Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
Being a sucker for small slates, I dropped $399 on the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 this weekend. How is it? Not bad, but not ground-breaking either. Here are my first impressions. Read more »
Android this week: Facebook Home impresses; Small slates sell big; Galaxy Note 8.0 arrives
A quick tour of Facebook Home leads to a positive experience. When it comes to tablets, watch the small slate space targeted: it’s a growing market. And the new $399 Galaxy Note 8.0 looks good on video. Read more »
First impressions of Facebook Home for Android are a surprising “Like”
photo: Om Malik
Facebook Home arrived in the Google Play store as planned. What wasn’t planned however, was the surprisingly good experience and well designed software. Here’s my first look and impressions. Read more »
Facebook Messenger update brings Chat Heads to most Android phones
Good news for those that want a better Facebook experience on their Android, but don’t want to give Facebook full control of their home screen. Chat Heads is available in Messenger for devices Android 2.2 and up. Read more »
Breakdown of Android tablet market shows small slates rule the roost
With data gathered from nearly a million of its users, Animoca’s information shows that five of the top six Android tablets are small slates. That’s good for Microsoft, if it is indeed planning a smaller Surface tablet. Read more »
Super-size me: Samsung Mega phone tops 6 inches in size
With the new Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 smartphones, Samsung continues its quest to offer a phone for every sized hand. In fact, it’s mimicking the Android market itself with an array of choices; a clever strategy. Read more »
As smartphones get bigger, could Android’s user base get smaller?
The trend of larger screens on flagship Android phones shows no signs of stopping. At some point, however, one has to wonder how big “too big” is. At this rate, could Android smartphones outgrow their user base as one-handed phone use disappears? Read more »
ZTE, Intel’s BFF, puts a new Atom chip in the Geek smartphone
Intel and ZTE announced a strategic collaboration last month and already have a new product. The ZTE Geek smartphone uses Intel’s latest Atom chip promising more speeds and better battery life. With a foothold in China, Intel isn’t out of the mobile game yet. Read more »
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Mobile first-quarter 2013: analysis and outlook
The mobile platform wars escalated once again in the first quarter of 2012 as BlackBerry finally took the wraps off its much-anticipated new operating system. Meanwhile Android continued to build on its dominance both worldwide and in the U.S., cementing a two-horse race with Apple. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
That was quick: HomeBase Social is an unofficial Facebook Home launcher
photo: Om Malik
Launchers are nothing new to Android, having been around for a few years now. That’s why I’m not surprised a Facebook Home style launcher is already available in the Google Play store. Read more »
Samsung bets big on digital ink: $399 Galaxy Note 8.0 hits US on April 11
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8.0 Android tablet arrives in the US on April 11. The slate is poised to compete against Apple’s iPad mini and includes Samsung’s digital S-Pen. Early reviews suggest, however, that $399 is too much, even with the note-taking feature. Read more »
Google could face Android antitrust investigation in Europe, after Microsoft complains
photo: Image Credit: Louis Gray
Not satisfied with targeting Google over its search practices, Microsoft and its allies have complained to EU competition authorities over the way Google services are bundled with Android. Read more »
Here’s why HTC is losing the smartphone game (Hint: There’s no One reason)
HTC has had another rough quarter financially, but the delayed HTC One isn’t the problem. HTC hasn’t been a shining star for months; it’s now just a dim light in Samsung’s galaxy. Read more »
Android this week: Facebook Home phones, software, privacy and fragmentation potential
photo: Om Malik
This week Facebook became the next tech giant to build upon Google Android. That raises quite a few questions — and some potential answers — about privacy, control over Android and who might use Facebook Home as their full-time Android launcher. Read more »
In response to questions about privacy at Home, Facebook says users shouldn’t worry
How exactly will Facebook be using your data if you download the new Home launcher on Android or buy the HTC First phone? Facebook says it won’t be collecting your data any differently than it does with the traditional app. Read more »
GigaOM Reads: A look back at the week in tech
Its a unicorn. No it’s a phone. Actually it is Facebook Home, for now; Apple’s China Syndrome is making it think different; The Bit coin boom (& bust); Chrome & WebKit go to war and did Vdio really kill the Rdio star? Read more »
Jolla’s Sailfish OS SDK installers are now out for Windows, OS X and Linux
Developers can now sink their teeth into the smartphone OS that picks up where MeeGo left off. However, the operating system will struggle to make its voice heard in a turbulent year for mobile. Read more »
Here are the likely specs of AT&T’s $99 HTC First with Facebook Home pre-installed
Starting April 12, you can get the HTC First from AT&T: An LTE, Android 4.1 phone with Facebook Home as your launcher. AT&T hasn’t provided many specs, but some nosing around on the HTC site yielded quite a few. Read more »
Poll: Facebook Home is an Android launcher; will you install it?
Facebook didn’t quite unveil its own phone, but you can make your Android phone a Facebook phone with a custom launcher. The question now is: will you? Read more »
Live blog: Facebook’s new Home on Android
We’ll have live coverage of Facebook’s Android event here, with a new Facebook-centered experience expected running on an HTC smartphone. Read more »
Live blog: Facebook’s new Home on Android
photo: Om Malik
We’re covering Facebook’s Android event live here, with a new Facebook-centered experience expected running on an HTC smartphone. Read more »
Sorry Androids: Jawbone’s Big Jambox speaker gains battery life with iOS 6.1 devices
A new software update for Jawbone’s Big Jambox brings several performance improvements. Only iOS 6.1 devices will get one of the biggest though: two extra hours of battery life on the wireless speaker. Read more »
Report: New Nexus 7 tablet due in July. Here’s what to expect.
It’s about time Google’s Nexus 7 tablet gets a refresh and sources tell Reuters it will happen in July. Here’s what to expect in terms of pricing and hardware changes. Read more »
Right on cue: 54.3 percent of Androids run Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean software
In October, I suggested that more than half of all Android devices would run Android 4.0 or better within four to six months. My time was just about up, but it happened as planned. That’s good for developers and for end users. Read more »
For Facebook, it’s not about their phone; it’s about you and your phone
There’s little doubt that Facebook will unveil a new phone on Thursday, but the star of the show will be software, not hardware, in this battle between Facebook and Google for user engagement. Read more »
HTC One officially priced at AT&T starting at $199.99 with contract
AT&T does have an exclusive, at least at time of launch, on the 64 GB HTC One smartphone. The carrier announced a contract price of $299 for that model, while $199 buys a 32 GB version. Pre-ordering earns a free wireless HDMI adapter. Read more »
Software leak shows the likely Facebook phone specs and features
A reported leak of the software that will power Facebook’s upcoming phone shows specs of the handset as well as capabilities of what appears to be a dedicated Facebook home screen for Android devices. Read more »
No joke: The HTC One with 64 GB looks like an AT&T exclusive
An AT&T promotional video for the new HTC One smartphone shows an exclusive: Only AT&T will carry the 64 GB model of the phone. That may be good for AT&T, but it’s bad for consumers and for HTC. Read more »
A Facebook phone: Is this the final brick in the social network’s walled garden?
A “Facebook phone” is one of the longest-running rumors in the technology world, but a number of observers think such a beast is actually going to make an appearance next week. But do users actually want one? Read more »
AT&T sets Samsung Galaxy S 4 pre-order price at $249.99 with contract
AT&T may be the first in the U.S. to offer Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 phone, but it won’t come cheaply: The carrier starts taking pre-orders on April 16 for the $249.99 (with contract) handset. Read more »
With Presence app, People Power pulls a pivot
photo: People Power
Energy management startup People Power is back with a new remote monitoring app designed to reuse old iOS devices as security cameras. It’s a nice app and People Power’s gateway drug to the internet of things. Read more »
Google Translate for Android adds offline language support
Heading out of the country with your Android phone? Consider upgrading to the latest version of Google Translate for Android, which now supports offline language translation. Read more »
Sony brings Xperia ZL smartphone to US but it’s costly at $719
Sony’s attempt at a smartphone success in the U.S. looks good on paper: The Xperia ZL has top-notch hardware. But without a carrier partner, can consumers be convinced to pay full price? Read more »
Evernote for Android gets big update: Shortcuts, photo features and doc search
An update to Evernote for Android includes new photo features, shortcuts and enhanced document search for premium users. Read more »
Google chairman being coy about whether Google Now is ready for iOS
At the Google Big Tent Summit in India, Eric Schmidt wouldn’t give a straight answer about whether his company’s well-received contextual search app for Android would be coming to iOS soon. Read more »
Google launches Google Keep, an app to help you remember things
Google’s new Android and web app, Keep, lets users jot down ideas and make lists. The app will soon be fully integrated with Google Drive. Read more »
How to control a lawn irrigation system with Android and Arduino
What can a pair of Google engineers do with their technical prowess at home? Create an Android app that controls a lawn watering system through an Arduino board and the web! Read more »
Call in podcast: Samsung smartwatches and Galaxy S 4 features in Galaxy Note 2
This week’s call in podcast answers your questions about a Samsung smartwatch, Google Reader alternatives, carrier software updates on unsubsidized phones, and nifty Galaxy S 4 features that could find their way to the Galaxy Note 2. Read more »
HTC One phone delayed as parts suppliers focus on other customers
Just designing a superb smartphone isn’t enough these days: You have to get the device components to build the handsets in a timely fashion. Due to reduced confidence in HTC, parts suppliers aren’t as interested in building parts quickly. Read more »
Software update enables LTE support on T-Mobile’s Galaxy Note 2. Nexus 4 next?
The latent LTE radio in T-Mobile’s Galaxy Note 2 handset makes more sense now: The company has an update that enables the faster broadband speeds, just in time for the new network. Google’s Nexus 4 also has hidden LTE capabilities. Hmm…. Read more »
