Sunday, June 17, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Weekend Poll: How much data do you use?

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 07:06 PM PDT

Our Android devices are some data-hungry beasts! So much that they would be practically worthless without an internet connection. We have grown to depend on these services, and there is no doubt we are now using more data than we ever have. In fact, I used to be surprised when my data consumption went over 25 MB in a month. This was before smartphones came into the game – Now I use the same amount in less than an hour during a busy day.

Just how much data do we use, though? According to T-Mobile, its users are averaging at 760 MB per month during 2012. This is 30 times more than the 25 MB a month people used during 2009. Those in T-Mobile that own an HSPA+42 device are averaging at a whopping 1.3 GB a month, with speeds 100 times faster than 5 years ago.

These numbers may seem very small for some of us. But we must consider the amount of people that only use their smartphones for social media and emails. We are definitely seeing a big jump in smartphone knowledge and use. Regardless, us “hardcore” users will use much more data than this average. And we are pretty sure most of our audience does. But we would like to find out!

We must consider that being data-conscious is now a “thing.” With tiered and family shared data plans now in the equation, we know many of you are carefully counting your Megabytes.

Let’s start with me: I usually don’t use WiFi at home (spoiled by unlimited 4G LTE), and my monthly usage usually stays at around 3 GB a month. With some months being lower and some going as high as 6-7 GB. What about you?! Let us know by participating in the poll! And don’t forget to hit the comments section to let us know what carrier and data network you use.

Take Our Poll

[Via: GigaOM]

NCR Mobile Cash Withdrawal will let you take out cash from an ATM without using a debit card

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 06:23 PM PDT


Just like many of us no longer carry cash, the need of a debit card is starting to become a thing of the past. Many of us buy products online, and while it is not too spread out yet, NFC payment technologies are allowing us to purchase with our smartphones. NCR Corporation plans to take things further by exploring into a new territory – cash withdrawals with the use of a smartphone.

The concept is much simpler than one would expect. The user would simply make a selection via the NCR Mobile Cash Withdrawal app and scan the QR code that would be displayed in an ATM’s screen. After that, the transaction will be processed and the cash withdrawn, with the user receiving an electronic receipt.

Unlike services like Google Wallet and Isis, the system under development has no need for new hardware and uses technology that has been available to us for many years. All one needs is an internet-connected device that can read a QR code. The ATM machine would also need a software upgrade to display said code.

This would make the transition much faster (granted banks were to join), as the expenses of adapting to NCR’s technology would be minimal.

We know there is one big red flag waving over your heads right now, though. Security is a major factor, and we are not sure how this service performs in those terms. If banks are to join the movement, though, we should hope that they would do so only after making sure its customers are safe.

NCR claims that this solution would reduce skimming fraud, as one wouldn’t be using an actual card to withdraw money. But a smartphone-operated transaction can bring many other concerns. The device’s software is not a safe, and we have had our good share of malware and other types of viruses.

More details will come as this service starts to become available. We can stick to our old, plastic debit cards for now. But what do you guys say? Would you like being able to do this?

[Via: Android.gs Geeks, Talk Android]

TELUS updates list of devices soon to get Android 4.0 – Galaxy Note, Tab 8.9 and Tab 10.1 included

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 05:27 PM PDT


As we struggle, beg and pray for learning just a bit of information about our updates, TELUS is setting the example for all the carriers out there. This company regularly releases updates on such information, and the latest report comes with a flurry of Android device getting their Ice Cream Sandwich update.

The list goes as follows:

  • HTC Desire HD OS 4.0 "Expected in market date" is July 25th
  • LG Optimus LTE OS 4.0 "Expected in market date" is Mid July
  • Samsung Galaxy Note OS 4.0 "Expected in market date" is July 13th
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 OS 4.0 "Expected in market date" is Late July
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 OS 4.0 "Expected in market date" is August (was previously Late July)

As you can see, the Galaxy Note is being blessed with Android 4.0 next July 13. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is also right on schedule for late July, while its smaller 8.9-inch brother was pushed back to August.

We really wish more carriers would start doing this. Carriers are mostly the main reason why updates are delayed for so long, especially in America. It would be great to more of them step up and offer customers some transparency, as TELUS is doing.

[Source: TELUS Via: Mobile Syrup]

Canadian Samsung Galaxy S3 users will be able to get their 50 GB of Dropbox cloud storage

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 04:41 PM PDT


Sadness has spread across the US for those planning to get the Samsung Galaxy S3 after finding out that AT&T and Verizon opted out of the free 50 GB of Dropbox Storage offer. This realization has worried more than a few other countries, but now we know that at least Canadian users will be able to get the free storage for 2 years.

Samsung has confirmed that all Canadian versions of the Samsung Galaxy S3 will be included in said promotion. Users will simply need to create or link their account to Samsung Apps. Soon afterwards, the user will receive his extra 48 GB of cloud storage.

“New GS III users will receive a basic 2GB of free space with Dropbox (It is permanent). When they create their own Dropbox account or link their existing account to Samsung Apps, the user will receive 48GB more space through a promotional offer, for a total of 50GB. This is available for 2yrs.”

It is definitely a relief to see that Canadian carriers are not messing with Samsung’s offer. This offer would grant you about $200 in cloud storage fees over 2 years, making Samsung’s flagship device that much more enticing. Regardless, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is still a beast, so we are sure you won’t be changing your plans to purchase it. We will just have to miss out on the cherry on top.

[Via: Mobile Syrup]

Forget Siri – Robin for Android does navigation, traffic, gas prices, Twitter and even jokes

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 04:19 PM PDT


Siri may be the popular girl around, and everybody wants to get to know her better. But some of us realize that there are smarter, funner girls out there. For us, Android users, one of the best options is Robin.

Robin is an app designed with drivers in mind. It uses voice in/out and gestures to allow users to communicate with their devices, helping them keep their eyes focused on the road. But what is it that makes it a worthy competitor? Robin features Navigation, real-time traffic, parking information, gas prices, weather, Twitter feed reading and even yelp reviews; all read to you out-loud by our new friend Robin.

The app works very well and it hasn’t given me any issues yet. Hey, it even told me my laughter was cute!I looked for the nearest Best Buy, asked it to navigate to downtown San Diego, and Robin even told me a few jokes.

Robin is now available in Beta, but it looks very promising for being in its testing stages. It is definitely worth a visit to the Google Play Store, as it is also free. If you would like to see more of how it works, you can check out the official video from the Magnifis team.

[Source: PRWeb]

You won’t be able to melt butter with a device sporting a Snapdragon S4 processor

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 03:45 PM PDT

So we know the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor is a very capable SoC. We have seen it outperform quad-core processors and the devices that sport it are top-of-the-line. There is one issue that tends to come with high-end devices, though. Until now, these tend to get very hot as we view our HD videos, games and apps. Qualcomm has been working on keeping its devices “cooler,” and they have some stunning proof for us.

No, we are not talking about thermal heat imaging. That is way overrated and all the competitors do it. What Qualcomm did was put the devices to the test by melting butter. They simply placed a Snapdragon S4 device next to a couple of competing products and put blocks of butter right on top of them. The results are of course in favor of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 processor.

If you have been looking to make some toast during those long flights, you best start looking for another way to melt your butter… or fry your eggs. The Snapdragon S4 will simply not work. It will feel much more comfortable in your hands and ear, though. And over time, heat affects a device’s performance, which is another factor to consider.

[Via: HTC Source]

Mysterious Motorola slider spotted, heading for Sprint, not Verizon

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 10:58 AM PDT

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Still in love with a hardware keyboard, and looking for something new on Sprint? You might be in luck, as this little guy (and it does seem little by today’s standards) was spotted in the Android Central forums.

Not much can be said about the device, other than the buttonless approach from Motorola (thank you, Moto, somebody’s got to follow Google’s Android 4.0 guidelines). Android Central is guessing a qHD screen, possibly LTE. However, I have to reiterate again: nothing other than the 5-row keyboard, running ICS, being a Motorola device and heading for Sprint (there’s a Sprint Music app) can be determined with certainty.

[via Android Central]

[Video] See the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 in action

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 10:31 AM PDT

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After Amazon unwittingly outed some details of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 yesterday, we now have a video showing the tablet in action. A big thank you to All About Samsung for discovering it, and then to GigaOm for passing it along.

The tablet seems to be running really smooth, but I wish the stylus had been given a better test than simply being used for navigational purposes.

[All About Samsung via GigaOm]

[Deal]EA wants you to say “I love you” to your Dad with their games

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 10:02 AM PDT

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Still haven’t bought your dad a Father’s Day gift? Well, hurry up already! Find something he’ll really love, something that’ll say to him how highly you rate him.

Or, be a cheapstake and get him some EA games that are 40% off on Google Play, as per Talk Android. The titles in question are FIFA 12, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, Plants vs Zombies and Dead Space.

[via Talk Android]

T-Mobile LTE, HSPA+ expansion update

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 08:43 AM PDT

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T-Mobile has put out a press release to give an update regarding the work on establishing their 4G LTE network and introducing their HSPA+ services on the 1900 MHz spectrum. The entire release is posted below, but the main points are:

1. LTE trials are underway, and the network should launch next year.

2. HSPA+ on the 1900 MHz bandwidth is currently being tested, and was spotted by a few people in San Francisco near the Moscone Center.

3. New equipment has been installed at “modernized GSM/HSPA+” sites, and the aim is to reach 2,500 sites by the end of July.

 

Press Release

Fast Progress on 4G Network Modernization
June 14, 2012

We’re making great progress in just three short months since we first announced T-Mobile’s $4 billion 4G network evolution plan, including network modernization and deployment of long term evolution (LTE) service in 2013. Here are some of the highlights:

Just last month, T-Mobile announced multi-year agreements with Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks to support our $4 billion 4G network evolution plan, which will include a modernization of 37,000 cell sites and a move to the latest, state-of-the-art, LTE release 10 capable equipment.

Initially, this effort will improve existing voice and data coverage, make our 4G network compatible with a broader range of devices (including the iPhone), and pave the way for long term evolution (LTE) service next year.

With contracts in place, we’re making excellent headway on our network infrastructure transformation. By the end of this month we expect new equipment to be installed at our first 400 modernized GSM / HSPA+ sites and we plan to grow this to over 2,500 sites by the end of July.

We’ve also secured zoning approval or do not require zoning for over 19,500 sites and have completed necessary entitlement work, including obtaining building permits for over 4,000 sites.

As new equipment is in place, we’re turning up some small scale tests of 4G HSPA+ service in our 1900 MHz spectrum. Some customers with unlocked iPhones recently saw evidence of those tests; clocking much faster data speeds at the Moscone West conference center in San Francisco. More of these speed sightings will occur as we work toward introducing 4G HSPA+ service in our 1900 MHz spectrum in a large number of markets later this year.

Finally, LTE trials are underway and this summer we’ll begin using Release-10 equipment in these trials. The ability to launch with this next version of LTE technology is one advantage of launching next year.

[via CellphoneSignal]

[Deal] Acer Iconia Tab A200 for $200 on Woot

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 08:05 AM PDT

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If you’re in the market for a low-budget Android tablet, Woot’s got a decent deal for you today. You can grab a refurbished Acer ICONIA Tab A200 for $199.99. Specs? Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor, 1 GB RAM and 16 GB memory which can be expanded via a microSD slot. Most importantly, it comes with Ice Cream Sandwich out-of-the-box <update> and a 10.1 inch screen.</update>

[Woot via DroidDog]

Join us tomorrow for a hangout with Any.Do’s Omer Perchik

Posted: 16 Jun 2012 03:53 AM PDT

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 If you’ve been following my posts, you would probably know I’m a pretty big fan of Any.Do, the much heralded to-do list app. Despite not being my of a list making guy, the app is one of my favorites because of the intense focus on UX, and because it was Android-first.

And I’m really, really delighted to announce that on tomorrow (i.e., Sunday, 17th June), we’ll be conducting a Google+ Hangout with Omer Perchik, the Co-founder of Any.Do. The local times it’s been scheduled for is mentioned below. Do add Phandroid (and/or me) to your Circles for any updates. Also, if you’ve got any questions you’d like us to put to Omer, just mention them in the comments down below.

Hangout scheduled time:

1 PM GMT

11 PM in Sydney (EST, GMT + 10 Hrs)

2 PM in London (BST, GMT + 1 Hr)

9 AM in New York (EDT, GMT – 4 Hrs)

8 AM in Dallas (CDT, GMT -5 Hrs)

6 AM in San Francisco (PDT, GMT – 7 Hrs)
Posted by at 7:39 AM

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