Saturday, August 24, 2013

Android World Update # The dark side of prepaid

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The dark side of prepaid
Aug 24th 2013, 13:25, by Andrew Martonik

Prepaid SIM Cards

Prepaid service is great, but it might not be the best choice for everyone right now

There has been a slow but steady drumbeat of people starting to talk about the merits of prepaid, and contemplating a switch for themselves. A small group of dedicated individuals who haven't had a phone contract in years push the idea even more often. Not having a contract for well over 2 years I'm closer to the latter group, and although I've been quick to sing the praises of prepaid phone service I also find it a necessity to explain that the grass isn't always greener -- there are some brown patches and weeds over here.

The idea to pull this together came from a recent experience switching carriers. Although I had been happy with my choice to use Straight Talk (an AT&T SIM, if you were wondering) for the past 5 months, a move to an area with excellent T-Mobile coverage had me willing to switch to something new. After all, one of the best parts about prepaid service is your ability to switch monthly to a new carrier. T-Mobile recently launched a new off-branded prepaid carrier called GoSmart Mobile, which offered a comparable $45 plan to Straight Talk's, so I decided to give it a try.

But, as I said, the grass isn't always greener ...

read more


    






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Android World Update # Chrome for Android gets new features, facelift to the start page coming soon

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Chrome for Android gets new features, facelift to the start page coming soon
Aug 24th 2013, 12:21, by Bogdan Petrovan

chrome gestures

For the majority of users of modern Android devices, Google's Chrome is the browser of choice, so it's good to see Google constantly tweaking the app and adding new features.

This week, Google announced that two small enhancements are heading to the stable version of Chrome for Android. The first is reverse image search: long press any image and select image search from the menu to be taken to a list of sites that display said image. This feature mirrors the functionality that is coming on Chrome for desktop. The second change is a new way to switch between tabs using gestures.

More interestingly, JR Raphael of Computerworld found a setting in the latest Chrome Beta that enables a redesigned start page. Just go to chrome://flags from the address bar and check the "Enable the New NTP" option in the settings. This should reveal a work-in-progress variant of the start page that always shows the Google search box, along with thumbnails for most visited pages, and links to Bookmarks and synced devices.

chrome-android-new-tab-page Computerworld

The new page is a major departure from the current design, which is, at least in my opinion, not very intuitive and ergonomic. We don't know for now when will the redesign roll out, though it shouldn't be long probably.

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Android World Update # Play Store policy update: no more ads in notifications and other funny business!

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Play Store policy update: no more ads in notifications and other funny business!
Aug 24th 2013, 11:52, by Bogdan Petrovan

sony-xperia-l-apps

Starting September 23, the date by which app developers need to update their apps so they comply with the new Google Play policies, we should see fewer apps that push ads in the notification bar, mess with your bookmarks, or otherwise engage in behavior that is detrimental to the user. Newly submitted apps must comply with the new policies starting today.

Up until now, Google hasn't had explicit rules in some areas, an omission that many developers used to their own benefit. That all changes today, and the longtime effect should be a marked improvement in the quality of apps that make it into the Play Store.

Here's the list of changes:

  • Apps can no longer place ads or links to ads in the notification bar. Apps can only push notifications if they pertain to the functionality of the app. Google example: "an airline app that notifies users of special deals, or a game that notifies users of in-game promotions"
  • Having false or misleading information in any part of the app or app description is explicitly forbidden. This also applies to the developer name and linked website, meaning we should see fewer crappy apps that pretend to be big name games, and other such deceptive behavior.
  • Apps are forbidden to modify the settings of the device, change the order of the apps, replace bookmarks, or make other changes to the device without the user's knowledge and consent.
  • Apps are strictly forbidden to place homescreen shortcuts, bookmarks, or icons for advertising purposes.
  • Interstitial ads (those that open between two screens of an app, for example) should have visible and easy to click close buttons.
  • Apps are forbidden to encourage or incentivize the user to remove other third-party apps (security services are mentioned as an exception).
  • Hate speech clarifications – "promotion of hatred against…" was replaced with the broader "content advocating against groups of people based on their…"
  • As before, gambling in apps is forbidden, and now the policy clarifies that any app that offers cash or other values as a prize falls in the gambling category.
  • Any exploitation of the Play Store rankings is explicitly prohibited, such as keyword stuffing, fake reviews, or misleading app descriptions.

Overall, this is big news for end users, who will benefit from a cleaner store, with less low-quality, misleading, and fraudulent applications. Unscrupulous developers who make money exploiting users have been essentially shown the door, though, without doubt, some will find ways to creep back in.

Don't expect the changes to have an instant effect though. With close to one million apps in the Play Store, cleaning up efforts should take a while.

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Android World Update # Video Comparison: New Nexus 7 Vs the Old Nexus 7

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Video Comparison: New Nexus 7 Vs the Old Nexus 7
Aug 24th 2013, 10:00, by Kris Carlon

We've talked a lot lately about the new Nexus 7 and compared the new and old models on paper, but this week we tested the two side-by-side and made a comparison video. You can find the video below, and we've included the transcription here if streaming video is not your thing.

new nexus 7 test 4
There can be only one. Or two. But one is better. Here's why / © AndroidPIT

(This is a preview - click here to read the entire entry.)

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Android World Update # Note 3 passes by Bluetooth SIG, release can’t be far

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Note 3 passes by Bluetooth SIG, release can't be far
Aug 24th 2013, 09:10, by Bogdan Petrovan

Samsung Galaxy note stylus s pen aa 1 1600

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 was spotted in the Bluetooth Special Interest Group's database.

The Bluetooth SIG is the organization that oversees the Bluetooth standard and makes sure that the thousands of devices using the technology remain compatible with each other. To do so, manufacturers using Bluetooth are required to register their products in a public database, which usually happens just before the device is made available to the public.

Seeing the Note 3 at BSIG is a confirmation that the device is on its way and that it will be available in stores sooner rather than later. Of course, everyone knows that Samsung will announce the stylus-equipped device on September 4, but this filing helps establish the veracity of a recent Sam Mobile report, which claimed that the Note 3 would be in the customers' hands in September.

While there's no hard rule, products are filed in the BSIG, as well as in the FCC database and at other regulatory bodies, a few weeks ahead of market availability.

There's no new information in the filing itself, but if you're itching to learn everything there is to know about the Note 3, we suggest you check out our comprehensive rumor roundup

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Android World Update # Pictures of alleged Droid 5 leak, QWERTY slider and all

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Pictures of alleged Droid 5 leak, QWERTY slider and all
Aug 24th 2013, 06:47, by Kyle Wiggers

droid-5-weiboleak

Remember the original Droid, that venerable 2009 smartphone on Verizon that almost single-handedly catapulted Android to ubiquity? At the time, the manufacturer, Motorola, touted the device's QWERTY slider as an improvement over the iPhone's on-screen keys. Unfortunately for the company, a number of phone reviewers found the Droid keyboard's weak tactility and odd button placement frustrating. To Motorola's credit, most (if not all) concerns were addressed in the Droid's follow-ups, the Droid 2, 3, and 4, but the QWERTY slide-out quickly by then had become an anomoly in a world of touch-focused slabs. In truth, haptic feedback and the limitless potential software affords make on-screen keyboards a pretty logical choice nowadays, but a few die-hard physical keyboard users apparently exist, because leaked photos show what appears to a new Motorola slider – presumably the Droid 5.

The pictures, posted on Chinese social networking site Weibo, show a slider subtly different from its predecessors. The alleged Droid 5 ditches the series’ hallmark capacitive keys in favor of a potentially larger screen. (Somewhere in the 4.5-inch range, if Motorola's other sliders are any indication.) Unremarkably, NFC and wireless charging hardware appear present, as does (big shock!) the signature laser cut 5-row keyboard. Somewhat interestingly, the poster says the new Droid will be the latest smartphone with a water and dust resistant design, an increasing trend. Exactly how resistant is, as are the phone's dimensions, internals, and launch info, at this point unknown.

Never let it be said that Android wasn’t conducive to a wildly diverse lineup of hardware. Not everyone’s a fan of physical keyboards, though. Are you? A Droid slider got you feeling nostalgic? Let us know in the comments and on Google+.

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Android World Update # Android Community

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Evernote for Android updated with document editing in OfficeSuite
Aug 24th 2013, 02:53, by Brittany Hillen

Evernote for Android has received a new update, this one bringing with it the ability to edit attached documents using OfficeSuite. Such is aimed at users who find themselves frequently editing documents or find them to be a central aspect of their Evernote experience.

Evernote

Those who want the new functionality will need to install OfficeSuite after updating, and from that point on will be able to open an attachment on a note. OfficeSuite will open the document with the editing tools necessary, at which point changes can be made.

After editing the document, the changes can be saved by tapping the back arrow at the top of the screen. The note can either be appended with the edits, or the document can be replaced with the edited document. Users will be able to edit .doc, .ppt, and .xls files.

1

As you can see in the screenshot above, regular Evernote users will be able to use OfficeSuite for a week as a trial, while Premium Evernote user will have unlimited access to it. For those who don’t want to use OfficeSuite, they’ll still be able to edit the document using a different app that supports the file type.

In addition to the new document editing functionality, Premium users will be able to annotate attached PDF files using Skitch. For this particular feature, users can get a 30-day trial to see if it works for them. Furthermore, the widget has been updated and the Reminders functionality has been simplified, making creating Reminders an easier process.

SOURCE: Evernote Blog

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Android World Update # Sony Honami metal frame leaks, shows several angles of upcoming Xperia Z1

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Sony Honami metal frame leaks, shows several angles of upcoming Xperia Z1
Aug 24th 2013, 01:53, by Jared Peters

honami metal frame

This leak probably isn’t going to wow anyone, but it’s just a bit more confirmation that Sony has an upcoming device in the pipeline very, very soon. The metal frame of an unnamed Sony device, likely the Xperia Z1, has shown up on the website of a repair shop, ETrade Supply. It shows off the location of the volume rocker, power button, microSD card slot, etc. and also confirms that everything has a water-resistant coating on it. Basically, it’s a reconfirmation of some of the details we have already heard about several times about Honami.

Either way, this device looks like it’s shaping up to be a worthy successor the Xperia Z. Hopefully we’ll find out more on September 4th.

source: ETrade Supply

via: Xperia News


Come comment on this article: Sony Honami metal frame leaks, shows several angles of upcoming Xperia Z1

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Android World Update # Wooden backs on custom Moto X devices may cost an extra $50

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Wooden backs on custom Moto X devices may cost an extra $50
Aug 24th 2013, 01:45, by Jared Peters

Moto_X_Wood_Backing_TA

If you’ve been waiting to get your hands on a custom Moto X with wooden backing, you may want to know that there is a possibility that it’ll cost you a bit extra up front. According to some information found in code of the Moto Maker website, the options for wood backs on a Moto X (teak, ebony, rosewood, and bamboo) are all listed with a price of $50, as opposed to $0 for all of the standard colors that are available. That’ll put you at $249 or $299 on contract, depending on your storage configuration, and that would likely still apply to off-contract pricing.

Wood paneling is cool, and it’s definitely a more complex manufacturing process than just the standard plastic backs. Are any of you going to be willing to shell out the extra few bucks for a unique device in a few months? Let us know in the comments.

source: Droid Life


Come comment on this article: Wooden backs on custom Moto X devices may cost an extra $50

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Android World Update # TalkAndroid Daily Dose for August 23, 2013

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TalkAndroid Daily Dose for August 23, 2013
Aug 24th 2013, 03:33, by Robert Nazarian

TalkAndroid_Daily_Dose

With hectic schedules, it can be hard to keep track of everything in your news feed. That’s why we created the TalkAndroid Daily Dose. This is where we recap the day’s hottest stories so you can get yourself up to speed in quick fashion. Happy reading!!

Apps

Pandora receives update, brings sleep timer functionality as well as NissanConnect integration

Pandora will lift its 40-hour per month mobile listening cap

Carriers

Verizon could entice unlimited data customers to join Edge with a $30 for 6GB data plan

Phones

Huawei faces shortages for the 4.7 inch LCD Panel used in the Ascend P6

Dev edition Moto X and other carrier options will come "in days"

Wooden backs on custom Moto X devices may cost an extra $50

Oppo teases Rear Touch Panel on N1 with two provocative images

Say that again: LG (Uplus) releases Samsung Homeboy phone/tablet in Korea

Sony promises the Xperia Z1 will 'make a splash' with latest teaser

Sony Honami metal frame leaks, shows several angles of upcoming Xperia Z1

Tablets

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 quick review

Updates

Latest Nexus 7 update, JSS15Q, now available on AOSP, additional details emerge

Miscellaneous

No new trial for Samsung in dispute with Apple over "bounce-back" patent


Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Daily Dose for August 23, 2013

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Android World Update # Motorola Droid 5 possibly spotted in the wild, allegedly sporting NFC and wireless charging

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Motorola Droid 5 possibly spotted in the wild, allegedly sporting NFC and wireless charging
Aug 24th 2013, 02:58, by Chris Chavez

We heard directly from Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside that he had plans to release several devices before October’s end, but we never thought we’d see the return of the the Motorola Droid, the company’s QWERTY Android slider. In a few leaked images from the Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo, one user leaked some images of a […]

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