Android Authority

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• Viber surpasses 140 million users, they’re adding them at a rate of 400,000/day
• Sony Yuga prototype gets manhandled in Russia, full specs revealed and (almost) set in stone
• Samsung Galaxy Grand: It’s a 5 inch Galaxy S2 that looks like a Galaxy S3
• SpamSoldier SMS spamming botnet found targeting Android devices
• Amazon to take on Google in the ad business with AdSense-like offering of its own
• Microsoft continues anti-Google attack on Twitter, says Search giant is basically evil
• Multi-window coming to T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 2 December 19
• Google Play counting down to 2013 with a new deal every day
• The Eye Tribe wants to create the first eye-controlled tablet
• Samsung Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update comes to US Cellular Friday

Viber surpasses 140 million users, they’re adding them at a rate of 400,000/day Posted: 18 Dec 2012 02:38 AM PST No one likes paying for text messages, right? And there’s only so many things you can do with an SMS. No photos (that’s called MMS), no location sharing, no read receipts, nothing that you’d associate with modern instant messaging platforms. WhatsApp is the most popular OTT (over the top) messaging service, but right behind them is a competitor we can’t help but love called Viber. Today the company is announcing that they’ve surpassed 140 million users and that they’re adding members at a rate of 400,000 per day. How does that compare to WhatsApp? We don’t really know because the company doesn’t like to disclose numbers, but many analysts assume it’s in the 200 million to 300 million range. Why use Viber instead of WhatsApp? They both do the exact same thing. You install the app, it asks you for permission to scan your address book, and then it enables you to message your friends who are also using the app for free. The thing is, we just like how Viber looks. It’s cleaner. It’s easier on the eyes. That may seem like a shallow reason, but hey, first impressions count! So what platforms does Viber support? Android, of couse, iOS, Windows Phone 7 (not 8), Nokia (S40 and S60), BlackBerry, and even Samsung’s feature phone operating system Bada. The latest version of the app, released today to celebrate the 140 million user milestone, now has location sharing and “sticker support”, which is just a fancy way of saying animated photos that teenage girls like to add to the end of their messages. We’re curious, which apps do you use to message your friends for free? We know Android phones come with Google Talk out of the box, but that’s an account based IM service, not a phone number based iMessage/BBM type client. There’s a key difference between the two. Related Posts Tencent launches a WhatsApp/Viber clone in Taiwan called WeChat This Just In: Viber Launches Free VoIP App for Android Viber 2.2 brings group messaging, Jelly Bean not supported

Sony Yuga prototype gets manhandled in Russia, full specs revealed and (almost) set in stone Posted: 18 Dec 2012 02:03 AM PST The Sony Yuga rumor mill has been churning for a while, but once we heard the Russian website Mobile-Review got a hold of a prototype of the "beast" it was obvious sooner or later we were going to find out everything there was to know about the upcoming device. As it happens, everything went down sooner rather than later, so here we already are taking a look at a very extensive and thorough preview of the Yuga. Mind you, the phone manhandled by Martin Elm is said to have been in the possession of the guys at Mobile-Review for more than a month, so we have to underline we're dealing with an early pre-production unit here and a final model might look very different from this. Sony Yuga specs I'm sure you're all interested in the "goods" before hearing the hands-on impressions, so here are the cold facts and numbers about Yuga's spec sheet: 5-inch 1,920 x 1,080 pixels resolution display with 440 ppi pixel density Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU clocked at 1.5 GHz Adreno 320 GPU 2 GB of RAM 16 GB of on-board storage MicroSDXC support for extending the memory with an additional 128 GB 4G LTE 12 MP camera with LED Flash, HDR video recording capabilities, Photo Burst and Superior Auto Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean Bluetooth 4.0 Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n MicroUSB and microHDMI ports Hands-on impressions I'm sure some of you are disappointed by at least a couple of those specs, which just seem run of the mill (for 2013), but before giving up on the Yuga altogether let's hear some of those hands-on impressions. Keep in mind that we're not very fluent in Russian, so we've used Google Translate to decipher the following, which means everything might not be completely in place: The design is simple, but it sets the Yuga apart from other Sony devices with very sharp corners, clean lines, a slim profile and an almost complete absence of "conspicuous elements" The materials used are expensive and make the phone seem luxuriously priced, while build quality is "perfect" The 1080p display is mostly amazing, with perfect color reproduction in apps that use Sony Bravia Engine. However, viewing angles are far from perfect and reflections are a common problem. Based on an array of benchmark results, the Yuga prototype is awfully snappy. The over 20,000 points scored in AnTuTu and the 2,000 Geekbench score are particularly impressive, especially thinking that the unit tested was an unfinished one. The CPU/GPU combo and the demanding display very quickly drain the battery. Overheating is by far the biggest problem of the Yuga, making the camera unusable at times. The overall performance is also affected by heating. The camera, while rocking an inferior sensor to the Xperia T, produces much sharper images with very rich colors. The interface is heavily customized and tweaked, but the device is a "pleasure to use". Also, while the tested unit came with Android 4.1, the Yuga is expected to ship with 4.2. What we don't know With at least a couple of months to go until the Yuga's official launch, the number of questions and uncertainties has certainly dropped, but not to zero. Oddly, while the featuring of an LCD panel seemed like a certainly yesterday, it hasn't been "confirmed" in the preview, so there's still an (outside) chance Sony will be using an OLED screen for this. The price is another major question mark, not to mention Yuga's placement in Sony's grand scheme of things. Will this be the "international" version of the Odin? And if so, how will the two differ? As far as specs go, we still don't know the battery's capacity, whether it'll be a removable unit or not, the front-facing cam's pixel count and the on-board OS. A major reason of concern is the overheating issue, which we really hope Sony will fix by the time of the release. So, what do you guys think about the Yuga now that it’s no longer a mystery? Is it everything you expected it to be? More? Less? Related Posts Sony Yuga spotted in another benchmark, rumored spec sheet is now (almost) complete New Sony Yuga photos unveiled, LCD screen and S4 Pro CPU “confirmed” Sony Xperia Yuga specs and features leaked, Xperia Odin also mentioned

Samsung Galaxy Grand: It’s a 5 inch Galaxy S2 that looks like a Galaxy S3 Posted: 18 Dec 2012 01:16 AM PST In early December we covered a rumor that said Samsung was going to launch a cheaper version of the Note 2, and that said device would lack a stylus. Which brings us to today’s announcement of the Galaxy Grand. It has a dual core 1.2 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel camera, and a 5 inch screen that pushes 800 x 480 pixels. Calling the Grand a cheaper Note 2 would be an insult to the Note 2. This thing is more like a jumbo version of the two year old Galaxy S2, except that it looks like a Galaxy S3. Curiously, Samsung didn’t say who makes the processor inside the Grand, which leads us to believe that it uses a Qualcomm chipset. That’s usually what Samsung does. If they don’t say “dual core Exynos”, but instead say “dual core processor”, then it’s typically a chip that wasn’t developed by them. What else should you know about this thing? There’s going to be a single SIM version called the GT-I9080 and a dual SIM version called the GT-I9082. The Grand will ship with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, not Android 4.2. Samsung didn’t say when exactly the Grand will hit the market, nor did they provide any pricing information. So what do we think of this thing? It’s hard to form an opinion without knowing how much it’s going to cost. The Note 2 is a pretty expensive phone at just under 600 EUR depending on the market you’re in. The Galaxy S3 is already at sub 500 EUR in many markets. The Galaxy S3 Mini and the Galaxy S2 are both priced in the 350 EUR range, which leads us to believe that the Grand might come in at 400 EUR. At that price it’s going to be a tricky device to recommend since it doesn’t do anything special, other than ship with a large display. Related Posts Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos rumored to come soon – 5-inch dual-SIM mid-ranger? 5-inch Galaxy Grand spotted at the FCC, are we looking at a Galaxy S4 preview? Samsung Galaxy Grand: upcoming Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 mutant?

SpamSoldier SMS spamming botnet found targeting Android devices Posted: 17 Dec 2012 07:26 PM PST We continue to talk about Android malware today – after seeing not one, but two reports in recent days detailing malware expectations in the mobile worlds for 2013, but also after hearing about the Samsung Exynos exploit that could make things easier for malicious apps. This time around we're looking at an article posted on the blog of security firm Lookout about a newly discovered SMS spamming botnet. Called SpamSoldier, the spammer botnet "uses infected phones to send a barrage of SMS spam messages without the user's consent." Here are some text examples: "You've just won a $1000 Target gift card but only the 1st 1000 people that enter code 7777 at hxxp://holyoffers.com can claim it!" "Download Grand Theft Auto 3 & Need for Speed Most Wanted for Android phones for free at hxxp://trendingoffers.com for next 24hrs only!" As you can see, Android users are also targeted by the botnet, which itself is spreading via such SMS messages. Thinking they get deals on certain apps, users click on links provided in such messages at which point the malicious apps installs itself on the smartphone, deletes it tracks and starts, well, doing its job: sending SMS messages. Once installed, the app spams 100 U.S. phone numbers at a time. When it's done with each batch it reloads with another fresh set. Meanwhile users don't know what's happening as the app deletes outgoing messages and intercepts any SMS replies to the messages it sends. So far, the impact is seen as "limited," but while detections "remain low," Lookout has observed "instances on all major U.S. carriers." Obviously, Lookout says its own app detects the threat, both the Free and Premium versions. Has anyone been affected by such a malicious app? How did you discover it? Related Posts “Find and Call” spamming app discovered on Android and iOS Is there really an Android botnet sending out spam? Number of malicious Android apps jumps to over 20,000

Amazon to take on Google in the ad business with AdSense-like offering of its own Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:53 PM PST Amazon is seemingly not happy to be just one of the main, if not the most important, online retailer, and the company is ready to challenge existing top companies in various niches with more products of its own. After taking on everyone in the mobile business with very affordable Android-based tablets last year, the company is reportedly preparing to assault the smartphone business as well at some point next year. Meanwhile, the company is still selling its Kindle Fire versions – updated 2012 models – in the U.S., but also in various other international markets. Amazon established itself as a popular tablet provider by taking Google's Android OS, stripping it from everything that resembled to a regular Android experience and making its own. The company removed Google's own built-in Android apps – which is how Google makes money off of Android since it doesn't charge OEMs licenses for it – and replaced them with similar products of its own. And Amazon seems ready to go to the next level when it comes to fighting Google. AdWeek reports that Amazon has developed its own bidding-based advertising platform, which could grow in the following years as a worthy Google AdSense rival. Sure, Google has a lot of experience in search and providing targeted ads to advertisers, and it's making a lot of cash from its ad business. But companies like Facebook, and now Amazon, seem to be more interested in offering a competing advertising alternative to interested customers. While Amazon is not sitting on a huge pile of search data like Google, and it doesn’t have over one billion social profiles to mine data from like Facebook, it certainly knows how and what people are shopping. The company can provide even more targeted ads to shoppers, since they already know what products they're looking for. According to the report, Amazon has developed its own bidding technology that would be used in such an AdSense competitor, and we could see in action as soon as the first quarter of next year: Over the past year, Amazon has built a proprietary real-time bidding platform that plugs into exchanges and supply-side platforms, including Google's AdX and PubMatic. This platform lets the company retarget its users across the Web based on their browsing and purchase habits on Amazon's owned-and-operated properties. That could be a game changer. Given Amazon’s recommendation engine and general deal-closing prowess, the company’s data should have advertisers drooling. And according to the same publication, some ad execs seem to be very interested in an Amazon-run ad business exactly because of the data Amazon can analyze when targeting ads: "What's so powerful is having revenue data and action data on purchases," said Scott Symonds, managing director of AKQA Media. "Google has [some ability to track conversions] through Google Analytics, but everyone is desperate to see [a closed-loop system]." Said IgnitionOne CEO Will Margiloff: "I've always believed that the best data is conversion data. Who has more conversion data in e-commerce than Amazon?" "The truth is that they have a singular amount of data that nobody else can touch," said Jonathan Adams, iCrossing's U.S. media lead. "Search behavior is not the same as conversion data. These guys have been watching you buy things for … years." At the same time, the article points out that Amazon doesn't exactly need an ad business in order to drive its other business, and this new adventure could be harder to explain to consumers. Comparatively, Google needs the ads to finance all the products it offers for free to consumers, Android OS included. The same goes for Facebook, which offers its social networking services free of charge, and other companies. But Amazon, while it does sell some of its own products at cost, it can't really justify the need to push ads to its customers through various means. After all, consumers don't always want to be bothered by ads, whether Google's, Facebook's, Amazon's or anyone else’s. Will Amazon be able to establish itself as a power player in the ad business as well? Time will tell, but we're certainly going to keep tabs on this new potential Amazon vs Google rivalry. Related Posts Facebook interested in getting into the search business? Google kills Google Apps for Teams, Google Listen, and Google Video for Business Eric Schmidt confirms Google is interested in the hardware business, whatever that means

Microsoft continues anti-Google attack on Twitter, says Search giant is basically evil Posted: 17 Dec 2012 05:28 PM PST After the Scroogled campaign and after the botched attempt to turn a #DroidRage Twitter campaign viral, Microsoft is back attacking Google in the public. And again, Twitter was used. This time around Microsoft's head of PR Frank X. Shaw took it upon himself to attack one of his Google equivalents, Jill Hazelbaker, by way of sending out up to 140-character messages from his Twitter account. While the two giant corporations are fierce rivals in various businesses, including online search and computer and mobile operating systems, to name some of the most important ones, this particular fight between senior PR execs was the result of a New York Times piece talking about a recent Microsoft hire, "Mark Penn, head of 'strategic and special projects," who’s in charge of campaigns such as the Scroogled one. Shaw was particularly annoyed by a Hazelbaker quote from the story, and decided to fight back on Twitter, so everybody can follow: In the NYT story, Hazelbaker said that Google also spends money on lobbying, but that it is different than Microsoft because "our focus is on Google and the positive impact our industry has on society, not the competition." So what did he write in return? Here are some of his best quotes: So, @jillhazelbaker how about a little light? So far this year, Google has outspent Microsoft by a factor 2.3 to 1 lobbying. @jillhazelbaker says Google not focused on competitors. She better let @ericschmidt know so he stops blaming us for all their problems. Turns out if you shine a light on Google like we did via Scroogled, Gmail man, putting privacy first, they run for the shadows. Want to talk about privacy? Name the time and place. And don't sent the NYT next time. Or BusinessWeek. Use your own voice. These tweets, and a few others, were published on Friday, and since then Google has not officially responded to them. Is this fight important for Android or Windows Phone? Yes and no. Shaw only attacked Google's search business and related practices in his tweets, but Search happens to be Google's core business, which is therefore related to all its products, Android included. And it’s probably a matter of time until we see Penn come out with Windows Phone vs Android ads. From the looks of it, at least according to NYT, more Microsoft campaigns will target Google in the near future. Apparently, Penn's job is to target Google every which way possible with negative ads to convince consumers to choose Microsoft's products over Google's. But hey, that’s the game, and we shouldn’t be surprised to see the main players get rough with each other from time to time. "Google should be prepared for everything but the kitchen sink thrown at them," said a former colleague who worked closely with Mr. Penn in politics and spoke on condition of anonymity. "Actually, they should be prepared for the kitchen sink to be thrown at them, too." Hiring Mr. Penn demonstrates how seriously Microsoft is taking this fight, said Michael A. Cusumano, a business professor at M.I.T. who co-wrote a book about Microsoft's browser war. "They're pulling out all the stops to do whatever they can to halt Google's advance, just as their competition did to them," Professor Cusumano said. "I suppose that if Microsoft can actually put a doubt in people's mind that Google isn't unbiased and has become some kind of evil empire, they might very well get results." This is certainly not the last episode in the Microsoft vs Google war – and the two are also engaged in some important patent-based lawsuits too – but the conflict is definitely on an escalating path, as the two giants fight for profit and market share some lucrative niches. Related Posts Microsoft attacks Google with “Scroogled” campaign Mobile search on the rise as desktop search drops for the first time ever Twitter for Android app update brings improvements to search results, the Discover tab and more

Multi-window coming to T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 2 December 19 Posted: 17 Dec 2012 04:03 PM PST One of the coolest features of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, multi-window, still isn’t available with some carriers. T-Mobile users will be the next to get the feature, with a software update arriving Wednesday, December 19th. The update brings the Galaxy Note 2 to Android version 4.1.1 / baseband version T889UVALK8. In addition to adding multi-window, the software update fixes a few issues. The bug where Exchange calendar events wouldn’t show up in the Calendar app has been fixed, as has the issue where users were unable to swipe through Gmail messages. When the update rolls out, it will be available either via an over the air update or via Samsung Kies. Most users will likely find it easier to use the OTA method. To check on your device, go to Settings > About Phone > Software Update. If the update is available, simply follow the on-screen prompts until your device reboots. If this method fails to work, the slightly more complicated method of using Kies should work for you. For detailed instructions on both methods of installing the update, check the T-Mobile link in the sources section below. Have you used the multi-window feature of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2? Did you find yourself using it often, or did you ignore it? Related Posts Sprint Galaxy Note 2 update available, brings multi-window feature not Android 4.2 Galaxy Note 2 NL100XXALJ1 firmware update enables multi-window feature Android 4.1.2 update with multi-window coming to Galaxy S3 in December?

Google Play counting down to 2013 with a new deal every day Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:59 PM PST Google Play is ringing in the new year in style, offering a new deal or discount every day between now and January 1st, but this time it’s more than just app discounts that are being offered. Today’s offering is a free app, and it’s an app that’s always free. It’s called Hotel Tonight, and if you haven’t guessed, it’s main purpose is to find you a hotel for tonight. If that was it, we’d be pretty underwhelmed, but luckily it’s not. As part of today’s offer, if you download the app, you’ll get a $35 credit toward your first hotel booking. All you have to do is enter Google’s promo code and the discount is yours, so this should also work for those who have already downloaded Hotel Tonight in the past. The offer is only valid today, so hit the link in the sources section below to take advantage while you still can. The Google Play elves will be offering up a new surprise every day, and if each one is as useful as this, it’s going to be a very interesting two weeks. As long as Google keeps providing cool surprises, we’ll be sharing them, so make sure to check back here daily. What do you think of the first day’s surprise offer? What would you like to see show up between now and the new year? Related Posts Deal alert: Batman: Arkham City, Deus Ex: Human Revolution 50% off on OnLive Google and Paramount sign movie rental deal, 500 titles coming to Google Play and YouTube Google – MGM deal brings the Terminator and Rocky to Google Play, YouTube

The Eye Tribe wants to create the first eye-controlled tablet Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:42 PM PST Have you ever wondered what the next major input method for smartphones and other devices will be? Well, if this Danish company, The Eye Tribe, is able to achieve its goal, the next big thing might be your gaze. The Eye Tribe is working to build a software that would allow users to interact with their mobile devices just by looking at them. The startup’s work has already enabled it to raise $800,000 in seed funding from European investors, but the company has now got its big break. The Eye Tribe has announced the launch of a $4.4 million project over three years, that will put its eye-control system on smartphones and tablets. Out of the $4.4 million, $2.3 million was provided by the Danish National Advanced Foundation, a Danish government foundation. The foundation will not take an equity stake in the company. Other partnering companies include the University of Copenhagen, DTU Informatics, LEGO, and Serious Games Interactive. The Eye Tribe’s CEO said in a statement that “by having partners such as LEGO and Serious Games Interactive we not only prove that eye tracking can be integrated in a mobile device, but we also make sure that we have the necessary use cases to show that the technology is useful." The Eye Tribe’s technology can be used on a larger scale and in many other devices than just smartphones. The possibilities are truly limitless. Here’s a demo video of the technology: Formerly known as Senseye, The Eye Tribe aims to release a software development kit (SDK) for developers of games and apps next year. The company is looking at several possible use cases for its technology, including a more secure way of logging into mobile devices, eye controlled games for education purposes, and automatic scrolling without touching the screen. Related Posts 5 Amazing Android Controlled Robots IBM and ARM to Create World's Smallest Mobile Processor Battery breakthrough: scientists use a DVD burner to create graphene supercapacitors

Samsung Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update comes to US Cellular Friday Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:34 PM PST Hot on the heels of the Jelly Bean update for the Verizon’s version, U.S. Cellular will release their update for the Samsung Galaxy S3 on Friday. Alongside the stock Jelly Bean enhancements like rich notifications and automatic widget adjustment and Google Now, Samsung will of course include its TouchWiz UI and its own set of features. Among the Samsung-specific features are the newly included Swype keyboard; blocking mode, which can disable calls, notifications and alarms for a preset amount of time; and an updated Pop Up Play feature, allowing easy resizing and pausing of video. One curious addition is Easy Mode, a feature that simplifies the user interface for first-time smartphone users. If you’ve been using your Galaxy S3 for a while, chances are good that you won’t be using this feature. The update also brings improvements to the Samsung Galaxy S3′s camera. Users can now pause and resume when recording video, allowing them to capture the most exciting parts of whatever they’re recording with no editing required later on. Low light mode uses the Galaxy S3′s HDR capabilities to improve photos in dark or indoor locations. Finally, live filters for the camera and camcorder are included. Users will be able to grab the update over the air or via Kies when it becomes available. See the press release embed below for all the details. What feature of the Jelly Bean update are you looking forward to the most on your Galaxy S3? Show full PR text DALLAS — October 17, 2012 — Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile) – the No.1 mobile phone provider in the United States and a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide1–continues its commitment to bringing the latest innovation to market with the rollout of Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, the latest version of the world's most popular smartphone operating system, to all Galaxy S III smartphonesin the U.S. in the coming months. The update will be made available both over the air and as a download via Kies, Samsung's content sync and software update solution. The specific timing and update method will be announced by each carrier partner, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular. Galaxy S III owners will receive the Jelly Bean update as well as a host of new and enhanced TouchWiz features, making it a faster, richer and more responsive device experience. Samsung's best-selling flagship smartphone just got even better. Samsung refined and enhanced the Galaxy S III experience by adding new capabilities to the camera, video and user interface, including: Camera Enhancements: New live camera and camcorder filters offer a range of new ways to spark your creativity.Warm vintage, cold vintage, black and white, sepia, color highlights(blue, green, red/yellow), and many more are selectable from the main camera screen. Pause and resume while recording videoallows users to string together multiple captured video clips from a party, birthday or sporting event into a single file with no post editing required. Low light photo modetakes advantage of Galaxy S III's best-in-class High Dynamic Range (HDR) capabilities and offers an optimized mode for low light and indoor photos. Pop Up Play Update: Users can now easily resize or pausethe Pop Up Playpicture-in-picture videowindow, taking full advantage of the Galaxy S III's powerful processor and large 4.8-inch screen. Easy Mode:Easy Mode is a simplified user experience option for first-time smartphone owners, providing large home screen widgets that focus on the device essentials. The Easy widgets include both 4×2 and 4×4 arrangements of favorite contacts, favorite apps, favorite settings, clock and alarm. Blocking Mode:Galaxy S III owners can disable incoming calls, notifications, alarms and LED indicators for a designated period of time. Improved Usability: Users now have multiple keyboard options with the addition of the Swype® keyboard.Android 4.1 Jelly Bean offers users a smoother, faster and more fluid experience with expanded feature functionality, including: Google Now™:Google Now givesusers the right information at the right time, like how much traffic to expect before leaving work, when the next train is scheduled toarrive at the subway station or the score of a favorite team's current game –conveniently delivered as notifications. Additionally, Google Now provides powerful voice assistant functionality across a range of domains, including weather, maps, navigation, search, image search, flight status and more. Google Now can conveniently be launched from the lock screen shortcut or by a long press on the menu button from any screen. Rich Notifications:Notifications can now expand and shrink with a pinch to showthe right amount of information a user needs. Notifications have been enhancedso action can be taken without having to launch the app first – like sharing a screenshot directly from the notification. Automatic Widget Adjustment:Customizing the home screen is easier than ever before. Users can simply place anew icon or widget on the screen, and existingicons will move out of the way to make space.When widgets are too big, they automatically resize to fit on the screen. In addition to the operating system update, Samsung and ESPN worked together to integrate AllShare® technology into ESPN's popular ScoreCenter® application. This means Galaxy S III owners will now be ableto wirelessly push on-demand ESPN global sports coverage and highlights from the ESPN ScoreCenter app to their Samsung SMART TV™. When on the same Wi-Fi network as a Samsung SMART TV, a sharing icon will appearwithin the ScoreCentervideo player which allows users to seamlessly push what they are watching to the TV.TheScoreCenter app with AllShare integration is available today for download through S Suggest™on all U.S. Galaxy S III devices. With the Jelly Bean update, the Galaxy S III willalso add support for some exciting new accessory experiences. AllShare® Cast Wireless Hub:The AllShare Cast Wireless Hub accessory allows users to wirelessly mirror their phone screen to any HDTV or HDMI® display. Whether it's sharing pictures, browsing the Web,playing games, streaming music, watching videos or projecting business presentations,users can control the action on the big screen wirelessly from their smartphone. AllShare Cast Wireless Hub even supports licensed content playbackof premium TV and movies. NFC One Touch Pairing Support:Galaxy S III can now pair with supporting NFC Bluetooth® accessories in a single touch. The Samsung Galaxy HM3300 Bluetooth headsetwill be the first Samsung portfolio accessory to support this functionality (available in the near future),allowing users to pair their headset by touching it to the back of their device. 1 Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q2 2012. Samsung Electronics Company is the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: Q2 2012. Samsung, Galaxy, TouchWiz, S Suggest, AllShare and Smart TV are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Android, Google Now, and other marksare trademarks of Google Inc. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. About Samsung Telecommunications America  Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, (Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world's most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.   Related Posts Samsung Canada rolls outs Jelly Bean update for Galaxy S3 US Cellular Galaxy S3 getting software update with Google Wallet, no word on Jelly Bean yet T-Mobile confirms, Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean is now available for the Samsung Galaxy S3

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Android and Me

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Rumor: HTC M7 to feature 4.7-inch 1080p display – headed to all four major US carriers Posted: 17 Dec 2012 02:18 PM PST It’s been a little over a week since we last wrote about the rumored HTC M7, but we already have some new details about the handset that paint it in a very positive light. The new details from Unwired View match up nicely with what we reported last time and give us a closer [...] Visit our site to read the full article.

Day 17: Win an ASUS VivoTab RT TF600T + Dock Posted: 17 Dec 2012 07:37 AM PST Back on Day 17 and the competition is about to get real mean. We’ve had some pretty simple challenges for the 25 Days of Tegra until this point, but today we’ve got another test that’s already been taken: your user account’s age. That’s right, to enter to win today,... Visit our site to read the full article.

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Android Phone Fans

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• YouTube Capture app released for the iPhone – Android version coming soon [VIDEO]
• T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2 getting multi-view update December 19th
• Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy S3 get CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies
• Google surprise calendar countdown to offer daily Google Play deals
• Latest Kik Messenger update infuses the app with Reddit browsing and sharing
• Samsung redoes “sex tape” ad with Santa and Mrs Claus [VIDEO]
• Facebook improves nearby places discovery in latest mobile update
• Smartphones with a sense of smell? IBM’s bold technology predictions for the next 5 years
• Dead Trigger Christmas update now available in the Play Store
• Schmidt once again toots the Android horn in interview with Stephen Colbert
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for US Cellular’s Samsung Galaxy S3 coming this Friday
• Major security flaw discovered in latest Exynos devices; community cooks up temporary fix as Samsung investigages
• Android-controlled toilet is Japan’s latest bathroom innovation
• Google UK exec says Nexus 4 supplies have been scarce, erratic; confirms new shipments this week
• Sprint will acquire remaining stake in Clearwire for $2.2 billion

YouTube Capture app released for the iPhone – Android version coming soon [VIDEO] Posted: 17 Dec 2012 03:44 PM PST Today, Google announced an all new application for the iPhone called YouTube Capture. The app lets users quickly upload videos to YouTube, with easy sharing across multiple social networks like Google+, Facebook, and Twitter. While this is great news for iOS users, many Android users are feeling left out in the cold, but don’t worry — ours is coming too. So, what makes YouTube Capture all that special, and isn’t it the same as uploading from the gallery app on Android devices? Not entirely. With Capture, users can trim and add YouTube’s special video enhancements like video stabilization, color correction, and background music — options previously only available from the desktop version of YouTube on your browser. Probably the best part about YouTube Capture is that it forces its users to shoot in landscape mode by default (although this can be changed in the app’s settings). As I mentioned before, Capture also lets iPhone users easily share to multiple social networks all from within the app ala Instagram. Alright, so does this mean Android users should be expecting a YouTube Capture to drop in the Play Store some time soon? According to Google, most definitely. While I don’t think there’s any need for a separate video recording app just for uploading to YouTube, the inclusion of the once desktop-only editing features has me green with envy. Really, all Google has to do is simply update our current YouTube app to include all these features in the upload options. What still remains to be seen is if Android users will also be restricted to iOS’s 720p maximum limit. If not, you’ll finally be able to go back to gloating.

T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2 getting multi-view update December 19th Posted: 17 Dec 2012 03:22 PM PST The marvelous feature known as multi-view on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 finally looks to come to T-Mobile users starting December 19th as the carrier has confirmed the news on its support site. This feature allows you to use two select apps at a time. For instance, I could be watching a YouTube video while browsing my Facebook time line at the same time. It’s pretty remarkable. By select apps, you’ll know that this feature will be limited to most Samsung-created apps, possibly a few Google apps and possibly a few third party apps such as Facebook and Twitter. Verizon users were shocked to find out that absolutely no Google apps, nor Facebook or Twitter, were available to use with their version of multi-view so nothing is guaranteed. Developers can add code to an APK’s manifest to make the apps compatible with multi-view, but most apps in the Play Store are not coded in this way. You could petition your favorite developers to figure out how to added support and deliver it in an update, but know that it’s not guaranteed to happen, and that it might not be the best solution even if it is guaranteed. Those who opt to root their devices might have already been enjoying multi-view, and with that would come the ability to use multi-view with any app you download. This is obviously the most ideal setup one could ask for, so if you don’t have a problem rooting your device then it’s something you’ll want to explore. You might ask why Samsung doesn’t just allow all apps themselves, and the answer is simple — they don’t want to be liable for poor performance, bad implementation of apps or be bombarded with silly questions like why users can’t play Modern Combat 4 will doing their homework in S Note. By limiting apps to carrier and Samsung approved apps they can assure users are using multi-view with apps that work well with the feature. Thankfully they made it easy enough to manipulate if you’re willing to get down and dirty with your device so don’t be too vexed about it. Other changes in the update will include a fix for an issue where exchange calendar events were not appearing in the built-in calendar, as well as an issue where users were unable to swipe through Gmail messages. The update will roll out over-the-air and via Kies so you should have no issues pulling this one down come Wednesday. [via T-Mobile]

Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy S3 get CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:58 PM PST More devices are in line to receive CyanogenMod 10.1 — aka the Android 4.2 build — as the team has started to push nightlies for some newly confirmed ones. Today’s lucky devices are the Samsung Galaxy S (yes, the original) and the Samsung Galaxy S3. It’s quite remarkable that the original Samsung Galaxy S is still getting the kind of support it’s receiving from CyanogenMod, and the development community as a whole. I shouldn’t be too surprised as people were still trying to get Ice Cream Sandwich up and going on the trusty G1 last I checked, but it’s still nice to know how dedicated the community is to supporting our devices far beyond what OEMs and carriers typically do. The Samsung Galaxy S3 isn’t as surprising (in fact, it’s not surprising at all) considering there has been support for this device since it dropped this past summer. I should note that the supported devices are currently limited to the T-Mobile and AT&T variants, but others should be in line for it in due time. Android 4.2 Jelly Bean features some great new enhancements over the original Jelly Bean build, such as Photos Sphere support, the toggles in the notifications pane, profiles, home-screen widgets and more. You’ll want to head here for the nightly downloads, but remember that these builds are to be considered experimental — none are guaranteed to work 100% correctly, and the CyanogenMod team doesn’t like it when you complain about stuff. They generally only accept bug reports for release candidates and stable builds so you’ll have to wait on those if you end up running into any. That said, if you understand the nature of nightlies and you want to flash anyway then head to the source link and get on with it. [via IntoMobile]

Google surprise calendar countdown to offer daily Google Play deals Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:43 PM PST Google has launched a holiday promotion in the Google Play Store that will see a new deal made available to Android users each day until we ring in the new year. Today’s “surprise calendar countdown” offer is a $35 credit to be used with the Hotel Tonight app. Users need only download the hotel booking application and enter the promo code “google35″ at checkout. Google isn’t revealing the deals in advance, but they will cover the complete range of Google play content, including books, music, movies, TV, and games. Based on this first promotion, it looks like the deals won’t simply be limited to discounted apps, as has been the case with past Google Play promotions. So if you’re looking for a hotel tonight, this Hotel Tonight deal looks like one that can’t be passed up. Otherwise, stay tuned to see what Google brings to us over the coming weeks. Great deals are sure to be had for all. [via TechCrunch]

Latest Kik Messenger update infuses the app with Reddit browsing and sharing Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:38 PM PST Where the boys at Google have been sitting on their hands when it comes to adding new features to Google Talk (when are we going to be able to send pictures!?), the boys at Kik are picking up where Googs left off. A sort of hybrid between normal SMS and instant messaging, Kik combines the best of both, allowing users to quickly and easily share photos (and more) with users on Android or iOS. Because the Kik service requires users to create user names and not actual phone numbers — unlike rival messaging service, WhatsApp — users no longer have to worry about changing your number if some weirdo wont leave them alone. If you haven’t been keeping up-to-date on all the Kik happenings, recently their Android app was updated with a new way for users to share using a new feature they called “Cards.” There were 3 cards at launch: YouTube Videos, Sketch, and (Google) Image Search. Think of Cards as tiny apps within the app, that allow for direct sharing of content with friends, family, or acquaintances. Where you could technically do this the “old fashioned way” by sending links via SMS or on Google Talk, when cards are shared with other Kik users, the content is immediately displayed in the conversation view and users wont ever have to leave the app to view. Genius. Today, Kik was updated in the Play Store yet again, this time adding an all new card called “Reddit Pics.” As the name suggests, the mini-app allows for easy browsing of Reddit’s images, and you can even custom tailor browsing by adding your favorite subreddits. Once an image is found that is deemed worthy of sharing, simply send the image directly to another another Kik user where they can even read the caption. Gotta hand it to ‘em, it’s an awesome update for an already great app. Can’t wait to see what the guys at Kik come up with next. The update is live on Google Play and, as always, Kik Messenger for Android is completely free to download. [Kik on Google Play]

Samsung redoes “sex tape” ad with Santa and Mrs Claus [VIDEO] Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:22 PM PST Remember that Samsung Galaxy S3 ad where a husband was going off on a business trip and his wife warned him not to watch a video she S Beamed to him on the plane? There was no telling what was actually in that video, but because we’re humans with dirty, dirty minds we all just assume it was a sex tape, of sorts. As racy as that ad was, what would you say if it was redone… with Santa Claus and his portly wife? That is exactly what Samsung has done for its holiday advertising campaign. The ad takes the attractive contemporary family and setting from the original ad and replaces them with the Clauses, their helpful elves and Santa’s sleigh all sitting in front of their North Pole home. The funny thing is that the characters for the new ad nailed the subtleties of the characters’ expressions from the first ad quite nicely. Yep, Mrs. Claus gives Santa that same “dirty” look after telling him not to watch it on the sleigh, and Santa responds with the awkward wave and double look. One difference you might notice in this ad is that Santa is using the Galaxy Note 2 while Mrs. Claus (does anyone even know her first name?) is using the Samsung Galaxy S3. The original ad only featured the Galaxy S3, but with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 now available from virtually everywhere it was important for Samsung to include it. Be sure to click above if you haven’t already seen this one floating about the digital airwaves, but if your mind has a tendency to paint its own pictures then you might want to steer clear so as to avoid having your brain burn unsavory mental images as a result of the sexual connotation this ad delivers.

Facebook improves nearby places discovery in latest mobile update Posted: 17 Dec 2012 12:09 PM PST Facebook has an update ready to roll for their mobile app hot on the heels of the launch to the Android native version. The latest iteration of the social networking app focuses on enhancements to nearby places discovery. Selecting “Nearby” from the main menu will instantly compile a list of local business frequented or liked by friends. Sorting options will allow users to refine their search, while clicking on a place will show business info as well as friend interactions. If you find a great new bar or hangout spot, you can rate or share with friends directly from the app. Facebook says the update is just the beginning for improvements to Nearby, which will grow as a service as more users share, rate, and like locations. The update is headed to both iOS and Android devices and should be available later today. [via Facebook]

Smartphones with a sense of smell? IBM’s bold technology predictions for the next 5 years Posted: 17 Dec 2012 11:15 AM PST Each year IBM releases its “5 in 5″ list offering five technology predictions for the next five years. This year’s list focuses on the five senses and details one new technology for each. All suggest intriguing possibilities for the future of smartphones. For smell, IBM predicts digital “noses” that can sniff out underlying medical conditions in a person’s breath. For sight, digital visioning enhancements could also have medical applications or be used to scan uploaded photographs for advertising purposes. For taste and hearing, technology could help craft foods that are maximize both nutrition and flavor or develop better hearing implants and predict the weather. Possibly most applicable to smartphones, advancements in touch screens might allow us to feel the textures we see. An obvious use for something like touch is retail. Shoppers surfing Amazon would have a chance to actually feel the fabric of the clothes they are browsing. But the other predictions offer more outside of the box thinking. With a digital nose, for instance, a smartphone could act as a fire alarm or carbon monoxide detector. Google could target advertising based on local scents. Is that the scent of delicious pizza wafting through the air? Here’s a Google Offer for a nearby slice shop. This, of course, is something that is likely much further down the road. The combined digital senses could be used to aid in another IBM prediction from 2006, remote health care access. A patient could send samples and images direct from their phone to be used in crafting a diagnosis. But speaking of older predictions, it’s worth nothing that not all of IBMs guesses have panned out. The first two 5-in-5 forecasts to pass their fifth year have been a little hit or miss. We do have access to technology like mobile wallets and advancements in driving like Google’s computer-driven cars, but we’ve missed out on the 3D internet and reliable real-time speech translation. The beginnings of several of IBM’s predictions for this year already exist, but even with rapidly advancing computer and mobile tech it’s hard to imagine something like a smartphone display that can simulate textures on the fly arriving within the next five years. Still, it’s fun to imagine what the world will be like when such a technology inevitably debuts. [IBM via Slate]

Dead Trigger Christmas update now available in the Play Store Posted: 17 Dec 2012 10:41 AM PST The folks at Madfinger Games have offered up another holiday-themed update for its zombie shooter in the Google Play Store. I’m talking about Dead Trigger, of course, and today’s upgrade brings a lot of new content that fits with the theme of Christmas. For starters, you’ll get a new arena that’s fixtured up in the North Pole. Here, you’ll take on waves of enemies who are led by the new boss that’s also coming along for a ride in his deadly sleigh — Zanta. Yes… Zanta. With a Z. I assume the “Z” is to play to the fact that he’s a zombified version of Santa, but if there was some other meaning then it went way over my head. Other than that, a new grenade launcher can be added to you weapons inventory, new story missions can be played and Madfinger is offering special pricing offers on various weapons. You’ll also be able to play your way to a Dead Trigger t-shirt in a new underground puzzle. Beyond new content, Madfinger made a key tweak to the mini-mortar in order to make it even more deadly than it already was. You can’t be too mad about that. As usual, the game is free for all to download but you’ll be urged to help fight the zombie apocalypse with tools and weapons that you buy using in-app purchases. Still, the game is totally playable without much of that so you should be downloading this with the quickness. Head to the Play Store for the upgrade.

Schmidt once again toots the Android horn in interview with Stephen Colbert Posted: 17 Dec 2012 08:35 AM PST Stephen Colbert is known for his often humorous interviews with celebrities, politicians, and authors on his show The Colbert Report, but the tables were turned when the TV personality made a recent trip to Google. Colbert was on the receiving end of a series of questions submitted by Google employees during an interview hosted by chairman Eric Schmidt. While the majority of the hour-long interview focuses mostly on Colbert’s latest book, Schmidt managed to slip in a bit of good-natured boasting for his company’s Android platform and Google Play Store. Saying, “I should not turn this into an Android commercial,” Schmidt once again touted the mobile platform’s position as the world’s top mobile operating system. Noting that Android is currently “five times bigger than the iPhone”, he assured Colbert that this fact combined with his book’s availability on Google Play meant “people will actually read your book.” Colbert, an open fan of Google, had a few suggestions for Schmidt, including a  tweak for the company’s Nexus 7 tablet. The Comedy Central host owns the N7 and requested that Google consider installing a physical volume button on the device. Schmidt had the perfect response. “That would cost extra.” Most of the Android-related stuff, including a quip on Google Play being a competitor to the rainforest (or more specifically a competitor to an online retailer named after a rainforest) comes within the first 10 minutes, but if you are a fan of Colbert the whole video is worth a watch. Add in the always entertaining Schmidt and it makes for some can’t miss YouTube viewing. [via AllThingsD]

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for US Cellular’s Samsung Galaxy S3 coming this Friday Posted: 17 Dec 2012 08:30 AM PST US Cellular has announced that it would be rolling Jelly Bean out to its Samsung Galaxy S3 starting this Friday, December 21st. This would make it the fifth and final upgrade needing to go out to the Samsung Galaxy S3 here in the United States as all major carriers, including Verizon, will have been offering it. As with all the other upgrades to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, US Cellular’s will bring the obvious enhancements that are Google Now, Project Butter and expanded notifications, as well as some Samsung specific changes including new features for the camera, browser, calendar and more. An over-the-air process will be taking place, but if you end up having trouble with that then you can also do the upgrade via your PC over USB. This link will have everything you need to take care of that once December 21st hits, but let’s hope this “end of the world” nonsense doesn’t end up spoiling our fun. More fleshed out details of what’s going to be changing can be had at this link so be sure to give it a nice read or two ahead of time. We’re not yet sure if in-store upgrades will be provided but we will be sure to find out from our friends over at US Cellular.

Major security flaw discovered in latest Exynos devices; community cooks up temporary fix as Samsung investigages Posted: 17 Dec 2012 07:55 AM PST Uh-oh — it looks like someone left a rather big hole open in Samsung’s kernel for its latest Exynos-based devices. An exploit has been reported to exist that would allow a malicious application to gain full access to a user’s device. For some reason, several parts of the memory system are open for read/write access to anyone. It’s said to affect any device with the Exynos 4210 and 4412, which would include heavy hitters such as the Exynos Samsung Galaxy S2, the Exynos Samsung Galaxy S3 and all Samsung Galaxy Note 2 units. Those with Qualcomm-based devices — which were common with the Galaxy s2 and Galaxy S3 here in North America due to LTE — are safe. For an idea of just how bad this exploit is, know that it is possible for anyone who knows what they’re doing to gain root access fairly easily — so easily, in fact, that you don’t need to ODIN or do any fancy file transferring to do so. This means an app you download from the Google Play Store or third party sources could quietly break into any part of the system it wants to without much effort at all. More details about what seems to be going on can be found at the XDA thread where many folks within the development community have come together to discuss the exploit. A temporary low-level fix has been provided for developers who want to experiment with it or implement it into their ROMs, but the fix does seem to break access to the device’s camera. It comes down to what’s more important: security or photos? The former should ring true for most, but we understand the hesitance of not wanting to lose the latter. Luckily, danger should be easily avoidable. For starters — and you might have heard this a lot in the past, but here it is again — please remember to download from trusted sources only. Try and stick to the Google Play Store wherever possible, and don’t download any app that looks suspicious. Most folks in the Play Store are genuine, but one or two apps may try and sneak their way into people’s phones by disguising themselves as something they’re really not. Most of these types of apps tend to be simple wallpaper or ringtone apps, so if there was one category you absolutely had to stay away from then that would be it. If you’re downloading APKs for the purposes of sideloading then be sure that you can trust the developer who provides it. Even if you trust the developer, make sure you’re reading comments regarding the APK, and make sure you’re downloading from the developer’s own link. Of course, avoidance is not the best course of action — an even better solution would be an official fix from Samsung. The company has acknowledged that a problem might exist and has launched a formal investigation into the matter. We’re hopeful it’ll find that the development community is right, and that a fix will be rushed out worldwide to prevent a huge problem. [XDA Developers via MobileSyrup]

Android-controlled toilet is Japan’s latest bathroom innovation Posted: 17 Dec 2012 07:43 AM PST Studies have already shown that the bathroom is one of our favorite places to pull out our smartphones, so why not take it a step further? That’s exactly what Japanese company Lixil did with the creation of their Satis commode, a toilet controlled by an accompanying Android app. The app makes things like touching a potentially germ-covered toilet seat a thing of the past through a variety of “hands-free” interactions. Users can raise the or lower the seat, initiate the cleansing blast of a bidet, and even stream music to a set of speakers installed in the toilet all with a few touches of the My Satis app. You can even monitor your toilet usage, which may or may not provide a snapshot of your digestive health (chances are you won’t need an app to tell you when your system is acting up, though). Leave it to the Japanese, a culture that has already achieved innovations in the bathroom that others around the world only dream of. In comparison to some of the other high-tech toilets found in the country, the Lixil Satis in reality is only a slight bump up in loo luxury. Here in the US we’re still waiting for the day a robotic toilet can pamper us while Phil Collins serenades from somewhere below the bowl. [Lixil via Inquistr]

Google UK exec says Nexus 4 supplies have been scarce, erratic; confirms new shipments this week Posted: 17 Dec 2012 07:31 AM PST In today’s edition of “let us tell you something you probably already know,” a Google exec has spoken out about the unfortunate situation that has been transpiring with the Nexus 4 delays. Many customers put orders in more than a month ago, and some of those customers still haven’t received a device. The initial corporate response, as it always seems to be with big delays of any kind, was that demand exceeded Google’s wildest expectations. You can only go so long trying to flip this big of a negative into a positive in that age-old way, though, and it seems Google UK and Ireland’s managing director is ready to put the bullish excuse away. Dan Cobley spoke directly to users on Google+ (after they bombarded a post about Zeitgeist with complaints about the Nexus 4 debacle) as he looked to empathize with them regarding the situation. He says the delays are unacceptable, and that the teams are working around the clock to meet all of its orders and get back on track. Cobley wasn’t looking to help soften the fire under LG, either, as he implicated the OEM for its scarce and “erratic” supply. We’re not sure what, exactly, is meant by “erratic” but we’re going to guess he’s talking more about the process of shipment opposed to problems in manufacturing. Cobley says Google is still at fault, though, as communication to customers regarding these matters have been admittedly poor on their part. He’s right: when customers throw hundreds and thousands of dollars at you then the ability to let them know what’s going on with what they paid for is imperative. Having said that, Cobley took the opportunity to be more clear about the status of orders that were originally taken on the December 4th sale. Those orders were originally given shipment times of 3-5 days, and while a good amount of customers received devices in that time frame there still appear to be a lot who haven’t. Cobley assured everyone that the rest of those orders would be shipping out early this week, however, and any other orders that were originally scheduled to arrive before Christmas will make their way to customers’ doorsteps before the biggest gift-giving date of the year. Let’s hope Google is up to the task of meeting that estimation, because if there’s one date you absolutely cannot miss when shipping orders, it’s Christmas. How many of you are still without Nexus 4 devices? [via The Verge]

Sprint will acquire remaining stake in Clearwire for $2.2 billion Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:55 AM PST A deal that will see Sprint acquire the remainder of Clearwire has been confirmed after news that a potential agreement was on the table surfaced last week. Sprint, already owning a majority stake in Clearwire, is set to buy the remaining 50 percent of the company for $2.2 billion. It was initially reported that Sprint had made a bid of $2.1 billion, but the demands of Clearwire share owners and a rise in stock prices after whispers of the deal surfaced had the Now Network up their offer. The deal, which is still pending the necessary regulatory approvals, should be complete around the same time as SoftBank’s buyout of 70 percent of Sprint. That should be on the books by March or April of next year. SoftBank has already signed off on the deal, as have Clearwire’s minority shareholders, including Comcast and Intel. Sprint will provide $800 million in funding for Clearwire while absorbing the company’s existing debt of $5.5 billion. Check out the PR below for more details. Sprint to Acquire 100 Percent Ownership of Clearwire for $2.97 per Share Transaction provides Clearwire shareholders with certain, fair and attractive value Sprint uniquely positioned to leverage Clearwire’s 2.5 GHz spectrum assets Transaction strengthens Sprint’s position and increases competitiveness in the U.S. wireless industry Interim funding allows Clearwire to continue LTE build-out and complement Sprint’s LTE deployment OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & BELLEVUE, Wash. (BUSINESS WIRE), December 17, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE:S) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the approximately 50 percent stake in Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR) it does not currently own for $2.97 per share, equating to a total payment to Clearwire shareholders, other than Sprint, of $2.2 billion. This transaction results in a total Clearwire enterprise value of approximately $10 billion, including net debt and spectrum lease obligations of $5.5 billion. The transaction consideration represents a 128 percent premium to Clearwire’s closing share price the day before the Sprint-SoftBank discussions were first confirmed in the marketplace on October 11, with Clearwire speculated to be a part of that transaction; and, a 40 percent premium to the closing price the day before receipt of Sprint’s initial $2.60 per share non-binding indication of interest on November 21. Clearwire’s spectrum, when combined with Sprint’s, will provide Sprint with an enhanced spectrum portfolio that will strengthen its position and increase competitiveness in the U.S. wireless industry. Sprint’s Network Vision architecture should allow for better strategic alignment and the full utilization and integration of Clearwire’s complementary 2.5 GHz spectrum assets, while achieving operational efficiencies and improved service for customers as the spectrum and network is migrated to LTE standards. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said, “Today’s transaction marks yet another significant step in Sprint’s improved competitive position and ability to offer customers better products, more choices and better services. Sprint is uniquely positioned to maximize the value of Clearwire’s spectrum and efficiently deploy it to increase Sprint’s network capacity. We believe this transaction, particularly when leveraged with our SoftBank relationship, is further validation of our strategy and allows Sprint to control its network destiny.” The transaction was unanimously approved by Clearwire’s board of directors upon the unanimous recommendation of a special committee of the Clearwire board consisting of disinterested directors not appointed by Sprint. In addition, Clearwire has received commitments from Comcast Corp., Intel Corp and Bright House Networks LLC, who collectively own approximately 13 percent of Clearwire’s voting shares, to vote their shares in support of the transaction. SoftBank has provided its consent to the transaction, as required under the terms of its recently announced merger agreement with Sprint. Clearwire CEO and President Erik Prusch said, “Our board of directors has been reviewing available strategic alternatives over the course of the last two years. In evaluating available alternatives, a special committee conducted a careful and rigorous process, and based on the committee’s recommendation, our board unanimously determined that this transaction, which delivers certain and attractive value for our shareholders, is the best path forward.” In connection with the transaction, Clearwire and Sprint have entered into agreements that provide up to $800 million of additional financing for Clearwire in the form of exchangeable notes, which will be exchangeable under certain conditions for Clearwire common stock at $1.50 per share, subject to adjustment under certain conditions. Under the financing agreements, Sprint has agreed to purchase $80 million of exchangeable notes per month for up to ten months beginning in January, 2013, with some of the monthly purchases subject to certain funding conditions, including conditions relating to the approval of the proposed merger by Clearwire’s shareholders and a network build out plan. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and the approval of Clearwire’s stockholders, including the approval of a majority of Clearwire stockholders not affiliated with Sprint or SoftBank. The closing of the transaction is also contingent on the consummation of Sprint’s previously announced transaction with SoftBank. The Clearwire and SoftBank transactions are expected to close mid-2013. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as financial advisor to Sprint and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and King & Spalding LLP acted as counsel to Sprint. The Raine Group acted as financial advisor to SoftBank Corp. and Morrison Foerster LLP acted as counsel to SoftBank. Evercore Partners acted as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as counsel to Clearwire. Centerview Partners acted as financial advisor and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. acted as counsel to Clearwire’s special committee. Blackstone Advisory Partners L.P. advised Clearwire on restructuring matters. Credit Suisse acted as financial advisor and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP acted as counsel to Intel. About Sprint Nextel Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served nearly 56 million customers at the end of the third quarter of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011 and 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

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