Android Phone Fans |
- AOKP founder Roman Birg doesn’t want to Kang anymore, joins Cyanogen Inc
- Google could charge OEMs a measly $.75 per-device-fee for access to Google Play
- Android 4.4 KitKat for HTC One hits US carriers, currently awaiting certification before being pushed out
- Qualcomm buys hefty patent portfolio from HP, Palm, IPAQ, and Bitfone for undisclosed amount
- Google Calendar bug could allow users to accidentally invite anyone to a private event
- Motorola’s Gallery app heads to Google Play with new user interface
- Get a free year of PlayStation Plus when you buy a Sony Xperia Z1s
- Get Carmageddon free for the next 24 hours only [DEAL]
- VERSI Dock / Stand will prop your smartphone or tablet up at any angle you desire [KICKSTARTER]
- Third-party Galaxy Note 3 case functionality killed after KitKat update; fix available for root users
- OnePlus One CyanogenMod smartphone due 2nd quarter of 2014; built using “only the best components”
- Beats Music signups closed for now due to heavy load; additional 7 days added to free trial
- This video showing the Nexus 5 in 6 new color options looks highly suspect…
- Sharp introduces AQUOS Pad and AQUOS Phone Mini with dangerously thin bezels
| AOKP founder Roman Birg doesn’t want to Kang anymore, joins Cyanogen Inc Posted: 23 Jan 2014 07:18 PM PST
The founder of the second most popular Android ROM and possibly the man with most amount of swagger from the Android community, Roman Birg, has joined Cyanogen Inc. Roman started the Android Open Kang Project ROM back in November 2011, following the release of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Since then, his ROM has gained quite the following throughout the Android modding community, ranking in at number two after CyanogenMod, Android’s most popular custom ROM. We’ve confirmed with both Roman and CyanogenMod and wish Roman the best of luck on his new career path. Roman might have left the land of pink unicorns behind for a new day job, but that doesn’t mean AOKP is dead. AOKP is a living, breathing machine. Roman has assured us that he will still be continue to contribute to AOKP while he hangs with Cid and gang. Image credit: Asher Simonds |
| Google could charge OEMs a measly $.75 per-device-fee for access to Google Play Posted: 23 Jan 2014 04:55 PM PST
It may come as a surprise to some that while the Android OS is open for the most part, Google’s apps are not, requiring certification in order for OEMs to pre-install them onto their devices. While Gmail and Google Calendar are all apps that would be sorely missed, it’s the Google Play Store and its hundreds of thousands of apps that are the real draw. Without it, manufacturers would be forced to give their users a crippled Android experience. Android is free — Google services aren’t While this alone isn’t “news” per se, a report from The Guardian is suggesting that — while you wont find it in any of Google’s accounting — the search giant could be charging some Android OEMs a $.75 per-device-fee to obtain a "Google Mobile Services" license in order to gain access to Google Play. With the millions of Android devices being activated everyday, if you tally up all the loose change, GMS licensing brings in Google about $100 million per quarter. This is a drop in the bucket when compared to the $13 billion in revenue Google typically makes every quarter (and barely a fraction of the $15 Microsoft reportedly charges to license out their OS). The struggle It’s been reported that — despite Google’s hippy open-love vibe — the company doesn’t hand out licenses to just anyone. More than often, this means smaller manufacturers are left out in the cold. While installing the Play Store without Google’s consent is very much illegal, it’s said that many times smaller OEMs are able to creep past Google’s radar. It’s because of this that many a times it’s the larger OEMs that do the policing for Google, pressuring retailers to remove illegal non-GMS licensed devices from store shelves whenever they’re found. Although there aren’t any reports of Google putting the heat on retailers for carrying non-GMS licensed merchandise, you may remember back in 2010 when the low-priced Augen tablet was abruptly pulled from Kmart shelves after the manufacturer “forgot” to remove Google apps from their device. Wonder who could have been behind that? Is Android really open? For some, this challenges the belief that Android is as “free and open” a mobile OS as it’s made out to be. We don’t see it that way. It’s as open as it needs to be. Anyone can take the code, do with it as they wilst — no charge. When it comes to the Google Play Store (you know, Google’s primary method for monetizing Android), it only makes sense Google exercise some restraint in who can have access (and for how much). Thoughts? |
| Posted: 23 Jan 2014 02:41 PM PST
Huzzah! HTC One owners in the US are being treated to a bit of good news today. According to HTC’s Twitter page, the manufacturer has already handed off their Sensified version of Android KitKat for the HTC One to Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, where it is currently undergoing inspection. If all goes well, expect certification by as early as next week. Eegad! Oh, and you’ll notice the HTC DROID DNA is also in line to receive KitKat and currently undergoing certification (check towards the bottom of HTC’s list). |
| Qualcomm buys hefty patent portfolio from HP, Palm, IPAQ, and Bitfone for undisclosed amount Posted: 23 Jan 2014 02:02 PM PST
Qualcomm has just announced that they’ve purchased a vast treasure trove of patents from HP, HP Development Co, and Palm. According to the press release, Qualcomm now has an extra 1,400 granted/pending US patents at their disposal, with 1,000 granted/pending in other countries. The patents are said to cover “technologies that include fundamental mobile operating system techniques.” Sounds like a pretty big deal. Qualcomm says this will help give their company added “value” to current and future licensees. And although Qualcomm wasn’t ready to disclose how much the patents set them back, in today’s mobile landscape, patents are definitely worth their weight in gold. |
| Google Calendar bug could allow users to accidentally invite anyone to a private event Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:32 PM PST
Less of a security issue than it is a social awkward one, but a new bug discovered in Google’s Calendar service is making headlines this afternoon. Here’s what has everyone up in arms. As discovered by developer Terence Eden, when creating a new Calendar event, it’s possible to enter someone’s email address into the title, at which point they will receive an invite to join that event — regardless if the event is marked private. While the odds of something like this happening in the real-world aren’t very likely, one scenario has a woman reminding herself to email her boss ___@gmail.com about a raise increase. You can only imagine the unconformable situation that could arise after her boss accepts (or rather, declines) the event. Less savory individuals would also be able to spam someone else’s calendar by taking advantage of this loophole. According to The Verge, Google is already working on a fix so don’t go losing any sleep over it. |
| Motorola’s Gallery app heads to Google Play with new user interface Posted: 23 Jan 2014 12:05 PM PST
Owners of the Motorola Moto X and Verizon’s newest DROID phones will be happy to know that the company’s gallery app has been put into the Google Play Store. This allows them to deliver updates to it without having to upgrade the entire firmware, and that first upgrade is already here. We’re treated to a brand new user interface that is more in line with the latest design guidelines. It doesn’t look all that different from how photos and videos are presented in the Google+ and Google Drive apps. You’ll still be seeing a grid-based interface, and a left sidebar makes way for new sections such as Camera Roll, Timeline and Albums. Everything else is pretty much standard affair, with basic editing and sharing options for those who need them. Be sure to find it in the Google Play Store and upgrade as soon as possible. |
| Get a free year of PlayStation Plus when you buy a Sony Xperia Z1s Posted: 23 Jan 2014 11:38 AM PST
It looks like Sony’s thinking up more creative ways to get folks on their side in all aspects of consumer electronics. The company is now offering a sweet deal where you can get a free year of PlayStation Plus when you buy a Sony Xperia Z1s from Sony or T-Mobile. PlayStation Plus, if you’re not familiar, comes with many benefits for owners of the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. The biggest advantage most folks will tout is the ability to gain access to free games for as long as their subscription is active. That’ll be especially important early this summer when Drive Club launches as a free download for PS+ members. Other benefits include discounts on PlayStation Store content, early access to exclusive game content, automatic game patch downloads, automatic save backups, and more. PlayStation Plus is now a requirement for playing online as of the PS4 as well, so you’ll definitely want to get in on this deal if you are planning on playing multiplayer on Sony’s latest console. Here’s how you take advantage:
It’s a $50 value, so the $0 down for T-Mobile’s Sony Xperia Z1s ($528 outright) becomes a little easier to swallow when you think about what you’re getting. Be sure to visit Sony’s site for more details on the offer if you’re interested. [via PS4Daily] |
| Get Carmageddon free for the next 24 hours only [DEAL] Posted: 23 Jan 2014 09:56 AM PST Heads up on a quick deal for those of you who aren’t interested in dropping $2 on Carmageddon: you can now get it for free in the Google Play Store! To celebrate the forthcoming launch of Carmageddon: Reincarnation on Steam Early Access, the team thought it’d be cool to offer the classic remastering of the original game for free. The catch is that you only have 24 hours to take advantage (even less considering the day is halfway over) so don’t delay if you’ve been wanting to check it out. Do note that there is a difference between the free trial version that has been offered from day one and this version. The trial only gives you a taste of what you can expect for full price, so make sure you click this link to download the full, promo version being offered for free. We were quite excited for the game’s arrival back in 2013, and our thoughts on it now are no different than they are now. It’s not be for the faint of heart, but if you like running over miles of pedestrians and seeing their guts spill all over the pavement, then it’s right up your alley. Give it a go! [via Carmageddon] |
| VERSI Dock / Stand will prop your smartphone or tablet up at any angle you desire [KICKSTARTER] Posted: 23 Jan 2014 08:39 AM PST Ready for another interesting Kickstarter project? This one is being called the VERSI, which apparently stands for “versatile, ergonomic, rugged, stable and iconic.” Simply put, it’s a desktop dock / stand that can fit any smartphone and tablet. That alone isn’t exciting, of course, as there have been many of those in the past. But the VERSI will make its name from the ability to position your smartphone or tablet however you’d like. Whether you like a low, slightly elevated angle or want the device right up close and personal, the VERSI will be able to twist and turn to your hearts’ content. The quick GIF below should give you a pretty good idea of the different types of angles you’ll be able to achieve, though the video is also sitting above in case you’re more interested in that. VERSI only weighs 585 grams, and was designed in a way to protect both your desk and your devices from scratches and scuffs.
The base of the stand also includes grooves for holding pens and pencils, business cards and other typical office supplies. VERSI also includes clips for hiding whatever cable you use to charge whatever device you’ll be propping up. Finally, adjustable clips makes VERSI compatible with pretty much any “normal” case out there (though no promises are made if you happen to put a tank of a case on your smartphone). The project is pretty cheap, with the Kickstarter goal being set to just $3,000. That goal has already been surpassed as of the time of this writing, with over $5,700 dollars pledged with 22 days to go. The cheapest option to get one of these is for $69, though you should note that is only an early bird option and there are only 10 units available at that price.         The next price is $89 for the standard anodized aluminum VERSI. Other tiers include options for adding LED lights, as well as a dual VERSI option for having two devices propped up simultaneously. It’s a pretty neat project, so be sure to head to Kickstarter and drop some cash if you’ve been looking for something like this. It’s expected to ship starting April 2014. |
| Posted: 23 Jan 2014 07:24 AM PST Uh-oh. A big ol’ stink is brewing over the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 following its upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat. Several reports suggest the South Korean company is blocking functionality of third-party accessories which aren’t officially licensed by Samsung. This mainly pertains to a selection of smart covers, such as the ones that show you only part of the screen while the case is closed.
This effectively means that every case made for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 are no longer fully functional. They all still fit, obviously, but users won’t get to enjoy features such as S-View, and possibly automatic power-on / standby. It was previously reported that Samsung was looking to test a new identification chip for accessories starting with the Galaxy Note 3. Most folks assumed that rumor was debunked, though, as third-party accessories were every bit as functional as Samsung’s at launch. This latest episode shows that the feature might have been there all along, though, and that it was merely a dormant beast waiting to be awakened by the Android 4.4 KitKat. So where do we go from here? If true, third-party accessory makers will still be able to make cases that are on-par with Samsung’s, but will likely have to be licensed and outfitted with an identification chip. The only issue with that is we’re still not sure what’s going to have to happen for the millions of other cases already out and about. We’ll be reaching out to Samsung to see what their plans are on this going forward (that’s if any of this is true to begin with). In the meantime, a fix has been found for those of you who don’t mind rooting your devices. The fix requires the Xposed framework tool, so be sure read up about how you can install and use that here. After that, find a download link for the APK you’ll need here (it’s as simple as installing the APK and enabling its functionality in Xposed). [via SamMobile] |
| OnePlus One CyanogenMod smartphone due 2nd quarter of 2014; built using “only the best components” Posted: 23 Jan 2014 06:55 AM PST Our friends at OnePlus have unleashed some additional details on the CyanogenMod phone — dubbed the OnePlus One — we’ve been hearing so much about over the past couple of months. For starters, they have confirmed that we will be seeing the smartphone within the first 6 months of 2014, as the company has slated for a second quarter launch. Good things come to those who wait, and we have a feeling that this smartphone will be a very good thing.
The company also released additional details about CyanogenMod, and how the phone will be built. On the point of the former, they say that CyanogenMod will be familiar, but it won’t be the exact same experience that ROM flashers on other devices are used to.
We’re not sure how we feel about that just yet, but we suppose judgment can’t be passed until we see what they’re planning to do for ourselves. On the topic of hardware, OnePlus also told us that they’re not going to be skimping on this phone. While they didn’t have any details to give us, we’re told to expect “only the best components” to be used on both the inside and out. They boldly claim that their phone is designed better than just about any smartphone on the market. All that said, it’s tough to get excited when we haven’t seen so much as a press or concept render of the device. We do know which LTE bands will be supported – 1/3/4/7/17/38/39/40/41 — but OnePlus has pretty much left us in the dark about everything else. (By the way, those bands are fully compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile here in the United States.) Regardless, we have faith that this new kid on the block won’t disappoint (especially considering the folks behind it were responsible for some of Oppo’s best phones). [via Facebook] |
| Beats Music signups closed for now due to heavy load; additional 7 days added to free trial Posted: 23 Jan 2014 06:33 AM PST
If you’ve been trying to sign up for Beats Music in the past couple of days and failed to get going on the newest hot music subscription service out there, you’re not alone. Beats has confirmed that they have closed new signups for the time being as they look to address the issues everyone’s having. It’s worth noting that the interruption hasn’t affected those who were already signed up for the service, as music playback has been just fine for those who were able to get in before the lock down. To make up for it, Beats is graciously extending the trial period by an additional 7 days for those who were already signed up, so that gives folks a good two weeks of head bopping before they’re asked to pony up at least $9.99 per month.
Unfortunately we don’t have an exact timetable as to when these issues will get sorted out, but we reckon Beats won’t want to drag their feet on it (especially considering AT&T has a lot riding on this for those who want to opt for the exclusive $15 family plan). Whenever things do get up and running, you’ll be able to find the app in the Google Play Store right here. Stay tuned for our review and comparison to Google Play Music! |
| This video showing the Nexus 5 in 6 new color options looks highly suspect… Posted: 22 Jan 2014 08:00 PM PST There’s a video making the rounds the evening. In the vidjya, someone in their parent’s dank, dark basement is browsing the Nexus 5′s familiar listing on Google Play, clicking through 6 new color options for the device: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. As we all know, currently, the only options available to anyone purchasing the Nexus 5 are either black or white. So does this mean we’ll soon see new Nexus 5 color options arrive in the Play Store? Not likely. Upon closer inspection we noticed that, aside from how janky the colors look on the web page, a load screen (along with URL change) always accompanies a color change on Google Play. Go ahead and try it for yourself. Now come back to this video. See what we mean? Now this doesn’t mean we wouldn’t do backflips if it came to pass, just don’t go getting your hopes up. [via Phone Arena] |
| Sharp introduces AQUOS Pad and AQUOS Phone Mini with dangerously thin bezels Posted: 22 Jan 2014 07:10 PM PST
Whether it’s masochism or just our full blown Android addiction, every now and then we like to take a look on the other side of the globe, just to see what tasty treats Android OEMs are cooking up in other regions. Japan has long boasted some of the most powerful, cutting edge smartphones in the world, but because the vast majority never seem launch outside the country, they tend to get little coverage.
Sony Xperia Z1 (left) vs Sharp AQUOS Phone Xx 302sh (right) Sharp is one manufacturer we’ve been keeping an eye on. Back in October the Japanese OEM announced their all new Sharp AQUOS Phone Xx 302sh. The phone is an Android fanboys wetdream, featuring a healthy set of specs, and some of the smallest bezels we’ve yet to see from an Android device. The math? The 5.2-inch display covers nearly 80.5% of the device’s total face, putting it well ahead of the competition. This means the phone is actually smaller than say, a 5-inch Sony Xperia Z, with the AQUOS Phone 302sh putting its 5.2-inches to much better use. Today Sharp announced a few new devices headed to Japanese carrier KDDI: the 7-inch Sharp AQUOS Pad, and the AQUOS Phone SERIE Mini SHL24 (a rehash of the AQUOS Phone Xx Mini). Both feature respectable specs in their given categories and Sharp’s trademark uber thin bezels (Sharp calls it their “EDGEST” design). While the AQUOS Phone Mini still has a little bit of chin, we think it does a pretty good job given its all around smaller form factor and “tiny” 4.5-inch 1080p display. Again, we don’t expect these to ever make their way stateside, but they sure are fun to look at… Looking ahead to the rest of the year and beyond, we’re hoping more Android manufacturers will jump on the trend of ever shrinking bezels, giving us the best display-to-bezel ratio for our buck. You never know what the future holds for Android. Great, isn’t it? [Sharp | Sharp AQUOS Pad (KDDI) | Sharp AQUOS Phone SERIE Mini (KDDI)] |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Phandroid To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment