New Android App Goes Live in India NewsPoint Africa
It has been reported that a new application for android has been launched in India. As per the new application plan, about 1628 India applications have been grouped which would be providing information to users about android applications which are ... See all stories on this topic »
Apple, Google drive WOM in India Warc
Overall, Apple's iPad was the subject of 55% of all relevant electronic word of mouth in its segment, beating competing gadgets powered by Google's Android operating system, on 40%. "Even though Apple has not made a big push to promote and sell the ... See all stories on this topic »
An app to bridge voter-candidate gap Indian Express
An Android application now enables candidates to send SMSes and e-mails to voters in their wards or constituencies, giving details of their polling booth, room number etc, and making it easier for them to go out and vote. The application, iElection ... See all stories on this topic »
NEC Reveals A Waterproof Droid Techtree.com
The N-05D will be made available on Japan's NTT Docomo network later this month or early next month. There's no word on its availability outside Japan as of now. However, Android fans in India will definitely want this phone to arrive in our country ... See all stories on this topic »
People have asked for an Android version of Google Docs for a long time, but when they did get it, it wasn’t exactly what they were expecting. The Android version of Google Docs worked only online, and editing was pretty much unusable. It seems that Google is (slowly) responding to user feedback for Google Docs, and they’ve just added an Offline Mode to it, which means that you can continue your work when you don’t have an Internet connection, and it will simply sync everything when you get online. They’ve also improved the tablet experience, and added support for watching the documents in high resolution.
The question remains – is it good enough? Many people still complain that editing is just as unusable as before, that it feels sluggish, that it doesn’t use the new ICS style guide, nor the Android developers’ recommendation to stop using the menu button, and use an action bar instead, and on and on.
I don’t think Google has cared all that much about Google Docs, because over the years I’ve found development of new features to be extremely slow for the web version. I don’t think Microsoft will want to bring Office anytime soon to Android, so Google has a unique opportunity here to create their own dominant Office Suite for Android before Microsoft gets a chance to come to the platform. As Android keeps growing, it will eventually be on over a billion, or maybe over 2 billion devices. Most of those could have Google’s Office Suite.
Perhaps Google doesn’t really care all that much because there really isn’t such a strong monetary motivation for them to compete with Microsoft’s Office. Microsoft makes $17 billion a year from Office alone, and Google is giving their Docs app for free. I’m not arguing against it being free. I think that’s great for us in general. It’s just that they’ll never work on Docs as hard as they work on Search or even on Android. But maybe one day, even if it doesn’t beat Office in features and usability, it still manages to become good enough for 95% of the population. That would still be a great outcome for Docs.
Bloomberg News has reported a few days ago that Google Inc. is sparring with a law firm they've been using since 2008. This is after they discovered that the law firm had lawyers representing a patent-licensing business which sued their Android partners just last month.
According to Google, the law firm (Pepper Hamilton LLP) did not provide them any notice that they were hired by Digitude Innovations LLC. This same company filed patent-infringement complaints against several handset manufacturers, including Google's Android partners Samsung Electronics Co. and HTC Corp. In a Jan. 27 request, Google said that Pepper Hamilton should be disqualified from the case. This request was given to the US International Trade Commission in Washington, where a complaint was filed.
"In short, Pepper Hamilton is accusing its own client of infringement," Google said in the filing. "Pepper Hamilton should not be allowed to continue alleging infringement against the products and interests of its current client."
Google accused Pepper Hamilton of disloyalty and said confidential information it shared created conflict of interest with the Digitude case. Since Google previously used the law firm to help them apply for Android mobile OS patents, it is no shock why Google felt betrayed.
"With so much patent litigation among technology companies, there is bound to be some overlap among lawyers." said Scott Daniels, a Westerman Hattori Daniels in Washington partner said. "Conflicts are hard on law firms. "You don't want to anger your clients," he added.
When asked about comment on the issue, Pepper Hamilton lawyers did not return any telephone messages. But on their website, they claim that they have around 500 lawyers.
What do you get when you combine the 5 different Sky Sports and 11 Sky Movies channels into one app: Sky Go! Recently, Sky has confirmed that it will be launching the integrated Sky Go for Android app at the end of February. Through the app, Android smartphone users get to access live broadcasts from the 5 Sky Sports channels including, ESPN, Sky 1, Sky New, Sky Arts, and Sky Living. In addition, the app will also provide availability for the 11 Sky Movies channels. The catch though, is that the user will have to subscribe to the relevant package.
Initially, the Sky Go app will only be compatible with certain smartphones including the HTC Incredible S, HTC Sensation, HTC Desire, and the Samsung Galaxy S range. Further plans of the app include making on demand access for Sky Movies available for the app later in the year, and to include the Sky Sports F1 channel across all Sky Go platforms on March.
As a generalization, each user has access to content from similar channels which are included in their package. Non Sky subscribers can also purchase a Sky Go Monthly Ticket for a minimum of £15 – £40 per month.
The Android version of the app was developed at the same time they worked on the iPhone app. However, iOS had a uniformed platform for the iPhone, iPad and iPod; as such, developing the app for iOS was easier to complete.
"Sky Go is all about helping more people watch the TV they love wherever and whenever it suits them, so I’m delighted to announce the roll out of Sky Go to Android. We know how much Android users have been looking forward to the launch of Sky Go on Android smartphones, and we’ve done everything we can to make sure that our bespoke design is worth waiting for,” said Sky Go Head, Holly Knill. “This latest announcement is all part of the process of constant evolution that has seen Sky Go move from strength to strength over its first six months, and we look forward to bringing more developments to the service as the year progresses.”
A month and a half after Salesforce acquired the social performance management service named Rypple, an Android app has already been launched. This app helps ensure managers and employees are able to connect to each other, regardless of their geographic location.
Through identifying 'social goals,' managers get to improve employee performance with Rypple's software. It also helps that they have consistent feedback and recognition. And since there is an increasing number of competition for cloud-based human resource management services, it is no longer a surprise why Rypple's top rivals include SuccessFactors, Workday, Ultimate Software, Cornerstone OnDemand, and Taleo.
This isn't the first time Rypple has an app though. Originally, they launched an iPhone app and just like this former launch, Rypple hopes to increase mobile work force connection with daily feedback. The Android version includes features such as public recognition for colleague praise, social goals for tracking priorities, and real-time feedback.
"The best feedback often comes on the taxi ride back to the office after an important meeting," says Daniel Debow, Rypple co-founder and co-CEO. "Rypple's investment in an Android app lets our users stay aligned with key priorities, get real-time updates, and recognize great work—away from the office."
As of this writing, the Android app is available in three different price options—the free version contains basic capabilities; Premium ($5) with real-time feedback, one-on-one coaching, and recognition applications; and the Phenomenal option ($9) with performance review application, Social Goals 2.0, Loops, and integration into the existing work systems of the company. Prices are available per-user-per-month.
The Sony Xperia S is due for launch in early March, and it looks like Sony is getting ever closer to their best competition in terms of hardware, design and software. They are not quite there yet, and I expect them to be about 6 months behind in most specs by the time of launch compared to the competition, but the Xperia S may be the first phone that really feels like it’s worth getting from Sony in 2012.
UK retail store Clove released the whitepaper that gives us all the details we need to know about this upcoming Sony device: Operating system: Google™ Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) Processor: 1.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 Dual Core GPU: Adreno 220 Size: 128 x 64 x 10.6 mm Weight: 144 grams Available colours: black, white Main screen
Colours 16,777,216 colour TFT
Resolution 1280×720 pixels
Size (diagonal) 4.3 inches
Scratch-resistant Shatter proof sheet on scratch-resistant glass
Memory
Internal phone storage 1 to 1.5 GB
RAM 1 GB
Flash memory 32 GB eMMC
Camera
Camera resolution 12 MP
Digital zoom 16x
Photo flash No
Video recording Yes – HD 1080p
Video chat camera Yes
Front Camera Yes – HD 720p for video chat and 1.3 MP for camera capture
I expect that by March we’ll see both the dual core 1.5 Ghz S4 processor and the dual core 1.8 Ghz OMAP 4470 processor shipping in some phones. If Xperia S would’ve had any of them, it would’ve meant a great deal for their competitiveness in the market. It’s not really about “needing” that difference in performance. It’s more about being able to make the best phone on the market – period – as a company, and show that you can do it. I’m sure there will be plenty of other even weaker phones from them and others, too, so just because a dual core S3 may be “enough” performance is not really the point.
Other than that, probably even more disappointing is that it says it features Android 2.3. That would be most unfortunate for such a unique device, that is being launched in March, to not have Android 4.0 at launch. However, for now, I still think Sony will launch it with ICS, even if it says otherwise in the whitepaper. I know they want to be very serious about putting the latest software fast on their phones, and I would be really surprised if they ship it without Android 4.0
The not-the-most-cutting-edge processor, and the lack of Android 4.0 would be its greatest weaknesses, and I’d say they would be pretty big ones. But otherwise, the other specs look very competitive. The 4.3″ HD Bravia display, 12 MP camera (it should be one of the very best), and its stylish design should go along way in compensating for its other shortcomings, especially with people who don’t care all that much about having the latest processor and version of Android.
Qualcomm managed to bring 40% larger revenue compared to the same time last year, and also 14% bigger compared to last quarter. Profits also hit 1.4 billion, which is a 20% increase over last year’s profits, and a 33% over the last quarter. It seems that compared to last quarter alone, they managed to sell 23% more chips, accounting for 156 million units in total.
Qualcomm is clearly doing well in the mobile market right now, and I think we can all pinpoint to the exact moment in time when brand awareness played a huge rule in skyrocketing Qualcomm’s numbers over the past 2 years. It’s when Qualcomm was the first to make a 1 Ghz ARM processor.
Although, the Nexus One wasn’t technically the first phone to use it (it was some noname Toshiba smartphone), it did help jumpstart the avalanche of brand awareness that Qualcomm got later for their Snapdragon processor. I remember when for most of 2010, everyone was using the 1 Ghz Snapdragon processor as the standard to which they compared all future processors in smartphones.
It wasn’t until Tegra 2, when Snapdragon started losing some of that mindshare it gained a year before, and then came Samsung’s Exynos, which took us all by surprise with how good it was compared to the competition. Although Qualcomm is doing very well right now financially, I believe it’s mostly because of inertia.
The way market inertia works, is that once you have a great product, and the core market hears about you, it will be a while until the rest of the market hears about your product, and how good it “was” (not necessarily “is”). So even if that company loses competitiveness for its products, that same part of the market that heard last about how good it was in the beginning, will also be the last to find out that their products are not so good anymore compared to the competition (RIM is a good example for this).
Fortunately for Qualcomm, they do have a chip that, besides Cortex A15, will be the most exciting chip of the year 2012, and that’s the S4 chip based on the new Krait architecture. I expect this year to be all about Cortex A15 and Krait. The early adopters will lose interest in everything else as soon as these hit the market. The jury is still out on how well S4 compared with Cortex A15 in both performance and energy efficiency, or as an overall chip, but no matter the outcome, Qualcomm should continue to do very well with its chips in 2012.
Someone tried to mess around with the FaceUnlock application code from the Android SDK, and stumbled upon this code, which seems to include answers, as if given by a personal assistant or such. We’ve heard some rumors a few months back that Google may be working on a personal assistant as part of their Google X projects, and they’ve been doing this for years. These rumors came from someone who claimed he was involved with Google X, and he wanted to give a hint about what they’ve been working on:
This is in total violation of the NDA, but I don't care anymore. Sue me. The central focus of Google X for the past few years has been a highly advanced artificial intelligence robot that leverages the underlying technology of many popular Google programs. As of October (the last time I was around the project), the artificial intelligence had passed the Turing Test 93% of the time via an hour long IM style conversation. IM was chosen to isolate the AI from the speech synthesizer and physical packaging of the robot.
If that’s true, and this technology can be used in Android in the (near?) future, then we can soon enough have close-to-real conversations with your phone’s AI, and according to him, it should make Siri look like an AI-toy in comparison:
I was unfairly terminated along with quite a few of my coworkers. It was a small enough group that they will probably figure out who I am, but like I said, I don't care.
I'm not going to answer all of the questions, but for #6, our AI is practically like talking to a human. Siri can give you information, but we can give you conversation. We can also go full genius mode which essentially gives you the sum of internet knowledge via conversation.
It can do objects by using an advanced version of the Google Goggles software. It also has a suite of basically every sensor that could be put on it; optical, laser, infrared, ultrasonic, depth cameras, etc. It needs an internet connection. Last I heard, it was using an average of only a couple hundred kilobytes per second. Most of the processing is done onboard, internet is used for external information.
It’s possible that all this is still fake, but it all does sound pretty real. It would make sense for it to recognize objects based on Google Goggle’s pattern recognition algorithms, or to use a lot of data if it’s indeed as smart as he says it is. Google may not have wanted to reveal this in the next few years, until it would’ve been ready to beat maybe 99% of the Turing tests, or until phones were powerful enough, and data connections were truly unlimited and LTE was everywhere. However, with Apple’s release of Siri, they might not have a choice but to use this technology for a true personal assistant in an upcoming version of Android.
Will it be in the version of Android announced at Google I/O (5.0 perhaps?) ? It would certainly make sense to release something like this at a developer event like that. Last year they were already showing some robots there, and some rumors said the next version of Android will feature some really groundbreaking changes and technologies. So we’ll see if Majel, or whatever they plan on calling the personal assistant, will be announced there, too.
Here's a random thought from us…
So now it seems like scammers are targeting Android games to fool users into clicking on their ads. If you've been using an app or playing a game and you encounter a split screen containing message such as "Video codec missing- click here to install" or "You are this site's 100,000,000th visitor! Click to claim your prize," or even "Virus detected! Click here to remove it!"—don't fall victim to them!
Let's face it: free ad-supported games are a daily threat to Android smartphone users. This is something entirely expected from free apps. Take for example the highly popular and successful Angry Birds game—which has a lot of ads. Last year, Android Market announced they will be selling a paid version of the game, many rejoiced at the thought of having to play their favorite game without any ads. But then Amazon declared this option will only be available for North America.
Now that ads are getting smarter, we bet there are a lot of people who are falling victim to the lines mentioned above. Even though clicking on these ads are a bit scary, we felt the need to investigate. We clicked on the Virus alert and got redirected to the Marketplace, where a legitimate Android anti-virus program was waiting to be downloaded. This type of advertising is not only limited to Android, it also occurs in iOS devices.
That made us wonder—if this were an honest app, why did its developer feel the need to attract consumers with false and dishonest banners? Aren't we protected by our rights against false advertising? If so, where are the lawmakers to defend them?
What do you think?
There's a new app which parents can use to keep track of their children's whereabouts. Through Family Check In, parents can determine if their kids have arrived at their scheduled destinations.
The app can pinpoint the whereabouts of a child on a location-verified map. This means parents can guarantee that their kids are at the school gym, a friend's house, at the mall, or anywhere else they're supposed to be. Created by Location Labs' Safely division, they believe that this app will complement the existing behaviors of teens with currently existing apps like Foursquare.
This app is the T-Mobile version of another similar application available on both AT&T as FamilyMap and Sprint as Family Locator tool. Ever since it was launched, the app has obtained over a billion safety location check ins.
Initially, the app will be available through T-Mobile USA under the brand, T-Mobile FamilyWhere. The app will be available for free and can be downloaded from the Android Market. Other available apps under the Safely division include Drive Safe, Phone Controls usage analytics service, and Safely Social Monitor.
Asus’ Transformer tablet was one of the first tablets of the tablet boom and it has managed to hold its own. That’s quite an achievement considering the era was dominated by the iPad. First appearing with the Android Honeycomb installation, the Transformer also went up against Motorola’s Xoom and Toshiba’s Thrive and managed to carve out its own niche in the marketplace.
Considering its service record one would expect that Asus would finally deign to update the Transformer to Ice Cream Sandwich, the Android OS’ latest version. Unfortunately, users will have to keep waiting got it – but there is an update coming.
Asus has just released the 3.2.1 firmware for the Transformer tablet – note, this update is meant only for the Transformer and not its follow-up the Transformer Prime. This update should update the Transformer build version to 8.6.5.13 and updates all devices to Honeycomb 3.2.1. This means a whole lot of improvements, like improved Flash and a better interface. A big plus is the improved WiFi stability – which greatly improves the device’s use as a mobile browsing platform.
It may not exactly be the Ice Cream Sandwich update that everyone has been waiting for but it does deliver better functionality for the Transformer. Also, rumor has it this is the last update before Ice Cream Sandwich gets uploaded.
This update is a global one, so if any user wants to partake of the update, it’s a simple matter of going to the tablet’s options and hitting the online update button. If it’s available in the region, it should start automatically. As of now, confirmed updates have been reported by users in United States, United Kingdom, Taiwan and Germany.
Android users more likely to put out Register
By Anna Leach • Get more from this author Android users are more likely to be slutty, it transpires – having more one night stands, signing up to dating sites more often and being more likely to have sex on a first date, according to a Match.com survey ... See all stories on this topic »
Dubious Android apps may not be malware--just ads CNET
by Elinor Mills February 1, 2012 1:21 PM PST Follow @elinormills This is one of the Android apps that Symantec labeled as "malware" but which ICSA Labs says is really just an ad-based app. It's an easy mistake to make, according to Roger Thompson, ... See all stories on this topic »
Firefox 10 eases add-on updates but no Android yet ZDNet
Firefox 10 (download for Windows | Mac | Linux | Android) also dramatically streamlines add-on compatibility, includes a new Full Screen API, and updates WebGL. The Android version, meanwhile, makes some minor improvements as the bulk of development on ... See all stories on this topic »
Android Can No Longer Be Ignored, And The Crunchies Prove It ... By Jordan Crook
Jordan Crook studied English Literature at New York University before entering the tech space. Prior to joining TechCrunch, Crook dabbled in mobile marketing and mobile apps as well as doing device reviews for MobileMarketer and ... TechCrunch
Samsung 'Galaxy S II Plus' - Android Community By Sam Koutroulakis
Do you remember long ago when Apple went ahead and held out from releasing an iPhone 5 - and just went along with the 4S instead? We could see a similar. Android Community
Android Overload: The French Fine Google $660000 For Free ... By Chris Chavez
Hello again, everyone. You've managed to wander into what we like to call, the Android Overload. Being that it's impossible for us to write up every. Android Phone Fans
Today Verizon announced that the folks at JD Power and Associates rank them right at the top in customer service and satisfaction here in the United States. While they were quick to announce the findings — they aren’t the only ones. A different survey has different results and the fine folks from Vocalabs claims AT&T actually tips the top spot instead.
One important note is while Verizon was number one overall according to JD Power, they actually ranked AT&T first in walk-in customer service over Verizon. Then you take the findings today from Vocalabs linked to above, where they surveyed phone-based customer service instead. Combine their findings of AT&T being at the top for phone based support, and JD’s comments on walk-in’s this could technically mean overall AT&T is the best.
Vocalab’s study found that AT&T has been steadily improving both as a company and in customers eyes, while others such as T-Mobile and Sprint have continued to drop. According to Vocalab’s AT&T ranked “Very Satisfied” by customers after phone based support 69% of the time. Compared to 60% for Verizon, 59% for Sprint and a lowly 48% for T-Mobile. Surveys like this can be looked at in many different ways, as not all customers have the same needs. With AT&T being top in phone support here, and top in walk-in’s by JD it is safe to say they tend to make most of their customers extremely happy. I’m wondering if you asked about actual cell service what these polls would look like.
So you tell us. How is your experiences with AT&T? Would you rank them Very Satisfied like 69% of callers did last year?
This is starting to get a bit ridiculous. While we haven’t waited as long as many did for the DROID Bionic it appears we have another one of those situations on our hands. The DROID 4 has been delayed time and time again from initial leaks suggesting a December 8th launch. We’ve seen plenty since then but newest details could confirm February 10th is the real deal.
According to a few screenshots from Droid-Life, Verizon’s official equipment guide website has the Motorola DROID 4 Slider set to be released on “All Channels” starting February 10th. Making that 9th launch date we mentioned yesterday pretty close to accurate.
There really isn’t much to say here, other than we are basically waiting for the official word from Verizon and or Motorola at this point. Obviously without an actual date confirmed this could still get pushed back and delayed for whatever reason, and we’ve seen that plenty in the recent past. I’m not the biggest fan of QWERTY keyboards especially with the strides in on-screen keyboards with Gingerbread and ICS. For those wanting the best of both worlds the DROID 4 employs a 4.0″ AMOLED display, 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, Verizon 4G LTE, and still manages to have that built in edge-lit keyboard. We are expecting an announcement any day now so stay tuned if this slider is any interest to you.
Who is ready for the Super Bowl? If you’ve been watching Sportscenter and NFL Network all week just like me and would like to show your team spirit on Android I have just the app for you. Obviously there are tons of different apps and live wallpapers available but NFL Super Bowl 3D Live Wallpaper so far is one of my favorites. It’s simple but elegant and I can sport my Packers with pride (maybe next year guys.)
While clearly anyone interested already knows it’s the Patriots vs the G-Men from New York. The app will allow you to choose any team you’d like, not just the Super Bowl teams. Although getting your favorite team logo and flag flying on your homescreen will cost you a few dollars, while the Super Bowl part is free.
It works on both phones and tablets, all screen sizes and has full support for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Once you pay for your favorite team there is all sorts of settings and options. From team ringtones, stadium background settings and more. They’ve even updated with a holiday theme and Lucas Oil Stadium options specifically for the Super Bowl.
the developer states it has been officially licensed by the NFL ensuring the app wont get pulled randomly. They even have multiple angles for the helmet and stadium view for those that don’t like the standard options. It looks like a great app and will be an awesome way to show your team spirit this weekend.
My Packers sadly lost and even though it was to the Giants — I’ll still be rooting for the G-Men come Sunday. Who is your team and who do you want to win? I’m saying Giants over the Pats 20-17 for the final score. Sound off in the comments below! Market Link
Verizon let us know today that they came out on top in J.D. Power and Associates Wireless Customer Care Full Service Study, ranking the major cell phone providers in the United States based on surveys taken in the latter half of 2011. J.D. Power asked customers who had recently contacted their provider through the web, on the phone or in person, and Verizon received the greatest accolades among its users. The achievement is the second in a row for Big Red.
Thee other three service providers in the US, including AT&T and T-Mobile, all recieved a two out of five rating from the J.D. Power survey. Verizon scored an impressive five out of five, soundly beating all comers. Note that this survey didn’t factor in wireless coverage or speed (thought that was almost certainly a contributing factor to the mood of those surveyed) just the performance of customer service representatives. Seperate surveys are conducted for wireless providers that offer contract-free services; in that survey, Virgin Mobile came out on top.
J.D. Power notes that customers with 4G devices are almost twice as likely to call customer service than those who have 3G phones. The firm speculates that this is because of confusion or frustration over smaller 4G coverage areas, both with HSPA+ (AKA “fake 4G”) and LTE networks. 38% of users who went online for help used the newfangled live chat function, and 40% of applicants contacted their service provider because their device was malfunctioning. You can read the full report on J.D. Power and Associates’ website.
UPDATE: we’ve received a bit of a clarification from AT&T who note the following:
“AT&T was again named No. 1 in walk-in customer service by J.D. Power as part of its 2012 Wireless Customer Care Survey – Volume 1, and third overall. We remain dedicated to continuous improvement so we can deliver the industry’s best products and services with exceptional customer care.” – AT&T
Earlier this morning we reported that serious security issues had been found in a number of HTC phone running its Sense UI skin, which allow third-party applications to view the passwords of saved WiFi SSDs. The flaw was discovered by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team and reported on the Homeland Security website. HTC has responded to the issue on their support website, stating that some of the phones are already fixed through regular security updates. However, some of the phones will need a additional update to be made secure. The manufacturer did not elaborate on which phones are currently safe and which are not.
The flaw affects phones with Sense UI, and seems to go back quite a ways into HTC’s catalog. Users of the Desire HD, Glacier (T-Mobile MyTouch 4G), Droid Incredible, Sensation 4G, ThunderBolt, Desire S, EVO 3D and EVO 4G should be wary, but Nexus one and MyTouch 3G owners needn’t worry. The last two phones run mostly unmodified Android code, and are susceptible to the permissions error in Sense. HTC instructs its customers to check back on its support site in a week for further instructions.
This is the second major security flaw found in Sense in the last few months. Not to beat a dead horse or anything, but doesn’t that indicate that Sense (and by extension most custom UIs) aren’t worth it? Note that those who install a ROM based on open-source Android are fine as far as security goes, yet still have a voided warranty for their trouble. Isn’t it time that HTC starts to let its customers choose whether or not they want Sense on their phone, or at the very least ,release one or two models running Stock Android? Considering that they’ve proven their own additions to Android make it less secure, and that the software differentiation is a non-issue for many users, that would seem like a good idea.
Are you listening, HTC? Stock Android is safer, quicker to update and requires less legwork on your end to maintain. Why aren’t you letting your customers have the choice to remove Sense?
[via The Next Web]
There’s a rumored press photo for a shiny new Samsung smartphone making the rounds this morning. We caught a glimpse of it on Eldar Murtazin’s Twitter page, where the poster claims that it’s a leaked press photo for a new device set to launch at Mobile World Congress later this month in Barcelona. Based on the software displayed and the Ice Cream Sandwich-style buttons (which are still capacitive) it looks like Samsung’s first ICS phone following the Galaxy Nexus. But something’s rotten in Denmark, dear readers: to be blunt, this looks like an absolute fake.
How can you tell it’s fake? Oh, let me count the ways. First of all, the Ice Cream Sandwich updates for the Galaxy S II that have been leaked so far look nothing like the screenshot on the device in question. The early builds keep the look and feel of Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz skin intact, including the four-button bottom icon row on the homescreen. The photo above looks like a more even blend of AOSP Android 4.0 and TouchWiz, including the dividing bar and centered app drawer from unmodified Android 4.0. Even so, Samsung’s proprietary widgets and icons are seen hanging out next to the basic Android 4.0 folders.
There’s plenty of other things to suggest that this isn’t the real McCoy. International versions of Samsung’s phones almost always use a center button flanked by two capacitive buttons – the four-button Android standard is only adopted on Samsung’s US phones, which probably wouldn’t be revealed at a Spanish conference. Even the buttons themselves seem wrong, if only because Samsung rarely keeps the same design for the icons as Google’s Android spec recommends. Look closely and you can see errors in the photo itself: bad stitching on the left and right bezels and artifacts below the screen, probably where some modification has taken place to adjust the capacitive buttons. If I had to guess, I’d say the whole thing is a modification of the standard press image from the white version of the international Galaxy S II, seen here:
Could Samsung release a new phone at Mobile World Congress? We’d be very surprised if they didn’t. Could it run Ice Cream Sandwich? Certainly. But this isn’t that phone. The Galaxy S III won’t be in attendance either, thanks to Samsung’s delay. They probably postponed the high-profile phone to their own event so they could get better buzz versus the iPhone 5, and release the GSIII worldwide with fewer market interruptions.
The options for cheap tablets are increasing, thanks to Chinese manufacturers like ZTE. Their first entry into the American tablet market is the Optik, a 7-inch Honeycomb tablet bound for The Now Network starting this Sunday, February 5th. The Optik is roughly the equal of the Huawei Springboard (AKA MediaPad) over on T-Mobile, with one important distinction: it starts at just $99. Of course, to get that sweet price you’ll need to sign a two-year contract for a data plan. This tablet is probably in the same family as the ZTE V66 we saw earlier.
The 7-inch device comes with a commendable 1280×800 resolution (most tablets of this size still user the older 1024×600 standard) and a 1.2Ghz Snapdragon processor. Honeycomb 3.2 should run fine on a full gigabyte of RAM, and 16GB of storage can be augmented with a standard MicroSD card. Cameras are a 5MP rear and 2 MP front shooter impressive for a budget tablet. A 4000mAh battery isn’t the best out there, but it should get you through at least two Netflix movies.
The carrier and ZTE have included various apps like the popular Swype keyboard, but it looks like the Optik is running relatively unmodified Android Honeycomb underneath. Google has certified the tablet, which means you’ll have easy access to Gmail, YouTube, the Android Market and similar. Customers can pick up the ZTE Optik online or in stores starting on Sunday, and if you want one without a contract, it’ll cost $349.99. That’s not a bad deal for an unburdened wireless broadband tablet – assuming you live in a covered area.
The last few months have not been kind to HTC on the security and privacy front. First there was a bug in HTC’s Sense skin that allowed for remote file access on a handful of smartphones, then the whole Carrier IQ debacle, which was demonstrated mostly on HTC’s hardware. The latest snafu was uncovered by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, which states that a considerable amount of HTC phones are running flawed software that allows third-party applications access to encrypted WiFi passwords. The US-CERT team published their findings on the Homeland Security website yesterday.
The flaw is a minor one, allowing any application access to stored SSID passwords by using the “android.permission.INTERNET” permission. Affected phones tested by the researchers include the Desire HD, Glacier (T-Mobile MyTouch 4G), Droid Incredible, Sensation 4G, ThunderBolt, Desire S, EVO 3D and EVO 4G. While US-CERT recommends visiting the HTC support website for update instructions, HTC has said nothing as of yet about the security hole. Based on their behavior with the last security alert, you can expect them to update the affected handsets within the next few weeks.
Users shouldn’t panic: there’s been no documented case of apps or malware taking advantage of this loophole as of yet, and it would take some doing for an unscropilous developer to take advantage of it for personal gain. That said, it might be best to delete stored WiFi SSDs until the update and rely on a 3G or 4G connection for data, especially if you access sensative networks at home or at work. US-CERT notes that the Nexus One and T-Mobile MyTouch 3G (HTC Hero), both of which run mostly unmodified Android code, do not suffer from this issue. That means that if you’re running a custom ROM built from Android’s open-source packages, you’re probably safe as well.
[via PhysOrg]
If you’re a fan of the curved screen display Samsung’s showcased on the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus, there’s good news in a new industry partnership. The phone manufacturer is teaming up with Corning, makers of the super-strong Gorilla Glass, to bring a brand-new substrate to the market. Lotus Glass is specifically designed for curved screens on organic light-emitting diode displays, which Samsung has been favoring for its mid-range and high-end smartphones for the last eighteen months.
So what’s so great about Lotus Glass? First of all, it can be curved to a much higher degree than standard tempered glass before cracking, allowing for a more dramatic curve in fixed screens. Considering that the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus both employ a screen curve that so subtle you need a little enhanced marketing to notice it most of the time, this should help make for some more striking phone designs. Lotus Glass is isn’t exclusive to OLED or AMOLED displays, but it is reformulated to allow for higher resolution and greater DPI in screens while maintaining strength and flexibility.
Samsung seems intent on continuing its curved screen designs. The Galaxy S Advance is the third model in as many years with a curved display, and the first in Samsung’s primary Galaxy family. The jury’s still out on how much utility a curvy display adds – aside from a more natural feel in your hand and when talking, there aren’t a lot of pros or cons when it comes to the aesthetic choice. While it’s possible that the Samsung-Corning partnership could lead to a curved design for the delayed Galaxy S III, we haven’t seen any hard evidence pointing towards this.
Oh look, another white version of an existing smartphone. How mildly interesting. But wait, gentle reader: the bonus that comes along with the newest HTC sensation might just make you do a digital double-take. The Taiwanese manufacturer announced today that the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the popular mid-range smartphone would be releasing soon, but the special white version of the Sensation will (as far as we know) be the first HTC device to ship with Android 4.0. At the moment the launch of the white Sensation is only confirmed for the Netherlands. HTC will update to ICS for current owners of the Sensation, Sensation XE and Sensation XL around the same time.
If you’re excited to see Google’s shiny new user interface for ICS running on HTC’s hardware… don’t be. Based on what we’ve seen of a leaked version of HTC’s 2012 workhorse model, the Ville, HTC’s ICS build will look nearly identical to its Gingerbread one thanks to an updated version of the Sense UI skin. While Sense 4.0 will bring a number of small enhancements, it’s more of an evolution of HTC’s established look and feel than anything else. All of Google’s work in ICS aimed towards uniting the current smartphone and tablet interfaces seems to be going unheeded by HTC, and Samsung as well, since their TouchWiz skin seems intact on early ICS builds for the Galaxy S II.
In any case, European Sensation owners can expect an over-the-air update to be released before the March 1st debut of the frosty phone or just after. Since HTC is expected to officially reveal at least one major phone and Sense 4.0 at Mobile World Congress in late February, it may not be until the new Sensation is already on shelves. HTC’s stated improvements in the software include faster browsing and ICS’s facial unlock technology, as well as better Sense integration with Google Plus, with a few stability improvements thrown in for good measure. US Sensation owners can expect updates a few weeks or months afterwards, if carriers can be bothered.
It’s a wonder how the Motorola DROID 4 has managed to take so long to hit Verizon retail stores – especially since the accessories have been available from December 1, 2011. We had thought the device would release close to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, as both had been sharing similar rumored dates. Considering the DROID 4 just landed on DroidDoes.com, the release is bound to be right around the corner.
DroidLife has stumbled across some insider information that has confirmed a Thursday, February 9 release date. It won’t debut at $299.99 like many of their others – but instead carry a $199.99 pricetag (with a 2 year contract). We had some hands-on time with the Droid 4 way back at CES, and it could be the perfect QWERTY smartphone sporting 4G LTE.
In case you may have missed the specs, the DROID 4 will sport a 1.2GHz dual-core processor – and retain the 4″ sized screen many have grown to love through its 3 other generations. It is running the same 2.3.6 OS as the current DROID RAZR, so by the time 4.0 rolls out, maybe it will be compatible on both within a similar timeframe. Those of you holding out for this bad boy can certainly make it a few more days!
[via DroidLife]
Do you remember long ago when Apple went ahead and held out from releasing an iPhone 5 – and just went along with the 4S instead? We could see a similar strategy from Samsung concerning the future of their ‘Galaxy’ flagship device. It has recently come to our attention that Samsung won’t be showing off the GSIII at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain – thus makes perfect sense there may be a middle man underway.
A Galaxy S II Plus benchmark has been logged in the An3DBenchXL database, and fits our specifications of what this device could carry. The data shows it running Android 2.3.4 with a 1.5GHz processor, and WVGA display. It could very well be running the same processor as the Note.
To refresh your memory, there was indeed a Samsung Galaxy S Plus, so it makes sense to have a Galaxy S II Plus. The line has been practically flawless, and moved Android’s reputation in a very positive direction – so why change now? Most of our questions will probably be solved at MWC, but until then – we run on leaked data and speculation.
[via SlashGear]
We’ve seen some creative unboxings in our day, and this one is no exception. Team Evolve has created a LEGO stop-motion clip showing the unboxing of a Samsung Galaxy Note. Titled, “A Note To Remember“, a tiny LEGO man aims to show how great a large screen can be.
It really looks professional, and if you didn’t know better it wouldn’t be hard to mistake it for an official video! Though a Galaxy Note won’t double as a flatpanel for us like in this clip, we’ll just have to settle for its 5.3″ Super AMOLED display. It is no doubt the most unique device Samsung has released, and has really taken off to be one of this year’s most hyped up devices.
It has been confirmed that Samsung’s Super Bowl ad will feature the Note, so they are banking on this being the ‘Next Big Thing’ in the US. That is, until the Galaxy S III is announced. So what will you all do? Are you anxiously awaiting the Note, or are you planning on waiting it out until a possible Galaxy S III?
[via YouTube]
One of the more exciting developments in the Android mod scene in the last week or so has been ClockworkMod Recovery Touch, a new version of Koushik Dutta’s ubiquitous custom recovery software. Initially offered earlier this week, the touchscreen enabled pre-boot environment is now available on more Samsung, HTC and Motorola devices. Initially developed for only the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S. But a recovery system takes a lot less time to modify than a full ROM, so we’re seeing the updated software spread out quickly.
Most of the newly supported devices are made by HTC. The EVO 4G, EVO 3D, Desire, Desire HD, and Thunderbolt all have shiny new touch-enabled recoveries waiting for them. The Motorola Atrix 4G (but not the Atrix 2) and the formerly unsupported Samsung Nexus S 4G (CDMA version). You can download the recovery built for your specific device at the ClockworkMod project page, or shell out six bucks fro ROM Manager Premium in the Android Market.
It looks like ClockworkMod Recovery touch is fast becoming the main focus for developer “Koush”, who’s also a member of the CyanogenMod team and the lead in the CyanogenMod App Store project. That’s a good indication that most if not all future revisions of the recovery will feature touch-based controls, probably starting with version 6. Expect more and more supported models in the next few weeks.
[via Android Police]
If you’re reading this on your Android phone, odds are pretty good that it’s running Gingerbread and has a screen four inches or larger with a resolution of 800×480. That’s the conclusion reached by Localytics, a research firm taking a long hard look at data supplied by apps that use the company’s proprietary analytic data. Localytics claims that a full 73% of Android devices (smartphone and tablets) run Gingerbread. That figure disagrees with the latest numbers from Google, now a month old, which claim that Gingerbread runs on just 55% of Android hardware.
Using the data collected, Localytics created a picture of an “average” Android smartphone. Based on their research, the most popular spec is a Gingerbread phone with a 4.3-inch screen and a resolution of 800×480. This description matches a handful of Samsung and HTC models currently being sold. 4.3-inch phones accounted for more than 40% of all devices, with 4.0 inches, 3.2 inches and 3.7 inches following at 22%, 11% and 9%, respectively. Screen resolutions are more dramatically divided, with 800×480 taking 62% of the pie, followed by 480×320 at 14%, 960×540 (qHD) at 6%, and 480×854 (a popular Motorola res) and 320×240 at 5% each.
The average tablet isn’t really surprising: it’s a 7-inch device with a 1024×600 screen. A whopping 74% of Android tablets use that size and resolution, first introduced with the original Samsung Galaxy Tab and Nook Color. Just 22% use the 10.1-inch ,1280×800 size popular among current Samsung, Acer, Lenovo and Asus tablets. 71% of tablets use Gingerbread, with just 21% using the various releases of Honeycomb. Clearly, small, cheap tablets are winning the game as far as Android sales are concerned.
These numbers shouldn’t be taken as gospel – Google will probably update its distribution statistics in the next few days.
As much fun as some of the latest generation Android games are, touchscreen controls leave something to be desired in the alien/zombie/robot shooting aesthetic. If startup company MetalCompass has their way, you can recreate duck hunts and zombie shoots of yesteryear with the Xappr, a light-gun style accessory for Android and iOS. Instead of sending out an infrared beam, it communicates with compatible games on your phone, allowing you to move your character or cursor with the gun and fire with the trigger. A standard headphone attachment registers clicks while a flexible clamp holds your phone in place.
The accessory can work with standard shooter games or augmented reality titles that take advantage of your smartphone camera, replacing the cursor or centered crosshairs respectively. Developers can use the supplied SDK to make existing games work with the Xappr, or create new titles around the toy. At present only three iOS games take advantage of the hardware, but since it hasn’t been released yet, thatis not as discouraging as it sounds. An exciting game coming from an Israel developer will user the gun to simulate laser tag. Game developers, get cracking!
MetalCompass hopes to release the Xappr later this year, showing it off at the International Toy Fair in Germany starting tomorrow. Eager gamers can pre-order the toy from the company’s website via PayPal. The pre-order price is $44.99, and estimated shipping will begin in June. There’s no word on how much retail versions of the gun will cost, but it probably won’t be much more than $50 USD.
[via Cnet]
Last week Symantec made a splash by declaring that somewhere between 1 and 5 million Android users were infected with the Android.Counterclank software, classifying it as a Trojan and declaring it malware. Almost immediately skeptics questioned the validity of Symantec’s conclusions, notably competing security vendor Lookout Mobile. Lookout declared that while the 13 apps were questionable from a privacy standpoint, the Android.Counterclank API used within was aggressive adware, not malware. Yesterday Symantec retracted their original claims in a blog post, noting that while the advertising in question is aggressive, it doesn’t meet the definition of “malicious”.
Further laying out exactly what Android.Counterclank does, Symantec notes that the applications are generally undesirable, but not inherently dangerous. Considering Symantec’s poor public image as of late (including malfunctioning desktop programs and compromised code) this episode isn’t doing the company any favors. Advanced users are already wary of alarmist declarations from security vendors, and though the malware threat for Android is growing, many consider it overblown, especially when compared to Windows and other desktop operating systems.
All that being said, the thirteen applications that use Android.Counterclank should be avoided on general principles. The advertising that they employ goes way beyond the run-of-the-mill banner ad. Here’s just a few of the “aggressive” methods the apps in question use to try and get your dollars: setting a shortcut on your home screen, adding bookmarks to your browser app, reassigning the home page of the browser app, and sending unwanted web pages to your phone with a push notification system. We won’t link to the apps themselves, as many of them are still available on the Market, but if you’ve downloaded any of the apps on the original list, you’ll want to uninstall them immediately. Considering the rather crass nature and poor quality of the apps, you’ll probably want to do so anyway.
More source code news today — and no we don’t mean the Jake Gyllenhaal movie either. Today Samsung has just pushed the kernel source code out for their new Samsung Galaxy Note with AT&T LTE. The code was released some time ago but this new release is specific to the AT&T 4G LTE model that was announced last month.
The AT&T version of the Note wont be available until February 19th, and pre-sales start on the 5th but that hasn’t stopped Samsung as the code is readily available today, right now at the source links below. Now those awesome folks at XDA or RootzWiki can get started on creating even better ROMs, mods, hacks, and overclock the beast. Don’t expect too much until the device starts landing in developers hands, but this is a good start.
Available today at the Samsung Open Source Release Center, but there appears to be three different versions available to download that are basically the same. If you want to dig around inside the code for yourself or are eager to start developing for the 5.3″ Note hit the link below and have some fun. Galaxy Note source
Motorola’s DROID RAZR (just the RAZR for international users) is every bit the leap forward in phone aesthetics as the original RAZR was way back in the day. But it’s a hollow victory: despite the shocking thinness and jet fighter style, the RAZR does little to rise above its contemporaries in actual hardware capability or utility. Enter the DROID RAZR MAXX, a very slightly adjusted version with an extra millimeter or two and a battery capacity that nearly doubles the original, released just two months after for the same price on Verizon. So the question for new buyers is: form or function? Hardware
We don’t usually do this, but if you want to save a few minutes, go back and read our review of the Motorola DROID RAZR from November of last year. As far as the hardware goes, the MAXX is almost exactly the same. Come back here when you’re done. Still with me? Here goes. The only physical difference between the DROID RAZR and the DROID RAZR MAXX is that the Kevlar-checkered back panel curves less coming from the 8MP camera and speaker bump, making more of a natural slant to the bottom of the phone than a sharp curve. This extra girth to accommodate the battery makes the phone 8.9mm thick – considerably thicker than the RAZR, yes, but still as thin or thinner than any LTE phone on Verizon. The only LTE-enabled device that even comes close is the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket over on AT&T.
The extra thickness and weight actually make the phone a little easier to hold – instead of biting into the side of your hand as you expend extra grip on tapered sides, it rests naturally on your palm, like a “normal” phone. That also makes the relatively large 4.3-inch screen easier to use for extended periods. Otherwise, it’s exactly the same phone you love… or don’t. The awkwardness of the top-mounted charge and HDMI ports, not to mention a tough tiny door for the SIM card and MicroSD card (16GB included in the $300 asking price) are counter-balanced by the rock-solid build quality and highly polished feel of the device. Software
Remember when I said that the hardware was almost exactly the same as the DROID RAZR? Doubly true for the software. As a matter or fact, I’m convinced that it’s exactly the same software, as the “Model number” entry in the About Phone section of the Settings Menu says “DROID RAZR”. Take that as you will: Motorola’s highly customized version of Android 2.3.5 is solid and reliable, though it’s a long, long way from stock. The Smart Actions app seems to be doing a lot of work in the background. There’s a lot of bloatware apps, some of which can be removed and some of which can’t. I’d be excited about the prospects of custom ROMs working on both the RAZR and the RAZR MAXX – if it weren’t for the fact that both have locked bootloaders, and likely will for the length of their retail lives. Media and Call Quality
The RAZR’s AMOLED screen returns to make photos and videos pop off of the device, and it’s more than suitable for extended watching. Thanks to that massive battery, you’ll be doing a lot of it, too – more on that later. Thanks to a protracted run time, most users can leave the screen brightness as high as they like – a definite bonus. Photos and videos taken with the 8MP 1080p camera are good, but not spectacular. Like most tiny sensors crammed with eight million pixels, blur and artifacts crop up as soon as you leave ideal lighting behind. Call quality is good, but not great. We got much better results with the LG Spectrum in the same location. Battery
This is the proving ground: where we learn whether an entirely new model of RAZR (and the ire that Motorola and Verizon have received from early adopters) is justified. In a word, yes. Cramming in a 3300mAh battery – nearly double the capacity of the original RAZR – into a body this thin and light is nothing short of a technical marvel. The largest of 1st-generation LTE phones couldn’t manage a package this comfortable even with much smaller batteries, and as we’ve learned over the last year, increasingly powerful hardware and a fast LTE connection demand it.
So, what’s the RAZR MAXX’s battery life? Your mileage will vary, of course, depending upon your usage patterns and area. My experiences over a week of use lead me to believe that no ordinary user could exhaust the RAZR MAXX’s battery with a single day of normal use. When left alone, the phone draws almost zero power on idle – or at least seems that way. When in active use, the draw is a little more believable, but outlast every single phone we’ve ever tested with a standard battery, and most of the extended batteries as well (which, in many cases, are in the 2500mAh range).
As I write this review, the DROID RAZR MAXX sits next to my keyboard begging me for a charge. To get it into this state took some doing: it’s been mostly idle for just over three days. But I didn’t want an example of how well the phone could do sitting in a cupboard, so I tracked my usage including a couple of torture tests. I estimate that there’s about three hours of web browsing, another hour of talk time, and plenty of quick text and email checks spread throughout the trial.
At two occasions I attempted to drain the battery as quickly as possible. The first was streaming a 2-hour Netflix movie at full screen brightness, maximizing the use of the screen, data connection and processor all at once. After two hours, the battery had dropped about 25%. Later I spent an hour and a half using the phone as a wireless tether, which cost about 15% of the remaining juice. Either of these activities would strain any other phone, and would leave my Galaxy Nexus gasping for some electrical breath.
It’s not all good; the enclosed RAZR design means you can’t remove the battery if you somehow manage to drain it all in one day. And strenuous activity like that Netflix movie will still cost you dearly – though I’d estimate that you could get through 3-4 full-length films before petering out. But there’s no denying that the DROID RAZR MAXX is the longest-lasting smartphone out there, bar none. Wrap Up
If you’re trying to decide between the DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX, stop. You want the MAXX. A little less fashion appeal is absolutely worth it for the best in a short field of all-day battery champions. I only wish that customers were given the choice two months ago, or at least before their return period was expired. There’s no way around it: that’s a jerk move. Even so, if you want a Verizon and/or LTE phone that goes the distance, and can forgive the anti-modder locked bootloader, the MAXX is your man.
The new Motorola DROID 4 is coming, and coming soon. At least according to a few leaks and now the official Verizon DroidDoes.com website. We originally spotted it on Droid Does back in December, and according to multiple sources it was going to be released before Christmas. That never happened and all the dates we’ve seen have came and went without a release.
We received some hands-on time at CES 2012 of the new QWERTY smartphone (links below) and it should finally be available soon. Latest leaks from multiple sources have it slated for the first week of February but without any sort of official announcement from Verizon or Motorola who really knows. The latest leaked roadmap from Verizon now shows February 9th, so we could be getting some official news anytime now, but are still waiting.
The new details on Droid Does sure makes us believe that it will be here within the next two weeks, as most devices show up there right before they kick off a scavenger hunt or some sort of promotion for DROID. That previous rumor for Feb 2nd is looking pretty slim right about now. Either way this 1.2 GHz dual-core smartphone packing a 4″ qHD display, 4G LTE, and a built-in QWERTY slide out keyboard is finally coming soon. Stay tuned for more details and hopefully we don’t see a DROID 4 MAXX in a month.
