Mobile Archives - Page 5 of 15

Andy Rubin Denies Claims Of Leaving Google For CloudCar Startup

Today Robert Scoble, a very tech-engaged icon who never shies away from a good rumor, posted an update on his Google+ that claimed that Andy Rubin, the founder of Android, would be leaving Google. Yes, Google I/O is just a few days away, and yes, Rubin leaving would mean a huge overhaul of I/O and likely result in an event no one would have predicted, but Scoble posted it nonetheless. Scoble claimed that Andy would be leaving to take charge of a startup called CloudCar that Rubin is closely tied to, but this has been proved to be false. Rubin did give CloudCar space in his startup incubator, but that is as far as the relationship goes at this point. Now, maybe Rubin wouldn’t have left before I/O, and it’s likely that such a parting would take place after Google’s key annual event, but still this news would have sent shock waves through the foundation of the Android/Google community.

However, posting his eleventh tweet since joining Twitter, today Rubin announced that he had “no plans to leave Google” after all. Rubin didn’t stop there though, no, his eleventh tweet had to have more substance–more pizazz. He also dropped the 900,000 number for Android activations per day, a number which is higher than the previous 850,000 that was revealed at MWC. This not only proves that Android’s growth is still climbing, but it also gives us an understanding of something else Rubin may have been trying to imply. Why would he leave Android now, at its peak. Well, maybe because of the famous “what goes up has got to come down” logic, but Apple has definitely proved that wrong thus far. Either way, Rubin is here to stay…for now, that is.

We’ll Be Live At io/LA Covering Hollywood Hack Day

This weekend, while Kyle will be on the East Coast at another Startup event. I’ll be at a Hackathon on the West Coast covering the Hollywood Hackathon. The event, which has moved to io/LA’s venue near the famed Hollywood and Highland intersection in the middle of Hollywood. Will be filled with those trying to make it into the entertainment field by way of Tech.

Hot Or Not Yankee Group Says Kindle Fire Is Fizzling

The Amazon Kindle Fire was one of the hottest items last holiday season. The 7″ Android powered tablet sold like hotcakes leading into the 2011 holiday season. It was considered the only table to come close to challenging Apple’s iPad and as recent as two months ago it was revealed that the Amazon Kindle Fire sold more than all the other Android tablets combined.

Well the Yankee Group has released a new report called “2012 US Tablet Landscape: An All-Too-Familiar Story”. In that report it shows that Apple’s iPad line still commands 51% of the US tablet market.

What’s more disturbing though is that the Amazon Kindle Fire has “cooled with consumers” since it’s release in Q4 2011. The Yankee Group research suggests that everyone who wanted a Kindle Fire now has one. More importantly, consumers who said they wanted a Kindle Fire have gone down from 11% in 2011 to just 6% now.

PC World reports that in a recent ChangeWave Research poll found that of 2900 respondents 41% of Kindle Fire users were “very satisfied” with the device, which is down by 15% since ChangeWave’s earlier survey in February 2012.

IDC also echoed the trend by reporting that Amazon’s tablet shipments declined dramatically. In Q4 2011 Amazon Kindle Fire commanded 16.8% of the market with 4.8 million units sold. Now they are sitting with just 4% of the market share.

Amazon is expected to release a follow up to the Kindle Fire, and it may possibly be the familiar 10″ form factor. PC World suggests that the Kindle Fire 2 get here as fast as it can.

Source: PC World

Apple May Seek Restraining Order Against Samsung Galaxy S III Launch

Many long time Android enthusiasts have been quite impressed at how the Samsung Galaxy S III launch in the US has gone thus far. Samsung held their event on May 3rd in London and announced an international release of the new flagship device later on that month.

At the time of the press event Samsung had said that the US would see the device later this summer. Based on previous product launches of high end Samsung Android phones, with the four major carriers in the United States, Android enthusiasts feared that we wouldn’t see the device until September, just before the seasons change.

Monday, Samsung and Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T and US Cellular all divulged their plans for the launch of the phone and it’s going to be sooner thrasher than later.

Well now there is a chance that Apple may rain on Samsung’s parade. Apple was in court earlier today, and in court said they may seek a restraining order, as early as tomorrow, against the import and sale of the Samsung Galaxy S III.

Reuters is reporting that Apple attorney Josh Krevitt made that claim at a hearing today before Judge Lucy Koh, who has been presiding over all of the Apple vs Samsung and Samsung vs Apple law suits in the United States.

Apple filed papers on Tuesday seeking to ban the import and sale of the Samsung Galaxy S III. Both parties appeared before Judge Koh in a hearing today. Koh told the attorneys that she wouldn’t rule on anything pertaining to the Galaxy S III as the Galaxy Nexus was the focus for today’s hearing. Koh said that Apple could file a temporary restraining order against the Galaxy S III.

Source: Reuters

Foursquare 5.0 Brings Complete Redesign, Available For Android And iOS

The completely redesigned, new version of Foursquare that we have been hearing about for so long is finally here today–and it is awesome. Foursquare is still Foursquare. Meaning you still check-in, you still can explore, you still compete for mayorships with your friends and complete strangers. However, the way Foursquare goes about this puts a bigger emphasis on finding you new things to do.

It all starts with the design. As soon as you open the app for Android, you will notice that it has the brand new ICS themed layout that we’re starting to see with more and more apps. In the iOS version, the same idea is present only in the standard row of tabs on the bottom of the screen. In the same direction that both Facebook and Google+ have gone, Foursquare is also enlarging all of the photos in the app, making it a more visual experience than ever. This works hand-in-hand with the new Facebook Timeline integration, which inevitably makes Foursquare look like a native part of Timeline when posts are viewed on Facebook. The whole thing just feels like that “modern social network” that all of the top social giants seem to be heading towards these days.

The Explore feature now remembers the places that you often go and the places you mark as a favorite, and suggests them to you. For example, right now my Foursquare app knows that it is Thursday afternoon, so it reads “Suggestions for Thursday afternoon.” Under that line, it shows a lot of my favorite lunch places, starting with Chipotle Mexican Grill. And to be honest, I could go for some Chipotle right now, which is exactly the reaction that Foursquare was looking for with their new app.

You can view your stats in a beautiful new grid layout, that shows your friends, check-ins, mayorships, and trophies as well. It looks really good, and is definitely the best Foursquare experience yet. In my opinion, this update is exactly what Foursquare needed to renew its novelty feel, keep users coming back, and bring back users that have parted ways. Grab the update for Android in the link below, and the update for iOS is available at the iTunes link below.

Play Store link

iTunes link

AT&T Galaxy S III Available For Preorder Today, Launches June 18

Today, AT&T’s Galaxy S III is up for preorder. The device has the exact same specs as the rest of the US verisons, except for an option to grab the 32GB model. Sorry AT&T subscribers. The phone is $199 on a new contract, and $549 without a contract. It will be launching on June 18, which is three days earlier than most of the other launch days carriers have been posting. Maybe this is AT&T’s way of apologizing for skimping out on that extra 16GB of space.

The device will be available in both the Pebble Blue and Marble White editions, and is currently on their website to begin preorders as I write this. Of course, AT&T happens to be the carrier with the best current competition for the Galaxy S III, the HTC One X, so we will have to see how it stacks up in sales now that customers can grab both devices upon entering an AT&T store. Let us know in the comments if you are or aren’t looking to pick up a GSIII, and we will bring you our own reviews when we conclude them.

Google Introduces Offline Maps And Higher Resolution 3D Maps

Last week Google told us they would be showing off the “next dimension of Maps” today, and so they have. A lot of people thought it would have to do with 3D, and some of it does, but the big deal of Google’s event is the introduction of offline Maps. And offline Maps is a big deal.

I can’t count the amount of times that I have had to wait on Google Maps to pull up my directions or navigation due to a poor data connection. Now, this is usually when I am in the middle of nowhere, but it was still an issue. Google will now allow users to download Map areas to their device (this is already offered in Labs, to some extent) and will improve upon any offline downloading that is currently available. They didn’t specify exactly how it will all work, or how much you can have offline at a time, but it will be coming to Android soon.

They also will be improving their 3D maps pictures, giving them much more detail and more of a realistic look. This feature will be coming to both iOS and Android however, because Google is looking to bring these features to both platforms. Google has started using new forms of mapping to obtain these images which will give us higher resolution images as well. They have also introduced a new backpack camera that they will use to obtain Street View pictures in places that they can’t get cars.

Pretty cool stuff.

We’ll be sure to let you know when Google finally pushes these features to their iOS and Android apps, and give you our opinions of how they actually work when on devices.

iPhone To More Prepaid Carriers, Next Up Virgin Mobile

We knew when we reported earlier this month, that Cricket Wireless was getting a prepaid version of the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4, that other prepaid carriers wouldn’t be far a long. Cricket will start offering the iPhone on June 22. A mere 10 days later the iPhone will also arrive on Virgin Mobile, one of Sprint’s prepaid arms.

While Cricket has a presence in most of the Best Buy’s in the continental United States, they are still considered a regional carrier. At last count they covered 60 million pops with their own network, however they have a roaming agreement with Sprint and even offer service in Best Buy stores that aren’t part of Cricket’s actual footprint.

In contrast, and using Sprint’s entire footprint, Virgin covers 278 million people.

Both prepaid brands offer an “unlimited” data option although there is throttling involved on the Cricket side.

The prepaid wireless industry has evolved over the last few years. Earlier on it was considered an industry aimed at older folks who literally only needed a phone for emergencies, people with bad credit and people who needed a “disposable” or “burner” phone.

Now cost conscious consumers across the country are going with the reliable convenience of prepaid carriers like Cricket Wireless, Virgin Mobile (Sprint), Metro PCS and Boost Mobile (Sprint). T-Mobile has a pretty big prepaid arm. AT&T and Verizon also offer prepaid services but nothing to the likes of any of the other prepaid carriers.

Consumers may rather opt for the higher cost of phone acquisition to get the iPhone without having to be roped into a two year contract.

Source: Business Insider

Samsung Galaxy S III Carrier Preorder And Launch Dates Announced For Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, And US Cellular

Very early this morning we covered the official announcement of the Galaxy S III coming to five US carriers, and now we have some carrier official announcements as well. All of these devices will come with the beautiful 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED screen, the Snapdragon S4 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 8MP camera, and of course, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The hardware looks identical to the global version on the outside, and both the Pebble Blue and Marble White versions are launching on these carriers. We will be sure to keep you posted with reviews and more news as soon as we get our hands on these highly-anticipated devices.

VERIZON

First off is Verizon’s GSIII, which will be the same device that was shown in the press release and will be equipped with 4G LTE. This will be the very first Galaxy device since the original Galaxy S to hit Big Red, due to the carrier missing out on the GSII most likely because of the Galaxy Nexus’s arrival. The Galaxy S III for Verizon will be listed at $199 for the 16GB version, and $249 for the 32GB version. It will arrive in both Pebble Blue and Marble White on launch day. Preorders begin June 6, so get ready to start throwing your cash at Verizon on Wednesday.

T-MOBILE

Next we have T-Mobile’s version of the Galaxy S III, which we saw pictured last week. The GSIII will be hitting T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network with speeds up to 21Mbps, and the same overall hardware specs that will be coming to all US models (other than the LTE radio of course). The preorders for the T-Mobile version have not been opened yet, but T-Mobile will sell the device on June 21.

US CELLULAR

US Cellular will be receiving the Galaxy S III as well, with LTE and the same hardware specs as the above versions. The GSIII will be available in Blue and White, however the 32 GB model will only be available in Marble White. US Cellular will begin preorders for this device on June 12, and have not yet released pricing or release dates. Customers can sign up for email updates on the device’s arrival starting June 5 at US Cellular’s landing page.

SPRINT

Sprint will be the only carrier so far to receive the GSIII with Google Wallet preloaded, which is a pretty big deal. The rest of the US carriers have been late to the Wallet party, with Sprint being very supportive of Google’s services and even incorporating Wallet and Voice to their network. The GSIII will again, have the same specs as the rest of the devices and come with an LTE radio to be compatible with Sprint’s to-be-launched LTE network. The pricing will be the same as Verizon’s–$199 for the 16GB model and $249 for the 32GB model in both Marble White and Pebble Blue. Preorders begin June 5 with the device launching June 21.

Instapaper For Android Hits The Google Play Store

Instapaper has long been a favorite app for iOS users, but today Android users can finally join the club. Instapaper launched in the Google Play Store a few hours ago and since has been downloaded on all of my devices. Instapaper is a competitor to Pocket (formerly ReadItLater), and it has been one of my top needed smartphone services for quite some time.

The purpose behind Instapaper is to save the articles that you would like to read, but just don’t have the time to right when you stumble over them. When something is saved to Instapaper, it is immediately downloaded in a compact, text-only version that is made specifically for your phone or tablet’s screen. This makes having to deal with waiting for web pages to load a thing of the past, as the service downloads your articles in the background and prepares them for later use. You can customize the font style, font size, dark or light themes, and just about anything else you would expect from a reader application. The only downside is the steep $2.99 price tag that may make competing apps such as Pocket seem a little more appetizing. If you have Instapaper for Android, be sure to let us know what you think of the Android version in the comments below, and hit the Play link to give it a try.

Play link

Samsung Galaxy S III Coming To All 5 US Carriers Starting At $199 Beginning In June

Well folks, it’s here. And it’s come in the best way possible. The Galaxy S III is coming to the US, but it’s coming to all of the major US carriers with the exact same price and no outward changes from the global version. The hardware button, the 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED screen–everything is just as it was in the leaked T-Mobile pictures we saw.

The official specs for, again, all models on all carriers is the 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED screen under the safe guard of Gorilla Glass 2.0, a Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, and an 8MP all packaged in a slim 8.6mm shell weighing in at only 4.7 ounces. The device will launch in both the Marble White and Pebble Blue versions, meaning the production issues Samsung was facing with the Pebble Blue version must be coming to an end. S-Voice, S-Beam, and all the other features of TouchWiz4 on Android 4.0 are coming along for the ride, and in the end this phone is left virtually unchanged from the global version in every aspect but the processor. Samsung does claim though, that the dual-core version will have the same speed and performance as the quad-core version, without sacrificing any battery life. And of course, we cannot forget the GSIII’s 2100 mAh battery which will be sure to last you all day even on the various LTE networks.

The Samsung Galaxy S III will hit Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and US Cellular around the same times starting in June. The “exact pricing and dates” will be announced in the coming weeks, with a consistent price starting at $199. We’ll be sure to bring you reviews of this highly anticipated device as soon as we get our hands on a US version.

Source: Samsung

Massachusetts Startup: iCache Releases Digital Wallet For iPhone

So far the only true NFC product available to smartphone users is Google Wallet. ISIS, the collaborative effort by AT&T, Verizon Wirless and T-Mobile is slated for a launch sometime this summer. However, Friday, iCache, a Massachusetts based mobile payment startup has released their GeoCard and iCache Geode Wallet.

This $200 accessory is part iPhone case, part card reader, part biometric security system and a whole lot of mobile wallet.

By now we have all realized that bar code scanning on a mobile phone is hit or miss, and anyone who has tried NFC has probably experienced that blank stare from the cashier like you just did the latest human chopping trick from David Copperfield’s arsenal before their very eyes.

Whether Google wants to admit it or not, we are still way ahead of the NFC curve and even further ahead of the NFC revolution.

In the meantime the folks at iCache have figured out safety, security and convenience with the Geode Wallet and GeoCard. The wallet supports all barcode based loyalty and reward cards and all magnetic stripe based credit cards.

For credit cards you simply use the enclosed credit card reader to extract your information to your phone. Then, when you want to use any of your credit cards, you select which one you want to use and it loads that cards info onto your Geode Card which is a rewritable magnetic stripe card. You have one card now, that’s safely and easily stored in the phone case that rewrites your info super quickly and securely onto your Geode Card.

What about safety and security?

The only way you can access the Geode Card on your wallet app is after use inning on using your finger print. Yes, iCache has included a biometric finger print reader. Only after your fingerprint is deleted can you access the wallet and the ability to rite write onto the rewritable card.

As for loyalty cards, they are just as easy. Simply take a picture of every barcode reward and loyalty card you’ve got and it captures the card information. Add a few notes if you would like and you’re ready to roll.

iCache already knows that barcodes are hit or miss on a smartphone or even iPhone screen with retina display, that’s why they’ve included an e-ink display on the back of the case which makes the barcodes as easy to read as on the cards themselves.

Now I know you’re thinking that $199 is a lot for any accessory but now that you really can leave the wallet at home, and it’s super secure, it’s worth every penny. iCache leaves no stone unturned.

Just don’t lose your phone.

Check it out for yourself at iCache.com

Images Of T-Mobile Galaxy S III Surface, No Major Hardware Changes From Global Version

It was only a matter of time before we started to see something about the US variants of Samsung’s already wildly-popular Galaxy S III, and The Verge has scored a few pictures of what may be the first US GSIII. T-Mobile is the branding that is on the back of the white or blue Galaxy S III, and this device is something of a trend-breaker. In years past, Samsung’s Galaxy series was often altered on its US variants, with each US carrier getting a different look, and also a different name. Sure, the “Galaxy S __” was always still tacked on the end (or beginning) of the device’s name to ensure the branding was present, but other than that we’re used to seeing names like “Epic 4G Touch” or “Skyrocket LTE”.

We’re not sure what this T-Mobile GSIII will be called exactly, but we are noticing that there are very little, if any at all, changes made to this device. In fact, from the pictures shown this model is identical to the global version, save the T-Mobile branding of course. This is also the first time a hardware home button has made it to the States on a Galaxy device, as it is usually removed and replaced by four capacitive touch buttons (or 3 in Ice Cream Sandwich devices). Do we like that the device has stayed the same, though? Personally, I usually favor touch capacitive buttons as opposed to a hardware home button, but I sure don’t like giving up a quad-core processor in my brand new GSIII. Let us know what you think in the comments, and we’ll keep you updated on the T-Mo GSIII’s announcement and launch.

Source: The Verge

Google Unveiling “The Next Dimension Of Maps” On June 6

Google Maps has been the king of maps for a while now, due to its stellar service and incredible iOS and Android applications, but things haven’t been looking very good as of late. When Google decided to start charging for its Maps API’s (in high-usage situations) companies like FourSquare dropped it as its maps provider. Other startups and companies began to do so, and before we knew it Apple is about to release their own Google Maps replacement. This isn’t only because Google began to charge, but it’s also because Apple undoubtedly enjoys their independence, especially from Google.

In the midst of all of these issues, however, Google has still kept improving their Maps platform and applications, adding things like indoor maps and directions and integration into Google+. Now they have announced that they will be unveiling “the next dimension of Maps. On June 6 they are holding an event to showcase this, and it is still unknown what exactly the next dimension of maps is. There are possibilities of a literal meaning such as adding a new 3D spin to Google Maps, or it could be something completely unrelated. Either way, we will be covering it every step of the way so be sure to stay tuned for what Google has in store for the Maps service.

Source: Google