Android Phone Fans |
- Motorola updates us on failed Cyber Monday deal – will run again on Weds at noon and next Mon
- Android versions chart updated for the month of December, Android 4.4 KitKat debuts at 1.1%
- Google Play Music officially comes to Google Glass
- TYLT 50% off sale overloads website, honors deal past Cyber Monday but you gotta sign up!
- What’s the best Android phone to buy as of December 2013?
- VSCO Cam coming to Android tomorrow, takes your smartphone photography to new heights
- NVIDIA SHIELD December update brings improved controls, 1080p@60FPS in console mode and more
- Tegra 4-powered HP Slate 8 Pro and HP Slate 7 Extreme now available from Best Buy
- HoneyDru charger WINNERS (and a Cyber Monday sale for the unlucky ones)!
- Nike might have a new smart watch coming, but will Android users have reason to care?
- Samsung offers the Galaxy Note 3 in three new seductive color options
- Cyber Monday: $150 off Moto X, $50 off Kindle Fire HDX, Verizon LG G2 in white for free, and more
- Official FIFA app crosses into the Google Play Store in time for the 2014 World Cup
- Oppo N1 available in the US unlocked for $599 December 10th
| Motorola updates us on failed Cyber Monday deal – will run again on Weds at noon and next Mon Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:18 PM PST
It’s been roughly about 12 hours since Motorola was supposed to begin their big Cyber Monday sale on off-contract Moto Xs. Because of the increase of traffic, the site went down and the $150-off sale never actually got off the ground (although Developer Editions were selling at the discounted price). Here we are, in the wee evening hours and Motorola is finally back with an update. In a Tweet that went out just a few moments ago, Motorola is now promising that if they can’t get everything up and running by 9:30pm ET (about 15 minutes from now), they’ll offer the same deal at noon (ET) on Wednesday, then again next Monday, December 9th but with double the amount of devices available. Sounds like a better deal to us.
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| Android versions chart updated for the month of December, Android 4.4 KitKat debuts at 1.1% Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:30 PM PST
It’s that time of the month again! Android’s platform distribution numbers have officially been updated with the latest numbers for the month of December, 2013. Not just stats for Android fans to praise (or haters to scoff at), this is a tool used by Android developers to track a specific firmware’s grown or decline, deciding whether building their apps to support an older firmware is even worth their time. This month we have Android 4.4 KitKat making it’s debut in the charts, account for a whopping 1.1% of Android devices that have recently checked into the Google Play Store within the last 7 days. If you expected that number to be a little higher, you weren’t the only one. It appears that even with all these Android devices recently being updated to KitKat — Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 7 (2013), Motorola Moto X, HTC One Developer Edition and unlocked models — they were little more than a drop in Android’s bucket. Guess it’s going to take Samsung updating their devices to KitKat in order to see a bigger impact. We’re still hopeful that with KitKat being the lightest version of Android yet, we’ll begin to see more low-end devices launch with 4.4 out-of-the-box (and not Gingerbread). As for the rest of the numbers, Jelly Bean grew to 54.5% (up from last month’s 52.1%), while Ice Cream Sandwich dropped to 18.6% (compared to 19.8% last month). We’re still seeing the slow decline of Gingerbread, dropping from 26.3% in November, to 24.1% this month (most likely due to aging hardware finally kicking the bucket). Ha. |
| Google Play Music officially comes to Google Glass Posted: 02 Dec 2013 04:00 PM PST
Savvy Google Glass Explorers have been using Google Play Music on their Glass for about a month thanks to manually installing the Google Music APK via ADB. Shortly after this method became public, Google announced that in the coming weeks an official method for using Google Play Music on Glass would be made available. That day is today. To get the official Google Play Music Glassware, head on over to your MyGlass app and activate it there. If you jumped the gun and sideloaded the Google Play Music APK, you’ll need to uninstall it before activating the official app. To uninstall the old app, hook your Glass up to a computer with working ADB, and simply run the command: adb uninstall com.google.android.music. That’s it.    Get your jam on! |
| TYLT 50% off sale overloads website, honors deal past Cyber Monday but you gotta sign up! Posted: 02 Dec 2013 03:19 PM PST
One of the day’s better Cyber Monday deals was accessory manufacturer TYLT and them offering 50% off their entire online store with coupon code: 50off_ty!t. Everything from cases, to chargers, and backpacks are fair game (up to a maximum discount of $100 per customer). Needless to say, TYLT’s website got hammered by the stampede of online shoppers looking to capitalize on such a great deal, clogging up checkouts and leaving shoppers walking away from the site empty handed. But TYLT wants to make things right. According to a prompt that now appears when visiting the site, whether you knew about the deal or not, you can now visit this link here, to enter your email and reserve the deal for another day.
This should help alleviate some strain on the site, and you don’t need to stress out about grabbing a deal before day’s end. Win win. The must-have item on TYLT’s site? Take a look at these wireless charging cradles, normally $70 but only $35 for Cyber Monday. These docks come in a variety of colors and are perfect for media consumption. The rapid charging keeps your Qi-enabled Android device fully charged quickly and easily. Perfect gift for that Nexus 5 user in your life.
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| What’s the best Android phone to buy as of December 2013? Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:46 PM PST We’re right in the thick of this Holiday season, and there are sure to be a ton of you who are looking to upgrade to their next smartphone. There are a lot of choices out there that can make any Christmas merry, but what’s the cream of the crop? It’s our best phones list for December 2013, the last one you’ll be able to reference before deciding on your Christmas purchases for the year. Let’s get into it! 5 – HTC One
HTC One’s big brother One Max isn’t on this list, but that’s because it offers nearly nothing over the more pocketable 4.7-inch version. The HTC One is still a fine phone by this year’s standards. The HTC One is HTC’s main focus for the year, so it was no surprise that the company was able to deliver a KitKat upgrade for the unlocked and developer editions in a timely manner. It’ll take a while longer for it to make its way to carrier-branded versions, but the fact that HTC only has 3 main devices to support this year makes us hopeful that it won’t take long to get everyone up and running on the latest and greatest. 4 – Motorola Moto XThe Moto X spent a ton of time on our runner-up list, but it’s about time it gets graduated back to top 5 status. In fact, it’s done so by leap-frogging the HTC One that once dominated this list. The Moto X’s specs still pale in comparison to the One, but we’ve always given it props for its unique features such as Touchless Controls and Active notifications.
So what warranted a two spot jump? Because KitKat, that’s what. Motorola was the first OEM to deliver Android 4.4 KitKat to a non-Nexus device. The Moto X even beat out a couple of Nexus devices, which made us award tons of brownie points to the Illinois-based company. Software support is always an important factor in any smartphone purchasing decision, and Motorola’s haste in bringing KitKat to the Moto X is worth a lot more than most people think. 3 – Samsung Galaxy Note 3
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 did enough to maintain its throne at the number 3 spot for a second straight month. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 3GB of RAM and a 13 megapixel camera and more will always keep our interests piqued, as no other phone currently provides this same level of power in nearly every spec category there is to consider. 2 – LG G2
The LG G2 retains its second spot in the list, as it’s still one of the better purchase decisions you can make in this day and age. It’s expensive, but you get a lot for your hard-earned dollars. A 5.2-inch 1080p HD display, a Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 13 megapixel camera and more make sure of that. 1 – Nexus 5 by LG
We weren’t sure where the Nexus 5 would end up after we had some quality time to use it, but we’re still leaning toward this being the best pound-for-pound, dollar-for-dollar smartphone option on the market. We won’t lie — there are some quirks and other minor nuances keeping us from being totally in love with the Nexus 5. Battery life could be better, the speakers could be better, and the camera could be better, but for a starting price point of $350 we’re not sure there’s much room to complain about the rest of the spec sheet. That list includes a Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM and more. Runner-ups
Phones to look forward toThese phones aren’t available yet, but we know they're on their way and we know we're anticipating them a great deal. Said to be out at some point this fall, let's take a look at two of the most exciting devices on the horizon (which isn’t saying much, but work with me here). LG’s first smartphone with a virtually unbreakable display, the curvaceous LG G Flex is like a G2… except curvy. While some might not be moved or impressed by the unique contours of this thing, it’s still going to be a powerhouse for at least a few months. We’re not sure when to expect it, nor are we exactly sure where to expect it, but it’s coming. Samsung Galaxy Round Samsung has a curvy smartphone of their own coming, except its curve is more… weird. The Galaxy Round features a horizontal curve, which we guess is good for those who want a phone that can hug the contours of your backside more effectively. It remains to be seen if this unorthodox form factor will make people flock, but one thing’s for sure — it has our attention. Sony Xperia Z1 Mini This small handset will be taking a serious crack at the DROID Mini’s crown once it launches. The 4.3 inch 720p Xperia Z1 Mini packs a Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, Bluetooth 4.0, a 2,300 mAh battery and more. Sony (or Sony Ericsson) has always been known for creating great “mini” phones, and it looks like the trend won’t stop whenever this thing launches. We should be seeing it in mere weeks. Amazon’s Best SellersThese phones are selling like hot cakes on Amazon. Note that these aren't necessarily Amazon's true best-sellers, but best sellers out of the ones we haven't already mentioned. Take a look and see if some of these other hot phones are worth your time and money:
What say you?And that’s a wrap! There were a lot of changes this month. You may agree with some, you may agree with all, or you may think this list is pretty much worthless. We don’t care which side of the line you stand on — we just want to hear your thoughts! Let them be heard in the comments section below. Don’t forget that some of these great devices are on sale for Cyber Monday today! Be sure to find some great deals in our roundup post here. |
| VSCO Cam coming to Android tomorrow, takes your smartphone photography to new heights Posted: 02 Dec 2013 12:15 PM PST After months of beta testing, the coveted VSCO Cam camera app is just about ready to be released into the Play Store. Launching tomorrow, VSCO Cam — which has seen incredible success on iOS — allows Android users to take their smartphone photography to the next level, by providing a variety of professional filters and photo editing tools. Photo editing is quite literally what VSCO does for a living. Specializing in photo editing add-ons for Lightroom and Aperture, VSCO has somehow managed to inject that same formula into a mobile app for your smartphone. When it hits Google Play tomorrow, VSCO Cam will come with 10 Presets (filters), and Tools (photo editing features), with 38 additional custom Presets available via in-app purchases.
Shots all taken using VSCO Cam for Android (click for larger view)
I couldn’t be more excited. If you’re anything like me and love to share photos with friends/family, I think you’re going to love VSCO Cam when it officially arrives on the Google Play Store tomorrow. Want to learn more about VSCO Cam? Their own 15-minute walkthrough video can be found on their blog here. |
| NVIDIA SHIELD December update brings improved controls, 1080p@60FPS in console mode and more Posted: 02 Dec 2013 11:53 AM PST
The NVIDIA Shield is getting yet another huge upgrade that you should want to get your hands on ASAP. The biggest change you’ll find here is the ability to play in Console Mode at a full 1080p and 60 frames per second (whereas the October upgrade first brought 720p at 60FPS). The list of games compatible in each of these console modes is different, but NVIDIA has a nice list of games to start. They include the following:
And NVIDIA promises more will be added on a weekly basis, so you can expect that list to expand quite fast. You can find a full list of both 720p and 1080p games that can be played at 60FPS in console mode here. This upgrade also improves controller mapping, which allows you to map buttons to specific touch-screen gestures to make almost any game compatible with the device’s hardware buttons. This functionality has been extended to gyroscope emulation as well, so games which require motion-based gestures can now be played without an issue. You’ll also find new fine-tuned analog stock controls that allows you to bind the left stick to body movement and the right stick to camera movement for FPS titles such as Mass Effect Infiltrator. Finally, NVIDIA has added the option to have the Android status bar automatically hidden — simply swipe down from the top to bring it up whenever you need it. You’ll want to head to Settings –> About SHIELD –> System Updates on your device and hit the “Check Now” button for the download. |
| Tegra 4-powered HP Slate 8 Pro and HP Slate 7 Extreme now available from Best Buy Posted: 02 Dec 2013 11:43 AM PST
HP’s all new Tegra 4-powered Android tablet line is now available at Best Buy. Officially unveiled back in September, holiday shoppers perusing Best Buy’s site will find the HP Slate 7 Extreme and HP Slate 8 Pro retailing for $200 and $330, respectively. The HP Slate 8 Pro features a familiar iPad Mini aspect ratio, carrying a 7.98-inch display with 1600×1200 resolution, 8MP rear camera/2MP front facing camera, 1GB DDR3 RAM, micro SD card slot, micro HDMI out, Beats Audio, and again — powered by a powerful NVIDIA Tegra 4 quad-core processor. The HP Slate 7 Extreme is the more “affordable” out of the two, based on NVIDIA’s reference platform carrying a 7-inch 1280×800 resolution display, 1GB DDR3 RAM, 5MP rear/.3MP front facing cameras, micro SD card slot, stereo “front firing” speakers, and a passive stylus. Both tablets are running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and sound like they offer a good amount of bang for the buck. Right now, Best Buy is offering free shipping for orders over $25, but — at least in my area — the 7 Extreme appears to be sold out. Anyone thinking about getting one of HP’s new tabs? |
| HoneyDru charger WINNERS (and a Cyber Monday sale for the unlucky ones)! Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:34 AM PST
The weekend was full of treats, deals and food. We have the winners for the HoneyDru giveaway, so 5 of you can consider this the cherry on top! You can learn more about the HoneyDru by reading our review and watching our video, but in short words: it’s the most awesome Android car charger out there! Especially if you are an Android fan. Without further ado, here are the winners:
Congrats! We have sent an email with with further instructions to the winners mentioned above. If you won, you have until Tuesday at 11:59 PM (Pacific) to contact us. If we don’t get a reply from you, we will have to choose another random winner. Power by Gen’s Cyber Monday deals
Didn’t win? Don’t worry! Power by Gen has a very nice consolation for you. Today is Cyber Monday and you can take full advantage of the deals the charger manufacturer has going on today only! You can get any ANDRU charger (available in 4 colors) and the HoneyDru for just $34.99. That’s a nice $10 discount, but things get better with their second deal. You can save a whole $35 if you purchase all 4 ANDRU chargers for just $64.99. It seems Power by Gen is also offering a $5 discount on any charger until Christmas. I added one of the Cyber Monday deals to my cart and the $5 discount was automatically applied on top of the bundle offers! You also get free shipping within the USA, making these awesome stocking stuffers for the holidays! You can take advantage of these deals by going to Power by Gen’s site. Go get them! |
| Nike might have a new smart watch coming, but will Android users have reason to care? Posted: 02 Dec 2013 09:12 AM PST With Nike being one of the first big names to tackle the wearable space with their Nike FuelBand fitness bracelet, you had to imagine the company would have plans to test out the smart watch market that’s beginning to take off. DigiTimes is reporting that is indeed the case, with the outlet saying Nike is looking to bring their own product out in the first half of 2014. It’s easy to assume that Nike will take the fitness angle with their smart watch, utilizing the same vitality sensors from the FuelBand and giving you an even more comprehensive suite of workout-related features. We’re not sure how far beyond that they’ll go.
But the biggest question isn’t what they’ll be doing and how they’ll be doing it. Rather, it’s the “who” they’ll be doing it with that we’re more concerned about. In case you didn’t know, Nike still does not support Android-based devices with its FuelBand product, giving iOS users the exclusive rights to that accessory. Some people have been maddened by it, while others — like me — scratch their heads to figure out why Nike would look to alienate a fan base that has helped Android take up nearly 80% of worldwide sales in recent months. While Nike’s VP of Digital Sport Stefan Olander would try and convince you that Nike’s reason for leaving Android users out of the FuelBand experience is noble, we have a striking suspicion that isn’t the case. Here’s his original explanation, courtesy of The Next Web:
Olander continued by saying that Bluetooth LE is relatively new, and thus its stability isn’t guaranteed across so many different platforms and devices. That might be a valid point, and with Apple’s closed, tried and true ecosystem it certainly does lend itself toward making sure most or all users are treated to a satisfactory experience, but times are a-changing. Many of the top OEMs are building Bluetooth LE support into their phones, and Android has taken the first steps necessary to support the technology at its core as of Android 4.3. While such a vast and varied ecosystem still poses a problem for Nike, it won’t be long before their “lack of Bluetooth LE” excuse becomes a big pot of bologna. So the question for this smart watch will be rather simple: what would keep this watch away from Android users? If it’s not the lack of Bluetooth LE support, then perhaps it’s laziness on Nike’s part. And if it’s not laziness, perhaps the fact that they’re in bed with Apple is a key factor in making sure they only support iOS. If, and when, this smart watch makes its way to market it’ll be much easier to get a beeline on Nike’s true motives. |
| Samsung offers the Galaxy Note 3 in three new seductive color options Posted: 02 Dec 2013 07:48 AM PST
Samsung is adding even more color options to the already sizable list available for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. In addition to traditional colors like Jet Black and Classic White, and the smashing Blush Pink, you will soon be able to grab a Galaxy Note 3 in Rose Gold White, Rose Gold Black, and Merlot Red. The former two options bring us traditional white and black front and back plates, but gives us a fake-gold trim on the sides of the device. It’s a subtle effect, but looks quite nice. Merlot Red changes things up a bit with a deep wine-colored back plate and front chassis, along with a matching S-Pen. We reckon the phone is identical to the rest of the pack otherwise, though, with its 5.7-inch 1080p HD display, Snapdragon 800 processor, 3GB of RAM, USB 3.0, 13 megapixel camera and more. Samsung didn’t give us any details as to where and when you would find these devices in specific regions, but we imagine your carrier of choice will let those details be known should they ever decide to offer them for sale. Have a look at the full family above. |
| Cyber Monday: $150 off Moto X, $50 off Kindle Fire HDX, Verizon LG G2 in white for free, and more Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:20 AM PST
Black Friday has come and gone, but as you might already know the deals don’t stop there. Cyber Monday has become more of a big deal with each passing year, and there are a ton of great deals to be had this fine Monday morning. We’ve done a quick roundup of some of the few Android device and app deals we’ve come across. Here’s the quick shortlist that we’ll be updating as the day goes on: Devices
Apps, games and the Google Play Store
Accessories
It’s easy to miss a thing or two with so many different components in this large Android ecosystem, but be sure to tip us off to more great deals we might have missed in the comments section below. We’ll be updating this post throughout the day with the best deals we can find, so be sure to check back periodically! [Update]: The hottest deal in town — which is Motorola’s Moto X for $150 off — seems to be inaccessible by most people. Motorola’s servers are getting hammered, and understandably so. The company addressed the issues in a statement made on Twitter:
Be sure to follow Motorola on Twitter to find out when you’ll be able to get back on and try again. |
| Official FIFA app crosses into the Google Play Store in time for the 2014 World Cup Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:55 AM PST
We’re just a few short days away from the Final Draw of FIFA’s 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the football event that pits the globe’s top countries against each other for the coveted championship every four years. The prestigious event is sure to have many fans and followers, and FIFA’s making it easy for fans to follow on the go with a brand new official app. The Android version of the official FIFA app is now sitting in the Google Play Store for free. The app will not only serve as a definitive source of information for the big tourney, but will also be a one-stop shop for all things FIFA. News, videos, rankings and more will keep you in tune with the many leagues and football clubs around the world. A quick stroll through the app reveals an experience that is breathtakingly refreshing. Many sports organizations tend to completely disregard the “rules” of Android app design, but FIFA nails it right on the head with their official app. It conforms to the latest Android design guidelines, including the new-style sliding drawer and a card-based UI. It’s a sad state of affairs when bad app design is so common that you have to applaud something like this, but we’ll do it anyway. Find the free download in the Google Play Store. |
| Oppo N1 available in the US unlocked for $599 December 10th Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:29 AM PST
Wondering when you can get your hands on the Oppo N1? Wonder no longer — the arrival date is December 10th, according to the official Google+ account of the Chinese company. Coming in at $599.99 unlocked, the Oppo N1 is the first phone to feature official support for flashing CyanogenMod ROMs. The deal was struck when CyanogenMod went corporate and formed their grassroots ROM movement into a legitimate business. The Oppo N1 features a 5.9-inch 1080p HD display and Qualcomm’s 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor. It also has 2GB of RAM, either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, WiFi N, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, a 3,600 mAh battery and more. Its most intriguing component is the camera sitting on top, which is a 13 megapixel sensor that can swivel. This means you can use the same camera for rear and front photos and video, giving you one of the most powerful front-facing cameras we’ve ever seen on a phone. Our official review of the phone has all the deets you’re longing for, so be sure to get over there to see if this phone is worth the $600 they’ll be asking for. This link should get you on the right path once December 10th rolls around if you decide you want to buy one. |
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