Saturday, June 15, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


AT&T GoPhone changes bring 4G LTE devices to prepaid

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 03:47 PM PDT

Today the folks from AT&T have announced a slew of changes and improvements to their GoPhone prepaid plans and lineup of smartphones. We’ve been hearing rumors lately about what could be changing, but today they made it official. Things are about to get cheaper, and they’ll also be offering 4G LTE access to prepaid customers.

galaxyexpress

AT&T has announced that they’ll be restructuring their entire prepaid plans for the better, and this shows a huge change over what we’ve seen from the company in the previous years. Not only will they be among the first major carriers to offer 4G LTE to prepaid, but they’ll do so at a decent price.

Starting next week AT&T will be offering a few different prepaid options for GoPhone customers, and it will follow a new tiered system with three different options. Here’s what to expect from the folks at AT&T:

• $60 a month for 2 GB of data, unlimited nationwide calling, and unlimited messaging — Additional data is available for $10 per 1 GB.
• $40 a month for 200 MB of data, 500 minutes of nationwide calling, and unlimited messaging. Additional data is available for $5 per 100 MB.
• $25 a month for 250 minutes of nationwide calling and unlimited messaging, with an optional data package of 50 MB for an additional $5 a month.
• All GoPhone monthly plans include international texts from the U.S. to Mexico, Canada and 100 other countries.

While the $25 prepaid plan isn’t the best and only offers 250 minutes and unlimited texts and an option to add data, their highest $60 choice is pretty good. Previously $65 got you just 1GB of data on GoPhone, but now you’ll get double that for a few dollars less.

At the same time AT&T confirmed the budget-friendly Samsung Galaxy Express with 4G LTE will be available to prepaid customers. That will get you an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean powered 4.5-inch smartphone. It is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and doesn’t have a 720p HD screen, but should make most users pretty happy.

SOURCE: AT&T

Man of Steel brings his superhero power to the Play Store

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 03:14 PM PDT

Last week we learned that along with the new Superman movie, Warner Brothers would also be releasing a game to go alongside the new release for Android. If you aren’t a movie aficionado, Superman: Man of Steel hit theaters today in the USA, or late last night for those hitting the midnight showing. And for you fans, the game did too.

unnamed

Just as expected. Man of Steel the game has flown onto the Google Play Store as of late last night, and will bring all those superhero powers to our Android devices. We saw the teaser trailer earlier this month, but the game is now available for all those interested, but it will cost you.

As you can see from the video below, as well as the pictures from the Play Store, this looks like another swipe and slash style Infinity Blade title. This means you’ll be swiping on screen, tapping for throwing punches and more in a simple turn-by-turn combat style.

The graphics look fairly decent, as does the gameplay, and it could be worth enjoying over the weekend. The title will loosely follow the movie, so you might not want to play until after you’ve seen the film. Unless you enjoy spoilers. You’ll be able to fight bosses, earn power-ups, and collect 6 different Superman suits along the way.

For more details or to give this new movie-inspired mediocre looking game a try hit the link below. It will run you $4.99 so let us know below if it is any good.

VIA: Play Store

Samsung confirms Jay-Z music partnership with NBA Finals reveal

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 02:46 PM PDT

As you all know, the folks from Samsung have been going big lately with their ad campaigns, commercials, and superstar partnerships. Today we can confirm that one more biggie has just signed on, although we don’t know the details. Samsung and hip-hop artist and entrepreneur Jay-Z have just teamed up for something big, and we’ll find out all the details Sunday.

nba-jayz

Last week we reported on a rumor that Samsung and Jay-Z are teaming up in some fashion and signed a deal upwards of $20 million. Today, we can indeed confirm that at least the partnership is real, and it looks like we’ll be getting some music related service out of the deal.

Jay-Z isn’t just a hip-hop artist, he’s one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the music industry as of late. His record label Roc Nation will probably have something to do with this latest Samsung partnership, as the image above clearly shows their logo on that bling bling gold chain. This is all we have at the moment, but won’t need to wait long before we learn all of the details.

Samsung’s had huge adverts during the entire NBA Finals, and it looks like we’ll learn all of the details Sunday during Game 5 of the NBA Finals where Lebron James and company will once again bring the Heat on the Spurs. The game kicks off at 8:00 EST (5 PT) and Samsung is teasing we’ll learn what’s new from Jay-Z and the Galaxy S4 at 9:15 EST.

We’re going to go ahead and guess something music related, obviously. Possibly something along the lines of a free music streaming service for Samsung devices to compete with iTunes Radio and Google Music All Access. A service which would go nicely with Samsung’s Music Hub. Stay tuned folks! We’ll know more soon.

HTC One Mini UAProf confirms Android 4.2.2 and 720p display

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 01:44 PM PDT

At this point in time no one doubts the rumors that HTC is working on a One mini to follow up their wildly impressive and successful HTC One. It has been leaked more times than we can count, and even yesterday live pictures of the device in the wild were found. Now today, a User Agent Profile is confirming more details yet again.

HTC-phablet-540x30311

At this point there really isn’t any argument as to whether or not this device is coming. The question now is what exactly will the specs be, and what carriers will offer the miniature One. It’s all but confirmed to have a 4.3-inch 720p display, and rumors have suggested Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean instead of 4.1 like the current HTC One.

Today a UAProf has all but confirmed those specs one more time. Nothing extremely new here, but this is just one more leak in a long line essentially confirming the handset. The leak also confirms the UltraPixel camera, and the processor. Instead of the powerful Snapdragon 600 like the original, we’ll get a toned down chip from Qualcomm.

The HTC One mini will work with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 series processor, likely 2GB of RAM, and now we just need details, price, and release date and we’ll be set. Rumors are still suggestiong a Q3 launch by HTC, but we’re hopeful for sometime mid-summer. Drop us a comment below if you have additional details on the HTC One Mini.

VIA: TechTastic

Facebook invite teases arrival of a “new product” next week

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:48 PM PDT

Apparently the folks from Facebook have another product they’d like to share with the world. The man in charge, Mark Zuckerberg, and his entire team have been busy adding Twitter-style #hashtags to Facebook, introducing new home replacement launchers on Android, and even the HTC First “Facebook Phone” (fail) but apparently they aren’t done yet.

Screen Shot 2013-06-14 at 12.43.58 PM

We don’t have too many details at this point and time, but the company is preparing to host a quick event next week where they will be unveiling and announcing a new product. Facebook specifically mentions “product” and not features, software, or something else. So that is why we’re interested in this event invitation.

Whether you’re a fan of Facebook, their Facebook phone, or any of their services is a completely different story we could talk about forever, but we’ll leave you with this little gem. We have mixed feelings about Facebook Home ourselves, not to mention the phone, and we’re not alone either. The HTC First has been delayed and might not even launch in Europe, as sales have been weak, so we’re not sure if this will be another hardware device or not.

“A small team has been working on a big idea… Join us for coffee and learn about a new product.”

According to ABC News, the details above are all Facebook has revealed, but it confirms they’ll be holding a media event on June 20th to reveal this new product. Whatever it may be.

ABC mentions this wasn’t send via email, and came in the good old fashioned Snail Mail, so we’re not exactly sure what is going on here with Facebook. When they say “product” does that mean it will be hardware, or could this just be anything? We’ll update the minute we learn more, but feel free to sound off in the comments below with your thoughts.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini hits Bluetooth SIG on way to Verizon

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:34 PM PDT

Today, we’re seeing some mixed reports regarding a new Samsung smartphone that will be headed to Verizon Wireless. So far the details are scant, but it’s likely the newly announced Galaxy S4 Mini, but for Big Red here in the USA. Samsung devices for Verizon always have model numbers starting with SCH, and today we’re seeing a new one that has our interest piqued.

samsung_galaxy_s4_mini-540x465

According to the Blog of Mobile this device indeed will be the Galaxy S4 Mini for Verizon, but chances are it could also be something else. The device is listed as the SCH-i435. Samsung’s carried multiple mid-range Samsung devices in the past like the Stratosphere and the Galaxy Stellar, so this could be a follow up to either of those as well.

Reports from Droid-Life also speculate a similar situation, but for now it really is anyone’s guess as to what this device will be. To be specific here, the Galaxy S4 for Verizon is listed as SCH-I545. The Galaxy S III last year is the SCH-I535 and lower end devices like the Stratosphere 1/2 were SCH-I405 and i425.

Screen Shot 2013-06-14 at 12.20.07 PM

Most likely the new device that has just cleared Bluetooth certification processes with Android 4.2.2 on board will be either a budget device we’ve yet to see, the Stratosphere 3 (keeping that keyboard alive) a follow up to the Galaxy Stellar, or of course most assume it’s the GS 4 Mini.

Until we learn more we’ll just have to speculate. In the meantime know that it looks like Samsung will be offering a budget friendly device on Verizon in the near future.

CPU-Z comes to Android after years on the PC

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:31 AM PDT

Today we have some excellent news for all you PC and Android enthusiasts. After years and years of being one of the go-to programs on desktops, CPU-Z has arrived for Android. The popular tool is extremely useful in many usage scenarios and will give you important info about the CPU (processor) of your PC, and in this case, or Android devices.

Screen Shot 2013-06-14 at 11.26.49 AM

Today the company CPUID, has officially launched their app on Android in beta form, but it is available to everyone as we speak. Myself being a huge PC enthusiast I’ve used CPU-Z for years and years of overclocking and watercooling my quad-core Intel processors and more. I’m excited to see this level of detail come to Android.

Just like Quadrant, AnTuTu and others CPU-Z will show you a detailed breakdown of your device. Information such as the SoC (system on chip) like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 600. You’ll get the name, architecture, speeds (of each core) and much more. It’s interesting to boot it up and see my Galaxy S4 only using one of the four cores, while only running around 1.2 Ghz instead of the 1.9 GHz spec. Talk about battery saving technology at work!

Screen Shot 2013-06-14 at 11.27.43 AM

As you can see above, CPU-Z gives you a wide list of details about your Android smartphone and tablet. From battery information, health and temp, to all the sensors and more. Here’s the full list below:

- SoC (System On Chip) name, architecture, clock speed for each core
- System information : device brand & model, screen resolution, RAM, storage.
- Battery information : level, status, temperature
- Sensors

If you’ve wanted to see what’s under the hood on your smartphone, this app is a great way to do just that. Sadly it only supports Android 3.0 and above, so Gingerbread users need not apply. Get it from the link today and enjoy. Enthusiasts, don’t go water-cooling your smartphone just yet.

SOURCE: Play Store

Android Authority

Android Authority


Make Android look like iOS 7 with this Nova-compatible package: jbOS7

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 03:17 PM PDT

joOS7-theme-for-Android_610x434

It's been almost a week since iOS 7 was announced by Apple and among its "new and innovative" features, the system also comes with a completely changed design that may appeal even to some Android users. Thanks to Google's customizable mobile platform, those interested can now tweak Android's interface with a theme package and make the OS look pretty much like Apple's latest.

With the help of the well-known Nova Launcher, one user named shmogt created a package that can be manually applied to transform Android's interface into one that resembles iOS 7. At this moment, the Jelly Bean theme is optimized for the Samsung Galaxy S3 but can be used on other devices as well.

Besides the usual background image and application icons, jbOS7 (the name of the theme) brings a new lock screen and uses two additional home screens as live applications.

While the lock screen replicates Apple's experience to a good degree, one of the primary screens has become home to weather information, serving details right on the screen rather than inside an application. The secondary screen is home of the main calendar application, which will display important appointments and events in a rather simplistic design. Users will be taken to one of these two screens when tapping the weather or calendar application icon.

jbos7

The package can be downloaded from Dropbox, where widgets made with UCCW, icons, fonts and resized wallpapers are located. The font is included only for extension purposes, as the theme doesn't change the default Android font but all elements of jbOS7 are designed with that specific font.

At this moment, the icon folder is seen as empty because the owner has encountered some copyright problems but it should be brought back soon (the icons are not necessarily needed to apply the theme). Instructions on how to use the package can be found here.

Would you trade Android's green shades over Apple's blue for one day?

    


Final Fantasy 4 for Android – Full Review (video)

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 02:57 PM PDT

final fantasy 4 header

Final Fantasy 4 originally launched in 1991, and thanks to its massive popularity, it was ported to a number of platforms. Fans of the game will be excited to hear that Square Enix has just recently launched Final Fantasy 4 for Android. It has a hefty price tag of $15.99, but whether you’re a fan of the series or a newcomer, you’ll find that there’s enough content in Final Fantasy 4 to get your money’s worth.

If you’re in a rush, jump to the video, otherwise, stick with us as we take a closer look at this iconic title in video game history.

Graphics

Let’s take a look at the most staggering changes first – the graphics. If you were expecting flat world maps and out of focus sprites, you’re in for a surprise. Square Enix has done a huge overhaul on the graphics. Simply put, it’s much, much better than it used to be.

final fantasy 4

It’s hard to pinpoint specifics when the graphics as a whole went through a massive overhaul. The graphics are now very similar to the Nintendo DS remake, but they’re just a tad sharper on Android. So if you remember the graphics and animations from the SNES days, you might be interested in playing the game again now that there’s been a huge graphical advancement. However, even we have to admit that the textures aren’t the best.

FF4-NotAGlitch

An off-screen secret passage.

One thing we’d like to point out that’s changed from the SNES version is that secret tunnels are no longer marked. They’re still there, but it’ll be a tad bit more difficult to find them. So when you’re navigating off screen to find secret passages and hidden treasures, there won’t be any giveaways like we saw in the SNES version.

All in all, the graphical enhancements make Final Fantasy 4 more enjoyable. The graphics in the SNES version aren’t bad for a game that launched in 1991, but with the major graphical progress that has been made since, it’s nice to see classics like Final Fantasy 4 get a makeover.

Gameplay

Speaking of changes from the SNES version, gameplay has also changed a bit, and that’s mostly due to the fact that you’re playing on a touchscreen rather than using a dedicated console controller. Your classic commands are still all there – attack, black magic, white magic, items, and character-specific talents. The only real difference is that you have to scroll and tap to select an option instead of using a D-Pad.

There were also a few changes made to the core experience that appeared in the DS remake, such as the augment system. During your journey throughout the game, you’ll come across augments, which can be equipped for additional command options. For example, you can use an auto-potion augment, which will make your character consume a potion whenever damage is taken in battle.

final fantasy 4 combat scene

Cid, Cecil, Tellah, and Yang fight off enemies without the help of the player.

Furthermore, a few new battle commands have been added to the Final Fantasy 4 Android port. Once Auto-Battle is turned on, all of your characters will automatically attack enemies, and there’s a way of defining commands so everyone performs a different task. It’s a really handy feature for level grinding. Additionally, there are nearby buttons that will let you skip character turns and escape from the battle.

Another new addition is that some playable characters come with skills that aren’t in the SNES version. Yang has the Brace command, Porom has Cry, Palom has Bluff, and Edward has a few new Bard techniques. You will also notice a few name changes in the game.

Square Enix made these name changes to follow naming conventions in the newer Final Fantasy releases. For example, Ice 2 is now Blizzara, Cure 2 is now Cuara, and etc. Enemy names weren’t left untouched either. Imps have become goblins, and the Milon boss, the archfiend you fight on Mt. Ordeals, is now called Scarmiglione.

FF4-Screenie1

Fans of the story will be delighted to hear that voice-over cutscenes made it into the Android version as well. The voice-overs are pretty bad, but a welcome addition. In the SNES version, you were reading long dialogues, so it’s a pleasant change of pace, despite the lackluster voice-overs. The cutscenes are fun to watch too.

When it comes down to it, the gameplay, at its core, is the same. Characters essentially know all the same skills, world maps and dungeons are laid out the same way, including hidden areas, and once you get used to the new controls, battles and strategies feel similar as well.

What we liked

There are a lot of things to like about the Final Fantasy 4 Android port, but perhaps the most positive factor about the game is that Square Enix didn’t butcher the Final Fantasy 4 experience. The story and music remain wonderful, unaffected by the additions and graphical enhancements.

FF4-4

While Square Enix did add a bit of dialogue and a few cutscenes, the rest of the game remains untouched, leaving all the great classic moments for long-time fans to enjoy.

It would have been easy for Square Enix to simply port the pure SNES version to Android, but they went the extra mile and launched something a tad bit more refreshing, which we’re sure all fans of the series can appreciate. The enhanced graphics and added cutscenes are a very nice touch.

FF4-2

We also loved the new Auto-Battle system. Any long-time Final Fantasy fan knows that level grinding is necessary, and while we wished there was a way to speed things up, such as battles, we’re certainly glad that the new Auto-Battle system makes the grueling, repetitive clicking go away.

What we didn’t like

We’ve talked about a lot of the positives surrounding the game, but Final Fantasy 4 for Android is far from perfect. While the graphical overhaul has certainly made combat scenes feel a lot better, the battle speeds remain slow as ever. Since random encounters happen frequently, most of your time is spent in battles when you really don’t want to be there. Don’t get us wrong, the constant encounters are great for leveling up, but we wish there was a way to speed things up a bit.

FF4-MagicMenu

The new dialogue is downright terrible. While the old dialogue wasn’t going to win any awards, some of the new stuff, especially lines spoken by voice actors, is bland and unimaginative. Thankfully, you don’t see new dialogue very often, as most of the old lines remain intact.

Video review

Wrap up

Overall, we were very happy with Square Enix on this one. People who have been playing Final Fantasy 4 on and off for 20 years will get everything they loved about the original plus a little bit of new content. What’s awesome is that new Final Fantasy 4 players will be able to experience everything old school fans loved about the earlier games without the dated graphics.

The game came out 22 years ago, and while we can’t defend the $16 price tag, it’s a small price to pay for this iconic title. Not to mention the fact that there are hours upon hours of content to play through. Still, we understand that most people will find the game to be way too expensive compared to the standard Android app.

So do we recommend the Android remake? Of course! Despite its hefty price tag, it’s hard to not recommend Final Fantasy 4. It’s a classic, and classics are always worth picking up.


Get it on Google Play

    


Solar-charging screen could augment your phone’s battery life

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 02:09 PM PDT

Android-battery

From quad-core processors to 1080p displays, today's mobile devices are very powerful and seem to push innovation into just about every aspect.

Unfortunately, one area that seems to be somewhat ignored is battery life. While many of today's devices can endure a fully day's use on a single charge, they do so because they have massive batteries, not because we’ve somehow come up with a better way to keep our devices charged for longer. Sure, we can optimize hardware and create software that can tune down settings to lengthen battery life, but that’s about it.

We are constantly being promised innovative battery technologies that will "change everything", except they never seem to leap beyond the realm of testing or theory. So instead of pushing some new battery tech, why not a new screen tech that could extend the life of your phone in between charges? A small French startup called SunPartner Group hopes to push out a new transparent panel that could essentially allow your screen to give your phone an extra boast of energy, using the power of the sun.

Right now SunPartner is testing the display tech with "a number of manufacturers" and claims it could start arriving in devices early next year. How does it work? The company will uses stripes of standard thin-film solar cells alternating with transparent film. From there it adds a layer of tiny lenses that spread the image from the screen so that the opaque stripes aren’t visible.

sunpartner-screen-tech

Apparently the current prototype is 82 percent transparent, though future versions will hit 90 percent. Additionally the cost here is pretty low, adding about $2.30 to the build price of each phone that uses the tech.

The big question is whether the charging technology extends our phone life long enough to make it worth it. SunPartner claims that it will extend battery life by about 20 percent during normal use, provided of course you set it out in areas where it can actually take advantage of the sun's rays. While 20% isn’t the end of the world, it is still a step forward.

Personally I am a little curious how good it is for a phone to be left directly pointed at the sun's rays for extended periods – than again, maybe it doesn’t make that much of a difference.

What do you think of the SunPartner Group's transparent screen insert tech? Is this kind of solar tech something you could see becoming commonplace or is also destined to never reach beyond the testing stages?

    


Galaxy S4 Mini available for pre-order in the UK, ships on July 5

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:53 PM PDT

Galaxy S4 Mini

The Galaxy S4 Mini is now available for pre-order in the UK, with shipping set to start on July 5.

This particular Galaxy S4 family member is expected to offer users a mobile experience similar to its bigger and more famous brother, or at least that's what Samsung officials will have you think.

However, the fact is that the handset is just a mid-ranger device even if it looks very much like the real deal, so we aren't really surprised to see it offered free of charge in the region, at least while on pre-order. As long as you pick a two-year monthly contract of at least £27 until July 5, you'll walk away with a free device, UnwiredView reports.

After that, the handset will cost £49.99 with the same £27/month agreement. That particular contract will get you unlimited minutes, unlimited texting, and 250MB of data with Orange, or 500 minutes, unlimited texting and unlimited data with T-Mobile.

We’ll note that Orange and T-Mobile also have a slightly cheaper offer for the handset, at £26 per month for the handset, which will include fewer voice minutes and/or data, depending on which carrier you select.

You'll find the Galaxy S4 Mini in Orange and T-Mobile stores (or Everything Everywhere stores if you like), but it's likely that the handset will also be available from other local mobile operators in the future.

The Galaxy S4 Mini is available in two colors, from either carrier, the "regular" Black Mist and White Frost options.

We'll remind you that the Galaxy S4 Mini is not the only new member of the Galaxy S4 family. The company has recently also unveiled the rugged Galaxy S4 Active and the Galaxy S4 Zoom camera phone, so make sure you check those Galaxy S4 versions out before you commit to the Galaxy S4 Mini.

In short, the Galaxy S4 Zoom is a bulkier Galaxy S4 Mini version with better camera, while the Galaxy S4 Active is a Galaxy S4 version with a more sturdy metal-based design and rugged features.

We didn't forget about the fifth Galaxy S4 version already announced – the Nexus experience Galaxy S4 – but the handset will be available only in the U.S., at least initially.

    


AT&T reveals new GoPhone plans with LTE support

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:45 PM PDT

AT&T logo [aa] (3)

Prepaid cell service has come a long way in the United States in the last few years. What was once near-taboo, is becoming increasingly commonplace, even for those with the credit to qualify for post-paid plans. That's because prepaid is often cheaper, all while offering more flexibility. Not to mention that great devices like the Nexus 4 certainly have hurt prepaid’s growth any.

One the downside, prepaid services also tend to offer much slower network speeds due to the lack of 4G LTE support. Luckily AT&T is changing this by introducing brand new GoPhone prepaid plans, which all support both HSPA+ and LTE.

Depending on your needs, there will be three different smartphone-compatible prepaid plans to choose from.

The base plan is just $25 a month, offering 250 minutes of calling, unlimited text and the option of 50MB of data for $5 more.The next up in the line is the $40 plan, giving you 200MB data, 500 minutes and unlimited texting. Additional data will run you $5 for every extra 100MB.

The optimal plan for most smartphone users will be the $60 plan, which gives you unlimited talk, text and 2GB data. Each additional 1GB of data runs just $10.

So when do the new plans with LTE support roll out? LTE access is slated to be available June 21st. With other prepaid options, like those from StraightTalk, costing less – is this a good deal? Honestly, it depends on how important LTE access is to you. If you mostly connect to Wi-Fi for data, probably not. If you are absolutely thrilled by the idea of 4G LTE support, this could be the perfect plan for you.

    


First picture taken with Galaxy Note 3 (SM-N900) reportedly spotted

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 12:09 PM PDT

Galaxy Note 3 concept

Galaxy Note 3 concept

The first picture reportedly taken with the Galaxy Note 3 (SM-N900) has been spotted, well ahead of the handset's official announcement.

As you can see in the screenshot below, we're looking at a test picture taken with a Samsung device, the SM-N900. The same model number has appeared in recent reports and leaks in connection with the Galaxy Note 3.

In fact, a Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9000 has been spotted on Samsung's website not too long ago, with subsequent rumors saying that the model number has been changed to SM-N900.

The test picture itself is not special – we're looking at part of a keyboard and other objects resting on a desk – but the EXIF data says that the photo has been taken with the SM-N900's camera, which is expected to be a 13-megapixel shooter. The resolution of the image is of 4128 x 2322 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio) suggesting that we’re looking at a 13-megapixel camera.

Galaxy Note 3

The image has been posted on Picasa just recently, and because EXIF data can be faked, we can't be completely sure that the Galaxy Note 3 was indeed used to capture it.

However, we've sort of gotten used to seeing such test photos leak ahead of the announcement of certain devices, so it wouldn't be completely unreasonable to expect pictures taken with the Galaxy Note 3 to hit the web prior to the phone's launch.

Unfortunately, a photo of the Galaxy Note 3 itself is not available yet although images of a purported prototype have been recently shown, and we assume Samsung is trying to prevent as best it can such leaks – the top image above is just a concept of the unreleased device.

The Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to arrive at some point in the following months – the handset will most likely be unveiled at IFA 2013 in Berlin, Germany, where its predecessors were also announced, although some rumors say the phone could arrive even earlier.

However, unlike in previous years, the Galaxy Note 3 will have some serious competition this year, with devices like the Sony Xperia Z Ultra (Xperia ZU or Togari) and the HTC One Max (T6) also expected to hit stores soon.

    


Samsung Galaxy S4 Active AT&T pre-order process has started

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 11:30 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, which AT&T announced as part of its smartphone lineup yesterday (after teasing it in a video) is now available for you to pre-order from the carrier’s website.

The device is available in two color versions, Urban Gray and Dive Blue, and can be yours for $199.99, with a two-year contract. If you decide to purchase the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, you should know that it shouldn’t take too long for the device to get into your hands. Simulating an order on the AT&T website revealed that the device is expected to ship on June 18, which is next Tuesday, as you can see in the screenshot below.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active

The device, which Samsung has officially confirmed a little more than a week ago, is the rugged version of Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S4, but comes in a body which should allow it to withstand whatever you may want to subject it to. It has IP67 certification, meaning that it is dust tight and it’s also waterproof at up to 1 meter in depth for up to 30 minutes.

On the specs side of things, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active has a 5-inch screen at Full HD resolution and is powered by a 1.9GHz quad-core CPU and 2GB of RAM memory. It also has an 8-megapixel main camera, as well as a 2-megapixel front-facing one.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active runs Android 4.2.2, with Samsung adding some exclusive TouchWiz features on top, like S Travel, S Translator or Air View and Air Gesture. Furthermore, there’s also Aqua Mode, a feature that Samsung claims will improve images and videos you capture underwater with the smartphone’s camera.

All in all, a pretty good offering, especially for those enjoying a hike from time to time, or having a job where their phone is prone to accidents.

Do you plan on buying the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active?

    


How to make your smartphone look like stock Android without rooting

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 10:35 AM PDT

nexus-4-jelly-bean

Android handsets are purchased on a daily basis, whether we’re talking about that shiny new HTC One, a mid-range device like the Galaxy S4 Mini, or any other phone for that matter.

However, far too many people come to be disappointed with their purchase due to the modifications on top of Android that ruin the experience for them. This problem can be solved by rooting and flashing a custom ROM, but that’s hardly a solution for everyone. But there’s another way to get that vanilla Android experience on a smartphone without rooting.

Developers have been hard at work creating solutions to feed our stock Android craving, in the form of launchers, icon packs, keyboards, and other apps. We’re going to walk you through some of the most useful and show you how to transform the interface into a vanilla-like one, without root and without hassle.

Launchers

There are a lot of cool launchers out there. Action Launcher Pro combined with the Stark icon pack is one of my favorites, however, there are a lot of offerings to get that stock Android feel.

So the first step is to choose a launcher. For that, we’re going to take a look at Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher, and Holo Launcher HD. Alternatively, you can use Holo Launcher Plus to achieve stock Android for Ice Cream Sandwich.

Nova Launcher is a free download, however, paying for the Prime version of the app will give you access to a few more features. Apex Launcher and Holo Launcher HD are both free downloads, but they have pro versions for added features as well.

launchers-ss-aa

Before and after

When it comes down to it, you’re going to need to choose which one you’re most comfortable and satisfied with. In my case, I went with Nova Launcher. After you have a launcher downloaded, simply hit the Home button on your device. A pop-up window will appear, and you’re going to need to set your chosen launcher as the default (instead of TouchWiz, Sense, etc). Alternatively, open up the Nova Settings, and, on the first page, there’ll be an option to set the Nova Launcher as the default launcher.

Once that’s done, your home screen should, more or less, look like the image above.

Lock screens

Custom lock screens on Android are a fickle thing, as they’re often filled with bugs and are unreliable. However, there are a couple that’ll get the job done, though not many.

Holo Locker Plus is a good a Jelly Bean locker to use when paired with a Jelly Bean-themed wallpaper. If you don’t want to pay for anything, a great alternative is the GO Locker, which will require you to download two apps, the base GO Locker app and then a theme addon, namely a Jelly Bean one.

Once GO Locker is downloaded, adding the Jelly Bean theme is pretty self-explanatory. However, Holo Locker Plus is another story — it’s easy to enable Holo Locker, but in my findings, it does not come with a Jelly Bean wallpaper. So you’re going to need to find your own. To do that, you need the Plus version of Holo Locker to access the features that let you add a custom wallpaper to the lock screen. You can use any wallpaper you’d like, but, to get the coveted stock Android feel, a Jelly Bean wallpaper would be ideal.

lock-screen-aa-final

If you’re looking to achieve stock Android with Ice Cream Sandwich, GO Locker is your best bet with this theme.

If you’re using Holo Locker, the final outcome should look like the image above.

Keyboards and Wallpapers

best android keyboards

Nexy, you need a new keyboard and wallpaper to finalize the makeshift vanilla Android experience we’ve created. A Jelly Bean wallpaper package can be easily found in the Play Store. Anyone will do, but I used this one. A Ice Cream Sandwich wallpaper package can be found in the Play Store easily as well. Lastly, we need a new keyboard.

When it comes to keyboards, you really don’t need a Jelly Bean one in particular. Any kind will do as long as you’re comfortable with it, even if its your manufacturer’s stock keyboard. However, a lot of people tend to go for things like SwiftKey or Swype. If you insist on a stock Jelly Bean keyboard though, Google recently brought it to Google Play.

Final thoughts

It should only take you a few minutes to complete these steps. After you do though, you’ll have an awesome makeshift vanilla Android experience on any device of your choosing. If you’d like to break away from stock Android a tad bit, I like to download the Stark icon pack to freshen things up a little bit. It’s not a requirement though, it just looks nice.

Finally, to show you that this was all done using apps through the Google Play Store, we used Root Checker to prove that there was no rooting or flashing involved.

rootcheck

Do you plan on using this method for a makeshift vanilla Android experience? If you went ahead with it, how did it work out for you?

    


What do you think of iOS7?

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 10:33 AM PDT

We are all mobile geeks, here at Android Authority. We love everything with a power button. We like to comment the latest news and endlessly argue over which phone is better. On the Friday Debate, we pick a hot issue and proceed to discuss it. Join us!

This week was, for many, dedicated to discussing Apple’s new operating system. Reactions have varied, from commenters in awe over the new design, to harsh criticism and a healthy dose of mockery.

In this week’s Friday Debate, we talk about the new iOS7, what it means for Android, and how it will change the mobile industry in general. Join us!

Derek Ross

I think it’s pretty safe to say that I’m an Android fan… fanatic… fanboy, whatever. The fact is, I love Android. I love the current design implementations of the HOLO UI and I’ll scream #HOLOYOLO just as much as the next disciple of Matias Duarte will. With all that said, I’m a fan of Apple’s latest flavor of iOS. The previous iOS UI was old and outdated. It had not received a face list in 6 years. That’s right. From 2007 until 2013, iOS pretty much looked the same.

The latest UI overhaul changes the look and feel of iOS. The design is much more minimal and less in your face. I guess I like it so much because it doesn’t remind me of iOS. In fact, it reminds me of Android. It reminds me of Android’s current design guidelines a little. It’s clean. It’s simple. It’s sleek.

While we might be making fun of Johnathan Ive for copying Android via various memes (that I’ve laughed about), the updated design is great for iOS as a platform. We can make fun of iOS all we want, claiming that Android had many of the features announced today first (which is definitely true). However, everyone deserves a modern UI…even TouchWiz users. So, congrats iOS users.

ios-7

Adam Koueider

There are enough iOS 7 jokes going round on the internet for me to skip out on the taunting and name calling, and allow me to get right into the pros and cons of iOS 7.

I’m going to make it clear that I’m not a fan of the new design. It seems as if they made a new design for a new design’s sake. When I read the rumors, the words that got tossed around a lot were a flatter design and two color UI’s, a darker version and a lighter version. I thought well that makes sense, Jony Ive likes his industrial, classy design and there is a black/slate iPhone and a white/silver iPhone, so a dark/light UI would make sense. Instead what I was faced with was an abomination. The flatter design was there, but I was faced with neon bright colors and icons that were very poorly designed. Some app icons went from dark to light contrast, some went light to dark, and some didn’t change at all. Considering Jony Ive’s quest for perfection I didn’t expect this at all. But we soon found out it was Apple’s marketing department had designed them, and that they were subject to change.

See here’s the thing Apple. The design of iOS wasn’t the problem, it was iOS’s functionality or rather lack of functionality. Apple went a long way to fixing these problems by offering improved intelligent multitasking (this might just be the only feature that beats Android). It also added toggles, which were sorely missed.

But then there were the things Apple didn’t do. Look past the glitter and shine of the new UI and you’ll realise that the homescreen is almost exactly the same. Those static apps are the only things that can adorn the homescreen, and you know what that means guys, no widgets. In fact, what was truly hilarious was the way Apple tried to sidestep the lack of widgets, by adding them into other elements of the UI. Notice the “Today” tab in the notification panel, which is basically a calendar widget.

That brings me to my next point about functionality, notifications. Other than the new paint job, notifications are still horrible in iOS. For example if you have a bunch of notifications with regards to Google Plus and you’d like to get rid of them you can’t. It’s all or nothing in iOS and that is a serious problem.

There’s also no choice of default apps and keyboards, but in the end Apple was hamstrung by its own users. It pushed as much as it could to change iOS without upsetting its legacy users who don’t like change (although a minority still disliked iOS 7).

So in the end iOS 7 is a strong stride forward for the iOS platform, but not the giant leap that it needed to be to surpass Android (at least in my eyes). That said I’m interested in checking out the new “intelligent multitasking” and the gorgeous photos app (Jonny Ive that’s how all of iOS should look like). But even then I believe Android is still on top, although by less of a margin than before, and with the next version of Android coming out soon, I don’t see that margin decreasing anytime soon.

iOS 7

Robert Triggs

I’ll start out with the nice stuff; iOS 7 is certainly an improvement for Apple customers, and there are no sour grapes from me about the company finally catching up, everyone deserves the best from their brand of choice. A lot of the good stuff came in the form of improved functionality, and iOS 7 certainly seems like an OS that I could use.

Having said that, I think that the color scheme is absolutely hideous, and without the ability to change the skin, I’m turned off from iOS 7 based on appearance alone.

But let me get to my real bugbear, the marketing. It’s the same nonsense which irritates me about almost every release event, the buzz words and the blatant lies, and Apple really took the biscuit this time.

We all know that many of iOS 7′s “innovative” features have been around on Android for ages. Whilst I’m not opposed to taking inspiration from good ideas, selling them to people as “new” is cringe-worthy at least, and down right infuriating once you see less informed individuals lap it up.

For me iOS 7 symbolizes everything that’s wrong with Apple; it’s all about the image, but lacks any real inspiration.

On the other hand, I’m quite happy to let Apple sit in the corner quietly rocking back and forth trying to convince itself that it’s still innovative, that it still “has it”. There’s something wonderfully tragic about the whole affair.

iOS 7 Safari

Bogdan Petrovan

The thing that irked me when iOS7 was announced was reading tweets from the people that I follow. See, I mostly follow journalists and bloggers that I perceive as pro-Apple, and I selected them like that on purpose, to have the other perspective.

The reactions – it’s beautiful, it’s innovative, it’s amazing. One notable “analyst” even said that Samsung should look at Apple for pointers on how to use phone sensors cleverly… Seriously? Eye tracking is gimmicky, but paralax effects are clever??? Next, he said something along the lines of “Mountain View, start your photocopiers”. SERIOUSLY?

Okay, rant over. I am not upset about Apple “borrowing” elements from Android (and other operating systems). Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and as my colleagues said, having a strong opponent is good for Android.

My reactions to the new design: many icons are a mess, especially that compass icon, it looks so amateurish. The color palette is extreme. Apple has lots of uptight, mature users – how will they like it, I wonder? Besides, the palette doesn’t play well with the industrial design of the iPhone. Next, the new iOS seems to have lost that much lauded consistency it used to have. For instance, the Game Center looks nothing like the rest of the OS.

I am sure that much will change in iOS until it begins pushing to users this fall. Probably, some new and colorful iPhones will come out by then, with a design that matches the unicorn-barfs-rainbow theme. Those icons – I am sure they will be substantially changed.

Looking beyond the design, the new iOS is not that innovative as Phil Schiller sells it to be. Yes, it narrowed the gap between it and Android, but Apple’s OS isn’t, by any means, the most advanced operating system in the world. Worse, the new design may cause more people to realize it.

iOS 7 Design

What do you think of the new iOS 7?

Join us in the comments and vote in our poll.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
    


Amazon outs Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ in Canada

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 10:18 AM PDT

Amazon Kindle Fire HD
It may have taken Amazon quite a while since the initial unveiling, but now it has finally managed to make both the Kindle Fire HD and the Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ available for purchase in Canada. These devices, according to Amazon, offer “the ultimate HD experience,” and the best part is that either of them can be bought for less than 300 clams each.

Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD is the latest iteration of that 7-inch tablet originally known as the Kindle Fire. It has a 7-inch 1280×800 resolution display, a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, a front-facing camera, and choices of either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage.

Meanwhile, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ is a slightly bigger alternative that comes with a Full HD resolution screen, as well as a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, a front-facing cam, and the same choices for internal storage — price-wise, too.

The price of the Kindle Fire HD is currently at $244 for the model with 32GB of storage, while the Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ costs $314 with the same amount of space. If your wallet thinks these Kindle Fire models are interesting, you should know that both of them run a forked version of Android that has certain limits on usage which aren’t found in other tablets. So don’t say we didn’t warn you.

    


Snapdragon 800-based Galaxy S4 shows up once again, this time breaking benchmark records

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 09:48 AM PDT

Galaxy S4

Currently the Samsung Galaxy S4 is available with either a Snapdragon 600 or an Exynos 5 chip onboard, but a third processor configuration could soon be available as well.

Last week we reported on the Galaxy S4 SHV-E330S, powered by a Snapdragon 800 and featuring LTE-Advanced support. Now the device has appeared again in AnTuTu, breaking all existing records.

With a score of 31,491, it's hard not to be impressed by the SHV-E330S. It's also hard not to be more than a little confused. After all, when the SHV-E330S was first revealed, we posted up an AnTuTu benchmark score that was quite low for the Snapdragon 800, at just 24,179.

sammy-bench

Why the big jump now? Honestly, there are many possible reasons.

First, every time you run a benchmark, you are likely to get a slightly different result. The reason for this is that sometimes different resources and background processes may be running that could effect the result.

Additionally, the Snapdragon 800-powered S4 might not have been properly optimized at the time of the first test.

Keep in mind that there is still the possibility that the SHV-E330S is a fake. That said, the same handset number has already passed Wi-Fi and DLNA certification, so it is seemingly more and more likely that the SHV-E330S is real.

The biggest remaining question is where and when the handset might emerge. Currently all evidence points to the Snapdragon 800-powered S4 coming exclusively to Korea, though again – nothing is official until Sammy says it is. If the Snapdragon 800 model of the S4 does make its way outside of Korea, would you be interested in picking it up?

    


HTC One Mini is confirmed by UAProf info, will feature Android 4.2.2 and 720p display

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 08:59 AM PDT

HTC One X Logo aa 6 1600

At this point, little doubt remains that HTC is planning to release a smaller variant of the HTC One.

Not only has the HTC M4 been mentioned in several past rumors and leaks, just yesterday we received new photos and details that further shed light on the device. Still not sure what to think? Here's some even more evidence that the M4 is the real deal: the handset has now shown up in a User Agent Profile (UAProf).

According to the UAproof details, the handset will arrive as the HTC One Mini, which is in line with previous rumors. The UAproof also confirms the phone will have a 720p resolution and will run on Android 4.2.2.

Unfortunately, the UAproof doesn’t give us any other new details. Luckily there have been plenty of past leaks to help fill in the blanks. The HTC One Mini will feature a 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, accompanied by 2GB of RAM. Other specs include 16GB storage and HTC BoomSound front stereo speakers. We also know it will have a 4.3-inch display and will feature an "UltraPixel" camera.

So is this any mystery left to the HTC One? It certainly doesn’t seem that way, though perhaps HTC could still sneak in a few features we’ve yet to hear about. The big question is when is it coming. While nothing is truly official until HTC says so, based on past rumors, a Q3 launch seems likely. This means the phone could arrive in as little as a few weeks, or as late as this fall.

What do you think, are you interested in getting your hands on the HTC One Mini?

    


Blackberry 10 devices will soon be able to run ported Jelly Bean apps

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 07:41 AM PDT

BlackBerry 10.2 android

Support for Android Jelly Bean applications on BlackBerry 10.2 is available in the latest beta SDK (Software Development Kit), according to a post on the company’s developer blog.

You might remember that the BlackBerry 10 OS lets developers port Android apps, but that only Android 2.3 apps could be emulated initially. The company has expressed its hope to port Android Jelly Bean apps one day and that day is here.

The blog post says that the newest beta release of the BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps and Plug-in for Android Development Tools for BlackBerry 10.2 (that’s one long name) includes the first beta release of Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2, while keeping the Gingerbread features which have been previously made available.

The strategy to allow Android apps to be ported to BlackBerry 10 has proven quite successful, since 20% of the apps in the store were emulated Android apps at one point, according to a company executive. If that number accounted for around 20,000 apps at the end of March, the new SDK will surely only help increase it. BlackBerry users should be happier, as apps with a better-looking interface and more functionality are heading their way.

With the SDK still a beta, there may be issues, but they should be ironed out soon, with BlackBerry saying that it’s working towards the gold release, which should be coming “later in the summer.”

    


IHS: Nexus 7 II to come with 1920 x 1200 display, launch “not far”

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 07:27 AM PDT

New Nexus 7

Nexus family – Nexus 7 on the right

The launch of the new Nexus 7 is “not far”, according to a recent CNET report that quote Ricky Park, the man keeping an eye on TV, Tablet, Monitor, and Notebook displays at market researchers IHS.

The IHS analyst has provided some more interesting information about the new device, regarding who will be making the tablet. Quanta is said to be the actual manufacturer of the device, with displays supplied by Japan Display and AUO (the latter has been previously mentioned in relation to the tablet). The two display makers are set to start shipping displays for the Nexus 7 in June-July.

The information, provided is accurate, is in line with a recent Digi Times report that said that the new Nexus 7 would be arriving sometime in July (its predecessor was also launched in July), and would be priced at $229 for the 16 GB version, as Google does not plan to compete with other low-priced tablets on the market with the new device.

The report also mentions that the new device is expected to have a display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, as previously rumored, with a pixel density of 323 PPI.

Meanwhile, what appears to be the next Nexus 7 has made an appearance in FCC’s database, meaning that it’s release is upon us.

    


EU to put an end to mobile roaming charges next year

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 06:12 AM PDT

Europe flag

Image source: The Independent

If you've travelled abroad at any point you're likely to have incurred a roaming charge whilst using your mobile phone. Over recent years there's been a concerted effort to bring these costs down across Europe, and after a new European proposal it looks like we could be rid of them for good come next year.

A group of 27 European Commissioners voted in Brussels on Tuesday to push through plans to remove roaming charges before the European elections in May, meaning that the rules could come into force as early as July 1st 2014. However, it’s worth noting there are no plans to impose further restrictions on mobile termination rates, the charges operators make to each other for connecting calls.

But there are also additional motives for the decision, other than just trying to bring down the price of roaming for consumers. The EU also seems concerned that a fragmented European market is stifling investment in new technologies due to a lack of co-operation between companies operating in the 27 different member countries. One source close to the discussion said:

There are around 100 operators in Europe and only four in the US. That's not sustainable if we're going to have a single market and investment.

Consolidation is not the aim. The aim is a single market, but if it means we get fewer, stronger operators, that's good.

Well hold your horses there EU, there's certainly the counter argument to be made that the US is actually worse off in some respects for having such a small number of competing companies. Many of the tariff offers available in Europe are considerably cheaper than some in the US due to the extra competition, and I've heard quite a few complaints regarding the lack of carrier choice in some parts of the US.

Anyway, the EU also has plans to synchronise national sales of airwaves and to make it easier for companies to do business across the whole of Europe based on authorisation from a single national regulator. However, the trade off is that the rules will reduce the power of nation states to auction their own airwaves and regulate their own businesses.

Of course, the important thing is that consumers are left better off, and this idea looks like it will finally alleviate the extra costs encountered by European customers, at least for those who travel around the continent a lot anyway. We’ll know a little bit more about the finer details once the proposals are finalised in the next six weeks.

    


New Nexus 7 with Android 4.3 apparently spotted at the FCC in two versions, Wi-Fi-only and GSM

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 06:06 AM PDT

Nexus 7

Nexus family with Nexus 7 in the middle

A new report says that the device recently seen at the Bluetooth SIG is actually the new Nexus 7 tablet, which has been spotted at the FCC, (there's actual documentation to prove that the device is actually part of the Nexus family).

TechTastic, a source of reliable leaks in the past, says that the Asus K008 device, which we saw earlier at the Bluetooth SIG, has been spotted at the FCC, but that's something we already knew.

Nexus 7 Bluetooth SIG

Asus K008 (seen at the Bluetooth SIG in this screenshot) is apparently the Wi-Fi version of the new Nexus 7 | Image Credit: TechTastic

The 7-inch Asus K008 is the mysterious tablet running a new version of Android (JWR11, which is supposedly Android 4.3 Jelly Bean) that has been seen at the Bluetooth SIG a few days ago. The SIG clearly says that we're looking at a 7-inch device:

The tablet features a 7″ LED-backlit capacitive multitouch screen for easy carrying and fantastic multi-media experience everywhere. Wireless networking Ensures simple connection to the Internet without wires.

At the time the K008 was spotted, we wondered whether this is the new Nexus 7, although there was no actual proof to suggest this actually is the second-generation device Android fans are waiting for. For what it's worth, the first-gen tablet has model number ME370T, which looks nothing like these new model numbers.

Asus K008

Asus K008 FCC Label | Image credit: FCC

Now TechTastic seems to indicate that the K008 is the Nexus 7 Wi-Fi model and provides an image from the available FCC documentation for the MSQK008 (above), which is the same image we have showed you a few days ago.

Nexus 7

Nexus 7 key components according to TechTastic | Image Credit: TechTastic

But on top of that, the publication also offers a table that supposedly includes suppliers for various components of the Nexus 7 (above) and claims the device will offer the following specs:

  • 7-inch display (1920 x 1200 or 1080p) resolution
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064)
  • Adreno 320 GPU
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 32GB of storage
  • 5-megapixel camera
  • 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
  • NFC
  • Wi-Fi 80211n with dual-badn
  • LTE
  • (possibly) Qi wireless charging
  • profile: 7.5 to 8mm

Some of the specs here are definitely in line with what has been written before about the tablet, but they can't be confirmed at this time.

Moving on to the list of key component provided by TechTastic, we noticed a model number listed for the mainboard, ME571KL, which could be an actual model number for the upcoming Nexus 7. A similar model number, ME571, has been spotted by Chinese site VR-Zone on NCC filings (Taiwan's FCC-like authority) for two tablets, the Asus K008 (ME571K) and the Asus K009 (ME571L), which the Chinese publication says are the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+3G/4G versions, respectively, of the new Nexus 7.

Nexus 7 NCC filings

Nexus 7 NCC Filings | Image Credit: VR-Zone

Sure, you'll say that this isn't an official confirmation that the device spotted at the Bluetooth SIG is indeed the Android 4.3-running second-gen Nexus 7. But we have more screenshots and documents to show you.

Nexus 7 FCC filing for Asus K009

Asus K009 FCC Label | Image credit: FCC

Next we’ll move to a new set of images, taken right from the Asus K900 FCC filling report (above and below), with one of them clearly mentioning the “nexus” name (below) – it’s worth pointing out that the "nexus" name appears twice in the available documents. The filling also contains the same ME571KL model number under mainboard, although not all the other components as provided by TechTastic are present. Interestingly, the Asus K008 FCC documents do not have "nexus" listed anywhere.

Nexus 7 FCC

Asus K009 FCC Filling shows “Nexus” under brand name | Image credit: FCC

With all that in mind, it looks like we have positively identified the Nexus 7, and while we'll still hold on to our grain of salt, just to be sure, we'll look forward to see more details about these Asus K008 and Asus K009 devices hit the web. After all, the tablet is rumored to arrive at some point in July.

    


Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Nokia Lumia 928 (video)

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 04:49 AM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa vs

The Samsung Galaxy S4, one of the most anticipated Android devices of 2013, is one of the best Android handsets on the market. On the other side, we have the Nokia Lumia 928 — the best that Windows Phone 8 has to offer right now.

The Lumia 928 and the Galaxy S4 can be looked at as the unwavering champions in the Windows Phone 8 and Android space. Both are powerful smartphones, but in some cases, it might be hard to choose which one is right for you.

Being the two performers that they are, we’re going to stack these two flagships against each other, to see how well they do. Will the Galaxy S4 with its subtle design changes and powerful hardware come out on top? Or will the Lumia 928 top Samsung's Next Big Thing with its high build quality and simplicity?

If you're in a rush, jump straight to the video, otherwise, stick with us to see how well these two great performers do.

Design and build quality

As you might expect, this is a battle of Android vs Windows Phone, but until we get to the software, this battle is purely Samsung and Nokia.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 sports the same tried and true design of its predecessor, the Galaxy S3. The device is covered in plastic, a material that many are growing tired of, however, the form factor of Samsung's flagship makes it the best handling 5-inch screen device today.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa both standing

It has a standard button layout — the menu and back button capacitive keys to the left and right of the centered physical home button. Then you have Samsung's standard power and volume rocker placement. The Galaxy S4 has a removable back cover, giving access to its removable battery and microSD card slot. In the hand, its balanced lightness makes it as nimble as a device of its kind can get.

On the Nokia Lumia 928, instead of the typical rounded design, the handset brings that rectangular look we just don't see enough of. Rigid corners and a flat profile makes for an easy grip, and with a four and a half inch screen, the device is easy to handle in one hand.

At the bottom front of the device, we have the capacitive keys, and buttons are on the right side of the device. Those are the volume rockers, power button, and the two stage dedicated camera button. Around the back, this white edition is accented by the camera optics atop of a black slit down the middle of the device. It's a smartphone that is as easy in the hands as it is on the eyes.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa 928 button layout

Nokia's high build quality standards hasn’t faltered at all either. Despite a drop on concrete there were only a couple of scuffs on the two corners.

With the sizes of both devices being similar, perhaps it comes down to aesthetics. You won’t have problems handling the Galaxy S4 or Lumia 928, though Nokia's offering might be a tad bit easier due to the smaller screen. Otherwise, people have grown weary over Samsung's repetitive design choices, especially when it comes to using a plastic material. So that might make some look for something more stylish and unique.

The Lumia definitely fits that category — it's simplistic in its black and white profile, but it's rectangular form makes the colors really pop. However, let's not forget about that great 5-inch screen on the Galaxy S4. After all, it is the best handling phone out there.

Display

Speaking of the Galaxy S4's screen, the 5-inch screen has become this year's motif, though the displays found on these two devices have a lot more in common than you think. The S4 has a Super AMOLED display capable of 1080p and is rated at 441ppi. The Super AMOLED screen brings very saturated colors, and some may not find that appealing, so thankfully it's customizable for those that want to tone it down. Sharpness is great, and it handles all media you throw at it — TV, movies, gaming, etc — beautifully!

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa s4 display

Enter the Nokia Lumia 928, whose display is 4.5-inch in size with a 1,280 x 768 resolution. The lowered specs are somewhat expected due to the smaller screen, but the experience remains enjoyable. Text might not be as sharp as the S4 due to its lower 332ppi rating, but the general user's eye will likely not notice the difference.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa 928 display

Similar to the Galaxy S4, the Lumia is also sporting a Super AMOLED panel, bringing that same color saturation that, this time, greatly compliments the interface of Windows Phone 8. Viewing angles suffer a bit in the 928, as angles bring a blue hue throughout the screen. Even with that said, it's still a great display that brings a color experience similar to the Galaxy S4′s.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa both text

With the displays being very similar, it all comes down to how hungry you are for hardware. If you need a larger screen with a higher resolution and pixel density, Samsung's offering is the right path to take. If you aren’t quite as picky, the Lumia will still be an enjoyable experience.

Performance

The performance results were pretty skewed. In most markets, Samsung outfitted the Galaxy S4 with one of the best processors out there — the Snapdragon 600 clocked at 1.9GHz, backed by the tried and true Adreno 320 GPU, and 2GB of RAM. This phone is extremely fast, thus it flies through multitasking with the greatest of ease. Even if a number of users reported very sporadic lag, it doesn’t hinder the otherwise good experience. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for one of the fastest cutting-edge phones out there, the Galaxy S4 is a great option.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa s4 benchmark

On the other side, we have the Nokia Lumia 928, which sports a Snapdragon S4 Plus, a dual-core variant of the quad-core processor that powered a lot of the best phones from last year. It clocks in at 1.5GHz, and is backed by an older Adreno 225 GPU, and a mere 1GB of RAM. In the Android space, this would be considered a mid-range device, but the Lumia 928 reminds us that not all user experiences are created equal.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa 928 benchmark

Don’t get me wrong, Windows Phone 8 isn’t any better or worse than Android — it's just less resource demanding. The Lumia 928 is still very quick and smooth throughout its interface, and I have yet to cover multitasking on it. We’ll get to the software soon, but keep in mind that the Lumia sets out to do what it needs to do and does it very well.

Specs

We start with the Samsung Galaxy S4 — and all of its features you probably already know all about. Expandable memory and a replaceable battery is important for a lot of people — thankfully the Galaxy S4 supports both. Additionally, the S4 has an IR blaster that controls your TV, and then it has sensors for temperature, air gestures, hovering fingers, and even eye-tracking made it in this phone, for things like Smart Stay and Smart Scroll. It's capable of a lot of things, and if you need the ability to use every feature on this phone, you're going to love its unmatched functionality.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa s4 air view

As for the Lumia 928, what you see is what you get, however, what you get happens to work really well. If the Galaxy S4 is good at what we’re used to and excels at trying to do more, than the Lumia 928 definitely excels at all the basics.

32GB of storage is available, and nearly all of it is available for the user instead of the OS taking up a lot of space like it happens on Android. Everything you're already pretty familiar with is packed in the Lumia 928 — Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, and Bluetooth.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa 928 storage

Call quality is nice on the Lumia, as the speaker is louder than the standard one on the Galaxy S4. However, if you go too loud, the details in the call can sound blown out. The rear speaker is also louder than on the S4′s, but it has the same exact problem.

All in all, if you’re looking for a lot of functionality, the Galaxy S4 is the best, however, if you just want to get back to the basics, the Lumia is a great choice.

Battery and camera

The batteries on both devices perform very well. A 2,600 mAh battery is powering the Galaxy S4, while a lower, 2,000 mAh non-removable unit is in the Lumia 928. The capacity of the Galaxy S4 is much larger than the Lumia 928′s, though the Galaxy S4 is packing some more premium specs, so that does even out the playing field. However, the benefit here is that the battery is removable on the S4 for spares.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa battery

When it solely comes down to usage, both devices get through just about the same full day of work. What's really impressive though is the standby time on either device. I left both phones alone for about a day and a half, connected to WiFi and never touched. When I activated them again, they both still had at least a third of life left.

The standby time certainly helps with overall longevity, as do the power saving features that can give you that extra edge. Power users may wish to take advantage of the removable battery in the Galaxy S4, but either device will perfectly suit your average user.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa battery saving

As for cameras, both are top notch in terms of quality. The Galaxy S4 features a 13-megapixel optics backed by an app that holds a lot of functionality. The app offers a ton of different modes for wouldbe smartphone photographers. These include cool things like Best Shot, Drama, and Eraser modes. Pictures are generally good, with a lot of nice details and vibrancy, despite some scenes with too much color looking washed out.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa s4 camera app

As you might expect, the Lumia 928 supports a lesser, 8.7-megapixel camera, but is backed by a lot of awesome enhancements — Carl Zeiss optics, PureView stabilization, and a Xenon flash. While the pictures aren’t as large as the Galaxy S4's, they hold about the same quality, and both manage to achieve an attractive depth of field. PureView helps lower light shots really pop, and the Xenon flash helps out with that too. The Lumia 928 doesn’t have nearly as many modes, but more can be obtained by downloading add-ons or "Lenses" from the marketplace.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa 928 camera app

Both cameras pack some really great quality accompanied with highly functional apps. While the Galaxy S4 has all of its capabilities baked in, the Lumis 928 can be expanded through Lenses, and more are constantly offered. Either way, both cameras make taking photos a lot of fun.

Shot with the Nokia Lumia 928

Shot with the Nokia Lumia 928

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa s4 camera 2

Shot with the Samsung Galaxy S4

Software

And here we are at our our final destination — software, and you can pretty much predict how this is going to turn out. Samsung packed a truckload of software in the Galaxy S4 — S Health, Group Play, WatchON apps, you name it. While they all bring new uses to your typical smartphone, the decisive factor lies within navigation. By taking advantage of every sensor, there are a plethora of new ways to get around your smartphone.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa s4 features

Wave your hand or hover your finger over something and you’ll get a lot more out of what you are already doing. Finally, the Galaxy S4 benefits from one of the largest mobile ecosystems — the Play Store, which has grown a lot over the years.

Looking at the Lumia 928 and its ecosystem, it might remind you of Android during its early years. Not only is there a real lack of variety in the Microsoft Store, but it will also be a long time before any real growth can be seen by its users. As I said before though, the Lumia 928 succeeds in what is already baked into it.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa 928 tiles

Preloaded applications are included because they are reliable and work really well. Live tiles do a great job at showing you extra information, and in an elegant manner, too. There's even social media integration in Windows Phone – you can use the Peoples app to sign into Facebook, which will allow you to see your news feed without the official application. The motif of Windows Phone 8 is supposed to remain stylish, while being intuitive.

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa 928 people

One can argue that the Lumia is perfect is perfect for anyone who would otherwise get bogged down by such a large ecosystem like Android or iOS. What you see is what you get, and you can get back to the basics. When it comes down to it, you can get whatever you need done in either phone. It's more of a decision of simplicity or extra functionality.

Video review

Price and final thoughts

The Galaxy S4 comes in at up to $700 for the base model unlocked, and the Nokia Lumia 928 comes in at a lesser price tag of $499 due to its lower specs. Similarly, on a new two-year contract, you’ll be looking at a $199 premium for the Galaxy S4 and $99 for the Lumia 928.

If you’re looking for the very best of Android, the Galaxy S4 is one of the top champions. It's a great handset that gives people who want more exactly what they’re looking for. But if you don't mind getting back to basics and don’t mind the lack of apps, the Nokia Lumia 928 and the stylish Windows Phone 8 operating system will be a great companion.

If the Windows Phone ecosystem gets a boost, it could easily become a credible threat to some of the big dogs out there. But until then, us Android lovers don't have much to worry about.

Brad Ward contributed to this review.

    


Acer says Android is great as it is, won’t try to “fix” it

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 04:33 AM PDT

acer-liquid-e1-review-0513

Custom launchers and tweaked Android experiences tend to either be love or hate for many consumers, but Acer has declared that it stands firmly on the side of the default Android experience.

The Taiwanese manufacturer spoke with TechRadar recently to explain some of its reasons for choosing to keep Android as pure as possible, rather than developing its own UIs for its products. Probably the biggest reason is the time and monetary investments in keeping the UI up to date as Android moves forward. S T Liew, the President of Acer’s global smartphone division, explained:

We found from our previous experiences of creating Android UIs that they are very difficult to maintain, especially keeping track with Google's migrations,

Allen Burnes, Acer’s VP of Smartphones for EMEA, echoed a similar sentiment:

We don't have to rewrite Android, the overhead we put into that is relatively low, but the consumer benefit is very high.

It's certainly true that handsets using custom interfaces, like Samsung's Touchwiz, take a lot of time, effort, and cost to update once a new version of Android comes out, so it's certainly a lot easier to let Google do all the hard work for you. However, Acer doesn't have a problem with providing little tweaks to the UI, or making adjustments to camera apps or other important features if it suits its products.

There's also the added benefit of being able to attract customers from other manufacturers based on the build quality, specs, and price, rather than worrying about whether or not they'll be put off by your customised interface.

Android actually does a great job at serving up the right user experience and it allows people to migrate from one Android phone to another with relative ease.

That's certainly a fair point, but I suppose that works both ways. Customers can easily switch between brands using vanilla Android experiences, whereas consumers who become accustomed to overlays like TouchWiz or Sense are likely to stick with the same brand once they become familiar with a specific look and feel.

Of course all of this isn't to say that custom overlays don't have their place, they can certainly bring some great new features to the Android experience. But Acer's point is a fair one; Google puts a lot of hard work into providing a complete operating system which works perfectly as is; so why fix what isn't broken.

    


Samsung’s craziness visualized: 26 screens in one image

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 04:00 AM PDT

Samsung devices size infographic

An infographic shows the staggering variety of devices that Samsung has brought to market in the UK over the past year.

It's no secret that Samsung doesn't believe in the "one size fits all" principle. The Korean giant prefers to carpet bomb the market with as many devices as possible, in an effort to fill every imaginable niche and put a Samsung device in the hands of, well, everyone. And, for the most part, this somehow inelegant strategy has been paying off nicely.

The folks at the British gadget tech site Which? have come up with an infographic that lets us visualize the staggering variety of displays that Samsung is currently selling. Which? looked at the UK market and rounded up all the devices from Sammy that are on sale there right now. That's a total of 26 different devices, including smartphones and tablets with displays ranging from the 3-inch Galaxy Y to the 10.1 Galaxy Note 10.1.

samsung devices infographic

From the infographic, it's easy to see how Samsung is serving all market ranges, from cheap, no-thrills devices like the Ace 2, to high-enders like the Galaxy S4 and the Note 2. As for the dimensions of the screens, the only segment where Sammy appears to have a gap is the 9-inch segment. Knowing them, though, we wouldn't be surprised to see the Koreans fill up the gap with a device in the future.

It's important to note that, if the infographic had included the entire myriad of devices that Samsung sells across the world, it would have been even more impressive.

While some (cough, Apple) may argue that a company shouldn't make a device for every taste, no one can deny that pushing out new devices faster than everyone else out there has served the Korean conglomerate well.

Thanks to its huge and ongoing investments in product development, R&D, and perhaps most importantly, marketing, Samsung has become the seemingly unstoppable juggernaut of the mobile world. Over the past month, for example, Samsung has launched one new device every week.

It remains to be seen if this strategy is sustainable in the long term. Consumer electronics is a fickly business, and other giants have crumbled in just a few years in the past.

    


Google+ gets updated, notifications now sync across devices

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 03:10 AM PDT

Google+

Google+ has been updated with a host of useful features, including syncing of notifications across devices and improvements to the Android app.

According to a post shared on Google+ by Vic Gundotra, SVP of Engineering at Google, Google+ is now syncing notifications across your devices, thus solving a potentially annoying issue. Namely, if you dismiss a notification on your smartphone or tablet, the notification will now also disappear on the web version of Google+.

Notifications have also received a new bell icon, which should appear in the Google Bar, as well as the mobile apps, and the notification tray will separate read items from unread ones, as seen in the image below.

google+

While that’s more of a service update (even if it involves the app, too), the Google+ Android app has received an update of its own, bringing some very useful improvements. Namely, photos can now be deleted straight from the Photos view, making it easier to get rid of images you no longer want there. Also, if you tap a post, the number of reshares, +1s, and comments in now displayed.

Last but not least, the left menu of the app has received a makeover, making it more like the menus on Google’s other apps (for example, the new Gmail). Of course, the mandatory bug fixes and tweaks are also part of the update, as you would expect.

    


Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 tablets coming to the U.K. in July

Posted: 14 Jun 2013 02:58 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3

Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab 3 now have a U.K. release date, according to a page on retailer Carphone Warehouse’s website.

According to the retailer, you will be able to purchase all three members of the Galaxy Tab 3 range starting with July. And while that’s good news if you were planning to upgrade your gadget portfolio with the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, 8.0, or 10.1, no information on prices is specified on the page.

As you may remember, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 has been officially announced at the end of April, followed, after quite a few rumors, by the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and 10.1, which were confirmed by Samsung at the beginning of last week.

Retailer Adorama had the prices of the Tab 3 devices listed on its website a while ago. Of course, those are indicative at best, but they can still give you an idea on what to expect. The Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 supposedly costs $199, while the 16GB Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 was said to cost $329.99. The 16GB Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 was listed at $379.99, but we’ll have exact prices soon enough.

If you need a refresher, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 has a 1024 x 600 pixels display and is driven by a dual-core CPU running at 1.2 GHz, accompanied by 1GB of RAM memory. It has a 3MP rear camera, a 1.3MP front shooter, and up to 16GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD slot. The seven incher features a 4000 mAh battery and runs Android Jelly Bean 4.1.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3

As for the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0, the tablet has an 8-inch WXGA TFT display at a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels (189 PPI), uses a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, as well as 1.5GB of RAM memory. Internal memory is 16 or 32GB, but you can use a microSD card to add to it. The Tab 3 8.0 also has a 5-megapixel main camera, and a 1.3-megapixel front camera,and runs Android Jelly Bean 4.2.

The largest member of the range is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, which has an Intel dual-core chip running at 1.6GHz, helped by 1GB of RAM. Internal memory is 16 or 32GB and the 10.1-inch display has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels and a pixel density of 149 PPI. A 3MP main camera and 1.3MP front one are also present on board of the tablet running Android 4.2.

Do you find any of the tablets in the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 range tempting? Which one are you planning on buying?