Click here to view the embedded video.

For the most part, Microsoft’s campaigns against Google, Android, and iOS that promote Windows Phone or their other products are all pretty lame. Think “Smoked by Windows Phone” or even those “Scroogled” spots. Not really the most clever of marketing ideas, to say the least. This new Lumia/Windows Phone 8 spot, on the other hand, is actually funny and worth a quick look.

In the spot, you’ll see iPhone users taking shots at Galaxy owners with their “enormous” phones and S Beam feature followed by comments made in return to grandmothers about being too young to own an iPhone. There are Apple logo tattoos, app availability trash talking, and even the thought that Samsung and Apple fanboys love the constant fighting. Silly.

“Weeeee!”

Cheers Scott!

Microsoft Pokes Fun at Samsung vs. Apple Stereotypes in New Commercial, is Actually Pretty Funny is a post from: Droid Life

In a recent ruling, a Brazilian judge determined that an Android phone known as the iPhone will keeps its name. Gradiente, who registered the name all the way back in 2000, has been in battle with Apple over the name for the past few months, but it looks like it could finally be coming to a close. Although, Apple is said to be appealing the ruling, naturally. 

Even though this device will continue to be called the iPhone in Brazil, Apple still holds exclusive rights to the iPhone name on clothing, in worldwide publications, and in software. In a fantastic quote, the head of Gradiente had this to say to reporters:

We’re open to a dialogue for anything, anytime… we’re not radicals.

Could he be holding out for a huge payday from Apple? How about them apples!

Via: Pocket Lint | BBC

Apple Loses iPhone Trademark in Brazil, Android Phone Keeps Its Title is a post from: Droid Life

In a recent report, it looks like Apple’s iPhone 5 is losing its grip on the everyday consumer. According to Consumer Reports, the iPhone 5 is now listed as the lowest rated top 3 smartphone on each carrier, minus T-Mobile who haven’t had the device on their network. Topping the lists are the Samsung Galaxy S3 for T-Mobile, the LG Optimus G for AT&T and Sprint, and the RAZR HD’s for Verizon. Crazy enough, the iPhone didn’t even make it onto Big Red’s list, which is actually quite surprising. 

How Consumer Reports handle their rating of said devices is unknown to me, but it is great to see Android becoming the forerunner in smartphone operating systems. Android devices have certainly come a very long way in terms of consumer praise and advancements in both software and hardware since the days of iPhone supremacy.

Guess it’s time to start awaiting the iPhone 5S and the magical features it will wield.

Via: Business Insider

Consumer Reports Marks Apple’s iPhone 5 the Worst of the Best is a post from: Droid Life

Click here to view the embedded video.

Well, it was fun while it lasted. While that whole iOS Maps fiasco was something the world had more than a good time with, Google has gone ahead and ruined some of our fun. Google Maps, with full turn-by-turn navigation, is now available for the iPhone. This new version of Maps has been “designed from the ground up to combine the comprehensiveness and accuracy of Google Maps with an interface that makes finding what you’re looking for faster and easier.”

The fun isn’t completely over, though. In Google’s announcement, they make sure to indirectly point out all of the flaws in Apple’s own maps product. By mentioning that Google Maps stores 80 million businesses and points of interest, has Street View, public transportation info, and updates tens of thousands of times daily to help with accuracy and comprehensiveness, this is Google’s way of saying, “This is how you do it, suckers.”

Via:  Google Lat Long

Cheers Adam, Will, John, Garrett, and Albert!

Google Maps Available for the iPhone, Making Fun of Apple Now Slightly Less Fun is a post from: Droid Life

The Gmail team announced version 2.0 of their iOS app today, which is available on both the iPad and iPhone immediately. The app itself, is beautiful. It features a left panel for multi-account support with profile pictures, easy-respond calendar items, and Google Now-styled conversations. In the three screenshots above, I would argue that this new iOS app looks much more like the web version of Gmail than the Android version does. It also matches up nicely to the styling of the Android Google+ and YouTube apps, that have slideout panels from the left and color accents.

We just received version 4.2.1 of Gmail yesterday, one that included a variety of new features, so I doubt that we’ll see anything close to this any time soon. But still, Google seems set on carrying the web-styling of their apps to mobile, so I can’t imagine we won’t see it ever.

What do you guys think? I’m a huge fan of this Google Now-esque app look.

Via:  Gmail Blog

Beautiful Gmail 2.0 Released for iOS, Any Chance We See a Similar Build on Android? is a post from: Droid Life

Click here to view the embedded video.

In a press conference, just two days before the MLS Cup, David Beckham was addressing the media when an iPhone on the press table rang. The phone clearly belonged to a media member, as you can see the variety of devices laid out on the table to record the conversation. Beckham made a crack at the vibrating phone, asking the crowd if he should answer it. But like the good spokesperson he is, took a moment to plug his sponsor, saying, “It’s not a Samsung, sorry, I can’t.” 

As you may recall, Beckham was a part of one of Samsung’s commercials for the Olympics and Galaxy Note that went viral. In the spot, he kicks soccer balls into a wall of drums to play out Beethoven’s Ode To Joy.

Well played, sir.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Cheers @razinlightyear!

Video: David Beckham Denies iPhone at Press Conference Because “It’s Not a Samsung” is a post from: Droid Life

The LG Nexus 4, Google’s newest Nexus device, such a thing of beauty, isn’t it? That brilliant 4.7″ display on the front, the Crystal Reflection pattern tucked under a piece of glass on the back, those cascading edges, and that soft touch plastic housing, all make up for one of the more interesting smartphone designs of the last couple of years. Unfortunately, for those that purchased one or plan to purchase one, you may have to cover it up with a bumper or case, as it may also be one of the most fragile smartphones ever made. 

Glass, never known to many as the most durable of coverings, blankets the Nexus 4 both front and back. On the front, we have an LCD display that’s covered by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 2, a product promoted for its ability to bring extra toughness to smartphones. On the back, we get the same sort of protection. Well, at least we thought so. After having an LG Optimus G (review) – the phone that laid the groundwork for the Nexus 4 – and now this new Nexus, I can without a doubt in my mind, say that glass on the back of a smartphone is one of the worst design ideas of the decade.

The back glass plate of both of these devices cracked on me within two weeks of having them. Two weeks. But before we get into this, I should probably point out that I take better care of my smartphones than almost anyone you will ever meet. My original DROID looked like it was a week old, a year after having purchased it. I’ve never had to replace a phone via warranty or insurance, as I’ve rarely ever dropped one. In fact, I’m not sure I would even get past one hand if I were to try to count the number of times I’ve dropped a phone. I don’t use cases or screen protectors because I’ve never had to. Again, I baby the hell out my toys.

But back to these two cracked backs – both of which cracked without a drop. Let me say that again – both the Optimus G and Nexus 4 cracked in my possession without ever dropping them. You know what did it? Setting them down gently onto my room temperature stone countertop. That’s it. The temperature change after it went from my warm hand to a room temperature countertop was apparently enough to split both devices’ glass backs almost directly down the middle. To think, that deciding whether or not my device is going to crack just by laying it down gently, is something my mind doesn’t even want to entertain. But that’s where I’ll be should I decide that I want a Nexus 4 that no longer looks this way.

It’s not just me, either. Take a tour through your various Android forums and you’ll find reports left and right of scratches and cracks. Most of these reports also include lines like “I don’t know how it happened, I’ve been super careful with it” and “I pulled it out of my pocket and noticed a crack.”

So why on Earth would LG and Google choose glass? That’s a great question. Since there is an entire industry now dedicated to replacing glass backs of the iPhone 4, I’m not sure I have an answer. All you have to do is Google “iPhone 4 glass back” and you’ll come up with dozens of fix-it shops, stories of lawsuits, and and how-tos on replacing the back of the phone with something other than glass. Since posting up pictures of both devices with broken backs, the first comment I received each time was, “How did they not learn from Apple?” Even Apple learned from Apple, going with an aluminum backside for its new iPhone 5.

Glass is fragile, everyone knows that. Well, apparently not everyone or we wouldn’t have phones with back panels made of the material. I don’t think I need to continue to hammer this point home any longer, so I’ll just say this – if you are buying a Nexus 4, buy a bumper, case, back screen protector or any other protective material that you can find because it’s not safe.

Nexus 4′s Glass Back, the Worst Idea Since the Last Phone With a Glass Back is a post from: Droid Life

According to research firm Strategy Analytics, the iPhone is no longer the best selling smartphone in the world. During Q3 of this year, the Samsung Galaxy S3 topped the iPhone 4S to take the crown. Having sold 18 million units in Q3, the Galaxy S3 held a 10.7% share of the entire smartphone market, while the iPhone 4S held 9.7%, moving 16.2 million units.

Now, keep in mind that the iPhone 5 didn’t have the entire quarter to tally numbers, so Q4 could be drastically different. Still, this is a pretty big feat for Samsung, since Apple has owned this title for years. There truly are only two major players in the smartphone industry these days.

Thoughts?

Via:  The Next Web | Business Wire

Cheers Nick S!

Samsung Galaxy S3 Tops iPhone in Q3 for Best Selling Smartphone in the World is a post from: Droid Life

This morning, Google added a line at the top of their Google Wallet page that reads, “The next version of Google Wallet, coming soon. Request an invite.” So what are you waiting for? Go request a damn invite! 

We would attempt to speculate as to what we may see in this new version, but your guess would be as good as ours. I think most importantly, Google needs to figure out a way to meet the security requirements of carriers, so that their app can be used on any NFC device on the planet. Up until now, carriers have decided that Google Wallet isn’t quite meeting their needs, and have asked Google to block the app from phones running on their networks. To me, the feature set of Wallet was already top notch, we just couldn’t use it.

What’s interesting, is that when you request your invite, you’ll see options to choose which kind of device you use:  Android, iOS, or other. If Google wants to flip the bird to carriers, making it widely available to any smartphone would be the way to do it. And if that’s the case, then maybe NFC will be partially taken out of the equation? Who knows, Google could adopt a similar system to what Apple has done with Passbook.

Thoughts?

Via:  Google Wallet

Cheers Jeff!

New Version of Google Wallet is on the Way, Request an Invite Today is a post from: Droid Life

The LG Nexus went from being the best kept secret in tech to being the worst in a matter of days. At one point a few weeks ago, this phone was nothing more than a rumor that most sites were afraid to touch. Today, it has been leaked in more photoshoots than I can even keep track of. Take last night’s appearance for example, a comparison photo shoot with the new iPhone 5 in as clear a set of pictures as you will find anywhere. You don’t see photos this clean unless you have the phone in hand, something the Onliner has had the honor of. 

According to this latest report, the phone has a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 8MP camera, a 4.7″ HD display, and runs Android 4.1.2. As you can see in the pictures, it looks a lot like a mix between the Galaxy Nexus and LG’s new Optimus G. It has the same crystal back and 8MP camera as the Optimus G, but the corners have been rounded to look a lot like last year’s Nexus. It’s a beautiful phone.

And that’s pretty much that. I think at this point, we are simply waiting for Google to announce it.

Via:  Onliner

Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

LG Nexus Takes on the iPhone 5 in Latest Picture Leak is a post from: Droid Life

Click here to view the embedded video.

Oh Samsung, such a clever bunch. After releasing a full 90 second spot that pokes fun at Apple fans waiting in line for the iPhone 5, they return today with two shorter spots. They cover topics from the longer commercial, only this time they take some extra jabs, like by having a mom confirm with her Galaxy S3 owning son that “this is the line for apps” as if that’s all the iPhone is good for.

Another girl watches NFC sharing in action and then wonders when iPhone owners wil be “able to do that thing?” Not for a while I’m afraid, dear iPhone owners. Maybe next year. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

“When Do You Think We’ll be Able to do That Thing?” Asks iSheep in Latest Samsung Spots is a post from: Droid Life

A recent survey conducted by CIRP, asked consumers who activated smartphones from June through August which type of phone they used and from what carrier. The operating system breakdown looked something like this:  48% Android, 28% iPhone, 17% feature phone, 4% Blackberry, and 1% Windows Phone. The shocking number there is that of feature phones, which is more than triple Windows Phone and Blackberry share combined. Yikes. I’m actually hoping that Windows Phone starts to catch on, as the operating system is a joy to use. It’s also good for competitive and driving innovation. 

As far as a carrier breakdown goes, Android was the top dog at Verizon by a mile, with feature phones and iPhones battling it out for 2nd place. AT&T was the opposite, and is clearly still a pro-iPhone carrier after having an exclusive deal for years. It’s tough to predict if their iPhone vs. Android numbers will start to level out now that they are carrying better Android phones and because Verizon and Sprint are selling the iPhone. Only time will tell.

No matter what, Android is still sticking around as the domestic and global leader. There are far too many options at each price point for it to slow down any time soon.

Via:  AllThingsD

Report: Half of Verizon’s Phone Activations are Android, Feature Phones Crushing Windows Phone and Blackberry is a post from: Droid Life

Android friends and family, tomorrow is a big day. It’s time to start preparing. In case you didn’t realize it yet, September 21 is the day that millions of new phone owners across the globe will have trouble finding their way to work, to the nearest gas station, to their lunch or dinner reservation, and as you can see in the picture above, surviving through take-off at their local airport. Tomorrow, is iPhone 5 launch day. 

When doors open at your city’s Apple store in the morning and UPS drivers take to the streets with shipments of iPhone 5s, the number of confused and lost pedestrians, transit riders, bikers and car drivers will have increased by some 2 million people. So when I say that the Android crew needs to prepare, I’m suggesting that you put a shortcut to your Google Maps app on your home screen or quick launch bar.

Think of tomorrow (and for the foreseeable future) as an opportunity to help out a foe in need. After all, your Google Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation is free, so why not share it with those less fortunate smartphone owners. They may need confirmation that when traveling over the Hoover Dam, that they will succeed in crossing it.

They may need to ask for your help in telling the difference between the next Burger King or monastery or public building.

They may need to see underneath those clouds.

They may be confused as to why the Cayman Islands no longer have roads.

Is that a beacon from God?

And finally, those new iPhone 5 owners are going want to know if it’s OK for them to drive their car into a body of water and onto that new set of streets.

So again, keep your Google Maps app handy. There are going to be a lot of iPhone 5 owners wandering around bodies of water trying to find Chinese restaurants, avoiding interstates and bridges, wondering why that building that was constructed 10 years ago is now under construction, why their home town doesn’t exist, and showing up to transit stops that closed years ago, that are going to need your help.

To follow along in the never-ending fun that is Apple’s new Maps app for iOS 6, follow this Tumblr.

Android Friends, Be Kind to All of the New iPhone 5 Users Tomorrow – They May be Lost and in Need of a Maps App is a post from: Droid Life

If you missed this full page newspaper ad that Samsung posted this weekend, then let me quickly catch you up. As you can see, it takes a quick cheap shot at Apple with the “genius” line before moving on to a list of specs and features that are created to make it look like the new iPhone 5 doesn’t even compare to the Galaxy S3. Tech blogs from across the world saw this ad over the weekend and completely freaked out, saying it was biased and so far from the truth because iPhone features were left out, and blah blah, blah blah. 

Isn’t that the point of an ad? People are acting like this is the first advertisement in the history of advertising to bend the truth or over-sensationalize one product so that it looks better than another. Was Samsung supposed to perfectly match things up spec for spec and feature for feature? Of course not, the ad firm that created this was trying to show that the Galaxy S3 can do so much more. If you want a spec for spec battle, go read a tech blog, not an ad. Were they not supposed to take the “genius” shot at Apple? Well, it wouldn’t be even slightly entertaining if they didn’t. Was Samsung not supposed to tell you that waiting for this other phone is silly when one that’s better is already out? Come on, tech writers of the world.

Where are the Apple ad critics every time a Siri commercial misleads millions of TV viewers? And I digress.

Remember, Samsung is trying to sell you the Galaxy S3 with a couple of catchy punch lines and the feature list for their newest flagship device. It’s an ad, it’s not supposed to be unbiased or politically correct. It’s an ADVERTISEMENT.

Oh, and they did toss in a “Above listed features representative, not all inclusive” note at the bottom.

Also on a related note, one of the publications that was having a hard time with this ad wanted to point out that Samsung didn’t list the fact that the iPhone 5 has Twitter and Facebook integration, something that no Android phone has. /smh.

Via:  Business Insider

This Full Page Galaxy S3 vs. iPhone 5 Ad is Hilarious in so Many Ways is a post from: Droid Life

Just a heads up for those of you thinking about jumping ship and picking up the next iPhone. According to a Verizon spokesperson, the new iPhone 5 cannot do simultaneous voice and data, something all LTE Android phones seem to have no problem with. We aren’t exactly sure why it can’t, but it certainly doesn’t make this new single 3G+LTE chip of Apple’s seem all that magical any longer. 

Here is the statement from Big Red:

“The iPhone 5 was designed to allow customers to place a voice call on the Verizon Wireless network, while letting customers access the Internet over the WiFi.”

As a reminder, simultaneous voice and data means that you can place a phone call and then also use your phone’s data connection at the same time. For example, if you were to place a call to your significant other who then reminds you that it’s your anniversary, you can stay on the line with her while also pulling up Open Table to book a reservation for the dinner that you forgot about. (Yes, I totally stole that example from an ancient AT&T ad.) Or while you are sitting in your hotel on a conference call, you can book your afternoon tee-time or catch up on the latest Android news here at Droid Life.

Simultaneous voice and data will apparently work just fine on the AT&T iPhone 5. Or not so much?

And of course, all of Verizon’s Android phones are capable of performing such a task. In fact, a couple can do simultaneous voice and data over a 3G connection as well.

Via:  The Verge

Cheers scrub175!

iPhone 5 on Verizon Can’t do Simultaneous Voice and Data, Something Android Phones Have No Problem With is a post from: Droid Life