Android Authority

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• Google Reader is dead, long live RSS
• Sony ‘Honami’ camera app ported to Xperia Z and other Sony devices unofficially
• Android 4.3 expected to bring new notifications settings for wearable devices and third-party apps
• What happens once Android eats up all the competition?
• Samsung ATIV Q up for pre-order in Germany at €1,599
• Google Glass update comes with support for web browsing, messages to any Gmail contact and other voice commands
• Verizon Galaxy S4 owners can now get their hands on Google Play Edition ROM
• Snapdragon 800-powered LG-F320 shows up in benchmark. Could this be the LG G2?
• The second half of the 2013: What to expect in the world of Android
• Looking for a breakthrough, Intel courts Samsung
• HP wants to offer a unique experience in its (Android) smartphone
• ZTE Open, the first Firefox OS phone, launches tomorrow for $90, but will it be a threat to Android?
• Samsung Galaxy S4 Active review (video)
• HTC One for Verizon pictured: it looks like any other HTC One, and that’s great
• Android remains king in the US, but Apple is still the largest manufacturer
• The best Google Reader replacement apps for Android
• Android rivalry: in the UK, 38 percent of Xperia Z users left Samsung
• Why the Galaxy S4 isn’t selling as well as Samsung would’ve hoped
• European data roaming costs cut by 36 percent today

Google Reader is dead, long live RSS Posted: 02 Jul 2013 02:36 AM PDT When giant redwoods die in the forest, they crash thunderously to the ground, clearing a patch of sunshine and nutrients where new seedlings can grow. Today, Google finally downed Reader, the redwood of RSS services, giving young and hungry competitors a much needed spot in the sunshine. Much ink has been spilled over the demise of Google Reader, a service that was especially popular with bloggers and journalists, which explains why the Internet's collective reaction to news about its "sunsetting" seemed a bit overly dramatic. So I won't discuss whether Reader deserved to be closed or not, and I won't accuse Google of breaking my trust in its mostly free services, like some did. I used Reader daily for my job, and back in March when Google announced that the service would be closed as part of its now infamous "spring cleanings", I was convinced I wouldn't be able to replace it. I was wrong – Feedly sprang into action and immediately provided a solid, feature-rich alternative to Reader. A few weeks ago, I switched completely and I've never looked back. Feedly is faster and smoother than Google Reader ever was, and once you get used with its occasional quirks, it's a pleasure to use. Feedly also provided its own cloud infrastructure and API, allowing other apps to use it, and thus ensuring the RSS ecosystem will continue to thrive. But there are other worthy replacements beside Feedly – Digg and AOL just launched their own solid offerings, and some older apps are also worth a look – The Old Reader, Newsblurr, and RSSOwl are just a few. And there are the news reading apps like Pulse, Currents, Flipboard, and others, which essentially do the same thing in a more visually appealing way. Here’s a complete list of Google Reader alternatives. For us Android users, my colleague Joe Hindy put together a nice list of RSS reading apps for smartphones and tablets – make sure to check out the post and the video. Finally, before we bid Google Reader goodbye, know that you can still export your feeds and other data using the Google Takeout service, but only until 12PM PST July 15, 2013. After July 15, everything will be "systematically deleted" so make sure to get your stuff out if you want to keep it.

Sony ‘Honami’ camera app ported to Xperia Z and other Sony devices unofficially Posted: 01 Jul 2013 10:54 PM PDT One of the most talked about features of the upcoming Sony “Honami” smartphone is its camera. How could something with the ability to capture 20-megapixel photos and record full 4K resolution video not catch anyone’s attention, right? A lot of people are understandably looking forward to seeing this beast of a smartphone camera in action. Perhaps you might even be one of them. Well, what if we told you that you can actually grab a phone and start enjoying the Honami’s exclusive camera software features right now? That’s the product of the work put in by user krabappel2548 over at XDA Developers forum, where instructions on using the Honami’s nifty camera app with some of today’s top Android-powered Sony devices have already been posted. Thanks to krabappel2548, the Sony Honami’s camera app can now be used on the Sony Xperia Z, Sony Xperia ZL, and the Sony Xperia Tablet Z. The app itself functions just like many other camera apps available for Android. But again, it comes with a number of exclusive software features, such as pre-configured art filters, visual search, ultra fast focusing, and augmented reality. If you’ve already made up your mind about getting the Honami as soon as it comes out, then perhaps you can get and use its ported camera app for now just to tide yourself over. Screenshots of the Sony Honami camera app are available below — it should work fine with devices that are running Android 4.2.2 — followed by a link to the source thread over at XDA Developers.

Android 4.3 expected to bring new notifications settings for wearable devices and third-party apps Posted: 01 Jul 2013 05:21 PM PDT Android 4.3 screens | Image credit: Sam Mobile Android 4.3 Jelly Bean could bring new notification features, according to a "teardown" of the leaked Android 4.3 version that's already available to install on some devices. According to Android Police, Android 4.3 contains some new notification code, which would essentially allow third-party apps to replicate the notification panel, and let other devices paired with an Android smartphone and/or tablet access those notifications: However, the publication points out that available Android 4.3 code says that third party apps would not be permitted, at least for now, to read notifications as described above, as the set permissions are two high for third-party apps – the permissions would allow only system apps and Google/OEM apps to access notifications. One interesting thing to consider is that Google may be changing Android notifications starting with Android 4.3 in order to let wearable gadgets properly display notifications, particularly Google-made devices such as Google Glass and the rumored Android smartwatch that the company is apparently working on. In addition to those, other similar devices, such as the Pebble smartwatch, could take advantage of the new notification settings in Android 4.3, and display notifications complete with notification actions. Users would be able to perform actions based on the notifications they get directly from Google Glass or a smartwatch connected to their handsets and/or tablets. Google could also let developers create custom notification panels, which could replace the default one on various devices. In other words, Android users could end up using the stock Android notification panel instead of the one their device comes pre-installed with. However, for the time being not all the required pieces are in place to make this work: Right now, it looks like there would be enough functionality to replicate the notification panel, but not replace it. As far as I can see, Google would need to implement an intent for the status bar pull-down gesture and separate the notification panel from the rest of the system UI for that to work. This might be a first step in that direction, though. Finally, apps that currently need to access notifications can't do so in an easy manner, so the described notification changes in this leaked Android 4.3 build could definitely be very helpful. Interestingly, a notification history is apparently also available in Android 4.3, basically a screen that shows you the current notifications but also past ones. Since we did talk about wearable computing, we'll notice that the feature also seems to fit with the timeline feature of Google Glass – it may or may not be related to that – where everything you do on Glass is stored in a stream of cards that can be latter accessed. Android 4.3 notifications screens: history (left) and apps that can listen to notifications (right) | Image credit: Android Police That said, Android 4.3 is still not official, and while we've seen plenty of under-the-hood changes, including Roboto font refinements, the new OS is still not official. We'll just have to wait and see what the final Android 4.3 version will have to offer – although it's not clear how much waiting we should expect.

What happens once Android eats up all the competition? Posted: 01 Jul 2013 03:44 PM PDT The birth, rise and near dominance of Android is a spectacle to behold. Born with the help of open source software and an established OS kernel (in Linux), Android has seen continuous growth in almost all markets around the world. Recently published figures suggest that Android is now used on some 70 percent of all smartphones sold in Europe’s five biggest markets. The question is, once Android has risen to the very top, then what? The current Android usage numbers are amazing and even allowing for generous margins of error, it is clear to everyone – even the hardest Android critic – that its total dominance is almost (but not yet) guaranteed. Across Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, Android’s market share is now 70.4 percent up from 61.3 percent a year ago. The remaining 29.6 percent is taken by iOS (17.8%) and Windows Phone (6.8%). And Europe isn’t the only market where Android is performing strong. In China, Android accounts for nearly 72% of all smartphone operating systems. In Australia Android is used on 62% of all smartphones while iOS is only used on 28% of devices. The only place where iOS is putting up a fight is in the USA where iOS runs on 42 percent of smartphones and Android on 52 percent. If this growth rate continues and Android starts to account for 80 percent and upwards of smartphone operating systems, it can be declared the winner. But then what? Will it plateau? Will it decrease? Will it stagnate? Why it could decrease or even stagnate Once Android becomes the big cheese, the king of the hill and the top dog it could see a period of stagnation and eventual decrease in usage as the lack of competition fosters complacency and dampens innovation. As Android is sitting on it laurels others like Apple and Microsoft could seize the opportunity and release something spectacular. If Google is caught napping, like it was with Android on tablets, the the competition – or even a newcomer – could steal the crown. There could be mass defections away from Android and who knows, in a worse case scenario, Android could be consigned to the annals of history. Don’t laugh, it happened to Palm OS, Web OS, and Blackberry – it could happen to Android. Another real danger for Android, once it reaches a saturation point, is fragmentation. Once there is no real or practical choice of smartphone OS then the handset manufacturers will need to try even harder to differentiate their offerings over other Android smartphones. This push to differentiate could cross the customization line and fork a non-compatible version of Android. This ‘Android B’ could then become the dominate strain leaving the original Android and Google fighting for survival. Why it could continue to grow Since Android is based on Linux and open source components it has the innate ability to adapt. It started on smartphones but (relatively) quickly was able to cope with the shift to tablets. Google are trying to create a cloud only operating system with Chrome OS and it is feasible that future release of Android could incorporate the best parts of Chrome OS. The resulting Android version would be equally as comfortable on a smartphone as it would be on a laptop or even a desktop PC. Also with the increasing popularity of low energy Bluetooth devices, Android will continue to expand and grow as the OS of choice for embedded devices, even simple ones like sensors and health monitors. If Android does imbibe Chrome OS and succeeds further in the embedded market then it will truly become the common operating system for everything from a Bluetooth sensor to a multi-core desktop PC. Is this possible? Yes, because Linux (as a kernel) has partly already achieved this and Android can easily follow where Linux has gone before. Last, but not least, is the market for new devices. Android is already seen on a whole gamut of devices which aren’t smartphones or tablets. This includes almost everything from media players to wearable computing devices (i.e. Google Glass). As new devices are designed and launched, the OS which makes most sense in terms of licensing model, existing ecosystem and flexibility is Android. This mean that although Android could reach a saturation point in the smartphone market, there are plenty of other markets for it to conquer! What do you think? Assuming that Android takes over 80 percent or more of the smartphone market, what will happen next?

Samsung ATIV Q up for pre-order in Germany at €1,599 Posted: 01 Jul 2013 03:01 PM PDT The Samsung ATIV Q is already available for pre-order in Germany, where one retailer sells the dual booting Android/Windows 8 convertible tablet for €1,599. Translated in U.S. dollars that amounts to almost $2,090, although the U.S. price of the device will most likely be around $1,599, assuming that the price tag above is official. It's worth noting that Samsung has not announced pricing details when unveiling the new product during the June 20 London-based media event. According to ARLT Computer, the device could be launched on July 8. Samsung has not mentioned release dates for the device during the show either. TabTech has it from Samsung Germany that the ATIV Q will be available in the region at some point in August. As the first benchmarks have already shown, the ATIV Q is one powerful Android tablet – the device crushed all other existing devices in AnTuTu. Furthermore, the device offers a full Windows 8 laptop experience as well. However, it looks like such a device will have a premium price, which puts it at the high-end of the laptop spectrum. Its obvious adversaries are the 13-inch MacBook Air, which is priced starting at $1,099 and the Chrombook Pixel, priced starting at $1,299. In case you're not familiar with the ATIV Q, you should know that the tablet/laptop packs a 13.3-inch touchscreen display with 3200 x 1800 resolution, 1.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 4500U processor, Intel HD Graphics 4400, 4GB RAM, 256GB SSD, S Pen support, Windows 8 and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean under the hood.

Google Glass update comes with support for web browsing, messages to any Gmail contact and other voice commands Posted: 01 Jul 2013 02:33 PM PDT A new update for Google Glass is available to Explorers starting today bringing some new features to the wearable gadget. According to details posted on Google+, Google Glass will get more voice commands, will let users message or call any Gmail contact and will let you browse the web. New voice commands will let users use Glass to read text messages aloud and answer them, but also answer phone calls. Sharing support via voice commands is also supported. The list of new voice commands includes: ok glass, read aloud ok glass, reply ok glass, answer call ok glass, share with [contact name] The update will also let you contact more than ten Gmail friends using the device. As long as you have contacts set up via Gmail, you'll be able send messages or make calls to any of them from Google Glass. Finally, the gadget will support web browsing, although it's probably only a limited experience, considering that you'll need to use the touchpad to navigate the website. Here are the gestures available to you once you load a website using Google Glass: Scroll – Slide your finger forward on the touchpad to scroll down. Zoom – Slide two fingers forward or backward to zoom. Look around – With two fingers down on the touchpad, move your head around to pan. Click – As you look around, you can tap to select anything in the center of the screen. Google Glass will be updated automatically in the next few days, so you won't have to do anything to get the new features.

Verizon Galaxy S4 owners can now get their hands on Google Play Edition ROM Posted: 01 Jul 2013 01:04 PM PDT Verizon Wireless might be one of the most powerful and widespread carriers in the United States, but life isn’t always perfect for its users. Not only do Verizon customers often have to wait longer for flagship handsets, but even their selection arguably isn’t as great as it could be. Even worse, Verizon customers were left out completely of the stock-Android party with the Nexus 4, and even the Google Play edition of the HTC One and Galaxy S4 are incompatible with the carrier. The good news is that Verizon Galaxy S4 owners can now get in on the same pure Android experience that is found with the Google Play Edition handsets. An XDA member/developer known as Dubbsy has posted up several Verizon-compatible Android 4.2.2 ROMs, which were all ported from the GPE GS4. Skimming through comments and feedback, the experience seems to be pretty stable and appears to work fine as a daily runner. There have been some reports of issues with GPS and other minor bugs, but that's to be expected. As time passes, you can be sure that the modding community will do its best to work out many of these kinks. To learn more about bringing the GPE experience over to your Verizon Galaxy S4, head over to the XDA developer's forum. What do you think, would you like to bring the stock Android experience to your GS4, or are you perfectly content with TouchWiz?

Snapdragon 800-powered LG-F320 shows up in benchmark. Could this be the LG G2? Posted: 01 Jul 2013 09:54 AM PDT From the Sony Xperia Z Ultra to the Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE-A, the era of the Snapdragon 800-powered handset is upon us. Now it looks to be LG's turn. The previously unheard of LG-F320 has now shown up in an AnTuTu benchmark, packing a blazing-fast 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor. How speedy is this sucker actually going to be? According to the benchmark, the LG-F320 scored an impressive 32,002 on the test. In comparison, the Galaxy S4 LTE-A previously has come in around 31,491. Though the LG-F320 still isn’t quite as high as the Xperia Z Ultra’s score of 34,758. Before you get too excited one way or another, remember that benchmark scores can vary considerably. It reality, all of the Snapdragon 800 devices will probably function about the same when it comes to real world results. So the LG-F320 scores well, but what the heck is it? That's the big question, and one that we really can't answer until we have more information. We certainly can speculate, though. Considering the timing, it seems pretty likely we are looking at the LG G2, which is expected to launch in Korea ahead of LG’s August 7 press event. If this is the LG G2, previous rumors suggest we can also expect a 1080p display, a 13MP camera, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and volume rocker buttons on the back on the handset. If this isn’t the LG G2? There’s always the possibility of this being the Nexus 5, or perhaps even some completely unannounced new LG handset. Whatever the LG-F320 turns out to be, it certainly seems more than capable of giving other high-end Android devices a run for the money.

The second half of the 2013: What to expect in the world of Android Posted: 01 Jul 2013 09:54 AM PDT It's hard to believe that we are already halfway through the year 2013. We've seen Samsung drop its follow up to the very successful Galaxy S3 with the Galaxy S4, and HTC redefine high-end design for Android smartphones with the HTC One. The sleeping giant Sony has finally awoken, LG has been making headways since the success of the Nexus 4, and the Chinese OEMs have shaken off their second-tier status. That's just a snapshot of what has occurred over the past 6 months, but the world of Android does not stand still. By all accords the next 6 months will be an even better ride than the first, so what is in store for us Android loving folks? LG G2 – No standard of design is safe The LG G2 is the successor to the LG Optimus G, which some of you may know is the phone that the Nexus 4 was built on. Rest assured that if the Nexus 5 is built on this device, it's going to be a beast of a smartphone. Qualcomm and LG already dropped the bomb on what processor will be in the G2. It's the record breaking Snapdragon 800 of course, and coupling that with 2GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel camera you can tell this smartphone could be record breaker. The rumored back of the LG G2 unveils some interesting button placements. What's most interesting about this smartphone is the button placement and we don't say that too often (or ever).The volume rockers have been reported to be found on the back of the device, right under the camera. The LG G2 is expected to be released August 7th. Samsung Galaxy Note 3 One of the biggest smartphones to come out in the next 6 months in more ways than one, the Galaxy Note line is royalty in the large-smartphone market. While there have been conflicting rumors about the screen size, with some saying the Note 3 will come with a 5.7-inch display and others saying it'll come with a 5.99-inch screen, there's no questioning that the Note 3 will need a Full HD display if it's going to be playing with the big boys. Galaxy Note 3 concept Rumors say that along with a Full HD Super AMOLED display, the Note 3 will also feature a Snapdragon 800 processor, backed by the Adreno 330 and 2GB of RAM. The Galaxy Note 3 is expected to be announced this September at IFA 2013 in Berlin. The next-gen Nexus 7 The next-gen Nexus 7 is rumored to have Full HD display, a Snapdragon 600, 2 GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel back facing camera, all backed by Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The next-gen Nexus 7 is expected to again be made by ASUS, and should feature a Full HD display. According to an alleged chat between a customer and an Asus representative, the next-gen Nexus 7 will also include a Snapdragon 600, 2GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel back facing camera, a 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The next-gen Nexus 7 is expected to be launched in tandem with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean sometime before the end of July, and should retain a low price, similar to that of the current Nexus 7. Sony Honami – successor to the Xperia Z By all accounts the Sony Honami will be an incredible smartphone. After an apparent system dump, the Sony Honami is said to have a 20-megapixel camera that is capable of shooting 4K video. It'll also have a Snapdragon 800 processor, 2 GB of RAM, a Full HD display and is set to retain the water resistance of the Xperia Z. A purported image of the Sony Honami While we are uncertain as to when the Sony Honami will drop, by the looks of the system dump it shouldn't be too long a wait, and it'll definitely be worth the wait. Of course the Honami won't be the only incredible device to drop from Sony, the recently announced Xperia Z Ultra should hit the market sometime soon, and will be a competitor to the Galaxy Note 3. Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie Technically Android 4.3 Jelly Bean hasn't been released yet, however, since it has already leaked and should be a relatively minor release, we know you'd much prefer to hear about Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie is expected to be released in the fall, with a new Nexus smartphone set to accompany it. This will be the biggest Android update in 2 years, since Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was unveiled in 2011. A new user interface and design are expected, but other than that there isn't a lot that we know about Android 5.0. Some rumors have claimed that Key Lime Pie will be compatible with low-end devices, meaning it could help combat Android fragmentation. We'll just have to wait and see now won't we? Nexus 5 We know very little about the Nexus 5. In fact, we don't even know who's manufacturing it. While some believe it will be LG, others think that HTC or Sony will be given a chance to tackle the Nexus device program. The Nexus 5 will need to have at least a Full HD display and a Snapdragon 800 chipset if it wants to be worth its weight in gold. The Nexus 5 might not be the biggest seller in 2013, but it will no doubt be one of the most important devices, and we should expect the Nexus 5 to be released in the fall with Android 5.0 on board. Other devices It would be a shame if we didn't acknowledge Google Glass which should be release either at the end of this year or the beginning of the next. HTC has also been rumored to be bringing its own competitor to the Note 3 with the HTC T6, and is rumored to be launching a smaller version of the HTC One. Let’s not forget about the Moto X (as someone ironically did), which should be the first smartphone to roll out since Google bought Motorola last year. The rumors have so far painted the Moto X as a mid-range device, but the rumors aren’t always right. The rumored HTC One Mini next to the original HTC One. Image credit: Engadget Oppo made headlines with its Oppo Find 5, and will be bringing out a successor to the Find 5 called the Find 7. Android based notebooks will also be seen in the second half of 2013, and that's without mentioning the release of the dual-OS Samsung Ativ Q and Asus Transformer Book Trio. An updated Nexus 10 should also be released, and Samsung could refresh the Galaxy Note 10.1. By the looks of things Android definitely won't be stopping to take a breath in the second half of 2013, and we'll be seeing some incredible devices launch, some which we may not even know about yet. Now all this author has to do is figure out how he's going to pay for all of them. Which device are you most looking forward to in the second half of 2013?

Looking for a breakthrough, Intel courts Samsung Posted: 01 Jul 2013 08:35 AM PDT Credit: huangjiahui Let's face it, Intel is pretty much absent when it comes to the smartphone and tablet markets. There are very few smartphone products which utilize its processing technology, and certainly no hugely popular devices as of yet. Qualcomm has a market share which is seven times larger than Intel's, and recently market research firm IHS iSuppli revealed that Intel only holds a rather pitiful 5 percent share of the market for digital baseband and applications processors used in smartphones and other connected mobile devices last year. We heard not to long ago that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 might be using an Intel Atom Z2560 chip instead of a more commonplace ARM processor. If true, this would be a pretty major breakthrough for Intel, but would still only be a relatively small success in an otherwise much larger market. Now perhaps Intel harbors some resentment at Qualcomm's success, which might explain Lee Hee-sung's, Intel's Korean CEO’s, recent comments regarding its rival. The outspoken Lee Hee-sung has insisted that Intel’s processor technology is well ahead of Qualcomm’s, in an attempt to win over major Korean handset manufacturers. Now it's certainly true that Intel's Clover Trail+ processor has performed quite well in some recent tests, but with the Snapdragon 800 right around the corner, Intel's comments might be a little premature. Perhaps he’s referring to Intel’s upcoming Baytrail chips instead. Our fourth-generation Haswell-branded System-on-Chip (SoC) has advantages in power consumption. It may not be all about performance when it comes to the smartphone market, but Intel still has to prove that it can provide competitive all-in-one solutions for mobile processing, including integrated LTE chips, which the company is currently lacking. But this isn't all just talk from Intel, the company has supposedly been meeting with Samsung regarding adjustments to its supply chain structure, which is currently heavily influenced by Qualcomm. Now, this could have something to do with sorting out things ready for the Galaxy Tab 3, and the talks could also be paving the way for future joint ventures between the two tech giants. (Renee) James had a meeting with Samsung's co-CEO Shin Jong-kyun in Seoul last week. The meeting with Samsung signifies that Intel recognizes the Korean company as one of its crucial business partners. Intel definitely needs to put some good smartphone and tablet products under its belt if it ever wants to be considered as a serious contender in these markets, and a deal with Samsung would go a long way to prove that company's technology has what it takes. We certainly could see a few Intel powered Samsung products in the not too distant future, as Intel's processor tech looks up to scratch. Samsung declined to comment on the matter, so we'll just have to wait and see.

HP wants to offer a unique experience in its (Android) smartphone Posted: 01 Jul 2013 07:27 AM PDT The last time we've heard about HP's smartphone plans was in September 2012. Back then, CEO Meg Whitman told the press that HP is definitely working on smartphones, but the executive didn't specify what operating system HP's mobile devices would run on. That is no longer a mystery. With the launch of the Slate 7, a cheap Nexus 7 competitor, HP positioned itself firmly in the Android camp. Since the Slate 7, the company also launched a 10.1-inch convertible tablet dubbed SlateBook X2, and an Android-powered all-in-one called Slate 21. Obviously, HP is dedicated to Android on tablets and PCs, but how about a smartphone? According to the Indian Express, Yam Su Yin, an executive with HP Asia Pacific, answered the question like this: The answer is yes but I cannot give a timetable. It would be silly if we say no. HP has to be in the game. For anyone with even a basic understanding of the tech industry, this answer is obvious. PC sales are dwindling and mobile devices take their place as the primary computing devices for a majority of the world's population. In other words, it's not a choice – HP absolutely needs to be in the smartphone game. However, as so many struggling companies can testify, getting into the smartphone game is simple, but making money out of it is definitely not trivial. So how exactly is HP planning to proceed, faced with giants like Samsung and Apple? Being late you have to create a different set of proposition. There are still things that can be done. It's not late. When HP has a smartphone, it will give a differentiated experience. That's a trite statement if we ever heard one… We just hope HP learned from the mistakes they made in their Palm days.

ZTE Open, the first Firefox OS phone, launches tomorrow for $90, but will it be a threat to Android? Posted: 01 Jul 2013 06:35 AM PDT We've known for a while that Mozilla's Firefox OS phones were going to be quite cheap, but €69 is unbelievably inexpensive. This puts the cost of a new ZTE Open at around just $99 or £59 for US and UK consumers, give or take a little based on exchange rates. The ZTE Open will launch in Spain tomorrow, and will be available from Telefonica for the price listed above. To sweeten the deal, the already exceptionally cheap price will also include €30 worth of pay as you go credit. Alternatively, the handset will also be available on a contract with Telefonica, which will cost just €2.38 a month. For your money you'll receive a smartphone with a 3.5 inch display (480×320 pixels), 256MB of RAM, 512MB of built in storage, a 1.0 GHz Cortex-A5 processor, 3.2 megapixel camera, 2G and 3G network support, and the handset will also come bundled with a 4GB microSD card for additional storage. So, the ZTE Open is not at all bad, considering the price, but it's definitely not in the same league as most Android handsets. Does this pose a threat to Android? Well not really, as obviously the price points are targeted at very different markets. In fact, Mozilla have even stated that they're trying to solve problems ignored by the current smartphone platforms, rather than trying to replace them. Looking at the handset itself, even considerably cheap Android smartphones, like the original Galaxy Ace for example, will still set you back closer to double the price, somewhere around €130, and offer more in the way of hardware specs. Firefox OS devices really are the bare minimum to be classed as a smartphone; they are not designed to compete with the typical Android user's handset. But that isn't to say that it's a bad product, or that it won't give budget orientated customers something to think about when choosing a new handset. It’s true that Android owns a share of the budget market, the Vodafone Smart Mini handset is an example of a very cheap smartphone which runs Android, and it costs about the same as the ZTE Open, around £50. But this class of handset makes up such a small portion of the Android portfolio that I doubt many manufactures are going to lose much sleep worrying about this market segment. Now in emerging and heavily budget orientated markets, Firefox OS could capture a much larger portion of the market. The low price point, cheaper data usage, and full internet connectivity could really hit a chord with consumers, especially if the handsets cost less than their Android counterparts. But really it's quite hard to predict how this will all play out, we'll have to wait for some sales statistics in the coming months. Overall, Firefox OS gives you everything you need to stay connected to the internet on the go, without the premium price tag, which is certainly a good thing for consumers. We'll be watching with interest to see how this fledgling operating system turns out.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active review (video) Posted: 01 Jul 2013 06:00 AM PDT The Samsung Galaxy S4 is one of the biggest releases of the year, and since it’s release, it has been met with wild success. It wasn’t long after it’s release that we began hearing of more Galaxy S4 smartphones, starting with the Mini, and Soon the Galaxy S4 Active, and Galaxy S4 Zoom. Samsung is creating a sort of Galaxy S4 dynasty here, and while many may look at that as a cheap move, the Galaxy S4 Active is actually a really great smartphone. In fact, it may just convince those who passed on the original Galaxy S4 to get this particular device. It has a few perks that are no doubt hard to pass up. And now, we’re going to give the Galaxy S4 Active the full review treatment. If you’re in a rush, jump straight to the video, otherwise, stick with us as we take a closer look at the new device in the Galaxy S4 family. Design When it comes to general design, you do notice similarities to the original Galaxy S4 — but there has been a lot of changes. After all, the Galaxy S4 Active is a rugged device. What was once  a silver bezel is now a rim that is visible from the front, and it’s available in a few different colors. The familiar button layout of the Galaxy S4 has been strengthened and has a nice, meaty feel to them. Looking around the back, the Active is very different from the Galaxy S4. Rugged is the term that comes to mind when you see the four screws on each rubberized corner and the smaller, slightly textured plastic cover adorning the body. While the main material here is still plastic, it does have a better feeling. Being the rugged device that it is, it feels thicker and less bendy in the hand. Holding it, you don’t feel like you’ve bought into a cheap device. Removing the back cover, you get the same access to the removable battery and microSD card slots. Just make sure that it’s sealed tight before you take your Galaxy S4 Active into the water. To help with water resistance, there is a cover over the mciroUSB port. Little plastic covers like this tend to wear out quickly, but it seems sturdy enough. Holding the Galaxy S4 Active in the hand, you get a heftiness that is very noticeable compared to the original Galaxy S4. Whereas the light and nimble Galaxy S4 has good balancing, the S4 Active really does feel like a phone you can knock around some, though, we wouldn’t advise purposely doing such a thing because of it’s display (more on that later). The Galaxy S4 Active feels like you have a really nice case on your S4, only that’s not a case, and you’re actually holding your phone. While I do prefer the Active over the original Galaxy S4, I’ll be doing a VS between the two devices for comparisons. However, I know that for a lot of people, what they wanted out of the S4, is at least being heavily teased in the Active. Display It might be surprising, but the Galaxy S4 Active doesn’t use Samsung’s iconic Super AMOLED display, instead opting for a less saturated LCD display still capable of 1080p resolution, rated at 441ppi. It won’t throw colors out at you the way the Galaxy S4′s screen does, but for some people, that might be a plus. Nonetheless, you get the same kind of performance with a slightly different overall color profile. Furthermore, it doesn’t handle contrast as well as the Super AMOLED display does, but that’s far from making this guy a deal breaker. It’s still a great screen, and it should prove to be fun for all media consumption and text viewing. Performance What surprises many about the Galaxy S4 Active is that for a rugged phone, it’s performance is of the highest order. The S4 Active has everything its original counterpart has — a Snapdragon 600 CPU clocked at 1.9GHz, backed by the Adreno 320 and 2GB of RAM. The Snapdragon 600 powers all of the top tier devices in the market today, so there are no doubts when it comes to speed and efficiency. If you thought the Galaxy S4 was a great performer, you will get the same experience with the Galaxy S4 Active. Hardware The same goes for hardware — the Galaxy S4 Active literally has all of the bits and pieces that made the Galaxy S4 a great device. Every sensor for hand gestures, air views, and controlling televisions make a return here. Being able to expand the memory is always a positive, too. As I mentioned before, everything you know about the original Galaxy S4 is here, but beefier. The big thing with the Galaxy S4 Active is its water and dust resistance. Following in line wit many of the rugged phones on the market now, the S4 Active can be submerged in depths of up to one meter for up to half an hour. Those details are very important to remember — any longer than that and you might end up with a S4-looking brick. Dust resistance on the Galaxy S4 Active is certified, although there really isn’t any clear way of testing it. Other than that, the LCD display is covered in Gorilla Glass 2, not 3, unfortunately. It’s scratch resistant, but I’d think twice before letting it get knocked around. Don’t be fooled, the rugged feel of the device is great because it is vastly superior than the original Galaxy S4. However, if you hold a real rugged phone in your hand, you’ll know that while the Galaxy S4 Active can withstand the elements, it can’t just go charging into them. Battery and camera One of the many things I like about the Galaxy S4 Active is that it retains the removable battery. While you won’t be changing your batters underwater (that is a really bad idea), having a spare 2,600 mAh unit can be very handy. In my own battery tests, the life of the S4 Active’s unit pretty much holds up. While a video looping test drained it down to half battery in 3 hours, I didn’t find any problems getting through the day with normal usage. It might be the LCD screen that is consuming power differently, but rest assured that you’ll get everything you need finished before it’s time for bed. As for the camera, well, it might be a bit disappointing, as you get a 8-megapixel rear shooter instead of the 13-megapixel shooter in the original Galaxy S4. As far as the app goes, you get pretty much all of the same modes available in the Galaxy S4, minus the dual recording feature and the addition of Aqua Mode (more on that later). Now, megapixels obviously don’t tell the whole story when it comes to the quality of a photo, but a small decrease is expected when the resolution is lowered. However, the Active manages to take pictures on par with the quality of the Galaxy S4. Click to see the full-res picture. Pictures in daylight and good indoor lighting have very good detail and color reproduction, all of which translates into video capabilities. Overall, the Active gives you some great look photos, despite that drop in resolution. Click to see the full-res image. Of course, the main attraction with the Galaxy S4 Active’s camera is being able to use it underwater. When the Galaxy S4 Active is submerged, a feature we mentioned earlier kicks in — Aqua Mode. The touchscreen is pretty much unusable when submerged, so in the camera app, the volume buttons can be your shutter or record button. It’s a really nice way of making the camera usable even when water contact makes touch navigation tough. As you might expect, the photos you take in Aqua Mode are going to have to wait to be edited until your out of the water. When it comes down to it, the Galaxy S4 Active’s water resistant camera is a great addition to this particular device. Software Software-wise, there isn’t a whole lot that’s changed with the S4 Active. As I mentioned in the Hardware section, all of the sensors return in the S4 Active, making air, hand, and eye gestures still possible. As for apps, you still get S Health, Group Play, and WatchON, all of which are preloaded apps on the original S4. If you want a full rundown on the software capabilities of the S4 Active, you can check out my original Galaxy S4 review. Video review Price and final thoughts And finally, we come to the price.  There isn’t a very clear picture of how broad a release the Galaxy S4 Active will see. So for the time being, through AT&T the Galaxy S4 Active is $199 on a new two-year contract with the carrier. As for unlocked prices, those still seem to be up in the air, however, the Active shouldn’t be much more than the same unlocked price as it’s original counterpart. Samsung is definitely looking to create some sort of Galaxy S4 dynasty, and this is quite the start for the rollout. The S4 Active should please plenty of people who love the original Galaxy S4, but are looking for something more sturdier and hefty in the hand. What I really do love about the S4 Active is that it gives an alternative, so if you haven’t snagged yourself a Galaxy S4 just yet, maybe what the Active offers might just entice you. If anything, it’s still fun to dunk it in water! Stay tuned for my full comparison of the Galaxy S4 Active and the original Galaxy S4. Brad Ward contributed to this review.

HTC One for Verizon pictured: it looks like any other HTC One, and that’s great Posted: 01 Jul 2013 05:44 AM PDT The famed purveyor of mobile insider info @evleaks now has a name – he is Evan Blass, the former editor of Engadget and Pocket Now. But coming out as the man behind @evleaks hasn't stopped Blass from providing the leaks that made him famous. The latest snippet of illicit info concerns the HTC One on Verizon: @evleaks tweeted this image earlier today: At first blush, it's just another HTC One press shot. But the 4G LTE logo in the phone's status bar gives it away as a Verizon device. What's interesting about this shot is the absence of any customization on the device. Verizon has been known to plaster its logo on devices, and sometimes even on buttons, like it notoriously did with the Galaxy Note 2. Maybe Verizon learned from the Note 2 backlash, or maybe they just didn't find a proper spot to put their logo on the HTC One. Anyway, we're happy that the HTC One remained unspoiled, at least on its front. Now for the big question – when is the Verizon HTC One going to be released? We think it will happen sometime this month, though Big Red only said "later this summer". The phone in the press image shows the September 5 date, but we hope that's just a placeholder.

Android remains king in the US, but Apple is still the largest manufacturer Posted: 01 Jul 2013 05:00 AM PDT If you like your smartphone statistics, then I have some juicy new data to sink your teeth into. According to some new data from comScore, Android has retained its crown as the most popular operating system in the US, but Apple stole the biggest share of any individual manufacturer last quarter. Apple smartphones accounted for a 39.2 percent share of the US smartphone market at the end of May, a slight increase of 0.3 percent from the quarter before. Apple's main rival, Samsung, saw slightly stronger growth over the same period, up to a 23 percent share at the end of May, compared with 21.3 percent at the end of February. This boost was no doubt helped on by the launch of Samsung's flagship Galaxy S4. HTC, Motorola, and LG all had a tougher time over the last quarter, with each manufacturer losing a small share of the market. HTC ended the quarter down 0.6 percent, finishing on an 8.7 percent share of the market, with Motorola trailing just behind on 7.8 percent, and LG propping up fifth place with 6.7 percent. But it isn't all bad new for Android manufactures, as the operating system as a whole saw an acceptable gain of 0.7 percent over the last quarter, meaning that Android retained its top spot in the US market. Android's market share currently sits somewhere around 52.4 percent, according to the data, meaning that it has a significant lead of its rival Apple, which, as we already know, held a 39.2 percent share of the smartphone market at the end of May. Sadly for Blackberry, its market share appears to be shrinking on a month-by-month basis, and Microsoft doesn't appear to be fairing much better either. The two of them combined don't even account for 1 in 10 handsets in the US anymore, which is actually a little surprising. It's quite clear, if it wasn't already, that the smartphone market in the US really is a two horse race, and it's Android which is now pulling out in front. Perhaps it's a little surprising that the data didn't show some better results for other Android manufacturers, especially considering how well the HTC One was received by reviewers, but I suppose this just confirms Samsung's position as the dominant Android manufacturer.

The best Google Reader replacement apps for Android Posted: 01 Jul 2013 04:30 AM PDT So if you somehow haven’t heard, Google Reader is set to be discontinued on July 1st. To put it bluntly, it sucks. While not as many people use Google Reader as there used to be, those of us left that do use it do so religiously. So the hunt begins for a Google Reader replacement and we’d like to help by putting together a list of the best Android Google Reader replacement apps. Word on the internet is that the Google Reader link is no longer available on Google+, but it’s available on every other Google service. So this list may be a temporary solution as Google+ may be getting its own news service. That’s strictly conjecture, but hey, just saying. As usual if you’d rather watch than read, there’s a video posted at the bottom! Source url To download Feedly from the Google Play Store, click the source link. Feedly – Google Reader Replacement We start our Google Reader replacement list with Feedly. The reason is because a whole bunch of people have already chosen Feedly as their replacement. According to some reports, over half a million people have already migrated. Feedly was among the first to offer a solution to the Google Reader replacement problem as they’re developing their own back end service called Normandy. Many of us here at Android Authority are big fans of Mass Effect references. As an app, Feedly looks very good. It’s got a polished interface with a variety of views that will make anyone feel at home. There is a card view for people who like to look at pictures, a magazine style view, and a list view for those pros who like to view a lot of content very quickly. Also, there are a couple of themes, it’s free in the Google Play Store, and come July 1st, it’ll still be running. All great things going for Feedly. Source url To download Google Currents from the Google Play Store, click the source link. Google Currents – the unofficial Google Reader replacement If you’re trying to stick with Google built applications when replacing Google Reader, then Google Currents is the unofficial Google Reader replacement. This really didn’t make a lot of people very happy at first, but depending on what you use RSS readers for, Google Currents could actually be a pretty decent replacement. By that, we mean if you’re one of those types that uses RSS to find something fun to read while waiting for an appointment, Google Currents could be for you. If you’re one of those people who blaze through content quickly, you may want to find another alternative. Google Currents has a very nice interface, but it’s definitely geared for the casual reader. You can swipe left and right to change feeds and up and down to scroll articles. That’s pretty much all there is to it. It’s very simple and quick. However, as stated, getting through a lot of content really fast takes a lot of time. Also, as mentioned above, Google+ has been estranged from Google Reader specifically, so Google may not be going with Google Currents as its main news source. Again, though, that’s just conjecture right now. Source url To download Flipboard from the Google Play Store, click the source link. Flipboard – the Google Reader replacement for casual users If you are a casual reader, there are few readers better than the popular Flipboard. It features a magazine style layout with large pictures, big text, and an ease of use that many readers on this list don’t share. When Google Reader goes dark, Flipboard will still be around so switching over now and getting used to it means come July 1st, you won’t have to worry about Google Reader replacement. Getting around the app is pretty simple. Pretty much everything is controlled with up and down swipes and screen taps. Swipe up and down to view feeds, then select a feed and swipe up and down to view articles. Click and article and read. For those who like to chew through content in their RSS apps, Flipboard will be frustrating as it takes a lot of swipes to get anywhere. The casual reader, though, should really enjoy the polished interface. Source url To download gReader Pro from Google Play, click the source link. gReader Pro – the Google Reader replacement for pros So far our list has been dominated by beautiful applications that, while gorgeous, aren’t great for pros who like to get through a lot of content quickly. gReader Pro is nothing like that. It features a much more traditional interface for an RSS app and one that much more closely resembles Google Reader itself. In their app description, gReader Pro throws their bid into the pile for Google Reader replacement as they plan on continuing service after July 1st. As stated, the interface is simple and traditional. It features list views, a much more minimalist app structure, and getting through a lot of content very quickly is very simple. So if you’re a blogger who is looking for the big stories going on or just someone who likes knowing everything that’s happening, gReader Pro could be the best replacement. In addition to being simple to use, gReader Pro also has a variety of settings to customize your experience. There are a few themes, a few different ways to set things up, and it really tries to make their users feel at home. The casual user may balk at the simplicity of the app and it’s lack of flash, but the pros will feel right at home once Google Reader kicks the digital bucket. Source url To download News360 from the Google Play Store, check the source link. News360 – a different kind of Google Reader replacement So far, most of the apps on this list more or less perform the same task. You select some RSS feeds, then shuffle through them every day looking for news. News360 differs in this area. While there are some feeds available and you can select your areas of interest (i.e. Technology, Android, Sports, Cooking, etc), News360 actually takes a different approach. When you use News360, you have an option to like and dislike articles that it shows you. Based on which feeds you choose to read and what you like and don’t like, News360 adjusts the content to your liking. This makes News360 the most unique Google Reader replacement app on this list. Using it is very simple. You load the app, swipe left and right to view new stories, and click to read the article. Inside the article, you can actually select different blogs that covered the same stuff. So if you’re reading an article from The Verge, there may be an option to read Ars Technica’s write up of the same event. This is great for article comparisons and seeing more than one point of view on a topic. Due to manually built feeds taking a total backseat in News360, this will appeal to the casual reader more. Still, it’s a really cool concept. Source url To download Press Reader from Google Play, click on the source link. Press Reader – the Google Reader replacement app aimed at everyone Press Reader is kind of like a mix between Feedly and gReader Pro. It has a little flash to it to appease the casual reader who wants to read their news on something that looks good. However, it also has it’s content well laid out for the pro who wants to fly through content quickly. It isn’t the highest rated app on the list, but for people who want a little of column A and a little of column B, Press can be a decent Google Reader replacement. Press has a simple enough UI. You start with a categories list followed by a feeds grid. Where it starts to get interesting is when you select a feed you get a list of articles. Select an article and a page slides in where the article appears. You can read it and there are two buttons in the bottom that let you go back and forth between articles. Then you swipe the page away to go back to the list. So it’s a little flashy but still functional. However, it definitely has that jack of all trades, master of none quality that may chase people to other Google Reader replacements. Source url To download Taptu from the Google Play Store, click the source link. Taptu – A better looking Google Reader replacement The last two apps on our list, which is Taptu and Pulse, have a very similar layout and it’s wildly different from the other Google Reader replacement apps. The first we’ll talk about, Taptu, has the advantage of being a very good looking application and a very functional one. Taptu does focus more on the flashy side of RSS reading rather than the functional side. In the unique layout, users select feeds as they would any normal RSS app. The feeds are listed vertically and the articles are listed horizontally. So you scroll up or down to find the feed you want. You can then scroll left and right to view content from that feed. What makes Taptu truly fun is the ability to merge feeds. So if you wanted to merge, say the popular hockey blogs Puck Daddy and Down Goes Brown into a single NHL feed to save space, you could do that. Of course, the most important feature, is that Taptu remains alive after Google Reader dies in a few months. Source url To download Pulse from Google Play, check out the source URL. Pulse Reader – the Google Reader replacement Steve Jobs would recommend Yes, you read that right. There was a point when Steve Jobs once recommended Pulse to everyone as an RSS reader. Even though we’re not always fans of iPhones around these parts, a recommendation from the guy who saved Apple is worth looking into. As it turns out, Pulse is not only Apple approved, but it’ll also outlive Google Reader. It features an interface similar to Taptu’s but a little more flashy. At it’s core, it’s the same vertical feed list with the horizontal article scrolling. The good news is that Google Reader content is very easy to port in. Once it’s in, it becomes Pulse content so when Google Reader bets the digital farm, Pulse will have your content waiting for you. The bad news is that there are some serious limitations to this app. During testing, I maxed out my Technology category and had to create a category with the brilliant and original name of Technology 2. So if you’re a pro user with a whole bunch of content, you’ll either have to make multiple categories to house the same type of news or find a different Google Reader replacement. For the casual user, though, Pulse should work really well. Wrap Up As you can see from the leader board, some of these apps are better than others. If you’re wondering what our rating system is, keep guessing because we don’t have one. These apps were ranked based on their overall rating in the Google Play Store. So this is how the people who use these apps every day have rated them. We’d also like to give a honorary mention to Pocket. Pocket is an application that saves articles from most of these RSS feeds for offline reading. It doesn’t aggregate news on it’s own, but it seems to be working on just about all these apps so it’s worth mentioning. You can find it in the Google Play Store here. It’s an unhappy time that Google Reader is leaving. Some people never got into Google Reader and didn’t use it. Some used it religiously. Even some of our writers and editors here at Android Authority used Google Reader to help find great content to bring to you guys, our readers. However, it’s about that time to spend a few final days with Google Reader and find a replacement. As always, if there’s a great Google Reader replacement that we missed, feel free to leave a comment below telling us about it. Also, there is a very high probability that more Google Reader applications will continue to run after the service goes dark and just hasn’t announced it yet. So if your favorite reader happens to be on that list and it’s not on ours then, again, feel free to drop a comment and let us know.

Android rivalry: in the UK, 38 percent of Xperia Z users left Samsung Posted: 01 Jul 2013 04:23 AM PDT That competition between companies is good for customers is a truism. Everyone agrees that the world of Android needs more competition, and that Samsung's dominance, though largely responsible for making Android what it is today, needs to be challenged. In the UK, the surprising challenger to give Samsung pause could be Sony. Once on the brink of irrelevance, the storied Japanese electronics giant embarked in a grand turnaround plan under the leadership of CEO Kaz Hirai. The results are visible in the form of new and exciting products, from the Xperia Z, continuing with the sleek Tablet Z and Xperia Z Ultra, and the soon to be announced i1 (a.k.a. Honami). Sony has been working hard on putting out superbly designed, well made devices, and its struggle appears to be paying off. Last week, IDC revealed that Sony occupied a surprising third place in Europe, behind Samsung and Apple. Now, another prestigious research firm confirms that Sony is making a comeback, partially on Samsung's expense. Sony is currently the fourth largest handset maker in the UK According to Kantar's findings, Sony is currently the fourth largest handset maker in the UK, although the firm didn't reveal if the stats include feature phones, or who the top three handset makers are. We can assume however, that the two top players are Samsung and Apple. The research covers the March 2013 to May 2013 period. Sony managed to steal quite a few customers from Samsung. According to Kantar, an impressive 38 percent of new Xperia Z users previously owned a Samsung phone. A majority of these new Sony customers owned a Galaxy S2 handset, suggesting that Samsung had difficulties retaining customers whose contracts expired this year. Kantar’s analysts think that Samsung needs to stop obsessing over fighting Apple and realize that the real threat may be coming from another direction. Samsung now finds itself in a position where, after two years of relentless growth, it must focus on keeping its existing base of customers loyal if it is to maintain its success. As it stands, Samsung has the second highest loyalty rate in Britain (59%), but this falls well short of Apple (79%). With the competition dramatically upping their game in terms of build quality and content innovation, Samsung will have to work hard to convince its 8.8 million customers to stick with the brand. Dominic Sunnebo Kantar Worldpanel ComTech It remains to be seen if Sony's recent performance is a fluke or the beginning of something bigger. Samsung may seem to hold an inexpugnable position now, but it wouldn't be the first tech company to lose the crown to a hungry challenger.

Why the Galaxy S4 isn’t selling as well as Samsung would’ve hoped Posted: 01 Jul 2013 04:00 AM PDT The Samsung Galaxy S4 has been Samsung's fastest selling smartphone ever, but that hasn't stopped Samsung's share price dropping to 9 month lows just recently. Analysts have reduced their sales estimates for the Samsung Galaxy S4 and there have been reports of Samsung dropping orders for Galaxy S4 supply components. So why is the Galaxy S4 not selling as well as Samsung would’ve hoped? Well like most major problems there isn't a single cause, but rather a collection of problems. Increased competition The 2013 smartphone market is a very different scenario than the one that Samsung found itself in when making the Galaxy S3 last year. People were questioning (and are probably still questioning) Apple's ability to make an innovative smartphone after the disappointing iPhone 4S, HTC was in a downhill spiral after a poor selling batch of smartphones, Sony and LG weren't doing anything extremely interesting, and the Chinese smartphone makers were yet to step out of their Asian markets. This year HTC has found a winner in the HTC One, LG is playing off of the interest sparked by the Nexus 4, and the OEMs from China have shaken off their budget tag. But when Samsung was making the Galaxy S4, there was a lot more competition. Apple's iPhone 5 helped regain the faith of some, LG was putting up a fight after the interest sparked by the Nexus 4, the HTC One was redefining what it meant to be a high-end Android smartphone, and the previously budget OEMs from China were building some serious high-end smartphones with price tags to turn heads. The HTC One’s Boom Sound and the Xperia Z’s water resistance were defining features. Unfortunately for Samsung, 2013 wasn't a year to refine, but to redefine, and many (myself included) couldn't help be a little disappointed by the similar look — both in hardware and software — that the Galaxy S4 provided. It didn't matter that Samsung upgraded almost every component of the Galaxy S3 when making the Galaxy S4, because other OEMs did the same, and they all added features like Boom Sound and water resistance that put them on the same level as the Galaxy S4. While the Galaxy S3 was head and shoulders above the competition when it was released, the increased competition when the Galaxy S4 was launched, made it appear a little more mortal. The estimates were wrong in the first place Sales estimates for the Samsung Galaxy S4 ranged from 80 million to 100 million units, but the question is whether these estimates were accurate. The high-end smartphone market has become increasingly saturated in recent times. The Galaxy S3 has sold more than 50 million units, however, the market for high-end smartphones has become increasingly saturated. The acceleration of the high-end market has slowed in recent times, and markets like Europe and the U.S. have become increasingly saturated as well. Taking into account that the majority of high-end smartphone users are stuck in 2 year contracts, the majority of the Galaxy S3 or Galaxy Note 2 users can't upgrade to the Galaxy S4, even if they wanted to. If 50 million Galaxy S3 units were sold in ideal market conditions, it would be difficult to imagine the Galaxy S4 selling twice the amount that the Galaxy S3 sold. Same look and feel Even with a Full HD Super AMOLED display and a quad-core Snapdragon 600, the Galaxy S4 suffered from the same stigma as the iPhone 4S. The fact that it retained the same look and feel of the Galaxy S3 was a big drawback. But the worst part of it all is that Samsung itself blasted the iPhone 4S for retaining the same look and feel of the iPhone 4 in an advertisement (found below) for the Galaxy S2. One person stated "If it looks the same, how will people know I upgraded?" Touche, Galaxy S2 user, touche. The biggest criticism for the Galaxy S3 was the plasticky feel that the handset exuded. The fact that Samsung stuck with plastic for the Galaxy S4 wouldn't have been as bad if HTC hadn't built an all-metal HTC One. It would be unfair to say that the Galaxy S4 didn't feel more premium than the Galaxy S3, because it was a definite improvement. However, putting the Galaxy S4 next to the HTC One shows a huge gulf in class when it comes to design. On the software side of things, the Galaxy S4 retained most of the design language of the Nature UX on the Galaxy S3. And while some prefer the familiarity, and the lack of the learning curve, HTC once again trumped Samsung on the software side of things, with a completely redesigned Sense UI which was a definite improvement over the old versions of Sense. Brand dilution and consumer confusion Samsung chose to create a family of devices built upon the popularity and the brand recognition of the Galaxy S4. The Galaxy S4 Active was a waterproof version, the Galaxy S4 Mini was a smaller, less powerful version, the Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition was for those who prefer stock Android, and the Galaxy S4 Zoom was for camera enthusiasts. One of Android's strong points is choice, but there comes a point in time where consumers start to get confused. Eventually the question becomes not whether you should buy the S4, but which Galaxy S4 is for you? There may very well be a lot of customers who haven't bought the Galaxy S4 due to the fact that they've been waiting to buy other versions of the Galaxy S4. So many choices! The fact that Samsung has used the same design language on all of its smartphones post-Galaxy S3, must have also contributed to the reduced sales of the Galaxy S4. Almost every Samsung smartphone looks the same, whether it is a high-end $600 smartphone or a freebie on contract. While some would be perfectly fine with this, others would like their high-end smartphone to be unique, rather than blend in with rest of the crowd. How can Samsung get back on the horse? Samsung is a multi-billion dollar company with many divisions. Of course in recent times its smartphone division has been an integral part its company and it has grown to be the world's biggest smartphone maker. The next big release for the company is the Galaxy Note 3, and it is absolutely crucial for the Galaxy Note 3 to be a big hit. While Samsung made the large smartphone popular, 2013 has brought many competitors. The Xperia Z Ultra, and LG Optimus G Pro are two competitors who can already put up a fight, and HTC is also rumored to be making a Note competitor. Galaxy Note 3 concept Samsung needs to ensure that the Note 3 can withstand the might of competitors that have sprouted in recent times, and that it is a firm step forward. A brand new hardware design would definitely impress, and if Samsung could use metal to make the Galaxy Note 3, it could very well put it ahead of the pack. Looking further ahead, the Galaxy S5 could be the first Samsung-made smartphone with a flexible display and it could be enough of a difference for Samsung to break records. Wrap up The Galaxy S4 will no doubt go on to be a record breaker, but smartphone users are fickle beings. It was only a few years ago that HTC was the darling of Android, and Apple was dominating the smartphone market. Samsung would do well to heed the warnings of the past, and not become arrogant. Samsung Galaxy S4 Review [11:50] Samsung Galaxy S4 vs HTC One [6:26] Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy Note 2 [5:48] Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Apple iPhone 5 [9:19] Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy S3 [8:22] Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z [8:04] Samsung Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5 Drop Test! [4:31] Samsung Galaxy S4 New Features Explained! [5:58] Samsung Galaxy S4 - 10 Tips & Tricks! [8:23] HTC One UltraPixel vs Galaxy S4 camera [14:47] Galaxy S4 vs HTC One : Display Comparison [5:56] Do you think Samsung can continue its domination of the smartphone market? Is the Galaxy S4 enough of a leap forward to sell the amount of units that analysts originally predicted?

European data roaming costs cut by 36 percent today Posted: 01 Jul 2013 03:57 AM PDT Credit: tiseb/Flickr The European Commission has been keen to bring down the costs of using your mobile phone across the continent, and today the next stage in its staggered plan to reduce fees comes in to effect. The EU has already managed to reduce the costs of calls, SMS, and data, by over 80 percent since 2007, and these latest cuts mark another significant milestone for roaming charges, as data costs have now fallen another 36% percent compared with prices in 2012. What this means in terms of a monetary value is that EU companies cannot now charge EU citizens more than €0.45 per megabyte of data, compared with €0.70 last year. Even better for consumers, this price will drop down to just €0.20 for each megabyte come next year, followed by plans to scrap data roaming charges altogether by the end of 2014. The new rules also affect the price of calls and SMS messages too, which have been cut to just €0.24 a minute to place a call and only €0.07 a minute when receiving a call whilst abroad. Sending text messages has also dropped down a little bit as well, costing just €0.08 to send a message, a reduction of 11% compared with 2012. Again, these prices are set to fall next year, just like data costs will. If you'd like an easy summary of the new costs, this handy chart shows you everything you need to know. Image source: European Commission (Facebook) However, it is worth noting that none of the prices listed above include any local taxes, those will be added on by your network provider separately. Even so, this should work out to a pretty significant saving if you travel across the continent a lot. Now we'll have to wait and see if the EU can address some of the other problems with the fragmented carrier market.

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