Author: Harrison Kaminsky

Regina Dugan of Motorola/Google showed off some pretty neat things today at the D11 conference in California. Apparently the company is working on an electronic tattoo that can be used for authentication purposes. It is being made by a company called MC10, which Motorola is partnering with. Another similar product she talked about was vitamin authentication. Dugan showed off a pill that can be swallowed, battery-powered by stomach acid, and can produce an 18-bit internal signal essentially making the swallower’s body a living, breathing password. And here’s the kicker— the electronic tattoo was actually in use on her own body.

Dugan explained that this isn’t anything that’s going to be shipping anytime soon, and that none of their future products will require this type of technology in order for it to work. Good to know Google won’t be force-feeding us pills and tattooing us all in order to achieve ultimate “Big Brother” status… or will it?

Totally innovative and awesome— if it can be built, why not build it?

Source: All Things D

Come comment on this article: Google’s Regina Dugan shows off electronic tattoos and edible passwords at D11 conference

Starting June 26, the HTC One “Nexus Edition” will be up for sale on the U.S. Google Play Store for $599. This price is lower than the Samsung Galaxy S 4 “Nexus Edition,” which will be on sale for $649. Interesting, especially when considering how many people prefer the HTC One’s hardware to that of the Galaxy S 4. One main reason that consumers purchase the Galaxy S 4 is for the unique user experiences provided by the software, which will obviously be entirely absent in the “Nexus Edition.” Good move by HTC here regarding pricing.

The phone will ship with Android 4.2.2, is expected to upgrade to Android 4.3 when it is available, and will be supported on GSM networks.  More info to come.

Source: HTC Blog

Come comment on this article: Google makes HTC One “Nexus Edition” official, will launch in the U.S. Play Store on June 26 with stock Android 4.2.2

The Samsung Galaxy S 4 mini has appeared again and again, (and again) and now it appears as though Samsung has officially announced to the public that the device actually exists, and is coming soon. The device is essentially a smaller, more compact version of the manufacturer’s current flagship, with slightly trimmed down specs.

Check out the presser after the break.

Samsung Introduces the GALAXY S4 mini : A Powerful, Compact Smartphone

May 30, 2013

Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy S 4 mini made official, preparing for June launch

Verizon’s next network update is expected to more than double internet speeds, upgrading the service to Verizon’s Advance Wireless Service spectrum.

Although the service is not yet active, the Samsung Galaxy S 4 has components that will be in use when using AWS airwaves— the phone will require a software update to activate the connection to the AWS frequency. The service is scheduled to launch in major cities, including New York City, starting in the next few months.

Verizon’s AWS airwaves will increase the capacity of its LTE network— Verizon execs say that the expansion is necessary to keep pace with increased network traffic. LTE traffic volume is expected to be 6 to 7 times greater in three years than it is today.

Source: Bloomberg 

Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy S 4 will be first phone to work on Verizon’s AWS airwaves

Earlier today we told you about how ASUS was teasing us in preparation for Computex 2013, and now it seems as though it’s Acer’s turn. The video teases two new tablets, both under green cloth, which can “do more than just use apps and surf the web.” You can speculate all you want on what you think these new devices may be, but we’ll just have to wait until next week for official confirmation. Check out the video after the break.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Come comment on this article: Acer teases us with Computex 2013 video, event set for next week

Spotify has finally answered the pleas of its users to add landscape support to its hugely popular Android application. Starting today, the company will begin a staged rollout of the update, so you’ll have to keep checking to see if you got the update. This is a great addition to the app as they now face increased competition from Play Music All Access. Check out the link to the Play Store after the break.

Play Store Download Link

Come comment on this article: New Spotify update rolling out, finally brings landscape support

Ever wanted a skee-ball machine for your home? Well in Google’s newest Chrome Experiment, you actually can— virtually, of course.

“Roll It” links your phone or tablet straight to your computer’s Chrome browser, allowing you to shoot a ball right through your computer in a virtual game of skee-ball. The game is reminiscent of  ”Wii Sports,” but this is entirely different technology. Setup is extremely simple— it only took me a couple of minutes to figure it out. First you have to visit the game’s start page on your computer’s Chrome browser. After some pretty sweet intro-animations, you’ll be told to grab your smartphone and follow the rest of the instructions. In a few minutes you’ll be on your way and enjoying the game.

Game-play isn’t perfect but games like this are still first pioneering the new technology (including Racer). From here on out it will only get better and more advanced. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come…

How are you guys liking “Roll It” so far? Check out the video after the break.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source: Chrome Experiments

Come comment on this article: Google makes use of Chrome’s cross-platform syncing in new game “Roll It” for Chrome/Android

Samsung is continuing its assault on the market, seemingly throwing devices at consumers only to have money thrown back at them. Recent reports indicate that the company is about to launch two devices in June, which are both expected to have a decent amount of success…

The first device is the Samsung Galaxy Ace 3, which will come equipped with:

• 4” 800x480px TFT display
• 1 GHz dual-core CPU
• 1GB of RAM
• Android Jelly Bean OS
• 4GB of built-in memory, microSD card support
• 5 megapixel rear, 0.3mpx front camera
• 1500 mAh battery
• Size: 121.2×62.7×9.8mm

The second device is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, which will have the following specs:

• 10.1” 1280x800px display
• 1.6 GHz dual-core CPU
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS
• 1GB of RAM
• 16/32GB of built-in memory, microSD support
• 3 megapixel rear, 1.3 megapixel front cameras
• 6800 mAh battery
• Size: 243.1 ? 176.1 ? 7.95mm
• Weight: 510gr

There isn’t any information on pricing quite yet, but check back for more information as June approaches.

Source: Hi-Tech Mail 

Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 and Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 preparing for June launch

Earlier this month ASUS released a teaser video in preparation for Computex 2013 making use of the tagline “We Transform.” The company is at it again, this time releasing just a picture, seen above. There is a bit too much room for speculation here as this could be pretty much anything, ranging from a tablet, phone, both, or something entirely different. Only time will tell. Check back for updates as Computex 2013 approaches. Be sure to drop your predictions below in the comments.

Source: +ASUS

Come comment on this article: ASUS teases us once again in preparation for Computex 2013

Samsung recently released a video to go over the features of the brand new HomeSync 1TB media streamer. It’s pretty much a lock to be a hit on the market, as the device houses a terabyte of HDD storage, and can hook up to your TV for internet connectivity.

The HomeSync also allows you to wirelessly stream content from your Galaxy devices. The included Jelly Bean media player brings the familiar Android experience to the TV, and gives users access to the Play Store and all their apps. Check out the video after the break.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Come comment on this article: Samsung releases informational video about HomeSync 1TB media streamer

Samsung recently announced its “Premiere 2013″ event which is set to be held on June 20 at 7pm GMT— that’s 2pm EST and 11am PST. The entire presentation will be live-streamed over Samsung’s official YouTube channel.

We’re expecting the company to focus on its Galaxy brand, especially on the S 4 series, including the Activ, Mini and Zoom. Samsung will also likely talk about their Windows ATIV line. There’s always the possibility of a Galaxy Note 3 announcement as well, but that’s far less likely.

Come comment on this article: Samsung “Premiere 2013″ event announced for June 20, Galaxy S 4 Activ, Mini, and Zoom expected to launch

@Evleaks tweeted today that the HTC One phablet is moving around internally under the name T6. The screen size is rumored to be about 6-inches, and should have some pretty nice specs otherwise. According to the graphic above, it should have a few versions for different carrier networks:

T6_UL: cassiopeia Communication system: GSM / WCDMA / LTE

T6_U: columba Communication system: GSM / WCDMA

T6_ULA: delphinus Communication system: GSM / WCDMA / LTE

T6_WL: crater Communication method: GSM/WCDMA/CDMA2000/LTE

T6_WHL: eridanus Communication method: GSM/WCDMA/CDMA2000/LTE

More details to come.

Sources: HTC Soku and @evleaks 

Come comment on this article: HTC One with larger screen pending announcement, multiple carrier versions exist

Sony has taken NFC technology to a whole new level in their new commercial— now you don’t even have to say a word (or send a text) to ask a girl out! What is the world coming to?

All kidding aside, the tech company has put together a pretty cute ad displaying two teens with a crush on one another. They share love songs to each other’s Sony headphones through their Sony smartphones, to share their mutual feelings for one another. It’s a bit far-out, but it does show a pretty cool use of the technology in a unique way.

Check out the video after the break.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thanks Craig

Come comment on this article: Sony releases cute “love-commercial” making use of NFC technology in Xperia phones

Good news for those of you that are tired of your generic boot animations on your Android devices— a forum member on XDA Developers, Vincent8111, has compiled about 400 custom boot animations into a single program for your convenience.

The BootAnimation Changer runs on Windows and stores an extensive collection of boot animations, sorted by name or file size, and varies from the opening sequence of the Simpsons, to anime, to colorful abstract patterns, to an obvious favorite, the Android mascot. One pretty cool feature is that the program has the ability to change the resolution of the animation to fit different screens. The proportions of the animation are kept while in the act of re-sizing. This makes everything pretty simple and straightforward for the user.

A bit of a warning though— the program comes in at a hefty 1.6GB— those with limited broadband may want to stay away from the 400 animations included in the software. (Not to mention it will take up a pretty big chunk of your internal storage as well.) The file is free and comes in both English and French. As always, if you don’t have a lot of experience with flashing files to your Android and using custom recovery, we wouldn’t recommend messing around with your boot animations. It might not be for everyone, but it’s nice to know that there are alternative options out there to the default boot animations.

Source: XDA Developers Forum

Come comment on this article: Boot animation changer now available with nearly 400 custom boot animations

Rumors, pictures and videos of the Samsung Galaxy S 4 mini have been swirling around the web for weeks now, and now there’s news that we can point to as an official confirmation. A picture of the device has appeared on the Samsung Apps website seen above.

The phone will feature a 1.6GHz dual-core CPU, a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Display with qHD resolution, 1GB (3G), 2GB (LTE) of RAM, 32GB of memory, Android 4.2, an 8MP camera, and a 2,100 mAh battery. The phone is expected for a summer release in two colors (black and white).

Source: TG Spot

Come comment on this article: Samsung finally confirms Galaxy S 4 mini on Samsung Apps site

After a bunch of web leaks and an appearance at this year’s Google I/O, the white Nexus 4 has shown up once again in all its glory. This time the pictures seem to be press images rather than leaked photos of the device. The white Nexus 4 has been rumored for a June 10th release with options for 8GB or 16GB of internal storage. Unfortunately this means that at least for now, there won’t be a 32GB+ option.

Since we don’t know if the release of Android 4.3 will be paired with the release of the white Nexus 4, we’ll assume that the device will ship with at least Android 4.2 and will obviously be immediately upgradable to the next release of Android. Check back for more information about the phone as it is released. More photos after the break.

Source: Android Police

Come comment on this article: White Nexus 4 pictures released again, possible June 10th release alongside Android 4.3?

Chinese manufacturer Lenovo wants to enter the U.S. smartphone market within the coming year, as the company’s CEO, Yang Yuanqing, says “smartphones are our new opportunity. As a public company, you always have to consider how to grow.”

Lenovo has enjoyed much success in China thus far, as the company is the second leading smartphone vendor there, trailing only Samsung. Last year, Lenovo focused on entering markets including Russia, Indonesia, and India. This year, their sights will be set on the United States and Europe.

If Lenovo wants to make any kind of dent in the smartphone market in the U.S., you should expect them to release some high-end devices in the coming year.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Come comment on this article: Lenovo eyes U.S. smartphone market for 2014 and beyond

Following Samsung’s announcement that it has sold 10 million units of the Galaxy S 4 in less than a month’s time, HTC has some news to share as well— they have sold 5 million units of the HTC One in almost the same time-frame.

This surprisingly high showing comes in a time where HTC is suffering from a shortage of components and manufacturing supplies, as well as a dramatic reshuffling of execs.

“Orders are pretty good so far and are still more than what we can supply. This is partly due to the shortage of components. When the issue is resolved next month, we will have a better idea if it’s doing really well or not,” an anonymous HTC executive said.

This is all pretty encouraging news for the company which had been recently slipping in the minds of consumers— they should be just fine if sales figures can keep this pace in the coming months. (And of course if they can resolve their issues with manufacturing and disgruntled employees.)

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Come comment on this article: HTC One sales strong at 5 million despite supply issues and reshuffling execs

One of the best phones on the market right now, the HTC One, has done a pretty decent job in terms of sales, but possibly not as well as it could have done. Many questions remain about why the device isn’t coming to Verizon, and why there aren’t any microSD card slots in the US and UK models. HTC’s Senior Global Online Communications Manager, Jeff Gordon, finally gave us an answer to our questions.

MicroSD Drama— Many consumers were confused at why Asia’s version of the HTC One included microSD slots and the US and UK models did not. Apparently, this decision came down to a factor of space. The Chinese version of the HTC One is designed specifically for the smaller Chinese radio bands, and therefore there was additional space in the device to add microSD slots. This was seemingly the case with the Japanese version as well. This space was not available in the global version, and therefore, the lack of microSD card slots.

Why No Love for Big Red? — Gordon didn’t really give a full answer here as to why the HTC One isn’t offered on America’s most popular carrier. He said that “it’s always a great thing to have our phones on as many operators as possible, but we’ve got nothing to announce in terms of Verizon.”

While this doesn’t mean the device will never come to Verizon, it certainly does put a dark cloud over rumors that the HTC One would be coming to Big Red. There are some rumors saying that perhaps Verizon wanted its own special version of the One but HTC wasn’t willing to comply. Only time will tell.

Source: TechRadar

Come comment on this article: HTC finally explains lack of microSD slots in US/UK versions of HTC One, no love for Big Red

AT&T has announced that they will be offering an “Aurora Red” version of the Samsung Galaxy S 4 starting on June 14. If you can’t wait until then to make your purchase, you’re in luck because pre-orders start tomorrow, May 24. The phone will cost $199.99 with a new two-year contract, the same price as the already available “White Frost” and “Black Mist” colors currently offered by the carrier. Anyone in love with this new color? Let us know below!

Source: AT&T Official Blog

Come comment on this article: AT&T to offer Samsung Galaxy S 4 in new “Aurora Red” color starting June 14, pre-orders start tomorrow