You can now officially purchase the Samsung HomeSync
They took their time (7+ months of it) but finally, Samsung’s $300 HomeSync Android-based media box is available for sale. The device, which Samsung describes as “the center of a household’s connected life” is compatible with any TV that has an HDMI port.
The HomeSync allows you to browse the web, watch YouTube as well as download apps from Google Play. Though they say any app can be compatible with the HomeSync with a single line of code, they haven’t gone on record to mention which ones would be at launch.
One key feature that they are touting is the free 1TB of cloud storage provided that can be shared by up to 8 users, with the idea being that members of a family can sync their media to the common storage to share with the family. In theory, that sounds great, particularly considering the cost of a terabyte of cloud storage (Google charges $50/month). You also get a $50 credit for Samsung’s Media Hub.
Unfortunately, the HomeSync lacks in far too many respects to justify us recommending it. First and foremost, the lack of key apps like Netflix, Hulu or any other key media streaming app. The Google Chromecast (which is back in stock on Amazon) has its limitations in that respect, but at just over 1/10th the cost it provides more content out of the box. Also, and this is starting to look like an unfortunate practice by Samsung, the HomeSync can be controlled only by a few Galaxy devices.
Samsung has also built a custom interface on top of Android 4.2 instead of using Google TV, but you can’t really blame them for that due to the lack of love Google is showing to its own platform.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to ecosystems. If you do want to purchase one, you can do so online at Amazon or visit Best Buy.
[Poll] Should an Android manufacturer acquire BlackBerry?
A couple of weeks ago, the media was abuzz with the news of BlackBerry’s $4.7 billion sale to Fairfax Financial. As it turns out, BlackBerry’s board isn’t quite satisfied with the deal yet, and as per Reuters are in talks with multiple other companies including Cisco, Google, and Samsung.
There aren’t many details regarding what BlackBerry are pitching to these companies. If I have to make a guess, I believe they would prefer a Nokia-style acquisition where one of the manufacturers pick up their smartphone business while BlackBerry keep hold of their other service like E-mail and BBM. If that were to be the case, a question arises regarding patents. In the Microsoft-Nokia deal, Nokia kept their patents with Microsoft getting a long-term license. In this case, I would presume the patents are up for sale with Blackberry getting a license instead, considering someone like Samsung might be interested in potentially using them aggressively against Apple or Microsoft if the need arises.
On the whole, though, I’m just not sure why anyone would pick up BlackBerry’s smartphone business particularly after their latest quarterly numbers, and several patent-focused acquisitions proving costly mistakes by various Open Handset Alliance members, will anyone want to take the risk?
If I were any one of these companies (barring Cisco, who might be interested in the services side of things) I would stay away. What do you guys think, should any Android OEM look to acquire BlackBerry?
Last week, we showed you that the latest Gmail update for Android contained code that may potentially pave the way for advertisements to appear inside the Gmail app. Today, ads are starting to appear for some users, showing up inside the Promotional mail category folder.
Up until today, Gmail’s Android app has managed to stay ad-free, while the desktop version of Gmail has contained ads since it launched back in April 2004. Seeing as advertising is an extremely large portion of Google’s yearly revenue, it’s almost shocking that Gmail’s Android app has stayed ad-free for so long. While many readers were upset to hear that Google had plans to implement advertisements inside Gmail, rest assured, it’s not all that bad.
As you can see above, these ads don’t really look like advertisements themselves. They actually look very similar to an email message and tastefully so, show up inside the Promotional category folder alongside other advertisement based emails that you receive. If you never open the Promotional mail folder, you’ll never know that Gmail contains advertisements now. Not bad Google.
Are advertisements showing up in your Gmail app? What do you think?
The Galaxy Note 3 is an absolute beast of a phone (full review) but with so many features and settings, where do you start? Right here, where we zip through the top Galaxy Note 3 Tips & Tricks to get you started on the right foot.
Keep in mind that many of these handy tips will also apply to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition (full review). Here are the tips, further explained for your reference:
#1 – Never lose your S Pen!
The S Pen is integral to the power of the Galaxy Note 3 – not something you want to lose. Here’s how you can set the Note 3 to alert you that you may have left the stylus behind:
Go to Settings > Controls > S Pen
Uncheck “Turn off pen detection”
Check S Pen keeper
This will only work when the screen is off, and if you press “okay” when it warns you once, it won’t warn you again until you redock the S Pen and leave it behind again. So be careful!
#2 – Control your Galaxy Note 3 while wearing gloves
The capacitive screen on the Note 3 isn’t only good for writing and drawing with a stylus, it can also be set to operate while wearing gloves, but you’ve got to enable the option:
Go to Settings > Controls > Increase touch sensitivity (it’s the very last option)
Turn this ON!
#3 – Type with one hand
The Galaxy Note 3 is HUGE which may turn some small-handed people away, but if difficulty in one-handed typing is a concern, please know you can adjust your keyboard accordingly!
Go to Settings > Controls > One-handed operation
Check “Use for all screens”
Only check other boxes if you want them automatically resized all the time
The S Pen also makes typing with Swype an absolute pleasure… give that a try as well!
#4 – Block notifications while you’re sleeping
You don’t want to miss an important call or text from a family member or friend in case of emergency, but notifications from apps and drunk dialing idiots threaten to keep you up all night. And those stinking LED notification lights are BRIGHT! Luckily the Note 3 has a feature for this specific problem called “Blocking Mode”:
Go to Settings > Device > Blocking Mode (the last option)
Turn the feature on
Press “Blocking Mode” to set options
UNCHECK “Turn alarm and timer” unless you want to be late for work
UNCHECK “Always” and set the time period you’re sleeping (otherwise turn this feature on/off at night and in the morning)
MAKE SURE you set your list of “Allowed Contacts” who can bypass this feature (family, friends, booty calls, etc…)
#5 – Lower the screen saturation and contrast
Is Samsung’s outrageously bright and colorful Super AMOLED screen a little TOO bright and colorful? You can do more than lower the screen brightness and instead tone down the contrast and saturation:
Go to Settings > Device > Display > Screen Mode
Select “Professional photo” or “Movie” to tone down the screen if you feel the colors are too vibrant
It doesn’t have a huge impact but it can certainly help.
#6 – Vibrations too strong?
The default notification vibrations are pretty darn strong! You can turn them down:
Go to Settings > Device > Sound > Vibration Intensity
Adjust your incoming call, notification, and haptic feedback vibrations as you see fit!
You can also set your phone to vibrate even when ringing (great if you’re at a bar, party, concert, or other loud place) and change the pattern of the vibration from the same settings area.
#7 – Show the battery percentage in the status bar
It can be really annoying trying to guess how much battery you have left by estimating how much of your little icon is filled up with green. We want numbers! Here is how you can put your exact percentage in the notification bar:
Go to Settings > Device > Display
Scroll down and select “Show battery percentage”
Ah… much more helpful.
#8 to #12 – Motion controls annoying? Only enable these!
Samsung has a boat load of features that detect your eyes and your hands and attempt to behave automatically based on your intents. Most can be annoying but some are pretty useful. I recommend turning ALL of them off except the following. Go to the Settings > Controls > Motion Control section for all of the below:
See notifications without touching your phone!
Air gesture > Quick Glance > On. Wave your hand over the screen for a quick look at notifications. (Turn Air jump, Air browse, and Air call-accept off)
Added Stylus hovering functionality!
Air view mode > On > Auto. This provides extra features when hovering over items with the S Pen, for example popping up larger images when browsing the gallery or scrolling pages up/down. Open “Air view pen options” to see exactly where it works.
Special Air Command Features!
Air Command > On: Quickly add recent attachments and frequent recipients by hovering over these respective fields
Turn both Motions & Palm Motions OFF
Prevent screen from sleeping when you’re looking at it!
Smart Screen > Smart stay > On. Uncheck the rest of these features.
#13 – Search for settings
Already overwhelmed? You can now search your settings to more easily find hidden options!
From the home screen press the Menu button
Select “Settings”
Tap “Search” at the top and have at it! Don’t forget this feature is here… it’s very useful.
#14 – Customize your quick settings buttons
Prefer to have different quick setting toggles in your notification bar? You can change them easily:
Pull down the notification bar
Tap the square icons at the top right
Tap the pencil icons at the top right
Drag available buttons to the Notificaion panel (you’ll have to replace an existing button)
Re-order as you like by dragging and dropping
#15 to #18 – Customize your lock screen
Your lock screen can be more than just a lock screen… you’ve just got to set it up. You can find all of these options in:
Settings > Device > Lock Screen.
15) Add quick launch icons to your lock screen.
Shortcuts > On. Further customize by tapping the icons and selecting your own quick launch apps!
16) Add widgets to your lock screen
Multiple Widgets > On > Favorite Apps. The “Camera” option is relatively useless since you can set a quick launch icon (above) to your camera and it launches much more quickly and smoothly.
17) Personalize with contact info and personal message
If you lose your phone, it’s helpful if your screen shows your contact information so a good samaritan can help you retrieve your device. You might also want to add a little of your own pizzaz.
18) Create a memo without unlocking
Action Memo on lock screen > On. To create an “Action Memo” without unlocking your phone, simply hold down the S Pen button and tap anywhere on the lock screen twice. An Action Memo note will immediately pop up at your disposal! Make sure the setting is enabled in
#19 to #25 – Home Screen Shortcuts
When you’re on the home screen the following buttons provide extra functionality.
19) Hold back button to enable/disable Multi Window
20) Double Press Home Button for S Voice
21) Hold Home button for Recent Apps and access to RAM Manager and Google Now
22) Press Home Button for My Magazine
23) Swipe up from the home button for My Magazine
24) Hold Menu Button for S Finder
25) Press Menu Button to edit your Home Screens, access settings, and read help docs
#26 – Prevent Air Command from launching when stylus removed
Air Command is greatly, but you might get restless if the menu pops up EVERY time you remove the Stylus. You can choose to turn this off (or toggle to automatically open Action Memo, which is probably more annoying).
Go to Settings > Controls > S Pen > Pen detachment options
Select “None”
#27 – Capture screen without S Pen & Screen Writer
To get a screen capture without using Air Command, simply hold the Home and Power Button at the same time. You can also prevent the screen captures from entering edit mode by going to Settings > Device > Display > Edit after screen capture (the last option)
#28 – Turn your phone into a Senior Citizen Saver
Did you buy the Galaxy Note 3 for Grandma or Grandpa because they don’t need a telescope to read the print on the HUGE 5.7 inch screen? Make things even simpler by transforming their phone into an incredibly basic layout that’s hard to NOT understand.
Go to Settings > Device > Easy Mode
Turn it on!
#29 – Display your app drawer in alphabetical order
If you’ve got a ton of apps, flipping through page after page to get to something specific can be a hassle. You can change the layout of your app drawer very easily to make it more convenient:
Open you app drawer
Press the menu button
Press “View type”
Select either “Alphabetical list” or “Alphabetical grid” depending on your preference
#30 – Unlock your phone by saying “Hi Galaxy”
I’ve seen many people complain that saying “Hi Galaxy” won’t work and they can’t find the option in the Note’s settings. That’s because the option is actually hidden in the settings of the S Voice app!
Open S Voice (double tap Home Button or open from your app tray)
Press the Menu button
Select “Settings”
Check “Wake up command”
Turn “Voice wake-up” On to activate S Voice even while the screen is off!
Note: “Hi Galaxy” won’t simply unlock you’re phone… it must be followed by a voice command to become useful (see below)
#31+ – Master the voice commands!
Create and use your own Voice Commands
In addition to all of the default voice commands (see below), you’re able to set 4 custom voice commands (using your own voice) that will trigger actions from the lock screen (display must be on)!
Go to Settings > Device > Lock Screen > Wake up in lock screen
Turn this ON
Tap one of the “Wake-up function” items #1-4
Tap “Change function” to select an action when your keyword is spoken out loud. Select from one of the following:
Unlock
Check for missed calls
Check for missed messages
Open Camera
Check Schedule
Play Music
Record Voice
Turn on/off Hands-free Mode
Re-enter the same Wake-up function ,tap “Change command”, tap the microphone button, and speak your customized voice command out loud four times.
You’re ready to go! Open the lock screen on your display (swipe to unlock) and say your voice command out loud!
Enable and learn frequently used Voice Commands
Voice commands used in your phone are different from those used in S Voice. To enable your device-wide voice commands:
Go to Settings > Controls > Voice Control > On
Tap on “Voice Control” and enable the options you prefer (Incoming Call commands, Alarm commands, Camera commands, Music commands)
This will enable the following commands:
Answer or Reject phone calls by saying “Answer” or “Reject”
Stop or snooze the alarm by saying “Stop” or “Snooze”
Take photos by saying Capture, Shoot, Smile, or Cheese
Control the music player by saying Next, Previous, Play, Pause, Volume Up, and Volume Down
Turn on S Voice and explore the options
There are a TON of voice command options on S Voice. First turn the setting on, then see our list of voice commands below (largely borrowed directly from Samsung documentation) and try some for yourself.
Double tap home button to access S Voice
Voice Dial – “Call Charlie Mobile”, “Redial”, “Dial”
Message – “Text Katie message Are you free tonight for dinner?” “Send message to John message hows it going” “Read my messages” “read my messages from James”
Search contacts “Look up james” “Find James” “When is Michael’s Birthday” “What is Donna’s address”
Memo – “Memo Send mom a card” “Note to self buy milk” “Show me my shopping list memo”
Schedule:
“What’s on my calendar?”
“Check schedule on Friday”
“Add event Dance class Saturday at 10AM for 2 hours”
Move my 4PM meeting to 11AM tomorrow
Cancel the budget review meeting
When is the last appointment on Friday
Who is in my next meeting
Task:
Create task Concert review due on May 18th
Remind me to check email at 9AM
Show me my tasks
Remind me to feed the dog at 6PM today
Move my task called Shopping to Saturday
What is on my todo list for Sunday
Music:
Play
Play artist the Beatles
Play album Secret
Play previous song
Play next song
Play joyful music
S Voice Hands-free mode you can control music by using your voice. Pause the music first by saying “Hi Galaxy” or your own wake up command
Social update:
Social update wish me luck at my new job
Facebook update I am in Boston, are you?
Search:
Google population of portugal
Bing delta airlines flight 640
Yahoo sports scores
Open App:
Launch internet
Take a picture
Record Voice (Just record voice)
Hands-free mode:
Hands-free mode on
Hands-free mode off
New notifications and incoming call info will be read out automatically in Hands-free mode
Set alarm:
Wake me up at 6AM tomorrow
Set alarm for 8 hours from now
Show me my alarms
Turn off my 7AM alarm
Change me 6AM alarm to 7AM
Timer:
Set timer for 2 minutes
Create timer for 5 minutes
Stop Timer
Restart Timer
Simple settings:
Turn Wi-Fi off
Turn bluetooth off
Navigate:
Directions to Palm Springs
Map of Boston
Set your home address in S Voice settings and say “Navigate Home”
Hear News:
Read the news
I want to hear the news
Next news
Previous news
Weather:
Check the weather forecast
How is the weather today
What’s the weather in paris tomorrow
Get an answer:
Who is the prime minister of New Zealand
What is Samsung’s stock price
What time is it?
What time is it in New York
What’s today’s date?
Local listings:
I want some pizza
Are there any flower shops nearby
Dentists in Boston
Find the nearest gas station
You can also book tickets for current movies and make restaurant reservations (in some areas)
If you found this article helpful, please share it with your friends!
If you’re looking for more help and support, check out the Note 3 Forums on the Android Forums!
What’s the best Android tablet to buy as of October 2013
Earlier this week we talked about what the best Android phone to buy this month was, and now — for the first time ever — we’ll be going through the best Android tablets your hard-earned money can buy. This space doesn’t move quite as fast as smartphones, but we’re about ready to head into what should be an interesting holiday season with a few new tablets leading the way (including one we’ve just reviewed this morning). Let’s hop to it!
Samsung’s Note series has become the go-to for performance and features in the tablet space, so the more weildy of the bunch — the Note 8.0 — deserves a bit of recognition in the top 5. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0′s HD resolution and quad-core chipset are quite nice, and that all-important S-Pen functionality pushes this one of the top as one of the better “small” tablets to consider at the point of sale.
Just announced by Amazon, the HDX line of Kindle Fire tablets is the latest in Amazon’s series. This changes the game up quite a bit by Amazon’s standards, a company whose modest first step into the tablet arena has since been bested with better offerings each year to follow. The HDX comes in 7-inch and 8.9-inch flavors, giving users a decent balance between screen real estate and portability.
The Amazon Kindle Fire HDX includes 2560 x 1600 resolution, storage options of 16-64GB, 4G LTE, a quad-core 2.2GHz processor (likely a Snapdragon 800), and more. As we all know by now, though, it isn’t the specs Amazon is hoping will win your hearts. It’s the deep integration with their various services, including Prime Instant Video, MP3, Cloud Storage, Kindle e-Books, the Amazon Appstore, and a whole lot more.
Amazon also introduced a unique feature for customer support this go-round. The “Mayday” button, as it’s called, will give users the ability to connect to a customer support representative who can help with any trouble you might be having with your Kindle. The rep can manipulate the device remotely, and you two will be connected via both video and voice for a more personal experience.
The Nexus 10 is quite old, and is rumored to be supplanted by an updated offering in the weeks to come, but as it stands it’s still one of the better tablets to buy. A lot of that is on price and principal — who can say no to a Nexus device? And who can say no to a Nexus device with these specs for $400?
The specs I’m referring to include a 10.055-inch 2560 x 1600 display, Exynos 5 Dual (which is an ARM Cortex-A15 dual-core chipset with Mali T604 graphics), 2GB of RAM, 16-32GB of internal storage, WiFi + MiMo, Bluetooth, NFC, and more. Of course, its status as a Nexus devices means it should be up and runnong on the latest version of Android for as long as it can stand it.
Indeed, owners are currently enjoying Android 4.3, something not many others can say right now. And you can bet your bottom dollar that it’ll be one of the first tablets to get Android 4.4. Kit Kat whenever Google sees fit to fully unveil that, as well.
We thought this device might sneak into our #1 overall spot this month, but the Galaxy Note 10.1 hasn’t exactly been the greatest of sports in all the departments that matter. In our Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition review, Rob Jackson noted some pitfalls of the entirety of the experience, the biggest of which being a laggy user interface when flipping through MyMagazines or trying to use popup apps.
That was enough to keep it out of our first spot, but not nearly enough to kick it out of our top 5. The Note 10.1 2014 edition reads like a fantastic device on paper, with specs being comprised of the following:
1.9GHz Exynos 5420 quad-core processor
3GB of RAM.
16GB or 32GB options for internal storage
8MP rear camera
2MP front facing camera
MicroUSB 2.0
MicroSD slot
8,220 mAh battery and more
That said, for a starting price of $550 with 3GB of RAM and a quad-core processor, we simply can’t forgive the sluggishness that showed up in our testing. It has great S-Pen driven features and it’s good enough for second best, though it probably won’t move further beyond that until Samsung releases a software upgrade that gets some of that lag under control.
We’ve finally arrived to the coveted #1 spot. I hope this selection wasn’t too obvious. It’s a Nexus Tablet. It’s $230. And it has a spec sheet that will make anyone stand up and take notice. This 7-inch ASUS-made wonder slides in at the number 1 spot thanks to that nice 1920 x 1200 resolution (323 ppi), quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset clocked at 1.5GHz, 2GB of RAM, 16-32GB of internal storage, 5 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, dual-band WiFi N, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and more.
The Nexus 7 2013 was the launchpad for Android 4.3, which is currently the latest version of Google’s beloved mobile operating system. And thanks to its status as a Nexus device it will most certainly be seeing Android 4.4 Kit Kat (whatever that turns out to be) ahead of the rest of the pack.
Google really does make it a bit unfair with their willingness to throw profits aside and offer this device up for dirt cheap, but that doesn’t make us feel reluctant or guilty for awarding the Nexus 7 2013 the top spot anyway.
Honorable Mentions
Amazon Kindle Fire HD
It’s not quite as powerful as the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 or 8.9, but the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD still holds its own where it counts. Amazon couldn’t care less about the profit from device sales here, though, which is why it’s so cheap at a starting price of just $140. As with the HDX, it’s all about apps and services for Amazon. Specs include 1280 x 800 resolution, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 8-16GB of internal storage, 10 hours of battery life and more.
Tablets to look forward to
Here are just a few tablets to look forward to in the weeks and months to come. None of them are available for purchase yet, and some aren’t even official, but it’ll give you a good idea of what to expect once that ever-difficult purchasing decision arises this holiday seasons.
ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T
This is the latest product from ASUS that will allow you to transform your tablet into a netbook. The Transformer Pad TF701 is a 10.1-inch 2560 x 1600 device with NVIDIA’s Tegra 4 processor on board. This powerhouse also includes a 5 megapixel rear camera, a 1.2 megapixel front camera, HDMI-out and more. And when you dock the tablet inside the dock, you’ll get a combined 17 hours of battery life (which is much more than any of today’s Netbooks can claim).
This marvelous phone/tablet combo pack is set to launch sometime soon. ASUS was one of the first companies to make our “use a powerful phone as the guts of a tablet” dreams come true, and now they’ve gone and outdone themselves with the announcement of the Padfone Infinity.
The phone bit includes a 5-inch 1080p HD Super IPS display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage with microSD, 13 megapixel rear camera with a 2 megapixel front camera, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi N, 2,400mAh battery and more.
Dock the phone into the rear of a device that has a 10.1-inch HD display and a huge battery, and you’ve got yourself one of the most powerful tablets, as well. Sounds pretty damned good to me, and worth keeping an eye out for once ASUS makes these available.
Motorola DROID tablets
Motorola has a tablet or two launching soon. We’re not sure what they are. We’re not sure how they’ll look. We’re not even sure when we’ll be seeing them. All we know is that they’ve confirmed some tablets are in the works, and that one of them will most certainly be headed straight for Verizon’s DROID lineup. With the great work they’ve done with the Moto X and the latest DROID phones, Motorola definitely gets a good deal of our attention.
What say you?
And that’ll do it for our list of the best Android tablets to buy. Things should be even more interesting by the time we put the next installment out, but take some time to go over the list for October, and think about where you stand on it. Feel free to disagree — we all have our own thoughts and opinions about these sorts of things, so you won’t be hurting our feelings! We want to hear all about it in the comments section below, so have at it!
PS: don’t forget that you can talk all about these tablets, and more, over at AndroidForums.com. Be sure to make an account and join the millions of folks currently driving some very healthy discussion over there.
Mobile Roar Podcast #15: Best Android Phones of October
Have you seen our Best Android Phones as of October 2013 list? We debate the rankings and more on this week’s edition of the Mobile Roar Podcast. Other topics include the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear launches as well as the arrival of Android 4.3 for the HTC One (and a discussion of what other handsets might see updates soon). Remember, you can catch us live every Thursday at 2PM Eastern.
Thanks for listening. Follow us on Twitter and send us your comments or questions to podcast[at]mobileroar[dot]com.
It had to happen eventually. One of the last great ad-free mobile services, bought out by Facebook and looking to find a way to monetize its huge userbase, Instagram will soon begin feeding advertisements to users in the US. The rollout of ads will be gradual, and the format will most resemble Twitter’s promoted tweets. Ads will appear in a users feed as paid-for photos and videos.
This means brands that you don’t currently follow will appear next to the friends and users that you do. Because the change might rub some the wrong way, Instagram is easing us into things by using ads sparingly over the next few months, and at first only supporting brands that already have an established presence on the social network.
Instagram is also using the slow rollout as an opportunity to refine the advertisements on the network. Users can hide unwanted ads and provide feedback about why they did not want to see the promoted content in their feed. We can’t complain too much, as Instagram has been a free service with no clear revenue stream since its inception. The people behind it have to start making money somehow. If we must accept this inevitability, at least the company is giving the impression that they are dedicated to only providing quality advertisement.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 global Android rollout happening ‘soon’
After a limited launch in China, the highly-anticipated sequel to Plants vs. Zombies will make a global debut in the near future. PopCap, the maker of Plants vs. Zombies, confirmed as much in an announcement for the soft launch of the game in Australia and New Zealand. After play-testing in those regions, Plants vs. Zombies 2 should see a wider release in the Google Play Store.
It’s an interesting approach after the game launched for iOS over the summer. PopCap seems determined to see a smooth launch for their latest title for Android, and a phased rollout allows them time to catch any issues with the implementation of the Plants vs. Zombies 2 for the platform.
Plants vs. Zombies 2 picks up where the original left off, utilizing much of the same gameplay and tactics. New items, plants, and challenges await, however, and it’s all tied together with a time traveling theme that sees players whisked off to ancient Egypt or the high seas to do battle with mummies and pirate zombies. The game will be free to download when it does finally launch.
An HTC Android that boots Windows Phone? Microsoft wants it to happen
HTC is struggling to stay afloat in the smartphone market while Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform can’t seem to gain a foothold, either. Is there a solution that could benefit both? According to Microsoft, one solution might be to include the Windows Phone operating system on the Taiwanese manufacturers Android handsets. So eager to see this happen, they are willing to reduce or waive any associated licensing fees, according to reports.
The logistics of this aren’t exactly clear. Is Microsoft pushing for a dual-boot HTC One that can run both Android and Windows Phone out of the box? Or are they seeking Windows Phone-only versions of HTC’s more popular hardware. HTC was one of the first companies to release devices build around Microsoft’s mobile platform, but they haven’t partnered on a new handset since early in the summer. Most indications are that HTC has no plans to release future Windows Phone devices.
Microsoft wants to make their platform, which holds a 3.7- percent market share, appealing to OEMs, especially after acquiring their own hardware arm from Nokia. Licensing fees (or lack thereof) that rival Android might be one way to do this. Will HTC bite? Something tells me they already have enough on their plate attempting to turn around their financial outlook, but even a flailing HTC might be Microsoft’s best option if they hope to make Windows Phone a serious contender.
With rumors mounting that Samsung could be introducing the first smartphone using their flexible OLED technology later this month, LG is scrambling to beat them out the gate. According to reports, the LG Z is reportedly the name of the new device, as tipped to ZDNet Korea.
Similar to the Galaxy Nexus, the phone’s display will be concave and is supposed to give the device a more “natural” feeel in the hand. While specs haven’t been confirmed, the LG Z is said to be powered by a Snapdragon 800 processor and feature a 6-inch full HD 1080p display. Apparently the phone has already gone into mass production with an expected launch date of either later this month, or according to the WSJ, some time in November. The WSJ was even able to secure a sketch of said device, looking almost identical to a bent LG G2 (see below) but from what they’ve heard, will be called the LG G Flex (possibly outside of Korea?).
Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean the device will be flexible by any means. The flexible display will merely allow LG to mold it to a rigid device in ways that aren’t possible using normal methods. When it comes to Samsung’s models, it’s said the device will simply feature a display that wraps around the sides of the device. Beauty over form, we suppose. Both LG and Samsung’s flexible OLED devices will most likely be in limited quantity, and carry some kind of “Limited Edition” moniker.
With rumors mounting that Samsung could be introducing the first smartphone using their flexible OLED technology later this month, LG is scrambling to beat them out the gate. According to reports, the LG Z is reportedly the name of the new device, as tipped to ZDNet Korea.
Similar to the Galaxy Nexus, the phone’s display will be concave and is supposed to give the device a more “natural” feeel in the hand. While specs haven’t been confirmed, the LG Z is said to be powered by a Snapdragon 800 processor and feature a 6-inch full HD 1080p display. Apparently the phone has already gone into mass production with an expected launch date of either later this month, or according to the WSJ, some time in November. The WSJ was even able to secure a sketch of said device, looking almost identical to a bent LG G2 (see below) but from what they’ve heard, will be called the LG G Flex (possibly outside of Korea?).
Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean the device will be flexible by any means. The flexible display will merely allow LG to mold it to a rigid device in ways that aren’t possible using normal methods. When it comes to Samsung’s models, it’s said the device will simply feature a display that wraps around the sides of the device. Beauty over form, we suppose. Both LG and Samsung’s flexible OLED devices will most likely be in limited quantity, and carry some kind of “Limited Edition” moniker.
Google Now makes it easier than ever to keep up with your favorite celebs, athletes, or music artists using updates
Google has really been tapping into the power of Google Now recently. It was in late August they added the ability to receive reminders by searching for a band or TV show (either on desktop or Android app). Using their Knowledge Graph, a card would appear presenting you with some information inside a handy little card. At the bottom of the card, users could click “Remind me” to receive updates of new releases, episodes, etc., via Google Now on their smartphone or tablet. Super functional. Super convenient.
Google is further improving Knowledge Graph with a way to stay up-to-date on your favorite celebrities or athletes. Search for someone important, and their information card will be presented along side the usual search results. At the bottom of the card, a “Keep me updated” button will be displayed to notify you of the latest news articles about that person. Once again, through the power of Google Now on your smartphone or tablet.
Pretty useful way to keep tabs on your favorite celebs, for sure. Don’t forget if you go a little crazy with this feature, all your reminders and updates can be managed in your Google Search app’s “Google Now” settings. Have fun!
Google Now makes it easier than ever to keep up with your favorite celebs, athletes, or music artists using updates and reminders
Google has really been tapping into the power of Google Now recently. It was only a few days ago they added the ability to receive reminders by searching for a band or TV show (either on desktop or Android app). Using their Knowledge Graph, a card will appear presenting you with some information inside a handy little card. At the bottom of the card, users can click “Remind me” to receive updates of new releases, episodes, etc., via Google Now on their smartphone or tablet.
Google is further improving Knowledge Graph with a way to stay up-to-date on your favorite celebrities or athletes. Search for someone important, and their information card will be presented along side the usual search results. At the bottom of the card, a “Keep me updated” button will be displayed to notify you of the latest news articles about that person. Once again, through the power of Google Now on your smartphone or tablet.
Pretty useful way to keep tabs on your favorite celebs, for sure. Don’t forget if you go a little crazy with this feature, all your reminders and updates can be managed in your Google Search app’s “Google Now” settings. Have fun!
Chrome Beta update introduces easier way to save websites to your homescreen, new tab page that mimics the desktop
On Tuesday, we saw the boys at Google updating the official (stable) version of Chrome for Android in the Google Play Store. The update introduced a fun new way of interacting with the app using gestures. Today, Google is updating the Chrome Beta app on Google Play.
As announced on their blog, the update for Chrome Beta brings an easier way to save your favorite websites directly on your homescreen. Clicking on the 3-dot menu will now have the option to “Add to Homescreen”, where a shortcut will be created. Previously, this was done by dragging the “Bookmark” widget onto your homescreen, where you could then select whichever bookmark you like. A little tedious, and we’re sure it’s a feature nobody was using. The coolest part about using the Chrome Beta method is opened bookmarks will appear as their own app inside Android’s app switcher. Neat.
Also new is the “new tab page” the mimics the design found on desktops. Search is now present right in the middle of the tab (redundant since you could also search from the URL/search bar/Omnibox), and your most frequently visited sites appear along the bottom for quick access. The update is said to go live at some point today, and if you haven’t yet, you can live on the bleeding edge and download Chrome Beta for Android via link below.
Images of Android 4.4 Key Lime Pie (KitKat) allegedly running on Nexus 5 surface – shows new Gallery, Dialer, and more
Seemingly out of nowhere, a site dubbed Gadget Helpline has allegedly gotten their hands on the upcoming Nexus 5 and in the process, Android 4.4 Key Lime Pie (Kit Kat). We’ve been going over images of both the UI and device, and have to admit, they look pretty legit. First off, while there isn’t much shown of the device itself (Google imprints tracking codes all over devices used for testing, so it’s to be expected), we do see the front facing camera and volume rocker matches up with images of the device pictured at a bar a few weeks back.
As we mentioned before, Android 4.4 KitKat is also pictured with the tipster going over both the device settings and info, as well as the all new gallery app. What’s interesting is how the settings show the name of the device the Nexus 4, but as we talked about earlier, the phone clearly isn’t last year’s Nexus 4. This leads us to conclude 2 things: either somebody just plain got it wrong, or Google is planning on pulling a Nexus 7 and releasing the device as the Nexus 4 (2013). It’s possible, and the fact that the screen doesn’t exactly hit a perfect 5-inches (it’s been measured at 4.97-inches), could allow Google to go either way.
Android 4.4′s rumored new gallery app was also pictured, and while at quick glance there doesn’t appear to be too much new, you’ll notice new print options directly from within the app, as well as a few new options during editing (drawing, frames) and new export function (useful for USB OTG support). Default printing options can also be set from inside the settings app, where payment options can also be seen (integrated Google Wallet, anyone?).
As usual, leaks like this should always be taken with the finest grains of salt. I think in this one’s case, we’ve seen enough here to draw our own conclusions of its legitimacy. What do you guys think? Could Google still have be keeping a few “cards” close to their chest when it comes to Android 4.4 KitKat? Shouldn’t be much longer before we find out.
Facebook Beta brings Instagram, Flickr, Pinterest, and Tumblr to your lockscreen, coming soon to Home
Facebook is getting ready to roll out an update to their unfavorably reviewed Facebook Home app. It wasn’t too long ago we saw the new option to set Facebook Home as your lockscreen, allowing users to stay up-to-date with friends and family, while still using keeping their favorite Android launcher for everything else.
Today, Facebook has announced a new update — coming soon to Home — that allows users to pull up images and interact with other popular social media apps, while in Facebook Home. Of course Facebook-owned Instagram makes the cut and is also joined by Pinterest, Flickr, and Tumblr. Most of the interaction while using the Home lockscreen is limited to simply “likes”, but links can be clicked to be taken to the appropriate application for commenting or whatever else. Pretty darn nifty, we must admit.
Before the rollout can officially begin, Facebook is first testing it out via the Facebook Beta channels (go here to join the Google Group and sign up), after which it is said to hit Home in a future update. While Home is still struggling to hit a 3-star review amongst Android users, we think this latest update should help with that.
Rdio brings You FM streaming music radio to Android for free
Rdio looks to be challenging a space Pandora has dominated for quite some time. The company has announced the launch of free radio streaming on both iOS and Android. The service was already in play since mid-summer, but that was only for premium users. Dubbed You FM, this service takes advantage of their “taste profiling” technology, which is really just a fancy way of saying “we see what music you like and feed you more like it.”
Rdio didn’t note whether or not the free app would have things like ads and other restrictions, though paid users do obviously get the ability to seamlessly view and play full albums that a particular song is from if they want to hear more (whereas free users will simply be whisked to a new radio station playing music like that song).
It’s an interesting move for Rdio. Even more interesting, though, is the fact that Google doesn’t offer something like this for Google Play Music. We know Google typically likes to keep things affordable (the $1,500 Pixel Chromebook or Google Glass notwithstanding), and it wouldn’t be hard to imagine them doing something like this.
I’m only one man dreaming, though, and I’ll have to take Rdio and Pandora’s mouthwatering propositions for the foreseeable future. The goods are currently available in the latest update sitting in the Google Play Store, so get over there and take a look if you’re interested.
HTC gives timeline for HTC One Android 4.3 updates on Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T
After HTC brought the Android 4.3 upgrade to Sprint HTC One units yesterday, many on other carriers were wondering when they’d be able to get in on the fun. Thankfully, HTC is being as transparent as they can and have given us some pretty pointed release windows for a couple of America’s biggest carriers.
The HTC USA Twitter account has mentioned that AT&T and T-Mobile customers would see the upgrade mid-October. Those on Big Red, however, will have to wait until the end of the month. Despite this staggered rollout across the nation’s 4 biggest carriers, it’s still pretty good work by HTC and the carriers in comparison to rollout efforts for other devices.
We’re sure folks will be counting down the days until we see Android 4.4 on their respective handsets. Let’s not get too far ahead in regards to that, though — we still don’t even know what Android 4.4 is supposed to be bringing us.
Samsung announces HomeSync Android media box launches in the US October 6th for $300
Remember that Android-based media box Samsung introduced earlier this year? It’s the Samsung HomeSync, and it’s a set-top box that will go in your living room, and will help you make the most of your content by enabling a smart TV experience for any panel with an HDMI port. The company had us in the dark in regards to a release date for quite some time, but they have finally announced availability and pricing details.
We should be seeing the HomeSync begin to populate retail channels on October 6th, and it’ll cost you just $300 to walk away with one. “HomeSync is a powerful platform that we envision to be the center of a household’s connected life,”said a Samsung vice president in a press release.
What it does
The user interface powering HomeSync is quite similar to what you’d find on, say, a Galaxy Note 3 or a Galaxy Note 10.1. With 1TB of cloud storage that can be divvied up between 8 different accounts you’ll have a ton of room to store all your favorite content. The sync operation is a two-way street, giving you and your family members the ability to share content with each other seamlessly.
You’ll also be able to access various online video and music services, and control playback of said services using a compatible Galaxy smartphone. Here’s the full list of compatible Samsung devices:
And any other device that uses Samsung Link will also be compatible out of the box. Here’s a full look at all the different features you’ll be getting should you decide to part ways with $300 to take a HomeSync home:
- Perfect Companion for Your Galaxy Device: HomeSync is the ideal companion for the Galaxy S® 4 or Galaxy Note® 3. It is also compatible with other devices within the Samsung ecosystem, including the Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition, Galaxy Camera™, and other devices that use Samsung Link™.
- Storage Solution: HomeSync is a storage solution with an expansive 1TB drive that offers both shared and private storage options for an entire household’s core mobile content, such as photo albums, videos, and music libraries, in one secure location.
- Real-Time Sharing: Provides access for up to eight separate accounts and allows each user the option to quickly sync and share mobile content in real time, or select specific content to share. Register up to six devices per account so you can access your personal library no matter where you are, no matter what device you’re using.
- Access Anywhere: HomeSync provides secure access to your files, photos, music and home videos no matter where you are.
- Intuitive Control: Seamlessly control your content on TV with your mobile device – control what’s on screen using your Galaxy smartphone as a remote mouse and use your phone’s keyboard for easy searching, or mirror the HomeSync screen directly on your Galaxy device.
- Real Time Streaming: Stream content from a Galaxy device wirelessly to a TV – experience your created content, such as photos and videos, on the big screen then explore your favorite apps and play mobile games in a whole new way on your TV.
Developers and Content
There is support for wired or wireless keyboards and mice, and there will be a collection of apps (including YouTube) and games you can download and essentially turn any dumb TV into a smart one. Samsung’s press release mentioned developers can make their apps compatible with HomeSync in the Google Play Store with as little as one line of code. More details can be had here if you want to make sure your application can be downloaded on HomeSync.
To top all of that off, Samsung is also ponying up $50 in Samsung Media Hub credits to anyone who buys one, giving you a bit of spending money to buy music, TV shows, movies and more through Samsung’s own digital storefront. Not bad at all. We’re not sure which retail outlets to expect this to show up at, but we’ll definitely be keeping an eye out and will bring that info to you as soon as we get it.
A major blow to Google TV?
That Samsung has decided to create its own set-top box experience built on top of Android is a bit troubling for the future of Google TV. It’s already stagnant in terms of available devices, developer support and — increasingly — new software features. Our friends over at GTVSource.com would tell you that much.
A major player like Samsung could have helped things along tremendously, but the South Korean company continues to show that they want to create their own ecosystem. They are willing to piggyback the core of Android to create said ecosystem instead of adopting an entire platform based on the same foundation.
Such an act could have undoubedly helped move the Google TV ecosystem along, but alas we’ll have to wait for another knight in shining armor to save a platform that just isn’t getting nearly as much love as it deserves.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (read the review) share more than just a joint announcement in common. While both are iterative upgrades from their predecessors, the upgrades are huge across all facets of the devices, enjoying large leaps in build quality & style, hardware & specs, and software & features.
But is the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition worth your hard earned money? Read on to find out!
Galaxy Note 10.1 Hardware
The smartphone and tablet market has largely matured, so new devices in a series tend to see smaller upgrades and improvements, bringing their offerings on par with the competition. The Note 10.1 doesn’t look a whole lot different, but picking it up and powering on the screen will be a pleasant surprise to those who have used last year’s model.
The two most visually recognizable improvements are in build quality and screen resolution. The Note 10.1 2014 simply feels like a more sturdy, strong, premium device than in previous years. It’s a solid piece of kit with a screen boasting a 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution, doubling that of last year’s 1280 x 800 display. Better screen, better hardware, packed into a thinner design with smaller bezels.
Let’s take a look under the hood:
1.9GHz Exynos 5420 quad-core processor
3GB of RAM.
16GB or 32GB options for internal storage
8MP rear camera
2MP front facing camera
MicroUSB 2.0
MicroSD slot
8,220 mAh battery
Android 4.3 with TouchWiz and S Pen customizations
Dimensions: 243.1 X 171.4 X 7.9mm
Weight: 535g
Definitely a solid set of specs on par with the improvements to the Note 3. The quad-core processor with 3GB of RAM is a healthy amount of power and the 8,220 mAh battery should support plenty of usage for one cycle.
The Note 10.1 is constructed beautifully, but I wasn’t crazy about button placement.
The device now has a “Home” button, with menu and back buttons on either side, suggesting the device is best used in landscape mode. That places the power button on the top left, next to the volume rocker which rocks left/right. I’d much prefer these buttons on the side for a tablet, preferably as far north as possible to prevent accidental input while using the device.
The speaker grills are on the top left and right of the device, which I found myself accidentally covering at times, muffling the sound. I’m still a firm believer that speakers should be tastefully mounted on the front of the devices, successfully done on devices such as the HTC One, perhaps with non-essential 2nd and 3rd speakers on the left and right for stereo sound.
Those nitpicky complaints aside, the Galaxy Note 10.1 is a pleasure to hold. It feels firm and solid, with the new faux leather back offering a luxury feel that’s been missing from Samsung devices (even if it is still plastic).
Unlike the Note 3, the Note 10.1 doesn’t get the upgrade to MicroUSB 3.0 and sticks with the traditional MicroUSB 2.0 port. Some may put this in the downside column, but I’m content with the 2.0 port. Elsewhere on the exterior you’ll find an IR Transmitter on the top, 8MP camera with LED flash on the back, and the MicroSD slot on the right.
Of course we can’t forget the S Pen – integral to the Note 10.1 experience – perched on the upper right of the device.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 has all the makings of an impressive device – and it does impress – but I never would have guessed that the quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM would be to blame for the less than stellar performance of the Galaxy Note 10.1 Software.
Galaxy Note 10.1 Software
Samsung is the only big name player developing quality hardware with stylus support. With the Galaxy Note 10.1 they’ve taken their lead and doubled it, building a load of new S Pen features and improving on existing features that truly make the tablet and stylus experience a pleasure to use.
Multitasking with Multi-Window
With 10 inches of screen real-estate, you’ve got an awful lot to work with, why not take advantage of it? Multi Window lets you turn your tablet into a dual monitor experience, splitting your display into two panes and actively using both simultaneously. This feature is great on the Note 3 but amazing on the Note 10.1.
It isn’t new to the Note 10.1 but comes with improvements that make it even better. You can now slide the dividing line between each pane to change exactly how much screen real estate is reserved for each activity. Pressing the blue middle button also gives you some shortcuts and you’re able to “favorite” a combination of windows for quickly opening them in the future.
I had five favorite combinations to which I kept returning:
Hangouts video call & Chrome
Hangouts video call & Maps
Chrome & Youtube
Chrome & E-Mail
Youtube & E-Mail
The feature is productivity heaven and supports a growing list of apps, which are automatically loaded into the multi-window side panel when they’re downloaded. As more apps become compatible this feature will grow in value.
Air Command with S Pen
Pulling the S Pen out of its cradle or pressing the S Pen button when in close proximity to the screen will pull out a circular menu (called Air Command) with 5 options:
Action Memo: quick post-it-note style memos with added functionality.
Scrap Booker: circle multimedia from any screen on the tablet to organize multimedia snippets into a categorized scrap book.
Screen Writer: get a screenshot and doodle whatever you want on it for saving or sharing.
S Finder: universal search to locate anything from your device, the web, personal accounts, and more.
Pen Window: quickly pull up a hover-over-the screen app such as Calculator, Alarm, Youtube, Contacts, Web, Hangouts, etc… easily moved, expanded or minimized.
While I found Pen Window almost useless on the Note 3 it was promising on the Note 10.1 due to the added screen real estate. It’s essentially a freeform version of Multi-Window albeit with a more limited menu of apps. It would be great for quickly finding contact info, performing a calculation, watching a video, or performing a video hangout while multi-tasking, but Pen Window was one of the unfortunate victims of the Note 10.1′s performance issues.
Action Memo, Scrap Booker, and S Note are all useful tools but splitting them into 3 different apps with 3 different layouts serving 3 different purposes makes things a bit confusing. I’d prefer to see one “S Note” app with Action Memo and Scrap Booker features, elegantly designed into a much simpler interface.
Performance Problems
Here is where things get inexplicably iffy. Although the Note 10.1 is packed with a quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM, there is noticeable lag when using the device across a number of apps and instances, mostly while multi-tasking. Nowhere is this more noticeable than in “My Magazine”, a new 10.1 feature that is powered by Flipboard and accessed by swiping up from the home screens.
Ouch. That’s pretty awful. But while the Note 10.1 definitely has performance issues that we’d like to see corrected with a software update (if that’s even possible), it seems the My Magazine problem is attributed more to Flipboard than Samsung.
And the somewhat infamous “Gallery loading” problems? I didn’t experience them at all.
Still, it’s disheartening that the 10.1 will trickle out with less than stellar performance despite it’s towering spec sheet., landing among the top tablet offerings, but not above them. These mysterious performance issues, when coupled with a hefty price tag, make it difficult to recommend the Note 10.1 without hesitation.
Camera, Multimedia, Battery, Beyond…
Public Service Announcement: you should NOT be walking around with your tablet and using it like a DSLR when on your latest vacation. You’ve got a phone, with a much better camera, sitting in your pocket, and it will make you look a lot less ridiculous. Personally, I wouldn’t mind if tablet manufacturers did away with rear cameras completely.
But the camera is there so we tested it out… here are a couple samples:
The camera performs okay and just okay. Pretty good when the lighting is good but only okay in low light and directly bright light, where images tend to be washed out. But you’re not buying the tablet for its photographic prowess, so consider the camera’s existence an added benefit.
From a multimedia standpoint the Note 10.1 is a gem. Web browsing, video playback, together with the multi-tasking features such as multi-window and Pen Window make the Note 10.1 a brilliant device for multimedia. The improved screen is noticeably more enjoyable and just an all around pleasure to use. The speakers are L-O-U-D, sound great, and could only be improved by relocating them to the front of the device.
The huge display, gobs of multi-tasking, and powerful processor should weigh heavily on the battery. They did, but I’d consider the Note 10.1 battery to be above average. While testing the tablet I pretty much pounded every feature – music, videos, apps, games, web browsing, downloading – you name it. The Note 10.1 could typically last an entire day even with hardcore use.
The S Pen Dilemma
This problem isn’t unique to the Note 10.1, affecting any 10-inch tablet with a stylus, but it was enough of a frustration that I believe it’s worth pointing out.
When you’re writing with the S Pen, you’ve got no choice but to hold the tablet with one hand. Despite it’s relative slender frame, the 10.1-inch tablet is too big and heavy to hold steadily for any prolonged amount of time, making use of the stylus unproductive and uncomfortable for any period of time over a couple minutes.
I’ve concluded that the Note 10.1 with S Pen is best used in one of several situations:
You’ve got a desk on which to lean the Note 10.1.
You’re sitting and can place the Note 10.1 firmly in your lap.
You’re using the Note 10.1 but not the stylus.
You’ve got gargantuam hands and can palm the Note 10.1 like Shaq can a basketball.
Just a heads up: keep this in mind if you’ve never owned a device with this form factor and have some assumptions on how it would fit into your daily routine.
Verdict
While other companies are offering stylus support as a replacement for your finger, Samsung is creating deeper experiences that extend the user’s capabilities. That’s the strength of the Galaxy Note 10.1 and if you’re a must-have-stylus type of person, this is your device.
If you’re just looking for a great tablet, the price and performance issues make devices like the Nexus 10 more attractive alternatives. If you’re somewhere in between and can wait, keep an eye on a potential Note 10.1 software upgrade that fixes performance issues, otherwise opt for one of the newer tablets sure to be announced in the next couple months.
