Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Verizon HTC One tipped for CTIA event unveiling

Posted: 22 May 2013 10:10 AM PDT

There has been plenty of back and forth about whether the HTC One is coming to Verizon Wireless. The most recent rumors surfaced just yesterday and brought talk of a[...]

Samsung GALAXY S 4 launching with Cricket Wireless in early June

Posted: 22 May 2013 09:19 AM PDT

Cricket Wireless has announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung GALAXY S 4. The handset will be available beginning on June 7th and will be providing another option for those[...]

HTC top executives continue to disappear

Posted: 22 May 2013 08:34 AM PDT

We are still seeing chatter about a Verizon Wireless branded HTC One and about how handset production is set to increase to meet the strong demand, but on the other[...]

Samsung spends $48 million to secure a 10% stake in Pantech

Posted: 22 May 2013 07:47 AM PDT

Samsung has invested in rival smartphone maker Pantech. The $48 million investment makes Samsung the third largest investor in Pantech. Details coming from Samsung tell the story of how this[...]

Verizon Wireless tops ACSI customer satisfaction survey

Posted: 22 May 2013 07:03 AM PDT

Verizon Wireless has taken top honors in a recent American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey dealing with wireless service. This survey took a look at the big four carriers, which[...]

AGENT smartwatch doubles funding goal in one days time

Posted: 22 May 2013 06:25 AM PDT

The AGENT smartwatch Kickstarter page went live yesterday and so far, it looks like things are going good for the company. While there was the initial comparisons between the Pebble[...]

Intel-powered Galaxy Tab 3 leaked in benchmarks

Posted: 21 May 2013 04:14 PM PDT

Today has been filled with leaks, tips, and news regarding Samsung‘s upcoming devices, and now we have one more. After seeing the Galaxy S 4 Active, reports on the Note[...]

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with Android 4.3 spotted in benchmark results

Posted: 21 May 2013 03:30 PM PDT

If you love the Samsung Galaxy Note II and have been patiently awaiting additional details or rumors about the upcoming Galaxy Note 3, get excited. Today we have a juicy[...]

Verizon HTC One running Android 4.2.2 could be coming soon

Posted: 21 May 2013 03:08 PM PDT

The ongoing debate and rumor mill for the HTC One headed to Verizon isn’t going away, and now we have one more report to help fuel the fire. After initial[...]

Verizon GALAXY S 4 bootloader unlocked before release

Posted: 21 May 2013 02:45 PM PDT

For those who have been following the ongoing news regarding Samsung’s GALAXY S 4 and the bootloader, we have good news. After AT&T’s model was found to be locked down[...]

Ingress update brings ‘under attack’ notifications and bug fixes

Posted: 21 May 2013 02:02 PM PDT

Today we’re seeing a quick update for the somewhat popular but still in beta game from Google called Ingress. Google’s Niantic Labs released the game back in November in a[...]

Samsung rumored to be working on fingerprint security

Posted: 21 May 2013 01:57 PM PDT

As smartphones contain more and more personal information these days, security is a topic that will likely be attracting more attention moving forward. There are a few items at the[...]

Samsung GALAXY S 4 gets Consumer Reports top pick

Posted: 21 May 2013 01:24 PM PDT

The folks from Consumer Reports have just crowned a new king in the smartphone world. The impressive new Samsung GALAXY S 4, which has only been available about a month,[...]

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 tipped for a US release with AT&T

Posted: 21 May 2013 01:15 PM PDT

We recently got a look at the UK pricing for the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 and while Samsung has also said the handset would be released for those in Europe[...]

LG Optimus F3 confirmed for those on a budget

Posted: 21 May 2013 12:43 PM PDT

Today we’re getting our first official look at the upcoming LG Optimus F3 for the Now Network. This budget-friendly smartphone has leaked on Twitter from the usual @evleaks, and a[...]

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 UK arrival set for July

Posted: 21 May 2013 12:32 PM PDT

Samsung officially announced the Galaxy Mega back in mid-April. That announcement included word of a 6.3-inch and a 5.8-inch smartphone and while we haven’t seen much for either model since,[...]

Skip the Google Edition, just give us the stock option

Posted: 21 May 2013 11:54 AM PDT

As you know, Google took the stage at their I/O developer event last week and shocked the crowd and Android world by announcing the Samsung GALAXY S 4 Google Edition[...]

Android Authority

Android Authority


Hands-on with the HTC One Stealth Black – image gallery and video

Posted: 22 May 2013 02:46 AM PDT

HTC One Stealth Black 5 1600 aa

We're live from the CTIA 2013 convention in Las Vegas, where we got some hands-on time with the Stealth Black version of the popular HTC One.

There's no question about it – the HTC One is one of the best looking (many say the best looking) smartphones on the market right now. It's a beautifully worked piece of aluminum with smooth curves and seamless transitions between its design elements.

HTC has touted the attention it put into designing the make-or-break One more than once, as well as the work that goes into machining each and every unit. Our Kristopher Wook was impressed with the device when he reviewed the HTC One, and our drop test against the iPhone 5 shows that the One is as sturdy as it is pretty.

Up until now, we only got to play with the Glacial Silver HTC One, with the Stealth Black model eluding us for some reason. Well, not anymore, because Joshua Vergara paid a visit to the CTIA 2013 convention and got to spend some quality time with the black HTC One. Here are his impressions.

And here's a gallery of the HTC One Stealth Black, showing us its best positions.

HTC One Stealth Black 6 1600 aa HTC One Stealth Black 5 1600 aa HTC One Stealth Black 4 1600 aa HTC One Stealth Black 3 1600 aa HTC One Stealth Black 2 1600 aa HTC One Stealth Black 1 1600 aa

Which version of the HTC One do you prefer? A red edition was also rumored. Which one would you buy?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
    


Rumor: Verizon HTC One with Android 4.2.2 apparently spotted

Posted: 22 May 2013 02:11 AM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 vs htc one one lockscreen aa

A new Verizon HTC One rumor says that the handset has been spotted in a Sprint store, running Android 4.2.2.

An xda-developers forum user who apparently works for Sprint has posted the news a few hours ago, but it looks like the original thread has been deleted from the forums. A cached version of that post still exists so here's what it says:

HTC rep is at my location showing off the one. Asked about the 4.2.2 update and he pulled out a verizon one running it with notification controls in tow……

Looks like Verizon’s will launch with 4.2.2 with us getting the update near there as well.

Pictures or any other visual proof has not been included in the post.

Meanwhile the phone is available from three U.S. carriers including AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile but also from a variety of retailers and HTC's local online store.

This isn't the first time we hear that Verizon will get the HTC One at some point in the future. So far HTC has denied these reports a few times, recently saying that it will make a big fuss about a potential HTC One launch with the carrier when and if that happens.

htc-one-verizon-xda-forum-1

Even so, there are various hints indirectly suggesting that a new HTC handset is heading to Verizon, no matter if it'll be the HTC One or not.

The carrier has a special media event scheduled for today at CTIA 2013, during which it may unveil new products. Naturally, the HTC One is one of the suspects, although we'll be able to tell you more details later today.

As for that HTC One Android 4.2.2 update, we heard only days ago that it's supposed to arrive soon.

    


HTC Desire 200 and Desire 600 spotted in the wild

Posted: 22 May 2013 01:47 AM PDT

htc logoTwo new mid-range phones from HTC have been spotted in the wild. The first the HTC Desire 200 has been seen in a certification filing in Taiwan, the second the HTC Desire 600 has turned up in a benchmark result. Until now HTC used letters to differentiate between the models in its Desire range: the Desire X, the Desire SV and so on. But it seems as if the company is moving to using numbers rather than letters.

The HTC Desire 200, which has an internal model number of 102e, turned up in a filing in Taiwan. Little else is known about the device other than it will support 3G and uses the same 1500mAh battery as found in the HTC Desire C. The Desire C was a 3.5 inch device with a 320 x 480 pixel display released during May 2012. The Desire 200 could be its replacement but maybe with a better display and processor.

htc-desire-600-gfxbench

According to benchmarks found on GFCBench, HTC are also working on the HTC Desire 600. The benchmark results show a phone made by HTC Europe (meaning it is probably destined for the European market) that supports dual-SIM and runs Android 4.1.2. The CPU is clocked at a maximum of 1209MHz and it uses the Ardeno 203 GPU. The only processor which fits these specifications is the dual-core variant of the Qualcomm Snapdragon Play. Although there is also a quad-core variant of the Snapdragon Play, which is also clocked at 1.2GHz and uses the Ardeno 203, this is unlikely as the display on the Desire 600 is reported to only be 960 x 540, making it a lower-end phone. Another intriguing possibility is that the phone will use the Snapdragon 200, however if it does it will be under clocked as the Snapdragon 200 can run at 1.4 GHz.

Not everyone has the budget for HTC’s flagship HTC One, do either of these two phones sound tempting to you?

    


Samsung buys a 10 percent stake in handset maker Pantech

Posted: 22 May 2013 12:43 AM PDT

PantechSouth Korea is home to two of the world’s most popular Android smartphone makers – Samsung and LG. But as Yoda once said, “there is another.” Pantech is South Korea’s third largest handset maker. The brand isn’t as well known as Samsung or LG but the company has enjoyed some success in its home country as well as in the USA after entering into a  debt rescheduling program in 2007. Pantech’s creditors have since freed the company from the debt rescheduling and now Samsung Electronics has decided to buy a 10 percent stake in the company. According to Samsung the $47.6 million deal will help “further solidify bilateral cooperation in smartphone and other business areas.” This cryptic comment from Samsung is connected with the fact that  last year Pantech purchased electronic parts worth over $200 billion from Samsung.

Pantech recently joined the full HD bandwagon when it announced the Vega No.6 a 5.9 inch Android smartphone with a 1,920 x 1,080 IPS Pro LCD panel. Other features include a 13MP rear-facing camera and 4G support. The Snapdragon S4 Pro based device has been seen outside of South Korea but the company hasn’t been too vocal about a full international release.

The 10 percent stake doesn’t make Samsung the largest shareholder. As part of its debt restructuring Qualcomm previously converted Pantech’s royalty debts worth some $75 million into equity, making it the company’s second-largest shareholder behind the state-run Korea Development Bank, which each owns 11.96 percent.

What is strange about this deal is that now Samsung has invested in a rival handset maker which is also partly owned by a rival semi-conductor company. But this isn’t the first time that Samsung has made such an investment. In March the world’s largest smartphone maker invested in Sharp in March and agreed to spend around $112 million for a 3.08 percent stake in return for “greater access to its technology.”

Have you heard of Pantech? Now that Samsung is a stake holder would you be more interested in its phones?

 

    


Samsung and automation: a new level of smartphone mass production

Posted: 21 May 2013 06:18 PM PDT

samsung-galaxy-s4-lock-screen

Ever wondered how Samsung manages to produce millions and millions of mobile devices while still keeping costs down? Well, Samsung is likely able to bring these costs even lower, as it plans to increase automation in its manufacturing process. According to Korean publication ETNews, Samsung has launched its “Gumi Project” earlier this year, which is aimed at reducing — and eventually eliminating — human involvement in manufacturing devices.

The project was actually launched in early 2012, although the Korean company is reportedly still finding ways to further reduce the need for human hands (and intellect) in producing its devices. For instance, while surface-mounting technology — which is a core smartphone manufacturing process — is now fully automated, there are still “feeder” processes that require human intervention, in particular changing the parts needed for SMT.

Additionally, inspecting the finished product or milestones leading to a finished product will still require visual inspection. This might be a bit more difficult to accomplish, as Samsung will need to replace human intelligence with algorithms that can spot defects or inconsistencies in the finished product.

According to reports, Samsung is planning to complete development of its Gumi Project by first half of 2014, and will implement it in a pilot program by second half of that year. To make it easier to implement the changes on Samsung’s manufacturing facilities, the said changes will be launched as a platform, and the company’s new factory in Vietnam (in Thai Nguyen) will initially implement the platform by 2015, with a target output of 120 million smartphones per year.

It seems Samsung is on its way to perfecting its manufacturing process, so far as removing, or at least minimizing, human intervention, which can be costly (and which can sometimes incur errors in judgment). As this will reduce the cost of device manufacturing, will it also mean cheaper smartphones and tablets for end consumers? What lessons will other brands and manufacturers pick up from today’s top-selling smartphone brand?

    


The Best Music Streaming Apps on Android!

Posted: 21 May 2013 04:02 PM PDT

music-streaming-apps-header

During Google I/O last week, Play Music was updated to rival music streaming services like Pandora and Spotify. Google’s Play Music has proved to be a great service so far, but it isn’t going to appeal to everyone. That said, we’ve taken the liberty of putting together a list of some of the best alternative music streaming apps available on Android. As always, simply jump to the bottom of the article to see the video.

doubleTwistMagicRadio

doubleTwist with Magic Radio

We reviewed Magic Radio in the past and we were very impressed with it. It’s a very well built personalized streaming app. It has number of cool features, including infinite playlists, podcast subscriptions, and the ability to stream music to a variety of devices, such as an Xbox 360 or a PlayStation 3.

If you’re looking for ad-free high quality music streaming, Magic Radio worth taking for a spin. For a mere $3.99 per month you can enjoy Magic Radio’s massive library of 13 million songs.

Get it on Google Play

Pandora Screenies

Pandora

Pandora shouldn’t sound unfamiliar to you, as the service has been around for a very long time. It’s one of the most successful, well-known, and trusted music streaming apps in the world. It’s not just available on Android either — you can use Pandora on the web and on iOS too.

Pandora has an aesthetically pleasing, easy-to-use interface. While it’s a bit overdue for a new design, don’t let that stop you from enjoying Pandora’s very diverse library. The free version of the app will require you to listen to ads after every few songs, which isn’t a bad thing. It’s less than you’d hear on your average radio, and the company has to pay the bills somehow. However, if you’d like to get rid of ads and net yourself a handful of other features, Pandora offers a subscription service for $3.99 a month or $36 per year.

Get it on Google Play

Songza screenies

Songza

Songz is a well-known, but unique music streaming service. Unlike the other services on this list, Songza will provide you with a list of precompiled stations to choose from. So, if you’re in the mood for upbeat music while you’re going on a run, you’ll be able to pick a precompiled station that has, well, upbeat music.

Unlike Magic Radio, Songza is free of charge. Since you won’t be paying for anything with this music streaming service, you’ll have to deal with the ads, which seem to be pretty out of the way, aside from when you’re choosing a station.

Get it on Google Play

Spotify Screenies

Spotify

Similar to Pandora, Spotify is another big name in the music streaming industry with a giant library of 20 million tracks. The big downside to Spotify is that it’s only integrated with Facebook. You can create an account without Facebook, but if you like a little social networking with your music streaming, your options are limited. So that’s bad news for those who left Facebook in search of something better. Of course, we’d love it if we saw some Google+ integration with Spotify.

Other than that, there’s a pretty nice desktop application to ensure that you can enjoy Spotify anywhere. Spotify has a number of subscription options, including a free one that has ads. There’s a $4.99 option that gets rid of the ads too. Of course, the free one and the $4.99 option only let you listen to music on your laptop or desktop. So if you want to listen to Spotify on all of your devices, you’ll have to opt for the $9.99 premium.

Get it on Google Play

uSound Screenies

uSound Player

uSound Player is very different from the list on this list. uSound will let you search and play songs individually, which means you won’t be relying on any precompiled playlists. These songs can be streamed or even downloaded. If you want quick access to them, simply add them to your favorites list.

uSound Player is free, so it doesn’t have any kind of radio streaming that you might find in Pandora and Magic Radio. If you’re looking for that type of functionality, it might be best to pass on this one. Of course, since it’s free, there’s really nothing to lose. On the other hand, if there’s a song stuck in your head that you don’t look up on YouTube first, uSound player is a great music streaming service to have around.

Get it on Google Play

MusicStreamingLeaderboardARTICLE

Conclusion

If you take a gander at our leaderboard (image above) you can see how these apps compete against each other. Their rankings on the leaderboard are based on Google Play Store ratings, so there isn’t any bias on our part.

Browsing through this list, you probably wondered where some other well known and awesome music streaming apps were, such as Play Music, Rdio, and Rhapsody. Don’t get us wrong — these are some great streaming services. In fact, we loved the new additions to Play Music. These apps’ ratings just weren’t high enough to be included on our main list.

As always, the Play Store has billions of apps available at the click of a button. So there’s no doubt we missed a good streaming service. If there’s one you really like and think that it should have been included in our list, be sure to tell everyone about it in the comments below!

    


Should you buy the Galaxy S4 Google Edition?

Posted: 21 May 2013 03:38 PM PDT

GS4 Pure price
Google made a lot of noise when it first announced the Galaxy S4 Google Edition, a Nexus-ified version of Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone. We’ve already talked about why it’s a big deal and what it spells for the future of Google’s Nexus line of handsets. But one thing we still haven’t talked is the big one: is it really worth buying? Or are you better off spending your smartphone money on something else?

Over the past week, many readers have commented to answer this exact same question. For some, the move to release the Galaxy S4 Google Edition is a step in the right direction, seen as something that might open the door for more existing flagship handsets from other big name OEMs to get the Nexus treatment. Others see it as entirely unnecessary, and that it somehow takes away from the Nexus name.

It’s worth remembering that plain and bloat-free Nexus phones have existed before the Galaxy S4 Google Edition, and they are likely to keep on existing long after it. With that in mind, what is it that really sets this one apart and makes it worth buying?

It’s not a Nexus

If there is only one thing that you can take away from all of the Galaxy S4 Google Edition noise, it is that it isn’t a Nexus. Although it might as well be the Google Nexus 5, it technically isn’t even a Nexus device. The design is a pretty big indication of this — they kept the standard Galaxy S4 design, which means that the physical Home button right below the display is still in its place.

There’s also the matter of the phone’s pricing. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition comes with a $650 USD price tag, which exemplifies pretty much the opposite of what the LG Nexus 4 stood to represent: smart and feature-rich yet very inexpensive.

But then again, it’s not a Nexus

The Galaxy S4 Google Edition offers support for external storage through a microSD card slot, has a removable battery, and works with 4G LTE. None of these things can be said of a real Nexus — that is, the Nexus 4. The Galaxy S4 is the superior handset hardware-wise in most every way.

It is more expensive, as pointed out above, and it isn’t hard to see why because of the hardware features. But in terms of software, it should be on the same level as the Nexus 4. Do all those hardware improvements really make it worth the extra $300?

Reasons to buy the Galaxy S4 Google Edition

It’s actually more than just a matter of whether or not the extra hardware stuff makes it worth the additional $300. If you buy a Galaxy S4 Google Edition, you will get a fully unlocked GSM phone with an unlocked bootloader, which means that you will be free to use it wherever and however you like. Here’s a list of some of the things that make it worth buying:

  • Stock and bloatware-free Android experience
  • Software updates coming directly from Google itself
  • More user-available internal storage space
  • Full support from Samsung as part of the Galaxy brand

It offers all of the above things and at the same time, it also retains the standard Galaxy S4′s best qualities. It has a bigger screen at 5-inches (higher resolution, too), a better camera, a more powerful processor, and longer battery life. If you’re still holding on to the notion that it shouldn’t be priced as highly as it is, consider that it’s priced the same way as other unlocked phones.

Reasons not to buy the Galaxy S4 Google Edition

And how about disadvantages to buying the Galaxy S4 Google Edition, are there any (besides the higher price tag)? As a matter of fact, there are quite a few.

  • No TouchWiz features
  • Internal storage is still maxed at 16GB
  • Will only be released through T-Mobile and AT&T
  • Only available in the U.S. (for now)

It’s also worth pointing out at this point that new handsets with much better hardware than even the powerful Galaxy S4 are expected to come out later this year, such as the Galaxy Note 3, the Optimus G2, Google’s X Phone, and the actual Nexus 5. And there are reasons to wait for those.

So what’s the verdict?

To conclude, we’d like to say that deciding to buy — or not to buy — the Galaxy S4 Google Edition is a fairly simple matter. If you want to get your hands on the best combination of smartphone hardware and Android software right now, then it would be an excellent choice. But if the software side of things somehow weighs more to you, or if you want to see what kind of stuff will be on offer in the next quarter before pulling the trigger, then it would be wiser to just wait things out for a while.

Besides, some clever developers will probably be able to take the stock Android OS from the Nexus-ified Galaxy S4 and make it compatible with the standard one. And when that happens, all bets are off. Users will then be able to flash normal units and turn them into their Nexus-like counterparts. As always, we’ll be there to let you know.

Do you think the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition is worth buying? Or is it better to go for another phone — such as the Nexus 4 — and save some money in the process? Take it to the comments section below.

    


Caterpillar’s Cat B15 coming to the United States, will cost $350

Posted: 21 May 2013 03:05 PM PDT

Cat B15

Back in April, Caterpillar’s Cat B15 arrived in the United Kingdom and several other European countries such as France, Spain, Portugal and Norway. Now it looks like the phone will soon be making its way over to the United States as well.

The North American version of the Cat B15 will be shown off at CTIA tomorrow, though it is largely the same as the international version. The biggest difference is that the phone will now support both GSM 850/1900 and the AWS bands 1700/2100. Otherwise the B15 packs the same extremely rugged, grippable anodized aluminum and rubber body.

Other specs include a 4-inch display, dual-core 1GHz MediaTek MT6577 processor, a 5MP back cam, VGA front cam and the ability to withstand a six foot drop. It’s water resistant as well, for those keeping track. As for the OS, the phone comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The specs aren’t exactly exciting, but they should be more than capable of handling the job as long as your needs aren’t too demanding.

The big question is when the phone is coming, and how much it will set you back. Right now Caterpillar is still working to find retail partners and carriers for the launch, so no specific date seems set. We can tell you that the company plans to sell the phone for around $350, unlocked.

If they do end up with a carrier as a partner, that basically leaves just AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S., considering this is a GSM phone.

For those that need an extremely durable handset, would you consider purchasing the Cat B15?

    


Rumor: Galaxy Note 3 with Android 4.3 scores almost 28K in AnTuTu benchmark

Posted: 21 May 2013 01:24 PM PDT

Galaxy Note 3 concept

Galaxy Note 3 concept

Allegedly showing the next-gen Galaxy Note smartphone, a new AnTuTu benchmark has surfaced providing certain details about the upcoming device.

According to the image below, the Galaxy Note 3 scores no less than 27914 in AnTuTu, of course assuming that we're actually looking at the real deal.

More interestingly, we find out from the image that the device runs Android 4.3, which is said to be the next Android OS update that Google is readying for a June or July launch. Furthermore, the test says the Galaxy Note 3 is packing a 1600MHz processor, and we're certainly interested to see what that kind of CPU it is. Such performance seems to indicate we could be looking at an Exynos 5 Octa version.

That GT-N7200 model number sounds plausible as well, considering that the model numbers of the Galaxy Note (GT-N7000) and Galaxy Note 2 (GT-N7100), but also the fact that a GT-N7200 device has also been recently spotted in EXIF data for a photo and reportedly identified as the next Galaxy Note 3.

Samsung-GT-N7200-Benchmark-Galaxy-Note-3-Android-4.3-1

Mind you, nothing is official just yet, and we're making educated guesses based on previous Galaxy Note generations and existing Galaxy Note 3 rumors. Naturally, the AnTuTu benchmark could always be faked, and we're certainly intrigued by the other N7200 devices in that screenshot, all Android devices running various OS versions and scoring much lower than the alleged Galaxy Note 3 device.

For comparison purposes, below you can see benchmark results for existing top Android devices, including the Galaxy S4 who tops such tests, particularly the Exynos 5 Octa version – we’ll note that Tegra 4 scores aren’t included in this one. The chart also shows scores for the Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2.

HTC One vs Galaxy S4 benchmarks

That said, this purported Galaxy Note 3, if real, is still a prototype model, which means the final version running the final Android 4.3 build would score better in the same tests.

GSM Insider says that the Galaxy Note 3 would be the “first device with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean ahead of other rivals” – not counting Nexus devices in any case – which would be a remarkable accomplishment for Samsung. Has the company managed to somehow convince Google to grant it earlier access to Android OS versions, as some reports said when analyzing the “tense” relationship between the two companies? Or is Samsung simply getting better than everyone else at using that Android PDK?

We’ll certainly be looking forward to answer such questions, but for the time being we’ll remind you that the information presented in such benchmark tests still has to be questioned, as Samsung is yet to release any official details regarding the handset.

According to a recent report, the company did reveal that the Galaxy Note 3 would be unveiled at IFA 2013 – just as its predecessors, we'll add. The handset is rumored not to pack a flexible display and to feature a design similar to the Galaxy S4.

    


5 Reasons To Upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy S4

Posted: 21 May 2013 01:04 PM PDT

samsung-galaxy-s4-s-health

A little while back, we played devil’s advocate and took a look a 5 reasons why you might not want to upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy S4. Now, in the interest of fairness, and because it is a pretty cool phone, we’re going to do the opposite and look at 5 reasons why you might want to pick it up after all.

You’ve seen our review, you’ve seen all the versus pieces we did comparing the Galaxy S4 to other phones, you’ve seen some tips and tricks to get the most out of it. Now, here are five of what we think are the best reasons that you might want to take home a shiny new S4.

In a hurry? Check out the video or just get the gist at the end of the article.

1.) It’s Pretty Fast

There’s no way around it: at least for now, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is quite simply one of the fastest phones on the market. How fast? Well let’s take a look at benchmarks. In our benchmark chart, the Snapdragon 600 version of the Galaxy S4 scored 25,900 while the Exynos 5 version scored even higher at 27,417.

HTC One vs Galaxy S4 benchmarks

When it comes to easily available mass-market devices, that’s as fast as they come. Now, this doesn’t mean it’s going to feel that much faster than other high end devices, but that’s because we’re beginning to reach a point where specs matter less and less. Still, if you want the fastest option on your carrier, the Galaxy S4 is a pretty safe bet.

2.) The Size Is Nearly Perfect

As part of my duties here at Android Authority, I end up handling a fairly large amount of devices. The strange thing is that, while they come in all shapes and sizes, it can be more difficult than you’d think to find one that just feels right. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is one of those devices.

Samsung Galaxy S4

The balance between screen size and overall device size can be a tricky one. Take the much-beloved Galaxy Note 2 for example: it’s huge screen is nice, but you definitely trade ease of use to get that massive screen. The Samsung Galaxy S4 on the other hand still has a screen that is large enough to comfortably watch videos while remaining small enough that one handed operation is not only possible, but easy.

3.) The Camera Is Awesome

A little over a week ago, we decided to pit the camera in the Samsung Galaxy S4 against the HTC One’s Ultrapixel camera. Both cameras put in a strong showing, but in the end, we gave the edge to the S4. Now this isn’t going to matter to everyone, but if you take a lot of photos with your phone, this is another reason you might want to take a close look at the S4.

samsung-galaxy-s4-photo-options

Ignoring the more gimmicky features like Drama Shot or Sound and Shot–you probably won’t use them even half as much as you might think–and just focusing on image quality alone, the S4 has some impressive optics. A quick web search for “best smartphone camera 2013″ will reveal quite a few people calling the Galaxy S4′s camera the best currently available. Note: we didn’t search for the best Android camera, these results were for the best phone camera. Not bad, Samsung. Not bad at all.

4.) There Will Always Be Something on the Horizon

In the last article, regarding the point that you might want to hold off on buying the S4 because of the upcoming Galaxy Note 3, many of you commented with the same response: there is always going to be a newer, better phone just around the corner. And you know what? You were right.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-3-concept-1

While plenty of us are still very excited about the Note 3 (and other phones), there is always going to have to be a point where you stop, pick a phone and live with your choice. With that in mind, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is a great choice. With all its specs and features, there isn’t much of a chance that you’ll be telling yourself that you made a huge mistake a year from now.

5.) TouchWiz or Stock? The Choice Is Yours

Last week at Google I/O, we saw an announcement that we weren’t expecting: a “Google Edition” of the Samsung Galaxy S4 that runs stock Android. If you’re reading this site, we probably don’t need to tell you that this isn’t something you see everyday. Take that super fast hardware and combine it with stock Android, and that is (for many of us, at least) a match made in heaven.

google-io-galaxy-s4-google-edition-4

Now, we understand. There are plenty of you who would rather have Samsung’s TouchWiz UI than stock Android. That’s why this is a perfect situation: no matter which happens to be your preference, there is a version of the S4 for you. While we’d like to see this option for every phone released, right now, the S4 has a lock on it, and that alone might make it worth a buy.

Video

TL;DR

If you just want the bare bones 5 reasons to buy the S4, here they are:

  1. It’s fast.
  2. The size is just about perfect for most people.
  3. It’s got one of the best smartphone cameras around.
  4. There are always better phones coming out. Don’t let that paralyze you with indecision.
  5. It’s available with either the TouchWiz UI or stock Android. Pick your poison.

So what do you think? Is the Samsung Galaxy S4 a great buy or are you waiting for something else until you upgrade? Let us know in the comments down below!

    


Rumor: Samsung might bring fingerprint tech to its future smartphones

Posted: 21 May 2013 12:51 PM PDT

Samsung Logo aa 600px 2

Today’s smartphones are rapidly evolving when it comes to screen size, processor speeds, RAM and even aesthetics. Unfortunately, there is one area that might not be advancing as quickly as we would like: security.

Sure, there have been some improvements in phone security. Largely though, most folks still stick to just using PINs, patterns or (even worse) no security method at all. What if we could instead use the power of our fingerprint for accessing sensitive data on our phones? Samsung might be working on such a solution, at least if a new rumor is to be believed.

The rumor is sparked by a series of images that were received by SamMobile in an email earlier today. The images where allegedly ripped from a leaked firmware build for the Samsung Galaxy S3. As you can see below, these pictures show off fingerprints and related imagery.

fingerprints

The obvious theory is that these graphics might indicate that Sammy has been working on testing some kind of fingerprint tech. Keep in mind that these images are the only 'evidence’ we have of such a move, so take this all with a grain of salt.

We certainly hope that Samsung would consider some kind of fingerprint reader built in place of the traditional home button, though. It would not only improve security, it would also be yet another bragging right for Samsung handset owners.

If any Samsung device is getting the tech in the near future, my vote would be for the Galaxy Note 3. Considering the Note series tends to be popular among BYOD users and businesses, it would make sense to have this kind of tech present.

It’s worth mentioning that rumors also suggest that Apple might also be working on some kind of fingerprint tech for the iPhone 5S. Before we start pointing fingers at who is copying who, remember this kind of tech has been around for a while now. Really, it just makes sense that it would eventually make its way over to smartphones.

What do you think, would you love to see Samsung phones start rolling out with a fingerprint scanner or do you feel it would really be more of a gimmick than a truly game-changing feature?

    


Galaxy S3 isn’t dead yet, landing on Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile next month

Posted: 21 May 2013 12:39 PM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 vs galaxy s3 s3 touchwiz aa

Coming off the heels of the Galaxy S4 launch, Sprint announced today at CTIA 2013 that it will be bringing the LTE-armed Galaxy S3 to its prepaid Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile brands in June, at an undisclosed price.

The hardware under the hood hasn’t changed much — it has the same 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 1.9MP front-facing camera, and a 2100 mAh battery. On the software side of things, it’s running Samsung’s custom TouchWiz UI atop Android 4.1.2.

Excluding the Galaxy S2, the two prepaid carriers have a subpar range of devices. The Galaxy S3 is still a very nice device, and will be a welcome addition to the current Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile offerings. Not only that, but it’s a great way for Sprint to still earn a bit from the smartphone, despite not being available on the “Now Network” itself.

On the other hand, a Galaxy S2 on Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile costs $329.99 (or lower with current discounts), which means we can probably expect the Galaxy S3 to be a bit more pricey than that. Regardless, if Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile customers are willing to shell out for the device, the two prepaid subsidiaries finally have a really nice phone in their inventories.

Chances are, you’re pretty familiar with the Galaxy S3. On the off chance that you’re not, be sure to check out our full review of the device (video below)!

Are you a Boost Mobile or Virgin Mobile customer? Do you plan on picking up a Galaxy S3 when its available next month? Sound off in the comments!

    


Is the Samsung Galaxy Mega coming to AT&T?

Posted: 21 May 2013 12:31 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Mega smartphone

If you're reading this on a Nexus 7, do us a favor. Hold it up to your ear. If that seems reasonable to you, and you're an AT&T customer, keep reading. You're going to be really happy.

The crew over at Pocketnow has come across an interesting string of happenings. As it turns out, the Samsung Galaxy Mega may be headed to AT&T. That's right, the smartphone with the 6.3" screen may soon be available in the US. Citing the often reliable EV Leaks, Pocketnow notes a device model SGH-1527 being prepped for AT&T service.

That model designation has been tied to the Samsung Melius, which was rumored to be a Tizen device. EV Leaks notes that this particular device for AT&T is absolutely not Tizen, but is keeping the Melius name. Mega is a more fitting name, even though Melius is a word derived from the latin word melior, meaning "big" or "a lot of".

We agree that 6.3" of screen is melior, so we'll wait for an official announcement. Whatever comes of it, we're sure a large-scale Samsung phone is on the horizon.

We're curious, what would you name a device of that size? Let us know in the comments below!

    


Ultra fast Tegra 4i shown off at CTIA in Las Vegas

Posted: 21 May 2013 11:57 AM PDT

Tegra 4i

Tegra 3 devices were a revelation when they came to market. That technology was, and is, very speedy and capable. With the advent of Tegra 4, which is a quad core chipset, NVIDIA was also able to produce a Tegra 4i. The latter of the two has ended up being the darling of the mobile tech world, at least in terms of potential.

Tegra 4i is LTE capable, and they're taking it for a spin at CTIA this week in Las Vegas. Running CAT 4, the Tegra 4i chips are jogging through at 150Mbps, showing no signs of lag or stuttering. If you're not quite sure what all this talk of "cats" is about, don't worry. It's really finite, technical stuff.

Essentially, LTE as we know it runs on CAT 3 technology, with CAT standing for categories. CAT 3 is capable of 100Mbps download speeds, with 50Mbps upload. CAT 4 bumps those up to 150 and 50, respectively. Those speeds are not typically realized, unfortunately.

The really special thing about NVIDIA walking that Tegra 4i dog is that the upgrade to CAT 4 is done via software, not new hardware. The Tegra 4i chipset was shown off at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year, on CAT 3. Since then, NVIDIA has done some software tweaks and been able to get the exact same hardware running a much faster category of LTE.

The Tegra 4i chipset is also 40% smaller than current LTE chipsets, and is said to be more efficient. These tests are simulated, as CAT 4 isn't in the wild yet, but NVIDIA updating an LTE radio via software updates is impressive. We'll be excited to see this technology in mobile devices, as it should be ready late this year or early 2014.

 

    


Agent smartwatch hopes to take on the Pebble, features wireless charging and improved power effeciency

Posted: 21 May 2013 11:41 AM PDT

agent-watch

Wearable tech isn’t exactly new, but it has certainly seen a major resurgence as of late. A large part of this is because technology is finally starting to advance enough to make watches, glasses and other wearables truly useful. While the most ambitious wearable is Google’s Glass, devices like the Pebble smartwatch have also received quite a bit of attention. Now it looks like Pebble is about to get itself a new competitor, the "Agent".

The Agent is the brainchild of Secret Labs and is designed by NYC watchmaker, House of Horology. Like Pebble, this watch is taking to Kickstarter in hopes of bringing the smartwatch scene to the next level. You might wonder what makes this watch different from the Pebble. At first glance, not much.

Both watches have Sharp displays that are similarly sized and even the watchfaces look alike. Feature-wise, the Agent also supports much of the same as the Pebble: pushing notifications, showing you the weather, acting as a pedometer and controlling music. It also works with any Android 2.3+ mobile device.

If it’s basically just a Pebble ‘clone’, why bother? Secret Labs hopes that you’ll see past that obvious similarities, and look a bit deeper. The differences here are two: processor design and wireless charging.

For the later of these, the Agent utilizes Qi wireless technology. The watch will come with its own charger pad, but should also work with existing pads.

As for the processor, the Agent uses a 120MHz ARM Cortex-M4, designed with speed and performance in mind. To prevent the processor from draining away the battery, it is actually kept in sleep-mode most of the time, with the secondary processor handling basic actions like displaying the time.

The end result is that the Agent can last 30 days in "watchface-only" mode, or up to 7 days with smart functions activated. This is at least a little bit better than most of the other smartwatches on the market.

Ease of programming

Secret Labs claims that their watch design will be more efficient that competitors, due to the use of Microsoft’s .NET runtime environment. They also boast that making apps will be easy, allowing programmers to use C# and Microsoft Visual Studio.

For those that might be interested in developing for the watch, Secret Labs says that an SDK will be rolling out immediately after the Kickstarter campaign ends.

Is the Agent too late to the game?

The Agent seems to be an interesting idea, but ultimately, it isn’t much different from the Pebble. The watch does have wireless charging and slightly improved battery life, but it also is planning a price of around $249, versus the $150 for the Pebble. It is worth mentioning that early bird Kickstarter pledges can pre-order it for $129.

Besides not truly offering much to set itself apart from the Pebble, there is also the possibility that by the time the Agent arrives to its backers, either Apple or Samsung might already have announced a smartwatch of their own.

If this had released six to twelve months earlier, the Agent could have been big. Now we aren’t so sure. What do you think of the Secret Labs Agent, would you consider it over devices like the Pebble?

    


Wearable technology could be a $50 billion business in a few years’ time

Posted: 21 May 2013 11:03 AM PDT

Pebble Smartwatch

Wearable technology is an acquired taste. I recently got a healthy sampling of it at I/O, and can see where both sides are in relation to the possibilities. While cautious optimism is the order of my day, some analysts don't share that tempered objectivity.

A report by Credit Suisse has deemed the wearable technology market could be worth up to $50 billion in the next few years. They note the current market for wearable technology is $3-5 billion, making for a tenfold market increase in a very short time. If that sounds unrealistic, your doubt holds water.

Analysts base reports on speculative propositioning. While their foresight may have roots in firm ground, they're still based on hopes and probabilities. Items like the Pebble Smartwatch and Google Glass may be exciting, but we're wise to remember where we've already been with wearable technology. Smartwatches are a recurring passing fad, like so many pedometers we couldn't live without for a time. Even if Google Glass is a hit, and spawns a plethora of copycat devices, the sector will contract quickly.

The report by Credit Suisse notes such things as expectations in improved battery life, and even ponders who could leverage such technology. Noted names in athletics, like Nike or Adidas, are mentioned as being in a good position to do so.

Even as Google and Apple are in the best position for market domination of wearable tech, and both working on or rumored to be working on wearable technology, we'll simply have to wait to see where it takes us. Speculation is fun, but devices and operating systems dictate the market. If done properly, we've got no doubt the wearable technology market has a huge potential.

Then again, the Pebble Smartwatch was done nicely, and the fervor over it has died down considerably.

 

    


Kyocera Hydro Edge and Hydro XTRM announced at CTIA 2013

Posted: 21 May 2013 10:44 AM PDT

kyocera hydro edge

The Kyocera Hydro Edge, set to make its way into Sprint’s smartphone lineup, has been unveiled at the CTIA show in Las Vegas, together with the Kyocera Hydro XTRM that will be available from U.S. Cellular.

The new Kyocera Hydro Edge and Kyocera Hydro XTRM are both follow-ups to last year’s Hydro model, and it seems like either model could be very useful to you if you’re planning on going on vacation.

Kyocera Hydro Edge

If you’re always dropping your phone in the water when at the beach, the Kyocera Hydro Edge is the solution to your problems, as it can stand a drop in 3.28 feet of water for 30 minutes (or being sprayed with water).

The Kyocera Hydro Edge comes with a dual-core 1GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen (resolution is 800 x 480 pixels) that promises impact resistance (if you can drop it in water, you might as well be able to drop it on the floor, too), a 5-megapixel camera, 4GB of memory and microSD support.

The device runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and its most interesting feature is probably the Smart Sonic Receiver, which makes it easier to use in noisy surroundings. The technology uses vibrations to send sounds straight to your eardrum, so the phone should be useful when clubbing in the evening too. The press release says that the feature makes the speaker cavity unnecessary, thus improving waterproofing.

The device will be available from both Sprint (which is also rumored to be getting the LG Optimus F3 soon enough) and its Boost Mobile subsidiary, but the release date or price have not been announced. According to a Kyocera spokesperson, quoted by Twice, its price could be around $130 on Boost Mobile, and less than $50 with a Sprint plan.

Kyocera Hydro XTRM

Also shown was the Kyocera Hydro XTRM, a very similar device, which will be available online starting today at $29, and in U.S. Cellular stores from May 24. The handset is dust- and waterproof and features Smart Sonic technology, but it also has military standard 810G shock resistance, meaning that it can withstand drops from a height of four feet.

kyocera hydro edge

In terms of specs, the 4G LTE Hydro XTRM packs a 4-inch WVGA display (also impact-resistant), a Qualcomm 1.2GHz dual-core CPU and 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal memory, 2000mAh battery and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The main camera is a 5-megapixel one and the smartphone also features a front 1.3-megapixel shooter.

Are you a fan of rugged smartphones? What’s your favorite such device?

Splish Splash! Kyocera Expands Hydro Series with Next Wave of Waterproof Android Smartphones

May 21, 2013 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rainstorms, toilets, sprinklers, pools, spilled drinks, bathtubs, lakes, sweat, sinks. Liquid and electronics don't like each other and there's an endless list of everyday hazards waiting to wreak havoc on mobile phones. Estimates say close to 100 million cell phones have been destroyed by liquids in the U.S. alone. But there is a solution. Kyocera today expanded its Hydro Series of waterproof smartphones with the introduction of the Hydro XTRM and Hydro Edge, two new Android smartphones built for a world that's 70 percent covered by water.

"This new generation of Hydro phones is built from the ground up to keep the liquid out, yet doesn't compromise sleek styling, affordability or performance."

Just in time for summer, the new Hydro Series smartphones carry IP57 dust-proofing and waterproofing certifications, meaning they're designed to survive dust, sprayed water – like a rainstorm or sprinklers – or total submersion in up to 3.28 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. The phones also include Kyocera's award-winning, proprietary Smart Sonic Receiver. This technology replaces the phone's speaker with a ceramic actuator, which turns sounds into vibrations that travel through the body directly to the eardrum, making the phone audible even in loud environments.

Hydro XTRM is a durable 4G LTE Android smartphone that not only is waterproof, but also meets 810G Military Standard for protection from shock (e.g., being dropped). U.S. Cellular launches Hydro XTRM online today and in retail stores on May 24 for just $29.99 after an instant rebate.1 Hydro Edge is an affordable, waterproof 3G Android smartphone that will launch this summer at Sprint and Boost Mobile. The carriers will announce pricing and exact timing as the launches approach.

"With 30 waterproof phones introduced globally since 2008, Kyocera has unparalleled expertise in designing devices to survive the elements," said Eric Anderson, senior vice president and general manager of global sales and marketing at Kyocera Communications Inc. "This new generation of Hydro phones is built from the ground up to keep the liquid out, yet doesn't compromise sleek styling, affordability or performance."

With its growing portfolio of devices designed to survive the elements and the everyday, Kyocera continues its relationship with Bear Grylls – Everest mountaineer, former British Special Forces, star of television's "Man vs. Wild," and the father of three active boys. Grylls will be featured prominently in materials supporting the new Hydro Series devices as they reach the market, which will join other materials from Grylls on Kyocera's YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/kyoceramobilephones) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/kyoceramobilephones).

Hydro XTRM

Along with its 810G and IP57 waterproof and durability certifications and Smart Sonic Receiver technology, other notable features on the Hydro XTRM include:

1.2 GHz dual-core processor

Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

Bright 4-inch impact-resistant IPS touchscreen display

5.0 megapixel rear-facing camera with camcorder; 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera

Hydro Edge

Boost Mobile, a prepaid brand of Sprint, launched the first-generation Kyocera Hydro in August 2012 and it has been a top-seller ever since. Building on that success, the Hydro Edge will launch this summer at both Boost Mobile and Sprint, giving consumers the flexibility of purchasing the phone with prepaid or post-paid service plans. Hydro Edge is waterproof and dust-proof with IP57 certification and includes Kyocera's Smart Sonic Receiver technology. Other features include:

1 GHz dual-core processor

Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

Bright 4-inch impact-resistant touchscreen display

5.0 megapixel rear-facing camera

For more information about Hydro XTRM and Hydro Edge, please visit kyocerasmartphones.com/hydro-family.

    


JDI unveils 5-inch Full HD “Pixel Eyes” display with integrated touch technology

Posted: 21 May 2013 09:52 AM PDT

JDI-screen-PIXEL-EYES-1

Japan Display Inc. (JDI) has unveiled its latest display technology, a 5-inch 1080p TFT LCD display with integrated touch functionality. Called "Pixel Eyes," the display offers certain advantages including slimmer modules and lower optical reflections.

JDI is a joint venture between Sony, Hitachi and Toshiba, and its panels have already been used in Xperia Z handsets, however a problem noted by many reviewers was the poor viewing angles. JDI has noted that displays need to improve in some aspects and offer “higher resolutions, wider viewing angles, higher picture quality, lower power consumption, and thinner module thickness.”

The improvements this new technology will bring to the table include a 10 to 30% slimmer module, clearer picture quality and increased module brightness. At this point in time, it appears as if Pixel Eyes is not using the recently announced triluminos display tech.

When it comes to specs, the Pixel Eyes will feature a “transmissive IPS” display mode and offer a resolution of up to 1080p, 445 pixel per inch (ppi) density, 450cd/m2 brightness, contrast ratio of 1000:1 and a viewing angle of 160 degrees.

JDI says that displays in resolutions of 720p (720 x 1280 pixels) and qHD (540 x 960 pixels) will be mass produced starting with June 2013, with the 5-inch Full-HD displays being produced soon after. JDI will exhibit the display at the Society for Information Display (SID) Display Week 2013, in Japan this week.

JDI screen PIXEL EYES

Are you interested in this new display tech? Hope to see the screens in Sony's next flagship devices?

    


Google Wallet is taking over for Checkout

Posted: 21 May 2013 09:44 AM PDT

google wallet

Yesterday, Google announced they would shutter the Checkouts program for online merchants. Instead, those online retailers who utilize Checkouts are urged to migrate to Google Wallet, which has made some recent improvements ahead of this announcement.

Those improvements, geared toward making life easier for merchants, include a few new APIs. The Instant Buy API is meant to allow for faster checkout, especially on mobile devices. The Wallet Objects API allows for a loyalty rewards program, like earned points.

For merchants who may not have a payment processing portal, Google has wisely approached a few of the bigger names to offer a discounted rate for those who need to sign up. Retailers can get up to a 20% discount at Braintree, Shopify, or Freshbooks just for being a new Google Wallet customer. Freshbooks is even offering a 60 day free trial for those who migrate.

There is no rush for retailers, though. They'll have until November 20, 2013 to find new solutions for their business. Google has made the migration process as seamless as possible, which will trickle down to consumers. We only hope retailers take advantage of all that Google has on offer. A faster checkout with a rewards program sounds like e-commerce heaven.

    


Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 has a UK price tag

Posted: 21 May 2013 09:20 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 now has a price tag attached to it, at least for the UK market, courtesy of retailer Clove.

Clove, which has the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 available for pre-order at the moment, offers it in both white and black versions. Still, you can only get the 16GB model, as the 8GB version isn’t listed.

The price, no matter what color option you choose, is £460 (VAT included) – not including VAT, the phone costs £383.33. As far as the release date goes for the large-sized device (you can see how large it is in these hands-on pictures), it is the same as the one Carphone Warehouse has listed a few days ago, namely the month of July.

The Galaxy Mega 5.8 won’t be coming to the UK at all, so you’ll have to settle for the large version.

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is aimed at those buyers looking for a device with a truly large screen. It has a 6.3-inch touchscreen at 720p resolution, and features a dual-core CPU and 1.5GB of RAM memory. Internal memory is 8 or 16GB (expandable using the microSD slot), with an 8-megapixel rear camera allowing you to take pictures wherever you go. The front camera is a 1.9-megapixel one and it’s also important to know that the smartphone runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with Samsung’s own TouchWiz interface on top of it.

If that all sounds interesting, pre-orders at Clove are underway, so you can make sure you get yours come July.

Are you thinking about pre-ordering a Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3?

    


Opera browser makes its way out of Beta, powered by WebKit

Posted: 21 May 2013 09:12 AM PDT

operaandroid

While far from the biggest player in the browser wars, Opera has been around in one form or another since the mid-90s. Hoping to expand its presence, the company announced in February their plans to ditch the Presto framework. Shortly after, the Opera Beta app was released, leaping over to the WebKit rendering engine. Today marks another big milestone for Opera, they are losing the "Beta" tag on their Android app.

So what’s new now that the app is out of the awkward Beta phase? Mostly it is about speed improvements and bug fixes, but there are also some changes such as the option to toggle the navigation bar from the top or bottom of the screen and the ability to wrap text when zooming.

For those who have yet to play around with the Beta, you’ll also find quite a few other exciting features. The two biggest of these are Discover and Off-Road. The former of these features is designed to recommend content for users and is also populated with content from user-chosen categories.

As for Off-Road, it connects you to the web through a proxy. Using the Opera proxy, the data is compressed before it is sent to your mobile device, which means it should play nicely with slower, unreliable networks.

This is likely just the beginning for Opera, who already confirms that they will be making the move to Google’s WebKit fork Blink in the near-future. The big question is whether these changes will be enough for Opera’s browser to truly take on rivals such as Chrome and Firefox.

For those that have yet to try it out, you can grab it now through Google Play. Readers that have already tried it out, what do you think?

    


Want to build a mobile game? The Unity engine for mobile development is now free!

Posted: 21 May 2013 08:46 AM PDT

Unity-android-ios-image
There is an explosive amount of developers already making games for mobile platforms, and hundreds of thousands more that want to make games for Android, iOS, etc. The problem? Not everyone can afford the tools needed to begin. There’s good news though, folks! Unity Technologies has made their Android and iOS package free of charge. The original $800 price tag has gone the way of the dinosaur.

Simply update Unity, and you’ll be able to publish your games and apps on Android and iOS in the build menu. Developers will be able to put their games on BlackBerry and Windows Phone 8 at no charge when they become available too.

The tools are free for independent developers and small studios. However, “companies and other "incorporated entities" (you know who you are) with a turnover in excess of $100,000 in their previous fiscal year are required to use our paid version,” Unity Technologies CEO David Helgason said.

A few years ago, Unity made their indie license free from $200. By doing that, their community grew from 13,000 developers to just shy of 2.2 million today. As a result, some breathtaking creations were released on the PC, such as Windward. Let’s hope something similar happens on mobile platforms now.

Now that Unity is free for Android, do you plan on creating a game on the successful mobile platform? Better yet, do you think this new step will boost mobile gaming in general?

    


Sony Xperia SP review (video)

Posted: 21 May 2013 07:52 AM PDT

Sony Xperia SP aa 1600 (8)

Sony is back in the game, that much is for sure. Not only has the storied Japanese company made its first profit in five years, but the Xperia Z and Xperia Tablet Z have been hailed as masterpieces of industrial design and praised for their user experience.

But Sony isn't just focusing on the high-end market. Plenty of people look for attractively-priced devices with decent specs, and Sony isn't ready to ignore such an important demographic.

Enter the Sony Xperia SP, a mid-ranger that looks great, at least on paper. But will customers agree? As usual, we take a look at the Sony Xperia SP's design, specifications, features, and software. In a hurry? Jump straight to the video review.

Design: a consummate Xperia with a gleam of light

From the first glance it's easy to tell that the SP is a true Xperia. The phone retains the rectangular corners and flat sides of its more expensive siblings, but has a few twists that make it stand out. On the front, Sony opted for its typically minimalist appearance – the front of the SP is the screen and nothing else.

Sony Xperia SP aa 1600 (3)

On the side, the distinctive silver power button makes an appearance, along with a volume rocker and a dedicated camera shutter button.

Sony Xperia SP aa 1600 (7)

The Xperia SP has a solid, hefty feeling to it, conferred by the aluminum frame that runs along its edges. However, at 10 millimeters and 155 grams, it may be too thick and hefty for some users. On the back, you get the 8MP camera, surrounded by a plastic removable cover with a matter finish that helps with the grip.

Sony Xperia SP aa 1600 (5)

The XP's most distinctive design feature is the transparent strip of plastic on its bottom, which diffuses the colored LED notifications or lights up in rhythm when music plays on the phone. It may not be much, but this little feature is enough to make the Xperia SP stand out from a sea of drab mid-rangers.

sony xperia sp led light aa

At the end of the day, the Xperia SP is a balanced, well designed Sony device, that we think most users will enjoy, as long as they're okay with its slightly bulky profile.

720p is so last year… or not?

The wave of Full HD devices that hit the market starting with late 2012 means that, for many people, a high-end device needs to have a 1080p panel. All Android smartphones that we consider high-end right now have that configuration. Where does that leave a 4.7-inch 720p device like the Xperia SP? Squarely in the mid-range category, but that doesn't mean that the display of the SP should be dismissed as outdated.

sony xperia sp display aa

Because it's slightly smaller than the Xperia Z, the Xperia SP has a pretty good  pixel density at 319ppi. For the record, that's only slightly lower than what Apple calls Retina, but way lower than the current cream of the crop of Android devices, which hover around 440 ppi, or more in the case of the HTC One.

In terms of quality, the Xperia SP seems to suffer from the same issue that plagues the Xperia Z and the Xperia ZL – poor visibility angles. Look at it dead on (like you are likely to do 90% of the time) and the display of the Xperia SP is beautiful. Turn it slightly and the colors wash out and the text becomes hard to read. It may not be a major problem for most users, but it's there. Otherwise, most regular users and even power users will find little to complain about the Xperia SP's display.

Sony Xperia SP aa 1600 (6)

Specs and performance

Living on the bleeding edge of smartphone specifications isn't for everyone. Quad-core and even octo-core processors are fine and dandy, but it's easy to forget that most people actually don't need that level of processing power in their phones. This introduction is necessary because some may be inclined to dismiss the dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor of the Xperia SP as outdated.

sony xperia sp performance aa

While it may be a year old, the S4 running at 1.7GHz does its job admirably, and powers the operating system without skipping a beat. The presence of an Adreno 320 GPU (the same as in the newer Snapdragon 600 series) and of 1GB of RAM helps provide the oomph required to take the device through the multitasking and graphics intensive applications.

sony xperia sp antutu aa

One area where the SP outshines its sleeker sibling, the Xperia Z, is the quality of the sounds it outputs. The rear-mounted speakers are nice and loud, without distorting the sound on high volume. Sony endowed the Xperia SP with the assortment of connectivity options we've come to expect from every phone these days, such as WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth and NFC. The phone comes in two versions that offer HSDPA and LTE compatibility, while there's only one storage option available – 8GB. That isn't much, especially for users who regularly consume media on the go, but the good news is the removable back cover of the XP hides a microSD card slot that makes possible the addition of another 32GB of storage.

sony xperia sp battery aa

Unfortunately, a removable cover doesn't necessarily mean that a removable battery is present, and that's the case with the Xperia SP. The good news is that the 2370mAh battery can go the distance, probably thanks to the less power hungry processor and display. We've tested it using a locally stored video played in a loop for a little over three hours, which drained 50 percent of the battery. That means that, provided you are not going too hard on the SP, the device can power through about seven hours of straight  media consumption, and get you through a day of moderate use.

The camera of the Xperia SP is in many ways similar to that on the Xperia Z. Both have Sony Exmor sensors at their hearts, though the SP has an older 8MP model, as opposed to 13 on the Z. Most of the software features present on the high-end model make an appearance on the Xperia SP as well – Superior Auto, HDR, touch capture, and Panorama. Ultimately, we found the Xperia SP to be a decent shooter, but the truth is even some devices from last year, like the Galaxy S3, do better in this department.

 

Sony Xperia SP camera sample - Click to enlarge

Sony Xperia SP camera sample – Click to enlarge

Sony Xperia SP camera sample - Click to enlarge

Sony Xperia SP camera sample – Click to enlarge

Software: Xperia UI redux

If you've ever played with the Xperia Z, ZL, or even some of Sony's devices from last year, you will feel right at home using the SP. Basically, the user interface of the device is a mélange of elements from Ice Cream Sandwich (the color schemes), Jelly Bean (Google Now and more), and Sony additions like the Walkman app and the Album photo gallery app.

Sony Xperia SP UI aa (1)

In addition to the preloaded apps we've mentioned, Sony also added its trademark Small Apps, a suite of applets that are accessible from the recent apps screen, which help users do some light multitasking. In terms of design, the UI of the Xperia SP tends to be minimalist, but in a pleasant, non-obtrusive way. Sony tried to keep it simple, and for the most part, the result is great.

Sony Xperia SP UI aa (2)

Hands-on video review

Pricing and final thoughts

The Sony Xperia SP is available for roughly US $500 unlocked, which is a decent price for a device in this class. The SP isn't currently ranged by any American carrier, but it should come for $100 to $150 on a two year contract. Now for the big question – is it worth it?

sony xperia sp price aa

If you are a spec fiend, there isn't anything on the Xperia SP to get you excited. You'll be better off with an Xperia Z (if you prefer Sony), Galaxy S4, or HTC One.

However, if you are a budget-conscious customer that wants to get the most bang for the buck, the Sony Xperia SP is an excellent choice. It costs far less than current high-end devices, and it's able to hold its own respectably.

What do you think about the Sony Xperia SP? Vote in our poll or tell us in the comments.

Bogdan Petrovan contributed to this review.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
    


Dan Rosenberg successfully boots custom recovery for Verizon Galaxy S4

Posted: 21 May 2013 07:27 AM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 vs htc one s4 in hand aa

One of the biggest advantages held by Android is its deep level of customization and the openness of the platform. Unfortunately, most carriers don’t share the same love for Android’s open nature. For the Samsung Galaxy S4, that means that both the AT&T and Verizon versions of the handset feature an unlockable bootloaders. The good news is that one developer has now found a method for unlocking the bootloader, for both AT&T and Verizon!

When AT&T brought out the bootlocked Galaxy S4, Dan Rosenberg quickly went to work discovering a bootloader unlock method. Rosenberg also said that the method would probably work with Verizon’s version of the S4, and so he waited off on releasing the unlock instructions until the S4 arrived to the Big Red. The idea was that Rosenberg feared releasing the method too early would give Verizon the chance to patch the handset ahead of its official launch on May 23rd.

tweet

The wait is nearly over folks! On Monday Rosenberg took to Twitter, proclaiming custom recovery had successfully booted on Big Red’s S4. Rosenberg also shouted out special thanks to a "helpful tester".

Sweet news for Galaxy S4 fans wanting a bit more control over the destiny of their new phones. Now the big question is when the method will be released. Rosenberg doesn’t give a specific date, simply saying will be released "soon". Odds are you can expect it within days after Verizon releases the GS4.

Our heartfelt thanks goes out to developers like Dan Rosenberg that work to fight off carrier attempts to keep us in chains. You have to wonder though, why do carriers even bother at this point? Sure it stops the less-tech-savvy folks from messing with their phones, but it only further angers a very vocal modding community. Not to mention that it usually doesn’t take too terribly long for developers to find a way around the carrier’s attempts to keep the phones locked (though that’s admittedly not the case for all smartphones).

Anyhow, great news for would-be owners of the AT&T and Verizon versions of the GS4.

    


LG Optimus F3 picture apparently leaked, heading to Sprint soon

Posted: 21 May 2013 06:22 AM PDT

LG Logo aa 600px

An image of the LG Optimus F3 with Sprint branding has hit the web via famed leaker @evleaks.

LG has announced two other devices part of the budget-friendly F devices, the Optimus F7 and F5, at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Their pictures were also leaked a few days ahead of the announcement by the same source.

The LG Optimus F3, which you can see in the image below, is aimed at those smartphone buyers that don’t want to invest a lot in a smartphone, just like the F7 and F5.

LG Optimus F3

The device, which bears model name LS720, shows Sprint branding in the image, and is reportedly coming in the next few weeks. The handset will be aggressively priced on contract according to Phone Arena.

Some Optimus F3 specs are mentioned including a dual-core CPU (no details on type or speed), a 4-inch WVGA screen (800 x 480 pixels), and a 2460mAH battery. The device would run Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2.

Also mentioned as coming to Sprint this quarter, but without a specific time frame, is the LS980 Optimus G Pro, which the leaker says is Sprint’s version of the LG Optimus G Pro, already available on AT&T. You may remember that the LS980 has made a Bluetooth SIG visit recently, so things seem to be connecting.

Anyone looking forward to the LG Optimus F3?