Android News: December 2013

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Android 4.4 KitKat Update: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 CyanogenMod 11 ROM Early Release Now Available

CyanogenMod may not have yet released its Android 4.4 KitKat-based CM 11 ROM, but ROMs based on CyanogenMod 11 have already begun to circulate.

CyanogenMod released its source code for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on Friday, and developers at the XDA Forums have already put togetherpreliminary ROMs for the smartphone.

Thus far, developers have indicated that the ROM’s functional features include the basic system -- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile data, USB 3.0, external SD, SMS, headphones, speaker, 3D graphics, camera and video, audio recording, notification LED, battery monitoring, S-Pen, front-facing camera and sensors. Features that currently don't work include calling and NFC. ROM features that have not yet been tested for functionality include LTE, earpiece, tethering, USB OTG and MHL/HDMI.

Google Expected to Partner With Audi to Put Android in New Cars

First came the smartphones. Then came the tablets. But soon, Google will be taking its Android operating system and putting it in a much bigger package. The Wall Street Journal reports that Google plans to partner with Audi to develop Android-based software for new cars.

Ron Montoya, the consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com, said that the two companies had worked together before. "They already laid the foundation when they started to put Google Maps in the car," he told ABC News. "[The partnership] is sort of a natural evolution."

Karl Brauer, a senior analyst at Kelley Blue Book, adds that it's not just Audi's and Google's partnership evolving, but the car itself. "Even if you drive a lot, you still probably spend more time with your devices than with your car," he said. "The closer that they can make a car interface look like a phone interface, the more quickly you'll learn to use it and the more at ease you'll be."

Why Do Android Smartphones Guzzle the Most Data?

Android smartphones are kind of like Hummers. Reminiscent of the oversize, gas-guzzling S.U.V.’s, Androids have the biggest screens and tend to use much more data than other types of smartphones, including iPhones. And that higher data usage could rack up heftier phone bills.

In a recent study, Ericsson, the networking company, found that global mobile Internet traffic varied greatly, depending on the software system and the network that a phone uses.

But the highest average data consumption was seen on Android phones, which consumed an average of 2.2 gigabytes of data a month on one network, the study said. By contrast, iPhones used roughly 1.7 gigabytes a month and Windows phones used approximately 1.4 gigabytes a month, Ericsson found.

Monday, December 30, 2013

How Android and iOS Should Work in Your Car

In-car apps are officially a thing. Technically, they have been for years, as companies like Ford laid the groundwork with systems like Sync. But now, the key players are involved. Apple announced iOS in the Car in June, and according to a new report, Google and Audi will announceplans to bring Android to vehicles at CES next week.

It's about time. I can't be the only person who relies far more on Google Maps via my phone than my car's own in-car navigation system. Although the system's navigation hardware, complete with a retracting touchscreen, is excellent, the maps are dated and the manufacturer wants tocharge me $200 for an upgrade, which must be performed manually via DVD.

The Cave for Android is free from Amazon

Double Fine's puzzle-platform adventure game The Cave is currently available to download for free from Amazon and Amazon U.K. for Android-operated devices.

The tile, which is listed on Google Play for $4.99, requires Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and up to operate on Android-based smartphones and tablets.

The Cave centers the journey of seven mismatched adventurers, where each character features a distinct personality, agenda, backstory and talents. Players explore the anthropomorphic cave with a chosen team of three adventurers with the ability to switch between characters in order to solve The Cave's puzzles.

The Cave launched on Ouya earlier this month and for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad via the App Store on Oct. 3. It is also available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, Windows PC, Mac and Linux. For more about Double Fine's adventure game, be sure to check out our review.

Android Usage Data Only Tells Half The Story

If marketing is all about creating stories around a product, few CEOs are as good at storytelling as Apple's Tim Cook. But that doesn't mean the stories he tells are true.

At least, not as true as he'd like. Like any storyteller, Cook likes to cherry pick the data that suits his purposes best. For example, the big news over this holiday period has been, yet again, just how dramatically Apple's iOS devices lead Google's Android when it comes to usage for web browsing and shopping, as illustrated by IBM research. Based on past versions of this same analysis, Cook concludes that Android leads the "junk market" and that only iOS gets used while Android devices sit "in the drawer."

But this isn't what the data says. Not really.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Beware of counterfeit versions of top Android, iOS apps

Cybercriminals are using third-party app sites to peddle reverse-engineered versions—essentially counterfeit or pirated—of almost all the most popular paid apps available on the Google Play and Apple App Stores, software firm Arxan has discovered.

The firm uncovered this parallel app universe in a similar piece of research last year andfor 2013 not much appears to have changed.

Looking at a total of 230 apps—the top 100 paid apps and top 15 free apps for Android and iOS—Arxan found that 100 percent of the top paid apps on Android and 56 percent on iOS were being impersonated in a compromised form on grey markets.

For free apps, the analysis found that 73 percent of Android apps in the top 15 existed in a bogus form on third-party stores, slightly worse than the 53 percent for iOS. Arxan also looked at popular financial apps, 20 from each platform, finding that a half of the Android samples existed as hacked versions with a quarter for Android.

This Year in Android: 2013 in Retrospect

As we enter the final days of 2013, we quickly approach the culmination of one of Android’s biggest years to date. We’ve seen major new hardware, new software and corporate changes at Google that set up an exciting future for the year ahead. In this special final instalment of This Week In Android, we’re going to take a look back at the last 12 months and some highlights of the Android news that filled them.

January: CES

Like every year, January 2013 brought the traditional slew of news from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Android world was, of course, a dominant source of news at the show, with OEMs introducing flagship new devices, such as Sony’s Xperia Z and Xperia ZL.

Android 4.4 KitKat Recent ROM Rundown: The Latest In CyanogenMod 11 Unofficial Builds, AOKP KitKat Nightlies, And Paranoid Android AOSPA4+ ROMs

Many manufacturers are busy getting their Android 4.4 KitKat firmware ready for release ,with most expected to update devices in early 2014. Meanwhile, developers are hard at work rolling out custom ROMs in record time. Here’s a rundown of the latest developments in aftermarket firmware.

CyanogenMod 11 Unofficial ROMs

CyanogenMod 11 is officially in progress with nightlies released for several high-end devices. The CM source code is also available for the tech savvy to try their hand at creating their own custom builds.

Notably, Android 4.4 KitKat released with the ‘Project Svelte’ optimization, which allows for compatibility with a host of devices, including those with as little as 512MB RAM. Developers at the XDA Forums have taken the opportunity to create CyanongenMod-based ROMs for a number of mid-range to low-end Samsung smartphones including the Galaxy Ace, the Galaxy Fit, the Galaxy Mini and the Galaxy Gio. Remarkably, the Galaxy Ace is the only device of the four to feature 512 MB of RAM, the Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Mini and Galaxy Gio include 280 MB, 384 MB, and 278 MB respectively. This shows an extraordinary range for the compatibility of Project Svelte. Though it is unlikely that Samsung would provide Android 4.4 support for these devices as they are all over 2-years-old.

Best designed Android apps – Google’s new picks

The Android Design team from Google HQ published a new list of Android apps that “go above and beyond the guidelines” when it comes to design.

Google first published a Beautiful Design collection in July, praising apps like Pattrn, Pocket, Flipboard, or Pinterest, for their masterfully crafted design elements. Since then, a new batch of beautiful applications have hit the Play Store, while several apps were updated in line with Google’s design guidelines.

The new Beautiful Design Winter 2013 app collection contains apps “with masterfully crafted design details such as beautiful presentation of photos, crisp and meaningful layout and typography, and delightful yet intuitive gestures and transitions”.

In a post on the Android Developers Blog, Marco Paglia from Google’s Android Design team highlighted three apps in particular:

Root Galaxy S3 on I9300XXUGMK6 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Earlier this month, a new stock firmware build I9300XXUGMK6 based on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean was rolled out by Samsung for the international version of Galaxy S3.

Firmware details

Model: GT-I9300

Country: Open Europe

Version: Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Changelist: 2168382

Build date: 28 November

Product code: OXA

PDA: I9300XXUGMK6

CSC: I9300OXAGMK6

MODEM: I9300XXUGMK6

The I9300XXUGMK6 build is for users across the European region. It carries several new changes and improvements such as Galaxy Gear support, TRIM support, Samsung Wallet, new Samsung keyboard, new lockscreen, new S-voice, new Camera mode and Daydream, reports Sammobile.

Report: iOS Delivers More Christmas Day Sales Than Android

Ready for another data point in the ongoing "Android vs. iOS" battle that's been waged around analysts' desks for years now? According to new research from IBM, iOS users drove more online sales on Christmas Day than their Android counterparts – even considering the fact that Android devices are absolutely crushing Apple's iPhones for smartphone market share on the worldwide level.

We realize we're mixing terminology a little bit, so we want to be clear: Android enjoys the win against the iPhone in worldwide and U.S. market share, but IBM's figures related to Android versus iOS in general (and only shopping done on U.S. retail sites). These figures include shopping done on Apple's iPads as well as any screen-tapping that shoppers did on Android tablets.

(Just as a separate point, it's a bit trickier to get a solid picture of the Android vs. iOS market share for tablets, but it's assumed that Android is going to eventually overtake iOS devices there as well.)

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Intex Aqua i4+ with Android 4.2, 5-inch IPS display launched at Rs. 7,600

Intex has launched a new budget Android smartphone, the Aqua i4+, pricing it at Rs. 7,600. The Intex Aqua i4+ is the successor to the Aqua i4 launched in September this year.

The Intex Aqua i4+ runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and is a dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) phablet with dual standby support. It features a 5-inch IPS display with 480x854 pixels (FWVGA) resolution. The Intex Aqua i4+ is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor (unspecified chipset) along with 512MB of RAM.

It sports an 8-megapixel autofocus rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and also packs a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. The Intex Aqua i4+ comes with 4GB inbuilt storage, which can be expanded up to 32GB with the help of a microSD card.

It packs a 2000mAh battery, while the connectivity options on the phablet include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPRS, EDGE, GPS/ AGPS and 3G. The Intex Aqua i4+ features a host of sensors that include motion sensor, light sensor and proximity sensor.

I9300XXUGML2 Android 4.3 Update for Galaxy S3 Released [How to Install]

A new stock firmware build I9300XXUGML2, based on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, is now available to download for the global version of Galaxy S3. This update comes after Samsung resumed Android 4.3 upgrade service, which was suspended temporarily following users' complaint over major bug issues.

The I9300XXUGML2 build is currently live for Galaxy S3 users in Switzerland. Users can install the update via OTA and through Samsung Kies.

Firmware details

PDA: I9300XXUML2

CSC: I9300AUTGML1

MODEM: I9300XXUGMK6

Version: Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Build date: 13 December

Galaxy S3 users who failed to update their devices with the latest firmware for being region-specific, may follow our step-by-step guide to install the same manually using Odin flashing tool. The I9300XXUML2, like any other unbranded version of firmware, can be installed on any unlocked GT-I9300 unit, irrespective of country and region.

Friday, December 27, 2013

When is My Android Phone Getting the Android 4.4 “Kit Kat” Update?

In the past, we have done our best to track the update situation for most of Verizon’s phones whenever a new major version of Android is released. We did it with both Ice Cream Sandwich and then Jelly Bean. Since Android 4.4 “Kit Kat” has been available for almost two months and has rolled out to a number of devices, it seemed like the perfect time to get a post going. We are going to do things a little different this time, though.

In the past, we stuck to a list of Verizon’s top devices for a number of reasons. But now that we’re seeing people jump to prepaid, T-Mobile, and other carriers quite regularly here at DL, we are expanding the list with Kit Kat. As devices from the four major carriers see updates to Kit Kat, we will add them to this list to hopefully create the ultimate collection of Android 4.4 updates. That’s a lofty goal, but I think we can manage.

Why Your Android Phone Will Always Be Out Of Date

One of the biggest problems with Android phones is that they rarely, if ever, receive timely software updates whenever Google releases a new version of the operating system.

Many users may not notice, but for those who care about always having the latest and greatest smartphone features, it can be a big bummer. According to Google's own stats, only 1.1% of Android users are running the latest version of the OS called KitKat. Most Android users (about 54%) are still on version a version called Jelly Bean, which Google released in 2012.

Compare that to Apple's iPhone. Right now, more than 74% of iPhone owners are running iOS 7, the newest operating system that launched just under four months ago.

So why is there such a big discrepancy?

There are a lot of moving parts, but it boils down to the fact that hardware manufacturers like Samsung, LG, and HTC modify Android so heavily with extra features, graphics, etc. that it takes them a long time to incorporate new versions of Android. Even after they do that, carriers must test the manufacturer's changes to Android to make sure everything is compatible with the network.

Stable CyanogenModded Android 4.3 available on the Oppo N1

Recently launched, the Oppo N1 flaunts its Color OS atop Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean but as Oppo has a collaboration partnership with the CyanogenMod team, the device also has ready access to their beefed-up Android builds. Starting today, owners of the N1 can enjoy a stable CM10.2 ROM, which is based on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

Running on a great variety of hardware, Google’s Android allows a variety of looks and features across the board. CyanogenMod has the most popular lineup of customized Android ROMs for devices by various manufacturers. Oppo made sure to work closely with the CyanogenMod group when making its Oppo N1 and as a result their smartphone allows one of the easiest ways of installing the custom CM ROMs. Many times installing CyanogenMod would require you to either root your device and/or lose some functionality, but in this case the functionality of the Oppo N1 remains all intact.

That means that the rotating camera module still prompts the software to open the camera app and even the touch-enabled rear panel, dubbed O-Touch, is usable. Also the O-Click Bluetooth accessory is supported and the double-tap to wake and lock feature is available in CyanogenMod too.

Best Android Apps 2013: 10 must-have Android apps

Whether you're a current Android phone owner, or you've just bought a phone from our best Android phones shortlist, seeking out the best Android apps is a sure-fire way of getting the most from your phone.

For our list of the best Android apps we've tried to pick out some of the best new additions in different categories, but we've also stuck with the best older apps if no new app can easily compare with it.

We’ve tried to cover every different basic category of app, from music and video players to messaging apps and Microsoft Office-style suites so you can get up and running with a new phone as soon as possible.

Read more...http://www.trustedreviews.com/best-android-apps_round-up

U.S. Christmas Day Shoppers Bought More on iOS Than Android

If you purchased something from a mobile device on Christmas Day, chances are that device was an iPhone or an iPad.

So says IBM, whose latest Digital Analytics Benchmark Report found that purchases made from iOS devices accounted for about 23 percent of the online shopping done on Christmas Day in the U.S. According to Big Blue, which tracked millions of transactions from approximately 800 U.S. retail websites, that’s about five times as many purchases as the 4.6 percent that were made from Android devices.

iOS users outspent shoppers on Android 5 to 1 this Christmas Day: IBM

iOS device users were more prolific online shoppers in the US on Christmas Day, compared to their Android device counterparts, reveals a report by IBM.

IBM has shared the online shopping trends for December 25, Christmas Day in the US via its IBM digital analytics benchmark, revealing some interesting statistics related to Apple and Androidplatforms, apart from mobile and tablet shopping as a whole. According to IBM, raw data was analysed from approximately 800 retail sites across the US.

As per IBM, out of the total online sales in the US in the Christmas period, iOS accounted for five times the traffic of Android, driving 23 percent of total online sales traffic when compared to Android's 4.6 percent. The report also reveals that on average, iOS users spent $93.94 per purchase order, while Android users spent $48.10 per order, almost half.

Further, IBM also informs that the mobile traffic accounted for 48 percent of all online traffic on Christmas Eve, which was up 28.3 percent compared to the same period in 2012. Of the total online traffic, iOS accounted 32.6 percent compared to Android's 14.8 percent. Mobile sales were also strong in the period, approaching 29 percent of all online sales, up 40 percent from the same period in 2012.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Apple's iOS Completely Blew Away Google's Android For Shopping On Christmas

Apple's mobile operating system, iOS, continues to blow away Google's Android in mobile commerce, according to IBM analytics.

IBM put out a press release about what it saw during Christmas. It's not good for Android:

iOS vs. Android: As a percentage of total online sales, iOS was more than five times higher than Android, driving 23 percent vs. 4.6 percent for Android. On average, iOS users spent $93.94 per order, nearly twice that of Android users, who spent $48.10 per order. iOS also led as a component of overall traffic with 32.6 percent vs. 14.8 percent for Android.
Read more...

5 simple tips that can make your new Android phone better

Did you find a new Android phone among your holiday gifts? Well here’s another gift: Five of them, actually. These tips and apps will make that new Android phone even better.

I don’t know how many people found an Android smartphone among their holiday gifts although I suspect it was more than a few. There’s no lack of good options available from Samsung, HTC, LG, Motorola and others. No matter what Android phone you might have unwrapped, however, there are a few easy things you can do to make the experience a great one.

Find a keyboard that works the way you do. I actually like the stock Google keyboard that comes with Android, but everyone is different. Luckily, Android lets you install and use the keyboard — or keyboards, for that matter — you prefer. A quick search in the Google Play store will get you started but most people can’t go wrong with SwiftKey.

Google BLASTS BACK at Apple, Microsoft, Sony in Android patent WAR

Google has struck back at a patent-wielding consortium composed of industry heavy-hitters with a lawsuit seeking a judgment that neither Google nor any of its Android partners infringes on the group's patents.

The move is the latest chapter in a saga that dates back to 2011, when Apple, BlackBerry, EMC, Ericsson, Microsoft, and Sony teamed up to buy the patent portfolio of failed telecoms vendor Nortel for $4.5bn, beating out Google's own $900m bid.

That group later emerged asRockstar, and earlier this year it began firing off lawsuits at Google and makers of Android devices – including Asus, HTC, Huawei, LG, Pantech, Samsung, and ZTE – alleging that the Chocolate Factory's smartphone OS infringes on its patent pool.

Google denies the charges, and indocuments filed with the US District Court of Northern California on Monday, it has asked for a trial that it hopes will end with a declaration that Android is in the clear.

Best apps for your new Android phone or tablet

If you haven’t been paying attention, you might not know that Android apps have radically improved in 2013. This year, Google finally started offering “Find my phone” services services, but the third party apps have also gotten better. From design to performance to simple availability, the grass is looking greener and greener. After you’ve picked up the usual suspects — Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and obviously Dots — the harder choices come in. Will you use Google Keep for your notes or go with Evernote or Simplenote? What’s the best app to wring the most out of the pictures you take on your phone? Will you be reading books on Kindle, articles in Pocket, or news in Flipboard or Press? With Android, you’re not longer left in the lurch looking for options, but that means you need help choosing between them. Fortunately, we’ve collected our favorites here, so get ready to click some links and fill up your home screen.

Read more...

Daily dilemma: Choosing iPad, Android, or Windows tablet

I am a tech addict, this I admit. I justify my obsession with mobile tech, tablets in particular, as it happens to be my job. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. It gives me a reason to own not one or two, but five tablets.

These tablets include an iPad Air, iPad mini (non-Retina model), Galaxy Note 8.0, ThinkPad Tablet 2, and a Transformer Book T100. For those keeping count that's two iPads, one Android, and two Windows 8 tablets.

Most days I take one of these to work outside the office all day. I rotate them frequently, and get asked regularly how I choose one each day. A common query I receive is if I choose the tablet platform to fit a day's expected task(s). That's a logical assumption but the fact is the tablet I choose to use on a given day is strictly a spur of the moment decision.

Begun the Android wars have

The proxy war against Google’s Android has flared up into full conflict.

For the last few years, Microsoft, Apple and other proprietary mobile makers have been picking off Android suppliers such as Samsung without taking on Google directly.

All that changed when the proprietary outfits formed an glorious alliance of patent trolls called Rockstar. The aim of Rockstar was to use every trick in the patent troll’s handbook to bring Android to its knees.

Now Google has filed a new lawsuit to challenge Rockstar claiming that is using dubious patents to threaten its partners and customers in the mobile device industry.

In a complaint filed Monday in San Jose, Google claims that Rockstar’s patent campaign has “placed a cloud on Google’s Android platform,” threatening Nexus devices in particular.

For the first time Google is stepping in to protect ASUS and other companies that use Android.

Rockstar filed a wave of lawsuits in late October which many think could spell the end of Android.

ASUS, HTC, Huawei, LG, Pantech, Samsung, and ZTE have all been targeted with threats.

Jobs’ Mob, Vole and BlackBerry spent $4.5 billion in 2012 for a trove of patents from Nortel and is using them to try and kill Android.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Android tips and tricks for beginners

If you're holding your shiny new Android smartphone and are wondering how to get the most from it, then you've come to the right place.

Whether this is your first smartphone, you've just hopped over from an iPhone, or you've had a number of Android handsets, we've pulled together some of the best Android tips and tricks to help you get the most from your phone.

Android is an ever-changing beast with many faces. There are different versions of the software, there are plenty of different manufacturer skins layed over that Android core, like those from Sony, Samsung or HTC, and there's a limitless level of customisation you can apply from Google Play, or other third-party sources.

That means that few Android devices are alike, but all Android devices have the same foundation. So, starting at the beginning, here's how to master your Android phone.

Setting Up Your New Android Tablet for Maximum Awesome

You put it on the list. You dropped subtle hints. You even watched The Internship just to point out the Android logo. Finally, all that work has paid off. You have a new Android tablet. Now what?

Once you’ve plugged in your Google account information, you’ll want to load your new toy up with the best apps on the market. It’s also a good time to get those settings in line for maximum Android action.

Account Setup

When you turn on your tablet for the first time, you’ll be prompted to log in to your Google account. This will import all your Gmail and purchased app information. Unless you want to get Google spam, uncheck the box that asks if you want to get periodical news about Google products. No one likes spam. This is also an opportunity to add additional accounts. If you plan on sharing the tablet with family members, you can add their Google accounts, which will let them access their Gmail and apps in a separate environment.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2-inch Android tablet leaked

Samsung’s new best friend — that is, their highly successful Note series of devices — has been good to them. The latest phone entry was good enough to join the 10 million sales club alongside the Note 2, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and more. Now, it looks like Samsung is about ready to bring us another Note tablet.

A photo of a supposed “Samsung Galaxy Note Pro” has leaked Clien.net. This tablet reportedly sports a 12.2-inch display, which is the size of an unknown 12.2-inch Samsung tablet that made the rounds at the FCC about a month go.

If those two are the same devices, we’re told to expect the following list of specs:

Nokia Normandy budget Android phone leaked again in new purported render

Nokia may not have officially revealed plans for making Android devices, but rumours about the company's first Android-powered smartphone, thought to be codenamed Normandy, are buzzing again.

@evleaks has posted a render showing Nokia's alleged first Android smartphone, Normandy in various colour variants. The tweet reads, "Nokia Normandy, 2013" and includes the purported render of the device. The tweet also indicates that Nokia might launch the alleged Normandy by end of this year.

The Nokia Normandy's leaked render shows the yet-to-announced device sporting a similar design to the Asha touch range of phones. There is a physical back button on the front panel of the alleged Normandy, as seen in leaked render. The rear panel is seen with the camera accompanied by the Nokia logo branding in the middle. The rumoured Nokia Normandy can be expected to come in Black, Cyan, Mint Green, Red, Yellow and White colours, if the leaked render is believed.

Top 5 Android Phones of 2013

At the end of each year, it’s easy to find ourselves both looking back at all that happened over the past 12 months, trying to reflect on it, and then looking forward to what’s ahead. The “what’s ahead” is about to hit us with a right-cross in a couple of weeks when CES arrives, so I’d say that I’m still very much in the reflection stage at this point. Which brings me to this post and my thoughts on the top 5 Android phones of the year.

The year 2013 was filled with the most incredible smartphones the world has ever seen. 1080p displays became a standard (for the most part), cameras grew increasingly better, battery life is now measured in days instead of hours, customization was introduced, and prices may have started to decline across the board. Phone manufacturers also seem to have figured out winning formulas for the most part in terms of hardware, but only one still has the marketing side (or budget) on lock. All of that helped shape this list.

Windows 8.1 machines running Android apps to descend upon CES 2014?

It’s no secret that consumers have been slow to warm up to Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, the latter of which was released this past October. Could the sagging adoption numbers and legions of people who are clinging to Windows XP and Windows 7 be pacified by a machine that runs Windows 8.1 but is capable of supporting Android apps? It sounds like we’ll soon find out.

You might hear the term “PC Plus” quite a bit during CES 2014, which will begin on January 7. PC Plus refers to the concept of a Windows 8.1 machine that also runs Android apps. We’re talking about laptops here, not tablets. Aside from that (big) detail, this is not exactly a new idea.

Bluestacks, an Android emulator for Windows and Mac OS X, is able to perform the task of running Android apps on traditional desktop operating systems. While Blackstacks simply ran as a separate program within Windows and OS X, the relationship between Windows 8.1 and Android apps could work differently with PC Plus, according to Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.

HTC Desire 400 Unveiled: 4.3 Inch Android Smartphone Makes an Entry with Dual SIM Support

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As consumers rejected HTC claim's of charging premium for its One series, the makers have decided to shift focus on the mid-range Desire handsets.

After making the Desire 501, 601 and 700 official later this year, HTC has one more handset left to show off. It's none other than the Desire 400---an unexpected handset that made a debut earlier in the day.

Today, HTC Desire 400 quietly made an appearance on HTC Russia and Ukraine websites. Undoubtedly, the Desire 400 is a mid-range handset with average specifications and dual SIM support.

While it seems that the phone has been announced for select European markets, the confusion around its exact specs blew our minds.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Sony rolling Android 4.3 updates out to Xperia Z, ZL, ZR and Tablet Z

Hot on the heels of the Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z Ultra’s updates to Android 4.3, Sony announced today that it has begun rolling the freshest version of Jelly Bean out to even more of its Xperia handsets. The latest batch of update recipients includes the Xperia Z, the Xperia ZL, the Xperia ZR and the Xperia Tablet Z.

Just as with the Xperia Z1 and Z Ultra, the Android 4.3 update for this Xperia quartet includes Sony’s Smart Social Camera, which offers special camera apps like the ability to stream live video to Facebook as well as Timeshift Burst, an app that can snap 61 photos in 2 seconds. Also included with the updates are refreshed versions of all of Sony’s native apps, including Messaging, MyXperia, Small Apps and its WALKMAN, Album and Movies entertainment apps. The final app update is for the Battery STAMINA Mode, which has received an updated interface and more options for extending battery life.

Sony says that it’s also added its new Xperia Themes custom user interface experience with this batch of updates. The company isn’t saying much about Xperia Themes quite yet, only revealing that it’ll allow users to download UI packs through the Sony Select app, but it promises that more details will be released soon.

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