Android Phone Fans |
- Sprint is the first US carrier to update the HTC One to Android 4.4 KitKat
- If this isn’t the most diehard Android fanboy, I don’t know who is [VIDEO]
- Barnes & Noble Nook tablets get Android 4.4 KitKat courtesy of N2A Cards
- Maker of one of the first ‘Facebook Phones’ shuts down
- Red Nexus 5 press image leaked, looking pretty official
- US Cellular introduces no-contract $50 unlimited plan (limited time offer)
- Mobile Roar Podcast 30: A Lenovo Company
- HTC One now receiving Android 4.4.2 KitKat update… in Canada
- Ouya updated with 16GB storage, revised controller
- Why Lenovo’s Motorola acquisition isn’t really that bad — and could be great
- Samsung announces Galaxy S4 ‘Black Edition’ with faux-leather finish
- Addictive screen masher Flappy Bird comes to Android
| Sprint is the first US carrier to update the HTC One to Android 4.4 KitKat Posted: 31 Jan 2014 04:59 PM PST
The results are in, and Sprint is officially the first carrier in the US to push out Android 4.4 KitKat for the HTC One. Okay, so maybe “push” isn’t the best word since Sprint wont exactly be prompting users of the update until February 11th. While that is still a ways off, users looking to grab the update now can simply do so by jumping into their Settings > About Phone > Software update. Don’t freak out if you don’t see it there yet, just try again tomorrow and I’m sure it’ll be waiting for you. The update brings the HTC One’s software build up to version 4.06.651.4 and besides KitKat goodies, it also introduces the latest version of Sense 5.5. Thanks, MITM! [Sprint] |
| If this isn’t the most diehard Android fanboy, I don’t know who is [VIDEO] Posted: 31 Jan 2014 03:17 PM PST
Android users be like… Okay, we couldn’t get over how hilarious it was that something like this actually happened. Following the trend of “pranking” videos that are all the rage on YouTube, an attractive young woman asks her iPhone (Siri) for advice on getting the cute guy sitting next to her to ask her out. In a move only the most diehard of fanboys will ever understand, the dude responds with the most epic of suggestions ever: “You should try Android.” BOOM. Video proof below. [via Reddit] |
| Barnes & Noble Nook tablets get Android 4.4 KitKat courtesy of N2A Cards Posted: 31 Jan 2014 02:37 PM PST
Seems like it’s every other day we hear about a new Android device receiving their KitKat update, but would you believe Barnes & Noble’s line of Nook tablets can also partake in the latest Android confection? Okay, so not officially, but the fellas at N2A Cards might have the next best thing. Recently, they’ve updated their specialized plug-and-play SD card that gives the Nook Color, Nook Tablet, Nook HD, and Nook HD+ the ability to boot into stock Android 4.4 KitKat without all the bloat. Yum. Of course, N2A Cards don’t come free. Preloaded micro SD cards with everything you need to get up and running with KitKat can be picked up on their site for $30. Given that most of us have a few SD card laying around, there’s also a downloadable version of their software offered at a discounted $20. Previous N2A customers get the best deal, with the update to KitKat setting them back a mere $10. Because it’s more or less like dual-booting, you can always return to the stock Barnes & Noble software where all the apps and media you’ve purchased will be waiting for you. With access to a near stock Android 4.4 experience, KitKat might be exactly what the doctor ordered to breathe new life into the aging tablets. No reports on exactly how well KitKat runs on any of these tabs (technically, they’re running CyanogenMod), but with KitKat said to be lightest version of Android yet, we’re expecting good things. For a quick rundown of the painless installation process, check out the video below. [N2A Cards | Nook HD 7-inch | Nook HD+ | via CNET] |
| Maker of one of the first ‘Facebook Phones’ shuts down Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:19 PM PST
Inq Mobile, a company among the first to team up with Facebook to introduce a so-called "Facebook Phone," has shuttered its doors. The UK-based company was founded in 2008 and introduced several handsets before shifting their focus toward creating software products, namely apps Material and SO.HO. Both apps have seen their last updates and will no longer be supported. Rumored as early as 2010, Inq introduced the Cloud Touch and Cloud Q in 2011. At the time, they were the closest thing to a smartphone collaboration with social media giant Facebook. While not truly Facebook-branded devices, the phones did feature special features linking it closely with the network. Inq only ever had a chance to release the Cloud Touch, which was received poorly. This led to the scrapping of the QWERTY-laden Cloud Q. Inq's offerings were ultimately overshadowed by similar collaborations between HTC and Facebook. Material, a news reader app, and SO.HO, a social media aggregator, were then introduced as Inq's main focus. In the end, the company was never quite able to find itself among the rapidly evolving market and as such has been lost in the wash. We've poured one out for the Facebook phone that never came to be. Here's one for Inq Mobile. [via TechCrunch] |
| Red Nexus 5 press image leaked, looking pretty official Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:16 PM PST
The red Nexus 5 has been leaked so many times — first in blurry cam photos, followed by much clearer shots of the device unboxed — it’s beginning to look like this really is a thing. Today, leakster @evleaks posted a beautifully rendered press image of the red Nexus 5, exactly how it will appear on the Google Play Store. Expect the Ferrari-red Nexus to be made official shortly. [@evleaks] |
| US Cellular introduces no-contract $50 unlimited plan (limited time offer) Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:03 PM PST
US Cellular is introducing a new no-contract $50 unlimited plan. The plan offers customers unlimited talk, text and data… up to 500MB. After that, UCell says you can expect throttling. Okay, so this isn’t really for data hogs and we should note that US Cellular also offers another no-contract $50 a month plan, although that one is capped at 1GB (presumably with no throttling). According to US Cellular, this 500MB throttling plan is only available for a limited time so you might want to hurry if you’re looking for affordable cellphone service without the commitment. Of course, you definitely have other options like the exact same plan on T-Mobile for $50 a month, or Straight Talk with unlimited talk, text and around 2.5GB of pre-throttled data on AT&T’s 4G LTE network for $45 a month. |
| Mobile Roar Podcast 30: A Lenovo Company Posted: 31 Jan 2014 11:29 AM PST This week on the podcast we celebrate our 30th episode by purchasing Motorola! Okay, actually that was Lenovo who did that. We don’t have that kind of money…yet. We talk at length about what this means for Motorola, Google, and Android in general. Other topics include Apple’s “disappointing” financial results, the Nokia Normandy, and much more. Of course we also share our Wins and Fails of the Week. You can find links to everything we discussed below. The News
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| HTC One now receiving Android 4.4.2 KitKat update… in Canada Posted: 31 Jan 2014 10:56 AM PST
Just because HTC missed their target date for rolling out Android 4.4.2 KitKat to the HTC One here in the states doesn’t mean the manufacturer is facing the same delays elsewhere. Case in point, the Canadian version of the device which, right on schedule, is now receiving Android 4.4.2 on Rogers, Bell, Virgin, TELUS, SaskTel and WIND (Canada’s big major wireless networks). In light of HTC President Jason MacKenzies lengthy apology letter, we’re wondering how much the US delay had to do with HTC, and how much of it was actually the US carriers and their extensive approval process. In any case, if you’ve got an HTC One and you’re living in Canada, now’s a good time to jump into your Settings > About Phone > Software update and pull that KitKat. |
| Ouya updated with 16GB storage, revised controller Posted: 31 Jan 2014 10:43 AM PST
OUYA has gotten off to a slow start, but that doesn't mean the company has given up (yet). No, instead they are introducing a version of the console with boosted internal storage, 16GB worth to be exact. Compare this to the original and its measly 8GB. The new version of the console seems to be a more permanent continuation of a limited edition white Ouya with 16GB of storage introduced during the holidays. Along with a blacked-out look, the package also introduces an updated version of the Ouya controller, and can be purchased now for $129. For only $30 more than the original, it seems like a no brainer. Or maybe the real no brainer is saving your money altogether. [via Kotaku] |
| Why Lenovo’s Motorola acquisition isn’t really that bad — and could be great Posted: 31 Jan 2014 09:32 AM PST
For the mostly negative reaction that has greeted news of Google selling off Motorola to Lenovo, you would almost forget that the Chinese company has introduced several drool-inducing handsets alongside hopeful optimism of eventual US releases. Those releases never came and those lusted after handsets fell into obscurity, but Motorola now offers Lenovo a clear avenue into the North American smartphone market. How is this a bad thing?
Lenovo's Android story starts with the OPhone, launched for China Mobile way back in 2009. While that particular handset created buzz simply due to the lack of big name manufacturers producing Android phones at the time, it was the Lenovo LePhone with its intriguing clamshell keyboard "dock" that really caught the attention of many. It was an innovative design unlike what had been seen in an Android phone up to that point. Alas, that device was also destined to remain in China. And that would mostly be the story of Lenovo: a series of innovative, intriguing designs spanning smartphones and tablets that never quite had the backing to reach the United States. We're talking Lenovo, the company that introduced the first Intel-based Android phone. The Lenovo K800 proved Intel could hang with the rest of the Android crowd. Then there was the K900, another Intel handset that experimented with a variety of premium finishes and materials, not unlike Motorola's focus on customization with the Moto X. These devices, the K800 and K900 in particular, were far from what most considered the typical Android handset from a Chinese manufacturer. These weren't low-quality, knockoff phones. These were devices that had rightfully earned praise at trade show after trade show, suffering mostly from their limited releases. Yes, in the United States Lenovo is mostly known as a PC manufacturer, but Motorola gives the company a fresh chance at capturing new users in a market that could have a huge impact on their bottom line. For this reason, it's unlikely that the Motorola name will go anywhere anytime soon. We'd be surprised if Lenovo scrapped that sort of brand recognition. If anything, we could see Lenovo rolling its current mobile operations into Motorola.
It remains to be seen what sort of influence Lenovo will have on Motorola's future plans and their smartphone designs. It's understandable that many are skeptical about a Chinese company taking over a business grown in the US. We're hopeful, however, for what could come. It certainly won't be as bad as many want to make it seem. It could even be great, a faltering company with a strong brand given an injection of resources by a Chinese corporation desperate to break into a new market. |
| Samsung announces Galaxy S4 ‘Black Edition’ with faux-leather finish Posted: 31 Jan 2014 07:33 AM PST
Samsung has introduced a handful of international releases this week to round out their Galaxy lineup. Taking center stage is the Samsung Galaxy S 4 Black Edition. The Black Edition gives the S4 perhaps its biggest external design tweak since its launch with a faux leather back, which riffs on the design introduced with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and newer Samsung tablets. The look is complete with leather grain and mock stitching, giving the S4 a nice premium look. We haven't been the biggest fans in the world of the design choice by Samsung, but it's nice to see the company experimenting with finish options. Hopefully someday that includes metal, but I digress. The Galaxy S4 Black Edition is otherwise identical to the original, featuring a 5-inch HD display, Snapdragon 600 CPU, 2GB RAM, and 13MP camera. Along with the standard S4 Black Edition, Samsung also introduced the Galaxy S4 Mini Black Edition. Both devices will be available starting next month in Russia and possibly elsewhere.
In other Samsung release news, the company introduced several new La Fleur editions. These include new versions of the Galaxy Fame Lite, Galaxy Trend, and Galaxy Core. In Poland the company unveiled the Galaxy Note 3 Neo, a device that offers S Pen input and phablet dimensions with specs that go a bit easier on the wallet. Two versions of that device — 3G and LTE — will be available. Both include a 5.5-inch 720p display, 2GB RAM, and an 8MP camera. The 3G version sports quad-core processing while the LTE edition gets hexa-core silicon. The Note 3 Neo will se a global launch next month.
[via Samsung Poland, Samsung Russia, 2] |
| Addictive screen masher Flappy Bird comes to Android Posted: 31 Jan 2014 06:15 AM PST
Chances are you may have heard of the craze that is Flappy Bird. It has rocketed up the iOS charts, creating a Vine meme of users reacting to their crashing avian avatar in the process. Sure, the name definitely tries to cop some of Angry Birds' street cred, but it seems just a few taps of the screen has been enough to get users hooked. The concept of Flappy Bird is simple: tap the display to keep a bird afloat while navigating an 8-bit realm in the style of Super Mario. In fact, gameplay is a lot like old school Mario levels in the air or underwater where mashing a button was the only thing that would keep the Italian plumber afloat. Apparently the Android version has been made a little less difficult than its iOS counterpart, so perhaps it won't cause as many social media freak outs, but it will no doubt lure in more than a few, spawning an addiction that might see them tapping their screens in their sleep. That's fair warning. Flappy Bird is available now as a totally free download from Google Play. [via Google Play] |
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