Thursday, April 4, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


HTC first available for pre-order today: Hits AT&T April 12 for $99

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 11:07 AM PDT

For all you social network butterflies the folks from Facebook came out swinging today. Or at least some might think so. As I’m sure many of you know today Facebook detailed their plan to get social to the core of Android. With Facebook Home taking over our smartphones, chat heads making communication easy, and of course the first device known as the HTC first. If you want one read on to find out how and when.

Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.59.02 AM

Confirmed just moments ago is the release date, pricing, and everything you need to know about the HTC first – the first Facebook Phone. Check out the HTC first revealed post for more details on the hardware itself. So if you already know everything about that 4.3-inch 720p HD Android 4.1 Jelly Bean smartphone covered in Facebook, how do you get one?

The HTC first will be available exclusively from AT&T starting on April 12th. Originally many reports, suggestions, and rumors had it listed as coming for free or $49 with a new 2-year contract, but sadly that isn’t quite the situation. The all-new HTC first will be $99 with a new 2-year contract. That’s the same price as the recently discounted AT&T Galaxy S III – just a thought.

So what makes this special, or should you just download the coming soon Facebook Home app from the Google Play Store? Well according to HTC’s CEO Peter Chou the HTC first will offer a “unique experience” and went as far as to mention their device having Facebook Home deeply embedded will offer some benefits. We’re still looking for more details on that, so stay tuned.

That aside, should you want one the HTC first is available for pre-order as we speak from AT&T, and will be delivered come April 12th for just $99. Who’s buying?

HTC first revealed: the Facebook Phone lives

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 10:51 AM PDT

We knew it was coming considering the multiple leaks over the past week. Facebook and HTC have done a relatively good job keeping this a secret for the most part, but now we have all the info. Announced moments ago is what we’ll all be calling the HTC first – the first Facebook Phone! The leaks were legit, the phone is real and headed to AT&T, and we have all the details below.

20130404_103818-XL

The Facebook Phone. I’ll be calling it that no matter what, but the real name is the HTC first. This phone being the first smartphone to fully embrace the world of Facebook to the full potential. HTC and Facebook’s own Mark Zuckerberg took the stage to announce the new HTC first, and here’s the specs.

While the exact hardware details weren’t fully confirmed, we know the important bits. Previous reports, rumors, leaks, and of course those FCC filings basically gave it all away here’s what to expect. The HTC first (Facebooook Phone) will come complete with a 4.3-inch 1280 x 720p SLCD3 display, and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. The same as the Galaxy S III stateside. You’ll get 1GB of RAM (not 2) to handle all that incoming content too.

Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.40.28 AM

Obviously everything about the phone screams Facebook, but now the software is all Facebook Home – but back to the hardware. Hit the timeline below for more details on Facebook Home. While this smartphone isn’t top-tier, it still has a powerful dual-core, 720p HD display, and is well designed. It appears to take some strong cues from the iPhone as well as HTC’s newly announced and exciting HTC One smartphone. To round out the specs we have a mediocre 5 megapixel rear camera, followed by a 1.6 MP front shooter for those video chats.

• HTC first on AT&T with 4G LTE
• 4.3-inch 720p HD display
• Dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 series processor
• 1GB RAM
• 5 megapixel rear, 1.6 front camera
• Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean covered in Facebook Home
• WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, etc.
• $99 on April 12th
• and more

As Facebook confirmed today, this won’t be the only device, but the first device. Facebook Home will work on a wide array of Android smartphones – and eventually tablets. HTC and AT&T have partnered up to offer the very first Facebook Home smartphone, and we can expect many more in the coming months.

Facebook Home will support many smartphones over the coming weeks and be available to the entire world of Android, but the HTC first gets the first crack at it. Who wants one?

20130404_103818-XL Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.41.36 AM Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.39.38 AM Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.40.28 AM

[via PRNewswire]

Facebook Home will be available for download on April 12

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 10:46 AM PDT

Facebook Home is arriving as a launcher and will be available for download from the Google Play Store. The availability will initially be available for smartphones and is expected to arrive for tablets later on. So far, Facebook has said that Home will be available for tablets “within several months” and the initial smartphone launch will bring support for select models.

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We still need to play with Facebook Home before we comment on how good, or alternatively, how bad it may be. In the meantime though, we have teasers such as how Home was built to provide the “best quality experience” and that it should not be mobile first, but “mobile better.” Home is said to be a “whole new experience for your phone.”

Some of the good points about Facebook Home include regular updates which can mean anything from new features to support for additional devices. The initial Facebook Home support will be for the Samsung Galaxy S III and Samsung Galaxy Note II as well as the HTC One X and One X+. Home will also be supported on the GALAXY S 4 and HTC One when the arrive in customers hands.

facebook-home-phones-540

All of that being said, we suspect some will want to simply get their hands on Facebook Home to play with it for yourself. The disappointing point is that it is not available today. Instead, Facebook will have this available for download using the Google Play Store beginning on April 12.

Facebook announces Chat Heads to make communication seamless on mobile

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 10:34 AM PDT

Team Zuckerberg and company are moving along pretty fast this afternoon. Announcing their new take on Android and tons of other interesting new features and ideas. One in particular that will be extremely important is communication. To solve the problem of texts, Facebook messages and more all being fragmented – meet Chat Heads.

Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.17.19 AM

Chat Heads focuses on an idea that is to bring all your friends and conversations to the user in the most simple, and seamless experience possible. That isn’t all either, Facebook knows that while communication is important, not everyone wants to be interrupted. Chat Head is a neat and simple popup that appears on the side of the display – over the top of what your currently doing – and you can join the conversation or just dismiss it.

Chat Heads allows users to communicate with multiple friends and people, across multiple different services all with ease. Being able to essentially multitask using the same amazing experience Android offers, while also being able to communicate with all your friends was the goal – and they’ve achieved that.

Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.30.14 AM

Chat Heads will be the way you communicate on mobile devices using Facebook Home, and we can’t wait to give it a try. The demo on screen showed how seamless it was, smooth and fast the performance is, and the animations are pretty impressive. Again, stay tuned as we’ll have hands-on as soon as possible.

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Facebook Home: Where all Android phones become social

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 10:26 AM PDT

We’re here at the Facebook Home event and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is on stage talking about how “phones should be designed around people, not apps.” This of course, is leading into Facebook Home and what that will mean for Android users moving forward. We are hearing some stats and judging from the details shared, it almost makes you wonder why we have yet to see anything like this in the past.

facebook-home-break

Wondering aside though, Facebook Home is here and Zukerberg is talking about how they want to make it easier for people to share information with each other. On that note, they feel they need to make the phone more about the user (as opposed to the phone being about the actual app).

facebook-use-stats

Simply put, Facebook Home seems like it will make communication and sharing that much simpler. Not to mention, quicker and easier to access. While some details are still being revealed, Zuckerberg did say that “you dont need to fork Android to do this” and even went on to say that “you don’t even need to modify the operating system.”

Touching on the idea of not forking Android, or modifying the operating system, this comes to having this all available for the biggest possible number of users. Basically, a phone would not reach that potential. Zuckerberg mentioned that based on a high device sales of 10-20 million, that would not cover nearly enough of their 1 billion person user base.

Facebook Home announced: here’s how it forks Android

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 10:22 AM PDT

After all the waiting and speculation we can finally put the rumors and leaks to rest. This morning Facebook has just kicked off their “New home on Android” event and essentially announced what we knew was coming. With plenty of leaks we had a good idea but now it’s official. It’s called Facebook Home and will be a replacement for your standard Android home screen laden with news feeds and Facebook galore.

Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.14.15 AM

We’ll be filling out all the details as things get announced, but so far this looks to be pretty promising and lines up perfectly with previous leaks from the past 7-10 days. Just like we mentioned earlier in the week, this is how Android gets social to the core – even if we (or you) don’t want it to. Android will be present for the most part, but completely covered in Facebook’s own home screen replacement app, or launcher, and it looks pretty interesting.

Facebook Home will be delivering the content you need the most, depending on your priorities, along with everything else like weather, missed calls, incoming messages, news and more all to one easy to use and view feed. It’s now called the Cover Feed, not the news feed. The important part here will be how it categorizes what’s most important, and what gets delivered to your eyes first. We’ve seen many enjoy and use Flipboard. HTC’s Blinkfeed home screen widget does something similar, and now the number one social network in the world will be doing the same.

Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.17.19 AM

Essentially Facebook home is a giant always-on widget that will constantly give you updates on anything and everything. As you see in the above pictures all you get on waking up your device you’re instantly connected. Little circle of your face (profile picture) the time, and then the Cover Feed full of information. You can swipe to scroll through them, double click to like, and much more.

This is a dramatic shift in everything we know and love about Facebook. While some standard apps are stock Android in look, the entire feel of the device is 100% different. Everything is fullscreen, all navigation is done through a selection of swipes. This is essentially a complete fork of Android – even though it isn’t. Facebook’s made essentially a launcher that goes beyond most available in the Play Store. Facebook is still busy showing all of this off as we speak, so stay tuned for all the details. Below are a few more photos for an idea of what to expect. Stay tuned to our Facebook Portal for all the news.

Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.14.15 AM Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.11.11 AM Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.13.52 AM Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.17.19 AM Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.17.29 AM

Facebook Home event: We’re here live!

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 09:39 AM PDT

Not that we expect this to come as a surprise to anyone reading, but Facebook is having an event today. This is their “Come See Our New Home on Android” event which is as the teaser would imply — all about Android. Based on recent rumors and leaks, we are expecting a smartphone announcement and also an app. Or based on the leaks, a better description for the app may be launcher.

Screen Shot 2013-03-07 at 10.32.05 AM

Time will tell how this all works out, but in the meantime, the event will be kicking off at 1PM EST and we are onsite and waiting for things to begin. The Facebook phone is expected to be the HTC First, which we saw a little bit of earlier in the week. The handset looks like it will be available in a few colors and is expected to bring 4G LTE connectivity with AT&T.

Speaking of AT&T, Ralph De la Vega who happens to be the President and CEO was recently spotted entering a building on the Facebook campus. While we still need to see the announcement to get confirmation, a Facebook phone seems like a done deal a this point. Other specs for the phone have been said to include a 4.3-inch 720p display, dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with Sense UI version 4.5.

Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 9.39.25 AM

Moving to the app/launcher and we were given a bit of a look at this earlier in the week. The details on the launcher are still rather light as the leaked APK could not actually be used all that much. There were some basic details such as some of the icons being revealed, but for the most part — all speculation. That said, the speculation will soon end as the event should be kicking off shortly.

AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega spotted at Facebook event

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 09:34 AM PDT

It should come as no surprise that we’re expecting not just an announcement of the new Facebook app for Android and Facebook Home, but also a smartphone. It will be gracing the hands of users at the Facebook Home press event this afternoon. With a few leaks already in the bag many assumed it would be AT&T, but we can now confirm AT&T’s own CEO Ralph de la Vega is in the building.

ctia_de_la_vega1_large_verge_medium_landscape

We’re here live for the Facebook event which will be getting started in another 30 minutes or so, but while roaming around we noticed AT&T’s own CEO strolling down the road 1 Hacker Way on the Facebook campus. He then proceeded into building 16 and disappeared. We’d love to see the phone he probably has in his suit jacket pocket, but that won’t be happening.

We know there will be a smartphone along with the Facebook Home announcement. All bets are off as we’ve seen enough leaks, evidence, and FCC filings to confirm the device. That being the HTC first (codenamed Myst) which recently passed the FCC with AT&T and 4G LTE on board. Now that we’ve seen AT&T’s own CEO live on site for the event, it’s all but confirmed.

Now all we need is for Mark Zuck to take the stage and fill the air with some usual words of Facebook’s awesomeness, and then let the announcements fly. We’ll be reporting live so stay tuned for details and pictures and more. It looks like the HTC first will be coming either first, or exclusively to AT&T in the near future. Now lets just hope it will be free.

HTC Desire Q gets official in Taiwan, arrives with Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 08:51 AM PDT

Details of the HTC Desire P and the Desire Q were leaking throughout the month of March. HTC then offered an official announcement for the Desire P a few days back and as of today, it looks like we now have the same for the Desire Q. The catch here, the handset is not what anyone would consider high-end or exciting. Not to mention, the initial availability seems to be limited to those in Taiwan.

htc-desire-q-official-540

That aside for a moment though, HTC has launched the Desire Q with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Yes, in a time where Jelly Bean is preferred and people are beginning to think of Key Lime Pie — the Desire Q still has the older dessert. Trying to forget that, the remaining specs are not all that exciting and begin with a single-core 1GHz processor and 4-inch (800 x 480) display.

Remaining specs for the HTC Desire Q include 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, 512MB of RAM, 1650 mAh battery, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. Aside from the hardware specs, HTC has released the Desire Q in a variety of colors to include red and black with a white model coming later.

All said and done, the one saving factor may be in with the pricing. That is to say the Desire Q is priced relatively inexpensive. The handset will be selling for NT$6,990, which is roughly $235 in terms of US dollars. With that, the Desire Q is not expected to see a widespread global roll-out, but if nothing else, at least we can put another series of rumors to rest.

AT&T LG Optimus G Jelly Bean update arriving with ISIS

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 08:26 AM PDT

We had recently began hearing reports of an update from those sporting an LG Optimus G with AT&T, however as of today, that update has been officially announced. The update is bringing Jelly Bean and is rolling-out as of today, April 4. Those with an Optimus G will be getting Android 4.1.2 along with a few additional perks.

Screen-Shot-2012-10-15-at-11.42.23-AM1-540x469

As we suspect some will simply want the update now, you can head to Menu -> Settings -> General -> About phone -> Software Update to get the process started. Just make sure you are connected to a Wi-Fi network before beginning and otherwise, just follow the prompts and you will soon be running Jelly Bean.

Of course, getting Jelly Bean means some goodies such as the improved notifications, Google Now and the smoothness that comes along with Project Butter. But in the case of the AT&T Optimus G update, you will also be getting support for the Isis Mobile Wallet. The catch with Isis comes in with the availability, which at the moment is limited to those in Austin and Salt Lake City.

In addition to Jelly Bean, AT&T has also mentioned the LG Optimus G is the “official mobile device of NCAA March Madness.” Basically, that is to say you will be able to watch games using the March Madness Live app. This app does require a login using your television provider details, however there is a four hour preview available for those looking to check it out. Bottom line though, AT&T Optimus G users can now update to Android 4.1.2.

[via AT&T]

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Optimus G (AT&T)
    Manufactuer : LG
    Carrier : AT&T
    Announced Date : October 03, 2012
    Release Date : November 02, 2012
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x768
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.19 Inch
  • Width : 2.71 Inch
  • Depth : 0.33 Inch
  • Weight : 145 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2100 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 335 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.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 : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Verizon Wireless launches the plug-n-play Delphi connected car kit

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 08:00 AM PDT

Verizon Wireless has recently begun offering a vehicle diagnostics tool. The item is from Delphi Automotive and is simply called Vehicle Diagnostics by Delphi. Bland name aside, this little gadget does just what the name implies (and in some cases, a bit more). Those using the Vehicle Diagnostics tool in your car will be able to monitor, locate and even control their automobile.

verizon-vehicle-delphi-540

Delphi Automotive has said the Vehicle Diagnostics tool will work with most cars that have been made since 1996. The key here seems more dependent on what functionality you will get for you particular car, but more on that in a moment. Installation of the Vehicle Diagnostics tool is simple — just plug it into the OBD-II port on your car. From here, make sure the module is registered and make sure your service with Verizon Wireless has been activated.

Those using the Vehicle Diagnostics tool will be able to take advantage of the Android app, or also view details using a regular web browser. The connection between the tool and your smartphone is done using Bluetooth and means the ability to lock and/or unlock your car, checking the engine light warning to see what it really means, monitor your vehicles health, monitor the current location of your car, keep track of your driving history and even receive alerts and messages based on speed and/or distance from your home.

verizon-vehicle-delphi-02-540

So far this all sounds interesting enough, even for a non-car guy like myself. After all, remotely unlocking and starting your car from your smartphone sounds like a good deal for a mobile geek. The catch here, this is where you may not get every feature. These are dependent on your car. For example, based on my 2007 VW Jetta, I would get all the features with the exception of the key fob on phone and fuel level reporting. Oh, and this isn’t exactly cheap — Verizon Wireless has the Vehicle Diagnostics by Delphi tool priced at $249.99.

[via Verizon Wireless]

Samsung Galaxy Win and Galaxy Trend 2 officially unveiled

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 07:20 AM PDT

Details of the Galaxy Win smartphone leaked yesterday and as of today it looks like we have an official announcement from Samsung. The Galaxy Win has been announced for those in China and news of this handset comes alongside another, the Galaxy Trend 2. The Galaxy Win has arrived as we expected based on the leak.

samsung-galaxy-win-official-540

Basically, that is to say that neither are what would be considered high-end devices. They are however, a step above the other recently announced Samsung devices. If you remember back, Samsung recently announced the entry-level Galaxy Pocket Neo and Galaxy Star smartphones. Those aside, lets recap the specs of the Galaxy Win (pictured above).

The feature set includes a 4.7-inch WVGA display, quad-core 1.2GHz processor, microSD card slot, 2000 mAh battery, 3 megapixel front-facing camera, 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The handset also has the basics such as GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0. Otherwise, the Galaxy Win is heading to China and so far we have yet to see anything in regards to a global release.

samsung-galaxy-trend-ii-official-540

Shifting over to the Galaxy Trend 2 (pictured above) and we actually have two variants here — one with a single-SIM and one with a dual-SIM setup. These handsets are also heading to China and similar to the Galaxy Win, there hasn’t been anything said in regards to a global release. The specs for the Galaxy Trend 2 look to include a 4-inch WVGA display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 1500 mAh battery, 3 megapixel rear-facing camera and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

[via SammyHub]

LG Optimus G Pro announced for Japan

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 06:48 AM PDT

LG has officially released the Optimus G Pro for those in Japan. The handset will be available by way of NTT DoCoMo and while we have seen plenty on this particular smartphone, this one is arriving with a slightly different display. You see, instead of the 5.5-inch display, the NTT DoCoMo variant will have a 5-inch display. While smaller, the display is still Full HD in resolution.

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In fact, this model of the Optimus G Pro has a Full HD IPS display with a 440ppi. Aside from the smaller display, the remaining specs should sound familiar. The handset is running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and sporting 2GB of RAM with a quad-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor.

Other goodies include 32GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, 3000 mAh battery, 2.1 megapixel front-facing camera and a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera. In addition to Jelly Bean, the handset will also have the Optimus user interface with LG goodies including QSlide, QTranslator, QuickMemo and VR Panorama.

The release of the Optimus G Pro for those in Japan follows the recent sales figure announcement from LG. Just yesterday LG had announced the handset crossed the 500,000 mark in terms of sales. And just to clarify, those figures were based on sales coming out of Korea. We have yet to learn when the Optimus G Pro would arrive in the US, however a similar handset recently appeared with the FCC showing support for AT&T.

[via LG Newsroom]

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Optimus G Pro
    Manufactuer : LG
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : February 18, 2013
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5.5 Inch
  • Resolution : 1920x1080
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.91 Inch
  • Width : 2.99 Inch
  • Depth : 0.37 Inch
  • Weight : 172 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 3140 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 : Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T
    CPU Clock Speed : 1700 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 13 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    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:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Verizon CEO would consider dropping two-year agreements

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 06:19 AM PDT

T-Mobile recently had their UNcarrier event which saw a shift from the priority being on two-year agreements to a new system where the customer would simply pay a small downpayment at the time of purchase and then make payments on the handset they choose. Of course, the option to pay for the device in full up front is also available for the customer. The key here though, T-Mobile does not have the same two-year agreement system anymore and it looks like other carriers are watching closely.

verizon_ceo_lowell_mcadam-580x327

In this case we are talking about Verizon Wireless and while they haven’t made any official announcements, CEO Lowell McAdam has recently commented on that very topic. McAdam was recently on stage to raise awareness for their “Powerful Answers” campaign and upon exiting, McAdam was asked about T-Mobile and if this was something Verizon Wireless would consider.

McAdam had said it would be “pretty easy” to change up their current model and drop the contracts. He even suggested that there would be some consideration if this was something that customers began asking for. While things clearly aren’t going to be changing for Verizon Wireless users just yet, McAdam did go on to mention that he is happy when he sees something different begin tried.

Time will tell if customers begin to look for a setup similar to what T-Mobile has, but in the end, this may not change everything as much as some seem to think. Sure, there isn’t the typical two-year agreement, however we suspect most people will be paying that downpayment with monthly payments and those monthly payments spread out over nearly two-years. In other words, while you may not have a contract, you are still tied to that carrier until the phone is paid off in full. So how about it, anyone hoping to see Verizon Wireless follow the path of T-Mobile?

[via CNET]

Qi Wireless charging case for Xperia Z debuts from Ipan Ipan

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 05:16 AM PDT

When it comes to charging your smartphone, most of us prefer wireless charging rather than having to fiddle with wires. Popular smartphones on the market today don’t typically come from the factory with support for wireless charging baked in. That means that to shed those wires when it comes time to charge up your smartphone, you need some sort of accessory.

ipan-xperz

Owners of the Sony Xperia Z smartphone who want to add wireless charging capability to their device can now the case from a company called Ipan Ipan that supports Qi Wireless charging technology. The case is a flip style with a cover to help protect the screen when you’re on the go. The wireless charging receiver is hidden inside the flip case.

The manufacturer says that this was one of the more difficult wireless charging cases to design. The rugged and waterproof Xperia Z doesn’t have a removable back panel or battery. The manufacturer says that it was also unable to use the smartphones USB port.

In the end the company opted to use the two pin connectors on the bottom of the phone that are normally used when the docking station for the phone is attached. That will mean that you have to remove the phone from the case to use the docking attachment. The case is available alone for €39 and with the charging pad for €89.

[via SlashGear]

Stray Boots Hits Android

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 05:03 AM PDT

Stray Boots is a strange app that started out as a basic SMS application. The point of the application was to offer users a city tour experience with the gaming aspect to it. The way the app worked was that players could answer questions about various establishments near their location like some sort of trivia game.

sb01_android_01_0

The questions in the original service were sent to users in the form of a text message. The app isn’t exactly cheap with each game reportedly costing $12. The company has been changing things up of late with the launch of traditional smartphone applications. The company first bought the application to the iPhone and other Apple devices and has announced this week that it is now available for Android.

The company says that users are having a much better experience with the new apps as opposed to basic SMS experiences. In fact, the company says that the new apps are so much better for users that it may phase out its SMS altogether. The company says the significantly higher ratings in the App Store for the new app on the iPhone has signaled that simplicity is no substitute for features.

The company also reports that 93% of people who use both the native app and SMS versions of Stray Boots say that they prefer the app experience. For now, the number of tours available on the Android app is rather light with tours available in New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Chicago. The company says more tours are being added all the time.

[via TechCrunch]

Samsung Galaxy Camera WiFi model hits the streets for $449

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 05:02 AM PDT

Samsung’s popular and quite capable Galaxy Camera is about to become readily more available to consumers interested in an Android-powered camera. With both AT&T and Verizon rocking 4G models, today Samsung has announced a slightly cheaper WiFi only version will hit the streets for just $449. The new model is identical to the data-toting version of this smart camera, only no data plan and 2-year contract is required.

IMG_7538-540x448

For those that haven’t been paying attention, we’re pretty big fans of the Galaxy Camera here at Android Community, and you can see why in our full Galaxy Camera review. Instant uploads sure came in handy at CES and other tech events lately, that’s for sure. For those wanting a quality camera experience along with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean – look no further.

Samsung announced the WiFi only model back in February, but this morning they just confirmed it will be coming to shelves and will only run you $449. That may sound like a lot, but this is one powerful Android device that just so happens to be a pretty stellar camera too. With a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 4.8-inch 720p HD display to help out that 16.3 megapixel lens and 21x optical zoom.

You can get one right now for $499 from AT&T or Verizon with 4G LTE, but that will also require a 2-year contract and an additional data line. While we love being able to upload pictures and video on the go with blazing fast speeds at ease, the WiFi model might be a better route. Just tether to that Samsung Galaxy S III (or 4) phone in your pocket and you’re good to go.

The WiFi Galaxy Camera is available starting tomorrow at Samsung.com and participating retailers for $449, get one and start using that quad-core processor to edit those photos right from your smartcamera thanks to Android. So we have to ask. Is $449 still too much for this camera? Let us know in the comments.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy Camera (WiFi)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : February 19, 2013
    Release Date : April 05, 2013
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.06 Inch
  • Width : 2.78 Inch
  • Depth : 0.75 Inch
  • Weight : 300 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1650 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:
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Exynos 4412
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 8 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 16.3 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • GPS
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Best Buy stores around the country to get Samsung Experience shops

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 04:51 AM PDT

All around the United States Best Buy has about 1400 store locations. Samsung has teamed up with Best Buy to bring its very own branded stores to the inside of all 1400 Best Buy locations around the country. It’s unclear exactly when Samsung-branded stores will debut inside a Best Buy locations, but this supposed to happen sometime this month.

samsung

Not all of the Best Buy locations around the country will get the Experience Shoppes at the same time. The staged rollout will see about 900 Experience Shops up and running in select high-traffic Best Buy locations by the beginning of May. The remainder of the locations around the country will get the Experience Shops by early summer.

The Samsung Experience Shops won’t be the only branded stores inside of a Best Buy retail locations. Many Best Buy locations also have their own little Apple stores inside that look like Apple’s retail locations and have people specially trained on Apple devices. The Samsung Experience Shops will offer a place for customers to look at Samsung branded tablets, smartphones, and laptops along with other items.

The displays will allow the users to handle and play with the gadgets and Best Buy employees within the Samsung Experience Shops are expected to receive specialized training on the products. The size of each of the Experience Shops will vary depending on the size the Best Buy location. The biggest Experience Shop is said to be about 460 square feet.

[via SlashGear]

CX-803 II Android-powered TV stick runs Jelly Bean

Posted: 04 Apr 2013 04:41 AM PDT

It seems like every time you look around there are a handful of new Android-powered TV sticks debuting. The latest new TV stick packing the Jelly Bean operating system is called the CX-803 II. This TV stick launched this week and features 2 GB of RAM setting apart somewhat from most devices on the market.

CX-803-ii

Typically, with Android-powered TV sticks you get about half that amount of RAM. One of the most notable visual details of this little TV stick is that it has a translucent green antenna that helps the device get a better wireless signal. The processor under the hood is a Rockchip RK3066 dual-core unit.

That processor is paired with Mali 400 quad-core graphics and 8 GB of integrated storage. The TV stick does have a microSD card slot for storage expansion. As with devices of this sort, it does have a built-in HDMI connector on one end allowing it to plug-in directly to your TV.

The device also has a USB port on one end allowing it to connect directly to a keyboard or mouse. The device supports up to 802.11n Wi-Fi speeds and the device should be able to run Linux if you’re the sort who likes to tinker with their gear. You can purchase the CX-803 II for about $70.

[via Geeky-Gadgets]

avast! Mobile Security updated with new UI, folder scanning, and more

Posted: 03 Apr 2013 04:28 PM PDT

For those of you worried about malware or viruses on your Android smartphone or tablet, avast! Mobile Security is one of the highest rated apps. Between being a long-lasting player in the PC security sector, and having amazing anti-theft features this is one of our favorite security apps. And today it just got even better with a brand new update and new features.

unnamed

Today the folks from avast! have just updated their popular Mobile Security app for Android and along with some improved user interface elements comes even more features. While the update isn’t major on any front, they’ve improved the features and offering, as well as enhanced the general user interface to make things simpler.

Today’s update brings a simplified and easier anti-theft setup page, and they’ve improved the anti-theft user interface too. Then it isn’t all about looks because they’ve added a few behind the scene features that are certainly worth mentioning – especially for a AV application. Here’s the changelog:

• Simplified Anti-Theft setup
• New Anti-Theft user interface
• Improved uninstall protection of apps
• File Shield (also scans downloads)
• Full activity log
• Option to disable sending SMS to avast! Account
• Folder scanning
• Vietnamese localization

They’ve improved the uninstall process for protected apps, but most important is probably the full activity log feature, and folder scanning. Both of these will be extremely helpful for those times in need. Hopefully you never lose an Android device to theft, but if so we’d recommend you have avast to help keep you protected. Hit the link below and get it today.

[via Play Store]