Asus has announced that the ZenFone 2 will be launched in New York on May 18th. They are also offering a chance to win 1 of 50 tickets to the event and one of the handsets. Check back nearer the time for a live stream link and head over to their Google+ page for the opportunity to enter the competition.
The post ASUS ZenFone 2 Launch Event appeared first on xda-developers.
The PC hits of LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game and its sequel have made their way to Android in this $6.99 combo pack. Hit up the link if you have 1.44GB free (only 735MB via PC), and may the bricks be with you!
The post LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga Hits Google Play appeared first on xda-developers.
The Verge did some testing of all the major Android keyboards and came to the conclusion that Google Keyboard is the best of them all. Swiftkey came in as a close second with the rest of the bunch falling behind. However, we’d like to know what our community here at XDA thinks. Do you agree with the Verge that Google Keyboard is the best keyboard on Android? Why or why not?
The post Do You Agree with the Verge’s Best Keyboard Choices? appeared first on xda-developers.
Google Now’s “Okay Google” voice recognition turned out to be a runaway success and starting today, Google is expanding the service’s frontiers and strengthening its core by allowing third party apps to tap into it and register voice triggers of their own, one official example being “Ok Google, Shazam this song.”
The post Third Party Voice Actions for Google Now Rolling Out appeared first on xda-developers.
Samsung’s tablet repertoire keeps growing, this time abandoning the S for an A. The Korean giant had stated that they would be trimming and focusing their smartphone and tablet lineups by reducing the number of devices and making them more cost-effective for consumer (read, cheaper). While we still see many Samsung phones, critics agree that they do indeed feel more polished and with a clearer purpose. This is how Samsung’s Galaxy A line-up came to be, a spiritual successor to last year’s Galaxy Alpha that didn’t quite buzz around as expected, but still offered a solid package with surprising performance for a non-flagship.
The Galaxy Tab A attempts to bring a tablet to this new philosophy. It was recently announced for South Korea and Taiwan, to come out next month in Wi-Fi and LTE with an optional S-pen stylus. There are 9.7 inch and 8 inch variants , but the latter was only confirmed for Taiwan back then. What is good about the Tab A? While the Galaxy Tab S featured a vibrant and crisp AMOLED display that wowed critics and users alike, it disappointed in terms of UI responsiveness and for many it was simply not worth the exorbitant price tag. The Tab A seeks to fix that by offering a more balanced product at a very cheap price. We received an anonymous tip that showed us early pictures of this device:
The Galaxy Tab A contains a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1.5GB of RAM, which should be enough for a Lollipop tablet. These pictures show devices for the American market, and you can already see the tablets in Best Buy’s product listing. The tablets are priced at $229.99 for the one with an 8 inch display, and $299.99 for the 9.7 inch version. All variants come with 16GB of storage with a microSD slot, and the displays used are neither Samsung’s AMOLED nor IPS LCD panels, but rather 1024 x 768 resolution TFT screens. This seems like an odd move, as IPS is generally preferable to TFT displays, but it was probably a needed move to save costs. Sadly, these tablets also come with Kids Mode (ugh).
So, is this tablet going to blow anyone’s socks off? No, not at all. But for the price, it remains a decent Samsung offering. Considering the Asus-made Nexus 7 was recently discontinued, the market is in dire need of strong budget alternatives. Samsung’s new solution might be a little too pricey still, but with features like multi-window the tablet gets a lot more use out of that big display that others out there can’t match. If you wanted this tablet to hit the United States, you should be pleased. For the rest of us, this is just another Samsung product we might never hear much about again.
What do you think of the Tab A? Is it affordable enough? Let us know your opinion!
The post Samsung Galaxy Tab A Hits USA, but Is It Cheap Enough? appeared first on xda-developers.
Not to be outdone by LG, HTC is rolling out RAW image capture to the One M9 via an update to the camera app. Grab the new version on Google Play now, then hit the streets to finally test your sensor against the G4, Nexus 6, and other RAW-toting flagships.
The post One M9 Camera App Adds RAW Support appeared first on xda-developers.
Google Malaysia has announced that the popular thumb-sized media streaming device, Chromecast, is now making its way to Malaysia. Priced at MYR170 (~$47), Chromecast is available at select Maxis carrier stores from today, with availability extending to all Maxis stores from May 5th 2015.
The post Chromecast Now Available In Malaysia appeared first on xda-developers.
The Asus Zenfone 2 was initially released with 4 variants with different specs as far as processors, storage and RAM are considered. Asus has now added a 5th variant in the mix, with the 128GB storage variant. Priced at Rs. 29,999 ($470), it comes with a 2.3GHz processor and 4GB RAM, and is listed as coming soon on Flipkart.
The post Asus Zenfone 2 128GB Gets Listed On Flipkart appeared first on xda-developers.
Google’s latest foray into making Android run every facet of our daily lives is their push into the car with the Android Auto initiative. While certainly not a new idea, Android Auto attempts to leave behind the wild west of previous vehicle implementations in favor of a simpler, streamlined approach. Gone are the multitude of car docks, messes of cables, shoddy Bluetooth connections, and difficult to operate software while driving, in favor of a single USB connection to your device, which can then be tossed into a center console and forgotten about. When reading about the features and implementation of Android Auto, one might consider how it’s any different from grabbing a Nexus 7 or similar device and having it permanently installed into the dashboard, or if that approach would be even more preferable to a system built around Android Auto. Exploring the key differences between these two approaches leads to the belief that the Android Auto implementation is ultimately the way to go.
Android Auto’s Overview Screen
The basic operation of Android Auto is simple to explain: download the Android Auto app to a compatible device, connect the device to a compatible car or aftermarket car radio using a USB cable, review some terms and conditions before the first use, and you’re set. Your car or aftermarket stereo displays the content, so you are free to place the phone out of sight while traveling. Delving a bit further into the process reveals a lot of smart choices on Google’s part. The phone you have connected provides the processing power, internet connection, and telephony functions of Android Auto…your car or aftermarket stereo system simply outputs the UI as well as handles the other sources you have available to you (CD playback, AM/FM/Sirius XM sources, etc.). Your device automatically substantiates a Bluetooth connection to handle phone call audio, contact management, and text message functionality, while the music audio from sources such as Google Play Music and Spotify is passed over the USB connection. Navigation is handled via Google Maps, and Google Now acts as the “home screen” on your car dashboard. All of these features work seamlessly together to provide the most relevant content.
Google Maps Navigation with Lane Assistance
There are some clear, front-and-center benefits to this setup versus retrofitting a dedicated tablet into your car’s dashboard. Since the phone you have connected to Android Auto is providing the processing power and functionality, upgrading your phone can potentially provide functionality improvements as well as introduce new features down the line. This makes a lot more sense, as a car is generally kept in service a lot longer than a phone. And since Google has standardized the UI of Android Auto regardless of which app is providing content, everything is laid out to provide the driver an infotainment system with minimal visual distractions. On-screen buttons are big and function the same regardless of what you’re doing, and the driver is given a lot of voice command functionality, which can be accessed via steering wheel controls.
Android Auto’s Voice Command System
In terms of audio processing, routing, and quality, the benefits of this system are enormous, but yet often go understated. Your car stereo or any aftermarket stereo system will contain much higher-grade audio circuitry than what is commonly put into consumer devices such as tablets and smartphones, simply due to the nature of the product category. In an Android Auto system, the audio is carried as digital information over the USB connection, but the sound processing, D/A conversion, channel routing, and crossover points are handled by the stereo system itself, and then outputted to your car’s speakers. This is an important distinction: fitting a Nexus 7 or other consumer device into your dash means that, no matter how you choose to output the audio of that device, the audio quality will be comparatively compromised. Using the headphone output of the tablet into an AUX line-in port on your car means that you are instead using the cheap A/D and D/A converters and preamps built in to the tablet. Using the device’s Bluetooth connection to stream the audio to your car compromises the audio output of that system as well, as Bluetooth streaming in and of itself simply degrades the quality of audio. It is even more important to have the car stereo itself handle the audio processing when dealing with systems that have external, dedicated amplifiers to power subwoofers, or when bypassing the built-in amp of the car stereo in favor of an external amp to power the speakers. Simply put, getting the audio information out of your device as unprocessed as possible, and letting the car stereo itself handle all of that is always preferable, and necessary for the best sounding audio possible.
Google Play Music UI on Android Auto
An additional consideration that needs to be made is the longevity of the components. A factory car stereo or aftermarket stereo system is built to both handle and operate in conditions that a consumer tablet is not. Conditions such as temperature extremes and changes, humidity levels, dust, dirt, sunlight, and vibrations will all wear on the components of any system over time. A tablet is simply not meant to be subjected to these conditions for long periods of time. Fitting a tablet into a dashboard as a permanent installation is unwise in this manner; the various components inside of that tablet will not survive being left inside of a car for as many years as one usually plans to own that car. That’s not to mention the other risks of device failure in general, such as software corruption from system updates, file system slowdowns over time, or touch precision on the screen degrading…all problems which have arisen on consumer devices in the past. Additionally, some general considerations, such as having to supply a separate internet connection to the device, as well as device syncing, maintenance and upkeep, need to be made when fitting a tablet, and is simply unneeded in an Android Auto setup.
When taking all of these drawbacks into consideration, an Android Auto setup is simply the best way to go in terms of getting Android into the car. It is simpler to set up, far more intuitive to operate, leads to less road distractions, and will provide much higher audio quality to boot. While seemingly more expensive than custom-fitting a tablet into a car’s dashboard, it is truly designed to last as long as the car is on the road, and functions at a level far greater than previous ways to shape Android into a road-worthy infotainment system. It is also a very new initiative; as time moves forward, the cost of entry into the world of Android Auto will drop, and the car manufacturers of the Open Automative Alliance will be including this functionality in newer models right off of the lot. Google has indeed come a long way in this venture, and what Android Auto is now is only going to improve over time. You can read more about Android Auto on Google’s Android Auto Portal.
Do you have an Android Auto system, or do you plan on getting one installed soon? Let us know your impressions of Android Auto in the comments!
The post Android Auto: A Better Choice appeared first on xda-developers.
Sony Corporation has released its report for the financial year 2014-15, and the mobile situation looks pretty grim. Smartphone shipments are forecasted to be around 30 million units, ~23% lower than the previous year. This is “due to a reduction in mid-range smartphone unit sales”, hence bringing down volume.
The post Sony Forecasts Xperia Shipments To Fall 23% In 2015-16 appeared first on xda-developers.
The LG G4 has met a lot of positive feedback since its unveiling at this past Tuesday’s event. The new device represents a lot of advancements for LG in key areas, but it also leaves behind some of the things that made their device so special in the first place. LG’s approach towards a fashionable smartphone could make for one of the most surprising releases of this year – if the cards play out right. The G3 was a marvelous device, going as far as winning Best Smartphone at the Global Mobile Awards 2015. Can the G4 live up to the hype and expectations?
The LG G3 was not particularly amazing in any regard when compared to the best of 2014: it didn’t have the absolute best camera, nor screen, nor the fastest processor nor the best battery. Its bezels grew bigger, but the device still remained rather small. Its faux metal plastic back didn’t fool anyone either, and the UI still makes Android purists cringe. Why was it so popular? The answer is the holistic panorama of the experience. A great smartphone doesn’t need to excel, and the G3’s consistency in every category made it a perfect fit for those that just want a darn good smartphone.
The G2 before it was also an amazing phone, and in many regards it was a trendsetter for 2013. It packed the mighty Snapdragon 800 (which remains speedy even by today’s standards), a very capable camera and minimal bezels that set a new trend ablaze. Since that phone was introduced, manufacturers have been paying more and more attention to screen-to-body ratios, and flagship lines have been shrinking their bezels in the past couple of years. LG’s UI was not the prettiest nor the fastest out there – especially pre-KitKat – but the SD800 managed to run it quite well on a gorgeous yet very saturated 1080p display. Two cycles from that device, how has LG’s flagship evolved?
When LG began the “See the Great, Feel the Great” campaign, we didn’t know that the company would establish the motto as a literal Ethos for their next phone. The catchphrase fits the G4 very well indeed – it looks and feels great, at least the leather version. And if not great, at least different. Motorola has leather backings available, and Samsung has been experimenting with fake ones since the Note 3, but LG’s leather solution actually looks much more impressive than these last two. LG said they wanted us to “feel the craftsmanship”, but we can see it. My personal first opinion of the device was that it looked somewhat tacky in the leaked pictures (especially due to the stitching), but after seeing it in videos being rotated in a 3D space with the lighting hitting the surface, I completely changed my mind.
When it comes to “design inspiration”, companies have always been rather stale. Take the Galaxy S3, for example: “inspired by Nature” was the campaign slogan, and it only ended up annoying users all over the world with the silly water sounds and the chirping bird notification tone. In this sense, TouchWiz is a disgrace – nature is more beautiful than those ugly colors (which, by the way, you’d be hard-pressed to find in nature) and cheesy sounds. LG’s inspiration and goal for the G4 is not only providing value, but also having a device that grows with you. This is something I don’t see many people discuss, but it is engraved into the core of the design and UX of this device on every level.
The leather back of the phone is the first indicative. Leather changes over time with use and stress, most of the time becoming more beautiful and personal. The genuine leather in the G4 will grow with you, and whatever tiny little scratches you make will not be a reason to change the backplate, but rather admire it. We’ve seen leather in technology change this way in the Moto X and Wear watches like the Moto 360, and ultimately it gives the device a lot more personality and one that reflects your personal history with the device. Whereas the G Flex 2 aimed to self-regenerate any signs of wear, the G4 turns it into a subtle feature.
The screen of the G4 is where LG truly needed to improve. If you look at display analysis of LG phones such as those of AnandTech you will find that LG’s displays suffer from mediocre contrast and terrible saturation. The G3 was, in fact, more saturated than the ultra-colorful AMOLED display of the Note 3, and the 1440p pioneer panel was shadowed by obnoxious software sharpening and constrained brightness. The G2 was no champion either. The new Quantum Display of the G4 seeks to remedy that, however, and promises excellent color reproduction, amazing brightness and great battery efficiency. The new liquid crystal structure and quantum dots allow for true-color calibration, and that with the GRAM introduced in the G2, power consumption should be dramatically reduced. Given how Samsung has gained the Display Crown twice in a row with the Note 4 and S6, competitive advancements on this front are a must.
Then there is the camera. Oh, the camera! This looks to be the most promising aspect of the G4: instead of lazily bumping megapixels like HTC or focusing on the software post-processing like Samsung, LG once again shows their innovation by introducing a color spectrum sensor that adjusts the white balance and allows for more realistic color reproduction in images. There is also an improved OIS 2.0 that adds a new Z axis of stabilization, meaning that pictures should look crisper. Then you’ve got a bigger image sensor and F1.8 aperture that allow more light in and lead to a better depth of field and improved low-light performance. And on top of that, you’ve got the laser auto-focus and a refined camera app with a manual mode designed for professional use. You can adjust parameters such as the shutter speed for creative shots, and you’ve got RAW image support to get the purest quality. This camera is a serious powerhouse, and pros love it. What else do you want?
But there are worrying aspects too. LG abandoned a trend that set their device apart and kick-started the G line love: small bezels. The G2 had a ~75.9% screen-to-body ratio, and the G3 dropped that number to ~75.3% which is still very respectable. The G4, however, increased the bezels significantly and now has a ~72.5% screen-to-body ratio (rough comparison to the left)… when they had shown an almost bezel-free display not long ago! Let’s put this into perspective: that is worse than several popular flagships of today, such as the Note 4, Nexus 6, Mi Note, Find 7, Sharp Aquos Crystal, Meizu MX4 Pro and others. LG had raised the bar in this regard, and it made for one of the most attractive devices in the market. Now they had a retrograde movement towards mediocrity again. Luckily, the device will still feel great in the hand due to a curved back… but the days of saying that LG phones don’t feel like phablets might be over.
Then there is the processor found inside: early benchmarks (courtesy of gsmarena) already show that it is far behind the competition, and in many ways it is behind 2014 devices at that. The Snapdragon 808 does have 64-bit support, but its hexacore arrangement only has 2 high-power cores in the performance cluster as opposed to 4 in the Snapdragon 810 and Exynos 7420. The Adreno 418 GPU is also worse than what is found in the Snapdragon 805, and this leads to worse game performance on the 1440p screen. Luckily, Qualcomm and LG have been focusing on optimizing the UX and they claim the phone is faster than the competition in many regards. We will have to wait and see, but I can’t help but feel that our predictions came true in the most crushing way. Hopefully the refinements in Android 5.1, particularly the kernel improvements that allow for better use of multiple cores in the UI, have a tangible effect. Smart use of Global Task Scheduling can go a long way.
Finally, the UI is still very much an LG UI. Many of the features like the smart widgets that inform you of events align with the theme of a more personal phone, but how useful they really are remains to be seen. The fact is that a lot of LG’s new functionality is better handled through Google Now, which comes built into the phone. We talked about this redundancy before and while LG wants to lure more users with features like these, many might not end up using or liking them. It would have been nice to see them focus on things like multi-window (as LG’s system is seriously lacking in comparison to Samsung’s) or the actual UI design, which is still quite offensive for those that love Google’s pure Android and Material Design.
The LG G4 looks very, very compelling. Their inspiration is, for the first time in an Android phone, completely tangible in every aspect of the phone. LG claims that they have been designing this phone before the G3 came to be, and in some ways this sounds honest. The G4 tries to move away from simple machinery into a more personal product, a fashion statement of sorts. The many color variations, back options and ever-changing leather in the premium alternative allow for a level of personal expression not found in many other phones. The removable battery and microSD slot show that LG still listens to power users, and the emphasis on hardware innovation is just what the company needs to combat Samsung.
LG fixed what was broken with a new screen that looks to be as promising as an IPS LCD display can get, and I personally cannot wait to see what a monstrous advancement from the G3 it must be. The camera simply sounds stellar – if there is such a thing as “overpowered” camera hardware, LG’s might be it. This is not to say that it will be the best, though, as Samsung’s DXO score just topped the mobile game. This is mostly due to the amazing software Samsung put in this time around, given that other than the F1.9 aperture of the S6, the module is similar to the Note 4’s. LG’s approach to a hardware powerhouse for the camera might be enough to take Samsung’s crown, and if their display also surpasses Samsung’s, a lot of praise will ensue.
Sure, the processor might be underpowered compared to the Exynos 7 or even last year’s Snapdragon 805, but with good optimization that will not be a problem for most use-cases. LG claimed battery life of “over a day”, which is odd considering that the G3 could break a day and a half and the G2 could top two days… we hope they are simply understating this, as good battery life was also an LG staple. The bezel growth is a huge shame, and we would have liked to see a more refined UI. But like the G3 proved, these complaints can be overlooked: the weaker processor, decreased battery life, bigger bezels and LG UI didn’t stop the G3 from becoming a fan-favorite. Can this device pull off the big fame again? We have to wait and see.
LG plans on selling 12 million LG G4 handsets in total. Will you be helping them reach that number? Let us know below!
The post LG G4’s Evolution: Abandoning Trends, or Starting Them? appeared first on xda-developers.
Yesterday we learned that the Android 5.1 update would finally bring Guest Mode to Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, and despite Samsung’s update reputation being less than formidable, it looks like that’s taking a turn for the better as an XDA member has reportedly received the 5.1.1 OTA on a T-Mobile S6 Edge.
The post Android 5.1.1 Rolling Out to T-Mobile S6 Edge Users appeared first on xda-developers.
There are lots of good looking dark themes for CyanogenMod Theme Engine, but Metalz by XDA Senior Member deuce_biggins is, by all means, one of the best. Over 10 themed applications including ROM-specific OTAs are just a small sample of what this theme has to offer.
The post [THEME] Metalz appeared first on xda-developers.
In this game by member Degineth, you aim is to fire a ball from A to B using platforms and walls to avoid a series of moving traps. It’s a great way to burn through vast amounts of free time without realizing. You have been warned.
The post Quantum Bounce Game appeared first on xda-developers.
Many people say that the best thing about Android is the ability to have custom launchers. Custom Launchers let you configure your device to be exactly how you want it. Do you want a sea of icons or a simple desktop with only one or two icons and the time? It doesn’t matter you can do whatever you want!
XDA Forum Member junaid558 offers up the latest version of custom launchers. In this video, XDA TV Producer TK reviews Launcher 10. TK shows off the application and shares his thoughts, so check out this app review.
Be sure to check out other great XDA TV Videos
The post Launcher 10 for Your Enjoyment – XDA App Review appeared first on xda-developers.
Google released a developer version of the Chrome browser. Chrome Dev is the bleeding edge release that shows what will be implemented in the next two releases. Download it to get familiar with new features.
The post Chrome Dev APK Download appeared first on xda-developers.
Samsung’s 5.1 update may finally add multi-user support to the company’s latest flagships. There is no word yet about which other devices will include the feature, but Sam Mobile’s early reporting does bring us stills of Guest Mode in the wild; check them out after the jump.
The post Android 5.1 To Bring Guest Mode To Galaxy S6 & S6 Edge appeared first on xda-developers.
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Android 5.1.1 Released, Google Cell Service – XDA TV
4/24/2015 5:30:09 AM
Android Lollipop 5.1.1 has been released. That and much more news is covered by Jordan when he reviews all the important stories from this week. Included in this week’s news is the announcement of the new Google Cell Service and what we know about it and be sure to check out the article talking about the release of the Sony Xperia Z4. That’s not all that’s covered in today’s video!
Jordan talks about the other videos released this week on XDA TV. XDA TV Producer TK released an Xposed Tuesday video covering XGPM. Then TK reviewed the TaoTronics TT-BRO 3 Car Bluetooth Adapter. Finally, TK gave us an app review for Servicely. Pull up a chair and check out this video.
Be sure to check out other great XDA TV Videos
Check out Jordan's YouTube Channel and Jordan's Gaming YouTube Channel
The post Android 5.1.1 Released, Google Cell Service – XDA TV appeared first on xda-developers.
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Chrome Releases: Chrome Beta for Android Update
4/24/2015 4:25:27 AM
Google announced changes to the Beta for Chrome browser. Version 43.0.2357.38 brings faster Checkout and multiple improvements to speed up the performance. The app should be updated via Play Store within the next few hours. You can find more details about the upgrade here.
The post Chrome Releases: Chrome Beta for Android Update appeared first on xda-developers.
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Samsung Investing $9 Billion Into South Korea Chip Plant
4/24/2015 6:28:14 AM
Samsung is set to invest a whopping $9 billion more into its South Korean chip plant. The plant is scheduled to begin production in 2017. Samsung aims to become the biggest chip producer in the world and opening its own plant surely will help achieve that goal.
The post Samsung Investing $9 Billion Into South Korea Chip Plant appeared first on xda-developers.
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SwiftKey Rolls Out 'SwiftKey Hub' In Latest Beta
4/24/2015 4:23:57 AM
SwiftKey Keyboard has released a new beta which introduces the SwiftKey Hub: a re-imagining of the settings and context menu. It is split into three separate categories: Personalize, SwiftKey Store, and Settings, which aim to provide more convenient access to popular settings and content.
The post SwiftKey Rolls Out ‘SwiftKey Hub’ In Latest Beta appeared first on xda-developers.
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