Hands-on with Nokia’s X family of Android smartphones (video)
A couple of years ago, we would’ve said that the day Nokia announced an Android device was the day Hades froze over. The hour has come, however, and it’s only slightly chilly this morning. The Nokia X is the company’s inaugural Android-based devices — three of them, in fact — although it’s been tweaked a little bit to fit Microsoft’s and Nokia’s preferences. The devices are known as the X, X+ (pictured above) and XL (pictured after the break), each of which differed by only a small number of factors; and at a cost of 89 euros ($122) for the X, 99 euros for the X+ and 109 euros for the XL, the family fits roughly in-between the Asha and Lumia series in terms of pricing and functionality. The X will be available immediately in growth markets (sorry, enthusiasts in the US, Korea and Japan, it won’t be heading to your neck of the woods through official channels), while the X+ and XL will come later in the second quarter and will come in white, black, cyan, green, red and yellow.
On the outside, the X and X+ both look a lot like a 4-inch version of the Asha 503, with the same matte polycarbonate chassis but without the transparent crystallic case surrounding it. It’s not too tiny that it disappears in your hands, but it’s also not too big to be overwhelming (unless you love larger devices, that is). At 10.4mm thick, it’s not an incredibly thin device but its smaller size helps ensure that it’s still a comfortable fit. (The XL is 10.8mm thick and offers a 5-inch display with the same resolution and 5MP rear camera along with a 2MP front-facing camera; we’ll have more impressions of the XL shortly.)
The phone itself is certainly a basic device, and it shows on the hardware side: the X sports a 4-inch IPS LCD WVGA (800 x 480) display, 3MP fixed-focus camera, a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1,500mAh removable battery, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD expansion up to 32GB and 512MB of RAM; the X+, we’re told, tacks on another 256MB of RAM and comes preloaded with a 4GB microSD card. For an inexpensive pair of devices destined for emerging markets, however, we doubt anyone will complain about the lack of premium specs. We’ve got a gallery of pics below, along with more of our impressions of the Android interface.
Of course, the most intriguing part of the device is the user interface itself. The X family uses a forked version of Android 4.1.2 that uses the standard AOSP but doesn’t have access to Google’s suite of services (such as the official Play Store, Gmail or other core apps). Nokia wants to ensure that the device is focused on Microsoft Cloud services such as Skype (the X will come with a free month of unlimited international calls), OneDrive and Outlook, and it also throws in features like Here Maps, MixRadio and so on. We imagine that putting the focus on these services was the only reason Microsoft would greenlight the project — since this is destined for developing countries and emerging markets, it makes sense that Microsoft wants to get its foot into as many doors as possible.
So what does a Nokia Android UX actually look like in real life? Not surprisingly, it’s a lot like Windows Phone. The X launcher consists of a series of neatly lined-up tiles, although it’s possible to add folders if you’re overwhelmed by apps. Nokia claims that the X reflects the company’s design heritage, and we have to agree — despite its Android framework, it looks and feels very much like a Nokia device. The X also features a menu off to the side called Fastlane (which will be a familiar term for N9 and Asha users), which is the X’s version of a notification menu and logs your favorite/most-used apps, nearly all of your activities, open apps and background processes on the same page. It sounds like a cluster of madness, but the company fortunately kept it looking pretty clean.
Since Nokia’s running the show for all of the core apps, none of them actually look like the way Google has intended. One of our favorite touches was the clock, which Nokia basically copy-and-pasted from the N9. It also includes a Nokia-designed keyboard which even includes swiping gestures (a la Swype or SwiftKey). Third-party app stores and a file manager are also pre-installed. And although it doesn’t use the official Play Store, the X will come with the Nokia Store preloaded. This Store is supposed to feature plenty of Android apps, but they’re specially curated by the company. When asked how particular they are, reps just told us that it’s made things easy for devs: it’ll be a matter of slapping in a few lines of new code into the same APK as they use for the standard Android build, submitting it to Nokia and then finally getting certified by the company. But if the app you’re looking for is nowhere to be found in the Store, a screen pops up with suggestions for other third-party app stores which should feature that particular title. Or, if that doesn’t work, nobody will be able to stop you from sideloading APKs into the phone for your personal use. Since the Nokia UX is simply built on top of AOSP, reps tell us that anything that’s possible within the AOSP is technically possible to do on the X (think launchers, ROMs, widgets and so on).
Will this version of Android get updated, though? It’s never easy to say even for standard Android phones, much less one forked by Nokia. We’re told that it will indeed be updateable (based on consumer need), and individual services can be updated as well; we’d like to give the company the benefit of the doubt, but the reality is that if it’s not successful, there’s nothing preventing Nokia from pulling the support plug.
Color us completely intrigued by the X. As long as you don’t mind the user experience being kept under Nokia’s control, it’s definitely a fun phone to play with. We’ll have to wait until our official review to offer a final judgment, but Nokia’s new smartphone is fun, modern and colorful. We’re still marveling that this kind of discussion is even taking place right now, but it’s fantastic to see the “adventurous” side of both Microsoft and Nokia.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia, Google
Google and LG are reportedly working together on an Android smartwatch
Rumors of a Google-powered smartwatch just got a little more tangible — both CNET and the Wall Street Journal claim that the search firm is teaming up with LG to make the Android-based wristwear. We still don’t know much about the hardware’s capabilities, but CNET believes that Google would follow the Nexus model and create a reference device that would launch at Google I/O in June. The WSJ notes that other manufacturers could also join the fray. None of the companies involved have commented on the rumor so far, so you won’t want to start budgeting for the gadget just yet. However, a Google-badged, LG-made smartwatch would make sense when the two companies have enjoyed success making phones like the Nexus 5, and LG is already designing wearables like the Lifeband Touch.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables, Mobile, Google, LG
Source: Wall Street Journal, CNET
How would you change Motorola’s RAZR i?
Here’s how it is: Intel is king of the PC hill, but in smartphones and tablets, you’re more likely to be using an ARM chip. For a tech behemoth to be beaten by a tiny firm in Cambridge is unacceptable, so Intel started cranking out mobile chips to redress the balance. For the Droid RAZR i, Motorola scooped out the guts of the RAZR M in favor of Intel’s Medfield chip and an “Intel Inside” sticker on the back. When we reviewed it, we found that it was fine at meeting similar mid-range devices head on, but that was about it. But what about you, gentle readers? What did you think? Why not head over to the forum and share your experiences with this device.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Source: Engadget Forums
Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: winter 2014 edition
You don’t need to cast bones or read entrails to know that smartphones arrive in predictable cycles. February, home of Mobile World Congress, is likely to see the launch of new handsets from heavy hitters like HTC, Samsung and LG. Those new flagships will rule the mobile hill until the fall, when Apple and Google are likely to wheel out next-gen devices of their own. Sony, meanwhile, recently launched its latest handset, the Z1 Compact, which reverses the “bigger is better” trend to great effect.
There may have only been one top-tier phone launching in January, but the phone industry has hardly been hibernating this winter. Two years after Google bought Motorola for $12.5 billion, it sold the rejuvenated handset maker to Lenovo. AT&T, meanwhile, has rejigged its mobile share plans to shrink your monthly data bill; T-Mobile will now pay you to leave your carrier; and we’re inching ever closer to a Sprint/T-Mobile merger, the FCC permitting. If you’re already on the hunt for a new smartphone, or your deal’s only for a few more months left and you like to be prepared, this is your guide to the best handsets on the market.
Android
HTC One
HTC’s 2013-era flagship is due for a revamp, and we’re certain that the gods of irony will ensure that, as soon as we’ve published this guide, the smartphone currently codenamed as “M8″ will officially arrive. In the meantime, however, the HTC One remains a handset that we’re happy to recommend. Combining jaw-dropping unibody aluminum design, powerful BoomSound speakers and an IR blaster, it’s as at home in front of your TV as on the road. The quick performance and general polish of both hardware and software mean that it hasn’t shown its age, and the UltraPixel camera is perfect for low-light shooting. Hopefully the arrival of the One’s replacement will help knock the price down, so we’d suggest keeping your eyes peeled for a bargain in the next few weeks.
Bottom line: Good hardware, good software and some innovative little touches put the HTC One ahead of the Android pack, even though it’s now several months older than many of the other phones on this list.
Key specs: 4.7-inch 1080p (1,920 x 1,080) S-LCD 3 display, 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600, 4MP rear/2.1MP front cameras, 32GB/64GB non-expandable storage, Android 4.2 (US, to be updated shortly)/Android 4.3 (global edition).
Price: $50 (Verizon), $100 (Sprint) from Amazon and Best Buy or $200 (AT&T)
Motorola Moto X
Since our last guide, the Motorola Moto X went on sale in Europe as an off-the-shelf retail option, and the company went from being Google’s plaything to becoming part of Lenovo. The news of the purchase shouldn’t distract you, however, as the handset is still reasonably new, with much to recommend it. In the US, customization is the name of the game, with the ability to choose colors on the front, back and accent pieces. There’s even an optional wood finish. It may not appeal to those who judge a phone’s performance on its spec sheet, but Motorola (and Google) worked hard to ensure there are some neat tricks under the hood. For example, you just need to say “OK Google” at the device for it to activate and offer up its voice search prowess. Then there’s the Active Display, which will show you your notifications if it feels you holding the handset toward your face.
Bottom line: Rather than cramming in ultra-fast internals, Motorola’s tried to make the phone especially intuitive to use, with Active Display and touchless controls. Oh, and it’s assembled in the USA, which might tug at your patriotic heartstrings.
Key specs: 4.7-inch (1,280 x 720) AMOLED display, 1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 Pro, 10MP rear/2MP front cameras, 16GB or 32GB non-expandable storage, Android 4.2.2 (upgradeable to 4.4 KitKat).
Price: $50 (AT&T, Verizon) from Amazon and Best Buy, $100 (Sprint) or $330 (unlocked)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
When Samsung presented the idea of a smartphone with a display larger than five inches, we were more than a little skeptical. The Galaxy Note’s surprise success, however, has forged a trend where colossal devices are now the rule, not the exception. For the Galaxy Note 3, Samsung took everything we loved about its predecessors and turned them up to 11. Instead of mildly useful note-taking, the company has ensured that the S Pen stylus now serves a deeper purpose. It also offers whip-smart performance and a battery that’ll last close to two days with normal usage. The only downside is that you’ll still look a bit silly using one as a phone, but let’s be honest: Who uses their smartphones to make calls anymore, eh?
Bottom line: The third-generation Note is an improvement over its predecessors thanks to a more useful stylus and a longer-lasting battery.
Key specs: 5.7-inch (1,920 x 1,080) Super AMOLED display, 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800, 13MP rear/2MP front cameras, 16GB/32GB/64GB expandable storage, Android 4.3.
Price: $300 (AT&T, Verizon) from Amazon and Best Buy, $350 (Sprint) or $708 (T-Mobile)
Google Nexus 5
When Google picked LG to produce the Nexus 4, heads and eyebrows were raised, but when it launched, no one could doubt that the duo had pulled off something special. For the Nexus 5, Google raised the price to $349, but for a little extra cash, you’re getting one of the finest flagships for a mid-range price. Since it’s a Nexus device, users are entitled to the latest and greatest version of Android whenever it’s out. And, despite the low price, you’re getting speedy internals and good-quality hardware. Just be prepared for some weak battery life and poor roaming options. Otherwise, we suggest you buy it contract-free, with just a prepaid SIM plan, and don’t look back. Your wallet will thank you for it.
Bottom line: We’re baffled as to why more people don’t just buy Nexus phones over all others. After all, you’re getting a flagship smartphone for $350.
Key specs: 4.95-inch (1,920 x 1,080) IPS LCD display, 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800, 8MP rear/1.3MP front cameras, 16GB/32GB non-expandable storage, Android 4.4.
Price: $100 (Sprint) from Best Buy, $349 to $399 (unlocked) or $396 (T-Mobile)
Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
We’ve noted that a lot of Android device makers like to release a handset, like the Galaxy S 4, and then release a smaller, more pocket-friendly version shortly afterward. Unfortunately, cramming the same technology down into a tighter package causes a raft of compromises, sending prospective buyers scurrying back to the full-size edition. Sony, however, decided that it would try and produce the Xperia Z1 Compact, a shrunken down, 4.3-inch version of the original Xperia Z1, which has a 5-inch screen. The only differences of note are that the display now has 720p resolution, instead of 1080p, and the battery capacity has dropped by 700mAh due to the hardware’s reduced dimensions. If you’re interested in a top-tier waterproof smartphone, but don’t fancy carrying around a device that can double as a table tennis bat, the Z1 Compact is absolutely worth investigating.
Bottom line: Sony’s struggled to sell its Xperia handsets in the past, but this one deserves to be a hit, thanks to its 20.7-megapixel camera, great build quality and blistering performance. Oh, and it’s waterproof, so if you like dunking your phone in your friend’s drinks, this one’s for you.
Key specs: 4.3-inch (1,280 x 720) Triluminos LCD display, 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800, 20.7MP rear/2MP front cameras, 16GB expandable storage, Android 4.3.
Price: $625.50 to $689.50 (unlocked, from Negri Electronics)
Motorola Moto G
The partnership between Motorola and Google may have only produced two handsets, but the ones we got were special. Aimed squarely at the lower end of the market, the Moto G is the rare beast that doesn’t feel like it costs just $180. It can beat the HTC One mini and Galaxy S4 Mini in the benchmark stakes; it features a solid camera; and the 4.5-inch display is actually quite fantastic. If you’re not dead-set on LTE or carrying around a big music collection, but want a quick and up-to-date Android smartphone, then this is the device you should be ordering.
Bottom line: If you want a Google handset, but can’t stretch to a Nexus 5, then the Moto G is your next best option. There’s no LTE, no expandable storage and the camera’s just OK, but for this price, who cares?
Key specs: 4.5-inch (1,280 x 720) IPS LCD display, 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400, 5MP rear/1.3MP front cameras, 8GB/16GB non-expandable storage, Android 4.3 (Android 4.4 KitKat on Google Play edition).
Price: $100 (Verizon), $80 (US Cellular), $130 (Boost) or $179 to $199 (GSM, unlocked) from Amazon
iOS
Apple iPhone 5s
You know the deal by now. Apple’s flagship iPhone 5s is the best iPhone ever made, thanks to improvements both inside and outside. Though it remains dwarfed in size by many rival phones, it benefits from Touch ID, an easy-to-use fingerprint scanner built right into the home button. Then there’s the future-proof A7 chip, which offers fast 64-bit performance. Add in iOS 7, with its stark new design, and you’ve got a seventh-generation iPhone that still manages to look and feel new.
Bottom line: The best iPhone yet, and among the top smartphones, period. However, if you already own an iPhone 5, you’re probably better off waiting for the 6, as nothing here really justifies the early upgrade fee.
Key specs: 4-inch (1,136 x 640) IPS Retina display, Touch ID, A7 chip with M7 motion coprocessor, 8MP rear/1.2MP front cameras, 16GB/32GB/64GB non-expandable storage, iOS 7.
Price: $199 to $399 (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint) from Best Buy or $649 to $848 (T-Mobile)
Apple iPhone 5c
Apple’s middle child is the iPhone 5c, which is basically 2012′s iPhone 5 with a plastic shell. That switch means you’ll now be able to buy the phone in a variety of bright, Lumia-esque colors, but in every other respect, it’s the same phone that came out in 2012. So, you’ll sacrifice the headline-grabbing features you’d otherwise get with the 5s, like the aluminum shell and fingerprint recognition, but if your wallet won’t stretch the extra $100 to get the higher-end model, this is a fine choice.
Bottom line: For $100 less than the iPhone 5s, it’s 2012′s best phone in a choice of fun colors.
Key specs: 4-inch (1,136 x 640) IPS Retina display, 1.3GHz dual-core A6, 8MP rear/1.2MP front cameras, 16GB/32GB non-expandable storage, iOS 7.
Price: $99 to $199 (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint) from Best Buy or $549 to $649 (unlocked or on T-Mobile)
Apple iPhone 4s
It’s a testament to the iPhone 4s that Apple can still sell it as an entry-level device more than two years after it first went on sale. Of course, it’s missing a few key specs that early adopters will be lusting after — namely, it rocks a smaller 3.5-inch display, and makes do with a slower chip and 3G-only data. That said, it still has a fantastic camera and that 3.5-inch display is at least Retina-quality. More importantly, the phone will still run iOS 7, so you won’t feel too behind your friends on more modern hardware. Of course, you’re not eligible for every new iOS feature, and there’s no guarantee your handset will be supported in a year’s time. Still, for a free-on-contract offering, it’s tremendously compelling.
Bottom line: Despite being more than two years old, the iPhone 4s can still hold its own with brand-new budget models from its rivals — and it’s a steal if you can get it for free. Speed freaks and LTE fans won’t be interested, but it’ll beat plenty of other smartphones you can get for nothing.
Key specs: 3.5-inch (960 x 640) IPS Retina display, 1GHz A5, 8MP rear/VGA front cameras, 8GB non-expandable storage, iOS 7.
Price: Free (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint) or $450 (unlocked on T-Mobile)
Windows Phone
Nokia Lumia 1520
A handset that exists in the corridor of uncertainty between a phone and a tablet, Nokia’s Lumia 1520 is the company’s first attempt at a 6-inch device to rival the Galaxy Note. With the first 1080p display on a Windows Phone device, as well as a Snapdragon 800 processor, the 1520 offers plenty to love. Pairing this massive device with a 20-megapixel PureView module puts most other devices to shame, and it’s even reasonably comfortable in a pocket — assuming you’re not wearing skinny jeans, anyway. If you’re a Verizon customer and feel left out, then the Icon, which combines similar internals with a 5-inch display, could be right up your street.
Bottom line: It’s too early to tell if Windows Phone 8 will flourish on a massive device that sits between a fully fledged tablet and a smartphone, but nonetheless, this stands as the best Windows Phone device we’ve ever seen.
Key specs: 6-inch (1,920 x 1,080) IPS LCD display, 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800, 20MP rear/1.2MP front cameras, 16/32GB expandable storage, Windows Phone 8.
Price: $150 (AT&T) from Amazon and Best Buy or $750 (unlocked)
Nokia Lumia 1020
When Nokia announced the “experimental” 808 PureView, it set the hearts of gadget fiends afire. The device came with a 41-megapixel sensor and some clever number-crunching that gave your photos much greater depth and clarity. Best of all, you could even zoom into them to a much greater level, finally bringing a CSI-style “enhance” to your images. The common consensus was that as soon as Nokia could put that 41-megapixel sensor onto a regular Windows Phone device, people would start paying attention to the platform. Well, that phone has arrived: The Lumia 1020 combines staggering imaging technology with Windows Phone’s user-friendly interface. Moreover, now that Microsoft and Nokia are filling the holes in Windows Phone’s app catalog, a flagship like the 1020 is more appealing than ever.
Bottom line: If you want to take amazing images with a smartphone, this is the device you need.
Key specs: 4.5-inch WXGA (1,280 x 768) PureMotion HD+ AMOLED display, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus, 41MP rear/1.2MP front cameras, 32GB non-expandable storage, Windows Phone 8.
Price: $50-$100 (AT&T) from Amazon and Best Buy
Nokia Lumia 1320
When it comes to Windows Phone devices, Nokia’s (and Microsoft’s) strategy has been easy to understand, if a bit scattergun. Produce a high-powered phone, and then whittle out features to produce sequentially cheaper versions from the 925 all the way down to the 520. The company adopted a similar approach to 6-inch units, with the 1520 acting as the “flagship,” and the 1320 being a cheaper, lower-powered version for the masses. It keeps the large display and battery, but ditches the PureView camera, large internal storage and high-power internals. That said, if you’re actively seeking out a phone/tablet hybrid, but aren’t thrilled at spending the thick end of $800, this is probably your first port of call.
Bottom line: Despite its size, this 6-inch device isn’t an all-powerful phablet — it’s more like the Lumia 620 after a bout of elephantiasis. If you want a big phone without a big price tag, however, this is probably where you’ll end up.
Key specs: 6-inch (1,280 x 720) ClearBlack LCD display, 1.7Ghz dual-core Snapdragon 400, 5MP rear/VGA front cameras, 8GB expandable storage, Windows Phone 8.
Price: $390 (unlocked, from Amazon)
Nokia Lumia 520
Nokia’s Lumia 520 (and 521) are the Windows Phone handsets that lurk at the very bottom of the company’s bargain basement. In fact, this handset is so cheap, it’s often handed out as a sweetener when you buy other Microsoft products. The price, combined with the user-friendliness of Windows Phone 8, makes it a pretty easy purchase for smartphone virgins. On the downside, the handset doesn’t have much going for it in the spec department — with a weak display, OK-ish camera and a short battery life. If, however, the purse strings are tight and you’re only browsing Twitter, then this is a reasonably safe bet.
Bottom line: It’s cheap to the point of being free, and while it may not be the greatest phone out there, Nokia has always known how to knock out a solid device for those on a budget. Take advantage of the right deal, and you’ll even be able to grab one of these for free as a party favor.
Key specs: 4-inch (800 x 480) IPS LCD, 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus, 5MP rear camera, 8GB expandable storage, Windows Phone 8.
Price: $29 (521, Metro PCS), $100 (520, AT&T) or $126 (521, T-Mobile) from Amazon
BlackBerry 10
BlackBerry Z30
The Z30 is, in our opinion, the best BlackBerry 10 device on the market. Thanks to the handset’s 5-inch display, BB10 suddenly feels much more comfortable than on the cramped Z10, and while it’s still just a year old, the operating system at least feels mature now. Then there’s the battery, which lasts more than a full day with intermittent usage and nearly 13 hours with nonstop use. Thankfully, the company has now moved to address the weak app selection — BB10 will now install and run plenty of Android apps at the push of a button. If you’re dead set on buying a touchscreen BlackBerry, this is the one that we’d recommend.
Bottom line: We doubt BlackBerry virgins will find anything to convince them to buy this device, but enthusiasts will find plenty to like. The bigger display and better internals make for a more comfortable experience, but beware that the usual BlackBerry issues remain.
Key specs: 5-inch (1,280 x 720) Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.7 GHz Qualcomm MSM8960T Pro, 8MP rear/2MP front cameras, 16GB expandable storage, BlackBerry OS 10.2.
Price: $100 (Verizon) from Amazon, $520.50 (unlocked, at Negri Electronics)
BlackBerry Q10
Who can count themselves among BlackBerry devotees? Security fans and those for whom only a real QWERTY input will do. The Q10 is the only BlackBerry 10 device with a keyboard that’s worth getting. Combining BlackBerry 10′s beefy operating system with smooth, but imperfect performance, the real star of the show here is that comfortable and easy-to-use QWERTY layout. If you’re eyeing the Q5, we’d suggest saving up a little more cash and going for its bigger brother; you’ll get a significantly better handset for the money.
Bottom line: In a world where the physical keyboard is an endangered species, the Q10 is the only place you can turn to, so be glad that it’s got the best of the old Bolds with a modern spin.
Key specs: 3.1-inch (720 x 720) Super AMOLED display, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon MSM8960, 8MP rear/2MP front cameras, 16GB expandable storage, BlackBerry OS 10.
Price: Free (AT&T) from Amazon, $50 (Verizon), $150 (Sprint) or $500 (unlocked)
Please note, all prices are contract unless otherwise stated. T-Mobile pricing is for full handset cost rather than subsidized.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Sony, Microsoft, HTC, Nokia, Google, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, LG, Blackberry, T-Mobile, Lenovo
HTC One KitKat update finally hitting T-Mobile and AT&T
We aren’t far from HTC One owners on every major US carrier having access to Android 4.4.2 KitKat. T-Mobile’s over-the-air update is rolling out now, and AT&T’s will be out “soon,” according to HTC’s executive director of product management Mo Versi. As with its appearance on Verizon and Sprint, this update brings the latest version of the Sense UI (5.5) and all that that entails. Namely, a more customizable Blinkfeed and several appearance tweaks. The process is a little behind schedule, to be sure, but it’s nice to see that carriers haven’t slowed it down too much.
[Thanks for sending this in, everyone!]
Another Great News! We have received AT&T’s technical approval for the HTC One w/4.4 + Sense 5.5. Looking to get the OTA out soon. Thanks!
– Mo (@moversi) February 21, 2014
T-Mobile HTC One Owners! We have received technical approval for 4.4 OS + Sense 5.5! Expect the OTA out shortly! Thank you for your patience
– Mo (@moversi) February 21, 2014
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC, Google, AT&T, T-Mobile
Source: Mo Versi (Twitter) (1), (2)
Microsoft is cutting Windows prices to compete with Android and Chrome OS
At present, it’s tricky to make Windows PCs that cost as little as basic Android tablets and Chromebooks. While Microsoft charges vendors $50 to use Windows, Google often gives its software away. The crew in Redmond may have found a way to narrow the price gap, though. Bloomberg claims that Microsoft is cutting Windows 8.1′s license fee to $15 for any device that sells for less than $250, letting builders offer very cheap Windows PCs without destroying their profits. The developer isn’t commenting on the reported discount, but this would be a familiar strategy; Microsoft slashed Windows XP’s pricing to wipe out Linux netbooks a few years ago. There’s no guarantee that the company will repeat its earlier success if the lower Windows 8.1 prices take effect. However, it may feel compelled to act when PC shipments are still declining and mobile OS tablets are on the rise — the status quo clearly isn’t working.
Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Software, Microsoft, Google
Via: The Verge
Source: Bloomberg
Here’s an early look at Google Project Tango’s indoor mapping abilities
Yesterday Google announced Project Tango, a prototype smartphone with a sophisticated 3D sensing system for mapping and tracking your surroundings. One day later, we’ve already got a sneak peek at the phone’s indoor modeling capabilities, courtesy of TechCrunch and Project Tango partner company Matterport.
Matterport, which creates 3D models of interior spaces, used one of the prototype Tango devices to create a map of the room you see below. When a Matterport employee moves the phone around the room, the company’s software captures 3D data and color camera data, which it uses to construct a comprehensive model. The result is accurate enough to measure the height from floor to ceiling, and we imagine the company chose to map an insanely cluttered room to demonstrate the system’s ability to process complicated information. Matterport’s CEO says Tango’s 3D mapping will only get better with a higher-resolution camera, but the 4-megapixel shooter on the current prototype clearly does a respectable job at 3D capturing already. Head past the break to see the video demo.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: TechCrunch
Smartwatches are dumb, but they don’t have to be
If recent trends are any indication, there are two roads that lie ahead for smartwatches and the companies foisting them upon us: the all-you-can-eat, tracker + smartphone approach and the single-minded focus on health and wellness bands. One meanders off to a fuzzy horizon laden with disregarded Dead End signs, a jumble of features and an overload of quantified-self data. And the other… well, that narrowly focused path to wellness simply falls off a cliff. It’s not because dedicated health and wellness devices have no place in the wearables market — right now, they do. It’s because that area of lifestyle tracking will inevitably be consumed by the smartwatch borg as a subset of ancillary features. And yet, here we are — about to enter into the irrevocable phase of mobile technologies as wrist-worn wearables with questionable (for now) benefits. A future we’ll preview more intensely at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as some big-name manufacturers unveil their in-development takes on what can currently be described as redundant lifestyle tech.
Am I being dismissive of a new technology? Not quite. It’s more realism than pessimism at this point; a perspective made that much stronger by the faults of existing smartwatches. I own and gave what I consider a fair shake to Sony’s SmartWatch 2. The end result being yet another device left to whiten under an accumulation of dust somewhere in my apartment. There’s just no room in my everyday life for another product to charge, let alone one that offers mere previews of the fully fledged functions on my smartphone. I don’t need a smaller, second window into my connected life, nor do you. That already exists and you’re probably holding it in your hand right now. The four to five inches of which allow us a greater range of motion, input and screen real estate for actual, meaningful productivity. You see, efficiency should be the hallmark of smartwatches, not the clumsy duplication the category currently engenders.
I don’t need a smaller, second window into my connected life, nor do you.
It doesn’t have to be this way, though. Manufacturers just need to train their focus on three key areas to turn the smartwatch into a viable fourth pillar of lifestyle tech: design, display and battery life. Namely, we need wider, “always on” displays that offer high pixel density and look good doing it — the latter of which Pebble’s already addressing with Steel. Think your smartphone in landscape mode (but blessedly thinner thanks to advances in flexible display tech) strapped to your wrist and with a two-week charge. Sounds a lot more appealing than the two inches-or-less window to a preview that Pebble, Samsung and Sony have cobbled together, doesn’t it? It’s not that far-fetched a concept either, especially now that flexible displays (exhibit A: LG’s G Flex) and energy-sipping screen tech like Qualcomm’s Mirasol are making their way to market. That extra horizontal space wouldn’t just enable a more natural reading experience for texts, emails and social communications; it’d also make way for a less-cluttered app layout and the use of QWERTY software keyboards. Wouldn’t you like more room to read your messages and reply from your wrist? More space to precisely select icons and input text? Maybe even the ability to watch videos in 16:9 format?
It seems like I’m asking a lot, but really that’s the very least we should expect from a smartwatch. And, admittedly, none of it is revolutionary. For that, we’ll have to look to HTC and Apple, both of which are rumored to be hard at work on smartwatches that surpass the gimmick factor with an emphasis on lifestyle integration. HTC chief Peter Chou’s even gone on record to say these devices have “to meet a need, otherwise … it’s not for people’s day-to-day lives.” So what is it then about smartwatches that’s meaningful, and where’s this hole in our everyday mobile lives we didn’t know needed filling? The answer to that lies largely with contextual data.
Imagine a stylish smartwatch that blends the best of Jawbone’s Up24 with HTC’s One, or any other combination of high-end fitness tracker with flagship smartphone. By marrying the sensor-heavy wellness technology we see exploding within the industry right now with a first-class mobile experience on our wrists, companies could create the perfect digital assistant to slot seamlessly into our lifestyles. A device that could even control the connected homes of the future. It’d keep tabs on our movements, eating and communication habits, exposure to sunlight, temperature, sleep cycles, calendar and media consumption. Not to mention that it’d make and receive voice calls, record and display video and photos and function as a web browser, as well as a messaging hub.
Imagine a stylish smartwatch that blends the best of Jawbone’s Up24 with HTC’s One, or any other combination of high-end fitness tracker with flagship smartphone.
Best of all, by its very nature as a watch, it’d be constantly attached to our body — in large part thanks to waterproofing, power management and wireless charging — offering the most accurate overview of how we actually live. And it’d be able to quantify all of that data in a neat, assistive manner to encourage us to be that much healthier and that much wiser about maximizing our time. We’d be emboldened, not hampered, by our reliance on technology and we’d possibly be even thinner, too. We’d be more efficient soft machines.
That’s the dream, anyway.
The reality right now is that manufacturers are in a rat-race scramble for your dollars, eager to oversell the empty promises of their commercially available, yet stunted prototypes. Because, let’s face it: Two revenue streams — i.e., smartphones and their codependent smartwatch counterparts — pad a company’s bottom line better than a single well-executed product. And, quite frankly, if present-day smartwatches really could handle all of our communication needs well enough to be daily drivers, there’d be no real need for smartphones in our lives. So while Samsung, Sony and Pebble are busy kicking up as much dirt as possible to get consumers to notice their respective half-baked smartwatch takes, others, like Apple, LG, Microsoft and HTC, are working quietly behind the scenes to deliver something with actual purpose and value. Or, at least, that’s the presumption based on their collective silence.
And what about Google? Surely, a Nexus smartwatch must be in the works over in Mountain View. It’s an inevitability, really, made all the more possible by the company’s purchase of WIMM Labs and Nest; acquisitions that brought smartwatch and connected-home tech in-house for Google. Besides, do you really expect those overachieving Googlers to pass up a chance to show the industry how it’s done? Until then, I’ll find some other, much more reasonable way to set fire to $300.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Sony, HTC, Google
Google offers its help to monitor deforestation in near-real-time (video)
Google is no stranger to humanitarian work, and its latest effort is helping keep an unflinching eye on the world’s trees. For its part in the Global Forest Watch, the search giant is providing tech (namely, Earth and Maps) that allows virtually anyone to monitor deforestation on a massive scale. Let’s say you want to peek at how much of Brazil’s rain forest has been clear-cut in since 2008. You can do that. Even better, you can look at how much has been replanted — sadly, not a lot — if the mood strikes. The website’s interactive map also allows users to see just which industries are doing the damage, the extent of tree-top cover and a whole lot more. No, Google making data visible isn’t exactly new, but this application might be the first to have a lasting impact on the environment.
NEW: Powered by Google, Global Forest Watch monitors the world’s forests in near-real-time.http://t.co/081Oqnpem9 #gfwlaunch @worldresources
– GoogleEarth Outreach (@earthoutreach) February 20, 2014
Filed under: Science, Internet, Alt, Google
Source: Google Maps, Global Forest Watch
YouTube makes finding and following others’ playlists easier, debuts new card design for the web
We figured changes would be afoot after Susan Wojcicki (former chief ad guru at Google) became the head of YouTube, and it turns out, the first ones made since she got the job are all about playlists. Henceforth (or at least until the next round of UI tweaks arrive), the left rail on Youtube.com will have a dedicated “Playlists” pane that shows your personal playlists along with those from other channels that you’ve liked. Additionally, users will find a new “Playlists” tab on channel landing pages and get a new dedicated playlist editing page. The new features are rolling out worldwide over the next few days, and with them comes a new responsive, card-style design that fits “neatly on any screen size,” per the company, and should feel familiar to folks who use YouTube’s mobile apps. One YouTube for all, yo.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: Official YouTube blog
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