Author: Harrison Kaminsky

With this year’s line of Galaxy devices from Samsung comes the Galaxy Core, a mid-range Android with specs at the level of a Galaxy S2.  The new phone has a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU and a 4.3-inch WVGA screen.  It also comes with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, an 1800mAh battery and a 5-megapixel rear camera.  The phone will be available in two colors— black and white.

As for UI, it’s running TouchWiz Nature over 4.1 Jelly Bean.  It’ll feature Smart Stay, S Voice, and Smart Alerts.

It is unclear which carrier(s) will make the phone available to their customers, but we do know that it will be released at some point this month with a dual-SIM feature.  A single-SIM version will follow in July.  We’ll wait for some more announcements from Samsung to update you guys on the new Galaxy Core. Hit the break for the full press release.

Samsung Introduces the GALAXY Core for Ideal Portability and Power

The smartphone combines dual core processing power, compact design, and Dual SIM technology 

Come comment on this article: Samsung to release Galaxy Core – a smaller, cheaper, and weaker GS3

The Samsung Galaxy S III went essentially unchallenged last year as the top Android phone on the market— but this year, the Galaxy S 4 certainly has some competition.  Consumers have taken quite an interest in the aluminum-clad HTC One, but how is it stacking up against Galaxy S 4 sales? While the HTC One has been selling very well (which is good news for the Taiwanese based manufacturer), the Galaxy S 4 has somehow been selling even better, despite a two week head-start for the HTC One and the lack of a limited distribution that the Galaxy S 4 had, allowing the Galaxy S 4 still stands on top.  

One argument may be that the nation’s largest carrier, Verizon, isn’t carrying the HTC One— however, Big Red isn’t going to be releasing the Galaxy S 4 until the end of the month.  In terms of returns, Sprint employees have stated that more HTC Ones have been returned than Galaxy S 4 models due to blown out speakers and dead pixels.  This could be an issue, but it has yet to become a major problem for the phone’s sales.

Samsung continues its highly successful assault over the television and radio airwaves, releasing its newest ad last week.  We’ll soon see how well the HTC One ends up doing, but until then, what you guys think about HTC’s flagship device?  Which phone do you prefer?  Let us know in the comments!

Source: Examiner

Come comment on this article: Sales on HTC One great, but not on par with Samsung Galaxy S 4

NASA certainly isn’t new to the task of taking images of the earth from space— however, this would be the first time that these images were taken using “PhoneSats,” a new, super-cheap, super-small type of satellite powered by Android smartphones.

Launched into orbit last month with the goal of showing that it is possible to create space-worthy hardware from consumer-grade devices, Alexander, Graham, and Bell (the names of the three satellite devices) returned blurry images before burning up in the atmosphere as planned on April 27th.  

Using their stock cameras, the three satellites, built from two HTC Nexus One smartphones and one Samsung Nexus S smartphone, snapped images and transmitted them back to the earth in separate pieces, as packets of data over the UHF radio band.

Surprisingly, the project only cost NASA $3,500 per satellite, including build and launch.  The next generation of the PhoneSats are expected to launch later this year, with added functionality and increased longevity.

Source: NASA

Come comment on this article: NASA receives images from Nexus PhoneSat satellites

Consumers seeking a commitment-free mobile service will now have another option next month when AT&T launches their ‘All In One’ prepaid brand.  Plans are still tentative, but it’s probable that AT&T will offer a tiered-plan system dependent on the type of phone.

Pricing for feature phones will likely start at $35 a month, and smartphones will start at $50 a month.  This type of plan will provide customers with unlimited talk, text, and a 2GB data cap.  There are rumors of another plan being added on that will offer 5GB of mobile data for $70 a month.

If the above estimates hold true, this new ‘All In One’ brand will provide significant savings when compared to their current GoPhone prepaid service.  It is also expected to undercut the price of T-Mobile’s prepaid plan.  There is no information on hotspot capabilities right now, but AT&T would have to include some kind of package in order to compete with T-Mobile’s hotspot offering of 2.5GB of data for $60 a month. There is also the question on if these will work with LTE phones.

If these rumors become a reality, AT&T will be reeling in customers left and right who are no longer willing to deal with long-term contracts.

source: FierceWireless

Come comment on this article: AT&T releasing ‘All In One’ prepaid plan in June

Google announced an additional location to its growing Fiber network, and this time it is Shawnee, Kansas.  This makes sense because of it’s proximity to Kansas City, which has already been selected to receive Google Fiber service.

Google says that they selected Shawnee as a Fiber candidate due to the city’s vision of keeping their citizens informed and involved using the internet.  This is awesome news for the people of Shawnee, whose city council announced the news after voting on bringing Fiber to town.  There is no expected date for Fiber’s arrival in Shawnee, but engineers will be working hard to get the service up and running as soon as possible.

Source: Google Fiber Blog

Come comment on this article: Google Fiber continues expansion, coming to Shawnee, Kansas

If you’re constantly heading over to the homes of friends and family to supply some tech support, Google+ now provides a much more simple solution, via Hangouts Remote Desktop.  Powered by the same technology behind Chrome Remote Desktop, this new feature will provide a much more efficient way of getting things done.

Of course this application requires permission, so you don’t have to worry about hackers being able to swiftly commandeer your desktop without your approval.

Instructions to use the application are after the break.

In order to access Hangouts Remote Desktop, you’ll have to enter a Hangout, click View More Apps > Add Apps > Hangouts Remote Desktop.  Give this lightweight and simple tool a try and let us know what you think below in the comments!

Source: +Daniel Caiafa

Come comment on this article: Google+ Hangouts for desktop now allows remote control of other computers

Last month we reported that Rovio was planning a big release on the Google Play Store.  That time has come now, with a new version of Angry Birds that is sure to go viral in the coming weeks.

Ported from the online version, Android users everywhere are now able to experience the social features of Angry Birds Friends for free.  This new version allows gamers to connect with Facebook friends, challenging them to matches of the classic game.  You can gather daily rewards, send and receive gifts, post about the game via Facebook connectivity, and collect trophies.

For those worried about losing your progress after playing on Facebook, have no fear— the app picks up right where you left off on the computer with seamless integration.  Nice!  There’s also a pretty cool tournament feature included that users will definitely have to check out.

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

 Play Store Download Link

Come comment on this article: Rovio unleashes Angry Birds Friends to Android

The folks over at LevelUp Studios have developed a free version of its hugely popular app, Beautiful Widgets.  Although augmented by in-app purchases for additional functionality and customization, it’s still worth a download due to the great looking widgets it provides for your home screen. Through in-app purchases it’s possible to unlock every feature that is included in the full paid version of the app.  This is nice because it allows users to pick and choose what kind of features they want, without having to pay for the full app.

Due to this welcome addition to the Google Play Store, the full app has been renamed Beautiful Widgets Pro. According to LevelUp Studios, both versions will maintain feature parity in future app updates.

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

 Play Store Download Link

Come comment on this article: Free version of Beautiful Widgets with in-app purchases now available

It wasn’t too long ago that ASUS unveiled their MeMo Pad Smart 10, and it looks like the company is already at it again with a successor to their budget full sized-tablet.  Expected for a summer release, this one certainly won’t disappoint.

Some of the rumored specs include a Full HD touchscreen on a 10-inch display, a quad-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 1GB of RAM, a 13 MP rear camera, a 1.2 MP front camera, 16 GB of built-in storage, a microSD card slot, full Wi-Fi capabilities, GPS, Bluetooth, support for 4G LTE, and a 5,050 mAh battery.  It is expected to come with Jelly Bean on board.

In comparison to its predecessor, the new model is a big step up in a number of different specs. There is an increase in MP for the rear camera, a Qualcomm processor will be used this time rather than NVIDIA, and the screen’s resolution will be better as well.  In terms of mid-range affordable tablets, this one looks like it’s going to be a pretty solid option.  Please note that the specs are still unconfirmed, but let us know what you think about what you see so far!

Source: TechBlog
Via: unwiredview

Come comment on this article: ASUS developing better, faster, stronger ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10 successor, release this summer

As can be seen in the above graphic, Jelly Bean continues its growth, which is nowhere near last month’s increase of 8.5%.  Unfortunately, the numbers still aren’t at a point where Google (and Android customers) should be satisfied.  Of course the Jelly Bean numbers will naturally rise as newer phones are released and older phones become discontinued, but we would like to see this happening at a much higher rate— this starts with the manufacturers.

They need to start developing their skins/bloatware for updates more efficiently, or getting rid of it altogether. (Which would make a lot of us pretty happy.)  Stock Android with unlocked bootloaders for all phones is still somewhere in fantasyland, but hopefully the imminent release of Android 4.3 (or 5.0) will make OS-integration simpler.  

Some great news for the oft-forgotten Droid Bionic this month— Motorola finally dished out their Jelly Bean update to the phone, causing Bionic owners to rejoice everywhere! (Probably making up the majority of the 3.4% increase…)

Here are this month’s numbers:

• 1.6 Donut: 0.1%
• 2.1 Eclair:  1.7%
• 2.2 Froyo: 3.7%
• 2.3 Gingerbread: 38.5%
• 3.2 Honeycomb: 0.1%
• 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich: 27.5%
• 4.1 and 4.2 Jelly Bean: 28.4%

Devices with Gingerbread slowly continue to go down, and devices with Jelly Bean saw a solid 3.4% increase in the past month.  We’ll update you guys next month with Google’s next release of distribution statistics.

Source: Android Developers

Come comment on this article: Latest Android Distribution Reveals Gingerbread Down 1.3% and Jelly Bean Up 3.4%

T-Mobile’s version of the Sony Xperia Z seems to have passed through the FCC according to multiple documents and pictures.  Internal and external pictures are included, as well as a detailed user manual which gives away the model, carrier association, and also points out that the phone will feature WiFi calling.  The documents show that there will be an inclusion of AWS LTE (band 4) and pentaband HSPA+.

It won’t be long before T-Mobile officially announces the phone’s release to the public.

Check the pictures and documents out for yourself at the source link below.

Source: FCC
Via: Engadget

Come comment on this article: T-Mobile Sony Xperia Z with LTE passes through FCC

Back on January 8th at T-Mobile’s CES press event, the company announced a new partnership with Major League Baseball.  Until now, the two companies were relatively quiet about what this deal would come to mean for customers.  Today, T-Mobile proudly announced that it will be offering MLB.com At Bat 2013 for free in the Google Play Store through June 30th.

The well-known app features all-season access to a free MLB.TV streaming Game of the Day, access to live home and away radio broadcasts of games, highlights, scores, and other updates.

Unfortunately, there is no refund available for users who purchased the app before May 1, and the app isn’t available to Windows Phone and Blackberry (who?) customers.  Die-hard and casual fans alike should dive in a take the opportunity— the total value of the promotion is a whopping $19.99.

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

Play Store Download Link

Here’s the full press release from T-Mobile:

MLB.com At Bat App Free Beginning May 1

To celebrate T-Mobile as the Official Wireless Sponsor of Major League Baseball, we are offering FREE access to the official app of Major League Baseball, MLB.com At Bat® 13 ($19.99 value). Beginning May 1 to June 30 T-Mobile customers can download the MLB.com At Bat 13 application from Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. This season-long access will provide customers with:

Free live MLB.TV streaming Game of the Day
Access to live home and away radio broadcasts from around the league
Highlights, scores, and more from the day’s games around the league

Offer Requirements

Offer only available May 1 – June 30.
Offer is available to new and existing customers.
Must be on the T-Mobile network to initially download the app to meet validation requirements.
Offer is available for download from Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Compatible devices include:
Android phones and tablets (OS 2.2 or later).
iPhones and iPads 3GS/4/4S/5, (iOS 5.0 or later).
MLB.com At Bat is released every year for the new baseball season. This offer provides full access to the 2013 MLB season only.

Restrictions

App is not available for Windows Phone devices; Offer is not available for Blackberry devices.
Offer not available to customers who previously purchased the MLB.com At Bat app prior to May 1.
Not available for download on Wi-Fi or while roaming.
After download and registration, you may access the app over Wi-Fi.
MLB.TV and/or additional in-app purchases are not included in this offer

Come comment on this article: T-Mobile offers MLB.com At Bat 2013 for free through June 30th

It looks like HTC is going to be refocusing its efforts this summer, starting with announcing that it will be dropping HTC Watch support in 6 European countries come May 31.  These countries include Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands.  Due to the massive unpopularity of this application, this won’t affect too many of you. HTC released this comment:

“As we continue to deliver new content for HTC Watch, we’ve made the decision to focus our efforts on markets with the highest engagement. After May 31, we’ll discontinue support for HTC Watch in countries with less application traffic”.

There is a solid alternative in Google Play Movies, which would obviously be a solid fallback plan— however, the Google service is only available in Spain, with none of the other countries listed above.

If you’re from one of the above countries and know of some good alternatives, let us know below in the comments!

Come comment on this article: HTC ditching HTC Watch support in 6 countries on May 31

AT&T is about to ramp up the competition to become the most widely-covered LTE network in the country.  The company recently announced that it has added 17 new regions for LTE coverage and is expanding coverage in 9 regions. AT&T’s stated goal of having 300 million LTE points of presence by the end of the year is certainly getting closer to becoming very doable and its new coverage additions clearly help their case.

AT&T currently features 207 regions with their LTE coverage.  The 17 added regions include: Cullman, AL, Decatur, AL, Huntsville, AL; Mountain Home, AR; Lake City, FL, Ocala, FL; Shreveport-Bossier City, LA; Lansing, MI; Biloxi-Gulfport, MS; Henderson, NC; Chattanooga, TN; Athens, TX, Corsicana, TX, Huntsville, TX, Lufkin-Nacogdoches, TX, Paris, TX; and Centralia, WA.

The 9 regions that AT&T is expanding upon include: Little Rock, AR, Ouachita/Monticello, AR; Phoenix, AZ, Tucson, AZ; Kansas City, MO/KS; Nashua, NH; Harrisburg, PA; Florence, SC; and Jackson, TN.

A solid job done here by AT&T, but they certainly have their work cut out for them.  Check back for more LTE coverage news in the future.

Come comment on this article: AT&T bumping up LTE coverage in 9 regions, adding 17 new regions