Intel’s building a reference tablet for Android developers
Looking for a new, stable and regularly updated slate to develop on? Intel has your back. The company says it’s been working with Google to create the “Intel Reference Design for Android,” a developer tablet designed to help device manufactures and developers get their products to market as fast as possible. “What we’ve done with Google is defined a list of components,” Intel’s Doug Fisher explained. “And then Intel builds a complete operating environment, a complete stack on top of that device.” The partnership and pre-approved components allows Intel to promise that its reference tablets will pass Google Media Services standards, making it easy for OEMs using the device as a base to do the same.
Intel is dedicated to keeping the program’s software up to date, too — every device in the program will receive the latest ASOP updates within two weeks of release. Intel is using the platform to push its own technology forward too: reference tablets will feature the same RealSense camera technology Dell is putting into the Venue 8 7000 series. Intel didn’t say when developers will be able to get involved in its reference program, but mentioned that the RealSense technology will be available in Dell’s slate this fall. Check out our hands-on with that device right here.
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Square Enix service lets you rent Final Fantasy games on your phone
Want to give Final Fantasy a try on your phone without paying a high price or buying specific hardware? It’s time to book a flight to Tokyo. Square Enix has unveiled Dive In, a currently Japan-only streaming game service that lets you rent titles on your Android and iOS devices. Much like PlayStation Now, you pay depending on both the games in question and how long you want to play. If you plan to rush through Season of Mystery in three days, it’ll cost you 150 yen ($1.41); if you’re content with finishing Final Fantasy XIII over the course of a year, you’ll pay 1,800 yen ($17). You can also play 30 minutes of any game for free if you’re not sure that you’re ready to commit. Dive In will be ready for Japanese fans on October 9th. There’s no word on launches elsewhere, although it wouldn’t be surprising to see some international expansion if the service catches on.
Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Internet, Mobile
Via: Kotaku, 4Gamer (translated)
Source: Dive In (translated)
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Battle of the Phablets: iPhone 6 Plus vs Galaxy Note 4 vs OnePlus One
Perhaps bigger is better? Apple have finally jumped on the band wagon and released a 5.5-inch iPhone 6 called the ‘Plus’, but how does it stack up against the Phablets already on the Android market?
We’ve taken the latest and greatest 5.5-inch+ Phablet devices on the market to see how they stack up against each other. Check out the chart below where we compare the specs of the iPhone 6 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note 4, and the OnePlus One.
But that’s just the specs, let us know what you think in the comments section below.
The post Battle of the Phablets: iPhone 6 Plus vs Galaxy Note 4 vs OnePlus One appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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Intel and Fossil partner for Android Wear
Intel, a leader in chip-making and powering technology, and Fossil, a leader in fashion accessories, are partnering up for future smartwatches and wearable technology. While they plan to build all kinds of wearable technology, Android Wear devices are a certainty since they both are listed as partners on Android Wear’s official website. This partnership is… Read more »
The post Intel and Fossil partner for Android Wear appeared first on SmarterWatching.
Read the rest at SmarterWatching.com!
The post Intel and Fossil partner for Android Wear appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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Verizon announced pre-orders for a steel band version of the Moto 360 smartwatch and then removed that statement
Motorola announced their beautiful Android Wear-powered Moto 360 smartwatch at a Chicago event recently. New Moto X and Moto G smartphones were announced as well, as were the Moto Hint bluetooth headset. You can order your Moto 360 right now (if you live in the US) directly from Motorola or via Google Play Store, though… Read more »
The post Verizon announced pre-orders for a steel band version of the Moto 360 smartwatch and then removed that statement appeared first on SmarterWatching.
Read the rest at SmarterWatching.com!
The post Verizon announced pre-orders for a steel band version of the Moto 360 smartwatch and then removed that statement appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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Amazon Prime Instant Video finally comes to Android
We’ve been waiting for what seems like forever, but today’s the day that Amazon finally lets Android users watch video on the go. The company has updated its core shopping app to bake-in Prime Instant Video, enabling users to catch digital re-runs of The Sopranos whatever device they’re rocking. The updated app also now lets customers access every part of Amazon’s online retail catalog, so they can pick up a kitchen appliance or two in line at the DMV. The app is available for free on Google Play, with 5GB of free cloud photo storage with Amazon Cloud Drive thrown in as a sweetener.
[Thanks, Anthony]
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Amazon
Source: Amazon (Google Play US), (UK)
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Samsung teases the US by bringing the Galaxy Alpha to Canada
Samsung is being a bit cruel to Americans jonesing for the Galaxy Alpha. The company has announced that its upscale Android smartphone will launch just north of the border (that is, Canada) on September 26th through Bell and Virgin Mobile. There’s no mention of Virgin’s pricing, but Bell is already taking orders at either $150 CAD on a two-year contract or a pricey $700 if you go contract-free. This isn’t an exclusive, though, so you should expect the Alpha to make its way to other Canuck providers in the “coming months.” As for the US? Sorry, there’s still no official word on that yet — barring success with an importer, you’ll just have to sit tight.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Via: MobileSyrup
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Overwatch: a smartphone app that makes airsoft more like a video game
Prefer the physical activity (and force feedback) airsoft, paintball and laser tag provide, but miss the peripheral luxuries of the virtual battlefield? Well, now you can have both — we found a new app at TechCrunch Disrupt makes physical warfare games a lot more like video games. It’s called Overwatch, and it gives any player with access to an Android or iOS device access to player stats, live voice-chat, in-game perks and controllable game modes. One feature stands out in particular, however: real-time GPS-radar mapping the locations of all players on the field.
Naturally, the app’s tracking ability only works out if every player on the field participates, but it shows a lot of potential. In our short demo with the product, we saw an airsoft rifle mounted iPhone actively track our location, betraying the location of an nearby enemy player on a simulated radar screen. Aware of our proximity, the opposing player was able to activate a “perk” to jam our radar. The app’s creator, Josh Moody, explained that the app can also be used to facilitate new game modes.
It’s a neat idea, with one flaw: nobody wants to pull a smartphone out of their pocket while they’re on the battlefield. Moody has an answer for that too: Overwatch has partnered with CyberGun, a major airsoft manufacturer to create durable smartphone mounts (pictured above) for recreational weapons. Don’t feel comfortable putting your smartphone on a gun? The company is making a arm-band, too – both will be available at Walmart and airsoft retailers later this year for $14.99 and $8.99, respectively. The app is available for free on iOS now, with an Android version coming soon.
Filed under: Gaming
Source: Overwatch
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Verizon will sell the Moto 360 with a metal band on November 11th
If you refuse to wear a Moto 360 smartwatch until it’s equipped with a metal wristband, you now have a firmer date than “fall” to mark on your calendar. Verizon says that it will ship this slightly ritzier version of Motorola’s wearable in both black and silver on November 11th for the expected $300. It’s not certain that Verizon will be the first out of the gate with the extra-shiny 360, but its timing should serve as a good yardstick even if you don’t plan to buy your watch at Big Red. And don’t forget: if two months is simply too long to wait, you can always buy the leather edition now and upgrade to metal later for $80.
Filed under: Wearables, Google, Verizon, Lenovo
Via: 9to5Google, BGR
Source: Verizon
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Amazon’s Fire phone drops to 99 cents on contract
We had a few problems with Amazon’s Fire phone, but one of the biggest was its steep asking price; $200 on contract (or $650 off) is a lot to pay for mid-range hardware with perspective effects thrown in. That won’t be a problem after today. The online retailer has just slashed the price of its first handset down to 99 cents on a two-year AT&T contract, or $449 if you want to go contract-free. You’ll still get the year’s worth of Prime membership and unlimited cloud storage, to boot.
Amazon hasn’t explained the sudden drop. However, you don’t normally see this kind of discounting just six weeks after a product launch — when it happens, that’s usually a sign that people aren’t buying. See the HTC First’s drop to the 99-cent mark within a month of availability, for example. It’s tough to know whether estimates of sub-par sales from The Guardian are anywhere near the mark (Amazon doesn’t give out shipment numbers), but it’s safe to presume that shoppers weren’t enthralled with the Fire phone at its original, premium-level pricing.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Amazon, AT&T
Source: Amazon (1), (2)
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AIVAnet 