Android Community |
- Facebook Reader tipped as Flipboard style news reader
- Sony teases Xperia Smartwatch, 5-inch mid-range phone in the works
- BlackBerry Messenger app fake tricks thousands before being pulled
- LG G2 rumored with edge-to-edge 1080p display, buttons on the back
- Jay-Z Magna Carta app arrives for select Samsung users
- Huawei MediaPad 7 Vogue tablet confirmed with voice calling
- Garmin Monterra handheld GPS arrives powered by Android
- HP Slate 21 unveiled with 21.5-inch display and Jelly Bean
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 US launch date confirmed
- Sony Xperia ZU images leak, this time in white
- Verizon HTC One launch remains a mystery as summer arrives
| Facebook Reader tipped as Flipboard style news reader Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:50 AM PDT Facebook looks to be working on a mobile news reader. The details have yet to be fully revealed, however the app is currently known as Facebook Reader and while it may share a similar name — this app doesn’t have anything to do with the upcoming shutdown of Google Reader. According to details coming from a recent WSJ report, the Facebook Reader app is said to have been in development for more than a year at this point.
Not to mention, the current comparison is being made to Flipboard. The unnamed “people with knowledge of the project” have said recent versions of the Facebook Reader app resemble Flipboard and that the app allows the user to swipe to flip through articles. Perhaps more important here, the app is able to aggregate stories from multiple sources and then ties those together with stories that have been shared by friends. Taking what we know about Flipboard — about how it is a “social magazine” and we see a connection to something that Mark Zuckerberg said earlier in the year. At the time of the news-feed redesign, he said he wanted Facebook to be “the best personalized newspaper in the world.” That appears to be the path they are heading, and nicely, they are bringing a focus on the mobile side. Representatives from Facebook haven’t offered any official comments, however it looks like this is a project that is being watch closely by Zuckerberg and that at times he has provided feedback and reviewed the design. While the comparison is being made to Flipboard, it seems the ultimate goal here is to provide users with another way of staying on Facebook. Otherwise, the slow development process for Reader is said to be intentional. It was said the team is working “slow and deliberate” and they are attempting to bring an app that is able to deliver news to users in a form that works equally well on both a smartphone and tablet. VIA: SlashGear SOURCE: Wall Street Journal |
| Sony teases Xperia Smartwatch, 5-inch mid-range phone in the works Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:48 AM PDT It sounds like Sony is about to release a round of products this week at the annual Mobile Asia Expo that starts tomorrow in Shanghai. Sony has been teasing a new Xperia Smartwatch over on Twitter, and now we’re getting more confirmations that they’ll have a few new smartphones on display as well.
Sony has already confirmed some new product will be at the show, and one which we’re all hoping for is their Xperia Z Ultra 6.44-inch smartphone/tablet hybrid. However, the image above coming right from Sony leads us to believe they’ll for sure have a smartwatch. Following the somewhat successful first model from the company, only this time rumors suggest 3 dedicated buttons like their Xperia phones, and NFC will be inside as well. That should make pairing and sharing a bit easier. Other details include a bigger display, better battery life, water-resistant, and heavy customizations to make Android apps work with the smartwatch better than ever before. I’m just liking the idea of NFC, which was reported by CNET. Being able to pair to our phones and tablets without using the old and cumbersome Bluetooth. That could make it worthwhile.
While Sony has every letter in the alphabet tied to a device as of late, we’re hearing they’ll also announce a mid-range Sony Xperia C. The 5-inch qHD (540 x 960) mid-range phone will sport an unknown 1.2 GHz quad-core (MediaTek, if we had to guess) and 1GB of RAM, and be decently thin coming in at 8.8mm in size. Nothing extremely impressive, but will run Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. We’d really like to get our hands on this Xperia Z Ultra (or ZU) and that 6.44-inch display. That device sounds interesting. Stay tuned as Sony has big plans for this week. VIA: XperiaBlog |
| BlackBerry Messenger app fake tricks thousands before being pulled Posted: 24 Jun 2013 10:05 AM PDT BlackBerry has already confirmed the upcoming release of BBM for Android. The key here, despite some rumors and leaks that pointed towards a launch date of June 27th, BlackBerry has only said the app would be available sometime this summer. With that in mind, it looks like Android users may have to watch out for the fake BBM apps.
In this instance the app was called ‘Blackberry Messenger BBM’ and was shown to be from a developer called RIM. First and foremost, the good news is this particular app has since been pulled, but that was not before the downloads crossed over the 100,000 mark. That brings an interesting point, that seems like a rather large number for an app that many people had not seemed all that interested in. Maybe BBM for Android will have a bigger userbase than many had originally thought. Speculation aside, this particular fake app was just another example of someone playing on the popularity of an app or service. This particular app really didn’t do anything useful and instead launched to a screen that mentioned the app would begin working on June 27th. Just for reference, that June 27th date came by way of T-Mobile UK who had posted a message (along with the above image) on Twitter. That tweet was quickly deleted and that was when the the sometime this summer comment came from RIM. Anyway, this all just goes to say that you should always take care when downloading apps. Aside from the fake BBM app not offering any real value, it did something else that wasn’t so nice. The app came with a user agreement that (once accepted) installed icons, bookmarks and more on your handset. Bottom line here, always use a bit of caution and common sense with app downloads. And at the very least, remember that an app coming from BlackBerry would at least have some news coverage around the web. VIA: CNET |
| LG G2 rumored with edge-to-edge 1080p display, buttons on the back Posted: 24 Jun 2013 09:49 AM PDT If you’ve been following the recent news and rumors surrounding LG‘s upcoming flagship smartphone, then you should be pretty excited to see it come August 7th. Last week they confirmed Qualcomm’s impressive Snapdragon 800 quad-core at 2.3 GHz was on board, and now more leaks are reporting some rather exciting specs to go along with it. That’s if the rumors are to be believed of course.
LG sent out invitations for an event in NYC on August 7th, which we’ll likely see their new G2 smartphone, as well as some other mid-range devices to round out their attack for the rest of 2013. This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about the upcoming Optimus G2, so read on for what’s new. For one, LG will be dropping the ‘Optimus’ branding in favor of something else, but the name isn’t really what matters, it’s what’s under the hood. They confirmed Qualcomm’s new quad-core will power the device, but new rumors today confirm 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, that 13 megapixel camera, and of course repeat that edge-to-edge 5.5-inch 1080p display rumor. There will be on-screen navigation buttons with the G2, and we’re again hearing “buttons on back” or as previous reports suggested, backside touch controls.
The latest reports are apparently confirmed from sources close to the matter, according to TechTastic. Who has been accurate as of late with leaks from both LG and Samsung. Adding that we’ll have Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean on board with the Optimus UI from LG, and then of course buttons on the back. Since the capacitive and dedicated home button will move to on-screen keys, what buttons are we talking about? We’re talking about the volume rocker and power button being on the rear (and possibly touch sensitive) sitting near the camera module. TechTastic reportedly has a few screenshots from the G2, and also mention a few other mid-range devices will all make an appearance on August 7th at LG’s press event. Stay tuned because as usual, we’ll be there live! VIA: TechTastic |
| Jay-Z Magna Carta app arrives for select Samsung users Posted: 24 Jun 2013 09:14 AM PDT As we had been expecting, the Jay-Z Magna Carta app has arrived in the Google Play Store this morning. The app is available for those carrying one of three Samsung devices — the Galaxy S III, Galaxy S 4 and the Galaxy Note II and perhaps more important, it could mean a free copy of the album.
The free copy will be available for the first million people to download the app using one of those previously mentioned Samsung devices. Once the app had been downloaded and installed you can login using your Facebook or Twitter credentials and begin to get some Jay-Z related news. We suspect some of the die-hard Jay-Z fans may have already seen some of these details, however the app offers a few videos including one that gives a Holy Grail preview. The key here, some of the goodies can only be unlocked by sharing. For example, there is a lyric page available but that can only be seen once you share it out on the network of your choosing.
Otherwise, while the general release of the album is set for July 7th, those first million users will be able to access the album as of 12:01 on July 4th — a full three days before it is available elsewhere. This style of release is said to be a first of its kind. An earlier Wall Street Journal report had said Jay-Z is being paid $5 per album (for those first 1 million) and that bill is being covered Samsung. Aside from the Jay-Z connection here, this is an interesting twist on an album release and one that we hope is deemed to be a success if for no other reason than it is something unique and hopefully something that will inspire other artists. Free albums are nice to get, but it is also nice to see things changing in terms of album releases. With that, the link to download is sitting below. SOURCE: Google Play Store |
| Huawei MediaPad 7 Vogue tablet confirmed with voice calling Posted: 24 Jun 2013 08:25 AM PDT The MediaPad 7 Vogue has shown up several times in the past, however as of today this latest sighting comes by way of the Huawei website. The company is touting this tablet as being the perfect combination of phone and tablet, which is basically another way of saying the MediaPad 7 Vogue is a 7-inch tablet that is capable of making voice calls.
That also means a tablet that is capable of sending and receiving SMS and MMS messages. And thankfully, the MediaPad 7 Vogue will have Bluetooth and a headphone jack which will hopefully keep some from holding a 7-inch tablet to their head. The display is IPS with a resolution of 1024 x 600 and is capacitive with support for 5-finger multitouch.    Other specs here include a quad-core 1.2GHz Huawei K3V2 Cortex-A9 processor with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot with support for cards up to 32GB in size. Those making the purchase will find Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with version 1.5 of the Huawei Emotion user interface on top.
The MediaPad 7 Vogue will also have a 4100 mAh battery, VGA quality front-facing camera, 3 megapixel rear-facing camera, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and GPS/A-GPS. Network support will arrive in the form of GSM on the 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz bands and UMTS on the 900 and 2100 MHz bands. The tablet will measure in at 193.8 x 121.3 x 9.5mm in size with a weight of 310 grams. The 310 gram weight is for the WiFi only model and the 3G model will be a bit heavier weighing in at 335 grams. Otherwise, the MediaPad 7 Vogue will be available in black or white and both colors will have a silver back. So far it looks like this tablet will be arriving in China later this month, however an earlier FCC filing does suggest that it could arrive in the US. Huawei has yet to reveal any pricing. SOURCE: Huawei |
| Garmin Monterra handheld GPS arrives powered by Android Posted: 24 Jun 2013 07:58 AM PDT Garmin has officially announced the Monterra and while this handheld device has the looks of a smartphone, it is actually a handheld outdoor GPS unit. The interesting part is that the Monterra is running Android. Garmin has said this is their first WiFi-enabled outdoor handheld GPS with Android. Being an Android device, the Monterra will have access to the Play Store, however putting that aside, there are some outdoor specific features that may be a bit more important for some users.
Garmin has said the Monterra will have a “vivid, sunlight-readable” touchscreen and that it will be rugged and waterproof. This unit will have a 4-inch multi-touch display along with other features to include a headphone jack, speaker and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with 1080p HD video recording. There will also be 8GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, Wi-Fi, ANT+, Bluetooth 3.0 and NFC. The Monterra will have a dual-battery system that will allow users to use a set of regular AA batteries or the included rechargeable battery pack. Some of the more outdoor specific features include a built-in UV sensor, 3-axis compass, accelerometer, gyro and dual-band GPS with a GLONASS receiver.
Garmin has the Monterra packed with software to include 3D MapMerge which means the user can combine two maps with the ability to then view those combined maps in three dimension. The system is also compatible with BaseCamp which is a free download that brings the ability to view and organize maps, routes and tracks. Of course, aside from the pre-loaded options, the Monterra can also download from the Play Store. Garmin has said the Monterra will be available during the third quarter of the year and that it will arrive priced from $649.99. The $649 model will have worldwide maps with preloaded worldwide basemap and a $699.99 model will have US maps with preloaded TOPO US 100K with Navteq roads. SOURCE: Garmin |
| HP Slate 21 unveiled with 21.5-inch display and Jelly Bean Posted: 24 Jun 2013 07:25 AM PDT We have seen Slate branded devices from HP and we have seen all-in-one desktop computer style devices from HP. As of today however, it looks like the company has merged the two lines with a uniquely sized system running Android. Specifically, this system will be running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, though we suspect the size of the device may be more important here.
This system will bring a 21.5-inch display and has been dubbed the HP Slate 21 All-in-One. Basically, what you have is a 21.5-inch touchscreen device that can sit propped up thanks to the fold-out kickstand on the backside. And when in desktop mode, HP has included a wired keyboard and mouse for easier navigation. We are interested to see some real-world use cases here, however HP is pushing the Slate 21 as being perfect for browsing the web, media consumption and video calling. On the topic video calls, the Slate 21 will have an HP TrueVision HD webcam for just that reason.
Other goodies here include DTS Digital Theater Sound, a pair of stereo speakers and a 1080p HD display. Aside from being 21.5-inches and 1080p, the display will support ten-finger multi-touch. Otherwise, HP has the Slate 21 powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor and based on what we can see from the images — it looks like the kickstand will be able to offer a few viewing options.
While these details have been confirmed by HP, there are still quite a few pieces missing. For one, we have yet to see a full and complete set of specs. But perhaps more important, HP has yet to confirm the price or release date. So far HP has only said those details will be released as the Slate 21 is ready for release in each country. |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 US launch date confirmed Posted: 24 Jun 2013 06:56 AM PDT Samsung has confirmed the release date and the pricing for the US launch of the Galaxy Tab 3 family. The lineup includes the 7.0, 8.0 and 10.1 models and they will all be available beginning on July 7th. Perhaps some better news for those looking to make a commitment — pre-orders will be available beginning on June 25th.
The Galaxy Tab 3 family will be available in white and brown with pricing set at $199, $299 and $399 for the 7.0, 8.0 and 10.1 models respectively. Samsung has said the tablet will be available with major retailers to include Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Office Depot and others. Beginning first with the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, this model will be running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz Marvell PXA 986 processor with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage space and a display resolution of 1024 x 600. This model will also have a microSD card slot, 4000 mAh battery, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and a 3 megapixel rear-facing camera.
Next up is the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 which will arrive sporting a resolution of 1280 x 800 and running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The 8.0 model will be powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz Exynos 4212 processor with 1.5GB of RAM. Additionally this model will have 16GB of internal storage, a 4450 mAh battery, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. Last up is the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 and this one will be running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with a display resolution of 1280 x 800. This model is sporting a dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Z2560 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and a 3 megapixel rear-facing camera. Otherwise, aside from the mentioned specs, the Galaxy Tab 3 family will also have goodies to include WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS with GLONASS and Sound Alive with Dolby Surround. |
| Sony Xperia ZU images leak, this time in white Posted: 24 Jun 2013 06:37 AM PDT We have seen a few Sony Xperia ZU leaks up until this point and as of today it looks like a few additional images have surfaced. This latest leak is offering a clear look at both the front and the back of the device. The Xperia ZU has also been dubbed the Xperia Z Ultra and that goes to speak about the size of the phone itself.
The Xperia ZU will fall into the phablet category and is sporting a 6.44-inch display. Despite earlier rumors that suggested the handset would be unveiled in early-July, it now looks like we may see an announcement as soon as tomorrow. Also, for those looking back, the Xperia ZU once sported the codename of Togari. This latest ties in with something we saw coming from Sony late last week. The official Sony Xperia Twitter account began sharing details about an upcoming smartwatch announcement. Connecting in with that, the latest details that have arrived with these images suggest the handset will be announced on June 25th along with the smartwatch.
The Xperia ZU is expected to arrive in black and white (both colors we have seen leaked) and possibly a third color — purple. This handset, while similar to the Xperia Z, is said to be coming with a magnesium frame and dual-SIM support. Earlier leaks have suggested the Xperia ZU will launch with a display resolution of 1920 x 1080 and with a pixel density of 342. Some of the other still unconfirmed specs include a quad-core 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 3000 mAh battery, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with an Exmor RS sensor. Bottom line here, at this point we are now looking for an official announcement sooner rather than later. VIA: eprice |
| Verizon HTC One launch remains a mystery as summer arrives Posted: 23 Jun 2013 04:23 PM PDT The Verizon HTC One is coming to store shelves “this summer” according to Verizon. Sadly as of Friday June 21st, it is officially summer and we’re still waiting for more news from Big Red regarding the device. It’s safe to say that by now many potential buyers have moved on to the Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5, or even moved over to AT&T for their HTC One fix. So what’s the deal Verizon?
HTC announced their impressive new HTC One flagship smartphone back in February, and it eventually made its way to US shelves and launched on all major carriers in April, except for Verizon. AT&T got the stunning new smartphone back on April 19th, and the rumors around if and when Verizon would offer the top-tier device floated around for almost two months. Nearly three weeks ago Verizon finally confirmed on Twitter that they’d be carrying the 4.7-inch 1080p HD display packing quad-core smartphone, and that’s basically all they had to say. That’s it. Stating the HTC One was coming “later this summer” and the entire device or launch date has remained a mystery. Summer is here, people are planning it out, getting ready for upgrades, so you better act fast Verizon.
What gives? With AT&T 4G LTE nearly catching up with Verizon, phones arriving sooner, updates not being a mess, is there a reason to wait and stay? Who knows. What we do know is competition is strong and only getting stronger. Announcing phones 2 months later than the competition, then leaving potential buyers wondering for weeks (or months) isn’t the best way to go about it. This is just my personal opinion, and many comments we’ve received over the past month feel the same way. Summer is technically from June 21st to the end of September, so we could be waiting a while for a Verizon HTC One. They did say “later this summer” which means nothing. One of our sources states Thursday, July 18th could be the release date, but so far Verizon has nothing set in stone, and are taking their sweet time. They aren’t too concerned with bringing this phone to market, it would seem. We’ve also been told the recent update from HTC to Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean could be part of the problem, as we all know Verizon has a thorough testing phase for updates. If they were nearing a release and had to delay it for the update, that would make sense. 4.2.2 was rumored for the HTC One in mid June, and we’re expecting the Verizon flavor to have the latest OS out of the box. Summer is finally here and we’re expecting more details or an actual release date soon from Verizon, but don’t hold your breath. |
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