Android Phone Fans |
- Yahoo buys contextual Android launcher Aviate
- Corning Gorilla Glass microbial test shows cleanest Phandroid staffer has dirtiest phone [VIDEO]
- TrueSmart smartwatch demo with Omate CEO
- Is Samsung’s new tablet UI a rip-off of Windows Metro UI? [POLL]
- Eyes on the new Polaroid Socialmatic Android camera with instant film on board
- Laugh if you want, but TREWGrip’s accordion-style tablet keyboard could be productivity heaven
- Sprint adds 6 new Spark markets, introduces “Framily” plan that gets cheaper with more people
- Samsung’s bike protoype can dock and charge your Galaxy device [VIDEO]
- Hands On: Samsung Galaxy NotePRO 12.2, Galaxy TabPro 12.2 and all its little brothers [VIDEO]
- Motorola to make big announcement for Europe next week; Moto X overseas?
- BMW and Samsung tag team vehicular connectivity with i3 and Galaxy Gear combo
- Wetley creating custom-fit prescription lenses for Google Glass for $150
- Hands-on: Fuhu Nabi DreamTab line-up [VIDEO]
- InMotion’s SCV is a Segway competitor for half the price (with an Android-connected app)
- Leaked screenshots show Samsung might be making some changes to TouchWiz for the Galaxy S5
| Yahoo buys contextual Android launcher Aviate Posted: 07 Jan 2014 06:30 PM PST
Yahoo announced today that they have acquired Aviate, a popular replacement Android home screen launcher. Aviate is by far one of the most impressive launchers on the Google Play Store, mainly due to the app’s contextual nature. In fact, many users have called Aviate the Google Now of launchers, since Aviate provides you with the right applications and home screens at the right time. Aviate tracks your usage patterns and automatically categorizes applications you use on your Android phone based on context such as WiFi, GPS, time of day, or accelerometer. Through this learning nature, Aviate automatically gives you a home screen and apps, called a space, that fits your needs whether that be at home in the morning, driving, at work, or at home in the evening. The more you use Aviate, the better it gets, automating your Android experience. Yahoo seems to be going strong in the mobile space in 2014, adding Aviate to their arsenal is a smart choice. Yahoo plans to continue improving the launcher, but hasn’t announced any integration with existing Yahoo services or apps. If you signed up for the Aviate private beta, the below email might be sitting in your inbox. Have no fear. Thanks to the Yahoo acquisition, the first 25,000 people to use the code “YAHOO” can give Aviate a try.
Download Aviate on the Google Play Store. Source: Yahoo! |
| Corning Gorilla Glass microbial test shows cleanest Phandroid staffer has dirtiest phone [VIDEO] Posted: 07 Jan 2014 05:11 PM PST Yesterday, Corning announced a new version of Gorilla Glass that is infused with antimicrobial solutions that will help keep your smartphone free of germs and bacteria. We were wondering how Corning would “demo” this technology at CES, so we just had to stop by their booth to check it out. It wouldn’t be right if our resident germaphobe Chris Chavez didn’t go along, so he and Rob Jackson trotted over there to check it out. To put it simply, Corning used an industry-standard microbial test that is often used to check contamination levels of restaurants in health safety checks. They simply swabbed the phones’ displays with cotton swabs to gather up the bacteria and mixed it with a solution that can be read by a machine. The result? Chris Chavez, who can’t touch as much as a doorknob without an immediate urge to wash his hands afterward, had a Nexus 5 that scored a 475, which is seen as moderate for a smartphone. We weren’t sure how that fared up against some of the other results, so Rob Jackson wanted to throw his Galaxy Note 3 down and see how it compared. Interestingly enough, Rob’s phone came back as a 57, which apparently means it’s cleaner than most smartphones out there. That sort of discrepancy just goes to show that you can be as clean as soap and still be exposed to tons of germs. I guess that’s the reason Corning found the need to develop something like this. The company claims that the glass’s antimicrobial properties will last for the duration of your smartphone’s life cycle. This is made possible thanks to the ionic silver used in the compound, an agent that allows the glass to be as clear and durable as other reinforced glass. It’d be interesting to see follow-up tests on phones with this sort of glass after a few months of rigorous use. We’re not sure when to expect the first smartphones with this material, but we suspect it won’t take long for manufacturers to pick up on it and yet another marketing bulletpoint for future devices. Be sure to take a look at the big germy showdown in the video above. |
| TrueSmart smartwatch demo with Omate CEO Posted: 07 Jan 2014 04:48 PM PST
Many of you know I am obsessed with smartwatches. Actually, I am obsessed with the idea of a smartwatch, but I haven’t found one that is made right. Smartwatches always seem to have some kind of downside – could the Omate TrueSmart break this trend? We stopped by the Omate booth at CES 2014 and got some good time with the CEO. He gave us an overview of the device and its features. Check it out: I suppose what I like the most is that this is a full Android device. It is not smartphone-dependent and you can just stick a SIM card in it to use it as your phone. In addition, the user can also connect it to any smartwatch and get all the features the TrueSmart offers. Omate TrueSmart specs
      The TrueSmart will be released later this year. You can already pre-order it for as low as $250 from the Omate site. Check out the video and stay tuned for more in the future! We plan to review this bad boy. What do you think? Is the Omate TrueSmart the smartwatch for you? |
| Is Samsung’s new tablet UI a rip-off of Windows Metro UI? [POLL] Posted: 07 Jan 2014 03:41 PM PST
You might have noticed that Samsung is using a new user interface for their Magazine UX on the latest Galaxy tablet devices (hands-on of which we have right here). We didn’t want to say anything before, but it looks like the word got out — it looks quite familiar. We’re talking about a light hint of Microsoft’s Metro UI used in Windows 8+ devices. While it’s clearly not exactly the same, you have to wonder if Samsung borrowed some design elements from Microsoft to craft this new user interface. Our friend Joe from WinSource suspects Samsung did it to create a product that lends itself more to the business users that the latest Galaxy TabPro and Galaxy NotePro tablets are catered toward. While no one can say for sure, we’re sure everyone has their own opinion. Personally, I think Samsung did borrow a bit from Microsoft, though they obviously used the power and flexibility of Android to create an experience that’s more useful than that of default Metro. Most of all, though, I think I’m just glad that they aren’t interested in trying to emulate Apple (though some supposed upcoming changes to TouchWiz seem to suggest they’ve dipped back into that trend for the phone side of things). How about you? Drop a vote in the poll below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments section right afterward. |
| Eyes on the new Polaroid Socialmatic Android camera with instant film on board Posted: 07 Jan 2014 03:31 PM PST
At the kickoff of CES Polaroid announced a new Android-powered camera dubbed the Socialmatic, which we quipped looks a lot like the Instagram icon. That’s no accident. It’s the first camera from the famed company to combine an Android interface with Polaroid’s instant film. With the Socialmatic, you can get a true washed-out Polaroid print while retaining the original image to share via whatever Android app your heart desires. The filters of apps like Instagram and Hipstamatic stem from and were inspired in part by Polaroids iconic lineup of instant cameras. The Socialmatic brings things full circle.
The Socialmatic’s 14MP sensor (and 2MP front-facing camera) routes images to the camera’s internal 2×3 ZINK printer as well as a 4.5-inch touch display, where a full build of Android Jelly Bean holds things down. Images can further be manipulated through apps and shared over the cameras built-in WiFi. Polaroid was also showing off an array of accessories, from customizable front plates to vintage-inspired cases and shoulder neck straps, all of which fit the vibe and looked pretty great. As the camera is still getting the finishing touches before it launches this fall, we only eyed the Socialmatic from behind a panel of glass. We can’t speak for what looks to be a potentially awkward, clunky form factor for toting around on the daily, but as a novelty act it should do just fine. It’s mix of retro looks, old-school prints, and modern Android technology definitely show promise.       |
| Laugh if you want, but TREWGrip’s accordion-style tablet keyboard could be productivity heaven Posted: 07 Jan 2014 02:51 PM PST The TREWGrip keyboard will catch your eye immediately. It’s definitely not slim or svelte. It’s somewhat large, has an accordion-like form factor, and looks unlike other products on the market. If you’re the type of person that theoretically likes tablets, but in reality prefers laptops at every turn, TREWGrip might win you over. The TREWGrip is described as a “Rear-Type” keyboard, meaning the keys are actually on the back of the device.
On the front of the device you see indicators for what keys are on the flip side, and when pressing an actual key, the indicator on the front will illuminate to confirm (or deny) that you pressed the right button.
The middle area is where you dock your tablet, via suction. Hopefully they’ll improve this function before launch since it didn’t seem flawlessly sturdy and all it takes is one drop to break your device. It also would only fit a smaller tablet and not a larger, 10-inch tablet; incorporating a slide to increase or decrease the width of the tablet dock would be helpful (similar to the PhoneJoy gaming controller). TREWGrip touts that the learning curve for their keyboard is very low, allowing you to achieve 80% typing speed of your normal QWERTY Keyboard after only 8 to 10 hours of use and familiarity. It’ll vary from person to person, but supposedly it typically allows more Words Per Minute typed than Swype and has even lower barriers to productivity. The TREWGrip is cool, but would I actually buy it? I’m not sure. But I’m not sure that matters. I’m a typical consumer who works from home and sits in front of my keyboard, with dual monitors and a nice big QWERTY, 80% of my day. Where I can really see the TREWGrip making an impact is for field agents who need to be productive while standing and working.
I may not have otherwise considered this “in the field” approach, but seeing our demonstrator dock the TREWGrip keyboard on his hip definitely flipped the light switch.
As with all startups and emerging tech companies, time will tell if it sticks and succeeds. Their chances will largely rely on a successful launch, which will occur in the coming months. The company is still considering the merits of either attracting investors or launching a KickStarter campaign. Whichever route they go, we wish them the best, and we’ll make sure to keep our readers up to date with their latest endeavors. Check out the company and follow their latest news at TREWGrip.com. |
| Sprint adds 6 new Spark markets, introduces “Framily” plan that gets cheaper with more people Posted: 07 Jan 2014 02:34 PM PST Sprint has announced that they’ve lit up 6 new markets with Sprint Spark upgrades, which brings their 4G LTE on new wireless spectrum that offers better building penetration and improved speeds. The six markets you can find new speeds in are Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, Texas, as well as Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That brings us up to 11 markets with speeds up to 60 megabits per second.
While Sprint’s roster of Spark-enabled devices is thin right now, you can expect the carrier to outfit most of their future smartphones with the radios. We already know that a Spark-equipped LG G Flex is coming, and Sprint also announced plans to relaunch the Samsung Galaxy S4 with Sprint Spark inside. In addition to those phones, there are a number of mobile hotspot and USB modem devices with the functionality already. With that, Sprint also introduced a new “framily” plan. Nope, not a typo. The “Framily” plan will give you the ability to get a cheaper bill as you add more people. Folks will start out at $55 alone, but the plan gets $5 cheaper for each member that signs up (though you’ll be capped at $30 in savings at some point). Each line is billed individually, and each line has its own set of data plans and services.
For an example, Sprint says someone on a 7-line framily plan can pay as little as $25 per month for unlimited talk, texts and 1GB of data. Comparable plans on T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon cost $50, $70 and $90, respectively. Those savings are pretty steep, though it’ll be tough for a lot of people to find that many folks to share a plan with and get maximum savings. With T-Mobile forcing the competition to step up and provide people with the services they want for the prices they want, we should see more carriers make moves like this in the future. |
| Samsung’s bike protoype can dock and charge your Galaxy device [VIDEO] Posted: 07 Jan 2014 02:07 PM PST
It’s the first day of CES and Samsung’s booth was packed from the windows to the wall with looky-loos trying to get their mits all over Samsung’s upcoming wares. We just gave you guys a hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Pro tablets, but for the more active types, we were able to get a short glimpse at Korean manufacturer’s upcoming bicycles. Yes, folks — bikes… sorta.
In a partnership with Trek Bikes, Samsung looks to make bicycling just a little more smartphone friendly utilizing built-in handlebar docks for their popular line of Galaxy devices. Shown off in 2 prototype bicycles, Trek was able to design one bike with, not only a dock for the Samsung Galaxy Gear, but even pairs up with the wearable to track the rider’s vitals, speed, and various other biking data.
The other bicycle on display featured a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 dock and a special charger in the front wheel to keep your device juice up while you ride. Pretty genius when you think about it, especially for those going on long bike rides while streaming music, using GPS, Maps, etc..
Still in the concept stages, Samsung mentioned these weren’t even the final design, let alone commit to any kind of release date. This was merely a sneak peek at the future of biking, brought to you by none other than Samsung. Stay tuned for more CES 2014 coverage as it unfolds! |
| Hands On: Samsung Galaxy NotePRO 12.2, Galaxy TabPro 12.2 and all its little brothers [VIDEO] Posted: 07 Jan 2014 02:05 PM PST Samsung had a bunch of great announcements at CES this year ranging from new washers, dryers, and cooktops to ultra clear big screen TVs with bendable displays. Of the new products showcased, several have Android, including four brand new “Pro” tablets dubbed the Samsung Galaxy TabPro and Samsung Galaxy NotePro. All these new devices and so much to remember, let’s try and simplify things a bit. Of primary importance is the reason Samsung calls these devices “Pro”: they’re top of the line, cream of the crop devices with the premium specs targeting power users. All four of the new “Pro” devices have the following specs in common:
The four different devices are:
Sitting on top (for comparison purposes) is the 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 3. The obvious difference is in the size, with specs also nudging upwards with each increase. The TabPRO 12.2 and NotePRO 12.2 are essentially the exact same device, except the NotePRO 12.2 includes the Samsung S-Pen Stylus, and will likely cost more for exactly that reason. Pricing and availability is still TBD. The first reaction is to look at the 12.2 inch behemoth’s and be blown away, and for good reason. But first, note how small and compact the Galaxy TabPRO 8.4 is and consider its WQXGA (2560 X 1600) Super clear LCD display. As far as we know, that’s the most pixel dense display for a tablet in its class on the planet. It’s beautiful. It’s impressive. Its worth staring at for a few minutes.
Make no mistake, though, the 12.2 inch TabPRO and NotePRO are where the real “new’ stuff is found: we haven’t seen a mainstream tablet of this size, ever. And despite what other manufacturers may argue, “mainstream tablet” currently means iPads, Galaxy Tabs, Kindles, and Nexii. It’s unashamedly humongous which, like any device, comes with ups and downs. On the bright side, the device is so humongous that typing on a full screen keyboard is like being in your office and 4-window multi-tasking is a thing of beauty. On the down side, laying in bed and watching a movie could cause a hernia. I kid, of course, and when put into perspective consider that the 12.2 inch pro devices are almost as light as the original Motorola XOOM which it has essentially lapped twice in the spec race (1.65 pounds).
As seen in the video above, some of the TabPRO and NotePRO features that are especially enjoyable are the 4-window multi-tasking, large keyboard layout, the Hold CTRL + A/X/C/V for select all, cut, copy, and paste (which surprisingly I haven’t seen on a tablet before). Then you’ve got the “Magazine Layout”. Pick up your tablet for the first time and you’re immediately welcomed by a very “happening” layout filled with widgets of all types and sizes. One page is for personal “stuff”, one for entertainment, and one for productivity. The widgets can be moved and resized to fit your needs. Unfortunately, many users may feel their “needs” are to completely remove the magazine layout and stick with the traditional Android homescreen, which isn’t an option.
I’m a bit surprised Samsung included this Magazine View on their Pro devices for a couple reasons:
But I’m not one to judge. I had these devices in my hands for less than an hour and, especially for the 12.2-inch form factor, real world use for a week or two is paramount to pinpointing it’s pros and cons. Hopefully we’ll be able to do exactly that for you in a full review when the Galaxy TabPRO and Galaxy NotePRO become available. Watch Samsung announce the devices at their CES 2014 press event in the video below: Take a look at all the Galaxy TabPRO and Galaxy NotePRO spec comparisons here! |
| Motorola to make big announcement for Europe next week; Moto X overseas? Posted: 07 Jan 2014 01:27 PM PST
Pretty much everyone outside of America is sick of hearing how great the Moto X is without the ability to actually purchase one. That might be changing soon, though, as the company has started sending invites to European press for a big announcement on January 14th. It could be anything, but we’d find it hard to believe that Motorola would specifically point Europe out for anything other than their best phone yet. For what it’s worth, Motorola did once mention that they would be looking to bring Europe a phone from the same “family” of devices when they were questioned about the lack of global availability for the Moto X. We can take that to mean that even if what we see next week isn’t a Moto X, it should come with a lot of the same features courtesy of the Motorola X8 Computing System. That would include Touchless Controls, Active Notifications and more. Of course, our guess is as good as anyone’s, so we’ll leave it up to Motorola to dish out the official details once they hold their press event next week. Any of you European folks excited for Motorola to finally bring something your way? [via Pocket-lint] |
| BMW and Samsung tag team vehicular connectivity with i3 and Galaxy Gear combo Posted: 07 Jan 2014 12:50 PM PST This is a landmark year for automotive at CES with the announcement of the Open Automotive Alliance, but it’s founding members aren’t the only ones getting in on the action. Samsung and BMW have teamed up with a CES showcase to illustrate how their Galaxy Gear – Samsung’s smartwatch – can connect to the BMW i3 electric car to improve driver experience. BMW touts the i3 as ”the world's first fully connected electrically-powered car” and it includes an integrated SIM. By connecting the Galaxy Gear to the car, drivers or passengers can quickly access important information about the vehicle such as remaining gas and how many miles can be driven, whether windows are up or down, doors are open or closed or locked or unlocked, and a whole lot more. It doesn’t stop at reporting data from the car; users can also send commands to the car, both through tap commands on their Galaxy Gear and through voice commands using the latest Samsung S Voice features.
One handy feature is initiating the horn on your car. Maybe you’ve returned from a trip or shopping excursion and can’t remember where you’ve parked your car. Simply tell your BMW to make some noise through your Galaxy Gear and it will alert you to its location. Pretty handy! I’m a bit torn between the practicality for a few reasons, but the usefulness of this combination will depend on if you are or are not a smartwatch type of person. Sure, you could access the exact same information on your phone, but the Galaxy Gear is already on your wrist and (I would think) much less of a distraction. Not to mention, you don’t have to unlock the Galaxy Gear to interact with the BMW i3 app (as you might have to on your phone). You can even go so far as to change the temperature of your car in anticipation of driving it, never having to freeze while waiting for your heat to get going or sit smoldering on black leather while you wait for the car to cool down. Have your Gear and i3 fix this in advance!
Expect to see a lot more solutions that have smartphone, wearable tech, and automotive working in harmony to create synergistic experiences in the coming few years. And be warned, they’ll probably come with even more buzz words than the previous sentence. Would a connected car be at the top of your check list when deciding to purchase your next vehicle? |
| Wetley creating custom-fit prescription lenses for Google Glass for $150 Posted: 07 Jan 2014 12:42 PM PST One firm doesn’t seem keen on waiting for Google to bring out a consumer-ready version of Google Glass before they begin offering custom lens services. Wetley has announced that they are creating custom frames and lenses for Google Glass that will allow prescription eyewear users to use Google Glass and, well, see at the same time.
The solution is a snap-in frame that attaches to Glass in a way that makes it easy and natural to use. You have a couple of different options for getting your Google Glass tricked out:
Many people will likely opt for the Wetley-cut option for the sake of convenience. Their lenses are crafted out of a strong polycarbonate and coated using Crisal anti-reflective solution for an optimal viewing experience. Folks interested can head to OpticsPlanet.com to order it. You’ll have to wait about 2-3 weeks for your order to be fulfilled, but we can’t imagine many will complain about that with so few options available as it is. |
| Hands-on: Fuhu Nabi DreamTab line-up [VIDEO] Posted: 07 Jan 2014 12:05 PM PST
When it comes to kids tablets, Fuhu is one brand you can’t help but mention. Fuhu makes some of the most recognized kids tablets; with content, features and specs that will tend to make parents very comfortable. A third iteration would only make sense, but Fuhu is not being conservative with the Fuhu Nabi DreamTab! The company has partnered with DreamWorks to bring awesome content to this device. Kids will be able to enjoy games, education exercises, drawing activities and more. Parental controls are included, of course. The DreamTab series comes with Android 4.4 KitKat and a special app store for kids. Specs are moderate, but we must remember what market Fuhu is aiming to cater to. Another great feature is that the tablets are said to be easily repaired. Check out the video to learn more! The tablet will be available later in 2014 for “under $300″. Not the cheapest if you ask me. What do you think? |
| InMotion’s SCV is a Segway competitor for half the price (with an Android-connected app) Posted: 07 Jan 2014 11:58 AM PST
Looking for a good time? Hop on board InMotion’s SCV. The immediate thought is Segway, and it’s true that InMotion is offering a more-or-less comparable product, but there are a few of reasons the SCV might turn heads. For starters, it’s smaller and more portable than a Segway, able to collapse down to the size of a rolling suitcase. Even cooler, the InMotion SCV’s connected app for Android can track your movement and offer vital stats on battery power and speed all while functioning as a smart key to power the transport on and off. The coolest feature of the app, however, might just be it’s ability to remotely summon the InMotion SCV to your current location or even have the vehicle trail you as you stroll along.
But the best thing about the InMotion SCV is its price tag, which registers at half that of the Segway. The InMotion SCV will retail for less $2500 when it launches later this year. One ride on it and pulling out the credit card will feel mighty tempting. |
| Leaked screenshots show Samsung might be making some changes to TouchWiz for the Galaxy S5 Posted: 07 Jan 2014 11:29 AM PST
It’s no secret that Samsung’s user experience could use a bit of a face life. Some of you would argue that they need to blow the thing up and start from scratch. While they will likely never go to that extreme, it sounds like Samsung definitely feels like a bit of change is needed. New shots from @evleaks suggest the company is exploring some new user interface tweaks. The changes aren’t drastic — it still feels like a Samsung phone — but it looks like Sammy is looking to make things a bit flatter. They also seem to like gradient colors, with a good deal of their new icons sporting more than one color blending into each other. It appears Samsung might also be bringing a BlinkFeed-like home-screen pane that offers up various information, stories and more. The screen unlock mechanism has an updated fitness tracking widget, but there’s nothing else about it that’s too different from what we have now. Samsung has reached a point of familiarity that makes it hard for them to make a huge departure from the norm. Half their success is TouchWiz and all that it brings, believe it or not, so they’ll definitely want to keep going with what’s working. The leakster isn’t totally confident that Samsung is committed to bringing us these changes in their upcoming smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S5, though we can’t imagine they are spending time and resources testing it for nothing. We should get a clearer picture of their intentions soon, as the company is expected to announce the Samsung Galaxy S5 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month. |
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