Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Android Central

Android Central


The Hisense Sero 7 Pro gets reviewed in the forums

Posted: 28 May 2013 02:57 PM PDT

Sero 7 Pro

Users seem to be loving the new $149 Hisense Sero 7 Pro tablet, be sure to join the discussion with questions or comments

Last week we told you about a new line of inexpensive Android tablets coming to Walmart from Hisense. The price looked marvelous, and the $149 Sero 7 Pro had some pretty nice specs -- besting the crowd favorite Nexus 7 in most ways. At that price you knew Android fans were going to bite, and now the forums has a handful of folks talking about their new purchase.

I don't want to give too many spoilers, but the reviews are good. It looks like Hisense has kept things mostly stock, and the Tegra 3 with Jelly Bean performs as well here as it does on other, more expensive models.

All this has me looking at the Sero 7 Pro myself, so maybe we'll squeeze a front page review into the schedule soon. But in the meantime, join folks just like you who are using the tablet every day in the forums, and see what they think about their new pick up.

The Hisense Sero 7 review thread

    


Verizon's Galaxy S4 will support AWS LTE via a software update

Posted: 28 May 2013 01:30 PM PDT

Galaxy S4

A future software update will allow the Galaxy S4 to operate on Verizon's AWS LTE expansion network which is launching this summer in New York

When the Verizon version of the Galaxy S4 zipped through the FCC back in March, everyone noticed hardware support for the recently acquired AWS spectrum that will be used for Big Red's LTE expansion. Today, Bloomberg reports that this support is currently idle and will be enabled prior to the network going live this summer.

Verizon has been busy buying and selling AWS spectrum to bolster their current LTE network, which is slowly showing the effect of having so many phones and other devices running on it. The current 700MHz C-block is getting a bit, shall we say clogged, and because there's so little of it available there's not much chance of relief. As more and more customers sign up with an LTE-enabled smart phone or other device, Verizon needs more of the airwaves to serve them all. The amount of AWS spectrum available to Verizon means they could enable a very fast, nationwide network using it that can provide up to 400% (that'd be 20x20 compared to the existing 5x5 C-block network) of the capacity of their current LTE offerings.

Of course, to use this bigger and faster LTE network, you need hardware. That's where today's news comes into play. When Verizon is ready to flip the switch and light up the new AWS network in New York later this summer, a software update will make the Galaxy S4 ready to use it. We expect to see some incredible speed tests in the near future.

Source: Bloomberg

    


Hands-on with the white Nexus 4

Posted: 28 May 2013 12:18 PM PDT

White Nexus 4.

Phone, ahoy! Have ye seen the white Nexus 4?

Aye, cap'n. We have. In fact, we've got the white Nexus 4 here in our hot little hands. And, yes. It's a Nexus 4. And it's white. It's a white Nexus 4. And ... That's really about it. LG this morning finally announced the existence of what has never really been that much of a secret, and it'll be available May 29.

So what's new on the white Nexus 4? We'll break it down.

read more

    


Android Central App Changelog

Posted: 28 May 2013 10:27 AM PDT

Android Central App

This is the home for the changelog for all versions of the official Android Central app, as published in Google Play.

v1.1.1 (Released May 16, 2013)

  • Fix widget update errors

v1.1 (Released May 15, 2013)

  • Widget support! Get the latest news posts on your home screen or your lock screen!
  • Landscape support throughout the app. Because everybody gets a little sideways now and then.
  • Support for Google Play store links in articles. (Hint: Look for the Google Play logo at the top of the story.
  • Ability to use the pull-out side menu from all screens. (YES!)
  • Other small bug fixes and tweaks. As in any good update.

v1.0 (Released May 7, 2013)

  • Initial release
    


Samsung Desktop Dock with the Galaxy S4

Posted: 28 May 2013 09:38 AM PDT

Samsung Desktop Dock

 

One of our favorite features of the Samsung Galaxy S4 is that it's essentially the same size as its predecessor, and so a number of accessories released for the Galaxy S3 work with the newer version as well. 

That brings us to what you see here -- the Samsung Multimedia Desktop Dock. It's a pretty basic deal -- plop your Galaxy S4 into it and it'll automatically switch to Desktop mode. Plug in with a microUSB cable and you'll charge the phone at the same time. And use the optional 3.5mm line out to play music while the phone's docked. 

This thing's pretty portable as well, with the dock section flipping down into itself for easy travel. And perhaps most important, you can get it fairly cheap since technically it's "last year's" dock.

We've got a handful of pics after the break. Give 'em a gander.

read more

    


Deal of the Day: Body Glove Hybrid Fusion Steel Case for Galaxy S4

Posted: 28 May 2013 06:56 AM PDT

Deal of the Day The May 28 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Body Glove Hybrid Fusion Steel Case for Samsung Galaxy S4. Protect and personalize your Galaxy S4 with the Body Glove Fusion Steel Case - a flexible TPU skin cover with a brushed metal design inlay on the back. The skin gives your phone the slick look of a hard case while providing shock-absorbing protection. Comes in black or purple.

The Body Glove Hybrid Fusion Steel Case is available for just $19.00, 37% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping!

Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts

    


The best Android phone you can buy, as of June 2013

Posted: 28 May 2013 06:53 AM PDT

HTC One, Galaxy S4

Find out which handset gets the Android Central recommendation

We're six months down the road from our last "best Android phones" roundup, and the smartphone landscape has altered dramatically. Back in December we crowned the Samsung Galaxy S3 king of all Android phones, on account of its responsiveness, broad availability and excellent performance across the board. A generation later, the Android space is dominated by two new heavyweights -- the Galaxy S4 and HTC One, with other contenders including the Xperia Z and ZL from Sony and LG's Nexus 4.

In mid-2013, buttery-smooth performance, beautiful screens, high-quality cameras, 4G LTE connectivity and Jelly Bean out of the box come as standard at the high-end. Competition is more fierce than ever, and that's resulted in some of the best Android hardware we've ever seen.

But there can be only one winner. Join us after the break to find out which phone takes the prize.

read more

    


Catch Phil on Pocketnow VIP this morning

Posted: 28 May 2013 05:11 AM PDT

Pocketnow VIPWelcome back from the three-day weekend, folks. (OK, maybe not for everybody. But you gotta dance with the one who brung ya.) Just a quick heads up that I'll be doing the Pocketnow VIP show this morning. Never mind that I'm actually as far from a VIP as you can get -- the important part is chatting with some of our oldest pals here in the mobile space. 

It's going down at 11 a.m. EDT, so be sure to head on over and check it out. They'll shoot out the link a few minutes before things go live.

More: Pocketnow VIP

    


Samsung reportedly considering OIS, optical zoom for Galaxy Note 3 camera

Posted: 28 May 2013 05:07 AM PDT

Galaxy Note 2 camera

Korean press says range of technologies being considered for upcoming Note successor

Cameras are one area of phone hardware in which there's always room for improvement. Recent flagships like the Galaxy S4 and HTC One have introduced high megapixel counts and optical image stabilization in an effort to produce better smartphone snaps. Looking ahead, rumored devices including the Sony "Honami" and "Galaxy S4 Zoom" could take things even further, with 20-megapixel sensors and optical zoom capabilities.

So it's interesting to hear reports today that Samsung's considering all manner of exotic imaging technologies for its upcoming Galaxy Note 2 successor. Quoting unnamed Samsung officials, Korea's ETNews reports that a 13-megapixel sensor is on the cards, along with optical image stabilization and optical zoom capabilities. The former allows the camera assembly itself to move in order to prevent motion blur, while the latter would vastly improve upon the digital zoom offered by most cameraphones. (As we mentioned, Samsung is already rumored to be experimenting with optical zoom on the "Galaxy S4 Zoom".)

We're not expecting the Galaxy Note 3 to make its debut before this year's IFA trade show in Berlin, scheduled for early September. As such, ETNews says the camera specs remain up in the air at this point. Nevertheless, if Samsung can cram an optical zoom into an (albeit large) smartphone, it could very well be a headline feature for the next Note.

Source: ETNews; via: Engadget

    


LG VP comments on Nexus 5 'misinterpreted'

Posted: 28 May 2013 03:38 AM PDT

LG

Manufacturer says it's not currently working on Nexus 5, but wouldn't turn down the opportunity

An interview with European LG Mobile VP Won Kim sparked a bit of excitement this morning, as selected quotes appeared to show that the manufacturer wasn't interested in collaborating with Google on a future Nexus smartphone. In an article in Dutch publication AllAboutPhones, Kim is quoted as saying "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."

Kim also appeared to distance himself from any possibility of "Google Edition" version of top LG handsets (as Samsung is doing with the Galaxy S4), saying LG has "no plans" to offer such a phone.

However LG quickly released a statement to clarify matters, saying that Kim's comments had been misinterpreted. The official message passed to The Next Web states that “What Mr. Won Kim said is that we are not currently working on a Nexus 5, which is true. But that doesn’t mean we would turn down the opportunity.”

The news comes amid rumors from the Korean press in recent weeks stating that LG is indeed the chosen partner for the next Nexus smartphone. Regardless, we're still a good five or six months out from the usual launch window for new Nexus devices, so we'll just have to wait and see how things pan out.

Source: The Next Web, AllAboutPhones

    


LG officially announces white Nexus 4, on sale from May 29

Posted: 28 May 2013 02:12 AM PDT

Android Central

On sale beginning in Hong Kong, to follow in Asia, Europe, Middle East and North America in coming weeks

The Unicorn that suddenly thrust itself into public view in recent weeks is now officially official. LG has announced that the white variant of the Nexus 4 will be released to the world on May 29 in Hong Kong. After this, in the "coming weeks" we shall see it roll out globally, though no specific dates are available for other regions at this point. 

And that's about all she wrote. The white Nexus 4 still comes with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and there's no mention of any new storage options or even where we'll be able to buy it. Since this announcement has come from LG and not Google, there's a possibility -- at least to begin with -- that this isn't Play Store bound. If it doesn't get into the Play Store, we're not likely to see this version hit the same price point as the black one, so we'll keep our collective fingers crossed on that one. 

Source: LG

    


Droid RAZR M, RAZR HD get blue paint job

Posted: 27 May 2013 07:07 AM PDT

RAZR M, RAZR HDMid-range and high-end RAZRs now available in new color option

Verizon Wireless has debuted a new color option for its Motorola Droid RAZR M and RAZR HD today. Both devices get an extra splash of color, with a new blue variant going on sale alongside the existing back and white models. You'll have to look closely to spot the changes to the RAZR HD, however, as only the power button and metallic trim have been colored.

Unfortunately it looks like there's no blue RAZR MAXX HD -- that phone is still only available in black.

The Droid RAZR M is currently free with a two-year plan, or $549.99 to buy on its own, while the RAZR HD is $99 on-contract or $599.99 outright. Check 'em out at the link below.

Source: Verizon Wireless (RAZR M, RAZR HD); via: AndroidPolice

More: Droid RAZR M review; Droid RAZR HD review

    

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