Hardware makers swing into action with new Android Wear
In just one hour after the announcement of Google’s new Android Wear program, we already have quite a few big announcements regarding the new smartwatch OS. LG and Motorola announced their new smartwatches, while the new DevBytes video explains what Android Wear will look like to developers.
LG
LG was very quick to make noise in the space, revealing it’s alleged G Watch. There isn’t much information on the watch quite yet, but there have been some hints revealed in some of the new Android Wear videos. Users will most likely be able to wake their G Watch by saying “Okay, Google”, just like the Moto X. It will most likely be available in Q2, and will act as an entry-point for developers. Here’s a preview as to what the new watch from LG might bring.
Motorola
LG was not the only hardware manufacturer to pull the trigger already. Motorola’s announcement of the Moto 360 recently came to be, and it already looks like a nice competitor to LG’s wearable. Check out more on the Moto 360 here.
DevBytes
Along with all of the announcements today, the new Developer Preview was posted as well. It shows everybody, not only developers, the key features in how Google’s new smartwatch OS will work.
Justin Koh, a developer for Android Wear, explains that the watch’s main goal is, “Giving people the information they need, right when they need it.” Obviously this is an important factor in the new OS, and it’s nice to see Google doing it right (I’m looking at you, Galaxy Gear).
Koh explains the SDK adds functionality so if you dismiss a notification from your watch, it will also dismiss on the phone. If you’d like to take advantage of the Android Wear code, visit the webpage here.
Take a look at the new DevBytes video, previewing the features in Android Wear.
Google, LG, and Motorola went crazy with announcements today, brightening up the path for Android wearables in the future. Are you excited for what’s to come? We sure are! Let us know what you think in the comments!
Source: Google+, Android Wear
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LG G Watch to launch next quarter with Android Wear
Over the last two years, LG has established a storied history of collaboration with Google. The two companies have worked together on three devices (two Nexus smartphones and a Google Play edition tablet) and today we’re hearing about the fourth — a smartwatch. LG’s latest piece of handywork, known as the G Watch, features Google’s new wearables platform called Android Wear. LG’s keeping quiet on the specs and other details of the new device, but the above image at least gives us a sneak peek of what we can expect. Just by looking at the Now-like flight information on the watchface, we can tell that Google Now features prominently on the platform. And just like on the Moto X, users will be able to initiate voice commands by simply speaking “OK Google.”
LG wants the G Watch to act as a “low barrier to entry” for developers, while offering a Google experience to users at the same time; this likely means that when the watch arrives sometime next quarter (exact date and pricing remains unknown), we can expect it to sell at a rather competitive price point. “The opportunity to work with Google on LG G Watch was the perfect chance for LG to really pull out all stops in both design and engineering,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, CEO of LG’s Mobile Communications division. “We’re confident that a well-designed device has the potential to take the smart wearable market by storm.”
Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables, Wireless, Mobile, Google, LG
LG’s G Pro 2 starts rolling out across Asia
If you love your screens large but hate the bezel, LG’s G Pro 2 smartphone has arrived to Asia, replete with a 5.9-inch, IPS 1080p display and meager 3.3mm side frames. It also sports cutting-edge niceties like 4K video recording and the drum-to-unlock Knock Code, along with a 13-megapixel camera, Snapdragon 800 chip and 3GB of RAM. It’ll hit Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Vietnam in the coming days, with North America and Europe to follow at an unspecified date. There’s still no word on pricing, but given those specs, it’s not the budget phone you’ve been looking for.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
Source: LG
LG Lucid 3 leaks with updated curved design
We’ll admit, we’re getting mixed messages here. According to @evleaks’ latest reveal there is very likely a new LG Lucid (number 3 to be specific) invoming for Verizon. Nothing unusual there, as it’s been about a year since the last one. But if the images are accurate (and history predicts they will be) LG has taken some design cues from its G-series — rounded corners, and a curved back etc — along with a very Samsung-esque physical home key (the last edition had capacitive buttons). There’s little else to glean from the image other that the obvious, but expect a mid-range specification (with model number VS876) to hit the Verizon web store in the coming weeks.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
The week’s best Android rumors: Google Smartwatch, Nexus 8, LG G3, and more
Samsung Galaxy S5 Zoom
The first details for Samsung’s camera-centric Galaxy S5 experience have surfaced in new benchmarks. Assuming they’re accurate, the SM-C115 should employ a hexa-core Exynos chip, a 4.8-inch 720p display, 2GB of RAM, internal storage, and microSD expansion. As for the camera aspect, we could be looking at a 20-megapixel sensor for the back and 2-megapixels up front.
Amazon Set-Top Box
Although rumors of a set-top Amazon experience have been floating around for months on end, we’re finally starting to “see” movement. An image of the alleged Bluetooth controller has emerged, leading many to assume the device could focus heavily on gaming. The button configuration shows the popular Android functions so we might expect easy navigation for apps, perhaps like a Roku.
LG G3
The upcoming LG G3 could be waterproof and dustproof, according to Korean news outlet ETNews (translate). Although there’s no indication as to when the device will arrive, it’s likely to land with a big bang. Recent chatter also suggests the G3 will be the basis for the Nexus 6, due later this year.
A user agent discovered on LG’s website tells us that the G3 could employ a 2,560×1,440 resolution display, or 2K picture.
Google Smartwatch
The picture for the long-anticipated Google smartwatch gets clearer thanks to a new set of alleged specifications obtained by evleaks. According to his source, the LG-made device will feature 1.65-inch LDC (280×280 pixels), 512MB RAM and 4 GB of internal storage. Processor and battery are still unclear but we expect that to surface in the coming weeks.
Amazon “Project Aria” Smartphone
Amazon’s rumored first smartphone is expected to debut later this year, according to The Information. While this isn’t the first time we’ve heard such chatter, there’s a bit more to add to the story. Reports indicate the device is under the code name of “Project Aria” and Amazon is evaluating various markets for its eventual release.
Project Tango
Google’s recently announced 3D mapping project, Project Tango, has shown up on Chromium, the Chrome issue tracker. It has been revealed that the 5-inch phone will feature a 4-megapixel rear camera with 180 degrees Field of View (FOV), a depth camera 320×180@5Hz and a front-facing camera with 120 degrees FOV.
Nexus 8
Google could turn to Intel for the processor of the next-gen tablet experience. Rumored to be the Nexus 8, it may feature Intel’s Moorefield processor which offers 4 cores of 2.3GHz worth of power. Should this prove accurate, it may spur development of apps written with compatibility for Intel chipsets.
HTC One
In what must be the most solid leak to date, the second generation HTC One has been leaked out in sales guide showing Snapdragon 801, 2600mAh battery, touch-to-wake functionality and more. Also, Spigen have prematurely listed cases for the second generation HTC One.
The post The week’s best Android rumors: Google Smartwatch, Nexus 8, LG G3, and more appeared first on AndroidGuys.
LG Made Google Watch Specs get Some Leak Attention
Leaks and rumors are always a fun way to get conversations rolling. A new leak from infamous leakster, @evleaks, has pump out a bit of information regarding the upcoming and fairly anticipated, Google Watch. We have known for a while that LG would be the manufacturer of the device.
The leaked specs outline a Google (LG) Smartwatch with a 1.65″ IPS LCD display with a resolution of 280 x 280. Internally it houses 512 MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. The processor manufacturer and speed are still to be determined.
More Google (LG) smartwatch specs: 1.65″ IPS LCD @ 280×280, 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, processor TBD.
— @evleaks (@evleaks) March 13, 2014
The watch is said to be heavily KitKat and Google Now orientated. I am sure it will be compatible with any android device that is running a minimum of KitKat with the best experience being with a Nexus device.
It sounds like we can expect a square watch display with the 280 x 280 mention. Rumors peg an announcement this month with a release in June at Google I/O. The early announcement would be aimed for excitment, but more so for the release of the SDK. It would give developers a few months lead to create new apps and update current ones to work with the new watch.
Personally I would prefer a round display, but I know that is trickier and also limits the amount of information that can be displayed on the screen.
What do you guys want to see happen with the Google designed smartwatch? Will it need to hit the sweet spot price tag to be considered, or will you shell out top dollar for it?
Via Evleaks Twitter
img via 9to5Google
[LEAK] Code output alludes to existence of the LG G3 with a 2K Display
Only a few days ago, king of leaks, evleaks, suggested the existence of a device codenamed the LG D850, and short of saying it explicitly, suggested that this device is most likely LG‘s next flagship smartphone, the LG G3. Today, we get another leak from our favourite leaker, this time showing what looks like code output from a database. The code again suggests the existence of a LG D850 device but also says that this device will have 2560×1440 pixel resolution display, i.e. 2K resolution. Seeing as most quite a few devices are touting 2K displays, we can only assume LG wants to join that party later this year with its LG G3.
There’s not much else to glean from the code, though it is noteworthy that the value for “VoiceInputCapable” is “No”, implying that the LG G3 won’t have any of that always-on listening that we’ve been seeing so much of lately. We’ve also heard previous rumours that say that an upcoming Nexus device, assumed to be called the Nexus 6, will be a lightweight version of this LG G3. That’s quite a few layers of rumours, but we hope at least some of it is true.
Rumours place the LG G3 getting announced sometime in mid 2014, possibly May or June, so there’s not long to see whether these rumours are true. What do you think about all this: think the LG D850 is the LG G3? Let us know your opinion in the comments.
Source: Twitter
Tip: Add a multitasking button to the LG G Pro 2
The LG G Pro 2 unfortunately has a legacy menu button included on the on-screen navigation keys that you cannot seem to get rid of, but whilst you cannot hide it completely, you can add a dedicated multitasking button alongside it.
LG have enabled the ability to add up to two more buttons and that includes multitasking, QMemo, QSlide, or one that will open up the notification pane.
To add buttons to your G Pro 2, go to Settings>Display>Front touch buttons>Button Combination. From there, you simply drag the buttons into the order you want. You can’t have more than five buttons though, and you’re stuck with the standard back, home, and menu buttons.
There is also an option to change the background colour of the keys which enables you to change it to a black gradient, white, or white gradient, or even transparent if you so wish.
Whilst it would have been great for LG to enable the ability to remove the menu button completely, at least this way you can add a multitasking button to your LG G Pro 2.
The post Tip: Add a multitasking button to the LG G Pro 2 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
[LEAK] Could the LG D850 be the LG G3?
LG has been getting its fair share of rumours this past month, being linked to the Google smartwatch, the next Nexus smartphone, as well as suggestions its next flagship, the LG G3, coming out as soon as mid 2014. This latest leak, courtesy of evleaks, isn’t going to settle the boat one bit; the leak says that a certain LG D850 is “coming to AT&T”. Evleaks also provides us with the model numbers of other recently released LG phones including the LG G2 (D800), the Nexus 5 (D820) and the LG G Pro 2 (D830), which raises the question: could the LG D850 be the LG G3?
It certainly looks likely, particularly given all the rumours surrounding the device so early into the year, though that’s not to say it will happen either. Whatever the truth is, we’ll likely be hearing a lot more about it closer to May or June this year as that’s when the LG G3 was rumoured to be released.
What do you think about this leak? Is the LG D850 the LG G3, or is it another device entirely? Let us know your opinion in the comments.
Source: Twitter
Nexus 6 Already Being Talked About?! All New HTC One Spotted…Again! – The ManDroid Show
Another Saturday, and another late ManDroid Show. Trying my best to get these out on time, or at least the scheduled day I set for myself. The Nexus 6 is already being talked about which just shows you how the tech world is. It isn’t about what’s current, it’s always about the next thing. Enjoy the show!
News Topics
Nexus 6 already being talked about
All New HTC One spotted again
HTC Desire 310 added to HTC’s line
AIVAnet 