Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


Hands-on video of alleged Galaxy S4 hits the web

Posted: 12 Mar 2013 02:18 AM PDT

samsung-galaxy-s4

An alleged hands-on video of the Samsung Galaxy S4 has emerged on the web, but is this the real thing? Several clues seem to suggest so.

Has Samsung lost the tight control it used to have over its secretive operation? Last year, we had no idea what the Galaxy S3 would look like until the very last minute. This year, days before the March 14 launch we had images of what appears to be the Galaxy S4, and now even a video.

The same user that posted the alleged Galaxy S4 Duos images on a Chinese forum has now published a hands-on video of the device on YouTube. The video pretty much dispels the possibility that the device was doctored to look like a GS4, although there's still a chance we are looking at a prototype.

Have a look for yourself.

To add credence to the possibility that this is in fact the real Galaxy S4, Samsung has tweeted a few hours ago an image of "The Next Big Thing". The image shows a device that is very similar to the Galaxy S3, but also to the device shown in the video. Curiously, the device teased in the video doesn’t seem to feature the camera, sensors, and speakers you can see in the video.

samsungus

I am still having some doubts about the veracity of the device, but the clues are piling up in its favor. Come to think of it, the black and white theme of the tease campaign is present in the design of the device, which is black (or dark gray) on the front and white (light gray) on the rear. We can also spot what seems to be an aluminum side on the device, although it could be just chromed plastic.

What do you make of this video? Would you like the Galaxy S4 to look like this?

The post Hands-on video of alleged Galaxy S4 hits the web appeared first on Android Authority.

New report says Tegra 4 will be faster than Snapdragon 800, but is it?

Posted: 12 Mar 2013 02:00 AM PDT

qualcomm-nvidiaA newly published analysts report has investigated the potential performance of the the upcoming processors from Nvidia and Qualcomm and concluded that the Tegra 4 will outshine the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800. However the caveat is that the conclusion is based on projected performances and manufacturers benchmarks!

Since the real chips aren’t out yet and can’t be tested or benchmarked, the analysts at Linley Group have written a report based on performance data released by Nvidia at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona along with projections about the Snapdragon 800′s performance based on the Snapdragon S4 Pro.

Running at full speed and without worrying about power consumption the report concludes that the Tegra 4 will beat the Snapdragon 800. To get an estimate of the Snapdragon 800′s speed, the team took the benchmark data for the Snapdragon S4 Pro and then factored in the speed bump from 1.7 GHz to 2.3 GHz plus added a 10% performance increase due to improvements to the Krait 400 core.

But I question the findings of the report. The Snapdragon 600 is already proving to be a formidable processor. Although recent benchmarks have shown that the  Tegra 4, which scored 16,436 in the general-purpose Quadrant v2 benchmark, is faster than the Snapdragon 600, which scored 12,417, the Snapdragon 800 should be faster still. Here is some maths. The Snapdragon 600 is running at 1.7 GHz and the 800 should run at 2.3 GHz. Taking the 12,417 result for the 600 and factoring in the clock speed difference means that the 800 should score over 16,799 without considering any performance gains in the Krait 400 core.

Ultimately the only way to really see which CPU will be faster is to wait for both processors to hit manufacturing and to trickle down into real world devices. Even if the Tegra 4 is faster than the Snapdragon 800, the report notes that Qualcomm’s chips are designed for power efficiency, whereas Tegra 4 delivers high performance but with high power consumption.  If that is true then the Snapdragon will challenge Tegra 4's performance in smartphones, but in tablets, Tegra 4 will most likely win.

The post New report says Tegra 4 will be faster than Snapdragon 800, but is it? appeared first on Android Authority.

HTC Droid DNA Plus back in the rumor mill, headed to Verizon with 4.7 or 5-inch screen?

Posted: 12 Mar 2013 01:26 AM PDT

HTC One [aa] 600px (3)

HTC and Verizon have always been pretty tight, making the carrier's apparent reluctance to pick the new One up quite bizarre. However, Big Red was a while ago rumored to be prepping an exclusive version of the new HTC flagship, named Droid DNA Plus or DLXPLUS, which would have explained a lot.

Only the DNA Plus didn't come. And with the One almost confirmed to land on AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile by the end of March, we started to think it was never real. Or is it?

Well, according to a newly uncovered Bluetooth SIG listing, an HTC6445LVW is being worked on and likely headed to Verizon, based on the "VW" in the model number. We have no sure way to know what kind of device this is, but given last year's Droid DNA is known internally as the 6435LVW, we're guessing it can only be a follow-up of some kind.

htc-dlxplus

Now the question is will this be similar to the Droid DNA or the One. Previous speculations had it pegged for the latter, meaning it could come with a 4.7-inch Full HD panel, a quad-core Snapdragon 600 CPU, 2 GB of RAM, 4 MP  ultrapixel camera, 16 GB of on-board memory, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Sense 5.0.

We're definitely not ruling out the other theory though, so Verizon's DLXPLUS could pack more or less the same hardware in a slightly larger 5-inch body. But if that'll happen, wouldn't setting the DNA and DNA Plus apart become a much too difficult task for Big Red potential customers? Oh, well, it's not like the exact same thing didn't happen last year with AT&T's One X and X+. When will HTC learn, right?

The post HTC Droid DNA Plus back in the rumor mill, headed to Verizon with 4.7 or 5-inch screen? appeared first on Android Authority.

Galaxy S4 revealed in Samsung teaser image?

Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:46 AM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 teaser header

Samsung Mobile US tweeted a teaser image of “the next big thing”. But is this how the Galaxy S4 will look like or is it just a false lead?

You know those images of a China-bound Galaxy S4 that were leaked yesterday? Apparently, we might have been wrong for calling them fake. Samsung Mobile US just teased a tantalizing image of what's supposedly The Next Big Thing, and the phone does bear a resemblance with yesterday's leaked device.

Looking at the image that Samsung tweeted a few hours ago, the thing that strikes me is the close resemblance to the Galaxy S3. In fact, I superimposed an image of the Galaxy S3 over it, and their shapes are identical. However, there are some differences when it comes to the position of the Samsung logo and obviously, the absence of speakers, camera, and sensors.

samsungus

To make more of the phone visible I play around with the levels. Here's the result:

samsung galaxy s4 teaser levels

What's going on here? I am wondering if Samsung would really keep the same design for the new Galaxy S4.

All the previous information we had (save for yesterday's leak) suggested that Samsung will adopt a new, angular design for the new flagship.

Moreover, several rumors indicated that Sammy is going for a black and white scheme. Even the video teaser starring little Jeremy offers some clues that the Galaxy S4 will come in black and white versions (or perhaps a combination of the two colors).

But the device teased in the image has the same curvature as the Galaxy S3, and at least to my eye, that looks like Pebble Blue, not black.

Could Samsung be trying to muddle the waters ahead of the launch? Perhaps they want the Galaxy S4 to be a total surprise… Oh well, only two days to go.

The post Galaxy S4 revealed in Samsung teaser image? appeared first on Android Authority.

YouTube co-founder prepares new video service based on collaboration

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 11:56 PM PDT

youtube logo

The concept of YouTube has certainly been imitated over the years. With sites like Vimeo and Dailymotion, people can find nearly any video that they want online. However, competition has not been the only headache that has plagued YouTube since its launch. The website had to wade through copyright lawsuits and other burdens that come with running a large and popular website. The co-founders Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim eventually sold the company to Google in 2006.

It now seems that one of those co-founders, Chad Hurley, is planning to launch a potential competitor. During an interview with Kevin Rose, founder of Digg and current Google Ventures partner, Hurley stated that the service will be based around users working together to create content. "I wish [SXSW] was a month later because I could unveil the new product," said Hurley.

Hurley is definitely not out to kill YouTube as he stated, “there's always going to be a place for YouTube.” He instead wants to take the idea of YouTube and pair it with more collaboration features, instead of focusing on individual users controlling most of the content.

So what do you think? While there are no concrete details out yet, do you think this service could potentially win some YouTube users over?

The post YouTube co-founder prepares new video service based on collaboration appeared first on Android Authority.

White Nexus 4 bumper spotted in the wild

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 11:42 PM PDT

white-n4-bumper2-680

It appears that Google is slowly releasing accessories for their flagship Nexus 4. As you know, Google is currently offering a wireless charging orb and a black bumper for the device. Google initially released the black bumper last year while the charging orb was released last month. Up until today, there was no physical proof that any other official accessories existed. However, a white Nexus 4 bumper has actually been spotted in a Canadian store, sitting along side the device itself.

The bumper was spotted in a Videotron store in Montreal, Canada. Everything appears to be official as the packaging is identical to the traditional black one. It is selling for the exact same price of $19.99 so everything seems legitimate. It has not yet appeared on the Google Play Store and we are unsure if it ever will. It does arrive for those in Canada at a convenient time due to the fact that the black bumper is sold out on the Google Play Store again.

Unfortunately, Google has a bad history of letting products slip out into retail stores without stocking them in their own online store first. Hopefully we won’t see these bumpers being sold for an inflated price like we saw with Google Nexus 7 docking stations.

The post White Nexus 4 bumper spotted in the wild appeared first on Android Authority.

Google pushes mobile Gmail redesign inspired by iOS app, no love for Windows Phone, though

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 08:47 PM PDT

New Gmail mobile app Android

Access gmail.com from your mobile device today and you might be in for a pleasant surprise. Google has quietly pushed an update to the mobile version of Gmail, which includes a few user-interface improvements, as well as better aesthetics. According to Google, this update has rolled out to users on iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Kindle Fire.

Google did not include a changelog in its announcement, although it made reference to how the feedback they received from iOS users when the search company released an updated version of Gmail for the iPhone and iPad, whose users “like the redesigned UI, along with new features such as improved search and integration with Google Calendar.”

New Gmail mobile app on iOS

If you’re familiar with the Gmail app for the iPhone and iPad, you would likewise be familiar with some elements included in the updated mobile web Gmail version, such as improved search and integration with Google Calendar. The same changes will take effect in Gmail Offline soon.

One thing’s interesting, though. While Google has rolled out this update for iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Kindle (which is, of course, a fork of Android), there’s no mention of Windows Phone. The Next Web notes that this does not come as a surprise, given that Google has been leaving Windows Phone behind in terms of accessing mobile services like Gmail, Maps and more.

I’ve read comments from Android users clamoring for Google to implement the same user experience on the native Android Gmail client, seeing how the iPad version got rave reviews. This might bring us Android users closer to that experience. But there’s a catch, of course. Mobile web is not necessarily as fluid as a native app, so if this UX is to your liking, you’ll have to make do with mobile web for now.

The post Google pushes mobile Gmail redesign inspired by iOS app, no love for Windows Phone, though appeared first on Android Authority.

Sony Xperia E Dual Review!

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 07:28 PM PDT

sony-xperia-e-dual-in-hand-front-1

With all the hype surrounding Sony’s high-end phones like the Xperia Z, it’s easy to forget that the company is still making phones for the low-end market as well. Joining the low-end ranks most recently are the tag-team duo of the Sony Xperia E and the Sony Xperia E Dual. The two phones are nearly identical aside from the number of SIMs and the Android version they run. They also share one very important factor: a pretty low off-contract price.

In particular, the combination of low price and dual-SIM capabilities has the possibility to make the Sony Xperia E Dual very popular in certain parts of the world. That is, as long as it’s actually a decent phone. So, is it? Read on to find out.

In a hurry? Check out our video review or jump to the conclusion at the end of this article.

sony-xperia-e-dual-in-hand-back

Specs

  • 1 GHz single-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
  • 3.5-inch HVGA display (480 x 320)
  • 512 MB of RAM
  • 4 GB internal storage
  • microSD slot (up to 32 GB supported)
  • 3.2-megapixel camera
  • 1,500 mAh battery
  • Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich

Build Quality & Design

One of the nicer aspects of the Sony Xperia E Dual is its design. Even though it’s obviously lower on the totem pole than Sony’s high end devices, it doesn’t seem as though they skimped on the look and feel here. The glossy finish (black, in this case) and color-changing illumination bar certainly don’t broadcast the phone’s low-end nature.

sony-xperia-e-dual-illumination-bar

The phone feels well-built, though there is some flex present in the body. It fits well in the hand, though it has a chunky, short and squat feel to it. If the bezel was a little thinner or the device was a little taller, it would feel more “natural.”

One minor annoyance in the otherwise solid build is the haptic feedback. Whenever this occurs (which is often with the Xperia E Dual), a loud buzzing is present that sounds almost like something is loose inside the phone. This could be an issue that is only present in the unit we tested, but it’s worth mentioning.

Display

No surprises here: the display is clearly the weakest point of the Sony Xperia E Dual. No matter how you size it up, a 480 x 320 resolution and a pixel density around 165 ppi just isn’t too pleasant to look at.

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Pixelation is visible nearly everywhere and it’s odd, but tilting the top of the phone toward you at even a slight angle makes everything very hard to see. Meanwhile, you can tilt the phone in the other direction until you’re nearly looking at the bottom of it and you can still read what is on the screen. The screen is protected, but not with Gorilla Glass, so pressing down just a little to hard leads to visible distortion of the display.

Chances are if you’re looking at a dual-SIM phone in this price range, you’re already aware that you’re going to have to make some sacrifices, but if a quality display is important to you, you may want to look elsewhere.

Performance

With a look at the processor and RAM, it’s clear that this device isn’t going to be a top performer, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t handle a fairly good amount of what you throw at it. Some light stuttering is somethings visible when scrolling through the home screen or app drawer, but this tends to happen when a lot of things are running in the background. Apps still launch quickly and while this phone isn’t going to run the most demanding games, the Xperia E Dual can keep up with quite a few.

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Interested in how the modest hardware would compare to other devices, I ran a few benchmarks. The first was AnTuTu. I ran the benchmark five times and ended up with an average score of 5468. Next was Vellamo which produced an average of 1070 in its HTML5 test and 314 in its Metal test. Epic Citadel surprised me a little, producing an average FPS of 29.5 in High Performance mode and 29 in High Quality mode. Then again, it was only pushing a grand total of 153600 pixels.

Software

Unlike its single-SIM sibling, which runs Jelly Bean, the Sony Xperia E Dual runs Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. There has been some word that an update to Jelly Bean is on the way, but I haven’t found anything confirming this by Sony. Sony has skinned the interface with a themeable overlay which looks fairly nice, but I can’t help but wonder how it impacts performance.

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Aside from the usual Google apps, Sony has included quite a few of its own, including its Walkman app, TrackID and Smart Connect, which will put the phone in different modes depending on if you plug in the headphones or plug the charger in, for example. Other apps include OfficeSuite, Facebook and NeoReader, which scans QR codes and barcodes.

Camera

The 3.2-megapixel camera is nothing to write home about. In its default mode, even pictures taken on a bright, sunny day looked dark and drab. Artifacts were very noticeable in areas that quickly contrasted light and dark, and visual noise was present even in the brightest areas of images. The camera is useful for taking a quick picture when you have nothing else on hand, but don’t expect the highest quality. Self-portraits are out as well, since the Sony Xperia E Dual has no front-facing camera, which is understandable at this price.

sony-xperia-e-dual-from-camera

Though video functionality is built in, don’t expect to use it too often as the resolution caps out at 640 x 480. If you really need to grab something in motion, its okay, but viewing it later on anything other than the phone itself isn’t going to be very enjoyable.

Battery

Despite the battery’s meager capacity of 1,500 mAh, the battery life is better than you might think. Sony estimates a talk time of just around 6 hours, And I got just over that while doing some fairly heavy benchmarking and testing. In real world use, it’s going to be relatively easy to go a full day without a charge, though having both SIM slots full may run your battery down a bit faster.

sony-xperia-e-dual-back-cover-off

The battery is removable and replaceable, so it’s possible to carry another charged battery with you, use an extended battery, or both.

Video Review


Conclusion

More than a lot of devices on the market right now, the Sony Xperia E Dual is a good choice for someone who uses their device first and foremost as a phone, with other functionality running a distant second. Despite its low-end specs, the phone is quite capable, but there are many better choices if you only need a single SIM.

sony-xperia-e-dual-bottom-left

That said, this is hands down one of the most affordable dual-SIM phones on the market, and that alone makes it worthy of a recommendation for the right person. The Xperia E Dual can be found for around $200 U.S. dollars contract-free, so it’s going to be very difficult to find another dual-SIM option at this price.

Have you used the Sony Xperia E Dual? Have any thoughts? We’d love to hear them in the comments below.

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The post Sony Xperia E Dual Review! appeared first on Android Authority.

Seido announces new cases

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 06:19 PM PDT

Seido

Seido, maker of all manner of cases for mobile accesories, has announced some new cases for some very popular Android phones. The waterproof Obex will be made available in white for the Samsung Galaxy S3, while the Convert will be coming to the Note 2 and Nexus 4.

The Obex, a "waterproof and military-tested drop-proof" case, is reported to be completely dry and functional after being submerged in water. In testing, it survived drops from up to four feet at different angles. The case also has anti-reflective glass which causes no interference with the camera lens.

The Convert is essentially two cases, made into one monster case. The combination starts with Seido's Surface case, a durable plastic case with a soft-touch coating. The felt lined case can then be combined with the Convert skeleton, which is made of silicone and adds a kick-stand for landscape viewing.

"The expansion to our protective line is a result of requests by our customers. So, we're very excited we were able to make these requests a reality," says David Chang, CEO of Seidio. We can't agree more. If you're interested to see the cases, and are at SXSW in Austin, TX, visit booth #545. The Obex will retail for $79.95, and the Convert will sell for $54.95. No word on an official release date yet.

The post Seido announces new cases appeared first on Android Authority.

GMusicFS allows access to Google Play Music files on third-party media players

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 02:18 PM PDT

Google Play Music

Google Play Music offers a great service by letting you store all your music files in the cloud, giving you access to them across devices, and on-the-go, while also saving treasured storage space. With devices like mine that don’t have microSD slots (HTC One X+ and the Nexus 7, in case you were wondering), this is a huge boon. Of course there’s a catch. In this case, you can play these files using only the Google Music app, which means that if you’re a fan of third-party players like DoubleTwist, Winamp, and the numerous others available on the Google Play Store, there’s nothing you can do. Until now, that is.

Senior XDA Member bubbleguuum has come up with GMusicFS, an app that gives you a way to access all your Google Music files using third-party media players. The app accesses your Google account, imports track information, and then mounts the cloud drive as local storage, allowing all other players to open these files as if they were stored on your phone. The app is very easy to use, but offers functionality that a lot of users have been looking forward to.

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It’s important to note that this is only a beta release of the app, and is not without its issues. GMusicFS will also work only on a device with root access, which is required to mount the cloud drive as internal storage. For the full list of requirements and progress updates, check out the original XDA thread here.

What are your thoughts? Were looking forward to an app that features the functionality that GMusicFS has? If you’ve tried out this app, share your experiences in the comments section below.

 

The post GMusicFS allows access to Google Play Music files on third-party media players appeared first on Android Authority.

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Samsung officially gives us our first REAL glimpse of the Galaxy S4?

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 06:25 PM PDT

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Remember that leaked Galaxy S4 image in the wild from earlier today? Well, it’s looking a lot more legit after seeing this. Samsung’s official Twitter account is giving is our first real glimpse of the upcoming Galaxy S4 — well, the corner of it anyway — and it looks…. just like the Galaxy S3. I tweaked the image’s contrast to show more of the device (that’s why the quality looks off) and as some have pointed out, the phone no longer has speaker for listening to calls. I suppose it’s possible Samsung anticipated we’d tweak the image and released only a very generic image of the Samsung Galaxy S4. No one knows for sure.

In the past, Samsung teased the Galaxy Nexus in a similar fashion, showing us only the curvature of the device, so it would only make sense if this is really the S4 and not Samsung teasing the S4 by showing us the S3. What do you guys think so far? Don’t forget to tune in Thursday where we’ll finally get to see all 4 corners of the device.

[Twitter]

Google showing off new Glass apps at SXSW

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 04:02 PM PDT

Google is in Austin having a good time this week, it seems. After showing off a pair of (non-serious) smart shoes, the company decided to jump into some much more serious (yet still fun) affairs it’s been working on. Google toted Glass along for the ride, and it had some new apps to show off to the crowd attending.

Folks got a sneak peak at a New York Times app that would deliver headlines, a byline, and an image whenever you ask for news. Users can then “tap” on that story and have it read to them. The app could eventually deliver breaking news updates right to your iris as it happens — it’s like a nice, convenient propaganda tube attached right to your brain!

Google also seems to have had a Gmail app on hand, though we’re not quite sure of its function just yet. For this app, new emails will show the subject line and the email sender, and once an email is read users can reply to it using voice dictation. Other apps teased  were Skitch, Evernote and Path.

We obviously won’t know quite how awesome or well these apps work until we have a pair on for ourselves, but it sounds like Glass is attracting a lot of big names and we can’t wait to see just how connected and app-ready it will be once Google soft launches them later this year.

[via Engadget]

OnaDevice attempts to bring another free paid apps service with “Get Free Apps”

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 02:41 PM PDT

It seems Amazon has inspired quite a few folks as of late. After launching its free paid app of the day promo (it’s still running to this day), we’ve seen the likes of Getjar and others create similar options for getting premium Android apps for free. Another option by OnaDevice has come to light, though, and it does its bidding in an interesting way.

The app — simply named “Get Free Apps” — requires you to first buy the app or game in the Google Play Store, and it will then issue you a “refund” by sending a Paypal credit in the amount that you paid to download it. It’s a bit cumbersome, but should you happen to find something you like that no other app stores are offering it could be worth the trouble.

The first game being offered in this promotion is Gameloft’s Asphalt 7, and it will only last for another two days. After that expires, we’re promised that another free app will be offered. OnaDevice didn’t want to confirm whether the promotion would go on forever, but it did say that if the app couldn’t be offered for “free” then they would likely feature an app with a steep discount.

It’s not my cup of tea, honestly, but if this sounds like something you want to try out then all you need to do is download the Get Free Apps app and set your Paypal account up with it. Find that in the Google Play Store.

Study: AT&T’s LTE network faster, but Verizon’s footprint tops all

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 02:17 PM PDT

In another episode of “news you probably already knew,” RootMetrics carried out a study to see which carrier had the “best” 4G networks. Best can be defined a number of ways, be it by speed, availability, reliability and more. Fortunately, the 77 or so markets the tests were carried out in took all of that into account, and what they found wasn’t anything we didn’t already know from our own personal experiences (and, well, the claims put out there by the carrier themselves).

AT&T actually came out just slightly ahead of Verizon went it came to LTE speeds, as the GSM-based carrier averaged 18.6 megabits down and 9 megabits up. Ma Bell topped off at a maximum of 57.7 megabits down and 19.6 megabits up. Verizon had slightly slower averages in the download and upload departments with 14.3 megabits and 8.5 megabits respectively, and while Verizon’s top download speed of 49.3 megabits wasn’t enough to beat AT&T, it did enjoy a small win over AT&T in the uploads with 19.7 megabits.

That said, it’s imperative to note the size differences between the two. Verizon has obviously gotten a nice head start as it’s been building its LTE network with aggressive haste since 2010. Of the 77 markets tested, Verizon’s LTE signal could be found in every last one of them, while AT&T enjoyed a respectable 47. This gave Verizon an impressive 93.2% connection rate compared to just 81% for AT&T and 50% for Sprint. Some suggest Verizon might even be able to compete with AT&T if the latter’s network had as much congestion as the former’s, but until they match up in size we can’t say for sure.

Where AT&T didn’t have LTE it still had HSPA+, which — while not nearly as fast as LTE — is a good deal faster than most competing 3G connections (yes, we do still consider HSPA+ to be 3G despite what AT&T’s marketing department would have you believe).

Sprint took third place with its LTE network, as it saw average speeds of 10.3 megabits down and a paltry 4.4 megabits up. Those numbers topped out at 32.7 megabits and 9.9 megabits, respectively, and it was only available in five of the 77 markets. Sprint has been markedly slower than its bigger competitors in rolling out its 4G LTE network, but at least rollouts haven’t come to a complete standstill like they did when WiMax was still Sprint’s forte.

And then there’s T-Mobile, of course, who hasn’t quite launched LTE yet. The signal has gone live in a couple of markets, sure, but there aren’t any devices to take advantage of any of it. Still, its HSPA+ network has been treating customers quite fine as of late and it was able to achieve averages of 7.3 megabits down and 1.5 megabits up in RootMetrics’ testing.

You can check out more of the comprehensive results over at RootMetrics, and let us know if their findings match up to what you’ve noticed in everyday life on these carriers’ networks. Let’s hope by 2013′s end the playing field is a lot more even.

Yes, Unicorn Apocalypse is now a real game [VIDEO]

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 01:06 PM PDT

Remember that Samsung ad a while back that showed the everyday workings of a game studio as they worked on a ridiculous game called “Unicorn Apocalypse”? Yea, the one you see below. It was a Galaxy Note 2 ad whose purpose was to show how the phone would be beneficial to those in enterprise. At the end of the ad, employees begin to scramble as they learn that they have about four weeks until the game ships — little did we know Samsung would be bringing us an actual Unicorn Apocalypse in nearly four weeks’ time.

That’s right, Unicorn Apocalypse is real, and it’s now sitting in the Google Play Store for free. As the original ad hinted at, Unicorn Apocalypse puts you in control of a killer unicorn, and the indecision of whether the unicorn should be causing or preventing the apocalypse has been decided: it’s causing the apocalypse, and it’s doing a damn good job at it. The unicorn does indeed bleed rainbow blood, but there’s no glittery doom to be found.

You can use the unicorn’s horn to impale enemies as you jump and dash across fiery rooftops trying to avoid burning death. Three types of bosses will come flying at you, as well, and you can use your rainbow blast (or whatever it’s called) to take them out. The game is doing pretty poorly in the Play Store, review wise. Folks are having trouble with an unfortunate glitch that keeps them from moving on.

It turns out if you don’t destroy a boss in time your unicorn will eventually fall into the fire pits below, except he won’t actually die — the game will continue and rack up points for you, and all you can do is sit there and watch. I imagine most people don’t know how to take out the first boss (the game doesn’t make it obvious, after all, and I ran into the same trouble until I was told I had to tap on the bosses to shoot my rainbow blast at them) and that’s why so many of them have run into the glitch. Some have claimed that the game eventually glitches out eve if you are properly taking enemies out, but I haven’t been faced with such trouble yet.

The game uses scalable difficulty to ease up on players who seem to be having a tough time or make it tougher for players whose unicorn instincts seem to be top notch. It’s a pretty decent “run” game, though we won’t be surprised if it doesn’t win any awards for most innovative, best looking, or anything of the sort. Give it a shot in the Google Play Store (and, yes, it’s compatible with every Android device).

Official DirecTV app comes to Android tablets

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 11:47 AM PDT

In case you haven’t already found out, DirecTV has brought its app from phones over to tablets on the Android side of things. The official DirecTV app for tablets will allow you watch select television from any room in your home, including AUDIENCE Network.

You can browse shows, movies and sports programs with information such as program descriptions, cast listings, and parental ratings. Other features include the ability to browse the entire channel guide (up to 14 days in advance) and tap a channel to begin playback on your TV, set DVR recordings from afar, get real-time scores and schedules for sports games, and more.

The home-screen allows you to setup a list of your favorite channels, view a What’s Hot list to see what everyone’s watching, live TV streaming, info about what’s currently being watched on your TV, and more. You loyal DirecTV customers have no reason not to own the app, really — it’s free, it’s awesome, and it’s now available for download in the Google Play Store. PS: you can also grab the phone version here in case you didn’t know.

Do It! task list app brings feature-rich productivity tool

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 11:07 AM PDT

The problem with many task list applications these days is they always seem to have something. Some apps might look great, but exclude Google account sync. Some might include account sync but have a bad user interface. The balance between form and function is tough to manage, but it’s one that developer Myron Lee has gotten off to a good start with. Do It! is a task/to-do list app that features a very nice Holo UI with elements like sliding drawers to make it fit right in with the essence of Android’s design.

Aside from looking great, it also plays nicely with Google Sync, as you can sync your notes and lists between multiple Google accounts. It also includes a useful widget (including a lock-screen widget for those on 4.2+) to get a quick glimpse of your list ahead, as well as built-in DashClock Widget support for those who have fallen in love with that particular app. Here’s a quick look at the full feature-set:

All Versions:
- Organize your tasks by moving them and creating a hierarchy
- Supports multiple Google Tasks accounts
- Set up account specific reminders and sync intervals
- Swipe between task lists and individual tasks
- Quick add to quickly create tasks and set the due date without the need to modify each task
- Quickly move/copy tasks between lists

Android 4.0+:
- Widget that keeps you up-to-date on your most important lists (includes lockscreen support for 4.2)
- Notification actions to complete a task without the need to go into the app (Android 4.1+)
- DashClock extension added (Android 4.2+)

Upcoming Features:
- Widget support for Android 2.3 and 2.2
- Recurring tasks

Pro Version:
The pro version has the following features:
- No Ads
- Can switch themes (Dark and Light)
- Can select multiple task lists to be displayed on the widget
- Can change the number of days for the upcoming list
- Searching tasks based on title and notes

You can grab the free version here just to give it a shot, and if you like what you see (and the pro version’s features sound enticing enough) you can go ahead and buy the full version for $2.99.

 

HTC 6445LVW shows up at Bluetooth SIG, potential One variant for Verizon?

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 10:26 AM PDT

HTC is launching their One flagship everywhere…except Verizon. It’s a curious move for the frequent Big Red collaborator, which has led many to speculate that the carrier could still receive a handset with many of the same specs and features, albeit under a different, potentially Droid-ified, name. A handset appearing in filings at the Bluetooth SIG might just fit the bill.

With model number HTC6445LVW, there is a good chance we could be looking at a phone previously rumored as the HTC DLXPLUS. The association makes sense considering the model number of the HTC Droid DNA (once codenamed HTC DLX), which was HTC6435LVW. The DLXPLUS speculatively features a hardware compliment that suggests it indeed is a variant of the HTC One: a 4.7-inch 1080p display, 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600, and 13MP camera, to name a few elements.

So, Verizon could ultimately land some version of the One, even if it never goes by such a name. Chances are we will also have to deal with a more Droid-like design, as well. If this is the case, it’s interesting that HTC would eschew their “all-in” approach for a single carrier, but it isn’t unprecedented or surprising.

Expect things with this one to develop rapidly. HTC and Verizon have launched a high profile handset every spring since the original Droid Incredible. Could we be looking at the next?

[via DroidLife]

DashClock Widget User Info extension begs for attention of good samaritans

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 09:11 AM PDT

The DashClock Widget extensions keep rolling in, and this latest one should be something any user worried about losing their cellphones might want to install. It’s  user info widget, and will show your name, email address, phone number, and company. Tapping the widget will direct users to compose an email to that email address which is helpful for anyone looking to get in contact with the person who lost their phone.

I know it’s tough to believe that some people in this world still have good intentions, but it happens. In fact, when I accidentally left my Galaxy Nexus at a local Best Buy a while ago it was only 15 minutes before some nice man decided to call the all-important “Mama” contact listed in my phone and coordinated a good-hearted return. It’s better to have something than nothing at all, I’d say.

This free and useful extension isn’t available in the Google Play Store yet, but you can grab the APK here if it’s something you find yourself needing in the near future. (Remember, you must have DashClock Widget in order for this to work, which is an Android 4.2+ app.)

[via Sandeep Reddy, thanks RDS!]

Intel-powered Lenovo K900 pegged for April 17th release in China

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 08:43 AM PDT

The Lenovo K900 is quite the intriguing phone. With a 5.5-inch 1080p display and Intel Clover Trail+ processor, it will launch as arguably the best-specced Android phone to run an Atom CPU. Adding to the appeal is an all-metal design that feels solid, looks classy, and remains svelte in hand. The bad news is that we are unlikely to see the phone in too many regions outside of China. The good news is that we now have a release date.

The K900 is currently in production and slotted for an April 17th release, according to MyDrivers. Pricing is said to start around 2999 yuan, or about $480. That pricing is in line with other recent high-end Chinese releases.

The K900 offers a few compelling reasons for those living outside the US to consider importing the handset. The cost might ultimately outweigh the benefit, but the latest from Lenovo offers a glimpse of where the company is going.

[via UnwiredView]

White Nexus 4 bumper appears in-store

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 08:30 AM PDT

While a black version of Google’s bumper case is still sold out in the Google Play Store, a white version has appeared inside a Canadian store. The beaut you see above was captured at a Montreal Videotron store.

This color would create quite the interesting contrast for those who own the black Nexus 4, and it might be worth trying to track this one down if you live in the Montreal area, but we’re stumped as to why Google has yet to offer it in the Play  Store. It wouldn’t be the first time accessories for Google’s flagship Nexus device have gotten into the hands of retailers before stocking it in its own store.

The Nexus 7 desktop dock took quite a while to make its way to retailers, but it took even longer before Google listed it for sale on Google Play. That unfortunate situation meant users were being asked to pay anywhere between $40 and $60 for the dock before Google eventually offered it for a much more reasonable price of $30.

The same might eventually happen here, so don’t be surprised if you see a retailer stocking these for inflated prices compared to Google’s own MSRP. That said, it looks like Videotron’s price of CAD$19.95 lines up quite nicely with Google’s $19.99 in the Play Store, so head out to your local shops and see if you can secure one.

[via AndroidCentral]

Motorola DROID 4 soak test invites being sent out

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 07:59 AM PDT

Next up on Motorola’s device upgrade train is the Motorola DROID 4, it seems, as users are reporting invites to a new soak test. Motorola didn’t share many details regarding what the upgrade would be, but considering the recent love being shown to the likes of the original DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX we might guess we’re in store for Jelly Bean.

We won’t know for sure until those invited to participate in the soak test have actually gotten the upgrade or until Verizon details the upgrade on its site. The timing of this particular thread — where Motorola employees are asking potential testers to prepare for a Jelly Bean upgrade by making sure their MEID numbers are accurate — might indicate this is the big upgrade we’ve all been waiting for.

Whatever it is, history tells us we shouldn’t be too far from seeing a widespread rollout shortly after the soak test has ensured Motorola that the upgrade won’t melt your device.

[via Droid-Life]

Is this our first tangible look at the Motorola X Phone? [Update: Apparently, no]

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 07:53 AM PDT

As Google I/O approaches, the next couple of months will be filled with speculation about what we can expect from the Android team this year, but most of the talk will be centered on Motorola. After completing a deal to acquire the mobile manufacturer last year, Google hasn’t done much but cut jobs and downsize. That will all change when Motorola unveils its first phone designed under Google’s supervision later this year.

The so-called Motorola X Phone, which could be the centerpiece of Google I/O, has been little more than a name until a leak dropped today purporting to be our first look at the device. Along with the not so clear image depicting what is labeled “Motorola nXt” comes a pretty complete list of specs. The X Phone (or nXt?) is said to sport NVIDIA’s LTE-enabled Tegra 4i, a 4.7-inch 1080p display, 16MP rear camera, and 5MP front camera.

The higher resolution on the front camera not only provides better picture quality for things like video chat and Google+ Hangouts, but it is also said to accommodate a range of eye-tracking features such as automatic webpage scrolling (we’ve heard of similar tech making its way to Samsung’s Galaxy S4). As far as the Tegra 4i chip goes, it uses the older ARM Cortex-A9 architecture rather than the more recent Cortex-A15. It’s a tradeoff that should allow Google to cut down on the manufacturing cost of the phone while still providing plenty of power (and 4G connectivity).

The rumors go on to say that Motorola will borrow from the Droid RAZR M’s design in terms of using little to no bezel to provide a device that covers a small footprint despite its screen size. The X Phone is said to measure 131.2×66.7×7.9 mm, smaller in every dimension than the HTC One, a phone with an identical screen size.

But as we said before, this information is untested. The specs don’t sound so outrageous so as to read as unbelievable, but there is a long way to go between now and the end of May. Assuming for a moment that the hardware details are true, does the X Phone sound like a good enough reason to hold off on buying the soon-t0-launch HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S4?

Update: As pointed out by a commenter over at AndroidWorld, these rumors are of the untrue variety. In fact, here is a picture of the original render that was then photographed to create the above “leak.” This means the list of specs are also almost certainly dubious. I guess we’ll have to stay in the dark a bit longer about how Google and Motorola plan to “wow” us in the coming months.

[Androidworld via UnwiredView]

 

Seattle bar preemptively bans Google Glass

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 07:14 AM PDT

In a future where people could soon be wearing a personal computer in the form of eyeglasses, complete with the ability to discretely record video and capture photos, privacy is already a concern. It’s enough of a concern, too, that The 5 Point Cafe in Seattle has preemptively banned its patrons from wearing Google Glass under threat of “ass kickings…for violators.”

The news was posted on the bar’s Facebook page, and aside from the viral marketing angle (subsequent posts go on to mock those wearing glass as “complete idiot[s]“), owner Dave Meinert may have a point. Folks going out to enjoy themselves don’t necessarily want to feel like their every move could be secretly recorded. To that we say think of all the cameras that are already recording your every move. From security cameras to the less discrete iPhone photographers, a night out on the town hardly goes undocumented these days.

At least pulling out a cell phone to take a picture is a bit more obvious, but it hasn’t stopped folks from grabbing unsolicited photos in the past. Still, the ban of Project Glass should serve to get the privacy conversation going. It just wouldn’t be a new Google product without some concern about the misuse of personal or private data.

[via PhoneArena]

Enemy Strike delivers fast-paced shooter for free

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 07:05 AM PDT

Gameloft has captured the mobile military shooting game market by storm with its Modern Combat series, but those aren’t the only shooters you can enjoy on Android. A new option has come to the forefront by Killer Bean Studios, and it’s free. Its name is Enemy Strike, and the game throws tons of nonstop action at you in over 250 different missions. You’ll do your bidding with 15 upgradable weapons, 5 different gameplay modes, and lots of options for armor, gadgets and gear.

The story is about as unique as a rock, frankly — aliens invade earth and threaten to overrun the last of the human population, and it’s up to you to stop it all — but it works, and things like cluster bombs, gunships and battle tanks will keep the explosions rolling in if that’s your thing. There’s no real reason not to give it a try if you’re remotely interested as the game doesn’t cost you a dime, so find it in the Google Play Store and give it a download if you’re looking for an alternative to the usual suspects in the “shooter” department.