Thursday, October 18, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority

Blu Dash 3.5 Dual-SIM Android for under $100

Posted: 18 Oct 2012 03:21 AM PDT

The new Blu Dash 3.5 is an entry level Android smartphone that supports dual-SIM cards and will only cost you $99.99 unlocked.

It has a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen with a 320×480 resolution, a 1GHz single-core Qualcomm processor, 256MB of RAM, 512MB of storage with a microSD card slot for more, and a 2-megapixel camera. There's also WiFi, Bluetooth 3 and a 3.5mm audio jack. The Blu Dash 3.5 is running Android 2.3 and it supports quad-band GSM, EDGE and HSDPA. It also comes in a range of colors including black, white, yellow, green, pink, and, of course, blue.

So it's not going to set the world alight, but if you want an off-contract device and dual-SIM is important to you then you cannot beat that price. For under $100 unlocked the Blu Dash 3.5 is amazingly cheap. That's pretty much the idea behind the Blu brand.

You can buy the phone in the US and Latin America right now. There will also be a single SIM version for the Latin American market released in November. No word yet on whether it will receive a wider release.

We saw the Blu Vivo 4.3 a while back, which was billed as the first dual-SIM Android smartphone with Super AMOLED and a dual-core processor and it was going for $249 unlocked.

The Blu Dash 3.5 also ships with a free 4GB microSD card. Now that's real value for money, but you have to wonder about quality at these prices.

What do you think? Anyone tried a Blu phone? Would you recommend?

 

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    Do you know the difference between Windows 8 and Windows RT?

    Posted: 18 Oct 2012 02:41 AM PDT

     

    The release of Microsoft's big assault on the tablet market is fast approaching. The Surface tablet is going on sale in a little over a week, but you can pre-order the Surface RT right now. Microsoft has trumpeted Windows 8, along with Windows Phone 8, as the realignment of its range to present a familiar experience across devices. So, what is the difference between Windows 8 and Windows RT?

    According to an article in The Verge yesterday many sales reps in Microsoft Stores don't understand the difference, so what's the chance that consumers have a handle on it? They called and spoke to eight different reps who gave them an assortment of answers about the limitations of Windows RT when compared to Windows 8.

    Windows RT is semi-skinned to Windows 8's full-fat. It is essentially a stripped down version of Windows 8 designed to run on the tablets. It looks the same, but it is not capable of doing everything that Windows 8 can. When it comes to apps, Windows RT can only run apps from Windows Store. It cannot run "legacy apps" or x86 / x64 software. You can't install apps on the desktop and you can't copy over any apps that you have on your Windows 8 PC. If you want an app on your Surface RT you have to buy and install it from Windows Store.

    Microsoft has responded by saying it will train its Microsoft Store employees before the launch on October 26. The best way to avoid any confusion is to buy an Android tablet instead.

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      Is a $99 Nexus tablet a viable reality and will it be worth using?

      Posted: 18 Oct 2012 02:39 AM PDT

      Yesterday we reported on rumors of the possibility of a $99 Nexus 7 from Google. This magic price point is seen, from a marketing point of view, as a sweet spot which will drive the further consumerization of tablets. At the moment the lowest priced big brand tablet is the Amazon Kindle Fire which costs $159 (with special offers and sponsored screensavers displayed on the  lock screen). It is also possible to get single core, 7 inch Chinese tablets for as little as $79. However it is worth noting that in most countries a sales tax needs to be paid to customs when you get your tablet  delivered. This can push the actual price to around $95.

      What this means is that sub $100 single core, 1Ghz, 7 inch tablets with Android 4.0 or 4.1 (depending on the manufacturer)  do exist today and it is possible to make them for that price. However once you add profit margins, R&D costs and corporate overheads it does become a bit more tricky.

      If Google really is trying to create a budget tablet it will likely start a new “race to the bottom”. Although traditionally used as a  socio-economic term to describe the taxation policies of countries or states, the concept can be equally applied to building cheaper and cheaper consumer devices to boost sales. The problem with the race to the bottom is something needs to be sacrificed to reach the low costs. In economics, work force regulations, wages and taxes are offered on the altar to attract businesses to a given area. In consumer electronics what is sacrificed is quality, features and usability.

      Assuming Google launch a $99 tablet, it is likely that other big names will try something similar. The problem is that once these devices get into the hands of consumers they will find that their expectations haven’t been met and this will irreparably damage the Android and Nexus brands.

      I have used a single core, 7 inch Chinese tablet for about the last six months and the best word that sums up my experience is “frustration”. At the time the tablet cost me $159 plus sales taxes and it came with Android 4.0.3. During day to day use apps constantly stopped responding and even simple UI actions, like swiping, became burdensome. Eventually I downgraded the device to Android 2.3 and I have had a happier experience.  I also have a dual-core device from SmartQ and the experience is way better. It seems to me that Android 4.0 and 4.1 just aren’t suited to low-end single core processors.

      Yesterday’s rumor mentioned an 800Mhz single core CPU and I must say I am skeptical. But to reach the magic $99 mark the device will also have to use a low end display, probably with just a 800 x 480 resolution. This is markedly different to the 1024 x 600 display found on the Kindle Fire or the SmartQ S7 and drastically different from the 1280 x 800 display found on the current Nexus 7.

      Other features which will likely be affected are the amount of RAM, the built-in flash storage (maybe just 4GB) and the battery life. The point is this. If I had to choose between a $99 single core, 800 x 480 tablet with a bad battery and 4GB of storage, or a better dual core tablet for $159 (like the Kindle Fire), I would always go for the more expensive device, which at the end of the day is only $60 more. The problem is that if non-technical consumers see a Google branded tablet for $99 they could be tempted by the price but ultimately remain disappointed by the overall experience.

      What do you think, should Google race to the bottom? Please leave a comment below. I will try to reply to all reasonable comments.

       

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      Droid Razr HD/Razr Maxx HD up for sale from Verizon, Amazon and Wirefly starting at $150/$200

      Posted: 18 Oct 2012 02:38 AM PDT

      It might have taken Motorola and Verizon some time to get out the Droid Razr HD/Razr Maxx HD duo of high-end phones, but now that the two have finally started selling, there isn't much point in still being upset with the manufacturer and carrier. After all, it could have been worse.

      The two 4.7-inchers can be had from Big Red's official website, but also from two other very popular retailers, Amazon and Wirefly.

      Both Verizon and Amazon have the Droid Razr HD up for grabs for $199.99 with a two-year contract. The price is valid for white and black versions of the phone for new Verizon customers, as well as for existing users wanting to upgrade or add a new line. As for the pricing of the SIM-free, unlocked version, that's $599.99 via Verizon and $699.99 from Amazon.

      The Droid Razr Maxx HD is only available in black and goes for a hundred bucks more than its "brother" from both Amazon and Verizon. $299.99 will therefore get you the 3,300 mAh battery equipped behemoth with a 2-year contract, no matter if you are a new customer or an existing one looking for an upgrade. The Maxx HD's full retail price (aka with no contract) is $649.99 via Big Red and $729.99 via Amazon.

      Though you'll probably not find yourselves complaining of these prices, you should know that you can make even better deals if you go through Wirefly. The retailer that has spoiled us lately with a wide array of promotions and special offers has the Razr HD in black and white for $149.99, while the Maxx HD goes for $199.99.

      On the flipside, it seems that Wirefly's website is down for the moment, but hopefully the deals will be there when the hiccups will be solved later on. Also, do remember to check out the two phones’ full specs here before making any decision. Enjoy!

       

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      Google Play 3.9.16 update rolling out to an Android device near you

      Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:25 AM PDT

      Google is rolling out its latest major update to the Play Store, which brings a few new features. We earlier reported the latest build to offer new features, like the ability to clean the “My Apps” list and a wishlist. Today, Google has started rolling out the update. Version 3.9.16 is a major update from the August 2012 3.8.17 release.

      Major features

      My Apps. This new update brings the ability to clean up your app download history. With the latest Google Play update, you can delete previously-downloaded apps from the list either individually or in batches. This feature has a fail-safe, though, as it will not remove any application currently installed on your smartphone or tablet.

      Improved Notifications. The update also offers an improved notification system for Jelly Bean, which informs users of which apps are due for an update. Notifications are now expandable. Also, Google Play will include the app icon on the notification bar after installing, rather than just a generic icon.

      Wish list. Google Play now lets users bookmark apps, music, books and other Play content as part of their Wishlist. The functionality is a bit limited at this point, though, since users cannot share their wish list.

      Download it now

      Rollout is still gradual, and many users still have not received the update. If you want to get a taste of the new Google Play Store update now, Android Police has shared the APK through various download sites and mirrors. It can be noted that the APK size has actually gone down a bit since the August update, so Google has likely trimmed down the binaries.

      As a note, I got my 3.9.16 update just a few minutes after hitting the publish button on this post. So do launch Google Play to check if your app gets updated automatically.

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      Exclusive: We just scored a press photo of the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini in blue

      Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:11 AM PDT

      We’ve just been emailed a press photo of the blue version of Samsung’s recently announced Galaxy S III Mini. Until now we’ve only seen this device in white. We think the white version is more attractive to be perfectly honest, but we know that not everyone agrees. In case you’re not familiar with the GS3 Mini, it’s a shrunken down GS3 with specifications that leave a lot to be desired. The screen measures 4 inch across, but only delivers a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. The processor inside made by ST-Ericsson is a dual core chip, with each core clocked at 1 GHz. As for the camera, forget about taking sharp 8 megapixel photos, this baby only does 5 megapixels. And the worst part is the battery. Can 1500 mAh to last anyone an entire day?

      We wouldn’t have a problem with this device if it wasn’t for the fact that it was called the Galaxy S III Mini. That name is an embarrassment to the the original Galaxy S III. But wait, things get worse. The Mini is priced at roughly the same cost of the year old Galaxy Nexus. You’d have to have a serious problem with large screen phones in order to pick the Mini over what’s arguably a superior device in every way possible.

      Looking forward, we’re hoping that Samsung does something different in 2013. They should have two versions of the Galaxy S IV. One with a larger screen, one with a smaller screen, both with the exact same internals, except for the size of the battery of course. From a logistical perspective it might be a pain to manage all that inventory, but we think giving customers a choice is the best thing Samsung can do to attract prospective buyers.

      So what do you guys think, is blue nice or is it an eyesore?

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      Watch the complete Asus PadFone 2 Milan launch event [video]

      Posted: 18 Oct 2012 12:38 AM PDT

      Yesterday brought us the double-whammy that was the Asus PadFone 2 unveiling events. That's right: plurals. Not content on launching the device merely in its home country, Asus held a second launch party in Milan for the smartphone and tablet combo.

      Although the Milan event was streamed live on YouTube, it's possible that not all Asus ‘shippers — to borrow a term from those crazy cool kids — caught the unveiling of the PadFone 2, due to the time difference. Hence, Asus has made the press event available online for your viewing pleasure, where the man of the hour was the company's chairman himself, Jonney Shih.

      The presentation runs for 44 minutes, so you will want to set aside some “you” time if you're planning to watch it from start to finish. Alternatively, you can fast forward to the juiciest bits.

      Don't miss out our report on the Taiwan launch of the PadFone 2  for some pretty pictures and comparison video, while the global release date and pricing details can be found right here. If those aren’t enough, the official promo videos for the Asus PadFone 2 are already up as well.

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      FCC approves AT&T deployment of 4G LTE in the 2.3 GHz ‘WCS band’

      Posted: 18 Oct 2012 12:33 AM PDT

      AT&T, America’s second largest wireless operator, owns 30 MHz of spectrum in the so called “WCS band”. Translation: 2.3 GHz. They’ve been wanting to use that spectrum to deploy 4G LTE for a while now, but they’ve faced opposition from Sirius XM, a satellite radio company that uses the same band to run their service. Earlier this year, AT&T and Sirius got together to figure out how to solve their differences. They came up with a proposal that was then submitted to the FCC for approval. According to AT&T’s public policy blog, that proposal has been approved.

      Here’s how it’s going to work: AT&T will use 20 MHz of the WCS spectrum they own, leaving the other 10 MHz as a sort of “buffer” to prevent interference. When will AT&T actually turn on their first WCS cell tower? The company doesn’t say. The real important question here is when will AT&T start selling devices that can use this new frequency? Right now every 4G LTE phone sold by AT&T uses the 700 MHz band. That means when this additional spectrum gets utilized, those phones that are already on the market will not be able to take advantage of the added capacity.

      What should Verizon’s response be to this decision? They’re probably not even concerned. Verizon owns a ton of spectrum in the 1700 MHz band that they plan to use to build out their 4G LTE network. But more importantly, Verizon has publicly stated that by the end of next year, their whole network will be 4G LTE enabled. They recently turned on their 400th 4G LTE market, so we’re confident that they’ll reach their goal.

      Does none of this matter to you because both AT&T and Verizon are too expensive? If you’re willing to sacrifice 4G LTE speeds, then you should check out Straight Talk. They’re an MVNO that resells access to both AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s network. For less than $50 per month you get unlimited everything, which is a bargain considering the big boys charge twice that.

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      Instagram celebrates 50 million downloads on Google Play

      Posted: 18 Oct 2012 12:16 AM PDT

      Inkwell or Walden? Hefe or Valencia? Choosing that one perfect filter for a certain picture can become quite the dilemma for Instagram users. One thing that users won't find to be a problem is finding and following friends and relatives, who all of a sudden add photography to their list of interests. The popular photo sharing service has nabbed 50 million downloads on Google Play.

      When Instagram for Android was launched in early April this year, over one million people downloaded the app onto their device in a day. The road to 50 million downloads was reached in 197 days, which means that, on average, the app was downloaded 250,000 times per day.

      The number of registered users – not just those on the Android circles – has also risen to over 100 million, a significant gain from the 30 million registered users reported in April.

      Despite some put down and threat of a malware-ridden lookalike apps, Instagram, now owned by Facebook, is continually going up. Android users no doubt contribute to its ever-growing worldwide popularity.

      Any avid Instagram users here? What do you think about the recent introduced features, such as Photo Maps and custom-designed filters? What would you like to see being added to the Android app?

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      Where the Internet Lives: Google gives us a look inside their data centers

      Posted: 18 Oct 2012 12:10 AM PDT

      Google did yesterday something they have never done before. They allowed the general public to see what it is like inside one of their data centers. This means that they got a look at well over 50 thousand servers that power the services we use every day. The sheer magnitude of these data centers is really breathtaking and almost seems unreal.

      These data centers are using about 35% renewable energy. Google’s commitment to increase the proportion of renewable energy is getting a lot of praise because, as you can imagine, these centers use an obscene amount of energy. However, this energy is required to handle the 20 billion web pages indexed per day, the 3 billion daily searches, and the 425 million Gmail users.

      To kick this tour off permanently, Google has launched a new website called Where the Internet Lives. The site will show you impressive images from all of Google’s 12 data centers and let you meet the employees that run them. In fact, using Google's Street View, you can actually get a virtual tour of Google’s Lenor, NC data center:

      This move is an attempt from Google to seem more open, which is great, considering the recent privacy publicity they have been getting.

      If you want an even more thorough look inside Google’s cloud factories, the search giant has granted a CBS crew the rare privilege of reporting from its North Carolina data center. Check out the report below, complete with a few quips from Google’s infrastructure czar, Urs Hölzle.

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