Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Will Android ever compete with Xbox?

Posted: 21 May 2013 11:05 AM PDT

Comparing something like the OUYA game-console at $99 vs the Xbox 360 isn’t really what we’d consider fair. They are two entirely different platforms operating at very different levels. However, with the new Xbox on the horizon today we found ourselves wondering if Android will soon be able to compete with the Xbox, if ever. And we’d love to hear your thoughts too.

20130521_104959

Obviously Android being a true competitor to the Xbox and PS4 is a long ways off, if Google ever intends to go that route. Lately we’ve learned that others such as NVIDIA with their SHIELD console, OUYA and more all have the potential to do exactly that. Be a true competitor to Microsoft on the gaming front, but it will take some work to get there.

Mobile gaming has increased year-over-year for multiple years in a row, and is showing no signs of slowing down. With nearly every person having a powerful smartphone these days and technology bringing quad-core and even 8-core chips to our pockets, we certainly can see Android outshining Xbox in the future. With the recent addition of Google Play Games for Android, this is one of many steps Google and Android will need to take.

Now that we’ve been watching the Xbox live reveal, we’re a little worried for the competition. It looks outright amazing. I want one already, and pretty sure we’re not alone with that thought. Voice commands and recognition looks amazing with the Xbox One, but we already have that with Google and Android. Multi-tasking is also already at the core of Android like no other OS on the planet. We’re getting ahead of ourselves here, but imagine the possibilities.

Screen Shot 2013-05-21 at 10.45.40 AM

Hardware
As we mentioned above the hardware in the mobile world is rapidly evolving at a crazy fast rate. With 8-core processors in smartphones today, imagine next year. Obviously the 8-core CPU in the Xbox One has much more power, but in 2-3 years when it’s still available and mobile has rapidly evolved, how will the playing field look? Mobile is the fastest growing technology as of late, and we expect that to continue.

The controllers are essentially the same, with minor adjustments, so it’s really about the internals, the multiplayer experience, and of course the games.

Games
What is a console without games? A paper-weight! Obviously Xbox has a wide array of top-tier games on board, and this will never change. At the same time with the increase in mobile developers have been putting tons of focus on iOS and Android. Then we can’t forget things like the NVIDIA SHIELD. Being able to tap into Steam and play every game possible from your PC right on your Android-powered Tegra device, that is where the playing field gets leveled. Console fans will hate me for this, but PC gaming just has more potential due to the hardware. An no, PC gaming isn’t dead.

Being able to play Crysis, Call of Duty, Need For Speed and more all on Android thanks to NVIDIA’s SHIELD device is key, and this is only the beginning. SHIELD has the potential to lead the pack thanks to being tied to NVIDIA’s PC experience, so we’ll be watching their space. The next 6-8 months we will be seeing more and more Android focused games, game consoles, and more. OUYA, SHIELD, and GameStick are just a few, and surely we’ll be seeing much more in the coming months.

Conclusion

Obviously Android doesn’t compete with the Xbox yet, and they won’t for some time, so don’t kill me in the comments here folks. Instead we’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas about where Android is going in the mobile space, and what they could do to improve. As the title suggested, we want to hear if YOU the reader thinks Android can ever compete with the Xbox. We are not saying it can or will, we’re simply posing the question.

Sound off below, and do try to keep it clean!

Samsung Galaxy S III carrier availability set to expand in June

Posted: 21 May 2013 10:59 AM PDT

While the GALAXY S 4 may be the latest from Samsung, it doesn’t change the fact that the Galaxy S III is still a rather capable handset. With that in mind, it looks like the Galaxy S III will be launching with two additional carriers in June. The carriers include Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile, however at present neither have announced the pricing.

samsung_galaxy_s_III_review_sg_7-580x431-540x40124

We obviously will have to wait and see the pricing, however we should mention that Boost and Virgin are pre-paid carriers. Simply put, that means the price is going to be higher than what many are used to seeing with other carriers. Basically, you will not be getting any device subsidy, but you will remain free of the two-year agreement. The features on the other hand will be familiar to many.

Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile will launch the Galaxy S III with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. Other specs include 4G LTE and 3G network support as well as a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera and 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. The handset will also have a microSD card slot, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC and ship with a set of wired earbuds.

Specs aside, the key for many will likely be the available plans. Beginning first with Boost Mobile, they have the Android Monthly Unlimited option available for $55 per month. This plan includes unlimited talk along with unlimited messaging and data. While this plan begins at $55 per month, Boost Mobile offers what they call shrinkage. In this case that means a payment that can drop to as low as $40 per month for making on-time payments.

Switching over to Virgin Mobile and you would be looking at plans that begin at $35 per month. This option includes unlimited messaging and data and is touted as being “designed for data-savvy customers.” Bottom line here, if you are already a Boost Mobile or Virgin Mobile customer — you will soon have the option to grab the Galaxy S III. Otherwise, this could be a good smartphone for those considering a switch in carriers.

SOURCE: Business Wire

AGENT smartwatch Kickstarter project goes live

Posted: 21 May 2013 10:34 AM PDT

The Pebble wasn’t the only smartwatch to launch by way of Kickstarter, however given the financial success of the campaign and the delays that followed — it is the one many seem to remember. Anyway, while shipping delays with the Pebble appear to be coming to an end, there is another smartwatch that has recently appeared on Kickstarter. This latest is called the AGENT and they are coming forward with an expected shipping timeframe of December 2013.

d077ee7030305ec8e20d8b32fc3d221c_large

Whether that timeline will happen remains to be seen, however the pledge points will begin at $149. This level will give users an AGENT smartwatch with free shipping for those in the US. Those outside the US will have to add $15 for shipping. There is also an additional pledge level available. The next one up is sitting at $179 and includes the watch and a wireless charger — which brings us to one of the features, the AGENT smartwatch will support the Qi wireless charging standard.

The Qi wireless charging means you will not have to worry about attaching any cables, but perhaps more important for some, it means that it will work with a wide variety of chargers. Some of the supported Qi chargers come from Energizer, JBL, LG, Nexus, Nokia and Panasonic. Taking a step back though, on a basic level, the AGENT smartwatch will provide alerts for incoming calls and other notifications. The AGENT will be compatible with devices running Android 2.3 or later as well as with the iPhone 4S (and newer) and Windows Phone 8.

a53b45f08030da177e0d342a1cc16718_large 63a72415fd30c8c628835490fa3a2312_large 5dbb510124001d5224fc96fb25f504c9_large

The watch will pair with your smartphone using Bluetooth 4.0 and while battery life will always be a concern — it looks like quite a bit of thought went into that aspect. The watch will have a smaller secondary processor that will require less power. Having the secondary processor will also allow the main processor to stay in sleep mode when unused. This two processor set-up should help overall battery life.

Other aspects of the AGENT smartwatch includes motion and light sensors and the motion data will be available to the apps. One potential use here will be as a pedometer. The light sensor is actually two sensors and these will work together to “intelligently illuminate the display in dim lighting conditions.”

fdb2fb7679c4e17b878172640d852fa9_large

Another battery life topic comes in when your watch reaches 10 percent. At this point the AGENT goes into a watchface-only mode to conserve the remaining power. Otherwise, the AGENT is said to be able to provide up to 7 days of battery life over Bluetooth and up to 30 days of life in the watchface-only mode.

While there will obviously be some comparison to the Pebble, it looks like the AGENT will be a bit chunkier on the wrist. On the flip side though, judging from these images, it looks like the AGENT will be shipping with a much nicer band. Not to mention, the watch itself appears to be rather nice looking. Finally, for those curious about the final retail pricing. At present the watch by itself is expected to be $249 and a watch/charger combo should ring in at $299.

SOURCE: Kickstarter

Samsung GALAXY S 4 ‘Google Edition’ will be a U.S. exclusive

Posted: 21 May 2013 09:45 AM PDT

When Google took the stage last week at their annual Google I/O developer event, many were extremely excited to see they’ll be offering a stock Nexus-like Samsung GALAXY S 4 in the Play Store. We’re sure many of you Android faithful around the world were quite excited to hear the news as well, but sadly it looks like the device might end up being a U.S. exclusive. At least for the first few months.

IMG_20130515_184407-L-540x409

The device will hit the Google Play Store next month starting at $650, which certainly isn’t cheap, and today we’ve learned from CNET that it will be a US exclusive. They state that it will be in the states only, at least for now, but we don’t have any additional details to confirm Google and Samsung will offer the handset elsewhere.

With previous Nexus phones, they’ve rolled out to the majority of the world eventually, and everyone had their chance at a Nexus. With the Google Edition GS 4 that won’t be the case. Hopefully users worldwide will be able to get one from eBay, or import the handset otherwise it will just be a dream that came true they couldn’t touch.

Screen-Shot-2013-05-15-at-10.19.27-AM-540x3043

We managed to catch up with Google’s own Hugo Barra for a first hand eyes-on look at the G edition Galaxy S 4, but he didn’t have much he could say about the device. We know it was a last minute project that came together, and that’s why it still won’t be available for another month. Could Samsung and Google work together and offer it outside the US? Sure. You’ll likely be waiting at least a few more months though.

HTC denied the idea of doing the same with a HTC One Google Edition, but anything is possible at this point. This is essentially a developer phone, since it isn’t priced as friendly as a Nexus, and we’ll have to wait and see how things play out. Do you guys like this approach, or does the price put it out of reach for most?

VIA: Phandroid

Google Glass prototype eyes-on as shown by Isabelle Olsson

Posted: 21 May 2013 09:42 AM PDT

Watching Google I/O from a distance and much of the focus seems to be on the keynote and the freebies that are given to attendees. While it is easy to be a bit jealous of those receiving a free Chromebook Pixel, there are other reasons to be jealous. For one, Google I/O also has these sessions called fireside chats. The nice part about these, the topics are focused and given by those who are regularly working with that particular item, whether it be hardware of software.

i-mwg68bN-L

In this case the fireside chat was dealing with Google Glass and thanks to lead industrial designer Isabelle Olsson, we spent a bit of time looking at an original prototype. And for those who think the current iteration of Google Glass looks dorky, you should be thankful for the current design. As you can see from the images here in this post, this prototype was certainly not what one would consider to be stylish.

i-ttnDTKF-L i-SC3SnvD-L i-6kZ34j7-M

Of course, to be clear, these were just a prototype and Olsson did make it clear that they were just the beginning. The prototype was built on a full set of white frames which were completed with exposed wiring, some boards and even a bit of tape to hold them together. Using these as a starting point, Olsson spoke about how they went from the prototype to where they are at this point in time, noting that they took a “reductionist approach.”

“We removed everything that wasn't absolutely essential. And then in addition to that, I formed three principals to guide the team through this ambitious, messy process.”

Those three principals were lightness, simplicity and scalability. Touching on the simplicity aspect, Olsson had mentioned that when she joined the project, they thought they needed 50 different adjustment mechanisms. Of course, as was pointed out, that certainly does not make for a good user experience and was later reduced to one.

The interesting part here, while the prototype looks very different as compared to the Google Glass we know now, the functionality is very much the same. Anyway, you can get a good look at the prototype in the images throughout this post. There is also a decent look offered in the video sitting above. Of course, prototypes aside, it is nice that we are beginning to see additional Google Glass apps come available.

i-SbHJX2M-L i-hwkMRPQ-L i-GrHfvjX-L i-3hKMnMP-L

Boost Mobile Wallet app launching with a digital and physical presence

Posted: 21 May 2013 08:54 AM PDT

Boost Mobile has officially entered the digital wallet space. Their entry is the Boost Mobile Wallet which is powered by Wipit and intended to offer “convenient and affordable mobile financial services.” Basically, the Boost Mobile Wallet will be for Android handsets and users will be able to send money, pay bills, top-up a wireless account and more. The initial availability will be limited, however a national rollout is expected to begin this summer.

boost-mobile-wallet-540

According to details coming from Boost Mobile, the Wallet will be available for users in Los Angeles and San Diego as well as parts of New Jersey. While we suspect many think of a mobile wallet as an app that will allow you to make in-store purchases by swiping your smartphone instead of your credit card. The Boost Mobile Wallet does have a bit more functionality.

Details coming from the announcement note that “on a typical pay day, a Boost Mobile customer might stand in line someplace to cash their paycheck; visit an authorized Boost retail location to add money to their wireless account; and then stand in more lines at multiple locations for money transfers and bill payments.”

We are not exactly sure what this is saying about the Boost Mobile user base, however if that description fits, the Wallet app should help to simplify and streamline the process. The app will allow for the following;

  • Load cash on the wallet account from Boost Mobile authorized retail locations
  • Send money to more than 135 countries
  • Pay more than 3,500 billers nationwide
  • Top-up domestic and international prepaid wireless accounts
  • Transfer funds instantly between accounts

Moving forward there will also be the ability to deposit checks using the camera on your phone. Boost Mobile hasn’t said when this would be arriving and at the moment has left it as coming soon. Otherwise, in addition to the wallet app running on your smartphone, this setup will also include a reloadable Visa prepaid card. The card will be a compliment to the app and allow for in-store swipes wherever Visa is accepted and also for use at an ATM machine for access to cash.

That all being said, while we aren’t sure this will be enough to convince anyone to switch over to Boost Mobile, it could be a nice perk for current customers.

SOURCE: Business Wire

Kyocera Hydro XTRM set for a May 24th arrival with US Cellular

Posted: 21 May 2013 08:18 AM PDT

Kyocera has announced their latest rugged smartphone. This time around the handset is called the Hydro XTRM and it will be heading to US Cellular later this week. Specifically, US Cellular will have the Hydro XTRM available beginning on May 24th. The price should be affordable for most, however the key here is with the handset itself — the rugged features and overall design.

phone

Just to begin with, Kyocera has the Hydro XTRM set up with the Military Standard 810G certification and the IP57 certification. Basically, this is just to say the handset will be able to withstand shock and drops and also immersion in up to 3.28 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.. The handset will also be dust-resistant.

The handset will arrive with US Cellular as a 4G LTE device and with features to include a 4-inch impact-resistant touchscreen display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Remaining specs include 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, 1GB of RAM and a 2000 mAh battery.

The handset will also be equipped with a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera. In addition to the rugged design, the Hydro XTRM also has something called Smart Sonic Receiver technology which according to Kyocera, will “help you hear clearly in noisy places.”

That being said, the Kyocera Hydro XTRM will be priced at $29.99, which is with an instant rebate and on a two-year agreement. Finally, while the Hydro XTRM is an LTE capable device, the US Cellular coverage isn’t complete just yet. At present the carrier has said 4G LTE coverage is available for 61 percent of their customers with coverage including select cities in Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

SOURCE: MarketWatch

GALAXY S 4 Active video leak highlights camera and processor details

Posted: 21 May 2013 07:53 AM PDT

Samung’s GALAXY S 4 Active is expected to arrive as a ruggedized version of the regular GALAXY S 4 and while we are still waiting on an official announcement, the handset has surfaced once again. Yesterday we saw some of the first images of the handset and today it looks like the device has returned in video. The video is on the shorter side, however it does provide an additional look. Not to mention, a few extra details on the specs.

Screen-Shot-2013-04-23-at-3.00.32-PM3-540x314

As time goes on and we see additional details surface, the specs appear to be slipping a bit. Originally it was thought that the GALAXY S 4 Active would have the same specs as the regular GALAXY S 4. The leak from yesterday, while it was nice to get a solid look at the device, did show the camera as being 8 megapixel as opposed to the 13 megapixel from the currently available GALAXY S 4.

gs4_active

It is also looking like there will be some differences with the processor. The handset was previously expected to have a quad-core processor and this latest bit is showing the handset as sporting a dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus. Otherwise, the folks at MobileTechReview have said, aside from the camera and processor, the remaining specs will be the same as the non-rugged GALAXY S 4.

In that respect things should be looking good, especially in terms of the display which is 5-inches and 1080p. Basically, it is looking as if the GALAXY S 4 Active will have a few steps down as compared to the non-rugged GALAXY S 4. Of course, those who are likely candidates for this handset may not mind those few changes — after all, we suspect those choosing the Active are doing it because of the rugged casing and not the camera or processor.

Samsung has yet to say when the Active would be available, however previous reports have suggested the handset would be available beginning in July. That said, Samsung did indirectly confirm the handset with a recent WatchON app update. Those who missed that bit, Samsung listed the GALAXY S 4 Active along with the S4 Mega and S4 Mini in the changelog.

VIA: Engadget

SOURCE: MobileTechReview

Opera for Android exits beta, we go hands on

Posted: 21 May 2013 07:13 AM PDT

Opera launched the WebKit based browser for Android earlier in the year and at the time, the app was sporting a beta tag. Well, flash forward till today and another Opera browser update has arrived for Android users and this time around the browser has ditched the beta tag. Basically, while this release and these features are now ready for prime time, this update should look and feel familiar for those who had been using the beta.

opera-01

The changelog details a few changes with this release, however the Opera experience includes three items — Speed Dial, Discover and Off-Road Mode. These three are presented and explained the first time you launch the app. Speed Dial is a list of favorites that should allow for quick and easy access to your favorite and most launched sites. Opera does include some defaults here, however they can be changed up as needed.

opera-02

Moving over to the Discover and we have an item that is just as the name implies. Simply put, Discover is a section for discovery. Users can find these suggestions with a swipe to the left (from Speed Dial) and they default to the top stories. There are also sub-sections for a wide variety of topics to include Arts, Business, Food, Health, Lifestyle, Technology, Sports and more.

Next up is the Off-Road Mode. This is a feature that Opera includes for those worried about data use. Off-Road Mode will also be good for those surfing on a slow network. Those looking to turn this on, or at least check it out, will need to tap the Opera icon in the upper right hand corner. From here, tap the off/on toggle and begin to watch your data savings. Just below the toggle you will see a data savings section which includes a percentage along with a received section.

opera-03

The other items that were included with this update include the navigation bar having been moved from the top to bottom, the text now wrapping when you zoom and some improvements to the address bar, which Opera notes as now being responsive. Additionally, you can now also view your active tabs in full screen. All that being said, Opera will run on devices with Android 2.3 or later and those looking for the app will be able to find it in the Google Play Store.

All said and done, while we were generally pleased with the previously available beta release, it is nice to see the update arrive and the beta tag dropped. Opera seems to have the features we want and need and they are presented in a clean looking interface. Plus, Opera appears to be running rather smooth in our testing (which was done on a Galaxy S III).

VIA: Opera

SOURCE: Google Play Store

Sony Xperia Tablet Z global release details confirmed

Posted: 21 May 2013 06:26 AM PDT

Sony has announced the global availability of the Xperia Tablet Z. Basically, that is to say those around the world will now be able to make the purchase. The tablet remains available as a pre-order for those in the US and at the present time, the estimated shipping date is showing as May 24, 2013.

sony_xperia_tablet_z_hands-on_ac_0-540x396

Sony has the tablet available in two colors and with two storage options, though there is a catch. The 32GB Xperia Tablet Z is available in black or white. The 16GB model on the other hand is only available in black. Otherwise, Sony has the 16GB model priced at $499.99 and the 32GB model priced at $599.99.

As a recap, the Xperia Tablet Z features include a 10.1-inch Full HD Reality Display along with a quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM. The tablet will be running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and also sporting features to include NFC, HDMI, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. Sony is also touting the Xperia Tablet Z as being the world’s slimmest and lightest 10-inch tablet which means a thickness of 0.27-inches and a weight of 1.09 pounds.

Other Xperia Tablet Z news arrived last week when Sony announced the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). This will not have an immediate effect on the average end-user and is instead focused more on the developer side of the house. In fact, Sony has made it clear the AOSP release is not for daily use. For those not familiar with AOSP, this is Sony making the software available for developers to play with and build upon.

A few other points worth mentioning include how the tablet is both water- and dust-resistant. With that, we did spend some hands-on time with the Xperia Tablet Z back in February during Mobile World Congress. The hands-on video is included here in the post, however those considering a purchase may also benefit from the full post and the additional images that are included.

SOURCE: PR Newswire

NVIDIA Tegra 4i demos i500 LTE modem on Cat 4: 150Mbps of speed

Posted: 21 May 2013 06:18 AM PDT

This week NVIDIA has its Tegra 4i processor delivering mobile data speeds as the company has never been able before, complete with an integrated i500 LTE modem first delivered here, on the Tegra 4 platform. With the NVIDIA i500 LTE modem integrated in to the Tegra 4i, NVIDIA has demonstrated speeds of up to 150Mbps with an emulation of an LTE Cat 4 network.

asfds

This demonstration is done with an emulation on one end due to the fact that no local LTE Cat 4 network exists at this time. The demonstration is done with the NVIDIA Phoenix smartphone platform – the same device we saw earlier this year at Mobile World Congress 2013. This device is not one that normal consumers will be able to get their hands on, instead being used for oddities like this and by developers looking to optimize for the Tegra 4i.

twoup0000

NVIDIA also took the opportunity this week to demonstrate how the Phoenix is able to run on a live AT&T LTE network in Las Vegas, this time showing off video streaming as well as voice calls. In areas where 4G LTE at a Cat 4 level isn’t available, the Tegra 4i’s i500 modem will be working with LTE Cat 3, 3G, or even 2G. This is backwards compatibility with multi-mode abilities in effect.

NVIDIA’s i500 modem inside the Tegra 4i is 40 percent the size of the average conventional LTE modem as it is designed with DXP – that is Deep Execution Processors. This same technology was shown at Mobile World Congress pushing through 100mbps over Cat 3 – since then only a software update has occurred.

The big deal here is that NVIDIA’s software-defined radio is at work, allowing for ability boosts like this without the need for new hardware. Changes over to new bits of technological compatibility with software alone spells high adaptability for NVIDIA-toting devices of the future!

[VIA: NVIDIA]

HP Slatebook x2 Tablet hands-on

Posted: 21 May 2013 06:03 AM PDT

Last week HP announced their second Android tablet, the Slatebook x2, with a full 10-inch display and some serious power under the hood with NVIDIA‘s quad-core Tegra 4. While it won’t be available til August, today we’re getting up close and personal with the new Tegra-toting tablet. With a Transformer-inspired design, Android 4.2 and more you’ll want to take a peek below.

20130520_142144

Below we have plenty of hands-on pictures, details and thoughts on the build quality, as well as a quick video sample comparing the Slatebook to Google’s Nexus 10. For now lets run down the specs again real fast. HP’s Slatebook x2 comes with a 10-inch 1920 x 1200 full HD display, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 4 chip (one of the first to market with T4) as well as 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

That isn’t all it has going either. The included keyboard dock houses an additional battery for longer usage, especially with gaming thanks to that Tegra 4 chip, and the keyboard dock obviously gives you that full laptop-like experience. It also houses a full size SD slot for expanding storage, USB 2.0, and more.

Today at CTIA the folks from NVIDIA were nice enough to let us get a peek at their Tegra 4 quad-core processor hard at work in HP’s new device, and were showing it off against the Nexus 10. While the video below is just one demo, geared for a specific target, it clearly shows the Tegra 4 and HP’s slate blowing past the Nexus 10 in benchmark comparisons. Loading multiple pages in a row it completed the test nearly twice as fast. Pretty impressive!

One of the other nice things here is the slate is running a bone stock Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean build, comes out of the box with Chrome Browser, NVIDIA Tegra Zone for some stellar gaming, and much more. While we only had a limited amount of time with it, the slate certainly shows promise. It looks like HP is ready to get into Android tablets much more than before.

The slate is well built, feels durable, but was a little heavy thanks to the aluminum design. The dedicated power and volume buttons being flat were a nice touch, and we also are huge fans of the front facing speakers on board. Something all tablets should have. We couldn’t help but notice the design seems geared towards users keeping it in the dock, and it wasn’t quite as pretty with that odd ledge on the bottom edge of the tablet where it docks into the keyboard.

We’ll need more time with it, and surely will be checking it out in depth once it becomes available. Are you interested in a Transformer competitor? Stay tuned for more news from CTIA 2013.

20130520_142344 20130520_142501 20130520_142510 20130520_142152 20130520_142202 20130520_142218 20130520_142251 20130520_142115 20130520_142125 20130520_142144 20130520_142019 20130520_142030 20130520_142048 20130520_141726 20130520_141743 20130520_141809 20130520_142000 20130520_141526

Otterbox Defender and Commuter GALAXY S 4 case hands-on

Posted: 20 May 2013 08:15 PM PDT

We’re here in Vegas for CTIA 2013, where the latest and greatest in mobile devices and accessories are shown off to the masses. Things officially get kicked off tomorrow but here at ShowStoppers tonight we ran into Otterbox and quickly got a glance at their new cases for the GALAXY S 4. With it being the hottest new phone, and everyone loving Otterbox we figured a few pictures were in order.

20130520_184326

If you’re familiar with Otterbox, their Defender and Commuter cases are their two biggest sellers, for any device. The Defender is always their massive bulky case, built to handle and defend against nearly any situation. Then their commuter is always priced a little lower, well built, and still extremely durable. Well we have both below.

With newer sleek phones like the GALAXY S 4, Otterbox has been able to really improve their designs. This time around the Defender, which is usually extremely bulky, is quite thin given it protects both the front and the back, and even has a built-in screen protector. Below is both models with the Commuter in blue, and Defender in Purple.

20130520_184416

As usual both cases are using a two piece or more design, with a bumper of silicon on either the outside edge (Defender) or the inside (Commuter) to really protect against shock and drops, with the harder polycarbonate around the device for those other impacts. They aren’t the best looking cases around, but they’ll protect that shiny new GALAXY S 4 and its 5-inch 1080p display.

Both of these cases have recently went up for sale from Otterbox, especially since the GS4 is available today from all carriers but Verizon. You can get the Commuter for $34.95, and as usual the Defender comes in a bit more at $49. They come in about 10 different colors to suite any personal style. Check out the pictures below.

20130520_184312 20130520_184326 20130520_184331 20130520_184416 20130520_184141 20130520_184214 20130520_184242 20130520_184247

Verizon HTC One reality returns as DROID DNA offer pops up

Posted: 20 May 2013 11:57 AM PDT

Today Verizon has once again stoked the fires of possibility for an HTC One as they place the DROID DNA on a social sharing fire sale. This situation could go one of two ways – one, it’s possible that the Verizon special event later this week will result in a new color option for the Samsung GALAXY S 4 before its final release in three days. Two – it could be that the DROID DNA is being essentially given away for free now allowing the carrier to make room for the fabled Verizon HTC One.

htcone_androidcommunity_review7-540x348

The DROID DNA is a slightly larger machine, working with a 1080p display but spreading it across a 5-inch display, making it 441PPI. The HTC One has a 1080p display spread across a 4.7-inch display, making it 469PPI, and coming in at a definition and screen size so similar to the DNA that it’d be baffling to have both devices carried by the same business.

The HTC One works with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600, a quad-core processor that out-does the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor the DROID DNA works with. This is the same processor the LG-made Google Nexus 4 uses in the DNA, while the HTC One uses the same processor that comes in the Samsung GALAXY S 4.

Meanwhile both devices have 2GB of RAM and Android Jelly Bean, though the HTC One’s user interface is a totally different situation due to its employment of BlinkFeed.

P1090312-540x303

This week at CTIA 2013 in Las Vegas, Verizon is holding a special event that will reveal something super exciting – or so they say. It’s rare at the moment to see a company as large as Verizon reveal anything of note at CTIA, generally reserving announcements for side events to keep all the press for themselves.

Here though, it might just be a killer move to move in on the event that’s been all but abandoned by companies left and right. This may be a point at which the technology convention is waning, but just like a stock market, Verizon could be pulling up just as the rest of the industry has found themselves at the bottom of the interest floor.

Stay tuned as Android Community explores the show floor at CTIA 2013 and sees everything there is to see from companies great and small. Verizon’s event will take place on the 22nd – be here early!

HTC-LTE-One-13-ac-540x466

Student wins science fair with 30-second phone battery charger

Posted: 20 May 2013 11:16 AM PDT

This year at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair a surprising invention from one teen student stunned the crowd, yet only came in second place. What would that be? A new way to recharge a cellphone battery completely in only 20-30 seconds. Sounds amazing right? 18-year-old Eesha Khare from Saratoga California, came in second place with this invention of a supercapacitor that can charge a battery very quick.

techno-580x295

The news has been spreading this afternoon like a wildfire, and has many in the tech industry quite interested. So much in fact, that Eesha Khare even mentioned Google’s reached out to her for more details. While we don’t have anything further on that development, we’d love for Google to add her to the team and bring the first truly rapid charging smartphone to market. We’re getting ahead of ourselves though.

This bit of technology has landed Khare a runner-up prize of $50,000 USD in scholarship funds which she'll use to attend Harvard University. This is where she aims to continue her ground-breaking research on the project. Her battery material will not only be able to be utilized by the small batteries of smartphones, but in electric cars and many other applications. This isn’t a charger, it’s a new material that is super small, and charges extremely fast.

Back to Intel’s event, the full list of winners is available for those interested. Looks like her technology won more than a few categories. Reason being is her technology as it sits right now is able to last for roughly 10,000 recharge cycles. Current battery tech is lucky to remain durable past 1,000.

Khare goes on to mention the technology is currently powering things like LED’s with ease, so obviously a full smartphone would take tons more research, but is very doable. The system in which she is using is flexible, durable, and can be added to clothing, fabric, flexible displays and more. Get ready for this to be in our upcoming Google Glass, wearable technology like smart watches, and much more.

This is still in the very early stages, but a breakthrough in battery technology has been needed for a long time. Hopefully this is one that will stick, and come to consumer products relatively quick.

SOURCE: SlashGear