Android Phone Fans |
- HTC announces financing program for HTC One
- Instagram invites media to “share a moment” on Dec. 12
- Pantech Vega Secret Up announced – high end specs, fingerprint reader and “privacy protected” display
- Nexus 5 now getting Android 4.4.1 update – get your cameras ready!
- Google Glass competitor Vuzix M100 now available for pre-order at $1,000
- Anchorman’s Scotchy Scotch Toss game now available
- Google now allows you to download Gmail and Calendar data
- You can finally store your Google Play Music songs on your SD card
- Android 4.4.1 update is real, and will bring some serious camera improvements
- Will Samsung release a phone with a fingerprint scanner next year?
- Double Dragon Trilogy available for $2.99 in the Google Play Store
- AT&T’s new contract-free Mobile Share Value plans start December 8th; saves you as much as $15
- Assassin’s Creed Pirates anchors into the Google Play Store for $5
| HTC announces financing program for HTC One Posted: 05 Dec 2013 06:23 PM PST Purchasing an off-contract is becoming much more popular. Especially with devices like the Nexus 5 and Moto G offering good specs for low prices. A new trend seems to be on the rise, though. Motorola has recently started financing off-contract phones and now HTC is jumping in the bandwagon. The Taiwanese manufacturer is offering a financing program for the $600, 32 GB HTC One. Assuming your credit passes the test, you will be able to what could be the best phone of the year home. All for $0 down and as low as $25 monthly payments (no interests). We assume these terms may change if your credit is not as great as they would like it to be. This is probably why they say “as low”. Fortiva Loans is in charge of the borrowing department. Regardless, it’s nice to see more manufacturers doing this. You can get the HTC One for less from other retailers, at this point, but having a device in easy payments is always great. You can go apply for HTC One financing at HTC’s website. You should hurry, the current deal is only available until December 29, 2013. You might have to put some money as a down payment after that. Also, this is the GSM version. So it will be good for GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Who is signing up?! [HTC] |
| Instagram invites media to “share a moment” on Dec. 12 Posted: 05 Dec 2013 06:00 PM PST Instagram lives online, so it strikes us as odd when we see such a company sending physical press invites to an event. This is exactly what has happened as multiple media outlets start receiving physical, wooden invitations to an event in New York City this coming December 12th. The invitation is pretty much an Instagram photo printed on a wooden canvas, inviting the media to “share a moment” with the team. Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom will be there to show us all the goodies. There is a huge question to be answered, though: what is this event all about? There are recent rumors of Instagram working on private messaging, but that is yet to be seen and nothing really points towards that. Can we take something from the fact press is getting physical invitations in the form of images printed in a wooden canvas? I would it would be very cool if we could purchase some of those with our very own images. After all, it seems all media outlets are getting different images. Nothing is for sure now, though. We will have to wait until December 12 to find out! [via Mashable] |
| Posted: 05 Dec 2013 03:05 PM PST Pantech is ending the year with a high-end phone that will sure turn heads. The device comes with great specs on a 5.6-inch display, essentially making this a “phablet”. The most interesting features go beyond just raw specs, though. This is a bit of a special device, and not only because of its odd name. Pantech Vega Secret Up specs
Not bad at all, right? Large screen, powerful processor, and awesome battery life. What else can we ask for? Let’s jump into what makes this smartphone truly unique. Fingerprint readerTo start things off, the device comes with a fingerprint reader. We haven’t seen this feature being well-implemented yet. Even the iPhone’s fingerprint reader is faulty, according to our very own Kevin Krause. Does this mean the Secret Up’s will be as bad? We don’t know, but we have a hard time believing they can do a better job than Apple, Motorola and HTC. Privacy protected display?The next feature is that one that strikes me as odd. Pantech is touting the Secret Up’s “privacy protected” display. The screen is said to only show content to the person using the phone. We are not sure what this means, but it sounds to me like a sorry excuse for covering up lack of good viewing angles. Nothing is for sure, though. Maybe Pantech really has something up its sleve. Sound-improving flip caseTo finish things up, Pantech will also be selling a flip case that is said to amplify the device’s sound. Vibration is taken into account and it’s supposed to being a concert hall experience to the device. Again… odd, but we won’t judge until we get to test this bad boy. Pricing and availabilityPrice is not yet announced, but we can’t expect the Pantech Vega Secret Up to be very affordable. We do know it will be available this month in Korea, though. The phone’s availability in other markets is still anyone’s guess, but we are almost sure this phone will not make it to the US. Most of these devices focus on Asian and European markets. Would you get a phone with all these odd features, though? I am a bit skeptical about it. |
| Nexus 5 now getting Android 4.4.1 update – get your cameras ready! Posted: 05 Dec 2013 02:13 PM PST If you didn’t believe the Android 4.4.1 rumors or the test shots, you can throw all your skepticism out the window now. The update is very real and Google has announced it. The best part – Nexus 5 owners will be getting it today! Google promises the update will be ready sometime today and is highlighting the main improvements it brings. This update is all about the camera, which is actually an awesome fact. Nexus 5 users can attest to how bad the Nexus 5 camera can be. Android 4.4.1 update camera improvements
Over all, this will make your pictures much less blurry and better illuminated. Say goodbye to your dark, blurry holiday images, guys! Or… at the very least they will be better now. We know it’s hard, but try not to spend all day tapping that “Check Now” button! [Google] |
| Google Glass competitor Vuzix M100 now available for pre-order at $1,000 Posted: 05 Dec 2013 01:54 PM PST Google Glass competitors are starting to come to light as wearable technology becomes more popular. It seems the first one to beat Google Glass to the (mass) market is the Vuzix M100 smart glass, which has just become available for pre-order. It will be officially released this month, but you will have to pay $1,000 to get your hands on one. As expected, smart glasses will not be affordable for a while, but the M100 might be a worthy product to consider. This smart glass is essentially an Android smartphone without the cellphone antenna. It runs Android on its own, sporting everything a smartphone features. The Vuzix M100 comes packed with all the internals, including GPS, a gyroscope, a camera, touch sensors, a processor, RAM memory, bluetooth and all the other goodies. It’s essentially a mini tablet in the shape of a smart glass. In fact, the company’s description is that it looks exactly like a smartphone would if places 10-12 inches in front of your eyes. We got to test this device at CES 2013 and have to say we are not impressed. Not because of the device, it actually looks like a rather sweet unit, but because Vuzix was not able to keep its promises. First and foremost: the device was supposed to cost $500 upon release. To make matters a bit worse, release date was scheduled for last summer. Not only were they late, but they doubled the retail price! It could still be a good purchase if you are willing to try these out. It also connects to your smartphone so it won’t be a completely stand-alone product. Though it will probably do more (on its own) than Google Glass does. Is it better than Google Glass, though? In some ways it is, but Google Glass will probably take off before the Vuzix M100. Glass will more than likely have more support and cost less (upon release). We are still not sure, though, so it’s a gamble. What do you think? Are you convinced with this $1000 smart glass? Will you wait for Google Glass instead? Maybe you just don’t care much for wearable technology. Either way, let us know what you think in the comments! |
| Anchorman’s Scotchy Scotch Toss game now available Posted: 05 Dec 2013 01:20 PM PST Are you a fan of the legendary Anchorman Ron Burgundy? He is easily one of the funniest comedians on TV and now you can enjoy his crazy style with an Android game. Scotchy Scotch Toss brings Burgundy’s raw fun to your smartphone by mixing his two favorite things: “Scotch, and playful exchanges with total strangers.”
Gameplay resembles your usual swipe and toss format. You swipe up and throw the ice at the scotch glass; simple and fun for your downtime. There are 4 different locations and even a 2-player mode. |
| Google now allows you to download Gmail and Calendar data Posted: 05 Dec 2013 12:42 PM PST Looking to switch email and calendar providers or just need a backup for safe keeping? Thankfully, Google is now allowing folks to download their Gmail and Google Calendar data. Google will deliver your data in standard file formats, and you can even choose to download data from specific labels. This data can also be downloaded as part of a bigger archive containing all of your data from all of Google’s services. You won’t be able to download your Gmail data right away as Google will roll it out over the course of this next month, but you can log into your account and get your Calendar right now if you need it. You can find the option under your account settings. [via Google] |
| You can finally store your Google Play Music songs on your SD card Posted: 05 Dec 2013 11:02 AM PST One of my biggest complaints about Google Play Music was that the app could only store “pinned” music (music downloaded for offline listening) to a device’s internal storage. Only have 4GB of internal storage but have 32GB of sweet microSD card space to fill? Tough luck. Not any more, though, as the latest Google Play Music upgrade finally brings us the ability to store cached music to the SD card. This should give users as much space as they need to have tons of their tunes available for those times when a strong internet connection isn’t handy. Beyond that, you now have the ability to share various tracks you’ve bought. While you’ve been able to share certain tracks and libraries to Google+ in the past, this new option now allows you to share music to any app (it’ll come up in the form of a link). The upgrade should be in the Google Play Store soon, but this is a staggered rollout so if you don’t see it right away then you’ll just have to be a patient Patty and wait a bit. |
| Android 4.4.1 update is real, and will bring some serious camera improvements Posted: 05 Dec 2013 09:39 AM PST A couple of days ago, we heard murmurings of an “Android 4.4.1″ update. Our own traffic logs showed many instances of hits from such an OS version, but we also saw hits from the likes of Android 9.9.9 — forgive us if we were a bit skeptical. But it looks like 4.4.1 is the real deal, and we should be expecting some much-needed improvements to camera performance following the OTA’s rollout. According to The Verge, who happened to have some before-and-after camera samples to go along with the story, showing some key improvements. For starters, the shutter time has been greatly reduced, which should make for much sharper photos. The team has also increased the framerate inside the camera app, which should go toward improving focusing speed. It also doesn’t take as long to launch the camera app itself. Beyond all of that, HDR+ mode has been given a progress indicator for the software-based post-process effect to be applied, giving you an idea of how long it will take before you can share your shots with the world. The Verge says the upgrade is so close that it should be rolling out in a matter of days, so if a majority of the people over at the Mountain View campus really are testing it then that’s not that hard to believe. Be sure to take a look at more sample images at the source link. [via The Verge] |
| Will Samsung release a phone with a fingerprint scanner next year? Posted: 05 Dec 2013 08:37 AM PST Apple has done it, so you can expect pretty much everyone else to follow sooner or later. The latest report out of Reuters suggests the Korean electronics manufacturer will look to create a smartphone with a fingerprint scanner at some point in 2014. Fingerprint Cards’ CEO Johan Carlstrom let that much slip, noting that his company hoped to be one of the players OEMs looked to for components and development for the fingerprint scanners. We are obviously taking the report with a grain of salt, but it wouldn’t be difficult to believe such a thing is in the works. HTC didn’t take long to get on the fingerprint bandwagon with the launch of the HTC One Max, and other OEMs have been talking up the use of the technology in upcoming devices for quite some time. Fingerprint scanners provide another layer of security that many paranoid security buffs will appreciate, but most companies will want to find a way to differentiate their own solutions for purposes of marketing. HTC’s One Max does this with the ability to launch into different apps depending on which finger is scanned. It will take that level of innovation and ingenuity for companies to make consumers believe that their fingerprint scanner is the bee’s knees compared to the competition. If Samsung does, in fact, introduce a smartphone with a fingerprint scanner next year, it’s not a foregone conclusion that it would be available to us in the Samsung Galaxy S5 or the next Galaxy Note. Samsung typically introduces new features in off-shoot devices, such as the metal chassis of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, the optical zoom lens inside the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, and the curved body of the Samsung Galaxy Round. We wouldn’t be surprised to see something like a “Samsung Galaxy Swipe” or some other weird device launched with the purpose of testing out the technology. We’re getting a bit too far ahead of ourselves, though — we’re not even 100% sure that this will come to fruition.
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| Double Dragon Trilogy available for $2.99 in the Google Play Store Posted: 05 Dec 2013 07:34 AM PST Nostalgia always gets the best of us, which is why we were excited when we learned the Double Dragon Trilogy would be making its way to Android. Well, it’s here, and we’re glad to say that we haven’t been disappointed one bit. For $2.99, DotEmu has ported this classic in a way that feels familiar, yet can feel fresh depending on the options you choose. The game features both arcade and story mode, three difficulty levels (mobile, original and expert), achievements and leaderboards through Google Play Games, co-op via Bluetooth, gamepad support and more. You can even choose between the original 8-bit soundtrack or a newly-remastered soundtrack especially made for this release. You’ll get all three games for this one price, so if you are a Double Dragon nut and want to get your fix on the go, downloading this is a no-brainer. It’s in the Google Play Store, so get over there and check it out for yourself. |
| AT&T’s new contract-free Mobile Share Value plans start December 8th; saves you as much as $15 Posted: 05 Dec 2013 06:32 AM PST AT&T has announced some new contract-free options in their Mobile Share Value plans. Launching December 8th, those who get AT&T service by getting AT&T Next, bringing their own devices, buying their device off-contract, or those whose contracts expire and opt to jump to the new Mobile Share Value plans will be able to get service for $15 cheaper than those who decide to stay the contract route. This plan will afford you shared data (in whichever allotment you’re comfortable with) and unlimited text and data. For instance, the 300MB plan with unlimited talk and text was $60, but can be had for $45 under these new plans. While it’s not the same level of savings T-Mobile introduced with UnCarrier, it’s a lot better than most other carriers are willing to do at this point. AT&T is also adding a new Next upgrade option for those who don’t need to be on a yearly upgrade schedule. You can now opt for an 18-month plan that will drive the cost of your monthly payments down (you’ll be on a 26-month time table with $0 down and no financing fees), but allow you to upgrade sooner than the standard 24-month window that contract customers currently have to deal with. New options are always welcome, so be sure to stop by an AT&T store in a few days and inquire about these plans to see if they’re right for you. |
| Assassin’s Creed Pirates anchors into the Google Play Store for $5 Posted: 05 Dec 2013 06:03 AM PST Ubisoft told us the mobile version of Assassin’s Creed, dubbed Assassin’s Creed Pirates, would be headed to the Google Play Store today, and their promise was about as full as a chest full of gold. You can download the game for $5 right now, and it’s already being treated to some pretty good reviews by those who have played it so far. While it’s not nearly as comprehensive as the console versions folks are enjoying on the likes of the PS4 and Xbox One, Assassin’s Creed Pirates brings us the high seas as we’ve never seen them before on mobile. You can build up your own ship and crew, and set sail to take on others in a naval combat system that has us wondering why it took someone this long to make such a game. The game features over 50 story missions and side quests, so you’re getting your money’s worth in the long run. Even if you weren’t a huge fan of Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft has made a game that any pirate fan can get behind. Go ahead and find it in the Google Play Store if you’re interested. |
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