Showing posts with label Android. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Android. Show all posts

Google CEO on Andy Rubin, Sundar Pichai and Android

It's been more than a month since Sundar Pichai took over as Android chief replacing Andy Rubin. The unexpected change raised questions about Android's direction especially with the company refusing to talk about Rubin's new role. A question related to the same was raised during the Q&A session of Google's recent earnings conference call.

Scott Devitt of Morgan Stanley asked Google CEO Larry Page to discuss the transition in Android management and Andy Rubin's new role.

Page reiterated that Rubin had established Android as the most used operating system in the world and that he had decided it was time to hand over the reigns and start a new chapter at Google. However, he dodged the question did not shed any light on Rubin's new role.

"I think, as we've already said, we've really exceeded crazy ambitious goals we dreamed of for Android. It's the most used mobile operating system in the world and a very big thanks to Andy for that. He really decided it was time to hand over the reigns and start a new chapter at Google. And we actually have an outside - we haven't said what that is and I'm not going to make news today on that," said Page.

Page said that Pichai would lead Android in addition to his existing work on Chrome and apps and that the transition was smooth.

"And actually going forward, Sundar is going to lead Android in addition to his existing work on Chrome and apps. He has a great talent for creating products that are really technically excellent yet easy to use and he loves a big bet too. So, we said how that performed I think we had very smooth transition and of course excited about the future," he added.

Andy Rubin had stepped down as the executive in charge of Google's Android operating system for smartphones and tablet computers in March, after seven years of leading the platform.

Google replaced Rubin with Sundar Pichai, an executive in charge of the company's Chrome Web browser and operating system for lightweight laptop computers, giving way to the recurring speculation that the Chrome operating system eventually will supplant Android. Google executives so far only have said they want to make sure the two operating systems can operate cohesively together.

Report by : Anupam Saxena

Upcoming smartphones to look forward to – April 2013

The next generation of smartphones will be available on the shelves very soon, and here are some that we’re hoping to see sooner rather than later.
The age of HD is here and the mobile kingdom is expanding exponentially with this technology. And while the bigger players are not so keen on pricing their full HD editions at affordable prices, some of the local talent, and those from our next door neighbours, are more than happy to do so. The next generation of smartphones will be available on the shelves very soon, and here are some that we’re hoping to see sooner rather than later.

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3

The next generation of Galaxy series devices will be taking the mobile phone display to a higher playing field with the Galaxy 5.8 and Galaxy 6.3. The numbers denote the screen size of both the devices. This might not be the very best step for mobile handsets as larger displays also mean larger devices. The Mega 6.3 is pretty much close to a 7.0-inch tablet, so toting this one around will be a task. The 5.8-inch option could prove to be useful for those with active lifestyles – those who are either constantly networking socially, web browsing to a large extent or emailing constantly. With all of the new TouchWiz goodies, like spilt screen functionality, multi-tasking will also be so much easier. It’s just that you’re going to need larger pockets.

As mega as they get


Both the devices feature HD displays and come equipped with dual-core processors to run Jelly Bean 4.2 out of the box. Here’s a quick look at their features:
  • 5.8-inch QHD TFT display – 6.3-inch HD TFT display
  • 3G, Wi-Fi
  • GPS
  • Bluetooth, NFC
  • 8 megapixel primary camera, 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera
  • 8/16GB internal memory, microSD card support for up to 64GB more memory


Sony Xperia SP

The Xperia SP is essentially a slightly scaled-down version of Sony’s Xperia Z minus the rugged features. Equipped with a 1.7GHz dual-core processor and an Adreno 320 GPU, the SP will ship with Jelly Bean as the OS. Naturally, a slew of Sony features will be part of the make-up, including the new Exmor RS sensor for the 8MP camera and Sony’s Stamina mode to enhance battery life. The device has been constructed using hard plastic with an aluminium frame for support. Taking a cue from the Xperia U, the SP also features a transparent notification strip located at the very bottom of the handset. This will light up to match the reigning display colour or highlight a colour associated with notifications for specific apps, for instance, green for WhatsApp.

A lower end version of the Z and ZL devices


Here are the key specs of the Xperia SP:
  • 4.6-inch display with a 720 x 1280 pixel resolution
  • LTE, HSPA+, GPRS/EDGE
  • Wi-Fi, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, WI-Fi Direct
  • Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, NFC
  • GPS with A-GPS support and GLONASS
  • 8MP camera with LED flash and 1080p video; VGA front-facing camera
  • FM radio
  • MHL for AV Out
  • 8GB internal storage with microSD card slot

The handset is already up for pre-order for Rs 25,490.

Optimus G Pro

LG seems to pioneer the next-gen species of the high-end smartphones, but doesn’t often live up to expectations. However, its Nexus 4 and Optimus G devices proved otherwise in this context despite their few flaws. So, to keep up with the likes of the competition, i.e. the HTC One and the Galaxy S4, LG’s Optimus G Pro was announced. Featuring a Snapdragon 600 chipset for a 1.7GHz, quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 320 GPU for Android Jelly Bean, the G Pro could easily give the HTC One, if not the S4, a run for its money. LG has also incorporated the Dolby Mobile Sound Enhancement system to counter Beats Audio. The super thin bezel also makes it seem like the display real estate was properly utilised.

Picking up where the G left off

The LG Optimus G Pro will feature:
  • 5.5-inch display with a 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution (True full HD IPS LCD)
  • LTE, HSPA+, GPRS/EDGE
  • Wi-Fi, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, WI-Fi Direct
  • Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, NFC
  • GPS with A-GPS support and GLONASS
  • 13MP camera with LED flash and 2.1MP front-facing camera, both with 1080p video recording
  • FM radio
  • MHL for AV Out
  • 32GB internal storage with support for microSD card slot up to 64GB

HTC First

Touted as the next Facebook phone after the ChaCha and the Salsa, Facebook clearly likes HTC for its devices. The First, just another way of taking its "One" series in a slightly different direction, will come with Facebook’s new Android UI, Home, out of the box. The specifications of the handset aren’t going to be the talk of the social town, but they’re good enough to be worthy of consideration. A Snapdragon 400 1.4GHz dual-core processor will be powering the handset along with 1GB of RAM and Andreno 305 GPU for Jelly Bean. Facebook’s Home UI could bring a new experience to the HTC domain, although Sense UI v5 also has quite a bit to offer. The question really is: Whether or not one would want another Facebook phone, or one with a UI, replaceable as it is, directed at a singular social network?

A 'First' for Facebook Home

The HTC First will come with the following features:
  • 4.3-inch display with a 720 x 1280 pixel resolution, Super LCD
  • HSPA+, GPRS/EDGE
  • Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi hotspot,
  • Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, NFC
  • GPS with A-GPS support and GLONASS
  • 5MP camera with LED flash and 1080p video; 1.6MP front-facing camera
  • 16GB internal storage with support for microSD card slot


Micromax Canvas 3D

According to the rumour mill, Micromax seems to have a 3D device in the making. Dubbed the Canvas 3D, the popular Indian brand could be working on a new Canvas device that will feature a 3D display and graphics to support it. There doesn’t seem to be too much information on the device just yet, other than a few specs. Why Micromax would be interested in a technology that clearly hasn’t really been working for mobile devices is a curious thought though. It is possible that this is but a mere rumour, but seeing as Micromax is pushing the envelope with its latest devices and specifications to take on the big guys, a Canvas 3D device just could be possible. However, we’d be more inclined to believe that the next Canvas could feature a full HD display instead.

Another 3D mobile? Really? (mock image)

Here are some of the rumoured features of the Canvas HD:
  • 5.0-inch display with a 480 x 800 pixel resolution
  • 1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM
  • 3G, EDGE
  • Wi-Fi, Hot-spot creation
  • Bluetooth
  • GPS with AGPS
  • 8MP camera, 2MP front-facing camera
  • 4GB of internal memory, expandable via microSD cards

That’s our list of smartphones we’re looking forward to in the coming weeks. Although launch dates haven’t been made public for some of the devices, we’re looking at launches within the next month or so. Stay tuned to tech2 for updates.
Report by : Shayne Rana

IT'S OFFICIAL: The New HTC One Is Hands Down The Best Android Phone Around

Reviews are in for HTC's latest smartphone, the One.

While the Taiwanese company doesn't have the same marketing man-power as its top rivals Apple and Samsung, it does have an incredibly well-crafted offering that easily stands above the rest.

The high-quality smartphone is receiving high praise across the entire industry today.

Here's what top reviewers have to say:

  • Gdgt founder Peter Rojas says the One is, "the best smartphone ever produced by anyone." Rojas continues, "when you first pick up the One you notice immediately how premium it feels. HTC sweated a lot of the small details here..."
  • The Verge's David Pierce, says, "The HTC One has top-notch hardware design and specs that are as good or better than anything else on the market today."
  • CNET's Brian Bennett praised the HTC One, "I can easily say the HTC One is the fastest, most beautiful phone I've ever used. It should be at or near the top of the consideration list for anyone looking for a phone on Sprint, T-Mobile, or AT&T..."
  • Gizmodo's Brent Rose praised the the One's design, "The first time you see the One, there's a "Whoa..." moment. And after you hold it, and use it, that astonishment bleeds into awe. The One commands respect. From a hardware design perspective, this phone is unparalleled."
  • Business Insider's Steve Kovach says the HTC One is, "the most beautiful Android phone ever made." Kovach continues, "It's bigger and arguably more beautiful than the iPhone 5. You'll want one as soon as you see it."
  • BGR's Executive Editor Zach Epstein says the HTC One is, "The smartphone that changes everything." Epstein continues, "The HTC One is the closest thing we have ever seen to a no-compromise smartphone."
  • Engadget's Brad Molen says, "ultimately, we're smitten with the One's design for all sorts of reasons: it's sexy, it feels secure in the hand and the combination of unibody aluminum and polycarbonate ensures the phone won't shatter into a million pieces if it were to hit the ground."
Report by : Kevin Smith

Twitter for Android needs pest control

All’s not well in Twitter’s paradise: the recently revamped Android version of the Twitter app is under fire by users who are being inundated with bugs while trying to use it.

While you only need to search for “Twitter for Android” to see complaints about multiple issues, the main problem stems from the fact that some users can't access the Profile tab in the app. When you tap on the profile or “Me” tab, you're greeted with a blank screen, and you can't access your Direct Messages, own tweets or switch accounts in the app.

No tweets to be found!

While not all devices face this problem, we did find one device here at tech2 that had this bug. Other complaints include slow response times and “floating tweets”.

Twitter for Android has not been the go-to app for most regular users for a long time. Most prefer third-party apps for tweeting through their phones, issues with API rate limits notwithstanding. Twitter has been aggressively trying to work out ways to popularise home-grown Twitter clients amongst regular users.

The micro-blogging website released an update for its Android client earlier last week to incorporate the Holo theme and new Cards. The update brought along the ability to swipe between tabs to access the Home, Connect, Discover and Profile tabs. Interestingly, the swipe function was first released by Twitter for its redesigned Windows Phone app. Of course, since you cannot swipe to bring up quick actions, you will need to tap and hold a tweet to bring up the menu, which will allow you to Retweet or Favourite it.

Android users will also be able to experience wider and taller timelines that fill the screen and a flat navigation bar. Twitter is also making it easier to connect with friends and search for conversations by throwing up suggestions as you start typing out a user name or hashtag.

The Twitter apps on iPhone and mobile web have received tweaks too. All the mobile apps now show more types of content in expanded tweets. Essentially, a new type of Cards will now be visible within the tweets.

Twitter Cards are embedded information that pop up within a tweet. When you click on a tweet of this sort, it opens a drawer that contains more information. Tweets with additional information currently have an extra icon with details about the kind of content that is in the tweet. Twitter unveiled new types of Cards in an invite-only developer meet last week. These new Cards will allow for new capabilities like mobile app linking, photo galleries and product information.

Let us know in the comments below if you’re facing more issues with the Twitter for Android app.

Report by : Nishtha Kanal

TweetDeck kills its iPhone, Android, AIR apps in favour of browser client

If you’ve been using TweetDeck apps on your phone or desktop, we have bad news for you. Twitter has announced that it will be axing TweetDeck’s apps for iPhone, Android and Adobe AIR Desktop. The apps will disappear from their respective stores early May onwards and will stop functioning soon after. The company will be discontinuing Facebook integration too.

TweetDeck stated that the apps are being killed in favour of its browser version. The company said that over the past 18 months, it had been focused on building a fast and feature-rich web application for modern browsers as well as a Chrome app that offers some unique features like notifications. The team at TweetDeck has been working on providing users of the browser app with weekly updates that add more features over time, like updated Tweet streams, search auto-complete, search filters and more.

Say goodbye to your TweetDeck apps
TweetDeck’s team seems to have a valid explanation for pulling the plug on its apps. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a steady trend towards people using TweetDeck on their computers and Twitter on their mobile devices.” This trend, the blog reads, coincides with an increased investment in the Twitter apps for iPhone and Android––photo filters and other editing capabilities were added, the user profiles were revamped and search got a couple of new features. “That said, we know this applies to most of our users––not all of them. And for those of you who are inconvenienced by this shift, our sincere apologies.”

TweetDeck announced that the apps it is discontinuing relied on c1.0 of Twitter’s API, which is about to be retired starting this month. TweetDeck for browsers will be receiving the API v1.1 update though.

While we know Twitter has clamped down on third-party apps to help shift users’ focus to its own products, this development comes as a surprise, as it owns TweetDeck. The app has always been a popular third-party client and Twitter had been doing a good job of maintaining it as its very own, yet separate app. We find it highly doubtful, but Twitter will hopefully be able to develop TweetDeck for browsers to be the next best thing.

Twitter acquired TweetDeck, its biggest third-party competitor at the time, in May 2011. The deal was closed at $40 million, including cash and stock. The app had so far been receiving updates regularly. Back in October last year, an update to the web and desktop clients brought customisation options that allowed you to change the colour theme and the font size.

Report by : Nishtha Kanal

Real Racing 3 comes to iOS, Android worldwide


Electronic Arts (EA) has released Real Racing 3, the third iteration of its popular car racing game, on Android and iOS worldwide. Interestingly, the gaming company has made the game a free download, upfront, however, the game brings in several in-app purchases. So it's essentially adopting a free-mium model with this game.

EA says that the gaming experience in Real Racing 3 is immensely immersive, close to reality and rich, as it's powered by the new Mint 3 Engine, and features persistent car damage, fully functioning rear view mirrors, and dynamic reflections.

New features in the game include officially licensed tracks like Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, and Silverstone, Hockenheimring, among other tracks, an expanded 22-car grid, and over 45 detailed cars from makers like Porsche, Lamborghini, Dodge, Bugatti, and Audi. The game also integrates Time Shifted Multiplayer (TSM) technology for superior multiplayer gaming experience with fellow gamers on Facebook and Game Center, and the option to compete in 900 events like cup races, eliminations, endurance challenges, and drag races.

The game is around 716MB in size but requires at least 2GB of space on the user's device for additional components.

The previous version of the game, Real Racing 2, is still available on the app store for a $4.99 price.It was the first iOS game to support 2 and 4-person split screen play on a TV, if mirrored via Airplay.

Real Racing was originally developed by Australian mobile game maker, Firemint. EA acquired Firemint in May 2011 for an undisclosed amount. - See more at: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/real-racing-3-comes-to-ios-android-worldwide-337096#sthash.IHnJ2sMZ.dpuf

Report by : Anupam Saxena

Mozilla CEO: Android, iOS leave lots of room for Firefox OS

Mozilla's browser-based OS can win a place among the next 2 billion people arriving on the Net, Gary Kovacs argues. And about attracting app developers, he quipped, "There's a Web for that."
Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs speaking about Firefox OS at Mobile World Congress 2013
BARCELONA, Spain--With another 2 billion people hooking up to the Internet in the next five years, there's plenty of room for another mobile operating system, Mozilla Chief Executive Gary Kovacs said today in a sales pitch for his new Firefox OS.

Apple and Google have led the way in the smartphone market but can't cover the whole thing, he said in a speech to thousands at the Mobile World Congress show here, though he didn't mention the companies by name.

"I find it impossible to understand how 3, 4, 5, or 6 billion people are going to get their diverse needs satisfied by one or two or five companies, no matter how delicious those companies are," Kovacs said. "Is the farmer in the Indian countryside going to have the same needs and requirements as a lawyer sitting in New York?"

Mozilla has a mammoth challenge, though. Working in its favor is the fact that Firefox is a browser-based operating system, meaning that Web applications such as Facebook already work for it without the need for Mozilla to marshal an army of programmers to write apps.

But even that running start has its limits: even many static Web pages don't work well on mobile browsers, and making dynamic Web apps is a lot harder. New technologies such as camera-phone interfaces and hardware-accelerated 3D graphics help, and Mozilla is pushing hard to advance those standards and spread them to other mobile browsers.

Mozilla has rounded up a solid list of Firefox OS partners, including 18 carriers across the world and handset makers LG Electronics, Huawei, ZTE, Alcatel, Geeksphone, and possibly Sony. The allies plan to bring Firefox OS to developing markets starting in the second quarter and to the United States in 2014.

The app development and distribution ecosystem of iOS and Android is strong, but Kovacs had a slogan to counter that strength: "There's a Web for that." Many mobile apps simply repackage data already available on the Web, he said, pointing to an example of searching for a nearby restaurant, checking reviews, looking at menus, and making reservations.

"This is the Web. We're just taking it to mobile," Kovacs said. "Incumbent with that is 10 million developers already ready to go."

Mozilla has experience taking on big established players, too. Internet Explorer ruled the Web when Firefox grew from the ashes of the vanquished Netscape browser project about a decade ago.

"We did this 10 years ago," Kovacs said, and Mozilla succeeded in its mission of keeping the Web open. "Today, the browser market is the most competitive it's ever been in the history of the Internet."

Now history is repeating itself on the mobile Web, where Firefox today is only rarely used but Google and Apple's browsers dominate. Both those companies' browsers are based on the WebKit browser engine, and Opera just signed up to use it, too.

"We have to make sure this shared opportunity is not something that one or two companies unnaturally control," Kovacs said.

Report by : Stephen Shankland

Android chief Andy Rubin downplays reports of Google opening retail stores

Downplaying reports of Google planning retail stores, the company's Senior Vice President of Mobile and Digital Content, Andy Rubin, has said that the company does not need to take that step, and has nothing to announce on that front.

At a roundtable discussion with Journalists at the Mobile world Congress, the Android chief said that consumers don't have to go in the store and feel devices anymore. He also added that Google's Nexus devices are at too early a stage to think about offering them in a retail store.

"For Nexus, I don't think the program is far enough along to think about the necessity of having these things in a retail store," said Rubin.

A few days back, citing "an extremely reliable source", 9to5Google had reported that the search giant was planning to enter the physical space and was in the process of building stand-alone retail stores in the US. The report had noted that the decision stemmed from Google's plans to make Google Glass available to the public as the product will have to be experienced by the customers in real-time before they decide to make a purchase. The report had indicated that the new stores would be fully independent and operated by Google.

Prior to that there was a Bloomberg report (cached copy) mentioning that Google's Irish unit had filed an application with local authorities for opening a shop within its Montevetro office in Dublin for selling "Google merchandise". Google had responded to the report via an email statement, saying that it does have the option to open retail space, and was examining all potential uses, but no final decision had been taken.

As of now, Google has several Stores-in-Stores with retailers like Best Buy in the US and 50PCWorld/ Dixon's in the UK. But these stores only offer Google an opportunity to promote its products and inform the customers of the know-how on various Google devices. Google also sells merchandise through a store at its California headquarters, but it's not open to the public.

Report by : Anupam Saxena

Riding on Google's Android Samsung retains smartphone crown, Apple comes in second

San Francisco: Smartphone shipments rose 36 per cent worldwide in the fourth quarter as the sleek devices supplanted personal computers and other gadgets on holiday shopping lists, according to a report released on Friday.

The findings from the research firm International Data Corp. are the latest sign of the technology upheaval being wrought by the growing popularity of smartphones that can perform a wide variety of tasks, including surfing the Web and taking high-quality photos. Companies whose fortunes are tied to the PC industry have been particularly hard hit by the shift to smartphones and tablet computers.

While some smartphone models were in short supply during the holiday season, fourth-quarter PC shipments fell by 6 per cent from the previous year, according to another IDC report released earlier this month.

Samsung shipped nearly 64 million devices for a 29 per cent share of the global market.

IDC estimates 219 million smartphones were shipped during the final three months of last year. That compares with nearly 161 million in the same 2011 period. Smartphones accounted for about 45 per cent of all mobile phone shipments in the fourth quarter, the highest percentage recorded by IDC.

Samsung Electronics retained its bragging rights as the smartphone leader, shipping nearly 64 million devices for a 29 per cent share of the global market. Apple ranked second with nearly 48 million iPhones shipped during the fourth quarter, translating into a market share of 22 per cent.

For all of 2012, IDC estimated nearly 713 million smartphones were shipped worldwide, a 44 per cent increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, annual PC shipments fell 3 per cent from 2011, IDC said. It was the first annual decline since 2001.

Entering 2012, Apple held a slight edge over Samsung in the smartphone market. But Samsung sprinted past Apple during the year as it introduced an array of models, most of which run on Google's free Android software. Samsung's top-selling line, the Galaxy, boasts larger display screens than the iPhone and other features.

Apple alleges Samsung's devices illegally ripped off the iPhone's innovations. After a high-profile trial in federal court, a jury in San Jose, California sided with some of the patent infringement claims last August and decided Samsung should pay more than $1 billion in damages. Samsung has been trying to overturn the verdict.

Lower-priced smartphones from Samsung and other device makers also have hurt Apple, whose slowing iPhone growth has contributed to a $250 billion decline in its market value since its stock price peaked in late September.

IDC says Huawei Technologies's emphasis on less expensive handsets helped it become the third largest smartphone maker with a market share of 5 per cent at the end of the fourth quarter.

Report by : AP

Android, iOS lead developer mindshare;Tablets becoming more relevant: Developer Economics Report 2013

Vision Mobile, an ecosystems analyst firm which releases Developer Economics Report, a research report that focuses on developer mindshare, revenue and lead platforms, and other aspects of the eco-system has made the fourth edition of its annual report public. The report, which is based on a survey of 3460 developers across 95 countries, reveals that developer interest is centred around Android and iOS but they're also looking for a viable alternative. It also notes that app development for tablets is increasing, as they become more relevant for consumers.

Lead platforms

iOS, Android and BlackBerry are lead platforms. This essentially means that the three are the primary platforms of development for developers, while Windows Phone and HTML are used by developers as extension platforms to reach out to users not covered by the lead platforms. 48 percent developers make apps primarily for iOS, while 44 percent make apps for Android, and 38 percent for BlackBerry.

Mindshare

As per the findings of the report, Android leads mobile developer mindshare, with 72 percent of developers developing for the platform, an increase of 4 percentage point increase compared to Vision Mobile's 2012 survey. iOS reported a 5 percentage point drop in mindshare at 56 percent. HTML5 is the third most popular platform, commanding a 50 percent mindshare. BlackBerry's mindshare remains stable at 16 percent, while Windows Phone's mindshare among developers was at 21 percent. The report points out that Windows Phone needs to penetrate the market and Microsoft's efforts of funding app development resulted in sub-par apps.

Lead platforms are the ones that developers consider high priority, and are the primary platforms in terms of app development for them. Mindshare indicates the developers' intent to create apps for a platform.

Looking at region-wise statistics, Android leads in Asia and Europe, while development on iOS and Android was almost at the same levels in North America.

Comparing app development across devices, the report points out that 64 percent respondents are now developing for tablets, with iOS leading at 76 percent, Android at 64 percent (an Year on Year increase of 2 percent), and HTML5 at 71 percent.

Revenue sources

The report also mentions that Advertising is now the most popular revenue model for apps, used by 38 percent of developers in its global sample, but offers the least in terms of revenue per app. Pay per download comes a close second at 32 percent, and in-app purchase follows, at 26 percent.The report reveals that developers that do not develop for Android or iOS generate, on average, half the revenue of those developers that do.

Report by : Anupam Saxena

HTC unveils 4-inch Desire U with Android 4.0, 1GHz processor

HTC has announced a new 4-inch device in its home country dubbed as the Desire U. The device is expected to retail for 7990 New Taiwan Dollar (about $274) or at NT$ 291 per month on contract from Chunghwa Telecom. Launch details for other regions remain unknown at the moment.

Specs wise, the Desire U doesn't have much to show off. At 9.32mm thick and weighing 119g, the smartphone sports a 4-inch capacitive touch display (800x480) and runs on Android 4.0 with the company's Sense UI atop. It comes with a 5-megapixel auto focus rear camera with LED Flash.

Internally, the device is powered by a 1GHz processor with 512MB RAM and has 4GB of internal storage with expansion options upto 32GB via microSD cards. The smartphone comes with a 1,650mAh battery.

An interesting addition to the phone's design is the micro-drilled cover art on the back panel. The HTC logo is engraved in the centre and like most other HTC device. It features Beats Audio integration. Connectivity protocols include Wi-Fi 820.11 b/g/n, 3G, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX and GPS. The device will come in black and white colour options.

HTC has been in the news lately for its M7 full-HD device that is expected to launch one week ahead of the Mobile World Congress next month. The HTC M7 has been leaked in press renders over the past few weeks also seen with the yet-to-be-announced Sense 5.0 UI.

Previously rumoured specifications for the device indicate a 4.7-inch full-HD display, making it an incredible 468ppi. Other alleged specs include a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor with 2GB RAM, 32GB of internal storage, 12-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel one in the front.

HTC Desire U key specifications

  • 4-inch (800x480 pixels) capacitive touch screen display
  • 1 GHz processor
  • 512 MB RAM
  • 4GB of internal storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD
  • 5-megapixel auto focus rear camera with LED Flash
  • 3G, Wi-Fi 820.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX, GPS
  • 1,650mAh battery
  • Android 4.0 with HTC Sense UI
  • 9.32mm thick
  • Weighs 119 grams
Report by : KS Sandhya Iyer
Google Tops $50 Billion For 2012
Google reported Tuesday that it earned $14.42 billion in Q4 2012, beating expectations and sending the stock up 4% in after-hours trading.

Google shares closed down 1.64 points for the day, but reversed the decline after the market closed, rising more than 34 points in the hours following Google's financial filing.

The company's non-GAAP earnings-per-share came to $10.65. Analysts had been expecting $12.36 billion in revenue for the quarter, according to Thomson Reuters, and $10.52 per share.

In a statement, Google CEO Larry Page said that revenue rose 36% compared to 2011 and 8% compared to the same quarter a year ago. "And we hit $50 billion in revenues for the first time last year," he said.

The company appears to have succeeded in its effort to mitigate potential disappointment by reminding Wall Street analysts to update their estimates to account for Google's agreement to sell its Motorola Home set-top box business to Arris Group for $2.35 billion.

In a note posted to Google's investor website last week, VP Brent Callinicos, treasurer and chief accountant for the company, wrote, "as of this writing, a majority of Wall Street analysts who cover Google have not reflected the Home business as discontinued operations in their estimates."

[ The smartphone wars rage on. See the latest: iPhone Beats Android In U.S. Market. ]

Google appears to have been concerned that investors might be confused about what the company would be including in its revenue numbers. But the company's strong performance made such worries moot.

On Google's conference call for investors, Page's voice sounded raspy and strained, sufficiently so that several reporters listening in on the call noted via Twitter how unusual he sounded. Page did not participate in Google's Q2 2102 earnings conference as a result of an undisclosed ailment that affected his voice. When he did speak during the Q3 2012 call, his voice was hoarse.

Report by : Thomas Claburn
AppSurfer adds support for tablet apps, allows users to try Android apps in their web browser
AppSurfer, which allows users to try Android apps in their browser before downloading them on their phones, has now added support for tablet apps as well. It supports a resolution of 1024x600 for tablets.

AppSurfer released a private beta in March 2012 and launched its first version mainly targeting developers in October 2012. It runs a customised version of Android in the Cloud and runs multiple instances of the OS, streaming graphics to users using HTML5 or Flash. It tracks user input and sends it back to the cloud. It has also implemented custom sensors to emulate sensor data, like that of GPS and orientation sensors.

RainingClouds Technologies, the company which has developed AppSurfer, says that it is not just another AppStore, and its focus is on enabling users to try apps. After they are satisfied with the app, they can make the decision to download it. For downloading the app, AppSurfer redirects users to the Google Play app store. Users can also share app recommendations on Facebook and Twitter and their friends can try these apps within Facebook.

Developers can create a free account at AppSurfer, and can put their apps (via apk files) on the site . They don't need any code integration/change in app and they can also embed apps on blogs and product pages, just like YouTube videos.

Speaking with NDTV Gadgets, Aniket Awati, CEO and Co-founder of RainingClouds, informed us that as of date, AppSurfer has 4,000 developers and 2,300 apps on-board, with a paid to free app ratio of 1:20. The company intends to monetise by offering new download models, tying up with third party app stores.

It is noteworthy that, Amazon also allows users to try apps in the web browser through its 'Test Drive' feature. However, according to Awati, the feature is based on Flash, while AppSurfer also offers an HTML5 version, allowing non-flash devices including iOS ones, to run app previews in their respective browsers. The company doesn't offer support for iOS at the moment, as there are several restrictions. "iOS apps require installation of emulators, which slow down the experience and don't support native features like GPS," adds Awati.

Services like Pieceable (which was acquired by Facebook), and Kickfolio also allow developers to upload their apps on the web, allowing users to try them via their web browsers.

Report by : Anupam Saxena

iPhone most popular in US, while Android popular worldwide in Q4 2012: Report

Apple's iPhone remained the most popular smartphone among US buyers in the closing months of 2012 while Android handsets were on top worldwide, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech reported on Tuesday.

"At the end of 2012, the global (operating system) picture shows Android on top, but clearly the rate of growth it experienced over the past year is beginning to slow as easy wins from first-time smartphone buyers begin to reduce," said Kantar global consumer insight director Dominic Sunnebo.

Apple iPhones accounted for 51.2 percent of smartphone sales in the United States during the 12-week period ending December 23rd of last year, according to Kantar.

Smartphones powered by Google-backed Android software made up slightly more than 44 percent of sales while handsets based on Microsoft's Windows operating system were a distant third-place with 2.6 percent, the report indicated.

Android smartphones continued to be best sellers in major markets including Britain, China, Spain, Australia, and Germany while iPhones were favored in Japan as well as the United States, according to Kantor.

Windows smartphones appeared to be catching on in Europe, with its shares of sales in Britain and Italy climbing to 5.9 and 13.9 percent respectively, the reported indicated.

"Windows Phone is now starting to gain respectable shares in a number of key European countries," Sunnebo said.

"However, its performance in the Chinese and US markets remains underwhelming; these remain key challenges for Microsoft to overcome during 2013."

iPhone the Q4 smartphone champ says Kantar as Android deserters grow

Apple’s iOS clung to the top-spot for smartphone platform share in the US in Q4 2012, new research suggests, maintaining more than half of the market, though the gap between AT&T and Verizon sales has narrowed. iPhones made up 51.2-percent of the US smartphone sales, Kantar World Panel claims, while Android dropped a little to 44.2-percent, a fall of just 0.6-percent year-on-year.

In comparison, Apple saw growth during the period, rising from 44.9-percent of the same market back in 2011. Windows Phone grew slightly, from 2.2-percent to 2.6-percent, but according to the research firm’s figures, RIM was the biggest marketshare loser, its BlackBerry platform dwindling from 6.1-percent in 2011, to just 1.1-percent in 2012.

As for share by carrier, AT&T maintains the top-spot for smartphone sales, though only just, with 33.3-percent of the market. Verizon has closed the gap, however, being just 1.3 points behind. Together, the two carriers represent the lion’s share of smartphone sales.

Interestingly, the raw figures don’t quite tell the whole story. According to Kantar, more than a third of new iOS users were transitioning from another smartphone platform, and Android deserters represent a greater chunk of those moving across. “19-percent of iOS sales over the last year were derived from Android users, compared to 9-percent in 2011″ analyst Mary-Ann Parlato said of the stats, with the trend most evident among Verizon subscribers, where 30-percent of iOS sales were of former Android users.

Report by : Chris Davies

Best Android Jelly Bean phones

HTC Droid DNA

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

HTC Droid DNA Photo: Cnet Review
The good: The beautifully designed Droid DNA features a quad-core processor, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, 4G LTE, a sharp 5-inch screen, an excellent camera and long battery life.
The bad: The large size makes it tricky to fit in tight pockets, and it lacks both an SD card slot and a removable battery.
The cost: $100 to $200
The bottom line: With quad-core power, 4G LTE, a lovely 5-inch screen, and a stunning design, the $200 HTC Droid DNA may be Verizon's best Android deal.

HTC One X+

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

HTC One X+ Photo: Cnet Review
The good: The One X+ has a quad-core processor, 64 GB of storage and Android Jelly Bean, plus a great camera, all for $200.
The bad: The battery life is short. The phone also lacks an SD card slot, and its battery can't be removed.
The cost: $170 to $509
The bottom line: Although it does have some flaws, the $200 HTC One X+ is the best Android buy on AT&T.

LG Nexus 4

Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

LG Nexus 4 Photo: Cnet Review
The good: The competitively priced Nexus 4 delivers a pure and polished experience with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, it's powered by a snappy quad-core processor, and it's packed with new photo-editing and camera features.
The bad: The construction is solid but uninspiring, its call volume is too low and it lacks 4G LTE.
The cost: $299 (currently sold out)
The bottom line: While the LG Nexus 4 wins on internal performance and user experience, anyone shopping for an unlocked phone should consider a comparable LTE handset first.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Photo: Cnet Review
The good: Oodles of screen real estate make the Galaxy Note 2 terrific for videos, games and reading; and its improved stylus aids productivity. A blazing quad-core processor, a great camera and strong battery life round out the advantages of this Android 4.1 phone.
The bad: The huge display makes it unwieldy to carry, and hiccups in the S Pen stylus and apps can slow you down. It's not a suitable tablet replacement across all categories.
The cost: $140 to $300
The bottom line: In the Galaxy Note 2, Samsung delivers a powerful, boundary-pushing device that gets a lot right. Yet its complicated features and high price raise questions about its purpose.

The following Cnet staff members contributed to this report: senior editors Brian Bennett, Jessica Dolcourt and Laura K. Cucullu; associate editor Lynn La.. For more reviews of personal technology products, visit www.cnet.com.

CES 2013: Panasonic intros new Windows 8 Pro, Android Toughpads

Panasonic has launched two of its Toughpads at the CES today, one of which runs Windows 8 Pro. The Toughpads are designed to do exactly what the name suggests – be tough and rugged. The 10-inch version FZ-G1 runs Windows 8 Pro, while the 7-inch JT-B1 runs Android Ice Cream Sandwich.
The FZ-G1 Windows machine features 1.9GHz Ivy Bridge Intel Core i5-3437U vPro CPU, a 128GB SSD (upgradeable to 256GB) processor, up to 8GB RAM and a 10-inch 1920 x 1200 display. The battery, according to Panasonic, can run up to eight hours and the Toughpad also has an optional microSD slot. The device weighs four pounds and has USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11 Wi-Fi a/b/g/n and optional Verizon LTE or 3G.

Tough and efficient

The JT-B1, on the other hand, features a TI OMAP4460 1.5GHz Dual core processor, 1GB RAM and 16GB storage capacity along with an inbuilt Micro SD slot. It has a 13MP rear camera and a 1.3MP front facing one. The Ice Cream Sandwich running JT-B1 can also run for eight hours with its 5,720mAh battery. It has a 1024 x 600 display on its 7-inch screen.
Panasonic says that the Toughpad tablets are designed for mission-critical and highly mobile workers in fields such as the military, construction, healthcare etc. The FZ-G1 will be available in March and will cost $2,900 (Rs. 159,500 approx.), while the JT-B1 will arrive in February and will cost $1,300 (Rs. 71,500 approx.)
Panasonic has put its tablets to the forefront this CES, with the company having revealed a massive 20-inch Windows 8 tablet with 4K resolution in the company’s keynote speech. The tablet will use a stylus for precise designing for professionals and the 4K resolution will add a cherry to the cake for anyone wanting to use the tablet professionally. There isn’t anything known about the release or pricing of the 20-inch tablet yet.

Google may introduce a $99 tablet by Q4 2012

While all eyes are pointing towards New York at the Google Android event scheduled to take place in the next few days, a rumour of a new Nexus tablet has recently emerged. As per a recent report by Digitimes, Google is preparing another tablet. This time around Google is set to price it in the sub-$100 category.
As per the report by Digitimes, sources have informed it that Google will showcase a Nexus tablet model that will be priced at US $99, and the unveiling is set to take place by the fourth quarter of this year. This information was provided to them by supply chain makers based in Taiwan.

A budget model coming soon

As per the report, the authors Aaron Lee and Adam Hwang stated, “The US$99 Nexus tablet is equipped with an ARM-architecture single-core processor 8950 developed by China-based WonderMedia Technologies, and a HUVA TN panel made by Taiwan-based HannStar Display, the sources said. The tablet will be produced by Taiwan-based Quanta Computer. However, Quanta declined to comment and Asustek Computer, a Taiwan-based vendor developing Nexus 7 through cooperation with Google, indicated that it has no plans to launch US$99 Nexus.”
The move by Google could decimate the competition as India is currently loaded with tablet manufacturers selling their wares at prices that cater to different budgets.
The Nexus 7, which was recently launched by Google and manufactured by Asus, is one of the most successful tablets in recent history. Google has added a lot of high-end hardware to the mix, and has kept the price down to a minimum by pricing it at $199 for the base model, which comes in a storage capacity of 8GB. This tablet, manufactured by Asus is designed to not only take on Apple’s highly successful iPad, but will also pose a stiff threat to the Amazon Kindle Fire and Google aims to tackle the competition better with its pricing strategy. The Google Nexus 7 tablet is available in two storage capacities - 8GB and 16GB - and the brand has priced it extremely competitively at $199 and $249, respectively.
As far as connectivity is concerned, there Google Nexus 7 tablet does not come equipped with 3G connectivity, in order to keep the price to a minimum. The connectivity options found on this flagship Google Nexus 7 tablet, include Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth and NFC capabilities. This tablet also comes with Google Wallet pre-installed. As for the camera featured here, it comes as no surprise that Google has just added only a front-facing camera that can be used for video calls, but what is interesting is that this camera can shoot HD 720p videos.
When it comes to the size, this 7-inch tablet measures 198.5 x 120 x 10.5mm and weighs 340 grams. These dimensions allow it to go head-to-head with the Amazon Kindle Fire. The Google Nexus 7 was the first device running on Google’s latest operating software, which is Android v4.1 (Jelly Bean).
Report by: Aaron Almeida

Need For Speed: Most Wanted racing its way to iOS, Android

Some of the most prolific racing games ever created come from the Electronic Arts’ Need for Speed franchise. The latest game in the franchise, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, is being developed by Criterion, the developer well-known for its Burnout series. Now, according to Unleash The Phones, EA has announced that Need for Speed: Most Wanted will be making its way to Android and iOS devices later this month. The company has released a trailer that shows some of the racing action from the mobile version of the game.

The trailer shows that the game will feature good graphics, along with the same gameplay that will be there in the other versions of Most Wanted, including the Takedown mechanic, which was originally featured in the Burnout series. According to the company, “Need For Speed Most Wanted features stunning dynamic physics-based collisions, exciting cop takedowns, and realistic visual damage.” The physics-based collisions would probably help a great deal with the gameplay, thanks to the ability to execute Takedowns.

Back in July, it was revealed that a movie is being made based on the racing game franchise. The movie is set for release in 2014. Need For Speed is the first major project expenditure DreamWorks has made since the company came out of suspended animation while waiting for Reliance to invest cash in a re-up. The studio acquired the movie rights for the Need for Speed series only last month. There is no indication of why the movie is being fast tracked. EA and DreamWorks explained during their joint announcement that the film adaptation would be "a fast-paced, high-octane film rooted in the tradition of the great car culture films of the 70s while being extremely faithful to the spirit of the video game franchise".

The Need for Speed series has been one of the most successful racing game series, besides being one of the most successful video game franchises. The games in the series have been published by Electronic Arts (EA) and developed by several studios including Canada-based company EA Black Box and Britain-based Criterion Games. NFS was originally developed by Canadian company Distinctive Software, which later became known as EA Canada. As of October 2009, the game series has sold over 100 million copies.

Need For Speed: Most Wanted is making its way to Android and iOS devices

The series has always been known for its arcadey racing gameplay as opposed to the more realistic simulation games like Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport. Since Black Box’s last Need for Speed - Undercover, EA has released three games in the series from different developers. While Slightly Mad steered the series into Simulation territory with the shift games, Criterion brought the series back to its roots with the reboot Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit.

The last game in the series to be released was Need for Speed: The Run. It aims to bring back the story-driven action driving experience that once helped Need for Speed rule the arcade racing roost. Unfortunately, the aim was way off.

The upcoming game in the Need for Speed franchise is Need for Speed: Most Wanted and is being developed by Criterion.

Report by: Shunal Doke

Google adds sidebar to mobile search; updates Google+ for iOS, Android

Google has tweaked its mobile search home page, adding a new "hidden sidebar", and also released updates for its Google+ apps for iOS, Android.

The update to Google+ apps for iOS and Android brings some interesting and much awaited features. The "most highly requested feature", as Google calls it, is support for Google+ pages that was initially launched in November. Page owners now have the ability to post, comment and interact with their followers directly from their mobile device.

There are a number of other features to notice in both iOS and Android. Google+ for iOS which was a bit behind its Android client, now lets you edit posts once published.

Further, you can now save photos to your camera roll and the updated app also brings iOS 6 support and is optimised for the iPhone 5′s larger screen. iPad users can now search for people and posts from inside the app (the iPhone app already offered this capability before).

Though the Android version didn't get quite as many updates, nevertheless, it now offers a redesigned 'Find People' experience and a new redesigned home screen widget. Google adds that the app now allows you to access photos from posts with just one tap.

What else is Google upto?

Amidst various updates to its iOS and Android apps, Google is also paying close attention to its mobile web counterpart. In the latest tweak to its mobile search homepage, Google brought a simple redesign, which now features a hidden sidebar that contains all of the Google products and services.

The top of the screen now simply contains links to web and image search as well as a Google+ notification area with a drop-down to view your full Google profile. The new sidebar addition will definitely be welcomed by many users, since it is now easier to access all services in a more refined manner.

Back to the apps. Here's the official Google+ for Android version 3.2 changelog:
  • Google+ page owners can view, post and comment from mobile.
  • Discover people and topics more easily using 'Find people'.
  • Access photos from posts with 1-click.
  • New Home screen Widget re-design.
Here's the official Google+ for iOS version 3.2 changelog:
  • Support for iPhone 5 and iOS 6.
  • Google+ page owners can view, post and comment from mobile.
  • Ability to edit posts.
  • Ability to save photos to camera roll.
  • Ability to search for people and posts on iPad.
Report by: KS Sandhya Iyer

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