Friday, March 1, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


Samsung Galaxy S4 to come in two colors, three capacities, new report says

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 02:45 AM PST

samsung times square galaxy s4 invite 1

Samsung is getting ready to unveil its fourth-gen Galaxy S model, with the special event set to take place on March 14 in New York – where we'll be present to cover the whole show for you – but meanwhile we get to look at more Galaxy S4 rumors.

Sam Mobile writes that the Android maker will sell six Galaxy S4 versions later this year. We're looking at two colors, black and white, and three capacities, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB:

  • GT-I9500 Galaxy S IV 16 GB (White)
  • GT-I9500 Galaxy S IV 32 GB (White)
  • GT-I9500 Galaxy S IV 64 GB (White)
  • GT-I9500 Galaxy S IV 16 GB (Black)
  • GT-I9500 Galaxy S IV 32 GB (Black)
  • GT-I9500 Galaxy S IV 64 GB (Black)

While this is yet to be confirmed, it's definitely not surprising to hear that initially the handset would be available in two color options, just like its predecessor that launched in white and blue.

When it comes to on-board storage, the Galaxy S4 will apparently also resemble the Galaxy S3, both when it comes to capacity options but also microSD support (up to 64GB).

In case earlier rumors prove correct and Samsung will indeed use both its Exynos 5 Octa and the Qualcomm 600 inside the Galaxy S4, depending on the market it's supposed to serve, then we'll have even more Galaxy S4 combinations on shelves. Not to mention that Samsung may very well launch different color options for the handset in the future, just as it did with the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 in the months following their respective releases.

What Galaxy S4 version will you buy?

The post Samsung Galaxy S4 to come in two colors, three capacities, new report says appeared first on Android Authority.

DigiTimes: Samsung wants to sell 1 million Galaxy Note 8.0 units per month

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 02:28 AM PST

Now that Mobile World Congress is over, it’s time to digest the news and see what happens over the next 12 months. Will LG’s massive portfolio of smartphones fly off store shelves? Will HTC’s One flop? Will Sony’s experiment with Firefox OS turn into something that’s actually desirable? And let’s not forget about Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8.0, will people buy it?

According to DigiTimes, our favorite Taiwanese news/rumor site, the South Korean hardware maker aims to ship about a million units of their 8 inch mobile phone every month. Is that a lot? Yes and no. Let’s look back to 2011 when Samsung announced the first generation Galaxy Note, the one with a 5.3 inch screen. Last year, in August, Samsung announced that they managed to sell 10 million of them. The device hit store shelves in October 2011, so that’s 10 million units in 11 months, or a little over 900,000 units per month.

For Samsung to assume that the Note 8.0 will surpass the growth of the first Note says quite a lot. Will the Note 8.0 sell as fast as the Note II? Doubtful, purely due to size reasons, but hey, you never know!

What’s next for the Note family? The third generation Note is allegedly going to be announced at IFA, the trade show where the first two Notes were unveiled. We expect the new Note to have a 6.3 inch 1080p screen, the same processor as the Galaxy S4, and that’s about it. There aren’t really any solid rumors floating around.

One thing this writer would like to point out is that there are some countries where people can’t afford a laptop, and a tablet, and a smartphone, so they buy just one device, and that device is often a phablet. All too often the media in the West makes fun of 7 inch or 8 inch phones, but they do serve a purpose, and there’s definitely a market for them.

The post DigiTimes: Samsung wants to sell 1 million Galaxy Note 8.0 units per month appeared first on Android Authority.

Samsung drops Jelly Bean source code for international Galaxy Note

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 02:04 AM PST

banner-galaxy-note-mkalter-rom-121114

If you own the international variant of the Galaxy Note, you're more than likely already enjoying Jelly Bean and the plethora of new features that it comes with, seeing that Samsung pushed out the software update last month.

Especially for developers and tinkerers, the company has another treat up its sleeve, as it has made the source code for the new software available to download for all.

You can find the Jelly Bean source code for the GT-N7000 handset in the usual Samsung's open source website. In case you're wondering, the zip file is about 195MB in size.

Whether you're intending to do some big things or just plain curious to see what lies beneath, you can hit the link here to grab the file. Alternatively, just sit tight and wait for others to take advantage of the source code and hope that it’ll help improve the many custom ROMs that are available for the Galaxy Note.

As for those who sport the original Galaxy Note in Canada, hang in there. We're hearing that the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean upgrade will pay you a visit in mid-March.

The post Samsung drops Jelly Bean source code for international Galaxy Note appeared first on Android Authority.

Here are the best 5 smartphones we’ve seen at MWC 2013

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 01:45 AM PST

MWC aa - 600px

Aaand it's over. Too soon, too uneventful, but what can you do? After all, it's not like we expected MWC 2013 to blow our socks off. And it didn't. Not in the least. In fact, I challenge you to name three super-awesome devices you saw in Barcelona for the first time. You got ten seconds.

What, you can't even name two? How about one? That's bad, but we shouldn't make a huge fuss of it. It's not like there weren't uber-cool gadgets on display. There were, only they weren't there exclusively or for the first time ever.

Sony's Xperia Z, HTC's One, LG's Optimus G Pro, even the Sony Xperia Tablet Z, they were all known to the public previous to their Congress appearances. Meanwhile, the few surprises – Asus Padfone Infinity, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 or HP Slate 7 – were oft-rumored ahead of the show and therefore… not so surprising.

But enough with the complaining and let's get down to business. What were the MWC 2013 stars in this unfortunate context? That's a tough one, but, after plenty of deliberation, we think we have the top 5 smartphones. We've even ranked them for you, so here they are in reverse order of their hit potential:

5.  ZTE Grand Memo

The massive 5.7-incher would have probably had no trouble in reaching our podium if a. it would have come with a Full HD screen and b. it wouldn't have been for that annoying processor controversy.

As things stand, the Grand Memo doesn't look bad, but it's probably going to be forgotten in a couple of months. Oh, and it's way too large for this writer to ever feel comfortable holding it.

4. Asus Padfone Infinity

It's not technically (just) a phone, but, if we leave the tablet transformation part aside, the handheld part has all the success ingredients, save for a microSD card slot. You got your 5-inch Full HD screen, quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 2 gigs of RAM, 13 MP camera and even the latest and greatest version of Android, 4.2 Jelly Bean.

Unfortunately, like the Grand Memo, the Padfone Infinity will be all forgotten soon. Extravagant pricing and limited availability do that to a gadget, no matter how cool it looks.

3. LG Optimus G Pro

I'm sure that this is going to spark some controversy, but there's something about the G Pro that doesn't make me want to award it more than the bronze medal. It could be the slightly too large display. Or maybe something about the design that doesn't feel original. Or the fact that a G2 follow-up is already looming.

Whatever it is, the 5.5-incher is a highly commendable yet short of brilliant smartphone. Don't shoot the messenger, a'ight?

2. Sony Xperia Z

Hey, what do you know, the number one phone at CES is the number two of MWC. The Xperia Z might have only routinely visited Barcelona, but it still was one of the few devices that everyone wanted to snap a picture with.

And I know what you're going to say. The Z has an S4 Pro CPU beneath its hood, while the Optimus G Pro, Padfone Infinity and Grand Memo all pack Snapdragon 600 chips. But, at the end of the day, Sony's big guy comes out on top because it's out now. It's as simple as that. Oh, yeah, and the water and dust proofing also help.

1. HTC One

The One was destined to be number one since its unveiling, but, to be honest, we had our doubts about giving HTC's flagship the gold. There's so little to set this guy and the Xperia Z apart that we really can't say which one is better before thoroughly reviewing both.

Call us shallow, but, all in all, we gave the One the upper hand because it's fresher than the Xperia Z. And because it would have been a bit too much for Sony to sweep both the CES and MWC.

And now let the controversy begin. Who did we not include on the list? Who made the cut illicitly? And how would you have ranked the top 5 smartphones exhibited at MWC? Remember, we’re not only talking about brand new devices, showcased for the first time ever, but simply phones on display in Barcelona.

The post Here are the best 5 smartphones we’ve seen at MWC 2013 appeared first on Android Authority.

Google’s CFO says the next few phones from Motorola aren’t going to impress you

Posted: 01 Mar 2013 12:11 AM PST

Google’s Chief Financial Officer, the guy who is responsible for balancing the company’s checkbook, just told a room full of analysts at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference that the next few phones from Motorola are going to blow. He didn’t exactly use the word “blow”, but he did say that the as yet to be announced devices will not be up to Google’s standards.

Is he insane? Slightly. When the Motorola acquisition finally went through, back in May 2012, Google had to promise to fulfill the contractual obligations that Motorola had already signed with their partners. Here’s the full quote:

“We’ve inherited 18 months of pipeline that we actually have to drain right now, while we’re actually building the next wave of innovation and product lines. We have to go through this transition. These are not easy transitions.”

Why doesn’t Google just tear up the contracts that Motorola already signed? The answer is kind of obvious if you stop and think. Who are Motorola’s largest customers? Operators. Do you really think Google wants to piss them off? Not really, because Google will need them in the future to distribute the real Motorola phones.

When are the real Motorola phones going to hit the market? Let’s do some simple math. May 2012 is when the deal closed. Add 18 months to that and you get November 2013. When does Google typically announce new Nexus phones? Around the end of the year.

We’re not implying that the next Nexus will be a Motorola phone, but it stands to reason that we’re going to see the fruits of Google’s acquisition at some point during this year.

But what about the patents, surely the CFO’s statements confirm that the Motorola purchase was purely a patent play, right? This writer is uncomfortable coming to conclusions based on disparate pieces of information that may or may not be related. We really need to see what Google’s “X Phone” is all about before saying anything concrete.

The post Google’s CFO says the next few phones from Motorola aren’t going to impress you appeared first on Android Authority.

Google Play users in Taiwan can now purchase paid apps again

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 11:34 PM PST

Google Play Taiwan
In 2011, Google decided to pull all of its paid apps from the Taiwan Google Play store as a response to the Taiwanese government’s decision to place a fine of NT$1 million or about $33,800 USD following claims of Google’s failure to comply with the country’s consumer protection law. This rendered Taiwan-based Android device users unable to purchase any apps at all from the one official source of Android apps in the world.

Fast forward 20 months, and paid apps are available in the Taiwan Google Play store once again. Google has started offering paid apps again to users who, according to a recently published report on Central News Agency (CNA) of Taiwan, can now view the “Top Paid” apps page just like users in other countries.

Google won a victory in Taiwan through a court ruling made by the Taipei High Administrative Court late last year, which deemed the local government’s actions as totally inappropriate. The Taiwanese government has since decided not to appeal against the said ruling, essentially enabling Google to pretty much just do its thing and keep all Android users who want to purchase paid apps happy.

The post Google Play users in Taiwan can now purchase paid apps again appeared first on Android Authority.

Bell and Virgin HTC One S users get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean upgrade

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:46 PM PST

htc-one-s-jelly-bean
Last month, we told you about the forthcoming Jelly Bean upgrade for users of the HTC One S under Telus. And a few weeks ago, we published a similar news story, only for users of the same phone under Three UK. Guess who’s going to get their hands on the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean upgrade software next?

According to information gathered from unnamed tipsters writing to Mobile Syrup, users of the HTC One S under both Bell and Virgin in Canada can now upgrade their handsets to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Apparently, there’s an internal memo floating around that says the official release date of the upgrade software is February 28, and it’s going to bring “an improved and refined user experience” to the HTC One S.

The HTC One S is an Android-powered smartphone that was first released about a year ago with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It features a 4.3-inch qHD touchscreen display, an 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 16GB storage, and Beats Audio integration. To upgrade it to the latest software, users simply need to make their way onto the Settings screen, select About Device, choose Software Update, and click on Update.

The post Bell and Virgin HTC One S users get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean upgrade appeared first on Android Authority.

Android VP of Engineering: Google treats Motorola “just like HTC or Samsung”

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:32 PM PST

Google has just told the press, yet again, that they treat Motorola like a separate company. Hiroshi Lockheimer, Vice President of Engineering for Android at Google (pictured above), told C|Net that Google treats Motorola like they’re just another partner. That there’s a firewall between the two companies. That the Nexus program is still open to everyone.

None of this is new if you’ve been keeping track of the Android space, but still, we wonder, is Google just lying to everyone in order to keep their partners from freaking out? HTC still makes Windows Phones. Samsung is trying to build a totally new operating system called Tizen. Sony has said that they’re going to experiment with Firefox OS in 2014. LG just bought webOS. There is definitely some fear in the air that Google will do something with their Motorola unit, but are those fears warranted?

Anyone who thinks Motorola will become as big and as successful as Samsung is seriously delusional. Google would have to drop some serious coin on components, factories, and advertising in order to become “the next big thing”. What Motorola can become however is the shining beacon of light that everyone looks towards.

Next devices have never been big sellers because they’re almost always sold unsubsidized. That’s not the most attractive way to buy a phone in rich Western markets where people are used to subsidies. Even with a starting price of just $299, that’s still a bit much for most.

But just think about the Nexus 4. Google packed all that hardware into such a cheap phone. Imagine what they could do if they gave themselves a price target of $599? We think that’s the most likely scenario for Motorola, for them to become a small, but important player.

What do you think? More importantly, when do you think we’ll finally get some real answers?

The post Android VP of Engineering: Google treats Motorola “just like HTC or Samsung” appeared first on Android Authority.

Samsung patent claim against Apple rejected by Japanese court

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:12 PM PST

samsung-logo
As Samsung gets ready to launch what is arguably the world’s most highly-awaited Android smartphone right now, that is the Samsung Galaxy S4, it’s also busy with its numerous patent claims filed all over the world against one of its biggest competitors — Apple. It’s been years since the Korean company first started battling with Apple over patents, and the end still doesn’t seem to be in sight. Today, Samsung suffered a new loss when a Tokyo District Court rejected its allegations that Apple violated some of its patents in certain models of the iPhone.

In a recent report published on Reuters, a Samsung spokesman was quoted as saying, “We are disappointed by today’s court decision. Following a thorough review of the ruling, we will take the measures necessary to protect our intellectual property rights.”

Samsung still has several different patent claims lined up against Apple in Japan alone, so it still stands a chance of taking home some one or two wins. It may have found this recent court ruling in Tokyo disappointing, but for most onlookers, it’s this whole patent dispute that’s disappointing as a whole. In any case, we’ll keep you updated as this patent war rages on.

The post Samsung patent claim against Apple rejected by Japanese court appeared first on Android Authority.

HTC Zoe Share goes live, hosts shared media captured through HTC One

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 07:33 PM PST

HTC Zoe Share
If you’ve followed the news surrounding HTC’s latest Android-powered flagship smartphone called the HTC One, then I’m sure that you already know about one of its most interesting camera-related features, which is called HTC Zoe. Yes, it’s the feature that lets users take pictures and record snippets of high-definition video simultaneously. It’s one of the main features of the HTC One.

But perhaps you’re wondering, what exactly are users going to do with the recorded photos and video footage that they end up with after using HTC Zoe on the HTC One? Why, share all of it, of course. And today, anyone who uses HTC Zoe to create anything may do just that through the official HTC Zoe sharing site, aptly named HTC Zoe Share. It lets people upload and share media on HTC’s servers for free.

With HTC Zoe Share, a user can create a 30-second video clip as a sort of highlight reel that’s made up of photos, videos, and Zoes captured with a smartphone camera. Afterwards, the finished product can be shared easily with the use of links. I think it’s safe to say that HTC Zoe Share has made an already interesting new feature even more interesting.

Here’s a quick video showing off a bit of HTC Zoe on the HTC One.

If you want to find out what HTC Zoe Share is all about, then just make your way to the source link below.

The post HTC Zoe Share goes live, hosts shared media captured through HTC One appeared first on Android Authority.

Android and Me

Android and Me


Google still not wowed by Motorola’s upcoming products, X Phone could be a ways off

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 07:20 PM PST

Don’t expect too much out of next products to come out of Motorola. Google CFO Patrick Pichette has gone on the record at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference saying that the next Motorola products being readied for release are not, “wow by Google standards.” As Android...

Visit our site to read the full article.

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Pandora to limit free listening on mobile to 40 hours per month, founder explains it’s a necessary evil

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 03:44 PM PST

Do you listen to Pandora on your Android phones and tablets? If so, this news is rather important to you. Pandora has recently revealed that it would soon begin limiting free, mobile listening to 40 hours per month. Before you start getting that kerosene torch out, founder Tim Westergren wanted to explain why, exactly, Pandora had to make the change.

Tim says per-track royalties have increased 10-fold over the years, with the expenses growing more than 25% over the last three years. A good chunk of that — about 9% — came in 2013, and the royalties are expected to grow 16% over the next couple of years. Most users shouldn’t be affected, apparently, as less than 4% of monthly active Pandora listeners are said to be in the cross-fires of this unfortunate situation.

In fact, Tim says the average listener only listens to about 20 hours of music per month, so a great deal of you probably won’t notice anything at all. The change will help offset the burden of cost put on Pandora’s back by the music companies. That said, if you are in that minority of listeners who will be affected by the change you can do one of four things:

  • Lower your listening rate (desktop listening is still completely unlimited, so try and move your tunes over to a PC whenever possible).
  • Pay $.99 once you hit the limit to get an unlimited allowance until the end of that month.
  • Pay $2.99 per month for Pandora One, which includes commercial-free radio and an unlimited listening rate.
  • If all else fails, bail ship and find a different service.

Those are some inexpensive prices so if you really love Pandora and you really can’t bring yourself under 40 hours per month then it’s a great route to consider. I still personally believe that a Pandora One subscription should free me of the dastard six skips per hour limit, but perhaps that will be addressed another day. Anywho, if none of this is bothering you then continue to rock on.

[via Pandora]

ASUS MeMo Pad Smart 10 launching March 5th

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:58 PM PST

ASUS’ inexpensive 10-inch slate, the MeMo Pad Smart 10, has long been priced at $300, but we finally have a release date to look forward to. We should see it arriving in stores around March 5th. This isn’t meant to headline the Taiwanese company’s tablet lineup, but for $300 they are offering a very compelling option for anyone who needs a tablet in this range.

The 10-inch tablet will have a 1280×800 resolution and come with Tegra 3 circuitry. Its construction is largely plastic, there are no fancy keyboard docks to fit it inside, and you’re only getting 1GB of RAM with 16GB of internal storage. In other words, it’s good for the price but it won’t be winning any awards for best Android tablet anytime soon.

That said, it does seem to be a very nice option for anyone who needs a tablet but can’t justify the $400-500 that more premium options typically go for. We’ll let you know where, exactly, you can find one of these once they go live at retailers next week.

[via Liliputing]

AT&T 4G LTE expands in Texas

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:47 PM PST

AT&T has announced that its 4G LTE network has expanded to more parts of Texas. This isn’t a huge push by any stretch of the imagination, but any progress is good progress. Folks in the charming Corpus Christi market will be able to enjoy the super fast 4G LTE speeds, and near Austin you’ll start to see more coverage in Marble Falls, Burnet, Bertram, and Round Mountain.

Of course, you’ll need a device capable of jumping onto these juicy airwaves so something like the HTC One X+, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 or the Samsung Galaxy S3 should, or countless other LTE-equipped phones, tablets and hotpsot devices, should be of interest. If you already have an LTE-capable device and you live in the aforementioned markets be sure to turn those radios on and see just how fast the network can be for yourself.

[via AT&T 1, 2]

Toy Story: Smash It! brings a great new puzzle game to Android [VIDEO]

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 01:41 PM PST

Disney is bringing the great Toy Story franchise over to Android with its latest release. Toy Story: Smash It! is now available in the Play Store, and it’s a 3D puzzle game that can be likened to Angry Birds. You control Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and some of the rest of the gang as you throw balls at imperfect structures to try and knock out those ugly green aliens (who, for whatever reason, are dressed up in wild western garb).

Aside from giving me a rush of happier times as a child, the game is quite colorful, true to the Toy Story atmosphere, and best of all, it’s only $.99. Take a look at the trailer above, and if you decide it’d be something you’d enjoy then throw some change at it in the Google Play Store.

Real Racing 3 hits Android with freemium model

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 01:22 PM PST

If you’ve been waiting on EA’s Real Racing 3, today’s the day you can get it… and for free, no less. It’s one of the most expansive racing titles on Android yet, with over 45 cards from the likes of Porsche and Lamborghini to hit the tarmac with. You can race in over 900 events, and races can have up to 22 different participants at the same time.

Is there a catch? Of course there’s a catch! You’re going to be asked to cough up some dough for some of the more “premium” features the game has to offer, but it should be playable even if you don’t want to spend a dime. Basically, you’re going to get out of it what you put into it, and that’s what the freemium model is all about. Give it a go in the Google Play Store.

Google Play Books now available in India, new update in tow

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 11:55 AM PST

Our friends over in India can now purchase and read books on their Android devices (and in their browsers) as Google has made Play Books available to folks in that country. Whether or not certain Indian users can actually purchase those books due to lack of support for a great deal of credit cards and banks in that region is a different story, but if you can find some way to get your payment information onto Google Wallet then you’re in business.

Alongside that news, a new update has been issued for the app in the Google Play Store. The changelog mentions improved performance, an astounding amount of bug fixes (over 90), and new user interface tweaks. Included in said tweaks include a drop-down menu in the library view that will allow you to filter books by type, and the place name will now be identified on whichever page you’re viewing when the reading controls are visible. As with anything Google, the app is free and yours for taking in the Play Store.

[thanks Hasnain!]

Alien vs Predator: EVOLUTION now available in Google Play [VIDEO]

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 11:39 AM PST

It wasn’t long ago that Fox teased Alien vs Predator: EVOLUTION for Android, and now users will be able to get a crack at the game for themselves. Developed by Angry Mob Games, the folks behind Guerilla Bob, EVOLUTION has just launched the game in the Google Play Store. You’ll have to plop $5 onto the virtual table for this installment in an age-old franchise that never ceases to capture our attention.

EVOLUTION lets you play both sides of the coin, as you’ll control Predator in an attempt to save your clan’s completely annihilation from the alien race, while your stint as Alien will serve to help free your kind from the enslavement of the Super Predators. The game features character upgrades and abilities such as Rage Rechargers, Proximity Mines, Alien Vision, Plasma Cannons and more.

EVOLUTION includes gamepad support so be sure to hook it up to your television or monitor, or prop your smartphone or tablets up, and give it a go. AMG CEO Bogdan Iliesiu and FOX digital entertainment producer Jeff Schwartz will be holding a Reddit Q&A session at 3pm eastern at the IAmA subreddit, so be sure to grab some punch and head over there if you’re interested in speaking with the men behind this exciting release. Take a look at the game’s launch trailer above.

Google says Motorola’s device pipeline wasn’t “Wow” worthy, downplays Samsung worries

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:55 AM PST

Some interesting quotables have arisen from the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference today. Speaking at the conference, Google’s chief financial officer Patrick Pichette responded to questions regarding Motorola and the hardware business Google inherited. According to Pichette, Google didn’t deem anything in Motorola’s pipeline “wow” worthy by its own standards.

We may like the DROID RAZR/MAXX HD or Motorola’s Photon Q, but if the authority on Android isn’t impressed by Motorola’s latest work then perhaps our standards are being set way too low. It’s a perfect opportunity for Google to show us what “wow” could be, then, as it has a very important show coming up in the next few months. Google is rumored to be launching the “X” phone with Motorola, and it would be the first device that Google has a heavy hand in.

If you don’t remember, Google originally revealed that it had at least 12-18 months of product pipeline to get through, which likely included the aforementioned DROID RAZR/MAXX HD and the DROID RAZR M. We haven’t heard of anything else but the “X” lately so perhaps Google’s influence will finally be hitting the research and development labs and production lines of Motorola soon.

In other news, Pichette decided to address allegations that Google is worried about Samsung’s current death grip on the Android pie. You would think Google would be happy that an OEM is making money with Android, but early rumors alleged the Mountain View company actually feared Samsung would run too many competitors out of contention.

Pichette didn’t outright say that wasn’t true, but did remind us that Google has an excellent relationship with Samsung. We’re sure they do, but we also know that you can have an excellent relationship and remain worried at the same time. Google will probably never outright express its feelings on the situation, but for now that’s all we’re getting from the horse’s mouth.

[via The Verge]

Google experimenting with Linux kernel 3.8, could be readying it for Key Lime Pie

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:35 AM PST

Some unexciting exciting news for you today, folks, if that makes sense. Google seems to be experimenting with version 3.8 of the Linux kernel as the code was found in the company’s repositories. This normally wouldn’t mean too much to us, but with such a major jump from what’s running in Jelly Bean 4.2.2 — kernel version 3.4 — there’s reason to take notice.

For starters, this version includes more Android-related code, including driver support for NVIDIA Tegra drives, and advancements in code for Samsung Exynos DRM. Also important to us mobile folks is a lower memory footprint, with Phoronix saying it uses “a lot less memory” than versions prior. This is a huge deal for mobile, of course, where memory is more limited than on desktop and laptop computing. Finally, Samsung’s F2FS file system was merged into the kernel, a file system that’s said to be very flash-friendly.

Google is far along in these “experimental stages,” apparently, and while we might not have confirmation yet it’s possible the kernel is being readied for use inside Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. We likely won’t be getting official details regarding that particular version of Android until Google I/O this summer, so just sit back and enjoy this news for what it is for the time being.

[via Phoronix]

Nexus 4, Nexus 10 found to have OpenCL drivers

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:57 AM PST

Well, this is quite the interesting story. Anandtech is reporting that drivers for OpenCL, a standard that allows developers to tap into parallel computing power for multi-core GPUs and CPUs, are said to be injected in the firmwares of the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10.

It’s no secret that the likes of Samsung and Qualcomm have been testing OpenCL for their mobile chipsets, but this would mark the first known instance of OpenCL in such devices. For now, only the Mali T604 setup on the Nexus 10 and the combination of Qualcomm’s quad-core Krait CPU and Adreno 320 GPU on  the Nexus 4 are known to have it, and the claims were tested by members of the community using methods to access OpenCL and benchmarks to confirm its operation.

If you’re confused about what this means, the easiest way to explain it would be to say OpenCL allows the GPU of the chipset to help handle some of the tasks that CPUs normally do, meaning a nice bit more of computational power can be squeezed out of these devices.

It’s a technology that has been used in the desktop space for quite some time, but its arrival to mobile will be monumental to advances in the performance of embedded system-on-chip designs. This doesn’t mean much to any of us for now, but it sounds like we’re one step closer to a whole new class of power if the discovery of this technology in these particular devices are anything to go by. Developers who want to see some basic functionality of OpenCL in the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 can take a look at the sample code here.

[via Anandtech, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

OUYA shipping to Kickstarter backers March 28th, teases new exclusive project by ex-Valve designer

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:34 AM PST

The OUYA gaming console is almost here, folks. The Kickstarter sensation, which is an Android-powered gaming console powered by the Tegra 3 platform, will be shipping out to Kickstarter backers beginning March 28th according to the latest project update.

OUYA already has components in the factory and on the assembly line, so it’s only a matter of time before these are going right to your doorsteps. Those who backed the project have first dibs, of course, while the rest of you will have to wait until the console’s general launch in June (which OUYA assures is still on time).

Backers will be getting units so early that OUYA’s featureset won’t even be fully ready. We’re told to expect frequent updates in the weeks to come that will add new features and continue to refine the user experience. With tens of thousands of units to ship, OUYA says don’t be surprised if your tracking number — said to be headed to an inbox near you soon — estimates delivery times of 2-3 weeks.

OUYA also had some details to share about new games coming soon. It has announced a new project by Airtight Games headed up by ev-Valve game designer Kim Swift. She was partly responsible for the likes of Portal and Left 4 Dead, and while no details have come to light yet we’re sure to be in for a treat. Says Swift: “…the title will definitely appeal to core gamers in terms of skill and difficulty, it really has a completely unexpected, imaginative slant that’s totally at home on this console.”

Also teased were projects from Papo and Yo developers Minority Media, a new OUYA-exclusive title by Tripwire Interactive (alongside The Ball), and an action RPG called ChronoBlade by nWay. If that’s not enough, OUYA has announced the winners of its CREATE game jam where developers whipped up prototypes of would-be games for cash prizes:

Finally, OUYA announced that Kellee Santiago would be jumping on board as head of developer relations — or the “Developers’ best friend,” as OUYA likes to call her. She is the co-founder of thatgamecompany, the developers of one of 2012′s most critically acclaimed titles Journey. Exciting times are ahead indeed, and we’ll be right in the thick of things with an OUYA unit of our own. Be sure to check out some of our early coverage on this quirky little package and get excited as the fun will begin as early as late next month.

HTC Sense 5 headed to global One X, One X+, One S, and Butterfly

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:56 AM PST

Just because HTC has a new kid on the block for 2013 doesn’t mean those of you with some of its 2012 smartphones are left behind. Wondering about the fate of some of HTC’s biggest 2012 smartphones, one user on Facebook asked HTC if Sense 5.0 would be coming to the HTC One X. To everyone’s surprise, HTC responded, and even gave us even more details than was originally requested.

The company confirmed that Sense 5 would be headed to the HTC One X, HTC One X+, HTC One S, and the HTC Butterfly within the next few months. The OEM specifically mentioned that “global” variants would get it, so those of you with carrier-branded versions will likely have to wait a while longer.

HTC made it a point to mention that not everything the HTC One has would be coming to the aforementioned smartphones due to differences in hardware. We’re assuming they’re referring to HDR mode in the “UltraPixel” camera, the TV remote feature thanks to the  infrared blaster, and the new audio enhancement software made for those beautiful stereo speakers, but we’ll be reaching out to see if we can get any more specifics. To be quite honest, we’re just happy HTC decided to say anything at all — we weren’t even expecting to hear anything until the HTC One launches.

Samsung wants fans to be at Times Square for Galaxy S4 unveiling March 14th

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 08:42 AM PST

Samsung is really drumming up a lot of noise of the announcement for the Galaxy S4. The company scheduled an event in New York City on March 14th (at quite the major venue, I might add) to hold the press conference live. The general public wasn’t invited to that particular venue, but they will be able to watch a live stream via YouTube. Now, Samsung has announced another big way to keep up with all that will be going on that day.

Samsung has announced on Twitter that it would at Times Square with open arms for any fan who wants to get in on the fun. It sounds like they have something pretty big planned, though we could just as easily be getting a simple video board unveiling.

Either way, if you are going to be in New York City that day and want to feel like you’re part of the action then why not make a stop by Samsung’s place to take it all in for yourself? In the meantime, we’ll be right around the corner bringing you live coverage of everything Samsung has to show! Things kick-off 7pm local time.

[via Twitter]

Inpofi takes wireless charging on the go [VIDEO]

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 04:37 AM PST

We’ve seen wireless charging, but portable wireless charging? Inpofi is using a new technology to provide cable-free power, at home or the go. Instead of using magnetic induction, a process that generates heat pollution, Inpofi uses hardware installed in a case (and maybe soon, your phone) and the separate charging station, a computer chip the communicates between the two elements induces a charging state.

But more than just the technology behind it, Inpofi’s method allows the creation of a svelte portable charger — as in this is truly entirely wire-free. Charge the dock, slip it in your pocket, and there you go. You can charge your phone simply by carrying it around in the same pocket as the charger. It sounds too good to be true, so we were looking for a catch, but at least from our time with the devices we were unable to find any major drawbacks.

Inpofi is currently in talks with the Chinese and US governments to work toward standardizing their method, allowing them to simply license it to manufacturers and bring it to a larger audience. It will face an uphill battle, as other standards are already starting to become more widespread, but given an option Inpofi looks worth consideration as the wireless charging solution.

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Soti’s display mirroring technology offers plenty of possibilities [VIDEO]

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 04:10 AM PST


Having an issue with your phone? Soon you could be able to receive remote diagnostics and service thanks to Soti. The company provides display mirroring technology for Android handsets that serves a myriad of purposes. Aside from allowing a remote service tech access to your phone for quick tune-up, Soti also gives you a desktop window into your Android device, allowing you to perform any action the handset is capable of straight from your desktop.

Currently Soti has a partnership with Samsung. The tech is built into the Galaxy S3, but the company is in talks with other OEMs. The goal is to provide these sort of services on a larger scale, giving everyone from the end user to the developer a great way to manipulate, control, and experience their Android device.

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums


Android phones OK with Department of Defense for top-secret information

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 01:13 PM PST

Android Security

If you have seen one of Samsung’s recent zombie unicorn commercials for their Samsung Galaxy Note II, you may have noted the references to their SAFE standard for device security. Ensuring security on mobile devices is not just for enterprises that don’t want their latest game to leak to the public. Security issues take on a much more important role at the U.S. Department of Defense where top-secret information flows within the walls of the agency. It appears the Department of Defense is on the verge of changing a policy that limited secure mobile device approval to Blackberry devices and will open the door to some Android devices.

According to reports, the door will not be opened to just any Android device. Instead, the Department of Defense is screening the devices that will be allowed with only top-tier devices appearing to make the cut. This is good news for Android device manufacturers like Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony, and Motorola and should encourage them to continue their efforts to implement strong, secure standards on their devices.

Currently, the majority of mobile devices deployed by the Department of Defense are from Blackberry. However, the Department has been testing both Android and iOS devices to ensure soldiers and civilian staff have the latest and greatest technology available to them. Needless to say, this door opening is bad news for Blackberry as they struggle to stay alive in the market.

source: Phandroid


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Sprint LG Optimus G Finally Receiving Jelly Bean

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 12:57 PM PST

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The Sprint LG Optimus G is getting a nice upgrade to Jelly Bean with numerous reports of the update rolling out to owners. While it’s only been a little over three months since the phone’s release, Jelly Bean has been available on devices as early as July 2012. The LG Optimus G on the other hand, launched on Sprint’s network back in November running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. There is no official word from Sprint if it’s a large or more gradual roll-out, but you can see if you have the update right now by navigating to your settings and selecting “About Phone” and looking for the software update from there. If you do manage to grab the update, you’ll finally get upgraded to 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. If not, then sit tight as you will probably get the update eventually.

Source: Phandroid


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Android Team Working On Experimental Linux 3.8 Kernel And Why It’s Good News

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 11:59 AM PST

Android_Kernel_DROID_RAZR_MAXX

Google appears to be working on an experimental Linux 3.8 kernel for Android after creating a new public kernel repository. It’s built from the standard Linux kernel with modifications added by the Android team.

There are several reasons this experimental kernel is good news: Support for the Flash-Friendly-File-System, support for open source NVIDIA Tegra and Samsung Exynos DRM drivers, and a lower memory footprint. Having a smaller memory footprint is by far one of the most anticipated as you really can’t go wrong with additional memory for apps.

As far as what version of Android this 3.8 kernel will debut in, we aren’t quite sure yet. Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean on the Nexus 4 features the 3.4 kernel while version 3.0 and 3.3 are in other Jelly Bean powered devices.

Source: Android Central


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Featured Android Game Review: Space Defense HD [Arcade & Action]

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 11:25 AM PST

Space_Defense_HD_Splash_Banner

If you like old school games, you need to check out Space Defense HD by BeeGroove. It’s just like the very popular 80′s hit, Missile Command, with a few variations. What’s interesting about Missile Command is that it’s one of the few games that actually improves with the transition to a touch screen device. The original Missile Command was played with a trackball, which was cool and innovative at the time, but it was still hard to launch your missiles fast enough. By using your finger, it gives you more accuracy and efficiency.

If you’re not familiar with Missile Command, it’s your job to protect your city from missile attacks. You do this by launching your own counter-missiles that will explode at the precise point that you aim them. You want to aim your missiles so that when they explode, enemy missiles will be close enough to be destroyed.

As I mentioned, there are a few variations. The first, is that you won’t find three batteries for launching your missiles. You just launch missiles from one battery. The second thing is that you can upgrade your missiles as far as power, speed, and number of shots that you can fire at the same time. There is a also a shield, which you can also upgrade, over your city that will protect it from incoming missiles. As you score points, you are given an opportunity in game to upgrade. Along the bottom of the display there are buttons for each upgrade along with what level they are currently at. At the start of the game you will have Power: 1.00GW, Speed: 300K/S, Shield: 0GEV, and Shoot: 5. When you can upgrade, there will be brackets around them, and it will say “upgrade available.” Just tap any of the buttons to receive your upgrade, but you will want to strategize your needs. For example, during the early levels, you really don’t need more than five shots at a time, so it’s important to build up speed and power. You will always know how many points you need for the next upgrade.

In the original Missile Command, the game ended when the enemy took out your six cities. In Space Defense, it’s one city and it’s the population that is tracked. You start with 10 billion and each strike into the city will take out 1 billion. If you’re doing the math, that’s 10 strikes and the game will end. There’s no way to defeat the game, just play until you can’t play anymore. That’s the kind of game I love; simple and to the point. The negative is that you always start the next game at the very beginning, but that’s how it’s done old school.

BeeGroove released two versions of the game. The Free version gives you a good idea of the gameplay, but you won’t be able to upgrade your missiles or shield. In a way that’s as old school as it gets as you can see how far you can get without any alterations. If you like the game and want to get into upgrading, you can grab the paid version, which will run you $ 1.34. Check out my hands on video below and hit one of the download links to get started. Let me know what you think.

 

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Click here to view the embedded video.

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Samsung Loses Patent Lawsuit To Apple In Japan

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:57 AM PST

Samsung-vs-Apple

A Tokyo court ruled today in favor of Apple over a patent lawsuit filed by Samsung. In the lawsuit, Samsung claimed that Apple misused specific 3G patents in different versions of the iPhone. Here’s the official statement from Samsung:

“We are disappointed by today’s court decision. Following a thorough review of the ruling, we will take the measures necessary to protect our intellectual property rights.”

Samsung originally filed the patent lawsuit in April of 2011 and was looking to seek an injunction against various versions of the iPhone. While this is an obvious blow to the South Korean company, they have had success against Apple in Japan in the past.

Back in August, they won a lawsuit regarding the infringement of a property relating to the synchronization of music and video data with off-site servers.

Source: Reuters


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HTC Nexus One is officially the first ‘smartpho-naut’ as part of the NASA PhoneSat program

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:38 AM PST

Nexus_One_NASA_PhoneSat

Do you remember the NASA PhoneSat project that we learned about last summer? The purpose of it was to build small nanosatellites using small consumer electronics. Well the Nexus One was the chosen one and it’s in space right now. The Nexus One launched on February 25th, and HTC is calling it the first smartpho-naut.

So what is it doing up there? It’s taking snapshots, and what’s really cool is the 360app is installed on it, which means earth creatures will be able to request snapshots soon. That feature isn’t live yet, so stay tuned. For background information on the PhoneSat project, hit the break for a short video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

source: HTC  more info: 360app

 

 

 

 


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Sony unveils experimental Firefox OS build for Xperia E budget phone

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 09:33 AM PST

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last week or so, you have no doubt heard about Mozilla’s Firefox OS which is intended for lower-spec’d smartphones. While the OS is meant for “emerging markets”, Firefox OS is more than compatible with various budget devices thanks to the fact it is completely open-source, much like how the Android platform is. Sony took some time to utilize this notion for some of its upcoming devices and decided to fire up an experimental build of the OS on its Xperia E smartphone. What’s exciting is the fact that the early build is not only functional, but it actually works surprisingly well. Sony isn’t just operating this early build for just any reason, mind you. It has selected the Xperia E smartphone because it is encouraging developers and those who like to try things out to use the OS and provide some welcomed feedback. Once the feedback is received, it will begin developing and launching Firefox OS-powered devices sometime in the next year or so.

We know many of you are pretty eager to check this out, so why not hit the break and have a gander for yourself?

 

 

Click here to view the embedded video.

 


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Samsung invites the general public to “be ready 4 the next galaxy” at Times Square in New York

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 06:08 AM PST

Samsung_Be_Ready_4_Next_Galaxy

 

It’s no surprise that Samsung plans on introducing its “Next Big Thing” in just two weeks from now, but many of you have been a little blue because select members of the press will only be able to attend the anticipated unveiling… or so you think. Samsung is has unleashed one heck of a marketing strategy by using Twitter to invite the general public to Times Square in New York to “Be Ready 4 The Next Galaxy”. The event will be streamed and likely allow the public to see Samsung share something special which is pretty much the biggest signal that we should be ready for the next Galaxy S iteration.

Of course if you can’t make it to the big event out in New York, you should stay tuned with Talk Android as we’ll be there giving you guys all the juicy coverage you can handle.

source: Sammy Hub 


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Sense 5 is coming to the HTC One X, One X+, One S, and Butterfly

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 05:56 AM PST

HTC_One_Sense_5

With the announcement of Sense 5 last week, many HTC phone owners are wondering if their models will receive the upgrade. The question was asked on Facebook and HTC replied with the One X, One X+, One S, and Butterfly. The DROID DNA didn’t make the list, but I suspect that since it’s a Butterfly variant, it will also be one of the chosen ones.

As you know there are a lot of newer features in Sense 5, and some of them probably won’t make it to these other phones due to hardware limitations. One such feature is HTC TV. Since none of those devices have an IR blaster, there would be no reason to include it. The last question that needs to be answered is when? Unfortunately we don’t know, and I wouldn’t expect to see the updates before the summer, especially the carrier branded versions.

source: Facebook


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Huawei Ascend G710 appears in leaked image, showcases its 5-inch, 720p display in the process

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 05:49 AM PST

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There’s a reason why Huawei has become one of the world’s top smartphone manufacturers, despite surprisingly flying under the radar: it continues to introduce all sorts of smartphones for consumers. Notorious beans-spiller evleaks has revealed the Ascend G710 smartphone— an interesting device to say the least. It is not known exactly what will be featured inside the device— though we do know it will feature a 5-inch screen with a 720p resolution, capacative buttons at the bottom (sigh) and a pretty sexy metallic backing on the back of the device.

No word yet on when this bad boy will hit the market, but interested parties should probably keep their eyes and ears open with us as it will probably be available sooner than later.

source: evleaks
via: Engadget


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