Saturday, April 20, 2013

Android Central

Android Central


Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S4 sign up page now live

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 04:47 PM PDT

VZW Galaxy S4

Still no dates given, but a great way to show your interest in Samsung's newest on Big Red

Yesterday Verizon confirmed that their Samsung Galaxy S4 would be available sometime in May, and today they have made the sign up page for the new Galaxy S model live. We know it's not the Verizon page most of us want to see when we talk Galaxy S4, but it's a start.

Potential owners can head to the page to sign up for more information, and more importantly, show that they have interest in the device. Carriers often use this sort of thing as a way to know how many units they need to have on hand for launch day.

We expect that number to be pretty big, but there will always be the chance that your store will run out before you can get your tail there to grab yours. Take a minute, sign up, and let them know they need to order yours from Samsung. When finished, share it in the forums with the rest of us waiting for this one.

Source: Verizon 

    


AT&T updates Samsung Galaxy S4 shipping date to April 23

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 04:10 PM PDT

Galaxy S4 on AT&T

The previous date of April 30 has been changed to April 23, price and selection remains unchanged

AT&T has updated the Samsung Galaxy S4 pre-order page and there is a new shipping date - April 23. The previous versions had a shipping date of April 30 for the phone, which put it a week past T-Mobile (April 24) and Sprint (April 27). The price remains the same at $639 or $199 with a new agreement for the 16GB model.

Of course we can't be sure that this date is final, but all of us would like to see it sooner rather than later. There's a lot there to love, and we certainly can't wait to have our very own for the requisite fondling. 

Are you ordering an S4 from one of the carriers? Be sure to let us know who you're rolling with in our poll, then head into the forums where at least you can wait with friends.

Source: AT&T. Thanks, Eric!

    


TweetDeck will stop functioning, be removed from Google Play on May 7

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 03:20 PM PDT

TweetDeck

Twitter API v1.0 retirement the final nail in the coffin for TweetDeck

Starting May 7, the current TweetDeck app on Android (and iOS) will cease to function, and will then be removed from Google Play the same day. This will come as no surprise to those who saw the first news back in early March, but the shutdown is due to the retirement of Twitter API v1.0, which the TweetDeck apps rely on to function. Twitter, which has owned TweetDeck since mid-2011, has chosen to retire the apps rather than re-engineer them to work with updated API's.

Considering its general push towards slowing development of third party clients and encouraging users to use its own official Twitter client, the writing was on the wall for TweetDeck's shutdown. The one surviving piece of TweetDeck after May 7 will be the web app, which Twitter will continue to support. If you are still a TweetDeck user, you'll probably want to start looking for a replacement option. Luckily there are lots of great choices out there.

Source: TweetDeck

    


Ouya Limited Edition units now fast tracked for shipping

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 02:43 PM PDT

Ouya

Ouya shows that they realize the value of communication, fills us in with another shipping update

Ouya wants to be the next big thing on console gaming. We've heard today that they now have 10,000 developers lined up, and since the end of March they have been busy shipping units out to Kickstarter backers. They realize that to be successful, they need to get units in the hands of people who want one, and more importantly, keep communicating with the folks waiting on their order.

They are doing that with weekly shipping updates on their Kickstarter page and via email, like the one they have sent out today. There's no real breaking news to tell, but the prove that they are listening to feedback and have adjusted a few things in their shipping workflow:

  • Limited Edition units have been "fast-tracked" and will be shipped out sooner, cutting nearly two weeks off the original time.
  • Standard orders are no longer prioritized over orders with extra controllers. The orders with spare controllers will start shipping early next week.
  • They are working on methods to get international orders out the door faster

Good news all around, and it's awesome to see a company let us know how things are going during the crazy process of shipping out tens of thousands of units. Well done, Ouya.

Source: Ouya

    


Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 now available in Canada

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 02:09 PM PDT

Galaxy Note 8.0

Now on sale at Best Buy, Future Shop, Staples and other authorized retailers for $429

Launching nearly simultaneously with the U.S., Canadians can now get their hands on a Galaxy Note 8.0 from one of several retailers. We seem to be looking at pretty much the exact same stylus-toting tablet as down in the states, with a 1280x800 8-inch display, Exynos 4412 quad-core processor, 16GB of storage, 2GB of RAM and a camera on each side. Of course on the software front we're looking at Android 4.1 with all of the extras that TouchWiz brings -- including stylus-optimized apps. The one thing that's different up in Canada is the price.

While the official Samsung materials tell you to "visit your nearest retailer", we're seeing a $429 price tag for the device at both Best Buy and Future Shop. That's a $30 premium over what is generally being charged at U.S. retailers for the moment. Any Canadians out there going to pick this one up? Let us know in the comments.

read more

    


The AT&T HTC One

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 01:37 PM PDT

AT&T HTC One

Try not to let the bloatware get you down - this is still a great Android smartphone​

I hadn't planned on it, but I picked up an AT&T HTC One this morning. This is the third version of the phone I've used -- along with the European model (that's the one we did our full review on) as well as Sprint's. I'd hoped the HTC One Developer Edition would have shipped today, but no dice. It would have been nice to have AT&T LTE with none of the carrier-mandated software junk along with it. Oh well.

On the outside, there's not a lot to talk about. The AT&T logo on the back is the only real identifying mark. This could just as easily be any other HTC One without it.

So what makes AT&T's HTC One different? As you could well guess, carriers usually can't keep from changing things every so slightly.

read more

    


Sony: Work on Jelly Bean for several Xperia phones in final stages, more news next week

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 12:20 PM PDT

Xperia P

Sony says Jelly Bean is close for a range of 2012 Xperia phones via an official Twitter account

An official Sony Twitter account has spilled the beans on the upcoming Jelly Bean update for a handful of Xperia phones today. Users with an Xperia P, Xperia Go, Xperia S, Xperia SL, Xperia Arco S and Xperia Ion should be seeing Android 4.1 in short order, as work on the updates is in the final stage.

Sony has come a long way in a very short time when it comes to Android versions and compatibility. The company that once left phones to die on old versions of Android is now the company that has worked with the AOSP maintainer and is taking an active hand in providing code and updates. We love seeing that sort of communication and cooperation between manufacturers and Google.

Sony says to expect more news about Jelly Bean for the mentioned Xperia phones next week. We'll keep an eye on things, and let you know as soon as they have more to say.

Source: @SonyMobileNews; via Android Central forums

    


Samsung Galaxy S4 kernel source released

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 11:36 AM PDT

Galaxy S4

Kernel source code is now available for the GT-I9500, GT-I9505, and SGH-I337M

GPL compliance is a wonderful thing -- Samsung has just posted the kernel source code for three Galaxy S4 models: GT-I9500, GT-I9505, and SGH-I337M. All three sources are currently available for download through the Samsung open source repository. While this doesn't help the average user (plus nobody actually has the phone yet), it will allow kernel developers to begin tweaking Samsung's kernel in order to get flashable zips ready for root users once the phone launches.

The Galaxy S family has been huge with the aftermarket developer community in the past, and despite some initial bad news, there is no reason that the Galaxy S4 can't reach the same level of support and popularity among ROM and kernel devs. It will be interesting to see how far this powerhouse of a phone will be pushed. The links to the source code can be found below.

Source: Samsung; via Android Police

    


HTC apologizes, gives more details on dev edition delay

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 10:28 AM PDT

HTC One

Weather, security in wake of Boston terror attack affecting shipping nationwide

We've just gotten some more details from HTC regarding the shipping delay for its 32-gigabyte SIM-unlocked HTC One as well as the 64-gigabyte "developer edition" with its unlockable bootloader.

The official word form HTC is still "before the end of April," but things might well not be that bad. 

We'll explain ...

read more

    


Sony Xperia SP hands-on

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 09:05 AM PDT

Sony looks to follow up the Xperia Z with a worth mid-range contender

Back in March Sony announced the Xperia SP - a mid range device but still with some pretty impressive specifications. Of course the device is overshadowed by the Xperia Z, but we were reasonably impressed during our recent hands-on time with the SP, and it should give other mid range handsets a run for their money.

The Xperia SP sports a 4.6-inch 720p "HD Reality display," and combined with Sony's Mobile Bravia Engine 2 the screen looks super crisp, and the colors really pop out when viewed front-on. Sony's 8MP camera is on board with 'Exmore RS for Mobile' for producing some decent photographs thanks to its stacked image sensor. In addition, the "battery stamina mode" should improve battery life over long days, as we saw in our review of the Xperia Z.

Powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip performance seems fast and I didn't experience any lag with my short time with the device. The SP's aluminum frame feels great in the hand. It's not the thinnest of phones but it's still sufficiently comfortable.

We'll have a full review of the Xperia SP coming up in the near future, so if this one looks your cup of tea then keep watching Android Central in the weeks ahead.

    


HTC One gains greater availability today - here's what you need to know

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 07:30 AM PDT

HTC One

Who's got the HTC One, and what to do with it once you've picked it up​

Today's the day many of us have been waiting for -- the HTC One is finally available. Folks in the UK and a couple other countries have had it for a week or two now, and even a few in the U.S. sneaked one out over the past few days. But today it's official. Three U.S. operators and others worldwide are now selling the phone that many believe is a must-win for HTC.

We've been using the HTC One for more than a month now -- be sure to read our full HTC One review --  and it's safe to say that this is a lot of phone. The hardware is certainly is something to crow about -- the display is gorgeous, the phone is fast and the new front-facing speakers have to be heard to be believed. The new camera has some excellent features and is capable of taking excellent photos. And HTC got some interesting new software features.

So if you're just getting started with the HTC One, or if you're just now looking at getting one, strap it. We'll explain it all for you.

read more

    


Dungeon Hunter 4: The latest action-packed RPG in the series

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 06:56 AM PDT

Dungeon Hunter 4

Quality graphics, content and gameplay packed into a mobile RPG

Gameloft has taken the wraps off of the fourth iteration in its Dungeon Hunter franchise, and it doesn't disappoint as a worthy successor to the first three. The franchise is a top-down hack-and-slash game, but just leaving the description at that sells it a little short. There's also an extremely expansive RPG component to the game, with character management, skills, upgradable weapons, item crafting, quests and so much more.

The depth of content available in games on mobile platforms is baffling, and the experience provided in Dungeon Hunter 4 is a great example of this. Hang with us after the break and learn more about what Dungeon Hunter 4 has to offer.

read more

    


Deal of the Day: LLOYD Flex Case for LG Nexus 4

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 06:49 AM PDT

Deal of the Day The April 19 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the LLOYD Flex Case for LG Nexus 4. Made from a shock absorbent and scratch resistant TPU, the LLOYD Flex Case provides great protection for the Nexus 4 from day to day use and accidental drops. The case features our very own Lloyd on the back with four different colors to choose from.

The LLOYD Flex Case is available for just $8.00, 60% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping!

Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts

    


HTC One developer edition and unlocked editions delayed

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 06:19 AM PDT

HTC One

E-mail notification says 'slight delay' in shipping; cases won't hit until mid-May

Uh oh. If you ordered the 32GB unlocked or 64GB developer version of the HTC One directly from HTC (via Let's Talk), you might have just received the same e-mail we did, indicating some sort of delay.

Hello Phil

We have an important update about your order. Due to shipping issues with the 32G unlocked and 64G Developers Editions of the New HTC One®, there will be a slight delay in shipping your HTC One® to you. We expect to have your phone delivered to you, via overnight shipping, before the end of April. We’ll do everything we can to get it shipped to you as soon as possible.

Also, due to overwhelming demand, there will be a delay in shipping your free case. We expect to begin receiving the Double Dip cases in mid-May, and will ship them as soon as they’re available.

We understand the excitement and anticipation that comes with a new phone, and we are confident that the HTC One® will exceed that anticipation

Thanks for the support,

HTC ShopAmerica

That's no bueno, especially since HTC has had a couple dates -- April 18 and April 23 -- listed thus far, and no new shipping date is listed here. And that's to say nothing of the HTC One facing a global delay from March in the first place.

We're gonna rattle some bushes and see what we can find out. Stay tuned.

More in the HTC One forums.

    


Dish urges FCC to postpone Sprint-Softbank deal

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 05:49 AM PDT

Sprint / Dish

Dish merger proposal currently before the Sprint board of directors for consideration

In a rather curious turn of events on April 15th, Dish made a buyout offer for Sprint of some $25.5 billion dollars, over $5 billion more than what has been agreed upon by Sprint and Softbank previously. In order for Dish to increase the chances of its deal being accepted, however, it is urging the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to postpone its review of the Softbank deal. As Sprint's board looks over the deal independently, the FCC's evaluation of Softbank's proposal will move along as planned if it isn't blocked or postponed.

The original deal, according to chairman of the FCC Julius Genachowski, was expected to go through by the end of May. Postponing the deal would give Dish more of a fair shot at convincing Sprint that its deal is more lucrative. The up-front purchase price being $5 billion higher certainly sounds better on paper, but there are more components to these large deals. Though Softbank's bid has been on the table for some time now, we would expect Sprint to take a long, hard look at the latest offer.

Source: Bloomberg

    


One Today by Google launches to support non-profit organisations

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 01:17 AM PDT

Android Central

Google's limited pilot program brings people and non-profit projects together through the act of giving $1 a day

Google's latest efforts to change the world have been unveiled, with the launch of the One Today app. The app, currently limited to the U.S and only to Android users, is designed to highlight non-profit organizations and their work and allow you to support them through giving $1. Each day a new project is highlighted with a new opportunity to donate. As with so many other Google projects, you will need to request an invite to take part, so if you're interested hit up the source link below. You will need a Google Wallet account to donate, but if you get in and take a look at this, be sure to jump into the comments below and let us know what you think. 

Source: One Today by Google

 

    


Vonage Mobile adds video calling for Android 2.3 and up

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 06:29 PM PDT

Vonage Mobile

After so many years as a voice-only service, Vonage is no longer just for phone calls

Vonage is releasing an update to both its Android and iOS apps today to offer users completely free video calling over both Wifi and mobile data. The video calls are of course locked to only being available between two Vonage users, but will support some pretty handy features. You can choose to display either your front or rear camera, which can let you show off what is going on around you. While in a call you can also seamlessly switch between a video and just audio, something that isn't simply done on most video calling solutions.

This puts Vonage more squarely in the camp of services like Skype, which seem to dominate the space currently. The app says it hasn't yet been updated, but when we took a look the feature seems to be live now. So if you're a Vonage user, go grab your update. Those who haven't yet given Vonage a try may now be compelled to give it a shot as well. 

    


Android Community

Android Community


Samsung drops Galaxy S 4 source code ahead of release

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 12:01 PM PDT

Get ready and get excited developers, because Samsung has just dropped the kernel source code for their brand new and still unavailable flagship GALAXY S 4 smartphone. Get read for all that Samsung “S” stuff and more. As usual Samsung has dropped the links on their open source page, and they are now available for all.

P3142796-galaxy-s-4-ac-540x303113111

Samsung didn’t just drop one either, they’ve released all 3 versions this afternoon to their open source repository, and we’re all happy to see it. Obviously this doesn’t do us any good at this exact moment since the device still isn’t readily available and won’t be hitting the streets for a few more weeks in the U.S., but once it does developers will already be ahead of the game.

As a reminder, there is three different versions being released and you’ll want to pay close attention to what you choose. GT-I9500, GT-I9505, and lastly SGH-I337M. The GT-I9500 is the Samsung Exynos 5 Octa 8-core smartphone that will be arriving in regions around the world, while the 9505 model is the US and other regions Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 series smartphone. Then the last one is for a few carriers up in Canada.

Screen Shot 2013-04-19 at 11.51.07 AM

Being the most popular Android smartphone in the world, the Galaxy S III has a huge developer following and surely the same thing will follow the GALAXY S 4. These kernels will help developers prepare flashable zips and more for all you tweakers, hackers, and people flashing custom ROMs once the device ships. Although we’ll be seeing different kernel source files for each U.S. carrier, but this is a good start.

So who’s getting the HTC One this week, or are you still holding true to Samsung?

[via Android Police]

HTC One Car app arrives powered by Nuance

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 11:45 AM PDT

Along with news of the HTC One coming available with select US carriers, it looks like we are also seeing some other details on the handset. For example, Nuance has released some details about how they are powering the HTC Car app that is available on the One. The aim here is to allow people to safely use a phone while in the car, of which Nuance has said the app helps keep users “intelligently connected” while behind the wheel.

HTC-LTE-One-06-ac-540x303

More to the point though, the HTC Car app will allow users to remain hands-free. Some of the HTC Car app features touch on text-messaging, music and navigation. The hands-free text messaging portion allows users to have incoming text messages read aloud and also reply back without having to pick up or even look at the phone. Simply put, this should help to keep users and perhaps more important, those around the users, quite a bit safer. The HTC Car app, thanks to Nuance, brings support for 20 languages.

Comments from Thomas Ho, director, product division, HTC touched on how users “crave connectivity and access everywhere they are” and also went on to talk about how the HTC Car app was “designed to keep consumers connected to people.” We can only hope those choosing to pick up a One will take advantage of the Car app while they are driving.

Otherwise, in addition to powering the HTC Car app on the One smartphone, Nuance previously announced a partnership with ZTE. That news came out of CES, back in early January, and included details of functionality similar to that of the One. Basically, ZTE tapped Nuance to power their Car Mode app.

[via Business Wire]

TracFone set to launch four new Android phones by LG

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 11:33 AM PDT

For those who still use TracFone we have some good news to report regarding upcoming smartphone options on the carrier. TracFone, one of the nations largest prepaid wireless options is about to get what appears to be 4 new Android smartphones from the folks at LG. The details were leaked earlier today but we’re still looking for the full rundown.

lg_tracfone

The popular leakster @evleaks has just confirmed that four entry level and mid-range smartphones will be headed to TracFone, they all run Android (sadly some are Gingerbread) and are all being made by LG. The image above reveals four different handsets, but we don’t have details on each specific device.

For now the details are still extremely light and all we have is the image above as well as the names of the smartphones. They appear to be about 3.5-inches in size up to 4.0-inches, but that can’t be confirmed. What we do know are names. Clockwise, from top left: Optimus Dynamic, Optimus Extreme, Optimus Quest, and Optimus Ultimate.

Most of TracFone’s current devices are quite weak, many aren’t even smartphones, but recently they’ve received attention for carrying the iPhone on Straight Talk in select regions. Now Straight Talk has the iPhone, and TracFone will be getting 4 improved smartphones from LG. We’ll update when we learn more details and specs for these devices.

[via 9to5Google]

Google buys Provo’s Fiber network for a dollar – get ready for Google Fiber

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 11:06 AM PDT

As I’m sure many of you already know, earlier this week Google confirmed that they would be launching their next-gen ISP Fiber network in the small city of Provo, Utah. Being just the 3rd location to receive the awesome service, and today we’re getting additional details regarding the acquisition of Provo’s current Fiber network called iProvo.

google-fiber-austin-texas-540x361

iProvo and their Fiber network has been around for years, but never fully came to fruition and got moving for the city on a mass scale. Provo, Utah is one of the largest cities in Utah and home to nearly 115,000 people, and is also one of the fastest growing start-up company generating cities in the US. So while many were wondering why Provo? That’s why.

The news earlier this week confirmed that the folks from Google have acquired iProvo, the cities current Fiber network, but the details weren’t yet available. Today however it appears that Google got quite the deal. iProvo is worth roughly $39 million but this is more of a deal with the city, than an acquisition. It’s being reported that Google acquired iProvo for just $1 dollar – for legal reasons – and from here on out things will only get better for Provo.

According to the AssociatedPress iProvo cost the city $39 million to build and even those who don’t use it still pay $5.35 a month for the service, and the city will continue to pay for it long after Google takes over. But hey, all those in Provo can pay $30 for the installation fee once Google Fiber goes live, and have free basic (but fast) internet service for 7 years. At least that’s Google’s current plan.

Reports also state that after infrastructure upgrades and such Google looks to build out and expand the Fiber network further by 2015. Looks like other cities will be coming up quick in Utah.

ZTE celebrates delivery of 500 millionth handset

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 10:53 AM PDT

ZTE has announced their latest device related milestone. They are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their terminals division and the production of the 500 millionth handset. While 500 million is a rather large number, it seems the point they seem to be pushing is that they are the “first Chinese mobile device brand” to reach this milestone. As part of this ZTE had an anniversary event in Bejing and coming as a result, we have some details of future plans.

IMG_3548-540x405

To begin with, ZTE has they are going to be doing some additional international promotion moving forward. Specifically, ZTE has said they will be promoting the Grand S (pictured above) and the Grand Memo on an international basis “in the near future.” There weren't any specifics as to which markets they would be focusing on though.

Other details from the ZTE event revealed how they will be focusing on a “three-pronged strategy” moving forward. This will include a focus on on boutique products as well as branding and marketing. Part of this will include ZTE devoting increased resources on high-end markets such as the United States and Europe.

Touching back on the 500 million number and we have also learned how it took ZTE a full 10 years to reach the 100 million mark. In other words, they needed 10 years to do 100 million and then only five years to go from 100 million to 500 million. Furthermore, ZTE also doesn’t seem ready to rest on this milestone and in fact have said they are looking to reach a global top-3 position within three years.

[via Business Wire]

OUYA confirms over 10,000 developers on board for gaming console

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT

The popular Android-based gaming console OUYA has been pretty popular lately, and they’re gearing up to release the console nationwide in the coming months. The folks from OUYA have done a great job updating the public and their customers with details, and today they released some great news. OUYA announced over 10,000 developers are on board.

Ouya-online-multiplayer-to-launch-by-end-of-the-year-540x418

That’s pretty impressive for a small start-up just looking to break into the Android gaming scene. Last month the company behind OUYA confirmed that their developer conference had roughly 8,000 people on board all aiming to build stellar apps and games for the gaming console, and in just one month that number has seen a pretty big increase.

So what does this mean exactly? While we can’t expect tons and tons of games out of the gate, with nearly 10,000 developers all working hard to make OUYA a success, it’s likely that we’ll see some awesome titles and extremely popular games arrive for the console. We’re even hearing some partnerships with large publishers and some triple-A game titles will be announced in the coming weeks.

OUYA's head of relations, Kellee Santiago, revealed the new stats today, and says that it's quite an accomplishment for the company, especially considering that the console is still in very early stages. Santiago also commented on the fact that Indie developers have the potential for huge success, even over triple-A game titles, as long as it is a quality game. And we’ve been seeing plenty of quality games come from the Indie developer community. Reviews lately haven’t been extremely friendly for the console, but the jury is still out until it hits the market for the public.

[via SlashGear]

HTC M4 expected to begin shipping in June

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 10:10 AM PDT

The last we heard on the topic of the HTC M4 came in the form of a set of specs. While that spec list was nearly complete, it is important to remember that we have yet to hear anything direct from HTC in regards to the M4. Basically, that is just to say that we need to take these leaks with a grain of salt. And keeping on that train of thought, it looks like we are now seeing a bit more on the M4.

htc-m4-leak

This latest is coming by way of a DigiTimes report who are citing the unnamed “sources from the upstream supply chain.” Based on details provided, the HTC M4 is going to arrive sporting a metal-allow chassis. It seems these sources have pegged Catcher Technology as being the exclusive supplier here.

Perhaps key for those curious as to when the HTC M4 will be released, there is word that shipments will begin in June. Granted, that doesn’t mean the HTC M4 will be available for purchase in June, but assuming these reports prove to be accurate, it does look like HTC will have the M4 available sometime this summer.

The remaining details coming from this report suggest that HTC will have an estimated 700,000 units ready. Otherwise, touching on those previously leaked specs and we are expecting a handset that arrives with a 4.3-inch 720p display, dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and Jelly Bean with Sense 5.0. Lastly, the camera setup is expected to include a 1.6 megapixel front-facing camera and an HTC UltraPixel camera on the back.

[via DigiTimes]

Vonage Mobile app update adds video calling

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 09:40 AM PDT

Vonage has detailed and released their latest Android app update. This update deals with the Vonage Mobile app and while there are a few notable changes, it looks like the big addition this time around is video calling. The video calls, similar to the regular voice calls are free for those calling another Vonage Mobile user.

vonage-mobile-540

Basically, it looks like this Vonage Mobile update brings them just a bit more inline with what we see with Skype. Similarly, the Vonage Mobile video calls are available to be made on a Wi-Fi or 3G/4G cellular connection. The one catch here comes with the device support. Vonage Mobile will work on devices with Android 2.1 or later, however the video calling is supported on Android 2.3 and above.

The other additions that have come along with this (v2.1.0) update include voicemail and the ability to invite your Facebook friends to join in on the free calling. This update also brought an improved user interface design and took care of some bugs. Vonage didn’t get into specifics on which bugs were taken care of, however it was said they will continue to fix bugs “based on your feedback.”

New changes aside, the Vonage Mobile app allows for up to 3,000 minutes of free calls to US, Canadian and Puerto Rican phone numbers per month. Vonage also compares the cost for international calls with Skype. Based on details provided by Vonage, they say that you can save “70% on calls to other countries when compared with other major mobile carriers, and costs 30% less than Skype.” Those looking to check out the Vonage Mobile app can do so by heading to the Google Play Store using this link.

[via phoneArena]

HTC One unlocked and developer editions delayed

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 08:32 AM PDT

HTC began accepting pre-orders for the Developer Edition of the One earlier in the month. Those originally began on April 5 and at that time, the estimated shipping date was shown to be April 19. Flash forward till today, which happens to be the 19th and it looks like users have begun receiving notices from HTC. The catch, these are not shipping notices.

htcone_androidcommunity_review10-540x298

Instead, those who placed a pre-order for the HTC One back in early-April are being greeted with a notice of delay. According to details coming from the email, HTC is claiming there will be a “slight delay” in shipping. This includes the 64GB Developer Edition model as well as the 32GB Unlocked model.

The silver lining here is the length of the delay. HTC went on to say these are still expected to arrive “before the end of April” and that when ready to ship, they will be coming by way of overnight delivery. And what seems like a move to keep the users from getting upset, HTC went on to mention how they plan to do everything they can to get the handset shipped “as soon as possible.”

In addition to the delay of the Unlocked and Developer Editions of the HTC One, there is also going to be a delay with those free cases. Here, HTC is citing “overwhelming demand” with an expectation of the Double Dib cases arriving in mid-May. Those cases are also said to be shipping “as soon as they’re available.”

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : One
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : AT&T
    Announced Date : February 19, 2013
    Release Date : March 29, 2013
    Also Known As : HTC M7
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1920x1080
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.41 Inch
  • Width : 2.68 Inch
  • Depth : 0.36 Inch
  • Weight : 143 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2300 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.2.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon 600
    CPU Clock Speed : 1700 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 4 MP
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11ac
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Pantech Perception tipped for an April 25 release

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 08:00 AM PDT

The Pantech Perception is a name we have heard before. Of course, the catch with that is we have yet to hear anything official from Pantech or the expected carrier, which in this case happens to be Verizon Wireless. Instead the Pantech Perception details have include a few leaks along with an FCC filing. Details began leaking back in January, however that FCC filing was discovered towards the end of February.

pantech-perception-fcc-02-540x405

Putting the previous details aside for a moment and it now looks like we have a potential release date. The date comes by way of @evleaks, who have said rather simply that the Pantech Perception will be “launching April 25th on Verizon.” Given the timing here, April 25 is less than a week away at this point, we suspect an official announcement will be arriving fairly soon.

On the flip side though, this could also be a handset that Verizon adds to the available lineup with little fanfare. Basically, that is to say the Perception is not a high-end device. The rumors have shown the Perception as sporting a 4.8-inch (1280 x 720) display and dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor with 1GB of RAM.

The FCC filing was light on the specifics, however it did show the Perception as having 4G LTE connectivity. But really, these days it would be more surprising if a Verizon handset didn’t have LTE. The filing did also have a series of images which revealed the handset as having an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. All said and done, it looks like it is about time for Verizon to come forward with some official release details.

Lookout talks BadNews, the latest round of Android malware

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 07:32 AM PDT

It appears as if another malware scare has come to Android. In this case, Lookout has said they discovered a new malware family which was found to be in 32 different apps. This family of malware has been dubbed BadNews, however coming as a bit of a silver lining, Google has already removed the infected apps.

lookout-540

Basically, that is just to say that while this is something to take note of, there isn’t anything to worry about at this very moment. Of course, things can change and BadNews could return for download. With that in mind, lets get into what these apps were doing. Lookout has said they appear to have been passing themselves off as an innocent, but aggressive advertising network. In reality, they were not so innocent. These apps were said to be sending fake news messages and also prompting users to install other apps and send sensitive information to include device ID and phone numbers.

The BadNews apps were also noted as using those fake news messages to promote affiliated apps and also push other types of monetization malware. One of the apps being pushed was AlphaSMS which is a premium rate SMS app. Of these 32 apps that were discovered by Lookout, they were split out between four developer accounts and are believed to have been downloaded a minimum of 2,000,000 times. Or more specifically, based on the stats coming from Google Play, Lookout estimates these were downloaded between 2,000,000 and 9,000,000 times.

Aside from the potential for damage from what has already been mentioned here, Lookout further talked about how BadNews presents a “significant development in the evolution of mobile malware.” The reason as to why this is said to be a significant development is because BadNews used a server to delay its behavior, which was why they were able to reach so many users before being discovered. Bottom line here, using some caution and common sense when installing apps should be a given, however it may also be a good idea to run some sort of malware scanner.

[via Lookout Blog]

Verizon LTE expands in California, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 06:56 AM PDT

We have been seeing quite a bit of LTE expansion from AT&T as of late and it looks like we now have some news coming from Big Red. In this case, Verizon Wireless has announced their latest round of new and expanded 4G LTE coverage. This latest touches on markets across several states to include California, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

P1090749-540x4051

Beginning first with the new markets. These include El Centro, California; Fort Dodge, Iowa; Middlesboro/Harlan and Paducah, Kentucky and East Liverpool, Ohio. Shifting over to the expanded coverage and we have Bedford County and Huntingdon County, both of which are in Pennsylvania.

This round of 4G LTE expansions also comes with some additional coverage for those in Ohio. The Ohio expansions include Cambridge and Senecaville as well as areas of Northeast Ohio. The northeast coverage includes parts of Toledo, Cygnet, Luckey, Archbold, Delta, Pioneer and Ridgeville Corners as well as Swanton, Ft. Jennings, Cairo, Leipsic, Benton Ridge, Mt. Cory and Rawson.

Coming with this latest round of expanded and new coverage, Verizon Wireless has said they now have LTE service available for 287 million people and across 491 markets. Perhaps a bit more telling though, the Verizon LTE coverage is now available in 95 percent of the current Verizon 3G footprint.

[via Verizon Wireless]

HTC One availability begins with AT&T and T-Mobile

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 06:32 AM PDT

Though some users may have been able to grab an HTC One from AT&T a bit ahead of schedule, the official availability actually begins today. In fact, HTC has come forward with some release news for the One. The handset is available with AT&T and can also be found with various retail outlets.

one-att-540x326

According to HTC, the One will be available by way of Best Buy, Radio Shack, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Costco, Car Toys, HSN.com and Amazon.com. In addition, the One will also be available direct from HTC. As for AT&T, they have the handset available in the 32GB and 64GB model and at this time, both are available only in Glacier silver.

AT&T will also have the HTC One available in black, however that version is not expected to arrive for another few weeks. The black HTC One will be available with AT&T in the 32GB and 64GB variant and as a reminder, AT&T has the exclusivity on the 64GB model. Shifting over to T-Mobile and they are offering the 32GB model of the One in silver. T-Mobile is also further temping users with a limited time offer of a car dock.

htc-one-tmobile

Availability aside, those choosing to go with AT&T can expect to pay $199.99 or $299.99 on a two-year agreement and those choosing to go with T-Mobile can expect a downpayment of $99.99 with another 24 payments of $20. Regardless of which carrier you pick to go with, we have a few HTC One reviews that may be of benefit and for those, just venture into the Story Timeline below.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : One
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : AT&T
    Announced Date : February 19, 2013
    Release Date : March 29, 2013
    Also Known As : HTC M7
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1920x1080
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.41 Inch
  • Width : 2.68 Inch
  • Depth : 0.36 Inch
  • Weight : 143 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2300 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.2.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon 600
    CPU Clock Speed : 1700 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 4 MP
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11ac
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Fieldrunners 2 launches April 24

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 04:42 AM PDT

If you’ve been on the lookout for new game for your Android device, Fieldrunners 2 will launch for Android users next week on April 24. That means the tower defense game will be available on Google Play next Wednesday. The game was previously made available for PC gamers via Steam and on the iPhone where it proved very popular.

xfieldrunners2android.jpg.pagespeed.ic.RtMYTUzV2B

It’s been over six months since the game launched on other platforms and many Android users have been clamoring to get the game on their own device. The developer of the game, Subatomic Studios, says that the game is built on a new game engine that is designed specifically for it. The developers say that the new game engine allowed them to make a very polished port it feels completely at home on Android devices.

Fieldrunners 2 is a true tower defense game and allows users to build mazes with powerful weapons to defend their world from invading fieldrunners. Players will be able to call in airstrikes, set explosive traps, and use other weapons to destroy enemies and protect their world. The game has over 20 new levels.

The levels will have players playing across grass fields, deserts, cities, and a volcanic lair. One of the stranger weapons available in the game is a tower that launches beehives. The game promises a revolutionary AI that allows each enemy to create a dynamic and realistic path through the battlefield. The game will feature several play styles including puzzle, sudden death, and time trial.

[via Joystiq]

HTC Desire L makes its Taiwan debut packing a 4.3-inch screen

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 04:33 AM PDT

HTC has unveiled a modest new smartphone called the Desire L in Taiwan. HTC left out a few of the things we want to know about the device, such as exactly how much it will cost and when it will be available. However, HTC does offer up all the specifications for us to check out.

htc-desire-l-lead4 (1)

We know the device will be offered in pink, white, or black colors. It will feature a 4.3-inch Super LCD2 display with a resolution of 480 x 800. The processor under the hood will be a 1 GHz dual core unit and the smartphone will run Android. HTC doesn’t say specifically what flavor of Android will be used, but whichever version it is, it will use HTC Sense.

The smartphone uses a microSIM card and has 1 GB of RAM. Internal storage for the smartphone is 4 GB, but some of that storage space is taken up with software preloaded on the device. The phone has a microSD card slot for storage expansion.

The phone measures 128 x 66.9 x 8.9 mm and weighs 118 g. It operates on HSPA/WCDMA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks. The phone has a five-megapixel camera on the back it can record 720p resolution video and still shots. It also has integrated GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

[via Engadget]

Google debuts One Today charity app for Android users

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 04:24 AM PDT

If you’re the sort of person who likes to donate a little bit of money to worthy causes, Google has a new charity app you might want to check out. The app is called One Today and is designed to make it easy for you to donate a dollar to various causes each and every day. The point of the application is to provide all the details you need to decide if you want to support a cause in one place.

Screenshot-from-2013-04-19-020930

Each day, the app will highlight a different cause trying to raise money and you can donate a buck. As of now, the application isn’t broadly available and you can only get access via an invitation. You can request an invitation through Google.com/onetoday. Google routinely tests applications like this as invitation only offerings before rolling them out broadly.

There is no indication at this point when Google might rollout the application of more users. While the application is available on invite only basis, it is only for Android users. However, once the app rolls out to a broad range of users Google will offer it for multiple smartphone platforms including the iPhone, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry devices.

Google is also allowing nonprofit organizations to register to have their own project featured on the application. The maximum donation users can make via the app for each project is only a dollar. However, the application will allow those who donate a dollar to invite their friends to donate more so the organization can raise more money.

[via SlashGear]

Verizon confirms Galaxy S 4 coming in May

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 04:03 PM PDT

We all know it’s coming, but it is when and for how much we are still waiting on. Today after leaving everyone hanging it appears that Verizon Wireless has officially confirmed the Samsung GALAXY S 4 will be coming to Verizon, and coming in May. We’ve seen a few leaks claiming a late May launch, and now all we need is the exact day and a pre-order page.

Screen Shot 2013-04-18 at 3.56.54 PM

Ever since Samsung announced the GALAXY S 4 we’ve received information from most carriers. Earlier this week AT&T and T-Mobile confirmed pre-order dates, pricing, and more, and Verizon was completely silent. Today Verizon took to Twitter to confirm the flagship device is coming, but we still don’t really know anything of importance.

The image above is all they had to say. Simply stating that the smartphone would be arriving in May, but leaves us all hanging by saying more details will be coming soon. How soon is the question. Today Verizon sent out “special announcement” invites for May 22nd at CTIA, but we have a feeling they’ll announce the release date sooner than that.

Earlier this month a leaked document hit the web from Staples, claiming that Verizon would be last to the bandwagon and won’t be releasing the GALAXY S 4 until May 30th. Almost a full month after AT&T. For now that’s just a rumor, but hopefully Big Red gives us an official date soon. Stay tuned and in the meantime check out our Galaxy S 4 hands-on coverage.

[via Twitter]

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S 4 (Qualcomm)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : AT&T T-Mobile
    Announced Date : March 14, 2013
    Release Date : April 24, 2013
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5 Inch
  • Resolution : 1080x1920
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.748 Inch
  • Depth : 0.31 Inch
  • Weight : 130 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2600 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.2.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T
    CPU Clock Speed : 1900 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 13 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11ac
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Facebook brings voice calling feature to Messenger in the US

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 03:50 PM PDT

Recently the folks from Facebook have been pretty busy. With things like Facebook Home, chat heads, the HTC first “Facebook Phone” and now this. Today it looks like Facebook is rolling out voice calling for those in the U.S. using their messenger application. The feature is called VoIP (voice over IP) and will work with your data connection, or using Wifi for free calls.

Screen Shot 2013-04-18 at 3.48.00 PM

This feature actually arrived for iOS in January, and rolled out to Canada last month, but today Facebook is bringing full and free voice calling to Facebook Android users here in the United States. Now you can call that friend that keeps posting his gym workouts on Facebook and tell him to stop, or call Grandma and tell her Happy Birthday. All for free!

It’s pretty simple and you can try it yourself right now. As long as you have the Facebook Messenger app installed just select a friend, tap the (i) button on the top right, and you’ll get to a page that will allow you to directly call them with Facebook Messenger, or even their mobile number. Pretty neat right? The ringing noise is a bit irritating, but we’ll live with it.

As expected, this is free calling over WiFi but if you’re on a data connection this can use your data and thus get you charges from your carrier if you go over your data limit. We know many of you love (and hate Facebook) so if you’re interested give it a try today and let us know what you think. The quality is decent, but that will surely improve over time. Get the app below if you don’t have it already.

[via Play Store]

Screen Shot 2013-04-18 at 3.48.00 PM Screenshot_2013-04-18-15-32-51 Screenshot_2013-04-18-15-32-59

Google CEO talks Motorola, Google Now, Glass and more

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 03:31 PM PDT

Today Google hosted their annual earning reports for Q1 2013, and we’ve been getting all sorts of information about revenues, how much Motorola lost this quarter, and now things are turning towards products. If you’re listening along Google’s CEO Larry Page might not sound excited by his calm, almost sleepy voice, but he had some good things to say about plenty of upcoming products.

Screen-Shot-2012-05-22-at-1.51.32-PM-540x299

During the earnings report Google’s CEO Larry Page had a few interesting comments specifically about Motorola, and echoed similar comments from Eric Schmidt earlier this week about the level of excitement the company has for their new smartphones. Basically he confirms they are excited about the future of Motorola, and stated there are two key areas of innovation that Motorola is going to nail. That being battery life, and durability. Page had this to say:

“Having just seen Motorola’s upcoming products myself, I’m real excited about the potential there. In just under a year, they have accomplished a lot, and have impressive velocity and execution.”

Then Google’s CEO turned his attention to a few things we use daily, as well as something we all wish we used daily. That being Google Glass. In regards to Glass Larry confirmed developers will be getting them by the thousands in the coming days, but when asked about the $1,500 price he didn’t have anything further to share. Confirming that was a developer only price, and wouldn’t reveal what we might expect to pay at retail. However, Larry is extremely excited about the potential and true next-gen possibilities with Google Glass and also made this comment.

“I get chills when I use technology of the future, and that happens with Glass.”

We’d love to share those chills, but we haven’t used them yet. Make it happen Google! Then Larry followed up by making a few quick comments about Google Now, voice search, and other things but surprisingly Google+ wasn’t talked about too much. He’s excited about how impressive Google Now is, and how far it has come in the short time available. Being able to find directions to the nearest pharmacy instantly, without typing, is something special and those types of features will only continue to improve.

Larry Page mentioned “voice search momentum” hinting towards the fact that it’s finally picking up steam and everyone’s using it, which leads us to believe Google Now will be a huge part of Android Key Lime Pie and their Google I/O developer event. It’s safe to say Google Now is the future of Android, and Glass — once again.

Google’s CEO ended on a note that they aren’t worried about making money with Google Glass, not yet at least. Stating they are successful with advertising, and getting people information in a fast an efficient manor. Everything else will work itself out. We can’t wait for Google I/O and are dying to get our hands on Glass, see more of Google Now, and what Android Key Lime Pie has to offer. Stay tuned for a busy month or two guys!

Motorola Q1 2013 operating loss tops $271 million

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 02:30 PM PDT

Today in case you didn’t notice, Google is hosting their Q1 2013 earnings report where we’re hearing all sorts of interesting details and sales reports. While Google rang in roughly $14 billion in revenue, the folks from Motorola aren’t doing quite as good. Q1 2012 Motorola reported an operating loss of $121 million, but this year it has increased to $179 million. A little bit of a black hole Google is hoping to change.

motorola-with-google1112

It isn’t all bad news here though for Motorola. According to the details and reports being released by Google this afternoon Motorola did see an overall Q1 2013 revenue that reached $1.02 billion. Above we mention two different numbers for Motorola, and that’s because there is two different sets of numbers to look at here.

Their GAAP operating loss was $271 million for Q1, but the number that is important (and being compared to last years $121m) is the Non-GAAP which shows an operating loss of $179 million. So Motorola Mobility had a non-GAAP operating loss year-over-year that increased roughly $58 million. That’s certainly not good news but that doesn’t reflect exactly how well they are or aren’t doing.

So while Google actually had $3.48 billion of profitable income and over $14 billion in revenue, Motorola still seems to be lowering their numbers a little bit. With the talk lately that Motorola Mobility will be bringing some stunning new smartphones and next-gen devices to the streets hopefully things will change. We’re expecting some details and comments related to Android and Motorola specifically and will report back once we hear more.

Hit the links below for more earnings details, and some recent Motorola rumors that could help turn around these numbers in the coming months.

[via Google]