Android Lollipop is the OS of choice for one in five users
If you own an Android device, find four similarly outfitted friends and line up, shoulder-to-shoulder. Look to your left. Look to your right. Chances are, one of you has Lollipop, the latest Android mobile operating system. Twenty-one percent of Android devices use Lollipop, according to the company’s own breakdown. This figure is up significantly from May, when Android reported just nine percent of its devices used the new OS. The largest share of the Android OS pie goes to Kit Kat, with 39 percent, followed by Jelly Bean with 32 percent.
Android’s next update is called “Marshmallow” and while it doesn’t yet have a release date, it should hit devices soon. Marshmallow’s focus is “polish and quality,” according to Google CEO Sundar Pichai. We checked out the M Preview version in June and found that “when M works well, it works really well.”
A few notes regarding today’s numbers: The Nexus 9, Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge all come with Lollipop right out of the box. Also, Android’s figures reflect “devices running the latest Google Play Store app, which is compatible with Android 2.2 and higher.” That means older devices, or those without Google Play, aren’t counted in this particular survey.
Filed under:
Gaming, HD, Google
Via:
VentureBeat
Source:
Android
Tags: android, google, hdpostcross, lollipop, marshmallow, OS
What’s inside the TV Apple is definitely not going to make
Almost as soon as TVs started to get flatter, they slowly added intelligence too. But compared to the progress of phones, tablets and laptops, our HDTVs are still lagging far behind. If all of the rumors are true, tomorrow Apple will make its fourth attempt at filling the gap with a new TV box. Apple’s TV ambitions predate Engadget and even the iPod — the Apple Interactive Television Box had a cloud DVR vision back in 1994 — and accordingly, over the last decade, rumors of what the company might do have taken on a life of their own.
This week we’re expecting to see the natural evolution of a “hobby” the company has slowly cultivated since Apple TV launched in 2007, but what if it went the other way? Even with millions of squared-off hockey pucks on shelves around the world, pivoting to an iSight-equipped, Intel-powered plasma straight out of a Gene Munster/Mary Shelley bedtime story could be just what we need. A 180-degree turn into the high end that’s crazy instead of boring: Meet the Apple TV that never was.
The Looks
Potential customers checking out LG’s latest OLED TVs
First, the bad news: While O’Grady’s PowerPage kicked off the “Apple Plasma” rumor in 2006, it’s just too late for one of our favorite display technologies to be revived. In 2015, Apple and Tim Cook would probably do better with something from LG’s 4K OLED selection. It’s expensive, but it guarantees an exceptional picture and ultra-thin frame that Apple’s designers could work with in any way they wanted. That price tag guarantees that (at least at first) this would only be for the high-end market, but if there’s room for a gold Watch and maxed-out Mac Pro, it can fit in there somewhere.
The Brains
Back to that 2006 rumor: It linked Intel’s “Viiv” platform (remember that? probably not) to the flat-screen Apple was supposed to build. Intel isn’t dreaming that same dream anymore, and even sold off the internet video tech it developed to Verizon recently. But there’s no time like the present to jump back in, and with new “Skylake” CPUs that power everything from phones to laptops, why wouldn’t a TV work too?
What to watch
By dipping into its enormous financial resources, Apple could become the kind of player in content that even Netflix and Comcast can only dream of being. Thanks to help from the FCC, it’s the perfect time for a new kind of internet provider to get in there and work out contracts to save TV from itself. Guaranteeing a massive payment up front could convince giant media studios to bite on an entirely new kind of service for their movies and TV shows. It’s unlikely, but necessary to leap beyond the tiny changes we’ve seen over the last few years.
The TV setup we imagine blends the ease of cable TV with the flexibility the à la carte crowd wants: Pay a subscription fee, and then select what you want to watch. That fee gives you a certain amount of credits, and unlocking a series for a month (or the duration of a new season) takes some of them away. If you don’t want to watch it, you don’t pay for it, and they don’t get paid. If you want to watch ad-free, then you pay a little extra. Simple enough?
The Remote
The Apple TV we expect to see soon is rumored by 9to5Mac to have a larger remote with touch support and motion control. That follows years of suggestions and patent filings concerning a “Magic Wand” that can use gestures to fly through menus. Patent filings also pointed to a universal remote with a camera that takes pictures of other remotes so it can immediately recognize and copy their settings. If Apple really wants to go next level, then it could take a hint from Project Tango and push a remote with two cameras in it, capable of 3D-sensing its environment and powering augmented reality gaming you can use with a phone or tablet and… OK, maybe the most recent rumors are best left alone on this one.
One More Thing
Sure, we had to cut some corners and sub in new tech for some of the old, but really this is about trundling down memory lane for the rumors that never quite turned out. Apps, universal search, some light video gaming and, of course, YouTube should be more than enough to move a few million more units to push this “hobby.” Of course, if there’s still time before the presentation then Tim Cook and the rest of the squad should seriously consider a “one more thing” Ultra Apple TV with motion-sensing 3D remote — or maybe we should see if Samsung is interested?
[Image credit: (TV) Getty Images/iStockphoto, (chased by televisions) Getty Images,
Filed under:
Home Entertainment, HD, Apple, LG
Tags: apple, appletv, editorial, frankentv, hdpostcross, lg, rumor
Blu announces the Pure XL, a $350 flagship with monster specs
Blu products is known for very cost efficient phones. You won’t find much in their lineup over $300 and they always seem to have great specs. This time Blu is kicking it up a notch releasing a flagship level phone for $350. Let’s take a peak at the specs first.
| Blu Pure XL | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164mm x 82.2mm x 9.6mm |
| Weight | 202 g |
| Screen | 6” 2K Super AMOLED, 490 PPI |
| Processor | MediaTek 6795 Helio X10 2.0 GHz |
| GPU | PowerVR G6200 GPU |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB internal, 64 GB expandable |
| Battery | 3,500 mAh |
| Rear Camera | 24 MP |
| Front Camera | 8 MP |
| LTE Bands | 2/4/7/17 |
| Operating System | 5.1 Lollipop |
At first glance, this is an absolutely stunner in terms of specs. Only a few phones have broken past the 3 GB of ram mark at this point in 2015 so the Pure XL is absolutely on par there.
The 6″ screen reminds of us of the Nexus 6 and all the complaints we’ve heard of it being too big. And for most it really was. The Nexus 6 was a monster. You could adjust but it required compromise and it appears the Pure XL is going to require even more of an adjustment. While it’s not as wide, 82.2mm vs. 83mm or as thick, 9.6mm vs. 10.1mm as the Nexus 6, it’s taller at 164mm vs. 159.3mm. The rounded back of the Nexus 6 definitely helped in handling it so we’ll see if the more flat back of the Pure XL hurts it here.
The fact that it’s launching on 5.1 Lollipop is an encouraging sign. Blu has gotten flack in the past about their dearth of updates and the lack of pace in the updates that do get released. Normally you could just flash a custom ROM with a newer version of Android but since we’re seeing a MediaTek chip here, that might prove challenging. Develop for MediaTek chips comes about slow, or not at all due to poor documentation from the chip maker.
We’re also seeing a fingerprint sensor on the back of the device for added security. This is becoming a pretty standard feature and it’s great to see “Flagship killers” like the Blu Pure XL and OnePlus 2 include something we expect on much more expensive devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 or Apple iPhone.
The Pure XL will boast a 24 megapixel camera with a f/2.0 aperture, optical image stabilization, 1/2.3 inch sensor, real time HDR, dual-tone LED flash and phase detection aut0-focus. One thing that we’re seeing on the Pure XL that not many other phone makers have bought into is a dedicated camera button. As someone who was in love with his Sony Xperia Z2 for this reason, this is a huge plus. Photography is advancing so rapidly that we’re getting phones that can almost justify putting away the point and shoot. The fact that you may be able to get a phone for $350 with these kinds of specs is pretty fabulous. But the proof will be in the pudding. We’ve seen plenty of beefed up specs for a camera that put out very average pictures (we’re looking at you HTC) to trust pure numbers.
And to top it off, the Blu Pure XL will be made out of a solid aluminum design. It will feature chamfered edges, an “all day” battery with quick charging, and come in gold and grey. We’ve heard plenty of phones talk about all day battery and not deliver so we’re going to have to test this one out before we give it out stamp of approval. 3,500 mAh is an impressive size for a battery but it’s also pushing a decacore processor and 6″ 2560 x 1440 screen. That’s a lot of pixels to power, even if it is an AMOLED panel.
What do you think about the Blu Pure XL? Does this take the place of the OnePlus 2 as the cheap flagship killer for 2015? Or would you rather spend more money for a name brand phone that more reliably updates their Android version? Let us know in the comments what your reaction to the Blu Pure XL is.
Source: Blu
The post Blu announces the Pure XL, a $350 flagship with monster specs appeared first on AndroidGuys.
HTC may be working on their own smartwatch
HTC is looking to build momentum after a rough year. Their troubles have been well documented and the future of the company would appear to be in doubt. But it’s looking like HTC will forge ahead full steam with new projects. We’re going to see the HTC Vive next year which is a co-venture with Valve on a VR headset and it looks like later this month we’ll be seeing two more HTC flagships.
There’s no concrete info on what the name or specs of these two unnamed devices will be but they may be getting a little brother. There are rumors kicking around that HTC is now working on a smartwatch, codenamed “Halfbeak”. Halfbeak is a type of fish which follows the naming scheme of other Android Wear devices we’ve recently seen. The rumored smartwatch is said to come with a round display that sports a 360 x 360 resolution… and that’s about it. Phandroid is the bringing us the leaks today and they’ve vouched for their source bringing them accurate information in the past but we’re light on details today.
Could a killer smartwatch pull HTC out of the spiral that they’re in? It’s doubtful but we’ll have to see. They’re getting a late start in the smartwatch game compared to competitors Samsung, LG and Motorola but it seems like there haven’t been any killer Android Wear smartwatches out there yet. There’s nothing out there that’s going to make people line up at Best Buy at midnight to pick it up.
Could HTC pull a rabbit out of a hat? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Phandroid
The post HTC may be working on their own smartwatch appeared first on AndroidGuys.
BLU Pure XL officially announced – QHD display, 24MP camera and a fingerprint scanner for $350
BLU, the manufacturer behind last year’s popular Life Pure XL smartphone, has released a new device today that boasts some impressive specs and a cheap price point. The BLU Pure XL is the latest to come from the Florida-based company, and is one of the more powerful devices it has ever produced.
The BLU Pure XL comes with a 6.0-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 3, a 64-bit 2.0GHz MediaTek MT6795 Helio X10 processor, 3GB of RAM, 64GB of on-board storage and microSD expansion up to 64GB. It also has a 24MP rear-facing camera, an 8MP front-facing camera, a non-removable 3500mAh battery with quick charging capabilities and runs Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box. What’s more, this device even features a one-touch fingerprint scanner below the camera module on the phone’s back side. This is a feature we don’t normally see on inexpensive smartphones, and it should be a welcome addition to the handset.
Perhaps the best part about this new device is its price point. The Pure XL will launch exclusively on Amazon on Tuesday, September 29th for only $349.00, with 4G LTE support on both T-Mobile and AT&T networks. Considering the fact that similarly-spec’d devices cost about the same (or more) as this one, the Pure XL seems to be one heck of a mobile device. We’ll let you know when it becomes available for purchase.
More great BLU devices
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What are your thoughts on this new smartphone? Could it give other unlocked devices a run for their money? Be sure to tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
Blu’s Pure XL packs in a huge quad-HD screen, 24MP camera for $349
Blu’s still trucking along with its feature-rich unlocked Android phones. The latest entry is the $349 Pure XL, a 6-inch behemoth sporting a quad-HD resolution on its Super AMOLED display and a beefy 24-megapixel camera. It also marks the debut of Mediatek’s X10 octa-core chipset to the U.S. — the Pure XL’s processor clocks in at 2GHz and it’s buoyed by 3 gigabytes of RAM. Altogether, it’s the most powerful device we’ve seen yet from Blu. And unlike past Blu phones, it’s actually running the latest version of Android (5.1 Lollipop). While its design is fairly plain, its aluminum case should differentiate it from other cheap Android phones out there. With 64GB of storage and a fingerprint sensor on its rear, it also keeps up with some of the specs we’re seeing in much more expensive phones these days. The Pure XL will support T-Mobile and AT&T’s LTE networks, and it’s also dual-SIM, which should make it great for traveling. You can nab one exclusively on Amazon starting on September 29.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Mobile
Via:
PR Newswire
Source:
Blu
Tags: Blu, mobilepostcross, PureXL
New in our buyer’s guide: the Galaxy Note 5, OnePlus 2 and Moto G
Phones and gaming. Gaming and phones. That’s about all we’re adding to our buyer’s guide this month. Since we last checked in, we’ve inducted a trio of new handsets, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Moto G and the OnePlus 2. (And yes, we’ll soon have to update the iPhone part of the guide too.) Meanwhile, we also decided that the Wii U and the New 3DS XL deserved spots in our gaming guide, along with a nod to toys-to-life products like Amiibo, Skylanders and Disney’s Infinity series. We’ll be back next month, but until then, feel free to poke around our complete guide to see our top picks.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Gaming, Mobile, Samsung, Lenovo, Nintendo
Source:
Engadget Buyer’s Guide
Tags: 3dsxl, amiibo, buyers guide, buyersguide, disneyinfinity, engadget buyers guide, galaxynote5, lenovo, mobilepostcross, motog, motorola, nintendo, NintendoWiiU, oneplus, oneplus2, samsung, Skylanders, WiiU
Playdate: We’re going the distance in ‘Forza Motorsport 6’
We’re going for speed. We’re (not) all alone in a time of need. All ’90s song references aside, today we’re going to race through two hours of the latest entry in Microsoft’s racing simulation, Forza Motorsport 6. What’s that mean for you? Well, you’ll be able to watch me careen around race tracks, cause massive amounts of vehicular carnage and generally turn my Drivatar into everyone’s worst nightmare. If that sounds like your type of party, come back here at 6 pm ET / 3 pm PT to witness the glory (Tim’s feeble racing skills) and the hilarity (Sean Buckley’s amazement at said driving skills).
In the meantime, if you’ve already picked your copy of the game up, I’ve designed a few simple Engadget liveries and logos in the paintshop that you can download (or even an Audi Formula E car, a Tesla Model S and a bitchin’ Ford Focus), and you can totally emblazon your ride with your favorite tech site’s colors. Of course, you can always check out Playdate at Twitch.tv/joystiq or the Engadget Gaming homepage as well. Maybe — just maybe — Tim will talk about drinking antifreeze again.
http://www.twitch.tv/joystiq/embedWatch live video from Joystiq on www.twitch.tv
http://www.twitch.tv/joystiq/chat?popout=
Filed under:
Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Tags: forza, forzamotorsport, forzamotorsport6, gaming, hd, hdpostcross, microsoft, playdate, racing, streaming, streams, twitch, video, xbox, xboxone
What to Expect at Apple’s ‘Hey Siri’ Media Event on Wednesday
Apple will be on stage tomorrow at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco to announce several new products, including the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, iPad Pro, iPad mini 4, fourth-generation Apple TV and new Apple Watch bands and finishes. The keynote should also provide updates about iOS 9 and watchOS 2.
MacRumors will be providing live blog and Twitter coverage of the “Hey Siri” media event, which commences at 10 AM Pacific on Wednesday. Below is a roundup that previews what to expect at the keynote based on previous reports from MacRumors, 9to5Mac, TechCrunch, Re/code, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other sources.
iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
The ninth-generation iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will look virtually the same as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, retaining 4.7″ and 5.5″ ion-strengthened glass displays respectively with similar exterior designs.
It has been rumored for a few years that iPhones will eventually switch to sapphire crystal displays, but well-informed KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently claimed the material has yet to pass Apple’s internal drop tests.
Apple has addressed bending issues by designing the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus with Series 7000 aluminum, which is stronger and marginally thicker compared to Series 6000 aluminum used on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
The rear shell will still have a layer of anodization to protect against corrosion and allow for different color options, including space gray, silver, gold and a new rose gold color. The new color should look similar to the rose gold Apple Watch Edition. Read more 
Siri Offering New ‘Give Us a Hint’ Responses Ahead of Tomorrow’s Event
When Apple sent out invitations to its September 9 event, the company also updated Siri with a range of humorous responses when asked about the event tagline, “Hey Siri, give us a hint.”
Over the weekend, Siri’s responses were updated to include a several cheeky new sayings, ranging from binary code to jokes about chickens crossing the road. Several of the responses also include a reference to “tomorrow,” as we’re now less than 24 hours away from Apple’s event.
Given Siri’s built-in event responses and the personal assistant’s inclusion in the event tagline, it’s safe to assume Siri will be a major focal point of tomorrow’s event.
Siri integration is being built into the Apple TV and will be a main method of control, letting people search across multiple apps to find content, and Siri is also gaining new features in iOS 9, the operating system that will run on the to-be-announced iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPad mini 4, and iPad Pro.
Apple’s event kicks off tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and we’ll be offering live coverage on MacRumors.com and through the MacRumorsLive Twitter account. The event promises to be a major one, with Apple rumored to be unveiling two new iPhones, the iPad Pro, the iPad mini 4, the new Apple TV, new Apple Watch finishes and sport bands, and additional details on iOS 9 and watchOS 2.
AIVAnet 