Android Phone Fans
Android Phone Fans |
- Unlocked Sony Xperia Z3 Compact (AT&T and T-Mobile) finally gets a ship date
- New details behind Android 5.0 Lollipop’s upcoming kill switch security feature
- Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play edition makes another appearance on official Android page, this time running Android Lollipop
- Nexus 5’s shiny new homepage suggests it could stick around as a smaller, cheaper Nexus option
- Watch the Nexus 6 get unboxed in under 6 seconds [VIDEO]
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Review
- You can now pre-order the Sony Xperia Z3 from T-Mobile, free copy of DRIVECLUB for the PS4 included
- T-Mobile confirms WiFi calling for the Nexus 6
- Here’s the final, official changelog for Android 5.0 Lollipop
- Motorola commits to bringing Android 5.0 Lollipop to the Moto X, G, E, and DROIDs
- Watch the Android Lollipop statue go up on Google’s lawn [VIDEO]
- Will you buy the Nexus 6? [POLL]
- Motorola states Nexus 6’s off-contract price as $650 [OUCH]
- Nexus 6 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 4 & other top Android flagships [CHART]
- Nexus 6 to be made available on all 5 major carriers in the United States
| Unlocked Sony Xperia Z3 Compact (AT&T and T-Mobile) finally gets a ship date Posted: 15 Oct 2014 06:15 PM PDT After becoming officially available for purchase only 2 days ago, it seems Sony has finally gotten their house in order and are ready to give ship dates for the unlocked Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. According to the Sony Store, if you pre-order the unlocked Z3 Compact today — which supports both AT&T and T-Mobile networks (no band 12 LTE, however) — you can expect the phone to arrive on your doorstep as early as November 3rd. The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is retailing for $530 direct from Sony and offers the highest-end hardware specs you can find on a sub-5-inch smartphone. Sony also offers 2 years of accidental damage protection for an additional $80 in the event the phone is ever dropped and damaged ($0 deductible). Don’t forget, student and faculty also get a bonus 10% (about $53) off the price of a new Sony Xperia Z3 Compact (or any Sony device for that matter) just by signing up at Sony’s Student Store here. Not a student or faculty? You can still sign up and nab the discount if you’re “buying for a student,” so there’s always that route as well. P.S. Yes, I just purchased one for myself in black. Can’t wait to finally get my hands on a full capable Android device I don’t have to use with 2 hands. |
| New details behind Android 5.0 Lollipop’s upcoming kill switch security feature Posted: 15 Oct 2014 05:01 PM PDT Smartphone security is one of those hot topics in mobile and ever since Apple introduced their “kill switch” solution to help prevent unauthorized iPhone theft, we’ve been curious to see how Android would follow suit. Back in August, California’s “kill switch” bill was signed into law, requiring any smartphone manufactured after July 2015 to have a security feature that will allow users to disable a handset if lost of stolen. Google hasn’t been quiet on the issue, stating back in June their plans to implementing a kill switch feature in the next version of Android, now known today as Android 5.0 Lollipop. We haven’t heard much about it since then, but today the folks at Recode got word from Google on exactly how this security measure will work. More of a pseudo kill switch, the feature — known as “Factory Reset Protection” — doesn’t really kill anything. As the name suggests, all it does is require the user enter in a password before they can perform a full factory reset. It’s still up to users to either have some sort of lock screen security, or lock the phone remotely using the Android Device Manager in the event their phone is ever lost or stolen. This renders the phone useless to the new unauthorized user, but is easily reversible if ever recovered. It’s still unclear if this method is 100% foolproof, or if a simple factory reset done via recovery or fastboot will bypass the security in Android’s software. In any case, it’s a welcomed addition and one of the many helpful new features arriving inside Android 5.0 Lollipop. We couldn’t be more excited when it begins rolling out early next month.
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| Posted: 15 Oct 2014 03:27 PM PDT Okay, this is getting ridiculous already. After showing up on Google’s official Android page back during Google I/O (where the page received a nice facelift), the Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play edition is showing up yet again on the site. This time it’s joined by the newly announced Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 and the rest of the Google Play edition crew (only the Moto G Google Play edition and HTC One M8 Google Play edition remain). Did someone forget to tell Google that the phone never actually became available? If you can’t tell by our tone, we’re a little annoyed that someone keeps toying with our emotions like this. While the Samsung Galaxy S5 wasn’t quite the right fit for this blogger (TouchWiz is terrible), a Google Play edition would be a home run as far as 5-inch Androids are concerned. Maybe the phone is still incoming? |
| Nexus 5’s shiny new homepage suggests it could stick around as a smaller, cheaper Nexus option Posted: 15 Oct 2014 03:06 PM PDT As we lay in the aftermath of today’s big announcements (Android 5.0 Lollipop, Nexus 6, and Nexus 9), I think we can now officially call it in: we aren’t going to see a Nexus 5 refresh for 2014. This may come as the biggest let down for those that felt Google’s new gargantuan-sized Nexus 6 phablet was simply too unwieldy, but as we all saw today, Google didn’t surprise the world with a brand new Nexus 5. Earlier today we told you guys about the Nexus 5 (along with the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10) showing as “out of inventory” in the Google Play Store, suggesting that the Nexus 6 would soon replace the smaller handset. But is that really the case? Let us now divert your attention to the newly remodeled Google Nexus homepage showcasing — not only the Nexus 6, Nexus 9, and Nexus Player — but the Nexus 5 as well. The question you should ask is why would Google go through the trouble of creating a completely new homepage for a device that’s supposed to now be “obsolete?” Simple. Because it’s not. Although Google hasn’t actually come out and said anything, it seems as if they will continue offering the Nexus 5 in the Google Play Store as a smaller, low priced Nexus option which makes perfect sense. In the event they wanted to refresh some of the device’s specs, offering up a 64GB model or simply dropping the price another $50 would be alright by us given how well the Nexus 5 has aged the past year. What do you guys think? |
| Watch the Nexus 6 get unboxed in under 6 seconds [VIDEO] Posted: 15 Oct 2014 01:16 PM PDT T-Mobile Senior Product Manager Des Smith is back with yet another one of his early unboxings, this time showing off the box that his Nexus 6 test unit arrived in. To be clear, this isn’t the final “retail ready” Nexus 6 box for T-Mobile, but if nothing else, it does give is a hint of what to expect for the unlocked model at least. It’s interesting to see the box is almost pure white aside from the red stickers on the side to keep everything sealed shut. A big “6” indention can be found on the front but other than that, well… it’s a box. The T-Mobile Nexus 6 will be arriving at T-Mobile on November 12th, so if you’re interested on picking up the soon-to-be best phablet on the market, better mark your calendars. |
| Posted: 15 Oct 2014 01:08 PM PDT Oversized smartphones, endearingly referred to as phablets, were once seen as outrageous monstrosities procured by only a select few in a niche crowd. The poster boy for the large form factor has long been Samsung’s Galaxy Note. Now in its fourth iteration, it has developed a large and loyal following while Samsung has diligently crafted and honed the product, simultaneously helping define the category. Competitors have followed, most notably Apple, who have finally arrived on the scene with the iPhone 6 Plus in hopes of stealing Samsung’s thunder. Worse things could happen: they’ve also drawn mainstream consumer attention to larger screened phones as a whole. With a four year head start, does the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 retain it’s rightful place atop the smartphone elite? That’s the question we tackle in this comprehensive review. Design & BuildThe Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has finally matured, ditching the cheap plastic wrapper from previous Notes and replacing it with a premium aluminum frame that a device of this caliber deserves. Despite growing slightly – it’s millimeters larger and grams heavier – it feels more compact and sturdy than ever, assisted by a more sleek, refined, and polished design than it’s predecessors. The faux leather back? It’s still there, but it looks much more seamless and realistic, and gone is the leather stitching that formerly bordered the exterior shell. Some may still complain about the plastic back, but Samsung has done a much better job masking the material, and the fact remains that this choice allows for a removable cover providing access to additional memory, a battery, and SIM card. Rather than a solid colored front face with a slight brushed look, Samsung has opted to embed subtle black stripes across a dark grey face. Better or worse is arbitrary, but it does create a weird effect where it overlaps with the illuminated backlit capacitive buttons. The Note 4 also trades some of its straighter edges for graceful curves, partly for visual appeal but also to improve structural integrity. The corners of the phone flare slightly on the left and right, providing reinforcement for drops and accidents. Stronger curves around the headset jack, USB port, and S Pen add a nice touch. Samsung has nudged the volume rocker and power button down a tad, which won’t be noticeable to most, but could make reaching these ever-important assets with one-hand a little easier. They’ve also been given some contour and silver lining to fit Samsung’s new premium theme. As a Note 3 owner who doesn’t use cases, I found the plastic chrome wrap to be pretty susceptible to scratching, wear, and tear. At least on the surface, the Note 4 seems like a more resilient device, but it’s hard to know how 1 year of use will treat its decor. Scuffing up this beauty would cause much more heartache. You’ll also find that the speaker has moved from the bottom of the Note 3 to the back of the Note 4. This may seem like a step in the wrong direction, but a tiny bump on the speaker grill creates the smallest of gaps when laid flat, allowing audio to escape and vibrate. The sound on the Note 4 is loud and full enough to make it a non-factor, but I must admit that I’ll miss cupping my hand around the edge of the phone to aim the audio my way when watching videos. The only thing better here would be front facing speakers. The Galaxy Note 4 is a gorgeous Goliath, taking everything that was right about the Note 3 and graduating it. From the looks of it, the Note 4 is like the teenage boy whose parent’s already loved him, but are now proud to finally see him become a man. Now let’s find out what that man is made of… Hardware & SpecsConsidering the Galaxy Note 3 was already an industry front runner, Samsung had a tall order to impress consumers with spec improvements. Although there are no shocking surprises in the Note 4, the device improves in pretty much every area possible, taking great hardware and making it greater. The show stopper on the Note 4 is it’s screen- a 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display that is an absolute beauty. For those wondering, Quad HD means it can display four 1280 x 720 HD images on the screen at once! That’s possible due to a resolution of 2560 by 1440, an improvement most naked eyes won’t be able to fully appreciate. I’ve often maintained that Samsung makes the most gorgeous displays and the Note 4 is the most gorgeous of the gorgeous. We’re not the only ones who think so: according to DisplayMate not only does the Note 4 have the highest resolution of any smartphone on the market, it also has the brightest display, incredible scores in power efficiency, great performance at various viewing angles, accurate color profiles, and the list goes on. We can’t say enough good things about the Galaxy Note 4 screen. But if you want to know more, see for yourself. The Note 4 is powered by a 2.7 GHz QuadCore processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory (expandable by MicroSD), immediately making it one of the most powerful devices on the market. That power is supported by a 3220 mAh battery, giving it the juice necessary to get the typical user through a full day. Not that it matters, but the Note 4 battery is an interestingly skinny shape compared to the typical mobile phone battery. As expected, the Note 4 also has an upgraded camera, both front and rear. In addition to increasing the rear camera from 13MP to 16MP and front camera from 2MP to 3.7MP, Samsung has added some software features to improve the experience. It’s also got all the connectivity features you’d imagine including 4G, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth 4.1, USB 2.0, MHL3.0, IR Blaster, Accelerometer, Gyroscope and beyond. Two noticeable additions to the Galaxy Note 4 are a fingerprint scanner and UV sensor, the former of which was introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the latter of which is brand new. Integrated with S Health, you can now read UV levels directly from the sun to determine recommended skin protection. These bells and whistles are nice additions to the Note 4, but there are also noticeable absences from the spec sheet and other upgrades we’d hoped to see but didn’t, namely the backtracking from USB 3.0 to USB 2.0 and lack of IP67 weatherproofing found on the Galaxy S5. The only real advantage of USB 3.0 over 2.0 is enhanced data transfer speeds, something approximately twelve people will miss. Although USB 3.0 also offers quicker USB charging when connected via laptop, that benefit is completely overshadowed by other improvements Samsung has made to the Note 4’s battery life (more on that later). The lack of a water resistant body is the most disappointing non-upgrade of the Note 4, but it’s difficult to be too critical of this decision. The feature itself is relatively new to the Galaxy line, competing devices in the same class don’t have the feature, and let’s not forgot that the Note 4 has one huge difference that would make water proofing it a much more difficult task: the S Pen. Next: S Pen Stylus |
| You can now pre-order the Sony Xperia Z3 from T-Mobile, free copy of DRIVECLUB for the PS4 included Posted: 15 Oct 2014 12:39 PM PDT By now, it’s no secret the Sony Xperia Z3 is making its way to T-Mobile. Both Sony and T-Mobile revealed their plans to offer up the device on America’s 4th largest network a few weeks ago (along with Verizon’s version of the Sony Xperia Z2, the Sony Xperia Z3v). With it’s amazing build quality and top of the line hardware specs, there’s a good chance this is the Android device many of you are looking to buy/upgrade to and starting today, you can now officially pre-order the device from T-Mobile. To help make the deal sweeter, T-Mobile is even throwing in a free copy of the PS4 title DRIVECLUB. Why a PS4 title you ask? Simple. The Xperia Z3 will soon offer PS4 Remote Play for streaming all your PS4 games to the smartphone. A $60 value, if you’ve got a PS4 laying around and planned on picking up a Sony Xperia Z3 anyway — you’ve just found one helluva reason to pre-order. Here’s how the deal works:
You can find T-Mobile’s Sony Xperia Z3 pre-order page here. |
| T-Mobile confirms WiFi calling for the Nexus 6 Posted: 15 Oct 2014 12:04 PM PDT Google or Motorola didn’t address this aspect of their hot new smartphone when announcing it earlier this morning, but many of you were wondering if WiFi calling would be supported. Thankfully we have that answer by way of T-Mobile as the UNcarrier has announced the Nexus 6 would support WiFi calling on their network. Unfortunately the feature won’t be available immediately after launch as they’ve given an “early 2015″ estimation for its arrival. They went out of their way to remind us that this is the first Nexus phone with that functionality thanks to new APIs and enhancements in Android 5.0 Lollipop. We’re not sure if the same will ring true for other carriers once the device hits store shelves, but considering American carriers will all be receiving identical SKUs of the Nexus 6 it should technically be possible on other carriers. That’s great news for sure (even if a hefty price tag has put you off on buying one for now). [via T-Mobile] |
| Here’s the final, official changelog for Android 5.0 Lollipop Posted: 15 Oct 2014 11:24 AM PDT
In case you weren’t paying attention to Google I/O back when Android L (now known as Android 5.0 Lollipop) was first introduced, Google’s offered a nice reminder of what’s new in the way of a pretty long changelog. Below you’ll find all the new changes, features and additions to Android 5.0 that Google deems noteworthy. The list doesn’t really throw any surprises our way compared to the update’s first outing earlier this year, but it’s nice to get a refresher. Obvious highlights are Material Design and the new design language used throughout the operating system, support for Android TV, ART runtime by default, new battery saving features and a lot more. Be sure to read over the changelog below, and have a look at Google’s Lollipop site if you’re interested in seeing more of it illustrated in beautifully crafted renders. Now let’s just hope it doesn’t take long for everyone to receive the goods in update form starting later this month. Android 5.0 Lollipop changelog:Material Design
Notifications
Battery
Security
Device Sharing
New Quick Settings
Connectivity
Runtime and Performance
Media
OK Google
Android TV
Accessibility
Now in 68+ languages
Device set up
And a whole lot more
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| Motorola commits to bringing Android 5.0 Lollipop to the Moto X, G, E, and DROIDs Posted: 15 Oct 2014 11:16 AM PDT After Google’s big Android 5.0 Lollipop announcement this morning it’s no surprise to find OEMs (and soon, carriers) voicing their support for Google’s latest and greatest update. In a blog post, Motorola is now officially first out the gate, committing to bring Android 5.0 to their vast product portfolio, covering flagship, mid-range, and even their low-end devices. Here’s the full list of Motorola handsets you can expect to receive Android 5.0 Lollipop in the coming months:
Motorola’s strategy of offering a near stock Android interface — as well as unbundled Motorola apps and features — seems to be working in their favor. As we saw with last year’s KitKat release, Motorola wasn’t too far behind Nexus devices in updating many of their handsets, even those on Verizon. Of course, Google hasn’t publicly made available the Android 5.0 Lollipop SDK (it’s not available until October 17th), so Motorola’s hands are tied at the moment. Stay tuned.
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| Watch the Android Lollipop statue go up on Google’s lawn [VIDEO] Posted: 15 Oct 2014 11:09 AM PDT It wouldn’t be the launch of a new version of Android without the unveiling of the corresponding statue. For those of you unfamiliar with this tradition, Google has statues for every version of Android on the lawn in front of building 44. Every dessert from cupcake to KitKat has been captured in the form of a statue, and now it’s Android 5.0 Lollipop’s turn. The statue is simply a green bugdroid holding a lollipop while making a “peace” sign. Google has used the same bugdroid their new “Be Together. Not the same.” campaign videos, and in all of their social media logos. We expected to see something more like a lollipop with eyes and antennas, but this is cool too. Check out the video below to see the unveiling of the statue on Google’s campus. UPDATE: Post has been updated with the official video below. [via Alex Ruiz] |
| Will you buy the Nexus 6? [POLL] Posted: 15 Oct 2014 11:06 AM PDT It wasn't the flashiest of unveilings, but the long-awaited Nexus 6 is finally here. We won't be able to get our hands on it for a few more weeks, however, which gives us plenty of time to decide if it's the next must-have Android handset. The latest Nexus has a lot going for it in that area, the most prominent being its massive 6-inch AMOLED display with its crisp QHD resolution. The phone also includes a powerful Snapdragon 805 SoC with Adreno 420 GPU, a heaping helping of RAM at 3GB, and a 13MP rear camera with such enhancements as optical image stabilization. Throw in Turbo Charge for a quick battery boost and the pièce de résistance, Android Lollipop, and it would appear there is a new king in the Android realm. Not so fast. The Nexus 6 won't be for everyone. Its phablet form factor could turn away buyers wary about upgrading to a phone with such a large footprint. And for fans of low-cost unlocked devices, the N6 seems ready to buck the trend with Motorola revealing an off-contract price of $650. All major US carriers have plans to host the Nexus 6 on their networks, however. This fact, at least, will give buyers subsidized options to alleviate the high cost of going unlocked. The handset won't go up for pre-order until later this month (a specific date hasn't been announced), but we want to get your knee-jerk reaction to Google's announcement. Is the Nexus 6 your next Android device? |
| Motorola states Nexus 6’s off-contract price as $650 [OUCH] Posted: 15 Oct 2014 10:43 AM PDT Well, guys, the Nexus 6 is here. It looks great. And it’s even coming to all United States carriers. So how much will it cost? Well, if Motorola’s blog post is any indication then off-contract folks won’t be too happy — they’re slapping on a minimum suggested retail price of $650.
That price tag is typical of any high-end flagship phablet in this day and age, but the Nexus line was always the exception to the rule. Nexus phones have traditionally been offered for much cheaper than the specs would have you think, and it made off-contract life much easier for those who preferred going the Nexus route. Of course, this paves the way to more contract-based or finance-based purchases for folks who can’t buy a Nexus full price and we’re sure carriers will certainly be offering reasonable, affordable paths to getting the phone for anyone who can’t spare more than $600 on a whim. For the rest of you? Well, you have a good couple of weeks to make your mind up (and to fill your wallet up) as the Nexus 6 won’t be dropping until early November at the earliest. |
| Nexus 6 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 4 & other top Android flagships [CHART] Posted: 15 Oct 2014 09:49 AM PDT The long-awaited arrival of the Nexus 6 is finally here. Like previous Nexus devices, the 6th Nexus comes with a lot of hype. It has been leaked and rumored tons of times over the past few months. Today we can finally call it official. Of course, the Nexus 6 is not the only big Android phone in the world. As per usual we’ve put the Nexus up against the best devices on the market right now. Let’s see who wins! The PhabletsThe Nexus 6 is a very, very big phone. So big that it doesn’t even fall into the “phone” category. With a giant 5.9-inch display it would only be fair to compare the Nexus 6 to the top phablets. Right now there are two other obvious choices for people who require a giant screen: the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, and the iPhone 6 Plus. Display The Nexus 6 has the biggest display and the highest resolution among the phablet group. Resolution is very important with such a large display. The Note 4 and iPhone 6 Plus displays look great, but the Nexus 6 should look truly remarkable. Power In terms of horsepower, the Nexus 6 joins the Note 4 as one of the few devices with the Snapdragon 805 processor. This quad-core beast can run up to 2.7GHz. Apple doesn’t like to give specific specs, but you can bet the 805 blows the socks out of the Apple A8. “She’s fast enough for you, old man.” Camera This is the one area that the other devices may have the Nexus 6 beat. The iPhone 6 Plus only has a 8MP camera, but it’s arguably the best on the market. The Note 4 has a 16MP shooter and equally as impressive photos. The Nexus 6 has a 13MP camera, but Motorola cameras are usually not the cream of the crop. The PhonesThe Nexus 6 may be shaped like a tablet, but it is indeed a phone. We would be remiss if we didn’t put it up against the likes of the Galaxy S5, HTC One M8, etc. Though, we do have to wonder, have Google and Motorola sized themselves out of this market? Phablets are cool, but the majority of people still rock the devices in this chart. Let’s see how they compare. Display The Nexus 6 mops up in display size, but surprisingly these phones put up more of a fight when it comes to resolution. The LG G3 matches the Nexus 6’s 2560×1440 screen resolution despite having a 5.5-inch display. The displays on all of these devices look great. Power The Nexus 6 stands head and shoulders above this crowd when it comes to processor. The S5, One M8, Moto X, and G3 all run the Snapdragon 801, while the Nexus 6 sports the shiny new 805. It packs a mighty punch. Camera There’s not much else to say about the camera that we didn’t say above. You can expect the Nexus 6 camera to perform on the same playing field as the new Moto X. In this chart that puts it below the Galaxy S5, One M8, and maybe even the LG G3. We’ll have more in-depth analysis of the camera once we get it. *** What do you think about the Nexus 6? In terms of specs alone it beats all of these devices in almost every category. However, specs are only part of the story. We’ll have the rest of the story when we put it through its paces in our full review. |
| Nexus 6 to be made available on all 5 major carriers in the United States Posted: 15 Oct 2014 09:40 AM PDT Well, we sure didn’t see this one coming! Google announced the Nexus 6 (alongside the Nexus 9 and the Nexus Player) this morning, and we learned that you won’t need to do any carrier hopping to get your hands on one — it’s being made available at all five major United States carriers! That list includes AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular, in case you’re not in the know. We were especially worried about seeing the device on CDMA-based carriers such as Verizon and Sprint. Verizon was especially one to be worried about considering their shoddy history with Nexus. It’s nice to know that no one on any of these carriers will have to lose sleep over migration plans in the weeks to come. We still don’t have solid pricing or availability information just yet, but stick with us as we dig for more info on Google’s biggest phone yet (and we mean that in both the most literal and most figurative way possible). Let us know if you’ll be looking to grab one once it makes its way to your network of choice. |
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