Android Community |
- Huawei Ascend P6 spec leak tips a 6.5mm thickness
- Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 with mirrorless lens coming in July
- MetroPCS bring-your-own-phone program launches today
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 heads to AT&T with 4G LTE
- Viva Movil by JLo opens first fashionable mobile store in Brooklyn
- CyanogenMod incognito mode currently in development
- Samsung GALAXY S 4 spotted with Snapdragon 800 processor
- AT&T 4G LTE network expands across nine states
- BLU Life Play arrives unlocked for those in the US
- HTC One Mini expected to arrive “by August”
- Verizon Galaxy S III update pulled following reports of connectivity issues
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom revealed with 16MP, 10x optical zoom & Xenon
- iOS 7 “parallax effect” on Android: 3D Image Live Wallpaper available now
- HTC One Android 4.2 update could very well arrive tomorrow
- Dead Zebra introduces new “Rainbow” Android collectible set
- Nyko Dock for NVIDIA SHIELD hands-on
- Asphalt 8: Airborne brings new features, and better bang for your buck
- Vine surpasses Instagram as top Social App on Google Play
- Samsung going into the accessory store business, starting in Europe
- Google expands Play Store shipping options
| Huawei Ascend P6 spec leak tips a 6.5mm thickness Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:24 AM PDT Huawei has shared a few images of the Ascend P6 smartphone, however much of what we have seen regarding the handset remains rumor at this point. One of the key points has come in with the thickness, which in this case was expected to be 6.2mm. Huawei has yet to confirm that measurement but a newly set of leaked specs suggests that may not be the way the handset is announced.
These latest have arrived by way of GSM Arena who are reporting these specs as arriving by way of leaked internal documents. They haven’t shared copies of the actual documents, however they have shared the specs. With that in mind, how about we talk about those measurements. These documents point towards the Ascend P6 measuring in at 132.7 x 65.5 x 6.5mm. While that thickness is not quite as thin as originally reported, there is only a small 0.3mm difference from what was originally expected. Of course, we should also clarify that neither the old, or this updated thickness has been confirmed. Otherwise, the handset is also expected to have a 4.7-inch 720p display and arrive running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.
The handset is said to have a quad-core 1.5 GHz K3V2+ Huawei chipset with 1.5GHz quad-core CPU and an Intel XMM6260 modem. Other points include 2GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a 2000 mAh battery, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and a weight of 120 grams. The camera situation is looking like it will include a 5 megapixel front-facing camera with 720p video recording and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with 1080p video recording. All said and done, while we expect the rumors to continue, we do know that Huawei will be announcing the Ascend P6 during the ‘Beauty’ event scheduled for June 18th. VIA: GSM Arena |
| Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 with mirrorless lens coming in July Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:46 AM PDT The folks from Samsung are diving head first into the photography world lately. Well, diving into the mobile photography world running Android. Last year the Galaxy Camera and its 16.3 megapixel lens was impressive, and this morning they announced a similar Samsung GALAXY S 4 Zoom smartphone with a huge 16.3 megapixel lens attached to the bottom. Now we’re hearing their improved and “mirrorless” Galaxy Camera 2 will be unveiled next week.
We know Samsung is working on a mirrorless smart camera that will be running Android. We’ve also seen countless leaks and rumors that a Galaxy Camera 2 is in the works. Just last week some sample photos were spotted showing a Samsung Camera rocking a 20.9 megapixel lens on board, and chances are that will be the device being mentioned today. Samsung’s upcoming event in London on June 20th is set to announce a few new “Galaxy” devices, and with today’s announcement of the S 4 Zoom that only leaves a few mid-range phones and the Galaxy Camera 2 for June 20th. Even more interesting is today’s report from Korea’s DDaily claiming the device will be announced, then available in mid July. We can’t confirm those reports but Digital Daily in Korea has been correct in the past with many reports regarding Samsung products. Until the folks from Sammy confirm the details up on stage this is just a rumor, but it looks like we’ll be seeing the Galaxy Camera 2 on June 20th. Then we’ll be able to purchase the 21 megapixel powerhouse Android-powered camera in July. Stay tuned all you mobile photography aficionados. VIA: SamMobile |
| MetroPCS bring-your-own-phone program launches today Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:35 AM PDT MetroPCS has officially launched a BYOP (Bring Your Own Phone) program. Basically, this means users will now be able to bring a GSM compatible phone they already own and simply purchase the service from MetroPCS. The initial launch is being done on a limited scale and there does appear to be some fine print worth reading before you sign up for service.
With that being said, the MetroPCS BYOP service is available for those in Boston, Dallas, Hartford and Las Vegas. Aside from having the requirement of GSM, the handset must also be Android, Windows Phone or an iPhone (the carrier will also accept “certain” feature phones). Assuming you have a compatible handset, you will then need to get a MetroPCS branded SIM card along with a monthly service plan. As you already own your phone, the service will be available on a month-to-month basis. MetroPCS has several plans available and they range in price from $40 up to $60 per month. These plans all offer unlimited talk, text and data as well as some high-speed data. The $40 option includes 500MB, the $50 option includes 2.5GB and the $60 option is unlimited. Otherwise, the carrier is pushing the BYOP program as being good for those who want to “enjoy unlimited monthly service for less” as well as those who tend to purchase unsubsidized devices and those who like MetroPCS but prefer to use a phone not currently offered. All of these seem like valid enough reasons, however there is another side. Yes, that fine print mentioned earlier. MetroPCS has said they cannot “guarantee the functionality or performance of any phones or devices that were not sold by MetroPCS or an authorized dealer.” In addition, they do not “guarantee the functionality of any phones or devices that do not have a software version that was sold or updated by MetroPCS.” Bottom line here, this MetroPCS BYOP offering sounds ideal for those who consider themselves self-sufficient when it comes to your devices. VIA: Fierce Wireless SOURCE: MetroPCS |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 heads to AT&T with 4G LTE Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:25 AM PDT A few months back Samsung released their WiFi only Galaxy Note 8.0 slate to the market, and now those on AT&T will be able to enjoy it alongside some blazing fast 4G LTE speeds. We saw it hit the FCC so knew it was coming, but this afternoon AT&T has announced the 4G LTE Galaxy Note 8.0 will be exclusively on AT&T later this month.
Samsung’s 8-inch slate is pretty impressive, and of course the stylus gives you all those additional options and features along with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. For more details you’ll want to check out our detailed Galaxy Note 8.0 Review, even though it’s only the WiFi models. The important bits remain the same. Samsung’s 8.0-inch 720p HD display is beautiful, and the multi-screen modes sure come in handy and will be even more useful while out and about using AT&T 4G LTE. Sadly we knew this was coming, and just wanted a price, release date, and to know if we could make calls with it. None of these questions were answered today. The international 3G model has full voice functionality. So yes, you can put that massive 8-inch device up to your ear should you choose (not sure who would) but it doesn’t appear the 4G LTE model today will have such features. According to AT&T it will not support phone functions, but we’ll update if we learn more. Again, no details were released today as far as pricing or a release date. AT&T states it will be available later this month. VIA: AT&T |
| Viva Movil by JLo opens first fashionable mobile store in Brooklyn Posted: 12 Jun 2013 09:58 AM PDT It’s true, JLo has her own retail store where she’ll be selling smartphones in a joint venture with Verizon Wireless. You can also expect to find fashionable accessories and all types of goodness at her new Brooklyn location. Last month at CTIA Verizon had a big announcement (it wasn’t the HTC One) and surprised us all by announcing Viva Movil – a wireless carrier for Latinos. We have more details on the new shop below.
Jennifer Lopez took the stage and talked about the Latino community, smartphones, Verizon Wireless, and for those who missed it, cases in pretty colors. Essentially this will be a Verizon Wireless co-branded “premium outlet” for smartphones and fashionable colorful cases and accessories. At the same time they’ll cater to the Latino population. To be honest I find it a bit surprising, and not all that exciting, but what do I know. This week the newly announced company confirmed their first retail store (of what we’re hearing will be many) has opened late Tuesday in New York. Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn will be the place to head if you’re a Latino looking for a wireless provider. Of course the staff will be friendly and bilingual, allowing them to speak with customers in English or Spanish. They have smartphones and tablets ranging from Android, Nokia, and even the iPhone. There’s also a kid zone so those momma’s can drop off their kids and decide what plan and phone is right for them without distractions. You can head to the Brooklyn location or shop at their online store full of pretty JLo accessories, as well as accessories and cases from all the other big manufacturers like Samsung. More stores are coming soon so stay tuned if you aren’t near this newest shop. Who’s interested in Viva Movil? |
| CyanogenMod incognito mode currently in development Posted: 12 Jun 2013 09:53 AM PDT CyanogenMod may soon be getting a new privacy feature. Said feature is called “Run in Incognito Mode” and it is being described as a “simple privacy feature designed to help you keep your personal data under control.” The feature is being worked on by Steve Kondik and as we always see with CyanogenMod updates — there hasn’t been any sort of release timeframe given.
Actually, what has been said is that he is working on a feature that will “hopefully make it’s way into CM.” Trying to remain optimistic that the “Run in Incognito Mode” feature will appear, how about we shift over to what this will do. Kondik has said this will have a per-application flag. This flag will exposed by an API and content providers will be able to use that to decide if they should return a full or limited dataset.
Further details here reveal how this may work. It was shown that the flag could show the GPS to appear disabled and how your system could provide empty lists for items such as messages, contacts, calendar and browser history. The screen capture sitting above gives a look at how this will display. Other details here include the following;
One item to keep in mind here, this is a privacy feature. In fact, Kondik has said they will not be providing ad-blocking or device info (IMEI) spoofing. He then goes on to clarify this feature is “designed explictly to help protect your personal data, and it will remain as such.” Otherwise, giving a brief look at how this will work from the other side. The API will provide an “isIncognito() call” which will alert you as to whether the ingocnito mode is enabled and from this point any third party applications will be able to honor the feature. Bottom line here, it looks like this setup will be able to keep your personal data separate from your apps. SOURCE: Google+ (Steve Kondik) |
| Samsung GALAXY S 4 spotted with Snapdragon 800 processor Posted: 12 Jun 2013 08:53 AM PDT This latest handset is still unannounced by Samsung, however it looks like the company is prepping another version of the GALAXY S 4. And unlike the recently unveiled GALAXY S 4 Active and Zoom, this one should have a look similar to that of the regular model. The difference here will be in the network connectivity.
What we are seeing is coming by way of a recently discovered DLNA certification filing. The details point to a handset called the Samsung GALAXY S 4 LTE Advanced with a model number of SHV-E330. Or perhaps a bit more important here — a GALAXY S 4 with a Snapdragon 800 MSM8974 processor. Basically, we are talking about a handset with support for the next generation of 4G technology. According to details coming from the Korean language dt.co.kr, this handset will have support for speeds of up to 150Mbps down. That brings us to the discussion of where the GALAXY S 4 LTE Advanced will be available — only for those in Korea.
The handset is expected to arrive in July and the network support is said to be coming a month later, in August. Otherwise, the processor is expected to clock in as a quad-core 2.3GHz and the handset should also have support for VoLTE. Aside from the new processor and support for faster LTE speeds, the GALAXY S 4 LTE Advanced should be arriving with a familiar set of specs. Basically, the handset will still have a 5-inch Full HD display, 2GB of RAM, 2600 mAh battery, 2 megapixel front-facing camera, 13 megapixel rear-facing camera and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. VIA: mobileleaks.nl |
| AT&T 4G LTE network expands across nine states Posted: 12 Jun 2013 08:14 AM PDT Coming just one day after the last LTE expansion news, AT&T has dropped word of another expansion. This time around we are seeing coverage expand across nine states. The amount of coverage will vary from state to state, however this latest list includes Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon and South Dakota.
The new coverage for Arkansas include El Dorado-Magnolia and Camden and the Arizona coverage is spreading to those in Prescott, Flagstaff and Sedona. The new LTE coverage for Illinois is a bit more widespread and include the following markets;
Shifting away from Illinois and into Minnesota and there is now coverage for those in Duluth-Superior. New Jersey coverage will include Ocean City, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Sea Isle City, North Wildwood, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, Cape May and Villas. The remaining locations for this latest LTE expansion includes Kinston, North Carolina; Dayton, Ohio; Astoria, Oregon and Brookings and Watertown, South Dakota. As you can tell, this latest update is much bigger as compared to the last. Of course, we suspect that will not make those without LTE coverage feel any better. Looking for the silver lining though, we can see that AT&T has been announcing new LTE markets at a rather fast pace which does give some hope that your coverage could be arriving sooner rather than later. Otherwise, as usual AT&T hasn’t given any hints as to which cities and states are next on the list. SOURCE: AT&T |
| BLU Life Play arrives unlocked for those in the US Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:37 AM PDT BLU Products unveiled the Life series of smartphones back in mid-March. That series includes the Life One, Life View and Life Play and it looks like one of those three handsets has come available for sale in the US market. The model is theL Life Play and the handset is selling unlocked for $229.
At the moment the BLU Life Play can be found with Amazon. The handset is available in a variety of colors to include blue and grey as well as pink, white and yellow. The blue and grey models look to be shipping in 2 to 3 weeks while the remaining colors show a 2 to 4 week shipping estimate. Aside from a bit of a wait, the Life Play smartphone is running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and sporting features to include a 4.7-inch IPS display at 1280 x 720, quad-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, 2 megapixel front-facing camera and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and HD video recording at 1080p. Other goodies include dual-SIM support, a thickness of 7.9mm and HSPA+ data connectivity with speeds of up to 42Mbps. Aside from having to wait a few weeks for delivery, the Life Play may be a handset to consider if you are looking for something with a decent mix of specs and price. Otherwise, it was also said the BLU Products Life View handset will be coming available in July. We have yet to see a specific date for the Life View, however we do know that it will be priced at $299 with specs to include a 5.7-inch HD display, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and a 12 megapixel rear-facing camera. SOURCE: Facebook |
| HTC One Mini expected to arrive “by August” Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:03 AM PDT We have seen plenty of leaks, rumors and speculation surrounding the HTC One Mini, however as of today it looks as if a potential release timeframe may have been revealed. That timeframe is fairly open, however a recent Bloomberg report states HTC will be releasing the One Mini (M4) sometime this summer. Or a bit more specific, it was said the handset “will go on sale by August.”
That detail has arrived from two unnamed people who were “briefed on the plans.” Time will tell how accurate that timeframe will end up being. Otherwise, this latest report touched on many of the same spec related details that we have already seen. In other words, there was mention of the 4.3-inch display and Qualcomm processor. The display is expected to be 720p and the processor should be a dual-Core Snapdragon 400. Other goodies look to include 2GB of RAM and the same UltraPixel camera found on the regular-sized HTC One. We also recently saw the HTC M4 (PO58XXX) appear in a Bluetooth SIG filing which confirmed Bluetooth 4.0 and suggests a release may be coming sooner rather than later. The HTC One Mini is also expected to be running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with Sense 5.0. Aside from talk of the One Mini, we are also watching the continued rollout of the One. Just yesterday C Spire Wireless announced the upcoming availability of the handset. Sadly though, the carrier didn’t provide much other than a basic teaser. In the end, we are expecting the talk and rumors dealing with the HTC One Mini to continue right up until the time we see the official word from HTC. Of course, similar to the HTC One Mini rumors, there are still plenty of One rumors in general. An Android 4.2 update is expected soon and we have also been seeing talk of a larger-sized One. SOURCE: Bloomberg |
| Verizon Galaxy S III update pulled following reports of connectivity issues Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:30 AM PDT Verizon began updating the Galaxy S III back towards the end of last month and almost immediately after we began hearing about issues dealing with the update. Most of the issues seem to have been on the topic of connectivity, specifically with 4G LTE however things were just not right for those who had updated. Verizon has yet to say what they may do to make things better for those who updated and are experiencing issues, but it looks like they have since pulled the update.
With that in mind, the folks at Droid-Life have recently posted a statement coming by way of a leaked screencapture. The statement is basically an acknowledgement about how the update is causing problems and that it was pulled. Perhaps most important here, it also mentions working with Samsung to find a solution.
This is nice in at least other Galaxy S III users will not have to deal with these issues. The unfortunate part is that we have yet to see a firm timeline as to when a fix may be rolled out. In the meantime, those having issues may want to contact Verizon and see if there is anything that can be done — after all, there is not a simple method of rolling back the update on your own. Bottom line here, what should have been a solid update with new features to include Multi-Screen, Multi-Window, Best Shot and more turned into an update that is limiting the use of your handset. Some users dealing with LTE connectivity have found a fix with a simple change in settings. You can head to Settings -> More Networks -> Mobile Networks and change the preferred network mode from Global to LTE/CDMA. Aside from the LTE issue, this update also caused problems with the Talkback app. This doesn’t seem to be as widespread however we have seen some complaints. Not to mention, this is one that caused an issue with our Galaxy S III. The Talkback app was turning itself on after every restart/reboot, however it was able to be disabled. The one catch, that hand icon appears stuck in the notification shade. With that, here is hoping Verizon has a relatively quick fix in the works. |
| Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom revealed with 16MP, 10x optical zoom & Xenon Posted: 12 Jun 2013 01:34 AM PDT Samsung has rolled out another well-rumored variant on its Galaxy S4 family, in the shape of the phone-camera hybrid Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom. Fusing a Galaxy S4 Mini to a point-and-shoot, the new handset packs a 16-megapixel CMOS with a 10x optical zoom lens, while on the back is a 4.3-inch qHD touchscreen and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.
The camera gets a Xenon flash to play with, and supports ISO 100-3200. The lens is a 24-240mm zoom, F3.1-F6.3, and has optical image stabilization. Above the display there’s a 1.9-megapixel camera.
As for controls, Samsung has shifted the zoom functionality to a ring around the lens, and in fact if you twiddle that during a call the Galaxy S4 Zoom automatically switches into camera mode, fires off a snap, and then allows you to MMS that to whoever you’re talking to. Otherwise, there’s the same Smart Mode system as we saw on the Galaxy Camera, with 25 different auto settings ranging from HDR, through panorama, to Action Freeze and Light Trace.
On the phone side, there’s a 1.5GHz dualcore processor – Samsung says the source will depend on market – with 1.5GB of RAM and 8GB of storage (around 5GB of which will be user-available). There’s a choice of LTE or HSPA+ models, depending on market, and all have WiFi a/b/g/n (5GHz), Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC. A-GPS and GLONASS are supported, and there’s an accelerometer, digital compass, proximity sensor, gyroscope, and a light sensor. You get all of Samsung’s usual TouchWiz tweaks on top of Android 4.2, including S Voice and S Translator. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom measures in at 125.5 x 63.5 x 15.4 mm and weighs 208g with its 2,330 mAh battery. Samsung isn’t saying how many shots that will be good for, nor how much the camera-phone hybrid will cost when it arrives this summer. We’ll presumably find out more on June 20, when Samsung brings its new range to London for its “Premiere 2013″ event.        |
| iOS 7 “parallax effect” on Android: 3D Image Live Wallpaper available now Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:07 PM PDT During the Apple keynote yesterday we saw a lot of interesting and exciting new things with iOS 7, many of which have been available on Android for some time, but we won’t get into that now. The most impressive new feature and UI aspect (for me) was this “liveliness” 3D wallpaper doing the parallax effect. Showing the background image move as you tilt the device. Thanks to an eagle-eyed reader we’ve learned this is nothing new for Android. Check out our hands-on below of what surely is my favorite new app.
This neat and snazzy little feature is called the parallax effect, and I didn’t even know we could enjoy such awesomeness on our Android smartphones and tablets. When you move the phone the background image appears as if it’s in 3D and will pan and tilt to your motion. Using the gyroscope in the smartphone, the feature is visually impressive to say the least. It’s certainly neat, and something I was in awe of when Apple showed it off on screen. I instantly wanted it, and sure enough I now have it, well before any users are enjoying iOS 7. Thankfully here in the Android world we’ve had live wallpapers for a long, long time, and this feature isn’t anything new. After a reader tipped us off about an app called 3D Image Live Wallpaper. Check it out in action below. The video is pretty self explanatory and will give you a good idea of what we’re working with here. The app basically makes your wallpaper feel like an immersive and lively 3D image. I’m a huge fan and wish I’d heard about this sooner. The app has been available since November of 2012, and we’ve found a few more while digging through the Play Store. 3D Image Live Wallpaper is available now at the link below for about $1.60 and will let you use multiple Android 4.2 images (that come with the app) or you can select any custom image of your choosing. This gives us that neat effect we saw from Apple and iOS yesterday, only you can have it right now. Ahh. I love technology! Give it a try today and let us know what you think. Don’t forget to head into settings and increase all the effects for some real fun. SOURCE: Play Store |
| HTC One Android 4.2 update could very well arrive tomorrow Posted: 11 Jun 2013 04:45 PM PDT HTC is still running the One on 4.1 Jelly Bean, and so it’s with great enthusiasm that all owners of the International version of the device are anxious to get their hands on the new 4.2 update. Expected for the middle of June, and if rumors are anything to live by, you could be downloading it to your One within the next 24 hours.
Although details are slim, multiple leaks are coming out that as of the 12th of June 2013, update 4.2.2 of Jelly Bean will be available for the international One. This coincides with the earlier reports of a mid-June release date. Yves Wi himself (Ambassador of HTC France) has already stated as much on Twitter, in a post where he suggests that it’s coming with Sense 5 as well. We’ve heard a lot of different reports, but this is the first from an HTC Ambassador. Should the news be true, this will make countless users happy that were upset it didn’t launch with the latest version of Android. This will also bring the One up to speed with the GALAXY S 4. This news will prove to be a big bonus to the people waiting out on buying an HTC One from Verizon, as Verizon is late to the party and could announce the device already running the latest version of Android out of the box. We’re still waiting on a release date from big red, but this is a good sign indeed. Source: Twitter |
| Dead Zebra introduces new “Rainbow” Android collectible set Posted: 11 Jun 2013 04:15 PM PDT Android collectors are a hardcore bunch, and when it comes to the little Android guy itself, they simply can’t get enough. For those who are looking for a more “vibrant” Android collection, Dead Zebra has introduced a new Rainbow set of him, which includes a figurine of him in 10 different and exciting colors. Crack your piggy bank, rob a bank, and mug the elderly; it’s time to pick one up.
Come June 14th, you will finally be able to pick up a sweet little mini-figurine set of 10 Android’s, all in unique colors, and all of them being transparent and uber cute. Andrew Bell and his mad artistic skills have made a really bold statement here, and now you can collect all of these, and set them around your house in different places. Whether it’s to shock your guests, make the mother in law (finally) smile or frighten the dog, having fun with these is just a small online purchase away. With tons of collectibles available on the market right now for Android fans, having something unique and full of character to choose from shouldn’t be difficult. Dead Zebra has a history of creating high quality artwork, and this one should be no different. All characters in the set feature movable arms and heads, and are able to stand on their own. They’ll sell for $69USD per set when available, and also come in a display only packaging to enhance that “collector” vibe. We expect they’ll sell out pretty fast. SOURCE: Dead Zebra |
| Nyko Dock for NVIDIA SHIELD hands-on Posted: 11 Jun 2013 04:06 PM PDT Earlier today the popular accessory maker Nyko, most known for their budget game console products, announced a slew of cases and options for us Android gamers. Most notably, some cases and a new dock for the upcoming NVIDIA SHIELD game console. Their cases are nice, but the dock turns your quad-core Tegra 4 powered SHIELD into a traditional console. It’s interesting, so lets take a peek.
We looked at their cases earlier today at E3 2013, but now we’re taking a look at the Nyko dock that will transform how we use SHIELD. All these add-ons to make it a true console might be a bit much, but for someone who already was planning to purchase a SHIELD should love what they have in store later this year. As you can see from the image above, this is a simple dock from Nyko. The important part being it offers both micro-USB for charging and HDMI for outputting video. Wire this up to that 55-inch LED TV of yours, and you’ve got a game system. Running on Android 4.2 you’ll be able to use a Tyko controller and comfortably sit back and play all those Android (and PC games) from the couch. So while this essentially takes away the “portable” aspect of SHIELD, it doubles the options for actually playing games with the Android-powered console. As you see in our hands-on video above the dock is extremely small. Once connected the SHIELD will be a standalone game console and you’ll be able to use the Nyko PlayPad controller to game as usual. It is expected to arrive later this year, and pricing wasn’t announced. The price from the video was the dock for their Playpad controller, not the SHIELD dock. NVIDIA’s SHIELD is still on track for a release later this month, and we should be hearing something official any day now from E3. It will run you $349, then once you have this dock the options will become endless. It’s a nice concept for Nyko to get some sales off of SHIELD. We’ll update when we hear more. |
| Asphalt 8: Airborne brings new features, and better bang for your buck Posted: 11 Jun 2013 03:24 PM PDT Today we got our first preview of the new Asphalt 8: Airborne, and it looks awesome. Gameloft’s racing game is a favorite among mobile gamers, and their latest release looks good, while also being cheaper. The new Asphalt 8 will set you back exactly $.99, making it an even better value than Asphalt 7 was. With a host of new changes and enhanced features, you’ll be wanting to get it as fast as humanly possible.
Up next are locations, where we see some truly interesting scenery, ranging from Nevada, to Tokyo, London and even Iceland. We all know Iceland has some incredibly crazy racetracks, right? Don’t doubt… the developers at Asphalt 8 have made it work. The best part of this news is that some of these tracks will be rain-soaked (hydroplaning in a Pagani? Seems safe) ice covered, and even ruggedly dirty. Most fans of the series (us included) will recall a certain Monaco track that became extremely popular through online multi-player. This epic track is also making a return. Now however, you’ll be able to play with either synchronous multi-player, or asynchronous multi-player, the latter of which is making a huge impact in other famous racing games such as Grid 2 and Real Racing 3. This means you can race your friend, as he takes a break and eats lunch, based on his old ghost data. Lastly, Takedown mode is back, but to add to it is two new multi-player modes; Gate Drift and Infected. Gate Drift is a mode that permits you to drift through gates to garner points. Infected is essentially a game of “It” where you love tap (or smash) a competitors car to pass along the “Infection”. With Asphalt 8: Airborne, Gameloft is sure to have a hit on its hands. We all loved Asphalt 7, as well as the others before it, and we all appreciate another awesome time killer. They promise the game is “coming this summer.” Now, please excuse me while I go put on my racing gloves and Piloti racing shoes. We’ve got some hardcore racing to do. SOURCE: GAMELOFT |
| Vine surpasses Instagram as top Social App on Google Play Posted: 11 Jun 2013 02:52 PM PDT With Android and iOS apps hitting all time sales highs, and with social connectivity and applications at a whole new peak, Vine has taken the Gold Crown of Social App status away from Instagram. That means that where Instagram previously stood before, at #1 in Social App status on Google Play, now lies Vine. It seems as if then, that consumers really, really like 6 second video clips…
For those that aren’t in the know, Vine is an application available on Google Play and in the Apple Store that allows you to take a small 6 second video clip of whatever you want, and post it to a social service, as la Instagram. This exciting new app interface made its rounds in early January on Apples store, and quickly stole the show. Available for only a week on Google Play, to be used on Android devices, it comes to the surprise of no one that it would be successful here as well. As of now, Vine has allowed for the opportunity to utilize both front and rear camera’s, and a refined user interface. Also, the most popular sharing platform is of course Twitter, followed by Facebook. With this simultaneous integration of applications and social sites, Vine is set to grow exponentially over the next couple of quarters. As of right now, it sits at #4 on Google Play, and could very well raise its position a notch or two judging by its current growth. The quick success of Vine on Google Play really paints a picture that when an application is introduced to one OS, it should be introduced verbatim to any competing OS’ as well. Time and time again we’ve seen this, but App developers continue to be wary of cross platform sharing. Perhaps they’re just testing waters on one OS over the other, or working out kinks, but as it stands, we could all use a few more interesting apps. Vine is available on Google Play, and is capable of being utilized on most Android devices. SOURCE: Tech Crunch |
| Samsung going into the accessory store business, starting in Europe Posted: 11 Jun 2013 02:26 PM PDT Starting in July, Samsung will open up an “accessory” retail division, through an online/offline retail product venture in association with Best Buy. This will therefore allow for Samsung to jump into the same fold as Apple, with their Apple stores’ accessory section.
Currently, the smartphone accessory market is worth 44 Billion dollars U.S, which Samsung wants a big part of. Shipping over 10 million Galaxy S4′s last month is a great example of how much of a stronghold Samsung really has in the actual phone market itself. Put two and two together, and you have phone buyers just craving to seek out accessories such as the new S View Cover, and the Smart Dock. Selected third party companies are said to also be part of the game, and they too will be able to market their products in the Samsung stores, albeit with permission from Samsung themselves. An expected 1400 retail locations, both on and offline are slated to be opened, with Samsung clearly looking to expand both its product base and its customer loyalty base. We’ve already covered before how Best Buy plans to work with Samsung on this, but we had yet to confirm to what level. Now we know it’ll focus almost solely on accessories. As well as their flagship phones of course. How this will all turn out for them is yet to be seen, but it should be interesting to finally be able to buy trusted Samsung products without having to wait 3 weeks for arrival. SOURCE:ET News |
| Google expands Play Store shipping options Posted: 11 Jun 2013 02:00 PM PDT Google was expected to bring some additional shipping options to the Play Store and as of today, it looks like they have come available for new purchases. All together there are three options available for shipping, however not every item will be eligible for every shipping option. Any and all eligible shipping options will be presented during the checkout process.
Google lists the three options as Saver, Ground and UPS two-day. The Saver option will take 5-10 business days for delivery, the Ground option will take 3-5 business days for delivery and the two-day option is, well, two business days. The one point that you will need to remember up front — regardless of which option you choose, Google still needs 2 business days to process the order. Simply put, even with the two-day delivery option, you may still be waiting up to 4 business days before your package arrives. While a quicker processing time would have been nicer to see, we suppose waiting 4 business days is better as compared to upwards of 12 business days. It basically just comes down to how much you are willing to spend on shipping and how long you are willing to wait for your package to arrive. Otherwise, the 2-day option should be available for all products and the Ground option will be available for many products. The Saver option is the one that is less likely to be seen and applies mostly to the smaller accessories. |
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All driving game aficionados will be pleased to hear that Gameloft is working on the next installment in the Asphalt series and the graphics look stunning! Asphalt 8: Airborne, which is scheduled to be released this summer, includes new maps, a new physics engine, and new weather effects. Dubbed “Airborne” because of the off ramps that launch your car into the air for some spectacular stunts, the new game will only cost $0.99 when released!
