AndroidGuys

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• Archos intros ChefPad, kitchen-based Android tablet
• HTC First getting discontinued, source says
• Google unifies Gmail and Drive storage with 15GB
• Zact enters the no-contract fray with custom-built plans
• Could white Nexus 4 be the refreshed LTE model for Google I/O?
• Sony announces new Xperia ZR, a smaller waterproof cousin of the Xperia Z
• Motorola XT1058 ‘XFON’ swings through FCC
• Android lead: Google I/O “going to be different” this year.

Archos intros ChefPad, kitchen-based Android tablet Posted: 13 May 2013 11:51 AM PDT Archos has a new Android tablet for your consideration, the kitchen-themed ChefPad. Rather than a stock Android experience and traditional tablet, this one is designed to stay in one place.  Specifications are pretty much your typical mid-range device with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a dual-core 1.6GHz processor, 1GB RAM, and 8GB internal storage. The Chef's Apps selection on the ARCHOS ChefPad filters through thousands of apps to provide the best cooking content in a range of categories including recipes, drinks, shopping, cooking TV and more. Whether you are looking for dinner ideas, a good wine match, a balanced meal plan or a smoothie, Chef Apps gets it done. The 9.7-inch display runs at 1024 x 768 pixel resolution and features a silicon case to protect against spills, greasy fingers, and sticky substances.  Also, the ChefPad comes with an adjustable stand for creating variable viewing angles. Click to view slideshow. Indeed, the Archos ChefPad is designed to stay in the kitchen but that doesn’t mean it’s limited in capabilities. Users will find expandable storage (microSD), a pair of 2-megapixel cameras, and HDMI support. Archos The post Archos intros ChefPad, kitchen-based Android tablet appeared first on AndroidGuys.

HTC First getting discontinued, source says Posted: 13 May 2013 11:09 AM PDT After barely a month into its release, the HTC First is set to become discontinued, or so says a source close to BGR. The phone, which already dropped from $99 to $.99 last week, has reportedly sold somewhere south of 15,000 units. Blame AT&T, Facebook, or HTC… whoever ya want, this thing is a sinking ship. Our source at AT&T has confirmed that the HTC First, which is the first smartphone to ship with Facebook Home pre-installed, will soon be discontinued and unsold inventory will be returned to HTC.   According to insiders, AT&T reps are not fans of the device and are instead pushing other products like the Samsung Galaxy S4, iPhone 5, and HTC One. And, really, the blame probably falls mostly at Facebook’s feet for thinking people want to buy a phone around “more” Facebook. AT&T’s official stance, however, is that the $.99 price is a promotion and that no future plans have been made in regards to the HTC First. BGR The post HTC First getting discontinued, source says appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Google unifies Gmail and Drive storage with 15GB Posted: 13 May 2013 10:35 AM PDT Google announced on Monday that it will unify the storage between the Gmail and Drive properties. Now, instead of having 10GB free storage in Gmail and another 5GB in Drive, users will have 15GB total to use wherever and however.  In the event you need more storage, Google will offer plans at $4.99/month for 100 GB, and $9.99/month for 200GB. Google The post Google unifies Gmail and Drive storage with 15GB appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Zact enters the no-contract fray with custom-built plans Posted: 13 May 2013 10:06 AM PDT T-Mobile, AT&T, and pretty much every other no-contract carrier have at least one more wireless provider to keep an eye on.  The carrier is called Zact and it aims to make things easier and/or provide more options than the other guys. Zact, offers a pair of entry-level Android handsets at un-subsidized prices in the LG Viper and LG Optimus Elite. Both run older builds of the platform with the Viper being the more basic of the two. In terms of options, customers start at $4.99 per handset and then pick how many minutes, messages, and data is needed. There are pre-packaged bundles you can opt for however anyone can choose very specific details. Zact operates on a number of principles that, on paper, help it to stand above the fray.  Don’t use all of your minutes or messages? Zact will refund you for whatever wasn’t used by the end of the month. Want to share data with another device?  All you need to pay is the $4.99 and then you’re good to go. Customize your amount of voice, text and data right from your device, and adjust it any time 'Never Overpay Guarantee' with automatic credit back to a plan that would have saved you money if a bigger plan was unnecessarily purchased True sharing that lets you allocate a custom plan of any size to as many devices as you wish Remote parental control on kids phones to set curfews, apps and contact restrictions Access to specialized plans including app-specific plans, one-time top-ups and international long distance Parents can manage other handsets by restricting apps, setting curfews, and blocking contacts. There’s also total flexibility and freedom in changing plans or options. No need to worry about extending contracts or paying fees to make changes. To learn more about Zact be sure to check their website out – you’ll find details on phones and rate plans.   The post Zact enters the no-contract fray with custom-built plans appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Could white Nexus 4 be the refreshed LTE model for Google I/O? Posted: 13 May 2013 08:51 AM PDT Don’t your breath or anything, but it’s possible that Google will release a white version of the Nexus 4. Expected to arrive with 32GB storage and LTE connectivity, the Nexus 4 has been rumored for a refresh for a while now. New images surfacing this week show the white model is back in the wild, leading to new speculation. Google has a track record of releasing special, limited editions of hardware in the past so a white Nexus 4 LTE sounds logical. On the other hand, we might not want to expect new products from Google later this week. Ervi Sue (Google+) The post Could white Nexus 4 be the refreshed LTE model for Google I/O? appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Sony announces new Xperia ZR, a smaller waterproof cousin of the Xperia Z Posted: 13 May 2013 07:37 AM PDT Sony, capitalizing on the massive success of their Xperia line, has today announced the new Xperia ZR. At 4.55 inches, the ZR will be bringing along a lot of the same internals as the Xperia Z, to include the waterproof capabilities – with a rating of IP5 and IP8. This rating makes the ZR ideal for underwater HD recording. We’re also looking at a 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU – same family as the Xperia Z and ZL – as well as 2GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, and expandable memory with a MicroSD. Display-wise, we’re seeing a 4.55 inch 720p display, and a 13MP Sony Exmor RS camera with LED flash. While the press release mentions LTE support, the official spec sheet from Sony only mentions HSPA+ – so, be aware that it may depend on your carrier and market. The bands mentioned for HSPA+ seem to point towards European and North American markets. via sony | press release The post Sony announces new Xperia ZR, a smaller waterproof cousin of the Xperia Z appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Motorola XT1058 ‘XFON’ swings through FCC Posted: 13 May 2013 07:05 AM PDT A Motorola XT1058 has made its way through the FCC, carrying what appears to be support for AT&T’s network. Based on the image that accompanies the listing, the phone looks to be the same “X Phone” that leaked back in March. Things are falling into place for the so-called ‘X FON’ with AT&T emerging as the to carrier of choice to offer support for the phone. Initially rumored to arrive at Google I/O and the middle of the year, the handset now seems to be slated for a few months from now. There have been whispers that Google is stepping out of the picture and leaving Motorola to its own devices. (See what we did there?) The way we see it, Google is too invested in this to walk away. We’ve heard too much from Google publicly regarding what a phone should have and provide users. FCC The post Motorola XT1058 ‘XFON’ swings through FCC appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Android lead: Google I/O “going to be different” this year. Posted: 13 May 2013 06:25 AM PDT Don’t look for any big new hardware or major releases in Android at Google I/O this week, it’s likely not going to happen. Google’s Sundar Pinchai, speaking with Wired, tells us that Google I/O is “going to be different” this year. What can we expect from I/O this year? It's going to be different. It's not a time when we have much in the way of launches of new products or a new operating system. Both on Android and Chrome, we're going to focus this I/O on all of the kinds of things we're doing for developers, so that they can write better things. We will show how Google services are doing amazing things on top of these two platforms. We cannot say we’re upset or surprised by this as the conference is really all about developers and the ways in which they push Google’s products forward. To expect new hardware for the sake of keeping up with previous events is somewhat folly. Sure, we’d love to see a new phone or tablet but we’d understand if that doesn’t happen until this fall and the rumored-to-be-delayed “5.0/Key Lime Pie” release. The whole Wired article is definitely worth a read; Pinchai also discusses Facebook Home, Samsung, Nexus branding, and more. Wired | Image credit belongs to Wired   The post Android lead: Google I/O “going to be different” this year. appeared first on AndroidGuys.

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