Monday, May 13, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Google Play update allows developers to directly reply to user reviews

Posted: 13 May 2013 10:54 AM PDT

Google has announced the latest update for the Play Store. This time around the update is dealing with app reviews and it is one that should help to improve communication between the developer and the end-user. The level of communication will likely vary from app to app and developer to developer, however moving forward, developers will be able to directly reply to Play Store user reviews.

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Google has said a priority has been to further “strengthen that conversation” between developers and users. With that in mind, it seems a basic aspect of the communication is for both sides to be able to talk and reply back. In that respect, this makes perfect sense and we sort of have to wonder why it hadn’t been rolled out earlier. Nonetheless, moving forward all Google Play developers will be able to respond to user reviews.

The developer will be able to reply using the Developer Console, however the reply will show in the Play Store alongside the user review. To clarify that, the developer replies will be posted publicly. On the other side, the user will receive an email notification when a developer replies. From here the user will be able to take the conversation to email (between them and the developer) or update their review. In addition to the user being able to update their review, the developer will also be able to update their replies.

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The ability for developers to reply to user reviews goes hand-in-hand with another change that Google made to the Play Store. This other change came back in November of 2012 and was the tie-in with Google+ accounts. Google connected your Play Store and Google+ accounts which in turn, removed some of the anonymous aspect. As a result of the lack of anonymity Google has said the quality of reviews has increased “tremendously.”

Bottom line here, while this latest Play Store change is clearly aimed at developers, it seems like one that will also benefit the users. Building off the connecting of the accounts and tying an identity to Play Store app reviews, it seems that knowing a developer could respond back to your comments should only go to further enhance the quality of reviews.

SOURCE: Android Developers Blog

Google triples free cloud storage for Drive and Gmail to 15GB

Posted: 13 May 2013 10:36 AM PDT

Free cloud-storage is something more and more people are looking for these days. With Dropbox, Box.net, Google Drive and more fighting for the top spot. Today Google’s pulled a big move to beat the competition and have just tripled what they’ll be giving away for free. Previously, just like Dropbox and others, Google Drive users received 5GB of free cloud storage. Starting today that will triple to 15GB.

Shared storage

The excellent news arrived this afternoon from the official Google Drive blog, and they detail just exactly why they’ve decided to go this route – without really giving us any tips as to if there’s a reason. Instead of enjoying 5GB free, you’ll get 15GB, but that will also be shared across Gmail, Drive, and Google+ Photos.

So while this is technically more Google Drive storage, they aren’t actually giving any additional storage out, but we’ll be able to use it where it counts. As it is right now Gmail users get 10GB, and 5GB is shared between Drive and Google+ Photos. Now, you’ll be able to have a unified 15GB of cloud-storage. So for users like me, who’s Gmail is only using about 1-2GB, you can use that other 9GB over on Google Drive. So essentially Google isn’t giving us more, they’ve just unified it into one pool and we can use our storage as we need or see fit.

Oh and if you’d like to beef that up to something more manageable for your needs they have that too. 100GB will run you $4.99 and more details on that can be found here. So now we’re wondering if there’s a reason for this. Why announce it just two days before Google I/O that starts on Wednesday? Could they be related? Obviously we’ll hear plenty about Google+ at IO, so stay tuned and we’ll report back as we’ll be there live!

SOURCE: Google Blog

Google Nexus Q to be a no show at Google I/O

Posted: 13 May 2013 10:07 AM PDT

Completely overpriced and randomly announced last year was the short-lived debut of the Google Nexus Q media device. After being announced nearly a year ago at I/O 2012, then later canceled, we were hoping for some sort of rebound device or revamped Nexus Q this year. Sadly it sounds like that won’t be happening. At least according to a few anonymous sources.

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According to AllThingsD and their ‘sources close to the matter’ this year will not deliver another Nexus Q, or anything like it. When asked the answer was simply, no, it won’t be making an appearance. Now that it has been missing in action for about a year, are any of you actually surprised by this news?

The idea of a Nexus Q media streaming device to take on Apple TV and more, running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean was excellent, but it was overpriced and under featured at that time. Sadly, not only will they not reveal a replacement, the tipster goes on to mention Google won’t even talk about the device at all. Basically it is out of sight, and out of mind.

The last we heard about the ill-fated Nexus Q was that the team was “hard at work” improving it. the build quality and unique design were both awesome. It was the $300 price and lack of features that turned many off. Including the fact we needed an Android device to double as the remote control. Bring us full voice and gesture controls on a new Nexus Q later this year – then we can talk.

Don’t worry though Android fans. Google will have plenty of exciting news and hardware at Google I/O this year. If you missed it, check out our IO: What to expect in 2013 from the weekend.

SOURCE: AllThingsD

Google’s Eric Schmidt on reading your email, AOL and not being evil

Posted: 13 May 2013 10:03 AM PDT

Google’s Eric Schmidt recently made an appearance on NPR's Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me!, which is weekly comedy trivia show. Schmidt was using this appearance to promote his new book, however as one would expect — other topics were discussed. For example, Schmidt revealed that he doesn’t feel sorry for those using AOL email, that he could read all of our email and that he felt the “don’t be evil” slogan was “the stupidest rule ever.”

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The interesting part of don’t be evil being stupid was why. Schmidt went on to talk about how he didn’t like it because “there’s no book about evil.” Further noting that “the idea was that we don’t quite know what evil is.” On the flip side, despite not necessarily liking the rule, he did go on to mention that it worked. The provided example happened during a meeting about an advertising product. During said meeting, an engineer said “that’s evil,” the conversation stopped and the project was eventually stopped.

As far as that comment about AOL email, this has to do with partnerships. Schmidt was asked whether he felt sorry for people still using AOL email. Technically he didn’t comment about the specific person using AOL, but AOL themselves. He replied by saying that AOL is one of their largest partners and said they are “very happy if you’re using AOL.”

The potential to read our email probably should’t come as much of a surprise, however it was interesting to see the topic discussed as it was. In this case Schmidt basically said he could read a users email but that he would be “fired” and “sued to death.” And just to drive the point home, Schmidt noted that “someone would find out” if he were to do that.

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Otherwise, as one may have guessed, the topic of Google Glass also came up. In this case, Schmidt said they are looking towards the developers to see what they create. On the topic of privacy, it was said that Google needs to find the “appropriateness of how people are going to use these things” and that there is “a right time to have Google Glass on, and there’s a right time to have it off.”

VIA: SlashGear

SOURCE: NPR

HTC First reportedly getting the axe from AT&T

Posted: 13 May 2013 08:56 AM PDT

AT&T lowered the price of the HTC First late last week and naturally, that had some questioning the success of the phone. To give a little background here, the HTC First was the first phone to launch with Facebook Home and it came available with AT&T on April 12. Basically, that is to say the handset had only been available for about a months time before that price cut arrived. The timing seems quick, however AT&T also lowered the price quite significantly. The HTC First went from $99.99 down to $0.99 on a two-year agreement.

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Putting the price cut aside for a moment, earlier this morning we began seeing reports that touched on the amount of devices that AT&T had sold. Some estimates had the sales at about 10,000 units. That number came courtesy of Trip Chowdhry who is an analyst with Global Equities Research. Another report estimates that HTC First sales were less than 15,000. While neither sound all that great, new reports suggest AT&T is close to discontinuing the Facebook Home phone.

The details of the discontinuation come courtesy of BGR who are reporting based on word from a person they describe as a “trusted” source. Basically, it was said that the end is near for the HTC First. AT&T has yet to comment and at the moment, the handset remains available and priced at $0.99 on a two-year agreement.

The HTC First may have Facebook Home pre-installed, however the app/launcher can also be downloaded directly from the Google Play Store. The downloads for the app/launcher have recently reached 1 million, however the Google Play Store rating is sitting at a rather low 2.2. That rating is based on comments from 16,803 users, of which 8,855 gave a 1-star rating. If you check the comments there are some interesting opinions and thoughts of the launcher. For example, one user mentions that Facebook Home could be a nice lock screen, but not a nice launcher.

Shifting back to the HTC First and there is another take here. While it is being touted as the Facebook phone with the emphasis on Facebook Home — it is actually not all that bad as a mid-range Android handset. Keep in mind, Facebook Home can be turned off and you would be left with a stock Jelly Bean installation. Not bad for less than a buck. Now we wouldn’t necessarily suggest everyone run out and purchase an HTC First before AT&T gives it the boot, but it may be a handset to consider. Finally, similar to AT&T, HTC has said they won’t comment on rumor or speculation.

SOURCE: BGR

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : first
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : AT&T
    Announced Date : April 04, 2013
    Release Date : April 12, 2013
    Also Known As : HTC Myst
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 4.96 Inch
  • Width : 2.56 Inch
  • Depth : 0.35 Inch
  • Weight : 123.8 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2000 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 437 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.1.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 400 series 8930AA
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    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
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

T-Mobile Galaxy S III Android 4.1.2 update arriving with multi-window

Posted: 13 May 2013 08:18 AM PDT

T-Mobile has announced the latest software update for the Samsung Galaxy S III. The update process is set to begin today and will be arriving as Android 4.1.2 and with features to include multi-window. Those carrying a T-Mobile branded Galaxy S III will be able to get the update over-the-air or using Kies. On that note, the update is on the larger side so if you are taking the over-the-air approach — you may want to make sure you are on WiFi before beginning.

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The update measures in at 168MB and it will bring your Galaxy S III up to Android 4.1.2 and with baseband version T999UVDMD5. Your handset (assuming you had been up to date), should have been running Android 4.1.1 with baseband version T999UVDLJC. That previous update arrived back towards the end of January.

Despite some reports coming from T-Mobile users, the details for the update show it as having been approved on May 13 and as being available OTA and from Kies as of June 16. Basically, you can check for the update now, but keep in mind that it may not be available for your handset just yet. Unlike the previous update which had you going from Ice Cream Sandwich to Jelly Bean, this update will be adding additional features and sticking with Jelly Bean.

The new features include multi-window, auto-pairing via NFC, Sound Balance, Paper Artist, Samsung Gallery, Blocking Mode, Easy Mode and some enhanced Camera options. While many of these features have some benefit, the key may be the multi-window. This was originally a feature of the Galaxy Note and it does just what the name implies — lets you run two apps side by side.

All said and done, while a build based on Android 4.2 would be nice to see, this update just makes the point that while the Galaxy S III may not be the newest handset on the market — it is still relevant. Those considering a new handset at the moment would be able to pick one of these up with a downpayment of $69.99. The monthly payments would also be included, which in this case would be 24 payments of $20.

SOURCE: T-Mobile

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S III (T-Mobile)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : T-Mobile
    Announced Date : June 04, 2012
    Release Date : June 21, 2012
    Also Known As : SGH-T999 (T-Mobile)
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED HD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.77 Inch
  • Depth : 0.33 Inch
  • Weight : 133 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2100 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.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 : MSM8960 Snapdragon
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 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:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Zact opens for business offering customizable no-contract mobile plans

Posted: 13 May 2013 07:43 AM PDT

ItsOn had been tipped to launch a new mobile offering and in that respect, they have done just that. The one catch, while ItsOn has launched today, it did not arrive exactly as was expected. Basically, instead of ItsOn taking advantage of the Verizon Wireless network, they have chosen to use the network of another US based CDMA carrier. Perhaps more important though, ItsOn has launched the service as Zact and it is indeed a no-contract carrier.

zact-540

For those curious, Zact is using the Sprint network. The basics here, users will be able to pick their device and then create a plan with what they need. Some of the highlights here include no-contract, no overages, no-cost sharing and more. Zact has a few options to get you started or you can dive right in and create a plan based on what you need to have. The preset plans begin at $3.49 per month and go up to $66.21 for the Super Size option.

Just to clarify, you did read that correctly — they start at $3.49. Granted, that plan includes only 30 minutes of talk time, 25 text messages and 50MB of data, but it is $3.49. Basically, this could be a good option for those who truly want a phone for an emergency and little else. Zact also has a mid-level plan for $27.09 which includes 500 minutes, 500 text messages and 500MB of data.

Getting started is pretty simple though, you choose your plan and choose your phone. Those who want more or less of something can also create a plan from scratch. These plans are based off the $3.49 Just A Taste plans and allow you to add in anything from 0-4,000 voice minutes, 0-10,000 text messages and up to 2GB of data. While the plans are wide open and flexible, there are only a few options to pick from in terms of a device.

Zact has the LG Viper 4G LTE and the LG Optimus Elite. The former is priced at $399 and the latter is priced at $199. We should also mention the Optimus Elite is available in black and white. Otherwise, while the service is open for sign-ups as of today, Zact is actually still in the pre-order stage. At the moment the shipping times for the handsets show as being the week of June 3. All said and done, it looks like those in the US now have another prepaid carrier to choose from.

SOURCE: ItsOn

Amazon Coins roll-out as virtual currency for Kindle Fire users

Posted: 13 May 2013 07:02 AM PDT

Amazon has launched some virtual currency this morning. The currency is called Amazon Coins and they were originally announced back in early-February. The Amazon Coins will be used by Kindle Fire users and to get things started, Amazon will be giving users 500 free Coins. Of course, there are options to buy additional Coins. Plus we should also mention that Kindle Fire users will not be required to use these Coins.

amazon-coins-540

Amazon has said the Coins will be an easy way to buy apps and in-app items on your Kindle Fire. They are also touting these are being good for developers. In this case, Amazon has said the Coins will provide “another opportunity to drive traffic, downloads and increased monetization.” Which brings the main point here — the price of the Coins.

As you will see in the below image, Amazon has options to purchase Coins in increments of 500, 1000, 2500, 5000 and 10000. The price (at present) is $4.80, $9.50, $23.00, $45.00 and $90.00. Basically, you will get a little bit of a discount for purchasing in bulk. The nice part here, the Coins are easily available by way of the regular Amazon website. Aside from being an easy way for Kindle Fire users to make purchases, we see these as a nice option for parents as they can use the Coins as a way to limit and control purchases on the Kindle Fire.

buy-amazon-coins-540

The Coins will not expire, they do not come with any additional fees and they will be deposited in your account right after purchase. For curious developers, you will get the same 70/30 split whether your users pay with Coins or a traditional credit/debit card. Otherwise, the Coins can be used on the device or the computer if you are using a 7-inch or 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD as well as a 2nd generation Kindle Fire.

Alternatively, those with a 1st generation Kindle Fire will need to make their purchases from the Amazon website and then download the app or game to their device. Bottom line here, Amazon Coins are now available. And even if you don’t plan on using them in the future, if you are a Kindle Fire user you should make sure to take advantage of that free 500 coin offer.

SOURCE: Amazon

Sundar Pichai: Google I/O 2013 will return focus to the developers

Posted: 13 May 2013 06:30 AM PDT

With Google I/O just about ready to begin, naturally a big part of what we are going to be seeing over the next few days will be related to the conference. Before it begins though, Sundar Pichai has recently spoken to Wired and the discussion touched on everything from challenges to the dominance of Samsung, the merging of Chrome and Android and of course, Google I/O. Just to clarify though, it still doesn’t look like the two Google operating systems are going to be merging anytime soon.

io2012_google-540x405

In fact, Pichai has said that in the short term they have Android and Chrome and that they “are not changing course.” Touching on the short term aspect here, he did also mention that “the picture may look different a year or two from now.” Basically, it sounds like there are no immediate plans but that they are not ruling a merge out completely. While having two operating systems seems to bring a fair amount of attention when it comes to Google, other companies don’t seem to have the same issues. Pichai touched on Apple and how he believes “very few people” ask why Apple has iOS and OS X. In that respect it seems to make perfect sense.

Shifting over to the challenges. This touches on the bit about him only having recently taken over. His challenges, aside from getting started in the position, seem to focus on the long term of Android. In this regard, Pichai spoke about how they can keep the open nature of Android and still “help improve the whole world's end-user experience.”

While we have heard (and seen in countless reports) about the dominance of Samsung. This one is simple, Pichai has said that Samsung is a “great partner to work with” and went as far as showing his personal GALAXY S 4. While those topics are all interesting enough, lets shift over to what is likely on the minds of many Android fans at the moment — Google I/O.

Basically, it is is looking like 2013 may bring some differences as compared to previous years. In fact, Pichai said rather simply that “it’s going to be different this year.” Further comments touched on how we are going to see more of a focus on developers and less of a focus on new products and new operating systems. And for better or worse, this year will keep the focus on both Android and Chrome.

SOURCE: Wired

Sony shows off the waterproof Xperia ZR smartphone

Posted: 13 May 2013 05:20 AM PDT

Not too long ago Sony unveiled an interesting waterproof smartphone in the United States called the Xperia Z. That smartphone promised to be able to survive complete submersion in water and offered nice features as well. One of those features was a full HD resolution five-inch display.

9_Xperia_ZR_Group_Mint-580x491

A big five-inch screen could be more screen size than a lot of people out there really wanted. Particularly those with smaller hands or smartphone users who don’t like a big-screen device that takes up their entire pocket. Sony has offered up the new waterproof smartphone today called the ZR that has some of the same features of the Xperia Z with a smaller form factor.

23_Xperia_ZR-580x445

The ZR uses a QUALCOMM Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with four cores running at 1.5 GHz. It also has 2 GB of RAM. All the typical connectivity features are there including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as well as NFC technology. The touchscreen for the phone has a prediction filter that tries to guess where your finger is headed for smoother scrolling. That screen measures 4.6-inches making it about half an inch smaller than the Xperia Z.

12_Xperia_ZR_Colour_Range-580x364

The devices use the BRAVIA Engine 2 technology for better quality video and graphics. Sony also promises that the phone can survive water up to 1.5 m deep. It also features a 13-megapixel rear camera that can take photographs underwater.

The smartphone is IP 55 and IP58 compliant allow it to survive underwater for up to 30 min. One of the requirements for the device to be waterproof is that all ports and openings have to be closed. If you forget to seal up the headphone port for instance, the phone will be ruined the water. Sony also says stick to freshwater, so no underwater photography at the beach.

SOURCE: SlashGear]

Phoenix hits Kickstarter goal to bring Android apps to HP TouchPad

Posted: 13 May 2013 04:54 AM PDT

I think most of the people who follow the mobile realm when HP purchased Palm to get webOS wondered exactly what HP was thinking. The operating system already failed to lure in developers and buyers for Palm. HP apparently felt that its name or position was all it needed to get webOS to become a popular and viable alternative to Android and other smartphone operating systems.

tp-acl

One of the only products that HP produced the used the webOS operating system was its TouchPad tablet. The device proved unpopular and didn’t sell well until HP started offering massive discounts in the fire sell to shed stock. The upside for HP was that when it slashed prices in the fire sell, it sold a large number of the TouchPad tablets.

That means there are a huge number of them in the wild right now and while is abysmal, the devices can certainly check e-mail and surf the web. If you own one of the HP TouchPad tablets and had given up on the chance of ever having new applications, a project turned up on Kickstarter called Phoenix the chill be interested in. The project is seeking $35,000 in funding to port the OpenMobile Application Compatibility Layer two webOS specifically for the HP TouchPad.

Now that the project has raised the money needed for development costs, it looks like once the development work is done, owners of the tablet will be able to access many of the Android applications that are out there. The project also has some expansion goals that will add new features and functionality to Phoenix for money raised beyond $35,000.

Extra money will be applied to additional projects such as adding support for Android 4.0 applications. Currently the ACL supports apps designed for Android 2.x. The developers hope to release the software by July. However, anyone who follows Kickstarter knows that you to take those proposed launch dates with a grain of salt, delays are frequent with this sort of project.

SOURCE: Liliputing

Samsung brags about next-generation 5G network testing

Posted: 13 May 2013 04:39 AM PDT

Samsung is currently working on new network technology that you can bet we’ll see in future Android smartphones. Samsung has announced that it has been successful with an impressive test of its next-generation 5G network. 5G networks are promised to be hundreds of times faster than current 4G mobile networks.

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Samsung has announced that in testing its prototype 5G wireless network has been able to transfer data at up to 1 Gbps. Data has been successfully tested at speed over distances of up to 2 km. Samsung says that it’s 5G network technology is using 28 GHz ultra-high-frequency bandwidths. The company sees this technology as superior to similar 5G technology under development using 6 GHz bandwidth.

Samsung says that the benefit of its 5G technology compared to the 6 GHz 5G technology is transmission range. The distance the data can be transferred using the 6 GHz bandwidth is reduced compared to Samsung’s 28 GHz frequency.

Currently Samsung says that the maximum transmission speed for its 5G mobile networks can reach the area of “tens of Gbps.” That would be fast enough to allow the download the complete 4K resolution movie in seconds according to Samsung. We’ve got a very long time ago before 5G networks are available around the country.

Samsung is currently hoping to commercialize its 5G technology by 2020. Competing 5G networks are also looking at 2022 to debut around the world. There are also a number of international standards unions working on standards for 5G technology.

SOURCE: SlashGear

Google Play ‘Games’ fully revealed ahead of Google I/O

Posted: 12 May 2013 11:39 AM PDT

All the details regarding Google Play Games, the new home for gamers and Android’s response to iOS Game Center, has been revealed this weekend just days before Google I/O. Back in April some details found inside the Google My Glass APK hinted at a gaming center, but today we know all the juicy details. Android will finally be getting universal cloud-based game saves, and much, much more.

Screen Shot 2013-05-12 at 11.12.34 AM

A new version of the Google Play Store and Google Services was leaked and tore apart by the folks over at Android Police, and it reveals all sorts of details that you’ll be happy to hear. Whether your a casual Angry Birds and Temple Run gamer, or get down with all the Shadowgun multiplayer games and more you’ll want to read below to see what Google Play Games will be all about.

Android will be getting a new ‘Play Games’ section in the Play Store, and with it brings an entirely new platform and option for gaming. An area of potential that Google’s been missing out on for some time. With the OUYA game-console, the Gamestick, and tons of others things are finally about to get serious. Apple’s Game Center is decent, but we have a feeling Google will be on-upping Apple, that’s for sure.

The leak reveals cloud-based game saves, that will sync across any and all devices. Never have to restart or lose your progress again, ever. There will be leaderboards and scoreboards for tracking progress, true multiplayer gaming, matchmaking, player invites, achievements and goals, and more. Most are excited about the cloud-based saves, but all of this is exciting. This will all be officially revealed at Google I/O on Wednesday, and of course we’ll report all the official details when that happens.

Screen Shot 2013-05-12 at 11.25.41 AM

According to Ron the only part of the application that actually works is being able to switch accounts, since you can have multiple accounts, then the option to enable and control notifications. All which by the way are ran through Google+ of course. For now not all the pieces are in place, but Google probably just needs to flip a switch. This will undoubtedly be revealed next week, but we’re not sure if it will launch at Google I/O, or come later down the road in the coming weeks or months. Stay tuned!

SOURCE: Android Police

Android Authority

Android Authority


This is the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini [leak]

Posted: 13 May 2013 01:28 AM PDT

Samsung-Galaxy-S4-mini

A set of Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini pictures have supposedly surfaced online, and, while they’re not official, they are pretty consistent with how the device looked in previously leaked images.

Namely, the new pictures of the Galaxy S4 Mini show a device that looks like a smaller Samsung Galaxy S4, aimed at those wanting a smartphone with a similar look, but with a smaller footprint (which is quite a trend these days).

Some of the images, like the one you can see below, have a ruler next to the device, so you can get a better idea concerning the dimensions.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini has been rumored for a while now and is said to be coming this summer. As far as specs go, it is expected to have a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED qHD display (pixel density is said to be 256 ppi), as well as a dual-core CPU running at 1.6 GHz and a 5 megapixel camera. It will run Android 4.2.2 and will also get a dual SIM version – four versions have made an appearance on the Samsung website, we’ll just have to see see if they confirm.

Until they do, you can see a couple more of the pictures that have appeared online below.

Samsung galaxy S4 mini leak (4) Samsung galaxy S4 mini leak (5) Samsung galaxy S4 mini leak (1) Samsung galaxy S4 mini leak (2) Samsung galaxy S4 mini leak (3)

Would you be tempted to get the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini when it becomes available?

    


Record HDR video underwater with the new Sony Xperia ZR

Posted: 13 May 2013 01:05 AM PDT

Sony Xperia ZR press images (3)

Sony just unveiled a new addition to its Xperia line, a waterproof and dustproof handset with mid-range specifications and a 4.6-inch 720p display.

Let's give a warm welcome to the newest member of the Xperia family. After the Xperia Z and its more compact sibling the Xperia ZL wooed us with their sleek designs and great building quality, Sony tries to capitalize on the momentum with another elegant device.

The Xperia ZR is, in terms of specifications, a 2012 flagship – it features a 4.6-inch 720p (HD) display, a Snapdragon S4 Pro processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 2GB of RAM, and a 13MP camera. While the device isn't full HD (like the Xperia Z and ZL), the display is most likely crisp enough for most users – the pixel density is 319ppi, which is adequate in our book. The Xperia Z's display has been criticized for its poor viewing angles and low visibility in direct sunlight. Hopefully, the ZR will do better, as Sony touted the removal of the air gap between the touch sensor and the display, which should in theory improve contrast and reduce reflections.

The specs of the Xperia ZR are not cutting edge, but they should be more than enough for many customers. And the 140 grams device offers a few perks that make it more attractive, such as the NFC support, the 13MP Exmor sensor (BSI sensor HDR on video and photo), and the dedicated camera button that lets you take a picture without unlocking the device.

Sony Xperia ZR press images (6) Sony Xperia ZR press images (5) Sony Xperia ZR press images (4) Sony Xperia ZR press images (1) Sony Xperia ZR press images (8) Sony Xperia ZR press images (1)

Coupled with the superior resistance to water (compliant with IP55 and IP58 standards), the camera button makes the Xperia ZR an ideal camera phone for the outdoorsy. The ZR will withstand being submerged in 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes (for your reference, the Xperia Z can be submerged into 1 meter of water for the same time). Just like the Z, the ZR features plastic flaps that cover the ports and Sony touted the anti-shatter film on the display that should enable it to resist mechanical shocks better than other phones.

Because that the Xperia ZR has a dedicated shutter button, you’ll be able to take photos and record full HD videos underwater. The presentation video below shows some images that Sony claims were taken underwater with the ZR, and they look pretty nice.

The device will be available in four colors, with the first markets to get in Q2 2013. Sony hasn’t been more specific about the price either, but we’ll keep an eye on it and let you know.

Check out the Sony Xperia ZR launch press release for full details about the phone. What do you make of this device? Worth your attention?

The new Xperia™ ZR waterproof* smartphone with superior Sony engineering

13th May 2013, London – Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today introduces the new Xperia ZR featuring the highest level of water-resistance for capturing photos and Full HD videos underwater. This Android smartphone offers leading technology and content with a 4.6″ HD Reality display, 13 megapixel fast capture camera, Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ S4 Pro quad-core 1.5 GHz processor, and 4G LTE.

“The Xperia ZR pushes the boundaries on where and how consumers can use the full potential of their smartphone. By combining Sony’s leading camera technology with the highest level of water-resistance, you will never miss another moment.” said Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications. “Bringing together the best of Sony’s leading technology, media applications and easy one-touch connectivity with the largest ever range of NFC-enabled accessories, the Xperia ZR delivers the unique smartphone experience that people can expect from Sony.”

The ultimate in durable design
Xperia ZR is precision-crafted to handle whatever life throws at it. With its sleek, yet durable design, the Xperia ZR is your perfect companion in and out of the water. As well as being dust-resistant, this waterproof* phone is IP55 and IP58 compliant, so you can keep it submerged in 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Combined with its dedicated camera key, the waterproof capabilities let you shoot videos in Full HD or snap pictures underwater, capturing the sharpest visuals. The camera key also allows you to shoot even from a locked screen, meaning you’ll never miss a moment again.

Featuring Sony’s “Exmor RS for mobile” image sensor with HDR (High Dynamic Range) for both photos and videos, the Xperia ZR captures perfect pictures and videos, no matter what the conditions. Superior Auto mode combines Scene Recognition with high quality performance image processing technology (HDR and noise reduction) to automatically shoot with the most optimal settings. And when you want to capture action fast, simply turn on burst mode to shoot an unlimited number of images at 15 frames per second.

Xperia ZR also features Battery STAMINA Mode which significantly improves the standby time of your smartphone by four times or more** by automatically shutting down battery-draining apps whenever the screen is off and starting them up again when the screen is back on.

The solid yet comfortable styling of the Xperia ZR is matched by a choice of classic and fresh colours – black, white, pink and mint – each allowing you to express your individual style.

High quality viewing experience
Enjoy entertainment on the go with the super-sharp 4.6″ HD Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 using the contrast enhancement technology expertise from Sony’s range of BRAVIA TVs, which together with the beautifully designed OptiContrast™ panel, delivers a beautiful high quality viewing experience.

The OptiContrast™ panel reduces reflections and provides clearer viewing, even in bright sunlight, and creates a seamlessly black surface when the phone is turned off. By eliminating the sensor layer and integrating the sensor on the lens, responsiveness of the screen is increased, so now your touch is both more effective and more intuitive. And with Sony’s unique prediction filter to help better detect the movement of your finger, scrolling on the Xperia ZR is reassuringly smooth.

Consistent Sony media entertainment experiences
The “WALKMAN”, Album and Movies applications enable discovery of online and offline content through a single access point with new ways to enjoy and share that content. The “WALKMAN” application provides access to all your downloaded music, a library of over 20 million songs to explore from Music Unlimited*** and Facebook social integration. The Movies application provides access to over 150,000 movies and TV series from Video Unlimited***. The Album application enables easy access to Facebook friends’ photos and browsing photos by location. A new feature of this app is ‘Faces’ which recognizes and sorts the faces in your photo album so you can tag existing contacts or add names to familiar faces.

Ease of sharing and enjoyment
One-touch functions let you easily share music, photos and videos from your smartphone to the widest range NFC-enabled Sony devices, including speakers, headphones and TVs.

Joining the ever expanding range, the new Stereo Bluetooth™ Headset SBH50 is an advanced app-enabled wireless headset with built-in FM radio, OLED display and one-touch connection for wireless audio streaming. Simply touch your Xperia ZR once to the headset to instantly pair the devices and make a call or begin listening to tracks. The SBH50 is available in either black or white colour variants. Other accessories which complement the Xperia ZR are the Charging Dock DK28 and SmartWatch MN2.

The Xperia ZR will launch in various global markets from Q2 2013 (availability will vary by market).

    


Sony Xperia S39h leaks, reportedly headed to China

Posted: 12 May 2013 04:45 PM PDT

Sony logo aa (3) - 600px

Sony may be preparing to launch a new Xperia family member into battle, as a new smartphone known internally as S39h has just been spotted in the wild.

We only have images for you, as there are no leaked internal specifications, size measurements or availability details just yet. As with most Sony smartphones at this time of year, the leaked model has an elongated form and larger display. The phone is said to have a screen bigger than the 4.3-incher found on the Xperia L but smaller than Xperia Z’s 5-inch display.

The display is surrounded by a thick bezel that can be seen in older Samsung generations. Sony's logo is present right next to the front-facing camera.

The white body seems to be made from a non-polished material with a stylish finish on the back cover. A large speaker can be found on the back of the handset, and Sony's logo can be once again easily spotted.

Sony-Xperia-S39h-leak-1

On the sides of the device you’ll notice the signature power button, dedicated camera button, volume keys and a micro-USB port. Check out the image gallery below for more details:

Sony-Xperia-S39h-leak-1 Sony-Xperia-S39h-leak-2 Sony-Xperia-S39h-leak-3 Sony-Xperia-S39h-leak-4 Sony-Xperia-S39h-leak-5 Sony-Xperia-S39h-leak-6 Sony-Xperia-S39h-leak-7 Sony-Xperia-S39h-leak-8 Sony-Xperia-S39h-leak-9

The Xperia S39h is reportedly heading to China. Sony has been using a new internal naming scheme for every handset released this year – the CXXXX model number structure – while those launched in China continue to respect the old S/M/L pattern for small, medium or large phones, Xperia Blog reports.

    


“Blue Arctic” Samsung Galaxy S4 model apparently spotted in Japan

Posted: 12 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT

galaxy s4 vs iphone 5 s4 back aa

A new color option for Samsung’s 2013 flagship Android smartphone has apparently been sighted in Japan in promotional materials from a local carrier.

According to the following image, Blue Arctic is the name of this new Galaxy S4 color option, joining the existing Black Mist and White Frost versions. So far, carriers and electronics retailers around the world have been stocking only the black and/or white models.

DoCoMo appears to be the first mobile operator in the world to sell the Blue Arctic Galaxy S4 version, with a launch reportedly set for the following weeks. Rbmen says that the handset will be announced by DoCoMo on May 15 and released in mid-May (therefore very close after being unveiled?), but nothing is official just yet.

We certainly expected Samsung to reveal more colors for the handset. After all, that's what the company did with other high-end devices including the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2. It would make sense to see this Blue Arctic Galaxy S4 model hit other markets in the coming months.

Interestingly, the rumored rugged Galaxy S4 Active is said to launch in Metallic Orange in the near future.

DoCoMo's Galaxy S4 version is the Qualcomm-based one, and from the looks of it, the carrier will stock the 32GB version as well. So far only AT&T announced plans for a 32GB Galaxy S4 model, with everyone else only stocking the 16GB base version.

    


Weekly News Roundup #4 – India

Posted: 12 May 2013 09:41 AM PDT

wnri feature

In a 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 continue to see an increase in the number of budget-friendly quad-core smartphones available in the country, with new device announcements from Karbonn, Celkon, Xolo, and Chinese manufacturer Gionee. Surprisingly, there are no new Android tablets from local manufacturers launched this week. There’s great news for music lovers with Tata Docomo detailing a new tie up with popular music streaming app, Saavn. Unfortunately, there’s also some bad news, for RCom subscribers, with the company increasing its tariffs by up to 30%.

As you can see, there’s a lot to talk about. Let’s get started!

Android Smartphones

Karbonn Titanium S2

wnri - karbonn titanium s2

Micromax started the trend of budget-friendly 5-inch quad-core smartphones, and almost every other Indian manufacturer has jumped on the bandwagon. Karbonn earlier released the Titanium S1 and S5, and have now followed that up with the Titanium S2, which joins the ever-increasing list of low-cost quad-core smartphones in country. The specifications of the Karbonn Titanium S2 include -

  • 5-inch display with 854×480 resolution
  • 1.2 Ghz quad-core processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
  • 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
  • 2,100 mAh battery
  • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Specifications-wise, the Karbonn Titanium S2 falls right in between the S1 and S5, and is priced similarly as well. Priced at Rs 10,790 (~$203) by online retailers Infibeam, the latest 5-inch quad-core smartphone from Karbonn will be available from May 14, with an estimated delivery of 2-3 days. Ordering the device now will also get you a flap cover for free.

Source – NDTV Gadgets

Celkon A119Q Signature HD

wnri - celkon a119q signature hd

Celkon, which launched the A119 Signature HD back in March, has now released the A119Q Signature HD. As you can see from the name, the difference between the two devices is the Q, which in this case, stands for quad-core. The specifications of the Celkon A119Q Signature HD include -

  • 5-inch display with 1280×720 resolution
  • 1.2Ghz quad-core MediaTek processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
  • 12MP rear camera, 3MP front camera
  • 2,100 mAh battery
  • Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

The Celkon A119Q Signature HD joins the small list of smartphones available in India that run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. The specifications are similar to the Micromax A116 Canvas HD and the Karbonn Titanium S5, and is priced around the same as well. Available for Rs 12,499 (~$235), you also get a flip cover worth Rs 1,500 for free. You can pre-book the device from SnapDeal here, and will be on sale from May 15. You can find out more about the Celkon A119Q Signature HD from the company website here.

Source – Fone Arena

Xolo Q700

wnri - xolo q700

Xolo, a sub-brand of Lava International, has slowly become a major player in the Indian smartphone market, with the company being the first to release some great Android devices powered by Intel processors, along with a slew of budget-friendly non-Intel smartphones. Joining that second list is the Xolo Q700, which is yet another low-cost smartphone powered by a quad-core MediaTek processor. The specifications of the Xolo Q700 include -

  • 4.5-inch IPS display with 960×540 resolution
  • 1.2Ghz quad-core MediaTek processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD
  • 5MP rear camera, VGA front camera
  • 2,400 mAh battery
  • Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

The specifications of the Xolo Q700 are similar to most other quad-core smartphones from local manufacturers, but what makes this device stand is the fact that it is one of the cheapest smartphones available in its specs category. Priced at just Rs 9,999 (~$188), the Xolo Q700 has been listed as “Coming Soon” by online retailers Flipkart.

Source – IBN Live

Gionee GPad-G2

wnri - gionee gpad-g2

Gionee announced the GPad-G2 earlier last month, and officially launched the 5.3-inch smartphone in India this week. The smartphone from the Chinese manufacturer boasts decent specifications which include -

  • 5.3-inch display with 960×540 resolution
  • 1.2Ghz quad-core processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
  • 8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
  • 3,000 mAh battery
  • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Apart from featuring one of the larger batteries in its segment, the Gionee GPad-G2 also boasts an in-built DTS audio system for great sound quality. Apart from the much larger 5.3-inch display (compared to 4.65-inch), the specifications of the GPad-G2 is very similar to the Gionee Dream D1. The smartphone is priced at Rs 13,999 from online store Tradus, and also from retail stores around the country.

Source – The Mobile Indian

Network Carrier News

RCom increases tariffs of discounted voice and data plans by up to 65%

wnri - reliance communication tariff

Reliance Communications has decided to increase the tariffs of its discounted voice and data plans, some by up to 65%, with “the aim to increase profitability.” Most other operators, including Vodafone, Idea, and Airtel have made similar moves recently, and while RCom resisted the change initially, it makes sense for the company to do so now.

All the popular discounted plans, known as “commitment plans,” have now been changed to reflect the new policy. The smallest change have been for the STV 21 and STV 45 plans, which have seen a hike of it’s local call rate by 20%, from 1p/sec to 1.2p/sec. The 2p/sec rate for STD calling remains the same.

The biggest changes have been to the STV 48 and STV 46 plans. The “by-the-minute” plans have seen a huge slash in the minutes that are available, with the STV 48 dropping from 500 minutes to just 160 minutes, while the STV 46 plan sees a drop from 200 minutes to 140 minutes.

The changes are applicable immediately for all new and existing Reliance Communication subscribers.

Source – Think Digit

Tata Docomo partners with Saavn to launch special data plans for music streaming

wnri - tata docomo saavn

Tata Docomo has announced a partnership with popular music-streaming service Saavn to launch a number of special data plans that will allow users to stream music, as well as access exclusive international music content.

The announced plans include -

  • Saavn Music 3G plan gets you 300MB of 3G data and 500 minutes of music streaming for just Rs 93.
  • Saavn Music 2G SLP gets you 1GB of data and 2000 minutes of music streaming for Rs 155.
  • Both the above plans are currently available only in Karnataka.
  • Available in the rest of the country is the Saavn Music 2G Plan priced at Rs 104, which includes 1GB of data and 1000 minutes of music streaming.

The plans are available for prepaid Tata Docomo subscribers who have Android or iOS devices. Music streaming can require a lot of data depending on how much you use it, and these plans certainly make things a lot easier.

Source – BGR India

Indian manufacturers have all been releasing budget-friendly quad-core smartphones, with only minor differences in specifications and price between them. The good thing is that such devices are now beginning to feature Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on-board, something that even some internationally-renowned manufacturers are lacking.

What are your thoughts? Will you be buying any of the quad-core smartphones announced this week? What do you think of the new music streaming data plans from Tata Docomo and Saavn? As an RCom subscriber, are you disappointed at the tariff hike? Let us know in the comments section below.

See you next week!

    


Are 10-inch tablets going the way of the dinosaurs?

Posted: 12 May 2013 09:18 AM PDT

Sony Xperia Tablet Z vs Google Nexus 10 aa 600px (4)

The 7-inch tablet has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence even though it was publicly blasted by Steve Jobs at a certain point. The Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire have both accelerated the growth of the 7-inch tablet, with many manufacturers jumping in on the act. Now there are a plethora of small tablets that were made by a variety of manufacturers. But is the success of 7-inch tablets a threat to their 10-inch brothers?

Portability is king

The digital world has always driven to make devices thinner and lighter. Computers went from taking up a whole room, to sitting inconspicuously on a desk, to fitting into your backpack. And now they fit in our pockets. This all occurred in a such a short space of time, some would be forgiven for forgetting our 27 tonne Halcyon days.

FIrst computer

Eniac: The first computer

A 10-inch tablet would become uncomfortable to hold suspended in the air after a few minutes, while a 7-inch tablet remains easy to hold for hours. You can also fit a 7-inch tablet in a coat pocket and even in large pants pockets (albeit uncomfortably), something impossible to do with a 10-inch tablet.

The comfort 7-inch devices can offer is, for most people, enough to buy them. So while a 10-inch tablet is your "couch buddy," a 7-inch tablet is your "everywhere" buddy.

When the price is right, people will buy

At $200 the Nexus 7 is a safe bet for some, and within the price range of many. Convincing people to let go of $200 of their hard earned cash is a lot easier than convincing somebody to shell out $500 for an iPad. When you couple it with brilliant hardware, the latest software and a beautiful design you know you've got a winner on your hands.

Nexus 7-w645-h425-w650-h425

For the $500 that an iPad or Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 costs, you can buy a Nexus 7 32GB ($250) and a Samsung Chromebook ($250), meaning you get all of the features of a tablet with the bonus of a full browser (and more).

All of the features, none of the drawbacks

When you can get a tablet that is cheap, powerful and does everything that a 10-inch tablet can do, then these tablets are sure to take up some market share, but how much? Well according to a report released in April by Animoca, an app publisher for Android, the best selling Android tablets measure 7 inches in size.

7-inch-tablets-are-the-most-popular-Android-tablets-1-516x500

GigaOM: “The figures come from Animoca users around the world for one month, ending March 20, with a sample size of 978,000.”

When 7-inch tablets hold 5 of the top 7 Android tablet spots, then it is obvious that they are a clear favourite among Android users, but like all products, there are drawbacks.

The "race to the bottom" effect

With all the manufacturers looking to break the magic $200 barrier, innovation is in danger of getting buried underneath it all. When you are selling your device at break-even, or even at a loss, it is hard to keep pushing the greatest innovations and that means 7-inch tablets would always be a step behind their 10-inch brethren.

Luckily (even if you don't realise it), both Apple and Samsung have chosen not to partake in this "race to the bottom," as both have introduced smaller tablets that cost much more than their 7-inch counterparts, at $330 for the iPad mini and $400 for the Note 8.0. This means that we will continue to see innovation in the 7-inch (or thereabouts) market.

Making your tablet a "tablet PC"

With a 10-inch tablet, all you need to do is hit the net and choose one of the many bluetooth keyboard-case combo and you can transform your tablet into a clamshell laptop.

Lenovo-ThinkPad-Tablet-Portfolio-Keyboard-Case

This allows you to type those long emails, or punch out a novella on the train. Even though you can grab a bluetooth keyboard-case combo for a 7-inch tablet, the lack of vertical screen space means you are severely limited. So in this case, a 7-inch tablet loses out to the larger 10-inch tablet.

The market moves quickly

Even as 7-inch tablets replace 10-inch tablets, a new trend is appearing on the radar. The market that was popularized with the Galaxy Note has exploded into smartphones spanning dozens of sizes and even recently hitting 7 inches in size, with the ASUS FonePad.

asus fonepad in da face aa

These devices (yep, we aren't using the "ph" word here), can combine the tablet and phone into one, getting rid of the need for a second device. 7-inch tablets are within touching distance of these smartphones, so could they be swallowed whole by this emerging trend?

Wrap up

The mobile market is a funny business. While the smartphone market is upscaling, the tablet market is downscaling and now they are on a collision course that seems unavoidable. The market has seemed to take a liking to both trends, so it will be interesting to see which emerges victorious. The cheap and cheerful 7-inch tablet or the all-in one phablet (I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself).

Do you think 10-inch tablets have been made irrelevant? Are 5-inch (and bigger) smartphones the future? Still going to buy the new Nexus 7? Let us know in the comments.

    


Google Play Games apparently confirmed ahead of Google I/O 2013

Posted: 12 May 2013 06:33 AM PDT

Google-I-O-13-1

A leaked Google Play Services update apparently confirms a new product that Google is said to unveil at Google I/O 2013, Google Play Games.

Android Police has gotten a hold of Google Play Services v3.1.36 "which is very slowly rolling out to devices right now" and which is "a massive update" compared to the 3.0.27 version that you may have on your device right now.

In it, the publication discovered references for Google Play Games features. A few weeks ago, the same site found hints in the MyGlass Google Glass companion app that Google was working on its own social gaming product – similar to Game Center in iOS.

Now, v3.1.36 of Google Play Services offers clearer details about some of the features that will be available from Google Play Games.

 google-play-games-leak-2

Play Games will apparently let users sync saved games and compete against friends for achievements and best scores. Players will be able to invite friends to play certain games and respond to similar invitations from others. There's also a match-making feature that would let Play Games automatically pick players for certain games.

Unsurprisingly, the social element of such an app is provided by Google+ integration. That's how you'll compete with friends in various games, with Google+ handling identification, and the notifications side. Obviously, since we're talking about Google+, you’ll have to know that Play Games users will be able to share details about their gaming performance or keep them private. Leaderboards will show scores by time – today, week and all time – and can be private or public.

google-play-games-leak-1

Developers will probably be able to include Play Games support in their games, as suggested by the presence of icon badges that would "indicate a game is Google-powered."

We'll certainly find out more details about Google Play Games next week, when we'll be live from Google I/O 2013.

    


10 Tips & Tricks for the Samsung Galaxy S4

Posted: 12 May 2013 05:48 AM PDT

samsung-galaxy-s4-tips-tricks

Whether you’re the proud owner of a new Samsung Galaxy S4, (im)patiently waiting for yours to arrive, there’s a good chance that you want to know how to get the most out of your phone.

To that end, we have collected 10 tips that can help both old-school Android fans and new users alike. You might not need or want every tip you see here, but you’ll probably find at least one of them useful.

In a hurry? Prefer moving pictures? Check out the video!

1.) Speed Up TouchWiz

There are two kinds of people: those who don’t want to sacrifice features for speed, and those who will do anything for a slight speed increase. Luckily, we have tips for both kinds of people.

If you don’t use S Voice too often, this first tip is definitely for you. Have you ever noticed the slight lag between hitting the home button and the home screen actually appearing? That’s because by default, tapping the home button twice is a shortcut to launch S Voice. If you want, you can open up S Voice and turn off the “Open via the home key” option. Now the home screen will appear immediately after you hit the button.

samsung-galaxy-s4-touchwiz-animation-settings

This next tip is for those who don’t mind digging a little deeper. If you don’t mind sacrificing a few visual enhancements for speed, you can change a few options in the Developer Options menu. First, if you haven’t already, you need to unlock the Developer Options menu by going to Settings -> More -> About Device. Scroll down until you see the build number and tap it 7 times.

Now go back one screen and enter the Developer Options menu. Scroll down to the section labeled “Drawing” and set “Window animation scale,” “Transition animation scale” and “Animator duration scale” all to off. You’ll have a little less animation, but TouchWiz should feel a bit faster and more immediately responsive now.

2.) Get Better Battery Life

With a 2,600 mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy S4 isn’t exactly a slouch in the battery department, but it’s always nice to know what you can do to extend battery life in case of a long day or a forgotten charger.

samsung-galaxy-s4-power-saving

One of the easiest things you can do is to turn on Power Saving Mode. You can find this option in Settings -> My Device, and once you have set it up, it’s also available in the quick settings in the notification pane. This allows you to turn on CPU power saving, Screen power saving or to turn off haptic feedback. For best results, you’ll probably want to use all three options.

If that isn’t enough, it’s very easy to start turning things off. One of the biggest culprits when it comes to battery drain is mobile data. Of course, this might not be an option depending on how you need to use your device. BlueTooth, S Beam, NFC and features like Air Gesture or Smart Scroll are all good candidates that are easy enough to turn on and off through quick settings.

Speaking of which…

3.) Customize the Notification Panel

Quick settings, available by pulling down the notification pane, provides an easy way to enable and disable various features. The only problem is that not everybody is going to use the same settings all the time. Luckily, it’s easy to change which settings are shown first.

samsung-galaxy-s4-notification-panel

First, start by pulling down the notification pane. In the very top right, tap the icon that looks like a few squares and two arrows (I don’t really know what to call it). Now tap the pencil icon that appears to the left.

Now all you need to do is drag and drop the icons around to move your most-accessed settings to be the top five. You can still scroll in the notification pane to access other settings, but it’s much handier having the settings you use the most pop up right away.

4.) Take Better Photos

Everybody (including us) has spent a lot of time talking about the more hyped features of the Galaxy S4′s camera: Drama Shot, Eraser, etc. These are interesting, but not really features you’ll find yourself using all the time. Instead, let’s dig down into some features to help you take the best photos you can with your S4.

samsung-galaxy-s4-photo-options

First, open up the camera and hit the settings button. One of the first things you’ll probably want to do is change the photo size. By default, the Galaxy S4 ships with the photo size set to 9.6 megapixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This is a nice aspect ratio for video, but not quite so much for photos. For better quality, you can set the size to 13 megapixels, which uses the more common 4:3 aspect ratio.

You can also change Burst shot, Face detection, Metering, ISO, Anti-Shake and Auto night detection settings here. Off all of them, ISO can be one to pay attention to. With lower ISO settings, your pictures may be darker, but they’ll be far more crisp and sharp. As you turn up the ISO, you can take photos in lower light settings, but at the cost of introducing visual noise to your photos.

5.) Use a Larger Screen

Sometimes you just want a bigger screen. Yeah, the screen on the Galaxy S4 is nice, but not if, say, more than one person wants to watch a video, for example. Fear not, for there are a few ways to hook your S4 up to a bigger screen.

If you have a Samsung TV or you happen to own an AllShare Cast dongle, the easiest way is to simply use the built-in screen mirroring feature. Just head to Settings -> Connections and scroll down to the bottom to find Screen Mirroring. Now all you need to do is wait for it to scan and find your devices.

samsung-galaxy-s4-screen-mirroring

The less laggy option is to use MHL. Now, for this to work, you’ll need an 11-pin MHL adapter, as the standard 5-pin adapters won’t work for the S4. Samsung sells an official adapter for the S4. Simply plug it in and run the HDMI out to your television and you’re all set for everything from videos to games.

If neither of the above options works for you, you can use DLNA to share media from the S4 to other DLNA-enabled devices like Blu-Ray players, televisions, game consoles or other electronics. No, you can’t mirror your screen this way, but it works in a pinch for photos, videos and music.

6.) Control Your Communication

The Samsung Galaxy S4 includes two different options for controlling who can contact you and when.

The first, Blocking Mode, is an excellent option for getting a good night’s sleep. To find it head to Settings -> My Device and scroll down a little. With Blocking Mode on, you can disable incoming calls, notifications, the alarm, and the LED indicator. Either turn the option on manually or set it to disable communications between certain hours.

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If you want to deal with one specific number, call rejection might be a better option. To find it, head to Settings -> My Device and you’ll find it under the “Call” menu. The most common way to set it up is to use the Auto reject list. Simply enter a number, check the box next to it, and you’re all set. If you want, you can have the S4 automatically send a message to the person explaining why their call was rejected.

7.) Customize the Lock Screen

By default, the Galaxy S4′s lock screen isn’t the most interesting or useful lock screen we’ve ever seen. It’s functional sure, but for those of you who like a bit more action in your lock screen, there are a few things we can do to improve it.

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To get started, head to Settings -> My Device and select Lock Screen. First, you’ll want to check the “Multiple widgets” option. If you’d like, you can select the “Shortcuts” option to enable shortcuts to various apps on your lock screen. In the “Lock screen widgets” sub-menu, you can choose between a few options for defaults on the lock screen.

Now for the real fun, lock your device and head to the lock screen to check it out. By swiping near the top of the screen you can now get to the camera widget located to the right, or add your own widgets on the left. Everything from communication notifications to Gmail to Google Now is available.

8.) Make Videos More Fun

If all you want to do is capture something happening, the Galaxy S4′s camera is great right out of the box. If you want to get a little more creative, though, we’ve got a few options to spice up your videos.

First, open up the camera app and select the settings icon at the top of the screen. Now select the icon that looks like a small video camera to bring up the video options. You’ll notice that aside from “Normal” and “Limit for MMS,” there are two other options: “Slow Motion” and “Fast Motion.” Both do exactly what you’d think.

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Once you have either of these options selected, you’ll notice another icon pops up to the right of the camera icon. This allows you to select how slow or fast the video is. Slow motion allows for 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 of normal time. Fast motion can go 2x, 4x or 8x normal speed.

It’s worth noting that these will negatively impact the overall quality of the video, but come on. Fun is fun, right?

9.) Use Adapt Sound

A lot of people are talking about Samsung’s Adaptive Display feature in the Galaxy S4, but there’s another feature that doesn’t get discussed nearly as much: Adapt Sound. Before I used it, I assumed it was a feature like those you see on televisions: Movie mode, Music mode, etc. I was wrong.

Adapt Sound is a feature that tests your hearing and headphones to tune its audio to focus on frequencies you can actually hear. To find it, head to Settings -> My Device -> Sound. Now scroll all the way to the bottom to find Adapt Sound.

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Plug in your headphones and start the test. Basically all it does is play a series of tones to test what frequencies you can hear, and whether you hear better out of one ear than the other. Going through the whole test takes about a minute. Once you’re finished you can preview the feature to ensure that you like the results.

Personally I found that audio sounded a bit clearer and more detailed with Adapt Sound turned on. Your mileage may vary.

10.) Use Auto-Brightness for a Brighter Screen

Now, if you use Auto-Brightness all the time anyway, this tip probably isn’t a big deal. If you’re like me, however, you generally turn off Auto-Brightness as soon as you get a new phone. While, most of the time I prefer to have control of the screen brightness, there actually is a reason for using this feature on the Galaxy S4.

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While the Galaxy S4′s screen is likely the brightest Samsung has produced to date, you aren’t able to turn it up to maximum brightness manually (probably to prevent burn-in or other screen damage). With Auto-Brightness, however, this isn’t a problem. So the next time you’re squinting and trying to make out what’s on screen on a bright day, remember to tick the checkbox for Auto-Brightness in the notification pane.

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Do you have a favorite tip we mentioned? How about a tip that we didn’t cover that you might want to share with other readers? Let us know down in the comments!