SanDisk lunched 200 GB microSD card

SanDisk has announced the world's first 200 GB microSD card, which will be available to buy from Q2 2015. Storage capacity has long been a problem for smartphone and tablet owners - particularly as these devices have come to replace PCs for many people. A 200 GB microSD would solve many such problems, although the announced price tag of 399.99 USD could prove too woeful on the wallet for many potential customers.

Currently, you can buy microSD cards offering up to 128 GB storage, with most mid- to high-end phones letting you take advantage of this capacity. Lower-end devices tend to go up to 32 GB, because they don't support the SDXC microSD format. However, if you have a phone that supports the SDXC microSD card standard, then you should be able to use SanDisk's 200 GB beast without any problem.

Major smartphone manufacturers can't seem to make up their minds on the merits of microSD storage in smartphones and tablets. Samsung, for example, revealed that the Samsung Galaxy S6 doesn't have a microSD slot, instead offering variants with up to 128 GB of internal capacity. You could wonder if Samsung is ruing its decision in light of SanDisk's announcement.

Are you willing to spend as much on a 200 GB microSD card as you would on a solid mid- to high-end smartphone, or a games console, or any number of things that are probably more exciting than extra storage space on your phone? Let us know in the comments.

Source: AndroidPit

Nokia introduced Nokia N1 Android iPad - Review

Nokia has just introduced the Nokia N1 - an impressive new Android tablet with a neat design, high-end features and a reasonable price.

Release date and price
The price of the Nokia N1 tablet will be 249 € when it arrives in Europe sometime during 2015, according to a Nokia spokesman I spoke with during my test.

Design & Build Quality
The design of the Nokia N1 is based on a unibody aluminum shell, which clearly emulates the iPad Mini.
Nokia is totally open about this point. The fact is that the construction of the N1 is impeccable. The device's edges encase the screen, with which it is level. The N1 is simple yet very elegant.

On the bottom, there are stereo speakers and USB 3.0 port, type C. This is a standard which allows users to plug a USB connector in both directions.

The top has the 3.5mm headphone jack and power button. The back of the tablet is completely devoid of sharp edges or corners. The camera's sensor does not protrude and only a discreet Nokia logo is visible.

From the beginning of my test of the Nokia N1, I found the design attractive. The Nokia tablet is ergonomic and comes in two finishes; gray aluminum and graphite.

Display
The Nokia spokesman told me that, on paper, the Nokia N1 screen is identical to that of the iPad Mini 3. Its

The first test of the Nokia N1 shows that it has a quality screen. The display is good, with  natural color rendering, plus nice saturation and contrast. The brightness is not the highest I've seen, but it seems sufficient for everyday use.
7.9-inch IPS panel has a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, giving it a pixel density of about 324 ppi.

The viewing angles looked good to me, though this is probably related to the fact that the slab is rolled and uses zero-gap technology (zero space).

Software
The Nokia N1 tablet runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Nokia launcher, Z Launcher, is pre-installed on the N1, but you can replace it with any other.

Z Launcher is a free download from the Google Play Store on all Android smartphones, but is compatible with N1. Beyond the specific features of Lollipop, Z Launcher is transforming the way we use and search for applications on Android. From the main screen, you can draw a letter, all applications that begin with that letter, or include it in their name are displayed.

In practise, it is surprisingly effective and I found myself using it instinctively in this first test of the Nokia N1. The application drawer is displayed as a list and icons are categorized.

Performance
During this short test of the Nokia N1, the tablet was very fluid and showed no signs of lag or bugginess. Of

The version presented at MWC 2015 uses an Intel Atom 64-bit Z3580 processor clocked at 2.3 GHz. The version that will arrive in Europe will be equipped with a more powerful processor. A Nokia manager told me that Qualcomm was interested in a partnership, but this did not progress because the Finns do not want to damage their excellent relations with Intel. We'll have to wait and see, then. The N1 also packs 2GB of DDR3 RAM.

A quick AnTuTu benchmark confirmed our inklings. It achieved a score of 47,050, just below the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

course, I'll wait for a full review to tell you more, but my first impression is very positive.
Battery
Nokia claims battery life of 12 hours for the N1. This seems realistic, as the battery capacity is 5300 mAh. In comparison, the Nexus 7 (2013) - not exactly a model for the device category - has a battery capacity of 3750 mAh.

Source : AndroidPit

Softcard App will Shut Down and Accounts Closed on March 31st

Softcard, the failure of a mobile payment system created by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, that tried its hardest to kill Google Wallet for years only to be acquired last month by Google in the most hilarious turn of events, is officially shutting down on March 31. According to emails being sent out to the four Softcard users in existence, the Softcard app will no longer work come March 31 and accounts will then be closed shortly after.

Yahoo launches tools to help developers monitor their apps

Yahoo has announced new tools for mobile app developers at their first mobile developer conference. The Yahoo Mobile Developer Suite includes tools built using technology from Flurry, which Yahoo acquired in July 2014, including an updated version of Flurry Analytics Explorer. The suite also has tools to help monetize their apps, as well as an easy way to integrate Yahoo search directly into apps.

Yahoo Search in Apps - This offering makes it easy for developers to integrate Yahoo Search directly into their apps. This enhances the user experience by allowing users to search the web from within the app, and can create an additional monetization channel for developers.

You can read more on these new developer tools from Yahoo at the link below.

Source: Yahoo

Lollipop users use there voice to toggle flashlight, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth

Users running the latest version of Android can now change simple settings with simple voice commands, hands-free.

Google Now has long supported voice commands for jumping to device settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, etc. But there was no way to do it with just your voice – issuing a command would open the correct setting, but you had to manually toggle it with a tap. Now this small, but rather inexplicable annoyance is gone, at least if you run Lollipop and the latest version of the Search app.

The feature currently works with the built-in flashlight, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Other features like GPS, Airplane Mode, volume settings, or tethering don’t seem to work in our testing. For the three features that work, you will get a vocal confirmation and a card that lets you toggle the feature back off with a tap.

Devices running KitKat or earlier don’t seem to have the feature, though turning on the flashlight (but not Bluetooth or WiFi) works on my KitKat-running Ascend Mate 7.

It’s unclear what’s taking Google so long to roll out this relatively simple functionality to Google Now, given that features like taking pictures or playing songs from Play Music or YouTube are already integrated. While, in many cases, a couple of taps may be easier than saying command, this is just another milestone on the long road to human-like computer comprehension.

On a related note, those who want more extensive command support in Google Now can try out Commands; it’s not an official solution, but it gets the job done.

Samsung is no longer the largest smartphone vendor in India

Samsung is no longer the largest smartphone vendor in India, as research firm Canalys is reporting that Micromax shipped more units than the South Korean vendor in the fourth quarter. Local manufacturer Micromax accounted for 22 percent of all smartphone sales in the country during the last quarter of 2014, while Samsung came in second with a 20 percent share.

Micromax sold 4.6 million devices in India, while Samsung managed 4.4 million sales. This is the first time Samsung lost out to Micromax in the smartphone segment in India. According to Canalys, a total of 21.6 million smartphones were sold in the country in Q4, an increase of 90 percent from the same time a year ago.

A majority of sales came from the budget segment, with nearly a quarter of all devices sold priced at under $100. Devices in the $100 to $200 category amounted to 41 percent of all sales. Indian manufacturers Karbonn and Lava came in at third and fourth, with sales of 2 million and 1.5 million respectively.

Micromax has redoubled its efforts in these segments, partnering with Cyanogen in launching an online-only sub-brand called Yu. The first handset, dubbed Yu Yureka, comes with CyanogenMod out of the box and is now available for sale exclusively on Amazon India.

Skype permanently retired for Android 2.2 or below

Bad news for old Android cell phones user, Skype Communication said, we've noticed that you are, or previously were, signed into Skype on a phone running the Android 2.2 (or below) operating system. We're sorry to inform you that we are now retiring all Skype apps that work on these older versions of the Android operating system. As a result, within the next few weeks, you'll no longer be able to sign in and use Skype on any Android 2.2 (or below) phone. If possible, we recommend that you upgrade your phone to a newer version of Android to continue using Skype.

Skype Communication said, If you've been using Skype on a more recent Android device, the above does not apply.

Skype Communication said, You can still stay in touch with friends and family using Skype on your desktop computer, laptop, phone, tablet or even an Xbox One. You can sign into them all using the same Skype account. The latest versions of Skype for all your devices are available at http://www.skype.com/download.

 

Have you recently upgraded to a new Android phone or tablet?
 

If you have then we recommend you check the Play Store to get the latest Skype app for your device.

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Android Is Beating iOS In Web Usage

Apple has lost yet another battle to Android.

According to the latest data from Net Applications (via 9to5Mac), Android usage is now higher than iOS, Apple’s iPhone and iPad operating system. Net Applications measures web traffic across 160 million monthly visits.

For the longest time, Apple CEO Tim Cook would mock Android — Android tablets in particular — by saying no one uses them. Last year he said, “I don’t know what these other tablets are doing. They must be in warehouses, or on store shelves, or maybe in somebody’s bottom drawer!”

But, he can’t make fun of Android any more. Web traffic to Android is higher than iOS for the first time in history. This shows that Android users are getting more engaged with their devices, using them more and more.

What does this mean for Apple in the long run? It’s hard to say. Android has been clobbering iOS in market share for years now, but Apple has been fine.

Apple is still minting cash, and the iPhone business continues to grow at a double digit pace on annual basis.

The risk for Apple in any of these situations is that developers abandon the platform for Android, which has more users, and, now, a more engaged user base. If Apple loses developer interest, then it will have worse applications, and iOS becomes a second-tier platform.

Apple has hundreds of millions of users and millions of developers. There are no signs that developers are getting bored with the platform.

So, this is mostly just an embarrassment for Apple right now.

Read more stories on Business Insider, Malaysian edition of the world’s fastest-growing business and technology news website.

Source: Yahoo News

Android's power user percentage at 23 percent

Most Android users fall into the moderate and light category based on data consumption, but 23 percent are power users who account for 57 percent of traffic, according to Strategy Analytics.

 

Twenty-three percent of Android users would be considered power users, with the majority falling into the moderate usage category, according to Strategy Analytics.

The big question is whether that stat sounds low. In tech circles, Android appears to be the geekiest of the mobile platforms. Folks who care about things like rooting devices use Android — as do people who'll tinker a bit.

To answer that question about whether 23 percent are power users, it's worth looking at Strategy Analytics' definitions. A light user consumes less than 50 MB in data per day. A moderate user consumes 50 to 300 MB per day and a power user tops 300 MB. The data usage covers Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
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A power user could consume data from streaming music or video. I'd define power user more as someone doing real work.

Strategy Analytics' sample size was 1,500 Android users.

Localytics found that Android users historically have skewed toward power users, but the company looks at app usage instead of data consumed. Generally speaking, iOS apps have been more sticky, but Android is closing the gap.

Power users as defined by Localytics — those who use an app more than 10 times a month — are equal on iOS and Android.

In any case, wireless carriers love the power users since they'll pay more for data and drive the most revenue.

Source: ZDnet

Android L preview: Dashing Look for android sets

Google announced the latest version of Android at I/O. The developer preview tips a new colorful design approach to the operating system, as well as several handy new features.

Android L — which does not have a cute dessert name yet — is the biggest facelift Google has given Android in years. Google SVPs Sundar Pichai and Matias Duarte gave a preview of the future of Android at the Google I/O developer conference on Wednesday.

It starts with design: this is certainly the prettiest version of Android ever. Gone is the focus on charcoal and grey from earlier years, and in is a newfound emphasis on color. Following current design trends, Android L also emphasizes “material design,” which turns app windows into cards. Each card has a specified “elevation value,” which allows the Android UI to automatically add drop shadows, perspective, and other animation touches regardless of screen size or dimension.

There’s also a good deal of new animations included in Android L: for instance, a new touch feedback animation that looks like “ripples in a pond.”

Google’s new guidelines for developers to make it easier to keep a consistent look and feel across Android — say, on a big 10-inch tablet as well as a tiny smartwatch screen.

The first place users will notice the visual change is in Google’s built-in apps: for instance, the Gmail app previewed on stage has large amounts of neutral space, a flat design, and Google’s updated Roboto font. The dialer features bold colors, that ripple animation mentioned earlier, and more neutral space.

Notifications have also gotten a lot of attention, with active banners popping up, even if you’re currently in another app, and a new approach to the lockscreen which allows users to take action on notifications without unlocking the device. One of the coolest features here is called Personal Unlocking, which uses context to skip locking the phone down. For instance, if your device is paired with a Bluetooth watch in the area, your phone will stay unlocked.

Chrome, the default browser on Android, has received a big update, with new recent tab screens and improved performance. Consumers will also appreciate the new “Universal Data Controls” feature, which puts all the device’s privacy settings in one place, and “Factory Reset Protection,” which provides a tool for administering remote wipes. Also appreciated: a new set of apps which will help save and monitor your device’s battery.

Under the hood — I/O is a developer’s conference, after all — there’s a lot that’s new as well. Most important is ART, which stands for Android Runtime. Google said ART manages RAM better than Dalvik, the previous runtime, and it’s fully 64-bit compatible. Google also announced the Android Extension Pack, which is a new collection of graphic tools like geometry shaders for game developers.

If you’re lucky enough to have a Nexus 5 or Nexus 7, you can download the Android L ROMs later today.

Source: Gigaom

Motorola exec confirms: Moto X to get Android L software update

Good news for folks (like me) who bought a Moto X handset: Android Central notes the phone will be upgraded to Android L after Google releases the next major software version. Android L is currently available in a developer preview for Nexus 5 and 7 devices, and is expected to debut publicly later this year.

Motorola previously said its budget Moto E handset would get the next major Android upgrade but hasn’t clarified its position on the Moto G and X phones. Confirmation of Android L for the Moto X came from Motorola’s Punit Soni on Google+, responding to the question about Android L for the Moto X with a simple “Yup” statement.

Given that the budget Moto E and its relatively lowly specs are getting Android L, surely the more powerful Moto X is capable of running Google’s newest Android software. Look at the long history of Android updates for phones, however, and you’ll see plenty of examples where “capable” devices were left out in the cold due to various handset maker or carrier decisions. Motorola has been a leader when it comes to Android updates, though.

Thanks to the largely stock Android user interface on its phones, along with useful custom apps that are available in the Google Play Store, Motorola devices upgrade paths are a little easier to tread: The company can push software updates more quickly than some competitors.

That’s one of the main reasons I still use a Moto X as my primary Android phone, in fact: Yes, there are phones with better processors, cameras or screens, but this phone meets my needs now, and with expected software updates and Motorola’s history of making them available more quickly than most, it will probably meet my needs for a while to come. I won’t lie, though: I’m still intrigued by the purported Moto X+1, a successor to my Moto X.

Source: Yahoo News

Motorola updates Motorola Connect app with new look and features

If you own a Motorola Moto X, Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx or Droid Mini and you have not tried the Motorola Connect app, you may want to head on over to the Play Store to give it a try. If you have already checked out the app, you will be glad to know an update is rolling out that adds a couple new features and overhauls the look and feel. Motorola Connect lets owners of the specific Motorola devices see and respond to text messages from their computer via a Chrome Extension to the Chrome Browser.

Motorola has updated the look and feel of the app. They have also modified it so that it is now located in the Apps Tray, which should make it a little easier to access. As far as new features, Motorola added a “Ring my phone” function which will be especially handy for those users who have misplaced their smartphone and could use a little help finding it.

The app is free, but as noted it only works on a limited number of Motorola devices running Android 4.4 KitKat. If you are just now trying the app out, be sure to also grab the Chrome Extension and install it on your computer.

Source: talkandroid

LG G3 S leaks: dual SIM capabilities and SIM-switching soft button

We’ve already heard about the LG G3 Mini, but what about the LG G3 S?

According to @evleaks, the G3 S is a dual SIM version of the flagship which features a fourth software key (alongside the three default Android software keys) which allows easy switch between the two SIM cards.

The exterior will be similar to the G3 Mini, including a 5-inch 720p display, 8MP rear camera, quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory,  a 2,400 mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat.

Most dual SIM smartphones are only available in select markets (meaning not the US), so we’ll see where the device ends up relatively soon. Expect a launch of the device alongside the G3 Mini.

Source: evleaks

LG announces “KizOn” wearable for parents to keep track of kids

Next time your kid wanders off at the amusement park, you won’t have to worry.

LG introduced the “KizOn” wearable device yesterday, which is cellular-equipped and allows parents to track the location of their toddlers. The wristband has the capability to call pre-programmed phone numbers with a single phone number as well, and parents can also call the wristband to check on their kids.

Launch is set for July 10 in South Korea, with a North America and Europe release set for Q3 of this year. While pricing and availability are unknown, we should have more information soon.

Source: TalkAndroid

Beware! Fake Chinese Android smartphones come preloaded with malware

The Android platform is no stranger to malware, in fact in the first three months of this year over four lakh malwares were detected on Google’s operating system. The battle with malwares though has taken a new twist, with German publication Heise claiming (via PhoneArena) that certain Chinese smartphone makers are shipping smartphones with built-in malware.

A smartphone called Star N9500, which looks deceptively like Samsung’s Galaxy S4, is being shipped with a dangerous malware called Uupay.D bundled. The Trojan essentially collects the user’s personal information and sometimes also turns on the phone’s mic to listen to conversations taking place near the smartphone. It can also send SMS to premium services without the user’s knowledge.

The Star N9500 is available at an affordable $217 (Rs 13,000 approximately) in China, which has extended its reach. Surprisingly, the company has acknowledged the presence of the Trojan in the phone. But it claims that the malware is a part of the firmware, which makes it really difficult to remove.

Source: BGR

Android For Windows PCs Is A Dream That Just Won't Die

When it launched on Kickstarter last week, Console OS was little more than an idea: an unusual and largely unofficial approach to dual-booting Android on a Windows laptop or tablet. Today, the project looks well on its way to becoming real, with nearly 2,500 paid-up backers already onboard.

I first wrote about Console OS as soon as the crowdfunding page went live. Despite a fair amount of skepticism, which I’ll get to in a moment, I found the concept appealing. I depend on Windows 8 for certain things (like writing this article), but my mobile existence is pretty much entrenched in the world of Android, and it’d be nice if that world was just a 10-second reboot away. Equally, I’m drawn to the idea of running multiple windowed Android apps side-by-side at high speed on the larger screen of an Intel INTC -0.07%-powered PC, and that’s something else Console OS promises to facilitate.

Clearly, these are things a lot of people want. Whenever I’ve covered hybrid mobile / desktop software ideas before, from the likes of Ubuntu, the response has been huge — just like it has been with Console OS. I can only attribute this to a widespread feeling that Microsoft MSFT -0.07% has been too slow in perfecting Windows for a mobile setting, while Google GOOGL +1.89% has so far failed to make Android compelling on larger and more powerful types of computer (energies it directs to Chrome OS instead).

On the other hand, speaking of Ubuntu, that was a partly crowdfunded project that failed to get off the ground. A salutory reminder that all of this has been tried before, by companies with more clout. So, briefly, it’s worth addressing the whole notion of dual-OS devices, and why none of them have yet succeeded.

The latter question is easier to answer: Commercial interests have likely played a major role in preventing Android and Windows from coming together on a single device. Intel promoted the idea back at CES, at the same time as ASUS announced a dual-OS hybrid PC, but then — before customers actually had a chance to express any interest — Microsoft reportedly came along and crushed it. Quite sensibly, perhaps, it couldn’t see any commercial benefit in allowing Android to invade its user base from the inside out.

As things stand, the few other Android-for-Windows tools on the market are held back by the fact that they (mostly) target developers rather than mainstream consumers; they’re tricky to run and they tend to emulate or virtualize Android instead of running it natively, which makes it hard to run games or other intensive tasks at full speed. Console OS aims to fix all these issues, with or without Microsoft’s blessing, and with just a little bit help from Intel (which has given the startup access to essential hardware drivers.)

The more fundamental “why?” is a much trickier question to answer. Why do people think it’s possible to improve upon two finely-tuned operating systems, each of which has consumed millions of dollars and years of development time, simply by supporting a $50,000 Kickstarter project? And aren’t solid, mainstream interfaces all about unity of purpose and unity of design, rather forcing things to work together in ways that were never intended?

These are doubts that Console OS must try to dispel when it’s ready for market in December of this year. I’ve put them directly to Chris Price, who heads up the project, and he offered me a long-term vision as a counterpoint, effectively saying that Google has already done all the hard work for him:

“We absolutely believe that Console OS can scale Android up to be a primary OS in the PC marketplace… With Android’s popularity, scaling the platform up to handle productivity systems like the PC is really the next step for Android. That’s what Console OS is all about.”

Let’s be clear, then: The ultimate goal of Console OS is not to allow Android and Windows to co-exist. That’s just the proximate intention, and the immediate selling point for the Kickstarter campaign.

Rather, the ambition is to speed up Android’s conquest of bigger and more powerful computing devices, at the expense of Mac OS, Windows and other closed-source operating systems. Price explicitly says this in a recent editorial, explaining that he was driven to create Console OS out of a desire to escape the walled gardens of Apple AAPL +0.11% and others:

“To beat the walled gardens, you have to have an operating system that people like. Thankfully, Android is the most popular OS in the world today.”

If Console OS fails, it won’t be due to a lack of interest or support. It’ll either be because it sold itself too cheaply on Kickstarter, recruiting thousands of backers at $10 a pop while still failing to meet its $50,000 target. Or it’ll be because it put its long-term philosophy ahead of the straight-forward functionality that it has promised. I have doubts on both fronts, but I sincerely hope to be proved wrong, not least because my own $10 is now in that pot.

Source: Forbes

Microsoft's Android patents will face challenges

 With over 20 patent licensing deals with Android mobile device makers, Microsoft's most profitable mobile operating system is Android. That revenue stream may soon be shrinking.

Now that the Chinese government has revealed the patents within Microsoft's Android patent portfolio, Microsoft may soon be facing challenges from vendors over its Android patent licensing agreements.
microsoft-android

The Android patents alone may bring as much as $2 billion a year to Microsoft's coffers.

As John Ferrell, co-founder of the Silicon Valley law firm Carr & Ferrell, said in an e-mail interview: "It’s not unexpected that a company like Microsoft, that invests so heavily in building and acquiring patents, wouldn’t also aggressively find a way to monetize its huge investment."

Microsoft's licensing fees vary from company to company. While no one has gone on record, the range seems to be from $5 to $16 per Android device. So, for example, Microsoft signed Samsung to an Android patent deal in 2011. Thus, with Samsung's Galaxy S5, which is available at a carrier-subsidized price of $200, Microsoft may be making from $10 to $32 per device sold.

Android smartphone and tablets manufacturers aren't happy about this. I've been speaking to half-a-dozen Android related businesses and these companies are considering a variety of options now that Microsoft's Android patent arsenal [.docx file] has been publicly revealed. As these companies are still weighing what, if any, actions they make take, I am unable to identify them or what specific actions they are currently considering.

Here, however, are the possibilities that are under consideration.

Of the major Android smartphone vendors, only Motorola Mobility, which previously belonged to Google, and is being bought out by Lenovo, has fought Microsoft in court over its demands for Android patent licensing. The other firms, considering the high-cost of patent litigation, have been elected to pay Microsoft off. The average cost of a patent lawsuit in 2008 had already reached $17.8-million per case.

For most companies the smart move has been to swallow their pride, pay the licensing fees, and move on.

Motorola Mobility, however, has shown that Microsoft patent portfolio was weaker than many expected. Of the 17 patents to appear so far before the International Trade Commission, the US District Court of Western District Court of Washington, and the German Federal Patent Court, 16 of the decisions have gone Motorola's way.

The only Microsoft-owned Android patent to be upheld to date has been US Patent No. 6,370,566 for ActiveSync.

As a result of Motorola Mobility's relative success, and the Chinese patent revelations, some firms are re-considering their Microsoft patent licenses. One in-house counsel for a major Asian firm said that after checking the full list and taking out duplicates, they found invalid and expired patents, and standard essential patents covered by fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms (FRAND), Microsoft only has 80 relevant patents. The company also believes that many of these — if someone were to file for a reexamination of them — might be invalidated.

Another firm is considering suing Microsoft over the current terms of its patent license. Still, another corporate attorney suggested that the mere threats of either litigation or seeking to have the patents invalidated might be enough to get Microsoft to reduce the costs of its patent licenses. While it's unlikely that a company would seek to have any of Microsoft's patents invalidated at the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), pro-open source and anti-patent groups may seek to do exactly that.

For companies however, when all is said and done, patents are all about money.

Rather than spend millions in litigation (which as the Apple vs. Samsung saga has shown has no real-world market effect) if the Android companies can use the Microsoft Android patent revelations to strike a more profitable deal for themselves, they'll be happy to do so.

Source: ZDNet

Samsung Already Has A New Smartwatch Coming, And It May Run Android Wear

Although Samsung released a new smartwatch and fitness band just a few months ago, the company may already be preparing to release some new wearables.

The Korea-based company just filed a handful of documents with the FCC detailing a new smartwatch that's a bit smaller than the Gear 2 —and it could potentially run on Android Wear.

The filing, which was first spotted by Samsung news blog SammyToday, says the new smartwatch will measure 1.45 inches by 1.8 inches, which is slightly smaller than the 1.4 x 2.2-inch Gear 2.

There has been some speculation that this watch could run on Google's new version of Android specifically made for wearables —Android Wear.

The company began filing a trademark for the term Galaxy Wear in Korea last month, leading many to believe that this would be Samsung's Android Wear smartwatch.

However, a newer report from SammyToday notes that Samsung has halted the registration process for this term.

Samsung is an official partner with Google for its Android Wear program, but the company hasn't come forward to announce any plans for a specific device just yet. Both LG and Motorola will be the first electronics manufacturers to launch smartwatches running on Android Wear this summer.

Releasing an Android Wear smartwatch would stray from Samsung's current strategy when it comes to wearables. The Gear 2 runs on a different open source operating system called Tizen, and Samsung is believed to be shaping it into its own self-branded software in an effort to decrease it's reliance on Google. That's just a theory — Samsung hasn't come forward to confirm such a strategy —but the company has shown interest in Tizen for quite some time.

The FCC filing comes after numerous reports have suggested Samsung is preparing to release a couple of new smartwatches. The Korea Herald reported that Samsung will release its Gear 3 watch in the fall alongside its next phablet, presumably the Note 4.

In the meantime, Samsung is expected to release a watch called the Gear Solo that would be capable of making phone calls without being tethered to your phone. This purported Gear Solo will probably be a limited release product that's just meant to "fill the void" between now and Samsung's Gear 3 launch, the Herald reported.

Source: Business Insider

Amazon Rumor Roundup: 3-D Smartphone With Gesture Controls?

Amazon is already everywhere from your mailroom to your TV, and now it wants to be in your pocket.

The company is holding a splashy press event on Wednesday in Seattle, and the rumors are so loud that it's all but confirmed Amazon is finally announcing its own smartphone.

Reports had suggested for years that Amazon might be working on a phone -- one of the final frontiers for the company after launching its Fire TV and tablets -- and rumors about what features such a device could include began swirling even more when Amazon announced the June 18 event.

Here's what reputable sources say the Amazon phone could include:

3-D holograms: The Wall Street Journal reported in April that the Amazon phone would feature 3-D images -- with no glasses required. According to the Journal's unnamed sources, the phone will pull off that feat by using eye-tracking technology in four front-facing cameras.

The 3-D rumor appeared to be borne out by a preview video Amazon itself released earlier this month, showing customers trying out the mystery gadget. "It moved with me!" one woman says in the promotional video. Others move their heads around as they look at the gadget, saying, "Whoa!"

They could also track hand gestures that can be used to control the phone, according to an April 22 report from the tech blog BGR (which has a strong track record on leaked Amazon news and published photos of the purported new phone last month).

Gesture controls, like tilt-to-click: Those suspected front-facing cameras might not be only for eye-tracking. 

BGR's anonymous sources said tilting the phone will let users access menus and other features in apps without a single touch. For example, tilting in the messaging app will pull up an option to attach photos, they said.

Snap a photo of words, convert it to text: The other feature mentioned in BGR's April 22 article is "optical character recognition" -- that is, users can snap a photo of a sign or a business card, and the phone will automatically convert the words in the image into text.

Prime Data: Amazon may not be content with merely launching a phone; the company may also wade into providing phone service itself.

A separate April report from BGR claims Amazon will also unveil a wireless data plan called "Prime Data." BGR's sources couldn't suss out details on the service, as Amazon is keeping the program hush-hush. But they speculated Amazon may offer its smartphone customers free access to its Prime-branded digital services like Instant Video.

Exclusive to AT&T: Sorry, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile customers: AT&T will be the exclusive wireless carrier for the Amazon smartphone, the Journal reported Tuesday. As the newspaper noted, AT&T already provides service to Amazon's Kindle tablets and e-readers.

Cheaper version: We don't yet know what Amazon's phone will really turn out to be, or how much it will cost. But if you're already looking for a different version of the yet-to-be-unveiled device, fear not: Rumors say a cheaper version of the phone is in the works

Source: NBC NEWS

Garmin launches Viago, a new navigation experience at an affordable price

Garmin is a household favorite when it comes to turn-by-turn navigation and has enjoyed continued success with its StreetPilot software, which goes for $30 (or more). Since we're in a more advanced world regarding smartphone technology and components, the company has unveiled Viago, a new app for both Android and iPhones that attempts to bridge the price gap between the premium tag and what consumers usually spend on app stores.

The apps themselves cost just $1 (until July 13 when prices will increase to $2) and come with worldwide maps licensing as well as lane assistance, realistic junction views, speed limits, weather and traffic reporting. Should users wish to take advantage of more functionality, the option is there with in-app purchases. Some of the extras are pretty cool – Real Directions provides directions based on landmarks rather than street names and Active Lane Guidance simplifies junction navigation.

Source: Android Central