Monday, June 3, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


Acer announces 5.7-inch Liquid S1 with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 02:32 AM PDT

Acer Liquid S1
Acer is venturing into new device territory with the announcement of its latest Android-powered smartphone called the Liquid S1. It’s the Taiwan-based company’s first proper “phablet” in that it features a 5.7-inch 720p HD touchscreen display. Between that and its attractive exterior, it’s sure to get a lot of attention when it finally comes out. But will it really impress?

Part of the Acer Liquid S1′s full list of features are a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, an 8-megapixel rear camera, DTS Studio Sound, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. And according to the official press release, it will have “a day’s worth” of battery life. Plus, it also includes several nifty software features.

The Liquid S1 from Acer seems to follow in the footsteps of the Samsung Galaxy Note with the inclusion of extra software tricks which include Float User Interface which leaves some apps working on the screen so users can multitask without having to exit them, Voice Unlock which enables voice-activated app-related actions like launching and accessing certain parts of the UI, and an app called 2-Way Live Screen for real-time temporary group sharing between friends.

Acer has promised to release the Liquid S1 some time in Q3 2013 with a €349 (about $454) price tag. It’s certainly a good deal for the price, but still you have to think what kind of device it might have been had there been real high-end features injected into it — like a full HD screen and 4G LTE.

What’s your first impression of the Acer Liquid S1? Can you see yourself using an Acer-branded phablet in the future? Tell us what you’re thinking in the comments.

Acer’s First 5.7″ Mobile Companion Lets Users Take Their Wireless Office and Mobile Studio Everywhere

Acer Liquid S1 opens up more possibilities to explore a new lifestyle

TAIPEI, (June 3, 2013) Acer announces its first “phablet” device, designed to be the new travel companion for professionals and adventurers alike. With a large 5.7″ HD 1280 x 720 screen and intelligent applications, the Acer Liquid S1 greatly enhances mobile productivity and entertainment.

Featuring single/dual SIM cards, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, quad-core 1.5 GHz processor, and a day’s worth of battery power, the Liquid S1 combines the work efficiency of a tablet PC with the convenience and multimedia-rich features of a smartphone. It is an all-in-one mobile device that opens up more possibilities for users to communicate and explore.

Wireless office at hand

The Liquid S1 is easy to carry and lets users access their documents and files wherever they go. Business people can leave documents behind, knowing that they can wirelessly retrieve their files via AcerCloud Docs. Users can also remotely access files from their main PC through Acer Remote Files. In addition, with the Liquid S1 businesspeople can project their presentations in 720p HD, and print documents straight from their phablet – all using wireless display and print features.

Everything under perfect control

Intuitive and useful applications that boost work productivity and maximize entertainment on the go are preinstalled on the Liquid S1.

Acer Float User Interface allows several app windows to stay open so users can multitask without having to back out of one app to work on another. The press of a key brings up the Float Apps shortcut; apps on a translucent screen float over the function being used. It is easy to access or switch Float Apps anytime. These apps include camera, maps, calculator and notes. A Float Caller notification ensures that users will not be interrupted by incoming calls that take over the full screen. When a call comes in, the Float Caller mini-window pops up and the user can choose to take the call or reply with a quick message.

Acer Auto Profile supports predefined network settings for frequently visited locations, so the next time the user visits the same spot, the Liquid S1 will automatically switch profiles. The adjustable settings include brightness, volume and vibration; plus Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi® and 3G connections.

Voice Unlock directly opens apps or interfaces by recording and using personal voice commands. Users can quickly unlock the Liquid S1 to the home screen, camera, SMS or call keypad by voice, in one easy step, without touch. Acer data traffic manager keeps an eye on daily and monthly data usage, which is especially handy for users who do not have an unlimited data plan.

Mobile studio and entertainment

Bringing the Liquid S1 along is like taking a complete mobile studio on the road. In addition to its spacious 5.7″ screen with HD streaming and vivid HD playback, this phablet combines features for photo taking, video recording, and editing and creating media. Everything can be conveniently shared. The studio/entertainment features include:

Wide Front Shot uses the front camera with 88° wide viewing angle plus the 24 mm lens to capture more. The camera and 5.7″ screen together capture wider, taller visuals for better wide-angle photos and video conferencing. Voice Shot allows hands-free photo taking just by saying “cheese!”. Smile Shot detects smiling faces and automatically captures precious moments in real time – especially useful for taking pictures of babies and young children.

Studio Sound delivers astonishing sound and an extra-wide stereo image. DTS Studio Sound™ brings cinematic audio to mobile devices with a bigger sound field and higher vocal clarity.

Live sharing among friends Through Acer’s 2-way Live Screen™ app users can invite friends for temporary group sharing. The group administrator simply taps on a photo or note, and it will pop up on friends’ mobile-device screens, enabling live interaction and sharing in real time. Friends can push photos or notes back for 2-way live sharing.

Premium design and materials

The Acer Liquid S1 uses fine craftsmanship and materials to deliver a premium, minimalist design, ideal for assertive businesspeople and passionate explorers. With a slender profile, it features curved details on the front and the sides, aluminum side grips, and is available in matte black or white.

Pricing and availability

The Liquid S1 will start shipping in Q3 2013 in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia, UK and Germany, followed by Spain and Italy with a starting price of €349.

    


Asus Transformer Book Trio runs Windows 8 and Android at the same time

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 02:25 AM PDT

Transformer Book Trio Credit: Engadget

Just when you were thinking that Android tablets couldn't get more awesome, Asus comes to surprise once again with the new Transformer Book Trio, showcased moments ago at this year’s Computex show. The special thing about the Trio is that it can power two operating systems at the same time: Windows 8 and Android.

This latest member of the Transformer family has been baptized Trio not because of its flexibility when it comes to software platforms, but because it successfully blends the flavors of a conventional notebook, a portable tablet, and the operation flexibility of a desktop computer.

The Transformer Book Trio is composed of two main parts, the tablet itself and a detachable keyboard, which both incorporate processing elements. In order to run simultaneously two operating systems at the same time, the keyboard part has been optimized and put in charge of Windows 8 while the main body is responsible for Android. Because both systems function simultaneously, users can switch between Google's flexibility and Microsoft's many applications at the push of a button.

Unfortunately, the dual mode only works while the keyboard dock is attached. Without the extension module, Asus latest creation becomes a simple Android tablet, with a lot of power hidden underneath.

Asus conference

Specs wise, the Transformer Trio packs quite a punch. The Windows part is handled by a fourth-generation Intel Core-i7 4500U processor clocked at unspecified frequencies and the Android Jelly Bean segment is powered by a power-optimized Intel Atom Z2580 chip running at 2 GHz. The package also includes dual batteries (33 Wh and 19 Wh) in the two modules, the larger one being naturally inside the keyboard dock.

When it comes to storage, future owners will enjoy a large 1TB HDD placed inside the dock and a 64GB flash drive inside the tablet.

Asus designed the Book Trio applying its traditional philosophy on a slim and light-weight body, with a brushed metal finish. Considering this is a model with an 11.6-inch display capable of 1080 resolution (Full HD), the Trio is quite a capable machine.

Asus has yet to reveal the price or date of its creation, but several sources claim that Trio should be launched in the third quarter of this year. Until then, Asus will also bring to market the next MeMo Pad FHD tablet  and a cheaper, HD-only variant. Fans of the Transformer line can also rejoice with a new Infinity.

What do you think about Asus’s latest concept?

Chairman Jonney Shih introduces the Transformer Book Trio and other revolutionary products that transform consumers' expectations of technology

Computex, Taipei, Taiwan (3 June, 2013) — ASUS today announced incredible new products at it's "We Transform" Computex 2013 press event that transform consumers' expectations about technology. Chairman Jonney Shih revealed the ASUS way of Design Thinking and introduced an entire line of innovative devices designed to simplify today's digital lifestyle.

"We seek to perfect the balance between engineering and humanity, where every intricate detail echoes our needs for both emotion and function," said ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih. "This is the ASUS way of Design Thinking, where every idea starts with people and we turn our imagination into myriad revolutionary innovations."

The ASUS Transformer Book Trio is an innovative combination of notebook, tablet and desktop PC for unparalleled flexibility in work, play, and social activity, while the new Transformer Pad Infinity is the world's first NVIDIA® Tegra® 4 tablet with a stunning 2560 x 1600 resolution display. ASUS also announced two new handheld devices, the 6-inch Fonepad™Note FHD 6 tablet with 3G voice-calling and the 7-inch MeMO Pad HD 7 value tablet with an MSRP of US$129. The ultra-compact VivoPC desktop, the VivoMouse wireless mouse with built-in multi-touch touchpad and the world's first AC1900 router, the RT-AC68U, were also unveiled.

ASUS Transformer Book Trio — transforming expectations for notebooks
The ASUS Transformer Book Trio is the world's first three-in-one mobile device. With an 11.6-inch detachable display and dual operating systems, Transformer Book Trio transforms mobile flexibility by switching effortlessly between a Windows 8 notebook, Android tablet and Windows 8 desktop PC. Transformer Book Trio switches easily between operating systems to give users access to over 700,000 apps in the Google Play Store and over 50,000 apps in the Windows Store.

Despite the different operating systems, the Transformer Book Trio has been designed to smoothly transition between modes, allowing users to sync data or continue to surf the webpage they're on even when moving from notebook to tablet mode.

The PC Station dock has its own 4th generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor, keyboard and 750GB hard drive, and with the tablet display detached, can be hooked up to an external display for use as a desktop PC. The PC Station also serves as a charger for the tablet for extended battery life. The tablet features a 2.0 GHz Intel® Atom™ processor and a 16:9 aspect ratio IPS display with Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution and up to 64GB storage.

New ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity — transforming expectations for tablets 
The New Transformer Pad Infinity is the first in ASUS range of innovative dual-purpose mobile devices to feature a 1.9GHz NVIDIA® Tegra® 4 mobile processor with quad-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU and 72-core GeForce® GPU. The 10.1-inch LED backlit display has an ultra-sharp 2560 x 1600 resolution with IPS technology for 178-degree wide viewing angles, plus 10-point multi-touch for smooth and responsive fingertip control. ASUS SonicMaster-enhanced audio completes the mobile tablet entertainment experience. The redesigned keyboard dock now features a multi-touch touchpad, USB 3.0 and an SDXC card reader, and gives longer battery life when the tablet is docked.

ASUS MeMO Pad™ HD 7
ASUS MeMO Pad™ HD 7 is an incredible value 7-inch tablet with an MSRP of US$129 for 8GB capacity and US$149 for 16GB. MeMO Pad™ HD 7 weighs just 302g and has a quad-core processor, plus a 10-point multi-touch 1280 x 800 IPS display with 170-degree wide viewing angles. MeMO Pad™ HD 7 also features ASUS SonicMaster audio technology, and a front 1.2-megapixel camera and optional 5-megapixel rear-facing camera. It's available in dark blue, white, pink and green colors.

ASUS Fonepad Note™ FHD 6
Part 3G smartphone, part tablet, ASUS Fonepad™ Note FHD 6 comes with a 1.6GHz Intel® Atom™ Z2560 dual-core processor and 1920 x 1080 Full HD Super IPS+ display. With a display brightness of 450 nits, ASUS Fonepad™ Note FHD 6 can be used outdoors in bright sunshine, while front-facing stereo speakers with ASUS SonicMaster technology ensure high-quality high-definition audio. ASUS Fonepad™ Note FHD 6 also includes a stylus for quick and accurate handwritten input.

ASUS VivoPC  — transform Expectations- for home computing
ASUS VivoPC is a wireless media center designed to provide HD Wi-Fi audio and video streaming through a high-speed 802.11ac connection. Its compact design sports a spun-metal finish, ASUS SonicMaster audio technology and two USB 3.0 ports. ASUS VivoPC also features SATA 6GB/s and easy internal access for upgrades.

ASUS VivoMouse
ASUS VivoMouse is a combined touchpad, mouse and PC remote designed to bring the Windows 8 touch experience to PCs without a touch display. VivoMouse has its own touchpad that even recognizes Windows 8 touch gestures and can be used as a wireless remote for home entertainment PCs.

ASUS RT-AC68U Wireless Router
The ASUS RT-AC68U is the world's first dual-band 802.11ac router with blisteringly fast combined AC1900 data rates of 1900Mbit/s. The RT-AC68U also features ASUS AiRadar technology that uses beamforming to focus the Wi-Fi for a stronger wireless connection and 150% greater coverage than other routers. The RT-AC68U features a Router-to-Router Sync mode that makes light work of sharing files. A simple invitation allows photos, videos and other files on USB-attached storage to be synchronized automatically to USB-attached storage on other compatible ASUS routers, without the need for a switched-on PC at either end.

Other ASUS products announced at Computex include the Zenbook Infinity Ultrabook™, MeMO Pad FHD 10 tablet, G10 desktop PC with built-in UPS and the PA279Q ProArt WQHD pre-calibrated professional monitor.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING
Please refer to each individual product's press release for full product details. Images are available for download here.

ASUS AT COMPUTEX 2013
Visit the ASUS Computex 2013 stand in Taipei from 4th to 8th June. The ASUS stand is at Booth M0810, Nangang Exhibition Hall 4F at the Taipei World Trade Center.

NOTES TO EDITORS

30-word summary
ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih today introduced the ASUS Transformer Book Trio, the New Transformer Pad Infinity, the Fonepad Note 6, the MeMO Pad HD 7, the VivoPC, and VivoMouse at Computex 2013.

60-word summary
ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih today introduced the ASUS Transformer Book Trio, a dual OS device that is part notebook, tablet, and desktop PC; and the New ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity, the world's first NVIDIA® Tegra® 4 tablet with a 2560 x 1600 WQXGA IPS display. He also introduced the ASUS Fonepad Note 6, the ASUS MeMO Pad HD 7, the ASUS VivoPC, and VivoMouse.

100-word summary
ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih took to the stage at the ASUS "We Transform" Computex 2013 press event and introduced innovative new products that are not only simple to use, but have been designed to make life simpler. Mr Shih introduced the ASUS Transformer Book Trio, a dual OS device that is part notebook, part tablet, and part desktop PC; and the New ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity, the world's first NVIDIA® Tegra® 4 tablet with a 2560 x 1600 WQXGA IPS display. Other notables include the ASUS Fonepad Note 6, the ASUS MeMO Pad HD 7, the ASUS VivoPC, and VivoMouse.

###

ABOUT ASUS
ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world's best-selling, most award-winning, motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today's digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,168 awards in 2012 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 12,500 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of 3,800 engineers. Company revenue for 2012 was approximately US$14 billion.

    


Asus MeMo Pad FHD 10 with Intel Atom CPU announced at Computex 2013

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 01:58 AM PDT

ASUS MeMO Pad FHD10

The Asus MeMo Pad FHD 10 has been announced today at Computex 2013 in Taiwan.

The processor inside the MeMo FHD 10 is a dual-core Intel Atom Z2560, running at 1.6 GHz (using Intel’s Hyper-Threading technology for better graphics and energy efficiency), with the tablet coming with 16 or 32GB of storage space, expandable via microSD.

The tablet, announced at the same event where Asus chairman Jonney Shih unveiled a few other products (including the new MeMo Pad HD 7), has a 10-inch IPS display at a resolution of 1920 x 1200, which should be enough for users to enjoy movies in full quality. Asus promises that the display has viewing angles of up to 178 degrees. Asus’ SonicMaster audio technology is also present on board.

ASUS MeMO Pad FHD10

The main camera is a 5MP, capable of 1080p video recording, while the front shooter is a 1.2MP. The battery is promised to offer up to 10 hours of 720p video playback.

The Asus MeMo Pad FHD 10, which will be available in three colors – Royal Blue, Silk White, and Vivid Pink, weighs 580 grams and is 9.5 millimeters thick. It comes, just like the MeMo Pad HD 7, with a protective TransCover, which can also be used as a stand for when you’re watching content on your tablet.

The new 10 inch tablet runs Android 4.2 out of the box.

There are just a couple of details that the company has not yet revealed about the new device – how much it will cost, as well as when and where it would be available. However, I’m pretty sure we’ll find that out, sooner rather than later.

    


Will Motorola’s new low pricing strategy worry companies like Samsung?

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 01:27 AM PDT

woodsideDennis Woodside, the CEO of Motorola Mobility since its acquisition by Google last year, has declared war on high priced smartphones during the All Things D conference. While speaking on stage with Walt Mossberg, Woodside said that because Motorola is a more nimble company (than say giants like Samsung) it doesn’t need to worry about making very high profit margins on its smartphones. Instead the company’s new  pricing strategy is to build high-quality, low-cost devices.

The price of a smartphone is $650. That's not gonna persist.
Dennis Woodside, CEO of Motorola

These comments are great news for consumers who could see the price of flagship smartphones fall if Motorola is successful in shaking up the market. But Rolfe Winkler of the Wall Street Journal also thinks that these fighting words from Woodside should have “executives at Samsung shaking in their boots.” He also thinks that “folks at Apple should also be sweating.” Is he right? Unfortunately no and here’s why.

Winkler is working on the assumption that Motorola, as a well known brand, will be able to sweep in and metaphorically pull the rug out from under Samsung’s (and Apple’s) feet by drastically reducing the cost of high-quality smartphones. Motorola will release its highly anticipated Moto X phone this fall and it is assumed that Woodside’s comments are about the pricing of the Moto X and other handsets that Motorola has in the pipeline.

Assuming the Moto X is in the same class as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One, Winkler is predicting that Samsung and HTC will lose market share based purely on price. However he is wrong for several reasons.

First, although Samsung makes huge profits and has high margins on its phone sales (as does Apple) even if Samsung reduced its profit margins dramatically, the device would still sell for $500 or more. Although the component costs of the phone is under $250 that does’t include actually assembly costs, R&D and corporate overheads etc. If Woodside is only talking about a $150 reduction in the wholesale price, although welcome, that isn’t enough to revolutionize the market.

    


Asus Memo Pad HD 7 unveiled, costs $129 for 8GB

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 01:09 AM PDT

asus memo pad hd 7

The new Asus MeMo Pad HD 7 has just been unveiled by company chairman Jonney Shih at the company’s Computex 2013 event.

The specs the new tablet offers are almost guaranteed to make it a success, considering its price. The specs confirm what has been previously known about the Nexus 7 competitor, while the price for the 16GB version is $149, just like the one of its predecessor. An 8GB version costs $129, with Asus stating that the product is aimed at developing markets.

The screen of the MeMo Pad HD 7 has received quite the improvement, moving from a resolution of 1024 x 600 to 1280 x 800 pixels. The new version also comes with more processing power, as it has a quad-core Cortex A7 CPU. Also in the mix are a 5 and a 1.2 megapixel cameras, as well as Asus’ proprietary Sonic Master audio technology.

The tablet runs Android 4.2, and, although it’s aimed at developing markets, we expect it to do well worldwide – currently it’s pretty hard to get a similar product at this price.

More details about the availability are expected.

    


New Transformer Pad Infinity: Tegra 4, 2,560 x 1,600 display

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 01:04 AM PDT

asus transformer pad infinity 2013 Credit: AnandTech

At Computex 2013, Asus' chairman Jonney Shih took the stage to unveil a series of exciting new Android products, including the latest generation of the Transformer Pad series – the Transformer Pad Infinity.

The refresh to last year's Pad Infinity features a souped spec sheet – boasting the brand new Tegra 4 processor and 2GB of RAM, the tablet promises to deliver some serious oomph. How serious? Well Asus said the new Pad Infinity is able to output 4K signal through its HDMI-out port. Maybe to match to that $5,000 professional 4K monitor that Asus launched last week?

The display is in line with 2013 state of the art -  a 2,560 x 1,600 IPS panel (WQXGA).

Just like its predecessors, the tablet features an optional dock/keyboard accessory that also provides an energy boost thanks to the built in battery. The new Pad Infinity comes with 32GB of storage, that can be extended using card slot found in the dock.

Design wise, the new Pad Infinity sports the spun metallic look that Asus has used throughout the last year. No word yet on price and availability, but we do expect to see it on the high end of the scale.

    


Asus Fonepad Note announced: 6-inch display, dual-core Atom processor, and a stylus

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 12:41 AM PDT

asus fonepad note Credit: Anandtech

Asus just threw its hat in the supersized phone ring with the Asus Fonepad Note, a 6-inch device equipped with a stylus that promises to give the Galaxy Note 2 a run for its money.

At its event at Computex 2013 in Taiwan, Asus unveiled a series of new Android devices, including a competitor to the Note 2, Optimus G Pro, and other 5.5-inch+ devices. The Asus Fonepad Note is equipped with a 6-inch Full HD Super IPS+ display, a dual-core Intel Atom Z2560 processor (Intel just scored another high profile design win it seems), 2GB of RAM, an 8MP rear camera, and a 1.2MP front shooter.

The device also features two frontal stereo speakers, a la HTC One, and, very importantly, a stylus. The device is said to support HSPA+ connectivity, with download speeds of up to 42Mbps.

We'll update this post as soon as we learn anything about the price and availability of the Asus Fonepad Note.

    


Asus Computex 2013 event – watch it here (livestream)

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 11:21 PM PDT

asus logo 1 Vernieman/Flickr

One of the largest IT&C expos in the world has just kicked off in bustling Taipei, Taiwan – Computex 2013. While not focused strictly on mobile like MWC, Computex is still the perfect occasion for local firms to show off their wares.

In 2012, Asus' event at Computex was focused on Windows products, but this year we hope to see at least one or two exciting Android devices. The teasers that Asus released last week suggested a Transformer device (the Transformer line of tablets is due for a refresher), and rumor has it that a 6-inch device is in the works. We've also heard a less probable rumor about Asus releasing the next version of the successful Nexus 7 at Computex 2013.

Regardless of what devices we're bound to see today, stay tuned right here to watch Asus's Computex 2013 event live. (Refresh the page if the livestream didn’t start for you.)

Stay tuned for more Computex 2013 coverage.

    


Cricket Samsung Galaxy S4 goes up for pre-order, starts shipping on June 7

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 05:03 PM PDT

Cricket Samsung Galaxy S4
An easy way to purchase the Samsung Galaxy S4 at a somewhat affordable price is now available courtesy of Cricket Wireless, which has just put up Samsung’s latest flagship Android smartphone for pre-order on its official web site.

The information on the Cricket Wireless pre-order page for the Samsung Galaxy S4 states that the handset can be bought at a discount rate. Normally, a unit of the Galaxy S4 costs $599.99 a piece. However, those who pre-order from the Cricket web site can get a discount of up to $125, which brings the price all the way down to only $474.99.

And what about the accompanying monthly plans? Firstly, there’s a $50 monthy plan that gives users 1GB of data per month. And secondly, a $60 monthly plan upgrades that data allowance to 2.5GB per month. Every purchase also includes a matching flip cover for the handset.

The best thing about the Galaxy S4 listing on Cricket is the fact that it is scheduled to start shipping only a few days from now, on June 7. Availability is limited only by a customer’s location, so if you want to know if you can really buy one right now, we suggest checking out the pre-order page yourself and entering your zip code to see what happens.

Cricket’s Samsung Galaxy S4 is available in white and black.

    


LG Optimus L9 II shown in leaked pic and benchmark results

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 04:37 PM PDT

LG Optimus L9 II
Ever wonder what happened to the Optimus L9 II, the follow-up to last year’s LG Optimus L9? It’s still in the works, and it’s still coming out in the future, which can happen pretty soon according to new information pieced together by the guys at TechTastic.

What we have here is a photo of the Optimus L9 II itself, or at least half of it, as it rests on top of an LG laptop’s keyboard. Our biggest clue that it is indeed the Optimus L9 II and not some Chinese knockoff — not that there’s anything wrong with those — is that it has a sticker right above the display that says “L9II EU.” Also, based on results that recently appeared on the web site gfxbench.com, it looks like the phone is already fit for some action.

In case you’ve forgotten, the LG Optimus L9 is a 4.7-inch Android device that uses a 1GHz dual core Cortex A9 processor with a PowerVR SGX540 GPU. It come with 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, and just recently received its highly-awaited update to Android Jelly Bean. Now, its second iteration, which is expected to be called the Optimus L9 II — and rightly so — is now said to be very close to the original in terms of both hardware and software.

Based on what we know so far, some of the Optimus L9 II’s main features include the following:

  • 4.7-inch 720p HD IPS screen
  • 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU
  • 1GB RAM
  • Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean

As for when exactly it’s supposed to come out, LG hasn’t given us any real clues yet. But current speculation points to a summer 2013 release, so watch for it to appear in the coming weeks.

    


Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S4 Zoom, Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and 10.1 apparently confirmed on Samsung’s website

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 03:58 PM PDT

Galaxy Note 3 concept

Galaxy Note 3 concept

The Galaxy Note 3 and other unofficial devices have been spotted by a publication on a Samsung Kazakhstan web page detailing a VIP service for the region.

First seen by TechTastic, the web page is still up and seems to include a variety of Samsung devices including Android-based smartphones and tablets. The Galaxy Note 3 is clearly listed on the page as the SM-N9000 (see following image), although other details about the upcoming handset are not offered.

That said, we're certainly intrigued by that particular model number. In previous reports, the Galaxy Note 3 has been associated with GT-N7200, a model number that made plenty of sense considering that the previous Galaxy Note versions have model numbers GT-N7000 and GT-N7100.

Comparatively, the Galaxy Note 8 has model number GT-N5100, while the Galaxy Note 10.1 has model number GT-N8000. So why would the new Note's model number be that different?

Galaxy Note 3

In addition to the Galaxy Note 3, we have spotted other unannounced Samsung devices, which have likely been confirmed by mistake thanks to this published page. You're certainly going to recognize them from previous rumors and leaks:

For what it’s worth, the model numbers of these three devices match the model numbers seen in previous rumors.

We'll remind you that Samsung has a special event schedule for June 20, during which it will surely unveil new Android devices.

The Galaxy Note 3 is only expected to arrive later down the road, around IFA 2013 in September – although at least one rumor puts the launch of the handset in July-August. The device is rumored to pack a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and to feature optical image stabilization technology.

    


Google Glass facial recognition apps not allowed until “strong privacy protections” are in place

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 03:24 PM PDT

Google Glass

Posting on its Project Glass Google+ page, Google revealed that it won't allow Google Glass apps that use facial recognition features for the time being, as long as "strong privacy protections" aren't in place.

The news is not unsurprising considering the on-going privacy-related debate we're witnessing in connection with Google Glass. Even at Google I/O, the company tried to address such privacy concerns for the wearable gadget that can take easily take pictures and record videos, as some people including the U.S. Congress are afraid of the potentially malicious uses of Glass that could affect one's privacy.

In its short message, available below, Google did not elaborate on what "strong privacy protections" would be, and how they're supposed to work when it comes to facial recognition features. We're certainly going to find out more details about it in the near future, suffice to say that for now Google will not officially approve any apps that make use of the technology.

Before Google I/O, Eric Schmidt did comment on Glass a couple of times, agreeing that the talking to Glass may be strange, and saying that at first Google will have to pay close attention to Glass apps approval and etiquette.

Here's Google's full message related to facial recognition and privacy:

When we started the Explorer Program nearly a year ago our goal was simple: we wanted to make people active participants in shaping the future of this technology ahead of a broader consumer launch. We’ve been listening closely to you, and many have expressed both interest and concern around the possibilities of facial recognition in Glass. As Google has said for several years, we won't add facial recognition features to our products without having strong privacy protections in place. With that in mind, we won't be approving any facial recognition Glassware at this time.

We've learned a lot from you in just a few weeks and we'll continue to learn more as we update the software and evolve our policies in the weeks and months ahead.

Let's here it from potential Glass buyers, what are your thoughts on Google Glass so far?

    


Rumor: New Nexus 7 could be unveiled at Computex

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 01:22 PM PDT

Asus Nexus 7

A new report suggests that Asus could unveil the new Nexus 7 model at Computex in a few days.

From the start, we'll tell you to take this particular rumor with a huge chunk of salt, as the source isn't really providing that many details to work with.

What IBN Live says is that "analysts" expect the company to unveil the device during the show, but it doesn't make it clear what analysts think the new 7-inch Nexus tablet will be shown in Taipei, Taiwan, or what makes them think it will happen. The publication writes:

Those waiting for a refresh of the Nexus line of tablets could be in for some great news in the coming week. Analysts expect Asus to launch a refreshed Nexus 7 tablet at the Computex trade fair which will be held from June 4 to 8, 2013 in Taipei.

Presumably, it's CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets's Chitra Gopal one of those analysts. Gopal also expects Asus and Acer to "showcase new low-end [Android] tablets" at the show. The devices would be priced between $100 and $150 and could pack MediaTek SoCs.

While the report doesn't sound that promising, we're not saying that a new Nexus 7 isn't coming. We've seen an other analyst detail the potential specs of the new tablet, and the next-gen device has apparently been spotted at the Bluetooth SIG already.

Furthermore, a rumor that emerged soon after Google I/O 2013 said that the tablet would arrive at some point in July, and ship with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean on board. A different report also said that the handset would be launched in the third quarter of the year.

We'll watch Computex closely to see whether the Nexus 7 will indeed come out of hiding at the show.

    


Verizon, Sprint and U.S. Cellular Galaxy S4 CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies now available

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 12:12 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S4

CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies are now available for Verizon, Sprint and U.S. Cellular Galaxy S4 owners.

In case you own one of these three devices, you can now install your CM 10.1 custom ROM and replace TouchWiz altogether. We're actually not surprised to hear that CM10.1 is coming to more Galaxy S4 versions considering that the ROM has already been made available to the T-Mobile and AT&T models, as well as to the Canadian LTE Galaxy S4 version.

As always with custom builds, we'll never advise you to install such ROMs on your devices, especially if you're not comfortable with such procedures. It's up to you to decide what to do with your own devices, and in case you go for custom ROMs, remember that whatever happens with the handset during the procedure falls under your responsibility and yours alone.

Considering that the Verizon Galaxy S4 comes with a locked bootloader (just like the AT&T version), you should make sure you deal with that before going for CM 10.1, or anything else for that matter.

That said, we know some of you prefer stock Android, others like TouchWiz, and others install CM 10.1 on your devices. What do you currently have on your Galaxy S4?

    


Weekly News Roundup #7 – India

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 08:36 AM PDT

wnri feature

In a weekly segment, I'll be doing a roundup of the mobile technology news in India, including new device announcements and releases from Indian manufacturers, network carrier news, and anything else that captures the pulse of  the Android scene in India.

It’s been a relatively slow week as far as device releases from local manufacturers are concerned, with just one new smartphone from WickedLeak being launched. That said, there has still been a lot of activity this past week in India, with Samsung officially announcing its new Mega series of smartphones, the recently-announced white Nexus 4 showing up online, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Grand Quattro receiving price cuts, and a host of network carrier related news.

As always, there’s a lot to talk about, so let’s get started!

Android Smartphones

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3 officially launched

Samsung Galaxy Mega smartphone

Samsung continues its efforts to capture every corner of the Android smartphone market by offering numerous devices catering to everyone’s individual needs. Whatever your requirements, there’s probably a Samsung Galaxy smartphone best suited for you. If the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is too expensive, or too small, and you’re looking for a comparatively cheaper device with an ultra-large, almost tablet-like, display, there’s a choice available to you as well.

Samsung officially announced the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3 in India this week. Leaked specifications of both devices were spot on, with the Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 featuring a 5.8-inch display with a 960×540 resolution, a 1.4Ghz dual-core Broadcomm processor, 8GB internal storage, and a 2,600 mAh battery. On the other hand, the Galaxy Mega 6.3 boasts a 6.3-inch display with 1280×720 resolution, a 1.7Ghz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 16GB internal storage, and a 3,200 mAh battery. Both smartphones feature expandable memory up to 64GB, 1.5GB RAM, an 8MP rear camera and 1.9MP front camera, and Android 4.2.2 out of the box.

While the specifications are decent, the price point for both smartphones are a little steep, with the Galaxy Mega 5.8 priced at Rs 24,900 (~$461), and the Galaxy Mega 6.3 setting you back Rs 31,490 (~$583). Both smartphones will be available in Samsung Experience stores around the country from June 10, as well as from the official Samsung India eStore. A dual-SIM version of the Galaxy Mega 5.8 will also be available.

Source – The Economic Times

White Google Nexus 4 spotted online

White Nexus 4

A day after the white version of the Google Nexus 4 was officially announced, the device has been listed by online retailers Flipkart and Saholic. Even though the rollout has been planned “over the next few weeks,” Saholic promises a 3 day delivery, which is somewhat surprising.

As we know, the specifications haven’t changed, and while some rumors stated the possibility of the white Nexus 4 releasing with a new version of Android, for now, the device will launch with Android 4.2.2 on-board. As a reminder, the specifications include a 4.7-inch display with 1280×720 resolution, a 1.5 Ghz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, an 8MP rear camera and 1.3MP front camera, and a 2,100 mAh battery.

The white Nexus 4 will also be priced the same, at Rs 25,990 (~$481). You can find the listing of the smartphone from Saholic here. There are a host of devices with better specifications currently available, but the Nexus 4 is still a great smartphone, and the price is still unbeatable. Don’t forget to checkout our detailed hands-on review below -

Source – Saholic

WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z ups the ante in the budget-friendly quad-core smartphone arena

wnri - wickedleak wammy passion z

If you’ve been following the Indian Weekly News Roundups, you’d have noticed the numerous budget-friendly quad-core smartphones that have been releasing week after week from various local manufacturers, which on paper, are barely distinguishable from each other. In a few short months, the need for an “upgrade” has already risen, and WickedLeak is the company that has decided to step up to the plate.

To be fair, the specifications are mostly the same across the board, with the standout feature of the WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z being the 5-inch Full HD display, that is, with a resolution of 1920×1080, which is definitely a step up from the qHD or 720p displays we’ve seen so far. Other specifications of the Wammy Passion Z include a 1.2Ghz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage expandable via microSD up to 64GB, 12MP rear camera and 2MP front camera, a 2,500 mAh battery, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on-board.

The impressive specifications are matched with an equally impressive price point, with the device priced at just Rs 14,990 (~$277). Hopefully this is the beginning of other Indian manufacturers releasing smartphones with 1080p displays as well. The WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z is currently up for pre-order from the company website here, with an estimated delivery date of June 15.

Source – NDTV Gadgets

Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Grand Quattro receives a (small) price cut

samsung galaxy s4 top side aa

The Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Grand Quattro, which have both proved to be incredibly popular in India following their launch last month, have now received a price cut. The reduction is not surprising, considering the fact that online retailers have already been selling the smartphones at a lower price, and you can now pick up the devices from official Samsung stores or the Samsung India eStore at that price as well.

The price of the Samsung Galaxy S4 has been reduced by Rs 1,200, and is now available for Rs 40,300 (~$746), while the Galaxy Grand Quattro is now available with a discount of Rs 1,360, priced at Rs 16,990 (~$314).

You can pick up both smartphones from various Samsung Experience stores around the country, or from the Samsung India Store here (Samsung Galaxy S4) and here (Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro).

Don’t forget to check out our detailed hands-on review of the Samsung Galaxy S4 here -

Source – Telecom Tiger

Network Carrier News

Aircel launches recharge app on Facebook for prepaid subscribers

wnri - aircel facebook recharge app

This week, Aircel launched an unique and first of its kind service, that allows prepaid subscribers to recharge their phones directly on Facebook, by following a few simple steps. This move is, of course, targeted towards the youth, who can now recharge their phones “without having to leave Facebook.”

All you have to do is is open the Aircel recharge app, enter your phone number, choose the voice or data plan you’d like to pay for, proceed to payment (via debit or credit card), and confirm. Aircel ensures that all transactions done via the Facebook recharge app will be safe and secure.

You can check out the new Facebook recharge app by Aircel here.

Source – BGR India

Tata Docomo announces partnership with Opera, launches co-branded Opera Mini browser

wnri - tata docomo opera

Opera and Tata Docomo announced the launch of a co-branded Opera Mini browser available to subscribers which features data compression up to 90%, allowing for not only faster web page loading with 2G speeds, but also reducing data charges.

Apart from that, the customized browser includes quick links to “Dive In,” and other content tailored to Tata Docomo subscribers. Of course, the browser also features Opera browser staples such as Smart Page, Speed Dial, password manager, and download manager.

Commenting on the partnership, Rishi Mohan Malhotra, Head VAS for Tata DOCOMO, said, "Tata DOCOMO has been at the forefront of providing a superior mobile internet experience to our customers. We are sure that, with the experience enhancements like faster browsing and convenient discovery of content that Opera Mini provides, Tata DOCOMO subscribers can truly experience world-class mobile internet browsing like never before."

Tata Docomo subscribers can download this version of the Opera Mini browser here. The faster load times and other unique features are great not only for smartphone users, but also the large consumer base using feature phones which can only access 2G networks. You can check out the press release here -

Opera Mini boosts browsing for Tata DOCOMO users

Mumbai, India – May 29, 2013

Opera Software has a special treat in store for all Indian mobile users on the Tata DOCOMO network. These users now have a opportunity to boost their mobile browsing with a custom-made Opera Mini mobile web browser. As part of its partnership with Tata DOCOMO, Opera has customized Opera Mini with quick links to "Dive in" and content sites especially selected for Tata DOCOMO subscribers. Tata DOCOMO customers can download this version of Opera Mini directly m.opera.com.

With Opera Mini, webpages load at speeds comparable to a desktop experience. Opera Mini compresses data to as little as 10% of its original size before sending it to the handset; as a result, content is delivered faster, and users can save data costs. For cost-conscious consumers, this means they can access the web more often, for the same price. Opera Mini’s offers features such as Smart Page, Speed Dial, tabbed browsing, password manager, download manager and Opera Link, creating a smooth and fun browsing experience.

Commenting on the partnership, Rishi Mohan Malhotra, Head VAS for Tata DOCOMO, said, "Tata DOCOMO has been at the forefront of providing a superior mobile internet experience to our customers. We are sure that, with the experience enhancements like faster browsing and convenient discovery of content that Opera Mini provides, Tata DOCOMO subscribers can truly experience world-class mobile internet browsing like never before."

"According to a recent survey among mobile web users in India, which we conducted along with On Device Research, speed and ease of use were the key drivers for selecting a mobile browser, so it isn't surprising that Opera Mini's speed and user-friendly interface have made it the most popular browser in India," added Sunil Kamath, VP for South Asia, Opera Software. "Partnering with Tata DOCOMO will help us extend Opera Mini's reach to more users, whether they use basic phones or smartphones."

Opera Mini is designed to work on all kinds of phones. Tata DOCOMO customers can visit m.opera.com to download the Tata DOCOMO/ Opera co-branded version of Opera Mini. This page automatically detects the mobile operator, operating system and model number of a user's mobile device; then, it offers the most suitable version of Opera Mini for download.

About Tata Teleservices Limited

Tata Teleservices Limited is one of India's leading private telecom service providers, having a pan-India presence across all of India's 19 telecom Circles. The company offers integrated telecom solutions to its customers under the unified brand name Tata DOCOMO and operates its wireless networks on GSM, CDMA and 3G technology platforms. Tata Teleservices Limited, along with Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited, operates in more than 450,000 towns and villages across the country. After its collaboration with Japan's NTT DOCOMO in November 2008, Tata Teleservices launched 2G GSM services under the Tata DOCOMO brand name in all the 18 telecom Circles where it received spectrum from the Government of India, in June 2009. Since then, the Company has established a strong brand connect for Tata DOCOMO in India and has been at the forefront of redefining the telecom experience in India, launching innovative products and services that have impacted Indian consumer lifestyles. TTL is the clear market leader in the enterprise space as well, and has market leadership in many product lines, such as mobile broadband with the Photon family of wireless access devices. TTL's bouquet of telephony services includes mobile services, wireless desktop phones, public booth telephony and wireline and WiFi services. For details, visit www.tatateleservices.com and www.tatadocomo.com

About Opera Software ASA

The worldwide World Wide Web — any device, any platform, any bandwidth, absolutely anywhere in the world. Opera Software was founded in 1994, based on the idea that access to the web should be a universal right. 300 million people (and counting) use the Opera web browsers for computers, mobile phones, TVs and other connected devices. Opera also delivers tools, distribution, engagement, monetization and market insights to developers, publishers and brands around the world. We are passionate about breaking down barriers, so everyone can share in the power of the internet. Our vision of one web for all remains at the heart of what we do, because we believe that participation changes everything. Opera Software ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. 'Opera', 'Opera Software', 'Opera Mini' and the 'O' logo are trademarks of Opera Software ASA. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Learn more about Opera atwww.opera.com.

What are your thoughts? What do you think of the WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z? While you be picking up either of the new Samsung Galaxy Mega smartphones? What do you think of the new Facebook recharge app by Aircel? If you’re a Tata Docomo subscriber, have you tried out the customized Opera Mini browser yet? Let us know in the comments section below.

See you next week! 

    


The Exynos 5 Octa and the State of Samsung SoCs

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 05:47 AM PDT

samsung-exynos-5-octa-official-1

Since the release of the first Galaxy S devices, Samsung has relied heavily on its in-house System-on-a-Chip (SoC), the Exynos. The CPUs in the Exynos chips are based on the Cortex series, licensed directly from ARM. Samsung frequently includes Mali GPUs in Exynos chips, which are also licensed directly from ARM. In contrast, Samsung's primary SoC competition comes from Qualcomm and Apple – both of whom merely license the ARM instruction sets for compatibility and then design their own CPU architecture. While Samsung's relatively boilerplate designs have fared well – Exynos chips are consistently among top industry performers – there are increasing signs that, with the Exynos 5 Octa, the chip may not be all it's cracked up to be.

A bit of history

Samsung faces two major obstacles in the SoC market. First, it’s simply unable to compete with Qualcomm's LTE baseband products, which severely limits Samsung's ability to deliver SoCs with integrated mobile connectivity. Second, Samsung is largely at the mercy of others for real improvements to its chips – either by ARM in design or by industry limits on fabrication. Arguably, GPU development is another issue for Samsung, but the inclusion of the beefy PowerVR SGX544MP3 with the Exynos 5 Octa (5410) proves that the company is willing and able to simply buy its way around that issue.

Fortunately for Samsung, its LTE connectivity issues can be resolved in the same manner. To bring LTE connectivity to the Exynos 4 Quad (4412) in the Note 2 or to the Exynos 5 Octa in the Korean Galaxy S4, Samsung paired the Exynos chip with a Qualcomm baseband chip. Apple does the same thing with the iPhone 5. The ongoing problem for Samsung in this space is one of timing. Qualcomm tends to release its latest baseband chip embedded in the latest Snapdragon SoCs and only releases the baseband as a discrete (stand alone) unit months later. This works for Apple because it releases new iPhones in the fall, after Qualcomm's discrete units are available. By releasing the flagship Galaxy S phones in the late spring, Samsung is left to choose between using the latest baseband technology – and therefore the rest of the Snapdragon SoC – or pairing last year's Qualcomm baseband with this year's Exynos. For both the S3 and the S4, Samsung chose the Snapdragon in major LTE markets around the world, chips that have been cannibalizing Exynos sales along the way.

Galaxy S2

Samsung Galaxy S2

The recent history of the CPUs in Samsung's Exynos processors might suggest that LTE connectivity is not the only compelling reason for the company to prefer not to use its own SoCs. Looking back, it's possible that the Exynos 4 Dual (4210) in the Galaxy S2 may have been the high water mark for the SoC line. That chip included a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU built on 45nm. A year later, Qualcomm was shipping the Snapdragon S4, which had dual-core Krait CPU built on 28nm. Krait is Qualcomm's self-designed architecture built to compete against ARM's Cortex-A15. The expectation was for Samsung to deliver something similarly advanced in the Galaxy S3. Instead, it released the Exynos 4 Quad (4412). With a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU built on 32nm, it amounted to only a core increase and size decrease over the previous generation. With double the number of cores and a severely overclocked GPU, the Exynos 4 Quad was strong enough to regularly outperform the Snapdragon S4. It was reasonable at this point to attribute the decision to release the Galaxy S3 in the U.S. with the Snapdragon SoC entirely to fix Samsung's LTE problem, but the lack of innovation in the Exynos 4 Quad portended larger problems on the horizon.

After it was unable to produce the chip in time for the Galaxy S3 launch, later in 2012, the company finally released the Exynos 5 Dual (5250). It includes a dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU built on 32nm. The chip delivers decent performance, but Samsung's inability to control the power consumption of the Cortex-A15 design relegated the chip to use only in the Samsung Chromebook and the Samsung-built Google Nexus 10. This is the chip Samsung was supposed to deliver in the Galaxy S3 and instead it came extremely late and was not, in truth, particularly good.

Exynos 5 Octa and the Galaxy S4

All of this leads up to the Exynos 5 Octa and the Galaxy S4. The Octa is used in the GT-I9500 variant of the Galaxy S4 and is supposed to solve the problem of Cortex-A15 power consumption by using ARM's big.LITTLE architecture. big.LITTLE allows the use of two core clusters, one for high-performance tasks and one for low-performance tasks. In the Octa, this is a quad-core Cortex-A15 cluster and a quad-core Cortex-A7 cluster, all built on 28nm. In big.LITTLE, there are supposed to be three modes for managing threads across all of the cores in both clusters. Evidence thus far suggests that the Octa really only supports one of these modes – the least efficient. Even worse, it appears that this limitation is due to crippled hardware in the SoC and not something that can be fixed in software.

The first unsupported mode in the Octa is called core-migration. In this mode, each of the four Cortex-A15 cores is 'paired' with a Cortex-A7 core. At idle, one A7 core in the first pair would be running at minimum speeds and the others are all deactivated. As load increases, either another pair would come online with its A7 core, or the first pair would ramp up to the A15 core. Each pair is able to independently toggle between the A7 and A15 cores as needed depending on load and threading. This adds efficiency and greatly reduced power consumption. The second unsupported mode in the Octa is called heterogeneous multi-processing (HMP), which allows tasks to be scheduled across all 8 cores independently. This has obvious benefits in maximum power output, but might not always yield improvements in power consumption.

    


HTC One Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update features reportedly leaked

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 05:02 AM PDT

htc one vs sony xperia z on design back in hand aa

In our review of the HTC One we found very little to fault with the device. Its big, beautiful 4.7-inch display was something to marvel at. It was fast and responsive, and it also had a hardware design that was unparalleled in the Android market. But the phone wasn't perfect and we did have to take a few marks off of the device because of the use of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Sense 5.0 on top, instead of running the latest version of Android,Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

HTC did promise to bring Android 4.2 to the HTC One soon, but as we all know too well, soon is such a vague term. Nonetheless we now have some information to share on the Android 4.2.2 update, courtesy of Android Revolution HD. While we don’t have a date for the update, we do however know some of the included features, assuming the information is accurate.

Reported features include:

  • Percentage battery icon, which is shown in an image below.
  • The ability to remove icons from the dock and other slight changes to the app drawer.
  • The ability to long press the home button and bring up the menu (this relegates Google Now to a swipe up from the home button just like on stock Android)
  • Extended quick settings, for easy access to all your settings.
  • The popular Daydream feature is also included.

Sens 5 4.2.2 JB HTC One

That's all the info we have right now, and more changes could come soon. So if you were an early adopter and the announcement of the HTC One with Nexus Experience left a sour taste in your mouth, fear not, you shall be getting another dose of Jelly Bean, and hopefully it will be coming very soon. Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, well that's an entirely different matter.

Looking forward to some of these changes to Sense 5? Which new feature is your favourite?

    


Android Authority Weekly: June 2, 2013

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 03:38 AM PDT

aaweeklyyt2In the AA Weekly, we recap the most significant events that happened over the past seven days in our world of Android. We look at new devices, major news, leaks, and everything else you should know to stay on top of the sprawling Android ecosystem.

The fabled white Nexus 4

This one's short – the white Nexus 4 is official. It started selling on June 28, and it popped in the Play Store on May 31. Besides the new and immaculate garment, the white Nexus 4 is identical to the black one. Next.

white nexus 4

The Galaxy Note 3 is looming

It won't be the largest smartphone in Samsung's stable, but the Galaxy Note 3 is definitely one of the most exciting devices of the year. That's why we were all giddy when Korean media revealed that Samsung is planning to differentiate the Note 3 by souping up its camera with an optical stabilization system and other goodies.

Then, rumors emerged about the engine that is going to make the Note 3 rumble, which is apparently a mighty Qualcomm Snapdragon 800. Color us excited. However, the ETA for the Note 3 is still early September. Plenty of time for more leaks and rumors.

samsung-galaxy-s4-vs-galaxy-note-2-4

New Nexus: lost in translation

It looks that LG is trying to muddle the waters around the inevitable new Nexus (don't call it Nexus 5, just yet). One of the company's head honchos told the press that LG doesn't need the marketing boost created by a new Nexus, which the whole world interpreted as "We don't want to make the next Nexus".

google_nexus_logo

However, LG's PR was quick to claim that something was lost in translation and that LG actually wants to make the new Nexus device, if only Google would bestow the honor on them.

The only sure thing, for now, is that tech companies will not hesitate to flat out lie about their plans. So we weren't surprised to hear that Larry Page was already presented with an LG Nexus prototype. Oh, LG, how you play with us.

Finally, the X Phone is real

Motorola's supposed upcoming super device, dubbed X Phone, has been rumored more than we care to remember. The gossip was so wild, that some in the Android community had even doubted its existence. We're sure they were happy to be proven wrong by Motorola's CEO Dennis Woodside on the stage of the D11 conference.

The Moto X is real and it's coming sometime this summer. And unless Woodside was cruelly deceiving us, the phone (or phones) will be both amazing and amazingly cheap.

Motorola X Phone

Did we mention the password pills and the electronic tattoos? Yes, Motorola has a former DARPA boss working to make sci-fi a reality. We can't wait to see more!

Galaxy S4 Mini – it's like a slightly better Galaxy S2, but shinier

4.3-inch Super AMOLED - Snapdragon 400 1.7GHz - 1.5GB RAM - 8MP camera

What's exciting about this mini-me edition of the Galaxy S4? Well, not much. In fact, looking at its spec sheet, the S4 Mini is remarkably similar to the Galaxy S2, Sammy's flagship of 2011. They both have a 4.3-inch display, a similar resolution, and a dual-core processor. To be fair though, the S4 Mini is faster, has more RAM, a larger battery, and it's smaller and lighter than the venerable S2. And, if that's your thing, it looks pretty much like a shrunken down Galaxy S4.

At the end of the day, the S4 Mini is a perfectly good Android device – it just won't satisfy any specs maniac.

The new Gmail is here

Google was busy this week refreshing some of its core apps, including the all-important Gmail. The leaked screenshots were right – Google implemented a new automatic filter in both the web inbox and the Android app. The app also received a major facelift, with a new menu functionality, color coding for messages, and better sorting features.

Gmail UI

Emailing is probably the primary activity for most smartphone users, so it's good to see Google working to improve the experience in this area. If you haven't received the new update yet, don't worry, you're in good company. Most users are still waiting for it, with the rollout scheduled to complete in a few weeks.

HTC One with the Nexus experience arrives, surprises no one

Finally, the HTC One with the Nexus experience (the marketing name for "Google Edition") was made official by Android & Chrome boss Sundar Pichai. The device is going to join the Galaxy S4 Google Edition on the Play Store starting June 26, but it's going to cost 50 bucks less and offer 16GB of extra built-in storage.

htc one google edition

The news of a HTC One running AOSP Android has definitely delighted many people, but the device does come with some sacrifices – Zoe, BlinkFeed, the IR blaster, and the FM radio app are all gone. Even so, it's a hell of a device, everyone agrees.

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