Sprint and Google have both confirmed something that was revealed last week after an ad was accidentally posted early: the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the world's first Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) device will be coming to Sprint in 4G LTE form.
Google first made the announcement on Twitter, and Sprint followed up with a press release.
In addition to the news about the device itself, it's also been confirmed that the Sprint version of the device will carry Google Wallet. Prior to launch, it was a point of contention when it was revealed that the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus would not have Google Wallet, because Verizon is developing its own alternative called ISIS.
Other details were not provided, including pricing and availability, but we expect pricing to be similar to the Verizon version. Based on the earlier ad, the Sprint version will have a 1.5GHz processor opposed to the 1.2GHz one currently running on Verizon's version.
As an LTE device, we expect that the rollout will have to wait until Sprint's LTE network goes live. On Jan. 5, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse announced that the first customers to get LTE will be in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Sprint added that this rollout will happen "in the first half of 2012."
Two other LTE devices were announced. One was the LG Viper 4G LTE, which is, Sprint said, an eco-friendly device, including recycled plastic and a charger with a no-load consumption rating of .03W. The Viper will be a Gingerbread device sporting a 1.2GHz dual core processor, a 5MP rear-facing camera and a VGA-rated front-facing camera. Screen-wise, it will carry a 4-inch WVGA NOVA display, hotspot capability and the typical microSD slot. Sprint's press release didn't say how much internal storage the device will have.
Sprint also announced a 4G LTE mobile broadband device, Sierra Wireless Tri-Network Hotspot. By tri-network, it will support Sprint's 3G, 4G WiMax and 4G LTE as well.
Sprint was clear to trumpet its unlimited data plans, so that means that --- at least through the introduction of its LTE network and somewhat beyond --- Sprint won't be removing that "perk."
Not content to merely take the world by storm by giving birth to baby Blue Ivy Carter, Beyonce has launched an iPhone and iPad app, "Beyonce: Live At Roseland," which takes the DVD content from her sold-out four nights at New York’s famed Roseland Ballroom, placing it in a form that can be viewed on your iDevice of choice.
Previously only available on her "Live At Roseland: The Elements Of 4" two-disc DVD concert film, the app combines music, concert footage and photographs to tell the story of the experience on and backstage during Beyonce's performances at the Roseland Ballroom.
The Beyonce Live at Roseland app was created for and with Beyonce by Treemo Labs (iTunes link). It costs $8.99 in the App Store, and so far has very good "reviews" in iTunes.
The Beyonce Live at Roseland app features the full Roseland concert and a photo gallery containing over 25 photos with pinch and zoom capability, all of which do not require an Internet connection to view. Fans can also download bonus video content --- "Behind The Stage" from Roseland and "Behind The Camera" from Beyonce's music videos. The app is social media sharing enabled.
Brent Brookler, CEO and founder of Treemo Labs said, "Offering all of these materials in an App represents an industry first and demonstrates again why Beyonce is a music and entertainment industry visionary. We’re extremely fortunate to have been able to work with her and her team on this project."
It's been said that the death of the Flip Video camcorder was a direct result of an increased number of smartphones with video recording capability. That may or may not be 100 percent true, but smartphones sure didn't help Flip Video, and neither are they helping point-and-shoot cameras, as a new study from market research firm the NPD Group suggests.
The NPD Group's "Imaging Confluence Study" shows what might be considered the obvious truth: the more spontaneous a shot is, the more likely someone will simply whip out their smartphone for some impromptu images or video.
Overall, combining both planned and unplanned filming activities, the percentage of photos taken with a smartphone rose from 17 percent to 27 percent year-over-year. Meanwhile, photos taken on all single-purpose cameras saw a sharp drop, from 52 percent in 2010 to 44 percent in 2011.
Liz Cutting, executive director and senior imaging analyst at NPD said, in a statement, "There is no doubt that the smartphone is becoming 'good enough' much of the time, but thanks to mobile phones, more pictures are being taken than ever before. Consumers who use their mobile phones to take pictures and video were more likely to do so instead of [using] their camera when capturing spontaneous moments, but for important events, single-purpose cameras or camcorders are still largely the device of choice."
The statistics in terms of the survey translate to retail sales impact, as well. NPD said that its Retail Tracking Service found that in the first 11 months of this year, the point-and-shoot camera market had dipped 17 percent year-over-year in terms of units shipped and 18 percent in terms of revenue.
Pocket camcorder and traditional flash camcorder unit were similarly "hit," with shipments down 13 percent and 8 percent respectively year-over-year, and sales down 27 percent and 10 percent, respectively.
At the same time, the high end of the market, which can't be "replaced" by a point-and-shoot camera or a smartphone, hasn't seem the same trend. Unit shipments and revenue for detachable lens cameras have each grown by more than 10 percent year-over-year (the average price for these types of cameras is $863, NPD said).
That wasn't all: higher-end point-and-shoots, which NPD defined as having an optical zoom of 10x or more, grew by 16 percent in units shipped and by 10 percent in terms of revenue thus far, this year. These products carried an average price of $257, NPD said.
This also makes sense; the availability of higher optical, not digital, zoom ratios is useful, in a point-and-shoot scenario, but not possible, at least for now, in a smartphone. So, can't replace it with your all-in-one device (smartphone)? Buy it.
It's still true: a dedicated device is always better than a do-it-all device. The question is, is the do-it-all device "good enough." In many cases, for video and still photography, the smartphone is.
Who needs Remote Desktop Connect, VNC, or some other stand-alone remote control software package? All you need, at least if you accept the risks of a beta package, is a browser and an extension.
It's not such a bad browser to bet on, either. It's Chrome, which is expected to overtake Firefox as the No. 2 browser globally by mid-2012 at the latest. The fact that it's increasing in terms of adoption makes a browser extension for it quite handy.
The extension is called Chrome Remote Desktop, and typical of anything Google-related, it's being released in BETA form.
Since it relies on the Chrome browser, it can be used cross-platform, as long as there is a Chrome browser available. That means Windows, Mac, Linux, and --- possibly most important for Google --- Chromebooks. The cross-platform capability will make it useful for IT departments who are increasingly having to deal with multiple platforms.
Unlike something like RDC, however, and more like Remote Assistance, each time a session is established, the client user will have to issue permission to the server computer. With RDC, for example, one needs only to have the credentials for an account on the client.
In the case of Chrome Remote Desktop, the client user has to issue a 12 digit authentication code to the server user. This is more secure, but if, for example, you were trying to control a computer remotely in your home (as we do not infrequently), it would be a hassle.
Here's how Google describes the extension in the Chome Web Store.
"The goal of this beta release is to demonstrate the core Chrome Remoting technology and get feedback from users. This version enables users to share with or get access to another computer by providing a one-time authentication code. Access is given only to the specific person the user identifies for one time only, and the sharing session is fully secured. One potential use of this version is the remote IT helpdesk case. The helpdesk can use the Chrome Remote Desktop BETA to help another user, while conversely a user can receive help by setting up a sharing session without leaving their desk. Additional use cases such as being able to access your own computer remotely are coming soon."
As a beta, more functionality will be added in the future. Nicely, Google said above that being able to control your own computer, meaning being able to utilize a computer for which you already have login credentials, is an upcoming feature.
The highly anticipated Amazon.com tablet will emulate something from the HP TouchPad, according to a recent report. No, it won't use HP's webOS platform, instead opting for Google's Android, but it will sell for hundreds less than Apple's $499 entry-level iPad, according to a source, speaking to the New York Post.
It wasn't until the price of HP's TouchPad was dropped from $399 for 16GB (it began life at $499) to $99 that the webOS tablet became popular. Of course, HP only lowered the price to that extent because it had pulled the plug on webOS hardware development, not because it wanted to sell the tablet at that price.
In fact, HP was losing a lot of money on those tablets. A teardown analysis conducted last month by the research firm iSuppli showed that a 16GB TouchPad cost $306.65 to build, while the 32GB version cost $328.65.
That said, how can Amazon.com sell the devices for hundreds less than the iPad? Well, we actually don't know how much "hundreds" equates to, but lets assume that means $200 at a minimum. It's already known that Amazon.com is opting for two-finger multi-touch displays in their tablet, as opposed to the ten-finger displays on current tablets. That should lower the price enough for a $299 price to work for the giant Internet retailer.
As well, it's possible that Amazon.com is more interested in making money with "consumables." Just as with printers, where the real money is in paper, ink, and toner, Amazon.com may consider e-books and apps to be where it makes the money.
Amazon.com opened up its own Android Market, the Amazon Appstore, earlier this year, but unlike the Android Market, users have to use the "sideload" capability most Android devices have to install a "non-Market" build.
Amazon.com has promised to make a paid app free every day in the Amazon Appstore, and today's app is App 2 SD Pro.
App 2 SD Pro is priced at $1.49 in the Android Market. Meanwhile, it is normally priced at $1.49 in the Amazon Appstore. As we noted previously, prices sometimes differ between the two stores.
App 2 SD Pro is described as follows:
Imagine if you had to manually open and delete each junk e-mail from your inbox. Just the thought may make you invariably grateful for those little checkboxes and the mass-delete option. Digital is great; streamlining digital is better. App 2 SD Pro does what your phone can already do, but it does it better by streamlining a manual process.
If you're app happy, you've got a lot of apps that take up internal space and slow down your phone. Moving apps from your internal storage to your SD card is the remedy. Taking the time to do it is the problem, unless you've got App 2 SD Pro.
The Way You're Doing It ...If You're Phone Savvy
Your phone is moving at a snail's pace, so you venture into your settings, check your available internal storage and SD storage space, and move capable apps to your SD card to free up a little space on your phone. The problem with this method is that all apps aren't capable of SD card storage, so you have to manually check each app.
...And If You're Not The Better Way Stop Hunting for SD Card Capable Apps
Apps with SD card capability are alphabetically listed under the Movable tab in the App 2 SD Pro interface. The Android OS does not do this for you. View the app icon, name, and file size. Tap the app to view data, code, and to open or uninstall the app. Clear the cache, or choose the Clear Cache option from the menu to clear them all.
Choose to move an app to the SD card individually, or choose the Move All option from the menu. Badda bing, badda boom, declare internal space restored!
You can also enable App to SD Pro to send a notification when you install an app that can be stored on your SD card.
A Snazzy Interface, to Boot
Three tabs provide you complete app management: Movable, On SD card, and Phone Only. Movable and SD Card apps can be moved between your SD card and internal storage easily. Phone Only apps are non-movable. Each tab provides you the total space used and available space.
Not only does App 2 SD Pro offer a handy functionality to make your life a little easier, but it looks pretty cool too. The wood and steel graphics add an aesthetic appeal so often lacking in utility apps. There's nothing wrong with cleaning up and looking good while doing it.
App 2 SD Pro has a 4.6-star rating in the Android Market and a 4.0-star rating in the Amazon Appstore.
One thing that's unclear is why anyone would criticize this app for doing something you can do manually. After all, to move to SD means you have to each app, one at a time. If you have a huge number of apps installed, that's a problem.
However, many of these apps are free, and we don't really see a reason to pay for one of these types of apps. Tip: don't forget that if you move an app to the SD card any widgets that belong to it will break.
Those who are considering "buying" a Free Amazon Appstore app might want to consider what it means to developers.
Amazon.com opened up the Appstore despite a lawsuit by Apple, which has previously trademarked the term "App Store." Microsoft has filed an appeal against that trademark, saying the term is too generic. Amazon.com has responded to the lawsuit in the same manner.
The Dell Streak 5 is gone for good. Whereas earlier reports indicated that Dell had pulled its large pseudo-tablet for updates, it has apparently decided to say farewell to the large-screened device.
On the "Goodbye" page that Dell put up, Dell said that, at least for now, continues to sell accessories for the Streak 5.
When it launched in 2010, the device had a larger than normal display, at 5-inches, with an 800 x 480 screen resolution. While larger than most smartphones, it was smaller than a typical tablet, even the smaller 7-inch tablets that Apple CEO Steve Jobs once said were DOA. Also, unlike those tablets, it had voice calling capability.
However, as "regular" smartphone sizes have increased in size, and with displays with higher resolutions, the device became less relevant, and simply felt oversized. While Dell liked to position the Streak 5 as a tablet, it was never really that, though it was never DOA, as Steve Jobs implied.
However, Dell hasn't really make much of a mark on smartphones or tablets. That said, the company made sure that the goodbye page for the Streak 5 emphasized it was still selling other devices such as the Dell Venue and the Streak 7.
In late May, HTC announced a new policy of unlocking bootloaders on their newest Android devices, and its latest update to its Facebook post on the issue clarifies just "when" unlocked bootloaders will be available for the Sensation (global), Sensation 4G (T-Mobile), and EVO 3D (Sprint).
According to HTC's update, "We’re thrilled to announce today that software updates to support bootloader unlocking will begin rolling out in August for the global HTC Sensation, followed by the HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile USA and the HTC EVO 3D on Sprint. We’re in the testing phase for the unlocking capability now, and we expect it to be fully operational by early September for devices that have received the software updates. We'll continue rolling out the unlocking capability over time to other devices as part of maintenance releases and new shipments."
Unlocked bootloaders mean that developers will be able to produce custom ROMs for the phones. Rooting an Android phone doesn't usually require an unlocked bootloader, but custom ROMs are different. To be clear, this is not the same as unlocking a device for a different carrier. When HTC made its earlier announcement it didn't give any definitive details on timing.
The implication from the message is that older devices that previously shipped with locked bootloaders "may" see their bootloaders unlocked as well.
While HTC has made this move, which the developer and enthusiast community has responded to overwhelmingly favorably (naturally), Motorola continues to ship its devices with locked bootloaders, but unlike HTC, hasn't made any moves toward a change in policy.
The third-iteration of what was at one time Verizon's flagship Android device is about to hit. The Droid 3 will arrive, via direct fill (order + ship) on July 7, with the phone hitting stores on July 14.
It's not really that much different than earlier Droids, with a slightly upsized screen (4-inches vs. the 3.7-inch screen of the Droid 2 Global) with qHD (960 x 540) resolution. It will sport a 1Ghz dual-core processor, 16GB of internal storage (but no microSD card included because of that, although there is a slot), front-facing camera for video chat, 8MP rear-facing camera with 1080p video recording and LED flash, and dedicated numeric key row.
Despite the hard keyboard, the Droid 3 will also have Swype. It will also be a global device, meaning a user can, with the right plan, use it in other countries via a SIM (that will be shipped with the device, in fact).
That said, despite the fact the Droid used to be Verizon's flagship Android device, it won't have LTE capability. Also, this version will carry the latest version of Blur, unlike earlier, Blur-less Droids.
The still missing part of the equation is "how much." Price isn't known as yet, but is assumed (and is likely to be) $199.99 with a two-year contract.
In addition to the date being leaked, a copy of the Droid 3 User Guide has hit the Web. Those of you interested in a keyboarded smartphone, here's your chance to take a look at the manual before Thursday.
NFC means more than the National Football Conference; it also means Near-Field Communication, which Google has added to some new phones with Android 2.3.x (Gingerbread). On Thursday, Google will roll out a mobile payments system using that technology.
NFC is available on the Samsung Nexus S (unlocked GSM) and Samsung Nexus S 4G (Sprint), for example.
The Thursday event will introduce the payment system on Sprint handsets (Sprint said last month it was working with a number of OEMs and tech companies on NFC payment systems) in five cities, to start: New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C., according to Bloomberg.
Bloomberg added that Google is using hardware and software from other companies, including VeriFone Systems and ViVOtech to run the still-unnamed mobile payments service.
Gaining adoption of a mobile payments market is difficult because of all the moving parts. Not only does the device have to have NFC capability, but many other parties, including retailers, and payment companies and banks have to cooperate.
While the U.S. lags, mobile payments using NFC are popular in Japan, particularly when related to mass-transit networks.
In addition to the Thursday event, Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt will also demo the service at the ninth D: All Things Digital conference, which arrives in a week.
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