Android Phone Fans |
- Best Android Phones [March 2014 / MWC Edition]
- 8 biggest announcements of Mobile World Congress 2014
- Mobile Roar Podcast 34: Live from MWC 2014
- Pre-order pricing suggests Galaxy S5 not the cheaper handset some expected
- Court rules navigation apps do not fall under distracted driving laws
- Amazon to launch Prime streaming music service?
- Samsung’s Gear Fit named ‘Best Mobile Device’ at Mobile World Congress
| Best Android Phones [March 2014 / MWC Edition] Posted: 28 Feb 2014 04:32 PM PST We’re heading home from Mobile World Congress, folks (read through all the exciting coverage here) and the dust is finally settling. With most of the great phones for the first half of 2014 announced, it’s time to take a look at all of them in our March edition of Best Android Phones. We’ll take a look at the power rankings for the devices currently out in the market, and then we’ll take a nice, comprehensive look on everything on the horizon. Strap in! 5 – Motorola Moto XThe Moto X might soon be running its course, but it doesn’t look like this phone is going to crash and burn, or disappear overnight. Despite Motorola’s shaky future with Lenovo having bought them from Google, we imagine they’re approaching support for the Moto X with the same philosophies they were when they were still under Google’s wing. We’ll have to see how fast they are to get the first major upgrade since Android 4.4.2 out of the door, but we don’t have any doubt Motorola will not disappoint. 4 – Sony Xperia Z1sSony’s Xperia Z1s slides back a couple spots for one damning reason — it still doesn’t have KitKat. Literally every other device in the top 5 does. But the lack of the absolute latest version of Android doesn’t cause us to overlook its other notable qualities, namely its beautiful display, insane camera, fast internals and the ability to be dunked in a refreshing drink of water. 3 – Nexus 5 by LGCan’t say much about the Nexus 5 that we haven’t already said, folks. It’s powerful, it’s inexpensive, and it has support directly from Google. The Nexus 5 is guaranteed to be among the first devices in line for new versions of Android, and things should stay that way for at least the next two years. It falls short in some areas keeping it from the top of this list — namely tinny speakers and an inconsistent camera — but this would still be near the top of our list of choices when the time comes to buy a new smartphone. 2 – LG G2LG isn’t lollygagging when it comes to upgrades — they’ve already gotten their firmware stable enough for AT&T and T-Mobile to be comfortable sending it out to their respective versions. The powerful hardware sitting inside this thing still means it’s a major contender at the point-of-sale when you’re trying to decide which device to open your wallet for. A Snapdragon 800 process and 2GB of RAM, full HD display, 13 megapixel camera and more will do that. Rumors of an LG G3 are already beginning to take form, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook those which came before it. 1 – Samsung Galaxy Note 3Alas, we come to the top of the throne, a position the Galaxy Note 3 has protected for a couple of months now. Those beefy internals — consisting of a Snapdragon 800 chipset and 3GB of RAM — are even more valuable considering Samsung’s big flagship device for 2014 (Galaxy S5, if you haven’t been paying attention) won’t match some of it. We’d venture to guess that the Note 3 is going to be here for a while, though there are several new devices on the horizon that will serious challenge its position (some of which we’ll talk about quite soon). Runner-ups
Phones to look forward toThese phones haven’t been launched yet, but there’s reason to take notice. Most of the devices in this edition have only been announced this past week, so be sure to stay on the lookout for all the latest news about pricing, release date and availability on Phandroid.com. The Samsung Galaxy S5 didn’t receive the warmest of receptions from the collective Phandroid faithful, but we’re still considering this perhaps the biggest launch for 2014. Maybe some of that is due to Samsung’s name and status alone, with the South Korean company being the sole owner of the top Android OEM spot by far. Regardless, the Galaxy S5 is nothing to sneeze at. Snapdragon 801 processor. 2GB of RAM. 16 megapixel camera with phase detection autofocus. USB 3.0. A freakin’ fingerprint scanner. Say what you want about the “lack” of a leap over the Samsung Galaxy S4, but the successor still isn’t matched by many other competitors. You need only check out our hands-on look at the device, as well as our comparison to the Galaxy S4, to see why this thing will still turn heads when it hits store shelves this April. Listen up, Sony: it’s not often you impress us. Your phones are pretty and they’re quite solid, and perhaps some of our apprehension is due to the fact that the phones aren’t normally widely available for those of us in the states. Our friends up north and across the pond get to have all the fun! But the Xperia Z2 changes all of that. This phone has us excited in every way imaginable. Great specs, great design, great features, great everything. From where we’re standing this phone is nearly perfect. The only issue we have is wondering whether or not those in the States will ever get their hands on it. Thankfully it looks like Sony’s relationships with carriers in the United States are improving, with T-Mobile gladly taking on the top-ranked Xperia Z1s as an exclusive option. Let’s hope this particular phone — which you can check out in our hands on from Mobile World Congress right here — can stretch even further. LG felt like they had to come out of the gate with a very significant offering to take on the beast known as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and we feel like they might have delivered with the G Pro 2. This 5.9-inch phablet brings a 13 megapixel camera, Snapdragon 800 processor and 3GB of RAM to the over-sized form factor, and does so with unique features such as LG KnockOn, and rear-facing buttons. Check out our hands-on coverage for a deeper look at the G Pro 2, and keep an eye on this one for sure. HTC Desire 816 We’re waiting on HTC’s exciting March 25th event for their biggest (figuratively, not literally) phone of the year to be announced, but the Desire 816 deserves a tad bit of shine until then. HTC was adamant about wanting to refocus on the mid-range sector, and the Desire 816 is the first example of that. Its 5.5-inch display is only 720p and it only has a Snapdragon 400 processor, but it could be a very capable device for the right price. You’ll want to see our hands-on from Mobile World Congress if you’re interested in seeing what HTC can provide for those whose budgets aren’t as big as they’d like. Nokia X Family We can’t confidently profess that many people are actually “looking forward” to the Nokia X. Even if it wasn’t specced incredibly low (so much so that it’ll cost as little as $100), the device is only set for launch in limited regions — the UK and North America not included. But the Nokia X is still an interesting device to keep an eye on, and for a few different reasons. It’s made by Nokia, who — first of all — scoffed at the idea of ever making an Android phone. Secondly, they’re soon to be swept under the Microsoft wing just as quickly as their market share plummeted with the advent of Android. Thirdly, it’s Android like we’ve never seen it, and that alone leaves intrigue. We’ve got full hands-on for you right here. LG G2 Mini What can we say? It’s another Mini phone. They’re made to look similar to the phones they’re named after, except they’re a tad smaller and tend to have weaker specs. That was exactly the case with the LG G2 Mini. The phone isn’t bad, though, and we’re having a hard time seriously calling a 4.7-inch device “mini,” but we’ll bite. Hands-on right here. The YotaPhone has always been an underdog device. It’s hard to gain attention without a strong name or reputation behind you. But like the original device, the new YotaPhone shakes things up enough to make us stand up and take notice. The latest iteration — announced at this past MWC — improves on the dual-display design, with the backside of the device housing a higher quality e-ink display used to feed you updates on your life. Its e-Ink technology means you can get access to all these things without the significant battery drain that typically comes with having to power a full HD LCD-based display each time you want to check your email or text messages. And if you’re worried that a phone like this doesn’t concern itself with beefy internals, guess again — the new YotaPhone can go toe-to-toe with any smartphone set to launch this year. Find out more in our hands-on. Jolla Phone We’ve been following this one around for quite some time, and we finally got a chance to check one out for ourselves at Mobile World Congress. The Jolla Phone isn’t exactly an Android phone. It’s a custom version of Meego that Jolla is calling SailFish OS. That aside, it will be able to run Android apps using an on-board Android runtime. It has a very unique gesture-based design and some nice customization features that you won’t quite find anywhere else. Everything else MWC 2014 wasn’t just about phones, of course. There were tablets, smart watches and every other piece of emergent technology you could hope to hear about it. Be sure to read about the top Mobile World Congress 2014 announcements right here. Rumor MillMost of the latest rumors have been made official as of Mobile World Congress, though there might still be some stragglers who couldn’t quite make it for the big show in Barcelona. These devices are still keeping a low profile, though it won’t be long before we hear even more. HTC M8 / The All New HTC One HTC has scheduled an event for March 25th, and all signs point to the company finally introducing the successor to 2013′s HTC One. It’s been masked under the code name “HTC M8″ for most of the past few months, though recent rumors have suggested HTC will refer to this one as “the All New HTC One.” Very classy, HTC. So what will give consumers reason to buy one once they’re available this Spring or Summer? The latest rumors put the display around 5 inches with 1080p HD resolution, a Snapdragon 800 (2.3GHz) or 801 (2.5GHz) processor, 2GB of RAM, a new ultrapixel camera on the back with a secondary camera for focus assist, a 4-megapixel front camera, and boom sound speakers. Also of note is the device’s lack of physical buttons for navigation — everything’s on-screen now. Not many people were impressed with Samsung’s latest entry in the Galaxy S line, so the ball is in HTC’s court to introduce a device that can capture the interests of those who might be looking for a change of pace. It’s all going down in New York next month. Motorola Moto X2 We don’t know much about this device or what it would bring, but Motorola has confirmed plans to release a follow-up to the Moto X that was launched last Summer. Like the original, the Moto X2 (which we’ll be calling it for the time being) is said to be coming late Summer, and we imagine Motorola will look to focus on areas of supreme build quality, great battery life and simple software, the same secret sauce that made the Moto X one of the hottest devices of the year. Of course, the spotlight on Big M’s back is bigger than ever now that they’ve been acquired by Lenovo. We’ll have to wait and see how the Chinese company’s acquisition of the originators of mobile telephony will impact their future performance, though all signs indicate we shouldn’t see a huge departure from the norm. Amazon Best SellersThese phones are selling like hot cakes on Amazon. Note that these aren't necessarily Amazon's true best-sellers, but best sellers out of the ones we haven't already mentioned. Take a look and see if some of these other hot phones are worth your time and money:
What say you?We might not have had many phone launches since the last time we’ve done this, but we sure have had a ton of new device announcements. It’ll be interesting to see where all those devices fall once they’re available for purchase, but for now we’ll just be counting down the days until we can walk into the store and buy them. Let us know which devices you’re looking forward to the most going forward, and be sure to give us your own top 5 list if you feel differently about the rankings! | |||||
| 8 biggest announcements of Mobile World Congress 2014 Posted: 28 Feb 2014 11:55 AM PST #MWC2014 has come and gone, leaving behind it a trail of highly anticipated mobile releases. With big announcements from Samsung, LG, Sony, and more, we're running down our favorites. If you missed any of our coverage throughout the week, these are the smartphones (and smartwatches) you need to know about. 1. Samsung Gear FitSamsung's smallest new offering perhaps made the biggest splash. Winning "Best Mobile Device" honors at the show's close, the Gear Fit takes Samsung's Tizen-based smartwatch platform and couples it with fitness tracking sensors to measure heart rate, add up daily activity, and track sleeping habits. Particularly impressive is the Fit's build, which features a curved Super AMOLED display as part of a compact watch design. [HANDS ON] 2. Nokia XThe Android phone that everyone wished Nokia would make turned out to be anything but. Still, despite the device's mediocre spec sheet, the Nokia X should not be dismissed entirely. The announcement of the phone, along with the concurrently announced X+ and XL, is a bold move by the company. Their primary focus, however, remains Windows Phone with Android relegated to budget models. [HANDS ON] 3. New YotaPhoneOur surprise favorite of Mobile World Congress 2013 got a sequel this year, and the result was no less impressive. The second-generation YotaPhone takes the dual-screen concept introduced by the original and ratchets it up a notch. While its specs won't blow anybody away, an improved design supporting the YotaPhones signature eInk secondary display make the device another strong contender for best of MWC 2014. [HANDS ON] 4. Samsung Galaxy S5The Samsung Galaxy S5 might not have been the phone many wanted and expected, but it was one of Mobile World Congress' most major announcements. A little under a year since Samsung unveiled the successful Galaxy S4, an upgraded model debuted in Barcelona with a bigger display, faster processor, and "glam" design. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Samsung even included a fingerprint sensor in the new device. Actually unexpected: a heart rate sensor with readings only a fingertip away. [HANDS ON] 5. LG G Pro 2While we await LG's followup to their G2 announced last year, a device introduced at last year's Mobile World Congress saw a refresh. The LG G Pr0 2 enters as the company's primary contender in the phablet category. A massive 6-inch display is paired with some of the most powerful hardware you will find in a smartphone. While the sheer size might be a turnoff for some, the device lays the groundwork for a truly impressive LG G3 unveiling later this year. [HANDS ON] 6. Samsung Gear 2 & Gear 2 NeoSamsung manages to get a third spot on our list with the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo. These updates to the company's Galaxy Gear smartwatch seek to improve upon Samsung's first attempt at wearable tech while further refining the experience. This includes a switch to Tizen, an operating system developed in part by Samsung, dropping the Galaxy brand in the process. The original Galaxy Gear wasn't a great performer for Samsung but the company would appear dedicated to turning those fortunes around. [HANDS ON] 7. Sony Xperia Z2 & Xperia Z2 TabletSony had some updates to their Xperia Z line of flagship devices on hand, including the Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z2 Tablet. The Xperia Z2 smartphone is particularly impressive with a list of specs that would please any power user and a sleek design featuring waterproof construction. Sony wasn't shy about showing the handset's ability to take a swim and suffer no major damage, as has been a running theme for the company's smartphone lineup. Sony has yet to make a real splash with consumers (pun intended). Perhaps the Z2 could change this. [HANDS ON (Xperia Z2), HANDS ON (Xperia Z2 Tablet)] 8. HTC Desire 816HTC makes our list more as an honorable mention. The Desire 816 isn't the followup to the HTC One that fans have been craving, but it's yet another example of HTC's commitment to quality design. The new Desire 816 (as well as 610) won't do much to challenge devices like the Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G Pro 2, but the announcement should tide us over until HTC is ready to roll out the big guns. [HANDS ON] Disagree with our list? Think we left something off? Let us know your favorite finds of Mobile World Congress 2014 and sound off in the poll below. | |||||
| Mobile Roar Podcast 34: Live from MWC 2014 Posted: 28 Feb 2014 11:26 AM PST It’s been a busy week in mobile thanks to the annual Mobile World Congress show. Our boys Chris and Edgar were on the show floor all week, but they took some time out to join us on the podcast. We talked about the ugly Galaxy S5, the awesome Gear Fit, Sony’s cool devices, Nokia’s Android phones, HTC’s poor effort, and Apple’s award for not showing up. We wrapped up the show by picking winners and losers from the show. Also, this happened: MWC News
Winners and Losers of MWC
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| Pre-order pricing suggests Galaxy S5 not the cheaper handset some expected Posted: 28 Feb 2014 09:14 AM PST After the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy S5 earlier this week at Mobile World Congress, speculation began circulating that the handset would go on sale for lower than the Galaxy S4's initial launch pricing. A series of pre-orders for the device going live around the UK and Europe shows a handset that sells for an equivalent amount, however, with off-contract pricing that equates to around $1000. Clove has the handset for £599 after taxes while Amazon Spain lists the Galaxy S5 at €730. While those figures indeed break the $1000 when exchanged for US dollars, it is more likely Samsung is targeting an amount in the 600-700 range, regardless of currency. This would match the strategy deployed with the Galaxy S4, which sold in a similar $600-700 range in the US. Whispers of a low launch price for the Galaxy S5 likely stem from the perception of some that Samsung did not unveil many major upgrades over the previous generation of the device. While rumors hinted at a smartphone with 64-bit processing, 4K display, metal construction, Samsung showcased a device that featured marginal improvements to the GS4's specs and design. Rumors persist that Samsung could launch a premium version of the phone with some or all of these features. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is set to launch globally in April. With about a month to go, we should be getting more clarity on pricing as carriers solidify and announce their plans for the device. [via SamMobile] | |||||
| Court rules navigation apps do not fall under distracted driving laws Posted: 28 Feb 2014 08:12 AM PST While many states have outlawed the use of cell phones while driving, particularly for texting, a grey area has emerged in regards to using those same devices for other purposes. Most notably, does using a mobile device for navigation fall under the purview of these same distracted driving laws? A court in Fresno, California has reached a decision on the matter after a man appealed a traffic ticket he received for using a navigation app on his iPhone. Steven Spriggs received the ticket two years ago while stopped in traffic on a congested highway. The appellate court's ruling effectively tosses out all charges. A unanimous decision was reached by the Fifth District Court of Appeal with the understanding that laws pertaining to cell phone use specifically limit the use of such devices for talking and texting while operating a motor vehicle. They do not, however, encompass the use of a navigation app such as Google Maps. Law enforcement officials are wary of such a slippery slope, believing drivers stopped for using their mobile phones might simply pull up a GPS app to hide the fact that they were actually texting or using their phone for some other purpose. The Fresno PD's Captain Andy Hall says he sees no difference between texting and using a navigation app when it comes to safety. California was recently the focus of another contested distracted driving case — one involving Google Glass. Similarly, a judge ruled that the emerging technology did not necessarily fall under the scope of laws that prohibit the viewing of a monitor while driving, if only because it was impossible to prove if the defendant, Cecilia Abadie, was actively using Glass at the time she was pulled over.
The ruling in Spriggs' case, though it may now be used as a reference point for other similar cases in California, does not come as a wholesale endorsement of using a smartphone for purposes beyond talking and texting while driving. The justices' decision was based on the specific wording of the law, but they admit that some changes might need to be made. As usage of mobile devices continues to grow, it would not be surprising at all to see states around the US adopt more stringent distracted driving laws that could ultimately limit how drivers can interact with navigation apps while on the road. [via FresnoBee]
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| Amazon to launch Prime streaming music service? Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:23 AM PST According to sources close to the matter, Amazon is currently in discussion with record labels as the company reportedly gears up to launch a music streaming contender in the same vein as Spotify. The service would most likely debut as part of the bundled goods included with Amazon Prime, the retailer's membership plan that provides free two-day shipping as its main perk. Also included with Prime, however, is a Netflix-style movie and television streaming service. The launch of streaming music makes sense as an added incentive for those willing to pay the $79.99 yearly subscription fee, although one label source expressed doubt that Amazon would be able to strike a deal in the near future. Amazon is apparently seeking a better deal from labels than the agreements with competing services like Spotify and the relatively young Beats Music platform. As the company continues to beef up its streaming video offering with original content, that addition of a music platform would help to position Amazon Prime as more than a way to secure cheap or free shipping, which is largely the purpose it serves for most users. Amazon presumably would like video and music to become an equal part of the equation, especially if they go through with plans to raise the yearly fee to as much as $120. As of now, it is estimated Amazon spends $1 billion per year for video content that sees low engagement from Prime users. Many are simply oblivious to the content they already have access to, which could mean a similar lukewarm reception for a music streaming platform. But in an industry where nearly every major player hosts their own version of internet radio — whether it be Play Music All Access, iTunes Radio, or any other number of options — it would be more surprising if Amazon did not eventually roll out its own competitor. [via Recode]
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| Samsung’s Gear Fit named ‘Best Mobile Device’ at Mobile World Congress Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:45 AM PST Of all the devices announced at Mobile World Congress, it was one little wearable that has drawn the most attention. Samsung's new Gear Fit, part of a revamped smartwatch lineup, was named "Best Mobile Device" of Mobile World Congress as the annual show drew to a close. The Gear Fit was announced at the beginning of the show alongside the Samsung Galaxy S5, Gear 2, and Gear 2 Neo. The Fit pairs with Galaxy devices and combines smartwatch functionality with personal fitness tracking, all packaged in a compact wearable. Features include a 1.85-inch curved Super AMOLED display and a variety of fitness sensors, including heart rate monitor, pedometer, and sleep tracker. The Tizen-based smartwatch boasts a battery life of 3-4 days. The award was handed out by the GSMA, the governing body behind the mobile technology trade show. Earlier in the week the group released a lengthy list of winners in other categories, which, much to the chagrin of some, included the iPad Air — a device not even represented at the show — as Best Mobile Tablet. [via Samsung]
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