Android Authority |
- Weekly News Roundup #9 – India
- Android Authority On Air – Episode 68 – Who wants iOS 7?
- White House Moves to Free Up Wireless Spectrum
- AA Weekly: top Android news of the week, June 16, 2013
| Weekly News Roundup #9 – India Posted: 16 Jun 2013 03:49 PM PDT
In a weekly segment, I'll be doing a roundup of the mobile technology news in India, including new device announcements and releases from Indian manufacturers, network carrier news, and anything else that captures the pulse of the Android scene in India. This week, three more budget-friendly quad-core smartphones join the ever-growing list of such devices in India, and Samsung Galaxy S4 owners have good reason to be excited with the official update to Android 4.2.2 now rolling out. Let’s get started! Intex launches Aqua I-5 quad-core Android 4.2 smartphone
Intex continues to expand its Aqua lineup of smartphones with another quad-core offering, called the Aqua I-5. The follow up to the Aqua Wonder Quad Core features a larger 5-inch display, an upgraded camera, and the latest Android OS version. You can check out the complete specifications of the Intex Aqua I-5 below -
The qHD display is a little disappointing, considering the new crop budget-friendly smartphones with720p and even 1080p displays now being launched. Of course, the comparatively lower price of the Intex Aqua I-5 more than makes up for it. Priced at just Rs 11,690 (~$212), the latest quad-core smartphone released by Intex is a very good choice. You can find out more about the Intex Aqua I-5, as well as find a full list of Intex retail stores here. You can also order the device online from the Intex e-store here. Source – Tech 2 Lemon Mobiles jumps into the quad-core race with the Lemon A4
In the Weekly News Roundup – India a couple of weeks back, I had expressed a desire to see a lot more budget-friendly quad-core smartphones being launched in India which feature 1080p displays. This statement was brought on by the launch of the WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z which was the first of its kind to feature a display resolution of 1920×1080. Only a couple of weeks later, we already have the second entrant to this category. Lemon Mobiles is well-known for its impressive portfolio of entry-level and mid-range smartphones, but the company is hoping to compete with other local manufacturers more effectively with the launch of the quad-core powered smartphone called the Lemon 4. The specifications of the Lemon 4 include -
Apart from the high resolution display, the other specifications of the Lemon A4 are very impressive as well. Unfortunately, the device is priced slightly higher at Rs 17,990 (~$327). This is of course understandable, and definitely worth it, considering the higher internal storage availability, and impressive camera. You can find out more about the Lemon A4 here. Source – NDTV Gadgets Lava launches Iris 504Q, featuring gesture-based controls
With the number of budget-friendly quad-core smartphones increasing on a weekly basis, it’s already become difficult to stand out from the crowd. Some, such as WickedLeak and Lemon Mobiles (mentioned above) have decided to step up their games with the launch of budget-friendly devices with practically high-end specifications. Others, such as Lava, have decided to incorporate a distinct set of features to differentiate itself. In the case of the Lava Iris 504Q, it is the introduction of gesture-based controls. But first, let’s take a look at the specifications of the Iris 504Q -
Priced at Rs 13,499 (~$245), the specifications of the Lava Iris 504Q are very similar to most other quad-core devices at this price range. As mentioned before, what makes this smartphone unique is its gesture-based controls. The gesture motion allows users to interact with the device with a simple wave of the hand, allowing you to change music tracks, tune FM channels, flip through your image gallery, and even click a photo. The company also promises future OTA updates, which will definitely include more features that can be controlled based on gestures. You can find out more about the Lava Iris 504Q here. Source – Fone Arena Official Android 4.2.2 update for Samsung Galaxy S4 now rolling out in India
There’s some great news for you if you’ve recently picked up the Samsung Galaxy S4! The Samsung flagship is currently receiving an official update to Android 4.2.2 in India, introducing a host of performance improvements. Following complaints of low internal storage space, the latest update manages to free up some of it, albeit very little, bringing the user-available internal storage from 8.82GB to 9.23GB. Further addressing the issue, users now have the option to save their apps on the microSD card. The update also includes tweaks to the stock camera software, now allowing you to record HDR videos. You will now also get to see a semi-transparent status bar and a new smart pause toggle in the notification menu. This particular update is of course, for the octa-core Exynos 5 version of the device, which is the version available in India. The 343MB update will be available OTA, or via the Samsung Kies PC software. Source – The Mobile Indian What are your thoughts? Will you be picking up any of the new quad-core smartphones announced this week? If you’ve already received the update to Android 4.2.2 for the Samsung Galaxy S4, do share your experiences in the comments section below. See you next week! 
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| Android Authority On Air – Episode 68 – Who wants iOS 7? Posted: 16 Jun 2013 11:17 AM PDT
This week on Android Authority On Air, we discussed our love for iOS 7 (kidding, sorta) and the latest Android news from the past week. Sit back, relax, and enjoy Father’s Day the Android Authority way. 
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| White House Moves to Free Up Wireless Spectrum Posted: 16 Jun 2013 10:48 AM PDT
Currently, wide swaths of spectrum are held for government use. While there is a great deal of bureaucracy to it, any given agency, department, or program within the federal government is essentially able to create their own, fully-independent network using this reserved spectrum. As one might imagine, this is an extremely inefficient use of spectrum. The Presidential Memorandum seeks to maximize efficiency through industry collaboration and generally better management. Included with this memorandum, the White House announced $100 million in funding for research and development into spectrum sharing technologies. The funding will be sourced through the National Science Foundation and DARPA. In addition to new technologies, the memorandum also pushes the FCC to promote spectrum efficiency using existing technologies like higher performance radio receivers. Using technological advances and smarter resource planning, the White House plans to identify 500 Mhz of spectrum currently assigned to the government that can be repurposed for consumer wireless broadband use. This is a massive chunk of spectrum and would be one of the largest in US history. The transition will nearly double the amount of spectrum allocated for wireless broadband in the United States. Unfortunately for the impatient though, the federal government aims to accomplish this "within 10 years." 
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| AA Weekly: top Android news of the week, June 16, 2013 Posted: 16 Jun 2013 09:49 AM PDT New iOS 7 arrives, but it's not actually that newNeon colors, Helvetica Neue Ultra Light, and an assortment of features borrowed from other operating systems – that seems to be the recipe followed by Apple under the lead of Jonny Ive, who took over UI design in a bid to rid iOS of skeumorphism and bring it kicking and screaming into 2013.
The internet was ablaze on Monday with angry Android fans pointing out the similarities between iOS 7 and Google's operating system, ranging from the quick settings drawer, to the lock screen, and the general look and feel of the interface. Others cruelly mocked the retina-searing color scheme and the somehow heavy handed icon design of the new iOS. But should we, Android fans, feel offended or flattered that Apple has taken more than a few pointers from our favorite operating system? The new Nexus 7 is upon usThe week brought us an avalanche of more or less credible information related to the second generation Nexus 7. Unlike last year, when the 7-inch tablet's $199 price tag was the price to beat in the industry, it seems that in 2013, Google won't be engaging in the race to the bottom – the Nexus 7 II (as some call it), will supposedly start from $229, which is a bit more than last year, and definitely more expensive than the current crop of cheap 7-inch Android tablets, including the Iconia B1 and the Asus Memo Pad HD 7.
Towards the end of the week, what is believed to be the new Nexus 7 made an appearance at the FCC and the Bluetooth SIG, adding weight to rumors suggesting that its launch is imminent. The One Mini comethTwo credible leaks this week revealed pretty much everything there is to know about HTC's new small(ish) One Mini, also known as the M4. The device is set to come with a 4.3-inch display, just like the other famous Mini phone of the moment, the Galaxy S4 Mini.
According to Bloomberg and Engadget, the One Mini should come in Q3, most likely in August. While the phone's specifications are likely to be less impressive than those of the One, the good news is that popular features like BoomSound, BlinkFeed, and possibly the Ultrapixels camera, are making an appearance. Best of all, the One Mini will have the same sleek aluminum unibody design going on. Sweet! Galaxy S4 Zoom: a zany camera/smartphoneAnother week, another Samsung Galaxy S4 family member announced. This time, we're talking about a crazy contraption that Samsung sells as a smartphone, but you probably wouldn't think that judging from its looks alone. The 208 grams Galaxy S4 Zoom features a 16MP sensor and an impressive, for a smartphone, 10x optical zoom that is a major contributor to its bulky profile. Specs-wise, we're looking at a good, though not top-notch smartphone, with a dual-core processor and 1.5GB of RAM.         The camera capabilities of the Zoom will probably tingle shutterbugs in all the right places, but we can't help wonder how many people will be willing to carry what is essentially a point-and-shoot camera around. Mirrorless + Android? Yes, pleaseSpeaking of cameras, Samsung looks to disrupt the mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (MILC) market by injecting it with a dose of Android.
After Samsung boss JK Shin confirmed that the June 20 "Premiere" event in London will include the unveiling of Samsung's first Android MILC, the Galaxy NX (probable name) appeared in a series of credible leaked images. The high-end device will run Android 4.2 and feature a 20.3MP APS-C sensor, and of course, interchangeable lenses. Xperia Z(U) UltraOnly days are left until Sony is supposed to lift the veil from what shapes up to be a beast of a smartphone. Known until recently as Togari, the Sony Xperia ZU (or Ultra) is set to be announced on June 25, and, from the looks of it, Samsung should be more than a bit worried for the Note 2.
The ZU will come with a category-stretching 6.4-inch display of Full HD resolution, universal stylus capability, and an amazingly thin profile. Between the Xperia ZU and the rumored HTC One Max, the 5.5-inch+ device range looks to be an increasingly disputed territory. And, as fans of massive screens, we're excited about it. Google's loony balloonsIn another example of a starry-eyed, seemingly crazy project emerging from the X Labs, Google revealed its latest moonshot – to bring internet access to the five billion people around the world that are not yet online, using a mesh network supported by high-altitude balloons. Dubbed Loon, the project aims to bring internet access to some of the most remote areas of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa. In typical Google tradition, the technical achievements are astonishing – the balloons will be powered by solar panels and fly at an altitude of about 20 kilometers, which is twice the cruise altitude of commercial jetliners. To save energy, the devices will hitch a ride on air currents, by using data from NASA and NOAA to pick the optimal altitude to stay on a specific course. Loon is still an experiment, trialed in New Zealand with a handful of participants. But if it pans out, Project Loon could open the way for a massive and massively beneficial venture to make the internet accessible everywhere. VideoIn your opinion, what were the most important news this week, and why? 
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Mobile data usage continues to rise and put strains on the available spectrum allocated for cellular communications. As users continue to eat up more and more mobile data services, carriers continue to demand more and more spectrum to feed their networks. Unfortunately, there is only so much spectrum available. To combat this problem, the US government auctioned the 700 Mhz spectrum block in 2008 and plans to auction the 600 Mhz block sometime next year. On Friday, President Obama issued a 
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