Android Community |
- Plants vs Zombies 2 release pushed back till “later” this summer
- Google Play Edition camera and wallpapers arrive [Download]
- Google Play Movies & TV app update brings new layout and design
- T-Mobile leak suggests a mid-July Sony Xperia Z launch
- Samsung GALAXY S 4 cannot be added in ongoing Apple patent suit
- Android 4.1 Jelly Bean now arriving for AT&T Galaxy Tab 2 users
- CyanogenMod Exynos 4 status update arrives
- Verizon Wireless 4G LTE crosses the 500 market milestone
- HTC One in Glamour Red arriving for UK buyers next month
- CyanogenMod details PushSMS – Secure messaging for Android
- Motorola DVX tipped as new smartphone for emerging markets
- Google Play Edition phones won’t get the Nexus update treatment
- Google Maps and Earth upgrade brings clear skies to Maps and more
- Samsung Galaxy Mega and Galaxy S 4 Mini arriving in the UK
- T-Mobile 4G LTE-Advanced coming “later this year”
- ZTE Imperial enters the US Cellular lineup with a penny price tag
- Google Search update touches on music and television
- NVIDIA SHIELD Console unboxing and hands-on
- Recon Jet Pilot Edition pre-orders launch with Tour De France pricing
- NVIDIA SHIELD launch pushed to July as they aim for perfection
| Plants vs Zombies 2 release pushed back till “later” this summer Posted: 27 Jun 2013 11:08 AM PDT While PopCap Games had confirmed they were working on a Plants vs. Zombies sequel way back in August of 2012, it wasn’t until much more recently when they offered a bit more detail. That news came in March when Plants vs. Zombies 2 was announced for sometime in the “early summer.” Of course, Android users may remember the bad news that came soon after.
PopCap Games confirmed the release date as July 18th, but said that it would be an iOS exclusive launch. We were still expecting the game to come available for other platforms (including Android) however it was clear that release would come a while later. As of today there is now some additional Plants vs. Zombies 2 news and it doesn’t look good for those who were waiting. Basically the launch has been pushed back. PopCap Games has taken to Twitter with the details saying that the release has been pushed back until “later in the summer.” Aside from that they only mentioned that you should “stay tuned more details.” It is clear that iOS users will not be playing Plants vs. Zombies 2 on July 18th, but it is not quite as clear what that means for Android users. Given the original launch was set to be an iOS exclusive it seems reasonable to believe that part will remain the same. Or in other words, it looks like Android users are going to be waiting even longer for the Plants vs. Zombies sequel to arrive in the Play Store. And for those curious, nothing was mentioned in terms of why the game is being delayed. If nothing else, this just gives fans of the game some additional time to run through the original one more time. Or for those who didn’t jump on the bandwagon when the game first came available for Android — you now have some additional time to run through for a first time. SOURCE: Twitter |
| Google Play Edition camera and wallpapers arrive [Download] Posted: 27 Jun 2013 10:19 AM PDT After Google released the completely stock Android 4.2.2 powered Samsung Galaxy S 4 and HTC One “Google Play Edition” phones to the Play Store yesterday, many were excited to see a few neat new things. The devices have a custom (Android 4.3) looking Camera, one which will probably head into the Play Store (like the keyboard) as well as the red phase beam live wallpaper. Today we have both available for you right now.
As usual, the awesome developer community has already extracted the impressive new camera from these stock Google phones, and for everyone wanting that red Sun Beam live wallpaper, they grabbed that too. The camera app actually works on all Android devices, and you don’t need to be rooted. It will be added to your app drawer (and the stock gallery) and works great on my regular Galaxy S 4. You’ll be able to take panorama photos, the photosphere 360 degrees images, and everything else offered from the stock Google Camera, including all those filters and edit features. Then of course their gallery is included. So far we’re not hearing of any issues, but this will probably replace the stock camera if you’re on a Nexus. For all others you’ll have two camera apps. Then everyone loves the phase beam live wallpaper on the Nexus phones, and with these Google Edition devices we have a new red one called Sun Beam. If you’d like to try the new camera, or the LWP both have been made available right this moment. Get one or both from the links below, and enjoy. Give that camera app a try, and let us know what you think. SunBeam LWP: Download [mirror] Google Edition Camera: Download – Thanks @WinDroidGuy |
| Google Play Movies & TV app update brings new layout and design Posted: 27 Jun 2013 10:15 AM PDT The Google Play Movies & TV app has recently been updated. This one doesn’t appear to be a big update in terms of new features, however it does bring the app in line with the new layout we have seen Google rolling out for the other Play apps. Not to mention, a few other small changes that may or may not be welcomed.
Google has said they have rolled out a “new layout and visual design.” Basically this means things such as the new style slide-out navigation bar and a card-like design. While this side of the new layout and design sounds good enough, that did bring the other small change some will dislike. That other change deals with your personal videos. All of your personal videos remain, however they are not quite as easy to see as they were in the past. Instead of seeing Movies, TV Shows and Personal Videos — the latter is now hidden in the overflow menu. Google talked about this in the changlog as sort of a matter of fact change but it does appear to be confusing some users. A quick scan of the Play Store comments from those who have updated have them sounding a bit confused. In fact, there are at least a few comments from users who think they can no longer access any of their personal videos. Then there are those who are simply bothered by Google hiding the personal videos in that overflow menu. The final item in the changelog for this update mentioned Watch Now. This one is simple and basically just provides the user with quicker access to items Google feels you are “likely” to watch next. With that, the latest Google Play Movies & TV app is currently available in the Play Store. SOURCE: Google Play Store |
| T-Mobile leak suggests a mid-July Sony Xperia Z launch Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:22 AM PDT There has been plenty of chatter lately about the Sony Xperia Z coming to T-Mobile. The carrier has confirmed the handset is coming, however they have yet to offer much past that little bit. The confirmation came by way of a quietly launched coming soon page that appeared on the T-Mobile website earlier in the month. While the carrier has yet to offer a release date, a recent leak is suggesting that may be happening in mid-July.
The possible date is July 17th and it is coming by way of a T-Mobile roadmap. Of course, the key here remains the fact that this is a leaked roadmap which really just goes to say this date could still change. Basically, it is important to remember that nothing is official until we hear it direct from T-Mobile. Looking back we had been expecting the carrier to announce the Xperia Z on June 13th but as we now know — that didn’t happen as expected. The interesting twist on that, T-Mobile had posted a short teaser video on YouTube on June 12th with the promise of further details within 24 hours. That teaser video didn’t specifically mention the Xperia Z, however it was asking the question of; What if your smartphone could do this? — and had a handset recording video while underwater. Otherwise, we have also seen mentions of the Xperia Z show up on some T-Mobile support pages. Those mentions were all protected and unavailable for viewing at the time, but it did at least give the impression that T-Mobile was getting things setup on the backend. Plus, there was the comments from Sony CEO Kaz Hirai back in late May. At that time the CEO talked about how (without mentioning specifics) the Xperia Z was "expected to arrive on a US carrier shortly." All said and done, it is looking like just about everything is ready and we just need the official word from T-Mobile. Anyone think the July 17th date will hold accurate, or will this end up being another small piece in the bigger picture? VIA: TmoNews |
| Samsung GALAXY S 4 cannot be added in ongoing Apple patent suit Posted: 27 Jun 2013 08:42 AM PDT Back in mid-May Apple was attempting to add the GALAXY S 4 to the ongoing patent suit with Samsung and it looks like a decision has recently been returned. In short, Apple is not permitted to add the GALAXY S 4 to the list of devices that are said to be infringing patents. The decision was returned by US Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal who happened to have some interesting comments on the topic.
Judge Grewal spoke about how adding another product to the list would be a “tax on the court’s resources.” He also went on to talk about how these extra court room appearances are taking time and resources away from other parities that are “entitled” to attention from the court.
While this seems to be a logical argument from Grewal, it doesn’t appear as if Apple is quite ready to accept the ruling. Apple lawyer Josh Krevitt hinted that an entirely new lawsuit would be necessary based on the ruling. Krevitt told Grewall that by not allowing them to add the GALAXY S 4 to the list of allegedly infringing devices, that “would require Apple to file a new lawsuit.” According to Krevitt, this new lawsuit would be needed because many of the devices on the current list would be outdated by the time the trial arrives next year. For those wondering, this trial is expected to resume in March 2014. Additionally, both Apple and Samsung have until February 6, 2014 to narrow the list of patent claims. While this case is still ongoing, many will remember the earlier case with the rather large number. That number was $1.05 billion, which was awarded to Apple because Samsung was found to have infringed upon six patents. This decision was later adjusted and the damages were dropped to just shy of $640 million. Of course, Samsung and Apple will be back in court this November regarding that settlement. SOURCE: Bloomberg |
| Android 4.1 Jelly Bean now arriving for AT&T Galaxy Tab 2 users Posted: 27 Jun 2013 08:08 AM PDT AT&T has announced a bit of good news for those who happen to be using a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 tablet — Jelly Bean has arrived. Specifically, AT&T has announced the Android 4.1 update is available and those with a tablet will be able to grab it as of today, June 27th. While that sounds good so far, there is one not so nice part of this news in how the update is coming.
The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Jelly Bean update is not coming over-the-air. Instead users will need to have a Windows or Mac computer with Samsung Kies. We suspect some may be a bit disappointed by this, however a Kies connected update sounds better than not getting Jelly Bean at all. And for those not as familiar with Kies, there is a step-by-step guide available from Samsung. Your tablet should currently have baseband version I497UCALJ3. Once the Jelly Bean update has been completed that baseband should then be I497UCUAMF2. Otherwise, the Jelly Bean update will bring the following in terms of changes;
While this update will keep most of your data in place, there are a few smaller points worth knowing before you begin the process. According to Samsung, the following items will be affected by the update. Paired Bluetooth devices will be removed, home screens will be reset, the application menu sorting (as well as the folders and home keys) will be reset and all music playlists and settings will be reset. Samsung has also said that while all Contacts and Contact groups will remain, the contacts within the contact groups will be removed and that any user created (or custom) access point names (APN) will be erased and need to be reset. Bottom line, this is not a perfect way to get Jelly Bean, but again, at least you have the option and are not going to be stuck with Ice Cream Sandwich. SOURCE: AT&T |
| CyanogenMod Exynos 4 status update arrives Posted: 27 Jun 2013 07:33 AM PDT The CyanogenMod 10.1 Release Candidate phase came to an end a few days back and while that meant a general release for many users, there were some handsets that were left in a sort of hanging state. The folks at CyanogenMod made the shift from RC to general release with the promise of addressing support for the Tegra 2 and Exynos processors at a later time.
We saw the Tegra 2 status update arrive yesterday and as of today it looks like the Exynos status update has arrived. Specifically, this update is dealing with the Exynos 4. With that in mind, this update seems to be somewhat of a mix of good and bad. Up front it was made clear they “are not dropping support of the Exynos 4 devices.” The other side of that comes in with what Exynos 4 users can expect to see. Support will remain however those carrying one of these devices will not be getting a general release version of CM10.1 just yet. There was talk of how supporting the Exynos 4 devices past CM9.1 has “proven difficult to accomplish.” The difficulty has come from issues with the binaries and sources the CyanogenMod team has available to work with. Anyway, the general release availability is being withheld because of those issues and it was said these issues are not the type that can be solved in days or weeks. This is where the good news comes into play — Exynos 4 users will still have nightly builds available. That means users will continue to get some of the more important items such as bug fixes and security fixes. Not to mention, some new features. Otherwise, the Exynos 4 support list includes the following; Exynos 4210 – i9100, n7000, i777 and the Exynos 4412 – i9300, n7100, all t0lte variants, n80xx. Also, just to clarify — this deals with the Exynos 4 and not the 3 and 5 devices. SOURCE: Google+ |
| Verizon Wireless 4G LTE crosses the 500 market milestone Posted: 27 Jun 2013 07:02 AM PDT We knew Verizon Wireless had been approaching the 500 market milestone and it looks like that goal has since been achieved. Big Red has said the 4G LTE network now officially covers 500 markets across 49 states. It also looks like they will soon be getting into the 50th state as well. In addition to the 500 market news, Verizon has said they will be launching in Alaska sometime next month.
Specifics for the Alaska launch have yet to be revealed. More to the point for today, the current state of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. LTE coverage is now available for more than 99 percent of the carriers 3G footprint and more than 95 percent of the entire US population. While the coverage seems almost as widespread as it can be, Verizon ponders the question as to where 4G LTE will take our lives next? That question may take some time to answer and in the meantime, there are some further stats dealing with the current LTE coverage. Verizon Wireless shared the following;
The carrier also made a point to remind everyone they have the “largest 4G LTE network.”
The other aspect of this comes in with the Verizon VoLTE rollout. This isn’t expected to arrive until next year, however once available users can expect some value added services. Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Mead didn’t offer a lot of specifics here but did talk about items including HD voice and video calling. Finally, while we expect Verizon smartphones to have LTE support, we aren’t going to be seeing any LTE-only smartphones for some time yet. Of course, while 3G feels like a giant step backwards as compared to a solid LTE connection, we suspect those buying a phone these days feel better knowing you can still bounce back to 3G when needed. SOURCE: Verizon Wireless |
| HTC One in Glamour Red arriving for UK buyers next month Posted: 27 Jun 2013 06:33 AM PDT We have seen a red HTC One turn up in several leaks, however as of today the handset has been officially announced. The color has been dubbed Glamour Red and for now it will be available for those in the UK. Specifically, HTC has said the Glamour Red HTC One will be available with Phones 4u.
The details coming from HTC show this as being an exclusive launch for the retailer. Phones 4u will have the handset available in mid-July, but as of this time a specific release date has yet to be revealed. In regards to the red exterior, this model is being touted as having “body that makes a striking yet sophisticated statement.” Of course, the feature set remains the same which means those who plan on making a purchase will get a 4.7-inch 1080p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, 2300 mAh battery, 2.1 megapixel front-facing camera and HTC UltraPixel camera on the back. Otherwise, the HTC One is running Android Jelly Bean with the HTC Sense user interface on top. Aside from a specific launch date, the other missing item dealt with the internal storage. HTC and Phones 4u have yet to say whether the Glamour Red model will have 16GB and/or 32GB of internal storage. Looking past this model and we also recently saw the Google Play Edition HTC One come available for sale. Unfortunately though, while this red model will be a UK exclusive, for now the Google Play Edition will only be available for those in the US. With that in mind, the Google Play Edition is priced at $599 and expected to begin shipping on July 9th. |
| CyanogenMod details PushSMS – Secure messaging for Android Posted: 26 Jun 2013 04:56 PM PDT With all the privacy concerns in the news as of late, many users have been seeking out ways to protect themselves. One group in general is the extremely popular CyanogenMod who recently launched “Privacy Guard” which blocks your info from all apps, and now it appears they’ll be putting their efforts into a secure and encrypted messaging service for Android smartphones and tablets.
The popular developer Koush announced on the official +CyanogenMod Google+ page that they’ve built a service called PushSMS. Which will be an encrypted and secure messaging service similar to Apple’s iMessage in terms of security. In light of the recent NSA and PRISM news, many have found that iMessage is pretty secure, and even Apple can’t snoop in on what users send, so naturally developers are working on bringing that to Android. Things get pretty technical and hard to understand for those normal folks, but he explains things a bit in a simple fashion with this statement below. Basically confirming a new push-based messaging service.
3rd party apps and messaging clients will all be able to use this, and be completely encrypted and secure. Awesome right? It appears however that the service will only work with CyanogenMod devices, so you won’t get the same protection when messaging your friends using normal devices, or something other than CyanogenMod. We’ll keep an eye on this, as it’s still under heavy development, but should be in nightly builds soon enough. Keep up the good work CyanogenMod! |
| Motorola DVX tipped as new smartphone for emerging markets Posted: 26 Jun 2013 04:25 PM PDT The news and rumors surrounding Motorola and what Google has planned for them surely aren’t slowing down. We’re all still waiting some official details or announcements around the Motorola X-Phone. Then this afternoon we reportedly got the first look at their new logo, calling Motorola “A Google Company”. Now, the rumor mill has spun up a report that their next phone, the Motorola DVX, will be a budget phone for emerging markets.
Now this probably isn’t the news you all are hoping to read. As just like you all, I’d love to hear about the next major flagship smartphone from Motorola, especially now that Google is in charge. However news like this is important for the rest of the world, if indeed, the rumor is accurate. So lets take a peek. According to PhoneArena and their “sources” Motorola will release multiple phones this year after the Moto X. One of those is reportedly currently being called the DVX, and will be a budget device that is extremely cheap for emerging markets. Now why does this matter? Well, because there are still billions of people that don’t have cellphones and can’t afford them, and Google wants to tap into that massive market. Last month we reported on a new project (now called Loon) where Google will be using high-altitude blimps to bring WiFi and connectivity to emerging markets, such as Africa and others. Then there’s been talk of Google investing into a company called O3B (The Other 3 Billion) to bring network connectivity to the rest of the world.
It’s pretty interesting stuff, and surely something that we could see Google taking on. Once these projects get off the ground (literally with the Loon balloons) and an infrastructure is in place in rural areas and emerging markets, someone will need ultra-cheap devices for the population. Google’s new Motorola DVX is rumored to be exactly that. It surely won’t be something us enthusiasts would buy, and nothing like the Galaxy S 4, but it will usher in connectivity and smartphone use to millions and billions of people. More details on this odd report can be found from the via below. VIA: PhoneArena |
| Google Play Edition phones won’t get the Nexus update treatment Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:13 PM PDT In case you weren’t aware of the news, today Samsung and HTC both launched their respective flagship top-tier smartphones on the Google Play Store running stock Android. Originally called Google Edition phones, now the Play Store has them listed as “Google Play editions” and we’re learning they might not get the update treatment we all thought.
So far the details aren’t completely known, but it’s being reported by multiple outlets that have the devices in hand that Google won’t be in charge of updates. We all originally thought these would receive the “Nexus treatment” and be first to the latest and greatest versions of Android, but that could be wrong. According to AnandTech these devices are “nearly Nexus” phones yet still will be handled by the manufacturer themselves, not Google. This means we won’t be receiving pure Android from AOSP like we originally thought. They’ll be vanilla Android, but still have Samsung or HTC kernels, as well as little tweaks to the camera app, or beats audio integration.
However, Google will provide the stock Android updates, then Samsung and HTC get to tweak and perfect the kernel. After all, they do know their hardware best. This in theory could provide a pretty stellar experience for these phones, while still giving us quick updates. They might be a few weeks behind Nexus devices in terms of updates. But we won’t have custom UI skins or carrier testing to make these updates take months and months. When Samsung has 50-60+ million Galaxy S4 sales, but not nearly as many GS 4 Google Edition sales, which will get updated first? It’s a question we can’t answer yet, and we’ll have to wait and see. Update: We’re getting some conflicting reports here. HTC’s own site evens says right on it “The Google Edition HTC One will run Android 4.2.2 with subsequent software updates “provided by Google“. Stay tuned as we look for more details. VIA: Phandroid |
| Google Maps and Earth upgrade brings clear skies to Maps and more Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:53 PM PDT The technology and wide use of Google Maps and Earth is pretty impressive when you really think about it. Getting Street View images from almost every place around the world, being able to float around the globe in Google Earth and more. Well, Google’s recently upgraded their system and we now have 800,000 megapixels in size images of the globe.
According to the official Google Blog, their satellite system and overall imagery just got a major overhaul for the better. Nothing but clear skies from here on out. However, this means they can “always be watching” and even clouds won’t distort their view of the world. Google sees it all. That’s a little scary, especially given the recent PRISM news. All Google mapping products have received brand new imagery today that was taken with over 800,000 pixels worth of photos from new satellites and improved systems. No more photo-bombs by bad weather or clouds, Google can get clear images of the Earths shell even on a cloudy day. It’s pretty impressive.
Many previous images were from NASA’s equipment from 2002, as well as a Landsat 7 satellite. Sadly that satellite was broken and every image had lines and issues. Google was still able to stitch it all together to deliver the stunning images we’re getting updated with today. Pretty neat stuff. What’s even better is Google confirmed that the Landsat 8 satellite launched earlier this year, and will be bringing even better imagery and details in the months and years to come. More details and pictures are available from the blog link below. Smile for the camera! VIA: Google Blog |
| Samsung Galaxy Mega and Galaxy S 4 Mini arriving in the UK Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:46 PM PDT The Samsung Galaxy Mega had been expected to arrive in the UK next month, however it looks like that arrival will actually fall in June. This confirmation comes by way of UK retailer Clove who has said the Galaxy Mega will begin shipping on June 29th (for arrival on June 30th). And in addition, the same can be said for another Samsung handset, the Galaxy S 4 Mini.
Clove has said the June 30th arrival will be inline with Samsung’s official launch date. But otherwise, both handsets can be ordered at this moment. The Galaxy Mega is the 6.3-inch model that has 16GB of internal storage space. The price will be £379.00. Or more specifically, £454.80 with VAT being included. Aside from being the Mega 6.3, this particular model will have Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and TouchWiz along with a 1280 x 720 display, dual-core 1.7GHz processor, 1.5GB of RAM and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. The Galaxy S 4 Mini will be priced at £314.00 (£376.80 with VAT included). This model will have a 4.3-inch qHD display at 960 x 540, dual-core 1.7GHz processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. The S 4 Mini will also arrive running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with the TouchWiz user interface. Those considering either model will have the option to choose between two colors — black and/or white. Bottom line here, it looks like Clove has things covered for those who want a handset with a smaller display or those who want a handset with an oversized display. Aside from the UK availability, there has also been some chatter about the Galaxy Mega 6.3 coming to the US by way of AT&T. SOURCE: Clove |
| T-Mobile 4G LTE-Advanced coming “later this year” Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:23 PM PDT It looks like LTE-Advanced is the new 4G. Everyone wants to get on the bandwagon. Now that we’re seeing the GALAXY S 4 with LTE-A support, Verizon talking up the next-gen data speeds and more, T-Mobile has confirmed they have big plans too. The news was revealed by a T-Mobile exec himself and we have the details below.
At a media event today in New York City, T-Mobile’s Dave Mayo, a VP of technology, strategy and more had a few thoughts and comments to share regarding their future. Most notably, obviously, is the comments about the next generation of LTE data speeds, and when they’ll be getting them. As we all know, T-Mobile is late to the 4G LTE party with Verizon and AT&T both having strong leads over the magenta company. However, T-Mobile’s in a pretty good position to continue their long-term rollout. T-Mobile will continue to push their updates this year, and he even claimed we’ll see LTE-A in 2013 as well.
While we’re not expecting their network to fully be LTE-A ready, Mayo did mention they’ll have LTE-A “features” in 2013. Some of those include the popular multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) system found in home routers. Using a 2+2 smart antenna array that will offer unparalleled speeds both up and down when it comes to smartphone data. Verizon has talked about next gen speeds, but not specifically LTE-Advanced. Either way we’ll be getting faster data speeds for our smartphones and beyond later this year from many different carriers. VIA: TmoNews |
| ZTE Imperial enters the US Cellular lineup with a penny price tag Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:47 PM PDT US Cellular has officially launched their latest smartphone and while this one is not a screamer in terms of the specs, it does come with a price that is as low as can be without being free. The handset is the ZTE Imperial and US Cellular has it available for just one-penny on a two-year agreement. The Imperial has LTE connectivity and is running Jelly Bean with a 4-inch display.
Specifically, the handset has Android 4.1 and a display resolution of 800 x 480. Otherwise the handset is powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz processor with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. There is a microSD memory card slot for expansion and those making the purchase can also expect to find a front-facing webcam as well as a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. While we suspect some will be attracted to the low price point, we should also mention the full retail price as well. In this case those looking to avoid the two-year commitment would have to shell out $299.99. With that in mind, the handset is available online as of today and will be available in US Cellular retail stores on June 27th. The price seems to be fair given the specs and the Imperial could be a good option for those who cannot (or don’t want to) spend a small fortune on a higher-end device. In fact the one drawback seems like it will be in the pre-loaded apps. Similar to what we have seen with other US Cellular smartphones, the Imperial will have a wide variety of pre-loaded apps. Some of these apps come from the Amazon collection which includes Audible, IMBD, Kindle, MP3, Shopping and a few others. And in addition, US Cellular also includes a few more such as Mi-Easy Access app which is designed to allow for ‘quick access to your favorite features.” SOURCE: US Cellular |
| Google Search update touches on music and television Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:27 PM PDT The latest Google Search app update has arrived in the Play Store and this is one that will benefit those running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or later. The update brings some new features and functionality, one of which involves television and will be limited to those living in the US. Moving forward Google Search will be able to provide information about shows you are currently watching.
Aside from this one being a US-only feature, this one also requires the user to be watching on an internet connected television and have the TV and the smartphone (or tablet) connected to the same network. So far Google hasn’t said when or if this will be coming available for those outside the US market. Moving past the television connection and Google has also included some new voice action tips along with the option to have saved offers display automatically when you are close to a redemption location. The saved offers functionality is on the smaller side, however it seems like it could be beneficial in keeping those offers from going unused. The final new addition with this update deals with music. Google has added new voice actions that will allow you to play music that is stored on your device or music from the Play Store. Bottom line here, another small but seemingly nice Google Search update has arrived. SOURCE: Google Play Store |
| NVIDIA SHIELD Console unboxing and hands-on Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:03 PM PDT After all the waiting we finally have our hands all over NVIDIA SHIELD. The Android-powered game console all built inside a dedicated game controller with an attached 5-inch 720p HD display for the ultimate gaming experience. Today we’ll be giving you a first look at the retail goods, as well as our first impressions on the new quad-core Tegra 4 powered games. Sadly today brought bad news that the launch has been delayed, but read on for our thoughts and a few videos.
You all should know plenty about NVIDIA SHIELD already, as we’ve been following it quite closely. Just to refresh your memory we have a dedicated game controller, with NVIDIA’s 1.9 GHz quad-core Tegra 4 under the hood. You’ll enjoy 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, micro-SD support (up to 64GB) mini HDMI-out for streaming video, games, and Android to the big screen, and more. Attached to that game controller with dual analog sticks, dedicated gaming buttons (all like an Xbox controller) and triggers, we also have a 5-inch 1280x720p HD display showing us Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. This is nothing new, so take a peek at our unboxing video below, then read on for our first impressions of the retail device. After only using it for a few minutes here and there at press events, our thoughts were mixed on SHIELD. Now having used it for an extended period of time, we love it. More specifically, I love all the different things we can actually do with it. While SHIELD is obviously a game console at heart, works great with the hundreds of thousands of Android apps, and can even play full Steam and PC games, it’s everything else that rounds it out. Build quality with SHIELD is actually extremely impressive. It feels extremely solid and durable, yet isn’t too heavy to be uncomfortable for extended periods, although you might need a day or two to get accustomed to it. The plastic’s aren’t lightweight and cheap feeling, and it overall just feels like a premium device. All of this for the newly lowered $299 price is actually extremely awesome.       Today we don’t want to spoil all the fun regarding NVIDIA’s SHIELD, but lets just say it’s pretty awesome. The speakers on board are extremely loud and crisp, the screen is brilliant and works wonderful indoors and out, and overall it has been a joy to use. I’ve been using SHIELD to stream music with Google Music All Access since it doubles as a portable speaker, and browsing with the analog joysticks was better than I expected too.
Then, as you all know SHIELD also works great with the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Quadricopter. Instead of fumbling with on-screen controls and gyroscope inaccuracy in-flight with their current method, SHIELD enables a realistic and much more accurate flying experience. Giving us a controller just like many radio-controlled cars and airplanes available today. While we’ll be focusing much more (and reviewing the AR Drone 2.0 soon) below you’ll see an awesome example of the fun, accuracy, and enjoyment SHIELD brings to flying devices like the AR Drone. NVIDIA’s SHIELD won’t be shipping until sometime in July now, sadly, but surely it will be worth the wait. Our unit works as perfect as ever, and for those wondering, the screen latch is durable and tight. We won’t know until we use it for longer periods how it will stand up to the test of time, however. While we’ve been running loads of benchmarks (and being impressed by the Tegra 4) using Miracast wireless streaming, and outputting games to our HDTV using the mini-HDMI output on back you’ll have to stay tuned for our full review to see all the exciting things SHIELD can do. Oh, and once NVIDIA launches SHIELD we’ll also be able to stream full PC games in all those stunning graphics right to our gaming device, no matter where we are.
We stuck to the basics today, as we don’t want to spoil all the fun too soon. Let’s just say SHIELD is much more impressive than we originally thought. Has much more potential than just an Android gaming device, can double as a portable speaker and brings more to the table than just gaming features. I streamed the Stanley Cup Finals on it all week with the WatchESPN app, and didn’t even need a stand. It’s quite fun. Stick around for much more coming soon! Everything else you need to know can be found from our Tegra Hub.            |
| Recon Jet Pilot Edition pre-orders launch with Tour De France pricing Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:03 PM PDT Recon Instruments unveiled the Recon Jet wearable computing glasses back during Google I/O and as of today we have a bit of follow-up in terms of the pricing and availability. And in a bit of good news for those who may have been waiting, pre-orders for the Recon Jet glasses will be available as of today. These will be the ‘Pilot Edition’ and they are sitting with a price tag of $499.
These glasses are touted as having been designed for triathletes and cyclists. We spent a bit of time with the glasses back during I/O and thought of them as being like Google Glass for the thrill seeker. That aside, Recon Instruments is opening up these pre-orders with a cycling connection and the $499 price point will only be around for a limited time. Specifically, this price point will remain through July 21st, which just so happens to be the final day of the Tour De France. These glasses have connectivity to include Bluetooth and ANT+ and will be able to display information such as your heart rate, cadence and power output. They will also show other details to include caller ID and text message information. The operation is designed to be hands-free and there is also the social connection. Aside from the connectivity options, these glass will also have WiFi, GPS and a dual-core 1GHz processor as well as an HD camera. The folks at Recon are also promising a “comprehensive suite of sensors making it a standalone computing solution, comparable in capability to a tablet or smartphone.” Otherwise, while some of the emphasis is on hands-free use, there is also an optical touchpad that has support for gesture controls. And nicely, this touchpad will work in all weather conditions — including those times when gloves are necessary. With that, make sure to check out our hands-on time with the Recon Jet glasses during I/O. |
| NVIDIA SHIELD launch pushed to July as they aim for perfection Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:00 PM PDT The highly anticipated and impressive looking NVIDIA SHIELD game console is in the news again today, sadly it isn’t quite the news we were all hoping for. After NVIDIA confirmed the quad-core Tegra 4 powered game console would ship tomorrow, June 27th, for a newly lowered price of $299 (from $349) today they’ve had to push back their initial plans.
Today NVIDIA has confirmed that the launch date of NVIDIA SHIELD has sadly been delayed, and currently there is no new release date to report. After opening pre-orders May 20th for $349, many were excited to get their hands on the console, then were equally excited to hear about the price drop. Sadly it looks like all those gaming aficionados will have to wait until some time in July to enjoy SHIELD. NVIDIA made an important decision to delay the initial launch of their NVIDIA SHIELD, as they aim for perfection, and want to deliver the best product for their customers. Apparently a 3rd party mechanical part isn’t 100% up to par, in NVIDIA’s eyes, so they’ll be working out a few more kinks.
However, we’ve already been enjoying the awesome device for a while, and love what we’ve been seeing thus far. The wait should be worth it, and in the meantime you’ll be able to check out our initial hands-on and impressions, as well as a few neat videos.
This is sad news for NVIDIA after having such a buzz around the new console, especially considering the OUYA went up for sale yesterday. We’ll be sure an update the minute we know more details and an official re-release date. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Community To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment