Tag: Android

Leaked : Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 : 7.0 inch and 8.0 inch

Samsung has been pounding us with so many devices that look so identical to each other that it has almost become impossible to keep up. The Korean portability giant is expected to launch two new Galaxy Tabs for its third year cycle called the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 and Galaxy Tab 3 8.0. While the design remains almost identical to recent launches by the company, the matte back with a golden brow finish may be a big welcome.

The leak on the 8.0 inch Galaxy Tab 3 shows a Samsung Galaxy S4 sort of UI, so expect HD display, and Android 4.2 where as the 7.0 could possibly be running 4.1 Jelly bean. No details on any of the hardware just as yet, but stay tuned for updates.

[@evleaks (1), (2)]

June 10, 2013
After Samsung And HTC, Sony Set To Launch A Google Edition Xperia Z

The Sony Xperia Z is already a good smartphone, but the Android device’s interface may get even better thanks to a report that says a Google Nexus edition is on the way.

Sony and Google have teamed up to develop a Google Edition of the smartphone that Katrina Kaif loves to drop water on, according to anonymous Sony sources who spilled the goods to Android Geeks.

The “Google Edition” Sony Xperia Z should be sold in the U.S. through the Google Play Store later in the year, just like the two other Google Edition handsets. Being a “Nexus user experience” phone it’s very likely this new Xperia Z will benefit from speedier system updates.

Whether certain features will be compromised in the Google edition of the device is still unknown. Sony’s UI of the Xperia Z as it is close to the stock Vanilla experience. Perhaps the camera app that has certain additional features or Sony’s Bravia Engine that reduces noise in the display will be missing the Google edition. But these are certainly not something that most users would miss.

The Xperia Z comes with an impressive spec sheet. There’s a 5-inch 1080p display, a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, microSD expandability, a 13-megapixel Sony Exmor RS rear camera and IP57-rated water and dust-resistance credentials.

The Sony Xperia Z Google Nexus, if the report is accurate, will cost $599 in the Google Play Store after it is announced in July.

[Android Geeks]

June 9, 2013
Leaked: Galaxy S4 Zoom Replaces the Galaxy Camera in 2013

The Galaxy Camera failed to be a camera that Samsung wanted it to be, and people truly asked for a camera which had phone capabilities as well. By the looks of the leaked images, that might just happen this year, The Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom, as seen in the images, will replace last year’s mess-of-a camera and will add phone features along with a camera device on their June 20th event in London.

SamMobile and TechTastic have leaked out renders and leaked images respectively, and seem to glorify the claim with adding, that the features on the camera-phone combo will be a mix of all the S4 Zoom hardware from the Galaxy S4 fused with the camera from the Galaxy Camera. Honestly if that is the case with the S4 zoom, we might just have another premium android phone, but this time it will also have a bulky camera that takes horrible pictures.

But rumors suggest that Samsung will replace the 16.3 MP sensor from the Galaxy Camera with a 20.9-megapixel sensor on the Galaxy S4 Zoom, which has zero shutter lag for a faster picture taking experience and better image handing.

The leak could also be Samsung’s answer to Nokia’s teaser video of the Pureview equipped Lumia EOS. They have been known to do similar leaks in the past, and the S4 Zoom’s leak around the launch could also mean that the company has established a separate launch cycle for its Android camera.

[SamMobile, TechTastic]

June 8, 2013
BBM For Android And iOS Not Coming On June 27th

BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) is coming to Android and iOS this summer and according to a T-Mobile UK Tweet the released yesterday, the date is set for June 27th.

When Thorsten Heins announced the news that their popular messaging app would arrive on other platforms he also noted that BBM would be slimmed down. The app will be free and compatible on devices running iOS 6 and Android Ice Cream Sandwich (OS 4.0) or higher. BBM for iOS and Android will be limited to messaging and groups at launch, then updated “later on” with BBM Voice, screen share, and the BBM Channels.

T-Mobile UK then deleted their Tweet claiming BBM for Android and iOS coming June 27th. Rumours are that they jumped the gun on pressing publish and that the app is not available for download on that date.

The company has confirmed the rumored date is wrong,

“On May 14th, BlackBerry announced plans to make its ground-breaking mobile social network, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), available to iOS and Android users this summer, subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play. While there have been reports that BBM will be available to iOS and Android on June 27th, this is not accurate. We will communicate an update as soon as we have an availability date to share. (via MobileSyrup)”

T-Mobile UK later apologized for the error, noting on Twitter that “Sorry folks, we got over-excited about the #BBM app coming to Android / iOS. No specific availability date yet, stay tuned for details”

Are you guys excited about BBM coming to Android And iOS? Let us know below!

June 7, 2013
Android Jelly Bean Now On 33 Percent Of Android Devices According To June Figures

The latest Android distribution stats are in as of June 3rd, and things are looking up for Jelly Bean.

Jelly Bean, including Android 4.1 and 4.2, now makes up 33% of all users. Coupled with Ice Cream Sandwich at 25.6%, nearly 60% of users run Android 4.0 and above.

Changes from last month are minor, Android 4.2 finally got a bit boost, almost doubling from 2.3% to 4% in less than a month, on the strength of the Samsung Galaxy S4. Android 4.1 also jumped 2.9% from last month as more customers upgraded from older devices; 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 saw slight drops this month.

It also appears that manufacturers are making good on their word to upgrade ICS users to Jelly Bean, as much of the Android 4.1 gain came at the expense of 4.0 — the former gaining 2.9% and the latter losing 1.9%.

There are some unfortunate conclusions to be made here: while it’s gratifying to see Android 4.0+ rising to 60% of all users, Gingerbread’s demise is taking far larger than it should and it is hampering the rollout of apps that take advantage of newer platform features only possible on ICS and above.

It’s important to remember that Google recently tweaked its algorithm in regards to how it counts users for these figures. In its own words, the company explains:

Note: Beginning in April, 2013, these charts are now built using data collected from each device when the user visits the Google Play Store. Previously, the data was collected when the device simply checked-in to Google servers. We believe the new data more accurately reflects those users who are most engaged in the Android and Google Play ecosystem.

Also, according to a tweet from the well-connected and accurate @LlabTooFeR Twitter account, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean could be rolling out a few weeks after the HTC One Nexus hits the Google Play Store.

@LlabTooFeR is best known as a source of HTC-related rumors, and has proven to be very accurate in most cases.

Exciting times for all Android fans!

June 4, 2013
Gmail Version 4.5 For Android Now Rolling Out
Google has started rolling out its new version of Gmail for Android today.

Like the desktop version, Gmail for Android gets the organizational luxury of “categories”. Those tabs are meant to filter email messages into a type of sub-folder system, rather than clutter your inbox.

Also, now there is the option to refresh the feed by pulling down on the feed.

The left-side navigation bar is also present, making it much easier to navigate between Labels.

The update is rolling out slowly to the hundreds of millions of Android Gmail users, so head to Android Police for the APK download. No word on when the iOS version will be released. The tablet UI is the same, though the left menu remains on the screen.

Have you tried the new Gmail layout on your desktop or laptop? What do you think of the new design for Android? Let us know your thoughts.

If you’re the impatient kind, and cannot find the update on the Play Store, you might like to try one of the following download links to grab the updated APK today:
All mirrors courtesy of Android Police

[Android Police]
June 4, 2013
Vine Now Available For Android

Vine for Android is now available for devices running Android 4.0 and above.

While the wait has been arduous for thousands of Android users accustomed to simulteanous app releases, but Twitter has finally released Vine for Android to the world. The six-second video social network has been the talk of the media and journalism circuit since its iPhone release in January, and an Android version was promised shortly thereafter.

The initial Android app is bare-bones: you can view the masterpieces from your stream of followers, upload your own six-second Vines, explore popular posts and Editors’ Choice clips, and share content to Twitter and Facebook. Unlike the iPhone version, however, you can’t tag users in posts, nor can you use hashtags. You also can’t engage the front-facing camera, something that was added to a previous iPhone release. There are also no push notifications in the first version, which will be disappointing to some users.

Vine for Android includes a Zoom feature, something that does not exist on the iOS version.

Mainly, though, Vine for Android is slow. Whereas the iPhone version renders video while you’re filming, the Android equivalent takes a long time to render after the filming. It takes over 30 seconds to render a six-second video.

In a blogpost on 3 June, Twitter said Android users can expect, “frequent updates with new features […] as well as bug fixes and performance improvements” in the coming weeks. This will include front-facing camera support, push notifications, the ability to mention people and use hashtags, and the ability to search.

[Mobile Syrup]

June 3, 2013
ASUS MeMO Pad HD7 Announced With A $129 Price Tag, Along With The FHD 10

Asus is on a roll here. After announcing an entire lineup of new products, it has now unveiled the Asus MeMO Pad HD7 and the Asus MeMO Pad FHD 10.

While the Asus MeMO Pad HD7 retains much of the same design (and most of the same name) as that of its predecessor, it is tweaked a bit to make it both thinner and lighter than it’s predecessor — down to 10.8mm thick and 302g in weight. On the display side ASUS bumps things to “HD” with a 1280×800 IPS display, up from the original 1024×600 panel.

On the inside, the Asus MeMO Pad HD7 is running an ARM Cortex A7 quad-core CPU, but didn’t specify a clock speed or manufacturer. It did specify that the tablet will have both Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS, however, along with the addition of stereo speakers and a 5MP rear camera (keeping a 1.2MP shooter up front). Pinning this device at the low-end are some appealing prices too: 16GB for $149, 8GB for $129. The MeMO Pad HD7 will be released in a few different bright color options, with no specific sales dates given at this point.

The Asus MeMO Pad FHD 10, meanwhile, runs on the Intel Atom Z2560 processor, also known as Clovertrail+, with a dual-core 1.2GHz Saltwell CPU and PowerVR SGX 544 MP2 GPU. It also has a 10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 resolution display, 2GB RAM, 16/32GB internal storage, 5 megapixel rear camera with auto-focus, 1.2 megapixel front camera, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and a 10-hour battery life.

No word on Indian pricing and availability yet! Stay tuned for more!

June 3, 2013
HTC One with Stock Android Announced, Available June 26th $599

Google’s Sundar Pichai while at D11 has made it clear that there indeed will be an HTC One running stock android 4.2.2 which will be launched and made available on June 26th via the Google Play store. For the US market this phone will come unlocked to GSM networks and will cost US $ 599 (approximately Rs. 34,000) vs the Samsung Galaxy S4 which is priced at US $ 649.

For global connectivity the Stock Android HTC One will offer quadband LTE (700/850/AWS/1900), triband HSPA+ (850/1900/2100) and the usual quadband GSM / EDGE. The Hardware will still be integrated with Beats audio and will retain the “two button on either side of the HTC logo” layout. The app list black bar will also be there along with the button press schemes. For the main buttons short press of Home for Home, long press for Google Now and double tap for Recent Apps.

[VIA]

May 31, 2013
Google Calendar for Android updated with more color options and tweaks

If you use Google Calendar a lot on your Android phones, you will love the new changes that Google has made to the app. Starting with a new color tool, which lets you highlight specific appointments and change the color of your entire calendar.

So now all your meetings can be set in blue and all the Home chores in Red ! This feature will let you identify and group up your tasks making the calendar a lot more efficient to do tool. The newly designed date and time function lets you pick out time and dates in the analogue style and as Google says “well before the vacation”.

Time zones are now set automatically by entering the name of the city and the app is available for Android ICS 4.1 and above. Check it out in the link below.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]

One of the most requested features we’ve seen so far for Google Calendar on Android is the ability to customize event and calendar colors directly from your device. Today’s update allows you to do just that. Now you can highlight those super-urgent meetings and important birthdays, or just switch up the color of your calendar whenever your heart desires.

Adding events is now easier and more fun with our redesigned date and time pickers, which let you schedule your special dinner date or the start of your well-deserved vacation in a snap.

For all of you world travelers, our redesigned timezone picker makes it simpler to find the region that you’re looking for, whether you’re in San Francisco, Tokyo or Zurich.

Finally, it’s easier to schedule repeating events. You can now set events to repeat every Tuesday and Thursday, every month, or every 7 weeks, it’s completely up to you.

The latest version of Google Calendar is built for devices running Android 4.0.3 and above (Android 4.1 or higher for custom event colors). Get it on Google Play, rolling out over the course of the day, and let us know what you think.

[/toggle]

[Download]

[Source]

May 30, 2013
Leaked : Huawei Ascend P6, Launching June 18th

Huawei’s latest design and engineering extravaganza , the Huawei Ascend P6 has just leaked in official images. The images show off the phone’s beautiful 6.2mm thinness, the Ascend P6 supposedly has a metal frame and the new Emotion UI with Android 4.2 running in the behind. Huawei Device Chairman Richard Yu accidentally slipped up on twitter and let it be known that the device is actually from the upcoming P series which will be launched on June 18th at their London launch event.

Other specs for the Ascend P6 include a 4.7-inch HD display, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a main 5MP camera and a front shooter of unknown spec.

May 24, 2013
Flickr For Android Redesigned, 1TB Of Space For All Users

Flickr has finally updated its long-neglected Android app alongside a revamp of its web page. The announcement coincides with what Yahoo intends to be the “big reveal” of Flickr’s future: an ad-supported model with 1TB of storage for free users; paid users can pay $50/year to remove the ads, or $500/year to double the storage space.

It’s a gutsy move that is seen as necessary against, on the one hand, Google+ and its increasingly photo-centric nature, and on the other hand 500px, which is eating Flickr’s lunch in the amateur and professional photographer realm.

Flickr has been seen as largely neglected in recent years, left to wither while Instagram stole its mobile traffic and Facebook swooped the desktop.

The most notable development is the issuance of 1TB of free storage space to every Flickr user. The Flickr team notes in its official blog:

At Flickr, we believe you should share all your images in full resolution, so life’s moments can be relived in their original quality. No limited pixels, no cramped formats, no memories that fall flat. We’re giving your photos room to breathe, and you the space to upload a dizzying number of photos and videos, for free. Just how big is a terabyte? Well, you could take a photo every hour for forty years without filling one.

And to help you fill your newly super-sized storage space, Flickr now also lets you upload up to three minutes per video of 1080p HD quality.

But there are ads — lots of them — that take away from the experience for the average free user.

To the mobile side, though the iPhone app has been beautiful for some time, the company’s Android app was, to put it bluntly, terrible. This new version improves everything about it, from the interface, which now has a left-side navigation bar, to the photo viewing workflow. Taking photos is still a bit annoying: you have two options for editing, which can be combined or used individually. First is the typical Instagram-like preset filters, many of which are actually quite nice and varied; the issue is that, even on a high-end phone like the HTC One they take over a second to apply. The second editing method incorporates the popular Aviary SDK, which is, while powerful, a cop-out from having to build their own functionality into the app.

Granted, photos look beautiful, and you can finally see all the EXIF data and creator information, much like on the iPhone. But the iPhone version feels like it’s been given more love, despite the fact that there is limited Android tablet support.

According to Yahoo, since its redesign, the iPhone-optimized Flickr app has led to a 25 percent increase in iOS usage in terms of photos uploaded and photos viewed.

With all the attention on Yahoo’s acquisition of Tumblr for $1.1 billion, the Flickr redesign may not seem so important. But the photo-centric portal is still hugely popular, and Android users now have another tool with which to take advantage of their excellent cameras.

[MobileSyrup]

May 21, 2013
Pinterest Now lets you send pins directly to friends.

The Pinterest app got updated, along with a tiny overhaul of the mainframe, now allowing users to send pins directly to their friends. On the web however you can only email the pins as of now, the send pin option is currently only available to mobile app users.

Have you ever seen a pin you knew a certain friend or family member would love? Now you can send pins directly to your friends and fellow pinners from the web or your phone. You can even include a message to give it a more personal touch!

Just tap Send from either web or mobile to send a pin. You can send pins to fellow pinners (if you both follow each other), Facebook friends, or email contacts. We’ll show you the most recent people you’ve sent pins to for easy access.

[Pinterest]

May 17, 2013
BBM app will come to Android and iOS this Summer

In a shift of strategies Blackberry has announced that they will be launching the BBM app on Android and iOS for free this summer. Available to users running iOS 6 and Android 4.0 ICS or higher, the free BBM app will bring the magic of BBm messaging to every handset.

On the outset, however, only the messaging and group features will be accessible for outside users, but by the end of the year, the company plans to bring about the coveted BBM voice, BBM channels, screen sharing and video capabilities.

Rumors of Blackberry (Previously Research In Motion) following this path have been around for years, and with an official statement form the company chief it looks like it is done.

Blackberry has also announced Channels. BBM Channels is a new way for BBM users to connect with the businesses, brands, celebrities and groups they are passionate about.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]BBM for iOS and Android to Launch This Summer

WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – May 14, 2013) – BlackBerry(R) (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB) today announced plans to make its ground-breaking mobile social network, BlackBerry(R) Messenger (BBM(TM)), available to iOS(R) and Android(TM) users this summer, with support planned for iOS6, and Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher, all subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play. BBM sets the standard for mobile instant messaging with a fast, reliable, engaging experience that includes delivered and read statuses, and personalized profiles and avatars. Upon release, BBM customers would be able to broaden their connections to include friends, family and colleagues on other mobile platforms.

In the planned initial release, iOS and Android users would be able to experience the immediacy of BBM chats, including multi-person chats, as well as the ability to share photos and voice notes, and engage in BBM Groups, which allows BBM customers to create groups of up to 30 people.

“For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are inseparable from the mobile experience, and the time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service. BBM has always been one of the most engaging services for BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily connect while maintaining a valued level of personal privacy. We’re excited to offer iOS and Android users the possibility to join the BBM community,” said Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President, Software Product Management and Ecosystem, at BlackBerry.

BBM is loved by customers for its “D” and “R” statuses, which show up in chats to let people know with certainty that their message has been delivered and read. It provides customers with a high level of control and privacy over who they add to their contact list and how they engage with them, as invites are two-way opt-in. iOS and Android users would be able to add their contacts through PIN, email, SMS or QR code scan, regardless of platform. Android users would also be able to connect using a compatible NFC-capable device.

BBM has more than 60 million monthly active customers, with more than 51 million people using BBM an average of 90 minutes per day. BBM customers collectively send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day, nearly twice as many messages per user per day as compared to other mobile messaging apps. Almost half of BBM messages are read within 20 seconds of being received; indicating how truly engaged BBM customers are.

Today, BlackBerry also announced BBM Channels, a new social engagement platform within BBM that will allow customers to connect with the businesses, brands, celebrities and groups they are passionate about. BlackBerry plans to add support for BBM Channels as well as voice and video chatting for iOS and Android later this year, subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play.

If approved by Apple and Google, the BBM app will be available as a free download in the Apple(R) App Store(SM) and Google Play store. Additional details about system requirements and availability will be announced closer to the launch.[/toggle]

May 15, 2013
Twitter Updates Android And iOS App, Expands Trends Locations

Twitter for iPhone has been updated today with some minor feature improvements and better support for in-line Vine videos. The Android version has also been updated.

The company has been rolling out updates to its mobile apps in quick succession since the beginning of the year, after clamping down on what third-party developers can do with their own software. This latest version for iOS adds Trends data to over 160 different cities around the world, including many in India, and improves in-line Vine video playback.

Vine was acquired by Twitter and has since been systematically integrated into the Twitter experience, while continuing to be available in a standalone Vine app. After the acquisition, rival social network Facebook moved to limit the ability to cross-post Vine videos from Twitter to Facebook in apparent retaliation for Twitter’s attempt to do the same to Facebook acquisition Instagram.

Perhaps the most important addition to the app is one that will come in under the radar. When replying to a retweeted Tweet — for example, if you see a Tweet I retweeted of someone you don’t follow — it will include both the original person and retweeter within the response. Users can also invite others from within the app itself. That, and bug fixes and performance improvements, round out changes made in this new version.

As for the Android version, the company now uses an overflow menu (the three dotted lines) on compatible devices such as the HTC One to quickly switch between accounts and access the settings.

The folks at Twitter have also said that users will now be able to “enjoy a smoother experience” courtesy of some bug fixes and other improvements.

The new versions of the apps also added the ability to invite friends to join Twitter from within the app.

You can download the updated version of Twitter for Android and iOS now from their respective app stores.

May 2, 2013