Thursday, July 18, 2013

Android World Update # AT&T now has fastest and most reliable 4G LTE network

AndroidGuys
Android news and opinion
AT&T now has fastest and most reliable 4G LTE network
Jul 18th 2013, 15:07, by Scott Webster

att_4g_lte_network

Get ready for some new ad campaigns with a bit of mud slinging and braggadocio. AT&T now owns the title of fastest 4G LTE network and the most reliable in the nation. That is, of course, the claims from independent third-party data hold up.

So who is it that says AT&T has the best 4G LTE experience in the country?  Here’s the stuff that has Ma Bell thumping her chest today:

  • PCWorld/TechHive recognized AT&T's 4G LTE service as having faster average download and upload speeds than any of our competitors in its most recent 20-market speed tests — the second consecutive year that AT&T has ranked first overall. PCWorld/TechHive also ranked AT&T's as the fastest combination of 3G and 4G services in the 20 cities it tested.
  • PC Magazine named AT&T America's fastest 4G LTE network in its 2013 Fastest Mobile Networks 30-market study — and also swept the top rankings in all six U.S. regions from coast to coast: Northeast, Southeast, North-Central, South-Central, Northwest and Southwest.
  • RootMetrics® has awarded AT&T for strongest overall call, text, and data performance in multiple markets from January through June of this year.

We might expect AT&T to run some new commercials or print ads doing a little showboating. We might also expect other carriers to throw shade at them or try to poke holes in claims Of course they might also have their own surveys and studies to tout as well.

AT&T

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Android World Update # Working Android 4.3 build available to Nexus 4 users early

AndroidGuys
Android news and opinion
Working Android 4.3 build available to Nexus 4 users early
Jul 18th 2013, 15:24, by Thijs Koot

Android 4.3 screenshot

Android 4.3 has been popping up here and there on the internet for a while now, but now the leak has spread even further. If you’re the proud owner of a Nexus 4, there is a working Android 4.3 build posted up on XDA-Developers.com.

This particular build was extracted from a Nexus 4 running Android 4.3, courtesy of Google+ user Jeff Williams. The files are already confirmed to work but are currently being tested by Modaco-founder Paul O’Brien and we strongly discourage anyone from trying it out but if you’ve got a Nexus 4 to spare and can’t wait to get your hands on an early Android 4.3 build, it’s available in the XDA-thread in the source.

While we’re not exactly sure what this new version of Google’s operating system is going to bring, one thing is becoming very clear: It won’t be long before we find out the official details at the release of Android 4.3.

Source: XDA-Developers, Google+

Via: Engadget

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Android World Update # The Last Contact – Manning the gun with a hint of exercise

AndroidGuys
Android news and opinion
The Last Contact – Manning the gun with a hint of exercise
Jul 18th 2013, 16:25, by Ben Crawford

The Last Contact is a gunning/turret-style game with gorgeous graphics that will have you spinning, literally.  A combination of great mechanics along with the peculiarity of physical movement makes this game stand out in the Android crowd, especially for those who remember Fury3.

cap1

The Last Contact begins with you in the gunner’s seat, targeting two different enemies.  The first enemy is a spherical droid with legs (think GLaDOS with legs) that attempts to run into you and blow up.  The second is a flying ship that circles above you and shoots lasers at you.  These enemies are marked on the screen, around your targeting reticle, by purple and red dots.

Your health and a bomb timer are set in the upper-left corner, your score is in the upper-right corner, and below your reticle are buttons for recentering the camera and for using a bomb that destroys all the enemies on the screen.  If you tap the right side of the screen, you shoot a teal laser, which is your main weapon, while tapping the left side of the screen allows you to zoom.  Aside from the buttons, bars, and enemies, your turret is stationed in a picturesque mountain setting that encircles your turret.

The levels progressively get harder as you beat them, and your score multiplier doubles as you kill more and more enemies in succession.  Killing enemies is the easy part.  Whirling furiously in your chair (hopefully a swivel chair) is where you become breathless, lost, and disoriented while the enemies mount numerous attacks.  The Google Play Games service could be well implemented here to allow you to compete against others for a high score, but as of now, you can only compete with yourself.

You have a full 360 degree rotation as well as an almost-vertical Y-axis.  The enemies will come from all angles so standing static is impossible.  At first, the enemies are slow and attack head-on, but the further you progress, the more varying the dropzones get and the faster the enemies walk and fly.  The setting and movement are reminiscent of the turret scene in the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars except that there are more enemies and a bright color palette.

Whirling furiously in your chair is where you become breathless, lost, and disoriented while the enemies mount numerous attacks.

While you begin with a fair bit of health, there are bonuses you get randomly that serve as health packs and bonus points.  These extras, however, are where The Last Contact could add a suite of extra features.  More enemies, more environments, and more bonuses could cement the turret-gunning experience.  As it stands, you are wildly swinging your phone at only two types of enemies in one environment with beating your high score as the sole motivation to continue.

The Last Contact adds a new dimension to mobile gaming.  You are not stuck hunched over, gracefully moving your phone back and forth to navigate tiny balls into holes; no, you are frantically zooming in and out, twisting and turning to find and target your enemies, ungracefully, maniacally, and probably funnily in public.  Hopefully in the future, The Last Contact will add some new features and new enemies, but for now, “Don’t get cocky, kid.”

Click to view slideshow.

What we liked

  • Great graphics.
  • Challenging.
  • Exciting, turret-wielding with your phone.

What could be improved

  • More diverse enemies.
  • More levels and objectives.

Download The Last Contact (Google Play)

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Android World Update # Virgin Mobile now offering LG Optimus F3

AndroidGuys
Android news and opinion
Virgin Mobile now offering LG Optimus F3
Jul 18th 2013, 15:39, by Scott Webster

Click to view slideshow.

Virgin Moblile announced on Thursday that the LG Optimus F3 is now available for its prepaid customers. Priced at $179.99, the 4G LTE handset runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and features a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 5-megapixel rear camera. With a 4-inch IPS display, front-facing VGA camera, 2460mAh battery, NFC, and a host of LG software touches, the Optimus F3 is plenty for new smartphone buyers.

The LG handset can be paired with any of Virgin Mobile’s Beyond Talk monthly no-contract plan (unlimited data and messaging) which starting at $35 per month.

Boost Mobile

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Android World Update # Here’s a first look at the HTC One Mini (video)

Android Authority
Android News, Reviews, How To
Here's a first look at the HTC One Mini (video)
Jul 18th 2013, 15:53, by Brad Ward

HTC One Mini

Earlier today, HTC announced a more compact version of its flagship device for the year, the HTC One, dubbing it the HTC One Mini. And now, HTC has released a video taking a first look at the miniature device, though it doesn’t really show us anything beyond what we expected this new device to have.

Here’s a quick reminder of the specs:

  • Size: 132 x 63.2 x 9.25mm
  • Weight: 122g
  • 4.3-inch S-LCD3 display with 1280 x 720 resolution (341 ppi)
  • 1.4GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, Adreno 305 GPU
  • 1GB of DDR3
  • 16GB of storage but no microSD card
  • 4-megapixel UltraPixel camera with HTC Zoe support
  • 1.6-megapixel front-facing camera
  • LTE support
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • BoomSound support
  • Android 4.2.2 with Sense 5 on top and BlinkFeed
  • 1800 mAh non-removable battery

In some respects, it’s pretty similar to the Galaxy S4 Mini, especially when it comes to the processing package, and as you might expect, the HTC One Mini doesn’t look much different from its big brother, the One. So, is there anything new we can expect in the one? Aside from downgraded specs, there isn’t much. In fact, HTC’s first look video basically tells us what we already expected.

To sum it up, it basically shows us that BlinkFeed, HTC Zoe, and HTC BoomSound makes a return. The reassurance is nice to see considering that a lot of features in the Galaxy S4 didn’t make it to the Galaxy S4 Mini. Despite telling us what we already expected, HTC created a pretty darn awesome commercial showcasing it all. Check out the video for yourself below!

So, HTC basically just dropped a bomb on the mid-range market. What do you think of the HTC One Mini?

    


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Android World Update # Android 4.3 system dump leaked from a Nexus 4 bought on Craigslist, available to flash now

Android Phone Fans
Android Phone News, Rumors, Reviews, Apps, Forums & More!
Android 4.3 system dump leaked from a Nexus 4 bought on Craigslist, available to flash now
Jul 18th 2013, 16:14, by Quentyn Kennemer

Holy mackerel! Someone was able to buy a Nexus 4 that had Android 4.3 pre-installed on Craigslist, and now the full system dump is available for download. Those with an unlocked Nexus 4 can also flash this in .zip form -- come and get it!

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Android World Update # Not yet there: the problems with mobile apps and media - Talk Mobile

Android Central - Android Forums - News - Reviews - Help and Android Wallpapers
Android Central
Not yet there: the problems with mobile apps and media - Talk Mobile
Jul 18th 2013, 16:00, by Talk Mobile

There was a time when the word 'ecosystem' referred exclusively to the environmental version, describing the interdependent parts of a biome. Today that term has been expanded to modern electronics.

No longer are our devices lone islands that reach out into the void for content. Today they're supported by an array of services, perhaps most importantly those from the manufacturer that provide content to the user. That content spans typically spans a range of apps, music, movies, and television shows, and can include additional media like books, magazines, and more.

The smartphone could function without the connections into these media pipelines, just as the gazelle can function just fine on a diet of grass alone. But throw in a few bushes with additional nutrients - or stores that open up movies and apps and music - and you're off to the races.

But our ecosystems are hobbled by old systems digital, legal, and emotional. How do we move them forward, breaking the chains and allowing them to truly run free?

read more

    


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Android World Update # Huawei Ascend Mate launches as a Vodafone UK exclusive

Android Central - Android Forums - News - Reviews - Help and Android Wallpapers
Android Central
Huawei Ascend Mate launches as a Vodafone UK exclusive
Jul 18th 2013, 15:48, by Casey Rendon

Huawei Ascend Mate

Free for £29 per month for pay monthly customers and £300 for pay as you go customers

After it was confirmed just over a week ago that Vodafone would be carrying Huawei's newest phablet, the Huawei Ascend Mate has launched as a Vodafone exclusive. We first saw this device at the Las Vegas CES 2013 in January.

Packing a generous 6.1-inch screen, the Ascend Mate uses an IPS display with 280 x 720 resolution. A 1.5 GHz quad-core processor is powered by the 4050 mAh battery inside. Internal memory comes in at 8 GB, which is expandable via micro-SD for an additional 32 GB. Android Jelly Bean 4.1 will be the shipping OS.

As for pricing, Vodafone states the "Huawei Ascend Mate is free for £29 per month (including 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of data) for pay monthly customers and £300 for pay as you go customers." The full press release can be found after the break.

read more

    


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