Monday, September 17, 2012

Android Central

Android Central

Why you'll never have the latest version of Android

Posted: 16 Sep 2012 03:13 PM PDT

Android Central

Inside the ‘broken’ Android updates process

If you have an Android phone, chances are it’s not running the most recent version of the OS, 4.1 Jelly Bean. According to Google’s own figures, just 1.2 percent of active devices run the latest version of Android. Some 57.5 percent remain on Android 2.3, a version rapidly approaching its second birthday.

If you were lucky enough to buy a Nexus device -- the right Nexus device -- you might get the latest sweet treat from the Mountain View chocolate factory immediately, or within a few weeks of it being finalized. But for most of the countless millions of active Android devices, it’s quite a different story. They’ll probably never run the latest version of Android, whatever that may be. They’re on ICS if they’re lucky, Gingerbread if they’re not, and by the time they get Jelly Bean we’ll already be singing the praises of Key Lime Pie.

This vicious cycle is a product of Google’s approach to its OS, combined with a mess of other factors including carriers, manufacturers and users’ own expectations. It’s one of the platform’s most significant issues, and one that’s all but impossible to solve. Read on to find out exactly why, as we dissect the Android software update process.

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From the Editor's Desk: That ain't Android, Samsung likes lists, Moto doing it right

Posted: 16 Sep 2012 01:24 PM PDT

Stealing Phil's chair

Phil has vacated his desk for the week, and I've snuck in to fiddle with his radio, adjust his chair, and change all his bookmarks. They're big shoes to fill, but Alex and I can handle it. 

In any case, there's a lot of things that happened last week we should all stop and think about, and we can't let a bit of wanderlust keep it from happening.

  • There was this little iPhone 5 thing that happened, and while we wait for it to actually become available we get to sift through everyone's opinion about why it's either a failure or the second coming. It's actually neither, but it does happen to be the perfect update for what some folks feel is the perfect phone. Anyone who expected magic unicorns with flames coming out their butt clearly hasn't been paying attention, as the iPhone 5 will look and feel like a better, faster, and this time around slightly bigger version of last years model. And it will sell millions. Samsung had a little fun with it in their recent ad, but they've forgotten that people don't buy the iPhone because of the specs. They buy it because of the whole Apple brand, and you can't fight that with a witty full color page.
  • Sony looks to be up to their same old tricks, as the Xperia T will not be available unlocked (or in the US) until 2013. That's too late, and something better will be out by then. You have a website that can ship me a laptop in three days, Sony. Put your phones on it so people can buy them.
  • Motorola, on the other hand, has surprised us all by doing exactly what they said they would do. If you are the type who likes to tinker, and love some Motorola hardware, grab the Developer Edition Razr M -- which went on sale last week right after the carrier launch. Nice job, Moto.
  • There's that whole brouhaha over Acer, a Chinese Android-ish clone called Aliyun, and Google threatening to boot the manufacturer from the OHA if the two ever meet. It's a regular soap opera, complete with CEO's talking snarky on social media, software piracy, and about a million blogger opinions on why it's right or wrong. I can see why Google is doing what they are doing, but it still feels a bit like strong-arm tactics to me. Maybe Google needs to define the rules a bit better, or maybe Acer is trying to skirt them. This one isn't finished, and I look forward to more drama over the coming weeks.
  • I'm trying to find a reason to not love the Kindle Fire HD 7. So far, I can't. It feels nothing like Android, but it's an awfully nice piece of equipment if you're in deep with Amazon. 
  • Lots' of events this coming week, we have Motorola and Intel doing a thing in London on Tuesday, and Wednesday has LG and HTC both sharing something big with us in New York. We'll be at all three, seeing what there is to see and telling you guys all there is to know. 
  • Finally, we see Jelly Bean has rolled out to all the Galaxy Nexus phones around the world, except one. Come on Verizon, this is getting a bit ridiculous. We understand that there are some radio issues that need worked out, but why not send out the updated OS with the old radio while you work on it? I'm sure a few people with the LTE Galaxy Nexus would appreciate the bone. Don't keep Google's work out of everyone's hands while you sort out yours.

A few things to think about, for sure. Phil will be back next week!

Samsung Galaxy S 3 LTE heading to Singapore, packs Jelly Bean out of the box

Posted: 16 Sep 2012 12:23 PM PDT

Android Central

Back at IFA 2012 in Berlin, we went hands on for the first time with the Samsung Galaxy S 3 LTE. OK, so it's a Galaxy S 3, and it has LTE, nothing too extraordinary. However, what we did find on that demo unit was a fully loaded, fully working build of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. We'd seen leaked builds -- and gone hands on of course -- but Berlin was the first time we'd seen it out in the wild. 

Now, over in Singapore, Samsung is preparing to launch the Galaxy S 3 LTE from the end of September. Good news for them, but better news for everyone else is that the LTE S 3 will come out of the box running Jelly Bean. Which, is extra good news for potential buyers of the British LTE version on EE -- which it seems will come in the lovely shade of Titanium Grey -- as it further shores up talk of the device having Jelly Bean at launch in the UK. 

The Singapore S 3 LTE will be the quad-core Exynos based version, complete with 2GB of RAM. This is of course different to the US version which packs a dual-core Snapdragon S4 under the hood. 

Oh, and do you have room for some more potential good news? Seems Samsung Singapore also announced the Jelly Bean update for the non-LTE version in October. It isn't surprising though, we know it's pretty much ready for release, we're just waiting on Samsung to flip the switch. 

via CNET Asia (1),(2)

Iterate Podcast Episode 29: Esmaeili on Carbon for Android

Posted: 16 Sep 2012 11:39 AM PDT

Iterate Podcast

Marc and Rene talk about the Amazon Kindle and Nokia Lumia events, 4Cast.me, and Retinizer, and interview M.Saleh Esmaeili of Carbon for webOS, Windows Phone, and Android fame. This is Iterate!

 

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Samsung would rather you buy a Galaxy S3 than an iPhone 5

Posted: 16 Sep 2012 05:49 AM PDT

Android Central

Samsung has proved several times before that it's not afraid of directly attacking bitter rival Apple (and on occasion its fans), so it should come as no surprise to see the company's latest print ad taking aim at the recently-announced iPhone 5. With the tagline "it doesn't take a genius," Samsung pokes fun at Apple's retail stores (ironically, a setup it's trying to imitate itself), before telling us that "the next big thing is already here." Most of the ad space is taken up with a direct -- though highly slanted -- feature and specification run-down from both iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3.

We'll be the first to admit that the comparison is far from fair, and the iPhone 5 has a lot more going for it than "a totally different plug." Then again, this is an advertisement. Samsung wants you to buy a Galaxy S3, not an iPhone 5, and it's taken a characteristically direct approach to deal with the threat of Apple's latest and greatest smartphone. It's not subtle, and it won't change the minds of die-hard fans, but that's not its purpose. Its purpose is to put the Galaxy S3 on the radar of consumers considering picking up an iPhone 5 on Friday, and that's something we think it'll succeed in doing.

Sure, it's slanted and biased, but that shouldn't come as a surprise. After all, a fair comparison between the two devices wouldn't make for a very good full-page advertisement, would it?

Source: Business Insider

Carbon for Android potentially days away according to developers

Posted: 16 Sep 2012 02:59 AM PDT

Android Central

Carbon for Android has been a long time coming, and has to be one of the more hotly anticipated apps of recent times. While the original projected release date may have come and gone, no-one can deny that the developers, Dots and Lines, have been working hard to complete. A recent tweet posted to the official Carbon for Android account gives further hope that soon we'll be able to try it for ourselves. 

Turns out, that we might only be a few days away from launch; 

Matter of a few dayz now...yea, still alive and kicking! Next up will be a full video and our Google Play link...

Exciting news for sure. The Twitter client space has seen some interesting competitors in recent months such as Boid and Tweet Lanes, but it's no secret that this is the one a lot of people are going to want. And of course, it's going to be free. 

Source: @CarbonAndroid
Posted by at 5:39 AM

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