Monday, May 6, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Plants vs Zombies 2 release confirmed for July

Posted: 06 May 2013 10:43 AM PDT

PopCap Games has been pretty quiet in terms of Plants vs. Zombies 2 details. A short while back they opened up a little bit and had said the game was going to be released sometime in the early summer. As of today however, it looks like we now have a tiny bit more in terms of detail. Basically, PopCap Games has confirmed the game will be released in July.

plants-vs-zombies-2

They have yet to say anything about platforms. Of course, we are expecting Plants vs. Zombies 2 to arrive for Android. Not to mention the various other platforms the original is available on. We only hope that PopCap Games has the game available for all platforms at the same time. Otherwise, nothing specific was given in terms of a date.

The July confirmation comes by way of a recently released teaser trailer. The catch with the trailer, aside from providing for a few laughs, there is no gameplay footage shown. Basically, the trailer is a supercut that consists of a handful of internet celebrities and fans. On the bright side, the end does reveal the new artwork, which can be seen above and in the video sitting below.

While we certainly hope some additional details are revealed soon, judging from how PopCap Games has been moving forward with this — we suspect we will see more teasing before anything else. After all, we have been hearing about a Plants vs. Zombies sequel for quite some time now and it was only recently that the “early summer” timeframe was even mentioned. Anyone still playing the original? Or maybe more accurately, anyone replaying the original?

[via Facebook]

AT&T 32GB GALAXY S 4 hits shelves this Friday

Posted: 06 May 2013 10:31 AM PDT

Since first announcing the Samsung GALAXY S 4 live on stage, we haven’t seen or heard anything official, from any carriers, regarding the 32 GB model of the popular handset. The 16GB GALAXY S 4 is readily available from multiple carriers, but so far we haven’t seen the 32 or 64GB flavor hit the street. Well, today AT&T just confirmed they’ll be offering the 32GB GALAXY S 4 starting May 10th.

Screen-Shot-2013-04-23-at-3.00.32-PM4-540x314111

We aren’t sure if there was a small delay from Samsung or if they are having issues meeting demand, but the 32GB model of the GALAXY S 4 has been missing in action until today. Last week we learned US Cellular wouldn’t even be offering a version over the standard 16GB option, but now at least AT&T will be able to help.

In case you missed the news. Thanks to all the pretty awesome features (and some not so awesome) of the GALAXY S 4, that 16GB smartphone only comes with about 8.5GB usable out of the box. This has caused quite the controversy lately from power users wanting more storage on their devices. So now at least you’ll be happy to know the 32GB model should have around 25GB for you to fill with apps, games, movies, music and more.

Today the folks from AT&T confirmed the news on Twitter. Stating the 32GB Samsung GALAXY S 4 would be available on May 10th, which is Friday, and will cost users $249 with a new 2-year contract as usual. So while we still have a while to wait for that 64GB exclusive model, those that wanted more storage can get it later this week.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S 4 (Qualcomm)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : AT&T T-Mobile
    Announced Date : March 14, 2013
    Release Date : April 24, 2013
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5 Inch
  • Resolution : 1080x1920
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.748 Inch
  • Depth : 0.31 Inch
  • Weight : 130 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2600 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.2.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T
    CPU Clock Speed : 1900 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 13 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11ac
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Saturday Night Live shows us their take on Google Glass

Posted: 06 May 2013 10:13 AM PDT

Is it just me, or is SNL not quite as funny as it was a couple of years ago? Maybe that is because nothing can beat the Will Ferrell cowbell skit in my mind. Either way, this weekend the folks from SNL decided to let Google Glass take the stage, and they had a bit of fun at Google and other tech fans expense.

Screen Shot 2013-05-06 at 9.41.38 AM

We’ve been seeing and hearing a lot about Google Glass lately in the news, especially with Google I/O just a few weeks away where surely Google will be giving us plenty of additional Glass details. This comedy skit would probably be better if we never were subject to that shower with glass photo, but to each his own.

As we all know, Google Glass has received its fair share of praise and criticism in the media lately for the neat things it does, and all the things it cannot. The cast from SNL decided to take advantage of this clearly being an early product for developers only, and pokes fun at Google and Glass for a good few minutes. Enjoy!

That was quite the roast right? I don’t know about you guys but I found it to be pretty hilarious and I couldn’t stop laughing at the neck jerks. It does pose a certain question about how realistic Google Glass really is. In case you didn’t notice, we got our own pair of Google Glass in this weekend, so get ready for plenty of details coming soon. So did you like this SNL skit?

PSA: AT&T GALAXY S 4 WiFi tethering bug fixes step-by-step

Posted: 06 May 2013 10:02 AM PDT

As the Samsung GALAXY S 4 roll-out continues, it is looking like the users are beginning to find some issues. Some of these will most likely be described as being bigger and more important than others. For example, the locked bootloader will probably not bother all that many users, however the limited amount of available storage on the 16GB GALAXY S 4 probably will. With that in mind, it looks like another GALAXY S 4 bug has recently been discovered.

Screen-Shot-2013-04-23-at-2.59.07-PM1-540x3621

This latest deals with WiFi tethering. Specifically, WiFi tethering for those using an AT&T model GALAXY S 4. The issue is affecting those trying to use the official tethering option found in the ‘wireless and networks’ section of the settings. Basically, even those with tethering enabled are not able to activate and use it. This issue is affecting at least some of the AT&T users and our device happens to be one of the affected. You can get a look from the screenshots below, the phone will make an attempt to verify and then jumps to the ‘mobile hotspot is unavailable’ message.

gs4-bug-03 gs4-bug-01 gs4-bug-02

We’ve since reported the issue to Samsung and they’re looking into it. In the meantime, we have done some testing and do have a workaround solution for those in need of tethering. There is an app called Extended Controls available in the Google Play Store. The app isn’t free, however it is sitting at a low-priced $0.99. Getting tethering setup with the Extended Controls app involves just a few steps, which are detailed below.

  • *Install the app from Play Store
  • *Add the widget "EC Widgets 1×1" to your home screen
  • *Tap the widget to open the settings
  • *Tap "Toggles" at the bottom, then "Add new toggle"
  • *Scroll until you find "Hotspot Wi-Fi"
  • *Tap "Apply." No need to 'save this profile.'
  • *Tap the widget to open the hotspot toggle
gs4-wifi-01 gs4-wifi-02 gs4-wifi-03

From here, you can begin using tethering as you want and/or need. For those who may have issues with spending $0.99 to be able to use a feature that should be accessible from your phone, you can take some comfort in knowing the Extended Controls app has plenty of other worthwhile features. Just to start, this app offers customizable widgets with lots of available advanced settings for each of the widgets.

The app has the option to set custom backgrounds and adjust the transparency of the widgets. Some of the available widgets include an AlwaysOn feature, AutoLock, AudioManager, Contact Direct Dial and many more. While we wait for something further from Samsung on this issue, those needing WiFi tethering now can find the Extended Controls app using this Google Play Store link.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S 4 (Qualcomm)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : AT&T T-Mobile
    Announced Date : March 14, 2013
    Release Date : April 24, 2013
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5 Inch
  • Resolution : 1080x1920
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.748 Inch
  • Depth : 0.31 Inch
  • Weight : 130 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2600 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.2.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T
    CPU Clock Speed : 1900 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 13 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11ac
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

BlueStacks Android-apps-on-Windows tops 10 million downloads

Posted: 06 May 2013 08:29 AM PDT

The BlueStacks app player for Windows was released in beta form a little more than a year earlier. The software launched in beta towards the end of March 2012 and as of today it looks like the company is celebrating a new milestone. It seems they have crossed the 10 million download mark.

bluestacks-beta-540x311

For those keeping track, the BlueStacks app player wasn’t released for the Mac until December 2012. Putting the Mac release to the side, it looks like the 10 million download mark has surpassed the expectations of everyone from the company. In fact, the BlueStacks employee with the closest guess was still off by roughly 9 million.

BlueStacks CEO Rosen Sharma said the employees all took bets on where they would be after the first year. According to Sharma, the employee that was the closest had guessed a few hundred thousand. In addition to sharing the milestone number, BlueStacks is also working to get a new version of Android up and running.

There hasn’t been any specific release dates revealed just yet, however a Jelly Bean version is expected to arrive in the not-to-distant future. Otherwise, the other side of the 10 million download milestone is the amount of active users. Sadly the company didn’t share this number. Instead, the senior VP of marketing did refer to that number as being “spooky high.” That said, anyone here a BlueStacks user?

[via AllThingsD]

AT&T 4G LTE expands in Kansas, Missouri and Texas

Posted: 06 May 2013 07:56 AM PDT

AT&T has announced their latest 4G LTE expansion. While this roll-out doesn’t include as many markets as the last go around, there is probably something to be said for the timing as this update has arrived less than a week after the last. This latest bit is dealing with five markets across Kansas, Missouri and Texas.

ATT-Mobile-Phone-Wireless-Logo-Store-Window-540x30412123

Specifically, AT&T 4G LTE coverage has arrived for those in Manhattan, Kansas as well as Sedalia and Warrensburg, Missouri. The Texas coverage is for those in Jacksonville and Palestine. Basically, it looks like those in any of these five markets may want to start considering an LTE capable device when they next upgrade their handset.

As for LTE capable smartphones, AT&T has recently released a few to include the LG Optimus G Pro as well as the Samsung GALAXY S 4 and HTC One. Those looking for a bit more information on any of those devices may benefit from some of our recent coverage, which included some hands-on time with the Optimus G Pro.

The Optimus G Pro is the most recent of that bunch and the carrier began accepting pre-orders for the handset last week. Alternatively, if you are already sporting an LTE capable device, now seems like as good a time as any to head out and begin taking advantage of those newly increased speeds.

CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies arrive for the T-Mobile GALAXY S 4

Posted: 06 May 2013 07:29 AM PDT

We had previously seen details of CyanogenMod 10.1 running on the T-Mobile version of the GALAXY S 4. As of today however, it looks like we now have word that the nightly builds are available for those who want to begin playing. The details are coming by way of Steve Kondik who recently made mention that the T-Mobile GALAXY S 4 nightlies have arrived and that they will be porting CM10.1 to other variants when they get the devices.

Screen-Shot-2013-04-23-at-3.00.32-PM4-540x31411

As far as the T-Mobile version of the nightlies, this one comes with the warning about how there are still a “few rough edges.” Perhaps key though, it was also said that these rough edges will be “ironed out in short order and you should be able to use it as your daily driver without serious issues.”

Of course, remember that these being nightlies — there may still be some issues and quirks. Other details mentioned about this build include how the touchscreen “should” support hover events. Remember though, while there are different variants of the GALAXY S 4, you will need to make sure you are using the correct build for your particular model.

That is to say that if you have a GALAXY S 4 that is not the T-Mobile version (SGH-M919) you shouldn’t try to install this CM10.1 release. Basically, just sit back and hope that the other devices come available so the CyanogenMod team can work to complete the port. And for those wondering, the I9505 was mentioned specifically.

[via Google+ Steve Kondik]

Barnes & Noble announce Mother’s Day price cuts for the NOOK HD and HD+

Posted: 06 May 2013 06:59 AM PDT

Barnes & Noble has announced a price cut for the NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ tablets. This time around the price cuts are for those in the US market, however the newly lowered price will only be available for a limited time. Barnes & Noble has timed this drop in price with Mother’s Day and as such, these prices will only be in effect through May 12.

b-n_nook_hd_hd-plus_hands-on_ac_26-540x434

Those considering a purchase will be able to pick up an 8GB NOOK HD for $149. The 16GB model will be selling for $179. The NOOK HD+ is available in a 16GB and 32GB model and those will be priced at $179 and $209 respectively. Barnes & Noble has said these prices will be available by way of the NOOK.com website as well as at their retail stores and “other leading retailers.”

With the sale pricing in mind, Barnes & Noble is using this as another opportunity to remind everyone about how the NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ now have access to the Google Play Store. Basically, in addition to everything the NOOK tablets could do in the past, they now also have access to the Google services including Gmail and Google Maps.

Aside from the Google services, the NOOK HD and HD+ also have access to the more than 3 million books available from the NOOK Store, of which it was said that more than 1 million are available for free. These tablets also have HD displays, expandable memory and WiFi connectivity as well as NOOK Channels and NOOK Profiles.

Sony Xperia Z now selling unlocked in the US

Posted: 06 May 2013 06:27 AM PDT

Sony had previously begun selling the Xperia ZL for those in the US. The handset was selling unlocked and as such, it was priced a bit above $700. Well, it looks like the Sony Xperia ZL has recently been given a price cut. Additionally, Sony has also begun selling an unlocked version of the Xperia Z. The Xperia Z is HSPA+ compatible and is available at this moment.

sony_xperia_z_review_sg_28-580x385-540x3581

That being said, lets first dive into the Xperia ZL price cut. When the handset first came available in the Sony Store it was priced at $759.99. As of today however that same handset is now priced at $629.99. The Xperia ZL remains available in three colors — black, white and red. Otherwise, Sony currently has the expected shipping date as being May 7th and those making the purchase can also expect free two-day shipping.

Shifting over to the availability of the Sony Xperia Z. Here you have a handset that is priced at $629.99. The Xperia Z is available in black, white and purple. Specifically, the available model is the C6602, which brings HSPA+ network support. Aside from the network support, the Xperia Z also brings specs to include a 5-inch display at 1920 x 1080, quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor and is running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The Xperia Z also has 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera with Sony’s Exmor RS for Mobile image sensor. Specs aside, while Sony is now selling an unlocked version of the Xperia Z, the handset is also expected to arrive for sale with T-Mobile. While we have yet to hear anything direct from the carrier, we have recently seen an FCC filing that had the handset showing with support for the T-Mobile LTE network.

[via Xperia Blog]

Stable version of XBMC XAF custom build released for Android

Posted: 06 May 2013 06:08 AM PDT

If you have your eyes on an Android-powered HT PC for the living room, a stable XAF custom build of XBMC is now available for Android users. The people behind the software say that it’s the first and only truly end user-friendly release of XBMC available on the Internet. If you’re not familiar with XBMC, it is a media center software suite that uses third-party add-ons allowing you to access content available online in formats that are easy-to-use.

xbmc1

The software also links to existing websites that provide streaming video content, so there’s no piracy going on using the software. The new stable release of the software offers some of the most popular XBMC add-ons pre-configured with the software. New add-ons are being worked on each week according to the developers.

The software uses an external player allowing for hardware accelerated video decoding on just about any Android device out there. You can follow the steps for the installation of the software on your own device on the official website here. The process involves installing the MX Player application.

Once the application is launched, users can then download and install the XAF Custom Build of XBMC. You will have to apply any updates to the application the citizens installed on your device. If you decide to take advantage of this new software, be sure and let us know how it works for you.

[via XBMC]

Things are looking up for HTC thanks to strong demand for the One

Posted: 06 May 2013 05:16 AM PDT

The outlook at HTC was very bleak earlier this year as demand for its smartphones continued to decline in the face of increasing competition from Samsung and other Android smartphone makers. However, HTC bet big on its new smartphone called the HTC One. In fact, HTC was so confident in its new smartphone that it promised a turnaround for Q2 of 2013 once the device gained traction.

htc-lte-one-7-sg-580x375

Early indications and that HTC is in fact gaining traction thanks to the popularity of its One smartphone. HTC recently reported that revenue for April 2013 was up by 23% unaudited compared to March. The numbers HTC is throwing around for April 2013 are $664 million in revenue.

Despite popularity for the HTC One, the smartphone maker is still operating in rough waters. In March of 2013, HTC was down 48.57% compared to the previous year. Even though HTC improved in April 2013, the numbers are still 36.87% lower than the same month last year.

Despite still treading murky waters, HTC is still betting big on the One as rolls out to broader availability over the coming months. If demand stays strong, the One could help HTC return back to significant profitability.

[via SlashGear]

Touch screen computer monitors running Android are on the horizon

Posted: 06 May 2013 05:06 AM PDT

It’s difficult to set most computer monitors apart from other products on the market for manufacturers. There are number of units that offer touch support for computers running Microsoft Windows 8 and other operating systems, and most of them are virtually identical. An analyst from a company called WitsView believes that computer monitors featuring integrated Android operating system will be coming to the market soon.

android-2

According to the analytics firm, computer monitor makers are currently considering producing computer displays in a size range of around 21-inches that would feature an integrated ARM processor and would be able to run Android without the need for a computer. The analytics firm says that these Android-equipped computer monitors could be looked at as simple as all-in-one computers or even large tablets.

Presumably, these devices will be able to be connected to a normal computer just as a standard desktop monitors. The analysts believe that these Android packing computer monitors will be about twice the price of conventional displays.

The company estimates that the cheapest Android-powered monitor will sell for around $400. Compared to AIO computers that typically start at about $600, a price of $400 for the computer monitors featuring Android looks pretty good. I’m not sure this sort product would be that popular, what do you think?

[via The Register]

Samsung Galaxy Core borrows some Galaxy S 4 features for less

Posted: 06 May 2013 04:51 AM PDT

Samsung creates some of the most popular Android devices in all of the ecosystem. The company is undoubtedly going to sell hordes of its new Galaxy S 4 smartphone. The problem for some people is that the S 4 will be more than their budget can support. Samsung is aiming at these budget shoppers with a new low to midrange device that looks a whole lot like the S 4 but carries a lower price.

samsung_galaxy_core-580x457

The new phone is called the Galaxy Core and has a 4.3-inch display. The smartphone uses a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and has support for dual SIM cards. The device also allows users to have both of those SIM cards active at the same time and switch between calls. Some markets will only get a single SIM version of the device and it’s unclear exactly which market will get what version.

GALAXY-Core-Product-Image-3-495x500

The smartphone will run Android 4.1 for the operating system and use Samsung TouchWiz user-interface. The Galaxy Core has a five-megapixel rear camera and a VGA resolution front camera. The Core doesn’t support LTE, but will operate on 5.7 Mbps HSPA networks and quad band GSM/edge.

GALAXY-Core-Product-Image-8

Other features include integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, A-GPS, and 8 GB of internal storage. The phone also has 1 GB of RAM and a microSD card slot. That memory card slot supports up to 64 GB of additional storage. Power comes from a removable 1800 mAh battery been. Pricing is unannounced and it’s unclear which areas of the world will get the device first. Those details are expected closer to launch, which is tipped for later this month.

[via SlashGear]

Android Authority

Android Authority


Is Android ready to conquer the desktop?

Posted: 06 May 2013 02:22 AM PDT

Asus Transformer Prime

If you believe any of the rumors, then Android is coming to the desktop. Intel, a major player in the PC market has confirmed to Cnet its interest in bringing laptops running Android as the operating system. However, the question must be raised, is Android capable of being a desktop operating system?

The PC is NOT dead

No matter how much people say it is, the PC is not dead, it's just in an evolutionary stage of development. Those drumming up extinction propaganda always link us to dropping sales, but that was always going to happen as the market saturated. Sure the iPad and Android tablets may have accelerated the drop in sales, but it was always coming.

People are still going to need a desktop PC, or at least a laptop, after all, physical keyboards are just better than onscreen keyboards, and a trackpad or mouse will always beat touchscreens when accuracy is a necessity. Maybe for some, a tablet or even a phone could replace a computer for their computing needs, but for a large percentage of people a computer will still be necessary. With that out of the way, we can move on to Android itself as a desktop operating system.

The best mobile OS for the desktop

Out of all of the current mobile operating systems, Android is the only one that could be implemented as a desktop OS. iOS simply can't, at least not in its current form. The lack of multi-user support and multitasking features hold it back, so for those hoping for a MacPad Air, keep dreaming.

Blackberry 10 and Windows Phone will both never look to make the leap to the desktop (although Windows Phone does share many kernel similarities with Windows 8) so that leaves Android as the last man standing. Android has support for multi-users, it has "true" multitasking and is also open for tweaking. If any mobile OS is going to make a move for the desktop it's Android.

Google Docs

Document creation is one of the biggest elements of a desktop operating system, in fact it's possibly the biggest element. Microsoft build its desktop empire through Microsoft Office and 30 years later, still nothing can touch Microsoft Office. Google's response to Office, Google Docs is a decent application, that for the average user could actually be considered better than Office. Sure, the hardcore Excel users won't be able to use Docs as a standalone application, but for the rest of us Docs is good enough.

Google Docs For Android

It allows you to create documents, slideshows, spreadsheets, collaborate, access your creations anywhere with Internet, share easily and did I mention it's free. However, Google Drive (the application that now harbors Docs) is pathetically behind even its web compatriot. In fact it might just be the worst Google-made mobile application, it's slow and feature-less and it won't even allow you to create documents without Internet access. For Android to be a viable option for the desktop, the Drive application needs a major revamp. Of course Microsoft could itself be the solution, as rumours are pointing towards a release of Office for Android and iOS by the end of the year.

Chrome and the web

There's no point dodging the fact that Chrome is another Android application that Google needs to work on. Scrolling issues not-withstanding, Chrome on Android needs major work for it to be the browser of choice on an Android based desktop OS. People are going to disagree, but Chrome on a laptop needs flash. Flash may be buggy and prone to crashes, but there are millions of sites that still use it and will continue to use it. Then there are all the performance issues, so maybe another browser like Dolphin would be a better choice.

The rest of the apps

As you might of guessed already, applications will make or break Android as a desktop OS. I've already mentioned two of the biggest desktop applications in an Internet browser and documents creator, but what of the rest?

Popular apps like Adobe Photoshop, a picture editing application, Fruity Loops, a popular music creator/editor and Sony Vegas, a popular pro application for video editing, are some of the more important applications on the desktop. Luckily, there is a Photoshop Touch application available in the Play Store and a recently released Fruity Loops app as well. The only thing missing from this trifecta of popular applications is Sony Vegas, but there are already some decent video editing applications in the Play Store.

adobe-photoshop-touch-phone

Gaming is also brilliant in the Play Store. Sure, you aren't getting Skyrim quality, but mobile gaming has improved tremendously over the past few years and games like Real Racing 3 and Nova 3 are pushing mobile gaming to new heights. Popular desktop games like Minecraft and Plants vs Zombies are also available on the Play Store so gaming shouldn't be a problem for the average user.

The user interface

Android was designed for touch, not for a mouse or trackpad. My past experiences using the trackpad on an Asus Transformer Prime have been awkward and not at all fluid, so the UI would need improvement. This brilliant video, showcases what is possible with Android on the desktop using nothing but a Galaxy Note 2, monitor, keyboard and mouse and a HDMI cable. Sure some of the elements are from TouchWiz, but they shouldn't be difficult to implement and there are already some applications that have the same functionality as TouchWiz features. Check it out for a more in-depth picture of Android as a desktop operating system and pay close attention to the UI.

Wrap up

For now, Google has its support planted firmly in the Chrome OS corner for the desktop. But not even Google would be able to stop a big player like Intel making a play with Android as a desktop operating system. Android is definitely capable of being a desktop OS, however, whether anybody would be interested is another question.

Would you be interested in an Android-powered laptop?

    

Acer Iconia B1 tablet updated with new design, better internals, and optional 3G

Posted: 05 May 2013 06:47 PM PDT

Acer Iconia B1
Hot on the heels of the brand new Acer Iconia A1, which was just announced a few days ago, comes the second-generation Acer Iconia B1 with an updated design, improved specs, and optional 3G connectivity. It now sports a look similar to that of Acer’s more expensive, high-end tablets, and yet it’s aimed squarely at the entry-level market.

The new Iconia B1 is equipped with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor from MediaTek, the same 7-inch WSVGA display from the previous model, 1GB RAM, and choices of either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage. The Iconia B1 used to be good enough, but now it’s merely good. Acer worked its way through one whole word. And that’s progress.

Acer plans on releasing the Wi-Fi-only version of the Iconia B1 first in Europe, Middle East and Africa starting in mid-June with a €129 price tag. Meanwhile, the 3G-enabled version will be sold for €179. Read the full press release below for all of the details.

Iconia B1 with New Face and Connectivity Options

New York, (May 3, 2013), Acer today unveiled the second generation Acer Iconia B1 with a new pure and simple design, increased performance and additional 3G(2) data connection option, setting a new standard for a tablet targeted at young or new users or families looking for an additional tablet for their children. The Iconia B1 is also ideal for busy individuals seeking a convenient mobile companion.

At 17.8 cm (7") – the same size as standard book page – the display is comfortable for e-reading, web browsing, playing games and watching videos. The Iconia B1 joins forces today with the launch of the Iconia A1 to offer a uniformed look and feel when searching for a tablet solution for all members of the family.

The Acer Iconia B1 was introduced today with other new products, including the Acer Aspire R7, Aspire P3 Ultrabook, Aspire V Series touch notebooks and Iconia A1. The new line of Acer mobile products highlights the company's focus on redefining the computing experience through progressive design. #AcerTouch.

Highly Responsive Fun

To take your experience to the next level, this tablet combines a 1.2GHz dual-core or quad-core(3) processor or quadand 1GB of memory for fast and smooth gaming, web browsing and video watching with Android's Jelly Bean operating system to get quickly precise answers to your search queries and seamless browsing. For many search queries performed through VoiceSearch, you can now hear a spoken answer quickly.

Fast and Free Media

Over 500 free online magazines from hundreds of publishers and top web sites are always at your fingertips thanks to Google Currents. The recently updated smart mobile app allows you to discover, read, and share your favorite new outlets, blogs and online magazine on the 17.8 cm (7") WSVGA (1,024 x 600) capacitive display – even when offline. If you are into playing, you have more than 700,000 games and apps from the Play Store to choose from.

Capture and Share More

To top off the rich experience, the Iconia B1 comes with a front-facing camera to engage in live chats with your friends. The camera is on the top right corner and works also when in landscape mode, allowing your friends to get into the picture during a video chat. Available with WiFi or 3G(2) data connection as 8GB(4) or 16GB(4) version with the option to add 32GB(4) via via microSD™, the Iconia B1 is the ideal easy companion for tablet newbies or children while adults use their own.

Pricing and Availability

The Iconia B1-710 (WiFi) version will be available in Europe, Middle East and Africa mid-June at a starting price of €129.-. (1)

The Iconia B1-711 (3G) version will be available in Europe, Middle East and Africa end of July at a starting price of €179.-. (1)

About Acer

Established in 1976, Acer is an information and communication technology company dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale and support of innovative products that enhance people’s lives. Acer’s green supply chain delivers environmentally friendly PCs, displays, projectors, servers, tablets and
smartphones — tools our customers need to explore beyond limits and experience more. Ranked No. 3 for notebooks globally(5), Acer employs 8,000 people, and 2012 revenues reached US$14.7 billion. Please visit http://www.acer.com for more information.

© 2013 Acer Inc. All rights reserved. Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and/or
service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the property of their respective owners.

1. Estimated street price. Actual price may vary.
2. Wireless connection requires wireless data service contract and network support, and is not available in all areas. Contact service provider to determine the coverage area and availability. Connection speeds will vary due to location, environment, network conditions and other factors.
3. Configuration may vary by model.
4. Accessible capacity varies: (MB = 1 million bytes; GB = 1 billion bytes). User-available storage subject to change based on system software and application usage.
5. IDC 2012

    

Hangouts/Babel doesn’t include SMS support (yet?), Android 4.3 also mentioned in rumor update

Posted: 05 May 2013 02:38 PM PDT

google-babel-chat-service

A report detailing Google's rumored Babel messaging app that would be launched in the near future has been updated to include more information about the service, but also about other Google products, Android 4.3-included.

The same The Verge forum poster that revealed yesterday that Babel will in fact be called Hangout, revealing some of its features, has updated that post with more information.

After previously revealing that the app would offer a unified messaging solution to Android users, feature an app icon "similar to the messenger icon" and offer a Holo UI, the tipster returned with more information.

According to him, Babel will be called Hangouts (as in plural; as in Google+ Hangouts) not Hangout as previously reported. Not that the final name of the app will be that important, will it?

What's more interesting is that Hangouts apparently lacks SMS/MMS sync, or at least the feature is "not there on the app that's being dogfooded." Moreover, the same Ryan Socio suggested that the final version may lack SMS support at first, when answering to a comment on his updated news:

The fact that it's about 10 days away from launch doesn't make the situation feel anymore promising.

Socio also added that Google Now would get "location-based reminders" and Gmail's would be "Holofied" in a "UI overhaul."

In addition to dishing out all these details on future products, Socio briefly mentioned Android 4.3 in his updated post, basically confirming this particular Android version that has been already spotted in server logs, and may be already the object of meetings between certain companies involved with Android:

I may not be able to get much info about 4.3, my sources are not taking part in the internal beta program. 

While he isn't apparently in the loop with Android 4.3 news, hardware information may be available next week. In the past, he apparently provided accurate information about Google’s latest hardware announcements (LG Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10) so he could very well be right about Google’s plans for Google I/O 2013.

That said, we'll remind you that we don't have anything official from Google at this time on either Hangouts/Hangout/Babel, Google Now, Gmail or Android 4.3, so we'll have to take everything with a grain of salt until things become clearer. Google I/O is just 10 days away, an event that we'll thoroughly cover for you.

    

Google Glass made fun of in latest Saturday Night Live show [video]

Posted: 05 May 2013 01:49 PM PDT

Google Glass Vision

Saturday Night Live (SNL) targeted during its latest show Google's wearable computing solution, Google Glass, in a short fake news sketch in which it mocked some of the features of the product.

SNL made fun of several Glass features from the looks of the device when worn on one's head, to the hyped increased interactivity between Glass users and their peers compared to smartphone owners, to the additional gestures used to control certain aspects of the device, to voice recognition software.

Invited by host Seth Myers, tech correspondent Randall Meeks (actor Fred Armisen) demoes the device and its functions, praising Google Glass and its features, or at least trying to, because everything isn't going as planned. And yes, hilarity ensues.

The video of the short sketch is available below – YouTube version for international users (poorer quality), while U.S. readers can check the NBC version (better quality) – so we won't spoil it for you. Suffice to say that the SNL nails some of the arguments you may have heard against Glass since the device arrived in the hands of Explorers.

Google Glass is certainly an interesting product but it's far from perfect– what gadget is? – or finished, and we definitely expect Google to further improve the device by the time it will become commercially available, which should happen at some point in a year from now according to a recent Eric Schmidt statement. Google’s former CEO also said that talking to Glass can be the “weirdest thing,” and addressed the first questions regarding privacy concerns when using the new product.

In case you want to read more details about how the product is supposed to work, check out our How it Works: Google Glass feature that talks about hardware but also software features.

    

Weekly News Roundup #3 – India

Posted: 05 May 2013 09:35 AM PDT

wnri feature

In  a new weekly segment, I'll be doing a roundup of the mobile technology news in India, including new device announcements and releases from Indian manufacturers, network carrier news, and anything else that captures the pulse of the Android scene in India.

This week on the Weekly News Roundup – India, we have just one smartphone announcement, but that’s more than enough when the one is a budget-friendly glasses-free 3D smartphone priced at less than Rs 10,000. While the smartphone sector has been relatively quiet, the tablet market has been witness to four new low-cost tablets from Intex, new market entrants Fly, WickedLeak, and Zync, and Vodafone has some great deals and offers available for you. Let’s get started!

Android Smartphones

Micromax A115 Canvas 3D

wnri - micromax a115 canvas 3d

Both international and local manufacturers have been taking a shot at capturing consumer attention with glasses-free 3D smartphones. We’ve seen the highly-priced LG Optimus 3D and the HTC Evo 3D, and quite a few 3D smartphones from local manufacturers, that have tried and failed to generate an interest in this segment. Riding high on the success of the Canvas A116 HD, Micromax must be feeling bold , because the company is now launching a 3D smartphone of its own, the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D.

Joining the very popular Canvas lineup of devices, the specifications of the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D include -

  • 5-inch display with 800×480 resolution
  • 1Ghz dual-core processor
  • 512MB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
  • 5MP rear camera and 0.3MP front camera
  • 2,000 mAh battery
  • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
  • Dual-SIM support

Compared to rest of the Canvas series, the specifications of the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D, such as the low resolution for such a large display and just 512MB of RAM, are somewhat disappointing. Of course, the selling point of this device is its stereoscopic 3D which means that you won’t need those annoying 3D glasses to enjoy 3D content. Granted, it’s not easy to get your hands on 3D content either, but Micromax helps out there as well. The Micromax A115 Canvas 3D will come pre-loaded with 3D games, along with “Micromax 3D Space” giving you access to 3D videos. Check out the introduction video of the device below -

Rest assured the video is exaggerated, but the 3D feature may be appealing to a lot of consumers. The smartphone is available for Rs 9,999 (~$192) from all leading online and physical retail stores. You can find out more about the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D here.

Source – Tech2

Android Tablets

Intex i-Buddy Connect 3G

wnri - intex ibuddy connect 3g

Intex is following up the i-Buddy Connect released last year with a 3G version of the tablet, which also features some updated specifications. The specifications of the Intex i-Buddy Connect 3G include -

  • 7-inch capacitive touch screen display
  • 1GHz dual-core processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
  • 3MP rear camera and 1.3MP front camera
  • In-built Dual-SIM 2G Voice calling and 3G data support
  • 3500 mAh battery
  • Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich

While the specifications are quite good, the disappointing part is the fact that even though most manufacturers have been moving towards Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the Intex i-Buddy Connect 3G comes with Android 4.0 on-board. Targeting the youth and student markets, the i-Buddy Connect 3G also comes pre-loaded with a host of apps like Nimbuzz, Skype, Facebook, Yahoo Messenger, and Google Talk. For students, the tablet also features an Educlass app that contains NCERT text books from grades 1 to 12, numerous question banks and sample papers, along with other interactive educational content.

The Intex i-Buddy Connect 3G will be available, in black and brown color options, for Rs 9,990 (~$191).

Source – The Mobile Indian

Fly F8s

wnri - fly f8s

Fly is a new entrant to the already over-crowded local Android device manufacturer arena. It won’t be easy for a new company to establish itself against such stiff competition, but the first step is to always release a great product. Fly, with their Fly F8s tablet, has attempted to do so. The specifications of the Fly F8s include -

  • 8-inch IPS display with 1024×768 resolution
  • 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 2.5GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
  • 3.2MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
  • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
  • 4,000 mAh
  • Single-SIM support for 3G connectivity

If you’re surprised at the 2.5GB of internal storage, Fly is one of the first company’s to advertise just the usable internal storage. That is, while the internal storage capacity of the tablet is actually 4GB, only 2.5GB is free and available to the user. The Fly F8s boasts some good specifications, but unfortunately is priced accordingly as well. At Rs 13,499 (~$260), the cost of the tablet is somewhat steep.

Source – NDTV Gadgets

WickedLeak Wammy Desire Tab 2

wnri - wickedleak wammy desire tab 2

WickedLeak is known for releasing some great devices at very reasonable price points, and more importantly, with the latest Android OS iteration. So imagine my surprise when I see the first tablet launched with the company to come with Android 4.0 ICS out of the box. Of course, there’s a catch! But before we get into that, let’s take a look at the specifications of the WickedLeak Wammy Desire Tab 2 -

  • 7-inch IPS display with 1280×800 resolution
  • 1.4Ghz quad-core Samsung Exynos 4412 processor
  • Mali-400 GPU
  • 1GB RAM
  • 8GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
  • 2MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera
  • 3,300 mAh battery
  • Android 4.0 ICS or Android 4.2.1 (beta) out of the box

Aside from marveling at the great specifications, the final one on the list might have confused you. Let me explain. When buying the WickedLeak Wammy Desire Tab 2, you can choose whether to go with Android 4.0, or if you want to try your luck with a beta Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean version. Even though everything works, the beta version may have a few bugs, and if you don’t want to risk it, ICS is the choice for you. Whichever option you choose now, the company promises an update to a stable Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean by June.

A good display, a quad-core Samsung processor, 8GB of internal storage, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (either now or eventually). Looking at these specifications, I’m sure you’re wondering how expensive this tablet is going to be. And this is one area where WickedLeak has managed to surprise us again! Starting next week, the WickedLeak Wammy Desire Tab 2 will be available for just Rs 9,999 (~192).

If you’re interested, you can pre-book the device here, with delivery starting from May 15.

Source – NDTV Gadgets

Zync Quad 10.1

wnri - zync quad 10.1

While the selling point of most other tablets from local manufacturers is the low price point, Zync is one company that manufactures tablets with specifications that are similar, or sometimes even better, than those that are available from internationally-renowned OEMs, while being budget-friendly as well. Following the release of the Quad 8.0 and Quad 9.7 (which featured a retina display), Zync has launched another amazing tablet with the Quad 10.1. Here’s a quick look at the specifications -

  • 10.1-inch IPS display with 1920×1200 resolution
  • 1.5 Ghz quad-core processor
  • Mali-400 GPU
  • 2GB RAM
  • 16GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
  • 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
  • 8,000 mAh battery
  • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

The specifications are very similar to any high-end tablet currently available in the market, but still manages to remain reasonably priced. At just Rs 14,990 (~$288), the Zync Quad 10.1 is a steal. You can find out more about the Quad 10.1, and also order it, here.

Source – Tech Tree

Network Carrier news

Vodafone partners with Samsung to launch “All in One” plans for the Galaxy S4

Vodafone Logo

When the Samsung Galaxy S4 was officially launched in India, we knew that Vodafone would be announcing special offers and plans for owners of the flagship device. If you’ve been waiting to find out, here are the details -

  • A Rs 1,199(~$23) per month plan for postpaid users will include 3000 local and STD minutes, 750 local and STD messages, missed call information for 12 months, and high-speed data availability up to 3GB, after which the speed drops to just 64kbps.
  • Prepaid users have the option to choose from two plans. The first plan, priced at Rs 678 (~$13), will get you 1000 local and STD minutes, 500 local and STD SMS, and 1GB of high-speed data. This plan is valid is for 30 days.
  • The second plan offers exactly half of what is available with the first plan. 500 miutes, 250 messages, 512MB high-speed data, and a 15 day validity. The price on the other hand, is a little more than half, at Rs 345 (~$7), so unless you’re very strapped for cash, the first prepaid plan is definitely the better choice.

It’s really easy to subscribe to these plans. All you need to do is insert your Vodafone SIM card into the Samsung Galaxy S4. You will then get an SMS within 24 hours with instructions on how to activate the plans you are eligible for. You can find out more about the special Vodafone plans for the Samsung Galaxy S4 here.

Source – Think Digit

Vodafone launches RedBox initiative to help make switching smartphones easy

Vodafone Logo

It’s feels great when you pick up a new smartphone, but then you realize that you now have to suffer through the somewhat tedious process of transferring all your important data from your old phone to the new. Vodafone to the rescue! The network provider has launched an amazing program, called RedBox, to help their customers easily make the switch between devices.

Launched at various “Retail of Tomorrow” Vodafone stores around the country, trained customer service reps will help you transfer all your data including contracts, images, videos, apps, and documents from one device to another. This will be really helpful for those not as technologically-inclined, making this inevitable step a lot easier to handle. The best part is that you’ll be able to use their services regardless of what device you’re using, and of course, it’s completely free.

Source – BGR India

As with every week, we’ve seen some great devices on offer from various manufacturers, but I must say that the Zync Quad 10.1 and the WickedLeak Wammy Desire Tab 2 sound absolutely amazing.

See you next week!

What are your thoughts? What do you think of the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D? Will you be picking up any of the tablets that were released this week? If you’re planning to pick up a Samsung Galaxy S4, will you be subscribing to any of the special plans from Vodafone? How useful do you think the Vodafone RedBox initiative is going to be? Let us know in the comments section below.

    

Spotted: LG Optimus G2 or Nexus 5? Or something entirely different?

Posted: 05 May 2013 08:05 AM PDT

LG Logo aa 600px 2

An image showing an unannounced LG device has hit the web, with speculation suggesting we could be looking at an early version of LG's upcoming Optimus G2 flagship, or even at the next-gen Nexus 5.

Before we dive into it, we'll tell you from the start that this image is yet to be confirmed, and we can only guess on the kind of the device it shows. So take it with the appropriate amount of salt, like you would do with any other leaked image or new rumor.

The following picture has been provided by renown leakster @evleaks, who has offered various similar images in the past, most of them rather accurate. After posting some images allegedly showing the AT&T version of the Google X Phone, the same person posted this picture on Facebook, without revealing more details about the device:

lg-evleaks-optimus-g2-nexus-5-1

Based on recent rumors and reports on upcoming LG devices, the most likely LG candidates for this handset are the Optimus G2 or the Nexus 5.

A few days ago, an unknown device has been spotted with the Bluetooth SIG, and variations of it have been discovered in purported AnTuTu benchmark results. At the time, it was suggested that we were looking at the first Optimus G2 traces, and that some versions of the handset would pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, and we even wondered whether an Optimus G2-like Nexus 5 isn't also in the works. After all, since the Optimus G and Nexus 4 are almost twin brothers, why shouldn’t LG and Google continue the partnership this year and launch two similar Optimus G2 and Nexus 5, respectively?

A different Korea-based story said earlier this week that Google and LG could be partnering up on various upcoming devices, including a new Nexus handset – supposedly the Nexus 5. Furthermore, LG has been named as the potential maker for the next Nexus smartphone since the beginning of the year, but we never moved past the rumor phase.

From a different point of view, considering that LG's most recent flagship device (the LG Optimus G Pro) has been just announced in the U.S., the device in the picture above is likely a future handset, one that we shouldn’t expect to hit stores that soon. We would expect the Optimus G2 and/or the Nexus 5 (no matter who makes it) – or any other flagship LG device – to hit stores in the fourth quarter of the year.

Is it the Optimus G2? Is it the Nexus 5? Is it something entirely different? It's too early to tell, but there certainly are some interesting details to mention, assuming that we’re looking at an actual LG device here.

lg-evleaks-optimus-g2-nexus-5-2

First off, this unconfirmed LG handset comes without any hardware buttons on the front, features a small bezel and a prominent LG logo on the front, in a place you wouldn't expect it to see especially on a future Nexus 5 handset. The volume keys can't be spotted either, although you would expect to see them either on the left or right side of the handset.

We're also looking at a different speaker grill, a different sensor placement and what looks like a taller screen. The Droid Guy has done some measuring based on that USB charging cord and estimated that we're looking at a device that measures 5 x 2.5 inches with a 5.5-inch viewable area.

Would the Optimus G2 sport a screen as big as the current Optimus G Pro? While it would make some sense to see the Nexus 5 sport a 5-inch display – because that would make the fifth-generation Nexus also pack a 5-inch screen, which happens to be a popular size for 2013 flagship Android smartphones – would Google go beyond 5 inches? After all, just recently, we’ve learned that Motorola's upcoming handsets would be "just right" when it comes to size, so it would be certainly interesting to see a bigger Nexus come out.

lg-evleaks-optimus-g2-nexus-5-3

Image Credit: The Droid Guy

Like what you see in these new LG images above?

    

Which manufacturer should make the next Nexus (Nexus 5) smartphone?

Posted: 05 May 2013 05:21 AM PDT

galaxy-nexus-vs-nexus-4

Nexus 4 (top) vs Galaxy Nexus (bottom)

We’ve seen some amazing flagship devices being released by Sony, HTC, Samsung, and LG this year, but Android geeks, or connoisseurs if you will, are still waiting to see what Google has planned for its 2013 flagship Nexus smartphone. There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to a Nexus device, such as a more than reasonable price for a high-end device, timely Android updates straight from Google, and continued software support for a long time. But nothing is more important than what defines a Google Nexus device.

No skins. No Bloatware. Just pure Android. No OEM-specific software features that eat up internal storage space, no UI skins and “enhancements” that hide some of Android’s best features (such as Google Now), and no pre-loaded apps. Just a “vanilla” Android experience. The increasing number of users favoring custom ROMs is a clear indication that a lot of people prefer Android the way it was meant to be, and that’s what you get with a Nexus device.

Nexus smartphones and tablets are sold off-contract directly from the Google Play Store and Google’s software engineers develop the software and are responsible for releasing updates. But, as far as the hardware is concerned, Google has been all over the place. The first ever Nexus device was manufactured by HTC, Samsung made the Nexus S and the very popular Galaxy Nexus, as well as the Nexus 10 tablet, while Asus got a chance to build the Nexus 7 tablet. And of course, LG manufactured the 2012 Nexus flagship smartphone, the Nexus 4.

So with the expectation of a Nexus 5, the question on everyone’s mind is, “Which manufacturer is going to make the next Nexus smartphone?” While we can’t tell which will, we can tell which should, and what they’d have to offer if given the opportunity. Let’s take a look!

Highly likely

LG

Sony Xperia Z vs Google Nexus 4 aa (10)

LG had some great devices on offer last year with the Optimus 4X HD and the Optimus G, but really stepped out of the shadows after being given the opportunity to manufacture the Nexus 4. The company faced well the pressure of following the very successful Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and LG and Google got a lot right with the Nexus 4. After all, what’s not to love about a device with high-end specifications at a very reasonable price point, which was less than half the full price of other flagship smartphones. Granted, the 8GB version, which has only around 5.5GB of usable storage, was a let down, but the 16GB version was completely worth it for that price.

The anticipation and popularity of a pure Android experience was evident once again in the fact that the Nexus 4 sold out quite quickly, and the high demand led to Google being forced to admit to supply shortages. Those issues seem to have been sorted out, and the Nexus 4 is still one the more popular smartphones around. Given the success, it’s not difficult to imagine Google giving LG the chance to manufacture the next Nexus smartphone. In fact, if rumors are to be believed, that is exactly what is going to happen.

What can we expect from an LG manufactured Nexus 5? If the specifications of the Nexus 4 were similar to the LG Optimus G, we can expect the Nexus 5 to boast similar specs to that of the LG Optimus G Pro, (maybe the 5-inch Japanese version) or the rumored Optimus G2.  A 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, and (hopefully) 16/32GB of internal storage. It’s definitely wishful thinking to hope for a removable battery and microSD slot, but we can always dream. More rounded edges as opposed to the rectangular design favored by LG, and definitely no physical home button that has shown up on the 2013 LG flagship.

LG has done it before with the Nexus 4, and with a few changes, the Nexus 5 should prove to be another feather in the company’s cap.

Motorola

x-phone-leak-1

As far as Motorola is concerned, the question isn’t whether Motorola should be given the chance to manufacture a Nexus device, but rather, “why hasn’t this happened already?” Even though one of Google’s intentions behind the acquisition of Motorola was to bolster its patent portfolio, many of us thought, or maybe hoped, that Google was going to make a jump into the hardware game as well. Unfortunately, we haven’t  heard a peep from Motorola in the last year, other than the Intel-powered RAZR i and the new RAZR M, RAZR HD and RAZR Maxx HD models. But 2013 is shaping up to be completely different.

The Motorola-made Google X Phone has been one of the most-rumored and hotly debated smartphones recently, and with good reason. Expectations have been soaring, and it’s crazy to imagine that Google may finally be developing a smartphone, technically, in-house. There have been a lot of leaks and speculation about this device, and while the Nexus tag hasn’t been bestowed upon this smartphone yet, the Google X Phone, when/if released, should definitely qualify as one. But, if the Google X Phone isn’t it, there’s always the possibility of a Motorola Nexus.

What can we expect from a Motorola manufactured Nexus smartphone? A large battery. A well-built smartphone that can endure the drop tests we’re definitely going to put it through. Somewhere between a 4.3-inch and 4.7-inch display, and top of the line specifications that should match up to the rest of the currently available flagships.

Without MotoBLUR and the lack of update issues that Motorola has faced in the past, a Motorola Nexus device could be absolutely amazing.

Read on to see the other major contenders!

    

New Samsung Galaxy S4 ads continue Grad Party theme, sans Apple this time [video]

Posted: 05 May 2013 04:33 AM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 vs galaxy s3 s3 front in hand aa

After releasing a new 90-second Galaxy S4 TV ad a few days ago, Samsung is back with a couple of shorter commercials part of the same graduation party theme.

Previously known as "Graduation Pool Party," the Galaxy S4 ad we have already shown you is in fact called "Grad Party" and demos several Galaxy S4 software features while at the same time making fun of Apple and iPhone users in the process.

Unlike the longer ad version (the third clip embedded below), the two new commercials are much shorter and focus on only one Galaxy S4 feature each, without taking any clear hits at Apple.

"Easy Mode" is a short 15-second clip that shows us one of the Galaxy S4 features – evidently called Easy Mode – that allows inexperienced Android users enjoy the handset without having to learn everything such a smartphone has to offer.

The ad clearly shows one man's intention of "switching" to the Galaxy S4, although a link to Apple is not clearly made, but rather left to the viewer to make.

The second video, which is a longer 30-second clip, is titled "Grad Photo" and shows another Galaxy S4 feature, Eraser Shot. With it, a mother saves a graduation photo of her son in a situation other cameras wouldn't necessarily be able to do it. Eraser Shot is a new Galaxy S4 feature that lets users eliminate unwanted objects or people from their pictures in order to capture that perfect shot.

Hits at Apple aren't present in this ad nor are there any subtile “switch” hints.

Samsung's "The Next Big Thing is Here" campaign seems to be centered around youngsters and the graduation theme seems like it's going to stick around for a while. Just as in previous series of ads, we see some of the same characters appear in more than one ad, so it's likely to see them in the future in upcoming Galaxy S4 commercials.

While one of the thee new Galaxy S4 ads do you like best so far?