It’s the future, and that being the case, you’re going to want to talk to your smartphone and have it make heads or tails of what you’re saying. Getting that to work can be a pretty tough job however, unless your phone can learn like a human. And as Wired explains, that’s exactly what Google’s Jelly Bean operating system does. More »
The LG Optimus G was ushered in with a bang last year, bringing on the first look we’d had at the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor – and here in 2013 it’s looking like the face of the device is about to get a whole lot larger. With the original Optimus G having a very likely large amount of sales cannibalized by the Google Nexus 4, it’s no wonder that LG is likely thinking about bringing not one, but two new models to the market here in the first half of the year. The first reveal was the LG Optimus G Pro with a lovely 5-inch display – now it’s time to get even larger.
This LG Optimus Pro+ device (as it’s temporarily being code-named here) will be appearing in China with a fabulous 5.5-inch HD display with IPS LCD technology running at a monstrous 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. With 2GB of RAM under the hood, this Optimus G Pro+ would be bringing the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor once again, this time clocked at 1.7GHz per core with all the best connectivity to back it all up.
Also inside you’ll find 32GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot capable of holding 32GB cards (with the possibility of 64GB cards before this device hits the market), and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box. This device will also be appearing with a 13 megapixel camera on the back, 2.1 megapixel camera on the front, and a 3140 mAh battery inside.
Of course this device will be working with NFC as well as Bluetooth 4.0 and will be revealed soon. While it’s not officially been announced by LG, we’re expecting to see this model at Mobile World Congress 2013. Catch us there in Barcelona later this month in our fabulous MWC 2013 tag portal!
[via PhoneArena; via Android Community]
LG Optimus G Pro+ spotted with extra massive display is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
With Jelly Bean over six months old now, Google has updated its Android version distribution webpage with updated figures on Android adoption rates. Google’s latest OS is now running on 13.6% of Android devices, while Ice Cream Sandwich seems to be stuck at 29%, and Gingerbread running on over 45% of Android devices.
As for the other Android versions, 8.1% of devices are running Froyo, with 1.3% running Honeycomb, and Eclair at 2.2%. Of course, this isn’t surprising by any means, since older device rarely get an upgrade to a newer version of Android — the two-year-old Thunderbolt being one giant exception, which just received an Ice Cream Sandwich update today.
Compared to last month, Jelly Bean was on 10% of Android devices, while other versions took a slight hit. From here on out, we should see Jelly Bean becoming more and more ubiquitous as time goes on, with not only newer devices getting Jelly Bean support, but also slightly older devices that hopefully receive upgrades to the new mobile OS.
Then again, it’s rumored that Android 4.3 Key Lime Pie may release sometime this year, which could easily derail those plans for Jelly Bean to take over. However, it’s possible that the two operating systems could tag team and see a rise in usage on a number of devices from both versions. At this point, we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
[via The Next Web]
Android Jelly Bean now on 13.6% of devices is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
This week the development team at BlackBerry working with the new mobile OS BlackBerry 10 have confirmed that they’ll be updating Android app integration from version 2.3 Gingerbread all the way up to 4.1 Jelly Bean. This Runtime for Android toolset takes what we know about Android app integration in BlackBerry 10 and moves it forward to apps being developed for the newest Android systems rather than Android 2.3 Gingerbread. This Gingerbread version of Android is, if you did not know, a version of Google mobile OS over 2 generations old – it’s high time!
This update will allow easier and better pathways for Android developers hoping to move in to the BlackBerry 10 environment in 2013 without a doubt, and while we’re still not solid on the exact release date of the BlackBerry 10 Android Runtime update that we’re talking about here, a “TBD” date is certainly more encouraging than no word at all. In a Planning stage at the moment, this Jelly Bean update for Android Runtime will, the BlackBerry team hopes, “support all current features and APIs available on the Android Runtime platform today.” BlackBerry also notes that they’ll be evaluating their ability to integrate new features revealed between here and the Jelly Bean upgrade as well.
This release bodes well for BlackBerry 10 because it allows Android developers to create their Android apps as they normally would and port them to BlackBerry 10 with great ease. The tools that BlackBerry offers to developers across the board are both free and intuitive, working with processes that take each Android buttons, gesture, device sensor, and more and connect them to their BlackBerry 10 equivalent. BlackBerry hopes that their already massively successful (so to speak) campaign to help Android developers into the BlackBerry 10 environment will continue through the actual full launch of the system.
Have a peek at the timeline below to see more big BlackBerry 10 developments that’ll have this mobile OS taking off into outer space (or so BlackBerry hopes) when this early Spring market push begins. You’ll find that BlackBerry is working with more than just Android developers and with more than just software tools to make the app universe inside BlackBerry a success. It’s there that a system must grow from – without seeds to have no flowers!
[via CrackBerry]
BlackBerry 10 Android Jelly Bean integration confirmed is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
After revealing the device last month, today is the day that ASUS launches the MeMO Pad 7. What better way to celebrate than with a new launch video? The video shows off the budget-friendly MeMO Pad 7 in all of its glory, with ASUS choosing to focus on the apps it has developed for the new slate. You can catch it after the jump.
Interestingly, ASUS chooses not to focus on the tablet’s specs in the video, but there’s probably a good reason for that. After all, the tablet starts at $149, which means that ASUS isn’t able to outfit it with the best equipment around. Instead, we’re shown a number of apps ASUS has included with the MeMO Pad 7, like ASUS Studio, BudyBuzz, MyPainter, and SuperNote Lite.
There are more apps on display other than those, but we don’t want to ruin everything about the video. Though ASUS keeps talk about hardware features brief, it does make sure to point out that the MeMO Pad 7 comes with a microSD slot. The company also reminds us that those who purchase the MeMO Pad 7 will get 5GB of free cloud storage with ASUS WebStorage, which will be a handy feature to have indeed.
Though the MeMO Pad 7 looks pretty similar to the Nexus 7 (which ASUS also made), its specs don’t exactly match up. The MeMO Pad 7 features a 7-inch screen displaying at 1024 x 600 resolution, a 1GHz VIA WM8950 processor, 1GB of RAM, and a relatively beefy 4,270mAh battery. The tablet is also running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box, so while it isn’t the best tablet on the block, it may not be a bad idea for those who are looking for an inexpensive slate.
[Thanks Alex!]
ASUS MeMO Pad 7 official video sufaces is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
This week the team at BLU have revealed a new series of smartphones with the NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor line inside, making it clear that they’re pushing for a more mainstream showing of their Android-based mobile products. This lineup includes the Quattro 4.5, Quattro 4.5 HD, and rounding off the series with a device so large it’s just about as big as a tablet with the Quattro 5.7 HD. These devices will be available for relatively inexpensive prices unlocked – that means you’re not going to have to tie yourself up with a mobile operator for 2 years just to afford the device – might be a winning solution!
With the BLU Quattro 4.5 HD you’ll be working with a 4.5-inch HD 326PPI display with what the company calls Advanced Super View technology. This technology is said to bring “spectacular clarity” as well as “rich, natural color” – can’t wait to see it! The Quattro 4.5 HD also has a pane of Corning Gorilla Glass up front to stay tough against scratches and you’ll have an 8 megapixel camera on the back with f/2.4 large aperture lens with 1080p video recording abilities.
Inside the Quattro HD you’ll have 16GB of internal memory as well as 1GB of RAM while your NVIDIA Tegra 3 SoC will be running at 1.5GHz out of the box. This device will be availabe the first week of February, 2013, complete with a $349.99 retail price unlocked. That, again, means no contractual obligations – you’ll be working with quad-band GSM and penta-band 21Mbps HSPA+ connectivity – 1700MHz AWS inside the USA – so you’ll be choosing from brands like AT&T and T-Mobile for your mobile SIM card down the line.
There’s also a Quattro 4.5 (without the HD) coming in at $249.99 USD, also unlocked, here with a 4.5-inch qHD display and a 5 megapixel camera on the back as well as 4GB of internal memory. You’ll be able to expand this device’s memory by 32GB with your own microSD card, on the other hand, while you’ll be jumping off with 1GB of RAM and a launch date essentially the same time as the HD iteration.
Finally there’s the Quattro 5.7 HD, a device with a massive 5.7-inch 1280 x 720 pixel resolution HD display and many of the same specifications as the Quattro 4.5 HD. This Quattro 5.7 HD also works with an 8 megapixel camera and video recording abilities up to 1080p, but you’ll have the same 4GB internal memory as the non-HD Quattro 4.5 – but again here you’ll also have a microSD card slot for memory expansion up to 32GB. The Quattro 5.7 HD will be costing you $299.99 retail unlocked and will be available at the end of March.
Each model sounds pretty enticing! You may find the fact that they’ll all be coming with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to be less than appealing, but they also include a “planned upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as well. We shall see the truth of all of this soon enough! Don’t forget to check out our NVIDIA Tegra hub for more information on the grand expanse of the Tegra mobile processor universe – it’s ever-expanding!
[via HPC Wire]
BLU Quattro smartphone series revealed with NVIDIA Tegra 3 is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
It would appear that HTC has sprung a bit of a leak ahead of their February 19th event that’ll likely play host to the devices we’ve seen today, including first and foremost the HTC M7! While the details surrounding the M7 are still largely unknown, a video has surfaced of none other than HTC’s CEO Peter Chou showing the device off to a crowd of users at the HTC Year-End Party in Taipei, going on to help the party chant “M7! M7! M7!” while he takes photos with the smartphone itself.
This video shows Chou showing the device off in a silver edition as well as a white edition, each of these devices appearing to be smaller than the previously rumored 4.7-inches (display-wise). This device will likely make its appearance at the February 19th event along with the other two HTC One devices leaked today. Each of these machines will take the place of the HTC One lineup showed off for the first time last year at Mobile World Congress 2012.
The other two devices that’ve been leaked today come from @evleaks at Unwired View, the first of them being the HTC M4. This device will be appearing with a 4.3-inch display that’s 720p resolution with a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor under the hood. That seems awfully similar to what we saw last year with the HTC One S, mind you, this time coming with 2GB of RAM, a 13 megapixel camera on the back with f/2.0 and 1080p video recording abilities, and a 1.6 megapixel camera on the front. Inside you’ll find a 1700mAh battery and Android Jelly Bean.
On the low end of this spectrum comes the HTC G2, this machine bringing in a 1.0GHz ARM cortex processor (single core) with a 3.5-inch HVGA display. This device is clearly meant to take on the inexpensive side the the market with 4GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, rear camera at 5 megapixels, 512MB of RAM, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. This HTC G2 will likely take on the name HTC One G2 to differentiate between itself and the original G2 from a couple of years ago.
Sound like an exciting lineup to you? Stick around our HTC tag portal and our tag for Mobile World Congress 2013 to make sure you’re on top as it all comes down!
HTC M7 revealed by Peter Chou, M4 and G2 detailed is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
This week the Google Nexus lineup has been tipped to see a slight overhaul for its second coming, with hardware upgrades coming to the Nexus 7 tablet and the Nexus 4 smartphone in large and small doses. The Google Nexus 7 tablet has been on the market since July of last year as it was first shown off at Google I/O 2012, the company’s official developer conference, while the Nexus 4 has only been on the market for a few months – still having supply issues as we speak. The upgrades come to the color in which you’ll be able to pick up the smartphone and the sharpness of the display of the tablet.
While it is odd that the Samsung-made Nexus 10 has not been tipped for any sort of upgrade (beyond this one) for this Winter/Spring 2013 season, the Nexus 7 (made by ASUS) has seen its fair share of competition since its initial $199 reveal. This price point and the fact that it’s got a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor under the hood have all but blasted the machine into space with popularity, prompting waves of competitive 7-inch tablets (and the like) to attempt to syphon the cash. The upgrade tipped by Digitimes suggests that this machine will have an upgrade from its 1280 x 800 pixel display to an immensely dense 1728 x 1080 or even 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution.
Meanwhile the Google Nexus 4 (made by LG) has been selling like hotcakes since it was first put on the market at the end of 2012. Here near the end of January 2013, the device is just now seeing availability flicker on (and more often off) online and in retail locations across the USA. Have a peek at a column by the name of “Why the Nexus 4 is selling like mad by Robert Nelson on Android Community to see why this beast continues to kick the market’s butt.
The newest word on the Nexus 4 is that it’ll have a white case in its next release. That’s it, that’s all, that’s all there is. That tip was sent to PhoneArena with the photo you see above – look pretty real to you? Looks pretty real to us – expect that device to be appearing in that color before the second quarter of this year rolls around – bank on it!
Google Nexus 7 and 4 tipped for spring refresh in White and HD is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Not quite content with the release of its Grand S earlier this month, ZTE looks to be preparing a new tablet to go along with that aforementioned flagship handset. The V81 — which will presumably make its official debut at this year’s Mobile World Congress — is, according to the company’s own website, said to be boasting an 8-inch (1,024 X 768) display with a dual-core, 1.4GHz CPU (mum’s the word on chipset specifics), 1GB RAM and 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded to up to 32GB via microSD. Speaking of which, other listed incisions include a full-size USB and HDMI, while a 3,700 mAh battery and Android Jelly Bean are also part of the relatively decent spec sheet. Naturally, pricing and availability details are still slim, but it shouldn’t be too long before we learn more on that front — in the meantime, there’s a gallery filled with V81 press shots after the break for you to peruse over.
Gallery: ZTE V81 tablet
Filed under: Tablets
Via: Notebook Italia
Source: ZTE
ZTE is moving on up in the world. Just recently, they snuck their way into the top 5 list of smartphone manufacturers during Q4 2012, and now the company is looking to take on the iPad mini with its own Android-based tablet. Today, the company unveiled the V81, an 8-inch 4:3 display running Jelly Bean.
Right off the bat, we’re looking at a 1024×768 display, which isn’t high-res by any means, but it matches the iPad mini. The tablet will also run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and will powered by a dual-core 1.4GHz processor. There’s also 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot (with support for cards up to 32GB), a 3700 mAh battery, and a 2MP rear camera, with a 0.3MP front-facing shooter.
The tablet takes on mostly the same size and shape as the iPad mini, except it will be just slightly larger, thanks to the thicker bezel all the way around the display. The tablet will also come with HDMI, as well as all the other goodies you expect in a modern slate, including Wi-Fi 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, USB, and an accelerometer.
We have yet to hear about pricing details, which is one area that many prospective buyers are wondering about. Until we hear more about the tablet, you’re better off hold your breath and waiting for a price tag before you pull your wallet out so soon. However, it’s possible that the V81 could make an appearance at Mobile World Congress, so keep your eyes pointed to our MWC coverage next month to learn more.
[via Android Community]
ZTE unveils V81 tablet with Jelly Bean and 8-inch display is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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