AndroidGuys

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• Staples physical stores offering Nexus 7 for $160
• Acer and Google launch new Chromebook
• AT&T to offer $499 Samsung Galaxy Camera on November 16
• LG Optimus L9 review
• Verizon announces $129 Samsung Stratosphere II
• HTC: 2012 devices get top priority for Android 4.1 update
• Calling off the dogs: Apple and HTC settle all patent litigation in 10-year license agreement
• HTC DLX may get a much wider release

Staples physical stores offering Nexus 7 for $160 Posted: 12 Nov 2012 03:29 PM PST Are you near a Staples store (no, online doesn’t count) and in the market for a tablet? Well, pack up your gear and head on over. Staples is now offering the 8GB Nexus 7 for $160. As far as we know, the $40 off price will be in effect until the stores run out, so it may be worth a phone call first. While it’s a limited amount of storage, the price is pretty tough to beat. Be sure to hit up your local Staples. via slickdeals Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

Acer and Google launch new Chromebook Posted: 12 Nov 2012 02:02 PM PST Looking for a piece of Google awesomeness for under $200? Look no further. Google has announced a new Chromebook with Acer, and the specs – at least some – are pretty surprising. The main shock here is the fact that, despite the sub-200 price tag, the CPU is a full on Intel, not downgraded to an ARM like the new Samsung model. It would appear, however, that price cuts were possible due to a minimized battery that clocks in at 3.5 usage hours in comparison to the 6.5 on Samsung’s. We can also look forward to: 11.6-inch screen 320GB HDD 100GB Google Drive 1-inch thick 3lbs 3x USB HDMI VGA Ethernet Kensington lock slot The new Chromebook will hit the proverbial shelf tomorrow (11/13) in the Google play store, along with limited availability from Best Buy. via Google Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

AT&T to offer $499 Samsung Galaxy Camera on November 16 Posted: 12 Nov 2012 01:52 PM PST AT&T today announced that it will be offering the Samsung Galaxy Camera starting November 16.  Priced at $499.99, the camera runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and features a number of photo options. For a limited time, AT&T is offering customers up to $100 off the purchases of a second Samsung Galaxy smartphone or other connected device just so long as they buy it with a first Samsung Galaxy smartphone. It’s worth clarifying that both devices must be put on two-year service agreements with calling and data plans Continue reading: AT&T to offer $499 Samsung Galaxy Camera on November 16 Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

LG Optimus L9 review Posted: 12 Nov 2012 01:35 PM PST What we liked:  The price point is right for new smartphone users and it’s plenty of hardware for the money. Even those who may have already spent time with Android will find the Optimus L9 offers decent bang for its buck. Room for Improvement: Even though there’s only so much you can do with a touch-only form factor, it’s still a somewhat uninspired design. While there are compelling features in the Optimus L9, it might be a tough sell for buyers who might easily spend another $20 or so for a new Android device. Battery could be much better as our review unit drained quicker than we expected for a 2150mAh unit. Review at a Glance: The Optimus L9 offers hardware and software that would easily cost double just six months ago yet still doesn’t try to pass itself off as a top-tier device.  The screen size and resolution are the first thing you notice, both of which are commendable for the money. Sure it could be a little sexier or feature a little more curve, but it’s a great experience for a first-ever smartphone Continue reading: LG Optimus L9 review Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

Verizon announces $129 Samsung Stratosphere II Posted: 12 Nov 2012 12:50 PM PST Verizon today confirmed that it will be soon offering the Samsung Stratosphere II as part of its Android lineup.  Due in the coming weeks, the handset will cost $129.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Details for the phone include a full QWERTY keyboard, 1.2 GHz dual core processor, 4G LTE support, and a 4-inch Super AMOLED display. Powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Stratosphere II is also global-ready and designed to work in more than 20o countries around the world. Verizon Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

HTC: 2012 devices get top priority for Android 4.1 update Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:10 AM PST As if we expected anything else, HTC plans to give its 2012 Android devices priority for Jelly Bean updates. A glance through the handset maker’s Android 4.1 F.A.Q. tells us what is going on inside the Quietly Brilliant outfit as it pertains to Jelly Bean. Much of it will depend, of course, on carriers and markets and whether or not the phone is equipped to handle the update.  Naturally, the HTC One X and HTC One S are high on the list, however a time frame for 4.1X remains elusive Continue reading: HTC: 2012 devices get top priority for Android 4.1 update Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

Calling off the dogs: Apple and HTC settle all patent litigation in 10-year license agreement Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:41 AM PST After being at each other’s throats for years around patent rights, Apple and HTC have decided to let bygones be bygones. The two companies have entered into an agreement to settle any and all patent disputes. The “global settlement” not only dismisses all patent complaints from either side, but also applies to all future patents. While the specific details of the agreement are under wraps, press is being told by Jeff Grdon, representative for HTC, that HTC “does not expect this license agreement to have any adverse material impact on the financials of the company” – read as: HTC won’t break the bank in the settlement. This is a surprise move by both companies in more ways than one. HTC is the only company, aside from Samsung, that was facing a US International Trade Commission injunction. However, Apple seems to have no interest in creating any cross licensing deal in that arena – possibly because of the amount of money involved in those disputes. Actual licensing agreements aside, a Delaware court in May ordered HTC and Apple to “handle their business”, as it were. It was only in August that HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang said that HTC had no plans to settle their litigation, even with Apple having already won their injunction against Samsung. HTC even caught the brunt of Apple’s lawyers earlier this year, when One X and EVO 4G LTE devices were indefinitely delayed at US Customs, thanks to the ban from the ITC. HTC may have come up with a workaround that allows them to use slide-to-unlock and universal search among other features, the workaround is spotty at best, and is still waiting for ITC approval. Apple says that they plan on remaining laser-focused on product innovation. CEO Peter Chou says “HTC is pleased to have resolved its dispute with Apple, so HTC can focus on innovation instead of litigation”, and Apple CEO Tim Cook states that they “we are glad to have reached a settlement with HTC”. How do you think this new agreement will affect sales and products? Sound off in the comments below. Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

HTC DLX may get a much wider release Posted: 12 Nov 2012 05:59 AM PST New information and images surfacing over the last few days suggest HTC will be deploying the rumored “DLX” smartphone to a wider audience this fall. According to reports, the 5-inch 1080p HD device will head to China and Taiwan in addition to Verizon. Locally, we’re expecting to see the device debut this week under the Droid DNA moniker. It should come as no surprise that HTC might want to have a large-scale release for their new device. Considering how it’s uniquely different from anything else they’ve put out thus far, we’d expect to see this touch down in all the important markets. No knock on Japan, but they aren’t worthy of keeping this thing (J Butterfly) all to themselves.   As it stands, ePrice tells us that China will get the brown and black iterations of the DLX while Taiwan will get their hands on those colors and a white one as well. It’s worth pointing out that these look to be a touch thinner than the renders we’ve seen for Verizon, suggesting a smaller battery might be in the cards. In terms of timing, Taiwan might see their flavors arrive as soon as December 20. If you’re new to all of this DLX and DNA stuff, here’s a quick primer:  HTC has a smartphone coming that includes a 5-inch HD display (1080p), 2GB RAM, a quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor, and a 12-megapixel camera. Battery is listed to be 2500mAh however it may be different for various markets. Verizon has scheduled a press event in New York for Novmber 13 where it’s expected they will officially announce the Droid DNA.   Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

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Android Community

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• Samsung Galaxy Camera arrives at AT&T later this week
• 8GB Nexus 7 down to $160 at Staples stores
• India bringing low cost Aakash 2.0 Android tablets to students
• Nexus 4 on T-Mobile will support Wi-Fi calling after all
• HTC may have to pay Apple $6-$8 for every phone sold
• Channel 4 announces video services coming to Android
• ASUS denies refunds to Google Play purchased Nexus 7 tablets
• Verizon confirms HTC DROID DNA ahead of expected reveal

Samsung Galaxy Camera arrives at AT&T later this week Posted: 12 Nov 2012 10:34 AM PST Today we’re learning that Samsung’s cool little Galaxy Camera will be arriving at AT&T before long. Specifically speaking, the Galaxy Camera will be available at AT&T starting on November 16, and it will come with a price tag of $499. Our friends at SlashGear point out that the Galaxy Camera’s price is the same whether you buy it on-contract or not. Of course, if you sign up for a contract, you’ll be able to hop on AT&T’s 4G network with your Galaxy Camera, which comes running Android 4.1. Since you’re already connected to the Internet, you can upload your photos to all of your favorite social networking sites right from your camera – no need to connect it to your PC and dump the photos you want to upload first. We’re thinking that will prove to be a very handy feature indeed. In the market for a phone too? You’re in luck, because AT&T is running a promotion that will save you $100 off the sticker price of any Samsung connected device when you purchase a Samsung Galaxy phone. That includes the Samsung Galaxy Camera, so if you were to purchase something like the Samsung Galaxy S III or Galaxy Note II from AT&T, you could potentially shave $100 off the price of the Galaxy Camera. The Samsung Galaxy Camera comes with a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, along with a 4.8-inch LCD screen on the back. You’ll be using Samsung’s TouchWiz interface with the Galaxy Camera, and you’ll have access to the Google Play Store as well. All in all, it doesn’t sound like too bad a device – now it all needs to do is actually get here so we can start enjoying it. Story Timeline Samsung Galaxy Camera: Hands-on with the 16MP Android snapper Samsung Galaxy Camera hits the FCC with AT&T 3G bands AT&T Samsung Galaxy Camera confirmed with 4G Samsung Galaxy Camera gets price and release date for UK Device Specifications and Information Device Info Device Name : Galaxy Camera Manufactuer : Samsung Carrier : NA Announced Date : August 29, 2012 Release Date : TBA Also Known As : Display Screen Size : 4.8 Inch Resolution : 1280x720 Screen Type : TFT Dimension & Weight Height : 5.06 Inch Width : 2.79 Inch Depth : 0.75 Inch Weight : 305 Grams Battery & Power Battery Type: Lithium Ion Battery Capacity : 1650 mAh Talk Time : NA Stand By Time : NA Software Android OS: 4.1.x Video Playback: MPEG-4 (MP4) Messaging: IM Hardware CPU : Exynos 4412 CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz Core : 4 Ram : 1000 MB Internal Storage : 8 GB Front Facing Camera : Camera Resolution : 16.3 MP External Storage: MicroSD MicroSDHC Camera Features: Auto focus Flash 1080p Video Recording 720p Video Recording QWERTY : Cellular Network Network Technology: GSM GSM Band: 850 900 1800 1900 Device Connectivity Wi-Fi: 802.11a 802.11b 802.11g 802.11n Bluetooth: A2DP Bluetooth 4.0 Location Features: GPS FM Radio : NFC :

8GB Nexus 7 down to $160 at Staples stores Posted: 12 Nov 2012 09:53 AM PST Shortly before Google announced the 32GB Nexus 7, we heard that the 8GB models were set to become clearance items at the selection of brick and mortar stores where they’re sold. Sure enough, that exact scenario appears to be playing out, as Slickdeals is reporting that a number of Staples stores have brought the 8GB Nexus 7 down to just $159.99. Not too bad for a tablet that was once $200. Of course, these days, it’s the 16GB Nexus 7 that’s sporting the $200 price tag. The 32GB model has taken the 16GB model’s old spot at $250, and sadly, the 8GB Nexus 7 has been discontinued. That means you better head over to a Staples if you want to pick one up, because these 8GB models aren’t going to be around much longer. And yes, you have to go to the actual store, as these deals aren’t available online. Keep in mind, however, that the Nexus 7 doesn’t come with a microSD card, so 8GB of storage is all you’re going to get. That might cause some issues when it comes to storing music, video, and games, so it may just be a better idea to pay the extra $40 and jump up to the 16GB model. MicroSD slots aside, this looks like the end of the road for our old 8GB pal. For that reason alone, it might be worth picking up a 8GB Nexus 7 from Staples. Plus, how often do you see such a solid piece of equipment with such a low price? Story Timeline Nexus 7 tablets sold out on Google Play Walmart jumps on the 32GB Nexus 7 bandwagon Google Nexus 7 32GB and 32GB HSPA+ models announced Nexus 7 sales close to 1 million per month according to Asus Nook Tablet gets a price drop to better compete with the Nexus 7 Will it Blend presents Nexus 7 vs iPad mini vs Kindle Fire HD ASUS offering cash vouchers for Nexus 7 buyers in Europe Google refunds Nexus 7 buyers with "Price Protection" in the Play Store ASUS denies refunds to Google Play purchased Nexus 7 tablets Device Specifications and Information Device Info Device Name : Nexus 7 Manufactuer : Asus Carrier : NA Announced Date : June 27, 2012 Release Date : TBA Also Known As : Google Nexus 7, MeMo 370T Display Screen Size : 7 Inch Resolution : 1280x800 Screen Type : IPS LCD Dimension & Weight Height : 7.81 Inch Width : 4.72 Inch Depth : 0.41 Inch Weight : 340 Grams Battery & Power Battery Type: Lithium Ion Battery Capacity : 4325 mAh Talk Time : NA Stand By Time : NA Software Android OS: 4.1.x Audio Playback: AAC AAC+ AMR MID MP3 WAV WMA Video Playback: h.263 h.264 / AVC 3GP MPEG-4 (MP4) WMV Messaging: IM Hardware CPU : Tegra 3 CPU Clock Speed : 1300 Mhz Core : 4 Ram : 1000 MB Internal Storage : 8 GB Front Facing Camera : Camera Resolution : NA Sensors: Accelerometer Ambient light Proximity QWERTY : Cellular Network Device Connectivity Wi-Fi: 802.11b 802.11g 802.11n Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0 A2DP Location Features: Compass GPS FM Radio : NFC :

India bringing low cost Aakash 2.0 Android tablets to students Posted: 12 Nov 2012 08:52 AM PST Indian President Shri Pranab Mukherjee announced that the country is brining a new, low-cost Android tablet to students. The new Aakash 2.0 will be subsidized by the Indian government, which should make it cheaper for students to get their hands on the device. The device normally costs INR 2,236 ($40.79), but for students, the subsidized cost will be INR 1,132 ($20.65). The tablet is made by Canada-based Datawind. The Indian government expects to distribute 100,000 of these tablets to engineering colleges and universities. In all, 244 colleges in India will receive access to the affordable tablets. Over the next five to six years, the Indian government plans to put the tablet in the hands of 220 million students. The tablet, while not top of the line, feature some pretty solid specs, especially when you consider the purpose for which it was designed. It comes with a 7-inch touchscreen, 512MB of RAM, and a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor. It will also include 4GB of internal storage and a microSD slot. The tablet also includes a 3,000 mAh battery and a USB port for charging. It looks to be a pretty solid device that could certainly help improve education. Android tablets certainly have a place in the classroom, and it looks like the government of India is looking to prove that. Story Timeline India's Aakash 2 tablet to get Android 4.0 upgrade Google offers free data to Android users in India Two more Aakash Tablet models headed for India Aakash 2 tablet arriving next month in India for $35 [via AndroidOs.in]

Nexus 4 on T-Mobile will support Wi-Fi calling after all Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:57 AM PST Wi-Fi calling is a pretty awesome feature. Who doesn’t want to save on expensive cell phone minutes by using their Wi-Fi connection? Well T-Mobile originally reported that the new Nexus 4 would not support Wi-Fi calling on its network, but they have turned changed their mind on the matter, and now, users who purchase a Nexus 4 on T-Mobile will, in fact, be able to take advantage of the cool feature. T-Mobile support outlined all the data features of the device on its network, and Wi-Fi calling is included in the list. T-Mobile customers simply need to get a specialized GBA SIM card, set up a 911 address, and connect to a Wi-Fi network to use the feature. Besides Wi-Fi calling, the Nexus 4 has some pretty awesome features. It comes with Android 4.2 installed and a beastly quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 1.5Ghz processor. It also comes with a 4.7-inch IPS+ LCD display at 1280 x 768 resolution. Overall, Chris Burns, who reviewed the phone for us, was pretty impressed with what it brought to the table. T-Mobile is selling the device for $200 with a 2-year agreement, which seems rather high when you can grab an unlocked device through Google Play for $300 and $349 for the 8GB and 16GB model, respectively. Still, at least T-Mobile customers can take advantage of one of the devices coolest features, which is certainly a plus, especially when it initially looked as if that feature was going to be missing for T-Mobile users. Story Timeline Nexus 4 announced, coming November 13 LG Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy Note II included in T-Mobile's holiday line up LG Nexus 4 hands-on and first impressions LG Nexus 4 Review [via TalkAndroid]

HTC may have to pay Apple $6-$8 for every phone sold Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:14 AM PST A report has come out that HTC may have to pay Apple $6-$8 for every single smartphone they sell, according to Shaw Wu, an analyst at Sterne Agee. Apple and HTC announced a licensing and settlement deal over the weekend, but no monetary terms were included in the release. According to Wu, “conversations with industry sources” led him to reach the dollar amounts he is estimating. To put this into perspective, HTC sells approximately 30-35 million Android smartphones each year. If these number are true, that means Apple would make $180-$280 million per year from the sale of HTC smartphones. That’s an insane amount of money for a product that Apple does not have anything to do with. Of course, Apple generated $41 billion in net income during its last fiscal year, so it’s really just a drop in the bucket. The most surprising part of this whole deal is that Apple actually backed down and agreed to a settlement. With the way Apple has gone after Samsung, it seems odd to see Apple stop going after HTC. Maybe they figured that in the long run, they stand to make more money with this licensing agreement than one large lump sum, like the $1 billion Apple is supposed to get from Samsung. HTC also pays Microsoft $5 for every device it sells. So if the number from this report are to be believed, HTC will be paying between $11-$13 for each phone it sells for patent agreements. While this sounds fairly small, over the course of thousands of devices, that certainly is a large chunk of money that will not help HTC’s bottom line going forward. Still, these numbers are not official, so we will have to wait and see if this is actually Apple and HTC’s final agreement, or just a rumor. [via Business Insider]

Channel 4 announces video services coming to Android Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:46 AM PST Channel 4 has announced a great deal of improvements to its mobile offering, which should make fans of the channels rather happy. First, Channel 4 bringing its full range of mobile services to Android, which is great news for everyone. Currently, Channel 4 is available on iOS and some other mobile platforms, but starting in 2013, Channel 4′s on-demand service called 4oD is coming to Android. Besides bringing the service to Android devices, Channel 4 is making some strides to improve the quality of its digital video offerings. Most notably, Channel 4 is bringing offline viewing to its customers. This means users can watch download and watch many of their favorite channel 4 shows without the need to have a data connection on their phone. The shows are free, but they are ad-supported. The improvements also add the ability to watch many of Channel 4′s main channel live on mobile devices. Plenty of TV channels offer shows on demand, but watching live as if you were on a TV is not overly common. They expect this feature to come early in 2013. 4oD is also adding play and pause across platforms. So if you are watching a show in one place, and you need to get up and go somewhere else, you can pause the show and pick it up right where you left off. This update definitely adds some cool stuff for fans of Channel 4 in the UK. Of course, we will have to wait until next year to use it on our Android devices, but it looks like it could be worth the wait.

ASUS denies refunds to Google Play purchased Nexus 7 tablets Posted: 12 Nov 2012 05:44 AM PST ASUS has taken to Twitter to clear up a little confusion in regards to the refund vouchers they are issuing for people who bought a Nexus 7 just before the price drop. ASUS took to Twitter to let everyone know that any tablets purchased on Google Play are not eligible for ASUS’ refunds. Originally, ASUS announced that buyers who purchased the Nexus 7 in Europe would get a £25/€30 voucher. The confusing came up because the ASUS site for the coupons makes no official mention of Google Play, so most users assumed that Google Play purchased tablets would qualify. "Just to clarify – the ASUS Nexus 7 coupon offer is not available to customers who purchased their device from the Google Play store," ASUS said on Twitter. At least ASUS is making it clear now, but it would have been nice for users to have that clarity from the beginning. The original statement from ASUS was that in order for a tablet to be eligible it must be “purchased at our physical channels and its online shops." Of course, ASUS did not list which stores are included. It’s easy to see where consumers would have no idea whether or not the tablet they have is eligible, and one would assume that Google’s store is about as official as it gets. ASUS is facing criticism over this situation. Some customers are claiming that ASUS is being unclear to get customers to give up their personal information before they find out that their purchase is not able to receive a refund. Of course, ASUS spokespeople have said that it was clear in what stores were eligible. Either way, Google has announced a plan for refunding Nexus 7 purchases, so if you cannot get ASUS’ refund, you should be able to get one from Google. Story Timeline Nexus 7 32GB appears at Staples for $249 Nexus 7 tablets sold out on Google Play ASUS offering cash vouchers for Nexus 7 buyers in Europe Google refunds Nexus 7 buyers with "Price Protection" in the Play Store 8GB Nexus 7 down to $160 at Staples stores [via SlashGear]

Verizon confirms HTC DROID DNA ahead of expected reveal Posted: 11 Nov 2012 11:49 AM PST For those who missed the news, Verizon and HTC are set to host an event in just a couple of days on November 13. It’s there that we’re expecting to get an official reveal of the long-rumored HTC DROID DNA, but before that happens, it looks like Verizon has confirmed the handset’s existence. A new listing for a DROID DNA unboxing has popped up on Verizon’s DROID DOES website, confirming the device before it’s even revealed. Verizon’s unboxing will apparently be happening on November 19, a date that’s before the phone’s “public launch.” So, we know that the DROID DNA won’t be launching between its reveal on the November 13 and this unboxing on November 19. The unboxing will be taking place on Verizon’s Google Plus page, so those who are interested are urged to add Verizon to one of their circles. As if that wasn’t enough, the folks of @evleaks are back with yet another leak. The leaked images of the DROID DNA show off the front and back of device, with the handset featuring soft buttons for back, home, and multitasking. We also get another glimpse at the 5-inch 1080p screen, so soak it in everyone, because this should be one awesome phone. Of course, we don’t yet have official details on the hardware that’s included with the DROID DNA, but we’ve heard more than a few times already that it should be similar to the HTC J Butterfly, which was announced for Japan last month. Whatever the DROID DNA is packing under the hood, we’ll find out in just a couple short days. Keep it tuned here to Android Community for more details! Story Timeline Verizon confirms HTC 5-inch phone as the DROID DNA HTC DROID DNA reportedly launching at Verizon next month HTC DROID DNA 5-inch phablet leaks again, could arrive December 6 HTC DROID DNA passes under the FCC microscope HTC and Verizon event set for November 13, DROID DNA on the Horizon HTC DROID DNA official press image leaks [via Android Central]

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