Android Authority |
- Telus updates its ICS timeline, Samsung Galaxy Note is first in line
- HTC One S launches in India, price range for several SE-Asian countries
- EA holds “Games for Guys” weekend sale for Father’s Day, up to 40% discount
- Google’s Collectibles Week lets you win exclusive items in popular Android games
- Google gives developers a voice, they can now reply to reviews on Play Store
- Want to save battery? Berkeley’s Carat app tells you exactly how to do it!
- Samsung unveils wireless audio dock for Galaxy S handsets and iPhones
- Coming soon: withdraw ATM cash wirelessly and safely using your phone
- [Video] How a dirt-chip tablet is made and tested (it’s not what you expect)
- Samsung and Apple got 90% of smartphone profits in Q1 2012
| Telus updates its ICS timeline, Samsung Galaxy Note is first in line Posted: 16 Jun 2012 11:49 AM PDT Are you at your wit's end waiting for that seemingly never-going-to-happen Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade for your Android devices on Telus Mobility? Well, here's a little ray of sunshine to brighten your days. As reported a while back, Samsung Galaxy S2 X owners have been given their ICS treat. Now Telus has updated its website with a new ICS timeline to let customers know when the latest Android flavor will come to their respective devices. Starting with the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray — although the list says that the carrier is still testing out the software, owners of the phone said that they're already getting their ICS upgrade ahead of schedule. Next on the list is the Samsung Galaxy Note, which is expected to receive its cold Ice Cream Sandwich treat on July 13. Other devices that will get ICS on the same month are the LG Optimus LTE (mid-July), HTC Desire HD (July 25) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (late July). Owners of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 will have to wait a little bit longer, as the upgrade won't come to their tablet until August. Here's hoping that other devices on the list will get their long overdue ICS upgrade from Telus sooner than what's been scheduled. In the meantime, don't hesitate to share with the rest of our readers if the update somehow made it to your phone and tablet early. No related posts. This article, Telus updates its ICS timeline, Samsung Galaxy Note is first in line , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| HTC One S launches in India, price range for several SE-Asian countries Posted: 16 Jun 2012 10:57 AM PDT Getting only the non-Snapdragon S4 processor variant of the HTC One S doesn't seem to deter the lust that folks in several Asian countries have for the phone. Good news for those in India, as the HTC One S was officially launched yesterday and is now available to purchase. Several online retailers in the country have already started selling the HTC One S for a couple of days. The price for the super thin phone ranges from INR 33,000 to INR 36,000, which puts it at around US$600 – 650. Clearly, there's nothing mid-range about the One S – at least when it comes to its price. Meanwhile, HTC enthusiasts in Singapore can finally get their hands on the One S starting today for S$948, which roughly translates to US$750. The steep price is due to the bundled Beats Solo headset. As for the price of HTC One S in other countries in the region, the phone is being sold for RM 1,800 (US$580) in Malaysia, while the limited edition Beats Solo headset bundle can be had for RM 2,200 (US$700). As for folks in Indonesia, the HTC One S will be released in the coming days for 5.5 million Rupiah (US$585). Lastly, our brothers in the Philippines will be greeting the phone soon for about Php 27,000 (US$630). This article, HTC One S launches in India, price range for several SE-Asian countries , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| EA holds “Games for Guys” weekend sale for Father’s Day, up to 40% discount Posted: 16 Jun 2012 09:19 AM PDT If you want to give your dad's tie rack a break and not buy him yet another neutral color tie for Father's Day this year – consider what EA Games is offering on Google Play – the "Games for Guys" sale. It sounds like the cool gift for the 21st century dads is the gift of apps. Assuming your dad owns an Android device and likes to play a game or two on his spare time, the following games from EA come highly recommended. And because they're being heavily discounted by up to 40%, it's even more reason to get all of them. The four games that are on sale are: Out of the four, Dead Space may seem a wee bit too advanced for your old man, but the other three should be simple and challenging enough. If your dad doesn't own an Android device yet, now it's also the perfect time to get him one of these nice Android tablets. Of course, you can always use the occasion to buy the games for yourself… This article, EA holds "Games for Guys" weekend sale for Father's Day, up to 40% discount , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Google’s Collectibles Week lets you win exclusive items in popular Android games Posted: 16 Jun 2012 09:13 AM PDT Google announced yesterday on Google+ the launch of Collectibles Week. For a limited time, Android gamers will be able to enjoy special in-game content for certain games that are currently available for download in Google Play. While you shouldn't expect epic items, you may as well have some fun discovering some of the exclusive collectibles that can be found in around 20 Android games:
The special promo is available for both U.S. and international Android device users, so mobile gamers across borders can already take advantage of it right away. But make sure you get your exclusives soon as the promo ends in six days. Here are the games that are part of the Collectibles Week promo:
Interested in any of these games? This article, Google's Collectibles Week lets you win exclusive items in popular Android games , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Google gives developers a voice, they can now reply to reviews on Play Store Posted: 16 Jun 2012 08:34 AM PDT Feel like you're talking to the walls when you leave that constructive criticism on an app on Google Play Store? That won't be the case anymore, because Google is making some big changes on its app store. You'd better be good at both dishing it out and taking it back, though. Those seemingly faceless app developers can now reply to your reviews – good or bad. As you can see on the screenshot below taken from an Android Developer console, developers will be able to reply directly to customer's reviews, and their replies will appear below the original comments on Google Play for the public to see. We don't think there's a notification system to let you know if a review has been replied to or not, but we could be wrong on this one. For now, the direct reply feature is only available to a select few, namely those with a "Top Developer badge". A full rollout for all developers can be expected in the future. You have to remember that having the ability to respond to reviews and comments doesn't mean that the developers are obligated to do it. But we're sure some developers are more than willing to set straight some misinformation that certain users write on their reviews or help troubleshoot problems when running certain apps. This new level of interaction will hopefully have some positive impact on both developers and customers: we’ll have apps that run better and more satisfied customers, who in return will keep supporting their favorite developers. No related posts. This article, Google gives developers a voice, they can now reply to reviews on Play Store , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Want to save battery? Berkeley’s Carat app tells you exactly how to do it! Posted: 16 Jun 2012 08:25 AM PDT Battery life is one important factor when deciding what mobile device to buy, especially for those people that are constantly on the go, and even more so in case they decide to purchase power-hungry 4G LTE smartphones and tablets. And while there isn't a perfect way to help you save battery life on your new 4G Android device, you can certainly try the Carat Collaborative Energy Debugging app to help you with that. Carat is a simple app, available from Google Play as a free download, that can help you improve battery efficiency and save battery life when possible. What's interesting about Carat is that it's based on collaborative effort from other users. Therefore, the longer you use it, the better it should work out for you, at least in theory. The app is able to generate personal recommendations that could help you save battery life by analyzing data provided by everyone else using Carat, including you. Sure, you'll have to let the application send certain data to its servers, but that's the trade off you should be willing to make in order to enjoy a longer lasting battery life. What Carat basically does is analyze what apps drain the battery on your device, and then issue recommendations based on your daily actions:
Here are the main features of the application:
So what does Carat collects? Plenty of data, including whether you’re on the move or not, without actually recording your location – or so they say. Here’s a list in plain English of the things Carat will monitor:
The app, developed by a team of researchers at Berkeley, is available on Google Play, and also via Github and the App Store. This article, Want to save battery? Berkeley’s Carat app tells you exactly how to do it! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Samsung unveils wireless audio dock for Galaxy S handsets and iPhones Posted: 16 Jun 2012 08:11 AM PDT Samsung unveiled yesterday a new Audio with Dock accessory that can be used with its own Galaxy Android smartphones but also with iOS devices. In fact, the DA-E750 is a "premium wireless Audio with Dock" product and the "world's first dual-docking system" that supports both Android and iOS devices. What's more interesting about the duly named DA-E750 is the fact that it also supports wireless connectivity. Therefore your smartphone doesn't have to be physically docked in the DA-E750 for you to enjoy your favorite tracks stored on in. The DA-E750 comes with support for AllShare for certain Samsung Galaxy devices and AirPlay for Apple devices. Other connectivity options include Bluetooth 3.0, analog input and an USB port. In addition to wireless capabilities, the DA-E750 also comes with a new interesting sound technology, Samsung's new vacuum tube amplifier:
In case it matters, the DA-E750 supports MP3, WMA and WAV file formats, and it will be launched in Korea and the UK on Monday, June 18. Pricing details are still missing at this time, although we expect this Audio with Dock product to retail for somewhere around $800. This article, Samsung unveils wireless audio dock for Galaxy S handsets and iPhones , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Coming soon: withdraw ATM cash wirelessly and safely using your phone Posted: 16 Jun 2012 05:15 AM PDT Using an NFC-equipped smartphone to pay for meals and small items might be all the rage now, but cash still dominates in many parts of the world. With ATM machines not going away anytime soon, one company is proposing the combined use of a mobile app and the camera on your Android smartphone to withdraw cash wirelessly from the ATM machine. As demonstrated on the video, the NCR Mobile Cash Withdrawal system consists of a mobile app and an additional software installed on the ATM machine. Additional hardware installation, such as an NFC reader or barcode scanner — however — is not required, which makes it a more attractive proposition for banks to implement the system. If you're looking to draw some money, simply load up the app on your phone, insert your PIN, and choose the desired amount. All you have to do next is hit the scan button on the app and point your camera towards the QR code on the ATM screen. It will then initiate the transaction and dispense your cash. Sounds easy and secure enough? The company is trying to sell the system as a solution that can speed up transaction time, for the customer's benefit, and reduce instances of skimming fraud, for the benefit of both customers and banks. ATM skimming, if you're not familiar with the term, is the act of illegally collecting data from your ATM or credit card so that it can be used to withdraw cash or make purchases once the data is copied onto another card. The data stealing usually happens when you use an ATM machine that has been fitted in with a counterfeit card reader. The wireless nature of NCR Mobile Cash Withdrawal system will avoid folks from becoming the victim of such fraud. But since the NCR Mobile Cash Withdrawal system is still a concept for now, we suggest you keep those ATM cards in your wallet. No related posts. This article, Coming soon: withdraw ATM cash wirelessly and safely using your phone , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| [Video] How a dirt-chip tablet is made and tested (it’s not what you expect) Posted: 16 Jun 2012 05:06 AM PDT The tablet business is still dominated by Apple, with Android device makers still having a hard time coming up with an iPad rival that would woo the crowds. Google's Andy Rubin and Samsung executives independently admitted that their progress in the tablet business is not where they'd like it to be, and while we expect the two companies to launch more competitive tablets in the future, let's not forget the fact that there's another kind of Android tablet out there, low- to mid-ranged devices that are made by a variety of OEMs, Amazon included. Today, we have a video for you that shows us how that ultra-affordable $55 Boxchip A13 7-inch tablet is made and tested in a factory in Shenzen, China. The 7-minute video reveals that we're not looking at the contained environment we would have imagined. The workers don't wear uniforms and protective gears and you won't see anywhere the cleanliness and care you'd expect to see in such factories. There aren't any robots helping out with product making, and it's probably safe to say that only affordable manual labor is used to build it. Then again, the Boxchip A13 tablet is very cheap at $55 (now rumored to cost $49), so you can't be too pretentious about the way your tablet is made should you decide to pick up one of these devices. In case you were wondering, the tablet factory above, produces around 4,000 units each day, or 120,000 units a month, which means there are plenty of buyers for cheap Android tablets. And, as long as they work accordingly – and you can see that testing goes on during manufacturing – they'll probably be appreciated by Android tablet buyers that don’t have a lot of wiggle room to accommodate more expensive purchases when it comes to their budgets. Here's what the Boxchip A13 tablet has to offer for that $55:
Would you buy a Boxchip A13 tablet now that you know how it's made? This article, [Video] How a dirt-chip tablet is made and tested (it’s not what you expect) , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Samsung and Apple got 90% of smartphone profits in Q1 2012 Posted: 16 Jun 2012 04:56 AM PDT Samsung and Apple, while bound by a multi-billion dollar business partnership, are also fierce enemies, especially in the mobile space where the two companies are competing both in the smartphone and tablet businesses. Recent research studies that Samsung managed to move past Apple to become the number one smartphone maker in the world, but the race is very tight, and we're not looking at a complete Samsung win yet. What's clear is that the two corporations are making a lot of money off of their mobile divisions, and a new study from ABI Research shows that between them Samsung and Apple managed to get 90% of smartphone profits in the first quarter of the year even if they only controlled 55% of the global market during the same time. In Q1 2012, Samsung shipped 43 million smartphones globally, with Apple coming in second with 35 million devices. Thus, the two companies left everyone else way behind when it comes to total smartphone shipments: Nokia (11.9 million,) RIM (11.1 million,) Sony (7 million,) and Huawei (6.8 million). When it comes to revenue, Samsung pulled in $17 billion from its combined mobile division during the period, with Apple mobile sales amounting to $22.57 billion ($29.3 billion counting iPad sales). What's worth noting is that the two companies have different strategies when it comes to their mobile business. Samsung sells a plethora of smartphones running three different operating systems including Android, bada, and Windows Phone. The bulk of its mobile operation surely comes from Android device sales, although the company does not share exact sales numbers for its handsets. When it comes to Android smartphone sales, Samsung also offers customers a wide range of devices, from the high-end Galaxy S family of flagship smartphones to mid-ranged and low-end handsets meant to be a lot more budget-friendly. Apple on the other hand, only sells smartphones running a single operating system, its in-house made iOS, and they are all part of the iPhone family. The company does not have mid-ranged to low-end smartphones, even though Apple was rumored in the past to launch such devices, but it keeps selling older iPhones right alongside the newest model. In addition to competing for the consumer's cash in carrier stores, the two companies are also involved in a wide-spread patent-based legal battle that's being actively fought over four continents in 10 different countries. With Q2 almost over, we anticipate the Samsung Apple dominance to continue this year for quite a while, especially considering that the Galaxy S3 has been just launched and the sixth-generation iPhone is coming out soon. This article, Samsung and Apple got 90% of smartphone profits in Q1 2012 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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