When you have extra cash to throw around, you might as well rock the latest and greatest smartphone on the planet with style. The iPhone isn’t the only one getting the gold-plated treatment, and we have the Samsung Galaxy S4 wrapped in Gold, Platinum, or Rose Gold for you below. Sadly it’ll cost you some serious coin so you better start saving your pennies now.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen ridiculously priced luxury smartphones. Just like a watch, some people will pay the premium. Lamborghini has a few Android phones, and the company VERTU offers a few costing upwards of $10,000 USD. We have good news though, the gold-plated Galaxy S4 will only run you a little over $2,600 if you’re interested.
Even the folks from TAG Heuer offer a few smartphones topping $4,000 and beyond. It’s a bit ridiculous if you ask me, but we figured you’d all like to give it a look. The company GoldGenie is responsible for making Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S4 gold as you see it today, but sadly they appear to be sold out at the moment.
So what will that £1700 get you besides a gold-plated Galaxy S 4? You can choose the white or black version of the phone as your base, then it’ll come with 16GB of storage and the usual quad-core processor under the hood. The device is SIM unlocked, and will probably have a substantial increase in weight. Your device will be worth its weight in gold.
Each unit also comes in a specially designed Limited edition Cherry Oak finished collectors box, so that should totally make it worth the purchase. More details can be found below.
ASUS and Google have been busy lately, but we’re all still waiting to see what exactly they’ve been working on. With the new second-gen Nexus 7 not arriving at Google I/O as expected, we’ve now been seeing multiple reports on the slate, but still no sighting. After an unknown 7-inch ASUS tablet listed as the K008 with Android 4.3 cleared the Bluetooth SIG last week, today it’s passing through the FCC.
Oddly enough now we’re a bit confused because the device today is listed as K009, not K008. It also shows as having the older Snapdragon S4 Pro (like the Nexus 4) on board and not the newer Snapdragon 600 or 800 like previous rumors. Then it’s also being reported as rocking a 5 megapixel rear and 1.2 front set of cameras, and happily this slate will come with 4G LTE.
Now that this has finally stopped by the FCC we’re moving it up to “official” but the details still aren’t fully know so we’ll continue taking reports and rumors with a grain of salt. We’ve also seen the original Nexus 7 clear Bluetooth SIG with Android 4.3, so clearly there’s some odd things going around with both tablets, and the next version of Android.
We’re happy to see 4G LTE, a rear camera, and a 32GB model all being listed here, so this is certainly a better tablet all around over the original. We just wish a better processor was on board, but that could be to help hit that low price point that made the Nexus 7 so successful. Latest supplier reports suggest the second-gen Nexus 7 is coming in late July and will run you $229 for the 16GB model. Until Google and ASUS make it official we’ll just wait patiently and keep looking for more details.
Who’s interested even with the slightly outdated S4 Pro quad-core processor?
Samsung recently unveiled the Galaxy S4 Zoom and while we are waiting to see where and when the handset will be available, a few in-the-wild style images have recently surfaced on the Chinese language weibo.com. The images are showing the Galaxy S4 Zoom sitting alongside the Galaxy Camera. And in addition, the Galaxy S4 Zoom is also pictured with an iPhone 5 and Nokia 808 PureView.
These images weren’t accompanied with much in terms of descriptions, however it seems clear that the person responsible for those images was intent of giving a side-by-side comparison with a few other ‘known’ handsets. While we may not be the biggest Apple and Nokia fans here, it stands to reason that most everyone has at least seen the iPhone 5. Particularly interesting though, the Galaxy S4 Zoom appears to be a decent amount smaller as compared to the Galaxy Camera.
Not only does the Galaxy S4 Zoom appear smaller in size as compared to the Galaxy Camera, but it also looks a bit more easy to carry around in a pocket. With that in mind, given the S4 Zoom is a true camera and phone, that sort of fits in with the expectations that we have. In fact, the Galaxy S4 Zoom appears much more similar to the size and shape of the Nokia, not that we think Samsung is copying.
Aside from the Galaxy S4 Zoom announcement, we have already seen the first promo video hit the web. That video was posted by Samsung the other day and offers a rather nice look at the camera specific features — including how the zoom-ring is able to serve as a quick launch to the camera goodies.
That all being said, the Galaxy S4 Zoom and Galaxy Camera images were all included in the post above. To check out the Apple and Nokia comparisons you will need only to venture down into the image gallery sitting below. And shifting away from the Galaxy S4 Zoom for a moment, it looks like Samsung has another Android-based camera ready for announcement. We have yet to see official details, however some images of the Galaxy Camera NX recently leaked.
LG has announced the Optimus L4 II. This handset is sporting a model number of E440 and will arrive to fill the entry-level market. LG has the Optimus L4 II running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with a 3.8-inch IPS display with a resolution of 480 x 320. For now it looks like the Optimus L4 II will be released in a select few markets including Russia and the Ukraine.
Of course, that is not to say this model will not arrive elsewhere in time. That aside, the handset will be powered by a single-core 1GHz MediaTek processor and has just 512MB of RAM. Other specs include 4GB of internal storage along with a microSD card slot, 1700 mAh battery and a 3 megapixel rear-facing camera with flash.
The Optimus L4 II will also have HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS and measurements of 112.5 x 64.7 x 11.9mm. While the specs are not super exciting, LG has included one interesting perk when it comes to the home button. Simply put, the home button will double as an LED notification light.
As we often see with smartphones these days, the LG Optimus L4 II will launch in two colors — black and white. LG has the handset priced at 5,490 RUB, which means it would be roughly $175 in terms of US dollars. Needless to say, these currency-to-currency translations do not always match up perfectly in the smartphone world.
Otherwise, the Optimus L4 II has joined the L-Series II alongside the L3 II, L5 II and L7 II. While we wait for further details on a wider global release for this specific model, LG is also expected to announce a dual-SIM variety called the Optimus L4 II Dual.
The T-Mobile UNcarrier approach went into effect back towards the end of March and it is now looking like the carrier also has a phase 2 and phase 3 in the works. All of the specifics have yet to be revealed for phase 2 and 3, however it looks like phase 2 may be coming in mid-July.
As of now July 14th is said to be the date, though that was originally reported as being June 23rd. Bottom line, with the rumored date already having changed once, it seems likely that July 14th is just a rough estimate. Perhaps more important for today, there are a few details as to what may be coming with phase 2.
This phase is expected to bring some new no-credit-check options for customers that do not want their credit run. Not to mention, for those who already know going in that their credit may not be good enough to qualify under traditional mobile plans. It looks like this will mean the ability to grab a T-Mobile handset on a Simple Choice plan without any need for qualifying.
More specific here, this means customers going this route will not have any EIP offered and they will be buying the phone at full retail pricing. Basically, a prepaid setup using the currently available Simple Choice plans. T-Mobile is also expected to combine their UNcarrier approach with MetroPCS. This is said to be known internally as Apollo 15 and is expected to tie in with the 15 additional markets that MetroPCS will be launching.
Otherwise, while there are some details for phase 2, we do have to remember these are unofficial and should therefor still be considered rumor for now. With that, while we at least have some rumored details for phase 2, the details for phase 3 remain a complete mystery at the moment.
With just a few days left before the Huawei ‘Beauty’ event is set to take place, it appears as if the teasing is going to continue. Coming by way of the official Huawei Twitter account, the company has recently dropped a few additional images of the Ascend P6 along with a bit of teasing about the thickness of the handset.
The actual event is scheduled for June 18th and from the way it looks, the teasing is going to continue right up until the time of the announcement. Huawei has yet to specify which markets would be seeing the Ascend P6, however a recent message from the company does have it listed as being a “global launch event.”
Otherwise, Huawei appears focused on two things — the beauty and the thickness of the handset. We have yet to see any official measurements, however the profile does appear thin based on these images. Recently leaked specs show the handset measuring in at 6.5mm thick.
Other still rumored specs include Android 4.2 Jelly Bean along with a 4.7-inch 720p display, quad-core 1.5GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, 2000 mAh battery and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera that is capable of capturing video at 1080p.
In addition to a thin phone, it looks like Huawei is planning to carry that over to the packaging. The image sitting above was accompanied by the following;
The P6 was created to give consumers a “thin” experience. We did make our P6 box extremely thin!
AT&T announced the Samsung GALAXY S 4 Active yesterday and as was expected, the carrier has began accepting pre-orders today. The pre-orders are available by way of the AT&T website and the handset is priced at $199.99 on a two-year agreement. Otherwise, those looking to purchase the handset without the lengthy agreement would need to shell out $594.99.
With that, it looks like those who move forward with a pre-order should be able to expect delivery in less than a weeks time. According to the current estimates on the AT&T website, the GALAXY S 4 Active pre-orders will begin shipping on June 18th. Aside from that shipping date, the regular availability is still expected on June 21st. The handset is available in Urban Gray and Dive Blue, running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and sporting the IP67 certification.
Basically, the IP67 rating is just another way of saying the handset is water and dust resistant. In fact, Samsung has the GALAXY S 4 Active loaded up with some special water related camera functions. That will be called Aqua Mode and should help those looking to shoot video or capture images while in the water.
The handset also has plenty of other Samsung related features to include Eraser Shot, Air View, Air Gesture, Drama Shot, Samsung Smart Pause and Story Album. Aside from the water and dust resistance, the GALAXY S 4 Active also has Corning Gorilla Glass protection on the display. Also worth noting, that display is 5-inches and 1920 x 1080 in resolution.
Other hardware specs include the quad-core 1.9GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, 2600 mAh battery, 2 megapixel front-facing camera and 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. Bottom line here, if you had been eyeing the GALAXY S 4 but were hoping to see it arrive with a bit more in terms of durability — it looks like the Active is the model for you.
With so many budget tablets in the works, it would seem only fitting that Google would introduce the second generation Nexus 7 on a mid-summer release. Mainly in order to compete with all the other big names out there who are also slated for summer tablet releases. We’ve been toying with the concept of whether or not Google would ever actually bring it out in the first place, so to hear that they are, definitely has our interest piqued.
We weren’t expecting this price, but we can’t say we’re surprised; the Google Nexus 7 Second Gen will reportedly start $229 USD for the 16GB version, and then go up from there, according to reports. We were expecting a bit less, but then again, technology doesn’t tend to get cheaper as time goes on. Not to mention this is 16GB, not 8 like the original. There’s a good chance it’ll run Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, run on a Snapdragon 600 quad-core CPU or an S4 Pro.
As for the visual goodies, you can expect a similar case design, but the screen will be even better than it was before (and it wasn’t bad to begin with) with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels. Resounding color quality matched with Jelly Bean? You have us officially sold.
When it does come next month, it’ll be raised in price solely to distinguish it from lower Android tablet offerings, and to help it compete strongly with the iPad Mini second-gen, which is expected very soon. Given enough time, and a strong enough reception, we have no doubt that it’ll trounce the expensive iPad in every way. We’ve seen countless rumors stating a July release, but this seems to confirm it while also giving us a price to expect too.
Google has been busy with their music offering as of late, and now we’re hearing it could be getting whole lot better in the coming weeks or months. Earlier today the folks from Mountain View pushed out an update to Google Music that brought some major changes, speed improvements, and tweaks for All Access users, but behind the scenes is telling a different story for the future of Google Music.
Last month Google revealed and released Google Music ‘All Access’ at their I/O developer event. Blending the best of Google Music, Spotify, and Pandora into one awesome music solution. For those already using and enjoying it (like myself) today’s update reveals some awesome improvements coming soon, at least according to an APK teardown from the boys over at Android Police.
While digging through the newest version of Google Music, some pieces of code revealed that Google could be adding the option for the Play Music app to search for and find a music video to go along with it. Instead of heading to YouTube and looking up VEVO Videos for the artists you’re currently enjoying, why not let Google Music do it for you? It looks like that’s exactly what’s coming soon.
As you can see above, Google Music from a browser currently will do something similar and search for the correlating video to share with your friends on Google+, and it looks like our Android devices will be able to do the same soon, as well as watch them right from mobile.
Google Music won’t just find the video for sharing, but it’s being reported that it will actually let you watch the video in the Music app itself. You won’t have to go anywhere to enjoy it. That’s pretty awesome. Who needs MTV these days anyways? I sure don’t.
It’s a common thing for your phone to just slip out of your hands, get knocked out, fall backwards out of your pocket, fall of your desk, etc etc. It happens to everyone, and no one can escape the fact that some phones just are not made for that sort of thing. Enter Samsung, with this video showing just how much physical abuse they put onto their products before letting them out into consumer hands, and you may just feel some mental relief.
In this video, you see tons of carnage. Okay, that’s a lie, but what you do see is just how much emphasis Samsung puts onto quality control. In the video we’re presented with everything from water dunking to simulated stair toppling all the way up to the dreaded walnut crusher test (pictured above).
In a few views, we see that the Samsung Galaxy S 4 in question is running Android in its stock form. There is no video of how it would react if it was using the TouchWiz software. If it would react differently, we’d hope that Samsung would post a video about it, in hopes of calming any consumer fears.
Lastly, if you are watching this video, and you just so happen to not be able to speak Korean, it might be a good idea to switch on the Closed Captioning. We got a kick out of the “The butter melted in heat…. Duh” lines within the video, suggesting that even in the most strictest of environments at Samsung, a little fun can still be had.
We can’t promise your Galaxy S 4 will handle that dreaded moment where you accidentally drop it, but rest assured knowing Samsung put it through the ringer before ever releasing it to the public.
As of late, it seems as if the EU Regulations Commission has been pestering everyone for their doggy treats. But none more so than Google and Microsoft, both of whom are the biggest players in their respective segments. This time, the EU is probing Google in regards to reports that they’ve been discount pricing Android to manufacturers with the expectation that they increase Google App awareness to their clients.
According to sources, an informal investigation is being taken into effect based on these reports, although Google has not commented on it. They did however, release this statement, which we believe suggests that they are trying to calm the waters of the storm.
Android is an open platform that fosters competition. Handset makers, carriers and consumers can decide how to use Android, including which applications they want to use.
Filed in April, the report alleges that Google has been setting up shop with mobile carriers that allows them to purchase the rights to use Android at a reduced cost so long as they either include or try to advertise known Google applications within the software themselves, to the retail customer. This would effect some 70% of phones sold worldwide, which is a pretty hefty number.
We’re hearing the allegations were initially brought out by Microsoft and Nokia, which inspired the probe to begin with. Apparently that’s what happens when you’re losing the mobile war.
Although nothing has been formally announced, and no serious concerns have arisen out of the ordeal, we will be keeping a watchful eye on the story to cover what does become of it. In the meantime, harbor your thoughts as to what you believe Google has been up to in the comments below.
This afternoon we have some excellent news for all those users rocking the Sony Xperia Z waterproof smartphone. After a few screenshots leaked this morning, we now have the full Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update for the Xperia Z. It leaked in all its glory over on XDA, and we have more details below for those interested in updating a bit early.
The update was initially tipped to arrive in March, which obviously never happened for all you Sony faithful. Don’t worry though, because we have you covered. To be more specific we have Android 4.2.2 build number 10.3.A.0.407 for the Sony Xperia Z C6602/C6603.
According to the details being made available this was initially for Sony brown developer units only, but the leakster over at XDA has made it work with all retail units. That means if you’d like, if you dare, you can flash the latest build yourself and enjoy that Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
It isn’t stock Android, but we’ve heard an Xperia Z Google Edition is in the works, but it’ll do for now. Obviously you’ll need to be rooted and running a custom recovery here, but all the details on how to flash are available from the XDA link above. The devs state everything may not be working, and this isn’t the final production software, but should be fine for a daily driver.
I’m still waiting for Google and Sony to hopefully announce that Google Edition Xperia Z and drop it to the Play Store, that could be fun.
T-Mobile was the last carrier to enable 4G LTE wireless data into service, but it looks like as of today, it’s not just limited to a few cities in a few states. According to Twitter and emails sent to many tech sites, there have been numerous sightings of LTE in Dallas, Denver, and Wichita. With this news, it looks like 4G LTE for T-Mobile is spreading fast.
T-Mobile itself is looking to cover 100 million POPs by summers end, and is limited to only seven official markets. Before today, it was only live in 9 different cities; Denver, Las Vegas, Kansas City, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, San Jose, and Seattle.
Verizon and AT&T were the first to the scene with 4G LTE. Now that T-Mobile is slowly making its rounds in major cities across America, they’ll likely find that more people may opt to switch to them based on their plans and coverage. The speeds we are seeing again appear to be averaging 25Mbps down and 8Mbps up with a 40ms latency, which is exactly what we saw before.
Although T-Mobile is the last major player to the ballgame of 4G LTE, we do expect a full rollout very soon, at which point you too, wherever you may live city-wise in the USA, will be able to join the 4G LTE crowd. As for the rest of you who live in rural areas, you can expect a rollout to almost all of you by mid 2014. At least according to T-Mobile. Add in their 4G LTE with a new UNcarrier plan and you’ll be set. A full list can be found below.
Like a sneaky high school rumor that refused to die, we kept hearing about the release of the HTC Butterfly S, which fused the HTC One and the original HTC Butterfly together into one cool combination. Thankfully, we have our first details that show us just what it looks like, and how it’ll all translate to production specification.
Looking more like an amalgamation of Darth Maul and an HTC One, the new Butterfly S shown in these pictures is certainly far more eye catching than its predecessor. With a matte finish on its backplate (perhaps made out of rubber) as well as red accents front and back, it comes off as aggressive, although we’re sure this won’t be the only color combo available at launch.
Another point of interest is the dual speakers up front, which makes it clear that this device will utilize BoomSound. We also see Blinkfeed, which was introduced in on Sense 5 in tandem with the HTC One. We also see a lot of Droid DNA in that color scheme, which could mean that there is some sort of co-operation between Verizon and HTC. DROID DNA+ anyone?
Although all we have are these leaked images right now, we’ll keep you updated on more as it comes in, as it should within the next week or so. If it’s any consolation, we do hear rumors of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 (not the 800) as well as a 1920 x 1080 SLCD display, and Android 4.1/4.2 Jelly Bean being utilized when it does come to market.
Earlier this week the folks from Apple unveiled iOS 7, the new face of their mobile OS. Representing the biggest change to the iPhone OS since its birth. We won’t get into if we like it or not, who copied who and all that jazz, but instead show you just how easy we can make our Androids look the same. Thanks to one fan and her Galaxy Note II we have exactly that.
As usual, thanks to the awesome fan and developer community on Android we already have a full icon theme pack to deliver the same look to all of our Android smartphones. Don’t get out the pitch forks on me guys. No I don’t like the look, and I’m fine with Jelly Bean just how it is. Thank you very much! However, it is fun to give this a try and show it off to your iPhone friends patiently waiting for iOS 7.
A student by the name of Gail Santos posted up the details and all the information over on Google+ for those looking to make their phone look like iOS 7. I’m not sure why you’d want to, and neither is she, but she states it was fun nonetheless. Using her simple theme and icon pack with a custom launcher such as the popular NOVA Prime Launcher, she quickly changed all her icons and arranged them on screen just like Apple and iOS 7. It’s that simple.
Between custom ROMs, themes, and launchers we can do just about whatever we want on Android, and this is nothing new. I’m sure many won’t like the idea behind this, but to each his own. If you’re interested in customizing your icons with the new “flat iOS 7 look” Gail has the icon pack and iOS 7 wallpaper both available to download. She states she quickly went back to stock after giving this a try, and just wanted to share it with everyone. More details and full download info is available from the link below.
Give it a try and get crazy. It’s all in good fun.
With the availability of cross-platform messaging apps, it seems many are looking towards those as opposed to sending messages through a carrier provided plan. One of those messaging apps is WhatsApp and it looks like they have recently set a new daily record. The company took to their official Twitter account and shared the news of having handled 27 billion messages in a 24 hour time period.
The breakdown includes 17 billion messages as being received (outbound) and 10 billion as having been sent (inbound). This news comes as a decent step as compared to a report from April. In April, WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum talked about how they were seeing a combined 20 billion messages per day. This was coming from more than 200 million monthly active users.
At the time of the April (20 billion) number, Koum had that broken down as being 12 billion outbound and 8 billion inbound. WhatsApp currently has an Android app available as well as apps for other platforms to include iOS, BlackBerry and Windows Phone. The app is free for Android users. In addition, the first year of service is also free. After the first year however there will be a $0.99 per year charge to keep things going.
To sum up the features, WhatsApp will allow you to send and receive individual messages and also participate in group chats. Users are able to send plain text messages as well as image, video and voice notes. The app is also setup to use data (cellular or WiFi) when available and can even hold messages for those times when you turn your phone off or miss a notification.
Of course, while WhatsApp is seeing an increase in usage, there are plenty of other alternatives available. Google recently released Hangouts and BlackBerry is even expected to join in on the cross-platform messaging market fairly soon. While we have yet to see a firm release date for BBM for Android, that is expected to arrive sooner rather than later. That said, whichever option you choose, it is nice to not have to worry about carrier messaging fees and limits.
Google Maps has revitalized the way we travel in so many ways, including the ability to (for all intents and purposes) void every other aftermarket GPS device on long trips. One of Google Maps’ achievements is its ability to go down to street level and see an area face to face, something which a satellite from any other competitors simply cannot do. So with an add on of over 1000 new Street View locations around the world, finding that getaway spot may just get a whole lot easier.
Previously, if you were in Singapore, you would find it difficult just to circumnavigate, since there was no available Street View for the city… until now. Google Maps has finally had the chance to drive through the city and capture it in full, allowing you to get a better scope on where you are and where it is you want to go next.
They’ve also managed to add some very interesting places in Latin America, central Europe, and North America that will all satisfy your exploration taste buds. These places include the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade, Fullerton Heritage Promenade, the Seville Cathedral in Spain and the canals of Copenhagen, themselves lined with beautiful houses and promenades that make Denmark stand out as one of the tourist capitals in the world.
And that’s not all, as you can also tour some of Toronto’s finest museums, or Brazil's Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida, where you’ll find a gloriously ornate centerpiece within the shrine – a praying ground for those that visit it. Either way, with over 1000 other new places to check out, you won’t find it difficult to find something that fits your niche.
Google Maps Street View is available in the Maps app in the Google Play store.
Samsung CEO JK Shin has spoke out in regards to a recent JPMorgan report. Said report, for those who may have missed that, suggested the GALAXY S 4 was falling short of sales expectations. In addition to the comments from the report, JPMorgan also cut the share price estimates by 9.5 percent and lowered the 2013 earnings estimates by 9 percent. Following the JPMorgan report, a similar report was posted by Morgan Stanley.
Anyway, in response to the JPMorgan report, JK Shin said “the report was based on its own analysis” and then went on to talk about how they may have been correcting their “previous bullish estimate about the S4 sales." Or perhaps the key point here, Shin made it clear that sales of the GALAXY S 4 smartphone “are fine” and that the handset has been “selling well.”
Looking forward through 2013 and we have GALAXY S 4 sales estimates of anywhere from 60 to 100 million. It was reported that Samsung is hoping to sell 100 million, however analyst estimates have that number closer to the 60 million side. While we don’t often see Shin respond directly to individual reports, these can have an effect.
It was said the JPMorgan report caused Samsung shares to fall 6.2 percent by the end of Seoul trading. What that means for the bigger picture is that was a four-month low and also the largest single day drop in nine months. Aside from the comments from Shin, it looks like Samsung’s investor relations department has also taken a pro-active approach.
A Korea Times report mentions how “company's investor relations team contacted major local brokerages and provided them with background information about sales of the S4.” And in the end, the GALAXY S 4 saw 10 million in sales during the first month of availability.
It isn’t quite the next-gen battery technology we are all waiting for, but it certainly is a step in the right direction. The folks from Vodafone have announced a number of prototype charging systems for our Android gadgets. Imagine your phone charging from a sleeping bag while camping, or even while walking around a night downtown – all based on your heat, and movement.
Over in the UK this summer Vodafone will be hosting a festival full of future and upcoming tech, and these so called “Recharge Bags and Power Shorts” will begin trials and the testing phase all festival long. I don’t know about you guys, but I’d be perfectly fine with most festival-goers to be rocking the shorts shown below, but that’s just me.
Research began back in 2003 and the system uses thermoelectric materials developed by the Electronics and Computer Science Department at the University of Southampton, UK,. Working with special next-gen printed circuits that can convert heat into power. The same technology is also being developed into fabric, and that’s where both heat and movement from shorts or pants can power your smartphone for up to 4 additional hours. That’s enough to get through a night at the club.
Did we lose your attention? While the shorts do look nice, it’s the underlying technology that really piques our interest here. While this new tech may seem like a gimmick, the potential now and in the future is huge. Being able to get a full 4 hours of additional battery life from your shorts, or 8 hours of sleeping in the bag delivering 11 hours of stand-by to your smartphone is a big deal here. And this is only the beginning.
These recharge bags and (good looking) power shorts will be available during the Vodafone festival this summer in the UK, and hopefully we see more things of this nature moving forward. Print this technology on the bottom of my shoes to then wirelessly charge my phone, and we’re set.
The latest Google Play Music app update has come available in the Play Store and it looks like it has brought a few worthwhile changes and improvements. This latest round of changes touches on music download speeds, search and data usage. Given many are fighting low data caps the data usage seems key for those who may find themselves regularly downloading and streaming.
Google has said this Play Music update adds a new setting for bandwidth usage while on a mobile network and that it should reduce the overall amount of data usage. On the topic of downloading, this latest Play Music update should also bring increased speeds for music downloads. Finally, Google hasn’t said much on this last change, but moving forward the search quality should be improved.
Anyway, this latest update arrives as v5.0.1052J and was following rather closely to the previous (v5.0.1041J) update. That update arrived towards the end of May and added the ability to delete tracks and the ability to share and add songs to a playlist from the Now Playing screen.
Of course, while these previous two updates brought a decent set of changes, the bigger deal arrived last month during Google I/O. We are fairly certain everyone remembers that update, however that was the All Access announcement. Google Play Music All Access offers radio with an unlimited amount of skipping. Google also touts the service as offering “millions” of songs.
With All Access in mind, we are also getting close to the cut off of the introductory pricing offer. That service will regularly be priced at $9.99 per month however those who sign up before the end of June will be able to get it for $7.99 per month. And in addition, Google is currently offering a 30-day free trial for new All Access users.
The problem with cloud based computing is you need a good data connection to the Internet. Broadband services at home (including those lucky enough to have Google Fiber) are great and in the most part offer unlimited bandwidth. But on mobile it is different. Data plans are often capped or the carrier’s unlimited options are beyond the means of many users. To help ease the data usage problem for those streaming music over a 3G or 4G connection Google has updated its Play Music app to add new streaming quality settings.
As well as the existing “Stream via Wi-Fi only” option, which will stop Play Music using your data connection to stream music, there is now a setting to control the music quality whilst streaming over a mobile network. The three options, which are cunningly called “Low”, “Normal” and “High”, determine how much bandwidth is used to stream music to the phone via your carrier. Google also mention that this new version, known technically as v5.0.1052J, also reduces the overall data usage of the app.
The optimal settings for reducing data plan usage, without disabling it altogether, are to set “Automatically cache” (which only caches music while the device is charging and on Wi-Fi), set “Download via Wi-Fi only” and set the “Mobile network stream quality” to “Low.”
Other changes to the app include improvements to the search quality and a speed increase in how long it takes to store music on the device when it is marked as “Keep.”
Are you having trouble with the data usage of Google Play Music? Please leave a comment below.
A purported image of the upcoming Xperia Z Ultra has leaked showing a turned on device featuring a large display. But is it real?
We've seen a variety of leaks allegedly showing the upcoming 6.44-inch Sony smartphone, but this is the first one that's apparently showing a working handset. The image seems to clearly suggest that we're looking at a rather large handset here, of tablet proportions if you will, that sits comfortably in someone’s lap . That is, naturally, if we're looking at the real device.
The handset is expected to be unveiled during Sony's upcoming media events set for June 25 in Munich, Germany and July 4 in Paris, France.
Since these events are getting closer and closer, we're not surprised to see more and more leaks hit the web. But we're still going to hold on to our grain of salt with such unconfirmed images.
Even the source, French site NowhereElse, doesn't seem convinced that this is indeed the Xperia Z Ultra. The publication says that the image could be a fake, showing an Xperia ZR cleverly photograph to fool the audience.
The Xperia ZR (image below) is a recently announced Android smartphone that packs a 4.55-inch display, which means it's smaller than the Xperia Z. Comparatively, the Xperia Z Ultra is expected to pack a 6.44-inch display, as we mentioned before.
Xperia ZR
We'll be back with more details about the Xperia Z Ultra once we have them. Meanwhile let us know what you think about purchasing such a big handset. Are you looking forward for the Xperia Z Ultra?
The Xperia Z is yet to receive its Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update, but handset owners can apparently install a leaked version of the OS.
According to Xperia Blog, the firmware for the Xperia Z is available, at least for those models that come with unlocked bootloaders, courtesy of xda-developerDooMLoRD.
The leaked firmware (version 10.3.A.0.407) works on models C6602/C6603, after having been "adapted from developer handsets to work with production models." The developer warns users not to install the ROM on the Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z or any other handset, and reminds you that certain issues are to be expected.
As always, we're not advising you to install any unofficial ROM on your devices, and that, if you do, you're going to be the only person responsible for whatever happens with your devices. That said, you're entitled to do whatever you want to your handsets and tablets, but make sure you follow available guides and back up personal data if performing such tasks.
Considering these leaks, chances are that an official Xperia Z Android 4.2.2 update is just around the corner, but we'll keep you posted on its roll out.
European regulators are again looking at Google's business in the region, this time investigating alleged anti-competitive practices related to its mobile business, namely Android.
Yes, the EU wants to know more about Google's Android licensing deals, and whether the company used its position to impose certain condition to business partners.
While the probe is informal, it looks like the commission has sent out questionnaires to various companies that work with Google to figure out whether the allegations have any basis. The commission has issued a 23-page document containing 82 questions it wants answers to, with various device makers and mobile operators having to answer them.
It appears that several companies, including Microsoft, Nokia and Oracle have complained that Android is licensed "below cost" and that Google may have asked partners to "cancel and/or delay the launch of smartphone devices" running other mobile operating systems than Android.
The commission will also investigate whether Google signed any exclusivity deals with OEMs in order for its web services to be pre-installed on Android devices made by those OEMs.
Commenting on the matter, Google said:
Android is an open platform that fosters competition. Handset makers, carriers and consumers can decide how to use Android, including which applications they want to use.
The Financial Times tells us that the investigation into Android "has been open for more than a year," but it took a "sharper focus" when 17 companies including the three mentioned above sent a formal complaint in April about "Google allegedly abusing its dominance" (see second Source link below).
The FT says that Joaquin Almunia, the EU's competition chief, "is under intense pressure" from Google's competitors to either serve charges to Google or change the proposed settlement in the search-related matter. Therefore, it will be interesting to see where this Android investigation is heading.
In case you don't know it by now, Android is licensed free of charge to OEMs, which is one reason that helped it grow in popularity, as pretty much anyone interested in creating a smart mobile device was able to do so by using Android.
Comparatively, Microsoft is licensing Window Phone to its partners, Nokia included, so it's more than obvious to anyone that Google "sells" Android "below cost" because Android is, well, free of charge. However, Google has always offered Android for free to OEMs, and it's a business decision it took for its own reasons – without going into too many details about why Google chose this path, it's enough to remind you that Google makes its money from search and ads (mobile Internet traffic included) and needs to have a strong presence in the mobile world, which is done via Android.
Luckily for Google and unfortunately for its competitors, the OS was well received by OEMs, carriers and the public, and the decision to license it for free has paid off. It could have always worked against Google, but that didn’t happen. Should it be punished for that? Why didn’t competitors complain in a similar manner in the previous years about Android licensing? Of course, we’re only commenting on that “below cost” licensing argument, and we’re not trying to defend Google here, as the company has a legal team that will do just that. There are other allegations on the table in this investigation, which are out of our reach, so we’ll have to wait for the commission to release its findings on whether Google indeed abused its position in relationship with OEMs and carriers or not.
That said, it's too early to draw any conclusions, or speculate on how this new EU probe into Google's business will conclude. These sort of investigations will take a while to complete, so chances are we're going to hear more details about it as we move along.
While the rumor mill continues to buzz about a possible Samsung or Apple smartwatch, let’s not forget that Sony has had their own watch for a while now. Sony's SmartWatch might not have taken the world by storm, but it does seem to have a small, loyal following behind it.
Probably the biggest problem for Sony's SmartWatch was that the software wasn’t exactly great when it debuted in 2012. The good news is that Sony has been good about releasing patches that further improve on the software. That said, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
That's where Sony's announcement of the "Open SmartWatch Project" comes in. Previously Sony's SDK made it possible for developers to write their own apps for the watch, but now Sony is opening up the watch even further. Going forward, it will be possible for advanced developers to create alternative firmware and flash it back to the watch.
What's brilliant about this move is that it helps promote Sony's watch as a reasonably-affordable developer tool, all while giving Sony new ideas for future SmartWatch software or even hardware updates.
Sony does make it clear that there are some limitations to flashing alternative firmware to the Smartwatch. For one thing, it will probably no longer work as intended. This also means it won't be able to use SmartConnect or work with any compatible Smartwatch app available on Google Play.
Obviously tinkering around at this level will also possibly void your warranty. Risks and limitations aside, this is great news for those looking for a clean slate for creating new use cases and wearable experiments using Sony's watch.
To get the project up off the ground and running, Sony has announced a SmartWatch Arduino hackathon this Saturday in Malmö, Sweden. The goal is to show off the platform and help show developers what it is truly capable of.
What do you think of Sony's Smartwatch and their new Open SmartWatch Project? Could this lead to further positive developments when it comes to wearable technology? We certainly hope so.
HTC's future might still be more than a little uncertain right now, but it's obvious the HTC One has (at least so far) been the hit the company hoped it would be. Not only has the handset received quite a bit of positive attention in reviews, many consumers are singing the phone's praises as well.
If you’ve been thinking about picking up the HTC One, tomorrow could be the day to do it. In honor of Father's Day, Amazon is offering up the AT&T and Sprint versions of the HTC One for just $79.99 for new customers. If you are an existing customer, don’t worry, you’re not being left out either. Upgrade pricing will drop down to just $99.99.
So how much of a savings is this? Right now, new or existing AT&T customers buying on Amazon pay $148 for the HTC One. For Sprint users, an upgrade currently costs $149.99, though new customers can already fetch the handset for just $79.99.
Of course these prices will require a two-year commitment on your part, but for those that don't mind contracts, $79.99 (or $99.99) is a pretty fair asking price.
To get in on the deal tomorrow, just head to one of the following links:
What do you think, is this a fair asking price, or are customers better off just grabbing the HTC One off-contract and avoid being tied down to a carrier?
Just yesterday, Samsung confirmed they will reveal a new Samsung Galaxy Camera at their upcoming Premiere 2013 event in London. So for photography buffs, should you be excited? Let's just say that if you were even slightly impressed with the Samsung Galaxy Camera, you're going to be blown away by the Samsung Galaxy NX Camera.
The latest next-gen Galaxy camera details (including press images) were first spotted on the site Tinhte. Based on the leaked details, we now know the camera will be called the Samsung Galaxy NX, we also can see that it is clearly in a different league from the more casual Samsung Galaxy Camera.
For those that aren’t aware, the NX line is currently Samsung's high-end camera series. The mirrorless Galaxy NX plans to take everything we know and love about NX cameras, and blend it with smart features powered by Android.
Outside of running on Google’s OS, the Galaxy NX is also rumored to pack a 20.3MP APS-C sensor, can record in 1080p HD, and will have an ISO range of up to 25,600. It will also support interchangeable lenses.
While the Samsung Galaxy NX sounds amazing, let's remember that this is still unconfirmed news. Official looking press shots and previous gossip about a Galaxy NX certainly lend credence to this rumor, but just be careful not to get your hopes up until we learn more.
Luckily, Samsung's reveal event is only a week away now, so we don't have to wait long to get the rest of the juicy details. What do you think, would you like to get your hands on the Galaxy NX, or would you rather stick to traditional cameras such as those in the non-Android NX series?
If you were planning to buy a pair of Google Glass, but the $1,500 price tag was just too much for you to swallow, fear not, because it looks as if Google Glass will be released to consumers at a much lower price.
After the guys and gals at Catwigperformed a teardown of Google Glass, we began to realize that Glass wasn't stuffed with little magical fairies shoveling coal into a firebox (we hope that no magic fairies were hurt in the making of Glass), but instead we saw that the components were fairly similar to those that we find on a smartphone.
On the other side of the Glass
On one side of the Explorer Edition of Glass we find a touchpad, which is used for interaction if you don't want to use voice control. Beneath the touchpad we find one of the main circuit boards, containing the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios, a dual-core TI OMAP4430 CPU, 16GB of Sandisk flash storage, and Elpida mobile DRAM. On the opposite side is the 570mAh battery, which helps balance the device on your head.
Credit: Catwig
In front of the battery pod is a bone conduction speaker, and the main logic board, which holds the display, a 5-megapixel camera and various other sensors. The display has a native resolution of 640 x 360, but Google did say that the display would be "the equivalent of a 25-inch HD screen from eight feet away".
If you've come to the conclusion that these specs aren't exactly top of the range, you'd be right. But keep in mind that many of these components must be custom-made to fit the unique shape of Glass.
$1,500 is quite a lot to pay for "low-end specs"
Even then, $1,500 is a lot of money. So why is Google making early adopters pay so much for their Explorer Editions of Google Glass? Well the simple answer is that Google wants the Explorer Editions in the hands of people who are going to offer something to the Glass platform.
Google wants the XE edition of Glass to be in the hands of people who will offer something to the Glass platform.
By pricing an unproven, untested product at such a high price it makes sure that the only people buying Glass are those who are planning to develop for the platform and puts it out of the price range of a casual consumer.
The people with the Explorer Editions of Glass are not regular consumers, they understand that Glass is a budding product, but if a consumer got this version of Glass and were fronted with a fledgling platform they'd be left with a sour taste in their mouths and it could even kill the prospects of Glass at a consumer level before it even had a chance to show off its full potential.
How much do the components cost and what will it cost us?
The guys at Forbes compared Glass to a low-end smartphone, giving us a picture of what Google Glass costs to make. A low-end Samsung smartphone costs $85.60 to build and would also have much larger battery. After adding in the cost of the microdisplay (which would cost no more than $30), the fact that some components must be custom made, packaging costs, and that Glass is being made in low volumes, the publication finds $200 as “a safe bet” for production costs.
When Google Glass is eventually launched to consumers, we could see the price fall between $199 and $599. If Google wants Glass to be priced according to its Nexus range, then $199 is not totally out of the question, but something like $349 is much more likely.
What price point do you think Google Glass needs to hit to be a success? Will consumers even want the device?
What started off as a single flagship device has quickly expanded into one happy family full of Galaxy S4 branded devices.
Now there there are five different members to the S4 family, how do you know which one is right for you? In the end, it all comes down to the features you want or need. Some folks love stock Android, some don't. Others need a waterproof device, or maybe they are looking for a phone with a killer camera.
To get a better understanding of how each of the S4 siblings differ, let's start by comparing the basic specs offered by each device:
Now that we have taken a closer look at the hardware, let’s talk a bit about each handset to help you figure out which one is right for you.
Samsung Galaxy S4
If you are looking for a high-end flagship device that does a little bit of everything, look no further than the Galaxy S4. The phone has a stunning design, impressive build quality, and beefy specs.
In short, the S4 represents the best of what Galaxy S4 family has to offer.
While it might not have special features like a waterproof design, it has an excellent camera, a stunning super AMOLED display, and tons of special software tricks and features. Best of all, the Galaxy S4 is available right now, from just about every major carrier.
Samsung Galaxy S4 with Nexus Experience
If you are in love with the Samsung GS4's high-end specs and design, but not so crazy about TouchWiz, this is the phone you are looking for.
Intended for those that love to mod their devices, the Galaxy S4 NE runs on stock Android, which means you'll get timely updates and more workable storage space, since all Samsung's software (bloat) won't be present here.
When is it coming? The Galaxy S4 NE will be available Google Play starting June 26th (U.S. only), with an outright price of $649.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active
The Samsung Galaxy S4 is an impressive handset, but unlike the Xperia Z, it isn’t exactly intended for use in the water, or for dusty conditions. That’s where the Galaxy S4 Active comes in.
Essentially the Active is the same device as the original S4, save for a slightly bulkier design, physical buttons and the ability to withstand water up to 1m in depth for up to 30 minutes.
The Active has the same processor, same amount of RAM and many of the same special software tricks as the original S4. There are some changes outside of the waterproof casing, however, such as its 8MP camera that can take pictures underwater. The Active also utilizes a TFT LCD, as opposed to a Super AMOLED display.
For those in the United States, the active is confirmed to arrive to AT&T on June 21st for $199.99 with new contract. For the rest of the globe, no official date has been confirmed just yet, though reports exist claiming it could arrive July 1st in the UK.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
Not everyone likes the idea of a 5-inch smartphone, and not everyone cares about having the highest specs around. That's why Samsung released the Galaxy S4 Mini, a lower-end handset with a 1.7GHz dual-core processor and 4.3-inch display.
Just a word of caution, if you really care about the quality of your display, you should know that Samsung ditched the 1080p display found in the original S4 for a much less impressive 960×540 resolution.
Still, the slim package could certainly appeal to folks that don’t like massive handsets. The S4 Mini is just 124.6 x 61.3 x 8.94mm and weighs in at only 107g.
Currently we have no word on exactly when the Galaxy S4 Mini will touch down, or what markets will end up carrying the device.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
The most recently announced member of the Galaxy S4 family is the Zoom. When looking at the spec sheet, the S4 Zoom seems to have a lot in common with S4 Mini.
Like the Mini, the S4 Zoom has a dual-core processor and just 1.5GB of RAM. It isn’t meant to be a high-end device, and instead is more focused on taking great pics. Not only does the Z4 Zoom offer a 16MP camera, it also has 10x optical zoom, enhanced SMART modes, OIS 24-240, F3.1-F6.3, and Xenon Flash.
Another interesting feature for the S4 Zoom is an in-call photo share feature, which lets you capture photos and instantly send them to the person you are talking to.
As for when this one is coming, or when it is arriving – there are currently no solid details. More than likely we will learn more at Samsung's London-based event on the 20th of June.
Conclusion
Samsung clearly isn’t afraid to expand its flagship line, and really we are glad they did! With the Galaxy S4 family, you don't necessarily have to settle for a one-size-fits-all approach, instead you can find the phone that best works with your lifestyle.
Not all of these phones are out just yet, and it’s still unclear what markets they will or won’t show up to. In the meantime, you can always grab the Galaxy S4 now, or at least check out our review to get a closer look at what to expect:
What do you think of Samsung's S4 line-up, which S4 handset are you most interested in?
Possibly one of the best upgrades shown off at the iOS7 unveiling was the enhanced security features which help prevent thieves from using stolen iPhone's. Extra security is certainly a deterrent to would be thieves, and we were also recently wondering what other manufacturers could do to improve the security of their own handsets.
So sticking with the theme of device security, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon are set to co-host a Smartphone Summit with representatives from Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft today. The main objective of the summit will be to discuss the introduction a “kill switch”, which should be capable of completely deactivating a smartphone should it be lost or stolen. Afterwards they’ll also be launching the ”Save our Smartphones” initiative, aimed at promoting their cause.
But I am hesitant to agree that a master one time "kill switch" is the perfect solution. Part of me is convinced that it will probably end up causing problems for owners who could fall victim to the system themselves, especially when it comes to used handset sales. That's not to say that something probably doesn't need to be done about phone theft, as one report suggests that 113 smartphones are lost or stolen every minute in the US, with 1 out of every 3 robberies involving the theft of a mobile phone.
In the meantime, Android users can fortunately install third party applications, like Cerberus for example, which can lock, report the location of, and even erase data on your smartphone remotely if you're unlucky enough to be a victim of phone theft.
What do you think about the prospect of a "kill switch": an excellent, much needed idea or a solution which could causes more problems than it solves?
Chrome experiments are just a load of fun, aren't they? Whether you're racing a car, playing skeeball, or navigating a maze, the Chrome team gives us tons of fun stuff to do.
This time, they went about as old school as you can get. Call it what you like, but Cube Slam is Pong. It is, of course, multiplayer if you like, but can also be played against a bear named Bob. The rough graphics have a very clean, sentimental quality to them. Of course, Chrome experiments are here to test out cool new features, not just get us to waste our work day.
Cube Slam utilizes our webcam to take a pic, then uses the image as our backdrop. As you can see in the picture above, the wall behind the paddle is a picture of Bob the Bear. If I were playing against friend, it would use their image, as Bob does with his bird friend in the video below.
The controls are dead simple to use. Just left and right to move, then spacebar to pause. If you navigate to another page, it also pauses the action and suspends the audio. Cube Slam really is a lot of fun, so make sure your monitor doesn't face the doorway. At least pretend to work!
When the announcement came that the US carrier would be purchased by Japanese counterpart Softbank, it seemed pretty cut and dry. Softbank had a respectable offer in place, Sprint accepted it, and life would go on. Of course, the deal had a few caveats, like Sprint purchasing the remaining interest in Clearwire they no longer owned.
The quick rundown of that deal was that Sprint offered $800 million for the remaining shares of Clearwire it didn't own. That was made in monthly installments, convertible to Clearwire stock. Dish had a competing offer at the time, which seemed less likely to come to fruition each time Sprint made a payment to Clearwire. To most observers, it seemed as though Sprint was steamrolling Dish out of Clearwire ownership.
Clearwire is the winner in this scenario, as they're in the best position to dictate terms.
Dish's offer at the time was for $3.30/share, roughly market value. They've since revised that offer to $4.40/share, and the board of Clearwire seems impressed. The only other competing bid is currently from Sprint, at $3.40/share. The Clearwire board has recommended to the shareholders that they accept the Dish offer, further muddying the waters for Sprint.
“Sprint without Clearwire is a company without spectrum to do many of the 4G things they want to do" said Walt Piecyk, an analyst at BTIG LLC in New York. If Dish were to gain a stake in Clearwire, they put themselves in a better position for their proposed buyout of Sprint. Clearwire currently trades at (you guessed it) $4.40/share, meaning Dish is once again offering face value for half of the company. Clearwire doesn't have the operating capital to keep afloat, and would have to shutter service by March of 2014 if they don't find a buyer or restructure.
What we have is a company in Dish who is willing to pay a higher price to get involved with more spectrum, and mobile carriers. While their deal for Sprint is suspect, due to the company leveraging quite a bit for the deal to happen, it still shows resolve. Sprint is in a bit of a bind with Clearwire. Clearwire had been accepting payment from them, but is now positioned to allow Dish to purchase the remaining stock Sprint doesn't have.
Sprint without Clearwire is a company without spectrum to do many of the 4G things they want to do Walt Piecyk BTIG LLC
Dish has said they'd accept an offer for 25% above market value for their stake in Clearwire, should they acquire the remaining half of the company. That is either because they know they'll never get that price, or because it would raise enough capital to increase their position for purchasing Sprint.
Clearwire is the winner in this scenario, as they're in the best position to dictate terms. Just as it was before, the Dish offer is the best on the table. This time, they've gone ahead and accepted it, rather than take payment from Sprint. Accepting payments before made us believe there was a handshake deal in place between Sprint and Clearwire, but clearly that is no longer the case. The board accepted Dish's offer because it was a 29% premium over Sprint's, which they noted in a regulatory filing.
If Dish were to gain a majority-minority holding in Clearwire, issues of governance arise due to the complicated Delaware corporate law as well as Clearwire's current structure. Delaware law requires a ⅔ vote from a board, which can be applied to veto powers for shareholders. If Dish's bid succeeded, you'd have a board comprised mostly of two disparate companies, both with the potential for veto powers, who then need a ⅔ vote for any motion of proposal to carry.
Dish is serious about getting a foothold, and Sprint seems keen on their Softbank deal working out. The issue for both is Clearwire, who will do what is best for their shareholders. While that currently seems like accepting the Dish offer, that could change quickly.
The other day we heard that Samsung's Galaxy S4 sales figures were disappointing some investors, leading to a big stock sell-off which wiped around $12 billion off the value of the technology giant in a single day.
A report by J.P. Morgan led the charge, suggesting that sales of high-end smartphones were lagging behind expectations across the board, and that monthly orders for the Galaxy S4 are due to be cut by somewhere between 20 and 30% by July. With so much hype surrounding the launch of the Galaxy S4 it was always a real possibility that third parties would overestimate the company’s ability to shift record numbers of handsets, which I suspect is exactly what has happened.
In a rebuttal to J.P. Morgan's claim that the Galaxy S4 is underperforming, CEO of Samsung Electronics, Kim Yoo-chul, has stated that the Galaxy S4 is selling just fine by their own standards. Speaking at a meeting with presidents of Samsung affiliates the other day, Kim Yoo-chul stated:
I can say sales of the Galaxy S4 smartphone are fine. It's been selling well,
He also reiterated what I'd already expected, that J.P. Morgan's own analysis was simply overzealous to begin with.
The report (by JPMorgan) was based on its own analysis. Probably, the bank may have corrected its previous bullish estimate about the S4 sales,
It's pretty unusual for a company to comment directly on a third party's sales forecast, but considering the damage to Samsung's stock price, which was likely caused by the pessimism in the Galaxy S4's performance, the statement was no-doubt an attempt at damage control. So far the stock has lost 7.44% of its value since the sell-off began on June 7th, the single biggest weekly decline in Samsung's share price for more than a year.
Although the short-term outlook may be negative, Samsung is still performing very strongly. Source: Google Finance
Looking at the actual figures though, there's little doubt that the Galaxy S4 is selling just fine. It's already surpassed the previous record set by the Galaxy S3 and over 10 million units have already been sold, which trumps the sales figures of the rival HTC One by quite a margin.
The stock sell-off which started at the end of last week is most likely a realignment of bloated expectations, a simple correction if you will, not to mention that the stock was already trading close to its all time high. Samsung also has a strong line-up of products set for release in the not too distant future, so, despite the pessimistic reports, I wouldn't start worrying about Samsung anytime soon.
Samsung's rugged Galaxy S4 version, the Galaxy S4 Active, is going to be available in the USA soon from AT&T.
The carrier is so far the only mobile operator to show interest in the Galaxy S4 Active, with pretty much everyone else only stocking the regular model, at least for now.
The handset will be launched on June 21 and you'll have to pay $199.99 for it with a new two-year contract. Pre-orders start on June 14 in case you want to make sure you'll get your unit on time. The handset will be available in Urban Gray and Dive Blue – it looks like the red version won't be available at launch.
The Galaxy S4 Active is basically a stronger Galaxy S4 model. Therefore, you can expect the same features in a stronger, more durable design. Plastic is replaced with a metal back, and you'll find three buttons on the front side instead of just the one that's present on the regular model.
In terms of specs, you can expect a 5-inch touchscreen Gorilla Glass display with full HD resolution, 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, 4G LTE support, 8-megapixel camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera, 16GB of storage, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean under the hood with TouchWiz on top and SAFE features.
Are you buying the AT&T Galaxy S4 Active?
New Water and Dust Resistant Galaxy Smartphone is Built to Withstand Whatever Life Throws Your Way
DALLAS, June 13, 2013 – With summer in full swing, you need a phone that can go just about anywhere and endure the demands of an active lifestyle. To help you keep up with whatever comes your way, AT&T* and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) announce the Samsung Galaxy S® 4 Active™, an evolution of the popular Galaxy S® 4 designed to withstand the hazards of everyday life.
Beginning June 21, you can pick up the Galaxy S 4 Active from any AT&T store or online for $199.99 with a two-year agreement. For consumers who prefer to place their orders now, AT&T will begin taking pre-orders on June 14 at www.att.com/galaxys4active. The Galaxy S 4 Active will be available in two colors: Urban Gray and Dive Blue.
The Galaxy S 4 Active runs on AT&T 4G LTE, which currently covers more than 200 million people; with plans to expand to cover 300 million people by the end of 2014. AT&T’s 4G LTE network was called "blazing fast" in a report** by independent testing organization RootMetrics. The report found AT&T's 4G LTE network delivered the fastest pure LTE speeds in markets where AT&T provided 4G LTE.
"Continuing AT&T's legacy as the first carrier to launch the Samsung Galaxy series, we're excited to offer the next evolution of the popular Galaxy S 4. The Galaxy S 4 Active is a high-performance smartphone with a stylish, protective design to keep up with the demands of everyday life. It's truly summer-proof," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president – Devices and Developer Services, AT&T. "With its quad-core processor and access to the nation's largest 4G network and fastest 4G LTE network you can stay connected nearly anywhere life takes you."
Built For Life
The Galaxy S 4 Active was designed around life. It is IP67 certified to be water-resistant and dustproof***, making it perfect to take on any summer vacation whether it's camping or the beach. It also has an Aqua Mode feature that lets you capture photos and videos underwater. Its 5-inch FHD TFT display is made from Gorilla® Glass, which is specially built to be tougher and more scratch-resistant. It runs Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) and comes packed with a quad-core processor for faster, smoother gaming and apps.
But there's more to the Galaxy S 4 Active than its sturdy, more resilient exterior. It also includes high-performance features that let you get more done on-the-go. The 8-megapixel camera includes multiple custom shooting modes, including Aqua Mode and Eraser Shot. It also features enhanced low light performance to help you get the shot you want even when lighting isn't ideal.
Entertainment
The Galaxy S 4 Active has an Integrated Infrared (IR) controller which acts as a TV remote control, so you can use your smartphone to control your home theater system. When you're on-the-go, Samsung Hub gives you access to more music, movies, books and games from multiple content sources all in one place– perfect for passing the time on summer road trips, or even while waiting in line while running errands.
Galaxy S 4 Active includes all the features that made the Samsung Galaxy S® 4 popular including:
Air View™: Hover your finger over photos, files, links and text for an instant preview. Air Gesture™: Skip to the next song or photo, check your notifications or, if you're driving, automatically answer a call on speakerphone just by waving your hand over your phone. Eraser Shot: Remove unwanted background distractions in your photos and videos with just one touch. Drama Shot: Capture a time-lapse event all in one frame. Samsung Smart Pause: While watching a video, if you look away from the screen, the video will automatically pause and wait for you to return. Story Album™: Create a printed book of your photos and have it delivered right to your door. Productivity
The Galaxy S 4 Active is a master multi-tasker. Features like Multi Window let you use two apps side-by-side like a PC so you can reference your notes while writing an email or follow the game live while checking out your friends' reactions on social media simultaneously.
This smartphone is SAFE™ (Samsung For Enterprise) to help keep your work data secure and separate from your personal content. Whether you are in the office or on vacation, the Galaxy S 4 Active balances stylish, professional design with enhanced durability.
Additionally, the Galaxy S 4 Active features an optional Easy Mode that simplifies the home screen with larger icons and your favorite apps.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
The T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S4 had its price slashed, the Uncarrier announced in a recent press release.
You can now purchase T-Mobile’s Galaxy S4 by paying $99.99 down and then $20 a month for two years. It’s also possible, of course, to pay for the device upfront, but then you’ll have to shell out $579.99.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 isn’t the only device that’s part of the promotion; if you don’t want a Samsung Galaxy S4 and would rather go for a different device from the Korean manufacturer, T-Mobile also offers the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 at $169.99 down, followed by 24 monthly payments of $20 each, and the Samsung Galaxy S3 at $49.99 down, plus the same 24 monthly payments. The same time frame applies.
T-Mobile to Offer Samsung Galaxy S 4 at $99.99 Down
BELLEVUE, Wash. – June 12, 2013 – T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) continues to deliver on its Un-carrier promise of providing consumers with affordable, unrestricted and hassle-free ways to get the latest 4G LTE smartphones by offering the highly popular Samsung Galaxy S® 4 at the low upfront price of $99.99 down, plus 24 monthly payments of $20[1]. This limited-time promotion is available starting today, June 12, through July 13, 2013, and allows consumers to get the device for less upfront at activation than at the other major national carriers[2].
“People told us we’d be crazy to drop our price on the hot-selling Galaxy S 4 when we already offer such a low-out-of-pocket cost – so we did it,” said Mike Sievert, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile US. “Some of our competitors require customers to sign a restrictive two year service contract or participate in a complicated trade-in scheme to get to their advertised price. We decided to just give customers the phone they want at the out of pocket cost they are asking for. That’s what you strive to do when you are America’s Un-carrier.”
In addition to the Galaxy S 4, T-Mobile is lowering the upfront costs for two more highly desirable Samsung 4G LTE devices. For well-qualified customers, the Samsung Galaxy Note® II will be available at $169.99 down, plus 24 monthly payments of $20 and the Samsung Galaxy S® III will be available for $49.99 down, plus 24 monthly payments of $20. When combined with T-Mobile’s Simple Choice Plan, customers will have access to the latest 4G LTE smartphones, as well as unlimited data, at a price point that’s sure to meet the needs of a variety of budgets.
Simple Choice Plan
T-Mobile’s Simple Choice Plan starts with a base rate of $50 per month for unlimited talk, text and Web with 500MB of high-speed data at up to 4G speeds. Consumers can add up to 2GB of high-speed data for $10 per month per line or get unlimited 4G data for an additional $20 per month per line and up to 500MB of tethering. Customers can add a second phone line for $30 per month, and each additional line is just $10 per month. There are no caps and no overages on our network, and no restrictive annual service contracts.
T-Mobile 4G LTE Network
T-Mobile’s 4G LTE rollout complements its existing nationwide 4G network that covers 228 million people, which third-party tests show already rivals or beats existing LTE networks in many markets. T-Mobile’s advanced 4G LTE network is currently available in seven metropolitan areas: Baltimore; Houston; Kansas City; Las Vegas; Phoenix; San Jose, Calif.; and Washington, D.C. The company expects to reach 100 million people with 4G LTE by midyear and 200 million nationwide by the end of 2013. 4G LTE devices like the Galaxy S 4 will automatically and seamlessly connect to T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G HSPA+ network where 4G LTE has not yet launched[3].
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy S 4 is available for well-qualified customers for $99.99 down with 24 equal monthly payments of $20 for 0% APR on approved credit. The Galaxy Note II will be available for well-qualified customers for $169.99 down with 24 equal monthly payments of $20 for 0% APR on approved credit. The Galaxy S III will be available for qualifying customers for $49.99 down with 24 equal monthly payments of $20 for 0% APR on approved credit. All devices will be available with the promotional pricing from June 12 to July 13, 2013 at nationwide T-Mobile retail stores, through select dealers and national retail stores as well as online at http://www.T-Mobile.com.
Some Google Glass Explorers have reportedly received a UPS notice, saying that they would be getting a package from Google X, the Google division in charge of Google Glass.
According to Explorer and author of Google+ for Dummies and Google+ Marketing for Dummies Jesse Stay, the notification says that the package, which has not yet arrived, weighs around 1lbs. The notification doesn’t say a thing about what the package could contain, but there is a comment on Stay’s Google+ page from Explorer Abraham Williams saying that it has the same weight as the Nexus 4 package, and suggesting that it could be the recently launched white edition of the device. The Nexus 4 package weighs 1.1 lbs., so that could be a possibility, too.
This is how Jesse Stay’s notification looks like.
While, as TechCrunch says, it could be a t-shirt, it could also be something more consistent, as these people were willing to part with $1500 just to be the first ones to wear Google Glass.
As far as we know, none of the Google Glass Explorers that received the notification have reported receiving the package (and told the world what exactly it contains), but you can be sure that we’ll inform you the moment we find out more. However, if you are one of the Google Glass Explorers and yours has arrived, don’t be shy and let us know what it contains!
And even if you’re not, what do you think is in the mystery box?
The Taiwanese site ePrice has released some exclusive information about the upcoming Sony Xperia ZU, including a full list of specs and a date for the official unveiling. The device will be officially announced at Sony's mobile event on June 25, so that's less than two weeks left to wait.
The post also confirms the rumoured specs that we'd heard about — the Xperia ZU will feature the new top of the line quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor clocked at an impressive 2.2Ghz, there will be 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory, an expandable microSD slot with support for an additional 64GB of space, an 8 megapixel rear camera, a 1.3 megapixel rear camera, and a non-replaceable 3000mAh battery. Pfew, time for a breather.
The only worrying component on the list is the 3000mAh battery. Whilst that isn’t particularly small by smartphone standards, it will have less charge time that the Galaxy Note 2's 3100mAh battery. I can't help but worry about what the battery life will be like with an even larger screen and more powerful processor.
Speaking of screens, we already knew that the phone would be pretty large and it looks like the leaks were true. The Xperia ZU will feature a massive 6.4-inch X-Reality display with a resolution of 1920×1080, which works out at 342 pixels per inch.
Along with the specs and a launch date, the post also details some of the device’s other features, including the ability to use any pen, pencil, or similarly shaped object as a stylus. The handset will ship with built in Note and Sketch applications which make use of the stylus features. Along with all that, the device will also be water and dust resistant, just like the Xperia Z.
One thing's for certain, this is going to be a monster of a device. It's going to be interesting to see how the Xperia ZU stacks up against the Galaxy Note 3 and the HTC One Max.
HTC surpassed Samsung for fifth place in the Japanese smartphone market during the first quarter of this year, according to market research firm IDC Japan on Wednesday.
IDC's report found that HTC managed to secure a 6.6 percent share of the Japanese smartphone market in Q1 2013. But rather than the popular HTC One, it appears that the J Butterfly has been responsible for much of HTC's success in Japan.
The handset was released in Japan last December and has managed excellent sales since. The handset made it into BCN Inc’s top 10 mobile devices ranking during its launch period, but unfortunately the handset suffered production shortages, just like the One, which saw the device fall out of favour. However the J Butterfly returned to the top 10 list once the shortages were sorted out, and has managed to maintain its position since mid-April.
Interestingly, Samsung held fifth place in the fourth quarter of 2012 with a 8.8 percent share of the market, which means that Samsung's market share has to have slipped rather significantly in the space of just three months to fall behind HTC.
Apple, on the other hand, easily retained its top spot with a 39.6 percentage share of the smartphone market in Q1 2013. Second, third, and fourth places were made up by Japanese firms Sharp (14.6 percent), Sony (13.3 percent) and Fujitsu (8.3 percent) respectively. Overall the Japanese smartphone market grew by 4 percent from the previous year to a total of 6.81 million units sold.
This is yet another positive sign for HTC, following on from the company's strong profits and decent sales figures lately, which hopefully means that the company is finally moving clear of its rough patch. With a decent line-up of products potentially heading out later in the year, the HTC One Mini and Butterfly S could be particularly strong, HTC looks set to capitalize on its recent success.
The HTC Butterfly S is supposedly the phone in a few newly leaked images, coming from Chinese website VR-Zone, which, also claims to know a couple of other details.
The new HTC Butterfly S, which follows in the footsteps of the J Butterfly (or Droid DNA), is set to be unveiled by the company at a press event in Taiwan on June 19, but details about the device are pretty scarce at the moment.
The pictures show a device that’s very similar to its predecessor in terms of design. The quoted source says will have a 5-inch Full HD display. This only comes to confirm previous rumors, which were mentioning the same screen size.
The website also mentions that the new device would have BoomSound speakers (and you can see that in the pictures, too), thus giving up on the back speaker. This is seen even more clearly in these other images, which you can take a look at below.
Another thing you’ve probably noticed in the images is that the device has the Sense 5 interface on top of Android.
According to previous rumors, the HTC Butterfly S will come with an internal memory of 16GB (but you’ll also get a microSD card slot on board, so you’ll be able to add more to it), a better CPU in comparison to the HTC One, and an Ultrapixel camera. The handset will cost around $670, according to a recent report.
Not much else is known about the device, but the launch event is only a week away, so we’re a short while from finding out.
In a new video, Samsung shows us some of the torture its new devices go through before becoming official, including drops and impacts, water submersion, electricity, heat, humidity and dust. The Galaxy S4 is the star of the video below, in which Samsung explains how the tests were performed on the device.
The tests
For drops, the company performs the "consecutive drop test," during which the handset is dropped "hundreds of times" on a hard metal floor, simulating a drop from a desk. Once the test is complete, the handset "must work both externally and functionally."
The company also performs other durability tests like the "free-fall test" that simulates a drop from a higher height. The "tumble test" tries to replicate a different accident, like dropping the handsets down a flight of stairs. In both tests, the handset must be "fully functional" to pass.
"Impact tests" measure the resistance of the glass and handset to pressure. In order to pass the test, the Galaxy S4 has to "hold up the impact of a dropped metal ball from a considerable height.”
The "sink test" is meant to tell Samsung how the handset does after accidental drops in water or water spills. Again, to pass the test the handset must work "error-free," after being taken out of the water.
Resistance to more extreme conditions, such as increased temperature and humidity are also performed. The handset is placed inside "a controlled environment with extremely high temperature and humidity for five days," and passes the test only if it's functional at the end.
Electrical shocks and dust tests are also performed with the Galaxy S4.
But what are the results?
While the video is entertaining, Samsung doesn't present any actual results for its complex stress tests – in fact it does say that it performs other tests as well, which it isn't able to show. What kind of drops will the handset survive? At what height is that ball placed in the impact test? What about electrical shocks and dust resistance? What kind of water damage can the handset sustain? The company may as well offer more details in such a stress test video – we’ll note that other companies don’t have similar videos, so at least Samsung is trying.
The subliminal message is, of course, that the Galaxy S4 is a well-built device, given that it must have passed all these tests before launch. But the fact remains that these are controlled tests, and sometimes actual day-to-day use may show other results.
Not too long ago, we performed a drop test of our own, comparing the Galaxy S4 with the iPhone 5. While the handset was not able to beat Apple's smartphone overall, it did not break from the first impact, and survived a second one from an increased height, which is pretty much what “consecutive drop test” and “free-fall test” seem to also indicate in Samsung’s official video. However, a drop from even higher, resulted in breaking the glass of the handset.
It would have been interesting to see how the Galaxy S3 performed in similar tests, but Samsung doesn't say how the Galaxy S4 compares to its predecessor. After all, this is still a device made of plastic, and plastic is not that fantastic some buyers seem to think.
In other words, the device has its limits, which aren't revealed in the video. Otherwise what would be the point of launching a rugged version of the Galaxy S4 in the first place? The recently announced Galaxy S4 Active will surely be able to better deal with drops, spills and water damage than the regular model, so in case accidents tend to happen around your gadgets, that's one model you may want to consider.
Not all Android smartphones are created equal. And yet most of the very best models that have ever come out have one common ingredient: the stock Android operating system. Indeed, many of today’s greatest Android phones have been made available with nothing more than the bare bones version of Google’s famed mobile OS. To some users, it’s like the secret sauce. And Google, along with today’s many different Android OEMs, is just all too glad to fulfill the demand.
We have put together a list of all the best Android smartphones running stock Android, with models coming from big name OEMs as well as some not-so-popular ones. If you can’t stand anything other than the stock version of Android on your phone and you’d like to see what kind of options you have, then this is the list that you are looking for. Read on to get started.
Nexus 4
We’ve said it before, and we’ll gladly say it again: the LG Nexus 4 is one of the best Android smartphones ever due to the fact that it offers the latest and greatest software in a package that combines killer specs, a crisp and very pleasing display, and a familiar design aesthetic. The Nexus 4 is basically the result of putting together all the great features originally found in the Nexus phones that came before it, and making them all greater. It’s the culmination of Google’s Nexus efforts (so far) and truly deserves to be considered royalty among all Android handsets.
It isn’t without faults, though. You can’t add storage space to it via microSD cards, you can’t use it to listen to FM radio (unless you do it over the Internet), and it doesn’t support 4G LTE. Still, if timely system software updates matter much more to you, this is one of the best phones you can get.
Nexus 4 Specs
Display: 4.7-inch IPS+, HD (1280×720 pixels), 318 ppi
Camera: 8MP auto-focus camera with LED flash (1080p video recording)
Memory: 8GB/16GB internal storage (no microSD support, 2GB RAM
OS: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, upgradeable to Android 4.2.2
Battery: 2,100mAh battery (non-removable)
Samsung Galaxy S4 with Nexus user experience
The biggest difference between this and the original Samsung Galaxy S4 is the use of stock Android and Google-issued updates in the place of Samsung’s own TouchWiz UI and carrier updates. This major change got a lot of people’s attention, and for good reason. It’s practically a dream come true for those who enjoy top-notch hardware but can do without unneeded “bloat” often added by either carriers or the OEMs themselves.
So if it’s such a great phone, why isn’t everyone lining up to get it and Samsung still bothers to release new ones? Well, for one thing, it hasn’t been released yet. Also, it’s being sold at a premium over the standard one — $650 a piece. And that is what will likely keep a lot of people from buying it. That, and the earlier mentioned fact that it lacks TouchWiz. Yes, people that like it do still exist. And they enjoy their extra features just fine.
Galaxy S4 Google Edition Specs
Display: 5-inch Super AMOLED, Full HD (1920×1080 pixels), 441 ppi
Camera: 13MP auto-focus camera with LED flash (HDR + 1080p video recording)
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 with Adreno 320
Memory: 8GB/16GB internal storage with microSD support, 2GB RAM
OS: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with unlocked bootloader
Battery: 2,600mAh battery
HTC One with Nexus user experience
As soon as the Galaxy S4 Google Edition was officially announced, people began speculating that the flagship HTC One could be given the exact same treatment, too. And then it was. Now it belongs to this list of the best phones running stock Android, and we’re not complaining.
The HTC One Google Edition benefits from the award-winning design and innovations found in the standard model, while also taking full advantage of the Google Nexus experience. You really can’t go wrong with it, unless your aim is to not spend so much on your next phone. In which case, you might want to check up on alternatives, because it’s also priced higher than five Benjamins like its Samsung counterpart.
HTC One Google Edition Specs
Display: 4.7-inch Super LCD3, Full HD (1920×1080 pixels), 469 ppi
Camera: 4MP Ultrapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash (1080p video recording @ 30fps)
SoC: 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 and Adreno 320 GPU
Memory: 32GB/64GB internal storage (no microSD support), 2GB RAM
OS: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
Battery: 2,300mAh battery (non-removable)
Sony Xperia Z with Nexus user experience
We know, Sony still hasn’t officially announced such a phone yet. But we believe that it’s no longer a question of if, but when. We know that Sony is capable of delivering such a phone — it created the Xperia Z AOSP back in April. So we’re really counting on an official Xperia Z Google Edition release very soon.
In case you need a refresher on what kind of phone a Nexus-ified version of the Xperia Z will be, remember that the standard model comes with a Full HD 5-inch display, a fast and powerful quad-core CPU, and a 13.1-megapixel HDR-capable camera — all of which is packed into a casing that’s both dust tight and waterproof up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.
Are people getting frustrated that the official Google Edition Xperia Z still hasn’t been outed by Sony yet? You bet. But at least we all know it will be worth the wait.
Xperia Z Google Edition Specs
Display: 5-inch TFT, Full HD (1920×1080 pixels), 441 ppi
Camera: 13.1MP auto-focus camera with LED flash (HDR, 1080p video, sweep panorama)
The Coolpad 8920 first caught our attention at CTIA 2013. Based on what we know about it so far, it delivers a slightly more premium feel than Coolpad’s own Quattro series of phones. It stands out among many of today’s lesser known China-based smartphone models because it has a full 5-inch HD screen and it uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 Pro. It’s worth a look if you plan on using a smartphone in China, or you’re already with either China Unicom or China Mobile.
Archos is one brand that we don’t mention enough around here. It may not be among the top Android handset makers in the world right now, but one thing we know for sure is that whenever we take at its latest creations, we end up admitting that they aren’t that bad at all. Case in point: its latest Carbon and Platinum series phones. Archos made three new Google-certified phones to try and meet the needs of not just the entry-level segment but the high-end segment as well.
The Carbon 35 is Archos’ weapon of choice for the entry-level. It has very basic features and a very affordable price tag. Again what truly sets it apart from many of today’s other new entry-level phones is the fact that it comes with the stock Android OS — albeit one version late.
And as for the Archos Platinum handsets, their purpose is to hit phablet makers like Samsung where it hurts: price-wise. Both the Archos 50 Platinum and Archos 53 Platinum come with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and they’re sure to excite those who want phone screens to be as big as possible.
The BLU Vivo 4.3 smartphone received its long-awaited Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update a couple of months ago, and this only cemented its status as one of the best Android phones that you’ve (possibly) never heard of. It has pretty modest specs compared with the others listed on this page, but due to its use of the stock Android OS, it’s worth more than just a cursory look.
Apart from the software, the BLU Vivo 4.3 is also noteworthy for the fact that it’s available in a total of four different color variants. Of course, in a world where the use of third-party cases has become the norm, this won’t matter much to some people. But for those who still believe in colors and whatever they’re supposed to be representing, this easily puts the choice — no, the power — right into your hands.
Vivo 4.3 Specs
Display: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus WVGA (480×800 pixels) display
Camera: 8-megapixel rear camera
SoC: 1GHz MediaTek MT6577 processor
Memory: 4GB internal storage + microSD, 1GB RAM
OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Battery: 1,600mAh battery
HTC First
While certainly not an Android-powerhouse, the HTC First is still worthy of your attention because of the software that it comes with. And no, we’re not referring to Facebook Home. We’re talking about the fact that the HTC First, after a few minor adjustments, can be made to run a virtually untouched version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. And even in a 4.3-inch phone, that’s something.
The problem with the HTC First is that you may soon find it very difficult to find it, much less buy one for yourself. Facebook has already pulled the plug on it and cancelled all UK pre-orders, plus the public’s reception of the handset has generally been very chilly. So if you’ve been putting off the decision to buy one now, you may soon regret it. Especially since the price has has already been cut down from $99 to only a single cent on contract.
HTC First Specs
Display: 4.3-inch HD (1280×720 pixels), 342 ppi
Camera: 5-megapixel rear camera with 1080p video recording
Announced earlier this week, the Sprint Vital joins the ranks of literally dozens of other new handsets that seem to be getting announced every single day. What makes it different from the rest is that it uses Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean in a way that “keeps the Android experience closer to the way it was intended,” according to Sprint. If the real Android experience is what you’re after, this can only be a good thing.
The OEM behind the Sprint Vital is none other than China-based ZTE. It has had ample experience making impressive 5-inch handsets in the past, so things are looking good for this particular model.
Sprint Vital Specs
Display: 5-inch HD (1280×720 pixels) display
Camera: 13-megapixel rear camera, 1-megapixel front-facing camera
Are you the kind of person who looks at a Note 2 and thinks: “that is way too small.” Well, luckily Samsung hasn’t left you out in the cold, as they’ve proven with the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3.
While the device and screen are both fairly large, the specs lean toward the middle of the spectrum. Whether or not this is a problem really depends on how you use your phone. That said, is this the phone for you? Read on to find out.
Okay, let’s get this out of the way right out of the gate: this thing is big. At 6.6 inches tall and nearly 3.5 inches wide, the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 isn’t quite tablet sized, but you aren’t going to be easily using it one handed either. It can be done; just not easily.
The Mega 6.3′s large size makes it seem thinner than it truly is. It’s about as thick as a Note 2–a little thinner actually–but it seems much thinner. Looking at its shape, it’s immediately apparent that this is a current-gen Galaxy device. The unit that I used for testing was black, though there is a fine almost dot matrix pattern on the bezel and the back of the device.
Though it is still a polycarbonate build, the Galaxy Mega 6.3 feels very solid to me. Like the Galaxy S4, it feels as if the polycarbonate used is both lighter and more rigid than what Samsung used in earlier devices.
Display
A screen this size in full 1080p, and I would have fallen in love immediately. But no, the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 settles for a 720p display that, while nice, leaves me wondering what could have been.
At a resolution 1280 x 720 and a display size of 6.3 inches, we’re left with a pixel density of around 233 ppi, which is starting to feel on the low side. That said, to Samsung’s credit, this is a pretty nice looking display. Pixelation is almost nowhere to be found, and there is no noticeable lack of sharpness.
Unlike many Samsung phones, the display on the Galaxy Mega 6.3 is not Super AMOLED, but a TFT LCD. This means that compared to a lot of its Galaxy-branded brethren, the Mega doesn’t have the super-saturated colors that Samsung displays are known for. Some (myself included) prefer this, while others prefer the flashier colors of the AMOLED displays.
Performance
To get an idea of how the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset in the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 performs, we ran it through our usual suite of tests. As usual, we started with AnTuTu.
When testing, we run AnTuTu Benchmark 10 times, in different situations and average the result. This time, the numbers didn’t vary too much, with the lowest score being 12,505 and the highest being 13,586. Once we added up all the numbers and calculated the average, we arrived at our final AnTuTu score of 13,309.
Next we launched Epic Citadel. The relatively new Ultra High Quality mode was somewhat rougher on the Mega than the other two modes, giving us an average framerate of 32.9 FPS. High Quality, on the other hand, cranked out 57.4 FPS while High Performance mode gave a marginal framerate increase to 58.5 FPS. While we’re still a little disappointed in the screen resolution, the Galaxy Mega 6.3 would have needed a Snapdragon 600 to churn out decent framerates at 1080p.
Moving on to real world use, this is where the lines begin to blur. Apps launched quickly enough that it was nearly indistinguishable performance-wise from more powerful devices. We gave the Mega 6.3 a quick run of Real Racing 3, and the device handled itself well.
Software
Right out of the box, the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Even better (if you happen to like TouchWiz, anyway) it runs the newest version of Samsung’s TouchWiz, so you’ll be looking at a user experience very similar to the Galaxy S4 only minus a few bells and whistles and much larger.
Due to the large size of the device, Samsung has included an almost tablet-like landscape mode for when you turn the device on its side. The dock moves to the right side of the screen and the widgets stretch out to accommodate the increased horizontal screen real estate. Whether or not you’ll use this is another question, but in testing the Galaxy Mega 6.3, I found myself using this mode quite a bit.
All the standard Samsung apps that you would expect are here, including some that debuted on the Galaxy S4: S Memo, S Planner, S Translator, Story Album, you name it. Watch On is included again, though it still wouldn’t work with my television. Many more code options were available this time though, so I expect that it will work in time.
The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 used for this review is not tied to any given carrier, so it was essentially bloatware-free (assuming you don’t count the Samsung apps as bloatware). If you buy this phone through a carrier though, expect that to change.
Camera
The rear-facing camera on the Galaxy Mega 6.3 is, unfortunately, nothing to write home about. Though it offers 8 MP resolution, every photo I took seemed to lack the sharpness that I expected. This was present no matter what the lighting situation was, even in bright sunlight.
The 1080p video capture, on the other hand, looks nice and sharp. Colors tend to be a little washed out, but the motion is nice and smooth. Strongly contrasted situations, such as a bright sky above dark trees, will lead to either part of the video being too dark or part of it being too bright, but it is definitely fine enough for capturing a moment.
The Camera app itself offers quite a few features, including HDR, Best Photo, Drama Shot and Sound and Shot. Sadly, the cool but generally not-too-useful features for speeding up and slowing down video were left out.
Battery
The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 packs in a 3,200 mAh battery, which isn’t much bigger than the Note 2′s battery, but combine this with the power-efficient Snapdragon 400 chipset and the 720p screen, and you’ve got a device that will keep going for quite some time.
Though I didn’t think to test what the battery was at after a day of testing, I can tell you this: I tested for a few hours and then set the Galaxy Mega 6.3 down sometime in the mid-afternoon to get to work on another project. When I picked the Mega back up fairly late in the evening the next day, it had about 15% battery left. Now, I was only connected to WiFi as there was no SIM in the device at the time, but that still isn’t too bad.
If you keep the brightness at reasonable settings and don’t use the phone for every imaginable task during the day, you’ll easily have a 24 hour charge. Even if you use it as much as possible, it should get you through the day.
Video
Conclusion
While part of me would love to see the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 packing a Snapdragon 600 chipset and a 1080p screen, not everybody needs that much phone. On the other hand, this is clearly a phone meant for enthusiasts, so maybe they might like a little more in the specs department.
Where do you stand when it comes to the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3? Let us know in the comments below!
A new report from Taiwan claims that Google will not join other tablet manufacturers in slashing tablet prices for new devices like its rumored second-generation Nexus 7 tablet.
According to DigiTimes, which talked to "sources from the upstream supply chain," the new Nexus 7 will be priced somewhere between $199-$249, but not lower.
The 16GB version of the handset could cost $229, and is said to arrive at some point in July, which is in line with what previous reports have said about the tablet’s launch.
However, we'll remind you that the new Nexus 7 is not official yet, and the publication has not always been reliable with its rumors based on "supply chain" sources.
Currently, the 16GB Nexus 7 Wi-Fi sells for $199 while the 32GB Nexus 7 Wi-Fi-only model retails for $249. For $50 extra, you get 3G connectivity as well on a 32GB Nexus 7.
The same article says that the new iPad mini will focus on the high-end segment of the market, while the Nexus 7 will go for the mid-range. Other manufacturers will go for the mid-range and entry-level segments (Samsung) and entry-level segment (Asus and Acer) with their new creations.
A few days ago, the same source speculated that unspecified OEMs could price Android tablets as low as $99 later this year. The cheapest Nexus 7 tablet rival is made by Asus, the MeMo Pad HD 7, and will retail for $129. The same company is expected to make the next-generation Nexus 7, although we're still waiting for an official announcement.
Samsung has already announced plenty of new tablets – three Galaxy Tab 3 versions and one Galaxy Note model – and Apple will unveil its iPad mini later this year.
That is why Samsung has posted a new lifestyle video, showcasing the features of the new camera phone (or phone camera, if you like), as used on vacation by a beautiful girl. You can see the zoom ring in action, as well as the way you can snap an image and share it instantly. This can be a great feature when you’re on vacation and want to show those at home what they’re missing out on.
Other showcased features are the 10x optical zoom of the 16 megapixel camera, the Optical Image Stabilization, which allows users take clearer pictures in all situations, and the quick mode selector.
You’ve probably also noticed the Photo Suggest feature, which suggests photo spots around you – if there’s a big advantage to adding GPS and a data connection to a camera, this must be it.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 with LTE will be available as an AT&T exclusive, the carrier has recently announced on its website.
According to the carrier, you will be able to buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 with LTE “in the coming weeks” but, unfortunately, the price has not been announced. No color options are mentioned, either, so we expect only the white version to be available, at least for a while (a Brown Black variant was said to be in the works for the middle of July).
AT&T also posted a video that shows off some of the Galaxy Note 8′s most important features, which you can watch below.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 makes full use of the S Pen, together with its 8-inch display (resolution is 1280 x 800 pixels). The tablet is powered by a 1.6 GHz quad-core CPU and 2GB of RAM, and the version that AT&T will be selling will have 16GB of internal memory, according to the press release (but there is a microSD slot on board, so you can add up to 32 more gigabytes to that). The tablet runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
While you wait for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 with LTE to become available on AT&T, you can take a look at our detailed review of the tablet.
Do you plan to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 when it becomes available on AT&T?
The problem with cloud based computing is you need a good data connection to the Internet. Broadband services at home (including those lucky enough to have 
