Android Phone Fans |
- Official Samsung Galaxy S4 wireless charging S-View Flip Covers now available
- At least one lucky guy’s Verizon Moto X has been updated to Android 4.4.2
- AT&T now allows existing customers on contract to take advantage of Next early upgrade program
- Newly published Google patent shows how their driverless cars monitor traffic lights in real-time
- FBI snatches Google Glass off the face of innocent AMC movie-goer
- Samsung’s Android 4.4.2 update now rolling out for Exynos-powered Galaxy Note 3
- PSA: upcoming versions of Android may break root apps
- This HTC M8 (One 2) concept addresses my biggest complaint with the current model
- AT&T LG G Flex presale begins January 24th; $300 on-contract, from $26.74 with AT&T Next
- Nest: any future changes would be of completely transparent and opt-in nature
- Would you buy a Motorola phone if they had early access to Android updates? [POLL]
- New rumors suggest Samsung ditching Galaxy S5 iris scanner in favor of fingerprint scanner instead
- Sony D6503 “Sirius” rumors suggest 3GB of RAM, Snapdragon 800 and more
- Verizon Edge upgrade period goes from 6 months to 30 days
- Samsung’s revamped UI leaks, reminds us of Windows Phone and Google Now
| Official Samsung Galaxy S4 wireless charging S-View Flip Covers now available Posted: 20 Jan 2014 06:50 PM PST
“Better late than never,” a famous idiom Samsung seems to be taking to heart when it comes to their smartphone accessories. You may remember it was only last month Samsung’s wireless charging S-View Flip Covers were made available for the Galaxy Note 3. Today, those same wireless charging cases are finally available for the Samsung Galaxy S4, and no sooner than a month or 2 before we expect the Samsung Galaxy S5 to be made official. The folio cases take advantage of Qi wireless charging technology, making them perfect for users looking to make a break from unsightly wires cluttering desks and nightstands. It’s one of the benefits of owning a Samsung device (removable battery covers), but don’t think for a second these are come cheap. Currently the black and white versions can be purchased direct from Samsung for $70, or you can save a few bucks by going with Amazon (black: $55, white: $70). Links provided below. |
| At least one lucky guy’s Verizon Moto X has been updated to Android 4.4.2 Posted: 20 Jan 2014 05:51 PM PST
Ever since Android 4.4.1 and Android 4.4.2 hit Nexus devices, Motorola Moto X owners have been chomping at the bit to get another timely Android update. We’ve heard from Motorola that an update is around the corner and should address a couple of known Android issues as well as a battery drain issue some Moto X users are experiencing. Besides that, we haven’t heard any concrete target dates. However, nothing says soon like an accidental OTA update. At least one lucky guy has received an update to Android 4.4.2 on his Verizon Moto X.
Normally we’d take these types of reports with a grain of salt, seeing as they aren’t that wide spread. However, P3Droid, an Android informant with a history of being in the know, has confirmed on Twitter that he too is running the same build as displayed in the screenshot above. According to reddit user odin2347, he purchased a new Moto X and was prompted for an OTA update to Android 4.4 KitKat. After the 4.4 update, he was prompted for a second update to Android 4.4.2. It looks like the kernel was built recently on January 10th and the update also includes a new radio baseband. When it comes to OTA updates, Motorola generally likes to take advantage of soak tests and their feedback network. We’re not sure how this update slipped through the cracks, but we’re happy to see more proof that an update is on the horizon. Fingers crossed and confidence high Moto X users. |
| AT&T now allows existing customers on contract to take advantage of Next early upgrade program Posted: 20 Jan 2014 05:24 PM PST
When AT&T announced their Next early upgrade program back in July, it sounded like one helluva deal. An answer to T-Mobile’s JUMP, AT&T didn’t ask for much, only $0 down and payments of the unsubsidized phone for 20 months. Unfortunately it wasn’t an offer that was available to loyal customers already on contract. In effort to help keep existing customers happy, AT&T is announcing today that their Next program is now officially available to customers already locked down on a 2-year agreement. The offer is good even or those that just signed up, you’ll just have to wait for the 6 month mark before being able to nab that early upgrade. It might not be Verizon newly announced 30-day wait time for Edge, but at least it’s something. Oh, and to help offset the monthly installment payments that will be added to service plans on Next, AT&T is reminding customers to take advantage of their Mobile Share Value plans, which offer unlimited voice and text, as well as various data tiers for $25 a line. AT&T calls it a “win-win”, but we’ll let you decide. Want to see if you’re eligible for Next? Simply dial *NEW# in your smartphone’s dialer for more info. |
| Newly published Google patent shows how their driverless cars monitor traffic lights in real-time Posted: 20 Jan 2014 04:23 PM PST
There’s no question there’s a lot of technology going on inside Google X’s driverless cars. In fact, you can find Google patent applications dating all the way back to 2009 dealing with almost every aspect that makes their fully autonomous vehicles tick. The latest — filed in September of last year but published only a few days ago — deals with Google’s specialty software in their driverless cars that makes it possible to scan and read traffic signals, sending that information the car or user. Google explored a variety of methods to recognize changes in traffic signal, ultimately deciding that a mounted camera would be the easiest and most logical solution. Working in conjunction with location data, these cars are able to calculate the position of traffic signals on a map using 2 or more cameras, discerning whether it’s a traffic light they’re looking at, or simply the lights of the car up ahead.
As detailed in the patent filing, the software works by first receiving the images taken by the camera, filtering images (those taken of intersections), classifying images by searching for red, yellow, and green blobs where it can then label the classified colored blobs accordingly. Using motion compensation to identify associated labels, it can determine the 3D location of traffic signals and generate traffic signals on a map. Again, this data can be used by other driverless cars alerting users if there’s been a change (green to yellow to red). This, folks, is how your future driverless car (we’ll all be driving these, right?) will work with others to monitor traffic lights and signals, preemptively knowing when to stop or slow down. Pretty neat, right? |
| FBI snatches Google Glass off the face of innocent AMC movie-goer Posted: 20 Jan 2014 03:11 PM PST UPDATE: We’ve been in touch with and received clarification from the subject of this story, which can be found at the bottom of this article. Love it or hate it, Google Glass has been the cause for a lot of excitement lately. Last week it was pronounced legal to wear but not use while driving in the state of California. Shortly after, Glass was making waves again with the launch of an app called “Sex with Glass“, allowing participants to essentially create their own sex tapes with the facial tech. Apparently, the FBI felt left out of all the fun.
Outside there were 5 to 10 officers and agents who proceeded to allegedly badger and question him for over 3 hours, suggesting he was illegally recording the movie. Let’s get a few facts out of the way:
The authorities eventually let the man go, but not without hours of intimidation and a frightening story that has him shaking – literally – even a day after the event. A Movie Association representative compensated the Glass Explorer with 2 free movie tickets for his night of troubles. The authorities certainly have the right to remove a patron from the theater suspected of recording the screen, but should wearing Google Glass be suspicion enough? The Explorer cooperated with the authorities, but considering his rights and his innocence, would you have acted differently or pursued a better outcome? As Google Glass and other wearable tech become more prevalent, you can bet we’ll hear a lot more of these stories popping up across the world. For now, head on over to the-gadgeteer.com to read the full account of the man’s experience. We’ve reached out to the original author to obtain further information about the instance but are still awaiting a response. UPDATE: We’ve been in touch with the subject of this story and received some additional information, shared below, although the man has asked to remain anonymous. Asked whether or not his Google Glass were damaged in the process:
Asked how other movie-goers reacted:
Asked if he could confirm the identities and/or organization of the officers:
Asked why he didn’t wear regular glasses that day:
Asked if this experience will change the way he wears Glass or handles authorities that approach him about the use of Glass:
He then insisted he never wanted to make a big deal about this, simply wanting to warn fellow Glass Explorers about his experience and how they might learn from it. He topped it off with a rather interesting observation about the “fear” of new technology and how perceptions change over time:
Don’t forget about all those 6-second Vines and animated GIFs. |
| Samsung’s Android 4.4.2 update now rolling out for Exynos-powered Galaxy Note 3 Posted: 20 Jan 2014 02:10 PM PST
It was a few days ago Samsung began pushing out Android 4.4.2 to the international Galaxy Note 3 Snapdragon variant (SM-N9005). Today, the update is now hitting the Exynos-powered versions of the Note (SM-N900), beginning in Russia. Aside from the usual KitKat changes (like now white status bar icons), the update is said to bring updated Samsung keyboard apps, camera lockscreen shortcut, and a nice performance boost as well. Like any other software update, it will need to be approved by the appropriate carriers, so don’t be bummed if your Note 3 hasn’t received the update just yet, rest assured it’s on its way. You can manually check for an update by jumping into your Settings app > More > About device > Software update > update. As a bonus, the kernel source was also provided, but wont matter much to you unless you’re a developer. |
| PSA: upcoming versions of Android may break root apps Posted: 20 Jan 2014 12:51 PM PST Just a quick PSA for those of you who either develop or use apps that require root. Chainfire, the man behind some of the most helpful and useful root apps out there, has alerted the community about possible changes to Android’s file system that would effectively break root access for many apps.
According to him, new code commits to the Android Open Source Project master tree prevents SuperUser from executing files located in /data. Chainfire explains what’s happening in a quick couple of lines:
He says it’s likely we’ll be seeing this in the next major version of Android (be it 4.4.3, 4.5, 5.0 or whatever Google decides on). So what does that mean? It’ll mean tons of app developers will likely have to update their apps to circumvent this unfortunate issue looming over the community. While there’s no known solution just yet, Chainfire says it’s important for the community to be aware of the issue early on. This would allow developers to pool the power of their overly smart brains together and work together to make sure this doesn’t become an issue by the time the next version of Android is out. How can you, the user, help? Simple: contact all of the developers of your favorite apps and pass them the source link you see below. Make sure they’re aware of the impending issues so that they can be on the edge of development and make sure this doesn’t affect their apps’ usage. Otherwise, we’re going to have a lot of sad folks dropping a lot of 1-star reviews in the Google Play Store in the near future. [via Google+] |
| This HTC M8 (One 2) concept addresses my biggest complaint with the current model Posted: 20 Jan 2014 12:13 PM PST
Aside from a handful of rumors, we really don’t have much solid evidence when it comes to HTC’s upcoming HTC One sequel. The original model was so damn near perfect, one rumor suggested the phone’s design wouldn’t change much at all, opting instead for an iPhone-esque update where mostly the internal hardware would find itself upgraded. There was even a leak supporting these claims, showing much the same HTC One we’ve been manhandling these past few months, only with an extra cutout above the camera for the rumored fingerprint scanner or extra camera.
What is HTC planning for that hole above the camera? Hmmmmm… While I’ll admit, I’m still very much in love with the HTC One’s overall design, there is one area of the device I’d love to see improved: it’s 4.7-inch bezelicious display. The HTC One launched during a time when a good portion of OEMs were ready to make 5-inch displays the new standard. I’ll admit, it took me by surprise when I learned the HTC One would launch with a smaller display than its Verizon cousin, the HTC DROID DNA, but still feature its overall size. With the device’s front facing speakers already taking up a good portion of the device’s real estate, the HTC One was already at somewhat of a disadvantage. Any bezels further added to the device would only make matters worse, and they did.
The HTC One 2 (M8) the way we’d like to see it Google+ user, Nikolai Prettner, felt much the same way about the One, and in a concept image posted to his G+ page, envisions an HTC One 2 (M8) minus the original’s thick, black bezels. Sure, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen an HTC M8 concept. Last month, Quentyn showed us another take on the device — again, keeping with the same overall design — only adding a wacky 2K display, fingerprint scanner, and 3GBs of RAM. The problem? That concept was still using capacitive buttons. We’re crossing our fingers that by adding virtual buttons on the HTC M8 (still a rumor, mind you), HTC will be able to extend the display size to 5 inches, making for a more visually appealing device in the process. Looking ahead, I would love to see manufacturers take more time on their flagships, sticking with the same overall design, then going all-out with a completely new model every other year. And it’s not only Apple that does this, think about the car industry. We don’t see a completely redesigned Corolla every year. But I digress… There’s no question HTC has a lot riding on their next flagship. The best part is we wont have to wait much longer to see what they finally unveil. While official dates have yet to be announced, we’re thinking HTC will stick to the original’s late-February reveal date. Can’t hardly wait. [Google+] |
| AT&T LG G Flex presale begins January 24th; $300 on-contract, from $26.74 with AT&T Next Posted: 20 Jan 2014 11:06 AM PST AT&T has just announced presale details for their version of the LG G Flex. For starters, we now know that the device will be offered starting January 24th, though its actual release date still has yet to be revealed. What’s more is that AT&T has given us details on pricing. There are a few different routes to take:
And Here’s what you’ll be getting for all that cash:
Of course, that spec sheet doesn’t say anything about the device’s durability. The LG G Flex is touted as being virtually indestructible, with the flexible display inside able to bend, twist and contort without cracking at the seams. It also has a self healing back, so you won’t have to worry about putting it in the same pocket with your keys and change.
AT&T’s Mobile Minute above showcases their version of the device, though it’s pretty much identical to every version out there (including the one we got our grubby little hands on at CES 2014). Be sure to give it a watch, and if you decide this is the device for you then wake up bright and early to order yours from AT&T. We’ll be sure to report the release date once those details are made available. |
| Nest: any future changes would be of completely transparent and opt-in nature Posted: 20 Jan 2014 10:27 AM PST Google shocked the world last week when they announced they were buying Nest for $3.2 billion. Nest creates connected home products such as smoke detectors, CO2 monitors and thermostats. Their products allow consumers to monitor and adjust home conditions while they’re away, and gives folks advanced thermostat control that you might not find in simpler, cheaper products.
But not everyone was willing to throw streamers and blow horns over the occasion. Nest’s new connection with Google had a lot of folks worried about its future, with many thinking Google would try and get their hands on yet another source of data to better target you in their main business of advertising. Nest and Google tried to nip those fears in the bud by reiterating Nest would continue as an independently-operated entity and that Google didn’t have plans to dip their hands into the information cookie jar. Now, they’re doing even more to help ease folks’ mind. Speaking at he DLD Conference in Munich, Germany, CEO Tony Fadell mentioned that they currently had no plans to do anything than what was already on their roadmap, which is not a bad idea considering their acquisition deal has yet to be finalized. It’s never wise for a company to get too far ahead of themselves in these sorts of situations, so we wouldn’t be surprised to learn Google really is keeping good distance.
That could change in the future, though, and Fadell says users won’t have to worry then, either:
In other words, if Google does, in fact, do something like use Nest’s data to integrate information about your home’s condition into Google Now or possibly use it for advertising, you will know about it and you won’t be forced to use it. Not all of us are so paranoid to believe Google would finagle our data without telling us, so it’s nice to get some reassurance for those who are. For now, we’re just going to sit back and watch how this exciting marriage plays out. [via The Next Web] |
| Would you buy a Motorola phone if they had early access to Android updates? [POLL] Posted: 20 Jan 2014 09:24 AM PST When Android 4.4 KitKat launched, we were surprised to see that the Moto X got the upgrade before most Nexus devices. It wasn’t a huge gap between the rollouts, but the fact that any non-Nexus device got it before any others was astonishing. Some suspected Motorola might have had privileged access to the update ahead of other OEMs thanks to their new parent company Google.
Interestingly enough, TrustedReviews posted an appalling headline earlier “confirming” as much. Here’s what the headline originally satated:
And here’s a line from the source:
That line alone doesn’t seem to convey that Motorola is getting priority access. Indeed, the headline was changed to reflect Woodside’s comments more accurately, which don’t actually state Motorola gets early access to upgrades. But Woodside’s comments are still quite interesting. Such a confident statement, coupled with what seemed to be lightning fast upgrades to Android 4.4 KitKat on the Moto X, Moto G, and the 2013 DROID phones, would make anyone believe Motorola is receiving special treatment. It’s entirely possible that other factors could be in play, of course. Motorola’s “keep it simple, stupid” approach to software these days probably makes it easier for them to implement and test new versions of Android than other OEMS. That said, they still do use a great deal of custom software in their latest phones, so it’s still amazing to see them able to get a stable upgrade out ahead of any Nexus device.
While we might not ever get a clear answer about it (that would tick some pretty big manufacturers off), one thing’s for sure — Motorola fans certainly won’t be complaining anytime soon. Would you make your next phone a Motorola phone if you found out they had access to newer versions of Android before anyone else? Let us know with a quick line in the comments section, as well as a vote in the poll below! |
| New rumors suggest Samsung ditching Galaxy S5 iris scanner in favor of fingerprint scanner instead Posted: 20 Jan 2014 07:44 AM PST With Apple popularizing the fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 5S and HTC following along with the HTC One Max, we assumed Samsung would eventually want to offer something similar. That’s not to say the South Korean electronics giant is a copycat, but we can’t help but notice history suggests they’ll always look to one-up their most direct competitors.
That’s why we were a bit shocked when earlier rumors suggested Samsung wasn’t looking to bring a fingerprint scanner in the Samsung Galaxy S5, a device that’s supposed to push the limits with a Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM, 2,560 x 1,440 display and more (check out the full list of rumored Samsung Galaxy S5 specs here). Instead, the company had long been rumored to be working on an iris scanner. As futuristic and Mission Impossible-ey as this sounded, we wouldn’t put anything past today’s tech companies in terms of innovation. But it looks like that might not pan out. New rumors suggest Samsung has shelved plans to put an iris scanner inside the Galaxy S5, and will instead use a fingerprint scanner to provide biometric scanners for security and authorization features. That news comes to us by way of the Korean Herald, a publication local to the company’s home turf that has a pretty good record when it comes to spilling Samsung’s beans. It’s not hard to believe Samsung likely lost interest in the iris scanner considering the shortcomings the solution would be subject to. For starters, lighting conditions would have to be good enough for the camera to be able to accurately scan your eye, and those conditions aren’t something Samsung can always guarantee. One might suggest they use a small LED light to illuminate that part of the user’s face, but that seems like a bit much for the sake of mobile security. Samsung would also have to spend a good deal of money on figuring out where and how to implement the camera. All told, it just sounds like something that’s not worth the trouble in the long run. Besides, a fingerprint scanner is plenty secure unless you foresee your finger getting chopped off or having your print molded. Unless you’re a high-ranking government official or some sort of super spy, I wouldn’t bank on those things being issues for most common users. We’ll likely have to wait until March or April to see what Samsung decided to do, so sit tight and wait for more solid information to roll in.
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| Sony D6503 “Sirius” rumors suggest 3GB of RAM, Snapdragon 800 and more Posted: 20 Jan 2014 06:45 AM PST
While Sony’s Xperia Z1 line, including the Sony Xperia Z1, Sony Xperia Z1s, and Sony Xperia Z1 contract, is still impressing the shirts off our backs, it looks like the Japanese company could be working on even more heavy hitters for the future. What we’re seeing below are picture of the Sony D6503, which has supposedly been codenamed “Sirius.” According to the XDA resident who leaked the device, it’ll apparently come equipped with Qualcomm’s 2.3Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, and a whopping 3GB of RAM. Beyond that, folks are also told to expect a 5.2-inch 1080p HD display, as well as the same 20.7 megapixel camera sensor featured on the aforementioned Z1 line. Alongside shots of the device, we are also treated to shots of its Android 4.3-based user interface. You should note that Sony is expected to launch this thing with KitKat. Changes to the user experience seem fairly minor up against their smartphones of today, though we could probably see some new bits with the KitKat-based build.     There was no word on when we can expect to see this device, but Sony has historically used Mobile World Congress to launch their first half products on a big stage. We’ll be seeing if they have anything to bring with them to Barcelona at some point early next month. Be sure to hit the source links for more.         [via XDA, Xperia Blog] |
| Verizon Edge upgrade period goes from 6 months to 30 days Posted: 20 Jan 2014 05:07 AM PST Verizon Edge might be getting even more sweet for Big Red customers who enjoy hopping from smartphone to smartphone. The company has announced that they’re reducing the wait time between upgrades from 6 months to just 30 days, giving folks a breakneck upgrade pace to be sure they’re consistently on the cutting edge of mobile tech.
Verizon Edge proved to be a pretty decent option for folks who found themselves wanting new smartphones early and often. Under the program, users are able to pay for their devices for $0 down payment with equal monthly installments for 24 months, and get the option to upgrade after 6 months if at least half of it has been paid off. Don’t forget that said upgrade would come with the obligation to trade your previous smartphone in. It isn’t a great deal for everyone — especially considering it doesn’t lower your bill like some competing services — but it has proven to be quite helpful for many. The caveat with this new change is that you’d still have to pay off at least 50% of the device in order to “Edge Up” to your next upgrade. That means if you upgrade right after the 30 day waiting period you’d likely be paying a couple of hundred dollars up front. That said, if you are getting the itch to upgrade and just can’t wait, this new option is right up your early.
A Verizon spokesperson told CNet that this change is currently being seen as a promotion, though Verizon has yet to set an actual end date (meaning they could be running this for quite some time). It’s possible Verizon wants to gauge market response to the changes, and see if it helps keep customers on-board who may be tempted to jump ship due to delectable offers from other carriers.
We’ll have to wait a few months to see if these particular decisions will produce the results Verizon is looking for. Head to Verizon’s site if you’re interested in upgrading your phone using Edge.
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| Samsung’s revamped UI leaks, reminds us of Windows Phone and Google Now Posted: 19 Jan 2014 07:31 PM PST The man, the myth, the legend, evleaks, has done it again, giving us another look into Samsung’s upcoming user interface overhaul. In a previous Sasmung UI leak, we saw a new UI that was best described as a Windows Phone Live Tiles clone. This time evleaks has offered up what would appear to be a colorful, informative cards UI, that reminds of us Windows Phone’s Live Tiles as before, but this time includes contextual and useful information similar to Android’s Google Now. The collection of cards includes your current location, home automation, fitness tracking, food orders, biking/cycling information, sports scores, flight information, delivery updates, event reminders, and more.
Most of these services are currently offered through Google Now, but Samsung seems to be taking the card UI a bit further by adding a social element beyond commute updates and birthday announcements. The cards above show check-in information, location sharing, song sharing, and messages from your friends intertwined with other information that you would be tracking. It’s no huge secret that many users from the Android world view Samsung’s current TouchWiz UI as dated and in need of a drastic overhaul. It’s not known if these images depict an application that can be launched in a similar method to S-Voice or Google Now or if these images are part of a bigger plan to revamp TouchWiz into a cleaner and more modern experience. With Mobile World Congress 2014 being a little over a month away and the Samsung Galaxy S5 set to launch in the Spring, we look forward to these leaks materializing into something a bit more tangible in the near future. Source: evleaks |
At an AMC theater in Easton Mall in Columbus, Ohio, one Google Glass Explorer went to see Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, but got a rude awakening instead. An hour into the movie he was approached by a federal agent who, without hesitation, snatched the Google Glass off the man’s face and removed him from the theater.
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