Android Authority

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• Jelly Bean overtakes Gingerbread to become most popular Android version in use today
• Android 4.3 Google Play edition OS version ported to Sony Xperia Z
• Sprint Galaxy S4 update available, brings apps-to-SD card installs and Knox support
• Android bug that affects 99% of devices detailed
• Monster Galaxy Note 2 has 288GB of storage, 9300mAh battery, dual SIM support
• How the Motorola X Phone could change things
• Purported Motorola Droid Ultra press image leaked ahead of announcement
• Huawei Ascend P6 now available in the UK
• Nikon says it’s feeling the pressure from smartphones, could be working on a “non-camera” product
• In the market for a new Android tablet? Here are some devices worth waiting for
• PSA: Sprint changed their ToS. You have until July 31 to get out of your contract free of charge.
• CyanogenMod’s download site gets a much needed makeover
• Lenovo launches a new range of budget friendly tablets
• Samsung Galaxy S4 finally arrives to C Spire and MetroPCS
• Is that a Monkey King in your pocket?!
• Crazy rumor: Galaxy Note 3 to ship with four different models?
• Who will get the third place? LG, Sony, and Huawei duke it out
• HTC One Android 4.2.2 update goes live in the UK, Asia to follow later this week
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, 8.0, and 10.1 now on sale in the US
• More LG G2 photos leak – show off the button-less sides
• HTC One Glamour Red looks sexy in first hands-on video
• The G2 is indeed coming on August 7, LG reminds us in teaser video

Jelly Bean overtakes Gingerbread to become most popular Android version in use today Posted: 09 Jul 2013 02:06 AM PDT Jelly Bean now used on just under 38% of active Android devices. The latest set of numbers showing which versions of Android are actually being used in the real world have been published by Google. The new data shows that Android 4.x, which includes Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly bean, runs on over 61 percent of devices, while Jelly Bean itself (Android 4.1 and Android 4.2) runs on just under 38 percent of devices. This is the first time that Jelly Bean has taken the lead from Gingerbread which has stubbornly stayed active even though it has been superseded several times. However Gingerbread’s usage is in decline. At the beginning of this year Android 2.3 was running on just under half of all active Android devices and Jelly Bean had just a 10 percent share. Ice Cream Sandwich was popular with just under 30 percent usage. Fast forward six months and Jelly Bean is king having taken share from Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich. Google generates these numbers based on “data collected during a 14-day period ending on July 8, 2013″ and use Google's new counting method. Since April, 2013, the data now contains the number of devices that are used to visit the Google Play Store, rather than any device that simply checked-in to Google servers. Google reckon that this is a more accurate way to count the users who are actually active in the Android ecosystem. As for the rest of the field Android 2.1 and 2.2 are still used on 4.5 percent of devices while Android 1.6 Donut and Android 3.2 Honeycomb barely register at 0.1 percent. The reason for Gingerbread’s longevity is likely because of its low system requirements. It is still possible to buy low end smartphones running Gingerbread today. Since it can run on devices with only 256MB of memory (or maybe even less) and doesn’t need a very fast GPU then for emerging markets it is still a viable option. How long it will remain so is unclear, however the fact that Jelly Bean has finally taken the lead coupled with the fact that Android 4.x runs on over 61 percent of active devices, it seems that the end is nigh for Gingerbread. Gingerbread served us well, but personally I won’t miss it when it finally becomes extinct.

Android 4.3 Google Play edition OS version ported to Sony Xperia Z Posted: 09 Jul 2013 01:37 AM PDT The leaked Android 4.3 Jelly Bean version has been successfully ported to Sony's flagship smartphone, although the port is still in beta. Xperia Z owners that are confident enough to perform the installation can head on to xda-developers (links at the end of the post) and read more details about this Android 4.3 ROM made for their handset by Taylor Swift. As always, we don't encourage you to install custom software on your devices, and you’re going to be the only person responsible for whatever happens to your devices during such procedures. That said, in case you want to turn your Xperia Z in a Google Play edition device by using this Android 4.3 port, make sure you follow the available instructions. Android 4.3 is yet to be officially announced by Google, although we expect it to see it become official sooner rather then later – it will most likely be launched alongside the new Nexus 7 tablet. Thanks to the leaked Android 4.3 version, we have already looked at what the new OS upgrade will have to offer, and they're mostly improvements and refinements.

Sprint Galaxy S4 update available, brings apps-to-SD card installs and Knox support Posted: 09 Jul 2013 01:15 AM PDT Sprint is apparently rolling out a Galaxy S4 update that brings some new features including Samsung Knox support but also the ability to move apps to the microSD card. The update comes about a month after the European Galaxy S4 has been similarly updated – although Knox support was not part of that particular software release. The Sprint Galaxy S4 (SPH-L720) update should be available over-the-air (OTA) to users that still run the default firmware (unrooted), and measures a hefty 357MB. In case you have rooted your device and/or run custom firmware then you're either going to have to revert back to factory settings, or wait a while until your ROM provider includes the new features in your current custom firmware. In addition to letting users install apps on the SD card – thus fixing the storage problem signaled by various users – and bringing Knox features, the new update will also include other features such as the addition of a Smart Pause toggle to the notification panel, Briefing and SPDclient apps and a status bar transparency that works with custom wallpapers. Since the update comes with work-friendly Knox features, it is believed that it also brings a locked bootloader. Considering that Sprint is already rolling out its software update for the handset, we’re probably soon see other U.S. mobile operators that carry the handset issue their respective updates for the smartphone.

Android bug that affects 99% of devices detailed Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:50 PM PDT The specifics of the widespread Android bug we previously reported on have, since security firm Bluebox revealed its existence to the developer community earlier this week, remained mired in mystery. It was understood that a malicious application could abuse Android's signing mechanism – the operating system's safeguard against infectious apps purporting to be legitimate – to pass as an APK update from Google, Samsung, or any number of companies, but the methodology required to do so was unclear. With the help of a number of software researchers, the details of the exploit have been uncovered. Apparently, the most widely distributed versions of Android rely on a flawed archive (ZIP, JAR, and APK, as the term relates to Android) verification mechanism that allows potentially harmful code to avoid detection. When examining an application signature, Android checks files in a particular order. It's possible, then, to trick the operating system by including a modified file before the original. When Android goes to verify the archive, it sees the original, unmodified file with the valid signature, and so allows malicious files to install and execute. Which devices are not affected? What can you do? A few distributions of Android are not vulnerable to this type of attack. The Galaxy S4 received a fix, and Cyanogenmod project lead Steve Kondik recently committed a patch to all distributions of the third-party firmware. In addition, Google is reportedly working on an update for Nexus devices, though the company has declined to comment officially. What should owners of smartphones with older versions of Android do to avoid viruses and adware? Not much, really. Presumably, Google's ensured the Play Store's automated malicious code scanner has been updated to check for the exploit; the company's been aware of this bug since February, and so has had plenty of time to take preventative measures. In truth, the security hole represents the biggest threat to users of third-party app stores and pirated applications – usually, these are not so thoroughly vetted for malicious code. However, people who wish to protect themselves have a few options. Those with phones no longer supported by the manufacturer can install the latest Cyanogenmod nightly build for their respective device. Owners of the latest Android smartphones should see firmware with a security fix soon, though how soon is another matter. Finally, Nexus folks should see something from Google at some point in the future. Is this bug cause for anyone to panic? No, not really.  As long as you’re conscientious about the source and appearance of your applications and updates, you’ll be perfectly safe.

Monster Galaxy Note 2 has 288GB of storage, 9300mAh battery, dual SIM support Posted: 08 Jul 2013 03:33 PM PDT Custom Galaxy Note 2: 288GB storage, 9300mAh battery case | Image credit: xda-developers A custom dual SIM Galaxy Note 2 model packs a lot more memory and battery life than your average supersized smartphone, although such features come with a high-cost and can affect the looks of the device. While smartphone makers are constantly trying to make devices thinner and thinner, one Galaxy Note 2 owner decided that a thin phone profile is not as important as added functionality. Thus, he ordered a dual SIM 32GB Galaxy Note 2 (model number N7102) from China, which he then took apart to add some components of his own. In addition to the Galaxy Note 2, for which he most likely paid full price, an xda-developers member also ordered a $27 microSD to SD card adapter, a $999.99 256GB Lexar Professional 600x SDXC UHS-I Card and a $17 8500mAh battery to personalize his smartphone. He later replaced the battery with an even bigger one, a 9300mAh ZeroLemon battery case that can be purchased for as low as $45 from some retailers. His initial modified Galaxy Note 2 featured 288GB of storage and a 8500mAh battery but didn't look that great (see following gallery): But once he replaced the 8500mAh battery pack with the ZeroLemon model, he automatically fixed the overall appearance of the device, even though the handset is definitely bulky (see images below): In case you are interested to customize your own Galaxy Note 2 like that, you should check out the thread available at the xda-developers forum, where explicit instructions are given alongside some answers to potential questions.

How the Motorola X Phone could change things Posted: 08 Jul 2013 03:30 PM PDT The X Phone is coming, and we know what it will be: mid-range, with some interesting nuances. The hardware won't blow us away, but some of the new features might. We're all reading about an "always on" feature for voice search, and of course the customization is a hot topic. Assembled in the US is nice for jobs, but does it matter to consumers? Google is making a concentrated effort to improve their contextual awareness of us, which could be helpful. The more that is known about our wants and needs, the more our devices can help us. If I'm having a conversation about the New York Yankees, my Motorola X Phone with an "always on" listening function may then suggest news for the Yanks in my Google Now stream next time I open it. If I mention in conversation that I need to pick up coffee, my device may hear that and give me a pop-up reminder once I get to the store or am near a Starbucks. You design the X Phone, but the X Phone doesn't define you. Interesting concept. The hardware, though, makes us wonder. Why would Motorola make a middle-of-the-road device like the X Phone, and pack such interesting features into it? We assume any new device has to play leap-frog with the last, in terms of hardware, but it doesn't. The price point is what matters, and Motorola's aim is for a sub-$300 X Phone. Even with the blessing and backing of Google, that's a tough price to hit with a spec-heavy phone. A price like that will put the device into more hands, and could have some ripple effects. If the device were a big hit, and it seems like it will be, the industry could see a bit of a shift. Great hardware doesn't always translate into a great experience, which can be demonstrated by the Google Play Edition devices. Skinned Android devices have their fans, as well as their detractors. The introduction of GPE devices in the Play Store is already showing that a shift in how the consumer is considered by manufacturers may be taking shape. Do mediocre hardware specs with great software mean much? On paper, no, but a list of specs don't tell the tale of how we live with tech. The experience is what matters, and that's what Motorola is hoping to deliver on. The new device may not deliver across the broad spectrum of "wish list" wants, but it's not meant to. It's meant to do a few things, and do them well. If the X Phone can nail contextual data and the "awareness" factor ends up being useful, it will be a huge success. Rather than try to shove a ton of hardware into a slim phone, they've gone and made a really good phone anyone would be happy to own. The argument can be made about middle of the road devices becoming chic, but that's only half the story. Samsung and company have been pumping out mid-range stuff for years, and there is clearly a market for that. As an Android site, we have an obligation to you in reporting about them. We see the specs, and nobody gets excited. We know the new Samsung — whatever — will still have TouchWiz, and those specs can't support its bulk as well as the Galaxy S4 or Note 2. So, we immediately dismiss it as "junk" for the mass of people who can't (or don't want to) afford a premium device, and go on about our day. All that judgement, based on hardware, when software is really the culprit. While this is not a "skinned Android" conversation, it could be. As the basis for software on a device, the skin an OEM puts on will affect our enjoyment of it. Samsung's TouchWiz is troublesome in part because of their desire to adapt for all iterations of Android. They have to straddle a lot of fences, and that more than anything leads us to hope Android 4.3 delivers on that rumor to transcend hardware. Unlike Sense 5, which HTC rebuilt entirely, TouchWiz is saddled by poor Android support as much as Android is failed by it. The argument should really be framed as your experience with a device, not the hardware supporting it. A Motorola X Phone won't hold up to an HTC One in regard to hardware specs, but it doesn't need to. It's not trying to be a catch-all like that kind of device. The X Phone wants to push its envelope forward, and that's to be an everyman device that the everyman can be proud to own. The argument should really be framed as your experience with a device, not the hardware supporting it. Customization means it's as much yours as you can make it, and a feature list designed to assist you means The X Phone may be geared as an accompaniment device, one that helps more than it asks you to accomplish tasks. You design the X Phone, but the X Phone doesn't define you. Interesting concept. Motorola is taking a chance here, and it's actually exciting for once. Rather than try to shove a ton of hardware into a slim phone, they've gone and made a really good phone anyone would be happy to own. One that will accomplish the best of what Android has to offer, but leave all the nonsense out. The shift in thinking is toward contextual data and web-based knowledge, and this device is perfect for that. We may want amazing hardware, but more often than not, we don't need it. What we need is a better experience, and a device that caters to us. Turns out that customization we keep talking about may have nothing to do with hardware at all. Interesting concept.

Purported Motorola Droid Ultra press image leaked ahead of announcement Posted: 08 Jul 2013 02:08 PM PDT After having recently been spotted in reportedly leaked photos, the Motorola Droid Ultra is now the star of a purported press image. Unsurprisingly, the picture comes from known leakster @evleaks (image below), who presented a similar press photo for the new Motorola Droid Maxx just a few days ago. As you can see, the image is fairly similar to the white Droid Ultra leak we saw the other days, and chances are it's showing the real thing, although we won't be able to confirm that just yet. Apparently having model number XT1080 / XT1080W (white) / XT1080R (red), the Droid Ultra is expected to be unveiled in the very near future alongside two other new Android handsets (not counting the Moto X) including the aforementioned Droid Maxx (XT1080M) and the Droid Mini (XT1030). While the Droid Ultra product name has been inadvertently confirmed by Motorola on its website, its specs and features are still missing in action. The Unlockr speculates that the phone would pack an almost 5-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, which are high-end specs by this year's expectations. However, such a phone would trump the Moto X phone, which is expected to be the company's flagship smartphone, and which is rumored to equip a 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 processor – and that would certainly be a little surprising. That said, we're going to remind you that neither phone is official, and these are just rumors and speculations. More interestingly though, the Droid Ultra is said to have a 10-megapixel camera that would pack some new abilities: One nice feature that should be a warm welcome for Motorola fans accustomed to sub-par imaging from the company's handsets: the camera is said to be a so-called 10-megapixel RGBC model, which will apparently contain an extra sensor (the "C") that helps establish white balance and exposure. The end result is faster captures and, more importantly, better-looking shots in more diverse environments. Coincidently, the Moto X is also rumored to have a 10-megapixel camera, with a recent report hinting that the handset would feature a Clear Pixel camera that would make "'dark, blurry pics and lack of details" will be things of the past," at least according to Taylor Wimberly, a source of mostly-accurate Moto X rumors. Purported White Droid Ultra Is it possible that the new Motorola Android smartphones will all come with improved camera features? After all, not too long ago, Google did hint it's focusing on improving the camera phone experience. Motorola is expected to hold a special press event in the coming days, and the Moto X is rumored not to be the star of it. That means the Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx and Droid Mini could be officially announced later this week.

Huawei Ascend P6 now available in the UK Posted: 08 Jul 2013 12:04 PM PDT Huawei might not be the most popular smartphone brand, but it is still a solid choice. Even better, you usually get reasonably capable specs for considerably less than the competition. With that in mind, consumers in the UK can now get their hands on Huawei's latest flagship, the Ascend P6. The phone officially touched down last Friday, bringing with it an incredibly thin 6.18mm form factor, a 4.7-inch 720p display and a Huawei K3V2 1.5GHz quad-core processor. Other specs include 2GB RAM, 8GB storage, microSD expansion, a 5MP front cam, 8MP rear cam, 2000 mAh battery and the power of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Emotion UI 1.6. The big question is whether the P6 really has what it takes to stand out against its rivals in the Android world. We suppose time will tell. The Ascend P6 can be found at various price points or even for free, depending on whether or not you are willing to sign a contract. If you'd rather buy the device outright, O2 is apparently offering the handset for £300 or roughly $447.96. The P6 can also be found through other carriers including Vodafone and TalkTalk. Huawei has big hopes for its new flagship device, with a lofty goal of shipping 10 million units by the end of this year. The big question is whether the P6 really has what it takes to stand out against its rivals in the Android world. We suppose time will tell. So how about it, anyone willing to give the Ascend P6 a try over a better-known brand like Samsung, HTC or Sony?

Nikon says it’s feeling the pressure from smartphones, could be working on a “non-camera” product Posted: 08 Jul 2013 10:55 AM PDT I'm sure many of you, like me, have been using your smartphone as your primary method of capturing snaps for quite a while. But it seems that Nikon is a bit slow on the ball, as the company has finally woken up to the realization that an 8 megapixel smartphone is a clear preference over a point and shoot camera for the casual consumer. President Makoto Kimura told Bloomberg that the number of people dropping compact shooters in favor of smartphones is “exploding”, an understatement if you ask me. However, the company isn't going to be defeated so easily, Kimura also stated that Nikon has already created a new imaging business team to address this problem. The team is tasked with creating a "product that will change the concept of cameras", but we'll have to wait and see exactly what could be. We've centralized our ideas around cameras but can change our approach to offer products to that bigger market. Interestingly, Kimura refused to confirm or deny whether the company's new idea would be a smartphone, but he did let slip that a future device "could be a non-camera product". Considering that point and shoot camera sales dropped about a quarter in April and May compared with last year, it certainly couldn’t hurt to try and invent some new products. Ideas like the Samsung Galaxy Camera aren’t massively popular yet, but it’s a good starting point for some future hybrid camera/smartphone devices. But isn’t it already too late, haven’t smartphones all but killed off the low end digital camera market?

In the market for a new Android tablet? Here are some devices worth waiting for Posted: 08 Jul 2013 10:50 AM PDT Has your Nexus 7 fallen in love with the concrete? Are you looking to replace that old Galaxy Tab? Looking to get in on the wonderful world of Android tablets? Making as big a decision as this can become confusing and if you want to make an educated decision on what tablet to buy, you'll need to know what's coming up in the next few months and decide whether they are worth waiting for. Otherwise you might just be caught out with the dreaded buyer's remorse. Here are a few Android tablets that'll be coming out in the next few months that are sure to catch your eye, and perhaps your wallet as well. The Nexus 7 2, the new Nexus 7, Nexus 7 HD, whatever you want to call it. The point is that a refresh of the Nexus 7 is coming, and if rumors are to be believed, we'll be seeing the refreshed Nexus 7 before the end of July. If Samsung's yearly refresh strategy is to be believed, then a new Galaxy Note 10.1 should surely be upon us soon. Just when we might see that however, we just don't know. The Galaxy Note 10.1 was launched in August 2012, for what it's worth. The new Asus Transformer Pad Infinity will be released in the UK on August 31. The HP Slatebook x2 was given the tagline "100% tablet, 100% notebook, 100% Android", and it was also given an August release date. The Nexus 10 2 should be released later in the year and could be accompanied by Android 5.0 and the Nexus 5. The Samsung Ativ Q is a hybrid dual OS booting monster of a laptop and tablet combination. Too bad the Android/Windows 8 running device hasn't received a release date yet, although we'd bank on it being towards the end of the year. The Asus Transformer Book Trio is a detachable dual OS hybrid and should be launched in Q3. Looking for an affordable tablet? The Nexus 7 was arguably the bargain of the year in 2012, and with a refresh looming you can expect another brilliant tablet. According to the latest rumors, the new Nexus 7 will again be made by Asus, and will feature a Full HD, 7-inch display, a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, 2GB of RAM and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Impressive specifications, but it would be even more impressive if it can hit the $200 price point of its predecessor. The Nexus 7 2 is expected to be unveiled before the end of the month of July. Looking for a productivity tablet? We know that those tablets can be productivity killers, what with those darn angry birds just waiting to be flicked. Luckily we don't judge, and if you are looking to put a little productivity back in your day, you might want to wait for the Galaxy Note 10.1 2. Since the Galaxy Note 10.1 2 will be a part of the Note family, it'll feature the S-Pen, which is sure to translate those rushed finger paintings into masterpieces, since it is a Wacom digitizer capable of sensing 1024 levels of pressure. The Galaxy Note 2, S-Pen and all. While we don't have any specs just yet, expect the tablet to at the very least feature an improved processor, and perhaps an improved screen resolution. No official release date has been announced yet, so you might be in for a bit of a wait. Looking for an Android hybrid? The new Asus Transformer Pad Infinity docks neatly into a keyboard for an additional battery, a full set of hardware keys and some ports. It should be released in Q3. The HP Slatebook x2 is a similar hybrid tablet with a release date set as sometime in August. Both tablets will feature the new Nvidia Tegra 4 processor, and 2GB of RAM, but the Asus has 2560×1600 display matching the one on the Nexus 10. Looking for a dual booting, hinge flipping, keyboard mashing hybrid beast? The Asus Transformer Book Trio is a detachable dual-OS hybrid capable of running both Android and Windows 8. Pull it out of the dock and it becomes an Android tablet, put it back in and it runs full-fat Windows 8 on a Full HD panel and an Intel Core-i7 chip. Impressive! The Asus Transformer Book Trio is expected to be launched sometime in Q3. The Samsung Ativ Q is another dual-OS hybrid with both Android and Windows 8. It has got a crazy hinge which flips and turns to transform from laptop to tablet mode. It's also running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean in a Virtual Machine, meaning it can switch between the two operating systems seamlessly. The star of the show however, is the 3200×1800 display which gives it the title of the highest resolution tablet/laptop ever. No ETA as of yet, but expect it to launch before the year is up. Looking for a good ol' fashion Android tablet powerhouse? If productivity and hybrid tablets aren't your thing, you'll be pleased to know that regular Android tablets are still available. If you are looking for a tablet that can run all of the latest games and is light and portable, look no further than the Nexus 10 2. The refreshed Nexus 10 should be unveiled later this year, alongside Android 5.0 and the Nexus 5. We don't have exact specifications available just yet, but you can expect an upgraded processor at the very least. Wrap up These are exciting times for the world of Android tablets. We've got some genuine eye raisers in the list and some weird and wacky tablets as well, but that's the beauty of Android. Diversity. So whatever it is you are looking for, you can probably find it. Which Android tablet will you be going for?

PSA: Sprint changed their ToS. You have until July 31 to get out of your contract free of charge. Posted: 08 Jul 2013 10:36 AM PDT Sprint is buying Clearwire, and merging with SoftBank. Any time there is a shift in the way a company does business, they often have to change their Terms of Service. While that may seem trivial to you, it also represents a way out of a contract you're not happy with — free of charge. Free?! No early termination fee? That's right, friends, a change in your Terms of Service often lets you escape those obnoxious early termination fees altogether. In most cases, the subscriber has 30 days to challenge the new ToS and escape unscathed. Continuing to pay for service is basically your compliance with the new terms, so watch carefully for changes. Material Change Any change in the Terms of Service represent what is called "material change". In legalese, a material change is any that alters the agreed upon terms. When you paid for your device and agreed to the service contract, you signed a contract. By changing the ToS, Sprint has effectively changed that contract, and vioded the agreement between yourself and them. Sprint does not determine what material change is: that's a legal term. Now that Sprint has changed that contract, you may call customer support and ask that you be relieved of your contractual obligation due to adverse material changes in the terms of service. From the Sprint ToS: If a change we make to the Agreement is material and has a material adverse effect on Services under your Term Commitment, you may terminate each line of Service materially adversely affected without incurring an Early Termination Fee only if: (a) call us within 30 days after the effective date of the change; (b) you specifically advise us that you wish to cancel Services because of a material change to the Agreement that we have made; and (c) we fail to negate the change after you notify us of your objection to it. Sprint ToS So what changed? Some language under "General Terms and Conditions." While the changes aren't poignant or structurally significant, they do represent a change in the terms of service. Any time a company changes something as simple as the language in your contract or ToS, you have the option to get out. It also seems the change to LTE from WiMax has caused some language to be changed: New Agreements on the Sprint 4G (WiMAX) Network: Your Service on a device activated on the Sprint 4G (WiMAX) Network may require a new one or two-year Agreement per line. Sprint expressly reserves the right to migrate your Service during this Agreement term from the Sprint 4G (WiMAX) Network to the Sprint 4G LTE network to complete your Agreement term. Reasonable advance notice of the Service change will be provided to impacted customers, who can then select one of the followingoptions: (a) Choose to complete the Agreement term using your existing device without 4G (WiMAX) capability (b) Elect to complete the Agreement term by contacting us after receiving notice from Sprint to transition to the Sprint 4G LTE networkwith no additional term commitment required (Transition Option)(c) Deactivate service. Deactivations because of this Service change will not result in an Early Termination Fee (ETF). Sprint ToS The bottom line You may not have the best experience with Sprint, and this is your opportunity to get out of the contract. Sprint does not determine what material change is: that's a legal term. Any and all changes to a contract represent material change, and you have the right to terminate the contract free of charge when any carrier makes changes. I have no regrets about saving $77/month with prepaid service compared to my Sprint "everything" plan. Speaking personally, I left Sprint when the Nexus 4 came available. I have no regrets about saving $77/month with prepaid service compared to my Sprint "everything" plan. We've already covered how to get one of the best plans available for T-Mobile prepaid, so please consider this another step in your evolution toward contract-free living! If you’re ready to get out of your Sprint contract, be sure to do so by July 31. It may also be a good idea to not pay any monthly service bill until you have come to an understanding with Sprint about your desire to end the contract. Be sure to cover your bases, also: my experiences with Sprint often led to undocumented conversations on their end, so get something in writing (email should be fine) from customer service that officially states your desire to end the contract. This also doesn't mean you need to leave Sprint immediately, as the termination of a contract will just put you on a month-to-month plan as though your contract had naturally expired. If you're interested in cancellation, dial *6 from your Sprint phone to speak to customer service, or call (888) 211-4727. To send a letter certified mail regarding your desire to end the contract (recommended by some lawyers), mail to: Sprint Corporation Customer Service Department 6200 Sprint Parkway Overland Park, KS 66251 Some in the Sprint Community are reporting difficulty in getting Sprint to let them out. It’s those who stick to their guns and fight hard that win, so be diligent and unwavering in your desire to leave.

CyanogenMod’s download site gets a much needed makeover Posted: 08 Jul 2013 10:12 AM PDT CM’s old page. CyanogenMod has been all over the news lately. New builds for new devices are coming out all the time, and they’re even doing their part to boost mobile security. However, one that hasn’t been new in a long time is their ROM download portal. It’s been around a long time and if there’s anything left in CyanogenMod that needed a makeover, it is the download portal. Even the CM Team called navigating the old get.cm “jarring”. People familiar with the site will tell you it’s not always fun to navigate. It lists over 200 devices in the left column. What makes it all the more frustrating is that the device names aren’t what they’re usually called. Instead, they rely on code names or model numbers. For the HTC One, you’ll need wither m7ul, m7att, m7tmo, or m7spr for the HTC One. The US Galaxy S3 is known as the d2att, d2spr, etc. So even tricks like the old CTRL+F find doesn’t work unless you know your device code name. It wasn’t a bad site by any means, but it definitely wasn’t all that friendly for those who aren’t as familiar with the ROM culture as others. The new CyanogenMod download portal. CyanogenMod’s new ROM Portal The new ROM portal for CyanogenMod is a staggering improvement over the old one while still maintaining the simplicity that we’ve come to enjoy from the old one. At a glance, here are some of the improvements and changes we noticed. Devices are now listed by their consumer names with their model numbers or code names being secondary. This makes them much easier to find and people don’t have to go searching for what their phone is called on the site. The model name or code name is still present. If you’re used to searching that way, you still can.  Devices now have pictures. This is a nice touch and adds a little eye friendliness to the site. It’s a little easier dealing with a list of devices with pictures than it is to scroll through 200 names all at once. There is a search bar for devices now. Also, instead of having one gigantic list, devices are sorted by manufacturer on the left bar. There is now much less scrolling required. Each device shows the latest stable and nightly builds for quick and easy downloading. If you need to see all the builds, that’s an option now instead of being the default. All in all, it’s a great improvement and one we should see rolling out to the public soon. Also, a big pat on the back to Chris Soyars because he did a fantastic job on the new design. If you want to check it out, navigate to beta.get.cm. So how does everyone feel about this? We’d love to hear your thoughts about it in the comments below.

Lenovo launches a new range of budget friendly tablets Posted: 08 Jul 2013 09:57 AM PDT If the recently released Galaxy Tab 3 series is a little out of your price range, perhaps Levono's new line-up of mid-range / budget tablets will suit your needs. The range was released without so much as a whisper from Lenovo, but the pricing and specs could well be right on point. Lenovo has released three tablets, the A1000 being the most budget orientated, the A3000 offering a little more in the processing department, with the S6000 topping the range with the largest display size. So let's start at the bottom, the A1000 features somewhat similar specs to Samsung's new 7-incher, but costs $50 less. Priced at $149.99, the tablet comes with a 7-inch 1024×600 resolution display, a 1.2GHz dual-core MediaTek MT8317 processor, 1GB of RAM, and some Dolby Digital Plus front facing speakers. To top that all off, the tablet comes with 16GB of built-in storage and a MicroSD card slot, which will give you plenty of space. The A3000 is virtually identical to the A1000, the only difference being the addition of a 5 megapixel rear facing camera to accompany the 0.3 megapixel front webcam, and a beefed up MT8125 quad core processor clocked at 1.2GHz. However, this extra processing power will cost you $179.99. Finally, the S6000 is the largest of the range, offering 10.1 inches of screen space with a 1280×800 resolution display. This puts it directly up against the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 or Nexus 10 in terms of size, but the S6000 costs substantially less, at just $279.99. Lenovo's 10 inch tablet comes with the same quad-core MT8125 processor as the A3000, but it's worth noting that this processor is based on four Cortex-A7 cores, so don't expect top of the line performance despite the quad-core advertising. Again, the S6000 tablet sticks with just 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, with 64GB more available via a MicroSD card slot. All of the tablets also come with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, so there are plenty of features packed into these tablets to make for a suitable experience. However, corners have definitely been cut in the hardware department, but that does help keep the prices down.

Samsung Galaxy S4 finally arrives to C Spire and MetroPCS Posted: 08 Jul 2013 09:46 AM PDT In the United States, cellular carriers seem to have a specific pecking order that dictates when cross-carrier flagship devices rollout to their network. AT&T often seems to get first dibs, followed closely by either Sprint or T-Mobile. Despite Verizon's dominance, Big Red is often the last of the big carriers. Than comes U.S. Cellular, Cricket and finally the even smaller carriers and MVNOs. That's pretty much how the Samsung Galaxy S4's rollout played out, and now it is C Spire and MetroPCS' turn for some GS4 love. Starting today, you can now lay your hands on the 16GB Galaxy S4 through C Spire for $199.99 with a two-year contract. The phone will be offered both in the White Frost or Black Mist version. For those wondering, yes it will fully support C Spire’s 4G LTE network. As for MetroPCS? You can nab the 16GB version of the Galaxy S4 for $549 outright, but only in select markets including Atlanta, Boston, Las Vegas, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Philadelphia, New York and San Francisco. MetroPCS says more markets and online availability will be announced in the near future. While MetroPCS and C Spire had to wait a bit longer than the rest of the pack to get the Galaxy S4, Samsung's latest flagship is certainly worth the wait if you are looking for a solid handset with great specs. Not sure if the GS4 is right for you? Watch the video above, or check out our full review to get a better idea of what to expect with Samsung’s latest and greatest.

Is that a Monkey King in your pocket?! Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:53 AM PDT PCPOP The all new ‘Monkey King’ from THL. You've probably never heard of ThL, but after today, you may not forget them. The Chinese mobile device maker has introduced a new phone with some impressive specs, and an even more impressive name. In regard to those internals, the standout feature is a 13MP front-facing camera, for those self-conscious "selfie" takers out there. Couple that with a 13MP rear-facing camera, and this one is a double edged sword for photo enthusiasts. If imitation is the purest form of flattery, HTC should be downright smitten with ThL. The rest of the spec list is good as well. Nothing too exciting with a quad core MT6589, but 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage is nice. So is the 5-inch 1080p screen. Still not wowed? How about a price tag that comes in at under $300 (Yuan 1,699)? Now we're talking. All that for around $280 is just bananas! If imitation is the purest form of flattery, HTC should be downright smitten with ThL. The logo and design are pretty blatant ripoffs of HTC, and PC Pop is noting the build quality may be just as solid. . The one place ThL clearly excels is in naming devices, as the 'Monkey King' demonstrates. Sure, ‘Monkey King’ is a character from a Chinese novel, but it lends itself to all kinds of juvenile jokes, which just make the world go round. While officially dubbed the W11, I'm still going to call it the Monkey King. Because, you know, it gives me a reason to say Monkey King is daily conversation. There is no word on whether this will make it anywhere other than China, but if it comes stateside, I'll have to give it a look. Also, first one to make a 'Planet of the Apes' case for this one wins my undying devotion.

Crazy rumor: Galaxy Note 3 to ship with four different models? Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:37 AM PDT The Galaxy Note 3 has been a bit on an enigma so far, but this latest rumor is perhaps the most bizarre yet. According to the Korean site ETNews, Samsung is planning to launch four different versions of the Galaxy Note 3, but the differences appear to be quite subtle. Supposedly, the top of the line Note 3 will be a limited edition model built from high quality materials, and will feature a 13 megapixel camera and one of Samsung's unbreakable AMOLED displays. The second model will be the same but with a regular AMOLED display, the third variant will opt of an LCD screen over AMOLED, with the final version dropping the 13 megapixel camera in favor of a 8 megapixel version, and it too will feature an LCD display. But this isn't the first time that we've heard about the prospect of some slightly different versions of the Galaxy Note 3, rumors of different LCD and AMOLED screen types initially cropped up a couple of weeks ago. The possible reason for this range of products, well perhaps component availability has something to do with it? Just like with the Galaxy S4 Exynos 5 Octa processor, Samsung may be expecting limited production capabilities for its new AMOLED displays, and will therefore offer consumers a choice rather than run the risk of running into supply shortage, especially with such a hotly anticipated product. Alternatively, Samsung may just want to market this product within several different price brackets. Although four different versions might sound like a bit of a stretch, if the Galaxy S4 has taught us anything, we know that Samsung has been keen to offer consumers some additional choice for each of its models recently, so perhaps this new rumor isn't as far fetched as it first seems.

Who will get the third place? LG, Sony, and Huawei duke it out Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:39 AM PDT Credit: Gold medal/Shutterstock We are at a point in the mobile industry where the battle for the third place has become more interesting than the competition for the first position in the world market. Samsung and Apple are clearly ahead of the pack, and it's hard to believe that anyone could disrupt their leadership in the next year or so. But behind Samsung and Apple, several players vie for the third place, and potentially, the chance to displace the leaders. These three players are LG, Huawei, and Sony. LG: 45 million These three companies all have ambitious plans for the rest of the year. LG puts all its hope in the G2, which will debut on August 7 at a New York event. The Korean company has already begun teasing the device, and I expect a big marketing push to drum up the interest for the G2. LG wants to sell 10 million units of the G2, which may not seem much compared to blockbusters like Samsung's Galaxy S4, but is quite ambitious for a relatively small player like LG. With the G2 on the horizon, and encouraged by the success of the Optimus G and the G Pro, which propelled it on the third place in the first quarter of 2013, LG increased its internal target to 45 million smartphones this year, up 5 million from the initial goal. LG Optimus G Huawei: 60 million Huawei is just as ambitious – the Chinese telecom giant is a big player in its home market, which buoys its hopes for 2013 – Huawei wants to sell no fewer than 60 million smartphones. That's a lofty goal, but if Huawei plays its cards right, it may profit from the LTE boom that’s expected to sweep China soon. In the international market, Huawei will continue to push attractive devices like the Ascend P6, the current world's slimmest phone. Are Huawei's goals realistic? Last year, the company had the same 60 million target, which proved unreachable. Could this year be different? Huawei Ascend Mate Sony: 42 million Sony may be the dark horse of the smartphone race right now. After a long period of lagging behind competitors in terms of specs, design, and software, in 2012 Sony has been making up the lost ground. The company told the Chinese press gathered for the launch of the Xperia Z Ultra that it plans to sell 42 million smartphones in 2013, to end the year on the third place. The Xperia Z and its siblings were moderately successful, while the Z Ultra shapes up to be a good competitor to the Samsung Note series. But probably Sony's real hope is the i1, also known as Honami, which is rumored to be the first device created from scratch under the One Sony strategy. One Sony is the plan pushed by CEO Kaz Hirai to use the entire technological expertise of the Sony group in the making of each product. In other words, the i1 might benefit from Sony's rich photography acumen and all the display expertise accumulated in years of making high-end television sets. Sony Xperia Z Disruption So, who will be in the third spot come December 31? Judging from estimates alone, Huawei, but history tells us that setting targets and actually meeting them are completely different things in the smartphone business. In the best scenario for the Android ecosystem, all three players will meet their targets and begin putting pressure on Apple and Samsung. Both juggernauts show signs of slowing down, and in times like this, upstarts have the best chance of disrupting the status quo. And, while, disruption may not be good for the incumbents, we, the consumers, can only gain from it.

HTC One Android 4.2.2 update goes live in the UK, Asia to follow later this week Posted: 08 Jul 2013 06:55 AM PDT HTC has been rolling out the Android 4.2.2 update for its One handset over the past few days. The update went live in Taiwan last week, followed by mainland Europe a couple of days ago, and today the update has arrived on the shores of the UK. The update is now available OTA, but make sure that you have stable WiFi connection, as the update comes in at a hefty 417MB. In a few instances, HTC One owners might also have to install a small bug fix before updating to Android 4.2.2, but the fix should be automatically installed prior to the larger update. As always, if you haven't received an update notification, you can force a manual check by heading over to Settings > About > Software updates > Check now. If you're curious about what's included in the update, there are various changes to BlinkFeed, which will now also pull feeds from Instagram and WeChat. The phone's Sense 5 software has also been updated with new Quick Settings features, there's now a customizable lock screen which supports widgets, a new battery percentage in the status bar, and the Jelly Bean Daydreams feature too. If you're still waiting for the update to arrive in your region, all we know at the moment is that Asia appears to be next in line. A spokesperson from HTC has stated that the update will roll out sometime "this week", so keep an eye on that notification panel.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, 8.0, and 10.1 now on sale in the US Posted: 08 Jul 2013 06:09 AM PDT Here's the moment that I'm sure many of you have been waiting for, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 line-up is now on sale in the US, so here are all the juicy pricing details for Samsung's latest 7, 8, and 10.1 inch tablets. The official Samsung website lists the Galaxy Tab 3 7 inch version at $199.99, which comes with a 1024×600 resolution LCD display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and 1GB of RAM. For your money you'll also receive 8GB of built-in memory and a microSD card expansion slot with support for an additional 64GB, if you need it. The next step up, the 8 inch Tab 3, boosts the specs ever so slightly over its smaller brother, featuring a 1280×800 resolution display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage. Price wise, you're looking at $299.99, which is quite expensive compared with the 7-inch version, but it might be the best tablet in the line-up. Finally, the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 opts for a dual-core Intel CloverTrail+ processor clocked at 1.6GHz. Worryingly though, the 10.1 inch tablet only comes with 1GB of RAM and the same 1280×800 resolution display as the 8 inch tablet, making it substantially less impressive than the Nexus 10's screen. The price is competitive with the high-end Nexus tablet, costing around $399.99 for the 16GB version. There are also a couple of other interesting things to note about the Tab 3 line-up. Firstly, the 7-inch version comes with Android 4.1.2, but the other two ship with Android 4.2. Perhaps an update will be heading to the smaller tablet sometime soon, but if you want the most up to date version of Android straight out the box, then it might be best to choose the 8 or 10.1 inch versions. Secondly, all of the tablets have a physical home button just like Samsung's smartphones, which is a change-up from the Galaxy Tab 2 series. The tablets all come in a choice of two colors, the standard Samsung white, or the new golden-brown option. You can already purchase your tablet from Samsung or Amazon, and many more retailers will be stocking the tablets soon, if they aren't all ready.

More LG G2 photos leak – show off the button-less sides Posted: 08 Jul 2013 05:45 AM PDT The successor to the LG Optimus G, the LG G2, has been caught in a few snapshots already, but it seemed like the sides of the smartphone were a little camera shy. Techtastic has leaked what is apparently the left side of the LG G2 and since the volume buttons have been moved to the back, we are looking at a button-less side and an overall sleek and thin device. Granted it isn't the best quality picture we've ever seen, but it's still a look at the upcoming smartphone. The second photo leak is from Korean gadget forum Seeko and shows off the front of the device running on Korean carrier SK Telecom. That would be expected, as along with a solid spec sheet, the LG G2 is rumored to support LTE-A connectivity and SK Telecom has recently announced its LTE-A network along with the Galaxy S4 LTE-A edition. As well as LTE-A support the LG G2 is expected to house a Snapdragon 800 SoC clocked at 2.3Ghz, 3GB of RAM, a 5.2-inch Full HD display, a 13-megapixel camera, and a fingerprint scanner for extra security. Based on these rumored specs the LG G2 is certain to be a powerhouse device, worthy of being put on the same pedestal as other high-end smartphones of 2013. The LG G2 is expected to be officially unveiled in New York, on August 7. Do you like what you're seeing from the LG G2?

HTC One Glamour Red looks sexy in first hands-on video Posted: 08 Jul 2013 03:59 AM PDT Credit: BestBoyz When HTC officially announced the Glamour Red edition of the One, I was a bit skeptical about the color, which, at least in the press shots, was too intense for my taste. Now the folks from German tech site BestBoyz produced what is likely the first hands-on video of the HTC One Glamour Red, giving us a better idea of how the device will actually look and feel. The video is in German, so you may not be able to get much info out of it, but that probably doesn't matter. What matters is the appearance of the red HTC One, which I have to say, is quite alluring. The HTC One Glamour Red will first launch in the UK at retailer Phones 4U sometime in mid-July. You will be able to acquire the eye-catching device starting from £33 per month on contract. For now, we don’t know when the red HTC One will become available from other outlets or in other markets, but we’ll update you as soon as learn anything new.

The G2 is indeed coming on August 7, LG reminds us in teaser video Posted: 08 Jul 2013 02:58 AM PDT At this point, we're absolutely positive that the purpose of LG's August 7 New York event is the launch of the successor to the Optimus G. The G2 (LG is reportedly dropping the "Optimus" brand for its high end devices) will be powered by a Snapdragon 800 processor and will be the first smartphone to feature 3GB of RAM, at least in the Korean version. But what will make the G2 really stand out will be the unique button setup, with the volume buttons placed on the rear of the device, along with a fingerprint scanner. Just in case you needed more proof that the G2 is coming on August 7, LG released today a teaser video that should put your doubts to rest. Centered on the "To me, you are perfect. From G…" tagline, the video makes it obvious that the G2 is upon us. Most of the video is the typical uplifting "it's a brand new day" fare that marketers love so much, but we do get to see a vague outline of what can only be the LG G2. The G2 is hugely important for LG – the Korean manufacturer hopes that good sales of the new flagship will help it keep the third place behind Samsung and Apple in the global market. With vicious competition from Sony and Huawei, LG needs to pull all stops for the G2, and it looks that’s exactly what's going on. Just consider that LG turned its LGMobile.com site into a giant teaser site for the G2. And we still have a month to go until the launch event.

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