Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Android World Update # AT&T will commit to 700MHz LTE network interoperability going forward

Android Central - Android Forums - News - Reviews - Help and Android Wallpapers
Android Central 
Tired of the winter?

Plan a last minute trip to Miami. Beautiful beaches. Energetic nightlife. Sunshine. Palm trees. Find a great hotel deal for a mini getaway in Miami today!
From our sponsors
AT&T will commit to 700MHz LTE network interoperability going forward
Sep 10th 2013, 18:21, by Andrew Martonik

AT&T Logo

Wider frequency support opens the door to more devices and carrier partnerships

AT&T announced today on its public policy blog that it will commit to lower 700MHz LTE interoperability going forward, opening the door for more devices and small carrier partners in the future. This "lower" area of the 700MHz spectrum, also referred to as Band 12, was previously unsupported by AT&T because of interference concerns with the upper portion of 700MHz, or Band 17, that it supported.

With its move towards supporting Band 12, it will now be able to offer service to a wider range of devices across a larger chunk of spectrum — Band 17 is simply a subset of Band 12 — without any side effects. AT&T says that it is actively working with OEMs to have future devices it sells support Band 12 rather than 17, and at the same time will roll out upgrades to its towers to support Band 12-capable devices it does not sell itself.

Source: AT&T; Via: PhoneScoop


    






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 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
Roku can stream local content off an Android device, if you have the right one
Sep 10th 2013, 16:46, by Dima Aryeh

Roku is an established player in the set top box market. They’ve been selling STBs for quite a hile, with full support for Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, Amazon and more. With the release of the $35 Chromecast, the market was shaken up a bit. Despite the limited functionality of the Chromecast, it performs the basics at a very low price.

However, the Chromecast cannot stream local content. Developer Koush made multiple workarounds to get local streaming working, but each one was patched by Google in an attempt to keep the platform closed, at least for the time being. So to get the upper hand, Roku has updated their Android app to offer local content streaming on some Android devices! Here is a list of supported devices:

Supported Roku players

  • Roku 3
  • Roku 2
  • Roku LT
  • Roku HD (model 2500)
  • Roku Streaming Stick

Supported Android devices

  • Samsung Galaxy S3
  • Samsung Galaxy S4
  • Nexus 4
  • HTC One
  • Nexus 7 (2012 model)

If you own one of these devices, you’ll be able to stream your local content to your TV. This gives Roku a significant advantage over the Chromecast, despite being more expensive. And with generally more functions, it’s easy to see how the extra money can be justified. It’s just too bad that the supported list of devices is so small.

Don’t forget that tight controls on Chromecast could be temporary. Once the SDK is out and developers are approved to use it, there will be many more functions created by developers. But it’s currently not possible. Would you consider a Roku over a Chromecast just for local streaming?

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 # iPhone 5C official: Apple reinvents cases to make them look stupider

Phandroid
Android Phone News, Rumors, Reviews, Apps, Forums & More! 
Earn an MBA degree

Advance your career with an MBA Only $325 per credit hour
From our sponsors
iPhone 5C official: Apple reinvents cases to make them look stupider
Sep 10th 2013, 17:53, by Rob Jackson

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an Apple hater. I think they’re a great company with some great products. But I also unapologetically love Android and sometimes, the competitive nature between the two companies gets the better of me.

In Apple’s event today, the company offered a snarky Android-related comment while announcing their brand new iPhone 5C (the iPhone 5S was also announced):

“Arsenic-free, mercury-free, and Android-free.”

That’s cool. It’s funny. But what’s also simultaneously funny is Apple’s announcement of kiddie looking polka dot cases for the iPhone 5C costing $29.

iphone-5c-color-cases
(Photo credit: The Verge)

For the sake of brevity, let me quickly list why I don’t like Apple’s new cases:

  1. They’re ugly and goofy looking. And that’s being polite.
  2. There are an outrageous amount of 3rd parties making covers and cases already… that look better than this. Maybe leave this up to them?
  3. The Motorola Moto X does it better.

If Apple were to allow users to customize the cutout shapes or at least offer a wide variety of cutout designs, the cases might actually be cool. Until then, I’ll stand on the sidelines laughing.

To Apple’s credit, I think the iPhone 5C is a logical progression of the device and it should be hugely popular. The unibody rear/sides look really, really nice, and I’d say resemble the Nokia Lumia hardware design more than most Android phones. Stake me now, but I think that’s a good thing for the market they’re targeting.

Follow the rest of the Apple Event at iSource.com and Phandroid, iSource, and WinSource will host a live hangout discussing the announcements afterwards on Google+

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 
Exotic travel ideas.

Searching for your next vacation destination? Subscribe to Off The Beaten Path, a newsletter featuring captivating locales to help you to plan your next trip.
From our sponsors
3DMark launches for iOS: Androids prepare for cross-platform battle
Sep 10th 2013, 16:49, by Robert Nelson

The 3DMark benchmarking app arrived for Android earlier in the year. The app actually arrived back in April, and that came only after a few months of teasing. More to the point for today, 3DMark has arrived in the iTunes App Store. Yes, for iOS devices.

3dmark_1_610x381-540x337

While we generally stick to Android, this iOS app release does bring an interesting twist given it has arrived on the same day as the expected iPhone 5S and 5C announcements. Needless to say, while benchmarks seem like something more often sought out by the more dedicated Android users, this release is opening up an easy way to compare both platforms.

In fact, Futuremark has launched the app with mention of how users will be able to “compare the fastest iOS, Android, Windows and Windows RT devices.” Basically, moving forward we will be able to easily see how the iPhone stacks up against the latest Android handsets. And maybe more accurate for today, how the newest iPhone stacks up against Android devices.

The 3DMark app will also work on the iPad. Getting specific in terms of device requirements, on the Android side users need Android 3.1 or later with 1GB of RAM and 155MB of storage. On iOS those minimum requirements are iOS6 with 512MB of RAM and 174MB of storage. It should also be said that 3DMark is available for free — on both Android and iOS.

Otherwise, 3DMark is touted as being a “professional level diagnostic tool” that is available for all users. The app offers a few options for testing, but in the end, we suspect it will be interesting to see how both platforms will stack up when compared side-by-side using the same benchmarking app.

Simplenote app arrives for Android
Sep 10th 2013, 15:43, by Robert Nelson

There is no shortage of note taking apps available for Android users. Two of the more well known are Evernote and Google Keep, however a new addition has recently arrived in the Play Store. Though, while this latest is a new addition to Android, it is already an established player in the world of productivity apps.

simplenote-banner

The app is Simplenote and it is available by way of the Google Play Store and the Amazon Appstore. Simplenote is free to download and free to use and brings the promise of having the “same focus on speed and efficiency as the existing iOS app.” So there you go, another app that made a mark on iOS before finally jumping over to Android.

That bitterness aside, one perk of Simplenote is actually the cross-platform availability. In fact, the folks behind the Simplenote app have said a redesigned web version is coming soon, as well as a Mac version. Simply put, those Android users ready to give Simplenote a try can rest assured in knowing they will be able to have access to their notes even without their smartphone handy.

Anyway, once Simplenote has been downloaded and installed you have a few options to consider. New users will be able to create an account right from their smartphone. Alternatively, you can also begin using the app without any account. Of course, those going that route will be limited to accessing those notes only on their smartphone. Otherwise, Simplenote touts features such as cross-platform availability, tags and search as well as backups, syncing and sharing.

SOURCE: Simplenote

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 # Apple Users Really Want Improved Battery Life

AndroidPIT News + App Tests RSS Feed
This feed includes text previews of the latest news articles and app tests on www.androidpit.com. Click on the article title to read the entire article. 
Madesmith

Modern handmade. New designers every week.
From our sponsors
Apple Users Really Want Improved Battery Life
Sep 10th 2013, 15:33, by Anthony Muzonzini

We are just moments away from the Apple iPhone reveal and whilst there are lots of rumors about new features like a fingerprint scanner and new color cases, the most important improvement that iPhone users want is improved battery life. Users seem to also want a more durable handset that will withstand things like drops. It seems as if users want an improvement on some of the more basic things about the smartphone, as opposed to more luxury features.

iPhone
The iPhone is set to come in a lot more colors with the new upgrade / © iCrackUriDevice

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

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 # More Motorola DROID 5 pictures leak

Phandroid
Android Phone News, Rumors, Reviews, Apps, Forums & More! 
Earn an MBA degree

Advance your career with an MBA Only $325 per credit hour
From our sponsors
More Motorola DROID 5 pictures leak
Sep 10th 2013, 16:02, by Quentyn Kennemer

DROID 5 (Right), Photon Q (Left)

DROID 5 (Right), Photon Q (Left)

A couple of weeks ago, new photos of the Motorola DROID 5 (or Milestone 5) leaked, suggesting Motorola would look to keep the QWERTY train rolling with a phone that had very respectable specs. According to the rumors, we’re supposed to be expecting the following:

  • 4.3-inch 720p display (342 ppi)
  • Snapdragon MSM8960 dual-core Krait chipset with Adreno 225 GPU
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 16GB of internal storage
  • microSD
  • NFC
  • Wireless charging
  • 5-row QWERTY keyboard

That would put it a class below Motorola’s current crop of phones when it comes to performance specs, which include the Motorola X8 processing system, 2GB of RAM, and more. Still, it would be a very nice phone when put up against the current offerings from the slide-out QWERTY family of phones seeding the market. Some new photos of the device have leaked, though not much has changed when put up against the originals.

Motorola-Droid-5-006

Some are still skeptical that this Motorola DROID 5 will be coming out anytime soon. For starters, the software seems to be a tad outdated and doesn’t reflect the latest experience Motorola has to offer. That doesn’t mean the phone doesn’t exist or that Motorola isn’t planning on bringing it out, but perhaps this particular version was in the works before the likes of the DROID MAXX, Ultra and Mini were dreamed up.

Should that be the case, we could probably expect to see Motorola create a new version of the DROID 5 at some point in the future. Now that we know Verizon isn’t killing the DROID brand off, the chances of seeing a new QWERTY-equipped offering don’t seem farfetched at all. That said, we shouldn’t get our hopes up too high for anything to happen this year — if you’re waiting on a DROID 5, you’ll probably be waiting well into 2014. Take a look at the new images above.

[via NewCellPhones]

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 # Mobile music, podcasting, and the agony of VoIP - Talk Mobile

Android Central - Android Forums - News - Reviews - Help and Android Wallpapers
Android Central 
Want to speak effortlessly in any situation?

Actress Alexa Fisher will teach you tips that will set you on the road to success.
From our sponsors
Mobile music, podcasting, and the agony of VoIP - Talk Mobile
Sep 10th 2013, 16:00, by Talk Mobile

Your typical smartphone has two speakers. One is an earpiece for the phone part (it does make calls, right?), the other a loud speaker for speakerphone (there's that phone again…), music, games, and the like. A few handsets, like the HTC One, along with a handful of tablets, sport stereo loudspeakers, but by and large we're still only looking at two speakers.

These speakers carry the duty of all audio communication coming from our phones, unless you plug in some headphones or hook up an external speaker, that is. But even then, that's still audio coming from your phone. Our screens are important communications components for our phones, but just as important can be the speakers.

So why, does it seem, so often that what's coming out of them isn't so great? Are our VoIP protocols to blame? Or is it just mobile? Are the microphones and software available good enough for real podcasting? And does mobile have place on the theater stage or in the DJ booth?

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