Android Phone Fans |
- Samsung Galaxy S5 Zoom in the works, specs tipped in new benchmark
- Oppo Find 7 leaks days before official unveiling, rests seductively on satin sheets
- Google Wallet tap-to-pay willl soon only support devices running Android 4.4 KitKat
- Alleged screenshots taken from the LG G3 may confirm 2K display
- Samsung still denies rumors of ‘premium’ Galaxy S5
- Mobile Roar Podcast 36: Dual-OS devices, music streaming, and Shaq
- Top 11 Twitter Apps for Android [2014]
- Crazy Taxi available free today as Sega flags down a sequel
- Nokia X garners 1 million pre-orders in China
- Amazon TV box could run a forked version of Android, focus on games
- Google, Microsoft bullying Asus into scrapping dual-boot devices
- Google Play update adds enhanced security options for app purchases
| Samsung Galaxy S5 Zoom in the works, specs tipped in new benchmark Posted: 14 Mar 2014 04:58 PM PDT Last year’s Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom After launching the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom last year to raving reviews (we kid, although our own Rob Jackson was a big fan of the optical zoom), it doesn’t come as much of a surprise to learn that Samsung would be working on a followup. Many criticized the original for being a little light on specs (and not worthy of the Galaxy S4 name), but then again, corners had to be cut in order to squeeze point-n-shoot camera tech into an affordable smartphone. So, what does Samsung have in store for the sequel? Well, according to a benchmark that popped up on GFXBench, we might be able to expect a slight spec bump over last year’s model, although once again — the device still may not befitting of its Galaxy S5 name. This time around we’re looking at a 19MP camera on the back (up from the 16MP on the S4 Zoom), and 2MP on the front. No word on how much of the zoom-zoom it’ll have this time around, but expect around the same 10x. On its smartphone side, the Galaxy S5 Zoom will house a 4.8-inch 720p SAMOLED display, Exynos “hexa-core” SoC (same as found on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo), as well as 2GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, and NFC — all running on Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Still unrevealed is the actual design of the phone, something we don’t imagine will stray too far from Samsung’s current Galaxy design language. In other words, expect it to look very similar to last year’s model. We’ll let you know when we hear more. | |||||
| Oppo Find 7 leaks days before official unveiling, rests seductively on satin sheets Posted: 14 Mar 2014 03:25 PM PDT A few purported leaked images of the Oppo Find 7 have made their way online, only a few days ahead of the device’s official March 19th unveiling. As so often is the case, the images were leaked onto Weibo, where it appears someone was able to get up close and intimate with the device, judging from the satin sheets the phone rests so delicately upon (we wont judge). This isn’t the first time we got a glimpse at the Oppo Find 7, with the device recently making an appearance in a design award. These new images of the phone in the wild line up perfectly with the previous leak, although other than the general shape and bezel ratio, they don’t reveal much. You will notice Oppo has forgone software navigation buttons in favor of capacitive ones, putting that bezel to good use we’d say. A dual-LED flash can be seen on the back of the device, surrounding by what appears to be some premium aluminum. All in all, the phone looks strikingly similar to last year’s model, but we suppose there’s only so many ways you can design a rectangle. It’s been rumored that Oppo might release 2 variants of the Find 7 — one with a 2K display, and the other with a more affordable (and practical) 1080p display. We wont know for sure what Oppo has up their sleeves until the phone is officially announced on March 19th, but we’ll keep you updated. Judging solely from these images, what do you guys think of the Oppo Find 7? | |||||
| Google Wallet tap-to-pay willl soon only support devices running Android 4.4 KitKat Posted: 14 Mar 2014 02:07 PM PDT For most of you that actually enjoyed using your smartphone to make purchases at merchants like 7-Eleven or Jack in the Box, judgement day is approaching. According to emails being sent out — as well as Google’s newly updated Wallet support page — Google will soon kill Wallet’s tap-to-pay feature on Android devices running anything below Android 4.4 KitKat. It’s an exclusive club, one that, according to Google’s recent stats, only about 2.5% of active Android users belong to. Even worse is there the chance that tap-to-pay will still end for you even if you’re running KitKat. Google listed off a few devices on their support page that will no longer have tap-to-pay functionality, regardless of the firmware they’re running. Those devices include the HTC EVO 4G LTE, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and the Nexus 7 (2012). Ouch. Tap-to-pay will officially be cancelled for pre-KitKat devices starting this April 14th, 2014. | |||||
| Alleged screenshots taken from the LG G3 may confirm 2K display Posted: 14 Mar 2014 01:32 PM PDT Mobile tech is advancing a blistering fast pace. In the fight for market share dominance, Android OEMs are pulling out all the stops in a mad attempt at 1-uping each other. Well, for the most part. Just because Samsung played it “safe” this year by sticking with a 1080p display (instead of the 2K one we heard so much about from rumors), doesn’t mean their rivals will be so complacent. Look no further than the LG G3 which, according to those rumors we all love so much, is said to arrive on the scene with a drop-your-jaw and make-your-eyes-bleed 2K display. Well, a Dutch site may have just confirmed these rumors, after releasing a few screenshots from the upcoming device packing a — you guessed it — 1440 × 2560 resolution image (2K/QHD to the rest of us). Of course, nothing has been confirmed, but this leak seems pretty solid. Click the image for the full res version and look at the stunning clarity. Hey, remember when people used to have 720p displays, and were okay with it? Life is good. [LGG3] | |||||
| Samsung still denies rumors of ‘premium’ Galaxy S5 Posted: 14 Mar 2014 12:10 PM PDT Despite rumors to the contrary, Samsung Mobile bossman JK Shin promises the company has no plans to pull a fast one on those scurrying out to buy their new Galaxy S5 next month. Speaking to Korean media, the CEO adamantly denied reports of a "premium" version of the latest flagship, which many believe to be slated for release later this year. The rumors, which point to a Galaxy F lineup of top-tier devices, stem from months of rumors and speculation leading to the announcement of the Galaxy S5. In recent weeks, growing hype can likely be attributed to the disappointment of some fans after the new Samsung smartphone was revealed as a slightly underwhelming upgrade to last year's Galaxy S4. Rumored specs attached to the so-called premium version of the S5 would include a 64-bit processor, more RAM, and a design using metal as its primary material. Yes, there is always the chance that Shin is merely attempting to squash these rumors in order to not distract consumers from the launch of the Galaxy S5, but perhaps we all are reading a bit too much into the tea leaves. Maybe a souped-up Galaxy S5 is indeed in the works, maybe it isn't. Either way, we know what Samsung's official stance is. [via KBench] | |||||
| Mobile Roar Podcast 36: Dual-OS devices, music streaming, and Shaq Posted: 14 Mar 2014 12:06 PM PDT Mutant Android and Windows Phone devices are coming, whether we like it or not. We share our thoughts on the prospect. iTunes Radio has surpassed Spotify in popularity here in the US. We share our favorite streaming apps. After the news we play THE PHONE NAME GAME, do Wins/Fails of the week, and share app picks. Thanks for listening! Big News
Quick Hits
31:48 The Phone Name Game Wins/Fails
App Picks Follow Us
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||
| Top 11 Twitter Apps for Android [2014] Posted: 14 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PDT The landscape of Twitter apps has changed a ton since 2012, with Twitter’s latest API and developer policies limiting most third-party apps to just 100,000 users. This means apps often “die” before the getting gets good, and users are always forced to find new options if they can’t get their hands on a token for their favorite app. To make the search easier, we’ve compiled a list of some of the top Twitter apps for Android in 2014. The list doesn’t include the official offering from Twitter themselves, though that’s because we figure for users to be seeking out a list like this, they have already found something they don’t like about it. If you don’t fit that bill then, by all means, give the app a shot for free in the Google Play Store. It’s not that bad these days, and it’s worth not having to deal with the hassle of the Twitter token debacle if you’ve been frustrated with that whole controversy. Otherwise, read on and see what the third-party developers of Android have cooked up over recent times. Talon for Twitter ($1.99)Talon is one of the few Twitter apps on the market that have completely adopted the latest design guidelines from Google in a very sensible and functional way. This fully-featured app has all the makings of a premier Twitter experience, with slick user interface design (including a gorgeous tablet UI), an exhaustive number of customization options, and more. There are a couple of minor shortcomings we hope will be addressed in the future, but there isn’t much room to complain. For starters we’d love the ability to have more than two accounts at the same time, though considering many other apps don’t offer multiple accounts support we can’t say Talon is in bad shape. One thing that makes this app’s price tag definitely worth it is the developer. Luke Klinker and his brother have done a marvelous job with all the updates since the app’s launch a short while ago. Version 2.0 brought a list of changes, new features and bug fixes that are far too numerous to name. Support like that is rare enough to applaud whenever we see it. See what $2 can get you in the Google Play Store. Robird ($1.99)This exciting new option brings a very refreshing return to simplicity in a space where everyone is always attempting to reinvent the wheel. Robird might not stand up as the most customizable and feature-filled option on this list, but it does what it does with beauty, speed and — most importantly — without inducing headaches. It has standard features that most users care about, including proper Push Notifications support. The developers have been extremely responsive as well, with a personal feature request of mine being implemented within moments of me suggesting it. Now THAT’S what you call active development. You can find it in the Play Store for $2. Plume (FREE, $4.99 Premium)Plume is a long-time favorite of many, and — unlike other Twitter clients from its generation — it has aged well over the years. The developers have done a good job of keeping up with the Joneses and adapting to the latest design guidelines set forth by Google. But design alone isn’t enough to give Plume recognition. Its feature-set is outstanding, with nearly every option a “professional” Twitter user could want being packed into the tiny download. Whether it’s muting users or wanting full list support, a full suite of picture hosting options, or even Facebook support (people still do that?), Plume provides it all. The free option is lightly dabbed in ads, though you can pay for a $5 premium option if you don’t fancy companies trying to sell you stuff you don’t need. Tweedle (FREE)This is another one of those apps that don’t offer a metric ton of features compared to more boastful counterparts, but its simplicity and slick design have given us reason to give it a shot. Tweedle does offer you a host of customization options, though, so there’s still a bit you can do to make this Twitter experience just right for you. Thankfully, the developer is quite open to feature requests and updates the app on a fairly regular basis, so be sure to give them a holler if there’s something you’d like to see added in the future. The initial cost of entry is free, so this is hardly a leap of faith. Carbon (FREE)We waited a long time to see this app migrate from the now-defunct webOS, and joyous bells rang throughout the lands when it finally happened. Thankfully, the developers got a good grasp of Android design early on, and have crafted an app so beautiful that you’d probably want to make a Twitter account just to use it. Carbon’s fame comes from style, but it’s the rich underlying functionality users typically stay for. Carbon isn’t the answer for those looking to take absolute control over their Twitter app’s look and feel, but many who use the app are so enthralled by the design that they don’t miss the option to tweak every corner and color. It’s a very competent experience in all, though whether you can get in on it at this point is a crapshoot. Carbon’s Twitter tokens have expired, and you’ll need to draw on a big pot of luck or find someone willing to give their spot up in order to use it. Falcon Pro (FREE)Ah yes, the infamous Falcon Pro by Joaquim Verges. This app presents a beautiful canvas for consuming all your Tweets, with the developer packing in a comprehensive suite of features that’ll keep you satisfied when you’re writing out those 140-character memoirs. So why the “infamous” bit? Falcon Pro created a bit of controversy when its developer openly relisted the app after its Twitter tokens were all used up. The move was made to allow new users the ability to activate their accounts on the client, effectively weeding out all of the people who don’t actively use their tokens with the app. The app no longer exists on the Google Play Store, but you can now download it for free from Falcon Pro’s website. The app still receives periodic updates, though the developer has regretfully dialed their focus down as they feel they are fighting a losing battle with Twitter’s policies. All that hooplah aside, this app is well worth the trouble of having to grab the APK and sideload it yourself, so get over to their website and download it. Twidere (FREE)“Free. Open source. No ads. Forever.” Those few words stand out the most to me when I look at Twidere’s app description, but it’s the sum of that and all of its features that make this one to look out for. With a card-based user interface, interchangeable themes, and a host of customization options, Twidere is one app that can get the job done. Twidere also prides itself on taking Twitter security seriously, and they also fight the good fight against censorship. Needless to say, we’d definitely recommend supporting a developer like this on the app’s merit alone, but all that other feel-good stuff has us giving them extra special brownie points. Give it a shot. Tweetings ($2.99)This app might be so simplistic in its approach to design that it may drive some away. Tweetings features a no-frills user interface that draws directly on Holo’s elements with little to no customization. Regardless, it’s important to remember that beauty is only skin deep, and there’s some beauty to behold within Tweetings. Its dual-pane user interface in tablet mode might be its most redeeming feature considering not a ton of Twitter apps are wholly interested in that style anymore. Tweetings has all the basics and then some, though the $3 price tag will certainly make it tough for some users to get behind it. Peruse the app’s description in the Google Play Store and see if it’s something you wouldn’t mind using day-to-day. Tweet Lanes (FREE)Tweet Lanes was one of the first Twitter clients to implement the style guidelines that were introduced with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich back when that was still the bee’s knees, and as such it caught our attention quite fast. How does it fare today? Well, it still looks great. It doesn’t adhere to the latest guidelines, but it still does a heck of a job better than a lot of other apps. The app prides itself on unique features such as the ability to interact with multiple tweets at a time, an easier way to report spam, and tweet previews (such as showing image or video thumbnails) from trusted profiles only. All for the cost of your time and bandwidth. Echofon (FREE, $4.99 Premium)Ah, Echofon, the illustrious iOS Twitter client that seemed to take forever to make its way to Android. We expected a half-hearted port when it finally did make the jump, but Echofon actually took a bit of time to make the app look like it belonged. Its design is a bit uninspired, but it’s simple, fast and functional, and at the end of the day that’s enough to stick a ribbon on it. Echofon’s feature set isn’t terribly strong, though if you also use the iOS version you’ll definitely enjoy the ability to sync between platforms so that all your settings and read tweets are synced up. Give it a go, if you dare. Hootsuite (FREE, Premium Subscriptions)This final recommendation is more for business users than anyone else. The app’s feature-set might be a bit too complicated for most average users’ needs, but if you have to handle multiple Twitter accounts and need features like scheduled, automatic posting and the ability for multiple users to access the same account in a seamless way, Hootsuite has it for you. The base Hootsuite experience is free, though you’ll have to pay for premium accounts starting at $14.99 per month to take advantage of some of its most advanced features, which includes message archiving, vanity URLs, analytics, advanced security features and more. Consider what they’re offering by taking a gander at all the options they provide over at the Hootsuite website. Honorable MentionsThese apps didn’t make the cut for one reason or another, though they’re here for a reason — you should still see if they have something substantial to offer you. This list is mostly comprised of specialty apps, abandoned options, buggy clients, or those with terribly outdated user interfaces, but perhaps they have some niche feature or redeeming quality that you will appreciate.
Give each of them a closer look over in the Google Play Store. What’s your favorite?Of course, it seems the Twitterverse is endless when it comes to the sheer amount of options available. None of the apps in the list above doing it for you? Have an app in mind that you want to suggest? Be sure to let us know in the comments below! We’re more than eager to hear your thoughts, and so are many other users who need a bit of guidance to find the perfect Twitter app for them. | |||||
| Crazy Taxi available free today as Sega flags down a sequel Posted: 14 Mar 2014 09:37 AM PDT When it comes to classic driving games, it's hard not to think of Crazy Taxi. The game, which brought its arcade-style gameplay to home consoles with its release for the ill-fated Dreamcast in 1999, is far from the typical racer or simulation. If you are feeling nostalgic (or, in many cases, are too young to even remember Crazy Taxi), here's your chance to again rack up fares careening around stylistically rendered city streets. Crazy Taxi is available today as a free download for Android and iOS devices. The release coincides with Sega's announcement that we can soon expect a mobile-based sequel entitled Crazy Taxi: City Rush. The freemium game will take the original gameplay of Crazy Taxi and update it with improved graphics, customizable cabs, and expanded environments. No specific release date was revealed for the game, but it should be arriving very soon. Download: Crazy Taxi (Google Play) | |||||
| Nokia X garners 1 million pre-orders in China Posted: 14 Mar 2014 09:08 AM PDT The Nokia X might not have been the Android phone we hoped for, but it sure seems like the Android phone many people want. Nokia is reporting heavy interest in the handset in China, pointing to pre-order sales figures of over 1 million devices in that country. That number was reached in only four days. The results must be pleasing to Nokia, as the handset is doing just what the company intended. Rather than release a flagship Android device that would compete with its own line of Lumia devices running Windows Phone, Nokia wanted a low-cost smartphone that could help penetrate emerging markets (the phone isn't even scheduled to launch in regions like North America). The Nokia X runs a modified version of Android (skinned to resemble Nokia's Windows Phone offerings) and sports a 4-inch display, dual-core Snapdragon processor, and 3MP camera. It is launching around the world this month. The device officially goes on sale in China starting March 25th. You can check our our hands-on with the X as well as Nokia's XL and X+ as part of our coverage of last month's Mobile World Congress exhibition. [via Weibo (Nokia)] | |||||
| Amazon TV box could run a forked version of Android, focus on games Posted: 14 Mar 2014 08:18 AM PDT We've heard rumors of an Amazon web-connected TV box before, but today we get our first look at what is purported to be a piece of its hardware. It comes in the form of a game controller (a rather ugly one, might we add) that will supposedly interface with a set-top box running a forked version of Android, much like Amazon's Kindle Fire range. The media box is expected to give users access to Amazon's wide range of digital content, from streaming movies and television to music, apps, and games. The presence of a dedicated controller suggests the latter, gaming, will be a central focus of the device. It is also likely the box will offer other services common to internet-connected TV hardware (though it will be interesting to see if the Amazon opens up their box to competing services like Netflix). The obvious focus, as with all of Amazon's hardware, is on getting users to buy even more content from the retailer's connected digital storefront. As for the controller itself, it is rather reminiscent of the OnLive controller, featuring a similar design and layout save for offset analog sticks and a row of Android-esque navigation buttons. The presence of these controls further cements the fact that the system will likely run on some modified form of Google's mobile operating system. Most reports state that Amazon wanted to have their TV offering ready to go in time for the holiday season last year, but it was delayed for undisclosed reasons. As such, the device is expected to launch sometime before the second half of 2014, meaning an announcement could come and day now. [via ZatsNotFunny] | |||||
| Google, Microsoft bullying Asus into scrapping dual-boot devices Posted: 14 Mar 2014 07:29 AM PDT Asus' vision of a dual-boot Windows/Android tablet-laptop hybrid may never come to fruition. That is if Google and Microsoft have anything to say about it. According to a new report in the Wall Street Journal, the two companies are pressuring Asus to drop plans to release the Transformer Book Duet TD300, which was unveiled earlier this year at CES 2014. While neither player has commented on the matter, both have their own ways of making sure Asus complies with their wishes, which also include dropping Transformer AiO dual-boot machines from their lineup. Microsoft can easily withdraw marketing funds essential to propping up the device in the eyes of consumers. While the open source nature of Android makes it more difficult for Google to demand Asus removes it from the hybrid device, the company can withhold access to the Google Play Store and the operating system's suite of Google-connected services. The same has been heard before in the lead up to CES. Intel sees dual-boot Android/Windows devices as an avenue toward restoring flagging PC sales, and the January trade show was planned as a major stepping stone in getting such devices into the hands of the public. It was clear at the time that Microsoft and Google were not as interested in such an arrangement, with both resorting to similar tactics as those mentioned above. Microsoft even insisted that companies planning to show off dual-boot devices opt to convert their hardware to Windows-only. Interestingly, Microsoft has at times shown a difference of opinion when it comes to smartphones. The company, according to reports, was actively lobbying Android manufacturers like HTC to include the Windows Phone operating system on their Android devices. A rumored Windows Phone/Android device from Huawei appears likely to launch this year. Could it meet the same fate as the Transformer Book Duet? Perhaps the bigger question: do we even need dual-boot devices? While some benefits can be minced out, it's hard to make a solid argument in their favor. [via WSJ] | |||||
| Google Play update adds enhanced security options for app purchases Posted: 14 Mar 2014 06:34 AM PDT A new version of the Google Play Store is arriving for Android users, giving folks more control over security measures surrounding app purchases. Users can now decide how often the Play Store will ask for password confirmation, adding a layer of protection against the happy fingers of a child (or, perhaps, Shaq). In actuality, the updated Play Store doesn't add any security measures that weren't already in place, it only gives users more options. By default, Google Play would only ask for a password once every 30 minutes when downloading paid apps. The newest iteration of Google's app store gives the option to ask for passwords always, only after a half-hour elapses between purchases, or never. Google has also made their warning about in-app purchases harder to miss, making it clear when an app will include the ability to buy additional content. In-app purchases have come under a lot of fire recently from parents and the government alike. Apple saw a recent FTC ruling that will force them to pay back millions in in-app charges, while a women recently hit Google with a lawsuit over $66 worth of purchases made by her child without her consent. European officials have also been working with Apple and Google to develop regulations that could govern so-called freemium applications. As with all Play Store updates, you shouldn't have to do anything to get it. As a rollout will likely be somewhat staggered, if these features aren't available immediately, rest assured they will be soon. [via Engadget] |
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