Sunday, November 18, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Android Overload: Nexus 4 has LTE, Play Store updates, free NFC tags, 1080p phones and more

Posted: 17 Nov 2012 06:06 PM PST

There is never a shortage of Android news, but many stories don’t make it to our home page. If you are getting ready to head out the door and enjoy your weekend, make sure you get your fix of Android news before you go! Here are some great stories that are still worth a read.

  • Nexus 4 teardown brings dormant LTE chip to light [iFixIt]
  • New Google Play Store update [Android Police]
  • Get a free NFC tag from Movaluate! [Movaluate]
  • Google forgets to add December to the Contacts app in Android 4.2 [Android Police]
  • Samsung trying to stop sales ban by using information from HTC/Apple agreement [The Verge]
  • 1080p LG device gets benchmarked [GLBenchmark]
  • Toshiba AT300SE 10.1-inch tablet announced [Slashgear]
  • Nextel announces Motorola IRONROCK [Motorola]

Wii U launching at midnight, Google TV and Wikipad cry tears of envy

Posted: 17 Nov 2012 03:09 PM PST

At midnight tonight, Nintendo will launch the Wii U (visit WiiUDaily.com, WiiUForums.com for full coverage).

Look familiar? How about you take a Google TV set top box:

And add a Wikipad:

Thought so.

Nintendo’s newest version of the Wii leverages a tablet-style controller that introduces an entirely new style of gameplay. Imagine “unlocking” different views using your tablet. Maybe after chucking a deep pass in Madden NFL, you have to reach in the air and lock your tablet’s focus onto the ball to pull down the catch. Or how about lifting your tablet in the air in a first persion shooter to view your weapon through the scope or use night vision Goggles?

I love the concept, and I’ve already pre-ordered a Wii U myself, but I can’t help but feel envy and jealousy on behalf of Google TV fans everywhere. The product has been out for a couple years now but Google has not made the platform a priority, and so unsurprisingly both manufacturers and developers have failed to support it through production of products, apps, and games.

When Google announced GTV two years ago at Google IO, they offered a solid product proposition: in a world where so much concern is placed on the size and quality of our device screens, it’s absurd that the largest screen we own (our televisions) have experienced very little technological growth compared to mobile devices. By leveraging Android on GTV, Google could effectively jumpstart a television revolution, bringing apps and games into a unique experience enjoyed on big screen TVs.

Then, at IO 2011, Google announced Android Open Accessory and Android @ Home designed so 3rd party manufacturers could more easily build and create meaningful products within the Android ecosystem.

Then an Android device emerged called the WikiPad (currently delayed) that when combined with a Google TV, pretty much replicates a Wii U, only the GTV/Wikipad combination isn’t limited to the constructs of gaming.

The Wii U will likely be a huge consumer success during the 2012 holiday season while Google TV sits on the sidelines, jealous. It’s long-term value will likely be determined within the first several months as the early adopter wave comes to a consensus on its entertainment value. I’m hoping it takes off, Google takes note, and it helps jumpstart the GTV product line in the same way Apple jumpstarted the consumer demand for tablets.

Did you pre-order a Wii U? Do you plan on buying one? Will Google TV become the next Wii U or is it headed for doom?

Apple releases apps in Google Play Store… or not

Posted: 17 Nov 2012 01:36 PM PST


Before you go off and purchase those newly added Apple apps in the Play Store, we would like to stop you for a second and warn you that they are more than likely fake. In fact, I am willing to put my money on it.

A said “Apple Inc” developer has uploaded a series of popular iLife and iWork applications in our beloved Google Play Store. These include Garage Band, iPhoto, iMovie, Keynote, Numbers and Pages. The “apps” were just released in the Play Store with no announcement from Apple, making it seem like a very well-elaborated scam.

Not only does the developer’s name take Apple’s identity, but the developer’s website directs you to Apple’s homepage, the email is android@apple.com and the descriptions seem rather convincing. To the unexperienced Android user, this may very well seem legit. But do you really think Apple would release such apps in their largest competitor’s app store? No way.

And even if they did, in some alternate universe, Apple would have done a much better job. The icons would be much better designed, for one. These simply look like cropped images taken from somewhere else. And these apps would surely serve a better purpose and not upset the few users who have downloaded them. Most of the ratings are bad, with comments mentioning the apps don’t work at all.

These happen to be expensive too (though probably not as expensive as they would be if they were real). They range from $4.98-$9.97, so save yourself from the hassle of wasting your cash and possibly missing that 15-minute refund window. DON’T BUY THEM!

We have reached out to Apple for confirmation, so we will go ahead and let you know as soon as we hear from them. Regardless, would you like some of these apps in the Play Store at some point in the future? It is more than unlikely, but we would like to know what you think of such possibilities. Our readers are mostly Android fans, but we know many of them also use Mac computers. There might be a demand Apple could potentially benefit from.

[via Reddit]

Samsung Galaxy Camera preview, photos, and video

Posted: 17 Nov 2012 12:32 PM PST

On a scale from 1 to Awesome, I rate the Samsung Galaxy Camera a 12. My scale is a bit bias since I’ve been craving a quality Android device with optical zoom since the G1 days, and my full review will be more objective, but allow me to bask in the glory for at least a few moments before being bound by reality.

The specs on the Samsung Galaxy Camera are solid: Android 4.1, 1.4GHz Quad-Core Processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB on board memory, expandable MicroSD, 4.8-inch screen, 1280×720 pixel resolution, 3.5mm headset jack, Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-FI, and a whole bunch more.

But what REALLY matters is picture quality of the 16MP camera and performance of the 21X optical zoom. And not just picture quality alone, but picture quality compared to your typical Android device and picture quality compared to a DSLR. That’s exactly what I’ve shown in the set of pictures below.

With each camera I took four pictures from my rooftop deck:

  • Baltimore Skyline at 1X Zoom
  • Baltimore Skyline at 21X Zoom
  • Natty Boh sign in Baltimore 1X Zoom
  • Natty Boh sign in Baltimore 21X Zoom

Note: Click on picture to see the full-sized image.
First let’s take a normal 1X picture with my new pride and joy: The Samsung Galaxy Camera.

That doesn’t look very interesting. Not at 1X zoom. But let’s go bananas with the 21X optical zoom.

BOH KNOWS GALAXY CAMERA!

That’s pretty darn impressive. With the 21X optical zoom you go from a picture of nothingness to a picture of awesomeness. Without the zoom, why even take the picture? With the zoom, the world becomes much more photogenic. I’ll admit, clicking through you’ll notice the picture quality isn’t fantastic, but take note that at 21X zoom, the slightest unsteadiness of your hands can blur a picture and you’ll often be using zooms of varying degrees.

Onto the Baltimore skyline at 1X zoom:

Not a bad shot, but what is that lady doing on the balcony in the distance?

SAMSUNG GALAXY SPY CAMERA TO THE RESCUE!

No, but seriously, a building that at first you could hardly discern existed in the skyline you can actually see specific balconies of with 21X zoom. Without zoom we could hardly identify the yellow crane and now, with 21X optical zoom, we can see it’s a BAUER BC 15 H.

Now think of how you could weave the Galaxy Camera into your everyday life. Pictures of rock stars at concerts. Pictures of sons, daughters, siblings, and friends playing in baseball or soccer games. Pictures of dolphins in the ocean at the beach. Pictures of wildlife from a distance.

And now, I’ve suddenly got Bette Middler in my head. Hate when that happens.

See… this Galaxy Camera has got me all riled up. Let me get to the point and post pictures from the other two devices.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Canon Rebel T2i

Unfortunately the Samsung Galaxy Camera doesn’t double as a mobile phone, and even if it did, most would find it too bulky and heavy for an every day device. The Galaxy Cam is listed at 10.7 ounces (well over half a pound) and its .5-inch thick measurement seems measured at the device’s thinnest point. It’s closer to 1.5 inches thick based on my own measurement.

I’m tempted to go on and on about this device, but let me save the goods for my full review. For now, feel free to head on over to our Galaxy Camera Forum and leave your opinion about the above pictures in the comments.

Amazon halts $7.99 monthly Prime plan after under 2 weeks of testing

Posted: 17 Nov 2012 11:45 AM PST


Amazon Prime is a great way to save money if you are well-invested in Amazon’s services. You get free 2-day shipping, Amazon Instant Video streaming and free book rentals – not a bad deal for $79 a year, right? Except seeing that $79 charge to our bank account is much harder than the pricing plan Amazon recently decided to test. Sadly, after less than 2 weeks of testing, Amazon has changed its mind and halted this new plan, which would give you all the benefits of Amazon Prime for only $7.99 a month.

"We regularly test new options for our customers. At this time, we've completed our test and are no longer signing up new customers for Amazon Prime monthly memberships." -Amazon

You may have managed to sign up, but you are out of luck if you decided to wait a bit. This came as a great deal for those that don’t like to see that $79 fee for buying the service outright, but it is actually $17 more per year to go for the monthly plan. This is why we recommended that you get the annual plan, if you know you will be using Amazon’s services.

This move was probably mostly aimed towards customers of other video streaming services like Netflix and Hulu+, which also charge $7.99 per month. Those services don’t offer shipping and book lending, though, which is where Amazon could have the advantage, but it is also why this pricing scheme could fall short.

Users would be able to simply go on a shopping spree and get everything with free shipping, only to cancel the service the next month. An idea that seems great for the consumer, but not so much for Amazon. Still, testing this pricing structure for only 2 weeks seems a bit unreasonable. Amazon should have at least waited a month and see if this service could be profitable.

Who knows, maybe it will come back after the holidays, when all the Christmas shopping is done. Were you able to sign up for Amazon Prime at $7.99 per month? Do you prefer it over paying $79 for a whole year?

[via AllThingsD]
Posted by at 9:02 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)