Friday, August 9, 2013

Android World Update # Android and Me

Android and Me
Meet Your New Android Friend. Your Community For All Things Google Android. 
Photoshop - Beauty Retouching

Learn how to improve your photoshop retouching skill and knowledge in 21 easy techniques! Take this course for just $25.
From our sponsors
Soundfreaq Sound Spot Bluetooth speaker review
Aug 9th 2013, 17:38, by Dima Aryeh

This isn’t my first review of a Soundfreaq product. In the past, I’ve reviewed two other speakers made by the company, and have grown extremely fond of them. The creation of their speakers stands out because Soundfreaq doesn’t have departments for every step. Rather, it does things a lot more efficiently, keeping the price down while guaranteeing a great product.

The Sound Spot is no different from Soundfreaq’s other products, with the same ridged design and mesh grill. However, it fits into the lineup nicely, as it is now the company’s least expensive and smallest product. Despite that, it manages to impress and look good doing it. So what’s so special about this new speaker in such a saturated market? Read on to find out.

The Good

Sound quality: I’ll go into detail about the audio quality later on, but overall, it’s great considering the size and price. As somewhat of an audiophile, I have high expectations no matter the price and size, and this easily met them.

Size and weight: The Sound Spot is fairly small, at only five inches high and less than two and a half inches thick. And at under 500 grams (496, according to a nice kitchen scale), it’s really light. This makes it a great travel companion.

Battery life: With a rechargeable battery that can pump out tunes for seven hours, it beats the average of around six hours of most speakers. I consider seven hours pretty good, though by no means amazing.

You can hook two speakers together for true stereo: Seriously, how cool is that? This is a mono speaker, but it has a 3.5mm aux out port on it. Hook two Sound Spots up with a 3.5mm cable, and it’ll automatically start playing in stereo. One speaker will play one channel, and the other speaker the other channel. That feature, at least to me, is innovative and just plain awesome. I absolutely love it.

The Not-So-Good

USB port to charge devices is only 500 mA: This is nitpicking, but the full sized USB port on the back made to charge devices is a little weak. Most devices now charge optimally at 1 amp, sometimes 2. 500 mA won’t charge fast, but it’ll still keep it from dying. Plus, the battery won’t last nearly as long if you’re charging your smartphone.

Details

Soundfreaq Sound Spot SFQ-07
Price: $69.99
Where to buy: Soundfreaq
Battery life: 7 hours, rechargeable
Connectivity: Bluetooth, 3.5mm aux in
Ports: 3.5mm aux in, 3.5mm aux out (for daisy chaining two Sound Spots), micro USB (for charging the speaker), full size USB (for charging devices, 5V 500 mA output)
Dimensions: 133mm wide, 128mm high, 60.5mm thick
What’s in the box: Speaker, long 3.5mm cable, charging cable

Overview

The Sound Spot is made out of a mix of matte and gloss plastic all around. The ridged surface is matte plastic, while the inside of the ridges and the area around the buttons is glossy. It’s definitely a good looking speaker, though the style might not suit everyone.

DSC_8487

I received the white model, which comes with some wood trim surrounding the white speaker grill on the front and a white body everywhere else. The wood grain is water transferred onto the front. The grill is basic, with a Soundfreaq logo right in the center.

SFQ-07 Black 208 FRONT

The Sound Spot also comes in black, which forgoes the wood trim for a clean, simple aesthetic. The white is busier, but it’s very interesting and makes for a unique look.

DSC_8488

On the back, you’ll find the classic Soundfreaq text and the ports. There is an aux in for devices that don’t have Bluetooth (note: the aux in is quieter than Bluetooth from the same device, but this has been a constant in most speakers), an aux out for daisy chaining two speakers together, a power in micro USB port, and a power out full size USB port for charging your device.

DSC_8489

The switch in the middle switches between three equalizer presets. Soundfreaq knows how to do EQs, because it doesn’t drastically change the sound. The change is clearly audible but pretty subtle, keeping the music undistorted. There is no “ultra bass kick” option, only “warm” and “bright” to slightly boost either the highs or lows. It’s great to have this feature, as it may appeal to many, but I prefer to leave any speaker on “flat.” A flat equalizer just sounds better to me. Luckily, the mild EQ never degraded the music in any way.

DSC_8490

On the top of the Sound Spot, you’ll find six touch buttons and one physical button. The physical button is of course a power button, which has an LED inside to indicate whether it’s powered on, charging, or dying. The other buttons are touch buttons, but are very responsive. They react to touch very well, while not being overly sensitive and activating accidentally. The area around them is also indented, to protect them from accidental touches.

There isn’t any feedback for the buttons; a quiet beep or something would have been nice, but since they are so responsive, it isn’t really an issue.

Most speakers don’t have any sort of music control aside from a play/pause button, so to see track forward and back on this speaker was a big plus. It’s much easier than doing it on your phone, and is a great addition.

The addition of a “Pair” button, in my opinion, really makes Soundfreaq speakers stand out. Many speakers are hard to pair to your phone, and those that aren’t particularly hard are still more complicated than they should be. A pair button makes your life so much easier. The little things really matter.

Build Quality

The Sound Spot is fully made from plastic, aside from the speaker grill. The bezel around the grill is wooden, but the wood grain was water transferred onto the bezel itself. It is not pure wood. Despite its really light weight, it feels very solid. The plastic is nice and thick, never bending or creaking. Remember, plastic never means poor build quality.

I can’t particularly say that the Sound Spot feels really high end. It’s not as perfectly solid as a Jambox (which is almost three times the price and a fraction of the performance), but it is still a solid and sturdy speaker. Don’t let its low price fool you, because that’s what Soundfreaq does best: make surprisingly high quality speakers for low prices.

Sound Quality

Remember that this is a small speaker with a low price tag of $70. Generally, any speaker that is small and has a low price will suffer in the audio department. Even the Jambox, at a retail suggested price of $200, really doesn’t produce acceptable audio (in my opinion anyway). So it’s quite unique to find a speaker of this size and price with clear audio that can produce accurate highs and some decent lows.

The Sound Spot is quite impressive in that regard. You wouldn’t expect such audio from this package, and it definitely surpasses the expectations that its price tag sets. So if you think this will sound like a $70 speaker, you’re in for a surprise.

However, it still has its limits. At full volume, the Sound Spot is shockingly loud. It can fill a large room with ease. But at full volume, it will distort the audio a bit. There will be raspiness, especially in the highs. Turn it down a few clicks, and the audio is clear and still quite loud. I, for one, appreciate this design decision. Most companies limit volume to the highest it can go without distorting. Instead, Soundfreaq allows it to go a few notches higher. This means that it can be louder in places where quality isn’t essential, like a park. That distortion won’t be audible in such an environment, but the extra volume will be crucial. So in my opinion, it’s a good decision.

One thing worth mentioning is the low end audio. The speaker doesn’t produce bass in the same way most other Bluetooth speakers do, but Soundfreaq speakers are unique in this sense. They do not shake, or produce deep rumbles. Instead, their bass is sharp and accurate. It’s not felt by touching the speaker, but by sitting in front of it. The bass isn’t strong on this speaker, but it’s pleasant. I have never used another Bluetooth speaker that produces this type of bass that you can feel inside of you, even when it’s light.

When hooking two Sound Spots up with a 3.5mm cable, they start playing in true separated stereo. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to try out this feature. I don’t have two of these speakers, though I’m tempted to get another specifically for this purpose. But keep this feature in mind when considering it, because it really is cool.

Conclusion

DSC_8485

Simply put, I’m in love. I have bigger speakers that sound better. I have smaller speakers that are more portable. But this speaker is an incredible balance of size, price, and sound quality. It’s a joy to use and easily worth more than its price tag. It offers so much and sacrifices so little that I can’t help but recommend it. If you need a portable speaker for your Bluetooth enabled device, strongly consider the Soundfreaq Sound Spot.

Rumor: Amazon to deliver Android-based game console this year
Aug 9th 2013, 17:04, by Dustin Earley

According to multiple sources in the gaming industry, Amazon is ready to try its hand at video game consoles, taking on the likes of the already released Ouya and rumored Google Android-based system.

Both Game Informer and GamesBeat are reporting that Amazon is currently developing a video game console that will operate much in the same way the Kindle Fire does. The console will rely solely on Amazon for content, and feature a free game of day similar to the Amazon app store’s free app of the day. The console will reportedly come with a controller, and should be ready for release by Black Friday.

After the pre-launch success of Ouya, Android manufacturers are jumping at the chance to grab a piece of what’s being viewed as a relatively new, growing market. Despite a ridiculous amount of funding, it’s been reported that Ouya has yet to see a grand slam hit. Early reviews of the console we’re largely negative, and interest in similar devices, like Nvidia’s Shield, seem weak. If anyone could master distribution and entice developers, Amazon would be the one to do it.

As much as we’d be interested in seeing how Amazon handles a video game console, this is still a rumor. And Amazon loves not living up to rumors. We’ve been waiting to see an Amazon backed smartphone for a full year now, and still nothing. A game console and a smartphone would certainly be an interesting way to cap off this year though.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Android World Update # White Nexus 4 re-appears, on sale at UK retailer

Android Central - Android Forums - News - Reviews - Help and Android Wallpapers
Android Central 
Learn to Play the Ukulele

Make your own music in your own way on the ukulele and have fun doing it. This online course is taught by "Cool Hand Uke." Sign up today for just $25.
From our sponsors
White Nexus 4 re-appears, on sale at UK retailer
Aug 9th 2013, 17:22, by Richard Devine

Android Central

Expansys now selling the 16GB white Nexus 4 despite no official UK launch

The white Nexus 4, that most elusive of beasts, has reared its head once more and has appeared on sale finally, properly in the UK. Despite never receiving and official British launch, online tech retailer Expansys has a stock of the shiny white LG made Nexus 4 for sale. 

Expansys states in their listing that this is an EU product supplied with a UK AC adaptor, so that might go some way to explain where their stock has appeared from. And, since it's no longer available from Google Play in the United States anymore, there's no telling just how long they'll last. Indeed, the stock lists just 1-5 units currently available for shipping. 

read more


    


You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Android World Update # Google reportedly taps Asus for next-gen Nexus 10 tablet

AndroidGuys
Android news and opinion 
Refresh your vocabulary.

Learn a new word everyday by subscribing to Word of the Day. A great tool if you're studying for the GRE, GMAT or LSAT, or simply want to enhance your lexicon.
From our sponsors
Google reportedly taps Asus for next-gen Nexus 10 tablet
Aug 9th 2013, 16:48, by Scott Webster


Google has asked Asus to manufacturer the next-generation of Nexus 10 tablets, says a new Geek report. According to their sources, the refreshed tablet will be on retail shelves and in Google Play in time for the holiday season.

nexus10_proof_geek_wmk

 

The site posits that the tablet will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and the 2650×1600 resolution display found in the original. Thus far, the only known specs look to include at least 16GB storage and Wi-Fi connectivity — not much, but whatever.

With a few months to go before this tablet arrives we might expect plenty of leaks and rumors to bubble up. We may also look for some rationale behind the decision to go with Asus as opposed to Samsung for the new tablet. Something tells us that price point factored into the equation, but we could be getting ahead of ourselves.

Geek

The post Google reportedly taps Asus for next-gen Nexus 10 tablet appeared first on AndroidGuys.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions

Android World Update # Android Community

Android Community
Tracking the Android Platform Revolution 
Many wonderful memories are captured in black and white.

With digital photographs, the art is now in creating black and white images. This course will teach you how to use Photoshop techniques to create beautiful images.
From our sponsors
Amazon backtracks, Chromecast orders will arrive before October
Aug 9th 2013, 17:13, by Cory Gunther

The Google Chromecast media streaming dongle is in strong demand at the moment. It is currently selling out anywhere and stores can’t keep it on the shelves. At least that’s what we keep hearing. Yesterday like us, many of you received depressing shipping “estimates” from Amazon stating a late October delivery, which is too long, but today they’ve backtracked on that statement.

20130809_095555

It appears that for those who ordered the Chromecast from Amazon before August 7th, you’ll be getting it in the coming weeks. Which is certainly better than the October 17-30th timeline they were quoting yesterday. Someone apparently made a mistake, or they’ve received more because Amazon is backtracking on that statement today with another email.

Amazon has confirmed that was an incorrect estimate date, but it still looks like those purchasing one today or this weekend will have a long wait. The orders before yesterday are on track, but anything else might have you waiting a while. Here’s the official email right from Amazon themselves.

“Thank you for your recent Chromecast purchase. Earlier today, you received an email indicating an incorrect estimated order delivery of late October. We are actively fulfilling orders weekly based on customer order date and all customers who placed orders prior to August 7 should receive their orders in the coming weeks and into mid-September. We will notify you as soon as your item ships and apologize for the confusion.

“Coming weeks and into mid-September” is key here. It sounds like most of you will be getting your orders for the Chromecast in late August, so in 2-3 weeks, and then another large batch will go out sometime in September, but they don’t have an exact idea of when. If you still haven’t purchased one yet, Google’s Play Store is quoting 2-3 week ship times, so that might be an idea. Personally I’d just check your local Best Buy a few times.

Nexus 7 user reports bring talk of GPS issues
Aug 9th 2013, 16:45, by Robert Nelson

The new Nexus 7 seems to be having trouble with the GPS. At the moment the discussion seems to be growing on the Google support forums as well as over on the xda-developers forums. Regardless of the location of those discussions though, it seems the issues are similar for many users. Basically, the GPS will be working and tracking as expected and then suddenly stop.

Screen-Shot-2013-07-24-at-10.48.03-AM2-540x312111

Once stopped it goes into the “Searching” mode and apparently has a hard time coming back out. Some users report that a simple reboot will temporarily fix the issue, but that seems to be more a temporary fix than an actual solution. Other users have tried restoring the tablet back to original configuration and some have even gone as far as exchanging the tablet for new.

Both of those paths seems to bring back the original issue of a faulty GPS. We have yet to see an official statement from Google on the issue, however according to several reports in those forums — they are aware and are working on a fix. The catch is that as of this time there is no estimate as to when that will arrive.

While we wait on a fix from Google, which hopefully will come sooner rather than later, another user seems to have good results using an app called GPS Test. This is a free app available by way of the Play Store. That all being said, while GPS related issues are cause for a fix, there is probably some advantage to this happening on a tablet as opposed to smartphone. At least this way it likely caused problems or fewer users.

VIA: phoneArena

SOURCE: Google

Amazon Kindle Fire expected with 1280 x 800 display and TI OMAP4 4470 processor
Aug 9th 2013, 16:01, by Robert Nelson

Amazon has yet to say anything in terms of when we can expect a Kindle Fire refresh, but judging from how the rumors seem to be picking up traction — it looks like that may be coming sooner rather than later. Aside from the recent spec related rumors we have also seen Amazon lower the prices on the current line of Kindle Fire HD tablets. The focus today is on the non-HD version of the Kindle Fire and it looks like a rather complete set of specs have leaked.

P1100437-580x435-540x405

This round of details have come by way of BGR, who are reporting that the entry-level Kindle Fire line will arrive with a display resolution of 1280 x 800 and powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz Texas Instruments OMAP4 4470 processor paired with PowerVR SGX544 graphics and 1GB of RAM. This is the same processor currently found in the first-generation Kindle Fire HD and will also serve as a nice bump from the 1.2GHz OMAP4 4430 processor current used in the entry-level Kindle Fire.

This entry-level Kindle Fire refresh is also expected to be based on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. This same report also touched on the storage and pricing. It was said the Kindle Fire will be selling for $159 with 8GB of storage. There was also mention of a model with 16GB and 32GB of storage, however the price for those remains a mystery.

All said and done, it is looking like Amazon will take the next-generation of the Kindle Fire to a point where the current-generation of the Kindle Fire HD stands at this time. A release date has yet to be revealed, however it was said they are expected to arrive something in the fall. Of course, a fall refresh would fit in with previous patterns.

Looking towards some of those Kindle Fire HD rumors and we have seen talk of the tablet arriving with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM and a display resolution of 2560 x 1600 for the 8.9-inch model.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions