Android Phone Fans
Android Phone Fans |
- Pre-order the Nexus 9 early from Amazon for $399, ships Nov 3rd
- Despite $16.5 billion in revenue, Google misses Q3 estimates
- Here’s a few Nexus 6 camera samples, size comparison against iPhone 6 Plus too
- Sony promises Lollipop for every single device in the Z series
- Apple’s new iPads vs Nexus 9 & Samsung Galaxy Tab S
- Austin, TX residents can sign up for Google Fiber starting in December
- Apple Pay officially launches on Monday, get ready to start using Google Wallet in a lot more places
- Samsung introduces their first 64-bit chipset — the Exynos 7 Octa
- Pre-order a Limited Edition Black Hawk Drone with this exclusive AndroidArea deal
- HTC confirms Lollipop for One M7, One Mini (2013) and One M8
- HTC One M8 Developer Edition is now receiving EYE camera update
- Full Android L Casting Call video shows lots of disappointed desserts
- This is how the Nexus 9 looks in the real world [Pics, Video]
| Pre-order the Nexus 9 early from Amazon for $399, ships Nov 3rd Posted: 16 Oct 2014 05:00 PM PDT It’s a little bit early from Google’s announced October 17th pre-order date, but starting right now you can pre-order the HTC-made Nexus 9 from Amazon for $400 (16GB) or $480 (32GB). Left out was the LTE model and specific color options, but then again, Amazon did jump the gun. Ship dates are currently set for November 3rd, same as anywhere else so pre-ordering now doesn’t necessarily guarantee you’ll receive the tablet early — it just gives you a little peace of mind. Tomorrow, the Nexus 9 will be available on the Google Play Store if you want to wait a few more hours. For anyone wary, Amazon has some of the best customer service this side of the internet and could help avoid any frustrations that may arise should the Google Play Store sell out quickly. Links provided below. |
| Despite $16.5 billion in revenue, Google misses Q3 estimates Posted: 16 Oct 2014 04:43 PM PDT It was time for another one of Google’s investor calls this afternoon, with Google's CFO Patrick Pichette leading the call to talk about the company’s Q3 2014 earnings. This was due in part to slower growth of Google’s advertising business which was up 17%, but still a slowdown from Q2. Google’s websites were also up 20%, coming in less than the prior quarter’s 23% growth. Google’s operating expenses accounted for 37% of their revenue (up from 33% the previous year). Looking ahead, Google is working on ads that resize themselves to accommodate the growing number of smaller displays (smartphones) accounting for web traffic. For those interested, you can find more detailed numbers over on Google’ official Investor Relations page linked below. |
| Here’s a few Nexus 6 camera samples, size comparison against iPhone 6 Plus too Posted: 16 Oct 2014 03:00 PM PDT With Google surprising just about everyone and making an aggressive play to offer up the Nexus 6 across the 4 major carriers in the US, you would assume the phone is being actively tested on those networks. And you’d be right. Taking to his Google+ page, T-Mobile employee Duan Dao decided to post a few images of his test unit, not too unlike the one we saw T-Mobile Product Manager Des Smith unbox yesterday. Because he’s a good sport, Dao was nice enough to go the extra mile and show the world how the phone compares in size to the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and last year’s Motorola Moto X. The best part was he even posted a few sample images showing off the phone’s photo taking abilities — something we haven’t seen given Google didn’t have time to send out actual review units for anyone to play around with (yet). Unfortunately, these weren’t posted at anywhere near full res, so you wont be able to blow these up and thoroughly examine every pixel (we also blurred out a minor which appeared in one of the pics). Although the phone is still in testing and the software on the test units more than likely isn’t final, this is just a sample of what you may expect when the phone launches next month. What do you think?       |
| Sony promises Lollipop for every single device in the Z series Posted: 16 Oct 2014 11:57 AM PDT You read that right — if your Sony Xperia phone is from the Z line, you’re getting Lollipop, no questions asked. Sony confirmed that much in a blog post today, and in case you’ve forgotten how many devices fit the bill here’s a handy dandy list:
Sony says the core Xperia Z3 and Z2 models will be first in line with first upgrades expected to begin in early 2015. Timelines for the rest of the phones are still up in the air, though we’re sure Sony will work to get it out as soon as they can. That’s the extent of what we know about their plans to this point so we’ll be patiently awaiting more details from the Sony camp as the months tick by. |
| Apple’s new iPads vs Nexus 9 & Samsung Galaxy Tab S Posted: 16 Oct 2014 11:08 AM PDT Apple has announced a pair of iPad updates today, refreshing both models from last year with the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. The two devices don't change much in terms of design from the previous models, but a few key upgrades promise to once again make Apple's tablet offerings the talk of the town. Before we get swept up in another round of Apple hype, let's breakdown how these slates really stack up against the best Android has to offer. We compare the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini head-to-head with the newly announced Nexus 9 by HTC and Samsung's Galaxy Tab S line. iPad Air 2 vs Android competitorsApple's iPad Air 2 picks up where last year's model left off, packing plenty of punch the lightest and thinnest tablet (437g, 6.1mm) we have ever seen. Samsung's Galaxy Tab S, which launched earlier this year, gets close at 6.6mm (467g). The Nexus 9 is the odd man out with a thickness of 7.9mm, a measurement that is still nothing to scoff out. The N9 is the lightest of the tablets at 425g. DisplayWith tablets seeing plenty of use as media devices, the display is without doubt one of the most important hardware elements to consider. The iPad Air, Galaxy Tab S, and Nexus 9 are all in the ballpark of 10 inches and all feature resolutions in excess of 1080p Full HD. The Nexus 9 straddles the line between the large and mid-size tablets at 8.9 inches. It's 1536×2048 resolution equates to a pixel density of 281ppi across its surface area. The Galaxy Tab S offers the biggest display option at 10.5 inches. Its Super AMOLED display slightly edges the IPS LCD of the Nexus 9 with a resolution of 1600×2560 and a pixel density of 288ppi. The iPad Air 2 sits in the middle with its 9.7-inch Retina display, an IPS screen touting a resolution of 1536×2048 and a pixel density of 264ppi. Processing Power & BatteryBetween the Nexus 9, iPad Air 2, and Galaxy Tab S, there is plenty of processing power to go around. Each device is supported by a SoC from a different manufacturer, and each has its own advantages. Apple's latest offering features the 64 bit A8X. The A8X is a iPad-tailored version of the A8 processor that debuted in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus last month, a dual-core chip that has been tested to reveal clock speeds around 1.4GHz (Apple does not reveal detailed figures for its processors). The chip also includes an M8 coprocessor for handling motion sensor inputs and promises improved graphical capabilities. The Nexus 9 relies on the NVIDIA Tegra K1 chip, a quad-core chipset clocked at 2.3GHz. This chip also includes a Kepler DX1, which comes with the claim of offering desktop-grade graphics on a mobile device. The Nexus 9's processor suite is supported by 2GB of RAM. The Galaxy Tab S comes in two flavors. Some regions have access to the tablet with an Exynos 5420 octa-core processing, but most will see the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 variant. That device sports quad-core 2.3GHz processing and Adreno 330 graphics and 3GB RAM. The iPad Air 2 features a battery that promises up to 10 hours of use (Apple did not reveal a specific capacity). The Galaxy Tab S features a 7900mAh battery that offers up to 11 hours of multimedia use. The Nexus 9 features a 6700mAh battery. Fingerprint Scanner, Camera & Other FeaturesThe latest generation of iPads are the first to feature Apple's Touch ID technology, allowing users to unlock their devices with a fingerprint and provide additional security for supported apps and services. The Galaxy Tab S offers a fingerprint scanner with similar capabilities, though it has been known to be slightly more finicky than its Apple competitor. The Nexus 9 does not include a finger scanner. All devices feature rear and front facing cameras. The iPad Air 2 sports a 8MP rear camera and 1.2MP front-facing camera, while the Nexus 9 and Galaxy Tab S both feature an 8MP rear shooter and 1.6MP and 2.1MP front-facing sensor, respectively. All are capable of capturing 1080p HD video in addition to hi-res still photos. All three devices feature dual-antenna MIMO WiFi for enhanced connectivity and improved data speeds. The three devices all also offer LTE-enabled variants to take advantage of mobile data over a cellular network. SoftwareWhile two of our devices run Android and only one runs iOS, all three offer different software experiences. Chalk this up to the inclusion of Samsung's TouchWiz interface on the Galaxy Tab S (based on Android 4.4 KitKat) and the debut of Android 5.0 Lollipop on the Nexus 9. The new lineup of iPads sports iOS 8, Apple's latest update to their mobile platform. The differences between the Galaxy Tab and Nexus 9 are mostly surface level — core Android features like widgets, multitasking, and access to the Google Play Store remain the same. The N9 does benefit from new features introduced in Android 5.0 including its Material Design interface (a new design language geared at unifying the Android experience across devices) as well as improved notification controls and a new battery saver mode. iOS 8's differences are a bit more drastic. Users still have access to features like multitasking and over a million apps via Apple's App Store, but widgets are refined to the notification shade and other core differences exist in how iOS functions versus Android. Apple made a point of emphasizing continuity features that allow users to easily move from smartphone to tablet to Mac, enabling text message and voice calling support across devices paired with a connected iPhone. Android Lollipop boasts some continuity features, but Google has focused on media. Users can start a movie or video on one device and pick right up on another, including televisions thanks to the new Nexus Player. iPad mini 3 vs Android competitorsApple also unveiled a new edition of their iPad mini, a device featuring an 8-inch display. This tablet perhaps best compares with the Samsung's smaller Galaxy Tab S, the 8.4-inch edition, but the Nexus 9's 8.9-inch form factor is still an option for those looking for a slightly smaller slate. The iPad mini 3 features a 7.9-inch Retina display at 2048×1536 resolution and 326ppi. The Galaxy Tab S 8.4's Super AMOLED display measures 8.4 inches with a pixel dentist of 359ppi. Specs for the iPad mini and Galaxy Tab S 8.4 are otherwise identical to their larger counterparts. Availability & PricingThe iPad Air 2 will be available starting at $499 for a 16GB model, identical pricing to the equivalent Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 model. The iPad mini will retail starting at $399, a price point that again matches the Samsung Galaxy Tab S at the 8.4-inch level. The Nexus 9 will retail for an identical $399 for a 16GB model. The Nexus 9 will go up for pre-order on October 17th with official availability beginning November 3rd. The new iPads will also be available for pre-order starting October 17th and ships next week. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S is currently available from a variety of retailers and carrier partners. |
| Austin, TX residents can sign up for Google Fiber starting in December Posted: 16 Oct 2014 10:55 AM PDT Quick heads up for those of you in Austin, Texas looking for better internet soon — Google Fiber is nearly ready, and Google will soon be taking signups from anyone interested. The company will accept signups from the metropolitan area of the city for any and all folks interested. It’s believed that those in smaller, surrounding markets will have to pool together and show enough interest in Fiber for Google to start spreading the service (though if rollouts in Kansas City and Provo are anything to go by, that won’t be a huge issue). Google will offer their standard gigabit high speed service for those willing to pay up the monthly coin for it, though basic free internet for 7 years is certain to be an option as long as you pay the $300 upfront installation cost. Not bad if you or someone you know doesn’t need a whole lot of data to get things done. Google has a sizable list of other cities they want to hit in the months to come and within the next year, but these things take time and you shouldn’t be holding your breath for Fiber in your area if you need internet connectivity now. [via WSJ] |
| Apple Pay officially launches on Monday, get ready to start using Google Wallet in a lot more places Posted: 16 Oct 2014 10:49 AM PDT During this morning’s iPad event, Apple took a minute to discuss the progress they’ve made with Apple Pay (coming soon to iOS 8). I know what you’re thinking — “What does this have to do with Android?” Stay with me. Officially launching this Monday, October 20th, for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple Pay ushers in the age of NFC-based mobile payments. You know, that little hardware feature we’ve had in countless Android devices for ages now. And that’s just it. Tap-to-pay systems aren’t exclusive to just the iPhone, Android users can finally get in on the fun as well whatever your preferred mobile wallet may be (we aren’t tied down to one). Apple said that since they announced the feature last month, more than 500 new banks are now supporting Apple Pay and even more retailers ranging from Walgreens, Macy’s, McDonald’s and more (over 220,000 and growing). I’ve actually experienced this transition firsthand while getting my haircut at a local barber shop. It’s old run down mom n’ pops join, but recently when I went to pay using my credit card, the little old lady busted out a shiny new Tap-to-Pay credit card machine from under the counter. When I asked her why the new hardware, she told me “Because the iPhone.” I’ll take it. |
| Samsung introduces their first 64-bit chipset — the Exynos 7 Octa Posted: 16 Oct 2014 10:00 AM PDT Samsung has revealed a new chipset with a first for their long-standing Exynos line — it’s 64-bit goodness. It’s being called the Exynos 7 Octa, a 20nm setup that features four Cortex-A57 cores and four Cortex-A53 cores in a big.LITTLE configuration. That means any of the cores from any of the two sets of processors may be in use at any time, and usually contributes to a healthy mix of high power and high efficiency. Samsung says it offers 57% performance improvement over the previous generation. For graphics, you can expect an ARM Mali T-760 GPU that is said to offer an improvement rate of 74%. It enables the use of 2560 x 1440 and 2560 x 1600 displays, and can also support simultaneous photo and video capture at 16 megapixels and 5 megapixels for the rear and front cameras, respectively (both at 30 frames per second). Not too shabby, and for typical use cases — like gaming — it should prove to be more than enough for any user’s needs. Interestingly enough, it appears that the Exynos 7 Octa is actually nearly the same as the Exynos 5433 that is featured in international versions of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, with the only difference being that the Exynos 7 Octa offers 64-bit support. That should effectively erase buyer’s remorse for anyone who was thinking their smartphones were immediately outdated by this announcement (especially for North American folks who are on Qualcomm-made configurations anyway). Samsung didn’t have many more details to offer such as clock speeds, though we imagine we’ll be hearing a lot more about this new generation of Exynos in 2015 as Samsung looks to use it in all their flagship products. [via Samsung] |
| Pre-order a Limited Edition Black Hawk Drone with this exclusive AndroidArea deal Posted: 16 Oct 2014 09:23 AM PDT Christmas is still a couple months away, but it's never too early to starting thinking about presents. Who wouldn't want to find a Limited Edition Black Hawk Drone under the tree? Here's what you do: you pre-order the Black Hawk Drone now for $89 at AndroidArea.com and come the end of November it will ship right to your door — just in time for the holidays. One gift down, countless to go. It's a start.
The Black Hawk is a "palm-sized" drone with 6-axis flight control and flight modes for both beginners and experienced pilots. It has the ability to execute a flip in four different directions, making it a true aerial acrobat. But it does more than just perform mid-air stunts. The Black Hawk Drone also sports a built-in HD camera that records to MicroSD media for replay and transfer to other devices. You will want to act quick to take advantage of this special offer. The Black Hawk Drone will only be available at this price for four more days. The pre-order price will increase to $99 and move to $199 when the Black Hawk becomes available at retail on November 24th. Head over to AndroidArea.com to grab your own and check out even more great deals.
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| HTC confirms Lollipop for One M7, One Mini (2013) and One M8 Posted: 16 Oct 2014 08:56 AM PDT Not that we were worried that HTC’s flagship smartphones from the past two years would receive Lollipop, but the company has come out to confirm that the HTC One M7 and the HTC One M8 will both be receiving the upgrade within 90 days of the update’s release. Of course, time will vary from region to region and variant to variant, but HTC’s been pretty good about sticking to their timelines over the past couple of years so we shouldn’t be subject to any lengthy delays. A bit more on the surprising side is that the HTC One M7 Mini is now confirmed to be receiving Lollipop. The smartphone is only one year old, but it’s underpowered compared to its bigger sibling by a similar name. That said, Google said Android 5.0 Lollipop would be optimized for entry-level hardware and the HTC One M7 Mini sure has more than enough to handle the load. We’ll be looking to see if any other devices in HTC’s catalog will be in line to receive the upgrade so stay tuned. |
| HTC One M8 Developer Edition is now receiving EYE camera update Posted: 16 Oct 2014 07:58 AM PDT Owners of the unlocked international HTC One M8 started to receive the EYE update being featured on HTC’s new selfie-focused Desire EYE, and now developer edition owners are in for more of the same. The upgrade is now being rolled out to that crop of M8 owners over the air. You’ll be looking for version 3.28.1540.5, and if you haven’t been keeping up it’ll bring the following changes:
It’s nothing that’s going to improve the quality of the photos you take with the HTC One M8’s cameras, but certainly some very cool features if you’re super big into selfies. The update is quite large at about 235.92MB so be sure to enable WiFi and charge your battery before attempting to pull it down. All that’s left is to get the upgrade to those on carrier variants of the HTC One M8 (though we have a feeling it will take a bit longer to accomplish that). [via Twitter] |
| Full Android L Casting Call video shows lots of disappointed desserts Posted: 16 Oct 2014 07:01 AM PDT So Google came out and confirmed that Android L would be named Lollipop. So what happened at the end of the casting call video with all the other tasty desserts auditioning? Well, a wave of disappointment, that’s what. So sad to see cute little lemon drop walk away with a frown. Even worse is Ladoo — poor guy couldn’t even get up and walk himself out of the door. But Lollipop sure had a good time, and it’s going to enjoy the crown of the “L” release until “M” drops. Speaking of which, Google might have hinted that “muffin” would be on the horizon. Or maybe that was Lollipop’s character choosing the worst M dessert you could think of to instill some hope back into today’s failed contestants. Be sure to grab a look at the video above. |
| This is how the Nexus 9 looks in the real world [Pics, Video] Posted: 16 Oct 2014 06:21 AM PDT Renders are enough to give us a decent idea of how a new device looks at its best, but there’s nothing like getting a look at the thing in the flesh. The Nexus 9 won’t be available until November 3rd, but some lucky souls in Vietnam have already gotten a chance to finagle the thing and were gracious enough to deliver all the photos and video we can handle. The device doesn’t really look more or less cool than what we’ve seen in the official press renders, though we were taken aback by the fact that it definitely is as thin as advertised. And it does look absolutely stunning. We obviously can’t comment on how it feels in the hand just yet, but early impressions suggest you won’t have any issues palming the 8.9-inch tablet. The Nexus 9’s 4:3 aspect ratio might have been off-putting on paper, but it looks like a really comfortable, natural device that should hopefully bring 4:3 back in style for the tablet scene. One last thing — that keyboard case looks freaking awesome. The case is a very snug fit when not in use, and it looks to fold out into a laptop-like state with ease. Needless to say this is most certainly one of the best looking tablets out there, and we imagine there won’t be a much better way to spend $400 this year if you’re in the market for one. Be sure to head to the source links for a lot more. |
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