Saturday, December 29, 2012

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums

Samsung plans building expansion in San Jose area

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:55 PM PST

Samsung announced today they are planning to build some new facilities in the San Jose area. Two new facilities will be constructed, with the first one being a 1.1 million square foot headquarters for sales and R&D staff with Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. The 10-story facility, which will include an “amenity pavilion” and a parking garage will be built on the site of the current semiconductor and display panel businesses just north of downtown San Jose. The second facility will be built for Samsung Information Systems America Inc., which will relocate its R&D center to a new 8.5-acre site with two new 6-story office buildings. The 385,000 square foot facility will include two new parking garages, will overlook the Sunnyvale golf course, and will be built to LEED Gold standards.

Hit the break for the full press release from Samsung.

Samsung Continues to Expand Operations in the Bay Area

Adding to its effort to build state-of-the-art, energy-efficient campuses, the company is expanding into innovation centers to enhance its ‘soft’ capabilities

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media, digital convergence technologies and advanced semiconductor solutions, continues to expand its operations in Silicon Valley by investing more resources in its existing R&D centers and establishing new innovation centers.

Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. (SSI) announced plans to build a 1.1 million square foot sales and R&D headquarters on the current site of its semiconductor and display panel businesses, north of downtown San Jose. The building, designed by global architecture firm NBBJ, will be comprised of a 10-story tower, an amenity pavilion and parking garage. The design seeks to encourage interaction among staff, foster connections with the community and provide a space to attract employment in the highly competitive tech market, which is growing at a faster pace than overall employment.

Samsung Information Systems America Inc. (SISA), will relocate its R&D Center from its current facility in North San Jose to an 8.5-acre site and expand to two new 6-story class-A office buildings totaling approximately 385,000 square foot. (each 192,500 sq. ft.) with two 5-6 story parking structures. The new facility will be oriented around a central plaza with views overlooking the adjacent Sunnyvale golf course and will be constructed to LEED Gold standards. The 15-year build-to-suit lease will be located at Cypress Business Park, 625-685 Clyde Avenue in Mountain View, California. Entitlements are in process and anticipated for completion in second quarter of 2013, with targeted occupancy in fourth quarter of 2014.

In addition to these two major planned campuses, Samsung Electronics is expanding its Open Innovation efforts with additional space that will allow for incubating and acquiring new technologies and working with early stage companies.

Samsung Strategy & Innovation Center, located in Menlo Park, a core area in Silicon Valley, was recently established to strengthen Samsung’s ecosystem and promote synergy between the company’s various products and services. Samsung Open Innovation Center, located in Palo Alto, will be a core entity to discover innovative startups in Silicon Valley, provide space, funds and effectively leverage them for innovation of Samsung’s products through equity investments, acquisition and strategic partnership.

Following the establishment of both the Samsung Strategy & Innovation Center and the Open Innovation Center in Silicon Valley, Samsung Electronics plans to set up corresponding organizations at R&D Centers and the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology at its Korean headquarters to strengthen its global cooperative network.

Galaxy S IV Rumored To Launch In April With S Pen

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:16 PM PST

 

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the best phones of 2012… OK, done. Now we’re free to drool over look at what’s coming in 2013. The latest Samsung Galaxy S IV rumor says it will be released in April equipped with Galaxy Note II-like S Pen functionality. This may explain why early leaks have suggested the phone will be bigger (up from 4.8-inch to a 5-inch display) and slightly thicker (from 8.6mm to 9.2mm). It doesn’t, however, explain why we always use imperial measurements for screen size and metric for thickness. From what we’ve seen so far the S IV is shaping up to to be a worthy successor to the S III. The rumored 2GHz quad-core processor will pack quite a punch, especially if it incorporates the big.LITTLE architecture Samsung  has been working on.

Source: Enuri

TalkAndroid Staff Picks: Best Android Phone for 2012

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 10:30 AM PST

One of the best things about being on the Android side of the fence is the sheer number of phones available. Sure it can be confusing at times, but most of us prefer the flexibility that choice offers us. With so many phones, it’s not an easy task picking the best phone for the entire year. It’s nearly impossible to get everyone to agree since everyone is so different. We thought it would be cool to let each member of our incredible staff pick which phone they think is the Mac Daddy for 2012. Hit the break to find out the results and be sure to tell us your choice in the comments.

Robert Nazarian – Editor in Chief

For me the best phone isn’t about popularity, it’s about innovation, styling, usability, and availability. It also doesn’t mean the most popular phone can’t be the best phone, I am just saying they don’t always line up. The other indicator for me is how willing I am to give up my review unit. We have to send back our review units when we have completed our reviews, but I always find a few phones that I have a hard time putting back in the box. In looking at all my criteria it came down to two phones: the HTC One X and the Samsung Galaxy S III. Just before the Galaxy S III was introduced in London, I called the One X the best Android phone hands down. The Galaxy S III did give the One X a run for the money, but I have to give the nod to the One X based on an improved UI, a better display, and a superior build quality. My runner ups included the Nexus 4 for the incredible price and specs ratio as well as the original DROID RAZR MAXX for the incredible 3300mAh battery that was stuffed into a 9mm body. The DROID DNA / Butterfly also came very close to winning it all, but the fact that it isn’t widely available yet took it out of the running, but it was so good I decided to buy one for myself.

Roy Alugbue  - Editor

There were a ton of great devices to choose from, but the Samsung Galaxy S III gets the clear nod. The revolutionary device may be a bit underwhelming in terms of its overall design and almost offensive use of plastic materials, but there’s no doubt the device became a household name not just to hardcore Android users, but to the mainstream public as well. Samsung knew it had a potential hit on its hands when it introduced revolutionary features like its quad-core Exynos chip and a stunning 8MP camera that rivaled not only other smartphones, but traditional cameras as well. Then there is the much-improved revamp of its TouchWiz software, which is actually dare I say a compliment to the overall Android experience as opposed to a hindrance. Toss in the fact that both the international and carrier-branded versions are developer-friendly much like Google’s Nexus line, and you have a device that easily caters to both the casual and hardcore Android crowds. Samsung wasn’t kidding when it told the world “The Next Big Thing Is Already Here”… and it has the sales’ numbers to back it up as well.

Ed Caggiani – Author

HTC impressed us when they released the One series earlier in the year. The flagship One X boasts a screen unsurpassed in quality, which is the perfect compliment to the groundbreaking ImageSense camera technology. The sleek design feels great in the hand, and the specs continue to impress.

Sprint bumped things up a notch with the Evo 4G LTE, adding expandable storage and the signature Evo kickstand. Sprint’s LTE network is in its infancy, but with this phone’s power, I don’t feel the need to upgrade anytime soon. Plus, with the recent update to Jelly Bean, it’s like a new phone all over again.

Jeff Causey – Author

I am going with the Galaxy S III not because of anything to do with the technical specifications, though they were impressive when the device was released. Other devices released during the year have matched it and probably surpassed it in some ways. The reason I nominate it is because I think Samsung achieved two feats with the S III. First, they redefined the bar for smartphones. Pretty much every phone released in the latter half of 2012 had to at least match the S III if it wanted to be considered a serious smartphone. That includes the Apple iPhone which brings me to the second feat that Samsung achieved. With the S III, I think Samsung finally has Apple chasing them instead of the other way around. The S III was slick enough, worked well enough, and when combined with the Android operating system, it surpassed the abilities of the iPhone. Of course, Android fans have felt this way for a long time, but the S III moved this in front of the general consumer. If ever there were evidence of this, it is my teenage son who got an iPhone earlier this year and is your typical Apple fanboy. He mentioned to me that he would like an S III now.

Runner up

The Galaxy Note II: If not the absolute top of the line in terms of “more power” hardware, it has to be close to the top. The usefulness of the multi-window function has created enough buzz that the feature is spreading to other platforms. Obviously the S-Pen is a unique feature of the device and is one that I look forward to trying out. A decade ago I was fortunate enough to have access to what then qualified as a tablet device with a stylus and the ability to handwrite on the device helped move me along to becoming (more) paperless. It was an experience I’ve been waiting to replicate and the Galaxy Note II seems to finally be a device that will get me close to that mode once again. Which brings me to why it makes my list – it is the device I’ll be voting with my wallet as I am hoping to buy one in the next few days.

Macky Evangelista – Author

With 2012 coming to a close, it’s safe to say Android dominated the mobile tech world due to so many successful devices. With monster flagships launching this year from every Android vendor, it’s difficult to just pick one as the best device. We have HTC beginning the year with their One X and ending it with the Droid DNA, Samsung releasing the most popular Android device to date with the Galaxy S III and yet outdoing that with the Note II. Then we even have LG getting into the mix with their Optimus G. In my opinion, undoubtedly the best Android device that came out this year came from Google themselves with the LG Nexus 4. Unlike their previous Nexus device, the Galaxy Nexus, this time around Google made sure they equipped the Nexus 4 with the best specs possible. It’s free from custom UI’s and will get updates as quickly as Google pushes them out. I can honestly say that it’s the first device I’ve ever owned that has yet to lag or slow down.

Hope you all had a great year and I’m looking forward in what the Android world has to offer for 2013!

Jared Peters – Author

The Galaxy Note II is the successor to one of Samsung’s off-the-wall ideas that did really well. The second time around Samsung did everything right and easily created the best phone of the year. It was one of the first phones to sport both LTE and a quad-core processor, it’s got one of the most amazing screens available on a phone, and it has a battery that’s got more than enough juice to last all day. There are other phones that do some of what the Note II does, like the quad-core Nexus 4, the visually stunning Droid DNA, and battery of the Droid RAZR MAXX HD, but none of those phones offer all three like the Note II, and with those phones, you have to give up a conventional removable battery or SD card slot, or both. With the screen size being the only drawback, (and that’s only a drawback to some people) it’s hard to say there’s another phone better than the Note II this year.

Rudy Rivapalacio – Author

Without a doubt the best phone of 2012 would have been the Samsung Galaxy Nexote XI. The 5-inch beast meets all of my requirements: quad-core processor, NFC, expandable storage, removable battery and pure Android! Unfortunately, the Nexus-Note hybrid only exists in my dreams. Keeping my choice in the real world means I’ll have to give it to the Samsung Galaxy Note II. Its processor gives it a leg up on the Galaxy S III and its storage options push it over the Nexus 4.
While I love pure Android (and the CyanogenMod variation), I can’t say the Nexus 4 is the best phone when its limited storage means I would be forced to carry a second device to hold my music. HTC made some really nice phones this year but their choice to stick to non-removable batteries are deal breakers for me. My requirement for the top device is that it can do it all. The Note II comes with top tier specs to handle the latest and greatest Android games. It will accept a 64GB microSD card to hold just about all the music I can handle. Its removable battery means I can step off a plane, after spending the last couple hours playing games and listening to music, pop in a fresh battery and be ready to go.

Alex Enfiedjian – Author

What can I say, I'm a Nexus fan boy. I love the stock Android experience, the quick updates and the hassle-free life of no carrier contracts. The Nexus 4 is a phone (and a strategy) that seeks to revolutionize the industry in that it has (almost) all of the right features at an incredible off contract price. $299/$350 for a phone with a big, beautiful screen, a speedy processor, a great camera, good battery life, high quality construction and the pure Google Android experience is a winner in every possible way. Some people gripe about the lack of LTE, but in our WiFi saturated country you can almost always find an open network for quick download speeds. Even if you're out and about, the data speeds on the Nexus 4 are more than adequate for most of your needs (especially if you're connected to T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 42 network). Because of all these reasons and many more, my vote for best phone of 2012 is the Nexus 4. Good job Google. Now, next time if you could get the launch right.

 

(Rumor) Motorola Droid Razr M HD tipped, current top of the line becomes the new mid-range

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 10:10 AM PST

As the new crop of 2013 super phones begin to leak out, the current top of the line specs are being demoted to a new, lesser role of mid-range. As 1080p displays become the norm for flagship phones, 720p displays will become the norm for lower priced and entry level phones. This is exactly the case in today’s news, as Phone Arena is reporting an anonymous tip about an upcoming upgrade to the current Motorola Droid Razr M, known as the Droid Razr M HD. Needless to say the Droid Razr M HD will have an HD display, rumored to be 4.5 inches at 720×1280 pixels, giving it a healthy pixel density of 326 ppi. Besides an upgraded display, the device is said to use a Snapdragon S4 Plus chip with a 1.5GHz dual-core Krait processor. All this will be powered by a whopping 3,300 mAh battery. All of this sounds very excellent for a mid-range device. Again, this one leans heavy in the rumor department, but if it is all true, living in the future is going to be fun for everyone! Hit the break for a full list of specs.

Design
Device type: Smart phone
OS: Android (4.1) upgradeable to Android 4.2
Form Factor: Candy Bar
Dimensions: 5.15×2.52x.035
Weight: 5.22 OZ

Display
Physical size: 4.5 inches
Resoultion: 720×1280 pixels
Pixel density: 326 ppi
Technology: TFT
Colors: 16 777 216
Touchscreen: Capacitive, Multi-touch
Features: Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Scratch-resistant glass

Battery
Talk time: 21.25 hours
Stand-by time: 15.65
Capacity: 3300 mAh
Type: Li – Polymer

Hardware
System chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8960
Processor: Dual core, 1500 MHz, Krait
Graphics processor: Adreno 225
System memory: 1024 MB RAM (Dual-channel, 500 MHz) / DDR2 / 8192 MB ROM
Built-in storage: 16gb
Storage expansion: microSD, microSDHC up to 32 GB

Source: Phone Arena 

F.Y.I.— Reports Are Coming In That Nexus 4 Smartphones Are Being Shipped Again

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 09:52 AM PST

 

Those of you who are still patiently waiting for your Nexus 4 smartphone to arrive are officially in luck and will get the phone just in time for the start of the new year. According to various reports, Google has gone ahead and shipped out a new batch of smartphones to anxiously waiting customers. As good as the news is– both the 8GB and 16GB are still listed as sold out on the Play Store. This will no doubt make many Android fans continue to be peeved at Google for its Nexus 4 availability miscues. And of course, there are still no bumper cases available on the Play Store as of this writing as well. Still— you gotta hand it to Google for trying to do its best at least— one shipment at a time.

source: Android Central


The Android Foundry Posts Its Winter Wonderland Wallpaper For The Masses To Download

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 08:57 AM PST

 

For those of us in the Midwest and Northeastern parts of the States, we are starting to get the full winter experience in the form of loved (or hated) snow, while the rest of country doesn’t get to have the full snow experience. Well in the spirit of the holiday season, The Android Foundry has released its brand-spankin’-new wallpaper called the Winter Wonderland that’s available in different resolution variations, which means the wallpaper should work with just about all Android devices.

Hit the source link below to grab the wallpaper for your device today.

source: Android Foundry

Cruzerlite Follows Up Recent Tease By Releasing Clone Army And Bugdroid Circuit Cases For The Nexus 4

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 08:37 AM PST

 

You remember how we showed you all a sneak peek of what Cruzerlite has in store for Nexus 4 smartphones? Well the famed smartphone case maker has followed up on its tease by unveiling a few set of Nexus 4 cases. The first set of cases are from its Bugdroid Circuit line which features a TPU material along with items like a laser-etched Bugdroid mascot on the back. The second set of cases are from its Clone Army line which also features some nice material surrounding the cases and a nice pattern of Androids taking up the back of the cases’ real estate.

Cruzerlite is certainly excited about both cases and has listed each for a reasonable $13 a pop— which is certainly welcome (and exciting) news. We know you Nexus 4 owners want more details, so go ahead and hit the source links below for more information. Go on… you know you want to.

source: Cruzerlite Bugdroid | Cruzerlite Androidified Clone Army

[Deal] ECO X Terra waterproof boombox for $50 with free shipping on Amazon

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 01:19 AM PST

Sure, Christmas may have come and passed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to a little something extra. Amazon is offering a steal of a deal on Grace Digital’s ECO X Terra rugged and waterproof boombox for just $50, equating to a savings of $100.

The idea behind the go-anywhere speaker set is fairly simple. In the center of the boombox there is an air tight chamber for your Android powered device, which the company claims can fit even the “largest Android phone” in addition to keys, glasses and other small valuables. Unlike other similar systems, the ECO X Terra isn’t just water resistant, it’s fully submersible. In fact, it can even float in your swimming pool. Power is supplied through either a standard AC adapter, or a set of four C batteries, ultimately providing 25 hours of continuous use.

If this sounds like something you could use, be sure to hit the source link below while they are still available.

Source: Amazon
Via: SlickDeals

Multi-window update now live for AT&T Galaxy Note II

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:42 AM PST

AT&T already announced that today would mark the initial rollout of an update for Galaxy Note II users, bringing the highly touted multi-window feature to eager multitaskers. Thankfully, things seem to be right on schedule as a large number of users are reporting a hefty update waiting to be downloaded.

Measuring in at 178MB, the update appears to be hitting devices in phases, so if you don’t see it straight away, you may have luck checking for the update manually by heading to Settings > About Phone > Software Updates. We’ll see you on the other side.

Source: Android Central

OUYA developer Android gaming consoles now shipping

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:26 AM PST

The long awaited Kickstarter-funded OUYA gaming console is finally upon us. Well, some of us at least. The team behind the Android based gaming cube has announced that units have begun shipping, keeping on schedule with its December 28th target date. The first batch is slated to arrive in the hands of eager developers by January 10th, which should give around four months of exclusivity before the consumer edition drops sometime in March or April.

Unlike other high profile Kickstarter projects, the OUYA team has managed to stay on schedule with its aggressive development strategy. Just four months after ending its massive funding campaign, OUYA is already on its way to thousands of backers, something that can be appreciated considering the astronomical $8.5 million raised.

Source: LaptopMag
Posted by at 6:44 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)