Android Community |
- Moto X tipped to sport new “Clear Pixel” camera
- Nexus 7 retail price drop brings next-generation speculation
- Kodak Instamatic 2014 cameraphone concept runs Android
- Samsung GALAXY S 4 arrives with C Spire Wireless
- CyanogenMod delivers Google Voice messages to stock message app
- Samsung Galaxy Note III line tipped to include four models
- MetroPCS GALAXY S 4 availability begins today
- Lenovo IdeaTab S-6000 arrives to fill out the S-Series lineup
- LG sends out August 7 NYC press invite as G2 images leak
- Motorola DROID ULTRA spotted – no sign of Google’s influence
| Moto X tipped to sport new “Clear Pixel” camera Posted: 08 Jul 2013 10:57 AM PDT The Moto X smartphone is still a mystery for now, although various different leaks have revealed a good portion of what we can expect. One spec that had many confused was the odd 10 megapixel camera. Considering all other manufacturers went from 8 right to 13 MP. today we’re hearing that is because Motorola’s new lineup of smartphone will sport a “Clear Pixel” camera.
According to Taylor Wimblerly over on Google+, Moto’s new phones will sport a clear pixel camera complete with gesture controls. We’ve heard things in the past like flicking the phone to instantly turn on the camera and shoot photos quick, and easy, so that makes sense. Taylor, previously with AndroidAndMe, has been spot on in the past ahead of everyone else regarding multiple customizations and colors coming to the Moto X, and other leaks. So it’s safe to say he’s getting some rather accurate inside information about the upcoming device. This Clear Pixel lens is nothing like HTC’s UltraPixel, and we had to do some searching to figure it out. One comment in Taylor’s post on G+ had this to say:
The comment then goes on to mention this technology has been slowly being developed by Kodak since 2008, and will allow for great photos. “Another benefit is that greater light sensitivity allows faster shutter speeds, reducing the blur in action shots.” Sounds nice right? Google’s own Vic Gundotra recently said future phones will have “insanely great cameras” and we have a feeling this is what they meant. We’re also hearing this same impressive camera technology will arrive with the DROID ULTRA, and DROID MAXX for Verizon, and essentially all upcoming Motorola smartphones. The DROID ULTRA leaked this weekend, the Moto X has leaked countless times, so now we just need release dates, and an official unveiling by Motorola. Lets get this summer started Moto! |
| Nexus 7 retail price drop brings next-generation speculation Posted: 08 Jul 2013 10:17 AM PDT Signs have been pointing towards a new Nexus 7 tablet for some time now and it looks like we are now getting another. This latest is a retail price cut which has come by way of Staples. Granted, this is just one price cut from one retailer, however when combined with the other recent leaks which included an FCC filing it starts getting easier to speculate.
For now though, the key point is the Nexus 7 is now a bit cheaper with Staples. The retailer has the 32GB model priced at $199 and the 16GB model priced at $179. These are both the WiFi only models which are currently selling for $249 and $199 in the Google Play Store. Basically, Staples has a decent discount for each of these tablets. That likely brings the question as to whether you should buy now or wait for a new model to arrive. To begin with, there will always be a new model coming. More to the point here, the current Nexus 7 from Staples (for $179 or $199) seems to be a fairly solid deal. Not to mention, while we expect a new model will have (at least) some improved specs, we have yet to see anything officially announced.
A set of specs for the next-generation Nexus 7 leaked last week. Those details included a release timeframe and were said to have come from an ASUS support rep. According to those details, the tablet will be available during Q2. The rep also talked about how these specs were not “confirmed” but that they did come from internal documents. That said, the specs read as follows;
Otherwise, looking towards that FCC filing and we are seeing details that did match up with these specs. Two points in particular touch on the connectivity and rear-facing camera. The filing mentioned 4G LTE and a rear-facing camera — specifically a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. There was also mention of a 32GB model. The next-generation Nexus 7 is also expected to arrive with Android 4.3. That all being said, while we cannot consider this official just yet, it seems the rumors are shaping up nicely and it is more just a matter of when as opposed to if. In related 7-inch tablet news, HP also dropped the price of the Slate 7 tablet last week. That drop brought the price of the Slate 7 to $139.99 and $169.99 for the 8GB and 16GB models respectively. Those considering a purchase of the Slate 7 may also benefit from our recently published review. |
| Kodak Instamatic 2014 cameraphone concept runs Android Posted: 08 Jul 2013 10:12 AM PDT Kodak is a staple in the film and photography world, and today we’re getting a glimpse at a neat concept for 2014. What we’re seeing is a concept page showing the next-gen Kodak Instamatic 2014 camera. It doubles as a phone, and runs Android. It’s a pretty interesting idea but is most likely a fake.
While instamatic cameras are now called point-and-shoot, Kodak has lead the era for a long, long time. The site claims Kodak is getting into the digital era with their new 2014 model, and offers both an instamatic camera and an Android smartphone in one unique device. It’s odd to say the least, and I’m no photography expect, but fun nonetheless. The concept sure is ugly if you ask us, but it has decent specs. Listed as sporting a 4-inch display, Android OS (is that MIUI), a 14 megapixel camera with 4x zoom and 24mm wide lens. It features a phone and camera switcher, which wouldn’t make sense, and that’s just one of many reasons this is a fake, and obviously only a concept. Anywho, here’s a fun video they provided as well. If the page is to be believed, Kodak is working on some prototype cameraphones for 2014, and another for 2015, but we’re taking it all with a large grain of salt for now. The page is informative, and even has pre-order options, but we’d advise against any such thing. Oh, and they even claim 4G LTE connectivity, yet only give us 512MB of storage on the device, so that’s a thing. Overall it’s a pretty neat concept, and maybe we will see Kodak or other camera companies fight Samsung in the mobile space, but for now Sammy is leading the charge. More pics and details available at the link below.    VIA: Instamatic |
| Samsung GALAXY S 4 arrives with C Spire Wireless Posted: 08 Jul 2013 09:03 AM PDT C Spire Wireless has become the latest US carrier to announce the Samsung GALAXY S 4. The handset is available with the carrier as of today and it has arrived priced at a familiar sounding $199.99 (on a two-year agreement). The carrier has the handset available in Black Mist or White Frost and both will be available online and in C Spire Wireless retail stores.
For the most part the C Spire Wireless branded GALAXY S 4 is the same as what you would find with other carriers however there are a few extras included. According to details coming from C Spire, the GALAXY S 4 will come pre-loaded with “a suite of built-in C Spire apps to include Vū and WiFi on. The Vū app is described as being the “world's first comprehensive online content personalization tool that delivers content users need and want.” The WiFi On app is a bit simpler. This one will make it easier for users to find available WiFi networks while out and about. Of course, the complete range of Samsung apps will also be included. Some of these include WatchON, Air Gesture and Air View, but there are several more that deal with the camera.
The GALAXY S 4 has a 2 megapixel front-facing camera and 13 megapixel rear-facing camera and some of the Samsung specific camera apps include Drama Shot and Eraser Shot. The former will allow you to capture what is described as a progressive event. Basically, Drama Shot will capture an action shot (with multiple shots of the person) all in one frame. The Eraser Shot is just as the name would imply — it allows the user to erase unwanted objects to include photo bombers. Finally, aside from the apps, the GALAXY S 4 has arrived running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with the TouchWiz user interface. The handset also has a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display at 1080p, quad-core 1.9GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 2600 mAh battery and 4G LTE connectivity. |
| CyanogenMod delivers Google Voice messages to stock message app Posted: 08 Jul 2013 08:27 AM PDT If you happen to be a Google Voice user and running CyanogenMod there is now a way to have all your messages delivered through the stock messaging app. Or for that matter, have those Google Voice text messages delivered to the third party messaging app of your choice. This method has been detailed by Koushik Dutta of ClockworkMod fame and doesn’t appear to be all that difficult to setup.
As mentioned, you will need to be a Google Voice user to start. For this the Google Voice app will need to be installed first with notifications enabled. You will also need to be running a recent CyanogenMod nightly build (July 1st or later). Assuming you have these two requirements already set and in place, you have the hardest part already completed. From here you will need to install an app called babel-signed. According to the details shared by Koush, you will need to push this apk to /system/app because an adb install will not work as the app requires system/signature permissions. Once that is installed you can start the Babel app, choose Google Voice and then authorize it. After that has been completed you tap the Accessibility Service button which will take you to the settings to enable the Babel app. That completes the process. For those looking for the simple explanation as to what this actually does;
On the flip side, users will also be able to send messages from that same messaging app and have them shown as being sent from your Google Voice number (as opposed to your regular telephone number). Koush also pointed out that ‘Babel’ will not be the final name which brings the last point — this is all still a work in progress. SOURCE: Google+ (Koushik Dutta), Babel-Signed app |
| Samsung Galaxy Note III line tipped to include four models Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:39 AM PDT Samsung isn’t a company that has been shy in terms of dropping new models and it looks like they may be prepping four somewhat unique variants of the Galaxy Note III. This of course should be considered rumor until we hear something direct from Samsung, however for now the details that we are seeing are coming by way of the Korean language ETNews.
According to the report, Samsung will be releasing four models of the Galaxy Note III — each with some different specs. Basically, it looks like Samsung will be chasing various price points. The handsets haven’t been named, other than being referred to as another Galaxy Note III variant, however it looks like the top-end model will be made of higher quality materials with an unbreakable AMOLED display. That same model also looks like it will be a limited edition run and feature a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera. Looking down the line and the remaining three models appear to be coming with the familiar plastic design that we have seen on countless other Samsung products. The second model (from the top) is expected to arrive with a regular AMOLED display and a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera. The third and fourth models will both have an LCD display with the bottom of the line featuring an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera and the model sitting just above having a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera. Otherwise, it is expected the other specs such as the display size, processor, RAM and storage options will remain the same across the line. And of course, they are all expected to arrive running the latest versions of Android and TouchWiz. Looking back towards some of the other recent Galaxy Note III related rumors and it appears as if we are going to see a handset with a 5.7-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (or Exynos 5 Octa) processor and 3GB of RAM. But again, while a hot topic at the moment, these details are all in the rumor category at the moment. Finally, Samsung is expected to bring the official announcement during IFA which takes place in September. SOURCE: ETNews |
| MetroPCS GALAXY S 4 availability begins today Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:06 AM PDT MetroPCS offered the teaser last week and as of today it looks like the official confirmation has arrived. The carrier has announced the Samsung GALAXY S 4 and the handset will be available as of today. Those considering the purchase will need to be prepared to shell out $549, but otherwise, the GALAXY S 4 will be available contract-free and with the MetroPCS plans that begin at $40 per month.
The one catch with the MetroPCS GALAXY S 4 will be in where it is actually available. For now the carrier has it listed as being available in “select” markets with additional market and online availability to be announced soon. Basically, it is looking like the carrier has the handset available for those in a MetroPCS LTE covered area. Otherwise, looking towards those plans and as mentioned they begin at $40 per month. The plans then go up to $50 and $60 per month. All three options include unlimited talk, text and data. The main difference between the three plans come in with how much high-speed data is also included. The $40 per month plan includes 500MB, the $50 per month plan includes 2.5GB and the $60 per month plan is unlimited.
The handset itself will arrive running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with the TouchWiz user interface. The handset will also have a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass along with a quad-core 1.9GHz processor, 2 megapixel front-facing camera and 13 megapixel rear-facing camera with 1080p HD video recording. Finally, in addition to the hardware, Samsung has the GALAXY S 4 loaded up with plenty of software features. Some of those include Smart Pause which will have your video pausing when you look away from the screen and Air View which shows previews of emails, images from the gallery and even stories that are in Flipboard. Samsung also includes Air Gesture which means you can wave your hand to do things such as answer a call or skip a track. |
| Lenovo IdeaTab S-6000 arrives to fill out the S-Series lineup Posted: 08 Jul 2013 06:38 AM PDT Lenovo expanded the IdeaTab A-Series tablet lineup back in early June and it looks like they have since begun shipping another model in the S-Series. This model is the Lenovo IdeaTab S6000 and at the moment it can be picked up for as little as $255. That being said, that is a limited time price and requires the tablet to be purchased from the Lenovo website using a special coupon code.
The regular price is $319. For those curious, that coupon code is “JULY4PRICINGEVENT” though it is also clearly listed on the Lenovo website during the checkout process. While $255 sounds like a fairly solid deal for a Lenovo tablet, lets recap the specs so you can get a better idea of what you will be buying. The IdeaTab S6000 is sporting a 10.1-inch HD (10-point multi-touch) display with a resolution of 1280 x 800. The tablet is powered by a quad-core 1.2GHz MT8125 processor with 1GB of RAM and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Other specs include 16GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot (with support for cards up to 64GB in size), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and a 6300 mAh battery that promises up to 9 hours of WiFi browsing time.
Remaining specs for the S6000 include dual-speakers, a VGA quality front-facing camera and 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with measurements of 10.2 x 7.1 x 0.3 inches and a weight of 1.24 pounds. Lenovo also has an optional Bluetooth keyboard available that attaches magnetically. Bottom line here, this isn’t going to be a top of the line tablet, however given the specs and pricing — it seems like it should be one to consider. VIA: Liliputing SOURCE: Lenovo |
| LG sends out August 7 NYC press invite as G2 images leak Posted: 07 Jul 2013 10:52 PM PDT A few weeks back the folks from LG announced August 7th they’d be holding a media event, where they’ll likely be announcing their new flagship Optimus G2 (or just G2) smartphone. Today, they’ve sent out formal invites for a press only event on August 7th in New York City. At the same time, we’ve just received another image of the unannounced LG G2 in the wild.
In case the image above wasn’t clear enough for anyone. LG made sure to highlight and make extra large the “G” and tossed in a 2 for good measure. If anyone was doubting we’ll see their next flagship smartphone, this basically tells us all we needed to know. At this point everything is a rumor, but the phone is shaping up to be their best yet. With a 5.5-inch 1080p HD display, and the first device to ship with Qualcomm’s impressive 2.3 Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 800 on board. Add in 2 (or maybe 3GB) of RAM, tons of internal storage and a 13 megapixel camera with image stabilization. Right? Sounds pretty nice.
Then what we have here is a brand new set of leaked images of the device. Just like recent Samsung phones, LG is protecting the final design in a protective shell as a disguise. The phone looks rather beat, and the front clearly shows the case, some lockscreen widgets, and what appears to be no navigation buttons. LG’s recent phones have switched to on-screen buttons, but those aren’t present here. Then from the gallery below, you’ll also see beat up blurrycam image of the rear. Previous reports and rumors suggest this ultra-thin flagship phone will have backside touch controls, and that’s what you see below the camera. We’re still not exactly sure what LG has planned, but we now know all the details will be revealed on August 7th. Our tipster states an early September release, handily ahead of the Galaxy Note III, and we’ll be live in NYC for LG’s event with all the details.    VIA: Twitter - Thanks for the tip Johnny! |
| Motorola DROID ULTRA spotted – no sign of Google’s influence Posted: 07 Jul 2013 05:02 PM PDT Earlier this week the first press images appeared of Motorola‘s upcoming DROID MAXX, but today we have something even better. An actual look at the hardware of the DROID ULTRA. Leaked over on XDA we’re potentially looking at the Verizon-bound DROID ULTRA in white, and the phone shows no signs of Google‘s influence, to say the least.
There is absolutely zero details to go along with the leak, but hopefully more will be coming. A random 1-post user over on XDA revealed the photo, so we’re stuck waiting for more. Right out the gate we see Motorola has changed their mind from last year, and they’ve returned to capacitive touch hardware buttons. Which has us confused. Recently Motorola moved away from hardware capacitive touch buttons to on-screen buttons, then the latest Jelly Bean update for the DROID RAZR, RAZR HD, and RAZR MAXX HD all saw Motorola change the design to stock Android too. This means the actual look of the back, home, and menu button looked how we see above, originally (which is the old design) and after the latest update changed to look just as Google offers with stock Android on a Nexus.
This leak leads us to believe Motorola changed their mind on both aspects. Which is odd to say the least considering many though they were slowly headed into a more Google-inspired design. One idea is their DROID phones for Verizon will be capacitive with the old design, and the Moto X (above) will be on-screen buttons with the stock look. To differentiate Verizon’s Moto phones from the rest of the pack. That aside the design is similar to previous RAZR HD models, but is all white on the front. The bezel is fairly thin, but not as thin as the RAZR M, so that’s a bummer. We’re not sure what Motorola is doing here, and we’re just as confused as they appear to be. In the meantime we’ll be waiting for more leaks, and will update the minute we know more. SOURCE: XDA – Thanks to everyone who sent this in! |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Community To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment