Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Google pushing out new Play Store v4.1.10 [Download]

Posted: 29 May 2013 11:06 AM PDT

It looks like Google had more than just a brand new overhauled Gmail to share with the Android world today. They’ve also started pushing out a slight update to their Play Store and it’s arriving on users devices as we speak. Sadly it is just a minor update but we have the download available after the break.

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It’s a staged rollout and so far we’re only seeing one of many of our devices that have already received the new Play Store. You all should be receiving it starting today and over the next few days as well. This is the last of many updates lately since Google radically changed the Play Store design earlier this year, but they all look to only be fixing a few pesky bugs.

It is a small jump from 4.1.6 to v4.1.10 and so far we’re actually not noticing anything different one bit. The usual placebo effect is working hard on us today because it feels quite a bit faster and a little more responsive, but that’s probably just our minds enjoying the fresh new version.

As usual the update from Mountain View is staged and should be hitting your smartphone and tablet momentarily. However, for those who’d rather not wait just hit the download link below and get the latest version yourself. Give it a try and let us know if you notice anything new or different. Oh and for those wondering it still only shows “All Apps” and not a purchased list. Sadness.

Download: Play Store v4.1.10

NVIDIA gives us a behind-the-scenes look at SHIELD

Posted: 29 May 2013 10:12 AM PDT

The teams behind NVIDIA‘s new game console, Project SHIELD, have been extremely hard at work perfecting the device to be the ultimate Android gaming device. We’ve seen and covered it plenty in the past, got hands-on time with it flying the Parrot AR Drone and more, but today NVIDIA’s giving us all a behind-the-scenes look at everything they’ve been doing in preparation for the release.

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As we mentioned earlier this month NVIDIA’s SHIELD game-console went up for pre-order on May 17th, a few days earlier than expected and has been getting a lot of attention lately for all the things it can do. From being a dedicated 5-inch Android tablet, a game-console powered by the impressive quad-core Tegra 4, to even streaming PC games from your Steam account. It really is the gamers ultimate companion.

If, like us, you’re a fan of NVIDIA SHIELD, you’ll want to check out a detailed blog post by NVIDIA showing us a look behind the curtains of their HQ. How they’re getting ready for the public release date, preparing staff for customer support in the unlikely event customers need help, and even how hard they’ve worked to perfect Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on the device.

Above is a quick hands-on video showing off the device a bit more, for those interested. And yes it runs stock Android, so everything we love from our Nexus devices will be present along side those gaming inspired controls and that quad-core processor.

As a reminder, NVIDIA SHIELD went up for pre-order on May 17th and will be available from Newegg, Gamestop, Canada Computers, and MicroCenter, but sadly we still don’t have an exact release date. NVIDIA previously stated it will begin shipping in early June, and that’s the same story we’re being told today.

For all you eager gamers looking to see reviews, expect one to be arriving soon. And for those who pre-ordered stay tuned because NVIDIA should have final details on the actual release date soon enough. Lastly, check out our Tegra Portal for everything that will work with SHIELD.

Gmail for Android update adding automatic inbox organization

Posted: 29 May 2013 09:42 AM PDT

Google has detailed the latest update for Gmail. This update brings changes for the Gmail app on Android as well as on the web. Google is touting this update as being one that will add a bit of control to your inbox. The update will separate mail by type and it is arriving with a few pre-set categories such as Social, Promotions and Updates. This also appears to be based off those leaked screenshots we saw coming out of Google I/O.

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If you notice the images sitting above, this Gmail for Android update brings the ability to swipe (and also tap the menu icon in the upper left corner), which is what we saw in those leaked images. More important today though, tapping that icon or swiping will reveal those new categories and your new inboxes.

Essentially, what we should have is an inbox that breaks things down and provides the email that is most important first. Pretty much, Google is giving you multiple inboxes and doing this all automatically. This goes back to Google talking about how it feels like our inboxes are controlling us. That aside, those using Gmail for Android will have the app launch to the Primary category, but those other categories will be easily available with a swipe or tap.

Otherwise, while we are pretty excited to check this out, there are those who fear change. Well, those who fear change and those who are probably more than sufficient with the current Gmail setup. That being the case, Google will be offering the option to switch this off allowing you to remain with your current setup.

As far as getting access, Google has said the Android release will arrive in the next few weeks and on the desktop side the new inbox will be rolling out gradually. There doesn’t appear to be any way to speed up the Android app release, however there is an option to speed things up on the desktop side. Those looking to begin playing now should be on the lookout for the gear menu and an option called “Configure inbox.”

SOURCE: Official Google Blog

HTC One in Blue and Red launching in the coming months

Posted: 29 May 2013 09:39 AM PDT

The HTC One is one of the most popular smartphones on the planet right now, and is available in silver or black for those interested. In the coming months however, along side the already leaked red model we’re now hearing HTC will also be launching a blue HTC One. Samsung recently announced new colors for their GALAXY S 4, so this could be HTC’s answer.

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This isn’t the first time different colors for their new flagship smartphone have been talked about, but “sources familiar with the matter,” according to Pocket-lint, have confirmed that both new color options will be available in the “coming months” but that’s all we know.

The red HTC One appeared on HTC’s own website back when the device was initially announced, but was quickly removed and never seen of again. a few press photos of it have made the rounds, but it still hasn’t been seen yet in the wild. Now that some of those manufacturing delays have been sorted out hopefully they can start churning out more units, and more color options.

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With more than 5 million sold since being announced a little over a month ago things are looking up for HTC. Two new color options could help increase sales, not to mention having more stock available for retailers. Add in the possibility of the stock “Senseless Edition” HTC One we’ve been hearing rumors about, and HTC could be set to move a couple million more really quick. We want to see this blue version first though.

Verizon Galaxy S III update bringing Multi-Window, Best Shot and more

Posted: 29 May 2013 09:03 AM PDT

Verizon Wireless has dropped a bit of good news for Galaxy S III users this morning. While it is easy to say that an update will be coming shortly, judging from a look at the changelog we think that may be a bit of an understatement. Yes there is an update coming, however this looks like it will be arriving as a rather big update. A quick look at the changelog shows new features such as Multi-Screen and Multi-Window as well as a camera feature called Best Shot.

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First things first though, according to details coming from Verizon, this update is arriving as software version JZO54K.I535VRBMD3. Otherwise, the update will measure in at 129.1MB in size. Aside from those new features we already mentioned, those sporting a Verizon Galaxy S III will be getting the ability to bill Play Store apps to your Verizon account and the ability to create various image styles using the Paper Artist tool. This update is also bringing some goodies for those using a Bluetooth headset. In this case users will be able to get access to the phone screen without unlocking the handset.

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Continuing on with some of the highlights for this update and it looks like there will be quite a few fixes for current bugs. For example, the changelog shows that devices will be able to remain in 4G mode (without dropping to 3G) when using the Hotspot, web browsing should no longer trigger a device reset and the Refreshing SIM Data, No SIM and SD Card Inserted pop-up messages have all been removed. All said and done, those are just few of the highlights so make sure to check the images here in the post for the full list.

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Otherwise, aside from the new features and fixes, Verizon is also included a pair of pre-installed apps. Both of these may already be installed for some users, however just in case, once updated you will now see Flipboard (for news) and the Caller Name ID app (version 1.14.16) which will help with details on the callers.

That all being said, while Verizon has offered the changelog, they have yet to say exactly when the rollout would begin. And unfortunately our Verizon Galaxy S III is not showing any update as being available just yet. Needless to say, we are going to keep checking and then once it is available, begin to do some testing and see how well these newer features run on an ‘older’ device.

If nothing else this does seem to further extend the life of the Galaxy S III with Verizon. Of course, this update may also make this a handset to consider for purchase, especially considering Verizon has recently dropped the price to $99.99 on a two-year agreement.

SOURCE: Verizon Wireless

Huawei Ascend P6 announcement confirmed for June 18 ‘Beauty’ event

Posted: 29 May 2013 08:16 AM PDT

The speculation suggested Huawei was planning to announce the Ascend P6 during the June 18th ‘Beauty’ event and as of today, that has been confirmed. Coming by way of a Facebook posting, Huawei has said the June 18th event will be to “unleash an intimate experience to consumers.” Of course, that same Facebook posting also included an image and a mention of the Ascend P6.

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Well, to be specific, that posting included a partial image of the handset. That pic can be seen sitting above and offers a look at the top right-hand corner showing the front-facing camera and the silver iPhone-like metal band that goes around the exterior of the handset. While Huawei didn’t offer anything in terms of specs, they did come forward with a bit of teasing.

The posting tells the story about how the Ascend P6 will be the “thinnest, smallest, and one of the most compact smartphones with a screen that can rival its competitors.” Earlier rumors have suggested the Ascend P6 will have a 4.7-inch display at 1280 x 720. Huawei is also pushing the screen to body ratio, which seems to imply the handset will not only be thin in terms of thickness, but also in terms of the bezel around the display.

That being said, the June 18th event will give us all a look at the official specs. As for the thickness, the handset is expected to measure in at 6.18mm. Other still rumored specs include Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean along with a quad-core 1.5GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera.

Basically, at this time those earlier leaked images all appear to be lining up nicely. Well, that is at least based on the little bit we can see from this official Huawei provided image. Aside from hearing the specs and learning those measurements, we are more than a bit curious to see where Huawei will have the Ascend P6 available for sale and what the price point will be. We are not all that certain this one will be available in the US, but we are hoping to get some hands-on time.

VIA: Telefonino

SOURCE: Facebook

Samsung Galaxy Exhibit joins the budget-friendly T-Mobile lineup

Posted: 29 May 2013 07:33 AM PDT

We had been seeing chatter about the Galaxy Exhibit coming available with T-Mobile and as of today, it looks like the carrier has made it all official. The Samsung Galaxy Exhibit has launched as the latest budget-friendly T-Mobile smartphone. The handset certainly doesn’t have what we would consider high-end specs, but it is launching with Jelly Bean and perhaps more important — with a low price point.

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Diving right in with the pricing, those considering a purchase will need only $19.99 for the downpayment. From that point you will have 24 monthly payments of $9. Of course, those $9 monthly payments come in addition to the pricing of your monthly service. Otherwise, those looking to avoid the monthly payments can opt to pay full retail up front, which happens to be $235.99.

Shifting over to the specs and we are seeing a device with a 4-inch display, dual-core 1GHz processor, microSD card slot, 1 megapixel front-facing camera and a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. The handset is running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and offers support for T-Mobile services to include Visual Voicemail, WiFi Calling and T-Mobile TV. There is also support for the T-Mobile 4G network.

All said and done, while the Samsung Galaxy Exhibit is certainly not the most exciting handset in the T-Mobile lineup at the moment, it does provide a nice option for those shopping on a budget. And while it may not be the fastest or have the highest-resolution display, it should be more than enough for average day to day use. If nothing else, it will allow the user to make calls, send messages and stay connected over social media.

Touching on the plans for a moment, remember, T-Mobile now has the Simple Choice setup. This basically means you are starting with an unlimited talk, text and data account for $50 per month. In addition, that $50 price point also includes 500MB of high-speed data per month. Plus, there is an option for those looking for more high-speed data. In that case, there is a 2GB add-on for $10 per month and an unlimited add-on for $20 per month.

SOURCE: T-Mobile

Amazon login service launches as alternative to Google and Facebook

Posted: 29 May 2013 07:00 AM PDT

Amazon has announced the latest single sign-on service this morning. The service will be launching as “Login with Amazon” and it will be serving as another alternative to the similar services being offered by Facebook and Google. More to the point for developers though, using Amazon will allow them to tap into the 200 million active Amazon customers. And on the flip side, this will provide a secure method for users to choose.

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Basically, as with Facebook and Google, the Login with Amazon service will allow users to login using their existing account credentials. This also means you will have one less username and password to worry about remembering and maintaining. Amazon is touting this as being a way for developers to offer a trusted sign-in solution to their users and as a way for the users to quickly and securely sign-in to apps.

"Login with Amazon enables app developers and website owners to leverage Amazon's trusted sign-in solution, allowing them to focus on providing a great experience for their customers," said Michael Carr, Amazon Vice President, eCommerce Services. "Amazon customers now have a hassle-free way to quickly and securely sign-in to apps, games and websites, without having to remember yet another password."

The Login with Amazon service is ready and available for developers to begin using, however it may take some time before the average end user finds the option to use this. Amazon notes that some of the early adopters of the service include Zappos and Woot, both of which have seen “significant customer adoption.” The folks at Zappos have said 40 percent of new customers chose to login with Amazon and Woot has said customers chose to login with Amazon “two times more often than any other social login on their site.”

The Login with Amazon service is based on the OAuth 2.0 authorization framework and is said to be easy for developers to integrate. Amazon mentions the integration process can be taken from the initial registration to launch in a “matter of hours.” Otherwise, aside from the end user having one less username and password to remember, this also means one less location to have your credit card and personal details stored.

Finally, while the use cases will likely vary from developer to developer, Amazon has said this will be available for the Appstore, Game Connect, GameCircle, in-app purchases and more. All said and done, it looks like users now have another option to choose when signing in with a new service. The nice part here is simply having the additional option and while Facebook and Google seem like good ones to consider, somehow using an Amazon login seems to make quite a bit of sense for websites that you will be making purchases from.

SOURCE: Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 FCC filing reveals AT&T LTE support

Posted: 29 May 2013 06:27 AM PDT

Samsung released the WiFi-only Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet in the US market a short while back and judging from this recently discovered FCC filing, it looks like another model may be launching soon. This other is an LTE equipped model and while we have yet to see any release details officially announced, the filing is showing support for the AT&T network. Specifically, the filing details support for the 850 and 1900MHz GSM bands as well as for LTE on bands 2, 4, 5 and 17.

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Simply out, this LTE Galaxy Note 8.0 appears headed towards AT&T. Of course, we still need that official announcement which will offer the important details such as the pricing and a release date. In the meantime, aside from the addition of LTE, the specs and features remain the same. As a recap, this means an 8.0-inch tablet with a resolution of 1280 x 800, Jelly Bean with TouchWiz on top and support for the S Pen.

Other goodies include a quad-core 1.6GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, a 4600 mAh battery, microSD card slot, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, IR Blaster, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. Some of the software perks users can expect to see include the multi-window mode which will allow you to run multiple apps side by side as well as S Note, Group Play and WatchON which is a TV guide app that pairs with the previously mentioned IR Blaster.

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Touching back on the price and while we have yet to see anything for the LTE model, we do have the WiFi-only model for comparison. In this case, the WiFi-only Galaxy Note 8.0 is currently priced at $400. That price may be a bit on the high side given some of the current competition, but time will tell what AT&T has planned for the LTE model.

Otherwise, while we have yet spend any hands-on time with the LTE Galaxy Note 8.0, we have spent some time playing with the WiFi-only model. Those considering a purchase of the cellular model, or even the WiFi-only model may benefit from our previous coverage which includes a hands-on and unboxing as well as a full featured review.

VIA: Engadget

SOURCE: FCC

LG Nexus 4 in white hands-on and unboxing

Posted: 28 May 2013 08:51 PM PDT

After countless leaks and speculation the folks from Google and LG finally made the white LG Nexus 4 official. It’s the same Nexus we know and love, with a nice new paint job. After plenty of talk at Google I/O about a white model with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean getting announced we were excited, but it’s still just on 4.2.2, for now at least. Read on for more details and a quick unboxing with Google’s other baby. That being Google Glass.

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This morning Google announced the White Nexus 4, and we should be seeing it hit the Play Store with a brand new matching white bumper case starting tomorrow, May 29th. We’ve seen the phone multiple times, and it’s essentially the exact same smartphone, but we’ll talk a look anyways.

Obviously as some of you may notice, the device isn’t completely white. Instead the back and sides have a nice rubbery white paint job, while Google opted to keep the front fascia black. Some like it, some don’t, but at least we have the option. Then the same popular bumper case is now available in white and would even look good on that Black Nexus 4. Take a peek at both below.

Of course we’re working with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, the absolute latest version of Android from Google. Although many rumors and speculation have Android 4.3 being announced and pushed to Nexus devices starting June 10th. So we’ll have to wait and see. You’ll be enjoying the same 4.7-inch 1280 x 768 IPS HD display, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor here.

We’ll get the same 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, as well as a 16GB model being available. The device enjoys a decent 8 megapixel camera, NFC, and a 2,100 mAh battery. There’s nothing new here folks! So here’s a look at the bumper case too.

A few subtle differences here are the little nubs or feet on bottom to keep the devices back off of the ground. This should help prevent that glass-like design and camera lens from getting scratched. So basically here it is guys. The Nexus 4 officially in white. We really don’t need to pound this home. It’s the same device with a different color. The important part will be Android 4.3 whenever that gets announced. For now enjoy a few pics below and stay tuned for when the next version of Android drops. Because we’ll be all over it!

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GALAXY S 4 Mini reveal set for June 20th event

Posted: 28 May 2013 04:19 PM PDT

Samsung loves making a big scene and deal out of announcements, especially with the GALAXY S 4, and yesterday they revealed another event is set for June 20th. Teasing new Galaxy devices and their ATIV Windows Phone brand. Today however, many sources claim that event will be the stage in which they announce the new GALAXY S 4 Mini.

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Instead of their usual Unpacked events this one is simply called “Samsung Premiere 2013″ so we’re all wondering what exactly they’ll be showing off. The Note 3 probably won’t be announced til August at IFA, and most likely we’ll be seeing some new tablets and this new Mini.

According to reports by the Wall Street Journal, the GALAXY S 4 Mini will be one of the stars of this show. In fact it will be one of several new devices unveiled at the show according to sources close to the matter. Obviously here we’re mainly interested in the GALAXY devices, but we’ll be checking out the competition too.

This week we’ve had two sightings of the new Mini smartphone, so it’s safe to say its coming soon at this point, we’re just wondering if this event will be there where and when. Previous reports and rumors suggest a 4-inch qHD 960 x 540 resolution display and a mediocre dual-core processor. If you’re hopeful for a flagship GALAXY S 4 type device in a smaller package, this won’t be it.

More details about the upcoming Samsung GALAXY S 4 Mini can be found from our timeline below. Will you be interested if this comes to the states?

VIA: Android Police

ASUS Transformer AIO PC getting update to 4.2 Jelly Bean

Posted: 28 May 2013 03:52 PM PDT

Last year at Computex ASUS revealed their new Transformer AiO (All in One) Windows 8 PC that doubles as an Android tablet, and today we have good news for anyone that owns this unique device. While most smartphones and tablets are still waiting for the latest version of Android, ASUS has just started pushing out Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean for this beast of a device.

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As you can see above, it certainly isn’t small. Being a regular desktop PC running Windows 8, that can then detach and act as a tablet for anyone willing to wield such a huge device. I mean, it’s only 18.4-inches, no big deal. More details can be found from our Transformer AiO hands-on from last year.

Today we’re getting reports from Android Police that the device is currently getting the much anticipated update to Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean right from ASUS themselves. Way to push out updates at a quick pace there guys, but we have a feeling a few regular Transformer Tablet owners might not be happy to see this get it first.

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As you can see from the screenshot above, many have already received the over the air update this afternoon from ASUS. One important aspect is 4.2 brings multiple user accounts to the slate, something that a device like this could really use since it doubles as a PC. As usual the update is rolling out, but you can head into settings and manually check for and accept the update should you not want to wait.

So, would any of you actually carry around an 18.4-inch tablet?

Acer video teases upcoming tablets from Computex 2013

Posted: 28 May 2013 02:48 PM PDT

We have been seeing a lot of teaser videos lately for the annual Computex 2013 event coming up shortly, and today Acer has joined in on the action. Today they’ve released a new teaser video for the event that’s quite funny, while also hinting at some possible Android/Windows hybrid tablets. Teasing us with tablets covered in an Android-green cloth, and that’s all we get.

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Acer hasn’t been a big name lately in Android tablets, but they’ve still been releasing some pretty decent slates. We have a feeling a Tegra 4 device is in the works from Acer, but won’t know until their global press conference on June 3rd for Computex. It’s about time we see some new flagship tablets from Acer.

Earlier in May they revealed their budget Iconia A1, but we have a feeling they’ll have something much better to display next week in Taipei. At the same time they vowed to offer budget slates for 2013. Teasing a tablet that lets you do more than “just use apps and surf the web”. Take a peek below:

They also take the moment to toss in a little humor. Joking around about “the guy leaking specs on the internet” and we all know who he’s talking about with that one. ASUS has some big plans and teaser videos for Computex, and now it looks like Acer will also be bringing their A game.

We only have to wait a week before we see what they have in store. Any last minute guesses on Acer’s newest products?

Umeox X5 to be the “world’s thinnest phone” at just 5.6mm

Posted: 28 May 2013 01:55 PM PDT

Over the past 12 months or so a new trend has surfaced from all those Chinese manufacturers. That new trend is to release the “world’s thinnest smartphone” and we’ve seen the record get broke, then broke again, over and over the past few months. Today a new contenders real device has surfaced, instead of press images from earlier this month. The Umeox X5 will officially earn the title, for now.

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Huawei, Oppo, Alcatel, and even SHARP have all taken this route, and decently Huawei held the record with a super sleek and svelte smartphone coming in at just 6.1mm thin. At this point these phones are thinner than a pencil, and we start to worry about overall durability. However, this trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon so meet the new Umeox X5.

This Chinese manufactured smartphone is pretty decent looking, and of course it’s super thin. Beating all the previous models out of the water for how thin it is, but sadly we don’t have any details on the insides. What’s the point of a super thin phone that has awful specs? Huawei and OPPO have managed this feat while still packing in HD displays and quad-core processors.

According to GizChina who unveiled these pictures, the phone will soon be the “world’s thinnest” but we don’t know anything else at this point. Aside from being super thin it will launch with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and they are aiming for a July release window, probably exclusive to China. It looks pretty decent. Would you buy one?

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SOURCE: Unwired View

Spotify update finally adds landscape mode, forgets notification controls

Posted: 28 May 2013 01:37 PM PDT

Today we have some excellent news for the thousands of you who still use Spotify on Android. The app received a rather nice software update nearly a year ago that changed and improved the entire user interface. However, one major problem was landscape mode was missing. It’s safe to say that was a huge oversight for the many people using their phones in landscape car docks and more.

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Fast forward to today, yes a year later, and Spotify has finally updated their Android app this afternoon with one small improvement. The only thing listed on the changelog is the addition of landscape mode. Now we’ve been huge fans of Spotify here at Android Community, but this update should have arrived within a few weeks. Not a year later.

I don’t know about you guys, but the day Google announced Play Music All Access for $7.99 I signed up. A few days later the Spotify account got closed and it runs out later this month. This update is just too late, not to mention we still don’t have expandable notifications and controls like nearly every other music app available today. Spotify really needs to get on the ball here.

Sadly Google Music All Access is for the U.S only at this point, so Spotify and Rdio are both still extremely popular options that many will continue to use. However, I myself have made the switch. That’s about all we have from Spotify today. You can still get 48 hours free by signing into Facebook with Spotify, but that isn’t new. Give it a try today from the link below. So who still uses Spotify, or do you get your musical riffs elsewhere?

SOURCE: Play Store

Verizon Motorola XFON clears the FCC as we wait for launch

Posted: 28 May 2013 01:04 PM PDT

So there’s multiple new smartphones on the way from the folks at Motorola. We’re now nearly halfway through 2013 with nothing from the manufacturer when all others have pushed out new products, so hopefully they have something exciting. The Motorola X-Phone has been talked about a lot, then leaked as the XFON, and now we’re seeing it clear the FCC for Verizon.

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We’ve seen 3 similar devices clear the FCC lately, so at the moment it appears they’ll also be taking the one-for-all flagship approach as Samsung, and recently HTC’s One smartphone. Today’s last of many to clear the FCC is model XT1060, and we’ve seen XT1058, XT1056 and a few other various numbers as of late too.

For now we really have no clue what’s going over there at Motorola. Google’s now in charge, but they’ve stated there is 18 months of back product before we see their influence on the company. So what is coming? So far our best guess is the Motorola XFON will arrive on all four major US carriers, mostly the same device, and possibly a slightly better model will hit Verizon with their usual DROID branding. We know Motorola’s been loyal to Verizon, so it’s only a matter of time until we see what is next.

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We’ve heard so many rumors at this point we don’t really know what to think. Talk of a 4.7-inch 720p display, a 5-inch 1080p HD display, older Snapdragon quad-core chips and more. What we do know, is that Motorola has multiple very similar devices they’re prepping for all carriers. Latest rumored date is mid June with availability in early July. Hopefully we learn more soon.

SOURCE: Blog of Mobile

VIA: Droid-Life

Pebble Ringer app launches for Android, we go hands-on

Posted: 28 May 2013 12:34 PM PDT

Pebble rolled-out an updated SDK earlier in the month. Specifically, that update was for the Pebble Kit which added support for two-way app communication. Or more to the point, this update will allow developers to create apps that run on your Pebble and control your smartphone, which we have just gotten a look at with a newly launched app. That app is called Pebble Phone Ringer Switcher and it is available for Android users.

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The app is available for free and has support for devices running Android 2.3.3 or later. Those using the app will need to also have the official Pebble app installed on their device. That brings us to the first point here, the Pebble Phone Ringer Switcher will tie-in with the official app. You will first need to install the app on your device. Once installed you launch the app and click the “Install PBW to Watch” button.

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From here you will see a Pebble is Updating message which is followed by an Update Complete message. This is where the tie-in with the official Pebble app comes into play. Once you see those messages and hit the back button (in the upper left), you are taken to the Installed Watch Apps section of the official Pebble app. The ringer app, assuming it installed properly, should be listed at the bottom of the installed list as “Phone Ringer.”

Otherwise, the app does just what is should — allows the user to switch their phone from sound to vibrate to silent. Once installed on your Pebble you access the app (from the main clock) by tapping the center button on the right side of the Pebble. From here you scroll down to the Phone Ringer app and once again tap that same center button. Once at this point you simply tap the button next to which option you want with the top being sound, the middle being vibrate and the bottom being silent.

pebble-ringer-app-01 pebble-ringer-app-02

Bottom line here, the app is simple and to the point. Perhaps more important though, it works as one would expect and adds one extra bit of functionality to your Pebble. As for us, we tested this on a Verizon branded Galaxy S III and had no problems getting it installed, or having it adjust the settings. Of course, seeing this just leaves us wanting more. The one issue we see possibly coming though, with more apps coming to the Pebble, we are probably going to want some way to adjust the order the apps are listed to allow for quicker access to those that are used more often.

SOURCE: Get Pebble, Google Play Store

Qualcomm Snapdragon BatteryGuru aims to boost your battery life

Posted: 28 May 2013 12:09 PM PDT

We all know that one of the key areas of a smartphone is battery life. What use is that 5-inch HD display and awesome features if you never use them to conserve and last the rest of the day? In a way, battery life is the most important feature, and today Qualcomm‘s new app is hoping to increase exactly that. We’ve seen BatteryGuru before, but today it left beta and is readily available.

Screen Shot 2013-05-28 at 11.30.53 AM

The silicon maker Qualcomm powers the Galaxy S III, HTC’s One, and the new GALAXY S 4 just to name a few, and they will all be able to enjoy their new app. It’s called Snapdragon BatteryGuru, and as expected, will only work with Qualcomm Snapdragon powered devices. The app was just updated and is officially out of beta and ready to save you some juice and time being tethered to a wall outlet.

Most devices have some sort of battery-saving features built in. Motorola, Samsung, HTC and more all have systems that at a certain point disable features of our devices, and Motorola’s RAZR MAXX HD just packs a huge battery, but Qualcomm has a different approach. Instead of disabling features when a battery gets low, BatteryGuru learns from you and actively changes and tweaks features and performance for optimal battery life 24/7.

Essentially it manages things like sync services, updates, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS location services and more, automatically. Instead of you setting preferences (although there is that option) it will learn from your behavior after the first 2-3 days, and actively tweak and improve all these settings for you. You won’t have to toggle wifi when you leave the house or get to the coffee shop. It knows and will do it automatically.

There’s a lot of mixed reviews from the Google Play Store, but so far the consensus is that it works quite well. We’ll be giving it a run for the next week or so to test it out. Give it a try yourself and let us know how it goes in the comments below.

SOURCE: Play Store

HTC One “Senseless Edition” tipped to arrive in limited quantities

Posted: 28 May 2013 11:33 AM PDT

HTC has denied the rumors, however talk of a Senseless HTC One has not stopped. In fact, additional reports are continuing to surface. The latest, which once again is dealing with ‘people familiar with the matter’ is bringing claims that the phone is real and that it will be released in limited quantities. That is not to say a limited edition, but more like it will be a limited initial run to judge the market.

Reasoning-behind-HTC-One-shipment-delays11121

Anyway, this latest report is coming by way of the folks at Pocket-lint who note that HTC will release a “HTC One with stock Android.” They go on to mention about how the “numbers are going to be limited, like very limited.” Here is where the limited aspect comes in though. It was said that HTC will release “around 1 per cent of total sales of the device so far” to judge reaction to the Senseless version.

Based on that and based on a recent sales report from HTC and that would have this handset coming in with roughly 50,000 units. Of course, we offer this as a reminder — the Senseless HTC One is still nothing more than rumor at this point in time. Here lies the question though, assuming this happens and assuming the 50,000 estimate proves accurate — will HTC even be able to sell that many.

Sure, there is plenty of chatter and seemingly plenty of people that want to make a purchase, but will those same people be around if and when the handset is available for sale. This will likely come down to pricing. Take the Google Edition GALAXY S 4 as an example and we are thinking HTC maybe better off skipping a Senseless HTC One.

The Google Edition GALAXY S 4 is pricey. It is priced high enough where the average user will likely not even give it a second thought. Not to mention, we suspect those who are super into having an HTC One (or GALAXY S 4) running vanilla Android would be able to install various other third party ROMs and achieve almost the same result. Of course, the one caveat with that is future updates from Google. Still, we cannot get passed the price and we are thinking even a limited run may be a big risk for a financially struggling HTC.

SOURCE: Pocket-lint

Android Authority

Android Authority


HTC One Google Edition supply expected to be very limited

Posted: 28 May 2013 03:43 PM PDT

HTC One

We've been hearing rumblings of an imminent new HTC One for the past weeks, an edition that supposedly eschews HTC's Sense software for stock Android (think Samsung's Galaxy S4 Google Edition).

Now, we have tentative confirmation that the device does, indeed, exist, and won't remain in in the shadows for much longer. A Pocket-lint source said that the device will be made available in the extreme near future. However, quantities available for order will apparently be limited. Very limited.

How few HTC One Google Edition phones does HTC plan to manufacture? As little as 1 percent of One sales so far. Estimating by the global sales figures the company released recently, that's only 50,000 units. According to the source, HTC wants to test the waters before deciding whether to go ahead with a bigger rollout.

Though it's important to take this information with a grain of salt, it isn't implausible that HTC may approach the idea of an unsubsidized phone tepidly. We haven't heard how much the Sense-less (pun not intended) One might cost, but if it's anything close to the Galaxy S4 Google Edition's $649 price point, a majority of consumers will probably be dissuaded from purchasing it, no matter how great stock Android is.

    


America’s carrier speeds benchmarked, AT&T’s 3G/4G combo declared the winner

Posted: 28 May 2013 03:25 PM PDT

Cell Tower

Ever have trouble streaming video in HD, browsing the web, or quickly uploading files on your LTE smartphone? We've all been there. The promise of 4G LTE smartphones was incredible speed, which they mostly delivered; a good, solid connection can deliver amazing throughput. The only problem? All four major carriers – AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint – are still in the process of building out their respective next-gen networks.

Many areas – mostly rural – lack 4G LTE coverage, and rely solely on 3G technology. And when you're stuck in a 4G dead zone, unless your mobile carrier has excellent infrastructure behind their towers, you're in for Internet as slow as molasses.

If you're not going to be connected to 4G LTE all the time, it's important to know which carrier offers the fastest combination of 3G and 4G. According to tests conducted by Tech Hive, AT&T takes that crown, edging out the others with an average download of 13.15 megabits per second (mbps) and upload of 6.45mbps. Apparently, AT&T's HSPA+ helped to prop up speeds in areas where LTE wasn't available.

T-Mobile's 3G performance was close to AT&T's, but comparatively poor LTE throughput lowered the carrier in the rankings. Verizon and Sprint, which rely on the aging CDMA standard to deliver 3G, couldn't compete: speed tests showed average downloads of a third or less as fast as GSM rivals, and similarly slow uploads.

AT&T 3G/4G speeds

These numbers don't bode well for those who travel in and out of 4G LTE coverage areas often. If you're a Verizon customer, you could see a drop in speed of 92%: 9.61mpbs on LTE to less than 0.80mbps on 3G. Sprint's average drop-off was nearly 90 percent, much higher than seen on GSM networks like AT&T due to, like Verizon, reliance on CDMA.

T-Mobile managed to best maintain download and upload speeds across 3G and 4G with a drop-off of only 62 percent, achieved in part because of a substantial HSPA+ footprint.

4G LTE isn't everywhere. It's important to remember to remember 3G, because despite what your smartphone manufacturer might promise, CDMA and HSPA speeds are what you'll most commonly encounter. The dream of ubiquitous high-speed wireless Internet hasn't yet been achieved, and until that glorious day comes, know which network's 3G will keep you humming along until the next LTE tower comes into view.

    


Qualcomm’s ‘Battery Guru’ app is out of beta, and really interesting

Posted: 28 May 2013 02:33 PM PDT

Battery Guru app from Qualcomm

Battery life is a concern for all mobile device holders. We're constantly in a tug-of-war with utility and power consumption, which tends to aggravate us. News of forward-thinking battery technology is promising, but we'll be lucky to see it soon, if ever.

Left in limbo, we turn to apps to mitigate the damage. Apps like DS Battery Saver or Juice Defender are useful, but not as intuitive as we'd like. There is still a level of toying with the app we need to do to make it useful as a daily driver, and that's not as convenient as we'd like.

When Qualcomm gives us a battery app, we take notice. They're responsible for the Snapdragon line of processors, which are starting to make appearances in newer breeds of smartphones. Powerful, the Snapdragon also uses its share of power. Qualcomm's new Battery Guru app wants to help change that a bit.

Battery Guru is a different breed of "battery app". It tries to make power drain a bit more intuitive to how you live. By learning how you interact with your device, and where you tend to use it, the app makes changes to your power consumption. Contextual data in a battery power app? We like the concept.

Battery Guru is available now in the Play Store. Check it out, and let us know what you think.

    


Samsung Galaxy S4 is the first device to support Verizon’s AWS network, just needs software update

Posted: 28 May 2013 02:27 PM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 vs htc one s4 in hand aa

Verizon might have been a little late to the party with the Galaxy S4, but the GS4 is certainly one phone worth the wait. Not only does it have solid specs under the hood, but it is also the first handset that will support Verizon’s upcoming AWS network.

While we’ve known since March that the Galaxy S4 will support AWS, today Verizon’s VP of network support confirmed to Bloomberg that the device only needs a simple software update in order to activate the components inside the phone.

So what’s AWS all about? The "Advanced Wireless service" spectrum will allow Verizon to expand the capacity of its LTE network, and as an added bonus is reportedly able to achieve double the speed of Verizon’s current LTE service.

Now you might be wondering exactly when AWS will be turned on, and where. Verizon hopes to start turning on support to several major cities like New York in the next few months. Outside of larger cities, the rollout will happen slowly, similar to Verizon’s rollout of its original LTE network.

Verizon also plans to release new devices that support the AWS spectrum later this year, likely sometime this summer. In the meantime, it’s great to see that Verizon and Samsung ensured that the handset would be future-proof and ready to go when AWS starts rolling out.

    


The Best VoIP and SIP apps for Android!

Posted: 28 May 2013 01:02 PM PDT

best voip sip appsThere are a lot of people who use VoIP’s and SIP’s as alternatives to a carrier’s offering. A lot of time you’ll find that the rates are cheaper, and sometimes even free of charge. That said, we went into the depths of the Play Store in search for some of the best VoIP and SIP apps available, and now we’re back to share the results of that with you! As usual, if you’d prefer the video, just head to the bottom of the article.


Kakao Talk

KakaoTalk

Considering its popularity, you may have heard of Kakao Talk before. This VoIP app allows you to make calls and send text messages over a network free of charge. As per the norm, you’re going to need to sign up for an account to use the service, which means your friends will have to do the same.

Making calls and sending text messages isn’t the only thing Kakao Talk can do. You can change themes, play games, see notices, and even check out the item store. Most of these features costs money, which isn’t much of a problem. After all, the app has to support itself in some way! Besides, who doesn’t like a little customization?

Aside from that, the interface is very user friendly, and no one should have any woes when navigating around the app.

Get it on Google Play


Tango

Tango

You might be surprised by Tango. It’s main focus isn’t actually VoIP or SIP, as it markets itself as a social network. Regardless, you can still make free calls and texts. It also has support for picture and video messages, which makes it stand out from the rest of these apps. You can expect Tango to have the utmost quality as well. It’s won a number of awards, and the app itself boasts of having “great quality” over 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi connections.

Like the majority of the apps on this list, Tango is very easy to use. Account creation is simple and navigating around the app feels very natural. Unfortunately you can only communicate with people who have a Tango account, so convincing your friends to get on board might be difficult.

Get it on Google Play


Viber

Viber

Viber is yet another VoIP that allows for free calling over a network. Free calling isn’t all it can do though. You can also send messages, stickers, emoticons, and other in-app features. Like the previous apps on this list, your friends are going to need a Viber account for calls and messages to even work.

It’s also very easy to navigate around Viber and is just generally easy to use. The only negative to this app is that you need to set up your account before using SMS. It’ll be a tad annoying if you don’t have text messaging set up on your device, as you’ll have to find another way to active Viber.

Aside from that, Viber is a very exceptional app that has been met with a lot of reception in the Play Store. At the very least, it’s worth a shot.

Get it on Google Play


VoX 

VoX

VoX is one of the more simple solutions for your VoIP and SIP needs. It’s quite a simple app too. You can make calls from your VoX account, which you have to pay for. VoX keeps an extensive rate list for a variety of countries.

Besides that, you have the dialer as the main interface, and the menu button can be used to navigate around the rest of the app. In addition to making calls, there’s SMS support. Of course, by sending SMS messages minutes will be deducted from your account, which means less calling time.

Given the app’s simplicity, it takes a minute to get used to. All in all, it’s a pretty nice app with limited functionality.

Get it on Google Play


WiCall

WiCall

Last up on our list is WiCall. Similar to VoX, this app is a dialer interface. Unfortunately it can’t send text messages, which means this app is strictly for calling. Like VoX, WiCall is a paid service, so you’re going to need to add money to your account to make phone calls. That balance is deducted when you make calls.

WiCall is very lacking in features, which means it’s quite simple and easy to learn. All you’re going to have to figure out is how to add money to your account. After that, you can simply use the dialer to call people with your WiCall number.

Get it on Google Play


Conclusion

voip sip leaderboard

If you take a look at our leaderboard (image above) you can see how these apps compete with each other. As usual, we don’t rank these apps ourselves, as this is how you, the people, rated the apps on the Google Play Store. So there’s no bias on our part.

When you get to the core of it all, finding a VoIP or SIP app is all about what you’re looking to get out of it. That said, we may have missed some really good VoIP and SIP apps out there, which means we have a few honorary mentions. These include GrooVeIP, Google Voice, Skype, and MobileVoIP.

If you have a favorite, be sure to let everyone know about it in the comments below!

    


Lambda Labs launching facial recognition API for Google Glass

Posted: 28 May 2013 12:52 PM PDT

Google Glass Vision

Dystopian future, here we come! Google Glass is about to receive access to a new facial recognition API, courtesy of Lambda Labs. The new API should be out within a week, provided that all goes as it should.

Who is Lambda Labs? They are a small startup that released a non-Glass facial recognition tech API just last year, and currently have over 1,000 developers using it. Now they are taking this experience and tailoring it specifically to Google Glass apps.

This means that the door could soon be open to Glass apps that allow you to match names with faces, get detailed info about landmarks and much more. Of course there is also a pretty big limitation here – it doesn’t work in real time, due to the Google mirror API.

The Mirror API doesn’t allow for live streaming camera data to be sent over to a developer’s server. That means that you will need to snap a picture, send it in to Lambda, and then wait for it to be analyzed. After a few seconds, you will then receive a notification with the results.

So does this technology mean that a perfect stranger could look at you, snap a picture and receive detailed information about you? Short answer, no. Long answer, it can only take data specifically from Lambda’s database, which includes things like pictures of well-known celebrities and important landmarks.

Great idea, but what about privacy concerns?

There is a lot of amazing potential for facial recognition, but then there are also both real and perceived privacy concerns when it comes to Google Glass and the idea of facial recognition technology.

The company’s co-founder Stephen Balaban recognizes this is uncharted territory, and understands that there could eventually be changes made that could block out the technology:

"There is nothing in the Glass Terms of Service that explicitly prevents us from doing this. However, there is a risk that Google may change the ToS in an attempt to stop us from providing this functionality." "This is the first face recognition toolkit for Glass, so we're just not sure how Google, or the privacy caucus, will react."

The Congressional Privacy Caucus has already expressed concern over Google Glass privacy issues before, specifically relating to facial recognition technology, so Balaban is right to be unsure how the U.S. congress might feel about the new API. Google and Congress might also receive additional pressure to take action against the tech from anti-Glass organizations and other groups concerned about privacy violations.

At least right now, there is nothing preventing the company from releasing their facial technology over to Glass, as the Glass API does not specifically ban such functionality.

Personally I’m excited about the future of Google Glass and the technologies that it will introduce, as long as privacy concerns are addressed and opt-out options exist for those that are concerned. What do you think of the idea of facial technology coming to Google Glass? Excited or worried about the possibilities?

    


The HTC One to be on Verizon “before July”

Posted: 28 May 2013 12:35 PM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 vs htc one one back aa

The HTC One was meant to be the one to bring HTC back. It's a dynamic phone with awesome build quality, but fell short in a few respects. Sure, the production slowdown hurt a bit… but there was another problem. For whatever reason, the HTC One didn't make its way to Verizon customers immediately. A phone meant to revive a slumping HTC should have been made available to the largest US carrier, right?

If recent indications are accurate, that's all water under the bridge. The HTC One looks like it will come to Verizon soon, reportedly "before July". We have seen the HTC One appear as its codename (the M7) several times, but nothing like this. Everyone's favorite source EvLeaks has recently provided some screenshots, from someone who "needs advanced knowledge of upcoming devices". The screenshots show a dropdown menu, with many Verizon HTC phones listed alongside the HTC One.

We've heard of the T6 before, but that's not the One. That device will probably replace the Droid DNA in the fall, while the M7 is set for a much sooner release. We hope Verizon customers who may be ready to upgrade will give this phone a good, hard look. It's a really nice device, and we'd be happy to see it on Verizon.

    


New Chrome experiment ‘Roll It’ is out!

Posted: 28 May 2013 11:38 AM PDT

Roll It Chrome Experiment

If you thought that Chrome maze experiment a few weeks ago was fun, wait until you try Roll It!

One of the hidden gems at I/O this year, Roll It was another Chrome experiment, geared at bridging the gap between mobile and desktop. It's pretty simple to use, too; just open up the game on your device and computer, and you're ready for skeeball! It supports up to three players on one device, and only needs the Chrome browser.

Having played it at I/O, and beating Joshua Vergara mercilessly at it, I highly recommend this game. It reminds me of the original Wii games, which were a ton of fun. Check out our YouTube video to see the action, and enjoy the official Chrome video below. Let us know your thoughts once you give it a shot… or roll… whatever.

    


Marissa Mayer, Yahoo!, and the Google effect

Posted: 28 May 2013 11:05 AM PDT

Marissa Mayer

When Marissa Mayer took over as CEO of Yahoo!, it was a catalyst for change. Having lost their way long ago, the former champions of search were in desperate need of transformation. With Meyers at the helm, the Yahoo! ship is now changing direction, but to what end? If all their recent moves (and rumored acquisitions) are any indication, Yahoo! may not want to be Yahoo! for much longer.

Where Yahoo! went wrong

Yahoo! was founded in 1994 by college friends Jerry Yang and David Filo. The goal was to give the internet a little structure, and focus, by organizing search results. In a time of Ask Jeeves, Lycos, and Netscape, Yahoo! was a refreshingly straightforward approach. It was easier on the eyes, gave better results, and later lumped in services like email to make it the first one-stop internet portal for many of us.

Over time, the sizable number of acquisitions by Yahoo! clouded the focus it began with. A company that started with such a simple concept soon found itself bloated, broke, and bartering for survival. Spending money to make money is not new thinking, but Yahoo! only got half of that right. Acquisitions that were later shelved or shuttered left Yahoo! with no return on investment, and the added bulk only served to weigh them down when they could least afford it.

The advent of Google, with their incredible search algorithm, left Yahoo! in another bind. Like any search engine ir web portal, Yahoo! relies on selling advertising space for much of their revenue. Even with a 3 year jump on Google, Yahoo! was caught off guard by Larry and Sergey. The two companies were on a different arc, with Google breaking ground on an empire, and Yahoo! digging through the rubble of theirs.

Google staff

Number 20

Mayer has the distinction of being employee number 20 at Google, as well as its first female engineer. Mayer was instrumental in many key services like GMail and Search, famously keeping the Google landing page subtle. She seemed to be everything a company could hope for: beautiful, bright, and bold. There was, however, a point in which she reached waters at Google she couldn't navigate successfully.

Schmidt, Page, and the management shakeup

While Larry Page and Sergey Brin were finding their way within Google, Eric Schmidt was the defacto "adult supervision". A tried and true CEO, Schmidt had a very vanilla way of organizing the company. The structure suited Mayer, and left her with a very clear and concise trajectory to follow in her quest for greatness.

As Schmidt moved away from the helm, and Page regained control, the Google universe shifted. The new CEO, a founder along with Brin, had a very clear idea on what Google should be. As with many management shifts, the structure changed. Schmidt, for instance, had an oversight committee, which Page almost immediately disbanded. That committee, which Mayer sat on, had a direct hand in the direction of perhaps the largest tech company ever. As Page disbanded the committee, a chain of events began, throwing Mayer's future at Google into uncertainty.

Marissa Mayer

Mayer the climber

Marissa Mayer is an ambitious woman. For someone with a drive like hers, simply being a cog in the wheel isn't good enough. With the oversight committee being dissolved, and her being passed up for one of several open Senior Vice President spots after the Page regime began, Mayer's direction fell prey to the fog of corporate war. She went from a beloved figure to embattled talent in very little time.

She was well suited for any SVP position in the company, having held so many key roles and been instrumental in so much of Google's early success. Mayer was now increasingly unavailable and unseen, whereas she was once the darling of Google. While the real reasons are not known, her role was increasingly diminishing at Google. No promotion, no committee, and no public face time. She was being relegated to simply being employee number 20, and that clearly didn't suit her. She said all the right things about her role at Google, but the fire was still burning. She wanted, and maybe needed, more.

    


Does LG deserve to make the next Nexus?

Posted: 28 May 2013 11:01 AM PDT

LG-Nexus-4

Earlier today LG confirmed that they are not currently working on any Nexus device right now, despite what the rumor mill suggests. However, the company did make it clear that they would consider the opportunity, if offered. This leads to us to ask the question: Does LG even deserve another shot at the Nexus game?

On one hand, the Nexus 4 received tons of positive attention and sold out at every turn. On the other, we have the whole "out of stock" debacle, though it’s hard to say exactly who’s fault that is.

LG seems to still hold to the idea that Google under-ordered and when demand was higher than expected, LG just couldn’t keep up. For Google’s part, some execs pointed the finger at LG, saying "supplies from the manufacturer are scarce and erratic", though the official company stance simply was that there is "work to be done managing our supply better", leaving it at that.

We will probably never know the whole story, but the truth is likely that Google did under-estimate the huge demand and LG simply couldn’t turn things around as quickly as needed. Could Samsung, HTC, Sony or Motorola have done a better job at kicking things into high-gear and turning the shortage issues around? Again, we really don’t know.

You do have to wonder how many customers were lost from the shortage of supplies. For that matter it would be nice to get an official count on how many Nexus 4 devices have sold. We have seen a few estimates, but nothing official. The best guess is that Nexus 4 has sold “over a million units”, though in reality, only Google and LG know for sure. For those keeping score, it is worth mentioning that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus only sold around 500,000 between November 2011 and August 2012.

Of course the Nexus line isn’t about making money or selling millions of devices, it is about providing a bloat-free, stock Android experience that is extremely developer friendly. To that end, the LG Nexus 4 was a phenomenal success. It might not be without its quirks, but ultimately the handset is reasonably durable, very beautiful and a vast improvement over past Nexus devices.

Would consumers be open to another LG Nexus?

The Nexus 4 was a success in many ways, but the past supply issues still haunt the phone’s reputation, even today. Honestly, it doesn’t matter who was at fault, the damage is done.

Some of us have probably gotten over the frustration and wouldn’t hesitate to buy another LG Nexus device, probably because we eventually did get the Nexus 4 and saw just how great it really was. For those that were burned by low stock issues and eventually decided to get something other than a Nexus, it might be a lot more difficult to let things go.

I believe LG has come a long ways in recent times and, even after the Nexus 4, has shown off some great devices such as the Optimus G Pro. To that end, I wouldn’t be opposed to another LG Nexus smartphone. I don’t fault LG for the stock issues encountered with the Nexus 4 (at least not completely) and think they could deliver something great. Still, it might be best to hand someone else the reigns for a while.

The Nexus 4 really catapulted LG forward and gave the company a great marketing boost, stock problems aside. Now it might be time to let someone else benefit from the Nexus effect (HTC, perhaps). What do you think, does LG deserve a crack at the next Nexus smartphone, or do you feel that it’s best Google pick someone else?

    


Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini to be unveiled at Samsung Premiere 2013 event?

Posted: 28 May 2013 10:13 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Logo aa 600px

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini will be unveiled at the Samsung Premiere event in London on June 20, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“A person with knowledge of the matter”, has told the publication that the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini could be one of the new products that the company will show the world at the event which will take place in London, at Earl’s Court, in three weeks.

Samsung is set to show Android and Windows devices on the respective evening and, apart from the Galaxy S4 Mini, you’ll almost certainly see the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 and Galaxy Ace 3, two products for which some specs have leaked today.

Coming back to the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, it must be said that it’s not the best kept secret, either. It has been spotted as long ago as the month of March, with better quality images of it recently leaked on the Internet (like the one you can see below).

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini

More recently, the device has appeared, accidentally or not, on the Samsung Apps website, and it had previously been mentioned on a Samsung support website.

As far as specs go, nothing’s official, but rumors say that the smaller brother of the Samsung Galaxy S4 will have a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, a dual-core Exynos 5210 CPU and 1GB of RAM. The LTE version is said to pack 2GB of RAM memory, and the camera of the Android 4.2 device is rumored to be an 8-megapixel one.

Of course, Samsung maintains its silence concerning the device, and will probably continue to do so until the London event, where it could also unveil another Samsung Galaxy S4 variation, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, a rugged device (spotted in a recent video).

Do you think Samsung will announce the Galaxy S4 Mini at its London Premiere event? Are you looking forward to it?

    


Rumor: Galaxy Note 3 to pack Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor

Posted: 28 May 2013 10:04 AM PDT

Galaxy Note 3 concept

Galaxy Note 3 concept

The Galaxy Note 3 is said to be one of the smartphones set to launch in the coming months with a Qualcomm Snapdrong 800 processor under the hood.

A new report from ZDNet Korea says that the phone will be just one of the devices expected to rely on Qualcomm's flagship processor. The list also includes the LG Optimus G2, the Pantech IM-A880 and the Xperia Honami, although it's worth mentioning that neither device is official yet, even though they all appeared in various rumors so far.

The Galaxy Note 3 wouldn't be the first Samsung Android smartphone to use a Qualcomm processor, and it makes sense to assume that the Snapdragon 800 version would be chosen for the company's next flagship handset. It would also make sense to assume that Samsung would use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 and Exynos 5 Octa mix of processor for the handset, if today’s rumor is accurate that is.

However, nothing is confirmed at this time, and we'll have to wait for Samsung to properly unveil the handset. The Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to be announced at IFA in Berlin, Germany, this fall, the same event where its predecessors first appeared.

Meanwhile, we'll most likely keep seeing more Galaxy Note 3 rumors hit the web – just yesterday a different report from Korea revealed that the smartphone could pack a camera that would offer optical image stabilization technology.

Recently, we also spotted an alleged AnTuTu benchmark result for the handset that suggested the Galaxy Note 3 would offer a better performance than the Galaxy S4. However, the benchmark did not reveal what kind of processor that particular device was using.  The Pantech IM-A880 has also been spotted in similar tests, outscoring the same Galaxy S4.

As for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, the system on chip is currently being mass-produced and will offer users a 2.3GHz quad-core Krait 400 processor, Adreno 330 GPU, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac. LTE, LTE cat.4 and features such as UHD video playback (resolutions up to 2560 x 2048) and 7.1 stereo sound.

    


Huawei Ascend D1, Ascend P1 and Honor 2 Jelly Bean update promised

Posted: 28 May 2013 08:09 AM PDT

Huawei Ascend D1

The Huawei Ascend D1, Ascend P1, and Honor 2 will be getting Android Jelly Bean updates, along with some other unspecified models by the Chinese manufacturer.

GSM Insider quotes Huawei’s Richard Yu posting to his page on Chinese social network Weibo about the Jelly Bean updates. Richard Yu said that apart from the Jelly Bean Android 4.2 update coming to the Ascend D1, Ascend P1, and Honor 2, the devices would also get updated to the Emotion UI 1.6. In the case of the D1, both the quad and the dual-core version are promised the update.

While a  time frame for the update has not been confirmed, according to the same source, other Huawei devices will also be getting the update, but they haven’t been name-checked as of yet.

While this may be great news for users of the Huawei smartphones mentioned above, the company is also preparing the imminent launch of its new flagship smartphone, the Huawei Ascend P6, which, according to the latest information, will be shown to the world in June (it even has a rumored price).

Do you use a Huawei smartphone? Is it among the ones planned for update?

    


Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 and Galaxy Ace 3 specs leaked

Posted: 28 May 2013 08:01 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

If you're looking for some juicy information to tide you over until next month's Samsung Premiere 2013 event, then look no further, as some rumored specifications have appeared for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 tablet and Galaxy Ace 3 smartphone.

The information has appeared on the same site which leaked information about the Galaxy Zoom camera phone, so there's a good chance that the information could be accurate.

We've already had a few leaks about the 8-inch Galaxy Tab 3 variant, but now we have a better idea about what its larger brother could have hiding under the hood. According to the leak, the tablet's 10-inch display will pack in 1280×700 pixels, so sadly no 1080p display this time. It will come in a few variations depending on whether you require 16GB or 32GB of internal memory, and there will be different models for 3G support or WiFi-only as well. The tablet also includes a microSD card slot if you need to the extra storage capacity.

The Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 will supposedly also feature a dual-core processor clocked at 1.6 GHz, which matches the clock speed of the Intel Z2560 processor rumored yesterday. On top of that there's 1GB worth of RAM, a 13 megapixel rear camera, a 3 megapixel one on the front, and it will ship with a 6800mAh battery. Finally, the tablet will be 243.1 x 176.1 x 7.95 mm in size, weighs in at 510 grams, and will come with the latest Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean as well.

Moving on to the Galaxy Ace 3, as you'd expect the handset comes with decent mid-range specs which shouldn't break the bank. The Ace 3 is looking at a modest 1Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and a rather slender 4GB of memory. But there will be a microSD card slot, so that's not really a problem.

Money also appears to have been saved on the display, which will come in at 4-inches, making it ever so slightly larger than the Galaxy Ace 2, but it will only have the same 480×800 pixel resolution as the Ace 2. Again, the handset will come with the standard front and rear facing cameras, sporting 5 and 0.3 megapixels respectively. The battery is also supposed to be exactly the same size as its predecessor, 1500mAh, but the Ace 3 will ship with the upgraded Jelly Bean operating system. Size wise, the handset is 121.2 x 62.7 x 9.8 mm, which will easily fit into your pocket.

If these specs turn out to be true, we are looking at a couple of devices which are just really incremental upgrades in their respective ranges. There certainly doesn't appear to be anything earth shattering here. That's not to say that either of the two is set up to be a bad product. Both of them should offer some decent bank for your buck.

    


Hard to break up: Samsung resumes providing LCDs to Apple

Posted: 28 May 2013 07:00 AM PDT

Apple

You've probably forgotten this already, but there once was a time when Samsung and Apple were best of friends, like two peas in a pod. However, technology is a fast moving market and in a post-2012 world, it would be difficult to get Samsung and Apple into the same room without one taking a bite out of the other (no pun intended).

After countless lawsuits, it was obvious that Samsung could not play a crucial role in Apple's supply chain, like it once had, but moving away from Samsung hasn't been easy for the Cupertino company. Apple has poured millions of dollars into rival manufacturers like Sharp and TSMC, but even that hasn't proven to be successful, as Apple was forced to resume buying LCD panels from Samsung.

The Korean TFT LCD component market looks to be turning around this year, spurred by Apple’s decision to return to Samsung as its display manufacturer. The TFT sales of Korean display companies Soulbrain, Chemtronics, Global Display and Avatec have improved immensely, and are expected to reach 643 billion KRW, which is a 34% increase, year on year.

It seems that the main reason that Apple has returned to Samsung is its adept manufacturing of TFT displays. Unlike LG, who relies on outsiders to build its TFT displays, Samsung is able to build the panels in-house.

Apple's attempts to leverage other manufacturers like Sharp, seem to have failed especially since Samsung recently bought a stake in the flailing Japanese company. Apple uses TFT displays in its iPhone and iPad, and more recently in the Retina Macbook Pro, and although Apple has tried to replace Samsung's displays with panels made by LG, Samsung's power in the components business has once again prevailed.

Do you think Apple should still be suing Samsung when it plays a vital role in the manufacturing of Apple’s products?

    


Umeox X5 could be the thinnest smartphone yet, coming in at just 5.6mm-thick

Posted: 28 May 2013 06:30 AM PDT

umeox-x5-4

It seems like every time we turn around a new device is vying for the title of "world’s thinnest smartphone". For a while, the Alcatel One Touch Idol held the honors. Then the upcoming Huawei Ascend P6 prepared to take the title. Now it is apparently the Umeox X5′s turn.

I know you are thinking it, so I’ll just say it: Who the hell is Umeox? Fair question. Umeox is a smaller Chinese handset maker that sells its products primarily in China, though it also sales some of its devices in Europe through Thomson Mobile. In other words, they aren’t exactly a big name company, but they hope to change this with the X5.

If you thought the P6 was small at 6.3mm, you’ll drop your jaw at the Umeox X5′s 118 x 60 x 5.6mm profile. Beyond its small size, what else do we know about the handset? Not much. We know it will run Jelly Bean and it will launch in China sometime in July. That’s it, though.

umeox-x5-3

It seems that Umeox is hoping it can generate hype for the phone solely based on its thin design. That’s all well and good, but being a few millimetres smaller than your average handset probably won’t make too much of a difference if the hardware isn’t up to snuff.

Even if the Umeox X5 does end up killing it in the hype and sales department, it will more than likely never make it too far beyond its homeland. Certainly don’t expect it make its way to the U.S. market, as its ultra-thin profile will likely prevent it from obtaining FCC certification (as was the case of the Alcatel One Touch Idol).

Are you impressed by the Umeox X5′s incredibly thin 5.6mm design, or do you feel that the war over becoming the "thinnest" handset is nothing more than a gimmick that matters little when it comes to real-world use?

    


Nokia loses out to Samsung on its home turf

Posted: 28 May 2013 06:24 AM PDT

Nokia HQ

Samsung outselling Nokia isn't a surprising feat, after all Samsung has held the title as the world's largest smartphone distributor for quite a while. But Nokia had successfully been making a last stand in Finland, the country in which its headquarter is based, maintaining a lead over the industry's dominant force, Samsung, despite its recent troubles.

However, IDC has reported that the tide is now turning in Samsung's favour, as the company has managed to sell a higher number of mobile phones than Nokia in Finland during the first quarter of this year. Samsung secured itself a 36% share of the phone market, whilst Nokia pulled in a respectable 33% share, so it only lost out to Samsung by a tiny margin.

But this is part of a slightly longer term trend, Nokia has witnessed falling sales in Finland, and in other markets, for the past couple of years despite the fact that the smartphone market has continued to grow. Although Nokia secured a 33% share of the total mobile phone market, the performance of its smartphone products is much worse. It seems that Nokia's Lumia handsets have failed to strike a chord with Finnish consumers, and the devices aren’t grabbing a massive share around the rest of the world either.

Finland phone sales

The chart from IDC clearly shows a growing smartphone market (Yhteensä) over recent years, but at the same time Nokia has seen it’s sales fall. Other manufacturers (Muut) are also suffering from the dominance of Samsung and Apple.

Of the approximately 587,000 phones sold in Finland in Q1 2013, about 73% of those were smartphones. Looking back a few years earlier, less than 150,000 smartphones were sold in the first quarter of 2010, and they only accounted for 25% of the total phone market, which goes to show just how much the smartphone industry has grown in recent years. Interestingly, back in 2010 Nokia held a dominant 65% share of the phone market in Finland, whilst Samsung was languishing far behind with only 12%. Something has clearly gone wrong with Nokia's smartphone strategy.

As for the rest of the Finnish market, Apple is still trailing behind in third place with only 14% of the market, and all the other manufacturers make up the remaining 16% for the quarter.

It seems that nobody is safe from the rise of Samsung, and it's certain that Nokia has a lot of work to do if it wants to regain its former glory. Perhaps it’s time to abandon ship and ditch Windows Phone.

    


Huawei Ascend P6 reportedly priced, won’t cost a fortune

Posted: 28 May 2013 06:05 AM PDT

Huawei Ascend P6

The Huawei Ascend P6, the company’s future flagship device, now seems to have a price tag to it.

According to Chinese website Sina, the price of the Huawei flagship smartphone,would be 1,999 Chinese Yuan, which translates approximately to $326 or €253.

The device is said to be unveiled at a London press event on June 18, as the company’s chairman has suggested in a post on Chinese social network Weibo. The comment has been removed afterwards.

The Huawei Ascend P6, a handset that was first mentioned when it was seen in a filing with the Chinese version of FCC, doesn’t impress only in terms of thickness (it’s 6.2 mm thin), as it also has some interesting rumored specs to it. The handset will apparently pack a quad-core CPU running at 1.5GHz, 2GB of RAM and a 4.7-inch 720p touchscreen.

The main camera is an 8-megapixel one and you’ll be able to store images taken with it (and whatever else you want) in the Ascend P6′s 32GB of internal memory. The Chinese company’s future flagship is said to be a dual SIM device and to weigh 120 grams.

Huawei Ascend P6 black

The Ascend P6 should run Android 4.1.2 and, according to pictures leaked on the Internet, will have white, black and pink colored versions, so that it can accommodate various needs.

Would you be tempted to purchase the Huawei Ascend P6 if it will be available in your country?

    


Rumor: Liquidmetal tech in the cards for future HTC smartphones

Posted: 28 May 2013 05:56 AM PDT

HTC One

A new report from Taiwan says that HTC may be interested in using Liquidmetal technology in its future smartphones.

The news comes from DigiTimes, but we'll advise you to take it with a grain of salt as nothing is confirmed at this time.

HTC is said to work with Jabon International for Liquidmetal chassis supply, which would be used for new devices in the second half of the year, although neither company was willing to comment on the matter.

The Taiwanese smartphone maker is reportedly trying to beat Apple to market with such Liquidmetal-based products according to the publication. HTC has apparently recruited additional R&D for this to work on Liquidmetal products.

Liquidmetal is a relatively new technology and has certain advantages over other metal alloys used in the mobile industry, and it's expected that more mobile device makers would use the new alloy in future products. Liquidmetal features a "high tensile strength, excellent corrosion resistance, very high coefficient of restitution and excellent anti-wearing characteristics," as Wikipedia succinctly explains it.

In other words, Liquidmetal could be used to manufacture even more resistant mobile devices, capable to withstand shocks better than current models.

HTC's current flagship, the One, features an aluminum-based unibody design, which can offer increased protection against drops (see our test drop video below), but it would definitely be interesting to see an HTC handset made out of Liquidmetal.

Assuming this particular rumor will be confirmed in the future, we can only be excited to learn more details about the next HTC flagship smartphone – after all, if Liquidmetal will be used, we expect the device sporting such technology to be a high-end one.

That said, DigiTimes also says that some chassis suppliers are "conservative" about this particular metal alloy:

However, some chassis suppliers are conservative about the idea since Apple currently still has partnership with metal chassis makers such as Catcher Technology, Foxconn Technology and Casetek, while market demand for aluminum-alloy unibody chassis remains strong, indicating that the full adoption of Liquidmetal is unlikely to occur in the short term.

We'll be back with more details about HTC's future mobile devices as soon as we have them.

    


Executive: LG working on an Android tablet, no flexible display phone this year

Posted: 28 May 2013 03:49 AM PDT

LG Logo aa 600px

LG's VP in Europe talked about LG's plans for 2013, which include an Android tablet, but apparently not a device with a flexible display, as it was previously rumored.

The EU VP of LG Mobile, Kim Wong, sat down with the press for an interview, and apparently spilt the beans on some of the devices coming from the upstart Korean electronics manufacturer.

According to Wong, the decision from last year to put tablet development on the backburner has been reversed. Now, LG Mobile is working on a yet to be announced Android-based tablet. According to Dutch website All About Phones, this device may be coming soon, despite the fact that the tablet market is already segmented, as the VP said. No further details have been provided. LG's previous efforts in the tablet market, such as the Optimus Pad LTE, have been largely unsuccessful.

Kim Wong also tried to downplay the expectations related to LG's upcoming line of devices equipped with flexible displays. As a refresher, there were multiple reports originating in the Korean press about LG's progress in the area. The flexible display that was demoed at SID last week was said to come in a commercial product by the end of the year. However, according to the LG executive, the technology isn't yet mature enough, and we shouldn't expect a device with a flexible display this year. This statement seems to suggest that LG, like its local rival Samsung, isn't yet able to reach commercial yields for its plastic-based panel technology.

The executive went on to reiterate LG's plans to make most of the crucial components that go into its mobile product in-house, and thus emulate Samsung's very successful strategy.

In related news, Wong also suggested that LG isn't working on the new Nexus smartphone, and, furthermore, that the company isn't interested in offering a Google Edition phone, as Samsung did with the GS4, and HTC is said to be doing with the HTC One. However, LG quickly sent a clarification to The Next Web, saying that LG is not working on the next Nexus, but that doesn’t mean the company isn’t interested in making it.

    


Rumor: Kyocera Hydro Elite on its way to Verizon

Posted: 28 May 2013 03:35 AM PDT

Kyocera Hydro Edge

Kyocera Hydro Edge

The Kyocera Hydro Elite will be available on Verizon at the end of June, says famed leaker @evleaks, also providing an image, which you can see below.

Apparently, you’ll be able to buy the device from Verizon for $50 on contract, but no other information is provided about the Kyocera Hydro Elite. Considering the recent release of two other devices bearing the Hydro name, the Hydro EDGE and Hyrdo XTRM at CTIA 2013, it’s pretty easy to assume that the device will be nothing else than a variation on the same theme. The EDGE and XTRM are headed to Sprint  U.S. Cellular, respectively.

Kyocera Hydro Elite

What can you expect?

Well, the Kyocera Hydro Elite will certainly be a rugged smartphone, water- and dust-proof, and capable of withstanding some serious shocks.

It will probably get the same four-inch display its “brothers” use, at a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, as well as a dual-core CPU (the other two models have 1GHz and 1.2GHz CPUs) and 1GB of RAM. Both the XTRM and EDGE have 4GB of internal memory, which you can expand via the microSD slot.

Judging by the price, it’s hard to imagine that the specs will be much higher than what the other two models are offering and, to get a better idea about them, you can check out our hands-on of the two devices, at CTIA 2013.

Are you a fan of rugged smartphones? Are you looking forward to the Kyocera Hydro Elite?

    


Nexus 7 with Android 4.3 spotted at Bluetooth SIG

Posted: 28 May 2013 03:25 AM PDT

10-again-why-choose-nexus-7-rooted

An Asus-made Nexus 7 running Android 4.3 has been recently spotted in a Bluetooth SIG filing.

Dated May 27, the filing includes some very interesting information. Although the documentation doesn’t specifically say that the device is the Nexus 7, the “7″ tablet” described in it features a familiar model number: ME370T.

ME370T is the model number of the first Nexus 7, which definitely is a clue that the rumors could come true and we’ll get to see a new model soon enough (tablet component suppliers confirm a July release date). The Asus device is said to use LTPS panels with 1920 x 1200 resolution, as well as a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU.

However, the model number is not the only interesting detail in Asus’s filing, as it also mentions the device running software version number JWR11, which seems to be an Android 4.3 build – it certainly is a new software version not available on other Nexus devices. You may remember that we’ve noticed quite a few Android 4.3 builds not too long ago in our server logs.

Nexus 7

Just a few days ago, Android 4.3 has been seen running on a Nexus 4 at Thailand Mobile Expo, with a user even able to film a video of the new camera interface.

This only seems to confirm that, if the Nexus 7 will be made available for you to buy in July, we can expect a June announcement of both the new Nexus 7 and Android 4.3.

Are you a Nexus 7 user? Do you plan on switching to the new version when it will come out?

    


Nexus 5 not an LG job, Google Edition phone not in the works either [Update]

Posted: 28 May 2013 03:07 AM PDT

Sony Xperia Z vs Google Nexus 4 aa (25)

An LG exec revealed in an interview with a publication that the company will not make the LG Nexus 5 and that a Google Edition version of one of its flagship devices isn't planned either.

LG Mobile Europe vice president Won Kim told All About Phones that while the Nexus 4 was a great marketing success for the company, LG will not make the Nexus 5. According to him, such a device is not necessary for LG's brand and profits. We would disagree, but then again we’re not in charge of LG’s mobile operations.

The same exec also said that LG doesn't plan to counter the Galaxy S4 Google Edition with a Nexus experience version of its flagship devices. Apparently LG strongly believes in the value its user interface brings to the table, and it's not interested in releasing devices running stock Android.

LG is not entirely done with Nexus devices just yet, as earlier today the company did announce the white Nexus 4, a device that's similar to the black version except for the new paint job.

Earlier this year a rumor claimed that LG may be working on a new Nexus smartphone, but it looks like the company is clearly interested in putting the chatter around a potential LG Nexus 5 at rest.

As for Google Experience handsets, while LG may not be interested in such a device at this time, word on the street is that HTC would join Samsung in releasing such Google Experience handsets this year with a Nexus experience HTC One model.

LG mentioned that its relationship with Google is a very good one, even though the two companies won’t cooperate on a new Nexus device.

That said, who do you want to make your next Nexus smartphone?

[Update:] In a comment to The Next Web, LG confirmed that it’s not currently working on the Nexus 5, but that it would still consider such a proposal from Google:

What Mr. Won Kim said is that we are not currently working on a Nexus 5, which is true. But that doesn't mean we would turn down the opportunity.