Android Phone Fans
Android Phone Fans |
- Moto 360 inventory mixup: grey bands further delayed, black bands ahead of schedule
- KitKat running on almost 25% of Android devices according to distribution numbers for September
- NVIDIA spills the beans on HTC-made Nexus 9 in court documents
- T-Mobile Uncarrier 7.0: WiFi Calling gets an overhaul, free wireless routers, free in-flight messaging, and more
- HTC Double Exposure event coming October 8th
- T-Mobile pushes out software updates for HTC One M8, M7, LG G3, and Samsung Galaxy S4
- Com1 is the first Android Wear smart watch to be crowdfunded, and it needs your dollars
- Google Play’s refund window extended to 2 hours for app and game purchases [YES!]
- Will Google really ban Android Forums from the Google Play Store?
- Browse the web securely with 3 years of VPN Unlimited for just $19
- Everything you need to know about the Moto G (2nd Gen)
- 5 million Google accounts and passwords may have been leaked
- Everything you need to know about the new Moto X (2014)
- Google introduces free voice calls to the US and Canada from Hangouts; download the APK right here
- Simcity franchise heads to Android with SimCity BuildIt
| Moto 360 inventory mixup: grey bands further delayed, black bands ahead of schedule Posted: 10 Sep 2014 06:06 PM PDT A mistake on Motorola’s website will cause grief to some Moto 360 purchasers and joy to others, depending on which version of the Android Wear smart watch you intended to order. Motorola intended to offer these two selections:
Unfortunately, some users saw an option that never should have existed – a light metal watch case with black leather band – and this is a product combination that doesn’t exist. Motorola is currently issuing emails to consumers who made this purchase, offering three solutions: (1) Take what they got and get the goods early, (2) Call and get the grey but delayed, (3) Cancel your order altogether. The bottom line is that if you tried to purchase a black Moto 360 you’re all good, if you tried to purchase a grey Moto 360 but would be happy with black you’re all good, and if you tried to purchase a grey Moto 360 and still want the grey version you’ll be disappointed as your device will be delayed. Unless, of course, you purchased your Moto 360 after they fixed this clerical error. Still eagerly awaiting yours? Hit up the Moto 360 Forums until it arrives! |
| KitKat running on almost 25% of Android devices according to distribution numbers for September Posted: 10 Sep 2014 05:18 PM PDT We like to think of it as a little “state of Android” snippet and today, Google has updated their official Android Platform Distribution numbers for the month of September. Although it’s not much, KitKat is now running on almost a quarter of all active Android devices, well, the ones that have recently made contact with the Google Play Store in the past week. What’s interesting is Jelly Bean took a slight dip, dropping from 54.2% last month to 53.8% this month. This is likely due to Android devices finally receiving their KitKat updates, and we’d imagine we’ll start seeing that number drop even further as more older flagships receive KitKat. Still hanging in is Ice Cream Sandwich at 9.6%, Gingerbread at 11.4% and Froyo (yes, someone out there is still actively using an Android 2.2 device) at .7%. As Android L looms on the horizon, we don’t imagine we’ll see the numbers change dramatically before then. The only time we see a major shift in the numbers is when flagship devices launch with the latest Android version, and all those launched earlier this year (but there’s still a few more on the horizon). While someone could paint these numbers as embarrassing when compared to iOS, it would be like comparing apples to oranges. Android runs on a variety of hardware, ranging from low (rarely sees Android updates) to high-end (usually more up to date). If Apple’s flagship device is the iPhone, then comparing it to something like the Nexus or even flagship devices from HTC or Samsung would be much more fitting. For those curious to see last months stats, you can check them out here. |
| NVIDIA spills the beans on HTC-made Nexus 9 in court documents Posted: 10 Sep 2014 03:24 PM PDT If there was any question Google was planning on launching a Nexus 9 later this year, a new discovery from the boys at Bright Side of News all but confirms it. A leaked court documents from NVIDIA in which they claim Qualcomm and Samsung are infringing on their GPU patents not only makes mention of a Nexus 9, but reveals the manufacturer Google will be partnering with: HTC. This HTC-made Nexus 9 will feature an NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor and according to the docs, is expected to launch during Q3 of this year. Given we’re already fast into September, it shouldn’t be much longer before this 9-inch Nexus Tablet is officially announced along with specs and pricing. Are you guys ready for it? |
| Posted: 10 Sep 2014 02:33 PM PDT T-Mobile kicked off their latest Uncarrier 7.0 event in San Francisco where John Legere and friends announced the latest development in their Uncarrier revolution. Of course, Legere took a minute to bash the competition and announce that August 2014 was the single biggest month in the company’s history, thanks to 2.7 million new customers before finally hatching his latest scheme: “WiFi Unleashed.” WiFi Calling gets an overhaulWhile WiFi Calling on T-Mobile really isn’t anything new, it seems they’ve been doing some work on making the entire process as seamless as possible. T-Mobile will be taking away the already little setup involved in WiFi Calling. Now, T-Mobile’s smartphones will automatically connect to a WiFi network out of the box, providing a seamless hand off between their LTE network and your own home WiFi. Place a call using WiFi Calling and you can jump in your car and never drop a call (unless you’re in a HSPA+ network, then all bets are off). Free ASUS wireless routerShould you find your current wireless router sucks, T-Mobile will provide you with one of their own specialty ASUS-made wireless routers that feature an easy plug-and-play setup. The best part? They’ll provide every Simple Choice customer with the router free of charge (with a $25 deposit and as long as you have at least 1 WiFi Calling capable device). For those that don’t, T-Mobile will provide early upgrades via their JUMP program — eligible or not. What’s more is that moving forward, every single smartphone T-Mobile sells under their roof will now support WiFi Calling with zero setup. Free in-flight SMS/MMS courtesy of GogoWith network coverage in your home settled, T-Mobile takes to the sky. They’ve struck a deal with Gogo (the guys responsible for in-flight WiFi service) to give T-Mobile customers free texting/picture messaging and access to voice mails via their Visual Voice Mail app while flying. There’s no data and no calling, but at least it’s something. Free routers will be available September 17th and you should have noticed a handful of updates going out to T-Mobile’s already WiFi Calling equipped devices today. I guess the only question we have is will this be enough to get you to switch from your current wireless provider, or will this been seen as nothing more than one of the many perks offered to T-Mobile customers? A full list of T-Mobile’s WiFi Calling capable devices can be found here. |
| HTC Double Exposure event coming October 8th Posted: 10 Sep 2014 01:36 PM PDT We’ve just gotten an invite for an HTC event coming on October 8th titled “Double Exposure” and you can bet your bottom dollar we’ll be there. Based on the promo graphic it’s pretty clear HTC will be discussing photography, and if you recall, the camera on the HTC One M8 is already pretty awesome. What exactly will HTC be announcing? Leave your guess in the comments and we’ll keep you posted as details emerge! |
| T-Mobile pushes out software updates for HTC One M8, M7, LG G3, and Samsung Galaxy S4 Posted: 10 Sep 2014 12:58 PM PDT As we prepare for T-Mobile’s Uncarrier 7.0 event kicking off in just a few short minutes, the Uncarrier has been busy pushing out software updates for a variety of their flagship Android devices operating on their network. They’re relatively small updates, mostly having to do with WiFi Calling optimizations, but everything from the Galaxy S4 (software build M919UVUFNH7), LG G3 (software build KVT49L.D85110m), HTC One M7 (software build 6.10.531.9), to the HTC One M8 (software build 2.22.531.6) are all seeing updates. Galaxy S4 owners will be pleased to find a bigger firmware update to Android 4.4.4 (a jump from the previous 4.4.2) as well as the original HTC One getting a bump up to Android 4.4.3 (which has the same OpenSSL security fixes as Android 4.4.4). For the LG G3 and HTC One M8 — no changes to the Android firmware were made. To check if an update is available for you, simply jump into your Settings app and check for an update which can be typically located under “About phone.” Cheers. |
| Com1 is the first Android Wear smart watch to be crowdfunded, and it needs your dollars Posted: 10 Sep 2014 12:30 PM PDT We’ve seen major manufacturers with proven track records introduce several Android Wear smart watches since the wearable platform was announced, but we have yet to hear anything from independent entities looking to do the same… until now, that is. The Com1 is an Android Wear smart watch made by a small team of folks who wanted to provide something a little different. The smart watch admittedly isn’t that special up against its stiff competition. It looks decent, so there’s that, though its design really doesn’t jump out as something I absolutely need to own. Its specs also don’t really make me feel all tingly inside:
Considering some watches have Snapdragon 400 chipsets, 512MB of RAM and 320 x 320 resolution, we’d say this thing comes up a tad short on paper. One reason they hope you’ll forgive all of that is the price: $125 is the cheapest pledge that will get you one of these, which is much cheaper than the $200 minimum that you can buy a current Android Wear smart watch for. Something else to consider before backing is that the company isn’t fairly well known. Their website is bare bones, and we can’t seem to find anything else that these guys have worked on. They are endorsed by The Crowdfund Network which has helped bring light to several successful IndieGoGo campaigns, but we’re not sure that alone is enough to award a stamp of approval. We’ve certainly taken time to reach out and find out more about the folks behind the campaign, and will look to share anything we learn for anyone interested.     If you’re daring enough to take the plunge anyway you should note a few things:
There’s also incentive to help the campaign reach higher heights. $20,000 pledged adds a charging cradle, $80,000 implements wireless charging, and $150,000 brings NFC for tap-to-pay PoS terminals — only the Apple Watch is currently capable of that functionality, and it won’t be here until early next year. Let us know if you’ll be giving these guys a chance in the comments below! |
| Google Play’s refund window extended to 2 hours for app and game purchases [YES!] Posted: 10 Sep 2014 11:54 AM PDT If you’ve been in this “Android thing” for awhile now, you’d remember once upon a time when Google gave users a full full 24 hours with paid apps/games before getting a full refund. It’s almost insane to think we really had that long to play with an app or game before committing to buy and it was arguably overkill. Back in 2010, Google made the controversial move to reduce that refund window to a mere 15 minutes which pissed a lot of users off, but in actuality, it was still 15 minutes more than what the other guys were offering. Recently, reports of an unofficially extended 2 hour window began to surface online and today, it seems Google is finally making it official. You wont find a press release, but the new changes are now laid out in writing on their Google Play support page — clear as day. Google now says users can now, “Return an app or game within two hours of purchase.” We’ll have to wait and see how developers react to the new move, but this is clear win for users who have often felt like 15 minutes with a game or app was too little time to get a feel of what they were purchasing. We also can’t help but feel with 2 hours to play around and explore, this could mean less 1-star reviews from Android users feeling like they’ve been duped. Sounds like a win-win. |
| Will Google really ban Android Forums from the Google Play Store? Posted: 10 Sep 2014 11:49 AM PDT Google has been cracking down on Android spam lately, but they’ve been doing a miserable job, and the latest debacle puts yours truly – more specifically Android Forums - directly under Google’s shoe as they stomp recklessly through the Google Play Store like robotic bounty hunters. The automated email, titled “14-day Notification: Violation of the Android branding guidelines”, explains that if we do not comply in 2 weeks, our app will be removed from the Google Play Store. The violation? Using the word Android. The demand? Rename our app. Copied directly from the E-Mail:
So tell us, Google, who are we?
We have been called Android Forums since November 5th, 2007 and although many people have imitated our name, imitated our website, and even call themselves “Android Forums”- it’s hard to argue with a 7 year history as the original Android Forums at AndroidForums.com. Search the Google Play Store for “Android Forums” and you’ll find a lot of sites calling themselves Android this or Android that- but none of them are actually THE AndroidForums.com with a 7 year track record of being named “Android Forums”, years before the Google Play Store even existed. Will all of our fellow Android blogs suffer the same fate?
The situation becomes even more bleak when you search the Google Play Store for “Android News”: you find a plethora of spam apps named “Android News” yet we’re the ones being singled out. And we’ve been singled out before. Phandroid gets banned from the Play Store You may recall that the Phandroid News for Android app was once called Android News by Phandroid. We gave it that name because we were NOWHERE to be found in relevant searches for android news, android blogs, or android anything on the Google Play Store. Some could say we were trying to “game the system” or “over-SEO” our app – and I’d have a hard time disagreeing with much more than the tone of that categorization. Apparently Google felt the same: issuing Phandroid a removal notice of its own. However, Android News by Phandroid wasn’t given a warning, it was simply pulled from the store:
The details within the email were alarming, frustrating, and stressful:
At this time, we were given no specific reason for our removal and no suggested actions to bring our app in compliance. We were 100% happy to comply and wanted to make sure we played by Google’s rules, we just needed to know how! So I responded to Google asking for exactly that: some help understanding how I can best comply. Here is the response I got back:
You’re kidding me, right Google? All I want to do is comply, but instead I’m banned for asking and you refused to answer any more questions. My only recourse is to update my app with guesses regarding the violation, re-upload the app, and pray it’s approved. But if it’s not, I won’t know why, and if I try too many times, my app, developer account, and entire existence with all Google products may be terminated immediately. Luckily we were able to leverage some existing relationships, find someone who could help identify the problem, and our app was unlocked and provided another opportunity for revision. Not wanting to risk a lifetime ban, we simply updated our app name to Phandroid News for Android and that ended up being the proper solution. It seems obvious now, but at the time, we considered that among many other possibilities. But that shouldn’t be the solution in this case. Android Forums is properly named. The website is called Android Forums. The domain is AndroidForums.com. This has been true for 7 years and this is the first we’re hearing about any “violation”. While changing the app name to AndroidForums.com would seem to bypass their complaints, it also seems like an incredibly moronic solution. I have to think our app was flagged automatically, suspension approved by a human who made it in error (not understanding the details of our app, our site, or the Android community). So why am I sharing this with you? Why not leverage my same contacts to reach out, find a solution, and absolve Android Forums from its Google denounced wrongdoing? Because people need to know. Google decision makers, especially, need to know. In many ways, Android was built on the backs of developers, and this haphazard system of flagging, suspending, and banning apps, developers, and accounts needs to have more substance. There needs to be better communication. There are developers whose livelihood depends on well crafted Android apps, whose good-willed intentions are only to comply with Android’s guidelines, yet get automated e-mails that effectively terminate their source of income with no way to seek information or answers. There are far more developers who ARE in violation of Google’s terms, who ARE spamming the Play Store, whose intentions ARE misguided; unfortunately, hoards of these apps still sit on the Play Store, outranking us and confusing consumers while the legitimate apps and developers continue to be punished with little to no recourse. In Google’s defense With millions of apps and developers, monitoring the Google Play Store is no easy task, but the current practices are abhorrent and desperately (and immediately) need to be improved. Google should get some credit for having improved this process between June (when Phandroid was suspended) and September (when Android Forums was suspended) in two key ways:
Has Google’s communication improved? I’m not sure… I’m afraid to respond to the e-mail, wondering if it will lead to another instant ban for the app and perhaps worse. Hopefully this “open article” of sorts will be seen by Google brass who can address this issue in the following ways:
We’re on the clock: 12 days left. Thanks to all the Phandroid readers and Android Forums members for your continued support. Since 2007! |
| Browse the web securely with 3 years of VPN Unlimited for just $19 Posted: 10 Sep 2014 11:42 AM PDT The internet can be a scary place. People can track your location, hack your personal accounts, and even steal your identity. Sometimes you might want to browse the web with a little more privacy. A VPN (virtual private network) allows you to use the internet through an encrypted network. This means all of your private data is hidden from prying eyes. Over at AndroidArea we have a sweet deal on VPN Unlimited. For just $19 (usually $65) you can get a 3-year plan of this handy service. What exactly does $19 get you? So much:
VPN Unlimited is for more than just Android. This deal will also give you access to Mac, PC, Linux, and iOS apps. VPN Unlimited can be activated on 5 devices at once. If you’re interested in browsing the web with privacy for 3 years and just $20 this is an awesome deal. Snag it from AndroidArea right now! |
| Everything you need to know about the Moto G (2nd Gen) Posted: 10 Sep 2014 11:03 AM PDT The Moto G might not be the flashiest new device unveiled by Motorola last week, but it holds an important place in the company's product line. Priced to sell, the Moto G offers something almost no other Android phone can: solid hardware from a trusted manufacturer for below $200 off-contract. Along with the Moto X, Motorola has updated the Moto G for 2014. Here's everything you need to know. What's new?Motorola has updated their Moto G for 2014 in several ways, but the most obvious is a larger screen. Whereas the first generation Moto G has a display measuring 4.5 inches, the latest model sports a 5-inch 720p screen. Naturally, the increase in display size makes for a slightly larger handset with a bit more heft to it. Many other aspects of the phone have remained the same, including an identical Snapdragon 400 SoC and Adreno 305 graphics as well as 2070mAh battery. One spec that did see a bump was the Moto G's camera, which increased from 5MP to 8MP. What hasn't changed, however, is the price. Buyers can still grab the Moto G for the appealing off-contract price of $179.99. We repeat: this is the price of the phone outright without the aid of carrier subsidies or other discounts. SpecsWe've already briefly discussed the updated specs of the Moto G above. Below, find a complete rundown of the low-cost handsets technical details.
Moto G carrier compatibilityThe Moto G is currently available in two variants, a global GSM model and a US GSM model. The latter is compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile's GSM and HSPA+ networks, though all variants of the phone lacks support for LTE. Motorola released a 4G LTE version of the original Moto G several months after the device initially launched. The company did not comment on potential availability of an LTE-ready version of the 2014 Moto G. Likewise, Motorola did not announce a CDMA-compatible version of the second generation Moto G, so Sprint and Verizon customers are out of luck for the time being. US GSM Model:
Global GSM Model:
Unboxing, Hands-on, & moreWe've already had our chance to check out the new Moto G firsthand, and we came away impressed with what Motorola was able to accomplish for the price. See our initial hands-on and unboxing videos below. We were able to get a decent feel for the handset, and Moto has gone above and beyond what we saw with the first generation. We'll have a full review in the coming days; stay tuned. Motorola Shells & AccessoriesUnlike the Moto X, the Moto G is not privy to the straight-from-the-factory customization options available by way of Moto Maker. Like the last generation of Moto G handsets, however, Motorola is making available a variety of interchangeable back covers, including new folio covers that feature added screen protection. These backs start at $14.95 for the standard colored shell while the flip shell model sells for $29.99. AvailabilityThe Moto G is available now for $179.99 off-contract. It can be purchased direct from Motorola's site. We might expect Motorola to launch both CDMA-compatible and 4G LTE-ready versions of the handset somewhere down the road. It took a few months for these secondary editions of the first generation Moto G to launch, and we have no reason to believe the same won't be true in this case. Will you buy the Moto G 2014?The Moto G has quietly become Motorola's top-selling smartphone of all time thanks in no small part to its ridiculously affordable pricing and global-ready carrier compatibility. The Moto G launched alongside the Moto 360 smartwatch on Friday, September 5th, but didn't receive quite the same attention. While the Moto 360 quickly went on backorder, the Moto G is ready for the taking. With solid specs and a tempting price tag, is this your next Android phone? |
| 5 million Google accounts and passwords may have been leaked Posted: 10 Sep 2014 10:36 AM PDT This piece of news might not hit you well at first, but listen up: a fairly large database of over 5 million email accounts and passwords has been leaked. Many of the accounts are of Google origin, though some Russian email services such as Yandex have also been affected. Speaking on the issue, Google says this leak is not tied to any security breach of their knowledge, and is most likely a collection of passwords that were unfortunately phished through online scams (always check that URL and security certificate before dishing over login information, folks). As such, many of the passwords in the leaked database are likely to be outdated, or the accounts may have been purged altogether as many of them are pretty old. Some might not even be real. There’s a chance that many of them do still work, though. Whether you were affected by this or not, it’s always a good idea to do a couple of key things when hearing news like this to make sure your account is secure:
That should be enough to put a pretty secure digital padlock on your inbox should you be a bit paranoid about this whole ordeal. There should be little reason to worry for the most part, but it’s always important to stay up to date on issues like these. |
| Everything you need to know about the new Moto X (2014) Posted: 10 Sep 2014 10:14 AM PDT Last year Motorola released the Moto X to much fanfare. It was the perfect size, ran an almost stock version of Android, and could be customized with a plethora of colors and materials. People who own the original Moto X really love it, so creating a successful sequel is important for Motorola. Enter the new Moto X. Same name, but new in almost every way. This is everything you need to know about it. What’s New?Motorola decided to keep the same name for their new flagship, but this Moto X is completely different from last year’s. The screen has been bumped up to 5.2-inches and 1080p resolution. The camera improved to 13MP. A more powerful processor has been thrown in. The battery is slightly bigger. Motorola even added more materials to Moto Maker. Another thing that has changed is the price, but for the better. The new Moto X only costs $99 with a new contract, compared to the $199 price tag on the original. One reason for this price cut may be the closing of Motorola’s Texas factory. “Made in America” is a great tagline, but it makes things more expensive. So while the name may be the same, you can see why this is an all-new Moto X. A flagship that can compete with Samsung, HTC, and LG’s big dogs. Moto X SpecsWe’ve discussed what makes the new Moto X different from last years model, but here are the nitty-gritty details.
Here are the specs put up against the best from Samsung, HTC, and LG: Moto MakerOne of the big selling points of the original Moto X was Moto Maker. This handy online interface allowed users to choose colors, materials, and engravings for their device. This year, Moto Maker has been updated with a refreshed color palette and features new natural materials. Wood materials were added in 2013 and include Bamboo, Teak, Walnut and Ebony. The leather, a brand new material in 2014, comes in four colors: Natural, Cognac, Black, and Navy. There are thousands of combinations. Moto X hands-on, unboxing, first impressionsOn paper everything looks great so far, but what about the Moto X in real life. We were at Motorola’s private event in Chicago last week to get a bunch of one-on-one time with the new phone. Check out our hands-on, unboxing, and first impressions videos below to get a taste of what this phone looks and feels like. Moto X Pricing & AvailabilityNow that we’ve got you salivating over this device you are probably wondering when you can get it. The new Moto X will be coming to countries in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia starting later this month. Moto X will be available for as low as $99.99 with a new two-year customer agreement on select carriers in the US. It will be available off-contract and unlocked in the US from $499.99 on Motorola.com. Will you buy the Moto X 2014?Now that you know everything about the new Moto X it’s time to decide if you will be getting one. Are you impressed with the changes Motorola made? Do you wish they would have kept the size of the original? What is holding you back from buying it? Let us know in the comments and vote in the poll below! |
| Google introduces free voice calls to the US and Canada from Hangouts; download the APK right here Posted: 10 Sep 2014 09:22 AM PDT Google just announced a huge new feature in Hangouts for folks who don’t fancy calling over their carriers’ cellular network. Hangouts now features free calling on iOS, Android and the web to any US or Canadian phone number, or any other Hangout user, of course. International calling does cost, but they say their rates are so ridiculously low that you probably won’t even notice spending any money. The timing seems perfect as Google Voice features began appearing in the Hangouts app last night. While we’re still not totally sure what will eventually come of that (the early features seemed half broken), this is enough to take our mind off it for the time being. There are absolutely no strings attached — all you need are the updated Hangouts app (APK download right here) and the new Hangouts Dialer app from the Google Play Store. A quick spin on our end reveals that you don’t even need a SIM card in your phone in order to place a call — WiFi-only situations will not keep you from being able to reach the ones you love. Awesome sauce is all we can say! Grab the downloads and let us know if you’ll be taking advantage. [via Google] |
| Simcity franchise heads to Android with SimCity BuildIt Posted: 10 Sep 2014 08:01 AM PDT SimCity fans now now take their city building aspirations on the go as EA has announced a mobile rendition of their age-old franchise. SimCity BuildIt is its name, and it’s been adapted for those who want to get their elbows dirty on a mobile phone or tablet. EA didn’t go into grave detail about the gameplay we can expect or what they’ll be doing different compared to, say, the PC reboot, but here’s a little snippet to give you an idea of what they’re emphasizing:
We’re sure whatever they do will come with the pitfalls of freemium gaming, including annoying microtransactions, the need to manage your “stamina” or “energy,” and other silly hooks designed to get you to spend money. But if SimCity is a passion of yours and you wouldn’t mind living with these possible gameplay elements then get excited. We’re looking for a launch window and more details from EA so sit tight. We’ll be updating this post should we be blessed with more information. |
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