First came the “phablet”, now we have the “phomera”: Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Zoom is part point-and-shoot with 10x optical zoom and part smartphone. A new Nexus 7 looks to be coming soon as does the HTC One Mini, perhaps by August. Read more »
After a trail of breadcrumb evidence, an FCC certification report indicates that a new Nexus 7 is on the way. The device forgoes an Nvidia chip for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S600. Read more »
The creation of the Open SmartWatch Project means developers can use the Android-companion Sony device to try out new peripheral use cases — at their own risk, of course. Read more »
Watching the iOS 7 debut I couldn’t help but notice design cues from Android, HTC, Microsoft and even Palm. In some ways these have caught up to Apple in terms of design, but Apple is best at putting the pieces together. Read more »
Google’s standard Android keyboard with gesture typing and floating word suggestions is available for all Android 4.0 or better devices. Sony’s Xperia Z looks like the next Google Experience phone while Samsung boosted the Galaxy S 4 free storage with an update. Read more »
Although an anonymous HTC executive reported 5 million HTC One sales, a Citigroup analyst suggests a figure of 1.2 million. Why? A delayed launch and consumers already looking ahead to Apple’s next iPhone. Read more »
Months and months of the same data are pointing to one conclusion: iPhone and Android really can’t be compared. In fact, they’re on two different trajectories. Read more »
Another manufacturer may be joining Samsung and HTC in offering “Google Experience” smartphones. Sony is expected to announce a version of the Xperia Z with pure Android as the Nexus line could be lower priced phones. Read more »
Amazon launched the Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Fire HD in China on Friday and its digital bookstore has quickly jumped from 25,000 to 47,000 titles in the past six months. Read more »
Google’s data suggests that more users are finally on Android 4.0 or better but is that really the case? Tell us in this simple poll which Android version you run and if you still see fragmentation as a big Android challenge. Read more »
Buyers of the 16 GB Samsung Galaxy S 4 thought they’d have a wee bit more storage available but Samsung’s software took up nearly half of it. Now, the company has a software update to address the situation. Read more »
AMD is following Intel into Chrome OS devices and Android tablets, breaking away from its Windows exclusivity. With another Microsoft hardware partner playing the field, the trend is clear: The times are a-changing! Read more »
Google Glass will now see you better, even if you’re lurking in the shadows. A software update adds HDR photo support to improve the camera in both low and bright light settings. Read more »
Is there still a fragmenation issue with Android? Not so much based on the lastest figures from Google. Thank phone upgrades in conjunction with the smart Android strategy shown off at Google I/O. Read more »
Xyo continues its quest to surface the apps no-one finds by introducing Facebook-derived recommendations. It’s a step beyond the firm’s fine-grained category approach, and one that might develop into a useful predictive tool. Read more »
After mostly missing out on the mobile market that started in 2007, Intel has been playing catch up. This year could be the turning point with Atom chips in smartphones and tablets, such as the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Read more »
Google has announced a new service called Mobile Backend Starter that lets Android developers create and launch mobile apps on Google’s cloud with just a few clicks. Read more »
In announcing its video app’s jump from iOS to Android, Twitter reveals the app has tallied 13 million users since its January introduction. Read more »
After no hardware announcements from Google I/O, this week was filled with several. Intel’s Atom looks like very likely to power the next large Galaxy Tab, while the HTC One is going with a stock option. I also look at Sony’s Xperia ZL. Read more »
Looking for a 5-inch smartphone that’s not too big? Sony’s Xperia ZL has to be a contender as the front face is nearly all screen. Here are my first impressions after spending some time with the Android handset. Read more »
Android is complicated. Sundar Pichai, the new head of Android, has to navigate a lot of tricky relationships in order to do his job, especially as Google-owned Motorola gears up for a reboot. Read more »
After numerous leaks, Samsung revealed the specs of its new S 4 mini early, and it’s exactly what we expected: a smaller — though not tiny — version of the full-fledged Galaxy with more modest hardware. Read more »
Waiting to play Dots on Android? It’s coming, the company says. In the meantime, Dots for iPad and a multiplayer version are here, as users continue playing the popular game from Betaworks. Read more »
Google’s Nexus 7 is nearly a year old and likely due for a refresh but didn’t make an appearance at Google I/O. Based on a Bluetooth certification this week, it looks like a new Nexus 7 with Android 4.3 is on the way. Read more »
Samsung’s London event next month is the likely stage for a Galaxy S 4 Mini debut. The device isn’t likely to keep the same features, however, as the full-sized Galaxy S 4 based on leaked benchmark test results. Read more »
Yes, there’s a new Nexus 4, but don’t get that excited just yet. The only difference is a fresh coat of paint: LG announced the Nexus 4 White, which loses the black back and side. Read more »
Sources at VentureBeat have confirmed that Samsung has chosen Intel’s Atom to power at least one Samsung Galaxy Tab device, giving the chip-maker a desperately needed design win in the Android tablet market. Read more »
If the $199 Nexus 7 is out of your budget range, a new $149 Hisense clone may be worth a look. HTC may announce a “Google Edition” HTC smartphone and Chrome beta users gain some useful new features. Read more »
HTC will reportedly reverse course and offer a “Google Edition” HTC One phone, with the official announcement expected next week. That could give HTC a boost by getting more marketing help and making pure Android fans happier. Read more »
With no refresh of the $199 Nexus 7, the latest Android tablet from Hisense is worth a look. It has nearly all of the same hardware features as Google’s tablet, plus a few more, but costs $50 less. Read more »
The HTC First with Facebook Home pre-installed was set to launch in the U.K. next month but that’s not going to happen. EE says Facebook has decided to cancel the launch and focus on the Facebook Home software. Read more »
After months of slowing smartphone sales and reduced profits, some HTC employees aren’t waiting for the company’s turnaround. Is it possible that HTC is planning to focus more on Asia over the U.S.? Read more »
Roughly half a dozen new mobile operating systems will come to market over the next 6 to 12 months. Many of these look to be more sophisticated than the older ones controlled by Apple and Google, for whom serious competition could be just around the corner. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Intel could get its largest mobile design win yet: Two different benchmark sites indicate that at the very least, Samsung is testing an Intel Atom chip inside the upcoming Galaxy Tab 3 Read more »
Still carrying last year’s Galaxy S 3 but pining for the newer model? A software update may appease your desire: Several of the Galaxy S 4 software features are included in this Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy S 3. Read more »
After picking up the MeeGo torch, Jolla’s first phone running the Sailfish operating system is official and can be pre-ordered. It won’t arrive until year-end, however, and faces a huge uphill battle in market dominated by Android and iOS. Read more »
No new hardware appeared at Google I/O, but a recently released phone debuts as a Nexus-like device. Meanwhile, Google updated Android, without adding further fragmentation issues, through dozens of new services, apps and APIs. Read more »
Google’s support for the Bluetooth Smart Ready platform in Android is one step forward for the radio technology’s dominance in the internet of things. But the Bluetooth SIG has a lot more up its sleeve. Read more »
How do you deliver a new mobile operating system version without actually making it available for download? Give developers the tools to add new features through APIs and services: No muss, no fuss, and no additional device fragmentation. Read more »
Those (like me) expecting hardware at Google I/O were disappointed. But in hindsight, Google’s “merger” of Chrome and Android through services and APIs may be more important for the company’s future. Hardware can always follow. Read more »
