Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums

Gmail for Android update begins rolling out with refreshed UI, APK available for download

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 12:23 PM PDT

new_gmail_appGmail’s new categorical inbox went live in browsers last week, and the Android app is starting to follow. The new Gmail app is slowly (very slowly) rolling out to users via the Play Store. If you don’t want to wait, however, Android Police has ripped the APK file for all of us to download and enjoy immediately. You can download the update via the source link.

I’ve gotten a chance to play around with the updated app, and I’m really liking how polished it feels. The sliding navigational drawer, and “slide down to refresh” feature are incredibly smooth. The new contact images with upper case initials with a bright background are also a nice touch. There’s also a little more room to read your emails due to the action bar being moved, which is always helpful.

Source: Android Police


Come comment on this article: Gmail for Android update begins rolling out with refreshed UI, APK available for download

Acer announces ‘Orbe,’ a wireless storage hub for Acer’s cloud service

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 11:11 AM PDT

Acer_Orbe

After a day of newly released Ultrabooks, tablets, and smartphones, Acer took the stage once again at Computex 2013 to reveal the new “Orbe,” a new storage hub that will connect to AcerCloud. The device allows for a whole 2TB of storage and can connect to Ultrabooks, tablets, and smartphones. This will be pretty userful considering the service’s recent update allowing Android and iOS devices to connect. We don’t have any specs on the Orbe as of right now, but we’ll be sure to fill you in as they come.

Source: Engadget


Come comment on this article: Acer announces ‘Orbe,’ a wireless storage hub for Acer’s cloud service

ARM introduces the new Cortex-A12 core for upcoming mid-range smartphones

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 11:10 AM PDT

arm_cortex

 

In an effort to get expand its presence beyond premium-level smartphones, ARM has officially introduced the Cortex-A12, a brand-new mid-range core to be used in future mid-level smartphones. The Cortex-A12 will feature none other than the energy-saving ARM big.LITTLE™ technology that was previously found only on high-end devices, but now can be designed into mid-range smartphones as well. As a result, the Cortex-A12 processor offers ARM partners up to a 40 percent performance improvement, compared to the existing Cortex-A9 processor. Complimenting the new core is the Mali-T622 GPU and Mali-V500 video engine, giving the future mid-range devices superior graphics and videos in comparison to the high-end counterparts. So the hope is perhaps in the immediate future, the upcoming mid-rangers will have some pretty sweet capabilities without customers having to compromise on the price.

We know at least some of you are salivating right now, so why not hit the break and check out the press release for more details?

 

 

ARM Targets 580 Million Mid-Range Mobile Devices with New Suite of IP

News Highlights:
· Faster time to market and less design risk with suite of IP including: ARM Cortex-A12 processor, Mali-T622 GPU, Mali-V500 video solution and POP IP technology;

· 580 million mid-range smartphones and tablets are forecast to be sold in 2015_[i];
· Cortex-A12 processor delivers 40 percent more performance than Cortex-A9 and brings premium features such as virtualization to the mid-range mobile device market; efficiency profile also makes it ideal for DTV and home networking;

· Cortex-A12 processor brings optimum performance and maximum efficiency of big.LITTLE processing to mid-range smartphones and tablets;

· Mali-T622 GPU offers an efficient and qualified OpenGL ES 3.0 solution and smallest Full Profile GPU Compute solution, putting even greater compute power into the hands of more mobile users;

· Mali-V500 video IP solution reduces system bandwidth and power, while enabling the protection of premium video content with TrustZone support.

Cambridge, UK and Taipei – 3 June 2013: Today at Computex, ARM announced an optimized IP solution designed to power the 580 million mid-range mobile devices expected over the next two years. The mid-range market is projected to exceed the number of premium smartphones and tablets beginning in 2015. Targeted at the mid-range market, this new suite of ARM IP is optimized for power, performance and die size. Used together, this suite of IP will provide consumers with premium features like virtualization, big.LITTLE processing and GPU compute at mid-range price points.

The suite extends the ARM® Cortex®-A processor and ARM Mali™-T GPU series with the Cortex-A12 processor and Mali-T622 GPU and introduces a new video IP product, the Mali-V500. With support from ARM POP™ technology and the ARM Development Studio 5 (DS-5™) toolchain, ARM partners can deliver smartphones and tablets with higher efficiency and reduced time to market. Partners will announce their plans in due course, but ARM expects this IP solution will be in mobile devices by mid-2014.

“Mobile users expect a range of devices at different price points and for a mid-range mobile experience to include some high end mobile features. With a billion smartphones predicted to ship in 2013 and tablets projected to out-ship notebook PCs, device-makers can now provide quality, high-performance mobile products with the features that matter the most, at a range of price points,” said Ian Drew, chief marketing officer and executive vice president, ARM. “The market is evolving at an amazing rate and there is now a choice of solutions for semiconductor companies and for mobile device-makers. Our suite of optimized IP expands the choice for the mid-range mobile market.”

Bringing Premium Features to the Mid-Range
The energy-saving technology known as ARM big.LITTLE™ processing is only just coming to high-end devices today, but now can be designed into mid-range smartphones, allowing users to do more with their devices. The Cortex-A12 processor offers ARM partners a 40 percent performance uplift in the same power envelope when compared to the successful Cortex-A9 processor. The Cortex-A12 processor builds on best-in-class efficiency as a standalone solution and additionally supports the innovative big.LITTLE™ processing technology with the Cortex-A7 processor. The Cortex-A12 introduces features found in premium smartphones and tablets to mid-range devices, including virtualization. Additional information for the Cortex-A12 processor can be found here.

Ready for the Next Graphics Standards
The Mali-T622 GPU, is OpenGL ES 3.0 conformant, supports the Renderscript and OpenCL™ APIs, and is the smallest full profile GPU Compute solution available for mobile devices. The Mali-T622 GPU brings a rich, visual experience to mid-range mobile devices with functionality only now becoming available in the highest-end premium smartphones and tablets. It does all of this while providing a 50 percent energy-efficiency improvement over first-generation Mali-T600 series products. A closer look at the Mali-T622 GPU can be found here.

High-Quality Video in Mid-range Mobile
The energy-efficient Mali-V500 video solution provides dedicated video processing and reduces system bandwidth requirements by more than 50 percent_[ii] compared to currently available solutions. The Mali-V500 is a multicore video solution, scaling from a single core capable of 1080p/60 encode and decode to multiple cores supporting ultra-high definition 4K at a blistering 120 frames per second. Additionally, the Mali-V500 video solution was architected with support for TrustZone® security technology enabling efficient, hardware-backed security for movie and TV content from download to display. More details on the Mali-V500 video solution are available here.

ARM Brings it all Together
ARM is best positioned to ensure its IP can be combined together for optimal performance with minimal energy consumption across the entire SoC, thus allowing every task to be run on the right processor. System advances include:
· ARM POP IP supports leading 28-nanometer foundry processes. ARM POP IP is the only implementation solution which is co-developed and co-optimized, offering the best design points and fastest time to market for the Cortex-A12 processor and Mali-T622 GPU. More information on ARM POP IP, featuring Artisan® physical IP, available for this optimized suite can be found here.
· ARM DS-5 toolchain to support development and optimization of software for systems based on the Cortex-A12 processor, Mali-T622 GPU, and CoreLink CCI-400 cache coherent interconnect. Complemented by the addition of the ARM Fast Models simulation library, the DS-5 toolchain enables early software development and system-wide performance and power optimization. Learn more about system software optimization here.
“The immense success of Cortex-A9 processor-based SoCs, and the demand for highest performance at best energy efficiency, makes the new Cortex-A12 processor the perfect choice for VIA and will help drive our strong commitment to provide leading-edge platforms for our partners and the ARM ecosystem. The premium feature set of the Cortex-A12 processor will enable new use cases previously only limited to high-end devices and will allow the mid-range mobile device segment to continue growing rapidly,” said Tzu-Mu Lin, senior vice president, VIA Technologies.

Tweet this story

About ARM

ARM designs the technology that is at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM’s comprehensive product offering includes RISC microprocessors, graphics processors, video engines, enabling software, cell libraries, embedded memories, high-speed connectivity products, peripherals and development tools. Combined with comprehensive design services, training, support and maintenance, and the company’s broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. Find out more about ARM by following these links:

 


Come comment on this article: ARM introduces the new Cortex-A12 core for upcoming mid-range smartphones

‘Plants vs Zombies 2: It’s About Time’ coming soon, PopCap releases new trailer for game

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 11:02 AM PDT

Plants_Vs_Zombies_2Today PopCap has announced that the sequel to their popular game Plants Vs Zombies, will come out for iOS on June 18th, with an Android version coming later. The game will be titled Plants Vs Zombies 2: It’s About Time, and will allow users to play in different themed locations, such as Ancient Egypt, Pirate Seas, and the Wild West— more locations will soon be revealed. As for the layout of the game, it’s pretty much the same as the original, with plants and zombies on opposite ends of the playing field. However, users will be able to interact with zombies using a new touchscreen power-up feature. The game will be free to play, with in-app purchases of course. PopCap did mention that everyone will be able to access every level and every zombie and plant without paying a cent— the in-app purchases, however, will most likely just speed up the process of upgrading. Check out the new trailer after the break.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source: Droid Gamers


Come comment on this article: ‘Plants vs Zombies 2: It’s About Time’ coming soon, PopCap releases new trailer for game

Verizon confirms the HTC One is coming later this summer

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT

Verizon_Tweet_HTC_One_coming_later_this_summer

Well first things first, and that is that yours truly was dead wrong. I posted on Friday that I felt that Verizon wouldn’t offer the HTC One and instead opt for the Butterfly 2 as in the DROID DNA 2. Well Verizon sent out a tweet announcing the HTC One will indeed land on Verizon later this Summer. I’m still shocked because it still doesn’t make any sense (no pun intended). One thing I was right on was the fact that Verizon always has an HTC device for the summer, but why would Verizon want to offer the One later this Summer after the other three U.S. carriers get a huge headstart? Later this summer means August to me, which is well after everyone else.

This must mean one of two things: Either HTC really pushed hard for this since they really want to get their brand out there or something went wrong with the Butterfly 2. The only other thing I can think of is that the new Butterfly will be marketed  with the word “One” in the name, and Verizon won’t actually have the same One as everyone else. It would be hard to bet any money on that notion when you consider that Verizon’s tweet clearly said “HTC One”. HTC has nothing to say other than they will provide additional details as the release date gets closer. Maybe one day I will understand how Verizon Wireless operates.

source: @VZWnews


Come comment on this article: Verizon confirms the HTC One is coming later this summer

Study shows average Americans spend roughly an hour per day with their smartphone

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 08:41 AM PDT

smartphone time graph

How much time do you spend with your smartphone each day? Thirty minutes? Three hours? The average American apparently slides somewhere in the middle of those numbers, coming in right at 58 minutes per day, according to a recent study done on a handful of smartphone users. Surprisingly, about a quarter of smartphone use was talking on a phone call. Texting came in as the second most popular activity, chewing up 20% of those 58 minutes.

Watching video apparently only accounted for 1% of time spent on a smartphone, with only 2% of the people in the study saying they watched videos on their phone. That’s definitely an odd result, but apparently consuming video on your smartphone is a love-it-or-hate-it type deal.

Personally, I know I spend more than an hour per day on my smartphone, and very little of that time is spent making phone calls. What are your daily usage habits with your Android device? Do they match up with this study? Let us know in the comments.

source: All Things D


Come comment on this article: Study shows average Americans spend roughly an hour per day with their smartphone

Acer announces Liquid S1 quad-core phablet with 5.7 inch screen

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 08:32 AM PDT

Acer-Liquid-S1

Acer has announced its first ever phablet device, the Liquid S1. It’s not an incredibly high-end device, but it’s certainly no slouch, either. Underneath the 5.7 inch, 720p screen, you’ll get a quad-core processor clocked at 1.5 GHz, an 8 megapixel rear camera, and Android 4.2. There’s also the expected OEM software tweaks, such as Acer’s Float User Interface which allows some apps to “float” on screen for multitasking and several different kinds of voice actions, including a voice action to unlock the device. A RAM specification would’ve been nice to back up these features, especially the ones focused on multitasking, but hopefully it slides in over 1 GB.

There are still two sore spots with this device, though; no 1080p scree, and no 4G LTE. Hopefully the attractive body and affordable price tag of €349, or $454, can make up for those two small shortcomings, though. Hit the break for the full press release from Acer.


Come comment on this article: Acer announces Liquid S1 quad-core phablet with 5.7 inch screen

ASUS FonePad Note set to compete in stylus-equipped phablet space

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 08:15 AM PDT

asus_fonepad_note_02

ASUS revealed a new device today at Computex 2013 intended to compete in the market for phablet devices that come with their own stylus. The gorilla in the market space is the Samsung line of Galaxy Note devices. To compete, ASUS is releasing the ASUS FonePad Note with a 6-inch display backed by a 1.6GHz dual-core Atom Z2560 processor. The screen will be capable of running full HD at 1080p using a Super IPS+ display. The device will not be LTE-capable, but will support DC-HSPA+.

The FonePad Note will come with 2GB of RAM, but we don’t have any information yet on what kind of internal memory options will be offered or if microSD cards will be supported. The device will have an 8MP rear-facing camera and a 1.2MP front-facing camera. Following the lead of HTC, ASUS is locating the speakers on the front of the device. Like the Samsung Galaxy Note devices, the FonePad Note will come with its own stylus.

Details about pricing and availability are not yet available.

asus_fonepad_note_01

source: SlashGear


Come comment on this article: ASUS FonePad Note set to compete in stylus-equipped phablet space

Twitter finally releases Vine for Android

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 07:27 AM PDT

VineForAndroid

Android users have been left out in the cold for the past 6 months while iOS users have been enjoying the Vine app for Twitter. Well it’s time to come inside to the warmth because Twitter just announced it’s now available for Android. As a quick refresher, Vine is a video service for Twitter that allows you to post short, and I mean short, videos. We are talking 6 seconds or less. So far, 13 million people have already used it via iOS.

Don’t expect the same features as the iOS version right away. They will be adding some stuff in the coming weeks such as the ability to use the front-facing camera, search, mentions and hashtags, and sharing to Facebook. They even hinted at features that would only be available on Android such as zooming support.

Download links after the break.

Vine_For_Android_05 Vine_For_Android_04 Vine_For_Android_03 Vine_For_Android_02 Vine_For_Android_01

QR Code generator
Play Store Download Link

More info: Twitter


Come comment on this article: Twitter finally releases Vine for Android

Samsung announces the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and Galaxy Tab 3 10.1

Posted: 03 Jun 2013 07:08 AM PDT

samsung_galaxy_tab_3_10.1

Samsung just announced the final two variants of the mid-range Galaxy Tab 3 line, the 8-inch and 10.1-inch versions. Other than the display size, the specs of the two devices are pretty close, but not a perfect match. The Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 (pictured above) has a 10.1-inch (1280-800) display, a 1.6GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, microSD slot, 3MP rear camera, 1.3 front camera, Bluetooth 4.0, 6,800mAh battery, and Android 4.2. The Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 (pictured below) features an 8-inch (1280 x 800) display, 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, microSD slot, 5MP rear camera, 1.3 front camera, Bluetooth 4.0, 4,450mAh battery, and Android 4.2. Both devices are pretty thin. The 8.0 comes in at 7.4mm thick and the 10.1 comes in at 7.95mm. No word on pricing of exactly when you will be able to buy either tab.

samsung_galaxy_tab_3_8.0

Here are the full specs for both devices…

Samsung GALAXY Tab 3 10.1-inch Product Specifications:

Network WiFi
3G: HSPA+ 21/5.76 (850/900/1900/2100)
LTE: 100Mbps DL, 50Mbps UL; Hexa Band(800/850/900/1800/2100/2600) HSPA+ 42/5.76 (850/900/1900/2100)
Processor 1.6 GHz Dual Core processor
Display 10.1-inch WXGA TFT (1280 x 800, 149PPI)
OS Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Camera Main(Rear): 3-megapixel camera
Sub (Front): 1.3-megapixel camera
Video Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, WMV, DivX(1080p Full HD @30fps)
Playback: 1080p@30fps
Recording: 720p@30fps
Audio Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA, E-AC-3, FLAC, Vorbis, AMR-NB/WB
Sound Alive and Dolby Surround Effect
Services & Additional Features Samsung Apps
Samsung Hub*
- Readers Hub/ Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
Samsung Kies,
Samsung Kies Air (Downloadable via Samsung Apps)
Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
Google Mobile Services: Google Search, Gmail, Google Play Store, Google Plus, YouTube, Google Talk, Google Maps (Turn-by-turn Navigation), Google Now
Connectivity WiFi a/b/g/n (2.4 & 5GHz), WiFi Channel Bonding, WiFi Direct
Bluetooth® 4.0
USB 2.0
GPS A-GPS + GLONASS
Sensor WiFi: Accelerometer, Magnetic, Light
3G/ LTE:
Memory 16/32GB Internal Memory + 1GB (RAM)
microSD slot (up to 64GB) *available capacity varies and storage is less due to phone software
Dimension 243.1 x 176.1 x 7.95mm
510g (Wi-Fi)
Battery Standard battery, Li-ion 6,800 mAh

 

Samsung GALAXY Tab 3 8-inch Product Specifications:

Network WiFi, 3G, LTE
Processor 1.5 GHz Dual Core processor
Display 8-inch WXGA TFT(1280 x 800, 189PPI)
OS Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Camera Main(Rear): 5-megapixel camera
Sub (Front): 1.3-megapixel camera
Video Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, WMV, DivX(1080p Full HD @30fps)
Playback: 1080p@30fps
Recording: 720p@30fps
Audio Codec: MP3, OGG, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, FLAC
Sound Alive and Dolby Surround Effect
Services & Additional Features Samsung Apps
Samsung Hub*
- Readers Hub/Music Hub/Game Hub/Video Hub
Samsung Kies
Samsung Kies Air (Downloadable via Samsung Apps)
Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
Samsung Services: Reading mode, Story Album, Group Play, S Translator, S Travel, Dual View, Pop up Video, WatchON
 Google Mobile Services: Google Search, Gmail, Google Play Store, Google Plus, YouTube, Google Talk, Google Maps (Turn-by-turn Navigation), Google Now
Connectivity WiFi a/b/g/n (2.4/5GHz), WiFi Channel Bonding, WiFi Direct
Bluetooth® 4.0
USB 2.0
GPS A-GPS + GLONASS
Sensor WiFi: Accelerometer, Magnetic, RGB
3G/ LTE: Accelerometer, Magnetic, RGB, Approximate
Memory 16/32GB Internal Memory + 1.5GB (RAM)
microSD slot (up to 64GB) *available capacity varies and storage is less due to phone software
Dimension 209.8 x 123.8 x 7.4mm
314g(Wi-Fi)
Battery Standard battery, Li-ion 4,450 mAh


Come comment on this article: Samsung announces the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and Galaxy Tab 3 10.1

Posted by at 5:47 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)