Android Authority |
- Dual-SIM Galaxy S3 Duos now official in China with CDMA and GSM support
- Sprint HTC One spotted at the FCC, release date not available yet
- Crazy: Samsung ditches AMOLED and Exynos for Galaxy S4? Supposed image leaks
- Video: UK operator Three uses a baby to advertise Sony’s new rugged Xperia Z
- YouTube for Android update integrates Google+, improves TV controls
- 7 sizzling new Android apps of the week (February 22 issue)
- Android Authority On Air – Episode 52 – One Year Anniversary Giveaway!
- Android 4.2.1 leaks for Samsung Galaxy S3, update to come after Galaxy S4 launch
- Five things we’d like to see at Google I/O 2013
- App Review: Die For Metal
| Dual-SIM Galaxy S3 Duos now official in China with CDMA and GSM support Posted: 23 Feb 2013 02:43 AM PST
A few months ago we showed you a picture of the leaked dual-SIM Galaxy S3 Duos, not a surprising Galaxy S3 version considering that Samsung has made plenty of other dual-SIM Android handsets this year, and now the device has been launched in China. The Galaxy S3 Duos – model number SCH-I939D – will offer support for CDMA and GSM networks, but otherwise will be virtually similar to regular Galaxy S3 versions. A slightly bigger battery is also included, and by slightly we mean that you can expect only a 30mAh bump in power. The Galaxy S3 Duos does run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box, in case that's a concern, but it's not clear whether it will hit other markets as well or whether it's a China-only smartphone – not that there are many CDMA carriers out there that could use the device. Pricing and availability dates for China aren't public yet either, but considering that the handset has been confirmed, it'll only be a matter of time until it hits stores. Expect the Galaxy S3 Duos to arrive in two color options, Marble White or Pebble Blue, but only in one storage option, 16GB. Are you buying one? |
| Sprint HTC One spotted at the FCC, release date not available yet Posted: 23 Feb 2013 02:24 AM PST
The HTC One is going to hit various markets in the near future, with AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile being among the confirmed mobile operators that will have it in stock later this year. However, neither HTC nor its U.S. partners mentioned any availability dates for the new flagship handset yet. But at least one American HTC One version has been spotted at the FCC, seeking official approval. The device is most likely Sprint's HTC One, considering that it features Sprint LTE (band 25). Moreover, according to available documentation, the test unit is actually a production model, meaning that the device could be launched in the very near future. In addition to Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile will also sell the HTC One later this year, with Verizon yet to named among the HTC One carriers. That's why we're not surprised to also hear that two more HTC One versions have also been spotted at the FCC, one sporting quad-band LTE (2, 4, 5 and 17) and the other one dual-band LTE (4, 17)
We'll be back with more launch details for the U.S. HTC One models as soon as we have them. Will you buy the device? |
| Crazy: Samsung ditches AMOLED and Exynos for Galaxy S4? Supposed image leaks Posted: 23 Feb 2013 02:04 AM PST
This morning, noted rumor purveyor Sam Mobile dropped a bomb on Samsung Galaxy S fans, with a report that allegedly contains the official specifications of the upcoming Galaxy S4. The shocker is that Samsung will supposedly not be using an Exynos processors nor an AMOLED display on their 2013 flagship. Before we go any further, note that Sam Mobile claims that, while the information comes from a "trusted insider", it's not official. It wouldn't be the first time tech sites are served fake info, so don't take everything in this post at face value. The leakThese are the alleged full specs of the Galaxy S4, that Sam Mobile claims it has received from their insider:
The imageThe following image could be the Samsung Galaxy S4. Notice the square-ish form, which means that Samsung has given up on the organic design it hawked in 2012. Although it's not visible in the image, Sam Mobile says the device has aluminum sides and a plastic back cover, meaning that the battery will likely be removable and the device will house an SD card slot. Of course, this can easily be a fake or a different device.
This is the information about the Galaxy S4 that supposedly leaked today. Now let's analyze it in more detail. LCD instead of AMOLED?Samsung is said to fit the Galaxy S4 with a 4.99-inch full HD SoLux display instead of the SAMOLED panel previous reports have suggested. SoLux is a display technology that was rumored a while back to make an appearance on the HTC One. SoLux displays have improved viewing angles, outdoor visibility, and color accuracy, compared to regular LCDs. HTC calls the display on the One Super LCD 3, so I am not sure if it's a different tech or just a rebranding. At first blush, it would seem crazy for Samsung to give up on one of its marquee technologies for the flagship Galaxy S4. AMOLED displays are known and loved for their deep blacks and high contrasts, and customers have come to associated them with Samsung. But some earlier gossip gives credence to the possibility – a few months ago, Samsung was said to have problems manufacturing a full HD AMOLED display, and to consider switching to LCD. The rumor was quashed when another report came in about Samsung making a breakthrough in display technology by using hexagonal or diamond-shaped subpixels, instead of the rectangular shaped subpixels on conventional panels. This innovation supposedly enabled the Korean giant to reach full HD resolutions on AMOLED. Now, Sam Mobile says that AMOLED is a no go, and that the Galaxy S4 will feature an LCD. That is a huge development, that could have deep implications in the mobile industry. Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 instead of ExynosThis claim is less of a shock, but just as important as the ditching of AMOLED. We've already heard from two sources that Samsung has been having issues with adapting the power hungry Exynos 5 Octa processor for mobile use. Rumors said that, due to excessive heat generation and power consumption, Samsung's engineers have given up on Exynos and decided to put the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor at the heart of the Galaxy S4. Should the Snapdragon 600 processor be clocked at 1.9Ghz, the Galaxy S4 proc will be 200Mhz faster than the implementation on the HTC One. Again, the move to Qualcomm could have big implications for Samsung's mobile processor business. The Galaxy S4 is expected to sell 100 million units, so losing the order to Qualcomm would be quite a blow. But consumers might not lose that much, given that the Snapdragon 600 is a very powerful chip, that has enabled the HTC One to smash previous benchmark records. New design languageThe Designed for Humans philosophy of the Galaxy S3 has been a huge success last year, so personally I thought that Samsung will keep it for this year's line. It would just make sense for the Koreans to continue with the design elements that customers have come to associate with Samsung's high-end technology. On the flip side, Samsung has changed the design of the flagship Galaxy S phone every year. If the image leaked above is any indication, this could happen again this year. Also, the fact that the device will come in black and white is another indication that the nature-inspired design of the Galaxy S3 and Note 2 has been scratched. Design is a matter of taste, so we'll have to wait till we see how users react to the redesigned Galaxy S4 before we make more judgments. One thing is for sure – March 14 can't come soon enough. Sound off your opinions in the comments section. Real or fake? |
| Video: UK operator Three uses a baby to advertise Sony’s new rugged Xperia Z Posted: 22 Feb 2013 09:58 PM PST
Sony announced two new phones last month at the Consumer Electronics Show. One called the Xperia Z, the other called the ZL. They’re both the same device, except that the first one, the Z, is dustproof, waterproof, and just plain everything proof, whereas the ZL is not. The UK operator Three wants to show those ruggedized features off, so what better way to do that than to give the device to a baby? The ad is cute, we’ll admit that much, but it doesn’t really show off anything the device does. Maybe being waterproof is enough to sell a device? For us it isn’t. In fact, we’re more keen on the Xperia ZL, mainly because it has a smaller body and there aren’t any flaps on the ports. Do you have any idea how infuriating life would be if you had to do and undo a flap every time you wanted to charge your smartphone? While we’re on the topic of Sony, let’s talk about what they might announce in a few days at Mobile World Congress. Rumor has it that they’re working on a 6.44 inch tablet with a 1080p screen. That sounds ridiculously big, but then again there are rumors that Samsung’s third generation Note will have a 6.3 inch screen. Several people here at Android Authority have the 5.5 inch second generation Note, and we’re already having a bit of trouble fitting it into our pantaloons, but hey, you never know, maybe 6+ inch devices will become the norm at some point? Other than said previously menetioned tablet, we can’t really think of anything else that Sony might show off. Everything that was “special” was revealed over a month ago, which is kind of sad, because these days all anyone wants to talk about anymore is the One or the Galaxy S4. That’s what Sony gets for wanting to be “first”. |
| YouTube for Android update integrates Google+, improves TV controls Posted: 22 Feb 2013 09:45 PM PST
The beauty of Android is its tight integration with Google’s ecosystem of products and services. Not everything is instantaneously available, but the search giant does add in important integration in its product updates. For instance, we recently learned that the YouTube app for Android has been updated to integrate Google+. Among other incremental improvements, the YouTube app version 4.3.9 includes integration with Google+. You can now use your Google+ profile when commenting or liking videos. Also, YouTube has fixed the “fullscreen button bug” which some might have experienced while switching across fullscreen mode. Another feature is the TV playback controls directly available on the notification bar. This gives you easier access to YouTube playback even while switching across apps. This will come in very useful when you’re watching YouTube videos through a paired TV and you want to use another app. As usual, you can update your YouTube app from Google Play right on your device, or you can initiate the update from your browser through Google Play on the web. Image credit: Korosirego/Flickr |
| 7 sizzling new Android apps of the week (February 22 issue) Posted: 22 Feb 2013 07:30 PM PST
Endings are usually accompanied by sadness, but there’s one kind of ending that provokes a smile — the weekend — not only because weekends signal the end of the work week but also because it’s time for our weekly roundup of the week’s newest Android apps. Of the hundreds of newly published apps on the Google Play Store this week, we picked 7 that we thought might be of use or of great interest to you as they were to us. So, here are 7 freshly baked Android apps straight from the developers’ kitchens this week. ParkMe Find where to park faster with ParkMe’s self-named app, ParkMe. This smart app checks your current location and looks for nearby parking spaces with their corresponding parking rates, location, payment options, and lot availability. The app also comes with a parking timer which is pretty handy especially when you’re parking on a budget. ParkMe is a convenient app to have when you’re navigating through a big city like New York or Los Angeles. You can also check parking spaces ahead of time by using the app’s search function. Unfortunately, ParkMe’s location coverage is currently limited to some cities and countries; however, you can still retrieve an up-to-date map of your target location. Check out ParkMe for free on the Google Play Store. Timewall Clock Wallpaper free Wallpapers can easily become dull and boring to look at. On the other hand, switching to another wallpaper or installing a different app can be too much work. Timewall Clock Wallpaper free by Stetel srl breaks the monotony of your homescreen as easy as changing your wallpaper. Choose an image from your album and convert it into a an extended homescreen wallpaper. The app also displays the time, day, date, and current battery life; you can easily replace your clock widget with it. The app is ad-supported, but the ads only show up while you’re in the app. Timewall Clock Wallpaper free also has an affordable premium version which unlocks features like setting a custom font color for your time and date display, as well as selecting a background item to be displayed. Didlr Artists tend to weigh down their bags with various art materials and sketchbooks, just in case the inspiration strikes while they’re out and about. Developed by Didlr, the company’s self-named app Didlr lets you doodle on your phone wherever you are. You can draw with a variety of colors and a variety of pen points, as well as use up to three layers. When you’re done sketching your masterpiece, you can instantly share your drawing with other Didlr users. The app shows ads on the main gallery menu. Easy Touch – Assistive Touch The more powerful smartphones become, the more functions and features they have. Unfortunately, this means that if we want to access one function, we’ll have to do a lot of swiping and tapping to get there. Easy Touch – Assistive Touch by Cool apps, however, makes your life easier by putting all the shortcuts you need in one place. Launching the app will give you a greyed out ring that will persist across all your screens. Tap the ring to access 7 customizable shortcuts, such as switches, contacts, and applications. Quickly Here’s another app built around the concept of letting you access the apps that you need, well, quickly. Developed by Decad3nce, Quickly lets you put up to 12 app shortcuts on your notification menu. By default, Quickly remains as a notification in your notification menu but pinching out reveals all your set shortcuts. Pinching in hides them. However, Quickly only supports installed apps and cannot make shortcuts for functions and contacts. Get the app quickly from the Google Play Store for US$0.99. Split Camera: Photo Stories Capture precious memories in story form with Popup Studios’ Split Camera: Photo Stories. Whether you are just lounging around with your loved one or taking a stroll in the park, don’t miss to capture beautiful moments and make a photo story out of them. Split Camera: Photo Stories lets you create a photo story from up to five photos. Add texts and effects to individual photos to better convey what you are trying to let the viewer feel upon seeing your photo story. Your photo stories can also be shared to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social networking sites. Download Split Camera: Photo Stories for free and start making photo stories of your everyday experiences. Sidebar Pro If you frequently use a lot of apps and want them neatly placed on your home screen, maybe trying out Sidebar Pro by Mohammad Adib will be the greatest discovery you’ll ever have today. Have a sidebar placed on your home screen and populate it with your most favorite or most frequented apps. When you need to use one of the apps, you won’t need to visit your app drawer; just swipe from the edge of your home screen to access the sidebar. Tap on a shortcut to launch its app instantly. You can customize the sidebar, too. You can adjust its width, opacity, position, color, and a lot more. Own Sidebar Pro for US$1.99 only. Now that you’ve had your fill of our weekly special, I’m sure you’re picking an app that’ll serve your weekend’s purpose. You can choose something that can refuel your creativity or something more useful. Android apps are indeed treasure pots of tricks at your disposal anytime, anywhere. With the right app and the right setting, your weekend is sure to turn out interesting. Who knows? You might learn something new about your phone or yourself. Liked some of the apps we featured or have you found cool apps you’d like to share? Let us know by leaving your thoughts in a comment below. Now if only there was an app that could guess what people are thinking. Wouldn’t that be fun? (with contributions from Dan Evans; banner image courtesy of Shutterstock.com) Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. |
| Android Authority On Air – Episode 52 – One Year Anniversary Giveaway! Posted: 22 Feb 2013 05:55 PM PST
The Chromebook Pixel is real! That’s right Google fans, this week on Android Authority On Air, we discussed what the Chromebook Pixel means for Google. We’re a fan of the hardware, but not all of us are fans of the price. One of the Android Authority regulars has already purchased his and plans on doing a full review later next month. Besides Chromebook Pixel, we hit up Ubuntu Touch which was announced this week. Android fanatics and Ubuntu developers can now download the prepackaged images and flash them on their favorite Nexus devices. On the show we discussed how the Developer Preview of Ubuntu Touch is exactly what it is. A preview, nothing more. Qualcomm and NVIDIA both announced new processors this week and Qualcomm announced what we ended up calling the “God” radio. In Android app news, DashClock Widget continues to gain traction while various extensions appear on the Google Play Store. This week on Android Authority On Air was a bit of a milestone for us, episode 52. You know what that means, we’re now a year old. So, what did you get us? We like gadget leaks and long walks on the beach… Anyways, for our one year anniversary, we partnered with Cruzerlite for a very special contest. The Contest
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| Android 4.2.1 leaks for Samsung Galaxy S3, update to come after Galaxy S4 launch Posted: 22 Feb 2013 02:09 PM PST
Samsung has been doing a good job at updating its top smartphones to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but we are yet to see an Android 4.2 update for any of Sammy's devices. According to Sam Mobile, Samsung Galaxy S3 users will have to wait at least another month before they get to enjoy Android 4.2. However, the Samsung specialists managed to get hold of a pre-release build of the Android 4.2.1 ROM, that it promptly made available as a flashable firmware package for anyone to use. The build is mostly functional, with only some minor bugs to be expected. There are full flashing instructions (via Odin) if you are interested in giving it a spin. Note that the package doesn't contain modem firmware, but your previous modem will remain usable. Sam Mobile lists some of the improvements found in Android 4.2.1 for the Galaxy S3. These include:
Curiously, the site doesn't mention Photo Sphere, which may be an indication that Samsung has removed it to replace it with its own rumored Samsung Orb, a feature that is reportedly similar to Google's implementation. Of course, the fact that Sam Mobile doesn't mention the feature could be just an oversight, or could be due to an other, unknown reason. Check out some screenshots of the pre-release Android 4.2.1 update for the Galaxy S3.      |
| Five things we’d like to see at Google I/O 2013 Posted: 22 Feb 2013 01:44 PM PST
It's that time of year again! With Mobile World Congress going on right now, we're primed to see tons of great stuff from a lot of manufacturers. In a curious move, Google doesn’t have a presence this year, opting instead to have Android experts on-hand to assist their partners with any questions or issues. This leads us to wonder just what Google has up their sleeve for I/O this May. Will they unveil anything shocking? In all the hype recently about Google Glass and the Chromebook Pixel, we wonder just what sleight-of-hand Google is up to.
Key Lime PieThis is the easy one, really. We're pretty sure this is going to happen, even if only by announcement. Of course, the hope is to get the update as the conference happens, but an announcement will suit us just fine. It will be the low-light of the event, but only because we're all expecting it. New Android iterations have, unfortunately, become the fodder for what wasn’t included rather than all the great stuff that was. What will we see from Key Lime Pie (if that's what it will be called)? Android is already pretty great, but it has room to improve. Perhaps some better stitching with photospheres is in order. We'd also like to see some ability to add and subtract settings in the "quick settings" tray. Better battery performance? Yes please! As for my big hope, a unified messenger app would be phenomenal. Whatever we do end up with, I'm sure it won't disappoint, despite the naysayers.
NexusNow this is where the real interest lies for many. All this talk of Google Glass and the Chromebook Pixel… but no chatter about the Nexus line! We have heard nothing, while last year the world anticipated the device like rabid dogs crave raw steak. Are we getting anything new? Will we see another Nexus device that doesn’t even survive I/O? The Nexus 4 was only launched last fall, so it's hard to believe we'll see a new official Nexus device. We've heard of a "Nexus-like" device (keep reading), but getting an official new Nexus phone doesn't seem to be the right course of action. I'd also doubt we see a new Nexus 10, as it was released the same time as the Nexus 4. I will go out on a limb to say we'll see a new Nexus 7, and it will push the genre further. What last year's model was to tablets, this one will be to the current Nexus 7. It will be slimmer, sleeker, and have less bezel. A Tegra 4 chipset would be nice, and a 32 or 64GB storage option is right in the wheelhouse of where we're comfortable. Like our next topic, it should come with Key Lime Pie as well.
MotorolaIt's time for Google to start acting like Motorola is family, because they are. This "we operate Motorola separately" rhetoric is not only old, it's nonsense. Google is Motorola, and what we expect to see is only going to be proof of that. We've heard the rumors, and read those comments Larry Page made about what a cell phone should be. All signs point to the Motorola X device, or devices… but we still don't know exactly what we're getting, if anything. We're hoping to see a phone, and even more hopeful to see a tablet along with it. These devices could be what the Chromebook Pixel is for the Chrome OS genre: a raised bar for developers and manufacturers to aspire jumping over. Kevlar body? Five-inch screen? Quad core, blazing fast processor? New battery technology? We don't know for sure, but we do know we're excited for it. If the Motorola X is all we want it to be, the game will change drastically on May 15th.
Google TVAn interesting conundrum, Google TV is. The hardware is lacking, and a bit expensive compared to competitors like Roku. It has some YouTube interaction and such, which you can't get anywhere else, but not enough to make people accept it on a broad scale. We haven't had a wonderful experience with it yet, and it lacks in some very key areas like content… and content. Also, it lacks content. We want Google TV to be special, but it's just not. I'm always interested when Google goes silent, as it usually means something is afoot. For months, they have been quiet about Google TV. No announcements about content, no new hardware. They have so much ground to make up to competitors, yet they have nothing to say about the service. It seems a normal course of action would be to consistently upgrade and release, but there has been none of that, leading us to believe something big is about to happen. It would be silly to think Google will just give up on the living room, so we look for Google TV to make a big move this year. The time is now for Google, as the living room is getting crowded. Roku, Kinect, Apple TV, Ouya… they all want a place on the mantle, and most offer a better experience than Google TV currently does. The prestigeFor a magician, the prestige is where the trick comes to fruition. Perhaps it's re-attaching a woman who has been cut in half, or making a dove appear from a hat where nothing was. It's the surprise, the coup de grace… and Google has one. What will it be? Time will tell. Will we get some sort of Android wristwatch? Perhaps we'll get a mid-range Chromebook. There is, of course, Google Fiber to consider… will they roll it out on a wider scale? Maybe attendees will get to test out Google Glass. Is there any validity to the Chrome-Android rumor? There has been quite a bit of work on Chrome Beta for Android, so perhaps something big is coming for Chrome. Whatever happens, expect it to be epic.
ConclusionGoogle is primed to blow minds this year. We're already excited about things we know about, like Glass or the Pixel, so that which we don't know should be even more amazing. Google has also done a really good job of being tight-lipped about what's in the works, leading us to believe they are serious about layering I/O with huge, knockout punches. This year is an important one for Google. They may be the only company with both the ambition to lead, and the resources to make it happen. Across the board, Google has a very strong presence in every sector they're involved. This year is the right time for Google to stake claim to the top of every mountain they see, and we think they will. There’s a lot to consider, I know. Google I/O is a pretty big event, and tickets are always in high demand. If you want to go, be prepared for a fight. We have all the info you need, but tickets tend to sell out quickly! |
| Posted: 22 Feb 2013 12:47 PM PST
Game PlayWhen gamers enter Die For Metal for the first time, they’ll be treated with a simple main menu. You can access high scores, more games from SinSquid Games, and the soundtrack for the game, among other things. It’s nice and easy for those metal fans who happen to not like reading. To begin play, just hit the play button. Once players start playing Die For Metal, the fun begins. There are only the basic commands. Run left, run right, jump, double jump, and wall jump are about all you can do. The premise of the game is to complete each level while avoiding obstacles that will kill you in one shot. At the end of the game, our main character gets to join an epic metal band. What makes this game so difficult is the obstacles. They can and will kill you in a single hit, so you will very often actually die for metal. In fact, the game will keep a count of how many times you’ve died along with your score in a fun mixture of trolling and bragging rights. The developers even mention it in the game description. Also, as you progress through the game, you can collect skulls. We don’t know what they’re for yet, but hey it’s something to collect. The controls are a little loose so prepare to do a lot of course correction, especially while jumping. This actually makes the game more fun and challenging than annoying, though. Graphics and SoundThe graphics in this game are ridiculous. Not ridiculously good or ridiculously bad, but just ridiculous. Whenever you die from an obstacle, you’ll explode. Similarly, if you decide to replay a level, you’ll explode. The main character in Die For Metal wears the creepiest metal face smile we’ve ever seen. Also, the levels are very dark and there are random things that explode when you touch them. In fact, there is not one explosion caused by fire, it’s all living (or once living) things exploding here. Die For Metal’s soundtrack is just as metal as its graphics. Gamers will be treated to over a dozen tracks of metal music that’s actually unlockable and accessible in the main menu. So if you just enjoy the music, you can listen to it in the app without being forced to play. The graphics and music work together very well to create a mood. Replay ValueLike many Android games, Die For Metal goes on a 3-star system. Depending how fast you make it through the level, you’ll earn either 1, 2, or 3 stars. So there is the inherent replay value in completing levels repeatedly to earn more stars. Since most levels are short and quick, playing repeatedly doesn’t get annoying immediately, While limited, it is something to do. Another interesting aspect is the ability to open the app and listen to the soundtrack without playing the game. Fans of the game’s metal music can open the app whenever they want and access the game’s soundtrack. While this isn’t replay value by definition, it does give the app value aside from the main story line. Die For Metal Overall ValueWhen it’s all said and done, Die For Metal is a unique game. The platformer itself is rather fun. However, with the added benefit of a fully metal theme and the soundtrack you can listen to anytime is icing on the cake for metal fans. If you’re a fan of metal, it’s not even a question, the game is worth checking out. On the other hand, if you don’t like metal, you may not enjoy Die For Metal as much. You could always play it on mute but the theme is still there. Also, if you don’t like platformers, you probably won’t enjoy this game either. Added up, it’s definitely wroth the $1.10. Especially if you’re a metal fan. If you want to take a closer look, check it out in the Google Play Store here. |
Let’s face it, metal music has one of the most creative and loyal followings of any kind of music. Everyone dresses like a My Chemical Romance music video, the music is meant to induce rage instead of other, often more preferable feelings, and it’s completely awesome. So why not make a game based around that? Well, SinSquid Games has done just that with Die For Metal, a platformer based around the theme of metal. It’s in the Google Play Store for $1.10. As usual, if you’d rather watch, the video is at the bottom.| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Authority To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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