Author: Jared Peters

We’ve been trying to pin down Google’s new Nexus 7 specs that’s bound to come out sometime in the next few years, and according to the reliable DigiTimes, we’ve got some confirmation on release date, as well as screen and processor. The release date is expected sometime in July, and the tablet will use a Snapdragon processor with a 1920 x 1200 resolution screen.  Best of all, the price isn’t going up.

DigiTimes says Google is planning on selling 6 to 8 million Nexus 7s in the second part of the year. It’s a very realistic goal based on the success of the original Nexus 7 tablet.

source: DigiTimes

Come comment on this article: Nexus 7 refresh expected in July, same price with updated specs

We’ve been hearing plenty of rumors of the elusive white Nexus 4 for the past few months, and now we’ve got some more fuel for the fire. According to the latest round of rumors, Google is going to launch the white Nexus 4 on the Play Store on June 10th. An even cooler detail about this variant of the Nexus 4? It’s going to be running Android 4.3.

Google spent the first day of I/O focusing on Play services instead of an Android update, and they definitely succeeded. Unfortunately, this lends some credibility to the rumors that 4.3 is likely just going to be minor under-the-hood tweaks, like new APIs. Either way, we’ll be sure to let you know next month.

source: Android and Me

Come comment on this article: Google to debut Android 4.3 on white Nexus 4 June 10th

Google TV has always been shunned a little more than other Google products, despite running Android. Well, if you were an early adopter of Google TV, there’s good news. According to Google, Google TV is being moved to Android 4.2.2, and Google TV is being reworked to allow OEM partners to quickly update their devices. The time frame will supposedly be cut from “months” down to “weeks.” Google TV will also be moved to the latest version of Chrome, as well as Chrome’s rather speedy six-week release cycle. Good news for owners, as this means your devices won’t be obsoleted quickly.

Google also said in their Google+ post that older devices should begin receiving updates soon, and we can expect to see new devices later this year. Nexus Q 2.0, anyone?

source: Google Plus

Come comment on this article: Google TV gets bumped to Android 4.2.2 and the latest version of Chrome

One of the coolest new features in Android 4.2 was multi-user supports. The feature is only available for tablets, although a bit of modding will enable it for phones as well. The new easiest way to get multiple user accounts enabled is the Modaco Toolkit, at least on rooted phones running Android 4.2.

First, you’ll need to download and install the Xposed Framework, which is a fairly new tool for Android developers to add tweaks to system framework. The Modaco Toolkit is a module for the Xposed Framework. Installing the Toolkit will enable all of the multi-user options after a reboot. This mod definitely works on AOSP 4.2 ROMs,but no word on if it’ll work on skinned versions of Android. Hit the links below to test it out on your rooted device, after making a backup, of course.

source: XDA

Toolkit

How-to

Come comment on this article: Modaco Toolkit enables easy multi-user access for rooted 4.2 phones

Samsung’s Galaxy Ace line has proven to be a decent mid-range handset, and we’d heard rumors about the Galaxy Ace III being just around the corner. On its latest trip through the rumor mill, The Ace III has received Bluetooth SIG certification and a model number GT-S7272, so it’s likely to be a dual-sim device if Samsung sticks to their naming conventions.

Still no specs from this leak, but last we heard the device was going to sport an 800 x 480 screen powered by a dual-core A9 processor, and will possibly come in four different colors. Anyone excited for this device to become official?

source: Bluetooth.org

Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy Ace III gets Bluetooth SIG certification

TuneIn Radio is a popular app internet radio streaming. It features over 70,000 different stations that stream anything from pop music to talk shows, as well as tons of podcasts. Well, Android users have gotten an update to the TuneIn app that will now allow you to quickly purchase a song you’re listening to on the Play Music Store. You can also favorite music to go back and purchase it with a direct link later on. If you’re already a TuneIn user, this is a pretty useful feature for you. If you haven’t tried it yet, why not test out a new music discovery service? Hit the download link below.

Play Store Download Link (Free)

Play Store Download Link (Paid)

Come comment on this article: TuneIn Radio gets updated to allow Google Play Music Store purchases

A few months ago, Amazon announced their Coins currency for its Kindle Fire devices. These coins would essentially be in-app currency exclusively for Amazon’s App Store and can be used to purchase apps, games, and in-app content. The Coins have an exchange rate similar to normal currency, so 1 coin equals 1 cent. Kindle users will receive a free 500 Coins to test the service out, and more Coins can be purchased from Amazon.

The biggest advantage to using these Coins is buying in bulk. Amazon says you’ll be able to get up to 10% off if you buy large amounts of coins, so it can save you money in the long run. The Coins also help developers because it gives consumers a universal currency to use to buy apps and games, so that’s always a plus. Developers will still get their 70% of revenue from app purchases, so no change there. I think this is going to be a great service for Amazon and Kindle Fire users, and I think it’s safe to say we can expect Amazon to push this new system pretty hard in the next few months.

Come comment on this article: Amazon Coins now available for Kindle Fire owners

Itching to get Cyanogenmod installed on your new HTC One? You won’t have to wait too much longer. According to a Google Plus post, Cyanogenmod’s GitHub site has repos set up for the One, and nightlies should begin building for the AT&T and Sprint version of the device “relatively soon.” They’ve updated the CM Wiki with pages for the HTC One to offer a little support and info for when the nightlies do begin building. We’ll be sure to let you know as soon as they’re available.

source: Google Plus

Come comment on this article: Cyanogenmod 10.1 nightlies slated to hit the HTC One relatively soon

Security and privacy are two huge issues with smartphones, and anything connected to the internet, really. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Google unveiled a five-year plan towards increased device security on Wednesday. This roadmap has Google breaking away from its traditional user sign-in process on devices, and instead replaces with an extremely secure, once-per-device-log-in. By replacing traditional passwords with complex authentication codes, a device can register itself with Google and keep the owner of an account from having to repeatedly sign in to their Google account multiple times.

Group product manager at Google, Eric Sachs, said it will definitely be more complex, but it will only be a once-per-device action. He said ”We don’t mind making it painful for users to sign into their device if they only have to do it once.” He goes on to say Google doesn’t mind making the process difficult on end users if it means better security long-term.

One of the first changes Google has outline will be the mandatory use of two-factor authentication for log-ins, which most sites only offer as an option. Small things like that are a bit of a headache at first, but there’s no arguing that they’re more secure. Besides, Google deals with a ton of private information every second,  so it’s great to see them take more steps towards keeping that information secure.

source: ZDNet

Come comment on this article: Google shows five-year roadmap towards stronger device authentication

Everyone knew Samsung was offering different variants of the Galaxy S 4 based on region, but according to an IHS iSupply teardown, that difference goes a little deeper than just the CPU.

According to the teardown, the US variant of the phone uses a separate Fujitsu image processor to handle functions such as the eye tracking and scrolling features that Samsung has heavily promoted. The reason behind this is that the Snapdragon S600 apparently couldn’t handle the processor intensive tasks alone, so Samsung improvised. The Exynos version of the phone doesn’t have the extra processor. Overall, it’s not really a huge deal, as most users probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference anyway. And, honestly, that’s a pretty smart move by Samsung to make both versions of the device perform roughly the same.

The teardown also revealed that the US version uses different hardware for WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, etc., although I’m sure that had more to do with cost and availability than performance.

source: iSupply

via: ComputerWorld

Come comment on this article: US version of the Galaxy S 4 uses separate image processor for eye tracking

Carmageddon was a game made in the late 90′s that saw it’s share of banning and censorship around the globe, and in case you were interested, it’s now available on your Android device thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign. This is the game’s first major release since an early 2000′s console port to the Nintendo 64, and for the first day, it’s going to be free. Unfortunately, Google doesn’t allow free apps to turn into paid apps in the Play Store, so after the 24 hours are up, the promo version will be pulled from the store and therefore won’t receive any updates. You can still opt for the paid version or use the demo version afterwards if you want to get updates to the app.

So if you want to test drive the game before you make a full purchase, hit the links below to check it out. Don’t wait too long, though.

Play Store Download Link (Promo)

Play Store Download Link (Paid)

Come comment on this article: Carmageddon shows up in the Play Store with a free promo version for 24 hours

Huawei has been in hot water with the US government recently after being accused of posing a major security threat to the US, along with other Chinese company ZTE. Ren Zhengfei, found of Huawei and still CEO of the company, has come out and denied any links to cyber threats to the US and denied any improper links to the Chinese government. Now, this is a pretty big deal because Ren has spend the past 26 years at Huawei avoiding the press.

Ren went on to say that Huawei equipment is barely used in US networks at all. Huawei has never sold equipment to any major US carriers or to a US government agency, which undermines the accusations by the US government. So while those accusations don’t necessarily hurt Huawei’s business in the US, it does in turn cause other countries to be more skeptical about using Huawei equipment, which has been the case in Australia and Canada. Hopefully this all gets sorted out sooner or later.

source: Yahoo

Come comment on this article: Huawei CEO says company not linked to US cyber threats

2013 is shaping up to be a great year for Sony’s mobile division. The Xperia A has slid through the FCC, and it appears to be a cousin of the Xperia Z, except for one key difference; a removable battery. Aside from that, the rest of the device looks the same, including the five inch screen and the sturdy power button, as well as most of the internal specs, including the 13 megapixel shooter and 16 GB internal storage. It’s obviously a bit thicker to allow that removable battery, but close enough. One thing that wasn’t mentioned, however, was the processor. I’d be a little surprised to see Sony launch a flagship variant like this with the Xperia Z’s S4 Pro, especially if they’re trying to compete with Samsung, HTC, and LG. Regardless, as soon as anything shows up on the radar, we’ll be sure to let you know.

source: FCC

via: Engadget

Come comment on this article: 5-inch Sony Xperia A drops by the FCC with a removable battery

According to the Wall Street Journal, Samsung has run into a problem at the end of March; they almost have too much money. Samsung’s net profit rose 42% in March 2013, and after calculating debt and everything, they’re left with about $28.5 billion. That is an extremely large pile of money. That figure has tripled in the past year. Samsung’s mobile division accounted for about 74% of that rise in profit, which is a pretty staggering statistic when you consider all the televisions, components, and appliances Samsung makes.

Analysts expect Samsung to put that money into investing in different areas of its businesses, and possibly give shareholders higher returns. Samsung has stated that they will make ”investments sustainable for areas like facilities, R&D, and marketing that will help the company solidify or boost competitiveness,” which I think is a pretty typical, safe answer. Rest assured, I think we can all say Samsung is likely going to beef up it’s Galaxy line of mobile devices, as it’s the biggest cash cow for the company right now.

source: Wall Street Journal

Come comment on this article: Samsung sitting on over $28 billion in cash at the end of March

For some buyers, the ability to repair a device can make or break a sale. Being able to make simple repairs on your stuff is always nice, but many manufacturers are going with new hardware that’s extremely difficult to fix in order to cut costs and keep devices small. Fortunately, the Ouya console doesn’t have that problem. According to iFixit, the Android powered game console is a very straightforward, cleanly assembled device. All the components are easily removed and easily tucked back into the device. This is also good news for people who like to take apart their electronics for thorough cleaning. All of this nets the Ouya a 9 out of 10 on the repairability scale.

One thing that stood out is that the Ouya is actually weighed down with small metal balls. There’s five weights to keep the device balanced against cables from pulling it off a table or desk. In an age of light, portable electronics, seeing a device intentionally add weight is definitely out of the ordinary.

source: iFixit

Come comment on this article: Ouya console gets high ratings from iFixit, easily disassembled and repaired

Like the Galaxy Note 8.0, but not really fond of that white color? Samsung is reportedly prepping a “Brown Black” version of the device for a mid-June release. Unfortunately, they didn’t release any sort of pictures, and Brown Black is a pretty ambiguous name for a color, especially since Samsung made both a brown and black version of the Galaxy S III. Either way, more options is always a good thing. We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for any leaks of the new color for the tablet.

source: SamMobile

Come comment on this article: Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8.0 to receive new color option

According to SamMobile, Samsung will be releasing their newly unveiled Galaxy Tab 3 this week in Eastern Europe. The 3G/WiFi model can be expected around June 10th. The 8.0 and 10.1 models of the Galaxy Tab 3 are expected to drop around June 3rd, with the 3G models of those just a few weeks after that.

These aren’t the high end tablets Samsung is expected to bring to market this year, but the Galaxy Tab line has always been a mid-range series of tabs, which isn’t a bad thing. No word on American availability, but I’m sure it won’t take too much longer. Anybody planning on picking up one of these tablets?

source: SamMobile

Come comment on this article: Samsung to release Galaxy Tab 3 in in Eastern Europe in June

Google is trying to bring its Fiber service to as many places as possible in 2013, and next on the list is Grandview, Missouri. While there’s no actual build out yet, it’s received the green light for planning and eventual deployment. They didn’t announce any official date for availability, but I wouldn’t expect it to take too long at Google’s pace. We’ll be sure to keep you updated.

source: Google Fiber Blog

Come comment on this article: Google Fiber gets green light in Grandview, Missouri

Recently, we heard from a source that Google was planning on launching retail stores by the end of 2013. These stores were supposedly being set up to sell all kinds of Google ware, but now we’re hearing some clarification that those stores are going to be specifically for Google Glass. Google is obviously trying to spur up some interest for the device, and the best way to do that is to demo the device and get it into potential customers’ hands. And according to Business Insider, Sergey Brin himself is helping to plan out the stores.

Obviously you should take this with a grain of salt. Google has been to known to pick up and drop ideas at the drop of a hat, so this may or may not happen, and it might end up just being a full Google store like we’d originally heard. Either way, we’ll keep you updated as soon as we hear anything.

source: Business Insider

Come comment on this article: Google planning on opening stores just for Google Glass

Around the announcement of the HTC One, we saw a red variant float around as a color option. HTC pretty quickly dismissed it and told everyone it doesn’t exist, but it looks like it’s shown up on a UK website, HandTec, again. While the image is still pretty blurry, it’s still a fairly detailed, clean render, so I definitely think HTC plans on putting this out at some point in the future. Hit the link below to check out the listing for yourself, but don’t try to buy one. It’s shown up as out of stock since the listing was created, unfortunately.

source: HandTec

via: Phandroid

Come comment on this article: Red HTC One shows up on UK retail website