Android Authority |
- Will a third major platform benefit Android users?
- Kickstarter: ‘Mini MicroSD Reader’ for Nexus 7 and other Android devices
- Apple ‘slide-to-unlock’ patent invalid, German court rules
- Samsung’s SPH-L500 passing through the FCC, has Sprint connectivity
- How to use Carbon Backup
- Diamonds in the Rough: 7 Apps You Might Like (Ep #1 April 1-7)
- Samsung outs kernel source code for Galaxy Win, Galaxy Trend Duos II
- Gamestop consumer electronics trade-in program now includes four additional brands, including Samsung
| Will a third major platform benefit Android users? Posted: 06 Apr 2013 07:57 PM PDT
In this context, we look at the benefits and drawbacks that a third strong mobile platform would bring to the average Android user. Meet the ChallengersBy now, it’s clear that Google's Android and Apple's iOS are the only two major players in the mobile platform game. Recent reports indicate that nine out of ten smartphones sold globally are running one of these two operating systems. In the tablet market, after a long period of almost complete Apple iPad domination, Android made some great progress, mostly thanks to the excellent Nexus 7. We should note that Amazon's Kindle Fire line-up, which is especially successful in the United States, is running a forked version of Android. Technically speaking, Amazon has created a new platform, although its roots are still with Android. BlackBerry has recently launched the BlackBerry 10 platform, probably the last chance the Canadian company has to regain its lost relevance. However, it remains to be seen if the new features introduced with BB10 are enough to draw customers in. One company that you can never rule out in the mobile sector is Microsoft. No matter how many times it fails, Steve Ballmer’s team will still have enough resources to go at it again. With all the resources and money the Redmond-based company has been splurging, there’s a chance Microsoft will gain some relevance in the mobile industry at some point. One new competitor in the mobile platform wars is Ubuntu for phones (not to be confused with Ubuntu for Android). The Linux-based operating system promises to bring all the things people love about the Ubuntu desktop OS on your smartphone. And just when you thought that the mobile platform market couldn’t become any more crowded, the Mozilla Foundation announced that they've already signed partnerships with hardware manufacturers that should soon materialize in the first batch of budget-friendly Firefox smartphones. Analyzing the chances that each of these platforms has to gain real traction would require an inordinate amount of time. For the time being, we're more interested in answering a different, but related question: will the rise of a third powerful player benefit Android users? More CompetitionThe first thing that comes to mind when discussing the possibility of a third powerful platform is increased competition. Just as with any other markets and products, quality is driven by the number and competence of the big players in that market. This could translate to more features and content being added to each one of the platforms, as the parent company needs to find more ways of topping its competitors. In addition, adding a third player would automatically motivate both Apple and Google to focus on being more creative and innovative. Unfortunately, I believe that an enhanced competition would also mean that exclusive content availability will become a major focus point for the platform owners. From an end-user perspective, this could mean that an increasing percentage of movies, shows and music tracks will be available on one platform and one platform only, contrary to the principles of an ideal world where all the content is available on all platforms. The App FactorCurrently, a mobile app developer really needs to focus on developing for iOS and Android only, but if a third popular platform would bite off the combined market share of the dominant players we have at the present, app developers would have to develop a native app for the third platform as well. So you see, the rise of a third major mobile platform would mean that companies that specialize in mobile app development will have to invest more time, effort and money into their apps. Users will experience this phenomenon working against them in one of several ways: an increasing number of apps of paid apps will arise, the average price for paid apps will increase, while the average quality will decrease. This whole app problem could be avoided by focusing more on cross-platform HTML5 apps instead of native apps, but although the new standard will surely gain traction amongst app developers who want to keep their costs down, I believe that it will take a few years before HTML5-based apps will start yielding a quality level justly comparable to that of native apps. When it comes to app availability and quality, users of both Android and iOS will have to lose once a third platform eventually appears with a double-digit market share. A Premature ConclusionUnfortunately, I find that it is yet too early to draw the line and say for sure that the rise of a third major platform would be profitable for the Android platform and for end-users. I’m sure many will disagree, but there’s a voice in the back of my head screaming “app quality” when analyzing this scenario. Sure, with increased competition, new and cooler features will surely be rolled out by Google. But the reality is that the most important component of a mobile platform is comprised by the apps that are available and properly optimized for the respective platform. What could this scenario bring about? If, for instance, BlackBerry 10 would take off, will Android users have more to benefit from this than they will have to lose? The post Will a third major platform benefit Android users? appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Kickstarter: ‘Mini MicroSD Reader’ for Nexus 7 and other Android devices Posted: 06 Apr 2013 04:45 PM PDT A new Kickstarter campaign describes a "mini MicroSD reader for Android smartphones and tablets" that could be used with devices that don't have microSD support including the Nexus 7, but also with devices that support “USB host or USB-OTG (On-The-Go).” Hating the Nexus 7's lack of MicroSD storage expansion, brothers Andy and Rich developed the prototype and now are looking to raise $5,000 to start production for the tiny gadget – at the time this article was written, 344 backers had already pledged $3,789, with 28 days to go. The mini MicroSD reader/writer is about the size of a quarter and will let users "read/write MicroSD cards, copy files between your phone/tablet and a MicroSD card." The device will support MicroSDHC cards of up to 32GB and MicroSDXC cards of up to 64GB and it will be compatible with a variety of Android smartphones and tablets. On the Kickstarter page, the following devices are mentioned:
Here's what those Classes mean:
Once received (estimated delivery is July 2013), you'll be able to attached the device on a keychain, so you don't lose it – even the cap can be attached to the snap hook to avoid losing it while the device is connected to your handset or tablet. Moreover, the mini MicroSD reader will work with cases of up to 2mm thick. In case you want to back up the project, you have four payment tiers available:
Is this Kickstarter product something you'd be interested in buying for your Android device? The post Kickstarter: 'Mini MicroSD Reader' for Nexus 7 and other Android devices appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Apple ‘slide-to-unlock’ patent invalid, German court rules Posted: 06 Apr 2013 03:28 PM PDT Apple's famous "slide-to-unlock" patent has been invalidated by a German court earlier this week, which is good news for Samsung and Motorola (Google), both engaged in patent-based legal wars with the iPhone maker in the region. All claims of the slide-to-unlock patent (Patent No. EP1964022) have been found invalid by Germany's Federal Patent Court, and Apple's 14 proposed amendments were also shot down. According to European patent law, software that "fails to meets the ethnicity requirement" can't be patented in Europe. Previously, courts in the Netherlands (August 2011) and the UK (July 2012) ruled against Apple's patent. Both courts found the technology described by the patent "obvious" when compared to the Neonode N1m (prior art), a handset that features the technology and precedes the iPhone by a year. The slide-to-unlock patent describes a technology that allows the user of a device to unlock it by "performing gestures on an unlock image." All current smartphones have some sort of gestured-based screen unlocking features, with many handset makers already employing workarounds to avoid Apple's lawyer teams. The decision can still be appealed by Apple at the Federal Court of Justice in Germany, and whatever the final outcome, it will surely affect rulings in various patent cases in Germany between Apple and two Android device makers, Samsung and Motorola. Based on the current ruling, things are looking good for the two companies in their respective cases against Apple. A court in Munich awarded Apple in February 2012 a permanent but appealable injunction against two Motorola devices that were found to infringe on the slide-to-unlock patent. Motorola has appealed the injunction and a final decision will be available in the coming weeks. At the same time, a court in Mannheim, dismissed an Apple vs Samsung case in March 2012 over the same patent, finding no infringement. A second case between the two companies over the same patent asserted as an "utility model" (or a "German intellectual property right comparable to a second-class patent that does not undergo examination and therefore does not enjoy a presumption of validity") has also been stayed. While the German court has invalidated the Apple patent, the same thing may not necessarily happen in the U.S., as FOSS Patents explains:
That said, the patent wars are nowhere near finished, so expect to see more episodes of the Apple vs Android legal fight this year. The post Apple 'slide-to-unlock' patent invalid, German court rules appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Samsung’s SPH-L500 passing through the FCC, has Sprint connectivity Posted: 06 Apr 2013 02:08 PM PDT
The Korean tech giant has not made any hardware official yet, but the FCC filing reveals that the device comes in at 5.2-inches tall and 2.6-inches wide. Details, while minimal, Engadget reports that the device does support WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth and NFC. Official hardware information was not revealed due to a confidentiality request letter from Samsung. Now that this particular model has made its way through the FCC, it shouldn’t be long before Sprint and Samsung take the red curtains off of this device. The post Samsung’s SPH-L500 passing through the FCC, has Sprint connectivity appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Posted: 06 Apr 2013 01:16 PM PDT Most people neglect backing up their devices. Normally this isn’t so much of a problem as contacts and calendar events are automatically stored in the cloud, and Google can backup device settings too. To the other extreme, we have the likes of Titanium Backup that is a comprehensive backup application for power users with root privileges. If you find that the built-in Google Backup isn’t comprehensive or reliable enough for you and that Titanium Backup is overkill for you, then Carbon Backup, made by the same team who made ClockWorkMod Recovery, is a new application that provides an excellent intermediate-level solution and doesn’t require you to have root access, but it helps. To Root or not to rootCarbon Backup offers advantages to those who are brave enough to root their device. However, this route isn’t for everyone. Some devices are easier to root than others, and it usually means wiping your device. On the other hand, if you are feeling competent or brave enough then advantages await the beholders of root privileges. Having a rooted phone means you can go on to try alternative firmwares like CyanogenMod or Paranoid Android. You can also expert apps like Titanium Backup and apps that will over or under clock your CPU. If you use Juice Defender to extend your battery life, extra features are available to rooted users. Similarly, Carbon Backup offers advantages to rooted users. Without root, users will need to install the Carbon Backup desktop agent to enable the app to work at all. This makes Carbon Backup much more inconvenient to use, and pretty much rules out scheduled backups. Furthermore, having root lets you backup all of your Wi-Fi profiles. If you do not root your device, you’ll need the desktop agent (available for Windows, Mac, and Linux) which can be downloaded from http://www.clockworkmod.com/carbon. To enable the Carbon Backup client on your device, start the agent on your desktop and connect your device via USB. Once the green tick appears on the desktop agent, Carbon Backup is ready to go and you can disconnect the cable. Going PremiumNote that most of the features discussed in this guide are unlocked when the premium version of Carbon Backup. Specifically these features are device to device sync, backup schedules, and backing up to cloud locations. Therefore, it’s recommended if that you go for the premium option. Even if you don’t like paying for apps, this comes with our recommendation. Backing upCarbon Backup has two tabs, “Backup” and “Restore and sync”. Each has a list of all the applications installed on your device, with a tick box to select which items will be backed up. As of version 1.1.0.0 of Carbon Backup allows you to backup settings for your Launcher, SMS store, user dictionary and Wi-Fi profiles (requires root). Carbon also features a control panel that resembles an upside down notification shade. Swipe it upwards to reveal its options. You’ll see you can “Select All” and “Deselect all,” along with a preview of all the apps you’ve selected. Also note that there’s an additional section at the end of the backup list of applications that do not allow their data to be backed up, even if you do have root privileges. When Carbon Backup creates a copy of your apps, it also saves the APK files so that you don’t have to revisit the Play Store to reinstall everything. However, that creates a sizable backup (i.e. gigabytes). However, the control shade has an option to backup ‘App Data Only’. This will dispense with saving all of the installation files and only save the personal configuration data for each application. This will create smaller backups which makes transfers quicker – whether over a cable or uploading to the cloud. You can also save sets of backed up applications by giving a name to your selection – this option is also found in the control shade. Once you are ready to begin backing up, tap the “Backup” button. Where and how to save backupsWhen beginning to backup you are given a list of destinations to save your backed up files. The options include the internal storage of your device, or cloud accounts: Dropbox, Google Drive, and Box (premium only). There is also an option to schedule this backup you’ve configured – even though it seems counter intuitive to create a schedule from a menu of places to save your data. When setting a schedule, specific the time and day of the week, then you may opt to have the scheduled backup only run when the device is connected to Wi-Fi, and/or when the device is charging. The schedule settings also features an icon (to the right of the backup icon previews) that indicates to the backup destination, and tapping this allows you to edit the destination. Note the clock icon in the upper toolbar of Carbon Backup – this allows you to review the schedules you’ve already set up. From this list you can also delete schedules via long press gesture. Once the backup begins, an Android system screen appear for a few seconds where you can add a password to encrypt your data. You’ll have to act quickly as this screen is soon gone, and make sure to save the password safely as there will be no way to recover to the password if you lose it. RestoringSwiping over to the “Restore and Sync” tab gives a list of all the cloud locations you have backups stored on, and all of the devices you have backups stored in – i.e. your internal storage and other Carbon Backup clients running on your WiFi network (more on this below). Note that Carbon Backup recently implemented support for multiple devices after having saved to the cloud from multiple devices into one shared pool. To handle this change over you’ll find a drop-down list at the top of the screen after selecting a given cloud backup location. The list will have an entry for the device you’re currently using and for your shared backup storage. Note that on Dropbox you’ll find the Carbon Backup files in the Dropbox\Apps\ClockworkMod Carbon subfolder of your Dropbox folder and in Google Drive, files are stored in a folder called com.koushikdutta.backup. I confess I’m not a Box user, so I appeal to you to advice in the comments as to where backups are stored on that service. As with selecting what to backup, you can select some or all of the items available for restoration, with the same control shade for selecting or deselecting all options. Just tap the ‘Restore’ button and things Carbon will begin restoring the backup. As when backing up your device, a system screen will appear briefly for you to enter the password you used if you encrypted your backup. Backing up and restoring from a PCCarbon Backup comes complete with a web interface that allows you to view the installed apps and settings on a given device via your desktop browser. To enable this, tap the menu button (“…”) and select “PC Download”. The app will then show you a screen which gives you the IP address you’ll have to enter into your desktop browser to view the web interface. You can also quickly enable and disable the server via the large on-screen circular button. The web interface allows you to select some or all of the installed apps (including system settings as described above, e.g. launcher, Wi-Fi, etc). Once the selection is made and you have clicked the blue “Start Backup” button in your desktop browser a zip file will be transferred from your Android device to your desktop computer via your home network. Note that if you wish to encrypt your backup, you’ll have to enter a password on the Android device as before, i.e. you cannot set an encryption key from your desktop. Restoring works similarly, you’ll need to locate the zip file you previously downloaded from your Android device and drag it onto the web page or select via file navigator. The file will be copied from your desktop to your Android device. If the backup is encrypted, you’ll have to be quick and enter the password on your Android device, as described above. Be aware that it can take a while to transfer the backup file from your device. Even if you only backup application data, the backup file can be hundreds of megabytes. If you do a full backup, the file will be gigabytes in size and would probably be best left working overnight. When a PC backup is complete, the server will automatically turn off. Synchronizing apps between Android devicesIn addition to viewing the apps on your device that can be backed up via your desktop browser, the Carbon Backup client can browse the contents of other devices via a Wi-Fi network. In the Restore and Sync tab, tap “Refresh Device List”. This will cause your client to check your LAN for other Android devices that are running the Carbon Backup server. Tapping on any of the devices that appear allows you to browse the list of installed applications. Items in the list of items on another device can be selected and restored to the device you’re currently using. Note, therefore, that the device to device restoration model is a Pull method rather than Push. This is good from a security point of view as you have to deliberately copy data form another device to yours, rather than anyone else having the ability to inject (i.e. push) app data to your device. This is useful, for example, if you’re playing a game and have it installed on multiple devices. You can maintain your progress by manually pulling data from the last device you played on. Also, you can quickly install an app on your device by restoring it from another device, which may or may not be more convenient than looking for the device in the Play Store. I have not tested this with two devices configured with different Google accounts, but I expect that DRM limitations will apply if you try to copy a paid app from another device to your device. The post How to use Carbon Backup appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Diamonds in the Rough: 7 Apps You Might Like (Ep #1 April 1-7) Posted: 06 Apr 2013 11:02 AM PDT
Encyclopaedia MinecrafticaSo that Minecraft game is pretty popular eh? People from around the world enjoy Minecraft on a variety of mediums, including game consoles, computers, and mobile devices. Given how huge the game is and all the ridiculous stuff you can do in it, it could be helpful having a resource guide. Encyclopaedia Minecraftica wants to be that guide and it’s the first on our random apps list this week. In the free edition, you can only view a resource guide for the PC version. In the paid version you can get additional resource lists for the Xbox 360 version and the Pocket Edition. In addition, you can get a Recipe Hunter. If you’re a huge fan of Minecraft, then this app is definitely worth checking out. You can find the free version here. Floor Plan CreatorOne of the motivations of this random apps list is to help highlight good apps that are simply too obscure to put in a best apps list. Floor Plan Creator falls right into that wheelhouse. This nifty and useful application can be used to draw up floor plans. It’s a niche app to be sure and most average consumers won’t have a use for it. For people who need to do floor plans, though, this app is perfect. Here’s how it works. You draw each room with your finger. Then, you use the tools built into the app to add windows, doors, and other stuff. It is also compatible with the Samsung Galaxy Note II’s S-Pen. If you enjoy making floor plans or do it for a living, then Floor Plan Creator is worth a second of your time. You can find it in the Google Play Store here. Nuke My PhoneWhen buying and selling devices, it’s very important that you wipe your data off your device. However, with apps out there that can recover deleted data, how will you know your data is truly wiped out? With apps like Nuke My Phone, that’s how. Our next random app is also probably among the most universally helpful on the list. Instead of doing a regular wipe, Nuke My Phone bulldozes the info on your device. By that we mean it deletes data in a manner where you data cannot be recovered. If you’re preparing to upgrade, sell your phone, or trading it away, running it through Nuke My Phone once will ensure that what gets deleted stays that way. You can find it in the Google Play Store here. ResolutionTweetWe all have goals in life. Whether they’re year long New Years resolutions or just something you want to do for a month, it can be tough to remember that you want to do something. That’s where ResolutionTweet comes in. This member of our random apps list is an app that focuses around setting and completing personal goals. It can be something complicated or something simple. Some of the examples from the app include not drinking soda for a month or drinking water more frequently. It’s garnered a pretty high rating on the Google Play Store thus far so it’s worth checking out if you’re up for making some resolutions. You can find it in the Google Play Store here. RunKeeperThe next app on our random apps list is already pretty popular. It’s called RunKeeper and it’s a jogger’s best friend. It can be used for a variety of things, but it’s main function is to keep track of how far you’ve been running. It uses your GPS to track how far you’ve run and how fast you were running. In short, it helps give you a better idea of how well your workouts are actually working. It has a plethora of other features. RunKeeper is compatible with over 80 applications like Fidbit to help create a network of apps for your health. You can also set exercise goals, see your running history, and all kinds of other stuff. If you’re a health nut with room for another exercise app, then RunKeeper is worth checking out. Click here to find it in the Google Play Store. SeatSyncThe days of scalping tickets are coming to a close. These days people buy and sell their tickets using online means like Craigslist. However, the next app on the list of random apps brings a much more streamlined way of selling and buying tickets. It’s called SeatSync and it gives you access to ticket sales in your area. Here’s how it works. Scalpers post their tickets to SeatSync. Then, prospective buyers can find tickets they like, open a dialogue with the seller right there in the app and arrange to buy them. This is highly preferable to places like Craigslist, where communication can take awhile and you may need tickets right away. Like eBay, sellers can earn ratings from buyers so when you’re looking to buy from a scalper, you can see their history to make sure you’re not getting scammed. If you’re one of those people who arrives late and needs tickets, SeatSync could be wildly helpful. You can find it in the Google Play Store here. SudokuThe last item on our random apps list could arguably be the best Sudoku app in the Google Play Store. The app is aptly named Sudoku and if you enjoy the number puzzle game, then you’ll probably enjoy this one. It’s a little old school, but Sudoku fans are among the most loyal out there. There is one caveat to this application. It’s actually a paid app, although it says it’s free in the Google Play Store. The free one comes with 40 Sudoku puzzles. Using in app purchases, you can purchase difficulty packs that include 400 puzzles each. There are 4 total so for $4 you get 1600 Sudoku puzzles. The interface is clean and simple and really it’s just you playing some Sudoku. If you’re a fan and want to grab it, check it out in the Google Play Store here. Random Apps Wrap UpThat about covers it for our random apps this week. Be sure to check back in next week for more random apps to try out. As always, if there are some fun apps you think we missed, feel free to leave us a comment down below to let us know. The post Diamonds in the Rough: 7 Apps You Might Like (Ep #1 April 1-7) appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Samsung outs kernel source code for Galaxy Win, Galaxy Trend Duos II Posted: 06 Apr 2013 10:18 AM PDT
The Samsung Galaxy Win features a 4.7 inch TFT display that works at a pixel resolution of 480 by 800 pixels at a 199 PPI density. Other specs include a 1.2 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex A5 CPU, an Adreno 205 GPU and 1GB of RAM. You can download the kernel source cod for the Samsung Galaxy Win at the following link. As the The post Samsung outs kernel source code for Galaxy Win, Galaxy Trend Duos II appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Posted: 06 Apr 2013 09:28 AM PDT Gamestop has greatly expanded its consumer electronics trade-in program. The retailer is now taking “popular devices” from Apple, Blackberry, Motorola and Samsung. The video game retailer will make the trade-in deal even sweeter by offering extra credit if participants agree to take the entire trade-in as in-store credit. Between $10 – 50 in extra credit could be awarded if taking the entire trade-in as in-store credit is agreed upon. Consumers can get a quote of what their handset is worth by heading to Gamestop‘s recommerce webpage, along with instructions on how to trade-in a handset. If a device is like new, a participant will get top dollar while broken devices will be awarded with a very low amount of credit. Gamestop originally started its consumer electronics trade-in program last year. At that time, people could only trade-in a select amount of devices, but Gamestop has been expanding the program to take in a broader amount of handsets lately. The post Gamestop consumer electronics trade-in program now includes four additional brands, including Samsung appeared first on Android Authority. |
Samsung’s SPH-L500 has made a visit to the FCC, and it looks like it’s headed to Sprint, as it has a 850/1900 CDMA radio and support for LTE band 25.
There are an endless number of apps on the Google Play Store. It's nigh impossible to sift through all of them, let alone find the good ones. So, if you're in a "hell, why not?" mood today, take a gander at this week's roundup of random apps we thought were pretty nifty, and that you might enjoy too!
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Authority To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
