HTC to deliver KitKat to One owners a couple weeks late (updated)
HTC pledged to put KitKat on One handsets in the US 90 days after the newest version of Android’s release, but today, the company revealed that it’s going to miss its target date. While things looked to be on schedule as late as last week — when the company pushed the final software out to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon — it appears that certification process is taking longer than expected (HTC One owners outside the US may experience a more timely rollout, namely in the Nordics, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Ukraine, Middle East and North Africa regions). There is a silver lining to be found, however. The delay should only last a week or two according to HTC Americas President Jason Mackenzie, and, of course you can keep an eye on the firm’s Software Update page. That way you One owners will know precisely when you’re able to break off a bit of KitKat for yourselves.
Update: We should mention that the update’s already rolling out to folks in Scandanavia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Ukraine, Middle East and North Africa, with more to come.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, HTC
Source: HTC
HDTV deals of the week: 01.29.14
Early in the year is the best time to save your hard-earned cash on a new TV. Whether you’re prepping for the big game this weekend or just looking to upgrade your existing living room display, there are price cuts across the board on 2013 models to make room for this year’s releases. In order to lend a hand with the search, we’ve selected a handful of worthy contenders after the break. With a variety of sizes and price ranges covered, there’s sure to be something for those eyeing a new HDTV this week.
Just window shopping? No worries. Join us and add the gadgets you’re shopping for to your “Want” list; every time there’s a price cut in the future, you’ll get an email alert!
55-inch Sony KDL-55W900A
Price: $1,773.55
Regular Price: $3,300
Buy: Amazon
This 55-inch HDTV from Sony’s 2013 lineup has been touted for its picture quality, which many folks note is right up there with the best models available. In fact, Engadget users have given that stat a perfect 10. When compared with the current top-scoring HDTVs in our product database, the KDL-55W900A stacks up nicely in both ratings and price. Want to see how it stacks up to your current display? Make your own comparison right here after clicking “add to compare” on your HDTV’s product page.
46-inch Samsung F8000 Series
Price: $1,429
Regular Price: $2,449
Engadget Global Score: 87
Buy: Abe’s of Maine
This 46-inch LED HDTV from Samsung has also earned high marks for both picture quality and speedy performance, tallying up an Engadget Global Score of 87. According to our price-tracking tool, this is the lowest price we’ve seen on the unit since mid-November as well. Thinking about holding off a bit? Add the F8000 Series to your “Want” list and we’ll send you alerts as soon as the price tag fluctuates.
50-inch Panasonic Smart VIERA ET60 Series
Price: $841.30
Regular Price: $1,400
Engadget Global Score: 81
Buy: Amazon
Panasonic’s 2013 Smart VIERA ET60 LCD line is getting in on the end-of-the-model-year action as well with savings of around 40 percent off the MSRP. The HDTV has mustered an Engadget Global Score of 81 thanks to sharp picture and accurate color handling. If you’re after a bit more oomph, step up to the Smart VIERA ST60 Series and its 92 Global Score that’s currently priced in the $1,600 range for a 55-incher. To compare the two, mosey right over here for a side-by-side comparison.
32-inch Vizio M-Series Razor LED
Price: $360.04
Regular Price: $399
Buy: Target
Don’t need a massive HDTV to get the job done? Well, Vizio’s M-Series Razor family offers a 32-inch option that’s been discounted $40 from its original price when it arrived back in May. While the stats and picture may not blow you away, the affordable price for a smart TV with Hulu, Netflix and more packed in make this selection worth more than just a passing glance. Right now, it’s also priced the lowest we’ve seen in more than a month, according to the 90-day price history.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Reported Google deal could see Samsung deliver cleaner Android, less bloat
Google and Samsung agreeing to a 10 year patent licensing deal was good news for Android. But that might only be the tip of the iceberg. According to a report from Re/code the two are working together on a broader initiative that will bring the Samsung version of Android more inline with Google’s vision. The talks appear to have started at CES following the reveal of Galaxy Tab Pro and Note Pro lines, which featured a new skin called Magazine UX. The interface was not only a dramatic departure from the familiar TouchWiz, but from the very core of Android itself. In fact, the panel-based home screen looks a lot more like Windows 8 than Mountain View’s mobile OS. But Re/code’s sources say that future Samsung devices will either feature a drastically scaled back version of Magazine UX or lose the interface all together. Obviously, keeping the Android experience as consistent as possible across devices and brands is good for Google, but it could also help Samsung, which is now looking at maintaining three different Android-based tablet skins.
Google has been pressuring companies to minimize the tweaks to the Android UI (with varying degrees of success) for sometime now. So it balking at Magazine UX should come as no surprise. The more interesting part of the deal reportedly involves Samsung’s in-house apps. For years now the South Korean giant has been promoting its own (often lackluster) products that replicate functions of Google’s core Play Services. For example, WatchON, ChatON and the mSpot-enhanced Media Hub. Sammy has apparently agreed to instead shift focus to the Play store, Newsstand, Hangouts and other Google-built apps. Again, this will bring additional consistency to the Android universe and, considering the size of Samsung’s market share, will broaden the reach of Mountain View’s services.
What isn’t clear, is what concessions Samsung wrangled out of Google to get this deal done. It could simply be that Sundar Pichai threatened to pull access to the Play store if the Galaxy line didn’t, well, get in line. But that seems doubtful. Perhaps the company was promised the next Nexus device or even a seat at the brainstorming sessions for Lemon Meringue Pie (Lollipop? Lik-M-Aid?).
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Samsung, Google
Source: Re/code
Lenovo reportedly nearing $3 billion deal for Motorola’s handset business
According to several sources Lenovo is nearing a rather stunning deal that would put Motorola’s cellphone business in its back pocket for roughly $3 billion. Google snatched up Motorola in 2011 for $12.5 billion. Since then it’s slowly broken the company up, scaled back its device lineup and added its massive pile of patents to its legal arsenal. Now, after losing money for several years straight, Mountain View is reportedly preparing to offload the division on Chinese computer giant Lenovo. The purchase of Motorola will probably also put to bed rumors of Lenovo purchasing BlackBerry… at least for a little while. The company has been looking to step up its mobile efforts for the last couple of years, and Motorola’s existing infrastructure, patent library and brand recognition should help it make a dent here in the US.
The deal hasn’t been officially announced yet, but when (and if) it is there are bound to be plenty of questions. For one, how will the sale of Motorola to a Chinese firm effect the company’s recent efforts to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US? And how will this impact Google’s own expanding manufacturing plans in the future? Or course, we may have also just figured out how exactly Google convinced Samsung to start putting more focus on Play Services.
Filed under: Cellphones, Misc, Mobile, Google, Lenovo
Source: Reuters
Facebook’s mobile ads now account for over half of its revenue thanks to 945 million monthly users
As expected after the Q3 numbers, mobile advertising now accounts for 53% of Facebook’s revenue, thanks in large part to News Feed ads and auto-play videos. In total, the outfit earned $2.59 billion in revenue during Q4 of 2013. The company’s 556 million daily active users on mobile for the month of December (a 49 percent increase year-over-year) and 945 million mobile monthly active users (up 39 percent year-over-year) easily explains the bump from those accessing the social network on the go. Those numbers are also sure to rise as Facebook preps its targeted ad network to outfit apps other than its own, a rumored Flipboard competitor and the suite of standalone applications already tipped for 2014 release. Nearly a billion monthly mobile users should begin to ease concerns after the company faltered following its IPO, too.
[Image credit: Marco Paköeningrat/Flickr]
Filed under: Internet, Facebook
Source: Facebook
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