Android Phone Fans |
- Android 4.2.2 (KOT49H) heads to Nexus devices with quick bug fixes
- LG G2 struggling against the competition, sales lower than expected in Q4
- Does our government have too much power over our mobile and internet data?
- AT&T links up with Rogers to provide international LTE roaming in Canada
- Enjoy your holidays with Dead Zebra’s Android tree ornaments! (On sale tomorrow)
- Rumored LG V510 could be a Nexus tablet
- Motorola Active Display update fixes cumbersome lockscreen lag
- [Update: it's over!] Reminder: the second chance for $150 off a Moto X begins at noon eastern today
- Time names Chromecast gadget of the year; what other Android devices made the cut?
- Project Ara close to prototype status, and Motorola CEO suggests it could be sold through Moto Maker
- Did KitKat India cheat Indian contestants out of a 2013 Nexus 7?
- Wooden Moto X phones are still coming, and Verizon has been confirmed as one of the carriers
| Android 4.2.2 (KOT49H) heads to Nexus devices with quick bug fixes Posted: 09 Dec 2013 06:48 PM PST Some folks have been peeved that their Nexus devices haven’t received the camera-fixing upgrade to Android 4.4.1, but there’s a reason for that — it seems Google wanted to get those who were queued up to the brand new Android 4.4.2 update instead! This upgrade doesn’t change much over 4.4.1, but it does bring a bevy of bug fixes that should go toward a better overall user experience. Sprint’s version of the Nexus 5 is getting upgrade as well, so the carrier was nice enough to outline the different fixes folks can expect. Here’s the short list:
You’ll be able to get this upgrade on all the latest Nexus devices, including the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 10, and the 2012 and 2013 Nexus 7 tablets. The upgrades are rolling out over the air, but if you aren’t seeing them then be sure to check back soon as we’ll be tracking down the manual upgrade files for all these. Don’t forget to charge your battery and turn on WiFi, though we hear this is a very light upgrade by today’s standards. [Update]: and here are the links. Use them at your own risk if you know how. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] |
| LG G2 struggling against the competition, sales lower than expected in Q4 Posted: 09 Dec 2013 03:09 PM PST LG went all out with the G2, a smartphone that competes against the best of the best. Many of you know the LG G2 is actually my favorite device right now. I use it as my daily driver and am more than satisfied with it (read my review of the LG G2). Is the phone all that LG wanted it to be, though? Life doesn’t seem to be so good for the Korean manufacturer. They have reported good sales, but not as good as they were expecting them to be. The LG G2 has sold about 2,250,000 units, which is several hundred thousands less than the 3 million units they were expecting to sell in Q4, 2013. 600,000 of these units were sold in Korea alone. What is the problem here?So the phone has received stellar reviews from the media. Those who own it love it and there are very few things wrong with it. What is stopping this phone from being sold as much as it should be? There is a big problem in a world where most smartphones are being manufactured by two companies. Of course, I am speaking of Samsung and Apple. Those are the phones most people know – the “galaxy” phones and the iPhones. Even renowned companies like HTC and Motorola are struggling to sell their smartphones. Many would agree that the LG G2 is better than a Samsung Galaxy S4. At the very least it beats it in specs, yet there aren’t nearly as many LG G2s being sold. People simply don’t tend to trusts brands they are not familiar with. LG may make awesome TVs and appliances, but they simply don’t have the same fame in the mobile industry just yet. I know they are in the right track, though. What could be turning customers away? The phone surely isn’t perfect. The button placement (they are in the back) can be gimmicky, or even bothersome to some users. Others don’t like the UI and, though solidly-built, the phone is not as durable as others (mostly because it cracks easily). Are those the reasons why most people are not buying LG G2s, though? I doubt it, but maybe. The future of LG
And that is regardless of ow great their products are. People have a perception of what is “the best smartphone brands” out there, and it’s hard to change people’s minds. It’s the same reason why people continue avoiding Hyundais, even though their cars are said to be much better than before (they got a really bad fame for making bad cars). This phenomenon is a bit interesting, in general. More so because of how the industry works, not just because of the LG G2′s success (or lack thereof). Is there room for profits in a world where only the top 2 smartphone manufacturers are really making it? I will tell you one thing: if HTC falls, I have most faith in LG becoming #3. The LG G Flex and LG G2 are amazing devices that rival Samsung in every aspect. Some features and design elements can be a bit gimmicky, but they are also not unbearable and some people like them. What do you think? Is LG a sleeping giant or is there no way to beat Samsung and Apple anymore? |
| Does our government have too much power over our mobile and internet data? Posted: 09 Dec 2013 12:29 PM PST We are communicating faster, better and more often than ever before. We can thank the internet and mobile communications for most of that, but with such power we must also be more careful. Laws on the matter are still evolving, making our internet/cellphone data the most valuable source of information for our government (and all others across the world). If you think about it, our smartphones and computers know everything about us. More so than even your spouse, sometimes. It holds the secret websites you would never tell anyone you visit, it stores all your conversations, your friends contact details, your financial information and much more. It’s your whole life… in the cloud. Government vs. internet
These tech giants have put together an open letter directed at President Obama and the Congress, which will be published on Monday, December 10th on national print ads. The tech industry is not taking it lightly. You can learn more about the letter and its request at the Reform Government Surveillance site. What do we want?!You can read all the details at the Reform Government Surveillance site, but here are the main points:
I believe the idea here is that the government and law enforcements have too much un-monitored control over our data. No one is stopping them or controlling their surveillance. Google and all other companies understand that people’s security is important and the government needs some form of access to data. Transparency and privacy are important as well, though. Law enforcement vs. mobile/internetAnd all of these worries are not in vain. Some people may think we are over-hyping the issue but there are tangible numbers we must consider. Senator Edward J. Markey recently requested information on law enforcement data requests to cellphone carriers. It’s impressive to find out USA law enforcement agencies requested information from carriers over 1.1 MILLION times in 2012. What is the problem with that? The police many times doesn’t even need a warrant to access our information. Many times they even ask for “Tower Dumps”, in which they request all cellphone interaction in with certain towers, during a set period of time. The solutionOf course, it will take time for all these matters to be fixed. The letter to Obama and the Congress is a great move to get the government’s attention. They need to realize this is an important matter and not just a passing phase. As for law enforcement and mobile data – Senator Markey is working on passing legislation to force law enforcement to have a probable cause warrant before tapping into carriers’ data. The future of internet/mobile privacy is uncertain. The big guys are asking the government for better privacy while many of us (the citizens) ask for more privacy from all companies and organizations. Information is power – and all these companies are VERY powerful. |
| AT&T links up with Rogers to provide international LTE roaming in Canada Posted: 09 Dec 2013 11:03 AM PST AT&T customers who often find themselves north of the border will be happy to know that you won’t be without LTE should you decide to travel up there from now on. AT&T has announced a deal with Rogers that will allow their customers to hop onto the Canadian carrier’s LTE networks in the event that they have to travel up there. This makes AT&T the first carrier to offer international LTE roaming. "Our agreement with Rogers affirms our commitment to deliver superior international coverage to our customers," said Bill Hague, executive vice president, International, Alliances and Integrations, AT&T Mobility. "AT&T customers already have access to the nation's fastest, most reliable 4G LTE network while in the United States and now they can enjoy LTE speeds while roaming in Canada." Rogers’ LTE network supposedly reaches 70% of Canadians, and that number is expected to grow in 2014. The roaming options available are the same options you get for AT&T global roaming plans for HSPA+ data and GSM voice:
That’s a steep price to pay, but we suppose if you really need data when you’re abroad then it’s one of (not the only) choice you’ve got. Be sure to try it out on your next trip up to the Great White North. [via AT&T] |
| Enjoy your holidays with Dead Zebra’s Android tree ornaments! (On sale tomorrow) Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:56 AM PST Dead Zebra is the king of Android figurines, and soon we will also be able to enjoy the Android robot craze with the whole family. Dead Zebra has been working on a couple Android tree ornaments that will look great on your Christmas tree.
Dead Zebra made sure to apologize for the delay, as only US residents are guaranteed to get these shipped by Christmas. But even within the US, they urge you to use Priority Mail instead of First Class mail. You may have luck with the latter, but there are no guarantees. With all of that in mind, get your mouses and credit cards ready because these things always fly out of the shelves. They are quite adorable, if you ask me. I might get myself a blue one – how about you? |
| Rumored LG V510 could be a Nexus tablet Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:43 AM PST We’ve been wondering what the next Nexus Tablet would end up being. Google has yet to reveal a new 10-inch offering to replace the Samsung-made Nexus 10, so we were starting to worry that they wouldn’t be bringing us a bigger tablet at all. Fortunately, a glimmer of light exists at the end of the tunnel. That light comes by way of @evleaks, who suggests we should be seeing an LG-made Nexus tablet at some point in the future. The tablet’s model number is tipped to be the V510, with the most popular guess being that this will debut as an 8-inch device. That’d be a tad weird considering the ASUS-made Nexus 7 isn’t that much smaller. Perhaps we’ll be getting the same 8.3-inch form factor LG brought with the G Pad 8.3. Of course, those are only predictions, so we’ll have to wait for more information to surface to see if there’s still a chance for the more traditional 10-inch form factor we’ve all been waiting for. |
| Motorola Active Display update fixes cumbersome lockscreen lag Posted: 09 Dec 2013 09:03 AM PST The Moto X was one of the first devices to get Android 4.4 KitKat, but not everything was joy and rainbows for the device’s owners. The latest Android version brought along some problems with Motorola Active Display – there was a lag of 1-2 seconds after selecting a notification. The issue has been fixed, though! 1-2 seconds may not sound like much, but it makes a huge difference when trying to perform a simple smartphone task. This is why Motorola has updated Motorola Active Display to version 1.00.01. The update doesn’t bring much more, but this shows how having these apps in the Play Store can be much better. An issue like this would normally require a system update to be fixed, because it’s more of a system app. By putting it in the Play Store, Motorola/Google can fix issues much sooner! You can get the update straight from the Google Play Store to make your Moto X work just as it was meant to! |
| [Update: it's over!] Reminder: the second chance for $150 off a Moto X begins at noon eastern today Posted: 09 Dec 2013 08:53 AM PST Just a quick, friendly reminder that the second opportunity for getting a code to get Moto X for $150 off starts at noon today. The process is simple: submit your email and get signed up to receive a code that can be used for $150 off an off-contract Moto X through Moto Maker. The code will give you a window of one week to submit your order, so you’ll have time to think about how you want your phone designed. Stock from the last opportunity — which happened last Wednesday — was exhausted in just 9 minutes, so you’ll want to be quick on the draw if you happened to miss out last time. And please, for the sake of everyone looking to get in on the deal, try not to get more than one if you don’t plan on buying more than one. Many folks missed out because of this the last time around, so be courteous and let others get an opportunity to get a code. This’ll be the last opportunity you have to take advantage.The link should be going live here at about 12pm Eastern. Here’s the full list of instructions:
Don’t forget to use the sale code THANKS to take 30% off any accessories you buy with it. Good luck! [Update]: Annnnd that’s a wrap. Only took about 12 minutes this time around. Didn’t get one? Be sure to ask around on Reddit or AndroidForums.com. Some folks like to request multiple codes to make sure they get at least one, so it wouldn’t be crazy to think you can find a soul or two willing to offload their code to someone who plans on actually using it. |
| Time names Chromecast gadget of the year; what other Android devices made the cut? Posted: 09 Dec 2013 08:25 AM PST Time Magazine has put out another one of their influential lists, with the outlet highlighting the top gadgets of 2013. It’s always interesting to see where different devices end up on this list. There was a time when Apple’s mobile products were automatic winners, but the tide has shifted in recent times. Folks seem to have figured out that a little company over in Mountain View is also coming up with some extraordinary gizmos and gadgets. So who won 2013′s best gadget accolade? None other than the little HDMI key that could (also known as the Chromecast). This $35 bundle of joy enables folks to stream multimedia to their televisions in an easy-to-use, no nonsense fashion. It uses your home’s WiFi connection to set up an ad-hoc network for streaming content in ideal network conditions, giving you stutter-free HD playback from various different sources (such as HBO Go or Netflix). It’s like Roku, except in stick form. It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it works, which would make it a very nice holiday gift for anyone looking to upgrade their home entertainment experience. While it’s not quite as open as we’d like it to be just yet, Google promises that they are working on bringing the tools that will help facilitate third-party development. You’ll find all of the details on the Chromecast in our official review, so be sure to check that out if you want to know more about what this little guy can do. Don’t forget to mingle with the rest of the Chromecast community over at AndroidForums.com. Other big winners Of course, the Chromecast wasn’t the only device on this 10-item list. A couple of other Android and Android-related products made the cut. The Amazon Kindle Fire HDX (check out the forums) came in at #7, with Time giving props to instant remote control support system Mayday (which they consider to be a ground-breaking feature). At #4 was the Pebble smart watch, an e-Ink wrist dweller that can connect to your smartphone and display social updates, notifications and messages. We’ll also give a nice nod to the Nest Protect, a smoke detector and carbon monoxide monitor in one which can alert you to potential life-threatening dangers inside your home while you’re away. Here’s the full list of products which made the list:
No matter what you like and which side of the mobile wars you stand on, one thing can’t be argued: 2013 was a great year for tech. Let’s hope 2014 brings us even more innovative ideas. Let us know what you think about the list in the comments below! [via ChromeSpot] |
| Project Ara close to prototype status, and Motorola CEO suggests it could be sold through Moto Maker Posted: 09 Dec 2013 06:43 AM PST When we first heard of Motorola’s Project Ara, a modular phone concept that would seemingly allow folks to upgrade different components of their phone independently of others, we were a little skeptical. It isn’t that we thought the idea wasn’t possible — technology proves that anything is possible as each year passes us by — but we didn’t wholly believe that we were close to seeing anything practical. Thankfully, Dennis Woodside assures us that isn’t the case. In a Hangout session that the CEO did with prominent tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, Woodside revealed that the team is close to producing its first prototype. The general public obviously won’t be able to get their hands on it, but a prototype means that we’d be one step closer to seeing this exciting idea become reality. Of course, a prototype alone is no guarantee that the team is close to offering a consumer product, but what will happen when that time eventually comes? Woodside suggests Moto Maker could be the perfect destination for getting your phone made the way you want in more areas than design alone:
Imagine being able to craft your own smartphone. Perhaps the camera isn’t that important to you, so you opt for a cheaper 5 megapixel shooter instead of tricking it out with a 13 megapixel beast. And maybe that 32GB of storage isn’t enough, so you get a 64GB module that can also be expanded using a microSD card slot. And, well, who won’t want to spring for the most RAM and most powerful chipset they can get? Dreaming aside, it’s a future that could soon be very real, and it’ll be extremely exciting to see what Motorola ends up coming with after the exhausting research and development process eventually brings us something tangible. Watch the full Hangout above. |
| Did KitKat India cheat Indian contestants out of a 2013 Nexus 7? Posted: 09 Dec 2013 05:31 AM PST An interesting story brewed over this past weekend, with one group of Android and KitKat-loving customers apparently getting the shaft in a contest that they believed could net them a 2013 Nexus 7. We’re talking about our friends in India, who were treated to the same Nexus 7 contest that folks in the likes of the United States, Canada and across Europe were. Unfortunately, it appears the contests weren’t as similar as we originally thought. Despite KitKat India advertising a chance to win “the all new Nexus 7 tablet,” complete with photos of the 2013 Nexus 7 all over the promotional images, folks were miffed to find out that KitKat India sent out the 2012 version of the tablet to those who ended up winning. The images you see above and below definitely seem to suggest they were supposed to receive the latest revision. Many folks have expressed their distaste on Twitter, and KitKat India responded with the following explanation: KitKat India has not yet followed that Tweet with any other communication. While KitKat never specifically referenced the 2013 Nexus 7 in their official contest language, it’s misleading to use images of one device and deliver another. This type of bait and switch is something to be frowned upon, and we sincerely hope that this is just one huge misunderstanding on the part of KitKat India. Some folks spent hundreds trying to win, so to be given a year-old tablet that they could have bought for much less than they spent on this contest is surely one disrespectful slap in the face. We’ll be sending a line in to the corporate team over at KitKat to see if they can help shed some light on what happened. In the meantime, be sure to respond below if you were one of the thousand or so Indians to have received a 2012 Nexus 7 after being led to believe otherwise. [via ComboUpdates, Tech 2 Yantra, thanks Patanjali!] |
| Wooden Moto X phones are still coming, and Verizon has been confirmed as one of the carriers Posted: 09 Dec 2013 04:51 AM PST When Motorola first announced the Moto X, the company showed us a bevy of different colors and styles that could be applied in the Moto Maker. One subset of styles included units that included real wood for the chassis. Unfortunately Motorola has been as slow to roll those out as they were in getting the base Moto Maker models out for carriers not named “AT&T.” But there is some good news: the wooden backs are still coming. Twitter account @evleaks tipped us off to that much with the picture you see above. It’s not that we didn’t believe Motorola wouldn’t eventually bring them out as originally promised, but it’s nice to know that official renders are floating about (which could mean Motorola is close to putting them up for sale). It’s worth noting that the phones in the photo are branded with Verizon Wireless logos, which is a good sign that this release won’t be marred by timed exclusivity like the Moto Maker originally was. Nothing else was shared in regards to the photo, but we suspect it won’t be long before we start hearing more about its arrival. Take a look above and let us know what you think! |
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