Android Community |
- Sony Xperia Z clears FCC showing T-Mobile LTE support
- Samsung GALAXY S 4 bootloader hacked already
- Google I/O sessions released – only one keynote this year
- Switch to Windows Phone app greeted by Android mob with pitchforks
- MLB at Bat sides with T-Mobile for season-long free streaming
- T-Mobile, MetroPCS merger officially completed, brings T-Mobile US
- Madfinger Games talks upcoming OUYA, GameStick and MOGA
- Samsung tipped as testing three Galaxy Note 3 prototypes
- HTC M4 to launch with specs of the First and styling of the One
- AT&T LG Optimus G Pro confirmed with pre-orders beginning Friday
- Sony Honami camera details revealed in latest leak
- Vine update brings new features – no word on Android version
- Samsung and Intel invest in ‘Anticipation Engine’ start-up company
- Google Glass how-to video brings Minority Report to life
- Samsung Galaxy Player II spotted in benchmarks
- HTC One battery case released by mophie
- AT&T’s latest trade-in program tempts users with discounted smartphones
- OPPO Find 5 unboxing and hands-on: 1080p HD display and all
- Samsung vs. Apple case heading back to court in November
- Google Now went to iOS, but Google kept the best for Android
| Sony Xperia Z clears FCC showing T-Mobile LTE support Posted: 01 May 2013 11:12 AM PDT Early April brought rumors of the Sony Xperia Z coming to T-Mobile. At the time the details seemed to be on the up and up. The were reportedly coming from a variety of sources and also included an in-the-wild style image of the handset. We haven’t heard much on the topic since, however as of today we now have that little bit of extra evidence.
This latest has arrived in the form of an FCC filing. The filing in question has the Xperia Z and it is showing support for T-Mobile LTE. Basically, combine those earlier reports with the details from this filing and it is beginning to look like all we need is an announcement from T-Mobile. The filing details support for pentaband HSPA+ as well as AWS LTE on band 4. There was also a user manual, which is clearly aimed at the T-Mobile variant of the handset. The manual is carrier branded and showing as being for the C6606 Xperia Z. Aside from the T-Mobile branding on the front of the manual, the inside also has talk of carrier specific features such as Wi-Fi Calling.    Bottom line here, it is looking like the Sony Xperia Z will soon be available with the UNcarrier. Aside from a release date, the pricing would also be nice to see. And remember, with these new T-Mobile Simple Choice plans you will be paying an initial downpayment with another 24 monthly installments. [via Engadget] |
| Samsung GALAXY S 4 bootloader hacked already Posted: 01 May 2013 11:04 AM PDT Well, that was fast. Thanks to those awesome developers we all love, the AT&T GALAXY S 4 bootloader has been hacked already. It was reported yesterday that the device was locked down tight, which was bad news and something Samsung usually doesn’t do, but now it has already been exploited.
Bad news arrived this week when popular Android developer Steve Kondik confirmed our fears, and that that S4 from AT&T was locked down tight. Which also means we can expect the same, or worse, from Verizon when they eventually release the smartphone at the end of May. Thankfully the popular Android modder and hacker Dan Rosenberg, who’s popular in the Motorola department went to work on the GALAXY S 4 and already came back victorious. As usual he took to his Twitter account to report the news, stating that he’d already cracked this little lockdown. High five! The photo above confirms the reports. Dan further explains that this hack will work on all locked versions of the device, which is certainly excellent news for those looking to pickup and mod their shiny new GALAXY S 4. However, at this time we aren’t sure exactly when the details on the unlock method will be released. We’ve heard he might be keeping it a secret until after Verizon drops their GALAXY S 4, in hopes that the method doesn’t get patched before a retail launch. Usually these methods get released fairly quick for the developer community to enjoy, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens. Stay tuned and get excited folks. CyanogenMod might just support it after all. - Thanks to all who sent this in! Device Info
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| Google I/O sessions released – only one keynote this year Posted: 01 May 2013 10:39 AM PDT Google has just released the schedule full of developer sessions for I/O. Over the past few years, Google’s always exciting annual developer conference has featured two morning keynotes where they share all the exciting details. Announcements like Google Now last year, Jelly Bean, Nexus 7, and of course Google Glass. However, this year they will be unifying those keynotes into one main event on day 1, then focusing all their efforts on sessions for developers.
Instead of having loads of announcements during a keynote on day 1, as well as day 2, we’ll just get the bulk of it on the first day. This doesn’t mean we won’t have as many announcements, it just means Google wants to focus more time and effort on the actual developer event and developer sessions. Could they be unifying Android and Chrome into one? Since day 2 was supposed to be about Chrome? Doubtful. We’ll be enjoying a 3 hour keynote on the first day where we are expecting Google to unveil all sorts of amazing things. From Google Now improvements, Google Glass, possibly Babel for unified messaging, and of course hardware. We’re still up in the air here, but reports suggest Android 4.3 Jelly Bean will be announced. And not Key Lime Pie. Speaking of Google Babel, there’s a sessions called “Google Cloud Messaging” that will be interesting to check out, and we’ll report anything exciting from the event live. I’m still hopeful for a new Motorola smartphone to be announced, as well as Google Games to get off the ground. Tell us what you’d like to see, then hit the link below for a list of developer sessions. [via Google I/O Sessions] |
| Switch to Windows Phone app greeted by Android mob with pitchforks Posted: 01 May 2013 10:09 AM PDT A few days back we mentioned that Microsoft was planning to release a “Switch to Windows Phone” app. While we certainly aren’t planning to leave Android, we do have to admit we were a bit curious to see just what the app would do. Well, at risk of giving the big spoiler in the beginning — you cannot do all that much without actually having a Windows Phone in front of you. That said, the app launches with a splash screen and you are immediately taken to a rather long EULA.
Assuming you are playing along and agree to the EULA, of which we did (and no we didn’t actually read it), you then get the pitch. Microsoft mentions how they are “here to make your switch to Windows Phone as quick and easy as possible.” This is done by matching up apps that you already have installed on your Android device. To confirm the earlier report, the Switch to Windows Phone app is powered by Quixey. After the app scans your handset it provides you with a matching percentage. In our case, that happens to have been 80 percent. From this point you save the list and then login to your Microsoft account so they can “save your app list to the cloud.” After the sign in process is complete, you have to click to authorize access to your email (in my case that meant an often unused Outlook account) so they can email you the results. Somehow this doesn’t seem all that convenient. But wait, it gets a bit worse, remember we are getting to the point of the app not actually giving you the results. From here you click finish and the app simply closes. The email (that you sent yourself) then tells you to download the Switch to Windows Phone app on your Windows Phone. Basically, it seems this app isn’t about providing any useful information before you switch, but it simply assists you during the process of actually switching. Needless to say, the Switch to Windows Phone app was a bit disappointing and has already been removed from our handset. Our thoughts aside, a quick look at the Google Play user reviews and it seems we are not alone. The app currently has an average rating of just 1.4 and of that, 339 are 1 star results. [via Google Play Store] |
| MLB at Bat sides with T-Mobile for season-long free streaming Posted: 01 May 2013 10:03 AM PDT Back in March the Major League Baseball developers updated their popular MLB.com at Bat app for Android in time for the 2013 season, and today we have even better news. While their app is much better than previous years, it’s the new partnership that will get you excited. T-Mobile customers will be happy to learn they’ll be able to stream each game absolutely free.
All those die-hard baseball fans that enjoyed Spring Training and are ready for things to get into full swing, this will be your perfect companion for the entire season. As long as you have a signal from T-Mobile to keep those video streams running smooth. Their newly launched 4G LTE networks should help, but they are few and far in-between. The app is free to download, but you’ll be spending $19.99 or so to enjoy live streaming of the games to your mobile device. However, if you’re on T-Mobile just sign up (or sign in) and you will be getting that same awesomeness absolutely free. Here’s the little popup appearing for many. – Thanks @WinDroidGuy!
It sounds like you’ll need to download the app before June 30th, which is the day this promotion expires from T-Mobile. So don’t delay. T-Mobile customers will get MLB.TV free Game of the Day streaming. Live audio of all home and away broadcasts, and much more. This is not a full MLB.TV subscription, as that costs a bit more and lets you watch every single game. Those on T-Mobile just got a nice treat, now if only the NFL and Verizon would do this, then I’d be happy. Enjoy! [via Play Store] |
| T-Mobile, MetroPCS merger officially completed, brings T-Mobile US Posted: 01 May 2013 09:30 AM PDT Talk of MetroPCS merging with T-Mobile began as rumor back in October 2012 and was quickly confirmed. At the time of the confirmation, the merger was expected to be wrapped up and completed sometime in the early part of 2013. Well, sitting on May 1, 2013 we now have word of the merger being fully completed. As a result, we now have T-Mobile US, which will be trading as TMUS.
The fact that the merger has been wrapped up and completed as of today comes with little surprise. In fact, Deutsche Telekom had announced May 1st as the closing date earlier in the month after the final approval came in. That approval was from the MetroPCS shareholders, however that was just one step in the process. We also saw approvals coming from the MetroPCS board of directors as well as from the Department of Justice, FCC and the Committee on Foreign Investment. Previous history and approvals aside, lets take a forward look here. T-Mobile has said this merger has united two “wireless innovators with one common vision.” Their vision is “to bring wireless consumers exciting new choices while delivering an exceptional experience.” The new board of directors will have 11 members, two of which have come from MetroPCS. T-Mobile US has also said they have about 43 million subscribers as of March 31, 2013 and that there is the potential for both carriers to save money. Plus, thanks to T-Mobile spectrum, we could see MetroPCS push into additional markets. All that being said, customers of T-Mobile and MetroPCS likely will not be seeing many immediate changes and perhaps most important — they will be able to carry on with their current device and plan. [via T-Mobile] |
| Madfinger Games talks upcoming OUYA, GameStick and MOGA Posted: 01 May 2013 08:32 AM PDT Yesterday brought news of an upcoming (and exclusive) game release for the OUYA console. That game will be Soul Fjord and it will be coming by way of Airtight Games. The key here, that is only one title for one console. Enter the latest from Madfinger Games who has been talking about the OUYA as well as the GameStick and MOGA. As for games, the talk begins (and seems to circle around) Shadowgun.
Beginning first with the OUYA console. Here it looks like Shadowgun will be available for the June 4th retail launch of the console. Additionally, Madfinger Games has said they have not yet ruled out support for other games. While they didn’t touch on every game in their lineup, they did specifically mention Samurai II: Vengeance and Dead Trigger. Shifting over to the GameStick and we are once again hearing talk of Shadowgun. In the case of the GameStick, Shadowgun will be pre-loaded for those who are getting the system as a Kickstarter backer. The game will also be available by way of the GameStick Marketplace for those who didn’t pick up a Kickstarter unit. Next up is talk of the MOGA. For this, Madfinger Games has offered support for Shadowgun: DeadZone and Dead Trigger on the original controller and will have support for the recently released MOGA Pro controller with the next update. Furthermore, they are also working on adding support for Shadowgun. Bottom line here, it looks like Madfinger Games is making every effort to be on every Android gaming platform. [via DroidGamers] |
| Samsung tipped as testing three Galaxy Note 3 prototypes Posted: 01 May 2013 08:04 AM PDT We are all expecting Samsung to announce (and subsequently release) the Galaxy Note 3 later in the year. But as of now we have yet to see anything official come from Samsung. Instead, what we have been dealing with in terms of the phablet have been leaks and rumors. It seemed as if we were getting a look at the Note 3 earlier in the week, but that was later shown to be nothing more than a clone device.
Anyway, with that in mind, it does appear as if Samsung is testing out a few prototypes for the Galaxy Note 3. Specifically, it was said that Samsung is currently testing three prototype models. The first of the three is one that is based off the design of the GALAXY S 4. We have yet to see an in-the-wild style image of this model, however the folks at concept-phones have recently shared the mockup seen above. The remaining two prototypes are one that is sporting a completely new design and one that features a flexible display. That last one is obviously interesting sounding, however we must remember that the news of the prototypes is based on rumor and speculation. Simply put, nothing is official until we hear it direct from Samsung. Other Galaxy Note 3 details we have heard touch on the material that will be used and also the display size. Gone are the rumors of the Note 3 having an 6.3-inch display. Today we are hearing the phablet will launch with a 5.99-inch display with a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. Shifting over to the materials and we have seen talk of everything from aluminum as well as other premium materials that would replace the use of plastic. Otherwise, the Note 3 rumors have also touched on the handset having 3GB of RAM along with an Exynos 5 Octa 8-core processor and an unveil set to take place during IFA. [via GottaBeMobile] |
| HTC M4 to launch with specs of the First and styling of the One Posted: 01 May 2013 07:28 AM PDT We have seen previous leaks and rumors surrounding the HTC M4, however as of today we are seeing details that seem to have shifted from what we last heard. Earlier in the month the M4 rumors were pointing to a handset that would be similar to that of the HTC First. Basically, it was looking like the M4 would launch with specs similar to the First, but the rumor also suggested the handset would have a build quality closer to that of the First as opposed to the One.
Well, flash forward till today and it looks like some new details have hit the web. Basically, it is now looking like the HTC M4 will debut as a smaller version of the HTC One. That is to say the build quality will be the same but the specs will be lower. This seems to imply the HTC M4 would be the device for the person who loves, but cannot afford the One. The latest spec related chatter for the HTC M4 has the handset sitting with a 4.3-inch 720p display, dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and an UltraPixel camera. For comparison sake, the HTC One has a 1080p display with a quad-core processor and 32GB (or 64GB) of internal storage space. The M4 is also expected to arrive with a 1700 mAh battery, which surprisingly is lower than the HTC One and First. Otherwise, as one would hope to see, the HTC M4 should be launching with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. With that, while we obviously still need an official confirmation from HTC, the M4 is now expected to be arriving near the end of the second quarter. Of course, that coincides with an earlier report which had the M4 shipping sometime in June. [via phoneArena] |
| AT&T LG Optimus G Pro confirmed with pre-orders beginning Friday Posted: 01 May 2013 07:01 AM PDT With an expectation that AT&T would be launching the LG Optimus G Pro sometime in May, the carrier has since come forward with an official announcement. In short, AT&T will be releasing the Optimus G Pro on May 10 and they will have pre-orders available this coming Friday. For those looking for the date, the pre-orders will begin on May 3. Otherwise, aside from the price, the specs should sound familiar to those who have been following the earlier rumors.
Basically, that is to say the AT&T branded Optimus G Pro will arrive sporting a 5.5-inch 1080p Full HD IPS display with a 400 ppi. The handset will be powered by a quad-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, 3140 mAh battery and running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.
Other features include a 2.1 megapixel front-facing camera and 13 megapixel rear-facing camera with full HD and Dual Recording. The Dual Recording, which is also on the front-facing camera, will allow the user to capture video from the front and back cameras at the same time. LG also has the Optimus G Pro loaded with a universal remote application and built-in Infrared sensor as well as software features to include VuTalk and QSlide 2.0. Features aside, AT&T will have the Optimus G Pro priced at $199.99 on a two-year agreement. This handset will also be eligible for purchase under the recently announced AT&T trade-in program, which basically means of you have a handset to trade — you could get the Optimus G Pro for half price. [via AT&T] |
| Sony Honami camera details revealed in latest leak Posted: 01 May 2013 06:32 AM PDT We heard a bit about the Sony Honami a few days back. At that time we were talking specs. Albeit, specs that were based on a leak. As of today though, it looks like we are still talking specs for the Honami. The key difference here is this latest round is focused on the camera. Specifically, they are talking about the handset having a 1/1.6″ Sony Exmore RS stacked sensor and a Cybershot G lens.
Further mention of the lens shows that as being premium grade glass lens. Taking a step back for a moment in an effort to explain why there appears to be so much going in to the camera for this handset. It was said that Sony is looking to create their flagship handset and that every department within Sony has their hands-on this device. Shifting back to the sensor, for comparison sake, the Nokia PureView 808 has a 1/1.2″ and the Nokia N8 has a 1/1.83″. Additionally, the HTC One has a 1/3″ and the GALAXY S 4 has a 1/3.06″ sensor. Aside from the sensor and lens, it looks like Sony is putting some extra effort into the flash and software. Beginning first with talk of the flash. Here it was said this will be a Xenon or Dual LED that is up to 10 times brighter than any currently available smartphone flash. Sony is expected to debut an augmented reality app (similar to Nokia’s City Lens) however that is just the start of the software talk. Sony is also said to be working on an all new image processing algorithm that is similar to what is found on the Cybershot digital camera. There was also talk of a reworked camera UI as well as some software features that are currently found on Sony’s 2013 line of Cybershot cameras and something called Superior Auto Scene Recognition. This is described as being a step above the Superior Auto mode currently found on the Xperia Z and Xperia ZL. That all being said, for now these details should be considered rumor, however they are rumors that do have us wanted to see more. [via vr-zone] |
| Vine update brings new features – no word on Android version Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:19 PM PDT Today the extremely popular 6-second video clip app Vine for iOS was updated with a few pretty awesome new features, yet sadly we are still getting ignored over here in Googleville. Vine has been available for some time, and we’ve heard “coming soon” regarding an Android version, but now they’re adding more features to their current app while they continue to shun Android users.
With more than 50 million monthly Instagram users, it pays to support Android. Apparently Twitter and Vine aren’t too concerned and are taking their sweet time, because we still haven’t received any reliable information regarding support for Android. Vine was updated with new features based on feedback, but they must have missed the memo. Today Vine announced that their iOS app will now be able to use both the rear, and now the front facing camera for capturing and sharing Vine videos. Pretty neat right? Then they’ve also integrated Twitter-like mentions where you can simply @ a friend and share or tag others in your Vine. Here’s what they had to say on their blog:
We’re not entirely sure who they’ve been “listening to” considering the millions of Android users that have been asking for support the past few months didn’t even get mentioned. An update of some sort would be nice. While I’m not entirely sold on using the feature daily, plus there’s plenty of similar options available on Android, supporting the number 1 mobile OS in the world just makes sense. Instagram benefited greatly from it, and Vine would too. Hopefully we learn more soon. |
| Samsung and Intel invest in ‘Anticipation Engine’ start-up company Posted: 30 Apr 2013 03:37 PM PDT Some new details were revealed today about a small start-up company who’s getting a lot of cash thrown their way from companies such as Google Ventures, Samsung, Intel and more. While the latter two are the latest to join the list of financial backers, Google’s been a part of the start-up for some time. Who’s ready for the fear mongers to come out and talk about eavesdropping? The company is called Expect Labs and we have more details below.
The folks from Google have been putting a lot of money behind machine-learning engines, and trying to learn our ways to suggest content and information as we need it, or in some cases before we even ask. Today is just one more of many we’ve heard about lately, only Expect Labs has a different approach that is somewhat scary. The term being tossed around is anticipation engine, but there’s more to it than that. Apparently Expect Labs wants to listen in on your device, do a little eavesdropping, and then help anticipate what you’ll want to ask. Directions you might need in a few moments after chatting with friends, and much more. Sounds a bit freaky right?
That poster is only a joke, plus they’re only listening. Using voice recognition the company has build what they’re calling ACE (Anticipatory Computing Engine) that will listen in on a users conversations and more, then analyses what it learns to predict or anticipate what you’re going to search for or want next. Predict your every need. While it sounds scary their goal isn’t to invade our pricavy (although it certainly will) instead it wants to only help assist us much like Siri and Google Now does today. Only on a completely different level. It’s creepy, yet cool and amazing at the same time. Instead of asking Google Now for directions, what if you opened your phone and it already had Google Maps open with the nearest restaurant you were just talking about. Epic! We’ll be watching this space and technology moving forward, as should you. [via TechCrunch] |
| Google Glass how-to video brings Minority Report to life Posted: 30 Apr 2013 02:43 PM PDT Get ready for the onslaught of Google Glass news that will surely be arriving daily as we round out the next few weeks and head to Google I/O May 15-17th. We’re expecting big things from Google at the event, and today we’ve just got our first official how-to video of Glass from Google themselves. Can you say Minority Report?
Basically we are getting our very first actual detailed look at Google Glass, how it works navigating through Google Now, weather alerts, friends, photos and more. This isn’t fair Google. I want it now! And surely we aren’t alone with that thought. The video below comes direct from Google and will give you a better idea of life with Glass. It’s short and sweet, but has already piqued our interest more than it already was. I have a feeling searching through my thousands of friends on G+ might be hard with that touchpad. Thankfully we should be able to use our voice. Google shows us how to navigate the UI with the long touchpad on the side, taps for selecting things and scrolling through cards, and more. Check it out. Google shows us that the display will be movable to get the optimal display for your face, how you can easily tap and swipe things into focus, or away from your view, and even how to put Glass to sleep. I love it. Does this make you want Glass more, or less? Are you sold yet or waiting for more details before you decide to pick up a pair when retail availability arrives in 2014. That’s a long time to wait. Just a thought. |
| Samsung Galaxy Player II spotted in benchmarks Posted: 30 Apr 2013 02:25 PM PDT Yesterday the folks from Samsung announced their first of many new tablets coming this year with the Galaxy Tab 3, but that isn’t all we can expect to hit the shelves later this year. Apparently the not too popular Galaxy Player series will be getting revamped. Hopefully this time they have some better specs to compete more directly with the iPod Touch.
We were impressed with the Galaxy Player 4.2 in our Review, and now it looks like a follow-up device will be coming soon. With front facing speakers, a decently thin profile, and aimed at games and music the new version could be even better. Somehow Samsung’s been making awesome front facing speakers on their Galaxy Players and tablets for over a year, yet let HTC beat them to the idea on a smartphone. Oops! That aside, some new details were revealed today showing what appears to be another Samsung Galaxy Player in the works. The original was called the Samsung YP-G1 and came to market in multiple sizes from 2.8 to 6-inches, but the 4.2 was our favorite. Now some benchmarks have leaked revealing the YP-GI2 follow-up device for later this year.
According to TechTastic, the device doesn’t appear to be much better than the previous model. Sadly we still have a 480 x 800 resolution screen, which already makes it not as good as the competition, and a Marvel processor under the hood. However, you’ll be happy to see Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean powering the new Galaxy Player II. It will be covered with Touch Wiz, but if you want a media device that isn’t a phone stay tuned for the Galaxy Player 2. |
| HTC One battery case released by mophie Posted: 30 Apr 2013 02:10 PM PDT In the past mophie was a name that many associated with the iPhone. While mophie has some external battery packs available, a big attraction coming from them are the battery cases and up until a few months back — those were only available for those with an Apple device. That being said, mophie had previously released a battery case for the Galaxy S III and as of today they have announced another for the HTC One.
The HTC One battery case is your standard mophie juice pack. That is to say it is a case with a built-in battery. In the case of the HTC One, that means a 2500 mAh battery. This case is priced at $99.95 and will be available in two colors — black and silver. The one catch here, the silver case is not yet shipping. You can move forward with an order, however the mophie website notes the silver juice pack as being ready to ship in mid-May. Otherwise, the black juice pack is available and will ship out in one to two business days. Aside from providing an extra 2500 mAh battery for your handset, the juice pack is sporting an LED indicator and a pass-through USB. That basically means you will be able to still sync and charge your HTC One without removing the case. Plus, the juice pack is designed so you can still use the features of the handset which means the speaker, microphone, camera and other features remain accessible. The juice pack will however add a little extra size and bulk to your handset. In this case, the HTC One juice pack measures in at 2.88 x 6.06 x 0.67 inches and weighs in at 5.05 ounces. For comparison sake, the HTC One by itself measures in at 2.68 x 5.4 x 0.36 inches and weighs in at 5.04 ounces. Simply put, you will be trading the slim design for some extra battery life. |
| AT&T’s latest trade-in program tempts users with discounted smartphones Posted: 30 Apr 2013 01:17 PM PDT AT&T has announced details of their latest device trade-in program. This one is set to kick off on May 1st and is promising that users will get “at least” $100 off the purchase of a new smartphone. Basically, depending on the price of the handset you are buying, this could mean anything from a deep discount to free.
AT&T has said this promotion will apply to any smartphone they are currently selling. This means if you trade-in your current device you would be able to grab some of those recently released devices for just $99.99. That would include the Samsung GALAXY S 4 and the HTC One. Or alternatively, those looking to the HTC First, your device would be free. Of course, the usual rules still apply in that all new devices are coming with a two-year agreement. Otherwise, those considering taking AT&T up on this offer will need to visit an AT&T company-owned retail store or one of the participating authorized dealers. Also worth noting, the phone you are trading in cannot be more than three years old. The $100 credit for your trade-in can be used immediately and in the case that your trade-in device happens to be worth more than $100 — AT&T has said you will “receive the credit at the higher value.” Final details show that you will be able to trade-in devices that are not from AT&T and that trade-in credits can also be used toward an accessory purchase or an existing bill. |
| OPPO Find 5 unboxing and hands-on: 1080p HD display and all Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:55 PM PDT Today we’re happy to be taking a look at a flagship Android smartphone you probably haven’t heard much about. The folks from OPPO recently released this 5-inch powerhouse smartphone with top-tier specs in China, and we decided to give it a look. Complete with a 5-inch 1920 x 1080p full HD display and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The OPPO Find 5 has a bright future, so lets take a peek below.
We’d love to see some of these smartphones arrive in the US, but for now this won’t be making it across the pond, even though we wish this bad boy worked with Verizon or AT&T’s 4G LTE stateside. It was announced for the China market back in December, and recently went up for sale in white. Today however we have the black model to share with you all. Complete with top-tier specs any Android enthusiast would love to have, this smartphone surely can battle the best of them. Like Samsung’s GALAXY S 4, or HTC’s DROID DNA it has everything we’d want in a smartphone. With a beautiful 5-inch 1080p HD display, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor (same as Nexus 4) 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and a decently sized 2,500 mAh battery. They even tossed in a 13 megapixel camera on the rear and 1.9 front shooter for self portraits. Add in Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, NFC, WiFi, and everything else and you have a pretty compelling device. Take a peek below. The device is extremely well built, sleek, feels nice in the hand, and is just nice to look at. With a slight curve to the back and rounded edges with the screen off it’s hard to see where the display actually ends. The bezels are thin, the HD display is bright, and so far we’re rather impressed here and want one in the US even more now.
That 13 megapixel camera can shoot at f/2.2 and record up to 120 fps for some excellent video capture. Then they have some crazy shutter speeds letting users snap up to 100 photos in 5 seconds. OPPO claims this to be just a few of many unique features that sets the Find 5 apart from the competition. We’ll have to test those and the Video HDR features in our full review coming soon.
Overall the Find 5 actually feels really great in the hand with the curved design, it’s fairly lightweight, and the screen is pretty impressive too. The speakers have a nice set of cutouts for sound, and offer Dolby 3D sound, but we’d love them to be on the front like the HTC One. And that goes for all manufacturers. Not going to lie, we’re really liking this handset. Too bad it’s only HSPA+ and doesn’t support US LTE networks. More details and a full review coming soon.          |
| Samsung vs. Apple case heading back to court in November Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:25 PM PDT We saw a bit more on the Samsung vs. Apple cases earlier in the month. At that time it was said that Samsung had infringed on Apple’s text-selection patent, however as many realize, that is far from the final court related story for these two companies. More to the point for this latest mention though, this time around we are talking about the previously awarded $450.5 million in damages.
This case originally had Samsung paying Apple $1.05 billion in damages, however that amount was later lowered to $450.5 million. The judge for this case, Judge Lucy Koh has since ordered a new trial that will begin in November. Specifically, the trial is set to take place between November 12th and 18th. The other side to this story, the court is not going to allow Apple or Samsung to expand the scope of damages. Simply put, neither company will be allowed to introduce any new data. This includes new sales data and new products. Basically, this upcoming trial will be familiar sounding for those who have been following along. This stems from when Judge Koh had previously said the jury incorrectly calculated the damages. From this, she had said a new trial was needed in other to correctly calculate the actual amount of the fine. And for those keeping track, that could mean a fine that ends up being more (or less) than the current $450.5 million. [via Reuters] |
| Google Now went to iOS, but Google kept the best for Android Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:04 PM PDT So yesterday there was an influx of news regarding Google Now, only the assistant and smart feature made its way to Apple and iOS. To be correct, Google Now didn’t go to iOS. Instead, Google Search was updated with Now features being added in. This is basically a PSA telling you all to remain calm, Google’s still saving the best for Android.
It’s no secret however that Google’s released some pretty awesome apps lately over on iOS. Just look at their Gmail and Google+ apps for starters. Google Search on iOS is pretty decent too, and better with Now, but the experience is still more streamlined, faster, and fluid on Android. When our sister site SlashGear spoke to Matias Duarte earlier this year it was loud and clear that Google Now is the future, and will be a “control panel” and center of all things in a way. If it’s the future of Android, why are we sharing it with iOS? They get the same information as we do on Android, the card-style layout is the same, but the experience and one-touch commands are very different. Of course we have the widget, so iOS instantly loses that awesome feature and cool factor, but it’s also the way we use and interact with Now that makes it different. On Android it’s a swipe, or a single tap and everything is neatly presented to us. News, weather, sports scores, traffic updates, calender reminds, you name it. With iOS the experience can be similar, but it takes a little work.
The difference on iOS is you’ll still have to tap a few buttons to search out and find the information you’re looking for, or make the choices as Duarte said. It requires Google Search to be front and center on your dock, otherwise you’ll have to search through the sea of icons for the Google Search app. Once you tap that, you’ll then be in Google Search where a quick tap will let you search by voice, or swipe up to enjoy the full Google Now experience. It’s nice, it’s helpful, but it surely isn’t presented as nice – or as fast – as we get to enjoy on Android. Essentially on Android the information is readily available with the widget or a click, and voice search is available at any given moment on your homescreen. With iOS, you’ll still have to search out and get to the information you’d like. It’s a small difference, but that little bit is part of what makes Google Now so amazing and gives us that wow factor. It’s nice getting things first on Android, right? Stay tuned because Google probably has some neat stuff for Now coming soon at I/O this year too. |
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