Android Authority

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• Moving from iOS to Android: your guide
• Xiaomi looks to bring hot streak into the United States by 2014-15
• MetroPCS revamps their LTE plans, makes it more simple for everyone
• Sony Xperia Z might not be heading to Canada after all, according to official statements
• Dual SIM Philips W8355 coming soon with 5.3-inch screen and Android 4.0 ICS
• Sony to be the Apple of Android smartphones, do away with entry-level handsets?
• Over 1 million Raspberry Pi computers sold to date
• Xperia Z European release date set for February 18, Polish retailer suggests
• AT&T offers the 7-inch Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 for $100 on contract
• CES is over – where are the bezel-less phones?

Moving from iOS to Android: your guide Posted: 13 Jan 2013 01:57 AM PST Someday, you'll look back and tell the grandkids about it. The happiest day of your life. The day everything started to make sense in the world. You were happy. You felt alive and grounded for the first time… maybe ever. Life was worth experiencing, and Sunday mornings seemed surreal. No, not marriage or kids… not even those pesky grandkids. I'm talking about the day you switched from an iPhone to Android! That day will live in infamy for the rest of your life. You will look back on it with reverence and delight as you gaze off into the distance at the dinner table. Everyone will say "oh, there you go again… dreaming about Android." All joking aside (for now), you've made a big change in life and it's time to get you up and going. This article will serve as your reference point to get set-up, answer questions, and dispel myths. Before we go further, your first step will be to sign up for a Gmail account (if you haven’t already). It all starts from there. What are the differences? The differences you'll see between the two will be the interface, mostly. Each has their own OS that operate similarly, but not the same. Things like where buttons are on the screen and such will take a little time to get used to. It's a layout issue that may be shocking at first, but not for long. The differences here are minimal, so don't concern yourself with it too much. If you're considering Android, or have already switched, it's safe to assume none of it is foreign to you. Manufacturers like HTC or Samsung have their own version of the Android interface, so make sure you know which flavor is right for you before you get involved. Another thing to keep in mind is that Android is open source, while Apple is not. As you get more involved with Android, you may see some cool screenshots of app icons and widgets you don't have. That is probably a result of rooting, which is like jailbreaking for Android. While Apple made jailbreaking nearly impossible, Android embraces and encourages it. There are tons of developers and forums available to give you info about it, and I'll give you some links a little later. I probably don't need to tell you this, but variety is a major difference. With the iPhone, you basically get the same phone over and over. One company making one phone. With Android, the OS is free for everyone, so anyone can make an Android phone. You'll get all types of screen sizes, hardware specs, etc., so finding a phone for you is easy. If you’re wondering about the transition being difficult, just know that some very prominent Apple fans have switched to Android completely. If you need  a quick guide before actually making the jump, check out our helpful tips here. Let's talk about apps, baby So, in all my iPhone bashing, there is one thing I concede fully: the App Store is better than the Play Store. The reason for that is Apple had the jump on everyone. When the original iPhone came out, it blew everyone away. There was nothing like it, and no other viable digital market for apps, music, movies, etc. Everyone wanted to be part of it, so it grew really quickly and had a ton of content in no time. Things are not so good for Google. As Android is so very different from iOS, many studios and record companies were cautiously waiting to see what Android would be. Now that Android is taking off and surpassing iOS in many respects, content is increasing. We're getting more and more media content all the time for Android, so don't fret. If you have something like Netflix or Amazon MP3, you can download those apps and view your content right on your Android device. Android makes me app-y So many apps in this world, so little time. The good news for apps is that many developers are developing apps for both platforms now, or porting their iOS apps to Android. All those apps you love on iOS are probably on Android now. If they aren't, there is probably one very similar or that accomplishes the same thing. If I'm recommending apps, I will start with Google. Once you get your phone set-up, check out the Play Store. Run a search for "Google, Inc." and download as many of those as you don't have. Another favorite of mine is Field Trip, which is a Google product but falls under Niantic Labs. Field Trip will show you all kinds of cool stuff in the area you're in, as well as send you notifications on Google Offers in your area. If games are your thing, Android has you covered. Tons of games in all kinds of genres compose the Android gaming landscape. If you want it, there's an excellent chance you'll find it on the Play Store. One thing you now have access to is the very popular game Ingress. If you're not familiar, Ingress is an augmented reality game that gets you out and about in your city rather than sitting at home. The game is a huge cult hit already, and it's only in beta testing. Once it is available to the public, look out! How can I get my stuff onto Android? This could be tough, or even impossible. With the two being so different, some content simply will not transfer. We'll go over each major area to give you a better understanding of your options. Before you switch, I would strongly suggest you back up anything you have. Losing any content or info in the transition would just plain suck. Contacts There are quite a few ways to move contacts onto your new Android device. The most obvious way is to sync your contacts in iTunes to your computer. From there you can use the USB cable that came with your Android device to link to the computer, find the file your contacts are in, and load it onto your phone. That's all kind of old school, though. There are easier ways… ways that won't tether you to a computer. If you use Mac Address Book, you can export the file as a vCard. Once you do that, you can import them into your Gmail account. Of course, if you already use Gmail, life is easy. Once you get your Android phone, you log in with your Gmail account info, and your contacts sync automatically. There is one last way for those who either can't or aren't interested in the first two methods. There is a nice little app called My Contacts Backup that will export your contacts from your iPhone. It acts like the vCard option, so you simply email the file to your Gmail account and import from there. There is a YouTube video for those that need a quick walk-through, also. Music Music makes your world go round, doesn't it? Yeah, me too. Like everyone did a few years ago, I was an iTunes user (let's keep that on the down-low, ya?). When Google Music came out, I was excited to be fully vested in the Android spectrum. No more iTunes, no more wrangling with multiple devices and cables. I could go all-in with Android, and did so willingly. But how to transfer it all… that is the quandary. In the beginning, the Music Match system was a simple upload system. It took forever, and I mean that sincerely. It took about 5 full days to upload my library of 5,000 songs. Those were the old days, and now there are new ways. Since iTunes keeps your music stored locally on your computer, Music Match now has a scan-and-match feature that simply checks out your music collection and gives you the matching Play Music track. If it can't be found, the upload option is there as well. It may take a while, but the small investment of time now is worth it long term. Some music is protected by a digital rights copyright, or DRM. Some iTunes music simply won't load or transfer, so you may have to re-purchase some stuff. For my library, I had to purchase one full album, and it was $10. Not bad, really. Movies Well, this will be quick. You're kinda screwed here. These is currently no way to transfer iTunes movies to your Google Play account. Just about all iTunes movies are DRM protected, so they are just unavailable for transfer. There is conversion software out there, but those often can't perform the task. Google Play movies is the slowest to round into shape. The rental aspect of it is nearly nonexistent, and it lacks a lot of content. If renting movies via iTunes is your thing, it simply won't happen on Android like you want it to right now. Again, content is growing daily, but it just isn't there yet. Which Android is right for me? From Cupcake to Jelly Bean, Android has come a long way. Key Lime Pie is next! In our little Android world, there have been many iterations. Originally, they were named after robots (Astro and Bender). Those were alpha testing models which were, let's say, slimmed down versions of what you see now. Since those two, Android has been named after delicious treats: Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, FroYo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Jelly Bean. If you're considering Android, you're probably looking at Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean. Those two are the latest and, being blunt, first to really challenge iOS for overall smoothness and dominance. In coming from iOS, you'll probably want an Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean Android phone, which are both version 4.0 and higher. Finding a newer phone without either of those two is tough, assuming you're looking at high-end phones. All newer phones run on either of those two, and they are very similar. Jelly Bean has a few minor tweaks, but ICS was a major step forward. Either of those two iterations present the easiest transition for you in terms of layout and appearance. Keep in mind that some manufacturers alter the appearance and interface a bit, so always try before you buy. Two major aspects of Android You are an Android user now, so let's go over a few things to know about the Android world. there is a lot of things to know and educate yourself about, but two major things within our spectrum dominate the landscape. They are both vital to Android, so we should discuss them a bit more. Rooting We touched on rooting before, but just know that rooting is a world within the Android world. Rooting is very popular, and has a really great community of people who are there to help. Get involved, learn as much as you like, and if you feel confident about it… go ahead and root your device. Like anything tech related, there will be a ton of differing opinions. Some think rooting is the only way to go. Quite a few people buy a phone and root it straight away, no fussing with anything else. They do what is called "flashing" a custom ROM, which is like saying they load a specially built version of Android. If you root and flash, you can also load custom themes, which is a custom interface for the phone. Rooting gives you access to change and manipulate your device as you see fit, so make sure you understand what you're doing before you get into trouble. Think you want to root your device? Check out CyanogenMod for a new ROM and theme. CyanogenMod is a great place to start, and has a theme builder so you can personalize your rooted device! Nexus The Nexus line is Google’s answer to iStuff. It's meant to give a little balance to the Android world by providing really great hardware at some great price points. The Nexus is also a pure Android experience, which means you won't get anything other than Android as Google meant it to be. No manufacturer tweaks or modifications, no apps you don't want from carriers. It's Android, pure and simple. The Nexus line, however, has been mired in availability issues. The recent Nexus 4 launch was an unmitigated disaster, and the Nexus 7 before it was equally as tough to get. Both amazing devices, and both underestimated in terms of demand. Google is fairly new to this eCommerce game, so once they take it seriously there will be no issues. I think after a rough 2012 in terms of selling devices via the Play Store, they've learned their lesson. Conclusion The world is now free and open to you, my Android friend. With so much variety and freedom to do as you please, I'd challenge you to find a reason Android isn't better than iOS. Let me also say that there is room for both operating systems in this world, and I really hope Apple fans are as passionate as Android fans. It's that passion that really drives each company to succeed. If you're looking for a way to get acquainted with Android further, check out the various communities on Google+. It's a great way to get feedback on any subject. Feel free to pop in and say "Hey, I'm new to Android." and ask away. This was a primer for getting started, sure, but not the whole story. Android has a lot to offer, and you should definitely take advantage as much as possible. Related Posts You and your new Android device – a getting started guide Google Play Music now available in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK BOOM! Android Market Becomes Google Play Store, along with Google Music and Google Ebookstore [Updated]

Xiaomi looks to bring hot streak into the United States by 2014-15 Posted: 12 Jan 2013 02:45 PM PST Many people in the US haven’t heard too much about Xiaomi. In fact, there aren’t too many outside of China who haven’t heard of them. However, in China, they just had a stellar year selling their M-series smartphones. Riding on the coattails of success, Xiaomi is looking to extend their presence into the United States by 2014 or early 2015. According to CNet Asia, the Chinese phone manufacturer sold 7.12 million of their smartphones, totaling about $2 billion USD in revenue. For a phone that’s only available in one country, those are impressive numbers. What may surprise people is that the company actually took a loss, as they are selling their phones below their actual value. Of course, this was all part of the strategy. The Xiaomi MI2 phone is being sold in China for $313 USD while the phone costs about $60 more than that to make. It packs a 1.5GHz quad core Snapdragon Krait processor, 2GB of RAM, 720p display, and 16GB of storage. For $313 off contract, you can’t buy a better smartphone. This was all part of a plan by Xiaomi to get a hold in the market and get their product circulated. It worked, too. Many equated the Xiaomi MI2 to the Android version of the iPhone. Can Xiaomi make it in the United States? They’ll have their hands full, that’s for sure. Samsung is top dog right now and HTC, LG, and Motorola are still trusted brands. In addition, OEMs like Huawei have already tried getting into the US market and haven’t been successful yet. If Xiaomi plans on selling top of the line smartphones for similar prices as their current products, it’ll be really hard saying no. Let us know what you think about Xiaomi. Could the US use another top quality OEM to shake things up or do the other OEMs have a strangle hold? Related Posts Xiaomi’s swift rise to the top of China’s smartphone industry Xiaomi on its way to Europe by 2013? Text-to-911 services expected to roll out in the United States by 2014

MetroPCS revamps their LTE plans, makes it more simple for everyone Posted: 12 Jan 2013 01:30 PM PST When it comes to prepaid service, it’s hard to find the right one. There is a lot to consider. Making sure you get the right amount of coverage, minutes, texts, and data. We’ve even written up a guide to prepaid plans that we update monthly to help our readers choose the best. MetroPCS has just updated their plans to make them more simple to understand. Yes, it’ll be in the guide when we update it this month. To keep up with other no contract carriers, MetroPCS has simplified things into three main plans. All three main plans carry similar features. They all give unlimited text, talk, and data. The only difference is how much high speed data you get before you get throttled. $40 gets you 500MB, $50 gets you 2.5GB, and $60 for all you can eat data. After the limit, you still get unlimited data, but it’s throttled. It’s good of MetroPCS to keep the plans simple and cheap. They can remain competitive and still offer cell service. If you need unlimited data, want LTE, and need a decent phone selection, then MetroPCS may be worth taking a closer look. Is it all sunshine and butterflies for MetroPCS? Not exactly, there are some caveats. MetroPCS 4G LTE isn’t everywhere. It’s limited to several major cities, but be sure to check their coverage map to make sure you’re getting the service you want. It’s not exactly a bad thing, but no contract plans means no subsidized phones. So if you want a top tier phone, it can set you back up to $500. With the new plan pricing and set up, customers looking for a new carrier will definitely have less mumbo jumbo to deal with. None of that 2GB for $40 and $1 for each additional 100MB nonsense. Do these new plans make MetroPCS a worthy competitor to other carriers? Let us know what you think. Related Posts US Cellular now offering unlimited 4G LTE data plans Deutsche Telekom plans to merge T-Mobile, MetroPCS Carriers MetroPCS and Cricket offer financing for smartphones

Sony Xperia Z might not be heading to Canada after all, according to official statements Posted: 12 Jan 2013 11:35 AM PST There's been a lot of confusion as to what exactly is Sony planning for the nearly identical Xperia Z and ZL handhelds, but the company's officials are certainly not helping in making people understand the situation. Canadians for instance "learned" just yesterday that both the Z and ZL are in the near future due for releases up north. Mind you, the info was supposed to be official and rock solid, being revealed by Sony Mobile's global PR team Twitter account. But as it so often happens in the "Digital Age", it seems that the powers that be managing the account were either misinformed or, dare we say it, looking for some free publicity. Sony Canada has of course been a little more diplomatic on the matter, releasing the following statement: "Everyone is really excited about the week we've had at CES. A global representative made an error regarding Canadian product availability. At this time we can confirm that Canadians will be receiving the Xperia ZL as previously announced, but we have nothing to announce about the Xperia Z availability in Canada at this time. We will share more news on future products as they are confirmed." Oh, so it was overexcitement that caused the "misunderstanding"? Sounds legit (not). But irony aside, what does this statement clear up after all? Seemingly nothing, although usually when there's nothing to announce about the availability of a phone at a given time, but something about another device, that first one is not coming. Ever. So, is it a good or bad thing that the ZL is heading to Canada, while the Z is not? Well, it depends on where you're living. If you're a Canadian, it's definitely bad news, because as twin-like the two might seem, the Z is definitely slightly better, with added water and dust proof capabilities and a skinnier body. Europeans and Asians on the flipside should have a big, big smile on their faces right about now, because if Canada's not getting the Z that means it'll be their show. As for US citizens, these might get a few headaches, but nothing on the long-haul. After all, Sony's already kinda sorta confirmed the Z is hitting the land of the free and home of the brave. Related Posts Sony Xperia Ion heading to Canada in July, comes with free 50GB Box storage Sony's Xperia ZL to head to Canada soon Sony rolls out ICS update for Xperia S, Pro and Mini Pro in Canada

Dual SIM Philips W8355 coming soon with 5.3-inch screen and Android 4.0 ICS Posted: 12 Jan 2013 10:14 AM PST Despite being a "premium" brand name in the tech world, having annual revenue in the order of tens of billions of dollars and an effective of worldwide employees of over 100,000 people, Philips has never been what you'd call Android-friendly. We've only seen a couple of low-end phones and tablets from the Dutch-based multinational electronics company over the years (and we do mean low-end), as well as one or two media players that are as fashionable now as crocs. But as tough as trying to penetrate the ultra-competitive Android market from the position of a newcomer might be these days, Philips seems all set to unveil the company's first (half) decent smartphone. The W8355 has been spotted online by the good folks over at Unwired View and should see daylight soon as one of the few affordable supersized devices around. There's no word on the actual pricing for now, but seeing this big guy's rather uninspired spec sheet we think Philips is not going to ask us to dig very deep into our pockets. The 5.3-inch screen boasting a 960 x 540 pixels resolution is one the features that sounds the most promising about the W8355, while on the flipside we have the dated Android 4.0 ICS, just 512 MB of RAM and a mediocre 5 MP rear-facing camera. 4G LTE is of course missing from the "beast" as well, while the dual-core 1 GHz CPU is covered in mystery. The only other specs known at the moment are the standard Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity options, while the "package" is said to measure 10.9 mm in thickness, 147.6 in height and 79 in width. Not too shabby for such a big fellow, although we can't imagine the W8355 will be entering any beauty pageants soon. A Bluetooth SIG listing seems to point at a very wide release for the Philips W8355, but until hearing something official on that we're going to assume the worst – that is, the 5.3-incher will only be released in China. Oh, right, we almost forgot about the phablet's piece de resistance spec-wise – the dual-SIM support. That's one more argument that backs a limited China release, but also a feature that makes this a direct competitor for Samsung's soon to be unveiled Galaxy Grand Duos and the recently spotted dirt-cheap Kogan Agora. The thing is Philips might not have enough to undercut either of the two devices, what with the extra power of the Grand Duos and Agora's unbeatable price, so we wouldn't get too excited about the tech giant's latest venture in the Android world after all. Does anyone disagree? How so? Related Posts Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos rumored to come soon – 5-inch dual-SIM mid-ranger? $103 Beidou Chi with 5-inch screen coming December 4 Philips' Made for Android Headphones Coming Soon

Sony to be the Apple of Android smartphones, do away with entry-level handsets? Posted: 12 Jan 2013 10:07 AM PST Since companies such as Samsung, LG and Motorola – to name just a few of the Android device makers we expect hot new products this year – decided not to announce any new Android smartphone and/or tablet this past week, Sony had a chance to shine at CES 2013. The company unveiled its new flagship device, the Xperia Z, and its cheaper alter ego, the Xperia ZL, and these products are expected to hit stores in the coming months, well ahead of every other 2013 flagship handset from Sony's main competitors. The Japanese company seems more and more determined to catch up companies and Samsung and Apple that control the mobile business when it comes to marketshare (the former) and profits (the latter), and one way of achieving its goal seems to be moving away from cheap Android devices. Stephen Sneeden, the company's Xperia product marketing manager, told CNET Asia that Sony wants to get closer to Samsung and Apple in the following couple of years, with help of its high-end devices: “We’re ready to be a premium smartphone provider, logically then, at the very entry level is where you lose the ‘Sonyness’. And it’s where you cannot implement some of these wonderful things from Sony at such a low cost, we might leave the very entry tier to some other manufacturers,” Sneeden said. But mid-rangers will not be left out of Sony's future device portfolio, as they can still be very appealing to potential buyers: “Maybe it’s not the flagship product, but I can still aspire to this other phone that has a number of these same characteristics.” The Xperia Z (our hands-on here) proves that Sony wants to offer its Android device buyers a particular smartphone experience by including certain proprietary technologies such as its Mobile Bravia Engine 2 for displays, the Exmor RS technology for cameras or the Battery Stamina feature. After all, in an Android environment where OEMs release basically similar hardware powered by more-or-less the same Android OS experience, such features can become important for consumers. But such exclusive features may be too expensive to include in entry-level devices, so we can't really blame Sony for trying a different approach. Is Sony trying to become the Apple of the Android ecosystem by focusing its efforts on providing devices only to a segment of the potential buyers? Furthermore, will such a strategy work considering that the bulk of purchased Android handsets are not high-end models, especially in developing markets? We'll certainly keep close tabs on the company and its mobile business in the following years. On a different note, Sneeden revealed that future Sony handsets will have the power button placed on the side, just like it's found on the Xperia Z. Are you buying a Sony smartphone in the following months? Related Posts Entry-level Sony Xperia Tipo to hit O2 and Orange UK in August, pricing not yet revealed Sony Xperia Z release date reportedly set for January, to beat Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S to market Sony Xperia T, TX, V Jelly Bean upgrades coming in Q1 2013, other handsets also mentioned

Over 1 million Raspberry Pi computers sold to date Posted: 12 Jan 2013 08:38 AM PST The $35 Raspberry Pi Linux-based PC doesn't need any more introductions, does it? In fact, the project is becoming more and more popular, with more and more buyers interested in the more-than-affordable tiny computer. It now appears that the 1 million sales mark has been passed, although the number isn't necessarily confirmed yet. Raspberry Pi revealed a few days ago that one of its distributors sold over half a million devices – and the company only has two official partners: The folks at element 14/Premier Farnell announced today that they alone have now made and sold more than half a million Raspberry Pis. They're only one of two official distributors; we don't have completely up-to-date figures from RS Components yet, but Farnell's news suggests that we're well on the way to having sold our millionth Raspberry Pi. Have you purchased a Raspberry Pi computer yourself? How is the device treating you so far? Related Posts Raspberry Pi GPU is Twice as Powerful as the iPhone 4S GPU Raspberry Pi gets even sweeter, turbo mode allows up to 1GHz speeds Samsung sold 6.5 million Galaxy S3 units in June, expected to sell another 15 million in Q3

Xperia Z European release date set for February 18, Polish retailer suggests Posted: 12 Jan 2013 06:45 AM PST The Xperia Z is undoubtedly Sony's best smartphone to date and one of the most interesting new Android devices unveiled at this year's Consumers Electronics Show edition. We have already shown you all there is to see about the new flagship device, from specs and features and initial availability information, to a hands-on preview from CES floors to information from the first mobile operators and electronics retailers announcing plans to carry the handset. But we still have no idea when the handset will be launched. An earlier rumor suggested that the Xperia Z will hit stores a few days after CES, while Sony announced on stage that the handset is coming in Q1 2013. Actual release dates are not available at this time, but a Polish authorized Sony retailer reveals on its Xperia Z pre-order page – the handset is selling for roughly 680 Euro unlocked by the way – that it could ship on February 18, although that date is subject to change. Coincidently, O2 revealed that its UK subscribers will get the handset in February as well, without specifying a release date. While we don't have confirmed launch dates for the Xperia Z at this time, it certainly looks like Sony wants to start selling its new flagship device as soon as possible to take advantage of the fact that its most important rivals have not announced any flagship devices at CES 2013. Devices such as LG's 2013 flagship handsets, Samsung's Galaxy S4 or HTC's rumored M7 are yet to be unveiled, so Sony could try to make the most of Xperia Z sales by the time such high-end devices hit stores. Are you buying an Xperia Z this year? Related Posts O2 Xperia Z to launch in February, purple exclusive color option included Sony Xperia Z release date reportedly set for January, to beat Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S to market Sony Xperia E coming to Carphone Warehouse UK in February, Jelly Bean not included?

AT&T offers the 7-inch Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 for $100 on contract Posted: 12 Jan 2013 06:24 AM PST After it was introduced in the middle of last year, the Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 finally went on sale in the U.S. in November. Now, AT&T has added Lenovo's 7-inch budget offering to its tablet lineup. You can get the IdeaTab A2107 on AT&T for a special price of $99.99, but it comes with a two-year service agreement. Do note that the offer ends on February 14, 2013 and is only valid for online purchases. The off-contract price is set at $199.99. Specs-wise, the IdeaTab A2107 can't really compete with other more popular 7-inch Android tablets in the market that are priced similarly. For sure, the tab’s 1,024 x 600 display screams 2011. The tablet sports a single-core 1GHz MediaTek 6575 processor, 512MB RAM, 8GB internal storage, microSD card slot (up to 32GB), 3MP rear camera, and VGA front cam. It also boasts WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, 3G radio, and a 3,550mAh battery. Lastly, the IdeaTab A2170 comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. Hit the AT&T link below if you're interested. Show full PR text Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 Added to AT&T Tablet Lineup Lenovo’s Ultra Portable Tablet Ideal for Consumer and Business Customers Dallas, Texas, January 11, 2013 AT&T* today announced the availability of the Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 at www.att.com for $199.99, without a two-year commitment. Designed for both consumer and business customers, the IdeaTab A2107 is a low-cost, ultra portable tablet powered by Android™ 4.0. It includes a 7-inch display, front- and rear-facing webcams and has access to thousands of apps through Google Play™. For a limited time, customers will receive $100 off the Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 purchased online at www.att.com with a two-year data plan agreement. With the IdeaTab A2107, customers can stay connected to the AT&T mobile internet from almost anywhere and enjoy a complete mobile office environment that’s compact enough to fit in a jacket pocket or laptop bag. It’s easy to customize by creating folders, grouping similar apps and creating personalizing homepages. And the 7″ display features adjustable text and more information than users would normally see on a mobile phone. It also features an internal magnesium roll cage for enhanced durability, a soft matte back cover for a better grip and a bright screen for easy viewing, even when outdoors. The Lenovo A2107 tablet also serves as a great portal for staying informed of the latest news, stock quotes and emails. You can store more documents, jobsite images, videos, and illustrations such as CAD drawings with the additional SD card slot. With support for GPS and enabled with AT&T’s mobile internet, the A2107 can serve as a well-informed guide to provide effortless turn-by-turn navigation. “The Lenovo IdeaTab is a great option for those in the market for a compact, multifunctional tablet at an affordable price,” said Chris Penrose, senior vice president of emerging devices, AT&T. “Connecting it to the AT&T network keeps customers connected while on the go to what matters most.” Customers can add the Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 to a new or existing AT&T Mobile Share plan for $10 per month or choose one of AT&T’s DataConnect plans. Offering between 1 GB and 20 GB of data, Mobile Share plans allow for up to 10 devices. Related Posts Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 tablet now shipping for those in the US Lenovo outs 7-inch IdeaTab A2107, no pricing and release date announced just yet Lenovo to launch IdeaTab A2105, A2107 and A2109 in September, pricing and spec sheets unknown

CES is over – where are the bezel-less phones? Posted: 12 Jan 2013 06:10 AM PST With CES 2013 now over, the New Year is looking quite promising with respect to the technology market, especially in the world of Android. Big name companies have already shown off all kinds of goodies that will no doubt set the bar for what is to come. Many of the most exciting devices feature specs that could have been only dreamed of in the past. After all of the excitement has simmered down, however, one can't help but notice that there is a glaring lack of advancement in one specific field: design. The actual physical appearance of the new handsets that are coming out doesn't seem to be evolving at the same rate as the rest of the phone. Many of the most popular modern devices feature very similar aesthetics, a minimalistic candy-bar design, the only real variables being the placement of the physical buttons on the perimeter of the device. These designs aren't bad mind you, and they still look fantastic, but change is always welcome. An idea that has long been passed around is to create a phone that has a true edge-to-edge display; a phone without a bezel. Almost the entire interaction with the phone occurs directly on the screen, so removing the bezel would utilize the entire surface area of the device. Creating a bezel-less phone would dramatically change the look and feel of a device, but why hasn't it been done yet? What is a bezel? If you are unfamiliar with the bezel on a phone, it is simply that area that surrounds the display. Looking directly at the front of a device, you will notice a border that surrounds the actual screen; generally it is made of plastic but can also be made of many other products including glass or metal.  The real question then, is why is it there? Aside from holding the front facing camera and the speaker at the top of the device, the bezel really doesn't serve much purpose. Just a concept, for now Where has the idea come from? The idea of a bezel-less phone isn't new. Look to almost any science fiction film for inspiration; generally an almost all glass (or invisible) device that looks chic and futuristic can be found at some point in the film. In a more realistic sense, there have long been rumors from the likes of Samsung and Motorola. Just recently in 2012, the Galaxy S3 was rumored to be coming with a bezel free face as well as the first rumors of the Droid Razr M. Of course, to date, neither of these companies has released a device sans bezel. Creating a bezel-less device There are several arguments that can be made as to the necessity of the bezel on a smart phone. One of the primary points that is made, is that the bezel aids in preventing unintentional screen inputs. After all, these devices are general fully operated via touch screen and not having a bezel may cause the hand that is holding the device to be too intrusive. This issue is easily remedied with software. When the iPad mini was introduced, the thin bezel led Apple to develop a patch to their software that ignores an input that is simply resting on the screen. This software can easily be applied to any device without a bezel, well if Apple hasn't been patented already that is. And besides, the edge of a device, even if thin, should provide ample room to prevent the palm of a hand to intrude with it. Another argument that is often made is that the bezel is also meant to act as protection for the screen. Some devices have bezels that extend slightly beyond the face of the screen in order to add protection for when the device is dropped. This is a legitimate concern, but luckily, thanks to modern display technology, a cracked screen may be a thing of the past. The new flexible screen technology that has been debuted by Samsung could eventually be just the technology that is needed for a bezel-less phone. This flexible display could potentially absorb the impact when dropped, although the exact capabilities of flexible displays are unknown as of now due to how new they are. Alternatively, Gorilla Glass could potentially fit the bill as well. Their technology is improving with every new release, and by the time that a bezel-less device I ready to hit the market, perhaps Gorilla Glass will be able to hold up to a bezel free drop test. What's the point? There are several advantages to having a device that is bezel free. First and foremost, the device would be a looker. Reducing the bezel really illuminates the beautiful screen. Removing the bezel would also add the effect of reducing weight in the phone. Smart phones are becoming lighter in weight with every new rendition, but every bit counts. The bezel-less device has been rumored for quite some time now but as of yet there seems to be little momentum in creating such a device. With such little word on when (or if) such a device will come to fruition, we can only hope that there is enough interest in 2013 to spawn these kind of devices. Would you be interested in a bezel-less phone? Related Posts Newly granted Samsung patent hints towards a future of foldable displays Samsung Rumored to be Working on a Bezel-less Super Device New Motorola Droid RAZR model coming to Verizon sans bezel?

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Android Central

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• Apps of the Week: Wallbase HD Wallpapers, News 360, Deer Reader Lite and more!
• From the Editor's Desk: Leaving Las Vegas
• Flipboard updated to support Android 4.2 Daydream feature
• Smart Camera 2.0 brings together remote shooting and sharing

Apps of the Week: Wallbase HD Wallpapers, News 360, Deer Reader Lite and more! Posted: 12 Jan 2013 01:10 PM PST We just had a crazy, awesome and news-filled week at CES in Las Vegas, but that doesn't mean we're stopping our weekly app picks. Another week, another great (albeit slightly abbreviated) set of apps for you to go check out on your own phones and tablets this weekend. Stick around after the break and see how we did this week. read more

From the Editor's Desk: Leaving Las Vegas Posted: 12 Jan 2013 07:54 AM PST That's it. Same old picture from Building 44 in Mountain View. No cool picture of yours truly on the Las Vegas strip. No shot from the CES floor, or with a stack full of chips. Just the same ol' picture we're all tired of seeing. Being sick at CES sucks, more so than the inevitable plague that follows you home. I don't have much more to say about CES that we haven't already said. I'm real curious to see how NVIDIA's Project Shield handheld gaming console thingy turns out. I'm not what I'd consider a gamer -- I generally pick up a new CoD every couple years, but my kids are now grown enough (yet still so very young) so that I feel I need to not play in front of them -- but there's a familiar feeling when you hold those controls. For good reason -- it's basically an slightly oversized Xbox controller. I got to spend a half-hour or so with it in Las Vegas -- read my initial thoughts here -- but can't help but wonder if it'll be priced to sell in any real numbers while lacking the pocketability of other handheld gaming systems. Otherwise? It was kind of refreshing to not be buried under waves of phones that won't see release for months. (Though we did have about the same number of phones that likely will never see the light of day in the U.S.) Enough has been said about the relevance (or lack thereof) of CES, but I'll point you to John Biggs' TechCrunch piece about how maybe, just maybe, it's for all those start-ups who bought booth space in hopes of showing off their product or service. I agree completely. CES should be about the companies presenting at the show -- not placating the press, who's there on the company dime. I've said it before, and I'm saying it here again now: Our team in Vegas did a bad-ass job. From Alex and Andrew and Anndrew, to Simon and all the other Mobile Nations folks on the ground, there's not much I would have done different this week. And that's about all this (usually not-so-humble) editor can ask for. Let's do it all again next year. Or next month, in Barcelona. A few other thoughts to close out the week ... read more

Flipboard updated to support Android 4.2 Daydream feature Posted: 11 Jan 2013 09:01 PM PST Flipboard for Android was updated today, and along with a fix for "accidental" flipping and some minor bug fixes, there is a major feature added in -- support for Android 4.2's Daydream feature. Flipboard says this "allows you to create a screen saver made out of Flipboard covers," and that's a pretty good description. You won't find any new settings inside the Flipboard app itself, but if you open the display settings on your Jelly Bean 4.2 device you'll see Flipboard listed under the different Daydream modes. The screen saver itself is well done, with the zooming and gently panning of images you'll find in the Photo Table Daydream provided by Google. It uses the entries in your Cover stories category, so you'll probably want to adjust those a bit. It's more media centric than the Currents Daydream, and lacks a lot of textual information, but we're really excited to see a major player take advantage of the tools Google provides to make unique and awesome apps. Grab the update or install the app for the first time from the link above. Thanks, Carlos!

Smart Camera 2.0 brings together remote shooting and sharing Posted: 11 Jan 2013 08:26 PM PST A few days before CES 2013 started in earnest, Samsung launched a new app called Smart Camera 2.0. It brings together features from companion apps for their various Wi-Fi-enabled cameras, including remote viewfinder and photo transfer to a mobile device (either automatically or manually). Only smart cameras made from 2013 onwards will be able to take advantage of the new app, which can be found now in Google Play. Any Samsung smart camera owners out there? How have you found the current handset and tablet companion apps? Are they reliable and useful? If you end up using apps like this a lot, is there any reason to not just get the Samsung Galaxy Camera?

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Google Android News Android Forums

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• Google gives app developers “badges” to help promote their app on various websites
• Android 4.1 update now headed to US variants of Samsung Galaxy Tab 2
• Updated Dropbox Android App Goes Heavy On Photo Sharing
• ZTE Plans On Making Major Splash For 2013 By Introducing More Devices On American Wireless Carriers

Google gives app developers “badges” to help promote their app on various websites Posted: 12 Jan 2013 12:46 PM PST If you’re a developer, you know how important it is to get your app out there to as many people as possible. Well, Google wants to help you. They’ve created a webpage that allows you to enter your app name/URL and they’ll create a “badge” for you to put on your website (or any other website for that matter). Clicking on the badge will take people to your app on the Google Play Store so they can download it right there. Couldn’t be any easier, and Google gives you multiple size choices. Hopefully Google will expand upon this idea, and offer different color options (white would be nice), and maybe even a square corners option for those of us who like straight, clean lines. If you’re an app developer, jump on it! Click the source link below to get started. Source: Android Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Android 4.1 update now headed to US variants of Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Posted: 12 Jan 2013 12:33 PM PST Good news for you Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 owners. Both the 10.1 and 7.0 variants of Samsung’s popular slate are now getting a taste of Android Jelly bean. The 4.1 update includes all the awesome features you’ve been waiting for: Project Butter, Google Now, better notifications, and improvements to TouchWiz. If you’re too impatient to wait for the OTA to show up in your notification bar, you can try to force the update by going to Settings > About Tablet > Check for update. Since this is a major update, you’ll need to have your battery charged to at least 50% and be prepared to download a few hundred megabytes of data. Give it a try, and let us know how things go for you in the comment section below. Source: Phandroid Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Updated Dropbox Android App Goes Heavy On Photo Sharing Posted: 12 Jan 2013 11:03 AM PST The Android Dropboxapp update to version 2.3 is now available. The update provides some UI improvements and slight updates but its focus is clearly on photo sharing. If you have the “Camera Upload” feature enabled photo sharing via Dropbox is pretty damn easy. The  the app’s gallery view of your uploaded images allows you to select multiple images. Once selected you can add to an album, delete or share a link to the usual choices (Gmail, SMS, Facebook, Google+, etc.). The recipient gets a link to the images you selected. They can then decide to download or add to their own Dropbox account. One of the questions I receive most often from my less tech-savvy friends (and iPhone owners) is about how to email multiple photos. “I tried to email the 50+ photos from my daughter’s birthday party but…” Ugh, stop. Just use Dropbox and quit bothering me. Everyone else, update via the Play Store or hit the download link below.      Play Store Download Link Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

ZTE Plans On Making Major Splash For 2013 By Introducing More Devices On American Wireless Carriers Posted: 12 Jan 2013 09:55 AM PST   Hot off the heels of an impressive showing at CES this week, ZTE is poised to make a major mark on American consumers this year. CNet reports that carrier executives have not only been impressed with flagship devices like the Grand S smartphone, but the same executives have been encouraged by the direction of the company and are even saying “show me more“. Additionally, ZTE’s head of North American business Lixin Cheng highlights that when seeing the new concepts and devices, carrier executives are seeing “there was a wow factor when they saw them“. It also doesn’t hurt that carriers are attracted to ZTE because of the shorter development process for its phones— devices only take six to eight months from the design of a phone to launch, compared to a competitor’s development time of 12 to 18 months. While it had some bad publicity a short while ago, it’s looking like ZTE is back on track to becoming the next great brand to have major influence out here in the States. Let’s just hope it can carry the Grand S’s momentum and come out with solid offerings for consumers. source: CNet     Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

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