Android Authority |
- Apple drops Google for Siri searches, switches to Bing
- Cruzerlite Gift Code Giveaway – 20 $10 Codes Up For Grabs
- iOS 7 unveiled, includes new UI and features – all you need to know
- Paranoid Android’s HALO project is now open source
- BBC Weather Android app available to U.K. users in the Google Play Store
- HTC has a new Vice President of Global PR
- Mad Catz gaming console will support Google Play out of the box
- AT&T extends its upgrade period from 20 months to a full two years
- Google seeing the benefits of having their services on iOS devices.
- HTC Butterfly S and HTC Desire 600 to be shown off on June 19
- 7-inch Asus K008 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean tablet spotted at the Bluetooth SIG
- Is Google Wallet the future of mobile payments, or nothing more than a money pit?
- Softbank is considering a bid for T-Mobile if its Sprint offer falls through
- Sprint Vital is official, has release date and price
- Is LG dropping “Optimus” from high-end phones?
- Oppo Find 5 Mini spotted in multi-color options, should arrive in July
- Galaxy Nexus passes through Bluetooth SIG, is Android 4.3 incoming?
- What Android has over iOS
- SK Hynix announces 8Gb LPDDR3, world’s first, 4GB RAM phones later this year?
- Android Lost helps you find and control your lost phone
- HTC One wins Gold at Computex 2013 design and innovation awards
| Apple drops Google for Siri searches, switches to Bing Posted: 11 Jun 2013 01:23 AM PDT
With less than one fifth of searches in the USA using Bing it would seem that Internet users have voted overwhelmingly that Bing isn’t as good as Google Search. And it isn’t because Bing doesn’t have the exposure, Yahoo uses it to power it search results and of course it is built into Internet Explorer. With Apple choosing Bing, will user satisfaction with Siri increase or decrease? If iOS 7 users do start to miss Google powered search results they can explicitly ask for them by using the command “search Google” when using Siri. Although Apple is now trusting Microsoft for searches requested via Siri it would seem that the Cupertino tech giant is only prepared to go so far. The newly announced iOS 7 includes a new version of Apple’s Safari web browser and Google remains the default search engine for Siri. New in iOS 7′s version of Safari is the “unified smart search field” which also uses Google Search, this time for the automatic search term and URL suggestions. This latest step is in the line with other actions taken by Apple to decrease its dependency on Google. The last time it removed a Google service the result was Apple Maps, a service which was so bad that it frequently sent people in the wrong direction and ultimately cost Scott Forstall his job at Apple. Let’s hope, for the sake of iOS 7 users, that switching to Bing doesn’t prove to be as disastrous. What do you think? Are Apple making a mistake by switching to Bing? 
| ||
| Cruzerlite Gift Code Giveaway – 20 $10 Codes Up For Grabs Posted: 10 Jun 2013 06:15 PM PDT
It’s that time again. Time for Android Authority and Cruzerlite to give you 20 chances to win $10 gift cards for Cruzerlite.com. Cruzerlite makes Android themed TPU cases for numerous popular Android devices. What's TPU? TPU is more cut and tear resistant than rubber, it’s abrasion resistant, and has a high degree of transparency. This skin is more stiff than silicone skins, but remains flexible. Simply put, these cases are bad ass, and you want one. Besides the case quality, what’s the best thing about Cruzerlite? Customization. You can choose from a variety of case themes and colors to fit your style. If you’ve recently picked up a Samsung Galaxy S4 or an HTC One, why not protect your investment in style? Cruzerlite cases feature:
|
During the keynote presentation at its developers conference, Apple has revealed that Google is to be dropped as the Internet search engine for Siri in the next release 
     |
iOS 7 unveiled, includes new UI and features – all you need to know
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 04:03 PM PDT
Apple unveiled a variety of new products during its WWDC 2013 keynote, including iOS 7, the next-gen operating system for its mobile devices including the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
In what follows, we're going to show you all you need to know about what's new in iOS 7 – after all, when the main Android rivals get updated, we simply have to check them out.
From the start, we're going to tell you that the iOS 7 rumors were right when they said the new OS will come with a “flat,” minimal interface, and the leaks were pretty accurate as well earlier this week when various reports detailed some of the upcoming changes.
iOS 7 has been completely redesigned under the leadership of Jony Ive, dumping Scott Forstall's skeuomorphic effects – and Apple wasn't at all trying to hide the appreciation of this new design directions during the event, mocking its own design skeuomorphic design choices from the past when it comes to apps.
Design
If you thought that iOS 6 looked too similar to iOS 5 and to, well, all its predecessors, then you'll certainly appreciate the new design language – no matter what your stance towards iOS is.
We're looking at a lot of changes here, although the company has not removed the familiarity of the OS. If you know your way around iOS, you'll still be able to get by in iOS 7 even though there's a new paint job that goes easy on the eyes.
There's a new lock screen in town that offers access to the camera, to notifications and a quick settings panel called Control Center. There's a live wallpaper option that lets users set up their own wallpapers. There are new, simpler, app icon designs, new visual effects (with lots of translucency) and fonts.
Translucent effects in particular give the user a sense of context. The keyboard layer that comes on top of the browser, email or message is transparent so you can still see sort of where you are inside the OS, and that kind of effect applies to other UI layers that may appear be seen at one point or another during regular usage.
Folders support more apps and there's even a new back-button-like action has been included in iOS 7, which will be available everywhere inside the OS – a back gesture that lets you move to the previous page with a simple thumb swipe from the left edge of the screen.
All the apps you expect to see in there are still available, and will work in a similar manner, but, simply put, the UI has been completely overhauled so it all feels like a new OS.
And in certain moments you'll think it feels like Android, or like Windows Phone, or like webOS, but it's certainly different than the default iOS 6 look.
Features
In addition to the new design language, as spoken by Ive and his team of designers, iOS 7 brings on new features, so let's look at the most important ones, as shown on stage during the keynote.
Lock screen
The Lock screen, just like the Home screen, is aware of hand movements, thus giving the impression of a live 3D wallpaper. In particular, the lock screen with its bubbles is similar to a certain Android lock screen that you'll surely remember.
Notification Center
Available "for the first time ever" in lock screen mode, Notification Center offers access to the most recent notifications, and features a tabbed interface that gives you access to all notifications, missed notifications and a to a screen that sums up what's happening today.
In order to activate it, you just have to swipe down, no matter where you are in the OS.
Apple also mentioned a Notification Sync feature that will be available in iOS 7, which will prevent users from dealing with the same notifications on other devices, after handling them on another device.
| |
Paranoid Android’s HALO project is now open source
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 02:51 PM PDT
Intrigued by HALO but not exactly interested in moving over to the Paranoid Android ROM to try it? We have good news for you. Taking to Google+, the folks behind Halo and the Paranoid ROM have announced that they are going open source with the HALO project. This means that Android developers can now poke through the HALO code and incorporate it into their own builds.
That said, the Paranoid Android team reminds us that HALO is still in beta and that support for PIE and TabletUI remain unfinished. Still, they seem to think it is "ready enough for release".
If you are reading this and wondering what HALO is, essentially the HALO code allows for floating notifications that closely resemble Facebook Home's "Chat Heads". The big difference here is that HALO takes the concept further and allows it to work with just about every app you have, instead of just Facebook Messenger.
While the biggest announcement from the folks behind PA was that HALO was going open source, they also took the time to reveal to PA users that the code is being merged into their main branch.
Here's a list of changes found in the build:
- HALO has white & blacklists now. Blacklists prevent apps from pinging through HALO. Whitelists do the same but only allow pinging when you explicitly allow it for individual apps.
- Everything is silenced
- Dismissal of notifications has been improved
- PA Wallpapers has been taken out of the rom and can be downloaded for free on Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.paranoid.wallpapers
- DCHSPA symbol when the DCHSPA network is being used.
- Dirk Rettschlag’s Quick unlock
- PIE option for empty angle (the start gap)
- Brightness dialog updates
- StatusBar Date/Time layout changes
- Option to use volume keys to control media volume anytime
- Launcher does not need to be started when you go in and out of full screen (no more black flicker)
- GooManager removed, will soon be replaced with custom solution
To check out more details about HALO going open source, head over to PA's G+ page. What do you think of Paranoid Android and the HALO feature? Excited to hear it might make its way to other ROMs, or not?
| |
BBC Weather Android app available to U.K. users in the Google Play Store
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 11:46 AM PDT
The BBC Weather Android app is now available for you to download in the Google Play Store, provided you live in the U.K.
The app has been built on native code, rather than using HTML5, as a result of user feedback. As well as speed and simplicity, it offers you an easy way of accessing the BBC’s weather forecasts. It will determine your location the moment you open the app, and provide you with the forecast. You can, of course, also search for the location you want.
It includes hourly forecasts with detailed information for the next 48 hours, with details such as pressure, visibility or humidity provided for every hour, as well as a day overview. A widget is also included for those liking their weather on their home screens. If you’re using Android 4.2, a lock screen widget is also available, making it easy to take a look at the weather without unlocking your screen.
The app looks very good, and it even allows you to share favorite locations using NFC (a technology which Sony has been promoting lately), but weather apps are certainly not lacking in the Google Play Store. It’s true that BBC’s has a strong name behind it, but will it be able to take users from the likes of WeatherBug, The Weather Channel and AccuWeather? Only time will tell, provided the app becomes available internationally.
U.K. readers, have you tried the BBC Weather Android app? What do you think about it?
| |
HTC has a new Vice President of Global PR
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 11:39 AM PDT
Let's just get this out there: HTC makes some really awesome devices. Sense may be hit-and-miss, but the quality of their hardware is really hard to overlook. The HTC One is no exception, and may even be their best device to date.
If Sense isn't your thing, even after the new update it received when the One launched, you've got another avenue. The HTC One Nexus experience device will hit the Google Play Store on June 26th, which gets rid of the debateable Sense interface. Gorgeous device, stock Android. For many, that's about as good as it gets.
We like their devices, and we'd like to see more of them.
Unfortunately, the hard truth is that HTC has been absolutely dismal at PR. Gorgeous devices that go relatively unheralded are such a disappointment. While the tech obsessed may know all about these devices, the average consumer probably doesn't. Samsung, on the other hand, markets their devices thoroughly. Arguably, that scheme is a bit backwards.
Today, HTC has announced they have some new energy. They have appointed Lorain Wong as Vice President of Global PR. According to HTC, Loraine will be "responsible for leading HTC’s communication strategies globally –including public relations, media and analyst relations, corporate communications and issues management. In addition, she will oversee the company’s internal communications function across all operating locations." She will report directly to Benjamin Ho, Chief Marketing Officer for HTC.
Wong has a quarter century of PR experience, which includes serving as the Director of Partnership Marketing for AT&T, focussing on "negotiating and managing sports and entertainment partnerships across Southern California." Before taking that position, she was the Director of Communications for AT&T Global Consumer Services, building AT&T's Asian community and media presence in California.
We all remember the news of HTC executives leaving in droves. You may also remember Benjamin Ho saying that HTC was working hard to replace those departed executives. For a company in the midst of a turnaround, they'll need strong players like Wong. We're hopeful she helps to lead a resurgence for HTC.
We like their devices, and we'd like to see more of them. Not just in-hand, but marketed properly as well. If the HTC One is how they intend to build devices moving forward, everyone needs to know about them.
| |
Mad Catz gaming console will support Google Play out of the box
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 11:28 AM PDT
When the Ouya was first announced, the idea was met with quite a few mixed opinions. Some felt the idea of an Android gaming micro-console was an odd proposition, others felt it was genius. Since then, we’ve seen quite a few companies rise up with their own Android gaming system offerings, such as the Gamestick or Bluestacks Gamepop. Now well-known accessory maker Mad Catz is jumping into the fray as well.
Just yesterday we reported that Mad Catz CEO Darren Richardson had announced Project M.O.J.O. Now, thanks to IGN, we get a closer look at what to expect with the upcoming Android console.
First, its worth noting that the pictured device is a prototype, and while the looks could end up staying the same – the hardware specs aren’t 100% official just yet. We do know that the plan is for the M.O.J.O to feature 16GB internal storage when it ships, as well as microSD, Bluetooth Smart 4.0 (when the next Android version ships apparently), two USB ports, HDMI, a headphone port and Wi-Fi.
When it comes to controllers, the Mad Catz M.O.J.O will use a modified Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R Bluetooth Controller and will also have support for mice and other peripherals. As for the processor? Mad Catz reports that they are investigating using the Tegra 4 in its final hardware, but hasn’t officially committed to any particular ARM processor.
What makes the Project M.O.J.O. different?
What really makes the Mad Catz console different from competitors is that they aren’t interested in creating a special app library or customized UI for it to work. Apparently the console will directly support Google Play and Amazon AppStore apps, right out of the box. Of course that also limits the possibility exclusives for the console — but regardless, having Google Play is nothing short of good news.
When it comes down to success in the micro-console market, it will likely be determined by a combination of factors such as games library, controller/console design and pricing. With a lighter form factor than even the Ouya and the full power of Google Play, Mad Catz is looking good when it comes to the first two factors.
As for pricing? If the system does come with a Tegra 4 processor, this will pretty much be guaranteed to cost more than the Ouya's $99 price tag. Still, if Mad Catz can ensure it doesn’t cost too much more, it could have the chance to give its competition a real run for the money.
What do you think of the Mad Catz system, based on what we know? Provided its powered by a Tegra 4 processor, how much would you pay for it?
| |
AT&T extends its upgrade period from 20 months to a full two years
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 10:26 AM PDT
While T-Mobile is busy working to rid its customers of contracts through its "uncarrier efforts", Verizon recently extended the period of time that its customers have to wait to upgrade phones, going from 20 months to 24 months. Now AT&T is following suit, with the new 24 month limit applying to any new customer or any current customer that has a contract ending March 2014 or later.
Is this move that surprising? Not really. Contracts are already for 24 months, so it somewhat makes sense to keep the upgrade cycle in line with the contract length. Additionally, once Verizon did it – we pretty much knew that AT&T couldn't be far behind.
Waiting an additional four months for a subsidized phone is annoying, and we sympathize with AT&T customers that liked getting new phones as soon as possible. What are your alternatives? AT&T points out that you don't have to wait the full 24 months to get a partial discount on the full retail price of a new phone or tablet. AT&T also mentions its trade-in program, buying outright at full retail, bringing your device or sharing an upgrade with another person on your account.
Obviously there is also the option of jumping ship when your contract expires, turning instead to T-Mobile's payment plan system or perhaps a prepaid carrier like Straight Talk.
What do you think of the new extended 24 month upgrade cycle, a big deal or not?
| |
Google seeing the benefits of having their services on iOS devices.
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 10:17 AM PDT
We heard it time and again at Google I/O: The search giant is about services above all else. Their dictum seems to have the undertone that things like Android and Chrome are simply conduits for their services. This is the real reason Nexus devices are so cost effective for consumers, so that attitude is clearly working. Things like Google Maps are far and away the best around, bolstering their position as a service-first company.
While Android demands a huge part of the world's market share, iOS is not a platform that can (or should) be ignored. According to Onavo, Google is seeing a lot of success from having their services on iOS devices.
The more people that are reached, the more ad revenue can be realized for Google.
If you're curious who Onavo is, you're probably not alone. Onavo is an app developer, most notably for watch-dogging your power consumption. Their apps are designed to save you from using unnecessary data, or telling you which apps use the most data, much like the native function in Android 4.0 and above.
As a service that watches apps and consumption on a lot of iOS devices, they may have unique knowledge of the situation. According to their numbers, about 69% of iPhone users utilized a Google app in the month of May. That's a huge jump from August of last year, where they note about 32% of users doing the same thing.
Curious which Google apps were used the most? Here's a quick rundown:
- Youtube was used on 49.5% of devices
- Google Maps? 32% (let's hope the rest aren't on Apple Maps)
- Google Search was used by 16%, not surprising since Siri is the default for many
- Chrome? A respectable 17.6%, up from about 8% in August of last year.
- Google Drive has seen a very nice uptick, being used on about 4% of devices, compared to 0.8% in August
Neither Apple nor Google would comment on these numbers, as they're not official or thorough. Onavo can, obviously, only consider those devices which their app is on. While a good sampling, the figures should not be considered wholly accurate.
Apple seems to have come to the realization that Google just does some stuff better.
The more people that are reached, the more ad revenue can be realized for Google. The better services are on offer, the happier iOS customers are. Then again, the casual iOS user could end up falling for Google services so much, they switch to Android. For those who don't have an allegiance one way or another, those powerhouse services Google offers may just tip the scale in their favor.
Some of these services aren't new for iOS users, but the "official" Google iteration is. Last year, Apple stopped preloading YouTube and Maps on their devices. Those apps were developed by Apple, utilizing Google's information. Essentially, they were bastard versions of what they could be. The decision to stop loading the apps was the result of a long dispute between the companies regarding monetization and app homogeneity. Apple wants apps that fall in line with their design principles, and Google wants to be able to monetize their services. Now that they've ironed those differences out, iOS users are getting more official (and better) Google services.
Apple seems to have come to the realization that Google just does some stuff better. It's not a slight, it's just reality. It's also worth noting that Google and Apple only really came together on this after Steve jobs passed away, which could be a sign at a more cohesive relationship. Things like Maps are a huge undertaking, and one Apple screwed up thoroughly. YouTube is a monster, and Chrome is simply preferred by many. Even if Apple fanatics won't move away from their hardware, it's reasonable to believe that they use Google services on their desktops. Having them on an iPhone or iPad only makes sense. For everyone.
| |
HTC Butterfly S and HTC Desire 600 to be shown off on June 19
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 10:11 AM PDT
The HTC Butterfly S and the HTC Desire 600 will be shown to the press in Taiwan on June 19, according to an invite that HTC is sending out to the press.
While the HTC Desire 600 has already been officially announced by the manufacturer not too long ago, the HTC Butterfly S is still in the rumor stage at the moment.
You may remember that the HTC Desire 600 is a dual SIM device and has a 4.5-inch Super LCD2 display at qHD resolution (960 x 540 pixels), a Snapdragon 200 1.2 GHz CPU, 1 GB of RAM memory and 8 GB of internal memory. It also has an 8 megapixel main camera and a 1.3 megapixel front one.
Of course, everyone’s curiosity is piqued by the HTC Butterfly S, the phone which should continue the legacy of last year’s HTC Butterfly (or HTC Droid DNA, if you prefer it under that name). Another rumor says that it will have a larger battery, a micro SD slot, and an updated CPU compared to the HTC One. It is also said to have an Ultrapixel camera and a 5-inch Full HD display.
Some more specs will probably become available as we get closer to June 19, and we’ll make sure to keep you updated.
| |
7-inch Asus K008 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean tablet spotted at the Bluetooth SIG
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 10:00 AM PDT
An unannounced Asus tablet has been spotted at the Bluetooth SIG apparently running an Android 4.3 version.
The K008, a 7-inch device according to the Bluetooth SIG documentation, runs software version JWR11, which is said to be an Android 4.3 Jelly Bean build version.
Other details are not available about the device except for this description on the site:
The tablet features a 7″ LED-backlit capacitive multitouch screen for easy carrying and fantastic multi-media experience everywhere. Wireless networking Ensures simple connection to the Internet without wires.
We have no idea what kind of tablet the K008 is supposed to be. Are we looking at the new Nexus 7? We can't answer that question just yet. For what it's worth, we'll remind you that just recently we've seen the Nexus 7 hit the Bluetooth SIG again, running the same JWR11 software version. The model number of the Nexus 7 is ME370T, which is not even remotely similar to K008.
In case you're not confused enough, we'll also tell you that there's also a 10-inch Asus K008 tablet – at least that's what the image below seem to suggest about the size of the device – that has been spotted at the FCC earlier this year.
Considering that FCC and Bluetooth SIG documentation about the Asus K008 tablet (or tablets) is available, we can only assume that the device would be unveiled at some point in the near future.
| |
Is Google Wallet the future of mobile payments, or nothing more than a money pit?
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 09:43 AM PDT
It has been two years since Google first introduced its "Wallet" service, offering its users an easy way to store credit/debit card information, as well as make purchases both offline and in-stores via their phones. In that time, the company has invested over $300 million just in acquiring digital startups to develop the app. They’ve also dedicated hundreds of developers to Wallet. Despite Google's hard work, Google Wallet is still far from a household name and has only seen around 10 million downloads in the Google Play Store.
So is Google's Wallet just an endless money pit that has little hope of breaking into the mobile payment market in a big way? A new report from Bloomberg Businessweek seems to suggest the answer is “yes”.
In the report, Businessweek points to a low level of adoption as the biggest issue. Google's plans for Wallet don't revolve around making money from transaction fees, the idea is to collect data on consumer habits and create targeted ads. Of course for that model to actually produce much revenue, there has to be people viewing said ads.
So what's the hold up, why isn’t Google Wallet dominating the mobile payment scene? The biggest reason is that the major U.S. carriers aren’t playing nice. It's kind of hard to download and use the app when three out of four of the biggest carriers don’t support Wallet: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. That leaves just Sprint users.
With only Sprint allowing the use of Wallet, most retailers just don't see the need to support it, which further discourages Android users from utilizing the payment solution.
Why would AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon block Google Wallet? The official reason is that they feel that granting access to Google Wallet involves potential security risks. Strangely enough, they don't seem to have the same problem with the mobile payment service, Isis, which is supported by all three carriers.
So what’s needed to turn the tide? Expanding to new countries or getting bigger U.S. carriers to support the service would certainly help. Google also needs to expand the appeal of Wallet through new services and features.
Unfortunately, according to “more than half a dozen people close to the company”, Google is actually reconsidering or abandoning many of these kinds of projects. This includes the previously rumored Google Wallet card, which has reportedly been held back at the moment. Supposedly, no final decision on whether to permanently ditch the effort has been made just yet.
So is really all doom and gloom for Google Wallet?
Don't worry folks, Google Wallet isn’t going anywhere. In May alone we saw Google Wallet get the ability to make one-click purchases and send money to friends over Gmail or through Wallet. Later that month, Google also announced that Google Wallet would be taking over for Checkouts.
Google has big plans for Google Wallet, and isn’t afraid to spend a little money to realize its vision. Additionally, competing mobile payment platforms – such as Isis – aren’t exactly taking the world by storm. Google Wallet is far from dead. It may be two years old, but in many ways this is really just the beginning for Wallet.
What do you think of Google Wallet, would you utilize it if your device/carrier/country supported it? Conversely, do you feel it is a money pit and that Google’s efforts might be better focused elsewhere?
| |
Softbank is considering a bid for T-Mobile if its Sprint offer falls through
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 08:48 AM PDT
Softbank, one of Japan's largest telecommunications companies, is still currently engaged in an attempt to secure a $20.1 billion deal which would see the company purchase 70 percent of the US carrier Sprint. But if the offer falls through it seems that SoftBank is prepared to change tack and offer a separate bid to purchase T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom, according to three unnamed sources which claim to be familiar with the situation.
T-Mobile is one of Deutsche Telekom's sub-companies which operates as its international mobile telephone division, and it appears that Softbank has been interested in this company for quite a while. Deutsche Telekom and SoftBank had been engaged in various talks regarding a potential bid for T-Mobile USA since last year, but these discussions have supposedly picked up again recently since Dish Network offered a counter-bid for Sprint worth $25.5 billion.
According to various reports on the matter, the negotiations could see SoftBank purchase Deutsche Telekom's 74 percent stake in T-Mobile USA. Obviously this seems like a sensible hedge for a company which is keen to break into the US market, but many are also speculating that this is simply a back-up plan aimed at spurring Sprint shareholders into making a decision on the current offer. However none of the parties involved have officially commented on the matter.
SoftBank has previously indicated that it wants to complete its deal with Sprint by July, but in the wake of the counter-offer from Dish Network, Sprint is considering postponing its shareholders vote which was due to take place on June 12th.
A Softbank deal with T-Mobile could further shake up the US mobile market, which has already seen mergers and changes with some of its smaller carriers recently, but a Reuters report insists that SoftBank only considers a deal with T-Mobile as “Plan B.”
| |
Sprint Vital is official, has release date and price
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 08:44 AM PDT
The Sprint Vital, a device that surfaced a few days ago, has been made official by the carrier.
Pictures and information about the Sprint Vital were published a few days ago, and it’s good to see the device, which is manufactured by ZTE, getting officially confirmed. While you already knew some things about it, what you didn’t know is that the handset will cost $99.99, provided you buy it with a new line or eligible upgrade, on a two-year contract after $50 mail-in rebate.
Another essential new detail is its release date: the Sprint Vital will be available on June 14 (just a few days from today), in all of the carrier’s retail channels. The handset features eco-friendly attributes, including 98 percent recyclable packaging and Underwriters Laboratory Environment Platinum Certification.
I’ll remind you that the device has a 5-inch display at a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, a dual-core CPU running at 1.5GHz and runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. Sprint promises that the new smartphone ”’keeps the Android experience closer to the way it was intended,” which can only be a good thing.
The Vital also has a 13-megapixel main camera, a 1-megapixel front-facing camera, 4G LTE support and comes with the Real Racing 3 game preinstalled.
The battery is a 2500mAh removable one, and Sprint promises that said battery will get you 15 hours of talk time.
Do you plan on getting the Sprint Vital when it will be available?
Great news for budget-conscious customers: Sprint is about to launch a powerful smartphone that doesn’t sacrifice performance or high-end capabilities for less than $100. Sprint Vital™ packs many of today’s must-have features, including the latest version of Android™.
Priced at just $99.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate (excluding taxes), Sprint Vital comes with the high-end features ever customer wants. It is available beginning Friday, June 14th, in all Sprint sales channels, including Sprint Stores, 1-800-SPRINT1, Web Sales, and Business Sales.
Built on Android 4.1.2, Jelly Bean, Sprint Vital comes with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and video capture, 1-megapixel frontfacing camera and Sprint 4G LTE for surfing the Web at lightning-fast speeds.
Sprint Vital is also geared for gamers with a large 5-inch HD 1280 x 720 IPS display with break-resistant LCD and a 2,500 mAh removable lithium-ion battery that offers up to 15 hours talk time. To help take advantage of the built-in gaming capabilities, it comes preloaded with EA Mobile’s Real Racing 3, offering trailblazing features, including officially licensed tracks, an expanded 22-car grid, and more than 45 meticulously detailed cars from makers like Porsche, Lamborghini, Dodge, Bugatti and Audi. Racing with friends gets kicked into another dimension with the reality-bending Time Shifted Multiplayer™ (TSM) technology.
Sprint Vital also keeps the Android experience closer to the way it was intended. This allows more freedom to customize your Android experience and enables enhanced performance with less clutter that could slow it down.
It is equipped with eco-friendly attributes, including Underwriters Laboratory Environment (ULE) Platinum Certification, the highest level of environmental performance recognized by sustainable requirements established by ULE and Sprint, and packaging that is 98 percent recyclable.
| |
Is LG dropping “Optimus” from high-end phones?
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 08:35 AM PDT
LG, makers of such great Android phones as the Optimus G Pro and Nexus 4, may be branding their upcoming phones in a different light. If reports out of Korea are correct, it seems LG may be dropping the "Optimus" from their flagship device(s), instead opting for a simple tag.
Korean website Chosun.Biz is reporting, exclusively, that LG will utilize the "Optimus" branding for their mid and low range devices. Their higher end devices, like the upcoming G2, will not have the moniker. So, linearly speaking, we'll transition from the Optimus G to the G2. No high-end Optimus to be seen.
We've seen a photo and benchmark score, allegedly of the G2, slip out recently. It shows "G2" on screen, with no mention of "Optimus". While we didn't think much of it at the time, it could have been a hint to this news. Then again, it could be as simple as mixed signals on both sides of the world.
It seemed like LG was going to utilize the "Optimus" name in the same light Samsung stamps "Galaxy" on just about everything. It's recognizable, and immediately eye-catching. LG may just not be worrying about branding, or had negative feedback about the name.
What the device(s) are called is of little importance. Even a recognizable brand like Galaxy only holds up when the device is great, as our only real want is for awesome devices. Call it what you will, we just hope that rumor of a Snapdragon 800 processor behind a 5.2" screen is real.
| |
Oppo Find 5 Mini spotted in multi-color options, should arrive in July
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 08:34 AM PDT
Joining the ranks of Samsung and HTC, OPPO Electronics may be preparing the release of a “mini” variant of the well-known Oppo Find 5 handset, and one powerful enough to threaten the competition. According to various leaks, the upcoming variant may feature a quad-core CPU clocked at high frequencies and a display with approximately the same viewing quality as its bigger brother.
Pegged to arrive in July by various Asian reports, the Oppo Find 5 Mini (an unconfirmed name at this stage) will go head to head against the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and the rumored HTC One M4 variant with a nice trick up its sleeve: multiple color options.
While the Oppo Mini range is said to arrive in various colors, no one hinted which schemes will actually be available.
On the technical side, there are clues that suggest a 1.2 GHz quad-core Mediatek processor and a 3.7-inch IPS LCD display with HD resolution. All of these should retail at least 100 € cheaper than the full-fledged version, which sells for 399 € on European markets since May 27th.
Considering the fact that the market will soon be filled with handsets of this type and size, Oppo can strike gold only if the device retails for an affordable price and packs a punch. Though it's bigger brother had the privilege of being one of the first 1080p smartphones, sales haven't made the company a winner and it's going to need a heck of a Mini to change that.
| |
Galaxy Nexus passes through Bluetooth SIG, is Android 4.3 incoming?
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 08:07 AM PDT
There have been plenty of rumours and even some accurate looking pieces of information flying around recently regarding the next update to Android. We've seen picture of Android 4.3 update running on a Nexus 4 in Thailand and even received a hands on video of the updated camera UI. But the next big twist is that another Nexus device has been spotted passing through Bluetooth certification again, which suggests that the handset is about to receive a software update.
If you look closely at the design model number row, you'll notice that the model number GT-I9250, which is code for the Galaxy Nexus. The reason for re-certification is quite likely due to the device receiving a new update which necessitates a double check against the Bluetooth standards, in other words the next big update to Android, quite possibly version 4.3.
If you recall back a just a couple of weeks, the Nexus 7 also passed through Bluetooth SIG under pretty much the same circumstances. Not to mention that we noticed quite a few Android 4.3 builds in our server logs, which included the Galaxy Nexus, not too long ago either. The evidence is certainly mounting that Android 4.3 is on its way, and probably sooner rather than later.
| |
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 06:38 AM PDT
Apple's WWDC will be upon us in a few hours, and Apple hopes to reignite a stale iOS, after it has fallen behind Android in recent times. Join us as we take a look at all the reasons why Android is king of the mobile operating system world.
Disclaimer: I do not absolutely, positively hate iOS. I think it's a decent operating system, but I believe Android has surpassed iOS in terms of functionality and user experience. I own a 4th gen iPod Touch and a third generation iPad, and both devices are running the latest version of iOS 6.
Sharing and Near Field Communications
No matter how revolutionary iOS 7 can be, it can't add technology which just isn't there. A noticeable omission from the iPhone 5 was NFC, and while the technology hasn't reached its full potential yet, it is still a valuable piece of technology.
NFC has many uses, it can be used as a portable wallet, allowing you to pay with a single tap of your smartphone. There are also stickers which you can buy that can toggle settings or complete a number of actions. Another feature is sharing with a single tap. This feature allows you to quickly share files between devices, it can allow businessmen to share their business cards from phone to phone and also allows friends to quickly share their favorite pics.
Android also defeats iOS when it comes to sharing between other apps on the phone. For example, sharing a photo from the gallery application on iOS gives you the meager options to share to Facebook, Twitter or send it as an email. Android on the other hand allows you to share to a multitude of applications like Google Drive, Dropbox, any social network app you have, and many other applications.
Default applications – I’m looking at you Apple Maps
When you are sent a link for directions, iOS will direct you straight to Apple Maps even if you prefer Google Maps or another maps application. Android on the other hand, allows you to choose your favourite app to open a link.
Another feature where Android has the upper hand is keyboards. There are many keyboards in the Play Store, including favorites like Swiftkey and Swype, whereas Apple's iOS only offers the standard iOS keyboard. These keyboards offer personalized auto-correct and adapt to your typing, giving you a much improved typing experience on a touch screen.
Multitasking and multi-user support
We aren't going to get into too much depth on multitasking here, but it is a well known fact that Android has far superior multitasking capabilities than iOS. To put it in the most simplest terms Android offers multitasking which is akin to a desktop operating system, while iOS simply pauses an application when you leave it, putting it in a sort of suspended state.
While Android allows you to have more than one applications open at a time (Samsung's Multiview feature comes to mind), Apple is a firm believer in the one task at a time approach.
In Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, Google offered the ability to create multiple users on a tablet, perfect for sharing a tablet between partners, splitting work and play, and giving children a place for them to play games without them stumbling their way into your email. Apple currently offers no option to create multiple users on iOS.
Hardware and software diversity
Android offers multiple devices at multiple price points. Whether you are looking for a budget smartphone, a large-screen smartphone, a 7-inch tablet, even a connected camera, Android offers devices that span almost every part of the mobile market.
Tablet, smartphone or a connected camera, Android has them all.
On the software front you have options for a feature packed OS in TouchWiz, a clean looking OS in Sense, as well all the other skins and custom ROMs. That's without mentioning pure unadulterated stock Android, which offers timely updates and a pure Google experience. Apple still maintains its one size fits all mantra, even as the mobile market moves on and evolves.
Launchers
Another feature that Android has over iOS is launchers.
Launchers allow you to change the look of your device without rooting your phone, allowing you to explore the world of Android without the risks that custom ROMs sometimes come with. Currently, there is no way to change the complete look of an iOS running device without jailbreaking.Launchers allow you to change the look of your device without rooting your phone.
We recently took a look at all of the best launchers on Android, so to check out that article, click here.
Custom ROMs and the developer community
No doubt one of the biggest features of Android is the choice of custom ROMs that allow you to tweak and personalize your device to suit your exact needs. The fact that the Android developer community can create custom ROMs within weeks of the release of a new device is incredible, and is unrivalled in the mobile space.
Apple on the other hand, is always trying to lock its mobile operating system. It took 136 days for a jailbreak to appear for iOS 6 and the time it takes to jailbreak a new version of iOS always increases meaning iOS users could be in for an even longer wait for an iOS 7 jailbreak.
Custom ROMs provide a lot of stimulus for innovation, for example Paranoid Android has been gaining plenty of recognition for its HALO feature.
Widgets and Live Wallpapers
Widgets and live wallpapers add a little bit of personal touch to your mobile user experience. Compared to iOS's static rows of apps, Android allows you to delve into your information without opening any apps.
Widgets can also toggle your settings, let you check the weather, your email and other bits and pieces of information. Then there are lock screen widgets, which give you access to all your favorite bits of information without needing to unlock your phone. We recently covered the best Android widgets and you can check them out in the video below.
Notifications and toggles
It's safe to say Android is the best operating system when it comes to notifications.
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean added expandable notifications, allowing you to see more information from an email or text message, and even reply to the email straight from the notifications bar. In fact Android's notifications system is so good that Apple chose to use the notification bar in iOS 5, and will most likely take cues for notifications in iOS 7 as well.It's safe to say Android is the best operating system when it comes to notifications.
Toggles are also an invaluable element of Android, allowing you to toggle settings like Wi-Fi and data without opening up the settings app.
Wrap up
iOS 7 will no doubt improve and expand upon the currently limited operating system, but Apple is in quite a predicament. Change too much and it could risk losing its diehard users, change too little and those on the fence may choose to abandon ship to Android. Whatever Apple comes up with at WWDC, I for one hope that it can seriously challenge Android, because competition sparks innovation. However, at this current point in time, Android offers too much for iOS to be considered a superior mobile operating system.
Can iOS catch up to Android? What do you think iOS 7 needs to surpass Android? Let us know in the comments below.
| |
SK Hynix announces 8Gb LPDDR3, world’s first, 4GB RAM phones later this year?
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 05:57 AM PDT
Image Source: Tech Asia
RAM is a key piece of mobile hardware which is all too often overlooked when we talk about smartphone specifications, but it's ever so important for our increasingly sophisticated mobile applications. We already know that Samsung is working on its own four gigabit (Gb) LPDDR3 mobile memory chips, which should offer a 30% improvement in performance and a 20% saving in energy consumption when compared to a 30nm LPDDR3 DRAM chip.
However SK Hynix appears to be one-upping the smartphone giant, as the company has been working on its own 20nm eight gigabit (the equivalent of 1GB) memory chips, which can be stacked together to provide a whopping 4GB RAM in a single package. For the sake of comparison, Samsung's newest mobile memory chips will only offer 2GB of RAM for mobile devices.
But equally as important as the larger memory size, SK Hynix's new RAM will be built on high-density LPDDR3 which offers a higher data transfer rate, greater bandwidth, and improved power efficiency over older designs. In terms of raw performance this new RAM will have its data transmission speed sped up to 2,133Mbps, which is a fair bit faster than the 1,600Mbps offered by existing LPDDR3 handsets such as the new Samsung Galaxy S4, and doubles the speed of older LPDDR2 memory.
According to SK Hynix's press release, we should a high density LPDDR3 memory products with more than 2GB of memory appear in high-end mobile devices sometime in the second half of this year. Unfortunately though, mass production of these larger memory chips won't begin until the end of the year, so we probably won't be able to get our hands on one until sometime in the 2014.
SK Hynix Inc. (or ‘the Company’, www.skhynix.com) announced that it has developed the world’s first 8Gb(Gigabit) LPDDR3(Low Power DDR3) using its advanced 20nm class process technology. This product is a top-performance mobile memory solution which features high density, ultrahigh speed and low power consumption.
The new products can be stacked up and realize a high density of maximum 4GB(Gigabytes, 32Gb) solution in a single package. In addition, the height of this package becomes dramatically thinner than the existing 4Gb-based one. In terms of its high density and competitive package height, it is suitable for the newest trend of the mobile applications.
The product works at 2133Mbps which surpasses 1600Mbps of existing LPDDR3 in the aspect of its data transmission speed and is the world’s fastest mobile DRAM. With a 32-bit I/O it processes up to 8.5GB of data per second in a single channel, and 17GB in a dual channel. It works at ultra low-voltage of 1.2V.
While this new LPDDR3 runs two times faster than LPDDR2, its standby power consumption decreases more than 10% compared to LPDDR2 products, therefore it satisfies both low power consumption and high performance which mobile applications highly demand.
It can be provided in various forms such as ‘PoP’(Package on Package) or being in a single package with ‘eMMC’(embedded Multi Media Card) which is installed in mobile gadgets as well as ‘On-board’ type embedded in high-end ultrabooks and tablets.
“With the development of this high density LPDDR3 using 20nm class, SK Hynix is now able to supply a top-performance product suitable for mobile devices to the market”, Senior Vice President Richard Chin, the Head of Global Sales & Marketing said. “Especially, this development has its significance since the Company has secured top-level competitiveness in mobile products by developing it simultaneously with PC DRAM using the same 20nm class process technology” he added.
Samples of this new product have been shipped to customers and the Company plans to start mass production of it at the end of this year.
High density LPDDR3 memory products over 2GB are expected to be noticeably loaded mainly on to high-end mobile devices from the second half of this year. To meet the growing needs of mobile market, SK Hynix plans to develop the most advanced technologies for the rapidly evolving mobile applications industry and will lead the market with the high performance products.
| |
Android Lost helps you find and control your lost phone
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 04:22 AM PDT
Android Lost is an easy to use app which allows you to find your phone or to remove sensitive data from it in order to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
The app is easy to use, and the web interface provides a lot of useful features, without much of a learning process necessary. Of course, there are a number of other ways to recover your lost or stolen smartphone – check out our guide – but Android Lost does provide quite a few useful features.
First of all, install the app from the Google Play Store (link below), then start the program in order to register your phone. If you want to be able to wipe data from the phone (or tablet), you’ll also need to press the Request Administrator rights button and allow said rights to the app.
The app appears in the phone as Personal Notes, but you can also hide it altogether from the web interface.
Once that’s done, you can go ahead and log in to androidlost.com, where you’ll be able to perform a whole lot of useful tasks on your lost Android device. Logging in is done with your Google Account (the same one you’re using on the lost device), and you’ll have to give Android Lost permission to use your data.
If everything works as it should, you’ll get a message congratulating you for linking the device to your account and you’ll be free to use all the features. First of all, you’ll be able to make your phone sound an alarm (even using an audio file of your choosing, but you have to select the file on your phone), vibrate and, of course, send you its current location.
If you want your phone to speak a certain message, that can be done, too. You just type the message in the web interface and the phone will “say” it.
You can also enable or disable features such as GPS, WiFi or sound, as well as get a detailed status message. Custom messages can be set to be shown on the screen, and even when your phone boots, and you can get the SMS history, should the person having the phone in their possession be using it. It’s possible even to send a message to the screen, requiring the pressing of an OK button for it to disappear, with said button targeting the camera and sending the picture back to you.
Both cameras can be used to take pictures, so you can get a better idea about your phone’s surroundings, and the phone can even record sound around it. If you’ve provided the app with administrator rights (and don’t want the person having your phone to be able to see information you have in it), you can wipe data from both the SD card and the internal memory (but the latter should probably be done only if you’ve given up on finding it).
A number of Premium features can be enabled from the Android app, including the ability to view content on the phone, reboot it or launch a certain app.
More specific details about Android Lost are available in the video below.
Android Lost certainly provides a lot of useful features and, best of all, it’s free.
Have you lost your smartphone and recovered it? How did you do it? Tell us in a comment!
| |
HTC One wins Gold at Computex 2013 design and innovation awards
Posted: 10 Jun 2013 03:32 AM PDT
The good news for HTC just keeps on piling up. Earlier this year, it managed to win the “Best Mobile Handset, Device or Tablet” category in the Global Mobile Awards for its flagship HTC One. Now, that same phone has also netted the Taiwan-based company the Gold award in this year’s Computex design & innovation awards held in Taipei, Taiwan.
It is said that winning the award is a very prideful moment for HTC, so much so that the Android-powered HTC One is now being referred to as the “Pride of Taiwan.” And in case you are having any doubts about the title’s high status in the mobile industry, you should know that Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou himself was the one who presented the award to HTC.
HTC’s Chief Marketing Officer Ben Ho had this to say:
“For the new HTC One to win yet another international award, it demonstrates how HTC's proven design capabilities, both in product design and user experience, is bringing a new perspective to the industry. We will continue to innovate and provide consumers with the highest quality products.”
To win the award, the HTC One had to compete — in terms of design and innovation — against 254 other product entries from dozens of other mobile computing device companies. In the end, as they say, there can be only one. And the HTC One turned out to be that one which is worthy of receiving the Gold award over everything else.
| |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Authority To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment