Android Phone Fans
Android Phone Fans |
- Behind the scenes of Motorola’s stunning new commercials
- AT&T pre-orders begin for LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab S
- Punit Soni steps down as senior product manager at Motorola
- Hoping new iPhones will lure Android users, Apple posts guide to ease transition
- Cosmos for Android lets you browse the web without an internet connection
- You can now experience life as a rampaging goat on Android
- Four Motorola apps enter the Play Store for the new Moto X
- ZTE ZMAX is a gigantic, affordable phablet for T-Mobile
- Android silver is probably dead, long live the Nexus
| Behind the scenes of Motorola’s stunning new commercials Posted: 17 Sep 2014 12:46 PM PDT When Motorola announced their new Moto X and Moto G, they debuted a series of ad spots that really caught our attention. Forgoing 3D graphics, the ads, which also include spots for the Moto 360 and Moto Hint, rely on practical sets and a bit of technical craftsman ship to pull off some impressive scenes that take place all over the course of a single, uninterrupted shot. To see exactly what went into the making of the ads, which were filmed concurrently on a single soundstage with the same crew for each, check out this nice behind-the-scenes video Motorola has shared. It shows just how much planning, construction, and skill it really took to make these ambitious commercials a reality. It's always nice to see a bit of old-fashioned practical work in an advertising world that has been over run with cheap and easy CGI. The decision to go this route is a testament itself to the craftsmanship Motorola has put into their latest devices. Check out a couple of the ads below in case you missed the final result. |
| AT&T pre-orders begin for LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab S Posted: 17 Sep 2014 11:13 AM PDT If you've been holding off on getting the Galaxy Tab S in favor of some LTE-enabled options, AT&T is here to tempt you with a new pre-order for both the 8.4 and 10.5-inch models. The Tab S, which features a gorgeous Super AMOLED display and might just be the best tablet Samsung has ever made, will go on sale via AT&Ts retail channels beginning September 26th. Pricing starts at $429 when buying the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 with a new AT&T data plan. Without the contract subsidy, the slate retails for $529 (or $26.50 per month). The Galaxy Tab S 10.5 is $100 more at $529 with data contract and $629 without ($31.50 per month). Those pre-ordering the Tab S from AT&T will also be eligible to save 50% on the optional Tab S keyboard attachment.
We were left with quite a positive impression of the Tab S line, which Samsung launched in WiFi-only format earlier this year. It features the aforementioned high resolution Super AMOLED display along with a number of hardware and software features first introduced in Samsung's popular Galaxy S5 smartphone (including a fingerprint scanner). Sprint currently carriers their own LTE-compatible version of the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 for those looking for other network options. |
| Punit Soni steps down as senior product manager at Motorola Posted: 17 Sep 2014 10:39 AM PDT Punit Soni, Motorola senior product manager, has stepped down from his post, sharing a farewell note and thanks via his Google+ page today. Soni joined Motorola two years ago, shortly after the company's acquisition by Google, and was central to reshaping its approach to mobile devices. Soni had a hand in developing the Moto X and Moto G, two devices that signaled a shift in Motorola's business strategy and helped to rescue the Chicago-based wireless firm from its decline as one of the major players in the mobile industry. He was particularly proud of his work on the Moto G, and shared that his favorite moment as part of the company was when he had the opportunity to introduce the budget-friendly handset to a live audience in Brazil (the phone went on to become Motorola's best-selling smartphone, and we are quite fond of its recent update). Soni has not made public what he plans to pursue now that he has left Motorola. We'd be willing to bet he will land somewhere in the mobile space. |
| Hoping new iPhones will lure Android users, Apple posts guide to ease transition Posted: 17 Sep 2014 10:15 AM PDT Apple's 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhones are the company finally admitting that some people like bigger phones. Most of those people currently use Android devices, a demographic Apple hopes to capture a slice of courtesy of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. How confident are they in achieving this? Confident enough that they have gone ahead and posted a guide that will help Android users during the transition between operating systems. The guide covers the gamut, from transferring accounts, contacts, and calendars to photos, music, documents, and more. They even touch on finding the apps you used on your old phone, noting "you'll probably find [them] on the App Store.” It's certainly not the most in-depth guide, and Apple doesn't touch on some of the finer points that come along with moving from Android to iOS (how about keeping your Google ecosystem intact?), but Apple is doing their best to prepare for what they hope is a mass Android exodus. For those not swept up in iPhone-mania, the new devices (the first time Apple will launch two new iPhones of different size at the same time) drop this Friday, September 19th. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have already been doing solid numbers as part of an ongoing pre-sale, and record numbers are once again expected to show up for the launch. We're sure Samsung would rather folks in search of a new phablet hold off a fews weeks for the upcoming Galaxy Note 4. That handset will launch in October. |
| Cosmos for Android lets you browse the web without an internet connection Posted: 17 Sep 2014 09:50 AM PDT Here in the US most of us are constantly bathing in glorious LTE, or at the very least, 3G data connections. That’s not the case everywhere on the globe. S what do people do in those areas when they want to browse the web? Right now there isn’t much they can do, but an upcoming Android app aims to fix that. Cosmos Browser is a project that will allow users to browse the web via SMS text messages. That sounds pretty crazy, but it’s actually very feasible. Here’s how it works: you go to a web page which sends a SMS request to the Cosmos backend. They then get the source of the website and send it back to you in a compressed package. The page won’t look pretty, but you should be able to view the essentials. As crazy as this sounds it has actually already been done. An app called Smozzy Beta is available in the Play Store right now, and it does basically the same thing (if you’re on T-Mobile). Apps like Smozzy and Cosmos could be huge on Android One devices. Cosmos is expected to launch at the end of this month. [via Engadget] |
| You can now experience life as a rampaging goat on Android Posted: 17 Sep 2014 09:28 AM PDT Christmas has come early for goat lovers The bizarre Goat Simulator has been released to the Play Store two days early. For everyone else you’re probably asking “what the heck is Goat Simulator?” Honestly, nothing explains it better than the Play Store description. Goat Simulator is the latest in goat simulation technology, bringing next-gen goat simulation to YOU. You no longer have to fantasize about being a goat, your dreams have finally come true! Gameplay-wise, Goat Simulator is all about causing as much destruction as you possibly can as a goat. It has been compared to an old-school skating game, except instead of being a skater, you’re a goat, and instead of doing tricks, you wreck stuff. When it comes to goats, not even the sky is the limit, as you can probably just bug through it and crash the game. Yup. If you think that sounds stupid you’re exactly right. Even the developer admits “Goat Simulator is a completely stupid game and, to be honest, you should probably spend your money on something else.” It’s silly, fun, and only $4.99. Download it here if you’re into that sort of thing. |
| Four Motorola apps enter the Play Store for the new Moto X Posted: 17 Sep 2014 08:25 AM PDT Motorola was one of the first OEMs to put core components of their software in the Play Store. Since then we’ve seen other manufacturers follow suit. The 2nd generation Moto X has some new software features, and just like last year, they’ve been released to the Play Store. Today Motorola users will find four new app updates for core features: Actions, Display, Sensor Services, and one simply named “Moto.” This app is simply an assistant to help new u sers get the most out of their new Moto. Most of you won’t have much need for this app. Moto Actions is for configuring the 3D gestures you can use to interact with the phone. You can wave your hand over the phone to silence calls, snooze alarms, or open the camera with a flick of the wrist. Moto Display gives you notifications without having to unlock your phone. Information discreetly appears on the display without any interaction from you. Motorola Sensor Services allows you to keep your Sensor firmware updated to allow for the best phone experience. All of these apps are available now in the Play Store for free on Moto X (2nd gen) devices. Features like these are what makes owning a Motorola device so great. Go forth and download!
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| ZTE ZMAX is a gigantic, affordable phablet for T-Mobile Posted: 17 Sep 2014 07:11 AM PDT Insert comment about phones getting bigger and how ridiculous it is. Glad we got that out-of-the-way. ZTE’s latest attempt to gain market share in the US is a phablet for T-Mobile. The ZMAX is has a giant 5.7-inch display, but that is not the big selling point of this device. Most phablets are flagship devices with flagship prices, but the ZMAX is geared toward the mid-range market. This device will be available on Tmo for just $252 outright, or about $10 a month for 2 years. Despite its low price point this phablet packs a lot of features. It has a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 8MP camera, 16GB of storage, and a large 3400mAh battery. The biggest sacrifice you will make is the display only being 720p. At 5.7-inches you will definitely see some pixels. The ZMAX supports Tmo’s LTE network and Wi-Fi calling. It will be available for purchase starting September 24th. Below you can see a size comparison with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Is anyone interested in this phablet? |
| Android silver is probably dead, long live the Nexus Posted: 17 Sep 2014 06:50 AM PDT Back in April we first heard rumors of a new program at Google called “Android Silver.” The idea behind Silver was for premium devices with Google branding, stock software, and a much bigger presence on carriers. A more mature Nexus program, if you will. Initial rumors claimed Android Silver would replace the Nexus program completely, but now we’re hearing the opposite. Sources at The Information are saying Android Silver is probably dead. The project was being pushed by former Googler Nikesh Arora, but now that he is gone the project has been scrapped. The Information goes on to explain that the project was never fully embraced by Google, and carriers and OEMs were very skeptical. Now that Arora is gone there is no one pushing the idea. It’s now clear that the Nexus program is the future for stock Android devices. Motorola and Google are reportedly working on a large Nexus device that should be coming with the launch of Android L. We were never really sure what Android Silver would bring, but it could have been cool if Google managed to get a bigger presence with carriers. Long live the Nexus. Thanks everyone! |
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