Android Community |
- Google Play app downloads top iOS by 500m a month
- Acer Liquid S1 unveiled as a 5.7-inch phablet
- ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity detailed with Tegra 4 and Retina display
- ASUS MeMo Pad HD 7 and FHD 10 tablets unveiled
- Verizon HTC One finally official – no release date in sight
- PopCap snubs Android users with an iOS-only Plants vs Zombies 2 launch
- Verizon HTC One spotted in Bluetooth SIG filing
- Vine for Android is down: it’s not just you
- Samsung gets official with the 8-inch and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 3
- Vine for Android launches with the basics and promise of frequent updates
- ASUS FonePad Note getting a 6″ 1080p display and Atom processor
| Google Play app downloads top iOS by 500m a month Posted: 03 Jun 2013 11:24 AM PDT Recently both respective app markets have been boasting their numbers. With Apple claiming to have passed the 50 billion downloads mark, and Android doing the same getting to 48 billion as of late. While both numbers are impressive it looks like our good friend Android is beating Apple on the daily.
A new report out by The Telegraph has Android keeping up the pace and beating out iOS for total app downloads by as soon as October. With more than 900 million Android devices activated as mentioned in the link above, and growing at an extremely fast rate, these numbers will climb so fast that the small 2 billion+ lead Apple has will soon disappear. According to the report and numbers, Apple is seeing roughly 2 billion iOS app downloads each and every month. That coming from their App Store of nearly 850,000 apps. While that’s impressive, the folks from team Android have already passed the monthly download count, and Android is seeing roughly 2.5 billion app downloads per month. Analyst Horace Dediu of Asymco claims "the total downloads/install base are currently 83 apps per iOS device sold and 53 apps per Android device activation," meaning "the sheer weight of Android units will generate more downloads, but on a per-device basis, the iOS devices do seem to consume more apps, and the gap is not narrowing." With Samsung devices being in nearly everyone’s pocket, and selling by the millions, not to mention an impressive HTC One on all carriers things aren’t slowing down anytime soon. Obviously the iPhone 6 is coming later this year, which will surge iOS numbers once again, but at the current rate Android will pass iOS in total downloads by mid October. Lately we’ve been seeing most developers launch on both platforms simultaneously, and hopefully that trend continues. SOURCE: The Telegraph |
| Acer Liquid S1 unveiled as a 5.7-inch phablet Posted: 03 Jun 2013 11:01 AM PDT Acer has officially announced the Liquid S1, a device they are touting as a phablet. This marks the first such device for Acer and it will arrive sporting a 5.7-inch 1280 x 720 display and running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Acer is pushing the Liquid S1 as being the “new travel companion for professionals and adventurers alike” and that statement appears to be coming by way of some pre-loaded applications.
First though, the specs. Aside from a 5.7-inch display and Jelly Bean, the Liquid S1 will be powered by a quad-core 1.5GHz processor with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, 2 megapixel front-facing camera and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash. The handset will also be sporting a 2400 mAh battery, which according to Acer will be able to provide “a day’s worth of battery power.” Acer has also said the Liquid S1 will feature a design that is “ideal for assertive businesspeople and passionate explorers.” While we aren’t entirely sure how they came to that conclusion, further details on the exterior talk about how the handset will have a slender profile with aluminum side grips. The handset will also be available in two colors — matte black and white. In addition to Jelly Bean, the Liquid S1 will have the Acer Float User Interface which will allow for some multitasking. This includes the Float Apps shortcut that will bring a translucent screen with shortcuts to the supported apps. Those apps include camera, maps, calculator and notes as well as a Float Caller notification. Some of the Acer specifics include Auto Profile and Voice Unlock as well as Wide Front Shot which means users will be able to capture wider and taller visuals. Plus there is also Voice Shot to capture images by saying cheese, Smile Shot to detect smiles in images and Studio Sound which should serve to improve the audio quality. Acer will have the Liquid S1 available in a handful of markets to include Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia, UK, Spain and Italy beginning in the third quarter of 2013. Also worth nothing, while Acer hasn’t specified which markets, they have said the Liquid S1 would have dual-SIM support in select regions. Lastly, the handset will be priced from €349. SOURCE: Acer |
| ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity detailed with Tegra 4 and Retina display Posted: 03 Jun 2013 10:36 AM PDT This morning the team at ASUS has been quite busy. The folks from ASUS just announced a slew of new products on the first day of Computex 2013 in Taiwan. From a 6-inch FonePad Note to take on Samsung’s GALAXY to tons of tablets and more. One that stood out however, is the New Transformer Pad Infinity complete with an ultra HD display and NVIDIA‘s new quad-core Tegra 4 processor.
Live on stage ASUS confirmed yet another Transformer Pad Infinity is in the works, only this one has been improved across the board. Sadly they’re sticking to the same useful (yet old) design, and that single speaker is still in a terrible location, not to mention the squared and uncomfortable edges. We were hoping for a new design, but will take the boost in performance and hardware. It shares the same name and design as the model from last year, oddly, but internally everything has been severely improved. From beefing up the processor to NVIDIA’s latest powerhouse flagship 1.9 GHz quad-core Tegra 4 and 2GB of RAM, to offering a 10.1-inch 2560 x 1600 truly HD LED display. We’ll get the same 32GB internal storage, 5 megapixel rear and 1.3 front cameras, as well as a micro-SD slot and all the usual goods. Here’s the rundown.
As you can see they are simply calling it the “New” Transformer Pad Infinity, which we aren’t a fan of that idea, but whatever works right? The keyboard dock now supports USB 3.0 and full size SD slots, and that Tegra 4 under the hood enables the device to output Ultra HD 4k video with HDMI-out. ASUS has been quite so far in 2013 but this is one impressive and well-rounded tablet, we just wish it would have received a design change too. Stay tuned for more details and official pricing, which should be coming soon and are expected to be similar to the original. SOURCE: NVIDIA Blog |
| ASUS MeMo Pad HD 7 and FHD 10 tablets unveiled Posted: 03 Jun 2013 10:15 AM PDT ASUS has unveiled the MeMo Pad FHD 10 and HD 7 tablets. While both of these tablets are in the same family of devices, they will likely each have unique audiences. The HD 7 is a smaller tablet with a relatively low price point while the FHD 10 is larger and should be a bit more powerful. Similar to the other Computex announcements we have seen from ASUS, this one is also missing some of the finer points.
With that in mind, how about we get into the specs and pricing details for the MeMo Pad HD 7. This one will arrive with a 7-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800. There will also be a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera and optional 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. The tablet will be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and sporting either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage space. The 8GB HD 7 will run you $129 and the 16GB model will be $149. While ASUS has announced the pricing, they have yet to say when and where the tablet will be available. Of course, with the HD 7 launching with Ice Cream Sandwich we are fairly certain some will be turned off — even with the relatively low price point.
The other model announced today was the MeMo Pad FHD 10 which has a 10.1-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200. ASUS has yet to announce any pricing for this tablet, however they did reveal some of the specs. The FHD 10 will have a dual-core 1.6GHz Clover Trail+ processor (which is Atom) along with WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, front and rear-facing cameras and a 25Wh battery that should provide up to 10 hours of usage. The MeMo Pad FHD 10 will also arrive running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and with options for 16GB or 32GB of internal storage. Both the HD 7 and the FHD 10 will be available in a variety of colors. Otherwise, in addition to these 10.1-inch and 7-inch tablets, we also saw ASUS unveil the FonePad Note which is a 6-inch device that appears to be launching as competition to the Samsung Galaxy Note. |
| Verizon HTC One finally official – no release date in sight Posted: 03 Jun 2013 09:41 AM PDT After all the reports, rumors, and confusion it has finally been made official. This morning the folks from Verizon Wireless have flooded our inbox and blasted Twitter with the news. The HTC One will be arriving on Verizon Wireless “later this summer” but so far that’s about all we know. Who told you so, like multiple times?
This has been the best and worst kept secret to date with leaks coming out of every corner of the media. From FCC filings to Bluetooth verifications and more. Sadly all the secrecy and back and forth didn’t help. Why Verizon would confirm it was not coming to their network, only to announce it later. If anything this hurt HTC and Verizon. The news was quietly mentioned on Twitter today by @VZWnews and so far we have very little actual details aside from the “later this summer” comment. We’ve heard rumors of a June release date, but hopefully they manage to get this device in our hands before the end of July – but don’t get your hopes up.
Now that the GALAXY S 4 is available and selling well on Verizon, and all other carriers, it makes you wonder what the long wait was for. With the HTC One selling nearly 5 million already, it’s a clear winner, and a Verizon release alongside the stock version on the Play Store things will only improve. Most likely you can expect a $199 device with a 2-year contract, but we officially have no pricing or release date at this time. Stay tuned and get excited! |
| PopCap snubs Android users with an iOS-only Plants vs Zombies 2 launch Posted: 03 Jun 2013 09:16 AM PDT PopCap Games has returned with additional Plants vs. Zombies 2 release details. The game will be launching on July 18th and while that would normally sound like good news, Android users that have been waiting will likely be a bit disappointed. You see, in addition to the release date, PopCap Games has mentioned that being “exclusively for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.”
With that in mind, we don’t expect the iOS exclusivity to last forever but at this time PopCap Games has yet to say when the game will be arriving in the Google Play Store. Looking back and we remember the original Plants Vs. Zombies game also arrived first for iOS users. Our take on that, the iOS exclusivity may have made sense a few years back but with the present breakdown of Android and iOS that doesn’t seem quite as acceptable these days. Without diving into a full rant, how about we shift to the features of the game and look forward to the time when Android users will be able to join in on the fun. Plants vs. Zombies 2 details coming from this announcement include how the “vast majority of the game will be entirely free to play.” There wasn’t much in terms of the “vast majority” comment, however PopCap has also that “players can face every zombie and access every level in every world at no cost.” On the flip side, there will be upgrades and other in-game items available for purchase. Plants vs. Zombies 2 will bring a return of the classic gameplay from the original and also bring dozens of new levels as well as new power-ups, plant food that can supercharge plants and new game mechanics that are said to both “help and hinder players' efforts to thwart the zombie hordes will enthrall existing fans and new players alike.” Of course, Crazy Dave the neighbor will also be making a return. Crazy Dave will act as the guide and shopkeeper offering plant upgrades as well as other tools and weapons. PopCap Games is planning to show more of Plants vs. Zombies 2 next week at E3. In the meantime, while Android users are left waiting for release details, we do have the official trailer video which can be seen above. VIA: SlashGear SOURCE: PopCap Games |
| Verizon HTC One spotted in Bluetooth SIG filing Posted: 03 Jun 2013 08:38 AM PDT The talk of a Verizon branded HTC One continues. While that by itself does not sound all that exciting, this latest mention does provide some further evidence of an upcoming release with Big Red. Of course, we still need an announcement from Verizon Wireless and HTC before we can call this official. With that in mind, a device that is believed to be the Verizon HTC One has surfaced in a Bluetooth SIG filing.
The Bluetooth SIG filing is showing a device that is listed as the HTC6500LVW. For those who may not recognize that number, we have seen that mentioned in the past as the HTC M7. Many will make the connection here, but the HTC M7 is the device that was eventually announced as the HTC One. Basically, this by itself suggests an announcement may be getting closer to reality.
The nice part about this latest Verizon HTC One mention are the additional details. Aside from the Bluetooth SIG filing, the folks at phoneArena are reporting the HTC6500LVW has been added to the Verizon Wireless inventory system. The actual addition is listed with a description of HTC M7 and HTC6500LVW-DU with the DU standing for demo unit. According to the details of this report, that particular handset was added on May 22nd after the Verizon CTIA announcement. Those looking back will remember that many were expecting to Verizon to announce the HTC One that day. Of course, what we saw was Viva Movil. The catch with Bluetooth SIG filings and having device model numbers added to an inventory system — that does not necessarily suggest an announcement is coming soon. That bit remains open for discussion, however the last report we saw had the handset being tipped for a late-June arrival. All said and done, the HTC One should be on the way to Verizon Wireless. Basically, if you have an upgrade available, now seems like a time that you may want to hold tight, at least just for a little while. In the meantime, those considering a purchase may benefit from our previous HTC One coverage which included the original review as well as one for the AT&T model. Thanks for the tip, Vlad! VIA: G for Games, phoneArena SOURCE: Bluetooth SIG |
| Vine for Android is down: it’s not just you Posted: 03 Jun 2013 07:48 AM PDT After a rather long wait and several coming soon style promises, Vine has been officially announced for Android. We saw the announcement a bit earlier this morning, but it looks like the launch is not going quite as well as one could have hoped. The app hadn’t yet begun showing in the Play Store when the earlier announcement hit and while that has since changed, there are still some issues.
Basically, this is for those who have tried to download the Vine app and are having issues — take some comfort in knowing that you are not alone. We have received word from several readers alerting us of the issue, however having been trying to download the app ourselves, we are already seeing the same thing.
You can take a look at the specific error message above. The Vine app is listed in the Play Store and showing as available, however there seems to be some issues with device compatibility. This error comes despite mention that “this app is compatible with all of your devices.” You will see that in the Play Store, however a click of the install button will tell you the Play Store “could not determine if this item is compatible with your device.” All said and done, it looks like those who have been waiting for Vine to come available for Android will remain waiting. Well, at least for a little while anyway. Looking on the bright side though, we do think this will resolve itself soon enough. But with that in mind, this little delay just goes to add that little bit of extra frustration. The original frustration arrived with the Vine for Android announcement and the features. Or in this case, the lack of features. The Vine app is launching for Android, however it has only the basics in terms of features and the promise of frequent updates over the coming weeks. [Update] It looks like the device compatibility issues have since been resolved. Or in other words, if you have yet to do so, you can now follow the Play Store link below and begin creating some 6-second masterpieces. VIA: Google Play Store |
| Samsung gets official with the 8-inch and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 3 Posted: 03 Jun 2013 07:33 AM PDT Samsung previously announced the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 and as of today they have dropped news of the two larger models. Samsung has announced the Galaxy Tab 3 in an 8-inch and a 10.1-inch variety. Of course, this likely comes with little surprise for those who had been following the leaks and rumors. With that in mind, both models are packing dual-core processors and display resolutions of 1280 x 800.
Other specs that are shared across both models include Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, a microSD card slot and options for other 16GB or 32GB of internal storage. The tablets will also have A-GPS along with the standard array of sensors which includes one for ambient light, a magnetometer and accelerometer. Shifting over to the Galaxy Tab 3 8-inch and you will find a dual-core 1.5GHz processor and 1.5GB of RAM. The 8-inch Galaxy Tab 3 will also have a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. Samsung also has this one pegged for one-handed use and has the tablet weighing in at 314 grams. The Galaxy Tab 10.1-inch will bring a dual-core 1.6GHz processor and 1GB of RAM along with a 3 megapixel rear-facing camera.
Similar to what we have seen from Samsung in the past, both the 8-inch and 10.1-inch models will launch in three varieties — WiFi only, 3G and 4G LTE. One catch is that Samsung has yet to say which LTE bands would be supported. Following on the missing details, Samsung has also yet to confirm the pricing and the market availability. What we do know is that the Galaxy Tab 3 availability will begin in June. Finally, in addition to running Jelly Bean, these tablets will have plenty of Samsung branded apps that are pre-installed. The apps include ChatON, S Translator, Dual View and Pop-up Video and the Samsung Hub. The tablets will also have WatchON which is a remote control app as well as the typical Google apps to include Gmail and Navigation as well as full access to the Play Store. Galaxy Tab 3 8-inch   Galaxy Tab 3 10.1-inch   |
| Vine for Android launches with the basics and promise of frequent updates Posted: 03 Jun 2013 06:55 AM PDT We have seen a few coming soon style teasers in terms of Vine for Android and as of today there is a bit of good news for anyone that may have been waiting. Vine for Android has been officially announced and the app will be available from the Play Store today. Similar to Vine for iOS, Android users will be able to create those 6-second looping videos. Of course, the Vine app will also allow you to share those videos as well as watch those from other users.
The Vine app will be available for those running Android 4.0 or later and is said to have “many of the features that more than 13 million people have grown to love.” Further details tell the story of an Android app that may not have all the same qualities as the iOS app. The folks at Vine have said the app is launching today, but that it will not be perfectly in sync with the iOS app. Looking at the positive side here, Vine has launched for Android and the app has brought goodies to include the ability to Find Friends as well as sharing by way of Twitter. Android users have also gotten one feature the iOS users have yet to see. That feature is the ability to zoom. The one catch with the zoom feature, it was said this will be limited to devices that support it. There was also mention of an “improved” offline browsing experience. Otherwise, looking forward and Vine for Android users should be seeing “frequent updates” over the “coming weeks.” Some of the upcoming goodies will include sharing over Facebook as well as front-facing camera support, search, mentions, hashtags, bug fixes and other performance improvements. All said and done, while it is nice to see Vine launching for Android, it is looking like these future updates will be more than welcomed once they arrive. That being said, Vine for Android is available by way of the Google Play Store and we are looking forward to doing some playing as well as seeing what kind of looping videos the Android community will bring to the party. SOURCE: Vine Blog, Google Play Store |
| ASUS FonePad Note getting a 6″ 1080p display and Atom processor Posted: 03 Jun 2013 06:27 AM PDT ASUS had been teasing a 6-inch note-taking tablet ahead of Computex and now that the show has officially kicked off, there has been an announcement for the FonePad Note. ASUS has yet to announce every detail that we were hoping to see, however we do know the FonePad Note will be launching with a 6-inch Super IPS+ display and powered by a dual-core 1.6GHz Atom Z2560 processor.
Other details on the display include a 1080p resolution and a brightness of 450 nits. Otherwise, those considering the FonePad Note would be looking at specs to include 2GB of RAM, a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera, 8 megapixel rear-facing camera and DC-HSPA+ in terms of connectivity. Basically, that means the FonePad Note will be lacking LTE, but that it will have support for 42Mbps networks speeds. The front of the FonePad Note contains a pair of speakers with one sitting along the top and the other sitting along the bottom. And for those thinking a 6-inch FonePad Note is sounding like potential competition for the Galaxy Note, this next bit will only further those thoughts. The FonePad Note is also sporting a digital stylus. Whether this phablet will be able to compete will have to be decided upon launch.
In the meantime, ASUS did leave everyone wondering what the price will be. Additionally, ASUS has decided to keep everything in terms of the availability a secret for now. Simply put, they have yet to say when the FonePad Note would be available or which markets it will be found once the availability begins. While ASUS has officially announced the FonePad Note, aside from keeping an eye out for those missing details, we are also looking towards another upcoming device in the oversized smartphone category. Samsung is expected to announce the third-generation Galaxy Note a bit later in the year. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 announcement is expected to happen during IFA which takes place in September. |
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