Android Central |
- Chrome beta adds language translation, full screen on tablets
- Chrome 28 pushed to Android beta channel
- Galaxy S4 Developer edition headed to AT&T and Verizon
- HTC One is first HTCPro certified enterprise-ready device in US
- Hisense launches a pair of Walmart exclusive tablets starting at $99
- The Ashton Kutcher recap: On Twitter, streaming dicks and the future of mobile
- AT&T and Verizon Galaxy S4 bootloader exploits published
- Galaxy Mega 6.3 headed to Three UK
- CTIA Day 3 Liveblog: Ashton Kutcher live at 12:30 p.m. EDT
- Verizon Galaxy S4 officially available today
- AT&T getting exclusive 'aurora red' Samsung Galaxy S4
- Deal of the Day: iBOLT Vehicle Charging Dock for Samsung Galaxy S3
- Confirmed: Facebook holding off HTC First UK launch
- How good is the camera on the HTC One?
- Report: 'Around 5 million' HTC One phones sold
- Amazon Appstore now 'in nearly 200 countries'
- Google Now wins grand prize for 'best everyday utility' at 2013 UX awards
- HTC Desire 600 announced: Quad-core, dual-SIM, BoomSound in a mid-range handset
- Google Play Magazines app updated with new UI
- Samsung officially moves 10 Million Galaxy S4s, expect new colors this summer
- HTC offering $25 Google Play credit to compensate for One shipping delays
| Chrome beta adds language translation, full screen on tablets Posted: 23 May 2013 03:56 PM PDT
Chrome 28 just landed in the beta track for Android, bringing with it a couple of fun features. First and foremost is that it ties into Google Translate, just like on the big-boy browser. Run across a page that's not in your default language, and it'll ask if you want it translated. You also can go full screen on tablets, so it's go that going for it, which is nice. And if you opt in, you can see a graph showing how much bandwidth you're saving using experimental compression. Go to Settings>Bandwidth management to turn that on if you're not asked automatically. Hit the link above to get your download on. Source: Chrome release blog 
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| Chrome 28 pushed to Android beta channel Posted: 23 May 2013 03:45 PM PDT
Full screen browsing for tablets and automatic page translation highlight the changes for the latest Chrome for Android betaChrome beta for Android has been updated to version 28 (28.0.1500.21), bringing a number of requested features along with the new code base. Tablets now have the same full screen experience that phones have as of version 27, as the toolbar and omnibox simply disappear as you scroll down the page. In addition, automatic translate for pages not in the device's native language is available, just like users are used to on the desktop. Here's the bullet point change log:
The jury is still out about any speed increases, but my first impressions are favorable. If you're following the Chrome browser beta track for Android, grab today's update in Google Play or from the link above. Source: Google Chrome team 
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| Galaxy S4 Developer edition headed to AT&T and Verizon Posted: 23 May 2013 02:02 PM PDT
The same Galaxy S4 we all know and love, with less bootloader protection and more good karmaIf you're the type who would rather not play the cat and mouse game with Samsung to keep your bootloader open on the Galaxy S4, here's some interesting news. The Developer Edition Galaxy S4 looks to be headed to both AT&T and Verizon. While we don't have any full details, we expect these to be identical to the standard 16GB versions, but with less bootloader protection. We also expect them to be full price, as carriers don't want to make it easy to get your hands on something they don't control. Word from Samsung on both is just "coming soon" and neither AT&T or Verizon has had anything to say concerning these. Hopefully, they will be better received that the Developer Edition Galaxy S3 was last year, so Samsung knows it's worthwhile to continue to build developer-friendly versions of their carrier locked phones. Source: Samsung (1), (2); via : Phandroid 
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| HTC One is first HTCPro certified enterprise-ready device in US Posted: 23 May 2013 01:50 PM PDT
More than just a pretty face, the HTC One is business ready and HTCPro certifiedHTC has announced that the HTC One is their first HTCPro certified smart phone in the US.This means that the device meets standards that make it ready for the enterprise and a good choice for business customers. Specifically, the HTC One it meets the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 and offers 256-bit encryption. It also includes IPsec VPN for security when accessing corporate networks, and features device management APIs for remote administration from your mail server administrator. We're not sure just how many of the 5 Million sold are being used for business purposes, but it's nice to know that they can be if that's your thing. For more information about the HTCPro program and the HTC One, visit the source link below. Source: HTCPro 
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| Hisense launches a pair of Walmart exclusive tablets starting at $99 Posted: 23 May 2013 12:26 PM PDT
Price meets performance with the new Hisense Sero line of tablets, exclusively from WalmartHisense and Walmart have got together on a pair of Android tablets designed for the budget minded consumer. There are two offerings, both at pretty compelling price points and the hardware itself looks nice enough to make us look twice. First up, the $99 Sero 7 LT. At the cost of a typical e-reader you'll get a Google certified device with the following specs:
While there's nothing here to amaze anyone, the price point and Google Play certification make it one of the better sub-$100 tablets available. On the other hand, the $149 Sero 7 Pro has the right price, and specifications that best the Nexus 7 in almost every way:
Hisense has made their first step into the tablet market pretty interesting we think, and we'll definitely have to take a good long look at the Sero 7 Pro. The tablets should be available in stores and online at walmart.com starting May 24. The full press release is after the break. 
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| The Ashton Kutcher recap: On Twitter, streaming dicks and the future of mobile Posted: 23 May 2013 12:20 PM PDT
The actor, investor and first person to hit 1 million Twitter followers weighs in on the industry at CTIATurns out that Ashton Kutcher has a lot of the same problems you do. Twitter is too noisy. International roaming plans are expensive. Facebook, while great, has maybe become a bit overgrown. Sound familiar? The actor and investor sat down for a fireside chat today at CTIA in Las Vegas and had more than a few choice words for the mobile industry, and chances are you've heard a good many of them before -- and said them yourself. Things were a little winding, with moderator Julia Boorstin of CNBC keeping things moving, and nobody's breaking any real ground here. But it was an interesting chat from someone who's very much been at the forefront of the social revolution, for better or worse. 
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| AT&T and Verizon Galaxy S4 bootloader exploits published Posted: 23 May 2013 11:10 AM PDT
The raw exploits to work around the locked bootloaders on some Galaxy S4s is releasedOn the heels of the release of the Galaxy S4 on Verizon, Android security researcher Dan Rosenberg has released the tools and files needed to work around the bootloader security of the AT&T and Verizon versions of the Galaxy S4. Unlike the other versions of the S4, the versions built for America's two biggest carriers have an extra security layer at the bootloader level, which makes it a bit difficult to flash a custom recovery or boot image to the device. Rosenberg's tools work around these issues, and allow the user to flash custom kernels and recoveries on the AT&T and Verizon branded Samsung Galaxy S4. It's worth noting that these aren't for the novice, so you might want to wait a day or two to see what other developers can build using the new bootloader tools. Hopefully, something simple and sane can be made for those folks who want or need to do a little magic on the software of their Galaxy S4. See the links below for more information. Source: XDA; Azimuth Security. Thanks everyone who sent this in! 
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| Galaxy Mega 6.3 headed to Three UK Posted: 23 May 2013 08:54 AM PDT |
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CTIA Day 3 Liveblog: Ashton Kutcher live at 12:30 p.m. EDT
Posted: 23 May 2013 08:35 AM PDT
We're live from the third day of CTIA in Las Vegas. And at this morning's keynote address we're gearing up for a chat with actor Ashton Kutcher, who also happens to be a bit of a technology nerd as well as the latest portrayer of Steve Jobs in a movie that might or might not see the light of day later this year. (Initial screenings didn't go so well, apparently.)
So, strap in and join the liveblog after the break. Kelso's up at 9:30 a.m. PDT, 12:30 p.m. EDT.
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Verizon Galaxy S4 officially available today
Posted: 23 May 2013 08:12 AM PDT
$199.99 with a two-year plan, or $649.99 outright
Verizon Wireless customers, your long wait is over -- today you can go out and buy the Samsung Galaxy S4. Though we've been hearing news of pre-order customers getting their devices early, today's the day the S4 is officially available for purchase online and in stores. Verizon is selling the 16GB Galaxy S4 in black and white color options, priced at $199.99 with a two-year plan, or $649.99 outright.
If you're picking up a GS4 on Big Red today, be sure to hit the comments let us know how you get on. We've also got bustling Galaxy S4 forums for all your questions. And if you're still on the fence, you can check out our exhaustive Galaxy S4 review.
More: Galaxy S4 review, Galaxy S4 forums
Source: Verizon Wireless
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AT&T getting exclusive 'aurora red' Samsung Galaxy S4
Posted: 23 May 2013 07:55 AM PDT
Pre-orders start tomorrow, in-store from June 14
Last night we heard that new colors of the Samsung Galaxy S4 would be arriving this summer, and now we have the first details of when and from whom. AT&T has confirmed that it'll exclusively stock the "aurora red" Galaxy S4 in the U.S., and sends word that the device will be available to pre-order from tomorrow, May 24. Brick-and-mortar AT&T stores will have the device from June 14. The red color will be available for the 16GB model, AT&T says, which costs $199 on contract.
The new red Galaxy S4 makes for a fitting successor to the "garnet red" Galaxy S3 that AT&T debuted last year. If you're tempted to pick up this new, more colorful S4 when it lands, be sure to shout out in the comments.
Source: AT&T
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Deal of the Day: iBOLT Vehicle Charging Dock for Samsung Galaxy S3
Posted: 23 May 2013 07:03 AM PDT
The May 23 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the iBOLT Vehicle Charging Dock for Samsung Galaxy S3. Mount your device on your windshield or on the dashboard with this sturdy dock! Enabled with charging capabilities, this dock includes a 9ft USB & aux-out cable for easy speaker integration. It's also compatible with most cases, so you can dock and charge without removing your case each time you travel!
The iBOLT Vehicle Charging Dock is available for just $29.00, 42% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping!
Deal also available in the Canada store
Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts
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Confirmed: Facebook holding off HTC First UK launch
Posted: 23 May 2013 06:07 AM PDT
'Facebook phone' skipping British release, EE spokesperson confirms
It looks like the HTC First might never see the light of day in the UK, as a spokesperson for carrier partner EE has confirmed to Android Central that Facebook is holding off plans to bring the handset to British shores. "Facebook has decided to focus on adding new customisation features to Facebook Home over the coming months," the spokesperson said, "While they are working to make a better Facebook Home experience, they have recommended holding off launching the HTC First in the UK, and so we will shortly be contacting those who registered their interest with us to let them know of this decision."
Despite the decision to hold off the HTC First launch, the EE spokesperson said "we remain committed to bringing our customers the latest mobile experiences, and we will continue to build on our strong relationship with Facebook so as to offer customers new opportunities in the future."
The HTC First went on sale in the U.S. on AT&T last month, but had its price dropped from $99 to 99 cents on contract amid widespread rumors of poor sales. If the First has performed as badly as is being reported, this might explain the decision to curtail any wider launch plans.
An HTC spokesperson declined to comment on the report.
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How good is the camera on the HTC One?
Posted: 23 May 2013 05:56 AM PDT
We've seen the comparisons between the HTC One and the Galaxy S4, and we've read the reviews for both, also. Surely, that's all that we need to know, right? Questions still remain, like how the camera of the One stacks up in real world use. That's exactly the question that Android Central Forums member Bobbman asked:
Hello all. ... Strongly considering the HTC One. Camera quality is really important to me. I have heard some mixed opinions about the camera. Was hopping you could help me based on the following criteria:
- How do photos look on large computer screen. Do not care about cropping or zooming in. Just want them to look good on large screen.
- The low light photos are they really good on a consistent basis? I looked at the photo thread and it seems a bit hit or miss.
- Does the video capture record sound well? Also have seen mixed opinions about this.
- Do photos print well on to a standard 4x6 print? Again not worried about cropping.
Thanks for any input!!!
It's a lengthy conversation already, but the past couple of days have focused on how to get the best pictures out of the One. Some of these tips will apply to just about any device, though. Head past the break for some highlights.
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Report: 'Around 5 million' HTC One phones sold
Posted: 23 May 2013 04:01 AM PDT
Number given to the Wall Street Journal by unnamed HTC executive
HTC has sold approximately five million of its latest flagship smartphone, the HTC One, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The paper quotes an unnamed HTC executive saying the company had sold "around five million" HTC One devices since the launch around a month and a half ago.
"Orders are pretty good so far and are still more than what we can supply. This is partly due to the shortage of components. When the issue is resolved next month, we will have a better idea if it's doing really well or not," the executive is quoted as saying, referring to supply issues with camera components for the phone.
If accurate, the 5 million figure shows strong sales for the device the face of fierce competition from the likes of Apple and Samsung. By contrast, rival Samsung says it recently passed the 10 million units shipped mark for its new Galaxy S4, which went on sale around the world during the last week of April, so it's still comfortably ahead of its Taiwanese rival.
HTC will be relying on sales of the One to remedy its current financial woes, and shifting five million units is certainly a significant step in the right direction. What's more, the news might also quell worries over the stream of high-profile figures who've recently left the company.
Source: WSJ Online
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Amazon Appstore now 'in nearly 200 countries'
Posted: 23 May 2013 03:37 AM PDT
Web-based Appstore now available in the UK
Amazon has announced that its Appstore for Android -- the Google Play rival operated by the online retail giant -- is now available in almost 200 countries following its expansion of the service. In a press release today, Amazon also revealed that the Kindle Fire is spreading its reach across the globe, with the total countries in which it's available set to reach 170 on June 13. To celebrate, Amazon says it'll bring back the popular Fruit Ninja as a free app of the day, along with Cut the Rope: Experimentals and classic puzzler Tetris -- these will be available from May 23.
Finally the web-based Amazon Appstore is now available to users in the UK. Brits can point their browsers to www.amazon.co.uk/appstore to look through the selection of available paid and free apps.
More details in the presser after the break.
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Google Now wins grand prize for 'best everyday utility' at 2013 UX awards
Posted: 23 May 2013 03:17 AM PDT
'Huge honor' for the Google Now team, says Matias Duarte
Google Now -- Google's card-based predictive search tool -- has been awarded the grand prize for "best everyday utility" at the 2013 User Experience Awards. To claim the prize, Google Now saw off competition from a wide variety of different projects, including Belkin's WeMo home automation system and healthcare startup ZocDoc.
Announcing the win on Google+, Android design lead Matias Duarte called the award a "huge honor" for the entire Google Now team. Google Now is one of the most important smartphone features of the past year, and it's a well-deserved win for Duarte and his team.
The UX award will sit alongside Popular Science's 2012 "Innovation of the Year" award in the Google Now trophy room.
Source: User Experience Awards; via: Matias Duarte
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HTC Desire 600 announced: Quad-core, dual-SIM, BoomSound in a mid-range handset
Posted: 23 May 2013 02:25 AM PDT
Headed to Russia, Ukraine, Middle East and Asia from June
Just 24 hours after the name was initially leaked, HTC has officially announced the Desire 600, a new mid-range handset aimed at Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The HTC Desire 600 sports many of the headline features of HTC's current flagship, the HTC One. You've got Jelly Bean (we presume Android 4.1, not 4.2) and Sense 5.0, a pair of beastly "BoomSound" speakers, the BlinkFeed home screen experience and Beats Audio. The new Sense 5 Gallery app has made it across, it seems, as has video highlights. Zoes, however, are not mentioned on the spec sheet.
The handset is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 CPU with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. Around the back there's an 8-megapixel BSI camera with f/2.0 lens. That screen on the front is a 4.5-inch qHD panel, a significant step down from the One's 1080p SuperLCD3, but not a horribly low resolution. The Desire 600 dual also comes with dual SIM capabilities, and runs on 900/2100MHz HSPA networks with data speeds up to 7.2Mbps.
The HTC Desire 600 is due out in early June, starting in Russia, Ukraine and MEA (Middle East and Africa) -- no word of any plans for a wider European release just yet. We've got the full press release below, along with a few more photos.
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Google Play Magazines app updated with new UI
Posted: 23 May 2013 02:07 AM PDT
New 'Holo light' UI brings Magazines in line with latest Play Music and Play Store apps
Google has updated the Play Magazines app for Android to verison 2.0, bringing a new, lighter user interface. The new version of the app draws inspiration from the recent updates to Google Play Music and the Play Store, both of which have received UI updates in the past month or so. Everything's generally a lot lighter and brighter, and there's a new slide-out sidebar allowing you to switch between Read Now, Library and Shopping views. The official changelog also lists bug fixes in this new version of Play Magazines.
If you're already using Play Magazines, hit "My Apps" in the Play Store app to update. Alternatively we've got a Google Play web link up above.
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Samsung officially moves 10 Million Galaxy S4s, expect new colors this summer
Posted: 22 May 2013 10:06 PM PDT
Galaxy S4 Samsung's fastest selling smart phone, beating previous Galaxy models handily
As predicted last week, Samsung has pushed over 10,000,000 Galaxy S4 units out the door since the phone first became available on April 26. This solidly beats the previous record of 10 Million Galaxy S3s, which took 50 days and puts the S4 squarely at the top of the list for the years highest sellers, at least for now.
On behalf of Samsung, I would like to thank the millions of customers around the world who have chosen the Samsung Galaxy S4. At Samsung we'll continue to pursue innovation inspired by and for the people.
-- JK Shin, CEO and president of the IT and mobile communications division at Samsung Electronics
In addition to the announcement of 10 million units getting sold, Samsung has also said that we should expect more color variations of the S4 during the course of this summer. The new colors are listed as Blue Arctic and Red Aurora (pictured above), followed by Purple Mirage and Brown Autumn. The S4 will also be moving to 45 more countries over the course of the year, bringing the total countries selling the S4 to 155.
Source: Samsung
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HTC offering $25 Google Play credit to compensate for One shipping delays
Posted: 22 May 2013 05:14 PM PDT
HTC ShopAmerica offering a cool $25 Google Play credit to folks who experienced delays
Folks who ordered an HTC One direct from HTC earlier this year will want to check their inbox, as there could be $25 worth of Google Play credit there waiting. Component shortages and supply issues caused a slight delay for shipping the first round of HTC One phones, and while all that seems to have been corrected, HTC still wants to compensate folks for the delay.
If your order falls under the umbrella (it seems like orders placed the first day or two are getting reviewed) you'll get a code worth $25 credit to spend in Google Play. No muss, no fuss. Thanks, HTC!
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