Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Nexus 7 with Android 4.3 clears Bluetooth certification

Posted: 28 May 2013 11:17 AM PDT

Today we’re seeing what could possibly be the next-gen Google Nexus 7, or at least another version of the current model. We’ve been seeing and hearing a lot about Android[...]

Verizon GALAXY S 4 will be first with Advance Wireless Service support

Posted: 28 May 2013 10:54 AM PDT

The GALAXY S 4 recently launched with Verizon Wireless and while the handset brings LTE support out of the box, it is looking like a future update will bring additional[...]

Casio Commando 4G LTE leaked for Verizon debut

Posted: 28 May 2013 10:20 AM PDT

Casio might not be a household name when it comes to smartphones, but they have a few durable and extremely rugged phones on the market. The G'z0ne Commando a few[...]

Next Browser hands-on: GO Launcher team customizes the web

Posted: 28 May 2013 10:10 AM PDT

The GO Launcher Dev Team recently updated the Next Browser and while we hadn’t been spending lots of time with this browser in the past, this latest update arrived as[...]

Verizon HTC One announcement still expected

Posted: 28 May 2013 09:03 AM PDT

The Verizon HTC One has brought about plenty of speculation and rumor. Just when it looked like Verizon was ready to make an announcement, we saw the launch of Viva[...]

Pebble smartwatch pre-orders will begin shipping “soon”

Posted: 28 May 2013 07:53 AM PDT

It looks like the folks at Pebble are getting ready to move into the next phase. Basically, the Kickstarter shipments are beginning to wrap up and shipments for those who[...]

doubleTwist goes Holo with latest Android app update

Posted: 28 May 2013 07:17 AM PDT

The doubleTwist app has once again been updated. This one is not rich with new features, however there is some relatively nice changes. Perhaps even nicer, the folks at doubleTwist[...]

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 rumors tip a 13MP camera with optical image stabilization

Posted: 28 May 2013 06:39 AM PDT

The Galaxy Note 3 rumors have focused quite a bit on the processor and the display, however it looks like we are now getting some dealing with the camera. Or[...]

LG denies Nexus 5 involvement but confirms Android tablet for 2013

Posted: 28 May 2013 03:00 AM PDT

LG will not be making the “Nexus 5” for Google, one company executive has claimed, with the South Korean firm supposedly looking to in fact reduce its dependency on Android[...]

LG finally comes clean, makes the Nexus 4 White official

Posted: 28 May 2013 01:33 AM PDT

The worst kept secret in Android right now has finally been made official, with LG taking the wraps off of the Nexus 4 White. Unsurprisingly the white variant of the[...]

Oppo Find 5 smartphone available today in Europe

Posted: 27 May 2013 04:14 PM PDT

The popular Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo released a pretty impressive smartphone back in December in the Find 5, but we’ve been patiently waiting for it to arrive for other regions.[...]

Nexus 4 white retail model poses for the camera

Posted: 27 May 2013 03:24 PM PDT

More and more details keep surfacing regarding a white LG Nexus 4 from Google and LG. Earlier this month some videos of the device leaked, followed by a sighting and[...]

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 leaks in new Brown Black color

Posted: 27 May 2013 02:51 PM PDT

Today we’ve received a few different leaks regarding upcoming products from the folks at Samsung. Earlier today Samsung themselves accidentally revealed the upcoming GALAXY S 4 Mini, and now we’re[...]

HTC One phablet codenamed T6 in the works

Posted: 27 May 2013 02:10 PM PDT

The term ‘phablet’ isn’t one we like to throw around, but according to some recent details and leaks that is exactly what the folks from HTC have planned. After initially[...]

Tapatalk 4 public beta arrives in the Google Play Store

Posted: 27 May 2013 01:58 PM PDT

It looks like we once again have a publicly available Tapatalk beta to play with. This latest is available by way of the Google Play Store and has arrived as[...]

Kyocera Hydro Elite image leaks ahead of Verizon announcement

Posted: 27 May 2013 12:55 PM PDT

Verizon is expected to announce a Kyocera handset relatively soon. We saw an image of the handset leak late last month and at the time it looked like the device[...]

Google high-altitude blimps aim to bring WiFi to Africa

Posted: 27 May 2013 12:52 PM PDT

Lately there’s been a lot of talk and news around Google being deeply involved in a new initiative to bring Wireless internet to places like Africa, and other emerging markets.[...]

OUYA console receives an unofficial CWM Recovery release

Posted: 27 May 2013 12:04 PM PDT

The OUYA game console release was previously delayed until June 25th, however that doesn’t seem to have stopped those who have one of the already available developer units. We know[...]

How to: Remove the ongoing WiFi notification on Verizon GALAXY S 4

Posted: 27 May 2013 11:45 AM PDT

If you’re like us, you aren’t a fan of Verizon’s pesky ongoing notification about Wifi on most of their recent phones. Not only has Verizon removed the quick-toggle for WiFi[...]

Android Authority

Android Authority


White Nexus 4 is official: same specs, starts selling tomorrow

Posted: 28 May 2013 01:51 AM PDT

white nexus 4

After a flurry of leaked images, the white version of the Nexus 4 has been officially announced. The device will roll out starting tomorrow in Hong Kong.

LG today officially unveiled one of the worst kept secrets in the mobile industry in the last few weeks – the white Nexus 4.

The white Nexus 4 was first mentioned back in November 2012, but it wasn't till last month that we've seen credible hands-on images of the device. The phone was even leaked in a set of press images, a surefire indicator that an official launch was imminent.

Now that the white Nexus 4 has become official, you should know that, besides the new skin, there's absolutely no difference between it and the black model. The specifications include the same Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, a 4.7-inch 720p display, and an 8MP camera.

Despite rumors that a new version of Android would be made available along with the white Nexus 4, the device apparently still runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

The white Nexus 4 will become available in Hong Kong tomorrow, May 29, and will roll out in "select markets in Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East" in the coming weeks. We do expect it to pop up on the Play Store sooner rather than later, probably at the same great price of $299 for the 8GB version.

SEOUL, May 28, 2013 ㅡ LG Electronics (LG) today announced the launch of Nexus 4 White, the newest edition of the popular smartphone developed in collaboration with Google. Nexus 4 White features the same stellar Android™ experience as the original Nexus 4, combining LG's sophisticated hardware design and popular Google Services such as Google Now and Photosphere for an outstanding overall user experience.

"Nexus 4 set the standard for Android 4.2 Jelly Bean smartphones," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. "Nexus 4 White delivers the same Google experience to consumers in a stylish and attractive color option."

Nexus 4 White comes with the superb 4.7-inch 1280-by-768 True HD IPS Plus display (320ppi) supported by Zerogap Touch technology. At its heart is the high performing Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM.

Starting in Hong Kong on May 29, Nexus 4 White will roll out globally in select markets in Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East over the next several weeks.

# # #

    


The coming data tsunami: mobile networks to carry 1,000 times more data 10 years from now

Posted: 28 May 2013 01:27 AM PDT

Data ones and zerosThe exponential growth of technology, first noticed by Intel’s Gordon E. Moore and known commonly as Moore’s law, looks like it also applies to the amount of data we create, store, archive and transmit. For mobile carriers and wireless infrastructure creators it is this last category – transmission – that is paramount. A recent panel held at CTIA 2013, a wireless communications trade show, heard from wireless experts including Peggy Johnson, EVP and President of Global Market Development at Qualcomm. During the talk Johnson estimated that within the next 10 years, mobile networks will carry 1,000 times more data than compared to what is used today.

Dubbed as the ‘data tsunami’ it is clear that the wireless industry will need to look at new and interesting ways to transmit all that data. Johnson also estimates that there will be 25 billion connected devices in circulation in the next five years. That is a lot of devices and a lot of data.

We have to stay ahead of it and it's going to be tough – many devices talking to many people and many objects.
Peggy Johnson, EVP at Qualcomm

Fifteen years ago the average phone just made phone calls and sent text messages, today mobile devices – with their touch screens, quad-cores and 3G or 4G LTE connectivity – use huge amounts of data for video calls, video streaming, photos, mapping, navigation and online gaming. It looks like this trend isn’t heading for a down turn any time soon. As both devices and the networks improve, new services will appear that use those improvements and existing services will be enhanced with greater quality.  Historically this can be seen with the improvements in the quality of video streaming services, today HD is increasingly the norm and the latest generation of flagship phones all have HD screens.

There is a worry in the mobile industry about handling all this data. Although the bandwidth issues could be partially solved by using more spectrum, 1,000 times more data is a huge amount and soon mere hardware optimizations won’t be able to provide sufficient increases in data capacity.

One way forward is to reduce the size of mobile network cells. A cell is the area covered by one radio tower. All the devices in that cell send and receive data via that fixed radio mast. As a user moves to another physical location the next nearest cell is used and so on. By reducing the size of the cells (meaning there are more of them, each covering a smaller area and a smaller number of users) each cell can handle a greater amount of data.

Whatever the technology solution it seems that our appetite for data isn’t about to be satiated.

    


I’m not done hacking my Android devices

Posted: 27 May 2013 07:51 PM PDT

Android Superuser

Android isn’t an one size fits all platform. Android allows for many choices from smartphone hardware, to smartphone software. Shopping for a smartphone can actually be a pretty daunting task. For most consumers, having such a large variety to choose from is enough customization to fit their needs. Others however, like to take their customization one step further by rooting and running custom firmware on their Android devices.

Recently, one of our colleagues in the mobile industry over at Mobile Syrup wrote that he was done hacking his smartphone. Daniel Bader wrote that he no longer needs the customization that ROMs such as CyanogenMod bring to the table. Daniel made some good points that major OEM user experiences have gotten better over the years. They offer a wide variety of software features that differ from one OEM to the next. OEM user interfaces themselves have even gotten much better. Take a look at HTC’s Sense UI. It’s gotten faster and much simpler as of late.

Call me old fashioned, but the thrill of the chase — that perfect Android experience — through a custom ROM is just no longer there.

I’m going to have to disagree with you, Daniel. I’m not done hacking my smartphone. In fact, over 5 million users have installed CyanogenMod and there’s plenty more installing other custom ROMs such as Paranoid Android or AOKP. The custom ROM scene on Android is thriving. More and more users every day are rooting their phones and running custom firmware for various reasons.

A nightly build isn’t stable software

Let’s take a look at Daniel’s example, the HTC One. HTC has finally hit a home run with Sense 5, in my opinion. It’s minimal, it’s fast, and it has just the right amount of features to not feel overly bloated. Sense 5 has a very nice laid out user experience that millions will enjoy. The HTC One is still a fairly new device, launching about a month ago. In fact, the HTC One just received official CyanogenMod 10.1 support via nightly builds on May 10th.

the HTC One benchmarks lower on CM10.1

You can’t compare firmware that was ran, tested, and tweaked for months internally with custom software built from the ground up (without full source mind you) that is only 17 days old. If you’ve been around the custom ROM scene for a while, you know that device stability and support grows as time goes on. A nightly build, especially during the first few weeks or months, is experimental software. It’s bleeding edge technology, showing that better things are to come as time progresses.  Official CM10.1 support doesn’t mean it’s instantly amazing (it should be dammit!) it means that a developer was able to get the hardware functioning and the CM code was able to be merged without breaking everything.

Over the next few weeks or even months (no ETAs!) these nightly builds will get more and more stable. Sometimes you’ll see increased frame rates, lag reduction, sometimes you’ll see better working hardware such as better camera support, maybe even better Bluetooth connectivity, WiFi or data connection. My point is, there’s still tons of work left  and developers are hard at work doing what they do best, squashing bugs.

Why do we do it?

Why do we sacrifice stability and OEM software features for instability and different software features? It boils down to choice and the lesser of two evils. As I said in the beginning, Android isn’t a once size fits all platform.  Not everyone likes Sense, even though it’s gotten much better. Not everyone likes Samsung’s TouchWiz UI experience.

Where do you fall in line?

  • You love your smartphone’s software and hardware. Everything just works and rainbows and unicorns (not to be confused with AOKP) are pouring out of your phone.
  • You love your smartphone’s hardware, but you don’t like the software. Maybe you think it feels bloated. Maybe you like a more minimal approach. Maybe you like the way that stock Android looks and feels.

If you fall into the second generalization, you’re left with choosing a lesser of two evils. Do you stay with software you don’t like, but generally works great?  Do you move to software that you do like, but has the slight chance of not running as good as your stock, out of the box experience? Those of us that love customization and love a stock feeling Android smartphone will deal with a few bugs here and there while we wait for our custom ROM to reach it’s full potential.

No one wants to be stuck with a device they don’t like.

If you want a stock experience, buy a Nexus device, right?

It’s not always that simple of an answer, sadly. Some people need more local storage and can’t rely on the cloud. Some people need microSD card support. Some people, such as myself, live in areas without any GSM service and can’t use the Nexus 4. Some people can’t change carriers for various reasons.

Just because you can’t own a Nexus device doesn’t mean you should be left out of the true Android experience. You can try to take matters into your own hands with custom ROMs. You can attempt to make your device feel like a Nexus. While the experience won’t be exactly the same, and you might have to deal with a bug or two along the way, you do what you have to do to make yourself happy with the hardware you have to run.

Lastly, I believe hardware manufacturers are starting to realize this. We Android users might love your hardware experience, but aren’t set on your packaged software. Samsung and Google are working together to sell a Google Edition, stock experience, Samsung Galaxy S4 in the near future. It’s also been reported that HTC is going to join in on the stock Android experience with their HTC One in the coming weeks. Maybe we’ll see similar initiatives from other major players such as LG and Sony in the future. Who knows. Until then, Android allows us to choose the hardware that works for us and if need be, run the software that works for us too.

Are you running a custom ROM on your smartphone or are you happy with what your hardware manufacturer gave you out of the box? Let me know in the comments.

    


Rumor: Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 will feature Intel chipset

Posted: 27 May 2013 02:40 PM PDT

Samsung Logo aa 600px 2

In recent years Intel has pushed hard to roll its x86 processors onto mobile devices running both Windows and Android. Unfortunately, none of these attempts have exactly blown anyone’s socks off – or if they have, they were just too limited in marketing to make any major impact.

What Intel needs is a tablet maker that will help them really stir things up with a high-profile, big-name device. That’s exactly what they could be getting, as rumors suggest the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 will ditch ARM technology in favor of an Intel Atom chip.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Samsung and Intel teaming up for an Android tablet. Earlier this month we reported on a GLBenchmark sighting for the GT-P5200, aka the Tab 3 10.1. Now a "source familiar with the matter" has confirmed to Venture Beat that the Tab 3 10.1 really will run on an Atom Clover Trail processor.

Outside of reporting that Samsung really is working on an Intel Android tablet, nothing else new was revealed by the source. Just remember that until Samsung gives us official word that an Intel-powered Tab 3 10.1 is in the works, you should take this latest confirmation with a grain of salt.

IF the rumors are real and the GLBenchmarks are correct, what can we expect from the tablet? For starters, it will have a 1.6GHz dual-core Atom Z2560 processor and 400MHz PowerVR SGX 544 MP2 GPU. The benchmark also indicates the display will have a resolution of 1280 x 800. As for the OS, it will run Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

A Samsung Android tablet with an Atom processor could certainly be a huge win for Intel, and perhaps the first sign that the chip-maker is ready to take on its ARM-based competitors in a big way. Here’s to hoping we learn more about the Tab 3 10.1 at Computex, starting June 4th.

What do you think, would you buy a Samsung Android tablet running on an Intel processor?

    


Nexus 4 reportedly headed to Japan

Posted: 27 May 2013 01:25 PM PDT

Sony Xperia Z vs Google Nexus 4 aa (10)

Now that we're hearing murmurs of a white Nexus 4 coming soon, it seems the device as we know it is about to hit a new market. A product page for the Nexus 4 appeared briefly on the Japanese Play Store, hopefully hinting that Japan is soon to have the ability to purchase Google’s flagship phone.

If the device is coming to Japan, and is a straight port, it should work with all major carriers. The carrier bandwidth in Japan is covered in the Nexus 4 specs currently on offer, and there is no reason to suspect they changed to suit Japan.

According to the report, the device has already passed "technical conformity" for the Japanese market. It's good to see Japan getting the Nexus 4, too. The Nexus 4 is a great device at an even better price. There is no word on the white version hitting the Japanese market, but we'll report back should we hear anything.

    


Play Store reportedly getting new shipping options for devices

Posted: 27 May 2013 01:00 PM PDT

Google-Play-store Logo

Aside from the availability of product, ordering devices from the Play Store is pretty easy. Google Checkout is reliable once set up properly, but there is one small issue that causes consumers to scratch their head. When you buy a device, you get it when they say you do.

To be fair, you currently get 2-day shipping via UPS. The issue is, not everyone will want that option. Whether inconvenient or not affordable, the singular shipping choice is just good enough. According to Droid Life, that's all about to change.

While the report suggests it is for the "Nexus 4 family" of products, we hope to see this for all device purchases. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for this, should that new white Nexus 4 make an appearance soon.

The new shipping choices, according to Droid Life, are as follows:

  • UPS two-day shipping (2 business days processing + 2 business days for delivery)
  • Ground (2 business days processing + 3-5 business days for delivery)
  • Saver (2 business days processing + 5 -10 business days for delivery)

We have reached out to Google for clarification, and will update if we hear anything further. If true, this represents a step in the right direction for the Play Store. More shipping options and stock on-hand would make them a viable option for our eCommerce decisions, not just a first-stop letdown.

    


Rumor: Galaxy Note 3 camera to include optical image stabilization technology

Posted: 27 May 2013 12:18 PM PDT

Galaxy Note 3 concept

Galaxy Note 3 concept

A new report says that the Galaxy Note 3 could feature an improved camera capable to offer users optical image stabilization (OIS) features.

According to etnews, Samsung is apparently working on including OIS capabilities in the unannounced Galaxy Note 3, a feature that should help improve the pictures and videos taken with the phone's main camera.

OIS is a technology that's used in various cameras but also in some mobile devices to reduce image blur caused by motion when taking pictures and/or recording videos. In addition to OIS, the Galaxy Note 3 team has apparently also considered including 3x optical zoom capabilities in the phone's camera, but it looks like that's not an option for the handset, as it would affect the thickness of the device.

Modern mobile devices already offer software-based image stabilization features but OIS would actually deal with issues caused by motion right at the lens or sensor level.

Obviously, we're treating such reports as rumors at this time, as there's no way of confirming them just yet. There are plenty of other reports and rumors detailing the next-gen Galaxy Note model but Samsung is yet to unveil it. The handset is said to be announced at IFA in Germany, which is where its predecessor were also unveiled.

Since Samsung also makes plenty of digital cameras – including the Android-based Galaxy Camera – we're not surprised that its teams are trying to improve the camera experience of upcoming smartphones, especially flagship devices. After all, it looks like smartphone makers are starting to pay more attention to the other features of a camera phone – see HTC’s UltraPixel and Nokia’s PureView technologies – other than megapixels, and Samsung will surely try to improve the cameras of its smartphones.

Samsung is also said to release a Galaxy S4 Zoom camera phone in the near future, a device that would pack better camera features. The device is rumored to offer a 16-megapixel sensor and 10x optical zoom, and it will certainly be interesting to see whether it will also feature OIS capabilities.

    


Samsung uses their components business as a weapon against competition

Posted: 27 May 2013 10:52 AM PDT

Samsung Logo 645px

So often, we decry Samsung for being proprietary. Their TouchWiz, apps, and services are all very much geared toward people buying Samsung devices. This isn't wrong or nefarious, it's just not what we'd like to see from such a well known brand. Android is proudly open source, and the development community is phenomenal to keep it that way.

While software is subjective to taste, hardware is a different story. Consumers will gravitate to what works best for them. The HTC One may be too good to pass up for many, whether or not you like Sense. Samsung's plastic builds come under heavy scrutiny, leaving space in the market for variety. What we don't see is how those devices come together, and the difficulties that device makers can come across in the process of getting their wares to market.

Jack Tong, president of HTC North Asia, recently told a story of such difficulties. In 2010, their HTC Desire was well received by fans and media alike. That handset was using an AMOLED screen, manufactured by Samsung. Accordingly, Samsung then refused to supply the display. While the reasons aren't known, Mr. Tong said "We found that key component supply can be used as a competitive weapon."

Samsung island

Samsung is a very comprehensive company, controlling every aspect of the hardware process. They manufacture about 90% of the components they use, a big reason they can readily saturate the market with devices. In being the leader in manufacturing, they can also demand the price they want to see. Their ongoing battle with Apple took another sour turn when they began charging a premium for a chipset Apple had long purchased for them. There was a sudden and uncalled for 20% markup for the hardware, and Apple simply had to pay it to continue selling hardware.

If Samsung had Apple in a bind, HTC was in a chokehold. By refusing to supply the display to them for the Desire, Samsung had monopolized the market. Eliminating competition by means of controlling supply, thus eliminating demand from consumers, is vicious. Samsung can, and will, do as they please.

samsung galaxy s4 diamond pixels

Solutions

It's probably true that much of your device, regardless of make or model, is full of Samsung. As a leader in hardware manufacturing for mobile devices, they supply components to every device manufacturer there is. This sets a dangerous standard; not for quality, but for pricing. Samsung has proved they will either charge a premium of eliminate supply altogether, making for a near monopoly that can't easily be regulated. If a contract has language that allows for it, and there is nobody else to get manufacturers their goods, the world is subject to Samsung's whims. In the fast moving world of mobile technology, there is little reason for manufacturers to fight this with a drawn out court case.

The Taiwanese Ministry of Economic Affairs is trying to change the landscape of component manufacturing, focussing on displays. They are currently in the process of urging AMOLED makers to relocate to Taiwan, allowing a closer relationship with manufacturers. HTC, Asus, and Acer are all Taiwanese companies. They also have the added benefit of being well established and respected device makers.

It's in everyone's best interest for more competition, really. It creates more avenues for lower cost devices, and that's good for consumers. As the Chinese mobile market heats up, the desire for those low cost devices is paramount. More jobs would be created in Taiwan, and having your component manufacturers in your back yard makes for better relations.

We don't know how prevalent this is, but it's troubling. Without pointing a finger directly at Samsung as the only culprit, they are the only one we've heard of doing this. There have been manufacturing slowdowns, like the issues HTC faced with the One, but those are not due to a supplier playing hardball. The more avenues manufacturers have for great components, the better and cheaper our devices will be.

    


Oppo Find 5 now available to buy in Europe

Posted: 27 May 2013 10:15 AM PDT

Oppo Find 5

The Oppo Find 5 is making its way to Europe through the company’s official web store, starting today, as previously announced.

If you want a phone with very good specs and a 1080p display, but don’t feel like spending your cash on the flagship smartphones from the likes of Samsung, HTC or LG, then the Oppo Find 5 should be a device you should consider.

Already available in the U.S. for $499, the Oppo Find 5 is now making its way to the Old Continent, and prices are pretty tempting for what’s on offer. A 16GB version is only available in White for €399, while the 32GB version can be yours both in White and Midnight, at a price of €429.

Here’s some of what the Oppo Find 5 offers in terms of specs. Apart from the 5-inch 1080p display, the device has a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU and 2GB of RAM memory, as well as 16 or 32GB of storage space. The cameras are a 13-megapixel main one and 1.9-megapixel front shooter, and the battery offers 2500 mAh of power. The Oppo Find 5 runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The Oppo shop also offers you the possibility to get some accessories to go with your new purchase (not too many, though). These include the Easy Cover (in four colors) for €25, some NFC tags, as well as some screen protectors.

In case you need more information about the device, our review should be of help to you.

European readers, have you been waiting for the Oppo Find 5? Do you plan on buying it, now that it’s available?

    


Android 4.3, new Nexus device hinted at by alleged Gmail redesign screenshots?

Posted: 27 May 2013 09:11 AM PDT

Nexus 4

Speculation based on recent Gmail rumors and previous press photos used by the company to promote several Nexus devices seems to indicate that Android 4.3 and/or a new Nexus device may arrive soon.

A reddit user posted a series of interesting images (available below) that show press images for almost all of Google's Nexus devices revealing the connection of those photos with the Android version they were launched with.

Iamnotateenagethug ended his or her walk down Nexus memory lane with that leaked Gmail image that shows the new interface for the mobile app that's reportedly launching on Wednesday. That image, despite being plagued with several inconsistencies, seems to reveal that Android 4.3 and/or a new Nexus device could be launched in the near future. The new Nexus 7 and the white Nexus 4 are two devices expected to be unveiled soon.

Sure, this is just speculation for now, but here's what you'll see in the images below (check out the time shown on the handsets and tablets):

  • Nexus S – launched with Android 2.3.0 Gingerbread – time shows 2:30
  • Galaxy Nexus – launched with Android 4.0.0 Ice Cream Sandwich – time shows 4:00
  • Nexus 7 – launched with Android 4.1.0 Jelly Bean – time shows 4:10
  • Nexus 4 – launched with Android 4.2.0 Jelly Bean – time shows 4:20
  • Nexus 10 – launched with 4.2.0 – time shows 4:20
  • Rumored Gmail screenshot – time shows 4:30

Considering that Google is known to hide various Easter Eggs in its products, we may be looking at a pattern here that hasn't been noticed before. After all, the tech media always tries to establish correlations between the time shown on new mobile devices and their announcement and/or launch.

Nexus S with Android 2.3.0 Gingerbread

Nexus S with Android 2.3.0 Gingerbread. Time shown 2:30.

Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.0.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.0.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Time shown: 4:00.

Nexus 7 with Android 4.1.0 Jelly Bean

Nexus 7 with Android 4.1.0 Jelly Bean. Time shown: 4:10.

Nexus 4 with Android 4.2.0 Jelly Bean

Nexus 4 with Android 4.2.0 Jelly Bean. Time shown: 4:20.

Nexus 10 with Android 4.2.0 Jelly Bean

Nexus 10 with Android 4.2.0 Jelly Bean. Time shown: 4:20.

Sure, the HTC Nexus One, which was launched with Android 2.1 Eclair on board is not part of the series of images in the gallery, but that may be simply because Google may have started only later to connect the time in the image with the Android version installed on the device at launch.

New Gmail UI

Unconfirmed Gmail app UI update. Time shown 4:30. | Image credit: Android Police.

We'll also point out that the Gmail image is yet to be confirmed by Google, so we'll just have to wait for more official details. But, at the same time, we can't ignore that particular pattern spotted in press images.

    


New Xperia commercial uses teenage romance to promote NFC (video)

Posted: 27 May 2013 08:39 AM PDT

Sony Xperia TV ad

The new Xperia TV ad shows one thing: love is in the air for Sony, too.

It’s hard to say whether it’s because spring is still here or it’s just a trend, but love seems to be a very common theme for tech ads these days. You may remember Samsung’s recent musical short film/ad, called “Love Story”. It used the context of a love story to showcase some of the Samsung smartphone’s most compelling features.

Now, this new Sony ad uses a similar recipe, but it focuses on a single feature: NFC and the way it can be used to share music with other compatible devices. So, we have a teenager that wants to confess his love for a girl, and, luckily for him, they both have their Sony smartphones and headphones around.

The ad is quite cute, especially thanks to the two actors, both very natural in their respective roles.

Here’s the video, for you to enjoy.

Which one of the two love stories is your favorite? Samsung’s or Sony’s?

    


Samsung tightens its grip on China, sells 12.5 million handsets in Q1

Posted: 27 May 2013 08:24 AM PDT

china android

The Chinese smartphone market is a tough one to crack, especially for premium handset manufactures. The market is dominated by more budget orientated handsets, and companies like Apple have been struggling to match their Western markets performances due to the higher price point of their handsets.

However, it appears that Samsung is going strong in China and has managed to make more of an impact in the Chinese market than any other manufacturer. The company had already held the title as the top selling smartphone company in China for the previous four quarters, and has just posted a record high sales figure of over 12 million units in the first quarter of this year.

To be more precise, Samsung sold roughly 12.5 million smartphones in China between January and March, which is the first time that Samsung, or any other manufacturer, has managed to sell more than 10 million smartphones in China in a single quarter.

To put this in perspective, Samsung now owns about 18.5% of the Chinese smartphone market, according to US market research group Strategy Analytics, and has managed to increases its share by 2.2% over the previous quarter.

Meanwhile, rival company Huawei pushed itself into second place by selling 8.1 million smartphones last quarter, overtaking Lenovo which sold 7.9 million units. Fourth and fifth places are made up by Coolpad and ZTE, whilst Apple is still someway behind Samsung, having sold only 6.1 million units, leaving the company in sixth place this quarter. Most disappointingly though, LG only managed to shift 100,000 smartphones, accounting for a rather pitiful 0.1% share.

The importance of a strong performance in the Chinese market cannot be understated, as the country makes up about 32% of global smartphone shipments. Continued dominance in China and other markets worldwide ensures another healthy start to the year for Samsung.

It will be interesting to see if the company can continue to tighten its grip on this growing market by the end of the year.

    


Samsung invests $25 million in its new U.S. patent business

Posted: 27 May 2013 07:35 AM PDT

Samsung logo aa (2) - 600px

Samsung is investing $25 million in a new company which is designed to help protect intellectual property. The money is being used to form Intellectual Keystone Technology (IKT) based in Washington-DC, which will function as in an independent body dedicated to developing and trading technology patents. According to Korea Times, the business started operations back in March.

A spokesperson form Samsung had this to say on the opening of the new patent business:

Patents are a good source of innovation and we also need to protect our intellectual property by strengthening our patent-related business.

Interestingly, the company is said to be focusing on display technology patents, particularly patents related to OLED and LCD technology. IKT has already purchased display related patents from Japanese firm Seiko Epson, and will continue to stock up on patents to protect one of Samsung's most dominant business arms.

You can't really blame Samsung for the decision. After all, the company has been engaged in a wave of lawsuits with virtually all of its competitors over the past few years. Combine that with the billion dollar defeat to Apple in the U.S. courts recently and you can understand Samsung's need to bolster its protection against further lawsuits.

But as well as protecting Samsung from potential disputes in the future, the new company is also likely to be used to extract licensing fees from other competitors using Samsung's patents and may also be in charge of deciding which patents Samsung should acquire licenses for. Samsung is one of the key players in the mobile display market at the moment, and is no-doubt keen to strengthen its grip on this section of the industry.

If you ask me, it seems like a bit of a waste when a company has to spend $25 million in legal matters when the money could be put to better use investing in new products and technologies. But unfortunately this seems to be a necessary cost of doing business in an industry which appears to be increasingly hostile over intellectual property disputes.

    


Galaxy Tab 3 8.0, Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 listed on Adorama, tablets still not official

Posted: 27 May 2013 06:46 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0

An electronics retailer has listed two unannounced Samsung tablets on its website, revealing pricing details for the devices.

Adorama seems to know something we don't, considering that it's ready to list the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 tablets even though Samsung is yet to unveil them. We will note that the site doesn’t explicitly mention the products as part of the “Galaxy Tab 3″ family, but it’s clear they’re new devices when compared to the existing models. Furthermore, the 8-inch model is a completely new product for this family of tablets.

According to the retailer's website, the 16GB Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 will cost $329.99 and it will be available in two color options, white and Gold Brown. The 16GB Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 is slightly more expensive at $379.99, but it will also ship in either white or brown.

The Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, the only new Galaxy Tab model Samsung announced so far, is priced at $199.99 in the same online store.

Probably listed by mistake, the new products do not have images at this point, but it looks like they can be ordered. While a launch date is not revealed by Adorama at this time, when ordering any model you'd have the option to select UPS Next Business Day Air as a shipping method. Does this mean the retailer already has Galaxy Tab 3 stock?

Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-3-Adorama

Adorama is yet to pull these products from the site, so this could be an indication that Samsung may soon unveil the new Galaxy Tab 3 tablets. After all, we've seen plenty of reports mentioning these particular Galaxy Tab models, so we expect them to become official in the near future.

For what it's worth, the company also lists two Galaxy Tab 2 models, the 7-inch and the 10.1-inch tablets, priced at $199.00 and $349.00, respectively. But you should probably stay away from them considering that brand new but similarly priced devices are apparently coming soon.

Have you ordered a new Galaxy Tab 3 model from Adorama? When will it be shipped to your door?

    


Can you stare at the Galaxy S4 for an hour? (video)

Posted: 27 May 2013 06:09 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S4 competition

Samsung and Swiss carrier Swisscom came up with a competition that’s very different from what we’re used to: believe it or not, you have to stare at the Galaxy S4 for 60 minutes straight in order to win it.

The video below was shot in Zurich’s Main Station. In addition to the pressure of dozens of people watching the competitors, the organizers prepared quite a few distractions to make the challenge harder, including a hotdog set on fire.

The contest, based on the Galaxy S4′s Smart Stay feature, is part of a promotional campaign that  certainly doesn’t lack in imagination. Just think of the Pool Party ad, complete with a few jabs at Apple or the ads introducing essential features of the Galaxy S4.

The competition will continue in three more locations in Switzerland – Lucerne, Schwanenplatz on May 28, Berne, Waisenhausplatz on May 29, and Lausanne Place de l’Europe, on May 30. If you’re from Switzerland, you can also enter to win a Samsung Galaxy S4 through the competition’s website (link below).

Would you be capable of staring at the Galaxy S4 for an hour without looking away?

    


New Galaxy devices to be unveiled on June 20. S4 Active, Mini, and Zoom anyone?

Posted: 27 May 2013 05:41 AM PDT

samsung-ces logo

Samsung has just announced its "Premiere 2013" event, which will be taking place on June 20.

The event will be held at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London, beginning at 7pm GMT — that's 2pm EST, or 11am PST. But you’d need not worry about missing any details, no matter where you are in the world, as the entire presentation will be live-streamed over on Samsung's official YouTube channel.

Samsung also sent out an invitation/teaser, that you can see below, which could be giving us a clue as to what will be unveiled at the event. But it's a little cryptic to say the least.

Samsung Premiere 2013

All we know so far is that the company will be focusing on its Galaxy brand, which could be either smartphone or tablet related, as well as its newer Windows ATIV brand. Galaxy-wise, we could see something about the rumored line-up of Galaxy S4 lookalikes, such as the Galaxy S4 Mini or the Galaxy S4 Active. The last tile in the invite appears to be teasing a camera – S4 Zoom, aynone? Perhaps ( fingers crossed), there could also be some information on the much desired Note 3, though that’s far less likely.

Either way, pencil June 20 into your diaries, as we're bound to see something interesting.

    


Galaxy S4 camera beats the iPhone 5′s in DxOMark benchmark

Posted: 27 May 2013 05:23 AM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 camera

The camera on the Samsung Galaxy S4 has topped the iPhone 5′s in recent tests by the prestigious camera experts at DxO Labs.

Considered an industry standard, DxO’s benchmark suite DxOMark provides independent camera and lens image quality measurement and ratings.

DxO Labs has recently put the Samsung Galaxy S4 camera to the test, and, to its praise, the Korean flagship managed to surpass the iPhone 5 to grab the second position in the charts. The first position is still held by the Nokia 808 Pureview, which is basically a camera with smartphone features (as the rumored Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom will probably be).

Coming back to the Galaxy S4 camera test, the device won the battle against the iPhone 5 on quite a few fronts. For example, in the Autofocus test, it managed a score of 80, compared to 72 for the iPhone 5, with the reviewers noting the good photo detail preservation, auto-exposure even with problematic light settings, as well as rich colors. As for flaws, the Galaxy S4 camera was criticized for the loss of detail in low light and the ringing artifacts shown in some images.

DxOMark - Samsung Galaxy S4 overview

Master photographer

What’s even more impressive is that, when it comes to still image capture, the Samsung Galaxy S4 camera did even better than the Nokia 808 Pureview’s shooter in terms of Exposure and Contrast and Autofocus (85 and 80, compared to the the 808 Pureview’s 78 and 73).

As for video, the Galaxy S4 camera also did quite well, with colors and texture reproduction praised by DxO Labs (a score of 88 in Exposure and Contrast , compared to just 81 for the iPhone 5 camera). However, there was some criticism related to the aliasing and staircase effects, noise levels and focus conditions in low light, as well as video stabilization.

DxO Labs’ top 10 includes three more Android devices – the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (third), Samsung Galaxy S3 (fifth), and Sony Xperia Z (tenth).

It will be interesting to see how the Ultrapixel camera of the HTC One will do in the test. Just to get an idea about the way it compares to the Samsung Galaxy S4, check out our extensive comparison of the two.

What is the best smartphone camera at the moment? Do you agree with the test results?

    


Snapdragon 800-powered Pantech shows in benchmark, 10% better than Octa Galaxy S4

Posted: 27 May 2013 04:55 AM PDT

Snapdragon 800

Yet another rumor has appeared involving Qualcomm's as of yet unreleased Snapdragon 800 processor, the successor to the already speedy Snapdragon 600, which powers handsets like the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4, and LG Optimus G Pro.

We recently heard that the next Oppo Find handset could be using the chip, and some benchmarks appeared a couple of months ago suggesting that a future LG handset would also be running the latest Snapdragon, which produced some impressive initial test results.

The latest benchmark comes courtesy of the Japanese website RBMen, which has obtained results for Pantech's currently unannounced IM-A880 smartphone. This could well be a successor to the Pantech Vega No 6, model number IM-A860, which used an older Snapdragon S4 Pro chip.

Anyway, now for the results. The phone scores an impressive 30133 in the Antutu benchmark when clocked at 2.1 GHz, which easily beats the older Snapdragon 600 chip and even outpaces Samsung's Exynos 5 Octa Galaxy S4, which scored 25900 and 27417 in our own Antutu tests.

Pantech IM-A880 Snapdragon 800 benchmark

Percentage wise, we're looking at around a 10% increase clock for clock over the Snapdragon 600, and a similar peak performance increase over our current benchmark leader, the Galaxy S4.  That's not a huge performance improvement, but a decent enough one, considering that the Snapdragon 800 is an extension of the current generation of processors.

HTC One vs Galaxy S4 benchmarks

The Snapdragon 800 results would top our benchmarks, surpassing the Snapdragon 600 and Exynos 5 versions of the Galaxy S4 by a decent enough margin.

With the Snapdragon 800 expected to be hitting mass production sometime soon, it's not far fetched to expect a few leaks here and there, and the results are in line with the performance improvements expected over the Snapdragon 600.

Time will tell if these initial results turn out to be accurate, but, if they are, the Snapdragon 800 is set to be one fast chip.

    


HTC’s upcoming 5-inch+ phone is codenamed T6, multiple carrier versions spotted

Posted: 27 May 2013 04:32 AM PDT

htc logo aa

After a well-known leaker revealed the codename of HTC's future Galaxy Note competitor, more clues about the upcoming smartphone have been uncovered.

Rumors about an upcoming supersized smartphone from HTC have been doing the rounds for a while now. Most recently, we've heard about a device featuring a 5 to 6 inches display, that is supposedly similar to the successful HTC One in terms of specifications.

Now we have a new piece of the puzzle. First, @evleaks, the notorious mobile industry insider that has supplied accurate information on many devices before, tweeted the following:

The codename of the device doesn't tell us much. Some have speculated that the "6" in "T6" could stand for the size of the display (6-inches), but I find it a bit improbable. The HTC One, with its 4.7-inch screen, was codenamed M7, while a supposed Mini version of the One goes by the name of M4. While HTC may certainly go crazy with a 6-inch device (Samsung and Huawei have already done it, Sony is rumored to do it), there's simply not enough evidence for now to correlate the codename with the size of the display.

A Japanese site dedicated to HTC has uncovered references to several versions of the T6, seemingly differentiated by their cellular connectivity.

t6match

From the looks of it, HTC is gearing up to launch the T6 globally, offering compatibility with multiple standards:

  • T6_UL: cassiopeia Communication system: GSM / WCDMA / LTE
  • T6_U: columba Communication system: GSM / WCDMA
  • T6_ULA: delphinus Communication system: GSM / WCDMA / LTE
  • T6_WL: crater Communication method: GSM/WCDMA/CDMA2000/LTE
  • T6_WHL: eridanus Communication method: GSM/WCDMA/CDMA2000/LTE

HTC was reported last week to have sold almost five million units of the flagship HTC One, but given the exodus of executives and engineers going on at the company, the embattled company will need more to stay afloat. Will a competitor to the Galaxy Note 2, like this T6 shapes out to be, be the solution?

    


Run Google Glass on your Android phone

Posted: 27 May 2013 04:24 AM PDT

google glass home screenThere has been lots of buzz on the Internet about Google Glass, some has been positive, some has been negative (particularly around privacy issues), however the biggest problem is that ordinary folks, like me and you, can’t try out Google Glass for ourselves to see what all the fuss is about because there are only a limited number of devices out there. Plus there are the minor issues of the $1500 needed to buy it and the fact that the program is invitation only. What to do?

The answer of course is to run Google Glass on your Android phone or tablet. OK, you probably shouldn’t try and mount it on your head with rubber bands and Scotch tape, but you can play with the interface and test out what kind of things Google Glass can do.

Thanks to the efforts of Zhuowei Zhang it is now possible to install different parts of the Google Glass software on your Android device via .apk files. An .apk is the standard app file format, similar to a .exe on Windows. To install the .apk files you need to check that your device can install .apk from locations other than Goolgle Play. To do this go to Setting->Security and make sure that “Unknown Sources” is checked. This will allow the installation of apps from sources other than the Play Store.

Google Glass Voice Commands

Head over to https://github.com/zhuowei/Xenologer and download and install glasshome-modded.apk. This will give you the basic Glass home screen. Once you start the app (called “Glass Home”) you will be presented with the “standard” Glass home screen and clock that real Glass users see projected onto their eye. Say “OK Glass” to access the menu. Just speak to your phone or tablet to try other things. I said, “Google Android Authority” and this is what I saw:

google glass android authority

The next thing to do is install the camera, hangouts and maps modules. That should enable the Glass Home app to interact with the camera (even just the front facing camera on devices like the Nexus 7), start hangouts and access Google Maps. However with maps I found that I couldn’t get passed the initial warning screen (which told me to keep my eyes on the road) and Hangouts crashes on Android 4.2 due to a change in the underlying Android code!

Although this isn’t going to be a full glass experience, it will give you a feel for what Glass can do. It also opens up more possibilities for what Google could add to the normal Android interface.

If you give it a try please let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

    


LG looking to bring Google TVs to new markets after great sales in the US

Posted: 27 May 2013 04:04 AM PDT

Google TV Logo 1600 aa

Google TV got some much needed love from Google at I/O, after being updated to the latest version of Android in Jelly Bean 4.2 and the newest version of Android to boot. But one OEM by the name of LG, has seen sales of its current Google TV be good enough to warrant expanding the platform soon.

The Korea Times reports an unnamed executive claimed that LG would bring Google TVs to Korea and China later this year. The executive was speaking at the KCTA Digital Cable and said that Google TVs were selling well in the U.S, with average sales of 10,000 units per month.

Another mobile competitor, Microsoft, is also looking to get in on the action, attempting to join both Google and Apple in the television game. From the looks of things at the Xbox One reveal, where Microsoft emphasized the importance of the console’s TV capabilities, this might be the year television joins the rest of technology in the 21st century.

Have you picked up a Google TV yet? Or are you waiting for an OEM to bring it to your country?

    


ZTE Grand S U.S. release delayed until 2014

Posted: 27 May 2013 03:21 AM PDT

ZTE Grand S
The Android-powered ZTE Grand S was first announced back in January as the world’s thinnest 5-inch smartphone with a Full HD screen. It was released in China shortly thereafter, and prospective owners from other parts of the world have been waiting for it ever since. It has been about four full months since then. Where in the world is the ZTE Grand S now?

If you’re in the U.S. and you are wondering when it will arrive, we have some unfortunate news: the phone has been delayed and won’t be released in the U.S. until some time in 2014. This is according to the head of ZTE’s North American division, Lixin Cheng. Cheng revealed the release date information through comments made in an interview with CNET.

When asked what the reason for the delay was, Cheng blamed ZTE’s wireless carrier partners, and said that their specific carrier requests have required more time than ZTE expected.

ZTE knows that it will probably have a hard time convincing people to buy the Grand S if it gets released an entire year behind schedule in a market such as the U.S. So what does it plan to do about it? According to Cheng, the version of the Grand S that will be released in 2014 will come with some improvements over the one originally launched earlier this year. Basically, it will be a descendant of the true Grand S, a product that is molded based on the evolution of an entire Grand S series.

If you have truly been waiting for the arrival of the Grand S in the US, this news might be disheartening. But if you can wait another six or so months, then it just might be worth it. If not, then check out Lenovo, which plans to release its own phones in the U.S. by 2014 as well.

    


Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3: will it fit in your pocket? (video)

Posted: 27 May 2013 02:53 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3

While waiting for the U.K. launch of the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 (the device already has a price tag there), Three made a presentation video of the device that compares it to its siblings in the Galaxy family. Watching the video, you will also find out if the next BIG thing, as the Mega is called (not without a little irony), will fit in your pocket.

The size comparison is pretty interesting, because you get to see how the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 fares in terms of size to other devices, starting with the 4-inch Galaxy S, which now seems tiny when compared to the Mega 6.3 (or the Note 8.0, but that one falls into the tablet category, so it doesn’t look like a valid comparison).

Still, perhaps the most burning question that is answered in the video is the age old – will it fit in my pocket? As you can see in the video below, while it isn’t a very comfy fit, the Mega 6.3 can be carried in most pockets without too much hassle.

Brendan Arndt from Three also mentions the things the oversized phone could be very useful for, to justify the large footprint of the Galaxy Mega 6.3 – reading books, mobile gaming, and watching videos. Come to think about it, the Mega doesn’t seem that big actually, but maybe that’s just us.

Do you think the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is just too large ? Are you a fan of this type of smartphones?