Thursday, June 13, 2013

AndroidGuys

AndroidGuys

Printing from an Android device is a breeze with new Google Cloud Print app

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:52 PM PDT

cloud_print

Until today, printing from an Android device proved to be a chore. Sure, some printer companies have their own apps to print to specific models, but it’s not a simple process. That changes with the release of Google’s official Cloud Print app for Android.

You are using Cloud Print, right?

Google Cloud Print is a new technology that connects your printers to the web. Using Google Cloud Print, you can make your home and work printers available to you and anyone you choose, from the applications you use every day. Google Cloud Print works on your phone, tablet, Chrome device, PC, and any other web-connected device you want to print from.

In short, you can print to any printer you want, regardless of where you are physically.

Printing an image, document, or file is much easier now that you can send to Cloud Print. Essentially you are using the “Share” feature found in all of your apps. Instead of sharing that cat picture to Facebook, kill a tree  and print it out for the refrigerator.

Click to view slideshow.

In all seriousness, this is a pretty big deal. With so many of our files stored in Google Drive and accessible from mobile apps, things are that much easier in getting old school printouts. I’ve got tons of files saved online for my son’s school works and we get emails from various organizations. As much as we appreciate being able to access them from our mobile devices, others want to read paper copies.

Download Google Cloud Print (Google Play)

The post Printing from an Android device is a breeze with new Google Cloud Print app appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Why Android fans need to stop acting butthurt over iOS 7

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:17 PM PDT

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Oh man, did you hear that Apple totally copied Android Jelly Bean for its new iOS 7 release!? Yeah, they changed things up but it looks so much like Android/Microsoft/WebOS.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Pretty much everywhere I looked this week I saw Android people complaining about Apple’s new OS. Not for nothing, but I took a few digs myself.

Sure, iOS 7 is an awful lot like some of the aesthetics that we’ve seen in apps and platforms that have been around for a while. Sure, it’s totally different from anything that Apple’s done thus far, but it’s more of a coat of paint than anything. Sure, it’s likely going to cause a lot of developers to create copycat designs and ROMs.  But that’s not why I’m here. All of this, rather, makes me excited about the future of Android.

There’s nothing new under the sun, but Apple never claimed there was.

Think about it, most of the core features of Android seem to be at least one generation ahead of the other players. Things like notifications, multi-tasking, and folders are the stuff we take for granted and have been around for ages. Indeed, the mob complains when Apple “introduces” features such as panoramic photos or a new lock screen as the Cupertino gang isn’t inventing anything new.

Apple hasn’t done much inventing of new products or services in the last few decades. What they do, however, is take the stuff that previously exists and repackage it with an eye toward user experience. The family computer, MP3 player, and tablets were not new when Apple rolled them out.  Didn’t matter, though, because Apple sells a boatload of their own designs.

Apple, for its part, should stop using so many adjectives to convince people they are ahead of the game. Terms like “magical” and “revolutionary” are tossed around all too often and people mistake this for leading-edge. Whatever…it’s Marketing 101 and Apple’s one the best professors around.

Getting back to iOS 7 and its eerily similar design to Android 4.0+, it’s something that cannot be denied. There are countless blogs and reports online that show just how much the two now resemble each other and some of them are quite fun to read. Yes, Apple “borrowed” from Android (and other platforms). No, this is not the first time.

S
o why should Android users be excited about the new Apple mobile OS? In a word – validation. This validates Google’s direction and design choices for Android. Not only has Google gotten much better at how things look and operate, but they do it in rapid iteration. Here’s a new feature, there’s a new look, here’s an update to improve things.

Think about all the great stuff that Android still offers over competition; universal and simple sharing, multi-windows, widgets, NFC support, and the ability to install apps from anywhere come to mind.

I’m reminded of conversations I’ve had with companies offering (free and paid) services that Google ultimately adds into Android. I would wrongly assume that these guys would be mad that Google was now offering the same stuff they did. As it turns out, these companies loved it because it validated their efforts. Wouldn’t you like to know that you were a year or two ahead of Google?

It wasn’t all that long ago that Android was ridiculed for being clunky and unfriendly to users. Now it’s in the pole position.

Looking forward, we should be excited at how things progress with the next release(s) of Android. I don’t know about you but I’m anxious to see all the little features and user interface choices that come with 5.0 or Key Lime Pie… or whatever it’s called.

T
he sooner we all accept that Android’s going to be copied, the better. Along those lines, the more advances we see in Windows Mobile, iOS, and BlackBerry, the better. We need true competition and innovation because with them, things don’t progress.

It doesn’t matter who has more market share or how profitable each is. What matters is that all players keep the others on their toes. It’s a stupid old adage, but in the end we all win. We’re just fortunate enough to have a head start in the race.

Just come to terms with the fact that you’re a hipster and you’re mad that everyone likes your band.

The post Why Android fans need to stop acting butthurt over iOS 7 appeared first on AndroidGuys.

HTC One Mini leaks alongside HTC One, coming this fall

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 12:38 PM PDT

We first heard about the HTC One Mini/M4 back in April as a mid-range take on the famous HTC One, then we saw a press image and recently we saw it in wild which gave us an idea how similar this device is to the HTC One. Engadget got their hands on an image of the HTC One Mini, alongside the HTC One. Have a look:

htcmini-1371056530You can see how much the smartphones look alike, although there is a major difference under the hood. As you can see, instead of ‘Mini’, it’s more like a slim/petite version of the HTC One. It features a 4.3 Inch display, probably a 720p display, 1.4 GHz dual-core processor, and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with BlinkFeed and Sense UI. Although, the front is made up of plastic to reduce the weight, so you can expect more bezel on it than HTC One. It is expected that One Mini will hit the market sometime in Q3 2013.

For a mid-range smartphone, I guess this isn’t bad at all. And for people who can’t afford the HTC One, this one is a jackpot. So tell us people, are you looking forward to grab the HTC One Mini or you might go for the Galaxy S4 Mini? Tell us about it in the comment box below.

Source: Engadget

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NVIDIA Tegra 4i phone surfaces, debut in Q1 2014

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:46 AM PDT

NVIDIA announced the Tegra 4i processor with LTE integrated on-board in February, and it seems it will be hitting the market soon. Folks over at Anandtech were lucky enough to get their hands on an unbranded Android phone, running on the Tegra 4i processor, at NVIDIA’s headquarter. Well, it’s not actually unbranded, it comes with a “Brand” branding. Anyway, it features ta 4.8-inch 720p display and a 13-megapixel shooter, which is common smartphones nowadays.

Brandphone-8841_678x452What is interesting here is NVIDIA told Anandtech that this mysterious device will hit the market in Q1 2014 and will cost around $300-$400 unlocked. Also there are more Tegra 4i devices in the pipeline that will cost below $200 without any contract, so we can assume that we might see Tegra 4i powered smartphones early next year.

Are you looking forward to Tegra 4i phones? Tell us about it in the comment box below.

Source: Anandtech

The post NVIDIA Tegra 4i phone surfaces, debut in Q1 2014 appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Extremely optimized Android 5.0 rumored for October debut

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:21 AM PDT

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The next version of Android, rumored to be 5.0 and/or Key Lime Pie, will debut in late October, reports VR-Zone. Tipped to be a very optimized build of Android, the next release may work on on devices with as low as 512MB RAM. For those those of you who don’t quite understand what this means, it should run on phones up to 3 years old or more.

The timing of the release coincides with previous reports and matches up with the fall debut we saw with 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Also worth noting, the upcoming Moto X products are slated to debut around this time frame. Could the two launch together and usher in a new experience? Sounds like it.

We’ve got a few months to go before all of this happens so expect to see evidence on both sides of the rumor.

VR-Zone

The post Extremely optimized Android 5.0 rumored for October debut appeared first on AndroidGuys.

AT&T announces Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 for ‘coming weeks’

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:09 AM PDT

samsung_galaxy_note_80_720

AT&T announced on Wednesday that the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 will soon join the carrier’s ranks. Without providing any pricing or firm availability, AT&T only promises the 4G LTE connected tablet for “the coming weeks”.

As a refresher, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is powered by Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and features a 1.6 GHz quad core processor, a 4,600 mAh battery, 5-megapixel rear facing camera, 1.3-megapixel front facing camera, 16GB internal memory and a microSD slot for up to 32GB expandable memory.

The post AT&T announces Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 for ‘coming weeks’ appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Sony Xperia ZU set to launch with new UI and Android 4.2.2

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 08:07 AM PDT

New information is showing that the Sony Xperia ZU (U standing for Ultra) is set to be announced on June 25th, and it’s said to come with a completely refreshed UI and Android 4.2.2.

Sony has, in the past, shown us some really beautiful UI concepts, but they’ve become sadly outdated. However, sources close to Sony are now saying that, with the Android version coming on the ZU (don’t say phablet, don’t say phablet…), there will also come a refresh to the user interface. It’s said to include new features like a new lock scree, SocialLife, STAMINA mode, and some new small Apps.

via vr-zone

The post Sony Xperia ZU set to launch with new UI and Android 4.2.2 appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Samsung Galaxy S5 rumors begin with word of aluminum body

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 08:04 AM PDT

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Here we are, just a few weeks removed from the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4 – so you know what that means. It’s time to talk successor, right? Well, that’s apparently what’s going on already.

According to AndroidGeeks, Samsung is face down in development of the next generation of Android smartphones. That’s not news, of course, as we expect that to be the case. What is interesting, however, is that their sources claim the Galaxy S5 will employ Samsung’s ‘Design 3.0′ strategies and feature an aluminum body.

Should the rumor prove true, it could help to sway some of those users who complain of the plastic feel of the current models. On the other hand, we’re looking at a potential battery trade-off. All of those great designs you see from Apple, HTC, Sony, and LG… what do they have in common? Yep, non-removable batteries.

With many months to go before the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy S5 we expect we’ll hear plenty of conflicting rumors and reports.

AndroidGeeks

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Google Glass gets a full teardown, and it’s built to impress

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:46 AM PDT

So, you get a new pair of Google Glasses. What’s the first thing you do? Tear it apart piece by piece, of course. Well, that’s what the folks over at catwig have done, anyway.

Catwig took apart Google Glass, and laid out all the hardware: everything from the optics (which use a “folded light pathway”, and make the display appear to float a few feet away from the user) to the battery (roughly a 570 mAh battery). We also get a look at the bone conduction speaker, which is reported to be a pretty awesome experience to use.

Be sure to hit up the source link below for the full teardown, and let us know what you think in the comments.

via catwig

The post Google Glass gets a full teardown, and it’s built to impress appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Samsung announces 16-megapixel Galaxy S4 Zoom

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:09 AM PDT

samsung_galaxy_s4_zoom_720

Samsung made it official today, the 16-megapixel Galaxy S4 Zoom is coming. Announced on Wednesday, the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean handset is equal parts cutting-edge smartphone and digital camera.

Details for the camera aspect include 10x optical zoom, 16-megapixels, OIS 24-240mm and F3.1-F6.3, and a Xenon Flash. There are more than two dozen camera modes to choose from, ensuring you’re able to capture the perfect moment in a perfect way.

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As for the smartphone aspect, well, it’s a Samsung Galaxy S4, of sorts. Features include a dual-core 1.5GHz processor (varies by region), a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, 8GB internal storage, 1.5GB RAM, and a 2330mAh battery. Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom offers a front-facing 1.9-megapixel camera,  microSD (up to 64GB), NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, 4G LTE,HSPA+ 21Mbps, 3G, and Wi-Fi a/b/g/n 5GHz.

In terms of software, the Galaxy S4 Zooom features a host of Samsung apps, including S Voice, S Translator, Group Play, Story Album, Samsung Link, and Samsung ChatOn. There are, of course, a number of new camera-related functions thrown in the mix as well.

Price and availability details have yet to be announced but we expect more details to surface before long.

The post Samsung announces 16-megapixel Galaxy S4 Zoom appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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