Fresh from the Big Android BBQ, XDA Developer TV Producer Azrienoch sat down with a group of XDA staff. Azrienoch talks to them about their experiences at the Big Android BBQ and XDA in general. So if you ever wanted to put a couple faces to usernames of the XDA Staff, now is your chance.
The folks who bring you the forums that facilitate big third-party innovations in the mobile space. Expand Expanding Close
For those of you on Verizon Wireless craving a 5-inch device from HTC, you’re appetite may be soon fulfilled. Android Central has leaked photos of the HTC DLX (pronounced deluxe) this weekend, which packs a 1080p HD display, 16GB of onboard storage, 2GB of RAM, 4G LTE, Beats audio, and a similar feel to the Droid Incredible 2. The HTC DLX’s specs were previously leaked by HTC insider “Football4PDA” who claimed the device packs a Snapdragon S4 Pro 1.5GHz processor, 16GB of on-board storage, 12-megapixel back-camera, 2-megapixel front-camera, and a 2500mAh (non-removable) battery. Phil Nickinson of Android Central agrees with what looks to be everything Football4PDA claims, except for the 12-megapixel camera. AC is claiming an 8-megapixel on-board.
There is no official word from the folks at Verizon Wireless or HTC, but a launch before the holidays (perhaps even before Thanksgiving) seems likely. This will be HTC’s first jump with a larger device on VZW, as for some reason the carrier has chosen to stick with smaller devices from HTC, historically. However, that notion looks to be changing. More images at the source. [Android Central]
Update: LG India’s Amit Gujral has apparently confirmed to IBN Live that the LG Nexus will indeed launch later this week at Google’s October 29th event in New York. He also said “the phone will be available in the Indian markets by the end of November.”
Google has a media event planned for October 29th, where the Android maker is expected to announce a slew of new material. The Next Web has highlighted the copious amount of new things Google is believed to announce at the press event. The biggest highlight in the report may just be that Google plans to announce a 10-inch tablet with Samsung that will be sold directly on the Google Play store. This aligns with earlier reports that the 10-inch tablet, conveniently named the Nexus 10, will have a higher screen resolution than Apple’s iPad. The Nexus 10 (codenamed “Manta”) will boast a 2560×1600 pixel (16:10) resolution and 300 PPI, according to The Next Web.
The report further adds that Google will announce the highly rumored LG Nexus 4, featuring a quad-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon processor, 4.7-inch 1280 x 768 display, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, an 8-megapixel rear-shooter, 1.3-megapixel front-facer, and a beastly 2100mAh battery. Earlier leaks have indicated what the device is believed to look like: Expand Expanding Close
Image via <a href="//www.engadget.com">Engadget</a>
According to a listing on Amazon and Samsung’s website, a 3G version of the new Chromebook is also available for $329.99. When the latest Chrome OS laptop was announced yesterday, there was no mention. However, it is now available for all to pre-order. Besides 3G technology, specs remain the same on the Chromebook. It packs an 11.6-inch screen, 16GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, and Bluetooth. Like the previous versions of the Chromebook, the new 3G version will be bundled with two free years of 100MB of data per month from Verizon. [The Verge]
After rumors over the last week, Google confirmed this evening that Verizon Wireless customers will be able to buy Google Play content from their Verizon account. Google tweeted:
Hey @Verizon Customers! Pay for Google Play apps, music and more on your phone bill. We’re rolling this out over the coming weeks. Enjoy!
Droid Life pointed out that there could be a $25 limit set for how much can be charged to a Verizon account each month. We will know more as this feature rolls out to Verizon customers!
Beginning at 4:30PM EST, we’ll be getting the full break-down of Google’s earnings for the third fiscal quarter. In an odd turn of events, Google released its earnings early this afternoon due to a screwup with its SEC filing. The screwup caused Google to close down its stock for the better part of the afternoon, causing a steep drop. Google may discuss the situation on the call… stay tuned after the break:
Use Google Calendar to mange your day-to-day? You’re in luck, as Google has released an official Google Calendar for Android app on Google Play this evening, allowing users to keep track of their calendar right from their Android device. The app (which at one time was exclusive to the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S) features that ability to create, edit, and delete events, view calendars (including non-Google) in one spot, and quickly email related people to event with a customizable message. Google Calendar is available for Android 4.0.3 devices or higher. Google does warn that there are some issues with HTC devices: [Google Play via Official Android]
ISIS, a mobile payment partnership between AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, has released its first app onto Google Play that was pushed back from the initial September plan. The app, ISIS Mobile Wallet, only works with the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Relay 4G on T-Mobile in Salt Lake City, Utah or Austin, and it requires a special SIM card courtesy of ISIS, as MobileBurn noted. T-Mobile and the ISIS have not announced anything specific about the app, but you can give it a test run over at Google Play.
There is no word if AT&T or Verizon will receive a similar app for its NFC-enabled devices. If you are wondering about the nation’s No. 3 carrier, Sprint is not apart of the ISIS. It is partnered with Google Wallet on many of its phones. Furthermore, Sprint is rumored to announce its own payment platform sometime in the future.
Yesterday, TmoNews reported that T-Mobile users would receive a $25 credit when signing up and the service will officially launch in a pilot program Oct. 22.
Google has opened its Google search+ Gmail result beta further this afternoon so more users can get Gmail results in their main Google Search. The feature was first introduced in a limited beta in August. For those who do not know about the feature, relevant Gmail conversations will appear in Google Search (as you can see in the image above). Just search “Paris” and emails that you have sent talking about “Paris” will then appear. If you think about it, expanded search makes a lot of sense.
Furthermore, the folks at Google announced this afternoon that Google Drive, Google Calendar and more will now appear when searching in Gmail:
Google released an over-the-air update for the international version of the Galaxy Nexus late this afternoon, bringing the latest Android version 4.2.1 to users. We first got word of Android 4.1.2 when it was released to the Nexus 7 on the Android Open Source Project last week. The update is pretty minor, as it only offers the ability to open notifications with one finger and bug fixes. Additionally, the update was released for the Nexus S and Xoom Wi-Fi this afternoon.
For those who purchased the Galaxy Nexus on Google Play, do not worry. The folks in Mountain View are probably close to pushing out the update in the next few days. At any rate, if you are feeling adventurous, you can hop in this XDA Developers thread to install the update manually. [Phandroid]
Google released a preview for all developers, as promised at Google I/O, showing off the update to the Google Play Developer Console—the website that allows developers of Android apps to manage them. A select amount of developers was able to preview it over the summer; and now, Google said in a blog post today every developer is able to try it out. The website has been updated with an overall speed increase and features an updated UI that is much easier to manage. “It’s bright and appealing to look at, easy to find your way around using navigation and search, and it loads quickly even if you have a lot of apps,” said Google.
Image via <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/15/3504532/xbox-music-pricing-availability-microsoft-xbox-360-windows-phone-8-windows-8" target="_blank">The Verge</a>
Microsoft announced this evening its new music service, called “Xbox Music”, that aims to compete with iTunes, Spotify and RDIO. The service is set to launch tomorrow for the Xbox 360 and Oct. 26 for Windows 8 (coming pre-installed) and Windows Phone 8 devices. GigaOm noted the service will also launch as an Android app shortly after:
But the biggest story to me is that Xbox Music will embrace Android and iOS. Jerry Johnson, general manager of Xbox Music, wasn’t able to tell me exactly when the apps for those two platforms are going to come out, but the sense that I took away from the briefing was that his team is working on making it happen sooner rather than later. Xbox Music on Android and iOS will look very much like Xbox Music on Windows Phone 8, which itself in many ways follows the style formerly known as Metro.
There is no word on what pricing Android users will see, but Microsoft said it will offer a free ad-support version for Windows 8 device owners and a $10 ad-free plan for those wanting an ad-free experience.
In May, Google opened up the ability for developers to include subscriptions in their apps. It is a feature that has been available on Apple’s App Store for quite sometime.
According to a new posting on the Android Developers’ website, a new feature is landing today for the in-app subscription service Google offers. The team in Mountain View has rolled out the ability for developers to set a free trial period, allowing users to try a subscription before buying. A user will be required to give payment information when signing up for the free trial, but it will not be charged. Like most free trial services, a user will be charged after the trial period is over. As for the changes that developers need to make…. Expand Expanding Close
It is no secret that Mountain View-based Google has been in a flurry of legal proceedings over its Android operating system—along with the OEMs that use it. Consequently, Google has been vocal in the past about how it wants to change the patent system in the United States. Adding to the attempt of reform, in an interview with reporters in Seoul this afternoon, Google Legal Chief David Drummond called for a reform of how software patents are issued.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Drummond talked about making it more difficult to obtain a software patent as one possible solution. He spoke about other countries, specifically: “There are places in the world where you can’t get a software patent, or at least it’s harder, like Europe. We think that’s probably the better way to go.” Many others have also voiced a similar opinion.
NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim shared with CNET this evening that Google and Samsung are working on a co-branded 10-inch tablet to be a part of Google’s Nexus program. The tablet is said to have a better screen than the iPad’s Retina display, featuring a 2,560-by-1,600 display with a PPI (pixels per inch) of 299. Past the screen specifications, the analyst’s report is scant on details. However, he added that Google is working on a $99 tablet that will go into production in December.
We got a first look at the new 5.5-inch Galaxy Note II sporting a redesigned S-Pen and upgraded internals when it was unveiled at IFA in Berlin last month. Today, a new internal memo leaked by TmoNewsmay show the launch date of the device on T-Mobile. According to the memo, seen after the break, T-Mobile currently plans to launch the Galaxy Note II on Oct. 24 in “Titanium Gray” and White. It is also worth noting that the Galaxy Note II will be the first Jelly Bean device in T-Mobile’s lineup.
Google launched a new page this afternoon, titled the “Tablet App Quality Checklist”, that aims to help developers build apps specifically for tablets. The checklist shows various ways developers can better their apps such as” getting rid of stretched UIs” to better fit a tablet’s larger screen.
Over the years, many have complained about the lack of applications on the Play Store that are developed for tablets. Most apps look to be built for handsets and stretch to fit the larger 7-inch to 10-inch screen instead. To be frank, those usually do not look too good. Amazon took note of this when its store launched; it also hosts Android apps. Like Apple, Amazon is able to approve or deny applications and weed out the applications that do not function as well. As we all know, the Play Store is a free-for-all. However, in Google’s defense, the good apps do seem to shine.
Furthermore in its attempt to help developers, the Android team also launched its new “Developer Stories” section this afternoon that hopes to showcase the benefit of making a tablet-optimized application. The page tells stories of Mint, Instapaper, and TinyCo’s entrance into the larger landscape.
“Whereas our app for phones is used throughout the day for quick sessions, we’ve seen a larger percentage of our tablet usage happen in the evening, for much longer sessions. People are doing a lot more than just checking their spending. They’re looking at historical trends, re-categorizing transactions, analyzing the data and setting financial goals for the future — digging much deeper and being more thoughtful,” said Mint, certainly portraying the time to make an application for a tablet well spent.
As the holiday season ramps up, it may be a great time for developers to make their apps available on tablets. Google said, “With the release of Nexus 7 earlier this year, we shared some tips on how you can get your apps ready for a new wave of Android tablets. With the holiday season now approaching, we’re creating even more ways for great tablet apps to be featured in Google Play – including a series of new app collections that highlight great apps specifically for tablet users.” For developers looking for an extra-bit of guidance, Google added it will hold a tablet development workshop via its Android Developers Google Hangout throughout the week. Expand Expanding Close
Following rumors that a 32GB version of the Nexus 7 may launch Oct. 24, the 32GB Nexus 7 and its upgraded storage glory have appeared in a photo from Japan. Twitter user @oppesesaid he was accidentally sent a 32GB Nexus 7 instead of a 16GB version that he ordered. This is the first time we have seen a working version. Interestingly, it was sent in a package labeled as 16GB.
At CES 2011, Motorola showed off a concept for its new Webtop platform. The Webtop software allowed supported Motorola devices, such as the Motorola Atrix 4G, to connect to a supported accessory, like the Laptop dock or HD multimedia dock, and launch an Ubuntu-based environment that synced nicely with the phone. Many called it the biggest innovation of the trade show for that year.
Perhaps saddening Webtop loyals, rumors began popping up a few weeks ago about Motorola’s plans to kill-off the platform. Putting rest to the rumors this weekend, Motorola subsequently confirmed the news to CNET. Google-owned Motorola issued the following statement:
A 32GB Google Nexus by ASUS could be in the midst of launching later this month, according to a leaked screenshot provided toDroid Life, adding to Google’s current 8GB and 16GB Nexus 7 line. The news comes in the way of a listing on a reseller store. Droid Life’s source said shipments are expected to arrive around Oct. 24, and one reseller will price the 32GB version at $259.92. It isn’t clear if Google will even sell it directly from its website; but at any rate, customers looking for more storage may now have a great option on their hands in a few days. [Droid Life]
T-Mobile’s bid to buyout the nation’s fifth-largest carrier, MetroPCS, is not going to go down without a fight. According to Businessweek, citing “three people familiar with the matter,” Sprint is now considering entering the bidding process to buyout the company. Sprint is currently talking with its financial advisers to come up with a reasonable price.
MetroPCS confirmed in a statement that it entered talks with T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telecom to be bought and merged with T-Mobile’s USA division. After its stock shot up earlier this afternoon due to MetroPCS rumors, the nation’s fifth-largest carrier is believed to be valued at roughly $6.9 billion. The deal is expected to be announced as early as tomorrow, according to what several sources indicated to the New York Times.
According to Unwired View, Samsung Germany sent out the invitation shown above to advertise an Oct. 11 product announcement. The local press received the invitation, which touts “something small will be really big,” leading to speculation that Samsung will unveil a “mini” Galaxy S III. The smaller device has been rumored since August. Samsung further added in the invitation that we should “get ready for a little sensation.” Samsung’s infamous “S” appears in the background of the ad, giving us reason to believe that a Galaxy device is indeed on its way. Expand Expanding Close
HTC unveiled its all-new flagship this morning: the HTC One X+. Looking very similar to its HTC One X brethren, the One X+ packs most of its changes inside. HTC has included a powerful 1.7GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 2,100mAh battery with six hours more talk-time, 64GB of storage, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with HTC’s custom Sense 4+ on top. HTC said the One X+ is “67 percent faster than the HTC One X LTE.”
Furthermore, the HTC One X+ will only ship in black rather than the white and charcoal gray featured on the HTC One X. Past the color change, not much else has changed on the outside. HTC stuck with Beats branding and the same 4.7-inch Gorilla Glass screen. The software on the device is certainly welcome, as the HTC One X+ features Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with HTC’s own Sense 4+ flavor. HTC further announced this morning that the HTC One S and HTC One X would be updated with similar software set in October.
The HTC One X+ will hit Europe and North Asia sometime this month, with South Asia following in November. HTC said North America availability would be unveiled separately. Is anyone sad to see just minor changes? That processor just has to zoom.
