Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


In the US 1.4 million devices were infected with real malware during 2012

Posted: 08 May 2013 12:33 AM PDT

security-breaches

NQ mobile, a mobile security company, has released a report which claims that 2012 saw a 163% increase in mobile malware and that over 65,000 new pieces of malware were discovered during the year. This kind of news isn’t new and we have heard it all many times before. However when you dig through the fluff and hype there are some real figures which should at least make every Android user aware of the dangers of downloading apps from third parties.

Anti-malware companies have a propensity to exaggerate the number or severity of threats against Android because they think it is good for business. But in reality such scaremongering is just causing Android users to ignore mobile security altogether. Like the boy who cried “Wolf!”, the Android anti-virus companies are crying “malware! malware!” and everyone is getting tired of it. NQ’s latest report says that the number of new pieces of mobile malware went up by 163% and that over 32.8 million Android devices were infected with malware. 32.8 million infected devices is a serious problem.

But… 25.5% of infected mobile devices were in China, followed by India (19.4%), Russia (17.9%) and Saudi Arabia (9.6%). This means that over 70% of infections occurred in countries where piracy and (illegal) third party app stores are popular. In China for example, Google Play doesn’t offer paid-for apps, users can only download free apps. One side effect of this is that to get hold of premium apps users turn to other sources for their downloads. Unfortunately these third party app stores are often full of malware. This situation is improving, slowly. For example, Amazon just recently opened-up its app store to China.

top_5_infected_markets_for_android_malware-645w

So leaving China and India behind what about the USA or Europe? The NQ report says that 9.8% of infected Android devices were in the USA. A quick bit of maths: 9.8% of 32.8 million is 3.2 million. That is still a serious number. But wait… According to NQ, 65% of malware discovered in 2012 were classified as Potentially Unwanted Programs. PUPs are program which aren’t malicious but could be annoying, for example those with aggressive advertising. So of all the “malware” found, only 45% of it is real malware. More maths: 45% of 3.2 million is 1.4 million. And this is the real number.

What it means is that during 2012 1.4 million Americans fell victim to malware on a mobile device. This is a problem. If each one of those devices sent a single premium rate SMS message the malware authors could have earned over $1 million for their efforts. Not a bad payday for a cyber criminal!

Moral of the story

Android malware is a huge problem in places like China and Russia, but so is cyber crime and malware on PCs. It is all related. But America and Europe aren’t immune. The best thing for every Android user is to install a mobile security suite (see our 2013 antivirus apps for Android roundup) and avoid suspect third party download sites. Don’t follow links to download apps that you get from unsolicited SMS messages or from emails. Stay vigilant.

    

Gorilla Glass vs Sapphire: Corning challenges strength claims of alternative phone cover

Posted: 07 May 2013 09:00 PM PDT

Sapphire screens
Making sure that your mobile device is well-protected — whether it is against excess data charges or cellphone theft — is of utmost importance these days. Protection against scratches to the screen in particular is one of the most pressing issues for smartphone and tablet owners, and an entire industry is now dedicated to serving this very important need. Currently, Corning leads the industry with its world-famous Gorilla Glass screens. But makers of sapphire screens — a promising alternative — might soon rise to dethrone it. Is it ready for the challenge?

As it turns out, Corning is not only ready to face the oncoming sapphire-gilded wave of the future, but it is also prepared to shoot down claims that sapphire could someday replace its Gorilla Glass screens. It recently ran tests of its toughest Gorilla Glass 3 material and compared it with its own lab-grown sapphire sheets. In the end, it concluded that sapphire is just a little more scratch-resistant but still just as prone to damage and breaking.

In a statement that was first released to CNET, Corning’s senior vice president and operations chief of staff Jeff Evenson said that samples of their in-house and lab-grown sapphire could not best Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 in the classic tumble test, where devices are spun for 45 minutes to see how it fares against scratches. He also called sapphire “brittle,” and noted that it could be dangerous to users if handled right after breaking. Corning and Evenson are just not very big fans of sapphire, apparently.

In other words, what Corning is saying is that sapphire may not be the best material to use for next-generation smartphone displays, which are only bound to get bigger and more feature-rich as technology progresses. Also, if you’re thinking of potential sources of workable sapphire display covers in the future, you can count them out. Corning says that it doesn’t plan on using sapphire alternatives in lieu of Gorilla Glass any time soon.

Corning
It’s important that you choose a phone or a tablet that you know won’t break very easily after being knocked around and scratched a few times. But it’s also important to remember that pretty much anything will break if the drop-off point is high enough, or if the force of impact is strong enough. Perhaps the best piece of advice you can take from all of this is just don’t ever, ever drop your tablet or phone.

    

Would you buy a Tesla if it had an autopilot system from Google?

Posted: 07 May 2013 08:08 PM PDT

2013-Tesla-Model-S-front-11

Would you like a Tesla? Sure you would. How about one with autopilot? Even better. What if it was $30,000? Now we're talkin'!

If Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the electric car company, has his way, all of that will be a reality. Of course, the price reduction was already in discussions, but the new autopilot feature would be really cool. Perhaps even cooler, it could be made by Google!

Both Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google's founders, are investors in Tesla and have been for some time. Tesla approached Google about designing an autopilot system for the electric roadsters, but are unhappy with the method Google utilizes. Musk believes strongly that an autopilot system should be optical, not laser based as Google's self driving technology is. According to the billionaire car maker, Google's system is also really expensive. That doesn’t mean they won’t work together, as both companies have a good relationship and want this to work.

A steep price tag is a strong juxtaposition to Tesla's desire to lower the cost of their cars, and may not be a popular add-on because of it. Musk believes vehicles with autopilot functionality are the natural progression the auto industry will take, so we're confident he'll find a way to make it happen.

What's the difference between autopilot and self-driving cars? Nothing. According to Musk, "Self-driving sounds like it's going to do something you don't want it to do. Autopilot is a good thing to have in planes, and we should have it in cars."

Leave it to Tesla to forge their own path.

    

Is Google Maps getting a UI update?

Posted: 07 May 2013 07:35 PM PDT

google maps

Everyone's favorite 'find everything' utility, Google Maps, may have found itself a face-lift. If the news from an unofficial Google news site is right, we'll be seeing the new interface at some point. When that could be isn’t clear, but with I/O next week, it could be pretty soon.

What's new? We can't really say 'new', but there is a nice polish to the alleged new interface. Rather than a search bar at the top, and a sidebar to the left, Maps would now be full screen. There will be a floating search bar, but the map itself is full screen. It looks as though it relies on drop-down findings from the search bar, in a richer looking format.

Full screen and drop-down findings are nice, but what is of perhaps more interest is Google's styling. Google is fond of keeping their sites and services pretty uniform in design, so we have to wonder if this is a tip of the hat to further reaching changes afoot. If it is, we like what we're seeing with Maps. This is for the desktop version, so we also have to wonder if the mobile app will get a new look as well.

A few shots are below. Again, none of this is official, but those shots look pretty legitimate to us. If they are fake, the culprit was smart enough to add a "Welcome to the new Google Maps" box in the upper right. Besides, who would want to fake a Google Maps UI update?

Are you buying it? What do you think? Tell us in the comments section!

Thanks, Brent!

Google Maps Update 2 Google Maps UI Update 1

    

Rumor: Google to open retail stores exclusively for Google Glass

Posted: 07 May 2013 03:35 PM PDT

sergey-brin-google-glass

Hang on to your hats folks, this rumor is a doozy.

According to an unnamed source reporting to Business Insider, Google may be planning its own retail stores. While we’ve heard this kind of rumor before, what makes this claim truly interesting is that the retail front supposedly will only feature Google Glass.

Obviously, this is a rumor, and should be treated with skepticism. But could it be possible?

Google Glass is quite a bit different than other mobile computing devices out there, which could make for a sharp learning curve. Having a retail presence for Glass could be an important way to train new owners, educate about Glass, and even help some folks get over the fear or distrust of it.

There are also aspects of Google Glass that could use in-store customization, such as making sure the Google Glass frame is properly fitted to your head. It’s also worth mentioning that at some point in the future Google Glass will likely work with frames and lenses for those of us that still wear glasses. Having a retail experience to help with this process could make sense.

If this rumor is true, we’d guess that it would be more of a booth experience than a full-fledged store, something sort of like Samsung experience store, or maybe even a bit more like a Vision Center found in department stores like Walmart. Considering there would only be one product, not much room would be needed, after all.

Why bother with creating a store experience only for Google Glass when Google has so many other great products? That’s a good question. It could be about specialization, knowing that when you go to a Glass Store it is for one thing, and one thing alone. You’d trust that the specialists there would know everything about Glass, without the staff having to also know about every Nexus device and Chromebook as well.

Google Glass isn’t expected to hit commercially until 2014, or at earliest the very end of this year, so even if Google is considering the idea of a retail store, a lot can change between now and then.

What do you think of the idea, does it make sense for Google to have some kind of limited retail experience for the Google Glass?

    

BlueStacks, the software that lets you run Android apps on your desktop, has hit 10 million downloads

Posted: 07 May 2013 02:54 PM PDT

bluestacks-logo-645
BlueStacks has been in beta status for a little over a year now, and has hit a whopping 10 million downloads mark, which is a quite an impressive feat.

10 million downloads is quite a milestone, and it seems to have surprised everyone in the company. In fact, BlueStacks CEO Rosen Sharma said the team tried to predict where the software would be in its first year. It turns out that the employee closest to the massive milestone only guessed a couple hundred thousand.

BlueStacks’ senior VP of marketing noted that downloads are different from users actually using the software on a regular basis. That’s very true, but the number of active users was described as “spooky high”, which is no doubt a testament to all the hard work that was put in the software.

Celebrations aside, BlueStacks is working on a Jelly Bean version of the app, and according to AllThingsD, it should be releasing in the near future.

If you’re not familiar with BlueStacks, the software basically allows you to run Android apps on AMD-powered desktops running Windows 7 or Windows 8. The software will even let you run Android apps on Mac OS X. Of course, this may not be the perfect solution to run Android apps on your computer, but it definitely has a lot of potential to become even better than it already is.

While there’s no release date yet, there’s no doubt that BlueStacks will get a lot more attention when it officially releases and becomes more widely available than constrained to certain specifications.

    

App Update Roundup – Helium (Carbon), RunKeeper, and Viber for Android

Posted: 07 May 2013 02:36 PM PDT

Helium, RunKeeper, and Viber (from left to right)

Helium, RunKeeper, and Viber (from left to right)

In today’s app update roundup, Carbon gets renamed to Helium, along with other updates to the app, RunKeeper makes it even easier to track your fitness activities, and Viber gets a face-lift and a desktop client! Let’s take a look.

Helium (Carbon)

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If you use Carbon backup, you must have noticed that the app has now been renamed to Helium, because of a possible trademark infringement notice received by app creator Koushik Dutta, who you all may be familiar with as the creater of ClockworkMod. Don’t worry, the features of this very popular application sync and backup app remain the same, and in fact, because “Carbonite” is so very similar to “Carbon,” the app is not only renamed but, includes some other additions as well, such as -

  • App icons are now stored in a .nomedia directory as a hidden dot file
  • Fixed bugs with PC Restore
  • Helium’s Windows Installer now includes the Universal ADB Driver as part of the installation. If you had device detection problems before, this may fix it
  • Cloud backups are now managed separately per device
  • Wi-Fi settings can now be backed up (root required)

Even though installation requires an extra step or two, the best part about Helium backup is the root access is not a requirement. You can find the free version of Helium on the Google Play Store here, which allows you to backup information to your SD card and PC, while the premium ad-free version, which includes more features such as cloud backup and restore, can be found here. Don’t forget to check out our how-to video (and related post) on using Helium, known “back then” as Carbon, here -

RunKeeper

aur - runkeeper

RunKeeper is a great way to keep up to date with your outdoor fitness routines, which tracks your walking, running, hiking, and cycling using the GPS on your smartphone. Apart from tracking your fitness activities, you can also see stats, measure your heart rate, control your workout music, check your progress against preset goals, and share your achievements with friends via Facebook and Twitter. Today, RunKeeper has been updated to make it even easier to access the app while “on the run,” with new features that include -

  • New lock screen and home screen widget. Lock screen widgets are of course, only available with devices running Android 4.2
  • Manual entry and weight logging from the start screen
  • Support for Pebble smartwatches

The very popular fitness tracker app is available for free from the Google Play Store here. Joe Hindy says that RunKeeper is worth checking out, and if you can’t trust Android Authority’s App Guy when it comes to apps, who can you trust?

Viber

aur - viber

If you’ve missed it, today, Viber announced its new desktop client for Windows and Mac (with one for Linux on the way soon) which will also allow for video calls, along with a completely overhauled Android app featuring a new user interface, and a host of other changes and improvements. The complete change log includes -

  • Completely new user interface and design gives the latest Android look and feel
  • Support for all new Viber Desktop
  • Transfer live calls between your Android smartphone and your desktop
  • Online status indicator
  • Send video messages
  • New voice engine improves sound quality
  • New cool stickers
  • Add captions to photos and video messages
  • Viber is now localized to Swedish, Turkish, Korean, and Dutch

The new UI is pretty amazing, and I’ve tried out most of the new features already, like live call transfer from phone to desktop, and sending video messages and photos, which are really useful as well. Viber is already one of the most popular apps around, and this update and the latest features will only take it to new heights. If you haven’t tried out Viber yet, you can find it on the Google Play Store here.

What are your thoughts on the latest app updates and features? What do you think of the completely redesigned Viber app and its desktop client? Let us know in the comments section below.

    

Utilities dominate top April Android downloads, while iOS users prefer games

Posted: 07 May 2013 01:35 PM PDT

 

Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, select, start. Is that how it goes?

Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start. Is that how it goes?

Android and iOS platforms differ in terms of popular apps in both free and paid categories. While Android users prefer utilities and communication apps, iOS users are quite fond of games.

Apps are the lifeline of mobile platforms today, and with Android and iOS being the biggest ecosystems, it can only be reasonable to analyze trends through the apps that users are downloading. For April 2013, we see some interesting insights from analytics firm Distimo.

In gist, there is quite some disparity between the apps that Android users download as opposed to our iOS using counterparts. For one, mobile games are the dominant download on both the free and paid top lists on iOS. Android users, meanwhile, prefer to download utilities and communication or social tools.

Top 5 free iOS apps

  1. Candy Crush Saga
  2. Sonic Dash
  3. YouTube
  4. Injustice: Gods Among Us
  5. Dentist Office

Top 5 free Android apps

  1. Facebook
  2. WhatsApp Messenger
  3. Skype
  4. Facebook Messenger
  5. Instagram

Four out of five of the top free iOS apps are games, while none of the top five Android apps are. However, it seems Android users are more social than is commonly thought, with the top apps being either social networking tools (Facebook, Instagram) or messengers (Skype, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger).

Top 5 paid iOS apps

  1. WhatsApp
  2. Temple Run: Oz
  3. Minecraft Pocket Edition
  4. Cut the Rope: Time Travel
  5. Pou

Top 5 paid Android apps

  1. Swiftkey Keyboard
  2. Titanium Backup Pro
  3. Minecraft Pocket Edition
  4. Poweramp Full Version
  5. Nova Launcher Prime

As with the trend for free apps, we also see a similar trend in paid apps for both platforms, with games dominating iOS, only topped by WhatsApp (the Android variant is subscription based after the first year, but an outright purchase on iOS). Meanwhile, utilities dominate Android, with four out of five being apps that are commonly used to customize or tweak the system.

However, it seems the top-grossing apps for both platforms are dominated by freemium games, with 9 out of 10 top apps in the iOS and Android lists being games (the only exception is LINE on Android). Interestingly enough, the top-earning apps got their money from localized markets, such as Korea’s Kakao Talk, and Japan’s LINE.

These trends are based on global data gathered by Distimo through the month of April. Are Android users more serious, after all?

Image credit: Couple using smartphones / Shutterstock

    

Analyst claims tablet shipments will rise above PC by year’s end. Is this further proof that the PC is dying?

Posted: 07 May 2013 01:13 PM PDT

intel-pc

We’ve known for a while now that PC sales are in a major slump, while mobile devices like tablets and smartphones continue to see a dramatic increase in sales. Now it looks like tablet shipments will soon rise above the PC for the first time, at least if analyst Sameer Singh of BitChemy Ventures proves correct.

According to Singh, tablet shipments will rise to almost 80 million units in the 4th quarter of this year. In contrast, PCs will continue to decline, falling between 70 and 75 million units. That’s the best case scenario, according to the analyst. His worst-case scenario suggests that by 3rd quarter of this year, PC shipments could drop to as little as 65 million devices, while tablets ship over 75 million.

“These shipment estimates could be affected by the pace of of low cost tablet penetration in emerging markets and any changes to the Windows 8 operating system." “However, given the scale of the figures, I can say with confidence that quarterly tablet shipments should overtake those of PCs by late 2013.”

We hear this line of talk all the time. The PC market is seeing a continued drop in sales. People are using the smartphone and tablet over their PC. It all means that in a few years the personal computer will be dead as a doornail, right?

Galaxy Note 8 vs Nexus 7 vs iPad mini aa (4) -600px

The PC is dying. Or is it?

When most folks define a PC, they seem to simply think of desktops and laptops.

So how do you define a PC, what is it? Is a computing device that has a keyboard and mouse/trackpad? Is it a device that has interchangeable components, or perhaps something that runs on an x86 processor?

Merriam-Webster defines a PC as "a general-purpose computer equipped with a microprocessor and designed to run especially commercial software (as a word processor or Internet browser) for an individual user." Therefore, the tablet and smartphone are arguably just another class of the PC, just like the desktop and laptop.

Hell, (by definition) smartphones are probably even more of a personal computing device than a desktop, since you generally have multi-user accounts with your computer, but your phone remains locked down to just one user.

As technology continues to evolve, we will see further blurring of lines between the types of PCs.

There will be full-touch interfaces that have no keyboard and mouse. There will be "wearable computers", including Google Glass. We will also possibly see Android push further into desktop and laptop territory, alongside Chrome OS devices. Multi-function computers like tablets that plug into PC docks will also possibly continue to gain traction as time passes on.

Right now, tablets and smartphones are exciting, fresh and new. Despite Microsoft’s best (or worst?) efforts to refresh the way we think about PCs with Windows 8, the laptop and desktop market is becoming tired in its current form. It is a no-brainer that the end result would be a decrease in sales.

Five or ten years from now, though? It’s possible that less folks will own traditional desktop or laptop but smart televisions, wearable computers, tablets, smartphones and other computing devices will continue on. More than likely, desktops and laptops will still be there as well, just perhaps more as secondary device, with more "personal" personal computing devices taking their place for day-to-day use.

So the bigger question isn’t if the PC is dying, but instead if Microsoft’s stranglehold over the PC market is finally lessening, allowing it to evolve. The answer to that, at least in my humble opinion, is yes.

Microsoft, and to a lesser extent Apple and Microsoft’s vendors, have long been the driving forces in the PC market. With Google’s Chromebooks and Android devices, this just isn’t the case anymore. The PC is not dead, has merely transcended the forms of old and started branching out in new and exciting ways.

These are exciting times we live in folks, simple as that.

    

Rumor: Galaxy Tab 3 (7.0, 8.0 and 10.1) launch to take place during weeks 19-23 in Eastern Europe

Posted: 07 May 2013 12:57 PM PDT

samsung galaxy tab 3 press

While only one Galaxy Tab 3 has been made official (the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 model), a new report reveals potential Eastern European launch dates for Samsung's upcoming third-generation Galaxy Tab tablets.

In addition to the 7-inch version, the company is expected to also launch a Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 model but also a Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 version, a brand new addition to the family.

Sam Mobile has apparently received details about the potential launch dates for the different versions of these tablets (we're looking at both 3G and Wi-Fi models for each of them, and while they can't be confirmed at this time, we're still going to take a look at them:

  • SM-T2100ZWA*** – White – Week 19 (May 6-12)– Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (7.0) 8GB Wi-Fi
  • SM-T2110ZWA*** – White –  Week 24 (June 10-16) – Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (7.0) 8GB 3G
  • SM-T3100ZWA*** – White –  Week 23 (June 3-9)– Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (8.0) 16GB Wi-Fi
  • SM-T3110ZWA*** – White –  Week 25 (June 17-23)– Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (8.0) 16GB 3G
  • GT-P5210ZWA*** – White –  Week 23 (June 3-9)– Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (10.1) 16GB Wi-Fi
  • GT-P5200ZWA*** – White – Week 26 (June 24-30)– Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (10.1) 16GB 3G

As you can see, potential Samsung tablet buyers in Eastern Europe will be able to buy a Galaxy Tab 3 version starting with next week, although some of them may have to wait until the last week of June to get a 3G Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 model, assuming the information above is accurate. The Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and 10.1 will reportedly be unveiled at some point "this month," although we don't have any details on that particular announcement.

Considering that Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 pretty much out of the blue, we shouldn't be surprised to see the company do the same with the bigger versions.

As for launch windows for other markets, we'll have to wait for the South Korean company to make the devices official.

    

Rovio Accounts will save your Angry Birds progress in the cloud

Posted: 07 May 2013 12:00 PM PDT

0408-rovio_angrybirds_full_600

Rovio Entertainment has announced today that it will be gradually rolling out a new feature called Accounts across its lineup of games.

The Rovio Accounts feature will eliminate the frustration of having to play any of Rovio’s games from start to finish for a second time after getting a new device or even reinstalling a game. In short, Rovio’s new Accounts feature will allow you to save your game on one device and continue playing it on another.

This feature will no doubt save a lot of heartache when upgrading your device(s). It’ll no doubt be a godsend for those who enjoy flashing custom ROMs too. As you know, flashing a ROM basically wipes your data, and manually backing up a save can be a huge pain.

Rovio Accounts will also be handy for families that share a tablet. Apparently the new feature will allow multiple users to save their hard work on a shared device. While this is all great news, there is a downside. At the time being, the new Rovio Accounts feature only works in The Croods and on the iOS variant of Angry Birds for those who live in Finland and Poland.

We don’t know when we’ll see the new feature expand, but Rovio did say they will “gradually introduce Rovio Accounts into more areas." Regardless, it’s quite surprising that Rovio is finally implementing this. It would have been handy to have it two years ago. Let’s just hope more people begin to take advantage of the Cloud with their games.

On the other hand, I’d personally like to see the Finland-based games giant allow people who have signed up for Rovio Accounts export their save files off of the cloud. Sure, you could always dig for the save files in the game’s file directory, but it’d be nice to have a more elegant and easy way to save a backup for yourself.

In addition to Rovio Accounts, the game developer recently expanded its Angry Birds Friends game, which was originally only available on Facebook, to Android and iOS devices. If you’re interested, be sure to check out our full review of the game by Android Authority’s Joseph Hindy (video below)!

What do you think of developers using the Cloud to store saved game files? Popular PC platforms like Steam and Origin implement it quite well, and I’ll admit it, by having that feature turned on, I’ve been able to save myself from having to start over multiple PC games. Let us know what you think in the comments!

    

You’re frustrated, Android users. Bill Gates says so.

Posted: 07 May 2013 11:52 AM PDT

Bill-Gates_2012907b

I don't know how to break this to you, but you're frustrated. If you're reading this, and you use iOS or Android, you're just plain frustrated. If you don't think you are, it's only because you haven't realized it yet. Take a minute for that to sink in. It's a lot, I know.

If you doubt that you are, please don't. It is the gospel according to Microsoft, and therefore true. In an interview recently, Bill Gates had the following to say about us:

But a lot of those users are frustrated, they can't type, they can't create documents, they don't have Office there, so we're providing them with the benefits of something they've seen and made that a big category, but without giving up what they expect in a PC.

That's right. The slowly decaying PC market is just fine. In fact, we just want it in tablet form! That's so comforting to hear. I was worried for a minute. Or was I?

If that doesn't convince you as to how frustrated you are, there was also this:

Windows 8 is revolutionary in that it takes the benefits of a tablet and the benefits of a PC, and it's able to support both of those – so if you have Surface, Surface Pro, you've got that portability of a tablet but the richness of a PC in terms of the keyboard, Microsoft Office of a PC.

Who knew?! We love Office, and we need it on the tablet. That's refreshing to hear. I was wondering why I have been so frustrated lately. I create and edit in Google Drive, and it suits me just fine. Still, I can't shake those feelings of angst. I so longingly wondered what was making me sob gently at night.

At first, I wondered if it was because my devices were affordable. Maybe being able to afford things like rent and dinner were making me sad. Then, I thought maybe it was because I had too many good apps on my devices. There is so much variety, I just get overwhelmed. I need limitations, I guess.

After thinking about it for a little while, I began to wonder if it was because I hated the look of Android. I'm like anyone else, I get tired of seeing the same screen all the time. I can move stuff around, and change the background image… but is that enough? Then I remembered I could root the device and flash a new ROM, even a theme. That made me feel a little bit better.

I thought about Bill's comment about typing, too. He's right, you know? Typing on a virtual keyboard is tough sometimes. I guess I could download a different keyboard, or maybe buy a Bluetooth keyboard. That wouldn’t really — no, it's exactly the same as a Surface tablet.

Wait a minute, here. Something is wrong. I love Android! I don't miss Windows or Office at all! In fact, I'm happy to have shed it. There is nothing about a PC I miss on my Nexus 7, either. I can create documents just fine on Drive, or even via other apps.

microsoft Credit: Voxpelli/Flickr

Even if I did need better editing abilities, I could get a Chromebook. They're really similar to the Surface tablet in terms of size, and still a fraction of the cost. There is also the very real possibility that Google will release a Chrome tablet soon… and that we’ll see Microsoft Office for Android very soon.

Microsoft has some good business software, but there are a lot of businesses switching to Google for their enterprise solutions. Schools are also getting into Chromebooks. Those are two institutions that really need computers, so how can they switch? Don't they miss the PC? Clearly, they don't.

After all that, I have to say that Bill gates is right. I am frustrated. With Microsoft.

Overpriced hardware, a clunky OS, and slanderous marketing do not earn my loyalty or respect. Rather, they cause me to doubt your products. When Steve Jobs told users they were holding their device wrong, it not only called into question his temporary sanity, but the phone itself. Was it poorly designed? Not really, but once you start taking shots, rules of engagement come into play.

Microsoft has some real potential to make room for itself, but not like this. These statements are, perhaps, the boldest and most plain example of Microsoft's delusion that we'll all come back to them. We won't.

 

    

Sony Xperia SP available for pre-order in the United States, just $480

Posted: 07 May 2013 11:43 AM PDT

Sony Xperia SP

No beating around the bush here, contracts stink. Thankfully Sony seems to understand that, and so the company is giving us ample opportunity to grab their handsets directly from Sony’s website, without requiring us to commit to a two-year agreement. Just yesterday, Sony announced the Xperia Z had arrived in the United States in unlocked form, for just $630 outright. Additionally, the Sony Xperia SP is now available for pre-order.

The Sony Xperia SP is clearly not as exciting as the Xperia Z or ZL, but it is still a highly attractive handset with reasonably capable specs.

The handset has a 4.6-inch 720p display, a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 8GB storage, 1GB of RAM, VGA front cam, 8MP rear cam, and NFC. The Xperia SP also comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Like the Xperia ZL, there is no water or dust-proofing technology in the Xperia SP, but it still appears to have a relatively durable design. Priced at $480, the SP might make some spec sacrifices in the name of saving you money, but it is still no slouch, and at the very least follows a similar design style to the Xperia Z and ZL.

If price is no object? The Sony Xperia Z or ZL are probably the better choice, packing a quad-core processor, double the storage and double the RAM for just $150 more. Again, depends on your budget and your needs.

The Sony Xperia SP is expected to start shipping on May 20th, and is avaliable in both black and white color choices.

    

Will Firefox OS change the face of smartphone operating systems?

Posted: 07 May 2013 11:41 AM PDT

Firefox OS fox phone logo

The jury is still out on whether Firefox OS poses a legitimate threat to the mobile OS status-quo; many are writing it off for simply being too late to the party and others are quietly rooting for their favorite browser developer. Whilst Android, or any other mobile OS for that matter, obviously isn’t going to be overtaken overnight, Firefox OS poses some interesting questions for the future of smartphone software.

As a big open-source fan I see bags of potential in the fledgling operating system, it's something which I believe could be a big changer in the mobile OS space. So, let's take an in-depth look at what Firefox OS brings to the table.

The Vision

Firefox OS isn't aiming for top spot competition with the Galaxy S4, HTC One, Nexus 4, or the iPhone 5. Instead, Mozilla wants to replace the plethora of aging handsets which still populate emerging markets with cheap, Internet-connected smartphones. You have to admit that the memories of using the web on an old Sony Ericsson or flip-cover Motorola seem horribly clumsy by modern standards.

we bring web connectivity to people who cannot afford smartphones

By making use of web standards such as CSS, HTML5, and Java, Firefox aims to put the web at your fingertips regardless of your means or budget. Mozilla has clearly taken some inspiration from Chrome OS, loading applications through web browser technologies rather than through the main OS. You could consider some something akin to a "compatibility layer," where apps function independently of the operating system.

As always, open-source is at the core of what Firefox is aiming to do. Freeing developers from the restraints and demands placed on them by Apple and Microsoft, but without the fragmentation presented by Android.

We use completely open standards and there's no proprietary software or technology involved.

This opens the door for app developers to flock to the platform, and there are many already working in the HTML5 and Java space. This will no-doubt be a key factor in determining the success of Mozilla's operating system.

For a complete view of what Firefox OS aims to achieve, Darcy LaCouvee's first look at Firefox OS is worth a watch:

Hardware

Firefox’s greatest strength as a fledgling platform lies in its low price point for consumers and, just like Android, an absence of licensing costs for manufacturers. You may have heard that Firefox OS runs perfectly fine on just 256MB RAM and cheap 1GHz single-core CPUs – unlike Android Jelly Bean which requires at least 320MB RAM – which keeps compatible handsets cheap to manufacture.

The cheapest developer preview handset, named Keno, comes with a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 processor, 512MB RAM, with a 3.5-inch screen and support for common 3G networks. The price point; a very reasonable $119, and that was for the developer preview, the final version will likely ship with a little less memory to keep production costs down.

Geeksphone FirefoxOS handsets

The Geeksphone Keno and Peak developer handsets sold out in record time, suggesting that their’s strong interest in FireFox’s OS.

What's more, these technologies continue to be produced at lower and lower costs as manufacturing processes improve and yields increase. So the price is expected to come down even more over the next year or two.

Software

There’s tremendous potential for Firefox OS to capture a significant share of the budget market, providing that the hardware price is right. Of course Android software doesn’t cost manufacturers anything either, but Firefox’s appeal could come from a few of the projects finer details.

Firstly, as the interview put so elegantly:

(we) don't have the problem that a very low end phone doesn't get newer versions of the operating system

By using web standards, new features can be easily implemented in much the same way as a Chrome, Firefox, or Safari browser update. This puts an end to the dreaded hardware fragmentation which plagues budget devices.

Android fragmented versions

This is a sight which Firefox OS users shouldn’t have to deal with; no more outdated versions or missing out on new features.

Secondly, as already mentioned, Firefox OS will run apps built from web-based languages like HTML5 or Java, which is the key to this flexibility. Essentially the idea is that, as long as your phone is good enough to run these web APIs you won’t have to worry so much about changes to your operating system or hardware specifications. Apps and features can be created and updated to work with existing web technologies, which aren’t particularly hardware- or OS-dependent.

There will obviously be performance differences between individual hardware setups, but, with low-end hardware, gaming or 3D apps aren’t too important. Instead, consumers are more interested in Internet and social functionality, rather than 4k video output.

Whilst it might seem problematic to base a handset around the web, especially when coverage can be temperamental, Firefox OS allows for app installations too. Your favourite apps will still work offline, which is massively important when it comes to roaming, and will even work with Android handsets too.

Currently, consumers in emerging markets are stuck with older Android handsets, many of them still on Gingerbread – some are on even older versions like Froyo – and even more limited OSs like Nokia's Symbian. Many of these platforms are out of date, and some are no longer supported by app developers. With Jelly Bean or iOS features and compatible software out of reach, there’s room and a real need for cheap, internet accessable handsets.

Web applications, the way of the future?

This is where I feel Firefox OS has the potential for the biggest impact. As we've already discussed, Mozilla has the potential to capture a massive installation base and with it comes software developers eager to peddle their wares to a growing platform.

Picture, for a moment, your day to day smartphone uses. Chances are that your work needs consist of email checking, maybe an Office suite, and web access. Home use probably isn’t that different, Internet access for streaming video, email, social networking, you get the picture. Most of these activities take place, or could be done, using your browser, we only use dedicated apps because they are faster and usually a bit easier to use than mobile web pages.

Having said that, quite a few of us probably already use plenty of web pages which operate in the same way as a traditional application too, and have been gradually moving away from dedicated applications over the past few years. I'm currently typing this using Google Docs rather than Office, I've used web-based email clients for years, and I'm happily using Spotify for Chrome for music.

Chrome apps

Virtually everything you need can be accessed online these days.

We’ve already seen some more advanced uses of this sort of HTML5 development with Google’s Chrome OS, which now has large range of apps developed for its browser based platform. Firefox OS should be able to achieve a similar result, once multiple platforms begin using similar development standards it could start a change reaction which could attract even more developers.

The real benefit of a move towards an HTML5 or Java standard is that apps will be compatible across various operating systems, in the same way that websites work regardless of whether you’re viewing them on Android, iOS, or Windows. A change in focus like that would mark a pretty dramatic shift in software development, and would be a great benefit to developers and consumers alike.

    

Viber 3.0 introduces video calling on new desktop client, plus improved Android app UI

Posted: 07 May 2013 10:41 AM PDT

Desktop-PC-and-Android-w645

Viber has recently launched version 3.0 of its Android and iOS applications, promising a fresh user experience on Android and a new desktop client for cross-device messaging, calling and even video calls.

Viber today launched its latest release, which promises an overhauled experience for Android users. In an interview with Android Authority, Viber CEO Talmon Marco said the Android app has been reworked from ground up to conform to user interface standards set for the platform.

“We started development on Viber in 2010. At that time, there were no design guidelines for Android,” Marco said, stressing that the Android interface until now closely echoed Viber for the iPhone. However “what’s good for back then is no longer good now.” As such, the team has revamped the user experience and “completely renovated Viber on Android. It’s a brand new app, and it’s something we consider to be beautiful, amazing, gorgeous.”

The 3.0 update also resolves the security vulnerability reported late last month. While that vulnerability has already been patched, this update ensures that the flaw — which lets a third party access your device by sending a certain combination of messages — is no longer a problem.

Viber on desktop

The key update for this release is the launch of a new desktop application for Windows and OS X. With the new application, Viber promises a seamless messaging and calling experience across smartphones and desktop or notebook computers. Marco highlights how a user can seamlessly switch from one’s smartphone to the desktop with the tap of a “call transfer” button, and vice versa. The call does not get cut off.

In a similar vein, messaging is also smart and seamless. At the first instance, Viber rings all of your devices. But once you start chatting on one device, the others will be muted, so you don’t get incessant alerts on all devices.

Additionally, messages are synced across devices, which gives several benefits. First, whichever message or thread you delete on one device will also be deleted on others, thereby reducing redundancy and the need to do maintenance on several devices (Marco says Viber supports up to 50 desktop clients). Secondly, messages you read on one device will not remain unread on another device, which is usually a big gripe for users who have their IM and VoIP client on different devices.

Improved quality

Apart from the new client launch, Viber has reworked its VoIP engine for better-quality voice calls. Marco shared that Viber calls work well even with speeds as low as 8 Kbps — yes, that’s Kilobits per second. And as you go higher in speed, the voice quality improves even further. Voice calls also work seamlessly while switching from one type of connection to another. As such, Viber calls can hop from cellular to WiFi connectivity without skipping a beat. As a Viber review puts it, simplicity and straightforwardness are among the main benefits of Viber, as compared to competitors like Skype or Fring.

An added benefit of the desktop client is video calling, with Viber now supporting video calls across Windows and OS X clients. A client for Linux is also in the works. Video calling is not yet supported for the mobile client, but the team is working on adding this functionality.

Mobile-centric experience

But even with the launch of a desktop client, Marco says Viber remains mobile-centric. In fact, you can only sign up with the service from a smartphone. This ensures that you already have a populated contact list, which consists of other users in your phonebook who are already on Viber. In contrast, other VoIP clients let you start out with an empty contact list that you have to manually populate. Once you have an account set from your mobile device and number, you can then sign in from the desktop client.

Viber is a free download from Google Play and the iTunes App Store. The desktop client can be downloaded from Viber’s website: Viber for Mac and Viber for Windows. If you’re worried you won’t have anyone to talk to, consider that Viber has already grown to 200 million users — up from the 140 million the service had as of end 2012. Viber is reportedly growing 400,000 users per day, and the introduction of video calling and desktop apps is likely to help increase the app’s popularity even further.

    

World’s thinnest smartphone, the Huawei P6-U06, shown in black version in new pictures

Posted: 07 May 2013 10:17 AM PDT

thinnest smartphone

The thinnest smartphone in the world, according to specs from the Chinese version of the FCC (TENAA), the Huawei Ascend P6-U06, seems to also have a black version.

Or at least that’s what you would tend to believe by looking at the pictures French site NowherEelse has posted, which, the same source says, come from an anonymous reader. While, as any anonymous tip, this one should be taken with a grain of salt, the smartphone in the images looks remarkably similar to the one in the TENAA pictures, as you can see in the images below.

While it indeed does look very thin (6.18 millimeters is the value mentioned in the previous information), it also bears a bit of a resemblance to the iPhone 5, as the guys at NowherEelse have noticed, too.

thinnest smartphone

The similarity is even more visible (and so is the thickness) in this other image, showing the smartphone’s profile.

thinnest smartphone

The Huawei Ascend P6-U06 has no release date yet, and there is only unofficial information about it at the moment. According to the previous reports, apart from the fact that it will be the thinnest smartphone in the world, beating the Alcatel One Touch Idol in the race for that title, it is said to be a dual SIM smartphone, with a 4.7-inch 720p touchscreen. The CPU is said to be a 1.5GHz quad-core one, coupled with 2GB of RAM (internal memory is 32GB), and the smartphone is running Android 4.1.2.

No words on price or availability yet, but maybe Huawei will think about bringing it to the rest of the world, too.

    

Rumor: LG building a tablet, set for Q3 release

Posted: 07 May 2013 10:15 AM PDT

LG Logo aa 600px

LG is slowly turning into a big time player in the smartphone market, and now it seems to be turning its attention to tablets. According to various Korean media sources, LG is currently testing a tablet internally, with a release date set before the end of Q3 2013.

This would be the second time LG has gotten into the tablet market. Their first attempt, the not so successful Optimus Pad in 2011, leaves LG hoping for more luck this time around. Unfortunately, there are no specifications to report on yet. In fact, there isn't even a known screen size. As of right now, all this is up in the air.

What we do know is that LG is definitely a big enough company to enter a growing tablet market seeing exponential growth. With Apple seeing its market share reduce, and Samsung yet to release its refresh of the Galaxy Tab range, a spot in the top 3 is definitely up for grabs should LG make a big enough push for it.

LG also makes a large allocation of the Retina iPad displays, and is rumored to be building the Retina screens for the iPad mini as well. That means the chances of seeing a high resolution display on an LG built tablet are high, no matter what the screen size.

It's also worth noting that LG has already confirmed that it is happy working with Google, and the end of the third quarter is awfully close to the time when a refresh of the Nexus 10 would occur. After the Nexus 4 was released, LG hinted at “more devices” they were working on with Google. With a few dots connected and a good enough product made by LG, anything is possible. Of course, this is all just speculation, so remember to add your pinch of salt to your daily rumor dose.

Would you be interested in an LG made tablet? What about an LG Nexus tablet? Let us know in the comments.

    

T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4 software update comes with visual voicemail improvements

Posted: 07 May 2013 10:09 AM PDT

T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4

The T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4 has received its first software update, which comes with a set of small but useful improvements.

The update for the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4 (a smartphone which had its share of delays), is available OTA (over the air), but can also be applied by using the Samsung Kies software. The update will bring the software to version number M919UVUAMDL, according to the dedicated T-Mobile support page (see Source link below).

The update brings improvements for the Visual Voicemail app, as well as to the ISIS app, which is used for NFC payments. The file size of the update is a pretty hefty one (168 MB) and you should keep in mind that your battery life should be over 50% when starting the process and that, of course, you’ll be needing a data connection.

In case you haven’t bought a Samsung Galaxy S4, maybe our review will help you decide, one way or the other.

And if you’ve already bought the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4, make sure you tell us in a comment if you’ve received the new update.

    

Motorola warned by European Commission over patent licensing to Apple

Posted: 07 May 2013 10:03 AM PDT

Google Motorola Logo

Motorola just can't win lately. Literally can't win. On the heels of the devastating judgement in regard to their patent agreement with Microsoft, Motorola has been dealt another tough card to play.

Yesterday, the European Commission announced that they have warned Motorola about its use of standard essential patents against Apple. More specifically, they warned them about seeking an injunction against Apple rather than licensing patents in Germany. According the the European Commission, Motorola's actions directly contradict fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.

If you're curious how this all works, you're probably not alone. To summarize it quickly, any technology that a company has a patent on, that is deemed standard for operating, is subject to FRAND terms. When a company like Motorola has a patent on something that is just an industry standard, they've got to license it to others under those FRAND guidelines. The system is meant to keep things competitive and balanced, yet not encourage a monopoly. Licensing terms must be fair and equitable.

Explaining the Europena Commision's decision to warn Motorola, Vice President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia has this to say:

The protection of intellectual property is a cornerstone of innovation and growth. But so is competition. I think that companies should spend their time innovating and competing on the merits of the products they offer – not misusing their intellectual property rights to hold up competitors to the detriment of innovation and consumer choice.

Fair is the order of the day here, and we're sure there is an amicable end to this story. That famed "treasure trove" of patents Motorola held seems to be eroding quickly for Google. We hope they had something else in mind when purchasing the device manufacturer.

    

Sony Honami will be allegedly called the Sony i1, could arrive in the U.S. alongside the Togari this fall

Posted: 07 May 2013 10:01 AM PDT

Sony logo aa (1) - 600px

While Sony has had its share of problems in the past, they have done a lot to change their reputation as of late. Not only is Sony’s current Xperia Z flagship an absolute head-turner, the company has also become very supportive of the developer community. Sony seems to be on the verge of a major comeback in the mobile market, and the Xperia Z is hopefully just the beginning.

So what’s next for Sony? Rumors continue to circulate suggesting that Sony is preparing two new flagship handsets, the Togari and Honami.

Now we have new information claiming the devices will debut in the United States this fall, with the later of the handsets arriving under the name "Sony i1". Furthermore, the phones will not be tied to any carrier, and will instead be sold unlocked without contract.

How believable is this newest claim? Considering the Sony Xperia Z is only sold in the United States directly from Sony or a retail partner (and not through a carrier), the rumor doesn’t seem too far-fetched. We really can’t say one way or another about the name “Sony i1″, though. On the other hand, these new claims originate from a forum post, which means they could be easily faked.

In fact, everything we know about the Honami and Togari come from rumors and speculation, and therefore should be taken with a grain of salt.

sony-xperia-honami

What do the Sony i1 (Honami) and Togari bring to the table?

As previously reported, the Togari is supposedly Sony’s upcoming 6.44-inch Full HD offering. Not too many other details are known about the large-screen smartphone, as most of the attention seems to be focused on the Honami, aka the Sony i1.

The Honami is said to be the first in a new line of "One Sony" devices, a premium line dedicated to bringing all the best features that Sony has to offer. Most of the technology seems centered around the phone’s camera, which is expected to feature a stacked Exmor RS sensor and a Xenon and/or dual LED flash that is allegedly much brighter than typically found on a smartphone.

Outside of the (16 or 20MP) camera, the Sony Honami will pack a full HD 5-inch display, a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800, Adreno 330 graphics, 2GB RAM, microSD, IP58 certification and a 3000 mAh battery. The phone certainly won’t be the thinnest out there, though. Due to the camera features adding a bit more chunk to the design, the Honami is expected to be about 10mm thick.

What do you think of the rumored Sony i1 (Honami) and Togari? Do you find the specs believable, or are not?

    

Paranoid Android’s ‘HALO’ in public alpha for Nexus devices!

Posted: 07 May 2013 08:53 AM PDT

halo-paranoid-android_large_verge_medium

If you've been keeping an eye on Android Authority, you'll know we're pretty big fans of what Paranoid Android is doing lately. Their new HALO interface, which admittedly copies Facebook Home, did exactly what we hoped it would. Rather than adding a new twist on an already cool concept, the team at Paranoid Android just took it one step further.

For those not aware, HALO is a whole lot like chat heads for Facebook Home, except it works with just about any app. The goal for HALO is to be your all inclusive notification center, and I must say I'm impressed with it. In this build, the notification bubble appears smoother, and fades into the background seamlessly. When you check a notification, the background app doesn't close, so you don't have to pause that YouTube video.

Now in the public Alpha stage of development, HALO is by no means a finished product. Even in Alpha, it's terribly impressive, and could be huge for the Paranoid Android team. The build is currently available only for Nexus devices (Nexus 4, Nexus 7, and the Galaxy Nexus), so if you have one… get to flashin'!

If you're using it, let us know your impressions! If you've not yet taken advantage, check out the video below for a walkthrough. It's something we hope catches on widely, and we give a lot of credit to the Paranoid Android team for working so hard to get it right.

    

Google Glass etiquette: what are the basic rules?

Posted: 07 May 2013 08:48 AM PDT

Google Glass etiquette

Google Glass etiquette rules seem to become a necessary thing, just like they are for any product that hasn’t been available before on the market (and with serious potential to change things).

The same way things happened for mobile phones or cameras, to give just a couple of examples, some Google Glass etiquette may prove necessary in the future, if the device will become a part of our regular, day-to-day life (and things seem to be pointing in that direction). Even if Google Glass (you can find out how it works here), is only in the hands of Glass Explorers at the moment, some ground rules might be a good idea before it all becomes mass-market.

What should the main rules be?

As previously mentioned, you can already come across a couple of sets of unofficial rules, most notably in an article which has been recently published by The Wall Street Journal‘s website. They make quite a bit of sense and are certainly a pretty good starting point.

First of all, the article says that you should keep in mind the fact that you have a camera on your head, which is why it could be a good idea to act accordingly. Think about the things you wouldn’t do if a camera was in your hand, as well as where and for what you would use said camera. If you realize that you wouldn’t use the camera in a certain situation, simply turn Glass off.

Another article, this time from Atlantic Wire, adds some important points to that, saying that Google Glass should be taken off in the bathroom, in all inappropriate settings, as well as when meeting new people, as they could feel uncomfortable with you wearing it.

The WSJ article says that you shouldn’t overreact with the voice commands, by using them all the time. More than that, you could sound come out as weird doing it (as Eric Schmidt himself pointed out recently). The article also advises against using Google Glass to make calls in public, a rule many people won’t agree to – after all, it is a Bluetooh headset, isn’t it?).

Google Glass etiquette

One that sounds most reasonable is to try not to use it when others are around, probably for the same reasons Eric Schmidt mentioned – looking up all the time or even winking (which falls into the camera category) seem pretty unacceptable actions. Letting other try it Glass on, so they find out what the fuss is about and stop being worried, could also be a good idea.

What else should be added?

Should anything else be added to said rules? Probably so.

For example, it might be a good idea, just the same as for cell phones, to avoid using Google Glass in locations where their use has been banned by the owner of that place (there are already such limitations in place), or while driving, if there will be a law stating that. These might be obvious, but people tend to disregard such things just because they think they’re unfair.

However, the most important Google Glass etiquette advice which can be given is one that works for almost anything: to think things through before you actually do them.

Do you think there are Google Glass etiquette rules which should be added to the above? If so, let us know in a comment.

    

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 reportedly getting a new splash of paint

Posted: 07 May 2013 07:54 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 aa 600 px (17)

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is Samsung's latest creative tablet to join the Note lineup. However, until now the Note 8.0 has been available in the solitary color, cream white. That all looks set to change, as Samsung appears to be gearing up to release the Galaxy Note 8.0 in a new shade.

According to Samsung Benelux, the new color will be dubbed "Brown Black," and although no images are available, you can picture in your mind that this isn’t setting up to be a looker. Hopefully, this is only an internal name and Samsung will bless its new tablet with a name that doesn't sound like a person describing the color of a rock.

The new color has been slated for a week 25 release date, meaning it will arrive somewhere in the middle of July, with the color being implemented on both the Wi-Fi and 3G versions of the tablet.

If you don't remember, the Note 8.0 comes with specifications like a 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos processor, an 8-inch, 1280 x 800 TFT display and a 5-megapixel rear camera. Unfortunately, specs like those come at a price, as the Note 8.0 costs an eye watering $400.

Are you interested in the Galaxy Note 8.0? Does a new color excite you?

    

Sharp AQUOS 206SH announced, promises two-day battery life

Posted: 07 May 2013 07:13 AM PDT

sharp-206SH

Today’s high-end smartphones pack quite a few impressive features, including quad-core (or even octa-core) processors and 1080p 5-inch displays. Despite these advancements, there is one area where feature phones still have smartphones beat, battery life.

Imagine a handset that packs a big display and fast processor, yet still offers enough power efficiency to make it through two days of use. That’s exactly what the new Sharp AQUOS Phone 206SH sets out to accomplish.

The latest Sharp handset features a 5-inch 1080p display, a 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB RAM. Other specs include a 13.1MP back cam, 2.07MP front cam, and a 3,080 mAh battery. The handset also comes with Android 4.2.

sharp-206SH-2

Now for the downside. The phone might get up to two days of battery power, but it requires you to turn on Sharp’s “Eco Tech” setting, which involves some level of processor throttling. This means that there will be at least some sacrifice in performance to get the full two day’s life, though that’s not necessarily a deal-breaker, as the feature can easily be turned off and on.

The AQUOS 206SH’s battery power is certainly its biggest "claim to fame", but it also has a few other cool tricks up its sleeves.

The Sharp handset boasts its own multi-window functionality, allowing you to perform tasks like browsing the web while watching videos. The 206SH also has a water-resistant design, with a rating of IPX5/IPX7. That means you don’t have to worry about getting stuck in the rain, and you’d even be safe emerging the handset in up to a meter of water for about thirty minutes.

So when is the 206SH coming? Likely never, unless you live in Japan. The phone is exclusively arriving to Japanese carrier Softbank, and goes on sale in late June. It’s a shame that Sharp doesn’t release this handset outside of Japan, as I could see myself considering this one, thanks to its great combination of durability and battery life.

What do you think of the AQUOS 206SH, would you consider buying the handset if it was made available outside of Japan?

    

Archos 80 Xenon 3G tablet available to pre-order in Europe for just €169.99

Posted: 07 May 2013 06:45 AM PDT

Archos 80 Xenon

I've lost count of how many Archos tablets there are floating around at the moment. There's the Archos Titanium series, a few Cobalt tablets, and ranges falling under various sub-brands like Arnova. If, after all this choice, you're still in the market for a budget tablet then Archos' 8-inch Xenon tablet may be of interest to you.

The 8-inch Xenon 3G has been spotted for pre-order at a couple of retailers, with prices started at as little as €169.99 (roughly $233) and it’s also available on Amazon.de for €226 (about $296). The same tablet can already be bought in the UK for £149.22.

For this bargain price you'll receive a tablet with a 1.2Ghz dual-core processor and 512Mb RAM. There's 4Gb of built in storage and an SD card slot for extra space if you require it. As mentioned, the screen is 8-inches in size and has a display resolution of 1024 x 768. The tablet also has a 2 megapixel camera on the back and a 0.3 megapixel one of the front for video chat, and comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean too.

The main selling point of this tablet is its connectivity. Unlike other Archos tablets which are often missing one or two features, the Xenon comes with Bluetooth 3.0 functionality, WiFi, an FM radio, and GPS transmitter. As another bonus feature, the tablet also has a mobile antenna which supports 3G networks, making it a bargain travelling companion.