Android Phone Fans |
- Google Glass accessories show up on official Glass Shop website
- ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T now available – Tegra 4 processor, 2560×1600 display, 2GB DDR3 RAM
- Google Play Store device listings get a quick makeover before Nexus 5 release
- Fun with the Nexus 5: dummy units leaking everywhere, 3D renders and GIFs result
- Oculus Rift mobile version in the works, coming to Android (and not iOS)
- Street Price: Google Glass v2.0 invites selling for $537 on average
- Google donates 17,000 Nexus 7 tablets to Hurricane Sandy victims
- Sprint announces handful of new tri-band LTE devices: Samsung Galaxy Mega, Galaxy S4 Mini, LG G2 and HTC One Max
- The EVO 3D saved someone’s life, so HTC’s sending them a brand new HTC One
- Sign up for a chance to provide input for Google’s latest products
- Double Dragon collection coming to Android later this year; watch the trailer inside [VIDEO]
- Pandora 5.0 brings the tablet UI we’ve all been waiting for, Chromecast support hinted
- Is this a picture of the Nexus 5 fresh out of the box?
- California Cop tickets woman for driving with Google Glass
- Something’s happening: 12 Google apps were updated on Oct 29th [UPDATE]
| Google Glass accessories show up on official Glass Shop website Posted: 30 Oct 2013 06:15 PM PDT This past week, Google opened up the Glass Explorer program by allowing all current Glass Explorers to invite three friends to purchase Glass. The Glass Team also announced that hardware version 2.0 was well underway and would be available to all Glass Explorers in the future. What they didn’t tell us was that an official accessory shop for Glass would soon be opening. The official Glass Shop contains most current Glass accessories (clear shield, charger, pouch) and adds the new and upcoming mono earbud. The earbud, according to the Glass Shop is specifically designed for Glass to provide high-quality sound for both video and phone calls. At this time, the sunglasses attachment seems to be missing from the store. And, interesting enough, the clear shield listed is only compatible with Glass units purchased after October 28th. Here’s a quick list of accessories, prices, and availability:
    If you’re a current Glass Explorer or recently received an invite from a friend, you might want to keep extra special care of your accessories. As you can see, replacing them is pretty costly. While most consumers were hoping to see an affordable consumer edition of Glass in the future, these accessory prices will definitely raise an eyebrow or two. To visit the store yourself, head on over to the official Glass Shop. [via LivingThruGlass] |
| ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T now available – Tegra 4 processor, 2560×1600 display, 2GB DDR3 RAM Posted: 30 Oct 2013 06:09 PM PDT During IFA 2013, ASUS announced a plethora of goods soon to be released unto the world. One of those special gadgets was their refreshed Transformer Pad convertible tablet. Last year we had the TF700T, and now comes the newly upgraded ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T. The TF701T features all the top-of-the-line specs you’d expect from of a high-end Android tablet. ASUS has upgraded the screen resolution and processor to better compete in today’s market. Here’s the quick bullet list:
According to ASUS you can get up to 17 hours of battery life using the combo, or a respectable 13 without. This all new Transformer Pad already went up for pre-order a few days ago, but today it’s finally become available on Amazon via EXCaliber PC, albeit at a $50 premium. Regularly, the Transformer Pad TF70T retails for $450 with Prime 2-day shipping, but it appears to have sold out. If you were looking to pick one up, direct links to the tab and optional $140 keyboard dock provided below. |
| Google Play Store device listings get a quick makeover before Nexus 5 release Posted: 30 Oct 2013 03:36 PM PDT It’s been awhile since we’ve seen changes made to the Google Play Store on the web. But just in time for the inevitable Nexus 5 release, it seems Google is doing a little tidying up. Hopping on over to Google Play’s Nexus 7 listing, you’ll notice a cleaner layout, removing separate listings for various device configurations, replacing them instead with simple 16GB or 32GB selection boxes and connectivity dropdown menu. We approve. While not ground breaking, it does make users’ shopping experience that much easier and highlights some last minute changes before the Nexus 5 (and maybe even the Nexus 4?) arrives on the scene. Shouldn’t be much longer, folks. The anticipation is building. |
| Fun with the Nexus 5: dummy units leaking everywhere, 3D renders and GIFs result Posted: 30 Oct 2013 03:02 PM PDT We have a good feeling tomorrow Google will have something very special in store for us (call it a hunch). Until then, we lay in wait, drooling over the countless Nexus 5 leaks spewing forth from the far reaches of the internet. Take this dummy unit obtained by a gentleman on Instagram. Apparently, after spending a day with said unit, he came up with a nice 3D render where he shot a quick video, uploaded, then quickly took down. No big deal, we have the video right here for ya. Not too long after, we discovered this very convincing GIF of a Nexus 5 allegedly created by a fan. Was it the same fella who uploaded the Instagram video? Possibly. Check it out (looks pretty official to us).
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| Oculus Rift mobile version in the works, coming to Android (and not iOS) Posted: 30 Oct 2013 02:52 PM PDT The Oculus Rift is one of the most immersive gaming products we have seen in a while. It doesn’t just sink you into the game, it makes you part of it. The 3D virtual reality headset was only thought to come to PC until today, though, leaving many of us out of the equation. That is until today – the company has announced that a mobile version of the Oculus Rift is in the works! Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe gave us the news during the GamesBeat conference this week, where he announced the smaller, mobile version of the PC Oculus Rift. The device is said to launch next to its bigger brother, in an effort to hit the consumer market (as opposed to only the gaming market). Launch is said to be sometime during 2014, so we might not have to wait too much. The unit would be smaller, lighter and will use the mobile device’s processor. As for compatibility, it seems us Android users will be getting a bit of an exclusive. The mobile version of the Oculus Rift will only be available for Android. No iOS support is planned, probably because the ecosystem is so locked down and the gaming headset requires deep support from the phone. I have tested the Oculus Rift for PC and have to say it is a very fun and immersive experience. I can’t wait to see how it will be with a mobile device. Playing games like Dead Trigger or first-person shooters must be a blast! There are still some concerns, though. We might not want to play for long hours, as many testers say it can make you dizzy. We’ll have to wait and see! Price, availability and other details should be coming in due time. Meanwhile, let us know if you would be interested in an Oculus Rift for your smartphone/tablet? Which games would you want to play with it? |
| Street Price: Google Glass v2.0 invites selling for $537 on average Posted: 30 Oct 2013 01:49 PM PDT It was on Monday Google officially announced that they would finally be relinquishing control of Google Glass invites, instead giving Glass Explorers control of who they felt should join the early beta program. The best part? Invitees would receive Google’s newly revised (read: nerdier) Glass 2.0 (pictured above). It was a pretty big move, and marked the first time that just about anyone could finally have a shot at owning Glass. Providing they paid the $1,500 entry fee, of course. As one of the rarest pieces of tech, any self respecting nerd would love the opportunity to join Google’s exclusive club. Google limited the number of invites Explorers could hand out to 3, with a deadline of about 14 days from being notified to hand out said invites. With the clock ticking, inevitable postings on eBay from would-be opportunists looking to cash in on their unique position began flooding the site. We showed you a few of those listings, showcasing a few buy-it-nows hitting upwards of $2,000. Going street price To follow up with that story, we decided to check back and see exactly how well these Google Glass invites have been selling. Remember, asking a price for something and actually receiving it are 2 separate things. As taken from 15 completed auctions, we found the average Google Glass invite would cost you around $536. This is the premium you might expect to pay on top of the already exorbitant $1,500 price tag. The future… it’s expensive. Looking through some of the data, the cheapest someone let a Glass invite go for was $150, while the most expensive was a whopping $1,000. Yeah, someone out there with deep pockets really wanted some Glass. The clock is ticking Don’t forget that these are auctions that have only just completed and we expect to find more popping up in the coming days. Again, with only 12 days from today left to go, there’s still a little time for enterprising Glass invidiuals to make a little money back on their investment. Not looking to pay extra for your chance at owning some Google Glass of your own? Don’t forget Phandroid has 9 invites to give away — and no, we wont be putting them up for auction. While we’re still deciding exactly how we’re going to give these out, but you can help us think up some fun activities (we love activities) by hitting us up on our Google+ profiles:
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| Google donates 17,000 Nexus 7 tablets to Hurricane Sandy victims Posted: 30 Oct 2013 01:40 PM PDT Hurricane Sandy ravaged the streets and neighborhoods of the east coast a year ago, but as with any natural disaster you don’t exactly overcome the effects overnight. That’s why Google wants to help make life just a little bit easier. The Mountain View company has decided to donate 17,000 Nexus 7 tablets to New York folks (with various libraries, schools, and other institutions getting a majority of them). The primary use will likely be communication with concerned family and friends, and information access for those who need to look up various bits of info for stuff like insurance claims and aide requests. It’ll also be a life saver for entertainment for those who just need to take a break from the pressures of getting back up on their feet. The donation is worth about $2.7 million, which is no small penny (though we imagine it’s easier to let go of unused stock than actual cash). We’re not sure which version of the Nexus 7 is being sent out for donation, but for now folks are assuming Google decided to offload stock of the 2012 version.We’ll be reaching out to clarify, though it probably doesn’t matter to the recipients — a free tablet is a free tablet. [via CNET] |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2013 11:53 AM PDT Customers on the Now Network have a little something to look forward to this year. Aside from Sprint announcing a handful of shiny new devices that will soon be available on their network, they’re also announcing that these will be some of the first that will feature tri-band radios, built to better handle Sprint’s multiple 4G LTE bands. Sprint has branded these devices as “Sprint Spark” compatible, seeing as how tri-band would likely only confuse customers. Upcoming devices to be released on Nov 8th include:
According to Sprint, all of these devices will need an over-the-air software update in order to flip on their dormant radios, with the exception of the Galaxy S4 Mini, which will be Sprint Spark enabled out-of-the-box. In any case, it’s always nice to see Sprint making a greater effort to bring LTE to more customers. They certainly have a lot of competition. [Sprint] |
| The EVO 3D saved someone’s life, so HTC’s sending them a brand new HTC One Posted: 30 Oct 2013 09:12 AM PDT In case you haven’t heard, a Florida man’s life was saved from a gunshot because his HTC EVO 3D was sitting inside his shirt pocket. Never mind the fact that he is still carrying an HTC EVO 3D after two long years — it saved his life! Perhaps that’ll get the phone half a brownie point on our worst Android phones of all time list. Unfortunately, that does mean the man’s phone has been destroyed forever, but fret not — HTC is going to hook him up with a brand new HTC One, complete with a smorgasbord of accessories to help protect his new bullet proof breast plate. I can’t say I’m mad at HTC for using this opportunity to get some free positive press, but let’s just hope everyone doesn’t start thinking a phone is good protection for various other dangers of the world. |
| Sign up for a chance to provide input for Google’s latest products Posted: 30 Oct 2013 08:05 AM PDT Are you one of those people who take product research surveys and potentially test cool things out before the general public can? What if I told you Google was looking for someone like you, and that signing up for a chance to be in the research process for one of these products took just a few minutes. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, read on! Here’s the skinny: Google’s looking for people — regular people, like you and me — to be surveyed from time to time on various developments. It could be some new app, a new design for one of their websites, and even a prototype of a new device to test out in the flesh. The goal is to get opinions from common consumers to help shape a better product for the future (your typical study group-esque setup, if you’re familiar with that sort of thing). You’ll be able to provide input and give the team feedback to help aide them in development of these various things, and you’ll be able to do it no matter where you are. From Google’s FAQ:
That all sounds great, but you should know that signing up to be in on a process like this doesn’t guarantee Google will ever contact you. Still, it’s worth a shot if you’re the type of person who likes to give input on product development before the general public. Be sure to take care of that over at Google’s website if you’re interested. |
| Double Dragon collection coming to Android later this year; watch the trailer inside [VIDEO] Posted: 30 Oct 2013 06:55 AM PDT Side-scrolling beat-em up fans will be pleased to learn that DotEmu will be bringing one of the most classic franchises to mobile at some point this year. I’m speaking of Double Dragon, the game that had you and your brother fighting over who would be the one to kiss the damsel in distress at the end of the game. We’re not getting one game. We’re not even getting two. DotEmu will be bringing the first three Double Dragon games in one nice, neat, downloadable package. The game isn’t terribly complex, nor was it the most original concept for its time, but it captivated us as if it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. This is something many gaming fans should be happy about, E=even if nostalgia is your only incentive for getting excited. The games will feature Bluetooth controller support for those not down with on-screen controls, leaderboard support, a new difficulty mode, and more. No word on cost or exact release date just yet, but we should be seeing it sometime before Santa lands on your rooftop to gobble up the milk and cookies this Christmas. Watch a quick video highlight above. |
| Pandora 5.0 brings the tablet UI we’ve all been waiting for, Chromecast support hinted Posted: 30 Oct 2013 06:10 AM PDT We’ve been getting a little tired of getting our internet radio on our Android tablets through an app that looked like it belonged on an Android phone. Sure, the tunes still sound just as good, and we suppose you’re not really looking at the app too much when you’re listening, but it was still a bit hard to look at. Thankfully, today’s update changes that for good. The app keeps all of the same functionality you’re used to, such as support for lyrics, the ability to rate music, the ability to view your profile information and more, except it does it all in a much more spacious viewing area. There’s one interesting change seen in the Google Play screenshots that aren’t in the current app, though — the app has a Chromecast icon at the upper right. Google officially announced Pandora as an early Chromecast partner when the HDMI-based media streaming dongle was first announced, but we have yet to see the fruits of that little partnership. The latest rumors suggested we were “days away” from seeing Chromecast support in Pandora, so it sounds like things are right on schedule. For now, just enjoy the new tablet experience, and keep your fingers crossed that it won’t take as long to bring Chromecast support as it’s taking Google to launch the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat. |
| Is this a picture of the Nexus 5 fresh out of the box? Posted: 30 Oct 2013 05:21 AM PDT While we’re still waiting for Google to officially unveil the Nexus 5 (as well as Android 4.4 KitKat), one lucky soul over at Overclockers seems to have gotten their hands on the device. User Nickyyy claimed to have received stock of the device, potentially for a shop he or she works at. When asked to tell more, they simply responded with the photo you see below. It appears to be a Nexus 5 in the flesh, with the device looking to be going through the boot process (unless that’s just the typical protective plastic with a Nexus 5 logo on it). Off to the left of it is a box that looks Google-y enough to make this leak believable. There isn’t much else that can be learned from such a simple photo, but the leakster mentioned we should be seeing it in “the next few days.” They wouldn’t say much more than that, unfortunately, but we have more than enough information about the device itself. We should be getting a 5-inch full HD display, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD video recording, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi ac and NFC. As you can see we know nearly everything there is to know about this device, except one thing — when, where, and how much. We know we’re might close (otherwise Google wouldn’t have updated all their apps to work with KitKat at the same exact time). Get on it, Google! |
| California Cop tickets woman for driving with Google Glass Posted: 29 Oct 2013 10:18 PM PDT We’ve seen private establishments like bars ban glass. We’ve seen social backlash about Google Glass being for being “Glassholes” (the term is lamer than the tech). But one place Google Glass hasn’t been banned yet, although it’s in the works: your car. Not anymore. Glass Explorer +Cecilia Abade was just issued a ticket for driving while wearing Google Glass. There is no publicly available information discerning the legalities of driving with Glass and at most (in my opinion), Cecilia should have been given a warning, well wishes, and been on her way. This was bound to happen at some point and the ruling on Ms. Abadie’s case could become important to the future of Glass from a legal standpoint. According to fellow Glass Explorer Matt Abdou the law being contested is called V C Section 27602 Television and technically, based on the verbage, it seems Glass could be considered legal under these circumstances.
Not to mention, while texting and driving may be illegal in some states, looking at your phone while driving is not. Neither are Garmins. Unless he can prove she was watching a YouTube video or doing something entertainment based, she should be able to avoid a penalty. This opens a can of worms for Google Glass at a very important time. Google has just announced a new hardware version of Glass and is also letting Glass explorers invite 3 friends to the program. Glass is supposed to launch publicly in 2014 and far fetched rumors suggest a floating barge in San Francisco could host the first Google Glass store. One thing is for absolute sure: Cecilia shouldn’t be subject to ambiguous laws created by the intersection of an ancient legal system and innovative technology. Let’s spread the word about this case and see if we can’t force some justice. Just one question, Cecilia… any chance you recorded the whole thing with Glass? |
| Something’s happening: 12 Google apps were updated on Oct 29th [UPDATE] Posted: 29 Oct 2013 08:49 PM PDT 12 Google apps 12 Google apps Technically, there’s 12 updates this week if you count Google Wallet. Of course, Google+ was updated earlier today, and Hangouts — well, we know what both those app updates bring. But these other ones — these other ones are new. Something’s happening, guys… UPDATE: Blogger was just added. That makes 12, folks. |
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