Saturday, May 18, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Google+ Hangouts app update adds tablet support

Posted: 17 May 2013 01:51 PM PDT

Google released the Hangouts app shortly after the I/O keynote on May 15th and while the device support was listed as being for Android 2.3 or later, there were some limitations to that. One of which was in regards to tablets. Google had put a note in the Play Store description saying that said tablet support would be available soon and it looks like that update has since arrived in the Google Play Store.

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The what’s new section in the Play Store listing still reflects the earlier update, however we can confirm the Hangouts app now works on tablets. Specifically, we have tested the app on a Nexus 7. Otherwise, as we saw with the initial smartphone release, the Hangouts app is replacing the previously existing Talk app. Simply put, if you are rocking an Android tablet and want to get in on the fun of Hangouts, proceed to update.

Aside from the quietly added support for tablets, Hangouts users also have SMS integration to look forward to. There hasn’t been any date or timeframe as to when that will arrive, however the confirmation did come by way of a Google employee. Dori Storbeck, Community Manager for Hangouts and Chat has said the SMS integration will be “coming soon."

In addition to the confirmation, there is also a bit of SMS integration evidence sitting in the Google Accounts settings page. Perhaps a bit more fun, Google seems to have also included some Easter Eggs. These however, are available for those using the desktop. The list of Easter Eggs includes everything from ponies to pitchforks.

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There is also the KONAMO cheat available. That one will likely be a favorite by many and as a refresher, you will need to hit the arrow keys for up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, and then B A Enter. Anyway, while you are waiting for your tablet to finish updating the Hangouts app, check the above image for the full list of Easter Eggs and have some fun with friends.

SOURCE: Google Play Store

Skobbler for Android update adds turn-by-turn navigation

Posted: 17 May 2013 12:46 PM PDT

We know that Google Maps has some updates in the works, however it looks like another maps app has also been updated. This other is from Skobbler and the updated app is currently available in the Google Play Store. The app is called GPS Navigation & Maps + offline, though some may recognize the Skobbler name from ForeverMap 2. Basically, in addition to adding new features, Skobbler also updated the name.

skobbler

In an effort to answer the ‘why would I need a maps app when I already have Navigation’ question, one such reason would be the actual map data. You see, Skobbler uses OpenStreetMap, which is a free and editable map that has more than 1 million voluntary contributors. Sticking with this latest update though, the GPS Navigation & Maps + offline now has turn-by-turn navigation.

Other changes in this latest release also include the newest Skobbler NGx map engine and an additional free map update for users. The folks at Skobbler have also said this release brings “great improvements” to the overall stability. Anyway, those looking for an alternate map solution, or those who simply want to use something based on the OpenStreetMap data have two options available from Skobbler.

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The GPS Navigation & Maps + offline app is priced at $1.00 and there is a trial available. Those looking to go the trial route first can download the GPS Navigation & Maps — light app from the Google Play Store. This app will have all the same features as the paid app, however some of those features will cut off after 14-days.

After the 14-day trial period, the app will lose navigation. After that point, Skobbler offers two options — upgrade to the paid version and retain all the features or continue using the light version without the navigation and offline support. Otherwise, additional features include ongoing updates, route planning for cars and pedestrians, search functionality, different modes for day or night and more.

SOURCE: Google Play Store

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Android Authority

Android Authority


Google Glass for prescription eyewear seen at I/O

Posted: 18 May 2013 02:09 AM PDT

Credit: Engadget

Credit: Engadget

When Google Glass was first unveiled to the public at Google I/O, the lack of support for prescription eyewear was a notable limitation. 75 percent of American adults use some sort of vision correction, with the majority of them being glasses, and Google obviously had a major market not being catered for.

In March, Google confirmed that there would be a version of Glass that would support prescription eyewear and now we've caught a glimpse of the first prototype of Glass out in the wild. Seen roaming around the floors of the Moscone Center in San Francisco was a man wearing a peculiar piece of hardware, mounted on top of prescription glasses. Is this the much vaunted Glass for prescription eyewear?

Google confirmed that this is a prototype of "Glass for glasses" (that's not a real marketing term, just one that I made up), and uses the same software as the Explorer Edition of Glass, but contains slightly different hardware on the outside.

This new development means Google is closer to building "Glass for glasses", and we can only hope that this version of Glass will be released in tandem with the commercial release of normal Glass. Still not sure Google Glass is for you? Check out Joshua Vergara’s and Nate Swanner’s hands on with Glass, down below.

Is Google Glass is the future of mobile computing? Are you happy that Google is accomadating people who wear glasses as well?

    


Samsung Galaxy Fame Review

Posted: 17 May 2013 06:42 PM PDT

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When think of Samsung phones, what do you think of? The Galaxy S4? The Note 2? Maybe the upcoming Note 3? Yeah, that makes sense. The Samsung Galaxy Fame, on the other hand, probably isn’t going to be the first thing that comes to mind.

It’s easy to forget, especially for people like us, that budget phones make up a sizable portion of the market. Samsung most definitely has not forgotten that portion of the market, and for proof you need look no further than the Galaxy Fame. It’s small and it’s cheap, but is it worth the money? Read on to find out.

In a hurry? Check out our video review or jump to the conclusion at the end of the article.

Specs

  • 3.5-inch display (320 x 480, 165 ppi)
  • 1 GHz CPU
  • 512 MB RAM
  • 4 GB internal storage (expandable via microSD)
  • 5 MP rear facing camera
  • 0.3 MP front facing camera
  • 1300 mAh battery

Build Quality & Design

The Galaxy Fame seems to take its design cues from, well, most any Samsung phone currently on the market. It’s a little curvier, but this is probably necessary due to its thickness. Still this makes the Fame a perfect fit for smaller hands. For me, it felt a little on the small-ish side, but it should be fairly usable for most people. One touch that seemed out of the ordinary was the gold-tinted faux metal surrounding the bezel. For some it might seem a little too ornate, but others may find it to be a nice change of pace.

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Like most other Samsung phones, the Galaxy Fame is built from plastic. Unlike most of those phones, however, the Fame feels a little heavy for its size. This is understandable: the components don’t get any lighter after a certain point, and neither does the plastic. If anything, it actually gives the Fame a sturdier feel than some of Samsung’s larger phones.

Display

We’ve seen time and time again that one of the main areas where the cuts are made for budget considerations is the screen. Still, for the most part, the main sacrifice is screen resolution. The 3.5-inch screen features a resolution of 480 x 320 and a pixel density of around 165 pixels per inch. If that was the only issue with the Samsung Galaxy Fame’s display, it wouldn’t be too bad, but unfortunately this isn’t the case.

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The last time we reviewed a device with a display this size and resolution (the Sony Xperia E Dual) we noticed some pretty big issues with the screen, and we’re seeing a lot of the same problems here. No matter where you set the brightness, the screen looks washed out. Viewing angles generally aren’t too bad, but viewing the screen from the right side results in a not-so-fun viewing experience pretty quickly.

Performance

With a single-core 1 GHz CPU and 512 MB of RAM, we weren’t expecting a whole lot in the performance department, but we still ran our usual suite of tests.

Starting with AnTuTu, we ran the benchmark 10 times and calculated the average. In this case, it showed exactly why we run these benchmarks so many times, as the low score was 3,182 and the high score was a somewhat inexplicable 8,412. In the end, the average score was 5,075.

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Next up we tried to run Epic Citadel, but the key word in that sentence is “tried.” Unfortunately, while the app launched, it consistently crashed before we got the chance to run the benchmark.

In real world testing, it was clear that TouchWiz bogged down the hardware a bit, as stuttering was present scrolling through home screens. Light gaming was possible, but heavier apps presented too much difficulty for the hardware. If you’re looking for a quick round of Angry Birds, you’ll be fine, but don’t expect too much more.

Software

The Samsung Galaxy Fame runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and, of course, Samsung’s own TouchWiz UI. While striving for a single feel across all devices makes sense from a marketing and design standpoint, we would have preferred to see a less hardware-intensive overlay, or even better, stock Android.

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Looking at other software, many of Samsung’s usual apps make an appearance. S Planner, Game Hub, S Memo (simply called “Memo” here) and ChatON are present, but no S Voice. Along with an FM Radio app and the file manager My Files, Quickoffice is the major bundled app. This app allows you to view and presumably edit common office documents, though they can’t be created within the app. As with most phones Samsung currently ships, Dropbox is also included.

Camera

Given the specs and price point, we didn’t have the highest of hopes for the Samsung Galaxy Fame’s camera, and as a result, we were somewhat surprised by the quality of the photos it produced. That said, image quality is directly proportionate to the amount of light present when the photo is taken. Outdoors with sunlight or in well lit rooms, you’ll get a fairly accurate representation of whatever it may be that you’re pointing the camera at. In a poorly lit room, however, results that you’re happy with will be much harder to find.

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The Galaxy Fame’s rear-facing camera is capable of capturing video, though you’ll probably only ever want to rely on it in a pinch. The resolution tops out at VGA quality (640 x 480), and has the same issues with low light capture as still photos do.

Battery

The Galaxy Fame’s battery capacity of 1,300 mAh may have you shaking your head, but keep in mind that it isn’t powering the most demanding hardware or pushing a particularly large amount of pixels. We have found in the past that the manufacturers claims of talk time often link up with general moderate to heavy use. In this case, Samsung claims around 6 to 8.5 hours of talk time depending on the network you’re connected to.

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During testing and benchmarking, we found that the numbers did seem to line up. After around 5 hours of fairly heavy testing and benchmarking, the battery was down to around 50 percent. This might seem unusually good in this case, but it’s necessary to keep in mind that we had no SIM inserted and therefore no connectivity other than WiFi. Still, depending on your use, it seems that a full day without a charge should be no problem at all.

Video

Conclusion

So, does the Samsung Galaxy Fame hold up? Well, yes and no. It certainly gets points for style, and anyone pining for the halcyon days of flip phones might like the form factor. On the other hand, its relatively poor performance and less-than-beautiful screen aren’t going to help win the Galaxy Fame any fans.

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What do you think? Have you tried the Galaxy Fame, or do you have any questions? Let us know in the comments!

    


Sony posts AOSP code for Sony Xperia Tablet Z

Posted: 17 May 2013 04:48 PM PDT

Sony Xperia Tablet Z

Sony has certainly been turning quite a few heads in the mobile world as of late. Not only are the Sony Xperia Z and its variants stunning, the company has also come a long way when it comes to supporting the developer community. This effort largely began with the Sony Xperia S’ AOSP project, and has expanded from there. In fact, just last month Sony’s flagship Xperia Z also got the AOSP treatment. Now Sony is extending the same gift to the Xperia Tablet Z.

The Android 4.2.2 AOSP build is obviously not certified by Sony and is warned to not be "for everyday use", but that doesn’t make its existence any less significant. For one thing, it makes it much easier for developers to get to work on bringing us brillant mods and custom ROMs geared towards the Tablet Z.

Just remember that, unless you have developer experience, you are best not bothering with this build just yet.

So what all is working? Sony doesn’t give us a full list, though they do admit that some features and apps will not be present, including things like Google Play. Additionally, you can expect proprietary pieces to be left out of the build.

We are excited to see Sony playing nice with the developer community, as this goes along way in winning over new fans in the Android world. Now here’s to hoping that they take things a step further by following in the footsteps of the Galaxy S4 Google Edition with an Xperia that runs stock Android. One can dream, right?

For those of you brave enough to give the AOSP build a go, you can grab the source code by heading over to Sony’s GitHub page.

    


Are there real privacy concerns over Google Glass? Congress now looking into the situation

Posted: 17 May 2013 03:09 PM PDT

Google Glass

Change isn’t always easy, sometimes it can even be scary. While some of us love new inventions and tech progress (raises hand!), others are a bit more cautious about what change might bring. That’s why campaigns like "Stop the Cyborgs" have surfaced recently, with a mission of bringing awareness of potential Google Glass privacy concerns. We’ve even heard about at least one Seattle bar that has already banned the tech ahead of its commercial launch.

So what’s the deal? Is there really cause for concern here? The problem is that Google Glass is a very new and different technology. People aren’t for sure what implications it might have on society and privacy. That’s why eight members of Congress have decided to take action, sending a letter to Google asking about privacy concerns and Google’s plans with Glass.

The inquiry came from lawmakers from the bipartisan Congressional Privacy Caucus, and asks several questions about privacy both regarding the user and those that might come into contact with the user. For example, congress wonders whether or not Google collects device-specific information from Glass and how else it might be used to track its users.

More importantly, Congress wants to know how Google will handle recording and picture taking, and if someone (or even some buildings/landmarks) can opt out of facial recognition technology, if it becomes a feature of Glass.

The letter also points out Google’s past privacy concerns, and possible concerns with data tracking (methinks Congress has been watching too many Scroogled ads). The letter requests a response by Friday, June 14th, and can be read in full here.

It remains unseen if Google will respond to the letter directly or not, but it is worth noting that at Thursday’s I/O fireside chat with developers, the team did take some time to address possible privacy concerns regarding Glass.

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Google addresses possible privacy issues with Glass at I/O

“Privacy was top of mind as we designed the product,” said Steve Lee, Glass’ product director. “You’ll know when someone with Glass is paying attention to you,” insists Lee. “If you’re looking at Glass, you’re looking up.”

As Lee points out, someone will pretty much need to be staring at you to record you.

“If you walk into a restroom and someone’s just looking at you — I don’t know about you but I’m getting the hell out of there.”

While that is mostly true, you could also position yourself perfectly for a second, start recording and then look in the other direction. Honestly though, you can kind of do the same thing with your phone. You can easily start recording but not hold the phone all the way up, making it look like you are simply checking an email, browsing the net or doing something else (though admittedly it might look a bit more suspicious with a phone).

Google seems to understand that there will be skeptics for the technology, and looks to be working hard to address these concerns as best as possible, which is all we can really ask for. “We are thinking very carefully about how we design Glass because new technology always raises new issues. Our Glass Explorer program, which reaches people from all walks of life, will ensure that our users become active participants in shaping the future of this technology,” Lee concludes.

Personally, I understand that people fear the unknown, but this is just another new mobile device. Used in the wrong hands, yes it can certainly be used for nefarious purposes. Unfortunately, so can a smartphone, a camera, a computer or just about anything.

Google Glass will take time to get used to, and this is likely far from the last we’ll hear about anti-Glass initiatives and privacy concerns. What do you think of Google Glass, does it pose real privacy concerns or are certain groups just blowing things out of proportion?

    


The Friday Debate: Google I/O – what are your impressions?

Posted: 17 May 2013 02:12 PM PDT

We are all mobile geeks, here at Android Authority. We love everything with a power button. We like to comment the latest news and endlessly argue over which phone is better. On the Friday Debate, we pick a hot issue and proceed to discuss it. Join us!

This week was Google I/O week, and naturally, in this Friday Debate we will discuss the new stuff that Google shown us at I/O, but also the stuff we didn’t get to see. Among the highlights: the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition, a boatload of news about Glass, new Google Maps, some good stuff for developers, and a redesigned Google Plus (it was a big commotion out there). On the MIA list: the Nexus 7 2, the X Phone, Android 4.3.

So, what do you make of this year’s Google I/O? We’ve asked ourselves this question, and came up with some answers. Join us in the comments.

Robert Triggs

The highlight for me was probably the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy S4 "Google Edition". Not because of the handset particularly, but because of what it could mean for the future of Nexus type devices.

Although not carrying a "Nexus" title, for all intents and purposes this Galaxy S4 is a Nexus device, as it will be receiving Android updates as promptly as possible. Which started me wondering, has this opened up the door for other manufactures to offer pure Android versions of their handsets, and if so, what does this mean for the fragmentation problem?

Whilst I don't expect to see a ton of "Nexus" devices appearing any time soon, if this Galaxy S4 version manages to sell well, it poses an interesting conundrum for manufacturers; what will make them more money, Nexus devices with free updates or spending money trying to update their proprietary software?

Of course, no-one knows for certain what this new Galaxy S4 version means for Android yet, but there's lots of interesting potential ahead.

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Bogdan Bele

We may have not seen a new Nexus 7 or a new Android version, but all in all, users of Google products (not only Android) will feel that they have received a lot during Google I/O 2013.

My highlights start with Google Play Music All Access, which should be a success, provided Google rolls it out to many countries, in a timely manner.

Then, the new Hangouts provides a very good messaging experience and I’m also a big fan of the new Google+ interface. I don’t need to mention how eager I am to get my hands on the pure Android Samsung Galaxy S4, because that goes without saying…

All in all, even if we haven’t seen some of the things we expected, I think Google I/O 2013 has laid the groundwork for some great user experiences.

Derek Scott

I was lying in bed at 3 in the morning watching the keynote when Larry Page walked out. I layed there in utter awe at this amazing man. He was a real person, he wasn’t scared to state his opinion openly bashing Oracle and Microsoft.

He took random questions from anyone. He inspired me with his vision and belief in our future. In a world run by crooks it is comforting to know that at least there is this man helping to run basically the Internet. Larry Page inspired me and let me know that there are good people still in power.

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Adam Koueider

Google I/O is primarily a developers conference, so it goes without saying that the majority of the audience are developers.

The first hour of the conference meant nothing to a consumer, but to developers it’s big news. The new Android Studio, Cloud Messaging, improvements to Google Maps, these are great additions and will help attract more and more developers to Android, meaning better apps for us.

The big news was Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, or rather the lack of Android 4.3. Now I won’t lie and pretend I wasn’t expecting the new version of Android to be announced (In all honesty, I was baying for some Key Lime Pie action), but when we push away our greedy need for more sweets, we realise maybe it is too early for a new Android version.

Think about it, the only devices running Android 4.2 are the Nexus family, a handful of Asus tablets and the Galaxy S4. Even smartphones released this year, aren’t running the latest version of Android. So by delaying the release of Android 4.3, we can get a heap of devices (like the HTC One, GS3, Galaxy Note 2 etc) onto Android 4.2. Whether Android 4.3 comes out in July or later in the year (hopefully in the form of Key Lime Pie), we will be mind blown, so we need to go back to our seats and enjoy what we have already.

A major disappointment (at least for me), was the lack of an updated Nexus 7. Nexus 7 II, new Nexus 7, or (my personal favourite) Nexus 7 HD, whatever you want to call it, I was expecting an updated Nexus 7, especially since I broke my Nexus 7 two weeks ago (curse my buttery hands) and was looking to pick up the updated version. Maybe it just wasn’t ready, it’s obvious Google is going to make a new Nexus 7, so this is another example of patience my friends.

All in all, I think it’s been a brilliant I/O, possibly the best ever. The new Maps is gorgeous, Hangouts is brilliant, Play Games is awesome, Play Music got an update (FINALLY!) and the new Google Plus app is incredible. That’s without mentioning the stock Galaxy S4, which is big, big news for the Android community. Android is no longer in a development stage, it’s passed that, it’s in its refinement stage, and at Google I/O, Google is laying it’s cards facing up. So relax guys and gals, sit down, enjoy you’re popcorn (it’s got lots of butter), we’re in for a great ride.

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Bogdan Petrovan

As Derek said, the most impressive moment of the keynote was Larry Page’s speech and Q&A. For some reason, it resonated with me deeply. At the end of it, I went to G+ to proclaim my love for Google, with all the risk of ridicule. Larry’s presence and the entire keynote made me realize again how much I admire this company. As someone said yesterday (it was an article headline, I forgot by whom, sorry), Google’s products are just byproducts of its quest for tomorrow.

Watching the keynote, I felt that the people on stage are building the future. Amit Singhal teased the Star Trek Enterprise computer, and I have a strong feeling that Google is taking us in that direction. In my lifetime, I will interact with my computing device, regardless of what shape it will have, through natural conversation.

As for the lack of consumer products or Android 4.3, I wasn’t really disappointed. Google brought so much new stuff, it doesn’t matter that we don’t formally have a new Android version. Why are version numbers so important anyway? The new Nexus 7 will come, so Adam, don’t be disappointed. I think we’ll see it a couple of months, if the rumors are correct.

Overall, Google wanted to give I/O back to developers, and I think that was the right thing to do.

What did you like at Google I/O this year? What impressed you the most and what disappointed you?

    


Google Play Music — Everything you need to know

Posted: 17 May 2013 01:36 PM PDT

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Google’s Play Music has been around for some time now. It acted like your standard music player with a few bells and whistles thrown in, such as being able to play stream music instead of just off of your internal storage. The app had a really nice techno-themed design as well.

As you know, Google I/O is underway. During the conference’s first keynote, the search giant has said out with the old and in with the new. Welcome to the new, vastly improved Play Music app — now a rival to Spotify and other similar services.

PlayMusicScreenshots1

Design

The first thing you’re going to notice after updating Play Music is that everything has changed. Much like Google+, and the recently updated Google Play Store, Play Music has adopted that beautiful Google Now-esque card design. While the design is a complete overhaul of that old techno-themed design, it should be quite familiar to those who use Google’s services regularly.

When you open the app, at the top left of the screen you’ll see the Play Music icon. When you tap it, you’ll be presented with a list. In that list is options like Listen Now, My Library, Playlists, Radio, and Explore. This makes it easier to enjoy your own library while making it a nice hub to explore and consume great content through the All Access radio (more on that later).

When you go to your playlists, song lists, or artist lists, you’ll notice that everything shows up as cards instead of the list view that the old version of Play Music used to use. It’s a lot nicer, cleaner, and makes the app feel a lot more natural.

One of the benefits to the new app is that once you get used to it, you’re able to swipe and slide through everything with the greatest of ease. It was a bit more complicated than that in the old version. As you can tell, everything is more colorful as well. This is a great improvement over the old app where all we really had was a dark background, and a simple list view. With this new design Play Music feels more like a media hub than your standard music player with streaming support.

PlayMusicScreenshots2

 

Functionality

When you really look at it, Play Music has about the same functionality as before — you can play music either off of your device or stream it. Nothing’s really been removed from the app — it functions just like it did before. However, all of the big changes that happened to Play Music come from all of the new features Google has packed into the app.

Google is trying to offer its users a more convenient, and immersive web experience. The search giant is essentially eliminating the need for you to use multiple native applications. That said, you can now browse music inside the Play Music app instead of having to open up the Play Store and browse for music through that instead. In other words, you don’t need two apps to get the full Play Music experience.

Play Music will also recommend new music to you based off of your playlists and radio stations. On the other hand, you’ll be shown your own music when you’re exploring new genres, music, artists, etc. It really is a seamless experience.

Another basic, but really cool feature is that you’re able to create a new radio station based on an artist in your library. In example, if you’re a fan of Bon Jovi, you’ll be able to create a radio station that will play the same music in that genre. In addition to creating radio stations based off of artists, you can also create them based off of albums, songs, and even genres.

While Play Music has a lot of new exciting features, the biggest addition has to be the new subscription service. You can purchase the all access pass for $7.99/mo if you subscribe before June 30, 2013, and after that the price will go up to $9.99 per month. For the time being, Google is calling the subscription service All Access.

Here’s how All Access works: as long as you’re subscriber, you can listen to anything that is available on Google’s Play Store, which has a very wide variety of songs with more being added everyday. For the cheap subscription fee, you can listen to every artist, song, and genre on the Play Store. Simply head on over to the artist page, and you can listen to anything you want. It’s really an awesome service so far.

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Conclusion

The new Play Music experience is jaw dropping. The Play Music has truly become a full-fledged Google service that all music lovers can enjoy. It’s an all-around seamless experience that can be enjoyed by all, even if you don’t have an All Access pass.

Of course, having the All Access pass makes the Play Music experience even better. Being able to seamlessly blend your library with Google’s without noticing it is a job well done, I say.

Play Music will, in the future, be a great rival for the likes of Spotify and similar services. At the time being, Play Music may not seem appealing to Spotify customers as Google doesn’t have the 20 million tracks that Spotify does just yet. After launching this music streaming service though, there’s no doubt that Google will catch up in no time.

Watch out Spotify, you’ve got a new competitor in town!

Get it on Google Play

    


Samsung TecTile 2 tags now available, officially support Galaxy S4

Posted: 17 May 2013 12:19 PM PDT

Samsung

You slammed down good money to upgrade to the Galaxy S4 and soon found it was everything you dreamed it would be. Unfortunately, you also soon learned your existing NFC TecTile stickers didn’t play nicely with Samsung’s latest and greatest.

The good news is that Samsung’s TecTile 2 stickers have now arrived adding support for the Galaxy S4. The new TecTile stickers come in packs of five, priced at $14.99. The stickers can be purchased through Samsung, as well as select retail partners.

So what’s changed with the new stickers? Basically nothing, other than switching the format to support the BCM2079x NFC controller found in the Galaxy S4. This means that the new stickers will work with older Samsung NFC devices, alongside the newest Galaxy. It also means these tags will probably work with other devices, like LG Nexus 4, that also use the BCM2079x.

Just like the first-generation stickers, TecTile 2 stickers work with Samsung’s Android companion app and can be customized to change settings on your phone, make phone calls or even launch special apps. Once everything is set up, using the stickers is as easy as scanning them. Whether these stickers are worth $3 a piece is largely up to you and how you use your NFC-equipped smartphone.

What do you think of NFC stickers, do you use them and feel they are worth the extra cost?

    


Potential Motorola smartwatch specs and features reveled in three new patent applications

Posted: 17 May 2013 12:11 PM PDT

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Motorola smartwatch described in patent applications. Detachable electronic module removed from the strap (on the right).

Three new Motorola patent application published by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office reveal details about what a future Motorola smartwatch would offer users when it comes to specs and features.

Discovered by PatentBolt, the three patent applications – they're yet to be awarded to Motorola – talk in great detail of a smartwatch device describing various features of such a gadget.

Like always with patent applications or awarded patents, we'll tell you that the products described in the available documentation will not necessarily be made exactly as described. But it's clear that Google is interested in such technology and wants to have all bases covered in the likely event that it will have to defend its intellectual property in courts. In fact, Google has a patent application for a smartwatch of its own.

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In addition to Google, several other companies are rumored to be actively pursuing such smartwatch products including Apple, Microsoft and Samsung to name just a few of the most prominent names in the tech business. Other smartwatch design already exist with the Pebble being one such example. Not to mention that Motorola already dipped its toes in the smartwatch business with the MOTOACTV.

When going through the new patent applications you'll notice that Motorola seems to have thought of everything. The smartwatch may not be just a companion device meant to be paired with a smarter gadget such as your smartphone or tablet, although it most certainly could be used as an accessory for a smarter device.

But the patent applications reveal that a Motorola-made smartwatch could include various advanced features including a wristwatch mode, desktop mode, health monitoring mode, clock mode, calendar mode, gaming mode, media player mode and others.

Unsurprisingly, the patents mention Android as a potential operating system for such a smartwatch.

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Motorola smartwatch described in patent applications. Sensors inside the smartwatch.

When it comes to design, a Motorola smartwatch could be made from two different components, a strap and a "detachable electronic module" that would include the smart components of the watch and could be used independently from the strap.

In addition to expected components such as accelerometer, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, light sensor, infrared sensor and dual microphones, such a smartwatch would also pack a variety of wellness-related sensors that would allow it to register heart rate, pulse, body temperature and even skin moisture (the sensor would actually be able to tell the difference between skin moisture and moisture from external sources, like rain for example).

The device would store information in a medical profile and would be able to autonomously contact emergency numbers in cases in which the medical parameters it reads are outside of normal values.

Motorola even gives an interesting example in its patent applications, presenting a smartwatch wearer that has fainted during the robbery. The watch would be able to contact 911 after sensing that his "master" is not moving, and that before that happened he or she may have had a much higher heart rate and increased perspiration than in usual conditions.

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Motorola smartwatch described in patent applications. Imagined robbery where smartwatch would autonomously notify emergency services as the wearer has fainted.

Other interesting tidbits reveal that the display of such a device would rotate according to specific activities just like the display of a smartphone or tablet, and that the device would be able to detect when it's covered by clothing in order to presumably save battery life.

Furthermore, depending what patent application you read, you'll notice that the device could come with CDMA, GSM, UMTS and PTT support (either one of all), could pack an 800mAh battery (made of two 400mAh batteries) and 8GB of storage. An extra battery could also be found inside the strap.

Other mentioned specs include a Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7630 processor (the kind of CPU that powered the HTC EVO Shift 4G) and a 1.6-inch OLED touchscreen display, which may be flexible or not.

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Motorola smartwatch described in patent applications. Device would detect clothing and adapt actions accordingly.

Again, these aren't the specs and features of a confirmed upcoming Motorola smartwatch, just examples mentioned in the three patent applications. The patents, filed on November 16, 2012, are yet to be awarded to Motorola.

With all that in mind, we'll remind you that a source did tell us that Google would unveil a smartwatch soon – it was believed to arrive at Google I/O but obviously that didn't happen – so it wouldn't be completely unreasonable to expect a Motorola smartwatch to hit stores at some point in the near future.

While you wait, you can always check this particular Nexus smartwatch concept. Would you you purchase a Motorola smartwatch this year?

    


Why doesn’t every manufacturer make a Nexus-like device?

Posted: 17 May 2013 11:29 AM PDT

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Some folks love customized skins like HTC Sense and TouchWiz. They feel that these customization add extra value, or that they simply look or work ‘better’ than stock.

For those of us that don’t have the same love for custom skins, we pretty much have two options: flash a custom ROM or get a Nexus device. That’s just the way it is, as most manufacturers continue to ignore vanilla Android. The big question is why.

TouchWiz is at the heart of Samsung’s mobile strategy, but that didn’t stop Google from announcing a version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 that runs on vanilla Android.

Pure Android runs faster, gets quicker updates and arguably looks better too. Not to mention there isn’t a bunch of bloat taking up more space on your phone.

The demand is there, at least from the hardcore crowd. So why haven’t more vendors ditched their custom skins?

Setting themselves apart from the rest of the pack

The most obvious reason is that it gives manufacturers an easy way to make their devices different from the rest of the crowd. Without Sense or TouchWiz, HTC and Samsung would have little to set themselves apart from each other  outside of specs and design aesthetics.

For devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4, it is also about creating custom software that allows the use of specialized hardware that isn’t recognized by Android in its default form. It remains unseen right now, but it is possible that some of the GS4′s special features won’t work with stock Android.

Once upon a time, a case could very well be made stating that custom UIs made Android “look and feel better”. That was in the days of Android 1.x and 2.x – a lot has changed with Android ICS and Jelly Bean, and Android has now matured into a very beautiful stock experience.

The partnership factor

Custom software allows the vendor more control over the experience, too. They can use this control to rollout updates at their own pace – and delay some updates, if needed, in order to push users towards newer devices.

They can also work with partners to put on bloatware special apps like Facebook, though obviously they could still do that with vanilla Android, it just wouldn’t be ‘true stock’.

I could certainly be wrong, but I have a feeling that a manufacturer’s custom UI and software generates profit through these kinds of deals that goes way beyond just the money made from selling the device to customers.

The carrier factor

Creating a stock Android phone isn’t enough to win over buyers, it also needs to be unlocked and modder-friendly. The problem with that is that carriers HATE unlocked bootloaders. Carriers such as Verizon give plenty of official reasons why they want to prevent you from unlocking bootloaders such as "giving you better customer service" and "protecting your devices".

The reality is that that carriers often have specialized software that they don’t want you removing. They also are concerned that custom ROMs could somehow be used "against the network" or could allow you to bypass guards they use to prevent things like tethering without a special plan.

Bottom-line, carriers would be less receptive of manufacturers that pushed Nexus-like devices. Of course that argument doesn’t completely hold water either – considering the Nexus 4 is currently available directly from T-Mobile. Both Sprint and Verizon also once carried the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

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So what’s standing in the way of more Nexus-like devices?

All of the factors listed above are understandable, but remember: this doesn’t have to be an "all or nothing" game.

Manufacturers could easily do exactly what Samsung is doing with the GS4, release a Nexus-like variant alongside a customized UI-based model. Even if carriers weren’t interested, they could always take to Google Play or their own websites to sell their stock Android phones.

Okay, but then what is really standing in the way of more Nexus-like devices? The unknown.

The Nexus line has been extremely successful so far, but a large part of that could be due to Google’s aggressive pricing, especially with the Nexus 4. With the Samsung Galaxy S4 "Google Edition", the same kind of price cuts aren’t present. That makes the GS4 an important experiment.

Will hardcore Android fans still flock to it? If they do, I suspect that more vendors will be actively interested in creating their own Nexus-like devices, whether they sell them through Google Play or not.

How about it, would you be willing to pay full price for bloat-free vanilla Android versions of devices like the HTC One and Sony Xperia Z? Do you already plan on snagging the vanilla Android version of the Galaxy S4?

    


Sony Xperia L now available for pre-order in the U.S.

Posted: 17 May 2013 08:39 AM PDT

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Sony’s Xperia L, an entry-level device, is now available for pre-order in the United States through the official Sony Store for $349.99.

The Xperia L comes in a few different colors: white, black, and red. The device is up for pre-order today, and buyers should begin seeing it on their doorstep come May 23.

This particular handset certainly isn’t a bad entry-level player either. It sports a 4.3-inch 480 x 854 FWVGA SCHOTT display, a 1GHz dual-core CPU, an Adreno 305 graphics chip, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, and a 8-megapixel rear-facing Exmor RS camera, all running off of a nice 1750mAh battery. It also has a microSD slot allowing for 32GB of expandable storage.

While the Xperia L certainly doesn’t look like a bad entry-level device, we can’t help but notice that you can get more bang for your buck with the Nexus 4 at the same price. Which one is better to get? Ultimately, it is the preference of the buyer, but while the Nexus 4 has a lot to offer in terms of hardware and software, the Xperia L has some great design (i.e. the illuminated bar and sleek body) points that you really won’t find on many smartphones.

Which smartphone would you rather get for $350? The Xperia L or the Nexus 4? Let us know in the comments!

    


Nvidia Shield up for pre-order ahead of schedule

Posted: 17 May 2013 08:23 AM PDT

Nvidia Shield

The Nvidia Shield is up for pre-order, three days earlier than initially announced, with the delivery set for June.

Although Nvidia has announced in a blog post that pre-orders for the Tegra 4 Android gaming console would start on May 20, online and in stores, something has pushed things forward and the process is underway. The price is the one you already knew, $349.

The Nvidia official store has the device listed, with an order limit of four consoles per person. The site mentions that the device would ship by the end of June.

The Nvidia Shield is also available for pre-order on NewEgg, with the expected shipping date listed as June 4, and the same goes for GameStop. The other partners mentioned by Nvidia – Canada Computers and Micro Center – were not listing the product at the time this article was written. The stores mentioned above only ship to the U.S. and/or Canada, with no news on the Shield’s availability in other markets.

Our Joshua Vergara had a chance to try it at Google I/O 2013 and do a hands-on video of the device, which you can watch below.

As you may already know, the Nvidia Shield incorporates a Tegra 4 CPU, has a 5 inch 720p display, and includes a console-grade controller. It has 16 GB of internal memory (as well as a microSD slot) and runs Android Jelly Bean.

Will you pre-order the Nvidia Shield?

    


First Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 photo leaked

Posted: 17 May 2013 07:45 AM PDT

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The first photo of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0, at least according to Sam Mobile, has made its way online.

The publication doesn’t mention the actual source of the image, which you can see below and which shows a device very similar to the officially announced Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 (above). The Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 has a thinner bezel, destined to fit the larger screen while remaining comfortable to use.

The sensors at the top of the screen are also positioned differently, but the rest of the design is very similar to the one of the smaller model (if this is the actual Tab 3 8.0, that is).

Sam Mobile also offers a list of specifications for the tablet, mentioning two variants, the 3G SM-T310 (already spotted at the FCC), as well as the WiFi SM-T311 (a model with the same name has been seen at Bluetooth SIG recently).

The specs, which you should certainly take with a bit of salt (Sam Mobile also says they could change), are a bit different from what has already been rumored – an 8-inch display (1280 x 800 resolution), dual-core CPU at 1.5GHz (a previous rumor said quad-core), coupled with 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory (expandable via microSD).

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0

The back camera is said to be a 5-megapixel one, with the front one at 1.3-megapixels. Bluetooth 4.0 is included, but we knew that from the Bluetooth SIG filing.

The 3G version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 is set to offer HSPA+ at 42 Mbps, while the battery of the tablet is said to be a 4450mAh one. The tablet will run Android 4.2.2 and the same source says that it will be released at the end of next month.

Would you be interested to buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0,if these specifications actually do get confirmed?

    


HTC One production expected to double this month, supply issues over

Posted: 17 May 2013 07:34 AM PDT

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It's been a slow climb out of the mess that HTC found itself in after the botched launch of the HTC One. Component shortages and delayed launches certainly didn't do the company's bottom line any good, but fortunately for HTC these problems look to be over.

HTC is expecting to ramp up production of the One over the next couple of months in order to meet the swelling demand for its latest flagship handset. Production capacity is set to double by the end of this month, now that component issues are sorted out, and will continue to increase throughout June to accommodate the demand.

Financially, HTC was already starting to show signs of recovery after the launch of the HTC One, and, as long as demand remains strong, the company could experience a significant turnaround in fortunes, come the end of the second quarter.

The company’s Q1 2013 financial results revealed a disappointing revenue of $1.45 billion (NT$42.8 billion) after months of dismal figures and a record low monthly profit of just $2.8 million in February. Fortunately, the last two months seem to have been much better, putting HTC on track for a projected Q2 revenue of $2.4 billion (NT$70billion). As a bonus piece of good news for HTC, sales of the J Butterfly doubled in Japan once the device was put on a free with a contract offer.

HTC must be feeling pretty good after a many rough months, but time will tell if the ailing company can sustain this momentum throughout the rest of the year.

    


Google trying to fix Android fragmentation. Are more Nexus devices the answer?

Posted: 17 May 2013 07:24 AM PDT

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Fragmentation can be a pain, especially when you're waiting on your carrier to update its bloat-ware when all you want it to get your hands on the latest Android features and bug fixes. However, it turns out that the Android development team are eager to get on top of this problem, as they discussed fragmentation and other questions from an audience of developers at Google I/O.

During the interview, the Android team were quick to acknowledge the problems with fragmentation, but obviously it's a difficult balance to maintain between supporting older hardware and pushing innovation forward. Dave Burke, the engineering director for Android, had this to say:

There is so much more we can do. And there is also so much more that can be done at the hardware level too. There's lots more innovation that can come.

Of course, the pursuit of more and more features and innovation is mainly what has caused this problem. We've already seen that a huge percentage of Android handsets are still running 2.3 Gingerbread, and some are running even older versions like Froyo. Newer versions, like Ice Cream Sandwich, require more system memory, which has left older handsets stuck with dated operating systems regardless of carrier intentions to provide upgrades or not, which is a problem that Firefox has also spotted and plans to put an end too.

We're trying to make Android more efficient so that even entry-level smartphones can use the software,

To address the wider problem, Google already significantly altered Android programming interfaces in Android 4.0. The layered nature of the software was designed to allow hardware designers to update and tweak software more easily, which was supposed to speed up the updating process. But as a result, we're seeing more and more apps which only support Android 4.0 and higher. Sadly, this appears to be an unavoidable sacrifice of altering the platform in order to produce better results in the future.

Perhaps we'll see further updates more along the lines of Android 4.1 to 4.2, where new features are added, yet the fundamental operating system remains the same. That way, specific features can be address without having to completely re-work the underlying operating system, and device manufacturers shouldn't have to worry about updating their software.

The Nexus effect

Burke also alluded to the problems caused by device manufacturer's non-"pure" Android versions, which again slow down the updating process. It's obvious that every time a new version of Android is released that it takes some time for third party developers to update their own software, and this costs time and money, which some handset developers aren't willing to put into such incremental upgrades.

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Will the Galaxy S4 Google Edition be the first of many new Nexus type handsets?

The Nexus experience is clearly beneficial if you want the latest features, and devices like the pure Android Galaxy S4 show that developers believe that consumers have an appetite for more consistent updates.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 will have the Nexus experience, and it will have more timely updates

Perhaps we'll be seeing a larger number of devices shipping with default Android, or at least a greater consumer choice when it comes to Nexus type devices in the future. But again, this doesn’t really help users already locked out of newer Android features, but it would help reduce future Android fragmentation.

Striking the right balance

We've already seen software changes, like Project Butter, attempt to improve the performance of the Android operating system, but so far performance improvements like these haven't been able to make their way onto lower end devices. Burke stated that although Jelly Bean has gone some ways to improve the performance of Android, there still is lot of work to be done.

In order for these future improvements to have a real impact on fragmentation, Burke suggests the need for more testing on lower end devices. Take the Nexus 4 for example, it's a pretty high end smartphone and there are lots of users using lower spec devices, so developing for these higher specs is always going to leave the more budget orientated customers behind. But again, this has to be balanced against the demand for new features and innovative ideas. Bringing down memory usage is one thing, but you can’t take advantage of multi-core support or graphics computational power on older hardware.

So, is Google really going to be able to solve the problem of fragmentation? Well, probably not, at least not without forcing the handset manufactures and carriers to update.

Android covers a vast range of hardware configurations, and you're never going to be able to support aging technologies for ever. However, there are lots of things which Google can do, and is doing, to offer consumers ways out of the problem. Nexus devices are a good solution to the problem, and more Nexus devices, like the Galaxy S4, could offer consumers a range of solutions, hopefully eventually encompassing  a wider range of budgets.

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A wider range of Nexus devices is probably the best bet to alleviate the fragmentation problem, but will manufacturers want to lose the option to add their own software?

Secondly, building Android around lower specifications could help keep updates running on a wider range of devices, but it doesn't guarantee that carriers and handset manufacturers will update their handsets. However, if the updates can be targeted at more specific pieces of software, rather than OS wide updates, then updates may be easier to rollout. Android 4.1 to 4.2 for example was a much more simple upgrade than 2.3 to 4.0.

There will always be cut-off points for how long handsets can be supported. But hopefully in the future, if Google can achieve these goals, we could see software updates roll out a little quicker, and hopefully have a little more choice regarding which handsets to buy for reliable updates.

    


Samsung: Galaxy S4 sales to top 10 million next week, Galaxy Note 3 arriving at IFA 2013

Posted: 17 May 2013 07:13 AM PDT

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Samsung's JK Shin on Thursday told reporters that Galaxy S4 sales would soon top 10 million, while also cautiously answering Galaxy Note 3 flexible display-related questions.

According to Samsung's mobile chief, the Galaxy S4 will hit the 10 million sales mark next week, a lot earlier than it predecessor did:

"We are confident that we will pass more than 10 million sales of the S4 next week. It is selling much faster than the previous model S3," Samsung Electronics co-CEO Shin Jong-kyun told reporters at an industry forum in Seoul, Thursday.

The Galaxy S3 topped 10 million sold units 50 days after launch last year, while the Galaxy S4 will do it in less than a month. The handset was launched on April 26 in South Korea, with other major markets receiving it a day later. Currently, the Galaxy S4 is sold in 60 different countries.

Just the other day, we learned that Samsung sold over 5 million Galaxy S4 units in the first two weeks after launch.

Interestingly, Shin also answered a question regarding the adoption of "unbreakable displays" or flexible displays for the Galaxy Note 3. Enigmatically he said that "more time will be needed," which seems to fall in line with a very recent report that claimed the new Note model would not pack a flexible display nor will it feature a metal design – however, details on the actual design of the phone were not offered:

"More time will be needed," he said. The Suwon, Gyeonggi Province-based outfit is developing the Note3 with a 5.9-inch OLED display. The device will debut at this year's IFA trade fair in Berlin, Germany, officials said.

As you can see Korea Times also notes that other "officials" said that the Galaxy Note 3 would arrive at IFA 2013, although they haven't been named.

Previous rumors did suggest that Samsung would announce the third-generation Galaxy Note 3 at IFA 2013, which wouldn't be surprising considering that the previous models have been unveiled at the same show.

    


One in 10 Galaxy S4 units to feature Exynos 5 Octa chip, new report says

Posted: 17 May 2013 06:07 AM PDT

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Samsung and Apple are apparently engaged in an unseen battle for controlling supply chains for future products, with the South Korean company looking for more component deals outside of its in-house capabilities, a new Reuters story says.

Exynos 5 Octa vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 600

According to analysts, only about 10% of Galaxy S4 units will pack Samsung's newest eight-core processor – or one in 10 units – with everything else relying on chips from Qualcomm. Comparatively, about 30% of Galaxy S3 units shipped with an Exynos processor.

The more mobile devices Samsung ships each quarter, the more components it will need to keep manufacturing a high-number of Galaxy-branded smartphone and tablets destined for different markets.

One of these models is obviously the Galaxy S4, its latest flagship product that's selling like hot cakes in multiple countries – to date, the handset has become the fastest selling smartphone for the company.

While the Galaxy S4 offers generally the same specs and features no matter where you buy it from, it does come in two distinct flavors when it comes to its system on a chip (SoC). We're looking at a model powered by the quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, while the other has inside the Samsung-made eight-core Exynos 5 Octa processor (it actually packs two quad-core CPUs).

The difference in performance between the two is negligible some would say, Samsung included, while others will disagree. Existing AnTuTu tests reveal that the Octa model outperforms the Snapdragon one, although regular users may not notice the difference in performance in day-to-day activities.

HTC One vs Galaxy S4 benchmarks

For Samsung, shipping enough units to carrier and retail partners seems to be a primary objective. And to do so with the Galaxy S4 – which faced some launch issues caused by insufficient stock – Samsung decided to go with Qualcomm:

“We’ll continue to resort to multi vendors to ensure smooth supply,” Kim Hyunjoon, vice president of Samsung’s mobile business, told analysts on a recent earnings call.

The battle for supplies

Samsung still makes 80% of the components needed for its mobile business in-house, so it's not as dependent on third-party suppliers as its competitors, Apple included. In fact, Apple was on of the biggest Samsung customers, shopping for various mobile components for its iOS-based devices in the previous years. But that may change in the future as the iPhone maker looks to distance itself from its main competitor in the mobile business, a rival who's also fighting in courts over patent-related issues.

Samsung and Apple captured 100% of profits in the first quarter of the year, and more than 100% of profits in the previous year.

When it comes to other components, it looks like Samsung and Apple may be fishing for the same parts from the same providers. Some of the companies that already supply parts to both companies include Qualcomm (LTE chips), Toshiba (NAND memory chips), Sony (image sensors), and Corning (Gorilla Glass).

Other companies like Sharp (displays) and STMicroelectronics and Bosch (both "mass producers of pressure sensors used in navigation features") could also provide components to both companies. Currently Sharp ships displays to Apple and is reportedly looking to "boost sales to the Korean firm," while STMicroelectronics and Bosch deliver parts for Galaxy models.

Some analysts seem to believe that outsourcing more components would mean that Samsung would lose some of that hardware differentiation that helped the company reach its current position in the mobile ecosystem:

“Given that Qualcomm chips are also found in rival products, and the much-heralded launch of smartphones with flexible display appears to be delayed, I’m worried Samsung is losing its hardware differentiator,” said BNP Paribas analyst Peter Yu.

But let's not forget that Samsung has one particular department that's working at full steam to sell Galaxy products. That's its marketing department that has access to virtually unlimited resources. Samsung outspent all its competitors in the past year promoting its mobile devices. In fact it spent "more on marketing than on research and development" in 2012. The company could have a similar approach this year as it fights for more market share and profits in the mobile business.

Will Samsung and/or Apple encounter supply issues as they continue to clash for mobile domination? We’ll just have to wait and see how it plays out.

    


HTC J Butterfly getting Sense 5 update by the end of this month

Posted: 17 May 2013 05:04 AM PDT

HTC Butterfly

The HTC J Butterfly is set to get an update to HTC Sense 5, according to Jack Tong, president of HTC North Asia, quoted by Focus Taiwan.

In a statement mainly focused on the increasing production capacity for the HTC One, due to strong demand, the HTC official also revealed some good news for HTC J Butterfly owners. According to Tong, updates for the J Butterfly are planned for release by this month’s end.

The updates will include a few of the features the HTC One already offers, starting with the Sense 5.0 interface, BlinkFeed included, as well as the slide show feature for the camera.

It will be interesting to see whether the update will also become available for the Verizon version of the HTC J Butterfly, the Droid DNA, which Verizon is currently offering for free with a two-year contract for a limited period of time. You may remember that a custom ROM gave users Sense 5.0 on the Droid DNA, but an official update would certainly make the software available to more users.

    


I/O 2013 Glass roundup: new apps, SDK, and more (video)

Posted: 17 May 2013 04:38 AM PDT

Google Glass

Google Glass enthusiasts have received their share of important updates at Google I/O 2013, which we’ve covered extensively for you. Here are some of the most important Glass-related news announced at Google I/O 2013 so far.

New Google Glass apps

First of all, some new apps for Google Glass have been announced at IO.  Apps from Twitter (which wasn’t much of a secret), CNN, Elle, Tumblr, Facebook, and Evernote have been added to the offering of third-party apps for Google Glass, which previously included apps from The New York Times and Path.

The CNN Glassware offers news updates, with the possibility to choose when they come, their type, and to have a summary read to you, while the Twitter app allows you to share photos on the microblogging service straight from Glass. The Facebook app does the same thing, with the possibility to dictate a description. The two social apps will also let you receive notifications from approved contacts.

The Elle app allows you to see images and sections from the magazine on Google Glass, while the Evernote app will let you send notes to the device, as seen below (which should make it easier to go through your shopping list) and to upload pictures from Glass to the service.

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The Tumblr offers a feed view or just the updates of your choosing. Also demoed at IO was a social game called Ice Breaker, based on interactions between the user and other nearby Glass users. It will be interesting to see the direction in which this goes.

Check out our Nate Swanner and Joshua Vergara try on Glass and offering their first impressions.

Monthly updates and GDK

Also announced at Google I/O during a chat with developers, were monthly software updates, which will include, along with new features (some based on what developers suggest), bug fixes and tweaks to the user experience.

Another important promise is the one regarding the Glass Developer Kit (or GDK), which is coming, but not anytime soon, according to Google’s Charles Mendis. The software development kit will give apps direct access to the Google Glass hardware, as opposed to just content from web services pushed to the device by apps, as the Mirror API currently allows.

Developers were shown some of the things that can be achieved with Glass at Google I/O conference, including running basic Android apps or connecting a Bluetooth keyboard. Running a version of Ubuntu Linux on Google Glass was also demonstrated, with the mention that, while possible, it requires deep root access and would likely void the warranty of the device.

Google has promised to offer a factory image, so Google Glass can be returned to its initial state if you’ve went a bit too far.

For a discussion with a Glass Explorer and developer, check out this video from Google I/O.

With more apps coming, and more possibilities for app developers to create compelling experiences, the Glass begins to take shape as a true consumer product. Do you think it will catch on with the average customer?

    


Monopoly: Samsung bagged 95% of all Android profits in Q1

Posted: 17 May 2013 03:59 AM PDT

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In a world crowded by so many mobile device manufacturers, you'd think that the profit pie would be shared somewhat proportionally between participants. That’s not the case however. A recent reports shows  that, in the first quarter of 2013, Samsung managed to bag around 95 percent of all profits made on Android.

The figure may be unbelievable to some, but taking in consideration that, during the same period of the last year, Samsung accounted for 90 percent of all smartphone profits, this is merely an incremental increase.

But how does a company as Samsung manage to crush its competition so badly?

There is no competitor

The Seoul-based company sells many expensive, high-margin products, such as the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy Note 2, or the Galaxy Camera, but it seems that people opt for quality and tend to remain loyal to a prestigious brand. In addition to the top liners, Samsung carpet-bombs the market with a device for every taste and budget.

Some other contributing factors are Samsung's impressive manufacturing capability, which allows it to keep building costs to a minimum, the massive and well executed marketing campaigns, and the excellent relationships that the Koreans have with carriers from all over the world.

But an equally important contributor to Samsung's monopolization of the Android profits is the strategy adopted by the competition. While HTC tried to basically follow the same path by releasing attractive and pricy smartphones like the One, some other manufacturers prefer to go at a loss, in an attempt to build market presence and mind share.

For instance, LG partnering with Google to sell a fantastic phone at an amazing price has not done wonders for the balance sheet, but it succeeded in gave some much needed sheen to LG's name. Still, with a phone that good, and with some other impressive devices created in-house, LG took home a mere 3% of the global Android profit share in the first quarter of the year.

In pure numbers, the total operating profit of the smartphone industry for Q1 2013 was estimated to reach $5.3 billion, from which Samsung claimed $5.1 billion. LG's strategy has gained the company a little over $100 million, while the remaining was split between several other manufacturers.

Samsung's power over Android has been demonstrated time and again, but the future may bring it even more clout and financial domination. Even Google chose to exclusively sell an unlocked version of the Galaxy S4 online after partnering twice with Samsung for older Nexus generations, which is a trust no other company has ever gained. And maybe this trust will bring more perks for Samsung, like early access to Android updates, which should give the company another advantage against its competitors.