Saturday, April 27, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5 drop test: not again, Samsung!

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 11:33 PM PDT

Galaxy s4 vs iPhone 5 drop test (1)

Eight months ago we brought you the world's first Galaxy S3 versus iPhone 5 drop test. As much as we hated to admit it at the time, the iPhone proved superior to the Galaxy S3 when it comes to build quality and sturdiness. The S3's plastic cover popped open upon impact with the ground, and its front glass, lacking the protection of a sturdy metal case, shattered. Meanwhile, the iPhone escaped with just some minor bruising.

Samsung has long been criticized for using plastic on its flagship Galaxy S series. Some have hoped that the Galaxy S4 would change that perception, but Samsung stuck with polycarbonate. Predictably, early reviews (and the results of our Versus poll) have criticized the "plasticky" look and feel of the Galaxy S4 more often than not.

But is the criticism warranted? Is the Galaxy S4 better built than its predecessor? Can it hold a candle to the aluminum iPhone 5? Darcy LaCouvee, our international man of gadget destruction, is back to Hong Kong to bring you the answers. Yes, it's drop test time!

As always, we tried to simulate accidents that are likely to happen to your smartphone in every day use. This means there's a certain degree of randomness in our testing, but nevertheless, the difference in build quality between the two devices is visible. Here's the video.

There you have it. History repeats itself. The Galaxy S4 may be better than the S3 in most ways, but the build quality and resistance to damage appear to have remained unchanged. In fact, we will go out on a limb to say that the smaller bezels have actually diminished the robustness of the Galaxy S4.

The iPhone 5 passed another drop test with flying colors, emerging with only cosmetic damage. For what it's worth, the screen of the Apple device did shatter when we tested it against the HTC One, but that's another story.

Almost every device is likely to break when dropped face down on hard pavement, no one can deny it. But Samsung's devices appear to be more vulnerable to shocks than the HTC One or the iPhone 5. Is it due to the plastic build? That’s probably one reason, but don't forget that the Galaxy S4's plastic back cover offers access to a removable battery and a microSD slot, two features that are very important for many users. So it's all about tradeoffs.

In addition, plastic provides many benefits over other materials. It's lighter, won't scratch as easily as anodized aluminum or crack as glass does, and when it's damaged, you can replace a plastic case on the cheap.

With that said, we can't help being disappointed that we have to give the laurels, once again, to the competitor. The Galaxy S4 is the flagship of the Android armada, and we simply want it to be better than the iPhone in every way.

Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5 drop test image gallery

Bottom line, case it up. Fateful events will happen, regardless of how careful you are. Buy a good case for your device, be it a plastic Galaxy S4, aluminum HTC One, or glass-backed Nexus 4.

How important is the build material to you? Are you disappointed that the Galaxy S4 is still made of plastic? What’s it going to be folks? My goodness!

Samsung Galaxy S4 dual SIM variant confirmed, will come with Exynos 5 Octa

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 06:41 PM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 top side aa

Samsung has officially unveiled the dual-SIM variant of its latest flagship Galaxy S4, meant for the Chinese market. The dual-SIM GT-i9502 model has almost the same specs and appearance as the base GT-i9500 model, although it will be 2 grams heavier, mostly due to the addition of a second SIM slot. What’s absent from the dual-SIM Galaxy S4, though, is LTE, which means it might not reach markets where LTE connectivity is a must.

As such, the GT-i9502 will come with the same 4.99 inch Super AMOLED 1080p high-definition display, 13-megapixel rear camera and other specs (see the full rundown of the Samsung Galaxy S4 specs, or our Galaxy S4 review). Powering the dual-SIM Galaxy S4 variant is the same Samsung Exynos 5 Octa processor found on international variants of the device, running the big.LITTLE ARM architecture, with a hybrid 1.6 GHz quad-core Cortex-A15 and 1.2 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 running in alternate, depending on performance requirements and load.

There is no word whether the dual-SIM Galaxy S4 will also be launched in other markets outside of China. However, dual-SIM capability seems to be popular in the emerging markets, and this particular model will cater very well to users who would rather keep one device instead of two (or more). We don’t currently have pricing information, although given that the S4 is a flagship line, it’s not likely to be in the same range as other dual-SIM offerings that cater to the low-end market.

As to whether we will see the dual-SIM galaxy S4 on US shores or any other market outside of China for that matter, this is also highly unlikely at this point, unless you want to order the device and import it from China yourself (see our guide to buying smartphones from China and tips and tricks in doing so).

Rumor: Google X Phone launch set for August with AT&T, ‘creepy’ predictive intelligence included

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 03:00 PM PDT

google-x-phone-render-1

Google X Phone Render

A new set of rumors on the Google X Phone has hit the web, revealing other details for the handset although they still remain unconfirmed for now.

Before we look at today's crazy-but-interesting X Phone rumor du jour, we'll remind you to take the information with the appropriate amount of skepticism, as we're yet to see an official Google X Phone announcement.

That said, we'll also remind you that high-ranking Google execs including Eric Schmidt and Larry Page appeared to be quite excited when talking about handsets set to come in the future from Motorola, so it would make plenty of sense for this X Phone device to be one of them.

Android and Me received a bunch of new tips on the upcoming X Phone, from a trusted source, with today's report offering up new juicy details.

The launch

The Google X Phone is said to launch in the first week of August, with AT&T getting a three-month exclusivity deal. After that, the phone should hit other carriers in November.

The question is, what will Google receive for allowing AT&T to be the exclusive launch partner in the U.S.? Android and Me speculates that "AT&T might have allowed Google to ship the first "X Phone" as an unlocked device in return for the short exclusivity deal.

International launch details aren't mentioned at this time, but we'd expect such a phone to be launched in other markets in addition to the U.S. this year.

The "creepy" features

The interesting part about today's Google X Phone rumor concerns certain features Google may have in mind for this phone.

The handset is said to have an "always on listening mode" that will let the user shout voice commands to it. The publication reminds us that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 comes with an always-on Voice Activation feature, but that's Qualcomm's high-end CPU that may not actually be found inside the X Phone – after all, previous rumors did say that the device will be budget friendly, and it won't necessarily offer high-end features.

Since we’re talking about high-end specs, we’ll remind you that earlier this week, a different report revealed a purported AnTuTu benchmark result for the X Phone running Android 5.0.1 that places it in the mid-range category, by 2013 standards.

More interestingly, the Google X Phone will feature a "predictive intelligence" feature that will be able to recognize your intentions from the moment you pick up your handset. Depending on how you hold it, the phone may know you want to take a picture and launch an appropriate app or that you want to see the time and/or notifications and display them to you when looking at the screen.

Finally, the phone will be "always connected" to the Google Chrome browser, which would make sense considering that the Android and Chrome divisions are now lead by the same person, Sundar Pichai.

The customizations

While there won't be any hardware customization in this X Phone version, as rumors presented by the same online publication suggested in the past, it looks like users will still be able to customize the color and material of the X Phone's case.

Customers will be able to choose from plastic, metal, carbon fiber and wood for the case, and select from a variety of colors to produce "thousands of custom combinations."

Conclusion

No matter how wild, these X Phone rumors are interesting, but they're still rumors until proven otherwise. We'll have to wait and see whether the handset gets official at Google I/O, or whether it would be announced later this summer, but whatever the case is, we're surely going to see more rumors appear.

And yes, we will note that this new X Phone report coincidently hit the web just as the Galaxy S4 is about to be launched, at least in some markets, by some carriers.

HTC President brags up the HTC One, points to some of the mixed reviews for the Galaxy S4

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 02:56 PM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 vs htc one comparison aa

While Android Authority’s experience with the Samsung Galaxy S4 was a very positive one, not all reviewers on the net have felt that way about Samsung’s latest flagship. Some of the complaints brought Samsung’s way include their continued use of plastic and "somewhat gimmicky" software features. Not surprisingly, HTC couldn’t be happier to hear that some of Samsung’s reviews are mixed.

Here’s what Mike Woodward, HTC’s president in North America had to say about Galaxy S4 reviews in relation to the HTC One:

“We look at [the Galaxy S4 reviews] through the lens of the HTC One, and it stands up positively.” ”The design seems to be attracting the most attention and we’re really proud of that.”

HTC is betting hard on the HTC One, hoping that it can be the cornerstone for rebuilding an empire that has been on the decline for years. Samsung’s dominance in the market and extremely aggressive marketing certainly could be a hurdle for HTC, so any potentially bad news coming Samsung’s way is great news for HTC.

Of course Samsung also has some major advantages on its side, including a removable battery and microSD. Another problem for HTC is that they are currently ignoring the biggest carrier in the United States, Verizon. While rumors indicate that HTC might be preparing an HTC One variant for Verizon, the Samsung Galaxy S4 has already confirmed that its phone will soon be coming to Big Red.

Honestly, both handsets are quite impressive, but if you want to get a better look at how the two phones compare, check out of “versus” video below.

Do you agree with some of the complaints against the Samsung Galaxy S4? Conversely, do you feel that HTC is being overly cocky with the HTC One?

Galaxy S4 as easy to repair as Galaxy S3, iFixit teardown reveals

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 01:35 PM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 hardware aa

A complete iFixit teardown of the Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone is now available, revealing that the handset is very easy to repair.

This isn't the first Galaxy S4 teardown that we've seen, with a previous one reaching the exact same conclusion. But iFixit's Galaxy S4 dismantling procedure goes into greater detail than the previous attempt and features plenty of high-quality photos.

The publication awards the Galaxy S4 a repairability score of 8 out of 10, with 10 being easiest to repair. While we don't encourage you to fix your devices yourself, those of you that will want to do that with broken Galaxy S4 units should know that almost all parts can be replaced individually, though some of them are "adhered into place," making their replacement a bit harder.

Moreover, if something's going to happen with the display, you'll have to completely tear apart the handset to get to actually servicing the screen. Also worth noting is that the display is fused to the glass, and thus the cost of part replacements will increase.

galaxy-s4-ifixit-teardown-1

Coincidentally or not, the Galaxy S4 has the same fix score as its predecessor, which also got an 8 out of 10. In fact, when comparing score notes for the two handsets, you'll notice that they're virtually identical, with the Galaxy S3 presenting almost the same repair challenges as the Galaxy S4.

Compared to the HTC One (score 1 out of 10) and iPhone 5 (score 7 out of 10), the Galaxy S4 is the easiest to repair – again, not that you should do it yourself.

galaxy-s4-ifixit-teardown-9 galaxy-s4-ifixit-teardown-8 galaxy-s4-ifixit-teardown-2 galaxy-s4-ifixit-teardown-10 galaxy-s4-ifixit-teardown-3 galaxy-s4-ifixit-teardown-4 galaxy-s4-ifixit-teardown-5 galaxy-s4-ifixit-teardown-6 galaxy-s4-ifixit-teardown-7

As you can see from the images, iFixit tore apart an AT&T version of the Galaxy S4 (packing a 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, neatly hidden on the main board), and here are some interesting tidbits for the handset that don't come up when talking about the handset:

  • The Smart Pause feature of the Galaxy S4 can be fooled with help of images, not as easy as you expect, but you can apparently do it
  • The location of the speaker on the Galaxy S4 – on the back of the handset – isn't that appreciated: "This is the prime location for a speaker if your ears are attached to your hand while holding the device."
  • The IR sensors (placed on either side of the earpiece speaker) are what make AirView/Air Gesture work by picking up hand movement and comparing IR light reflected from it into each sensor in order to recognize movement
  • The component responsible for the Galaxy S4's "super-sensitive touchscreen" that works with gloves also is a tiny Synaptics S5000B touchscreen controller.

In case you curious to see what makes the Galaxy S4 tick, head on over to iFixit's complete teardown by following the Source link below. In case you want to see the handset in action, then check out our review, available right here (video above).

Check out the Samsung S Translator app in action [Video]

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 01:03 PM PDT

S Translator

The Samsung Galaxy S4 not only introduces significantly upgraded hardware, several new software features are making their way to the handset as well, such as Samsung S Translator. If you are wondering just how well the new translator app works, you’ll want to check out the latest video from CNET, where they put the new app to the test.

As you can see in the video below, Samsung S Translator is rather responsive and at least with the basic phrases tested, it seemed to work flawlessly. As CNET points out, there is one big limitation with Samsung’s translation solution. Unlike Google Translate, you must have a data connection for the app to work.

If you are are traveling abroad, this means that you will need to pay for an expensive data plan or connect to a Wi-Fi network. It is worth noting that the S Translator app does have a few preset phrases that you can lookup and use when offline, which is certainly better than nothing.

Better yet, you could always use Google Translate. CNET comments that Google’s translator app seems to work just as well with many of these phrases basic and had the advantage of working offline.

HP Slate 7 arrives in April after all, priced at $170

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 12:33 PM PDT

HP Slate 7 [aa] 600px (2)

Not too long ago we reported that the HP Slate 7 wouldn’t be making it into stores until June. The good news is that HP kept its original promise to deliver the slate in April after all, with the tablet popping up on HP’s retail site for just $170.

As a refresher, the HP Slate 7 is powered by a dual-core Cortex A9 processor. Other specs include 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, microSD, a 1024×600 resolution 7-inch LCD display and Beats Audio technology. The tablet runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box.

So should you consider snatching up the HP Slate 7 or are you better off spending the extra $30 to get yourself a Nexus 7? While the Nexus 7 is clearly more powerful for little more money, it really depends on your needs. If you are looking for a basic tablet for net usage, social networking and lighter weight apps, the HP Slate 7′s dual-core configuration will handle the job. Additionally if you absolutely need a microSD card, the HP Slate 7 could be what you are looking for.

To get a better look at the Slate 7, check out of First Look video from back at MWC.

What do you think, interested in the Slate 7 or is it a better idea to just put a little more cash upfront for a more powerful tablet instead?

Samsung Galaxy S4 supply may be limited in Canada, says Samsung

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 12:02 PM PDT

samsung galaxy s4

Just about every carrier in the United States – except AT&T – has announced delays for the Galaxy S4, and a week delay has been announced in the UK as well. Now Samsung Canada has revealed that the initial supply in Canada will also be limited, an announcement that really comes as no surprise.

Samsung Galaxy S4 pre-orders should go out tomorrow as planned, but the in-store release on May 3rd will see a limited number of handsets. Likely the same situation will apply to folks that buy the handset online without a pre-order. Of course a limited supply is still better than a complete delay.

One thing is sure, just about every Canadian carrier has plans for the Galaxy S4, showing just how much attention already surrounds Samsung’s latest flagship. Canadian carriers planning to launch the handset include Rogers, Telus, Bell, Virgin, Fido, Koodo, Wind, Mobilicity, Videotron, SaskTel, Eastlink and MTS.

For those wondering how long will it be before Samsung works out its supply constraints, that’s a good question. Unfortunately, we have no immediate answer, but we will do our best to keep everyone up to date on the situation.

Do you plan on picking up the Samsung Galaxy S4 as soon as possible? If so, from which carrier?

New Google Glass specs emerge: OMAP 4430 processor, 1GB RAM

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 11:59 AM PDT

Google Glass

Last week, some Google Glass specs were officially posted on Google's support website. Thanks to developer Jay Lee, we have received even more details on what is powering the next-generation technology. After developer Liam McLoughlin posted on Twitter saying Google Glass was easy to root, Jay tested the claim to much success, capturing the following info:

Google Glass

While it was previously known to be running on a custom version of Android, we now know the TI OMAP 4430 is onboard. It is unknown if the processor is dual-core, as there were issues figuring out the exact speed. When it comes to RAM, Jay found 682MB available. After reading kernel messages, he believes there is in fact 1GB of RAM total, with the missing portion going towards another hardware function (the OS, maybe).

Jay posted the full text files, and you can view them in Google Drive. Over the past week, developers who paid $1500 at I/O last year have started receiving their Google Glass units. So far, feedback has been relatively positive. Glass obviously has a few issues, as does anything so forward-thinking. Issues with joining a WiFi network or with displaying text have been reported, but we’re sure those will be worked out in short order with so many developers on board.

According to a recent report from research firm IHS, "smart glasses' could reach shipments of 10 million by 2016. However, with Google Glass being around a year away from launching to consumers, it is still too early to accurately determine how successful the eyewear will be.

Rugged Galaxy S4 Active, S4 Mini and 8-inch tablet coming this summer, WSJ says

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 11:38 AM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 compare s3 aa

Galaxy S3 (left) vs Galaxy S4 (right)

 

A new Wall Street Journal report mentions several unconfirmed Samsung products including a rugged Galaxy S4 Active, a Galaxy S4 Mini and a different 8-inch tablet (Samsung already has an 8-inch Galaxy Note 8.0 in stores).

Previous rumors did reveal the existence of said products, but the South Korean Android maker is yet to officially unveil any of them.

Galaxy S4 Active

The Galaxy S4 Active is apparently the rugged version of the Galaxy S4, a handset that was confirmed by a Samsung executive a few days ago. In case that "Active" part sounds familiar, that's because we've heard it before, but at the time we didn't think it described a rugged Galaxy S4 version.

According to previous reports, the Galaxy S4 is also known as Project J internally, and the Project J family also contains a Project J Active device, supposedly the Galaxy S4 Active the WSJ mentions. At the time we first heard about it, Project J Active was believed to be a smartwatch.

The rugged Galaxy S4′s name is not final though, as the product is only "tentatively called the Galaxy S4 Active." According to a "person familiar with the matter," Samsung wants the new phone to "maintain the look and feel of the S4," while getting waterproof and dust proof powers.

The publication did not reveal any other details about this Galaxy S4 Active, but did say that it could hit stores at some point in July.

Galaxy S4 Mini

The Galaxy S4 Mini has not been mentioned by name, as the WSJ refers to it as "a compact version" of the Galaxy S4 that will sport a 4.3-inch in July, when it's also apparently set to launch.

Galaxy S4 mini 645px

Purported Galaxy S3 Mini model on the right side of two Galaxy S4 handsets.

 

But we’ve seen plenty of reports detailing the handset well ahead of its launch, and considering that the Galaxy S3 came with its own little brother, it only makes sense to see a Galaxy S4 Mini in stores later this year.

The 8-inch Galaxy (Tab 3?) tablet

Previous reports did reveal that Samsung may be working on another 8-inch tablet, which would hit stores later down the road. Now the WSJ says that the new "Galaxy-line tablet" will be launched in June, not later in summer or early fall as some rumors suggested before.

While the company doesn't mention the Galaxy Tab 3 product name, it seems logical that this unreleased device would be part of Samsung's new Galaxy Tab generation. In addition to the 8-inch model, we could also see other Galaxy Tab 3 sizes, although the WSJ doesn't talk about those either.

Instead, it says that the new 8-inch model would be "adding to the seven-inch and 10.1-inch versions on the market." Currently, Samsung sells Galaxy Tab 2 models that match that description.

With all that in mind, it looks like Samsung still plans to release a wide variety of products in the coming months, basically flooding stores with new models after new models of smartphones and tablets. This strategy has paid off so far, bringing lots of cash to Samsung's coffers, and helping it get a more than healthy lead on competitors in the Android ecosystem.

Android and Me

Android and Me


Samsung to release rugged Galaxy S 4 Active this July

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 01:31 PM PDT

Is Samsung working on a rugged version of the Galaxy S 4 for the adventurer in your life? Earlier this week, President of Samsung Gulf, Young Soo Kim, mentioned that a “ruggedized” version of the Galaxy S 4 would be announced in a few weeks. We weren’t sure if there was a misunderstanding or if the device is really on the way, due to the bizarre nature of its premature announcement, but further information released by the Wall Street Journal today seems to lend credibility to the rugged S 4′s existence.

According to the Journal, Samsung is set to release the ruggedized version of the Galaxy S 4 this July as the Samsung Galaxy S 4 Active. While we assume the specs on the S 4 Active will be identical to the S 4, the Active will feature special hardware tweaks to make it dust-proof and waterproof. This wouldn’t be Samsung’s first attempt at a ruggedized device; devices like their waterproof HMX-W200 camera and the Galaxy Xcover 2 have received decent reviews for their ability to withstand the elements.

Of course nothing is official until Samsung gives us the full details, but the Galaxy S 4 Active is looking very likely. What do you think? Would a ruggedized Galaxy S 4 fit your needs?

    


HP Slate 7 tablet now available for $170

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 12:53 PM PDT

HP has had a terrible time attempting to break into the smartphone and tablet market, but they aren’t giving up yet. Looking to cash in on the success of the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire, HP is taking the cheap 7-inch Android tablet route to regain some footing. Unfortunately, it may be a little too late.

Available now on HP’s online home and office store, the Slate 7 is a perplexing device. Were it released exactly one year ago, HP would most likely be in a good position to go head-to-head with Google, ASUS and Amazon. Instead, they’ll have to prey on uninformed consumers to buy outdated hardware. Powered by a 1.6 GHz dual-core Cortex-A9, the Slate 7 features a 1024 x 600 display, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of on-board storage with microSD expansion, a VGA front-facing camera, 3-megapixel rear camera, Beats Audio, 3500 mAh battery, Android 4.1 and comes in red or silver for $169.

It’s hard not to overstate that a year ago, this would be a great competitor to the devices that managed to sweep the cheap tablet arena. With right around a month to find out whether or not Google releases a new Nexus 7 at Google I/O 2013, you’d have to be mad to drop any money on HP’s tablet right now.

If for some reason you really think the HP Slate 7 is for you, feel free to go pick one up now.

hp slate 7 overview_hero_tcm_245_1400847

    


This Nexus watch concept video has us even more excited for Google’s smartwatch

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 12:48 PM PDT

I’m just saying. Am I right?

    


Rumor: “X Phone” will be always connected to Chrome, features creepy intelligence, and casing choices now include wood

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 12:25 PM PDT

WARNING: If you are allergic to rumors, speculation, or leaked phones, then do not click on this story. We just received another round of hot tips about the upcoming Motorola X Phone, and several other devices that are in the pipeline. Read on for the latest gossip.

This post is clearly labeled as a RUMOR and it includes my speculation, so please keep that in mind before you crap your pants. Like with any rumor, there is always the chance this could be some elaborate hoax, but information from our source has been backed up by reports from external sites. Note: The post image above is of the bamboo ADZero, but we used it to illustrate one of the casing options for the “X Phone.”

There has been a steady stream of Motorola X Phone rumors since last year, but we received our first real details of the secret project only last month. Our sources told us Motorola would offer some type of “user customizable” phone and also mentioned that Google was working on a smartwatch.

Motorola's Guy Kawasaki hinted at the X Phone customizations rumor and the Financial Times confirmed the Google Watch rumor, so we are starting to believe that our sources can be trusted. Once again we went back to the well and returned with a bucket full of new “X Phone” rumors.

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An early prototype of the rumored Motorola “X Phone”

Rumor: The first “X Phone” is scheduled to launch the first week of August, and another delay is unlikely. AT&T will have an exclusive launch period of three months and then it will appear on other carriers in November.

Response: I seriously hope this is not true, but it wouldn’t surprise me. AT&T has become the top carrier for exclusive launches, so I bet they made some back room deal with Google. We normally think of Verizon as the number one carrier for Motorola smartphones, but we previously reported that there are several more Droid phones in the pipeline for this year.

If this rumor is accurate, AT&T might have allowed Google to ship this first “X Phone” as an unlocked device. This would be similar to how T-Mobile was the “exclusive launch partner” for the LG Nexus 4, but the device was still unlocked and sold online direct to consumers. AT&T has a much larger LTE footprint (and marketing budget), so this might explain why they were chosen over T-Mobile.

Even though the first “X Phone” might be exclusive to AT&T, it could still work on T-Mobile’s LTE and HSPA+ 1900 MHz networks since they share the same bands. HTC just shipped their One Developer Edition as an unlocked device and that still operates on T-Mobile’s and AT&T’s and LTE network, so there is precedent for this to happen again.

Rumor: The “X Phone” will feature an always on listening mode that allows users to issue it voice commands and wake up the device.

Response: Qualcomm already announced an always-on “Voice Activation” feature that allows users to wake up their device, so it is possible we could see this on the first “X Phone.” The only problem with this rumor is that Qualcomm says this feature is slated for their upcoming Snapdragon 800 chip.

We expect to see the Snapdragon 800 appear in devices by the second half of the year, which falls in line with the August launch window, but we were not expecting the “X Phone” to include this high-end chip. Other rumors had suggested the “X Phone” would be more comparable to the HTC One and Galaxy S 4, so we were expecting to see the Snapdragon 600 or 400.

This always-on rumor suggests that the “X Phone” could be powered by a Qualcomm chip, but we are not sure which one. It might be that the “Voice Activation” feature works on other Snapdragon chips, and it is not exclusive to the Snapdragon 800.

Rumor: The “X Phone” will feature predictive intelligence that is able to launch applications and commands based on how you hold and use the device.

Response: This sounds like some hybrid of Motorola SmartActions and Google Now. We are told that the phone will automatically figure out what you want to do before you do it, something described as a little “creepy.” If you take your phone out of your pocket and hold it sideways, it will open up the camera app to take a picture. Pick up the phone with the display facing you and the lock screen will come up and display the time and notifications.

We have seen both HTC and Samsung include actions that were based on movement, but this sounds like the concept has really been fleshed out. I’m curious to see what other common tasks the phone could perform without any input from the user.

Rumor: The “X Phone” will be “always connected” to the Google Chrome browser.

Response: With Chrome OS boss Sundar Pichai taking over Android, it’s no surprise we will see tighter integration between Android and Chrome. There are already apps like Airdroid that provide this type of functionality, but we would love to see an official solution from Google.

Motorola had similar functionality with an Android app called Motorola Phone Portal, and they also explored the concept with the Lapdock. Chrome Browser already syncs up tabs between devices, but this new feature could allow you to respond to text messages, access your content, and possibly locate a lost phone.

Rumor: As previously reported, consumers will be able to customize their phones with a number of different materials for the outer casing. A new option just added includes wood. An array of color and material options will produce thousands of custom combinations.

Response: Last time we were told that material choices included plastic, metal, and carbon fiber, so this sounds like an extension of that. We have seen some wood phones in the past like the ADzero, but no big mobile devices have ever attempted this and been successful.

Another rumor said the “X Phone” would be available in 20 colors, but it could be much more than that. We are not sure how there could be a thousand different combinations, so it sounds like users might be able to pick the colors of several different parts of the phones.

WRAP UP

Be sure to read up on rumor dumps onetwo and three if you missed our previous “X Phone” reports. Only the customizable RAM option has been debunked, so there's a good chance that most of the other details could turn out to be true.

I know a lot of this stuff sounds a little bit crazy, but it would definitely deliver the “wow” factor that Google and Motorola are aiming for. Like I said before, I have never carried a Motorola phone as my daily device, but that could finally change if I’m able to customize my own Android phone.

With every passing week, it is sounding more and more like the “X Phone” will not be officially announced at Google IO. There is a chance that some Google employees might be carrying around the device, but we expect that Motorola will hold a separate event in June or July to finally unveil this thing.

Experience tells us that one big leak encourages another, so hopefully more information will be coming soon.

    


Top 10 Android app updates: AirDroid, Runtastic, Dragon

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 10:47 AM PDT

Welcome back to the return of our weekly Top 10 Android App Updates column, where we take a look at the most upgraded apps for the week. I've found that one of the best ways to discover useful apps is to look at what people are actually updating, and not focus on which apps have the most installs.

As in the past, we are going to filter out minor updates for the super popular apps that have over 10 million installs, but I'm going to make an exception for apps that had significant updates. I hope you enjoy this weekly feature and discover some apps that you might find useful.

AirDroid – Version 2.0

airdroid-2-630

What’s new in this version:

  1. Device-free (lab). Sign in on the web and AirDroid will launch automatically on the device, even when it's not nearby.
  2. Same-network-free. No more same WiFi network restriction. Access AirDroid through different network with an AirDroid account.
  3. Find Phone. Locate your device on a map. Lock it or wipe all data options.
  4. Call notification and initiate new call on your Android device.
  5. Remote camera.
  6. Improved SMS, Photo and File experience.
  7. Many other bug fixes and improvements.

AirDroid is the number one app for managing your Android device from the web. This new version includes a ton of new features, so check it out if you haven’t used it in awhile.

Dragon – Version 3.1.0

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What’s new in this version:

  • Set up your own phrase to wake up Dragon
  • Dragon plays back name of caller of incoming call when app in driver mode
  • Improvements in accuracy and latency

Dragon is another artificial intelligence app that attempts to recreate Tony Stark's virtual assistant Jarvis. This latest version lets you setup your own phrase to wake up the app, and it can run in the background so you can launch a command anytime the phone is active.

System Monitor – Version 1.1.06

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What’s new in this version:

  • Battery Monitoring: I made a very powerful and flexible estimation algorithm, which is based on non tendencial statistics calculations. In some calculations it uses the statistical function median, instead of the classical average. This is because the median is very good when end-values are not known (such as battery values near to zero), or when one requires reduced importance to be attached to outliers, e.g., because they may be measurement errors (for example when we are playing games).
  • Background Monitoring: Another nice and powerful feature that is new is the background monitoring. You can start sessions right away or even schedule them. The app will be collecting data when sessions are running and present a detailed report to the user (which can also be saved). For the CPU it will show you a time based graph and also statistics such as average, min and max values for usage and frequency. Same applies for Ram, Disk I/O and Network. Network is even separated in Wi-Fi and Mobile.

The developer Christian Göllner seems like a pretty nice guy and he let me know this “huge update” took him lots of weeks of thinking and coding, so I thought we should feature it. Check out the free version to see if you like it, and buy the paid version if you want to support the dev.

Kindle – Version 4.0.1.3

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What’s new in this version:

  • Redesigned library experience.
  • Carousel displays recent items on the Kindle app home screen.
  • Navigation panel organizes content for quick access to your Books, Documents, and Newsstand periodicals.
  • Browse all your items in the Cloud or just the content downloaded on your Android device.
  • Explore and download popular samples in the Kindle Store.
  • Fixed a crash some customers reported.

This latest version of Kindle for Android features a new design and user interface. Kindle says that, “Customers have told us they love the UI of Kindle Fire and how easy it is to access and navigate their digital content. We're extending this design to Kindle for Android by optimizing the Kindle Store for tablets, improving the library interface, redesigning the home screen, and simplifying navigation through the app.”

StumbleUpon – Version 3.1.2

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What’s new in this version:

  • Introducing Lists! Explore, stumble through, and get addicted to following Lists created by your fellow Stumblers!
  • Toolbar: Optimized toolbar shows and hides on scroll
  • Swipe: Engaging slide preview is now less sensitive

I haven’t touched StumbleUpon in years, but their new cover image in Google Play encouraged me to download it. I am a news junkie, so I’m always willing to test out apps that help me discover new content. This latest version lets users create their own lists and share them with the StumbleUpon community.

Runtastic Pro – Version 3.6.5

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What’s new in this version:

  • Search thousands of routes on a map or see nearby routes on a list. Use filters for distance and elevation.
  • Create routes on runtastic.com and sync them to our app. Keep control of your tracks, enjoy routes in the 3D Earth View or analyze your performance with our Colored Traces feature.
  • LifeFitness integration
  • Faster data transmission for session uploads and downloads
  • Fixed Heart Rate Connection Problems
  • Fixed App doesn’t start automatically while countdown

I have the entire family of Runtastic apps installed on my device, but Runtastic Pro is by far my favorite one. I use this in combination with a Zephyr Heart Rate Monitor, and it encouraged me to exercise like never before. This latest version lets you create your own routes and upload them to Runtastic.com to share with others.

FedEx Mobile – Version 2.5.0

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What’s new in this version:

  • Sign-up and use FedEx Delivery Manager to customize deliveries to your home.
  • Schedule the delivery
  • Deliver to another address
  • Provide delivery instructions
  • Sign for a package
  • Schedule a vacation hold
  • Hold your package at a FedEx location

I used FedEx every week to ship or receive a package, so this latest update is great for me. The new version includes FedEx Delivery Manager that allows you to customize deliveries coming to your home.

WordPress – Version 2.3.1

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What’s new in this version:

  • Action Bar added for easy access to common actions.
  • Use the Menu Drawer to quickly navigate to other areas of the app. Just tap the arrow in the Action Bar or swipe to reveal the menu.
  • Holo style used throughout the app.

WordPress for Android got a big UI update last week and a minor bug fix this week, but we still featured it because we haven’t done this column in months. This app is a must have for anyone that runs a WordPress blog.

Moviefone – Version 2.0.37.7

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What’s new in this version:

  •  A whole new look and feel – showtimes, exclusive clips, and movie news have never looked so fine. You’ll fall in love with Moviefone all over again.
  • mPoints rewards – earn points and rewards for the things you’re already doing – watching trailers, visiting daily, etc. Tap More for details.
  • Bug fixes.

I don’t think I’ll ever give up IMDb for my movie needs, but Moviefone is a nice alternative and AOL continues to add new features. Version 2 includes a HOLO inspired theme and the ability to earn mPoints rewards.

Minimalistic Text – Version 3.0.10.3.3

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What’s new in this version:

  • Complete new widget settings menu
  • Buzz Launcher support
  • Improved UI performance
  • Added volume variables
  • Text icons
  • Help texts

Minimalistic Text is an awesome app that lets you create and customize your own clean looking widgets. This week’s update is a minor bug fix, but it was recently updated to Version 3.0 and it deserves another look if you haven’t used it in awhile.

    


Samsung sells 69.4 million smartphones in Q1, sees $6.4 billion record profits

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 07:57 AM PDT

Prepare to be shocked. Samsung has released its earnings report for the first quarter of 2013, revealing that the company managed to remain profitable. OK, that may be a bit of an understatement; Q1 was the best quarter on record for Samsung. Net income for the quarter skyrocketed to $6.4 billion, a staggering 42 percent increase over Q1 2012. During the quarter, Samsung’s smartphone sales jumped 56 percent to 69.4 million units, eclipsing Apple’s 37.4 million iPhone sales during the same time period.

If it’s not already clear, Samsung is the most dominant force in consumer electronics – a position which will be solidified in the second quarter of this year with the global launch of the Samsung Galaxy S 4. While we’d like to think that HTC, LG, Sony or even Motorola have a fighting chance, Samsung’s success in the smartphone space will not be matched for quite some time.

What’s your take on Samsung, its profits and its Android lineup? Will its rise to stardom backfire as consumers become aware of Samsung’s monolithic presence in the marketplace?