Friday, October 25, 2013

Android World Update # Japan Display announces 5.4-inch 543ppi screen for smartphones

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Japan Display announces 5.4-inch 543ppi screen for smartphones
Oct 25th 2013, 16:12, by Jeff Causey

japan_display_543ppi_screen

After announcing a new 4K capable screen that could be used in a large tablet, Japan Display Inc. is back with another announcement from the FPD International 2013 event in Japan. This time, JDI announces a new 5.4-inch TFT LCD panel running at 1440×2560 resolution, giving it a resolution density of 543 pixels per inch. JDI says they have optimized power consumption and the physical size so it could be used in a smartphone. Since Sony is one of the partners in JDI, don’t be surprised to see one of their devices as the first to incorporate this new screen.

Along with the 5.4-inch size, JDI also introduced a 6.2-inch version capable of running at the same resolution. Due to the larger size, the pixels per inch figure drops to 473ppi, which is still quite impressive.

source: Japan Display Inc.
via: G for Games


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Android World Update # AT&T Moto X is now just $99 via Moto Maker

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thumbnail AT&T Moto X is now just $99 via Moto Maker
Oct 25th 2013, 15:36, by Andrew Grush

Moto X

Earlier this month Best Buy temporarily cut down the price of the Moto X to just $99. Shortly after, Amazon followed suit with a permanent price reduction to $99. Unfortunately, neither of these promotion included the use of the Moto Maker for personalizing the device to your own tastes.

What if you want to have your cake and eat it too? Motorola has your back. Buying the handset directly through the Moto Maker website now only costs you $99.

For this price you not only get to use the Moto Maker tool to customize your new handset, you also get a  free Motorola Skip and shipping is included at no extra cost. Unfortunately, this deal is still only for the AT&T version of the handset. If the rumor mill is correct, the good news is that other carriers may be adding support for the tool sometime in mid-November.

The Moto X might not be a power user’s dream come true, but it’s still a wonderful handset that puts less focus on the hardware and instead is all about creating an excellent user experience. Some of the device’s most unique features include touchless control and active display technology.

What do you think, interested in picking up a customized handset for $99 or not?

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Android World Update # Google finally launching an LTE-enabled Nexus 4?

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Google finally launching an LTE-enabled Nexus 4?
Oct 25th 2013, 15:55, by Kevin Krause

Nexus 4 back phandrizzle

Don't get me started on a lack of LTE in the Nexus 4. While there is no use crying over milk that has spilled and gone sour, it's no secret that I thought a lack of LTE at launch was a major blow for the handset. Sure, some folks found workarounds that took advantage of certain LTE-capable components installed in the Nexus 4, but there was never a true 4G option beyond that. Will that soon change?

A Bluetooth SIG filing suggests Google and LG might finally bring forth an LTE-ready Nexus 4. The interesting part is that the filing is for a handset with the same model number as the original, the LG E960. The identical model number would suggest nothing has changed hardware-wise, which in turn means the new version of the phone might simply be the old version with its vestigial LTE chip activated. If the hardware was already there, not including LTE was not a cost-saving measure. It was instead a user experience decision, making it even more ludicrous that Google didn't include it to begin with…but I digress.

Is there a chance the LTE-enabled Nexus 4 will be announced alongside the upcoming Nexus 5? That sure seems likely at this point. That doesn't change the fact that if the new version does debut, it was the device we should have seen a year ago.

[via Engadget]

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Android World Update # Custom Moto X now $99.99 from Moto Maker site

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Custom Moto X now $99.99 from Moto Maker site
Oct 25th 2013, 15:31, by Alex Dobie

Moto X

$100 price cut for customized AT&T Moto X on contract

Motorola has halved the cost of getting hold of a customized 16GB Moto X from its MotoMaker.com site. The customization tools are still exclusive to AT&T's Moto X, which incidentally still costs $199 on-contract from the carrier. If you're after the 32GB model, that'll set you back $149.99, down from $249.99.

So there's really no reason not to pick up a customized model if you're in the market for an AT&T Moto X. Moto's customization site lets you change the back color, accents and texture of your Moto X, before adding accessories and custom greetings, giving you a more personalized device.

There's been no official word on when Moto Maker will be coming to other carriers, but Verizon is rumored to get it Nov. 11.

More: MotoMaker.com; via: Android Central forums


    






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Android World Update # New MOGA Ace Power leaks, but will it fit Android devices?

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New MOGA Ace Power leaks, but will it fit Android devices?
Oct 25th 2013, 15:57, by Jeff Causey

moga_ace_power

An image of a new portable gaming device from MOGA surfaced today thanks to @evleaks showing a new direction for the form factor the company may be heading down. Unlike previous devices that were similar in style to traditional gaming system controllers with a mobile device mounting to the top side, the new MOGA Ace Power puts the mobile device in the middle with the buttons flanking that. Also noteworthy is the fact that it is coming equipped with an 1800 mAh battery that can be used to recharge a mobile device similar to the rest of the MOGA Power Series controllers.

The downside, if you are not put off by the change in the form factor, may be compatibility with Android devices. The leaked image shows the MOGA Ace Power with an iPhone. Considering how the controller appears to cradle the device, it seems like it will be a challenge to produce the new controller in a way that takes into account all the different Android powered smartphone sizes and shapes.

source: @evleaks


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Android World Update # Google Offering 25-50 GBs Of Google Drive Space On Select HTC Devices

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Google Offering 25-50 GBs Of Google Drive Space On Select HTC Devices
Oct 25th 2013, 15:35, by Joe Sirianni

HTC_One_Max_Leaked_Images_02_01

It would seem the war on free cloud storage has begun and Google is trying to take the lead passing Dropbox on the inside lane. The popular search giant is now offering, for eligible HTC devices (primarily the One and One Max) the ability to snatch a whopping 25-50 GB’s of space on Google Drive for two years. The 50 GB’s is good for all One Max versions out there however, it’s a little confusing when it comes to the regular One’s offerings.

It’s been noted that when the HTC One upgrades to Sense 5.5 (as we’ve seen yesterday with the international version) both the Drive application and BlinkFeed should notify you and could possibly show an upgrade offering to 40 GBs (15 GB’s default + 25 GB’s of free storage). google-driveIn addition, it’s being reported that this excludes the developer edition of the One for now nor does it allow you to get the upgrade with an unlocked bootloader. If you’re looking to bank on the offer, it’s good until January 1, 2016 so you should have plenty of time, especially if you’re thinking of upgrading to a new HTC device in the next several months or more.

source: Google


Come comment on this article: Google Offering 25-50 GBs Of Google Drive Space On Select HTC Devices

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Android World Update # Amazon offering six titles as part of Free App promo for October 25

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Amazon offering six titles as part of Free App promo for October 25
Oct 25th 2013, 14:49, by Scott Webster

Amazon is offering six Android apps/games for free today instead of the normal single title. The half dozen is actually a pretty good selection of popular and quality apps, not just a few grabbed from the bargain bin. With a total estimated value of around $24, the six apps also come with a bonus 20 Amazon Coins credited to your account.

The complete list of apps in the "Kindle hits" bundle includes:

The post Amazon offering six titles as part of Free App promo for October 25 appeared first on AndroidGuys.

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Android World Update # You can now build your custom Moto X for $99 at AT&T

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You can now build your custom Moto X for $99 at AT&T
Oct 25th 2013, 15:25, by Kevin Krause

Motorola Moto X Boot animation DSC00738

Moto Maker has yet to debut for carriers outside of AT&T, but the price of snagging a made-to-order Moto X just dropped by $100. The carrier has reduced the price for the Moto X (16GB) to $99 across the board, including custom orders through Motorola's site. The 32GB model has also dropped an equal amount to $149. Sprint and US Cellular are also offering the handset at the reduced price as of today.

Pricing for the Moto X is expected to come down at other carriers, as well, in the coming months, but there is still no sign of the budget-priced model that has been rumored for some time. The idea of an off-contract Moto X price at a low cost would make an appealing option for some, and  recently uncovered Moto G trademark could hint at that device.

Perhaps the bigger question is when, exactly, will other carriers gain access to Moto Maker. Initially, it sounded like AT&T's exclusivity would be short lived. Have plans been scrapped to expand the Moto Maker program based on a lack of interest? Will the debut of custom Moto X handsets on other carriers come as too little, too late?

[via Moto Maker]

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Android World Update # The rise of Android’s biggest OEM: The Samsung story

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thumbnail The rise of Android's biggest OEM: The Samsung story
Oct 25th 2013, 13:54, by Simon Hill

Samsung

It has been 75 years since Lee Byung-Chull founded Samsung with just 30,000 won (about $28). It would be fair to say that the South Korean company has come a long way since then. In the third quarter of this year Samsung cleared an operating profit of 8.12 trillion won (around $7.4 billion). Much of that profit derives from Samsung's position as the number one smartphone manufacturer in the world with a market share north of 30%.

The story of the rise of Samsung is intertwined with the rise of the Android platform. The world's most popular mobile OS is pushing for an 80% share of the market and Samsung manufactures around 40% of all Android smartphones.

The Galaxy brand looks unassailably strong. Samsung's marketing machine is formidable and the company leaves no rock unturned in the race to cover every form factor and be first to market with new cutting edge technology. Recent unveilings, after a heavy investment in R&D, suggests the company is determined to shake off the copycat allegations and prove it is a real innovator. Samsung wants to get comfortable at the top, but just how did the company become Android's biggest OEM?

In the beginning

Samsung started out in 1938 as a trading company exporting fish and vegetables to China. It grew over the decades and spread its tentacles into a number of other businesses like textiles and insurance, but it wouldn't start on the electronics path that would eventually lead to its domination of the smartphone market until the late 1960s.

In 1970 Samsung's first black-and-white TV went on sale. The following decade saw the company expand into heavy industry, and it began manufacturing washing machines, refrigerators, and microwave ovens. By the 1980s Samsung was focused on electronics and it had a telecommunications wing which started with switchboards and fax machines, before moving into mobile with a car phone in 1986.

The king is dead, long live the king

When Lee Byung-Chull died in 1987 his son, Lee Kun-hee, took over. He was to transform the company beyond recognition, but his 26-year reign has not been without controversy, as The Verge has pointed out.

Lee_Kun-hee

Samsung began to produce mobile phones in the late 80's after investing in ten Motorola mobile phones for benchmarking. The first mobile phone it produced was the SH-100, but the quality was very poor. In fact the quality issue was company-wide and Lee soon moved to modernize Samsung and change its ethos. In 1993 he famously commanded his employees to "change everything but your wife and kids".

The new emphasis on quality was neatly summed up by the SH-700 which was a new, lighter, more compact design than Samsung's previous cell phones. Every handset off the line was thoroughly tested and Lee showed his determination to improve Samsung's reputation by burning faulty handsets worth 15 billion won. The new "Quality is Pride" motto was to be taken seriously.

First mobile success

In October 1994 Samsung released the SH-770 under the brand name "Anycall". This improved version of the SH-700 was backed by a serious marketing campaign and a charm offensive on distributors. Within a year Samsung had eaten Motorola's South Korean market share and become the biggest mobile phone manufacturer in its homeland.

The Samsung SCH-100 and SH-770 at the Samsung museum.

Mobil The Samsung SCH-100 and SH-770 at the Samsung museum.

As CDMA service launched in 1996 Samsung was ready to capitalize with its first digital handset, the SCH-100. The same year Samsung signed an exclusive agreement with Sprint to provide phones for the U.S. market and this sparked an international assault by the company. By the late 90's Samsung was going up against Nokia, Motorola, and Ericsson in Europe. By 2005 Samsung was the third largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world behind Nokia and Motorola. It claimed second place in 2007, but it would be 2012 before it would claim the number one spot.

Smartphone revolution

It took a while for smartphones to come down in price and capture the public's imagination, but when they caught on they really caught on. Samsung did develop its own smartphone platform; Bada OS was announced in late 2009, but the company had already released its first Android smartphone, the i7500, or Samsung Galaxy, in June of that year. Success was far from instantaneous, but it soon became clear where Samsung's future lay and Bada was quietly ditched.

Samsung i7500 Galaxy for O2

Samsung i7500 Galaxy for O2

The Samsung Galaxy S was announced in March 2010 and went on sale in June. Samsung has sold more than 25 million Galaxy S handsets since then. The original boasted a 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display, a 1GHz ARM Hummingbird processor, 512MB of RAM, and a 5MP camera. It wasn't a world beater, but it certainly didn't look out of place at the cutting edge of the Android charge.

Samsung bent over backwards to cater for the U.S. carriers and while all the variants (Vibrant, Captivate, Epic, Fascinate, and Mesmerize) may not have helped Samsung's brand image with consumers, they did build bridges with distributors.

Samsung wins

Before long Samsung's triple pronged approach of quality hardware, marketing muscle, and good distributor relations, was paying dividends. The Galaxy S2 was released in May 2011 and it was jaw-droppingly good. The 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 4.3-inch display, and 8MP camera met with widespread acclaim. It was a big contender for best smartphone on the market. Sales were strong and Samsung has shifted over 40 million S2 handsets to date.

samsung galaxy s2

Filling in the gaps between Samsung's flagship Galaxy S series was a tidal wave of cheaper Android smartphones and experiments with new form factors, most notably the Galaxy Note series which seems to have kicked the phablet category into gear.

In the first quarter of 2012 Samsung finally overtook Nokia to become the world's largest mobile phone maker by sales. It was a great start to the year and things were only going to get better with the release of Samsung's most successful Android smartphone so far in May. The Samsung Galaxy S3 boasted a 4.8-inch 720p display, a 1.4GHz quad-core processor (1.5 GHz dual-core in the U.S.), 1GB or 2GB of RAM, and an 8MP camera. It has deservedly sold more than 50 million units (10 million in the first three months on sale). Cutting edge specs and interesting software features, combined with a serious marketing push, and strong branding put the "latest Galaxy" alongside the iPhone in terms of desirability.

galaxy-s3-sales-samsung-ces-2013-1

Amidst its greatest success Samsung was pulled back down to earth by Apple's $1 billion patent case win. This looked like an indictment of the company's supposed Achilles' heel. Analysts have long leveled the same complaint at Samsung, namely that it knows how to dominate an existing market by analyzing the leaders and beating them at their own game, but it has no idea how to truly innovate.

Copycat, copycat

You could argue that human advancement itself is a story of taking what works and building upon it to improve things. There's no room here for an in-depth analysis of the patent wars in the smartphone market, suffice to say that many lines of human endeavor are not subjected to the same claims of ownership (though many are). The basic truth remains that only the most determined Samsung apologist could overlook its policy of copying the competition.

apple-samsung-patent-claims

The company started out analyzing Motorola and trying to best it. Samsung's focus on Nokia nearly led it down a dead end. Nokia's continuing hold on the number one spot masked its overreliance on the dying feature phone market. Documents that emerged during the Apple case revealed that Samsung execs felt there was a "crisis of design" at the company and there was a realization that it should be competing with Apple not Nokia. That led to a concerted effort to beat Apple, which began with analyzing, and sometimes copying, what was good about the Apple experience.

It's possible to sneer at Samsung for being derivative, and many people do, but no company grows this successful without delivering a good product to its customers. It's also a perfectly legitimate approach in many industries which is why Samsung executive vice president, Kim Hyun-suk had no qualms about telling the New York Times, "We get most of our ideas from the market. The market is a driver, so we don't intend to drive the market in a certain direction."

Leading the field

With 2013 nearly at an end we can see evidence that Samsung is adjusting to its new found status as a leader. The gap has arguably narrowed as the S4 is not streets ahead in hardware terms compared to the rest of the Android flagship pack. Samsung clearly tried to add value with its software features, but any drive towards its own ecosystem is going to clash with Google's services and they're part of what makes Android so great. The Note 3 is more clearly the best device in its category, but the phablet wars have only just begun and we're seeing a lot of new releases that will compete.

Galaxy Gear Note 3 find my device

Samsung's more interesting moves, in the shape of the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, and the Galaxy Round, aren't looking too impressive. The Galaxy Gear is horribly limited and it's no surprise the reviews are not glowing. There's no substantial improvement on what Sony and others have already done in this space. The Galaxy Round looks like a determined effort to announce a flexible display device before LG. The benefits of its design are far from clear and the news that it will be a limited release to test the market can only dampen any potential excitement.

Before we get too negative let's point out that Samsung is seriously outspending the competition on research and development. It spent $10.6 billion in 2012, compared to Apple's $3.4 billion. It will take time for that investment to bear fruit and the company has a lot of work to do to change the mindset that has served it so well. The fact it is spending this much on R&D suggests awareness that staying on top requires true innovation. Only time will tell if Samsung can transition to pacesetter and make that number one spot its own for the long term.

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