Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Google Edition HTC One and Galaxy S4 on sale now – ship July 9

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 10:33 AM PDT

There has been plenty of chatter about Google Edition smartphones lately. The rumors began before Google I/O, however they were confirmed when the GALAXY S 4 Google Edition was officially announced. Since that point we have also seen an announcement for the HTC One Google Edition as well as rumors dealing with others such as Motorola, Sony and OPPO.

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The good news as of today though, the GALAXY S 4 and HTC One Google Edition phones will be arriving in the Play Store today (June 26th). The GALAXY S 4 will arrive priced at $649 and the HTC One will arrive priced at $599. Both devices will be running a stock Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean installation and perhaps more important — both will follow an update pattern that is similar to what we see with Nexus devices.

Basically, this means both the GALAXY S 4 and HTC One will receive regular updates that are not slowed by the manufacturer or carriers. Or in other words, these Google Edition handsets will updates will follow shortly after they are announced by Google. These Google Edition handsets will also be contract-free, which just goes to touch on why the prices may seem so high as compared to the regular carrier versions.

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Both devices available as we speak from the Play Store are stock Android 4.2.2 as mentioned above, but they do have a few little tweaks from what we’re hearing. An updated camera app is on board, and the HTC One still has Beats Audio, apparently. Then of course they are LTE compatible, and will work with both AT&T and T-Mobile 4G LTE here in the US.

Today Google has finally made both available from the Play Store, as expected, but they aren’t getting any special coverage on the front page of the store just yet. According to Google these won’t start shipping until July 9th. The wait is almost over guys! Get em from the links below.

HTC One Play Store Link
Galaxy S4 Play Store Link

Motorola: “A Google Company” new logo revealed

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 09:26 AM PDT

While we’ve yet to hear or see a confirmation from official channels, multiple sources and images have emerged this morning revealing the new logo and tagline for Motorola. With a new minimalistic design and lowercase M we have “motorola: a Google Company” being graced by a nice soft purple logo, as well as the multicolored one shown below.

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Gone are the days of the bright red M and the bold MOTOROLA branding of old, and now we have a smooth, simple, and minimalistic design to go along with the new owners at Google. At least according to all reports flooding in this afternoon. Again while we mention it hasn’t been officially announced, they chose to use it for a recent advertisement for Techweek.

As shown at the bottom of the page, the Techweek conference in Chicago is being presented by Motorola, and that’s where the purple logo was revealed. However, we’re now getting another look from the folks at The Verge, who are claiming the new multicolored option is the real deal.

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The new tagline “a Google Company” appears below the logo, and now we’re waiting for Motorola to announce it themselves. The lowercase design and minimalistic look fits right in with Google, just look at the logo for Google Glass, and everything else from Google as of late.

This comes right in time as the Google owned Motorola is soon going to announce their new American-made Moto X smartphone, and we can’t wait to learn more. Stay tuned.

What do you guys think of these new logos?

AT&T 4G LTE further expands across six states

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:37 AM PDT

AT&T has once again returned with some news on the 4G LTE expansions. This time around the new LTE coverage is coming for those in a handful of markets across six states. Those six states include Arkansas, California, Georgia, Minnesota, North Dakota and Ohio. Basically, if you happen to have coverage available — now seems like a good time to make sure you have an LTE handset at the ready.

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Diving right in, how about we begin with the newly added Arkansas coverage. This coverage includes the Hot Springs area and extends into parts of Hot Springs Village, Jessieville, Lake Hamilton, Paron, Piney, Pleasant Hill and Rockwell.

The California coverage includes Visalia-Porterville and the coverage for Georgia deals with Jackson County. Specifically, the Georgia coverage includes parts of Jefferson and Commerce as well as expanded coverage for those in Athens. The Georgia LTE coverage has also been expanded into Oconee and Barrow counties.

Those in Minnesota will now have AT&T LTE coverage available in Brainerd Lakes and Grand Rapids. Shifting to the North Dakota coverage and we see LTE being added for those in Minot. And last but certainly not least, the newly added LTE coverage for Ohio includes Mount Vernon.

With the coverage now being available, some may start looking towards an upgraded handset. That being the case, AT&T has recently kicked off a half-off smartphone sale. Not to mention, the Galaxy Note 8.0 recently launched with a $199 package deal price for those grabbing the tablet along with a smartphone.

CyanogenMod Tegra 2 status update details an end of support

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:08 AM PDT

CyanogenMod 10.1.0 shifted from a release candidate to general release phase yesterday. This initial general release brought support for a wide variety of devices, however there were a few that were intentionally left out. The folks at CyanogenMod moved forward without support for those with a Samsung Exynos or a Tegra 2 powered device. They did however promise a status update.

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With that in mind, that promised status update has arrived for the Tegra 2. This isn’t necessarily going to be good news, however things will not be coming to an end just yet. Basically, it looks like the support for Tegra 2 devices will end with the next major release. Or to put that another way, those with a Tegra 2 powered device will have support through the 10.1 releases.

This news also comes with an explanation that goes a bit more into detail. What it seems to come to is something called NEON. It was said that the Tegra 2 is non-NEON capable whereas devices with a Tegra 3 are NEON capable. The CyanogenMod posting goes on to describe this as follows;

“What this means in plain terms is that it lacks in capabilities in media, audio and graphics when compared to platforms that are NEON capable (eg. Tegra 3).”

The talk goes on to mention how there is a trend with Android 4.1 (and above) that has devices leaning towards greater reliance on NEON support. A provided example talks about Google Now and voice recognition. Some of the other Google apps that are starting to rely more heavily on NEON support include the Photosphere and the Gesture keyboard.

Bottom line here, the folks at CyanogenMod have said they plan to “continue to release 10.1 weeklies for the Tegra 2 platform until such time that we move on to the next Android release.”

SOURCE: Google+

Boomerang for Gmail launches for Android

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 07:36 AM PDT

Boomerang is an email management tool for Gmail users. In the past Boomerang has been available for those using Gmail on the web, however as of today those using Android now have an app available. The app has already landed in the Play Store and it is titled as follows; Boomerang — Best Gmail App. While we are not sure everyone will consider this the best Gmail app, having been fans of Boomerang in the past, it only seemed natural to move forward with an installation.

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First and foremost, Boomerang offers features such as the ability to snooze an email. Other goodies include scheduling that email for later, response tracking and more. Despite using the Boomerang app as your mail app, you still have the features that you want and/or expect from Gmail. For example, you are still able to search for messages across all your Gmail folders and you still have access to all your labels.

The Boomerang app also integrates with the contacts app for auto-complete, has support for email signatures, the ability to view and include attachments, an infinite scrolling inbox and perhaps key for some — support for multiple accounts with the ability to switch between those accounts relatively quickly and easily.

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Boomerang will work with Gmail and Google Apps email accounts and again, the key features are in management. When sitting in your inbox view a swipe to the right (on a message) will archive. A swipe to the left (on a message) will offer a variety of options to include archive, delete and boomerang as well as labels, mark as read and star. A tap of the boomerang option will then present a handful of new options.

Once here you will be able to “Boomerang this message” based on several criteria. You have an option for only if there is no response or to set the boomerang to return at a specific date and time. There are also several preset options to include tonight, tomorrow, in 2 days and more. Bottom line here, if you are a Gmail user and want a bit more control over your inbox — Boomerang may be worth checking out.

VIA: TNW

SOURCE: Boomerang for Gmail, Google Play Store

Motorola X phone image leaks by way of LTE testing

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 06:56 AM PDT

The latest Motorola X phone rumors are pointing towards an announcement on August 1st. While that remains to be seen, it looks like a recent leak is offering a solid look at the handset. The image comes by way of the folks at phoneArena who have it listed as the Motorola XT1056.

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As you can see below, the image is clear, but unfortunately it was not published with much else in terms of specs. This image is said to have come as a result of a recent Sprint LTE testing session, which does confirm support for LTE. Of course, given the smartphones we see released today, it would be more of a surprise if the handset didn’t have LTE.

The person who managed to grab this picture wasn’t able to measure or otherwise check the display size. Previous expectations and rumors suggest the X phone will have a display that is somewhere between 4.5 and 4.7-inches. The display is said to be 720p and the handset should arrive powered by a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

Other rumored specs look to include 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. And on a positive note, the Motorola XT1056 does have a removable battery. This particular leak centered around the image of the handset, but in the past we have heard the Moto X will be launching as a contextually-aware smartphone.

What that means is the handset will be aware of its surroundings. Dennis Woodside from Motorola previously talked about using the handset while in a car. Woodside noted; "Imagine when in the car, the device will know it is going 60MPH and it is going to act differently so you can interact with it safely. Those are the kinds of things we're doing with fundamental technology."

Samsung GALAXY S 4 LTE-A gets official with Snapdragon 800

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 06:29 AM PDT

Samsung was recently showing the GALAXY S 4 LTE-A and as of today they have returned with the official announcement. Given we have seen some of these details before this news is arriving more as confirmation. Not to mention, as somewhat of a teaser for most of the world as the GALAXY S 4 LTE-A brings support for LTE-Advanced and will only be available for those in Korea.

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Samsung has said the handset will be available in Blue Arctic and Red Aurora for the launch with additional color options coming at a “later date.” The initial release is set for sometime this summer and so far Samsung hasn’t offered a specific date. But again, for now the handset is only expected to arrive in Korea. While there are a few differences between the LTE-A and the regular GALAXY S 4, one notable difference will be in the processor.

Samsung has the GALAXY S 4 LTE-A packed with a quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800. Otherwise the specs should sound familiar for those who have been paying attention to recent Samsung releases. Basically that is to say the GALAXY S 4 LTE-A will have the 5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display (at 441 ppi), 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, microSD card slot and 2600 mAh battery.

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Those considering this model will also find a handset with a 2 megapixel front-facing camera, 13 megapixel rear-facing camera and running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Additionally, this particular model will weigh in at 131 grams and measure in at 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9mm.

Aside from the hardware, there are a few another unique features on the Korean version of the GALAXY S 4 LTE-A. Those others are called ImageON and Digital Media Broadcasting (DMB). The ImageON is something that will analyze images the users are viewing. With this the handset will be able to identify and play videos related to the image with just a single click. Finally, as some will recognize, the DMB feature will allow for the viewing of live television while on the go.

SOURCE: Samsung

Sony Xperia Ion gets updated to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 04:32 PM PDT

The folks from Sony have been on a roll lately, and to many peoples surprise. After launching the Xperia Z Ultra this morning with a 6.3-inch display, and updating multiple smartphones this month to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, they are on quite the roll. Now we’re hearing the aging Xperia Ion is also getting Jelly Bean, albeit an older flavor.

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The smartphone has been enjoying Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for sometime on that aging 4.55-inch 720p display and Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, but starting this week users are in for a treat. We’re hearing Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean is rolling out for the AT&T model, although you won’t be getting the update over the air as usual.

Users will be required to have Sony’s PC companion software installed, and plug their smartphones into their PC to pull and install the latest update, but at least you’re getting Jelly Bean. It isn’t 4.2.2 like the Xperia Z or ZL, but the update does bring many features you’ve probably been waiting for.

Google Now voice search will be included, not to mention expandable notifications and support for Google’s Keyboard. Then of course Jelly Bean introduced project butter for an even faster and better UI experience across the board. The AT&T Xperia Ion is getting updated to build version 6.2.B.0.211. Get the latest update and give it a try, then let us know how things go in the comments below. We’ll be on the lookout for a changelog.

VIA: XperiaBlog

Google Glass shows us the life of a Pro Tennis player in new video

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 03:52 PM PDT

If you want to see people using Google Glass in daily life, we have you covered. Yesterday we showed you how one surgeon was using Google Glass while in the operating room during surgery, and today we have another inspiring video. Google posted the details on Twitter, sharing a neat video of Pro Tennis star Bethanie Mattek-Sands using Glass in daily life, and while preparing for Wimbledon.

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Google Glass is still in the “explorer” or beta stage, but they’ve been handing them out to all sorts of lucky folks, and today we’re getting a video from Google themselves showing us a day in the life of a tennis star. Bethanie has been using glass to keep up with her daily routine, look up recipes for healthy eating, and even recording her practice sessions.

Overall the video is pretty neat, inspiring, and just one more of many ways we’ll be able to use Glass. Sadly we didn’t see as much actual glass footage as I was hoping, and the same can be said about live footage of her playing tennis through Glass. Now that would of been cool. Either way take a peek below:

Those serves sure come out quick through glass though, too bad that wasn’t a bigger part of this video clip. As I’m sure you’d all love to see that too. From appointments, itineraries, flight information, reminders to get her racquets and more, Glass does it all for her.

These are some awesome videos from Google, and they’ll need to continue to show us how Glass can enhance our lives without being a distraction, as that is key. Stay tuned for more coming soon.

SOURCE: @Google

OUYA already sold out from Amazon, still available at retail stores

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 03:06 PM PDT

Just as we reported earlier this morning, the OUYA game console powered by Android went up for sale today from multiple retailers and online shops. As of writing, it appears to have already completely sold out on Amazon, and we’re hearing scattered reports of Gamestop being sold out too. Sales look strong for the $99 game-console, but below we’ll remind you where you can get your own.

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After becoming a massive hit on Kickstarter and raising tons of money, the project has seen an array of launch delays as they’ve prepared for the final push. After multiple delays, today they’ve finally released the $99 quad-core Android-powered game console to multiple outlets, and here’s what we know.

So far Amazon is the only one that appears to be sold out, but Gamestop still has stock online, and you’ll need to call your nearly stores for additional details. OUYA is also being sold at Best Buy and Target for $99. As a reminder, that comes with a single controller, and an additional controller for dual-play will be $49. Amazon does have those in stock, though, so get em while they last as it shows as 20 left.

It certainly isn’t an Xbox One (or 180) and it isn’t a PlayStation 4, but for $99 the OUYA has a lot of promise. Not to mention it runs on our favorite mobile OS – Android. With more than 170 games at launch, two more announced today in the post above, and more coming soon we’ll be sure and update as things progress. We’re not sure how much stock all these online retailers have so if you’re interested, you’d better hurry.

VIA: CNET

Foursquare update brings the ability to check a friend in

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 01:48 PM PDT

The latest Foursquare app update has arrived in the Google Play Store and this is one that should be welcomed by those who are often checking in with others. The folks at Foursquare have said this new feature has been their most requested. With that, Foursquare for Android users will now be able to check-in for friends. Thankfully though, this update does involve more than simply being able to check your friend in (or have your friend check you in).

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Well, that is the core of the update, however there appears to have been some thought into how this will all work. The check-in process will begin with the user finding the location where they happen to be — basically the same as before. Once here though you will see an option for something called “I’m with…” and tapping that is where you can check-in with/for your friend.

At this point your friend will receive a notification asking for approval. Assuming they give the expected approval, you will be able to check them in moving forward. To make this clear — once you grant approval for someone to check you in they will be able to do it whenever they want moving forward. With the basics out of the way, here is the part that appears to have involved the extra thought.

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If a friend happens to beat you to the check-in, you can still check yourself in. In this case Foursquare will then show your check-in that way your photo will be displayed and your message (assuming you have something to say) will be shown. This will be the case regardless if you check yourself in before or after a friend does. Basically, your personal check-in will override your friends check-in.

The other aspect here is in the notifications. You will get a notification message every time someone else checks you in somewhere. This should make it easy to keep track of where your friends say you happen to be located. And for those times when a friend checks you in at a place you would rather not make public — there will be a delete button available.

SOURCE: Foursquare Blog, Google Play Store

Leef Bridge unveiled as dual USB/microUSB flash drive for Android

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 01:06 PM PDT

Leef Technology has announced a new and somewhat unique flash drive. This little gadget is called the Leef Bridge and it is being touted as the first USB flash drive that allows for file sharing between Android devices and regular computers. Basically, the Leef Bridge is a flash drive that has a USB and a microUSB connector.

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Or in other words, you can swap the Bridge from your computer to phone (or tablet) without the need for any additional cables. The Bridge is available in a 16GB or 32GB storage option and is priced at $17.99 or $28.99 respectively. While all this sounds interesting enough so far, there is one catch that comes with the supported devices — for now this will be limited to those running Jelly Bean.

Aside from Jelly Bean, there is a device compatibility list because unfortunately not all Jelly Bean devices are supported. The Bridge also needs devices with support for a micro USB On-The-Go (OTG) connector. The list includes a variety of Samsung, HTC, Motorola and LG smartphones as well as Samsung, Lenovo and Asus tablets. Also worth noting, the Leef Bridge drive does support the Samsung Galaxy Camera.

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The Leef Bridge will work with a variety of file managers on Android, however it comes with the recommendation of ASTRO File Manager. And for those looking to avoid any additional cost, ASTRO File Manager is available as a free download from the Google Play Store. Otherwise, on the computer side the Leef Bridge supports Windows, Mac and Linux (with Kernal 2.6 or later).

At present the Leef Bridge is available by way of the Leef website. Finally, while storage is limited to 16GB or 32GB at the moment, Leef has said a 64GB model will be available relatively soon. Pricing for the 64GB Bridge has yet to be announced, however the drive is expected to arrive in July.

SOURCE: Leef

AT&T Innovation Facility to focus on digital life and the “connected car”

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 12:15 PM PDT

AT&T is a leader in innovation, and today they’ve announced they’ll be opening two brand new world-class facilities. Their award-winning foundry for innovation will be expanding in both Atlanta, as well as Dallas, Texas. The most important for us, is their new Atlanta facility that will be focusing on developing the company’s latest technologies and applications.

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More importantly, it will be focusing on technology and applications that will enhance their customers “digital life” as well as improve the “connected car” according to a recent blog post. Located near Georgia Tech, AT&T will test and develop products and services of all kinds. Their home security and automation service will be under development.

The team will also be tasked with creating new apps and services for the "connected car," mobility, emerging devices, and AT&T U-verse. Apparently Cisco will also be on board, and will help find and bring in developers, investors, inventors and other entrepreneurs to help shape future products, technology, and apps.

With a $100+ Million investment between five different facilities in the USA, AT&T is pushing forward with innovation. A huge part of the connected car and apps from AT&T will revolve around the cloud, and it will be interesting to see what AT&T brings to the tablet next year with these new innovation centers. The full details can be found from the blog post above. Keep up the good work AT&T!

T-Mobile HTC One S update brings battery life improvements

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 12:00 PM PDT

T-Mobile updated the HTC One S towards the end of April and it looks like another update has recently arrived. This latest is a small update, but one that may be considered very important for those who are having battery related issues. Simply put, this latest update deals with one item and that item just so happens to be battery life improvements.

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The update is available as of June 25th and will be pushed to devices over the course of the next few days. T-Mobile has said the update will be pushed through June 28th. This is considered to be a mandatory update and will have your handset sitting at Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean with software version 3.14.531.17 710RD.

At this point we suggest HTC One S users with T-Mobile keep an eye out for an update notification, which assuming the timeline holds, should be arriving fairly soon. Otherwise, these is also the option to take the proactive approach. In this case users can grab their handset and navigate to Menu -> Settings -> About phone -> Software updates -> Check now to try and get the process started.

While we suspect few will take this last approach, T-Mobile has said the update will also be available (over USB) by way of the HTC website. T-Mobile has also said users should have at least 50 percent battery life before getting started with the update process and that their handset cannot be rooted and will need to be running 3.14.531.11 710RD.

For those with an HTC One S, we would love to hear all about your battery woes — both about the before and the after, which will hopefully bring some real improvements.

SOURCE: T-Mobile

AT&T drops all smartphones to half off for rest of June

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:37 AM PDT

If you’re in the market for a new smartphone this summer, the folks from AT&T are hoping to steal a few potential customers over to the blue side with their stellar summer sale. What is it? All smartphones are currently half off for the rest of the month. You only have a few more days to decide, but devices like the Galaxy S 4 or HTC One are half off, and they’re even waiving activation fees. Crazy right?

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This little deal isn’t just for a few mediocre smartphones from AT&T. They are offering 50% off of ALL of their devices, including all the top sellers and flagship phones. Being able to snag the Galaxy S4 from AT&T for $99, instead of $199 from others sure sounds nice right about now. Then you can spend that extra cash for games to enjoy this summer, or for a 6-pack to take to the pool.

So obviously these types of deals are for people signing new contracts, as they aren’t in the business of giving phones away for free. What’s important though is you don’t have to sign a 2-year contract to get the 50% off deal. They’ll give the same discount for those signing a 1-year deal too, at least according to reports. So that essentially means you can pay a bit more than you normally would for a 2-year contract price, and only be locked in for 12 months. Yes please! I’d get that Galaxy S4 for $249, sign a 1-year contract, and it’ll be up next year in time for the next wave of flagship phones.

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We’re unable to get the 1-year option online, but have received a few tips that people have been able to do both 1 and 2 year deals. The screenshot above shows the 50% discount, as well as the activation fee being waved. This is a pretty stellar deal AT&T. Now we’re just wondering why.

AT&T is offering this 50% sale for the rest of June, so you only have a few more days to hurry and decide what you’d like to do. A few great options is the Galaxy S 4, the HTC One, or even the recently lowered Optimus G Pro that is now $99. That means with this deal you’ll get that 5.5-inch flagship LG phone for $50 bones. Hurry and get in while it lasts.

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VIA: AT&T

HTC aims for 15 percent of the global smartphone market

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:19 AM PDT

Last time we heard from HTC CEO Peter Chou was when he denied ever saying that he had plans to quit the company. Chou addressed those comments as rumor and made it clear that he was “not going to find another job.” And well, it looks like he also had a few things to say on the topic of a comeback and market share during a recent shareholder meeting.

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Speaking during that meeting Chou talked about how the company managed to maintain a 4 precent global market share last year. But more to the point here, Chou asked for some time with the promise of a comeback. The goal seems a bit lofty given the present situation, however he asks for this time based on “more than six years of strenuous efforts” and due to HTC having already “built up a clear brand image.”

With that in mind, HTC is aiming to bring their global market share up to somewhere between 10 and 15 percent.

“We managed to maintain a 4-percent global smartphone market share last year and we are determined to do our best to expand the percentage to 10 to 15 percent in the future,”

There wasn’t anything specific in terms of how long into the ‘future’ this will take, but Chou does appear determined. Further comments talk about how 2013 will be a “watershed year” and about how the company has made big breakthroughs in the product line.

Of course, that brings us to the HTC One, which at present is being pushed by a few US carriers. In fact, this brings another point from Chou. He went on to talk about how the US availability of the HTC marks the first time four US operators have promoted the same HTC handset at the same time and that this is part of the company’s new marketing strategy.

Time will tell whether HTC will reach the goal of 10 to 15 percent, however if nothing else, Peter Chou doesn’t appear ready to throw in the towel just yet.

VIA: BGR

SOURCE: Focus Taiwan

Android Authority

Android Authority


Rumor: Sprint Moto X phone (XT1056) pictured while in testing

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 02:29 AM PDT

Motorola X Phone

Motorola Mobility CEO Dennis Woodside

A Motorola handset has been reportedly photographed while testing on Sprint's network and could be the mobile operator's Moto X phone version.

According to Phone Arena, this is the Motorola XT1056, a device that was spotted at the FCC not to long ago. In addition to this particular model, the FCC has revealed other similar handsets including the XT1055 (U.S. Cellular), the XT1060 (Verizon) and the XT1058 (AT&T). These could all be versions of the Moto X that could hit U.S. stores later this year, from various carriers.

Sprint Moto X

Motorola, via its own CEO, confirmed the Moto X a few weeks ago during a media event, but the company did not show the device to the public. The handset is expected to arrive this summer, according to the company's own press release, but also according to various unverified rumors.

The image above shows a Motorola handset that looks very much like a smartphone that has been found in Vietnam (see image below), where it was actually handled on camera just before the Galaxy S4 was unveiled in mid-March. At the time we were lead to believe this wasn't the Moto X phone, but later reports suggested that the unit was a prototype of Motorola's upcoming flagship handset.

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The device in the image that made its way to Phone Arena shows a smartphone that's clearly marked as "not for sale" and "Motorola confidential property." However, other details aren't available at this time, and we have no way of confirming whether this image is genuine.

The Moto X phone, despite being described as an iPhone and Galaxy competitor, is rumored to offer mid-range specs (at least by 2013 standards) including 4.7-inch display with 720p resolution, 1.7GHz processor, 2GB of RAM and16GB of storage. However, we're more interested in its software features, particularly in that contextual awareness it's supposed to have.

    


Samsung Galaxy S3 gets software update to add Multi-window support and more

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:25 AM PDT

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If you’re a Samsung Galaxy S3 user in Canada and you still haven’t gotten around to using that leaked Android 4.2.2 firmware from a few days ago, an official software update released earlier today might just be the next best thing.

According to a recent report published online at Mobile Syrup, a new software update has been pushed out for users of the Galaxy S3 through Kies as well as through over-the-air (OTA) download channels. This software update is a rather small one, but still useful in that it introduces a few much-needed improvements. The update is said to offer improved download speeds when using HSPA+ network coverage and the still-ongoing E911 dialing issue that’s being affected by the usage of third-party VoIP apps.

Users who have already updated their phones to the new software — which is tagged as Android 4.1.2, version MVLDMF1 — also say that Multi-window support is now available, and responsiveness has also been improved when it comes to navigating the Gallery.

To get in on this software update, either get it through Kies or simply start the OTA update procedure. The update is currently available for users under Bell, Fido, Koodo, MTS, Rogers, and TELUS.

    


Images: LG G2 coming with volume buttons on the back – the leaks were accurate

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:19 AM PDT

LG g2 leak slide

Rumors that LG is going to try something different and unique with the successor to the Optimus G have been swirling from the beginning of the year. The first time we've heard that LG was going to make a device so thin that volume rockers wouldn't fit on the sides, we were skeptical. But then another report came out last week, saying essentially the same thing. And today, we have some visual proof, courtesy of @evleaks.

As you can see in the pics below, LG is preparing a super slim device, with an edge-to-edge display and volume buttons positioned on the back, near the camera. And, the device is indeed going to be called G2, without the Optimus brand. All the recent leaks were spot on.

LG g2 leak slide 2

Let's analyze the images in more detail. The first slide shows us that LG gave up on the capacitive keys present on the Optimus G, opting instead for onscreen keys, like those on Nexus devices. The bezel of the display seems very narrow, and the device appears to be very thin. However, from the next image, we can tell that the G2 will likely have tapered edges, similar to the curved profile of the HTC One.

On to the intriguing part – the two volume buttons are located just under the camera module, with what appears to be a notification light ring acting as a separator. Some say that the ring is actually a fingerprint scanner, and it's even possible that the feature is both a scanner and a notification light. At first blush, the buttons on the back may seem an unwieldy setup, but come to think of it, they might actually be more accessible there.

We know that the LG G2 will come with a Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 13MP camera. In fact, aside of the capacity of the battery, we know almost every important detail about the LG G2. August 7 can't come soon enough.

    


Samsung officially announces the Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE-A

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 10:48 PM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 quick air view aa

If the regular Samsung Galaxy S4 just doesn't offer the data speeds that you need, you'll be pleased to know that Samsung and South Korean carrier SK Telecom have come together to announce the world's first LTE Advanced capable device.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE-A is the newest smartphone to join the Galaxy S4 stable, and will be available in South Korea in blue and red.

On the outside it might look like a regular Galaxy S4, but looks can be deceiving, as this version of the Galaxy S4 will include the fire breathing quad-core Snapdragon 800, clocked at 2.3Ghz. If we take a look at the benchmarks of the Snapdragon 800 taken a few days ago, we know that this will be one of the fastest smartphones in the world.

Source: Samsung

Source: Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE-A will provide speeds of up to 150Mbps, however SK Telecom plans on improving the network to go even faster in 2014. SK Telecom will offer 1080p video streaming in July, an HD video shopping service in August and FLAC audio files via its music package, all to take advantage of the higher speeds that LTE Advanced offers.

What's the difference between LTE-Advanced and regular ol' LTE?

4G LTE did not fully comply with IMT-Advanced requirements to be technically considered legitimately 4G, that's why the term LTE was added for marketing purposes. It offered peak download speeds of 100Mbps and upload speeds of 50Mbps, which did not meet IMT-Advanced requirements.

LTE-Advanced meets and surpasses the IMT-Advanced reuirements, even though current implementations do not.

Therefore another version of LTE called LTE-Advanced was designed to meet and surpass the IMT-Advanced standards. Although LTE Advanced can theoretically achieve speeds of up to 1Gbps downloads and 500Mbps uploads, it can not currently achieve these speeds as it supports download speeds of up to 300Mbps. However, data speeds will be improved in the coming years.

For an in depth explanation of LTE Advanced, click here.

When will we see LTE-Advanced in other countries and what are its use cases?

The world's first LTE Advanced network was launched by Russian network Yota, in Moscow in October 2012. Now South Korea is the second country to use the technology, but the first to get a mobile device that can utilize LTE Advanced.

Most countries are still rolling out their regular LTE networks, so it may take some time for the technology to go into mainstream use.

While U.S. carriers Verizon, AT&T and Sprint have all announced plans for LTE-Advanced, none have given a definite time frame. Most other countries are still working on deploying regular LTE, so it may take some time for the technology to go into mainstream use.

With 4K technology set to boom in the years to come, LTE-Advanced will allow mobile users to stream 4K content straight to their tablet or smartphone.

Samsung has set a world first by unveiling the Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE-A, and if you are an owner of the regular Galaxy S4 you shouldn't be too upset, unless you live in South Korea of course. It'll also be interesting to see how the Snapdragon 800 fares in real life performance, and whether those benchmarks can translate into blistering speeds in the real world.

Are you disappointed in Samsung’s release of another Galaxy S4 variant?

    


Photos of Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE-A leak, Snapdragon 800 confirmed

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 06:56 PM PDT

SAM_0283

Samsung just can't keep seem to keep its myriad of products from leaking. A bit more than a week since what appeared to be a Snapdragon 800 –touting Galaxy S4 smashed AnTuTu benchmark records, bloggers for Samsung Mobile, a South Korea-based smartphone blog, managed to get their hands on the refreshed GS4. Dubbed the Galaxy S4 LTE-A, it's virtually identical in appearance to the original GS4, but packs substantially improved innards.

As indicated by benchmarks and leaks, Qualcomm's powerful Snapdragon 800 drives the Galaxy S4 LTE-A. Quad-core and clocked at 2.3 Ghz, it's a silicon beauty to behold. The CPU is paired with the newest Adreno 330 GPU, which offers improved performance over its predecessor, and a respectable 2GB of RAM. Significantly, the Galaxy S4 LTE-A contains radios that support LTE-Advanced network bands, allowing for theoretical data transfers of up to twice the speed of current 4G LTE.

Though Samsung hasn't officially unveiled the new Galaxy S4, Co-Chief Executive of Samsung JK Shin spoke with Reuters about the company's partnership with Qualcomm last week. He said Samsung intended to partner with a carrier outside of South Korea to launch the Galaxy S4 LTE-A, and that the smartphone would be slightly more expensive than its plain LTE counterpart.

It's too early to expect a release date, but we'll keep you posted.

Galaxy S4 LTE-A Galaxy S4 LTE-A Galaxy S4 LTE-A Galaxy S4 LTE-A Galaxy S4 LTE-A Galaxy S4 LTE-A Galaxy S4 LTE-A Galaxy S4 LTE-A Galaxy S4 LTE-A
    


Casio G’zone for Verizon coming soon

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 06:34 PM PDT

Casio-GzOne-Commando

If you're looking for a phone that you can drop from a helicopter, then pick up and probably make a call with, you may already be familiar with Casio and their G'zone devices. The rugged gear may not turn heads with their hardware specs, but it may survive more bumps and falls than you or I ever will.

This isn’t first of its kind available to Verizon, and Casio has been making tough devices for quite some time. We first heard about this device about two weeks ago, and now it’s here. The full press release is available on the Verizon press site, but we'll run down the bullet points:

  • 4-inch WVGA 480×800 TFT LCD screen
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 16GB Memory
  • 1800mAh Li-ion battery
  • Android 4.0
  • Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
  • 8MP rear camera

The G'zone is resistant to water, drops of up to 1.5m, and various other life issues like vibration or blowing rain. Yeah, they cover all their bases with this guy, don't they?

Perhaps the saving grace here is Verizon's LTE network, which the G'zone operates using the 700MHz spectrum. It's also got tons of other proprietary services for outdoor activities, which is clearly who this is geared toward. While much of what is baked in can be found on the Play Store in one way or another (Ocean tidewatcher, compass), you can't beat rugged hardware like this.

So, what do you say? Interested? Ever wanted to drop kick your phone, then make a call? We'd get one for our drop test, but that would be boring.

    


Samsung in discussions to settle EU antitrust complaints

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 05:07 PM PDT

Samsung settling eu antitrust complaints

According to SlashGear, sources are reporting to Reuters that Samsung is in negotiations to settle antitrust issues in Europe. Those charges stem from an Apple complaint made to the European Commission about Samsung's leverage of 3G UMTS standards, which Apple contended should fall under FRAND guidelines. This, as you may have guessed, all stems from the lengthy and ongoing battle between the two tech magnates over their original battle concerning device design.

Reuters is reporting that the discussions may not necessarily result in a settlement, but may be to mitigate financial damages that could reach upward of $17 million. We reported back in December of 2012 that Samsung could still faces charges, even though they withdrew their injunction request against Apple. It seems this is the culmination of that scuffle.

Though it's possible Samsung could simply walk away from the talks with no penalty, it's not likely. If the EU finds that Samsung willingly violated FRAND guidelines, there will certainly be penalties.

Mario Marinello, a former commission economist and currently at Bruegel, notes that Samsung could have done everything right, but still be penalized. "The Commission could construct a theory of harm based on the concept of a willing licensee, in which Apple was willing to pay but Samsung didn’t negotiate. This would make it possible for it to sanction something that is contrary to competition law."

The good news is that with every ruling, these disagreements start to rectify themselves. As fun as it can be to watch to tech giants wage war all over the earth, the lack of effort on either part of the table to settle these issues quickly is getting tiresome. The results are what matter, but the process is dragging on much longer than it should.

    


B&N giving up on Nook tablets, turning to unnamed hardware partners instead

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 03:05 PM PDT

Nook Tablets

When B&N unveiled that it was adding Google Play support its Nook HD line, we hoped that bringing Google's store-front to the device would be enough to push the company forward and allow Barnes & Noble to successfully compete against other Android devices, including Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets.

As it turns out, the solution was more of a quick band-aid to help drive sales and further deplete existing Nook HD stock.

Today B&N announced that amid declining revenues for the Nook division, they are ending in-house production of Nook tablets, though they will continue to manufacture and sell Nook e-readers.

So are Nook tablets dead and over? Not exactly.

The idea is that the company wants to reign in costs and reduce risks. One of the ways they hope to do this is through the creation of a partnership program, where they will turn to other manufacturers to produce their own Nook-branded tablets.

As for existing Nook tablets, B&N plans to continue to support the devices in-store and through updates. Additionally, B&N will sell the Nook HD line at least through the holiday season.

Will a 3rd party model work for Nook tablets?

You have to wonder how interested vendors will be in partnering with B&N on a line that clearly has seen better days. You also have to wonder whether partner devices would still feature B&N's custom UI, or would merely have the "Nook" branding and come bundled with the Nook app (as well as Google Play).

If the Nook partnership model is only about tapping into the somewhat-limited power of the Nook brand, you can probably count out bigger manufacturers like Acer, Asus, Sony and Samsung from getting involved. One potential suitor that comes to mind is Foxconn, after all the company has clearly shown a desire to branch out and create its own branded hardware. Keep in mind that's nothing but pure speculation.

Are you surprised that B&N is throwing in the towel when it comes to creating its own tablet hardware? Can B&N find success through co-branded Nook devices?

    


The Best Racing games for Android! (video)

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 02:48 PM PDT

best racing games for android

Some of the best games on Android are racing games. A lot of them have stunning graphics and tons of unlockable rewards, such as an arsenal of cars, upgrades, and boosts. With that said, we’re going to show you some of the best racing games for Android!

If you’re in a rush, jump straight to the video, otherwise, stick with us as we take a closer look into these awesome racers.

Asphalt 7

Asphalt 7 Screenshot

First up on our list is Asphalt 7. This popular and well known racer has been around for a while and is a crowd favorite, despite having a bit of a rocky launch. You race around tracks at crazy speeds that even NASCAR would think is insane. Furthermore, you’ll be racing against opponents that regularly try to know you off course, so the game also provides a bit of a challenge, too.

The gas is automatic, and you’ll have to tilt your phone in different directions to steer. The left side of the screen can be tapped to break, and the right side to activate NOS. Once you start playing Asphalt 7, it’s really not a difficult game to play, and if you’re looking to spice things up a bit, there’s a plethora of ways to upgrade cars and make them go even faster.

Get it on Google Play


CSR Racing

CSR Racing Screenshot

For our regular viewers and readers, you may have noticed that we reviewed CSR racing not that long ago. So we’re not going to go into it that much, as there’s a full review for you to check out if you want to see more of this game.

With that said, this game is a lot of fun, and it has a few addicting qualities. It’s a drag racing style game that is packed with a lot of modern vehicles, which will no doubt appeal to the racing enthusiasts out there. It’s free, it’s fun, it’s addicting, and the graphics look fantastic. You can’t ask for much more in a racing game.

Get it on Google Play


Drag Racing

Drag Racing Screenshot

If you’re more into the car tuning and less into things like graphics, then Drag Racing may be something for you. It has a lot of the same controls as CSR Racing, so if you’ve played that game extensively, it won’t be difficult to adapt too, though, that’s where the similarities end. The graphics aren’t that great compared to CSR Racing and Asphalt, but don’t discount the game just yet.

Drag Racing shines when it comes to tuning your car. You can purchase upgrades just as you normally can, but after that, you can then tune your car. This added customization is actually really awesome. You’re even able to tune per gear to get the best performance out of your upgrades and car as a whole. Finally, you can race full miles instead of just halves and quarters.

Get it on Google Play


Highway Riding

Highway Rider Screenshot

Car games are a lot of fun, but is so is highway racing. This game in particular features motorcycles, and it definitely doesn’t take itself serious like these other games. Have a virtual death wish? Then this game is for you.

There are two modes — arcade mode and fugitive mode. Fugitive mode is a lot of fun, in that you race against the cops trying to survive for as long as possible. You can get boosts by passing close by cars, and when you lose, the game tallies up your broken bones to measure how bad you’ve hurt yourself. All in all, it’s a really fun game.

Get it on Google Play


Riptide GP

Riptide GP

While Riptide GP is last on this list, it’s probably one of our favorites. Fans of the old Wave Race game for the Nintendo 64 in particular will love Riptide GP. It’s a game that puts a focus on jet skis instead of cars, and believe it or not, it’s actually really reminiscent of the old N64 classic.

The controls are about what you’d expect from a racer. Tap the left side of the screen to break, the right to accelerate, tap the meter to boost, and tilt the phone to steer. Boosts can’t be used on demand, though, they have to be earned by doing tricks in midair. All in all, it’s a great game, and we especially liked the graphics. The water splashing on the screen after big jumps was a nice added effect.

Get it on Google Play


Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6OjWDBkHH4

Wrap up

Racing_Leaderboard_ARTICLE

If you take a look at our leaderboard (image above) you can see how these app stack up against one another. As per the norm, these ratings aren’t based on our opinion. They’re based on how you, the people, voted on them in the Google Play Store, so there’s no bias on our part.

There are so many great racing games out there it was a challenge to pick out a small handful. Not only that, but wanted to make sure there was a good amount of variety, thus Highway Rider and Riptide GP are on there. In other words, there are a lot of games we probably missed out on, including Real Racing 3. If it had been rated a little higher, it would have made the list.

Regardless, if you have a favorite racing game that didn’t make it on the list, be sure to tell everyone about it in the comments section below!

    


Galaxy S4 and HTC One with the Nexus Experience begin selling tomorrow – which one are you getting?

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 02:31 PM PDT

galaxy s4
The Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One are two of the biggest releases of the year, though, the crowd wasn’t very interested in them due to the bloated software, sluggishness, and etc. However, just recently it was announced that the two devices would be launching with the Nexus Experience (stock Android) to be sold alongside Google’s own products on the Play Store.

So, when are the two handsets launching? Tomorrow, and on one of our favorite corner’s of the Internet, too — the Play Store. The Galaxy S4 and the HTC One with the Nexus Experience will cost interested buyers $649 and $599, respectively.

This raises a question, though. Which of the two devices do you plan on getting, if any at all? Vote in our poll and let us know in the comments!

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


Sony SBH52 Bluetooth handheld device: perfect for big phones like the Xperia Z Ultra

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 01:19 PM PDT

Sony SBH52

Phones are just getting bigger and bigger, but your hands aren't. For most people, a device like a Nexus 4 or HTC One are comfortable to hold and use, often with one hand. Get into the Note 2 category, though, and things become a little more cumbersome.

On the other hand (bad pun, I know), some people like larger devices. Maybe they are looking for "one device to rule them all", so they don't need a phone and a tablet. Compromising a smaller form factor for a larger screen is not unheard of, and is becoming much more normal. With devices like the Samsung Mega 6.3 or new Sony Xperia Z Ultra, the boundaries of size are being pushed.

Sony understands that, and has an interesting little accompaniment for their Xperia Z Ultra: a bluetooth headset! Not the normal in-ear headset, but a handheld device meant to perform the simplest tasks like take phone calls or read text messages. It has a clip on the back which can be used to attach to clothing, and a headset jack for earbuds. The small OLED screen will give you a simple caller ID or text message readout.

It's got all the normal stuff you'd want, like volume keys and micro USB port, as well. As devices get larger, it's nice to see Sony make an attempt to bridge a gap. A small bluetooth handheld like the SBH52 could bring more people to their larger devices, and opens Sony up to a broader market. In-ear headsets are bothersome for all day use, but a smaller handheld is a great idea.

The handheld pairs by NFC, so a simple tap to the Ultra and you're on your way. You can also listen to radio with RDS, and Sony claims it has HD voice. A great device, and another smart innovation from Sony. It's good to see them back in the game.

    


16GB Nexus 7 available on eBay for $150, free shipping included

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 01:17 PM PDT

nexus-10-vs-nexus-7-16

If you’re looking at getting yourself a Nexus 7, a refurbished 16GB model is available on eBay for $150, a $39 difference compared to the Google Play Store.

Of course, some people may hesitate with the word “refurbished” slapped on this listing. Refurbished items really aren’t that bad, though. They usually go through a thorough testing process before they are put back on the market, which means any problems that it may have had should be gone, though that isn’t a guarantee.

While this is one of the best deals we’ve seen yet on a Nexus 7, it’s important to keep in mind that we should be seeing a 2nd generation of the tablet pretty soon here. The original Nexus 7 launched in July of 2012, so another device shouldn’t bee too far out. In fact, there’s a lot of convincing evidence to back that up, however, nothing’s been officially confirmed.

Are you going to take the plunge and get the refurbished Nexus 7 from eBay? Or are you holding out for a Nexus 7 refresh?

    


Xperia Z Ultra and SmartWatch 2 pricing for some European countries unveiled

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 12:54 PM PDT

Sony Xperia Z Ultra press (4)

Pricing details for Sony's newly announced Xperia Z Ultra smartphone and SmartWatch 2 smartwatch for certain European countries have been unveiled.

The two products were announced earlier today at Mobile Asia Expo, but the company did not mention any prices for either device. Sony did say that the Xperia Z Ultra will be available in the third quarter of the year, while the SmartWatch 2 would hit stores in September.

However, Sony France and Sony Netherlands have shared more details on Twitter and via local press releases, respectively, about the new devices.

Sony France said on Twitter that the Xperia Z Ultra will be available in the region in Q3 with prices starting at €729, or around $954:

Sony Netherlands said via a press release that the handset will be slightly cheaper in The Netherlands, at €719 or around $940.

Needless to say, these are the unlocked prices for the device, so you can expect the handset to be more affordable from mobile operators with new contracts.

Sony SmartWatch 2

Considering these prices, it's probably safe to say that the Xperia Z Ultra will cost around 700 in Europe, so a $700 price for the U.S. should be expected.

Speaking about the U.S. market, it'll be interesting to see whether the Xperia Z Ultra will be picked up by local carriers. Comparatively, the Xperia Z was initially available in the region only from Sony, with T-Mobile announcing it only about a week ago.

As for the Sony SmartWatch 2, it's also Sony France that revealed its pricing. The new smartwatch will apparently cost €199, or around $260, and hit stores in late September in the country:

Are you interested in buying the Xperia Z Ultra and/or the SmartWatch 2?

    


Sony Xperia Z Ultra outclasses the supersized competition

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 12:42 PM PDT

sony-xperia-zu-colors

It wasn’t that long ago that a 4-inch display would have been considered gigantic. Fast forwarding to 2013 and "bigger is better" certainly seems to be the accepted philosophy when it comes to smartphones.

Manufacturers like Samsung and Huawei have quickly pushed past six inch displays and are flirting ever so closely with the border between phone and tablet. Not one to be shown up for long, Sony recently unveiled its massive Xperia Z Ultra.

The 6.4-inch supersized Sony smartphone truly bests the competition in every way, not just when it comes to size but functionality and design, too.

xperia-zu-chart

As you can see, the Ascend Mate and Galaxy Mega 6.3 don't even begin to hold a candle to Sony's newest big-screen smartphone.

The Z Ultra not only has a beefy Snapdragon 800 processor and Full HD display, it also wins the show with an extraordinarily thin design. The ZU comes in at just 6.5mm versus the Galaxy Mega's 8mm, or the Mate's 9.9mm profile.

There's clearly a lot to be impressed about when it comes to the Z Ultra, especially on paper. From a hardware standpoint, is the Xperia Z Ultra perfect though? Admittedly, it isn’t without its weaknesses.

For starters, the 8MP camera has no flash, which could certainly anger photo buffs out there. The ZU also has just a 3,000 mAh battery, though we really can't say how this affects its battery life until we get the chance to play with the handset for ourselves.

Still, Samsung and Huawei should be sitting up and taking notice of the Sony Xperia ZU.

Sony saw the trend of increasing screen sizes, and reacted just like the competition – but with one major difference: Sony did more than slap a big display on an otherwise unimpressive handset.

What sets the Xperia Z Ultra apart from the crowd.

With the Ascend Mate, Huawei at least went a little above and beyond by giving it a reasonably performing quad-core processor and 2GB RAM. The Ascend Mate's hardware isn't ground-breaking, but it isn't at all bad either.

As for the Galaxy Mega? Take away that 6.3-inch display and all you are left with is a dual-core decisively mid-range handset with only 1.5GB RAM, 8GB storage, a 720p display and few features to really make us say "WOW".

If you were to shrink the Sony Xperia Z Ultra's display down to something much smaller, you'd still find a highly-powerful 1080p smartphone with a bleeding-edge Snapdragon 800 processor. It’s also worth mentioning that the phone is also waterproof and dust resistant.

Beyond the obvious, Sony's Xperia Z Ultra employs quite a bit of "extras" that further help it stand out. Sony's Triluminous technology improves color gamut considerably over the Xperia Z, and the X-Reality Engine gives us much sharper video.

Let's also not forget that the Z Ultra has true note-taking functionality thanks to its unique ability to use pens, a graphite pencil or just about anything as a stylus.

samsung-galaxy-mega-6.3-front

What the competition can learn from the Sony Xperia Z Ultra

Sony made some sacrifices with the Xperia Z Ultra. In order to keep the profile thin, the camera and battery aren’t as good as they could be. The design also appears to have a non-removable battery, though the Z Ultra is far from the only phone moving towards such a design.

Will any of this hurt the reception of the Z Ultra? While we can’t predict the future, we doubt it. Instead, consumers will probably be too busy taking notice of its impressive 1080p display, powerful processor and extremely thin, sexy design.

The Ascend Mate and Galaxy Mega aren’t bad phones by any means, but you can’t exactly call them head-turners.

This is somewhat similar to how the HTC One has won over quite a bit of attention, due to an equal mix of solid specs and amazing design. Like the Xperia Z Ultra, the HTC One made some sacrifices (such as no microSD), but in the long-term, the average consumer doesn’t really pay mind these shortcomings, or at least can look past them.

How the Galaxy Note 3 factors into the super-sized phone battle

For now, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra is the fastest, sexiest and most powerful phone in its class. Unfortunately, like all things, it is a position that won't last. The smartphone world evolves quickly and what is the best today might not be on top of the game tomorrow.

The most immediate rival will probably be the Note 3.

While the Galaxy Note 3 will come nowhere near the Xperia Z Ultra in terms of display size (rumored at 5.7-inches), if the specs and feature set are similar – it will still be Sony's biggest threat in the big display smartphone market. Sony’s Xperia Z Ultra has also come to the market early enough that Samsung may be able to learn a few lessons from the 6.4-incher before bringing out its next-gen Note.

Still, Sony has done a fantastic job with the Xperia Z Ultra and for those that want an absolutely massive phone with tons of power, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything better.

    


Leef Bridge dual USB / microUSB drive is compatible with Android devices, PCs and Macs

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:57 AM PDT

Leef Bridge

Leef Technology on Tuesday unveiled a new flash drive that's compatible with both PCs and Macs but also with Android devices thanks to its regular USB and microUSB connectors.

The Leef Bridge features a sliding mechanism that lets you access the connector your want to use, with the regular USB and microUSB connectors being placed at opposite sides.

The memory stick comes in three capacities, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. The 16GB model costs $17.99, while the 32GB version is priced at $28.99. Both models can be purchased at Amazon.com or 2Leef.com. As for the third version, the 64GB model will be available in July, with pricing to be announced when the device is launched.

The Leef Bridge is compatible with all laptops and desktops out there, whether they run Windows or OS X and it's compatible with Android smartphones and tablets that run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or higher and support micro USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) connection.

In addition to announcing the new memory stick, Leef also mentioned in its press release that ASTRO File Manager developer Metago has updated its application to offer Leef Bridge owners "a seamless experience" using the two products.

SAN FRANCISCO (June 25, 2013) – Leef Technology today announced Leef BridgeTM, the first USB flash drive for file sharing between Android phones and tablets, Macs and PCs. Leef Bridge is a simple, innovative USB flash drive that allows users to easily transfer files to other devices without the need for cables, cloud services, Wi-Fi or any type of data connection.

Leef Bridge features a micro USB connector and full-size USB connector that access the same memory so users can share content, photos, videos, music and documents to and from any compatible device. The memory utilized within Leef Bridge has fast read and write speeds to ensure slick video and music playback directly from the USB drive, without the interruptions or delays that accompany low-grade USB flash drive products. Designed in California by the Leef design team, Leef Bridge boasts a unique design featuring an exposed slide-and-lock tray, which enables users to easily switch to the USB connector appropriate for their device connection.

"Leef Bridge represents a major technical achievement," said Jonny Anderson, partner and director of product design at Leef. "With all products we develop, we want them to represent something people want to own, for their functionality, design and style. Leef Bridge makes managing content on a phone as simple as plugging in a USB flash drive. It is really a life hack product."

Leef Bridge is currently compatible with mobile devices operating Android Jelly Bean OS 4.1 or higher and a micro USB On-The-Go (OTG) connector. Metago, the company behind ASTRO File Manager – the most downloaded content management application in the Android ecosystem – has teamed up with Leef to release an updated version of their app that provides users with a seamless experience using Leef Bridge and ASTRO File Manager.

Instructions to download the app from Google Play are included on Leef's product packaging. Although ASTRO File Manager is not required to be able to use Leef Bridge, it is recommended by the Leef design team for its intuitive file management system.

Leef Bridge is the latest addition to the company's product set, which includes quality USB flash drives that demonstrate a variety of innovative materials and design features. The company's approach to design was recognized in 2012 by PC Magazine – Russian Edition, which awarded Leef Fuse – the first patented USB drive with magnetic closure – "Best of the Year 2012" in the flash drive category.

Availability and Pricing

Leef Bridge is initially available for purchase in the USA at www.amazon.com and www.2Leef.com for a suggested retail price of $17.99 for the 16GB model and $28.99 for the 32GB model. The pricing for the 64GB model, which is expected in stock in July, will be announced upon availability.

In addition, Leef Bridge is available for purchase at leading retailers in several international markets, including Russia, Asia and Central Europe.

    


Mobile Processor Guide – Summer 2013

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 10:59 AM PDT

processor CPU graphic

A fair bit has changed in the mobile processor space since we last took a look at the market earlier in the year. New handsets have been released, new benchmarks leaked, and a few brand new SoCs have been unveiled too.

So here's a round-up of all the mobile processor news for the second quarter of the year.

The next generation

Earlier in the year, we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of processors powered by ARM's new Cortex A15 CPU cores, which were promising substantial performance improvements over the old Cortex A9 generation. Most of the big chip manufactures were lining up their new SoCs, the Exynos 5 Octa and Snapdragon 600 were two of the biggest releases which we'll take a look at in a bit more detail in a minute, and all the tech junkies were eager to know exactly what these chips could do.

Well, now we know, one of the most obvious changes over the past quarter has been the leap up in mobile processing power. Top of the line handsets launched around the start of the year, like the Xperia Z, have already be surpassed with faster pieces of hardware — just take a look at our benchmark results:

AnTuTu benchmark

The Cortex A15 may have been the big step forward for mobile processes so far this year, but its implementation has come in many different forms.

Qualcomm Snapdragon

Qualcomm continues to do what Qualcomm does best – produce a range of high quality chips with everything that handset manufactures need already built in. This time last quarter, we were taking our first look at the upcoming Snapdragon 600 processors which would be replacing the older S4 Pro, another incredibly popular Qualcomm processor.

Qualcomm doesn't use the exact specification for the Cortex A15, it licenses the architecture from ARM which it then implements into its own Krait CPU cores, the newest version of which, the Krait 300, has shown up in the new Snapdragon 600 SoC.

The Galaxy S4, Optimus G Pro, and HTC One are all using Snapdragon 600 chips

The Galaxy S4, Optimus G Pro, and HTC One are all using Snapdragon 600 chips

Since then, a range of handsets powered by Qualcomm's newest chips have appeared on the market, the flagship Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One being the two most notable models which are both some of the best performing smartphones on the market. Performance wise, the Snapdragon 600 has proven to be a decent enough jump up from the previous generation, performing well in most benchmark tests.

We've also started to hear about a few devices featuring the lower end Snapdragon 400 and 200 chips, with a range of entry level processors using various ARM architectures heading to the market in the near future. So far this year high end smartphones have received the biggest performance improvements, but these new chips should give the midrange a much needed boost later in the year.

So whilst Snapdragon 600 is certainly the most popular high-end chip on the market right now, we've already started to see our first snippets at Qualcomm's next big thing, the Snapdragon 800.

Snapdragon 800

There's been lots of official and unofficial data floating around over the past few months regarding this new chip, and from, what we can tell, it looks to be one powerful piece of tech. Qualcomm demoed some of the new chip's improved 3D performance earlier in the year, and more recently we've seen a few benchmarks popping up for new devices, which place the Snapdragon 800 at the top of the benchmark scores come it's release.

First, there was the Pantech IM-A880 smartphone, which scored an impressive 30133 in the popular Antutu benchmark, followed by the rumoured beefed up version of the Galaxy S4, and most recently the new Xperia Z Ultra which pulled in the most impressive score yet, a whopping 32173. We've also seen some more official looking benchmarks from AnandTech and Engadget which confirm the Antutu scores of above and around 30,000, and also gives us a good look at how the chip performs in a range of other tests. The conclusion — it's a bit of a beast.

These notable benchmarks scores are no doubt down to the new higher clocked Krait 400 CPU cores and the new Adreno 330 GPU, which is supposed to offer around a 50% performance improvement over the already quick Adreno 320. The test results we've seen have shown that the Snapdragon 800s CPU is fine compared with the current crop of processors, but the chip really shines through when it comes to GPU performance, which has proven to be even quicker than the Tegra 4 and iPad 4 chips.

We've already seen that Qualcomm is taking graphics extra seriously with its latest chip, as the Snapdragon 800 became the first processor to receive OpenGL ES 3 certification and is compliant with all the big graphics APIs.

Quite a few upcoming top of the line handsets are rumored to be utilizing Qualcomm's latest processor, including the Galaxy S4 LTE-A, Oppo Find 7, and an Xperia Z refresh as well, so the Snapdragon 800 is perhaps the biggest chip to look out for in the coming months.

Exynos 5 Octa

Moving away from Qualcomm, there was certainly a lot of hype surrounding Samsung's octo-core monster of a processor. Upon release, the chip mostly lived up to expectations — the Exynos version of the Galaxy S4 topped our performance charts and is currently the fastest handset on the market. The SoC is the first to utilize the new big.LITTLE architecture, with four new Cortex A15 cores to provide top of the line peak performance, and four older low power Cortex A7s to keep idle and low performance power consumption to a minimum.

The chip is certainly one of the best when it comes to peak performance, but it has had its share of troubled when it comes to balancing power consumption and performance.

samsung galaxy s4 quick air view aa

The Exynos 5 Octa version of the Galaxy S4 is the fastest smartphone around right now, by a slim margin, but availability varies by region.

If you're in the market for the fastest smartphone currently around, then the Galaxy S4 is the one to pick right now, providing that it's available in your region. It has the fastest CPU currently on the market, and its PowerVR SGX544 tri-core GPU matches that of the latest iPad. But with the Snapdragon 800 just around the corner, there could soon be a new processor sitting on the performance throne.

Looking forward, it's difficult to see the Exynos retaining its top spot for much longer. Other companies are starting to look beyond the power-hungry Cortex A15 architecture, but Samsung hasn't yet unveiled any new plans.

Intel Clover Trail+ and Baytrail

Speaking of which, perhaps the biggest mover this year has been Intel, and although the company still isn't competing with ARM in terms of the number of design wins, Intel has finally show off some products which will pose a threat to ARM's market dominance.

Although we've been hearing about Clover Trail+ since last year, the chip is now moving into full swing, with a few handsets arriving which are running the chip, and some of the benchmarks we've seen are really quite impressive. Clover Trail+ has managed to find the right balance between performance and power consumption, unlike previous Atom chips which been far too slow to keep up with the top of the line ARM-based processors.

The results show a benchmark score followed by the average and peak current draw during the test. Intel’s chip scores highest on the most tests and draws the least current, and it’s only beaten by the Exynos 5 Octa when it comes to GPU performance.

Then there's Baytrail. Back at Mobile World Congress earlier in the year, Intel laid out its plans for its Clover Trail+, but we've already heard information about the processor’s successor. Intel claims that its new Silvermont cores will further improve on both energy efficiency and peak performance. It sounds great on paper, but we always have to take these unveilings with a pinch of salt. What we are most likely looking at with Baytrail is a decent performance improvement, which should keep the processor ahead of the current Cortex A15 powered handsets in the benchmarks, but energy improvements are likely to come in the form of idle power consumption and low power states, rather than saving energy at the peak performance levels.

Intel Silvermont vs Saltwell performance

But Intel isn't just interested in breaking into the smartphone and tablet markets with its new line-up of processors. The company is still very much focused on producing chips for laptops. One particularly interesting prospect is the confirmed new generation of Android based netbooks and laptops powered by more robust Intel processors, which could give Microsoft a real run for their money.

Intel has clarified that it will also be assigning the additional Pentium and Celeron titles to its upcoming Silvermont architecture as well as using it in the new BayTrail mobile chips. What this potentially means is a further blurring of the line between tablets and laptops, where the same processor technology will be powering a range of Intel based products. I'm expecting the performance rankings to go from Baytrail for phones and tablets, to Celeron for notebooks, and Pentium chips for small laptops, but this naming strategy hasn't been confirmed yet. It's also interesting to see where this will stack up with Intel's newly released Haswell architecture, which is also aimed at providing power efficient solutions to laptops.

Taking all that into consideration, Baytrail has the potential to be a big game changer for Intel, as it could stand out well ahead of Samsung's top of the line Exynos chips and will certainly rival the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. But we'll be waiting until the end of the year before we can finally see what the chip can do. In the meantime, we'll look forward to seeing if Clover Trail+ can finally win over some market share.

    


Verizon Galaxy S4 Developer Edition available from Samsung for $649.99

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 10:48 AM PDT

Galaxy S4

The Verizon Galaxy S4 Developer Edition is now available for purchase directly from Samsung.com for full retail price ($649.99).

We're still looking at the 16GB version of the SCH-I545 model (Verizon's Galaxy S4) but, as always with developer edition phones, you can expect the device to arrive carrier unlocked and, more importantly, sport an unlocked bootloader.

The Developer Edition version of the Verizon Galaxy S4 isn't available on Big Red at this time. The mobile operator sells the 16GB model for $199.99 with a new two-year contract, and the handset is available both in black and white. Off-contract, the handset is also priced at $649.99.

However, the Galaxy S4 model sold by Verizon comes with a locked bootloader, which means you'd have to unlock it yourself before customizing your Android experience – there are ways of doing that in case you don't necessarily want to pay full price for the device.

In case you still haven't purchased a Galaxy S4 version, you can always check our thorough review of the device (video above).

    


Shareholders approve Sprint/SoftBank merger

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 10:04 AM PDT

Softbank-Sprint

This morning, Sprint announced their proposed merger with SoftBank cleared another major hurdle, with the shareholders overwhelmingly approving the deal. With 98% of shareholders approving the deal, it's clear that shareholders are ready for the new company to take shape.

Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint, had the following to offer:

http://newsroom.sprint.com/news-releases/sprint-shareholders-overwhelmingly-approve-merger-agreement-with-softbank.htm
Dan Hesse
Sprint

This takes things a step closer to a newly formed company, with only the FTC needed to approve the deal. For shareholders, the deal gives them $7.65/share, or they can convert their shares 1:1 into the newly formed company. That new company, which will be 78% SoftBank and 22% Sprint owned, should take shape sometime in mid July. Shareholders currently have election ballots for a new board, with the deadline for submission as July 5th.

This effectively brings the Sprint/SoftBank merger drama to a close. Through distractions from Dish Network and SoftBank's noted interest in T-Mobile, the two companies remained committed to the deal. What we need to see now is added benefit for the consumer. Sprint's network is severely lacking, and they have a lot of room for improvement elsewhere.

    


How the Sony Xperia Z Ultra ‘stylus’ functionality works

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:36 AM PDT


Sony Xperia Z Ultra

Earlier today, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra was officially announced, bringing with it a stunning 6.4-inch 1080p TFT display and a blazingly fast Snapdragon 800 processor. The phone's specs are bleeding edge in nearly every aspect, but it is the display that really has us buzzing.

No, it isn’t just the size that blows us away, as we’ve seen that before with the Ascend Mate and Galaxy Mega. What really sets the Xperia ZU apart from the crowd is the technology behind its screen.

We've already discussed Triluminos and X-Reality Engine display technology, but what about the Xperia Z Ultra's unique ability to use nearly any device as a stylus, how is this accomplished?

Sony has yet to get into the specifics of this technology, though speaking to All Things D, a Sony rep did mention the display has a special type of coating, Super Hard Coat ASF. This coating is said to allow the ZU’s display to work with pencils and pens. The coat also protects the ZU from scratches and marks while using makeshift styluses.

Digging a bit deeper it seems likely that the Sony Xperia ZU makes use of some form of Neonode's MultiSensing touch technology. Neonode is a Swedish company that has previously partnered with Sony for its e-Reader line, so it makes sense that Sony and Neonode could have teamed up here.

Just remember that Sony has yet to confirm Neonode was involved in the ZU’s design, so take this all with a slight grain of salt.

If the Z Ultra really does utilize Neonode multiSensing tech, that means it basically works by utilizing optical infrared light that can potentially sense any object and identify it pressure, size, depth, speed and proximity to the surface.

What do you think of the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, how does it compare to other large screen smartphones including Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Mega?

    


PSA: Don’t forget to signup for All Access

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:23 AM PDT

Play Music All Access 1600 aaIf you’re like me, you cancelled all other music subscriptions right after Google announced All Access at its annual Google I/O convention. If you’re not not like me, you’ve probably been tossing around the idea of subscribing, but something important to keep in mind is that this is the last week you can sign-up and take advantage of the $7.99/mo price tag.

After June 30, All Access will cost interested subscribers $9.99 per month. It’s still not a bad price, but the discount early adopters receive is also really nice, and it isn’t something you want to miss out on if you like saving money.

If you haven’t used All Access yet, you can sign up for the one month trial, and if you do that on or before June 30, you’ll still be able to take advantage of the $7.99 subscription fee after your trial expires sometime in June.

It might be difficult to make the jump from Spotify’s massive library of 25 million tracks, but you can bet that Google will probably make sure that All Access has all of the latest, popular, and well-known songs available. Not to mention the fact that more tracks will be added to Google’s own library everyday, and who knows, maybe Google’s library will eventually surpass Spotify’s?

Do you plan on making the jump to All Access? If not, why?

    


The HTC First experiment is over

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:20 AM PDT

HTC First review

In an interview with CNET, AT&T's CEO Ralph de la Vega has stated that the carrier has now sold off all of its remaining Facebook Home powered HTC First handsets. Interestingly, he declined to indicate exactly how many handsets AT&T had sold, which certainly raised a flag or two.

Now, usually you'd consider selling out all of your handsets to be a sign of strong demand, but we're quite sure that the HTC First hasn't exactly been popular. After all, AT&T knocked the price of the First down rather significantly from the $99 starting price to just $0.99, which no doubt helped shift the carrier's remaining stock.

In fact the handset has been described as a bit of a disaster for HTC, leading to its launch being cancelled in the UK and, without any other manufacturers keen to jump on the sinking Facebook Home ship, it looks like the venture is over, at least for the foreseeable future.

Whilst it may not have been particularly surprising that sales of the First have been slowly wound down, De la Vega also made an interesting comparison between the HTC First and the ill-fated Motorola ROKR. You may recall that the ROKR was Apple's first attempt at breaking into the cell phone market, by integrating iTunes with the handset. But the phone ended up being a total flop, and that's putting it nicely.

However, De la Vega believes that even though the initial handset was a failure, it did give AT&T a head start and an "inside track" when it came to selling the iPhone. De la Vega also stated that he is committing to working on different iterations of products with its partners.

So, is he perhaps hinting that Facebook Home could well come back at some point in the future in an updated form on a different handset? Have a little read of this quote and decide for yourself.

We have a great relationship with Apple just like we have a great relationship with Facebook… We look forward to working with them to make Home better.

Either way, we bid farewell to the HTC First for now, but I can't say that it's a handset that will be particularly missed.

    


Google Play for Education program being rolled out to developers

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 08:56 AM PDT

Google-Play-store-shipping-options

Good news for the kids! Developers can now offer educational apps via the Play Store. Google has created an extension of the Play Store, called Google Play for Education, which is meant to house those apps developers have created for K-12 students.

Developers who have an app they feel is age appropriate can now tag it as educational, which will then be reviewed by an independent panel of educators. This panel will peruse the app, ultimately deciding which age level it meets and whether it adheres to strict guidelines for appropriateness and safety. Those apps deemed safe will not collect personally identifiable information about the student, or use any in-app data for non educational uses.

Developers are urged to create free apps, or paid apps which don't have ads throughout. The use of in-app purchases is also frowned upon. While any monetization model is accepted, developers should keep in mind these apps may be purchased by schools for students, and in app purchases or ads could distract from the educational process. Currently, in app purchases are blocked by Play Store for Education, but guidelines for implementation are available, lending credence that they will be accepted at some point.

It's a great idea, but we're also wondering if it's going to work out. The educational angle for Google has always been Chromebooks in the classroom, and we hope this doesn't distract from that program. The Chrome Web Store already has an "Education" tab, and it could really use more apps.

    


Here are 81 amazing boot animations for your phone [Android is awesome]

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 08:44 AM PDT

paolo ceric boot animation feature

I first stumbled upon the work of Croatian artist Paolo Ceric a few months ago on Google Plus. I was in awe with the beauty of Ceric's animated GIFs, which typically depict abstract shapes that move in a mesmerizing, almost organic way. From pulsing stylized hearts to hypnotic animations inspired by Escher's impossible constructions, these animations prove that art can take many forms, including a lowly GIF.

Back when I first discovered Paolo Ceric's animations, I thought they'd make wonderful boot animations. Apparently, XDA-Developers forum user raishiro thought the same, because he took some 56 of Ceric's finest creations and turned them into boot animations that can be used on any rooted Android device.

Raishiro added 25 variations of some of the 56 GIF images, bringing the collection to a grand total of 81 boot animations. All images are available in HDPI (480×800) and XHDPI (720 x 1280) resolutions.

Here are just a couple of samples (high resolution):

 

paolo ceric boot animationPaolo Ceric Boot animation (3)
The XDA user even made a helpful tutorial for changing boot animations on rooted Android devices, which you can watch below. The process if fairly simple and the results are definitely worth it.

For the full collection of Android boot animations by Paolo Ceric and packaged by raishiro, head over to this link. Enjoy!

    


Sony unveils Xperia C and new variant of Xperia SP, both heading to China

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 07:31 AM PDT

Sony Xperia C

Sony has just announced a few new devices in Shanghai, and although the Xperia Z Ultra might be the main attraction at the moment, the company has also officially unveiled two more handsets, the new Xperia C and an update to its Xperia SP smartphone.

The Xperia C will be Sony's first MediaTek powered device, showing once again that MediaTek is proving to be a viable alternative to the familiar big names like Qualcomm and Samsung. This Xperia handset will be powered by the quad-core MT6589 MediaTek chip, which uses four ARM Cortex A7 cores for the CPU and a PowerVR Series5XT graphics processor.

Sony's new Xperia C is a 5-inch qHD (960 x 540 pixel display) handset with dual SIM card capabilities, it will also feature a 8 megapixel Exmor R camera complete with a voice shutter function. Customers in China will also have access to over 3 million tracks from local music content provider Duomi, which certainly sweetens the deal.

The smartphone will be available in either black, white, or purple, but there currently aren't any details available for either pricing or a release date, and we don't know if this device will make it out of China.

The second handset unveiled by Sony is the Xperia SP M35t, an update to the existing Xperia SP model but with enhanced connectivity.

sony xperia sp performance aa

This updated handset will be TD-LTE compliant, meaning that it will be heading to China Mobile which has a bit of a monopoly on the high speed network.

Hardware wise we're looking at exactly the same as the original Xperia SP handset; a 4.6 inch 720p display accompanied by a dual-core 1.7 GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset and an 8 megapixel camera. The smartphone will also retain the funky looking LED strip at the bottom of the device too. Again there's no news on the retail price or a release date just yet, but stay tuned.

    


CyanogenMod shows off new Mini-Camera Tile feature

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 06:16 AM PDT

CyanogenMod logo

The CyanogenMod developers have been on a roll recently, unveiling plenty of new features and rolling out some more stable builds of the popular custom ROM. Well now there's another new feature currently under review which has been developed by Nebojsa Cvetkovic, which gives users even quicker access to their smartphone camera.

The new feature appears as a simple tile on the quick settings panel, which can be accessed from the standard drop-down notification menu, allowing users to quickly take a picture from the notification menu without having to load up the main camera application. Here's a quick video of the feature in action.

A quick tap on the tile with start up the camera, providing you with a small preview and auto focusing the shot, providing that your smartphone camera supports auto focus. Then it's a simple case of tapping again to take your picture and again for any subsequent shots. When you're done just swipe away the notification shade and the camera will automatically close.

Even better still, the quick shot still takes pictures at full resolution just like the regular app, so even though it's a quick setting you won't end up with low resolution shots.

Of course this isn't really ideal for taking the perfect picture, but if you just need to quickly take a snap of something or simply can't wait for the normal camera app to load, then this seems like a really useful new feature.