Droid Life

Rovio Intros Rovio Accounts, Access Saved Game Data on Any Device

Tim — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:32:14 +0000

This is something we have needed for a long time. Yesterday, Rovio announced Rovio Accounts, a cloud-based save system that allows players to save their game data to the cloud, then access it through any device. For example, if you are far in Angry Birds Star Wars, but then buy a new device, you won't have to start all over. Genius.

Some of you may have noticed a new feature in your Rovio games called Rovio Account. Our fans have been asking for a way to play their game on different phones or tablets without losing their progress when changing the device. This is exactly what Rovio Account lets you do! Rovio Account is currently available in The Croods game globally, and in the classic Angry Birds game on iOS in Finland and Poland. We will gradually introduce Rovio Account into more areas in the future and also add new features.

It is still rolling out, slowly, but once it becomes available across all games on all platforms, it will definitely come in handy! Via: Rovio

How to: Install Third Party Apps and Watchfaces on Pebble

Kellen — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:00:11 +0000

I know that we have been quiet on the Pebble front since doing our review a couple of months back, but we were sort of waiting to see how the app ecosystem was coming along after the release of the SDK. To put it plainly, it's booming. There are hundreds of apps, watchfaces, and games for you to download to your Pebble. The concept of the Pebble smartwatch that we first saw during its Kickstarter days is now becoming a reality. So to make sure that all Pebble backers and early adopters know how they can take advantage of this new 3rd party app and watchface experience, we thought it was time for a quick tutorial. In the video below, we'll walk you through browsing the best sites for apps, finding ones you'd like, and then eventually installing them. It couldn't be easier, in case you were wondering. Just make sure your phone is paired to your Pebble through the official Pebble app, load up one of the two sites we have listed below, and get to installing. Fully detailed instructions in the video.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUZ_jqIlH1k[/youtube]

Links: MyPebbleFaces.com | Pebble Forums

Video: This Guy's "Voice-Controlled Home" is Freakin' Sweet

Tim — Tue, 07 May 2013 09:37:54 +0000

[youtube]http://youtu.be/RjTj0ymhbBw[/youtube]

The video above is currently making the Interwebz rounds this morning, showing a tenacious gentleman who has programmed his home's tech and lighting to be completely controlled by his voice. Using apps like Tasker for his Google TV and VeraLite controllers for the lighting, he is able to set the mood in his living room with a single phrase. Trust me, you need to watch this. Naturally, everyone and their mother was asking how to get this into their home. Here is the man behind the camera explaining how he got this up and running.

Gladly, most of the work is being done by a new Tasker plugin called AutoVoice. I've tied the AutoVoice Recognize task to the Google Now swipe up. There are a few dozen Tasker profiles setup listening for certain words and phrases, which call upon predefined tasks. These tasks vary from individual light toggles, to predefined "scenes", triggers for the Phone itself and AutoRemote messages received by the GoogleTV, also running Tasker. Yatse is responsible for controlling the PC running XBMC, fed through the Google TV. I can call upon movies, music or TV shows, play/pause and request volume adjustments. The Home Automation side is controlled by a Micasaverde VeraLite home controller, pushing Z-Wave switches and modules. Android communicates with the Vera through AutHomationHD, a third party app in the Play Store via Tasker. Let me know if you have any more questions, this setup is easy to implement and program. If you can handle Tasker, the rest is cake.

I would love something like this going on in my place, but doesn't that just sound like a lot of work? Maybe I'm just lazy and would rather flick a switch or two. Pretty righteous though, right? Via: Reddit Cheers Open1Your1Eyes0 and Adam!

HTC One Goes Up Against .50 Cal and Wins....Just Kidding

Tim — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:57:57 +0000

It might seem a bit odd that we complain whenever we see drop tests of the newest and top devices, but deep down it's fun to watch phones be destroyed. When it comes to turning these devices to scrap, there is only one thing better than the drop test, and that's the .50 cal test. Well, maybe two, the second being the "Will it blend?" test. Either way, this is the better one of those two. YouTube personality RatedRR has a brand new HTC One smartphone and a Barrett M82A1 .50 caliber sniper rifle. Without giving too much away, when it comes down to it in the choice between plastic or metal, neither stand up really well against a gun. [youtube]http://youtu.be/UufhLrPIEZQ[/youtube]

RunKeeper Updated for Android With Lock Screen Widget, Now Works Officially With Pebble Too

Kellen — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:35:29 +0000

Runners and Pebble owners, the time has come for your new smartwatch to become a legitimate option as your running partner. Runkeeper updated this morning to include official support for the darling of Kickstarter, bringing real activity functionality to the watch that has for the most part been lacking since launch. In order to utilize Pebble with Runkeeper, all you need to do is pair your Pebble to your smartphone, update to the newest Runkeeper, and launch a new activity. Once launched, your Pebble should automatically display your progress (image above). Along with Pebble support, Runkeeper now has a widget for both your lock screen and home screens. You can start, pause, and stop activities without having to unlock your phone or fully launch the app, assuming you are running Android 4.2+. Go get it! Play Link

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy-JzBnmfMY[/youtube]

Via: RunKeeper

BulkyPix's Undead Soccer Kicks its Way Onto Google Play

Tim — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:22:22 +0000

Last month, BulkyPix teased the release of Undead Soccer onto Android, and finally, it's here. This game is very popular on iOS, as the gameplay is simple and addicting, while it is also good exercise for your finger. In the game, you play as a survivor of some nasty zombie apocalypse-type deal, then with your endless supply of soccer balls and special power ups, you have to kill them all. The game costs $2.60 in Google Play. Check it out and leave none alive. Play Link ($2.60) [youtube]http://youtu.be/at9OBe-uSk0[/youtube]

Plants vs. Zombies 2 "It's About Time" Finally Launching in July

Kellen — Tue, 07 May 2013 07:40:16 +0000

Plants vs. Zombies 2. Official. July 2013. Launch. That's right, the follow-up to one of those most successful mobile games in recent memory (possibly of all time) is coming in two months. The official game title is "Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time," which is a playful way of PopCap saying, "Yes, we know it's taken us way too long to create this game, so we're going to mock the situation." No other details have been given in terms of gameplay, but the last we had heard, it was supposed to arrive on Android this summer. This new comedic teaser trailer (if you can call it that), certainly matches up to that timeline. I personally, cannot wait for this game. Probably one of my top three mobile games.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qyItbOQ1rg[/youtube]

Quick Look: Spigen GLASt.R Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Galaxy S4

Kellen — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:09:59 +0000

As you all know, we've been on the tempered glass screen protector bandwagon for some time now. We have done our best to bring you all of the best in tempered glass for all of the top devices over the last year, to help you decide if spending this kind of money on screen protection is worth it. One of our long-standing favorites has been the GLASt from Spigen because not only does it provide great protection, but Spigen tends to toss in extra goodies like screen wipes, back protectors, squeegees, button covers, etc. So when we heard about their new GLASt.R, a thinner, lighter, and rounded tempered glass protector, we had no choice but to take a look. Like with other tempered glass protectors for mobile devices, the new GLASt.R sports an 8-9H hardness for protection along with an oleophobic coating to help reduce smudges and fingerprints. Where it differs, is in the new rounded edges that should help reduce chipping, but also provide an incredibly smooth feel while using. Spigen is claiming that this new GLASt.R is 28% slimmer and lighter than its predecessor as well. I can tell you that after using it for the last couple of hours that I'm incredibly impressed by it. Tempered glass screen protectors have been pretty hit or miss in the past, but this one seems to be nothing but a hit. The rounded edges feel incredible. There seems to be almost no gap between the protector and the display, making it feel as if it's one and the same, while protectors in the past left you with a disconnect. The sensitivity you would see with your device's actual display is there, plus all of the gestures and Air View technology still works. There is no dotted grid or pattern on the protector either, which is another issue we have seen with similar products in the past. The only downside I can see so far, comes during installation. If you get anything on the sticky side of the GLASt.R, it'll essentially ruin it. Attempting to clean the backside after it has been tainted is almost impossible. So be sure you are in a completely dust-free and sterile environment before you get to applying. Should you get it on there cleanly the first time, keep it there. At $35, it's not cheap, but that price matches up to others in this arena. Keep in mind that the regular GLASt is $28, so there is a cheaper option. I'd recommend this one, though, as it feels that good. To see it in action, check out the clip below.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHp14fKPC4w[/youtube]

Links: Spigen Shop | Amazon

Video: Splay Launcher is a New and Very Interesting Way of Navigating Your Android Device

Tim — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:51:27 +0000

We came across a new launcher today titled, Splay Launcher. It is still in beta, but the app does seem very polished and could interest some folks who are tired of the same ol' look on their smartphone. Navigation throughout your device is handled with a swipe down of your finger on the homescreen, allowing you to access apps through parent shortcuts labeled Phone, Diary (email, texts, calendar), Media, and Apps. Each parent label, once hovered over, gives birth to smaller labels which act as shortcuts to apps and device functions. Below I give it a whirl on the Galaxy S4, so check it out and let us know what you think. Keep in mind it is beta, but it is nice. Although, if you are a widget lover, you might as well keep on moving. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh2aJSXnLGk[/youtube]

20+ Tips and Tricks for the Samsung Galaxy S4

Kellen — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:12:57 +0000

Just like we did shortly after getting our hands on the HTC One (tips and tricks), we thought it was time for a quick tips and tricks session with the Samsung Galaxy S4 (review). Since Samsung packed all sorts of new software features into this device, we probably could have made this 50+, but 20 or so seemed like the right amount. Throughout this 14-minute long clip, we'll show you how to use features like Air View, Air Gesture (and how to turn them on and off), managing quick toggles, jumping in and out of the camera quickly, enabling lock screen widgets, answering calls without touching your phone, and more. There are also some basic navigation and general Android tips in there for those of you who made the Galaxy S4 your first smartphone. Also, be sure to drop tips of your own in the comments.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7uVEL3z8gY[/youtube]

Flatout Stuntman - a Game Where Crashing and Burning is the Point

Tim — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:11:35 +0000

It's a pretty interesting feeling when you take a car to its limits then plow it directly into a guard rail or bed of nails, ejecting your driver at a perfect 45 degrees for maximum launch through the windshield. Yeah, Flatout Stuntman is pretty ridiculous for some folks, but in a game where inflicting as much damage to your car and player is the objective, there is always someone out there with a weak stomach. Inside, you will find over 40 different levels as well as plenty of fun characters and cars to choose from. If you have played it on the PS3 or Xbox, then you know what you are in for. Play Link [youtube]http://youtu.be/5PDA9PP7Xo0[/youtube] Via: A&M

Here are Samsung's Other New Galaxy S4 Commercials: "Grad Photo" and "Easy Mode"

Kellen — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:11:31 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCZ6W5gydRk[/youtube]

If you watched even an ounce of television this weekend, then you likely saw at least one of Samsung's new commercials for the Galaxy S4. We already showed you the lengthy "Pool Party" ad, but in case you missed "Grad Photo" and "Easy Mode," we've included those now as well. In "Grad Photo," Samsung highlights their Eraser camera mode that is great for taking out unwanted (photobombs) objects in photos. In "Easy Mode," as the name suggests, shows off Easy Mode, which is Samsung's dumbing down of the home screen setup to be less stressful and potentially for the older crowd.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5TZQZFjEIo[/youtube]

Elusive Red HTC One Appears at UK Retailer, If Only It was Coming to Verizon

Eric — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:23:33 +0000

If you were quick on the news when the HTC One was first announced, you might have caught a glimpse of a red variant of the phone on their launch website. It was quickly taken down, but rumors of the mysterious device have not quieted. Word from HTC as of now is that Silver and Black will be the only two hues, but a UK retailer has posted this image to give us all hope.

This is far from any kind of official announcement from HTC, but it is curious to see the image resurface again. It is currently "out of stock" so you can't snatch one up even if you wanted to. Even though it seems less and less likely that Verizon will be getting a One of their own, we can hope can't we?

Via: Phandroid | HandTec

AT&T's 32GB Galaxy S4 Available This Friday, Starting at $249.99

Eric — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:45:26 +0000

Though Verizon might be keeping us all waiting on the Galaxy S4, the other carriers are getting theirs ready for launch this month. AT&T just took to Twitter to announce that if you are looking to get the follow up to last year's best selling smartphone, you can do so this Friday.

For new customers and people renewing their contracts, the phone will run $249.99. If you are looking to save a few bucks, you can go with the 16GB version of the device and save $50 off the price. Just remember the 16GB version really only has 9GB of usable memory!

Via: @AT&T

This Die For Metal Game is so Kvlt

Tim — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:20:57 +0000

From the makers of Black Metal Man, comes another kvlt-tastic title called Die For Metal. In this game, the objective is pretty simple - you want to join a band, but to do so, you'll need to make your way through three worlds of ultra-deadly levels. Filled with saw blades and fire balls, you can plan on dying for metal a whole lot! What makes these games fun is that you can rock out to a completely unique soundtrack while playing, full of great metal tracks that should get any metal fan's head banging. It's on Google Play for $1.10. Check it out. Play Link ($1.10) [youtube]http://youtu.be/4HL8uwS2OpE[/youtube]

HTC: When We Announce Our Next Product With Verizon, We'll Make a Big Deal About It

Kellen — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:51:14 +0000

Is the HTC One ever going to arrive on Verizon? We still don't know for sure. There have been certification sightings of a device with similar specs to the One, along with a couple of reports out of AllThingsD which suggest a One variant is indeed on the way. HTC's verified Twitter account said the opposite, that it's not coming to Verizon, though, but quickly deleted that Tweet, causing some controversy. With all that said, HTC still isn't ready to announce anything, though they did mention this morning during a Q&A with Yahoo that once they do announce a product with Verizon, they'll be sure to make a big deal out of it. Tom Harlin, HTC's director of public relations, had this to say in response to a commenter who asked if the One is ever coming to Big Red:

There are tons of rumors online but we haven't made any official announcement about HTC One coming to Verizon. The DROID DNA continues to be the HTC hero smartphone at Verizon. It launched in late 2012, it's features still compete with products in 2013. When we announce our next product with Verizon, we'll make a big deal about it so you're all aware.

While Tom didn't divulge anything in particular, one could take his comments about making "a big deal" about their next product to mean we won't see another low-end phone like the Incredible 4G LTE, and will see something a lot closer to the One. I'm still not sure the One will ever arrive on Verizon. If anything, I'd put money on the phone being a follow-up to the DNA, just like HTC did last year with the One X and One X+. Via: Yahoo

Video: Hands-on With Paranoid Android's HALO Feature

Tim — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:25:05 +0000

Paranoid Android's HALO feature is currently the talk of the custom ROM town. Acting as a "Chat Head on steroids," you can get system-wide notifications popped up in a fully-functional chat bubble for easy access and management. It works for any app no matter where you are throughout your device. If you are playing a game and get an email, you can easily pop up the bubble, reply, then get back to gaming. No need to leave the game. It's pretty sweet. With all of that said, there is still some work to be done. For example, the ability to manage multiple notifications simultaneously would be helpful, as well as the ability to re-size the HALO. These are alpha builds, so who knows what else we can expect from this extremely talented team of developers. To get Halo onto your device, download the ROM here. [youtube]http://youtu.be/nhpthTd5pCY[/youtube]

EMBRACE+ Kickstarter Crushes $80K Goal in 10 Days, Brings Ridiculous Glowing Notification Light to Your Wrist

Kellen — Mon, 06 May 2013 09:50:44 +0000

"Wait, teal green notification!" - grabs neck and begins to perspire, "only 150 likes on my newest head-cocked-to-the-side, shirtless Instagram post? Something is wrong here," mumbles the young teenager. "It's OK," replies Tiffany, "I'll get my L4L brigade on it in 30 seconds, but I have to pee like nobody's business." The young teenager then thinks to himself as he closes his eyes, and drops thumbs-only into his jeans,"Zen-mode time, baby. Life couldn't be more peaceful now that my wrist is blinking in neon colors and Tiffany has cleared her bladder. #teambreezy" The story of two EMBRACE+ customers, in love. The end. Ready for a world filled with glowstick-esque blinking notifications? EMBRACE+ wants you to be. This product is a re-launch of a previously failed attempt at bringing wrist notifications to the mainstream. As you can see from the pictures above, and an excerpt from the next great novel, you'll soon be able to set up calls, texts, Facebook messages, Instagram pings, and other notifications to appear in any shade of color through a Nike Fuelband type of rubber wrist accessory. The EMBRACE+ works with both Android and iOS, lasts for up to 10 days on a single charge, is fully waterproof, and can be yours for just $50. Look, this thing is just plain silly, if you ask me. But hey, clearly there is some sort of a market for it, as it already has more than 1,800 backers in around 10 days. I'm just not so sure I'm ready for a world where completely intrusive blinking lights are flooding my conversations, meals, and meetings. Then again, Google Glass is out there too.

Here is the promo video describing the experience:

Builds of Paranoid Android 3.50 Now Up for Verizon "toro" Galaxy Nexus

Tim — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:58:42 +0000

Over the weekend, the first alpha builds of the 3.50 Paranoid Android ROM hit the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7. Starting today, all of you Galaxy Nexus owners can get in on the fun too. What makes Paranoid Android so special is that it features the fancy new Halo feature, something we have been chatting about for the past week. With Halo, you can have a system-wide Chat Head-like feature for your most recent notification. It's new, sexy, and very cool. To download the build, follow the via link to XDA down below. Be on the lookout for a hands-on video with Halo sometime later today. Via: XDA Cheers Will, Jeremy, and Mike!

[Deal] Samsung Galaxy S4 Unlocked With 16GB on Daily Steals for $679

Kellen — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:02:26 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is up on Daily Steals this morning for a pretty decent price of $679. This would be the unlocked GT-I9500 model, which also means Exynos Octa processor. As many of you know, the Octa processor is not included in the U.S. retail model that ships to carriers, so this is somewhat of special event. At $679, you may be thinking that the phone is ridiculously high-priced, but unlocked phone re-sellers like Negri or Expansys are selling this phone for close to $750 and beyond. This model also comes with 16GB of internal storage, 13MP camera, and Android 4.2.2. You can choose from either the white or black versions of the phone. Free shipping is a part of the deal. On a related note, the specs list out that this phone has LTE that is "market dependent," but to my knowledge, it won't work on any of the LTE markets in the U.S. In fact, this model (I9500) may not even have LTE at all. The I9505 is apparently the LTE version with the Octa processor. You will be able to jump on AT&T's HSPA+ network, though. Via: Daily Steals Cheers Clint!

SNL Tries to Spoof Google Glass, Fails to Produce Many Laughs

Kellen — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:36:35 +0000

Google Glass has certainly seen its fair share of criticisms and praises since becoming available for developers and random media personalities over the last couple of weeks. But I think it's safe to say that no tech product's early life cycle would be complete without its own Saturday Night Live skit. That has now happened. And while I'm not here to be a comedy critic, this failed to make me laugh thanks to repetitive joke after repetitive joke. Fred Armisen can be funny from time to time, however, I never want to hear anyone utter the word "peacock" ever again. Or maybe I'm just a grump. Cheers Kerry and Aaron!

How Ironic: Verizon Ad Shows Up in Google Wallet

Kellen — Sat, 04 May 2013 18:54:33 +0000

Certainly got a laugh out of this. Cheers @Blink1st

Rumor: Google Babel Will Actually Launch Publicly as Google "Hangouts"? (Updated)

Kellen — Sat, 04 May 2013 18:32:40 +0000

According to a member of The Verge Forums, Google Babel will be called Google Hangout (or is it Hangouts?) at public launch. Now, normally we don't take random internet forum threads as being gospel, but this particular user also predicted/leaked every single thing that Google was planning to announce at its winter NYC Android event a full 10 days before it ever happened. We're talking about the event that was supposed to be the unveiling of the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 3G, Nexus 10, and Android 4.2, yet never happened because it was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy. You can see his post here. So we're leaning towards giving this guy some credit. Back to Babel. Babel, as you all know thanks to numerous reports from sources of ours, is Google's new unified chat service that will work across Android, iOS and Chrome. We first reported the name as being "Babel" and also provided the entire feature list that will accompany its launch. According to our sources, the service combines Talk, Hangouts, and Messenger, but will include Google Voice at some point in the future. Google has been testing it internally for some time now as "Babel," but wouldn't surprise us at all to see the name change when it goes public. Babel itself is an odd name, to say the least, so calling it "Hangout" makes a lot of sense and also feeds off of Google+. According to the source of this rumor, Babel was likely a previous codename, but is now being referring to internally as Hangout. I don't want to get too far ahead of things, but if we're changing names, I'd assume that means we're getting mighty close to a launch. Thankfully, Google I/O is less than two weeks away and would be the perfect time to unveil this new service. This Verge forum member also said that the icon looks like the Messenger icon, only is green instead of red. He must be referring to the app shortcut for Messenger rather than the icon in the nav bar of Google+, since the icon in G+ is actually green already. He mentioned that he had a chance to play with it briefly and that it came off as being a major Google Talk overhaul. As far as other Google news goes, he mentioned in his Babel thread that Google Now is getting location-based reminders at some point in the near future. He didn't have news on any new devices, though. What do you think of the name, Hangout? Update: The tipster over at The Verge forums has posted an update to his original post and is now calling it "Hangouts" instead of "Hangout." While he was on point with his inside knowledge of the winter Android, something seems off about this name. Google could easily go with Hangouts as a name since it's already a familiar choice thanks to Goolge+, but sources of ours still believe it's being called Babel internally. Either way, we'll know in less than two weeks. Nothing to freak out over. Via: Verge Forums Cheers Open1Your1Eyes0!

Is This the First Picture of the LG Optimus G2?

Kellen — Sat, 04 May 2013 16:58:44 +0000

Leak specialist @evleaks posted this photo today of what can only be described as an unannounced, upcoming, high-end LG smartphone. Our first guess is to assume this is the new LG Optimus G2, the follow-up to last year's Optimus G (our review). Since this is definitely not the Optimus G Pro, what else can it be, right? You'll notice that it lacks hardware navigation keys, so there is a chance that LG is buying into Google's take on Android, which is to go with software keys. The display also seems to carry a similar quality to the original Optimus G, or even Nexus 4, in that it cascades towards the edges. Early reports from benchmarks peg this phone as having a Snapdragon 800 processor and running the latest version of Android. I would also imagine that it'll come equipped with the new display resolution standard for high-end devices of 1080p. Speaking of Nexus, is there any chance that this becomes the reference device for the newly-rumored next Nexus phone from LG? The original Optimus G was indeed the reference for the Nexus 4, so should the report out of Korea Times from last week end up being true, you could potentially be looking at the new Nexus phone. Lots of questions with no answers, as usual. Via: @evleaks

First Builds of Paranoid Android With Alpha HALO Feature Rolling Out (Updated)

Kellen — Sat, 04 May 2013 16:45:13 +0000

The HALO feature for Paranoid Android ROM is now available in to owners of the Nexus 4 (mak0). This first build with HALO should be considered an "alpha" or really early build, but will at least give you a chance to play around with what should be considered one of the most groundbreaking ROM features we have seen in some time. For those who missed our coverage of HALO, think of it as the ultimate multi-tasking add-on, in that it takes notifications and apps, and allows you to access them via floating icon that can be moved to any location on your screen. In a way, it takes Facebook's Chat Heads concept and pushes it to the limit. The video below shows off its power.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vlrgCteDac[/youtube]

We'll see builds for the Nexus 7 next, followed by the Galaxy Nexus. Download Links: Nexus 4 ROM | Nexus 7 ROM | Google Apps Update: Nexus 7 ROM now available. Via: +Paranoid Android Cheers Mitchell!

Let the Sweet Sounds Take You Into the Weekend

Kellen — Fri, 03 May 2013 23:36:59 +0000

It's weekend time! If you haven't had a chance to catch up on the Droid Life Show and listen/view episode 23, feel free to grab the audio from below or add us to your favorite podcast service. In this week's episode, we discussed the newly released Google I/O schedule, whether or not we care about Google Glass privacy concerns, early reviews of the device, if Google apps on iOS are really that big of a deal, how we're feeling about the HTC One after all these weeks, our favorites apps of the week, and more. Tune in! Subscribe!

This Week in the Life of DROID: 5/3/2013

Tim — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:15:42 +0000

What a week it has been, full of good times and great news. For starters, we got through episode 23 of the Droid Life Show, I gave my official opinions on the HTC One in a follow-up review to our first official review for the device, we featured volume 12 of the DL Q&A Sessions, and lots more. If you are a custom ROM kind of person, definitely give the Paranoid Android "Halo" video a watch as well. Definitely worth everyone's time. If you missed any of this week's highlights, we have them below.

Have a fantabulous weekend, folks! Cheers to +Deth Becomes You for the custom mini!

Samsung Galaxy S4 Unboxing! [AT&T]

Kellen — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:29:53 +0000

Yes, I'm well aware that we fully reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S4 already. But you know what, we like to do unboxings. And since we didn't have a chance to do one the last time around thanks to an embargo, we thought we'd take the time to do a quick one now that we have the AT&T Galaxy S4 in hand. Who doesn't love watching our grubby little blogger paws unbox the latest and greatest in tech that has been wrapped in faux-wood? Don't lie. As one would expect, the AT&T version of the phone is no different from the Sprint version outside of the fact that it runs on HSPA+ and LTE, while the Sprint version runs on CDMA mostly, but is supposedly capable of running on LTE, though that has yet to be seen by anyone other than Bigfoot (kidding of course). You'll also find a boatload of AT&T branded bloatware, which we take the time to count in our video down below. This is the white version - our Sprint review included the black version of the phone. Oh, and since I was so excited to ditch my Sprint Galaxy S4 for the AT&T version, I completely forgot to show you what comes in the box during the clip. That's the power of LTE for you. So below, you'll see a picture of the insides which include a charger, more documentation than one person can possibly read, and tangle-free headphones. And once again, don't forget to check out our full Galaxy S4 review if you haven't seen it yet.

Unboxing

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD9KtFanG4A[/youtube]

Gallery

Pro Tip: Don't be the Guy Who Leaves the Hard-to-See Plastic Sticker Around the Rim of His Galaxy S4

Kellen — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:04:33 +0000

When you pick-up your Samsung Galaxy S4 some time over the next few weeks (or month if on Verizon), we thought we should point out that the faux-metal band around the outside of the device is protected by a clear plastic sticker. It can be hard to see if you don't know it's there, so being the good samaritans that we are, wanted to make sure you knew about it. You could leave it if you'd like, I guess, but it's not necessarily supposed to be there for the long haul. If you choose to remove it, you'll find at least four pieces spread around the outside. Update: As Leif points out in the comments, there is also one around the camera, which you certainly want to remove. Just lookin' out.

Gameloft's Gangstar Vegas Teaser Trailer Isn't Much of a Trailer, But We'll Take it

Tim — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:50:04 +0000

In true Gameloft fashion, the large mobile game publisher released a "teaser trailer" for an upcoming title called, Gangstar Vegas. With a tagline like, "guns, girls, and gambling" this could be one of the more action-packed titles of the year. Unfortunately for fans of the series, the teaser trailer is little more than 40 seconds of stock Vegas footage spliced together. No gameplay shots or anything. Sad. The game is set to launch on both Android and iOS "soon." [youtube]http://youtu.be/h6PeinRiClw[/youtube]

AT&T Announces Jelly Bean Update for the Original Galaxy Note

Kellen — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:20:48 +0000

Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.2) is finally ready for the AT&T version of the Samsung Galaxy Note. Yes, the original. AT&T announced the update this morning as going live today, May 3, so be on the lookout should you still own this device. With Android 4.1, you get all sorts of new features over Ice Cream Sandwich. Google Now is probably the most important, but you'll see better and smarter notifications, along with a "premium package of new features including Popup Note, which allows users to instantly and conveniently write down directions, phone numbers, and other information while on a call. Popup Video and Browser allow users to watch video or browse the web while performing other tasks." Instructions for downloading and installing the update over Kies can be found at the links below. Via: ATT | Samsung

Action Launcher Pro Updated, Ability to Drag and Drop App-Widget Combos Added

Tim — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:10:32 +0000

Today, an update was pushed out for Action Launcher, one of the newer names in 3rd party Android launcher apps. Inside, users can now quickly add app/widget combos straight to a homescreen from the drawer. Once an app is added, simply slide up on the icon and the widget populates the display. On top of that, users can now lock and unlock the desktop for editing giving you some added security. Along with new features, there is a list of bug fixes about one mile long which can be viewed here. What's New:

Drag apps & widgets from the quickdrawer directly to a Home screen. This massively improves your customization workflow.
Lock/unlock desktop.
Shutters, a groundbreaking new feature that automatically puts widgets just a swipe away. (Note that due to Android API limitations, shutters require Android 4.1 or later)
Full tablet support.

Play Link ($3.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/T99zvrS9wE4[/youtube]

Quick Review: HTC One on Sprint

Tim — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:42:01 +0000

Our previous review of the HTC One was an international model, running on AT&T's network. We have now had an official U.S. model running on Sprint for the past week, so we felt it appropriate to go back and basically summarize our opinions for this device. We also felt it necessary to give a second opinion on it, since you know that no two persons are truly alike. It's time for Tato's take on the HTC One. Before we begin, I should point out that the one downfall to this device is the fact that I don't live in an area supported by Sprint's 4G LTE, so the device is rather handicapped in that regard. Nevertheless, if you are still on the fence about picking up HTC's 2013 flagship over any other device, read on.

The Good

Hardware When looking at the device's specs on paper, they definitely stand out in your average crowd of devices. The One features a 4.7" 1080p display with 468ppi, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 2,300mAh non-removable battery, 4G LTE connectivity (where supported), an IR blaster for use as a remote, and comes packed with the future standard of WiFi, 802.11ac. Each one of these specs is packed inside a single piece of aluminum casing that gives off a smooth and hardened feel when handled. Possibly tied for the top spot with the One X, this is the nicest Android phone I have ever touched. It gives off just the right amount of weight, not so much to where you would call it heavy, but the perfect amount to know the device is solid and well constructed.

Camera The camera on the HTC One has been the source of many questions, given that it runs a single 4MP sensor. How could HTC put a lowly 4MP camera in their 2013 flagship against Samsung's 13MP monster? In short without getting all scientific (since I know little about real cameras), it actually works well for this device and in the right circumstances, it works extremely well. When on a stroll through the park or inside the house, the One produces very good quality pictures, full of detail and crisp lines. You can tell that the Ultrapixel does let in good amounts of light, but it never makes a photo turn out bad by any means. The one true downside I noticed with the One's camera is that if you zoom in beyond 45% or more, your picture will come out looking blurred and nasty. To sum up the camera, if you upload photos to Facebook and Instagram on a regular basis, it will treat you just fine.

Click each image for full resolution.

BoomSound If there was one feature that I showed off about this phone the most, it was BoomSound. The front facing speakers on this device sound fantastic with any type of music I played through them. I'm more of a rock/metal kind of guy and they had no issues balancing the right amount of highs and lows. While playing more bass-heavy tunes, the sounds were handled just fine and it was actually a pleasure to listen to music through. To say your phone has amazing external speakers is almost unheard of, so having BoomSound is a major advantage for anyone that loves watching media on their device or listening to music. Kellen mentioned in his review that we have never talked about the speaker experience on a phone before and that should give everyone a clue just how highly we think of them.

BlinkFeed Kellen mostly avoided talking about BlinkFeed in his review, given that he didn't use it all that much (until he changed his mind recently). The thing is, like he mentions, HTC sort of forces you into using it, as it is a part of your homescreen. There is no disabling it. So, I placed some basic feeds in there from car blogs and science blogs, and I actually found it somewhat useful. What I do like about it is that I am a very visual guy, so when I see the big and bright pretty pictures, I'm able to simply click on them and be taken to the story. It's a no fuss experience. Plus, since you can add calendar events and even Twitter feeds, it's just a simple way of staying up-to-date on everything that is going on.

The Not-so-Good

Carrier The HTC One that I have is on Sprint's network and where I live, Sprint is pretty poor in terms of data speeds and mobile coverage. Like, really poor. Their service is so inconsistent that when I take my phone out with me, I have no idea if I'm going to a mobile dead zone when I leave my house. For example, I was with a friend at a restaurant in the middle of town and I couldn't even send out a tweet. The phone showed I had 3/4 bars full of "3G" service, yet I couldn't even send a tweet. When your device is rendered useless because of the network it's on, that is sort of inexcusable for me. If Sprint has good coverage in your area, then hopefully your experience will differ greatly from mine. I noticed that when the device showed it was on "4G," it worked just fine, but when on "3G" don't plan on doing any streaming, Tweeting, or Facebook'ing.

Parts of Sense 5 While the overall look of the Sense UI has improved greatly over the years, there are some parts of Sense 5 that are just awful. On stock Android, it takes just a single click to access the option if you want to choose a wallpaper, but on here, the option is hidden inside the settings menu. You have to drag the notification bar down, hit settings, find Personalize, hit wallpaper, then you can choose what you want to do. If you long press the homescreen on Sense 5, you can change widgets, add a homescreen, add shortcuts, but not even change the wallpaper. Why is that? It just seems overly complicated and unnecessary. To add to my frustrations with Sense, another key feature of Jelly Bean, expandable notifications, is not done properly. In stock Android, your top notification tends to always be expanded while the older ones collapse automatically. With Sense 5, they are always collapsed and never auto expand, forcing you to always two-finger swipe down on them. Unfortunately, the gesture isn't all that smooth and I sometimes have to swipe three times for it to work. As Kellen put it, "dealing with notifications went from being an amazing new experience, to completely painful."

Buttons Navigation on the HTC One is sort of funky and to be honest, I couldn't even find the recent apps function until just a couple of days ago. You access features with different long presses and double taps which is just crazy in my opinion. You long press the home button to access Google Now and you double tap home to bring up recent apps. And of course, that huge HTC logo doesn't do anything at all. I am all for OEMs differentiating themselves from the competition, but it would be nice to soon have a standard from Google that says manufacturers must use on-screen buttons. That would be nice.

Device Gallery

[nggallery id=78]

Verdict

I believe it was on this week's Droid Life Show when I said the HTC One is the - Best. Smartphone. Ever. I think a part of me truly does feel that way, but at the same time there a few things I would have changed. Stop making Sense so confusing, throw in a beefy 8MP or 13MP camera without the Ultrapixel marketing gimmickry, and get it onto Verizon's network. At the end of the day, this is currently my favorite Android smartphone of all time, so that does count for something. It is an absolute dream to feel in the hands and the device is extremely pleasing to look at. It's the ultimate sensory-pleasing package of a phone. If you are shopping for a new Android phone, you have to check out the One from HTC. To get your full review dose, check out Kellen's review here.

Google Fiber Headed to Raytown, Missouri and Shawnee, Kansas

Tim — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:19:33 +0000

City officials in Raytown, MO announced that they have struck a deal with Google to possibly bring Fiber, the 1Gbps Internet and TV service to their residents. Raytown sits just outside of Kansas City, where Fiber first took off early last year. A vote to officially offer the service could take place as soon as May, but even if it is then approved, who knows how long it would take to see construction begin. In addition, city officials voted and Google Fiber has the green light in Shawnee, Kansas. Shawnee, much like Raytown, lies just outside of Kansas City.

We still have a lot of planning and engineering work to do before we’re ready to bring Fiber to Shawnee, so we don’t have an estimate for when service will be available yet. We’ll be sure to publish an update here as soon as we have it.

It seems that Fiber is starting to take off in a few communities, which is a great sign for anyone hoping to get it in their town. Via: Kansas City

Samsung's Extensive Galaxy S4 Pool Party Commercial Proves They Have More Money to Spend on Marketing Than You

Kellen — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:29:42 +0000

Last night during TNT's NBA broadcasts, Samsung's new "Pool Party" ad for the Galaxy S4 popped up at least a couple of times. The ad is long, like a minute and a half long. If there was any doubt that their marketing budget is practically unlimited when it comes to their flagship phones, this should change that permanently. You almost have to feel a little bad for their competitors, because there is no way they can keep up with commercials played during special events at peak hours that are pushing almost two minutes in length. In this spot, the setting is at a graduation pool party. Throughout the ad, the graduate shows off all of the Galaxy S4's new features (Air Gesture, Air View, TV remote app, S Beam, and more) to his parents who are constantly impressed by the things it can do. Of course, all of the young, hip, and attractive attendees at the party all have the Galaxy S4 already, while the older crowd including grandparents, carry iPhones that aren't quite as "smart" as their GS4s. You'll see new camera features highlighted, jokes about missing NFC technology in Apple's products, and even the idea that the Galaxy S4 can capture smells with its camera (which it can't). Silly, but you'll get the point. Don't forget to read our Galaxy S4 review too.

Kovdev Launches Stark to Google Play, Another Icon Pack

Tim — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Last night, kovdev published a brand new icon pack titled Stark to Google Play. The pack is colorful and full of cleanly squared off icons, over 850 in total. If you haven't bought one of Dave Kover's packs before, you will find that he is constantly releasing bi-weekly updates and also takes icons requests. If you notice your favorite app isn't already in there, you can politely ask for it. On top of the icons, Stark also comes with a pack of 10 wallpapers, each complimenting the icons quite well. The pack costs $1.79 on Google Play, a reasonable price for some very high quality icons and wallpapers. Go grab it and let us know what you think. Play Link ($1.79)

Rumor and a Half: Larry Page Meets With LG to Talk Next Nexus Phone

Kellen — Fri, 03 May 2013 10:28:32 +0000

In one line of a report by the Korea Times, the world is now jumping to the idea that Google has already pegged LG as the creator of the next Nexus phone. Since LG produced the Nexus 4, they could easily create the next Nexus. Hell, even Samsung produced two Nexus phones in a row in the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus, so it's not out of the realm of possibility. The report comes as Larry Page stopped off to meet with LG CEO Koo Bon-joon in Korea to talk business. The report mentions specifically that the two met under low profile circumstances because "LG Group is working with Internet-giant Google to make another Nexus-branded Google Android smartphone." So are they? Other than this report, we have no other leads that point towards LG producing the next Nexus, which many have already dubbed "Nexus 5." One thing you should keep in mind, is the fact that we likely won't see another phone made by Google until the end of 2013. Google has released Nexus phones during the holiday quarter for three straight years, so by no means do we expect to see a new Nexus phone at Google I/O in two weeks or at another time this summer. LG certainly makes sense, though. The Nexus 4 has been a success if you consider that Google underestimated demand for it during the first few months of its release, leading to weeks and weeks of delays and limited availability. LG has also set personal records in terms of the amounts of smartphones it has shipped over the last quarter or so, thanks to innovative features and form factors of devices that match up nicely to what Samsung has been pushing. While we have a ways to go before we'll know for sure if LG is making the next Nexus, they should stick on the short list of potential companies. The meeting between Koo and Page reportedly also featured conversations about TVs and Google Glass. Thoughts on LG producing the next Nexus? We know you'd rather have it be made by Motorola, but who would be your second choice? Via: Korea Times Cheers Brad!

HTC, You Win - I Can't Stop Using BlinkFeed

Kellen — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:56:23 +0000

As painful as it is for me to admit this publicly, I feel it's only right that I do. My name is Kellen, and I'm a BlinkFeed user. When HTC announced the One back in February, I was one of the quickest to write off BlinkFeed as another marketing gimmick and option that no real tech user would ever touch. I called it "terrible" (twice). Sure, it was perfect for the average user who loves Facebook, but for people like me, it didn't stand a chance. It was a Flipboard copy, remember? It was even promoted with this super creepy, stalker-friendly ad. Well, after going through my second unlocked One, and making it my daily driver, I've found myself using the damn service more than I had ever expected to. In fact, I'm loving every second of it. Ugh. So what is it that I like? If you own a One and are holding off from installing a third party launcher (please don't ask me why I haven't done this yet, I'm embarrassed enough as it is), you are almost forced to use BlinkFeed. Since it can't be removed from your set of home screens, it's always there, ready for you to glance at. And since it's there to be glanced at, I decided that I may as well make it worth my time. So I filled it up with NBA and NFL news, dirty Celebrity fixes, Movie notes, and (my limited Facebook feed). Now, every time I unlock my phone, I refresh the stupid thing, hoping to see new news. I'm so addicted. BlinkFeed gives me a way to quickly consume information that I actually want to consume. There are no tech-related news feeds pumping through my BlinkFeed, no sir. I save my RSS apps for that. BlinkFeed is strictly personal. It has become my way of separating work from play, if you will. And not that tech is all work-related, but when I step away from my desk at the end of the day, it's time to unplug from press releases and phones in China that you will never want to buy. Now, BlinkFeed still bugs me at times. I often find it recycling some news stories. I also wish it would show me missed calls or connect to apps like Google Voice to show some notifications other than calendar appointments that are on the way. I really wish they would allow me to specify Twitter lists into it, rather than my entire Twitter feed. It has potential to be even better. But for now, it's my dumb guilty pleasure. I get a quick fix of news topics that I care about and the occasional Facebook post from a pre-school friend that I haven't talked to since I was five but am supposed to be interested in still, all without ever launching an app. Don't judge.

Report: AT&T to Launch "All in One" Prepaid Plans in June for $35, $50, and $70

Kellen — Fri, 03 May 2013 08:54:47 +0000

According to a report out of Fierce Wireless, AT&T will introduce new "All in One" prepaid plans starting June 15. The plans will likely include unlimited talk and text, but will have varying limits on data depending on the price you pay. Sources mentioned $35 feature phone plans, along with $50 and $70 smartphone plans that will be tested in Texas and Florida this month, with a nationwide rollout in June. At $50, the smartphone plan will include 2GB of data, while the $70 plan will bump data limits to 5GB. If a user were to eclipse their allotment for the month, their data speeds would be slowed. The report doesn't specifically mention if these new prepaid plans will work on AT&T's LTE network. Verizon's current smartphone prepaid plans give you either 500MB of data for $60 per month or 2GB of data for $70 per month. LTE is not a part of the deal. Via: Fierce Wireless

Barnes & Noble Nook HD and Nook HD+ Become Real Android Tablets - Update to Include Google Play, Other Google Services

Kellen — Fri, 03 May 2013 08:07:20 +0000

Fork Android and the likelihood that Android sites and enthusiasts are going to care much for your products is slim to none. Take the Nook HD and Nook HD+ as prime examples. When these new tablets were announced back in September, our readers cared enough to drop 16 comments on the announcement post. We realized at that moment that there was no need to talk about these products any longer. Whether you agree with that stance or not, I can tell you that we have not received one email related to either since that day. It is what it is. But today marks a new beginning for the Nook series. Thanks to an over-the-air (OTA) update that will arrive at any moment, both the Nook HD and Nook HD+ will become official Android tablets. Since the update includes Google Play, Gmail, YouTube, Chrome, Google Search, and Google Maps, it's clear that Barnes & Noble realized the importance of being a true part of the ecosystem. Sure, Amazon is doing quite well with their Kindle line, but they are certainly the exception to the rule. So if you own a Nook HD or HD+, be on the lookout - Google Play is coming your way.

Barnes & Noble Announces Google Play™ on NOOK® HD and NOOK® HD+

The Best in Reading and Now Over 700,000 Android Apps and Games, Millions of Songs, Movies, TV Shows and More, Plus Chrome™, Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Search™ and Google Maps™ on Stunning 7- and 9-inch Tablets
New York, New York – May 3, 2013 – NOOK Media LLC, a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced it is expanding its extensive catalog of reading and entertainment content with the addition of the popular Google Play digital content experience on its acclaimed NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ devices. With Google Play on NOOK HD and NOOK HD+, customers have access to more than 700,000 Android apps and games, millions of songs and more. Barnes & Noble’s highly acclaimed lightweight high-definition 7- and 9-inch tablets will also include popular Google services like the Chrome browser, Gmail, YouTube, Google Search and Google Maps. “By adding Google Play to NOOK HD and NOOK HD+, we are offering our customers even more great entertainment on our award-winning tablets,” said William Lynch, chief executive officer of Barnes & Noble. “Now with access to more than 700,000 apps and the best reading experience available, NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ are must-see products for entertainment lovers looking for high-quality tablets at incredibly low prices.” Always a great value, NOOK HD, now with Google Play, is available starting at just $199 and NOOK HD+ starts at only $269. NOOK products are available at the nearly 700 Barnes & Noble stores, NOOK.com and leading retailers. Google Play and the other Google services will be available to all new and existing NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ customers in the US and UK at no cost through an automatic over-the-air update that will roll out to all devices connected to Wi-Fi beginning today. Customers who would like to enjoy the major new software update immediately can learn more at www.NOOK.com/support or www.NOOK.co.uk/support. NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ Features More than 700,000 Android Apps and Games: Choose from more than 700,000 great apps including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Temple Run, ESPN, TED, Netflix and so many more, all ready to enjoy right away. The NOOK Store™ continues to feature a wide selection of thousands of high-quality NOOK Apps™ tailored for the devices including the highest-quality educational apps for kids through age 12, all organized by subject area and easily searchable. Millions of songs: The addition of Google Play Music lets customers browse millions of songs, discover new artists and fill NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ with favorite tracks to enjoy anytime. Google Play also lets people store 20,000 songs from their personal collection in the cloud for free and stream them to their NOOK HD, NOOK HD+ and other devices. Favorite Movies & TV Shows: Choose from thousands of movies and TV shows including new releases, the latest episodes, award-winning films and past seasons from favorite TV series. Stream movies and TV shows to watch instantly on NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ or make them available offline to watch later, even when not connected to Wi-Fi. The Very Best in Reading: The NOOK Store offers millions of books and magazines to choose from. Sample any book free or choose from over 1 million free titles. Barnes & Noble offers thousands of best-selling magazines and newspapers from around the world, all in spectacular HD and delivered right to NOOK as soon as they come out. Enjoy free 14-day trials on any newsstand title and get expert recommendations on what to read next from the reading specialists at NOOK through NOOK Channels™. With NOOK Catalogs™, browse top catalogs like Pottery Barn and L.L.Bean delivered right to the device and virtually tear out magazine and catalog pages and save them in a NOOK Scrapbook™. Faster Web Browsing with Chrome: As Web browsing continues to be among the most popular tablet activities, NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ now feature the Chrome browser for fast start up and page loading and an unlimited number of tabs open at once. Customers can even sync bookmarks across any device with Chrome. Google Search™, Gmail™, YouTube™ and Google Maps™: Customers will have instant access to Google Search, Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps, now built in to NOOK HD or NOOK HD+. Sync calendars across multiple devices and check email from any account including Exchange, Yahoo! and Hotmail. Additional great tablet features include:

Stunning HD Displays: Crisp text and beautiful graphics make books and magazines stunning to read. With NOOK HD’s highest resolution of any 7-inch HD tablet and Full HD at 1080p on NOOK HD+, videos and games look life-like from any angle, with rich color, deep contrast and minimal glare.

Light and Portable: Weighing in at only 11.1 ounces, NOOK HD was designed to fit naturally in an adult or child’s hand for hours of enjoyment. And at just 18.2 ounces, NOOK HD+ is the lightest tablet of its kind – more than 20 percent lighter than iPad 3 – making it the perfect companion for movie watching, long reads, Sunday crosswords or favorite games.

NOOK Profiles™: A personalized experience instantly transforms the device in hand to any family member’s very own tablet so only they can see their own content.

NOOK Channels™: This pioneering recommendation system provides an easy way to discover new titles by theme.

The ability to sync the last page read on any NOOK Book across NOOK devices and apps so customers don’t lose their place.

Expandable memory on the evices and free unlimited NOOK Cloud™ storage for all NOOK content.

Adjustable fonts, spacing and themes for a customized reading experience.

Powerful dual-core processors and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The NOOK Store offers more than 3 million titles in the US, with 2.5 million available in the UK, including more than 1 million free titles. For more information on NOOK HD and NOOK HD+, or any of NOOK’s innovative products and devices, customers can visit www.nook.com or www.nook.co.uk.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc. Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS) is a Fortune 500 company and the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products. The company operates 677 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s largest e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com). Its NOOK Media LLC subsidiary is a leader in the emerging digital reading and digital education markets. The NOOK digital business offers award-winning NOOK® products and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store™ (www.nook.com), while Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC operates 678 bookstores serving over 4.6 million students and faculty members at colleges and universities across the United States. Barnes & Noble is proud to be named a J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Customer Service Champion and is one of only 50 U.S. companies so named. Barnes & Noble.com is ranked the number one online retailer in customer satisfaction in the book, music and video category and a Top 10 online retailer overall in customer satisfaction according to ForeSee E-Retail Satisfaction Index (Spring Top 100 Edition).

Upcoming Toshiba AT10LE-A Tablet Pictured, Running Tegra 4 Chip

Tim — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:33:27 +0000

We as consumers are still awaiting details on which upcoming devices will be running NVIDIA's Tegra 4 processor this year. News out of Greece today shows that a tablet made by Toshiba could be one of the first, as it has popped up on the web sporting a few notable features. It looks to be a 10" device, running somewhat stock Android 4.2.1. The next thing to take note of is that it appears to have a specially designed dock that it can be mounted in, which makes it good for people that like the notebook functionality that some tablets offer. Lastly, the Tegra 4 chip, according to TechBlog, is clocked at 1.8GHz when tested using benchmark applications. No matter what device comes first running the new chip, the sooner the better in my book.

Via: TechBlog.gr

Video: First Look at Paranoid Android's Halo Feature in Action

Tim — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:52:05 +0000

[youtube]http://youtu.be/9vlrgCteDac[/youtube]

We first wrote up that the Paranoid Android team was working on something big earlier this week, with many folks voicing quite a bit of excitement. It appeared to be a multi-window/Chat Heads feature that allows users to be inside any app and access other app's notifications from anywhere on the device, without having to access the notification bar. So in essence, this feature acts as a Chat Head, but is completely system wide for all apps. Today, we are getting our first real look at Halo. Halo looks to almost reinvent the way we interact with notifications, taking regular multi-tasking and injecting it with steroids. So far, it looks very smooth for still being in early development stages, which has me pretty excited. It is still unavailable for download, but as soon as alpha builds starting going up, we will link you to them. Cheers Shamus!

Pictures Leak of Mystery Motorola Device Headed to AT&T (Update: Back of the Device Pictured)

Tim — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:51:18 +0000

Images just hit Twitter from the @evleaks account, showing a "blackboxed" Motorola device with signs of it headed to AT&T all over. For starters, there is the huge AT&T logo in the notification bar, as well as AT&T's 4G LTE logo running on top. This device (what we can see of it) does sort of resemble the XT912A that was pictured back in March, but with the black box doing its job of concealing the device's true form, it's hard to say. In March, we wrote up three Motorola codenames, each of which that had a chance of landing on AT&T's network. No specs were known for certain, but one thing that the devices shared in common was that each device ran Android 4.2+. In the shots above, it is apparent that Motorola's toned-down Blur skin is present on the device, but other than what we can see, it's hard be certain on any specifics. Update: Well, a picture of the back of the device has been uploaded. Information is extremely limited of course, but next to model, it reads "XFON AT&T." If that doesn't get the X Phone conspiracist folks going, I don't know what will.

Thoughts? Via: @evleaks

Bejeweled Blitz Lands on Google Play, Brings That Classic Matching Action

Tim — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:30:43 +0000

[youtube]http://youtu.be/4zMF_xWq5ho[/youtube]

After what some are calling an eternity, Bejeweled Blitz has finally arrived for Android. Bejeweled is labeled by some as the world's #1 popular puzzle game, having players match shapes and colors in a fast-paced timed environment. This version of the game has been available for iOS and Facebook users for some time, so to see it up for Android is a welcomed change. In Blitz, you can challenge your Facebook friends to beat your score, as well as score crazy high with bonus rare gems. I'm not much a Bejeweled guy, but maybe I'll check it out with all this hype going around. Play Link Cheers Seth!

Google Files Patent for Smartwatch With Bezels as Touchpads

Kellen — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:50:04 +0000

At this point, can we pencil in Google as guaranteed to be the next big tech company to create a smartwatch? We've already seen at least one patent filed for a watch, along with a report that the Android team is leading the charge on the project. So today's patent filing doesn't necessarily come as a surprise, but it does offer up details on how this new wearable wriststrap could work. Similar to how Google Glass works with its side touchpad, this patent talks of using the bezels around the watchface for accomplishing gestures like pinch-to-zoom, scrolling, and stretching. The patent says specifically that the bezel will be used to "provide a tactile-based user input to the processor." There are also mentions of a display, processor, battery, and wriststrap, along with dozens of mentions of this being a "smart-watch." If you didn't think that Google was working on one, I hope that you do now. Here's to hoping it looks similar to this Google Time concept. If you could choose, would you go Google smartwatch or Glass?

Via: USPTO | Engadget

Koush's Carbon Back Up App Renamed to Helium Due to Trademark Issues

Tim — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:30:13 +0000

Koush's Carbon backup application received an update today, the most notable change probably being its name. Carbon is now called Helium, as there was a trademark issue with "Carbon." Either way, it's still the same application, just a new name. On top of the new name, there have been some improvements made to the app, such as bug fixes, cloud backups are managed separately for each device you use, and WiFi settings can be backed up (root required for that one). What's New:

Carbon has been renamed to "Helium" (trademark issue)
App icons are now stored in a .nomedia directory as a hidden dot file. Redo your backups to hopefully clear out the gallery spam.
Fixed a bugs with PC Restore.
Helium's Windows Installer now includes the Universal ADB Driver as part of the installation. If you had device detection problems before, this may fix it!
Cloud backups are now managed separately per device
Wifi settings can now be backed up (root required)

Like the new name? Play Link

Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Goes on Sale For $1.99

Tim — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:04:21 +0000

For a very limited time, go pick up Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for just $1.99. If you have followed Rockstar and their titles on Google Play, you would know how often times rare it is to see these apps go on sale. In fact, I don't know if I have ever seen Vice City on sale since it's been released. Go grab the app, a Bluetooth controller and get lost in the coke-filled 80s. Play Link ($1.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/Qsx6ZMfcPUs[/youtube]

Instagram Introduces "Photos of You," A New Way of Tagging People in Photos

Tim — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:33:48 +0000

Instagram announced a new feature in an update to both their Android and iOS apps this morning called "Photos of You." As the name suggests, this is a new way to tag people or objects in the photos you have snapped. It's a lot like how Facebook photo tagging works, which would make sense since the photo-sharing service is owned by them. In the past, you had to mention people in the text associated with images in order to notify them that you they were being included. With "Photos of You," you'll now have an additional way to focus specifically on the people you spend time with during the pre-upload section of recently snapped pics. Once you have applied filters or made editing changes, you'll now see that the "Share Photo" section includes an "Add people" box. Once you tap in that box, you'll be directed to your image which will allow you to tap areas that you wish to tag people with. You can do this for multiple people, as you can see in the image above.

Also, included in your profile page, you'll see a new tab for this "Photos of You" section, so that you can see every photo you have ever starred in. To know if an image has tags, you should see a little black icon in the bottom left corner. To view images with tagged people, a simple single tap will bring up and tags. Play Link Via: Instagram

Punch Quest Hits Google Play, Comes Chuck Norris Approved

Tim — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:11:57 +0000

A new game has made its way onto Google Play and although it has been available on iOS for a bit, we aren't one to hold a grudge. Either way, the game is called Punch Quest and it takes place in a world where all of life's problems can be solved by using your fists. Ah, what a wonderful world that must be. The game is an endless scroller, putting you in the shoes of a character who punches baddies and collects power-ups to make himself even more powerful. You can choose to complete quests (which adds a more challenging nature to the game) much like you do in Jetpack Joyride, so there should be a sense of familiarity in that sense. The game is a ton of fun, looks good and only costs $1. Features:

Unlock and equip many special abilities and Supermoves.
Ride a dinosaur that shoots lasers out of its mouth.
Character customization.
Punch an egg that turns you into a magical gnome.
Do quests to earn really fancy hats.
Combo system where you launch enemies into each other from across the map.
Tablet support!

I think if there was one thing to make this game better, it would be to have Chuck Norris as our hero. Then it would be perfect. Play Link ($0.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/8H6l2htv-3w[/youtube]

Beautiful Widgets Launches Free Version With In-App Purchases

Kellen — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:35:46 +0000

One of the most popular Android widget applications of all time, Beautiful Widgets, is now available as a free app on Google Play. This new free version is a bare-bones edition that allows you to pick and choose the options or themes you want. As you find something that looks interesting, you can decide to buy it out-right. The folks at LevelUp Studio even bundled some of the options into packs, but you can buy pieces individually as well. Should you decide that you don't want to spend countless amounts of cash on individual packs, you can always upgrade to the Pro version, which is the new name of the original Beautiful Widgets. Play Link Via: LevelUp Studio

Galaxy Note 2 on Verizon Receiving Mystery Update to Build I605VRAMC3 (Updated: Changelog Added)

Tim — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:10:20 +0000

Looks like a mystery update is being sent out from Verizon to owners of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The new build number is I605VRAMC3, but without Verizon posting an updated PDF with the changes, it's hard to tell what's new. If you spot something right off the bat, let us know. Update: The support PDF has updated and it's massive. The big change is that the Galaxy Note 2 is now running Android 4.1.2, but you'll see that a nice list of apps have been updated to support Multi Window on the device. The update also includes support for Isis Mobile Wallet, fixes alarm clock issues, and added notification panel editing menu in Display Settings. Check below for the full details. The update is 246MB in size.

Via: Verizon Cheers Ben, Jacob, Gfacekilla, Steve, and Antonio!

Amazon Appstore's Free App of the Day is the $10 Jump Desktop

Tim — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:50:50 +0000

I can't remember the last time I brought up the Amazon Appstore, but today they are offering up a $10 app for free called Jump Desktop, so now seems like a good time to bring it back up. The application allows for remote access to one's desktop, giving you the ability to work on that Excel sheet, check that Outlook inbox or any other desktop task that might come up while you are out and about. It could definitely come in handy at times of need. To download and install, you will need to download the Amazon Appstore from Amazon right here, then take it from there by signing into your Amazon account. Appstore Link Cheers Dan!

Ditalix Live Wallpaper Brings Colorful Themes Right to Your Device

Tim — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:13:04 +0000

If Origami Live Wallpaper from earlier this week wasn't to your liking, then you might like Ditalix Live Wallpaper instead. Much like Origami, it brings a colorful and vibrant look to your homescreen, but also gives you a massive amount of options to choose from to customize it how you see fit. If you like a certain pattern or shape, but don't care for the color, simply change the background image to one of the pre-loaded options or even upload your own. The wallpaper comes with a ton of custom themes and backgrounds to start out with for free (Androids, Greek letters, leaves, etc.), but if you want even more, there are theme packs you can purchase for $0.99 a pop. There is one pack for $2.99 (currently on sale from $6) that gives you all of the present and future theme packs. Not too shabby. Play Link [youtube]http://youtu.be/vwZoNbpPjYg[/youtube]

HTC Hosting "Premium Weekend Special," Will Give You Up to $375 for Upgrade to the One

Kellen — Thu, 02 May 2013 08:48:18 +0000

HTC is doing everything in its power to get you to switch to their new flagship, the One, over the competition. This may be there last shot at a comeback as Samsung's brand continues to grow, LG is posting record smartphone sales quarters, and Motorola has the backing of Google on their side. They have already launched a nationwide tour to show off the device in pubic places, a handful of which include concerts with artists like Pharrell. To continue on with their promotion, they are making this weekend the weekend to upgrade to the One. The deal is called "One Phone, One Weekend, One Premium Upgrade." Should you choose to buy the HTC One from today (May 2) through May 5, HTC will give you up to $375 back on eligible smartphones that you trade in. As one would expect, the iPhone 5 is worth the most, followed by the iPhone 4S and then Galaxy S3. In the image above, you can see some of the other approximated values of potential trade-in devices. So this is how it works - you buy the One, cruise to HTC's trade-up site, enter the promo code "HTC100," and then enter information about the device you are trading in (or "up"). HTC will give you a quote on its value, which you can accept if you like. Should you accept, a shipping label will be there for printing, so that you can send in your device. Return your phone by 6/15/13 and HTC will send you a prepaid Visa card. Don't forget to check out our HTC One review if you haven't already. Via: HTC

Angry Birds Friends Now Live on Google Play

Tim — Thu, 02 May 2013 08:29:00 +0000

For anyone who already plays Angry Birds Friends through their Facebook account, your day just got a whole lot sweeter. Now, Angry Birds Friends is available for your smartphone, allowing you to challenge your FB friends in the Pig Popper and Bird Flinging challenges wherever you are. The game is based purely on a social element, revolving around you besting your friends. There are different types of games to choose from with different levels of challenge. There are new levels weekly as well as daily rewards, which should keep some birds addicts coming back over and over again. Features:

Tournaments with new levels every week!
Challenge your Facebook friends for bronze, silver, and gold trophies!
Brag, send gifts, and invite your Facebook friends to play!
Four classic power-ups, plus one exclusive to Angry Birds Friends on mobile!
Daily rewards!
Free bird-coins just for completing the tutorial!
Syncs automatically with your game on Facebook!

Play Link [youtube]http://youtu.be/vTJ2CZl9_r4[/youtube]

Wil Wheaton Struggles to Root His HTC One - Koush Does It Instead, Names Recovery After Him

Kellen — Thu, 02 May 2013 08:07:03 +0000

Last night, Wil Wheaton broadcast to the world through Google+ that he was struggling to fully root his HTC One. He was able to unlock the bootloader (likely through HTCDev), but them found the entire process of putting a recovery or rooting it to be quite difficult. He eventually gave up, leaving for the night after five hours of work with some parting words about how much he loves his "GNEX" and despises the UI of the One. So what happened after he ran off to bed? Koush came to the rescue. With the release of Wil Wheaton Recovery, anyone (including Wil) can root the AT&T or T-Mobile versions of the HTC One. All you need to do to get the process going is to flash this new Wil Wheaton recovery.img in fastboot, boot into the new recovery, and then reboot to Android from the new Wil Wheaton Recovery, where it will ask you to root the device. Tap "Yes" when prompted, and you will be rooted. It doesn't look like Wil is awake yet, so we'll try to update this post with his much-anticipated response. Via: +Koush | +Wil Wheaton Cheers Matt!

The Droid Life Show: Episode 23

Kellen — Thu, 02 May 2013 00:42:03 +0000

It's Droid Life Show time! On tonight's show we plan to talk about Google I/O and some of the sessions that were announced last night, the fact that Google Glass is everywhere, Tim's thoughts on the HTC One after having it for a week, if tablets are going to be dinosaurs in five years, our favorite apps and games of the moment, and more. It'll be another topic-packed event, so be sure to join us. The show kicks off around 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). A live video broadcast and chat are embedded below.

Subscribe | iTunes | Show Page

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDBLNH_MldY[/youtube]

Droid Life Show is Live Tonight at 6PM Pacific!

Kellen — Wed, 01 May 2013 20:51:28 +0000

The Droid Life Show is back again tonight with episode 23. We'll be live at our normal 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern) time slot with a number of hot topics to discuss. Google I/O is approaching quickly, the Galaxy S4 is available from everyone except Verizon, I've made the HTC One my device of choice, ridiculous rumors are flooding the airwaves, and Google Glass can't seem to avoid our front page. There are plenty of thoughts from the entire team on all of these subjects, so don't miss it. Again, the show begins at 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). We’ll have live video and chat embeds at that time. If you are unable to join us live, be sure to subscribe so that you can still catch every episode.

Subscribe | iTunes | Show Page

It's May and Verizon Still Hasn't Released a Single Decent Smartphone This Year

Kellen — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:21:29 +0000

Today is May 1. While the day itself is not significant to the tech world, I realized this afternoon that we are no longer in April and got to thinking about how fast this year has flown by. We are already in the 5th month of a year that has included trips to Las Vegas for CES, a week of announcements from MWC in Barcelona, and a couple of major product launch events like HTC with the One and Samsung with the Galaxy S4. There has been a lot to talk about, especially when you think about both of those phones in particular which will dominate the mobile landscape for most of the year, especially since they have such a broad reach in terms of carrier availability. Well, except for on Verizon. As I mentioned, we're starting month five of 2013 and Big Red has yet to release anything worth a second look in terms of a smartphone. It still hasn't released either of these phones, one of which it may not offer ever. What's up, Verizon? As you all know, HTC released the One as their new flagship for 2013 with availability at AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Verizon, for whatever reason, decided to pass on what may turn into the phone of the year without something in line to take its place. So here we are hoping there is a DROID DNA+ or that Verizon comes around and finally carries the One even without the DROID tag attached. We've heard rumors suggesting that Verizon thinks they can't sell anything unless it's DROID branded, a part of Samsung's Galaxy line, or is an iPhone. Speaking of Galaxy phones - by the time Verizon releases their version of the Galaxy S4, they'll then have gone five full months without having released a meaningful phone. We know the GS4 is on the way, since pre-orders have already opened up, but every other carrier on the planet will have had theirs available for almost a month by the time May 30 rolls around. So what has Verizon been up to? Well, changing policies, and more policies. Updating a lot of phones. Adding tons of new customers in Q1. And then releasing phones like the LG Lucid 2. As someone who has been with Verizon for more years than I can count, I'm itching for something new. Where is it? Will there be a DROID DNA+ or a Verizon One? We think so. Is Verizon simply waiting for Motorola to come out with something new that they can carry exclusively like the RAZR HD? Hell, even Apple has said they won't release new hardware until the fall, so it's not like they are waiting for a new iPhone. What's the hold-up? Maybe we'll get a multiple device unveiling at CTIA in three weeks? Please.

Android Distribution Numbers Updated for May - Jelly Bean Jumps Slightly to 28.4% of Devices

Kellen — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:46:28 +0000

The Android team updated their OS distribution numbers for the beginning of May this afternoon, showing what appears to be a slight jump for Jelly Bean at 28.4%, which is up from the 25% it topped off at in the beginning of April. We're seeing a decline in Ice Cream Sandwich's piece of the pie, which is likely due to devices running Android 4.0+ jumping to Android 4.1+ over the last month. We have seen a number of Jelly Bean updates, after all. Gingerbread dropped to 38.5%, Honeycomb is barely alive at 0.1%, Froyo dipped to 3.6%, and the rest of the numbers didn't move for Eclair and Donut. You can see April's numbers here, if you'd like to compare. Keep in mind that this numbers are now built using data collected from each device when the user visits the Google Play Store Via: Android Developers

WeatherBug Receives Major UI Update, Fancy Live Tiles and Background Themes

Tim — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:16:42 +0000

The WeatherBug for Android app received a large update today through Google Play, bringing a completely redone user interface, featuring "live tiles" and background themes. In addition, navigation is now completely swipe based, as well as a fancy new Photos section where you can view other people's shots of your local area. What's New:

Redesigned User Interface
Slide-side navigation w/ swiping
Dynamic live tiles
Background themes
Photos section

Play Links: Free | Pro ($2.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/z0m-OvFnMnc[/youtube] Cheers Adam!

Twitter for Android Updated, Brings a Menu Button!

Tim — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:26:18 +0000

Hold onto your caps, folks - the Twitter app for Android now has a menu button! Well actually, we should be a bit more specific given this is our business. It's called an Action Overflow Button. I know, I know, where has this been since the beginning? Either way, it's there now for easy account switching and quick access to account settings. Go utilize it till your finger falls off. What's New:

See what's happening near you or around the world by viewing Trends in hundreds of locations.
Get quick access to account switching and settings via the menu button.
Enjoy a smoother experience thanks to bug fixes and other improvements.

Play Link

Galaxy S4 Bootloader Unlock Not Available Until Verizon's Version is Released

Kellen — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:02:26 +0000

Dan Rosenberg (@djrbliss) posted a teaser photo this morning of his success at cracking the bootloader on the AT&T version of the Samsung Galaxy S4. The initial reaction by most was, "When will the method be released to the public?!?" After a minimal wait, the answer has been given and is quite obvious if you think about it. Dan is waiting for Verizon to release their version of the Galaxy S4 at the end of May. Why would he do that, you ask? For one, there is no guarantee that his method will work on Big Red's version of the Galaxy S4. But more importantly, if it does, he doesn't want Verizon and their security personnel to have a chance to patch his exploit before release. If he were to release this phone now, Samsung and Verizon would have plenty of time to work on a patch, then making it even more difficult for users who buy the device to ever unlock it. Here is the quick Q&A he went through over at XDA this afternoon:

Is that the AT&T-branded Galaxy S4? Yes. It wouldn't be very interesting otherwise. Does this allow you to run custom kernels and recoveries? Yes. When will this be released? I will not be publishing anything at least until the Verizon-branded Galaxy S4 begins shipping (late May). Does that mean it will work on the Verizon model? It is highly likely this will also work on the Verizon model, but since I don't have one I'm unable to test at this time. Will bothering me result in an early release? No. Is this the result of a leak? No. I would not associate myself with the publication of confidential materials that are proprietary to these companies, regardless of the fact that I disagree with their policies on device openness. Plus, where's the fun in that? What about the bounty? Feel free to wait until I publish and decide for yourself if it meets your criteria. As always, I prefer any donations go to a reputable charity organization instead of me, but I won't refuse if you insist on throwing money at my PayPal (http://goo.gl/zBGb0). Is it safe to install OTA updates? If you are interested in taking advantage of this release, it is recommended that you avoid installing OTA updates until it is published. Please be aware that refraining from installing updates may prevent you from receiving security and stability fixes for your device, and consider whether this is a risk you are willing to accept.

I can't help but admit that this whole situation is extremely amusing. The thought of Verizon sitting around for the next month trying to figure out the bootloader unlock method of Dan's is quite entertaining. Will they patch it before the device is in our hands? We'll see. Via: XDA

Knife That Guy for Android, an Interesting Game That is Extremely Addictive

Tim — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:41:26 +0000

Stop what you are doing and go check out Knife That Guy. This game has been live on Google Play for almost a month from an indie developer and as it sits, it is still only between just 100-500 downloads. In the game you take to a dance floor with one goal, which is to cut up the guy with the red arrow on his head. As you knife him more and more, the game speeds up and there are more obstacles (other people) for you to move around to get to your target. Each other person on the dance floor has their own little personality, some of whom try to get in your way to be stabbed. Although, if you stab them, you lose points on your health bar, which when put at zero means you die. We can't have that. It's $0.99 on Google Play, but you'll find it is the best dollar ever spent. You'll hear me talk about it tonight on the DL Show. Play Link ($0.99)

Steve "Cyanogen" Kondik Shows Off CM 10.1 Loaded Up on Galaxy S4

Tim — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:22:09 +0000

Development for the Galaxy S4 is taking off by leaps and bounds now that the device is landing in the hands of developers. And you know it's going to be a good time when the founder of CyanogenMod, Steve Kondik takes to Google+ to show off Samsung's newest flagship running a build of his custom firmware. Along with his post, he says, "Definitely not supporting the S4." Oh, that guy sure has some knee slappers. Now that the device is shown running CyanogenMod, at least on this T-Mobile variant , have you decided whether you are picking one up? Unlocks could possibly be coming soon to other carrier versions of the device as we this morning, so development seems to be going swimmingly for this phone. Or was the locked bootloader on some versions even deterring you from buying one? Via: +Steve Kondik Cheers Willimus!

Benchmarks for Nexus 4 LTE and X Phone Appear Running New Versions of Android, Probably Shouldn't Believe Them Though

Kellen — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:55:25 +0000

Don't worry, we've seen your tips hit our inbox. We are well aware that benchmarks for devices named "Google Nexus 4 LTE" and "Google X phone" are appearing through apps like AnTuTu. We also know that both have been rumored off and on over the last couple of months as potential Google I/O launch devices. But pardon us if we aren't buying into these benchmarks being legit or giving us any reason to call anything as "confirmed." Let me explain. We'll start first with the "Google Nexus 4 LTE," since it's the newest device to make internet rounds. After a couple of unconfirmed and "weird" rumors for this device floated about last week, a supposed benchmark from it is now available, leading some to report that this device along with Android 4.3 are confirmed. (Nice timing!) Funny thing is, if you actually own a Nexus 4 with stock Android (like I do), and run an AnTuTu benchmark, the device isn't called "Google Nexus 4." No, AnTuTu knows the name as "Nexus 4" only. In fact, if you do an AnTuTu search for "Nexus 4," you'll get dozens of results back from real devices, but if you limit it to "Google Nexus 4," you get four results of devices that may not even be the Nexus 4 (all pictured above to the left). Two are clocked properly at 1.5GHz, while the other two are are running Ice Cream Sandwich and who knows what kind of processor. So what I'm getting at, is benchmarks can easily be faked. Toss on a custom ROM here, tweak a build.prop there, and I wouldn't be surprised if you could trick the results into showing whatever you like. And that leads us into the next screenshot on the far right for the "Google X phone" and "Google X" running Android 5.0.1 First, we know that Motorola is working on new phones - execs from Google have admitted this time and time again. Do we know that one of them will be called the "X Phone"? No. Sure, we've seen a job listing for the project from Motorola with X Phone mentioned, but if anything, that's a code name (or a troll job by Google), which typically do not show up on benchmarks. Second, it's clear that someone tried to create these results just to stir the pot. We've got phones with varying processors, three different versions of Android, and one even going as far as to use the word "phone" in the name. Because phone manufacturers love to use the word "phone" in an official capacity at the end of their naming conventions. Can you imagine if HTC went with the "HTC One Phone"? You get the point. Oh and what about the top result that shows "Android 5.0.1"? We're pretty sure the next big release of Android is 4.3, not 5.0. You can find a handful of reports who are claiming to have seen Android 4.3 in server logs (we've got sightings in our analytics as well), still as Jelly Bean, but nothing on 5.0 and we're two weeks from Google I/O. If Google were to unveil 5.0, we'd have seen some sort of trace of it by now. In the past, we have used benchmarks to help shape stories and gather details about upcoming phones, but AnTuTu listings of a random phone name with a random version of Android is not a part of that process. If you want to find legitimate results, GLBenchmark is probably your best bet. Motorola is indeed working on new phones, hell, we even have the real codenames for them already. But there are no signs right now that point to Google actually releasing an LTE Nexus 4. We'd love for that to happen, but anything related to it at this point is nothing but rumor. Thankfully, we are two weeks away from I/O and will find out for sure then.

Samsung Reportedly Deciding Between Three Different Designs for Galaxy Note 3

Tim — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:23:44 +0000

According to a source of SamMobile, Samsung has three different working prototypes of the Galaxy Note 3 that they are leaning towards. One design is basically a larger Galaxy S4, which wouldn't shock anybody given that's what the Galaxy Note 2 was to the Galaxy S3. Then, there are two other designs which intrigue us quite a bit more. One is said to feature a flexible display, something we have been hearing about quite a bit from LG and Sammy's camps. Lastly, there is a completely different design that has zero details known about it. So basically, it does not feature a flexible display and it doesn't look like a Galaxy S4. Mystery device. Samsung still has a few months before mass production would need to start in order to have this device ready by the end of the year, so we shall see which design they end up going with. While it would be somewhat disappointing to see them take the easy route with an "uninspired" Galaxy S4 design, it could be that Samsung is stuck in either a design rut or a "hey, we're making bank off this design so we're going to milk it" rut. Which would you want to see? Larger Galaxy S4 Note 3, flexible Note 3, or completely different design "mystery" Note 3? Via: SamMobile

EA Launches Monopoly Hotels to Google Play, Places Need For Speed: Most Wanted on Sale for $1

Tim — Wed, 01 May 2013 09:57:47 +0000

If you asked me, I would say Need For Speed: Most Wanted being on sale for $1 is bigger news than Monopoly Hotels, but apparently I'm a minority. This week, you can pick up the newest title from EA Games through Google Play as a free-to-play title, but expect to see some IAPs present. In the game, you play as a hotel mogul, so just think of yourself as Donald Trump. What's even better is that you must upgrade rooms to attract VIP guests, such as the one and only Mr. Potato Head. This title, along with 16 others in Google Play have been optimized for the new Galaxy S4, so you can be excited about that as well. If Monopoly Hotels isn't your thing, then I bet Need For Speed is. It's currently on sale for $0.99 down from its list of $4.99. Go grab it now. Play Links: Monopoly Hotels | Need For Speed

Refurbished Nexus 10 Tablets Show Up on Groupon, Priced at $429.99

Tim — Wed, 01 May 2013 09:11:48 +0000

It's hard to pass up a good Groupon sometimes, especially when it focuses on a flagship Android device. Today, they're offering up a refurbished Nexus 10 32GB for the price of $429.99, down from its list price of $499.99. That's a total of $70 in discounts, plus on orders of $15 or more (or something like that), shipping is free. Kind of a win/win if buying a refurb'd device doesn't bother you. The Nexus 10 is still a heavyweight in its respective category. With an extremely high resolution of 2560 x 1600, a dual-core Exynos processor, and 2GB of RAM, the Nexus 10 is still one beast of a tablet. Buy. ($429.99) Cheers NCSUgolfer01!

Dan Rosenberg Appears to Have Hacked the Bootloader on the Galaxy S4

Kellen — Wed, 01 May 2013 08:47:28 +0000

Two days ago, word of a locked bootloader on Samsung's new Galaxy S4 spread across this vast internet thanks to Steve "Cyanogen" Kondik. The outrage poured in, as we have come to expect. Carriers hate us. Well, at least that's how we perceive these direct attempts at keeping us from doing as we please with a product we paid good money for. We're sure they have sold or lobbied to the FCC or any number of government agencies on the fact that custom software and unlocked bootloaders will blow up their networks and ruin the experience for everyone, something they likely have no proof for. But, that's where we stand! Thankfully, we have security specialists like Dan Rosenberg in the community who are willing to donate their time to righting the cause. You may know Dan from his work with Motorola devices (unlocking bootloaders) and his recent root exploit for almost all of the Galaxy S4 variants. In a Tweet sent out this morning, he appears to be showing proof that he has unlocked or at least hacked the bootloader of the Galaxy S4. We've been told that this method of his will work on "all locked versions" of the device. No word yet on if Dan plans to release a tool to unlock these devices or if he's just showing off. If his past work is anything to go on, I'd say we may see something before long. Via: @djrbliss

HTC One Mini Render Leaked, Includes 4.3" 720p Display and Dual-core Processor

Tim — Wed, 01 May 2013 08:34:18 +0000

Back in February, specs leaked for a device code named the M4, referred to as the HTC One's (M7) little brother. The specs included a 4.3" 720p display, 2GB of RAM, a dual-core Snapdragon processor, and it ran the latest version of Android, 4.2. Today, a render has leaked for this device and it is dubbed, the HTC One Mini. For anyone that might be interested in the design of the One, but desires a smaller display, this is your phone. According to the leak, the phone features just about the same specs that were leaked a couple of months ago, except now it states this device has an Ultrapixel camera and 4G LTE connectivity. Launch is said to be penciled in for the end of Q2, but there is no word on price. Interested in the One Mini? Via: PhoneArena | Engadget

AT&T Announces an Exclusive on the LG Optimus G Pro, Arrives May 10 for $199

Kellen — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:27:54 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBwLc53ZT5U[/youtube]

LG is still hosting an event this evening in NYC to reveal their plans for the Optimus G Pro, but AT&T has gone ahead this morning and ruined some of the surprise. The device is coming to AT&T as an exclusive (yes, another one) on May 10 for $199 on new 2-year contract. You can pre-order the device from May 3 if you'd like. Should you choose to pre-order, you'll receive a free Quick Cover black folio case. For those not familiar, the Optimus G Pro is a lot like the Galaxy Note 2 in terms of size, but 1-ups Samsung's big boy by using a 5.5" full HD IPS display (1920x1080, 400ppi), 13MP rear camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor clocked at 1.7GHz, and 3140mAh battery. It also has 2.1MP front camera, runs Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), and features a suite of LG-inspired multi-tasking software. There is no S Pen, though. If you were interested in this device, how are you feeling about this being an AT&T exclusive?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHGlUpO634g[/youtube]

AT&T and LG Unveil Powerful, Full HD Optiums G Pro

LG Optimus G Pro(TM) Enables Users to Connect and Share Like a Pro; Suite of Sharing, Multitasking Capabilities Enrich Usersâ€™ Demanding Lives
New York, New York, May 01, 2013 AT&T* and LG Electronics USA announced today the LG Optimus G Pro, available exclusively from AT&T, for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement beginning May 10. LG Optimus G Pro is a powerful smartphone offering innovative solutions designed to help users creatively and more deeply connect, express and share their lives while providing the superior power and performance required to manage life on-the-go. Customers excited to reserve their Optimus G Pro can pre-order the device beginning May 3 at www.att.com/optimusgpro. While supplies last, anyone who pre-orders will receive a free Quick Cover black folio case. The LG Optimus G Pro comes packed with a host of high-performance features that refine mobile communication and help users better organize their lives. Backed by the powerful Qualcomm®Snapdragon™ 1.7GHz quad-core processor with 2 GB of RAM, users can access content and complete tasks faster than ever:

The brilliant 5.5-inch, 1920 X 1080 Full HD IPS display (400ppi) gives users more pixels and screen real estate to view and show off content.

The 13 MP Full HD rear-facing camera and 2.1 MP Full HD front-facing camera let users zoom in on even the most intricate of details and its unique Dual Recording feature allows simultaneous recording with both cameras for an amazing dimensional perspective.

The LG Optimus G Pro runs on AT&T 4G LTE, which currently covers nearly 200 million people; with plans to expand to cover 300 million people by the end of 2014. In a report**** by independent testing organization RootMetrics, AT&T's 4G LTE network was called “blazing fast." The report found AT&T’s 4G LTE network delivered the fastest pure LTE speeds in markets where AT&T provided 4G LTE. “From engagements to weddings, to newborns to family gatherings and work to vacation, active and involved people require robust mobile technology designed specifically to support and enrich their lives,” said James Fishler, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA. “LG Optimus G Pro is the ultimate device for creating, viewing and sharing media content, whether it be HD video in full 1080p or high-resolution photos. This device offers a vast collection of features and capabilities for those who want and need the best multitasking functionality.” “The LG Optimus G Pro gives AT&T customers the ability to create and share rich content easily,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president – Devices, AT&T. “There’s no better place to experience that content than exclusively on our 4G LTE network, the nation’s fastest.” Whether users are multitasking industry professionals who require powerful recording and viewing capabilities or just want great mobile technology, LG Optimus G Pro provides the tools to capture important moments and share them with family, friends and co-workers. With Dual Recording, users capture special and productive moments from both sides of life, all simultaneously on a single screen. The combination of a powerful quad-core processor and 13 MP video camera lets you zoom in tight on the finest of details when viewing your recordings and helps maintain video playback quality and image resolution. LG Optimus G Pro features a stylish ergonomic design with a narrow screen bezel delivering a more comfortable in-hand experience and great “pocketability.” Hardware features enhance productivity while providing fun, entertaining moments. QuickRemote is a universal remote application that utilizes the built-in Infrared (IR) sensor, turns the device into a Universal Remote Control for use with compatible TVs, Blu-Ray players, cable provider set-top boxes and more. The LG Optimus G Pro also comes packed with features designed to enhance and simplify your experience. With VuTalk™, users can draw and share fun and productive notes in real time*** between compatible devices, creating new ways for to express your creativity beyond traditional text-based communication*****. Using QSlide 2.0, you can also overlay up to two application windows on an existing open application, adjusting size and transparency as needed, for advanced yet convenient multitasking. For spur-of-the-moment thoughts or just to add some fun commentary to photos or screenshots, QuickMemo™ lets you take screenshots and add personalized notes, drawings and messages, then share them via social media, text or email. Key Features - Powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor with 2 GB RAM - Expansive 5.5" 1080p Full HD IPS Screen (400 ppi resolution) - Long-Lasting 3,140 mAh Battery - Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) - Advanced 13 MP Full HD Camera with Dual Recording - 2.1 MP Full HD Front-Facing Camera for Dual Recording and Video Conferencing - Visually and Audibly Collaborate in Real Time with VuTalk - QSlide 2.0 for Advanced and Convenient Multitasking - Audio Zoom to enhance audio quality during video capture by focusing audio mics on the video target - QuickRemote for Universal Remote Control - Pocketable Ergonomic Design with Narrow Bezel - Internal Storage: 32 GB on-board, support for up to 64 GB of expandable memory for a total of 96 GB - Bluetooth® Version 4.0 Pricing and Availability LG Optimus G Pro will be available for preorder online May 3 at www.att.com/optimusgpro and in AT&T retail stores May 10 for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement. Beginning today, customers who trade in their recent model smartphone to AT&T may be eligible to receive at least $100 credit** toward the purchase of a new smartphone, including the LG Optimus G Pro. This brings the cost of the device down to $99.99 with a two-year commitment. To take advantage of this offer, customers are encouraged to visit any AT&T company-owned retail store or participating authorized dealer with their previous smartphone that is no more than three years old and in good, working condition. In stores, upon trading in their old phone, customers will receive the $100 credit on-the-spot and can use it immediately. *** Some trade-in phones may have a value higher than $100. In this case, customers will receive the credit at the higher value.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. ** Certain conditions apply. Credit refers to a Private Label AT&T Promotion Card (“Card”): This card is issued by MetaBank™ or CenterState Bank of Florida NA, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Requires trade-in of qualifying wireless device. Card may only b eused toward purchases of AT&T products and services in AT&T owned retail stores, at att.com, or to pay your wireless bill. Card is not redeemable for cash and may not be used for cash withdrawal at any cash-dispensing locations. Card funds are available for a minimum of 90 days after issuance, through the “Expiration Date” shown on the card. ***Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Claim based on a comparison of U.S. national carriers’ average 4G LTE download speeds for Android™ and Windows smartphones and iPhone 5. 4G speeds not available everywhere. **** Based on availability of AT&T 4G LTE in in 47 markets out of 77 total cities studied; ©RootMetrics®LTE Performance Report, March 2013).http://www.rootmetrics.com/special-reports/lte-performance-review/. ***** Must initially be established with a contact over a voice call Design, features and specifications subject to change without notice About AT&T AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on @ATT, on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

Google I/O 2013 Developer Sessions Schedule is Up

Tim — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:06:44 +0000

Will you be attending Google I/O 2013 in San Francisco next month? If so, you might want to start looking at which sessions you will want to attend. In terms of what's available, there are sessions spanning from Android and Chrome to developing for Google Glass and Google Wallet. There are over 120 choices to choose from, so start planning! A couple of sessions stand out in particular to us, those being in relation to "Google Cloud Messaging" and a variety of others geared towards gaming. For weeks, we have reported on Google Babel and the possibility of a new gaming center for Android - this sessions could very well be clues to those becoming a reality. It should be quite the good time. Via: Google I/O 2013

Paranoid Android to Introduce New Multi-Windowing Chat Head-like Feature in Upcoming Alpha Build

Tim — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:02:33 +0000

Details are still scarce as to what exactly is going on, but there are plenty of teasers on Google+ and YouTube taking place, showing proof of concept for a new "multi-window" feature that is to be baked into the Paranoid Android ROM. Please allow me to try and explain. Imagine a Chat Heads-like function for every application on your device. That is what they are working on. From what they have said on their G+ page, this will be a marriage (that's what we're calling it) between multi-windows and Chat Heads, allowing users to access apps/messages while they are doing anything else on their device. For example, if you are playing a game that takes up your full screen, then get a message on Gtalk, a window will pop up allowing you full control over Gtalk while still inside your game. This functionality will work for any app on your phone. Facebook, Skype, uploading photos to Dropbox, or anything else you might need to do on your phone. If this sounds exciting to you (it certainly should), you can expect alpha builds to start popping up for Nexus devices within the next couple of days according to the video's uploader on YouTube. In the mean time, below is a video showing off the initial concept, but how it actually works and looks will be different according to the uploader. Once builds go up, we will link you to them. [youtube]http://youtu.be/cuFusMeUS-8[/youtube] Via: +Paranoid Android Cheers Chris and everyone else who sent this in!

AT&T Offers Trade-in Discounts of $100 and Up Towards Price of Galaxy S4 and HTC One

Tim — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:25:40 +0000

Buying a new smartphone is expensive. Sometimes there is no way around it, but AT&T is trying to help folks get a brand new device in their pockets with the intro of trade-in discounts on select devices. If your phone is less than three years old and works well, then it could be worth anywhere from a minimum of $100 and up, turning that $199 on a new two year price for a Galaxy S4 or HTC One into $99 or less with a new contract. The discount is applied immediately at the time of trade-in and can be used on other devices besides the Galaxy S4 (review here) and HTC One (review here), including the BlackBerry Z10 and any other various device on AT&T. If it's a smartphone, the promotion applies. Definitely a helpful way of AT&T getting you a new phone and signing up for another two years.

AT&T Offers Newest Smartphones at 50 Percent-Off with Trade-In of Current Smartphone
DALLAS, April 30, 2013 -- Beginning May 1, consumers who trade in their current smartphone to AT&T* will be eligible to receive at least $100 off the purchase of a new smartphone, including the new Samsung Galaxy® S 4, BlackBerry® Z10 or 32 GB HTC One®. These devices are normally $199.99 with a qualifying two-year agreement** but, with this limited time promotion, they will be available for $99.99. This promotion applies to any smartphone AT&T sells, and gives customers access to the latest devices at a fraction of the cost or, in the case of smartphones priced under $99.99**, for free. To take advantage of this offer, customers are encouraged to visit any AT&T company-owned retail store or participating authorized dealer with their previous smartphone that is no more than three years old and in good, working condition. In stores, upon trading in their old phone, customers will receive the $100 credit on-the-spot and can use it immediately. *** Some trade-in phones may have a value higher than $100. In this case, customers will receive the credit at the higher value. AT&T offers a broad variety of smartphones that run on the nation's fastest 4G LTE**** network. AT&T 4G LTE currently covers nearly 200 million people; with plans to expand to cover 300 million people by the end of 2014. In a report***** by independent testing organization RootMetrics, AT&T's 4G LTE network was called "blazing fast." The report found AT&T's 4G LTE network delivered the fastest pure LTE speeds in markets where AT&T provided 4G LTE. "This offer is a great opportunity for AT&T customers to get their hands on the newest smartphones in our portfolio at an outstanding price," said Eric Goldfeld , AVP- marketing management, AT&T. "With graduation and Mother's Day coming up, people can take advantage of this promotion to surprise someone – or even treat themselves – to one of our hottest smartphones. The best part is that you'll receive credit for your old phone instantly on-the-spot in AT&T stores." In AT&T company-owned retail stores, AT&T's Trade-In Program lets customers turn in old wireless phones and receive an AT&T promotional card reflective of the device's trade-in value and condition. Customers can use the card to offset the cost of some of the latest wireless devices or the purchase of other AT&T products and services.*** All devices, including tablets data cards and feature phones – regardless of manufacturer or date purchased – will be considered for trade-in. Beyond seeing a little more green in their pocket, AT&T customers that use our trade in program are also doing their part to support the company's sustainability initiatives. In 2012 AT&T customers recycled more that 3.1 million phones and broke the world record for cell phones recycled in a one-week period as certified by Guinness World Records. Switching to a new smartphone has never been easier with AT&T Mobile Transfer, an app that syncs contacts, photos and videos from your old phone to your new phone. Just visit www.att.com/mobiletransfer to make sure both phones are compatible, download the app and follow the instructions to transfer. Likewise, setting up your new smartphone is a snap with AT&T Ready2Go, a free service that helps you to easily set up and personalize your device in minutes from the comfort of your personal computer. With Ready2Go, it's easy to set up your email accounts, import your contacts, connect to your social networks and more. For more information on the AT&T Trade-In Program, visit http://att.com/tradeinprogram.

Video: Google Takes Us on a "How to" Tour of Google Glass

Kellen — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:51:29 +0000

This morning, we shared a couple of videos from a participant in the Google Glass Explorer program who screencasted Glass to give us a unique view of the UI and functionality of the wearable tech. While those videos were impressive, they couldn't quite provide the full user experience. So if those videos didn't quite help win you over or provide the clearest representation of how you envisioned Glass working, maybe this official video from Google will help. In this "How to" clip on getting started with Glass, Google shows you how to navigate the UI with the side touchpad, adjust the display for optimal viewing, and put the device to sleep to help conserve battery. Tell us, the more you see of Glass, are you getting excited or less interested?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EvNxWhskf8[/youtube]

Tuesday App Sales: Star Wars Pinball, Metal Slug Series, and More

Tim — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:27:20 +0000

In need of some new games to get you through the week? Yeah, I hear you! For a limited time, you can pick up the Metal Slug series on Google Play for $2 a pop or show off your wizardry skills on Star Wars Pinball for $1. Either way, there are plenty of sales going on, so making it to Friday shouldn't be too hard. Today's Sales:

Star Wars Pinball ($0.99)
Repulze ($1.00)
Metal Slug X ($1.99)
Metal Slug 3 ($1.99)
Metal Slug 2 ($1.99)
Metal Slug ($1.99)
Musical Pro ($0.99)
ABBYY TextGrabber ( $2.99)
Real Boxing ($0.99)
Anomaly Korea ($1.99)
Anomaly Warzone Earth HD ($1.99)

Get 'em while they're hot.

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 12 Answers

Tim — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:34:24 +0000

Sorry for the wait, but here are the answers to Volume 12 of the Droid Life Q&A Sessions. We answered a few on last week's show, so if you're looking for even more personal thoughts from us on some of your inquiries, then be sure to watch that. There seems to be a lot of people curious as to what we can see at this year's Google I/O. To be completely honest, that is what makes it such a great event. We go in, thinking we have some good clues as to what we can see, and then Google always surprises us with new goodies. It is always the numero uno Android event of the year. There is a good handful of other topics discussed inside, such as our favorite smartphone cameras, which apps we use the most, as well as which features we might like to see kanged from various OEM skins and baked into Android. But enough talking, let's get to it. Reminder: K is Kellen, T is Tato, R is Ron, and E is Eric.

What features would you like to see "stolen" from various OEM skins (Sense, TouchWiz, Blur) and baked into future iterations of Android?

R: I'd like to see SmartActions from Motorola and the flippy clock widget from HTC. T: As far as features go, the only thing I would want taken from various skins are some of the camera software from TouchWiz and Sense. Other than that, I don't find anything found in them to be useful or necessary. Although, I could see the multi-window stuff being useful from time to time, but when I was using the Galaxy Note 2, I used it rarely. K: Take Highlights from Sense 5.0 on the One and give to every other phone. Better yet, just take all of the camera software from HTC and make it available to all phones. Samsung does some similar stuff in TouchWiz with the camera, but HTC does it so much more elegantly.

How much do you enjoy/hate the fanboy vs troll battles that erupt in the comments at times?

R: It used to bother me more. The reality is, everyone has an opinion about smartphones and technology, but there are more important things to care about. I'm passionate about technology, but I don't want to find my value in whether or not people like or agree with me. T: I find it disheartening that people can be so unreasonable in allowing a person to live however they choose. Our reality of freedom to do as we choose and buy as we choose is continuously questioned by others and it is at times frustrating to say the least. I am pretty sure I have never and will never give someone a hard time for buying a certain kind of smartphone. Instead, isn't there something more important we can talk about? E: It happens, that's why we're all reading this website. We love our Android. The fights between the Galaxy Note II Cult and the X Phone cult is just banter. We're all on the same side here and if the time comes that we need to join the tribes together to go to war, I'm sure everyone will answer the call.

Final predictions for Google I/O?

R: Gmail redesign for Android, Nexus Q2, Babel (#BaybelCult), Now on the desktop, showing off more Google Glass, and... T: Google Glass. Google Glass. Google Glass. I am almost certain that everyone that is to take the stage at I/O will be rocking Glass. Other than that, I expect to see a new Nexus 7, a new version of Android, redesigned Gmail application for Android, Google Babel, and a new version of Google Music. Please and thank you, Google. K: I think we're going to be overwhelmed by Glass. There will be Glass everywhere. Sure, Android will have its place with Babel and other new Google Now features, but Sergey will be in the building trying to sell every developer and media person on Glass. E: Babel (BAYBEL), sneak peek of Android 5.0, lots of Google Glass, revamp of the Nexus Q and they'll make it into a Google TV device.

Do you think the Nexus 7 and the Nexus 10 will be upgraded/refreshed any time soon?

R: Maybe the 7. The 10 might not be refreshed until the end of the year. T: The Nexus 7 was the first vanilla Android tablet to really take off. If they don't introduce a new version with updated specs, they're shooting themselves in the foot. I couldn't care less about a new Nexus 10 device, since the size alone turns me away. I like more easily portable devices. K: I would be surprised if Google didn't refresh the Nexus 7 at I/O in 2 weeks. The Nexus 10 on the other hand, is still too new to already pump out something new, unless they create an HSPA+ version to be sold next to the WiFi model. I doubt we'll see a completely new Nexus 10, though. E: Nexus 7 will be getting new specs at I/O this year, but the 10 hasn't been out for too long so I'm not sure about that one.

What is your favorite food/meal?

R: I grew up with a Pizza Hut right behind my house when I lived in Michigan, so surprisingly I love a good pizza (usually not from Pizza Hut). T: Well, my yearly birthday dinner consists of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and Brussels sprouts with bacon. If I'm going out, it's all about the steak dinners with a nice gin cocktail on the side or a fabulous big bacon burger. K: I have an addiction to fine steakhouses and premium burgers. Burgers are always going to be king between the two. I've had just about every burger worth having in the city of Portland. The Tasty Burger from Tasty N' Sons is probably top 3, as is the burger from Gruner. If you want something simple and cheap that's also insanely good, you can't go wrong with Little Big Burger (and their damn good truffle fries). E: Cheesecake and I have a bond that is impossible to put into written words.

What app do you use the most?

R: Evernote, Email, or Twitter. Depends on the day. T: I am on Instagram quite often these days, but technically I should say Nova Launcher since it is on all of my phones by default. Beyond that, I am a Gtalk addict and Gmail fiend. K: If we aren't counting Google apps, I'd say Instagram and Feedly or Press. For work, I need to check RSS feeds religiously, but to kill time and not have to think about a thing, Instagram is my vice. E: Still rocking the Twitter for Android. Haters gonna hate.

What's your favorite smartphone camera?

R: I haven't tried the HTC One or the GS4, so I really can't say. What I will say is this new obsession with low-light photos from manufacturers like Nokia and HTC needs to be worked on quite a bit more. The HTC 8X, for example, takes in more light than the average smartphone camera, but a light source also tends to get blown out of proportion. I preferred the last generation of cameras (like on the S3) to this current crop that I've spent time with. T: Last year it was the HTC One X, then it was the Galaxy Note 2. Now, and don't shoot me, but it's the HTC One. Talk about the pinnacle of Instagram-friendly cameras. I absolutely love it. And please, don't talk about megapixels to me. The cake is an absolute lie. K: Tough question since they all have downsides. HTC One camera is the most flexible, but the Galaxy S4's camera takes pretty amazing pictures in great light. Neither have Photosphere though, like the Nexus 4. Hmm, it's just not so black and white like it was when you jumped from the OG Droid to the Incredible. Anyone remember that experience? I'm a terrible person - I really don't have a favorite. E: Well I've had the Galaxy Nexus camera for the last year and a half which is probably one of the worst cameras ever put into a phone, so the One X camera that I'm using now is a Godsend.

Blackberry CEO Thinks Tablets Won't Have a Future in 5 Years

Kellen — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:55:26 +0000

What would you say if I told you that tablets were going to be dinosaurs in five years? You would think I was crazy, right? Well, what if the CEO of a one-time powerful mobile computing company actually said those words, would you react differently? Depends on who it is? It's Blackberry CEO Thorsten Heins. My first reaction to comments he made to Bloomberg this week of "In five years, I don't think there'll be a reason to have a tablet anymore," is to wonder if this man has lost his mind. But then if you think about it for a couple of seconds, you'll realize he probably has lost his mind, since he still thinks that Blackberry stands a chance. Or maybe because he priced the QWERTY Blackberry Q10 mid-range throwback smartphone at $249 on two-year contract, $50 higher than real smartphones of today. Or maybe because he took the job as CEO of Blackberry, knowing full well they had become one of the saddest mobile stories in recent memory. No matter what, Heins isn't a fan of the tablet. He continued his comments by saying that "tablets themselves are not a good business model," and that businesses will maybe have big screens in workspaces instead. Again, what is this man smoking? I think we all fully understand that the Blackberry Playbook, their take on a tablet, was a colossal failure, but the rest of the tablet industry is doing quite well, especially in the corporate environment. For example, I had an eye exam this morning and also an opportunity to pick out some new frames. This eye doctor would easily fit into the small business category, but even they had an iPad handy so that could show me multiple colors of frames, check availability, and help me ultimately decide. Or think about the restaurant Tim and I ate at in Vegas during CES, that handed us interactive menus on an iPad with wine, cocktails, food, and appetizers. Tablets are the future, and are a good business model. I'm sort of at a loss for words. Your thoughts? Will tablets be gone from our lives in five years? Via: Bloomberg

New Dates Set for Samsung vs. Apple Patent Case, Will Decide Fate of $450.5 Million in Damages

Tim — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:05:19 +0000

Just when we thought we wouldn't have to talk about it anymore, it's back. A federal judge has set the dates for a new trial between Samsung and Apple, focusing on whether a matter of $450.5 million worth of damages will be awarded to Apple. Judge Lucy Koh has ordered that the trial be set to begin between November 12 and 18, after she discovered there were miscalculations from the jury and that a new trial must take place to determine the final amount to be paid. The goods news is that we won't have to bring this matter up again until then. Via: Reuters

More Markets Light Up With AT&T's 4G LTE Today

Tim — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:35:25 +0000

Today, AT&T is lighting up a whole mess of new 4G LTE markets here in the U.S. If you have a 4G LTE capable device and live in one of the below-listed areas, you should either already see 4G or will very soon. New Markets:

Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi
Mountain Home, Arkansas
Tucson, Arizona
Nacogdoches-Lufkin, Texas
Athens, Texas
Paris, Texas
Huntsville, Texas
Corsicana, Texas
Lansing, Michigan
Shreveport and Bossier, Louisiana
Huntsville, Decatur and Cullman, Alabama
Ocala, Florida
Lake City, Florida
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Henderson, North Carolina

Enjoy those speeds, folks! Via: PR Newswire

Samsung Unveils 7" Galaxy Tab 3, Nothing to Get Excited Over

Tim — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:06:28 +0000

Samsung introduced the all new Galaxy Tab 3 yesterday. It is the definition of low to mid range, bringing specs that might have impressed us back in 2011. To Samsung's credit, we are sure this tablet will be marketed as a budget-friendly companion, allowing users to complete their digital tasks and consume medium amounts of content. The device's specs are sub-par, featuring a 7" WSVGA display with a resolution of just 1024 x 600. It is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor with a 1GB of RAM, comes packed with a 3MP back-end camera, and runs a 4,000 mAh battery. Features:

7" WSVGA 1024 x 600 169 PPI TFT display
1.2GHz dual-core processor
1GB of RAM
Android 4.1
3MP rear-facing camera
1.3MP front-facing camera
4,000mAh battery
3G/HSPA+ connectivity
WiFi a/b/g/n (2.4/5GHz)

There is still no price listed for this device, but take a look at those specs and you can guess it will be somewhat low. If you recall, there was a rumor circulating that it would cost just $150, and with the specs confirmed now, that wouldn't shock us. The Galaxy Tab 3 goes on sale starting in May for the WiFi model and June for the 3G model. Any takers? Via: Samsung Mobile

Official Twitter App Spotted for Google Glass?

Tim — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:20:06 +0000

Ready to start tweeting from Google Glass? Yesterday, a tweet was spotted that has since been deleted, coupled with the label "Twitter for Glass." Once news got out, the account was deleted, making it quite possible that no one was supposed to see it. Adding to the fun, the Twitter account @Mogrooth (minus the Muddler), belongs to a mobile engineering manager at Twitter, Shiv Ramamurthi. Additionally, 3rd party app developers cannot use the word Twitter in the labels, so the fact that "Twitter" is used in Twitter for Glass lends more credibility to the story.

Does the idea of an official Twitter application for Google Glass get you excited? Via: TechCrunch | AllThingsD

Video: This is How Google Glass Looks and Works While You Interact With It

Kellen — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:42:49 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g20Xf8pt_U[/youtube]

Dan McLaughlin, an early Google Glass adopter who is part of the Explorer program, has been documenting his entire life with Glass over the last couple of weeks. If the name sounds familiar, that's because Dan was the first to unbox his Glass in that incredibly choppy video when the Explorer editions of Glass first became available. In these two clips we have attached, he takes you on a tour of the UI as he interacts with it, thanks to a screencasting application. You'll see how good the voice recognition is, how Dan interacts with menus by both touching the side of the device and nodding his head back and forth, and how the UI looks in general when returning things like Google Search results. In the second video, you'll really see how accurate and sensitive the voice recognition is. Google Glass may look silly as hell on your head, but this type of no-hands interactivity is pretty damn cool. Google I/O, you better have Glass in some form for us to get our hands on, even if it's for a brief moment.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlLkTWI7gks[/youtube]

To see more clips, hit up Dan's YouTube channel.

Official Yahoo! App Updated to Version 1.0, Packs Visual News Stream

Tim — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:22:43 +0000

This morning, a new beefed up version of the Yahoo! application hit Google Play. Inside, Yahoo! looks to be focusing their time on bringing more news to your device, as there is now an "endless visual stream of stories," along with the ability to personalize your stream with topics you want to follow. To top it off, there is an enhanced web search that features images as well as videos when you make an inquiry from inside the app. What's New:

Endless visual stream of stories
Summaries by Yahoo!
Ability to personalize your stream by select topics you want more stories about
Revamped web search experience including images and video

Fingers crossed you can read the comments section through the app because that is really the best part about Yahoo's news section. Play Link Cheers Donny!

LG Revolution Update on the Way - Adds Security Patches, Removes All Sorts of Bloatware

Kellen — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:15:14 +0000

The LG Revolution, one of the first 4G LTE on the planet, is set to receive a new update as build number VS910ZVB. The update itself is nothing to write home about, as it only contains security patches plus the removal of a handful of bloatware apps like Rockband, Bitbop, Verizon Apps, Blockbuster, etc. The list is actually longer than that if you can believe it, so if anything, your device will have freed up space on its internal storage. So, enjoy the update. The update is 46.8MB in size. More info.

AT&T Galaxy S4 has a Locked Bootloader.

Kellen — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:53:41 +0000

According to Steve "Cyanogen" Kondik, the AT&T version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a locked bootloader. Samsung has typically been pretty open to the developer community over the years outside of their devices on Verizon, so this comes as a bit of a surprise. However, times appear to be changing for the worse with carriers if AT&T is jumping on board to authenticate "recovery and boot images before executing them" on their flagship phones. More often than not as of late, we have seen carrier-tied devices come with an extra layer of protection to keep ROM flashers and tinkerers from actually owning their devices. It's anyone's guess as to why they'd take this approach, but if you ask them they'll likely throw out some garbage about someone with a rooted device, running custom software potentially ruining the network experience for others. Here is what Steve had to say on Google+ this evening:

Yep, it's confirmed. The AT&T S4 authenticates the recovery and boot images before executing them. I can't see what AT&T has to possibly gain from this. GSM and LTE aren't magical, tethering is controllable on the server side, and theft-of-services is not possible from the application processor side (or even from the modem side as far as I know). The same device is available on every carrier, so it's not an exclusivity issue either. The modem processor has always been locked, and the casual user doesn't want to mess with that part anyway. Samsung has always been developer-friendly, so I am guessing their hand was forced. The only outcome I see here is stacks of bricked devices being sent back for warranty replacement due to the ease of causing a permanent boot failure, especially since the device is trivially rootable. The arms race continues. News flash: MILLIONS of people run custom firmware (and I have the STATS to prove it). This is just a stupid move that will cost you customers and money. I would not recommend buying this device on AT&T if you want to run CyanogenMod or another custom ROM, or if you are a developer and need to work with or debug the lower layers.

The big takeaway here is his recommendation to not buy this device on AT&T. In fact, the only way to get carriers to stop this nonsense, is to speak with your wallet. If your carrier in particular is going to prevent you from using devices to the fullest, then don't buy them and leave, otherwise this isn't going to stop. You are starting to have other options, thanks to companies like HTC who released developer and unlocked editions of the One that work beautifully with AT&T's LTE network, yet do not come with any of the drawbacks you would see should they be tied to the carrier. And we have no confirmation on this, but I'd be willing to bet that the Verizon version of this phone will see the same fate. Both the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 on Big Red were locked down from the beginning before being unlocked by developers, so keep that in mind as we approach the currently penciled in May 30 launch. Here's to hoping that developers have some luck with Samsung's newest phone. Via: +Steve Kondik

Microsoft Pokes Fun at Samsung vs. Apple Stereotypes in New Commercial, is Actually Pretty Funny

Kellen — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:40:28 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19vR1GldRI[/youtube]

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!

Samsung's 16GB Galaxy S4s Actually Offer Just Over Half of That in Usable Storage

Tim — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:14:16 +0000

We have seen this story before. When folks would buy their 32GB iPods back in the day (I guess they still buy those things), you would see that the full amount of storage you purchased wouldn't be available, given the device's system takes up some of this space. So at the end of the day, buyers are getting a few gigs less than what is listed on the box. Depending on how many gigs you got, it wasn't that big of a deal, but what about when the system and bloatware take up almost half of a device's storage? Is that not crossing the line? As buyers are discovering, the smallest variant of the Galaxy S4 is a 16GB option, but once all is said and done, just 9GB is available for use - almost half of the device's storage. Now, this is somewhat understandable to a certain degree, given the GS4 comes packed with a ton of software features such as Air View and all of that cool camera software. But as we mentioned, how much is too much? Yes, the Galaxy S4 does support expandable storage, but at this point a heavy user is basically forced to buy an SD card in order to maintain a large app library or keep lots of media on their device. For the prices people are paying, it's sort of a downer. Via: Geek.com

Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4 Receives First OTA Update

Kellen — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:56:12 +0000

The Sprint version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 that we still have in our possession received its first update this afternoon, bringing it to build L720VPUAMDL. The update is 23.8MB in size, however, we have no idea what that includes. We had quite a few performance issues during our review, so hopefully this is fine-tuning code or improving stability as the device launches in retail shops. If you own the Sprint version of this device, head into Settings>More>System Update>Update Samsung Firmware to pull it. And be sure to read our Galaxy S4 review if you haven't.

HTC Employee: "Sorry About the Thunderbolt in General"

Kellen — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:01:11 +0000

The HTC Thunderbolt is largely thought to be one of the most disappointing, frustrating, and disastrous smartphones of all time. It was released as Verizon's first 4G LTE device, so you can imagine how much attention it grabbed from the tech universe leading up to and after its arrival two years ago. In fact, we hypebeasted the Thunderbolt for months after it was first unveiled at CES in January of 2011, followed by non-stop coverage of it for a lengthy period of time after release. Unfortunately for HTC and those who bought the phone, the phone struggled to become anything but a nuisance as software delays and poor performance tarnished any sort of positive life it once attempted to live. But this isn't news to any of us. The horror stories of life with the Thunderbolt are well-documented throughout this site and others. The Thunderbolt experience was so bad, that some readers have admitted time and time again that they will never buy another HTC device, no matter how good the reviews on them are. Strong words, very strong words. What if HTC was willing to sympathize with you? Would that change anything? According to an HTC employee who has been on the prowl over at reddit for the last few days answering questions and providing support, his company feels your pain. Reddit user "Erick_HTC" who very well could be Erick Nielsen, because he introduced himself as someone who works at writing up troubleshooting guides of devices and supporting users who report issues, wants to say "sorry about the Thunderbolt in general." He admits that the Tbolt was a "difficult project" and that he understands why you feel the way you do, but wishes "we didn't destroy your trust." Erick hopes that you will give them another chance because they are doing "much better" now, though, something we can attest to. Refreshing to see someone from a tech company express their true feelings, even if they aren't a part of their PR or social media teams. I can imagine that plenty of their company workers feel similarly, yet aren't in a position to share those thoughts. Reddit to the rescue! So what do you think, Thunderbolt owners - will you ever give HTC another chance? Via: reddit

Save These Poor Cats From Burning to Death in Jones On Fire

Tim — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:07:44 +0000

Sometimes you come across a game that really kicks butt. Jones On Fire has that unique quality, as you play as a firefighter who must save a ton of poor cats from burning to death. You leap over hurdles and slide under burning rubble to make your way into the safe house before the fire can catch up with you. The game is fast paced, so expect to die quite a bit at first. But for $2, the game is extremely addictive and looks amazing. Definitely a keeper in my book. Play Link ($1.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/DstTLU7bcWg[/youtube]

So...Umm...Google Now was Released to iOS Today...Yep.

Kellen — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:20:16 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTo-lLl7FaM[/youtube]

Our inbox indicates that many of you are aware that Google released Google Now to iOS this morning. This comes as no surprise, nor does it interest us one bit. Good for iOS users. Welcome to the fun that is Google Now! Well, sort of. The Google Now for iOS will never be as powerful as the version on Android because Apple won't allow it to be. For now though, you can open up the iOS Google Search app and find some cards for flights or restaurants or routes home from work and even track packages and flight info from Gmail. But from what we can tell, it may not be able to update in the background at full capacity like the Android version does, which means no ongoing notifications for card updates. You'll have to consciously open up the app to get Now goodies rather than have it dictate your life for you. You also can't access Google Now through a shortcut like swiping up or long-pressing navigation buttons. You'll have to open the Search app and then swipe up the Now cards to view them. It's really just an add-on to Google Search, not really the semi-stand-alone, ultra-powerful service that it is on Android. Well, until Google makes it that way - take the iOS Gmail app for example. But again, enjoy, iOS users.

Google Left Glass Unlocked Intentionally, Wants You to "Do Some Crazy Sh*t With It"

Tim — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:58:33 +0000

After word got out late last week that Google Glass was "unlocked" and "rooted," a Googler took to his Google+ page to shed some light on the subject. As he points out, the folks that have Google Glass in their possession right now paid a very hefty price to be so fortunate. Each unit cost $1500, so in Google's eyes, the device should be easily unlocked and hackable. Stephen Lau, a Glass team member, put it rather bluntly in saying, "we intentionally left the device unlocked so you guys could hack it and do crazy fun shit with it." Here is the full message he posted on Friday.

Not to bring anybody down... but seriously... we intentionally left the device unlocked so you guys could hack it and do crazy fun shit with it. I mean, FFS, you paid $1500 for it... go to town on it. Show me something cool.

Gotta love those Googlers. Via: +Stephen Lau

Matias Duarte Impressed With Facebook Home, Says it Shows a Lot of Polish

Tim — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:26:47 +0000

News hit the web today that Matias Duarte, the one and only Android design chief at Google, expressed his feelings on Facebook's Home application, saying the app shows, "an incredible amount of polish." While it is quite obvious Facebook spent a lot of time working on this application, it was not completely apparent how Google felt about it. That was until Eric Schmidt voiced his feelings about Home, saying that this is what open source is all about and that he loves it. For the most part, Matias shares Schmidt's feelings about Home and had this to say to ABC News:

The new Facebook Home shows an incredible amount of polish and attention to design detail, and that didn't come from a hardware manufacturer. With the Home experience, they did a nice job expressing the Facebook experience, but so much of the Google design experience with Ice Cream Sandwich was in there as well.

Google has always been one to give credit where credit is due, so this is no shocker. As unusable as I find Home, it is well made, so here's a +1, Facebook. Via: The Verge | ABC

Player FM Launches on Google Play, "Not Your Grandpa's Podcast App"

Tim — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:58:08 +0000

An application for Player FM launched for Android this weekend, bringing yet another podcast app to Google Play. But as the developers put it, this isn't the same podcast app your grandpa uses. With a social login feature, you can share what you are listening to with your friends, as well as sync your shows in the cloud, allowing you access to the same feed on multiple devices. Player FM features over 300+ topics to browse through, making it highly likely you could even find some shows about Android. Although, we would still recommend the Droid Life Show instead. If you are addicted to the podcasts, check it out. Play Link Cheers Keith!

Why the Unlocked U.S. Version of the HTC One is My New Phone [Opinion]

Kellen — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:58:14 +0000

News flash! Even tech bloggers don't get to keep devices that are sent to them for review purposes. No sir, we have to pick and choose our personal devices with care just like each and every one of you. Sure, we get to put our grubby little paws all over the newest tech before the general public, but that doesn't mean those devices hang around for more than a couple of weeks. Once our reviews are done, we tend to ship them back to PR departments before going back to whatever phone we have chosen to be our daily driver. After some time spent with both the new HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4, I have made a decision on what that new daily driver should be. Since release, the Nexus 4 has been my phone of choice. I've even gone through a couple of them, dealing with the fragile glass backside, all for the sake of stock Android that has really come into its own over the last year. The combination of price, hackability, and access to the newest version of Android at all times, made it an easy choice. Sure, it lacks LTE support, but using it as an unlocked phone with T-Mobile's HSPA+42 network has made me miss LTE very little. I also have thoroughly enjoyed the display of the Nexus 4 along with the general soft feel of the device while in hand. It's easily my favorite phone in some time - and I handle a lot of them. But since I do this whole phone thing for a living, spending 6 months with a single device seems like an eternity. So as the HTC One and Galaxy S4 hit stores within the last couple of weeks, I decided it was time to make a decision on something new. These are the only two phones a power user should consider, so thanks to an extended period of time with each to do reviews, I had the perfect opportunity to compare the benefits of each to ultimately make a decision. The unlocked U.S. version of the HTC One with 32GB of storage is it. Why the One? Why the unlocked version? Why not the developer version? I'm assuming you are asking all of those questions, so let's answer them.

First, I went with the One because it may be the only Android device in history to try and tackle what it means to be the ultimate smartphone. We're talking premium build and design, the best set of specs, software enhancements that you'll actually use, and a price point that should grab all of your attention. In my review, I was at times very critical of Sense 5.0 from a UX perspective and wasn't always impressed by the 4MP (Ultrapixel) camera, but the rest of the package is impossible to deny. Plus, most of the software issues can be fixed with third party apps from Google Play. You know what, though? It was my time with the Galaxy S4 that made me ultimately decide on the One. I was hoping for Samsung's flagship to blow me away, but all I got in the end was a spec bump with a set of software enhancements that have limited uses (to me at least), all in a package that was too close to what Samsung tried to sell me on last year. Not to say that the Galaxy S4 isn't a great phone (my review), but as someone who handles them all, a phone needs to do something unique in order to get me to pay good money for it. Since Samsung failed to do that this time around, and HTC came up with something that did on a number of levels, my choice was made. So why the unlocked U.S. version? Simple. I'm not a fan of carriers or contracts. However, there are plenty of phones that are unlocked that work on networks here in the U.S. (like the Nexus 4), so there must have been something else to get me to go all-in on the One, right? Yes, indeed. For those not familiar, the unlocked U.S. version of the HTC One does something that no other unlocked phone currently does - connects to a U.S. 4G LTE network (AT&T's specifically). I don't know how HTC managed to pull it off, but damn, they did. As much as I claim to not miss LTE on my Nexus 4, connecting to AT&T's uber-fresh LTE network is quite the experience. So with the unlocked U.S. version, you buy the phone outright, then walk into an AT&T store and tell them you want monthly service - so no contract signing here. You then experience their LTE network on a phone with no AT&T branding and without a contract (no ugly flamed-LTE AT&T logo either). There may be a chance that the phone will work on T-Mobile's LTE network in the future as well, since the phone supports the AWS LTE band.

The unlocked version of the phone also drops in at an incredibly reasonable $575 price and has 32GB of storage. Most unlocked phones, should you import them or use an unlocked re-seller here in the U.S., will run $600+, sometimes even $700+. AT&T is selling their 32GB version for $599 at full retail. And last, why didn't I go with the developer edition? I considered it, since it comes with 64GB of storage and would have cost me just $75 more, but in the end, I still switch phones quite often and rarely care about the bootloader of my phone being unlocked. My phones need to run stock for the sake of news coverage on Droid Life, so having an unlocked bootloader wasn't really a benefit or negative for me personally. And while I haven't checked yet, I wouldn't be surprised if HTCDev is capable of unlocking this phone anyway. But like the developer edition, I'm expecting to see the unlocked version get updates faster than any other version of the One, simply for the fact that it's not tied to carrier. You'll notice that unlocked phones in the UK seem to be updated regularly, while all carrier versions are months behind. That shouldn't be an issue with this phone nor the developer edition because HTC gets to release updates on their schedule without approval from anyone. As you can see, there were several factors that went into my decision to make the HTC One my next phone. I get one of the most premium made smartphones on the planet, connected to AT&T's brand new LTE network, at a reasonable unlocked phone price and with no contract. In the end, I think the fact that it's unlocked and works on LTE was the deciding factor, though. Now, hopefully Google follows their lead and does the same thing with the next Nexus. I'm already missing Android 4.2 and will be itching for my Nexus 4 come Google I/O. The unlocked and developer editions of the HTC One can be purchased here.

Gameloft Optimizes Handful of Popular Games for the Samsung Galaxy S4

Tim — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:16:58 +0000

If you are lucky enough to be walking around with Samsung's newest flagship, the Galaxy S4, then why not pick up some games optimized specifically for it? Gameloft announced this morning that they have optimized many of their games for the device's gorgeous 4.9" 1080p display and beefy 1.9GHz quad-core processor. The games can be picked up from both Google Play and the Samsung Apps application located on your device. Optimized apps in Samsung Apps:

Real Football 2013
PLAYMOBIL Pirates
World at Arms
Wonder Zoo
MY LITTLE PONY
LITTLEST PETSHOP
Asphalt 7 : Heat
Modern Combat 4 : Zero Hour
Wild Blood
Dungeon Hunter 4

If you already have your hands on the device, you best go pick some of these up. And if you are looking for recommendations, then I would say go for Modern Combat 4 and Wild Blood. Good titles.

Samsung Calls Galaxy S4 Design Just an "Evolution" and "Like Nothing You Have Ever Seen Before"

Kellen — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:27:05 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUiRThvCp8E[/youtube]

This morning, Samsung released a 4-minute clip describing the design and inspiration of their new flagship phone, the Galaxy S4, from the viewpoint of the phone's designers. While the design has received mostly mixed reviews over the last week, they managed to call it more of an "evolution" in design and then "like nothing you have ever seen before" seconds later (Which is it?). There is also talk of this device being less nature-esque than the Galaxy S3 and more elemental, since after all, it is the "life companion." Mostly, the video focus on the idea that your phone is no longer solely used for information, but as a tool for every day lives. The video itself is an interesting look into the minds of Samsung's designers. So whether you like the design of the Galaxy S4 or not, you can at least ~~enjoy soothing piano music~~ see the phone through their eyes. If you haven't read our Galaxy S4 review yet, be sure to.

Buy This Metal Back Cover for Your Galaxy S4 if You're Tired of the Plastic

Tim — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:21:56 +0000

There are always mixed emotions towards Samsung's use of plastic for their devices, but it has become their calling card for now. For those who want a Galaxy S4, minus the plastic feel, you can pick up one of these metal back covers off of eBay. They come in a large variety of colors (purple, blue, red, etc.), which should make identifying yours from the seas of Galaxy S4s out there pretty easy.

They cost just $10, which doesn't seem all that bad for a classy accessory such as this. Although, you should note that using a third party case such as this has the chance of killing off your NFC capabilities as well as reducing signal strength. Just something to keep in mind. Buy. Cheers Open1Your1Eyes0!

There is Endless Finger Flicking in Undead Soccer, Hits Google Play May 7

Tim — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:41:16 +0000

This morning, BulkyPix announced that Android users can get their fill of soccer and the walking dead on May 7, when Undead Soccer hits Google Play. The game is currently available for iOS devices and looks to be rated quite well, so this should be fun. In Undead Soccer, you flick a soccer ball with your finger and aim for zombies. You collect power ups for your ball, making it a more deadly object. There are several types of walkers to get through, as well as the occasional boss character which don't go down as easily as the walkers. There are items in the game you can buy, giving you an advantage over others who may not want to purchase perks. How you play is up to you. We will keep you posted on when it goes live for Android. [youtube]http://youtu.be/at9OBe-uSk0[/youtube]

Origami Live Wallpaper for Android Brings Triangular Color and Grace to Your Device

Kellen — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:18:49 +0000

Ahhh live wallpapers, one of the original selling points for Android over iOS. They may have lost some of their lustre over the years, but every now and then we find a gem floating about the Play store. Origami Live Wallpaper is one of those that will likely stick to my phone's home screen for some time. The wallpaper itself is a mix of colorful triangles that animate and change depending on the speed you have set. Working together in a theme of up to 10 colors and 4 different shadow types, the result is a beautiful arrangement of shapes that come to life on your phone. If you'd like to completely customize how they act and appear, you can do that to no end. If you'd like it to be more simple, feel free to take advantage of the dozen or so built-in themes that are all beautifully done in their own way. After using the wallpaper for a full day, I didn't notice any battery drain in particular, so this app appears to be well-made. Feel free to give it a shot. Play Link ($1.00)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT4cqzxm1Y8[/youtube]

Unofficial MyColorScreen Beta App Brings the Most Beautiful Home Screens to Your Mobile Device

Kellen — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:36:06 +0000

We have long been fans of MyColorScreen, a website dedicated to showcasing the most beautiful home screens on the planet from mobile devices. It's this very site that has given us added inspiration throughout the years to hold our "Show off your home screens!" days. Members of the Android community continue to prove time and time again that they are some of the more creative we have ever come across. Unfortunately for those of who visit the screen sharing site quite often from mobile devices, the experience is less than stellar. It's a visual-heavy website that doesn't necessarily load and display content on a mobile device the way it was meant to on a big screen or computer. We have often wondered if a mobile app would ever arrive, to help fill our addiction to pretty things. Sure enough, one has. We noticed a new app generating some buzz over the weekend that was listed out as the "unofficial" MyColorScreen app in beta form. At this time, it currently lacks the ability to login or upload your own screenshots, but it does a pretty damn good job of displaying new screens and listing out apps and descriptions associated with them. You can search the entire database of screens or browse through the "Screen of the Day," popular and "Most view" sections. The UI is clean, utilizes a slide-out navigation menu, loads new screens in real-time as you scroll, and even comes in a couple of different visual themes. There are paid and free versions of the app, with the paid version only bringing offline mode and favorites. The app is definitely in beta, so it has some work ahead. But so far, it's had a great start and should satisfy those who consider themselves screen design addicts. Play Links: Free | Paid ($1.21)

Galaxy S4, HTC One and Google I/O

Tim — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:30:45 +0000

With the weekend quickly approaching, it's time for you to relax and take a load off. If you need to catch up with this week's happenings on The Droid Life Show, now would be a good time. We went through episode 22 this past Wednesday and it was a very fun (yet sometimes awkward) show. We reflected on our Galaxy S4 and HTC One reviews, chatted it up about Google I/O, and even gave some honest answers to some reader submitted questions we received. It was a great show, so definitely check it out.

This Week in the Life of DROID: 4/26/2013

Tim — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:10:36 +0000

Well, this was probably one of the busiest weeks we have had in a while. Reviews went up for the Galaxy S4 as well as the HTC One, but we're happy the weekend finally arrived. We slayed another Droid Life Show, compared the Galaxy S4 to everything under the Sun, got a new version of Google Play, but the award goes to Swype for coming out of left field and finally arriving on Google Play. That was amazing news. If you missed any of this week's craziness, we have it highlighted below.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Root Exploit Published for Samsung Galaxy S4 Devices Powered By Snapdragon Chips

Tim — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:46:52 +0000

From the same man that unlocked Motorola's bootloaders, instructions are now up for Galaxy S4 owners to gain root access using the same method. If you have a U.S. S4 variant, powered by a Snapdragon processor, then this exploit should work just fine for you. The process couldn't be any easier, requiring users to simply download a zip file and then pressing a couple of buttons. If you were looking for root on that new Galaxy S4 of yours, this is the way to go. Instructions:

Extract the entire contents of the zip file.
If you are using Windows, ensure you have installed the latest Samsung USB drivers available for your phone.
Ensure USB Debugging mode is enabled on your device.
Connect your device to your PC via USB.
If you are using Windows, navigate to the extracted directory and execute "run.bat". If you are using Linux or OS X, navigate to the extracted directory in a terminal and execute "./run.sh".
Approve the ADB connection from your PC on your device.

Download: http://vulnfactory.org/public/motochopper.zip If you have any questions or issues, head on over to the XDA thread for your troubleshooting needs. Via: XDA

Video: Would You Get a Google Smartwatch if it Looked Like This?

Eric — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:10:02 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrSd2B9HrJs[/youtube]

With the launch of the Pebble smartwatch, the tech world seems to be happily hopping on-board for wearable technology. We have seen a Google smartwatch concept before in the past that was based on a Google Now-like design, but this short video from T3 shows what a more Android-inspired watch might be like. We talked about whether we would use smartwatches on the Droid Life Show this week, but what about you? Would you get this watch if Google made it? Via: Android and Me

HTC Happy About Galaxy S4 Reviews, Says They Will Be Good for HTC One Sales

Eric — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:35:55 +0000

This week the wave of Galaxy S4 reviews hit the Internet, with most sites praising Samsung's newest phone for being a decent upgrade to the Galaxy line. However, most reviews, like our own, mentioned the clear difference in build quality when compared with the HTC One. HTC is openly proud of this fact and is loving the press for their new flagship device. The president of HTC in America, Mike Woodward was quoted on the subject this week and is positive about their sales. While not going too far and announcing any sales numbers, Woodward said it's been a "great week" and that sales are going well so far. He said in most Galaxy S4 reviews, the design of the One stands out, "the design seems to be attracting the most attention and we're really proud of that." If HTC could get their supply chain fixed, the battle between the One and the Galaxy S4 might start heating up here pretty soon. Via: Business Insider

Custom ROM Friday: RageHD for the Motorola DROID RAZR HD

Tim — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:00:15 +0000

I will admit, it is nice to start talking about custom ROMs for Motorola devices again. After a breakthrough on the unlocking of Moto bootloaders, developers have been hard at work to bring their ROMs to a new line of devices. Today, we are featuring RageHD for the DROID RAZR HD on Verizon, developed by BigDaddyHicks and his team. This ROM looks to bring a smoother experience to users, with a de-bloated (thank goodness) and zipaligned system, you will be flying though apps. PIE controls have been added for an extra-classy way to control your device, Goo Manager has been installed for easy updates, plus battery tweaks were performed to increase your device's daily lifespan. To top it off, there is already a theme available for the ROM called Metallic Blue which is shown above. Pretty snazzy looking. Features:

Deodexed
Debloated
Zipaligned
Pre-Rooted
Adb Insecured
Adrenaline V3 Boost (Thanks to ImbaWind)
Loopy Smoothness (Scrolling Smoothness Tweak)
Full Init.d Support
PIE Controls (LMT Launcher)
DSP Manager
Goo Manager Updates
Amazing Battery Saving Tweaks
Tons Of Awesome build.prop Tweaks

To download and install, you will need your bootloader unlocked and a custom recovery installed. If you need to do that still, look here on this post. If you are already unlocked and ready to rock, follow the via link below. Via: DROIDRZR Cheers MichaelFranz!

Samsung Galaxy S4 Gets the Teardown Treatment, Receives High Repairability Score

Tim — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:19:09 +0000

It may not be a drop test (which I know you all love), but iFixIt just posted up their official Samsung Galaxy S4 teardown. With these projects, we get to see the components that make these devices so powerful, such as its Qualcomm Snapdragon processor as this is a non-Exynos variant, a closeup of its 1080p display, as well as some good closeups of the motherboard. The one thing to take away from these teardowns is that iFixIt rates each device based on their repairability. For example, the HTC One received the lowest possible score, for the simple fact that you must break the device in order to access its components. In a piece of good news, the S4 received an 8 out of 10, which is really good. If you are a tinkerer and like making your own fixes, then the Galaxy S4 might be a pretty good choice for you.

Via: iFixIt

HP Slate 7 Tablet Now on Sale - Beats Audio and Nice Design for $169.99

Tim — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:35:47 +0000

Today, you can pick up HP's newest piece of hardware, the Slate 7, an Android-powered tablet complete with licensed Beats Audio software on board. The tablet is powered by a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 chip clocked at 1.6GHz, 1GB of RAM, features 8GB of internal memory, runs Android 4.1, and sports a not-so-hot 7" WVA display. What redeems this tablet's sub-par specs is the price though, set at just $170. While we would probably recommend you spend the extra $30 and pick up a Nexus 7, this is the beauty of options. Specs:

7" WVA 1024 x 600 display
Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean"
ARM Cortex-A9 Dual-Core (1.6 GHz)
1GB DDR3 RAM
8GB internal storage
3,500mAh battery
VGA front-facing camera
3MP back-facing camera
Beats Audio

It might not be an over-powered super slate, but it does have a very reasonable price tag. Thinking about checking one out? You won't be alone in saying "no." Via: HP

HTC Rezound Update With Global Roaming Now Pushing Out

Kellen — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:56:48 +0000

The HTC Rezound update that will introduce global roaming to the year-and-a-half old phone is now pushing out to users. The update is 207MB in size, but as long as you are on LTE, should only take a few minutes to download and then install. As I just mentioned, this update brings global roaming to the phone, a feature it should have had a year ago. Other than global roaming, you'll see updates to bloatware and improved data connectivity. To pull it, head into Settings>About phone>Software updates.

Cheers Michael!

Samsung Does Plan to Release an "Active" Galaxy S4, Launch in July

Tim — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:13:51 +0000

Earlier this week, word got out that Samsung intends to release a new version of the Galaxy S4, one that is built to withstand more extreme conditions, complete with dust-proof and water-proof coating. According to WSJ, this device, called the Galaxy S4 Active, is already penciled in to hit the market this July and set to be marketed directly at business and government clients. While this move certainly makes sense, it would be nice if they let the consumers know so they could start deciding which Galaxy S4 they would want to purchase. Does a rugged S4 interest you? Via: WSJ

Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Chips to Enter Mass Production This May

Tim — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:43:51 +0000

While we have already seen Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600 processor making its way into this year's top Android devices, we have been awaiting news on when we can start seeing the Snapdragon 800, their crème de la crème. At a media event in Beijing, the company's senior product manager confirmed that they are to start mass production of the chip this May, but was adamant on not specifying any devices it would be seen in. What makes the 800 more desirable than the 600 is the Krait 400 architecture, capable of maintaining a clock speed of 2.3GHz, while also being reasonable on power consumption. It will feature the new Adreno 330 GPU, so you can bet a device running the 800 could most likely do laps around other devices on the market in terms of benchmarks. Feel like taking any guesses as to what we might see it in? Via: Engadget

SEGA Releases Hell Yeah! Pocket Inferno, "a Crazy Side-Scroller Set in Hell."

Tim — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:15:07 +0000

Here is a classic title that you can ride straight on into the weekend. Yesterday, SEGA released Hell Yeah! Pocket Inferno for Android, a title that has seen some success for iOS devices. In Hell Yeah! you play as Ash, a bunny prince from Hell, who uses powerful weapons and ugly masks to defeat even uglier monsters. The game features 60 levels where this evil bunny must collect coins and defeat over 30 different monsters, all while trying to upgrade his rockets with different powers. Sounds like some pretty intense gameplay for just $0.99. Play Link ($0.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/LnbavOWVqKg[/youtube]

Download: New Google Play Store 4.0.27

Tim — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:41:42 +0000

A new incremental update is out for Google Play, version number 4.0.27. In terms of what's new, it must be some bug fixes or something along those lines. Definitely nothing major on the front end. Grab the download link below if your Play app has not already auto updated. Download Link [youtube]http://youtu.be/EccAgBWrMy4[/youtube] Via: XDA

Google Reminds Developers They Can't Update Apps Except With Google's Update Mechanism, Stares Directly at Facebook

Kellen — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:45:06 +0000

Google updated the content policies section of the Google Play developer program today with a special note directed at any developer who attempts to update, modify, or replace an APK (app) within their own app or using an outside service. This new note, written under the "Dangerous Products" section, specifically says that no app from Google Play can be updated using any method other than the update mechanism in Google Play. With malware and security an ever-growing focus and area of concern, you can see why Google would be ready to enforce such a policy. Here is the note:

Click to enlarge.

No developer or company was named in particular, but as we were discussing shortly after this note went out, Facebook immediately comes to mind. Everyone remember a month or so ago when the Facebook app was updating itself within the Facebook app, asking you to "Install a new build," only not through Google Play? It scared a number of Android users, prompting the creation of threads all over the internet to try and figure out if it was safe or not. I personally can't think of another app that has done this, however, I'm sure there are many and Facebook is not alone. Keep it clean, developers.

SoftKeyZ Allows Rooted Users to Easily Change Their Navigation Buttons

Tim — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:00:01 +0000

If your Android device is rooted, but you don't have time or the energy it takes to flash a custom ROM, then check out SoftKeyZ. With this application, it allows the easy changing of navigation buttons, without the need of a custom ROM. No more middleman! The app costs $2 on Google Play, while coming full with a large set of different buttons to choose from. There are text buttons, the buttons found on the HTC First, and also different colors for each one. It's fancy, so go check it out. Play Link ($1.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/x5wNbgAvEHU[/youtube] Cheers Open1Your1Eyes0!

Thursday Poll: Why Haven't You Switched to Prepaid Wireless Service?

Kellen — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:21:21 +0000

Over the last couple of months, especially with the moves made by T-Mobile to become the UNcarrier and Google selling an unlocked phone (Nexus 4) that isn't tied to any carrier, we are hearing prepaid wireless service brought up in conversations quite often. In fact, I joined a prepaid network back at the beginning of the year with my Nexus 4 and have enjoyed every minute of it. But as prepaid seems to have become increasingly more popular, we still get the feeling that consumers aren't considering the switch to it. And I'm not necessarily saying that because I think you should all switch, I'm just curious to know why it either hasn't been on your radar or why you have decided it's not right for you? There are arguments for and against prepaid, just as their are with postpaid (contract service with carriers like Verizon), but I'd love to get the DL community to weigh in with them. Is it a lack of LTE? Do you not want to be thought of as a drug dealer (kidding!)? Does it have to do with prepaid service network coverage (typically AT&T and T-Mobile are the networks used)? Are you not interested in paying higher prices for unlocked phones? Do you simply not understand how it works? I personally like prepaid because, for one, it's cheap. I also can purchase unlimited talk, text, and data on a prepaid plan, use a phone of my choosing, and switch between service providers at the drop of a hat should the current one not satisfy my wireless needs. There is probably a deeper story in there on the benefits of prepaid (or life with prepaid service), which we'll work on in the coming weeks. For now, though, I'd love to have your opinions. [poll id="249"]

Vine Founders Say an Android Version is Coming "Soon"

Tim — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:33:46 +0000

Finally, we have a time frame for the arrival of Vine for Android. According to the founders of Vine, the short video (GIF-like) application that has become a major success on iOS, is definitely making its way to Android. All we have for when to expect it is "soon," but I will take that over "not coming" any day of the week. This reminds me of the days before Instagram launched on Android, since once it finally comes, I have a feeling iOS users will be clamoring how the app used to be better before we got it. Oh, sweet memories. Excited? Via: The Verge

Video and Gallery: OPPO Find 5 Smartphone

Tim — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:46:26 +0000

The OPPO Find 5 is an unlocked Android phone manufactured in China that has been out for months already, but over the last few weeks we have received enough requests from readers asking that we take a look at it, that we've decided to comply. The device has a pretty impressive list of specifications, highlighted by a 5" 1080p display, 13MP back-facing camera, 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, and Android 4.1.1. It supports both AT&T and T-Mobile's HSPA+ connectivity, so it certainly is an option for anyone who likes the idea of importing a device to the States. The device may be labeled as "old news" by now, but it is nice to see what smaller manufacturers are doing in attempting to keep up with the bigger players like HTC, Samsung and Motorola. Below we have a brief hands-on video (my full unboxing was ruined by constant lawnmowers), as well as a gallery for your viewing pleasure. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments section below. Gallery: [nggallery id=76] Hands-on Video: [youtube]http://youtu.be/WeJwZsAcQNs[/youtube]

Quick Look: Ringke SLIM Case for the Galaxy S4

Kellen — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:38:11 +0000

Whenever a new top tier phone comes out, there are two cases we are almost guaranteed to take a look at first: Ringke SLIM by RearthUSA and the Ultra Thin Air by Spigen. Since we already took a look at Spigen's for the Galaxy S4, it's time to turn our focus to the Ringke SLIM and do the same. While I wouldn't doubt it if many of you already ordered this case, since it was on sale for $2.99 the other day through Amazon, we still thought we'd give you a fast review. Just like with past models, the Ringke SLIM sports a matte finish on one of the thinnest cases around. You'll find all of the port cutouts you need to get by, along with enough protection to withstand some minor drops or scrapes here and there. In fact, the case wraps up around the front just enough to lift your phone's display off of a surface should you choose to lay it face down. The case will add almost zero thickness, locks onto the phone incredibly well (watch the video to see how well), and potentially makes the phone look better than it does without a case. There is nothing like the look and feel of a soft matte finish on a phone. I will say that matte finishes do tend to be somewhat slippery at times, unlike the glossy finish to the Spigen case we looked at the other day. But I also fully understand that many of you can't stand the look of gloss and are willing to go slightly slippery over sticky and shiny. No matter what, you really can't go wrong with this case. The Ringke SLIM for the Galaxy S4 ranges in price from $7.99 to $9.99 and comes in four colors: Mint, Pink, White, and Black. Links: Amazon | Rearth

Gallery

Video

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA8WMHFR7LQ[/youtube]

Get Your Submissions in for Custom ROM Friday

Tim — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:11:36 +0000

Tomorrow is Friday, which means it is that time of the week where we need our all-knowing and all-powerful community to start feeding us submissions for tomorrow's Custom ROM Friday. This is your chance to make sure that your favorite developer is getting the attention they deserve for that underground ROM that brings oh-so-many features to your underprivileged devices. To submit a ROM, tell us below in the comments section which device(s) the ROM is for, the name, a link to where we can see it, and a few features which make the ROM stand out among others. Easy, right? Let's get to it. Check out our previous Custom ROM Friday posts.

In True Google Fashion, Easter Egg Found in Google Glass

Tim — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:40:32 +0000

It shouldn't come as a surprise that after some digging, a lucky owner of Google Glass has found a well-placed Easter Egg inside the device's software. After a check through Settings, then a specific number of taps on the track pad, you are greeted by a full panorama of the Google Glass team. And wouldn't you know it, Mr. Sergey Brin even makes an appearance. All of the Googlers are sporting their Glass units, which is certainly a nice touch. What a job it must be.

Via: +Jay Lee

Video: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. Galaxy S3 Comparison

Kellen — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:55:20 +0000

Included in our Samsung Galaxy S4 review, we took a pretty deep video look at how this new flagship compares to Samsung's flagship from last year, the Galaxy S3. But since it was buried towards the bottom of that exhaustive review, we wanted to pull the video out on its own to make sure you all saw it, especially those of you considering a jump from the Galaxy S3 to the Galaxy S4. In this 9-minute clip, we take a tour of each device, talk specs, show the subtle differences here and there, and discuss our general feelings towards this new member of the Galaxy family.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ab7LimEOb4[/youtube]

Press Render of the LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T Leaked

Tim — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:35:28 +0000

Twitter account @evleaks is at it again this morning, this time leaking a press render for the upcoming LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T. This is the same device that is set to be announced at an LG press event next week on May 1, so this is when things get exciting. We are putting our bets on the device's specs to not change too much from the Korean version, which is one beast of a device. The Korean version sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chip, a monster 5.5" 1080p display, 13MP camera, and a large suite of proprietary software much like Samsung does with their Galaxy lineup of devices. Next week, we will know 100% what to expect for the US. Via: @evleaks

It's Finally April 25, Gameloft's Iron Man 3 Now Live on Google Play

Tim — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:10:02 +0000

If you have been following the coverage up towards the launch of Iron Man 3, then you would know that today is the day. Gameloft officially launched the Iron Man 3 game into Google Play, set at the reasonable price of free. I have not downloaded it yet (it's about 750MB), but the game looks to be heavily based on the idea that you can use many different Iron Man suits, battling the baddies with different weapons. The game is completely free from Play, but be prepared for an all-out battle with IAPs. From reading the reviews of the game, they seem to be everywhere. Not that this is a surprise though. Play Link [youtube]http://youtu.be/lunP3Sq-afI[/youtube]

Mr.AahH!! is an Addictive Jumping Game Where Wind and Gravity are Your Enemies

Tim — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:45:14 +0000

There are quite a few new titles gracing Google Play's "top new paid" apps list this week, Mr. AahH! being one of them. How do you pronounce the name exactly, I have no clue. In this title, you play as a stick figure that just wants to make his next jump without falling to his death. But watch out, there are some factors you will need to look out for if you are to be successful. As you swing from ledge to ledge, there are varying degrees of wind and gravity, making each jump different. If the wind is blowing hard in your face, you will need to tap the screen a bit late to release your guy, giving him enough cushion to land properly on the platform. Of course, the closer you land to the middle means the more points you will score. And with global leaderboards, every point counts. It's quite the addictive little title, just wish it had a different name. Play Link: Free | Pro ($0.99)

How to: Use Lock Screen Widgets on the Samsung Galaxy S4

Kellen — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:13:07 +0000

Lock screen widgets, one of our favorite features of Android 4.2, are indeed included on the Samsung Galaxy S4. Yes, that means all the DashClock you can handle on Sammy's latest flagship device. Unfortunately, the process of getting them setup isn't the easiest unless you know exactly what to look for. Out of the box, Samsung has actually disabled lock screen widgets in a sense, but with a couple of taps through Settings, you can get your device up and running them in no time. In the video below, we take you on a detailed tour of Samsung's take on lock screen widgets. It can be a bit finicky at times, to say the least, but once you get the hang of them, we think you'll enjoy widgets at phone wake just as much as the rest of us who live and die with Nexus devices, do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaWa905892s Update: Reader Kevin pointed out that with a secure lock screen enabled (like pattern or PIN), you are unable to use lock screen widgets. The options to turn them off completely disappear should you go with a secure lock screen. This is unfortunate, especially since stock Android allows you to utilize lock screen widgets with a pattern or PIN.

LG to Introduce Smartphone With Flexible Display in Q4 of 2013

Tim — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:54:36 +0000

In a recent call on LG's financials, the company's vice president of mobile, Yoon Bu-hyun gave word that we should start to expect something major from LG. According to Yoon, LG is hard at work to create a smartphone with a flexible OLED display, much like we saw as a prototype from Samsung during this year's CES. They even gave us Q4 as their deadline, so start marking those calendars. I recall last night on the DL Show that I mentioned we should pay more attention to LG this year and this basically confirms my statement. It's good to have as many competitors thrown into the mix of top devices as possible, at least from a consumer's standpoint. From what we have seen about flexible displays, does this move in the mobile space interest you at all? Via: The Verge | WSJ

Samsung Galaxy S4 Pre-orders are Now Live From Verizon for the 16GB Model

Kellen — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:27:30 +0000

Verizon stuck to their word and has gone ahead and posted a pre-order page for the Samsung Galaxy S4. This is the 16GB model (32GB model no where to be found) in both black and white. If you'd like to pre-order for a device that won't ship before May 30, this is your chance. At $199, it can be yours with a new contract, or if you'd like to go contract-free, the device will run $649 (ouch). For some reason, the on-contract price keeps changing for me from $199 to $249, which is odd. We're pretty sure there is a mail-in rebate attached, so you may end up paying $249 up front. Who is pre-ordering?

Via: Verizon Cheers Alan, Michael, @HershelWest, @Banetech, and @JustinL81!

HTC Rezound Receiving Update to Build 4.05.605.14 - Adds Global Roaming Support, is Not Jelly Bean

Kellen — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:15:51 +0000

An update for the HTC Rezound has been approved by Verizon this morning as build 4.05.605.14. This is not Jelly Bean, I repeat, this is not Jelly Bean. It does add global roaming support, though, a feature I thought should have been added, oh, a year ago. But hey, it's there now! The update also includes updates and improvements to bloatware, along with improvements to Skype video calling, device stability, and data connectivity. And that's about it. Since Big Red has approved the update, one would assume that it will start to rollout in a matter of days. The update is 207MB in size. More info.

The Droid Life Show: Episode 22

Kellen — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:43:50 +0000

It's time once again for the Droid Life Show! We return tonight at our usual Wednesday evening 6:00PM Pacific slot after what seems like weeks of scheduling conflicts. Better late than never, though, as we have two of the most important devices of the year to talk about for hours on end (or 60 minutes or so). Our Galaxy S4 and HTC One reviews are up, so it's time for the entire DL team to weigh in with their thoughts. It's not all GS4 and HO (probably a bad acronym) - we'll slot in our favorites apps of the time being, talk Google I/O since it's only a couple of weeks away, and wonder what Verizon has up their sleeves for late May. It should be another fun show, be sure to join us. The show kicks off around 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). A live video broadcast and chat are embedded below.

Subscribe | iTunes | Show Page

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9N0uCQ_34s[/youtube]

Droid Life Show is Happening Tonight at 6:00PM Pacific!

Tim — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:21:57 +0000

We are back to our regular time this week, with the Droid Life Show taking place at 6:00 pm Pacific time tonight. We posted our official Galaxy S4 review last night and have also put up our HTC One review, so you can expect there to be plenty of talk on those two devices. We also have some question submissions from this week's Q&A, as well as some other topics to go over. It should be another great show. The show begins at 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). We’ll have live video and chat embeds at that time. If you are unable to join us live, be sure to subscribe so that you can still catch every episode.

Subscribe | iTunes | Show Page

Go Sign Up for the Dead on Arrival 2 Pre-Beta for Android

Tim — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:16:14 +0000

Fashion yourself a zombie slayer? Well, here is a chance to get your little mittens on Dead on Arrival 2 before anyone else by entering the pre-beta. The builds will start rolling out in May, allowing you plenty of time to construct yourself a crude shiv for decapitating the undead. As a note, there are a few requirements to get you into the pre-beta, so go over this list to make sure you meet them. If you do, go sign up below!

Must have: Android Device Minimum spec equal or better than Tegra 2 Recommended Tegra 3 or higher Android Version Minimum 3.0 Recommended 4.0 or higher Additional is recommended Have a stomach for wave after wave of bloodshed and mayhem! Aren't scared of the dark. Don't need aspirin for headaches. Have no problem shooting your zombie friend in the head if you had too.

Sign-up here. [youtube]http://youtu.be/5CBKrfYRQx8[/youtube] Via: Dead on Arrival 2

Contest: 10 Tickets to Lookout's Google I/O Party Up for Grabs! (Updated: Winners Picked)

Kellen — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:50:11 +0000

Google I/O is approaching swiftly, so that means it's time to fill up our calendars with evening activities, one of which seems to be Lookout Mobile Security's party. Last year, they asked us to invite a big group of readers from Droid Life to join in on the fun ("fun" meaning free booze and prizes), and have once again asked that we do the same for another 10 members of the DL community. The party from last year had a line around the block, was packed wall-to-wall, featured free drinks, snacks, and entertainment. This year it'll be much of the same, but the folks from Lookout are planning to hand out prizes to the first 200 people who show up. Can't beat that, right? Tim and I will also be in attendance, so if you are down to stop by, be sure to say hi. If you are planning to be in the area, sign-up! The party is 21 and over. Update: Winners have been picked and emailed! See you there!

Contest

When: Tuesday, May 14 at 7:30 pm
Where: Terra Gallery, 511 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA
What: Lookout's annual Google I/O kickoff party. Drinks will start flowing at 7:30 pm at Terra Gallery in San Francisco and we'll have tasty food and awesome entertainment. Free giveaways for the first 200 who show up at the door (arrive early: we had a line around the block last year!). *Please not that this event is 21 and over.

Prizes: 10 tickets for 10 individuals (plus a guest) to Lookout's I/O party. Contest period: The contest runs from the time of this post through May 3 at 10AM Pacific. How to enter: To enter, hit up the Rafflecopter widget below which lists out the instructions. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Samsung Galaxy S4 Available for Purchase in US Cellular Retail Stores Starting April 30

Tim — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:57:04 +0000

Today, US Cellular announced they will be one of the first American carriers to carry the Galaxy S4 (review here) from Samsung in stores for purchase, starting April 30. If you are a customer of theirs, you can already pre-order the device online and also purchase the device online starting this Friday, April 26. The carrier offers the White Frost and Black Mist variants in the 16GB storage option for $199.99 after an instant rebate. Via: US Cellular

Remember the Milk Gets Update to Version 3.0, Whole New UI and Tablet Support

Tim — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:56:00 +0000

The makers of Remember the Milk just launched version 3.0 of their popular task application, which comes complete with a new user interface and tablet support. With the new look also comes new features - enhanced notifications and actions, redesigned widgets for easily managing tasks/notes, as well as the ability to edit multiple tasks with the press of a few buttons. It is available for free through Google Play, so stop wasting time and check it out. Play Link [youtube]http://youtu.be/cFSRusFkI_I[/youtube] Via: Remember the Milk

Quick Look: Spigen Ultra Thin Air Case for the Galaxy S4

Kellen — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:26:03 +0000

Accessories, accessories, accessories - here they come. We've already taken a look at Samsung's own official S View Flip Cover for the Galaxy S4, but we're now going to focus on some of our long-standing favorites. There will be accessories-a-plenty, so hopefully with our quick looks, you can find the ultimate case, dock, or other add-on for your new phone (whenever you get it). First up, is the Ultra Thin Air from Spigen. As you know from reading this site over the years, the Ultra Thin Air series has always been one of the first cases we look to with any new phone. This case is ultra minimal and provides just enough protection, while not getting in the way by adding bulk or weight. With this new version for the Galaxy S4, you are looking at a polycarbonate material with a semi-glossy coating, rather than matte. It fits incredibly well. In fact, I had to give a little added pressure in each corner to make sure it was on properly, but I'm not complaining because this case feels amazing in hand. I don't say this often, as I'm very critical of cases, but this may be one of the best cases I've used in a while, based off of fit, finish, and feel. It won't slip off, the coating gives it plenty of grip in your hand, there is a tiny lip that lifts the front of the display off of surfaces when face down, and as usual, is minimal enough that the design of the phone still shines through. I typically prefer matte finishes on cases, but I can see the benefits to going semi-glossy with this new version for the GS4. The Ultra Thin Air for the Galaxy S4 runs $24.99, but includes the case, screen protector, and button covers (3 of them). It comes in four colors: Mint, Infinity White, Soul Black (I'll swallow your soul!), and Tangerine Tango. Shop: Spigen | Amazon

Gallery

Video

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNWO6Qdi02U[/youtube]

T-Mobile and MetroPCS Reverse Merger Approved, Takes Place May 1

Tim — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:12:33 +0000

This morning, the reverse merger (little company buys big company) between T-Mobile and MetroPCS was made official. In a final vote made by shareholders, the effects of this deal are set to take place on May 1, resulting in a cash payout to MetroPCS shareholders of $1.5 billion. This deal, heavily sought after by T-Mobile, is just another check on their long list of vast improvements they have made in 2013. Their network is starting to become more powerful, they now carry the two most popular smartphones of the year and have also introduced brand new no-contract plans, which could mean more success is headed their way. René Obermann, CEO of Deutsche Telekom Group, had this to say on the news:

We have accomplished a lot in the USA recently, for example our network modernization and the new T-Mobile USA management team, which has seen considerable success. And we have finalized the contracts with Apple and MetroPCS. The merger with MetroPCS is extremely important, since it enables us to be more aggressive in the USA.

We are still awaiting details for what subscribers on both carriers can expect to see, but it will most likely be made quite apparent once May 1 rolls around. Via: Telekom

Fieldrunners 2 Hits Google Play, a Massive Sequel to the Popular Tower Defense Title

Tim — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:40:34 +0000

All you Fieldrunners fans have your work cut out for you, as the highly anticipated sequel Fieldrunners 2, is now live on Google Play. In the game, you can expect to see the classic tower defense action that the previous title is known for, along with some new features like bee hive-shooting towers, plus a ton of new weapons and levels. Key Features:

Pint sized invaders seeking revenge!
A tower that launches bee hives!
Tons of levels in a 20+ hour campaign!
Revolutionary AI - each enemy creates a dynamic, realistic path through the battlefield!
Gorgeous, hand painted, 2D graphics by award winning artists!
20 unique, upgradeable weapons!
Custom loadouts let you pick the perfect weapons for each battle!

If I had to guess, I would say we can expect this to be Kellen's app of the week on tonight's DL Show. Play Link ($2.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/vmVSAolte-8[/youtube]

Quick Look: Samsung S View Flip Cover for Galaxy S4

Kellen — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:15:20 +0000

Since Samsung once again released their newest Galaxy S phone, the Galaxy S4, with one design across the globe, the accessory situation is going to be better than most Android fans are used to. With one design, more accessory makers can make products for the Galaxy S4, while in the past, they have had to pick and choose depending on the carrier. You'll have more choices of cases and docks and flip covers than you can imagine over the coming months, should you buy the GS4. We'll do our best to highlight some of our favorites, but since Samsung sent us one, we thought we'd start with their new S View Flip Cover. It's identical in a lot of ways to the popular Flip Covers for the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2, but it has a window at the top of the cover that can provide you with basic information. Rather than having to flip open your cover to view the time or if you have notifications, a simple press on the lock switch will show you a special preview with clock, date, and notification bar. But beyond that, the S View Flip Cover sleeps and wakes the phone upon opening and shutting. The window also allows you to answer or decline calls without having to open the cover, something that wasn't possible on the standard Flip Cover. To see it in action, hit up our video below. Then be sure to read our Galaxy S4 review, if you haven't already.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnOi-3m2mok[/youtube]

International HTC One Receiving Update to Improve Camera Suite of Software

Tim — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:38:11 +0000

According to HTC, an update is rolling out starting today for the International version of the HTC One (review here), aiming to fix up some of the software found on the device. Most of the fixes are for the camera, such as improvements for Zoes, noise reduction in slow motion capture, improved color reduction, and quite a bit more. Changelog:

Improvement to sound capture with Zoe
Noise reduction in slow motion movie capture
Improved color reproduction and dynamic range (reduced over-exposure in non-HDR images) in certain conditions
Fix to display correct ISO in EXIF information when ISO settings are manually changed by the user
Improved system performance and stability

No word on when we can expect the same update to come to the American variants, but we will keep you posted when and if it happens. Via: SlashGear

Samsung Galaxy S4 Plagued by Minor "Inventory Challenges" at Sprint and T-Mobile, Launches Somewhat Delayed

Kellen — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:10:27 +0000

Thanks to inventory challenges, the Samsung Galaxy S4 launch at both Sprint and T-Mobile will be slightly delayed. According to Sprint, there will be a delay to their in-store launch that was originally slated for April 27 (this Saturday), however, online orders should proceed as expected. T-Mobile on the other hand, has said that their online orders will not begin today after all, but will kick off on Monday, April 29. Sort of a rocky start for the Galaxy S4, however, AT&T's orders are still shipping early and as planned as far as we know. Pre-orders for Verizon's version start tomorrow, with a release expected to happen on May 30. Be sure to read our Galaxy S4 review that dropped last night, if you haven't already. Via: T-Mobile | AllThingsD Cheers Matt and

Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S4 Arrives in Stores May 30 for $199 After Rebate

Kellen — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:53:15 +0000

According to Ken Muche, a Verizon PR rep, the Samsung Galaxy S4 will arrive in stores on May 30 for $199 on 2-year contract after a $50 mail-in rebate. He also confirms that pre-orders for the device start tomorrow, but for the first time in any sort of official capacity, we now have a date to mark on our calendars. Why on Earth their variant arrives a month later than the rest of the world is beyond us, but I'm sure they needed to "test" it further. He didn't specify the version of the phone that is priced at $199, but we would assume it's the 16GB model. I have to admit, though, that I'm surprised to see them attach a $50 mail-in rebate - I thought we got rid of those years ago? Be sure to check out our exhaustive Galaxy S4 review. Via: @VZWKen

Swype Leaves Beta After All These Years, Lands on Google Play for $0.99

Tim — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:38:27 +0000

This morning we awoke to the pleasant surprise of seeing the Swype keyboard gracing Google Play. For those who have been around here for a while, you will know Swype as the original swipe-based keyboard that allows you to drag your finger from key to key, to create words and turn anyone into a speed texting machine. While it seems every keyboard company has now implemented a swiping feature, I will hold fast in believing Swype should be known as the "OG" in this department. There is a paid version of the keyboard available for a limited time at just $0.99, while a free version is available for a trial period. The keyboard seems to perform quite well, not showing any lag or performance hiccups. And in terms of looks, it gives off a stock Android feel with some orange flare, which you won't see my complaining about. Check it out for old time's sake. Play Link: Free| Pro ($0.99)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OI9L3vOOXc[/youtube]

Pre-orders for Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S4 Start Tomorrow (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:17:49 +0000

With retail availability for the Samsung Galaxy S4 coming to a handful of America's top wireless carriers in the coming days, Verizon is finally ready to at least announce a pre-order date for their version. Starting tomorrow, April 25, you can slap down some cash for Samsung's newest flagship, to guarantee yours for a later, yet-to-be-determined launch date. We don't know pricing, though we'd expect there to be $199 and $249 models available on contract. If you haven't already, be sure to check out our full Galaxy S4 review that dropped last night. Update: According to a Verizon PR rep, the phone arrives May 30 for $199 after $50 mail-in rebate. Via: @VZNews

Video: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. HTC One Comparison

Kellen — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:15:42 +0000

With our Samsung Galaxy S4 (review) and HTC One (review) reviews now out in the open, we're assuming you are all ready for a comparison between the two, right? Well, we've certainly got one for you. In this 15-minute clip, we talk all things, including build, feel, materials, custom skins, storage, displays, batteries, and more. Since both phones are the hottest smartphones on the planet for 2013, we hope this helps in the difficult buying decision that awaits.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeRq1tHCOGM[/youtube]

Samsung Galaxy S4 Review

Kellen — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:00:40 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy S4, aka the most anticipated smartphone of the year, is finally here. After showing itself at a questionably comical press event in NYC on March 14, many of us have been counting down the days to its arrival. There were so many new software features on display during the phone's unveiling that only some serious time spent with the phone could allow us to digest even a sampling of what Samsung and the Galaxy S4 have to offer. But there are some serious questions that need to be answered with this phone as well. Is it a big enough jump from the Galaxy S3 to get anyone to upgrade? Is it better than the HTC One? Are all of these new software features gimmicks that no one will really ever use? Is the overall package enough of a jump to keep Samsung relevant? We've had a review unit in hand for a week now, thanks to Samsung, and are more than ready to share as many answers to those questions as we can. Stick with us, it's going to be a long ride.

The Good

Hardware In terms of hardware and specs, Samsung has done something pretty remarkable with the Galaxy S4. They managed to pack the latest and greatest mobile processor, display, camera sensor, and larger battery into a body that is actually slimmer, lighter, and smaller than its predecessor. We're talking about a 1.9GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 5.0" FHD Super AMOLED display (441ppi), 2GB RAM, 16/32/64GB internal storage options, microSD card slot, 13MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, and 2600mAh removable battery, all tucked into a body that is 7.9mm thick and weighs just 130g. You can argue all day long about this being a minor bump from the Galaxy S3 and whether or not you like the design, however, on paper, it's really not that close. On a related note, during a recent meeting I had with Samsung, they pointed out the fact that at this point in the smartphone game, they are really the only OEM putting microSD card slots in phones and allowing for removable batteries. As the industry moves away from each of these items, Samsung and their top selling phones all continue to feature them. While I wouldn't necessarily say these are the two reasons for their massive success and the rest of the industry's decline, they certainly are worth a mention. People like extra storage and they like to have backup batteries.

Design I'm tempted to toss out the "you either love or hate Samsung's plastic phone designs," but in truth, it seems like the minority actually aren't fans of it. Samsung is the top selling smartphone manufacturer in the world, and yes, they make their phones out of plastic that people tend to label as "cheap." At this point, I'm not sure that the majority of people really care if their phones are made of plastic, aluminum, or glass as long as the price is right, there are software enhancements that cater to their lives, and the phone is thought to be the hot tech product of the moment. Since Samsung fits all of those categories once again with the Galaxy S4, I don't see there being much of a fuss over its similar build quality to previous Samsung releases. With the Galaxy S4, you get a similar package to what you had with the Galaxy S3, yet everything has been upgraded into a smaller body. Most importantly, you have more screen real estate on the front with less bezel, so you almost have a full-screen experience when interacting with the phone. The design sports a dotted patterned backside, and even subtler dotted pattern on the front trim. The Galaxy S4 is much squarer than its predecessor, but it still has rounded edges in all the right places to make it fit nicely in hand. I'd actually argue that the Galaxy S3 has a better feel in hand thanks to its pillowy curves, but the GS4 doesn't necessarily feel bad by any means.

In fact, the overall design of the GS4 is much more appealing than the GS3. Gone is the incredibly cheap-looking wave-like side metallic band - in is a much more conservative and uniform band that stretches around each side of the phone. I believe it's still plastic, but at least it looks metal. I even like the speaker placement better, as it matches up to the two-slit opening on the Note 2, rather than the fake metal grid found on the GS3. The Galaxy S4 comes in both Black Mist (pictured in this post) and White Frost, though my Black Mist version tends to look blue-ish more often than black. There aren't a lot of stand-out design features with the Galaxy S4, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It still looks great, Samsung just didn't take any risks. Display The Galaxy S4, to our knowledge, is the first in the world to use a Full HD (FHD) 1080p Super AMOLED display. Weighing in at 5.0" and with 441ppi, it's nothing short of stunning. The AMOLED displays used in many of Samsung's devices tend to blow out colors more vibrantly than their LCD counterparts, show deeper blacks, and for the most part, take the opposite approach to displaying anything the way an LCD does, which is to look less natural. I tend to love AMOLED displays, because I like the somewhat cartoonish look you get at times. At this point in the game, though, I don't know that you are going to find that big of a difference between either the new LCDs used in phones like the One or this new FHD Super AMOLED, but I'll throw some thoughts out there anyway. Color reproduction on both the AMOLED of the Galaxy S4 and the LCD of the One is excellent to me. With that said, I feel like you get deeper colors which in turn means greater detail in whatever you are viewing with the AMOLED on the Galaxy S4. For example, at full brightness and indoors, the HTC One's LCD display appears washed out to me, while the Galaxy S4's AMOLED display only gets better the brighter you go. I think Samsung plays to their strengths in the UI by offering up stock wallpapers that accent the great blues that an AMOLED can display, but it's not just there that I'm seeing the benefits. From icons to Google Maps to this website, the colors all match what my naked eye sees on any other display or in reality.

Macro shots for fun.

Full resolution: GS4 icons | vs. HTC One

But again, you can't go wrong with any of the current display technologies being used in high-end phones. The pixel densities are so outrageous, that you'll never see a pixel even if the pixel arrangement appears to be odd. Take the Chrome logo macro shot I've included above, which if I'm not mistaken, shows some sort of diamond-like matrix arrangement from the AMOLED on the Galaxy S4. It's not necessarily pretty under a macro lens when compared to the traditional arrangement on the LCD of the One, but none of our eyes see in macro. So as usual, we're doing this for fun because to the naked eye, it's a great display. I will say that whites on the AMOLED are not as clear or bright as the LCD on the One. They look too grey for my liking, but by no means is that a reason to dislike this display. The only way you'll really notice, is if you are sitting at a desk like I am, with both phones next to each other cranked to full brightness. Software Enhancements Thanks to an ultra-successful and innovative feature-set that was introduced with the Galaxy S3, we knew from the beginning that Samsung would try and drastically outdo themselves with the GS4. The jury is still out on whether or not they did, but we found a number of their gesture and Air View style add-ons to be quite useful. Samsung expounded on their previously introduced hover and movement capabilities in the Galaxy S4 by allowing you to navigate and perform a variety of tasks without actually placing even a fingertip on the device.

If you have used a Galaxy Note 2, then you are likely familiar with Air View, which utilizes the tip of the S Pen to hover over items on a phone and then return actions. For example, you can enter the gallery and hover over thumbnails to view a bigger version of the image without actually entering into the full-screened view. You can hover over text in the browser to magnify it, over dialer shortcuts to see which numbers have been set, or even over calendar items to see a breakdown of your day. The beauty of this tech with the Galaxy S4, is that you no longer need an S Pen. All you need now is a finger that can be hovered.

Samsung also built in a number of new gestures that can be activated with a simple air swipe of the hand over your display. If you would like to wake your phone to a minimal overview of your device's current state (includes battery level, text messages, calls, etc.), simply wave a hand over the top portion (where the sensors are located) and your phone will briefly wake itself (pictured above). If you are thumbing through gallery pictures, yet find yourself with greasy fry fingers while at lunch, wave your hand from right-to-left or left-to-right to change photos. This also works in the browser to change tabs and scroll through web pages, as well as in the ringer to answer calls. All of these gesture and hover-based features can be enabled or disabled in the phone's settings, so don't feel like you have to use them. Also, most only work in Samsung-built apps, which is pretty disappointing. If you were hoping to gesture swipe around Chrome or hover in Gmail, it's not happening. I asked Samsung if they had plans to open up these features to developers, and unfortunately, it doesn't sound like it's in the program at this point. They are working with specific app developers like Flipboard, though.

Battery Battery life on the Galaxy S4 has not been an issue for me in the week that I've had the phone. I should note that I've had the Sprint version and live in Portland, so the device has been running on 3G CDMA the entire time, not 4G LTE. While I wish I could give you definitive battery tests with LTE running all day, that wasn't in the cards this time around. As I get my hands on LTE versions (AT&T and Verizon), I'll be sure to try and update this section should these numbers change in any way. In the screenshots below (from left to right), you'll see my battery life results from my first three days and three charges. In day one, I'd put usage level at moderate-to-heavy because of the setup process of the phone and traveling time. In the second screenshot, this was definitely my highest usage day, that included a solid 30-45 minutes of gaming. On the third day, I used the phone as I typically would throughout a day - WiFi on, grabbing it for a call here or there, checking some emails, updating apps, etc. By no means are my typical days "heavy." During all three days, never once did I have to charge the phone in under 10 hours of use.

The good news, which I mentioned earlier, is the fact that the Galaxy S4 has a removable battery. Should you be a heavy LTE user, Samsung will eventually give you the opportunity to buy replacement batteries, potentially even an extended battery to help get you through a day. It's a feature that Samsung has no plans to move away from. Expandable Storage Samsung continued their trend of including microSD card slots in flagship phones with the Galaxy S4. Should you choose to buy the 16GB model of the phone, understand that you can toss in a microSD card up to 64GB to expand that. It's a minor detail, but it's one that only Samsung continues to pay attention to. The rest of the smartphone world is trending towards not having SD card slots, yet Samsung is fully aware that its customer base is all about removable storage. For someone like me, who is constantly testing phones and never has to worry about storage limits, even I can see the benefits to having SD card slot support, especially for those who are attached to a phone for the life of a contract. Camera The camera section of this review is pretty far down the list of "good" things for a reason - it's pretty good, but not great and definitely not bad. As you'll see in the sample shots below, the 13MP sensor in the Galaxy S4 is capable of taking some (what I would consider to be) stunning photos in the right light. The picture of the Paulaner beer I consumed this weekend in particular, is one of my favorites. The color accuracy, white balance, and ability for the camera to adjust correctly to what I would assume to be a macro setting while on "Auto" seemed to play off perfectly. I also liked the sausage picture (consumed with the Paulaner) because it grabs a ton of detail, yet still doesn't give off the oil-painting effect that I saw far too often with the HTC One's camera.

Full resolution: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Obviously, it's not all good for the Galaxy S4 camera, since I dropped it down this far. In low light, the camera is not great - actually, it's not even good. The picture above of a glass of whiskey was in a decently lit lobby bar at a hotel in San Francisco and came out looking subpar and mushy (technical term) when compared to the previously mentioned photos taken with great outdoor light. The real killer here, though, is the HTC One comparison I took while in a dark storage room in the upstairs of my house. The Galaxy S4 wasn't even able to capture anything other than a corner of a pillow - the rest is blackness. The HTC One on the other hand captured almost the entire room. I'm also not a fan of the size of 13MP images in general. While I'm well aware of the fact that I can adjust that down to 8MP in the camera settings, by default, these things are enormous and almost impossible to share with social networks or via email. Most of the photos I took with stock settings started at 2.4MB and climbed all the way up to 4.4MB.

Low light comparison shot to the HTC One.

So again, the camera on the Galaxy S4 is pretty good, it's just not great. With that out of the way, let's talk software, since Samsung added a bunch of new features that may come in handy from time to time. Camera Software Samsung packed all sorts of new goodies into their camera software. The most notable change upfront is the UI, which they told us was tweaked to mimic that of the Galaxy Camera since they received such positive feedback from that product. It's simple if you want it to be, plus the layout is easily managed while taking both photos and video. But along with the new UI, they added in camera modes like Drama (merge together action shots), Animated photo (lets you create GIFs on phone), Sound and Shot (record audio with photos), and Eraser (removes unwanted moving objects from photos). Most of these won't get steady action from you, but the point is to have them there just in case. Call them gimmicks if you want, but to me, they are add-ons that will come in handy from time to time, and there is nothing wrong with that. One of the bigger features Samsung is pushing with the camera is their picture-in-picture modes for both video and photos. You can really have some fun with this setting, but I wouldn't be surprised if some of you even find practical uses for it. Using both front and rear cameras, the Galaxy S4 is able to record video at the same time or capture stills, no matter what you are doing. You can theme up the in-picture shot, go fully split-screen, or adjust the size of the box to your liking. It's certainly silly and seems incredibly limited in its uses, but again, it's there if you need or want it. Overall, the camera on the Galaxy S4 has to be considered a positive just for the fact that it packs in so many features while still being able to produce great stills under the right circumstances. You could argue that even with all of the fluff it's still not as versatile as say, the camera on the HTC One, and I wouldn't fight you on that point. But no matter what, it's serviceable. Android 4.2.2 The Galaxy S4 is one of the first Android phones in history to launch with the most current version of Android. That version is Android 4.2.2, which Google only unleashed upon us back in February. There is a chance that Google releases an even newer version at its I/O developer conference in mid-May, but for the time being, Samsung is up-to-date. This may sound like something that should happen with all new phones, but manufacturers can't seem to keep up even after years of practice. So in a way, this is an even bigger deal than putting in a 13MP camera or 1080p display. Accessories One thing Samsung has done over the last year and a half that we absolutely love, is release phones with one size and shape on all carriers around the globe. This allows accessory manufacturers to provide you with more accessories than you can possibly absorb. No longer are they forced to create special versions depending on the carrier - with the Galaxy S4, it's one size fits all. Your choices will seemingly be endless, once this phone arrives, assuming accessory makes have begun prep work.

Outside of third party accessory makers, Samsung is planning to release their own suite of accessories for the Galaxy S4, ranging from variants of their popular Flip Cover to health accessories to universal docks to replacement batteries. Most will be available at launch, outside of the health accessories which will arrive later this year.

The Not-so-Good

Build Materials Look, it's 2013 and companies like HTC and Apple are making beautifully designed, high-end phones out of materials like aluminum, yet here is Samsung, pushing out another phone made entirely of plastic. Now, we've talked about plastic as a smartphone material and the fact that it serves a purpose, but at some point, shouldn't Samsung try to step it up a notch? We can argue for days whether or not this new Galaxy S4 is a designers dream or not, but the truth is that it doesn't even compare in style or build to what HTC did with the One. I'd be lying, as would anyone else, if they sat here and told you with both the One and Galaxy S4 in hand, that the GS4 is the higher-end or better looking of the two. It's really not even close. The Galaxy S4 is a well made, plastic phone, it's just not on-par in terms of design or build with the One. There are rumors floating around which suggest that Samsung has acknowledged this and will bring something new to the table with the Galaxy Note 3, but again, those are just rumors. TouchWiz In my HTC One review, I took HTC's Sense 5.0 to task. I'm going to do the same with Samsung's TouchWiz. As stock Android has grown into an incredibly polished and feature-rich mobile operating system, manufacturers continue to put their own spin on it with custom skins that tend to make things more difficult than they need to be. To be fair to the review process, I'll also only pick five issues in particular that stood out to me as I did with the One, but like the One, I could probably go on and on. First, creating folders is a mess as it almost always has been with TouchWiz. In order to create one, you need to grab an app and then drag it to the "Create folder" option that appears at the top of the screen. I can sort of understand how this might seem more user friendly to a novice user than the standard Android version of dragging apps on top of each other, but why did Samsung remove the traditional drag and drop altogether? Sure, once you create a folder using this "Create folder" option, you can drag items into it easily, but I'm still not seeing the point in removing the easiest way of all, which is to simply drag an app onto another app in order to create one. I can't imagine that there is really some software restriction that is forcing us to do one or the other.

Second, the standard TouchWiz keyboard is the worst in the business. If you buy this phone, install Swiftkey or Swype or whatever other third party keyboard you like as soon as you can. Now, we should point out that Swiftkey's technology is actually built into Samsung's stock keyboard, but Samsung has still done their own thing with it. It doesn't auto-correct as well in my experience with it, plus its key spacing gives me a headache when it comes to quick typing. It's swipe-like or gesture typing isn't half bad, but if you are a rapid-tapper like me, you may find yourself spending more time correcting errors than you are used to. Third, the dialer application which is attached to contacts is essentially two separate apps, yet they appear to be one. What I mean by that, is as you enter the dialer, you'll see tabs (which I'll get to in a moment) for Keypad, Logs, Favorites, and Contacts. Should you press the Contacts tab, it actually opens up the Contacts app rather than a new tab, so there is a delay before it shows you anything as it takes time to process and open the Contacts app. Once in the Contacts app, the top tabs change to Phone, Groups, Favorites, and Contacts. That's right, the tab that used to say Keypad, now says Phone. Can we get some consistency? Again, tapping "Phone," then opens up the dialer app and takes an additional few seconds to load. It's slow, clunky, and pretty damn ugly. The settings menu in this new version of TouchWiz is quite confusing. Samsung decided that the vertical scrolling approach to the settings menu on any other Android device is not quite easy enough to understand. So instead, they created four tabs and their own categories for settings, which are mostly a jumbled mess. It has taken a week to figure out where certain items are that I visit on a regular basis because the organization is so random. Like, why is Accessory, Call, and Display in the "My device" section, but Storage, Battery and Date & Time are schluffed off into a "More" category. Don't those items all have to do with "My device" as well? Last, Samsung still designs apps and menus as if they were built in 2010 for Gingerbread rather than Jelly Bean. For example, in the settings menu that I just complained about, you have a tabbed few of categories, yet you cannot simply swipe between them. Instead, you are forced to tap each tab to enter a new category. And it's like this all over the place, including in the previously mentioned dialer and contacts applications. Dear Samsung, we are in the era of Holo UI with swiping gestures, action overflow menus, and slideout navigation menus. Tabbed UIs are out. The Galaxy S4 is yet another Android phone that needs a third party launcher (along with any other third party replacement application you can find) on day one.

Very Similar to the Galaxy S3 I know that I just spent an entire review trying to sell you on this being different than the Galaxy S3, but I couldn't help but think time and time again over the last week that this is nothing more than a slightly bumped up version of last year's flagship Samsung phone. It looks very similar and has mostly the same exact software outside of a few new feature add-ons that will eventually come to the Galaxy S3. When navigating around it, thanks to the exact same navigation setup and custom skin, a non-tech savvy person probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the two. I mentioned at the top of this review that on paper, the GS4 is quite different, however, in reality for everyday usage, you could argue that it's not. Navigation Button Setup Samsung going with a physical home button coupled with menu and back soft keys isn't necessarily offending me as it used to. In fact, I'm completely comfortable with them after having used them for months on end. However, that doesn't mean I'm a fan. What gets me the most, is having to physically press in a button to do the most often-asked-for task of returning home or exiting an application. I can get down with the soft menu and back keys, but I'm not sure I'll ever be a fan physical buttons that protrude out from the bottom of a phone. Samsung seems to have found a way to upgrade this home button, as it presses much tighter than previous phones, but I'd still prefer they do away with it.

Other Notes

Performance: I typically include a "Performance" section with my reviews, but since the unit I have from Samsung is technically running pre-launch software, I didn't think it was fair after noticing some stuttering and other lag. At this time, with this device in its current state, the camera lags when taking pictures, I've noticed time and time again a lag in the folder animation, and jumping in and out of apps isn't as smooth as one would expect. I'm also finding all sorts of bugs in Samsung's take on lock screen widgets. So for now, until this phone gets an update or I hear from Samsung that this is actually final software, we'll leave these notes here.
WatchON TV app: When compared to the TV application on the HTC One, WatchON can be very frustrating. With the One, it took a couple of button taps and I had the device connected to every single piece of home entertainment hardware in my living room. With WatchON, I tried and quit after five minutes when the app started asking questions that I would have had to get up or research to find the answers to. It's also not as seamless or user-friendly in terms of finding favorite shows and then making sure you know they are readily available to watch.
HTC One comparison: Below, you'll find a video comparison of the Galaxy S4 to the One, but we won't be stopping there. In the coming days, we'll have a full-on comparison that should give you our thoughts on which device will be sticking around the DL offices.
Sprint's network: I feel bad for anyone stuck with a contract on Sprint. I haven't had to use a Sprint phone in some time, and now I know why. They have almost zero 4G LTE foot print in this country, but to make matters worse, only have a 3G CDMA network to fall back on. Coming from HSPA+ and LTE, this is like returning to the 90s and AOL free dial-up. Ugh.

Gallery

Videos

Hardware and Software Tour

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjuLI0AiquU[/youtube]

Vs. Galaxy S3

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ab7LimEOb4[/youtube]

Vs. HTC One

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeRq1tHCOGM[/youtube]

The Verdict

After all that, should you buy the Galaxy S4? Sure, why not. It's a really, really good smartphone - probably in the top two or three at this point in the game. Should you decide to buy one, you'll get a beautiful 5.0" FHD Super AMOLED display, plenty of horsepower thanks to a quad-core processor, a serviceable 13MP camera, all sorts of interesting software features, a removable battery, expandable storage, and the most recent version of Android. There are few things to dislike about this phone. It's also coming to every major carrier (including Verizon) and will have more accessory choices than any other phone on the planet aside from the iPhone 5. With that said, the HTC One and its premium body is out there for the taking. As previously mentioned, you can't go wrong with the Galaxy S4, but you also can't go wrong with the HTC One (review) or even Nexus 4 (still my personal favorite) for that matter. It's a great time to buy a smartphone. Go get them all in your hands before making a decision.

Links: Galaxy S4 at eBay | Amazon

President of Samsung Gulf Mentions Water-Proof Galaxy S4 is in the Works

Tim — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:30:08 +0000

During a Q&A session that took place today, the President of Samsung Gulf, Young Soo Kim was asked whether the manufacturer intended on creating a water-proof smartphone. Interestingly enough, he said yes and that a "ruggedized" Galaxy S4 that is water proof and dust proof is in the works and should be announced in the next few weeks. Whether this is some slip up or misunderstanding, no one can tell, since there has been no indication that another Galaxy S4 could exist. With that, why wait for people to place their pre-orders for this one when a water-proof one might be what they actually want. Hard to say what the deal is. What about you? If you got your Galaxy S4 today, then found out there was a water-proof variant would you be upset? Via: TechView

Facebook Messenger Updated, Brings Adorable Cat Stickers

Tim — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:55:15 +0000

If you are still using Chat Heads, part of Facebook's Messenger application, then maybe you can get some use out of its newest feature, stickers. Now I know, Messenger was lacking one thing this whole time and it was certainly kitten stickers, so this should do the trick. To access stickers, simply hit the smiley face next to the location setting icon and you will see them pop up. If you hit the little shopping basket, you will also be taken to a store where you can get even more stickers. They are listed as free, so I'm guessing there will be an option to buy paid sticker packs in the future. How very uninteresting. Go grab it if you want it. Play Link

ASUS Qube on Sale Through Newegg, $140 For Google TV and 50GB of Web Storage

Tim — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:30:21 +0000

Been waiting ever so patiently for the ASUS Qube to drop? Well, it has finally arrived on Newegg's site, which for just $140, will get you the latest version of Google TV, a do-it-all remote, 50GB of ASUS web storage, and access to that nifty voice search feature for your living room. As a note, if you buy it today, you get a $10 gift card. Score. And I must say, I have always been quite intrigued with the Qube's design. It looks pretty snazzy. Via: Newegg [youtube]http://youtu.be/UzzsLVSBGdU[/youtube] Cheers Cheesse!

RadioShack to Sell Galaxy S4 on AT&T and Sprint Starting This Saturday, April 27

Tim — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:04:04 +0000

Today, RadioShack announced availability for the Samsung Galaxy S4 beginning this Saturday, April 27 in retail stores. The device will be available on both AT&T and Sprint, as the Verizon version's availability has not yet been announced. As an added bonus, they will also have a few of the Galaxy S4's accessories on hand, giving customers a $10 off coupon when they make a purchase of $30 or more. If you are not the biggest fan of going into a certified retailer of a carrier and have a Shack close to home, it's good to know you have options for where you can pick up your new phone.

Facebook Pages Manager Receives Update, Adds External Link Support and More

Eric — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:35:45 +0000

Managers of a Facebook Page take note, because today, the Pages Manager app for Android has been updated. If you are someone who loves to keep their pages updated on the go, today's update will certainly be welcome with its new features. You can now share photos from other applications, promote your posts at the same time you post them, and turn links from outside the app into posts for your page.

This continues the trend of Facebook's big Android push as of late coming off the heels of their Facebook Home and Chat Heads updates. This is the official changelog for the update:

What's New:

Post and promote at the same time
Turn an external link into a share post
Share photos from other apps

The update is live now, so hit the link below to get your app updated.

Play Link

Rearth Ringke Slim Case for the Samsung Galaxy S4 On Sale for $3 Through Amazon

Tim — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:15:24 +0000

If you had plans of picking up a new Galaxy S4 from Samsung soon, now would be a good time to look into buying a "protection plan" for it in the form of a new case. We have always been a big fan of Ringke cases, especially for the Nexus 4. The Rearth Ringke Slim case is now on sale through Amazon, listed at just $3, a total of $20 less than the list price. They also have their Fusion cases and regular hard cases on sale starting at $8, so definitely give it a peek if rolling around with a naked device isn't how you roll. Buy. Cheers Aucencio!

Verizon Approves Samsung Stratosphere Update to Build Number i405.GC1, Still Not Ice Cream Sandwich

Tim — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:25:47 +0000

Well, when was the last time we mentioned the Samsung Stratosphere? It's been a little bit, but with Verizon approving an update for the device this morning, we thought maybe the time had finally come for this poor soul to receive some Ice Cream Sandwich love from Big Red. The short answer is "nope." This update to build number i405.GC1 is to improve call quality, correct IMAP implementation, remove old bloatware applications, and improve the My Verizon app among other things. If a Stratosphere is currently in your pocket or sitting next to you on your desk, expect the update to roll out sometime this week at the earliest. Let's be real - if it doesn't have ICS by now, it's not coming anytime soon. Via: Verizon

Verizon Approves LG Spectrum 2 Jelly Bean Update, Build Number VS93021B

Tim — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:25:19 +0000

This afternoon, Verizon approved the Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" update, build number VS93021B for the LG Spectrum 2. With Jelly Bean comes a ton of great features like Google Now, expandable notifications, camera software enhancements and more. Along with Jelly Bean, they have fixed some other things such as their NFC LG Tag software, their stock weather application has been updated, and a few of the pre-loaded widgets on the device have been removed (Social+, Today+, Power Control, etc.). If you are the owner of the Spectrum 2, expect to see this update start rolling out sometime this week to your phone. Via: Verizon

Falcon Pro Updated, Brings Full Offline Mode and More Fixes

Tim — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:00:54 +0000

If you find yourself to be a Falcon fanboy, then go pick up the newest Pro update available in Google Play. The update brings a brand new fully offline mode, allowing for pics, video thumbnails, and article images to be viewed with no data connection. Now that's fancy. To top it off, there are some bug fixes, new translations, as well as Play link opening options. What's New:

Full Offline mode - Option to predownload images for offline access (pics, video thumbnails and article images) - With automatic cache cleaning.
Open Play Store links from internal browser to google play app.
Translations (Portuguese, Thai, Dutch, Catalan, Arabic, Chinese, Turkish, Hungarian)
Many fixes

Play Link ($1.96)

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 12

Tim — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:09:50 +0000

We have a ton of things going on currently, as the 2013 flagship devices are finally starting to arrive in customer's hands, Google I/O is right around the corner, our HTC One review is finally up, as well as other Android goodness. We like to hold these Q&A Sessions every now and then when we feel there might be some folks looking for answers out there and this is the perfect chance to make sure the DL Staff hears what you have to say. You can ask us Android-related stuff, personal stuff or whatever. Have fun with it! On Friday, we will go through them all and select a good amount to feature in a post on Friday. Drop down below in the comments section and submit those questions. To see all of our previous Q&A’s, check them out here.

Jelly Bean on DROID Bionic Root Method Released, Instructions For Those Running Ubuntu

Tim — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:57:48 +0000

From the same man that unlocked some of Motorola's heavily guarded bootloaders, a new root method for DROID Bionic owners running the new Jelly Bean firmware has been released. Unfortunately for most of you, it is for folks running Ubuntu because due to technical reasons, a Windows version is currently impossible. Root is acquired by running a modified version of Motorola's own Motoshare software and some customized files. If you fit the bill as a Bionic owner on the new firmware and have yourself a running Linux workstation, go follow the via and get your root on. Via: Droidrzr Cheers Jim!

Alien Breed Now on Sale For $1, a Must Have For Xeno Fans

Tim — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:25:52 +0000

The classic top-down shooter from the 90s is here for Android. While Alien Breed is listed for $5 every time I check it on my wishlist, it is now on sale for just $0.99. That's a steal! In Alien Breed, you go around shooting xenomorph-like creatures while collecting keys and enough ammo to get you through the level. If you are lucky enough (and equal that in adventurousness), then you might also find some extra lives. The controls are smooth, the graphics are fantastic for a mobile device, and there is no better feeling then taking care of a big bug problem with a machine gun. Play Link ($0.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/Byl5lC7MOnE[/youtube]

GameStick Dev Kit Unboxing Hits the Web, Also Gives a Software Tour

Tim — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:47:24 +0000

This morning, the developers behind the upcoming GameStick Android-powered gaming dongle released an unboxing of the same packages that are being shipped out to Kickstarter backers. The units themselves are a little bit bigger than the finalized product, as these are prototype units, but they still have the same functionality. Not only do we get a brief unboxing, but they also take us on a little software tour and show a glimpse of Riptide GP running on the system. Looks pretty nice. GameStick is still available for pre-order at $80. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw2AX4l9ykc[/youtube] Via: GameStick

New HTC One Kernel Maps "HTC" Logo to be Sleep or Menu Button

Kellen — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:12:45 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAIHUfHD9cQ[/youtube]

Remember a story of ours from back in March that described the "HTC" logo between the Home and Back buttons on the HTC One as being used as an actual button thanks to a custom kernel? Pundits argued for days whether or not this was actually feasible, but we like to give developers the benefit of the doubt, since well, most of them are insanely smart people that amaze us on a daily basis. Sure enough, over the weekend, developer tbalden released a kernel that does in fact turn the HTC logo on the One into either sleep/wake or menu buttons. He currently has two versions, the first (top) pairs Home with the HTC logo to act as sleep/wake counterparts. Tap Home and your device will wake, tap the HTC logo and your phone will go back to sleep. The second version (below) simply turns the HTC logo into a menu button, which is simply put, brilliant. Since HTC went with the oddest navigation setup in the history of Android, a menu button might just make it bearable. At this time, both kernels are a work-in-progress and are by no means flawless, from what we can tell. But over time, I'd imagine developers will fine tune this into being a standard ROM feature. If you have an HTC One already and are interested in trying this out, hit up the XDA thread below for instructions.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC-hSUR0dyU[/youtube]

Via: XDA

Verizon Announces the Pantech Perception at $99, With a Handful of Features From the Galaxy S4

Kellen — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:35:24 +0000

This morning, Verizon announced a new 4G LTE phone to their growing family, the Pantech Perception. As one would expect from anything released by Pantech, this phone should be considered mid-range when compared to today's smartphone standards. It sports a 4.8" HD (720p) Super AMOLED display, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, and 16GB of storage. Pantech is trying to be somewhat innovative on the software front though, by tossing in Motion Sense, which allows you to gesture or wave over your device to answer calls, scroll through contacts, change songs being played, or flip between pictures in the gallery. Galaxy S4, anyone? Seriously, these were all features mentioned at some point after Samsung announced their new flagship phone that has yet to be released. The Perception runs Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), but will "soon" be upgraded to Jelly Bean. The Perception can be had for $99.99 on 2-year contract with a $50 mail-in rebate. It will arrive in stores beginning April 25. Via: Verizon

Best Buy Starts Taking Pre-orders In-store for Verizon's Galaxy S4

Kellen — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:27:22 +0000

Verizon continues to hold out on giving us any sort of official release or pre-order date for their version of the Samsung Galaxy S4, even after almost every other major carrier in the U.S. has announced an in-store date. The only thing we know for sure, is that it's coming in May and you can sign-up through their site to be notified of future happenings. Not much, right? Thankfully, we have Best Buy. According to text messages sent to a variety of DL readers, Best Buy is notifying customers that they can stop by their local BBY store and pre-order the Verizon version of the Galaxy S4 as early as today. I would imagine that they aren't providing a launch date with pre-orders, but are instead telling customers that they'll have one reserved for whenever that day arrives. We also aren't sure what they are asking anyone to put down. So far, there are few details for Big Red's GS4, including price, however, we would imagine we'll see the 16GB version at $199 on contract and the 32GB version at $249. Anyone stopping by Best Buy this evening to pre-order? If so, be sure to let us know the details. Cheers Kyle, Marc, and Joe!

LG Confirms May 1 Event is About the Optimus G Pro

Kellen — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:05:46 +0000

May 1 has been saved on our calendars since last Tuesday when LG announced a mobile-related event for that evening. The "save the date" spoke of geniuses and brilliance, which didn't necessarily make much sense at the time. However, thanks to the official invite to the event that we received today, we now understand the references. LG plans to announce its oversized device (5.5" 1080p display), the Optimus G Pro, for the U.S. with a live concert from Atlas Genius. During the event, they want us all to "experience true brilliance in the making," a reference to the overall package delivered in the G Pro. For those not familiar, the Optimus G Pro is very similar to Samsung's Galaxy Note 2, yet has pumped up specs in a number of areas, most importantly the display. It also has the newest processor from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 600, a 13MP camera, and all sorts of software enhancements built specifically for a device this size. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with an S Pen or anything along those lines. We'll be there to soak it all in!

AT&T Galaxy S4 Pre-orders Shipping Early, Arriving as Soon as April 25

Kellen — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:43:54 +0000

If you pre-ordered your Samsung Galaxy S4 from AT&T, you may have a wonderful surprise waiting inside your inbox this afternoon. AT&T is notifying customers that they are able to ship devices earlier than originally expected, with some arriving as early as April 25. We were sort of expecting the arrival and launch date to be April 26, but hey, we'll take anything from Samsung's flagship line a day early. Also, we should point out that AT&T's site is showing the Galaxy S4 as shipping April 30, so that could potentially be the official launch date, which they have yet to supply us. Update: AT&T Tweeted that April 27 is actually the in-store launch date.

We're continuing to keep track of official Galaxy S4 availability here. Via: AT&T Cheers Mike and Eric!

Nokia Wins Preliminary Injunction Against HTC One Over Duplicated Microphones

Eric — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:30:20 +0000

As if the HTC One hasn't seen enough setbacks already before its launch, a new court ruling against HTC in the Netherlands looks to make it even worse. Nokia has been awarded a preliminary injunction against the HTC One centering around high-amplitude microphones that are found in the phone. The microphones found inside the One are the exact same as the mics found in the Lumia 720, and that is no good for HTC.

The same company makes the microphones for HTC and Nokia, but Nokia says that the components of these mics in particular were made specifically for Nokia. While this could be a mistake on HTC's part, it could have been the fault of the microphone manufacturer in this case. In the meantime the One is facing more setbacks.

HTC says they are "disappointed" in the decision from the court and that they will "explore alternate solutions immediately."

Via: Engadget

More Evidence Pointing Towards Google Now Coming to a Desktop Near You

Eric — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:00:49 +0000

The internet is buzzing today thanks to some digging through test code from Google that revealed multiple references to Google Now. It seems as if Google is ready to take Now to the primetime by featuring it on their home page. As it is the code is pointing towards allowing you to set your Work and Home location so it can give you information on travel times, food places and traffic problems around you.

Most of our readers have experienced Google Now by this point (or know that we love using it around here), but there are people out there who haven't gotten into the awesome service yet. Bringing it to the Google homepage could not only be useful for tons of people, but boost Google's page views through the roof once this goes live.

Would you set Google.com as your homepage for your browser if it featured Google Now?

Via: Google System Blog

Google Removes Privacy Concerns with Latest Wallet Update for Developers

Dave — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:19:25 +0000

Back in February, the Android community was in a buzz over allegations that Google was sending their personal information to developers. We did our own investigation and laid out the facts as we saw them. In an update for Google Wallet (not the app, the commerce site), rolling out over the next few weeks, Google looks to be addressing those allegations and alleviating any remaining concerns people might have. We've got access to the new Wallet Merchant Center and are ready to dive in and put this issue to rest indefinitely. The most obvious change is the layout and design, which mimics the improvements Google has been making across their products. In the old checkout listing, the customer's name was a part of the order details column, but this is no longer the case. Instead, the developer is just presented with an anonymous list of app purchases, albeit in a much cleaner presentation. They've also removed the charge/ship columns as those never made sense for digital products. It looks like Google has finally made the system a bit more friendly for app developers. Check out a comparison of the new (on the left) vs the current.

Full size

Looking at the order details page, we can confirm that Google has gone one step further. Developers are no longer presented with the customer name or their email. All that remains is the general location of the purchase, which is needed for tax purposes. Information is now condensed and offers a fresh presentation. Good job, Google.

Full size

Privacy is such a hot topic these days and it's surprisingly refreshing when a change is made in the consumer's favor. Google has been under fire regarding their privacy policy and this improvement, while probably unrelated, will certainly earn them some brownie points from concerned web denizens. The updated Google Wallet Merchant Center is currently rolling out to developers over the next few weeks.

Video: Galaxy S4 Screen Does Not Scratch Easily, Can We Stop Making These Yet?

Eric — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:57:09 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOW_IuZQ-5E[/youtube]

A sure fire way to get yourself some Youtube clicks is to buy the latest smartphone and put it through a scratch test. They have been around for years now that our displays are actually worth caring about, but since the advent of Gorilla Glass we know most keys/metal objects won't scratch them easily. The Galaxy S4 features Gorilla Glass 3 so you guessed it: it doesn't scratch. However, if you will sleep easier at night knowing a butter knife won't scratch your screen, feel free to watch the full video. I can't wait for the "Galaxy S4 Drop Test!" video, though! #saidnoone Via: SamMobile

Eric Schmidt Says Google Glass is a "Year-ish" Away From Its Retail Debut

Kellen — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:31:53 +0000

The Explorer Editions of Google Glass are slowly shipping to early adopters as you read this, but since the $1,500 price tag attached to them was more than likely out of the range of most, you can imagine that the official retail launch is what's on radars. We had originally heard that Glass in its retail form would arrive this year with a price below the $1,500 Explorer Edition, however, Eric Schmidt made comments this weekend in an interview with BBC radio that suggested otherwise. When asked how soon it is likely to come to the market, Schmidt responded with, "Well, the developers are beginning now. It would be fair to say that there will be thousands of these in use by developers over the next months. And then based on their feedback, we'll make some product changes - and it's probably a year-ish away." That's a bit disappointing, but Glass in its current state probably needs a ton of work. Early reports from developers are just now coming in, so we don't necessarily have any official reviews to go by. With that said, anything Google can do to fine tune the hardware, polish the software, and add in new features is going to help with adoption. Google I/O should be filled with Glass topics and announcements - hopefully they include more definitive news on a retail release. You can hear Schmidt's comments on Glass at the audio link below, starting with the 4:28 mark. Via: dvice [Audio]

This DashClock Extension Lets You Quickly Launch Sound Search, Shazam, or SoundHound

Kellen — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:27:14 +0000

If you are at all like me, and find yourself using Google's Sound Search on a regular basis in order to purchase new music that is playing while you are on the go, and you also love DashClock, then check out this new extension called "Sound Search for DaskClock." Rather than having to rely on the official Sound Search app or set up a separate page for it outside of DashClock on his lock screen (since lock screen widgets only allow 1 per page), the developer of this app decided to include Sound Search in DashClock itself. Once downloaded from Google Play and added to your DashClock page, a simple tap on the "What's this song?" line in DashClock will launch Google's Voice Search which has grown to include Sound Search inside. If Sound Search isn't your preferred music listener, he also included support for SoundHound and Shazam. It's free. Play Link And be sure to check out our ongoing list of the Best DashClock extensions.

Verizon's Device Payment Plan Can be Used as a Way to Keep Unlimited Data and Upgrade Phones

Kellen — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:30:47 +0000

This morning, we wrote up a recap of Verizon's new Device Payment Plan since it went live today for smartphones and could be an option for those looking to upgrade phones earlier than the new 24-month upgrade cycle. Specifics on keeping unlimited data or how this new plan affects your current contract were a bit murky, though, so we reached out to Big Red's PR team to get deeper clarification. We've heard back with what I would consider to be good news. According to Verizon, if you are an existing customer with an unlimited data plan, keeping your unlimited data can still be accomplished by purchasing phones at full retail price, and the new Device Payment Plan is considered an option. Here is the statement:

Currently if an existing customer has an unlimited data plan, they can keep their unlimited data plan as long as they pay full price for their smartphone and the Verizon Wireless Device Payment Plan is an option available to them.

So, there you have it. This new Device Payment Plan is live as of today - here are all of the details.

DROID RAZR M Update to 98.15.66 Available Now

Kellen — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:19:33 +0000

The "maintenance" update for the Motorola DROID RAZR M that was approved by Verizon last week as build 98.15.66 started rolling out to users over the weekend. It's not Android 4.2, but does improve WiFi connectivity, voice volume, camera features, in-call audio while using headsets, video streaming, and more. The update is 80MB in size. To try and pull the update yourself, head into Settings>About phone>System updates. Cheers Rich and Adam!

Official: Google Glass Not Quite Ready For Zombie Population

Tim — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:52:20 +0000

Do you happen to be a member of the walking dead populace that inhabits this world, hoping to get your nasty blood-covered hands on Google Glass? Unfortunately for you and your friends, Google set the record straight last Friday, claiming Glass "isn't quite ready for zombies yet." A zombie was on Google+ and decided to reach out to Google in an attempt to score a pair of fancy eye wear, claiming that there must be a huge market for the zombie population. In addition, he could then give Google a zombie's perspective on Glass and everyone would be a winner. As it turns out, whoever runs the Glass G+ page is a good sport and played along nicely with the request.

Thanks for being cool, Google. Via: +DethBecomesYou

Everything There is to Know About Verizon's Device Payment Plan (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:27:49 +0000

Last week, we broke news on a new device payment plan that Verizon was planning to introduce on April 21. Since today is April 22, naturally that new plan is now live, so we figured a recap of the dirty details was in store. With upgrade cycles moving to 24 months yesterday, and 1-year contracts long gone, many of you will be looking to other options for upgrades, this being one of them. So here is the deal - qualified Verizon customers will have the opportunity to purchase phones or tablets at full retail price (greater than $349.99), but spread the cost of that device out over a 12-month period. The term "qualified" in this case means that a Verizon store rep has looked in their system and magically determined that you are eligible to participate in the program. Verizon has not released details beyond that, hence the "magical" reference. Payments for the device are broken down into 12 installments, along with a $2 per installment finance charge. When you make your first payment, you also have to pay the finance charge. From there forward, your payments and finance charges will appear on your monthly Verizon bill. You can pay off the remaining balance of your smartphone or tablet at any time. There is a maximum of two open installment plans per customer at a combined balance of $1000. The device payment plan does not impact your current contract. Update: Verizon has confirmed to us that customers can use the Device Payment Plan as a way to upgrade phones while keeping unlimited data. Here is the bulleted list of details:

Full retail priced smartphone or tablet price must be a minimum of $349.99.
Pay for the full retail priced smartphone or tablet in 12 payments.
Finance charge of $24, which is just $2 per installment.
Device Payment Plan customers can take advantage of Share Everything pricing and data sharing.
First payment, including $2 finance charge, due at time of purchase. Your next payment will appear on your next Verizon Wireless bill.1
Feel free to pay off the full balance of your new full retail priced smartphone or tablet anytime you want.
Maximum of two open Installment Plans per customer, subject to credit approval.
$1000 combined Installment Plan balance limit per customer.

Does this plan interest anyone? If anything, it's a way to continue on with your unlimited data and then upgrade to a new phone without having to fork out the full retail price up front. Sure, the finance charge isn't fun, but this is essentially like financing a phone after all. Via: Verizon Cheers Jigga_Z!

Celebrate Earth Day With This Android Inspired Wallpaper

Kellen — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:57:58 +0000

Today, is Earth Day. Celebrate it Android style, if you so choose. This wallpaper should help. Variety of sizes available at the link below. Via: Android Foundry Cheers Scott!

Facebook Home Passes 500,000 Downloads Mark in a Week

Kellen — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:41:15 +0000

Facebook Home made headlines over the weekend thanks to its total number of downloads crossing the 500,000 mark in 5 days time. Seems like a big deal, right? Unless of course you compare it to the success of Instagram, which grabbed over 1 million downloads in a single day back when it launched on Android last year. But then again, Facebook Home is only available on four devices (six shortly), two of which aren't necessarily the most popular on the planet (HTC One X and One X+). For the most part, you have to imagine that the majority of Facebook Home downloads are coming from the top two Android devices on the planet, the Note 2 and Galaxy S3. No matter what, it's probably some sort of a big deal for Facebook. With limited availability, those numbers aren't necessarily something to mock or laugh at. Assuming they roll out their 3rd party launcher to more phones in the coming weeks or months, the number of downloads could skyrocket. It's not a bad start, that's for sure. Now, skyrocketing downloads doesn't necessarily mean Facebook Home is a success in terms of users or experience, though. I've already shared my thoughts on why the app has more than a long way to go before it becomes usable, but you also have to keep in mind that downloads do not mean active users. 500K downloads could mean 100K active users for all we know. Speaking of experience, the current Google Play store rating of 2-stars is...well, I think it speaks for itself. Has anyone made Facebook Home a major part of their smartphone experience?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOLwnGXmslk[/youtube]

Via: Google Play | TechCrunch

Reminder: Verizon Upgrade Dates Move to 24 Months as of Today to "Align With Contract Terms"

Kellen — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:34:42 +0000

Today is April 22, so that means many of you may find adjusted upgrade dates included in your Verizon Wireless accounts. In fact, you may have found them to be up to four months later than you had previously penciled in on your calendars, thanks to a new policy change. As you may recall, we first reported last week that Verizon was changing upgrade dates to be better "aligned with contract terms," meaning the new upgrade cycle on contracts as of April 21 would be 24 months, rather than 20 months. And this new policy change affects current customers who are currently under contract, since upgrade eligibility information is not a part of a contract, according to Verizon. What does that mean? Well, if your upgrade date was previously set for some time before 9/1/2013, then you get to keep your date. However, if your upgrade date is on 9/1/2013 or later, you will be moved to a 24-month cycle. So if you were counting the days to 9/1/2013, so that you could pick up your new smartphone, you'll now have to wait until January 2014. Keep in mind that this wasn't the only new policy change. Verizon killed off any last unused NE2 (new every two) credits on April 15. They also will no longer allow you to transfer upgrades on non-phones to lines that have phones, meaning you can't transfer your tablet line's upgrade over to your phone in order to upgrade your phone early. Just a reminder!

Weird Rumor: 32GB Nexus 4 With CDMA and LTE to be Announced at Google I/O?

Kellen — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:56:01 +0000

Rather than a Nexus 5 is there a chance that Google releases a new version of the Nexus 4 this summer? According to a new rumor that is making the rounds and appearing in our inbox far too often, this is the word on the dark, back alley, make-sure-you-have-a-tight-grip-on-your-purse, streets. The rumor is this - Google is going to release a new variant of the Nexus 4 with both CDMA and LTE radios inside, along with 32GB of storage. It'll be unveiled at Google I/O in May. So, what do we think? Well, first, Google seems to have made it clear at times that they aren't fans of tying their Nexus devices to carriers. We all know from back in the days of Ice Cream Sandwich that their Android engineers spoke of having their minds blown over the carrier approval process for delaying what should be simple updates. But then again, Andy Rubin said after the launch of the Nexus 4 that they would "certainly have a desire to offer devices on every carrier on the planet." His comments came during an explanation over the lack of LTE in the device and the idea that they didn't want to use hybrid LTE networks along with older tech and dual-radios, since they diminish the user experience and battery life. So which is it? Do they hate carrier-tied devices or not? Or was Rubin speaking generally about having a device that works on all carriers, yet isn't necessarily branded by them? Tough to tell. This rumor does pose a couple of interesting points, though. The first being that Sprint received both of their Nexus devices (Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus) around April and May, long after the initial release of the same device. Should Google have figured out a way to toss in a CDMA/LTE radio inside one, launching on Sprint at Google I/O in May certainly matches up to previous time frames. Then again, Google has had to publicly state some of their frustrations with CDMA in general, as it is difficult to support in AOSP. Do they really want to go down that route again after all that we've been through? We're talking withheld factory images, binaries, and updates for both Sprint and Verizon variants of Nexus devices, all of which run on CDMA networks. The other part of this rumor mentions that we could see this version with 32GB of storage inside. As you all know, the current Nexus 4 only comes with 8GB or 16GB of storage, which in today's smartphone era, isn't necessarily enough thanks to massive pictures, HD video recordings, HD games, and movie downloads. One could fill up 8GB (since the system usually takes a couple of that to begin with) in no time without even trying. So, a 32GB version of the phone does make some sense. We're also acknowledging the idea that Google would likely release a new version of the Nexus 4 over a brand new Nexus 5 since the Nexus 4 is still only a couple of months old, makes a lot of sense. Google tends to launch new smartphones at their winter events, while saving the mid-year I/O conference for tablets and random media players that lack any functionality. Why not toss out a new version of the Nexus 4 to push sales until they can launch new hardware during the holidays? We should point out that the folks at Android Central mentioned the existence of a similar version of this device back in November of last year, stating that it could arrive by late Q1. Obviously, that didn't happen. They later weighed in with the idea that we may not see this phone after all, even though they had heard that AT&T and Sprint versions were in testing, because news on either device had gone silent for months. At least that's another supposed confirmation of the device's existence, but at this point, not necessarily in a good way. Keep in mind that we also saw a brief glimpse of a white Nexus 4, along with a matching white Bumper, yet have never seen either officially launch anywhere. Google does some head-scratching things more often than we can keep track of. I'll just say this - a CDMA variant of the Nexus 4 makes little sense to me after seeing what has happened over the years with both Sprint and Verizon versions of Nexus phones. But then again, this is Google we are talking about. So, folks, we really just don't know. One can always dream. Via: Sidhtech Cheers Sean, Roderick, and everyone else!

Sign-up Page for Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S4 is Live

Kellen — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:14:25 +0000

After somewhat of an acknowledgement yesterday on Twitter, Verizon is fully confirming their plans to carry the Samsung Galaxy S4 with a new sign-up page. It only says "coming soon," but you can add your name to their list to be informed of new information as it becomes available. The device is coming in May to "America's largest 4G LTE network," according to their official Twitter account. Most of the rest of the big carriers in the U.S. are getting the Galaxy S4 before the end of April. To find out the latest on your specific carrier, check out this post. Sign-up. Cheers Jeff!

This Week in the Life of DROID: 4/19/13

Kellen — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:37:11 +0000

Another week in the books here at Droid Life. It was busier than expected as we finally pushed out our review of the HTC One. While I fully admit that I am torn with my thoughts on the device, I can't recommend enough that you go check it out for yourselves. It has so many things going for it that no other smartphone manufacturer has even attempted to do. Hopefully it comes to Verizon at some point. Other than the One, we talked about the Galaxy S4 and its launch dates a lot, Eric Schmidt put Motorola's new phones back on our radar, Verizon's contract situation is getting interesting, Google Glass is out, and we're jealous of everyone who lives in Austin, Texas and Provo, Utah.

Be safe, aware, and proud this weekend.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini to be Delayed for Two Months? Say it Ain't So

Tim — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:18:07 +0000

According to new reports out of SamMobile, the Samsung Galaxy S4's little brother, the Galaxy S4 Mini is said to be delayed by almost two months. There is no say as to why exactly this delay is to take place, but we are sure there might be a few people saddened by this. Anyone? When it does launch, it is said to come in two variants; a single-SIM version and a dual-SIM version. The single-SIM S4 Mini will sport the quad-core Exynos processor, while the dual-SIM will house a dual-core chip, most likely for better network compatibility. Now, don't go crying all at once on me. Via: SamMobile | BGR

Kernel Source Code Drops For Both HTC One and International Samsung Galaxy S4, Devs Begin to Salivate

Tim — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:40:51 +0000

If you are the kind of person that gets hot over the dropping of kernel source code, prepare yourself for some exciting news. Today, both HTC and Samsung released source code for their flagship devices, the One and Galaxy S4. Each versions of the code are only for the International variants of the devices, but once we get a tad deeper into the release and availability of the phone, you can expect to see the U.S. versions come out shortly. If you are ready to start constructing and doing your special tweaks, follow the via links down below and get to work. Via: HTCdev | Open Source Samsung Cheers Chris and Ben!

Lookout Discovers New BadNews Malware Family, Infected 32 Different Apps on Google Play

Tim — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:45:18 +0000

Today, Lookout is reporting that they have found a new family of malware that has been running rampant throughout Google Play called, BadNews. BadNews was found on a total of 32 applications on Google Play and through statistics, is said to have been downloaded roughly 2 million to 9 million times. Lookout brought this to the attention of Google and the company immediately removed the infected apps and have suspended the developer accounts associated with them.

BadNews masquerades as an innocent, if somewhat aggressive advertising network. However, it has the ability to send fake news messages, prompt users to install applications and sends sensitive information such as the phone number and device ID to its Command and Control (C&C) server. BadNews uses its ability to display fake news messages in order to push out other types of monetization malware and promote affiliated apps. During our investigation we caught BadNews pushing AlphaSMS, well known premium rate SMS fraud malware, to infected devices.

Naturally, users who currently have the Lookout application installed on their device are safe from this threat. Via: Lookout

Purchase Details Revealed For Google Fiber in Provo, Costs Google $1

Tim — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:10:52 +0000

When Google Fiber was announced for Provo, UT, details were unknown on the total cost to Google to buy out the city's already in-place fiber optic network, iProvo. Today, details are out and it isn't as high as one might initially think. In total, Google is set to pay a single dollar ($1) to the city of Provo for the network. The real cost will come in an agreement that Google has made with city hall to have the network fully built out within five years. The build out is estimated at roughly $30 million, which still won't be too hard on Google's wallet. Via: Engadget

Friday App Sales: Real Boxing, Perfectly Clear, Redneck Revenge, and More

Tim — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:52:54 +0000

With the weekend coming up, it's time to start prepping and get some new games and apps on your device to keep you busy. If a new game is what you are looking for, check out the epic title, Real Boxing. With extremely detailed graphics and sound clips that would make anyone squint, it's certainly worth the dollar. As for utility apps, Perfectly Clear is a good choice if you enjoy tweaking with your on-device photos, an easily justifiable $1.50. App Sales:

EDGE Extended ($0.99)
EDGE ($0.99)
Real Boxing ($0.99)
Grow ($0.99)
Perfectly Clear ($1.49)
Gangstar Rio ($4.99)
Redneck Revenge ($0.99)

If you spot any other noteworthy sales, feel free to drop them down below in the comments section. Go get 'em!

Google Launches One Today Beta, Helping Nonprofits Reach Their Goals $1 Per Day

Eric — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:45:39 +0000

Google launched a new app and program through Google Play called One Today. The project is still in beta right now, you have to request an invite from Google, but the plan is for the app to bring a list of nonprofits and their causes to your app, and with just one click you can donate a dollar to help their cause.

Once you donate to your favorite cause you can track your impact and see how your money is actually helping. Some of the projects listed on One Today's website include Pencils of Promise, Teach for Health and Trees for the Future. To maximize your influence on these causes, you can share the info of your donation on social media afterwards to get your friends and family in on the cause as well. This system looks to make it easy to donate a small bit daily to good causes to keep the world spinning.

The project and application are still in a limited release however so you have to request an invite. You can head over to One Today's website or install the application to request your invitation.

Play Link | One Today

Video: Teaser Trailer Released for Upcoming Game, Daddy Was a Thief

Eric — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:20:08 +0000

In these hard economic times, what are you to do when you get fired and you are afraid of the wife scolding you for not bringing home the bacon? In the upcoming game for Android, Daddy Was a Thief, one man takes the situation into his own hands and turns to a life of crime to support his family, pretty much like Breaking Bad.

The gameplay itself is a vertical police chase as you guide Daddy down through buildings to escape, while gathering more goodies to profit on. There are shortcuts to find, power ups to use and it is all controlled by simple swipes around your screen. The map changes each time you play to keep you guessing and there are achievements to unlock to keep bringing you back. Think Doodle Jump, but upside down and you have the police breathing down your neck at the same time.

The game isn't live yet, but it launches in May so we will keep you posted as it gets closer.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVzM8GaTBaI[/youtube]

Fieldrunners 2 Almost Ready for Launch, Will Hit Google Play April 24

Tim — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:52:19 +0000

Last month, the developers of the highly popular Fieldrunners game for Android announced that a sequel was finally coming. While we waited, they opened a private beta for Fieldrunners 2, which I am sure plenty of you tried to sign up for. Whether you were able to gain entry or not, the title is set for launch on Google Play next week, April 24. The game is to feature a 20+ hour campaign mode, 20 completely upgradeable weapons, a tower that shoots bees hives (scary) and more. To see the full list of features and read up on the upcoming title, check the press release below.

FIELDRUNNERS 2 COMING TO ANDROID APRIL 24th!

Get the critically acclaimed tower defense game on Google Play next Wednesday
CAMBRIDGE, MA – April 18, 2013 - SUBATOMIC STUDIOS is launching the Android version of their hit tower defense game, Fieldrunners 2, on April 24th! Android owners will be able to get the game in the Google Play app store next Wednesday. Do you have what it takes to stop those pesky fieldrunners? Get the game next week to find out! Fieldrunners 2 originally launched on the iPhone and iPod Touch last July, and Android fans have been eagerly awaiting its arrival ever since. Subatomic Studios is thrilled to say that the Android version of Fieldrunners 2 will be a real treat for fans. Thanks to an all new game engine designed specifically for Fieldrunners 2, Subatomic Studios has been able to make a hyper polished port that feels completely at home on Android devices. "Bringing the original Fieldrunners to Android was a great way for us to learn the ins and outs of the platform," says Jamie Gotch, CEO of Subatomic Studios LLC. "By applying the knowledge we gained from that experience, we've been able to make Fieldrunners 2 rock solid on Android. Add to that the recent closed beta test we did, and fans are in for one of the best tower defense experiences they've ever seen on Android." Game Overview Get ready to DEFEND THE WORLD! The biggest sequel in tower defense history is finally here: Fieldrunners 2 has arrived! From Subatomic Studios, creators of the award winning classic strategy game comes an all new adventure that was years in the making. Build epic mazes out of powerful weapons to defend the world from the invading fieldrunners! Strategic-Action-Puzzle-Defense has never been this fun and addicting! Defend your world from the invasion by building winding paths out of imaginative, new weapons. Call in airstrikes and set explosive traps to hit the enemies where it hurts. Over 20 new levels span the grassiest fields, driest deserts, sparkling cities, and even an infernal volcano lair! Challenge your mind with the exciting new gameplay styles in Puzzle, Sudden Death, and Time Trial levels. Are you ready to stop the fieldrunners once and for all? Join the defense, now! Key Features:

Pint sized invaders seeking revenge!

A tower that launches bee hives!

Tons of levels in a 20+ hour campaign!

Revolutionary AI - each enemy creates a dynamic, realistic path through the battlefield!

Gorgeous, hand painted, 2D graphics by award winning artists!

20 unique, upgradeable weapons!

Custom load-outs let you pick the perfect weapons for each battle!

Air strikes, mines and powerful items so you can strike with the precision of a surgeon!

Time Trial, Sudden Death and Puzzle maps bring all new challenges to tower defense!

Trenches, bridges and tunnels add new dimensions to gameplay!

Collect all the Elite enemies to become the ultimate tower defense champion!

A tower that turns enemies into barnyard animals!

Download: Google Play Store Version 4.0.26

Kellen — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:00:59 +0000

Last week, the new Google Play version 4.0 became available and then slowly rolled out to users who chose not to manually update. Late last night, another update began pushing as build 4.0.26. It's incredibly minor, as one would expect with the previous version being 4.0.25. You can grab it below if your device hasn't updated already. Download Link [mirror]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EccAgBWrMy4[/youtube]

Via: OMGDroid

HTC One Available Today From AT&T and Sprint, All Sorts of Retailers

Kellen — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:49:17 +0000

The HTC One is now available from AT&T and Sprint, along with a handful of retailers across the country. After being announced back in February we were starting to wonder if this day would come thanks to reports of delays. Both AT&T and Sprint are selling the 32GB version for $199 on new 2-year contract. AT&T also has an exclusive 64GB version that can be purchased for $299 on contract. At this time, only the white/silver One (pictured above) is available. The black version will arrive in the "coming weeks," according to HTC. T-Mobile has announced that the phone will be in retail stores by April 24 for $99.99 down. Don't forget to check out our extensive HTC One review if you haven't already. Here are the rest of today's launch details:

AT&T: Online and in retail with 32GB of memory for $199.99, or online with 64GB of memory for $299.99 with a two-year commitment.
Sprint: Online and in retail with 32GB of memory for $199.99 with a two-year commitment.
Best Buy, Radio Shack, Walmart, Target, Amazon.com, Costco, Car Toys, Sam’s Club, HSN.com and HTC.com.
Coming soon to T-Mobile in silver with 32GB of memory, and available in the coming weeks in black at AT&T and Sprint with 32GB of memory.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhsG0nkYM50[/youtube]

Verizon 4G LTE Coming to Five New Markets Today, Expands in Many Others

Eric — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:50:33 +0000

Verizon is determined not to allow anyone to catch them in the race to cover the entire US with 4G LTE. Today, they are lighting the towers on five new markets, so more customers can enjoy the awesome speeds that LTE provides. Beyond the new areas, they are expanding in others throughout much of the northeast. They are trying to shadow their 3G network this year, and it's looking like they are well on their way. New Markets:

El Centro, California
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Middlesboro/Harlan and Paducah, Kentucky
East Liverpool, Ohio

Expansions:

Cambridge and Senecavilla, Ohio
Huntington County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
North Ohio (east of Toledo; Cygnet; Luckey; etc.)
Dutchess County, New York
Orange County, New York
Delaware County, New York
Chautauqua County, New York
Cayuga County, New York
Utica-Rome, New York
Rochester, New York
Syracuse, New York
Buffalo-Niagara, New York
Capital Region of New York
Binghamton, New York

Enjoy! Via: Verizon

Facebook Rolls Out VoIP Feature to Messenger App for Android

Eric — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:13:04 +0000

The past couple weeks have been pretty big for Facebook, first launching Chat Heads and following it up with Home. To make sure that you never leave Facebook's applications, they have upgraded their Messenger app again today to include free VoIP calling for people in the US. If you need to get ahold of someone on your Facebook friends list, this feature is live in your Messenger app right now. Clicking on the "i" button inside the chat window in Messenger will bring up the option for "Free Call" and once you click that you can enjoy your VoIP service from Facebook. And for those that might ask, no this does not use any of your plans minutes, purely data. We know a lot of you are pretty anti-Facebook, anyone actually plan on using this? Via: The Verge

Verizon Takes to Twitter to Confirm its Version of the Galaxy S4 Arrives in May

Tim — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:44:56 +0000

It's about time, Verizon. While Samsung and almost every other American carrier has gone ahead and announced pricing and availability for the upcoming Galay S4, Verizon has been taking their sweet time. Today, they took to their official Twitter to give folks the heads up that it is coming to their network, but still can't give us a definitive date. For now, all we get is "May." As for what specific date in May, the only hint we have is from a leaked Staples document that gives the date of May 30. Who knows how reliable that is. In any case, it's nice to see Big Red is finally acknowledging that they will in fact be selling 2013's hottest device. Via: @VZWnews Cheers Timmy and Open1Your1Eyes0!

Google's Q1 Earnings: $14 Billion in Revenue, Net Income of $3.35 Billion

Eric — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:40:44 +0000

Today, Google has opened their books and let us take a peek on how well the first quarter of 2013 went for them. Google earned themselves $14 billion in revenue over the first 3 months of the year. An increase of 31% compared to Q1 of last year, but the past two quarters have been in the same neighborhood, so growth has slowed a bit.

Google's net income of $3.35 billion is a part of an increase over the last few quarters, enough so that CEO Larry Page called this quarter "a very strong start to 2013." Also part of this earnings is Motorola, who hasn't really been very active in this first quarter, but pulled in $1.02 billion in revenue anyway. A little bit less than the quarter before, but that's because we haven't seen any phones from them since the start of the year.

Via: TechCrunch

Video: Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Unboxing

Tim — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:10:35 +0000

Samsung's newest addition to the Galaxy family arrived at our doorstep this morning, so what better way to introduce you than with an unboxing. The Galaxy Note 8.0 features an 8" WXGA 1280 x 800 LCD display, a quad-core processor clocked at 1.6GHz, 2GB of LPDDR2 RAM, a 5MP back-facing camera, and a 4,600 mAh battery. The deal breaker, at least in my eyes, is that the U.S. variant of this device does not come will cell radios inside. So no, this is not a massively over-sized phone. Maybe I am the only one who is disappointed by this. The device is already on sale here in America and can be picked up for $399. Catch the full hands-on unboxing below. [youtube]http://youtu.be/VczDyTXJS0Q[/youtube]

Fruity Loops Studio Mobile Hits Android, Studio-Grade Beats For Just $20

Tim — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:35:04 +0000

Enjoy making some phat beats from time to time? If so, there is no doubt you have heard of the music software, Fruity Loops. Well, FL Studio Mobile is now available for your Android device, showing off a crazy-long list of features. There are 133 instruments to choose and sample from, full drum pads, pitch bend options via the built-in accelerometer and tons more. Features:

133 high quality instruments, drum kits & sliced-loop beats
All instruments have FL Studio desktop counterparts for FL Studio desktop import and extension
Step sequencer for fast percussion programming and sliced-loop reworking
Configurable virtual piano-keyboard
Drum pads
Browser with preview button and logical sorting into Instruments, Synths, Drum kits & Loops
Pan, volume, release and attack time configurable per instrument

The app does run $20, but for that price you are getting some pretty high performing software. Play Link ($19.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/fB1fjMgNxQI[/youtube] Cheers Nick S!

Suit Up: Gameloft Releases Official Iron Man 3 Gameplay Trailer Before April 25 Launch

Eric — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:00:17 +0000

If you are like me, you have the date circled for Iron Man 3 to hit theaters. With the movie getting close, you know it is almost time for the inevitable video game tie-in. Gameloft has released the official trailer for the game showing off gameplay in anticipation of the launch next week on April 25.

Just like in the upcoming movie, the game will have multiple Iron Man suits for you to play as. Gameloft mentions 18 different suits that you can upgrade and fly in. Please note that anytime you see "free-to-play" referenced in a game, that title will be making its money off microtransactions, so prepare for some of these suits and upgrades to only be unlocked if you pony up the cash for them.

Either way, the graphics and gameplay look pretty solid, so check out the trailer to keep you busy until the game launches next week.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lunP3Sq-afI[/youtube]

Via: Android Tapp

Microsoft Surface Estimated to Be Selling Better Than the Nexus 10

Eric — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:35:09 +0000

When the Nexus 7 launched with a combination of low price and decent specs, it was just what Google needed to give Android tablets a good name. When the Nexus 10 launched with one of the best displays in the industry and stock Jelly Bean, it made a good follow up to the Nexus 7, but sales so far haven't done the same.

Industry analyst Benedict Evans has done some snooping around the Google Play store and came to the conclusion that only 680,000 Nexus 10s are out in customers' hands. When compared with the almost 7 million Nexus 7s reportedly sold, that number is disappointing. When you consider that Microsoft has pushed more Surface devices than that, the number becomes even worse.

What we're curious to know, is what Google could have done to push Nexus 10 sales? Why is it that the N10 isn't selling as well as the Nexus 7 or other tablets?

Via: BGR

Verizon has a Special Announcement to Make on May 22, Any Guesses?

Kellen — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:05:20 +0000

Verizon dropped a "save the date" into our inbox this afternoon, asking that we reserve some time on May 22 at CTIA for a "special announcement" from COO Marni Walden. We were actually planning on skipping CTIA this year as the wireless tech conference has become a waste of time over the last two years, but this certainly means we'll be in attendance. The question is, "What kind of announcement are they going to make?" Big Red has been quiet this year in terms of device announcements, even managing to remain completely silent on the Samsung Galaxy S4 since its unveiling. There have been rumors of a May 30 or even May 22 launch floating around, so the timing of this announcement works. But why host an entire event to announce that they are carrying the GS4? Samsung already told us it's coming, they just wouldn't give us a date. Seems unlikely, right? Will they announce a network change? More on their LTE rollout or even VoLTE? First VoLTE phone? What about the end of contracts with smartphone plans? Could we see their oft-rumored HTC One variant codenamed DLXPLUS? Verizon, you have grabbed our attention.

Anthill Colonizes Google Play, Should Satisfy Your Tower Defense Cravings

Tim — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:45:27 +0000

If you have some extra time you are currently looking to kill, check out this new game that just landed on Google Play called Anthill. It is a tower defense game of sorts, but instead of protecting a tower, you are protecting your trail of hard-working ants. You can use large soldier ants to fight back enemies or even use bomber ants to take care of your insect opponents. Features:

Tower defense gameplay protect your ant hill
Variety of units to deploy workers, soldiers, spitters and bombers
Real critters to defeat evil enemy beetles, bugs and flies
Draw pheromone trails simple touch and slide interface
Upgrade your units grow and develop your colony

Go grab it. Play Link: Free | Paid ($1.92) [youtube]http://youtu.be/Rn-xAdaEyhY[/youtube]

Archos Unveils Platinum Line of Smartphones, Insanely Affordable and Running Vanilla Android

Tim — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:54:54 +0000

This morning, a new line of Android phones was announced from Archos, a company known for their GamePad and Platinum line of tablets. The line is called Platinum and contains three different phones - the 35 Carbon, the 50 Platinum, and the 53 Platinum. As mentioned in the title, the devices are priced at an extremely competitive rate, with the 3.5" 35 Carbon starting at just $99. From there, the 5.0" 50 Platinum will go on sale at $220, while the larger 5.3" 53 Platinum is set at just $250. Each device is "Google certified," runs pure vanilla Android 4.1.2, sports an IPS display and supports Archos' cloud-based storage for contacts and files. Both the 50 Platinum and 53 Platinum contain quad-core Qualcomm processors, so it would appear Archos is stepping up their game in the specs department. Unfortunately, these device will go on sale starting in Europe this May and we are currently awaiting word from the company if we can expect to see them go on sale here in America. My guess would be eventually, yes. An unlocked phone of this caliber at an incredibly reasonable price? Anyone interested?

ARCHOS leverages years of Android tablet expertise to launch a smartphone range starting at $99
New Platinum range will allow end-users to experience full access to the Android ecosystem, IPS screens, Quad-core CPUs and 8 Megapixel cameras in a sleek design Denver, CO – April 18th, 2013 - ARCHOS, a pioneer in AndroidTM devices, is pleased to announce its first line of GoogleTM certified smartphones. Each smartphone will feature a super slim design, IPS screen with amazing viewing angles, a powerful Qualcomm CPU and the flexibility of dual SIM cards which allow the user to manage two providers simultaneously. The ARCHOS 35 Carbon ($99.99), ARCHOS 50 Platinum ($219.99) and ARCHOS 53 Platinum ($249.99) will be the first in a new line of smartphones to be released and will be available starting in Europe at the end of May 2013. “The smartphone market is shifting, as SIM-free sales versus subsidized sales are increasing, and ARCHOS is prepared to respond, as we can offer retail channels affordable, unlocked and feature-rich smartphones without the need to subsidize,” says Loïc Poirier, CEO of ARCHOS. “Furthermore smartphones and tablets are interrelated markets that have quickly crossed over with the arrival of “phablets” - half-phone, half-tablet devices. It only makes sense that this should be our next phase of products as this would be a natural fit for our brand and long term growth.” Ranging from 3.5” to 5.3” in size, the first three smartphones to be released in Q2 will include a range of features, connectivity, CPU’s and storage. The flagship device, the ARCHOS 50 Platinum, features a stunning 5.0 inch full black IPS display paired with a quad-core CPU at 1.2GHz and 8 M Pixels camera. End-users will have an experience similar to a Samsung Galaxy S3 for half the price. In addition, all smartphones in this new line will include:

Pure un-skinned Android OS

Google Certification for access to Google PlayTM and Google Mobile Services including Google NowTM

Dual SIM flexibility to manage two providers simultaneously from one phone

An IPS Screen with amazing viewing angles

Full Black Screen Process

ARCHOS Media Centre Apps for music and videos

Cloud-Based Contacts and Storage

Front and Back Cameras for capturing the perfect picture

For full Smartphone technical specifications please visit: 50Platinum: www.archos.com/products/smartphones/platinum/archos_50platinum/index.html 53Platinum : www.archos.com/products/smartphones/platinum/archos_53platinum/index.html 35Carbon : www.archos.com/products/smartphones/carbon/archos_35carbon/index.html For more information about ARCHOS products visit www.ARCHOS.com.

Secret Google Gaming Service Detailed in MyGlass App Teardown

Tim — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:14:32 +0000

Information is out this morning, concerning a possible upcoming Google Games service from Mountain View. Inside the newest update to the MyGlass application for Google Glass are certain folders, which have been detailed thanks to a recent teardown, concerning a service that could bring in-game chat, lobbies, leaderboards, and achievements to Android devices. While it was reported that what is detailed could have nothing to do with Google Glass, the inclusion of this information is being taken as a simple mistake by the Glass application developers. In other words, they left information inside the app that shouldn't have been there. Inside are file names that detail a real-time gaming service, one that could be launched sometime in the future. Each file listed would basically be a connection between the device and servers hosting the lobbies, so no real concrete information was able to be stripped. The only thing that we are able to take away from this is that Google does in fact have something up their sleeves for gamers. With I/O right around the corner, could we expect to see a major announcement then? Google I/O 2013 is shaping up to be the best one yet. Via: Android Police

Verizon Q1 Results: Hits $1.95 Billion in Revenue, Smartphones Account for 61% of Postpaid Customers

Tim — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:40:21 +0000

This morning, Verizon's Q1 results are in, showing good growth in the wireless sector. To kick it off, Big Red showed a 68 cent EPS (earnings per share) growth, a very nice 15.3% increase over last year's first quarter. In total operating revenue, Verizon posted a 4.2% year-over-year increase up $1.6 billion. Smartphones have been a big part of Verizon's success, as they now account for 61% of Verizon's postpaid customer base, up from the previous quarter's 58%. Verizon also touched on their 4G LTE network, stating that the service is live in 491 markets, covering a total of 287 million people. To catch the full Q1 report, check below.

Verizon Posts Strong Earnings Growth in 1Q 2013 Verizon Wireless Expands Margins; Continued Strong Customer and Revenue Gains Reported for Wireless, FiOS and Global Enterprise Strategic Services 1Q 2013 HIGHLIGHTS Consolidated Earnings

68 cents in earnings per share (EPS), a 15.3 percent increase compared with 59 cents per share in 1Q 2012.

4.2 percent year-over-year increase in total operating revenues; cash flow from operating activities up $1.6 billion, or 26.4 percent, from 1Q 2012.

Wireless

8.6 percent year-over-year increase in both service revenues and retail service revenues in 1Q 2013; 32.9 percent operating income margin and 50.4 percent segment EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP), both record highs.

677,000 retail postpaid net additions, up 35 percent year over year; low retail postpaid churn of 1.01 percent; 98.9 million total retail connections, 93.2 million total retail postpaid connections.

4G LTE service now available to 287 million people in 491 markets across the U.S.

Wireline

188,000 FiOS Internet and 169,000 FiOS Video net additions, with continued increased sales penetration for both services; FiOS revenues up 15.1 percent year over year, to $2.6 billion.

4.3 percent year-over-year increase in consumer revenues; consumer ARPU up 9.5 percent year over year, to $107.15.

6.0 percent year-over-year increase in revenues for global enterprise strategic services.

NEW YORK – Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) today reported strong first-quarter 2013 earnings growth, driven by record margins at Verizon Wireless and continued strong cash flow and year-over-year revenue increases for wireless, FiOS and strategic enterprise services. Verizon reported 68 cents in EPS in first-quarter 2013, a 15.3 percent increase compared with first-quarter 2012 earnings of 59 cents per share. There were no adjustments in either quarter. “Verizon is off to an excellent start in 2013,” said Lowell McAdam, Verizon chairman and CEO. “Our strategic investments in wireless, wireline and global networks have given us the platforms to sustain momentum and take advantage of growth opportunities in key markets for broadband, video and cloud services. With ongoing improvements in operating efficiency, we expect continued growth in free cash flow and earnings as we move through the year.” Strong Cash Flow and Consolidated Revenue Growth In first-quarter 2013, Verizon’s consolidated results were highlighted by continued strong cash flow and revenue growth. Consolidated Highlights Total operating revenues in first-quarter 2013 were $29.4 billion, a 4.2 percent increase compared with first-quarter 2012. Operating income grew 19.8 percent, to $6.2 billion in first-quarter 2013, compared with $5.2 billion in first-quarter 2012. Operating income margin was 21.1 percent in first-quarter 2013, compared with 18.4 percent in first-quarter 2012. Consolidated EBITDA (non-GAAP, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) grew 12.1 percent year over year, totaling $10.3 billion in first-quarter 2013. EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) expanded to 35.1 percent in first-quarter 2013, up 240 basis points year over year. Cash flow from operating activities grew $1.6 billion, or 26.4 percent, compared with first-quarter 2012. Capital expenditures in first-quarter 2013 were $3.6 billion, flat year over year. Free cash flow (non-GAAP, cash flow from operations less capex) in first-quarter 2013 increased $1.5 billion, or 64.3 percent, compared with first-quarter 2012. Verizon Wireless Delivers Record Profitability, Strong Customer and Revenue Growth In first-quarter 2013, Verizon Wireless delivered strong growth in retail postpaid net additions and revenues; an increase in smartphone penetration; and the highest segment EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP) in the company’s history -- surpassing the previous high in third-quarter 2012. Wireless Financial Highlights Total revenues were $19.5 billion in first-quarter 2013, up 6.8 percent year over year. Service revenues in the quarter totaled $16.7 billion, up 8.6 percent year over year. Retail service revenues also grew 8.6 percent year over year, to $16.2 billion. Retail postpaid ARPA (average revenue per account) increased 6.9 percent over first-quarter 2012, to $150.27 per month. As customers continue to add multiple devices to accounts following the introduction of the Share Everything Plan last June, Verizon Wireless has been reporting ARPA instead of ARPU (average revenue per user) on a postpaid basis since customers can share data among multiple devices. In first-quarter 2013, wireless operating income margin was 32.9 percent and segment EBITDA margin on service revenues was 50.4 percent, setting record-highs. Wireless Operational Highlights Verizon Wireless added 677,000 retail postpaid net connections, out of a total 720,000 net retail connections, in the first quarter. These additions exclude acquisitions and adjustments. Last year, net additions for retail postpaid connections increased sequentially each quarter, and Verizon expects a similar pattern of accelerating customer growth in 2013. At the end of the first quarter, the company had 98.9 million retail connections, a 6.4 percent increase year over year -- including 93.2 million retail postpaid connections. Verizon Wireless had 34.9 million retail postpaid accounts at the end of the first quarter, a 1.1 percent increase over first-quarter 2012, and an average of 2.7 connections per account, up 5.1 percent year over year. At the end of the first quarter, smartphones accounted for more than 61 percent of the Verizon Wireless retail postpaid customer phone base, up from 58 percent at the end of fourth-quarter 2012. Retail postpaid churn was 1.01 percent in the first quarter, up 5 basis points year over year. Retail churn was 1.30 percent in the first quarter, up 6 basis points year over year. Verizon Wireless continued to roll out its 4G LTE mobile broadband network, the largest 4G LTE network in the U.S. As of today (April 18), Verizon Wireless 4G LTE service is available to 287 million people in 491 markets across the U.S., covering more than 95 percent of Verizon’s current 3G network footprint. The company continued to enhance its 4G LTE device lineup with smartphones, tablets and other devices. In the first quarter, Verizon Wireless launched the Samsung ATIV Odyssey, the BlackBerry Z10, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet, the Verizon 4G LTE USB Modem UML295 by Pantech, and the Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi 5510L by Novatel Wireless. Earlier this month, the company launched the Lucid 2 by LG and the Verizon 4G LTE Router, an Internet solution that connects both wired and Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Wireline Reports Continued Strong FiOS Customer and Revenue Growth Verizon’s Wireline segment reported continued strong FiOS customer, market share and revenue growth in first-quarter 2013, leading to overall growth in consumer revenues. In enterprise and wholesale, increased sales of global enterprise strategic services continued to help mitigate lower revenues resulting from secular and global economic impacts. Wireline Financial Highlights Consumer revenues were $3.6 billion, an increase of 4.3 percent compared with first-quarter 2012. Consumer ARPU for wireline services increased to $107.15 in first-quarter 2013, up 9.5 percent compared with first-quarter 2012. FiOS revenues grew 15.1 percent, to $2.6 billion in first-quarter 2013 compared with $2.3 billion in first-quarter 2012. ARPU for FiOS customers continued to be more than $150 in first-quarter 2013. Sales of strategic services to global enterprise customers increased 6.0 percent compared with first-quarter 2012 and represented 55.6 percent of total enterprise revenues. Strategic services include Verizon Terremark cloud and data center services, security and IT solutions, advanced communications, and strategic networking. Wireline Operational Highlights Verizon added 188,000 net new FiOS Internet connections in first-quarter 2013, marking the third consecutive quarter of sequential growth in net customer additions. The company also added 169,000 net new FiOS Video connections in the quarter. Verizon had a total of 5.6 million FiOS Internet and 4.9 million FiOS Video connections at the end of the quarter, representing year-over-year increases of 12.0 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively. FiOS penetration (subscribers as a percentage of potential subscribers) continued to increase. FiOS Internet penetration was 38.2 percent at the end of first-quarter 2013, compared with 36.4 percent at the end of first-quarter 2012. In the same periods, FiOS Video penetration was 34.1 percent, compared with 32.3 percent. The FiOS network passed 17.8 million premises by the end of first-quarter 2013. Broadband connections totaled 8.9 million at the end of first-quarter 2013, a 1.4 percent year-over-year increase. Overall, net broadband customers increased 99,000 in the first quarter, as FiOS Internet net customer additions more than offset fewer subscribers for DSL-based High Speed Internet services. Verizon has been replacing high-maintenance portions of its residential copper network with fiber optics to provide enhanced services and to reduce ongoing repair costs. In first-quarter 2013, Verizon migrated 83,000 homes to fiber, toward a target of 300,000 migrations within FiOS markets in 2013. Verizon Enterprise Solutions completed agreements with and began deploying innovative business technology solutions for a variety of corporations and organizations in the quarter, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Ocean Exploration Trust, Quest Diagnostics and Synchronoss Technologies (Nasdaq: SNCR).

Cut the Rope: Time Travel Now Live in Google Play

Tim — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:10:21 +0000

I can barely handle the cuteness of one Om Nom, but now I have to deal with two? Almost impossible. Today, ZeptoLab released the next chapter in the Cut the Rope saga, Time Travel. As Om Nom, you visit places such as the Renaissance times, a pirate ship, Ancient Egypt and other historically relevant times. It's the same Cut the Rope we all know and love, which I can actually appreciate quite a bit. The game is free to play, but does have its fair share of advertisements, as well as the option to purchase special power ups. But as always, I stress the fact that one does not need to purchase these things to beat the game. Now go and collect candy for the adorable beast that is Om Nom. Play Link [youtube]http://youtu.be/aEWputinvRA[/youtube]

Verizon CEO Gets What He Asked for, 85,000+ Customers Sign Petition to End Contracts

Kellen — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:45:53 +0000

At the beginning of the month, when speaking at Verizon event, CEO Lowell McAdam acknowledged that he was "happy" to see T-Mobile try something different with their UNcarrier approach to mobile service plans, a move in which they are attempting to eliminate 2-year contracts and phone subsidies. McAdam even went on to say that he would be open to something similar should customers ask for it. Well, Lowell, customers are asking. As I write this post, more than 85,000 of them have signed a petition at Change.org, asking Verizon to end contracts. We typically chuckle at petitions, as they tend to accomplish very little or target silly subjects, but the numbers associated with this one in particular are growing enough that it's now on our radar. It has also now been promoted to the front page of Change.org as a petition to keep an eye on. We should point out that this petition isn't necessarily like the petition pushed through the Whitehouse that involved the unlocking of phones. Should this petition grow to 200,000 or 500,000 signatures, there is no guarantee that Verizon will even comment on it, let alone decide to make a change. But hey, there is nothing wrong with trying, banding together to get your voice heard, and seeing what can happen. So if you'd like to join the ever-growing list of customers hoping to rid the world of wireless contracts, hit up the Change.org link below. Via: Change.org | CNET Cheers EC8CH, Ty, Oscar, and Tyler!

Sprint Announces 21 New 4G LTE Markets Ranging From Coast to Coast

Tim — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:13:30 +0000

Looks like the leak from last week was right (except for the date). This morning, Sprint announced the addition of 21 brand new 4G LTE markets, ranging all the way from the California coast to Charlotte, North Carolina. The Now Network has stated before that 2013 would be a big push year from them in this area, as they continue to compete against AT&T and now T-Mobile in the 4G LTE coverage game. Take a peek below for the full list of new markets. New Markets:

Albemarle, N.C.
Bloomington, Ind.
Charlotte, N.C.
Contra Costa County, Calif.
Denison, Texas
Greeneville, Tenn.
Joplin, Mo.
Kerrville, Texas
Lafayette, Ind.
Lincolnton, N.C.
Los Angeles
Mankato/North Mankato, Minn.
Memphis, Tenn.
Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Newport News, Va.
Palm Bay, Fla.
Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Rochelle, Ill.
Salisbury, N.C.
Shelby, N.C.
Tullahoma, Tenn.
West Palm Beach, Fla.

Via: Sprint

Twitter Launches Music Service, Continues to Forget That Android Exists

Kellen — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:58:03 +0000

Twitter made their new music service official this morning with an announcement and then release on...iOS. As you can tell, and should be no surprise if you look at Vine, Twitter still doesn't realize that Android is just as, if not more important than iOS in the mobile game these days. Then again, with iOS you don't have as many devices to develop for and should be easier to launch with, but I digress. So what is Twitter's #music app? According to Twitter the new service (app) "uses Twitter activity, including Tweets and engagement, to detect and surface the most popular tracks and emerging artists." It also "brings artists’ music-related Twitter activity front and center," so that you can get directly into artist profiles, find their songs for listening, see their top song, and then Tweet about it all. If you want to find music that your friends are enjoying at the moment or may interest you, you can cruise to #NowPlaying to see a list. As I mentioned earlier, the service is available as an app for iOS, but a web client is also available now at music.twitter.com. It will eventually launch on Android, but Twitter did not provide a date.

Via: Twitter

DROID Bionic Jelly Bean Update Rolling Out Now!

Kellen — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:38:52 +0000

We've heard from a handful of readers this morning who were able to update their DROID Bionic devices to official Jelly Bean. The update itself was approved by Verizon last week as build 98.72.22, so the timing for a rollout seems about right. One of our readers that received the update was not a part of the soak test either, leading us to believe that the update may be live for everyone. To get yourself into Google Now, head into Settings>About phone>System updates and see if the update is available. The support documents for the update show it as being about 98MB in size. If you aren't able to pull it, a manual install is still available. Cheers March, Josh and everyone else!

Pocket for Android Updated, Brings New Share With Friends Feature

Tim — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:45:06 +0000

Pocket is celebrating their first anniversary with a nicely sized update to their Android application. Included inside is a brand new sharing feature, allowing users to send content right to a friend who might find whatever it is you are looking at interesting. If that isn't enough, Instant Sync now works with multiple devices, there is an added auto fullscreen option, as well as plenty of bug fixes. Full changelog is below. What's New:

Celebrating our first year as Pocket with some exciting new features!
Send to Friend makes it even easier to share content with friends
Receive shared items directly in Pocket
Completely new share menu that highlights your recent apps and friends
Instant Sync now works with multiple devices
Auto fullscreen in Article and Web View
Bug fixes and improvements

Play Link

Wednesday Poll: Which Carrier Are You Buying Your Samsung Galaxy S4 On?

Tim — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:39:54 +0000

Today marked a special time when many of the U.S. carriers announced pre-orders and availability dates for the upcoming Galaxy S4 from Samsung. We learned that the device will be sold on seven of America's networks, including the big four - Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. Most of the carriers have different launch dates, a few are showing pretty competitive pricing for the device under contract, some deals come with accessories, as the ploys to lure in potential customers is at an all-time high. If you are planning to pick up the Galaxy S4, which carrier are you going with? [poll id="248"]

Rumor: Motorola X Phone Could Come In 20 Different Colors

Eric — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:19:49 +0000

We have heard a lot of rumors about Motorola's next flagship phone, rumored to be the X Phone. We've heard that it's not so impressive, we've heard that it's very impressive, we've seen our share of renders, but we haven't up until this point heard anything definite from either Moto or Google. The latest rumor that we are hearing is that Moto's next device is going to be outwardly customizable.

Phone Arena is reporting through a source that they trust that says Google and Motorola are looking to provide up to 20 different colors of phones for customers. The source said that internal customization such as RAM size and processor differences is highly unlikely, but that we can expect to see lots of different looking devices. Take this with a grain of salt because it's still an unverified rumor, but it opens up interesting possibilities.

Would you be excited to see expanded choices of colors for this upcoming phone?

Via: Phone Arena

Wordpress for Android Receives Major Holo-inspired UI Overhaul, is Finally Awesome

Kellen — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:33:59 +0000

Aspiring bloggers, get into the Google Play store now and download yourself the brand spankin' new Wordpress app or Android. For years, this app has been subpar for the mega-blogging platform that it supports. But as of today, it's joined the Holo army and become a part of 2013. In this update, you'll see an entirely new UI, added action bar for quick actions, and new slideout (from the left) menu drawer for quick navigation. The Wordpress team also tossed in a "View Site" feature that allows you to view and share content in some capacity. Wordpress.com users can view the web dashboard as well. Again, it's solid, especially if you are like us, and have dreaded having to use the Wordpress app at any point in the past. Changelog:

It's the big UI update!

Action Bar added for easy access to common actions.

Use the Menu Drawer to quickly navigate to other areas of the app. Just tap the arrow in the Action Bar or swipe to reveal the menu.

Holo style used throughout the app.

There are new features, too!

Use the 'View Site' feature to view and share content on your site.

WordPress.com users can now view the web dashboard (wp-admin).

The WordPress.com Reader now takes advantage of caching for faster loading.

Play Link

It's Official, Google Fiber Headed to Provo, Utah

Tim — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:02:36 +0000

As reported this morning, the announcement just made by Provo's mayor has confirmed that the Utah city will be the third city to sport Google Fiber. The task of bringing Fiber to Provo should not be too hard, as Google is to acquire iProvo for an undisclosed amount, an already existing fiber optic network owned by the city. Here's a section taken from Google's official blog on the matter.

In order to bring Fiber to Provo, we’ve signed an agreement to purchase iProvo, an existing fiber-optic network owned by the city. As a part of the acquisition, we would commit to upgrade the network to gigabit technology and finish network construction so that every home along the existing iProvo network would have the opportunity to connect to Google Fiber. Our agreement with Provo isn’t approved yet—it’s pending a vote by the City Council scheduled for next Tuesday, April 23. We intend to begin the network upgrades as soon as the closing conditions are satisfied and the deal is closed.

We have seen roll out of Fiber start to pick up, so let's cross our fingers that this trend possibly continues throughout America. Via: Google Blog

Samsung Being Investigated by Taiwanese FTC Under Suspicion of False Advertisement Against HTC Products

Tim — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:47:28 +0000

According to recent reports out of BBC and PC Advisor, Samsung is currently being probed by fair trade officials in Taiwan, accusing the large Korean manufacturer of paying students to create false reviews of HTC phones and putting them on the web anonymously. In doing so, the reviews would speak highly of Samsung phones, ultimately turning potential buyers away from the struggling Taiwanese phone maker. An official Taiwanese Facebook page for Samsung has spoke out, saying that they have, "ceased all marketing activities that involve the posting of anonymous comments." Samsung reps have claimed this is an "unfortunate incident" and that these claims go against the company's fundamental principles. If found to be violating these fair trade rules, Samsung could be looking to pay up to NT$25 million (US$835,000) in fines. Naughty naughty, Samsung. Via: BBC | PC Advisor

HTC One Review

Kellen — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:55:00 +0000

When HTC announced the One all the way back in February, we couldn't help but think that this might actually be their savior. With a premium build quality not seen in any phone outside of the iPhone, a new set of ~~gimmicks~~ software features to market, and an underdog attitude, HTC seemed poised to come back in 2013 like fire. Unfortunately for the One, manufacturing delays have left it out of the hands of those interested, leaving open the opportunity for Samsung to swoop in and steal their attention with the Galaxy S4, a device that should arrive in the U.S. around the same time. Is it too little too late for HTC? Probably, but that doesn't mean they haven't released a really great Android phone. Or have they? Boy am I split on this one. Let's talk about it.

The Good

Hardware Oh hardware, where do we begin with you? From a specs standpoint, the HTC One enters the game as what I would consider the best phone in the business. Again, from a specs standpoint. We're talking the newest processor (Snapdragon 600 quad-core), 4G LTE, 2GB RAM, a 4.7" 1080p display with 468ppi, 2300mAh battery, and a body made of aluminum. Hell, it even has an IR blaster so that you can use the phone as a entertainment and TV controller. And for those who care about technology being "future proof," the One also has 802.11ac, which will eventually become the new WiFi standard. There are no other phones on the planet that match the One in overall quality and completeness when it comes to hardware. If you want next-gen everything, which includes a glorified 4MP camera, the One has it all.

Design I'll be the first to admit that I'm torn on the design of the HTC One. I know that every other media personality on the planet is claiming this to be designed by some religious figure, but I'm just not fully feeling it. On one hand, it's aluminum zero-gap unibody frame is stunning to look at. I have to give credit where it's due - HTC has made the most premium Android phone ever, in both looks and materials used. The white and silver color scheme, mixed with a pitch black display, subtle metallic HTC logo, and soft chamfered edge, are something quite extraordinary. On the other hand, I find the device to be too tall and also do not find it to feel all that pleasing in hand when compared to phones like the Nexus 4 or even last year's HTC One X. Call me a metal phone hater or a plastic lover, but a metallic object in my hand hundreds of times per day is...eww. It's slippery more often then I'd like, is constantly in need of adjusting while using one hand (something I wasn't expecting from a 4.7" phone), and is a pain to navigate thanks to a minimal Home and Back button navigation setup, which I'll get to later. I'm fully aware that I am in the minority here, so that's why I'm still leaving design in the "good" section. HTC really has done something remarkable here, that we can only hope will be an inspiration to other phone manufacturers. For me personally, it's just not my cup of tea, but I would imagine that most of you will love it. Display The 4.7" FHD LCD (1080p, 1920x1080, 468ppi) display on the One is a great display. At that high of a resolution, you'll never see a pixel (except on the photos it takes, which isn't the display's fault) and the tiniest of details will become your specialty should you stare at it for long enough periods of time. The colors are accurate, blacks are black enough, and the viewing angles are top tier. I do have one complaint though, and that's HTC's extra dim auto-brightness tendencies. I eventually had to take off auto-brightness and manually set it because the display was never showing enough light for my liking in any situation. I personally prefer the LCD on my Nexus 4 to this, even at a lower resolution, and am incredibly excited to spend some quality time with the FHD Super AMOLED on the Galaxy S4. Still, the LCD used on the One has little flaws, if any, especially if you are looking for a much more realistic and natural representation of colors in general.

Macro shot for fun.

Full resolution

Battery Life Battery life on the One, for me, has been better than I expected from a phone with a quad-core processor, 1080p display, and 2300mAh battery. If I spent a day hammering on the phone using data only, no WiFi, I was able to see around 8 hours of use before I hit the 15% warning. On a typical low usage or "normal" day, I was easily hitting anywhere from 12 to 16 hours before I was in the red. That may not be day-and-a-half-life like you'll see with the RAZR MAXX HD, but seeing as the specs on the One trump that phone in every conceivable way other than the battery, I'll take it any day. As I mentioned previously, I found myself having to uncheck the auto-brightness box to get the device to levels that my eyes found more appealing, so this obviously took its toll on battery life. Still, I rarely felt as if I was about to run to the nearest charger.

On a related note, the One takes forever to fully charge. I'm not sure why that is, but no matter what charger I seemed to grab when needing some juice, I found myself checking the status of the battery meter far more often than on other phones in my possession. Camera Software (Zoe, Highlights, and other Software) *Note - I had initially planned to do a fairly thorough camera comparison of the HTC One to a variety of devices including the Nexus 4 and Galaxy S3. Unfortunately, my HTC One became worthless over the last 24 hours as the display's digitizer appears to have died. The phone is almost useless as it constantly registered screen touches if I try to accomplish any task. So consider these camera thoughts my pre-in-depth view. Assuming I can quickly get a replacement, I will update this section with my final thoughts. The camera of the HTC One is clearly going to be one of HTC's focuses when marketing this device to customers. With a freshly minted "UltraPixel" marketing term attached and a set of tricks up its sleeve, the camera is certainly worth talking about. From my first moments with the One, all I wanted to do was snap photos, create Zoes (mini 3-second clips), and then find ways to combine shots, utilize on-device editing tools, and share with friends and family. While I've definitely grown fond of the flexibility that a Zoe can provide, especially in terms of creating HTC Highlight videos, the camera itself has left me unsatisfied at times. I'll get to that in the section below, but for now, I want to focus on the good things. The One's camera is somewhat of a winner in my book simply for the fact that it offers features that no other device has really even imagined. In fact, the amount of camera settings is so robust, that after two weeks with the phone, I haven't even had a chance to explore them all yet. Photos can be manipulated in more ways than most photo editors allow you to, and yet this is a smartphone. As my note suggested, I'm hoping to give you more in this section once I get a replacement device. For now, here is a Highlight created from stills and Zoes that were captured at a recent Portland Timbers match.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlaNE7Dl1d4[/youtube]

4MP Camera (UltraPixel) *Update (4/23) - My HTC One is still currently broken, but I was able to put it to work against the Samsung Galaxy S4. After seeing pretty favorable results against that phone, I can't help but move this section into the "Good" as it is more than capable of being your everyday mobile camera. Couple the sensor, which destroys any other phone in the dark, with a suite of software enhancements not found on any other device, and you have a winner in my book. This section has been slightly tweaked from its original state.

The camera on the HTC One, as I have said many times, is essentially a glorified 4MP camera. HTC is calling it the "UltraPixel" because it takes photos with 2.0 micron pixels, which are much larger than the norm of today which sits around 1.1-1.4 micron pixels. With a bigger pixel, the camera can let in more light, thus the sales pitch of "Our camera takes great low-light shots!" But for me, as someone who takes a minimal amount of low-light shots, this can be somewhat of a downside. You see, at 4MP, you have images with a smaller resolution, that when blown up, aren't going to have the amount of detail you are used to from any modern day camera. There are less pixels (and bigger ones at that) after all. I work everyday on an iMac that has a pretty high-resolution display, so when I open up a picture from the HTC One, I immediately go, "Is that an oil painting?" And I don't expect those comments to stop with just my PC, as mobile device screen resolutions continue to climb as well. It's definitely not all bad, though. In fact, I've changed my mind quite a bit on the One's camera over the last few weeks. As I mentioned above, the camera software on the One has some nice tricks up its sleeves. I would also argue that it takes photos that have much more realistic light than other smartphone cameras. For example, below I have a comparison of a shot I was able to take today with the Nexus 4 and One. While in the full-res images, you will see some of that "oil painting" effect on the One image with less crisp lines, the lighting trumps the blue-ish hue to the Nexus 4 shot.

Nexus 4 (left) - HTC One (right)

Full resolution: Nexus 4 | One

Overall, the One's camera isn't the worst and actually has some upsides that have made me like it more and more each day. If you need to take a lot of pictures in darker situations, this phone will dominate all other phones. The picture may look like a mushy mess up close, but you'll at least be able to make out the objects when other cameras may not be able to produce a shot at all. It's also the start to something bigger, assuming HTC can figure out a way to carry over similar technology to say an 8MP sensor, which I believe to be the sweet spot on mobile phones. Also on a positive note, with 4MP stills, you get much more manageable photos in terms of size that can be easily shared through your favorite social networks, a point I'm sure HTC will make at some point. Here are a bunch of real-world samples. These are a mix of still shots and some pulled from frames of Zoes. Some are OK, others aren't great.

Full resolution: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

BoomSound Dual amplified front facing speakers - why did it take so long for someone to include these in a phone? The speakers on the HTC One are easily one of my top 3 or 4 favorite features. HTC refers to them as "BoomSound," which yes, is one of the most ridiculously named items on the phone. But trust me, once you hear them you won't care if the name is actually BoomBoomRoom. I'm constantly having to keep the volume on the phone at under the half-bar mark or it's just too damn loud (and that's not a bad thing). With the phone lying back-down on your desk, like most people set their phones, you'll never miss a call or notification. While consuming video, you no longer have to employ the hand-cup method in order to force sound back towards your face from behind the device. With BoomSound, you actually do feel sort of immersed in whatever you are watching, in part thanks to the beautiful display, but mostly because of the incredible sound experience. If you need a spurt-of-the-moment speaker for situations that call upon your favorite musical playlist, the One could stand alone and impress a crowd. Seriously, folks, the speaker experience isn't something we typically talk about when doing phone reviews, but with the One, you can't avoid it.

Performance Thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz and 2GB of RAM, you won't find many stutters when cruising around the UI of the One. Transitions are snappy, app switching happens in a flash, and running processor intensive tasks through spots like the camera are hiccup-free. This is the most powerful smartphone on the planet for the time being. If you are into benchmarks, yes, it wins them all. If you are into gaming, yes, it plays them all well - even the graphically intensive ones. HTC and Qualcomm appear to have worked some magic here when it comes to balancing performance and battery life. Hackability HTC released a developer edition of the One for those of us who like to tinker with our phones and not feel restrained by carriers. The dev edition runs $650, but also comes with 64GB of internal storage. It's not often that we get developer editions, especially at the same time we see carrier versions of the same phone launch. HTC definitely got this move right, something we wish Samsung would learn from. Price At $199 for the 32GB version of the HTC One on 2-year contract, the phone is priced where you would expect it to be. Actually, in some cases, it's cheaper than what we would have seen were it released last year. For example, the Galaxy S3 was priced at $199 on almost every carrier last year, yet only came equipped with 16GB of internal storage. So if you take the One's 32GB and set of impressive specs, one could argue that it's priced under the standard. On a related note, the unlocked version of the HTC One that HTC sells directly through their online shop, can be had for $575 without a contract. Most high-end unlocked phones sell for well above $600, so consider this a steal to those of you in the unlocked phone game. As an unlocked device, the One works on AT&T HSPA+, T-Mobile's 1900MHz HSPA+ band, and should also work on T-Mobile's LTE once it rolls out to more cities.

The Not-so-Good

HTC Sense When HTC first announced the One in February, one of the first things I mentioned was that their new Sense 5.0 was terrible. After spending two weeks with the phone, I still feel the exact same way. In my opinion, HTC does everything in its power to turn simple standard Android tasks into some of the most difficult things on the planet. I could rattle off close to 50 examples, but will stick to a few that came up time and time again for me. The first has to do with expandable notifications. On the HTC One, all notifications start out collapsed and can only be expanded with a two-finger swipe. On stock Android, your most recent notifications tend to always be expanded by default, while older ones will slowly start to collapse on you. Should you want to expand them, a single finger swipe will do the trick. With HTC forcing you to use two fingers, dealing with notifications went from being an amazing new experience, to completely painful.

The second Sense annoyance that I wanted to point out involves the app drawer and dock. On any other Android device, the app dock is a separate entity from the app drawer. What I mean by that, is you can drag and drop items to and from it with ease. There are no tricks. On the HTC One, you can only add or remove items from the dock when you have the app drawer opened up. Then, once you add an app to the dock, it is removed from your app drawer. Should you want to remove one from the dock, you have to manually open the app drawer back up and drop it inside. I've tried to find a reason for this, but have come up empty for two weeks now. Talk about taking a simple task and turning it into something far too difficult. The third has to do with something as simple as changing a wallpaper. HTC decided long ago that the simple long-press-to-wallpaper-change on a home screen wasn't intuitive and killed it off. Instead, they decided to embed a "Personalize" menu in the device's settings section which includes ringtone, wallpaper, and theme edits. Organizing all of those things into one area isn't a bad idea, but forcing users to enter settings and then navigate through a separate Personalize menu seems like far too much to me to change a wallpaper.

The fourth involves the Gallery application. There is absolutely nothing good about HTC's work when it comes to managing and navigating through photos. The initial gallery menu includes sections for My Photos, Friends (assuming you attached social networks), and Camera Shots. If you tap on My Photos, you get into any number of views for Events, Albums or Locations. Why there are two separate sections between My Photos, Camera, Friends and then Events, Albums and Locations is beyond me. It's an extra level of navigation that is completely unnecessary. But beyond navigation, try sharing multiple photos on any HTC device. They killed off the simple long-press-to-multi-select that comes with almost every other Android device, and instead ask that you press a share button, choose a service to share to, and then return back to the gallery to decide which photos you want to share. I could go on and on, but you get the point.

Last, their contact management continues to be a disaster after all these years. HTC fully understands that you have multiple accounts plus a SIM card that may contain contact information and have done their best to try and manage them all. Unfortunately, it's a task they haven't yet figured out. From recommendations to link this account with that account, to deciding which accounts should even be included in your contact list, are beyond confusing. And again, those are only a few of the issues I have with Sense. I didn't even mention the constant and non-removable ongoing notification reminder for Power Saver mode, the fact that BlinkFeed exists, and holding volume down until your phone silences goes straight to vibrate first, but then asks you to press volume up to go to silent mode. Ugh, Sense. Go away. Old Android The HTC One will hit stores running Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean). That seems like a decent achievement, since the newest version of Android is 4.2.2, however, as someone who came from a Nexus 4 with stock Android, the difference is pretty significant. Simple things like the lack of quick toggles in the notification pulldown have driven me nuts. But beyond the little things, the big picture here is that Google is likely going to release a new version of Android in a month from now, or a few weeks after the One hits stores, so it'll be at least two versions behind whatever is current. If you look back at history, HTC hasn't necessarily led the charge in updating devices in a timely manner, so should you buy this device, understand that it'll likely be behind other flagships from the beginning and on through til the end. For example, Samsung has managed to release the Galaxy S4 at the same time as the One with Android 4.2.2 (the most current version). Navigation Button Setup HTC appears to be confused about how Android navigation should work. Last year, they went with Home, Back, and Multi-task buttons on their One series of phones, since Google decided to kill off the hardware menu button. I was a fan of the move, but thanks to slow developers who couldn't code their apps properly, the move seemed to backfire a bit on HTC. So this year, they went a different route altogether and are only utilizing Back and Home buttons. You won't find a Menu or Multi-task button anywhere on this phone. It's...interesting. You don't get the interactivity of on-screen buttons since HTC continues to use hardware soft keys, so you are instead forced into long-pressing or double tapping to achieve simple tasks. A double tap on Home takes you into your recently used apps list, while a long press on that same button will get you into Google Now. I rarely found long-pressing of Home to work on the first try and instantly became frustrated with the setup. You also can't map the keys to do any sort of custom actions (like mapping Back to also be Menu with a long-press), so you are stuck with HTC's confusing vision. With only Home and Back, be prepared to re-learn navigating around an Android device. I'm two weeks in and still tap the wrong button more often than I'd care to.

No Verizon From what we understand, HTC wanted the One on Verizon, but Big Red decided to pass for the time being. That's unfortunate for customers and HTC, as Verizon more than likely would have sold more of them than almost any carrier. They also have the largest LTE network in the U.S. that would have been a great companion to this device. It's a pity really, because the One is one heck of an overall smartphone package that we wish everyone, no matter what carrier they are attached to, had a chance to play with and even consider as their next phone. Top Lock Switch When designing the One, HTC decided to turn the power/lock switch into an IR blaster that could be used to turn your phone into a TV remote. It's a neat idea, aside from the placement of the button being in the worst possible position on any phone in the history of phones. The button is situated at the top left of the One when it's facing you, making it impossible to press without completely adjusting the phone in your hand. In fact, I gave up on one-handed operation of the One's power button from the beginning and opted to use two for the most part. The button also sits mostly flush to the phone, so there are times when you feel like two or three presses have gone by without the phone reacting. This isn't new for HTC, though, they have long been fans of the top lock/power switch. In fact, I'm not sure they have ever released a phone without one. No Wireless Charging During most of 2012, we saw phone after phone introduced with built-in wireless charging. We thought for sure that we would see that trend continue in 2013, however, HTC decided that they weren't going to include it in the One. This was an odd move, especially after seeing them include wireless charging in both the DROID DNA and Incredible 4G LTE. When we asked an HTC rep about the lack of the feature at the device's launch event, he mentioned that Verizon was the driving force behind wireless charging, not them. Whatever the reason, it seems like a missed opportunity.

Other Notes

Dead Digitizer: The digitizer on my device appears to have died. I can't tell if this is isolated to me or if this is an issue that others are running into as well. Hopefully it's just me, as the last thing HTC needs is a hardware problem. I'll get a replacement and report back should it happen again.
Camera: Again, apologies for the short camera review, but I just can't do anything with the device in the state it sits. Once I get a replacement, I'll try to come back and fully review the camera.
Blinkfeed: I mostly avoid Blinkfeed in my review and that's because I found little use from it. With that said, it could be an interesting news feed or reader for novice Android users. You can set up content from a variety of sources, attach social networks, and even see calendar notifications through it. It's one of those features that I wouldn't be surprised to see catch on, simply because it's easy to set up and cannot be removed. You are almost forced into using it. Assuming HTC can add some polish and more features, it may not be a bad thing.
TV app: The TV app that works with the IR blaster is actually a lot more robust than I had imagined. Within minutes of setting it up, I was able to control my home entertainment center, Blu-ray player, and TV.
NFC: The device has NFC, but holy hell is it difficult to find the sweet spot on it. I tried to share a YouTube clip between the One and my Nexus 4 and had to try 8 times before I could get both of their sweet spots together. Just a note, not necessarily a bad thing.
Internal Storage Only: As you may or may not know, the HTC One only has internal storage and no additional microSD slot for extra storage. Normally, this doesn't bother me, but after taking Zoes, simple clips, and processing a few highlights over my two week period, I was able to create 2.5GB worth of media. That's a lot for such a short amount of time. Storage constraints could happen, so consider the 64GB version, however, only AT&T is selling it.
Non-removable Battery: The 2300mAh battery is non-removable. This doesn't matter to me, but I know it can be a deal breaker for some.

Videos

Unboxing [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCKd2Rd1qos[/youtube] Initial Software Tour [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8ZeC5yuOKI[/youtube] HTC One vs. Galaxy S3 vs. Nexus 4 vs. RAZR HD vs. Galaxy Note 2 [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhLN77QRKho[/youtube] 20+ Tips and Tricks for New Users of the One [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZsZemJdR48[/youtube]

The Verdict

I mentioned in the beginning that I'm torn on the HTC One. And after running through that entire review of mostly positive things with a few nitpicked quirks here and there, you are probably confused. Rightfully so. It's an amazing phone. The hardware is unmatched, the design is beyond beautiful for a smartphone, battery life is acceptable, the display is stunning, speakers are mindbogglingly good, and the camera has enough features that it can overcome its own downfalls. There really is so much to like with the One and so very little to be worried or complain about. But for me personally, the size of the device, metallic texture, and functionality of HTC's Sense 5.0 are not for me. With that said, I know for a fact that this could easily be the phone for so many of you. Should you have a new phone in your near future, you need to consider the HTC One.

RoundR Brings a Subtly Amazing Touch to Your Phone's UI

Tim — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:28:07 +0000

Who would have known that rounded corners would make such a huge difference to the look of an application and a phone's interface. RoundR has an easy job, simply rounding off the corners on your device's applications, but it brings a very polished and nice touch to any device. There are different values you can choose for the amount of the corners you would like rounded, as well as the option to choose which corners in particular you want enhanced. Maybe you just want the top left and right corners rounded? It's up to you. Either way, it's a pretty sweet app and is completely free. On a lighter note, it's nice to know Apple hasn't completely patented round corners. Play Link Cheers Scott!

Upcoming Mid-range HTC 606w Pictured, Design Looks Pretty Intriguing

Tim — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:30:59 +0000

This year, HTC has made it apparent that they need to bring their A game if they want to stay in the race against other Android OEMs. New information gathered on a Chinese database shows their newest mid-range device, labeled as 606w, is set to make a splash sometime this year. The specs won't "wow" you, but it's not a bad start and should be a good little brother to their flagship One device. The 606w is listed as having Android 4.1.2 on board, a 4.5-inch 960 x 540 display, quad-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 8-megapixel camera, 1.6-megapixel front-facing camera, and microSD expansion. It also sports the same button layout as the One, front-facing speakers, as well as those pretty blue accents along the front. Thoughts on the 606w? Via: Engadget | tenaa

Next Stop For Google Fiber is Provo, Utah?

Tim — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:47:01 +0000

Apparently, there is an "epic announcement" taking place this afternoon in Provo, Utah. According to reports out of the city, Google is set to announce Provo as the third area to support their 1Gbps Internet service, Google Fiber. So, what makes Provo, UT so special? A move into Provo would be easier than almost any other location, given the fact that the city is already wired for fiber optic, thanks to the work of a now-gone company called iProvo. iProvo brought ultra-fast data to the town, but due to financial issues, had to call it quits. The project was taken over by Veracity and is currently Utah County’s leading fiber-optic service. The announcement is set to take place today at 1:30 PM. We'll keep you posted. Via: Provo Buzz | Epic Announcement Cheers Elliot, Karson, and Travis!

Where and When Can I Buy the Samsung Galaxy S4? [Release Dates]

Tim — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:00:15 +0000

Looking for exact info on when and where you can pick up a new Galaxy S4 from Samsung? So far, a few major carriers in the U.S. have already begun pre-orders, but information from Verizon is still extremely scarce. Below we have gathered the most recent information on release dates and pre-order availability, so give it a look over and plan your next move.

Verizon: Pre-orders open April 25, in-store available begins May 30.
AT&T: Pre-orders opened April 16, in-store availability begins April 27.
T-Mobile: Pre-orders open April 24, in-store availability begins May 1.
Sprint: Pre-orders open April 18, in-store availability begins April 27.
US Cellular: Pre-orders opened April 17, in-store availability begins April 30.
Cricket: TBD
C Spire: TBD

We'll continue to update this post as official dates are announced.

T-Mobile's Galaxy S4 Available Online April 24 for Only $149.99

Eric — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 08:12:08 +0000

The Galaxy S4 announcements just keep on rolling. T-Mobile, the Un-carrier, has announced that the 16GB version of Samsung's newest flagship will be on their website starting April 24 for the price of $149.99. It should arrive in stores by May 1.

There doesn't seem to be any pre-orders available for T-Mobile like other carriers, but that trade-off comes with getting the device available a few days earlier. This phone will be shipping with T-Mobile's new LTE bands packed inside so you can make use of them whenever T-Mobile gets their new network in your area.

Anyone looking to switch to T-Mobile for their new Un-carrier way of doing things and picking up the GS4?

T-Mobile to Offer Samsung Galaxy S 4 at Exceptional Upfront Cost

Only U.S. wireless company to sell Galaxy S 4 with unlimited talk, text and Web with no annual service contract on a fast, nationwide 4G network
America’s Un-carrier continues making bold moves to give consumers affordable, unrestricted¹ and hassle-free ways to get the latest 4G LTE smartphones. T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced today the Samsung Galaxy S^® 4 will be available online at www.T-Mobile.combeginning April 24 for just $149.99 down — plus monthly device payments — for qualifying customers with the new Simple Choice Plan The availability of Samsung Galaxy S 4 comes as T-Mobile is delivering the most popular smartphones in revolutionary new ways and giving customers far more flexibility with how they buy and use their wireless devices. “Samsung has a proven track record of delivering the ‘Next Big Thing’ in smartphone innovation,” said John Legere, president and CEO, T-Mobile USA. “By combining our bold, Un-carrier moves — no restrictions, no limits and an unbeatable value — with Samsung’s leading-edge technology, you’re going to get the most from your Samsung Galaxy S 4 at T-Mobile —hands down.” T-Mobile is the only major U.S. wireless company offering the Samsung Galaxy S 4 with the following:

No annual service contract plus unlimited talk, text and Web on a blazing-fast nationwide 4G network.

The ability to save money upfront and every month over AT&T, Verizon and Sprint through the Simple Choice Plan.

HD Voice for nationwide crystal-clear high-definition calling and reduced background noise.

Smartphone Mobile HotSpot feature for sharing the Samsung Galaxy S 4’s connection to the T-Mobile 4G network with up to five Wi-Fi capable devices (tablet, e-reader, laptop, portable gaming device and more). Smartphone Mobile HotSpot is included with every Simple Choice Plan.

Simple Choice Plan T-Mobile’s Simple Choice Plan starts with a base rate of $50 per month for unlimited talk, text and Web with 500MB of high-speed data at up to 4G speeds. Consumers can add up to 2GB of high-speed 4G data for $10 per month per line or get unlimited 4G data for an additional $20 per month per line. Customers can add a second phone line for $30 per month, and each additional line is just $10 per month. There are no caps and no overages, and no restrictive annual service contracts. T-Mobile 4G LTE Network T-Mobile’s 4G LTE rollout complements its existing nationwide 4G network covering 225 million people, which third-party tests show already rivals or beats existing LTE networks in many markets. T-Mobile’s advanced 4G LTE network is currently available in seven metropolitan areas: Baltimore; Houston; Kansas City; Las Vegas; Phoenix; San Jose, Calif.; and Washington, D.C. The company expects to reach 100 million people with 4G LTE by midyear and 200 million nationwide by the end of 2013. 4G LTE devices like the Samsung Galaxy S 4 will automatically and seamlessly connect to T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G network where 4G LTE has not yet launched. Device Capabilities The Samsung Galaxy S 4 joins a growing line-up of T-Mobile 4G LTE devices. The device features the latest Android operating system — Android^™ 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) — and a speedy 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm^®Snapdragon^™ processor. In tandem with T-Mobile’s blazing fast and unlimited 4G speeds when paired with the Simple Choice Plan with Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data, the Galaxy S 4 enables customers to quickly upload or download their favorite photos, videos and TV shows without worrying about expensive overage charges. With a 13-megapixel camera paired with a vivid 5-inch Full HD SuperAMOLED^® (1920 x 1080) display, the Samsung Galaxy S 4 offers a sophisticated multimedia experience for capturing and sharing amazing photos. Advanced camera features include:

Dual Camera for recording stills or video with the front and rear cameras simultaneously.

Eraser Shot to remove unwanted objects or people from an otherwise perfect picture.

Drama Shot for snapping a burst of 100 images in four seconds to create animated GIFs.

The Samsung Galaxy S 4 also offers new enhancements for discovering and watching your favorite programs — whether at home or on the go. New entertainment features include:

Samsung WatchON is a whole new way to use your phone with your TV. It transforms your Samsung Galaxy S 4 into an integrated smart remote to control your home entertainment system including TV, set-top box and DVD player. With the WatchON service, you can get recommended TV, movies and sports according to your personal tastes.

Samsung Smart Pause will automatically pause videos playing on your Samsung Galaxy S 4 if you turn your head away and resume once you’ve looked back.

Pricing & Availability Starting April 24, the Samsung Galaxy S 4 will be available for T-Mobile customers for $149.99 down with 24 equal monthly payments of $20 for well-qualified buyers for 0% APR O.A.C. The Samsung Galaxy S 4 will be available online at http://www.T-Mobile.com starting April 24, and at select T-Mobile retail stores and through select dealers and national retail stores starting May 1. For more information, visit https://explore.t-mobile.com/samsung-galaxy-s4

US Cellular Pre-orders Open for the Galaxy S4, Tosses in $60 S View Flip Cover

Kellen — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 07:55:27 +0000

The wave of carrier announcements for availability of the Samsung Galaxy S4 continues this morning, with US Cellular joining the party. Starting today, pre-orders of the device are live for the 16GB version of the device. For $199 and a new contract, the GS4 can be yours. US Cellular is attempting to sweeten the deal a bit by tossing in a S View Flip Cover to anyone that pre-orders, a product that typically retails for $59.99. No official launch date was given, just that it would be available in "late April."

U.S. CELLULAR BEGINS PRESALE FOR SAMSUNG GALAXY S 4 WITH EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR FREE S VIEW FLIP COVER

Device will be available for purchase in late April
CHICAGO (April 17, 2013) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Samsung Telecommunications America have announced that the 4G LTE™ Samsung GALAXY S^® 4 is available for customers to preorder atuscellular.com/GS4, and it will be available for purchase later this month. The 16GB GALAXY S 4 is offered in Black Mist and White Frost and is $199.99 with an instant rebate. In addition, U.S. Cellular exclusively is offering a $59.99 S View flip cover for free to anyone who pre-orders the device online. The Samsung GALAXY S 4 is the latest Galaxy smartphone to join U.S. Cellular’s line-up of 4G LTE devices. U.S. Cellular currently carries the Samsung Galaxy S^® III, Samsung Galaxy Note^® II, Samsung Galaxy Axiom^TMand the Samsung Galaxy Note^® 10.1. Customers who purchase the GALAXY S 4 from U.S. Cellular receive benefits no other carrier offers, including a valuable rewards program that recognizes customer loyalty. “Samsung has once again raised the bar with a powerful device that has features and tools to help you simplify and enhance your life,” said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. “The Samsung GALAXY S 4 lets you get more done wherever you are and adds value to your many experiences with the ability to share meaningful moments with friends and family on a fast 4G LTE network.” The GALAXY S 4 has a 5-inch full HD Super AMOLED^TM display, weighs only 130 grams and is 7.9 millimeters thin, and it blends an attractive design with innovative features. Its dual camera function allows customers to use the 13 megapixel rear camera and 2 megapixel front camera at the same time, so the person taking the picture isn’t left out of the shot. There are also several features designed to help you get the information you need faster and easier. Air View allows you to hover over your phone with your finger to enlarge content and preview an email, calendar, image gallery or video, and with Air Gesture, you can change music tracks, scroll up and down a web page, or accept a call with a wave of your hand. Highlighted Features:

Android 4.2.2

1.9 GHz quad-core processor

16GB internal storage, can be upgraded with up to a 64GB microSD card

Group Play lets users enjoy music, photos, documents and games with those around them without requiring a Wi-Fi connection or cellular signal.

S Translator provides instant translation, using text or voice translation on applications including email and text messaging.

U.S. Cellular, in partnership with King Street Wireless, currently offers 4G LTE service covering 61 percent of its customers in select cities in Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. By the end of this year, 87 percent of U.S. Cellular customers will have access to 4G LTE speeds. For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G. Samsung, Galaxy, and S 4 are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. Purchase of a smartphone data plan, a new two-year agreement and a $35 activation fee is required. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply. See uscellular.com for details. 4G LTE not available in all areas. See uscellular.com/4G for detailed coverage info. 4G LTE service is provided in partnership with King Street Wireless. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. About King Street Wireless, L.P. King Street Wireless, L.P. currently holds 700 MHz wireless spectrum in 27 states and is partnering with Chicago-based U.S. Cellular to deliver high-speed 4G LTE service to U.S. Cellular’s customers in several of the carrier’s markets. King Street Wireless is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia where it is recognized for its involvement in its community both through its economic development and philanthropic efforts. To learn more about King Street Wireless, visit www.kingstreetwireless.com. About Samsung Telecommunications America Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

Sprint Announces Their Galaxy S4 Will Be Available April 27 for $249.99

Eric — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 07:49:43 +0000

This morning Samsung announced that the Galaxy S4 will be available in "April," but left specific dates up to each carrier. Sprint was quick to announce a date, and April 27 is the day that customers can expect to see the phone in stores.

For customers upgrading, the 16GB version of the device will run you $249.99, but if you are switching your phone number to Sprint from another carrier, Sprint will knock the price down to $149.99. A little bit steeper than other carriers, but this is very likely to be the best selling phone of this year.

Pre-orders for the phone open tomorrow so make your decision soon, for the full press release hit the break.

Sprint Brings Truly Unlimited Data to Samsung Galaxy S 4 on April 27

New customers switching their phone number to Sprint can get an additional $100 instant credit, reducing the price of Galaxy S 4 to $149.99

Pre-order opens on April 18 at www.sprint.com/galaxys4
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), April 17, 2013 - Sprint (NYSE:S) will offer Samsung Galaxy S^® 4 (16GB version) beginning on Saturday, April 27, for $249.99 (excluding taxes) with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement. For a limited time only, new customers who switch their phone number to Sprint from another carrier will receive an additional $100 instant credit, reducing the price of Galaxy S 4 to $149.99 (excluding taxes). Pre-order for Galaxy S 4 will open on Thursday, April 18, at www.sprint.com/galaxys4, while supplies last. Galaxy S 4 will be available at Sprint Stores, Sprint Business Sales, Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) and Web Sales (www.sprint.com), and comes in two color options – White Frost and Black Mist. Sprint offers Truly Unlimited^SM 4G LTE data, text and calling to any mobile device with no metering, no throttling, and no overages, all while on the Sprint network, making it the ideal carrier for customers who want to use every single feature of their Galaxy S 4 every single day of the month without worry. Sprint 4G LTE is available in select markets. “Galaxy S 4 is packed with incredible new features that will benefit from unlimited data plans on the Sprint 4G LTE network,” said Fared Adib, senior vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “Sprint encourages our customers to really use their smartphone to its full potential – from surfing the Web to listening to streaming music or watching YouTube videos - without worry about data caps, throttling or silly overage charges on their monthly bill. I know our customers will enjoy this device as much as I do.” Manufactured by Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), Galaxy S 4 is powered by Android™ 4.2.2, Jelly Bean, boasts a brilliant 5-inch full HD Super AMOLED™ touchscreen, 1.9GHz quad-core processor and access to the Sprint 4G LTE network. It also offers Multi Window, which allows the use of two apps side-by-side. Galaxy S 4 is the perfect device for vividly capturing life’s most important moments by featuring dual cameras: a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and 2-megapixel front-facing camera with a Dual Camera function allowing simultaneous use of both cameras. Galaxy S 4 is loaded with several innovative capabilities:

Drama Shot captures a progressive event, like a baby’s first steps or a basketball player’s slam dunk, in one frame

Eraser Shot removes unwanted objects or people from an otherwise perfect picture

Live Filters allow an individual to see how a picture will look – on both the camera and camcorder – before the photo is taken

Story Album™ compiles photos with location and weather information to create the most comprehensive and personalized memory book

Galaxy S 4 adds new touchless navigation with innovative features that detect face, voice and motions to enable screen control.

Air View™ lets the user preview emails, photos in the gallery, or even the stories in Flipboard by hovering a finger over the screen

Smart Pause pauses a video by looking away from the screen

Air Gesture allows the user to answer a call or skip to the next song by waving their hand in front of the screen

Galaxy S 4 also features Polaris^® Office to get work done using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files from almost anywhere. Galaxy S 4 customers can enjoy an unlimited data experience with Sprint Everything Data plans. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, Anytime^SM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in the United States while on the Sprint network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones (excluding taxes and fees) – a savings of $20 per month versus Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB Web. Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and now offers service in 67 markets. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE portfolio and rollout and detailed 4G LTE maps, providing coverage information right down to the address, please visit www.sprint.com/coverage. Customers are encouraged to check back often, as the maps will be updated when coverage in these markets is enhanced.

First Ever Google Glass "Explorer Edition" Unboxing Hits the Web

Kellen — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 07:25:03 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YliQxNIvCts[/youtube]

With Google Glass "Explorer Editions" becoming available for early adopters as early as this week, it only makes sense that someone would unbox theirs. It didn't take long, but sure enough, the first ever Google Glass unboxing is now available. It's shot with what appears to be a 4fps webcam, so prepare yourselves for a screaming headache once the clip has completed. But you will get to see the clever packaging, tour of the device, and accessories included. Also, if you pop around Google+ and search for "Google Glass," you are bound to find all sorts of clips and photos of these new Explorer Editions. Prepare to be overwhelmed by people with robotic accessories attached to their heads. Even I have to admit that I'm more interested in Glass now than I have ever been. Maybe it's jealousy because it's in the hands of actual humans, I don't know. What I do know is that I cannot wait for Google I/O to arrive. Here is a second video of the same guy unboxing his Google Glass, while wearing Glass. Glassception.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hh5_Y9xrHg[/youtube]

Samsung Announces Entire Suite of Accessories for the Galaxy S4, Pricing Too

Kellen — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:00:38 +0000

Along with this morning's announcement that the Galaxy S4 will arrive at seven U.S. carriers and another seven retailers beginning in April, Samsung also announced the entire suite of accessories for the phone. The options cover a wide range of accessory types from Flip Covers to spare batteries to Smart Docks to MHL adapters to vehicle mounts. The newest additions include the S View Flip Cover that allows you view important information such as time, missed calls or texts, and battery status through a window without having to fully wake your phone. You'll find a Smart Dock that can connect to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to turn your phone into the ultimate portable computing device. You'll even find a high-fidelity pair of headphones, built specifically for the GS4. The accessories range in price from $29.99 all the way up to $99.99. To view the entire lineup, along with prices, hit up the fact sheet we have included below.

Unique Accessories Flip Cover Samsung’sFlip Cover enhances the look and feel of the Galaxy S 4with a stylish front cover andsnap-on back. By replacing the phone’sback cover, the Flip Covermaintainsthe thin profile of the Galaxy S 4.Seven vibrant colors allow usersto customize their Galaxy S 4for any occasion or outfit. Colors includeBlack Mist, White Frost, Light Blue, Pink, Green, Orangeand Yellow.($39.99) S View Flip Cover Similar in design to the Flip Cover, the S View Flip Cover brings both form and function to the Galaxy S 4.Through a clear window at the top of the cover, users can viewthe date and time,devicebattery life status, read text messages, and answeror reject calls with the cover closed. The convenient Auto Wake-Up function also activates upon opening the cover, eliminating the need to swipe to unlock or switch onthe screen manually. Available colors: BlackMist, White Frost. ($59.99) Protective Cover+ TheProtective Cover+ fits snugly overthe back and sidesof the Galaxy S 4, protectingagainst bumps, scratchesand falls.The cover also gives users an enhanced grip of their device and is easy to attach. Colors includeWhite, Navy, Green, Blue and Pink.($29.99) Spare Battery Charging System The Spare Battery Charger ensures Galaxy S 4users always have a freshlycharged battery on-hand. The compact, stylish design ensures safe portability when not in use and an LED light on the front indicates when the battery is fully charged.Spare 2600mAh battery, battery charging standand wall chargerareincluded.($49.99) SharedAccessories AllShare Cast Wireless Hub™ AllShare Cast Wireless Hub allowsusers to wirelessly share content with anynearby HDTV or HDMI®display. AllShare Cast Hub pairs quicklyto any premium HDMI-capable TVto transmit pictures, videos and music to a large screen, all while controlling the action from the smartphone. Compatible devices includeGalaxy S 4,Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II and Galaxy Note 10.1.($99.99) Smart Dock Smart Dock turns a Samsung Galaxy S 4 or Galaxy Note IIinto a true desktop computing device. Using a large screen monitor, keyboard and mouse,userscan surf the Web, update asocial network status, respond to emails and even edit documents and presentations. There is no need to sync to a PC or manage multiple devices. The dock is equipped with three USB inputs, anHDMI output and a 3.5 mm output for stereo speakers.($99.99) Universal Multimedia Desktop Dock The Universal Multimedia Desktop Dock hasa compactdesignwith pop-up micro USB portthat also folds flat for ease and portability. The dock can simultaneously charge aSamsung smartphone while users listento music throughanexternalspeaker. Smartphones can also be docked while housed in aSamsungFlip Cover or S View Flip Cover.Compatible devices include Galaxy S 4, Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Rugby Pro, GalaxyVictory 4G, Galaxy Exhilarate and Galaxy Express.($49.99) Universal Vehicle Navigation Mount The Samsung Vehicle NavigationMounthas a slim design that will grip most smartphoneswith screen sizes between 4.0 and5.5 inches,with orwithout a case. The dockfeatures a strong gear-locking mechanism which securely grips your phone, andfull 360-degree rotationis provided for quick portrait-to-landscape viewing. Thevehicle dock is an ideal solution for hands-free calling or satellite navigation with your phone.Car charger is included. ($49.99) MHL 2.0 HDTV Adapter The HDTV adapterallows users to share pictures and videos on any high definition TV or computer monitor. Compatible devices include Galaxy S 4, Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II and Galaxy Note 8.0.($39.99) Universal Battery Pack This 9000mAh battery pack will charge a smartphone up to three times and a tablet once, providing true portable power on the go. Compatible devices include Galaxy S 4, Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0), Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1), and Nexus 10, the new tablet from Google™. ($79.99) HS-330 Headphones Galaxy S 4 users can listen to their favorite music and video content right out of the box with a pair of HS-330 Headphones. These headphones deliver high-fidelity, balanced audio through dual bass and treble speakers. In addition, the ergonomic design ensures an easy, comfortable fit, while the tangle-resistant cable and convenient mini remote allows users to adjust volume, skip music tracks and answer/end phone calls. The HS-330 headphones are also compatible with the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II. ($29.99) HM3300 Bluetooth®Headset The HM3300 is a compact, stylish Bluetooth headset that supports NFC for tap-to-pair easy coupling. The sleek, glossy metallicfinish compliments Samsung smartphone designs. Features include HD voice, audio streamingand voice prompts in six languages. ColorsincludeTitan Gray, Marble White and Pebble Blue.($49.99) Galaxy Muse™ Galaxy Muse is a portable music player designed to complement Galaxy smartphones and free users from the hassle of PC music management. With Galaxy Muse, active users can sync their music directly from their Galaxy S4,Galaxy Note II. ($49.99)

Samsung Galaxy S4 Arriving at Seven U.S. Carriers and Seven Retailers for an April Launch

Kellen — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:59:55 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy S4 may have been announced at a zany and somewhat entertaining press event at Radio City Music Hall in NYC back in March, but at the time, minimal U.S. carrier availability was mentioned outside of a couple of pre-orders. Today, Samsung has made almost all of it official, without mentioning any specific dates. The Samsung Galaxy S4 will launch starting in April at seven different U.S. carriers including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Cricket, US Cellular, and C Spire. It will also be available at a variety of retailers including Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile, Costco, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Staples, Target, and Wal-Mart. Exact pricing and availability, as usual, will be announced individually by each carrier and retailer over the coming weeks. The device itself is no different than what we got our hands-on already, and will feature Samsung's new suite of camera software, air view and gesture technology, powerful set of specs, and accessory lineup. Knowing the history of announcements like this, I wouldn't be surprised if each carrier announced a launch date at various moments throughout the rest of the day. The full press release with details on each new Galaxy S4 software feature along with a complete spec list can be found below.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S^® 4 REDEFINES THE SMARTPHONE AGAIN WITH MORE LEADING-EDGE INNOVATIONS AND GOVERNMENT-GRADE SECURITY*

The next generation of the world’s best-selling smartphone widely available at seven U.S. carriers and seven retailers beginning in April
DALLAS – April 17, 2013 – Building on the success and innovation of its predecessor, the Galaxy S^® 4 provides a suite of industry-leading innovations that will change how consumers interact with a smartphone and delivers a greater level of security for regulated industries. The Galaxy S 4 uniquely makes advanced technologies and features easy to use by integrating them into the way individuals use their phones every day. The Galaxy S 4 is the first device to enable consumers to control the device with touch-less features including scrolling or turning a page, viewing documents within a file folder or a link on a web page. It enhances memorable moments with innovative camera features that captures progressive action and removes unwanted people from the photo. The Galaxy S 4 also enhances your TV watching experience with the new Samsung WatchON™ service that simplifies searching and recommends TV, movies and sports according to personal tastes. With WatchOn and the built in IR blaster, the Galaxy S 4 also functions as a remote control for home theater equipment. The Galaxy S 4 is optimized for powerful performance on the nation’s fastest networks and will be available on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless as well as U.S. Cellular, Cricket and C Spire starting during April. Additionally, consumers can find the Galaxy S 4 at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile, Costco, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, Staples, Target and Wal-Mart. Exact pricing and retail availability will be announced by each of the carriers and retailers in the coming weeks. “The Galaxy S line of smartphones has achieved momentous success with 100 million in unit sales worldwide in less than three years. This validates that we are addressing what consumers want from a smartphone,” said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Telecommunications America. “The fourth generation of Samsung’s flagship device builds upon the tradition of excellence and provides consumers with even more innovation that simplifies and redefines the way individuals will interact with their Galaxy S 4. We believe this device will be a true companion to all aspects of a consumer’s life from work, to travel and even watching TV.” Meaningful Moments The Galaxy S 4 combines the simple and visual interface introduced with the Galaxy Camera with a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera to take professional looking photographs with a smartphone. The front-facing 2-megapixel camera on the Galaxy S 4 allows consumers to capture special moments in unique and new ways with the Dual Camera shooting mode. Dual Camera mode takes pictures with both the rear and front cameras simultaneously to enable the photographer to be in the photo as well. The Galaxy S 4 is loaded with several innovative capabilities that let anyone shoot like a professional:

Drama Shot: Capture a progressive event, like a baby’s first steps or a basketball player’s slam dunk, in one frame

Eraser Shot: Remove unwanted objects or people from an otherwise perfect picture

Animation Shot: Turn your favorite moments into animated GIF

Live Filters: With built-in filter options, an individual can now see how a picture will look– on both the camera and camcorder – before the photo is taken

Compile photos with location and weather information with Story Album™ to create the most comprehensive and personalized memory book. Integration with Blurb’s photo book printing service allows consumers to easily print a physical book to keep or share. Effortless Experience The Galaxy S 4 introduces a completely new way to interact with a smartphone – without a touch. A simple wave of the hand over the screen scrolls through a screen and changes a song; holding a finger over the screen allows one to preview content within the photo gallery, email and calendar; pause a video by looking away from the screen and scroll to the top or bottom of a page by looking up or down. Features include:

Air Gesture: Answer a call or skip to the next song by waving your hand in front of the screen. Useful when your hands are otherwise occupied

Air View™: Preview emails, photos in the gallery, or even the stories in Flipboard® by hovering your finger over the screen

Samsung Smart Pause: Pause a video by looking away from the screen

Samsung Optical Reader: Automatically recognizes text, a business card or QR codes and take immediate action like placing a call from a scanned card or translating text

Protect Work and Personal Information The Galaxy S 4 is not only perfect for personal use, but it is enterprise ready as a SAFE™-designated device. The Galaxy S 4 is the first Samsung device to include Samsung’s KNOX solution, which provides comprehensive mobile security at the hardware level and enhanced personal privacy for individuals at the software level. All framework components come standard on the device, and full-feature activation by solution providers and distribution channels will be available at a later date. The Galaxy S 4 simultaneously delivers on IT executives’ need for industry-leading mobile security for companies with stringent security requirements. KNOX enables consumers to separate work via Samsung’s containerization approach. IT managers can now access and manage the passcode-protected work container without disturbing the content within an individual’s personal space on the device so consumer content, including photos, emails, music files and social network data remain intact on the device when an employee separates from a company. Ease of Use With the Galaxy S 4, there are a number of features to simplify the experience for first-time smartphone owners, those interested in switching from another operating system and long-time Samsung consumers. The Galaxy S 4 has a streamlined start-up wizard so consumers can begin using the device faster and learn about its unique features from the start. Easy Mode, which was first introduced on the Galaxy S III, has been enhanced to smooth the transition for first-time smartphone owners by simplifying the home screen layout, camera, calendar, messaging and the internet browser to make the settings menu easy to navigate. Once a user is more comfortable with their Galaxy S 4, they can easily switch back to the standard home screen interface. With the launch of the Galaxy S 4, Samsung is also introducing Samsung Smart Switch™, a PC application that lets new owners transfer contacts, messages, photos, music, calendar notifications and more from another phone to the Galaxy S 4. Smart Switch can identify favorite applications and recommend the same or similar applications within Google Play™. The Galaxy S 4 greatly improves upon the popular notification shade, which provides quick control of new innovative features, and the functionality most often accessed and changed by consumers. The expanded notification shade shows 19 settings so consumers can quickly and easily toggle them on and off as needed. Powerful Performance The sophisticated Galaxy S 4 is designed with a full-HD Super AMOLED™ (1920 X 1080) display with 441ppi for brilliant, stunning graphics on the device’s 5-inch screen. The slimmer, sleeker smartphone weighs 4.6 ounces, is 7.9 millimeters thin and has a minimized bezel to maximize the viewing experience. The Galaxy S 4 includes Android™ 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) with TouchWiz® enhancements, a 1.9 GHz quad core CPU and 2GB of internal RAM. The Galaxy S 4 is also uses Gorilla Glass® 3.0 – the most advanced, fortified glass for its stunning 5-inch display, making it stronger and more resistant to scratches and cracks than ever before. The Galaxy S 4, available at select carriers in Black Mist and White Frost, is powered by a removable 2,600 mAh battery for extended use on a single charge. Users can store large libraries of photos, music and videos on the Galaxy S 4 with expandable memory of up to 64 GB to complement the standard 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage. Protect the Galaxy S 4 with the S View Flip Cover, a specially designed flip cover that has a clear window to read a text message, answer or reject a call, and view the battery status. Sold separately, the S View Flip Cover comes in Black Mist and White Frost to add style, while protecting the device and providing privacy, and is sold separately. For more information on the Galaxy S 4 and accessories, please visit www.samsung.com/us/galaxys4 or www.samsungmobileuspress.com. Samsung Galaxy S 4 Product Specifications: *KNOX incorporates Security Enhanced (SE) for Android developed by the NSA (National Security Agency), which is baked in at the kernel level of the device to greatly limit potential damage due to flawed, malicious apps and/or “rooting” malware. Samsung, Galaxy S, TouchWiz, Samsung Smart Switch, ChatOn, WatchOn, S Voice, Story Album, and Air View are all trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. ### About Samsung Telecommunications America Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, (Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

Falcon Pro Receives Update, New Starred Features and Plenty of Improvements

Tim — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:15:58 +0000

Everyone's favorite 3rd party Twitter app, Falcon Pro is receiving a bump up to version 1.8 today, bringing a healthy list of new features and improvements. Most of the bigger additions are for starred Twitter profiles, allowing users to receive notifications every time they create a tweet. In addition, translations are now available in various languages, image loading speeds have been improved and a ton more. For the full changelog, check below. What's New:

Starred Users - Inline Articles preview with offline access (enabled for all Starred Users that you follow)
Starred Users - Individual notifications (disabled by default)
Starred Users - Offline access
Translations (French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, Polish & Norwegian. More to come)
Open twitter status links in Falcon
Back button now usable in internal browser to navigate
Feedback and bug report form in the app settings
Image loading speeds, now with progress bar
Fix - user autocompletion
Fix - htc keyboard auto correct
Bugfixes

Play Link ($1.96) [youtube]http://youtu.be/tTNIrAakMb8[/youtube]

Gameloft's Dungeon Hunter 4 Hits Google Play, Relies Heavily on IAPs

Tim — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:40:20 +0000

Last week, Gameloft released a trailer for Dungeon Hunter 4, their newest flagship dungeon crawler. With a closing sequence of "coming soon" we had no idea when to expect the release, but here we are and it is now available on Google Play. Graphically the game looks really nice, then when you mix in monsters and bossy weapons, it's a surefire hit. The game features multiplayer options, allowing you to play with friends in a co-op arena mode. During campaign mode, you can choose different races of characters, whose load outs can be completely customized, giving you a different sense of gameplay as you make your way through the large world. As some have reported, the game relies heavily (and I mean heavily) on in-app purchases. From reading the Google Play reviews, it seems that Gameloft spared no expense at making sure you spare no expense as well. Either way, check it out and let us know what you think down below. I know we have a few hardcore fans of this series in the community. Play Link [youtube]http://youtu.be/9ywtJReQ9MI[/youtube]

Quick Look: Portenzo BookCase for Google Nexus 10

Tim — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:10:55 +0000

Since the release of Portenzo's custom bookcases for the Nexus 7 tablet (review here), we have been major fans. Made from high quality materials, Portenzo cases are pretty much the definition of what I look for when I think about protecting or covering up my tablets. Once we heard they were beginning production of bookcases for the Nexus 10, we knew we would be picking one up. After a couple of weeks, we received our custom case for the Nexus 10 as a review sample. Options for the case seemed unlimited, as the choices between covers, colors, and engravings can basically turn your case into a pure work of hand-made art. The company uses american maple for the frames, works in a double-glued elastic band which "won't ever come undone," and are all made from a single sheet of premium leather right here in the U.S. Being the minimal lover that I am, I opted for a plain black leather shell, a cutout for the tablet's camera (an extra $5), with a lone red strap to keep the case from opening. It's simple, gorgeous and feels fantastic.

While the Portenzo bookcases do add some weight and girth to the Nexus 10's slim frame, to me it is worth that sacrifice in that I now have a built-in stand for the device, as well as the added protection. To sum it up, if you are a fan of bookcases, Portenzo should be your first choice. Pricing can get steep, so if you are not looking to spend well over $100 (no one will blame you), then you can probably start shopping for a different line. With my options, the case ran $145.00. Not the cheapest accessory, but boy does it feel great. Check out Portenzo's product line here. Gallery: [nggallery id=75]

Android Started Off Being an OS For Cameras, Thankfully That Idea Didn't Stick

Eric — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:40:02 +0000

Android has quite the documented history at this point, but Andy Rubin dropped a piece of information today that Android could have never seen a mobile phone. Talking shop today in Tokyo, Andy Rubin mentioned that originally, the plan was for Android to be a platform for cameras so they could share photos more easily. "The exact same platform, the exact same operating system we built for cameras, that became Android for cellphones," Rubin said.

Showing off slides from the original pitch meeting, it appears that Android was meant as a center for cameras to connect to, through wires or wireless, to then share photos with computers. Rubin said that the Android team realized the market was fairly small for camera software so they switched their focus to smartphones in a matter of 5 months. At that point, Rubin wasn't even worried about the iPhone - Microsoft and Symbian were the only targets on his radar at that point.

It was probably for the better that Andy went for smartphones rather than cameras, but the rest is history. Could you imagine smartphones today without the influence of Android?

Via: PC World

DROID RAZR M Update Approved by Verizon as Build 98.15.66, It's Just a "Maintenance" Release

Eric — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:05:57 +0000

If you're the proud owner of the RAZR M you should be excited to hear that Verizon has officially announced a small update (build 98.15.66) that will squash a few bugs with the device. This looks to be the exact same maintenance release that we saw soak testers get last week. Not as exciting as a new version of Android, but fixing WiFi connectivity, video streaming and camera improvements are all welcome fixes. The update is 80MB in size. To check to see if the update is available, head into Settings>About Phone>Software updates. More info.

Brief Review: Nexus 10 Book Cover

Tim — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:40:53 +0000

Last week, the Nexus 10's first official accessory arrived in Google Play, a simple book cover. This tablet has been on the market for some time now, so it almost comes off as pointless to start pushing out accessories, but we'll take it. It comes in two colors, grey and scarlet, priced at $30. The book cover is exactly like you would find for the Galaxy line of smartphones from Samsung. You take off the stock backing, reattach this new one with the cover added and you're done. While this cover does not completely cover up the front side of the tablet (there is some room for the front-facing speakers), it does a decent job at staying on top of the N10's display, protecting it from minor things. To wrap it up, Google should have priced it at $20 and released it months ago, then everyone would be a winner. To catch my full thoughts, watch my hands-on video below. There is even a guest appearance as well. Play Link: Scarlet | Grey Gallery:

Hands-on: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJjxEuqg6bE[/youtube]

Google Play Can Now Feature 7-inch and 10-inch Screenshots, Shows Automatically Depending on the User's Device

Kellen — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:12:31 +0000

The Android developers team announced this afternoon that going forward, they are allowing for both 7-inch and 10-inch screenshots from developers to be posted in their Google Play store app listings. In even better news, these new screenshots will be displayed preferentially to users depending on the type of device they are browsing the Play store from. So for developers, this means you can in some ways customize the browsing experience to users based upon device type or I'm assuming, screen resolution. This should also provide a better shopping experience for users who are wondering if this or that particular app has a tablet UI or will look decent enough on their device. Seems like a minor change, but we love the little details. Via: Android Developers

LG Asks Us to Save the Date for a May 1 "Share the Genius" Press Event

Kellen — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:32:08 +0000

LG dropped a save-the-date note into our inbox this afternoon, asking us to clear our calendars for a May 1 press event in New York City. The press invite mentions little, only providing two quotes of "Share the genius" and "Capture the spotlight in true brilliance." While neither mean a thing to me, one would expect this event to feature their new Optimus G Pro, since no other phone from them is on our radar at this time. The Optimus G Pro is LG's 5.5" device similar to Samsung's Galaxy Note 2, but with slightly better specs. Instead of a 720p display, it sports a full 1080p resolution, along with a 13MP camera, 32GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, and LTE. It even looks a lot like a Note 2, with its physical home button, however, there is no S Pen or pen-like functionality to the device. Early reviews on Korean Optimus G pros have been mostly positive, but could get even better once the device receives its "value pack" upgrade that features a smart pause video feature and dual camera. We'll be sure to be on hand for whatever it is they announce.

New AOKP Milestone Releases Start Rolling Out, New "AOKPush" App Keeps Track of Newest Builds (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:15:51 +0000

The new "milestone" release from the Android Open Kang Project (AOKP) is starting to roll out today. So far, we're seeing builds available for most Nexus phones including toro (Verizon Galaxy Nexus), toroplus (Sprint Galaxy Nexus), mako (Nexus 4), and maguro (GSM Galaxy Nexus). We're told that a post detailing the full changelog is in the works, but for now, you can expect changes to the nav/statusbar for tablets, "rewritten" RomControl, custom toggles, and a ton of bug fixes. To grab the latest builds for your devices, hit up the source link below. We'll update this post as soon as we have more details. Update: The announcement for this new milestone is live and includes a new release schedule for "builds." In fact, the AOKP team is mostly referring to them as nightlies that will come out every four days going forward. There won't be announcements for them, and they are mostly untested, so should you be willing to flash them, be sure to report back any issues. Also, milestone releases will likely happen on a monthly basis, assuming we get to a new month and the newest build is deserving of the "milestone" title. And on a couple of related notes, AOKP has officially crossed the 1 million install milestone, which is quite the accomplishment. Last, they released an app called AOKPush [Play Link], so that you can keep track of all the latest builds. Via: AOKP [2]

Samsung Galaxy S4 Pre-orders Now Live For AT&T, $199.99 on New Two Year

Tim — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:50:30 +0000

It's April 16, pre-order day for the Galaxy S4 from Samsung on AT&T. Starting now, you can head to their site and put your money down for Samsung's newest flagship device, starting as low as $199.99 on a new two year agreement. Off contract the device will run you $639.99, followed by $449.99 on a one year agreement. According to AT&T, your device will ship on April 30, just two weeks from now. If you have just woken up from a deep winter hibernation, the Galaxy S4 features a 5" 1080p display, a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 13MP camera, and comes so packed with proprietary software you might even need to actual read the owner's manual. Picking it up?

Pre-order

Motorola's First Google-inspired Products to be "Just-right" Size With Stock Android, Shipping in Second Half 2013

Kellen — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:19:56 +0000

During a conversation with PCMag, Motorola's design chief Jim Wicks opened up about the future of their products, most importantly, those influenced by the newly formed Google exec team. Wicks make it sound as if the current state of the mobile industry, one that focuses on specs and a "bigger is better" mantra, isn't where they are headed. They want stock Android devices that are updated quickly, phones that are the right size instead of oversized, and that reach all carriers. According to Wicks, Motorola has spent the last eight months working on their next generation of phones that will arrive in the second half of 2013 (that could be July or November for all we know). More importantly, he stressed that if you are into smaller form-factor devices or stock Android, that you are going to be very excited. And when he says "smaller," he means "just-right" in terms of size. If you look at the leaked Motorola device from early March, we're talking a 4-4.5" display size, which isn't necessarily small, it's just not following the massive trend by today's standards. He also mentioned that while devices may be smaller, the display won't be as they continue to work on slimming down bezels, much like they did with the RAZR M. Wicks acknowledged that "When you buy a TV, your're not wanting a frame," and that smartphones should be the same. As far as his comments on stock Android are concerned, Wicks talked about how consumers "love what the Android OS can do for them," and that they want to have the most recent releases faster. Motorola's strategy is to embrace Android and make it the "best expression of Android and Google on the market." It will be the "unadulterated" version of Android with as little bloatware as possible. Last, while Motorola has seen success with its DROID brand on Verizon, they will attempt to mimic Samsung and HTC's push to get their single flagship phones and form factors on all carriers. They will attempt to build new cross-carrier brands outside of those exclusive brands that are carrier-specific. After hearing Eric Schmidt call Motorola's next lineup of phones "phenomenal" this morning, this news has to bring you nothing but joy. Well, assuming you are fine with sub 5-inch phones. Via: PCMag

Google Mobile Search Just Got Even Faster, Adds Quick View and Rotten Tomatoes Enhancements

Tim — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:54:46 +0000

Starting today, certain aspects of Google's mobile search are receiving a big speed boost. The most interesting feature that is being added is a new "Quick view" tab which will appear on certain page results. For example, as shown above, when a search is done for a list of poker hands, a quick view can be seen from Wikipedia to make finding the answer you are looking for even easier. Along with Quick view, Google search has also enhanced returns for Rotten Tomatoes.

Now, there’s a faster way to get to the Rotten Tomatoes page with just the info you need most -- just look for a new quick link for “In Theaters” underneath the main Rotten Tomatoes link when you search on your mobile phone. You’ll see these expandable sitelinks appear for many sites to help you get to a specific section quickly.

As a note, Quick view is currently only available for Wikipedia pages in English, but they are looking to expand this to additional sites. Via: Inside Search

Inaugural Facebook Home Update Coming Second Week of May

Tim — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:20:48 +0000

Today at AllThingsD's Dive Into Mobile conference, Facebook's head of mobile engineering gave information on the first installment of monthly updates that is to be pushed to the Facebook Home application. Without diving into what the update would include, he did give mention that the update will be available starting the second week of May, but other details with sparse. Other than that, Home is now rolling out to international devices outside of the U.S. as well, so it will be interesting to see what others have to say about Home. If there is something you would like to see added to Home, tell us what it would be down below. Play Link Via: The Verge

Microsoft Updates Outlook.com App for Android, No Longer the Worst Looking App of the Last Year

Kellen — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:37:48 +0000

Back in November, Microsoft released an official Outlook.com app for Android that was, to put it simply, a terrible design. It brought back painful memories of Gingerbread with tabs, a dark theme, and nothing that reminded us of Microsoft's other beautifully designed apps. No one used it - we all laughed at it. But today, a new update has been released that brings the app into line with apps like Xbox Smartglass. It also matches the design you'll see in most of Microsoft's current Windows products, which is a design language we have always been fans of. There aren't many new features, but Microsoft did add in conversation threading, filters for unread and flagged mail, and the ability to mark messages as junk. So if you are an Outlook.com user, go pick up the new goodness. Play Link Via: Outlook Blog

Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S4 Exists, is Live on Samsung's Site, and has No Branded Home Button

Kellen — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:01:53 +0000

Look, it's the Verizon version of the Samsung Galaxy S4! It exists! Not that we didn't think it would at some point down the road, but we've gone weeks since its unveiling without a peep from Big Red on availability. Thankfully, Samsung eliminated all mystery by posting the device to their site this morning. As one would expect, since Samsung releases one design everywhere, it's exactly like other variants of the Galaxy S4, comes in white frost and black myst, and matches up identically in specs. Oh, it also doesn't have a branded home button. The 4G LTE logo on the back doesn't even look to be all that intrusive. Good job, Samsung! We still have no idea when this phone will arrive, but a leaked Staples roadmap mentioned May 30.

Galleries

The rest of the U.S. Galaxy S4 variants are posted as well. They all look the same, with carrier logos in the middle of the back plate. The Sprint version, however, does not have any carrier branding. Via: Samsung [2] Cheers Open1Your1Eyes0!

Specs Leaked for Samsung's Next High-End Tablet, Named ROMA

Tim — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:42:16 +0000

Many can say that the Nexus 10 is currently Samsung's best tablet on the market, but according to newly leaked specs, it appears a new super tab is on the horizon, this time sporting TouchWiz. Code named ROMA, the tablet is said to feature a fancy 10" 2560 x 1600 high-res display (same as the N10), an Exynos 5 processor, 2GB of RAM, 3G/4G LTE connectivity, and a 9,000mAh battery. In terms of differences between this and the Nexus 10, you are looking at a microSD slot, this one being a tad slimmer, and the ROMA featuring cell data. So far, Samsung has neither denied or confirmed ROMA's existence, but in this business we are used to that. Specifications:

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
Samsung Exynos 5 Dual 1.7GHz dual core
Mali-T604
2GB of RAM
3G / HSPA or 4G / LTE, N Wi-Fi, DLNA, Bluetooth 4.0, Micro USB
10.1 inch, 2560 × 1600 pixels
5 Megapixel camera, Autofocus
1.9 Megapixel front camera
16GB of on-board storage
micro SD (up to 128GB)
9000 mAh
257 × 177.7 × 8.4 mm.
583 g.

If Samsung does in fact have plans on making this tablet come to fruition and given the specs listed above, are you interested? Via: SamMobile | TechBlog

Eric Schmidt on Motorola: Their New Set of Products is "Phenomenal"

Kellen — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:21:04 +0000

Speaking at AllThingsD's Dive Into Mobile conference this morning, Eric Schmidt was asked about his thoughts on where Motorola stands and how we can expect to see Google use them in the future. His comments were brief but powerful, to say the least. After hearing Google's CFO Patrick Pichette discredit any of Motorola's near-future products as not having the "wow" factor that Google likes to see, Schmidt went the opposite direction. Eric Schmidt said that Motorola "have a new set of products that I have seen that are phenomenal." He continued on saying that with prices falling in the industry we should all "wait and see for this next generation of technology, it's very impressive." When pushed to see if he meant something beyond phones, he said, "Think of it as phones plus (+)." Motorola's new product line has been kept mostly secret over the last few months, outside of a leak of a Nexus-styled device in Vietnam. We could see something at Google I/O next month or we may not see something until the fall. At this point, no one outside of Motorola or Google knows. As long as it's "phenomenal," I think I can wait a bit. [soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/88128208" params="" width=" 100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

Google Glass Specs Finally Revealed - 5MP Camera, 16GB Storage, Bone Conduction Audio, and Full Day Battery

Kellen — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:00:19 +0000

Google Glass is here, folks, whether the world is ready for it or not. After sending out notifications to participants of the Glass Explorer program and then releasing a developer API, Google also pushed out a support page for Glass which included FAQ and official tech specs. From the beginning, we were curious as to what was packed inside this new wearable tech. The mystery is finally over with. The device itself has a "durable frame" that "fits any face" and includes adjustable nosepads. The display is considered "high resolution" that is the equivalent to a 25" HD TV being viewed at eight feet away. The camera features a 5MP sensor that can record 720p video. Audio is taken care of by a Bone Conduction Transducer. There is 16GB of internal storage, though only about 12GB is usable. A typical battery charge should get you through an entire day as long as you aren't spending extra time video recording or participating in Hangouts. Google Glass should work on any Android device running 4.0.3 or higher and that has Bluetooth. With Glass unit in hand, the new MyGlass companion app is how you set it up. [Play Link] Here is the full list:

Fit: Adjustable nosepads and durable frame fits any face; Extra nosepads in two sizes.

Display: High resolution display is the equivalent of a 25 inch high definition screen from eight feet away.

Camera: Photos - 5 MP; Videos - 720p

Audio: Bone Conduction Transducer

Connectivity: Wifi - 802.11b/g; Bluetooth

Storage: 12 GB of usable memory, synced with Google cloud storage. 16 GB Flash total.

Battery: One full day of typical use. Some features, like Hangouts and video recording, are more battery intensive.

Charger: Included Micro USB cable and charger. While there are thousands of Micro USB chargers out there, Glass is designed and tested with the included charger in mind. Use it and preserve long and prosperous Glass use.

Compatibility: Any Bluetooth-capable phone; The MyGlass companion app requires Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher. MyGlass enables GPS and SMS messaging.

Via: Google Glass Specs | FAQ | 9to5Google

First Google Glass Devices Roll Off the Production Line, Developer APIs and Tutorials Released

Kellen — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:18:41 +0000

The first batches of Google Glass hardware are rolling "off the production line now," according to emails sent out to Glass Explorers, the group of Google I/O 2012 attendees who signed up to be the first on the planet to get their hands on Google's new wearable tech. With early production underway, devices should start shipping at any moment. In the email, Google says that they will not wait until all units are produced before shipping, so they will instead ship in batches as they are produced. If you signed up as an Explorer, you'll receive a second email when yours is ready, so that you can fork out the $1,500 asking price and give Google the thumbs-up to ship. In related news, Google also released a developer portal and API this evening, so that Explorers can start preparing work immediately. The API is called Google Mirror and apps will apparently be called Glassware - cute, right? After cruising through the dev portal for a few minutes, I went a head and pulled out the five new videos which describe everything from sharing contacts to managing timeline cards to notifications, and included them below. I even found multiple screenshots of the UI itself. The policies and terms of service introduced with Glass are also worth noting. For example, developers are not allowed to show ads in API clients or charge for them, whatsoever. Google also appears to be checking apps much more thoroughly in Glass, which we would assume is for security reasons. If Google Glass is going to be a part of your future, I suggest you take a look at the links below. This is the most detail anyone has seen with regard to Google Glass.

Video Guides

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zGayIdw77s[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0Px5wXlsME[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJrWc8XkIQE[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUwVT7wJdK4[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d7XxIirOtk[/youtube]

Via: +Google Developers | Google Glass Developers [Policies] | TechCrunch

Google Voice for Android Receives Update!

Kellen — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:34:49 +0000

Yes, one of Google's most ignored yet important apps, Google Voice, received an update this afternoon. Unfortunately for all of the service's users, the update includes nothing new and is simply a stability or bug fixer. The changelog only says that it "improved the reliability of SMS delivery." No Babel love. No UI update. No MMS. Play Link

Give Google's New Homepage App Launcher a Run Through

Tim — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:17:53 +0000

If you like tinkering, then this next little trick should be right up your alley (not Android-related, but fun none-the-less). Google is currently experimenting with a brand new, built-in app drawer-style launcher through their homepage. If enabled, when logged into a Google account, you can open up the app drawer from Google.com, access Google Play, Google+, and other apps with ease. Good bye, ugly black bar. To enable this drawer, you must either be running Chrome, Firefox, or Opera as your browser and then follow a little list of instructions. Below we will list out the instrcutions for Google Chrome users, but if you are running either of the other two, you just need to follow the via and see how to perform it. Instructions:

Install "Edit This Cookie" extension
Open www.google.com in a new tab
Click the "Edit This Cookie" button from the Chrome bar
Find the "NID" item and select it
Replace the "value" text with the NID cookie value (see below) and click "Submit cookie changes"
Refresh Google's homepage

NID Cookie Value:

Pretty neat, right? Via: Google System

Do It! The Ultimate App to Keep Track of Your Daily To-Dos

Tim — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:49:42 +0000

With a fresh and clean layout, Do It! looks to be a fantastic way to manage your Google Tasks account. It features a very professional layout, with full swiping gesture controls, making for an easy to use system that should help you get through your busy schedule. It allows for multiple accounts to be managed at once, the setting up of specific account reminders, and the ability to quickly create tasks and set the due date without the need to modify each task. Also, for you DashClock fiends, it also is completely compatible allowing for all of your tasks to be displayed on your lockscreen. I myself have never really needed a task manager app, but I know this one will surely interest a few of you out there. Play Link: Free | Pro ($2.99)

HTC One Launching in Select T-Mobile Stores on April 24

Kellen — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:17:51 +0000

According to an internal T-Mobile document obtained by TmoNews, the UNCarrier is planning to launch the HTC One on April 24 in select stores. This news comes after what seems like weeks of delays on a number of carriers, but with AT&T and Sprint already announcing their own launch dates, this now completes the trio of carriers that will carry the device in the U.S. The device should sell for $99 down, along with a $20 per month charge until the device is paid off. We have an HTC One in house and are expecting to have a review up this week. The One is a polarizing device, to say the least, so you won't want to miss what we have to say. For now, be sure to check out our unboxing, tips for new users of the One, initial software tour, and comparison to the Galaxy S3 and other top phones.

Via: TmoNews

Samsung Could Move Away From Plastic Hardware With Galaxy Note 3

Tim — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:30:23 +0000

According to Samsung insiders, the Korean manufacturer is looking to finally break away from their plastic roots for the upcoming Galaxy Note 3. When seeing the praise the HTC One received for sporting an all-aluminum shell, Samsung got to thinking. Apparently, even the Galaxy S4 could have sported a metal body, but time was running short and Samsung opted for the more easily mass-manufactured plastic design that is to go on sale at the end of the month. While the insider did not give a specific material that the Galaxy Note 3 would be comprised of, it appears that they stressed it would be more metallic. So, take that however you choose. Interestingly enough, some people do prefer Samsung's plastic over a metal body, which cuts down on weight and adds flexibility to devices. Which do you prefer? Metal or plastic? Via: SamMobile

Update for Verizon's Galaxy Camera Introduces New Smart Modes, Remote View Finder, and S Memo

Kellen — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:10:01 +0000

Over the weekend, our Samsung Galaxy Camera from Verizon received a massive 180MB update, but a changelog was missing at the time, leaving us wondering what was included. The changelog for build VRAMC4 is now live, with full details on the update. After downloading and installing the update, you'll find Samsung's S Memo and Help as parts of the camera's app list. Along with these new apps, you'll also be able to use new Smart modes called Dawn, Party Indoor, Snow, and Food. And finally, the update introduces a remote view finder function, giving you the power to control your camera through a Galaxy S phone, iPhone, or Galaxy Tab device. The update is 179.8MB in size.

More info.

The Traveler for Android May be Your Ultimate Trip Documenting Companion

Kellen — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:30:05 +0000

Should you have a trip planned in the near future and are looking for new ways to document your every move with a smartphone or tablet, I suggest you give The Traveler a look. The app was originally developed by the fine folks at Ball State University as a field trip or journal app for students who studied abroad, but with positive feedback and an ever-growing list of features, it could easily be a trip journal for us all. The app was recently redesigned to fit all sorts of Android design guidelines on both tablets and phones. To put it simply, this app is beautiful and buttery smooth. It has built-in Google Maps, uses code based off of Google My Tracks to record paths and excursions, allows you to snap photos of your adventures, place markers on maps and attach items to them, draw out sketches (with a Note 2), and replay entire trips later on through Google Earth. It's feature-rich, but we're told that there is "still a lot more" the developer wants to do with it. Right now, it works on Ice Cream Sandwich devices and above. It's 100% free.

Features include: * Capture photos, videos and audio on your trip and a marker will be added to the map * Record your path and replay using Google Earth * Send your paths to Google using Google Docs, Maps or Spreadsheets * Share media with friends and family using your favorite social media apps * Work offline to record your trips no matter where your travels take you * Sketch and draw using a variety of brushes, tools and colors using the S Pen Recent updates include new features such as: * Google Maps v2, featuring tilt, panning, rotating and 3D buildings * New path options - merging multiple paths, path detail, share with friends and family. * Quick camera option - take photos right from the action bar * Settings option - default canvas orientation, backup database (restore functionality coming in future updates) * Google Account integration for profiles * Add markers to quickly and easily mark a location on the map

Play Link

Cheers Kyle!

AT&T HTC One Bootloader Unlockable Via HTCdev Site

Tim — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:09:13 +0000

For now, it would appear that the AT&T variant of the HTC One sports a completely unlockable bootloader. By using HTC's own HTCdev site and generating the proper key, your device can be free to exploitation, as long as AT&T and HTC don't go fixing the problem. Once the device goes live on AT&T's network, folks will be keeping their eyes peeled on various forums to see if they patch the device and stop people from performing the unlock. Until then, if you somehow already have a One on AT&T and want root, plus all the other goodies that come along with an unlocked bootloader, you better get on this. Via: XDA Cheers Christopher!

NVIDIA CEO Shows Off Battlefield 3 on New Kepler Mobile Hardware

Tim — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:38:25 +0000

Speaking at last week's company investor day, NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang, gave attendees a treat for the eyes. If you know NVIDIA, you know about their love for roadmaps and teasing future (and I stress future) products. Last week, Jen-Hsun gave everyone a peak at a project called, Kepler Mobile. With the Kepler Mobile chip, mobile devices will be able to rival the processing power of today's computers, allowing gamers to play top titles such as Battlefield 3 on a tablet. NVIDIA engineers have been working hard to shrink down the size of Kepler, while also bringing its power consumption down from dozens of watts to hundreds of milliwatts. During GTC, Jen-Hsun announced that the upcoming Logan processor (possibly known as the Tegra 5) would feature the Kepler GPU. So, while we await Tegra 4 devices and the performance they have in store, I guess it's time to start waiting for this as well. Via: Venture Beat

DROID DNA "SIM Card Error" Update is Live

Kellen — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:55:56 +0000

If you own a DROID DNA, you should be receiving a new 32MB update at any moment. According to the wave of emails that populated our inbox moments ago, a number of you have already received and installed it. At 32.9MB, it should only take a few minutes to complete, assuming you are on LTE. The update has one purpose - to fix the SIM card error that has plagued the phone for some time. To check to see if the update is available, head into Settings>About>Software updates. Cheers Zepfloyd, Rick, Jason, dh, Damian and Daniel!

DROID Bionic Jelly Bean Update Available for Download and Manual Install

Kellen — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:39:33 +0000

On Friday, Verizon approved the much-anticipated Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.2) update for the Motorola DROID Bionic. As is typical with Motorola updates, an initial rollout of the new firmware was pushed to members of a test group to make sure that no major issues were hanging around. Thanks to that push to testers, we now have the file for anyone willing to take the plunge and manually update ahead of time. In order to flash the update file, you'll have to be running stock 6.7.246, which is the last update the Bionic received. You can have root prior to updating, but will likely need to utilize the OTA Rootkeeper app in order to keep it afterwards. Reports seem to be mixed thus far on whether or not this is working, though. In order to flash the update, download the file from below, drop it on your SD card, reboot into recovery, and then install from SD Card. The full changelog for the update can be found here. Update: If the download link below is dead, be sure to head to the XDA thread. Via: XDA [Download Link] Cheers Russel and Justtyn!

Sliding Messaging Updated, Brings New UI and Google Now-like Card Layout

Tim — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:33:16 +0000

Before I get started, I want to point out that I have been a major fan and supporter of Sliding Messaging since early January. It was a major step in the right direction for text messaging on Android, bringing a great mix of looks and functionality to a somewhat bland stock experience Google gives us. Last night, Sliding Messaging received a major update, bringing a completely "re-imagined" look for the entire app. Inside the update is a new card-based UI. As one reader put it, think Google Now. On the first page, you are shown your entire list of conversations, allowing you to swipe through cards of all your ongoing texts. Depending on how many people you text, this could either be great or a nightmare. If you hit on a single conversation in the list of threads, you are skipped to it, then can hit back to be returned to your messages. It's neat, but is quite slow depending on how many texts you have. So far, I have tried the updated version on a Nexus 4 and a RAZR HD, with much more luck performance wise on the Nexus 4. The RAZR HD can hardly handle the new card system, so unfortunately I had to disable it. I simply had too many cards for this poor phone to handle. Performance optimizations are something the dev will hopefully look into as the update rolls out and bug fix requests pour in. In the meantime, go check it out and let me know what you think of the update. Play Link ($0.99) Cheers Derrick!

Dish Network Proposes $25.5 Billion Bid to Take Control of Sprint

Eric — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:00:23 +0000

The last time we heard news from Dish Network, they were in a bidding war with Sprint over majority share of Clearwire. It now seems as if Dish got tired of that idea and has since decided to try and buy Sprint instead. Sprint and SoftBank have been trying to close a deal that would put the Japanese carrier in control, but Dish has made a larger bid and hopes to raise the funds needed to complete the deal.

Dish wants to purchase Sprint to become the first company to be able to offer broadband internet, TV and mobile plans under one roof. This is just a proposal though, it doesn't mean the deal is anywhere close to being done. At this point the ball is in Sprint's court for making a decision on which offer to take. Dish's deal comes in at $25.5 billion where as SoftBank's is only $20.1 and we know how money talks.

Who knows what this means for the rumored Google and Dish Network mobile network, but it's not looking good.

Via: Sprint | The Verge

Potential Launch Date Leaks for Verizon Galaxy S4, Others Too

Tim — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:36:42 +0000

Over the weekend, an internal document from Staples hinted at which dates we can expect to see the Galaxy S4 become available on three out of the four major U.S. carriers. According to the sheet, AT&T will first receive Samsung's next flagship starting April 26, followed by T-Mobile on May 1 and Verizon a whole month later on May 30. The dates for AT&T align quite well, given that AT&T confirmed pre-orders would begin tomorrow, the 16th. In the pictured document, it shows that employees should begin prepping in-store signage for reservations starting April 16. Given its nature, I wouldn't place any bets on these dates quite yet, but at least it's a start. Via: Engadget

Verizon's Samsung Galaxy Camera Receives Massive Mystery 180MB Update to VRAMC4

Kellen — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 09:06:01 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy Camera (EK-GC120) for Verizon received a major update (at least in size) this morning to build VRAMC4. The update weighs in at almost 180MB, which is substantial, though we're not sure at all what was included with it. Verizon nor Samsung have mentioned the new firmware, so at this point, we're stuck waiting for answers. It is still running Android 4.1.2 after the update is pushed through, though. I'm leaning towards it being a camera software upgrade rather than much of an upgrade on the Android side. After downloading, seeing the working Bugdroid, and then rebooting for the first time, a screen appears that says "Upgrading Camera Software," before rebooting one more time. I thumbed through the camera software, and even snapped a few pictures, but came up empty. If you own this camera, let us know if you received the update and if you have noticed any changes. Cheers Charles!

Video: This is Why Facebook Home Sucks, at Least for Now

Kellen — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 10:17:46 +0000

I know this may be hard to believe, but I actually did find some time to spend with Facebook Home over the last 24 hours. As someone who self-admittedly is far from a lover of the social network, I still felt it necessary to give it a shot as the release is a bold move by Facebook in general as it relates to Android. This isn't a fork, but it's Facebook telling you that you should live and breath Facebook at all times, especially on your phone. The rest of what you know as a phone is not as important as the status update of your least favorite classmate from 11th grade Biology - at least to Facebook. So what do I think? Boy, does it need a lot of work. The video below sums it up nicely.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOLwnGXmslk[/youtube]

Let Us Escort You Into the Weekend

Tim — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:40:06 +0000

With a slight change in some schedules, we decided to have episode 21 of The Droid Life Show on Thursday in stead of Wednesday. We have been gone for two weeks and you can really tell how happy we are to be back, conversing on all things Android. This week, being that we were gone forever, we had a lot to cover. We went over Facebook's Home application, the HTC First, discussed the HTC One, the unbelievable unlocking of Motorola's bootloaders, and even had a few apps to talk about. It was amazing. Remember, if you can't catch us live, you can always subscribe to our feeds below and never go without your weekly dose of the DL Staff. Don't worry, we like the stalkers.

This Week in the Life of DROID: 4/12/2013

Tim — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:10:36 +0000

This week flew by, as it seemed every day had its own individual highlights. For example, today was marked by Verizon's contract info being changed around as well as the launch of Facebook's Home application. A few apps of note were also released this week to the newly redesigned Google Play store, which should easily take up your weekend's time. We're seeing major updates for devices like the Bionic as well. If you missed any of the action, be sure to catch up below.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Video: NVIDIA Shows Off Arma Tactics on Project SHIELD

Tim — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:00:30 +0000

NVIDIA continues their teasing of Project SHIELD with another video, this time featuring an upcoming Android title, Arma Tactics. With Tegra 4 enhancements, Arma Tactics is an extremely well designed warfare game, with random missions and objectives, meaning gameplay should never be the same twice. Of course, it's not really the game we are truly concerned about, but the hardware it is being played on. NVIDIA, when are we getting release date and pricing information? Check out the video below to see what to expect when Arma Tactics drops on Android. [youtube]http://youtu.be/ueiKUp8gE2M[/youtube] Via: NVIDIA

Pebble Updated Once Again, Watchface SDK Also Released

Kellen — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:28:13 +0000

Pebble, the Kickstarter funded smartwatch of the moment, stuck to its word and released their Watchface SDK, today. Going forward, developers will have the opportunity to get creative with the watchfaces that can be shared and downloaded to Pebble. We're already seeing a handful in the Pebble forums, but the list will likely grow tremendously over the next few weeks as developers have time to play with this release. The Pebble team also released an OS update today to build 1.10.0. The new software brings support for watchfaces created by the previously mentioned Watchface SDK, helps increase battery life on iOS devices, include an improved battery indicator, and more. They also squashed a bunch of bugs, all of which we have listed below.

What's New

Added support for third-party watchfaces created by the watchface SDK (see the SDK release notes for more details).

Resolved power-savings issues causing impaired battery life when connected to an iOS device.

Improved the responsiveness and power-efficiency of several system applications.

Improved battery indicator to be more responsive and accurate.

Added an option to disable turning on the backlight using the accelerometer.

Added an option to disable the vibrating motor when a notification arrives.

Factory reset now removes all non-system applications and watchfaces.

"Allow Pebble to communicate..." pop-ups occur much less frequently on iOS.

Bug Fixes

Fixed a crash that occurred when an email is sent over MAP on iOS with an empty subject.

Fixed a crash in the music app that occurred when Bluetooth was disabled.

Fixed a crash in the music app if tracks were changed too quickly when paired with an iOS device.

Fixed an issue where non-fullscreen apps that aren't animated don't render properly.

Fixed an edge-case where Pebble would not properly connect to an iOS device.

Fixed an issue where multiple vibration patterns would run concurrently.

And last, the Pebble Android app was updated to also include support for the Watchface SDK. You'll find a new settings menu as well. Via: Pebble Forums [2] [SDK] [Play Link] Cheers Lake!

Trailer: Gameloft's Dungeon Hunter 4 Headed to Android Soon

Tim — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:25:49 +0000

[youtube]http://youtu.be/9ywtJReQ9MI[/youtube]

Time to get your epic dungeon crawler on. Today, Gameloft released an "exclusive" trailer for an upcoming title, Dungeon Hunter 4. From the gameplay footage, the graphics look to be sweet, plus there are a literal ton of monsters and demons to battle. All in all, it looks pretty bad ass. We have no release details besides "coming soon," so stay tuned if you are interested.

Custom ROM Friday: Scott's CleanROM for Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Tim — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:45:33 +0000

Welcome to Custom ROM Friday. Today, we are featuring CleanROM for the Galaxy Note 2 from developer scrosler. There is only so many ways to describe a custom ROM, so who better to sum up their work than the developer themselves? Here is the basic idea behind the ROM - "CleanROM is targeted to the towards the user that wants a stock ROM experience with the ability to choose the features and functions they want, demand performance and expect stability!" Seems, legit, right? On top of having a completely stable and performance-enhanced build, users are able to choose which add-ons and modifications they want to use. For example, features such as Samsung's multi-window are beefed up to allow any app to be compatible, as well as the unlocked ability to WiFi tether. As a cherry on top, the developer also threw in some additional ringtones and fonts for the device. Below we have placed some features that should certainly get some excited, as well as a link to where you can download the ROM. Notable Features:

International N7105XXDMB6 Jellybean 4.1.2 Base
Multi Window Control to add or remove any app you want!
WiFi Tether Unlocked!
Unsecure boot image with init.d support!
Samsung Find My Mobile capable!
Long Press to skip music tracks with screen off!
Additional Ringtones and Fonts!
Performance and Stability that is nothing short of Legendary!

To download CleanROM, head to the full XDA thread here. Overview of CleanROM via YouTube: [youtube]http://youtu.be/QFj9aTd0GaY[/youtube] Cheers everyone who submitted a ROM!

Facebook Home is Good for Google and Android [Opinion]

Ron — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:00:01 +0000

Facebook Home has been heralded by some as Facebook's first shot at Google and Apple and a warning that they're going to enter the phone market with their own phone and OS soon. Still others have warned that Facebook Home may spell trouble for Google. I think Facebook Home is great for Google and great for the Android ecosystem as a whole. When Facebook first sent out their press invitations the Facebook Home event, the Menlo Park-based company only hinted that it was going to show off its new home on Android. Immediately bloggers and journalists began to conjecture that Facebook was going to announce that it had forked Android. HTC was tied to the announcement early on according to rumors, prompting numerous stories asking if Facebook was indeed going to finally make a Facebook phone with their own OS based on Android on HTC's hardware. This idea was preposterous, of course. In order for HTC to make a device with a forked version of Android, HTC would have to leave the Open Handset Alliance (something that Acer learned the hard way). Even if HTC didn't have the shackles of the OHA holding it back, HTC is in no condition to risk Google's ire by making a fork of Android. HTC needs all the help it can get, and the only place that help is likely coming from is Google. If you pull HTC out of the equation and assume that Facebook either secretly entered the hardware manufacturing business or found another hardware partner that isn't a part of the OHA (go ahead, try and think of an OEM that Facebook would trust that isn't in the OHA and would fork Android) then Facebook would still have to come up with a solution for getting people Android apps outside of the Play Store. Even more importantly, if Facebook was forking Android, wouldn't they want to avoid talking about Android like Amazon does? Without the Play Store, companies like Amazon have to emphasize that the OS running on the Fire and similar products is familiar like Android, but different in that it doesn't have any of the apps you purchased (who are we kidding - Android users don't buy apps!). Lo and behold, Facebook was not planning on forking Android to make their own phone. Instead, Facebook made an app that can run on almost any Android phone (or at least it will), making any phone a Facebook phone. This approach requires far fewer resources (although the quality of the app suggests that Facebook had undoubtedly worked hard on making a their own version of Android) and reaches far more of Facebook's one billion users than they ever could with one phone. This approach encouraged journalists and bloggers to wonder if this move was bad for Google. "Surely Google is upset that Facebook is taking over the lock and home screens of devices instead of Google+! Google has to strike back with Google+ Home!" The thing is, Google already has that plan in place - it's called Google Now. Right now Google Now may not have Plus integration, but that sort of thing must be just around the corner (Babel is just another move by Google to consolidate all communications under your Google+ profile - you have "upgraded" to Google+, haven't you?). Now seems destined to become the hub for your notifications and content on every platform (all your email, messages, directions, searches, websites, etc.). Making a Google+ Home would make Google look like they were caught with their pants down by Facebook's announcement. Google undoubtedly knows that a Plus Home would not be nearly as popular as Facebook home, so any efforts in that direction would be a waste of resources. Besides, if Google can get Android (and iOS) users to get used to finding everything they need in Now, they'll win. Facebook may continue to be the main place for social interactions, but Now will hold everything else. The reality is, Google has nothing to worry about. The HTC First runs stock Android underneath and has all of Google's services from search to maps to Gmail. While Google may want people to be using Google+ over Facebook, Facebook Home isn't hurting Google's bottom line. Even with Home installed, users will still be reliant on Google's services and seeing and tapping on Google's ads. Facebook would have too many obstacles to overcome if they wanted to really challenge Google with their own phone and OS. Facebook and Google are certainly both after the same thing (information about users to sell advertisements), but that doesn't necessarily mean one company has to win and the other has to lose. So if Google still has tons of information about their users to sell ads and doesn't have to worry about Facebook forking Android, why should Google be worried? Facebook Home is actually a really good thing for Google. What platform has the best Facebook experience? Only Android. Sure, you can get the Facebook app on iOS, Windows Phone, and Blackberry 10, but only on Android devices do you get the best experience for interacting with your friends on Facebook. While a lot of tech nerds seem to dislike Facebook, regular people love it. Having a phone or home replacement that is designed around the app you have open 90% of the time could be really compelling to users. It may not make a lot of people change from iOS or Windows Phone, but it may convince some to stay with Android so they can keep that great Facebook Home experience. Facebook has set a new standard for what can happen with home screen replacements and how people can and should interact with their phones. Microsoft may have pioneered the idea that people should come before apps, but they didn't push the idea that you should stay on your phone interacting with them in such a deeply enveloped way. Facebook has come a really long way from their first mobile apps to native apps for Android and iOS to Home. I'm excited to see a new wave of innovation in the home screen space as well as what else Facebook will do in mobile.

Training Materials Suggest Verizon Will Introduce a Device Payment Plan in the Near Future (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:34:25 +0000

On the heels of this morning's report that Verizon is changing up device upgrade periods from 20 months to 24 months, we have a follow-up report that may lift your spirits a bit. According to the document we received that appears to be a part of a training guide for this new upgrade policy, Verizon is confirming to employees that a new "Device Payment Plan" will be introduced "soon." There is also mention of this payment plan being used to pay off the "full retail cost" of devices, an initiative T-Mobile started and is enforcing with their new UNcarrier approach.

While specifics are not mentioned, we would assume (or at least hope) that this would be an alternative option to customers having to sign two-year contracts, since Verizon's own CEO Lowell McAdam mentioned at the end of last week that he's open to ending contracts as long as there is a demand for them. At the same time, the document does mention that this new payment plan may only be an option for those who simply want a new device but are not yet at the end of a contract. It specifically says for customers who "want the latest cutting edge device or are just not satisfied with a working device." With T-Mobile, customers can sign up for service, but are not asked to sign a traditional 2-year contract. Instead, T-Mobile asks that you pay for monthly service, but also offers you the option to pick up a new device and then pay monthly installments on it until it is fully paid off. So rather than signing a contract, paying a subsidy (discount) on a phone, and feeling trapped for two years, T-Mobile lets you have some freedom as long as you pay off your phone in full. If you'd like to pay it off in full up front, it's yours. If you'd like to pay it off over time, you can do that as well. We speculated this morning in the comments of our report that aligning upgrades with contract periods could be a sign that a situation like this is on the horizon. What we're curious to learn now, is how this affects those of us with unlimited data plans or if it has anything to do with contracts whatsoever. Since tiered and shared data plans were introduced, Verizon was forcing you to give up unlimited data should you take a subsidy (discount) on a phone and sign a new contract. But if they are going to a device payment plan, potentially without contracts, customers are technically buying phones at full retail, which in the past has been a way to get around losing unlimited data. Verizon has yet to announce this new plan, so for now, details are scarce. We have reached out to Verizon for comment and will report back should we hear anything. Update: Verizon made somewhat of an announcement for the Device Payment Plan, saying that these operate outside of contracts and are simply a way for customers to buy phones before their contract is up.

"Customers also have the option of purchasing a phone at full price at any point before their contract expires and beginning April 21, some devices will be available for purchase through the Verizon Wireless Device Payment Plan."

Sprint Lands Exclusive Amethyst Purple Galaxy S3

Tim — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:00:46 +0000

This morning, Sprint and Samsung announced an exclusive new color for the Galaxy S3 called, amethyst purple. Oooh, pretty. It's the same S3, 4.8" display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, NFC, and that 2,100mAh battery. According to the press release it is available starting today for $99 on a new to year agreement, so if you like purple and you like last year's tech, head to Sprint right now.

Facebook Home Now Available on Android for Select Devices

Kellen — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:24:03 +0000

After updating the standard Facebook and Messenger apps this morning to prepare for the arrival of Facebook Home, Facebook has released the final piece to the puzzle. That's right, Facebook Home is now available for select devices. If you own a Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, HTC One, One X, or One X+, feel free to grab the app from Google Play for free. For those not familiar, Facebook Home is similar in a way to apps like Nova Launcher because it's nothing more than a 3rd party launcher that can replace your current home experience. But it differs drastically when it comes to features and user experience in that Facebook is pushed to the front of your phone. Your app drawer is accessed differently, there are no widgets, your timeline is streamed as pages on your home screens, and navigation is something that may take some getting used to. Additional support for devices not mentioned above is on the way, but no specific timeframe has been given. *Note - At this time, it's semi-live. We are only able to see it on our Nexus 4s. I can't get it to show up on my HTC One or Galaxy S3, two devices that are supposed to be compatible. Give it a few minutes. Update: It appears to be live for my Galaxy S3 and HTC One, as long as I click on the direct link. Searching, I still come up empty. Play Link

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiqbNxRurFA[/youtube]

DROID DNA Receiving New Update to Improve SIM Card Detection

Kellen — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:15:02 +0000

Verizon has approved another update this morning, only this time it's for the HTC DROID DNA. The update is incredibly small and only contains improvements to make SIM card detection better. That's it. The update is 33MB in size. More info.

Funny: AdBlock Has Partnered With Google Glass to Rid Us of Pesky Billboards

Eric — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:20:53 +0000

Ever get tired of seeing advertisements in real life? AdBlock has partnered with Google Glass to give you the same ability that they offer on the web in your everyday life. To show how their new technology works they tweeted the above picture of Times Square after the ads have been blocked.

Unfortunately, seeing as how Google removed AdBlock from the Play Store this kind of partnership doesn't seem very likely, but we can hope right? It doesn't seem likely this would ever make it to Glass even if it were possible, but it might make Glass worth getting for some people.

Silly.

Via: Adblock (Twitter)

DROID Bionic Jelly Bean Update Approved by Verizon as Build 98.72.22 (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:45:32 +0000

The Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.2) update for the DROID Bionic has been approved by Verizon as build number 98.72.22. The update will include a number of important goodies like an immensely improved voice search, smarter notifications with actionable items, a better keyboard, and of course, Google Now. Your device should also run smoother, feature more intuitive graphics, and react quicker to touch responses thanks to Project Butter. Outside of new Android features, Motorola has improved voice and data connectivity (hotspot too) and calendar settings. They also removed bloatware. A soak test of the update to members of Motorola's Feedback Network will likely start before the mass rollout happens, so stay patient for now. Once that is complete, we'll be sure to report back. Update: Verizon confirms that the update will start to roll out in phases from April 15. The update is 98.72MB in size.

More info.

Report: Twitter's New Music App Will Launch This Weekend, Ryan Seacrest Says So (Updated)

Eric — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:45:16 +0000

Your social network isn't worth any salt these days unless you can share what music you are listening to with all your friends. Rumor has it that Twitter is looking to right this wrong by releasing a new music application that will work side-by-side with your timeline. There have been plenty of rumors surrounding this app, but don't worry, Ryan Seacrest can verify its existence for us.

All Things D is reporting that we should be seeing this new application as soon as this weekend. According to their sources, the service "suggests artists and tracks to users based on a number of personalized signals." Users will even be able to listen to music inside the app through third party services and watch videos from Vevo.

Coachella, the huge music festival in California, kicks is this weekend, so it would make sense for them to be on the edge of the music news with their new app. Earlier this week, Twitter announced that they have acquired the music recommendation service We Are Hunted which seems to add to this weekend's timing.

We don't know much about this new application, but Ryan Seacrest sure does. Seacrest's twitter says that the app is all about finding trending artists and being able to play their music from within the app. Expect to find music videos and other features when it launches sometime soon.

Update: Twitter Music is live at music.twitter.com, but it's showing as "invitation only."

Via: AllThingsD | Mashable

Facebook Messenger App Updated, Chat Heads Available For All

Tim — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:13:45 +0000

Initially, since Facebook Home is said to only be compatible with about five devices, we figured it would be the same for the Chat Head feature as well. As most know, Chat Heads is the only part of the Home experience we are really excited about, so to see that after an update to Messenger, that Chat Heads works just fine on any device is pretty great. Once FB Messenger is updated through Google Play, you can take your conversations anywhere with you, as the little Chat Heads follow you no matter what app or video you are viewing. If they get in the way, simply toss them off of the display with a swipe of the finger. Once I get some time to play with it, you can expect to see a little hands-on video with the new feature later today. Until then, go get your chat on. Play Link

Verizon Confirms Our Report: Upgrade Eligibility Changes to 24-month Cycle, NE2 Credits Gone as of April 15

Kellen — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:52:49 +0000

And just like that, Verizon has confirmed our report from earlier this morning that changes are coming to upgrade cycles. The full statement is below.

The business has evolved and the extensive Verizon Wireless device portfolio gives customers more options than ever before. It is not uncommon for customers to have multiple devices such as a smartphone and a tablet or a Jetpack. In that context, Verizon Wireless is making the following changes to its upgrade practices:

Upgrade eligibility begins at the end of 24-month contract. The change allows customers to plan on a single upgrade date for each of their connected devices and is in keeping with how the majority of customers purchase their new phones today. The first customers impacted by this change are customers whose contracts expire in January 2014. Customers may purchase a new phone at the full retail price at any time prior to the end of their contract.

Customers with New Every Two credits have until April 15, 2013 to use those credits. The New Every Two program ended in Jan. 2011.

Customers may continue to share an upgrade with another person on an account as long as that customer is purchasing another device in the same category. A basic phone or a smartphone upgrade may be used to purchase another mobile phone. The option to transfer upgrades from non-phone devices (such as a Jetpack or tablet) will no longer be available.

So, there you have it. Via: Verizon

Incoming Verizon Changes: NE2 Credits Gone April 15, Device Upgrade Cycles Changing to 24 Months, and More

Kellen — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:00:30 +0000

Over the next few days, according to information we have obtained, Verizon is planning to issue a handful of policy changes that will likely affect many of you. The first relates to the New Every 2 (NE2) program that used to award customers with $100 credits on new smartphone purchases. As you all know, this program was killed off some time ago, back in the beginning of 2011 - this is not news. What is new, is the fact that on April 15, all unused credits will expire from your accounts and you will no longer be eligible to use them. So if you were holding out to use your last NE2 credit for something like the Galaxy S4 which still doesn't have a confirmed date with Big Red, you will eventually be doing so without that credit. They gave you over two years to use these.

Next up, we have news on the current 20 month upgrade cycle that in the past has allowed customers of Verizon to upgrade their phones a full four months before their contract expired (typical contracts are 24 months). As of April 21, that will change. Once the 21st rolls around, anyone with an upgrade that is scheduled to arrive before September 1, 2013 (or essentially a contract that expires in January of 2014), will get to keep the same upgrade date. For those with upgrade dates later than 9/1/13, your next upgrade will be moved onto a new 24 month schedule or "aligned to contract terms." Yes, that means Verizon is moving to 24 month upgrade cycles. So from 4/21 forward, or if your upgrade date is set for some time after 9/1/13, your upgrade date will be set as 24 months out from when you first signed your 2-year contract. If your current upgrade date is set for before 9/1/13, you can keep your date, but then once you upgrade, will be moved onto a 24 month cycle. According to VZW, upgrade eligibility changes do not represent a change to the customer agreement terms or conditions, so this is not going to be something to get you out of a contract. At least that's how I'm reading it. This also does not affect business accounts or VZW employee accounts.

And last, Verizon is making a change to upgrade transfers. In the past, if your Jetpack or tablet was listed in your account as having an eligible upgrade, you could transfer that over to a phone and then upgrade your phone line sooner. On 4/21, this will no longer be the case. Upgrade transfers will only be allowed to be moved between phones, not alternate devices. As a reminder, this is not a time to call in and make the lives of customer services reps a living hell. These folks are not the ones making policy changes. Should you call to inquire about any of this info, attempt to be civil. Update: Verizon just confirmed our report.

The Droid Life Show: Episode 21

Kellen — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:33:46 +0000

Hey, look, we're back! The Droid Life Show episode 21 will finally go down tonight after a two-week absence (apologies). As one would expect after a hiatus, we have a ton of mega-topics on hand. If you haven't heard, Facebook is trying to takeover Android, the HTC One still isn't available, yet I have one in hand, the Galaxy S4 is moments away, Motorola bootloaders have been unlocked, and we may even have an app or two to discuss. It should be a glorious return. Be sure to join us! The show kicks off around 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). A live video broadcast and chat are embedded below.

Subscribe | iTunes | Show Page

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvhJRzimqcw[/youtube]

The Droid Life Show is Back! Starts Tonight at 6PM PST

Tim — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:06:42 +0000

The Droid Life Show is making an epic comeback tonight at 6PM Pacific. We have been gone for the past two weeks due to scheduling conflicts, but don't worry, we're back! Given we have been absent, we have quite a bit to talk about - Facebook's large investment in Android with Home, Samsung's new Mega phones, our time with the HTC One, the brand new Google Play app, and a ton more! The show begins at 6:00PM Pacific (9:00PM Eastern). We’ll have live video and chat embeds at that time. If you are unable to join us live, be sure to subscribe so that you can still catch every episode.

Subscribe | iTunes | Show Page

DROID RAZR M Soak Test on the Way, Just a Maintenance Release

Kellen — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:59:40 +0000

Edge-to-edge connoisseurs, the DROID RAZR M has a new update on the horizon. According to emails sent out to members of Motorola's Feedback Network, an early preview of a "new software release" will arrive shortly. If you were hoping for Android 4.2, I have a feeling you'll be disappointed - the email says specifically that this is nothing more than a "maintenance release." Still, who doesn't love new software? Bug squashing is still fun, isn't it? Assuming the test kicks off within the next few days, it shouldn't be long before the public release. On a semi-related note, we aren't sure if this will wipe out the bootloader exploit that Dan Rosenberg found or not. Better decide quickly if you wish to be unlocked. And because I'm always curious, who is rockin' a RAZR M? I, personally, still love this little phone. Cheers J, A, and M!

Cut the Rope: Time Travel Coming to Android in Near Future or Possibly Back From the Past

Tim — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:19:48 +0000

[youtube]http://youtu.be/tHqhC6N4ShI[/youtube]

ZeptoLabs announced today that there will be a brand new Cut the Rope game coming to both iOS and Android called, Time Travel. Details are sparse as to what new things we will see in the title, but with a tag of "almost here," we are excited for its inevitable release. Although nothing is confirmed, it would be hard to imagine that ZeptoLabs would change up their winning formula on their biggest title. No dates, no price. Just the way Om Nom fans like it.

New App Claims to Unroot Any Android Device With a Single Tap

Kellen — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:11:57 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySNStU8OTuk[/youtube]

How many times over the years do you think we have seen the question "How do I unroot?" pop up in the comments or our inbox? Without an official count, I'd say we're hovering around 52,342...wait 52,343 now. With warranty claims or new OTA updates seemingly always on the horizon, you get where we are going with this, right? As much as we like to root phones and tablets, there are plenty of occasions that require you to return your phone back to somewhat of a factory state. Enter Matt Groff's Universal Unroot application that was released to Google Play, today. Assuming you already have root access (if you don't, then why are you attempting to use this app?), Universal Unroot will unroot your device with the tap of a single button. As you'll see in the video we have included up top, this app should work on a variety of phones (mostly Motorola devices seem to have been tested). Should your device come back with an error and not unroot, hit up the Play store listing and email him so that he can work on compatibility. We reached out to Matt to see exactly what is being removed during this process and he said that it "unroots all possible locations and names of the su binary and all versions of Superuser." So there you have it. Unroot without the hassle. Play Link ($0.99)

CyanogenMod 10.1 M3 Builds Now Available For Large List of Devices

Tim — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:29:22 +0000

It's almost the weekend, so let's get a shiny new ROM flashed for you to play with. Today, CyanogenMod launched the 10.1 M3 builds for an impressive list of phones like the Galaxy S3, Nexus 4, One X, Galaxy Nexus, etc. Naturally, as more builds are uploaded for different devices, you can expect to see this already impressive list grow even larger. In terms of what is new, you can expect to see the new Pie Control UI baked in, Koush's open source Superuser application, and plenty other little goodies. To download the M3 build for your device, follow the via to head to CM's main download landing page. Via: CM

Pulse Acquired by Linkedin, Apps "Will Remain the Same" for Now

Kellen — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:40:49 +0000

Pulse, one of the most popular news reader applications on Android and iOS, has been acquired by Linkedin. After rumors of talks between the two spread across the internet over the last couple of weeks, this move isn't entirely all that surprising, but still news none the less, as it may affect Android users at some point in the future. As of today, Pulse and Linkedin both stated that Pulse's apps will remain the same "for now" and "in the meantime." Clearly they are leaving the door open for changes, which makes sense for two companies who have just joined forces. If you didn't want to make changes, why acquire something? But I digress. The move will help push Linkedin in the publishing field, something they have been working towards for some time now. They continue to seek out professionals who not only want to consume content, but publish it as well. Using one of the hottest news aggregating services in the world isn't a bad place start. The transaction is valued at approximately $90 million. Any big Pulse users out there? Via: Pulse | Linkedin

ES File Manager Beta Updated, Bug Fixes on Top of Fancy Holo UI

Tim — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:28:07 +0000

The ES File Manager has been undergoing beta testing over on XDA, and recently a new version was released for folks to try out. Between this and the previous beta, there looks to be only bug fixes, but if you are using the ES File Manager from Google Play, you will notice huge differences. For example, the UI has been completely redesigned, on top of the other features being added as well. If you love yourself a good looking Android file manager, load it up and let us know what you think. Download: ES_File_Explorer_V3.0pt_20130410.apk Via: XDA

Leak Shows Sprint Has Plans to Launch 21 4G LTE Markets on April 12

Tim — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:14:37 +0000

According to a recently leaked internal document, Sprint plans to light up a nice list of 4G LTE markets here in the U.S. on April 12. A total of 21 markets will have their switches flipped, bringing their grand total of active 4G markets to nearly 100 now. Below we have neatly listed out each city that should receive the green light sometime tomorrow. New Markets:

Los Angeles and Contra Costa County, CA
Palm Bay, FL
Port St. Lucie, FL
West Palm Beach, FL
Bloomington, IN
Lafayette, IN
Rochelle, IL
Mankato, MN
Joplin, MS
Charlotte, NC
Shelby, NC
Albermarie, NC
Salisbury, NC
Lincolnton, NC
Memphis, TN
Greenville, TN
Tullahoma, TN
Denison, TX
Kerrville, TX
Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA

Via: Phone Arena

Now Taking Submissions for Tomorrow's Custom ROM Friday

Tim — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:43:57 +0000

Tomorrow is Friday, which means it's time to submit your choices for Custom ROM Friday. There are hundreds of developers out there with tons of great work, so here is your chance to make sure that everyone is getting their fair share of the glory. In the comments, link us to your favorite ROM currently and go over why it should be featured. In essence, what makes this ROM better than the others? Let us know which device you are running it on too. Check out our previous Custom ROM Friday posts.

HTC First, the Facebook Phone, Launches Tomorrow at AT&T for $99!

Kellen — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:29:01 +0000

...

Everything.me Launcher Wants to Dynamically Change Phones Based on Location, Interests, and Mental State

Kellen — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:58:35 +0000

What if your phone's launcher dynamically changed based upon interests, your location, or topics you had in mind at a specific moment? A new launcher called Everything.me is attempting to do those things. The idea comes from the thought that your phone should always be changing to your needs, rather than remaining in a static state, with the same wallpapers or apps in exact same spots no matter where you are. The developers behind this launcher think your phone should move and shake as you move and shake. For example, the main home page of Everything.me allows you to search, but not in the traditional Google sense. This is an in-launcher search that returns a new wallpaper, related apps already installed on your phone, and a variety of apps/links not on your phone that may help with your search. As you can see in the picture above (top left), I did a quick search for "the masters" and was welcomed with a beautiful, patron-less, and dewy fairway wallpaper of Augusta, followed by a shortcut to The Masters official website, along with a handful of other sports-related links. If I were to scroll down (yes, the page is scrollable), I'd continue to see new results until I found something useful. The same thing would happen if I searched for a movie, musician, or sports team. The Everything.me launcher also tries to organize your launcher setup for you with what it calls "Smart folders." Smart folders are based around topics that group together related apps on your phone with links to similar topics outside of your phone. There are some major downfalls that I've already noticed after a few minutes with it, though. First, most of (actually all of) the suggestions returned are not links to apps in Google Play that I can install. They are simply shortcuts to websites that are themed to look like app shortcuts. Second, there are no real settings for the launcher. What you see is what you get outside of manually adding in your own widgets or wallpapers. Third, it certainly comes off as one giant potential advertisement in the making. Should this launcher pick up any steam, its developers could easily look to sell results that are returned based upon topics. That would be a massive turn-off. The general purpose of Everything.me is to allow the launcher to change as you need it to. Whether or not it accomplishes that is up for debate. Play Link

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz2pD-gRzpY[/youtube]

Cheers Jeff!

Speedway GP 2013 Released to Android, From the Same Makers of Real Boxing

Tim — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:11:57 +0000

Motorcycle fans looking for that adrenaline rush, but in the safety of your office cubicle might want to check out Speedway GP 2013. From the makers of Real Boxing, this game looks to throw you into the realest racing scenarios, placing you on 12 actual tracks found throughout the world, excellent 3D graphics, and even an excellently placed helmet cam. Features:

Rich 3D graphics and stunning gameplay that puts you right in the heart of the action
New Helmet Cam gives total immersion!
Race around 12 real-world circuits against 15 riders from the 2013 season
Earn bonuses for playing during live events
Play in either Casual or Pro gameplay modes
Includes 4 bonus circuits from 2012 season
Purchase upgrades to improve your performance & unlock circuits
Alternative tap or swipe controls
Watch your performance in 3D replay mode

The game costs $1.99, which doesn't even seem too bad for this level of work. Check out the trailer below and see if spending the cash seems worth it. Sounds like it's time to race. Play Link ($1.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/j_w9Z4ga0gA[/youtube]

Microsoft Updates Xbox SmartGlass App, Brings Support for Tablets 7" and Up

Tim — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:31:14 +0000

This morning, Xbox fans can update the official SmartGlass app for Android through Google Play. Inside the update, there is now official support for Android tablets 7" and up, an "always-on" mode where your device will stop going to sleep while you are connected, and some other minor fixes and enhancements. What's New:

Support for Android tablets 7” and larger.
An ‘always-on’ state for SmartGlass Experiences, so your device doesn’t go to sleep while they’re running.
Numerous design and usability improvements.
Numerous bug fixes.

This is still a great app and I find myself using it all of the time. Highly recommended. Play Link

LG Optimus G Pro "Value Pack" Upgrade Shown on Video - Dual Camera and Smart Pause Included

Kellen — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:03:18 +0000

LG is attempting to take Samsung's 2010-2011 approach to success in the smartphone business - copy everything your biggest competitor does, but try to do it first and loudest if you can. If you remember back on the eve of Samsung's Galaxy S4 unveiling, LG announced new eye-recognition tech that would be released as a software value pack for smartphones like the Optimus G Pro. For weeks leading up to Samsung's announcement, all rumors focused on Samsung putting identical features into the Galaxy S4, so to see LG drop a press note about the same exact tech was worthy of an eye-roll or two. But hey, what can you do when you are down? So that value pack is now even more official, if you will, thanks to a video highlighting all of the features that was uploaded to LG's YouTube channel last night. It's coming to the Optimus G Pro and includes features like Smart Video, Dual Camera, and Pause-&-Resume video recording. Yes, all of these are Galaxy S4 features, though one of them (Pause-&-Resume) has been around for some time on previous Galaxy models. But Smart Video is identical to Smart Pause in that it uses your eyes to recognize whether or not you are staring at your screen while watching video. Should you turn away, the video will automatically pause. Turn back, and it resumes. Dual Camera is also a Galaxy S4 feature, however, LG couldn't quite match Samsung on this one. Dual Camera allows a user to use the front and rear cameras at the same time to snap a dual-picture. But with LG's software enhancement, that's all you can do. Samsung found a way to allow users to record dual-videos as well. We applaud the effort by LG, that's for sure. They've come a long way in the last year and are actually more interested in their devices then ever, especially after being chosen by Google to produce the latest Nexus.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrJ9HKhfSgU[/youtube]

Samsung Announces Galaxy Mega - Two Mid-range Phones With Massive 5.8-inch and 6.3-inch Displays

Kellen — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:31:19 +0000

The Galaxy Mega is official. Announced this morning by Samsung, we have two new Galaxy family members to welcome in, the Mega 5.8 and Mega 6.3. Those numbers are in reference to their display size, in case you were wondering. Each has an "ultra-thin and portable" body, yet carries a similar feature-set to the much-more-high-end Galaxy S4. You'll find Group Play, S Translator, Story Album, all the camera modes you could ever ask for, and multi-window. Oh, you don't care about software, you just want to know the specs? Well, let's get right into that then. These are mid-range devices by today's standards. The Mega 6.3 features a 6.3" HD (720p) LCD display, 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 8MP rear camera, 1.9MP front camera, 8/16GB internal storage, expandable microSD storage slot, 3200mAh battery, LTE and HSPA+ radios, and Android 4.2. The Mega 5.8 on the other hand is even lower in ranks, with a 5.8" qHD LCD display, 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 8MP rear camera, 1.9MP front camera, 2600mAh battery, 8GB internal storage (microSD slot too), and Android 4.2.

Both devices will be available beginning in May from Europe and Russia. Who knows if they'll ever come to the U.S., though I would kind of doubt it. Maybe to someone like Cricket or Virgin? No pricing was given. So there you have it. Saddened by this news? Or are you taking this as a sign of what's to come in the Note 3? Not specs, but size?

Mega 6.3

Mega 5.8

Press Release

Samsung Introduces the GALAXY Mega
April 11, 2013
New GALAXY Mega offers the latest smartphone features with an extensive viewing experience.
SEOUL, Korea, April 11, 2013 - Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced the Samsung GALAXY Mega, a device that combines the portability and convenience of a smartphone with the power, multitasking capabilities and extensive viewing experience of a tablet. The newest addition to the GALAXY family balances an optimal viewing experience on a 6.3-inch HD screen, yet is ultra-thin and portable enough to put into a pocket or hold in one hand. The GALAXY Mega offers a mix of popular smartphone and tablet features such as an effortless user experience, a split screen, multitasking between video and other apps and more. “We are aware of a great potential in the bigger screen for extensive viewing multimedia, web browsing, and more,” said JK Shin, CEO and Head of IT & Mobile Business, Samsung Electronics. “We are excited to provide another choice to meet our consumers’ varying lifestyles, all while maintaining the high-quality features of the award-winning GALAXY series.” Best of Both Worlds The GALAXY Mega is an ideal choice for customers who want to get the most out of one device that brings great quality at an even greater value. With a 6.3-inch HD LCD screen with landscape mode support, the GALAXY Mega enables an exceptional widescreen view for various applications including web browsing, video, and SNS. The GALAXY Mega is also light and thin for incredible portability and easy, convenient mobile phone use. Customers can stay connected with a variety of new phone features including:

'Group Play’: Enables easy content sharing for up to 8 devices on the same Wi-Fi network.

‘Samsung WatchON’: Transforms into an IR remote controller for a richer TV experience. Connect the device to your home entertainment system, and it will provide program recommendations, schedules, and even remotely control your TV.

‘Samsung Link’: Easily streams photos, videos, notes, or music to your television, tablet or computer.

‘S Translator’: Say or text what you need translated into the GALAXY Mega, and it will provide instant translation, using text or voice translation on applications including email, and ChatON.

‘ChatON’: Share what’s on your screen with friends to stay more connected.

Productivity and Multimedia for the Multi-Tasker GALAXY Mega users will accomplish more with the rich, interactive experience and increased usability of the widescreen mode. Split screen capability for a variety of applications including email, messages, ‘MyFiles,’ ‘S Memo,’ ‘S Planner’, and more, makes for increased efficiency. With the popular ‘Air View’ feature, customers can preview information in emails, photos in Gallery, and speed dial contacts. The GALAXY Mega is equipped with an enhanced 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with a 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera, along with a variety of camera modes including ‘Drama Shot’(merging continuous shots of a moving object), ‘Sound & Shot’ (captures 9 seconds of sound and voice together as the picture is taken to capture moments), ‘Rich tone,’ ‘Sports’ and more. The device also packs various newly-introduced features for endless entertainment, including:

‘S Travel’: Provides trip information, local guides and resources and more

‘Story Album’: Allows customers to create albums of daily events, keep special moments in one place using a timeline, geo-tag information and publish digital albums in hard copy

For users seeking the same great tablet features with even more portability, Samsung is introducing the GALAXY Mega 5.8. This more compact version features a 5.8-inch screen. Both GALAXY Mega 6.3 and 5.8 run on the latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean experience, and feature Dual Core Processor, spacious internal storage along with up to 64GB of expandable memory to store favorite apps, music, videos, photos and more. The devices’ advanced software also facilitates more efficient processor use for improved battery life, meaning users can enjoy longer talk time and multimedia use. The GALAXY Mega will be available globally beginning May from Europe and Russia. The product availability varies by market and will be rolled out gradually. ＊ Availability and launching time of the services may differ by region. ＊ Android, Google, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Latitude, Google Play, Google Plus, YouTube, Google Talk, Google Places, Google Navigation, Google Downloads and Voice Search are trademarks of Google Inc. ＊ All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

First Official Nexus 10 Accessory Now Available - Book Cover in Scarlet and Dark Gray in Google Play

Kellen — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:40:30 +0000

Nexus 10 owners, your first official accessory is now available through Google Play. Launched moments ago, we're getting a look at the Book Cover in both scarlet and dark gray at a retail price of $29.99. The Book Cover is similar in a way to Samsung's Flip Cover in that it attaches to the back of the device and then flips off and on to not only protect your Nexus 10, but to wake or put it to sleep as well. If you were wondering what the point of that removable slab on the back of the tablet around the camera was for, now you know. You can remove that piece of plastic and then snap on the Book Cover. This cover should help protect your N10 without adding much bulk. Play Link

LG Optimus G Pro Headed to AT&T, Possibly Penciled in for May Release

Tim — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:45:09 +0000

Curious about LG's next flagship and when we can expect it to arrive on our shores? According to those close to the matter, the Optimus G Pro is set to make its way to the U.S. via AT&T, with a rumored launch date of some time in May, but we are also hearing June. The Optimus G Pro launched in Japan with a 5" HD display, but apparently the American variant is set to come with a 5.5" display instead, just like last year's Galaxy Note 2. In terms of specs, we are looking at a 5.5" 1080p display, Snapdragon 600 processor clocked at 1.7GHz, 13MP back-facing shooter, 2GB of RAM, and a microSD slot for more storage. Keep in mind, when this device does launch, it will be going head-to-head with Samsung's Galaxy S4, as well as HTC's One. It's starting to shape up to be a major battle for smartphone sales here in the U.S. during Q2. With LG on the good side of American buyers again, is anyone interested? This is one beast of a device. Via: Android Central

Google Glass Explorer Edition to Ship Out Within the Next Month

Tim — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:11:11 +0000

Apparently, the first buyers of Google Glass who signed up to throw down $1,500 for the wearable tech at last year's Google I/O should have their investment in hand within the next month. At an event for the Glass Collective, an "investment syndicate between three firms to provide seed funding to entrepreneurs in the Glass ecosystem to help jumpstart their ideas," someone close to the matter gave TechCrunch the skinny on shipping. The timing seems perfect, with Google I/O right around the corner in May. This allows those who pre-ordered Glass to bring their units (or maybe even pick them up at I/O) for some development help. At least, that's what I think. Kellex will be in San Francisco, on hand to try and get his hands on with Google's latest innovations. So far, Google Glass is generating a great amount of buzz around the web, thanks to the #ifihadglass contest they ran last month. Honestly, Google Glass really excites me. Via: TechCrunch

Contest: Win a Bugdroid Circuit Case for Your Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, or Nexus 4 From Cruzerlite (Update: Winners Picked)

Kellen — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:35:45 +0000

Who is ready for a contest? Thanks to our friends at Cruzerlite, we have 10 of their Bugdroid Circuit TPU cases to hand out to 10 lucky DL readers. They supplied us with a handful for the Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2 (cult!), and even the Nexus 4, so this contest should cover the majority of you. For those not familiar with Cruzerlite cases, they tend to be made of TPU (a pliable plastic), are easy to get on or off of your device (still offer a snug fit), provide ample protection from drops, and contain all of the cutouts needed for your phone to continue to function. Cruzerlite has pumped out some of the more Android-friendly cases over the last couple of years, with this design being the perfect example. Be sure to check out the rest of their lineup in case the Circuit isn't meeting your needs. They also offer up Android accessories, like plushies, beanies, and more - a one-stop shop for enthusiasts. Fanboys, let's do this!

Contest

Update: We have our 10 winners. Go check those inboxes! Prizes: 10 Cruzerlite Bugdroid Circuit cases total (so 10 winners)

Three (3) Galaxy Note 2 Bugdroid Circuit cases
Four (4) Galaxy S3 Bugdroid Circuit cases
Three (3) Nexus 4 Bugdroid Circuit cases

How to enter: 1. In the comments, create a new nickname for Bugdroid. 2. Also, be sure to tell us what kind of device you have so we can get you the correct case. Winners: We'll choose winners randomly tomorrow morning at 10:00AM Pacific. *U.S. entries only.

Now Playing Beta, a Fresh Take on an Android Music Player

Tim — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:00:01 +0000

Happen to be one of the people hoping to see a Google Music app redesign sometime in the future? Well, you are not alone. While we wait on Google to breathe some fresh air into their app's design, there are developers out there that are making their own works of music app art, such as this one called, Now Playing. Now Playing is still in beta and doesn't have access to your Google Music library, but if you do have music on your device already, it's a great 3rd party player. Its design is minimal and simplistic, with small outlines bordering each artist and song title. What the app does quite well is bring attention to each album cover and even song lyrics. And if you don't have an album cover for a particular album, don't worry, it auto downloads them from the web via WiFi. If you want to try out the Now Playing Beta, you can download it via the link below. To install, simply sideload it as you would any other application. Download: NowPlaying6.apk Via: XDA Cheers Jason!

Chrome Beta Update Introduces Fullscreen Browsing, Simpler Searches

Kellen — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:29:36 +0000

Chrome beta for Android received an update today that introduced two minor features that actually change the user experience in a semi-major way. For one, as you scroll down web pages, the toolbar will disappear so that you get a fullscreen view. All you need to do is swipe back up ever-so-slightly and it will then reappear, so that you can type in a new search query, change tabs, etc. Second, the omnibox (search box) now holds onto your search queries after you press "enter." So when search results appear, you can quickly edit or add-on to search queries much easier. Previously, your search queries would show up in the Google Search box of the actual Google website - now they stay in the omnibox. The rest of the new features and known issues are below. New features:

Fullscreen on phones - Scroll down the page and the toolbar will disappear.
Simpler searching - Searching from the omnibox will keep your search query visible in the omnibox, making it easier to edit, and show more on your search result page.
Client-side certificate support - You can now access sites that require you to use a certificate and Chrome will allow you to select an installed certificate
Tab history on tablets - Long press the browser back button to view your tab history

Known Issues:

Noticeable lag in text entry on some text fields
chrome://history sometimes show duplicate items
Opening tabs is sometimes slow
Pages may flicker sometimes, especially during navigation

Play Link

Wednesday Poll: What are You Currently Most Excited for in the Mobile Industry?

Tim — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:23:57 +0000

It is now almost mid-April, 2013. So far, everything that has made this year great is still unreleased. For example, by now we should have already seen the release of the HTC One, but thanks to delays we have had to wait. On top of that, we are still awaiting the release of Samsung's Galaxy S4, but at least we know they are pretty good with sticking to time frames. Besides devices, there are services such as Babel that are certainly worth getting excited over. Folks have been crying for a unified messaging service from Google for some time, and thanks to all of the leaks we have provided, we know it is coming. Plus, being that we are only a month away from Google I/O, we are putting money on a new version of Android and other goodies, but you can never really say for sure what you can expect. Maybe none of these things excite you and you are most interested in Facebook and HTC's work with Android in the First smartphone? Either way, let us know down below what has you most excited in the mobile industry. [poll id="247"]

AT&T 4G LTE Hits California's Wine Country, Other Markets Light Up as Well

Tim — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:00:38 +0000

Today, AT&T is launching a few more 4G LTE markets to go along with the well-sized list that went live earlier this month. Starting now, grape growers down in California can access 4G LTE on their compatible AT&T devices, as well as folks in Jackson, TN and even Kalamazoo, Mich. On a funny note, every time I hear "Kalamazoo," I sing the little T-Mobile 4G jingle. "One, two, Kalamazoo." New Markets:

Santa Rosa, California
Petaluma, California
Rocky Mount , North Carolina
Orangeburg, South Carolina
Napa, California
Hampton Roads, Virginia
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Jackson, Tennessee

Go out and bask in those LTE speeds.

Burner Releases on Android, Lets You Live Out Your Inner Spy Fantasies

Eric — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:30:32 +0000

If you are a big fan of Android, you probably know how awesome Google Voice is in letting you create a second number that you can use through your main device for free. However, if you are looking for something a little more, disposable, Burner has just launched on Android and looks pretty slick. The app allows you to make a new number on your device and load it with pre-paid minutes, but if the CIA is ever on your tail you can "burn" the number and get rid of all your data.

Now, we all might not be running from the government and trying to hide, but for people who are looking to sell things on Craigslist without giving out their actual cell number this could come in pretty handy. You can keep loading your new number with minutes and texts as long as you need them and it functions just as your normal phone line.

The app is free, but adding a line will cost you. If you're looking to get a disposable number without the disposable phone, hit the link below

Play Link

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtepCoHSiWI[/youtube]

Ninja SMS, Brings Chat Head-like Texting Feature to All Android Phones

Tim — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:55:45 +0000

When I walked away from Facebook's press event last week, there was one thing I was truly excited for - Chat Heads. They allow for users to chat with friends over any application that is currently in use on your device. It removes the need to choose between a conversation with your friends and a game/movie/app you are using. In short, it's genius. Recently launched for Android is Ninja SMS. What this app does is pretty much like Chat Heads, except it isn't for instant messages, it's for text messages. When you get a text and are busy in an app, it pops up a box displaying the sender, the message and a few action buttons. With these buttons, you can select a lighter transparency so you can continue watching your YouTube video while conversing with your friends, minimize the chat into a single block with your friends picture for easy hiding and moving around your display, as well as going into full-screen mode for a full on chat experience. I have been using it all morning and so far, I think I love it. My only issue is that of course, I use Google Voice, so my contact pictures don't show up at all since I forward my Voice texts to the stock messaging app to get Ninja SMS to work. Either way, if you text from your direct phone number and have contact pictures set, I think you will enjoy this app quite a bit. It costs a single dollar on Google Play, but check out the promo video below to get a feel for what the app does. Play Link ($0.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/YJdPhqmWdcE[/youtube]

ZTE Debuts the GEEK - Equipped With New Intel Atom Processor Clocked at 2GHz

Tim — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:25:11 +0000

This morning, Chinese device manufacturer ZTE announced its newest smartphone, the GEEK. It is the first ZTE device powered by Intel's shiny new 32nm Atom processor, known as the Z2580. It has a few decent specs, such as its 5" 720p display, a 2,300mAh battery, Android 4.2 "Jelly Bean," 8GB eMMC+1GBRAM, and an 8MP back shooter. The device was debuted at an Intel Developer event, so much of the focus was placed on the processor inside. The 32nm Atom, with a CPU frequency of 2.0GHz, shows that when compared to the company's previous processor, the new chip is twice as fast for computing and up to three times as fast for graphics. To top it off, it shows less power consumption as well, which is a step in the right direction. Naturally, given that it is a ZTE phone, you probably won't find it on any of America's larger carriers. However, we do admire ZTE's push to bring more high-end products to the market such as the GEEK.

ZTE Launches the ZTE GEEK with Intel Inside at IDF 2013

First ZTE smartphone powered by Intel’s new 32nm Atom™ processor
10 April 2013, Shenzhen, China – ZTE (“ZTE”) (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions and mobile devices, has debuted the ZTE GEEK, the first ZTE smartphone powered by Intel’s new 32nm Atom™ processor Z2580, at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Beijing, China. The ZTE GEEK has a 5-inch HD screen with resolution of up to 1280×720. It runs on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS and has 8GB eMMC+1GBRAM. It also features an 8-megapixel rear camera, 1-megapixel front camera, an LED supplement light, and a 2300mAh large-capacity battery. The phone is powered by the Intel’s new 32nm Atom™ processor Z2580, which has a CPU frequency of 2.0GHZ. Tests show that compared to Intel’s previous processor, the Clover Trail+ processor is twice as fast for computing and three times as fast for graphics. It also reduces power consumption. “Our recent collaboration with Intel on the ZTE GEEK builds on the success of the Grand Series and further enhances our competitiveness in the high-end smartphone market,” said ZTE EVP and Head of the Mobile Devices Division, Mr. He Shiyou. “This partnership will also improve customer experiences by providing them with more choices in the market.” This year marks the seventh consecutive year for the IDF in Beijing. It is Intel’s premier event and is a major event for the communications industry. ZTE is also showcasing its V98 tablet and Grand X IN smartphone at the IDF. Both devices use Intel chips. ZTE has long emphasised the importance of user experiences. A key component of this is its longstanding partnership with Intel. When Intel first entered the mobile microchip field in 2012, ZTE released its first Intel-based smartphone, the Grand X IN, shortly thereafter. This allowed ZTE to become the first company to launch a flagship smartphone powered by an Intel processor in the European market. The Grand X IN later became become the best-selling smartphone in Austria. Over the past two years, ZTE has stepped up efforts in the smart device arena. The new Intel phone is a significant component of the company’s 2011 strategy to shift toward high-end products.

Cinemagram Finally Arrives for Android, Think "GIFs on Steroids"

Tim — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:48:44 +0000

After teasing the app for some time, Cinemagram is finally available for Android. For those not in the know, think of this application as Vine, the video/GIF-sharing app on iOS. You record four seconds of video, apply an effect and then let it rip. The video then either rewinds itself back and forth or repeats itself from the beginning. The app is laid out like Instagram, but instead of still shots, you see GIF-like posts from friends and people you follow. Making a "Cine" isn't hard at all. Simply point at what you want to shoot, hold down the record button for as long as you choose (up to four seconds), apply a video filter (or don't), and then publish. Before I make any real judgment, I will have to try the app out, but so far it isn't bad at all. Go check it out and have some fun. Play Link Cheers Nick S!

Google Play Contest Asks You to Tweet Your #favoritethings, Could Land You Nexus Devices or Gift Cards

Kellen — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:15:51 +0000

Google launched a new contest this morning called "Favorite Things" to celebrate the new look of Google Play (download here), and it could land you a Nexus 10, Nexus 7, Nexus 4 or a Google Play gift card. It's the easiest of contests and only asks that you Tweet to @GooglePlay, mention one of your favorite things available for sale on Google Play, provide a link, and use the hashtag #favoritethings. It can be a movie, music, book, app, game, magazine or TV show. You also need to complete the entry form at the info link below. The contest runs until 11:59PM PT on April 24. Appears to be U.S. only. From the contest page, they list out the prizes as being ten Nexus 10s, seven Nexus 7s, four Nexus 4s, and 100 gift cards. Get to it! Contest Info [Rules]

Samsung Starts Talking Up the Galaxy S4's Nine, Count 'em Nine Sensors

Tim — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:57:06 +0000

Equipped with a barometer, humidity sensor, RGB light sensor, gyro sensor, geomagnetic sensor, hall sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer and gesture sensor, Samsung's newest flagship smartphone , the Galaxy S4 sounds more like a scientific tool than a phone. While having nine sensors on your device may sounds a bit overboard, Samsung spent a countless amount of time building in these tools that, "understand user behavior, thus delivering an effortless user experience, making things convenient and hassle-free." With the introduction of so much technology, Samsung has posted up an overview of each individual sensor and a description of what it does for the user. If you have plans on picking up an S4, and according to pre-order numbers there are quite a few of you, give this graph a look over and be prepared to give your friends and family an education.

For even more info on those sensors, follow the via to Samsung's original blog post. Via: Samsung Tomorrow

Double Deal: 16GB Galaxy Note 10.1 for $329.99 and 8GB Nexus 7 for $99.99

Eric — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:30:11 +0000

If you look hard enough, you can find a deal on an Android tablet almost any day of the year. Today's deals are on two of Android's biggest tablets out right now and starts with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. This is the 16GB, WiFi-only version of the device and it is refurbished, but all that will only run you $329.99. If you're looking for something a little more stock Android however, we've got another sale on the Nexus 7.

TigerDirect is having another sale on the 8GB Nexus 7 (refurbished of course), but you also get a little bit more. In addition to the tablet they'll throw in a "Premium Internet Security Suite" to sweeten the deal. That software is probably useless, but the $99.99 price tag for the bundle is a pretty good price by itself. Hit the links below if you've got your wallets ready.

Buy: Galaxy Note 10.1 | Nexus 7

Cheers Travis and Dave!

Samsung's First Galaxy S4 Commercials Arrive

Kellen — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:34:47 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrHYGO7r1rI[/youtube]

The first set of Galaxy S4 commercials arrived this morning from Samsung, focusing on many of the features we saw on stage during their event at Radio City Music Hall back in early March. As one would expect after topping all phone companies for advertising in 2012, Samsung appears to be poised to do it all over again with their latest flagship. In the top spot, Sammy sells "Sound Shot," the camera feature that allows you to record a bit of sound with your picture, so that as you share it with friends or family, they can hear your experience. Yes, it's kind of cheesy, but in this commercial, you can see the use case. The second spot features "Group Play" and may be the worst ad of them all. Group Play allows multiple Galaxy S4 owners to create a massive music session by linking phones and playing the same song simultaneously. I can't imagine ever wanting to do this, but according to Samsung, sports teams would prove me otherwise. The last shows off "S Translator." With S Translator, you can travel the world and not have to worry about learning other languages. Similar to Google Translate, all you need to do is select the proper language for the country you are in, speak your native tongue, and listen as it spits out translations for natives to react to. It will also translate back as they respond to the phone being shoved in their face. Are you ready for Samsung's wave of commercials?

Group Play

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apbFySn4oEU[/youtube]

S Translator

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-DfsqoqRn4[/youtube]

Via: AndroidBeat Cheers Open1Your1Eyes0!

Google Babel News: Google Voice Support "Eventually" Coming, Synced Notifications, "First Class" iOS Experience

Kellen — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:42:03 +0000

Whenever Google Babel does arrive for public consumption, we're starting to believe it will be everything we have ever asked for in a unified messenger service. We're talking synced notifications, cross-platform conversation experiences, a new UI, photo sharing, quick access to live video chats, and on-the-record chat history viewing from anywhere. According to sources of ours who have shared new information with us (including a feature list), we're getting all of this and more. Google Babel as a product is a collaboration of work by the Google+, Android, Chrome and Apps teams. Through their combined efforts, as was previously reported by us, we'll see this unified service launch in Gmail and as Android, iOS, and Chrome apps. What's particularly interesting, is that Google is talking about the iOS app as being the first time they have built a "first class iOS experience" when it comes to a messaging service. I can't say that I'm familiar with their current iOS offerings, so I'll leave the iOS experts to weigh in on the quality of Talk (if there even is an app) and G+ Messenger. We've also learned that Google Voice support is "eventually" coming to Babel, however, the service initially only brings together Talk, Hangouts, and Messenger. This was an inclusion we were hoping to see from the beginning, but won't, from what we understand. No specific details on how Voice will blend into Babel were given, just that it's coming later on down the road. Continuing on - there will be notification syncing across devices and platforms. For example, if you have a browser open on a desktop, laptop, tablet, and phone that are all attached to Babel and receive a message, once you check that message on any of the devices, the notification will disappear from the others. As someone who operates a half-dozen devices at any time throughout a day, I can't tell you how important this feature is. It may be the most important. We'll also see a brand new UI that promotes conversations and is applied across all versions of Babel. You'll be able to send photos, use 800+ emoji (not an exaggeration), look back at any on-the-recrod conversation from any device, group chat, and of course, carry all conversations with you to and from any device. Here is a feature list according to a Google memo (colorful commentary is theirs, not ours):

Brand new UI. We've designed a new UI that's applied across all clients and promotes conversations.
Stay in sync. With just one conversation list and experience across mobile and desktop, everything is always in sync. Install the Chrome app, the Android app, and iOS app.
Desktop app. Stop laying whack a mole across blinking browser tabs. With the new Chrome app your conversations continue outside of the browser.
Keep a group conversation going to coordinate with your team, and start a Hangout with a single tap whenever you need to talk face-to-face.
Be notified...just once. Get notifications on your two phones, tablet, laptop, and desktop. Open it on one and watch the others disappear. If you're actively using your computer or phone we'll even intelligently notify you on just one of those endpoints. Magic!
Message more than just text. Add a photo to the conversation and/or send some of the 800+ emoji to your coworkers. Kittens and poop are particularly helpful in explaining complex issues.
Get nostalgic. Scroll back in time and relive any (on-the-record) conversation, on any device.
More ways to talk. For the first time we are building a first class iOS experience. Try out our very early preview on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

I will say that the screenshots posted yesterday by TechRadar appear to me to be the real deal. From what I have seen, the emoji box does slide up from the bottom, though I've also seen the box with a black background. Conversations will look the same - threaded with profile pictures of the participants. Still no word on a release date. New thoughts on Babel?

ASUS FonePad Price and Release Date Details Emerge

Tim — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:20:17 +0000

Looking for some juicy release details concerning the ASUS FonePad? Yeah, I didn't think so. Either way, if you did happen to be curious, the FonePad goes on sale starting April 26, but pre-orders will take place through a few retailers such as Amazon starting April 12. The device will be priced at about $275 and features Intel’s 1.2GHz Atom Z2420 chipset, 7-inch 1280×800 display, 4,270 mAh battery, 16GB of internal storage, a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Remember, the FonePad comes with phone capabilities, so that might interest a few folks out there. Either way, as others have suggested, please consider picking up a Bluetooth headset to go along with it. Via: Phandroid

Blendoku - A Puzzle Game to Make People With Color Blindness Scream

Tim — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:15:09 +0000

Inspired by color exercises performed in art school, the developer of Blendoku has made up a fantastic game here. Available for both Android and iOS, players are presented with various colors. Your job is to then align/blend the colors properly. For example, if you have white and black on opposite sides, you must then line up the right shades of grey in the middle to complete the path. Watch the video to get a better idea and then go ahead and download the game below. It's fantastic. It's free on Google Play, but you can buy a paid version for $1 and rid the app of ads. Worth it. Play Link [youtube]http://youtu.be/m6FITZ7p5FM[/youtube] Cheers Nick S!

Pebble Update: All Black Watches Ready for Fulfillment, Colors Delayed Even Further

Kellen — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:57:06 +0000

The crew behind Pebble (our review) - the e-paper smartwatch and Kickstarter darling - posted an update to their project page today to inform backers of the status of watch shipments. If you purchased a black version of the Pebble, you have great news to enjoy as all black orders have been manufactured and left the factory on their way to fulfillment. (Yay!) According to the Pebble team, that's over 55,000 black watches. If you ordered a colored version of Pebble, the news isn't so hot. In fact, the news is so bad that Pebble is allowing you to swap out your color order for a black model should you decide that waiting any longer is completely unacceptable. In their post, they mention that they thought that red and orange model color perfection had been achieved, but an issue arrose during final assembly. That issue appears to have been fixed, but it cost them at least a few days of down time. This also means that the grey and white versions are delayed even further. To make matters worse, grey and white have proven to be even more problematic. As of today, the Pebble team hopes to ship red Pebbles within 2-3 weeks. They do not have projected dates for orange, grey or white. They will ship in that order though, once they are finished. If you'd like to switch your order to a black Pebble, do so through your Pebble account. In somewhat enjoyable news for those who already own a Pebble, you'll now find 12-hour versions of many of the popular digital watchfaces that were previously released. You'll need to delete the older versions first, but should be able to find the new ones in the watchface library. Sorry, colored backers. Via: Kickstarter

WhatsApp Executive Says They Are Not Talking to Google About a Buyout

Eric — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:50:24 +0000

Hot on the heels of the story that was reported yesterday, the business development head of WhatsApp, Neeraj Arora, said that there are no talks between his company and Google regarding a sale. Rumors were swirling yesterday that Google was looking to purchase WhatsApp to bolster their upcoming unified messaging service, Babel. According to the report, the offer was near $1 billion to purchase WhatsApp, but that apparently is not the case.

Arora did not comment on the rumor any further, so it seems like at this point the idea is dead. Google already has the infrastructure of Google Voice, Google Talk and Hangouts, so missing out on WhatsApp probably won't hurt Babel too much. WhatsApp will continue to do their thing, being one of the top rated apps without Google buying them out.

Via: AllThingsD

Video: Quick Look at Official Google Play 4.0 and Some of Its New Features

Kellen — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:01:46 +0000

Now that Google has officially announced Google Play 4.0 and we no longer have to continue to show off the broken preview we brought to you weeks ago, we figured it was time to do a proper walk-through of this new goodness. Overall, the Play store is setup in a similar way to what you saw in version 3.0, but the overall theme has been updated to a much cleaner, Holo-style and Google Now-esque UI. It's a major improvement, at least to me. So what's new outside of the new UI? Two things stuck out to me. There are new action overflow mini-menus (pictured below, left) in some of the cards that are displayed. So if you want to install an app, rent a movie, buy a book, or add something to a wish list, you can do that without actually entering the specific app page or product listing. If you choose to install app, for example, the permissions pop-up appears and then installs while you remain in the same position. You no longer have to enter pages, install, and then back out, hoping that Google returns you to the exact place you left off at. The second thing I noticed is that the auto-update feature (picture below, right) for apps has moved into the top right action overflow menu. It used to be listed just above the "Rate & review" section of an app listing, but is no longer there. So if you want to individually toggle apps to auto-update, you'll have to do so through the menu in the top right.

Don't forget, you can download the new Google Play version 4.0.25 here. Full video tour below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EccAgBWrMy4[/youtube]

AT&T Announces Plans to Bring Gigabit Internet Service to Austin, TX

Tim — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:40:40 +0000

In some type of twisted dark humor, AT&T announced today their plans to bring a 1Gbps Internet service to the city of Austin, TX. If you have been following the news of Google Fiber, they too made their expansion into the city of 820K residents official yesterday morning. So, for anyone not living in Austin, TX this must just seem like the worst thing ever. While Google has already stated that homes can begin getting set up for Fiber in mid-2014, AT&T has yet to give any type of time frame. What the company is highlighting currently is that they too will receive the same terms and conditions as Google has in regards of "geographic scope of offerings, rights of way, permitting, state licenses and any investment incentives." If you ask me, this just isn't fair.

AUSTIN, Texas, April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) said today that it is pleased to see local communities and municipalities acknowledging the promise and power of economic development associated with telecommunications investment.

"Most encouraging is the recognition by government officials that policies which eliminate unnecessary regulation, lower costs and speed infrastructure deployment, can be a meaningful catalyst to additional investment in advanced networks which drives employment and economic growth," said Randall Stephenson , AT&T chairman and CEO.

Today, AT&T announced that in conjunction with its previously announced Project VIP expansion of broadband access, it is prepared to build an advanced fiber optic infrastructure in Austin, Texas, capable of delivering speeds up to 1 gigabit per second. AT&T's expanded fiber plans in Austin anticipate it will be granted the same terms and conditions as Google on issues such as geographic scope of offerings, rights of way, permitting, state licenses and any investment incentives. This expanded investment is not expected to materially alter AT&T's anticipated 2013 capital expenditures.

AT&T consistently invests in U.S. communities -- $98 billion in capital in the past five years, more than any other public company -- and remains committed to working with any metropolitan community to reach agreement on incentives to improve the climate and speed of overall telecommunications infrastructure investment – facilitating both wired and wireless broadband access. Our potential capital investment will depend on the extent we can reach satisfactory agreements.

Via: PR Newswire

FoxFi Now Works With Multiple Motorola Phones Running Jelly Bean

Tim — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:44:01 +0000

With devices getting updated left and right, some apps are finding themselves no longer compatible with certain devices. But have no fear, those app developers are always working hard to make sure their apps are functioning properly. This week, the developer of FoxFi (the app that turns your phone into a free WiFi tethering machine) has added support for a good list of Motorola device running Jelly Bean, which were previously unsupported. If you are the owner of a DROID RAZR, RAZR MAXX, RAZR HD, RAZR MAXX HD, DROID Bionic, or DROID 4 that is currently running Jelly Bean, you can now use the tethering feature. To start tethering, simply pick up the app on Google Play and get to doing business. Play Link Via: PDANet Cheers John!

Verizon Drops Galaxy S3 Price to $99 as Galaxy S4 Looms

Kellen — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:25:23 +0000

With the Samsung Galaxy S4 arriving towards the end of the month, Verizon has gone ahead and slashed the price of the Galaxy S3 to $99 on contract, likely in an attempt to move left-over stock. While Big Red has yet to even acknowledge the fact that the Galaxy S4 exists or that they will carry it, price cuts on previous year models are almost always a good sign. Also, keep in mind that we have seen their variant cruise through the FCC already, sporting all of the LTE and global roaming bands you would expect out of a 2013 top-of-the-line Android device. It's definitely coming to Verizon, we just don't know when. AT&T and US Cellular have already announced their own pre-orders for April 16, T-Mobile around May 1, but none gave a definitive shipping date. Maybe Verizon is waiting until they have a confirmation from Samsung on when their customers can pick up this new flagship? Or maybe they are simply still testing...and testing...and testing. Via: Verizon Cheers Open1Your1Eyes0!

About 60,000 Crappy Apps Booted From Google Play

Tim — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:05:54 +0000

This past February, Google conducted a mass exodus of nearly 60,000 "spam" apps from Google Play. The apps were violating certain terms of services that are put in place for developers, such as not posting repetitive content, misleading product descriptions, or apps that attempt to drive affiliate traffic. With 60K apps booted, it is the largest eviction Google has ever undertaken. A large portion of the apps were said to be in the Mp3 download/ringtone maker category. This past October, Google Play boasted nearly 700,000 apps officially available for download. It has grown so much in the past couple of years, and it's only getting better. Via: TechCrunch

Root Method Released for DROID RAZR HD Running Android 4.1.2, Other Devices Too

Kellen — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:42:19 +0000

Yesterday, Dan Rosenberg published the first Motorola bootloader unlock method in history. It was an epic moment for the rooting and development community on Android, as no one had been able to accomplish anything close to this for what seems like an eternity on a Motorola device since they started locking them down back in 2010. There was one problem though, the bootloader unlock worked on devices like the DROID RAZR HD, RAZR M, and Atrix HD as long as you were rooted before you updated to Android 4.1.2. For many of you, especially those with a RAZR HD or RAZR MAXX HD who received the most recent 4.1.2 update, you were out of luck. Well, Dan has returned again with another present - root for Android 4.1.2 and more. This method not only works on the RAZR HD, RAZR M and Atrix HD, but it should work on a variety of Motorola devices (until Moto patches it). So for those of you who were unable to unlock bootloaders yesterday, you now have the option to. Keep in mind there is all sorts of risk involved, namely in relation to warranties. If you unlock the bootloader of your phone, your warranty is gone. The instructions were posted up at DroidRzr.com, but we have included them below for you as well.

Instructions:

Download this file to your PC.
Extract the entire contents of the zip file.
If you are using Windows, ensure you have installed the latest Motorola USB drivers available for your phone.
Ensure USB Debugging mode is enabled on your device.
If you are using Windows, navigate to the extracted directory and execute "run.bat". If you are using Linux or OS X, navigate to the extracted directory in a terminal and execute "./run.sh".

On a related note, Dan has announced that he is done trying to find exploits in Motorola devices as they have become increasingly difficult and time consuming. He urges you to consider your future purchasing decisions based upon the dev-friendliness of phones rather than waiting or expecting methods like his to be released by the community. Via: DroidRzr

Google Releases Further Details About Google Fiber Rollout in Austin, TX

Tim — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:10:59 +0000

[youtube]http://youtu.be/lALafkdBLTA[/youtube]

It was made official yesterday that Google Fiber would be coming to Austin, Texas. While I don't find it fair at all, the folks down there are as excited as ever, and Google is finally releasing more details about the roll out. According to their post, homes won't begin to be setup until mid-2014. That seems like quite the wait, but it should be completely worth it.

Our goal is to start connecting homes in Austin by mid-2014. Customers there will have a similar choice of products as our customers in Kansas City: Gigabit Internet or Gigabit Internet plus our Google Fiber TV service with nearly 200 HD TV channels. We’re still working out pricing details, but we expect them to be roughly similar to Kansas City. Also, as in Kansas City, we’re going to offer customers a free Internet connection at 5 mbps for 7 years, provided they pay a one-time construction fee. We’re also planning to connect many public institutions as we build in Austin— schools, hospitals, community centers, etc. — at a gigabit for no charge. If you live in Austin and want to sign up for more information, please visit our website.

To go along with the announcement, Google released a video for the occasion. There is even a shot of Sergey Brin in there, but I am pretty sure it's his doppelgänger since he isn't wearing Google Glass. No way can that be him. Via: Google Blog

Disney Apps Now Free in Google Play - Wreck-it Ralph, Temple Run: Brave, and Others (Updated)

Tim — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:00:49 +0000

I have been looking for a reason why, but currently in Google Play, Disney has made six of their major titles free for download. Games that bring in major cash such as Wreck-it Ralph, Where's My Perry, and even the ~~abomination~~ somewhat playable title, Temple Run: Brave are all currently marked as free. If you need some free games to get you through the week, start here. Update: And just like that, they are no longer all free. Not sure what happened.

Wreck-it Ralph
Where's My Perry
Where's My Water
Puffle Launch
It's a Small World
Temple Run: Brave

Cheers Jose!

Download: New Google Play Store 4.0.25

Kellen — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:30:16 +0000

Here you go. Get yourself the new Google Play version 4.0. Download Link [Mirror] The .apk should install right over top of your current Play store. Welcome to Google Play 4.0.25.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EccAgBWrMy4[/youtube]

Cheers Brendan!

AT&T and Boingo Join Forces and Announce Global WiFi Roaming Agreement

Tim — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:11:48 +0000

This morning, Boingo, the "WiFi industry's leading services provider," announced a global WiFi roaming agreement with AT&T. AT&T customers subscribed to the carrier's 300MB or 800M Data Global Add-On packages traveling in most International airports can now gain access to Boingo's hotspots and enjoy up to 1GB of free data. On the reverse side, Boingo customers can connect to AT&T's public network of WiFi hotspots throughout the country.

We’re committed to keeping our customers connected to the people, places and information that matter most, which is why we’re pleased that many of them can now seamlessly connect to Boingo’s global Wi-Fi during their travels abroad.

For starters, AT&T customers will only have access to Boingo hotspots in the airports, but rollout will continue throughout 2013. Via: The Verge

Deal: Nexus 7 32GB Refurbished for $189 from eBay With Free Shipping

Kellen — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:58:33 +0000

As we approach Google I/O and rumors of a new model Nexus 7 loom, deals for the current version are popping up on the daily. Today, eBay is featuring a refurbished 32GB Nexus 7 for a price of $189, which is cheaper than you'll find anywhere. According to the listing, this has been "manufacturer refurbished," meaning it has been "professionally restored to working order" by the manufacturer or approved vendor. Shipping is also free. A brand new 32GB Nexus 7 currently retails for $249. Via: eBay Cheers Austin!

New Google Play Version 4.0 Announced, Starts Rolling Out Today (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:02:57 +0000

The new Google Play 4.0 that we first revealed two weeks ago has been announced and will start rolling out to devices running Android 2.2+ as early as today. As you know after watching our early hands-on preview, the focus is on bigger imagery and is "simple, clean and — most importantly — helps you find great entertainment, fast." The announcement also mentioned that the purchasing process has been simplified, though we will have to wait to get our hands back on it before we know what that means.

Update: Download it here.

Tablet UI

Preview

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VL-R4RPx3Q[/youtube]

Via: Android Blog

This is How Google Glass Works [Infographic]

Kellen — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:58:56 +0000

Ready for the semi-scientific breakdown of the inner workings of Google Glass laid out in a simple infographic? Here you go. In short, the engineers behind Glass have created a mini-projector that blasts info into a prism that redirects imagery directly toward your retina, much of which depends on the placement of Glass on your head. This graphic also shows off the hardware setup behind Glass, including the location of the battery, CPU, speakers, microphone and camera in case you were wondering.

Via: Brille Kaufen | Gizmodo

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Arrives in the U.S. April 11 for $399

Kellen — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:17:22 +0000

Samsung announced this morning that the Galaxy Note 8.0 will arrive in the U.S. this week, on April 11 for $399. This is the WiFi-only version with 16GB and will be available online and in stores at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, h.h. gregg, Newegg, Staples and TigerDirect. Originally announced at MWC back in February, the Note 8.0 covers the middle ground of Samsung's Note line, with a screen size sandwiched between the Note 10.1 and Galaxy Note 2. The device sports a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 8″ (1280×800) display, 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera, 2GB RAM, 16/32GB storage (plus microSD slot), 4600mAh battery, and runs Android 4.1.2. It also comes equipped with Samsung's now-famed S Pen and a suite of apps that can take advantage of it like Air View, Multi Window, and Awesome Note. As a bonus, users will be awarded 50GB of Dropbox storage for two years with purchase. A limited number of early adopters will also receive a $25 Google Play gift card. At $399, it's not priced insanely high by any standards, so it should fill a nice niche that is currently only taken up by the iPad Mini. Or I'm also out of my mind.

Samsung Brings Power and Portability to the U.S. with the Galaxy Note® 8.0 Tablet

In stores April 11, the Galaxy Note 8.0 delivers an unparalleled tablet experience for work and play
RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. - April 9, 2013 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today announces that the Galaxy Note 8.0 is coming to the U.S. market on April 11. Unveiled globally at Mobile World Congress in February, the Galaxy Note 8.0 will be available in stores and online at retailers including Amazon, Best Buy/Best Buy Mobile, h.h. gregg, Newegg, P.C. Richard & Son, Staples and TigerDirect.com. A mid-sized addition to the Galaxy Note family of products, the Galaxy Note 8.0 has the power and advanced technology to enable multi-tasking at home, at work or on the go. The Galaxy Note 8.0 is the perfect size for entertainment and productivity, with unrivaled multimedia performance in a compact format. The S Pen has evolved to improve everyday usability with Air View; and Multi Window now supports more apps to perform tasks simultaneously allowing users to do more. “The Galaxy Note defined an entirely new smartphone category and the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet redefined the tablet experience for consumers,” said Travis Merrill, vice president of Samsung Electronics America, Inc. “With the Galaxy Note 8.0, we fully expect to ignite the mid-size tablet market Samsung pioneered with the first Galaxy Tab. The Galaxy Note 8.0 is small enough to fit in your pocket or purse and packs the power needed for full mobile entertainment and productivity." Galaxy Note 8.0 at Play The Galaxy Note 8.0 will be the first product to feature Samsung WatchON, a new search and recommendation service that alleviates the chore of channel surfing and makes finding TV shows and on-demand video content faster and easier. Samsung WatchON simplifies the process of discovering new content to watch by searching across multiple content sources, such as live TV and streaming video-on-demand sources such as Samsung’s Media Hub*, to recommend movies and TV shows. It also provides complementary content including actor bios, reviews and related information. With the built-in IR blaster, the Galaxy Note 8.0 acts as a powerful universal remote, eliminating the need for multiple remotes to control the TV viewing experience. Users can browse for content then change the channel on the TV or cable box directly from the search window. For entertainment on the go, the Galaxy Note 8.0’s screen is great for everything from content viewing to reading. With its dazzling 8-inch WXGA screen, the Galaxy Note 8.0 is perfect for watching HD content, packing 1280 by 800 pixels. The Galaxy Note 8.0 also has Reading Mode, which adjusts color and brightness to an optimal level for reading. It provides the ability to customize fonts and themes so select books, magazines, documents and Web pages are easier to read. Combined with Smart Stay, which keeps the screen awake while you are reading, the Galaxy Note 8.0 is customized to ensure the best reading experience. Galaxy Note 8.0 at Work The tablet is quickly becoming a primary computing device for employees. The Galaxy Note 8.0 offers multi-tasking and productivity features, making users more efficient at everyday tasks, whether working at the office or on the go:

Multi Window: The Galaxy Note 8.0 offers true PC-like multitasking, so you can use two apps side-by-side. Multi-Window now supports 20 apps, including Polaris Office, Google Chrome and Facebook.

Air View: Conveniently preview your content without opening files or folders. The S Pen held above the screen allows you to preview pictures in the Gallery, open menus on Web sites, and preview a message or an attachment in an email.

AllShare® Play: Pass content to the TV or remotely access files on your desktop computer.

Polaris Office: View, create, and edit Microsoft^® Office Word^® documents, Excel^® spreadsheets and PowerPoint^® presentations right on your tablet. With the Galaxy Note 8.0, you can add handwritten notes and drawings to your documents.

Awesome Note: A note-taking application and to do list manager, Awesome Note enables you to customize folder icons, colors, fonts and backgrounds for quick reference and visual organization.

Group Play: Share and collaborate on content, including documents, which allows users to work together.

For those using tablets for work, Samsung offers improved security levels for IT managers and employees. SAFE, or Samsung for Enterprise, is the security standard to provide enterprise- and consumer-friendly devices to businesses and their employees. With SAFE, the Galaxy Note 8.0 supports the needs of IT managers while providing businesses with the functionality needed to enhance productivity. Powerful Performance The Galaxy Note 8.0 features a powerful 1.6GHz Quad Core processor and 2GB of RAM to ensure optimum performance. Wi-Fi technology with dual-channel bonding offers more efficient connectivity for faster loading of Web pages and video streaming. With a large, 4,600 mAh battery, the Galaxy Note 8.0 offers long battery life to work and play all day. Beyond the 16GB** of internal memory, the Note 8.0 can handle microSD cards up to 64GB, for a combined possible 80GB of storage. The 5-megapixel camera on the back can shoot 1080p video, and the 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera can handle video chats at 720p resolution. Preloaded with Content and Services Buyers will enjoy pre-loaded content and services valued at over $200, including 50GB of free Dropbox storage for 2 years***, 1 month free of unlimited music streaming in Samsung’s Music Hub, Samsung’s Smart Remote, Awesome Note, and more. For a limited time, they will also receive a $25 Google Play credit with the purchase of a Galaxy Note 8.0, when they register their device. The Galaxy Note 8.0 will be available in white for $399.99 MSRP. Accessories will be available beginning mid-April. These include Book Covers in white, grey, pink or green, as well as USB and HDMI adapters, and a travel charger that connect via the device’s microUSB port. For multimedia content and more information, please visit www.samsung.com/us/note8. About Samsung Electronics America, Inc. Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA delivers a broad range of digital consumer electronics, IT and home appliance products. Samsung is the market leader for HDTVs in the U.S and America’s fastest growing home appliance brand. To discover more of the award-winning products you love with Samsung, please visit www.samsung.com. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion.

Quick Look: Fantom 4 Tempered Glass Screen Protector for the Nexus 4

Kellen — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:45:43 +0000

The folks at XGEAR released their new tempered glass screen protector for the Nexus 4 last week called the Fantom 4. It's their newest tempered glass protector in a long line that includes the Note 2, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Nexus, and Nexus 7. All signs point to this version being in high demand, as they have apparently sold through their initial stock in a short few days. They were kind enough to send me a review sample to share with DL, but are not expecting to see replenished stock until closer to the end of the month. Until that happens, let's talk about this protector. The first thing that came to mind when applying this was, "How is it going to work with the cascading edge display of the Nexus 4?" The answer is simple, it doesn't cascade over the sides. Unless XGEAR can figure out a way to magically curve their tempered glass, it's just not going to happen. But after applying the Fantom 4, I can't necessarily find it at fault for this. With the protector on, it feels as soft as the normal Nexus 4 display, you'll just find a bit of an edge should your finger start from off the display and then slide across it. Definitely not a deal breaker for me, but something to keep in mind. For the most part, I'd say this protector fits better than some of the others I've had in the past. There are cutouts for the front camera, front speaker, top sensors, and notification light. As with any of XGEAR's protectors, the Fantom 4 is just 0.4mm thick at an 8H hardness, so it adds little thickness. They apply a special coating to help keep off oils and fingerprints and use real glass to ensure an "OEM experience." If there is one issue it would have to do with a tiny oily or wet-looking spot in the middle of the device that we have seen in the past with tempered glass screen protectors. It's not pronounced on the Nexus 4 like I have seen it before, but it's there. In order to see it, I have to get up close and personal with the device at a 130-degree angle or so. So at normal viewing angles, you may not even notice it. Overall, it's another solid option (maybe even the only option) for those who want glass protection on the display of their Nexus 4. It has its minor flaws, but almost every tempered glass protector I've seen over the last few years does. The Fantom 4 retails for $34.99.

Gallery

Video

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlWwbaYBIQc[/youtube]

Order today from the XGEAR site.

Video: HTC One vs. Galaxy S3 vs. Nexus 4 vs. RAZR HD vs. Galaxy Note 2

Kellen — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:40:21 +0000

Our coverage of the HTC One continues on with a comparison of the device to many of the popular phones on the market today. Unfortunately, since the Samsung Galaxy S4 is not yet available, we had to go with the Galaxy S3, Note 2, Nexus 4, RAZR MAXX HD, and ol' reliable, Galaxy Nexus. In this clip, you'll see size comparisons, my thoughts on the different build materials, overall feel, and having to deal with carrying around a metal phone after years of plastic in my pocket.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhLN77QRKho[/youtube]

ASUS' $160 MeMo Pad Finally Hits Retailers, Think Nexus 7 Minus the Good Stuff

Tim — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:27:00 +0000

If you happen to be in the market for an affordable Android tablet, plus you don't find yourself worrying about the amount of cores your processor has or what your display's pixel density is, then maybe check out ASUS' new 7" MeMo Pad. For those familiar, and if you are reading this site I would hope you are very familiar, think of it as a Nexus 7 tablet minus a few of the specs. The MeMo pad rocks a 1GHz single-core VIA WM8950 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, a 1-megapixel front-facing shooter and Android 4.1. It may not sound like much, but they are offering the device at just $160. However, keep in mind you can spend an additional $40 and get yourself a 16GB Nexus 7. Needless to say, nothing wrong with having some options while shopping. Buy. ($160) Cheers Ryan and Scott!

Minus for Android, Another Chat App for the Younger Generations

Tim — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:29:54 +0000

I enjoy conversations with people and I find myself to be rather outgoing. I have zero problems chatting with strangers in public and things of that nature. However, some people might find it easier to find friends through services such as social networks and things of that nature. One that can be based entirely on your Android phone is called, Minus. Once you sign up and give Minus your location, you are shown fellow Minus users by you, as well as images that they upload. Some people are looking for friends, while others are there looking for certain activity partners. What you decide to look for is up to you. Interesting features:

Chat with people nearby and make new friends. At an airport, café, anywhere Find and meet new friends nearby with common interests Share fun pictures to everyone near you right now

If you feel like being a part of this, go grab it off Google Play. And please, be safe out there. Play Link

Sony Adding Native DualShock 3 Bluetooth Controller Support to Xperia Devices

Eric — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:00:51 +0000

The DualShock controller design is one of the most iconic pieces of hardware in video game history. Playstation fans will be excited to hear the news that Sony has found a way for their Xperia mobile devices to work natively with their Playstation 3 DualShock 3 controllers over Bluetooth.

Sony has developed a wizard that allows the DualShock and Xperia device to connect via USB and once paired, the controller can be used to control games wirelessly. This means you can use your phone on your big screen via HDMI and sit on your couch with the controller to enjoy your game. There's no timetable on the rollout of this feature, but you can expect Sony to push this as a big feature for their devices once they get it 100% working.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_Z3QnXWZm8[/youtube]

Via: Xperia Blog

Google Babel Makes First Appearance With More 1990s Emoticons Than You Can Count

Kellen — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:21:42 +0000

After we first outed the name Google Babel last week, and the new unified chat app by Google hit internal testers, we figured it was only a matter of time before the first shots of it emerged. Thanks to TechRadar, those first shots may have arrived today. Someone tell Google that the 90s want their emoticons back. First, the name "Babel" is seen once again thanks to the shot below which shows a message of "What do you think of Babel in Gmail?" as the user hovers over a feedback button. I'm sure this could be faked by any novice web developer, but since it was included in a batch of photos that would likely take hours to create, we'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Just keep in mind that as our own Tim loves to say, "Nothing is confirmed."

Next, in the screenshot at the very top, we're seeing the first look at the UI of Babel while in Gmail or potentially Google+ for that matter. The conversations appear more threaded than in the past and include contact thumbnails. We're seeing a Hangout button, option to add more contacts to the conversation, a settings button, camera button, and a collapsable bar that gives you the ultimate-emoticon list of all time. We're seriously seeing six tabs of different emoticons. I know Google has become a fan of emoticons again, but do we really need flags, various animals, smiley emotions, and emoticons with food themes? Ugh, Emoji. Moving on. According to TechRadar's source who they question a bit throughout their post, Google+ integration is a must if you are looking to send photos over Babel. This isn't surprising in the least, as Google has been pushing G+ as a product heavily since it launched.

So this is essentially what we expected from Babel, isn't it? A revamped chat UI that works across multiple services including Gmail and Google+. What we need now, is a look at the actually Android app. Or do we think Google Talk will die and we'll all be forced into Google+ to carry on our Google Talk conversations? Oh, how scary of a thought is that? Via: TechRadar

TigerDirect Selling Refurbished 32GB Nexus 7 for $199.99

Eric — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:15:04 +0000

The Nexus 7 is still one of our top suggestions for people looking to get a great Android tablet. The combination of low price point with decent hardware topped off with it being a Nexus device made an impact. If you are looking for an even lower price point than $250, TigerDirect is shipping refurbished Nexus 7s for only $199.99 right now.

This is the 32GB version of the device with only WiFi capabilities, but if you're looking for a low price on a great Android tablet this would be pretty hard to pass up. You might be buying at a bad time however with rumors swirling that a rebooted Nexus 7 will launch at this year's Google I/O, but that is a decision you'll have to make.

Buy

Cheers Justtyn!

Google Fiber Officially Headed to Austin, TX

Tim — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:37:27 +0000

It's official - Austin, Texas is the new home of the Google Fiber expansion. As was rumored last week, Google is set to bring the gigabit Internet service to the town sometime in the relative future, but there was no specific date given. Austin now joins company with Kansas City, the first city to host the service. Again, no specifics on rollout were given yet, but once Google releases word, we will update you. Who already has the moving truck scheduled? Via: Engadget

20+ Tips and Tricks for the HTC One

Kellen — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:19:26 +0000

I've now spent a full three days with the HTC One, so I've had just enough time to figure out and get used to all of the quirks that come with Sense 5.0. While it's not a drastic change from previous versions in terms of big picture functionality, it is different enough that some of these tweaks may throw you for a loop the first time you see them. HTC certainly does things on a smartphone in their own way, something that is more evident in Sense 5.0 than ever before. So through this video, I run through 20+ tips and tricks that I have come across over the last couple of days. Some are pretty basic and not necessarily brand new, while others are new to the HTC camera and navigation experiences. It's really a clip on how to get around your new One without having to experience the learning curve that I did.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZsZemJdR48[/youtube]

Tumblr Updated for Android, Completely Redesigned User Interface

Tim — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:45:37 +0000

Fans of Tumblr should go pick up the newly released update on Google Play. The designers of the app took a massive page out of Google's design tips, giving the app a complete Holo makeover. Needless to say, it looks quite gorgeous. Beyond the updated sexier look, you won't find any new features or anything of that nature according to the changelog. This one was completely aesthetics. If you fancy yourself a Tumblr, go check it out. Play Link

The Potential in Smartwatches [Opinion]

Ron — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:25:46 +0000

When I first saw the Pebble I was honestly amazed. As the amazement wore off and the waiting settled in, I daydreamed about receiving notifications and being able to control my music from my wrist. Then, I received my Pebble and reality took over. Now that I've had the Pebble for a week I've resorted to turning off the Bluetooth and using the watch to tell time and play Snake. Was it worth $150 for that? Not really, but I do love being able to shake my wrist to activate the backlight. Even though I'm generally disappointed with the Pebble, having it has made me think more about what a smartwatch should do and whether or not it's a product that has the potential to change the way we interact with the world around us in a meaningful way. I think smartwatches will be like the first cell phones and smartphones. When the first cell phones came out people questioned why you would want to take calls anywhere. Smartphones simply extended that question to emails and the web. What we found was that we were able to stay connected with people, our information, and the world around us in insanely meaningful ways. We also found that our lives became increasingly more cluttered and distracted because of the influx of information and the ease with which we could be accessed. Smartwatches will never be the next smartphone, but they may be useful in some circumstances. We've already seen some of the initial reactions to smartwatches and they fall in line with early responses to cell phones and smartphones. Are you so lazy that you can't just pull your phone out? Do you think you're that important that you need to have yet another device? Chances are none of us are really that lazy or that important, but the idea of having another device to keep us even more connected in an unobtrusive way may still be tantalizing. If (and this is still a big "if" at this juncture) smartwatches are able to show us information and interact with data in a meaningful way, they could be a major new disruption in the market. That said, I don't think anyone is going to solve the big problems (UI, battery life, input) facing smartwatches without making some incredible compromises that will push most consumers out of the market. Those of us remaining who have the money and the patience, however, may be looking for the ideal product for a while. Input and Notifications The largest obstacle facing smartwatches is, of course, input. So you have a connected device that is able to show you notifications and information about what's going on around you. Fine, but how do you input responses to interact with those notifications or information? Voice is a possibility, but it can't be the only solution. There are simply too many situations where talking at your watch won't be appropriate, much less expedient. Trying to put a keyboard on a watch is even more laughable. The only solution that makes any sense to me is to have three possible responses to a notification like a text message or an email: dismiss, mark as read, and respond with a canned message. This would deal with most situations and make the watch useful beyond telling you what you already know - your phone just buzzed. If the notification is something you need to respond to later or in detail, you hit dismiss; if the notification is something you need to read, but not respond to, you hit mark as read; if the notification is something you need to respond to generically, you pick a canned response that you've prepared. You might be thinking, "But I already do this with my phone. Doing that on my watch doesn't actually help me." You're right; most of the time this sort of interaction won't be helpful unless you're in a meeting and can respond in one of the first two ways. Often times I'll be in the middle of a conversation with someone and receive a phone call or text message. With my Pebble I'm (usually) able to tell if it's something I need to deal with immediately or not with a quick glance to my wrist. It's a subtle difference, but I can honestly say I've found it beneficial. Another instance where I've found this sort of response helpful is when I'm driving. I know some of you live in states where public transportation exists and traffic is something you hear about in movies, but in southern California traffic is an integral part of life. Every day I travel for at least 40 minutes between home and work, sometimes more. Being able to quickly glance at my wrist to see what the notification is instead of changing my field of vision completely to glance at my phone is much, much safer. Again, this is subtle, but I've found it beneficial. Context and Summarization The second problem facing smartwatches is whether or not context can be used to the watch's advantage. This is something that is still wildly underused on most smartphones. When we set up a new phone we go through the process of allowing Google and the manufacturer and the carrier to know where we are through GPS and wireless triangulation, but our phones still underuse that data. Apps like Groupon and Eye in the Sky use your location for deals and weather, but the vast majority of apps and services still don't use this data for our advantage. The classic example of using location data is walking into a Starbucks (or whatever coffee shop you frequent) and having your Gold Card show up for you to pay for your drink. Right now that sort of thing shows up on your phone, but it could also show up right on your watch for the barista to scan. If you have your headphones plugged in, your smartwatch could prompt you to start playing your favorite playlist. While you're waiting for your drink to hit the bar your watch could notify you that the friend you're scheduled to meet is about 5 minutes away. While you wait, your watch could show you your unread emails, things left on a to do list you have in Google Keep, or show you headlines from Google News. This might sound like a lot to do on such a small screen. As a Palm Pre 2 owner, believe me when I say that you can see a lot of information on a smaller screen than you might imagine. These are all things that you could do on your phone (although some of these actions really aren't available on phones still), but a smartwatch is uniquely positioned to be able to show you summaries of your content, notifications, and things to do in a quick way without having to jump through tons of apps. Again, this sort of summarization would be great to see in Now or even in DayDream, but I think it would be a good fit on a watch too. Miniaturization Like I said, I don't think smart watches are the next big revolution in technology. Over the past few decades we've seen the computer go from something that takes up an entire room to something that fits in your pocket. While we may see it get miniaturized to the size of a watch, it will be forced to have limited capabilities because limited size limits utility. I hope we'll see innovation in that space that doesn't involve imaginary projected keyboards, but until then smartwatches will have minimal applications outside of time, notifications, displaying directions while driving, and summarizing information.

Kickstarter for the Mini MicroSD Reader for Android Devices Looks Sweet

Tim — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:05:13 +0000

Having a separate and completely portable MicroSD card reader for your Android phone/tablet could be very beneficial given the right circumstances. On Kickstarter, there is a new project that is already fully funded almost four times over, for those exact unforeseeable circumstances. It is a tiny SD card reader that you insert into the MicroUSB slot of your device. You pop in the MicroSD card, then you have access to all of the files on said card. You may not need it all of the time, but you never know when having it could come in handy. Pledges start at just $12 to receive a reader, which seems like a steal. To learn more about the project, follow the via below. Via: Kickstarter

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 Specs Supposedly Leaked, Dual-Core Exynos Processor and qHD Display

Tim — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:10:09 +0000

Remember that story about Samsung's Galaxy Mega phones? Well, it would appear that specs concerning one of the upcoming devices have been "confirmed." According to SamMobile, the Galaxy Mega 5.8 device, set for release some time in Q2-Q3, will sport a 5.8" (960×540) qHD TFT display, a dual-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.4GHz, 1.5GB of RAM, 8MP back-facing camera, 2MP front-facing shooter, 2,600mAh battery, and run Android 4.2.2 at time of launch. While the specs sound decent enough for last year's standards, I will remain hesitant about that qHD display at 5.8". Nothing here is screaming next-gen, so we could be seeing Samsung bring larger devices to the public, but at a more attractive price to budget-conscience buyers. Thoughts? Via: SamMobile

Motorola RAZR HD, RAZR M, and Atrix HD Bootloader Unlock Released (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:30:00 +0000

Yesterday, news broke that Dan Rosenberg (@djrbliss) had unlocked bootloaders for a handful of Motorola devices including the DROID RAZR HD, RAZR MAXX HD, RAZR M, and Atrix HD, all of which are powered by Qualcomm chipsets. Today, he has released that same unlock tool so that you can free your phone from Motorola and Verizon's clutches. We should point out that you cannot re-lock the phone after using this tool (at this point), and it does indeed void your warranty. Also, Motorola can more than likely patch this in a software update, so you may want to weigh your options here before long. It's risky from a warranty and replacement standpoint to say the least. As always, proceed with caution. You definitely need to be rooted ahead of time, prior to using this tool. For those with a RAZR HD running Android 4.1.2 (the newest update), root has not been gained yet so you are out of luck for now. I can't imagine that this won't ever be rooted, but again as of today, there is no root method. Update: Dan released a root method for Android 4.1.2 that can be found here. As we mentioned yesterday, this method does not work on OMAP powered phones, including the original RAZR, Bionic, and DROID 4. Do not attempt to use this on any of those phones. Below, we have the basic instructions and notes from Dan.

A couple of warnings:

You understand that using this tool will permanently, irreversibly void your device’s warranty.
You understand that it may not be possible to “relock” your device’s bootloader after unlocking using this tool. A side effect of this is that if you lose your device and you are not using disk encryption, a malicious party who acquires your phone may be able to extract all personal data from the device regardless of any lock screen.
You agree that I am in no way responsible for any damage to your device as a result of using this tool.

Instructions:

*It requires that your device has been rooted and that the “su” binary has been properly installed.

Download this file to your computer.
Extract the entire contents of the zip file.
If you are using Windows, ensure you have installed the latest Motorola USB drivers available for your phone.
Ensure your device has been rooted and you have a working installation of “su”.
Ensure USB Debugging mode is enabled on your device.
If you are using Windows, navigate to the extracted directory and execute “run.bat”. If you are using Linux or OS X, navigate to the extracted directory in a terminal and execute “./run.sh”.

Note - If you are interested in reading exactly how Dan managed to find this exploit (all of the technical madness), he has written up an entire post about it over at Azimuth Security. Via: Vulnfactory

HTC Continues to Break Profit Records, In the Wrong Direction Though

Tim — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:07:06 +0000

The HTC One was the device that was going to turn HTC's direction around in 2013. After five straight fiscal quarters of decline, the One would be the company's saving grace. Unfortunately, after being struck with delays thanks to a shortage in components, the One is still unavailable in some major markets. In terms of the game plan, the One should have been on shelves before Samsung drops the Galaxy S4, but now the two devices will go head-to-head as both are set for release around the exact same time. With this, HTC posted a net profit this first quarter of $2.8 million, its worst in years. We have been following HTC's financial decline, but with that said, HTC really needs to turn their luck around. To some, the One is one of, if not the sexiest Android device ever built. If they could only release it to the masses, market it in great strength, things could turn around. Another angle HTC will look to play is with their newly announced partnership with Facebook and AT&T. Last week, all three companies teamed up to show off the HTC First, the first true "Facebook phone" featuring Facebook's Home launcher software. Whether that device will be a success for HTC though is yet to be seen. Via: Bloomberg

Rumor: Google Planning to Acquire WhatsApp for Upwards of $1 Billion

Eric — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:40:13 +0000

The worst kept secret leading up to this year's Google I/O event has been the influx of information hinting at Google planning a new unified messaging service named "Babel." While Google is no stranger to messaging and chat services, it looks like they might be seeking some help with the new app down the road. New rumors place Google in negotiations with the popular messaging app WhatsApp and it sounds like Google might pay a good amount.

According to Digital Trends the deal has been in the works for 4 or 5 weeks already and the price for acquisition is nearing $1 billion.

If there was a company that knows messaging on Android it would certainly be WhatsApp. The app is recognized as one of Google Play's "Top Developers" and has been installed over 100 million times. Adding WhatsApp to their team would certainly bring needed experience into the messaging area, the only question now is will Google get the deal done?

Via: Digital Trends

Cheers Patrick!

Koush Releases Universal ADB Driver for Windows

Kellen — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:05:53 +0000

If there is one step along the rooting path that has continued to test people's patience over the years, it usually has something to do with ADB drivers. There is nothing worse than firing up your new device for the first time or after a fresh new update, finding root instructions, loading up ADB to shoot off some commands, only to get a "device not found" error. I know I've had my fair share of troubles because I deal with so many different devices, but our inbox certainly indicates that you have run into just as many. Finding a fix usually involves XDA, countless searches, figuring out proper keywords to narrow those searches, and then at least a half-dozen threads or random sites that have popped up thanks to those keywords. It's a pain in the ass, to say the least. There may be an easier solution today, thanks to Koush, after he had had just about enough ADB issues when working through his Carbon and Tether apps and decided to find a solution. He has put together a universal ADB driver that should install on any version of Windows without having to turn on test signing or disable driver verification. From what I can tell, he was able to make this driver universal by including a massive list of hardware IDs. I'm talking massive, just take a look at his Github page for it. Feel free to grab the file below and give it a test. I know I'll be firing it up immediately. Download Link Via: +Koush [Github] Cheers Scott!

Download: Facebook Home Beta Leaks, No Chat Heads Though (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 07:25:54 +0000

We're not even a week out from Facebook's announcement of the HTC First and their new home replacement called Facebook Home, and we already have a leaked beta build to play around with. Thanks to Modaco, you can give Home a spin as long as your device has a screen resolution of 1280x768 or less and doesn't have Facebook baked into your system (meaning you can uninstall Facebook). If you have a Nexus, it would be the perfect phone to test this on. Below, you'll find .apk files for the Facebook app, new Messenger client, and the Home launcher itself. Before you begin, it's a good idea (maybe even required) to uninstall Facebook completely from your phone and then start fresh with these three .apk files. Update: Facebook appears to have killed these from working. Download: Facebook App | Messenger App | Home Launcher Again, uninstall Facebook from your phone. Then install these. I had success by installing Facebook, then the Launcher, and finally Messenger. Once done, login to Facebook and enjoy. You'll notice that one of the most important features, Chat Heads, is missing. For whatever reason, that feature is not working at this time, so you'll have to go without it.

Via: Modaco

"Babel" Chat Name Confirmed Again, New Google Play 4.0 Makes Another Appearance

Kellen — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 11:26:19 +0000

This afternoon, we're getting what appears to be a second confirmation that Google's new unified chat will be called Babel. We first reported the name as being "Babel" and not the previously rumored "Babble," but a user on G+ (Patric Dhawaan) noticed the name pop up today while "pruning" his inbox. The message (pictured below) says that recent conversations of his have been moved to the trash because one or more are a part of "Babel chat." According to our sources, Babel is being tested internally with employees of Google and that the service will span across Android, iOS, Chrome, Google+ and Gmail.

So what does this mean? Is Babel on the verge of launching? One would imagine that Google would wait until Google I/O next month to unveil something this major, but Google has always marched to the beat of their own drum, so I wouldn't rule anything out. Then again, if it's only being tested internally at this time, May sounds about right for a potential launch. These are the features being told to employees:

Access the same conversation list from anywhere
A new, conversation-based UI
Advanced group conversations
Ability to send pictures
Improved notifications across devices

The second part of this story comes via YouTube employee Eileen Rivera, who posted up a screenshot of the new Google Play 4.0 that we first broke news on back in March. As you can see from her screenshot (pictured above), there is a Play store icon with a dog dish and bone inside, a clear sign that they are dogfooding this to employees only. She didn't post any other details, and this front page is already something we have posted, but we still love signs of the new goodies coming to Android. Still no word on when we'll see this - I/O would probably be a good guess for this as well. Here is our full preview:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VL-R4RPx3Q[/youtube]

Via: +Patric Dhawaan | +Eileen Rivera | Android Central Cheers Scott!

Bootloader Reportedly Unlocked on the DROID RAZR HD, RAZR M, and More (Updated)

Kellen — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 11:01:25 +0000

This is not a joke, nor is it April Fools' Day 2.0. Dan Rosenberg, aka @djrbliss (the man that roots all things Moto), has apparently unlocked the bootloaders of many of Motorola's recent releases, including the RAZR HD (MAXX HD too), Atrix HD, and RAZR M. We heard this was coming down the pipeline, but he's asked a couple of testers over at DroidRzr.com to give his method a shot. Sure enough, at least two confirmed unlocked bootloaders have happened (pictured above and below). The method has not yet been released, but likely will before long, maybe even before the day is up. This method will not work on OMAP phones like the Bionic or original RAZR. After years of failed attempts at cracking Motorola's encryption, the time may have arrived. Stick with us, we'll be following this closely.

Update: Our buddy Matt Groff sent over this video to show proof that his Atrix HD is indeed unlocked now. Also, we've been told that the public release likely won't happen until tomorrow.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2S6rxPjf4o[/youtube]

Update 2: I'll just leave this here.

Update 3: The bootloader unlock tool has been released. Via: DroidRzr Cheers M!

This Week in the Life of DROID: 4/5/2013

Tim — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:15:12 +0000

Long story short, this week was all about that Facebook phone. The HTC First and Facebook's newest Android development called Home, took over the Internet for what seemed like the entire week. Beyond Facebook, we finally have our hands on the HTC One, new Nexus accessories in Google Play (just a headset and charge adapters), and we also reviewed the Nest thermostat. Pretty interesting in Android if you ask me.

Have a safe weekend, everybody!

Video: HTC One Software First Impressions

Kellen — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:37:01 +0000

Now that I've had a chance to unbox the HTC One and fire it up, it's time to take a quick software tour of Sense 5.0 and some of the other new features this phone has to offer. While this is far from being anything in-depth, it is mostly my initial impressions as I run through the way HTC thinks Android should work. To put it plainly, it's interesting. There are some surprises (at least to me) along the way. If you have yet to follow any other HTC One coverage, I have a feeling you'll have one eye-brow perked as well, when you see some of these things. HTC has always taken a unique approach with Sense features, many of which go directly against some of the most traditional Android ideas. For example in Sense 5.0, the app dock is now technically just a part of the app drawer. You'll see in the video below as I struggle to try and remove the stock Messaging app from the dock. With this new Sense, the phone wouldn't actually allow me to remove it in the traditional sense (sliding it to a red X at the top of the screen). In order to do so (which I figured out after this video), you need to physically drop the app into the app drawer or "hide" it through settings. Also, as you toss apps into the dock, it's removed from the list of apps in the drawer. Did that just blow your mind? It did mine. There are other things throughout the video, so feel free to check it out. And again, keep in mind that this is an initial impressions video, so as I start to figure out how HTC has changed things around, I'm sure I'll have a different point of view on it all. More coverage on the way! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8ZeC5yuOKI[/youtube]

HTC One Unboxing

Kellen — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:29:24 +0000

Oh boy, the HTC One is in the house. After not having touched HTC's new flagship since they announced it in February, it's almost as if we have never seen it before. With that said, it feels amazing to know that we can spend the next few weeks leading up to the U.S. launch with it in hand. We're sure that many of you are strongly considering this device as your next, so we'll do our best to answer any questions you may have. To kick off our coverage, which probably won't stop for the next week or so, we have a standard unboxing. Say what you will about unboxings, elitist media, we still have fun doing them, especially when they are as important-a-device as the One. In this video, it's all about a tour of that beautiful aluminum unibody design, the specs, the awkward softkey setup, and the BoomSound speakers which almost knock me off my chair. After you get done watching this, stay tuned for a 10-minute or so software tour. Actually, it's more like a baby touching something new for the first time, or second time in this case. You'll get to see me stumble through the oddity that is HTC Sense 5.0. But first, let's unbox it!

Video

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCKd2Rd1qos[/youtube]

Gallery

[nggallery id=74]

HTC M4 to be Facebook Home-less Device With Ultrapixel Camera

Tim — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:31:23 +0000

Back in early February, specs were leaked for an HTC device codenamed the M4. The M4 didn't have any specs that jumped off the page, but now there is an apparent image floating around the web for the upcoming device. And what excellent timing and coincidence that the HTC First was debuted yesterday, with almost matching specs. A 4.3" 720p display, Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, and not much else going on. Basically, think of the M4 as HTC's 2013 mid-range device without Facebook's Home launcher baked in. What you are left with is an affordable, entry-level device that anyone could get their hands on. If you are looking for a main selling point, it is rumored to come equipped with an ultrapixel camera along its backside. While HTC has yet to make any of this official, this is something we can possibly have to look forward to as the year presses on. Thoughts? Via: llabtoofer

Googlers Turn Sergey Brin's Tesla Into a Pink Batmobile With Eye Lashes for April Fools'

Kellen — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:37:32 +0000

April Fools' Day has already passed (thankfully) this year, but the pranks are apparently still living on at Google's campus. As can be seen in the photo above, Sergey Brin's Tesla was given quite the makeover at the beginning of this week by his co-workers. Since this photo was taken yesterday by Forbes writer Ryan Mac, I'd say Brin is either warming up to the new look or too busy building Glass to worry about it. Yes, it's completely wrapped in pink. And indeed those are eye lashes on the front headlights. If you look closely enough, you can even see flames on the mirrors as well. According to Yahoo's Motoramic, Brin has become nicknamed "Batman" by close friends, hence the logo on the hood and Batmobile-esque wings toward the rear. Last, but not least, check out the Chrome logos on his chrome two-spokes. Yikes. One more photo below.

Via: Forbes | Motoramic Cheers Brian!

Google to Announce Fiber for Austin Next Week, Rest of Us Feel Left Out

Tim — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:15:44 +0000

Oh my goodness. Looks as though the time has come for Google's gigabit Internet service, Fiber to finally expand beyond its small realm of Kansas City. It's about time, Google! According to a statement, the city of Austin, Texas and Google have a very important announcement to make on April 9th, with almost everyone who runs the city in attendance. While Google did not come out and say it is for Fiber just yet, The Verge speculates that there is already enough evidence to come to that conclusion. For starters, geographically it makes sense, Eric Schmidt said expansion was going to take place, and Austin is already home to some very large companies that would probably love to partner with Google in this venture such as Dell, Samsung, and Intel. Below is the statement in its entirety.

On Tuesday, April 9, at 11 a.m., the City of Austin and Google will make a very important announcement that will have a positive impact on Austinites and the future of the city. We anticipate more than 100 community leaders and elected officials to be in attendance to celebrate this announcement. The event invitation is attached for your convenience. Although we cannot share the details of the announcement with you in advance, we know readers will want to learn more, so we encourage you to join us on Tuesday.

Well, congrats to Austinites! Kellex and myself are already considering the perks of living in Texas instead of the chilly Northwest. Via: The Verge

Hazard Rush for Android, Looks Like Asteroids But Plays Like Snake

Tim — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:00:19 +0000

Here is a fun little game that is sure to be your next addiction. It's called Hazard Rush and is described as being half Snake and half Geometry Wars. While I never played Geo Wars, I have played plenty of Snake in my younger years and the game looks more like Asteroids to me. Anyways, you play as a little space ship, collecting stars and avoiding asteroids. As you would guess, with the more stars you collect, the harder the levels become. There are different modes to play through, as well as leaderboards and instant replays. I don't know why instant replays are needed, but hey, I'm not knocking it. It's free on Google Play, so go check it out and get lost in space. Play Link [youtube]http://youtu.be/a3SZthQa-7U[/youtube] Cheers Nick S!

Deal: All DODOcases are 38% Off If You Use Coupon Code "SupportSmall"

Kellen — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:32:55 +0000

One of our favorite case makers, DODOcase, is hosting a mega-sale on all products over the next few days. They are a San Francisco based company that hand-makes book-style cases for devices like the Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Galaxy Tab 10.1, and iPads using eco-friendly woods and fabrics. They also make these snazzy little wallet or pouch-style cases for phones (some tablets too) using premium leather and other materials. We took a look at their bookcases (for Nexus 7) and pouches (for Nexus 4 and Galaxy S3) for a number of devices a few weeks back, and are still using them to this day. These are premium products, to say the least. But since they are "premium" and hand-made, they aren't exactly the cheapest accessories on the planet, with prices starting at around $60. So now is a great time to consider ordering one, since today's sale will land you a 38% discount. If you hold out, the discount drops to 28% tomorrow and then down to 18% on Sunday. No matter what, you'll get a deal all weekend long, even if you are a king procrastinator. Use the coupon code "SUPPORTSMALL" during checkout and see the price drop drastically. Via: DODOcase Cheers Nick!

Video: Google Developers Go Over Building New Experiences With Google Glass

Tim — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:19:25 +0000

Lately, Google has been a lot better with letting the public get a glimpse of Google Glass from behind the lens. With this new hour-long developer meet-up video that was taken at SXSW, you can't really find anything more in-depth on the subject. To kick it off, Google's developer advocate for Glass goes over UI of the device, future experiences, and ways developers can shape the future of product. Pretty inspirational. If you have the time, start it up. [youtube]http://youtu.be/JpWmGX55a40[/youtube] Cheers Alex!

Deal: Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S3 for $380 at eBay With Free Shipping (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:47:05 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is weeks away from landing in our laps, so naturally, last year's model is starting to see bigger discounts than ever. Today, over at eBay, you can pick up the international unlocked version of the Galaxy S3 in either white or black with 16GB of internal storage for $379.99. Oh, shipping is also free and the device is brand new. While some may roll their eyes at least year's model, the Galaxy S3 is still one of the best phones on the market. I pick mine up from time to time if I'm looking to feed my AT&T LTE addiction and always put it back down impressed. Multiple friends and family members also still love their GS3s even after having them for a year. Remember, that this phone was one of the first on the planet to launch with 2GB of RAM. You can expand that minimal 16GB internal storage amount as well, thanks to a microSD slot that supports 64GB cards. Update: Deal done. Via: eBay Cheers Austin!

Custom ROM Friday: SynergyROM for the Samsung Galaxy S3

Tim — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:29:25 +0000

Yesterday, we took submissions for Custom ROM Friday and got an overwhelming response to check out SynergyROM for the Galaxy S3. SynergyROM brings your basic Galaxy S3 skin look, but with lots of performance tweaks and optimizations such as re-sizable floating windows, Photo Sphere abilities, and other goodies. A team of developers have worked the ROM to be compatible with Galaxy S3 devices on all four major carriers, so there's no discrimination going on here. Naturally, if you are interested in flashing any ROM, you will need to be running a custom recovery on your device. Below, we have taken a few of the major highlights of SynergyROM and listed them below. Features:

Jelly Bean 4.1.2
Fully Deodexed, Zipaligned, Busybox, Superuser, Debloated
Multiwindow with free-floating windows, created exclusively by Team Synergy!
Team Synergy's custom init.d scripts for insane performance
Blocked Samsung’s "root checker" and screenlogger services
23 notification toggles
4-in-1 reboot menu
Fully rotating homescreens
Wifi Tether app working right out of the box
Customized mounting scripts (see Q&A)
Custom boot animation support
4G and WiFi speed tweaks
Verizon OTAs blocked
Customized SystemUI interface
Tons more tweaks and enhancements

To download SynergyROM for your Galaxy S3, hit up their XDA thread here. [youtube]http://youtu.be/_wpD_vqwRfk[/youtube] Cheers everyone who submitted a ROM yesterday!

Verizon CEO Open to Eliminating Mobile Contracts, if Customers Ask For it

Tim — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:46:33 +0000

During a recent event, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam, said that he likes it when something different is tried in the industry. Just last week,T-Mobile looked to shake up the mobile world by ridding of contracts and making customers now pay for a larger portion of a device upfront, while paying a somewhat lower monthly bill. Interestingly enough, McAdam says he is all for this idea, if customers actually ask for it. From what he states, changing to this platform would be easy, all it takes is people wanting it. He mentioned that he will be monitoring customer feedback about T-mo's new plans and rates, then go from there. So, while T-Mobile spends who-knows-how-much to educate their potential customers on the new rate plans, Verizon will just sit back and wait to see what happens. You want Verizon to make the switch? Via: CNET Cheers everyone who sent this in!

HTC One Marketing Campaign to Include "Live Experience Tour" in 11 U.S. Cities

Kellen — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:08:01 +0000

With pre-orders in full effect at AT&T and Sprint, HTC has announced an 11 city North American tour called the "Live Experience Tour" to help promote their flagship, the HTC One. Stops will include Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. At each stop, many of which will include malls, HTC is setting up what they are calling BoomSound Lounges and HTC One Showrooms. These are pop-up stores with interactive experiences that allow customers to get their hands on the the One and have HTC prove that this phone is "everything your phone isn't." Yes, that's their new marketing slogan for the One. The focus will obviously be on their set of newly created buzzwords like BoomSound, Zoe, and BlinkFeed. Along with the U.S. tour, HTC will hold exclusive concerts for a limited number of fans that include performances by Pharrell in New York, Grouplove in Chicago and Manchester Orchestra in Los Angeles. These LiveNation concerts will have some sort of tie-in to the BoomSound and One Showrooms. The BoomSound Lounges will start popping up today. HTC One Showrooms won't arrive in malls until April 11, but should be around for up to three months. Is this the marketing campaign HTC needs to survive? I guess we'll find out. It's just too bad they couldn't have used some of that Pharrell cash to produce 4 ~~Megapixel~~ "Ultrapixel" sensors and deliver the phone on time.

HTC CHALLENGES CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS WITH NEW HTC ONE® LIVE EXPERIENCE TOUR

Tour Launches Across the Country to Show Consumers the New HTC One Is “Everything Your Phone Isn’t”
BELLEVUE, Wash. – April 5, 2013 — HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today introduced the company’s integrated U.S. marketing campaign launching its new flagship smartphone, the new HTC One. The campaign challenges the current mobile phone experience with a bold and playful execution, and offers consumers the opportunity to see, hear and hold the new smartphone before nationwide availability in traditional retail channels. The campaign comes to life as pre-order begins today, following unprecedented demand and the strongest pre-registration interest for any smartphone designed by HTC. The new HTC One will be available nationwide at retail stores through AT&T, Sprint and Best Buy on April 19, and through T-Mobile later this spring. “We’re establishing the U.S. brand identity for the new HTC One as an innovative, stunning product with a full-metal design and a clear difference in experiences from any previous, or recently announced smartphone” said Erin McGee, vice president, marketing, North America, HTC Corporation. “The new HTC One has already won numerous prestigious awards and accolades, but consumers have yet to see it for themselves. We are changing that, starting today, by delivering unique and highly relevant experiences on city streets, in suburban malls, and at hundreds of movie theaters that brings the product to life through an authentic connection with the consumer.” Everything Your Phone Isn’t™ Crafted with a distinct zero-gap aluminum unibody, the new HTC One introduces HTC BlinkFeed™, HTC Zoe™ and HTC BoomSound™, key new HTC Sense® innovations that reinvent the mobile experience and set a new standard for smartphones. HTC is taking the breakthrough product directly to consumers with the HTC One Live Experience Tour, bringing each unique innovation to life and prompting consumers to compare the new HTC One to their current phone experience. The advertising features a similarly evocative theme positioning the new smartphone to consumers as “Everything Your Phone Isn’t”, with several deep integrations that highlight the dynamic experiences of the device. The new advertising campaign will run across a variety of media, including heavy rotation in relevant national TV programming, print, digital media and mobile advertising to include Pandora, Spotify, YouTube and Vevo. In-market geo-targeted advertising will also be incorporated into the HTC One Live Experience Tour. The HTC One Live Experience Tour will appear in 11 major markets across the U.S. and consists of three distinct executions: the HTC BoomSound Lounge, HTC One Showrooms and HTC One Cinema Experiences. HTC BoomSound Lounge The new HTC One introduces — for the first time on a phone — front-facing stereo speakers with a dedicated amplifier, as well as Beats Audio™ integration for rich, authentic sound whether listening to music, watching a video or playing a game. Opening today, the HTC BoomSound Lounges bring the extraordinary on-device audio experience to life at pop-up listening booths in prominent locations in six major cities across the U.S.: Columbus Circle in New York, Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco, Hollywood and Highland in Los Angeles, Wrigleyville in Chicago, Franklin Square in Philadelphia, and Perimeter Mall in Atlanta. In addition to product experiences, the BoomSound Lounges serve as the connection for consumers to exclusive HTC concerts produced by Live Nation. Performances by Pharrell in New York, Grouplove in Chicago and Manchester Orchestra in Los Angeles will be limited to an audience of 1,000 fans, creating an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experience for attendees. Consumers in those three markets can visit the HTC BoomSound Lounges for the opportunity to receive tickets to the concerts happening in their city. On April 19, all of the BoomSound Lounges across the country will transform into listening and viewing locations for the broadcast of one of the exclusive live concerts. HTC One Showroom Starting on April 11, HTC One Showrooms will begin appearing in high-traffic malls across the U.S. where they will live for a minimum of three months to create a playful, dynamic, digital space for consumer interaction and entertainment. The HTC Showrooms are built solely on the experiences of the new HTC One, placed where people spend time shopping, dining and hanging out, and allow engagement at their leisure. HTC Showrooms are popping up in eight U.S. markets featuring interactive experiences and a plethora of new HTC One smartphones for hands-on experiences: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. “HTC One Showrooms are taking the concept of a pop-up store to different place by creating a large, playful, interactive exhibit where we expect people to be entertained and have a new experience with the HTC One at each visit. It gives them the chance to truly immerse themselves in everything the phone offers at their own pace – and delivers a different experience than a traditional retail setting. We’ve created a mobility-powered playground that is good for our consumers, and for our retail partners as we send informed customers to their doors,” said McGee.

HTC BlinkFeed: The new experience that transforms the home screen on the new HTC One into a single live stream of personally relevant information is re-created in the HTC Showroom as a larger-than-life interactive phone display that will provide news updates to shoppers.

HTC Zoe: The ability to shoot high-res photos that come to life and transform the photo gallery into a living gallery will be brought to the HTC Showroom as interactive touch screens representing the on-device photo experience.

HTC Sense TV™: HTC experts demonstrate how the new HTC One transforms into an interactive program guide and remote control to easily sort through and check all content on TV by selectable categories.

HTC Live Cinema Experience

HTC is treating moviegoers to hands-on opportunities with the new HTC One through live product demonstrations in the lobby of select theaters and showing the latest commercial for the new HTC One on the big screen. In the near future, HTC will add entertainment content to the on-screen viewing experience in theaters and also across key online and TV channels.

Availability The highly anticipated new HTC One will be available globally through more than 185 mobile operators and major retailers in more than 80 regions and countries. In the United States, the new HTC One is available today for pre-order online through AT&T, Sprint, HTC and Best Buy in silver. Nationwide retail availability is as follows:

AT&T: Available on April 19th in silver and black with 32GB of memory for $199.99, and in sliver with 64 GB of memory for $299.99 with a two-year commitment.

Sprint: Available on April 19th in silver and black with 32GB of memory for $199.99 with a two-year commitment.

T-Mobile: Available later this spring in silver with 32GB of memory.

Best Buy: Available with service from AT&T and Sprint in conjunction with wireless operator availability.

For more information about the new HTC One, visit www.htc.com. About HTC Founded in 1997, HTC Corporation (HTC) is the creator of many award-winning mobile devices and industry firsts. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC pushes the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. HTC's portfolio includes smartphones and tablets powered by the HTC Sense® user experience. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). For more information, please visit www.htc.com.

HTC One Developer Edition Goes on Sale at 7AM PDT (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:30:32 +0000

The Developer Edition of the HTC One will go on sale April 5 (today) at 7:00AM PDT (10:00AM Eastern). Announced back in March by HTC as being both SIM and bootloader unlocked, this device is the ultimate developer tool, should you not want to deal with whatever secure situations the carriers will throw at their versions of the One. The price of the dev edition runs $649, which is the full retail price of the phone. There are no contracts here - if you buy it, you own it outright. At $649, you are getting the silver version of the One with 64GB of internal storage, connectivity on HSPA+ networks (850/1900/2100MHz) and LTE (700/850/AWS/1900MHz). Those bands include AT&T HSPA+ in most markets, T-Mobile HSPA+ in some that have been refarmed for 1900, and potentially T-Mobile LTE. The rest of the phone is identical to what you'll see in carrier stores, meaning it'll have the 4.7" 1080p display, 2GB RAM, HTC Sense 5.0, BoomSound, and a newly minted UltraPixel camera. HTC has said that there will be "limited quantities." If you want the dev edition, be sure to have your browser open to HTC's site when the time comes. Update: Here is the pre-order link.

Update 2: HTC is also listing the SIM unlocked 32GB version of the phone with 32GB of storage for just $575. That's a hell of a price, folks. You won't find unlocked versions that cheap from any of the unlocked retailers across the globe. Here is the pre-order link.

Via: @HTCDev

Initial Thoughts on Facebook Home and the HTC First #2

Tim — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:47:37 +0000

As you have already seen, today's coverage mostly focused around the announcement of Facebook's Home launcher for Android and their partnership with both AT&T and HTC to create the HTC First. This size of an investment in the mobile space is what Facebook has been needing, given that the mobile experience for their service on Android is somewhat lacking. Kellen already ran through his initial reaction, but since I was actually at the event, thought I would go over my initial reaction to today's announcements as well.

Facebook Home is neat, but not really

I am a pretty heavy user of Facebook. While sitting at my desk, I have the social network open at all times, skimming my friend's updates and chatting using their IM service. My initial feelings towards having Facebook this heavily integrated into my smartphone is not very positive, but at the same time I could see this being great for someone else. To give an example, someone like my mother, who keeps track of her children's lives through Facebook and only has us as friends will definitely get a kick out of this. With Home, as soon as she turns on her phone she can see our latest pictures and status updates. For me, that's completely acceptable, given as long as she isn't calling me for those things and yapping my ear off for an hour. In short, if this helps someone feel more in touch with the people in their lives, so be it. The point is, Home is a very neat idea when looking at it from the outside, but I just can't imagine myself being this involved with Facebook.

The HTC First is pointless

As for the First, the specs are as some would put it "outdated," but it does come with a pretty intriguing price point of $99. At that price, and with full Android operability, it does seem nice. Although, to develop a device just for Home is something I have not yet wrapped my mind around. Once the announcement of Home was official and we saw that it was merely a launcher, not a forked version of Android or some Facebook OS, it just seems that the resources spent on the creation of this device were misplaced. The only aspect of Home that requires a system-level integration is notifications. For me, that just isn't enough to justify buying a separate device. Sure, a tween could totally afford this device and get themselves into it, but as an Android fan and superior hardware diehard, this phone serves zero purpose to me.

Chat Heads is the only aspect I'm excited for

While most of what Home brings to a device doesn't really interest me, Chat Heads is easily what I came away most impressed with. The ability to be in any app, playing a game or whatever else you're doing and still have the ability to receive and send messages without backing out of said app/game is huge. While 3rd party Android apps do provide pop-up services for this (only text messages though), they're just that, pop-ups. Pop-ups are flippin' annoying. Chat Heads rest on the side of the phone's UI, allowing you to still accomplish the task at hand, but serve as a gentle reminder that your friend needs your attention. You can choose to pay attention or not to pay attention. Pop-ups on the other hand, do not. Please Google, kang Chat Heads and throw it into the next version of Android.

A win for Android

While this device and service might not interest me, what does make me happy is the fact that Facebook showed so much love for Android as an OS. It is flexible and can take the shape of whatever developers need it to in order to get the job done. Facebook wanted to create a launcher/skin that made someone feel as if they were using a phone purely built for Facebook. And with Android, that was easily accomplished. During the Q&A session, after the live feed went dark, a reporter asked if they could expect to see Home for iOS. Not anytime soon, buddy. The level of what is need for Home to function as it should is more than Apple allows on their devices. With Home, there is a new lockscreen, overlaying IMs, and don't forget the entire launcher aspect of it. While Zuckerburg didn't completely rule out the possibility, iOS just isn't made for applications such as Home. For that, this is a major score for Google and Android.

Final thoughts

At the end of the day, Home is simply a 3rd party launcher. While it brings a new list of features and nifty tricks to your device, it is no more than just a tool to creep on your friends and exes. While I am happy to see Android getting the big thumbs up from Zuck, I would expect to see hype over the HTC First and Home die out within a month. This isn't revolutionary and it certainly isn't going to change the way we as a general public use our smartphones. Just wait till they begin to integrate ads into your Cover Feed. I will stick to just using the regular app, thank you very much.

Taking Submissions for Custom ROM Friday

Kellen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:49:47 +0000

As someone so kindly suggested on Twitter, how about we move away from Facebook news for a minute and get back to our roots? Since tomorrow is Friday and all, it's time for us to accept submissions for Custom ROM Friday. This is your chance, every couple of weeks, to tell us what your favorite ROM of the moment is and for which device. Sell it to us in the comments by listing out features, the developer's name, and the device you are using it on - just make sure you leave enough details so that we know why this ROM is kick ass. The last couple of CRFs produced BAMF, CarbonROM, and Shiny, so let's see what else is out there. Check out our previous Custom ROM Friday posts.

Thursday Poll: Going to Make Facebook Home Your Launcher of Choice?

Tim — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:00:07 +0000

So far, what I think is great on Facebook's part is that they are not limiting this new experience to only those that buy an HTC First. Android users that currently own one of the five initially supported devices will be able to download Home from Google Play and immediately immerse themselves with status updates and pictures from friends. By taking this route, Facebook is truly trying to put this experience into the hands of as many people as possible. It may not seem that way yet, since the HTC First is an AT&T exclusive, but that was purely a business move. With Home as your default launcher, you have the ability to access instant messages between friends no matter what you are doing on your device, look through your News Feed as soon as you unlock the device, and bookmark certain applications that you use more often than others. While Home does seem sort of like an extremely dignified widget, there are bound to be hundreds of thousands of users in no time at all. Let us know down below if you plan on making Facebook's Home your default launcher of choice. As a bonus, feel free to let us know why or why not in the comments section below. Personally, I am dying to hear everyone's thoughts on this. [poll id="246"]

Initial Thoughts and Notes on Facebook Home for Android

Kellen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:11:43 +0000

All talk across the tech universe has been about Facebook today, and I'm sure you have had just about enough, so I'll try to make this one of our last topics. As you know, Facebook unveiled Facebook Home along with a new phone that can run it, the HTC First. This is Facebook finally realizing that mobile is extremely important to the future of their company - well, either that or after feeling enough pressure from shareholders they had no choice but to start taking it seriously. And since Android is as "open" as it gets in the mobile space, they saw an opportunity to put Facebook first, if you will, and created a home replacement that should eventually work on almost any semi-current Android device. As I watched the presentation and all of our coverage following, all sorts of things jumped out to me as either important or newsworthy and wanted to share. This is my early take on Facebook Home.

Facebook Home is a Third Party Launcher

As we predicted when Facebook Home was first rumored by the Wall Street Journal, it is nothing more than a third party launcher that sits on top of Android and can replace the home experience you get on any device (eventually), whether it be an HTC One or Galaxy S3. When you think of Nova or Apex Launcher, Facebook Book is in the same category. If you install it, it's not going to completely change your phone or wipe anything out - it's simply a layer of sorts over the top of the experience that your phone manufacturer had initially envisioned. It will be available on April 12 in Google Play as an app that anyone with a Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, Note 2, HTC One, or One X can download and install. Should you install it, the first time you press your phone's home button, you'll be asked if you want to use Facebook Home once or as your default.

Differences on the HTC First

There is one major difference from the app you'll install through Google Play and the version that is running on partner devices like the HTC First - notifications. For Facebook Home to show Gmail or text message notifications through their lock screen or UI, they have said that Home needs to be installed natively. If you download the app through Google Play, our understanding is that you'll only see the box-style notifications (pictured above) from Facebook. The rest of your notifications for other apps will appear outside of Facebook Home and in the notification bar. Keeping that in mind, there is an option in Facebook Home settings to either hide or show the standard notifications bar. For Google Play installs you will likely want to keep this showing or you may miss out on alerts from other apps.

Stock Android on the HTC First

In our hands-on video of the HTC First (7:30 mark), you can see that the phone is running what appears to be stock Android underneath Facebook Home. What we're not sure of, is if you can somehow disable Home through settings to then leave yourself with a 100% stock Android device. Since it has access to all Google services, you could still install a different third party launcher to turn it into one. The phone runs Android 4.1

I Guess I Should Mention the HTC First as a Phone

It's a mid-range Facebook phone that should have been $99 without a contract. Moving on.

App Drawer

With Facebook Home, you still have a somewhat traditional app drawer. With a press and swipe up on your profile picture, you enter a first screen that is a folder of sorts for your favorite apps. If you swipe from that box to the left, you'll enter the full list of apps installed on the phone that scrolls vertically. If you swipe back to the right, you return to your favorites folder. Should you fill up the first folder, you can swipe right to create more folders of favorite apps.

No Widgets

In Facebook Home, there are no widgets. Since your main screen is the Cover Feed, the last thing Facebook wants to do is cover up those beautiful photos and status updates with top layered widgets. Tim asked a couple of reps at the event and they confirmed to him that they are considering widgets, but that at this time, Facebook Home does not support them.

Compatibility With Tablets

As I mentioned earlier, Facebook Home will launch on April 12 to a select group of phones from Samsung and HTC. After that, we'll probably be sitting by, waiting for Facebook to either update their app or announce new compatibility. As far as tablets are concerned, Facebook did announce that the experience is coming to bigger screened devices. Unfortunately, it won't be for a few months at least.

Cover Feed is Too Simple

For me personally, the Cover Feed feature in Facebook Home is way too simple. As someone that likes to gobble up as much info as possible from one screen (admitted DaskClock addict here), seeing one status update and photo at a time from a friend just seems like future work ahead that I won't want to do. If you look at any hands-on video today, Facebook has done some nice things visually with slowly moving HD-esque pictures on each screen, but to get between updates, you have to constantly swipe either right or left. I have yet to see a screen that will show me a summary or small updates of all new posts from friends. I guess I can get that from the actual Facebook app?

Chat Heads is Very Cool

The Chat Heads feature in Facebook Home is awesome. It allows you to carry on conversations with friends without having to leave your current place or activity. It's an overlay, that sits atop say your Chrome browser session or YouTube clip and allows you to respond to friends in real-time. You can quickly swipe away a "head" to the trash to remove it or grab all "heads" and rearrange them on screen so that they aren't in your way. If Google could do this with Babel, their unified chat service, I'd be very happy.

I'm Still Not Using Facebook

At the end of the day, Facebook Home is not going to get me to start using Facebook. I've gone this long without much participation on the social network and saw nothing from today that has me running toward it. With that said, Facebook users will likely love this new home replacement, assuming their device is compatible with it. If your days are filled with Facebook messenger conversations and constant updates from friends, this looks like a beautiful way to extend your Facebook world outside of the app.

Final Thoughts

For Facebook, Facebook Home makes a lot of sense. While I'm sure their app usage remains incredibly high by itself, companies are always trying to push numbers upwards. If you want Facebook users using Facebook more, make it the first thing they see when they wake their phone. The real success here, though, was finding a way to turn users' phones into Facebook phones without sacrificing the benefits of Android, something they have managed to do. And whether or not I plan to use Facebook Home doesn't mean that I don't realize that Facebook has made a heck of a business move with Home, especially once they start putting ads on it.

AT&T Pre-orders for the HTC First and HTC One Now Live

Eric — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:36:34 +0000

Today is a big day for AT&T. If you've been waiting anxiously (since this morning) to buy the Facebook inspired HTC First, you will be happy to know that the pre-order page is live right now. $99.99 on a new contract, the phone will ship to you next week if you hurry up. If you've been waiting for that other HTC phone, the One, you'll be happy as well. HTC's new flagship can now be pre-ordered on AT&T's website for $199.99, with a new contract, today. Take note though, only the silver color is up for availability right now, no black. If you pre-order today though, AT&T will ship your new phone as early as April 16. Are you picking up either of HTC's new devices? AT&T Links: HTC First | HTC One

Facebook Home Program Signs Up Big Manufacturers, HTC, Samsung and Others

Eric — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:11:06 +0000

This morning's Facebook event was not just a one-time event if Zuckerberg has his way. Within the press conference there was the announcement of the Facebook Home Program that Facebook has created to sign on with different partners to possible bring more Home devices to the masses. HTC, Samsung, Sony, Qualcomm, AT&T, Huawei and ZTE were some of the names on the list.

It has already been mentioned that the Galaxy S3 and S4, Galaxy Note 2 and the upcoming HTC One will have Home coming for them, which makes sense seeing that the manufacturers are already in the Home Program. It isn't clear what being a partner of this program entails, but seeing Samsung and Sony's take on a Facebook phone would throw some choice into the mix.

If you wanted a Home device, would you care which company made it?

HTC First and Facebook Home Hands-on (Updated: Video Added)

Kellen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:35:47 +0000

Now that the live event is over, Facebook is giving the press a chance to take a look at their newly announced HTC First device running their also newly announced Facebook Home. The First sports a 4.3" 720p display, runs a Snapdragon 400 dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 5MP rear camera, connects over AT&T's 4G LTE network, and sports Android 4.1 underneath their custom launcher. It'll come in 4 colors (white, black, red, and pale blue) at a price of $99.99 with new 2-year contract. The first can be pre-ordered starting today and will launch April 12. As you have seen from the press shots, the device itself carries a unique circular home button with back and minus softkeys to its sides, arrangement. The overall exterior appears mostly to be unibody, with a singular color scheme depending on which color you are looking at. It's not incredibly thin by any means, but still thin enough. You can call it "iPhone-ish" if you'd like, however, I'd just wager that it looks like most touch-screen smartphones these days. Or if you needed to compare it to one in particular, how about the Incredible 2 or Incredible 4G LTE? If anything, this is about as minimal as you'll see from a manufacturer. There are few logos, only subtle HTC, Facebook, and AT&T logos towards the bottom back.

Gallery

[nggallery id=73]

Video

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AD-PrWtKsg[/youtube]

Video: Quick Look at Facebook Home New Features - Chat Heads, Notifications, and Cover Feed

Kellen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:11:21 +0000

Facebook has announced all sorts of goodies today, from their new Home launcher to the HTC First (aka Facebook Phone). We'll continue to bring you coverage throughout the day, including the hands-on time that Tim is on the scene getting at the moment. As he works on preparing that for us all, we thought we'd share a couple of videos that AT&T just posted to quickly recap some of the new features that are included with Home. They show you how Cover feed works, a feature that is a constantly up-to-date as a fresh stream of photos and activities from your friends' newsfeeds. They also talk notifications and how you can group them together after viewing or interacting to quickly hide them away. Last, they show off Chat heads, which is like an multi-tasking chat application and ongoing conversation list that floats over the top of your current activity so that you aren't interrupted.

Cover feed: A constant, fresh stream of photos and updates from your newsfeed, cover feed is always present when you wake up your phone. It lets you stay up-to-date on your friends’ latest activities in real-time, all the time. You can swipe through to see more photos and updates, double tap to “like” a post and comment right from cover feed. To learn more about cover feed, check out this video.
Notifications: Notifications from apps and friends appear right on your home screen. It’s easier to see when you have a missed call, calendar reminder or new message. Open a notification with a double tap or clear them away to see your Cover Feed. To learn more about notifications, check out this video.
Chat Heads: The mobile messenger lets you jump in and out of conversations while you do other things, like watch a video and browse the web. Reply right from chat heads, or move them around if you're not ready to respond. Plus you can send and receive texts and Facebook messages from the same spot. To learn more about chat heads, check out this video.
App Launcher: See your favorite apps and post right to Facebook from the same spot. You choose what’s on your app launcher—press and hold an app then drag it anywhere.
Instagram: HTC First is the only phone that comes with Instagram pre-loaded.

Facebook Home Promo

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lep_DSmSRwE[/youtube]

Cover Feed

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWKE0HTl0ig[/youtube]

Chat Heads

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p_y9dAK94Q[/youtube]

Notifications

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKyO0hJEp-g[/youtube]

Gallery

HTC and AT&T Announce the HTC First, Also Known as the First Facebook Phone - Available April 12 for $99

Kellen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:43:16 +0000

The Facebook announcements continue on this morning with HTC and AT&T partnering up to release the first Facebook-focused phone, the HTC First. It's available April 12 (same day as Facebook Home) for $99.99 on contract at AT&T. You can pre-order today if you'd like. Oh, it has LTE as well. The device sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 dual-core processor, 4.3" 720p display, 5MP rear camera, 1GB RAM, and runs Android 4.1. At some point today, the pre-order site will go live here.

AT&T Joins with HTC and Facebook to Launch HTC First, the Only Smartphone Designed Around Facebook Home

Facebookâ€™s Newest Mobile Experience Available Exclusively on the Nationâ€™s Fastest 4G LTE Network
Dallas, Texas, Bellevue, Washington, Menlo Park, California, April 04, 2013 AT&T*, HTC and Facebook have teamed up to develop and launch the HTC First™, the first and only smartphone built to feature Facebook Home, which puts your friends at the heart of your phone. Facebook Home is the first mobile experience designed to give you your friends’ latest updates right on your home screen and messages that reach you no matter what you're doing. HTC First will be available for pre-order today for $99.99 with a two-year commitment and available exclusively in AT&T stores and online starting April 12. To pre-order, visit www.att.com/facebookhome. The HTC First runs on AT&T 4G LTE, the nation’s fastest 4G LTE network.** In addition, independent mobile research firm RootMetrics® has published a special report on 4G LTE in the U.S. which notes that AT&T wireless customers in our 4G LTE markets that were tested by RootMetrics have access to the fastest mobile speeds on their smartphones. AT&T also has the nation’s largest 4G network, covering 288 million people. “The HTC First will offer the best Facebook Home experience on mobile, right out of the box. That’s why we’re committed to this phone and making it exclusive in our stores,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility. “Because AT&T offers the fastest 4G LTE** in the nation, it’s the best network for Facebook Home. And the best device for Facebook Home is the HTC First.” “HTC has a track record of providing beautiful hardware design, and of being first-to-market with smartphone innovations," said Peter Chou, CEO, HTC Corporation. "The HTC First continues that track record, providing AT&T customers with a unique home experience that puts a user's friends and family at the center of their mobile experience.” "Home is a completely new experience for your phone," said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's Founder and CEO. "With Home available right out of the box, you're getting the best quality experience for connecting with your friends." Facebook Home brings your News Feed to the surface, immediately giving you the content you care about right on your home screen when you turn on your phone without having to open an app or access a mobile website. Just sign into your Facebook account and begin using Home – no need for download or configuration. Facebook Home connects you directly with your friends, whether it’s their real-time updates and newest photo uploads being streamed on your cover feed or the ability to chat with friends without jumping in and out of apps. Facebook Home is built around your friends and puts them at the center of your phone: Cover feed: A constant, fresh stream of photos and updates from your newsfeed, cover feed is always present when you wake up your phone. It lets you stay up-to-date on your friends’ latest activities in real-time, all the time. You can swipe through to see more photos and updates, double tap to “like” a post and comment right from cover feed. To learn more about cover feed, check out this video. Notifications: Notifications from apps and friends appear right on your home screen. It’s easier to see when you have a missed call, calendar reminder or new message. Open a notification with a double tap or clear them away to see your Cover Feed. To learn more about notifications, check out this video. Chat Heads: The mobile messenger lets you jump in and out of conversations while you do other things, like watch a video and browse the web. Reply right from chat heads, or move them around if you're not ready to respond. Plus you can send and receive texts and Facebook messages from the same spot. To learn more about chat heads, check out this video. App Launcher: See your favorite apps and post right to Facebook from the same spot. You choose what’s on your app launcher—press and hold an app then drag it anywhere. Instagram: HTC First is the only phone that comes with Instagram pre-loaded. HTC First will be available in four colors: black, white, red and pale blue. The hardware is thin, modern and seamless, with soft edges to draw your attention to the updates from friends and family on the 4.3-inch glass display. Inside, the smartphone runs Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) with the new Facebook Home experience and incorporates a Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 400 processor with dual-core CPU and 3G/4G world and multimode LTE so you can enjoy the richest content on AT&T’s blazing fast 4G LTE network. For more information, or to pre-order HTC First, please visit www.att.com/facebookhome. *AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. **Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Claim based on a comparison of U.S. national carriers’ average 4G LTE download speeds for Android™ and Windows smartphones and iPhone 5. 4G speeds not available everywhere. About AT&T AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att. About HTC Founded in 1997, HTC Corp. (HTC) is the creator of many award-winning mobile devices and industry firsts. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC pushes the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. HTC's portfolio includes smartphones and tablets powered by the HTC Sense® user experience. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). For more information, please visit www.htc.com.

Facebook Home Launches April 12 for the HTC One, One X, Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, and Note 2

Kellen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:40:19 +0000

Facebook Home is official and launching April to the Google Play store. Device compatibility is limited for now, as Facebook has worked to make the experience as polished as can be. The first run of devices includes the HTC One and One X. From Samsung we'll see compatibility for the Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Note 2. Other devices will come down the road. Tablet support is also coming, but not for a few of months.

Facebook Announces New Android Skin/Launcher/App Pack Dubbed "Home"

Kellen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:12:54 +0000

It's official, Facebook has announced their new "home on Android." It's called Home and is essentially a third party launcher or skin or pack of apps that can be installed on any Android device to make people come first, rather than apps (if that made sense). As expected, Facebook wants to become the focal point of your device every time you unlock it, so having a launcher take control is a major step in the direction of making that happen. We're still taking in the live event (which you can watch here) and will continue to update this post live.

-So the app is indeed a third party launcher, but it's an intense one. This takes over the top layer of Android. It'll work on tablets, but not for a couple of months.

-Here are the first few compatible devices, launching April 12.

-HTC and AT&T also came on stage to announce the HTC First, which is essentially the first Facebook phone.

-Here are the pretty press pictures of Facebook Home.

Developing...

Here is What Google Now's New Real-time Package Tracking Looks Like

Kellen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:38:27 +0000

When Google Search updated yesterday, bringing with it "real time package tracking from select carriers" to Google Now, we were curious as to what carriers Google was referring to and exactly what "real time" means to them. For one, I have a couple of packages currently coming via UPS and neither are showing anything different from what we have seen since they first introduced the original package tracking. So what do they mean? USPS with maps, itemized tracking, order recaps, and more. A long time reader of ours sent in the screenshot above for tickets he had ordered to an upcoming San Francisco Giants game. Clearly, he is seeing new tracking information and USPS must be one of the select carriers that Google was referring to. There is a map that shows the starting shipping point to the end delivery, an itemized breakdown of each stop along the way, a summary of his ticket order and a "more" link to provide additional details. So rather than the "Track Package" link opening up the browser and the shipping company's website with tracking information, Google is trying to give you as much or more info without forcing you to leave Google Now. I know I'm a fan - I just wish it would roll out to UPS already. Cheers Ben!

Jelly Bean Update for AT&T's LG Optimus G Available Now, Enables Isis Mobile Wallet

Kellen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:39:11 +0000

AT&T announced this morning that the Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) update for the LG Optimus G (our review) is live. Users can pull the update through their phone on WiFi and then move forward with their lives on the best version of Android to date. With 4.1, you'll see enhanced notifications, an insanely fast UI thanks to Project Butter, and most importantly, Google Now. Here are some of the details for the update:

The latest version of Android software, Jelly Bean makes your smartphone easier to use through several enhancements, including changes to the notification display that groups updates from the same application together, and allows you to expand or collapse notifications. Customers will also be able to view the full text of an SMS message and the full photo of a MMS in the notification window. The new Tasks app lets you sync your tasks in Outlook so you always have insight into those important to-do items. Additionally, event notifications display more of the event description to let you quickly see relevant details without having to open the app. You can even snooze or dismiss an individual event from within the notification. To help customers better manage their data consumption, the Jelly Bean update adds a data usage calculator that allows you to set a limit on your data usage each month. Harnessing the power of the Snapdragon™ S4 Pro 1.5GHz Quad-Core Processor, Jelly Bean is faster, smoother and more responsive with Android’s best performance yet.

To pull the update, head to Settings>General>About phone>Software Update>Update now. One thing we thought was interesting from the press note, was a mention of Isis Mobile Wallet. While Verizon has been testing Isis in Austin and Salt Lake City for a few months, it doesn't seem like AT&T has been as engaged with the app. Or maybe we're just not paying close enough attention. Either way, the Optimus G will have Isis installed once the update to Jelly Bean has finished, which means mobile payments and local deals, accessible from your phone. Via: ATT

Live From Facebook's "Home" Announcement at 10AM PDT, Live Video Included

Kellen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:10:30 +0000

Stop the rumors, stop the guessing, stop the wondering why on Earth the world needs a Facebook phone. Well, you can continue to question that last part since we'll probably never fully understand it, but the rest will be answered at 10:00AM PDT, today. That's right, Facebook and Sir Zuck will unveil their "new home on Android" in a short while, and we'll be there live to bring it all to you. Their new product may be called the HTC First. It may look like this in a variety of colors. And there is a good chance it'll be nothing more than a 3rd-party launcher with a Facebook focus. No matter what, our attention this morning will be focused on it, hoping for a big surprise. If you have any last predictions, now is the time. I'm going with, $199 phone (full retail price), no contract, HSPA+ (no LTE), and sold unlocked at all sorts of retailers like Wal-mart and Target. Similar move to what Google has done with the Nexus 4, but since the rumored specs for this Facebook sound like something out of late 2011, it should cost pennies. The live blog and live video are below!

Samsung to Open 1,400 Experience Shops Inside U.S. Best Buy Stores

Kellen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:50:54 +0000

The rumors were true, Samsung will open mini-stores or Experience Shops inside 1,400 Best Buy stores across the country beginning this month. Similar to what Apple has done with their personalized section of the "worlds largest consumer electronics retailer," Samsung will carve out their own space in both Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile shops to provide customers an opportunity to explore their smartphones, tablets, laptops, and cameras with help from a Samsung Experience Consultant. The shops will vary in size, with the largest being approximately 460 feet, and will offer up a hands-on, interactive experiences of Samsung products to customers. Samsung and Best Buy are expecting to have 900 of these shops open by May. Not that Samsung needed any help in boosting their already enormous sales, but this certainly won't hurt. You have to wonder, how can HTC or Motorola or LG ever compete with something like this? Every time someone walks into a Best Buy store, they'll be greeted with glowing neon Samsung logos, tables with products for demos, and "specialists." Good luck, rest of industry. More info at Best Buy's Samsung Experience site.

SAMSUNG JOINS FORCES WITH BEST BUY TO PROVIDE CONSUMERS A UNIQUE MOBILE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Samsung Experience Shops in 1,400 Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores create a destination where consumers can experience Samsung’s extensive mobile ecosystem of products and learn how they work together from dedicated Samsung experts
Richardson, TX — April 4, 2013 — Samsung Electronics announced today a unique relationship with Best Buy, the world’s largest consumer electronics retailer, centered on retail innovation for customers to explore, purchase, activate and service the broadest portfolio of Samsung mobile products and accessories. The Samsung Experience Shop™ will be installed in more than 1,400 Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile specialty stores across the U.S. beginning this month. By early May, 900 Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile specialty stores will feature the Samsung Experience Shop, with the remainder launching by early summer. At the Samsung Experience Shops, consumers can experience Samsung’s full range of mobile products including smartphones, tablets, laptops, connected cameras and accessories, all in one location. The shops enable consumers to interact with and buy Samsung’s latest mobile products and experience how the devices connect together to enrich their lives. Select Best Buy stores will have Samsung Smart Service™, which includes dedicated Samsung Experience Consultants™ and Best Buy blue shirt sales associates to assist customers with purchasing and activating mobile products on the carrier of their choice, understanding their device and supporting them throughout the lifecycle of their product. The specially trained Samsung Experience Consultants will assist with product demonstrations, basic product services, Samsung account set up, warranty registration and post purchase support. “Samsung has been delivering the latest innovation across the consumer electronics category for some time,” said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Telecommunications America. “With the Samsung Experience Shops, we are ensuring consumers get the most of that innovation by learning how to leverage their mobile devices across our ecosystem of consumer electronics. Consumers will have one place to not only explore and learn about our full portfolio of mobile products, but also the support of a Samsung expert to help with selecting and servicing them. This will truly be a unique mobile shopping experience.” The shops vary in size, with the largest being approximately 460 square feet. Within the larger shops, the Samsung Connected Solutions™ area creates a place for customers to see how easily Samsung devices connect and share content across multiple screens. “We look forward to showcasing Samsung products in the Samsung Experience Shop in all Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile locations. This is part of our Renew Blue transformation strategy – working closely with vendor partners to innovate and drive value, while also updating our stores to focus on growing and profitable categories,” said Shawn Score, head of U.S. Retail for Best Buy. “Our promise to our customers is simple: we’re committed to providing the best value, service and selection. Our partnership with Samsung on the Samsung Experience Shop is another way we’re delivering on that promise.” In addition to the in-store experience, online sales and support of Samsung mobile products and accessories will be available later in Q2 at www.bestbuy.com/samsungexperienceshop. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

Delphi Vehicle Diagnostics Tool From Verizon Gives You Ultimate Control of Your Car Through a Smartphone and Tablet

Kellen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:18:02 +0000

Within the last week, Verizon and Delphi partnered up to launch a vehicle diagnostics tool that actually sounds pretty amazing, even to those of us who aren't car experts. If you were ever in need of a car accessory that could unlock-relock doors, start your engine, open the trunk, tell you what that nagging check engine light means, monitor fuel levels, find your lost parked car, and help you track your car's location as it drives, this might be something to splurge on. The tool itself runs $249 for a limited time along with a $5 month-to-month access charge, since it hooks up to Big Red's network. It should be compatible with most car models released after 1996. You can check compatibility here.

To use it, you plug the Delphi tool into your vehicle's OBD-II port and then forget about it. Once plugged in, you can download apps to both your smartphone and tablet that give you full control over your car or truck. As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, this Delphi tool can tell you what the check engine light that recently appeared in your dash means long before you ever have to think about taking it into an expensive repair shop. It also does things like notify you if your car exceeds 75MPH. The Delphi system will even keep track of your driving history and constantly provide health status. The device itself runs a Qualcomm chipset, connects to Verizon's CDMA 1X network (which is almost everywhere), and uses Bluetooth 2.1.

How tempting is this thing? Via: Verizon | Delphi

Slickdeals Brings All of Its Deal Hotness to Android

Kellen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:30:47 +0000

Slickdeals, one of the best sources for discounts on the internet, released an official Android app last night that's actually pretty amazing. The app itself is designed with a slideout left navigation panel (like YouTube, Facebook, ScoreCenter, etc.) that gives you options for frontpage, local, and popular deals. It also lets you jump right into their forums and then into some of the more prominent sections. The app has push notifications, so you'll be notified as soon as the hottest deals around hit the front page or when your alert keywords make appearances. We're talking fully-featured deals app here, folks. Play Link Via: reddit

Google Search Update Introduces Real Time Package Tracking, Faster Search Results, and Card Quick Settings (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:20:43 +0000

Google Search for Android updated today to include new features and settings in Google Now for devices running Android 4.1+. Package tracking has been improved and now updates in real time (new card below), search results should appear much faster (tough to test that), and individual cards now have an info button (i) that when pressed, gives you quick settings for that particular card. For example, I pressed the (i) on my card for tonight's Blazers game and it asked to make sure that I cared about this event. Tapping "yes" should help Now to continue to be accurate. The update is live now, so go get it!

Update: Google also completely re-organized the Settings menu for the better. Google Now cards are all in their own separate spot now with On-Off toggles. There is a section for "My Stuff" that has been pulled out on its own, which displays your favorite teams, stocks, and places. Last, there is a simple On-Off toggle for notifications.

Update 2: The weather card with the hourly slider and extra tools has returned!

Update 3: Here is a quick video comparison of the new Google Search that was released today versus the previous version. Search results definitely display quite differently, but in a good way. I'm also not sure that the "faster search results" claim is correct. In these quick and unofficial tests, I actually show the old version posting up results first.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6zB_Ec7wPQ&[/youtube]

Play Link Our running list of Google Now cards has been updated. Cheers @BrianLipp!

Madfinger Games Releases Shadowgun: DeadZone 2.0 Update - Includes New Maps and Weapons (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:13:54 +0000

DeadZone, the multiplayer version Madfinger Games' Shadowgun, received an update to version 2.0 today, a day earlier than expected. The company has been teasing the update for weeks and even posted up an official release photo which included a date of April 4. We aren't sure what happened, but the update is live right now. While we have ~~yet to see an official or thorough changelog~~, the numerous teasers mentioned that the update will feature new maps and all sorts of new weapons, like the Smasher and Annihilator. Go get it! Update: Here is the full changelog -

New 8 languages (Spanish,French,German,Italian,Russian,Chinese,Korean,Japanese)
A brand new cool feature: BOOSTERS (Speed,Armor,Damage,Accuracy,Invisibility) and new Sentry Guns (Plasma,Rocket)
Gold rewards for anyone who eliminates opponents with active BoostersNew maps: Assembly, Warzone, Vortex, Train yard
New deadly weapons
Daily challenges and rewards
Monitor the game stats of your friends
Invite your friends to Zone Control mode
Special Tutorial mode for rookies

Play Link Via: Facebook

Google Chrome for Android Updated With Password and Autofill Sync

Kellen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:55:47 +0000

Chrome for Android received an update today which includes both password and autofill sync, two features that were previously only available in the beta build of the app. Now, as you sync all of your devices from PC to tablet to phone with your Google account, your passwords and autofill history will come along for the ride. The rest of the update brings performance and stability updates along with a fix for random blank page loads.

Password Sync
Autofill Sync
Fixed issue where blank page would be loaded rather than URL
Performance and stability improvements

Play Link

DROID Bionic Jelly Bean Soak Test Invites Go Out, the Time for Android 4.1 has Come

Kellen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:20:57 +0000

About a week after Motorola committed to a Q2 rollout for the Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) update of the DROID Bionic, the company has begun sending out invites for members of their Motorola Feedback Network to participate in a soak test of the new software. The invites specifically say "Jelly Bean software release," so there isn't any guessing to be had here.

Hi, Thanks for joining the Motorola Feedback Network. We are inviting owners of the Droid Bionic on Verizon to participate in an early preview of the new Jelly Bean software release, and provide feedback. If you are not currently using a Droid Bionic, please excuse and ignore this email. The registration window for this soak could be extremely small -- sorry about that. Please act now to take part. Click this link -- https://www.surveymonkey.com/ -- to take the enrollment survey if you wish to take part. Note that you must be a member in good standing of the Motorola Owners' Forums to be included. The registration window could close without notice so please respond as quickly as possible. This is a confidential test under the terms of the Motorola Feedback Network. Do not post any details or information about this on any public sites. Thanks. Although we expect to start soon, we ask for your patience if you register but don't hear from us right away. Matt Motorola Owners’ Forums Motorola Feedback Network

Typically, soak tests start within a couple of days after invites like these go out. Assuming the test software is bugfree and a success, Motorola and Verizon will announce the update and start pushing it out to everyone shortly thereafter. This update for the Bionic is seemingly the last 4.1 update that I can think of for Motorola phones. We have already seen 4.1 arrive for the RAZR HD, original RAZR, and DROID 4 within the last couple of months. The Xyboards are likely still in play as tablets, but they also seem like the dirty stepchildren of the Moto family. Cheers E, M, D, G, J, J, B, J and everyone else!

New Nexus 4 Accessories Arrive on Google Play - Headphones With Microphone, USB Cable, and Power Adapter

Kellen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:55:19 +0000

Moments ago, Google introduced three new accessories to the Nexus 4 family. The N4 listings include a pair of wired headphones for $19.99, standard USB cable for $9.99, and a power adapter at $15.99. The accessories aren't necessarily anything groundbreaking from what we can tell, but the headphones do at least include flat tangle-free cords, aluminum backing, double rubber ear pieces, and a microphone for taking calls. The USB cable and power adapter on the other hand, are exactly what you think they are. Need a spare charger combo? I guess this is an option.

Keep in mind that headphone purchases also include a $5.99 2-day shipping charge. Play Links: Headphones | Power Adapter | USB Cable

Twitter Releases Version 4.0 on Android - New UI, Easier Connections With Friends, and More

Kellen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:48:26 +0000

The official Twitter app for Android received a UI makeover today and now "reflects a native Android experience: wider and taller timelines that fill the screen, a flat navigation bar, tap and hold for quick actions, and more." You can swipe between tabs to quickly navigate, view suggestions as you type user names or search terms, and see links to services whenever a Tweet is shared from another mobile app. Here is the Play store changelog:

We’ve got a brand new look and feel crafted for Android 4.0+. Navigate seamlessly between your favorite parts of Twitter with a simple swipe.
It’s easier to connect with friends and join conversations with @username and #hashtag suggestions that appear as you search or compose a Tweet
Discover, install and launch your favorite apps from Tweets
Other bug fixes and improvements

About time, right? Thanks for introducing 2011-12 features, Twitter! Play Link Via: Twitter

Half of Instagram Usage Now Made Up of Android Users

Kellen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:33:39 +0000

One year after launching on Android to a not-so-warm-welcoming from iOS users, Instagram for our favorite platform now accounts for half of the photo-sharing app's usage. Since launch, we have seen the service hit the 1 million download mark within a day, reach agreement to be acquired by Facebook for $1 billion, and momentarily scare the hell out of users after changing up their ToS. It's been an event-filled year, but one the company will likely consider a success. Thus far, they have managed to stay true to their roots even though they are owned by one of the largest tech companies in the world. For me personally, Instagram is still the only social network I use on a regular basis outside of work. Simple square pictures, in my opinion, are so much more enjoyable to consume on a casual level than the personal status updates and political/religious/opinion link sharing that floods the likes of Facebook or Google+. What about you, is Instagram a part of your life one year in? Via: Instagram

Rovio to Bring Popular Facebook Game Angry Birds Friends to Android

Tim — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:55:17 +0000

I have been thinking to myself recently how there just isn't enough Angry Birds games for Android. Wouldn't it be swell if Rovio kept them coming? Well, looks like they have read my mind and announced in Finland at a developers meetup that they are bringing their popular (60 million installs popular) Facebook game, Angry Birds Friends to Android and iOS. There is no release date yet, but Angry Birds Friends incorporates your friends as challengers instead of just playing for yourself. If you think you can outscore your amigos on a level, then challenge them! Sounds like the perfect game for the upcoming Facebook phone. Via: TechCrunch

This May be the First Look at the Facebook Phone UI

Kellen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:29:21 +0000

At this point, it's no secret that Facebook is going to unveil a home replacement launcher for Android tomorrow called Facebook Home, coupled with a device potentially dubbed the "HTC First." It's the Facebook phone that has long been rumored, yet one that we aren't sure was or is really needed. With that said, thanks to 9to5Google, we get what appears to be the first look at the phone's UI. In the image at the top of this post, we're seeing what appears to be Facebook's take on an app drawer. It's either that or a massive folder, but we'll lean towards drawer. You'll see all of the normal stock Google apps that you get on most phones, along with Facebook's own Facebook and Messenger apps. If this is a promo pic, that's clearly meant to point out that while Facebook is trying to fork the hell out of Android, this is still a Google-powered device with all Google services. You'll also notice in that picture quick shortcuts for updating status, adding photos, or checking in on FB. Below, we have a shot of what appears to be the stock Android gallery with the Share pulldown open. It hasn't been skinned whatsoever. In the last photo (bottom right), we're seeing what could be the home or lock screen with a heavy focus on big, beautiful images. At the bottom, we're seeing a profile picture for the user, along with notifications from Messenger, a missed call, and Instagram.

While these offer only a portion of what Facebook will likely unveil tomorrow, you can see that Android is taking a backseat to the social network for the most part. Facebook wants you using Facebook on the Facebook phone, after all. We'll be on hand tomorrow for all of the Facebook announcements, so be sure to keep it close to DL. We may even have a liveblog, assuming one is needed. Also, don't be surprised if Facebook streams the presentation for all. Via: 9to5Google

AT&T Lights Up Large List of 4G LTE Markets

Tim — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:50:36 +0000

This morning, AT&T is flipping the 4G LTE switch in a nice big handful of U.S. cities. All the way across from California to Florida, customers will now have the ability to bask in high data speeds. To see the full list, have a look below.

Fort Smith , Arkansas
Fort Pierce , Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Palm Coast, Florida
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Binghamton, New York
Carbondale, Illinois
Jefferson City, Missouri
Mount Vernon, Washington
Montgomery, Alabama
Fresno, California
Temple, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Houma, Louisiana

Via: AT&T

Newly Leaked Image Shows Off Facebook's HTC First in Three Colors

Tim — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:25:41 +0000

Weren't feeling that plain black render we saw of the Facebook's supposed HTC First device? No worries, it looks as though there will be multiple colors offered for anyone looking to be an individual and not such a conformist. Thanks to @Evleaks, the new image shows off a bright red, plain white, and baby blue version of the First. As for those specs, rumors floating around suggest that the First will sport a dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8960 processor, 1GB RAM, 5MP rear camera, 1.6MP front-facing camera, Sense 4.5 atop Android 4.1.2 and a 4.3-inch 720p display. Sure, not the most beasty specs, but lets remember that Facebook won't be marketing this device to superusers. I will be live from Facebook's press event in San Francisco tomorrow morning, so you can expect to see some hands-on with the device after the announcement takes place. That is, if it is actually there. Are these colors giving you a change of heart? Via: @Evleaks

ASUS Announces Android 4.2 Update for Transformer Infinity, Rolls Out Today

Tim — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:52:25 +0000

ASUS has always been a manufacturer you can rely on for timely device updates. To keep that street cred up, ASUS announced through their official Facebook page that they will roll out an Android 4.2 "Jelly Bean" update to owners of the Transformer Infinity starting today. With Android 4.2 on your tablet, you can start taking advantage of the multiple user options, enhanced notifications and system toggles, plus a whole lot more. If you are the owner of an Infinity tablet, I would start checking for that update right now and throughout the day. Via: ASUS Facebook

AT&T Clarifies: 16GB Galaxy S4 is $199, 32GB is $249 on Contract

Kellen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:18:05 +0000

Late last week, AT&T announced that it planned to open up pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S4 on April 16 at a price of $249 on new 2-year contract. As you can imagine, people were a bit concerned and confused, as the announcement did not include storage size, prompting all sorts of questions. Was this the 16GB model or the 32GB model? Would AT&T even carry a 16GB model? What's the deal? AT&T clarified their statement this morning, noting in a blog post that the 32GB version of the phone will run $249, while the 16GB model will drop in at $199. These prices match up to the price points that carriers utilized last year with the Galaxy S3 launch. These are also pretty standard for high-end phones at these storage amounts. An actual launch date has yet to be provided. Via: ATT

HTC One Variant for China has Removable Back Plate and MicroSD Slot

Kellen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:06:12 +0000

Well, that's not fair. HTC, don't you know that we love microSD card slots too? According to an image posted to Weibo, a Chinese forum, the HTC One variant for at least one of China's wireless carriers will include a removable back plate, dual-SIM slots, and a microSD slot for expandable storage. As you all should know by now, the European (international) and U.S. variants are quite the opposite. Both include a full "zero-gap" unibody aluminum housing, which means there is no removable...anything. They also do not include a microSD card slot and instead offer up internal storage only. While the 32GB and 64GB options should be plenty of storage or most, there are those in this world who can't live without the ability to hot-swap a card for more. Personally, I'm not sure that I'm a fan of the removable backside. There is something about a unibody design with zero moving parts that intrigues me. Plus, if you are going to allow us to remove a back plate, then you may as well go all the way and give us the option to swap out batteries too. What do you guys think - removable back plate with expandable storage or straight up unibody casing? Via: Engadget

Report: New Nexus 7 Arriving in July, Google Chooses Qualcomm's Snapdragon Over NVIDIA's Tegra

Kellen — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:18:49 +0000

According to a report out of Reuters this evening, Google will launch a new version of its popular Nexus 7 tablet this July. The tablet will be made by Asus once again, but will use one of Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors this time around in favor of NVIDIA's Tegra line, "for power reasons," one of their sources said. The new N7 will also sport a display with a higher resolution and a casing with a much smaller bezel than the current model. Outside of those details, little is known including price. But if the current Nexus 7 is anything to go off of, it's unlikely that this new Nexus 7 will drop in at anything higher than a couple hundred dollars. The current models retail for $199 (16GB) and $249 (32GB), so as this new model is introduced and the old ones are discontinued, it wouldn't be surprising to see it slide into those exact price points. Remember that Google isn't trying to make money off of the sales of their devices, they are expecting to make most of their profits off of either mobile ads or the sale of products through Google Play. With Google I/O arriving in mid-May, there is a good chance that we'll see this new Nexus 7 on stage. The original Nexus 7 debuted at last year's Google developer conference, so why not bring us version 2 in the same environment. Via: Reuters

Colourform by HD Widgets Leaves Beta, Available on Google Play

Kellen — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:31:48 +0000

The Colourform theme pack that HD Widgets first introduced back in February is now finished, out of beta and available on Google Play. The theme pack features over 50 different widgets, all of which look like they were built specifically for Jelly Bean and Android 4.2 (think the lock screen clock). They carry a flat style, Roboto font, and the minimal design that current Android design language emits. Everything is so much cleaner in Colourform than the standard HD widgets. If you are familiar with HD Widgets, you'll know how customizable each piece of a widget is, this is just a much simpler theme than you are probably used to. We're no longer stuck in the 90s where themes all carried a default glossy glass texture. You can color everything from icons to text to separators to the background to individual clock items. There are now more than 50 quick settings as well, including WIFI signal strength & network name, battery level & charge, weather stats, and device storage. If you are interested in a new look, or one that matches up to stock Jelly Bean, think about Colourform. Play Link ($0.99) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEcaI0ns15g[/youtube]

Android Distribution Numbers Updated for April - Jelly Bean Now on 25% of All Devices

Kellen — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:36:37 +0000

The Android distribution numbers were updated this afternoon for the month of April. The numbers indicate a pretty dramatic increase for Jelly Bean month over month and now show it as being on 25% of all Android devices (4.1.x and 4.2.x combined). Last month, Android 4.1+ share stood at just 16.5%, so this is quite the jump, which we'll get to in a moment. The rest of the numbers are as follows: Ice Cream Sandwich (29.3%), Honeycomb (0.2%), Gingerbread (39.8%) Froyo (4.0%), Eclair (1.7%), and Donut (0.1%). For those keeping track, that puts Android 4.0+ at 54.3%, with Gingerbread still leading the individual category at 39.8%. The Android Developers team announced through Google+ and on the distribution dashboard that the giant leap forward for Jelly Bean is likely do to an update in the way they calculate numbers. Rather than pulling numbers based upon devices that have checked into Google servers, they are using numbers based upon users who visit the Google Play store.

The new device dashboards are based on the devices of users who visit the Google Play Store (rather than devices that have checked-in to Google servers). As a result, the dashboards more accurately reflect the users most engaged in the Android and Google Play ecosystem---and thus most likely to download and use your apps.

Since these numbers are supposed to be used by developers, not just as stories for silly websites like ours, this move makes a lot of sense. Google is doing whatever it can to help developers target audiences for their apps, and that's a good thing. And that's...that. Via: Android Developers | +Android Developers

Woot! Hosting Blowout Sale On Tons of Tablets and Accessories

Eric — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:54:46 +0000

Daily deal website Woot! is known for having Android tablets on sale every now and then, but today they are taking it to a new level. Just to name a few of the tablets that are on sale today we have the ASUS Transformer 10.1" ($239.00), Motorola XYBOARD 8.2" ($240.00) and the Toshiba Thrive 10.1" ($249.00). You can also get the original Android tablet, the XOOM ($199.00) along with other tablets from ASUS, Viewsonic and VIZIO.

If you're the type to watch a lot of content on your tablet, you might be interested in the stands that Woot! is selling as well. All of the tablets on sale are refurbished and while that may deter some, I can speak from experience that my XOOM that I purchased from Woot! last year is still running great. If you're looking to get a friend or relative a late Easter gift, you couldn't hurt to check this sale out.

To check out the deals, go here.

Cheers Humphry and Jules!

Google Launches Free Version of Quickoffice for Google Apps For Business Users

Tim — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:40:51 +0000

For users of Google Apps for Business, today's release of a free version of Quickoffice is great news. Once downloaded and logged in, you can start editing Word documents and Excel spreadsheets like the boss you are, then save directly and share through your Google Drive account. Until Google Drive can natively open those types of files and edit them, this is a fantastic workaround that paying Google Apps users will appreciate. If you fit into that category, go grab it from Google Play. Play Link

Video: Buzz Launcher Brings the Best Custom Android Home Screens to Your Device

Kellen — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:05:38 +0000

A new launcher has arrived on Android that is certainly worth a few minutes of your time, that is, assuming you take your home screen setups seriously. It's called Buzz Launcher Beta, and it wants your home screen setup to be as beautiful as those you see on MyColorScreen or reddit, however, it wants you to get there without all the work normally required. With this launcher, you no longer have to scour various forums or websites to find what you are looking for. A custom look is only a couple of taps away. Buzz Launcher takes the best home screen setups from around the web (uploaded by users) and tosses them all into a storefront of sorts. From this store, you can download entire setups (including icon packs and arrangements), read about the inspiration behind the setup from the creator, and see what other tips or comments fellow users have to offer. You'll even find a list of apps needed to completely re-create a look. But don't worry, once you find a "homepack" and load it onto your device, Buzz Launcher tells you which items need to be downloaded or tweaked, and then gives you direct links to their locations (usually in Google Play). So when you find a pack and download it, the entire home screen you previewed through the store is now on your device in the exact same setup. If you are missing items, it takes no time at all to find them and update the setup to be as it was pictured. Brilliant, right?

Buzz Launcher also allows you to create a profile, so that you can keep track of all of the "homepacks" you download or upload, share with friends, etc. The app is still in "beta," but the potential here is enormous for those who can't seem to stop customizing their Android device. Taking that a step further, though, an app like this will allow even novice Android users a chance to turn their device into a customized beauty. Play Links: Buzz Launcher | Buzz Custom Widget [youtube]http://youtu.be/UaRWRKb5ON4[/youtube]

ASUS to Settle Class Action Lawsuit, Paying $17 and Free Dongle to Owners of Transformer Prime Tablets

Tim — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:30:45 +0000

This past Sunday, ASUS posted to their official North American Facebook page that the company has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit, resulting in the payout of $17 and a free GPS extension kit to every U.S. buyer of a Transformer Prime TF201 tablet. Previously, ASUS was handing out free dongles to affected customers, but for some folks out there, that must not have been enough and they decided to take legal action. To file a claim, go ahead and follow the site link that is posted in their release and claim your $17 plus free dongle.

IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE FROM ASUS Asus has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit concerning your Asus Eee Pad TF201 Transformer Prime tablet. If you own or owned a TF201, you may be entitled to $17 and a free GPS extension kit. This Notice is approved by a Federal Court, and is not a solicitation. Please visit www.AsusTF201Settlement.com or call 1-877-211-8361 for more information. You are eligible to participate in the settlement if you are a United States resident who bought a TF201, and experienced lost or reduced GPS functionality or weak/intermittent WiFi performance. To claim a cash payment and a Dongle, you must submit a Claim Form on the website, by email or by regular mail by May 31, 2013. If you do not submit a timely claim, your rights will not be affected. The Court has not yet approved the settlement. It will have a hearing to decide whether to do so. If you choose to, you may object to this settlement by June 20, 2013 and ask the Court not to approve the proposed settlement. Please remember that if you choose not to participate in the settlement, your rights will not be affected. Please visit the website or call the toll-free number for more information.

Via: ASUS Facebook

Is Facebook's Phone the HTC First?

Eric — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:52:25 +0000

We have heard a lot of speculation about what is going to be announced by Facebook at their event on Thursday, but if this new image is true we could see a second shot at a Facebook phone. The image above was posted to the usually spot-on @evleaks Twitter account moments ago with the name HTC First. We've been hearing rumors of an HTC partnership, but this is certainly more than the new launcher or skin that some outlets have been reporting.

No specs have been released, but with the rumors that we have been hearing it wouldn't be a surprise if this phone ran a heavily skinned version of Android, maybe having the launcher that was rumored pre-installed. @evleaks has a pretty good track record with leaking phones like this so the final product might not be too far off from what we see here.

The HTC ChaCha was Facebook's last attempt at a phone and that did not go well for them. Could they be trying again?

Via: @evleaks | Engadget

Sadly This Isn't April Fool's, Verizon Getting the LG Lucid 2 on April 4

Eric — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:32:04 +0000

We have been patiently waiting since the start of the year to see what the first phone would be that Verizon would release. We had hopes that it could be the Galaxy S4 or maybe even an HTC One variant, but alas we are left with the LG Lucid 2. This sequel to the mid-range Lucid won't impress you with its specs, highlighted by just a 4.3" qHD display and the Jelly Bean OS.

The Lucid 2 comes with a "Starter Mode" where Verizon makes up your home screens so you won't get lost in your own smartphone. This device also supports wireless charging as long as you shell out for the extra charging pad. Other than those features, there isn't much to say about this phone other than it will be free as long as you sign up for a two year contract. It will be in stores this Thursday, April 4.

Via: Verizon

Verizon and AT&T to Tag Team Purchase of Vodafone?

Tim — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:29:32 +0000

This morning, an interesting story is making the rounds across the Internet, involving a supposed deal between AT&T and Verizon. According to "usually reliable people" of the Financial Times, America's two largest carriers are looking to partner up and purchase Vodafone, a move that could end bringing the company's value to $245 billion. If everything went according to plan, Verizon would take back the 45% control that Vodafone has over its U.S. operations, aka a minority stake in Verizon Wireless. The remaining sum of Vodafone and its international operations and assets would go to AT&T. AT&T has longed for a presence in Europe, and this would certainly help them gain purchasing power that they could return domestically. Reports suggest that the partnership would help the deal pass through regulatory hurdles and also remove some of the risk off of each company. With that said, all parties have declined to comment. Currently, Vodafone is the world's second largest mobile carrier, after that of China Mobile with 403 million subscribers. What this would mean for each individual company is yet to be seen and with a price tag of $245 billion, this is a major undertaking that could very well re-shape the world's mobile industry. Via: CNET | Financial Times

PSA: Google Voice Chrome Extension Updated Yesterday With Desktop Notifications, It's Not Babel

Kellen — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:12:25 +0000

Yesterday, the official Google Voice extension for Chrome received an update that introduced experimental desktop notifications. To our knowledge, this update has nothing to do with a unified Google chat service (internally called Babel) and is simply a stand-alone update and feature for the Google Voice extension. The notifications, if you are on a Windows machine, will look just like the picture we have included above. Again, to our knowledge, this has nothing to do with Google's new unified chat service that is currently being dogfooded to employees.

Via: Google Voice Extension Cheers Dominick, Josh and Tyler!

Pandora App Updated, Brings Lockscreen Controls and Reduced Startup Time

Tim — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:02:20 +0000

Yesterday, the official Pandora for Android application received an update. Inside you will find a few improvements as well as a new feature, lockscreen controls for Ice Cream Sandwich devices and up. To be clear, it is not a lockscreen widget, but just controls for when music is currently streaming. On top of that, there is a reduced startup time for the app and some bug fixes. What's New:

Lock screen controls for devices running Ice Cream Sandwich and later
Added elapsed and remaining timestamps to the track progress indicator
Reduced startup time
Bug fixes and enhancements

Play Link

HTC Thunderbolt Update to Build 7.02.605.10 is Now Live

Tim — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:15:47 +0000

We figured Verizon was pulling an epic April Fools prank and approved an update for the Thunderbolt yesterday. Turns out, it is very real and build 7.02.605.10 is rolling out to owners this morning. The update includes a handful of fixes and small improvements to the Ice Cream Sandwich firmware that was pushed out last month. The update is 19.3MB in size. More info. Cheers Chris!

Casio G'z0ne Commando 811 Stops by FCC En Route to Verizon With LTE

Kellen — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:44:15 +0000

The Casio G'z0ne Commando rugged line of smartphones has been enough of an underground success that Verizon is on the verge of carrying its newest family member, the G'z0ne Commando 811. Fitted with 4G LTE, dual-cameras, microSD card slot, and a removable battery, this looks every bit as rugged as its older brother. The Commando 811, which stopped off at the FCC, is dust, water, and shock resistant, making it the ultimate outdoors and action sports smartphone - at least that's how it'll be sold. You can see from the photos of it, that it carries a similar shape to the DROID Charge, but turns rugged with all sorts of metal and protective casings. If anything, it's an evolution on the original Commando phone that Verizon carried. We aren't sure what the exact specs are, though we'd assume they won't be high-end. The point of this phone is make it impossible to kill no matter what you are doing with it, not necessarily outperform others in benchmarks. According to the user guide left at the FCC, it'll also come stocked full of outdoorsy apps like a thermometer, adventure training, compass, stargazer, and sun/moon calendar. Last, check out the extended 2920mAh battery? The tank has returned.

Via: FCC | Blog of Mobile

First Image of the Supposed Samsung Galaxy S Tab Plus Hits the Web

Tim — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:30:35 +0000

Could this be our first look at an upcoming super tablet from Samsung? Apparently, it very well could be. According to SamMobile, this is the Galaxy S Tab, as Samsung supposedly decided to apply their marketing and ad knowledge to their lineup of high-end tablets, ditching the numbered Galaxy Tab scheme. Below we have listed out the rumored specs for your inspection. Nothing is official, but so far I like what I see. Powering the Galaxy S Tab would be the new Octa processor with 2GB of RAM, plenty of storage options, a whopping 9,000mAh battery, and a pretty decent 2560 x 1600 high-res display. Not bad, right? Specs:

Samsung Exynos 5410 Octa CPU
4 x (1.6GHz ARM-Cortex A15) 4 x (1.2GHz ARM-Cortex A7)
Imagination Power SGX 544MP3 GPU
2GB of LPDDR3 RAM with 32GB and 64GB Models
MicroSD card storage expansion (up to 64B)
9000 mAh standard li-ion battery
10.055″ 2560×1600 display – 300PPI
Could be PLS LCD or Super AMOLED ‘PENTILE’
8 Megapixel camera with AF
1080p Video@30fps
2 megapixel front facing camera with AF
1080p Video@30fps
IR Blaster

According to these specifications, this tablet is a beast through and through. If anything, take this tablet and couple it with a Bluetooth controller and you might have a sweet mobile game center. Via: SamMobile Cheers Open1Your1Eyes0!

Samsung to Introduce Galaxy "Mega" Phones, 5.8" and 6.3" Handsets

Tim — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:47:54 +0000

Samsung is at the forefront of embracing a "bigger is better" lifestyle with the size of smartphone displays. According to sources of SamMobile, Samsung's upcoming Fonblets will now be called the Galaxy Mega line. The manufacturer currently plans to release two Galaxy Mega phones this year, a 5.8" and a 6.3". It was previously reported that the upcoming Galaxy Note 3 would sport a 6.3" display, but then it was toned back a bit to just 5.9". Beyond the size of their displays, little is known about the two monsters, but color me somewhat excited. If I had to guess, we could see these devices possibly in time for IFA and then a holiday release. We have asked a million times, but how big is too big? 6.3" is definitely getting there. Via: SamMobile

Sprint is Also Launching the HTC One on April 19 for $199, Pre-orders Kick Off April 5

Kellen — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:06:57 +0000

Moments ago, Sprint joined AT&T in announcing availability of the HTC One. They will also launch the 32GB version of the device on April 19 for $199 on new 2-year contract in both black and white. They do not have a 64GB version as that is an AT&T exclusive. If you'd like to secure one sooner than the 19th, Sprint will open up pre-orders on April 5, this Friday. Via: Sprint

Samsung Galaxy S4 Not Actually Rooted Yet

Kellen — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:59:43 +0000

Reports are circulating this morning, suggesting that the Samsung Galaxy S4 has been rooted prior to its launch. Keep in mind, this news relates to the Exynos 5 version of the device (the GT-I9500 to be exact), not the Snapdragon 600 version that will arrive here in the states, so for most of you, this root news is mostly meaningless anyway. With that said, this news is slightly premature, according to Samsung dev and root-specialist Chainfire. In a Google+ post, he notes that all he has seen thus far are modified stock ROMs that have both the Superuser.apk and su pre-loaded, a method that has worked in the past to root Samsung devices. Unfortunately, this method does not appear to work this time around, as Samsung may have added in extra protection. Here is part of his statement:

With a lot of (Samsung) devices in the past that really has been all there is to rooting - just get the files in place somehow and voila - and flashing a modified stock firmware to do this is certainly a valid method for this. However, I would like to point out that we've tried this trick with the I9505 weeks ago (and we actually tested it on a real device), and this time around, it is not a simple case of injecting the files. There is some further protection in the firmware that prevents the su binary (which is needed for root access) from functioning properly - without any known workaround at this time. No doubt somebody will quickly figure it out when they have the device in-hand though.

Chainfire admits that he has tested this same root method on the GT-I9505 version of the Galaxy S4 and came up empty thanks to this new protection. So for now, hold off on the champagne and cigars. Until someone shows proof that the Galaxy S4 is rooted rather than simply claiming it through a tweaked stock firmware, we aren't rooted. He doesn't think that it will take long once the device is in the hands of devs, we're just not at that point yet. Via: +Chainfire Cheers Open1Your1Eyes0!

HTC One Arrives at AT&T on April 19 for $199, Pre-orders Start April 4

Kellen — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:03:13 +0000

AT&T decided to take the mystery out of the launch of the HTC One this morning by announcing both pre-order and in-store dates for the device. The 32GB version of the One will finally arrive on April 19 for $199 on new contract - the 64GB version will run $299 on contract. If you'd like to secure yours early, pre-orders officially start on April 4 at 1:00PM CT, which is this Thursday. For those who pre-order, AT&T is tossing in a free HTC Media Link HD wireless HDMI adaptor ($90 value). The phone will come in both black or white. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HKmEHVn_4Q[/youtube] Via: ATT

Review: Nest Thermostat is My Favorite Android Accessory

Kellen — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:28:19 +0000

On one of my last trips back from New York, possibly from the Galaxy S4 event, I found myself thumbing through in-flight magazines in attempt to kill off some of the 6-hour flight time I would have to endure. As I typically do on flights because I find the items hilarious, I grabbed for Skymall. For the most part, I'm looking to see how insanely expensive fake Harry Potter wands have become or if the giant stone Bigfoot has come down in price, so that I could potentially convince my better half that we need it for our yard. But on this last trip, I turned to a full-page ad that included Nest, the "Learning Thermostat." As I had heard of the product previously and found it interesting, I snapped a picture of it, so that I would remember to look up additional info whenever I made it home. This turned out to be a brilliant move on my part because the Nest is now my favorite Android accessory, possibly of all time.

What is Nest?

For those not familiar, Nest is a thermostat that you can install by yourself, in your home, in place of your current thermostat. It claims to save you all sorts of money by performing more efficiently than your current thermostat because it learns your patterns and adjusts temperatures based upon them, automatically. It has apps on both Android and iOS along with a web interface, so for the most part, you can control Nest from anywhere. It sports a beautifully modern design, is incredibly easy to setup and adjust, and can be used in conjunction with multiple Nest thermostats throughout your house.

So why do I love it? For so many reasons.

First of all, it looks amazing. It's a simple metal cylinder with a multi-color display that rotates and can be pressed to navigate. Even if this didn't save you any money, you should buy it because it will instantly give your house some eye-candy. But outside of looks, I love the Nest mostly because I can control it from anywhere. While I work at home, I still run in and out of my house quite frequently. Rather than having to remember to adjust my thermostat every time I leave or return, I can take advantage of Nest's Auto Away feature which senses that I haven't been around for a while, so it automatically shuts itself down to a preset temperature in order to save energy. As I return and walk by the Nest, it comes back to life. And even if Nest hasn't turned to Auto Away, I can fire up the app on my phone and manually turn the system to away with a couple of taps. In all honesty, it's pretty cool to think that lying in bed on a cold Saturday morning and deciding you want the heat on earlier than normal is no longer met with a groan. You simply reach for your phone, set the temperature, snuggle back in, and enjoy your day off in warmth.

Nest has a pretty robust settings menu as well, so that you can completely customize the way it functions for your house. Nest will take the first few days with you to try and learn your schedule, but I lacked patience and went ahead and manually set one up myself. If you don't feel like spending the time to do that, then let Nest do what it does best - learn. It'll also let you lock the thermostat down, tell it to start heating before your preset times, set a bottom line temperature, and manage multiple thermostats. Beyond the technical stuff, Nest is simply fun to use. As you approach the unit on your wall, Nest senses that you are near and powers on to give you a chance to check the temperature and then adjust as needed. The device itself spins either direction in a circle for adjusting. It also presses in as if it were one giant button. A single press brings up the menu for Nest, at which point you can spin it to highlight features or then press again to select them. It's as fluid as can be and feels as high-end as you would hope from a product like this. If your Nest is in the act of saving you money, you'll see a green leaf on the screen and in your app. If Nest feels as if you had a productive and energy efficient day, it'll reward you with a green leaf next to the entire day as you look at your Engery tab (see below). Assuming you manage to have energy efficient days on the regular, Nest should be saving you quite a bit of money. In fact, the Nest team claims that their thermostat can save you up to 20% off your heating and cooling bills because it performs that much more efficiently than your typical thermostat. I'm still in my early stages of life with Nest, so I'll have to report back on savings later.

Installation is about as simple as can be. By no means do I consider myself to be handy around the house, but even I was able to install Nest in a matter of minutes. The support site for Nest has both a compatibility checker (that's mostly foolproof) and installation videos to help you along the way. The Nest isn't necessarily the cheapest home accessory you'll find, but for the reasons I listed above, it has been completely worth it thus far. And this isn't your typical "accessory" if you will - this is a product that becomes a part of your home and should almost be considered an investment. Now, I'm just waiting to see what my heating bill looks like, so that I can justify the purchase even further. Yes, I bought this bad boy. This is not a review unit. How long before it pays for itself?

Important links

Nest website | Compatibility Check and Installation | 2nd-gen Nest ($249) | 1st-gen Nest ($179

Spunk and Moxie Released to Google Play, Limited Launch Sale Taking Place

Tim — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:25:56 +0000

Not so big into the zombie slaying? Don't worry, killing hordes of the undead isn't for everyone. If you are looking for something a bit more lighthearted, check out Spunk and Moxie. Recently released to Google Play, it has already built up quite the rep on iTunes, soaring to the Top 25 Paid apps in no time at all. You play as a mutated blob and with the press of a single button, you must navigate through 30 levels and 3 areas to escape imprisonment. With a whole bunch of little characters and even an appearance from a Meat Boy look-a-like, the game is pretty cute. Check it out on sale at $0.99 for a limited time through Google Play. Play Link ($0.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/4sXISsrHqd4[/youtube]

Aftermath XHD for Android, a 3rd Person Zombie Kill 'em All Game

Tim — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:15:12 +0000

Let's keep the zombie game madness rolling with this new entry, Aftermath XHD. The game is a third person shooter, having you play as a lone survivor who is equipped with nothing but a flashlight to begin with. While exploring, you equip a pistol and the killing begins. As you make your way deeper into the game, you upgrade weapons, but that only means the zombies come in larger numbers. The gameplay is extremely smooth and it even has some fancy lightening effects as well. It does cost $3, but so far, I can tell it's very worth it. Play Link ($2.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/VuD_wL-vowc[/youtube]

Video: SwiftKey Tilt Isn't Just an April Fools Joke, It's Real

Tim — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:05:26 +0000

While rounding up today's best April Fools' stories, many came across SwiftKey Tilt, where users can tilt their device to type out sentences. It was taken as a joke since in their promo video you see a lady on a unicycle typing, a whole office of people doing some type of Harlem Shake, but it appears as if this is no joke. Inside SwiftKey, there is indeed the option to turn on the Tilt feature. Surprise! So, go ahead and check out our brief hands-on with it and Kellen trying to use it. [youtube]http://youtu.be/3rscERWxc-M[/youtube]

AT&T Plans to Start HTC One Pre-sales This Week, 32GB Version Starts at $250

Kellen — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:45:53 +0000

According to a screenshot and other information obtained by Engadget, AT&T is expecting to open up pre-sales for the HTC One this week, potentially on April 5. The 32GB version in both black and white will be available initially for $250 on new 2-year contract, with the exclusive 64GB model joining the party at a later date for $299. There is no official launch date at this time. Should you decide to jump in and pre-order from AT&T, there is no telling at this time when you'll actually receive the device. HTC announced last week that the device has been delayed and will not arrive in the U.S. until some time before the end of April. Their new flagship phone started arriving in the UK last week. Still no word on a Verizon release or dates for the Sprint and T-Mobile versions.

Via: Engadget

Kindle Fire HD 8.9" With 4G LTE Headed to AT&T on April 5, Priced at $250 on Two Year Contract

Tim — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:46:23 +0000

AT&T announced this morning that they are to bring Amazon's Kindle Fire HD 8.9" tablet, complete with 4G LTE to their network starting April 5. Customers can pick up the device for $399, but can save up to $150 when signing a new two year agreement with the device. AT&T is the first carrier in the U.S. to offer the device at a subsidized price point. The 8.9" Fire HD sports a crisp 1920 x 1200 display, 10 hours of battery life, access to all of Amazon's digital content, and now sports 4G LTE. These devices were first available back in September of last year, so excuse me if I don't sound overly excited for this announcement. Show of hands, who is picking one up? Via: AT&T

HTC Thunderbolt Update to Build 7.02.605.10 on the Way

Kellen — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:22:56 +0000

Verizon approved a new update for the HTC Thunderbolt this morning, one that will bring the phone up to build 7.02.605.10. It's minor and includes small improvements to a handful of features, like the microphone, HTC Watch, text messaging, and Yahoo/Microsoft Exchange connectivity. Yep, that's it. The update is 19.3MB in size. More info. On a related note, while I have Thunderbolt owners' attention, how is the phone performing after the Ice Cream Sandwich update? My brother has a T-Bolt and I noticed him using it this weekend - holy s**t was his phone ridiculously slow and laggy. Is it like that for all of you? Would the phone have been better off without this update?

BBQScreen For Rooted Android Phones, Zero Delay Screen Sharing to Your PC

Tim — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:02:30 +0000

Looking for a righteous screen sharing app? Got yourself a rooted Android device? Then check out BBQScreen on Google Play. With this application, you can have zero lag/delay, real time screen sharing between your device and computer. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, as well as Linux for all you hackers out there. After downloading the app and the PC client, all you need to do is open both programs and enter in your device's IP address into the computer. From there, it "just works." There are multiple settings that control frame rate and image quality, as well as a setting to keep your display on while the app is running. To screenshare with the best quality, it is recommended that you either connect over WiFi or USB tethering, but you can also view a screen share through Bluetooth tethering. I tested only through WiFi and it worked great for me. To get started, you will need to download and install the desktop client from here. Play Link ($2.99) Cheers JRummy!

Verizon Completes Purchase of Mohave Wireless, Full Network Integration Set For Early 2014

Tim — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:25:51 +0000

This morning, Verizon announced the completion of its total purchase of Mohave Wireless from Rio Virgin and Frontier Communications. The wireless provider currently serves a population of 203,000 with 3G service in the northwest Arizona region. With Verizon now running the show, Mohave customers will begin to see benefits from this buyout starting in 2014, when network integration is set for completion. Starting at that same time, current Mohave customers can decide whether or not they would like to sign on as a Verizon customer. In addition, Verizon states that they are to bring 4G LTE to the area in the near future. If you are already a Verizon customer in northwest Arizona, expect your coverage area to grow as well once Verizon begins integration.

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless has completed its purchase of partnership interests in Mohave Cellular Limited Partnership (“Mohave Wireless”) from Frontier Communications and Rio Virgin Telephone. Verizon Wireless now owns 100 percent of Mohave Wireless. Financial terms are not being disclosed.
This transaction will expand Verizon Wireless’ footprint in northwest Arizona. Mohave Wireless’ spectrum license and operations cover a population of 203,000. The market is located between Las Vegas Verizon Wireless will integrate Mohave Wireless’ EV-DO (3G) network with the Verizon Wireless network and plans to deploy 4G LTE services in the near future. Verizon Wireless will serve Mohave Wireless customers, using the existing brand name, until the network integration is complete in early 2014. At that time, Mohave Wireless customers will receive a letter from Verizon Wireless explaining their service transition. Mohave Wireless customers do not need to take any action at this time.
Verizon Wireless has invested more than $80 billion since its inception to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network, including the building and rapid expansion of its 4G LTE network, which currently is available in 486 markets nationwide, covering close to 89 percent of the U.S. population.

Via: Verizon Wireless Cheers Open1Your1Eyes0!

Verizon Employee Discount Re-validation Site is Live, Feel Free to Check Your Status

Kellen — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:45:31 +0000

Back in early March, sources of ours informed us of a plan by Verizon to re-validate employee corporate discounts on or around April 1. The website for this renewal process is now live, so if you are currently receiving a discount on your Verizon bill from your employer, you may want to give this a look to see if you need to renew (re-validate). This is the first time in years I can recall Verizon checking employee discount eligibility, so there is no telling what your current status is. To check on your status, head over to this link. From there, you will see two sections that you'll need to visit. The first, provides you with two options for renewing: either by validating work email address or by paystub. For now, you can skip by this section and into the "Check My Validation Status" area. There is a button that will open a new page with instructions on how to check your status. If your status comes back as "validated," you may be able to sit back and continue enjoying your discount - or until Verizon tells you to validate again. In the end, Verizon is going to notify you if you need to renew. So if your status says that you are currently "validated," there is still a chance that they will ask you to renew within the next couple of months. If you are on Big Red's list, you'll hear via email, SMS, and/or direct mail.

Cheers Bob!

Facebook to Announce "Facebook Home" This Week, New HTC Partnership As Well?

Tim — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:32:37 +0000

For just being Facebook, it seems that everyone and their mom have some sort of idea as to what the world's largest social network is set to announce on Thursday morning. We have heard that it was going to be no more than a new launcher/widget combo package, then it was going to be a full-blown Facebook skin atop a new HTC device. The list seemed to go on. Well, no reason to stop now, right? According to a new report out of 9to5 Google, their sources state that Facebook actually named their new product right inside the invite. It's called, Facebook Home. Facebook Home is in fact just a tweaked Android launcher of sorts, bringing proprietary apps like Messenger and the custom camera directly to the front of the skin. It works like the Facebook application, but is built right onto a device, bringing all of your must-have Facebook content to your eyes. Additionally, a partnership with HTC is in the works and a new device is more than likely to be shown off this week. The phone, which resembles an iPhone 5 but a bit larger, is currently being shopped to U.S. carriers, as well as a large marketing campaign is to take place to support the device. It's cute to see the words "large marketing campaign" and HTC in the same sentence. Anyways, if this truly is a real Facebook phone being announced, I am more than excited to see how the youth of this nation feel about it. After all, they will be the only ones buying it. Via: 9to5 Google

Feedly Releases New Update on Android - Introduces New Discovery Tool, Pull-to-Refresh, Easy Sharing and More

Kellen — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:00:50 +0000

Feedly, the app that plans to take the RSS reigns from Google Reader when it's retired in July, released a new version of its app on Android this morning. Over the last two weeks, Feedly has added some 3 million new users thanks to Google's announcement, prompting the team to quickly upgrade their apps to be much more polished, stable, and feature rich. After spending the weekend with this new version in place of Press (my usual RSS reader app), I can easily say that I'm a fan of what Feedly is up to. The UI of Feedly's app is completely swipe and gesture based. If you want to access your folders or feed lists, there is a panel to the left side which can be accessed with a swipe. If you want to refresh your feeds in this panel, simply pull down to refresh. As you read through stories, a swipe left or right gets you to the next article in line. A swipe upwards from the bottom marks the item as read and takes you back to your list of articles. From your view of articles, a swipe upwards takes you to the next list of unreads. As you continue down, continuous swipes upwards will get you to the end of your list which then allows you to mark all as read. A swipe from the right side gets you into the brand new Feedly discovery engine, where you'll have access to 50 million different new sources. As you can see, it's all about swiping left and right or up and down. The app also has night and day themes, color coded folders, different viewing options, quick share buttons for services like Twitter, Google+ and Pocket, and more. It's a fully-featured RSS app that is certainly worth a look should you be in the market for something new once Google kills off Reader. Here are the rest of the new features:

A faster and more intuitive vertical transition model.
Brand new widget.
New layouts for Samsung Galaxy, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10.
Better control over the list, magazine and mosaic views.
Better Youtube integration.
New explore panel.

Play Link

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_MWM77oHwA[/youtube]

Via: Feedly

RadioShack Posts HTC One Signage, Tosses in $50 Google Play Credit When You Sign a New Two Year

Tim — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:44:31 +0000

While we still expect to see the HTC One arrive sometime before the end of this month, that apparently can't stop RadioShack from the start of their hypebeasting. While in a store, a customer snapped a picture of some One signage, showing off its killer features like HTC Zoe, BoomSound and BlinkFeed. More importantly, it looks as if once the One finally does go on sale, RadioShack will offer a $50 Google Play gift card if you purchase the device on a new two year agreement. Plus, you will get a $10 coupon off of the $199 contract price. Not bad at all. While HTC might see record pre-order numbers for this device, it is going to be an uphill battle against the Galaxy S4 in retailers.

Via: Phandroid

It's April Fools' Day, so Naturally Google is Going Off - Swiftkey, Twitter, and Others Too

Kellen — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:19:35 +0000

Ahhh yes, today is April Fools' Day. For the most part, it's the most obnoxious day of the year for anyone in the media. What's fake? What's real? Do we even bother reporting anything at all? No one wants to get duped publicly, so we all submit ourselves to doing what I'm doing here, posting up all the pranks from Google and the rest of the tech community. As always, Google goes overboard, but usually in a good way. This year though, we're seeing some new players like Twitter, Swiftkey, and even Samsung. Below, you'll find a list of many.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qFFHC0eIUc[/youtube]

Google Treasure Maps

Be sure to cruise around the actual map to see what kinds of hidden treasures you can find.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-P6jEMtixY[/youtube]

Google Nose

What does "success" smell like? Google Nose.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M278uLalYTo[/youtube]

Google Apps Levity Algorithm

Making work fun again. Peanut butter and jelly meeting!

Google Wallet ATM

Because who doesn't want an attachment that can magically produce cash at any moment?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr4JwPb99qU[/youtube]

Gmail Blue

Maybe I just didn't get this one. Microsoft dig?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H542nLTTbu0[/youtube]

YouTube Shutdown

Yes, YouTube faked a shutdown.

Samsung Eco Tree

Android's leading smartphone manufacturer announced a new eco-friendly product that still takes advantage of Group Play, Air Fresh, and other Samsung features.

Twttr

Twitter announced a two-tier service. The free model removes vowels from your Tweets. If you want full Tweets, you have to pay $5 a month. Use it here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibc_FkMjH0Y[/youtube]

Swiftkey Tilt

Your body is the new typing tool. Wiggling while on a unicycle works the best. What others are you finding out there? Cheers to everyone who sent these in!

Exclusive: First Look at the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4

Kellen — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 06:45:00 +0000

For whatever reason, Verizon has remained uncharacteristically silent since we saw Samsung stand on stage and announce the new Galaxy S4. While T-Mobile, AT&T, and US Cellular have either announced pre-order dates or scheduled launch times, Big Red hasn't even acknowledged that the device exists. Thankfully, we saw their version of the device cruise through the FCC at the end of last week, so we know it is indeed on the way. And today, courtesy of a long time and trustworthy DL source that dropped some goodies into our inbox, we now at least know what the device will look like once it does arrive. What you are looking at are the official press renders for Verizon's version of the Galaxy S4. Yes, you are looking at the evolution of the 2013 and beyond vision of Verizon's marketing department. Clearly, the branding of the home button on the Galaxy Note 2 was only the beginning. With the Galaxy S4, we're seeing "4G LTE" logos diagonally tiled along the entire backside. All I can say, is that I hope the logos don't fully wrap themselves around the sides, as this painful sight could easily be removed with a new battery cover. While that will obviously cost you extra in order to rid yourselves of this eye-sore, it will be worth the extra $15 or so. Oh but wait, it gets worse.

If the tiled backside wasn't enough to ruin your Galaxy S4 appetite, wait until you see the new physical home button on the front of the device. Over the last year, we have seen Samsung stick to a one size fits all approach to their phones, similarly to how Apple does it. However, with the GS4 we're seeing Verizon flex back. We're now understanding why we have yet to hear about the phone from Big Red - the modification to this new and extremely large home button is clearly going to take longer to produce. We've seen delays of devices like the HTC One due to their new UltraPixel camera, a situation that appears to be repeating itself here with Verizon's Galaxy S4.

The last we heard from sources suggested that we wouldn't see the device until mid-to-late May. If these modifications in hardware are anything to go by, I may start to wonder if it won't be later. Dying to hear your thoughts. Update: If you are just now finding this post, yes, it was an April Fools' joke. Look at the date. Cheers ___!

Into the Dead Released on Android, This is a Zombie Game Worth Playing

Kellen — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 12:35:24 +0000

A couple of days ago, PikPok games released Into the Dead on Android, as a Zombie survival game that I can't seem to stop playing. It's a runner-style game, similar to what you get with Temple Run in that there are objectives, distance goals, and a coin system, but for fans of the zombie genre or shows like The Walking Dead, you'll probably love this. It's bloody, has a great soundtrack, and is in a way, somewhat creepy. The objective is to survive in a world filled with zombies for as long as you can. You start off in the middle of field just after a helicopter crash only to realize there are hundreds of zombies on the verge of gobbling your brains. You turn and run away, dodge between outreaching zombie arms, jump fences, find safe passages through corn fields and forests, pick up guns and other weapons along the way, all while trying to create the highest score possible. As you stretch your top distance, amass a coin collection, and conquer perks, you'll unlock new weapons (like a chainsaw or shotgun), new zombie packs, and other bonuses. It's awesome. Oh, Into the Dead is also 100% free. There are ads in between games as you transition menus, but never while you are in the middle of a session. It definitely operates under the freemium model as well, tempting you with coin purchases to unlock perks and weapons even faster. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXzXFI3k-D0[/youtube]

(H/T Android Police)

DROID DNA Disappears From Verizon Site, Making Room for the HTC One? (Updated: It's Back)

Kellen — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 08:41:02 +0000

As of this morning, the DROID DNA has disappeared from Verizon's website. Naturally, one jumps to, "It's reached end of life because the HTC One is one the way!" But is that the case? Well, we don't actually know for sure at this point. What we do know, is that if you search for the device, you'll come up completely empty. There are still some traces of it, though. For example, if you head into Verizon's search box, type "DNA" and then let the search box process that before hitting "Enter," you'll see a mini-card appear for the device. However, should you click on it, you'll be taken to a standard shopping page that lists out all of Verizon's categories of products. You can also cruise over to droiddoes.com and see the device listed at the very top of all DROID devices. Should you enter its page, you'll even see a "Shop" button. Again, when clicked simply takes you to the categorized page of Big Red products that has replaced the DNA page. And finally, if you enter Verizon's smartphone page and check the box for "HTC," you'll only find four options at the moment, none of which are the DNA. So, is this a sign that something new is on the horizon? Well, we have heard from friends of ours at Walmart that the DNA has been killed off and will be replaced by some sort of HTC One variant. They were at one time expecting this to happen in March, though we heard this morning that Walmart has now pushed all One variants out to April, which makes sense since HTC confirmed an April release. Also of note, @evleaks Tweeted this morning that he is on board with the One coming to Verizon. Update: Reader Joe contacted Verizon's sales team and was directed to this pre-order page for devices. He was told that stock for the device goes in and out and can be ordered here. Sure enough, the device is listed there. That said, we have heard from a number of readers who work directly or indirectly for Verizon and have said that stock of the phone has been depleted for some time from their stores. Update 2: Received another tip suggesting that the missing DNA is simply because of a SKU change to ADR6435LVW2 and has not been discontinued. They were not sure what has changed in the new model, but did say that the new version should be shipping now to stores. Update 3/31: The device is now back, but likely did go through a SKU change. The device ID used to be 6103 on Verizon's site and is now 6691.

I've reached out to Verizon PR to see if this is nothing more than an "out of stock" situation or if the phone is indeed gone for good and will report back. Keep in mind that we're just kicking off a weekend, so we may not hear anything until Monday. If it is simply on back-order or out of stock for the moment, completely removing the device from your website seems like a terrible move. At least tell people up front that it's on back-order and will be returning. Don't make them contact the sales or inventory teams to find out the stock status of a phone they would potentially buy. If the iPhone 5 was sold out, they would make a notation on the iPhone page saying when stock will return, not completely kill off the sales page.

Cheers david and Shawn!

AT&T Nabs Exclusive on the HTC One 64GB in the U.S.

Kellen — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 08:06:30 +0000

According to a new video posted to one of AT&T's YouTube accounts, they were able to grab the exclusive on the 64GB variant of the HTC One. Twice in the highlight clip do they highlight the 64GB feature with a green "AT&T Exclusive" circle. As you may know, the device will come in both 32GB and 64GB variants since it lacks a microSD card slot. I can imagine that those of you who were not necessarily going to choose AT&T as your One provider are a bit saddened by this move. Then again, 32GB is quite a bit of storage and should be plenty for most, especially with an increasing reliance on cloud storage for much of what we do. So we're looking at 32GB from T-Mobile and Sprint for sure. If Verizon also gets the device, we're assuming they will only have the 32GB variant as well.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N-XEgEUkac[/youtube]

Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S4 Cruises Through FCC, Wonder When They'll Acknowledge It?

Kellen — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:24:08 +0000

After Samsung announced the Galaxy S4 back on March 14, we heard comments almost immediately from AT&T and T-Mobile, since both plan to carry the device. T-Mobile has said that they plan to have the device available by May 1, while AT&T and US Cellular will kick off pre-orders on April 16. But one carrier in particular who has remained silent on the matter, is Verizon. For whatever reason, they didn't acknowledge the device, haven't mentioned a pre-order, and for the most part, have been silent outside of a Tweet here or there from their Twitter accounts. It's sort of odd. This is the biggest Android phone of the year after all. You can't tell me that if Apple stood on stage and announced the iPhone 5S, that Big Red wouldn't have an entire landing page and pre-order site setup and live before Tim Cook could even exit the stage. None the less, their variant of the Galaxy S4 cruised through the FCC today under model number SCH-I545. There isn't anything new in the filing, but it does list out LTE at both 700MHz and AWS frequencies, CDMA, and some global HSPA bands, leading us to believe that it will be global-ready. And that's about it. The only rumored date to cross our inbox is May 23, a full month after the rest of the carriers are expected to at least begin selling it. Via: FCC | Engadget Cheers Open1Your1Eyes0!

Flipboard With S-Pen Support and Awesome Note APKs Pulled From Galaxy Note 8.0

Tim — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:48:08 +0000

Two applications were pulled from the Galaxy Note 8.0 firmware recently, a special edition of Flipboard featuring support for S-Pens and Awesome Note, a multitasking note-taking app built for larger displays. The Flipboard apk is just like any other Flipboard, but as I mentioned, all you S-Pen fans can do some special previewing using the pen and Air View of certain content. As for Awesome Note, I will go ahead and recommend that anyone not running a display of 5.5" or larger should leave this one alone. Awesome Note is a Samsung-created app, built specifically for the Note lineup of devices, featuring a ton of useful tricks. Naturally, you can take notes, write memos, set reminders, and list goes on and on. I suggest having a large display because when opened up on the Nexus 4, everything felt extremely cramped and that is never the best experience to have. If I have any Galaxy Note and Note 2 fans wanting to try them out, download them below. Download: Flipboard.apk | AwesomeNote.apk Via: XDA [2] Cheers Nathan!

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 11 Answers

Tim — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:32:15 +0000

It's finally Friday, which means it is time to go through all of our submitted questions from Monday and get to answering them for the Droid Life Q&A Sessions. In volume 11, we cover our favored go to pre-paid carrier options, which daily drivers the team is currently using (can you believe I didn't answer with the Note 2?), and even touch on our own personal hobbies that we occasionally have time for. As a reminder, E is Eric, T is Tim, K is Kellen, and R is Ron.

What is your pre-paid carrier of choice?

T: I like to stick to T-Mobile for pre-paid, but I have been meaning to check out Solavei. K: I'm currently using Solavei. Not sure why I'm using it over Straight Talk, but I am. It's $50 per month for unlimited talk, text, and HSPA+42 T-Mobile service. It's a hell of a deal. R: T-Mobile would probably be my pre-paid carrier of choice, but I honestly haven't looked into it much. There really isn't much of a market for pre-paid plans. I would love to see that expand. Hopefully T-Mobile's latest moves will help move that forward.

How do you all feel about all of the bans/backlash against Google Glass?

E: I feel like some of it is justified. The ban on having it while driving is probably the best thing to do going forward. I don't want someone doing a Hangout while they drive down the interstate at 70mph. The bars and other places banning it however is a little overkill to me. T: As far as bars banning Google Glass, that sort of makes sense I guess. Seems like just a garb for attention, but what concerns me more is the government already taking steps to ban it while driving. It's an unreleased product, no one has had a chance to see what it will actually be like, and the people in charge want to condemn it. I have zero tolerance for that. People are already terrible drivers and Google Glass is not going to make it any worse. K: It's just like when cell phones first had cameras and gyms tried to ban them because they thought people would take creepshots of others working out all the time. People don't know what to expect with Glass, so we're seeing the whackjob conspiracy theorists come out of the woodwork already to be seen in their stance against it. By the time they launch, we'll have seen all sorts of attempted bans or negative press, yet it'll still launch and likely be successful. R: I don't mind them at all. Glass still isn't a real product so it doesn't have any material consequences. The reality of the situation is that products like that will have to prove themselves to not be distractions or dangerous in certain situations.

What hobbies do you guys have?

E: Writing, basketball, keeping up with my television shows (American Horror Story, Adventure Time, The Americans, Being Human etc.), enjoying some good video games (Go play Bioshock Infinite right now). T: Well, I used to play a lot of video games, but lately I am so over sitting at my desk any longer than I already do. I spend as much time outside and with friends as possible, watching movies, eating out, drinking, and laughing. I play semi-competitive baseball (not softball) up here in Portland, so training and practices take up a lot of my time recently. Must get ripped in time for May. I play music, enjoy cooking, go on hikes with my dogs, and doing some light photography. Basically, I don't like to sit still anymore! K: Over the last year and a half, I've become addicted to running. Ran my first half marathon ever in December (1:59:12)! Outside of that, I've got a thing for shoes, as you can tell if you follow me on Instagram. I wouldn't consider myself a sneakerhead, but definitely love me some Jordans. Outside of those two things, tasting fine whiskey and eating Portland's best eats are always on the agenda. R: I lead worship at my church and I like to play Halo with my wife. Outside of that I'm usually busy with work, church, and writing.

What device is your daily driver, and what are you planning to be your next device?

E: Still rocking the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon. Waiting to see if HTC releases something like the HTC One on Verizon and if they don't then I don't know what I'll do with my life. T: The Nexus 4 is my daily driver currently and I am hoping to either make the Galaxy S4 or HTC One my next daily. Please, don't tell the Note 2 cult members I left the group. They will find me and destroy me. K: It has been the Nexus 4 since it came out, but I am dying for something new. I'm really intrigued by the HTC One, just because it's so different than what Samsung did with the Galaxy S4 (which is just a slightly beefier S3). So I'm guessing I'll spend a lot of time with the One here shortly. After that, just give me whatever Motorola and Google are working on.

If you could have any other job, what would it be?

E: Editor in chief of The Verge or New York Times, I'll take either. Or a host on Top Gear. T: I have always wanted to do law enforcement for some reason. I wouldn't care so much for all of the paperwork, but being a member on a S.W.A.T. team has always been sort of a dream job. Getting paid to kick ass just sounds righteous. K: Front office of an NBA team. I'm a basketball fanatic, have been since I was a kid. At one time I actually wanted to be a sports agent, but realized you basically need to be a lawyer for that and didn't want to spend the time in school as I was a terrible college student (not dumb, just loved the beer too much). R: I would love to lead worship full time or write about technology full time. Right now both are just side projects.

If you had to completely unplug for two-four weeks (you could only use a feature phone for emergencies), what would you do?

E: Go to camp. Certified Eagle Scout here so I know how to unplug from time to time. T: Oh boy, that's a tough one! Well, I guess a vacation would be in order. You would definitely find me on the coast in some quaint coffee shop just people watching and hanging out. K: I better be on a tropical island with my toes in the sand, ocean 10 feet in front of me, with a Dos Equis in hand, or I wouldn't last an hour. There is something about the ocean/sun/booze combo that can have you forgetting about the world in a split second. Damn, that would be tough though. Even on the last vacation I took, I was squeezing out emails through 1-bar of service while on the beach. R: That's basically what I did for Lent. I've still had my phone to read articles and whatnot, but I found myself doing a lot more reading and spending time with people face to face. It's been really nice.

How many hours do each of you spend working on the website a week?

E: Probably works out to be around around 10 hours a week on the site, depending on how busy the site is and how much work I do for school. T: Well, I would say too much and my boss would say not enough. But in the end, it's just right. In fact, I actually joke with my friends that I'm sort of a doctor since we are "on call" for the news. No matter what time it is, if something important happens, we need to write it up. Call me Dr. Tato from now on, please. K: This is it. Droid Life is actually my life. I try to keep a regular schedule for the most part, which you have probably noticed. In all, I bet I'm doing something DL-related anywhere from 50-70 hours per week. Thing is, I love every second of it. R: I work at a local computer consulting company for my day job. If I'm reviewing a phone that tends to take around 10 to 12 hours and my opinion pieces tend to take 3 to 5 hours. It all depends on the subject.

Why hasn't Verizon killed the Droid line yet?

E: Because, like us, they're clinging to the hope that Moto will come out with another great Droid phone. T: You can't just go killing off what made you. The DROID brand is very important to Verizon I think and as long as it remains successful, then expect for it to stick around. At least until Disney or George Lucas start charging too much for the branding. K: It's too powerful of a brand at this point to kill. Even if they release a mid-range phone, they can brand it with "DROID" and sell it. Thanks to the original DROID, they were able to go above Android, to create something all their own. Verizon is likely still the biggest Android carrier in the U.S., and I'd imagine a lot has to do with that brand. I doubt they'll kill it any time soon. R: That's a good question. I think Verizon is hanging onto it so they can claim to have an exclusive from certain companies, but it's possible that they'll retire the brand soon. I think it's lost a lot of its marketing power and Verizon knows that. It would take a pretty killer device for that name to mean anything important today.

Friday App Sales: Beautiful Widgets, Tasker, Super Hexagon, and More

Tim — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:15:48 +0000

Here are some great app sales to deliver you into the weekend. Some of the bigger names that grace this last are Super Hexagon, Beautiful Widgets, and even Plants vs. Zombies. And can you believe it, there's Tasker for just $2! That's a serious steal.

Beautiful Widgets ($1.69)
4 Player Reactor ($1.99)
aCar Pro Unlocker ($0.99)
Prince of Persia ($1.27)
Tasker ($1.99)
Wave ($0.99)
NBA JAM ($0.99)
Monopoly ($1.99)
Plants vs. Zombies ($0.99)
Sonic Jump ($0.99)
F-Sim Space Shuttle ($0.99)
Super Hexagon ($0.99)

If you don't own some of these apps yet, you are doing it wrong. Let's change that and support some devs.

Friday Poll: Do You Use Facebook?

Kellen — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:48:33 +0000

Next Thursday, we'll assume that Facebook is going to announce something significant in terms of their social network and how it interacts with Android. They have invited a ton of press to an event that will show off their "new home on Android." Rumors suggest that it will be a partnership with HTC on a software front, that will put Facebook at the front of a mobile experience. It may not be the forking that Amazon has done with Android for the Kindle, but your phone will constantly remind you that you should be using Facebook for all services. It's an interesting move, but one they probably needed to do as their mobile experience has yet to thrill Android users or investors. So as Facebook has dominated the airwaves over the last day because of this news, we've seen enough snarky remarks throughout the comments and elsewhere on the internet to base today's poll on. Are the youth still using it or have they moved on? Is it a service that only stay-at-home moms continue to use? We want to know if you use Facebook. Facebook clearly wants you to use it more while mobile if they are looking for smartphone partners. We've sectioned the poll off by age, so be sure to vote in the correct area. [poll id="245"]

Google On a Patent Roll, Secures Designs for Cameras To Check the Local Weather

Eric — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:10:38 +0000

We all know that Google Now is the epitome of your phone knowing exactly where you are and giving you information based off of that, but another patent recently secured by Google is going to extend that ability to your phone's camera. Their new patent hopes to put GPS to work to figure out three things: where you are, if you are indoors or outside and what the local weather near you is like. All of this information is then fed into your camera to make your photos look better.

Pictures outside can fluctuate wildly depending on the amount of light and cloud cover that you're shooting in. This new patent lets Google configure your camera's ISO and white balance to compensate for any kind of weather that you might be taking photos in. It's not the biggest feature in the world, but for the legion of point-and-shooters out there who don't tinker with phone settings too much, this should make their snapshots even better.

Via: Engadget

NYT: Facebook to Announce Whole Lot More Than Just a Widget, Full Blown FB Skin

Tim — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:40:30 +0000

Somewhat different from what was reported this morning, the New York Times is saying that Facebook has much bigger plans than just a home replacement for Android phones. According to their source, a Facebook employee who was briefed on what is coming, Facebook is set to launch a Facebook "operating system" of sorts, based on Android. The OS/skin, which will be featured on a brand new HTC device that could possibly be shown off next Thursday, puts Facebook "front and center" for users. Going beyond just showing you the News Feed upon first boot, the device's core applications such as the camera and messaging services will all be handled and tied directly into Facebook. If these reports are true, then how far should we expect Facebook to go? Sort of an Amazon Kindle-like device, running Android, but with such a heavy skin that it does not resemble Android? Will it have access to Google Play or just Facebook's market for games and apps. That would be scary. Can't wait for the shareholders to see what is coming next week! Via: NYT

LG Optimus G2 for T-Mobile Spotted in Benchmarks Running Snapdragon 800

Tim — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:53:07 +0000

Benchmarks were recently filed through GL Benchmark that point directly towards the upcoming LG Optimus G2 for T-Mobile. Previously, we discussed this device for two main reasons - first that it would be launched possibly running Android 5.0 aka Key Lime Pie, and that it would come powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 processor. Today, we can start the process of confirming at least one part of that, as the device has shown up as the LG D801, sporting the MSM8974 (800). Showing to have a max CPU frequency of just 1728, that is a bit slower (for lack of better term) than the 2.0GHz+ that was rumored a couple of months ago. A quad-core 1.7GHz chip is nothing to cry over though. Next up, the device that received the benchmark is shown as running Android 4.2.2, not Android 5.0. If it was running KLP before launch/announcement, that would be amazing to say the least. There is no launch date set for the Optimus G2, so it could still be that LG and T-Mobile are awaiting the arrival of Android 5.0 to move forward with the device. Either way, when the device does launch it will be one of 2013's superphones, so you will most certainly want to keep an eye out for it. Via: Blog of Mobile | GL Benchmark

US Cellular Hosting Galaxy S4 Pre-orders on April 16

Kellen — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:19:41 +0000

On the heals of AT&T's announcement that they would open up pre-orders for Samsung's new Galaxy S4 on April 16, US Cellular has decided to join the party. The somewhat smaller U.S. carrier will also host pre-orders on April 16, though they haven't given us any pricing details. AT&T set their pre-order price at $249 on 2-year contract. We still have no word out of Sprint or Verizon. T-Mobile tossed out an early May date previously in the week when they talked up their new LTE network and pricing plans. And that's that. Via: US Cellular

Google Granted Patent That Allows Android to Change Display Qualities Based on Battery Level

Eric — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:49:27 +0000

Battery life in a mobile device is very important. All your fancy specs won't mean anything if you can't keep it turned on more than 15 minutes, so we're seeing companies either putting bigger batteries in their phone like Motorola's MAXX line or trying to innovate to make batteries last longer. Seeing as how the display in a device is usually the biggest battery drain on a device, Google has just been granted a patent that allows Android to read the battery life of a phone and change the display accordingly.

In this listing, the fine print lays out the procedure of how this patent will work. Depending on the amount of battery left, the operating system will change the display to lessen the amount of power it draws by disabling blur and animations between screens. If the battery is extremely low the operating system can even lower the resolution of the display.

This certainly sounds like the type of tech we would expect Google to include in a Nexus device, maybe if we are lucky we will see this in the Nexus 5.

Via: Google

Facebook Will Take Over Home Screens With New App to be Announced Next Week, First Partner is HTC

Kellen — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 07:44:49 +0000

When Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg stands up in front of the press next Thursday at an Android-related event, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that he will show off a new service that will make Facebook more prominent on your device's home screens. The social network has apparently been developing software that can take over your main home screen in order to make Facebook the first thing you see upon unlocking your device. One of their sources said it's "putting Facebook first." If you think about the tagline that was included in the press event invite - "come see our new home on Android" - this makes a lot of sense. If there is one way for Facebook to get in your face at all times, it's to be on your main home screen. Now the question is - how much is this going to be like HTC's BlinkFeed? Is this somewhat of a home replacement launcher that essentially turns your entire home screen into a full-blown Facebook app? The app will reportedly be broadly available to all Android devices, but that manufacturers have to make "some tweaks" in order for this new servie to take over a home screen. That seems like contradictory points in the same sentence, however, it could just mean that OEMs will need to tweak things to be able to bake it into their skins and that there will also be a stand-alone app available. Finally, WSJ is reporting that Facebook has been looking to partner with device makers and that HTC is unsurprisingly first. After having been rumored as the creator of the next Facebook Phone, this new home screen takeover could have been the true tale all along. They are attempting to reach agreements with other OEMs. So to me, that sounds like Facebook has created a third party launcher that will make your phone a Facebook phone. Hopefully it's not just a widget. Thoughts? Via: Wall Street Journal

OUYA Officially Begins Shipping to Early Backers, 104 Games Already Published

Kellen — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 23:20:22 +0000

That's right, the OUYA has official begun shipping to early backers from Kickstarter, just as they said it would. Should you have forked out the cash to be amongst the initial group, get to checking your email for shipping info and instructions for operating the little guy once it arrives. The rollout of devices will happen over the next several weeks. For the rest of you who jumped on the bandwagon after OUYA became an internet sensation, you'll have to wait a bit longer. Once your new OUYA arrives, the first boot will include an update that shouldn't take long, but will depend on your internet connection. After updating, the OUYA team wants to remind you that you'll need a credit/debit card to download games, even though all are free to try. Your card will only be charged if you decide to buy a game. So far, there are 104 published games on OUYA, but that's nothing in the grand scheme of things. Their press note tonight mentioned that 8,000 developers have already created accounts with hopes of launching their apps to the Android-based console. During this initial backer "exclusive preview" period, you'll see plenty of changes as OUYA works to add new features, refine the user interface, and continue to build out software. With the retail launch set for June 4, you will have a full two months to see OUYA turn from Kickstarter dream project to retail player. Who backed it? And if so, have you received your shipping info yet? Via: OUYA

Google's Unified Chat Actually Named "Babel" - Coming to Android, iOS, Chrome, G+ and Gmail

Kellen — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 22:40:58 +0000

Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen a handful of reports suggesting that Google is on the verge of releasing a unified chat service called "Babble." This new service was rumored to have merged services like Voice, Talk, and Google+ Messenger into a cross-platform chat solution, hopefully ending the siloed and independent chat experiences that we all currently experience. While most of those reports were on the right track, we believe that the actual name of the new Google messenger service is called "Babel" rather than "Babble," at least internally. According to sources of ours, with Babel, you'll get a seamless messenger experience across Android, iOS, Chrome, Google+ and Gmail. From what we have seen, there is no mention of Google Voice or other services outside of the five we just mentioned, but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't be there at some point. As of now, this is being tested internally as a cross-platform service through those five platforms (Android, iOS, Chrome, Google+ and Gmail). Google is selling the service as having these features:

Access the same conversation list from anywhere
A new, conversation-based UI
Advanced group conversations
Ability to send pictures
Improved notifications across devices

So what does "Babel" mean? It has a variety of meanings, that all make sense in some round-about way. The semi-hilarious thing about the name, is the fact that the definition of the word by itself has to do with a confused mixture of sounds, voices, or languages. But if you think about the movie Babel, with Brad Pitt, the name tends to make more sense. The movie itself focuses on four interrelated situations and conversations that all eventually come together in the end through a single phone call that is played from two different perspectives from the beginning and then the final scene. When you think of a unified messenger client, this idea of merging conversations from different perspectives or places seems to make a lot of sense. Then of course, there is the biblical meaning. Another interesting item of note - there is already a chat service on Android called Babel (Play link), however, it appears to have a small international user base. Would Google really name a service after a Brad Pitt movie? Have they gone biblical? Babel could be an internal codename for all we know. Obviously, we'll keep this as a rumor until further details surface.

Facebook Holding Android-related Event on April 4

Kellen — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:09:46 +0000

Facebook appears to be ready to take Android seriously, as they just sent out invites to a press event that is happening on April 4. All the invite says, as you can see, is "Come see our new home on Android." We'd assume this means a brand new app, but then again, maybe they have something else in store. Free voice calling perhaps? A Facebook phone? We'll be there to find out. Guesses?

Samsung Exynos 5 Octa Works on All 20 LTE Bands

Kellen — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:23:11 +0000

Over the last couple of years, as we have continued to see different variations of phones arrive in different parts of the world depending on the types of networks involved, one almost always immediately goes to, "Well, this chipset must not support LTE," as the difference maker. A similar sentiment arose after Samsung announced the Galaxy S4 and the fact that the U.S. in particular would receive a variant sporting a Snapdragon 600 processor instead of their own Exynos 5 Octa. With Qualcomm leading the mobile processor and modem charge when it comes to LTE, it was easy to buy into this idea. According to SamMobile, that is most definitely not the case this time around, though. The official Samsung Exynos Twitter account confirmed to them today that the Exynos 5 Octa actually supports all 20 global LTE bands. And truthfully, this shouldn't surprise anyone, as the Galaxy Note 2 launched at the end of last year with an Exynos chipset and had no issue connecting to U.S. LTE networks. So why the Snapdragon 600 then? It likely has to do with volume, and the fact that Samsung may not have been able to make enough Octa processors in time to meet their April launch. With Qualcomm pumping out Snapdragon processors by the minute, I'm sure they were more than willing to offer up their support to one of the biggest smartphone manufacturers in the world. At this point in the game, does it matter to you all that much when it comes to processor manufacturer? The Snapdragon line has dominated the last couple of years, but do you actively choose handsets depending on processor or are they all powerful enough at this point? Via: @SamsungExynos | SamMobile

Springpad Updated to Version 4.0, Includes Redesign and Simplified Navigation

Tim — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:28:07 +0000

This week, the developers of Springpad are pushing out the newest 4.0 update to users. Inside, the app has been redesigned for a better look, as well as adding in new "springs" sections. Parts have been tweaked, allowing for easier navigation, as well as improved stability. Springpad is used to store notes, bookmark sites, keep lists, and probably a million other things I can't think of. For the full changelog of additions, check below. What's New:

New Springs section shows what you and people you follow have added.
Springs no longer have to be placed into a notebook until you’re ready.
New Search quickly surfaces what you need, right when you need it.
View your notebooks and the notebooks you follow on one screen.
Stability, speed and performance improvements.

Go grab that update! Play Link Cheers Frank and Bill Ray!

Google Will No Longer Sue Over Open-Sourced Patents Unless Attacked First

Kellen — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:54:03 +0000

This morning, moments before the first 15-minute recess of the day at Mountain View Elementary, Googlers stood in front of their monitors, placed right hands over their hearts, and pledged allegiance to non-assertion of open-sourced patents. That's right - no longer will Google sue "any user, distributor or developer of open-source software on specified patents, unless first attacked." Times are-a changing in the patent game, at least Google hopes so with this move, dubbed the Open Patent Non-Assertion (OPN) Pledge. Outside of their promise to refrain from suing anyone, they also fronted 10 MapReduce-related patents that are already widely in use. Over time, they intend to expand this list, but are hoping this lays the groundwork for other companies to jump on board and take the pledge. Google believes this pledge offers transparency, breadth, defensive protection, and durability. Let's just hope it lasts longer than the Android Update Alliance. Via: Google Public Policy Cheers John!

HTC One Receives the Hated Teardown Treatment, Do Not Try at Home

Tim — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:06:53 +0000

This goes right up there with those crazy drop tests we see every now and then for each new device that gets released. While I understand the need for these teardowns much more than drop tests, they still make me cringe. So, the folks at iFixIt have themselves an HTC One and began tearing her down. Once finally cracking into the device (which they report goes hand in hand with damaging the shell), we see all of the device's internals including the Qualcomm processor, power amplifier, and flash memory. Beyond just the chips that make the device go "boom," we get a close up of that ultrapixel camera, it's 1080p display, and everything else. It's neat, but I'm still teary eyed. Unfortunately, the HTC One received a 1 out of 10 score on repairability. Apparently there is no way to open the device up without damaging its outer shell, so yeah, I would cut back on attempting any DIY repairs. To check out the full teardown, follow the via below.

Via: iFixIt

Sky Maze 3D is Pretty Sweet, Plus it is Amazon's Free App of the Day

Tim — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:04:20 +0000

Here is another cool time waster that can be grabbed for free today through the Amazon Appstore. It's called Sky Maze 3D, and it plays with that title quite well. The game takes place in the sky and is made up entirely of mazes, plus it's 3D. You control a ball with on-screen buttons, carefully navigating the maze to reach the end, while collecting diamonds for extra points. It's actually quite fun and looks great. The game is currently free on Google Play, but comes with only a limited amount of levels. The rest can be purchased via PayPal (seems legit) or the Amazon Appstore. So, why waste your time with that and just get the full version for free through Amazon. Score. Appstore Link Cheers Nick S!

Experiencing Issues With Your Galaxy Nexus After Updating to 4.2.2?

Kellen — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:32:17 +0000

Ever since Verizon approved the Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy Nexus and Google started pushing it out, our inbox has filled up with users who are running into all sorts of issues. The most common appears to be battery life, but others are noticing issues with Bluetooth audio, the camera, tethering, and more. While we aren't yet aware of specific fixes for each, in most cases, Verizon is actually recommending that you perform a factory reset. I know that sounds like the worst option, since it wipes your phone of every last setting, but it may do the trick, especially if you are experiencing horrific battery life. The Bluetooth audio fixes on the other hand were supposed to be included in 4.2.2, but there is still a running AOSP thread that suggests a different scenario. If a factory reset doesn't work, you can also flash the 4.2.2 factory images that were released today. Are you experiencing issues? If so, what are they? Have you tried a factory reset yet?

New Batches of Nexus 4 Receive Slight Hardware Modification

Kellen — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:18:41 +0000

New shipments of Google's Nexus 4 are arriving with a couple of tweaks that were not a part of the original device. As you can see from the images above and below from Mobiflip, the changes are incredibly minor, yet still may offer something we could have used a couple of months ago - protection for that glass back. The first addition - and most important - is a rubber nipple or nub placed at the four corners of the backside of the device (top image). These should allow for the phone to rest slightly above surfaces and hopefully prevent scratching or in my case, full-on cracks. There is a chance that it will also help audio to escape from the backside speaker while the phone is lying back down. The second change affects the camera, though it may not be much. As you can see from the image below, the cut out for the camera lens is slightly smaller in the new hardware. Will this cause the device to magically take better pictures? Eh, probably not. And that's it - minor, minor changes, one of which we are big fans of.

Via: Mobiflip

Tasker Updated in Google Play With New Holo UI

Tim — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:55:16 +0000

Back in January, the developers of Tasker released a beta, showing off a whole new pretty look for the application. After a few months of tweaking and fixing, the update has officially hit Google Play and now everyone can go pick it up. As a refresher, Tasker is an application that can be used to perform system events at scheduled times, change settings depending on your location, and tons more. What's New:

UI updated for holo look-and-feel with selectable light and dark themes
200 built-in icons each in holo light and dark
Internal cleanup of deprecated APIs
Several new states, events and actions
Many incremental improvements and bugfixes

Go get your update on. Play Link ($6.49)

Verizon Galaxy Nexus 4.2.2 Factory Images Now Available (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:43:30 +0000

The Android 4.2.2 (JDQ39) factory images for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus have been posted. For those not familiar, factory images allow you to flash your phone back to a 100% stock state, as if you had just pulled it out of the box. You'll find instructions for flashing factory images here. The new 4.2.2 binaries are available as well. Update: They also added 4.2.1 factory images for the Sprint Galaxy Nexus. Via: Google Developers [Binaries]

Best Buy and Samsung Team Up to Bring Specialized Section to Retail Stores

Tim — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:21:21 +0000

According to Geek, Best Buy and Samsung are preparing a relationship that will bring a specialized Samsung store to the insides of high-traffic Best Buy locations. Starting soon, Best Buy employees will be informed to clear out two aisles near the mobile section for the installation of a Samsung-only station. In these sections, Samsung will show off their new flagship device, the Galaxy S4, as well as other phones, tablets, and other products. Best Buy already has partnerships such as this with Apple, but nothing this large. While Apple brings a single table to the party, Samsung is looking to bring a whole lot more. As the year goes on, Samsung will look to have these Samsung stores inside every Best Buy in America. This is a major investment for Samsung, which could really pay off in the end if it translates to people buying more Samsung phones. Via: Geek

Angry Birds Star Wars Updated, Time to Fly Through Cloud City

Tim — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:11:50 +0000

This morning, the great Angry Birds title of all time, Angry Birds Star Wars, was updated to feature the new Cloud City episode with twenty new levels. As a cherry on top, Rovio also included new Boba Fett missions which can be unlocked by finding hidden rocket pads or by purchasing them via in-app purchase. To see the full changelog, check below. What's New:

Welcome to Bespin! After narrowly escaping the Hog Empire at the Battle of Hoth, the Rebel Birds are happy to lay low for a while. But Cloud City might not be as welcoming as it appears...
Explore Cloud City in an all new episode!
Battle your way through 20 new Bespin levels!
Introducing steam gameplay mechanics.
Unlock the new Boba Fett Missions by collecting all 5 hidden rocket packs, via promotion code, or via in-app purchase!
Brag about your trophies using the new Twitter integration!

Go grab it. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDHvNcJM3Lo[/youtube]

GameStick to Launch Pre-loaded With ShadowGun and Smash Cops

Tim — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 08:49:54 +0000

During a press event yesterday at GDC in San Francisco, GameStick developers announced the system's first content partners and pre-installed launch titles. To kick it off, GameStick will be shipped to backers with Madfinger's ShadowGun and Hutch's Smash Cops. On top of that, GameStick owners will have access to a separate game store to make sure the games they download will be perfect for the portable unit. You can still pre-order these little guys for just $80, which also includes that neat looking controller.

GameStick Announces First Round of Content Partnerships and Pre-Install Titles at GDC

GameStick Prototype is demonstrated for the first time at GDC

Hundreds of indie developers register titles for launch of GameStick
GDC - San Francisco; March 28th, 2013; During an exclusive event at GDC yesterday for press, developers and investors GameStop, Adobe & Endeavour Ventures, Playjam unveiled the GameStick Storefront running on dev units due to ship out shortly to it´s Kickstarter backers and content partners. To support this demonstration, which will be replicated for GDC attendees on the ARM booth at the exhibition today and tomorrow, Playjam showcased a number of launch titles and announced exciting deals with Madfinger and Hutch that will see both Shadowgun and Smash Cops pre-installed on the device ensuring GameStick users have free, quality content ready to go out of the box. “GameStick offers a direct route to TV for our games”, says Marek Rabas, CEO at Madfinger. “The format lends itself perfectly to carrying many of our hit mobile titles, marrying portability with truly big screen entertainment. The prospect of this micro-console bringing a wide genre of games to TV is extremely exciting and one which we are keen to support fully.” “It´s not often that we see new products emerge around games hardware capable of disrupting what has up until now been a relatively closed space”, says Shaun Rutland, CEO at Hutch Games. “GameStick is one such product and we´re excited at the opportunity to work with the PlayJam team in bringing our titles such as Smash Cops to their platform.” Support for GameStick is quickly gaining momentum from the developer community with open recognition that the micro-console represents a significant opportunity to widen distribution of their content via a medium that until now had been closed to many - TV. Says NiqueFajors, Co-founder at One Spear Entertainment, “What´s more exciting than industry disruption and delivering exceptional customer value? Nothing! And GameStick is nailing both” Games will be available for purchase and download from within the GameStick UI via a dedicated store. The GameStick Developer program has over 500 participants from a broad cross-section of the developer community that will see games such as Riptide, R-Type, Another World, Raiden Legacy, Ski Safari, Meganoid, Ground Effect, CatchaCatcha Aliens, Gunslugs, AfterMath, Shaqdown, Towelfight 2, and Reckless Getaway feature at launch. “We are thrilled to have some phenomenal titles to showcase what GameStick is all about - amazing games” says Charles Tigges, CCO at PlayJam. “I am delighted to see many of the top selling iOS and Android titles now finding their natural home on the big screen through GameStick. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements ofnew games coming to the platform ” Additionally, at the opening of GDC this week, PlayJam announced a partnership with Pivos to bring official support for XBMC to GameStick thereby adding media servicesto the content mix. Those wanting to see the demo in action are invited to visit the ARM booth (#1124 -South Hall) at GDC in San Francisco this week where the GameStick storefront, some launch titles and a dev prototype of the device will be on show. Developers and Publishers - to publish a title please visit www.gamestick.tv/dev or email us at develop@gamestick.tv To pre-order your GameStick go to www.gamestick.tv now. To apply for access to the GameStick SDK, go to www.gamestick.tv/dev Follow GameStick on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Google Launches Google Shopping Express in San Francisco, Local Same Day Delivery Service for Online Orders

Kellen — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:45:08 +0000

This morning, Google launched their newest initiative, Google Shopping Express. It's the once rumored same-day delivery service that will at some point include a pricing plan, similar to what Amazon has done with Prime, though same-day is something not even the magical Prime can touch at this point. The first test market is as one would expect, in San Francisco, along with the peninsula from San Mateo to San Jose. The goal of Shopping Express is to help eliminate the cross town errands that you needed to run today by allowing orders from both local and big box retailers to be delivered the same day. We're talking stores like Target, Walgreens, Staples, and American Eagle in the "big box" realm. Local shops in SF like Blue Bottle Coffee and Palo Alto Toy & Sport are some of the current local offerings. Customers who are a part of Shopping Express will shop through online stores, find what they need, select a delivery window (broken down by four-hour time slots), and then sit back and wait as it gets delivered.

At some point, there will be a fee for the service, but testers will receive six months of free, unlimited same-day delivery. Again, the current testing market is San Francisco. If you live in the area and would like to become a tester, hit up the links below. Via: Google Commerce | Shopping Express

Pre-orders for AT&T's Samsung Galaxy S4 Start April 16 for $249.99

Kellen — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:31:58 +0000

AT&T has announced that pre-orders for the new Samsung Galaxy S4 will kick off April 16 for $249. That price somewhat indicates that they are not carrying a lower 16GB model and have opted for the 32GB version instead. While their press note this morning doesn't mention any particular specs outside of what we already know, we saw the 16GB version of the Galaxy S3 launch everywhere last year in the U.S. for $199. The $249 price will require you to sign a new two-year contract. No other information was provided, exact launch date in particular. Via: AT&T

No Droid Life Show Tonight, Will Return Next Week

Kellen — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:05:13 +0000

Sorry, folks, no Droid Life Show tonight. We'll return next week, though we may move to Thursday's for a month or so. In the mean time, feel free to catch up on all of the previous shows (show page), especially episode 20 from last Wednesday. There was a lot going on last week thanks to the Galaxy S4 launch, Motorola rumors all over the place, and the start of the NCAA tourney. Catch it below! Oh, the podcast is also in Google Currents in case you needed another option for listening.

Wednesday Poll: What Android Launcher Are You Currently Using?

Tim — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:39:44 +0000

It has been way too long since we last asked our community members what their favorite Android launcher was. Since the last time we asked, there are a few newcomers to the game who have certainly taken some of that marketshare away from the big dogs. Apparently the last time we asked, Nova Launcher wasn't even on the scene, so that should definitely change things up. If you answer “Other”, please let us know in the comments which launcher you are using. [poll id="244"]

Nexus 4 Devices Seeing Plenty of T-Mobile LTE Action Thanks to Newly Live Markets

Kellen — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:34:45 +0000

Remember how surprised we were to see the Nexus 4 attaching itself to random 4G LTE networks (AWS band) shortly after release in places like Canada? And how we were simultaneously holding out hope that T-Mobile would launch their AWS LTE network so that we wouldn't miss out on all the fun? Well, before that ever happened, Google updated the device to Android 4.2.2 and essentially killed off those chances. But, thankfully for us, there is still hope now that T-Mobile has officially launched their AWS LTE network in seven cities. As one would expect from the amazing Android tinkerer community, users are already finding T-Mo's 4G LTE in places like San Jose, Houston and Las Vegas, all of which are a part of the seven city launch. How are they doing it, you ask? Custom ROMs and the old .33 radio/baseband from before the 4.2.2 update, which brought .48 and killed LTE. According to the lengthy XDA thread we linked to below (start around the 100-page mark), users are finding success with both CM and AOKP ROMs. Keep in mind that they are also having to update APN settings on the device and make sure they have the .33 radio flashed. If you live in any of the new T-Mobile LTE markets and own a Nexus 4, LTE speeds are only a ROM flash away. Via: XDA Cheers @iAmAButta!

First Production Run of Google Glass to be Built Right Here in the U.S. of A.

Tim — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:35:52 +0000

According to a report out of Financial Times, Google is set to keep the manufacturing of Google Glass very close to home, as it looks like they have chosen a facility in Santa Clara, CA to produce their first run of the hardware. Google has been less shy about pumping out American-made hardware, much like we saw with the Nexus Q, although we could see that affect the price. Given the Nexus Q had very limited functionality, that thing still cost a pretty penny at $300, with most analysts pointing to the "Made in U.S.A." tag as the reason. We already know that Google intends to keep the price somewhere below $1500, but now that more info is coming in, we will see just how low Google intends to go. As for me, as long as they cost somewhere in the $750 or under range, you will see me in line most likely. Via: Financial Times

Gameloft Posts Iron Man 3 Gameplay Trailer, Coming to Android April 25

Tim — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:00:49 +0000

[youtube]http://youtu.be/KKflXaTdszs[/youtube]

Gameloft is in a teasing sort of mood this afternoon, as they posted up the first Iron Man 3 gameplay trailer. The title will make its way to Android and iOS handsets this year, just in time for the theatrical launch of the movie. To be honest, the game looks like a mix of the Sonic 2 race parts and Temple Run, but with more explosions. The game is penciled in for a April 25th release date, just one month away.

Verizon Approves Jelly Bean Update for Samsung Stratosphere 2

Kellen — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:25:08 +0000

The Samsung Stratosphere 2 will begin to receive Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) as early as today, March 27, according to Verizon. Since 2.5 people (.5 being someone's cat) own this phone, I can't imagine this rollout will take long, so keep your phones handy! But for those who do own it, get ready for Google Meow, better Voice Search, enhanced notifications, Verizon's remote diagnostics tool, less bloatware, and better connectivity over WiFi. The update is 506.6MB in size (damn!). The build number is VRBMA3.

Via: Verizon | More Cheers Willimus!

Google Movies & TV and Sound Search Updated in Google Play

Tim — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:07:45 +0000

It's Google apps update day! We already discussed the changes to be seen in Translate and Google Maps, so up next we have Sound Search and the Movies & TV application. Unfortunately, the Sound Search app has no changelog and after a quick use of it, I can't seem to find any changes. It still acts the same and looks the same. So let's move on. As for the Google Play Movies & TV app, this one has a very solid update. If you are using the application on a tablet, you can now pause movies and get Google Now-like information cards pulled up on the actors, songs in the film, and a lot more. It's a very cool way of getting even more information about your favorite films while you watch. In addition, users can now choose to receive notifications when new episodes are available for purchased seasons of shows. For example, I will be notified every time a new Vikings episode is released because that show is completely fantastic and I am addicted. Go grab them updates and definitely give that movie card feature a try. Play Link: Sound Search | Google Movies & TV

Google Maps Adds Live Transit Info For Certain U.S. Cities

Tim — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:39:39 +0000

Starting today, Google Map's users in certain cities can check real-time public transit information. So far, only riders in New York City, Salt Lake City, and Washington D.C. get to see live service updates for their respective subways/transit systems, but more will come. With this addition, there are no more excuses why you missed that bus or train. Go check it out. Play Link Via: Google Lat

Google Translate Update Introduces Offline Support for 50 Languages

Kellen — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:25:13 +0000

Google updated their Translate app this morning with a major change that allows for translating without an internet connection. Say you are in a foreign country or location without a data signal, you can now use Translate to have conversations with locals whether you have data or not. The update allows you to store languages similarly to how you store music offline in Google Music. You essentially pin local languages that you may need to make them available in a pinch. From within the app, tap the action bar menu button, choose "Offline languages," and then tap the pin icon next to the language you'd like to make available offline. Google admits that they pinned, offline languages aren't quite as comprehensive as their online equivalents, they will get the job done. Play Link Via: Official Android Blog

Video: How to Set Up Pie Controls on CyanogenMod Nightlies

Tim — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:05:58 +0000

This week, the CyanogenMod team announced that their newest nightly ROM builds of CM10.1 would include Pie Controls. We have been a fan of Pie since we first saw it being used in Paranoid Android, so it made us happy to hear it was coming to the more widely-used CyanogenMod. To help show some folks how to enable Pie Controls and set them up, we put together this nice little video that you see below. The truth is that we spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out how to set it up ourselves, so we are sparing you any possible frustration down the road.

Amazon Smartphone to Sport 4.7" Display, Launch Set For Q2

Tim — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:35:44 +0000

According to sources of DigiTimes, Amazon is definitely dropping a cellphone this year, with a reported 4.7" display. Previous reports indicated that the screen size would be around 4.3", but with demand for larger displays going up, Amazon has changed up their plans. The source, which works somewhere inside the long list of supply chains, states that Amazon is looking to push the device to market sometime in Q2 if all goes well during manufacturing. The smartphone would be much like a Kindle, running a forked version of the Android OS, made to run Amazon's proprietary software, well-connected to all of their services. What is still completely unknown is if the device will be sold only through Amazon's channels or if they will look to partner with a national carrier. You will be happy to hear that rumors place the device's price to that of roughly $100 to $200. Are we interested? Via: DigiTimes | TechnoBuffalo

An Overview of Android Lock Screen Security Options [Beginners' Guide]

Kellen — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:00:33 +0000

Since your phone is with you at all times, the likelihood of it getting left behind at a bar, restaurant, gym, or other location that you previously visited is probably pretty high. And since we live in a world that isn't always filled with angels, the chances of that left-behind-phone getting stolen and fondled deeply without your approval is probably even higher. Your first line of defense against evil doers is your lock screen. In stock Android, you have six different options to choose from for your lock screen, all of which offer their levels of security. If you use a non-stock Android device like the Galaxy S3, you may see some differences in functionality between the types we'll talk about in a minute, but for the most part they all act in a similar fashion. First, to access your lock screen options, the universal location tends to be in Settings>Security. From there, you should see an option towards the top called "Screen lock," which then takes you to your lock screen options once tapped. As you can see in the screenshot below, stock Android offers options for None, Slide, Face Unlock, Pattern, PIN, and Password. Let's talk briefly about each.

Slide to Unlock

Slide is probably the most commonly used lock screen of all - it's basically the default. This lock screen is not secure by any means, and only asks that the user of the phone grab the circle with a lock inside and slide it outside of a larger circle to unlock the phone. There are no passwords or patterns, it's simply a way to keep your phone from turning itself on and then accessing all sorts of info in your pocket or purse without your knowing. The nice thing about using Slide, is that you can still access your notification pulldown without having to fully unlock your phone. None of the other lock screen options allow for this, as they are technically "secure."

Face Unlock

Face Unlock was introduced back in Ice Cream Sandwich as a fun way to unlock your phone using your face. In order to set this option up, you have to place your face inside of a face-shaped ring of dots using your front facing camera until the device decides that it knows your face enough to be able to unlock with it. Once approved, you'll also be asked to provide a backup option in case the device cannot recognize your face. The two backup options are PIN or pattern. With Face Unlock setup, you wake your phone and then set point your front facing camera at your face. If it recognizes you, it will unlock almost immediately. If not, it will ask that you complete your backup PIN or Pattern unlock. People have found ways to trick Face Unlock from time to time, so I'd say that while it's more secure than Slide, it's not as secure as the next three.

Pattern, PIN, and Password Unlock

Pattern, PIN and Password unlocks are exactly as they sound - you either create a pattern, a numeric PIN, or an alpha-numeric password that needs to be entered in order to unlock your phone. These are likely the most secure of them all. If you don't know the pattern, PIN, or password, you are not allowed to access the phone. So those are lock screen security options. Any questions?

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PopCap's Plants Vs. Zombies 2 Coming to Android in Early Summer

Tim — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:00:47 +0000

This morning, PopCap, the makers of the ever-so-famous Plants vs. Zombies title, announced that the official sequel is to touch down "early Summer." No real details for Plants vs. Zombies 2 have been released yet, but that's how hypebeastin' goes. Let's just hope it doesn't take them forever to drop it on Android like the original. If you don't currently have the patience to wait (insert "ain't nobody got time for that" meme here), PopCap is hosting a special beta for Plants vs. Zombies Adventures, which is a Facebook title that you can sign up for. It features new maps, new baddies, as well as new ways to combat your foe. Either way, we will keep you posted on PvZ 2 once more details are released. Via: PopCap

Notif Pro Adds "Note to Self..." Voice Search Action

Kellen — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 08:03:01 +0000

Notif, one of our favorite apps of the last year because of its simple yet powerful note taking abilities, that we've already written up a couple of times, received a new feature last night thanks to a recent update. In Google Voice Search, as you tell Google to begin a "note to self...," Notif (pro version only) will show up as one of the options after you have spoken your note. Should you choose Notif, your spoken note will then appear as all Notifs do, in the notification bar until you swipe it away. For those not familiar with Notif, think of it as the easiest way to create a quick note, list or image reminder that you'll want to tackle later on in your day. It's not a traditional note taking app in the sense that you have this massive list of notes to categorize and weed through over time. Notif is all about now or the very near future. You create a list or note and it appears immediately in your notification bar. The notifications can expand or shrink, you can set priority levels, add special icons, make items ongoing notifications, and even voice dictate notes from within the app. There are pro and free versions available, but as one would expect, all of the new features go pro. Play Link ($0.99)

Fieldrunners 2 Headed to Android in April, Private Beta Open for Sign-ups

Tim — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:40:54 +0000

Want to help make sure the developers of Fieldrunners have a successful launch for their upcoming sequel? Well then, go ahead and sign up for the private beta! Don't forget to tell them Droid Life sent you. Fieldrunners 2, scheduled for an April launch, is the highly anticipated follow-up to the original Fieldrunners, a game that Kellex couldn't get enough of. It is a animated tower defense game, one that took off with popularity on Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. It features cartoonish military characters, at least seven different weapons, all sorts of baddies, HD visuals, and tablet support. For a tower defense type of game, this is one of the more impressive from the last couple of years. As I mentioned, go sign up for the beta and hope that you get chosen. Sign-up for Beta here. Via: Subatomic Studios

Motorola Commits to Updating DROID Bionic to Jelly Bean in Q2

Kellen — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:07:57 +0000

Motorola made a slight change to their DROID Bionic software news page today, one that signifies them finally settling in on a time frame for updating the device to Jelly Bean. Q2 is it. If you had hopes of receiving the update by the end of Q1, which is in 5 days, you will leave the month and quarter disappointed. I know there were rumors of the update happening in Q1, but as far as we can tell, the update page from Motorola has only said that it would receive 4.1, not when. This is the first time the update site has listed out a specific quarter. So, Q2 means the update could arrive anywhere from April 1 through June 30. Ugh. Via: Motorola Cheers Gabriel!

Tuesday Poll: T-Mobile Launches LTE - Likelihood of You Switching Over?

Kellen — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:47:01 +0000

Over the last couple of years, the DL community has made it clear that they love themselves some 4G LTE. Since Verizon was first to the plate and has seemingly rounded the bases at an unstoppable pace, you have also made it clear that they are the carrier for you. But now that others - T-Mobile in particular for today's poll - have joined the game, would you ever switch or are you comfortable in your Big Red briefs? T-Mobile only announced seven markets today, but they hope to have 200 million people covered by the end of the year. I argued earlier that their focus should be their network rather than this "UNcarrier" schtick, so hopefully they stick to that. But just because they have LTE, are you willing to give their low prices a shot? If not, feel free to tell us why. [poll id="243"]

HTC Planning to Release a Butterfly Follow-up, New DROID DNA Too?

Kellen — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:10:22 +0000

When HTC first introduced the Butterfly last year, as one of the first devices on the planet to sport a 5" 1080p display, our attention was grabbed immediately as it was identical to a device we had been tracking for months, codenamed the "dlx." As you all know now, the "dlx" turned into the DROID DNA on Verizon and was indeed identical in specs to the Butterfly. Well, thanks to satisfactory sales numbers of the Butterfly, HTC CMO Benjamin Ho recently mentioned to a Taiwanese publication that they are planning a sequel. Naturally, our minds then wander into the land of DROID DNA follow-ups - perhaps the DLXPLUS? We have written about the DLXPLUS a handful of times now. Thanks to HTC insiders and stops off for certifications, the device appears to be headed to Verizon with identical specs to the HTC One, which Big Red passed on. We're talking a 4.7" 1080p display, 2GB RAM, UltraPixel camera, and new HTC Sense 5.0 with BlinkFeed, BoomSound, and Zoe. It seems a bit silly to jump to the new Butterfly being the little sister to the DLXPLUS, but they were so similar last year, that we can't help ourselves. There is no current time table on a release for the DLXPLUS on Verizon, but a couple of reports suggest that it should arrive within the next two months, well after the HTC One has made the rounds. Are you willing to stick it out and pass on the Galaxy S4 to get a hold of Verizon's One-ish variant? Via: Engadget | Android Beat Cheers androidian!

System Monitor Is the Most Beautiful Way to Keep Track of Your Phone's Vital Signs

Eric — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:45:55 +0000

If you are the type that loves to keep an eye on how much work your phone is doing during the day, you are going to have to check out System Monitor. The name doesn't say a lot, but this Holo-inspired app is an incredibly versatile tool for keeping track of your CPU, RAM, I/O, network signals and applications all at the same time. Swiping between each graph is silky smooth, plus they update in real time. All of these features are included in the free version of the app, but paying $1.99 gets you even more enhanced goodies. The paid version unlocks awesome features like notifications, which can be expanded if you are running Jelly Bean. You can even add a floating graph so you can keep track of your phone's CPU or RAM usage while using another app. When you're looking at your CPU usage, you can split it up and see how much each individual processor of your phone is working. If you're a user of Dashclock, the paid version can export notifications right to your lockscreen as well. Overall, this app is extremely polished and robust for a very low price. We highly suggest you give it a look. Play Link: Free | Paid ($1.99) Cheers Kover!

Pie Controls Now 'Baked' Into CyanogenMod Nightlies

Tim — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:11:38 +0000

The CyanogenMod team took to their Google+ page earlier, announcing that Pie Controls, a feature made popular in the Paranoid Android ROMs, would now be baked right into the CM10.1 nightlies. Pie Controls are quick controls that are triggered by swiping on the display. While not in use, they are hidden, but with the quick swipe of a finger, you have access to settings, home buttons, or however you want to configure them for your device. If you feel like grabbing the newest CM nightly once it goes live, follow this link. Via: +CyanogenMod Cheers Pratik and Mack!

My Purchases App Brings Missing Functionality of Google Play to Your Device

Tim — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:38:00 +0000

I can not remember exactly when, but it feels like forever ago when Google removed the ability to quickly access which apps you have purchased through their store. Instead, they all just get bundled with every other app you have ever downloaded, which is just completely awful and a hassle. Well, say "what's up?" to My Purchases. This free app (paid version available) gives you a pure list of everything you have purchased on Google Play, but not just apps. It shows movies, songs, and all of your other purchases since the beginning of time. It supports multiple accounts, so if you spread your downloads across different emails, that is not a problem either. If you miss this functionality in Google Play, check it out. For those curious, the paid version removes in-app advertisements. Play Link: Free | Pro ($1.29) Cheers Kover!

T-Mobile's UN-Carrier Approach Sounds Awesome, But Killing Contracts Shouldn't be Their Message or Focus [Opinion]

Kellen — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:53:03 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7_Oiunf1go[/youtube]

T-Mobile is trying to shake up the entire wireless industry this month by taking the "Un-carrier" approach to wireless service. Gone are the two-year contracts and 23-month phone upgrade cycles - in are the month-to-month plans with the option to upgrade to the newest phones whenever you please at the lowest prices. They are also shunning tiered data plans (sort of), spouting off colorful commentary to their competitors, and claiming to have cancelled their membership to the "out-of-touch wireless club," a direct reference to the "Big 4" U.S. carriers grouping that includes Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. It's a lot of marketing speak and posturing, but is it even the right approach? In T-Mobile's new plans, customers can sign up for unlimited talk and text for $50, with 500MB of data. If they want more data, they can add on 2GB for $10 or go fully unlimited for an additional $20. Second lines are $30, with data remaining at the $10 and $20 price points. After the first two lines, additional lines are $10 per month without data. Of course, those monthly rates do not include the monthly payment plans you make on the phone you just purchased through them. See, T-Mobile will get you into the brand new iPhone 5 for $99, but they'll then charge you a monthly fee until you have fully paid off the full $579 price of the phone (or whatever retail is these days). It's their way of killing subsidies - whether or not you like the approach can be debated for hours, so we'll leave it as it is. They also launched their LTE network in seven cities and hope to cover up to 200 million people by the end of this year. Sure, they are late to the party, but they are hoping to ramp up rollout so that they can keep up with Verizon and AT&T. But here's the thing - if I were to ask you today, why you aren't a T-Mobile customer, I bet I can guess the answer in a matter of seconds. It's the coverage, isn't it? Too many times in the comments of this site have we seen, "I'd switch to T-Mobile in a heartbeat, but I get zero coverage at my house/work/regularly visited bar." We've even bragged up prepaid plans and adopting the unlocked model, yet so many of you still bring up the fact that Verizon gives you the best coverage and that's exactly why you've stuck with them for so long. There is no denying that you'd love to go with the cheapest carrier that provides the most freedom, but in reality, you can't do it at this time. Here are the coverage maps of the northwest that I pulled minutes ago from Verizon (left) and T-Mobile's (right) websites to add some perspective:

So here is where I don't think T-Mobile is taking the correct approach at their latest attempt at a comeback. In my opinion, I don't necessarily think it's all about two-year contracts, subsidies and cheap no-frills plans. People want to know that they are going to have coverage 99% of the time. Mobile phones are replacing home phones by the second, so things like reliability are more important than ever. When consumers take that weekend road trip or fly back home to their small home town, will they have service? If they hit up an outskirts suburb in a major city, what's their data coverage going to be like? We've even talked about Verizon's insanely priced Share Everything plans, yet as expensive as they remain, with prepaid options sitting out there at arm's reach that are half the cost, customers still won't switch because they know exactly what they are getting and have been getting for years. T-Mobile is still known as having sh*tty service, so is becoming the Un-carrier going to change that? And whether that's still true or not depends on the person, but that's sort of the point here. While my time with T-Mobile's service has been limited to my life with the Nexus 4, I can tell you this. I live in Portland, a decent sized city and have asked my wife to look something up for me more times in the last four months than I did the previous three or four years of my smartphone-filled life combined because I constantly run into a lack of signal or coverage. It was spotty in New York during Samsung's Galaxy S4 event, it's at times non-existent at Blazers games in downtown Portland, I lose service when I drive 5 minutes south to Lake Oswego (suburb of Portland), and typically find myself carrying a second phone (Verizon or AT&T) with me when I know I'll be heading out for more than a few hours at a time. Again, I like no-contracts, unlocked phones, and a "f*ck the man" approach to life. Props to T-Mobile for that. I even despise the recent approaches by Verizon and AT&T to essentially scam consumers into overpriced shared data plans while selling them on unlimited text and calling features that they don't need anymore. But did any of T-Mobile's song and dance change their network status or image? I don't know that it did. Give us great wireless service that's reliable and we'll sign on the dotted line, whether that includes a contract or not.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GBMBfpJmpw[/youtube]

#ifihadglass Results Are In, Google to Begin Sending Invites For Glass Explorer Program

Tim — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:46:21 +0000

Today is the day that Google begins sending out invites to winners of the #ifihadglass challenge. A few weeks ago, Google took to social networking sites, looking for ideas on how average people would use Google Glass if they had them. If your idea was good enough, you could receive an invitation to be an early user of the hardware, given you paid for them and could afford a trip to either San Francisco or New York to pick them up. Google has released a statement on their Google+ page, informing folks to check their inboxes and Twitters to see if they won.

There were so many creative, diverse, and (sometimes) crazy applications. We’ve certainly learned a lot through this whole process and it’s inspiring to hear how much passion there is for Glass. Now for the really exciting bit... we know you’ve all been waiting patiently, which is why we’re pleased to announce that the results are in. Over the next few days we’ll be sending out invitations to our Explorer Program through Google+ and Twitter. So, keep a lookout for tweets and G+ posts from @projectglass and+Project Glass to see if you’ve been invited.

If you receive an invite, let us know and we will throw an e-party for you! Via: +Project Glass

Download: Samsung Galaxy S4 Ringtones and Wallpapers

Tim — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:21:17 +0000

The Galaxy S4 from Samsung is currently being torn down, stripped of all of its goodies. Earlier we posted up the newest version of S-Voice and now, we have its wallpapers and ringtones. If you are looking to make that Galaxy S3 or any other phone look more like an S4, this is a good way to start. Down below you can download the full zip files filled with the S4's wallpapers and ringtones. We have pulled only four of the wallpapers to show as examples, but there are seven in total inside the zip. Ringtones: GalaxyS4-Ringtones.zip | Wallpapers: GalaxyS4-Wallpapers.zip Individual Links: Airplane | Green Leaves | Blue Sky | Tree Branch [nggallery id=69] Via: SamMobile [2]

Samsung Galaxy S4 to Launch with 4G LTE on T-Mobile May 1

Tim — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:38:56 +0000

During T-Mobile's special press conference this morning, they are dropping bomb after bomb. Not only has their 4G LTE gone live, but they have announced that the iPhone 5 is finally making its way to their network. Oh, wait, we don't care about that. Luckily for us Android lovers, they mentioned they would be offering the Galaxy S4 from Samsung too, starting May 1. There was no word of pricing, but it will feature their 4G LTE, which is a good sign for them. T-Mobile is currently the only U.S. carrier to announce an actual date for Samsung's newest flagship, so we are hoping other carriers will start following suit and announce dates. Galaxy S4 with 4G LTE on T-Mobile, May 1. Who is picking one up? Via: The Verge

Download: New S Voice From the Galaxy S4

Kellen — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:18:59 +0000

Ready for a Samsung Galaxy S4 system dump and a chance to play with all of the goodies it contains? The folks over at SamMobile received one and have already begun pulling out apps for you to install. First up is the newest version of S Voice, the Siri-like voice actions application that was first introduced with the Galaxy S3. It's still powered by Nuance's Vlingo, so it's certainly no Google Voice Search. But hey, if you like talking to your phone and found older versions of S Voice to be of use, feel free to give this new one a shot. You'll be able to voice dial, create memos, schedule appointments and tasks, set alarms or timers, ask "what the weather is like," and find local listings to the best restaurants. From what I can tell, nothing has really changed, other than the S Voice icon. Pro S Voice users, feel free to tell me what I'm missing. Download Link Once it finishes downloading, install as you would any sideloaded app. If you are installing on a Galaxy S3, it should install over the top of your current S Voice app. Should you decide that it's not worth the update, you can uninstall and return to the stock version by uninstalling the update in the Application manager. *The .apk file works on both my Galaxy S3 and Nexus 4. Via: SamMobile Cheers Jul!

T-Mobile 4G LTE is Now Live in Seven Markets

Tim — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:05:52 +0000

Today, T-Mobile flipped the switch on their 4G LTE. Launching with an initial seven markets spread across the U.S., T-Mobile plans to cover roughly 100 million users by mid-2013 and then around 200 million by the end of the year. Listed below are the cities that currently support the new LTE. 4G LTE Markets:

Baltimore
Houston
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Phoenix
San Jose
Washington DC

They may be only a couple years behind Verizon and other competitors, but they are starting up full throttle. Along with the 4G LTE, T-Mobile also launched their new rate plans. Over the next couple of months, you can expect a lot more cities to get turned on. Doing big things.

I Hope This is What Google Babble Actually Looks Like

Kellen — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:15:31 +0000

Over the last week, we have seen our fair share of purported leaks for Google Babble, the supposed all-in-one unified messaging service from Google. Most appear to be silly mock-ups or guesses that take into account certain Android design guidelines here or there, but few are believable. And then there is the mock-up pictured above, posted by a media designer at Dutch site Skloink. While we wouldn't suggest that you buy into this as being the real deal (we're not), it's the closest we have seen to what we would envision a unified Google messenger service looking like. First, it looks a heck of a lot like Google+, which makes complete sense. Google is trying everything in their power to get users to make Google+ a part of their lives, so taking design language from that app and then pushing it into a unified messaging is probably the right call. We're also seeing Google Now-styled cards that separate conversations (like we have seen in Google Play 4.0), along with a "Shared Photos" section that we would assume means photos recently shared between you and that person. There is a top left menu button that shows an unread conversations count, a drop down which reads "Chats," Hangout button in the text area, and images that appear to be pulled directly from G+ profiles. It's very polished. We're still confused at the supposed name of "Babble," but if the finished product looks anything like this, we'd forgive Google. Via: Skloink Cheers Derek!

Lucky Cat Android Collectibles Now on Sale!

Kellen — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:42:37 +0000

Stop what you are doing, the Lucky Cat Android collectibles are now available from Dead Zebra. Each cat was designed specifically to "bring wealth, prosperity and protection into your home or business." They also contain swinging arms, just like you would see on traditional lucky cats. There are 12 different lucky cats and 9 different colors. You can buy them individually for $10 a pop or the entire set of 12 for $117 (plus shipping). Orders ship March 29. Via: DeadZebra Cheers Scott!

Download: DashClock Beta With DayDream Support

Kellen — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:02:55 +0000

Yesterday, Roman Nurik teased DayDream support that will be included in the next major update of his now-famous Android lock screen app called DashClock. With no time table set for a release, we thought we should point out that you can download the current beta from the app's code site today and experience all the DashClock-DayDream action you could ever imagine. In this beta, don't forget that you'll first need to go into your phone's Settings>Display>DayDream in order to set DashClock as the DayDream option. From there, you can tap the settings menu button, which then pops up DayDream-DashClock settings in the app. The only option that you can currently tweak, is the color of the text that moves in while DayDreaming. Don't forget to check out our rolling list of the best DashClock extensions. Have fun! Via: DashClock Code Cheers Bill!

Groupon Hosting Sale on ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity, Starting at Only $350

Tim — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:47:53 +0000

Been looking for a pretty sweet deal on a new tablet? How about a tablet packed with a quad-core Tegra 3 processor and a 1920×1200 HD display? Well, Groupon has just the thing for you. For a limited time, you can pick up refurbished ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity tablets (review here) starting at $350. You can choose between either the 32GB or 64GB storage options, plus can choose if you want the matching dock as well, for an additional $80. Considering this device was $500+ at launch, plus more for the dock, this deal is pretty tempting. For anyone that wanted a larger display than what the Nexus 7 offers, plus wants a super crisp display, the Infinity has always been a tablet I recommended. Follow the via link if you feel like dropping the dough. Note: Post was update to include actual pricing of tablet with dock. Via: Groupon

Video: Dashclock Creator Teases Upcoming Android 4.2 Daydream Support

Eric — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:37:14 +0000

One of the most underused features of Android 4.2 since it launched would be Daydream. A mode that allows your phone to sit idle and show you news and information sounds interesting, but only for people who have 4.2 and a dock for their device or use it while charging. Roman Nurik, creator of the popular lockscreen application Dashclock posted a teaser video today showing off an upcoming update that makes Dashclock available during Daydream mode.

When active, the clock floats around the screen along with the Dashclock extension, but "as you touch the screen, the clock and your extensions zoom up to let you dive into the details." Further on in his post he said that the update should be in version 1.5, and we are already on 1.4.3, so we should expect this to come "in a few weeks" while he is preparing for Google I/O.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gxX0fHHQsY[/youtube]

Via: +Roman Nurik

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 11

Tim — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:42:40 +0000

As March is wrapping up, and we roll into Q2 of 2013, it's time to submit your questions for Volume 11 of the DL Q&A Sessions. For some time now, we have been fielding a lot of your questions, whether they be personal, funny, or Android related. If there is something you need/want to know from the DL staff, now is the time to ask! On Friday, we will go through them all and select a good amount to feature in a post on Friday. Drop down below in the comments section below and submit those questions. To see all of our previous Q&A’s, check them out here.

Chromebook Pixel With LTE Ships by April 8!

Kellen — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:46:05 +0000

The Chromebook Pixel with LTE, which we just reviewed this morning, will finally ship on April 8. The device runs $1449 for those with an extra pile or two of cash lying around. In our review, we had mostly positive things to say about the hardware, but the lacking Chrome OS software makes this price seem insanely high. You can pack all of the high-end displays, keyboards, and etched-glass touchpads you want into a device, but if it's just a glorified browser, it'll be tough to justify it at any premium price level. Play Link Via: Engadget

JRummy's ROM Toolbox Updated, Re-written and Cloud Backups Added

Tim — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:32:48 +0000

Today, JRummy pushed out a major update to his über popular ROM Toolbox app, with a whole re-write and new features inside. He has added cloud backup storage through Google Drive, Box, and Dropbox, allows for backups of contacts and messages, and an entire re-write of the task manager. It is essentially the go-to application for any rooted user. Changelog:

Re-wrote the entire App Manager!
Added cloud backup support (Dropbox, Box, Drive)
Backup contacts, call-logs, messages (new permissions required)
Improved scheduled backups and batch options
Extended app info and more app actions
Re-wrote the Task Manager!
Kill apps at boot & customize minfree
Removed ad blocker (required for Google Play)
Tons of other stuff

If you like what you hear, go check it out in Google Play. Play Link: Free | Pro ($4.99) [youtube]http://youtu.be/dLxRRscFLjs[/youtube]

Proposed Bill in West Virginia to Make Driving With Google Glass Illegal?

Tim — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:38:42 +0000

Evil lawmakers in West Virginia recently proposed a bill that would preemptively ban driving while wearing Google Glass or any other wearable computing tech with a head-mounted display. It's not a shocker that the government would want to make sure that people are remaining safe and less distracted while driving, since we know humans are not the best creatures at multi-tasking. While some see this is uncool and almost too soon, since we know these lawmakers have not actually used Glass, it's just one of those things you expect. If Google could prove or even wants to prove that driving with Google Glass is safe, then who knows. What say you? Do we storm Capitol Hill yet? Via: AllThingsD

This Purported Motorola X Phone Render is Hilarious

Kellen — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:19:18 +0000

Now that Samsung and HTC have announced their flagship phones for 2013, the boredom of the internet is shining through and focusing on whatever Motorola has in the pipeline. Each day, we're getting a new reportedly rumored spec list for the X Phone from a new anonymous "tipster" that may or may not be real but seems to get reported anyway. That's right, when times are this slow, the tech media appears to accept any and all fan speculation that comes through its inbox as having a slight chance at being legit, thus a need to report it with thirty question marks. I know that sounds harsh, as we like to hypebeast as much as anyone, but this is getting out of hand. Take today's "render" of the X Phone that just came across the wire. The rumored specs that have accompanied the image above peg the device as having a Snapdragon 800 processor, 4.7" 720p display, onboard storage only, and a whopping 4000mAh battery (because 3300mAh wasn't enough). The device will run Android 4.2 with as few customizations as possible. Stop for a minute though, and take a look at that image above. You are telling me that Motorola created this render today, then put today's date on it, and has already managed to leak it out? And why is it that if Motorola is doing their best to go with stock Android, that they are reverting back to the old Motorola navigation keys that they already went away from in Jelly Bean for devices like the Razr M and Razr HD. Two steps forward and another back? But on that same point, why are they using 100% stock Phone, People, Chrome, and Camera icons, but not navigation buttons. Ugh. Update: As caleb pointed out in the comments, it also lacks an ear pierce, you know, for making calls since it is a phone after all. As per kunal, the 3-circle clock widget time is two minutes slower than the time in the notification bar. Mmhmm. There are other new rumors floating about today as well, but they are all pretty much ridiculous and make little sense. Hypebeast, we know about ya. Via: GSMArena

Google+ Android App Getting Update Today to Version 3.6, Brings Some Improvements

Tim — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:23:57 +0000

Google is pushing out an update to their Google+ application for both Android and iOS today. While the iOS update is seeing some nifty Snapseed integration, the Android version is getting more of a look refresh. It's still your normal G+ app, but they have done some tweaks to make the experience a bit more friendly. For example, when looking at your feed pictures are displayed better, there is more text shown from each post, and the +1 button has been moved to be more front and center. We have added a few key points of the update down below.

Posts include more text up front—from the original message, and from comments
Tapping video, photo or link attachments takes you directly to a watch page, lightbox or website
Image previews are rarely cropped, so you’ll see portrait photos (for instance) in all their glory
Key actions like +1, reshare and comment are displayed more prominently in each post
When someone with permission visits your profile, for example, they’ll see your current whereabouts underneath your name

Update: The update is live! Play Link Via: Google

T-Mobile's New Rate Plans Went Live Over the Weekend

Tim — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:43:04 +0000

Over the weekend, T-Mobile's new rate plans went live. These plans are available at third party nationwide retailers, as well as authorized dealers. As far as pricing, many things have changed, but have become more unified in a way. We will try to give a basic overview of what we are now dealing with below. All of T-Mo's new value plans feature unlimited talk, text, and 500MB of data, starting at $50. For an additional $20, you can have unlimited data added to the line or you can choose to pay $10 per 2GB of data over the initial 500MB. For family value plans, the unlimited talk, text, and 500MB starts at $80, with unlimited data between users starting at $120 a month. To finish it off, prepaid plans start off the same as the indivulal plans, with unlimited talk and text, with 500MB of data kicking off at $50. To help spread the word, T-Mo has set up a press event for tomorrow, which should help inform present customers and potential customers what is going on. Via: T-Mobile | TmoNews