Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Android Central

Android Central

Samsung expected to hold Galaxy S4 event on Mar 14

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 04:45 PM PST

Samsung Booth

On the eve of HTC's much-teased February 19th event, multiple sources are converging on March 14th as the announcement date for Samsung's next flagship Galaxy S device. Originally eluded to by Eldar Murtazin of mobile-review and later corroborated by unnamed sources of The Verge, the Galaxy S4 will "definitely" be announced at a Samsung event on March 14th. The rumored event is expected to take place in the U.S., but it's unclear at this time what city will be hosting such an announcement.

As for the design and details of the Galaxy S4, we really don't have much to go on. Again reported by sources of The Verge, the new device may follow the design language of what we will see as the Galaxy Note 8.0 at MWC. Although the leaks we've seen thus far of that device are apparently far off from what the final design is.

With all of that being said, we'll only know the announcement date for sure when we hear it directly from Samsung.

Source: The Verge

Announcing our Valentine's Day contest winners

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 02:46 PM PST

Android Central

Back at the beginning of the month we decided to have a monster Valentine's Day contest. Now that it's closed, we're amazed at the response, and loved going through all the pictures. It's great putting a face to the names, ya know? Valentine's Day has come and gone, and Mrs. Nickinson has picked out a mess of winners. Since everyone wants to know if they won, here's your lists.

Winners of the Grand Prizes (one Nexus 4, one Nexus 7, two t-shirts)

Because there were so many great entries, we also picked eight runners-up, who will get a pair of t-shirts:

Congrats to everyone, and a big thanks for entering. If you're a winner, be sure to check the inbox of the email you used to register here at AC. We need a little information about where to send the prizes. Stay tuned for more great contests from the best damn Android site on the Internet.

Be sure to read through the break and check out the Grand Prize winning pictures.

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Hotel Tonight adds proper tablet UI support

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:12 PM PST

Hotel Tonight Tablet UI

Hotel Tonight has just updated its Android app with proper tablet support, offering a better UI experience to users with larger screen devices. The service, if you're not familiar, offers steep discounts on hotels because they are only able to be booked at noon (local time) to be used that day. Users can now view and book hotels on their tablets with this properly formed tablet UI, and Hotel Tonight says that you can go from launching the app to booking a room with "just three taps and a swipe".

The designers of the new tablet UI on the app say that they specifically targeted Google's own Nexus tablets as references for the 7-inch and 10-inch design, and are extremely happy with the result. The interface takes advantage of the larger screens with bigger pictures while navigating and a better display when viewing hotel listings. You can grab a download of the new version of Hotel Tonight at the Play Store link above.

Unity Launcher: a little bit of Ubuntu flair on your device

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 12:17 PM PST

Android Central

Canonical has laid out its plans to release Ubuntu phones at some point in 2014 -- but you don't have to wait that long to get a little bit of Ubuntu flair on your current Android device. Unity Launcher brings Ubuntu's interesting swipe-in sliding app selector to your device without changing your current launcher setup. 

Stick around with us after the break to learn a little more about what Unity Launcher has to offer.

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Reminder: HTC wants to show us something tomorrow, and we'll be there blogging it live

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 10:10 AM PST

HTC

HTC keeps trying to tease everybody about what may be in store for tomorrow's event, and you can find out just as soon as they tell the world by tuning in to the live blog tomorrow. We'll be on-site in both New York and London, giving you the play-by-play as it happens.

While the details are all still shrouded in rumor, we expect to see HTC latest Android phone in all it's glory. Whether it be called the M7 or the HTC One, we're all sure to find plenty to love or hate about the device before we ever get our hands on it. 

So be there at 10 AM Eastern tomorrow, and let's talk a little bit about phones.

Jelly Bean rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy Note (N7000)

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 09:51 AM PST

Galaxy Note

The international versions of the Samsung Galaxy Note are seeing a Jelly Bean update today. Users in the far East and Germany are reporting that they're seeing an OTA to 4.1.2, namely the same JZO54K build that leaked out last November. As a refresher, meet the new change log (same as the old change log) .

  • Android 4.1.2 – Build JZO54K
  • Project Butter
  • Multi-View (can also be disabled)
  • Page Buddy
  • Notification Panel can now be customized
  • New Additions in Notification Panel
  • Smart Rotation
  • New Samsung Keyboard
  • Samsung’s Cloud services
  • Direct Call, Smart Stay and Pop-up Play Features
  • New Widgets From the Galaxy S III
  • 2 Home screen modes
  • New Notifications bar
  • Google Now

Of course this leaves the question of when or if the AT&T and semi-defunct T-Mobile versions here in the states are going to see such a thing. The answer is a resounding "we don't know". The US versions are essentially a Note in name only, and whether or not AT&T and Samsung want to update them is anyone's guess. 

If you have the N7000 version though, keep an eye on your status bar or fire up Kies and see if you have an update waiting.

Source: SamMobile

 

Mobile Nations fitness month week 3: Sleep and relaxation!

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 09:33 AM PST

Leave a comment below telling us your Fitness Month goals and be entered to win a FitBit!

It's February and you know what that means? Mobile Nations Fitness Month! That's when we all get together to get in shape, share tips and tricks and recipes for success, review amazing apps and accessories, give away great prizes, and have a ton of fun! This year we're doing it a little differently, though. We're doing weekly themes, and that means every week you'll have new and exciting challenges, and new chances to win!

Week 2: Sleep and relaxation!

Relaxation, whether its full on mediation or just some simple breathing exercise, is how we keep our bodies and minds centered and balanced. Sleep is our reboot, when we write our daily cache to disk and run our system repairs so we're ready for the next day. As part of fitness month, we'll be reviewing a bunch of great apps and accessories that can help encourage, track, and train us to sleep and relax better and smarter. We'll also be doing THREE cool contests!

 

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HTC Rezound and Droid Incredible 2 getting a small 'Device Enhancement' update

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 08:53 AM PST

HTC updates

Verizon and HTC have announced a small update for the Rezound and the Droid Incredible 2 today. Listed only as a "Device Enhancement", no one is yet sure exactly what is getting updated, only that said updates should be making their way to handsets soon. Keep an eye on the forums to find out more.

Source: Verizon (Rezound), (Incredible 2)

The Weather Channel app gets a sizeable update with a new look

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 07:49 AM PST

TWC

The Weather Channel's official Android app has been given a complete makeover in today's big update. In addition to an all new user interface and tablet optimization, they have beefed up the content quite a bit with more detailed forecasts, better and faster maps, and a better selection of videos from around the world. The full change log reads like this:

  • “Expect rain to start at 3:15p”—No more guessing! If your weather is changing within 6 hrs, we let you the exact time it will happen.
  • Faster maps with past & future radar, severe weather bulletins
  • More detailed forecasts
  • A better selection of videos
  • Optimized for Android tablets
  • Set up your favorites places to take full advantage of our weather widgets and notifications.
  • What everyone has been asking for, a Refresh button!
  • It is now easy to share your weather with your friends & family

Of course, the biggest thing users are going to see is the all new UI. My first impressions are that it's quite nice. There's plenty of information, it's well laid out, and most importantly, pleasing to the eye. But according to the Play store entry's comments, many long time users aren't very happy with the changes. They note the new ad placement as a sticking point and feel it's less intuitive. Having not used the app before today's update means I have no reference, but I like it enough to keep it around for a while. This sort of thing is subjective, so the best advice I can give is to install it and try for yourself. It's free -- grab it at the Google Play link above. I've tossed a few screenshots after the break.

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Xperia Z now on sale at Sony Mobile France store

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:49 AM PST

Android Central

It looks like Germany isn't the only country getting an early chance to pick up the Sony Xperia Z. The phone has just gone up for sale on the Sony Mobile France online store. Purchased SIM-free, the 5-inch, 1080p-toting handset will set French buyers back €649 -- that's not cheap, but nor is it significantly more expensive than the average high-end smartphone.

The phone is available in black and white -- the purple version isn't being offered unlocked, as it's exclusive to the SFR network in France.

The Xperia Z should start appearing in brick-and-mortar stores before long, starting with the Sony Store in Berlin. Other European territories are expected to follow around the end of the month.

Source: Sony Mobile France; via: XperiaBlog

Deal of the Day: Body Glove DropSuit Rugged Case for Samsung Galaxy S3

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:36 AM PST

Deal of the Day The Feb. 18 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Body Glove DropSuit Rugged Case for Samsung Galaxy S3. The DropSuit is made of a durable gel material that resists the battles of everyday life. The case has reinforced corners with a unique shock dissipation system to absorb impact and defend against bumps and drops. The strategically placed side bumpers provide a secure grip and added drop protection.

The Body Glove DropSuit Rugged Case is available for just $10.00, 50% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping.

Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts!

Monday Brief: More webOS drama, a BlackBerry Z10 Oreo, the Nokia Lumia 620 review, and more!

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 05:21 AM PST

Mobile Nations

 

 

Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World!

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 04:19 AM PST

Android Central Podcast

There's a ton of awesome Android news coming up this week. HTC's event on Tuesday. Our trek to Mobile World Congress at the back half of the week. And if you missed Thursday night's live recording, we've got your preview for it all. Plus, we recap what's new with Android 4.2.2, and take a bunch your voicemails. 

The Android Central Podcast is your weekly peek into the world of Android, where we break down the news that really matters, and explain what's just a bunch of hype. Plus, we answer your e-mails and voicemails. You don't want to miss it. Check out the Android Central Podcast.

LG finally reveals Optimus G Pro specs, price, availability

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 06:37 PM PST

LG Optimus G Pro

Android Central at Mobile World Congress

Update: LG expects to begin rolling out the new Optimus G Pro in overseas territories including the U.S. during the second quarter.

LG technically officially announced the Optimus G Pro for the Korean market a few days ago, but now we've got all of the gritty details on the device. As we saw before, the new device will sport a full HD 1080x1920 5.5-inch (that's 400 ppi) display, with seemingly tiny bezels. Under that screen will be a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage (SDcard expandable) and a removable 3,140mAh battery with wireless charging support. We're looking at 13MP rear and 2MP front cameras, LTE connectivity and shipping software of Android 4.1.2 with LG's latest UX customizations.

The press release indicates availability of "next week" for the Korean market. Pricing is quoted at 968,000 won, which with a quick currency exchange calculation is just shy of $900 (although that's not always indicative of eventual U.S. pricing). The Optimus G Pro will be on display at MWC in just a week, so you can bet we'll have our hands on one soon.

Source: LG

Gundotra: 'Committed to making Nexus phones insanely great cameras'

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 06:12 PM PST

Android Central

'Just you wait and see,' senior VP of engineering replies on Google+

Google's Senior VP of Engineering at Google, Vic Gundotra, took to Google+ this morning in a photography-themed post to reply to comments about the quality of Nexus phone cameras. The Nexus 4 is a pretty notable improvement in camera quality over what we saw on the Galaxy Nexus, but it's no secret that Nexus devices have lacked in the photography department. As you can see below, in response to a comment about just carrying a future Nexus device as his only camera Vic had this to say:

Android Central

It's clear with Google's improvements to the stock Android camera UI since Ice Cream Sandwich -- and the inclusion of Photo Sphere with Jelly Bean -- that a lot of focus is being put on the camera of Nexus devices, but it takes more than just a good UI to take good pictures. It really takes the combination of a quality camera sensor and great image processing software on the back end to have the end result of great pictures. While many Android manufacturers will pay to license image processing software from camera companies -- or in some cases borrow from the camera divisions of their own companies -- Google has historically kept things open-source in the camera department, which conflicts with paying for closed-source camera software.

Now no one likes to just "wait and see," but it's our only option at this point. It's comments like this from high-ranking Googlers that make us hopeful for the future of Nexus camera capabilities though.

Source: Vic Gundotra (Google+); Thanks, Grant!
Posted by at 6:49 AM 0 comments

AndroidGuys

AndroidGuys

Samsung Galaxy S4 debut now rumored for March 14

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 09:05 AM PST

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is now rumored for a March 14 debut, one day earlier than previous reports.  That is, of course, if you are inclined to believe Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin.

With barely one month to go before Samsung’s rumored Galaxy S4 announcement we should expect more confirmations to bubble up soon.  Allegedly, the flagship device is expected to touch down in the U.S. in either May or June. In the meanwhile, be sure to follow story as it unfolds at What we expect: Samsung Galaxy S4.

The post Samsung Galaxy S4 debut now rumored for March 14 appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Google will have retail presence by end of year, rumor suggests

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 07:07 AM PST

You know that retail locator that Google recently unveiled for the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7?  That thing will become even more helpful later this year once Google gets into the retail presence game.

Google expects to open its own retail stores across the U.S., according to a recent 9to5Google report, giving the search and service behemoth a a place to show off the Nexus line and other products.

Citing “an extremely reliable source,” 9to5Google tells us Google ”hopes to have the first flagship Google Stores open for the holidays in major metropolitan areas.” Why?  Because people still like to touch and test things before they buy them, of course. How else would you know how sharp the screen is for the Nexus 10? How could you possibly understand how Google Glass works without first trying a pair on?

Naturally, Google has yet to confirm the new rumors, however we’ll be watching this closely.

9to5Google

The post Google will have retail presence by end of year, rumor suggests appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Sony C680X leaked with 1080p display

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:44 AM PST

As great as the recent Xperia Z is, Sony may have something bigger and better lined up for the next few month. The folks over at XPERIA Blog spotted some details about a new Sony device listed with model number C680X.

The details were discovered over at HTML5 test, but very little is known about the device. Aside from the 1080 x 1920 display, the phone will run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.  Naturally, there is no price or release date to speak of.

Sony-C6802-Android

Do you think Sony will continue to improve in 2013? Share your thoughts with us in the comment box below.

Via: XperiaBlog

The post Sony C680X leaked with 1080p display appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Posted by at 6:35 AM 0 comments

Android Community

Android Community

Flurry: China overtakes US for total active Android and iOS devices

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 10:45 AM PST

It was about a year ago when Flurry said that China had become the world’s fastest growing smart device market, and as of today, it looks like China has now overtaken the US in terms of having the most active Android and iOS devices. This includes tablets as well as smartphones and the lead, while just barely, has gone to China.

iphone_5_galaxy_s_iii_2-580x435-540x4051

The details coming from Flurry show that the numbers were near even in January with the US having 222 million and China having 221 million. Keep in mind though, the final February numbers are not in just yet. In fact, as of now Flurry is making this announcement based on projected numbers. They have said that they expect China to have 246 million and the US to have 230 million.

While those numbers may vary a little come the end of the month, it seems there is not much reason to think that China will not overtake the US this month. Perhaps a bit more interesting though, Flurry has said that the US will not overtake this lead in the future. Of course, that simply goes to the population totals which is said to be roughly 1.3 billion for China and roughly 310 million for the US.

SmartDevice_InstalledBase_China_vs_US_Feb2013-resized-600

Otherwise, aside from China and the US with numbers above 220 million in terms of active Android and iOS devices, the remaining countries on the list are far behind. To that point, some of that most likely comes as a result of population numbers (amongst other reasons). The data coming from Flurry has the UK in third with 43 million, South Korea in fourth with 30 million and Japan in fifth with 29 million. On the flip side of totals, countries to include Columbia, Vietnam, Turkey, Ukraine and Egypt are currently top 5 in terms of fastest growing Android and iOS devices by market.

[via Flurry Blog]

Sony Xperia Z goes up for sale early in Europe

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 10:14 AM PST

Sony has an impressive new smartphone headed to market soon. Simply known as the Xperia Z. Their new flagship smartphone was pretty impressive when we got our hands on it at CES, and now it looks like those in Europe can get it right this minute. Last week Sony confirmed the device would hit the streets starting February 21st in Europe, but it appears to already be available.

Xperia-Z-France-640x419

According to multiple reports including the @SonyXperiaFR France Twitter account, the new flagship smartphone is up for sale in both the black and white variant today and is shipping right this minute. If you’ve been following Sony’s new beast of a phone, it’s time to get excited and go drop down some cash.

Today 3 days early, the official Sony Mobile France webstore has opened up sales and has the device listed as available, in stock, and now shipping. At least according to XperiaBlog. The device is currently being listed for €649 and is available in both black and white variants.

It also looks like France carrier SFR will get an exclusive purple color option too. As far as regular flavors, instead of landing in Germany and other Europe regions on the 21st, they’ve already started selling it this afternoon. Users will probably be getting their delivers on the 21st, so right on time, unless of course some faster shipping choices are made. The Xperia Z’s 5-inch 1080p screen and water-proof features are pretty impressive. If you’re in France will you be picking one up? Let us know below.

Accel Telecom announces the car-friendly VOYAGER smartphone

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 09:57 AM PST

While some of the beauty of having a smartphone is being able to take it everywhere, it looks like one company is placing the smartphone in the car. That company is Accel Telecom and they have introduced what they are calling the “first standalone connected car smartphone.” The handset is called the VOYAGER and it is being touted as a device that can be easily installed in any car.

Accel Telecom Launches First Standalone Connected Car Smartphone

Perhaps key here though, the VOYAGER is designed to be a handset that offers a “safer and superior” connected car experience. This comes by way of features to include voice activation and a dedicated Waze launcher key for easy navigation. The VOYAGER also has what is described as being a “driver centric design” along with dedicated hard keys and car centric apps to include an in-car 3G Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity.

Another car related feature for the VOYAGER is the ability to hook up to the on-board diagnostics (OBD) which will allow for access to diagnostics and more. While we are not entirely sure the average person will need quite this much in terms of car focused features, this handset could have some nice perks for those who spend majority of their time driving. Aside from the car friendly features, the VOYAGER will be running Android and is noted as having integration with Google and Exchange.

So far we have yet to see anything in terms of a release date or pricing, however Accel CEO Marc Seelenfreund has said that they “expect strong demand” in both the US and European markets. Lastly, for those worried about having yet another connected device with a bill, the VOYAGER will have a twin-SIM system which will allow it to operate on an existing phone number.

[via PR Newswire]

Samsung Galaxy Note N7000 Jelly Bean update rolling out

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 09:48 AM PST

Just like the aging Galaxy S II, Samsung hasn’t forgot about their popular original 5.3-inch Galaxy Note phablet. Today we’ve learned that it’s happily getting updated to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean now, and in the coming weeks and months. Initially this is for the international N7000 Galaxy Note, then other regions and eventually the US models will also enjoy the same benefits.

samsung_galaxy_note_review_sg_35-580x490-540x45611

Last week HTC updated their Thunderbolt to Ice Cream Sandwich, and now Samsung is updating the Note. Both which are pretty old devices in today’s standards. It’s nice to see manufacturers still trying to keep all their devices up with the times, especially Samsung considering they’ve sold millions and millions of Galaxy Note smartphones.

According to reports, the Galaxy Note is receiving an over the air update to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean in Asia. With users from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and more reportedly stating it has arrived towards the end of the weekend or this morning. It isn’t Android 4.2, but it’s as close as you’ll get for now. Samsung has brought all the awesome features of Jelly Bean we love. Like Project Butter, Google Now, expandable notifications. As well as their wide array of Galaxy specific features like multi-window and multi-view modes and more.

2013-02-18-08-15-24

As usual the update is rolling out as we speak, but is also available on Samsung Kies for those interested. Although you’ll have to be in Asia and rocking the N7000. For now this is just an initial rollout but we’re expecting other regions to quickly follow, then hopefully the AT&T and T-Mobile models stateside. Start checking for updates and hit the link below for a list of everything that’s new.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy Note
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : September 01, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5.30 Inch
  • Resolution : 800x1280
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.78 Inch
  • Width : 3.27 Inch
  • Depth : 0.38 Inch
  • Weight : 178 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 390 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AMR
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU :
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 32.768 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via SamMobile]

Samsung rumored to announce the Galaxy S IV on March 14

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 09:21 AM PST

Rumors were once calling for Samsung to announce the Galaxy S IV on March 15 and as of today it looks like another possible date has surfaced. Keeping in mind, this latest is still nothing more than a rumor. The latest date is just one day prior to the last — March 14. Announcement date aside, we cannot help but think some of the importance here will be in availability as opposed to announcements.

Samsung-display

The details are coming by way of Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin who has recently posted the details on Twitter. The specific message read as follows; “Save the date for a big announcement – March 14″ and went on to poke some fun at HTC. Noting that HTC will miss One sales again, “like it was in 2012.” The announcement is said to be taking place in New York.

Assuming this date holds accurate, this means Samsung would be announcing the Galaxy S IV about two weeks after Mobile World Congress. Perhaps key to this point, it would be quite a while after the February 19 announcement for the HTC One. That of course brings us to our earlier point — announcements are nice, however availability is even nicer.

Previous rumors have said the Galaxy S IV availability will begin in April, however it will be a slow roll and continue until June. Otherwise, previous rumors still point towards the Galaxy S IV as launching with a 4.99-inch Super AMOLED HD display, quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 2 megapixel front-facing camera, 13 megapixel rear-facing camera and Jelly Bean.

[via SamMobile]

Archos Galaxy Note: don’t be fooled this afternoon

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 08:42 AM PST

Last week we mentioned the latest Archos rumors. For those who missed that post, the rumors detailed three upcoming smartphones. Assuming these rumors prove to be accurate — it looks like Archos is once again looking to release a few smartphones. We remain skeptical mainly because this is not the first time we are hearing talk of an Archos smartphone. That part of the rumor aside — images of these smartphones weren’t posted last week and they have not been posted since.

archos-logo-540

Keep that last part in mind, images of the Archos smartphones have not leaked — despite what some sites are reporting. What is even funnier is that we are now seeing comments on these posts calling Archos crazy for working on devices that so closely resemble the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III. Well, the key here — those are Galaxy devices. These images have come by way of the Russian language Hi-Tech@mail.ru site and to the best of our ability to translate Russian — appear to have been added for demonstration purpose, not to say that Archos was preparing to copy the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III.

not-an-archos-smartphone-540

Basically, we are offering this post as a simple reminder that not everything you see can be taken at face value. Just for comparison sake, you can see an image of the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III below. Otherwise, aside from these images, what has been leaked about the Archos smartphones includes some basic specs and some rough price points. But again, no images just yet.

note-2-s-3

To sum up the rumored details that have leaked so far, we are hearing reports of three Archos smartphones; the 52 Titanium, 48 Platinum and 35 Carbon. The rumors are pointing towards the 52 Titanium as having a 5.2-inch 800 x 480 display and dual-core 1.2GHz processor, the 48 Platinum as having a 4.8-inch 1280 x 800 display and quad-core 1.7GHz processor and the 35 Carbon with a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 display and a single-core processor.

Netgear PTV3000 update brings Miracast support for Android devices

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 07:55 AM PST

Miracast, for those unfamiliar with the name, means you can mirror the display from the device in your hand to your television. In this case we are talking about the Miracast-enabled Netgear PTV3000 meadia streamer and an Android smartphone. And thanks to the recent PTV3000 update — you can now do just that. This update is currently available for the PTV3000 and brings support for select Android devices.

netgear-ptv3000-540

More specifically, this update brings support for the Galaxy Note II and Note 10.1 as well as the Galaxy S III (running 4.1.1 or later), the Nexus 4 (running 4.2.1 or later), the LG Optimus G (running 4.0.4 or later) and “various” Sony Xperia models (provided they are running 4.0.4 or later). For those keeping track, or checking to see if they have the latest version, this update will bring your Netgear PTV3000 up to version 2.2.9.

Aside from the Miracast support for Android devices, this PTV3000 update also brought a long list of improvements and changes. For example, Miracast and Intel Wireless Display (Wi-Di) have been combined into a single user interface. Basically, this means that you no longer have to push the button on the side to switch between the modes. The Intel Wi-Di connectivity has also been improved for those with Windows 8 and there have been some fixes put in place for disconnection issues on mobile devices.

You can check the full and complete change log on the Netgear download site. Those looking to get the update, here is what you will need to do. To begin with, push and hold the WPS button (on the side) for more than 5 seconds. This will take the PTV3000 into firmware update mode and from here it is just a matter of following the prompts on the screen.

[via Engadget]

HTC continues teasing ahead of the One announcement

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 07:12 AM PST

The leaks surrounding the HTC M7 were fast and furious and eventually we saw that name change to the HTC One. We also saw that chatter switch from being leaks and rumors to teasing from HTC. In fact, they have been posting a steady stream of teasers on their official @HTC Twitter account. The most recent teaser image can be seen below.

733341686

But before you try and click on those play buttons, that is nothing more than an image. Granted, it appears to be video focused and in fact, if you follow the twitter stream, HTC had followed this image up with a comment and a question that read; “Average length of an online video is 5 minutes. How long do you stick around?”

Given this, we suspect at least part of the announcement event will be focused on shooting video with the One. Another recent teaser can be seen in the next image. This one gives the date of the announcement, which we already knew to be February 19th, and shows a pair of speakers. Similar to the video image and comment, this speaker teaser was followed up with a question; “The call of a Blue Whale or a Rocket Launch?”

732830183

That one seems a bit harder to answer, however it certainly points towards the speakers and sound experience being a big part of the HTC One. And again, this is something we expect to learn more about come tomorrow evening. Otherwise, previous HTC One image teasers also included a lens, a close up of an eye and what appears to be a silver block of metal. These can all be seen in the gallery below. Remember though, the big event is scheduled for tomorrow evening and you can expect the news to be covered here on Android Community.

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[via Twitter @HTC]

Vic Gundotra: Future Nexus smartphones will have “insanely great cameras”

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:47 AM PST

Vic Gundotra recently took to Google+ in a effort to get some advice on which camera he should take on his trip to the mountains. He mentioned that he would “obviously” be taking his Android phone and Google Glass but was looking for suggestions on whether he should take his DSLR. While we are sure the camera geeks may have a bit more interest in the DSLR details, what attracted our eye was the mention of the Nexus camera.

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Mixed in with the comment stream of his Google+ posting was a statement that could have easily gone unanswered. A commenter mentioned how he hoped they would be able to someday just carry a Nexus and not have to worry about the heavy cameras. While we will not spend all that much time on the Nexus camera, we will say that the Nexus line has never really been known to take exceptional pictures.

The nice part here, that comment was replied to and came with some hope for those who consider themselves smartphone photographers. While there are no real specifics, Gundotra said that they are “committed to making Nexus phones insanely great cameras.” And if that was not enough of a teaser, he followed that up with “just wait and see.”

These comments come at a time when we are beginning to look towards Google I/O and beginning to chat about what we may see announced. The key here — will this “committed” comment mean some good news for I/O 2013, or will this end up being something that happens later in the year, or even during I/O 2014. That part obviously cannot be answered right now, however we are hoping to see something come this year.

[via phoneArena]

LG Optimus G Pro global release to begin in Q2

Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:23 AM PST

This isn’t the first time we have heard from LG about the Optimus G Pro smartphone, however this time around we are getting a rough idea as to when we can expect the global roll-out to begin. In short, LG has announced that will begin during the second quarter of the year. Of course, those in Korea will get the handset quite a bit sooner. In fact, the Korean release is set for this coming Wednesday, February 20.

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LG is going to be releasing the Optimus G Pro in black and white. Specifically, the colors are indigo black and luna white. There will be LTE and HSPA+ connectivity as well as Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth 4.0. Other goodies will include a dual-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm 600 Series Snapdragon processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, 2.1 megapixel front-facing camera, 13 megapixel rear-facing camera and 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080.

LG has said the handset will be running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and also have a microSD card slot for up to an additional 64GB of storage space, NFC, HDMI, USB 2.0, measurements of 150.2 x 76.1 x 9.4mm and with a weight of 172 grams. Aside from the hardware itself, some of the other perks include a dual-window setup for multitasking (think Galaxy Note II), a tracking focus in the camera and those in South Korea will also have QShopping support.

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Otherwise, at this point the global release details are still at a minimum. Aside from this beginning in the second quarter, LG has said the Optimus G Pro would be coming to North America and Japan. The key here, we have yet to see anything in terms of US carrier support. On that thought, while we would not necessarily expect carrier announcements this soon, we are hoping to get a bit more in terms of detail come Mobile World Congress.

[via SlashGear]
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