Author: Jeff Causey

Although Google Glass is not yet in the hands of many owners and retail availability may be a year away, developers are moving full steam ahead with the development of apps. Fullscreen Labs has jumped into the fray with a new app called Fullscreen BEAM that enables users to upload videos from Google Glass directly to their YouTube account.

Like other apps we have seen, the process of “installing” the app really just consists of visiting a web site, signing up, and associating your Google Glass device with your account. Once that step is completed, Fullscreen BEAM app users can upload their videos straight to YouTube. A couple options are available, including the ability to mark videos as private when uploaded. Doing so might be a good idea for users who can review the videos at a later time to decide whether it is really something they want out in public. The app also has options to configure a user’s Twitter account so links to new videos can be tweeted automatically.

Check out the video below to see a small sample of how it works. If you are one of the lucky few with a Google Glass device, you can check out the app by visiting https://beam.fullscreen.net/about.

Click here to view the embedded video.

source: SlashGear

Come comment on this article: Fullscreen BEAM app helps Google Glass users share videos

comScore released smartphone manufacturer and operating system data today for the first quarter of 2013 in the U.S. market. The numbers show Android continuing to dominate with 52 percent market share for operating systems. This was down slightly from December 2012 when Android held 53.4 percent of the market. Blackberry also slid down to only 5.2 percent of the market and Symbian took a small dip. Apple’s iOS was the big gainer for the quarter jumping 2.7 percent to grab 39 percent of the market and Microsoft also gained slightly.

While Android enjoyed  the top spot in terms of operating platforms, Apple continued to hold a grip in terms of manufacturer market share with their 39 percent share of the market. The 2.7 percent jump outpaced Samsung’s gain of 0.7 percent of the market. HTC, Motorola, and LG all saw their market share slide during the quarter.

2013′s first quarter did not see any major smartphone releases from the major Android manufacturers. That situation will change during the second quarter with devices like the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4 hitting the market. While Apple fans and investors will rejoice over this latest shot of positive news, the happiness may only last until second quarter numbers are released.

source: comScore

Come comment on this article: Latest numbers show Android maintaining smartphone OS dominance in U.S. market for first quarter

Slowly but surely Google’s Photo Spheres continue the march toward general availability and usability throughout the web with Google’s release of a widget enabling them to be embedded on any web site. Up to now, Photo Spheres could only load on Google+ and Google Maps along with a couple third-party services that had figured out how to make them viewable. The new widget is not the easiest thing to deploy as web site owners will have to add a call to the Google+ API and then add some extensive code on their site where the Photo Sphere should appear. The Photo Spheres themselves have to be hosted on either Google+ or PicasaWeb. No doubt it will not be long before other developers streamline this process to make it easier for site owners to both deploy the widget and quickly grab the proper URL and parameters for a Photo Sphere.

In the meantime, Android users continue to wait for progress on making Photo Sphere capable camera apps as widely available so they can start to contribute to the library of Photo Spheres.

source: +Google+

Come comment on this article: Google Photo Spheres widget now available for any web site

Barnes & Noble announced today they have entered into a new partnership with Google to bring several new apps to their Nook HD and Nook HD+ products. Foremost among the additions is the Google Play Store, which will increase the number of available apps for Nook HD owners from about 10,000 to well over 700,000. B&N CEO William Lynch indicated the new partnership is a result of research and sales data from the recently completed holiday shopping season that indicated users are shifting to more general purpose tablets instead of e-readers. To be successful in the tablet market, “the breadth of applications available is really critical.”

No terms of the deal were released, but other Google apps that will now be available to Nook HD device owners include the Chrome Browser, Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps. Through the Google Play store, users will also be able to access Music. The newest line of Nook HD devices were released last September. B&N is trying to compete with top tablet manufacturers like Samsung, Amazon, Apple and Asus. Unfortunately for B&N, after weak holiday sales, they have slipped out of the top five tablet manufacturers, replaced by Microsoft during the first quarter of 2013 according to IDC.

The Nook HD is B&N’s version of a 7-inch tablet and sells for $199. The 9-inch version of the device is the Nook HD+ and sells for $269. The hardware is comparable to some of the more popular tablets on the market and the addition of access to the Google Play Store should position B&N to be much more competitive in the tablet market.

source: WSJ

Come comment on this article: B&N Nook HD devices getting big shot of Google starting today

As Samsung’s newest flagship device starts to land in the hands of retail buyers, some of them are discovering a nasty surprise lying in wait. New owners of the 16GB version of the Samsung Galaxy S 4 have discovered the device only has about 8GB of useable memory available. The other half is eaten up by the operating system and built-in apps. In a statement released in response to the criticism, Samsung says:

“For the Galaxy S4 16GB model, approximately 6.85GB occupies [the] system part of internal memory, which is 1GB bigger than that of the Galaxy S3, in order to provide [a] high resolution display and more powerful features to our consumers… To offer the ultimate mobile experience to our users, Samsung provides [a] microSD slot on Galaxy S4 for extension of memory.”

Many buyers of smartphones look for the availability of a microSD card slot when making their buying decision, which gives Samsung a big advantage with those buyers versus a device like the HTC One. However, Samsung does not permit the installation of apps onto the SD Card, only files, photos, videos and music. If a user wanted to install something like Wikipedia Offline, which clocks in at 3.6GB, they could quickly run through their internal memory. Popular games also tend to be large in size, which could force users to become selective in which apps they install.

Since the discovery of this memory limitation, responses have varied from users. Some have been extremely irate going so far as to describe Samsung’s actions as amounting to a “scam.” Others are nonplussed as they “never got close to filling the internal storage” on their previous devices.

Do you think this is a major problem with the Galaxy S 4? Would it cause you to look at other devices or wait for something else to be released later this year?

source: CNET

Come comment on this article: Samsung responds to criticism of lack of usable storage on 16GB Samsung Galaxy S 4

Last month HTC released their financial results for the first quarter of 2013 and the numbers were unpleasant reading. In a recent conference call, HTC sought to put some context to the numbers for the benefit of investors and analysts. CEO Peter Chou acknowledged the problems supply chain delays had caused for HTC and the release of the HTC One. Nevertheless, he believes HTC ultimately had a successful launch of the HTC One and looks forward to sales of about 10 million units during 2013. Most of that will take place during the final three quarters of the year as analysts from CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets project only 750,000 units were sold during the first quarter. For comparison, Samsung is projected to to sell 60 million Galaxy S 4 units.

While HTC maintained profitability during the first quarter, the margin was not very large as revenues slid to NT$42.8 billion ($1.45B USD). However, with sales of the HTC One in full swing, those numbers are expected to rebound to the NT$70 billion ($2.37B USD) range during the second quarter.

It appears many people think HTC has turned things around. Both HSBC and Daiwa upgraded their ratings on HTC, partly due to all of the positive reviews of the HTC One. Investors seem to agree as the stock price has been rising ever since release of the flagship device. Analysts also point to the recent partnership with Facebook to bring the HTC First to market as a positive step for HTC. Although the HTC First is more of a marketing move for the company, it is evidence the company is taking several small but sure steps as it regains its footing.

What do you think – has HTC turned the corner?

source: CNET

Come comment on this article: HTC adds context to first quarter financial numbers

As promised, Dan Rosenberg aka djrbliss on the XDA Developers forum released some additional details about his attempts to unlock the Samsung Galaxy S 4. Yesterday he posted a pic showing the unlocked bootloader that seemed to indicate he had recovery capabilities. He confirmed that in his latest post on the subject where he reports his work will allow custom kernels and recoveries.

Rosenberg also confirmed he had achieved the unlocking on an AT&T variant of the Galaxy S 4. However, he is not planning to release any details until Verizon starts to ship their version later this month. If you think you will be interested in unlocking your new Galaxy S 4 using Rosenberg’s tools, he does recommend that you not accept any OTA updates prior to his publishing his release despite the risk of missing out on security updates.

source: XDA Developers forum

Come comment on this article: More details about Samsung Galaxy S 4 bootloader hack revealed

News today from Twitter where security guru Dan Rosenberg, @djrbliss, posted an image of a Samsung Galaxy S 4 with what appears to be an unlocked bootloader that he managed to hack. Rosenberg had already achieved root on the new devices on launch day when he figured out an unlock tool intended for Motorola devices would also work on the Galaxy S 4 thanks to the use of Qualcomm chips. The downside is that nothing much can be done once rooted and the risk related to bricking a brand new device is a little higher than normal as no recovery options or stock images are available yet. Hopefully Rosenberg’s work is about to change some of that as his image appears to indicate that he has recovery running. Rosenberg is expected to release more details later today on exactly what he has achieved and how others may replicate his efforts.

source: @djrbliss

Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy S 4 bootloader unlock picks up steam with latest hack

A new flagship device from any manufacturer means it is time for drop tests to see how it might hold up against the inevitable slips of the hand that users deal with in the real world. The Samsung Galaxy S 4 is hitting the market now, so we are subjected to viewing the results of these tests if you have the intestinal fortitude to see a brand new device hitting hard concrete. Testing the Galaxy S 4 may be of particular interest to those who have followed the debate about Samsung’s choice of materials for their devices and claims that plastic bodies help smartphones survive accidents better.

A new drop test from GizmoSlip pits the Galaxy S 4 against the Apple iPhone 5 and Galaxy S 4′s predecessor, the Galaxy S III. Besides using plastic for smartphone bodies, Samsung also boasts the use of Gorilla Glass to help prevent screens from shattering. You can check out the video below to see whether Samsung has been successful in setting their devices apart from their chief rival in terms of survivability when it comes to drops.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Come comment on this article: Cringeworthy drop tests pit Samsung Galaxy S 4 against Galaxy S III and iPhone 5

Although Samsung probably would like to see anyone buying a Samsung device run out and grab one of their top devices like a Samsung Galaxy S 4 or a Samsung Galaxy Note II, they know that realistically there will be many people looking for something a little less expensive even if it means giving up some ground on technical specs. In response to that market segment, information about a new mid- to lower-tier device dubbed the Samsung Galaxy Core has been uncovered. The GT-I8262 model which has not yet been officially announced is expected to hit the Russian and Chinese markets in mid-May and may eventually find its way into some other European and Asian markets.

The Galaxy Core is certainly not going to overwhelm anyone with the hardware it makes available. Reports indicate it will have a 4.3-inch 480×800 display, 768MB of RAM, and will be powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor. The device will have the benefit of accepting a microSD card to beef up the 8GB of onboard storage, handy if users decide to take advantage of the cameras, including a 5MP front-facing camera. While not the most powerful device by a long shot, it will come loaded with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The Galaxy Core does appear to be dual-SIM capable, so that will be a nice bonus for buyers. Estimates are that it will be available for 12,990 rubles ($417 USD).

source: phoneArena

Come comment on this article: Mid-range Samsung Galaxy Core for Asian, European markets leaks

For most people, the opportunity to get a Google Glass device is still about a year away. There is a relatively small set of early adopters, mainly people who have agreed to be beta testers and developers, who are already getting their devices or will be soon. For those individuals, the NY Times is rolling out an app that will make their news available via Google Glass. In the case of the NY Times, there is not really a specific app to install. Instead, users have to connect their Google Glass device to their Google account using a special web site. The process is similar to sites that let you sign in using a Facebook or Google+ account. Once connected, the NY Times will deliver breaking news alerts and top news on an hourly basis to your Glass device. Users will have the option of having article summaries read aloud.

If you are one of the lucky ones with a Google Glass device already, hit the source link to get connected with the NY Times. If you don’t have Google Glass, you can go through the motions of linking to your Google account and you’ll be ready a year from now when you can finally buy your own pair.

source: NY Times

Come comment on this article: NY Times rolls out app for Google Glass users

As the Samsung Galaxy S 4 is launched around the world, one market getting a couple unique versions is the Asian market. Samsung has launched a Samsung Galaxy S 4 Duos model (I9502) that includes a couple notable differences from the standard version many people may be getting. First, the Galaxy S 4 Duos has two SIM card slots available. Second, the Duos version of Samsung’s flagship will be equipped with the Exynos 5 Octa chip with each of the cores running at 1.6GHz. All of the other specs for the device are the same as other Galaxy S 4 models.

Another model intended for the Chinese market, the I9506, will be running a Snapdragon 600 processor and is limited to TD-SCDMA 3G connectivity.

source: Samsung China

Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy S 4 Duos launches in China with dual-SIM support, Exynos 5 Octa cpu

T-Mobile launched new “no-contract” service plans last month in an effort to differentiate themselves in the U.S. market. As we noted when examining the plans, the new hardware financing options could lead consumers to pay an even greater amount to get out of the non-existent contract than what they would have paid under the old system that used early termination fees. That possibility led Washington’s Attorney General Bob Ferguson to pursue an agreement to get T-Mobile to disclose these new terms in their advertising and offer customers a chance to cancel with no penalty if they were an early adopter of the new plans.

T-Mobile’s new no-contract terms offer consumers several options to obtain hardware to use with their new plan. One could use a device they had purchased elsewhere that is compatible with the T-Mobile network or they could pay the full retail price for a device up front. Many consumers will opt for a third option which is a plan that finances their hardware purchase over a set term, typically 24 months. According to T-Mobile’s terms, a consumer is only eligible for a financing plan if they have a valid T-Mobile service contract in place. If service is canceled, consumers are on the hook to make a balloon payment to pay off the remaining balance for their hardware. That could be a large amount if done during the first part of the 24 month financing period.

In entering into the new agreement that will apply nationwide, Ferguson noted “T-Mobile was failing to adequately disclose a critical component of their new plan to consumers, and we acted quickly to stop this practice and protect consumers across the country from harm.” T-Mobile and the attorney general filed an Assurance of Discontinuance today in which T-Mobile agrees to:

• Not misrepresent consumers’ obligations under its contracts, including those contracts that have not restrictions or limitations;
• Not fail to adequately disclose that customers who terminate their T-Mobile wireless service before their device is paid off will have to pay the balance due on the phone at the time of cancellation;
• Not misrepresent customers’ true obligations under the terms of its contracts for the sale of service or equipment;
• Make clear the consequences of cancelling T-Mobile service, including restrictions or limitations on cancellation; fees and costs; and early termination fees;
• More clearly state in all advertisements the true cost of telephone equipment, including the requirement the customer carry a wireless service agreement for the life of the 24-month financing plan;
• Instruct representatives to fully disclose obligations under the terms of its contracts, including developing a “Frequently Asked Questions” page; and
• Train customer service representatives to comply with the settlement within 21 days of signing.

Along with the above actions going forward, T-Mobile agreed to allow customers who entered into one of the new agreements between March 26 and April 25, 2013 the opportunity to cancel without penalty if they do so pursuant to the terms of their agreement and return their hardware to T-Mobile. T-Mobile also agreed to pay attorney’s fees in the amount of $26,046 to the state of Washington. T-Mobile will be contacting via email buyers who entered into one of the new agreements to advise them of their rights and options pursuant to this action.

source: Washington State Office of the Attorney General
via: phoneArena

Come comment on this article: T-Mobile, Washington State AG agree to settlement on claims of deceptive no-contract advertising

LG is poised to announce next week the availability of the LG Optimus G Pro as part of the AT&T product portfolio, so it is no surprise that an image has shown up purporting to be a render of the device. @evleaks, the frequent tipster of Android device images, posted a pic today showing the device with a small AT&T logo on the back of the device. On the front of the device, the home button appears to have an AT&T blue highlight surrounding the button. In just a few more days we should be able to verify how accurate the rendered image is.

source: @evleaks

Come comment on this article: LG Optimus G Pro for AT&T render surfaces on Twitter

The past two days have been interesting ones for Huawei and their efforts to break into the U.S. market. During a summit with analysts on Tuesday, Huawei’s Executive Vice President Eric Xu made some statements indicating Huawei was going to abandon the U.S. market. At least, that is how many people interpreted his comments. A day later Huawei issued a clarification to explain that Mr. Xu was commenting on growth in other developed countries, especially European markets. Huawei anticipates those markets will be much more important for them than the U.S. market, but they have no intention of abandoning the U.S. market.

As the world’s second largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, one would think Huawei could achieve a significant presence in the U.S. However, the company has been subject to claims that it is really a front for Chinese espionage efforts. The clearest and most explicit instance of this came last fall when the U.S. House of Representatives’ Intelligence Committee issued a report claiming Huawei and ZTE may pose a major risk to U.S. security. The House Committee also believes Huawei may be guilty of bribery, corruption, discriminatory behavior and copyright infringement.

Huawei has struggled to gain a foothold in selling telecommunications gear in the U.S., no doubt thanks to the virtual blacklisting of the company. However, the mobile division is achieving some limited success. For 2012, Huawei made CNY 31 billion ($5.1 billion USD). More recently they have had to resort to measures like selling their phones through Amazon instead of directly by carriers.

source: Beijing News
via: phoneArena

Come comment on this article: Huawei announces departure from U.S. market, then reverses course

Tower defense fans will be happy to know that a sequel to one of the most popular tower defense games is now available in the Google Play Store. Fieldrunners 2 from Subatomic Studios gives players the opportunity to once again match wits with an enemy force while saving the world. The title boasts some of the best AI to be found in a Strategic-Action-Puzzle-Defense game to match the beautiful graphics. Subatomic Studios has packed some unique new features into the game, including a tower that shoots bee hives; trenches, bridges and tunnels; and a tower that will turn enemy combatants into barnyard animals. Subatomic estimates the game provides 20 or more hours of fun to complete the campaign against the invading fieldrunners.

Fieldrunners 2 has over 20 new levels to challenge players who have additional options to try their hand at like Puzzle, Sudden Death, and Time Trial levels. Check out some screenshots and a launch video below. If you are ready to defend the world, hit the Google Play download link below and be ready to drop $2.99.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Google Play Download Link

Come comment on this article: Fieldrunners 2 comes to Android platform

The to do app with the funny name, Remember The Milk received a major update to the Android app today taking it up to version 3.0. The overhaul, codenamed “Tik-Tok,” brings a completely redesigned interface to the app that utilizes a “card stack” concept. Remember The Milk developers indicate this is similar to their iPhone or iPad versions, but you will probably find it also has a strong Android Holo-esque look and feel to it. In adopting some Android design guidelines, they also optimized the app to run on tablet devices while redesigning task and note views to make it easier to view and edit using taps and swipes. Among the improvements to the basic workings of the app, Remember The Milk makes it much easier to edit multiple tasks at one time and task completion or postponement is now accomplished using a tap and hold.

If you have a device running Android 4.1 or higher, the redesigned app takes advantage of Android’s ability to perform actions from the notification shade. Users can now complete or postpone a task without opening the full app. If you have a reminder with tasks, the notification will list them on multiple lines. Users who upgrade to the Pro version get access to widgets that have been cleaned up and the list widgets can be placed on your lock screen for those really looking to streamline access to their tasks.

If you are looking for a task management app that takes advantage of some of the goodies available in Android, you may want to check out Remember The Milk. Below are some screenshots and a video showing some of the features, followed by Google Play download links.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Google Play Download Link

Come comment on this article: Remember The Milk gets major update to version 3.0, adds tablet support

You have no doubt noticed a trend amongst most smartphone manufacturers to push the boundaries of screen size with several models on the market in the 5-inch or larger range. Samsung’s Galaxy Note series really pushed the market into this “phablet” sized range with its success, demonstrating there was a market for large devices. Transparency Market Research has published a new report that puts some numbers to what we seem to be seeing and predicts sales of phablets and superphones will reach 825 million units by 2018, generating $116.4 billion for manufacturers that jump into the market. Although North America has been the leader in the market to date, Asian Pacific markets like Korea, India and China are expected to experience the largest and fastest growth rates over the next five years.

According to Transparency Market Research, about 21 million Android based phablet devices were sold in 2012. By 2018, that number should reach 150 million on an annual basis. For Android superphones, Transparency Market Research expects the market to grow from 150 million Android powered units sold in 2012 to 400 million units in 2018. Currently Android phablets and superphones account for 82% and 87% of market share respectively. While Android devices will continue to dominate, Transparency Market Research does project Windows based devices will grow by huge amounts thanks to forthcoming Windows phablets from Nokia, HTC, Sony and ZTE.

Transparency Market Research defines superphones as those with screen sizes between 4 and 5 inches. Phablets are devices with screens larger than 5 inches but smaller than a tablet device. Both types of devices are characterized by fast, powerful processors and other hardware that make them more suitable for navigating documents, surfing the web, watching videos, and gaming compared to normal smartphones whose screens typically range between 2.8 and 3.5 inches.

Noticeably absent from the analysis is Apple, which has traditionally resisted pressure to produce larger devices. Should Apple ever change their strategy, that could have an impact on both market size and which manufacturers are able to succeed.

source: Transparency Market Research

Come comment on this article: New study says market for phablets, “superphones” to reach 825 million units globally by 2018

Sony announced today that they have opened the software code for their Sony Xperia Z smartphone to the Android Open Source Project. The software has been uploaded to Sony’s GitHub. Between that and information available at Sony’s Developer World site, external developers should have everything they need to get started. The project will be overseen by the same people who were over the Sony Xperia S AOSP. Sony points out that the software is not intended for everyday use and several apps and services one might expect on a standard smartphone are not present. Hit the break for a short video about the project and some shots of what is included in the code.

Click here to view the embedded video.

source: Sony Mobile

Come comment on this article: Sony Xperia Z released to AOSP

More clues about the next generation HTC DLXPLUS devices have been discovered in some OTA testing information. The DLXPLUS codename is used by HTC for a line of phones normally marketed as either the HTC Butterfly or DROID DNA depending on the market and carrier. The OTA information indicates at least three different versions of the device are being prepped, including:

• DLXP_U – this version includes GSM and WCDMA antennas and would likely end up as a global version of the phone;
• DLXP_UL – this model is LTE-enabled, so obviously it would be intended for carriers offering LTE service;
• DLXP_WL – this version of the device is geared toward a CDMA2000 network, which could point to this being a Verizon specific version that may become the DROID DNA 2.

Sources believe a fourth version of the phone exists with the codename DLXPLUS_J that would be marketed as the successor to the HTC J Butterfly for the Japanese market.

source: GSM Insider

Come comment on this article: Next gen HTC Butterfly spotted in OTA information?