Saturday, January 5, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


What can we expect in Android 5.0?

Posted: 05 Jan 2013 03:00 AM PST

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There is so much good stuff in the Android universe. We have amazing phones, tons of apps and games and the best operating system around. Even with all that awesome at our fingertips, we are still looking to the future of Android. With Google I/O closing in, we expect to see the next iteration of Android. What will we see? What's it called? When can we have it?!

So many questions, and so many long months of waiting. Waiting in pure agony, fretting about what's coming around the corner. We know it's going to be good, but how good? Let's take this opportunity to ruminate and be hopeful. Let the speculation begin!

Now, Google Now!

Google Now, the search and voice assistant for Android, is already the best around. Faster and more accurate than its competition, it's the most intuitive interface ever. Someone have a birthday? You might forget, but 'ol Google Now won't. When does that package arrive? Just pull up Google Now!

Even with all it does for us, it can improve. The voice actions are a little hit-and-miss, and its email intuition is suspect at times. Sometimes it notices when an email has packaging info, sometimes it doesn’t. Those kinds of things improve with feedback and time, so look for Google to polish the edges of Google Now just a bit. It would be nice to be able to launch an app or play music just by barking orders and the inclusion of offline voice typing we have now lends itself to that. I know we're going to have cars that drive us around someday, but until then it's hands free driving.

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Take a note

I love Google Tasks. I know, I know… there are a bunch of really cool note taking apps with wonderful integration. You know what? The Google Tasks Chrome extension is phenomenal. Simple, clean, effective… and it links to my Android widget in real time. That widget is a third party widget, and isn't really integrated across the board.

It would be nice to have an official Google Tasks app and widget which was baked into Android 5.0 like all the other Google services. With so much talk of which note taking app is everyone's favorite, I think some official Google Tasks incorporation would work well.

By going all-in and adopting Tasks, Google could have a huge hit. Having that feature sync across multiple platforms would be the best part. Just starting with inclusion in the header bar would be nice, but why stop there? It's integrated with GMail, but not well. We have a ton of white space in Google+, so it has real estate available. It has a naturally symbiant relationship with Google Drive that is being ignored, also.

Think of it… you look up an address in Maps, and Google Now picks that up and gets you directions. The calendar notification that pops up on your phone knows you have a note about this event in Tasks, and links to it (Calendar and Tasks work together now, just not that well). That note keeps you aware of what you need to do at this location, which involves bringing a Google Drive document. You link to that document in Tasks (which could be integrated into Drive to make that easy), so when you get there it's simply a matter of opening Tasks and getting things done. Tasks could be a bit of a hub for productivity. How great would that integration be?

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More Buttah!

When Project Butter was announced with Android 4.1, or Jelly Bean, the initial reaction was "project what-now?". However silly the name is, the proof is in the… butter. Scrolling and other gestures saw a remarkable improvement and it really made the entire Android experience better (bettah?). Like anything else, as good as it is, we want more.

Project Butter has room to grow, and I think it will. In a nutshell, Butter improves response time of your touch to the command given, making the whole experience faster and smoother. With so many improvements on the hardware side of things, there is no doubt we'll see some improvements here. With faster processors come the ability to handle more info, giving Butter room to grow, or bloom, or whatever butter does.

Look around

As with just about any other Android update, we'll get a camera fix. I like the camera on Jelly Bean a lot. The zoom is intuitive to how we interact with our devices, and the menu popping up wherever you touch is sublime. The panorama feature is still amazing, and the filters make photos fun again.

What does need improvement is photosphere. A really cool addition, it just doesn't work that well. The "stitching" of the photos is usually off, often by a lot. I'd like to be able to say it's my fault, but I just go where the next little blue dot is in photosphere. I have very little control on how the photos get cobbled together.
I'd also like for there to be some sort of Snapspeed integration. Google spent a lot of money on that acquisition, so I'm expecting it to be baked straight into the camera function at some point. With so many cool effects for pictures, it seems only natural to make it an integral part of the camera. Experienced photographers everywhere would love to be able to tinker with the shot before it's taken.

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Lockdown

Better lock screen widgets, and more of them. Right now, Google's selection of lock screen widgets is weak. If lock screen widgets are here to stay, we need some variety. Checking the clock or email is great, but what about all the other great stuff Google has to offer us? I'd love to get a Google Currents widget with a shortcut to Android Authority!

Google has so many amazing services, it's hard to believe it didn’t have more lock screen widgets available when it launched Jelly Bean. The possibilities are endless, really. A map widget for lock screens would be great, especially for travelers. With Ingress taking off, maybe we'll see a widget available for it. It makes sense to have a Play Store widget, also. Linking directly to your revenue stream seems like a no-brainer for Google.

Quickly, now

The quick settings menu is a stroke of genius. No more diving deep into the menu, or occupying screen space with a bulky widget. Now, it's a simple drag-down menu. All the normal stuff is there, like Bluetooth, WiFi, and Airplane mode. Definitely more handy that what we dealt with before, but it can improve.

The only niggle I have with the quick settings menu is the lack of customization. I travel quite a bit, but someone else may not. A person who doesn't travel has very little need for Airplane mode. Sure, Airplane mode is just a name, but for what it accomplishes in turning off all transmission ability, people just aren't looking for that. The point is to be connected, not turn the world off. It would be nice to be able to add and remove functions. It would be especially cool if we could bury apps in there, specifically apps that control services. Each user has their own needs and wants and settings are an integral part of how we each use our device.

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Everyone is talking

Google Talk is one of my favorite things on earth. It's the easiest chat function, and travels across platforms. I can be chatting on my desktop, leave the house and continue on my phone or tablet. I never miss a beat with a conversation and I don't have to make excuses for why I can't chat anymore. With text only working cross platform if you're registered with Google Voice, Google Talk is really the best option.

Then again, Google+ has a messenger function while Google Voice integrates with text messaging. You can video chat from either Talk or Messenger, but not Voice. It would be great to see all these consolidated into one amazing chat function. A nice cross-platform tool that unifies those disparate services. Android has a problem with fragmentation, both in OS and services. It needs to be addressed on all fronts, and combining these services is a great place to start.

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Android wears glasses

Maybe we're ready, maybe we're not. If we are, then Google needs to start getting ready now. If we're getting Glass in 2014 as predicted, it needs integration now. That's right, our new Android update may come with some very deep Google Glass features built in. As we prepare for the probable launch of Google Glass in 2014, it makes sense that the head-wear will run Android. The issue may be that Google Glass needs a hacked version of Android, so the full version may just not be in the cards.

In reality, we have no concept of Glass. We have no real idea what Google Glass is supposed to be, or do, or how it's intended to work with us in our world. We know it's pretty cool, and puts a camera on our head. We know it is meant to show us things on this little screen in front of our eyes. We know it will make pirating movies easier. You know what, forget that last one. I shouldn’t have even said that.

Seriously though, if Google Glass is really gonna happen, Android will have to see some integration. While Google Glass is a pretty cool concept, I don't see it as a standalone piece of hardware. I see it as a complement to your Android device. I don't think we’ve thought much beyond pictures and video, and it will give a great first-person perspective, but what else? If Google Glass is going to have voice integration as we’ve heard, then the aforementioned updates to Google Now will have to occur. It makes the most sense for the glasses to run Google Now for that function.

How's this look?

Rumors abound that the new Android will bring us an updated user interface. I can't see that happening, honestly. I think the point is to even out the changes, not increase the quantity of them. If you recall, Google recently asked developers to produce apps that were tablet friendly, and gave them a checklist of sorts to follow to accomplish that goal. Making them fit into the UI was a large part of that.

If you really want to raise the ire of a developer, change something without giving them proper notice. Developing apps is not easy, and changing the way you want it to look would go over really poorly with the group you're asking to support your platform. While for us as users it's fun and cute, to someone making their living from development, it may not be. I think there may be some very minor UI tweaks, but don't look for something like we saw when Gingerbread morphed into Honeycomb.

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A longer life

No, not for Android 5.0. I'm talking about battery life. More to the point, a battery management widget. There are many apps and widgets available from developers. Good ones, too, but I'd like this kind of thing to be built right in to Android. It seems that everyone's complaint with their awesome new Android phone rounds into a battery life discussion at some point. With so much focus on battery life, Google should really integrate some robust battery management features.

While something as simple as a 'battery saving mode' would be great, I'd like to see a little more depth. For instance, perhaps the ability to program how your phone acts during certain hours of the day. If you're at the office from 9 to 6 on weekdays, maybe the phone could be programmed to stop accessing data service for those hours. You may be at your desk, and having the phone accessing the same data as your desktop can is just wasteful. It could also be useful for task management. If your Google Play Music turns off at noon, you can spend the afternoon working diligently rather than fiddling with a playlist. If I can program an NFC tag to do these things, I should be able to get straight to the heart of the matter with my device settings.

Dear Google

Google, if you're listening, please hurry. Once the rumors start, I get restless. Just bump up I/O and give us our new dessert! Each Android iteration is a wonderland of fun, both exciting and revolutionary. Whatever Google does, I'm sure it will be amazing. I understand going into it that it won't have everything I want, but more than I need. Just, you know… don’t forget December this time.

Like each Android release, it drives the roots deeper. As Android gets better, everything else seems that much further behind. Each Android iteration cements the OS's place in this world, and this release may do so more than we know. If you’ve noticed, I never referred to the new iteration by name. We’ve heard 'Key Lime Pie' tossed around, but nothing official has been announced. So, what would you name our new Android baby?

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SwiftKey Flow Beta 4.0.0.61 brings bugs fixes and enhancements

Posted: 05 Jan 2013 02:56 AM PST

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The beta version of SwiftKey Flow has been out for a month now. With its "Flow Through Space" feature, the app allows you to swipe over the spacebar to insert a space, which means you can type continuously without having to lift your finger off the screen.

Given its beta status, you may have encountered some bugs and glitches while using SwiftKey Flow. Fortunately, your feedback hasn't gone unnoticed, as the developer is bringing out an update for the app that should enhance its performance.

As listed on their website, here's the complete changelog:

  • Flow-through-space autocommit: if you flow-through space but mess up your last word, all the prior words will be inserted (instead of losing all the words)
  • Flow in landscape on tablets (not on split layout with numpad)
  • Battery usage improved (when flowing and when not in use)
  • Performance of flowing and tapping improved
  • Longpress of bottom-right (smiley/enter) button now works
  • Fixed some force close issues
  • Fixed some memory leaks
  • Predictions not lost when changing keyboard layout (e.g to symbols)
  • Fixed DOuble CApitalization issue

It's quite a long list of improvements, but there are still many known issues that have yet to be resolved by the team, the list of which you can find at the source.

If you're keen on giving the SwiftKey Flow Beta 4.0.0.61 a spin, click here to download the smartphone version of the app and here for the tablet-optimized version.

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Codex the Warrior is the first Tegra 4 Android game

Posted: 05 Jan 2013 02:02 AM PST

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CES 2013 is just a few days away and expectations are running high considering the leaks we get on the stuff that is to be showcased. One thing we’re looking forward to see from NVIDIA during the show is the much talked about Tegra 4 processor. Mobile users are all set for the experience of their lives and gamers can delight in the knowledge that they are in for a treat.

Codex The Warrior appears to be the first game for Tegra 4 devices, just check out the video below for a preview. The sneak peek reveals something akin to the all too familiar Infinity Blade game for iOS. This action-packed battle drama that needs just a swipe to attack should have a strong story line attached as an added attraction to the unlimited fighting it promises.

The game is expected to support multiple players online, and that certainly adds to the sense of excitement and sets one thinking about all the fun serious gamers are in for. Set to be released in the near future, Codex The Warrior will initially run on Tegra 4, but support for Tegra 3 devices such as the Nexus 7 tablet will be added later down the road. Enjoy the video for now until CES opens with a bang!

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New Sony Xperia Z sneak peek preview offers a glimpse at what to expect

Posted: 05 Jan 2013 01:13 AM PST

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A new leak supposedly originating from what appears to be a promo video – although the video is not available to us at this time – shows off the slick and sleekly designed Sony Xperia Z. A bunch of images present a classic view of the smartphone, which is also known as the C660X Yuga, probably denoting a new era phone. The images confirm several features like the welcome water resistant chassis that sports a 5-inch display screen.

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The 13-megapixel camera comes with HDR photo and video options and the full HD Reality Display promises crisp and stunning images.  The flash is cleverly camouflaged by the shiny mirror finish on the back, which one has to look for in order to find. The quality craftsmanship is obvious with just a hint of a curve at the edges that add to the finesse. The sleekly designed elegant handset has an OptiContrast panel and a slick "Skeleton frame structure" that promises a firm grip while handled.

Yuga

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The images confirm that the handset comes with a Snapdragon S4 chipset and will probably run an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Set to hit the shelves in a couple of months if not sooner, the Xperia Z is expected to be priced over $650 and could have people queuing up at the stores, going by the sleek looks and unique features.

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Play Magazines available for free to existing print subscribers

Posted: 05 Jan 2013 12:58 AM PST

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After initially charging print magazine subscribers when trying to get the digital version of their publications from the Google Play Store – something users were clearly not happy to discover – Google has made it possible for existing customers to get the online copy of their favorite magazines free of charge.

On its help pages, Google posted:

If you already subscribe to a magazine title (print or digital), you may be eligible for a free subscription to its digital counterpart through Google Play. Availability of magazines offered free to print subscribers is solely at the discretion of the publisher .

As explained, if you are a subscriber already, all you need to do is look up the listing of the particular magazine, hit the Subscribe button, and choose the option that says 'Free for print subscribers'. You may then click on 'Continue' and enter your password and the email address to verify your account.

However people who still like the great feeling the rustling of papers on your fingers give you, can still get the print versions. Happy reading to all magazine worms!

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Get a £20 Google Play voucher from Phones4U for every Galaxy phone purchase

Posted: 05 Jan 2013 12:45 AM PST

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The Google Play gift cards redemption page has gone live in the UK since late last month, but there doesn't seem to be any solid information on where and when folks can purchase the vouchers. There's one place on the Web, however, where you can get them for free.

Retailer Phones4U is in the mood of giving, as it offers a free £20 Google Play gift card when you buy the Galaxy S3, the Galaxy S3 Mini, or the Galaxy Note 2 from its online store. Note that the offer is only valid if you get the phone on contract.

You can claim the voucher by going to the following website, where you have you to enter your name, phone number, e-mail address, and the phone's IMEI number. You'll then receive the Voucher code, which you have to redeem on Google Play no later than the end of March 2013. The credit is good for apps, music, books, movies, and magazines.

The promotion tells us that Google is likely to officially launch the Play Store gift cards in the coming days. We’ll keep you posted.

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Epic Raiders: Anime inspired fantasy gaming at the swipe of a finger

Posted: 04 Jan 2013 09:00 PM PST




get-it-on-google-playSometimes you just need to do something epic, right? Well, fortunately, an epic adventure lays in the palm of your hand (or hands, if you choose a tablet) in the form of Epic Raiders.

Epic Raiders puts you in control of some staples of the fantasy genre (the knight and priest, to start), battling hordes of enemies, building out talent tress, acquiring ever better armor for the upcoming task, and doing so will full touch control.

Join me after the break to see Epic Raiders in action.

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Sony Xperia V Review! [video]

Posted: 04 Jan 2013 07:30 PM PST

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It’s been a while since I handled a Sony phone. Back in the mid 2000s, I was a big fan of the Sony Ericsson line of Walkman phones and had plenty of fun taking quite high quality photos with the Cybershot versions. As the smartphone market grew, function specific devices like those Sony used to put out became less and less common – unfortunately, it seems that the same goes for Sony phones in general.

At least that is my perspective in the United States. Underneath the onslaught of wonderful devices from the top companies like Samsung, Apple, and HTC, it would seem that the Playstation manufacturer has not been able to reach the same kind of zenith as its competitors. Though I know that Sony is indeed enjoying success outside of the States, I couldn’t help but wonder why they weren’t more popular here.

Which makes this a pretty exciting moment for me, because the Sony Xperia V beckons. From a line of smartphones predicated on its connection to their gaming networks, the Xperia V does seem to have some of the old function-specific spirit I remember. But Sony has been able to put even more features into at least this particular version of its smartphone that they hope will sweeten the pot.

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You get the picture even before opening the box – sprawled on the front of is a picture of the V riddled with water like a window. A couple extra blue-colored pictures of my new smartphone coming into contact with water serve as reminders of what is explained quite well within the manual: “protected against the effects of immersion in water in depths of between 0 and 100 cm for up to 30 minutes.”

It might not be the most exciting feature to come along in a smartphone, but it is certainly a feather in its cap – and of course I’m going to throw this phone in some water. Read on for my review of this water-resistant phone and watch the video at the end to see my thoughts on the Sony Xperia V.

Look and Feel

Here at Android Authority we love the design of Sony phones and have often stated that they are some of the best looking phones out there. As a first time Xperia user with the V, I would have to agree, given this device. It has a very nice, sleek look that echoes the style that we are used to from a company like Sony.

The front is as typical as ever, featuring a black slate consisting of the 4.3 inch display and black bezel surrounding it. At the top is the phone speaker grill with the front facing camera on the left and a notification light found on the top right.

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If you happen to be used to the most common button layouts found on Samsung and now LG phones, the one found on the Xperia V might feel a little odd. All of the buttons are found on the right side, as the volume rocker is smaller than usual and right underneath it is an equally small power button. This allows for everything to be accessible from the right thumb, though I suppose left handed people might have to use their index fingers to wrap around and get to the buttons. The buttons and the bezel that houses them are, quite literally, a silver lining found all around the device that separate the black screen front from the white cover back.

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Opposite the buttons is the charging port, protected by a small cover that can be nicked out of place in order to reveal what is underneath. The same covering is found on the top of the device, protecting the headphone jack. These covers obviously lend themselves to the waterproofing of the Xperia V, but I have had problems in the past with these types of covers – use them too much and it is possible that they can not be worn down, but they can actually sometimes snap off. Keeping them sealed helps keep the water out, but if they break off, your waterproofing is foiled.

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Coming around the back, a simplistic but elegant white detachable cover is found. 'XPERIA' is just above center with the camera with flash up top and the speaker slit found on the bottom. This bottom portion of the back protrudes out from underneath the front bezel, giving this phone a unique design aside from the all-inclusive black bricks that we're used to in currently popular devices.

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The entire back is slightly curved, allowing for more girth in the top and bottom portions. This attributes to the pretty balanced feel of the device – it is easy to feel a lightness from the middle portion of the phone that is countered by the weight at top and bottom. The result is a phone that feels sturdy in the hand without feeling like a brick.

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Having a 4.3 inch screen might yield only a .4 difference with the market's larger and more popular phones, but that near half inch does help. This phone will likely be just the right size for most all users, and that is quite the happy medium. What we end up having here, then, is a wonderful looking phone with some unique trim that feels great in the hand.

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Screen and Display

4.3 inches might not sound as appealing as the display offerings found on other devices, but rest assured that Sony has the capability to create a nice viewing experience on their Xperia phones.

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The TFT capacitive display found the Xperia V is capable of displaying 16,777,216 colors at 1280×720 resolution with a pixel density of 342 ppi. That pixel density is nothing to brush off, as this display is thus quite sharp and renders text very well.

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Multi-touch is also available here, but the reason why I mention it is because the Xperia V is capable of registering up to 10 touches simultaneously. I do not know, for the life of me, how to even get 10 fingers onto a display this size (let alone, even a screen like that found on the Nexus 7, for example) but the touch capabilities do seem to check out. Having the touches enabled in Developer Settings shows that all five of my at-once presses have been registered.

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All put together, this display does a good job of relaying an enjoyable experience. It isn't the brightest display I have ever worked with, but its highest setting was more than adequate for viewing in broad daylight. Perhaps this is the result of a perception skewed by the theme consisting primarily of white and grey tones, but I felt that the actual colors lacked a bit of vibrancy. Colors don't quite jump out of the screen the way that I am used to them doing on devices like the Samsung Galaxy S3 (which, admittedly, has an overly colorful theme compared to the Xperia V).

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It is also worth mentioning that because there are no capacitive buttons found underneath the screen, the Xperia OS uses soft keys in the same manner as vanilla Android. This line of keys does take up a little bit of real estate on the screen, which may be a little discouraging for those looking to take full advantage of an already smaller-than-usual display. Personally, however, I do not think that the soft keys are much of a bother at all, here or on any Nexus device.

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Ultimately, you get a very good viewing experience on a very capable screen. It might not pop as loudly or as vividly as some other displays, but the sharpness in text and crispness in textures are definitely worth the 16M colors and very decent pixel density. It's not the biggest screen on a smartphone out there, but I think a lot of people will come to view the 4.3 inch screen as a nice and more than adequate medium.

Hardware and Battery

And so we come to the hardware, all tucked away in a casing that is supposed to waterproof all the power underneath. Even if all the various bits of this phone seem to be sealed off, it isn't hard to take out the layers and find a few pleasant surprises underneath.

We'll start with the obvious portions, as I have mentioned before that the cover on the Xperia V is indeed detachable. When popped off, what you find under the Xperia branding is a removable/replaceable battery of 1750mAh capacity and two slots nestled in one little nook – one for the microSD expansion slot and the microSIM tray.

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As I have learned with the reviews I have done for Android Authority, the battery and expandable memory seem to be the wild cards for many users in terms of purchasing a new device. Current top-tier devices, surprisingly enough, often don't take SD cards and seal away the battery for a unibody finish. I used to chalk this up to the manufacturer's desire to keep the design of the phone as simple as possible, as these features can sometimes add girth to already large devices; but in the case of the Xperia V, I have been proven wrong. Having the SIM and SD slots in the same nook and then under the detachable cover allows this phone to retain a sleek and very minimalistic look. And on top of all that, the color is capable of sealing the device from water damage? That is nothing short of a feat, in my book. And with only 8GB of onboard memory available, you probably will come to appreciate the expandability even more.

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As far as the battery goes, its capacity coupled with whatever optimizations Sony has managed to put into its dual core 1.5 GHz Krait Snapdragon processor affords the Xperia V decent longevity. While not tested with the 4G LTE running (I use T-Mobile's HSPA+ network on my SIM), my usual battery drain test was able to bring this one down to half battery in around three and a half hours. Decent enough for a battery its size, though having the ability to replace the battery is definitely a blessing. I imagine 4G LTE connectivity in the background will skew this result further, but nonetheless, you should be able to get through a whole day on this battery with few problems. Perhaps enabling the Extended Standby Mode in the Power Management settings would help those looking for a lot more life in the long run.

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Aside from the memory and battery, this phone has your standard bells and whistles – NFC, Bluetooth, GPS, and WiFi connectivity. I do have to mention, as I touched upon just earlier, that this is a phone geared for LTE coverage. I was excited to use my T-Mobile microSIM card in this device, only to be thwarted from using fast data connections because of this phone's lack of support for HSPA+. LTE is available in my area, but not for this carrier. I am sure that with the right phone service, the Xperia V's true potential can be realized.

Sound is pretty impressive on all fronts with this phone, as calls came out loud and clear without any problems. It is the media speaker that I was impressed with, however, as I was taken aback by just how powerful it is. A game of Jetpack Joyride at full blast actually put some strain on my ears. It isn't the fullest or most dynamic sound, but it gets the job done better than a number of devices I have tested with weaker speakers.

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If it hasn't already been made clear, the Sony Xperia V definitely has a lot to offer its users. 8GB of available memory might not be very appealing, but having an expandable memory slot is. Battery life is decent at best, but being able to replace it on the fly is a very welcome capability. All of this is tucked under a shell that protects it all from the harmful effects of water, so even if you drop your phone in a puddle, it should be able to bounce right back. That test is coming up.

Performance

As has been a trend for Sony smartphones, this Xperia V uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor – in this case, the Krait variation at clocked out at 1.5GHz. This should provide a nice usage experience as well as some decent multitasking with 1GB of RAM included. Video and graphics performance is bolstered by an Adreno 225, as well, so gaming and video viewing should get a much needed boost.

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These might not be the best specifications in the market right now, but the translation into practice is quite good – for the most part. While the Xperia V certainly doesn't belong in the top-most tier of current Android devices, it also doesn't deserve to be considered one of the worst. On the contrary, the phone works quite well without too much lag when opening apps and running more intensive tasks. Even the startup time of the Xperia V is impressive, as the boot up took no longer than about a minute to complete. Of course, this startup time could change with the installation of more applications and modules.

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As I had originally expected, the Sony Xperia V is nestled right alongside the higher mid-tier devices in benchmark tests. AnTuTu gave it just above the 10000 mark, quite average given that some of the best devices get close to breaking the 20000 threshold. The rankings are largely the same with Quadrant and Vellamo, putting the Xperia V just around the mark where the original HTC One X currently sits.

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Ultimately, the performance aspect of this phone is just above average, at best. The average user will not have any qualms regarding the speed or usage of their Xperia V, though it certainly can't hold a candle to the likes of the Nexus 4 and even the slightly aged Galaxy S3. The lag might be slightly noticeable even when scrolling through homescreens (especially if content in a widget hasn't been loaded yet) and when navigating through various functions of the phone, but you should be able to get through your tasks with some ease.

Camera

We then come over to the camera – if you are like me and used to have a Cybershot Sony Ericsson phone, then this might be an interesting prospect. After all, Sony has a pedigree of great camera optics that have made their mid-2000s phones hot items.

The Xperia V camera comes with an impressive 13 megapixels – with the industry standard being 8, this is certainly one aspect of Sony's phone that trumps much of the competition. However, megapixels don't tell the story when it comes to quality, and hopefully the optics at f/2.4 will bring some good quality pictures even under average lighting.

I am delighted to report that the camera on the Xperia V actually lives up to these specs and expectations. All of the following shots were done under indoor lighting without scene manipulation – meaning the lights are either the ones already found within my residence or the sunlight emanating from the windows. In the shot below, you can see how having a low aperture allows for a good depth of field. Only the particular portion I touch-focused in the orange is in focus while the rest of the scene doesn't have the same focus. Disregard the fringe on the bottom left – that is my finger.

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Click to see the full picture.

Playing with depth of field is a typical trope for photographers, so having an actually fast and responsive touch-induced focusing system helps make the Xperia V's camera excel. Here's one for all you Instragram foodies – the low aperture helps me to flush out the background a bit to keep the food as the main focus. This is done without Instagram's filters or selective focus tools.

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Click to see the full picture.

In the following shot, I was able to capture a lovely orchid under the sun rays emanating through the nearby window. The color of the purple pedals is quite detailed and nicely rendered without being too washed out. The green leaves underneath are just as detailed and you can see how the stick on the side is also in focus, giving more of an example of the benefit to a low aperture lens.

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Click to see the full picture.

And finally, a nice close up shot of a battery. It doesn't sound all too exciting, but Eneloop batteries have a nice design and come in nice colors. This light blue battery was right up to the lens, prompting the Superior Auto feature of the camera to automatically select Macro Mode for this shot. Given the low light in my room, the flash also went off – it first synched by flashing once and then took the picture with a less powerful blast. The result is this macro shot that was clear and actually turned out a little artistic.

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Click here for the full picture.

The app itself, although based upon the Ice Cream Sandwich version, has a look that is a little bit like the Jelly Bean camera. Instead of using separation bars for menus, which could sometimes skew your perception of the shot through your viewfinder, the various settings are simply overlays as the whole display is thus used for framing your scene. Press on any of the buttons and you will be given an easy view of your options. As far as settings go, HDR is available as well as Panorama and various toy effect modes. Touch capture is available, so you don't have to use the shutter button – and if you are into video, this camera can capture Full HD 1080p footage.

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All in all, the camera is a very good performer that is sure to please almost any smartphone shutterbugs out there. In line with the photography philosophy I adopt, in which 'the best camera you have is the one on you,' this camera can certainly be one of your best companions.

Software

As I just mentioned, the Xperia V is a little bit behind in the Android game because it is sporting 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. This might be an aging operating system, but it still works well under the phone's processing power and is kept pretty fresh due to some added features.

Before we get into that, however, we should look through some of the features that Sony has retained from Google's own vanilla OS. As detailed earlier, Sony's smartphone uses the contextual soft keys that Nexus devices utilize in lieu of dedicated, capacitive keys. The Xperia V even hearkens back to older days with its lockscreen that is simply a left and right slider for unlocking and launching the camera, respectively.

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When it comes to general aesthetic, I have to say that Sony's custom UI is a little lacking. While there are some themes built-in to choose from, the default 'Sapphire' looks a little too much like the original Ice Cream Sandwich – grey tones with blue neon – to really stand out. While the app drawer and notification dropdown might include some changes, there isn't much else to it than that. The lack of customization compared to other user interfaces like TouchWiz, Sense, and Optimus make the Xperia V's operating system more akin to vanilla Android than its own unique entity. While I prefer the original Android experience most, it isn't what I expect from a non-Nexus device.

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Luckily, Sony has been able to remedy this by adding functionality over aesthetic. The first thing a user might notice is a different looking recent apps screen. Hit the key and you get a quick line of your most recently used applications, but at the bottom you see some icons for various extra functions. These are called Small Apps, and are Sony's way of adding more multitasking within its user interface. While more can be installed from the Play Store, the ones installed include a calculator, note taker, and a quick timer. These are actually pretty useful ways of getting some tasks done quickly while you are in the middle of doing something else.

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And finally, there is the Xperia/Playstation connection. This is one of the Playstation Certified devices and thus should be able to access and run content from Sony for gaming fun. I checked on the accessibility of such content and was able to install the dedicated Playstation Store app directly from Sony, but the games within did not include the ones I wanted to play (Tekken, for one). Even if just for the purposes of this test, I would have loved to put down a little bit of money to try out a Playstation game on a handheld like this, but I guess it isn't meant to be – such titles are probably only available for the Xperia Play and PS Vita anyway. If you really want to try some of the (mostly) generic content available in the PSM Store, you can – but you might be better off just sticking to the Android tried-and-true classics.

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So, with Small Apps and Playstation Certification, there is already some good added functionality and then the hope for future potential built into Sony's version of Android Ice Cream Sandwich. It isn't the most unique or even prettiest user interface out there, but it does get the job done and is, to its credit, simplistic enough to avoid being called ugly. Transitions between screens and functions are nice and smooth, so the navigation experience is far from flawed – there just isn't enough to deem this a truly unique, truly Sony-esque way of using your phone.

Waterproof Test

And now we finally come to the part you've all been waiting for – well, at least I have. While this feature might have been already available in the Xperia acro S and the Xperia Active, I was given some affirmation to how much more effective the waterproofing is on this phone than those other two models. Apparently it isn't only supposed to withstand a good splashing, but even a full immersion into a small body of water.

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A couple videos found online show tests of the Xperia V in even a full cup of liquid, so I will go one step further and make this device go swimming with the fishes. Okay, I don't actually have any fish; but I used to, and its former home will be the site of my waterproof test. Because of the depth this phone will go, I will shorten the 30 minute limit and let it go for 10 minutes.

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Perhaps miraculously, the phone remained on and even played the next video in the playlist after my intro (see the video review for that). I turned off the screen timeout and watched as the phone remained powered on for the duration of its swim. This was awesome to watch and a lot of fun to do, as I even reached into the bowl at one point to wake up the phone again. Using the screen underwater, however, is not possible – the touch registration of the screen seems to be completely shut off once it knows it is submerged in water.

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After taking out the phone, I was able to wake it back up get right into Fruit Ninja. Nearly all of my presses were registered flawlessly. I was able to get through a quick round even with the phone dripping wet and my fingers damp from the usage. This waterproofing is nothing short of a feat, and I am now very confident that even in the pouring rain or after an unfortunate spill at a restaurant or bar, a quick wipe down is all that is needed to get this phone back to tip top shape.

Price Point and Conclusion

I have to say that while much of what makes smartphones top-tier devices might not be included in the Sony Xperia V, there is an aspect to this phone I cannot deny – it is damn fun to use. From the looks alone, you are already getting a feeling of style from the Xperia V, and with its great camera and expandable memory, the possibilities for a media and photography person like me are quite endless.

It might not have the most updated Android OS or even have an interface that is completely unique, but the Xperia V totally makes up for these shortcomings by excelling in a number of other ways. And you have to admit, there is something really cool about knowing your phone can withstand a dip in a glass of water, a fish bowl, or even a pool. Those with butterfingers might truly appreciate a phone that can withstand some clumsy falls into puddles or spills on countertops.

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All in all, I have to give the Xperia V a lot of credit for reminding me how good Sony can be at creating phones. This isn't even the James Bond phone that many people are raging about, but I am just as jazzed about the V as they are. The camera reminds me of the days when I'd look at the new Sony Ericsson Cybershot phones and feel a lot of phone envy, the design is almost quintessentially Sony and is nothing short of sleek and stylish, and thus the overall package is definitely worth a look alongside our current Android champions.

The Xperia V is currently seeing a delay in Europe and some parts of Asia – it is unknown what kind of release it will see in the United States, if at all. Nonetheless, this phone is available unlocked at around $500 price point. We'll cross our fingers that this very worthwhile release by Sony makes it to phone carriers in the States – and perhaps at that point the price will be a little be easier to handle. I do believe that the features the Xperia V excels in are worth the extra investment (especially when you are getting a phone with such great weather and splash sealing) but even I would have a difficult time stomaching such a high price point.

How about you? How does the Xperia V look to you? Let us know in the comments below and don't forget to check out the video review, in which you can actually see me testing the phone's waterproofing!

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Tweet Lanes: A truly Holo-themed Twitter experience, miles ahead of the rest

Posted: 04 Jan 2013 07:10 PM PST

I love Holo, I really do. When Google unveiled Ice Cream Sandwich to the world, I was instantly smitten with how clean and cool it looked, so when I discovered Tweet Lanes, I was smitten yet again.

Developed my Chris Lacy, (the developer of Action Launcher), it strictly adheres to Android design guidelines, runs like a champ, and introduces some cool new enhancements, too.

Join me after the break and find out why Tweet Lanes is my Twitter client of choice.

First off, just admire how good Tweet Lanes looks. That’s definitely Holo-theming if I’ve ever seen it, and it looks darn good. But what else makes Tweet Lanes so good?

For one, the lanes are a great feature Chris Lacy introduced in the context of Holo design. Instead of any complicated tapping or button-oriented systems, you simply swipe left and right to get from column to column, or, as Lacy deemed them, Lanes. (Hence Tweet Lanes.)

The Lanes you use are completely customizable from the settings menu, and the only thing you absolutely have to keep enabled is your Twitter feed.

The second, and perhaps more important, enhancement is the Context Box. Lacy did away with reply and direct message buttons, and instead wrote a single text input field that changes depending on what you’re doing (or not doing).

Want to tweet? Fill something out in your Context Box and tweet it. Want to reply to someone? Simply highlight their name (via long press) in your feed, and the Context Box automatically adds their name as an @reply! Want to reply to more than one person? Highlight as many as you want, write your message, and they’ll all be replied to at once!

Tweet Lanes also uses what Lacy has termed VolScroll, which lets you move through your Twitter feed using the volume buttons to navigate up and down. In my experience, it works well, but I’m still a finger scrolling kinda guy, so I didn’t use it too much.

Combine all of the these features with multiple account support and you’ve got a wonderful Twitter app on your hands. The one takeaway is no notification support, but if you can get past that, you should definitely look into giving Tweet Lanes a try.

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Leap Motion 3D gesture controls coming to Asus Notebooks. Smartphones and tablets next?

Posted: 04 Jan 2013 05:20 PM PST

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Here at Android Authority, we have featured a variety of user interfaces, which include gesture controls, touch, voice control and motion-sensing technologies. One thing that got me excited in 2012 was a development by Leap Motion, which built a 3D-sensing device called The Leap, which was small enough to fit into portable devices like notebook computers.

Leap Motion has been distributing The Leap to interested developers to drum up interest, and intends to market the device for $70 apiece, which is meant to be included in portable devices. I seems Leap Motion’s goals are reaching fruition, with news that Asus will be incorporating Leap’s motion-sensing tech into its laptop computers soon.

Reports say that Asus will be including the device in its high-end notebook computers and premium all-in-one PCs. But what’s even more interesting here is the technology’s potential for use on even smaller devices, like tablets and smartphones. Leap Motion CEO Michael Buckwald says this is quite possible.

“The cameras are actually very small,” Buckwald said in an interview with CNet. “The actual sensors and software [can] fit in even the smallest form factors.”

The Leap can detect movement up to a hundredths of a millimeter, or half the diameter of a hair strand. The technology can also differentiate from among body parts and other objects it can detect through a three-dimensional space. Here are latest updates on Leap Motion’s promising device.

  • Leap Motion is already working with device manufacturers to possibly include the technology in their portable devices. none have been announced at this point.
  • Given that pure hardware will not mean anything without software to work with it, Leap Motion has an app store in the works, which it expects to launch within the year.
  • Leap Motion is making “between hundreds of thousands and millions of Leaps,” having ramped up its production process.
  • The company has announced a series B financing of $30 million to finance its increased production. Leap has raised $45 million in all. The series B financing is led by Founders Fund and High Capital Partners.
  • Among Leap’s target industries include the medical field, gaming, architecture, design and engineering. However, some other fields of interest are emerging, including sign language translation. The possibilities should keep app developers busy. Developers are even hinting at interest in building apps that will drive cars and pilot aircraft through gestures. The technology can also come in useful for physical therapy and rehabilitation.

According to Leap’s data, here is a breakdown of how developers intend to use the technology:

  • 14% of developers who availed themselves of the Alpha release are into gaming-related apps.
  • 12% plan to use the technology for multimedia like music and video.
  • 11% are into design.
  • 8% will use it for science and medicine.
  • 6% are into robotics.
  • 40,000 applications have been proposed.

Leap Motion looks promising, in that it could be just the thing we’re looking for in a (relatively) cheap and effective gesture control tech for our portable devices. Gesture control would be a great addition to augmented reality tech like Google Glass, which, incidentally is currently having an identity crisis.

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