Android Community |
- BBM for Android still missing with no release date in sight
- ZTE Overture 4G joins the prepaid Aio Wireless lineup
- Galaxy S4 sales causing a ‘crisis’ at Samsung according to employee
- Floating Touch app brings a Chat Head-like approach to settings
- T-Mobile “anytime upgrade” club announcement may arrive this week
- Tumblr for Android update brings search and discovery improvements
- Samsung Galaxy Note III UAProf confirms 1080p display resolution
- HTC One and Galaxy S 4 Google Play edition smartphones now shipping
- SanDisk Extreme Micro-SDXC launched as world’s fastest card for mobile
- US smartphone market led by Android, iOS not far behind
- Google releases fix in response to “Master Key” exploit
- Panasonic teams with Norwegian Airlines to bring first in-flight Android entertainment system
- Moto X factory photo leak suggests dual-SIM variation
- Moto X event on July 11th denied by Motorola
- Lenovo A1000 quietly goes on sale, undercuts the Nexus 7
- Facebook Home updated with folders, widgets coming next
- AT&T and Beats Audio looking to partner on music streaming service
- Jelly Bean usage rises above Gingerbread
- TYLT VU Wireless Charger stand hands-on and impressions
- Motorola launches PRIP push-to-talk in the US
| BBM for Android still missing with no release date in sight Posted: 09 Jul 2013 10:23 AM PDT A few weeks ago the rumors started swirling when an official looking but fake BlackBerry Twitter account confirmed the messenger service would arrive for Android on June 27th. It fact, T-Mobile UK even reshared the news as official, even though it was not. We’ve heard multiple reports that June 27th was the release date, so was it delayed, or only rumors?
All the tweets were later deleted and June 27th came and went without any such news or release. Don’t worry though BlackBerry fans. BBM for Android is coming, and coming soon, we just don’t know when. Back in May BlackBerry confirmed we’d see the messenger arrive this summer, but that’s the last we’ve heard of it. Summer officially started on June 21st here in the US, and it ends sometime in late September. Just like the Verizon HTC One “coming this summer” the date really could be whenever. BlackBerry confirmed it would arrive “this summer” but gave absolutely zero time frame. We’re nearly 3 weeks into summer officially, and a release date or update would be nice. While we have no new details or news regarding BBM for Android, Google is busy working hard on their own option for Google Hangouts, and will be getting integrated into SMS. So while many Android users are waiting patiently for BBM to arrive, would you still use it if Google makes Hangouts the universal chat we were all hoping for? Is BlackBerry taking too long and giving Google a chance to steal the thunder, or will you still use BBM regardless? Let us know in the comments below. |
| ZTE Overture 4G joins the prepaid Aio Wireless lineup Posted: 09 Jul 2013 10:18 AM PDT Aio Wireless was launched by AT&T as a prepaid carrier setup. The original announcement came back in May and at the time Aio Wireless had a few smartphones and tablets available. While that number hasn’t grown tremendously since, there has been a new addition that arrived today. The latest handset is the ZTE Overture 4G which Aio Wireless has priced at $149.99.
While that price seems rather nice for a contract-free setup where there isn’t any device subsidy, that should also say something about the specs. Basically, the ZTE Overture 4G isn’t the high-end device many seem to be looking for. But with that in mind, those who are looking for a low cost option without the burden of a contract — well, this one may be good for you. ZTE has the Overture 4G running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and with hardware to include a 4-inch display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 4GB of internal storage and 4G LTE connectivity. Other highlights of the Overture 4G include a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera, 1 megapixel front-facing camera, 1780 mAh battery and microSD card slot. The Overture 4G also has the basics such as WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 and microUSB for charging. Aside from the purchase price of the Overture 4G, those looking towards Aio Wireless will be able to choose from one of two available plans — Smart or Pro. These plans are priced at $55 or $70 per month and both include unlimited calling, messaging and data. The difference between the two plans comes in with the high-speed data. The $55 per month offering includes 2GB at high-speed and the $70 per month offering includes 7GB at high-speed. The Overture 4G may be the newest addition to the lineup, however Aio Wireless also has several other Android handsets available. These others include the Galaxy Express, Galaxy Amp and ZTE Prelude which are priced at $249.99, $99.99 and $49.99 respectively. That said, the one catch with Aio Wireless is the limited rollout. At this time the service is only available for those in Houston, Texas as well as Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida. |
| Galaxy S4 sales causing a ‘crisis’ at Samsung according to employee Posted: 09 Jul 2013 09:49 AM PDT Samsung’s Galaxy S III smartphone was one of the most popular and highest selling smartphones last year. This year it was followed up with the bigger, better, faster Galaxy S4. Estimated to reach nearly 100 million in sales, and set to be a huge success. After already reaching 20 million shipped (not sold) some analysts are predicting a slowdown, and now one employee is reporting an internal crisis at Samsung.
With more than 20 million sold in just a few months, we wouldn’t call it a crisis, but according to the Korean news ETNews that’s exactly what has happened. While Samsung is seeing high sales, they aren’t quite as high as expected. The report comes to us by the way of one Samsung employee who wishes to remain anonymous. The tipster states that the market penetration here in the US isn’t as high as predicted, possibly due to saturation from their other popular Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III, and the S4 isn’t doing as well as predicted. As a result, they’ll be shaking things up to help fix the crisis caused by the Galaxy S4. What’s the plan? Samsung aims to "maximize the market share with a number of small hit models, not one single mega hit model." Which basically means they might be going back to the Samsung of old, and releasing a flurry of products instead of one hero device like the SIII and S4.
This has already started with the Galaxy S 4 having multiple different models from the Mini, Zoom, and Active. And reports yesterday claim possibly 4 different models of the upcoming Galaxy Note III phablet. Each model will be specialized for that market, instead of a one device for all mindset. Now this could all just be talk, but it was interesting nonetheless. We think Samsung is doing just fine, but the Galaxy S5 might need to be more evolutionary than the last. VIA: AndroidBeat |
| Floating Touch app brings a Chat Head-like approach to settings Posted: 09 Jul 2013 09:23 AM PDT Chat Heads is one of the more unique features to have come as a result of Facebook Home. While we have seen some similar offers in terms of a Chat Head-like notification setup, it looks like we now have a similar option for device settings. The app is called Floating Touch and it has recently made entry into the Google Play Store.
The app is available for free and there is also a pro version that unlocks some additional features for about $2.00. That being said, given the free version does have quite a few features we would suggest starting with that to make sure you like using this setup. Based on our limited time using the app, it does appear like it will take some getting used to.   For example, the Floating Touch ‘spot’ will always be showing. You will see it on your homescreen and it will also float above any open apps. One perk here is how the ‘spot’ can be moved around the display — just in case it happens to be in the way. Anyway, a tap of the spot will open the full circle which presents default options to lock the screen, clean up the memory, go Home and open your settings folder. The settings folder offers access to settings such as WiFi, Bluetooth and more. This is basically what you get from the notification shade. Once the full circle is open you can also tap the middle to launch the actual Floating Touch app. From here you have access to customize the circle and this is broken down into Panel, Custom and Point.    These settings are fairly simple, but still powerful enough. You can customize the color of the wheel and the spot circle. The spot circle comes with a few pre-set options. Users going the pro route will also be able to customize the spot with an image of their own. Another of the pro features include the ability to add new folders to the wheel. Of course, there are a handful of other adjustments for non-pro users which allow the pre-set wheel functions to be changed. There are also some settings to enable/disable the app and set it to auto-launch. We should also mention that a few features are available only for rooted users. These are clearly listed in the Settings page under “About Root Features” and mention how the Back and Menu button features require root. Bottom line here, the Floating Touch app may be good for those looking for a way to always have your quick setting available. VIA: xda-developers SOURCE: Google Play Store |
| T-Mobile “anytime upgrade” club announcement may arrive this week Posted: 09 Jul 2013 08:34 AM PDT Talk of a T-Mobile “anytime upgrade” club has been around for a few months now and it is looking like an announcement may be coming sooner rather than later. The carrier hasn’t said anything to confirm this, however speculation comes by way of an advertisement that recently ran in the Wall Street Journal. The ad was talking about upgrade eligibility.
Specifically, T-Mobile cited a WSJ article from when AT&T extended the upgrade eligibility requirement out to 24 months. And while T-Mobile called out AT&T on this matter, we should also make it clear that Verizon Wireless recently did the same thing. That said, the T-Mobile advertisement then went on to offer the following;
This brings us to the point of the “anytime upgrade” club announcement coming sooner rather than later. We had already known that T-Mobile had an event planned for this Wednesday. On top of that earlier knowledge, the carrier also concluded that advertisement with a mention about how “this wednesday, see how your long wait can end.” Seems like they are suggesting anytime upgrades. Well, anytime may be a bit generous given we have yet to see all the details. What we do know on the topic is that previous talk suggested this program would launch with a “very small” membership fee and the ability to upgrade two times per year. It was also said that customers will need to have insurance on their handsets. There wasn’t any mention about whether the insurance would be included as part of that membership fee or if that would be a separate add-on. Otherwise, adding additional details on the upgrade club and we look back to a survey the carrier ran with select users earlier in the year. That survey was done in February and included questions asking how often they currently upgrade/buy new phones and if they would be interested in trading in a current device next time they upgrade. The survey also touched on the fee asking what the maximum the customer would be willing to pay (with options for $2, $5, $10 and $12 per month). VIA: TmoNews |
| Tumblr for Android update brings search and discovery improvements Posted: 09 Jul 2013 07:47 AM PDT The folks at Tumblr have rolled out the latest Android app update. This update has arrived as version 3.4.0 and it currently available in the Google Play Store. This latest update probably isn’t what many would consider a game changer in that it does include countless new features, but it does bring some improvements in terms of search and discovery.
Not to mention, it makes it easier to follow recommended blogs and also share your posts to other networks. Those updating the app will likely notice a few changes here and there. To begin with, this update brings a change to the center button across the top. The update now includes a search icon which when tapped will bring the option to search tags and blogs. The page offers easy access to the trending tags as well as the trending blogs, however a tap of the search box will allow you to enter the search terms of your choosing. That same page will also show a list of featured hashtags. You can then also track and share that search term. As far as content discovery goes, the search results page offers a clear ability to follow results with a “Follow” option sitting on the right side.
Otherwise, another smaller but welcomed change comes in with sharing your posts. This comes from the Home page (home icon sitting on top) and if you look towards the bottom of any of your posts you will now see a share button. This share button joins the previously existing buttons (which were delete and edit) and is sitting on the left. A tap of this share option brings the familiar Android share page which offers sharing options based on what you have on your device. SOURCE: Google Play Store |
| Samsung Galaxy Note III UAProf confirms 1080p display resolution Posted: 09 Jul 2013 07:11 AM PDT It looks like some additional Galaxy Note III details have surfaced. This latest is coming by way of the User Agent Profile (UAProf) and is confirming the display resolution for the handset. There isn’t any confirmation on the size of the display just yet, however the resolution should be arriving as 1920 x 1080. In addition, this UAProf listing shows the Galaxy Note III with model numbers of SM-N900T and SM-N900A.
The interesting part here, while this UAProf listing mentions two Galaxy Note III model numbers — yesterday we had been hearing reports the handset would be launching with four models. According to those details, the two higher-end in that group of four were expected to have an AMOLED display. The remaining two were then expected to have an LCD display. Some of the other still rumored specs for the Galaxy Note III include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 or Exynos 5 Octa processor with 3GB of RAM and a display that measures in at 5.7-inches. The camera had been believed to be 13 megapixels, however based on what we saw yesterday that may also include an 8 megapixel depending on the specific model.
That report touched on how the bottom-end model would have the 8MP with the remaining three having a 13MP. Otherwise, the Galaxy Note III is also expected to arrive running the latest versions of Android and TouchWiz. Of course, the handset will also have the S Pen like we have seen on the other Galaxy Note smartphones and tablets. Looking towards these two model numbers that came as a result of this UAProf listing and there wasn’t anything further on the T or the A. One thing seems certain though — similar to how Samsung has done things in the past, we should see an international model in addition to various carrier models. In the meantime, we are fairly certain the leaks and rumors will continue right up until Samsung makes an official announcement during IFA in September. |
| HTC One and Galaxy S 4 Google Play edition smartphones now shipping Posted: 09 Jul 2013 06:37 AM PDT The Google Play edition smartphones have begun shipping as of today. This includes the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4 which are both available from the Play Store. These handsets originally went on sale back in late-June, however as of today they are actually available to ship. As had been, the HTC One is priced at $599 and the Galaxy S 4 is priced at $649.
These handsets are both running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and will be arriving with familiar specs in terms of the hardware. The HTC One is sporting a 4.7-inch 1080p display, 32GB of storage and a 2300 mAh battery while the Galaxy S 4 has a 5-inch 1080p display, 16GB of storage, micro SD card slot and a 2600 mAh battery. Both handsets have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor with 2GB of RAM. Perhaps the more important part here is about the updates and the bit about how both are unlocked and contract free. According to details coming from the Play Store listings, these handsets will have the “latest in Android.” Google notes how;
Otherwise, as a result of these handset having already made their way into the hands of some users — we have begun seeing apps and ROMs come available. The Camera app and the wallpapers arrived back on June 27th and they all remain available for download at this time. The Camera app leak is interesting in that it will allow non-Nexus users to capture Photosphere images. While the Camera app is easy enough for anyone to load up and begin using, we also have the ROMs available for those looking to dive in a bit deeper. An HTC One ROM leaked that allowed users to take their handset to a stock Jelly Bean experience. The same can also be said for those sporting a Verizon Galaxy S 4. More recently we also saw something called MoDaCo Switch that allows HTC One users to switch between Sense and Google. SOURCE: Google Play Store |
| SanDisk Extreme Micro-SDXC launched as world’s fastest card for mobile Posted: 09 Jul 2013 06:00 AM PDT The folks from SanDisk have been leading the charge on removable storage and USB storage for a long, long time. Their Mobile Ultra and Extreme SD cards have always been among the quickest on the market, but this morning they just launched a new era in Micro-SD cards. Currently the Mobile ULTRA micro-SDXC is the fastest they offer, but their new Extreme will nearly double the performance.
Announced today is the new line of SanDisk Extreme Micro-SDXC cards. Ranging from 16GB to 64GB in size. Extreme models are available for lower storage, but not XC (extended capacity) cards. Their Mobile Ultra cards have been popular in smartphones and tablets, especially Android users, for the fast read/write speeds. Helping users capture burst-shot photos, 1080p video, and more. Their new cards however, offer much more in terms of speed, while also keeping durability a top priority. The ULTRA line offers read and write speeds reaching 30 MB/s and are considered Class 10. Today’s newly announced Extreme Micro-SD option will bring read speeds to nearly 80 MB/s (great for streaming 1080p video from our quad-core smartphones) and write speeds topping 50 MB/s while snapping loads of photos. More than doubling the read speeds and offering a huge increase in write speeds, SanDisk claims their new Extreme Micro-SDXC cards are the best fit for our mobile devices. Data transfer, fast-action photography, burst-mode, and even 1080p video recording and playback should all benefit from these increased speeds. The Ultra cards can be found for under $60 these days, but expect these blazing fast new Extreme options to run anywhere from $59.99 to $199 for the 64GB model. Are these speeds worth it to you? Let us know below in the comments. |
| US smartphone market led by Android, iOS not far behind Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:56 PM PDT The trend in the smartphone market continues with Android leading the sales of smartphones in the United States. Most of that is thanks to the Galaxy S4, but iOS isn’t far behind. Apple‘s iOS is also creeping up, and all set to become stronger competition with iOS 7 and the new iPhone coming later this year. According to new studies, Google’s Android grabbed 52% of smartphone sales in the United States. The figures coming from sales from March through May.
However, it exhibited little growth from the figures during the same time period from last year. On the contrary, during the same time-frame, Apple’s still popular iOS was able to grab 41.9% of smartphone sales in the United States. The figures reveal an increase of 3.5% from that of the sales figure a year back. Some are attributing the gain to the sales from T-mobile offering the iPhone, and not an increase of popularity over Android. The latest installment of Apple's flagship device, the Apple iPhone 5 was the best-seller during the three-month period ending May. Despite launching the iPhone just in April, 2013, T-Mobile was extremely successful managing a good chunk of 1st time smartphone buyers. As a matter of fact, 28% of T-mobile users eying to change their phones are considering iPhone as the first option. According to reports. iOS is followed by the Windows Phone. Microsoft's Window Phone could get hold of 4.6% market share during the three-month period ending May. Which certainly isn’t much and only a mere 1% gain from what we saw previously reported for last year. This is just one report of many, during a specific time frame of device sales, so we’ll take it all with a grain of salt. Plus, we already know Android is the best. Right? VIA: CNET |
| Google releases fix in response to “Master Key” exploit Posted: 08 Jul 2013 11:41 PM PDT Google has released a fix in response to Bluebox Security's claim to have found a vulnerability in the security model of Android. One that could enable attackers to transform 99% of all apps into Trojan malware. Google stated that the security hole has been patched, and the said patch has been released to the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers).
CTO of Bluebox Security, Jeff Forristal had stated that the security hole has been around at least since the time of the release of Android 1.6. He then states that the security exploit could affect all Android phones released in the past 4 years. It also means that, approximately 900 million devices could have been affected if the security hole was used by the attackers. The vulnerability exists in the process of verification and installation of Android apps. Each one of the Android apps has a cryptographic signature that's used to make sure that the contents of an app don't get tampered with. On the contrary, the security hole supposedly enables the attackers to modify the content of the apps keeping the secure signature intact. Communication manager of Google, Gina Scigliano, stated that there isn't any official statement from Google in this regard. With Google patching the exploit, now we’ll have to wait for the manufactures to add the security patch to upcoming updates. Therefore, Android users will have to wait for their respective vendors to receive the update. According to the media communications manager, the users don't need to worry much as there has been no incidence of exploitation of the security hole. This exploit is nothing new, but the fact that it’s finally been patched is good news. Continue using safe methods by only installing apps from the Play Store, and you won’t have a problem. VIA: ZDNET |
| Panasonic teams with Norwegian Airlines to bring first in-flight Android entertainment system Posted: 08 Jul 2013 09:05 PM PDT Long flights are tedious, to understate it, and in-flight entertainment options have traditionally been lacking. While fliers can take a device with them, the device is separate from the flying experience, something that has fueled the newly announced partnership between Panasonic Aviation and Norwegian Airlines to launch the first-ever in-flight Android entertainment system.
Unfortunately, information on the system is pretty sparse at this point, including a lack of details on when the system will be making its way into planes and specifics about how the system will function. During the announcement, however, it was said that the entertainment system will be “similar” to what users experience on their own Android tablets and smartphones. In what is referred to as the “edginess of the universe,” Panasonic’s technology will be used for an 18-month period, and will extend beyond mere entertainment with the ability for passengers to summon things like drinks and buy snacks, making it more of an all-in-one functionality type of offering. Music, movies, and games will all be offered as well, likely at a price, though that isn’t mentioned. The entertainment system will be delivered via touchscreen panels installed in the seats, and will be available on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircrafts that fly between the United States, Scandinavia, and Asia. Panasonic Avionics’ President and CEO Paul Margis said: "Panasonic is passionate about bringing the latest technology to the onboard experience, and are proud to deliver the first in-flight entertainment system that is powered by Android. This open platform architecture facilitates faster, easier, application development, integration, and deployment, enabling Norwegian to engage passengers in an even more amazing entertainment experience while creating new revenue streams." SOURCE: Norwegian    |
| Moto X factory photo leak suggests dual-SIM variation Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:02 PM PDT Today has seen its fair share of information about the Moto X, not the least of which is confirmation that the rumored July 11th press event is, in fact, just a private party, and that the launch date is still unannounced. We also saw a tip earlier today that the anticipated flagship handset will have a Clear Pixel camera with gesture controls. And now we’re seeing some decidedly non-colorful images of the casing said to have been snapped on the factory floor.
The images were found over at Weibo by the French website NWE, and in them we see what is said to be the traditional black color common on most handsets, which will be offered to those who purchase the smartphone in a store rather than a customized one online. In addition, there’s a white case piece that may be of the DROID Ultra rather than the Moto X. As noted by NWE, the image above shows two SIM slots, aptly named “SIM 1″ and “SIM 2,” indicating that a dual-SIM variation could be in the plans. Likewise, as can be noted in the images, the speaker is positioned to the left of the camera rather than the right, which is featured on the leaked images purported to be different color casings for the back of the Moto X.
The color combinations revealed in the leaked images falls in line with the coloring found in the circle around Motorola’s new “M” logo, which was revealed by Google not too long ago. In the logo, there are a dozen different colors featured, not including white, black, or grays, which we may be now seeing for the first time in the images in the gallery below. Reportedly, the Moto X will also be available with custom engravings on the back. Thus far, the leaked specs claim the flagship smartphone will offer a 720p display, an 8-megapixel camera around back, and a dual-core Qualcomm processor under the hood. As always, we’ll keep you updated when we know more, so stay tuned!      SOURCE: SlashGear |
| Moto X event on July 11th denied by Motorola Posted: 08 Jul 2013 05:51 PM PDT The rumors surrounding Google and Motorola’s upcoming Moto X smartphone haven’t slowed down. In fact, they’ve only increased now that Motorola’s confirmed the device is real, coming soon, and will be completely customizable after posting a teaser site on July 4th. However, the latest rumors swirling was that a private press event on July 11th was taking place, but we can now confirm that is false.
Motorola launched a teaser page confirming the smartphone last week, then shortly after followed up with a product page and the image you see above. Combining a few random reports of a July 11th unveil with the “X” and “I” (roman numerals 11) you see above, the rumor mill decided July 11th was the day we’d learn more details. Following that was popular tech blogger Leo Laporte confirming a private event for “50 or so press members” on July 11th, which helped stir the pot. After reaching out to Google and Motorola, Android Community has learned that the July 11th rumor just that, a rumor. Guy Kawasaki, former Apple evangelist turned Motorola employee, is having his own private gathering with friends and no products will be revealed or launched. So don’t worry guys. That basically puts that entire rumor to rest. Motorola has nothing going on come July 11th, and when they are finally ready to show and announce the anticipated Moto X, we’ll surely know about it. A launch as big and as important as this phone, they’ll be screaming it from the mountain tops with tons of press coverage. Just as they’ve already started. The phone has leaked a lot over the past week, and so far all the details still aren’t known. We’ll be keeping out eye out for more information, just don’t expect it to come on July 11th. More details on Moto X can be found from the timeline below. |
| Lenovo A1000 quietly goes on sale, undercuts the Nexus 7 Posted: 08 Jul 2013 04:43 PM PDT The latest line of Android tablets from the PC giant Lenovo were revealed in Barcelona, Spain during Mobile World Congress, and today a few are finally available for purchase. It’s been almost 5 months since we first got our hands-on their tablets and today the budget 7-inch Lenovo A1000 can be yours for just $149.
The folks from Lenovo are taking a similar approach as Acer, and as of late Samsung, by offering a low or mid-range tablet at an affordable price. The Lenovo A1000 isn’t quite as powerful or up to spec as the Nexus 7 from Google and ASUS, but they’ve managed to undercut them on the price tag. The Nexus 7 is still flying off the shelves, even with rumors of a Nexus 7 2 in the works, and Lenovo wants a piece of the sales. The Lenovo A1000 comes equipped with a 7-inch 1024 x 600 resolution display (the weakest link) compared to the HD display of the Nexus 7, but you get what you pay for here. You’ll also be working with a 1.2 GHz dual-core MediaTek processor, instead of the quad-core Tegra 3 from the Nexus 7. The A1000 is very similar the recently reviewed HP Slate 7, in which it offers nearly the same specs, but skimps on a few important ones and is available for less cash. It comes with 1GB of RAM and sadly only 4GB of storage. However, their A3000 has a quad-core from MediaTek and 16GB of storage for $179, again undercutting the Nexus 7 price.
These Lenovo tablets do run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, but surely they won’t receive the same fast updates as Google’s own Nexus 7. If you’re on a budget they are worth consideration, but honestly you might as well save up for the Nexus 7. That or wait for the Nexus 7 2 which is rumored for a late July release.    |
| Facebook Home updated with folders, widgets coming next Posted: 08 Jul 2013 03:43 PM PDT Facebook is busy pushing another round of updates out today for their standard app, as well as the somewhat useful Facebook Home launcher. The update for Home will bring the option for users to enjoy folders for their apps. Which can then be used in the app tray, or on the newly added dock so we can access apps and such like a smartphone should, instead of being merely a social networking device.
When Facebook Home first launched many were excited about it, but the lack of overall phone features we’re all used to was a big problem. They’ve since added the standard bottom dock for phone, messenger, or whatever apps you use the most. And now today have added folder support, something we’ve had on regular Android for a long time. Simply drag an app on top of another and you’ll instantly be able to start a folder. This way users can group social apps, games, or whatever else into neat organized folders. Something that should make using Facebook Home even easier. Interestingly enough, while the changelog on the Play Store doesn’t mention it our Facebook rep mentioned the next feature they’re planning is widget support. Sadly months after launch I still can’t try these feature on my Galaxy S4, as it isn’t officially supported, but if you’ve got a capable device give it a try from the download below. Then the regular Facebook app was also updated. We have sharing of stories into private messages, new swipe features to open chats, and for those still on Gingerbread they finally added the option to put Facebook on your SD card. That’s only about 2 years late. Let us know if you’re participating in the Facebook app beta, and if you notice anything exciting. In the meantime, get the new Home below. VIA: Play Store |
| AT&T and Beats Audio looking to partner on music streaming service Posted: 08 Jul 2013 02:44 PM PDT This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Jimmy Lovine, co-founder and CEO of Beats Audio Electronics and his music streaming service, but the latest word is they’ll be making a huge push to compete with Spotify and Google Music. We already know the service is reportedly being called Project Daisy, and today reports have surfaced that they’ll be partnering up with AT&T.
According to the latest details from CNET, Beats Audio and AT&T will partner up and be combining the music streaming service into existing AT&T data plans. This move will be one attempt, of many, to beat out competitors like Rdio and Spotify with ads and fees. It would also be pretty safe to assume all HTC smartphones will have this bundled and pre-installed, but that was a given considering their partnership. The initial Beats and AT&T partnership is said to still be in the early stages, so the exact details on possible structuring aren’t yet available. We’re assuming AT&T will either have exclusive access early, maybe a beta trial, or their own ad-free version that others could pay for. This all being if the above mentioned combination into data plans doesn’t pan out. Pretty interesting approach we’re hearing here, but nothing is set in stone. CNET ends by stating if the AT&T does doesn’t work out, Lovine will continue on to other carriers and try to work something out and give another the exclusive access. Would you switch from your music streaming app of choice for a version bundled with your carrier? We’re loving Google Music All Access here. Let us know. VIA: CNET |
| Jelly Bean usage rises above Gingerbread Posted: 08 Jul 2013 01:53 PM PDT Google has once again released the numbers showing the percentage of Android versions and while we have been watching a steady rise for Jelly Bean, this latest shows a change in the top position. Over the course of the past month Jelly Bean usage has gone from 33 percent up to 37.9 percent. But perhaps the key point here, Jelly Bean usage is now sitting above Gingerbread.
As a result of the rise of Jelly Bean usage, both Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich usage dropped over the past month. This latest report (which has data taken from the 14-day period ending on July 8th) shows Jelly Bean with 37.9 percent, Ice Cream Sandwich with 23.3 percent and Gingerbread with 34.1 percent. Looking at the previous report, which had data taken from the 14-day period ending on June 3rd and we saw Jelly Bean with 33 percent, Ice Cream Sandwich with 25.6 percent and Gingerbread with 36.5 percent. Also worth noting, this latest report now looks at Gingerbread as being 2.3.3 – 2.3.7, as opposed to previous reports which had it listed as 2.3 – 2.3.2 and 2.3.3 – 2.3.7.
Jelly Bean usage is broken down between 4.1.x and 4.2.x. The split here has 4.1.x with the majority 32.3 percent and 4.2.x with the minority 5.6 percent. Aside from the big three versions here, this platform version breakdown also shows numbers for Donut, Eclair, Froyo and Honeycomb. The combined usage for those four smaller players is just 4.7 percent. While these four will likely continue dropping off, it is worth mentioning that given the small percentage each is holding, the change is not all that noticeable. Going from the previous months report and we saw Donut and Honeycomb retain a 0.1 percent share with Eclair and Froyo each losing a 0.1 percent share. In the end though, the more important seems the differences between Jelly Bean and Gingerbread and for those we will continue to watch the change. If nothing else, it is nice to finally see Jelly Bean take top honors here. SOURCE: Android Developers |
| TYLT VU Wireless Charger stand hands-on and impressions Posted: 08 Jul 2013 01:30 PM PDT We have plenty of options when looking for a wireless charger for our smartphones. With models from LG, Nokia, PowerMat, Energizer and recently Samsung, but the folks from TYLT offer our favorite. The TYLT Wireless charger doubles as a stand, and the entire platform will charge your device so you won’t be fumbling for that perfect position to get a charge. Take a look below.
TYLT first revealed their QI wireless charger and stand at CES in January, and it quickly went up for pre-order a few weeks later. Coming in an array of different colors, rapid charging technology and more we decided to grab one and let you all know how it went. As you can see from the images, this isn’t just a mat or platform you drop your phone on like the others offer. It doubles as a stand and has a perfect angle for viewing movies. Then once plugged in via micro-USB, the stand becomes an efficient wireless charger. The DROID DNA, LG Nexus 4, Lucid 2 and others all have wireless charging built-in, so this would be the perfect accessory.
Samsung recently released their wireless charging battery replacement doors for the Galaxy S4. Buy one of those, snap it on, and throw your GS4 on the TYLT charger and you’ll be fully juiced up in no time. Unlike the slow charging Samsung wireless dock, the TYLT offers full-speed micro-USB rapid charging, instead of the trickle charge most wireless charging pads offer. So it won’t slow you down. The front bottom of the dock, under the lip, there’s an easy to spot LED indicator. This will let you know when the device is charging, full, or for some reason not connected properly. The TYLT offers what they call a “Free Positioning Mode” so even if your phone is sitting landscape while you enjoy a movie, it should still charge. Overall we really like the TYLT since it doubles as a stand, and your device won’t slide off like the Nexus 4 charging orb. It has a soft-touch rubber material to prevent scratching, and nice soft rubber feet for added stability on the table or your office desk.
The TYLT Wireless Charger and stand is available as we speak for $69.99, and once you buy that battery cover for your Galaxy S4 you’ll be set. Otherwise toss that Nexus 4 or DROID DNA with built-in wireless charging on the TYLT and you’ll have full power at the same speed as traditional walled charging. It’s available in black, blue, red, yellow, and a few other colors so have at it.       |
| Motorola launches PRIP push-to-talk in the US Posted: 08 Jul 2013 01:13 PM PDT Motorola has officially launched the PRIP push-to-talk service for US-based Android users. This launch is being done in conjunction with NII Holdings and means instant connections between all PRIP users. While the US launch happened today, the service had been available for those in Mexico, Brazil and Latin America. PRIP will work regardless of the carrier and will run on devices with Android 2.3 or later.
Additionally, PRIP is set-up to connect using a cellular or WiFi connection. While all this sounds good so far, there is one catch that may turn some users away — the price. PRIP allows for unlimited calling between users, however it does comes with a $7.99 monthly subscription. For a limited time, new users will be able to get the first month for free. Sticking on the topic of price, while not free, it does certainly sound less expensive when compared to other international calling options. Plus, there seems to be a perk in the bit about this being push-to-talk with instant connections. Otherwise, the PRIP app also allows for individual and group conversations as well as what is being called “guaranteed talk.” This basically means that you will know the person is listening even before you begin talking. In addition, the PRIP app doesn’t include any advertisements and will automatically import your contacts during the set-up process. The other point here goes back to how this service is available for a wide variety of users. You have wide support for Android devices in a wide variety of countries. And if the Android support isn’t enough, PRIP has promised support for the iPhone as well. That support hasn’t arrived yet and we have yet to see a date, but basically, if you happen to have some iPhone carrying friends you can rest assured in knowing they will soon be part of your PRIP push-to-talk network. SOURCE: Yahoo!, Google Play Store |
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