Friday, April 19, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


ZTE N988 rumored to be first Android handset with NVIDIA Tegra 4 inside

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 09:19 PM PDT

ZTE N988 with Tegra 4
It has been more than three whole months now since the NVIDIA Tegra 4 SoC was first announced, and we still don’t have any clear information on what the first Tegra 4-powered smartphone will be like. Unless you count rumors circulating about a new China-based ZTE handset called the ZTE N988, that is. Its existence has been revealed — albeit unofficially — and its photos have been posted online for all the world to see.

The ZTE N988 is currently being rumored to be the world’s first Android-flavored smartphone with NVIDIA Tegra 4. That in itself should come as no surprise, given that ZTE was among the first ones to commit to producing Tegra-4 based Android handsets — handsets that are equipped NVIDIA’s new i500 LTE modem, as well. However, it looks quite disappointing.

One of the ZTE N988′s supposed highlight features is a 5.7-inch display with a native resolution of 1280×720 pixels. You really can’t fault ZTE for using that large a screen (they’ve done it before), but a 720p HD panel? If the ZTE N988 were a laptop, it would be like one of those atrocious 15-inch models with WXGA resolution (1280×768 pixels) screens. Not to mention it would be completely wasting the NVIDIA Tegra 4′s potential. It can drive up to 2560×1600, so why waste it on such a low resolution?

With all of that said, the ZTE N988 does have a few somewhat redeeming qualities. Its other features include 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, a 6.9mm-thin profile and an overall weight of just 110g. Missing is information on its standard battery capacity, amount of internal storage, and specifics on availability. It will launch with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.

There’s still hope that the ZTE N988 is not the first NVIDIA Tegra 4 handset. After all, this is just a rumor. But we won’t be surprised if ZTE does end up making the first Tegra 4 phone eventually.

iOS leads Android in engagement and monetization, says Opera State of Mobile Advertising report

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 05:46 PM PDT

These mobile ads are so engaging, we can't take our eyes off of them. (Image credit: Girls reading on smartphone / Shutterstock)

These mobile ads are so engaging, we can’t take our eyes off of them. (Image credit: Girls reading on smartphone / Shutterstock)

The mobile industry is an interesting ecosystem, in that there are various mechanisms and trends at work. On one hand, you have volume and scale, which Android currently leads, having the biggest share of the market today. However, there are also other factors that come to play, such as engagement, monetization and revenue.

We have discussed engagement before, and have previously encountered the so-called Android engagement paradox. While Android is the leading platform in numbers, its main competitor, iOS, still leads in other metrics, including engagement and revenue. This is further validated by Opera’s latest State of Mobile Advertising report, in which iOS came out on top, in terms of both traffic and revenue share.

Opera State of Mobile Advertising Q1 2013

To illustrate, during the first quarter of 2013, Android got a traffic share of 31.26%, with a revenue share of 26.72%. Meanwhile, iOS got 44.53% traffic share and received 49.23% of the revenue.

A few other notable observations:

  • Opera notes that Android tablets are growing to a “small but noticeable share of the market.”
  • Android tablet traffic share is at 1.04%, with revenues at 0.49%. This is a far cry from the iPad’s 6.54% traffic share and 12.60% revenue.
  • The Samsung Galaxy S3 is dominant among Android smartphones, with 11% of Android traffic.
  • Music, video and media are the top sources of impressions and revenue.
  • Targeted campaigns perform better in terms of engagement and revenue.

The study was done across Opera’s advertising platforms, which includes AdMarvel, Mobile Theory, 4th Screen Advertising and Opera Mediaworks Performance, which serve more than 50 billion ad impressions per month through 12,000 mobile websites and applications.

Again, this does not mean that Android is worse off than iOS, per se. Opera’s study simply indicates that iOS users are more likely to engage in visual ads, which in return lets publishers earn more from ad revenue. Given this scenario, though, publishers are more likely to optimize for iOS, given the higher revenue potential.

HTC’s BoomSound

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 04:41 PM PDT

htc-one-flat-left

HTC has always been big on audio, going so far as to purchase a controlling interest in Beats a few years back. With that purchase, they hoped that mobile audio performance was a big deal to us, and were hedging bets on the future. Well, it really wasn't as important as HTC hoped. Sure, we like a good sound coming from our device, but it just wasn't paramount, as HTC found with their failed Rezound device.

Though they have had a few setbacks, HTC continues to lead the way in mobile audio. Be it YouTube or music, we love great mobile sound. With the HTC One, the device manufacturer hopes to strike a chord with their dual front-facing speakers, called BoomSound.

It's slightly brilliant, really. It can be quite annoying to cup your hand, or depend on a solid surface, to reverberate sound from the back of a device. If the speakers are facing forward, like the screen is, the audio volume is much better. With two speakers, and built-in amplifiers, the quality should be great as well.

Does it really make a difference? We think so. Our Kristopher Wouk called them the "best speakers I've ever heard on a phone". That's high praise.

For more info on the HTC One, including BoomSound, check out our review, as well as the video below

Facebook voice calls in Messenger and Home apps rolling out to U.S. Android users

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 04:33 PM PDT

Facebook voice calls

Facebook voice calls for free can’t be bad news for anyone, so U.S. users of the Facebook Messenger and Facebook Home Android apps will be happy to hear that the feature is rolling out to them.

Users in Canada or the UK got access to the feature a bit earlier, but now the big rollout is underway, making the number of countries in which it’s available grow to 24.

You don’t need to update the apps to get the new feature, as you’ll be able to use it automatically the moment it’s available. If you have it, you’ll find the “free call” option under the “i” icon in Facebook Messenger, while Facebook Home has it under the three dots next to your contact’s name. Needless to say, you’ll need a large enough (or unlimited) data plan to use the VoIP feature.

With Google expected to launch its Babel unified messaging service soon enough, Facebook has every reason to use every resource at its disposal to keep its users close. Giving them free calls in apps they use on a regular basis seems like a pretty good way to do just that.

Have you used Facebook voice calls already?

The… ‘Android’ Civil Liberties Union?

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 04:12 PM PDT

Android Army

A few days ago, the ACLU filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission against the four major US carriers. In that complaint, the ACLU claims that Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T are guilty of two major faux pas: Not updating your Android device in a timely fashion, and not educating you properly to the security risks associated with the lagging updates.

A bold move, but not out of character for the ACLU. They've made a habit of exposing perceived slights and blatant wrongdoing, but is this one of them? Sure, not getting updates right away is annoying… but is it a civil liberties matter?

The complaint

The 16-page complaint is fairly comprehensive, and hits on just about every topic relating to updates, malware, and general carrier malfeasance we can think of. In a nutshell, the complaint stresses that our contracts are binding us to an antiquated level of service, and this, in turn, affects our mobile security. The ACLU makes it very clear that contracts are the real issue here, as the complaint is focussed squarely at carriers and the subsidized phone model.

The filing opens up some very poignant issues, ones that go far beyond simple mobile security. It would be simple to focus on timely updates for our phones, but that's not really the entire issue. In point 15 of the complaint, the ACLU claims "The major wireless service providers exert significant control over the market for mobile devices. The carriers are able to dictate the features included by manufacturers in phones, including the factory pre-installation of carrier specific apps, as well as the removal of features that threaten the carriers' revenue stream, such as the ability to share the Internet connection of the phone with other devices ("tethering") without paying an additional fee to the wireless carrier."

wireless-carriers

Why this matters

This places blame where it belongs, which is squarely on the carriers. If we take the largest carrier in the US as an example, Verizon is notoriously slow to update their devices. This is, in part, due to a lack of oversight to do so. Nobody is policing them to update the devices in a timely manner, and they often sight security as a reason for slow updates.

They also act in the interest of profit, rather than subscriber happiness. Why block Google Wallet? They have their own mobile payment system. Why not let Google's Android system take care of the security on a device? They have their own method, which they feel is better… and they may be wrong.

Subsidized

Each carrier is to blame for this, but then again… so are we. As consumers sign contracts for cellular devices with carriers, we're effectively signing over control. While under contract, carriers often dictate to you just what can and can't be done with a device. If you doubt that, flash a new ROM and take your subsidized device in for service. You will probably be turned away flatly, even if you simply flashed the newest, stock version of Android.

The inability to manage our devices as we see fit is another part of the complaint. Point 28 notes "The slow rate of adoption of the most recent versions of Android does not reflect a failure by consumers to seek out and install operating system updates. Instead, it reflects the fact that for most Android smartphones in use, updates to the most recent version of the operating system simply have not been made available for consumers to install."

Does that mean we should stop signing contracts? Not necessarily. Going unsubsidized and contract-free has advantages, but many of us either can't afford to do that, or simply don't want to. This filing is meant to protect those who are hindered by carriers and their agenda, which the ACLU claims is widely based on malaise.

Google-Android-malware

Reality

Carriers are burdened by the environment they create. We, as consumers, are guilty of subscribing to much more than a wireless plan. We subscribe to false hope. Our assumptions are that the carrier will support the device we purchase, and will do their best to make sure we've got what we perceive are necessary updates to our device.

The reality is carriers do support devices… just not as we'd like them to. We all love the new Android stuff that comes with each update, but how many of us are complaining about our devices being insecure because of it? Photospheres don't help with malware.

We may not be excited to be left behind by carriers, but it doesn't affect our security. The hard truth is that by signing a contract, you've agreed to be bound by their rules… one of which is to do as little as possible to make sure you have the latest and greatest. If that 12 month old security update hasn't become insecure, what is the carrier motivation to do more? You're under contract, and under their thumb.

The agenda

Let's start with point 34 of the complaint, which quotes a 2012 report from the US Government Accountability Office, and take it from there. It reads "It can take weeks to months before security updates are provided to consumers' devices. Depending on the nature of the vulnerability, the patching process may be complex and involve many parties. For example, Google develops updates to fix security vulnerabilities in the Android OS, but it is up to device manufacturers to produce a device-specific update incorporating the vulnerability fix, which can take time if there are proprietary modifications to the device's software. Once a manufacturer produces an update, it is up to each carrier to test it and transmit the updates to consumers' devices. However, carriers can be delayed in providing the updates because they need time to test whether they interfere with other aspects of the device or the software installed on it."

This, more than anything else in the complaint, succinctly identifies the issue. The process is cumbersome, dragging out through multiple stops. First Google, then (possibly) a manufacturer, and finally a carrier. This problem of security is debatable, as malware affects a very small percentage of Android apps, and is usually found via sources other than the Play Store.

android-malware

There is also the issue of how much malware is actually written for Android. A small percentage, sure, but growing daily. It's also important to keep in mind that the issue is not only apps, but the browser. The ACLU takes browser updates to task several times, and mentions the issue with considering Chrome as an alternative: "Because Chrome for Android can be updated through the Play Store, Google is able to distribute regular security updates to Chrome users. However, Chrome for Android is only compatible with devices running Android 4.0 and above. As such, only 40% of the Android devices worldwide can install Chrome."

The ACLU's agenda is not to dictate how to change the process, it's to change carrier responsibility. In doing so, the process naturally changes. If carriers are bound by a set of expectations, they become more involved with what many of us want, and that's the latest software. While those new iterations of Android are inherently cooler, they're also more secure. That is where everyone concerned may find the gift, as well as the curse.

Results

Carrier responsibility sounds lovely, but it may end up biting everyone in the backside. Carriers are good to get the latest devices, but not support them. If they're made to support devices more, there is a reasonable expectation they will carry fewer devices. This affects our variety, and perhaps strains our relationship with the carrier.

It may, however, expose consumers to unsubsidized devices, and the possible benefits of prepaid plans. That's great for us, but is it good for carriers? Recent comments by carriers suggest it may be fine with them, and perhaps even preferable. T-Mobile has gone away from the locked-down subsidized model, and their subscribership increased for the first time in years.

A middle ground can be settled on, but it takes carrier compromise. They'll have to find a better way to accomplish the same goals, which is probably necessary anyway. The duality of signing consumers to a two-year contract, not supporting the devices as best they could be, then constantly rotating new devices is only good for the newest customers. For many of us, by the time the contract is up, our device is long gone from the store, much less the spotlight.

T-Mobile

Conclusion

We can't have it all, all the time. We can either upgrade to a new device, or suffer our old ones and the updates that never come. That's our current methodology, or rather that of the carriers, but the ACLU wants that changed. This complaint serves to put carriers on notice, letting them know that their practices haven't gone unnoticed.

The reaction from carriers will be crucial. We hope they swallow some pride, and acknowledge the system needs tweaking. We can all accept culpability for this situation, and we should. Carriers are trying to keep their offerings fresh, and we're trying to keep our old device refreshed. We could have gone unsubsidized, but we didn't. We wanted a lower up-front cost, and we bought into the system. We didn't understand the whole picture.

Now we do, and hopefully so do carriers. If the problem persists after this complaint is recognized, and carriers have had some time to adjust their practices, consumers would be wise to pursue other avenues en masse. Nexus devices have an opportunity to change this game. Buying a low-cost, high-end phone and going prepaid throws a wrench into the system.

As much as we feel helpless, we're actually in charge. Vote with your wallet to affect change. Carriers may not listen when you're on the line with them, complaining about not having Jelly Bean… but they will pay attention when it comes to their bottom line.

 

 

 

Verizon confirms the Samsung Galaxy S4 will arrive in May

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 03:45 PM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 4 aa 600

While Sprint and T-Mobile were the first of the major U.S. networks to confirm details about when the Galaxy S4 was landing on their networks, Verizon had yet to give us the skinny. The good news is that they have finally taken to Twitter to give us launch details.

The bad news is that Verizon just states the S4 is coming in May, telling us that they will have more information soon. We might not have an official date yet, but if a Staples document is to be believed, we could see the phone on May 30th.

verizon-wireless-galaxys4

That’s quite a bit later than the rest of the big carrier’s late-April release plans, but it isn’t out of character for Verizon and Samsung. Both the Galaxy S3 and Note 2 launched quite a bit later to Verizon than they did other major networks. Better late than never, we suppose.

Again, that date is far from confirmed, and nothing is official until Verizon says so. As for when they might tell us more, earlier today Verizon sent out "save the date" invites for May 22nd, so it’s possible that they could tell us more at their CTIA event.

Google Glass runs on Android, Larry Page says

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 03:24 PM PDT

Google Glass

Google CEO Larry Page revealed during Google's Q1 2013 conference call that the operating system for Google Glass is Android:

In response to a question about how much people can expect to see engagement increment with new products like Glass, he said that "obviously, Glass runs on Android, so [Android] has been pretty transportable across devices, and I think that will continue."

That's certainly not a surprising detail considering that Google has at its disposal a very popular and convenient OS for mobile devices, but the company never actually mentioned that Google Glass is running on Android, not even in the official documentation for the product.

Furthermore, in addition to tablets and smartphones, Android runs on various other devices including cameras – as recently revealed, it was initially developed as a digital camera OS – consoles, miniPCs and other DIY devices, many of them prominently featured on Kickstarter on a regular basis. So it makes a lot of sense for Google to use something as handy and versatile as Android for Glass.

At this time, it's not clear what kind of Android version Glass runs on, but we'll certainly find out more about in the future, either from Google or from intrepid developers that will start tinkering with the device.

Since we mentioned developers, they'll probably be the most excited to hear that Google Glass runs on Android, as it should make their jobs easier when it comes to creating and adapting Android apps to run with Google's smart eyewear.

Google Q1 2013 earnings show revenue up 31% year-over-year

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 03:19 PM PDT

Google

Google released its Q1 2013 earnings report today, showing signs of continued growth and prosperity. The quarter ended March 31, with Google reporting revenue of $13.97 billion, a 31 percent increase compared to Q1 2012. Included in that figure, traffic acquisition costs came out to $2.96 billion. Operating income was $3.48 billion, slightly up from $3.39 billion in the first quarter of 2012.

Net income for the first quarter was $3.35 billion, an increase of $460 million compared to a year prior. Earnings per share were $9.94, while stock-based compensation expenses totaled $697 million.

Here are other important figures:

  • Google-owned sites accounted for 67 percent of all revenue at $8.64 billion.
  • Partner sites generated $3.26 billion or 25 percent of all revenue.
  • At 55 percent of total revenues, more money came from outside of the U.S. ($7.1 billion)
  • Operating expenses were $4.55 billion, up from $3.47 billion in Q1 2012.
  • Paid clicks have grown 20 percent from Q1 2012.
  • Motorola Mobility generated just $1.02 billion in revenue, down from $1.51 billion in Q4 2012.
  • Google now has $50.1 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities.

The tech giant also reported they employ 53,891 people full-time, worldwide. Their stock opened today at $785/share, but is currently at $777/share after hours, which is up 11 points from a low today of $766/share. While Google didn't meet some analysts' expectations with earnings of $10.70/share on $14.3 billion in revenue, they finished the first quarter of 2013 ahead in earnings, but slightly behind forecasts. Not meeting forecast expectations is the reason for the slight dip in stock price, but should rebound fully in the coming days.

Google’s Larry Page praises Motorola’s upcoming products

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 03:06 PM PDT

Larry Page

In the last few days Motorola has spoken up a little about their design philosophy for their next-gen phones, and Google’s Eric Schmidt has even publicly praised what Motorola is working on, calling it "phenomenal". Now Larry Page is weighing in as well, throwing more praise Motorola’s way.

At Google’s earnings call for Q1 2013, CEO Larry Page revealed he had just seen some of Motorola’s upcoming products for the first time, and was “pretty enthusiastic” about what the company is preparing. While Page didn’t go into specifics about Motorola’s newest devices, he did drop a few possible hints.

“Think about your device. Battery life is a challenge for most people. You shouldn’t need to carry around a charger to make it through the day. If your kid spills their drink on your tablet, the screen shouldn’t die. And when you drop your phone, it shouldn’t shatter.”

“Having just seen Motorola’s upcoming products myself, I’m real excited about the potential there. In just under a year, they have accomplished a lot, and have impressive velocity and execution.”

Looking at Page’s statements, it seems likely that whatever Motorola is working on, battery life and durability will be key. Considering Motorola already pushes the battery life envelope with its RAZR MAXX line, this doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch. Of course we can’t say for sure whether or not Page is talking about several phones or the Motorola X Phone specifically.

Bottom-line, whatever we see from Motorola we can expect it to be a notch above anything they’ve delivered up until now. Hopefully we only have to wait until Google I/O to learn more about what Motorola is bringing to the table.

Galaxy S4 to feature sound from Wolfson, now ‘primary audio partner’ for Galaxy family

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 02:46 PM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 cover logo aa 600

The Galaxy S4 will come with Wolfson sound on board, as the company announced it has become the "primary audio partner for Galaxy range of smartphones and tablets," including Samsung’s latest flagship handset.

This isn't Wolfson's first contact with the South Korean giant, as the company provided sound technology to some of Samsung’s 2012 mobile devices including the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 smartphones, but also the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet.

The Wolfson-Samsung deal is a "multi-year IP License and Component Supply Agreement," but not many other details are provided in the press release. While Wolfson wasn’t as prominently featured by smartphone makers – like HTC did with the Beats Audio technology – potential Galaxy S4 buyers will certainly be happy to hear the company has plenty of experience with providing sound products for mobile devices, but not only.

Wolfson’s clients list includes, in addition to Samsung, companies like Apple, Microsoft, Sony, LG or Logitech. The company has provided audio tech for various products including iPod and iPhone versions, Zune and Xbox 360 or PSP, to name just a few.

The Galaxy S4 will be out in customers’ hands in just over a week from now (at least in some markets), at which point we'll be able to better asses his performance, sound included.

When it comes to audio performance, one of the obvious comparisons people will make will naturally be between the HTC One (also a great sound performerBoomSound dual stereo speakers and Beats technology) and the Galaxy S4, considering the two devices are the hottest Android handsets of the moment, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Multi-Year IP License and Component Supply Agreement with Samsung establishes Wolfson as a primary audio partner for GALAXY range of smartphones and tablets
Date:
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Wolfson Microelectronics plc, a global leader in the design and development of mixed-signal semiconductor audio solutions for the consumer electronics market, and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, have today agreed a multi-year IP License and a Component Supply Agreement which establishes Wolfson as a primary Samsung audio partner. As a result of this agreement, Wolfson expects to be a major audio component supplier for Samsung's GALAXY range of smartphones and tablets including the GALAXY S4 in 2013.

This announcement builds on Wolfson and Samsung's existing relationship, where Wolfson has provided outstanding audio performance for Samsung devices including its best-selling GALAXY S III, as well as its GALAXY Note II and GALAXY Note 10.1.

Mike Hickey, CEO of Wolfson, said: "This is a significant milestone for Wolfson, and we are delighted to be making this announcement. Having worked closely with Samsung over recent years on their GALAXY range of tablets and smartphones, this agreement is a testament to our strong IP portfolio and our growing partnership, and we very much look forward to working closely together to continue to deliver exceptional audio in Samsung's smartphones and tablets."

Notes to Editors
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, Samsung Electronics is transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. Samsung Electronics employs 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


LinkedIn for Android gets brand new user interface

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 05:28 PM PDT

LinkedIn for Android gets updated with a card-ified Holo user interface, more languages, and an emphasis in LinkedIn Influencers blogs.

Verizon adds 4G LTE in five new cities

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 04:40 PM PDT

Verizon has launched its 4G LTE network in five new cities bringing the carrier's totals up to 491 markets and 287 million Americans.

Archos introduces line of affordable Android phones

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 03:57 PM PDT

Archos has announced a new trio of affordable smartphones. See if these pocket-friendly handsets are cheap enough to make you forget about their lack of spunk.

Facebook voice calling makes its way to US Android users

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 03:23 PM PDT

Americans aren’t quite used to getting the shaft on apps and games to start, but we see just how much it hurts when it happens. Our international friends have had the chance to point and laugh at us for not having access to Facebook VoIP calling for quite some time, but we can finally can [...]

Verizon confirms May release date for Samsung Galaxy S4

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 02:57 PM PDT

Verizon has removed at least some of the mystery surrounding the release date for its version of the Samsung Galaxy S4. The company took to Twitter to confirm that the Galaxy S4 wouldn’t be arriving on its store shelves until May. Players like Sprint and T-Mobile have committed to late April for their respective launches, [...]

Sprint lights up 21 new markets with 4G LTE, adds 34 more prospects

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 02:48 PM PDT

Last week, it was rumored that Sprint would be bringing 4G LTE to 21 new markets. It turns out that rumor was spot on, actually, as the company made the announcement earlier today. The list of new cities include known towns like Charlotte, Bloomington, Los Angeles, Memphis, Mankato, and more. Here’s the full list for [...]

Larry Page enthusiastic about Motorola’s upcoming products

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 02:11 PM PDT

In Google’s earnings call for Q1 2013, CEO Larry Page touched on Motorola Mobility’s progress on new device development after the company got through the majority of its 2012 pipeline. Page noted that he’d just taken a look at some of Motorola’s upcoming products for the first time, explaining that he was “pretty enthusiastic” about [...]

Iron Man 3 trailer shows glimpses of micro-transaction misery [VIDEO]

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 01:58 PM PDT

Gameloft's Iron Man 3 for Android is releasing April 25th for free in the Google Play Store. Watch the latest trailer to see what you'll be spending your money on.

Google’s Q1 raked in $14 billion, but Motorola still leaking money

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 01:37 PM PDT

Google has released its earnings report for the first quarter of 2013, which included performance reports about Motorola.

Verizon plans “special announcement” for May 22nd — what is it?

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 01:17 PM PDT

Verizon Wireless is scheduled to hold an event to make a "special announcement" at CTIA in Las Vegas. What, exactly, could Big Red have up its sleeves?

ASUS CUBE with Google TV unboxing [VIDEO]

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 01:01 PM PDT

If you’re waiting to purchase ASUS’ unique crack at the Google TV game — the ASUS CUBE — listen up. The ASUS CUBE release date is set for April 23rd (for $140, mind you), but you won’t have to wait quite that long to see the device unboxed on video. Edgar from GTVSource.com has the [...]

Amazon buys Siri competitor Evi, could hint at smartphone plans

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 08:18 AM PDT

Amazon might be showing a bit of their hand after acquiring natural language search companion Evi. The Siri-like voice search app and the company behind cost the retail giant $26 million, according to reports. Though the company’s specific plans for the Evi are not known, the takeover could hint at functionality to be included in [...]

Samsung requests stay of trial as USPTO reexamines Apple’s pinch-to-zoom patent

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 07:48 AM PDT

As the US Patent Office starts a reexamination of two Apple patents, including one covering pinch-to-zoom, Samsung has requested a stay of the pairs’ 2014 trial pending the completion of the USPTO’s review. Apple has responded saying that such a delay in the trial would be “unwarranted and prejudicial.” While Samsung believes the whole process [...]

Pantech Vega Iron announced, features 5-inch ‘bezel-less’ display

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 06:56 AM PDT

Pantech has just outed their latest Android smartphone, the Vega Iron. The new phone is jumping on board the zero-bezel bandwagon, touting a nearly edge-to-edge 5-inch display. It’s not quite full-frontal glass, as a 2.4mm gap is present on either side of the 720p screen. That’s less than a tenth of an inch and equates [...]

Twitter Music debuts without Android app

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 06:23 AM PDT

Today on Good Morning America Twitter officially unveiled their new #Music service. More of a recommendation engine than a competitor to streaming services like Spotify and Pandora, the app is the direct result of Twitter’s acquisition of startup We Are Hunted. Twitter Music uses the people you follow to help provide recommendations on new artists and [...]

Android and Me

Android and Me


World’s first Tegra 4 smartphone spotted in China?

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 03:18 PM PDT

When NVIDIA announced their new Tegra 4 chip, ZTE quickly committed to being the first partner to produce smartphones with both NVIDIA's Tegra 4 processor and i500 LTE modem. Thanks to a new leak from China, we might now have our first look at ZTE’s latest Android device. The ZTE N988 is...

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Archos reveals stock Android phones starting at $99

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 02:19 PM PDT

Today Archos announced their first line of Google-certified smartphones, which are slated to hit Europe at the end of May. Archos has been producing Android devices for awhile, but not all of them were certified by Google, and they lacked access to Google’s mobile services like the Google...

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Petition against Verizon wireless contracts nears 100k signatures

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 01:40 PM PDT

Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam recently said it would be ”pretty easy” to eliminate wireless contracts if consumers started asking for it, so a Verizon customer and blogger from Wichita, Kansas, started a Change.org petition to get the ball rolling. In his petition, Mike Beauchamp says that...

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Evidence of Google Games service found in My Glass APK

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 11:41 AM PDT

Game developers have to rely on third-party services for everything from matchmaking to leaderboards, since Google does not embrace the Game Center concept. That may be changing very soon, however; a teardown of the My Glass app recently released on Google Play has revealed what could finally be...

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Top 10 Android games releases this week: Dungeon Hunter 4, iBomber, Mini Dash

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 07:24 AM PDT

Welcome back to Android Gaming Weekly, our weekly recap to focus on new releases. We still plan to cover upcoming releases and games we're playing, but this column is dedicated to new games you can install and start playing right now. Check out our top picks and let us know if you have any...

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It’s time for Google to make their own Nexus hardware

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 06:43 AM PDT

This last year has been a wild ride for Google. Through 2012 and early 2013, we’ve been introduced to Google Glass, the Chromebook Pixel, the Nexus Q, Nexus 10, Nexus 7 and Nexus 4. All impressive devices on their own, but together, they form one of the best product portfolios any one company...

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