New Android ad campaign hints at upcoming Nexus devices
The inexorable announcement of the next round of Nexus devices and Android L is drawing ever nearer, as Google has released a slew of new ads promoting Android.
This video above shows an animated version of the rumored Nexus 6. It seems to look like a Moto X (2014) and is obviously quite large. Google is seemingly saying that it doesn’t matter if it’s large, hence “be together. not the same.”
It’s hard to notice, but it’s possible that this video shows the Nexus 9, held by one of the people on the left.
This video doesn’t show any devices explicitly, but it’s the third ad in this series.
The trend in the past few years has been for Google to announce the next Nexus and version of Android in October, so we can say pretty firmly that an announcement is imminent. Whether it’s October 15 (tomorrow) or later in the month can’t be for sure, though rumors seem to be pointing to the former.
We also have a gallery of the Nexus 6 here, and earlier this morning we reported on another render from the supposedly retired (though I’m not complaining) @evleaks here.
Are you excited for this eminent announcement? I definitely am!
via AndroidAuthority
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Forbes: Nexus 6, Nexus 9, and Android L due October 15
October should just be dubbed “Nexus month”, as even if Google doesn’t announce a new Nexus at the beginning of the month, the internet blows up with rumors, reports, leaks, and other news about them anyways, and once they do announce it, the rest of the month (or next few months) is spent looking at and analyzing any and everything Google announced.
Anyways, Forbes has reported that “a source close to Google” has confirmed that the Nexus 6, Nexus 9, and Android L will be announced tomorrow via a blog post. The writer said originally Google was going to make an event out of it, eventually opting for a web announcement because they’re still fine tuning Android L.
The Nexus 9 will be available for pre-order on October 17th, and available to purchase on November 3rd, they say this is subject to change. The 16 GB variant will cost $399, while a 32 GB LTE version will cost $499, and apparently they will have expandable memory, which I’m sure will be praised by Android enthusiasts.
He also confirms specs: 8.9-inch 2048×1440 display, 480 grams, a 64-bit dual-core processor, an Nvidia Kepler GPU and a 8MP rear-facing camera and 3MP front-facing camera. It will have a “brushed-aluminum” frame rather than an all metal design. It will also have HTC’s boomsound and front-facing speakers.
There will also be an “origami” case, which apparently can be folded however you’d like in order to stand up or prop up the device.
We reported on this date and various specs a few times before.
Earlier today we’ve had a few reports about the Nexus 6 as well, here and a report about the newest android campaign here.
I’m starting to be convinced that this is happening. At this point if there isn’t an announcement tomorrow, I’ll be disappointed… So, while we feel confident about all this, take it all with a grain of salt.
Are you ready for the next round of Nexus devices and Android?
via Forbes
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New images, specs seemingly confirmed for Droid Turbo
For those that have Verizon and are dying for some juicy new Droid Turbo details, we have them for you.
An anonymous source has given AndroidCentral some leaked marketing materials for the Droid Turbo, giving us a couple new photos, and confirming many specs that have been rumored.
Droid Turbo picture from marketing materials
Red (like previously leaked) and black versions will be available (pictured above) and will have a “metallized glass fiber” body that is scratch-resistant, and splash-resistant. The phone can withstand “everyday spills and 20 minutes in a downpour”. The display has Corning Gorilla Glass 3, and the back is reinforced with Kevlar “offering a smooth finish”.
As previously thought, there’s a 5.2-inch screen, though now we know it’s Quad HD (2560×1440) resolution display (565 pixels per inch). It also confirms a 21-megapixel camera with 4K video recording capabilities and Dual LED flash that we had also suggested, along with Qi-wireless charging and NFC support, and the inclusion of Moto features such as Moto Display, Moto Voice, etc. We also had previously reported and now can confirm that it will have a 3,900 mAh battery, and it will come with Motorola’s turbo charger.
What’s new is a 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, and 3GB of RAM. Also, there are Motorola camera features like Quick Capture and video highlights that are on the new Moto X. It will also have VoLTE capabilities within 30-90 days of launch.
It appears as though it will have Android 4.4.4 (though not confirmed in leaked marketing materials), and will have some new “Zap” features from Verizon.
As we’ve been thinking, this is going to be one heckuva phone.
Do you like what you see?
via AndroidCentral
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Smartphones in one year: Project Ara (Opinion)
Smartphones have come a long way since their inception; though the idea of a portable device with internet connectivity and calling features has been around since the 1980s, it was not well received until 2006, with Blackberry’s new devices such as the Curve and Pearl. It revolutionised the way mainstream society viewed portable electronic devices and our uses for mobile phones. However, Blackberry did not enjoy this success for long, with the launch of the revolutionary iPhone, from Apple. It incorporated a touchscreen, and only 4 buttons. People were amazed by the fluidity of a device which essentially had nothing but screen on the front face. Apple’s market share grew rapidly, for example, increasing 626% globally in the smartphone sector, between the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.
The smartphone industry proved itself unpredictable once more in 2010, with Android’s new ‘Gingerbread’ overtaking iOS in the US, having already overtaken iOS in markets such as South Korea in 2009. With this saw the rise of OEMs such as Samsung, LG and HTC. Apple released the iPhone 4, a beautifully designed phone with ‘Retina display’ which yielded a positive response from the consumer market. Blackberry’s RIM was still going strong, however, failing to generate sales. 2010 also saw Microsoft’s attempt to tap into the smartphone market with Windows Phone, which did not meet good reception.
The home interface of Android gingerbread – image source: http://developer.android.com/about/versions/android-2.3-highlights.html
In 2011, with the release of Android 4.0.4, or ‘Ice Cream Sandwich’, Android phones finally started to be perceived as high-end, mainly due to the refreshed, sleeker interface Ice Cream Sandwich brought, and the smoother user experience, thanks to ‘Project Butter’, in Jelly Bean, 4.1. Android’s market share grew further to 36% in the US, placing them in a comfortable first position in terms of market share. Samsung also released the hugely popular Galaxy S2, and Apple released the iPhone 4S, which brought in Siri, a voice controlled assistant. By this point, Blackberry’s market share in the US decreased to less than that of Android and iOS.
The home interface of Android Ice Cream Sandwich – image source: http://developer.android.com/about/versions/android-4.0-highlights.html
Fast forward to 2014, where 80% of the world’s smartphones run on Android, and where Samsung is the biggest producer of smartphones internationally. Android Kit Kat brought performance and aesthetic improvements to Android, and Apple’s iOS got its long-awaited makeover in iOS 7 – which produced mixed opinions. HTC and LG gained a significant amount of market share, with the One M8 and G3 respectively, in markets such as the US, Europe, South Korea and Australia. However, it came as a shock that less popular manufacturers such as Huawei, Lenovo and Xiaomi had superceded manufacturers such as LG, Sony and HTC in the global market. This reiterated the influence that the Chinese market had on global business, and its sheer size.
The sudden entry of China into the smartphone market was expected, but not to the scale which it has. Not only have the consumers in China played a huge role in the global market share of OEMs, but their manufacturers such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Lenovo, Oppo, and more recently, OnePlus, have given the traditional smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung a real dilemma. Samsung is rapidly losing profits; quarterly projections going down by numbers such as 40% and 60%, and LG and HTC are struggling to keep their heads above the water. Chinese manufacturers are beginning to build great devices such as the OnePlus One, or the Xiaomi Mi3, with high-end specs, but sell for half the price of their counterparts of traditional OEMs.
The ‘flagship killer’ OnePlus One, from OnePlus – image source: http://oneplus.net/
I believe that next year will be pivotal in the smartphone industry; due mainly to the speculated release of the modular phone; Project Ara.
Project Ara will be the ‘next big thing’. It can be tailored to the needs of the individual, therefore, has the capacity to be a high-end or mid-range device. The concept of not having to buy a new handset every time a new chipset comes out, or when the screen is cracked, is intriguing. If marketed and manufactured well by Google, it will cause the idea of the ‘complete handset’ totally redundant. Consumers will only buy a new processing package, insert it into their modular phone, at only a fraction of the cost of buying a totally new handset.
This will pose a serious concern for current manufacturers. Instead of building complete handsets, companies will look for ways to monopolise the industry for a certain part of the modular phone. For example, Samsung and LG may both aim to control the displays of Project Ara, while Qualcomm with the chipsets. Unless the business can achieve a monopoly or duopoly of such industries, they will experience severe losses, provided that Project Ara is successful.
What must also be considered is the third-party, non-authorised manufacturers. These will be extremely popular in markets such as China, which, as proven before, is a market crucial to the survival of a consumer-oriented business. These ‘pirate’ manufacturers will provide parts of lesser quality, however, cheaper price, and can cause a formidable dent in the income of respective manufacturers.
The potential repercussions of the launch of the Project Ara platform to the smartphone industry are concerning. If it is as popular as it is believed it will be, it will result in the complete monopolisation of the smartphone market with Android, and with only one handset. It will minimise variation, innovation, originality and creativity; the smartphone industry will be extremely static. Therefore, I can hope another company will reciprocate Project Ara in an equally fantastic product, in order not to let Google singularly rule the industry, and maintain the dynamic, multifaceted environment of the smartphone industry, which is ultimately what renders the sector as stimulating as it is.
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Shuv messaging app lets you set your friends’ ring tones
A new messaging and VoIP app called Shuv boasts a special feature not found in its competitors: ring forward tones. Remember how ringback tones take the place of the typical ringing you hear when you call someone? Well, ring forward does the opposite, as it lets you set the audio your friends will hear when you call them up or send them picture messages via the app. You can choose from among the free tunes or from the 15,000 songs in Shuv’s library filled with Sony Music-licensed tracks by Beyoncé, Adele, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, Pharrel and Miley Cyrus, among many others. It’ll cost you $1.99 per month to access the Sony library, though, so we wouldn’t be surprised if you choose to record your own rendition of JT’s SexyBack instead. If you’re not married to any messaging app yet and want to try Shuv, you can download it right now for both iOS and Android devices.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Shuv
Here’s what Google’s giant Nexus 6 phone (probably) looks like
You may have already seen concepts and sketchy photos of Google’s long-fabled 6-inch Nexus, but it now looks like the final veil of secrecy has been removed from this future Android flagship. Evan Blass (aka @evleaks) has posted an apparent leaked press image for the new smartphone that supports many of the existing rumors. The massive screen full of Android L imagery is likely the biggest giveaway, but the device also has the Moto X-style grilles and side trim that many have been expecting from the reportedly Motorola-made device. There aren’t any new hints as to when this supersized hardware would arrive, and it’s still not completely certain that this is what you’ll eventually hold in your hands. However, Google’s tendency to unveil new Nexus gear around October or November suggests that you won’t have very long to wait.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Source: Evan Blass (Twitter)
Google finds that teens use voice search more than grownups
Want to do what all the cool kids do? Talk to your smartphone, apparently. Google has commissioned a study showing that American teens are considerably more likely to use voice search on their devices than adults. About 55 percent of the 18-and-under crowd uses Cortana, Google Voice Search or Siri more than once a day, while 41 percent of grownups do the same. That number climbs to an even higher 75 percent for teens glued to their phones 11-plus hours a day. Younger users aren’t worried about social stigmas, either — they’re far more likely to use voice commands when friends are around (57 percent versus 24 percent). About 45 percent of adults, meanwhile, are self-conscious about their geekiness when they speak to their devices.
As for how people use voice? Teens are more likely to rely on it when they want to call someone, and they naturally use it for youthful tasks like homework advice, playing music and checking movie showtimes. Their boring parents tend to use these commands more often for directions and text messages. The findings aren’t completely surprising — as a general rule, the younger crowd tends to embrace new technology more quickly — but they do suggest that voice is only going to play a bigger role in smartphones going forward.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Google
Source: Google (PR Newswire)
Skype Qik lets you swap short video messages with your friends
Skype may be one of the better-known options for video messaging, but it doesn’t hold a candle to a services like Snapchat if you just want simple, back-and-forth discussions. The Skype team isn’t taking this competition lying down, though — it just rolled out Skype Qik, its own take on rapid-fire video delivery. The mobile-only app is focused solely on swapping short clips (up to 42 seconds; yes, it’s a nod to Hitchhiker’s Guide) as part of conversations with your phone contacts. In theory, it’s just what you need to coordinate a night out or catch up with pals who are rarely available at the same time. All messages vanish after two weeks to help protect your privacy, and you can pre-record “Qik Fliks” to use when you’re either too busy or just want to reply with your favorite internet meme.
The new service is available on Android, iOS and Windows Phone today, and it’s free to use. The feature lists are largely the same, although it will take a few months before you can capture Qik Fliks on Windows devices. Just don’t expect to see desktop versions any time soon; you need a phone number to sign up, so you won’t be joining in from your Surface. The company also tells Engadget that there aren’t any current plans to fold Skype Qik’s features into existing apps, so you’ll need to carry two apps on your device if you want to place old-school video calls. Still, it’s good to see Skype stepping outside of its comfort zone — it risked being left by the wayside as a new wave of messaging apps took over.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: Skype Blogs
IRL: August’s renovation-free smart lock is convenient, if unnecessary
I rent a one bedroom apartment in New York City, which means if I want to make my home “smart” my options are pretty limited. A Nest Thermostat is out of the question. Truth is I don’t even have a dumb thermostat in my apartment; there’s a middle man standing between me and my heat. A smart lock would also normally be a no go, since that would mean replacing the whole lock and getting new keys. (Plus I’m sure my landlord wouldn’t want to foot the bill.) But August, as co-founder Jason Johnson is fond of saying, isn’t really a smart lock. It’s more like a robot that attaches to your existing lock. And since it only replaces the thumb latch on the inside of your deadbolt, it actually allowed me to give my roughly 90 year-old (and showing it) apartment a 21st century update.
Let’s start at the beginning: installation was relatively painless. If you want to know why August was delayed for so long, it’s because the company had to make sure it would work with as many makes and models of deadbolts as possible. Inside the box are some illustrated instructions, three different base plates for various brands of locks and even a piece of blue painters tape to secure your lock from the outside while you attach August. If you’ve ever installed a door knob before, this shouldn’t take you too long. It took less than 15 minutes from the moment I first touched the door with my screwdriver to completion.
I was really excited to ditch the keys and start unlocking my door with my phone. But there is a relatively tough adjustment period. For one, simply breaking the habit of reaching for your keys as you approach the door is hard. I had to force myself to put them away and pull out my phone over the first several days. And honestly, I wanted to go back to analog entry pretty quickly. See, while keys are certainly an imperfect security solution, they’re definitely faster than the Bluetooth LE August relies on. That means you have to be within 30 feet of the lock before the iOS or Android app even starts to pair with it. And despite all of the company’s hard work, the connection time is wildly inconsistent. It takes anywhere from one second to over 10 for the app to recognize the lock and get to a place where you can open it. And, if you’re on the opposite side of a heavy wooden door covered in what I assume is 80-plus years worth of lead paint, things are only going to get worse. Future updates could improve the connection time, but there are limits imposed by relying on Bluetooth.
Perhaps the biggest stumbling block, however, was retraining myself to forget about locking the door knob. Almost every home in America has two locks on the front door: a knob and a deadbolt. And almost every American locks both of those when they leave the house. Trouble is, August can only unlock your deadbolt. So, if you lock the knob, you’ll still need your keys. It was about two weeks before I fully broke myself of that habit (and more than once I had to take a trip to my parent’s house to borrow their spare key). While all gadgets and new technologies have a learning curve, breaking the addiction to your house keys turns out to be particularly difficult.
Once I got past that initial adjustment phase though, things started to get better. I got in the habit of firing up the app as I walked up to my house, rather than fumbling for my phone after I was already standing at the door. In all honestly it wasn’t all that different from fishing my keys out of the bottom of my bag or jacket. Then I discovered Everlock, which is basically just a timer that automatically locks your door. It sounds stupidly simple, but it’s one less thing to worry about when you’re rushing about in the morning. You just pull the door closed behind you, and 30 seconds later it’s securely locked without you having to fight with an app or a crowded keychain. And once the kinks are worked out of auto-unlock, the app will be something I rarely have to worry about. It will sense when I’m approaching my home and automatically unlock my door without any action from me. That’ll be especially useful when I’m lugging 20 bags of groceries up my steps in a single shot.
One of the biggest selling points of the August is the ability to control who goes in and out of your home and when. Now, I don’t have cleaning service come to my home or a dog walker, so those reoccurring scheduled “keys” aren’t of much use to me. In fact, the app made me realize how few people other than myself and my wife need access to my apartment. But, it did come in handy when I was going to be out of town for two days. A friend had to come by to feed my pets and walk my dog, but we couldn’t get our schedules synced up and I never got to drop off a key. But I was able to issue her a temporary electronic pass to my apartment while I was away.
Of course, no discussion of the August smart lock would be complete without talking about the hardware. It’s like no other lock you’ve ever seen before.The particular model I have is a bright metallic red with a diamond pattern etched into the outer ring. Manually turning the lock requires far less force than any deadbolt I’ve ever used before and the action is smooth as Kenny G’s “jazz.” It is a little bit bulky, but after the first few times you use it you barely notice its significant size.
Is August for everybody? At $250, probably not. But it’s an incredibly simple way to add some 21st century smarts to your home without doing any permanent renovations.
Filed under: Household
Verizon’s announcing its new Droid on October 28th
It’s been leaked to hell and back lately, but no matter – Verizon’s finally ready to pull back the curtain on its latest Droid smartphone at an event in New York on October 28. That device is the Droid Turbo, a seemingly super-charged version of this year’s Moto X that reportedly wraps an even speedier Snapdragon 805 chipset into a more traditional (some would say more heinous looking) Droid body. No need to lament its looks too much, though: while it keeps the same 5.2-inch screen as the X, Motorola stuck a 21-megapixel rear camera into the Turbo’s slimmish chassis, and rumor has it that there’s a staggeringly capacious 3,900mAh battery lurking in there to boot. If you’ve thumbed through our Moto X review, you’ll know that those two issues were the only things keeping Moto’s newest flagship from smartphone greatness, so forgive us for getting just a little excited to see the Turbo in person. After all, latest year’s Droid lineup were just slight variations on the original Moto X theme — this time Motorola seems to have dramatically upgraded the X formula.
Filed under: Mobile
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