If you missed the Google I/O keynote this morning or want to watch it all over again, you’re in luck— you can view it right here at your leisure. Poke around Talk Android for other updates and releases that were announced throughout the day and check back for some more cool Google I/O news for the rest of the conference.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Come comment on this article: Re-experience all three exciting hours of the Google I/O 2013 keynote right here

The Samsung Galaxy S 4 Mini has once again appeared online in photos, and some valuable news has also been leaked. The phone will apparently be almost as fast as the Galaxy S 4, as it will be powered by a 1.6GHz Exynos 5210 SoC, backed up by either 1GB or 2GB of RAM.

Rumors also reveal that the phone will feature a built-in IR blaster, meaning it will have remote control capabilities, allowing one to control a TV, set-top box, or a home theater system straight from the smartphone. The Galaxy S 4 Mini is also said to have a 4.3-inch super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 540 by 960 pixels.

The main camera will have 8MP of resolution, and a 2100mAh battery should keep the phone up and running throughout the course of the day. The phone is set for an official announcement on or around May 30th, which is when we should be hearing about the rumored Samsung Galaxy S 4 Activ and Samsung Galaxy S 4 Zoom as well.

Source: Phone Arena

Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy S 4 Mini leaks once again, release set for end of May

The long-anticipated Google Hangouts application was announced this afternoon at Google I/O 2013 and is now available in the Google Play Store for download.

The app allows for one-to-one chat, group chat, picture/video sharing, emojis, as well as video calling. It’s multi-platform integrated, meaning you can use it on your computer, your Android, or your iOS device— everything will remain perfectly synced. Conversation threads will remain on the Hangouts application until you delete them, so you can always look back and see a timeline of old photos and videos you shared with others through the app.

One pretty big disappointment is the lack of SMS support in the application. However, some have said otherwise. Google knows that apps like “Hangouts” are the future of smartphone communication, so they may just be paving the way for the abandonment of SMS-use. We’ll just have to wait and see how users react to this new technology! Check out a photo gallery and the link to the Google Play Store after the break!

Play Store Download Link

Come comment on this article: Google Hangouts officially announced at Google I/O, now live in the Google Play Store

Apple is currently preparing for its second patent infringement trial against Samsung scheduled for spring 2014, and plans to present 22 products that it believes infringe iOS user interface patents. Unsurprisingly, yesterday Apple announced that it has analyzed the Samsung Galaxy S 4 after its release and has since “concluded that it is an infringing device and accordingly intends to move for leave to add the Galaxy S 4 as an infringing product.”

In order to add the Galaxy S 4 to this list, Apple will be forced to eliminate another Samsung product from the list, as Judge Lucy Koh has ordered the company to limit the number of patent claims and infringing devices ahead of the trial.

There really isn’t any specific information pertaining to why exactly Apple believes the Galaxy S 4 infringes upon their own UI patents, but we’re sure some more information will be released as we come closer to the beginning of the trial.

Source: SB Nation

Come comment on this article: Apple preparing to wage war once again with Samsung, adds Samsung Galaxy S 4 to list of patent infringements

Android and iOS have been neck and neck battling for the title of “leading smartphone OS” for years now, but this month’s numbers don’t suggest a tight competition whatsoever. In the first quarter of 2013, Android-powered smartphones accounted for about 75% of all smartphones sold in this time-frame. Apple’s iOS came far behind, selling only 18.2% worth of the market share. Surprisingly the failing RIM (Blackberry) was able to outsell Microsoft’s Windows 8 Phones by 0.1%. It isn’t a big difference, but that’s definitely saying something about Microsoft’s success in the smartphone market.

Perhaps the most interesting of all this is that Android’s flagship for the year, the Samsung Galaxy S 4 hasn’t even been released yet. Android’s dominance over the market is expected to surpass that of 75% in Q2 2013.

Of course quarter-based numbers need to be taken with a grain of salt, because timing is indeed everything. Because a new iPhone hasn’t been released since last September and Androids are released with the newest technology seemingly every week, it is pretty much expected that Android rules the market. It’ll definitely be interesting to see these market share numbers following the release of the highly anticipated iPhone 5S or iPhone 6.

Source: Gartner

Come comment on this article: Smartphone sales in Q1 2013 great for Android, amasses whopping 75% of market share

Yesterday we showed you some leaked pictures of the Samsung Galaxy S 4 Mini, due for release at some point this month. We now have some more information on the device, as we now know that it will be run by the Exynos 5210 chip. This chip is a big.LITTLE architecture that combines the power-efficient Cortex A7 with the performance-driven Cortex A15.

The leaked spreadsheet shows this information, which has been confirmed by Samsung, as well as some other specs about the phone that we already knew about. The phone should come with a 4.3-inch qHD display, and RAM will most likely depend on the market— 4G markets will most likely get 2GB, while 3G markets will most likely get 1GB.

Some surprising information included on the spreadsheet is that it will launch with 32GB of internal storage— perhaps this is Samsung’s apology for the internal storage debacle with the Galaxy S 4. The spreadsheet also mentions that the Galaxy S 4 Mini will ship with Android 4.0 ICS on board, which is a bit confusing, considering the Galaxy S 4 is set to ship with 4.2. It could be a typo, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Source: Mobile Geeks

Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy S 4 Mini specs leak, will feature high-powered Exynos 5210 chip

It looks like the Verizon Motorola XOOM LTE is finally going to get a taste of Jelly Bean. Motorola began sending out invitations to members of the Motorola Feedback Network to install the update as part of a soak test. An OTA update for all Verizon XOOM LTE owners is expected to arrive in the coming week.

This is good news for Verizon XOOM LTE owners, as the update to Jelly Bean is filled with some nice improvements. If you’re part of the Motorola Feedback Network, check your email for an update invitation. If you’re not, then you’ll unfortunately have to wait patiently a few days until the update hits your device.

It looks like this will be one of the last painfully long-awaited updates from Motorola, as the rocky transition period to Google ownership is nearly over.

Thanks Steve

Come comment on this article: Verizon Motorola Xoom LTE receives Jelly Bean soak test

The name “Project J” was thrown around quite a bit with Samsung’s devices, and is now known to be the original codename of the Galaxy S 4. However, there were multiple variants of the Project J, such as the J Mini and J Activ. The J Activ seems to be a waterproof version of the S 4, known as the Galaxy S 4 Activ, which should be announced by the end of the month. The next logical assumption would be that the J Mini would be code for the Galaxy S 4 Mini, but the name “Serrano”  has been tied to the Mini as well. The Serrano is coming to AT&T with the model number of SGH-1257, so it’s safe to assume this will be the Galaxy S 4 Mini. The Galaxy S 4 Activ will probably also land on AT&T, but no word yet.

Either way, these Project J variants are not expected to surpass the original Galaxy S 4 in any way— they are simply mid-range alternatives, with some slightly different features. We’ll keep you guys posted on these phone announcements expected later this month.

Source: @evleaks

Come comment on this article: Samsung ‘Serrano’ coming to AT&T as SGH-1257, most likely Galaxy S 4 Mini

Gameloft replenished its massive fleet of games today by releasing Blitz Brigade to the Google Play Store, an online FPS.  The game is reminiscent of popular multiplayer games like Battlefield Heroes and Team Fortress, as users move about a map with other players, working together or against one another in a battle to the death.

Check out some more game details after the break, as well as the link to the Google Play Store and trailer video.

GIVE AN ONLINE BEATDOWN!

• Up to 12 players can battle online in multiplayer games
• 5 classes: Soldier, Gunner, Medic, Sniper, Stealth
• Control the battlefield in Domination mode
• Frag everyone from the opposing army in Deathmatch games
• Use 3 different vehicles for a tactical advantage in battle
• Fight with over 100 weapons, each made for a specific class
• Unique taunts and kill phrases for each character in the game
• Voice Chat to create your game plan in the heat of the action

HONE YOUR KILLER SKILLS IN TRAINING MISSIONS

• Complete 120 unique action-packed missions
• Learn to master each class’s specialized battle skills
• Pilot a Helicopter and rain death from above
• Hop into a Tank to steamroll the enemy army

It looks like this exciting, action-packed game is going to be a hit.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Play Store Download Link

Come comment on this article: Gameloft adds ‘Blitz Brigade’ FPS to Play Store, action-packed and fun-filled excitement

Although Oppo isn’t yet a household name, it is still known for its high-end phones with some of the best specs available on the market. There are rumors that the company is already working on a successor to the speedy and semi-affordable Oppo Find 5.

The next Oppo Find is allegedly scheduled to launch in the fall, and is rumored to feature a Snapdragon 800 SoC. Further specs include a 5-inch display with 1080p resolution, 2GB of RAM, a 13MP main camera, and— wait for it— an 8MP front-facing camera. That’s right folks, get ready to send some high-quality Snapchats and Skype calls.

Remember, all of this is strictly rumored information, so don’t get your hopes up just yet. We’ll be sure to keep you guys updated when any more information is leaked.

Source: My Drivers
Via: PhoneArena

Come comment on this article: Oppo working on successor to Oppo Find 5 with Snapdragon 800 and 8MP front-facing camera

Samsung released its new SideSync software that they say “connects the PC and mobile as one.” We couldn’t agree more, as this innovative application allows for a sort of dual-screen feature from your PC to your Galaxy phone. You can drag and drop files from your computer and place them right on your phone’s home screen, copy clipboard content from one device to the other, and even use a screen sharing mode which lets users view their Galaxy phone’s screen on their PC monitor to use it as a virtual phone. From this mode users can take full advantage of all of the functions of their phone, and can also resize the phone’s screen on the PC monitor.  All of this can be done while effortlessly navigating both devices using the PC mouse.

Check out Samsung’s walk-through video of SideSync after the break.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Come comment on this article: New Samsung video provides walk-through of SideSync features, allows for connection between PC and a Galaxy phone

Developer Android Does recently released Apex Launcher v2.0, bringing a whole bunch of new features to both the free and pro versions of the popular app.  There are some interface upgrades, new translations, and the option to set the duration of vibrations.  The pro version has a new feature that allows users to place folders in the app drawer, but the main feature is the integration with the new Apex Notifier app.

The Apex Notifier is actually a separate app and is an extension that works with both Apex Launcher and Dashclock Widget.  With Apex Notifier, notification counts appear above other applications, providing an aesthetically pleasing effect as well as a useful feature.  A list of applications that the extension works with can be found after the break, as well as the links to all three apps in the Play Store.

• Missed Calls
• Unread SMS
• Calendar Appointments
• Gmail
• HTC Mail
• Samsung Email
• K-9 Mail
• Battery Level
• Stock Email
• Google Talk
• Google Voice
• Starbucks

Play Store Dowload Link – Apex Launcher Free

Play Store Download Link – Apex Launcher Pro

Play Store Download Link – Apex Notifier

Come comment on this article: Apex Launcher v2.0 available, new features for both free and pro versions, integrates Apex Notifier

As Computex 2013 approaches, ASUS prepares to make a pretty big splash at the trade show.  The company recently released a teaser video showing their newest, sleekest innovations and how they impact daily life.  Using the tagline, “We Transform,” ASUS hopes to attract plenty of attention at Computex this year.  On ASUS’ site for the event there are spaces for other future videos and we’ll be sure to keep you updated when they add anything new.

Check out the video after the break.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source: ASUS

Come comment on this article: ASUS releases “We Transform” teaser video in preparation for Computex 2013, more to come

Rovio has been making some big moves this week, and they’re adding to them today with an update for their hit game, Bad Piggies. The update introduces 15 new levels, as well as 2 new items, including suction cup wheels and boxing glove boosts.

Here’s the full list of the new features:

• 15 new sun-drenched levels!
• Climb walls with the new suction cup gadget!
• Punch your way to victory with the new spring-loaded Boxing Glove!
• Go crazy in an all-new sandbox!

Check out the link to the app in the Play Store after the break. Enjoy!

Play Store Download Link

Come comment on this article: Rovio updates Bad Piggies with 15 new levels, 2 new items

Just last week we let you guys know that AT&T was expanding LTE coverage in 9 regions and adding 17 new regions.  It looks like AT&T is at it again, as they activated towers in the last few days, adding a total of 16 new markets. With the new market additions, they’re on pace with their plan to reach 250 million Americans with LTE coverage by the end of the year.  They’re currently at 200 million.  

Here are the regions that are getting AT&T’s LTE service this week:

(more…)

As the size of smartphones continues to increase, so does the demand for phablets. Vivo, a Chinese manufacturer, announced yesterday that it plans to release the Vivo Play, a phablet with a 5.7-inch screen and a 1080p display. It’ll also be fully loaded with a quad-core Snapdragon 600 chipset; but unlike many of Vivo’s competitors, the asking price for one of these phones is likely to be 2,998 yuan— that’s $490 USD.

It’s pretty expensive, but it just might be worth it considering what you’re getting for your money. The Vivo Play’s Snapdragon 600 chipset is the same one that’s in the HTC One, clocked at 1.7GHz with 2GB of RAM. It’ll also feature “Fun-touch” UI rather than leave the job to stock Android. This UI has been said to be similar to the flat-structure of iOS. The 13MP back-facing camera has an F/2.2 aperture lens, and the 5MP front-facing camera has an 88° FoV. At 7.99mm thick, the Vivo Play weights 187g and is packed with a 3,400mAh battery. According to rumors, the phone will also feature some sensing capabilities similar to the Galaxy S 4.

The phablet will go on sale later this month in two colors: black and white, along with two options for built-in memory: 16GB or 32GB. It’ll only be available in China, but you should be able to grab one on eBay if you’re willing to pay the price.

Source: VR-Zone 

Come comment on this article: Vivo announces high-end, pricey phablet coming in late May

The T-Mobile Galaxy S 4 will be receiving its first update today via OTA and over Samsung’s desktop application, Kies. The newly updated version, M919UVUAMDL, includes improvements to both visual-voicemail and the ISIS application, a Google Wallet competitor. There also may be some unannounced hidden bug-fixes as well.  If you received the update, let us know how it went!

Source: T-Mobile

Come comment on this article: T-Mobile ships out first update to Galaxy S 4 with minor improvements

There’s been a whole lot of speculation on whether the HTC One will ever come to Verizon lately. Back in March, we reported on a device coming to Verizon that had some leaked specs which were similar to the One. Since then, it seems more plausible that this phone is more likely a follow up to Verizon’s HTC Droid DNA, possibly the DNA+.

HTC’s Twitter account also caused some controversy when it deleted a tweet announcing that the One would not be released to Verizon. HTC’s director of public relations, Tom Harlin, mentioned on a Q&A session on Yahoo! this morning that when they announce their next phone coming to Verizon, they’ll be sure to make a big deal out of it. Here’s how Harlin responded to the question at hand:

“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”.

So there you have it everyone. There is no HTC One coming to Verizon.

via: Droid Life
Source: Yahoo! News

Come comment on this article: HTC One to Big Red unlikely, plans to make big deal out of next Verizon phone

In an effort to support its dying brand, AOL announced a content distribution partnership with Verizon which has some implications for Big Red smartphones and tablets running Android, Windows, or RIM operating systems. This summer, AOL will officially become the exclusive provider of the VZW Home mobile web portal, and all Verizon customers will have the AOL homepage bookmarked on their smartphone and tablet browsers. Users will be able to personalize news, weather, and other categories and tools on the AOL homepage. Anyone think this is a bit intrusive, or do you like the move by Verizon?

Check out the presser after the break.

AOL to Offer Exclusive Mobile Web Portal to Verizon’s Smartphone Customers

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AOL (NYSE: AOL) announced today a content distribution partnership that will bring the AOL.com portal to Verizon Wireless smartphones and certain tablets running the Android, Windows Mobile and RIM operating systems. It is the first time that AOL will be the exclusive provider of the VZW Home mobile web portal on smartphones and tablets for the nation’s largest wireless carrier.

Beginning this summer, existing and new Verizon Wireless customers will have the AOL portal bookmarked on their smart phones and tablets’ web browsers. The multi-device experience will feature the recently refreshed AOL homepage — with breaking news, weather and maps — as well as live streaming events and popular videos. Personalization features will allow users to customize news sources, categories and other tools to their needs.

“We are always looking to reimagine how AOL delivers high quality content across multiple devices,” says Chris Grosso, General Manager of AOL Homepages. “This arrangement with an industry leader — Verizon Wireless — helps us deliver digital experiences, at scale, to millions of consumers in innovative ways.”

About AOL

AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) is a brand company, committed to continuously innovating, growing, and investing in brands and experiences that inform, entertain, and connect the world. The home of a world-class collection of premium brands, AOL creates original content that engages audiences on a local and global scale. We help marketers connect with these audiences through effective and engaging digital advertising solutions.

Come comment on this article: AOL announces content distribution partnership with Verizon, taking over browsers everywhere

Manufacturers in the Chinese market have been using MediaTek chips in their phones for a while now, as it’s a cost-efficient solution— the only problem is that most of these companies have not yet created an aesthetically-pleasing device using the chip.

In March we reported that Sony would be bringing something to the table, and it looks like they will because the Sony C3 packed with a MediaTek chip leaked today. Rumors point to Sony building the phone using the quad-core MT6589 processor or the updated 1.5GHz MT6589T chip. We’ll let you guys know when more information is available.

Source: GizChina
Via: PhoneArena

Come comment on this article: Sony C3 leaks, possibly Sony’s first MediaTek phone