Thread: All Things Android

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Originally Posted by jons557

It was mentioned that there is a review for the new S4 on TD- can someone send me the link?

Get the HTC One or Sony Xperia Z instead. All 3 are v good; HTC is the best outright, Sony is the sexiest and you can watch movies while it's in your beer (it doesn't get any better than that!).

What you got now 'Arry? S3? GN2?

SGN I and S III.

I did buy one of those dual SIM JFones in Chiang Mai, but it's fucking pants, so I gave it to someone as a leaving present.

I bought 2 of the imobile dual sim unit from bigC - 1100 baht for both.

I bought them for songkran usage

^ you cheap bastard; get yerself a proper waterproof phone!

^^ S3 is a good phone; when 4G starts to work well you'll be needing to upgrade (unless you've got the S3 LTE version).

Is this the bargirl thread ?

^ definitely seems to be the bar girls talking bollocks about their new phones thread.

Betty is a bargirl himself, so no surprise here

he is living in a tent somewhere in UAE, servicing local tribe men

Anal Rodent and Papillion together; what fun they could have... Add a Socal and you've got a full house.

I suspect all three are iTards.

The Galaxy Note/Note 2 is a good phone. The Note 3 might be really spectacular.

Originally Posted by baldrick

18 (!) megapixels in rear

^these monster pixel counts are too silly for the microscopic sensor sizes and optical elements. That is the same count as Canons best APS-C DSLRs.

I think I have 8Mb in my Google Nexus. Plenty enough and already too many for the tiny lens to resolve accurately if you pixel peep the results.

^ you got the Nexus 4, Looper? Very good value for money that little beastie. Nigh on as good as anything out there 95% of the time.

I love me little (not so little) Sony, but it's a fair wad of cash to be left in a taxi, dropped on the concrete, etc. If the missus likes the Sony then I'll probably give it to her and maybe buy meself a Nexus 4 or 5 if it's out.

I don't know. It doesn't have a number on it. I got it about 6 months ago.

Nexus 4 that'll be. One of the best hones available and at half the cost of most; I wanted to get the missus one about 6 months ago, but they weren't available. Hard to get hold of them, always popular and out of stock. Did you buy it in Bangkok?

No I got it in Aussie but all the 7-11 girls wanted to know where I got it when I went in for a recharge on holidays so I was well chuffed with that

^ prized phone; good choice.

Finally got the JB upgrade for my Galaxy S Advance yesterday, its pretty slick it is too. It's jumped straight from Gingerbread 2.36 to Jellybean 4.12. It's a huge improvement , loads more features, the battery life seems better as well, especially as I was playing with it most of yesterday, and the phone
If you go through settings, about device, update, it will tell you No Update though.

You have to stick it in your PC and into Kies, then it will tell you to update kies and it also mentions phone firmware upgrade then.

New Google Maps update brings completely revamped UI, 5-star rating system, offers, and more
posted on May 15th 2013 by Chris Chavez Share This Story



Fresh out of Google I/O 2013, the “Big G” announced that they’re giving Google Maps a completely fresh new redesign, coming soon to both the desktop and Android devices. Let’s check out all the new goodies we can look forward to when it launches in the coming weeks.



First off, the user interface has been given a complete overhaul, built from the ground up with a much more clean and intuitive layout. Google describes the interface as the map being the UI itself, and that’s essentially what they’ve done. Full screen maps, with simple controls hovering over maps, with the search bar always prevalent.



Special “offers” will available directly from a searched business listing, with Google mentioning only a few bigger name retailers signing up for this feature at launch, but many more coming in the future. Speaking of businesses, Google has also implemented a new 5-star rating system for users to rate their favorite restaurants, places, and/or businesses. And while reading reviews from ordinary folk can be fun, if you want a more expert opinion, Zagat scores can also be filtered for searched businesses as well.



Google Maps users will also have the benefit of live coverage for traffic and transit incidents. If an accident happens while you’re already en route to a location, Maps and Navigation will feature dynamic rerouting, navigating you to a quicker route when one is available. Now that’s innovation.



Tablet users searching for interesting stuff to do in a new area can use Maps to find interesting places to eat, drink, shop, play, and sleep. A new “Explore” option available allowing users to search by interest or activity.

This all new Maps experience isn’t exclusive for Android users either. Google went back to the drawing board with the web version of Google Maps, offering all the benefits we detailed here in the Android release (and more). Both versions of Google Maps will be available for everyone starting sometime this summer and you can even request an invite to test the new Google Maps on your desktop by visiting the link right after the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=THxJHcR1D2c

Request an Invite

Google combines cloud storage, offers 15GB of free cloud storage to share between Drive, Gmail, and Google+
posted on May 13th 2013 by Chris Chavez Share This Story

Managing cloud storage is never fun. Up until today, Google offered 10GB of online storage for Gmail users, and for those using Drive or Google+ instant upload, 5GB of completely separate storage. To help make things a little easier on its users, Google has just announced that users will no longer have to manage separate clouds for Gmail, Drive and Google+. That’s right, starting today, Drive and Google+’s 5GB of free storage, will now be combined with Gmail’s 10GB of storage, creating a single unified chunk of cloud storage in the sky.

To help manage this, Google is also rolling out an update to their Drive storage page, making it easier to see at a glance, how you’re using your cloud storage. Need even more storage? It’s only $5 a month for 100GB. While it was announced today, Google mentions this will be rolling out over the next few weeks, so don’t freak if you haven’t seen the changes right away.

Samsung has announced its first handset since unleashing the Samsung Galaxy S4 onto the world. It’s called the Samsung Galaxy Core, and it’s a 4.3 inch device that is aimed right at the corner of mid and level. Said 4.3-inch display has WVGA resolution, and packed beneath it are a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a 5 megapixel camera, a front-facing VGA camera, Bluetooth 3.0, 8GB of internal storage, an 1,800mAh battery, Android 4.1 and more.

The device has some of Samsung’s latest features such as Smart Stay, Smart Alert, S Voice and all the motion features you can dive into. The Galaxy Core sports dual-SIM bays for those who find themselves needing to house two services or numbers on the same handset. We typically don’t see such smartphones here in the US of A, but Samsung is planning to bring out a single SIM version in July. As for this one, you can expect to see it in certain markets starting later this month.

Google made a big deal out of its improvements to the Play Store in the massive keynote that kicked off I/O, and at least some of them are live right now. Probably the most important for tablet owners is the ability to highlight apps specifically designed for tablets, or at least, the ones that have given some thought to layout and interface on larger screens. The updated tablet view is being rolled out right now, and on at least some devices (read:mine) it includes the option to filer out the smartphone chaff from the tablet wheat.

If you want to see it, make sure your tablet is running the latest build of the Google Play Store (4.1.6 - download it here) and tap the Apps link on the front page. Slide over to the "Top Paid" tab, or any of the main tabs in the Play Store. Then tap the somewhat innocuous "All apps" text, and select "Designed for tablets" instead. Bingo, you're now presented with nothing but the finest tablet apps that Android has to offer. Sadly, this does not work in a general search.
But hang on, dear readers. A few of these apps' claim to the "Designed for tablets" badge seems suspect at best. Right there at the top of the Paid list today is SwiftKey (currently on sale) when it should definitely not be, since there's a tablet-specific version of the keyboard. Scroll down a bit and you'll see EA's Tetris Free, which looks like crap even on the 720p screen of my Galaxy Note 8.0. There's even ROM Manager Premium, which is barely even an app, it's just the unlock enabler for ROM Manager (which doesn't have a tablet user interface either). Switching to the tablet filter definitely narrows the field, but not by nearly enough. "Designed for tablets" might be more accurately labeled "Eh, it will probably run on your tablet" for the time being.

We get that this is early days, but the fact remains that it's very hard to find good, tablet-specific or tablet-enhanced apps on the Play Store. Hopefully someone in Mountain View will sort through this sooner rather than later. One last thing: the "Designed for tablets" function is not to be confused with the curated/featured tablet apps, often embedded in a link on the front page of the Play Store. Those have been there for a while, and they're not dynamically generated.

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 14, 2013) - BlackBerry® (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB) today announced plans to make its ground-breaking mobile social network, BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), available to iOS® and Android™ users this summer, with support planned for iOS6, and Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher, all subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play. BBM sets the standard for mobile instant messaging with a fast, reliable, engaging experience that includes delivered and read statuses, and personalized profiles and avatars. Upon release, BBM customers would be able to broaden their connections to include friends, family and colleagues on other mobile platforms.
In the planned initial release, iOS and Android users would be able to experience the immediacy of BBM chats, including multi-person chats, as well as the ability to share photos and voice notes, and engage in BBM Groups, which allows BBM customers to create groups of up to 30 people.
"For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are inseparable from the mobile experience, and the time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service. BBM has always been one of the most engaging services for BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily connect while maintaining a valued level of personal privacy. We're excited to offer iOS and Android users the possibility to join the BBM community," said Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President, Software Product Management and Ecosystem, at BlackBerry.
BBM is loved by customers for its "D" and "R" statuses, which show up in chats to let people know with certainty that their message has been delivered and read. It provides customers with a high level of control and privacy over who they add to their contact list and how they engage with them, as invites are two-way opt-in. iOS and Android users would be able to add their contacts through PIN, email, SMS or QR code scan, regardless of platform. Android users would also be able to connect using a compatible NFC-capable device.
BBM has more than 60 million monthly active customers, with more than 51 million people using BBM an average of 90 minutes per day. BBM customers collectively send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day, nearly twice as many messages per user per day as compared to other mobile messaging apps. Almost half of BBM messages are read within 20 seconds of being received; indicating how truly engaged BBM customers are.
Today, BlackBerry also announced BBM Channels, a new social engagement platform within BBM that will allow customers to connect with the businesses, brands, celebrities and groups they are passionate about. BlackBerry plans to add support for BBM Channels as well as voice and video chatting for iOS and Android later this year, subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play.
If approved by Apple and Google, the BBM app will be available as a free download in the Apple® App Store(SM) and Google Play store. Additional details about system requirements and availability will be announced closer to the launch.

Archos ChefPad Tablet Appeals To The Clumsy Cook Who Is Too Lazy To Search Google Play
Posted by Bertel King, Jr. in ARCHOS, News, Tablets
I like to cook, and sometimes I bring my tablet into the kitchen with me to look up a recipe. For some of you, this might not be dedicated enough. You demand a dedicated kitchen tablet, and Archos is ready to deliver. Their new ChefPad is "a tablet for the cooking enthusiast." It comes with a selection of cooking oriented apps and a silicone case that makes it a dream come true for the four of you who could not settle for anything less.


The Archos ChefPad comes with Chef Apps Zone, which filters through the Play Store to present a curated selection of cooking apps. It ships with Android 4.1, and as far as software's concerned, that's about it. In addition to its waterproof case, the tablet comes with an adjustable stand that gives you a good view of its unspectacular 9.7 inch 1024 by 768 screen. It also touts a dual-core 1.6 GHz processor and 1 GB of RAM under the hood, which should be adequate for running all of those cooking apps you'll be supposedly filling it up with.
In case someone wants to get their hands on the ChefPad, it launches next month for $209.99/£149.99/€169.99.

Archos Reveals The $200 80 Xenon Tablet: Android 4.1, 8-inch 4:3 Screen, And (Surprise!) A 3G Radio [Update]

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in ARCHOS, News

Archos has been cultivating a reputation for cheap, mostly reliable tablets since long before Android slates were mainstream. Their latest creation isn't all that remarkable: the 80 Xenon is squarely aimed at the iPad Mini, with an 8-inch, 1024x768 IPS screen, a Qualcom 1.2ghz quad-core (Snapdragon S4?) processor, 1GB of RAM, and a price tag of $199.99. Oh, and it comes with unlocked 3G wireless broadband. Wait, what?

Yes indeed, the 80 Xenon is specifically designed and marketed with mobile wireless in mind. According to the Archos PR, the tablet will work with "any operator" (SEE BELOW). At $200 (€169.99 in mainland Europe, £159.99 in the UK) this may be the cheapest 3G tablet we've ever seen from a reputable manufacturer. The 80 Xenon will be available in June in both the United States and Europe.

Archos was mum on some of the more esoteric specifications, but they did mention that the tablet has access to the Google Play Store, GPS, 4GB of storage, and a MicroSD card slot. Software is unskinned Android plus Archos' suite of rather good media apps. The rear cam is just 2MP, with a front cam of indiscriminate resolution, but whadya want in a 3G tablet for two Benjamins?

Oh, and while the 80 Xenon is certified to work on GSM networks, it is apparently not recommended for use in the kitchen.

Update: As commenter Matthew Merrick points out, the 80 Xenon is not pentaband. According to Archos' website, it has the following wireless bands available:
• 3G: WCDMA 2100
• 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900

Those frequencies would give the tablet 3G GSM in most of the world (including AT&T and any compatible MVNOs in the US, but not T-Mobile) and CDMA 3G in parts of Europe, Asia, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. GSM 850/900/1800/1900 can be used for 3G, so we're not sure why it's labeled "2G" on the Archos site, unless there's some kind of artificial speed limitation.

Denver, CO – May 16th, 2013 - ARCHOS, a pioneer in Android™ devices, is pleased to announce the latest addition to the Elements range of tablets, the ARCHOS 80 xenon, a specially designed 8” tablet with built-in 3G and WiFi for an on-the-go experience. This Google™ certified tablet features a powerful Qualcomm Quad-core CPU at 1.2 GHz, Android™, 4.1 Jelly Bean for an improved smooth interface and a sharp and clear IPS multi-touch screen that delivers amazing vivid colors and impressive wide viewing angles. The ARCHOS 80 xenon will be available for $199.99 SRP starting in June, 2013.
“We designed the ARCHOS 80 xenon to meet the growing need and desire for large screen connectivity while on the go,” says Loïc Poirier, CEO of ARCHOS. “Taking advantage of the recent arrival of affordable 3G subscriptions, the ARCHOS 80 xenon provides a full connected tablet experience anywhere, anytime.” As a Google certified tablet, the ARCHOS 80 xenon has complete access to Google Play™ and its 700,000 applications and games and as a “Un-SIM-locked” device, it can accept SIM cards from any operator even pay-as-you-go SIM cards. Additional features and functions include:
Built-in GPS: The 80 xenon includes an integrated GPS combined with Google Maps™ and Google Maps with Navigation beta, for easy access to maps and directions
Vibrant Screen: The ARCHOS 80 xenon is equipped with an impressive 8‘’ IPS screen that provides amazing image quality, extra wide viewing angles, excellent screen sharpness and vivid colors
ARCHOS Media Center Applications: The ARCHOS 80 xenon includes the best of multimedia with tailor made apps for Video and Music that include metadata scraping, auto-subtitles, wireless media sharing and the best format and codec support around including HD video decoding
Pure Android Experience: Powered by an unskinned version of Android™ 4.1, Jelly Bean, ARCHOS 80 xenon delivers a pure Android™ experience including optimizations for a supersmooth UI experience and Google Now™ voice assistance
Full Suite of Google™ Mobile Apps: The full suite of Google™ mobile apps are available on the ARCHOS 80 xenon; whether it’s to keep in contact via Gmail™, Google Talk™ and Google+™ (with multi-user video calling), planning a trip with Google Maps™ or accessing content on the cloud with Google Drive™.
Other Key Specs:
1024x768 IPS screen
Quad-Core CPU @ 1.2 GHz with 1GB RAM
Expandable MicroSD slot (up to 64GB)
2 Megapixel Back Camera
Tags:3garchoscheapipad competitor

Can you chop yer onions on it..?