? We did a couple of interviews with Airpush back in 2011 wherein it was explained why, if you’re an Android developer, you should keep a close eye on it as an advertising platform if not immediately sign up to become a part of it yourself. Since our last interview with them, the number of apps that are using Airpush has multiplied nearly ten-fold, and we’re almost certain that this number will only increase in the future. The most relevant bit of news here for you is probably the addition of in-app banner ads in the latest Airpush SDK. Airpush started out eschewing the more common in-app banner ad format when it first launched, and that was part of its appeal. Now, developers that are part of the Airpush network can benefit from the use of not just the push notification ads, but traditional in-app ads as well. I’m just a regular Android user. Should I be worried? The fact that Airpush utilized push notification to deliver ads that appeared on a device’s notification tray seemed to make a lot of users angry in the beginning. It was seen as particularly annoying as the ads kept popping up even when a user was not using an app — and that was the point. Now, as a user, you may encounter push notification ads and in-app ads too from the same application. Is this something to be concerned about? Airpush says no. The company already learned its lesson two years ago, and as such there is a universal and permanent opt-out option available for all push notification ads. This way, you can at least take care of half of the equation in case you feel the ads are intrusive. And as for the use of in-app banner ads, you’re probably already used to seeing those by now, so it’s likely that you won’t be affected much by them. It will mainly affect developers, who now will have an extra option to monetize apps that they have made available to users for free. What do you think of the latest changes to Airpush? Is there anything you love — or hate — about it? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Airpush Hits Major Milestones of 90,000 Apps and $4 Million in Monthly Developer Payouts; Releases SDK 6.0 with New Ad Unit and New Developer Tools In Less Than Eight Months, Leading App Monetization Solution Has Doubled Its Live Apps and Developer Payouts; Responds to Overwhelming Developer Demand With Advanced New Network Capabilities LOS ANGELES (May 30, 2013) – Airpush, winner of the “Best Mobile Ad Network” at the 2012 Mobile Excellence Awards, today announced it has surpassed 90,000 live apps and $4 million in monthly developer payouts, representing more than 100 percent growth since August of 2012. As part of a major initiative to increase developer earnings and profitability, Airpush also is showcasing the newest version of its developer SDK at the SF AppShow in San Francisco and AnDevCon in Boston. Both shows are occurring simultaneously this week. Airpush's SDK 6.0 includes an array of significant upgrades to its platform. These include the addition of in-app banner ads to its suite of innovative ad types, major improvements to its flagship push notification ads, the addition of rich media and video ad units to SmartWall, and new advanced developer analytics tools for every developer account. The Airpush SDK is the industry's most powerful app monetization solution, providing developers with market-leading performance, the best eCPMs in the industry and free weekly payouts. Airpush developers consistently earn more revenue, using innovative ad formats that substantially outperform standard mobile banner advertising. "The increasingly competitive mobile development landscape is creating unique demands on today's app publisher," said Asher Delug, CEO of Airpush. "We created Airpush with the goal of giving developers all the tools they need to grow their businesses and thrive. Developers can now generate unprecedented recurring revenue streams that are paid out weekly, while reducing complexity by using Airpush's SDK as their complete monetization solution. Our new advanced developer tools also give them the ability to create a complete picture of their business health, so they can reinvest intelligently and with confidence. SDK 6.0 takes us a huge step closer in becoming a strategic partner that developers around the world can rely on for all of their needs." Airpush SDK 6.0 Highlights: - *New In-App Banner Ads:* SDK 6.0 includes In-App Banner Ads that enable Airpush developers to drive higher revenue from their users – which combined with Airpush's innovative ads, drive revenue while the app is in use and even when it isn't. And as the only major ad network that pays developers weekly, Airpush now represents the most complete and comprehensive monetization solution available today. - *Push Ad Enhancements:* SDK 6.0 includes dramatic improvements to Airpush's flagship ad format, the Push Notification Ad, which are now leading the industry in eCPMs and overall developer profitability. - *Rich Media and Video *Upgrades to SmartWall:* SDK 6.0 SmartWall enhancements feature new optimized ad types including Rich Media, MRAID 2.0 and both full-page and inline Video Ads. - *Advanced Developer Tools:* Airpush developers now also have access to advanced app analytics tools including funnel, cohort, audience segmentation, revenue and engagement analysis. Airpush’s SDK 6.0 is available now on Airpush’s site, www.airpush.com. Current developers can quickly log into their dashboard for details and new developers can easily sign up for an account. About Airpush Named “Best Mobile Ad Network” at the 2012 Mobile Excellence Awards, Airpush is on a mission to redefine mobile advertising for publishers and advertisers. More than 96,000 apps and 5,000 advertisers rely on Airpush to deliver the industry’s highest performance, driven by exceptional ad formats and targeting technology. Founded in 2011 by mobile advertising veterans, the company has approximately 140 employees and offices in Los Angeles and Bangalore. For more information, visit www.airpush.com or follow us on Twitter @AirpushAds. Media Contact Ken Greenberg Edge Communications, Inc. (323) 469-3397 ken@edgecommunicationsinc.com

Raspberry Pi used to avoid Internet censorship in China Posted: 30 May 2013 06:03 PM PDT In countries like China, government control looms large. As much of the rest of the world enjoys hassle-free Internet browsing, countries with less than open governments face censorship on a grand scale. Painting with a broad brush, The People's Republic of China is not friendly to outside influence, including those on the Internet. Where there's a will, there's a Pi. A Redditor, going by JaiPasInternet, has found a nifty workaround for censorship on the go. Using a Raspberry Pi computer, this crafty Redditor has turned theirs into a remote VPN client, able to operate free of oversight. While we tend to think of VPN as file hosting for our work related needs, it's a popular option for Chinese citizens to access the Internet we take for granted. The method for doing this via Raspberry Pi is relatively simple, and could catch on widely. From JaiPasInternet's Reddit post: I set my Raspberry to automatically connect to my VPN server through OpenVPN, and then share the connection with a wifi dongle, using hostapd software. I use it on a daily basis with my iPhone and Android tablet (way better than the included VPN client) but the good thing is that, wherever I go, I just bring my Raspberry, plug it into ethernet and to any usb plug, and after a few minutes, I have my censor-free Wi-Fi hotspot. The Redditor notes that it may take some time to connect to the VPN, but once established the connection is reliable. This little trick allows users to go undetected while China cracks down on VPN hosting services. As the government in China begins to identify and block access to various VPN clients operating in the country, this makes it nearly impossible to track.

Samsung may sell 80 million Galaxy S4 units this year Posted: 30 May 2013 05:08 PM PDT Samsung's massive, glitzy advertising campaign pretty much ensured the Galaxy S4 would be a blockbuster hit, something the South Korean company preliminarily confirmed when it announced sales had exceeded 10 million earlier this month. Even with competition from HTC and Apple, market watchers RBC Capital Markets say the S4 is in no way losing momentum, and could potentially hit sales of 80 million units this year. In comparison to Samsung's last major Galaxy S device, the S3, sales have been exponentially better, RCB analyst Mark Sue reported today in a note to clients. While the Galaxy S3 took nearly 2 months – 50 days – to achieve 10 million in sales, the S4 took only a couple of weeks. Sue said that, given the incredible demand at local retailers, the S4 is on track to cross the 20 million shipment mark by the end of this year's second quarter. Sue said Samsung's future looks bright and rosy. He expects the company to launch the successor to the Galaxy Note II in September, and believes smartphone growth this year will be driven by mid-range and low-cost phones like the products Samsung continues to refresh. In other words, Samsung's poised to remain a market juggernaut for some time.

DARPA develops Android-based sensor for future use in UAVs and more Posted: 30 May 2013 05:04 PM PDT DARPA, the U.S. Department of Defense’s famous research agency, put out a call for developers a few years back for help on a new mobile-oriented project that it started called the ADAPT program. ADAPT — which stands for Adaptable Sensor System — was said to be a way of seeking “novel techniques and processes to rapidly develop low-cost ISR sensor systems” through the use of manufacturing methods used by ODMs. In short, the aim is to build military sensor systems faster than the current method allows based on proven techniques for present-day mobile devices. What DARPA didn’t mention when it sent out its original call to developers was that ADAPT was actually going to be based on Android. Today, it has finally revealed just that, saying in a press release that the core ADAPT hardware and software package has been developed with a modified version of the Android OS. Rather than just write a bunch of technical details that may get very little attention in the mainstream media, DARPA has recorded a video of an actual ADAPT sensor — with a minimal amount of hardware and the customized version of Android and all — in action. It was fitted inside a small UAV which is shown on video to be capable of getting off the ground by using the newly-developed sensor framework. The video demonstrates how a standard quadcopter can benefit from the use of a basic ADAPT core-based sensor called the UAG (unattended ground sensor). It is small, lightweight, and is expected to radically speed up the development of inexpensive intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors that are easy to update. For now, the device used in the video demonstration remains just one of many possible reference designs. Some airborne, sea, and undersea sensor designs may also be developed and released in the future, but even now, this new use of existing technology looks pretty promising already. Check out the full DARPA news release below for additional info. Smartphone Technology Inspires Design for Smart Unattended Ground Sensor Commercial smartphone processes to aid development of air, sea and undersea unmanned military sensors as well DARPA's Adaptable Sensor System (ADAPT) program aims to transform how unattended sensors are developed for the military by using an original design manufacturer (ODM) process similar to that of the commercial smartphone industry. The goal is to develop low-cost, rapidly updatable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors in less than a year, a marked improvement to the current three-to-eight year development process. The program has developed the core ADAPT hardware and software package using a customized Android Operating System (OS) to provide capabilities common to all ISR sensors. The program recently completed its first reference design and developed application-specific software for an unattended ground sensor (UGS) that uses the ADAPT core. This new UGS could provide users with a cost-effective ground sensing capability. The UGS design is a very small cylinder. It features applications to remotely sense ground activity for a number of potential military applications. The sensor is self-powered and can wirelessly network with other sensors or user interfaces, such as a video monitor at an operations center. "We're excited to have the first reference design for a small, adaptable ground sensor and look forward to testing a significant number of these new sensors in field scenarios starting this summer," said Mark Rich, DARPA program manager. "We believe that the ADAPT building block approach—where you take the ADAPT core and easily plug it into any number of ISR sensor reference designs—will transform how the military Services and the defense industry approach ISR sensor research and development. This method has the promise of being much more cost-effective, faster to the warfighter, and easier to refresh with technology upgrades." DARPA may develop additional reference designs that integrate the ADAPT core and sensor-specific apps into airborne, sea and undersea sensor designs. Researchers recently removed the control interface of a small quad-copter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and replaced it with the ADAPT core. This successfully provided flight control input to the UAV and marked an initial step in applying the ADAPT core to other sensor reference designs.

Glu Mobile adding (real money) gambling to its games, starting with Deer Hunter Reloaded Posted: 30 May 2013 04:34 PM PDT Glu Mobile isn’t exactly raking in the dough, as the company hasn’t reported a profit since it went public in 2007. So what’s a mobile game developer to do? Add gambling into its games as a way to attract more users. Glu Mobile has announced it is partnering up with San Francisco start-up Skillz to provide a technology that will allow them to add real-money tournaments to its games for users in the United States, starting with Deer Hunter Reloaded. The developer hopes to expand to other games by the second half of the year. So how will this work? Basically the idea is that gamers will need to pay a small fee to enter into a competition, and if they achieve certain results, they will win cash prizes. Each player will be able to bet up to $3 per game, and both Glu and Skillz will get a total cut of 20% of the pot. It’s certainly a bold idea, but not one without its own problems. For one thing, the laws surrounding gambling in the United States vary considerably from state to state. How will you know if you are in a state that legally allows you to participate in the cash games? Skillz has a system that will poll your GPS location and send it to their servers. If you are in an area that permits gambling, you will be allowed to proceed. Deer Hunter Reloaded is already available for download but don’t expect the real-money tournament features to rollout until a little later this summer. What do you think, will this new endeavor prove popular and profitable? If you are in a state that legally allows you to participate in real-cash games, would you?

Three UK releases first promotional video for the Galaxy S4 Mini Posted: 30 May 2013 03:11 PM PDT Earlier today we learned that the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini was finally official, after months of speculation and rumors. Now we get a look at the very first promotional video for the upcoming handset from UK-based carrier, Three. The video starts by showing off what the 4.3-inch S4 Mini looks like, and then compares it (size-wise) to the "rest of the family", namely the Galaxy Mega and Galaxy S4. For some reason the video doesn’t mention the Note 2, probably because it is considered from the "previous generation" and the Note 3 has yet to be announced, but I digress. For those wondering why you should  possibly consider the Galaxy S4 Mini, Three’s Brendan Arndt answers with the following, "Some of you out there have told me that you don't want to carry around a 5-inch smartphone because it's simply too big. Well, the Galaxy S4 Mini brings the premium and the best features from the Galaxy S4 in an extremely pocketable size." What Three doesn’t focus on is that you might get some of the features from the S4, but you also only get a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 1.5GB RAM, 8GB storage, an 8MP rear cam, 1.9MP front cam and 1,900 mAh battery. Still, the specs are more than capable of providing a good Android experience for most users and if you really feel the S4 is too big, it could be exactly what you are looking for. How about it, excited for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini or not?

The Best Apps of the Month: May 2013 Posted: 30 May 2013 01:56 PM PDT Android is growing fast, and so is the amount of apps on the Play Store. Every month developers and big companies are releasing cool new apps for the Android community to try. With the amount of apps that are released, finding the good ones can be quite a challenge. So we’ve done all the work for you and put together a list of the best app releases of the month. As always, if you’d rather watch the video than read the article, just head to the bottom of the page.  Kingdom Rush First on our list is Kingdom Rush, a game previously exclusive to iOS and the Chrome web store. It has made its way to Android with flying colors, and has become quite popular on the platform. Kingdom Rush is your standard tower defense game. You build up towers, the towers kill the enemy, and in return you’re rewarded with money to buy more towers. Most tower defense players already know the drill with this genre, and for new players, it’s quite easy to pick up and play. Kingdom Rush is another fun, simple, tower defense game. Check it out, but be warned – it’s addictive! Next Browser Next Browser claims to be the next generation of browsing. We can’t confirm or deny that, but it’s definitely a very nice browser. It comes with your standard features — bookmarks, quick browsing, and even a customizable home page. When it comes to general web browsing, it’s fast. Pages load quickly, but a lot of that has to deal with your Internet connection. During our testing, we couldn’t find any issues with the browser. It’s very clean and efficient, and while it’s a great browser, don’t expect to get the same out of it as you would with Chrome. Punch Quest Three words sum up the excitement behind Punch Quest. Laster breathing dinosaurs. It’s a free runner game where you basically pound on enemies until you finally die. So it’s essentially a runner game with a twist that keeps Punch Quest fun. There are only two controls, punching the ground or punching in the air. The aforementioned laser breathing dinosaurs can be obtained as you progress through the game and find new special powers. Punch Quest is a fast paced game. It’s so enticing that you’ll often put it down and realize you’re late for a meeting! The game is definitely worth giving a look. What’s the Saying? What’s the Saying is probably one of the highest rated new apps of the month. It’s a word game, so it’s only going to appeal to a certain group of people. It’s a really simple game, and it has some social network integration to get your friends involved. Here’s how it works. You’re given a picture that has clues to figuring out the phrase. After that, you simply guess the phrase. If you’re not able to figure it out, coins can be used to solve it for your. You can even post it to your Twitter or Facebook to recruit help in finding it out. You Don’t Know Jack For those of you who have never played, You Don’t Know Jack stands for a gibberish question. It’s an adult oriented quiz show game that first began in the early 1990′s. It’s a fun game, and it’s occasionally vulgar and hilarious. With various questions like dis or dat and gibberish questions, long time fans are able to relive the game yet again. If you’re into quiz games, this is very much worth checking out. Wrap Up If you take a look at our leaderboard (image above) you can see how these apps compete with each other. These ratings are based on Google Play Store ratings, so there isn’t any bias on our part, as it is how you, the people, voted on them. There are a massive amount of apps that are released on a monthly basis. So there’s obviously a few that we’ve missed. If you have a favorite app that came out in the month of May, be sure to let us know about it in the comments below!

HTC One “Google Edition” isn’t without some sacrifice: won’t support IR blaster, HTC Zoe or Beats Audio software switch Posted: 30 May 2013 01:26 PM PDT Earlier today, Google’s Sundar Pichai revealed that the HTC One with “a Nexus Experience” is happening, despite the initial denials from HTC. The announcement of the HTC One Google Edition follows behind the Google I/O reveal of the GS4 GE. What makes these Google Edition devices so exciting is that we can enjoy our favorite flagship phones without worrying about all the manufacturer bloat that normally comes with them. Of course the Google Edition handsets don’t come without some sacrifice. Love or hate OEM skins and customizations, part of the what draws consumers to devices like the Galaxy S4 and HTC One are the special features you can’t find with stock Android. For the HTC One this includes HTC Zoe, Blinkfeed, an IR blaster, an FM radio app and Beats Audio software. So that leaves the question, what happens to these features when you opt for a phone that doesn’t include Sense? Android Police reached out to HTC to clarify the situation, and learned what we’ve always suspected, none of these features will be present on the Google Edition handsets (at least as far as the HTC One is concerned), with the exception of Beats Audio – which apparently will be present, just without the software audio switch in the status bar. It is worth mentioning that the capacitive button configuration on the HTC One will be exactly the same even with the Google Edition of the handset. So is the Google Edition worth it, considering the loss of some of HTC’s special features? The answer to that is dependent on what you plan to do with your phone. If you love modding, hacking and absolutely can’t stand Sense, then sure it is. Not to mention that there are likely 3rd party modifications out there that will help you "put back" some of the features you lose, if you so desire. For those that really don’t care about modding and don’t mind Sense, this phone probably isn’t for you. What do you think of the HTC One "Google Edition", excited to get your hands on it or are you perfectly happy with the standard HTC One?

Android will soon overtake Apple in tablet shipments, says ABI Research Posted: 30 May 2013 12:28 PM PDT Google Nexus 7 It seems Tim Cook's remarks about Apple's comparatively low market penetration couldn't come at a better time. ABI Research, a technology analytics firm that tracks the sale and distribution of mobile devices, said today that global Android tablet shipments will soon overshadow iPad shipments. Apple dominated the tablet market in the first quarter of this year, shipping nearly 50 percent of tablets. That's a substantial amount of iPads, but still down from Apple's 69 percent of tablets shipped in the second quarter of last year, and a rate which ABI predicts is unsustainable in the face of stiff competition from low-cost Android tablet manufacturers. Developing markets like China and emerging markets – where demand for sub-$200 Android tablets is greatest – have propelled Android marketshare to incredible heights recently. ABI maintains that devices running Android will soon represent a majority of tablet shipments, as smaller tablets become more popular and the price of tablets continues to fall. Research firm IDC reported earlier this week that 55 percent of tablets shipped this year will have screen sizes 8 inches or smaller, and that the average selling price of tablets should drop to $381 in 2013, a decrease of 11 percent. It looks like Apple's reluctance to engage new markets with discounted products has come back to bite the company. We'll see if  it has learned its lesson when the next iPad is unveiled.

LG Optimus L4 II and L4 II Dual apparently on the way to Russia this summer Posted: 30 May 2013 12:25 PM PDT We already knew about the LG Optimus L3 II, L5 II and L7 II, which were all unveiled back in February. But if a new rumor proves true, apparently the LG Optimus L4 II is also in the pipeline. The news (and photos) of the L4 II comes from Russian website Hi-Tech.Mail.Ru, and according to the sites’ sources, the phone will be released in single and dual-SIM form this June. We can’t say for sure if or when the Optimus L4 II might make its way out of Russia, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the phone arrive to other parts of Europe and Asia. So what does this budget phone offer? You get a 3.8-inch IPS display with a resolution of 320×480 and a 1GHz single-core Mediatek SoC with just 512MB RAM. Other specs include a PowerVR SGX531 GPU, 4GB RAM, a 3MP camera with a BSI sensor and LED flash, microSD, a 1,700 mAh battery and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The specs on this phone aren’t exactly going to impress your friends, but nor do we expect that kind of performance out of a budget device. The L4 II Single is expected to cost around 5,490 RUB, or roughly $173. The dual model will be a bit pricier at 5,990 RUB, or around $189. I understand that not everyone can afford quad-core super-phones, but it’s a bit disappointing to see smartphones still packing sub-4-inch displays and single-core processors – especially for a device that costs close to $200. What do you think of the LG Optimus L3 II, does its specs seem worth the money, or not?

More sources confirm Sony Xperia L4 Togari, provide more details Posted: 30 May 2013 11:58 AM PDT Sony Xperia Z The Sony Xperia L4, or “Togari” as it is also known, has been confirmed by two more sources, which have also provided further details about it. Interestingly enough, Greek site Tech Blog has confirmed some interesting information about the future device, saying that it would have (as previously rumored) a 6.4 inch screen with a Full HD resolution, but that it would be a screen capable of working with any pen or pencil, not only a stylus or your finger. Gizbot says that a “handset with an extra large display” was confirmed by Sony sources at a recent Delhi event. The sources said that the company was preparing a device with a larger screen, to counter the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, rumored for a July-August launch. The rest of the information is pretty consistent with previous rumors, in the sense that it mentions an Xperia Z-like design and a better CPU — the Snapdragon 600 and 800 are mentioned, as well as 2 GB of RAM. The camera would be a 13 megapixel one, featuring an Exymor RS sensor. NFC (which Sony has been promoting in a cute TV ad recently) and an IR blaster are also mentioned as being part of the equation. In terms of release date, Gizbot says that it would come out at IFA Berlin 2013 (September of this year) or at CES 2014 (January 2014). As you may remember, the initial rumors were mentioning a July release in China, with the device coming to international markets in August or September, which fits the timeline for release at IFA. It’s too early to be making predictions, but the Sony Xperia L4 looks to be a pretty interesting device. We’ll just have to wait and see what the future brings. Do you think Sony’s device will have what it takes to compete against the Samsung Galaxy Note 3? We want to know what you think!

5.9-inch Key Lime Pie-running HTC T6 to challenge Galaxy Note 3, report says Posted: 30 May 2013 11:54 AM PDT A new report reveals that the rumored HTC T6 could be a Key Lime Pie-running 5.9-inch handset meant to compete directly against the upcoming Galaxy Note 3 from Samsung. From the start we'll remind you that this is just a rumor for now, and we have no way of confirming anything at this time, so make sure you take it with a grain of salt. The Unlockr has apparently learned that the HTC T6 – which we saw in a different report a few days ago – is an actual HTC smartphone. The publication already has a list of specs and features for this Galaxy Note 3 contender, which reveals some interesting details. The handset will reportedly pack a 5.9-inch touchscreen display with 1080p resolution, a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of memory upgradeable via microSD cards, an UltraPixel camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera with wide-angle lens, a 3300mAh battery and, most interestingly Android (5.0?) Key Lime Pie under the hood from launch. That's right, it looks like the HTC T6 – which will presumably be a HTC One of the maxi variety – will not come with Jelly Bean on board but with KLP. The handset will reportedly launch in late summer or early fall, although it's too early to talk about availability dates at this time considering the device is not even official yet. Galaxy Note 3 concept In addition to KLP, the HTC T6 will incorporate additional software features including a revamped Sense UI complete with a new BlinkFeed version ("more partners, more customizability and the ability to save content for offline consumption") and a stylus: Note-faithful, take, um, note: HTC is looking to woo you away from the original phablet by hitting Samsung's star where it hurts — the pen. Great care is apparently being put into making the pen usage here a premium experience, so expect a nicely crafted stylus with an ultra-thin tip capable of a full suite of content creation and manipulation capabilities. It wasn't known whether Scribe, the company's pen suite for its short-lived lineup of (two) Android tablets, would be powering the T6 experience as well. The HTC T6 would also pack a built-in fingerprint reader, which would be located on the back, allowing users to unlock the device as they "grip it naturally to begin usage." Also interesting is the HTC T6's rumored power jacket, a case that would also pack an extra 1250mAh battery. Comparatively, the Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to arrive in July-August, and to also pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and a rear camera with OIS abilities. However, it's too early to tell what kind of software the handset would run, not that any of these rumored specs can be confirmed either. Speaking of software, we'll remind you that Google will most likely release Android 4.3 Jelly Bean in the very near future. As for Key Lime Pie, we would expect it to be unveiled at some point in fall and we would expect Android 5.0 to be called KLP, although we can't back such speculation with any facts yet. We'll be back with more HTC T6 news in the near future, as we expect to see more leaks as we get closer to its launch.

Is Asus preparing to take on the Galaxy Note series with 6-inch Transformer? Posted: 30 May 2013 11:48 AM PDT Computex 2013 is just around the corner, and that means now is the time when manufacturers start teasing us about what they plan to show off. For Asus, the teasing takes place in the form of an Android action-figure, which is teeming with hints of what is to come. To find the biggest hints, you don’t need to look any further than the box. Right on the front of the box we see things like the model number, "N6-TE", as well as two arms that likely represent two key features for this Asus device: the ability to make phone calls and the ability to take notes, possibly with a built-in stylus. Some of the other big hints include the words "We Transform" and the name "Droid Mark II". Last but not least, there is a big number "6" on the Android figure’s chest. Putting it all together, what does it mean? Only Asus knows for certain, but it wouldn’t seem crazy to think this is either some kind of 6-inch Transformer device. Then there is also the possibility that this could be a sequel to the Asus FonePad, hence the "mark 2" mentioning. Whatever it is, we can pretty much bet it will come in a form factor that puts it directly in competition with large-display phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note series. Going with a 6-inch display also means the device will work well as a tablet but won’t seem as ridiculous when held up to your face, unlike the Asus FonePad. For now, all we can do is speculate and geek out about great things to come at Computex. Luckily, we only have to wait until June 3rd at 3PM (local Taiwan time) to learn what Asus has up its sleeves. What do you think, excited for Asus’ device unveiling or not?

Is Samsung’s success a problem for Android? Not according to Sundar Pichai Posted: 30 May 2013 11:43 AM PDT We opine about Samsung’s grip on Android quite a bit. Is it healthy for Android? What about TIzen? There are so many issues we concern ourselves with. It comes from a good place, though. We love Android, and would really like to see a little levelling in the market. HTC makes fantastic devices, and the LG Nexus 4 is brilliant. Those two are, unfortunately, satellite manufacturers in the Android space. They make great devices, but rarely have the presence or impact Samsung does. Even Motorola, now owned by Google, has a limited foothold in a market they've been active in from the beginning. Sundar Pichai doesn't Samsung's dominance as a problem. At all. In reference to Samsung, Pichai notes "they're a very close partner. We enjoy a very close working relationship. We actually owe a lot of success, in Android, to what they've done." "Today, I see a pretty symbiotic relationship, and we intend to keep it that way." is how Pichai phrased the Android/Samsung success story. He went on to reference Microsoft and Intel working together, and how well it works when a software and hardware manufacturer work in unison. In regard to the future of Samsung and Android, Pichai had the following to offer: "We are working on projects for the next twelve to eighteen months, and the collaboration is getting deeper. You will see that play out as we ship these devices." While there are no indications of just what those products are, the collaboration between Samsung and Google has been wonderful. Both Samsung Nexus devices were really good, and the Samsung ARM Chromebook defined the genre. If we are set to get more of that, then there is little reason to concern ourselves with Samsung's success. We just hope Google doesn't lose a broader focus and forget the other manufacturers, who also have a lot to offer.

Chrome security features in Android? The boss, Sundar Pichai, says yes. Posted: 30 May 2013 10:59 AM PDT When Sundar Pichai took over as Android chief, it led so many of us to wonder what it all meant. Our initial concern was that Google would combine the two services. We tried to wrap our head around it, and figure out how it would work out. A Chrome-Android merger… was it possible? Would it make sense? After the initial dust-up, cooler heads prevailed. We realized it was more about a great leader in Pichai, and some functionality that can be shared between the two massive programs. Today, we get news of what some of that functionality may be. All D11, the All Things D conference, Android boss Sundar Pichai spoke about Android security. He noted that with Chrome, there are a variety of security features that he'd like to see on Android. "From a security, child safety, etc. standpoint, Chrome OS lets you be a guest user. We’re working on things like that on Android." said Pichai. We didn't hear a release timeframe for any of these developments, but that's no big deal. The mere fact that two programs, which we all love using, will be cross referencing each other is amazing. It goes to show that there is space for both in the mobile landscape, and that worlds can mesh rather than collide. The Chrome team has security figured out better than anyone, and as programs like "bring your own device" become more popular, Android security will be at the forefront of concerns. If the Android team can pick up some cues from the Chrome team, we may never have to worry about mobile security again.

Rumor: Despite what you’ve heard, an LG Nexus 5 prototype is in the works Posted: 30 May 2013 10:38 AM PDT Earlier this week, LG’s Kim Wong sat down for an interview where he revealed a bit about LG’s plans for the future. Wong also brought up the Nexus 5 and led most of the web to believe that LG wasn’t interested in making the next Nexus phone. LG later issued a statement saying that they weren’t working on a Nexus 5 right now, but that they wouldn’t turn down the opportunity in the future. With everything seemingly cleared up, that should have been the end of LG Nexus 5 talk for a while. But the rumor mill keeps churning, never sleeping. The latest word is that LG is actively working on the Nexus 5, regardless of what we’ve heard. The rumor comes from Korean site Daum.net, who has a history for leaking information that later proves correct. Duam reports that the next-gen Nexus has been in testing inside of LG for about a month now, under strict security conditions. Outside of those working closely with the device, apparently Larry Page is the only person to have seen the Nexus 5 prototype. So who should we believe here? Obviously we should take all LG Nexus 5 rumors with a grain of salt, but at the same time remember that LG hasn’t denied interest in making another Nexus device. All they said was they weren’t working on the Nexus 5 right now– you know, just like HTC said they weren’t planning an HTC One with a Nexus experience. Even Wong’s comments never turned down idea of another Nexus, despite what the media might have you believe. Instead, he simply said, “The Nexus 4 was a great success despite the production problems for us and Google. However we do not need such a marketing success again.” It’s true that the Nexus 4 really gave LG a strong shove forward when it came to positive marketing and reputation, despite some of the supply issues they ran into. But there are other reasons beyond marketing to get involved with the Nexus project, such as being the first manufacturer to get the next version of Android, (hopefully) Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. Being the first to the Key Lime Pie party would be a major win for LG, and would make working with Google on another Nexus well worth the trouble. At the moment we really don’t know if LG is or isn’t involved with the next Nexus phone, but if it is, would you be interested in it? Or are you ready for Google to give someone else a shot at making a Nexus smartphone?

Samsung GT-P5210 passes through the FCC, is this the long awaited Galaxy Tab 3 10.1? Posted: 30 May 2013 10:26 AM PDT These past few months have been a whirlwind of Samsung Galaxy rumors, leaks, announcements and FCC leaks. Today, the Samsung GT-P5210 took a trip through the FCC office, indicating that the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 is coming soon, but at the same time revealing very little information on specifications. What we do know is that it has a 10-inch screen, a name that lines up with the rest of the Galaxy Tab 3 family (the Galaxy Tab 7.0's model number is GT-P3210), and that it is the WiFi-only version. We don’t know anything else about the device, including whether the processor inside is the rumored Intel Atom chipset. Samsung already has an event lined up for the 20th of June, where we'll see Android and Windows devices. For now it looks like the Samsung GT-P5210 will be revealed on the event day, but don't be surprised if Samsung announces the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 a little sooner. Is this the long awaited Galaxy Tab 10.1?

How to install Adobe Flash Player on Android Posted: 30 May 2013 10:23 AM PDT As you know, Adobe Flash Player was ditched in favor of HTML5 on Android. While that’s certainly not a bad thing, there’s still some faithful Adobe Flash Player users. So we’re going to show you how to manually install Adobe Flash Player on your Android device. It’s a fairly easy process. As usual, if you’d rather watch the video, just head to the bottom of the article. Installing As I mentioned, installing Adobe Flash Player is very easy. First, head into your Android device’s Settings > Security and make sure to check the Unknown Sources box. This will allow us to install the Adobe Flash Player app from a source other than the Play Store. Next, open up Google on your Android device and search for “Adobe Flash Player archives” (or just hit this link from your smartphone). After that, hit the first link on the page. Once the page is loaded, you’re going to want to scroll down until you see the Android 4.0 archives. When you find it, you’re going to want to tap the first version you see to begin the download, which is the version that Adobe still updates regularly. After the download is finished, simply tap the notification and you can begin installing the app. Keep in mind that you can’t use the stock browser or Google Chrome with Adobe Flash Player, as they don’t support it. You’re going to need to use something like the Boat browser or Firefox. Setting up Flash If you have Boat browser installed, inside the browser head into Settings > Page Content settings, and make sure the flash plugins are enabled. After that, you can head on over to YouTube to make sure it works. Just make you’re using the desktop site and not the mobile page. That’s it! Adobe Flash Player should now be up and running on your Android device!

Android chief Sundar Pichai says Google will continue leading Nexus development Posted: 30 May 2013 10:12 AM PDT There are a lot of interesting developments in Android hardware recently. We saw the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition at I/O, which led to a few moans and groans when the $649 pricetag was announced. Today, Android Chief Sundar Pichai revealed the new HTC One Google Edition phone, set to retail at $599 on the Play Store. It led some to speculate as to whether or not Google was done making Nexus hardware. That's a fair question, considering we've not seen this kind of thing from Google before. Is it a sign of changing tides, or Google being smart about what consumers want? According to the boss himself, the latter. Sundar Pichai notes during his D11 talk that Google will continue to head development on Nexus devices. Those devices, and Pichai points out, are not just about the newest version of Android. "The idea with Nexus is to push on hardware as well, so that will continue." said Pichai. He also noted that Google would continue to partner with manufacturers, offering more devices with stock Android in the future. This is really wonderful news, all around. We now have access to the best hardware available, and can get the operating system we might prefer, without rooting. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is a nice device, but TouchWiz isn't for everyone. The same goes for the HTC One — great hardware, but a suspect OS skin for many. Now we have the best devices available, running pure Android. The price for both the HTC One and Galaxy S4 are fair for an unlocked device that isn't a Nexus device, so it's fair for everyone as well. To top it all off, the Nexus program will continue laying the groundwork for Android. This is exactly what we've been asking for, and Google delivered for us. Let's be happy about it!

See the Motorola D11 talk about the X Phone here! Posted: 30 May 2013 09:36 AM PDT Yesterday, we told you about the D11 conference in which Dennis Woodside of Motorola "accidentally" confirmed the X Phone. The device, which was in Dennis' pocket (though he was unable to show it), has achieved mythical proportions. While we don't know a whole lot about the device, Motorola issued a press release shortly after the D11 talk to make it official. We like that it will be made in the USA, and are sure the specs will live up to the hype. In case you didn't see the talk, and Dennis' slip-up, check it out below.

Motorola shows off digital tattoos and smart pills, not afraid to think outside the box Posted: 30 May 2013 09:13 AM PDT Yesterday at the D11 Conference, Motorola took the stage and revealed some truly epic news. Not only did we learn that the X Phone is in fact real, the company also unveiled its plans for unique authentication devices in the future. The first of these technologies is a prototype electronic tattoo that Motorola’s SVP for advanced technology, Regina Dugan, wore on her arm. According to Regina, the tattoo could potentially replace traditional authentication methods for logging into devices like your phone or tablet. The tattoo would only need to changed out once a week. Regina also commented on how wearable tattoos might be more exciting to younger people than devices like smartwatches. In her words, “teenagers might not want to wear a watch, but you can be sure they’ll wear a tattoo just to piss off their parents.” While the tattoo certainly is unique, it has nothing on the second prototype shown off by Motorola, a pill created by Proteus Digital Health. That’s right, Motorola hopes to someday bring us a pill that you can ingest that basically turns YOU into an authentication token. The idea is that the pill’s electronics would be powered by the acid in your stomach and could create an 18-bit signal in your body. According to Regina, the pill technology has been successfully tested and is even approved by the FDA. Just don’t expect either the tattoo or pill to ship anytime soon, as they are both still “works in progress”. The bigger take away is that Motorola isn’t afraid to try new things and is openly thinking about the future of wearable (and ingestable?) technologies. Motorola might not be the biggest player in the mobile world, but I certainly wouldn’t count the company down and out. What do you think of these unique authentication methods, could you see yourself using either one of these?

“HTC One with Nexus User Experience” unveiled, will ship on June 26 Posted: 30 May 2013 09:13 AM PDT Google's Sundar Pichai just announced the long rumored HTC One "Google Edition" – the device will run Android 4.2.2 AOSP and will be available starting June 26. Rumors about a stock Android HTC One version emerged almost the minute Hugo Barra announced the Google Edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4. Though HTC was quick to refute the rumors, today on the stage of the D11 conference in Los Angeles, Android boss Sundar Pichai made the "HTC One with Nexus User Experience" real. On the hardware side, it's the same HTC One we've come to know and love. Inside though, it's all stock Android 4.2.2 AOSP. Just like the Galaxy S4 Google Edition, the One Google Edition will sell unlocked from the Play Store. The device will ship on the same day as the Galaxy S4 Google Edition, June 26. As for the price of the device, it's $599 for the 32GB version, which is $50 cheaper than the similar Samsung device. However, while the Galaxy S4 Google Edition comes with 16GB of internal storage (expandable), the One has 32GB, though without the possibility to expand it via microSD. The HTC One Google Edition – let’s use this unofficial moniker for now – will be equipped with Beats Audio, but we haven’t hear anything about the software of the much touted Ultrapixel camera.

GamePop Android gaming console by BlueStacks to cost $129 after free promo offer Posted: 30 May 2013 09:06 AM PDT Remember the newest Android-based gaming console that we told you about earlier this month called Gamepop from BlueStacks? It’s still being sold in a pre-order basis, and as mentioned in our earlier report, it is still free as long as you purchase a year-long monthly subscription. Now, BlueStacks has revealed how much it plans to charge for the GamePop after its free promo offer finally ends next month. The get-your-free-unit-with-a-monthly-subscription promo that BlueStacks is doing for the GamePop is scheduled to run right until the end of June. Buyers will be able to get themselves a GamePop without having to pay for the unit itself simply by paying an entire year’s worth of monthly subscription fees that cost $6.99 per month — about $84 USD in total. When the promo ends, the GamePop will then be sold separately: at $129 a piece. According to BlueStacks VP of marketing and business development John Gargiulo, the Gamepop is “much better” than what people might expect, with the use of "new control paradigms that have recently been made possible.” The console, which is said to be on track for a Winter 2013 release, will support not just Android devices as controllers, but iPhones and possibly other iOS-powered devices as well. BlueStacks also announced that it has already signed partnership deals with COM2US, the largest game developer in Korea, as well as Intellijoy and education developers with offerings that are currently present in Google Play. There may yet be a future for a product such as the GamePop. At the very least, it looks very promising. Do you agree or disagree? Tell us what you think about it in the comments.

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