Android Authority |
- Sprint announces upcoming LG Optimus F3 availability, LTE for $29.99 on contract
- iOS users spend 20% more of their time using apps compared to Android users
- Samsung Galaxy S4 wireless charging accessories now available for total of $90
- Spinpod: take panoramic pictures and record motion time-lapse videos like a pro [Kickstarter]
- Smart clothes that speak to your mobile devices? No it’s not Sci-Fi, OMsignal makes it possible
- Gameloft teases Modern Combat 5 with new trailer
- HTC launches T-Mobile exclusive HTC One Trade Up program
- Want Google Fiber? The Fiber team tells us how to get it!
- The Best third-party Keyboards for Android!
- Evernote gets a new update, adds custom reminders
- Why is the NSA collecting phone records of millions of Verizon customers daily?
- Today Only: Get a free lifetime license for security app Cerberus
- Sony Mobile Munich event apparently set for June 25, is the rumored 6.44-inch Xperia Togari coming?
- NVIDIA showcases pure Android experience on SHIELD
- Is Intel finally ready to take on its ARM rivals for dominance in the mobile world?
- Deus Ex The Fall coming to Android, date not yet announced (video)
- Patents are killing innovation, and Obama wants change
- Galaxy S4 software update rolling out to GT-I9505 version, report says
- AMD wants to get into Android and Chrome. Literally.
- LG Optimus F7 available to buy at U.S. Cellular
- Play Store will overtake App Store in number of app installs by October
- Apple, Google, Motorola, Samsung and Microsoft attending anti device theft conference
- PSA: T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE now available
- Galaxy S4 sales predicted to be lower than anticipated, despite strong performance so far
- Lenovo IdeaTab A1000 and A3000 announced
| Sprint announces upcoming LG Optimus F3 availability, LTE for $29.99 on contract Posted: 07 Jun 2013 02:50 AM PDT
Some people would prefer a smartphone without all the bells, whistles, and expense that come with some of the higher-end models. Sprint now has an answer for those folks: the carrier announced today the upcoming availability of the LG Optimus F3, a $29.99 (after a 2-year contract and $50 mail-in rebate) phone compatible with the Now Network's LTE towers. That's the cheapest 4G LTE phone Sprint's offered yet. The specs are, as you might expect for a phone of this price, nothing special. The Optimus F3 sports a 4-inch 800×480 IPS display and 5MP camera. Internally, it packs a 1.2GHz dual-core ARM CPU and an NFC-capable wireless chip with Wi-Fi Direct compatibility. The whole thing's powered by a 2,460mAh battery, which should keep the Optimus F3 humming along for a good long while.  Click to enlarge In addition to LG's suite of applications, Sprint's included some bloat, albeit useful bloat. As "the first phone to come preloaded with TalkBack," Google's text-to-speech accessibility app, the carrier is marketing the Optimus F3 as a device accommodating to those with disabilities. Sprint says blind and vision-impaired customers will have an easier time setting up and using the phone with TalkBalk enabled. Sprint will begin selling the LG Optimus F3 starting June 14 online, before expanding availability to retail locations. Color options are unfortunately limited to silver and purple, but you can't beat the smartphone's price tag. 
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| iOS users spend 20% more of their time using apps compared to Android users Posted: 07 Jun 2013 12:16 AM PDT
According to the raw numbers there are about 10 percent more active Android devices in use around the world than iOS devices. That is a significant number and it looks like this trend is likely to continue. At the recent All Things D conference Apple’s CEO Tim Cook spoke on stage with Walt Mossberg and naturally the issue of Android came up. Since Cook couldn’t deny the numbers his attention turned to how much time people spend using apps on their iOS devices. According to Tim Cook and the new Flurry report Android users spend 20 percent less time using apps on their devices compared to iOS users.
This hasn’t always been the case. Back in 2009 Android was an unknown force lurking in the shadows and as a result iOS app usage was vastly greater than app usage on Android. By 2011 Android was gaining rapidly on iOS but the total time Android users spend using apps was still 50 percent less than for iOS users. However once Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was released and Android tablets started to make an impact, Android app usage was just 5 percent less than that of iOS. But since then the total time spent in apps has decreased steadily to its current 20% difference. Flurry suggests that the release of the iPad 3 had a big part to play in this. So what are the reasons for this? One reason could be that Android phones are becoming so prevalent that many users are switching from feature phones to Android smartphones but actually they don’t want/need/know about the smartphone features and so spend less time in apps but more time using the phone as just a simple phone. Another possibility is that the total user experience for some Android devices isn’t very high. It is still possible to get Android 2.2 and Android 2.3 phones for free on a contract both in the USA and in Europe. Android 2.x was great, but it is now old and Android has moved on. The truth is that no one would recommend an Android 2.x based phone to a friend today. This means that these buyers will join the Android community with a lesser overall experience. What do you think? Have you tried iOS and Android, did you spend more time using apps on iOS or is this data just plain wrong? Let me know by leaving a comment below. 
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| Samsung Galaxy S4 wireless charging accessories now available for total of $90 Posted: 06 Jun 2013 09:21 PM PDT
The official Galaxy S4 wireless charging cover and an accompany wireless charging pad are both available for purchase now on Samsung’s online phone accessories store. The wireless charging pad is a new Qi-certified wireless charging product that will allow refilling the Galaxy S4 with battery power without the need for wires or cables of any kind. As for the wireless charging cover, it’s the battery cover replacement that needs to be present in order for any Galaxy S4 unit to be wireless charging-capable. If you need this in your life right now, all you have to do is make your way to Samsung’s online store in order to place your order. The wireless charging pad, which could probably also be used with other Qi-certified wireless charging products, can be bought for $49.99. Meanwhile, the replacement wireless charging cover that should go on the Galaxy S4 is available for $39.99. Check out the source links below for the order details. 
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| Spinpod: take panoramic pictures and record motion time-lapse videos like a pro [Kickstarter] Posted: 06 Jun 2013 06:05 PM PDT
A new Kickstarter project aims to help amateur photographers take better panoramic pictures and record great motion time-lapse videos with the use of a simple and highly portable accessory that fits a variety of smartphones and cameras. Spinpod is the name of this particular creation that needs to raise $75,000 by July 1 to enter mass-production. As you'll notice in the video below, the circular device is meant to work with Android handsets, iPhones and cameras, to get the job done.
What the Spinpod does – it should be rather logical considering its name – is to spin the device that's docked in it. Thus, taking beautiful panoramic photos becomes a lot easier than doing it by holding the smartphone or camera in your hand. The same goes for time-lapse videos, which use the same rotating mechanism to work. For better results, especially with time-lapse videos you can combine more than one Spinpod to achieve a pan and tilt effect.
In addition to helping you with those complex photo and video mods, the Spinpod doubles as a dock and triples as a sound amplifier. The Spinpod comes in at least three colors including red, blue and black, fits handsets that are up to 2.5-inch wide, and comes with a special mount that lets you place the phone in a horizontal position (landscape mode).
The controls and setup of the Spinpod seem very intuitive, and with just a few button presses and swipes you'll be good to go. Interestingly, the built-in battery will get you either 10 hours of panoramic photos, or around 100 hours of time-lapse video. An app to handle the camera-related chores is not needed, and you’ll be able to use the built-in panorama features of your device to take such pictures. In case you want one of those Spinpods for yourself, then you should go over at Kickstarter and make your contribution. Here's what backing Zhiping Chen's and Daniel Aharoni's project will get you:
Most Spinpods will ship by October, and an additional $15-$25 is required for international shipping. However, if you opt for the 3D printed model, you'll get it at some point in August, but it only ships to the U.S. In case the project raises $100,000, backers will get to pick a fourth color for the device. Anyone buying a Spinpod? 
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| Smart clothes that speak to your mobile devices? No it’s not Sci-Fi, OMsignal makes it possible Posted: 06 Jun 2013 03:48 PM PDT
Ladies and gentleman, the era of wearable technology is here, ready or not! While currently in its infancy, wearable technology already exist in various forms from wristbands, to watches or even tattoos. Then of course there is Google’s own highly ambitious Glass headware. So what's next for wearable tech? Imagine bio-sensing, smart clothes that can collect important information and communicate it back to your mobile devices. This might sound like something straight out of a Sci-Fi movie, but that's exactly what OMsignal has been silently working on in "stealth mode" since 2011. Yesterday, the company announced they were one step closer to making their ideas a reality thanks to $1 million in seed funding from Real Ventures, Gold Venture Partners and TechStars CEO David Cohen. The company isn’t quite ready for commercial release just yet. The next step is to take their working shirt prototype and produce it in mass. After that, OMsignal hopes to get 100 units out to developers by the end of this year. OMsignals’ approach is sort of like Google Glass, where Google is first testing the waters with developers and then later plans for a wider commercial release. So what exactly does OMsignal apparel do? The clothing monitors physical activity, ECG data and breathing patterns. It can then transmit this data to an accompanying smartphone app. Ultimately these clothes will be designed to work in multiple forms and fashion. That means there will be “smart clothes” for just about every occasion. Smart Clothing has an epic amount of potentialThe company has a long ways to go before they hit commercial availability, but there is a ton of potential here. In their promotional video, OMsignal demo'd a few possible uses of the tech. In one scene, a wife was notified of her husband's rising stress levels so she could send him a comforting text. There was also an example where a woman was alerted when her father's heart rate dramatically elevated, and so she was able to get get him to the hospital quickly. There are also possible health, exercise, medical and even social uses for bio-sensing clothing. OMsignal says it is already working with interested companies in the medical field and elsewhere. Of course this kind of tech has some downsides as well. First, don't expect it to be super-cheap. More than likely the earliest forms of smart clothing will be around $100 or more when they first arrive to retail. On the plus side, bio-sensing clothing is also very flexible, lighweight, unobtrusive and washable. It could certainly provide a great alternative to wristbands and other similar wearables. This is just the beginning for "smart clothing", and make no mistake about it, OMsignal is far from the only company or apparel brand interested in the technology. We are just scratching the surface here, folks. As the technology advances, we could someday have smart clothes that can detect low blood sugar, heart attacks and other medical conditions. The tech could then relay all of this back to our mobile devices or even a doctor or professional careworker. This is certainly exciting stuff. Don't you just love living in the future? I know I do. 
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| Gameloft teases Modern Combat 5 with new trailer Posted: 06 Jun 2013 03:02 PM PDT
Another year, another Modern Combat version, this time set in Europe. Mobile app developer Gameloft released a teaser trailer today for Modern Combat 5, the latest entry in the company's ever-popular first-person shooter series. From the looks of the video, players will have an entirely new environment in which to cause carnage: the quiet canals and sleepy cafes of an ancient Italian city. Graphical fidelity has always been a focus of Modern Combat, and the newest addition to the franchise doesn't disappoint. The dynamic lighting, shadows, and high-resolution textures look particularly pretty. Of course, a high-end device will probably be required to play the game at maximum graphics settings, and the quality doesn't yet match current-gen consoles. However, Modern Combat 5 is probably the closest thing to Call of Duty on a smartphone. Gameloft promised more Modern Combat 5 info at E3, but did announce the game will be available for iOS and Android devices when it launches. We'll be bringing you more coverage in the coming week, so stay tuned! 
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| HTC launches T-Mobile exclusive HTC One Trade Up program Posted: 06 Jun 2013 02:42 PM PDT
If you're in the market for an HTC One and have been considering T-Mobile as your service provider, then we have some very good news for you. HTC has paired up with T-Mobile to offer a trade in service to allow you to swap your old smartphone for cash when purchasing the HTC One from T-Mobile. The program will run from June 5 to June 9 and will get you up to $300 cash, with a guaranteed $100 in your pocket. There are a few rules. You'll need to have purchased a HTC One from T-Mobile during that period, so early adopters aren't allowed to reap any advantage from this program. To get a quote you'll need to select your brand, model and service provider, as well as answer some simple questions like whether your phone is functional, whether the screen is broken, and whether there's been any liquid damage. Playing around with the quote maker shows that a 2012 smartphone will get you between $150-$200, and older smartphones will reward you with less money. But if you've got an old smartphone and it's on the list of phones up for rebate, you can rest assured that HTC has guaranteed $100 in your pocket. If you’ve been convinced that the HTC One is for you and would like to take advantage of this trade up program, click the source link below. Are you looking to pick up a T-Mobile HTC One? Will you be taking advantage of the trade up program? 
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| Want Google Fiber? The Fiber team tells us how to get it! Posted: 06 Jun 2013 02:15 PM PDT
One gigabit of download speed. It's easy to talk about, but not easily conceived. We can read all the stats and data we like, but until it's experienced, none of it really makes sense. So, how can we actually experience Fiber? Building a fiber optic network is a huge task, so how does Google accomplish it all? More importantly, we want to know how we can get it in our cities. We recently had a chat with the Fiber team, to ask all of our Fiber-y questions. We wanted to know how Fiber came to be, what it means for Google, and what it does for the cities (and citizens) lucky enough to have it. Why choose the cities you do? We know the qualifications, but is there more to it than that?Not really, no. It's really all about demand. If you look at the three cities we've announced, so far we have growing tech scenes in every one of them. That's a big deal for us. If you think about Fiber now, it's hard to really describe what you can do with a gigabit. We feel those applications are the next generation of the web, but they haven't been built yet. We want to bring Fiber to those places where people will be able to use it creatively to come up with those apps.
Another factor is that the city leadership is easy to work with. We like to have good relationships with the Mayor's office and city council. We're building a pretty big, advanced infrastructure in their area, and folks who are willing to work with us make the entire process easier. Do things like municipally owned utilities factor in? It seems so simple to just enjoy a good working relationship with the city.If you look at the different market's we're in, it's all really different. It's tough when we say that, because people may think Google is getting some sort of incentive or subsidy in having Fiber in the markets we do. We don't get any kind of incentive or subsidy. At all. It's more about the process for getting Fiber implemented, and figuring out ways to cut red tape, make response times faster, streamline the process for getting permits expedited, things like that. Anything that can trim a day or two off the process is huge for us in building the massive infrastructure that is Fiber throughout the city. So, basically, you want a city government that is on the same page as you.Exactly. Things as simple as providing a single liaison we can get in touch with at the city, who helps us route requests internally at the city. Those are a big help for us. When you get to an area like Kansas City, why is Fiber good for the community?One of the things that excited us about building in our first Fiberhood (Hanover Heights) last November was that there was a huge startup scene that swelled around Fiber coming to their neighborhood. Folks bought houses in the neighborhood. They even call it 'startup village'! There were venture capitalists who bought houses. Brad Fell, a venture capitalist who lives in Colorado, bought a house and is now renting it out free to developers. There is a group of people who believe they can build apps using a gigabit, and there is a great energy of activity around that scene. It's hard to put a finger on the economic impact so far, but it's really good for the city. We hope this type of startup energy ends up being a long-term benefit for any place Fiber goes. Fiber is just one element of the growing tech economy in Kansas City. What is the cost associated with building Fiber out?We don't really like to comment on specific numbers, but it's a very significant investment. I'd also point to the fact that the cost of building Fiber is lower than it traditionally has been. The cost of the actual fiber is much more affordable, and so are the electronics associated. Another interesting thing is that we build by demand. In July, we announced our plans for Kansas City. Until September, we had a pre-registration period. We divided Kansas City into 202 'Fiberhoods', which had a residential threshold. Those residents had to go online, and request Fiber. Those Fiberhoods who qualified, based on number of respondents, were on our list for build-out. 180 of the 202 Fiberhoods qualified, , so 89% of Kansas City is getting Fiber. If residents want Fiber, we give it to them, plain and simple. Those with the best response numbers get Fiber first, sure, but we bring it to all qualifying Fiberhoods. So you just kind of go in, get focused, and build Fiber.Exactly. In our first Fiberhood, we concentrated all of our efforts (installers, construction people, etc.) into Hanover Heights over the course of a few weeks, which allowed us to build Fiber out quickly and efficiently. That way, we didn't have installers spreading themselves thin all over the city. They can concentrate on one neighborhood. Things like that cut cost, cut time, and allow us to bring Fiber to neighborhoods really efficiently. 
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| The Best third-party Keyboards for Android! Posted: 06 Jun 2013 01:42 PM PDT
The stock keyboard that comes loaded on your Android device is decent, at best. Rarely is there any word prediction, and a lot of the time it feels clunky to type with — the stock keyboard that is loaded on the majority of Galaxy branded devices is a great example of this. That said, we’re going to show you some great third-party keyboards that will blow those silly stock keyboards out of the water! As usual, if you’d rather watch the video, simply jump to the bottom of the article. AI Type Keyboard Plus
First up on our list is AI Type Keyboard Plus. This is versatile keyboard gives you a lot of options all inside of an eye friendly interface. The various menus in this keyboard app look really well designed, and the keyboard is fairly accurate too. It also tries to compete with SwiftKey in terms of word prediction, however, it’s not nearly as accurate. The keyboard works really well, and if you’re not happy with its look you can theme it to an extent. This includes a transparent option where you can put an image in the background. You’ll be able to make that image whatever you want, however, if you’re looking for more customization beyond that, you’re out of luck. Hacker’s Keyboard
Next on our list is Hacker’s Keyboard. This keyboard app has been around for quite some time and has been consistently popular among its somewhat small, but loyal fanbase. One of the really cool features with this app is that it has the ability to set up a keyboard like you could find on any Windows computer (i.e. function keys, control, alt). You can resize the keyboard to four rows to make it look like your standard Android keyboard or you can set it independently based on rotation. So if you’re looking for a decent keyboard for portrait mode and a full-sized keyboard for landscape mode, Hacker’s Keyboard will do the job. It has a few other appealing features too — it supports smartphones and tablets, and you can theme it in a variety of ways. Smart Keyboard PRO
Smart Keyboard PRO has been competitor in the keyboard market for a very long time now. While it may not look like much at first, it’s improved leaps and bounds compared to earlier versions of the keyboard in terms of functionality. However, one of its hallmark themes is still the Gingerbread keyboard, which may put some people off. The options with Smart Keyboard are about as standard as you can get, though, Smart Keyboard has more than just stock keyboard offerings. You can also theme Smart Keyboard, however, it’s not as easy to do as it is with the rest of the keyboards on our list. SwiftKey
We’d certainly be crucified, hung, or even have a riot on our hands if we didn’t mention the award winning predictive keyboard SwiftKey. SwiftKey is very popular, so it’s likely that you’ve heard of it already. If you haven’t, we gave it a review a few weeks back, and thought it was a great keyboard. Predictive text functionality in SwiftKey is considered some of the best in its niche. It’s also considered one of the best trace keyboards, and there’s even a few small things included that make SwiftKey a great all-in-one keyboard experience, such as stats on how efficient you are when typing and a truck load of theme options. Simply put, SwiftKey is one of the best keyboards you could ever use on your Android device. It’s so good that some OEMs are preloading it on their devices. Swype
You’re probably familiar with Swype, as OEMs have been including it in their smartphones for years. The long-time champion of third-party keyboards is also now available in the Google Play Store on the off chance that you don’t have it. Swype is the king of trace keyboards, as many prefer it over SwiftKey’s trace typing. Swype is so fast that one user was able to garner himself the Guinness world record for the fastest text message It’s a solid, stable keyboard, and on the off-chance that you haven’t used it, it’s worth giving a shot. Final thoughts
If you take a look at our leaderboard (image above) you can check out how these apps compete against each other. The ratings are based purely on Google Play Store ratings and downloads, so there isn’t any bias on our part. Honorable mentions this time include GO Keyboard, Touchpal, SLideIT, Thumb Keyboard, and the vanilla keyboards from Android 2.3 and 4.2, both of which are available for download in the Google Play Store. Some of these keyboards are great, but when it comes down to it, you have to pick a keyboard that works best for you. You may not even use a third-party keyboard, as you could be satisfied with the stock keyboard OEMs provide. However, if there’s a great keyboard that you think we should have included, be sure to tell everyone about it in the comments below! 
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| Evernote gets a new update, adds custom reminders Posted: 06 Jun 2013 01:02 PM PDT
Two weeks ago, Evernote added reminders for its iOS, Mac and web apps – but no such luck for Android. If you were waiting patiently to try out reminders on Evernote for Android, your day has come. Evernote 5.1 is now available via Google Play. So how do the reminders work? The new update places a small alarm icon above each note, making it easy to create custom reminders. There is also a pop-up screen that lets you choose the date/time and whether to receive an Android (or email) notification when your deadline draws near. Once you finish setting a reminder, it can then be pinned to the top of your notes list. It will also be possible to organize the reminders into a manual to-do list. For those with business or shared notebooks, you’ll also have the option to subscribe to notifications. This could be perfect when it comes collaborating on projects and keeping track of deadlines. The only downside to the reminders feature is that there currently isn’t a way to set recurring reminders, for things like regular appointments or bills. For that reason, the reminders feature in Evernote might not be enough to pull you away from your current to-do list app. While the reminders feature is probably the biggest change found in this new Evernote update, there are also a few other changes such as corrected photo order in multi-shot camera, improved shortcuts, and improved copy/paste in note view. Have you grabbed the update yet? If so, what do you think? 
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| Why is the NSA collecting phone records of millions of Verizon customers daily? Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:20 PM PDT
Every call, every day. That is the "metadata" the NSA asks of Verizon. Through a court order, which was obtained by The Guardian, Verizon must turn over all telephony records, in their entirety, to the NSA. There is no discrimination, or noted target. There is no geography the NSA is interested in, nor is there any specific reason given for why the information is wanted. Plain and simple, the US Foreign Service Intelligence Court has ordered Verizon to turn over all records, relating to all calls. What does it mean?First, let's understand what this order encompasses. To be fair, the NSA is looking for call records, not recorded conversation. There won't be hordes of government employees listening in on conversations, or pouring over transcribed calls. The NSA wants to know what number originated the call, when it happened, and for how long. They also want to know what number was called, and the location of each person on the line as they move about.
What they don't ask for is recorded conversation, or transcriptions of such. They also don't ask for personal details of subscribers, like name or address. The court order is indefinite in timeframe, asking that Verizon give this data to the NSA "on an ongoing and daily basis thereafter the duration of this order". The order is not restricted to the United States, as it notes all calls made, domestic and abroad, are subject to this order. Entirely foreign calls, however, are not subject to this order, as they are out of the court's jurisdiction.
Why Verizon?It's worth mention that Verizon is the only carrier we have learned of providing this information to the NSA. Requests for comment from Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T did not receive an immediate response. As the largest and most powerful network in the US, and perhaps on earth, Verizon is a sound place to start for whatever information the NSA is seeking. There was no reason given for why Verizon was subject to such a court order, but we can assume it has to do with the size and scope of their network rather than subscribers. It's also worth noting that the court order specifically mentions "Verizon Business Network Services". Bloomberg describes VBNS as such:
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| Today Only: Get a free lifetime license for security app Cerberus Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:35 AM PDT
For those of you that don't have any type of mobile security app on your Android device, you should probably think about getting some kind of protection. After all, it's nice to a little bit of recourse if your phone gets stolen, such as being able to SIM-lock your device, remote wipe it or even possibly track it. Of course many of these apps aren’t free, though they are probably still worth the cash. Absolutely looking for a free security app? Thanks to a special promotion from AppGratis, you can now get your hands on a lifetime license for Cerberus, one of the most highly rated apps of its kind. While the license wasn't exactly expensive at $4, it's always nice to save some hard-earned bucks. For those wondering if you will have to download the app directly from AppGratis, the answer is no. The AppGratis promotion links up to the actual Google Play version, which an important distinction, since it means you will get updates through the Play Store and can re-download the app in the future without having to go through any special hoops. So what's the catch here? Nothing, other than the deal is only for new users. That means if you've previously used the trial app, you aren't eligible for this promotion. You also have to activate the free license today for it to be any good. To get your hands on the app, head over to AppGratis. Once installed, you will need to set up a new account and a lifetime license should be sent out to you. 
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| Sony Mobile Munich event apparently set for June 25, is the rumored 6.44-inch Xperia Togari coming? Posted: 06 Jun 2013 10:58 AM PDT
Sony appears to have a media event scheduled for late June in Munich, although it's not yet known what the company wants to unveil. According to German Android News Blog, Sony Mobile Communication Germany has issued press invites for June 25, but we can only speculate on what the company will unveil. The invitation below asks the readers if they want more and tells them that it's time for the next step, with a first view into the future being unveiled on June 26. Looking at that language, one could consider the Xperia Togari as a potential candidate for announcement, a rumored 6.44-inch device said to rival the Galaxy Note 3.
Since Sony managed to beat to market both Samsung and HTC earlier this year with flagship devices – the Xperia Z was launched way ahead of the HTC One and the Galaxy S4 – it wouldn't be surprising to consider that possibility that the company wants to do the same thing with bigger smartphones. HTC and Samsung are expected to launch new flagship handsets in the coming months, the HTC One Max (T6) and the Galaxy Note 3, respectively. In case the Togari does get announced on June 25, then the device could hit stores in various markets by the time HTC and Samsung unveil their similar products. In addition to the Xperia Togari, we've seen other Android devices said to be launched by Sony at some point in the future, including the Honami, also reported to be a high-end handset. Naturally, this is only speculation at this point, as we have no idea what the event will bring us. Whatever it is, it's Android-related, as that's the only mobile OS the company is working with. We'll be back with more details about the event once we have them, assuming it’s real. 
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| NVIDIA showcases pure Android experience on SHIELD Posted: 06 Jun 2013 09:59 AM PDT
Since the device includes a 5 inch 720p touch screen it is possible to use it as a standard Android device. It is running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean which means you get access to all your favorite games and apps just as you would on a large screen phone. Since it also includes GPS it is actually possible to use Google Maps or even a turn-by-turn navigation app. As it is a gaming device the SHIELD comes with a built-in PlayStation like controller complete with two joysticks and the A,B,X,Y buttons. When using SHIELD as just an Android device the left joystick can be used to pan around on web pages while the right joystick can be used as a mouse controller, reminiscent of the TrackPoint controllers on the IBM ThinkPads. The ability to access other Android apps rather than just games will be a useful feature for some, but for hardcore gamers (which I guess are those most likely to buy SHIELD) it might only be a minor benefit. However being able to watch movies or listen to music stored on the external SD card is certainly going to be of interest to most potential SHIELD owners. Having said all that, NVIDIA try just a little too hard to convince us that the SHIELD delivers a pure Android experience. I challenge anyone to watch the video below and not laugh (or groan) when the presenter Will fires up a spreadsheet on the SHIELD and talks about how you can use the mouse to select a cell. Watch out for it at around the 1 minute 10 second mark. Spreadsheets aside, the Android capabilities of the SHIELD look very impressive and getting all that Android goodness means that the device is certainly more than just a handheld gaming device. Did you laugh at the spreadsheet? 
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| Is Intel finally ready to take on its ARM rivals for dominance in the mobile world? Posted: 06 Jun 2013 09:53 AM PDT
When you think of microprocessors, Intel is probably one of the first companies that comes to mind. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Intel’s mobile chips. Intel hasn’t exactly taken the mobile world by storm, as ARM-licensed SoCs from companies such as Qualcomm and Nvidia have instead taken the spotlight. Just last month a fellow Android Authority colleague, Robert Triggs, wrote a piece asking "What does Intel need to do to succeed in the mobile space?" In the article, many great points were brought up about what needs to change at Intel. The good news is that in less than a month’s time, Intel has already (arguably) started making moves that suggest they know what they need to do to succeed. While I don't believe Intel will make a big dent in the mobile market this year, the company appears to be laying the groundwork for a major mobile onslaught that could push them forward as a major player in 2014 and beyond. A rise in the number of Intel-powered mobile devicesThe most obvious sign of change is that Intel mobile processors are showing up in more places. Before 2013, you could easily count the number of non-Windows-based Intel mobile devices on your fingers. Now officials say that they expect more than 30 tablets using its processors to hit the market this year, and several of these will run on the power of Android.
Intel on Android devices is nothing new. The problem is that devices like the Motorola Razr i and Asus FonePad weren’t exactly "high-profile". Intel needs more exposure if they are going to win over more consumers. Earlier this week at Computex, Asus announced it ready to bring Intel chips to more devices, revealing the FonePad Note (Atom) and Transformer Book Trio (Atom & Core i7). Of arguably more importance, Samsung also unveiled it would be bringing the power of Intel Inside over to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, which was clearly a big win for Intel. Having a larger device presence is all well and good, but what else is going on at Intel that could indicate the company finally understands what it takes to break into the mobile scene? Silvermont: Merrifield & Bay Trail-TThis upcoming platform represents a major evolution for the Intel Atom processors. Right now Intel is preparing two different chips that are based on the Silvermont platform, Merrifield and Bay Trail-T. The first of these chips is designed with smartphones in mind, offering a low-power package that still offers plenty of processing oomph. Then there is Bay Trail, which will be aimed at Android and Windows tablets. According to Intel, both of these Silvermont chips will offer 3x more peak performance, while also allowing 5x lower power usage than current-gen Atoms. This is significant. After all, existing Intel-powered devices have already shown that x86 chips can stomp all over ARM when it comes raw power. If Intel can increase this capability, while better competing with ARD chips when it comes to energy consumption — they could have a real winner on their hands. Intel is also promising that Merrifield will incorporate a sensor support hub, which means that it will allow smart phones to continuously use sensors like GPS and accelerometers without consuming much power.
LTE integration and sensor supportIntel's chips are taking a dramatic jump forward in processing power and energy consumption, but we’ve seen that before. What we haven't seen is true all-in-one chip designs from Intel. Intel needs more than great x86 processors to compete. Recently the company announced it is buying a GPS chip making chip division, certainly a good move. But that still doesn’t solve the lack of LTE integration for Intel. Thankfully, Intel recently revealed that its XMM 7160 LTE modem is ready to go, and will be paired with next-gen 22nm Bay Trail Atom SoCs aimed at tablets with a release starting towards the end of this year. This is only the beginning, as Intel plans to continue to push LTE integration and other technologies into its chip designs. Perceptual Computing and Contextual AwarenessWe have already heard talk about Motorola working on "contextual awareness" for the Moto X, but they aren’t the only ones interested in giving your mobile devices human-like senses and awareness. Just two days ago, Intel execs detailed some of the company's progress in this category, and Intel Capital announced a $100-million investment fund to further develop software and apps that bring these kinds of experiences to various Intel-powered devices. According to Intel Executive VP Arvind Sodhani:
One of the developments from this project includes pushing Intel's own version of Kinect, which relies on a camera created by Creative Technologies, called Senz3D. The camera will probably make its way to PC before tablets or phones – but the point is that Intel is invested in finding ways to make our computing devices smarter, which in turn could make our lives easier. A long road ahead..Intel chips have long been held as champions when it comes to raw power, but power consumption issues and lack of chip integration made them less ideal in the mobile world. It's hard to say if Intel could have done much differently here (short of abandoning x86), or if x86 technology simply needed to mature in order to better take on ARM. Regardless of the reasons, recent breakthroughs seem to hint that Intel chips are now finally ready to play with the big boys in the mobile world. Of course there is a lot more involved than just creating some solid chips and investing in some forward-thinking ideas. From improving marketing to creating new partnerships, Intel has a long road ahead if they want to give ARM chips a run for the money. Intel has seen the writing on the wall, and if they want to remain relevant, they need to branch out beyond the PC. They seem to have the tools for success, now they just need to launch the attack, and hard. What do you think, could 2014 be the year that Intel finally makes its mark in the mobile world? Conversely, do you feel I’m being way too optimistic about Intel’s mobile future? 
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| Deus Ex The Fall coming to Android, date not yet announced (video) Posted: 06 Jun 2013 09:42 AM PDT
Deus Ex The Fall, the first foray of the series into the mobile realm, will be available for iOS this summer, with an Android version also coming. According to an article on the Deus Ex website, the game is coming to the iPad and iPhone in the following months, with an Android version also planned, “but no timing confirmed” for it. Why a developer would choose not to make a game available on the most important mobile platform, with Google Play Store set to take over iOS in terms of downloads this year, is beyond my comprehension, but the game should still be interesting, whenever it might be coming out. A video has been posted, giving us an idea about what the game will look like and what we could expect (although Executive Game Director Jean-Francois Dugas and David Anfossi, Executive Producer, are showing it on the iPad). As you can see from the video, this is a new game in the franchise, not a remake or port of a previous title.
Deus Ex: The Fall is set in 2027 and features physically augmented former British SAS mercenary, Ben Saxon, who has been betrayed by his employers, the Tyrants, and tries to find out more details about what has happened to him. According to the two executives, the story is a sequel to the one in the “Icarus Effect” novel, written by James Swallow. The video shows a preview of the graphics (which look pretty good) and gameplay, which uses screen tapping. Icons in the interface can be reconfigured, so you can enjoy the game whichever way you might like. As I said, nothing has been revealed regarding the date when you’ll be able to enjoy the game on your Android device. Are you a Deus Ex fan? Are you looking forward to Deus Ex: The Fall? 
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| Patents are killing innovation, and Obama wants change Posted: 06 Jun 2013 09:15 AM PDT
Patent lawsuits are a weary subject. It seems that we can't go a week without hearing about one legal challenge or another. It's an issue which affects a lot of businesses, especially in the U.S., but the mobile technology industry is undoubtedly the most unpleasant. As far as mobile technology goes, Apple is clearly one of the worst of the worst, suing its competitors for some of the most frivolous ”technological inventions” like lock screens and even the term “App Atore“. Fortunately, some of the courts have had the good sense to chuck some of Apple's lawsuits out, but the company has still managed to inflict expensive wounds on its competitors by using legal action. But they're not the only one at it! HTC, LG, Nokia, and Samsung have all been challenging each other over various patent infringements on a wide range of technologies for years. In fact, Samsung has just recently setup a new business in the U.S. designed soled around acquiring and trading legal patents. It's been clear to anyone who's been following these sorts of stories for a while that there's not only a problem with the mindset of these companies, but there's also issues with the law itself. Fortunately it seems like President Obama is coming to the rescue, as The White House Task Force on High-Tech Patent Issues has proposed some new legislation aimed at helping companies deal with lawsuits brought about by patent assertion entities (PAE's).
These infamous "patent trolls" are known for acquiring as many patents as possible and then simply trying to turn a profit when another company brushes close to anything included in the PAE's patent. To demonstrate exactly how much of a problem this has become, cases instigated by PAE's shot up from just 25% of all patent cases in 2008 to 62% by 2012.
President Obama aims to tackle this problem by targeting companies which “don’t actually produce anything themselves,” and instead exist “to essentially leverage and hijack somebody else’s idea”. The proposed legislation will improve the processes of tying patents to their actual owners and have applicants disclose the "real part-in-interest," give judges the ability to force company's filing frivolous suits to pay the other company's fees, and offering better protections for "off-the-shelf" uses by consumers and businesses who use technologies for their intended uses. There's also a recommendation to look at the concerns about patents with overly broad claims, particularly in the context of software. That sounds all well and good, but how does this apply to the mobile industry? Well it doesn't deal directly with some of the issues, but there are definitely parts which will directly affect some of the types of cases we've seen over the recent years. This won't put an end to the display technology lawsuits or software squabbling, but it could cut down on the rank stupidity of some of the disputes.  One of the most recent cases resulted in a U.S. import ban on AT&T iPhone 4′s for infringing on Samsung’s CDMA communication patent. For a start, it might make a difference to the types of patents which courts will consider and could help cut down on the number of legal battles fought in the future. The rules are aimed at preventing secondary companies from suing regarding technologies that they don't actually own or make use of, which should hinder the likes of Samsung's $25 million Intellectual Keystone Technology firm from trading in and using patents against Samsung's competitors. The idea here is to clamp down on the business of dealing in patents, which will certainly help reduce the number of claims. One of the major problems is the increase in the number of "protective" patents being acquired by big technology companies. Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft all take part. But by preventing companies from acquiring broad patents for technologies that they aren't actually using, the legislation could put an end to a few of the more irritating cases. The key point here is reducing the broadness of patents, which will hopefully prevent companies from suing over similar technologies whilst still protecting innovation from direct rip-offs. The move to sanction repeatedly abusive court filings could also directly affect the technology industry, preventing or at least deterring companies from repeatedly taking competitors to court over trivial matters, as it will become much more costly if they lose. There are certainly some positive recommendations in there, but it remains to be seen whether these rules will make a huge difference to big technology company's spending millions of dollars in court, or if the legislation will even be passed at all. But at least the problems have been recognised by those highest up the legal system, and hopefully something will be done about this shambles in the not to distant future. 
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| Galaxy S4 software update rolling out to GT-I9505 version, report says Posted: 06 Jun 2013 08:59 AM PDT
Samsung is apparently ready to roll out a software update for its Galaxy S4 flagship in order to address certain concerns raised by buyers and improve certain features of the handset. Initially, the update will be rolled out to the Snapdragon 600 version of the handset (GT-I9505), but it will come eventually to the Exynos 5 Octa model as well (GT-I9500). Here's what the software update will have to offer, at least according to Sam Mobile:
Following the update, 16GB Galaxy S4 owners will have some extra storage at their disposal, but not that much: 9.23GB compared to 9.15GB which is currently available. The same publication says that Germany will be the first to get the software update (it could already be available to German Galaxy S4 buyers), with other markets set to get it in the future. Here's what you need to know about the update: Firmware details: The update measures 365.67MB ad is available either over-the-air(OTA) or via Samsung Kies, but we’re yet to see Samsung officially announce it. Let’s hear it from German, and other European Galaxy S4 owners out there! Have you received the update yet? 
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| AMD wants to get into Android and Chrome. Literally. Posted: 06 Jun 2013 08:41 AM PDT
At a Computex conference, Senior Vice President of AMD Lisa Su said "We are very committed to Windows 8; we think it’s a great operating system, but we also see a market for Android and Chrome developing as well". This could bode well for mobile tech fans, as AMD processors can pack a punch. Fortunately, this is not AMD's first foray into mobile technology. They had processors in Windows tablets at one point, but those were poorly received by consumers and didn't sell well. With Android and Chrome, AMD hopes for a fresh start. Their new line of processors (Temash, A4 & A6) were announced last month, and promise low power consumption. The Temash chips are meant for Windows 8 tablets, designed as 64-bit processors, so we don't expect to see those in any Android tablets or phones. Intel's Bay Trail chipset have an upper hand, as those processors have been designed to meagerly sip power. They're also meant for a lower price point, which is all many consumers care about. AMD is a little late to the game, with ARM architecture having the advantage. Intel is also making strides into mobile, and have no designs on letting up. The commentary from AMD makes it sound as though they wish to make custom chipsets for manufacturers, and that just won't cut it. In a world where Samsung dominates, and a lot of that success comes from controlling their supply line and pricing, a high-power, low-cost chip is what makes sense. As the PC market wanes, AMD is probably looking to make up lost revenue they don't see returning any time soon. The world isn't waiting for the next cool PC, they've simply moved on to, well, Android and Chrome. 
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| LG Optimus F7 available to buy at U.S. Cellular Posted: 06 Jun 2013 08:16 AM PDT
The LG Optimus F7 is the latest addition to U.S. Cellular’s smartphone lineup and, if you’re looking for a mid-range smartphone with good specs, this one may be right up your alley. The device has been introduced in February, along with the LG Optimus F5, and now you can purchase it from U.S. Cellular. The price at which you can make it yours is $99.99, provided you get it with a new two-year contract with the carrier. The same price applies for upgrades, renewals, or adding a new line to your current contract. What will you receive for that money, though? Well, you get an LTE device, with a 4.7-inch True HD IPS display (720p resolution), powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 CPU and with 2GB of RAM memory. The LG Optimus F7, which runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, has 8GB of internal storage, but you’re free to add to that using the microSD slot, also present on board. The main camera is an 8-megapixel one, but your video chat needs are also served, since there’s also a 1.2-megapixel front-facing shooter on the device. The battery is a 2540mAh one, in case you were wondering about it. If you don’t really want to shell out the cash on a high-end device, like the LG Optimus G Pro, the Optimus F7 could be a pretty solid option. You can check out our hands-on video of the device, taken at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, in order to get a better idea about it: Will you buy the LG Optimus F7? 
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| Play Store will overtake App Store in number of app installs by October Posted: 06 Jun 2013 07:12 AM PDT
According to a recent report regarding app market purchases, our beloved Android is set to become the most popular app platform in the world within the next few months. The data shows that Apple is just ahead in terms of the total number of apps ever downloaded, having just surpassed the impressive 50 billion mark. But Android is not far behind, currently sitting at around 48 billion app downloads from the Play Store. Including apps from Amazon's Appstore, and other less reputable sources, Android app downloads have already no doubt surpassed Apple's, but these statistics weren't at hand to compare. Despite Apple having a small official margin over Google, it appears that Play Store installs are increasing at a faster rate. Approximately 2 billion iOS apps are downloaded each month, whereas the Play Store brings in around 2.5 billion apps per month. If this trend continues, the Play Store is expected to overtake Apple's App Store by October. However, this statistic doesn't mean that Android users are necessarily consuming more apps than their Apple counterparts, quite the opposite in fact. On average, Apple users tend to install around 83 different apps per device, whereas Android users install significantly less, averaging only 53 apps per device. The key point here is that there are around 600 million Apple products currently on the market, while there are 50% more (900 million) Android devices in use. In other words, Android is catching up to Apple in terms on the number of total app installs, but only because it makes up a larger share of the total market size. Horace Dediu, an analyst at Asymco, sums it up quite nicely:
This sort of statistic is quite interesting when you compare it to what we've seen from previous data regarding app store purchases. Apple takes in more revenue than Android because its users are purchasing more apps on average, whereas Android users don't tend to spend as much money on apps, often opting for free software instead. Having said that, Distimo, another research company, has stated that revenues are up for Google Play:
Either way it's good news for Google, downloads are on the rise and revenues appear to be up. Android has iOS line-up squarely in its sights, so let the battle continue. 
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| Apple, Google, Motorola, Samsung and Microsoft attending anti device theft conference Posted: 06 Jun 2013 06:55 AM PDT  Image Credit: Photo West Midlands Police (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Cult of Mac Stealing smartphones may be a way of life for some people, and with the advance of technology, cashing in on a stolen device sold at half its listed price could be quite a deal. As recent reports show, cellphone theft in New York and various other cities from the United States has increased by almost 40% since last year. In order to prevent further theft increases and, hopefully, extinguish this disease, New York's Attorney General Erich Schneiderman has taken the bald decision of inviting various smartphone makers and partners to a conference on the matter, which will take place on June 13 in the Big Apple. Among those summoned, companies like Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Google and Microsoft are included. The guest list has been tactically composed to include those manufacturers that are responsible for around 90% of all smartphone sales. Smartphone theft, a huge problem todayEmpowered by the “state's deceptive trade practices law” and helped by San Francisco's Attorney George Gascon, NY's representative will try to convince product markers to include a sort of a kill switch feature inside every future released device, which should render any tablet or smartphone completely useless once activated after the device is stolen. Implementing such an official feature into all products, not only Android-based devices, should decrease theft rates dramatically, as most crimes of this sort have a simple goal in mind, selling the stollen device for a profit. Once an Android phone is stolen, it can be easily wiped clean using the casual hard-reset procedure or through third-party applications like ClockworkMod, and then sold at a much cheaper price. Few are those who can withstand the temptation of purchasing a high-end device at half of price. Criminals also benefit from the trade, as they're getting paid nicely for a few minutes of “work.” Unfortunately, when greed exceeds good sense, violent events take place and there have been cases where owners have been even killed for their devices.
Will manufacturers agree?Looking at the financial side of things, you could think they have no reasons of doing so. When someone loses their device, vendors generally benefit from the unfortunate event by turning a profit on a device that serves as a replacement. Fortunately, there are other principles at stake. At the beginning of April, Gascon called Tim Cook for a similar discussion over the same matter. Apple replied via its Government Liaison Michael Foulkes, who concluded the process of elaborating such technologies would be long and complicated. Hopefully, with a larger mechanism in motion and with more participants present at this discussion tides will turn around. We personally place our trust in Google, which has proved of being a freedom-fighter on various occasions. Perhaps the meeting will have even more effect if carriers would also be invited to attend this discussion. Using a product’s IMEI, a unique identifier for each device, mobile operators can remotely black-list stolen devices to prevent them from being used in a certain market. Unfortunately, this can also be used against consumers, as products are black-listed only after filing an official complaint, and in the meantime the thief can already sell them to unsuspecting buyers. Until a solution is in place, lawful Android users can protect their device and prevent losing personal data alongside their handy mobile assistant by appealing to an external protective solution, which can locate, erase or block devices from the distance. 
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| PSA: T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE now available Posted: 06 Jun 2013 05:49 AM PDT
The T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE is now on sale, just as expected. The device, which made a Bluetooth SIG visit way back in December last year is now displayed on T-Mobile’s site. It costs $69.99, with 24 monthly payments of $20, but you can also purchase the device upfront for $549.99. The Galaxy S3 LTE, which will replace the old Galaxy S3 in T-Mobile’s lineup, is only available in Marble White at the moment. The device can be a good option for those who don’t want to spend the extra dough for a Galaxy S4 (which has already received its first update). The newest Galaxy S phone costs $149, followed by 24 monthly payments of $20 each, or can be paid in full for $629.99. Will you purchase the Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE from T-Mobile? 
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| Galaxy S4 sales predicted to be lower than anticipated, despite strong performance so far Posted: 06 Jun 2013 05:39 AM PDT
Despite strong sales performance for the Galaxy S4 so far, it looks like the company, as well as some analysts expect the company to sell less units than initially believed. Galaxy S4 sales dropping?A new report from Barrons reveals that Susquehanna Financial Group has recently issued a Neutral rating on Broadcom stock and a Positive rating on Qualcomm and Maxim Integrated Products stock. Why are these companies important for the Galaxy S4? Well, they all supply parts for the Galaxy S4, so a drop in handset shipments will obviously affect those companies as well, according to analyst Chris Caso. Of those companies, Maxim and Broadcom are said to miss expectations, as Galaxy S4 shipments are expected to be lowered. The same analyst says that Samsung has been meeting investors to "temper" expectations for Galaxy S4 sales. Sales forecast for the current quarter are down to 20 million from 25 million while Q3 expectations have also been lowered down to 20 million from 30 million. Mehdi Hosseini, an analyst from the same Group, said that Samsung is preparing for the introduction of new iPhones in the third quarter, including the rumored low-cost iPhone models. According to him, Samsung is interested in "placing greater emphasis on less-expensive models of its own," which could replace feature phones for certain consumers.. The Q3 Samsung smartphone growth is expected to be of "low to mid single digits," including "potentially flat GS4 units." That won't be enough to satisfy investor needs for companies like Maxim and Broadcom, whose businesses are tied to Samsung's smartphone quarterly sales – Q3 sequential quarterly growth for each company is expected to be lower than during the same time last year. Here's a full quote from Caso's note: Our current estimates reflect 12% Q/Q growth for MXIM's consumer business in 3Q, the vast majority of which represents Samsung handset business. Last year, MXIM's consumer business posted 13% Q/Q growth in 3Q when Samsung's smartphone business was up 10% Q/Q (and the GS3 volume tripled Q/Q in 3Q). Based on expectations for low to mid single digit Q/Q Samsung smartphone growth in 3Q, and potentially flat GS4 units, our 3Q consumer estimates for MXIM may be aggressive [...] We likewise have BRCM's mobile wireless segment modeled up 14% Q/Q in 3Q. Samsung was a 17% customer for BRCM in 2012. BRCM's baseband revenue is likely to experience stronger growth in 3Q due to growth in the mid and low end phones, but BRCM's WLAN business at Samsung is larger, and is likely to closely mirror Samsung's low to mid single digit growth expectations, which we believe is below investor expectations. The Galaxy S4 is already the fastest selling Android handset in Samsung's and Android's history, with over 10 million units shipped in the first month alone. Comparatively, the HTC One has sold over 5 million since launch, with the device hitting stores before the Galaxy S4. Even so, Samsung is yet to match Apple's iPhone opening sales.
Or growing?Speaking about overall sales, a different analyst says that the Galaxy S4 managed to outsell the iPhone 5 in May with three of the four main U.S. carriers including Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. Here's what Mike Walkley from Canaccord Genuity wrote: Our May U.S. wireless store surveys indicated very strong sales and improved supply in the U.S. market for Samsung's flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone at AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. In fact, our store surveys indicated the Galaxy S4 was the top selling device at TMobile and Sprint during May and at Verizon post the launch in late May. Further, given the very strong initial sales, consumer interest, and Samsung's marketing budget for the Samsung Galaxy S4 combined with the anticipated softer June quarter for iPhone sales, we believe Samsung surpassed Apple as the top-selling smartphone brand in the U.S. during May for the first time since the iPhone 5 launched in September 2012. This quote seems to indicate that Galaxy S4 sales are strong in the U.S., somewhat contradicting Caso's finings. But at the same time we'll not that the report is based on checks with stores in the U.S. so we don't have actual sales numbers just yet. We're certainly looking forward to see Q2 earnings reports for the main U.S. carriers, which could reveal more details about Galaxy S4 sales. Apple, Samsung, still top dogs in USASpeaking about the Apple vs Samsung battle for market share in the U.S., we'll also point out a recent comScore report that reveals that both companies have increased their market share in the region in the three-month period ending in April 2013. According to the most recent numbers provided by the company, Apple is now at 39.2% share (1.4% share increase compared to January 2013), while Samsung is at 22% share (0.6% increase compared to January 2013). It will certainly be interesting to see how these numbers will change in the following comScore report considering that the Galaxy S4 only started selling in late April, and therefore it couldn't have had an actual impact on the numbers registered for the three-month period. However, it looks like iPhone sales were unaffected by the Galaxy S4′s announcement (mid-March) and Apple’s continued to gain market share in the region despite the buzz around the Galaxy S4 and HTC One.  Image Credit: comScore Recent reports have also shown that it’s just Apple and Samsung that are (still) the main companies profiting from the mobile business, with everyone else fighting for third place. In the Android ecosystem, Samsung is said to have account for 95% of profits in Q1, so it’s likely that the Galaxy S4 will bring in lots of cash to Samsung’s coffers even with lowered estimates – but we’ll end our speculation there, as we’ll wait to see Samsung’s upcoming earnings report for more details on the performance of its mobile division. Wrap upThe Galaxy S3 sold more than 50 million units so far, while the Galaxy S4 was said at one point (before the handset was actually unveiled) to sell in more than 100 million units. A recent estimate said the company could sell some 80 million Galaxy S4 units this year alone. Therefore, it will certainly be interesting to see how many Galaxy S4 units Samsung will sell in the following quarters, especially considering these new reports from analysts looking at the mobile market. That said, we’ll remind you that analysts don’t always get it right, and we’ll be waiting for official numbers to arrive from Samsung – even though the company is not mentioning handset sales in its quarterly earnings reports, the company does announce milestones for flagships like the Galaxy S4. Have you purchased your Galaxy S4 unit yet? If not, are you going to buy one later this year? 
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| Lenovo IdeaTab A1000 and A3000 announced Posted: 06 Jun 2013 05:05 AM PDT
The 7-inch Lenovo IdeaTab A1000 and A3000 Jelly Bean tablets have become available. While their specs are not fantastic, these two slates make it up through some relatively affordable price tags. The IdeaTab A1000 costs $189, while the IdeaTab A3000 can be yours for $229. You may remember that both have been shown at Mobile World Congress 2013, with the A1000 making an FCC appearance not too long ago. Lenovo IdeaTab A1000The 7-inch IdeaTab A1000 has a resolution of 1024 x 600 and is powered by a MediaTek 8317 dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU at 1.20GHz, with 1GB of RAM memory. Lenovo promises up to 8 hours of web browsing over a WiFi connection (the battery is a 3500mAh unit), while the internal storage is 16GB, expandable with up to 32GB via microSD.
The tablet, which runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, features a 0.3 megapixel front camera for video chat and Dolby audio enhancement, for your listening pleasure. Available in white and black, the Lenovo IdeaTab A1000 can be purchased with a $40 web discount, at $149, by activating the code “HOMEPCDEAL” when checking out. The Lenovo website says that the deal will last until June 12, so you might want to take advantage of it pretty soon. Lenovo IdeaTab A3000The more expensive model, the Lenovo IdeaTab A3000, which costs $229 (and has no promotion attached to it), has a MediaTek 6575 single core Cortex-A9 CPU running at 1.2GHz, helped by 1GB of RAM memory. Internal memory is 16GB, but the microSD slot supports cards of up to 64GB.
Just like the A1000, the A3000 includes a 3500mAh battery. A rear 5 megapixel camera is present on board, along with the 0.3 megapixel front shooter. The A3000 is only available in black. 
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Since Android is winning the race for device market share, analysts and CEOs alike have turned their attention to other aspects of the battle between iOS and Android. There are of course a whole range of different ways to measure market share and user satisfaction including looking at market share in different countries, across different demographics and according to the relative wealth of the purchasers. Another way is to look at how much people use their smartphone or tablet. New data from Flurry suggests that Android users spend less time using apps than iOS users.
With the public release of NVIDIA’s SHIELD just around the corner the company has added a new video to its YouTube channel showcasing the Android side of the gaming console. In case you have been living on Mars for the last few weeks and don’t know about SHIELD, it is NVIDIA’s Android based portable gaming device powered by the TEGRA 4 quad-core Cortex-A15 processor.
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