Android News 24
Samsung accidentally confirms Galaxy S 4 Active and S 4 MiniSamsung is rumored to be developing several smartphones that use the Galaxy S 4 as a foundation to make adjustments and appeal to a wider audience. Earlier today, the company may have unintentionally confirmed the existence of two such devices. |
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Kyocera Hydro Edge adds another waterproof phone to Sprint and Boost MobileThe Kyocera Hydro introduced Boost Mobile to a waterproof Android 4.0 device that brought durability on a budget. The soon-to-launch Kyocera Hydro Edge coming to Sprint and Boost do the same, but not much has changed in the power and packaging of the new phone. Much like the Hydro XTRM, the Hydro Edge has solid durability credentials that make it capable of withstanding sprayed water or being in up to 3.28 feet of water for 30 minutes. It also has a slightly modified version of Android 4.1, Smart Sonic Receiver to greatly improve call volume by conducting sound through vibrations to the eardrum, a 4-inch impact-resistant touchscreen, and a 5 megapixel camera. However, the phone is missing quite a few things that its more powerful kin has, including a downgrade to a 1 GHz dual-core processor and and no front-facing camera. Even more perplexing is that the device is 3G-only and doesn't support 4G LTE. Though Sprint's 4G network is comparatively small but growing, the absence of LTE support is questionable in an age when the carrier is trying so hard to increase coverage and transition to a next generation network. |
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Hands-on with the Kyocera Hydro EDGE and Hydro XTRMMaking their appearance as successors to the original Kyocera Hydro, the Hydro EDGE and Hydro XTRM have been unveiled here at CTIA 2013 in Las Vegas. Doing what Kyocera does best, the latest two iterations in the Hydro family are mid-range devices that pack a solid feature set with the added bonus of water, shock and dustproofing. First up is the EDGE, which is only officially rated as being waterproof but still sports what feels like a solid case, destined for both Sprint and Boost Mobile. The XTRM (as the name would suggest) is officially certified as resistant to not only water, but also shocks, drops and dust and will arrive instead on U.S. Cellular. Both devices are decidedly mid-range, with 4-inch WVGA displays, 5MP cameras and dual-core Snapdragon processors. Stick around after the break where we have a bit more information, as well as some hands-on pictures and video to get a better feel for both of these new devices. |
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Galaxy S4 'Google Edition' to be U.S.-only at launch
It appears that folks around the world are going to have to wait to not order their very own Google Edition Samsung Galaxy S4, as CNET says Google has confirmed the launch to be US-only. The device, which was unveiled during the Google I/O 2013 keynote presentation, is the same Galaxy S4 you all know and love, but without Samsung's Touchwiz software -- or it's features. Instead the device has the same "Nexus user experience" that Google's own Nexus 4 delivers. The version shown at the I/O keynote will be penta-band HSPA+ and LTE, and will be completely compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile in the US. It was a bold, if strange, move by the two companies, and nobody is quite sure why either side wanted it to happen. Around these parts, we still think you're better served buying the "non-Google" version and doing a little software hackery if you just have to have Google Android instead of Samsung Android, allowing for an easy path back should you want or need all the features the hardware can deliver. There was no word on when to expect the device to be sold in other countries, but we imagine Samsung and Google both want to make it available and will work out the logistics and details as fast as they can. |
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Ingress app gets a major updateIngress, everyone's favorite sci-fi virtual reality simulation game, got a major update this afternoon. Everything you love about the game is still there, with less bugs, but a couple very nice features were added.
The new notification system will get all the attention, but the new information displayed about your Portal keys in inventory is probably the change people will use the most. The Jarvis Virus is something new started earlier this month, and it will flip an infected Portal to the opposing faction. |
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Watch this Google I/O session on Android design principles because it's awesomeReal world examples and practices from the Android design team make this session from Google I/O 2013 a must-watch -- even if you'll never write your own app. See how Android apps should look and act, and see what the folks behind Android say about why they should be this way. Whether you're into design, or just into great looking Android apps this one is a treat. |
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ASUS PadFone Infinity with US friendly bands to be announced at Computex 2013?A comment by ASUS Global on their Google+ could have hinted at a possible US-friendly ASUS PadFone Infinity to be announced at this year s Computex expo in Taiwan. While showing off their all new hot pink colored ASUS Padfone Infinity, it seems the Taiwanese manufacturer may have let slip the possibility of a US variant of the convertible tablet to be announced in the coming weeks. While addressing comments and questions about the lack of a US-friendly 4G LTE PadFone Infinity, an ASUS Global rep said via their Google+ page to “wait and see” for what they could announce at this year’s Computex expo in June. |
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Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.2.2 firmware leaked with Galaxy S4 features
Lock screen widgets, re-vamped settings, driving mode and moreSamsung has a track record of bringing key software features to older phones with major firmware upgrades, and it seems last year's Galaxy S3 is about to see such an update along with Android 4.2.2. Leaked firmware obtained by SamMobile brings the international Galaxy S3 -- the quad-core Exynos-powered GT-i9300 -- up to Android 4.2.2, and adds many features previously reserved for the Galaxy S4. New features include a familiar array of lock screen widgets and unlock effects, new display modes, a re-tooled quick settings area in the notification pull-down, a new driving mode and an updated version of the S Voice assistant app. Some of the headline Galaxy S4 features like "Air view" hover-touch abilities aren't included -- that's because they're dependent on the S4's internal hardware. SamMobile has published the new -- and very much pre-release -- firmware version I9300XXUFME3 online, and it comes with all the usual warnings associated with using unfinished software on your phone. In addition, it'll increase your binary counter (the difficult-to-reset counter telling you how many unofficial ROMs you've installed) by one, even though it's marked as an official Samsung firmware. If you want to live dangerously, you can find the download and installation details over at the source link. If not, you'll find video after the break. |
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HTC flagship comes to Japan with oft-requested removable storageHTC and Japanese carrier KDDI have announced the HTC J One -- a new variant of the HTC One designed fro the Japanese market. The J One packs much the same internal hardware as its international cousin, but with the addition of a microSD slot, allowing storage to be expanded by up to 64 gigabytes. The HTC J One also supports FeliCa NFC-based wireless payments and 1Seg digital terrestrial TV broadcasts. (There's a new opaque area below the camera lens which may be part of the internal hardware for one of these two features.) HTC's also debuting some new accessories alongside the J One. There's a hard shell cover with kickstand, and the HTC J One Mini -- a version of the HTC Mini handset already released in China, or a "phone for your phone," if you prefer. This isn't the first localized HTC One we've seen with removable storage. Last month a Chinese variant of the phone appeared with a removable back cover, microSD support and dual-SIM capabilities. It isn't clear whether the J One will incorporate a similar removable back, but as HTC's already manufacturing this kind of device for China, we'd bet that's probably what's going on here. The HTC J One is due to go on sale in Japan from early June. |
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Galaxy S4 vs HTC One – Display ComparisonThe current Android titans — that's how the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One are referred to these days. They're Samsung's and HTC's most powerful offerings to the high-end Android market, and the two phones bring with them not just processing might or camera power, but also display prowess. Both 1080p Full HD phones, the S4 and the One can be expected to deliver rich details, amazing color, and overall visual pleasure on their respective screens. The displays on both the Galaxy S4 and HTC One are amazing. On the basis of screen and display alone, I find it hard to take sides. Based on this comparison, the following positive points can be ascribed to each phone: |
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