Monday, June 17, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


iOS 7 has popular Apple hacker eying switch to Android

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 11:01 AM PDT

As we all know, last week the team at Apple announced and revealed their all-new and completely redesigned iOS 7. A lot of people love it, some don’t, and obviously this is just the early beta stages of their new mobile OS. However, this morning a popular and well received iOS hacker and jailbreak master didn’t have very kind words to say about the new OS. In fact, he’s considering switching to Android.

Screen Shot 2013-06-17 at 10.47.25 AM

For those that aren’t big into the iOS world, the popular hacker and iOS jailbreak master Pod2g is the one making the comments this afternoon. Ones which will be pretty shocking to some, while making plenty of Android users happy. Pod2G has been around for ages, has nearly a half a million followers on Twitter, and is huge in the world of iOS.

According to a slew of tweets sent out this morning it sounds like he isn’t enjoying his cozy and colorful stay on the new iOS 7 from Apple. From mentioning this is the worst move from Apple in the history of iOS and more. Obviously this is just one persons opinion, but a person that has loved iOS since the beginning. Here’s one quote that really stuck out for us:

After a few days of iOS 7 beta 1 testing, I must admit that I am about to switch to an Android device.”

Now don’t get too angry in the comments you iOS fans. We know, we know. Android has its fair share of issues at times, especially with beta versions, and this is exactly what we’re seeing here. iOS 7 is in an early beta stage, so obviously it will improve and such as time goes on. Pretty big and bold words from a famed iOS believer though.

Screen Shot 2013-06-17 at 10.46.55 AM

In the end Pod2G goes on to mention poor battery life, constant crashes, and goes as far as to say there’s nothing revolutionary with iOS 7 and it’s just “kid painting”. That was probably my favorite part of all his comments. He’ll probably stick around, and likely jailbreak iOS 7 soon enough, but we’d welcome him to the world of Android with arms wide open.

VIA: CultofAndroid

Instagram aims to add video features and take on Vine

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT

The battle between social networks and sharing features is getting tougher by the day. Facebook and Twitter have been trading blows, and recently Facebook even added #hashtags to their network. However, we’re now hearing they could be taking one more of the blue-birds ideas and adding Vine-like video features to their newly acquired Instagram app.

Screen Shot 2013-06-17 at 10.17.59 AM

In case you didn’t know, Facebook owns Instagram after Mark Zuckerberg bought it for a cool $1 billion. They’ve been adding little things here and there, and improving the overall service but Twitter has slowly distanced themselves from the app. Later this week Facebook will be announcing “a new product” they’ve been working on, and we have some speculation as to what it might be.

Vine launched earlier this year, which was sort of like Instagram but for video (without the filters) and has been growing in popularity. They recently launched their Android-compatible version and it’s already beating Instagram out for downloads on the Play Store. So logically, Facebook needs to add the same to Instagram, and could be doing exactly that.

According to rumors from TechCrunch, Facebook’s little event scheduled for June 20th is the stage that they’ll announce their new addition to Instagram. Reportedly beating out Vine by offering users the option for 5-10 second video clips to share all through Instagram with ease. We’ll have all the features and tagging we love, only on video. TechCrunch also believe they could be announcing a new RSS news Reader to replace Google Reader, so at this point it really is anyone’s guess.

Would you give Vine the uninstall and stick to the already popular Instagram if they add video? Let us know below.

VIA: TechCrunch

HTC looking to boost One sales with $25 Play Store gift cards

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 10:02 AM PDT

The guys over at HTC that have been working hard to make their flagship HTC One smartphone a success aren’t slowing down. Recently we learned they’ve sold over 5 million smartphones already, and expect numbers to only grow. However, in an attempt to keep the momentum going HTC is now giving all those who buy the new HTC One a free $25 Google Play Store gift card.

Screen-Shot-2013-02-20-at-12.12.55-PM-540x345

This is basically one more awesome and quick way to earn some cash for use on your favorite games, apps, music, and videos from Google’s massive Play Store. Apparently as long as you buy the new HTC One before July 15th, you’ll get $25 from HTC once you register the device and jump through a few small hoops. It’s dead simple so read on below.

A few weeks ago we learned they increased the price of their unlocked model by $25 on the HTC store, for some unknown reason, and now they’re offering this deal for all buyers. Maybe this is their way of balancing out that price increase, so long as you register and actually claim the gift card. Who knows.

Screen Shot 2013-06-17 at 9.50.35 AM

So, if you buy the shiny new HTC One before July 15th you can head to HTC’s site and register your phone, then activate and use that $25 gift card on the Play Store and get some awesome music (like Daft Punk) to enjoy on those BoomSound Beats Audio powered front facing speakers. This might not lure buyers to HTC land, but we’ll take what we can get. More details on the device and our full review can be found below.

AT&T Galaxy Note 8.0 arrives Friday for $199 as a package deal

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 09:29 AM PDT

Last week the folks from AT&T announced that they’ll be offering another device exclusively from Samsung, and that is their impressive Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet. After initially confirming the news, this afternoon AT&T is back sharing all of the details and pricing. You can get your own 4G LTE powered Note 8.0 Friday June 21st, for just $399, and even less with a bundle.

20130416_130914-L-540x344

Samsung told us they’d be sending their Galaxy Note 8.0 to AT&T complete with 4G LTE later this month, and now we know you’ll be able to get your own starting Friday. The 8-inch 720p HD display and quad-core powered tablet is impressive already with all the S-Pen stylus features, but add in 4G LTE and you’re set.

You can get your own from AT&T for $399 alongside a new 2-year contract, which is a pretty decent deal considering they aren’t raising the price for the LTE model, as long as you sign a contract. However, the good news is that AT&T will also be offering a bundle deal that surely will make plenty happy. Too bad they didn’t do this for Fathers Day.

If you also pick up Samsung’s new Galaxy S4 flagship smartphone, as a bundle deal AT&T will be offering the Note 8.0 for only $199 and a new 2-year contract, essentially making it half off and a pretty darn good deal. This same bundle applies to those looking to buy the Galaxy S4 Active or the Galaxy Note II. So if you’re getting a Samsung, get the Note 8.0 for half off and enjoy it. More details can be found from the AT&T Blog below.

Who is buying one now?

SOURCE: AT&T

HTC Desire 200 tips even smaller HTC One mini for budget crowd

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 08:29 AM PDT

There’s a super-small HTC One out there just waiting to hit the super-budget crowd, one called HTC Desire 200. This machine brings with it a super small display and a low-powered single-core processor to make the HTC brand come in hot with the low-cost segment: one HTC has been lagging behind in since they’ve placed so much of their efforts in the high-powered One.

agaew

The HTC Desire 200 focuses on the popular hardware stylings of the HTC One with the edge-to-edge glass and top panel with forward-facing speaker the masses love so well. Here you’ll be finding just one, on the other hand, instead of the two BoomSound speakers (and that brand isn’t attached here either, mind you).

Instead this machine works with the basics: a 3.5-inch 320 x 480 pixl display, a 1GHz single-core processor, and 4GB of internal storage. There’s also a 1,400mAh removable battery and a microSD card slot under a removable back cover – much like past “Desire” models from the manufacturer.

WARNING: Turn your audio down before pressing play.

The model we’re seeing here comes from Vietnam via The Gio Di Dong where the fellow looking at it seems to have found a pre-production unit – or early software, at least, since it’s running Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich. Expect Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or higher when this machine actually comes to the market.

htret-1 htc-desire-200-2 htc-desire-200-giao-dien htc-desire-200-beats-audio agaew hrttrerw

Also inside you’ll find 512MB of RAM and an older version of HTC Sense. Again, it’s likely the software will be a bit more modern when this machine is actually released.

VIA GSM Arena

Samsung’s Jay-Z Magna Carta record deal changes the industry

Posted: 17 Jun 2013 08:15 AM PDT

If you were watching Game 5 of the NBA finals last night on ABC and stuck around during halftime, you saw a 3-minute ad spot from Jay-Z and Samsung that might’ve had you confused. What exactly where the duo planning? A full-on record release: Jay-Z’s 12th solo studio album, one that’d be sent out to the first 1-million users of the Samsung-only app for owners of the Galaxy S III, Galaxy S 4, and Galaxy Note II for free.

firstupgohome-1

In an effort to take the next step in this “wild west” of an internet, as Mr. Carter calls it, he’s teamed up with Samsung to have them foot the bill for the first million copies of the album. Completely digital and downloaded for “free” to customers, this deal will be the first of its kind.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Jay-Z is being paid $5 per album for this first million albums straight from Samsung. That’s the equivalent of having five million bucks worth of pre-orders dropped in the artist’s lap – and since it’s straight from Samsung to the artist, it’s free and clear. Jay-Z is the CEO of his own record label “RocNation” so it’s not all that unlikely that this deal will make Sean Carter an even richer man than he already is.

message-1

Samsung, on the other hand, has found themselves becoming part of a bigger world. Cementing the Samsung Mobile world in with not just a music service, but an actual album release by one of the world’s most successful music artists – that’s big.

The brand isn’t messing around with this one. The closest any publication got to guessing what Samsung and Jay-Z were going to announce was tapping at the idea that they’d release a RocNation streaming music service. Instead they announced an album.

Unprecedented is the word here, folks – every record label head and A&R associate dropped their glasses of beer when they saw this deal announced. Things done changed.

htret-1

Android Authority

Android Authority


Weekly News Roundup #9 – India

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 03:49 PM PDT

wnri feature

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

This week, three more budget-friendly quad-core smartphones join the ever-growing list of such devices in India, and Samsung Galaxy S4 owners have good reason to be excited with the official update to Android 4.2.2 now rolling out. Let’s get started!

Intex launches Aqua I-5 quad-core Android 4.2 smartphone

wnri intex aqua i5

Intex continues to expand its Aqua lineup of smartphones with another quad-core offering, called the Aqua I-5. The follow up to the Aqua Wonder Quad Core features a larger 5-inch display, an upgraded camera, and the latest Android OS version. You can check out the complete specifications of the Intex Aqua I-5 below -

  • 5-inch IPS display with 960×540 resolution
  • 1.2 Ghz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage (1.58GB available to user), expandable via microSD up to 32GB
  • 12MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
  • 2,000 mAh battery
  • dual-SIM support
  • Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

The qHD display is a little disappointing, considering the new crop budget-friendly smartphones with720p and even 1080p displays now being launched. Of course, the comparatively lower price of the Intex Aqua I-5 more than makes up for it. Priced at just Rs 11,690 (~$212), the latest quad-core smartphone released by Intex is a very good choice.

You can find out more about the Intex Aqua I-5, as well as find a full list of Intex retail stores here. You can also order the device online from the Intex e-store here.

Source – Tech 2

Lemon Mobiles jumps into the quad-core race with the Lemon A4

wnri lemon a4

In the Weekly News Roundup – India a couple of weeks back, I had expressed a desire to see a lot more budget-friendly quad-core smartphones being launched in India which feature 1080p displays. This statement was brought on by the launch of the WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z which was the first of its kind to feature a display resolution of 1920×1080. Only a couple of weeks later, we already have the second entrant to this category.

Lemon Mobiles is well-known for its impressive portfolio of entry-level and mid-range smartphones, but the company is hoping to compete with other local manufacturers more effectively with the launch of the quad-core powered smartphone called the Lemon 4. The specifications of the Lemon 4 include -

  • 5-inch Full HD IPS display
  • 1.2 Ghz quad-core processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 16GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 64GB
  • 13.1MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
  • 1,850 mAh battery
  • Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

Apart from the high resolution display, the other specifications of the Lemon A4 are very impressive as well. Unfortunately, the device is priced slightly higher at Rs 17,990 (~$327). This is of course understandable, and definitely worth it, considering the higher internal storage availability, and impressive camera.

You can find out more about the Lemon A4 here.

Source – NDTV Gadgets

Lava launches Iris 504Q, featuring gesture-based controls

wnri lava iris 504Q

With the number of budget-friendly quad-core smartphones increasing on a weekly basis, it’s already become difficult to stand out from the crowd. Some, such as WickedLeak and Lemon Mobiles (mentioned above) have decided to step up their games with the launch of budget-friendly devices with practically high-end specifications. Others, such as Lava, have decided to incorporate a distinct set of features to differentiate itself.

In the case of the Lava Iris 504Q, it is the introduction of gesture-based controls. But first, let’s take a look at the specifications of the Iris 504Q -

  • 5-inch IPS display with 1280×720 resolution
  • 1.2 Ghz quad-core processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
  • 8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
  • 2,000 mAh battery
  • Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

Priced at Rs 13,499 (~$245), the specifications of the Lava Iris 504Q are very similar to most other quad-core devices at this price range. As mentioned before, what makes this smartphone unique is its gesture-based controls.

The gesture motion allows users to interact with the device with a simple wave of the hand, allowing you to change music tracks, tune FM channels, flip through your image gallery, and even click a photo. The company also promises future OTA updates, which will definitely include more features that can be controlled based on gestures.

You can find out more about the Lava Iris 504Q here.

Source – Fone Arena

Official Android 4.2.2 update for Samsung Galaxy S4 now rolling out in India

samsung galaxy s4 vs nokia lumia 928 aa s4 camera app

There’s some great news for you if you’ve recently picked up the Samsung Galaxy S4! The Samsung flagship is currently receiving an official update to Android 4.2.2 in India, introducing a host of performance improvements.

Following complaints of low internal storage space, the latest update manages to free up some of it, albeit very little, bringing the user-available internal storage from 8.82GB to 9.23GB. Further addressing the issue, users now have the option to save their apps on the microSD card. The update also includes tweaks to the stock camera software, now allowing you to record HDR videos. You will now also get to see a semi-transparent status bar and a new smart pause toggle in the notification menu.

This particular update is of course, for the octa-core Exynos 5 version of the device, which is the version available in India. The 343MB update will be available OTA, or via the Samsung Kies PC software.

Source – The Mobile Indian

What are your thoughts? Will you be picking up any of the new quad-core smartphones announced this week? If you’ve already received the update to Android 4.2.2 for the Samsung Galaxy S4, do share your experiences in the comments section below.

See you next week!

    


Android Authority On Air – Episode 68 – Who wants iOS 7?

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 11:17 AM PDT

Android Authority on Air

This week on Android Authority On Air, we discussed our love for iOS 7 (kidding, sorta) and the latest Android news from the past week. Sit back, relax, and enjoy Father’s Day the Android Authority way.

    


White House Moves to Free Up Wireless Spectrum

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 10:48 AM PDT

White_House_DC SpectrumMobile data usage continues to rise and put strains on the available spectrum allocated for cellular communications.  As users continue to eat up more and more mobile data services, carriers continue to demand more and more spectrum to feed their networks.  Unfortunately, there is only so much spectrum available.  To combat this problem, the US government auctioned the 700 Mhz spectrum block in 2008 and plans to auction the 600 Mhz block sometime next year.  On Friday, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum aimed at freeing up even more over the long run.

Currently, wide swaths of spectrum are held for government use.  While there is a great deal of bureaucracy to it, any given agency, department, or program within the federal government is essentially able to create their own, fully-independent network using this reserved spectrum.  As one might imagine, this is an extremely inefficient use of spectrum.  The Presidential Memorandum seeks to maximize efficiency through industry collaboration and generally better management.

Included with this memorandum, the White House announced $100 million in funding for research and development into spectrum sharing technologies.  The funding will be sourced through the National Science Foundation and DARPA.  In addition to new technologies, the memorandum also pushes the FCC to promote spectrum efficiency using existing technologies like higher performance radio receivers.

Using technological advances and smarter resource planning, the White House plans to identify 500 Mhz of spectrum currently assigned to the government that can be repurposed for consumer wireless broadband use.  This is a massive chunk of spectrum and would be one of the largest in US history.  The transition will nearly double the amount of spectrum allocated for wireless broadband in the United States.  Unfortunately for the impatient though, the federal government aims to accomplish this "within 10 years."

    


AA Weekly: top Android news of the week, June 16, 2013

Posted: 16 Jun 2013 09:49 AM PDT

 aa-weekly-june16

New iOS 7 arrives, but it's not actually that new

Neon colors, Helvetica Neue Ultra Light, and an assortment of features borrowed from other operating systems – that seems to be the recipe followed by Apple under the lead of Jonny Ive, who took over UI design in a bid to rid iOS of skeumorphism and bring it kicking and screaming into 2013.

ios 7 vs android lockscreen

The internet was ablaze on Monday with angry Android fans pointing out the similarities between iOS 7 and Google's operating system, ranging from the quick settings drawer, to the lock screen, and the general look and feel of the interface. Others cruelly mocked the retina-searing color scheme and the somehow heavy handed icon design of the new iOS.

But should we, Android fans, feel offended or flattered that Apple has taken more than a few pointers from our favorite operating system?

The new Nexus 7 is upon us

The week brought us an avalanche of more or less credible information related to the second generation Nexus 7. Unlike last year, when the 7-inch tablet's $199 price tag was the price to beat in the industry, it seems that in 2013, Google won't be engaging in the race to the bottom – the Nexus 7 II (as some call it), will supposedly start from $229, which is a bit more than last year, and definitely more expensive than the current crop of cheap 7-inch Android tablets, including the Iconia B1 and the Asus Memo Pad HD 7.

nexus-10-vs-nexus-7-18

Towards the end of the week, what is believed to be the new Nexus 7 made an appearance at the FCC and the Bluetooth SIG, adding weight to rumors suggesting that its launch is imminent.

The One Mini cometh

Two credible leaks this week revealed pretty much everything there is to know about HTC's new small(ish) One Mini, also known as the M4. The device is set to come with a 4.3-inch display, just like the other famous Mini phone of the moment, the Galaxy S4 Mini.

htc one mini leak

According to Bloomberg and Engadget, the One Mini should come in Q3, most likely in August. While the phone's specifications are likely to be less impressive than those of the One, the good news is that popular features like BoomSound, BlinkFeed, and possibly the Ultrapixels camera, are making an appearance. Best of all, the One Mini will have the same sleek aluminum unibody design going on. Sweet!

Galaxy S4 Zoom: a zany camera/smartphone

Another week, another Samsung Galaxy S4 family member announced. This time, we're talking about a crazy contraption that Samsung sells as a smartphone, but you probably wouldn't think that judging from its looks alone.

The 208 grams Galaxy S4 Zoom features a 16MP sensor and an impressive, for a smartphone, 10x optical zoom that is a major contributor to its bulky profile. Specs-wise, we're looking at a good, though not top-notch smartphone, with a dual-core processor and 1.5GB of RAM.

Galaxy S4 Zoom Galaxy S4 Zoom Galaxy S4 Zoom Galaxy S4 Zoom Galaxy S4 Zoom Galaxy S4 Zoom Galaxy S4 Zoom Galaxy S4 Zoom

The camera capabilities of the Zoom will probably tingle shutterbugs in all the right places, but we can't help wonder how many people will be willing to carry what is essentially a point-and-shoot camera around.

Mirrorless + Android? Yes, please

Speaking of cameras, Samsung looks to disrupt the mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (MILC) market by injecting it with a dose of Android.

galaxy-nx-camera-2

After Samsung boss JK Shin confirmed that the June 20 "Premiere" event in London will include the unveiling of Samsung's first Android MILC, the Galaxy NX (probable name) appeared in a series of credible leaked images. The high-end device will run Android 4.2 and feature a 20.3MP APS-C sensor, and of course, interchangeable lenses.

Xperia Z(U) Ultra

Only days are left until Sony is supposed to lift the veil from what shapes up to be a beast of a smartphone. Known until recently as Togari, the Sony Xperia ZU (or Ultra) is set to be announced on June 25, and, from the looks of it, Samsung should be more than a bit worried for the Note 2.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra press invite

The ZU will come with a category-stretching 6.4-inch display of Full HD resolution, universal stylus capability, and an amazingly thin profile. Between the Xperia ZU and the rumored HTC One Max, the 5.5-inch+ device range looks to be an increasingly disputed territory. And, as fans of massive screens, we're excited about it.

Google's loony balloons

In another example of a starry-eyed, seemingly crazy project emerging from the X Labs, Google revealed its latest moonshot – to bring internet access to the five billion people around the world that are not yet online, using a mesh network supported by high-altitude balloons.

Dubbed Loon, the project aims to bring internet access to some of the most remote areas of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa. In typical Google tradition, the technical achievements are astonishing – the balloons will be powered by solar panels and fly at an altitude of about 20 kilometers, which is twice the cruise altitude of commercial jetliners. To save energy, the devices will hitch a ride on air currents, by using data from NASA and NOAA to pick the optimal altitude to stay on a specific course.

Loon is still an experiment, trialed in New Zealand with a handful of participants. But if it pans out, Project Loon could open the way for a massive and massively beneficial venture to make the internet accessible everywhere.

Video

In your opinion, what were the most important news this week, and why?