Android Authority |
- Samsung leads Apple in smartphone customer loyalty, Amazon number one in tablets
- Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update arriving on Canadian Galaxy Note 2
- Mystery app is not the new unified messenger; it’s an internal testing app
- Asus Fonepad “confirmed” by Digitimes, coming at MWC this month
- T-Mobile special Samsung sale to cut Galaxy Blaze, Relay, S2 and S3 prices starting today?
- Skype’s carrier billing is now live in Russia, coming to US and Canada soon
- Huawei Ascend P2 to pack 8-core CPU and cost only $480?
- U.S. Galaxy S4 release date set for May/June, smartphone to be unveiled on March 15 in a ‘top secret’ location
- Is Microsoft’s financing of the Dell buyout a sign of panic over Android and the post-PC era?
- Have Google and LG solved the Nexus 4 issues for good?
| Samsung leads Apple in smartphone customer loyalty, Amazon number one in tablets Posted: 06 Feb 2013 03:39 AM PST
What can be more refreshing on a boring grim Wednesday morning than hearing about a report that once again confirms Apple's diamond kingdom is being torn up piece by piece by Android? Nothing, absolutely nothing! Especially when the report certifies Cupertino's demise in both the smartphone and tablet universe. Ah, it's like Christmas all over again! But let's not get ahead of ourselves and be serious for a minute (just one). The report we're talking about is Brand Keys' 2013 Consumer Loyalty Engagement Index, based on the feedback of 39,000 people residing in the United States. Mind you, this is not only a highly reliable survey coming from a reputable consultancy firm with nine offices around the world and an impressive list of clients, but also one that traditionally went Apple's way. In fact, according to Robert Passikoff, the company's president, "this is the first year that Samsung beat out Apple in smartphones." Told you this is going to be fun, didn't I? Sammy apparently crushed Apple by a "significant difference", even though Passikoff and Brand Keys haven't released any exact numbers. It's just getting better and better!
But wait, there's more, because the survey didn't only focus on smartphones. And, what do you know, Apple is no longer king in the tablet realm either. Amazon captured that crown, with Apple having to share the silver medal with Samsung. For shame, Tim Cook, for shame! And while it's not exactly our concern, we can't help but gloat about Apple being unable to score even the supposedly easiest win of all – the laptops customer loyalty battle. Cupertino was in fact number one there, but it once again had to share the honor with the South Korean archrival. Ouch, that's got to hurt! Okay, we've had our share of fun and we've ripped on Apple enough, so let's give credit where credit is due and see what other Android players have been ranked in the smartphone and tablet customer loyalty standings. And the biggest shocker probably comes from the name of the smartphone bronze medalist – LG. Then again, the Optimus makers did snatch second place in the US phone market last December, so it all checks out, doesn't it? Sony follows in number four, tied with Nokia, while Motorola, HTC and BlackBerry wrap up the top eight. We're a bit surprised to see Nokia ahead of Moto and HTC, but hey, you win some, you lose some. As for the tablet classification, that has Barnes & Noble in third place, Acer, Lenovo and Toshiba tied in fourth, and then Google and Sony tied in fifth (or is it seven?). It's weird to not see Asus there, but, as expected, most people think of the Nexus 7 as a Google-manufactured gadget. All in all, it’s becoming more and more obvious we’re living in an Android world and anyone that doesn’t adapt will be crushed. Even you, Apple! Related Posts |
| Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update arriving on Canadian Galaxy Note 2 Posted: 06 Feb 2013 03:22 AM PST
Two days ago, we told you that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 in Canada will get its Jelly Bean treat on February 6. Guess what? That day is finally here. Right on schedule – Samsung is now rolling out the new firmware to the device. It's quite early in the day still, but we're hearing reports from many Galaxy Note 2 owners saying that they have received and installed the Android 4.1.2 update. According to Sam Mobile, the update is live for customers of Bell, Rogers, Telus, and SaskTel. It’s possible that more carriers will be added to the list soon. In addition to the standard Jelly Bean goodies, features that you can expect to see from the JZO54K firmware include multi-window support, simplified and traditional Chinese language support, a customizable notification panel, new ink effect on lockscreen, Swype-style keyboard, and more. Don't forget to leave a comment below if you've received the Android 4.1.2 update on your Galaxy Note 2. Related Posts |
| Mystery app is not the new unified messenger; it’s an internal testing app Posted: 06 Feb 2013 03:01 AM PST
People got really excited the other day over what seemed to be a first clue of an upcoming communication app that would finally bring together Google's multiple messaging apps, such as Voice, Talk, Messenger, and Gmail. But it seems it was just a case of collective wishful thinking, because Francois Beaufort, the developer who published the screenshot showing the new app icon, has clarified what the new icon actually represents. According to Beaufort, the app in question is an internal testing application that the Chrome OS team built to put the new notification center through its paces. Dubbed Notifications Galore!, the app is available for download right now. Francois Beaufort provides installation instructions in his Google Plus post, if you're curios to give the new app a spin.  Click for full version Before you say that the colored bubbles icon in the toolbar could belong to another app, Beaufort admitted in the comments that the icon belongs to Notifications Galore!. Color us disappointed. Does this mean Google is not, in fact, working on that fabled unified messaging app? We don't think so. A unified messaging app is high on the wishlist of many Google users. Given the amount of work that the Chrome OS team is putting behind the notification center, it's only logical for Google to go through with the project. Besides, the company needs to streamline its chaotic messaging services, given the competition from apps like Whatsapp, and the much better job that Apple has been doing on iOS. More details are likely to come soon, so stay tuned. Related Posts |
| Asus Fonepad “confirmed” by Digitimes, coming at MWC this month Posted: 06 Feb 2013 02:34 AM PST
It might have sounded like a bad pun at first or an uninspired hoax, but, believe it or not, the Asus Fonepad could be real. Just 48 hours after hearing about the weirdly named 7-incher for the first time, Digitimes seems to be "confirming" both the existence of the tab and the peculiar branding. Granted, the Taiwanese website might not have the cleanest slate when it comes to the reporting of unconfirmed rumors based on "confidential sources", but they do sometimes get their facts straight. The newest report doesn't add much to the already leaked details, although the price bar is lifted a bit (from $265 to "around $271-305). That doesn't sound awfully promising, especially when the rumored specs remain the same. And if the 1,280 x 800 IPS display, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of on-board storage, Android 4.1, 3 MP rear-facing camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and 3G support don't worry us too much (quite on the contrary), the Intel Atom Z2420 CPU does. As a quick reminder, Intel very recently introduced this new "Lexington" SoC, but painted the picture of a mediocre platform capable of saving up "juice" and not much else. Not quite what we'd like to see inside a $300 7-inch tablet, eh? The last couple of details mentioned by Digitimes are that Asus "may unveil" the Fonepad at this month's MWC and the 7-incher will be equipped "with voice communication functions". Should we already start the countdown to the start of Barcelona’s exciting event? Related Posts |
| T-Mobile special Samsung sale to cut Galaxy Blaze, Relay, S2 and S3 prices starting today? Posted: 06 Feb 2013 02:00 AM PST
Valentine's Day is still more than a week away, so you probably wouldn't expect the traditional special sales and deals to start so early. However, it seems T-Mobile is looking to jump the gun with some exclusive discounts on select Samsung smartphones. Magenta is not going to advertise the deals as Valentine's Day promos, but we don't think we'll be seeing other similar offers from the carrier as soon as next week, so you might as well get something for your loved ones early. Four Sammy phones will be part of the promotion, if the leaked doc picked up by TmoNews proves to be legit. The Galaxy S3 will be leading the pack, but you shouldn't ignore the deals on the GS2, S Relay and S Blaze either. In fact, the last three will be practically available for free with new two-year contracts, which is the definition of a lucrative deal in our book. You will however be required to put a down payment of $99.99 for each of the three, money that you’ll subsequently get back in the form of mail-in rebates.
As for the GS3, that'll go for $99.99 in the 16 GB flavor and $149.99 with 32 GB of on-board storage. Both prices are after similar $100 rebates, so downright payments will be of $199.99 and $249.99 respectively. To qualify for the deals, you'll not only need to pen new two-year agreements with T-Mobile, but also pick certain data plans. For the S Blaze and Relay, the minimum requirement is to go for a plan with 2 GB of data, while to get the GS2 or GS3 on the cheap you'll have to pick a 5 GB or higher plan. All things considered, the deals don't sound too awful, even if it's pretty disappointing to see yet another Samsung sale not including the Galaxy Note 2. The special offers should go live sometime today (February 6) and run through March 23. Anyone excited? Related Posts |
| Skype’s carrier billing is now live in Russia, coming to US and Canada soon Posted: 06 Feb 2013 02:00 AM PST
Last year, Skype inked a deal with Mach — a mobile billing company – to try and take its VoIP service to new, uncharted territory — one that will allow users to pay for Skype credits through their phone bills. The partnership has borne fruit with the announcement that the carrier billing option is now available for customers in Russia. Those in Russia can now purchase Skye credits and have the amount charged to their monthly phone bills. It also works for pre-paid subscribers, but the amount will be deducted from the pre-paid balance instead. As to when U.S. customers can take advantage of direct carrier billing, a spokeswoman for Mach said that it is expected to go live in America and Canada later in the month, where the company will be working with Payvia to handle the billing gateway. While the names haven't been specified, the list may consist of T-Mobile, Verizon, and Telus. The service is likely to come to European carriers like Orange and Telefonica as well. What's in it for them? As you might’ve guessed, mobile operators will get a cut of the profit from the sales. Related Posts |
| Huawei Ascend P2 to pack 8-core CPU and cost only $480? Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:22 AM PST
Huawei has had a very strong CES showing last month, grabbing the headlines with both the Ascend D2 and Ascend Mate, but that doesn't mean the company's not holding some aces up its sleeve for February's MWC as well. Well, more like a single ace, but one that has the potential to become a real wild card – the Ascend P2. This guy has been making the rumor rounds for the past couple of weeks, but we were yet to hear a story as substantial as the one reported by GizChina today. Not only has the online publication got ahold of some exclusive photos starring the upcoming super-phone, but it also managed to find out a couple of new spec and pricing-related details.
The pics are not exactly shockers, as they basically keep in line with the first P2 render. What could be surprising however is the rumored starting price point – 3,000 Yuan, or around $480. That's crazy cheap, even for Huawei, but get this – the phone is now rumored to come rocking that new 8-core SoC teased last month. Say whaaaat?!? So the Ascend P2 is going to come packing a 4.7-inch Full HD screen, 2 GB of RAM, a 13 MP rear-facing snapper, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a 3,000 mAh battery and an octa-core processor? And all that's going to cost less than 500 bucks? I don't know what you think, but I reckon if all this proves to be accurate it's game over for all Huawei competitors. But, you know, that's a big if, isn’t it? Related Posts |
| Posted: 06 Feb 2013 01:14 AM PST
After looking at another Galaxy S4 leaked image yesterday, we now have a new report for you offering more details about Samsung's Galaxy S4 launch event and launch schedule. According to Sam Mobile's "trusted insider," Samsung plans to announce the Galaxy S4 on March 15 at a special Mobile Unpacked event. While previous reports suggested that Samsung wants to unveil the device in the U.S. in Apple's backyard, today we hear that the location of the event is "top secret" for the time being. Following the announcement event, the Galaxy S4 will hit stores in early April rather than mid-April, as a previous Sam Mobile report suggested. The new information seems to back up a recently leaked in-house contest that ends in early April at a New Zealand company. According to those leaked materials, the contest will have the Galaxy S4 as a prize for all winners, although it's not known when these prizes will be actually awarded, especially since that particular region of the world is said to get the phone only later down the road. The first markets to sell the handset will be "eastern countries from Europe," will all of Europe and Asia set to get the Galaxy S4 by the end of April. The U.S., Australia and Africa will follow in May and June, although specific launch details are not available at this time for any region. Moreover, Galaxy S4 accessories are planned for release in week 15 (April 8-14) of the year, again suggesting an early April release for the handset. Press invites for this rumored March 15 Galaxy S4 event have not been sent out yet, and they're expected to arrive in the mail after MWC 2013, which takes place in Barcelona, Spain, during February 25-28. It should go without saying that, like previous Galaxy S4 rumors and reports before, this one is also unconfirmed, so keep holding on to that grain of salt, while we look for more Galaxy S4 details for you. Related Posts |
| Is Microsoft’s financing of the Dell buyout a sign of panic over Android and the post-PC era? Posted: 06 Feb 2013 12:47 AM PST
As a private company, Dell won’t be responsible to shareholders, nor to the fickleness of the stock market. This means the board can take a long term view of how to re-model the business in the post-PC era and make some radical business decisions without having to give answers to those looking for immediate or short terms gains and profits. However it is, Dell’s role in the tablet and smartphone age that makes Microsoft’s involvement interesting. According to Microsoft the reason it invested such a large amount in the buyout is because it is “committed to the long term success of the entire PC ecosystem and invests heavily in a variety of ways to build that ecosystem for the future.” Or, in other words, the PC ecosystem is being destroyed by the likes of Android and iOS and Microsoft needs a way to prop up the PC so that it doesn’t collapse all together. Although Dell has dabbled in alternatives to its core Windows on a PC business, including the Android-based Streak and a bit of flirting with Linux, it is Microsoft’s Windows OS running on Intel hardware that makes up the backbone of Dell’s business as it sells hardware, software, and services to end users and enterprises. However, for $2 billion, Microsoft doesn’t get representation on Dell’s board of directors, nor does it get any operational control. What it does get is a gentlemen’s deal that Dell won’t get into the Android business again and will stay loyal to Microsoft at every level. This likely means that even if Dell wants to re-attempt an entry into the tablet market it will do it with Windows 8 RT. Ironically, by limiting its options to just Microsoft based solutions Dell could fail in the long term. All the other major IT companies including IBM, HP and Lenovo all have successful business units that are not based on Microsoft’s software. Dell’s biggest rival Lenovo is a very big Microsoft customer but even so it has built a thriving Android mobile device business in Asia. Of course, Microsoft is describing its investment in Dell as “passive”, as it doesn’t want to upset other PC makers like Lenovo or HP who are rivals to Dell but generate large amounts of income for Microsoft by installing Windows on their PCs. But with Microsoft’s partnership with Nokia, its launch of the Surface tablet, and now its investment in Dell, it is clear that the old model of “we will make the software and you make the hardware” is dying. What do you think? Is Microsoft really panicking about Android? Is the PC doomed? Related Posts |
| Have Google and LG solved the Nexus 4 issues for good? Posted: 06 Feb 2013 12:41 AM PST
The Nexus 4 seems to have been mired in issues from the very start. The official launch party was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy, forcing Google to send a press release rather than showcase the device. But the specs were phenomenal, and so was the price. As we ease our way out of the Nexus 4 charade, we're left to wonder what went so wrong. Whatever the issues were, the more important consideration is whether or not they're fixed. What happened?When the October Google event meant to announce the Nexus 4 was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy, we should have known then the phone wouldn't have an auspicious start. Rather than re-schedule the event, Google decided to simply announce the device via their official blog. No webcast or hangout, no special demo… just a press release. November 13th was not a Friday, but it felt like it. As the Nexus 4 became available around the globe, information of 20-minute sellouts were hitting the web. First in Australia, then Europe. The expected rollout was 9am here in the US, but that wouldn't matter. By 9am, the device was long gone. Google opened sales up at 8:35am on the 13th, and those who were at their computers got lucky… or did they? All day, the internet blew up with stories of people who's cart was being emptied at checkout, or Google Wallet simply wouldn't let them progress through to completion. In some instances, people were being asked to verify their identity to Google, or being told they couldn't ship to a P.O. Box when they weren't trying to do so. Top that off with the Play Store phone support line shutting down, and it was chaos of epic proportions. Why was the Nexus 4 so popular?A gorgeous device, a rabid fan-base and a sexy price tag make for a feeding frenzy. The Nexus line has always set the pace for Android, both in software and hardware. It's meant as a flagship device, setting the standard for the next year in Android history. While an unlocked device usually runs upward of $600, the Nexus 4 came in at $299 for the 8GB model, and $349 for the 16GB model. The lack of LTE no longer mattered, and an unlocked version being the only variant was small print this time. At those prices, with those specs, who could turn it down?
The device is a work of art, really pushing all standards forward. The sloping glass on the side of the screen, the trendy glass back with that shimmering effect, and the all-black monolith design was something we've all fallen for. The hardware isn't bad, either. Sporting a quad-core processor and 320ppi screen hiding behind that Gorilla Glass means all that The USA is not the worldThere is also the GSM effect to consider. While only two providers here in the US offer GSM networks, it's worth noting that the entire planet outside of our borders operates on that variant. While we may only be waking up to this notion of unlocked devices or prepaid plans, our neighbors around the globe have been on this kick for some time. If you consider the sheer number of users across the globe versus here in the US, there was no way this phone… with those specs, at that price… was not going to be wildly popular. Who screwed up?Google was very tight-lipped about what exactly happened. There was no official word as to what was going on, and people were pretty upset. Those of us who weren't fortunate enough to get a device on the 13th were left to our page refresh extensions in Chrome, as stories around the web of people being able to get a device sporadically throughout the day kept hope alive. Alas, most of the world was left out in the cold, with no new phone. A few weeks later, the head of Google UK, Dan Cobley, would issue an apology to those that were experiencing issues with orders and order fulfillments, saying:
For many, this was a clear sign that LG had dropped the ball. For LG, those were fighting words. Shortly after this statement by Mr. Cobley, Cathy Robin, LG Mobile Director in France, would speak to French news outlet Challenges.fr. Her assertion that “the supply problems are not solely related to LG.” was not a shot over the bow, but it did make people wonder. She went on to deny the rumored slowdown in production, saying that by mid-February there would be "no more pressure" in the marketplace for the device. A frustrating proclamation at the time, but considering where we are today, an accurate one. Robin would go on to make another telling statement, noting that Nexus 4 projections were based on Galaxy Nexus sales the previous year. This, according to Robin, would lead to shortages in certain regions, while others would be flush with handsets. With no rebuttal from Google, it seems LG's assertion that Google simply underestimated the popularity of the device was true. Is Google to blame?Google screwed this up. This is a Google device, and they dictate all aspects of the project. They have more hand in the design than anyone else, and they are dictating to LG how many devices are needed. The same type of incident occured with the Nexus 7. The difference then was the Play Store took pre-orders to give them a better idea of how many devices they needed. That device was announced at Google I/O last year, and pre-orders were taken immediately after. No solid release date was given, probably to give them time to appreciate the pre-orders and adjust their supply chain accordingly. LG is simply the manufacturer in this situation. Google told LG how many handsets it needed, and when. We'd love to forgive our favorite tech giant in exchange for blaming LG, but it's just not right. LG did as they were asked, and have other devices and issues to concern themselves with. Our world may have been turning on the Nexus 4 axis, but LG has a lot of other products to deal with. Are the issues fixed?You've probably been hearing the past week or two that this device is now available with all sorts of carriers, and in all kinds of stores. Everywhere from Australia to Saudi Arabia people are getting the device soon, if they haven't already. The device is also available on the Play Store, which is the most promising sign of all. When Google was unable to sell their own device, it was troubling for us all. T-Mobile has always been a partner for the Nexus 4, having the device the day after launch, both online and in stores. If we are being speculative, it seems Google thought their order numbers were solid, and T-Mobile having the device was meant to be an olive branch to carriers, letting them know it will be coming to the real world and not just the Play Store. Instead, it caused massive headaches for store employees and probably bogged the T-Mobile site down with unnecessary traffic. Can I get one?I took a trip to my local T-Mobile store today, and saw a Nexus 4 kiosk. They reported having the device on-hand, ready to go. A few calls placed to other T-Mobile stores in my area resulted in sporadic availability, so while the device is out there… it's still fresh to the market. If you’re on a CDMA carrier like Sprint or Verizon, it seems you’ll be out of luck. No word of a CDMA or LTE version of the device have come out. News that major retailers like Best Buy and Walmart will also carry the device are promising, and have probably been in the plan all along. If we take what we know about stores and carriers getting the device, and pair that with statements made about the supply chain issues being resolved by mid-February, it seems the world is well on its way to Nexus 4 bliss.
ConclusionAfter a slew of Nexus mishaps, we can only hope Google has learned a valuable lesson. While the reviews noting a lack of LTE being a major issue may have swayed their sales projections, they didn't seem to consider the "X" factor: hype. This phone, despite its rough start, had a ton of people drooling over it. In this situation, it would have been better safe than sorry. Mobile devices aren't perishable, so not selling out the first day would not have been the end of the world. The mobile industry moves quickly, and Google is fortunate nobody came out with a "Nexus beater" device. If there was something better out there, we may not care that the device was now available. Fortunately, this device still stands tall amongst stiff competition, so we'll be getting a great device at a decent price, even if it's the $500 variant at T-Mobile. A natural disaster caused an unnatural disaster this time. Hurricane Sandy might have ruined the parade, but not the admiration. You know, the codename for the Nexus 4 was "Mako". A Mako is a large shark, and when sharks smell blood, they take advantage. They are relentless killers; opportunists who, when sensing the right time to go in for the kill, attack with unnerving malice. Had the Nexus 4 been readily available from the start, it may have lived up to its name. Related Posts |
Dell is destined to become a private company. The massive PC maker has revealed that its founder and CEO Michael Dell along with financing from a Microsoft backed company called Silver Lake Partners will buy up all the stock and turn Dell back into a privately held company. The reasoning is that the Dell, which is facing stiff competition from Lenovo and has seen its profits falling dramatically during 2012, wants to continue its turnaround plans without the scrutiny and limitations of being a publicly traded company.
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