Android World: Android Central

Monday, May 13, 2013

Android Central

HTC One, two months on...
The 2013 Google I/O Developer Conference
Galaxy S4 quick tip: Disable 'Auto adjust screen tone' for brighter whites
Google Play Sound Search now available in Australia

Posted: 12 May 2013 09:03 AM PDT

HTC One

How has HTC's latest flagship fared after two months in the hands of an AC editor?

It’s been just over two months since I first got my hands on the HTC One -- first, a pre-production demo unit, then a final European retail model. For most of that time, HTC’s impressive 2013 flagship has been my daily driver -- the phone I use every day, and take with me just about everywhere I go. In that time it’s seen plenty of normal use, and ten days or so of not-so-normal use in New York City for our Galaxy S4 and #TM13 coverage

But the HTC One was in in short supply when it first launched in Europe and it’s only recently hit the U.S. market, so we’re in a bit of a unique position to have used the phone for this long. With that in mind, so now seems like the right moment to reflect on our time with the device.

Just as we did for the Nexus 4 in January, it’s time for our long-term, two-month retrospective feature on the HTC One. We’ve already brought you a full review of the phone, and a casual review of the Sprint version, of course. So consider this article a chance for us to share the kind of details that don’t come to light in the course of our normal review process, and an opportunity to let you know what to expect in the months ahead if you pick up an HTC One today.

Check past the break to learn how the HTC One has coped with 61 days in the hands of an Android Central editor.

The 2013 Google I/O Developer Conference

Posted: 12 May 2013 05:23 AM PDT

Google IO

It's time for the Google I/O Developer Conference, this year set for May 15-17 at Moscone West in San Francisco. And just like we've done the past three years, we're bringing each and every one of our readers along for the ride!

What is Google I/O? It's where we get an inside look at how things work, be it Android or search or Chrome or any of the number of services Google provides. It's where we meet the developers behind the scenes who make it all happen. And it's where we get sneak peeks — if not full-blow previews — of things to come.

In short, it's nerd Nirvana.

Bookmark this page today. This is your one-stop page for all the latest news regarding the 2013 Google I/O conference. It'll update automatically with the latest news, and we'll refresh it as we get closer to the conference. (Check further down the list below for our historic I/O coverage.)

Stay tuned, folks. This year promises to be bigger and better than ever!

Galaxy S4 quick tip: Disable 'Auto adjust screen tone' for brighter whites

Posted: 12 May 2013 04:49 AM PDT

Galaxy S4

A simple setting change can get you extra brightness on web pages and documents

The Samsung Galaxy S4's Full HD SuperAMOLED screen is the best AMOLED display we've seen on a smartphone. However if you're noticing subpar brightness some of the time, there's an option in "Display settings" you might want to take a look at.

By default, the Galaxy S4 and many other Samsung devices ship with "Auto adjust display tone" turned on. You can find it under Settings > My device > Display > More settings. When enabled, it tweaks the display brightness based on the on-screen image to avoid burning through an excessive amount of juice. Most of the time you might not notice this, but there's an easy way to see its effects.

Google Play Sound Search now available in Australia

Posted: 12 May 2013 03:47 AM PDT

Android Central

Google Now "What's This Song?" also reported to be working for some users

Following the branch out of the Google Play Sound Search widget from the U.S. in selected European countries such as the UK and Ireland, the next to receive it are our friends down in Australia. Ausdroid reports that the widget is now available via the Google Play Store to download. Google's answer to Shazam, Sound Search will attempt to tell you what song is playing when you tap the homescreen widget.

The Google Now "What's This Song?" feature also appears to be working now for some Australian users, though reports suggest this may still be rolling out. When trying it some are still seeing a message of "action not supported in your country," while others are seeing more successful results.

Grab a copy now from the Google Play Store, and if the latest rollout has hit you somewhere other than Australia, be sure to drop us a line in the comments below.

Source: Ausdroid