Sigh. I don’t even know where to start with this one. The folks over at Microsoft have a new commercial that’s making the rounds where they’ve put the flagship and top-tier Samsung GALAXY S 4 against the Nokia Lumia 521. Yes the budget friendly 521 and it’s 1 GHz dual-core processor and low price is being compared to the king of all Android phones. It’s pretty comical so take a peek below.
The Lumia 521 comes with a 1.0 GHz dual-core and only 512MB of RAM. The 4-inch screen has a 2009-style 480 x 800 resolution display. Oh, and it runs Windows Phone. The phone does have one good thing going for it, and that is the price. Being nearly free on contract, or $149 outright Nokia did do a good job with making it a quality budget smartphone.
The problem here isn’t the device, it’s that they compare it and the $149 price with Samsung’s GALAXY S 4, while claiming the GS 4 will cost $750. So while the add isn’t really comparing both phones, Microsoft wants to show us what all we can buy with the money saved if you choose a Lumia 521. It’s a noble try, but I found it quite funny and figured our readers would too.
In the end they want you to know that $750 is way too much for a phone when you can get the Lumia 521 for $149. Sadly almost everyone (at least in the U.S.) will get it on contract for $199, and that $49 difference for a 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core power, 13 megapixel camera, and the latest Android 4.2.2 is 100% worth it. In every aspect. It’s just laughable that they actually took the time to make this a full out commercial.
Yes, we know they aren’t actually comparing the phones head on vs each other, but when you look at it realistically the price difference isn’t big enough that people will honestly see this and choose a Lumia. Just my $0.02 on the matter. What do you guys think?
Earlier today we mentioned a game being released to accompany the movie with World War Z, and now we’re seeing the same thing for the upcoming action film After Earth. Will Smith style and all. In a partnership with Sony Pictures, the team at Reliance Games is releasing a new game for Android and other mobile devices, called After Earth. It’s basically an endless runner but it actually could be pretty fun so take a peek below.
Even if the movie took some design and visual hints from Avatar it still looks pretty darn good. The game will closely follow the movie, and ties in directly with the cast. A cast which doesn’t have too many people so you won’t need to worry about that. The movie has Will Smith and his son fighting all types of animals so making this an endless runner actually works quite well.
It’s a little bit of Temple Run and a little of Iron Man 3 blend into their own game to coincide with the movie. They describe it as a game “based on the film where you can slide, leap and fly through perilous terrain, and slice and dice evil creatures that lurk in the dark with your cutlass sword.” And here’s the launch trailer too:
After watching the preview the game actually looks quite fun. Being everything and more that Temple Run 2 is, although we’ll have to try it before we give it a thumbs up. It’ll run users a quick $0.99 on the Google Play Store and so far it has mixed reviews. A few screen flickering issues are mentioned, as well as no exit button, but otherwise things are looking good.
With story mode offering 20 challenges, an infinite mode to test your durability and concentration, and tons to collect from coins, new suits and more this should keep you entertained – for longer than the movie will. Give it a try today and let us know what you think.
At the big D11 conference yesterday we learned a lot about Google and Motorola‘s plans. Obviously a lot of their focus is on the upcoming Motorola X-Phone, but the company is also looking into the future too. With wearable computing like Google Glass and beyond quickly approaching our daily lives, Motorola wants to be at the front of the pack with many new technologies. Things like digital tattoos and even pills that you can swallow to replace your passwords.
Pretty crazy stuff when you really think about it. At the event Regina Dugan, SVP for Advanced Technology and projects at Motorola, showed off some rather neat technology that’s current under development. One being a digital tattoo that users can wear for over a week. This would cut down on the authentication and password processes we go through multiple times daily with our gadgets.
Imagine a simple tattoo you could wear for a week or longer. You wouldn’t need slide to unlock or other passcode access measures on your smartphone. It would know you’re the one using it, and thus remove those authentication measures. If someone else tries to access a device or wearable, they won’t be so lucky. This is just one of many neat things, but the next one is even more bizarre. Imagine taking a pill that will do this all too. Yes, that’s real too and apparently already cleared the FDA.
The “smart pills” come from Proteus Digital Health that you can swallow and then are powered by the acid in the users stomach. Eww right? We wonder how long they last and how exactly this works. These pills create an 18-bit signal in your body which acts as your own personal “authentication token.” That’s just creepy if you ask me. Would you take one each morning with your daily vitamins and medication?
In the end we won’t be seeing anything like this anytime soon. Google’s working on the next-gen Motorola X-Phone with all types of next-gen sensors and such, but vitamin authentication pills and tattoos are still a long ways away.
Much of the recent DROID DNA talk has been focused on the topic of the HTC One. Specifically, as to whether or not the HTC One is coming to Verizon Wireless as the replacement for the now six-month old DROID DNA. Assuming you are a Verizon user that is eligible, or close to being eligible for an upgrade, those talks were probably what you wanted to hear. On the flip side though, there are plenty of DROID DNA users that are going to be tied to an agreement for quite a bit longer and that group is most likely thinking of updates.
That being the case, it looks like there may be a bit of good news coming. Keep in mind, this has yet to be confirmed by Verizon or HTC, but it looks like your Sense 5 update is coming sometime this summer. What we have instead is coming by way of Twitter user @LlabTooFeR, who in the past has been fairly reliable when it comes to HTC related information. Anyway, the question as to when Sense 5 would be arriving for the DROID DNA was recently asked and in reply, we saw the following;
“This summer for sure.”
We do have to keep in mind that “this summer” is still a rather open timeframe. Not to mention, even if that is the plan for now, things can and often do change when it comes to carrier provided updates. Verizon tends to not pre-announce updates. Or if they do offer some sort of an announcement changelog, that is usually posted shortly before the update begins rolling out.
While the DROID DNA is already running Jelly Bean, the Sense 5 update is expected to arrive with a bump in version number. Looking back, HTC has already confirmed that a Sense 5 update would be available for the DROID DNA. Sense 5 is also expected for other HTC handsets to include the One X, One X+ and One S as well as the Butterfly.
Lastly, while we may be a bit hesitant to pick up a DROID DNA at this very moment, the handset does remain available in the Verizon lineup. Big Red has the device priced at $199.99 on a two-year agreement and in addition to running Jelly Bean, the handset sports a 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core 1.5GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 2020 mAh battery and 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. With that, those considering a DROID DNA purchase may also benefit from our review.
After a seemingly never ending beta period, Nuance Communications released the Swype keyboard app into the Google Play Store in late-April. While the Play Store version of the app should have been familiar to anyone that had been using the beta release, it did come with a price to pay. Specifically, the Swype app arrived priced at $0.99. And while we suspect some long time beta users may have had a hard time paying, there is one perk that has come as a result of parting with that dollar.
The perk is updates. Simply put, it is nice to have the updates managed by way of the Google Play Store. You get the notification and updating is pretty painless. With that in mind, Nuance has just recently rolled out an updated release. This latest update has arrived as version 1.5.6.16542 and perhaps more important than the long string of numbers — there are some decent improvements and fixes.
The folks at Swype have said the Dragon Dictation UI has been improved and the next word prediction accuracy has been improved. Two decent perks right there, however those using the Mail app on an HTC One will also have a fix for the word duplication issues. Additionally, there was also mention of unspecified user reported crash issues having been fixed along with other bug fixes and optimizations.
The list of available themes has also grown by one with this latest update. Those looking to switch up the keyboard theme can head to Settings -> Language and Input and then clicking the gear icon to the right of the Swype + Dragon keyboard option. From here you click Settings (top option in the list) and then choose the option for Themes (also on top). The default is likely set to Holo, however there are plenty of options to include Arctic, Silver and Night as well as the Classic layout. In total there are now 14 themes.
Additionally, this update has also added support for new languages as well as brought updated language databases for several other languages. The new languages include; Afrikaans, Irish, Javanese, Sesotho, Sundanese, Swahili, Xhosa and Zulu. The updated language databases include; French, German, Italian, Spanish and Russian. With that, those who have already purchased Swype will get this update for free. For those who have yet to try Swype and are afraid to part with the buck, there is a trial available in the Google Play Store as “Swype Keyboard Trial.”
When Google purchased Motorola for over $12 billion in 2011, many (myself included) thought Motorola would be the first company to release what we’re now seeing as Google or Nexus experience phones. However, Samsung managed to beat them to the punch, and now even HTC. What gives? Google told us they built a firewall between Android and Motorola, but could the next wave of Motorola phones all be Google Editions? Yup.
The entire process of buying Motorola Mobility needed to be handled with care, and Google knew it. They couldn’t give Motorola a huge edge over the competition, as that wouldn’t be too nice, and surely their other partners (read: Samsung, HTC, LG and more) wouldn’t be very happy. While I thought we’d be seeing a few Motorola Nexus phones already, that never happened.
However things are starting to change. Samsung has their flagship GALAXY S 4 hitting the Play Store in late June with stock Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, as does HTC with the One, and they’ll get updated regularly and nearly at the same speed of a Nexus device. Being dubbed a Google Edition and Nexus experience device. Now it’s Motorola’s turn.
We know Google has big plans for Motorola, and their CEO even confirmed the Moto X is real and coming this summer. Personally, we think Motorola needs to showcase exactly what they’ll be offering before these “Google Edition” phones go on sale. Motorola needs to show the consumers what they have in the works, and why we should want them over the GALAXY S 4 or the HTC One. So far they’re more than a few months behind, and there’s no announcement date in sight. You better hurry Motorola!
This brings us to the Motorola X (as Dennis Woodside called it) or the X-Phone. Or as recent FCC filings have shown, the XFON. This device has been leaked more than a few times and has been spotted clearing the FCC for AT&T, Verizon, and others. So far the reports are still scattered regarding exactly what the specs will be, but we’re betting they’ll be impressive.
Could this push for Google Edition phones for other manufacturers be Google’s way of playing nice (and fair) as they prepare to launch all upcoming Motorola devices on completely stock Android? It’s a real possibility.
We’re not sure what the future holds. We don’t know how stock the Moto X will, or won’t be, but we know it’s coming. If the smartphone does indeed launch on all carriers like rumors suggest and isn’t stock Android, you can bet Google will have a XFON Google Edition for sale in the Play Store. Things are getting interesting folks. How do you see it playing out over the next 2-3 months?
My guess is the XFON will be the first devices to launch with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean out of the box, and will arrive a few weeks after Google pushes the same update to the Nexus 4, 7 and 10. Whenever that may be.
The NBA playoffs are both a good thing, and a bad thing for people like myself. They keep me somewhat entertained while patiently waiting for the NFL season to return, but also remind me just how much better Football really is. These last few months as we wait for even pre-season to start seem to take forever, and while we’re waiting the folks from NFL.com are getting ready for the 2013 NFL season.
Today NFL.com and their Fantasy Football app was updated for the new season, and along with it comes tons of changes. The app actually works now. For some odd and ridiculous reason most users couldn’t even use the app last year, myself included, so it’s nice to see it finally updated with a working and decent UI. It’s a blend between Android and iOS in terms of the look, but at least it works!
Now it has all the players, stats, record listings, updated news feeds and much more. Being able to see player stats, injury reports and more is nice (that’s what Bleacher Report is for) and the only important part for me was the UI, and actually being able to manage my Fantasy Team. Last year 90% of the buttons weren’t working in the app, which is depressing for the official NFL app, so at least they’ve fixed that.
You’ll be able to manage multiple teams in a way that is actually useful with the app this year, and you can even draft and prepare your league as we speak. I’ve done a mock draft or two already, but won’t be doing anything official until we get closer to the season. For all you die hard NFL and Fantasy fans, get the new app below, and hold on because the season is coming soon enough.
Verizon users haven’t really been able to use Google Wallet on their devices. Verizon opted to go with ISIS for mobile payments and despite seeing frequent complaints from users, that doesn’t appear like it will be changing any time soon. Basically, Verizon Wireless users have been blocked from using Google Wallet. That would be the standard rule here, however there is the option to run Google Wallet if you are willing to do a bit of work to make it happen.
Well, technically the folks at xda developers have done most of the hard work. Nonetheless, there is still some work involved on the part of the end user. And in this case, it looks like Google Wallet is now up and running on the GALAXY S 4. That is, provided your GALAXY S 4 is rooted. Specifically, the xda forums note that you will need to be rooted and have a custom recovery.
The necessary files, along with the directions can all be found in the xda forums and the good news is how this will work for those using a TouchWiz- or AOSP-based ROM. Those who have already rooted their GALAXY S 4 have a head start here and can proceed directly to the part where you get Wallet installed, set-up and running. Thankfully though, the process shouldn’t be all that difficult even if you are still unrooted.
Just yesterday we mentioned the one-click root tool that came available for Verizon GALAXY S 4 users. You should make sure you are comfortable with messing with your phone, but the process doesn’t seem all that involved or difficult. In fact, aside from downloading (and unzipping) the zip file, there are only five other steps. The one catch with the one-click Verizon GALAXY S 4 root tool — it requires the use of Windows PC.
Bottom line here, as long as you are ok with rooting your phone and running a modified version of Google Wallet, you can now swipe your smartphone instead of your credit card. That all being said, the xda forums have a nice set of directions that are broken down into simple steps but remember that you should still read, re-read and make sure you do not skip any steps in the process.
While we already have enough zombie-inspired games on Android, today one was released by the popular Phosphor Games Studio in collaboration with the upcoming movie starring Brad Pitt, World War Z. There’s some impressive looking movies coming out in 2013 (like Superman) but I’m oddly excited for World War Z too, even if the title is god awful. However, we now have a pretty stellar looking game to play at the same time.
Released today to the Google Play Store is World War Z the game, and the visuals and graphics actually look fairly decent. Developed by Paramount Digital Entertainment and the team behind the Horn adventure game, you know it should be a pretty quality release. They even have a teaser trailer showing us what to expect before throwing down cash on the game.
So who doesn’t like killing loads and loads of zombies? No one! That’s why we have an abundance of similar games in the Play Store. It follows the movie, not the short story book, and comes with 28 first person shooter action filled levels, and what the developers call “intense combat, engaging puzzles, upgradable weapons and armor, and unlimited challenge mode.” That unlimited challenge mode sounds familiar, and is probably loads of fun. Check it out.
With tons of different options, settings, customizations to make your player unique and even over a dozen upgradable weapons you should be well-equipped to handle the hoards of zombies. It even mentions hand-to-hand combat, so we might be fighting a few off with a knife or machete. Sounds good to me. Get it below for about 5 bucks.
You're probably thinking that at $70 a month, and with an offer of Gigabit speeds, Google Fiber is another one of Google's incredible experiments to see what would be possible if we were all connected to the internet at breakneck speeds. However, Google, in typical Google fashion, has decide that Fiber isn't just another science experiment, instead it’s actually "a great business to be in.”
We expect to make money from Google Fiber, this is a great business to be in.
That was the official statement that Milo Medin, vice president of access services, gave at the Fiber-to-Home Council meeting stated on Wednesday. Now you're thinking, what, I pay almost double that and I still don't get anywhere near Gigabit speeds.
Well the project has been made possible by the partnership of Google and the cities that it is building the Fiber network for. By keeping the costs of rolling out the network as low as possible, Google can then afford to offer blazing fast internet at an affordable price.
But there's also a bit of bad news. Once Google completes installing Fiber in one location, it moves on to the next, meaning that customers who aren't completely bought on the idea when it rolls around to their area of the neighbourhood, might not get another chance for a long time.
If you miss out on that installation, we may not get back to you for a long time.
You know what that means Austin residents, with Fiber headed to you very soon, you should pick up that pen and sign that agreement form, you might not get another chance for a while.
Our very own Nate Swanner has an interview with the Fiber team next week, and we'll be sure to ask Google on its plans for the future of Fiber.
Now all I need is for Google to start expanding to other areas even faster, so I'll start the bidding at $110 a month, anyone prepared to make a bigger offer?
This week on Android Authority On Air, we talked about one of the most important rumors to become official in a while, the Motorola X Phone. At All Things Digital, D11, Motorola officially announced the Moto X. The X is going to be a new direction for Motorola and we couldn’t be more excited. The Moto X phone will be the first smartphone fully assembled in the United States and be available sometime this summer. Another major outing thanks to All Things Digital, the HTC One with a Nexus user experience. It will be available on the Play Store on June 26th and cost $600, which is $50 less than the Samsung Galaxy S4 with a similar Nexus user experience. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini also became official this week. It’s…not too exciting but, we talked about it anyways. To make fun of it. Last on the device news front this week is a rumored HTC 5.9″ device rockin’ a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. Exciting.
On to Android app updates, Google really likes to use their new app roll out feature. This week Calendar received a hefty update and so did Google Music. If you’re a Google Apps user, you’re admins will be happy with Google’s new Google Admin app as well.
If you’re into rootin’ and ROMin’ you’ll be happy to know that CyanogenMod continues to get even more stable with CM10.1 Release Candidate 3 and the AT&T SGS4 variant is now getting the nightly build treatment.
In addition to the AT&T logo present on the back of the device, you can also see the Galaxy S4 Active product name, a detail that wasn't available on that previously leaked red version of the handset.
Speaking of colors, it looks like this is the dark grey model, which should hit AT&T in the near future (model number SGH-I537) assuming this leak is real – there's always a chance that such images are fake even if they come from a trusted source. The Unlockr reports that the handset would also be available in teal.
The design of the Galaxy S4 Active in this image is pretty much in line with what we've seen in that red version. We have a metallic case with bolts on the back and three physical buttons on the front side.
The handset is said to pack a 5-inch 1080p Super AMOLED touchscreen display, 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, 16GB of storage, 8-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, LTE, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with TouchWiz on top.
The Galaxy S4 Active is yet to become official but we wouldn't be surprised to see it on stage in London, during that June 20 media event. We have no idea though when the handset would be launched in the U.S. by AT&T, or whether other carriers will also pick it up.
Looking at that screen, you can easily spot June 21 as the date, which could hint a potential announcement and/or launch date with AT&T.
Just a few days ago,we reported on a new video posted to Nvidia’s blog that showed off the pre-loaded games and other special features that will come with the Shield. Now Nvidia has also revealed their plans to have 25+ games optimized and ready to go for the Shield, from day one.
While Nvidia didn’t give us a full list of the games, they did mention that they consider three of the best titles to be Burn Zombie Burn, ARMA Tactic THD and Dead Arrival 2.
You might notice that none of these games are new or exclusive to Tegra 4, and already play nicely with Tegra 3 devices.
So how while they differ on the Shield? They will likely have enhanced graphics that take advantage of the Tegra 4′s extra processing power. Additionally, the games will be fine-tuned to work flawlessly with the Shield’s built-in controller.
If you were hoping for something “bigger” as a launch title for the platform, don’t start worrying yet. It is very possible that Nvidia still has a few surprises in store for us.
What do you think of the Nvidia Shield, can it truly compete against traditional handheld gaming consoles, or is it a niche product with limited appeal?
We are all mobile geeks, here at Android Authority. We love everything with a power button. We like to comment the latest news and endlessly argue over which phone is better. On the Friday Debate, we pick a hot issue and proceed to discuss it. Join us!
Since Google unveiled the Galaxy S4 with the Nexus user experience (colloquially known as the Google Edition), followed yesterday by the HTC One, the Android community has been debating the virtues and the sins of stock Android on one side, and of the so-called skins, such as TouchWiz, Sense, or Optimus UI on the other. Each camp has some good arguments, but ultimately it may be just a question of taste. Still, that probably won’t stop anyone from arguing.
In this Friday Debate, we try to answer the age old question – which is better, stock or skins? Join us in the comments.
Darcy LaCouvee
No skin or UI is fundamentally perfect; Android allows for us to change quite a bit without the need for root and reflashing of a new ROM.
That being said, I can’t stand HTC’s Sense. Terrible font selection. Samsung’s Touchwiz isn’t perfect, but it’s still very functional, and there’s numerous ways to accomplish tasks. It’s pretty fugly though.
Good ‘ol vanilla Android reigns supreme for its clean and refined aesthetic, but I still feel it’s lacking.
I’ve played with a lot of devices, and I’m most impressed by ASUS’ compliments to an otherwise squeaky clean build of Android. Huawei’s UI is very, very flexible, and their latest version really allows you to make it your own. LG has come a long way as well, and they should be commended.
Bottom line – each and every user needs to be given a choice. They should be offered this from the moment they boot their device from the first time. Imposing what you think is ‘best’ on anyone is never a wise course of action. It has to be a collaborative process, and I don’t think it would be particularly difficult for manufacturers to collaborate with Google to create such a system. Give the choice to the people!
Alex Serban
I’ve always liked Vanilla Android. I’ve been a Nexus fan right from the begging and I still own a Nexus device, even though it’s a bit old. I like the idea of a phone that comes with a clean, powerful interface which allows the handset to perform at its very best.
When it comes to skins, there is no better way to customize a smartphone than starting from something clean. For instance, the stock Android experience can be peppered with a 3rd party launcher, lock screen, application icons, wallpaper and so on. Once you start searching the market, you’ll find several tools that can transform a global phone and truly make it yours.
The idea of a manufacturer made interface may seem appealing for some, but I do not agree with the amount of unnecessary clutter and useless applications. For those reasons, I personally dislike Samsung’s and HTC’s work.
Furthermore, Google’s intervention to release clean versions of the Samsung Galaxy SIV and HTC One is a first good step into liberating the Android world and giving people an option.
Bogdan Bele
Even if along the way I came across some pretty useful skins, that I like – Samsung’s TouchWiz is the first one that comes to my mind – I still like vanilla Android better.
I like the fact that I can do whatever I want to it, apply my own vision, if you will, and make it my own. More than that, stock Android makes me somehow feel closer to Google’s initial intentions. I get the feeling that I’m using Android the way it was meant to be used (if that makes any sense).
Even if that’s my preference, I totally support the idea of device manufacturers putting their own skins on top of Android. Choice is one of the most important parts of Android’s beauty and I most certainly wouldn’t want that side of it spoiled.
Adam Koueider
I’ve thought about this long and hard and I’ve come to the conclusion that the best way to analyze the Stock vs Skins debate is through the use of an analogy. Guys I’m warning you from here, I’m either going to sound like a genius, or a complete idiot, but I’m hoping for the former, so here it goes.
There are two houses on a street, one is up for rent, while the other is up for sale, and from the outside they are seemingly identical, but on the inside they are very different.
Let’s start with the one up for rent (aka the skinned device), it comes with all the necessities, a bathroom, a kitchen, even some furniture, in fact if you had to, you could actually live in the house without any additions. Sure you can move the furniture around, perhaps you can add a bit of furniture, maybe even put up a family portrait, but it never is actually “yours”.
Then there is the home up for sale. This house has only the basic necessities in it, the plumbing, electricity and gas lines are in, and the walls are up, but apart from that, you’re on your own. This is for the people who like to create a unique home, people who are happy to choose the color themes, what tiles they’d like, the style of the doors and everything in between.
That’s what stock Android is, Google gives us the basic necessities of a smartphone and then sets us on a treasure hunt to find what works for us. A person who is looking to customize their device to the max, won’t settle for a petty “renovation”, no, they want to start with a clean slate. They’ll knock it all down and build it from the ground up.
So here’s the part where you expect me to give you a definitive answer. “Stock Android is better, because blah, blah, blah…”, or perhaps “TouchWiz is just too good to pass on…”, but the answer is that it depends. If you’re a person who wants to turn their brand new device on and from the get go, be able to use the device, then buy a skinned device form your manufacturer of choice. But if you want to pick and choose, each and every aspect of your smartphone, then you’d probably be better off with a stock device.
The Stock vs Skins debate has been raging on for years now, and it will probably rage on for the many eons to come (and that’s a good thing guys, it’s called progress). So how about we make everybody happy (Gasp! Yes it is possible). I ended my last addition to the Friday Debate calling for an option to use either Stock Android or your respective skin, so I’ll end this week’s addition with the same request.
"Would you like to use TouchWiz or Stock Android as your launcher?" Is that too much to ask for?
Robert Triggs
I’m a man who loves customization for the simple reason that I’m easily bored.
I’m one of those types who changes their wallpaper weekly and constantly tweaks the look of their device with widgets like UCCW. There's also five themes constantly installed on my device to switch between once I'm sick of the old color scheme.
Vanilla Android is the perfect blank canvass in my opinion, inoffensive to look at, there's plenty of functionality, and it's easy to customize. Not to mention the plethora of themes available for stock Android based ROMs.
Feature wise, again I’ve never been a huge fan of Touchwiz or Sense. They’re functional but a little bloated, I much prefer third party launchers like Nova Prime. Despite Samsung's best attempts to innovate, I’ve found that it's always packing in features that I simply don't use. Nova, on the other hand, keeps it simple yet throws in small functions that now I can't live without.
Of course, it all boils down to personal preference. I have nothing against Touchwiz or Sense specifically, they’re perfectly functional, but I’m just too easily bored with them.
To be honest my handset doesn’t resemble stock Android or any other launcher, it's a unique blend of features, widgets, and themes that suit my aesthetic and functional preferences. But that's one of the reasons why I love Android, customization is king.
I much prefer the barebones Android experience, so to speak. I liken it to being able to take scrap materials and build an entire PC. I just need the basics.
Less is more, at least for me. And the fewer customizations laid on top of my user interface, the better I can operate my devices.
In the face of stiff tablet competition from the likes of Acer and Samsung, ASUS isn't resting on its laurels. Reportedly, the Taiwanese firm intends to unveil a successor to its 7-inch budget device Memo Pad at Computex this year.
Dubbed the Memo Pad HD, the tablet is a major improvement over its predecessor. Whereas the Memo Pad had a 1024×600 resolution, 169 PPI display, the new tablet sports a 1280×720 pixel screen. Its internals have received a significant upgrade, as well: the Memo Pad HD features a quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. In addition, it supports the standard array of 802.11 wireless (b/g/n), Bluetooth, and GPS.
While the Memo Pad launched at $149, ASUS will allegedly sell the Memo Pad HD for $169 because of increased component costs. It'll be available, like the Memo Pad, in several different colors: white, black, blue, pink, and yellow.
ASUS has been a powerful player in the Android device market for quite a while. The Memo Pad HD, when launched, should further cement the company's position as one of the dominant manufacturers in the tablet space.
The Samsung ARM Chromebook is ubiquitous to the lineup. It was the first to be offered at an attractive price point, and opened many of us up to the possibilities and benefits of Chromebooks, and Chrome OS. While not without its issues (Netflix, anyone?), The ARM Chromebook continues to pace the market.
Though powerful, the ARM Chromebook has its limitations. Handling multiple tabs can be a chore, causing older tabs to refresh without provocation. For some, this is a nuisance. It can be controlled with a few tweaks, but the average user isn't interested in manipulation. Samsung may be changing that soon, bringing their next generation ARM chipset to the Chromebook.
Called the big.LITTLE ARM processor, the architecture is not new to us. Having been implemented in the Galaxy S4 international model, the chipset balances power between those smaller processes (like background information or tasks) and bigger ones (GPS use, games with intense graphics, etc.).
While the Chromebook may not have what we consider those "big" tasks, it very well could in the near future. With Packaged Apps on the horizon, Chromebooks may need a lot more processing power. The continued shift toward HTML5 will mean many more apps, web or packaged, and that means more multitasking.
A chipset like the big.LITTLE could also mean a better device altogether. This could be the first hint at a mid-level Chromebook Pixel, replete with more memory and touchscreen we've grown so fond of. Then again, this news isn't official, and comes from someone who is "well informed about the plans of the two companies". We'll see how it plays out.
After all the gossip and rumors, earlier this week we learned that the white LG Nexus 4 was making its way over to Hong Kong, with a limited rollout coming to select markets "in the coming weeks". Apparently that time has already come, at least for those of us in the United States.
The white Nexus 4 is now available in 8GB and 16GB variants, includes a free white bumper, and comes with the same $299 and $349 pricing we all know and love. It’s also worth mentioning that T-Mobile carries the white version as well, listed at $427.99. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to qualify for a payment plan option.
Outside of the color change, the specs for the white version remain the same as the original black model, not that that’s a bad thing. For those that need a refresher, you can check out the full specs here.
If you’ve been waiting off on the Nexus 4 up until now and are finally considering it, be sure to check out our full review:
Keep in mind that only the United States seems to have the white version of the Nexus 4 available on Google Play so far, no word of the Canada, the UK or any other market.
How about it, now that it is available, do you plan to pickup a white LG Nexus 4?
While you may not consider the Samsung Galaxy S4 to be the most innovative product of the year, it’s certainly one of the biggest releases. It’s a very nice handset, and it has performed remarkably well in our versus tests with other devices, such as the HTC One. However, the Galaxy S4 doesn’t come in a whole lot of colors just yet.
The big difference between the two colors variants is the LED light. On the Black Mist Galaxy S4, the LED is basically invisible when it’s not flashing. It’s the same thing with the Frost White variant, but the sensors on the phone are more visible. They feel a bit more hidden on the Black Mist variant due to the darker color.
On the other hand, the lights from the capacitive buttons on the Frost White model give off light into the body of the device. That isn’t the case with the Black Mist variant.
When it comes to the two color options, the assumption is that Frost White is probably the most popular given the fact that Mist Black wasn’t available on some carriers right away. Frost White on the Galaxy S4 is really nice and is certainly my favorite out of the two. However, we’d love to hear what your preference is. Simply vote in the poll below!
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
What could be the Sony Xperia Togari (or L4) has appeared in a photo posted by French blog Nokia Day (but could very well be a fake).
The picture, which the French website received from a reader, has been published to show the Nokia Lumia 1030, but the funny thing is that a device looking like a larger Sony Xperia Z also appears in it, as you can see below. As I said, this could very well be a fake, but it could also be the first picture of the Sony Xperia Togari. To get an idea, check out the image.
As you can see, the device in the image does look very much like the Xperia Z and its Omnibalance design, “focused on creating balance and symmetry in all directions”, as Sony says. However, it seems to have the camera positioned differently than the Sony Xperia Z (which is coming to a U.S. carrier soon), and looks bigger than Sony’s flagship model – you may remember that the Sony Xperia L4 “Togari” is rumored to have a 6.4 inch display, as it is meant as Samsung Galaxy Note 3 competitor.
It’s hard to tell too much else from the image (maybe you can see something we didn’t notice), but some comments on Xperia Blog say that it’s the Xperia Z, while others tend to think what we’re seeing in the image is actually the rumored Togari.
The purported specs for the device include a better CPU than the one on the Xperia Z (Snapdragon 600 or 800), 2 GB of RAM and a 13 megapixel camera using an Exymor RS sensor, as well as NFC and an IR blaster.
What do you think? Could the device in the picture above be the Sony Xperia Togari?
Samsung has been dealt an impressive win in the Dutch Supreme Court, where their Galaxy tab 10.1 was deemed to not have infringed on the iPad design. This follows another win for Samsung, as The Hague ruled in their favor earlier this year, regarding several tablet lawsuits brought forth last fall by Apple.
In regard to the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Apple claims Samsung infringed on what the European Union calls "community design". A special designation under European intellectual property laws, community design is meant to thwart others from copying your design, i.e. copycat clothing. Meant to give lawmakers the right to shut down vendors who sell bootleg Nike shoes, Apple was unsuccessful in their attempt to use the law to block the sale of Galaxy Tabs in Sweden.
According to OHIM, the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (trademarks and design), community design is "An RCD is an exclusive right for the outward appearance of a product or part of it, resulting from the features (in particular, the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture and/or materials) of the product itself and/or its ornamentation." While that may sound pretty cut and dry, it's not. The Supreme Court in the Netherlands notes that Apple has a valid claim, but the protection offered is limited. The Hague ruled that Samsung tablets were easily distinguishable to the informed user, which the Supreme Court agreed with.
Interestingly enough, community design laws are the same throughout the European Union. While the Netherlands is a relatively small market for both vendors, this ruling sets a precedent for other European cases, pending or forthcoming. Apple will have to do better than to sport fish for Samsung and their devices.
You think your new Samsung Galaxy S4 is pretty hot stuff, right? After all, it has mind-blowing processing power, plenty of great Samsung customizations, an amazing 1080p display and Google’s latest and greatest Android Jelly Bean 4.2.
My friend, Samsung and Google are fooling you! You’re being double-Scroogled! Instead, you should ditch the Galaxy S4, and run to the Nokia Lumia 521 with open arms.
Sounds like I’ve lost my mind, doesn’t it? The idea of comparing a dual-core, low-end Windows Phone 8 smartphone to a quad-core (or octa for some), high-end Android phone is absolutely nuts, but that isn’t standing in Microsoft’s way.
The latest Windows Phone promotional video is designed to reach out to folks that are considering the purchase of a smartphone, but don’t necessary want to pay a lot to do it. At just $150 (or less in some cases), the Nokia Lumia 521 is admitedely a well-priced dual-core smartphone and it makes sense that Microsoft would want to promote it as a low-cost alternative to other devices on the market. What doesn’t make sense is the way Microsoft goes about it.
Microsoft’s goal in the video is to show us that for Lumia 521′s low price, you could get the WP8-based handset, accessories and a laptop for the same cost as the Samsung Galaxy S4. It is certainly a cute commercial idea, but one that ultimately falls a little flat.
Microsoft twisting facts to sell more Windows Phone 8 devices
The problem with the advertisement is that Microsoft twists the facts to make the Lumia 521 seem like the "obvious choice". First, they start by talking about how the Galaxy S4 is $759.99 outright. That might be true at Best Buy, but through places like Amazon, it’s actually only $650.
Also keep in mind that this ad is aimed primarily at buyers in the United States, you know, folks that largely still tend to choose subsidized handsets over buying outright. So the $760 $650 quickly drops even further, with the average person spending about $199.99 upfront.
Leaving price aside, the big kicker is that Microsoft also tries to paint the Lumia 521 (full specs here) as a performance equal to the Galaxy S4. The ad even implies the 521 might be better than the S4:
“Samsung’s new Galaxy S4 has a good camera, a good display, thousands of apps, and the ability to keep you connected to the weather, sports, news, and all of the people you care about”.
“The new Nokia Lumia 521 also has a good camera, a good display, thousands of apps, and the ability to keep you connected to the weather, sports, news, and all of the people you care about and because it’s a Windows Phone, it does so arguably better than Android”.
I applaud Nokia for creating a reasonably attractive low-end, low-cost handset, but Microsoft, what were you thinking with this commercial?
All this ad accomplishes is the use of smoke and mirrors to portray the Nokia Lumia 521 as a premium handset. What happens when these customers buy the Lumia 521 and quickly figure out that it doesn’t live up to your promises?
The Galaxy S4 is taking the Android market by storm, and most readers know that accessory manufacturers are right behind Samsung, competing to produce the best cases for the phone. Cygnett is one of those companies, and with their new line of cases for the Galaxy S4 they aim to cover all the bases. Whether you’re looking for style, increased protection, budget price, or a mix of all qualities, Cygnett has a case designed to fit your needs. I checked out six of their newest cases, and I was quite impressed with them. Check out our video, and read on to see what each new case has to offer.
Cygnett Urbanshield
This one is a stunner. It has a white body and real carbon fiber strands to attract looks and protect the Galaxy S4 from most falls. It feels very strong, and although it leaves the majority of the top and bottom on the GS4 bare, it still offers more protection in those areas than the Cygnett Form or Feel cases. The sides and back are thoroughly protected, and provide cutouts for the volume controls, power, speaker, and camera. It is also available in a full aluminum model. Buy it here.
Cygnett Cache and FlipFiber – Flip Cases
Cache case on the left, FlipFiber on the right
The Cache case is a stylish flip case, as well as a nice media companion. It ships in two colors (both grey), and has a flip-able front cover to protect the GS4′s screen. The flip cover also doubles as a support stand, so you can view media on the GS4 with ease. Similar to the Urbanshield this case leaves the bottom and top of the GS4 exposed, but would still do a fine job protecting the phone from a fall in any direction. It also features a credit/business card holder in the front flap and ships with a screen protector. Buy it here.
The FlipFiber is another flip-sytle case. It is wrapped in micro-fiber for an unmatched look and texture. The FlipFiber can’t be used as a media stand, but it easily has the best texture out of all the cases in Cygnett’s new lineup. It features a card holder, and like all Cygnett cases, ships with a screen protector. Get the FlipFiber here.
Cygnett Form and Feel Cases
Form on top, Feel on bottom
These are two classic shell cases with small differences. The Form case offers protection with a high gloss finish, while the Feel has a rubberized finish to help with grip. They offer standard protection on the back of the device, and have cutouts for easy access to all the GS4′s buttons. Get the Form here, and the Feel here.
Cygnett Workmate Evolution
This case is without a doubt the most protective of the lineup. It features three layers of protection (PC/TPU/silicone) and protects every aspect of the phone from the corners to the screen with a deep dish bezel. It is available in a variety of colors, but the blue case I tested really accented the darkness of my GS4. Buy the Workmate here.
Wrap up
In the end, I’d be satisfied using any one of these cases daily. They are built well, look nice, and feel great. Check out the links in the article and tell us what you think. Will you be getting a Cygnett?
Sundar PIchai, who heads up both Android and Chrome, was at All Things D yesterday to discuss everything Chrome and Android. We reported on what he had to say a few times yesterday, but All Things D has now made the entire interview available. Pichai discusses everything from Nexus devices to how Google really innovates.
It's a great interview, and definitely worth a look. Sundar is pretty candid and forthcoming, sharing both fact and his feelings on subjects. It's refreshing to see that the leader of Android isn't concerned with things we react to so viscerally.
Sometimes, perspective is important, and Pichai has it. Check out the full interview with Sundar and Walt Mossberg below. It's only about 30 minutes, but full of great information and insight.
A known HTC developer revealed on Twitter that the Android 4.3 update will be available for the recently announced HTC One Nexus Edition a "few weeks after release."
Just like Nexus devices – even though this special HTC One version won't actually get the Nexus name – the Nexus experience HTC One will get timely Android.
Obviously, we expect the handset to receive Android 4.3 as soon as it's available. According to LlabTooFeR, the smartphone will be updated a few weeks after release. Considering that this HTC One flavor will be launched on June 26, it must mean Android 4.3 is coming out at some point in July, at least for this device – assuming, of course, that the time frame offered by the developer is accurate.
Confirmed: HTC One Nexus Edition will get 4.3 update few weeks after release.
Acer has apparently taken a small leap out of the Windows 8 band wagon and, as CNET affirms, the company is gearing up to release an All-in-One computer powered solely by Android instead Windows 8 or even the skinned RT version.
The AiO will reportedly contain an Intel Core i5 4430 processor clocked at 3GHz, 1GB of DDR3 SDRAM and at least 8GB of storage. Considering the fact that this new processor generation will be built using the Haswell technology, which has the potential of boosting battery life of a device by 50%, we would say that the Android-Intel duo would be quite interesting.
By evading Windows 8 and opting for Android, Acer could successfully cut down retail prices to approximately $391, depending on the listing – the device is already available for sale from certain retailers, despite not being officially unveiled. Even though some retailers price the item little above $400, is still a nice price to pay for a system of this scale and power.
Acer has confirmed the news and a proper announcement is apparently set for next week. There were no mentions about the screen dimensions, display quality or design.
Does Android have what it takes?
After seeing what Google's mobile platform is capable of on a regular smartphone I dare to say that Android has what it takes to replace a fully-working desktop platform software. If Acer sets up a trend and manages to capture the interest of numerous buyers, as well as the competition, we might see a rise like none other.
The product that might suffer the most in this equation is without a doubt Windows 8. Even though Microsoft's creation is too big to fail, a popular mobile platform may have the power to turn the tides if it's going to be received well by desktop lovers. Also, another product that could be affected by Android-based PCs is Google’s Chrome OS. Speculations aside, only time will tell.
An HTC 7-inch Android tablet is in the works, says Bloomberg, quoting people familiar with the matter.
According to the same report, HTC decided to scrap the plans for a 12-inch tablet running Windows RT, due to concerns related to demand for the device.
HTC, which hasn’t been doing great lately (although there are signs of a comeback for the company, thanks to the success of the HTC One), can’t afford the marketing effort that Samsung is able to sustain, and definitely can’t afford to make any more mistakes like the HTC First. Bloomberg’s sources say that HTC deemed the 12-inch Windows RT tablet to expensive to make and retail successfully.
According to the same source, HTC plans to release a 7-inch model running Android, as well as a model with the same screen size running Windows RT. Both devices are slated to come out later this year, in September or October.
HTC refused to make any comments on the matter, and nothing’s known yet in terms of price or specs.
HTC is no stranger to making Android tablets, although slates are not exactly the company’s specialty – you may remember the HTC Flyer, HTC Evo View 4G, or the HTC Jetstream. After a quiet period on this front, HTC appears to be ready to start over with a new product.
Do you think HTC has what it takes to make a succesful Android tablet?
So we've finally confirmed the existence of the vanilla Android based HTC One, which is set for a June 26 release. The handset will be a little pricey, costing $599, but will contain exactly the same hardware as the standard One. The only difference will be the changes in software.
After the announcement, it's understandable that some HTC One customers may feel a little disappointed that they weren't given this choice before buying the original handset.
Well, according to information obtained by The Verge, HTC may be planning to do something about this. HTC is currently “examining the best way to support early adopters of the One” who may prefer a stock Android experience over Sense. This could be any number of things, but hopefully indicates that HTC is considering ROM options for users who may prefer the stock Android experience.
Perhaps we'll see some simple tools for installing the ROM made available to HTC One owners. This could work something like the support offered by Sony to help users unlock the bootloaders on their Xperia handsets, rather than having to use community made tools.
If HTC ends up supporting a method of installing stock Android, I'm curious whether installing vanilla Android on an HTC One will invalidate any warranties, which would be a bit of a kick in the teeth considering that the hardware is clearly supported.
At this point, all we know is that HTC is planning something, so we'll just have to wait and see exactly what HTC comes up with. At least there's hope for existing HTC users eager for a stock Android experience.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 has shown up in yet another leaked image, and this time it’s a pretty sharp one.
The image, which has appeared on Move Player, does show a tablet looking just like the one in previously leaked pictures. This time the device is black but it looks like it features the same thin bezel. You can take a look at the image, below.
Considering all the information floating around about it, the tablet could very well be one of the stars of the Samsung Premiere event on June 20. You may remember that devices thought to be Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 variants have been spotted not so long ago at the FCC and Bluetooth SIG.
However, it is also possible that Samsung could go the Galaxy S4 Mini‘s way, showing the product before the event. Fact is that the device has made an appearance on retail site Adorama, at a price of $329.99, meaning that we could see it very soon. Still, we haven’t heard a report of someone actually getting it yet.
In terms of specs, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 is rumored to come with an 8-inch display at a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU and 1.5GB of RAM, 8 or 16GB of memory, 5-megapixel main camera, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, and 4450mAh battery.
The tablet is said to be running Android 4.2.2 with Samsung’s own Touch Wiz interface on top of it. The funny thing is that Adorama lists it as running Android 4.1 (but that could very well be a mistake).
Are you looking forward to buying the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 when it comes out?
An image apparently of the LG Optimus G2 has hit the web, although the handset is yet to become official.
The image below shows a smartphone with a slim bezel that looks very similar to a device seen in previously leaked images. That handset was believed to be the Optimus G2 when those pictures were made public a few weeks ago (see following two images).
On the display of this phone you can see an option to send an email to G2-SW-Stability@lge.com, with G2-SW-Stability reportedly standing for "Optimus G2 software stability." The camera and sensors are placed on the left, just like in the previous images.
Other details about this unannounced device are not available at this time, and we only have one image to look at today.
The Optimus G2 is expected to be a 5-inch smartphone that will offer a 1080p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and run Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. The device's model number is said to be LG-D801, which has recently been spotted in unconfirmed benchmarks.
Image reportedly showing the LG Optimus G2
The Optimus G was launched in fall 2012, so we'd expect its successor to be unveiled around the same time this year. More importantly, the Optimus G almost-twin brother was the Nexus 4, so it only seems logical to assume that an LG-made Nexus 5 would be somewhat similar to the Optimus G2.
Just in the last few days, we've seen plenty of Nexus 5 chatter on the web. First, an LG exec seemed to indicate that the Nexus 5 will not be made by the company, although LG clarified the situation later, saying that it wouldn't refuse Google if given the opportunity. Then we learned that an LG Nexus 5 may already be in testing.
Image reportedly showing the LG Optimus G2
That said, we're not surprised to hear that LG is already working on the Optimus G2 and/or the Nexus 5, but we’ll have to wait a while until any of these devices becomes official.
Nutrition information is the latest feature to be added to Google Search, making it easier for you to watch what you eat, even when on the go.
According to an article on the official Google Search blog, the feature has already launched in the English version of search and will start rolling out in the U.S. in the next ten days. Presumably, it will be available in the rest of the world soon enough, too.
The feature uses the Google Knowledge Graph and seems to be as straightforward to use as anything Google – you just ask it (via Voice Search, if you prefer that), how many calories are in a certain food, and you get your answer instantly. You can even ask it about the carb or protein content of a certain dish, and you’ll promptly get your response.
As you would expect, it can make connections in order to provide you with the most accurate results possible, giving you related foods, too, if it’s necessary. The blog post says that asking it about “summer squash cards” will also tell you about zucchini, as it fits the category.
This feature will probably be at its most useful when you’re on a diet and you’re eating out, as it can help you pick something out of the menu that doesn’t affect your diet.
What do you think of the new nutrition information feature? Will it be useful to you?
Considered one of the best file navigators in our productivity apps round-up, Root Explorer has just received a massive update, bringing the application to version 3.0. While the app used to feel a bit unpolished, Speed Software decided yesterday to upgrade the general experience with a wide range of helpful features.
A popular choice among seasoned Android users, Root Explorer can now be used with a new tabbed interface which lets owners browse different sections of the phone. The default view contains the Root and the Storage tab, but these can be changed to accommodate any portion of the drive, including casual folders, external storage, or even an external network.
These actions and more can be performed with the help of a few buttons situated in the upper-right side of the window. For instance, by pressing the "+" sign, you have the possibility to add a new tab and by tapping on "X" a tab will be closed.
Another great idea was to make the application compatible with some important cloud services, such as Dropbox, Google Drive and Box.net. Using this feature users can now transfer files from the Root Explorer interface, without the need of the standard application whatsoever. In other words, if you don't care about synchronizing files with a distant terminal, transfers can be initiated and completed just by using this navigator. The same goes for any other standard server that works with the server message block protocol (SMB).
Speaking of transfers, casual copy and paste actions are now friendlier with large files, allowing for the whole process to run in the background. For example, when copying a high-resolution movie from the internal storage to the SD card using Root Explorer, the navigator will automatically hide the process and send the user a notification when the job is completed.
In the meantime, the front panel can still be used to initiate other transfers or for navigation. The progress of all transfers can be viewed using a new action status bar, which also allows multiple tasks to be canceled at once.
As far as icons go, the possibility to manually assign custom icons to each and every file type is truly awesome. Moreover, the Preferences menu has been modified to accommodate several customization options, which allows the user to sort files or folders by name, date, size and type.
In addition, Root Explorer also features the following:
Full access to Android system files (including the data folder)
Text editor and SQLite database viewer
Compressed files support
Script execution and search functions
Bookmarks
Push files through email and Bluetooth
Shortcut creation and MD5 summary
To fully access this range of new features users will have to update Root Explorer and agree to a modified set of permissions, which now asks for full network access, the ability to prevent the phone from sleeping, and to modify accounts on the devices.
Those interested in the new version can purchase the application directly from Google Play for $3.99, with a 24 hour refund period. While mostly helpful for rooted terminals, the navigator also works with stock Androids.
The Sony Xperia Z will finally be available with a U.S. carrier, according to what Sony CEO Kaz Hirai has said at a recent conference.
Speaking with reporters after appearing at All Things D‘s D11 conference, the Sony official has admitted that there was still “a lot of stuff to do” in the U.S. market for the company. Included in the “stuff” is also selling the Sony Xperia Z in partnership with a carrier, which the Sony CEO has confirmed that the company will be doing shortly.
He also said that improved efforts in the marketing department would be necessary.
While you may not consider the Samsung Galaxy S4 to be the most innovative product of the year, it’s certainly one of the biggest releases. It’s a very nice handset, and it has performed remarkably well in our versus tests with other devices, such as the 
The big difference between the two colors variants is the LED light. On the Black Mist Galaxy S4, the LED is basically invisible when it’s not flashing. It’s the same thing with the Frost White variant, but the sensors on the phone are more visible. They feel a bit more hidden on the Black Mist variant due to the darker color.
