Saturday, February 9, 2013

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Google Android News Android Forums


HTC M7 to be called the HTC One

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 12:17 PM PST

htc_one_logo

Remember that video of HTC’s year end party where the crowd was yelling M7? Something a lot of people didn’t pick up was that they also yelled HTC One. It appears that just might be the official name of the M7. We always assumed M7 was just a codename, but then we were wondering a little bit when “M7″ showed up in inventory systems for Carphone Warehouse and Vodafone. We also knew that HTC wants to simplify their naming scheme to create a solid brand like Samsung’s Galaxy and Note series.

This latest rumor is courtesy of @evleaks, which has a pretty good track record at this point. Of course we won’t know for sure until February 19, but it really does seem like the best name at this point. They could go with HTC Two or HTC One X2, but HTC One is just more classy. What do you guys think?

source: @evleaks


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Three UK Launches Samsung Galaxy S III “Ultrafast” Smartphone

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 11:06 AM PST

Samsung_Galaxy_S_III_Ultrafast

 

In an effort to distinguish its wireless networks from its competition, Three UK has formally launched the “Ultrafast” Galaxy S III smartphone. The phone is easily distinguished from its HSPA+ sibling because of the simple fact that it features full DC-HSDPA and LTE capabilities. So essentially, users of the device will be treated to even faster data speeds when using the device compared to those using plain ol’ 3G. Aside from the faster modems— the device will be like other typical Galaxy S III models by coming in Marble White and Pebble Blue colors, feature a quad-core processor and an awesome 8MP camera. The device will cost a pretty penny as it will run customers about £34 a month with an upfront cost of £29 on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan and for £36 a month with an upfront cost of £29. Conversely, customers can go for the Pay As You Go for £449.99 plus a top up and go for one of the many all-you-can eat data plans.

Three UK is pretty excited about this, so why not just hit the break and check out the full presser.

08 Feb 2013 16:00
Samsung Galaxy S III Ultrafast – available now on Three.
 
 
 

Enjoy the ultimate mobile internet experience with the Samsung Galaxy S III Ultrafast on our Ultrafast network. Now available online at www.three.co.uk and in all Three stores from the 12th February.

 

Inspired by nature and designed for humans, this beautifully crafted phone has a large 4.8-inch, HD Super AMOLED display which fits more of the content people love on one screen.

It comes in Marble White and Pebble Blue, is loaded with smart features and even knows when you're looking at it so the screen doesn't turn off. By vibrating, the Galaxy S III Ultrafast lets you know when you have missed a message or call, and you can call your friends by simply moving the phone towards your ear. A simple voice command is enough to wake the phone from the lock screen.

Boasting a quad-core processor, it comes with a large battery capacity to match so there's less worry about the device unexpectedly powering down while enjoying HD clips on your commute home. The intuitive smartphone also includes an 8 megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash as well as a 1.9 megapixel front camera for video calls with friends and family.

Sylvia Chind, Head of Devices at Three said, "Following the phenomenal success of the Samsung Galaxy S III last year, we're pleased to now offer the Ultrafast ready Galaxy S III. Built with the technology to work on our advanced network* you'll be able to enjoy the ultimate mobile internet experience on Three.

The Samsung Galaxy S III Ultrafast is available for £34 a month with an upfront cost of £29 on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan and for £36 a month with an upfront cost of £29 on The One Plan – both with a guarantee of no surprise out-of-bundle data charges and All-You-Can-Eat data – giving you the latest technology with no price premium.

The device is also available on Pay As You Go for £449.99 plus a top up. All in One 15 costs £15 and gives 30-day access to all-you-can-eat data along with 300 any-network minutes and 3,000 texts. Or All in One 25 costs £25 and offers 500 minutes, 3,000 texts and all-you-can-eat data for a 30-day period.

Key features

  • Ultra brilliant meets Ultrafast – compatible with Three's Ultrafast network
  • Large 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display (1280 x 720)
  • Super-fast 1.4 GHz quad-core processor
  • 8 megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash
  • Large 2100mAh battery
  • 1.9 megapixel front camera with BSI
  • Full HD video recording, playback and image capture
  • Up to 16GB internal memory
  • Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) Operating System
  • NFC
  • Notification light

* Three's Ultrafast network, currently supported by DC-HSDPA technology, already covers 55% of the UK population with an initial focus on 50 towns and cities. It will reach 80% population coverage by the end of March.

 

 

For more information contact:
 
Three Consumer PR Team
t:020 7009 3142
e: Three@3-monkeys.co.uk

 


Come comment on this article: Three UK Launches Samsung Galaxy S III “Ultrafast” Smartphone

Nexus 4 (un)officially reaches the 1-million sales mark

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 10:07 AM PST

Nexus_4_1_Million_Sales

 

Google’s latest powerhouse has formally reached a major milestone. While certain fans out there have been critical about its availability, the Nexus 4 smartphone has officially reached the 1-million sales mark. While some have done their best to give an educated guess at how many devices were currently lurking out there in the wild, some crafty XDA users took some time to go to the forums to do some more digging and using a Turkish device’s IMEI number, actually found out that the Turkish device is actually the 999,998th Nexus 4 was officially sold:

 

“Ladies and gentleman, we just reached the millionth device!

(of course just judging by serial number, i.e. minus gaps)

ATURBK 302KPSL999998 20130205 TURKEY

Which means, IMEI prefix 35391805* is now officially complete and the next one will be started.”

 

This is a pretty neat achievement considering Google & LG have each had their fair share of stocking issues and continue to create massive pandemonium and demand for the device. In addition— it appears LG wasn’t too farfetched when it gave those lofty sales’ goals and all. Let’s just see how much the Nexus 4 sales numbers climb once Google & LG gets their acts together and finally have the device in consistently.

source: XDA Forums

 


Come comment on this article: Nexus 4 (un)officially reaches the 1-million sales mark

Google Nexus One ready to power Strand-1 satellite in orbit

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 09:47 AM PST

strand_1_satellite

You have probably heard references to the fact that today’s smartphones contain way more computing power and capability than what was available to the world’s space programs back during the heyday of the space race. That saying is close to getting a test when the Surrey Space Centre and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) launch the British-built Strand-1 satellite into space later this month. At the heart of Strand-1 lies a Google Nexus One smartphone which the project team hopes will be able to take over full control of the satellite at some point during the six-month mission.

Dr. Chris Bridges, a lead engineer for the project, says the Nexus One has not been physically modified in any way. It is a regular, consumer electronics grade device loaded with the project’s software and then plugged in via a USB port. For the first portion of the mission, the device will be relegated to taking pictures of the earth and moon, similar to past Android device space adventures. Once various tests are completed, the project team plans to turn over control of the satellite to the Nexus One, a first for a smartphone. Along with running the satellite, the Nexus One will also run various apps, like a Scream in Space app developed by Cambridge University students in response to a call for apps.

Doug Liddle, the SSTL head of science, does not predict the use of everyday phones as the core of a multi-million dollar satellite. However, he does think components of the hardware can be effectively used during space flight. He also thinks the open source philosophy used for development of Android apps might be something that could be incorporated into the space program.

source: BBC News


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LEGO BugDroid Comes Alive With 10,000 Supporters

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 08:45 AM PST

Lego_Bugdroid

What do you get when an avid LEGO and Android lover wants an Android figure? Make a LEGO BugDroid of course. A great man by the name of GLHTurbo over at LEGO’s CUUSOO site had a great idea for combining his two passions into one and created the first of its kind LEGO BugDroid. When we first announced the story of this campaign all that was needed was 10,000 willing individuals that would buy it. Notice I said “would” because no money was needed to start this project, just the pure support of the community would be enough. Well we are glad to report that GLHTurbo  has hit that mark. As of yesterday, ( February 7th) the 10,000 supporter mark was hit and LEGO is now going to look over the project. If all goes well, they will start creating these BugDroid kits for sale. Not bad for a completely free start up program right?.

As if that was not enough, LEGO will also pay 1% royalties on every BugDroid sold to GLHTurbo. While I am sure that was not his motivation behind LEGO BugDroid, it is well deserved and I hope he makes even more Android-related products that I can throw my money at. So best of  luck to GLHTurbo and check back here soon as we will keep you up to date with the results of LEGO’s inspection and let you know if it becomes a reality.

Lego_Bugdroid_02

 

Source: LEGO CUUSOO


Come comment on this article: LEGO BugDroid Comes Alive With 10,000 Supporters

U.S Judge denies 13 Motorola patent claims against Microsoft

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 08:20 AM PST

Motorola_logo_5

 

Motorola took a pretty heavy hit yesterday when a judge in Seattle, WA ruled that 13 patent violation claims made by Motorola were invalidated on the grounds that the claims were too vague and too weak. The patents in question this time around involved several H.264 video encoding patents and were claimed in an attempt by Google and Motorola to seek $4 billion dollars in damages from Microsoft. Microsoft disputed these claims by counter-claiming that Google and Motorola refused to present an answer under FRAND licensing.

Many believe that Google purchased Motorola in order to gain an advantage in patents and with this recent defeat in court, Google might be rethinking it’s purchase. Initially Google bought Motorola for $12.5 billion dollars which gave the impression that Google saw something important in Motorola, and with good reason. Motorola has always been a popular manufacturer of smartphones in the past and it seemed to be to Google’s advantage to purchase them. Rumors have been floating around about an “X Phone” from Motorola to debut at Google I/O 2013 and with patent disputes continuing to disappoint Google, it might be time for them to put more energy into producing the new phone.

Source: Phandroid

 


Come comment on this article: U.S Judge denies 13 Motorola patent claims against Microsoft

Android drops to 69% of worldwide smartphone market share and Samsung continues to grow according to Canalys

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 07:16 AM PST

Canalys_Smartphone_Stats_Q4_2012

Reports on market share have been steadily coming in from all the major players and they all seem to agree that Android is kicking butt. Now it’s time for Canalys to report their findings, and it appears they are in agreement. For the 4th quarter 2012, Android handsets accounted for 69% of the 216.5 million smartphones that were shipped worldwide. In the other not so shocking news, Samsung grew roughly 78% from the previous quarter to a market share of 29%. When it comes to comparisons, everybody always wants to know how Apple’s doing. In terms of iOS, the market share was 22.1% and in terms of smartphone share, it was  22.1%.

It should be noted that although Android’s numbers are good, they are actually down from 74% in the previous quarter. At the same time Apple grew from 15% to 22.1%. Apple’s growth is expected since they released the iPhone 5 in the later part of the year.

The last thing to take from all of this is the performance of Huawei and ZTE. They grew by triple-digit percentage points to take 3rd and 4th place respectively. They are still relatively smaller percentages, but where is HTC and Motorola? This is a completely different picture than what we saw a year ago.

source: Canalys

 


Come comment on this article: Android drops to 69% of worldwide smartphone market share and Samsung continues to grow according to Canalys

First look at some gameplay from Gameloft’s upcoming Blitz Brigade

Posted: 07 Feb 2013 09:41 PM PST

blitz-brigade

Remember that borderline-insane shooter Gameloft teased a few weeks ago, Blitz Brigade? We’ve finally got some gameplay footage to look at it, and it definitely looks like it’s going to make a splash. It’s cartoony and doesn’t take itself too seriously, but there’s still enough blood and explosions to keep even the most hardcore FPS fans entertained. It definitely still has the Team Fortress feel, but that’s definitely not a bad thing to be compared to.

The folks at Gameloft still weren’t kind enough to give us a release date, so we’ll have to wait just a little longer for the actual release. Judging from the polish on this gameplay footage, though, I can’t imagine it’ll be too much longer. Hit the break below to get a glimpse at possibly the craziest shooter that’s going to hit the Play Store this year.

Click here to view the embedded video.


Come comment on this article: First look at some gameplay from Gameloft’s upcoming Blitz Brigade

ASUS to release cheap Intel-powered 7 inch tablet

Posted: 07 Feb 2013 09:30 PM PST

asus-logo

ASUS has had no problems hitting cheap price points on their tablets without sacrificing specs. They recently launched the MeMO Pad, and at $149, it’s an extremely high quality tablet. The latest reports that are coming in say that they may try to get just a little cheaper by offering a 7 inch tablet powered by Intel’s Atom Z2420 dual-core CPU. The tablet is also rumored to pack 1 GB of RAM, a 1280 x 800 screen, and a 4720 mAh battery. If they can stuff all that into a package that costs around $100, there’s no doubt they’ll move a ton of them. It would also be a great boost for Intel, who hasn’t had too much luck getting any serious market penetration yet. Hopefully we’ll see this one (or at least some more details) within the next few months.

source: Tablet.bg


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Google to possibly drop NVIDIA’s Tegra processor for Qualcomm CPU in next-gen Nexus 7

Posted: 07 Feb 2013 09:22 PM PST

Nexus_Logo_Nexus_7_TA

I imagine it’s safe to say we’re all pretty excited for whatever Google plans on doing with its second generation of Nexus 7 tablets. Full HD screen? Brand new version of Android? How about swapping out the NVIDIA manufactured processors for a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip?

Even though NVIDIA’s latest Tegra 4 chip is shaping up to be undoubtedly one of the best processors available for phones and tablets,  rumors are that Google will be opting for a Snapdragon chip instead due to “competitive pricing” and easier 3G/4G integration. Basically, Google wants something cheap and simple, and that’s exactly what the Nexus 7 delivers. And with some analysts predicting Google to move 10 million Nexus 7 tablets this year, that’s quite a chunk of change coming out of NVIDIA’s pocket. If their Tegra processors average between $20 to $25 each, that would turn into over $200 million in lost revenue. Ouch.

It’s not set in stone, like all rumors, but it’s definitely going to be interesting to see what changes Google decides to make to their incredibly successful tablet.

source: Barrons


Come comment on this article: Google to possibly drop NVIDIA’s Tegra processor for Qualcomm CPU in next-gen Nexus 7

AndroidGuys

AndroidGuys


HTC M7 will debut with formal moniker of HTC One, rumor indicates

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 01:13 PM PST

htc_one_720_logo

After months of hype and speculation, the HTC M7 will come to market as the HTC One. Yes, that’s the name being reported by Unwired View (@evleaks) today. We’re confused and don’t really like the name; what do you give the rumored HTC M4 or HTC G2? Our advice would have been to pick an adjective like “Amazeballs” and leave it at that. Using numbers only sets yourself up for confusion and angst.

“How does this differ from the One X?” Or the “One X+?” “I think I will wait for the HTC Two”

Wouldn’t you rather buy an HTC Amazeballs?

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Google Nexus 4 sells over 1 million since it was launched

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 07:39 AM PST

Over at XDA-Developers, the brains of the operation have found a way to keep track of the total number of Nexus 4 devices sold. At the beginning of last month, the Nexus 4 had sold about 400,000 units, but as of this month, that number has more than doubled to over 1 million total Google Nexus 4 devices sold. According to the post,

Ladies and gentleman, we just reached the millionth device!

(of course just judging by serial number, i.e. minus gaps)

ATURBK 302KPSL999998 20130205 TURKEY

Which means, IMEI prefix 35391805* is now officially complete and the next one will be started.

Just how do they keep track of these devices? Check it out:

Production date is encoded in the first 3 positions (reading from left to right):
1st position defines YEAR: 0 – 2010, 1 – 2011, 2 – 2012, 3 – 2013 and so on
2rd and 3rd define MONTH: 01 – January, 02 – February, 03 – March, 04 – April, 05 – May, 06 – June, 07 – July, 08 – August, 09 – September, 10 – October, 11 – November, 12 – December

4th position defines county:
K – Korea, C – China.

For example:
211KPBF****** (last 6 digits are hidden for security reasons):

So, 211 – 2012 November (11), K – Korea.

via techcrunch

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Analysis shows Android makes up 70% of smartphones in Q4

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 07:19 AM PST

Canalys, a company that has made a living doing analytics, has released some new information concerning the penetration of Android into the smartphone market. According to their research, not only did Android make up 70% of the new smartphone device market that shipped in Q4, but 34% of all new phones shipped in that quarter – smartphone or otherwise – were Android as well.

These stats are, altogether, pretty impressive. Not only are people continuing to toss their regular flip phones and the like, but Android is continuing to be on the forefront of those new devices.

 

source canalys

image provided by richtaur

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SF Launcher Alpha app review

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 07:00 AM PST

Screenshot_2013-02-07-23-06-08[1]

This minimalistic launcher redefines what launchers can be, and speeds up productivity in the process.

If there’s one thing that Android is known for, it’s the plethora of home screen replacement apps. With countless choices that typically follow the same basic structure, I’ve been searching for a viable launcher that doesn’t try to drown me in special effects and flashy features. I just want a launcher that gives me the quickest access to my apps and widgets, and I believe I’ve found that with SF Launcher. It’s apparently still in alpha stages, as the name indicates, but it functions very well for an alpha build. Nevertheless, I’ve been putting SF Launcher through its paces for about a week, and I can honestly say that I won’t be leaving it anytime soon.

Screenshot_2013-02-07-23-04-21SF Launcher isn’t your typical home replacement. Other launchers like Apex and Nova follow the standard idea of multiple screens and an app drawer, but SF takes a different approach. The header is the most noticeable feature, and stays at the top of the launcher at all times. It’s a simple, Google Now-style photo of a city (the user can select from about a dozen popular cities around the world), with the time and date. The clock and date serve as target areas on the header, which can perform a number of actions chosen by users from a predefined list. These include opening Google Now, the notifications pane, the clock app, and more. The entire header itself is also a target with its own definable action. The customization there is a nice touch, and users can even elect to have the header do nothing if it so pleases them.

Screenshot_2013-02-05-04-35-53[1]Beyond the header, SF offers three main panels. The leftmost panel is simply the main settings menu, with options for the header, widgets, favorites, and app list. We’ll get into those in just a second.

Screenshot_2013-02-07-23-24-01[1]The settings for SF Launcher aren’t extensive, but it’s a pretty minimalistic launcher, so that’s to be expected. Users can choose a theme (light, dark, or auto), the city for the header, as well as change the color and size of both the clock and date. There’s also an option to hide the status bar, and to set the times of day that the auto theme changes from light to dark.

Screenshot_2013-02-05-04-35-49[1]Moving on to the middle pane, which is more or less the home base of SF. In this panel, users are given two sections. The top section is reserved for widgets, and can be re-sized. The bottom section is called the “favorites” portion, wherein users can add their favorite apps. It’s worth noting that as the widgets pane is re-sized, the favorites section is fitted accordingly. In other words, if I make the widgets pane very small, the favorites section will become larger to fill the gap. So there’s a certain level of customization, although I expect that most users will keep both sections at a somewhat equal size. Still, the favorites section does become scroll-able if enough apps are added to it, so you could theoretically limit it to a single row.

Screenshot_2013-02-07-23-36-20

You can see the “remove widget” bug here. This was after a single swipe, which SF recognized as a long-press.

Now, swiping to the right on the widgets pane brings up more widgets. This is convenient and simple, which is what SF does best. It’s unclear how many widgets users can add, but word is that eventually there will be an option to move widgets around. I have found only one bug with the widgets panel, useful as it may be. When swiping from one widget to the next, SF sometimes recognizes it as a long-press, which brings up the option to remove the widget. It’s not really bothersome, but I still hope that it’ll be fixed soon enough.

The favorites section is fairly simple. Users can adjust the number of columns, icon size, and text size, so there’s a bit of customization here. It does bother me that once the apps are placed in favorites, they can’t be rearranged at all. So if you’re extremely OCD like myself, you have to add the apps in a specific order to have them in the correct arrangement. Hopefully more customization here is something that Alamo Apps will be adding to SF Launcher sometime in the near future.

Screenshot_2013-02-07-23-24-18[1]Finally, there’s not much to say about the rightmost panel. It’s a scroll-able list of all apps, and users can change the icon size, text size, and columns. So basically, it has the same settings as the favorites section. Long-pressing on an app in the apps list gives users the option to add it to favorites, uninstall it, or view the app’s info. That’s about all there is to the apps list, although I don’t expect something so rudimentary to have a lot of bells and whistles.

SF Launcher has quickly climbed to the top of the mountain as the most minimalistic, yet fully useful launcher for me. It’s not perfect, but of course it is still sporting an alpha tag. It does what a home replacement should do: give users access to their apps and widgets as quickly and easily as possible. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed using SF Launcher over the past week, and intend to keep it as my go-to home replacement for quite some time. You can download the free alpha version of SF Launcher below, as well as the $1.99 Plus Key, which currently offers users the ability to use third-party icon packs. And if you’re looking for a few icon packs to use with SF Launcher, check out our top 25 list while you’re at it.

What We Liked

  • Very simple, minimalistic launcher that just works
  • Options to re-size widgets pane, columns of apps, clock, date, and more. Customization is always welcomed.
  • Very speedy, little to no lag whatsoever
  • The header is a nice touch

Room for Improvement

  • Ability to rearrange widgets and apps in the favorites section would be very useful
  • Adjust the sensitivity of the widgets panel, so that a quick swipe doesn’t register as a long-press.

Download SF Launcher Alpha (Google Play)

Download SF Launcher Plus Key (Google Play)

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LG promises Jelly Bean for Optimus L9, Optimus L7, Optimus 4X

Posted: 08 Feb 2013 06:27 AM PST

LG will deploy an Android Jelly Bean update for the Optimus L9, Optimus L7, and Optimus 4X in the first half of the year. It is unclear exactly which version(s) of Android will be issued to each device though we suspect it may be 4.2.

The LG Optimus G has already picked up an Android 4.1.2 update and the Optimus G Pro come with the same version on day one.

optimus_line_for_jellybean

It’s worth noting that the timing of the updates will vary depending on carrier and region and that U.S. models could be on the back side of things.

LG Facebook (translate) via Unwired View

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