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Samsung Galaxy Note official with Android 4.0 and dual-core processor

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A few hours ago, T-Mobile USA confirmed on Twitter that they will be launching the Samsung Galaxy Note and told us that more information is on its way, but we didn’t know it will be that quick. T-Mobile has officially confirmed by sending a press release that the Galaxy Note will come with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and a 1.5 Ghz Dual-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 Processor.

T-Mobile is launching the Galaxy Note as an enterprise-ready device, because it will be coming with features like Wi-Fi calling, and mobile hotspot capability (up to 5 devices). It’s also featuring Samsung’s very own S.A.F.E. (Samsung Approved for Enterprise), which means a lot of enterprise-ready goodies, there’s IT policy support, AES256-bit encryption, support for Microsoft Exchange, and integrated VPN support. The 5.3 monster will run on T-Mobile’s HSPA+42 data network.

T-Mobile will be launching it in coming weeks, though no words on price. Check out the press release after the break for more, and please tell us are you planning to buy the Galaxy Note from T-Mobile, or already got yours from AT&T?

T-Mobile Expands Its Galaxy Lineup With the Samsung Galaxy Note™

Smartphone Delivers Innovative All-in-One Experience With the Perfect Blend of Work and Play Features

BELLEVUE, Wash., – July 17, 2012 – T-Mobile USA, Inc., the No. 1 mobile operator brand in Samsung Galaxy S™ sales, and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. and the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide1, today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Galaxy Note™. One of T-Mobile’s fastest devices leveraging its 4G (HSPA+ 42) network and running on Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Samsung’s Premium Suite, the Galaxy Note provides an innovative, all-in-one experience that is perfect for work, play and everything in between.

Consumers are demanding larger smartphone screen sizes. In fact, a recent T-Mobile survey2 showed 77 percent of consumers prefer a device with a 4.5-inch or larger display rather than a smaller screen. The Galaxy Note speaks directly to that demand with a 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED™ touch screen – the largest screen on a T-Mobile® smartphone. The device is elegantly designed to handle both business and home tasks with ease.

The Galaxy Note with Premium Suite provides a range of productivity-enhancing features, such as the S Pen™, S Note, S Memo™ and Polaris Office. Now T-Mobile customers can write notes, to-do lists and annotate documents; share ideas and edited content; and create documents, presentations and spreadsheets to maximize efficiency while on the go. S Note helps to professionalize communications by providing templates for seven commonly used documents such as an idea note, travel notes, diary entry, meeting notes and recipes. S Note also allows you to import and annotate a PDF file and convert dictated or handwritten memos to text with the Continual Voice Input and Handwriting-to-Text features. With S Memo, Galaxy Note users have one-touch access to creating a typewritten, handwritten or voice dictated memo; researching information during creation; and adding an image.

The Galaxy Note also has the SAFE (Samsung Approved for Enterprise™) designation, which means it has a full suite of enterprise-ready features and capabilities, including comprehensive IT policy support for top-tier mobile device management (MDM) providers, on-device AES256-bit encryption, enhanced support for Microsoft Exchange, as well as integrated support for a range of virtual private network (VPN) solutions. The Galaxy Note also provides Wi-Fi Calling capabilities and, with a qualifying rate plan, can act as a Smartphone Mobile HotSpot for up to five devices.

“In addition to larger screens, today customers demand more from their devices – from having safeguarded access to corporate email and other productivity features to being able to rely on a speedy network for streaming content,” said Andrew Morrison, vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “With the unique and highly innovative Galaxy Note in our lineup, we are even better equipped to help our customers strike the perfect balance as they juggle both professional and personal activities.”

The Samsung Galaxy Note also offers the T-Mobile 4G Pro App Pack, an aggregation of key applications, such as Dropbox, Evernote, Square, TripIt, CamScanner and LinkedIn, that can reduce the complexity and effort associated with finding and downloading business-related applications. By providing an easy path to cloud services such as Dropbox and Evernote, T-Mobile helps professionals easily store and access the documents, files, images and notes that will help them better manage their work from virtually anywhere.

Featuring a snappy Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ S3 Processor with 1.5 Ghz Dual-Core CPUs, the Galaxy Note provides customers with incredible 4G experiences, making it the perfect all-in-one device to maximize efficiency and productivity, in addition to fun. The Galaxy Note offers a variety of entertainment experiences, such as T-Mobile TV in mobile HD3 for watching live TV programming, Samsung Media Hub for renting and buying the latest movies and TV shows, and Google Play Music for streaming and purchasing music. The Galaxy Note also features an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, to capture pictures and HD videos to share with friends, family and social networks.

Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Note is expected to be available at select T-Mobile retail stores and online via http://www.T-Mobile.com in the coming weeks.

1 Samsung is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States and the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide according to Strategy Analytics, Q1 2012 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipment and Global Smartphone Shipment Reports.

2 About The Survey: The T-Mobile Smartphone Screen Survey was conducted between May 29th and June 5th, 2012 among 1,031 Americans ages 18 and over who own a smartphone, using an email invitation and an online survey. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample. The margin of error for any subgroups will be slightly higher.

Kelton is a leading global insights firm serving as a partner to more than 100 of the Fortune 500 and thousands of smaller companies and organizations. Utilizing a wide range of customized, innovative research techniques and staff expertise in marketing, branding, PR, media, and business strategy; Kelton helps drive our clients’ businesses forward.

3 Mobile HD TV can deliver a bit rate of 800kbps and 16:9 resolution; the bit rate and resolution you experience will vary based on many factors, e.g., programming, network connection and device.

Samsung, Galaxy, Galaxy S, Galaxy Note, Super AMOLED and Samsung Approved for Enterprise are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks.

About T-Mobile USA:
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCQX: DTEGY). By the end of the first quarter of 2012, approximately 129 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group – 33.4 million by T-Mobile USA – all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS and additionally HSPA+ 21/HSPA+ 42. T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit http://www.telekom.de/investor-relations.

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, (Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit http://www.samsung.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit. http://www.samsung.com

 

SAFE Disclaimer of Warranties

To the full extent permitted by law, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.., Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, and its affiliates (collectively referred to herein as “Samsung”) expressly disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, including without limitation warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to information technology security protection and SAFE™ certified devices. In no event shall Samsung be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever with respect to information technology security protection and SAFE™ certified devices. Enterprise IT security protection will be effected by features or functionality associated with the E-Mail Platform, MDM and VPN solutions selected by customer. Choice of an E-Mail, MDM and VPN solution is at the sole discretion of the customer and any associated effect on IT security protection is solely the responsibility of the customer and/or the solution provider. For complete statement of limited warranty, please refer to http://www.samsung.com available on the web and where Samsung smartphone and Galaxy Tab™ devices are sold.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future events. These forward-looking statements may include statements with regard to the expected development of revenue, earnings, profits from operations, depreciation and amortization, cash flows and personnel-related measures. You should consider them with caution. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom’s control. Among the factors that might influence our ability to achieve our objectives are the progress of our workforce reduction initiative and other cost-saving measures, and the impact of other significant strategic, labor or business initiatives, including acquisitions, dispositions and business combinations, and our network upgrade and expansion initiatives. In addition, stronger than expected competition, technological change, legal proceedings and regulatory developments, among other factors, may have a material adverse effect on our costs and revenue development. Further, the economic downturn in our markets, and changes in interest and currency exchange rates, may also have an impact on our business development and the availability of financing on favorable conditions. Changes to our expectations concerning future cash flows may lead to impairment write downs of assets carried at historical cost, which may materially affect our results at the group and operating segment levels. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, our actual performance may materially differ from the performance expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We can offer no assurance that our estimates or expectations will be achieved. Without prejudice to existing obligations under capital market law, we do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to take new information or future events into account or otherwise.

 

In addition to figures prepared in accordance with IFRS, Deutsche Telekom also presents non-GAAP financial performance measures, including, among others, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted EBIT, adjusted net income, free cash flow, gross debt and net debt. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with IFRS. Non-GAAP financial performance measures are not subject to IFRS or any other generally accepted accounting principles. Other companies may define these terms in different ways.

Motorola Atrix HD priced $99, arrives at AT&T on July 15

Scott Webster
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Motorola has confirmed the rumors that the recently announced Atrix HD will arrive for AT&T in less than a week’s time.  Priced at $99 with a two-year service agreement, the handset features a 4.5-inch HD display, an 8-megapixel rear camera (1080p HD), a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, and support for 4G LTE.  Wrapped in the same Kevlar coating that comes with the Droid Razr series, the Atrix HD hits all AT&T channels on July 15th.

Press release

Nexus 7 review

Scott Webster
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What we liked:  Priced to sell, the $199 sticker puts this in conversations for anyone considering the Kindle Fire.  Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is considerably more than a minor update to Ice Cream Sandwich; Google Now is easily our favorite new feature.  Fast on every front, the Nexus 7 is the new standard for Android tablets, thanks largely to its quad-core Tegra 3 CPU.

Room for Improvement: We’d love to see microSD expansion and a rear camera if only because that’s what we’re accustomed to seeing on tablets.  Moving the speaker(s) to opposite ends would also improve our experience for games and HD movies.  The placement of the volume and power buttons require a bit of familiarization as the tapered design makes them feel like they are on the backside.

Review at a Glance: Next to the Samsung Galaxy S III, the Nexus 7 was the worst kept Android secret of 2012.  After rumors started in late 2011 that Asus and Google would be working together on a tablet in the Nexus name, the conversation quickly shifted from if it would happen to when it would happen.  Now that Google I/O 2012 has come and gone and the Nexus 7 has been delivered, we turn out attention to whether it was all worth the hype.  We say it is most definitely worth every bit of anticipation and even more.  We hate to employ the overused phrase, but the fact is the game has changed.

Hardware

We could go into a long-winded diatribe about the hardware and whether it is justified by the $200 price point but that would be a waste of time.  Simply put, there’s no other tablet on the market that competes at this price.  What about the Amazon Kindle Fire?  On the hardware front, there’s no comparison.  Among other details, the Nexus 7 offers a considerably faster processor, higher resolution display, a front-facing camera, and Bluetooth. If you are in the market for a true Android tablet and need to watch your pennies, this is the one to buy.

The IMDb app looks great on the Nexus 7.

Much is said about whether the 7-inch display size is right for Android and if users should instead consider a 10-inch model. No, you should not.  Time and again I find myself happily returning to the Kindle Fire and other 7-inch tablets for reading magazines, books, emails, and other apps.  Titles such as IMDb, TED, and Currents work wonderfully on the portable tablet and really shine here with the 1280×800 resolution display.  That’s not to say a 10-inch tablet isn’t right for anyone or that we wouldn’t love to get our hands on the same experience on a larger screen.  The 7-inch screen is much better for typical users than they think, and it’s a huge step up from 3.5-inch and 4.5-inch handsets.

The NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor inside the Nexus 7 is a screamer and performs as well as anything else we’ve played with in the past.  While some credit is due to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and the Project Butter stuff, the quad-core CPU has handled anything and everything we’ve thrown at it so far.  Games such as Zen Pinball THD, Dark Meadow: The Pact, and Sonic 4 Episode II THD not only look gorgeous but they play exceedingly well on the 7-inch display.  Hate to obstruct your view with fingers and hands? Hook up a Bluetooth game pad and watch how immerse your games feel.

I’ve long held the opinion that mobile games are best served casual but am quickly learning to love console-like quality titles.  Whether it’s the quad-core CPU, the 12-core GPU, or a combination of the two, I love how water effects, smoke, lighting, and other features get a chance to shine on the Nexus 7.

Although we’re familiar with seeing a rear camera on our tablets, it’s hardly something we ever use.  That said, we immediately missed having one for taking pictures and loading apps like Instagram.  Sure, we could sideload whatever we want if we really tried, but we found ourselves wanting to snap a photo or two from the Nexus 7 only to switch to our phone.  It’s certainly not a deal-breaker for us but we’d like at least a 5-megapixel camera on the device seeing as how portable the tablet is. If you’re going to add in NFC support for usage outside of the home and office, then why not add this in?

Generally speaking, the Nexus 7 is a sharp tablet with a unique soft-grip backside that feels like it might get dirty.  Our version has a white rear and initially felt like it would gather oil and dirt however a week later it’s still nice and clean.  There’s a lot of bezel around the display and I’ve heard plenty of complaints about wasted space.  After using it for a few days, I’ve come to block this out, if not appreciate it a bit.  Given that my tablet use is more for consumption of media and reading, I like that I do not accidentally turn pages or swipe to additional screens. As for the extra space on the top and bottom, though, I cannot make up a good enough reason to justify all that black.

Software

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is a significant step forward for the platform and it’s much bigger than we could have envisioned.  We’d have been perfectly fine with Google calling this a 5.0 release as it has all sorts of wonderful stuff that is very obvious to users.  Starting with the ability to launch into Google Now, one sees that this is a different Android experience. Toss in some speedy animations and effects and you see that Google really cares about how things looked.  If you’ve been with Android for a few years then you know just how simple (read: ugly) things could be for apps and general settings.  The UI is sharp, clean, and continues on the foundation that was built with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.  Android was initially known for being more powerful than other mobile platforms but it’s not hard to say that future releases will be more beautiful than others in the space.

Google Now is our new favorite Android feature.

Even in its first few days Google Now has emerged as the clear winner in assistant and voice activated apps.  Why?  Because it delivers everything you want or need, and without prompt.  Why bother asking what the weather is or how long it will take to get to your appointment?  A simple swipe of the screen gives you this information, and more.

The best part of Google Now is that you don’t train it in the ways you would typically teach an app, it just observes you and your habits.  Spend any length of time at a particular destination or place on the map and Google thinks it might important to you.  Every so often you will see Google Now suggest a spot to you and ask if it’s important, providing at-a-glance ETA and traffic details.  Ask Google Now a couple of times whether your favorite baseball team won and it’s going to start telling you ahead of time.  What’s more, it also provides a seamless way to purchase tickets to the next game, if that’s your wont.

As many of you already know, additional features of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean include offline voice-to-text, smart widget placement and sizing, and a quicker way to view photos.  While each one is a cool option or selling point on its own, this is one of those “the total is greater than the sum of its parts” scenarios.  Spend more than a few days with Jelly Bean and you will find older versions of Android somewhat maddening.  Why can’t I move my widget to the bottom of the screen without moving each icon first!?  Why can’t I compose an email using my voice while riding on the subway?!

Parting Thoughts

I’m sure I’m not the only one to hope that the Nexus 7 is the start of a regular series of Android tablets designed to move the platform forward.  Larger players such as Amazon will be pushing their agenda forward with new designs and attractive price points.  On the other end, smaller companies with tablets hovering around $100-$150 will get more powerful all the time.  Here’s to hoping Google circles back once a year to say, “This is where we think tablets should be and how much they should cost.”

Considering the way Amazon and Apple push their products, I sincerely hope to see Google or Asus offer this tablet in retail environments.  I understand that there’s next to no margin or room for profit, however Google needs to beat people over the head with this tablet.  This should not be one of those ad campaigns with AdSense/AdWords on websites or something is only talked about in online conversations.  Consumers need to see commercials for the Nexus 7 during prime-time television shows and sporting events.

While Android 4.1 is the most intuitive and feature-rich version of the platform yet, it’s still not something that your mother or uncle will figure out right away. There’s a day or two of playing around with Jelly Bean before someone might feel truly comfortable, whereas Amazon’s Kindle Fire excels at ease of use.   That said, this is the sexiest and most robust tablet experience we’ve played with to date.

 

Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset review

Scott Webster
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[dropcap_1] I [/dropcap_1] n the market for some Bluetooth headphones?  You may want to check out Phiaton’s PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset as they’ve quickly become our favorite headphones around the house.  I love to use them for when I ride my bicycle or mow the grass and my wife uses them for when she goes on long runs.

To be honest, I had never heard of Phiaton until recently so I had no idea as to what sort of quality to expect. That said, they had a sharp looking website and their products were pretty, if not sleek and stylish.  But you know the adage of books and covers…

Pulled out of the box, I noticed just how lightweight and flexible the cord was, and how sharp they looked overall.  Paired over Bluetooth in a matter of seconds, these were clipped to my shirt and ready to go.  One of the things I liked most about these is that they are part in-ear and part outside-the-ear.  Seeing as how many of us prefer one style over the other, it’s safe to say that these don’t go too far in the direction you don’t like.

Getting back to that “cord” for a moment, I’d like to elaborate on how or why this Bluetooth headset has one.  It’s not to tether to your phone or tablet, but rather to allow quick and simple access to music controls and calling features.  How long is it?  At 1.2m it reaches the end of a short sleeve T-shirt with a little slack, but not too much.

Moving on to the controller.. need to turn that Carly Rae Jepsen song up really loud?  Simply reach over to your sleeve and crank it!  Want to turn mom down because she yells into the phone?  Ditto. Other music controls include fast forward, rewind, stop, pause, and play.  For calls, the controller allows you to answer a call without needing to go to your phone.  Hang up and your back to your music!

[quote_left] …quickly become our favorite headphones around the house. [/quote_left] As far as materials are concerned, the Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset comes with four different sizes of silicon tips to make sure that they fit all shapes and ears. Calls sound quite nice and music works across all genres.  Lows are better than expected and mid-range and highs are as crisp as we’ve heard elsewhere.  Additionally, the headset comes with a carrying pouch for portability and storage  for the charger.

Talk and music playback time is listed as 6 hours which sounds pretty accurate.  At 250 hours of standby time, it’s far more than I or my wife need between charges and use.  If there’s one complaint we both have it is that we don’t know how much juice is left before it needs to be charged.  Typically, we will charge (microUSB) after each use or in the car before she does a run and we’ll be alright.  However, she’s been out running in the neighborhood and have it go completely dead on her without a warning.  Again, if you have good habits and keep up on it, this is not really an issue.  Don’t tell her, but I could do a better job of plugging them back in when done.

You can pick up a pair of Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset through a variety of outlets, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg.  Listed at $129.99 they are as nice as other models we’ve tested, including corded “premium” headsets. Shop around and you’ll see anything from $88.00 – $129 with Amazon often coming in as the lowest.

Google takes on home media with Nexus Q

AndroidGuys
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Google’s off to the races today with announcements across a multitude of platforms, some of them expected, some not so much. Falling into the latter category, Google has announced a surprising new member to its Nexus line: the Nexus Q, a home media centerpiece designed to integrate with Google’s cloud media products. The device has a simple but elegant orb design, with no visible controls whatsoever. Instead the device works off of a symbiotic relationship between it and Google phones and tablets, wherein it plays whatever is directed to it from connected devices. In a party or get-together setting, multiple phones can add music and video to a shared community jukebox playing on the Q, which can be connected via HDMI to an existing stereo or to two proprietary speakers that are available seperately. The Nexus Q is available for preorder for $299.99 along with the optional speakers on Google Play now.

It’s something that really needs to be seen to appreciate, so check out the video below to see the device in action and chime in in the comments to let us know what you think!

Source Nexus Q site

Android Jellybean 4.1 Announced, coming in July: Here’s what comes with it

AndroidGuys
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Finally, Google has announced Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (That’s two words, not one!) at Google I/O, with a release in July. So now, you’re thinking, what comes with it? Lets take a look:

Expanded Notifications

Notifications in the pull-down menu will now give out more information, and will be fully expandable, meaning you can do actions straight from the notifications menu. Miss a call? Call them back OR message them from the pull-down. See the body of an email. Reply to all attendees of a calendar invite. Like and reply to social media. Sounds great!

Google Now

Google Now is really cool.Google now is an intuitive feature that strives to make your whole life easier. Have a calendar notification with a location attached? Google Now will figure out your usual travel method to the location, map it out using that travel method, calculate the time needed to get there, and set a reminder for you to leave at that time. Public transit? No problem, it’ll even calculate stops. It will also show you places of interest on your route, and keep you updated on sports scores, flights, currency rates, etc., all while keeping you organized.

Project Butter

We’ve all experienced some lag with our Android devices. Now, Google is looking to fix that with “Project Butter”. Visualizations of corn-on-the-cob aside, this is exciting. While ICS always aspired to get the lag out of Android, it never quite seemed to “get there”. While ICS always relied mostly on UI improvements, Jelly Bean actually works under the hood to bring more optimization. For example: when you touch the screen, the CPU will automatically ramp up so it responds better. And how about 60FPS? Sounds good on this end.

Offline Voice Actions

Who hasn’t tried to use Google Voice Actions in a place where data is, well, not so great? It’s a frustrating experience to say the least. With Google Voice Actions coming offline from the cloud, you can use it without ever having a data connection.

Knowledge Graph

Knowledge Graph aims to change the way you search (again). If your search is easily recognized by Google, your device will display a results card, with all the pertinent information. Weather searches will display all types of weather info relative to you, rather than just search results. Contacts will come up with a contact card. You can also swipe the card away to view standardized results.

Camera Gestures

More gestures are also coming, with pinch to zoom, left swipe for camera roll, pinch in to expand gallery, and more.

Auto-Resizing Home Screen Widgets

Who hasn’t wanted this?? Gone are the days of “no more room on the screen” notifications (unless your screen is actually full), and icons will auto-rearrange around it.

So, what do you, the reader, think? Let us know in the comments!

Google Nexus 7 is here, launching in mid-July

AndroidGuys
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Ladies and gentlemen, the day is finally here when we see the first ever Google-branded tablet. Behold, the Google Nexus 7, an Android 4.1 tablet manufactured by ASUS. There’s no doubt that in it Google and ASUS have just made the most perfect Android tablet, and it’s beautiful as well. It will be launched with Android 4.1 along with the apps, games, books, magazines, and music from the amazing Google Play store.

Nexus 7 will be available in mid-July from the Google Play store for only $199, though it’s currently available for pre-order. As a bonus, if you order now, you will get a $25 gift card to spend in the Play Store. It makes the Google Nexus 7 the cheapest and yet most powerful tablet available in Android sphere. Have a look at the main specs:

  • 7-inch 1280 x 800 HD display
  • Tegra 3 quad-core 4-PLUS-1 processor
  • 12 core GPU
  • Front facing camera
  • 9 hours of of continuous video playback

There’s no rear camera in the Nexus 7, so maybe Google thinks that taking pictures from a tablet is appropriate and awkward. That’s about all that we know about the Nexus 7, and I am really happy to see this amazing masterpiece from Google and ASUS. Don’t forget to share your thoughts with us in the comment box below.

Source: Google

Samsung Galaxy S III review

Scott Webster
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What we liked: The Samsung Galaxy S III is heavy on hardware, but even heavier on experience. The leading-edge specs easily put it at the top of the Android mountain, however its the personal touches that will see this phone selling like hotcakes.

Room for improvement: A little slipperier than we’d like, the phone backside is also quick to pick up smudges.  And, even though it’s more narrow than other large display handsets, it’s still not easy to operate with one hand. Some of the front-facing camera features could be more accurate.

Review at a glance: Putting the fanboy-imposed expectations aside and looking at the phone from a general consumer standpoint, the Galaxy S III is an all-around winner.  The Android 4.0 experience only gets better with Samsung’s custom features.  Sharing is the name of the game here and mobile users will be sharing their love of the Galaxy S III this summer

Before we go any further

As one of the most anticipated samrtphones of all time, the Galaxy S III has a lot to live up to.  In case you missed it, rumors and speculation were rampant this spring over what hardware was going to be for Samsung’s flagship device.  When it was announced, it featured pretty much all of the upper-tier stuff we expected, and the masses were sufficiently pleased.  Yet, despite its top of the line hardware, all the dual-core this, 2GB that, and other hardware won’t be what gets people chatting.  For the first time since the G1, it’s what this phone does that makes me show it off.

I love to take review phones out in the wild to see what friends and family say about them and the Galaxy S III was no different.  Would people see its white design and massive screen and ask me about it? Yes.  Would I end up talking about its 2GB RAM and 8-megapixel camera?  Only to show off burst mode, best shot, and other cool tricks.  It’s not that the hardware was embarrassing or second-rate, it’s just that’s not what average users care about.  Because of that, this review will largely focus on the “stuff” that Samsung did with this phone that separates it from other higher end smartphones.

A bit on the hardware

What’s not to love here?  The dual-core 1.5GHz CPU is quicker than anything your typical consumer needs and it shines when doing your mundane stuff like downloading apps, playing games, checking calendar, and playing with media.  Paired with 2GB RAM, the Galaxy S III is ultra-fast and more than able to handle whatever you throw it at.

The 4.8-inch 1280×720 display is downright gorgeous and will grab the attention of anyone within range.  Surrounded by its white shell, the handset looks clean, classy, and sophisticated. The screen is is protected by Gorilla Glass so I know it’s going to handle pockets and purses just fine.  We sincerely missed the Gorilla Glass tech on the Galaxy Nexus and were only too pleased to learn it made the trip.

Colors are more natural than in previous Super AMOLED models and the clarity cannot be overstated.  Sure, there’s IPS stuff out there on other models but you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn’t appreciate the Galaxy S III display.

Even with its 2100mAh battery inside, the Galaxy S III feels light, yet never cheap.  Yes, you can bend that battery cover in all sorts of taco shapes, but it’s pretty strong and resilient stuff.  Feeling like a shinier, more expensive version of last year’s Galaxy S II, the handset is taller and slimmer than its predecessor.  Speaking of  battery, we’ve been pleasantly surprised at how well it holds up over the course of a day. It’s not a Droid Razr Maxx, but we expected less time with the 4.8-inch display and all the goofing around.  Off the charger, we were able to go all day long, five days straight.  The first two days were weekend and the times we really installed our apps, took a chunk of photos and video, and more.  A normal workday?  Should be more than fine, if not as good as your current smartphone.

The 8-megapixel camera marries the tech from the Galaxy Nexus with the higher resolution stuff from other Samsung models.  What’s more, the addition of new features makes sure that it’s not just pixel count that folks worry about.

The experience that matters

Staying with the camera, we really love the near-zero shutter lag, 8 picture burst mode, and Best Shot.  We tested the various features over the weekend with kids playing in the pool and were impressed with the single shots around the water.  Switched to Best Shot and Burst Shot, we grabbed dozens of candid shots of children jumping off diving boards, playing with squirt guns, and going down the slide.  It was perhaps the camera features alone that had friends and family asking to see what we were doing.  Handing the phone off to demo for a moment, the general reaction when giving it back was, “That’s my next phone!”

Resized from 3264×2448 but not edited or retouched.

There are also other features in the camera and its app that we really dig, including the smile detection, panoramic mode, HDR, and Buddy Photo Share face tagging. Upon taking a photo of various people, the phone will ask if you’d like to identify the person(s) in the photo.  Once you tell it who is in the picture, the Galaxy S III will automatically tag and sort images around them.  Similarly, it’s easy to access all of those specific photos in your gallery and share them with contacts.  The front-facing 1.9-megapixel camera was great for self-portrait shots and video chat, however we didn’t spend too much time on this front.

The Samsung Galaxy S III has a terrific feature called Smart Stay, which utilizes the front-facing camera to keep a watch on your eyes while browsing the internet, read documents, and other apps.  Designed to keep your phone from falling asleep on you, it ensures you don’t have to tap the screen to keep it awake while you try to figure out what OMGWTFBBQKTXBAI means.  Results varied here however the brighter environments always worked better than dimly light bedrooms or living rooms.

 

Much will be said about the “wannabe-Siri” in S Voice and how it’s almost as good of an experience.  I loved it and think the average user will be pleased with the way it handles voice requests and commands.  There’s a sizable list of things that can be done here, including checking weather, Google searches, countdowns, timers, alarm clocks, appointments, phone settings, navigation, messages, emails, and more.  No, you can’t ask if the Red Sox are winning right now, but it’s more handy than anything else you’ve used so far.  We found the feature able to recognize commands and questions in ways that we were comfortable.  In other words, we didn’t have to learn how to ask it questions with particular phrasing or pacing.

NFC and other sharing features

With so many devices coming with NFC support, it was not a surprise to learn that the Galaxy S III had an NFC chip inside.  What pleased us, however, was how Samsung was able to take the tech beyond mobile payments and the narrow perception it carries.  With TecTiles, users can program these postage-stamp sized stickers with whatever commands or tasks they’d like.  Put one on your nightstand and tap it before you go to sleep to turn off the ringer and Wi-Fi.  Stick one in the car and enable driving mode with the a simple bump.  Parents should set one of these in the house and program it to send off a “I’m home and safe” message for kids getting home from school. There’s a seemingly endless number of things you could make TecTiles do and at $14.99 for 5-pack, it’s a cheap way to smarten things up.

Introduced as Android Beam with Android 4.0, Samsung takes the sharing option to another level with S Beam. Paired with Wi-Fi Direct connection, this lets users share all kinds of content to other devices with a simple tap.  Once paired, it’s a breeze to share pictures, video, web content, contact info, and more.

Along those same lines, AllShare gives users the ability to share movies, photos, music, and more with Samsung Smart TV’s, DLNA-capable devices, and other options. Watching a movie on your phone?  Why not push it out to the projector or television?  The same goes for files you’ve got store in the cloud, or outside of your home.  Just look for the logo in the corner and share it!

Bottom line

Hype confirmed.  This handset is everything we’d expect out of Samsung’s flagship device on just about every front imaginable.  Thanks to a unified branding and singular form factor, across multiple providers, there will be no mistaking one of these as better than the other.  And, since it’s so widely available, the Galaxy S III stands as good a chance as any to knock the iPhone down another notch.  With Samsung’s new smartphone you’ll come for the gorgeous and stay for the experience.  Yes, some of the features can be found in third party apps or on other devices, however it’s presented in a total package with which we’ve fallen fast in love.

EDITOR NOTE: We reviewed the AT&T and Sprint versions of the Galaxy S III and found them to be identical in every facet, save for data speeds.  Look for the Galaxy S III at AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, U.S. Cellular, and C Spire Wireless.

Toshiba Excite 13 review

Scott Webster
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What we liked: The Toshiba Excite 13 is not only a great desktop companion but its NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor provides an immerse gaming experience.  Android 4.0 is a plus, and the front-facing camera is better than expected.  We also applaud Toshiba’s decision to include a full SD card slot.

Room for improvement: The Excite 13 is 13-inches so it’s not meant for much use outside of the living room or office.  Select videos, apps, and assorted content don’t take advantage of the screen size as well as we’d like.  The $649 sticker will turn a lot of people away.

Review at a glance: As powerful as any other tablet we’ve reviewed, the Excite 13 is a polarizing experience.  Perfect for use on the couch or on the desk, there is simply nothing portable here.  Works wonderful as a second screen experience in the office and in more permanent settings.  Toshiba is headed in the right direction with Android tablets, however this is one that won’t see mass adoption.

The best second screen experience yet

Whether for yourself or for a loved one, finding the right size for an Android tablet is not something that’s easy to do.  Even I regularly bounce back and forth between loving a 10-inch experience and really appreciating the portability of a 7-inch model.  Toss in those occasional 8.9-inch models and things get muddy pretty quickly.  That said, when Toshiba asked if I’d like to review a 13-inch Toshiba Excite 13, I jumped at the chance.  How would I find the experience?  Would it be cumbersome in a way that often sees me leaving it alone or would I try to take this thing everywhere I went?  As it turns out, it was both.  Consider that an analogy to how the consumer market might view the Toshiba Excite 13.

Make no mistakes about this tablet, it’s massive.  Compared to a 10-inch device, it’s night and day.  Compared to a 7-inch model?  It’s laughable.  Days into use, I’m torn on whether I feel the Toshiba Excite 13 falls under “bigger is better” umbrella or if it’s “too much of a good thing…” For that very reason, I cannot imagine spending $650 (or more) on the tablet.  Priced lower, I would not have a tough time recommending the device for people who like their tablet semi-stationary.

I’ll not bore you with benchmarks or how it performs as compared to other tablets, but will recap a bit of the key hardware.  Specs include 1GB RAM, 32GB storage, a 5-megapixel rear camera, front-facing camera, headphone jack, microHDMI, and microUSB.  Weighing 2.2 pounds, the tablet measures 13.5 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches.

Preconceived notions

I initially subscribed to the notion of “we love 13-inch notebooks, so why not tablets” but now understand why we don’t.  Netbooks and notebooks are designed to sit on your lap, letting you type comfortably.  Tablets, on the other hand, require that you give one hand to holding the device and using the other to peck away.  And while the Excite 13 offers a nearly full-sized keyboard experience, I could not help but worry that the tablet was going to slide off my legs.  Elevating a bit to keep this from happening, the tablet slides down to the waistline and makes for a wonky experience.

What works well and what doesn’t?

It took me all of one day to figure how to best use the Excite 13, and that was setting it on a tablet stand and putting it next to my office monitor.  Using a Bluetooth keyboard, the 13.3-inch tablet felt wonderful on apps like Gmail, Twitter, Hoostuite, and Chrome.  There’s nothing quite as comfortable as reading with Pocket, Kindle, or Nook apps and IMDb was a real pleasure as a couch companion.  Netflix?  This streaming movie and TV service, as well as YouTube and Google Play Movies, really shines on the Excite 13.

Dwarfing a 10-inch Motorola Xoom

Thanks to the NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, games run without a hitch and graphics shine on the large display.  Unfortunately, many of the games we’ve come to love on smartphones and smaller tablets simply didn’t feel as fun on the 13.3-inch screen.   Don’t get me wrong, Angry Birds was flawless, but games that require button pressing and D-pad stuff…?  No thanks.   That said, a Bluetooth gaming controller changes everything again as the tablet becomes a monitor.

The more I use tablets, the less I find myself caring about rear cameras.  I often find it silly to see someone record video or take pictures with anything bigger than 7-inches and this only amplified my feelings.  I would feel like an idiot holding this thing up in a crowd or at a little league game and suspect many others would.  On the other hand, front facing cameras are becoming increasingly more important and useful.  The Toshiba Excite 13 provides a great experience here and apps like Google+ and Skype work exceptionally well.

You know how, every once in while, you encounter apps that don’t scale well on larger tablets?  The Toshiba Excite 13 shines a bright light on these titles and really makes these select apps look terrible.  The same goes for the occasional video which doesn’t fit all that nice in the 1600X900 resolution.

Battery life for the tablet is rather decent, and is promised to be 13 hours of usage.  Given that we kept ours next to the desk and on a stand, we charged ours on a semi-regular basis.  Those days where we took the tablet out and about for extended periods, we found the Excite 13 lasted all day long, despite its massive screen.

Wrapping up

Some of the additional things I enjoyed with the Toshiba Excite 13 include the screen orientation lock button, micro-HDMI port, and SD card slot.  Toshiba’s Audio Enhancement feature lets users access SRS sound settings and the  Ambient Noise Equalizer adjusts the volume based on the amount of noise in your vicinity.  Likewise, the speakers were loud and clear, something I fully expected given the amount of space available in the design.

Toshiba does install its own suite of applications, many of which aren’t all that bad.  Seasoned Android users might have their own favorites, however the preloaded selection is a decent mix of fun and function.

Four times the size of a 7-inch tablet, but 1/4 the portability.

Weighing a shade over 2 pounds, it’s easy to mistake the tablet as initially feeling light.  Use it for more than ten minutes and it becomes obvious that it’s not.  Held in landscape mode, it’s nothing you want to do with one hand.  Turned on its end and held in portrait mode, I felt like Moses with one of his famed tablets.

Summarily, if you ultimately consider a Toshiba Excite 13 for yourself, you will need to also factor in a tablet stand and Bluetooth keyboard.  These two accessories are almost a necessity if you want to use it in a productive manner.  Starting at roughly $650 for the tablet alone, you could find yourself spending another $100 or more for some essentials.  I’m a fan of the Toshiba hardware and their tablets as a whole, but recommendation of the Excite 13 is a case-by-case decision.

AT&T announces 4G LTE Sony Xperia ion for June 24

Scott Webster
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AT&T today announced the pricing and availability for the Sony’s first 4G LTE smartphone, the Xperia ion. Expected to hit stores on June 24, the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich handset will cost $99.99 with a two-year service agreement.

Hardware for the Xperia ion is quite nice and includes a large 4.6-inch 720p HD LCD display, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 16GB internal storage, and 12-megapixel camera. On the subject of software and user experience, the Xperia benefits from having PlaySation certification, Sony Video Unlimited, and Sony Music Unlimited services.

Although it’s not quite as polished and sexy as its international NXT brethren, the Xperia ion is a powerful package with a wallet-friendly price.  Let’s hope this is a sign of bigger, better things out of Sony here in the United States.

 

EXPERIENCE HD ENTERTAINMENT EVERYWHERE WITH XPERIA™ ION FROM SONY, AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT AT&T JUNE 24

Sony’s First 4G LTE Smartphone Ideal for Creating and Showcasing Premium Entertainment with Video, Photo, Music and Gaming

DALLAS, June 14, 2012 – Entertainment fans longing for a better mobile HD experience will soon have an all-new 4G LTE Android smartphone to covet as the Xperia ion from Sony arrives exclusively in all AT&T* channels June 24.  The new Xperia ion builds on Sony’s reputation as an innovator and leader in imaging and entertainment and costs just $99.99 with a two-year agreement.

AT&T customers have access to the nation’s largest 4G network, covering more than 260 million people. As 4G LTE expands, AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you’re on a much slower 3G network.

Sony’s first 4G LTE smartphone comes with a 4.6-inch HD Reality display (1280 x 720), as well as the ability to view HD content on the big screen via HDMI. The HDMI connection also opens the Xperia ion’s TV launcher, a customizable home screen carousel of application shortcuts. You can navigate the TV launcher and the rest of the Xperia ion’s menus at your convenience using your TV’s remote control.***

Shutterbugs will love the Xperia ion’s 12-megapixel Fast Capture camera and quick launch feature to seize life’s unexpected moments. With its dedicated camera button, the Xperia ion swiftly goes from standby to first camera shot in just 1.5 seconds and then from shot-to-shot in less than a second, ensuring you don’t miss a moment.  Xperia ion boasts all-around HD video recording, so whether capturing memories or video chatting, you can be sure to have high-quality video on the go using either your rear or front-facing cameras.

Xperia ion is complemented by SmartTags****, which let you do things you normally do on your phone, but more quickly and easily, with just one tap.  Using near field communication technology, SmartTags let you store device preferences for a variety of locations and situations – like opening and controlling volume on the music player if you head out for a run, turning on GPS and Bluetooth in the car or turning on your alarm and silencing your ringer at night.

Sony Entertainment on the Go

Taking your music and videos with you everywhere just got easier than ever thanks to the Sony Entertainment Network (SEN). Sony Music Unlimited puts a global catalog of more than12 million songs at your fingertips, and Sony Video Unlimited makes sure there is never a dull moment with the latest Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows from all major studios available for you to rent or buy.

For the Xperia ion, both Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited are available for download from the Google Play store.  AT&T customers who buy the Xperia ion will get to try the premium service level of Music Unlimited free for thirty days.  The Xperia ion is also ready for advanced gaming as it is PlayStation® Certified. The hardware is optimized to deliver an exceptional gaming experience and users will have future access to PlayStation titles as the catalog is developed.  With so much entertainment to be enjoyed, the Xperia ion comes with plenty of internal memory, with the option to add up to 32GB external (microSD™) memory.

For more information, customers can visit http://www.att.com/aboutus.

Key Specs:

  • 4.6″ (measured diagonally) 720p HD Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine for unbeatable HD viewing
  • HD imaging excellence from Sony: 12MP camera with Exmor R™ for Mobile camera sensor, 1080p HD video recording on primary camera, 720p HD front-facing chat camera
  • Easy multi-screen connectivity with HDMI and DLNA®
  • 1.5Ghz dual core processor
  • 16GB internal memory with microSD™ expansion slot supports up to 32GB
  • PlayStation Certified for high quality mobile gaming

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**Data rates apply.

***Compatible with Bravia Sync enabled devices.  Limited functionality supported on most HDMI enabled TV’s.

****SmartTags sold separately.

Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets.  4G speeds delivered by LTE, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where available.  Deployment ongoing.  Compatible device and data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.  Learn more at att.com/network.

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