Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Android World Update # Android Community

Android Community
Tracking the Android Platform Revolution 
Pantech Discover getting Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
Jul 31st 2013, 16:05, by Robert Nelson

AT&T launched the Pantech Discover back in January. The handset dropped as a budget-friendly device and while the specs were more than acceptable for the $50 purchase price, there was the bit about Ice Cream Sandwich that was hard to overlook. With Android updates always uncertain, we couldn’t help wondering when or if the Discover would get an update.

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The good news is that time of wonder has come to an end. AT&T has announced the handset will be getting Android 4.1.2 and that the update process will begin today, July 31st. That being said, if you happen to be carrying an AT&T branded Pantech Discover you now have two options to consider when it comes to getting your Jelly Bean update.

You can sit back with some patience and wait for the update notification to arrive on your handset or take the pro-active approach and seek it out. Those choosing the former will simply need to follow the on-screen prompts once the notification arrives. Those choosing the latter can grab their handset and navigate to Menu -> Settings -> AT&T software update -> Check for updates to try and get the process started.

The Jelly Bean update will mean the usual array of Android specific goodies including the smoothness of Project Butter. Those updating from Ice Cream Sandwich will also see other improvements such as Google Now and Voice Search as well as actionable and expandable notifications by way of the drop down notification shade.

Aside from the update, the Pantech Discover remains available with AT&T for $49.99 on a new two-year agreement. Alternatively, the handset is also available under the AT&T Next offering. With Next, users would be paying $17.75 per month for 20 months. Of course, that $17.75 would be in addition to the regular monthly service price. But on the flip side, it also means you will be able to upgrade to a new device in 12 months.

SOURCE: AT&T

Samsung Galaxy S 4 and S 4 Mini unveiled with dual-mode LTE
Jul 31st 2013, 15:31, by Robert Nelson

As we saw yesterday with the look into Android fragmentation, Samsung is no stranger to releasing a wide variety of handsets. While this often means a variety of display sizes and price points, today we are seeing another variant of the Galaxy S 4 and the Galaxy S 4 Mini. Both of these models will soon be available in a dual-LTE variant.

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Samsung has said these two devices will bring support for TDD-LTE and FDD-LTE. Perhaps more important for some is how Samsung is also promising them to arrive with “seamless handover technology.” At the moment there hasn’t been any timeline for release given.

Instead Samsung has shared a bit about how this makes them the “first player in the global mobile industry to provide dual-mode” smartphones. Samsung also announced plans to continue launching TDD-LTE devices in other (still unspecified) markets during the third quarter of 2013.

At present FDD-LTE technology accounts for majority of the global LTE market. Moving forward though, TDD-LTE is expected to gain wider usage in the US as well as in Australia, China, the Middle East, Southwest Asia and Northern and Eastern Europe. Basically, these dual-LTE handsets should make for a better user experience in places where both LTE modes are being used.

Sony Honami image leak details 20-megapixel camera setting
Jul 31st 2013, 14:58, by Robert Nelson

The Sony Honami leaks seem to be almost as frequent as the Moto X leaks these days. The good part about the Moto X is that an announcement is coming in just a days time, on August 1st. Sony on the other hand, isn’t expected to announce the Honami until September 4th during IFA 2013. Basically, that seems to imply we have about another month of Honami related leaks to look forward to seeing.

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Sony is expected to unveil the Honami as the Xperia i1. Aside from the name though, a big portion of the leaks have dealt with the camera. The handset is expected to arrive with a 20 megapixel rear-facing camera and while some of the leaks have offered evidence, it looks like some additional images have arrived. We have another pair of Honami images that were discovered on a Vietnamese language Xperia page.

The images are here in the post and offer a look at the rear-facing camera as well as the camera settings. The backside picture documents what is likely a prototype handset and while the megapixels are only X marks, there is a key in the pattern. If you notice the megapixels are listed as being XX.X MP. Is seems the lead two X marks would fit rather nicely in place of a 20.

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It is also worth pointing out that the camera lens and flash location seem to line up with previous Honami leaks. The other image is the more telling. Well, that is assuming there hasn’t been any trickery here. You can never be fully certain with leaked images, however this one points towards the top setting as being 20MP with an image resolution of 5248 x 2448 (4:3). As you can see there is also an 8 megapixel setting for both 4:3 and 16:9.

Otherwise, a benchmark filing that was discoverer yesterday pointed towards the handset as running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and Adreno 330 graphics. The handset is also expected to arrive with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 3000 mAh battery and 1080p display.

VIA: AndroidBeat

Starbucks WiFi provider shifts from AT&T to Google
Jul 31st 2013, 14:23, by Robert Nelson

Free WiFi has long been available at Starbucks locations and while that is not going away, there will soon be a change in providers. Basically, it looks like Google will be taking things over from AT&T and while Starbucks visitors will still be able to get their free WiFi fix, it does look like there will be some improvements.

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Coming by way of the Google announcement, there is a mention of faster speeds. Google has said that once the switchover takes place you will be able to “surf the web at speeds up to 10x faster than before.” And in addition, those visiting a Starbucks that happens to be located in a Google Fiber city may see even faster speeds. For this Google has said the connection would be up to 100x faster.

There hasn’t been a specific timeline given for individual stores, however Google has said the switch from AT&T provided WiFi would begin this month. The catch though, this process is expected to take a full 18 months before all 7,000 Starbucks locations have been switched over to Google provided WiFi. Simply put, your local Starbucks may have AT&T WiFi for some time moving forward.

While the speed improvements sound nice, the bottom line is this is still going to be free WiFi. That said, those visiting Starbucks on a regular basis will likely notice the changeover when the current SSID disappears in favor of the new, which will be “Google Starbucks.”

SOURCE: Official Google Blog

IMAGE: Starbucks

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