Android Authority |
- Root 101: a $169 tablet with Nexus experience, seeking funds now
- HTC Butterfly s arrives with massive 3,200 mAh battery and UltraPixel camera
- Huawei is philosophically open to buying Nokia
- Rumor: LG to launch smartphone with always-on voice commands in 2014
- Humble Bundle for Android 6 includes Stealth Bastard Deluxe and 6 other titles (video)
- Samsung Galaxy S4 now available in Aurora Red exclusively through AT&T
- Registering your Galaxy S4 will save you 50% on most accessories
- Minuum keyboard will roll out to Indiegogo backers tomorrow
- Motorola XT1055 makes it’s way through the FCC. Is it another X FON?
- Huawei reveals latest version of Emotion UI in new video
- How to transfer music from iTunes to Android
- Sprint sues DISH Network over Clearwire offer
- T-Mobile announces Xperia Z availability, coming later this summer
- Verizon may be looking to acquire WIND mobile in Canada
- Google and Starbucks partnership offers customers free unlimited music through All Access
- Samsung and other competitors have outgrown Apple in the premium market
- Samsung Premiere 2013 event on Thursday to be live streamed
- Huawei Ascend P6 official: just 6.18mm thick, to start selling in June
- Samsung Galaxy Note 2 getting stability update, Android 4.2.2 will have to wait
- Best Android phones – India, June 2013
- HTC Desire 200 budget Android handset made official by the company
- Chromebook now available in 6,600 stores around the world
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom has U.K. price, can be pre-ordered
- AT&T bringing 25 solar charging stations for mobile devices in New York
| Root 101: a $169 tablet with Nexus experience, seeking funds now Posted: 19 Jun 2013 02:56 AM PDT
When it came to tablets, I've never trusted no-brand manufacturers, mostly because they usually put low-quality displays and poor batteries on their products. Moreover, customers of these devices have almost no guarantee that their device would be upgraded when new Android versions emerge. Well, Tronity, the team behind a tablet called Root 101, wants to put those compromises behind, by mixing modest, but quality specifications inside a well-built body and with the latest version of stock Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Moreover, the tablet comes rooted out of the box. The Root 101 project currently seeks funds for the completion of product development on Indiegogo. According to its makers, Root 101 is a truly open source tablet, coming with an unlocked OS and the possibility to install two of the most popular Android custom ROMs — CyanogenMod and Paranoid Android. Both ROMs can be downloaded from the official Root 101 site, complete with instructions on how to install them. Design and looks      On the outside, the Root 101 looks like any Android tablet out there, with a plastic front that resembles the Nexus 10 and a thick bezel. The back-plate is mostly made of aluminum, which should confer the device increased strength and durability, besides a premium touch. The rear camera is situated in the upper-middle part of the screen while the company's logo can be found right in the center. As usual, all types of ports and buttons are located at the sides of the unit. Most interesting featuresRoot 101 comes with a Nexus-like experience and with Android 4.2.2 pre-loaded. The stock version arrives with no bloatware, no tweaked UI skins, and with root access right out of the box. This last option will permit future owners to install any type of application or even rely on a custom ROM for extended customization. All the source code of the tablet is made available by the manufacturer on Github, allowing future development to occur with full transparency. Moreover, the seller claims that upcoming Android versions will be delivered as long as the hardware supports it. Specifications
Availability and priceAt this moment, Root 101 is still in the development stage and the project can be founded through Indiegogo, for just $169. Depending on the options chosen and the time of bidding, that price can increase. Shipping is free within the United States and those wishing to have it abroad will have to pay an additional $20 fee. Manufacturing should begin in early July and Tronity promises that backers can expect their devices around mid-August. 
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| HTC Butterfly s arrives with massive 3,200 mAh battery and UltraPixel camera Posted: 19 Jun 2013 01:41 AM PDT
At an event in Taiwan today, HTC lifted the veil on its latest flagship, the Butterfly s, a revamp of the Butterfly, the world's first smartphone with a Full HD display, which launched in late 2012. The new HTC Butterfly s features a 5-inch 1920 x 1080 Super LCD 3 display, just like its predecessor, and is powered by a Snapdragon 600 processor, clocked at 1.9GHz. In this respect, the Butterfly S outshines the HTC One, which is powered by a CPU running at 1.7GHz. The 2GB of RAM and the 16GB of storage complete the picture of what is mostly standard fare for current high-end Android phones. The good news is the Butterfly s boasts a microSD card slot, unlike its One brother. HTC transplanted many of the One's most popular features to the new Butterfly s, including the stereo BoomSound speakers and the UltraPixel camera, capable of recording Zoes, HTC's proprietary short animations format. In addition to the 4UP main camera, the wide-angle front shooter of 2.1MP should be a boon for selfie addicts. While most of the hardware features of the HTC Butterfly s are similar to what we've already seen on other devices, the device's strong suit seems to be the battery. HTC managed to cram a massive 3,200mAh battery into the Butterfly s, which is a huge improvement over the 2020mAh battery in the original Butterfly and the 2300mAh unit on the HTC One. The HTC Butterfly outguns even the Note 2 and the Optimus G Pro, which both have about 3100mAh batteries, but larger screens. We've yet to receive the dimensions of the Butterfly s, but even if the beefy battery adds a couple of extra millimeters to the girth of the device, many users will be happy to put up with it. In terms of software, the HTC Butterfly s features Android Jelly Bean with HTC's Sense 5 overlay on top, just like the HTC One. The popular BlinkFeed homescreen replacement also makes an appearance. HTC stated that the HTC Butterfly s would become available in Taiwan starting with July at a price of NT $22,900 (about $766). The company didn't specify if or when the device would be made available in the rest of the world, but looking at the evolution of last year's Butterfly, we expect to see variants of the Butterfly s released in Japan and Europe, at the very least. As for the United States, a noted HTC leakster recently tweeted that Sprint, not Verizon, would carry a variant of the Butterfly s. This would be surprising, considering that Verizon launched the Droid DNA (a rebranded Butterfly) stateside and that it skipped the HTC One, which is being carried by all the other major American carriers. 
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| Huawei is philosophically open to buying Nokia Posted: 19 Jun 2013 01:13 AM PDT
This resulted in a lot of speculation and even some movement in Nokia’s share price. However Huawei was quick to point out that the exec, Richard Yu, was speaking hypothetically and that the company had “no plans” to buy Nokia. The comments, which although may have been less guarded than required of a top-level exec, underline the company's ambitions to take on Samsung and Apple at the high end of the smartphone market. Yu also predicted that the number of major players in the smartphone market would reduce to just three or four. As for mobile operating systems, Huawei is a big Android proponent and Yu considers Windows Phone as “weak.”
Huawei is in a good position to think about acquisitions since becoming the third-largest manufacturer of smartphones by volume. In fact Huawei is doing so well that the company expects to sell around 60 million smartphones this year and could have sold more if it wasn’t for a shortage of components! Since Huawei is an Android supporter and Nokia has made a clear decision to focus on Windows Phone, it is unlikely that the two would be in talks about a possible merger or acquisition. Combined with Yu’s comments on Windows Phone being weak, it does truly seem that he was speaking hypothetically. What do you think, would Huawei and Nokia make a good match? 
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| Rumor: LG to launch smartphone with always-on voice commands in 2014 Posted: 18 Jun 2013 04:08 PM PDT
A new report says that next year LG will launch a smartphone that will come with support for always-on voice commands. GottaBeMobile apparently spoke with three different sources familiar with the matter who revealed that the always-on voice-based feature would let users control their device by issuing commands beyond what's already available Apple's Siri or Google's Google Now, and actually navigate the operating system:
The feature can't be confirmed at this time, but it's not like we don't expect future devices to pack such powers. After all, the Moto X has been confirmed to offer advanced smart features described as contextual awareness. It's not clear how that would work, but it’s obvious that LG will certainly not be the only company trying to offer more to customers looking for more advanced handsets. Furthermore, Google also unveiled a sort-of always-on voice-based Chrome-specific search features for its desktop Google Search, a feature that could further be expanded in the future. Finally, we're going to remind you that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 flagship processor, due to arrive later this year and power a variety of flagship devices, will have always-on voice support. The LG Optimus G2 is already rumored to use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU, although it's too early to tell whether the handset will indeed have always-on capabilities. However, it makes sense to assume that only high-end devices sporting such processors (or their successors) would come with advanced always-on voice commands support. Are you looking forward to see such features in future handsets? 
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| Humble Bundle for Android 6 includes Stealth Bastard Deluxe and 6 other titles (video) Posted: 18 Jun 2013 02:10 PM PDT
The Humble Bundle team has been offering a lot of mobile related bundles, and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon, as Humble Bundle for Android 6 has just launched. The downside to this particular bundle is that it doesn’t include Android-only games. There are a few of them in there that work on the PC too. In fact, the only Android exclusive game in this bundle is called Pulse. No, not the news app. It’s actually a game that should be available on the Google Play Store shortly after the bundle promotion is over. Here’s a full list of games that you can get as part of the Humble Bundle for Android 6 package:
As usual, you can get this package at a pay-what-you-want price, but you’ll have to pay above the average to get two of the games, Frozen Synapse and Broken Sword: Director’s Cut. It’s all in the name of charity though! Well, sort of. You can choose where your money goes. Whether it be Child’s Play, a charity foundation, the EFF, to the developers, or even a hat tip to the guys that put the Humble Bundle on! After all, they’ve got to pay the bills somehow. You can probably expect a few games to be added to the bundle further along. Half way through, the Humble Bundle team usually throws in a few extra goodies. It’s also important to note that all of the games listed can be played on Android. Previously, you could only get them on the PC, but just about every one of them is making their Android debut today. Do you plan on investing in this great bundle? If so, which game are you looking forward to playing the most? 
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| Samsung Galaxy S4 now available in Aurora Red exclusively through AT&T Posted: 18 Jun 2013 01:56 PM PDT
We’ve known that the Samsung Galaxy S4 would be arriving on AT&T exclusively in Aurora Red for a while now, especially since the device’s predecessor, the Galaxy S3, had a similar color option and exclusivity on AT&T. Suffice to say, the Galaxy S4 is now available exclusively on AT&T in Aurora Red. When choosing a Galaxy S4 from AT&T, there are now three color options, Stealth Black, Glacier White, and Aurora Red. While the additional color is nice, we’re hoping to see some more variety shortly. In the meantime, the Galaxy S4, outfitted in that beautiful Aurora Red exterior, will cost you the same as any other variant – $199.99 on a new two-year contract or $639.99 outright. Aside from the different color, nothing much has changed. You still get the same old 5-inch 1080p display, a quad-core Snapdragon 600 1.9GHz CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 2,600mAh battery, and the 13-megapixel camera. Do you plan on getting the Galaxy S4 in the new color? 
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| Registering your Galaxy S4 will save you 50% on most accessories Posted: 18 Jun 2013 12:31 PM PDT
So you got a new Samsung Galaxy S4? Congrats! Now you just need to deck it out with some awesome accessories. Unfortunately, Samsung’ accessories can be a bit expensive. However, the Korean tech giant is running a new promotion. If you register your Galaxy S4 on Samsung’s website, you’ll receive a 50% off coupon code for accessories. It’s a simple process, too. All you need to do is register an account, then register the device. You’ll need the IMEI number, which can be found by going into Settings > About Device > Status, or looking on the box it came in. Once all of that is complete, in a few minutes you should receive an email with that much-needed coupon code. Unfortunately, the code will only work on items $50 or under, so depending on what you’re looking at, it could limit your options. On the other hand, this is great news for power users, as Samsung just recently made the spare battery and charging station accessory official. It costs $49.99 through Samsung’s official store, and it can be found on Amazon for $42.99, but with that 50% off coupon, it’ll be much cheaper on the official Samsung store. Do you plan on registering your device for this coupon code? Is there a certain accessory you really want? Let us know in the comments section below! 
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| Minuum keyboard will roll out to Indiegogo backers tomorrow Posted: 18 Jun 2013 12:26 PM PDT
The Minuum keyboard is an interesting concept. While most keyboards try to make typing more intuitive, Minuum is trying to rethink typing altogether. They're not interested in improving swipe functionality on a QWERTY keyboard, or predictive text. Instead, they want to give you more screen to look at. The concept is pretty simple, but radically different. By making the keyboard compact, it allows us to fully appreciate our screen sizes. It doesn't necessarily ask us to relearn typing, though it does seem like it would require a bit of a learning curve. After a wildly successful Indiegogo campaign, the Minuum team is sending the keyboard out to backers starting tomorrow. Even though the new keyboard is still in beta form, those early adopters will get a chance to give much needed feedback to the project. It has a lot of promise, especially as we become more involved in newer hardware mediums. If you've never seen Minuum, check out the video below. 
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| Motorola XT1055 makes it’s way through the FCC. Is it another X FON? Posted: 18 Jun 2013 11:58 AM PDT
The Motorola X FON continues to matriculate its way into our palms. Going from mythical powerhouse to somewhat disappointing mid range device, the handset could now be making its way to US Cellular customers. The again, we're really still speculating at this point. Though the FCC filing lists another model number with "X" in the designation, we are still a bit baffled by what is going on. If we're to believe all these Motorola devices with that letter in the model number, then we have to ask why Dennis Woodside declared the X FON was a single device. The Motorola CEO mentioned they were preparing several devices, but that the X FON would indeed be one device. In regard to specs, there is nothing fantastic: Snapdragon S4 Pro at 1.7GHz, 2GB RAM, 16GB memory, a 10MP camera, Android 4.2.2, 720p display. Not bad, but not the rumored Sony Honami, either. This filing means Motorola has an “X” device that will work on every major domestic carrier, save for T-Mobile. We can assume, considering that everyone else seems to be getting a variant, they will as well. The devices are slated to make an appearance a bit later in the year, so we continue to play the waiting game. 
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| Huawei reveals latest version of Emotion UI in new video Posted: 18 Jun 2013 11:46 AM PDT
Huawei's not a company known for its subtlety, preferring to break world records rather than innovate understatedly. That being said, the company's newest version of software for Android seems to be a happy confluence of sensible features and unique design. Initially unveiled last July, the overlay – known as Emotion UI – is, Huawei spokespeople say, simpler to use and easier to modify than stock Android. Customizability and simplicity certainly seem to be the focus of Huawei's video preview of the latest Emotion UI. An improved home screen, dubbed UniHome, combines the settings and app drawer for quick access to application shortcuts and toggles. In the same vein as editable launchers like Go Launcher EX, Emotion UI also provides a link to an online database of themes downloadable from Huawei's servers. New applications included in the refreshed Emotion UI provide welcome functionality: the third-party dialer includes gesture control, Power Manager intelligently minimizes battery drain, Security Manager removes malware and optimizes apps, and Cloud+ provides synced storage for data. Huawei's revamp of Emotion UI is much needed. The update brings the company's aftermarket Android solution in line with offerings from rivals like Samsung and Sony, companies which have incorporated similar functionality in past and present devices. Some of the updated firmware's features seem a little gimmicky – I don't see myself taking pictures with a Bluetooth headset anytime soon, for example – but competition is a good thing, and, on the whole, Emotion UI is intriguing. Specific details about Huawei's latest version of Android skin are forthcoming, so stay tuned for the latest. 
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| How to transfer music from iTunes to Android Posted: 18 Jun 2013 11:34 AM PDT
With modern technology, access to music has become quicker, easier, and nearly instantaneous especially with music-capable portable devices such as phones, laptops, and media players that allows people to carry around thousands of music files in just one small device. Music organizer software such as Apple’s iTunes allows music lovers to sync their music with their various mobile devices. iTunes, in particular, makes it very easy for you to sync your media files to your other Apple devices. You can also transfer your iTunes music to your Android phone if you need to. In this guide, learn how to transfer music from iTunes to your Android phone. For our video guide, jump to the end of this post. Manual file copy
The basic way of transferring music is by manually copying your iTunes music files into a temporary folder on your PC. Then, connect your Android phone to the computer using a USB cable and open your phone’s music folder. From there, you can then transfer your music files from the computer to your phone’s music folder. If you find the iTunes-folder-Android phone combo inconvenient, you can use third-party software and apps to instantly transfer music from iTunes to Android. Syncing iTunes and Android with doubleTwist
Several third-party programs allow you to directly transfer your iTunes music to Android. One is the doubleTwist app for both Windows and Mac. This application lets you transfer your playlists, music, and videos from iTunes to your Android phone. Not all Android users, however, can use this software because this tool is designed for Android devices that support USB Mass Storage. For Android devices that use Media Transfer Protocol (MTP), wireless syncing is a viable solution and will be discussed in a later section.
When syncing files using doubleTwist, take note that the copied music files will stored in the Music folder inside the internal SD card of the phone or tablet.
From here, you can use doubleTwist to transfer all music files, playlists, or selected music files from iTunes to your Android phone. Transferring all music to your Android phone
Transferring music playlists to your Android phone
Manually selecting songs for transfer to your Android phone
Wireless syncing for iTunes and AndroiddoubleTwist’s AirSync
For Android devices that don’t support USB Mass Storage, you can wirelessly transfer music with the help of a doubleTwist add-on app called AirSync, available on the Google Play Store for about US$5.00. For AirSync, you’ll still need the doubleTwist app on your Android phone and the doubleTwist desktop client on your computer. Both devices must also be connected to the same local area network (LAN) for AirSync to work.
Synctunes for iTunes
For less expensive wireless syncing of your music files, you can try the free and ads-supported Synctunes free for iTunes app. The free version lets you sync one playlist at a time with a maximum of 100 songs. Or, buy the paid version, Synctunes for iTunes/Android, for about US$3.00 and remove the limitations and ads. Here’s how to use the app.
Video GuideCheck out our video guide on how to transfer music from iTunes to Android: iTunes has a very strong association with Apple and Apple products. Yet, it is not impossible to transfer music from iTunes to your Android phone. This article showed several of the ways to sync your iTunes music with your Android phone. Which of the methods worked for you? Are you using a method not described here? Share your experiences with us by leaving a comment. (with contributions from Elmer Montejo) 
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| Sprint sues DISH Network over Clearwire offer Posted: 18 Jun 2013 11:24 AM PDT
In a rather bold move, Sprint has sued Dish Network to stop the satellite TV provider from purchasing a controlling interest in Clearwire. Though the offer Dish put on the table was recommended by the Clearwire board to their shareholders, Sprint is claiming it violates shareholders' rights under the Clearwire charter. Today also represents a deadline for this ongoing saga Sprint finds themselves in. When Dish made their initial offer to purchase Sprint, the deal was deemed not "actionable" by the Sprint board, and rejected. Dish was given until today to restructure their tender, which has yet to happen. In the interim, Dish made a bold move to acquire Clearwire, though Clearwire had been sneakily accepting money from Sprint. Why take money from Sprint? The Softbank offer to purchase Sprint was contingent on Sprint's ownership of Clearwire, or rather purchasing the remaining portion they didn't already own. By accepting payment from Sprint, which was convertible to stock, Clearwire was selling themselves to Sprint piece by piece. Now that Dish's offer has been approved by the Clearwire board, and recommended to the shareholders, Sprint is taking issue. The Dish offer is clearly the best for Clearwire shareholders, as it's market value and a premium versus Sprint's offer. In response to Sprint's complaint, Dish had this to offer:
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| T-Mobile announces Xperia Z availability, coming later this summer Posted: 18 Jun 2013 10:03 AM PDT
Nearly a week after support documents for the Sony Xperia Z appeared on T-Mobile's website, the carrier's officially confirmed that the Sony handset's exclusive launch on its airwaves is imminent. In a press release, T-Mobile said that an HSPA+ and LTE-compatible edition of the Xperia Z is headed to the wireless provider's online and retail stores in the coming weeks. Sony CEO Kaz Hirai said during the All Things D D11 conference that the Xperia Z was significant, signaling a desire for the company to remain competitive in a U.S. smartphone market crowded with products. Indeed, Sony's latest packs a fairly compelling array of hardware and features, not least of which is IP57 certified dust-resistant, water-resistant, and scratch-resistant glass. Of course, you can't go wrong with a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 1080p display, and a 13-megapixel camera capable of shooting HDR video, either. The press release specifically highlights the Xperia Z's included software, utilities Sony hopes will sufficiently differentiate the company's product from smartphones like the Galaxy S4 or HTC One. The Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 provides, according to Sony, enhanced screen clarity and brightness, while an adjustable STAMINA mode improves phone standby time. The Xperia Z will be available in black and, for a limited time, purple when it launches. T-Mobile didn't provide a concrete date, but we’ll do our best to keep you posted with the latest. Xperia® Z from Sony to Make a Splash at T-Mobile this Summer BELLEVUE, Wash. – June 18, 2013 – Continuing to offer customers a wide selection of hot 4G LTE smartphones, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) today announced it will be the exclusive U.S. wireless company to carry the Xperia® Z from Sony. The Xperia Z packs the best Sony has to offer into a premium Android-powered smartphone. T-Mobile will offer the device on its Simple Choice Plan with no annual service contract plus unlimited talk, text and Web on a screaming fast, nationwide 4G network with 4G LTE rolling out across the country. “T-Mobile customers traveling this summer will love the Xperia Z with its big, beautiful HD screen, water-resistant design and advanced camera features,” said Jason Young, vice president of product marketing, T-Mobile. “This is an outstanding combination: a premium 4G LTE smartphone with Sony’s best features coupled with T-Mobile’s unlimited data and speedy nationwide network.” Simple Choice Plan With T-Mobile’s Simple Choice Plan, Xperia Z customers design their plan based on the number of lines and amount of high-speed data they want. Unlimited talk, text and Web with up to 500MB of high-speed data is $50 per month (plus taxes and fees) for the first line. Customers can add another 2GB of high-speed data at up to 4G speeds for $10 per month per line or get unlimited 4G data and up to 500MB of tethering for an additional $20 per month per line. A second phone line can be added for $30 per month and each additional line is just $10 per month. There are no caps, no overages and no restrictive annual service contracts. T-Mobile’s 4G LTE Network The Xperia Z will seamlessly connect to T-Mobile’s high-speed nationwide 4G HSPA+ network and advanced 4G LTE network wherever it is available, which is expected to reach 100 million people by midyear and 200 million nationwide by the end of the year1. T-Mobile’s 4G LTE rollout complements its existing nationwide 4G network covering 228 million people, which third-party tests show already rivals or beats existing competitive LTE networks in many markets. T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network is currently available in seven metropolitan areas: Baltimore; Houston; Kansas City; Las Vegas; Phoenix; San Jose, Calif.; and Washington, D.C. “With Xperia Z, we are thrilled to bring a breakthrough smartphone to T-Mobile, the breakout carrier in the U.S.,” said Timothy Hernquist, North America Vice President of Marketing, Sony Mobile Communications. “Xperia Z offers customers a beautifully designed, water-resistant premium Android smartphone ready to handle whatever life throws at it.” Sony went with a stylish and durable physical design with unique technology, content and connectivity all bundled into the Xperia Z. A 5-inch 1080p HD Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine 2 provides super brightness and clarity. The highly-durable design features tempered glass and anti-shatter film on the front and back and the highest levels of dust- and water-resistance2 (IP55 and IP57) in a premium smartphone. A 13-megapixel camera with Exmor RS(TM) for Mobile, the world’s first image sensor with HDR (High Dynamic Range) video for smartphones, delivers stunning photos and videos in any condition. And its STAMINA mode is designed to greatly improve battery standby time by automaticaly shutting down battery-draining apps when the screen is off. Availability The Xperia Z is expected to be available nationwide at T-Mobile retail stores, select national retailers and dealers and online via www.T-Mobile.com in the coming weeks. The smartphone will be available in a black finish and a limited-time only purple finish (while supplies last). For more information, visit http://t-mobile.com/Sony-XperiaZ. Broad LTE coverage planned for 2013; See www.t-mobile.com for coverage details. Qualifying service required. LTE is a registered trademark of ETSI. 2In compliance with IP55 and IP57, Xperia Z is protected against the ingress of dust and is water resistant. Provided that all ports and covers are firmly closed, the phone is (i) protected against low pressure jets of water from all practicable directions in compliance with IP 55; and/or (ii) can be kept under 1 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes in compliance with IP 57. About T-Mobile US, Inc.: As America’s Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: “TMUS”) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. The company’s advanced nationwide 4G and 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences for customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile US operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and MetroPCS. It currently serves approximately 43 million wireless subscribers and provides products and services through 70,000 points of distribution. For more information, please visit: http://www.t-mobile.com. 
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| Verizon may be looking to acquire WIND mobile in Canada Posted: 18 Jun 2013 09:55 AM PDT
News coming out of Canada suggests that Verizon, the largest US carrier, is in "exploratory talks" to acquire WIND mobile in Canada. WIND, the carrier sitting comfortably behind the likes of Bell, Rogers and Telus, is no stranger to acquisitions. Telus tried in vain to acquire WIND not long ago, so the low-hanging fruit is there to be had for Verizon. The issues with such a deal are not easily overcome for Verizon. There are certain criteria to be met when owning a foreign company, and their partnership with Vodafone limits their ability to deal independently. While obtaining WIND may be a good idea on paper, the reality is much more difficult than simply cutting a check. The upside, and perhaps real interest from Verizon, has to do with spectrum. There is an auction coming up for 700mHz spectrum in Canada, and we're all well aware of Verizon's desire for more bandwidth. The auction has been pushed back to January 2014, which gives Verizon a bit of time to explore the deal a bit more. If WIND did end up under the Verizon brand, it gives them a much stronger position to bid in the auction. So why WIND? The Canadian government recently altered their rules concerning foreign ownership of domestic carriers. As it now reads, a foreign company like Verizon could own a carrier with less than 10% market share. With 600,000 subscribers, WIND definitely fits that description. It's a long shot, but still an interesting avenue for Verizon to be pursuing. 
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| Google and Starbucks partnership offers customers free unlimited music through All Access Posted: 18 Jun 2013 08:49 AM PDT
Google took to its social networking website, Google+, to announce a new partnership with Starbucks. This new deal will allow Starbucks customers to stream unlimited songs, radio, and more from Google’s recently launched All Access music service. This is in addition to the free Wi-Fi that Starbucks already offers its customers. This partnership isn’t much of a surprise considering that Apple has partnered with Starbucks in the past. In 2007, Starbucks customers had the privilege of accessing a free iTunes Wi-Fi music library, which was limited to U.S. customers only. Apple and Starbucks continue to offer free app and song of the week picks through physical cards in Starbucks stores though.
Unfortunately Google’s All Access music streaming service is still limited to the U.S., so it isn’t likely that Starbucks stores outside of the country will be able to take advantage of this partnership. However, this is still great exposure for All Access. As you may know, All Access isn’t as popular as Spotify, the music streaming service with 20 million tracks and an active 24 million listeners. So exposing All Access to more people is certainly a good move. It’ll no doubt be even better as soon as All Access launches on iOS, too. Will you be taking advantage of this new promotion? 
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| Samsung and other competitors have outgrown Apple in the premium market Posted: 18 Jun 2013 08:23 AM PDT
A recent study by Counterpoint Research shows that Samsung and other manufacturers have bitten huge chunks of Apple's market share in the past year, when it comes to premium smartphones priced above $400. The same trend can also be observed in the number of premium phones shipped in the past year, where Apple's dominance seems to fade away. Due to competition from handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S3/4, Galaxy Note 2, the HTC One, One X, and others, Apple's market share in the segment has dropped from 73 percent in May 2012, to 38 percent in May this year (as seen in the graphic below, from Tech-Thoughts). On the other hand, Samsung experienced the biggest growth, jumping from 20 percent last year to a healthy 47 percent, measured last month. The share of the Others group, which includes Android manufacturers, but also Nokia and Blackberry, also doubled in just one year.  Image credit: Tech-Thoughts.net The figures above may be a bit misleading regarding Samsung's vertiginous rise. The Samsung Galaxy S3 was launched at the end of May 2012 so the company's last year flagship cannot be given much credit for Samsung's market share in that specific month.  Smartphone shipments – credit: Tech-Thoughts.net As Tech-Thoughts reports, a more accurate view on the market can be gained by analyzing the number of smartphone shipped in the same time-frame. Using his own estimations, Tech-Thoughts‘ Sameer Singh notes that the iPhone shipment numbers have remained virtually unchanged over the past year, while Samsung's figures have rose greatly, from around 2.5 million in May 2012 to around 13 million this year. When comparing the rise of other manufacturers to Samsung's and Apple's, we have even more interesting results. Samsung has managed to keep the pace with other product vendors while Apple was left behind. It's also worth noting that Q2 is usually Apple's weakest quarter and that in the period in which the study was conducted, Apple released only one smartphone: the iPhone 5.The company is expected to launch another handset in the months to come. 
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| Samsung Premiere 2013 event on Thursday to be live streamed Posted: 18 Jun 2013 07:28 AM PDT
Just because you can’t be at Samsung Premiere 2013, it doesn’t mean you can’t watch all the action at the Korean company’s event as it happens. We at Android Authority will, of course, cover everything for you, but if you want to watch the Samsung Premiere 2013 event yourself, a live stream will be available. You will be able to watch the live stream on the Samsung Mobile YouTube channel (link below), on Thursday, June 20, starting at 7PM BST. The event will be focused, as already announced, on Galaxy and ATIV devices, but we’re wondering what Samsung could still have in store, considering the avalanche of product launches it has unleashed upon us in the last few weeks. That’s a question only Samsung can answer for now; as a reminder, Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, Samsung Galaxy S4 Active and Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini in the past few weeks. 
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| Huawei Ascend P6 official: just 6.18mm thick, to start selling in June Posted: 18 Jun 2013 06:59 AM PDT
Huawei has officially unveiled the Ascend P6, its latest flagship that arrives in a very thin body and with impressive specifications. To be sold in black, white, and pink variants, the handset is set to be released this summer in markets around the world, for a price that is believed to be quite affordable. As several leaks previously indicated, the Huawei Ascend P6 is going to be the slimmest smartphone on the market, with a profile that is only 6.18 mm thick and weighing just 120 grams. While no official hands-on images have been shared, newly leaked images confirm the good looks of the handset but also the uncanny resemblance to Apple's iPhone 5. Huawei Ascend P6 specifications Image source: MyDrivers.com On the inside, the Huawei Ascend P6 features a powerful quad-core processor and a decent battery. Running the latest Android, the P6 will feature the "MagicTouch" technology that allows users to operate the touchscreen even with gloves on. While MagicTouch is not a new thing in the Android world, the use of brushed metal will certainly make the Ascend P6 stand out in the crowd. Here are the full Huawei Ascend P6 specs:
As you may have noticed in the list above, Huawei bets heavily on the 5-megapixel front-facing shooter and on people who love taking pictures of themselves. To support that trend, Huawei has included an automatic technology that is said to enhance the quality of self portraits.  Image credit: MyDrivers.com The main camera is also enhanced with Huawei's proprietary IMAGESmart software, which helps novice photographers with color and contrast modifiers, auto-scene recognition, object tracing focus, and figure improvement support. When it comes to the battery, that 2000 mAh may not seem too much, but Huawei boasted the use of two battery-saving technologies – Automated Discontinuous Reception technology (ADRX) and Quick Power Control (QPC), which are claimed to improve the battery performance with more than 30 percent, when compared to other batteries of equal size. Huawei P6 Software features Image source: MyDrivers.com The Ascend P6 comes out of the box with the latest version of Android, 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. On top of that, Huawei has added an upgraded flavor of its Emotion UI, now with improved security features, Me Widget, MagicTouch, SmartReading, and a new panoramic shoot and facial recognition feature. Besides the modified interface, Ascend P6 users will also have access to a multi-screen sharing capability called AirSharing, which allows users to connect to a broad range of devices and share files or play them remotely. Huawei P6 body and design      The Huawei Ascend P6 features a narrow body with a curved bottom and iPhone 5-like sides, which appear to be made of some sort of alloy. Also, on the right side of the device we can spot the SIM card and SD card trays, alongside a volume toggle and the power button. On top we can spot a microUSB port, while the 3.5-mm headphone jack can be seen on the bottom. The back-plate is made of metal, with the only element disturbing its minimalism being the Huawei logo. In the upper left corner, we can see the rear-facing camera and the LED flash. Huawei P6 availabilityThe Huawei Ascend P6 is going to be sold in three different color versions: black, white, and pink. Shipments will start in China from June and move to Western Europe in July. The company also released a short list of carriers that will receive the phone, including Vodafone, Telefonica, Orange, H3G, O2, Carphone Warehouse, TalkTalk, Media Markt & Saturn and TIM. The handset will also sell online through Amazon and CDiscount. Elegant and edgy, the new HUAWEI Ascend P6 is the world’s slimmest smartphone London, United Kingdom, June 18, 2013: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today unveiled the HUAWEI Ascend P6, the world’s slimmest smartphone measuring 6.18mm. The smartphone features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and a sleek metallic body. With its 4.7-inch high definition in-cell display, industry-leading 5MP front-facing camera, and outstanding software, the HUAWEI Ascend P6 is the embodiment of elegance with an edge. “The HUAWEI Ascend P6 is a star among smartphones with its industry-leading design, high-quality camera, and intuitive user interface, Huawei’s proprietary Emotion UI,” said Richard Yu, Chief Executive Officer, Huawei Consumer Business Group. “Building on the success of our Ascend P series of fashion smartphones, the HUAWEI Ascend P6 provides unsurpassed technology and a design that is simply stunning.” HUAWEI Ascend P6 is ultra slim at 6.18mm and weighs just about 120g. While it is small enough to slip into the tiniest of pockets or clutch bags, the stylish HUAWEI Ascend P6 is designed to be seen and coveted! It features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, Android 4.2.2 operating system, 2000mAh battery, 4.7-inch HD in-cell LCD screen technology, and ‘MagicTouch’ for enhanced screen responsiveness even when wearing gloves. As the flagship smartphone of the Huawei Ascend P series, the HUAWEI Ascend P6 embodies a cutting edge design for the fashion conscious. The smartphone’s brushed metallic look with a naturally curved base is both elegant and intuitive. Impossibly beautiful, the Ascend P6 balances fashionable features and user-friendly functions. Perfect for ‘selfies’, the HUAWEI Ascend P6′s industry-leading 5MP front-facing camera and auto facial-enhancing capabilities create model-gorgeous shots you’ll want to share. Its 8MP rear-facing BSI camera with F2.0 aperture and 4cm macro view also enables 1080P full HD video recording and playback. With Huawei’s proprietary IMAGESmart software, the HUAWEI Ascend P6 turns even the most novice photographer into a professional, with contrast and color enhancement, auto scene recognition, object tracing focus, and instant facial beauty support. The HUAWEI Ascend P6 is even more intuitive and able to be customized with Huawei’s Emotion UI. Inspired by people, for device users worldwide, Huawei has gathered input from over 5 million consumers to help us optimize the latest version of Emotion UI. The proprietary user interface includes updates to Uni-Home including enhanced security, Huawei’s Me Widget, MagicTouch, and SmartReading. New to Huawei’s Emotion UI are the panoramic shoot and facial recognition photography functions. Huawei’s unique Automated Discontinuous Reception (ADRX) and Quick Power Control (QPC) battery optimization and power saving technology improves performance by more than 30%, compared with smartphone batteries of equal size. With its multi-screen AirSharing capability, you can connect to a range of devices to boost your productivity at work or play by easily sharing documents or enhance your gaming experience with minimal lag time. 
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| Samsung Galaxy Note 2 getting stability update, Android 4.2.2 will have to wait Posted: 18 Jun 2013 06:07 AM PDT
Users of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 in the UK should check their phones, because an update has begun rolling out to their devices. The new update brings improved stability, along with some bug fixes, so it’s not the Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 update users of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 have been waiting for (and which has been reportedly delayed, due to issues with new TouchWiz). According to Sam Mobile, quoting the company, the stability update fixes battery drain, includes bug fixes and repairs some small other issues. The update will bring your device to build number JZ054K.N7100XXDME6 and is said to be available both OTA and through Samsung’s Kies software. The first users to get it are those in the UK, with the rest of the European continent to follow. Users on the XDA developers forums are reporting downloading and installing the update, and one user has even posted a screenshot, which you can take a look at below.
The Android version remains 4.1.2 for now, but hopefully, it won’t take long before Samsung Galaxy Note 2 users get the Jelly Bean 4.2.2 bump. 
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| Best Android phones – India, June 2013 Posted: 18 Jun 2013 04:48 AM PDT One of the biggest advantages for Android buyers is that they’re never without options. Looking for the latest and greatest? Looking for a relatively high-end phone at a good price? Looking for a budget-friendly smartphone? There are numerous possibilities in every category. In India, we have a slew of local manufacturers who’ve taken up the cause to provide consumers with powerful quad-core smartphones at low prices, but some of the most popular devices in the country are still the latest flagship smartphones from international OEMs like Samsung, HTC, and Sony. But, it’s also becoming harder and harder to choose between so many great options. That’s where we step in! With Android Authority’s monthly buying guides covering all major markets around the world, we save you the trouble of doing the research by providing a comprehensive list of all the best Android smartphones available to you. If you’ve seen some of our other buying guides for May 2013, you’ll notice that in other markets (like in the US), the specifications-based breakdown is simpler, with categories such as high-end, mid-range, and entry-level. In India, things get a little more complicated, mostly because of high import duties against electronics from international manufacturers. So, you may have a quad-core smartphone from a local manufacturer priced at Rs 12,000 (~$226), but a less powerful and less feature-packed smartphone from HTC priced at Rs 20,000(~$377). So for today’s India-specific buying guide, we’ll be categorizing based on price. Let’s get started! Android smartphones priced above Rs 30,000HTC One
The HTC One was all set to help the struggling company regain some lost ground in the Android smartphone arena that has been completely dominated by Samsung over last two years. While the smartphone itself is absolutely amazing, with its aluminium unibody design, innovative UltraPixel camera, and redesigned HTC Sense UI, the launch of the device wasn’t off to the greatest of starts, plagued by component supply shortages. In India as well, the highly-anticipated launch event was followed by a month and a half of absolute nothing, with the availability of the HTC One being delayed for a long time. That wait has finally ended, giving consumers the option to get their hands on one of the best high-end Android smartphones available around the world. Along with the great design, the HTC One features some great specifications, including a 4.7-inch IPS 1080p display, a 1.7Ghz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, Adreno 320 GPU, 2GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, 4MP “Ultrapixel” camera and 2.1MP front camera, a 2,300 mAh battery, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on-board. The updated HTC Sense UI, featuring BlinkFeed and a host of new camera features, complements the amazing hardware perfectly. Check out our detailed hands-on review of the HTC One to check out some of the latest features of the smartphone in action - HTC One pricing and availabilityAs previously announced, the HTC One is available for Rs 39,489 (~$717) from online retailers Saholic, with both silver and black color options available. You can also find the complete list of retail stores here, where the HTC One will be available. Samsung Galaxy S4
Unlike HTC and Sony that needed to redefine their flagship products, Samsung decided to follow a “tried and tested” strategy. With the Samsung Galaxy S3 becoming one of the highest selling Android smartphones in 2012, followed by the very successful Galaxy Note 2, Samsung didn’t play around with the form factor of the Galaxy S4 much, but instead packed the device with a host of new software features as a part of its TouchWiz UI, on top of the latest Android 4.2 OS. The Samsung Galaxy S4 retained some features such as a replaceable battery and the availability of microSD expansion, which many consumers believe to be a must-have, giving the Samsung flagship an advantage over the HTC One. The “plastic vs metal” debate is still raging, but isn’t as big a deal as some would think, with the Samsung Galaxy S4 on track to become the fastest selling Android smartphone this year. On the hardware front, India is one of the few markets in which the octa-core Samsung Exynos 5 version of the Galaxy S4 is available. Other specifications include a 5-inch Super AMOLED 1080p display, 2GB RAM, PowerVR SGX 544MP3 GPU, 16GB internal storage, expandable via microSD card, 13MP rear camera and 2MP front camera, and a 2,600 mAh battery. Instead of getting into a discussion of the numerous software features, you can take a look at our detailed hands-on review of the Samsung Galaxy S4 here - Samsung Galaxy S4 pricing and availabilityThe 16GB version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 is priced at Rs 39,500(~$718) and is available from various online retailers such as Flipkart, Saholic, and Infibeam, as well as the Samsung India e-Store for a slightly higher Rs 40,300 (~$732) and various Samsung dealers and Samsung Experience stores around the country, in both white frost and black mist color options. Sony Xperia Z
With its great mid-range and entry-level smartphones, Sony has developed a loyal fan base in India, and so, theexcitement that followed the launch of the Sony Xperia Z is understandable. With a unique design, and featuring water and dust resistance, the Sony Xperia Z is a formidable device, and while the specifications (read processor) may not be as current as the other flagships, the Xperia Z is a device that is hard to ignore. The Sony Xperia Z features a 5-inch 1080p display, a 1.5 Ghz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, Adreno 320 GPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage further expandable via microSD, 13MP rear camera and 2.2MP front camera, a 2,330 mAh battery, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on-board. The beautiful (shatter resistant) glass design, a great camera, and a comparatively cheaper price, means that Sony has finally managed to release a smartphone that will do very well in the highly-competitive high-end smartphone market in India. Check out our hands-on review of the Sony Xperia Z here - Sony Xperia Z pricing and availabilityThe Sony Xperia Z is priced at Rs 37,299 (~$678) and is available from online retailers such as Flipkart, and for Rs 35,500 (~$645) Snapdeal, as well as numerous Sony retail stores around the country, with all white, black, and purple color options available. Special mentions
Android smartphones priced between Rs 15,000 and Rs 30,000Google Nexus 4
One of the biggest announcements last month in the Android smartphone world in India was the official availability of the Google Nexus 4. The Nexus 4, with its reasonable price and high-end specifications, featured the perfect combination to become the best-selling Android device in the country, but unfortunately, the smartphone never made it to Indian shores till now. Even then, the Google Nexus 4 is still one of the most sought after phones in India and the official release should make it a lot easier for people to buy one. At a reasonable price, you’ll get a 4.7-inch IPS display with 1280×768 resolution, a 1.5Ghz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, Adreno 320 GPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, 8MP rear camera and 1.3MP front camera, 2,100 mAh battery, and Android 4.2.2 on-board. Of course, the biggest advantage with getting a Nexus device the guarantee of always running to latest Android OS version. Don’t forget to take a look at our complete hands-on review of the Google Nexus 4 here - Google Nexus 4 pricing and availabilityUnlike the Nexus 7, the Nexus 4 will not be available through the Indian Google Play Store, but is available from various LG retail stores around the country, along with Flipkart. The device is priced at Rs 25,990 (~$472). Samsung Galaxy S3
One of the advantages of the latest flagships being launched is the resulting price cut associated with that release. With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S3 has seen such a slash in the price, now bringing the still great phone below the Rs 30,000 mark. Granted, the Google Nexus 4 is comparatively newer and cheaper, but Samsung fans not looking to spend the Rs 40,000 required for the Galaxy S4 can now find a viable alternative with the Samsung Galaxy S3. The specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S3 include a 4.8-inch 720p display, a 1.4Ghz quad-core Samsung Exynos 4412 processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage expandable via microSD up to 64GB, an 8MP rear camera and 1.9MP front camera, a 2,100 mAh battery, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. If you’d like to see the smartphone in action before making a decision, check out our comprehensive review of the Galaxy S3 here - Samsung Galaxy S3 pricing and availabilityThe Samsung Galaxy S3 is quite easily available from all Samsung retail stores and other mobile stores, as well as from various online retailers such as Flipkart and Infibeam, priced at Rs 27,500 (~$500). You can also buy the device from the Samsung India e-Store for Rs 28,050 (~$510). HTC One X and One X+
As is the case with the Samsung Galaxy S3, the HTC One X and One X+ saw a price drop as well, associated with the release of the HTC One. Again, these are still two amazing smartphones, and are still great buys at a more affordable price point. As a reminder, the HTC One X boasts a beautiful 4.7-inch LCD2 display with 1280×720 resolution, 1.5 Ghz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage with no microSD expansion, 8MP rear camera and 1.3MP front camera, 1,800 mAh battery, Beats Audio integration, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Most of the specifications of the HTC One X+ are the same as its predecessor, with the slightly upgraded One X+ featuring a 1.7 Ghz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, 64 GB of internal storage, an upgraded 1.6MP front camera, and a larger 2,100 mAh battery. Between the two, and budget permitting, the HTC One X+ is obviously the better choice. You can check out the video of the HTC One X+ in action here - HTC One X and One X+ pricing and availabilityThe HTC One X and One X+ can be found from various HTC dealers around the country, but with the best prices available from online retailers Saholic, with the HTC One X available from Rs 24,999 (~$454), and the HTC One X+ setting you back Rs 28,999 (~$527). Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro
Like the Nexus 4, the Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro is a smartphone that makes this list courtesy of its official release late last month. While the Galaxy Grand featured comparatively poor specifications for its almost Rs 20,000 price point (but still sold well), the revamped edition, featuring a quad-core processor and a cheaper price tag, shows that Samsung is very serious about capturing an even bigger piece of the Android smartphone market in India. The Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro gives the company a much better chance at competing against the numerous budget-friendly quad-core smartphones available in the country from local manufacturers. The specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro include a 4.7-inch display with 800×480 resolution, 1.2Ghz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage expandable via microSD up to 32GB, 5MP rear camera and 0.3MP front camera, 2,000 mAh battery, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and dual-SIM support. While not the best specifications, especially when directly compared to some of the budget-friendly smartphones Samsung hopes to take on, the company enjoys a certain brand recognition and trust which will cause people to overlook that difference. Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro pricing and availabilityThe Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro falls in the lower end of the price range at Rs 16,900 (~$307), and is available from the Samsung India e-Store and all Samsung dealers and Samsung Experience stores, but for Rs 16,299 (~$296) from online retailers Flipkart, which also includes a free Samsung Bluetooth headset. Android smartphones priced at less than Rs 15,000If you’ve been following my “Weekly News Roundup – India” features, you know that there are numerous budget-friendly smartphones released on a weekly basis, with a lot of them now featuring a large display, a quad-core processor, and a price tag under Rs 15,000. In order to cut down what would otherwise be an unending list, for the purposes of this guide, we’ll be taking a look at smartphones that boast not only quad-core smartphones, but those featuring a high resolution 720p display, with of course, a price point below Rs 15,000. Let’s take a look! Micromax A116 Canvas HD
Micromax can be given credit for starting of the trend of budget-friendly quad-core smartphones in India, and was very well-received. Priced at less than Rs 15,000 and boasting a quad-core processor and 720p display, the Micromax A116 Canvas HD is still one of the most popular smartphones in this category. The specifications of the Micromax A116 Canvas HD include a 5-inch IPS display with 1280×720 resolution, 1.2Ghz quad-core MediaTek MT6589 processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage (1.77GB available to the user) expandable via microSD up to 32GB, 8MP rear camera and 2MP front camera, 2,000 mAh battery, dual-SIM support, and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean on-board. Except for the internal storage, the specifications of the Micromax A116 Canvas HD are better than the Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro, and is more along the lines of the far more expensive Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X. Of course, the performance of the underclocked MediaTek processor isn’t at par, but if you’re in the market for a very wallet-friendly device, the Micromax A116 Canvas HD should definitely be considered. Micromax A116 Canvas HD pricing and availabilityThe Micromax A116 Canvas HD is priced at Rs 14,499 (~$263), and can be ordered from the Micromax website here, as well as from online retailers Snapdeal for Rs 13,149 (~$239). Celkon A119Q Signature HD
Celkon is another local manufacturer hoping to make a name for itself in the highly-competitive budget smartphone market, and will certainly be able to do so with the recently launched Celkon A119Q Signature HD. With specifications similar to, if not better, than the Micromax A116 Canvas HD, the Celkon quad-core smartphone is a great buy at its price point. The specifications of the Celkon A119Q HD include a 5-inch IPS display with 1280×720 resolution, 1.2Ghz quad-core MediaTek processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage expandable via microSD up to 32GB, 12MP rear camera and 3MP front camera, 2,100 mAh battery, dual-SIM support, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on-board. As you can see, it’s almost like Celkon has taken the Micromax device as a frame of reference and made things slightly better wherever possible, with the most interesting feature being the availability of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box, which not many international OEMs can say either. If you’re in the market for a great budget-friendly quad-core smartphone, the Celkon A119Q Signature HD should definitely make your short list. Celkon A119Q Signature HD pricing and availabilityCelkon has Micromax beat as far as price is concerned as well, with a price tag of just Rs 12,499 (~$227). The Celkon A119Q Signature HD is available from online retailers SnapDeal here. Zen Ultrafone 701HD
Zen Mobiles is also like every other Indian manufacturer, hoping to leave its mark in an industry wherever similar products from numerous local companies are released on a weekly basis. The Zen Ultrafone 701HD is one such product, which joins the ever-growing list of budget-friendly quad-core smartphones available in India. The specifications list of the Zen Ultrafone 701HD is also very familiar, featuring a 5-inch IPS display with 1280×720 resolution, 1.2Ghz quad-core MediaTek processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage expandable via microSD, 8MP rear camera and 3.2MP front camera, 2,000 mAh battery, dual-SIM support, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on-board. As you can see, the specifications are definitely worth the price (below), and the fact that Indian manufacturers have moved to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean for their latest device releases is great to see. With specifications very similar across the board, it comes down to your personal choice as far as design is concerned, but Zen Mobiles also has the other companies beat when it comes to the price, but of course, not by much. Zen Ultrafone 701HD availability and pricingThe Zen Ultrafone 701HD is available from online retailers Snapdeal, priced at Rs 11,999 (~$218). WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z
As with every other smartphone on the less-than-Rs-15,000 list, the WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z is powered by a 1.2Ghz quad-core MediaTek processor. Of course, the standout feature of the WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z is the 5-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920×1080, which is definitely a step up from the 720p displays we’ve seen so far. Other specifications of the Wammy Passion Z include a 1.2Ghz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage expandable via microSD up to 64GB, 12MP rear camera and 2MP front camera, a 2,500 mAh battery, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on-board. WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z pricing and availabilityThe impressive specifications are matched with an equally impressive price point, with the device priced at just Rs 14,990 (~$272), and is available from the WickedLeak website here. Wrap UpAs you can see, there are some great options available to you in every price category, and it’s absolutely amazing to think that regardless of the price range, each and every device on this list features a quad-core processor, with the Samsung Galaxy S4 boasting an octa-core processor. There’s still a lot to look forward to this year from international OEMs, while local manufacturers are going to continue to produce some great devices at very budget-friendly prices, but if you’re in the market for a new smartphone now, you can check out all the great options above. 
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| HTC Desire 200 budget Android handset made official by the company Posted: 18 Jun 2013 04:16 AM PDT
The HTC Desire 200 is most certainly a device for those of us that are more budget-conscious, and perfectly willing to make some serious compromises in terms of features. You may remember that the device’s specs, as well as a video hands-on of it, have made their way online yesterday, with the device being spotted in the wild a month ago. If you’ve been paying attention, you probably already know that the device isn’t the most up-to-date handset out there, in terms of specs or software, but it could still be alright as a first smartphone or for those that want an affordable device, with some extra features. HTC does prove, though, that it cares about its customers in the lower-end spectrum too, since it includes its “highest quality in-ear headset” with the device, paired with Beats Audio, meaning that you’ll get a good music listening experience. As far as the rest of the specs go, the HTC Desire 200 has a single-core CPU running at 1GHz, paired with 512MB of RAM memory and 4GB of internal storage, to which you can add with a micro SD card. It has a 3.5-inch HVGA screen with 480 x 320 pixels resolution, and comes with a 5-megapixel main camera, which can also record VGA video. The battery is a 1230mAh one, with HTC promising that it will last you through up to 10.9 hours of GSM talk time and up to 7.4 hours in WCDMA. HTC says on the phone’s page that it runs Android with HTC Sense. Yesterday’s leak says that it’s Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich. Hopefully, you’ll get a Jelly Bean bump someday if you buy it, but only HTC can know that precisely. A price isn’t mentioned yet, but it shouldn’t cost too much, considering the specs. Would you buy the HTC Desire 200? 
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| Chromebook now available in 6,600 stores around the world Posted: 18 Jun 2013 04:15 AM PDT
There are several different Chromebook models available each one built by a different manufacturer. Acer’s take on the concept uses a dual-core Intel Celeron together with a 16GB SSD. Walmart will be selling it for just $199. Also in just a few days time, Staples will bring a mix of Chromebooks from Acer, HP and Samsung to every one of its 1,500 stores across the U.S. As well as Walmart and Staples, Google has also announced that select Office Depot, OfficeMax, and regional chains Fry's and TigerDirect stores will begin selling Chromebooks over the next few months. But the boost in the number of retail outlets isn’t confined just to the USA. In ten other countries around the world Google is expanding the number of retailers which carry Chromebooks. In the UK the big supermarket chain Tesco will start selling Chromebooks from 116 of its biggest stores, starting from £199. In the Netherlands all Media Markt and Saturn stores will become stockists. FNAC stores in France, Elgiganten stores in Sweden and all JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman stores in Australia will be carrying Chromebooks as well. Have you been tempted to get a Chromebook? 
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| Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom has U.K. price, can be pre-ordered Posted: 18 Jun 2013 03:23 AM PDT
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, the smartphone with one of the best cameras on the market (or the camera that includes a smartphone, whichever way you want to put it), now has a price tag attached to it, for the U.K., at least. The device, which was officially announced only a few days ago, is now listed for pre-order by U.K. retailer Handtec, at a price of £467.99 (around $734), which includes VAT. Without VAT, the price of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is £389.99 (around $612). If you want to get yours, know that it’s already available for pre-order, but the launch date is not yet specified. However, the site says that the device is “due in soon,” so it shouldn’t take too long before you can take it with you on your vacation. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom can be a pretty good option for those customers that want a capable camera and a smartphone in one device, so that they don’t need to carry both around. It has a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 960 x 540 and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with Native Damage Resistance. It’s powered by a dual-core CPU at 1.5GHz and 1.5GB of RAM, has 8GB of internal memory, and microSD support so you have enough space to store your images. The camera, which is probably the most important part, is a 16-megapixel one with 10x Optical Zoom, smart modes, optical image stabilization and a host of other useful photo features. The device also has a front-facing 1.9-megapixel shooter. To get a better idea of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom’s features and strengths, you can take a look at Samsung’s lifestyle video below. What do you think of the price? Do you plan on purchasing the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom? 
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| AT&T bringing 25 solar charging stations for mobile devices in New York Posted: 18 Jun 2013 02:56 AM PDT  Image Credit: Michael Nagle for The New York Time AT&T seems to understand the need for more powerful batteries when all other components in a mobile device advance. Even though it won’t create batteries for its mobile devices, a lending hand will be delivered in the form of solar-powered charging stations. Starting with Tuesday, New York will be the home of no less than 25 solar charging stations that can power batteries for all types of smartphones. Ready to charge up to six devices at a time, these stations can supply power through dedicated ports for Android-based products but also for iPhones, BlackBerry handsets and other gadgets that have a standard USB plug. Designed with solar technology provided by mobile solar start-up Goal Zero, AT&T's environment-friendly stations are 12.5-foot steel poles with three petal-like panes mounted on top to gather energy. The charge will be delivered through the base of the system were three other petals made out of wood will accommodate products. The three petal-like panels run on a 15-watt charger which is then paired with a 168-watt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that can sustain charges through the night or through five days without sunshine. Those who are willing to test them will be able to fill a smartphone battery in approximately two hours or grab a 30 percent charge in half an hour.  Image Credit: Michael Nagle for The New York Time The project will run for three to four weeks at a time until October and those interested should find one in various parks, beaches and other outdoor spaces in the five boroughs. The most predictable locations for these stations are spots such as the Union Square Park, Metrotech Plaza and the Rockaway Beach. All 25 stations will be rotated and should be seen also in Orchard Beach, Governors Island, Pier 59 in the Hudson River Park, Coney Island, the Staten Island Zoo and around several cultural events. AT&T is said to invest between $300,000 and $500,000 in the project, a sum which should bring back unmeasured benefits. This isn’t AT&T’s first initiative meant to help the community, as the carrier has offered free wireless hotspots mounted in subways, parks and during cultural events in the past. Even though AT&T's solar stations will not be carrier-restricted, with all Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile customers being permitted to charge their devices, AT&T will surely apply proper marketing strategies on each and every location. All in the hope of profiting from the fastest growing area in the telecommunications segment and, helping those in need. 
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While speaking with reporters prior to the UK 
Google’s cloud-centric laptop which is built around its Chrome web browser is now available from Walmart. The Chrome OS powered laptop, which was previously available from outlets like Best Buy and Amazon.com, can now be bought in one of Walmart’s 2,800 stores across the U.S.
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