Android Circuit: Samsung's new Galaxy Smartphones, Android Is The Top OS In The US, And The Home Screen On The Front Line

This article in Forbes...

...focuses on Samsung’s new Galaxy handsets; Android tops the US market share; the Android ‘L’ changes; Google Play Services’ update for Android Wear support; Android Wear apps arrive in the Play Store; the battle for the home screen continues with Aviate; and what happens next in the smartphone world. 

Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the very many things that have happened around Android over the last seven days.

Samsung Announce Five New Galaxy Handsets

As expected, Samsung has expanded the Galaxy S5 portfolio with the announcement of a number of new handsets. They all fit into the South Korean’s existing portfolio, bumping up the separate handset ranges in the same way that the core S5 handset built on the S4.

First up is the Galaxy S5 Mini, which offers a smaller version of the standard Galaxy S5. Forbes contributor Jay McGregor takes a closer look at the handset, and highlights the robust specifications – a 4.5 inch screen at 720×1280 pixels, a quad-core 1.4 GHz CPU, 1.5 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of storage, as well as the IP67 certification, heart rate sensor, and fingerprint scanner. Last year’s S4 Mini had the power but was lacking the battery life, so it will be interesting to test the S5 Mini. We should have a review on Forbes in the near future.

With the low-end handsets, Samsung has updated the Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Core, Galaxy Young, and Galaxy Star, handsets. While the specifications are not going to hold a candle to the paternal S5, these will be the handsets that will generate a high volume of sales thanks to the promotion of ‘Galaxy’ as a brand name and some smart cross-selling in retail stores around the world.   Read More

New Windows malware tries to infect Android devices connected to PCs

PCWorld - A new computer Trojan program attempts to install mobile banking malware on Android devices when they’re connected to infected PCs, according to researchers from Symantec. 

This method of targeting Android devices is unusual, since mobile attackers prefer social engineering and fake apps hosted on third-party app stores to distribute Android malware. 

“We’ve seen Android malware that attempts to infect Windows systems before,” Symantec researcher Flora Liu, said Thursday in a blog post. “Android.Claco, for instance, downloads a malicious PE [portable executable] file along with an autorun.inf file and places them in the root directory of the SD card. When the compromised mobile device is connected to a computer in USB mode, and if the AutoRun feature is enabled on the computer, Windows will automatically execute the malicious PE file.” 

“Interestingly, we recently came across something that works the other way round: a Windows threat that attempts to infect Android devices,” Liu said.    Read More

Top 12 Smartphones - CNET Reviews

The best smartphones make the best gifts

From Top smartphones for the holidays



CNET - Looking for a deal on a red-hot smartphone? You've come to the right season. Carriers and big-box stores like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart slash prices to entice you to fill your shopping cart.

For high-end devices hat are typically backed by a lot of dollar signs, a seasonal buy-one, get-one deal or other deep discount could be enough to put a smile on your face, and a new smartphone in that lucky someone's pocket. That lucky someone might even be you.

View the Phones!

Hands On With Google Nexus 5 with LTE, Available Now

CNET -

It's finally here.

After months of leaks and rumors, Google officially announced its latest flagship phone, the Nexus 5, during a press event today in San Francisco. The device will run the latest Android 4.4 KitKat operating system, and like its predecessor, it will be manufactured by LG.

However, the handset features several key changes, like a bigger 4.95-inch screen, a faster Snapdragon 800 processor, and most notably LTE support. It will be available unlocked at the Google Play Store for $349 (16GB) and $399 (32GB) starting today.

Design

Once again, minimalism is key. Decorated with a simple vertically lined Nexus logo and an even subtler LG logo, the Nexus 5 sports a more subdued and restrained aesthetic that is still sleek. Instead of the lustrous, tile-patterned back that we saw on the Nexus 4, the black version of the 5 features a soft-touch matte backing that, during our brief time with it, we found makes it easier to grip.

Personally, we prefer this new simple look for the durability. As chic as the Nexus 4 was, many reported that its glass back cracked too easily; in fact, two of our own review units fractured as well.

The handset measures 5.43 inches tall, 2.72 inches wide, and 0.34 inch thick, but weighs even less than the previous generation, at 4.59 ounces. Sporting the biggest screen yet in relation to past Nexuses, it has a 4.95-inch Corning Gorilla Glass 3 display. Keeping up with its competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One, the Nexus 5's touch screen has a 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution and 445ppi. In contrast, the previous Nexus had a 1,280x768-pixel resolution with just 320 ppi.   More

Dell takes on the world with Android and Windows tablets, high-end XPS laptops

With a variety of new Dell tablets, laptops, and tablet/laptop hybrids, we've rounded up the most impressive of the bunch.

CNET - For the bulk of 2013, any headlines you've read about Dell have more than likely been about the company's rocky transition from public to private company, via a $25 billion buyout from Silver Lake Partners. But with today's announcement of a long list of new Windows 8.1 laptops, tablets, convertible devices -- and even a pair of low-cost Android tablets -- the company is putting the focus back on its hardware offerings.

With its updated lineup, the once-dominant Texas PC giant seems to be taking on all comers. With prices starting at $999 and the addition of a high-resolution touch-screen, the XPS 13 and 15 ultrathin laptops take aim at Apple's MacBook Air and Retina-screen Pro lines. XPS 11 and 12 convertibles are Dell's answer to innovative form factors like Lenovo's Yoga and Sony's Vaio Flip.

Meanwhile, a slew of new tablets -- the all-new Venue line -- stakes Dell's claim into the market that's eating into traditional PC sales. On the Windows side, the Venue 11 Pro is an 11-inch tablet with a detachable keyboard that will go head-to-head with the likes of Microsoft's upcoming Surface Pro 2. The Venue 8 Pro joins the ranks of the new, small form-factor Windows 8.1 tablets from the likes of the Toshiba Encore and Asus VivoTab Smart ME400, and wows with a starting price of just $299.

And Dell is returning to the Android world with the $149 7-inch Venue 7 and $189 8-inch Venue 8, offering competitors to Google's $229 Nexus 7 and Apple's iPad Mini (which is due to be refreshed later this year).  

We've listed some of the more interesting new devices that feature an array of impressive specs, affordable pricing, and innovative design.

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The Dell Venue 7 tablet is a smaller version of the Venue 8.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

 

Dell Venue 7

Dell is taking another stab at releasing a compact Android slate with the 7-inch Venue tablet and, even though it doesn't boast the most high-end specs, it's still a considerable upgrade from Dell's Streak 7. The Venue 7 bears an appealing $149 starting price -- for 16GB of internal storage -- and houses a 2GHz Clover Trail processor, with a modest 1,280x800-pixel-resolution IPS screen. It also comes in an 8-inch model.

Read more about the Dell Venue 7 here.

View the Rest!

Motorola Droid Ultra - Motorola's thinnest Droid ever

Androidly smartwatch can run any app from Google Play

The Android watch is now available for preorder for $229.

CNET - Those of you'd like to run Android apps on your wrist may be intrigued by a smartwatch from a company called Androidly.

Developed by a four-person team in the U.K., the Androidly smartwatch lets you install and use hundreds of thousands of apps from Google Play. So, you can access a variety of mobile apps, including Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Google Maps, Cut the Rope, and Angry Birds.   More

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 gets new 8- and 10.1-inch models

CNET - The added models should give Samsung entry points into a wider range of the tablet market. They'll be available early this month.

Samsung has released the details for an 8-inch and a 10.1-inch tablet joining the popular Galaxy Tab series, along with the 7-inch model currently available.

In an announcement Monday, the South Korean firm unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 models in the new sizes.

The 8-inch Galaxy Tab 3 is possibly a response to the popular iPad Mini and Google Nexus 7. The tablet is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a 1280x800-pixel HD screen, and runs on Android 4.2, otherwise known as Jelly Bean. The 8-inch model also sports two cameras, the front shooting at 1.3 megapixels and the rear reaching 5 megapixels.   More

Seven awesome Google I/O innovations

CNET - For consumers, at least, it may appear that yesterday's Google I/O keynote was a little boring. We didn't get a new Nexus phone or tablet, no skydivers landed on the roof, someone ate the rumored Key Lime pie update, and Google Glass didn't even get a mention. But look closer and you'll see that even a developer-heavy show did roll out several new features that will deliver a lot of benefit to those who've never coded in their life.  

View the Slideshow

Coverage of Google I/O - Google Integration Into Mercedes, Streaming Music, G+ Additions, Google Play Game Services & More

 

Google Play game services aims to integrate gaming across Android, iOS and the web

Google Play game developers and players alike are getting a quartet of game-changing additions today: real-time multiplayer, leaderboards, cloud saves and achievements. And that's not all -- the latter three services will function cross-platform between Android, iOS and the web. The whole initiative is called -- unsurprisingly -- "Google Play Game Services," and it's available today in a smattering of games. Unlike Apple's Game Center application, what Google's offering is backend support for developers rather than a standalone application. Think of it more like OpenFeint than Game Center -- you can sign in using your Google+ login in-game, and that login will track your identity (including leaderboard scores, achievements and saves) across various games and devices.

Read More

Google beats Apple to it with streaming music service

With its $9.99/month service, the tech powerhouse makes its first move into a space already occupied by the likes of Pandora, Spotify, and possibly, Apple.

Google launched a music streaming service Wednesday, taking its first stab at the growing industry with a new service linked to Google Play for Android.    

Read More

Google announces Google Play for Education launching this fall

Google today announced a new service called Google Play for Education that allows schools to easier find and distribute Google Play content to Android devices in schools.

The Google Play Education store will allow schools to search for content by subject matter and grade level and provide content that has been recommended by other educators.

Read More

Google I/O event previews Mercedes' integration of Google services


The annual Google I/O developers conference is going on this week in San Francisco, California, featuring in-depth sessions that showcase the latest and greatest from Google in the way of products and technology. One of the things being highlighted this year is Mercedes-Benz's integration of Google's services.

Using a current SL model, Mercedes-Benz will show a Drive Kit Plus system which uses a smartphone and custom app which enables seamless integration of the smartphone with the car's infotainment system. Essentially, this makes it easier to use your smartphone with your vehicle's on-board features such as navigation and streaming music.

 

Read More

Google adds photo and other enhancements to Google Plus in effort to rival Facebook

SAN FRANCISCO - Google is digging deeper into its technology toolkit to turn its social networking service into a more formidable threat to Facebook, sprucing up its photo features at a time when sharing snapshots online and on mobile gadgets is growing more popular.

Many of the 41 new features being added to Google Plus beginning Wednesday will draw upon the computing power, machine learning, algorithms, semantics analysis and other innovations that established Google's search engine as the most influential force on the Internet.

Read More

Google I/O 2013 - Live Blog, Live Video, Info & More

 

General Information

Meet Googlers and developers building great products with Google technologies

Live Blog (Including Keynote Video)

Where to watch Google I/O 2013 live online

GigaOM - Live streaming starts on Wednesday at 9:00 am PT with the keynote, and will continue throughout the day with up to five simultaneous live streams of key technical sessions as well as “exclusive interviews, product unboxings, and demos from the I/O floor,” as the I/O site puts it. Live streams will also be available on Thursday starting at 10:00 am. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Google will stream any of Friday’s sessions online.

All live streams can be accessed directly on the I/O site, where you can also find a detailed schedule of the conference.

What to expect at Google I/O 2013

Google rumors and leaks pick up speed as Google I/O 2013 arrives this week. Here are some of our predictions for the annual Google developers confab. Read More

 

• Google's Nexus Q revival said to be a no-show at I/O

  

  Google reportedly won't show off a revamped version of its defunct Nexus Q media streamer at its annual developers conference. more

  News - By Josh Lowensohn |
   

• CNET to talk Google I/O in a Hangout on Tuesday

  

  Is there more to the annual Google shindig than swag? Have some predictions of your own? Ask CNET your Google I/O questions in a Google+ Hangout. Hint: Extreme sports demos are extremely unlikely. more

  News - By Seth Rosenblatt | 
   

• Microsoft touts Office 365 buyers that dumped Google Apps

  

  On the eve of the Google I/O conference, Microsoft picks a loud fight with Google over online office suites. more

  News - By Stephen Shankland | 
   

• One more Google I/O rumor: A new smartwatch?

  

  Does it make any sense for Google to unveil a new piece of wearable tech this week? Does it have to make sense? more

  News - By Eric Mack | 
   

• Expect games, social, and Now at Google I/O 2013

  

  Google rumors and leaks pick up speed as Google I/O 2013 arrives this week. Here are some of our predictions for the annual Google developers confab. more

  News - By Seth Rosenblatt | 
   

• Google I/O keeps browser focus despite fancy phones, eyewear

  

  Android and Glass get a lot of attention at Google I/O, but Chrome and Web programming sessions are core to Google's conference for developers. more

  News - By Stephen Shankland | 
   

• What Google I/O should bring for Android hardware lovers

  

  CNET's Marguerite Reardon takes a look at the possible new Android products Google might show off at its annual developer conference this week in San Francisco. more

  News - By Marguerite Reardon | 
   

• Friday Poll: Can Google I/O possibly top last year's?

  

  Google set a high bar with its skydiving introduction of Glass last year. Could this year's conference contain more "wow-ness?" more

  News - By Eric Mack | 
   

• What to expect from Android Key Lime Pie

  

  Google should unveil a new version of its mobile OS next week. Here's some of what we may see this time around, and also down the line. more

  News - By Scott Webster | 

Android Key Lime Pie: Most Wanted Features - What CNET Would Like to See in the Next Version of Android

 

CNET takes you through the new tricks and software tweaks we want to see in the next major version of Android.

Right now, deep beneath the Earth's crust, Google engineers are working in secret to develop the next major version of Android.

Rumored to be called Key Lime Pie (though some reports suggest the next version may stick with the Jelly Bean moniker), little is known about what new software treats this update has in store. That said, we at CNET certainly have an idea of what we want to see -- hit play on the video above to hear the apps and tweaks we're desperate for Google to bake into the heart of its next big refresh.

More

March Madness Apps For Your Mobile Device

CNETTV - For college basketball fans, we're about to embark on their favorite time of year: March Madness. This year, follow the NCAA tournament on your mobile device with a few handy apps. CNET's Kara Tsuboi reports on some of her favorites for keeping up with this annual tradition.

iHeartRadio for Android Review

 

The best free streaming-radio app available

CNET - 

CNET Editors' Rating

4.5 stars - Outstanding

The good: With iHeartRadio, you can access more than 1,500 live stations from around the U.S., as well as the service's library of more than 15 million songs. The best part, though, is that custom stations are ad-free.

The bad: No pause, rewind, or record controls.

The bottom line: The best free streaming-radio app on the market, iHeartRadio takes some of (but not all) the best features from TuneIn Radio Pro and combines them with Pandora-like functionality.

Read the Full Review

Did Google make its latest Android statue out of chrome for a reason?

Engadget - When Google staffer Paul Wilcox started throwing pebbles at his girlfriend's office window, he never expected to be confronted by an angry giant Android made out of chrome. But crazy things happen at Mountain View all the time and Wilcox was quick to recover his composure.

"What have you done with my girlfriend?" he cried. And then, "why, of all things, are you made out of chrome?!"

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Per These Leaked CES Pics, Sony Is Actually Capable Of Making A Memorable Android Phone

 

TechCrunch - Quick! What’s Sony’s current high-end Android phone? Anyone? Yeah, Sony has a problem with brand recognition, one it likely hopes will be resolved with a big CES debut next week. While that could still happen, Sony’s Japanese press site just prematurely posted pics of the Xperia Z “Yuga” and the Xperia ZL “Odin”. And, surprisingly, the phones actually look worth remembering.

Sony, and before that, Sony Ericsson, has long floundered about in the mobile waters. Besides the Sony Ericsson gaming phone, none have been particularly interesting. Somehow Sony manages to make forgettable phones even though past models looked great and packed top-notch specs. Hopefully, and I mean that, these upcoming phones will hit the market with a bit more pizzazz.

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Google in 2013: Five things to watch for

The search giant has big plans for next year. Here are some big things we're expecting, from Nexus to Kurzweil to Google Glass.

With just a handful of days left in 2012 -- and a fighting chance we will avoid the Mayan apocalypse -- it's time to start forecasting what awaits us in 2013. Google had a big 2012, rolling out scores of new products while making countless adjustments to its old ones. In 2013, it will continue to face competition on all sides -- and here are five things to keep an eye on as the New Year ramps up.

(Credit: Google) 

 

1. What's next for Nexus? This year Google introduced its Nexus tablets to generally strong reviews, along with a Nexus 4 smartphone that showed a high-end smartphone can be sold, unlocked, for a highly competitive price. But while Apple trumpets millions of iPhones and iPads sold, we don't have a clear sense of how many Nexus devices are selling. Shortages of Nexus tablets have been reported, and the Nexus 4 has been difficult to keep in stock. And yet absent a big marketing campaign or mainstream buzz, the Nexus devices are still at risk of looking like also-rans in a mobile world dominated by Apple and Samsung.

Google I/O is returning to the month of May this year, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the next version of the Nexus 7 unveiled around that time. (The original launched at I/O this year.) The Nexus 10 is only a couple of months old, but we would also expect a refreshed version of the device sometime in 2013. As for the Nexus smartphone -- it would be nice to see it able to access LTE networks. But getting U.S. carriers to pick it up will likely be a challenge.

2. Will developers go Android-first? It was in December 2011 that Google's executive chairman predicted most developers would soon choose to develop for Android first. More than a year later, there's little evidence that's the case. Whether because of Android users' reputation for being harder to monetize, or concerns about developing for the fragmented ecosystem, or other intangibles, big venture-backed startups often launch first with an iOS app. There are signs that this is starting to change. By some measures Apple and Google's app stores are now roughly tied in the number of apps available on their platforms. But will Android become the premiere platform for app development? It's something we'll be watching closely in 2013.

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Android Rumor Roundup

Five-inch smartphones, an unbreakable display, and an even larger Galaxy Note make up the juiciest Android rumors this week.

 

(Credit: Google) 

 

CNET - On any given day of the week, the rumor mill churns out leaked specs, blurred images, and other tidbits that give us a clue about unannounced Android tablets and smartphones. In a new weekly column, I'll track the best ones, be they credible or outlandish.

Before going any further, remember that none of these rumors has been officially confirmed.

Benchmarks, while often a good source for discovering new devices, can be faked. What's more, a trusted source doesn't always have the right intel to pass along. Also worth noting is that the time frames for the respective products can slip and that "coming weeks" may actually mean months.

In other words, you'll need to take these rumors with a grain or two of salt. In fact, you might want to keep that salt shaker nearby.

HTC M7
December 5, 2012

Word broke earlier this week that the smartphone maker is hoping to move 4 to 5 million units of a new device in Q1 2013. Dubbed the M7, details reportedly include an aluminum uni-body, 13-megapixel camera, and quad-core Qualcomm processor. Oh, and let's not forget the five-inch 1080p HD display.

Could LG launch its Optimus G successor so soon?

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET) 

 

LG Optimus G successor
December 6, 2012

LG could release a follow-up to the Optimus G, but it's improbable that they'd announce something as soon as CES. Mobile World Congress, which takes place in late February, seems like a more likely time. As to what handset could make for the successor, the E940 could be a likely candidate.

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HTC One X+ review: Its gargantuan storage space is hard to beat

 

CNET Editors' Rating

4.0 stars - Excellent

$139.99 to $199.99 

The good: The HTC One X+ has a quad-core processor, 64GB of storage, and Android Jelly Bean, plus a great camera, all for $199.99.

The bad: The HTC One X+'s battery life is short. The phone also lacks an SD card slot, and its battery can't be removed.

The bottom line: Although it does have some flaws, the $199.99 HTC One X+ is currently the best Android buy on AT&T.

Read the Full Review