Monday, March 25, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Sony Xperia Tablet Z appears in FCC filing

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 11:04 AM PDT

It looks like the Sony Xperia Tablet Z is now one step closer to being released in the US market. We haven’t seen a specific release date just yet, however the fact that the device has recently passed by the FCC does imply that a release date is getting closer. That being said, this filing is for the Wi-Fi only model and for better or worse — does not contain much in terms of surprises.

xperia-tablet-z-fcc-01

The FCC filing for the Xperia Tablet Z contains the usual suspects such as the confidentiality request and label location as well as some internal and external images. Oh, and there is also the user manual for those who feel they must read up on the tablet ahead of its arrival. Not that we would expect many of the readers to feel the need to do something like that.

Aside from the bit about this model being Wi-Fi only, the Xperia Tablet Z will bring features to include a 10.1-inch (1920 x 1200) display, quad-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm APQ8064 processor, 2GB of RAM and 8.1 megapixel rear-facing camera. The tablet will also have a microSD card slot, NFC and a thickness of just 6.9mm.

xperia-tablet-z-fcc-02

The Xperia Tablet Z will be running Jelly Bean at launch and is expected to drop at $499 (for the 16GB model). And just like the Xperia Z smartphone, the Tablet Z will also be water resistant which comes courtesy of the IP55 certification. So how about it, anyone waiting for the Xperia Tablet Z to come available?

[via Engadget]

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Xperia Tablet Z
    Manufactuer : Sony
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : January 21, 2013
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 10.1 Inch
  • Resolution : 1920x1200
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 10.47 Inch
  • Width : 6.77 Inch
  • Depth : 0.27 Inch
  • Weight : 495 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 6000 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.1.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : APQ8064
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • GPS
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Digg details Google Reader replacement coming July 1

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 10:53 AM PDT

Earlier this month Google announced their popular RSS option Google Reader would be closing, and we all know how most of you feel about that. Quick to the rescue was the folks over at Digg, who have promised a replacement that will be fast and work on a wide array of devices. Today we’re getting a few more details regarding the Google Reader replacement that’s coming soon.

Digg1-580x404

We weren’t sure how serious they were when they confirmed a replacement was in the works, but now it sounds like they are pretty serious and hope to have it available extremely soon. How soon? Digg suggests they are aiming for a July 1st release date, the same day Google Reader is set to be shutdown. We’ll see how that goes though.

In a quick Blog Post by Digg we saw a glimpse of what they have in mind, what the reader will entail, and a few of their plans for the Google Reader replacement and savior. For one they want to make it dead simple to use, like stupid simple. We’re all for that. Then they plan to offer a blazing fast reader – like really fast. It will sync across devices, as well as supporting as many devices and smartphones as humanly possible.

“We're confident we can ship a product that meets the principles above, but if a feature is missing on Day 1 that you were really looking forward to, we ask that you 1) tell us and 2) be patient.”

Then the most important being the option to import from Google Reader. Yes, yes, yes. Digg goes on to mention they’ve always wanted to build a reader and the Google Reader shutdown only fast-tracked their plans. The team is small, and it will be a massive undertaking to release it by July 1st, but they are hopeful that they can achieve that goal. Stay tuned and in the meantime check out these Google Reader alternatives for Android.

[via SlashGear]

Motorola X-Phone surfaces in another leaked render

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 10:17 AM PDT

What is said to be a render of the yet-to-be-announced Motorola X-Phone has surfaced. The image render comes along with some specs, however while we would like this to be the real deal — there is reason to be skeptical. If nothing else, judging from the fact we have another render and another set of leaked specs for the X-Phone, it is looking like this is a handset people are anxious to see announced.

xphone

Of course, the key then will be whether the X-Phone is announced and well received or announced an ignored. Time will tell which way that will go, but in the meantime, lets continue with this latest leak. The image comes by way of the folks at GSM Arena and they seem to be rather careful in terms of celebrating. The image comes along with the use of “supposedly” and mention they have “no proof of that information or the actual source of the tip.”

gsmarena_001

You can see the image of the handset just above. As for those specs, the list includes a 4.7-inch display at 1280 x 720, Snapdragon 800 processor and 4000 mAh battery. There was also mention of the handset not having any microSD card slot. On the positive side though, this leak points towards the handset as having Gorilla Glass 3 and an IP57 certification.

For those not familiar with the IP57, that means the handset will be water resistant in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Anyway, while we wait for something official in terms of the X-Phone, we can look back towards previous rumors and the bit about how Google and Motorola may be offering a more personalized phone buying experience.

[via GSM Arena]

Google+ update brings Snapseed features to iOS, tweaks for Android

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 10:03 AM PDT

Today the folks from Mountain View have just detailed the latest update coming to an App store near you for their popular Google+ social network app. Last year Google purchased Snapseed, a Instagram competitor, and later released the app for Android. Now today they’re integrating its camera and photo filter features to Google+ for iOS, as well as tons of other changes detailed below.

gplus

Obviously we’ll focus on the Android side of things, as both platforms are receiving a sizable update today. For Android Google’s + update will be focusing on profiles, communities, and posts – while iOS is focused on Snapseed integration. For Android Google’s worked really hard on the “little things” because they matter, and are making little changes to polish the entire experience. Here’s what’s new for Android:

– Posts include more text up front—from the original message, and from comments
– Tapping video, photo or link attachments takes you directly to a watch page, lightbox or website
– Image previews are rarely cropped, so you'll see portrait photos (for instance) in all their glory
– Key actions like +1, reshare and comment are displayed more prominently in each post
– You can swipe through photo albums inline

They’re basically polishing and improving every aspect of our news and social home stream, but they are all small improvements rather than anything major. It looks like we’ll be getting more text from posts, larger and better HD images, and being able to swipe through images inline will be nice.

Then Google’s also added plenty for location data, as well as the newish Google+ Communities. We’ve always been able to share where we live, but now we can share our actual location – throughout the day – if we chose. Obviously with tons of limits on who see’s what, and plenty of privacy features. I’ll pass on this.

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 9.54.01 AM

Last but certainly one I’m happy to see is more settings and options for Google+ Communities. Before we continue you’ll want to join the official Android Community: Community by clicking here. Today’s update allows users to control the level of volume the community posts show in your regular home stream, invite to community from mobile, and finally the option to share to community on Android. Then Communities also received some moderator and member search/ban features for those pesky people you’d like to remove from the group.

The app should be available later today from the Play Store and you can learn all the details right from Google at the via link below.

[via Google]

Huawei rumors point towards new flagship smartphone

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 09:42 AM PDT

It appears as if details for an upcoming Huawei smartphone have recently leaked. The device, which we have yet to see pictured (below is the Ascend P2) looks to have a decent set of specs which include a 1080p display and quad-core processor. Assuming these details prove to be accurate, the handset will also be rather thin.

huawei_p2_sg_2

What we are seeing comes by way of the Chinese language IT163 website. Jumping right in with the thickness, the handset is expected to measure in at just 6.3mm. The display is said to be 4.9 inches and 1080p in resolution. Other goodies look to include a quad-core 1.8GHz ARM Cortex A15 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16/32GB of internal storage, 2600 mAh battery and 13 megapixel rear-facing camera.

All said and done, judging from what we can see thus far, the specs appear solid. We haven’t seen anything in terms of a price, however it was said that Huawei will be announcing this handset in April. No word on a release, but even an April announcement sounds fishy given their Ascend D2 is only a few months old at this point in time.

The other issue here will be availability. This so far has yet to be mentioned, however it seems more than likely that the handset will at least be available for those in China. Bottom line here, this is just another in the rumor series. The details seem early and are clearly incomplete at this time, nonetheless, we do expect more details will follow sooner rather than later.

[via Unwired View]

Barnes & Noble announce in-app purchasing for NOOK

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 08:50 AM PDT

Some news for those who like in-app purchases and also happen to be using a NOOK. Barnes & Noble has announced the upcoming availability of in-app purchasing. This support is said to be coming “soon.” More specifically, Barnes & Noble has said that “thousands of the most-requested games and apps featuring in-app purchasing” will be available in the coming weeks and months.

b-n_nook_hd_hd-plus_hands-on_ac_26-540x434

Basically, this means NOOK users will be able to spend money buying extras. Of course, Barnes & Noble is trying to make it simple for the end user noting that by way of the Fortumo integration, they will be able to set-up and register for in-app purchases. In other words, once your account is set-up, future in-app purchases will require nothing more than clicking the “Pay” option.

This setup does have some perks for the developer as well. To begin with, an easier checkout process should make customers more willing to spend some money. The system will also provide developers with tools to do everything from implement the in-app purchases to a dashboard that offers details on revenue and analytics.

Bottom line here, those with a NOOK device, including the 7-inch NOOK HD and the 9-inch NOOK HD+ will soon be able to spend money within apps to buy things such as extra levels and extra coins. We just have to wonder, how long will it be until we hear our first NOOK related in-app purchasing horror story.

[via Business Wire]

CyanogenMod founder Steve Kondik talks GALAXY S 4

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 08:24 AM PDT

CyanogenMod founder Steve Kondik had been employed with Samsung since August 2011 however that employment has since come to an end. But perhaps key for those curious about the GALAXY S 4, Kondik has taken to Google+ and shared his thoughts on the handset. At the risk of giving a spoiler, he seems to be fairly impressed with the GALAXY S 4.

P3142796-galaxy-s-4-ac-540x3031

Kondik noted that the time he spent with the GALAXY S 4 was using the final hardware. He says that he is a huge fan of the Galaxy S III and in fact, he uses one every day. Based on that knowledge, he said that he was “quite pleased” with the GALAXY S 4. Before any Galaxy S III users being planning to upgrade, there was some talk of that. Kondik noted that the GALAXY S 4 is a “clear choice” if you have a Galaxy S II, but that upgrading from a Galaxy S III is “less urgent.”

Talk of the GALAXY S 4 touched on how the device feels “quite a bit more solid” than the Galaxy S III and about how there are a number of unique features that have potential. As for that, Kondik notes that the potential is hinged upon Samsung releasing an API. Some of those features include the hover functionality and the IR blaster. Otherwise, Kondik has said that both the front and back cameras are excellent and that the GPS seems to work better than any other Samsung device. All said and done, he seems to really like the handset.

Shifting over to TouchWiz and the same cannot necessarily be said. In fact, it seems that goes in the opposite direction with comments such as how “it feels like it has been sent back a few years to the Froyo days.” Some of the specifics mentioned include TouchWiz as having a fully tabbed UI, more pop-up windows and “loading” dialogs and that the UI performance is only “average.

Thankfully though, the features seem a bit more welcomed. Some of the specifics here included hover, multi-window and a bit about the camera app having “seen some significant upgrades.” On the flip side, his least favorite was Smart Srcoll. Bottom line here, there seems to be some good and some bad.

[via Google+]

Sony Xperia ZL arrives for sale in the US

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 07:47 AM PDT

Sony has announced the US availability of the Xperia ZL smartphone. The handset can be found by way of the Sony Store and at the moment — it is shown as being available for pre-order with a shipping date of April 8. The Xperia ZL is priced at $759.99. While that is obviously more than many are used to paying for a smartphone in the US, the reasoning here is that Sony is selling the Xperia ZL on a contract-free basis.

sony-xperia-zl-540

In terms of features, the Xperia ZL will bring a 5-inch (1920 x 1080) Full HD Reality Display with Mobile Bravia Engine 2, a quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Other goodies include 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, GPS, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2 megapixel front-facing camera and a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera.

As for network support, this is broken down by two models. The C6502 has support for HSPA+ on bands 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and EDGE on 850, 900, 1800 and 1900. The C6506 has the same HSPA+ and EDGE support but also adds LTE support on bands 2, 4, 5, 17. In other words, if you are planning to pick up the Xperia ZL, you should probably be looking towards AT&T for connectivity.

We should also mention that the C6502 is a bit lower in price. That model is selling for $719.99 (also unlocked). Both models of the Xperia ZL are available in three colors — black, white or red. Finally, users can also expect Sony related goodies such as the Battery STAMINA Mode to help improve battery life as well as the WALKMAN application which provides access to music and movies.

[via PR Newswire]

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Xperia ZL
    Manufactuer : Sony
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : January 07, 2013
    Release Date : March 07, 2013
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5 Inch
  • Resolution : 1080x1920
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.18 Inch
  • Width : 2.728 Inch
  • Depth : 0.38 Inch
  • Weight : 151 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2370 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 500 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.1.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : APQ8064
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 13.1 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

T-Mobile’s “UNcarrier” plans now available

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 07:22 AM PDT

As we were expecting to happen, T-Mobile has officially begun offering their new “UNcarrier” based plans. Basically, these new plans offer unlimited talk, text and data from $50 per month. While the plans are now live on the T-Mobile website, we expect to learn a bit more on March 26 during the press event in New York.

t-mobile_usa-580x4271113-540x3971

What we can tell you now is that these plans are available from the T-Mobile website and they are open for individual and family plans. The individual plan is for a single line and the family plans jump in from 2 up to 5 lines. The individual plan pricing starts at $50 per month for unlimited talk, text and data. The $50 price level also includes 500MB of high-speed data.

Those looking for more high-speed data can get 2GB for $60 per month or unlimited for $70 per month. These plans are contract-free and offer the basics such as unlimited T-Mobile to T-Mobile calling and unlimited nights and weekends. Otherwise, the $50 and $60 per month plans also include mobile hotspot for tethering. The $70 per month plan also has hotspot, but is noted as being limited to 500MB per month.

Shifting over to the family plans and we see pricing from $80 per month for two lines up to $110 per month for 5 lines. Aside from the extra lines, the family plans are structured the same as the individual. That is to say they are contract-free and all include unlimited talk, text and data with options to get 500MB, 2GB or unlimited high-speed data.

[via T-Mobile]

HTC dropping the “Quietly Brilliant” tagline

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 06:58 AM PDT

HTC seems to have been shaking things up lately. We saw them take to the streets during the GALAXY S 4 announcement to show off the One smartphone. We also saw them take to Twitter with the hashtag of #theNextBigFlop. Well, while we have yet to see just how well either of these methods have proved, one thing seems clear — that was not HTC being quiet.

HTC_logo-540x30011

And it seems that HTC is actually planning to step things up a bit. In a recent report coming from The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Ho, HTC’s marketing chief has said the company is planning to drop the “Quietly Brilliant” tagline. Mr Ho. has said that HTC has had “a lot of innovations but we haven't been loud enough” going on to say that “the new approach, will be bolder.”

Unfortunately Mr Ho. did not offer all that much in terms of what that will mean. Of course, we suspect it means more of what we have been seeing in regards to HTC going directly after Samsung. What he has said is that the digital marketing budget will be increased by 250 percent and how they will also be increasing the traditional media marketing by spending 100 percent.

Otherwise, we also saw some chatter in regards to the delays. Of course, this comes after we saw the news from HTC about the One arriving in the US before the end of April. That detail aside, Mr. Ho had said there was “some shortage” due to the phone's camera having been designed specifically for HTC. Basically, he had said that production took some time to be ramped up.

[via Wall Street Journal]

Evernote for Android update brings Smart Notebook support

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 06:33 AM PDT

An update for Evernote has arrived for Android users this morning. The updated app can be found in the expected location, that is to say, in the Google Play Store. Perhaps more important though, this update has brought some new features for premium users as well as an updated widget. There is now also support for the Evernote Smart Notebook.

evernote-smart-notebook

While the premium features will be nice for those with a paid account, we should also remind everyone that a Smart Notebook purchase includes three months of Evernote Premium. On that note, the Smart Notebook is from Moleskine and they are available in two sizes and each size is available with ruled or squared pages. The Smart Notebook support is Page Camera mode within the app.

Screenshot_2013-03-25-09-29-15

The Page Camera mode basically sets things up to take pictures of the pages in the notebook. The nice part here, once you capture an image of the page, that is saved as a note in your Evernote account and the text becomes searchable. Otherwise, those premium account features include Document Search. This one will allow you to search in any attached office documents, spreadsheets or presentations.

Last change on the app is with shortcuts. The Evernote app will now allow you to create a shortcut to jump to a frequently used note, notebook or tag. Moving over to the Evernote widget and this one is on the simpler side. The Evernote Widget update has re-added the 1×1 widget and also added a grid widget which will allow you to resize to fit any screen size. Just remember, the Evernote app and the Evernote Widget are both separate apps in the Google Play Store.

[via Google Play Store]

iKazoo Android controller hits indiegogo

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 05:37 AM PDT

There are no shortages of external controllers for Android devices for things like gaming and other needs. A new controller is now up for pre-order called the iKazoo and it is called the most versatile entertainment assistant ever. The controller is able to function as a voice, breath, or touch controller for Android devices.

ikazoo

The controller features a bi-directional Bluetooth transceiver that connects the device to your Android gadget wirelessly. The iKazoo is built on the Arduino platform and has integrated optical and motion sensors. That means that gamers can use the controller to play their favorite game by moving around.

Interestingly, the iKazoo does require any device that it is used with to have a built-in camera. That means it will connect to a computer, smartphone, or tablet. According to the manufacturer of the device, all user has to do is hold the controller in front of their device and the controller will automatically sync with their gadget.

The project is on Indiegogo seeking the funds to come to the real world right now. To pre-order device a pledge $135 will get you a version of the iKazoo that has a “smart writer cap” allowing it to be used as a stylus. The basic version of the iKazoo sells for $79.

[via Ubergizmo]

Check out how NASA gets Android devices ready for space

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 05:30 AM PDT

Late in 2012, we heard that NASA planned to put HTC Android smartphones into as a key component of the small and inexpensive satellite systems. There are a set of rigorous standards that any device that travels into space have to go through to prove that they’re durable enough for the trip. If you wondered exactly what getting those Android smartphones ready to go into space required, some new details have now surfaced.

IMG_3210

The satellites that use the Android-powered smartphones are called the SPHERES satellite. The smartphone will be using is the Nexus S. These satellites aren’t typical satellites that float around out in space, they are being used inside the ISS to research applications including telerobotic cameras, and other needs. There are two Nexus S smartphones on the ISS right now.

If you’re wondering why the Nexus S was chosen to be used in space, it was due in part to the easy disassembly. The team of researchers behind the project said that the device has literally six screws on the outside to take it apart. The smartphone was forced into permanent airplane mode before it could be launched into orbit. The team of researchers behind the project used high-resolution tear down photos from iFixit to determine which chip they needed to remove to put the phone into permanent hardware-based airplane mode since the normal airplane mode used software.

The team also had to workout a way to get the device to work using only AA batteries. The next step was to prove to the flight safety crew that the smartphone wouldn’t cause interference aboard the ISS. The phone, for its part just assumes it has no cellular service and operates normally otherwise. The team also had to get drivers for the smartphone that would work with the ThinkPad T61p laptops running Windows XP SP 3 that are currently aboard the ISS. There were a number of other things that had to be done in order to get the Android devices aboard the space station, but those are some of the biggest.

[via ArsTechnica]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Android 4.2.2 update rumored

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 04:53 AM PDT

If you’re the owner of a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 tablet, a rumor is making the rounds that you’ll be interested to hear. According to the rumor, an insider at Samsung recently stated that the Galaxy 2 will be updated to Android 4.1.2. The source also claims that therewill be more Android updates for the tablet coming in the future.

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS GARNET GALAXY TAB 2

The source claims that the operating system will be updated all the way to Android 4.2.2 before updates end. It’s unclear exactly how the updates will be offered between Android 4.1.2 and Android 4.2.2. The source goes on to claim that Samsung is currently testing the Android 4.1.2 update on first-generation Galaxy Tab devices.

It remains unclear if that means older Galaxy devices will be getting the Android update as well. Exactly when Samsung will roll the operating system update out remains to be seen. As close to a date as the source will offer is that Samsung hopes to roll the update out sometime during Q2 with Android 4.2.2 hoping to roll out in Q3.

The last time we talked about the Galaxy Tab 2 was back in late January when a new limited edition version of the tablet was launched. That limited edition version had the same hardware on the inside and was differentiated by a garnet red color. The tablet is priced at $219.99 and launched with Android 4.1 onboard. The tablet featured a dual-core processor, 32 GB of storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more.

[via Ubergizmo]

West Virginia lawmaker wants to ban Google Glass while driving

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 04:42 AM PDT

A lawmaker from West Virginia named Gary G Howell wants to ban the use of Google Glass and similar products while driving. Howell is a Republican member of the West Virginia Legislature and believes that Google Glass and similar products pose a danger to drivers. He goes so far as to say that a driver using something like Google Glass while driving poses a similar risk, if not more significant risk to drivers than texting and driving.

Lawmaker-seeks-to-ban-Google-Glass-use-while-driving

Howell has proposed legislation that would issue heavy fines against drivers using Google Glass while they drive around the streets and highways in West Virginia. The first offense will cost drivers $100. Each additional offense will add an additional $100 to the original fine. That means a second offense will cost $200, a third offense $300, and so on.

Lawmakers believe that products like Google Glass pose great danger, especially to younger drivers. How will says if his legislation fails to become law, he believes that similar bills would be filed by other legislatures. Not everyone agrees with this legislation. Some believe that products like Google Glass could help reduce driver distraction in a method similar to how some vehicles with heads up displays allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road.

Odds are even if this legislation becomes law, it will have little effect on most people. Google Glass is expected to be very expensive at launch meaning few people will adopt the tech early on. However, years down the road when wearable computing devices are more common this legislation could impact a number of drivers.

[via SlashGear]

Android Authority

Android Authority


Asus Padfone Infinity to ship in Taiwan this week

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 02:32 AM PDT

Asus PadFone Infinity

After two not-so-successful attempts with the Padfone and Padfone 2, Asus is hoping that its next smartphone and tablet hybrid, the Padfone Infinity, will gain a better traction in the market. Following its official unveiling last February at MWC 2013, the first big test for the Infinity is coming.

As reported by Focus Taiwan, the Padfone Infinity will arrive in stores in Taiwan starting tomorrow on March 26. Although the price hasn't been disclosed yet, the device(s) will be offered by three major mobile operators in the country.

If you're wondering when the combo will come to other parts of the world, we heard from Asus that it will be released in Europe next month, with the price has been set at €999 ($1300). Yes, it already includes the docking station. And yes, it's still pricey as heck.

Despite the rather exorbitant price tag, we're sure there are still a few many who find the idea of getting a 5-inch full HD smartphone that can be docked inside a 10.1-inch tablet shell appealing.

To refresh your memory, the phone is powered by a quad-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 processor and boasts 2GB of RAM, 32/64GB internal storage, 13-megapixel rear camera, 2MP front cam, NFC, LTE, 2,400mAH battery, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Meanwhile, the tablet station packs an additional 5,000mAh battery.

In case you haven't already done so, check out our Padfone Infinity hands-on review. Alternatively, you can just hit play on the above video.

The post Asus Padfone Infinity to ship in Taiwan this week appeared first on Android Authority.

Sony Xperia ZL now available for US pre-orders, pricing is $720 and up

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 02:18 AM PDT

Sony Xperia ZL UI

Out already in countries like India, Russia and Australia, Sony's Xperia ZL is ready to take things to the next level. The North American level, that is, where only the mightiest can succeed.

Folks up north have known for a couple of days now when they can expect the ZL and how much money they have to save for the 5-incher and today is time to detail pricing and availability for our US readers as well.

Unfortunately, it's not all good news, with rumors from last week gaining confirmation via Sony's online store. The unlocked, LTE-enabled Xperia ZL (model number C6506) will be up for grabs from there for a whopping $759.99, while the HSPA+ version (C6502) will be a tad cheaper – $719.99.

Needless to say that pricing structure is far from ideal. Heck, it's downright crazy if the Samsung Galaxy S4 will end up going for one of the two rumored price tags – $579 or $650. We also expect the HTC One to sell for $650 ($700 tops), so on the whole it looks like Sony might have overestimated ZL's value a bit.

xperia zl hands on

On the bright side, these are only the MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail prices). Sony says the ZL "will soon be available through other select online retailers" and there's more than an outside shot they will charge less for the phone.

In fact, we've already tracked down two sellers that claim to have the ZL in stock, both of which offer the 5-incher for a more sensible price. PVCS through Amazon has the 3G-only "international" model at $640, while Negri Electronics has the same non-4G version for $654.40. Still a lot of dough, but definitely closer to the fellow's real worth.

Getting back to Sony's US store, the ZL is there available for pre-orders in black, white and red. The exact shipping date is not mentioned anywhere, but we can guess the first orders will be fulfilled around April Fools' (no joke).

Remember, the slightly more impressive Xperia Z is also due out in the US soon, although we don't even want to think about its price. Anyways, are you planning to get any of the two? Which one and why?

The post Sony Xperia ZL now available for US pre-orders, pricing is $720 and up appeared first on Android Authority.

New Sprint Samsung Galaxy S3 ad is full of trick shots [video]

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 01:07 AM PDT

Sprint-Galaxy-S3-ad-trick-s

Even with the impending arrival of the Samsung Galaxy S4 in stores, Sprint is still pushing for the Galaxy S3 and its unlimited LTE offer. The carrier has just unleashed the latest commercial for last year's flagship Galaxy S phone.

The new ad seems to tie in nicely to March Madness, as it features folks shooting hoops. By folks we don't mean professional basketball players, but the star of the ad is one little boy who's showing off his pretty amazing talent of making trick shots around the house and on the court.

As he puts the ball in the basket, the dad captures everything on video, the footage of which we then see being shared from the Galaxy S3 to other devices via S Beam and AllShare. Hit the play button on the embedded video to see it in action.

Has the commercial inspired you to grab the S3? RadioShack is currently selling the handset for $49.99 with a new contract, though you won’t find the new purple variant as it’s yet to be officially introduced.

The post New Sprint Samsung Galaxy S3 ad is full of trick shots [video] appeared first on Android Authority.

You can now listen to Android Authority On Air Podcast through Google Currents

Posted: 24 Mar 2013 07:56 PM PDT

Android Authority on Air

 

Thanks to last weeks Google Currents update, you can now listen to the Android Authority on Air weekly podcast directly from Currents. The latest update added support for audio playlist for editions, audio media bar in app controls, story scanner audio icons for launching audio directly, and notification bar audio controls when Currents audio is playing in the background.

Screenshot_2013-03-24-19-33-41 Screenshot_2013-03-24-19-34-00 Screenshot_2013-03-24-19-36-49 Screenshot_2013-03-24-19-34-22

You can also find categories for our News, Reviews, Apps, Giveaways, Google+ posts and YouTube videos by subscribing to our Google Currents edition. It’s pretty much your one stop Android Authority shop…except you can’t buy anything. So go ahead, Subscribe to Android Authority on Currents.

The post You can now listen to Android Authority On Air Podcast through Google Currents appeared first on Android Authority.

Lawmakers want to ban use of Google Glass while Driving

Posted: 24 Mar 2013 06:08 PM PDT

"I took the train because they said no using Google Glass while driving."

I took the train because they said no using Google Glass while driving. (Photo credit: Noah Zerkin)

There’s a long list of things you shouldn’t do while driving, and in many jurisdictions, these are spelled out by the law. These include driving under the influence of alcohol, calling on a mobile phone, and also texting. The key point here is that distracted driving is dangerous, and whatever is keeping you from concentrating is dangerous, too.

In West Virginia, lawmakers are seeking to ban the use of Google Glass while driving. The proposed law does not necessarily single out Google’s device, though, as it seeks to ban “using a wearable computer with head mounted display,” in general. But it seems the rising popularity of Google Glass has prompted this move, says Cnet wrier Chris Matyszczyk.

Congressman Gary G. Howell wrote Matyszczyk that the bill was intended to target mostly young users, who are likely to be early adopters of technology, and who are also likely to be inexperienced drivers. “It is mostly the young that are the tech-savvy that try new things. They are also our most vulnerable and underskilled drivers. We heard of many crashes caused by texting and driving, most involving our youngest drivers. I see the Google Glass as an extension.”

The ambivalence toward Google Glass is not new. Recently, we featured a few pieces citing arguments against Google Glass. For instance, shop owners have started banning Google Glass on their private premises, due to privacy concerns. A London-based advocacy “Stop the Cyborgs” is also urging people to think twice before using Google Glass. After all, it’s the unmonitored and clandestine recording capabilities that are potential privacy risks, whether in public or in a private setting.

But the ban on using Glass while driving might have its merits. Distracted driving accounts for more than 3,000 deaths per year in the U.S., and about 400,000 injuries. Studies have argued that using handsfree headsets might not be too helpful in reducing the risk. After all, it’s not just the use of hands that is risky, but rather being distracted in itself.

There’s no knowing whether someone driving with Google Glass is texting, watching a video or simply using Glass to help navigate or check traffic. It may not be enough to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Your focus should also be on the road.

Of course, we may argue that Google is developing self-driving cars after all, and we might not have to give 100% concentration and driver input. But we’re still a long way to go from self-driving cars being mainstream.

Are you for, or against, the ban on Google Glass while driving?

The post Lawmakers want to ban use of Google Glass while Driving appeared first on Android Authority.

What is LTE Advanced?

Posted: 23 Mar 2013 11:52 PM PDT

Network-tower-lte-advanced-article

If you're living in the U.S., and select other parts of the world, then there's a good chance that you're enjoying a fast LTE connection. Sadly for me living in the UK, our 4G network is lagging severely behind, and it looks like we could be left even further back in the dark ages once LTE Advanced goes online.

LTE Advanced is essentially a bandwidth expansion for existing LTE networks. If you read a technical document on it you’ll probably hear terms like higher spectral efficiency, improved performance at cell edges, and greater bandwidth efficiency, but for consumers we can simply say that LTE Advanced is going to be faster, potentially much faster.

4G_LTE_WEB_en

Source: Teliasonera

So here’s everything you need to know about how LTE Advanced works, and what this means for you.

How does it work?

The new functionalities introduced in LTE-Advanced are Carrier Aggregation (CA,) enhanced use of multi-antenna techniques, and support for Relay Nodes. All of these are designed to increase the stability, bandwidth, and speed of LTE connections.

Carrier Aggregation

Carrier Aggregation is something you may have heard about, especially if you’ve been following news regarding Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 800 chip. Essentially this technology is designed to multiply the bandwidth of LTE connections by allowing you to download data from multiple connections simultaneously. It’s not totally new though, carrier aggregation has been used in other wireless technologies for a while, and T-Mobile is already employing this technology to boost its HSPA+ speeds to 42Mbps on compatible handsets.

The problem with LTE is that eventually you reach a bandwidth limit, especially when you take into consideration that other services need the radio waves. In certain areas spectrum availability is already becoming a problem, with only small band areas free to use for LTE. This means that carriers have to chop up their LTE network into smaller bands. In order to overcome the speed limitations caused by this problem you need to be able read from multiple bands simultaneously, which is where Carrier Aggregation comes in handy.

Carrier Aggregation combines signals from different frequency bands, so rather than having to pick from the fastest connection in your area you can combine a signal from all of the carriers within range of your handset, even if they are operating all over the frequency spectrum.

intra-band carrier aggregation

LTE Advanced allows for multiple carriers operating in the same band (intra-band,) or inter-band in scenarios where frequency allocation is sporadic. Source: 3gpp

Here’s a more technical explanation of how this speeds things up: each aggregated carrier is referred to as a component carrier, these component carriers can then be combined to produce an aggregated carrier. The component carriers have a maximum bandwidth of 20MHz, and a maximum of five component carriers can be aggregated using LTE Advanced. Simple math tells you that five component carriers will allow for a maximum bandwidth of 100MHz with LTE Advanced. Although as the bandwidth of individual component carriers can and will vary, LTE Advanced might not always be five times faster.

In terms of data speeds this technique can provide extremely high peak data rates, theoretically up to 1Gbps when utilizing the maximum available bandwidth. However, in reality, carriers, hardware, and network coverage will fall short of this theoretical maximum, for example peaking at around 150Mbps download speeds with two 10MHz carriers enabled.

Another major benefit of Carrier Aggregation is that is allows for full backwards and forwards compatibility between existing LTE networks and LTE Advanced compatible devices. LTE Advanced connections will be provided through existing LTE bands, so standard LTE users will continue to use LTE as normal, whereas Advanced connections will make use of multiple LTE carriers.

MIMO

Multiple Input Multiple Output technology (MIMO) is another technology required for LTE Advanced to work as quickly as possible. MIMO increases the overall transfer bitrate by combining data-streams from two or more antennas.

MIMO

Source: Telecomhall

In other words, rather than sending a single piece of information from one sender to one receiver, you can send the same single piece of information from multiple senders to multiple receivers. It’s a parallel process, which substantially increases the amount of data you can send and receive each second (bits per hertz,) providing you have a receiver modem which can sort all the information out into the correct order. But that’s where the technology becomes a bit too complicated for this discussion.

Although MIMO is already used in current LTE networks, LTE Advanced requires that chips increase the number of inputs and outputs used simultaneously. LTE Advanced will support up to eight transmitters and receivers whilst downloading and four by four when uploading, although you couldn’t fit that many antennae into a smartphone. The increased MIMO arrangement will also improve the speed and connection quality of legacy connections such as CDMA, GSM, and WCDMA.

If you think about combining this sort of parallel data transfer with the ability to pick from a wider range of frequency bands and carrier signals, then you can appreciate why LTE Advanced can be so much faster and more stable than a standard LTE or older connection type.

Relay Nodes

The final piece of technology introduced with LTE Advanced is called relay nodes. Whilst relay nodes aren’t an integral part of improving your data speeds, they will improve the availability of LTE connections, and offer you more connections to choose from when sending a receiving data.

Simply put, a relay node is a low powered base station used to boost network coverage at the ends of and beyond the connection radius of the main station. These relay nodes connect wirelessly to the main station, and should help boost your signal when wondering close to the edge of your LTE network.

Of course access to improved connectivity will be entirely dependent on whether carriers bother to invest in building these nodes.

Smartphone Hardware

So we’ve seen discussed what it takes to produce a LTE Advanced network, but it also means that hardware manufacturers are going to need to invest in new technologies as well as network carriers.

Obviously the improved MIMO parallel networking will require different modems capable of organizing the received data. LTE Advanced modems will also have to be able to decode information sent from different frequency bands at the same, so current LTE smartphones aren’t going to be compatible.

Qualcomm demoed 4k streaming over a 150Mbps LTE Advanced connection at MWC 2013

Qualcomm demoed 4k video streaming over a 150Mbps LTE Advanced connection at MWC 2013

Broadcom has announced its LTE Advanced modem chip, called the BCM21892, which is expected to start rolling off the production belt in early 2014. Similarly Qualcomm has announced its own LTE Advanced modem which will be bundled in with the unreleased Snapdragon 800 SoC, which again isn’t expected to appear any time soon.

So far Broadcom has shown off its chip maxing out at 150Mbps peak download and 50Mbps upload, and Qualcomm’s own chip peaks at the same download speed. Technically the definition of true LTE Advanced speed is supposedly a minimum of 300Mbps download, but we won’t quibble about that as this is a good start.

When will I be able to use it?

There are no LTE Advanced networks or compliant handsets available as of yet, and the only manufacturers that I’ve heard of planning to put carrier aggregation technology into a chip are Qualcomm and Broadcom.

The Snapdragon 800 and Broadcom’s modem chips in all likelihood won’t be available until the end of this year, and we might not see them used in a handset until sometime in 2014.

Carriers across the U.S. and the rest of the world are also going to need to invest more resources into LTE networks before they are up to the speeds you can theoretically achieve with LTE Advanced. Of course that won’t stop carriers marketing new phones and deals offering pumped up potential max speeds, but in reality the introduction of the LTE Advanced marketing buzz words probably won’t see the massive jump in speeds that you’d hope for.

LTE Advanced networks are expected to start rolling out in the U.S. next year, around the same time as we expect to see the first compatible SoCs, but it will probably take another year or more after that until LTE network coverage is substantial enough to drastically improve your LTE speeds.

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