Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


Microsoft, Oracle, and others file EU complaint over Google’s Android business

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 01:30 AM PDT

european union flags Credit: tiseb/Flickr

FairSearch Europe, a coalition of companies that includes Microsoft, Nokia, and Oracle, has filed a formal complaint with the EU over Google's alleged anti-competitive practices in the mobile market.

Over the past couple of years, Google has been under scrutiny from regulators in the US and the European Union for its privacy practices and the alleged abuse of its dominant position in the search engine market. More specifically, Google was accused of giving its own products preferential treatment in search results, which according to critics, provides the Mountain View giant an unfair advantage over rivals.

One of the most outspoken critics of Google's practices in the search business has been FairSearch, a group backed by Microsoft among others, that is ostensibly dedicated to promoting fair competition. Now the same organization, through its FairSearch Europe presence, has filed a formal complaint with the EU's antitrust watchdog over Google's Android.

Besides Microsoft, FairSearch Europe brings together companies like Oracle, Nokia, Expedia, TripAdvisor, along a few other smaller ones. The group says in the complaint that Google is using Android "as a deceptive way to build advantages for key Google apps in 70 percent of the smartphones shipped today."

"Google is using its Android mobile operating system as a 'Trojan Horse' to deceive partners, monopolize the mobile marketplace, and control consumer data," said Thomas Vinje, Brussels-based counsel to the FairSearch coalition. "We are asking the Commission to move quickly and decisively to protect competition and innovation in this critical market. Failure to act will only embolden Google to repeat its desktop abuses of dominance as consumers increasingly turn to a mobile platform dominated by Google's Android operating system."

Specifically, FairSearch takes issue with Google's licensing model for its suite of apps, which the group calls "must-have". These apps, which include Maps, Talk, YouTube, and others, are licensed by Google to OEM partners, such as Samsung or HTC. While the Android operating system is free, if an OEM wants to preload Google's apps, it must license the entire package. FairSearch claims that manufacturers are forced by the licensing terms to give Google's apps prominent default placement on their phones, a practice that the group considers anti-competitive.

Moreover, FairSearch bemoans the "predatory distribution" of Android, saying that, because Google essentially gives away Android, other software makers (read Microsoft) aren't able to make money of their own operating systems.

Google's predatory distribution of Android at below-cost makes it difficult for other providers of operating systems to recoup investments in competing with Google's dominant mobile platform
FairSearch

Leaving the irony of the situation aside (Microsoft was severely fined by the EU over its own anti-competitive practices), it's hard for me to understand what FairSearch Europe thinks it can accomplish with this complaint. Its arguments seem shoddy at best. I fail to see how making a piece of software open source (which Android mostly is) is bad for competition.

Moreover, nobody forces OEMs to install Google apps or to make them the default apps for certain services. Back in 2010, Verizon started offering some phones with the default search engine set to Microsoft's Bing. The abundance of bloatware on many smartphones is a clear indication that Google isn't restricting manufacturers or carriers from adding whatever applications they deem useful to their phones. In addition, most of Google's apps are freely available from the Play Store.

With that said, we don't know the precise licensing terms between Google and device manufacturers, and the EU has a history of punishing perceived abuses of dominant position. Microsoft was fined over $1.1 billion by the EU for bundling Media Player with Windows, and risks another hefty fine for failing to offer a browser option to customers, as it was supposed to.

Google is also being investigated in Europe over its privacy policies, as well as search business. A similar investigation was closed last year by the FTC in the United States with Google emerging mostly unscathed.

Chat service WhatsApp denies rumors of Google acquisition

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 01:27 AM PDT

whatsapp-app-1

Earlier reports claimed that WhatsApp and Google are in acquisition talks, with the latter said to consider paying $1 billion for the popular mobile messaging application, but it looks like that's not so.

Talking to AllThingsDigital, Neeraj Arora, WhatsApp's "Business Guy" said that the his company is not "holding sales talks with Google" without sharing more details about any other potential purchase.

This isn't the first time WhatsApp is rumored to sell, with previous reports – similarly shot down by the company – involving Facebook as a potential buyer for the service. Meanwhile, Facebook has further developed its Messenger app for mobile devices and has recently introduced the Chat Heads texting service as part of the Facebook Home Android user interface.

On its part, Google is apparently working on a unified messaging system of its own. Reportedly called Google Babel, the new app has been featured in a variety of rumors and leaks so far and should be announced in the near future.

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging app on smart mobile devices across operating systems (the app works with Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Symbian), enjoying a growing user base. Unlike other similar applications, the app doesn't require the user to create a new account to stay connected with friends. Instead, the app uses the user's phone number to log in to send and receive messages.

whatsapp-google-play

In addition to SMS-like text messaging, the app also supports file transfers including images and videos. The text messages do not count towards users’ text plans with their wireless operator and do not incur additional costs, as long as they have an active data plan or access to a Wi-Fi network. This allows users to virtually send an unlimited number of text messages and recent WhatsApp statistics reveal that the application is getting more and more popular.

According to data from August 2012, WhatsApp handles 10 billion messages per day, up from two billion per day four months earlier. Comparatively, in October 2011, users exchanged over 1 billion messages per day. On New Year's Eve 2012, the app handled 18 billion messages, which is the current record for WhatsApp.

WhatsApp costs $0.99 (either a one-time fee or a yearly subscription depending on operating system) but can also be downloaded free of charge (again, depending on mobile OS).

Are you using WhatsApp already or do you rely on a different messaging application?

Sony Xperia ZL coming in subsidized flavor in the US on May 1 via Cincinnati Bell

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 01:21 AM PDT

sony-xperia-zl-in-hand aa

As unfair as it might seem, a phone's commercial success very rarely depends solely on things like hardware, software support or design. Instead, it often all comes down to marketing, how fast you can make a device available and how many major carriers you can strike partnerships with.

Case in point, Sony's Xperia Z and ZL. By far the two most impressive smartphones to be unveiled in the first couple of months of 2013. And yet their potential for greatness is severely crippled by Sony's cold relations with North American wireless service providers.

The Z is likely to never land in Canada and is only available in the US for now in SIM-free, "international" flavors. Meanwhile, the ZL has got a little more love up north, while in America it's being sold by Sony in an unsubsidized form.

But wait, because there is after all one US carrier set to sell the Xperia ZL in an on-contract variant. Only it's not AT&T, Sprint or Verizon, but Cincinnati Bell. That's right, the minuscule regional network that serves the great city of Cincinnati, as well as its nearby suburbs in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

Based on data from June 2012, Bell had roughly 0.43 million subscribers, which guarantees Sony will sell at least… a dozen of ZLs through the carrier. Actually, on second thought, given the network is planning to offer the 5-incher for $249.99 after mail-in rebate starting May 1, we'd be surprised if there was a single Bell customer willing to pay the piper.

But hey, let's not be too negativistic about ZL's future. After all, this is a start (albeit a rocky one), and maybe other, more important carriers will follow Cincinnati Bell's suit. There were rumors of AT&T planning to pick the big guy up a while ago, remember?

In the meantime, you can check out our own Xperia ZL video review to see exactly what you're missing. Or you can forget all about carriers and just take your business directly to Sony’s US online store.

There you can pre-order the SIM-free LTE-enabled ZL version (model number C6506) for $759.99. You can choose between the red, white and black variants of the phone, with shipping estimated for next week in all three cases. Will you be doing that or continue to hope one of America’s larger networks will carry the ZL after all?

Asus MeMo Pad ME172V tablet now available in the US for $150

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 12:30 AM PDT

asus-memo-pad

Asus is already doing very well in the budget-friendly 7-inch tablet market, courtesy of the massive Nexus 7 box-office hit. However, that doesn't mean there isn't enough of the pie left for another of the company's slates.

The MeMo Pad Me172V, known simply as the MeMo Pad 7, is not exactly an N7 rival, having a clearly inferior spec sheet. But what this fellow lacks in speed it compensates with budget consciousness, being even cheaper than the Nexus.

And after making a few waves in Europe, the MeMo Pad 7 is finally ready to take America by storm. Amazon and GameStop are the first two US retailers to offer the 7-incher for sale, at an identical $149.99.

That's for the 16 GB model of the tab, mind you, and not for the 8 GB variant that for some reason is yet to debut on the old continent and in the States. We know, it's not easy to make do with just 8 gigs of storage, but this baby comes with microSD support (unlike the N7). So, if Asus were to price that at, say, $110, we reckon you'd be all over it, wouldn't you?

asus-memo-pad-2

But back to the 16 GB MeMo Pad for now. This is available in three different color options – classic grey, stylish white and snazzy pink. The specs are naturally all the same, but do bear in mind this is no powerhouse.

The 7-inch LCD screen boasts a sub-par 1,024 x 600 pixels resolution, the 1 GHz VIA WM8950 CPU is bound to lag from time to time, while the design is very similar to that of the N7, only a little less elegant. The tab weighs in at 370 grams and measures 11.2 mm thick, which is 30 grams heavier and 0.7 mm thicker than the higher-end Asus slate.

It's not all bad for the MeMo Pad 7 though, as there's on-board Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a nice 1 gig of RAM, a decent 4,270 mAh battery, a 1 MP cam on the front, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB.

Bottom line, if you can afford the N7 you shouldn’t give the MeMo a second thought, but if you don’t this new guy might just top your shopping list. That’s our two cents at least, but feel free to agree or disagree with our view in the comments section below.

Buying phones from China part 1: why bother?

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 10:17 PM PDT

buying phones from ChinaThe traditional way to get hold of an Android phone was to sign a 2 year contract with your carrier and pick a phone to match your budget. However that method is changing with companies like Google offering the Nexus 4 unlocked and contract free, and T-Mobile moving to its Uncarrier business model. But the problem with this new approach is that you need to spend more money upfront to get hold of the phone or (as in T-Mobiles’ case) you need to buy it on credit and pay back the loan in installments.

The problem is that smartphones are expensive. And this is were China comes into the equation. So, why bother to buy an Android smartphone from China? Simple, the price. I have owned several Android devices which came directly from China and in almost every case when I showed a friend the 5.8 inch quad-core Mithril or the SmartQ U7, with its built-in DLP projector, they loved the device but asked, “that must have been expensive.” When I told them the true price, they could hardly believe me!

The truth is that the majority of Android devices are made in China under contract from companies like Samsung, LG, Asus or Sony etc. So in one sense whenever you buy a big brand phone it is actually a Chinese phone! Plus companies like ZTE and Huawei, which are both native Chinese giants, are making big inroads into the branded Android smartphone market. There are also lesser known brands (in the West) like ThL, who have 341 stores across China. And of course we can’t forget Lenovo!

The reason the big brand companies choose China as a manufacturing base is mainly due to cost coupled with China’s rapidly growing tech infrastructure plus manufacturing capacity. These make the per unit costs of modern smartphones cheaper than if they were made in the West. But once you add on corporate costs, advertising budgets and obligations to share holders the price the end user pays for the phone is a lot higher than what it cost to make. And that is OK, that is the nature of business. Every business is the same. Some like Apple choose intentionally to add very big profit margins to their devices (33% or more) while others like Amazon are trying a different approach by selling its Kindle and Kindle Fire ranges at near cost price with an expectation of making money on the content. Between these two extremes there is a whole gamut of business practices and business models.

The advantage that Chinese wholesalers offer is that the big corporate expenses, the huge advertising budgets and the need to make 33% profit on each phone doesn’t exist. The result is access to Android smartphones much nearer to their production costs.

That isn’t to say that buying smartphones from China isn’t without its pitfalls. There are questions about where to buy, who to trust and what happens when something goes wrong. Plus there are questions of quality and design issues. This series of posts will look at the whole experience of buying smartphones from China, so stay tuned for more!

Why Facebook Home is a home run for Android

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:49 PM PDT

Facebook Home Android Screenshots 1 (4)
As soon as Facebook unveiled Home for Android, the online tech media was quick to dissect it into tiny bits and pieces, not without a hefty amount of criticism, most of which coming from people who don’t use Facebook (or those who simply quit, or claim to have quit, the social network).

Without trying to send out any criticism of my own, I found that plenty of tech bloggers were a bit quick to forget that Facebook is the biggest social network out there, and despite the fact that Google Plus is now an important player in the market, Facebook is currently showing no sign of decline.

To me, Facebook and Android make for one hell of a combination if, somehow, these two tech giants could collaborate for a single, unified experience that encapsulates both the Facebook philosophy on mobile social networking, but Google Play compatibility as well. Oh wait, they just did!

HTC First

Throughout this article, I will try to analyze the potential impact Facebook Home could make in the Android ecosystem, and not enter any discussion about the product or its features. I will also avoid talking about the security related concerns that Facebook Home has raised.

I will also intentionally avoid discussing the HTC First, the only smartphone announced this far to come with Facebook Home preinstalled, mainly because I believe Facebook Home’s potential success or failure has absolutely nothing to do with what appears to be a mid-range Android smartphone at best. I may be going off the limb here a bit, but could it be that the only reason why the HTC First exists is because Facebook needed to heed pre-launch rumors? Could it be that Facebook had to tap into the hype such rumors have created around a potential Facebook phone?

In consequence, the purpose of this opinion piece is to point out a few factors that might change in the smartphone ecosystem now that Facebook has specifically targeted Google’s ecosystem with Home on Android. If you’re looking to find out what the rest of the team here at Android Authority thinks of Facebook Home, you can read our more recent Friday Debate on the matter.

On how Android just dodged a bullet

Facebook Home Android Screenshots (18)

The possibility of a Facebook smartphone has been so intensely debated and rumored over the past couple of years that everyone seemed to agree that if Facebook were to release a smartphone, it would be running a forked version of Android, much like the Amazon Kindle Fire.

In addition to that, one train of thought that’s popular amongst online pundits is that more and more device manufacturers will start looking into the possibility of forking Android so that they’re able to stand out in the crowd.

But following the Facebook Home announcement, it is my opinion that the Android ecosystem has not only eliminated this theoretical threat, but it has further cemented its position at the top of the mobile ecosystem.

Were Facebook to fork Android, I believe it would have been a clear sign for the rest of the industry that forking is the only way to go if you wanted to stand out. Fortunately for the market as a whole, Facebook Home is clear proof that unneeded fragmentation can be avoided by creating software that works on top of Android, instead of eliminating all compatibility for the sake of being unique.

Android vs iOS: a Facebook Timeline

Android vs iOS

For as long as the Facebook app has been an important component of any smartphone, Android users found themselves envying iPhone users for the quality and responsiveness of their Facebook implementation. The basic interface was roughly the same on both iOS and Android, but it is just that the dedicated app for Android were not as smooth. As a consequence, Facebook was not a major factor when deciding to go for an iPhone or for an Android smartphone.

Now that Facebook has unveiled Facebook Home for Android, the situation has dramatically changed, as Android now offers a much more immersive — and hopefully much smoother — implementation. This might not matter a lot to those of us who are not exactly complete Facebook addicts, but you’ve got to admit that there are a lot of people who use Facebook as the primary function of their smartphone. In my opinion, all those people will now have one extra reason to choose Android over iOS.

In addition, due to the closed nature of iOS, Facebook Home will not be coming to the iPhone or iPad anytime soon, as iOS does not support custom launchers. Bottom line: Facebook has just become one (if not the most) powerful Android ally.

Facebook Home on Windows Phone, Blackberry 10

When talking about the reason Facebook opted for a custom launcher instead of a forked version of Android, Mark Zuckerberg wanted traction. He argued that targeting just a few million users is of no importance for Facebook on the long run. To me, this speaks clearly about the fact that Facebook Home is unlikely to arrive on either Windows Phone or BlackBerry 10 — two mobile operating systems that together amount for only a fraction of the Android user base.

Custom launchers

Custom launchers have been one of the main reasons why more tech-savvy users prefer Android. But as it turns out, the vast majority of Android users are complete strangers to the notion of a custom launcher, mainly due to the fact that these custom launchers are more of an enthusiast thing instead of a profitable niche at this point.

Now, the huge fan base that Facebook has, combined with the tight grip Android has over the smartphone market, will eventually translate into a large number of users who will install Facebook Home as their first custom launcher for Android. And once users start understanding the awesome concept of a custom launcher, I believe that custom launcher developers will start writing more and better custom launchers since they will soon have a larger users base to target.

What I’m really trying to say here is that custom launchers will become much more popular, and thus a real advantage in the market for Google, and not just another paragraph in “top 10 reasons Android is better than iOS” articles.

Home Run!

Android already has a lot of inertia, although it also seemed like there was a lack of impact-making software that’s available exclusively for Google’s mobile platform. I’m not saying that Home is the best thing that happened to Android in the past year, but love it or hate it, the concept will surely make a lot of impact on the market.

Is Facebook Home just another custom launcher for Android? Will be a success, or will it flop? We are aware that the prevailing opinion on Facebook as a social network is not entirely positive. But wouldn’t you agree that Facebook Home makes for a great synergy between Android and Facebook?

Sony adding native DUALSHOCK 3 controller support to Xperia handsets

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 07:59 PM PDT

Sony Xperia with Dual Shock 3 controller
How would you like to play your choice of Android or PlayStation Mobile games with the use of a true blue DUALSHOCK 3 PlayStation controller? Well, you already can, actually. As long as you go through a few minor hoops. But soon, none of that will be necessary, as it appears that Sony is planning to equip its Xperia-branded Android smartphones with native support for controllers originally meant to be used on the Sony PS3.

As evidenced by photos of the upcoming Sony Xperia SP‘s settings menu, there will be a new “DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller” menu option for users which will allow easy pairing of controllers through the use of Bluetooth and USB-OTG. The initial setup apparently requires a USB connection, but after that’s done, only a Bluetooth connection will be necessary.

For anyone with an interest in playing PlayStation Mobile titles on the go, or for those who consider themselves to be hardcore Android gamers, this is exciting news. One can only hope that this new feature will be rolled out — perhaps via a future software update — to most or all of Sony’s Xperia handsets, especially those in the high-end such as the Sony Xperia Z.

Check out the DUALSHOCK 3 software menu and controller in action via the embedded video below.

Motorola bootloader unlock method works on Droid RAZR HD, Razr M and more

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 07:10 PM PDT

Droid Razr HD

Never say never. According to a blog post yesterday by DirtyDroidX, Dan Rosenberg (a.k.a. @djrbliss) has successfully managed to do what many before him have tried to do but failed — and that is unlock the bootloader of a Motorola smartphone. For quite a while now, at least since the Droid RAZR was released, Moto bootloaders have been locked down tight, which has made development more complex for these devices. Just glancing at the XDA threads for the RAZR HD and RAZR M will tell you that much. Workarounds like installing the SafeStrap recovery are required in order to flash ROMs onto those devices.

However, with Dan’s bootloader unlock method this should now be a thing of the past. News of this method first came out yesterday, and now earlier today he has made his unlock tool and instructions public. However, this method will only work on devices with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, and as of now that list includes the Droid RAZR HD, RAZR Maxx HD, RAZR M and the Atrix HD. So unfortunately all devices with the older OMAP processors, such as the original Droid RAZR, will be left out in the cold.

The usual disclaimer applies: you have to be willing to take responsibility for your own actions and device, and if this tool somehow ends up bricking your device, it is in no way the dev’s fault. Also, for this to work you already need your device to be rooted and have the su binaries (superuser, SuperSU or ClockworkMod’s open-source superuser) installed on it. If you feel you are up to the challenge, hit up the first source link below for the full list of instructions and FAQ’s, and the second one for a more detailed explanation of the process. As always, if you have any other questions feel free to ask in the comments section below.

Tumblr for Android updated with new Holo-inspired user-interface

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 07:08 PM PDT

tumblr update
Many social networks are notorious for having ridiculously awful mobile apps. The apps are often painfully slow and buggy and as you can imagine, it really impacts the user experience negatively. Today for Tumblr users on Android, the level of user satisfaction has just been knocked up a few notches, thanks to the release of a new version of Tumblr for Android on the Google Play store.

The latest edition of Tumblr for Android, which currently sits at version number 3.3, is available for all users with Android 2.2 or later. It comes with a completely redesigned and Holo-inspired user-interface with fancy new post animations and popping images. And as with previous versions of the same app, it will allow users to do all sorts of things that in the past could only be done through the Web-based dashboard on the Tumblr web site.

Some of Tumblr for Android’s highlight features include the ability to post anything, including photos, videos, quotes, chats, links, and text, as well as the option to save drafts, customize tweets, queue posts, and more. Tumblr for Android also lets users add a “create a post” widget that can be accessed directly on the home screen, plus it can be used to manage multiple blogs quite easily.

To find out what other neat stuff the new Tumblr for Android has to offer, then go on to the Google Play store and download a copy to see for yourself. It can be downloaded for free.

Chameleon OS First Look: An Open Source MIUI-esque ROM

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 06:52 PM PDT

ChameleonOS

When it comes to Android ROMs, MIUI is probably the most customizable thanks to their advanced theme engine. Before your English based MIUI ROM gets onto your devivce, a lot of background work is done. Each week, Xiaomi, the Chinese company behind MIUI, releases a new weekly beta build. This beta ROM is then downloaded, translated to English, and ported to various Android phones and tablets. This is how it’s been done for years. The problem is, developers from such communities as MIUI.us deal with closed source ROMs, making porting this gorgeous ROM to various devices a real pain in the ass, especially when new bugs or new features appear without notice each week. Out of this frustration, Chameleon OS or ChaOS ROM for short, was born.

ChaOS is an custom Android ROM, based on CyanogenMOD, that focuses on user control and customizing each piece of Android. The most notable feature of ChaOS is the theme engine. The entire framework has been modified around their theme engine, which allows users to mix and match themes until the user gets it just right.  The Launcher and Messaging app has been completely overhauled as well with various options for customization.

Features

Even though ChaOS is in public beta, their feature list isn’t short. Here’s a few notable features.

  • Built on CM, fully open source
  • Highly customized launcher, gestures, previews, scaling, etc.
  • Advanced theme manager, based on MIUI theme engine
  • Mix and match themes on the fly for Icons, Status Bar, Boot animation, Messaging, Framework, and Ringtones, Font (requires reboot)
  • Customized status bar and toggles
  • Customized messaging, revised layout
  • Manage installed app permissions

For a complete feature set, visit the ChaOS feature list.

Screenshots

screen_1 screen_5 screen_8 screen_16 screen_17 screen_26

You can view more screenshots on the official ChaOS gallery.

Supported devices

As ChaOS ROM is currently in the beta stages, the list of supported devices is limited, however they are covering some of the heavy hitters. Follow the links below to download the latest beta build for your device. If you’re looking for support, head on over to the official forums.

Nexus 4 (mako)
One X (evita)
One S (ville)
Galaxy Nexus (maguro)
Galaxy Nexus (toro)
Galaxy SIII (d2att)
Galaxy SIII (d2vzw)
Galaxy SII (hercules)
Galaxy SII (skyrocket)
Nexus 7 (grouper)
Nexus 7 GSM (tilapia)
Kindle Fire (otter)

If you love customization and open source, this Android ROM has a lot of potential. As the Chameleon OS project matures, we’ll continue watching it and report on any updates as needed.

Android and Me

Android and Me


Solid leaks on Google Babel lend credibility to rumors

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 06:10 PM PDT

Rumors that Google will unify all of their messaging platforms into one service, called Babel (originally thought to be Babble), have been swirling for months now. The intensity and accuracy of the rumors seem to be heating up, but it wasn’t until today that we got our first substantial leaks...

Visit our site to read the full article.

HTC One delays translate into lowest quarterly profits on record for HTC

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 01:59 PM PDT

HTC profits fell to a new low in Q1 of 2013. The latest HTC earnings report shows that the company’s total revenues reached NT$42.8 billion with net income after tax shrinking to NT$85 million ($2.8 million USD), a 98.3% decline in profits from the $173 million which the company reported for...

Visit our site to read the full article.

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Sony Xperia devices will soon support PlayStation 3 controllers out of the box [VIDEO]

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 05:47 PM PDT

It was back in October we told you guys about the GameKlip, an accessory for Android devices that managed to secure a PlayStation 3 Dualshock controller to the handset of your choice. While that was great idea (one that no doubt spawned similar solutions from bigger accessory makers like the MOGA), the biggest pitfall of [...]

Huawei profits reach $2.5 billion for 2012

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 03:39 PM PDT

Huawei has posted its full-year numbers for 2012. The Chinese manufacturer is still on the upswing as the carrier raked in profits of nearly $2.5 billion on revenues of $35.5 billion. Those numbers might seem more impressive if Huawei were a mere OEM, but its dealings in other areas — such as network and infrastructure [...]

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 specs leaked

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 03:03 PM PDT

Last week, we heard about a new 5.8 inch device Samsung would be bringing called the Samsung Galaxy Mega. The device will feature a very odd set of specs, apparently, as SamMobile seems to believe the following list is accurate. It’ll come with a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, a 5.8-inch qHD display, an [...]

Latest Google Babel leak looks like the real deal – emoticons, smileys, and picture messaging revealed

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 01:30 PM PDT

I think it’s safe to say Google’s got some big things in store for chat on Android/Chrome devices. We seen countless leaks of the rumored “Google Babel” and it was earlier today we heard another rumor of Google possibly shopping WhatsApp — one of my personal favorite messaging services — to help soup up their [...]

This microSD card reader for your smartphone is one of the most useful Kickstarter ideas ever

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 01:13 PM PDT

We post about a lot of Kickstarter projects. Some are revolutionary and attract millions of dollars in backer interest, while others tend to be duds and provide little more than something nice to think about. This particular Kickstarter grabbed my eye, though — mainly because it’s so simple, yet so useful and practical. It’s a [...]

Tumblr update brings Holo UI

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:05 PM PDT

Tumblr for Android just got a big upgrade in the Google Play Store. The biggest change users of the quick blogging network will enjoy is the completely redesigned user interface. This change is mostly for users on Android 4.0 or higher as it’s gotten a nice coat of Holo-fied paint. The look and feel changes [...]

T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile Galaxy S2 get Jelly Bean

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:51 AM PDT

A couple of more Galaxy S2 variants are getting Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, folks. The lucky customers of T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile will be happy to know that Samsung’s 2011 flagship is getting upgraded to one of the most modern versions of Android there is at the moment. It’s not often a two-year old smartphone [...]

On to the next One: HTC’s new direction

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:51 AM PDT

High Tech Computer Corporation, or HTC as we all know it, has been a pioneer in many aspects of the technology world. The majority of people do not even know its name, or what it stands for, and even less know that they made the Palm Treo, a vast range of Windows Mobile devices like [...]

Bootloader unlock method found for several Motorola devices

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:23 AM PDT

Motorola has gained a bit of a nasty reputation around the development community these past couple of years. The company began locking its bootloaders tighter than the Pentagon does its doors, and developers haven’t found it particularly easy to bypass. For this reason, many in the development community have shunned Motorola devices in favor of [...]

Google could buy WhatsApp for $1 billion

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 08:43 AM PDT

Google could be making a pretty big bet on its messaging future as it’s being reported that the company is in talks with WhatsApp to acquire it for $1 billion. WhatsApp is one of the biggest messaging apps in mobile, with 100 million daily active users. With one billion messages per day, and a record [...]

HTC Q1 profit plummets following HTC One delay

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 07:21 AM PDT

It looks like the HTC One delay put the Taiwanese manufacturer in a tough spot in regards to its Q1’2013 earnings numbers as the company has posted record lows for the quarter. According to the latest report from Taoyuan, HTC only gained about $2.8 million last quarter. It’s still a profit, but it’s HTC’s lowest [...]

Dual-SIM Samsung Galaxy Win announced

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 06:48 AM PDT

Samsung has officially announced the Samsung Galaxy Win. As awesome as its name is it isn’t Samsung’s best, but it’s a very nice mid-range offering that should come in single and dual-SIM variants (depending on the region). Inside is a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a 4.7-inch WVGA display, a 5 megapixel rear camera [...]

Facebook Home APK leaks

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 06:25 AM PDT

After Facebook unveiled its Facebook Home, a Facebook-centric home-screen experience that will also be included on the new HTC First, many were eager to get a chance to toy around with it. If our hands-on with the HTC First last week wasn’t enough you may have a chance to install Facebook Home on your own [...]

Google Play Store redesign leaks again, as well as hints of Google Babel

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 05:48 AM PDT

As we inch closer and closer toward Google I/O it seems the Mountain View company is having a hard time keeping a good lid on things. We’ve been treated to a leak of the new Google Play Store redesign before, but yet another leak has made its way to the forefront. This particular instance gives [...]

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Google Android News Android Forums


Best Buy Will Offer T-Mobile Simple Choice Plans By February 2014

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 02:40 PM PDT

T-Mobile

T-Mobile launched its new Simple Choice plans last month and according to an internal document, Best Buy will offer the new plans by the end of its fiscal year, February 2014. Until then, Best Buy will continue to offer T-Mobile Classic plans. For customers wanting a Simple Choice plan, they will only be available directly from T-Mobile online or through one of its retail locations. Also, if you are on a Classic plan and want to stay on it, purchasing through third-party retailers like Best Buy are your only option. T-Mobile is wanting to move completely away from its Classic plans and contracts altogether, but it’s going to take time to fully transition over to this new, no-contract model.

Source: TmoNews


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T-Mobile Galaxy S II Receives Android 4.1.2

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 12:15 PM PDT

Galaxy S II

Just one week after Sprint’s version received an update, T-Mobile’s Galaxy S II has finally received the upgrade to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. Owners should be able to update now through Samsung KIES or via OTA by navigating to “Settings” and “About Phone”. Here are the new features and enhancements:

  • Buttery Smooth Performance & Great Stability (Thanks to Project Butter)
  • Full User Interface Revamp (Same UI as of the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II)
  • TouchWiz Nature UX
  • Samsung's S Cloud services
  • Improved Camera features
  • New Lockscreen With Many Customization Options
  • New Features like Direct Call, Smart Stay and Pop-up Play
  • New Widgets (From Galaxy S III)
  • 2 Home screen modes
  • New Notification bar With More Notification Toggles
  • Google Now

Source: SamMobile


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Photosphere Live Wallpaper lands in Google Play Store

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 11:31 AM PDT

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Over the weekend we shared the news about the release of the SphereShare.net Android app that helps you find and view Photo Spheres submitted by users from around the world. If you were wondering what to do with a Photo Sphere that you find particularly nice, you might want to check out Photosphere Live Wallpaper. With this new app from Kittehface Software, you can use a Photo Sphere for the wallpaper background on your Android device with support for viewing by swiping or tilting your device between screens.

Photosphere Live Wallpaper only requires Android 2.2 or higher to run and is a free download. If you want to give it a try on your device, use one of the download links below the screenshots.

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Native DUALSHOCK 3 support may be coming to Sony Xperia devices

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 11:15 AM PDT

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As Android smartphones become more powerful with each successive generation, more people are finding them capable of running games they enjoy playing. Depending on a device’s capabilities, it is easily conceivable that it can serve in the same role as a traditional game platform like a PlayStation, complete with a connection to a flat screen TV and dedicated controllers for players. We have seen many companies come to market with controllers for Android devices that replicate the controllers found with leading game systems in pursuit of such a setup. It appears that Sony has decided to get in on this market with the introduction of native support for their PlayStation DUALSHOCK 3 controllers on some devices.

Over the weekend a video surfaced showing a new setting on a Sony Xperia SP that allows for the connection of a “DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller.” Initially, a USB-OTG cable is needed to make the first connection, but once mated, the devices can connect using Bluetooth. Once the controller is connected and running, the smartphone functions as the display and the controller can be used as expected to navigate menus and then control the action.

As mentioned, the discovery of this built-in function was found on a Sony Xperia SP. It seems likely that Sony would want to add this to the rest of their PlayStation Mobile compatible devices as well, especially a top device like the Sony Xperia Z. Sony is mum on the subject, but now that the news has leaked it probably won’t be long before an official statement is issued.

Click here to view the embedded video.

source: Xperia Blog


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Galaxy Note 3 Will Be First Device With Samsung’s S Orb Photo Feature

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT

Galaxy Note 3 Will Be First To Feature Samsung's S Orb

The Galaxy Note 3 is slated to launch in September and according to a new report, will be the first Samsung device to feature S Orb. We originally expected this feature to debut in the Galaxy S 4. S Orb is very similar to Photo Sphere on the Nexus 4 and allows users to take 360-degree panorama photos. There are a couple reasons why the Galaxy Note 3 could get S Orb ahead of the Galaxy S 4. Samsung appears to be waiting on upgrading to Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie which won’t be announced until Google I/O in May. With the Galaxy S 4 launching ahead of the announcement, that means an update is further down the line. However, Samsung could ship the Galaxy Note 3 in September with Android 5.0 installed.

Source: Android Geeks


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HTC profits continue in wrong direction in record-setting fashion

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:46 AM PDT

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Over the past 18 months or so, we have watched HTC’s financial deep dive as it keeps setting record-low quarterly profit numbers. HTC was banking on the HTC One leading a rebound for the company. That could still happen, but after delays, the HTC One was not able to ship in any meaningful numbers during the first quarter of 2013, leading to more disappointing financial results for HTC. According to HTC’s just released report, net income for the first quarter was NT$85 million ($2.84 million USD), a mere pittance compared to the NT$10.9 billion ($363 million USD) for the same period a year earlier.

In addition to yet another disappointing quarter, HTC also missed analysts’ revenue forecasts. HTC was expected to post net income of NT$467.5 million on first quarter revenue of NT$50-$60 billion. Instead, revenues were only NT$42.8 billion. The delay of the HTC One is expected to reverberate throughout 2013 for HTC. Despite opening against the Samsung Galaxy S 4, analyst Dennis Chan with Yuanta Securities thinks HTC will experience a rebound in the second quarter. However, that will be short-lived as it will “be very difficult to push on the mid- and low-end phones when HTC launches them in Q3-Q4.” Daiwa analyst Birdy Lu is also skeptical that the recently announced partnership with Facebook will be of much help because Facebook Home will only be sought by “Facebook addicts, and the distribution channel for HTC First is very limited.”

source: Reuters


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Samsung announces the Galaxy Win smartphone featuring quad-core processor, dual-SIM capabilities and a whole lotta Jelly Bean

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 09:02 AM PDT

Samsung_GALAXY_Win

 

No… there’s no need to pinch yourselves because it’s true— Samsung has taken the wraps off of yet another addition to its Galaxy family. This new toy— called the Galaxy Win— is a lower-end mid-range device that comes with a 4.7-inch WVGA LCD TFT display with a 800 x 480 resolution, a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU inside, 1GB of RAM, a 5MP camera, a 2,000mAh battery and Android 4.1. Additionally, there’s no LTE on-board, but at least there’s HSPA+ support and full dual-SIM capabilities.

No word yet on when the device will hit store shelves or which carriers will feature the device just yet, but expect Sammy to give the Galaxy Win’s cost and availability sooner than later.

source: Samsung Tomorrow


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Acer Iconia A1-810 tablet gets outed, flaunts its 7.9-inch display to the general public

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 08:43 AM PDT

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Move over iPad Mini, Nexus 7 and Galaxy Note 8.0— Acer is bringing a new player to the mini tablet arena. A mysterious Acer Iconia A1-810 has been revealed to the general public and looks to have the standard goodies including a 1.2GHz MediaTek dual-core chip, 7.9-inch IPS display with a 1,024 x 768 resolution + 1GB of RAM, a 5MP rear camera + a VGA front-facer, a 3,250 mAh battery and 16GB of on-board memory. Sure the competition may have some better specs inside, but at least the device will ship with Android 4.2 out of the gates.

As of now, it appears that French retailer Rue Du Commerce is the only place that is officially listing the device available for order at this point, though we’ll see if other countries and markets will get the device as well. It is expected the Iconia A1-810 will cost about €199 (about $259) and ship sometime in June.

source: Android Authority


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Facebook Home pre-release gets leaked, gives Android users a half-baked taste of sweet glory

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 08:17 AM PDT

Facebook_Home_apk_Leak

 

Sure Facebook Home is going to be one heck of a game-changer for Android devices, but not only do we still need to wait a while for it to come out— Facebook Home is only going to be available for a handful of devices, at least for the initial launch. Fortunately, some enterprising folks went ahead and brought the awesome launcher to the masses. Paul O’Brien of MoDaCo’s details that using any Android device with a maximum resolution of 1,200 x 768, users will have the ability to use a pre-release version of the ROM by installing 3 special files.

Of course using the special build of the app doesn’t come without a few catches. The first is that since this is a pre-release version of Facebook Home, meaning the ROM is not exactly stable, is missing a feature or two and is a little bit on the slower side. The second catch is users will need to ensure that Facebook is completely uninstalled from their device prior to installing the ROM since the leaked files are re-signed and can’t just be installed over the top of an existing installation. This means that those of you with a device that has Facebook pre-installed will probably need to have Root access and remove the Facebook from your phone just to be on the safe side.

Ok— so now that you’ve gotten the disclaimer, we’re sure that you’re itching to try it out for yourself, right? Head on down to the source link to grab the full deets and instructions for yourself.

source: MoDaCo


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More details surface regarding upcoming Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3

Posted: 08 Apr 2013 07:27 AM PDT

Samsung-Logo (2)

Last week we found out the Samsung Galaxy Fonblet would actually be called the Galaxy Mega and it would come in both 5.8-inch and 6.3-inch varieties. What about specs? The 5.8-inch version (GT-i9153) will have a modest qHD (960 x 540) LCD display, a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 8MP rear camera, and a 2600mAh battery. It will come in at 9.7mm thick and it will have dual-SIM capability.

Lesser details are known about the 6.3-inch version, but what we can say is that it will also have an LCD panel, a dual-core Exynos processor, an 8MP rear camera, and a 2MP front camera. Unfortunately we don’t have the display resolution or the CPU clock speed, but they will probably be similar to the 5.8-inch version.

It appears Samsung is trying to bring the demand for larger displays to those that are on a tighter budget. This is a good move because everyone should be able to enjoy a phone that barely fits their pocket. Word is that we will see these bad boys this summer along with some Jelly Beans.

source: unwiredview


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