Thursday, January 3, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


SPenBoard Switcher app makes switching keyboards a lot easier for S Pen devices

Posted: 03 Jan 2013 02:27 AM PST

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An all-new app created by an XDA Developer is here and will make things a lot easier for a Samsung smartphone users who have an S Pen. With SPenBoard, users can now switch keyboards with ease and are at liberty to choose a keyboard app that sports handwriting recognition and/or the popular gesture-based typing depending on the movement of the stylus.

To make things a lot easier and avoid the cumbersome and tedious process of changing keyboards manually, LegendK95 created SPenBoard Switcher. But in order for it to work, your device should be endowed with the capability of detecting the removal of the stylus, which would automatically allow you to change from any other keyboard to the one stock S Pen-friendly Samsung keyboard to enjoy specific stylus functions.

You can go to Samsung’s website to learn more about the new revolutionary tool that does away with outdated input methods. The S Pen is far more advanced than a conventional stylus and provides accuracy and speed, without compromising on comfort. You could be surprised  that you are using almost an actual pen as the app lets you detect the pressure applied and adjust it accordingly.

The app has already been tested on Samsung Galaxy Note 2 devices and should be compatible with any other S Pen-enabled device as well.

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Samsung releases new Series 3 Chromebox with design update, no change in specs

Posted: 03 Jan 2013 02:23 AM PST

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Launched back in May of last year, the Samsung-built Series 3 Chromebox, which runs Google's Chrome OS, looks a tad like the Mac Mini – even though it sports a black coat of paint. Considering everything that the Korean has gone through in the past year, we don't blame them for wanting to steer clear from anything too Apple-like. Meet the new Chromebox.

The 2013 Series 3 Chromebox comes with a brand new design, while keeping the specs virtually the same.

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The small desktop computer is definitely curvier than the predecessor with its rounded corners. Inside, you'll find the same dual-core 1.9GHz Intel Celeron B840 processor, Intel HD graphics, 4GB RAM, 16GB solid state disks, and WiFi a/b/g/n.

The new Series 3 Chromebox has six USB 2.0 ports, two Display Ports (compatible with HDMI, DVI, and VGA), a DVI port, headset jack, and a 2W mono speaker. At 2.64 pounds, it’s slightly heavier than the 2012 version.

If you dig the new look of the updated Chromebox, it unfortunately hasn't gone for sale yet anywhere but in the UK, where the price is set at £279 ($450). The U.S. release date and price haven't been shared yet by Samsung.

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Panasonic launches Toughpad FZ-A1 in Australia; Korea, Canada and UK are up next

Posted: 03 Jan 2013 02:08 AM PST

Toughpad

There's not a lot of movement (not official, at least) in the technology world with less than a week until a major event like CES, but that doesn't mean we can forget about gadget launches altogether. As a matter of fact, one could even try to take advantage of this particularly quiet time to ensure it gets the kind of media attention it could otherwise not hope for.

And while we can't be certain Panasonic thought of it that way, the fact of the matter is that the once upon a time highly anticipated ToughPad A1 is finally seeing official daylight as we speak. Marketed as the FZ-A1, the "bullet-proof" tab has been unveiled in Australia, where it should start selling in a matter of days.

The RRP (recommended retail price) in the land down under is a hefty $1,499, but that doesn't exactly come as a shocker. After all, you don't see very often gadgets that are MIL-STD 810G and IP65 compliant, or in plainer words that can withstand drops from up to 4 feet high, that are completely spill proof and functional in temperatures from 14 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

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The ruggedness of the Toughbook is not the only selling point for Panasonic either, with the rest of the spec sheet looking pretty decent. The 10.1-inch 1,024 x 768 pixels resolution display is protected by an anti-glare film, the 1.2 GHz dual-core CPU and 1 GB of RAM make for an honorable hardware configuration, while the satellite-based GPS and optional 3G should ensure that you are always connected and down to earth.

The 10-incher is equipped with dual 5 MP/2 MP cameras, while the user replaceable 33.9 Wh battery should hold enough "juice" for 10 hours on a single charge. The 16 GB of on-board memory can be extended via the microSDHC memory card slot, while other small, but important treats include a micro HDMI port, Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n and a bundle of security features like Marvel Trusted Boot and hardware assisted storage encryption.

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Everything can't be rosy about the Toughbook however, so we can't say we're very thrilled about the running of Android 4.0 ICS or the 993 grams weight.

Panasonic is yet to announce Toughbook availability outside Australia, but seeing as the tab has just gotten the stamp of approval from Korea's FCC-like agency, an Asian launch is probably just around the corner.

Canada and UK are also in the cards to get the FZ-A1 by the end of the month, while the FCC certification from last summer gives us hope that the US will get the "world's most secure fully rugged Android tablet" at some point too. Who’s excited about this seemingly unbreakable gadget?

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Sharp can’t make 5 inch 1080p panels fast enough, said to be behind in shipments

Posted: 03 Jan 2013 01:59 AM PST

You’re going to see a ton of 1080p smartphones get announced during the next few months. CES is next week, Mobile World Congress is next month, and rumors say Samsung will probably host their own event in April. The thing is, will there be enough 1080p screens to satisfy demand? In 2012 we saw Qualcomm’s inability to make enough Snapdragon S4 chips impact the availability of numerous handsets. It looks like the same thing might happen in 2013, but for screens. According to DigiTimes, Sharp is facing some serious issues making enough 5 inch 1080p panels. Their exact quote:

“Sharp is already behind on shipments for the panel due to high demand in the Taiwan market and it is unclear as to when Sharp will be able to catch up.”

Who else makes smartphone sized 1080p panels? Three other companies come to mind. There’s JDI, the joint venture between Sony, Hitachi, and Toshiba, there’s Innolux, and last up is LG. There are strong rumors suggesting that LG will launch a 5.5 inch 1080p device either at CES or MWC, Sony will obviously use JDI panels for the Xperia Z, and as for Innolux … we have no idea who their customers are yet.

Then there’s Samsung. They know that the next Galaxy S has to have a 1080p screen, but we have yet to hear if they’ve figured out how to make AMOLED panels that can deliver such an insane DPI level. We’ll probably hear more about the GS4 as we get closer to the launch date. Leaks have a habit of occurring at just about every company.

Back to Sharp, there is some good news we’d like to share. That DigiTimes piece says that most of the kinks related to mass producing IGZO panels have been ironed out. What exactly is IGZO? It’s a type of LCD technology that’s said to deliver ridiculously low power levels and ultra high screen resolutions.

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LG Nexus 4 serial numbers reveal that less than half a million units were sold

Posted: 03 Jan 2013 01:06 AM PST

Just about everything that’s mass produced, even food, comes with a serial number of some form or another. Back in the day, companies used to issue serial numbers that were quite easy to understand. The first unit to roll off an assembly line had the serial number 0001, the second was 0002, and so on and so forth. Due to the competitive nature of many industries, serial numbers have become alphanumeric strings that are damn near impossible to decipher. Thanks to some talented individuals at XDA-Developers, they’ve cracked the Nexus 4 serial number code, and they’ve made an incredible claim. They say that using their system, it’s estimated that less than half a million units have been produced.

To be more specific, they say LG made about 70,000 Nexus 4 units in October, 90,000 in November, and finally 210,000 last month. Add up the numbers and you get 370,000 units. There’s no other word to describe that figure other than horrible. Just to give you some perspective: Google, the company that pretty much runs the internet, had problems processing Nexus 4 orders due to the demand their servers encountered.

Speaking about Google, they’re not commenting on the accuracy of these figures, obviously, but you have to think they’re pretty pissed at LG. First they give LG the Nexus contract, only to have them fail to make enough units. And now it’s been discovered that they make their serial numbers easy enough for just about anyone to read!

How many Nexus 4 units should have been made? Ramping up takes time, we get that, but LG should have had a million units available at launch. That’s not a lot of phones in the grand scheme of things. To have made less than half that in 90 days says a lot about LG’s priorities. There’s probably a glut of Optimus G inventory getting dusty in some South Korean warehouse, meanwhile the unlocked unbranded and stock version of said phone is in such high demand that it’s being sold for nearly double the retail price on eBay.

Face, meet palm.

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Vodafone UK to start selling used phones with their “Nearly New” program

Posted: 03 Jan 2013 12:17 AM PST

Smartphones, once viewed as a luxury item, have now become an essential part of millions of people’s lives. The thing is, not everyone can afford the latest and greatest. Companies know this, so they create midrange and low end devices. In fact, a significant chunk of the smartphones sold in China cost less than $150. But there’s another way to buy a smartphone, one that most people often overlook: buying a second hand device. You’d be surprised how affordable a flagship phone from a year ago can be if you buy it used. For the price of a new Samsung Galaxy S3, you can buy you and someone in your family a Galaxy S2 and still have some money leftover.

Vodafone UK, looking to make it easier for people to own smartphones, has just launched a program called “Nearly New”. As the name suggests, they’ll sell you a second hand device that’s in very good condition for a discounted price. Better yet, they’ll even give you a 12 month warranty should anything go wrong.

So which devices are being offered? iPhones of course, but let’s ignore those, shall we? In the Android department we have the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the HTC One S, two very respectable devices, with the former being a smartphone that many folks consider to be the best phone of 2012. How cheap are the rates? Well, here’s the thing, they’re not very impressive. The GS3, new, can be had for free on a 37 GBP/month plan. If you buy it used, that comes down to 34 GBP/month. That’s a savings of 36 GBP over the course of a year, which comes out to roughly $60.

To be perfectly honest with you, you’re much better off buying a second hand device from eBay or Amazon. If you’re in the UK, you should also check out the PSC Forum. This writer can vouch for the person who runs that website, Steve Litchfield.

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LG’s 5.5 inch 1080p flagship phone, the Optimus G2, will be unveiled at CES

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 11:09 PM PST

Yesterday we filed a report saying LG’s 5.5 inch 1080p flagship phone for 2013 was going to be announced at Mobile World Congress in February and that it would start shipping during the same month. That rumor came from a Korean website called ETNews. Today, courtesy of DigiTimes, we have some more rumors about this device. They say it’s going to be called the Optimus G2, it will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Prime MSM8974, and most importantly, they say it’s going to be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show next week.

The story goes on, saying that Sony will announce the Xperia Z on January 7th, and that said phone will have the same specs as HTC’s Butterfly/DNA, except it’ll feature a better camera. Huawei will show off the D2, which uses the company’s own quad core chip, and a 6.1 inch tablet device called the Ascend Mate. We already know quite a bit about the Mate, but we had no idea it would feature a 4,000 mAh battery. That’s 400 mAh shy of the battery in the 7.9 inch iPad mini.

Are big phones going to become a large product category? Probably not, but it’s definitely a slice of the market that will keep on growing. That DigiTimes piece says less than 5% of the phones shipped in 2012 had a screen that measured 5 or more inches diagonal. That number is expected to hit between 10% and 15% in 2013, which should come out to around 100 million units.

What’s really important here is when are all these phones going to land on store shelves? Anyone can announce something, but putting an object into the hands of millions of people around the world is the real challenge. Is LG going to have issues making screens for the G2? Is Huawei going to have issues making their quad core chip?

We just have to wait and see.

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Is LG is giving the Nexus 4 a plain old back cover in order to meet demand?

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 10:28 PM PST

LG’s Nexus 4 is one of the best smartphones on the market, assuming you’re lucky enough to find one. Google says LG is having issues making them, but that still doesn’t explain why Google can’t provide a decent online shopping experience. But let’s forget about the blame game for a second and focus on what’s important here, making customers happy. According to Autoomobile, people have started receiving a slightly modified Nexus 4. Instead of the pretty back cover that shimmers in the light depending on the angle, this new variant is plain and dull. The site goes on to say that they’ve contacted LG and are waiting for a response. Our gut tells us this decision was made in order to increase production.

Does a boring back cover make the Nexus 4 a worse device? No, don’t be silly, but it is a disappointment that LG has failed to figure out how to deliver on the initial promised design that many people, ourselves included, have come to love. It makes us feel like LG was sleeping at the wheel. How could they not have anticipated all this demand? Were they that ignorant of what the market wanted?

It’s been 2013 for less than 100 hours, but we’re already looking forward to the next Nexus. It will probably have a 1080p screen, 2+ GB of RAM, and maybe even an ARM Cortex A15 processor. We’re hoping HTC will make it, but we’re also realistic and expect that the contract will go to either Samsung or one of the Chinese handset firms (Huawei, ZTE, Lenovo) that are eager to make a name for themselves.

We’re sad to say this, but LG continues to disappoint us. The Optimus 4X shipped more than half a year after it was announced. The Optimus G was announced a month after the 4X hit store shelves. And now this whole Nexus 4 thing … 2012 was not kind to South Korea’s other smartphone company.

Update: Turns out this story has a good chance of just being a prank.

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Nexus 10 goes back on sale via Google Play

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 07:47 PM PST

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If you recently visited Google Play Store, you'd notice that the virtual shelves on the hardware aisle have been empty for over a month – save for the Nexus 7. Although the hottest Nexus item on the store is still out of stock, the Nexus 10 tablet is now available for purchase once more.

Both the 16GB and 32GB variants of the Nexus 10 are now up for grabs from Google Play, with Google promising that the tab will be delivered to your doorstep in less than one week. The 16GB Nexus 10 is still going for $399, while the 32GB model can be had for $499.

It seems like there's ample stock of the 10-inch Google slate, but if you're really interested, we suggest you don't wait a moment longer to snag one and proceed to the cashier. Those who are still on the fence may want to read our Nexus 10 review.

Are you going to seize the moment and get the Nexus 10?

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2012: Year of the Patent

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 05:38 PM PST

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We were dominated in 2012 with news of lawsuits and patents. Everywhere you looked some huge tech company was suing another or purchasing a company for patents. While Apple vs. Samsung was the biggest patent story, it may not prove to be the most important one. 2012 may have brought us a myriad of lawsuits, but those may just be posturing for a bigger fight. Will the fight bleed into 2013, or will we see new thinking in tech patents and licensing?

Rounded Corners

When Google's David Lawee said the company didn’t believe patenting rounded corners was possible, it was a sign that tech companies were on the honor system. Google was very forthcoming in that it hadn't been aggressively pursuing patents for its designs. If they felt that other companies would do the right thing in terms of licensing and design, it's understandable they felt no need to protect themselves legally.

A comment like that also cuts to the core of the patent matter: Intellectual Property. Intellectual property can be very hard to argue, as one side is essentially saying the other stole an idea. It's very possible for two sides to come to the same conclusion, or even a similar one, at the same time. Intellectual property is very vague and confusing, and could point to why the patent system is perceived to need reform. Often times, companies rush their concepts to market trying to pace the competition. Doing this often leads to another company patenting a similar or exact same idea before what could be the originator. If you're first to patent it, you're first to own it. While being first to market with a device or technology has credibility, nothing has credibility like a patent in the eyes of the law. Sometimes, slow and steady really does win the race.

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Apple versus Samsung

The heavyweight bout of the year had nothing to do with pre-fight weigh-ins and Las Vegas. The real 12-round massacre was done in a courtroom by a few dozen very bright people in suits. Apple vs. Samsung was the powerhouse lawsuit that set the tech world on its ear. The two biggest companies, at odds in nearly every respect, squared off in court for much of the summer. Apple claimed Samsung purposefully stole its design, or intellectual property. Samsung claimed it was simply a matter of two companies thinking similarly.

What transpired was for the ages: two of the most important companies in technology (not just mobile tech) would travel the world, arguing their case in various courts. A victory in the UK would not mean one in Australia, or the United States. A judge in the UK would even declare what is and isn’t "cool", muddying the intellectual property waters further. Apple would win a case, but be forced to pay Samsung's legal fees in an other. We didn’t get the clean, concise decisions we had all hoped for. We got a bar fight where nobody even slapped each other on the back between shots of Jameson afterward.

We can easily point to Apple's $1 billion victory over Samsung here in the United States as the largest blow financially, but it was not pleasing to either side. Apple was going for the jugular and felt it nicked Samsung shaving. Samsung argues that the jury foreman was bias, based on a lawsuit he was involved in years ago with Seagate. Seagate, most notably an external hard drive company, is one which Samsung holds a major stake in. Samsung's argument in the wake of the Apple verdict is that the foreman, Velvin Hogan, willfully held back information during jury selection that he had been involved in the lawsuit and possibly jaded as a result.

Let's not get too caught up in the minutiae of it all. Much of what is and has happened is posturing. Maybe the grandest posture of it all is that Apple hasn’t directly sued Google, who has the most to benefit long term. Apple has settled the suit with HTC out of court, and effectively sued Samsung… but not so much as named Google. Why is that?

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The Google problem

Early in 2012, Google successfully warded off a few looming lawsuits by purchasing Motorola. Google's CEO Larry Page was quoted as saying the purchase of Motorola will "enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies." A purchase not only for an in-house partner in mobile tech, but a move to ward off those potential lawsuits. There was no hiding the fact Google wanted Motorola in large part for the impressive patent portfolio. Even at that, Google is not Motorola. So why hasn’t Google fallen into anyone's cross-hairs, namely Apple?

Sometimes looking backwards is the only way to see the future. Many moons ago, Apple tangled with Microsoft. In doing so, Apple argued that Windows was stolen product (sound familiar?) and it wanted Microsoft to stop using it. At the time, the PC market was fairly new and growing quickly. Not as quickly as mobile technology has, but quickly for the time. This was the early 80's. Disco was dead, and the geek were about to inherit the earth. Steve Jobs just wanted a bigger slice of the pie, plain and simple. Apple's contention was that the user interface of Windows was poached directly from Apple.

Apple may have been right. Bill Gates and Microsoft did program some software for Apple back when Microsoft was known for its DOS interface. It was after Microsoft had its hands on an Apple machine that Windows came to fruition. Looking at a time line, it's fairly clear to see how Apple could believe Windows was a copycat of iOS. Both were a form of graphic interface computation, a very new concept at the time. With Microsoft having an existing partnership with IBM, its potential for distribution was much greater than the smaller Apple, who was doing everything in-house.

Over time, Apple stewed and Microsoft cruised. It wasn’t until 1992 that the tides of its ongoing litigation with Microsoft changed forever. It was then that courts decided graphic interface computing was "natural", basically saying it was the only way to operate. As such, Apple had no leg to stand on in regard to whether or not the Windows platform was actually 'stolen' property. Apple could fight on for licensing rights, but as proving intellectual property is difficult to begin with, it would probably sink them. At the time, Apple was the underdog. Against a giant like Microsoft, it would probably bankrupt itself in legal fees.

This could be an indicator as to why Apple has never actually sued Google, or named them in any lawsuits. If you nudge Google, you awaken the Android beast. By addressing Android legally, you will be in for the same fight all over again. If this process of apps and icons we all have grown to love and adopt is considered "natural", then there is no case. Legally, Apple exhausted that avenue years ago. Google would simply lean on that ruling as a precedent, and probably win. By going after Google, you possibly destroy your own market share… a dwindling number Apple simply cannot afford to damage. While Apple has more resources now than in the '80s, it may know deep down that fighting Android is like throwing money away.

Android partners, however, are different. They are simply device makers. Sure, Samsung is rumored to be exploring its own OS, but that may never see the light of day or similar adoption. At heart of the Apple-Samsung lawsuit was the design of the devices, never the utility. The same can be said for Apple's fight with HTC, which was settled amicably out of court.

A nominal fee

We will continue to see patent litigation in 2013, no doubt about it. An even more important issue will come to fruition through a byproduct of these lawsuits. Where we will see the new fight is in licensing agreements. When a lawsuit is won, it doesn’t mean the loser can no longer do business as usual. A successful lawsuit just means you used that technology or design without consent, and must pay for it. Sometimes that infringement is accidental and unknown, sometimes it's not.

While it seems unfair to concentrate on Apple for examples, the company was responsible for taking just about everyone to task in 2012. We can start with the Apple-Samsung scenario, in which the various lawsuits set a precedent for licensing. It's also at the heart of why Samsung immediately wanted to see the results of the Apple-HTC agreement. While $1 billion may seem like a huge amount of money, and it is, Samsung can cover that with relative ease considering the cash it has on hand. A big hit to Samsung, but that's not the end of the matter nor the heart of the issue.

Licensing fees are the core issue, and it's the biggest factor in Samsung being so anxious to get its hands on that Apple-HTC settlement. In just perusing public record, you'll find that Apple has reportedly agreed to let HTC pay $6-8 in licensing fees for each instance they are used, but would like Samsung to pay $30-40 per phone. While Apple set up a very convoluted plan to help Samsung "save money", it's a slap in the face. Much like the apology a UK court ordered Apple to publicly issue, a biased cross-licensing agreement is a dangerous line to walk for Apple. Taking on the largest manufacturer of mobile devices is commendable, but snubbing your nose at them only makes for a vitriolic backlash later, both from Samsung and consumers.

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Everyone wins

Recently, LG and Samsung have been tussling over OLED patents as they relate to mobile displays and TVs. While this has nothing to do with Android per se, it does lead to a possible solution. If we have an Open Handset Alliance, why shouldn’t we have an alliance of manufacturers who agree to arbitrate any patent disputes out of court? If such an alliance existed it would limit the damage done to reputation, as well as a variety of other factors.

If LG and Samsung were members of such an alliance, their dispute could be handled outside the auspice of a courtroom. In fact, guidelines could be instituted to allow for fair licensing practices among members of this alliance. While things like displays or chipsets have little to do with Android, especially as much of that technology is used in TV or standalone computer displays, it does bring the parties involved together outside of a courtroom.

This alliance doesn’t have to be limited to Android, either. This could be as simple as a mobile handset alliance, or a mobile technology alliance. We can all agree the patent system needs reform. We can also agree that the patent system, as a government agency, will reform slowly if at all. It can be further argued that the technology sector may need its own set of patent rules and logic, as it moves too quickly for the patent system  An alliance of this sort can circumvent the slow process of patent litigation that we’ve grown accustom to, or at least create a mediate forum before a company decides to pursue litigation.

In such a circumstance as a company feels slighted or wronged by someone using technology they believe to be theirs, they can invite the other party to a mediation. In this mediation, both sides present a case as to why the technology in question is theirs, or why they should be allowed to use it without paying licensing fees. Of course, a mediator agreed to by both sides would preside, and if an agreement can be reached for licensing they would enter a binding contract. If no such agreement can be reached, they either agree to not pursue the matter further or head to trial.

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This could accomplish a variety of things. First, it could possibly eliminate the need for drawn out trials in which one or both sides feel as though the legal system let them down. At a mediation, they could more openly discuss the technology in dispute and not have quite the formal setting of a courtroom. This could avoid the bad-blood scenarios, as is the case with Samsung and Apple.

Another benefit is the agreements are legally binding. Let's hypothesize that LG and Samsung sat down to mediation over their OLED displays. In this mediation, LG presents convincing evidence and arguments that Samsung indeed infringed on patents, and should pay royalties. Samsung's lawyers would then understand that pursuing this in a courtroom would do little more than waste time and money. The evidence presented by LG is strong, and there is little reason to believe a jury or judge will find in Samsung's favor. As a result, Samsung agrees to pay a licensing fee agreed on by both sides. Both parties avoid a very public and messy trial, leaving their respective egos and image in check.

The largest beneficiary of such a process is the consumer. Without the vitriol between companies, the focus is on cooperation. Without the lengthy trial process, the focus is on innovation. By settling this in what can be called 'the old fashioned way', perhaps we can move forward. As mentioned before, sometimes you have to look back to see the future. Maybe there needs to be a new direction in regard to patents and licensing.

2013 and beyond

We will never see the end of patent litigation. It's been going on since the dawn of man in one respect or another. Discussions over who invented the wheel (insert Apple joke here) has brought us to who has a patent on OLED displays. The technology space is inhabited by very bright people coming up with very innovative ideas all the time. These products are designed to generate revenue, and anything that is designed to generate revenue is going to be questioned at some point.

With so many companies stepping on each other's toes on technological breakthroughs, the next frontier is licensing fees. A win in court rarely means the loser must cease using the technology in question. Had they taken the actual phone and used it, that would be a different tale. In our world, the issue is intellectual property… and that's quite a nut to crack. Successfully arguing that you had an idea first is difficult at best, and rarely works out well for either party. Even if you win, your reputation takes a hit.

Take Samsung and Apple. If we're being objective, Apple won primarily because Samsung was sloppy in concealing its designs. They openly discussed via email that devices needed to look "more like Apple", even though Google urged them to back away from that thinking. Rather than coming out the victim, Samsung looks a bit petulant in continuing the fight. Those internal emails have shown Samsung to be less than honorable in its intentions. Had the two sides been able to litigate, perhaps this could have been avoided. Go to litigation, get snippy with one another, then settle it amicably. In that scenario, considering the hit to both sides' reputation and public perception a trial brings, everyone wins. While the patent system does need reform, fair licensing fee guidelines are what need to be established for the future.

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Android and Me

Android and Me


GameStick to challenge Ouya in the Android-powered game console market

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 05:29 PM PST

Over the past few years, the video game market has changed dramatically. In the past, the market was dominated by players like Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, but the proliferation of smartphones has turned the industry on its heels. While there are still millions of consumers who are willing to buy...

Visit our site to read the full article.

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Samsung Galaxy M Pro sequel pictured with BlackBerry-esque full QWERTY keyboard

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 05:38 PM PST

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Is anyone still fan of the “BlackBerry form factor?” If so, you may be inclined to know that Samsung has apparently been hard at work on a follow up to their keyboard-where-the-screen-should-be Galaxy M Pro. The newly leaked device was spied by Blog of Mobile where it was pictured in all of its old-school QWERTY glory, said to be running off the power of Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich. Looks like this is the same GT-B7810 that also popped up a few months ago in an FCC filing, although we aren’t quite sure where this one could be heading here in the states (my bet’s an MVNO). Samsung has a reputation of saturating the market with devices of every hardware configuration imaginable. Looks like we can soon add another to that list.

[via UnwiredView]

HTC M7 to be made official during next week’s CES? [RUMOR]

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 03:19 PM PST

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HTC has been doing a pretty good job at keeping a tight lid on their upcoming HTC M7. A device rumored to be packing the highest-end of specs, the M7 will essentially be the GSM version of the HTC Droid DNA for the “rest of us.” Where normally we see major global device announcements at Mobile World Congress, CES may have a little something special for us as well.

According to tipster extraordinaire Football4PDA — who accurately leaked details on the HTC One X+ and Droid DNA in the past — HTC could make the M7 officially official at CES in just a few short days. While this sounds highly unlikely, it’s not too far fetched given HTC could be attempting to get the jump on MWC and the buzz that’s likely to be surrounding the Galaxy S4 and other high-end devices. What’s more, the tipster also mentioned the M7 could come with software buttons ala the Galaxy Nexus, and not capacitive buttons along the bezel. Can’t say I was too happy at that development (if the bezel is just empty space, why not use it?), but keep in mind this was all “indirect” information and not from Football’s normal sources.

As an Android fanboy first and HTC lover second, I can’t even begin to describe how hyped I am for this next generation of devices. While I can’t say I was too crazy about the DNA’s design (too Verizon-ie), I’m hoping HTC pulls out all the stops for their next flagship, showing the rest of OEM’s what true smartphone design is all about.

Is Youtube’s Android & iOS favoritism fair to Windows?

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 03:14 PM PST

In the mobile platform wars one of the defining weapons is the size and quality of the application arsenal. Lack of said artillery could be considered the death knoll for operating systems such as WebOS and Blackberry, but recent gains by Windows Phone (and now tablets and other Win 8 devices) have critics wondering if Microsoft will soon become a solid 3rd player.

That remains to be seen, but Google certainly isn’t itching to help them out. Microsoft’s VP & Deputy General Counsel, Dave Heiner, today made a blog post criticizing Google for not creating a Youtube app for Windows Phone. But Heiner’s comments go beyond plain criticism and into the legal realm by tossing around terms like FTC, Department of Justice, and antitrust.

You might think that Google would be on its best behavior given it's under the bright lights of regulatory scrutiny on two continents, particularly as it seeks to assure antitrust enforcers in the U.S. and Europe that it can be trusted on the basis of non-binding assurances that it will not abuse its market position further.

However, as we enter 2013, that is not the case. Here's just one example: We continue to be dogged by an issue we had hoped would be resolved by now: Google continues to prevent Microsoft from offering consumers a fully featured YouTube app for the Windows Phone.

Proprietary offerings have become a staple of the platform wars, with Apple long leveraging the success of services such as iTunes while Google played their own features close to the chest, for example Google Maps and Google Navigation. On the surface it seems like the obvious move: use your own products and services to your advantage so that your own platform is more powerful than that of the competitor.

Sounds like Business 101, right? One would think, but given the size and oligopolistic nature of the industry, antitrust issues may become a part of the picture. With an ever expanding set of services, Google has more recently become familiar with antitrust challenges, but Microsoft is an industry veteran: they settled an antitrust suit regarding internet browsers way back in 2001, when dial up modems were still prevalent.

From a business perspective, Google has often taken the approach of doing what’s best for the consumer, and assuming that the benefits will naturally follow. This is how they’ve treated the majority of their properties and it’s a strategy that has paid off handsomely. But have the platform wars altered that approach and could it come back to haunt Google in the years to come?

There’s no denying that Youtube users would benefit from having the service offered on as many platforms as possible. It’s available on Android, it’s available on iOS, and heck… Youtube is even available on the Nintendo Wii U. Some recent hiccups could be attributed to Nintendo’s own implementation of the Youtube API, but the Wii U does in fact have Youtube. Yet Windows Phone doesn’t…

If Google were treating Youtube as its own entity and a separately owned business, there’s no denying they would have launched a YouTube app for Windows Phone by now. They could argue that the platform doesn’t have enough users to justify the development, but I would call that a lame excuse. With an entity as big as Youtube, not to mention one that graciously accepted hundreds of millions of dollars in losses before turning a profit, you’d assume the investment in creating an app for Windows Phone would be easily justified.

Google might say the platform doesn’t have enough users to justify creating a Youtube app, but I think at least half their absence is due to the potential of Google-owned services like Youtube, GMail, Maps, Navigation, and others helping to make Windows Phone a better product that leads to the critical mass on Windows Phone which Google themselves are using as an excuse to not develop for the platform.

Personally, these are my two takeaways from this latest technology tiff.

Hey Microsoft: Nobody likes a crybaby
Personally, I think Dave Heiner’s public blog post on the matter seems like little more than whining. Nobody is going to feel bad for Microsoft, themselves one of the largest tech companies in the world. Microsoft dropped the ball in the mobile world years ago, now that they’re playing catchup, why should their competitors have to give them a helping hand? If there’s some gigantic void in your offering because your competitors aren’t playing nicely… do what Google and Apple have done numerous times: take your billions of dollars and build your own competing service.

Hey Google: Don’t forget where you came from
While withholding Youtube from Windows Phone is in the best interest of Android, it’s not in the best interest of Youtube, which shows how quickly Google’s priorities have changed. Doing what’s best for the consumer on a product by product basis has gotten pushed aside for doing what’s best for an entirely different company property. But with mobile shaping the future of technology, can you blame them? Not really, but I think it would be smart of Google to acknowledge this cultural shift and not stray too far from what made them successful before Android was born.

Hey Reader: What do you think?
What do you think about Google’s refusal to built a Youtube app for Windows Phone? Is it just smart business or unfair?

[Via WinSource]

Android 4.1.2 update for Samsung Galaxy Camera rolling out

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 02:52 PM PST

Samsung looks to be issuing a software upgrade for its Samsung Galaxy Camera as folks are reporting Android 4.1.2 is showing up in parts of the United Kingdom. The upgrade doesn’t bring a ton in the way of new features, but users have noticed a new updated Gallery app. The app is said to be the same one that is featured on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, and since that one is quite nice we can’t say there will be many objections to its arrival.

There’s no other indication as to what else has changed, but we assume stability improvements and performance enhancements are just a few of the key differences.

This 16 megapixel Android-powered point and shoot camera might not have been met with the greatest fanfare Samsung’s seen (I believe the latest Galaxy phones had that privilege), but the advanced touch screen features and the ability to share photos with tons of social apps is what the OEM will bank on to get the camera some shine in that point-and-shoot arena. Those interested in the upgrade should be looking for firmware BLL7, so get to it and let us know how things are working out for you in the comments section below.

Ubuntu for Phones revealed, will be easily compatible with most Android devices [VIDEO]

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 01:21 PM PST

Ubuntu for Android hasn’t turned out to be quite the “wide open” project we’d anticipated. That particular project, which would turn a smartphone and smartdock into a desktop PC, is still having its kinks worked out and deals are still attempting to be made. The future of that is still uncertain, but the folks at Canonical have something else up their sleeves worth showing.

Ubuntu for Phones is what the company has been keeping under wraps, and it’s looking to be an absolute doozy. What you’re getting is a full-fledged mobile operating system which was derived straight from everything that makes Ubuntu for Desktop so great. The security features, app integration and everything else that makes Ubuntu the cohesive Linux distribution it is will soon be packed into smartphones.

Canonical made the announcement in a lengthy video where we got a good overview of what’s to come. The company expressed its desire to marry web apps with native apps, and allow the two to live in harmony to create the most compelling suite of apps one could hope for. They will look to developers to fill the apps repository up, and in true, open fashion Canonical even takes submissions for system apps, like the calendar and notepad, to give the development community a chance to contribute to the construction of this new platform

Ubuntu for Phones will utilize a “four edge” philosophy where every edge of the display is significant. From the notification pane at the top to an always-present apps “tray” able to be swiped in from the left, you’ll traverse all four corners of your particular device’s display to access everything you need. A unique search experience will allow you to search the web and find the files, apps and media you want without having to tell the OS where to look.

The best part about Ubuntu for Phones is that it was built from the ground up with help from Intel and ARM, and uses the same drivers that can be found in Android — yes, that means this operating system will be compatible with virtually any Android device. We don’t expect users to be able to flash it over any piece of hardware, of course, but this could eventually allow developers to create Ubuntu ROMs for curious users to flash. That is wishful thinking right now, but it’s technologically possible.

Canonical will be showing the phone and operating system off at the biggest trade show in the world next week and you can bet Phandroid will be right, front and center to get a good look at it. Ubuntu’s eager to talk to anyone who wants to use Ubuntu for their next smartphones, and while we don’t expect the Samsungs and HTCs of the world to be on the bandwagon just yet we’re excited to see how the biggest Linux distro on the planet could look on some of these OEMs’ devices. Take a look for yourself in the video above.

Some Nexus 4′s shipping without “glittery” backing – Is yours affected? [POLL]

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 01:16 PM PST

This image has no alt text

With high-demand for the reasonably priced Nexus 4, LG has been kicking their factories into overtime, pumping out as many devices as they can to minimize wait time for eager backorders. But sometimes when you ramp up production, quality control can suffer as a result.

We’re not sure if that’s what’s going on today, after reading reports from some users who received the “2nd batch” of Google’s Nexus 4′s only with something missing. Namely, the flashy backing of the device featuring a glittery pixel pattern. Apparently, now it’s a lot less… bedazzled. In fact, attempting to view the design from any angle, in any lighting, no longer yields a glint or shimmer anywhere. Of course, depending on your preference, this could actually be a good thing.

Still, some are wondering if this was an intentional move by LG to address concerns of the back glass cracking without much effort. It’s possible LG could be using a different material than the original (read: extremely fragile) glass backing found in the initial batch. As a result, the glitter just doesn’t shine like it used to. Of course, there’s still the very real possibility that glitter doesn’t come cheap and they’re merely pulling back to avoid a world wide glitter shortage. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to live in a world like that.

But we’re curious. If you received a Nexus 4 from the infamous “2nd batch,” are you finding it difficult to find the glitter on the back of your device? Is it there at all? Let’s take a quick poll:

Thanks, YourMainDude!

[via Autoomobile | XDA]

Apple licensing agreement will pay off for HTC in 2013

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:32 PM PST

HTC’s licensing deal with Apple may or may not end up costing the Taiwanese manufacturer of Android smartphones a good chunk of change in the long run, but its benefits should reach consumers this year. That’s the word from HTC China president Ray Yam, who said the deal allows the company to “put more energy into innovation.”

That innovation will be evident this year, according to Yam, who says the deal has allowed HTC to move forward more quickly with current projects while challenging designers and engineers to create without the fear of lawsuits that have distracted HTC from its goals in the past.

On top of greater create freedom, Yam says HTC has rethought their strategy from bottom up, including putting a fresh spin on sales and marketing. The end game is a reversal of the shrinking profits HTC has suffered over the past several quarters.

We may never know the exact financial arrangement HTC and Apple agreed upon, but it’s safe to say HTC weighed their options and decided it was the best plan available. Now we’ll see if the move paid off.

[via BGR]

SoundGecko reads your RSS feed to you in stunning clarity [VIDEO]

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 11:22 AM PST

As I’m not a driver (not even infrequently — I just don’t drive) I rarely find the urge to download text-to-speech apps. Most tend to be cumbersome, ugly and sound like the deep, ghastly bellows of a horse, but SoundGecko is offering an option that just might have the right combination of easy, fast and pleasant to compel yours truly to “listen” to more of the news.

SoundGecko allows you to set up a number of RSS feeds which can be delivered to your devices as audio clips without much fuss. New feed items are automatically converted to audio and synced to your phone for quick and easy listening whenever you get ready to sit down and digest your news for the day.

Created by startup 121cast, SoundGecko uses an accurate text-to-speech engine that allows the conversation to flow as if you’re listening to a report from an actual radio broadcast. You can still hear the odd robotic nuance of a digitized voice every now and then, but I never had to rewind to catch a word I couldn’t understand. I was more impressed with the fact that it could accurately pronounce my name than anything else.

The service can be had for free, but there are some limitations. You’ll only get to add one custom feed, you’ll only get up to 4,000 words per article read to you and you’ll only get to listen to 30 articles per day. The 4,000 words per article limit won’t be an issue for most (believe me, most articles don’t go anywhere near that amount of words), but the other two limitations require a monthly subscription to lift.

Usually $7.95 a month, SoundGecko’s premium service will allow you to add up to 100 different custom feeds, listen to an unlimited amount of articles per day and will read up to 30,000 words per article. The insane 30,000 word limit will be more useful for those wanting to read long manuals, whitepapers and other such documents in PDF form as the service does support that (simply email the document to yourself).

If you act fast, though, you can get locked into the service for just $2.95 per month, and SoundGecko gives you its word that you’ll never be asked to pay more than that. It’s a limited time holiday special so this offer might expire very, very soon. Give it a shot, and be sure to download the app from the Google Play Store to take it with you on the go. Be sure to take a look at our quick hands-on video above.

Samsung to address random Galaxy S3 mainboard failures with firmware update

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 11:20 AM PST

Before the joyous holiday season we had to be a bit of a grinch and drop news of a problem affecting a small number of Samsung Galaxy S3 owners. Users were reporting devices dying at random after owning the handset for several months. The problem was narrowed down to the 16GB version of the handset and seemed to stem from an issue with the devices main circuit board.

Because all signs pointed to a hardware issue, most thought the problem would require a revision to the Galaxy S3′s actual build. But Samsung has addressed the problem and says a fix will arrive in the form of a firmware update. According to Tweakers Samsung is prepared to deliver the update in the very near future.

Most GS3 owners won’t have to worry about waking up to a bricked phone and no explanation, but those with at-risk handsets can rest assured that the problem should soon be a thing of the past.

 

Last week of December brings over 50 million Android and iOS device activations

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 10:42 AM PST

Smartphones and tablets were some of if not the most popular gifts for giving this holiday season. Perhaps you received one or used that holiday bonus to treat yo’ self, and if you did you can count yourself among the over 50 million who activated an Android or iOS device in the final week of December. About 17 million were activated on Christmas Day alone.

And all those devices are worthless without apps, or that’s what the numbers dictate. You all downloaded 1.76 billion applications and games during the same time period, according to Flurry, who ran the analytics. The numbers are up from last year’s holiday season when we saw 20 million activations and 1.2 billion app downloads. Things only look to move up in 2013. Early forecasts see app downloads breaking the 2 billion mark for the same week this year.

Flurry did not provide a breakdown of how many devices for each platform were activated. It likely wasn’t a pure 50/50 split. Who out there counts themselves among the 50 million plus owners of a shiny new mobile device?

[via BGR]

Retailer expects Nexus 7 dock to ship January 10th

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 09:43 AM PST

We’ve heard so much about the official Nexus 7 dock leading up to today, but have yet to receive official word from Google regarding its status of availability. At least one retailer looks to have some desirable information, however, as B&H Photo has updated its listing to show an “expected” availability date of January 10th.

Unfortunately the wording leaves room for possible delays, but should all the stars align and should the universe be in a favor-granting mood we should be seeing these starting to ship at some point next week. Priced at $40, the official dock uses the Nexus 7′s triple pin connector for data transmission and charging. The dock itself will feature a 3.5mm audio out jack and a microUSB port for those very reasons.

It’s nothing amazing, but there’s nothing like getting an official accessory that was intricately designed for your device. Google still doesn’t acknowledge its existence in the Google Play Store strangely enough, but it’s no doubt coming and we’ll be mighty glad once it arrives. Head to B&H to sign up to be notified when it’s available.

[thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

CTIA changing format for 2014, merging MobileCon into single event

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 08:07 AM PST

In the mobile world, there are several huge events to look forward to each year. CES kicks things off in January with Mobile World Congress following shortly after. Then there is CTIA, the twice-a-year show occurring in the spring and fall.

CTIA has been a bit of red-headed stepchild (no offense to red-headed stepchildren) recently with manufacturers foregoing big announcements at the show in favor of other venues. The group behind the trade show attempted to counter by branding their fall event MobileCon and placing a focus on applications and enterprise. But the MobileCon experiment will be short-lived.

While 2013 will stick with CTIA’s familiar format, starting in 2014 their two gig bill will be reduced to one, as the main CTIA show will be merged with MobileCon to form single “super mobile show.” The date is already set for September 9th through 11th of 2014. That could create an interesting travel schedule for those headed to IFA in Berlin, which typically takes place at the beginning of September each year.

CTIA-The Wireless Association® Announces 2014 Super Mobile Show

One CTIA Show to Serve as THE Mobile Industry Trade Show

WASHINGTON, January 2, 2013 – CTIA-The Wireless Association® today announced it will create the “super” mobile industry trade show that will dominate the second half of the year, beginning in 2014. CTIA 2014™ will take the best of its CTIA Show that’s focused on technology and consumer electronics with MobileCON™ and its emphasis on mobile IT solutions to offer attendees, exhibitors and speakers with specialized opportunities so that all of the companies that comprise of the wireless ecosystem can network and conduct business with the right people. The first CTIA super mobile show, CTIA 2014, will take place Sept. 9-11 at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“The wireless industry is evolving rapidly and there is a need to have a show that centers on the entire global mobile ecosystem in a way that hasn’t existed among the current shows, which is why CTIA 2014 will be unique. The mobile revolution is positively affecting nearly every industry, such as M2M, connected home, media and advertising, money and global consumer electronics, and CTIA 2014 will serve as a worthy platform to showcase those companies and individuals that are leading this charge and will be a valuable resource for anyone wanting to be a part of this innovative industry,” said Rob Mesirow, CTIA Vice President and Show Director. “In addition, the timing of the 2014 show will deliver the perfect stage for companies to debut mobile consumer products and services for the annual holiday buying season.”

Over the next few weeks and months, CTIA will be announcing a variety of strategic partnerships that will expand its show offerings and opportunities within the vertical segments of the wireless industry and the numerous other facets of the enterprise. The activities stemming from those partnerships will play a vital role in forming a weeklong schedule of business and professional development opportunities. Carriers, device manufacturers, network operators, app developers, retailers and others throughout the wireless industry are enthusiastic about the move.

“As Sprint and the wireless industry are helping other sectors improve the way they do business and their customer relationships, we needed a trade show where we can showcase our offerings and capabilities, from consumer to healthcare to the connected home, at one place. CTIA 2014 will play a key role in our company’s plans for announcing the latest innovative products and services,” said Fared Adib, Senior Vice President of Product Development and Operations, Sprint.

“CTIA’s decision to consolidate the wireless shows is exactly what the industry needed. CTIA 2014 takes the best from the specialized shows while bringing all of the right people together at the same time and place so everyone’s time can be optimized,” said Angel Ruiz, President and CEO, Ericsson Inc.

For those with a consumer focus, the timing of the 2014 show provides the perfect stage to debut mobile consumer products and services heading into the annual holiday buying season.

CTIA will continue to host CTIA 2013 and MobileCON 2013 separately while incorporating super show programs as a springboard to the changes in 2014. At the heart of both shows are the thought-leadership and advocacy that are driving the future of the mobile industry.

In 2012, MobileCON emerged as the industry event for mobile enterprise IT executives and senior decision-makers. MobileCON 2013 show is scheduled for October 9-11 in San Jose, CA. CTIA 2013 will take place May 21-23 at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas, and with it encompassing all aspects of the global mobile ecosystem, the event is poised to bring together the leaders, ideas and experiences that are transforming this dynamic industry.

Project Glass prototype spotted with prescription lenses

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 07:36 AM PST

One of the biggest questions posed to Google when it revealed Project Glass was “what about those of us who wear prescription eyewear?” Google quickly quelled fears as it confirmed the company would look to accommodate those of us who already wear glasses, though no word on how, exactly, that would happen could be had out of the Mountain View camp.

Well, it looks like Google is at least tailoring the technology to a few select testers as one was spotted wearing the contraption on a subway trek in New York City with corrective lenses in tow. The design looks very similar to what we’ve seen on the faces of Sergey Brin and friends, except with two pieces of glass hanging out front.

While it’s too early to tell what Google’s thinking about doing (we’re said to be at least another full year out from seeing these in consumer-ready form) it suggests the company could look to take custom orders for those who need shades or corrective lenses. Another possibility could be that Google will ship the product with optional mounts for lenses that can be fulfilled at popular stores at the users’ discretion.

Just a couple of days ago we pondered whether or not Google would go the fashionable route with Project Glass. Chris Chavez predicted Google would announce a partnership with premium framers Ray-Ban to bring a tad more fashion to this geeky-looking tech toy. We want it to happen, and it certainly still could happen, but for the time being the prototypes are still being made with the original design in mind.

One implementation we were big fans of was a way to detach the screen/camera overlay from the base frame and mount it onto existing lenses and frames, but this solution might not be the best route for Google. If the company can’t ensure the mount will fit correctly on any and all frames (the positioning of the screen is the biggest issue) then that is something that should be avoided.

Google knows the road to getting this product into the hands of eager consumers is long, and will be hard. Spokesperson Barbak Parviz alluded to as much, saying that the hopes are to have the final version of the product in retail at some point in 2014.

With any luck Google will be right on schedule, and can finally deliver the prototypes which developers paid $1,500 to own back at Google I/O (we plopped money down for three of them) at some point this year. Should that happen, Parviz expects developers to have access to the software and features that will be close to the end product. We’ll have to wait and see what’s in store, but we’ve been following this ambitious journey every step of the way and will continue to do so all throughout 2013.

[Electronista, RoadtoVR]

CES-bound Sony Xperia Z and Xperia ZL press shots leak

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 07:24 AM PST

Ladies and gentlemen, here are the Sony Xperia Z and Xperia ZL. You may know them better as the Yuga and Odin, and will be formally introduced next week at CES. But that’s a week away, and we live in the here and now. These press shots surfaced at Sony’s Japanese site in the wee hours of the new year and show handsets that appear to match previous leaks.

The Xperia Z will likely be Sony’s flagship handset for the first half of 2012 and is rumored to feature a 5-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processing, and a 13MP camera. The Xperia ZL looks put its own twist on a similar spec sheet, though nothing is confirmed at this time.

Sony’s press event will take place next Monday, January 7th, at 5PM local time.

[via Engadget]

Nova Launcher 2.0 adds loads of new features

Posted: 01 Jan 2013 11:31 PM PST

Fans of Nova Launcher will be watering at the mouth when they see what the latest version — which happens to be 2.0 — has in store for them. There’s a massive list of changes and new options to be had so let’s take a look and see what 2.3MB upgrade will bring you.

Starting with those who own the premium Nova Launcher Prime package, paying users can now customize the size of icons for app shortcuts, and will also be able to perform swipe actions on any of those icons.

The common crop of changes include custom wallpaper cropping, an infinite scroll drawer setting, a new alphabetical list view for the drawer, a setting for making small dock icons, an option to keep the launcher in memory for faster access and more.

Nova launcher has quickly ascended to the thone as the go-to launcher for those on Android 4.0 and higher, and that’s for good reason. No other Holo-based launcher is touching its list of features and customization options, and the app is backed by one of the most active developers you’ll find in the Play Store. Give it a whirl if you haven’t already, and if the Prime version adds even more value for your particular needs you can buy that for just about $4.