Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Rovio pushes Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage under new Stars program

Posted: 14 May 2013 10:48 AM PDT

Rovio Entertainment has announced their latest venture today, Rovio Stars, which is a mobile game publishing initiative. Basically, this is Rovio shifting from simply offering their own games to putting themselves in a position to push games from others. The name, Rovio Stars seems to be a play on what they intend to do — publish and in turn highlight games from other developers that they believe have potential.

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Rovio's EVP of Games Jami Laes has said they want to help their fans find “quality entertainment.” While there hasn’t been any talk as to specific criteria for these games, they have mentioned “games with memorable characters and entertaining gameplay that are also just really fun to play.” Perhaps key here though, Rovio Stars marks the first time Rovio will have third party games available in their line-up.

"Rovio Entertainment has positioned itself as one of the powerhouses of mobile entertainment, so moving into publishing is a logical step for us at this point", said Rovio's EVP of Games Jami Laes.

The first game that will be highlighted as part of the Rovio Stars initiative is Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage by Nitrome Ltd. You can get a brief look at the game in the trailer video included in this post. Otherwise though, the game has the player following the adventures of a lone Viking. Rovio has said the game combines “a unique ice slicing mechanic with an offbeat humour.”

Next up after Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage will be a game called Tiny Thief by 5 Ants. Tiny Thief is said to be a game that combines “medieval adventure with stealth-based puzzles.” Aside from the two games mentioned, it looks like Rovio Stars could provide the support that is needed by some developers.

In fact, Mat Annal who is the Managing Director of Nitrome Ltd mentioned that being involved with Rovio Stars means that they “have one of the best marketing teams behind us, as well as visibility to their vast audience.” Otherwise, Rovio has said they will be “focusing on a small, select number of games.” Perhaps as icing on the cake for the developers, Rovio is promising that “each Rovio Stars launch will be an event of its own."

SOURCE: Rovio

BLU Products increase display size with a trio of new Jelly Bean smartphones

Posted: 14 May 2013 10:01 AM PDT

BLU Products has announced the latest expansion to their Studio series of handsets. This expansion brings a focus of increased display size and includes three devices; Studio 5.0, Studio 5.0 S and Studio 5.3 S. As implied by the names, all three handsets will have displays that are 5-inches or larger. These devices will also bring dual-SIM support and will be available unlocked.

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Kicking things off with the Studio 5.0 (pictured above) and you will find a handset with an 800 x 480 display and powered by a dual-core 1GHz processor. Other specs for the Studio 5.0 include 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, VGA quality megapixel front-facing camera and a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. This handset will bring a price point that fits the specs. The Studio 5.0 will be available for $149.

Shifting over to the Studio 5.0 S and this one arrives as the bigger brother. The Studio 5.0 S still has a 5-inch display however the resolution has been bumped to 960 x 540. The Studio 5.3 S display size increases to 5.3-inches, however it retains the same 960 x 540 display resolution found on the 5.0 S. Similar to the qHD resolutions, the Studio 5.0 S and 5.3 S also share many other hardware features.

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These two devices are powered by a quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm S4 processor and have Adreno 203 graphics with 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, 2 megapixel front-facing camera and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. The Studio 5.0 S and the 5.3 S will be priced at $209 and $229 respectively.

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BLU Products are also touting the Studio “S” Line as being “sleek” and offering an “unmatched premium build quality.” The Studio 5.0 S measures in at 8.9mm while the Studio 5.3 S will be slightly thicker at 9.2mm. Otherwise, all three models will bring HSDPA 3G connectivity and arrive running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. They will all be available online by way of several retailers including Amazon and they are expected to begin shipping this week.

SOURCE: PR Newswire

BlackBerry Enterprise Service v10.1 arrives with support for Android

Posted: 14 May 2013 09:11 AM PDT

BlackBerry announced the upcoming support for BBM on Android earlier this morning, however it looks like that was not the only Android related news coming out of BlackBerry Live. The other news was for the release of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 v10.1, which includes support for BlackBerry devices as well as Android and iOS devices. In simpler terms, this means the IT department will be able to manage and lockdown Android handsets under a bring your own device program.

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This news stems back to an earlier announcement for BlackBerry Secure Work Space. This was originally announced back in March and as of today, it was said that it will be available “at the end of June 2013.” Of course, as we saw with BBM, that release is hinged upon Google Play Store approval. Basically, the BlackBerry Secure Work Space will allow Android users to have one device with separate spaces for work and play.

The Secure Work Space program will launch for Android with apps that offer a secure experience for email, calendar and contacts as well as for tasks, memos, browsing and document editing. This also brings BlackBerry’s single outbound port solution. The outbound port solution is said to be “aimed at greatly simplifying firewall configuration.” BlackBerry further describes this as offering “a more secure, simple, cost effective and VPN-less infrastructure to reliably manage all of their mobile devices.”

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At this time the BlackBerry Secure Work Space program is available only in a closed beta. On the flip side though, it does sound familiar to something that Samsung is offering. Samsung previously announced KNOX, which is security minded and has been previously described as offering a "comprehensive mobile solution" for work and play. Samsung KNOX is a container solution that keeps your work and home apps separate but still easily available by way of a home screen icon.

All said and done, while BlackBerry seems to have captured a decent amount of attention this morning, it looks like it will not necessarily do anything to sway users from Android. In fact, between BBM coming to Android and BlackBerry offering a secure solution for managing Android handsets, they may have only helped in bringing more Android devices into the workplace.

SOURCE: MarketWire

BlackBerry Messenger for Android will be arriving this summer

Posted: 14 May 2013 08:29 AM PDT

At present those looking to use BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) would need to be using a BlackBerry device. Moving forward though, that support will be expanding to include other platforms. We have heard plenty of rumors suggesting that BBM was coming to Android in the past, however as of today we have the official confirmation coming by way of BlackBerry. In fact, it was said that BBM will be coming to Android sometime this summer.

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The folks at BlackBerry have yet to offer anything specific in terms of a release date, however it was made clear the release hinges upon approval of acceptance into the Google Play Store. In addition to Android, BlackBerry will also be releasing a version of BBM for iOS users. Basically, it looks like BlackBerry is expanding the device support in an effort to further grow the user base. These details are coming out of BlackBerry Live 2013 where some key facts were shared.

It was said that BBM has more than 60 million monthly active users and that there are more than 51 million daily active users who are using BBM an average of one and a half hours every day. Further BBM related stats show there are more than 10 billion messages sent and received daily and that about half of all BBM messages are read within 20 seconds of arrival. Speaking at BlackBerry Live, Andrew Bocking who is the Executive Vice President, Software Product Management and Ecosystem at BlackBerry talked a bit about the engagement of users noting that;

"For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are inseparable from the mobile experience, and the time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service. BBM has always been one of the most engaging services for BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily connect while maintaining a valued level of personal privacy. We're excited to offer iOS and Android users the possibility to join the BBM community."

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Some of the features that are expected to arrive with BBM for Android include BlackBerry Groups as well as voice note sharing, multi-person chatting and the same immediacy that current BBM users experience. For those not familiar, BlackBerry Groups allow BBM users to set up groups of up to 30 people. These groups can then be used to share calendar, photos, files and more.

Aside from the current selection of features, BlackBerry also announced BBM Channels this morning. These channels are described as being “a new social engagement platform within BBM that will allow customers to connect with the businesses, brands, celebrities and groups they are passionate about.” The one catch here, BBM Channels may or may not be available for Android users at launch. At present there was mention that support for BBM Channels (as well as voice and video chatting) will be coming to Android sometime “later this year.”

SOURCE: BlackBerry Blog

AT&T’s ‘It Can Wait’ campaign gains the support of other carriers

Posted: 14 May 2013 07:51 AM PDT

While we have seen campaigns against texting while driving from several of the US based mobile carriers, it looks like the four main carriers will soon be coming together under one slogan. That slogan should sound familiar to many as it is already existing. Basically, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and Sprint will unite with AT&T under the It Can Wait platform. The four carriers will be joined by 200 other organizations and the campaign will begin showing in television and radio commercials this summer.

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The message will also be taking to the air, literally. AT&T will have the It Can Wait campaign flying in the sky on the Goodyear blimps. Additionally, the message will also be on display at carrier stores as well as at various community events, on social media and at a national tour that will include a driving simulator. Simply put, it looks like it will soon be hard to ignore the “It Can Wait” campaign.

The interesting take here, while it is hard to argue that any distraction could increase your chances of getting in an accident — not all seem convinced that texting while driving is all that bad. This thought comes from a 2009 government study where they found that cellphone usage was a factor in just one percent of crashes. The other side of that argument is how cellphone usage is only increasing with time. Another point to consider here, if a phone is not in the hands of the driver when the police arrive, that possibility could also be overlooked.

Putting that aside, AT&T seems convinced that using a mobile phone while driving is dangerous. AT&T has referred to this as being an “epidemic” and CEO Randall Stephenson has said that “texting while driving is a deadly habit that makes you 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash.” Other comments from Stephenson touched on the four carriers coming together.

“I think we all understand that pooling our resources with one consistent message is a lot more powerful than all four of us having different messages and going different directions.”

At present the combined It Can Wait campaign will begin this summer and is planned to run through September. While we aren’t expecting AT&T to drop the campaign completely after September, the support from the other carriers remains to be seen. AT&T’s Randall Stephenson did however suggest that it could continue if the partners are in agreement.

SOURCE: AP

Image credit: mrJasonWeaver on Flickr

Apple looking to include the GALAXY S 4 in upcoming patent trial

Posted: 14 May 2013 07:16 AM PDT

The fighting between Samsung and Apple has been ongoing for sometime now. While things have been relatively quiet recently, it looks like both companies are preparing for the next phase, which will be taking place next year. Specifically, the trial will continue in March of 2014. In the meantime though, both Samsung and Apple have recently submitted an updated device list. At present each of the lists contain 22 devices.

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As an aside from the 22 devices, it seems Apple has recently set their sights on the GALAXY S 4. Details from the Apple filing show they consider the GALAXY S 4 to be an infringing device. The filing mentions that Apple “has concluded that it is an infringing device and accordingly intends to move for leave to add the Galaxy S4 as an infringing product.”

Basically, it seems Apple intends to add the GALAXY S 4 to the list. This hinges upon getting approval from the court and it does man Apple will be removing another device from the list. One interesting aspect here, while the Apple list contains a mix of smartphones and tablets, the Samsung list also includes some computers as well as the Apple TV, iTunes and iCloud.

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Looking forward, the asserted patent claims will be narrowed as we move closer to the trial. Both companies, by February 6, 2014 will have to limit those patent claims to 5 each. Additionally, the accused products will be narrowed down to 10 by that same date. While this is certainly not the last we are going to hear on this case, there is another Apple and Samsung issue that will be back in court in November.

This other issue deals with an earlier patent case. The details for this one may sound familiar as there were some big numbers thrown around. This is the case where Apple was awarded $1.05 billion. Of course, that $1.05 billion was later reduced by $450 million. Anyway, the November court date will be used to recalculate those damages.

VIA: phoneArena

SOURCE: FOSS Patents

Google Fiber approved for Gladstone, Missouri

Posted: 14 May 2013 06:44 AM PDT

Google has announced the latest Fiber related expansion news and this time around it looks like coverage will be coming to Gladstone, Missouri. Similar to other recent announcements, while we have word of coverage coming to a particular city, the details are on the lighter side. Basically, what has been announced is that the Gladstone, Missouri City Council has voted for approval.

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The missing details include the when. In this case Google has said it “takes awhile to plan, engineer, and start building our network in new communities, so it will still be some time before we can hook up our Gladstone customers.” On the flip side though, while the lack of a roll-out date may be upsetting for some in Gladstone — we remind them they should take comfort in the fact that they are at least on the list for Fiber.

Google Fiber will bring Gigabit Internet, which according to Google, has speeds that are "up to 100x faster than the average American broadband connection." Aside from the recent news for Gladstone, Google Fiber has also been announced for several other cities including Grandview, Missouri and Shawnee, Kansas.

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Other upcoming Google Fiber cities will include Austin, Texas and Provo, Utah. So far though, we are still waiting on roll-out details. Google had also announced coverage for those in Kansas City and from this one — there are some details in terms of the pricing. A check of the Fiber price list shows Gigabit Internet at $70 per month and Gigabit Internet + TV at $120 per month.

Looking at the internet and television combo pack and that does mean a two-year agreement. Additionally, the Google Fiber page shows that as including upload and download speeds of up to 1 Gigabit with no data caps. These plans also include one TV box, a storage box, network box, 1TB Google Drive and a Nexus 7 tablet.

SOURCE: Google Fiber Blog

NVIDIA SHIELD up for pre-order today, ships in June

Posted: 14 May 2013 06:01 AM PDT

If you’re one of the many who is excited to finally get your hands on NVIDIA‘s Project SHIELD Android gaming console, we have some excellent news. This morning the folks from NVIDIA have confirmed the full launch details, as well as pricing and pre-order information. Select few will get to pre-order starting today, May 14th, and this next-gen gaming console starts shipping in early June.

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Today NVIDIA confirmed SHIELD will come out of the box with 2 free games and stock Android Jelly Bean, and also support over 30 TegraZone enhanced and SHIELD optimized games. You’ll get that impressive Tegra 4 quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, micro-SD support, mini HDMI-out for enjoying these games on the big screen, WiFi, Stereo sound and much more. Basically everything we already knew, then a few additional details like internal storage and pricing.

For those who’ve shown interest and hit the “Notify me” option on the SHIELD website, you’ll be among the first to pre-order (and receive) SHIED with pre-orders being available to you starting today. Then the general public will be able to pre-order starting May 20th by heading to Shield.NVIDIA.com and getting all set up.

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NVIDIA SHIELD will start at $349 and will begin shipping to those who pre-ordered in early June. Then it will also become available on Newegg.com and in stores at Gamestop, Microcenter and a few other select retail partners. Oddly Best Buy isn’t included. SHIELD is a new kind of portable gaming experience, and will fit perfectly with any Android gamer from day one. Then of course the Geforce PC streaming option will be arriving in a limited beta soon, with access to Steam, which is a big deal.

Along with the “world’s fastest mobile processor” in the Tegra 4 (4-plus-1) quad-core chip and 2GB of RAM, you’ll also be enjoying that 5-inch 720p HD display accompanied by a console-quality controller. This is an Android tablet, a gamepad, and of course a full-on game console in the palm of your hand.

Oh and don’t forget to check out our NVIDIA Tegra Hub for all the hands-on videos and details of current and upcoming games. And expect some hands-on and a full review of SHIELD coming from Android Community real quick. Stay tuned, this will be exciting.

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SOURCE: NVIDIA

NVIDIA SHIELD gaming console gets official for $349

Posted: 14 May 2013 06:01 AM PDT

Today NVIDIA has finally unveiled the full array of details on their next-gen pure Android gaming console we all know as Project SHIELD. The gaming device was revealed at CES and took many by surprise, but today NVIDIA’s released all the details we’ve been waiting for. If you’re a die-hard Android (or PC) gamer you’ll want to read on below.

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We knew Project SHIELD was coming soon, and NVIDIA’s been hosting popular PC Monday and Android Thursday videos highlighting the Tegra 4 quad-core powerhouse gaming device, and those can be found at the links below. Today however, we can confirm the full specs that it will offer out of the box, and the price. NVIDIA SHIELD can be yours next month for just $349.

We knew it would rock a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor and that 5th power-saving core, but the full array of details weren’t yet know. For $349 you’ll get a 5-inch 1280 x 720p HD display with anti-glare coatings for better outside visibility. The game console all-in-one will rock NVIDIA’s “world’s fastest mobile processor” and 2GB of RAM, be offered with 16GB of internal storage, and even has micro-SD for additional storage. Then of course it offers mini HDMI-out for streaming to the big screen, and micro-USB for charging and syncing.

SHIELD Games
SHIELD runs on vanilla, completely stock from Google, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and will come out of the box pre-loaded with NVIDIA’s TegraZone for a suite of Tegra-optimized games that will make the experience top notch. As well as two free games for those who pre-order. You’ll get Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode II, and Expendable: Rearmed absolutely free.

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Then of course running stock Android with a 5-inch display you can enjoy all the games and apps available on the Google Play Store, so more than 700,000 options. Google Music, Video & TV and more will all be fully available on SHIELD. As you all already know, it’s a 5-inch tablet that doubles as the most powerful Android game-console all built right into a comfortable game controller.

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Then we’ll be learning more in the coming months about NVIDIA GRID and Geforce streaming, which will enable NVIDIA powered desktop PC’s to stream true console quality and above PC games right to SHIELD. Need for Speed and more all playable on SHIELD on the go, or from the couch. This will arrive as a beta in late June.

Accessories
As mentioned above, NVIDIA SHIELD will hit the streets officially for $349, shipping in June, but NVIDIA also has a few accessories they’ll also be offering. A dedicated hard carrying case will be available for $39.99 that will offer charging while in the case via micro-USB, then they’ll have some lid covers. The aluminum silver trim when the device is closed (as pictured below) will be customizable with a gloss black, and carbon fiber lid options starting at $19.99. We can expect some custom engraved gaming versions and more coming soon too.

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When we first saw Project SHIELD back in January at CES NVIDIA promised good things ahead, and they are about to finally arrive. NVIDIA confirmed the design has taken on a few small improvements since our original SHIELD hands-on too. The finished product has improved joysticks that are spread a bit wider for easy access and a comfortable grip, textured tops for a better gaming experience, and more. The D-Pad it tight and not as squish as before, so you’ll get accurate and good response. Then they’ve improved the triggers for the best tactile response available on any Android gamepad.

Project SHIELD will begin shipping in June for $349 and will be available at NVIDIA’s online store, Newegg, Gamestop and Microcenter. Get excited for some top-tier Android and PC gaming on the go!

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SOURCE: NVIDIA

Android Facebook app update lets you delete comments on the go

Posted: 14 May 2013 04:56 AM PDT

Many Facebook users have criticized the Facebook application as lacking in stability and functionality. In fact, the Android Facebook application was so bad that Facebook forced its own employees to use Android devices so they can work the kinks out of the app a while back. If you’re an avid Facebook user on your Android device, a new update for the application is now available that brings a nice new feature.

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Once you apply the new Facebook for Android app update, you will now be able to moderate comments on your Facebook posts directly from the mobile application. That means no more having to wait until you get home to delete a annoying comment on something you posted. I think we can all relate to that one Facebook Friend with a tendency to post inappropriate or downright rude comments.

Deleting the comments is very easy and straightforward. All a user has to do is update their app, and then tap the comment you want to delete. A little pop-up window will open asking you to touch the comment or cancel if you didn’t want to delete the comment.

If you hit the delete icon, the comment is gone for good. This is a nice way to deal with comments or drama generated by people you know and acquaintances on your Facebook wall. The update brings the Facebook for Android app to version 3.1.

The app is 3.22 MB in size and is a free download. If you’ve updated your app recently, you may already have this feature. The update was made available on May 9.

SOURCE: CNET

Gartner says three fourths of all smartphones sold in Q1 used Android

Posted: 14 May 2013 04:43 AM PDT

Analytics firm Gartner recently published the smartphone numbers for Q1 of 2013. The numbers look at a lot of different things, but one very interesting and impressive statistic stands out from the others. According to the numbers, almost 75% of all smartphones sold in Q1 of 2013 use the Android operating system.

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Another, perhaps unsurprising statistic, is that Samsung sold more Android-powered smartphones than any other manufacturer. Gartner says that Android’s nearly 75% market share for the smartphone realm is nearly 20% higher than its percentage of the market only a year ago. If you’re wondering, that 75% share equates to about 156 million Android devices sold during the quarter.

Overall sales for smartphones were 210 million units, representing an increase of 63 million units compared to the same quarter last year. Overall mobile phone sales for the quarter were 425 million meaning smartphones accounted for almost half of all mobile phones sold. Of all smartphone manufacturers, Samsung seems to be doing the best.

Samsung doesn’t offer up official sales statistics, but Gartner estimates that Samsung sold 31% of all smartphones during the quarter. Gartner also estimates that Apple was in the number two spot with 18% of all smartphones sold. Those numbers show that Android is growing rapidly as iOS continues to decline.

During the same quarter of 2012, Samsung and Apple were only 5% apart in the first and second spots for the smartphone realm. There is a chance that those numbers could swing back in Apple’s favor with the launch of the next generation iPhone. The iPhone 5 has been criticized as being a marginal upgrade and Gartner thinks that some iPhone users may be waiting for the next generation device before they upgrade.

SOURCE: TechCrunch

Notion Ink Adam II gets detailed

Posted: 14 May 2013 04:31 AM PDT

Notion Ink has been offering little glimpses and tidbits about its coming tablet called the Adam II for a while now. Back in November of 2012, the company offered up a blurry teaser image of the tablet but not much in the way of specifications. If you’re curious about exactly what the Adam II will have under the hood, specifications for the tablet have now surfaced.

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One of the more interesting things about the Adam 2 is that it has a secondary black and white display on one side. The secondary screen is an LCD unit and is designed to allow users to easily read incoming notifications without having to activate the color screen. Presumably, that will help increase battery life.

Speaking of battery life, Notion Ink claims that the Adam II can go for 10 hours per battery charge. The battery packs in 6000 mAh the power. The tablet has a 10.1-inch main screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800. The display uses IPS technology.

The processor heart of the tablet is a 1.5 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core processor. The tablet runs Android 4.2.2 for the operating system and has 1 GB of RAM. The tablet also boasts front and rear cameras with both featuring two-megapixel resolution.

The tablet also has integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and an HDMI output. A couple of key items about the tablet remain unknown. Previous rumors had pegged the price at $220 for the tablet, but other rumors suggests that price is incorrect. The actual price for the tablet has yet to be confirmed and the launch date is still a mystery.

SOURCE: Liliputing

Sony Xperia S39h smartphone images leak

Posted: 13 May 2013 04:04 PM PDT

Today we’re getting our first look at another Android smartphone in the works from Sony. The device has leaked in a series of pictures, and the device is going by the name Xperia S39h and will most likely be headed to China. Sony and their latest Xperia Z and ZL devices have been quite popular, so we’re interested in hearing more about a smaller 4.3-inch device like what we see below.

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This weekend an entire gallery of images were nicely revealed from the guys at Xperia Blog but the pictures didn’t come with any details or specs on the device. So while their leakster suggests a 4.3-inch 720p display, we can’t confirm anything else at this point other than it’s a nice looking smartphone.

The new Sony Xperia S39h will probably come to market just above the 4.3-inch Xperia L (model C210X, S36h) as this is being listed as the 39h. The S stands for small, suggesting another 4.3-inch device rather than their larger 5-inch 1080p smartphones of late. We can see a large sensor for what will probably be a 5 or 8 megapixel camera, and the device has a dedicated camera shutter as well.

Overall the phone has a rather generic look, but still is in line with the recent 2013 Xperia devices. With a large plastic bezel and white frame nicely surrounded with an aluminum side railing, but for now we’ll just have to wait for additional details. Leaks suggest this as a dual-SIM budget device for China, and we’ll update as soon as we learn more details and plans from Sony.

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SOURCE: Xperia Blog

Samsung’s GALAXY S 4 to also come with a ‘Blue Arctic’ paint job

Posted: 13 May 2013 02:23 PM PDT

We’ve been hearing a lot of random reports and rumors about Samsung’s GALAXY S 4, even though the device is already available worldwide and on most US carriers. So what are these rumors? Talks of a GALAXY S 4 Zoom with a 16 megapixel camera, the GALAXY S 4 Active, and now reports of a new blue color variation. Samsung isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

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While we’re still waiting for the Zoom or Active version of the smartphone to be revealed or announced, the regular GS4 is readily available and in the hands of consumers as we speak. When Samsung announced the GALAXY S 4 it was confirmed they’d only be offering a White Front and Black Mist version of the device, but today we have a leak showing another color.

For some odd reason the option for different colors on smartphones is a tough on for many manufacturers. You can get NOKIA phones in an array of colors, and the same goes for your iPod, but generally smartphones stick to black or white. Today we’re getting details that for Japan, and possible the rest of the world Samsung has a Blue Arctic GALAXY S 4 in the works and coming soon.

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You’ll be able to stand out a bit in the sea of millions of Galaxy devices by getting the blue version if it ever hits the streets outside of Japan. The report states Docomo will get it first, available next month, and others could see it arrive in the coming weeks. Maybe the late to the game Verizon model will also come in Blue, but that’s doubtful.

Does the color of your smartphone matter all that much to you? Sure getting a choice is nice if available, but does it matter when many of you just cover it with a case anyways? Let us know!

SOURCE: SamMobile

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S 4
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : March 14, 2013
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5 Inch
  • Resolution : 1080x1920
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.748 Inch
  • Depth : 0.31 Inch
  • Weight : 130 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2600 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.2.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Exynos 5410
    CPU Clock Speed : 1600 Mhz
    Core : 8
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 13 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11ac
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

SmartVP brings video calling and Android apps to the hard-of-hearing

Posted: 13 May 2013 01:53 PM PDT

Recently the company Purple Communications announced a new service and product called SmartVP. This is the first of its kind true HD videophone option for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing, and it also works quite well with a host of Android apps. SmartVP combined the latest technology with our good friend Android, and added a wide array of smart apps and features to transform how deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals communicate. Read on for more details.

Screen Shot 2013-05-13 at 1.13.16 PM

While SmartVP and the service might not cater to our usual readers, it shows just one of the many different aspects and applications that Android can and is being used. Running their custom service on top of Android is enabling the deaf and hard-of-hearing to have the best, easiest, and HD videophone calling experience available.

Thanks to SmartVP running on Android this is more than just a videophone calling solution where users can use sign language to communicate. It also runs with Android apps such as YouTube, Yellow Pages, Weather, and a full video archive for the Deaf with captions and all. It’s more than just a phone. It’s a TV set-top that delivers plenty of content to the deaf. See more from their newly released video below.

Another neat feature is the ability to use the integrated Android apps at any time, even while on a call. Check the local weather, lookup a new movie with Captionfish support and more all with the wireless remote. Then SmartVP offers two extremely bright 360 degrees flasher lights so you’ll never miss an incoming call or notification again.

Screen Shot 2013-05-13 at 1.12.40 PM

SmartVP is making VRS (video relay service) for the hard-of-hearing easier, faster, and better with HD video calling and the integrated Android apps. We’ve reached out for more details regarding SmartVP’s specs, Android version, and more, and will update when we learn more.

It’s nice to see companies using the rapid and ever-changing technology available from Android in so many different ways. Being able to enhance the experience for deaf individuals is pretty neat. We’re glad to see it, and happy to share the news. More details can be found from the company site below.

SOURCE: SmartVP

Runtastic mobile apps paired with new hardware

Posted: 13 May 2013 01:48 PM PDT

The team behind the Runstastic mobile apps have introduced a new line of hardware goodies. The new items include a heart rate monitor and some cycling hardware and these will both sync up with the Runstastic apps. In addition to the hardware, the Runstastic team has also shared a little bit in terms of app downloads and users.

dongle1

On the user side, Runtastic is now touting 25 million mobile users with 10 million having registered on the Runtastic.com website. While we haven’t seen all the specifics on this one, they have also said the Runtastic app had been averaging “one app download per second.” While 25 million mobile users sounds like a number that one should brag about, perhaps for some, the new hardware is more exciting.

With that in mind, the Runtastic heart rate monitor connects over Bluetooth and uses the 5.3kHz frequency to broadcast to the smartphone running the app. Additionally, the Runtastic heart rate monitor will also work with the Runtastic GPS Watch. The cycling hardware is a speed and cadence sensor that works in conjunction with the Runtastic Road Bike or Runtastic Mountain Bike apps.

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The company also offers a smartphone bike mount to complete the setup. By combining the cycling hardware with the mobile apps running on your Android smartphone you will get data to include speed and cadence as well as your GPS position, distance and the gain and loss of elevation. Basically, it looks like the Runtastic team is stepping away from the software only side and looking to help users see the complete picture.

“The best way to improve performance is to track and monitor your activities,” said Florian Gschwandtner, CEO of Runtastic. “By offering hardware, apps and services that are all developed in-house, Runtastic creates an integrated experience that is easy and fun.”

Another product available from Runtastic is an arm band that will hold your smartphone. For now these items will be available online by way of Amazon.com. That being said, while the Runtastic hardware is said to be proprietary and designed to work with Runtastic apps, we have seen other software based exercise apps also include hardware support. Take RunKeeper for example, they offer compatibility with the Polar line of products and also integrate with others such as the Fitbit.

CyanogenMod 10.1 ‘final’ release nears as RC2 hits servers

Posted: 13 May 2013 12:49 PM PDT

CyanogenMod 10.1 RC1 was released last week. At that time the CyanogenMod folks mentioned that a final release was approaching quickly. There wasn’t any timeline given, however it looks like today has brought things one step closer to that final release being available. As of today, CyanogenMod 10.1 RC2 is now available for download.

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Those interested in updating from RC1, or starting off with RC2 will be able to find the downloads on the get.cm website. There hasn’t been any changelog posted for CM10.1 RC2, however given we are talking about release candidate builds — it is likely that this update brings some bug fixes and maybe some performance improvements.

The other item that we can see from the get.cm website is an increase in device support. When we initially wrote about the release of CM10.1 RC1 there was support for 40 devices. The list of RC2 downloads has now grown to just shy of 50. The list still contains a mix of smartphones and tablets and as many would assume, that does include (most of) the Nexus line.

An RC2 download is available for the Nexus 4 as well as the GSM and WiFi versions of the Nexus 7 and the Nexus Q. Also included are some older Nexus models including the Galaxy Nexus (Verizon and Sprint), Galaxy Nexus (GSM), Nexus S and the Nexus S 4G. Currently missing is any mention of the Nexus 10 tablet.

Other devices that have an RC2 build include several models of the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Tab 2 families as well as the Galaxy Note lineup. Otherwise, aside from seeing a jump from RC1 to RC2, this version of CM10.1 remains based off of Android 4.2.2. Looking aside from this RC2 release, the HTC One also has a CyanogenMod build available. The HTC One build isn’t in the release candidate family and is instead coming as a nightly build, which basically just means there may be a few more bugs or other issues still hanging around.

SOURCE: get.cm

Verizon: Samsung GALAXY S 4 hits shelves next week

Posted: 13 May 2013 12:02 PM PDT

We have some excellent news today folks. Our good friends from Verizon Wireless have a shocker for you this afternoon. They’ve just confirmed the Samsung GALAXY S 4 will be available from Verizon Wireless starting May 23rd, not the 30th as originally suggested. Instead of a delay we get a bump, well done Verizon.

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Instead of bringing news that Verizon has delayed or pushed the release date, which is something we’re sadly very familiar with from Big Red, we’re happy to confirm they’ve pushed up the release date. Verizon will be getting the flagship and extremely impressive 5-inch GALAXY S 4 smartphone on the 23rd. That’s just next Thursday folks!

As you all know, the Galaxy S 4 has been available on AT&T and T-Mobile for more than a few weeks already. Sadly Verizon announced last month that pre-orders were starting, but that the phone wouldn’t be available for purchase until May 30th. An entire month later than AT&T. Thankfully they’ve decided against that poor decision, and it will now be available next week.

For more details you’ll surely want to check out our Samsung GALAXY S 4 Review. The 1.9 GHz quad-core powered smartphone rocks an amazingly stunning 5-inch 1080p full HD AMOLED display, tons of new features and capabilities (like dual-recording) and of course comes with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. The 16GB GALAXY S 4 from Verizon is $199 with a 2-year contract, just like most, and comes in both White and Black color options.

Who’s excited?

SOURCE: Verizon

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S 4 (CDMA)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : Verizon US Cellular Cricket
    Announced Date : March 14, 2013
    Release Date : April 30, 2013
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5 Inch
  • Resolution : 1080x1920
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.748 Inch
  • Depth : 0.31 Inch
  • Weight : 130 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2600 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.2.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T
    CPU Clock Speed : 1900 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 13 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
  • CDMA
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
    CDMA Band:
  • 850
  • 1700
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11ac
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

PayPal Android SDK release will bring additional in-app payment options

Posted: 13 May 2013 11:51 AM PDT

PayPal has announced the availability of a new Android SDK. This release is aimed at developers and PayPal notes that it will be able to offer “everything a developer needs to accept both PayPal and credit card payments.” On the flip side though, while the release of the SDK is for developers, it should also serve to improve the payment process for a user looking to pay through PayPal. While there isn’t any timeline as to when this will show up in apps, the SDK will be available beginning on May 15th.

paypal-here-540

Basically, at this point it is up to the developers to make use of the SDK. This means developers will be able to set things up so the user will be able to make a PayPal payment without having to leave the app. Or in simpler terms, the user will have a streamlined checkout experience. Perhaps even nicer, the user will have multiple options when it comes to making that payment.

They will be able to use a PayPal account or use a credit or debit card by snapping a picture. As far as taking a picture, this will be done using the card.io technology. When using the card.io setup users only have to hold their credit card up and let the app scan the card. For those who may be worried about scanning your credit card, PayPal did mention that is a secure process.

Screenshot_2013-04-29-15-32-53

The above image shows a basic example of the PayPal payment setup in an Android app. While the streamlined checkout process will likely be beneficial to the end user, PayPal has also said this will allow developers to make use of a payment solution that scales with them. Further details here mention how they have “128 million account holders across more than 50 financial networks in 190 markets and in 25 currencies around the globe.”

While the end user waits for this to begin showing up in Android apps, here are a few points that developers should know — the PayPal SDK for Android will support v2.2 (Froyo) or later and there will be documentation as well as integration details available on the newly updated PayPal developer site.

SOURCE: PayPal

Archos ChefPad emerges for all the Rachael Ray fans

Posted: 13 May 2013 11:46 AM PDT

If you want a tablet to be your cooking companion while looking through recipes or watching Rachael Ray for cooking tips, Archos has you covered, apparently. Today they’ve just announced and made official the Archos ChefPad. And yes we’re serious. This slate will bring Jelly Bean and dual-core power to your kitchen. Check it out below.

Screen Shot 2013-05-13 at 11.41.03 AM

This kitchen companion is a new budget friendly cheaper tablet from the folks at Archos, and will be helping you with all sorts of food activities. You can follow along recipes and videos with the built-in stand, or even do a Google+ Hangout with Mom for those cooking tips you never remembered while growing up. This would have been a great tablet to announce, you know, before Mothers Day, not after.

The Archos ChefPad has some decent specs, but you probably shouldn’t use it as a cutting board. They say it is “a specially designed cooking assistant made for both the kitchen and personal entertainment.” The Chefpad comes with a 9.7-inch 1024 x 768 resolution display, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a 1.6 GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage for recipes and more, as well as a micro-SD slot for expanding storage.

Screen Shot 2013-05-13 at 11.41.12 AM

Archos was nice enough to include both a front and rear camera, both 2 megapixels, and the tablet comes with a built-in stand for easy reading and viewing for aspiring cooks. This food-centric tablet also comes loaded with food inspired wallpapers, as well as a host of apps and “Chef’s apps” that will filter through content and deliver recipes and more to the user.

Lastly Archos confirmed the stand is adjustable, and the silicon design will protect it from those occasional splashes and spills, but they in no way mention anything about it being splash-proof. So take that as you will. Enjoy your latest culinary creations by working with the Archos ChefPad, which will be available starting in June for around $209.

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SOURCE: Archos