Android Authority

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• Android controls every single major market around the world, Nexus 4 boosts LG’s UK market share
• Rumor: Galaxy Fonblet coming in June, to be called Galaxy Mega?
• Google’s privacy director moving on, will Android be affected?
• Sony Xperia SP and Xperia L expected in UK later this month
• Tipster: AT&T HTC One pre-orders start April 5, $249 for 32GB version
• Sony Xperia Z gets dipped in sulfuric acid, with surprising results (video)
• First trailer for Fast & Furious 6 posted, release in May
• April Fools’ day in the tech industry: roundup
• Android Authority On Air – Episode 57 – We broke the HTC One and Facebook Launcher
• Here’s an iPad mini knockoff with a phone function

Android controls every single major market around the world, Nexus 4 boosts LG’s UK market share Posted: 02 Apr 2013 03:04 AM PDT With the year's first fiscal quarter wrapped up less than 48 hours ago, you'd think it's not yet time to look at market shares or analyze sales numbers. But while manufacturers will only reveal their financial reports in a couple of weeks or so, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech already has some interesting surveys for us. The first one, which we broke down yesterday, confirmed Android's growing trend in the US and showed exactly how big of a gap there was between T-Mobile and the leading three American carriers on the eve of the "Uncarrier era". As for the second Kantar report, this focuses on smartphone sales by operating system in UK, as well as other important global markets. Much to our delight, the data compiled by the market research firm shows Android has the upper hand against iOS all across the world, from London to Berlin and from Sydney to Beijing. Even more delightful, the gap between first and second place is all around wider than in the US. And the icing on the cake is that Android has seen a boost in sales everywhere, unlike Apple, who's had progress in some markets, while in others… not so much. But let's get down to the actual numbers, shall we? Starting with GB, where Android's sales market share in the three months leading to February 2013 has been 58.3%, up 10 full points compared with the same period last year. Meanwhile, iOS has only grown 0.1%, from 28.9% to 29%. Windows has snatched the British bronze medal from RIM BlackBerry, despite what analysts have described as encouraging initial sales of BB's Z10. The status quo is similar in the other two major European countries surveyed by Kantar – Germany and Italy. Only Germans seem to love Android even more, as the market share has grown from 58.8% to a whopping 71%. Apple is the distant second around those parts, with 18.7% (down almost three points), while in Italy the gap is much narrower, but still comfortable – 57.1% vs. 23.1%. Windows seems to be most popular in "the boot", where it holds a steady 13.1% market share. Moving across oceans and deserts, we arrive in Australia, where Android remains the unchallenged champion, with a 61.4% share, up 3.6% year-on-year. iOS is second, with 32.5% (up 0.6%), while Windows is third, with a measly 3.4% share. Android has seen its biggest growth in Mexico, where the market share has more than doubled in the past year, from 25.9% to an incredible 55.8%. iOS doesn't even have a place on the podium here, being beaten to the punch by both BlackBerry and Symbian (?!?). Finally, Android's share in urban China is impressive as well (68.7%), while iOS places second with 25.8%. Getting back to the UK for a second, we have to award LG with an honorable mention for leaping from a 0.3% market share in the three months to February 2012 to 4.3% a year later. That's "almost solely" due to strong Nexus 4 sales, which is incredibly impressive given how hard it has been to score one of those in the recent past. This kind of bump has to make you wonder if the February N4 sales estimates were accurate. According to those, the phone sold in 1 million units globally. Our guess? Not even close. Despite the impressive growth, LG can’t reach the podium in UK sales. Samsung remains top dog, with 36.2% of the pie, Apple is second, with 29%, while HTC is third, with an on the rise 9.1% share owed to the One X+ and the Windows-based 8S. So how about all these numbers, folks? Should they give Apple the heebie-jeebies? Should Google and Samsung pop up the champagne? How about LG, is that 4% boost in the UK a cause for celebration? The post Android controls every single major market around the world, Nexus 4 boosts LG’s UK market share appeared first on Android Authority.

Rumor: Galaxy Fonblet coming in June, to be called Galaxy Mega? Posted: 02 Apr 2013 02:19 AM PDT Samsung is preparing two new extra-large devices for an expected June release, claims a rumor. Previously known as Galaxy Fonblet, the line will supposedly be dubbed Galaxy Mega. Let's start with a disclaimer – at this point, the information we have on the Galaxy Fonblet is mostly speculation and circumstantial evidence. That doesn't mean that the Fonblet doesn't exist in some form, but until some official info is revealed, take everything with a dose of skepticism. Today, the rumor purveyors at Sam Mobile claim to have information on the Galaxy Fonblet line of "phablets", hybrids devices that blur the distinction between phones and tablets. According to the report, the Fonblet name will be dropped in favor of the slightly less corny Mega moniker. The report says that Samsung will release two Galaxy Mega models, one equipped with a 5.8-inch display, and one with a 6.3-inch display. Moreover, the Galaxy Mega 5.8 is said to be released in the last week of May (week 22), while the Galaxy Mega 6.3 is expected in mid-June (week 25). Sam Mobile fails to mention any source for its claims, but the site has been known to deliver insider info before, although its reports haven't always panned out. In this case, a little digging provides some additional, albeit circumstantial, evidence. First off, Samsung has indeed registered the Galaxy Mega trademark, back in October 2012. That’s even before the Fonblet mark was registered, in December. The same day Mega was registered, Samsung also snapped up Mega View and Galaxy Wide. It wouldn't be too far-fetched too think that the Galaxy Mega View could be the name of the larger, 6.3-inch model. But that’s just speculation at this point. Another clue could be the dimensions of the Galaxy Mega/Fonblet 6.3. The Gamepad accessory that Samsung announced for the Galaxy S4 is said to be compatible with devices that have displays of up to 6.3-inch. It could be just a coincidence, but the specs of the Gamepad at least give us an indication that Samsung is working on future oversized devices. It's not clear yet if the Mega/Fonblet will be a phone or a media player. One thing is for sure though – jumbo-sized devices aren't going anywhere. The post Rumor: Galaxy Fonblet coming in June, to be called Galaxy Mega? appeared first on Android Authority.

Google’s privacy director moving on, will Android be affected? Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:57 AM PDT Computer related privacy is one of those areas where if a tech company gets it wrong, the failure is normally quite spectacular. This, plus the fact that Google is huge, makes the job of Privacy Director at the Mountain View company hard. After just a few years in the job Google’s current privacy boss Alma Whitten is leaving Google to retire. She will however stay on for a few more months for the transition to Lawrence You, her replacement. As far as privacy is concerned Google never seems to be far from the spot light. Trying to judge the success of Alma’s time in charge of Google’s privacy department is hard as we can never see what might have happened if her group didn’t police Google’s actions and attitudes. However one thing is sure, Google is likely to be pleased to have Lawrence You working out of Mountain View rather than someone directing things from London, which is where Whitten was based. During Whitten’s time Google has been trying to get its privacy work right and to be fair to Google it does try. Since it is the custodian of so much of our data how Google uses, processes and protects that data is important for all of us. Android itself is Google’s official mobile entrance way into all those Google services and the best way to access your Google data. As such Google’s privacy related policies and actions affect every Android user. But Google has not always got it right. Back in 2012 Google entered into a small skirmish with the EU over its privacy policies. The EU felt that Google could be violating data protection laws. There was also the incident when Google deliberately ignored Safari’s privacy settings so that it could continue to track users across the net. On top of that it was revealed only a few weeks ago that purchases made on Google Play disclose users' personal info to app developers. Following new research, which was published this week in Nature, it is becoming clear that so-called “anonymous” data that is often collected by apps can in fact be used to identify individual users. The challenge for Lawrence You will not only to ensure that Google behaves responsibly with our data, but also to protect our data from being analysed (even anonymously) for patterns. These patterns in themselves can reveal too much about our personal lives. Also with new projects like Google Glass (which has already come under attack due to privacy concerns), Lawrence will certainly be busy. As for Alma, we want to wish her every success for the future. The post Google’s privacy director moving on, will Android be affected? appeared first on Android Authority.

Sony Xperia SP and Xperia L expected in UK later this month Posted: 02 Apr 2013 01:01 AM PDT The Sony Xperia SP and Xperia L have been announced in mid-March, but so far, we haven’t heard any official information on the release date of the two devices, other than a vague statement from Sony saying that they would be released in Q2 of 2013. It appears that those in the UK who are interested in these devices could be able to grab a unit later this month. The information comes as Carphone Warehouse has added the Xperia SP and Xperia L to its website, noting that they are expected in April 2013. While the Carphone Warehouse website doesn't specifically state the prices of the phones, we got word last month that the Xperia L will be available for €279, while the Xperia SP will cost €399. UK prices may vary. For those of you who are considering these devices, the Xperia L will sport a 4.3-inch FWVGA display with a 1GHz dual-core processor, an 8MP camera, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal memory. If you are willing to splurge a little more and get the Xperia SP, then you will enjoy the same basic specs, except that this device has a 4.6-inch HD display with LTE connectivity and a 1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Note that this is by no means an official information, so don’t make any plans until you hear anything concrete. The post Sony Xperia SP and Xperia L expected in UK later this month appeared first on Android Authority.

Tipster: AT&T HTC One pre-orders start April 5, $249 for 32GB version Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:33 AM PDT HTC is preparing to launch the One in the United States, after the device went on sale in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Taiwan last week. According to a tipster, pre-orders for the new flagship phone on AT&T will start on April 5. An anonymous source sent in a screenshot to Engadget that lists the 32GB version available in silver or back. Either version will run you $249.99 with a new two-year contract. It’s now only a matter of time until Sprint and T-Mobile officially announce pre-order dates for their versions. If you’re interested in the HTC One on Sprint, Radioshack has at least hinted at the price. You’ll be able to pick up the One on a new two-year contract for $199, but you’ll receive $50 in Google Play credit and $10 Radioshack coupon with the purchase. T-Mobile announced the HTC One will cost just $99 with its new Simple Choice plans. However, keep in mind that, since T-Mobile no longer subsidizes phones, you will also have to pay $20/month for the next two years, in addition to the cost of the subscription. AT&T may have the upper hand though when it comes to larger storage options, with a promo video claiming that the 64GB HTC One will be offered exclusively (at least initially) by AT&T for a princely $299. Remember that the source of this information is anonymous, so it’s not fully reliable. With that said, which HTC One model do you plan to buy, once pre-orders open? The post Tipster: AT&T HTC One pre-orders start April 5, $249 for 32GB version appeared first on Android Authority.

Sony Xperia Z gets dipped in sulfuric acid, with surprising results (video) Posted: 02 Apr 2013 12:00 AM PDT The folks over at Stuff decided to test the resistance to elements of the Sony Xperia Z, but they decided a simple water test just won’t do. How about some corrosive sulfuric acid then? Just to remind us how potent sulfuric acid is, the experimenters first dipped a tea spoon into an acid solution. The spoon was attacked and quickly dissolved. Then, it was the Sony Xperia Z’s turn to take a dip into the dangerous substance. But let’s not spoil the surprise – here’s the video, made by Stuff. In case you didn’t realize, that was an April Fools joke (like the ones Google or SwiftKey had for us yesterday), and it wasn’t the Xperia Z that was fake, but the spoon, which was made from a material that melts at a pretty low temperature. Now, if you want to see what the Sony Xperia Z can really do, check out our video review of the smartphone (you can read the text version here). Sony’s flagship is a pretty sturdy device, and, while it likely won’t resist an acid test, it will make it through most day to day mishaps. And now that April Fools Day is gone, what was your favorite tech-related prank? The post Sony Xperia Z gets dipped in sulfuric acid, with surprising results (video) appeared first on Android Authority.

First trailer for Fast & Furious 6 posted, release in May Posted: 01 Apr 2013 11:42 PM PDT The Fast & Furious 6 will be coming this May on Android, and a first trailer of the game has been posted on the game’s official YouTube account. In the latest movie in the action franchise, Vin Diesel’s character, Dominic Toretto, and his partners are helping the law in order to keep their freedom. It’s not hard to imagine that the game, developed by Kabam and Gameloft (that has recently put out Order & Chaos Duels, a collectible trading cards game), will be based on the same story as the movie. Not that the story really matters that much when it comes to a racing game (like Real Racing 3, a game that’s getting an update later this spring). The trailer of the Fast & Furious 6 game shows some good-looking graphics and the game promises new modes taking place in London. The new heist mode will certainly appeal to some players and it looks like drifts will be pretty important in the game. As you’d expect, the various tune-ups (both visual and performance-related) will also play an important role. Fast & Furious 6, the movie, will be in theaters this May, and, if everything goes to plan, the accompanying Android title should hit the Play Store around the same time. The post First trailer for Fast & Furious 6 posted, release in May appeared first on Android Authority.

April Fools’ day in the tech industry: roundup Posted: 01 Apr 2013 09:41 PM PDT Credit: cutenessareej/flickr April Fool’s day is perhaps one of the most loved (and confusing) days of the year. Throughout the day, you have all sorts of people and companies joining in on the fun. It has actually progressed to the point where the average blogger can’t really believe anything they read or hear during the entire day. If you are interested in what companies pulled off which jokes but weren’t able to keep up over April 1, rest easy as we have compiled the most notable ones here. Google The king of April Fool’s jokes when it come to tech companies, Google certainly didn’t disappoint this year. They released several different pranks that span a wide variety of services. To find an in-depth description of what Google had up its sleeve this year, check our roundup from earlier today. Microsoft Microsoft actually pulled a couple pranks to help generate some excitement. Perhaps the most amusing one was that when a user searches “google” on the Bing search engine, the site transforms into a comical replication of Google’s own homepage. Microsoft has changed Google’s popular “I’m feeling lucky button” to a “I’m feeling confused button.” Clicking the button actually just brings you to Bing’s blog. Like Google, Microsoft also faked a product launch by supposedly releasing the Do Not Track Suit. This obviously pokes fun at all of the tension regarding browsers that support “Do Not Track.” The Do Not Track Suit is a “wearable computing appliance" that is useful if the user wants to block him or herself from the digital world. The Pirate Bay Popular bitTorrent tracker The Pirate Bay celebrated by changing their name to The Freedom Bay and by moving all of their servers to the United States. The US has been notorious for their anti-piracy actions and have been particularly hostile towards TBP in particular. The tracker even goes on to say that all US-based downloads will receive extra power to ensure that all Americans can get their content faster. Virgin Virgin’s Richard Branson posted that Virgin will be creating the world’s first plane with a glass floor. This will of course allow you to see the world as you pass over it, making air travel absolutely terrifying. Branson says “This really is a team effort from all corners of Virgin.” While this one isn’t too far-fetched, using this type of aircraft commercially would obviously induce quite a bit of anxiety from the passengers. Hulu Hulu got in the spirit by announcing the release of fictional TV shows that are featured in other popular TV shows. Hulu announced "Inspector Spacetime" from Community, both “MILF Island" and "The Rural Juror" from 30 Rock and “The Itchy and Scratch Show" from The Simpsons. This is another example where some users might not even realize it is a joke, especially if they are not familiar with the original shows. Twitter Twitter announced that in an attempt to encourage more “efficient and dense” communication, it is dropping vowels from all of its text. “Twttr” will be the basic free service that is available to everyone. If you prefer to keep your vowels, you can fork over $5 a month to upgrade to the traditional version. The company says that “Twttr will roll out slowly to a small percentage of users, growing to 100% over the next few days.” Sony Sony took the opportunity to announce its new line of electronics specifically geared towards pets. With its new Animalia line of tech products, Sony released products targeted specifically at owners of dogs, cats, and hamsters. The services are dubbed K9 4K TV, M3-OW KittyCans, and In-Cage Speakers. That translates to a TV for your dog, headphones for your cat, and speakers that can go inside of your hamster’s cage. Netflix Netflix’s prank was actually so subtle, some users just assumed it was a normal function of the site. As you may or may not be aware, Netflix categorizes shows for you on their front page. Sometimes the categories are general, but other times they can actually get so specific that its really comical. Today, some categories just seemed a little too specific to be real and as it turns out, they were. Imgur The popular image hosting website Imgur joined in on the fun by releasing its latest service Snail Mail. Snail Mail is a new and innovative way of uploading your photos where you actually mail the physical photos to Imgur. No longer do those who prefer film cameras have to deal with inconvenient photo scanners to digitize their photos. Simply send your photos off to Imgur’s PO box and you’re good to go! deviantART deviantART is a popular place on the web for artists to get together and share art. In honor of April Fool’s, the company is launching deviantHEART. deviantHEART is a dating site specifically dedicated to artists. The site will use “advanced matching technology” to perfectly match artists to the love of their lives. This obviously pokes fun at the fact that many dating services are geared towards a specific type of person. Toshiba Toshiba decided to have some fun by releasing the Shibasphere, dubbed the “most insane game console ever.” The concept is based on the Kinect-type of controller-less gameplay. Because Toshiba knows that gamers can get angry, the device uses Logical Aggression Monitoring to make sure that you don’t get too angry at your games. Nokia Nokia tried to fool consumers today by releasing its own microwave oven. The Nokia 5AM-TH1N6 Constellation is a touch screen microwave that sports a “superfast, water-cooled 8-core high-voltage transformer, which brings a combined performance of 5,000 watts to end-users.” Perhaps the best feature is that the touch screen can be operated with oven mitts, making it a must have for any serious chef. China Perhaps the biggest and cruelest April Fool’s joke of them all came directly from former Google China chief Kai-fu Lee. As you may or may not be aware, both Facebook and Twitter are banned by China’s “Great Firewall.” This means that you cannot access the services unless you are using some sort of VPN. Well, Lee actually posted that starting today, Chinese users will now have access to both of these sites. This one may have hit a little too close to h0me for some people in the county and will likely remain as one of the most infamous tricks played this year. As you can see, April Fool’s day was extremely popular among tech companies this year, a fad started by Google initially. As the years progress, it will probably turn into a giant competition to see who can pull of the most ridiculous one. So what company do you think had the best prank(s)? The post April Fools’ day in the tech industry: roundup appeared first on Android Authority.

Android Authority On Air – Episode 57 – We broke the HTC One and Facebook Launcher Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:07 PM PDT   This week on Android Authority On Air, we discussed a new Nexus 4, Facebook Phone rumors, a handful of app updates, carrier news, and what we did to the HTC One. The Nexus 4 received an updated design last week. The Nexus 4 now has tiny little nubs or bumps on the back to raise the device just enough to help with muffled audio and to stop the smartphone from sliding off of various things. Will Facebook launch a phone, the HTC Myst on April 4th? Or is that just a bunch of crap? We’re more inclined to think Facebook will debut an Android launcher, allowing them to put Facebook first. T-Mobile LTE’s all the things (well, only a few things) for the very first time this past week, and some users get the Nexus 4 to work on it. On to app updates, a handful of Google apps got updated and Tasker got some #HOLO. The HTC One is a gorgeous device. During our HTC One review, we came to the conclusion that this Android phone is a beauty from Sense 5 to the aluminum body. Since the HTC One reminded us of the iPhone 5′s aluminum body, we did the only thing natural, we did a drop test and destroyed them both. Which device won? Check out the HTC One vs iPhone 5 Drop Test and find out. All this and more on this weeks show! Stitcher |iTunes | Miro | RSS The post Android Authority On Air – Episode 57 – We broke the HTC One and Facebook Launcher appeared first on Android Authority.

Here’s an iPad mini knockoff with a phone function Posted: 01 Apr 2013 05:13 PM PDT Apple seems to have hit the screen size limit with the iPhone 5′s 4.5-inch diagonal screen squeezed into a taller package. That’s not stopping the iPad mini from being one of Apple’s more popular devices, eating into the full-sized iPad sales, though. But it’s still a tablet and not a phone. What would you get if you had an iPad mini that could make phone calls? A Chinese knockoff tablet does just this. The tablet, named “No. 1 mini Pad” looks like an iPad mini from afar, and even the packaging mimics that of the iPad mini. However, you can distinguish it from the real thing with its wider bezel (the screen measures 7 inches rather than 7.9) and the branding at the back. It also runs an un-identified build of Android, although there’s no word whether it will be skinned to appear like iOS like some knockoffs. Specs-wise, it’s not exactly an iPad mini or a Nexus 7 competitor, but it’s not likely that it would matter for this device’s target market. Quad-core Mediatek MT6589 processor clocked at 1.2 GHz 2GB RAM Lightning connector clone port for charging and data transfers 1280×720 (rumored) 7-inch display SIM tray for data and voice communications The device comes with both rear- and front-facing cameras. According to GizChina, the device is just a prototype and build quality left much to be desired. There’s no word on the pricing yet, although GizChina says the tablet is set for production and release soon. We know how agile these Chinese manufacturing outfits are, and they can churn out gadgets at will. Cheap knockoffs are quite abundant, especially in a country that does not have the same regard for intellectual property as with the rest of the world. As with most cheap knockoffs, though, there is no assurance that it will provide the same user experience as with a branded device, like the iPad Mini itself or the Nexus 7, especially in terms of responsiveness, build quality and battery life. But if you’re out for an iPad mini lookalike that does a bit more than the iPad itself (such as make calls), then this might be an interesting tablet to watch out for. The post Here’s an iPad mini knockoff with a phone function appeared first on Android Authority.

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Android Phone Fans

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• AT&T on track to introduce HD Voice later this year over their LTE network
• Pandora updated in the Play Store, brings much requested lockscreen controls
• HTC One X could be receiving Android 4.2.2 in addition to Sense 5
• Online retailer claims to have Google Glass available for rent starting April 30th
• T-Mobile updates HTC One sign up page, now throwing in a free HTC car dock
• AT&T HTC One priced at $250, officially goes up for pre-order this week
• Kindle Fire HD 8.9 with AT&T 4G LTE coming April 5th
• Feedly update might make you miss Google Reader a little less
• SwiftKey Tilt might be an April Fool’s Day joke, but it’s a real feature
• Report: Android’s lead in US market share widens over Apple
• RadioShack receives signage for HTC One, offers $50 Google Play gift card
• So just how many people did Google invite to get an early look at Project Glass?
• HTC announces Desire P for Taiwan
• Yes, it’s April Fool’s Day: YouTube is closing, smell your search results, and more
• Rumor: Facebook’s Android skin will be called ‘Home’

AT&T on track to introduce HD Voice later this year over their LTE network Posted: 01 Apr 2013 07:23 PM PDT It’s one of the features I miss most after leaving T-Mobile: HD voice. Switching over to AT&T not more than a few months ago, I quickly noticed the change in quality when placing voice calls. Maybe it because my ears became spoiled but now, whenever I make a voice call, I have to concentrate so [...]

Pandora updated in the Play Store, brings much requested lockscreen controls Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:07 PM PDT Now that switched over to team Rdio, I almost forgot Pandora existed. Still the best option for those that want to stream personalized music stations of the go, Pandora for Android is now seeing a new update in the Play Store. The latest version finally brings about lockscreen controls, a welcome addition indeed. Here’s what’s [...]

HTC One X could be receiving Android 4.2.2 in addition to Sense 5 Posted: 01 Apr 2013 05:28 PM PDT When it comes to Android firmware upgrades, it’s not uncommon for an Android manufacturer to put some of their older devices on the back burner while a newly released flagship steals their focus. Often times a new phone will launch with the latest version of Android (or at least within the general firmware version) while [...]

Online retailer claims to have Google Glass available for rent starting April 30th Posted: 01 Apr 2013 03:16 PM PDT If you’ve been dying to get your grubby little mits on Google Glass, but life never provided you the opportunity to 1. become a developer, or 2. possess the disposable income to shell out $1,500 for one — good news! It appears as if online retailer Borrowlenses.com is expecting to get receive some Glass specs [...]

T-Mobile updates HTC One sign up page, now throwing in a free HTC car dock Posted: 01 Apr 2013 02:04 PM PDT And here’s another HTC One update. It looks like T-Mobile has updated their HTC One sign-up page with another deal for early adopters. Now, Magenta is throwing in a free retro looking official HTC car kit/dock (while supplies last) for anyone that signs up on the page by April 4th, buys the HTC One by [...]

AT&T HTC One priced at $250, officially goes up for pre-order this week Posted: 01 Apr 2013 01:12 PM PDT It’s been a long time coming and where the HTC One was only every available for pre-register (not really the same as pre-order), it looks like AT&T will be first out the gate with official pre-orders for the device starting on Friday, April 5th. The 32GB version of the HTC One will be priced at [...]

Kindle Fire HD 8.9 with AT&T 4G LTE coming April 5th Posted: 01 Apr 2013 10:53 AM PDT AT&T stores will soon stock Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD 8.9, bringing further savings to those purchasing the tablet with a two-year service agreement. The Kindle Fire HD 8.9 will find a home on AT&T’s 4G LTE network and is being offered for $399. When purchased with a service agreement the tablet will be subsidized an [...]

Feedly update might make you miss Google Reader a little less Posted: 01 Apr 2013 10:29 AM PDT While many have lamented the negative side of Google’s devision to retire Reader later this year, the folks at Feedly our looking at the positives. That includes an influx of nearly 3 million new users for their news reading application for mobile devices. To make Feedly an even more appealing alternative, the company is today [...]

SwiftKey Tilt might be an April Fool’s Day joke, but it’s a real feature Posted: 01 Apr 2013 08:33 AM PDT Today as part of the many April Fool’s Day jokes running rampant on the internet, the folks at SwiftKey have announced Tilt. The new input method promises a full-body typing experience that allows users to use motion to enter text, no touch necessary. Yes, the idea is a bit zany (and the video introducing it [...]

Report: Android’s lead in US market share widens over Apple Posted: 01 Apr 2013 08:22 AM PDT Google’s lead in US market share continues to grow, according to the latest report from Kantar. For the three months ending in February 2013, Android held a 51 percent lead. Compare this to the nearest competitor, Apple, at 43 percent. The numbers weren’t always this way. For the same period last year, Apple held a [...]

RadioShack receives signage for HTC One, offers $50 Google Play gift card Posted: 01 Apr 2013 07:44 AM PDT The US isn’t set to get the HTC One until the end of the month after component shortages have led to a delay in the flagship handset’s launch. That won’t slow down the marketing blitz, however. RadioShack has begun receigin signage for the One and is now displaying it in stores. Specifically, the signs are [...]

So just how many people did Google invite to get an early look at Project Glass? Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:38 AM PDT Google’s Glass Explorer program is not quite a contest, but it’s not open to the general public, either. Given the fact that those selected as “winners” still need to shell out $1500 to partake in the Project Glass beta program, more than a few wallets could come up as losers. So just how many individuals [...]

HTC announces Desire P for Taiwan Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:13 AM PDT HTC has officially announced the next member of the Desire family, the Desire P. The budget-focused phone will be available in Taiwan first and features a 4.3-inch display, 1GHz dual-core CPU, 768MB RAM, 4GB of internal storage with microSD expandability, and an 8MP camera. The phone’s Android version is unspecified as well as Sense, but [...]

Yes, it’s April Fool’s Day: YouTube is closing, smell your search results, and more Posted: 01 Apr 2013 05:52 AM PDT If you’re the gullible type, best to stay away from the internet today. It’s April 1st and the Fool’s Day jokes are in full swing. Google, as always, leads the pack with a handful of cleverly crafted pranks that could almost pass as real, given the attention to detail. Did you hear that YouTube is [...]

Rumor: Facebook’s Android skin will be called ‘Home’ Posted: 01 Apr 2013 05:16 AM PDT This week all signs point to Facebook unveiling a custom version of Android, one that takes the Facebook experience and puts it front and center on a device’s homescreen. A new rumor posits that the tweaked OS could appropriately be called Facebook Home. The name almost seems a bit too obvious considering the invite Facebook [...]

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Android and Me

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• The best of Google’s April Fools’ Day jokes
• Read this: How iOS is still creating a negative impact on Android
• Feedly version 14 now available in Google Play with improved search and more

The best of Google’s April Fools’ Day jokes Posted: 01 Apr 2013 04:26 PM PDT Google is no stranger to April Fools’ Day. Every year, the company attacks the Internet with more joke services and announcements than we can count. You can poke around the web and find them all for yourself, but below, we’ve gathered a sort of list of what we think really stands out... Visit our site to read the full article.

Read this: How iOS is still creating a negative impact on Android Posted: 01 Apr 2013 04:23 PM PDT When iOS was first released, there’s no denying it was a revolutionary product. Since then, in terms of features and flexibility, Android has eclipsed iOS three times over. Yet many Android apps still function at a lower capacity. Despite having a clear advantage in overall market share, iOS... Visit our site to read the full article.

Feedly version 14 now available in Google Play with improved search and more Posted: 01 Apr 2013 01:42 PM PDT When Google announced they’d be shutting down Reader this July, Feedly really stepped up to the plate. Despite being around for years now, Feedly has just recently caught fire. Promising continued support and seamless migration after Reader is dead and gone, some 3 million new users have... Visit our site to read the full article.

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• Tapatalk HD updated in Play Store today
• Google's director of privacy steps down, will remain at Google for transition
• TuneIn Radio adds new 'live' interface for music discovery
• Order your HTC One online with T-Mobile and get a free HTC car kit
• AT&T HTC One pre-orders reportedly will begin April 5 for $250
• Feedly welcomes 3 million Google Reader refugees with app updates
• 'Facebook Home' APK teardown still doesn't answer the important question: Why hardware?
• Andmade Share: For a more robust sharing menu
• HTC One tip: Pinch to customize your home screens
• Set your calendars: Google's Q1 2013 earnings call is April 18
• HTC One signs sighted in RadioShack, hint at $50 Google Play gift card deal
• Kindle Fire HD 8.9 gets AT&T's 4G LTE starting April 5
• Deal of the Day: Incipio Feather Hard Case for HTC Droid DNA
• Google Wallet ATM - because ... nah ...
• SwiftKey gets in on the April Fools' action with SwiftKey Tilt
• Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World!
• Monday Brief: BlackBerry Q4 earnings, a Google Watch, and the last Monday Brief ever!
• More April Fools' with Google+ photos and +Emotion
• Introducing The YouTube Collection - the entire YouTube catalog, offline
• Google still isn't done with the April Fools' shenanigans - introducing Gmail Blue
• Google Nose is Mountain View's third April Fools' joke

Tapatalk HD updated in Play Store today Posted: 01 Apr 2013 04:13 PM PDT Tablet owners that use Tapatalk have an update waiting for them in the Play Store today, bringing Tapatalk HD up to v1.2.0. The change log mentions a new camera and photo editor in the latest version, however I'm unable to verify that thanks to consistent force closes. Trying to attach a photo using the gallery or by taking a new one on my Nexus 7 always leads to Tapatalk HD cashing, forcing me to exit the app. Thankfully the new sub-forum search seems to be working without a hitch. It's now possible to search for keywords in sub-forum threads, search by thread title only, and search by author. The search results can be displayed as either threads or posts, depending on what you're looking for. "New Jelly Bean Notifications style" is also listed as a new feature, however this must be purely aesthetic since notifications are not expandable in Jelly Bean. Hit the Play Store link at the top to get the update. I hope my force close problems are isolated. Anyone else having better luck? Sound off in the comments.

Google's director of privacy steps down, will remain at Google for transition Posted: 01 Apr 2013 04:04 PM PDT Alma Whitten, Google's director of privacy, product and engineering, decides to step aside As Forbes first reported earlier in the day, and Google has now confirmed, Alma Whitten is retiring after a decade of work with Google, and as the director of privacy for product and engineering since 2010. She will be replaced by Lawrence You, who has eight years at Google under his belt and is a current infrastructure engineer who has been involved in current privacy efforts. You will report to Eric Grosse, the vice president of security and privacy engineering. Whitten will stay on board to help during the transition, and Google is confident that user data will be kept as safe and secure as in the past. We wish her the best of luck, and can imagine a three-year tenure as privacy chief at Google earns one a long and relaxing retirement. Source: Forbes

TuneIn Radio adds new 'live' interface for music discovery Posted: 01 Apr 2013 03:44 PM PDT "TuneIn Live", added in the latest update, aims to improve music discovery with a visually appealing interface. Popular music and radio streaming service TuneIn Radio is adding a new way to browse for interesting content via the "live" tab at the top of the interface. The so-called TuneIn Live area presents large tiles of album artwork for stations that are currently playing interesting things. By default the live feed will show a wide selection of stations from country, hip hop, jazz, news, rock and sports, but you can also choose to customize which genres you see if you have a TuneIn account. This is a great improvement for users looking to just browse through stations to find something new. One of the downfalls of TuneIn's extensive radio listings is that it becomes hard to choose just one. The update is now live (pardon the pun) for both free and Pro versions of the app, and you can find both via the Play Store link at the top of this post. If you haven't given TuneIn Radio a try before, it's certainly worth a look.

Order your HTC One online with T-Mobile and get a free HTC car kit Posted: 01 Apr 2013 02:29 PM PDT T-Mobile adds an official HTC One car kit to the $100 trade in for online HTC One orders While you can't officially pre-order the HTC One on T-Mobile just yet, T-Mobile has updated their sign-up page and is now offering a free HTC car kit to folks who order online. This is in addition to the $100 Visa card you get from the trade in offer from HTC.  What we don't know yet is when to expect the HTC One at T-Mobile. Registering for more information is fine and dandy, and shifting the Visa card program around to make sure everyone can qualify is a good thing, but people want to know when they can get their hands on the HTC One on T-Mobile's new LTE network. The new $99 down payment plan won't attract anyone if you don't have what they want on the shelf. In any case, if you're even slightly interested be sure to sign up for more information to cement your spot in the trade-in program, and consider ordering online for the free car kit. Hit the link below! Source: T-Mobile. Thanks, Jasmine!

AT&T HTC One pre-orders reportedly will begin April 5 for $250 Posted: 01 Apr 2013 12:55 PM PDT 'Exclusive' 64GB model to come later at $299.99, internal screens show According to some training information obtained by Engadget (above), the HTC One could be up for pre-order at AT&T as early as this week. While we could've pretty easily guessed between a couple of possible prices for the device, we're looking at a cool $249.99 on-contract for the 32GB version in either black or silver casing. While there is no specific launch date for the 'exclusive' 64GB model, it is said to be up for sale eventually at $299.99 with no indication of potential pre-orders. Be on the lookout for an official announcement from AT&T in the coming days, as rumor has it that you'll be able to get a head start a day earlier online if you're anxious to get your hands on the HTC One. T-Mobile has also revealed some pricing information on its HTC One, but there's no official launch date there either. Source: Engadget  More: Read our complete HTC One review; HTC One Forums read more

Feedly welcomes 3 million Google Reader refugees with app updates Posted: 01 Apr 2013 11:55 AM PDT New search, layout and sharing features for the popular news reader app Feedly, the heir apparent to the throne of RSS, has announced that it's brought onboard some 3 million Google Reader users since Google announced the mothballing of that service a couple of weeks ago. What's more, today sees the launch of a new version of the Feedly app for Android -- and iOS -- with new search and layout features. Most notably, a new search engine has been rolled out with access to over 50 million news feeds. Google+ sharing support is baked in, and directly accessible from Feedly's own sharing menu. In addition, you can now choose whether you want to hide read articles from the menu dropdown in list view, just like the web-based view. Existing Feedly users should appreciate an improvement in performance, too. Finally, there's a new layout for the Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and certain Samsung Galaxy handsets. So there's a lot to get stuck into. If you're already using Feedly, hit the Google Play Store to grab the latest update. Alternatively you can use the Google Play button above.

'Facebook Home' APK teardown still doesn't answer the important question: Why hardware? Posted: 01 Apr 2013 11:04 AM PDT Does HTC Sense and a new Facebook-centric launcher warrant its own hardware? We'll find out Thursday With the unveiling of Facebook’s “new home on Android” just a couple of days away, the folks at Android Police have gotten hold of a system dump for the fabled HTC-built Facephone, to which they’ve given the APK teardown treatment. Details included in the ROM seem to confirm earlier rumors of a relatively pedestrian Android smartphone, powered by a dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip (MSM8960), 1GB of RAM and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, running on a 4.3-inch 720p screen. (In addition, the “HTC Myst” codename is seemingly confirmed, along with AT&T radio support.) Also confirmed is the presence of Facebook Home, apparently a home screen launcher replacement based around the user’s own Facebook news feed. That's not a huge surprise -- Phil predicted as much in his Editor's column on Sunday and on Twitter a few days before that. The new Facebook Home launcher apparently includes the permissions needed to access and import settings from the stock Android, TouchWiz and HTC Sense launchers, indicating it might see a separate release at some point. (Incidentally, although the phone appears to run HTC Sense 4+, the Sense launcher is nowhere to be found in this system dump.) All of which leaves us with a few nagging questions. First, if Facebook Home won’t be exclusive to the “Myst,” then how is this different from the approach taken a couple of years ago in the ill-fated HTC ChaCha (Status) and Salsa. What’s the incentive to pick up a phone running last year’s hardware and last year’s software, for the sake of a custom launcher that’ll be available elsewhere anyway? Wrote Phil: All signs are pointing to some sort of new phone from HTC in conjunction with all this. Why? Why does a launcher or software layer or whatever the hell we're going to call it need new hardware? Is Facebook going to sell this hardware? Will it end up in Best Buy alongside the 5,000 other phones? On Amazon? Even if it ends up in carrier stores, that's no guarantee it'll sell enough to make it worth it. There’s every chance Facebook will have something to pull out of its sleeve this Thursday. But until then we’re left wondering just what Facebook and HTC will be doing to differentiate this new handset. Source: Android Police

Andmade Share: For a more robust sharing menu Posted: 01 Apr 2013 09:58 AM PDT The native Android sharing intents are extremely powerful, but that doesn't mean you can't shoehorn more functionality in there Andmade Share takes the already functional sharing intents found on every Android phone, and makes them even more capable with a new set of features. Instead of choosing to share to a single app or service, with Andmade Share you can select multiple services together. We wish the apps could just talk together and make this easy on users, but since that's unlikely to happen tools like this will save the day. Read along past the break to see a bit more of what Andmade Share adds in terms of sharing functionality on your device. read more

HTC One tip: Pinch to customize your home screens Posted: 01 Apr 2013 09:37 AM PDT The HTC One does things a little different than many other Android smartphones. For one, it's only got two buttons -- back and home. It also changes the way it home screens work -- making it a little more difficult to add apps and widgets. Not grossly so; just an extra step or so. Here's a little tip that'll speed things up a bit. One way to get to the home screen customization section is to long-press on an empty 1x1 spot on a home screen. But what if that home screen is full? You could swipe over to another home screen that has a blank spot, but that's annoying. Or you could pull down the notification bar and go to Settings>Personalize>Customize home screen. Also a pain. There's a better way. All you have to do is pinch your fingers together on a home screen -- full or not -- and it goes straight to the customization section. From there you can add widgets or apps all you want.  We've got more HTC One tips after the break. Be sure to collect them all! read more

Set your calendars: Google's Q1 2013 earnings call is April 18 Posted: 01 Apr 2013 09:16 AM PDT A quick heads up for those of you who like to kibitz on Google's earnings calls. The first-quarter 2013 earnings results will be posted on April 18, with the usual conference call taking place at 4:30 p.m. EDT. We typically get some sort of Android news out of the earnings calls. So we'll be there with bells on. Source: Google

HTC One signs sighted in RadioShack, hint at $50 Google Play gift card deal Posted: 01 Apr 2013 08:34 AM PDT $199.99 on-contract, with $50 Google Play credit and a $10 coupon The exact U.S. launch for the new HTC One might not be know just yet, but it looks like we're starting to see signs of stateside pricing deals for the handset. The photo above, grabbed at Radio Shack and sent to Phandroid, suggests the HTC One on Sprint will sell for $199.99 with a two-year plan (no surprises there) and come with a $50 Google Play gift card and $10 coupon. A $10 discount is nothing to sniff at, but that $50 Google Play allowance should count towards a lot of apps, movies and other content for new HTC One owners. We'd like to think that the appearance of signage like this indicates the nearing of a U.S. street date, but the closest thing to an official date we have is "before the end of April" for North America. In the meantime, you can always check out our full review of the HTC One. Source: Phandroid

Kindle Fire HD 8.9 gets AT&T's 4G LTE starting April 5 Posted: 01 Apr 2013 08:01 AM PDT Amazon's tablet runs $349 outright, or $249 if you sign a new contract If you've been holding out for the Kindle Fire HD 8.9-incher to get some built in LTE love, this is your week. AT&T has announced it'll carry the Android-based tablet -- remember that it's using Amazon services instead of Google -- starting April 5 for $399. If you sign up for a new LTE line for two years, AT&T will knock off $150, making ithe tablet just $249. Or you can add it to an existing Mobile Share plan for $10 a month. Source: AT&T

Deal of the Day: Incipio Feather Hard Case for HTC Droid DNA Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:36 AM PDT The April 1 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Incipio Feather Hard Case for HTC Droid DNA. Measuring less than 1mm thin, the Feather Case is ideal for the Droid DNA user seeking inconspicuous, first-class protection. It's made of an ultra light, ultra strong polymer for light as a feather, form-fitting durable protection without the added bulk. Color options include black, pink, blue and gray. The Incipio Feather Hard Case is available for just $16.00, 36% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping! Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts

Google Wallet ATM - because ... nah ... Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:34 AM PDT OK. Google Treasure Maps was funny. Gmail Blue? We'll play along. Google Nose was nothing to sniff at. But now we have Google Wallet ATM, and we're starting to count the hours until April 2.

SwiftKey gets in on the April Fools' action with SwiftKey Tilt Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:02 AM PDT "Whole-body typing experience" Not to be left out of the April 1 fun, popular keyboard app SwiftKey has today announced "SwiftKey Tilt," a new keyboard designed to offer a "whole-body typing experience." How's it work? Well, instead of typing with your thumb, simply guide a little pinball across the screen to spell out words. (And in doing so, look just as cool as the people above.) Video's after the break. SwiftKey says the new tilt keyboard will be available today for those "inquisitive enough to find it." (Try typing "tilt," then long-pressing that word in the suggestion bar.) read more

Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World! Posted: 01 Apr 2013 05:52 AM PDT It's no joke -- the Android Central Podcast did, in fact, invade many a listener's ears over the weekend. If you haven't caught it yet (we'll excuse you this time, holiday weekend and all), you missed some not-so-serious talk about the Nexus 4's updated design, T-Mobile's new "UnCarrier" plans, and even more Galaxy S4 and HTC One. 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.

Monday Brief: BlackBerry Q4 earnings, a Google Watch, and the last Monday Brief ever! Posted: 01 Apr 2013 05:13 AM PDT Mobile Nations Podcast Feed Mobile Nations on iTunes Mobile Nations YouTube Debug 11: Don Melton and WebKit and Safari Iterate 43: Pocket Casts and going Android first   Confirmed: Nexus 4 shipping with updated design The Google Watch with Google Now - A wearable computer for the present Ouya consoles now shipping to Kickstarter backers    CrackBerry Vodcast 002: Better than expected! Thorsten Heins brings BlackBerry back in black BBM Stress Apr 1st  at 12 Noon EDT. Be there!!   Best Buy offering prepaid Verizon Palm Pre 2 contract-free for $51.99 Prevent autodial with No Call patches   T-Mobile USA to begin selling iPhone on April 12 for $99, no contract AT&T vs Verizon vs T-Mobile vs Sprint: Which iPhone 5 carrier should you choose? iMore live at GDC 2013   Microsoft releasing Temple Run and five more games today for Windows Phone 8 AT&T Nokia Lumia 920 1308 firmware update is now available Which countries is Windows Phone outselling the iPhone?

More April Fools' with Google+ photos and +Emotion Posted: 31 Mar 2013 11:29 PM PDT Google pranks with a feature many users would love to have -- automatically adding emoticons to Google+ photos Google just won't stop with the April Fools' stunts, and this one got more than a few people to fall for it -- an algorithm that automatically adds the right emoticon to a Google+ photo based on the facial expressions of the people in it. Dubbed +Emotion, it's said to "plumb the emotional depths of everyone in the photo, then summarize their feelings with a beautifully crafted, emotion icon" with the click of a button. Of course, there is no such button, but folks commenting on the Google+ posting sure seem to want it, and were sufficiently fooled. We cant blame them, it certainly sounds like something Google could -- and would -- implement.  We're used to Google pulling a bit of April Fools' silliness, but this year they seem to have kicked things into high gear. With 24 more hours to go, we expect to see more before it's all over. See also:  Youtube's shutdown Google treasure map Google Nose Gmail Blue Youtube collection rehash from 2012 Source: +Erik Murphy-Chutorian

Introducing The YouTube Collection - the entire YouTube catalog, offline Posted: 31 Mar 2013 10:33 PM PDT Google rolls out a 2012 gag for another April Fools' Day go Tired of missing out on that latest viral video because you're stuck offline, shackled deep in a dungeon, with nary a bit to bite? Jonesing for that latest Taylor Swift video but you've got not signal to sync up the singer? Well worry no more. Because with The YouTube Collection, you can take the entire freaking YouTube catalog with you in your choice of resolutions -- offline! That's right. Get your Gangnam Style at 240p. Catch cats at 480p. For the more discerning crowd, hit up high-definition videos at 720p and full 1080p. So, yeah. YouTube might be shutting down until 2023 (not really), but now you can take it with you, for the low, low price of putting up with yet another April Fools' Day post! (And what's more -- this one is from 2012, but Google's got it on the YouTube homepage again this year.) Want every cooking lesson ever uploaded? They can be yours for just 34,410 discs and $131,656, plus $59,302 in shipping and handling. Shit people say? That'll be a mere 90,000 discs! Need gift-wrapping? No problem! That'll cost just 5 percent extra. (Also available in video cassette, Laser Disc or Betamax. Additional delivery service charges apply. Shipping by freigh vessel also available.) Here's how to order! (Thanks, Marcch!) See also: Google Treasure Maps Google Noise Gmail Blue read more

Google still isn't done with the April Fools' shenanigans - introducing Gmail Blue Posted: 31 Mar 2013 07:44 PM PDT It's Gmail, only bluer! Determined to make bloggers miss the season three premiere of Game of Thrones, Google has released yet another April Fools' spoof -- Gmail Blue. It's everything you expect from Gmail -- rich text, attachments, threaded conversations, with a bunch more blue! Hit the break for the video, and the source link for all there is to know. Can it be Tuesday already? Source: Gmail blog read more

Google Nose is Mountain View's third April Fools' joke Posted: 31 Mar 2013 05:17 PM PDT Google says 'smelling is believing' but this one certainly smells a bit fishy Google still isn't finished with the April Fools' shenanigans, and the announcement of Google Nose may be the silliest one yet. Billing it as "the new scentsation in search", the website lists a full set of features: Your internet sommelier: expertly curated Knowledge Panels pair images, descriptions, and aromas. Take a wiff: the Google Aromabase - 15M+ scentibytes. Don't ask, don't smell: For when you're wary of your query - SafeSearch included. Street Sense vehicles have inhaled and indexed millions of atmospheric miles. Android Ambient Odor Detection collects smells via the world's most sensible mobile operating system. SMELLCD™ 1.8+ high-resolution compatible for precise and controlled odors. We've seen the "end" of Youtube, a pirate's map, and now smell-o-vision for your smartphone. Something tells me that Google isn't done yet. Hit the break to see the product video with the technical description of how it all works (yes, Google goes all-in for April Fools' pranks!) and visit the source link to try it out for yourself. Hopefully, you'll have better luck than I did -- everything smells like that turkey sandwich I was holding. Source: Google. Via: ‏@Dr_Mcq read more

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