With Google I/O 2013 starting tomorrow, we have a lot to look forward to! We still aren’t exactly sure of what Google has in store for us, but among a slew of rumors and possibilities running rampant is speculation about a second edition of the Asus-made Nexus 7. If true, the new Nexus 7 will feature specifications that keep up with the times, while once again boasting a very reasonable price tag, which is really exciting.

Of course, the reason for this excitement is because of the great reception the Nexus 7 – the first Android tablet under the Nexus series – got when it was announced at the same event last year, becoming one of the best-selling Android tablets available since then. While not matching the sales numbers of the iPad, the Nexus 7 still managed to have a profound effect on the tablet market.

The Nexus 7 arrived at a time when Android tablet manufacturers were struggling to make an impact in a highly-competitive market, and showed other OEMs how it should have been done. Google wasn’t taking on the iPad with the Nexus 7, but did attempt to do so more directly with the Nexus 10 that was released by the end of 2012.

Before the Nexus 7, the most popular 7-inch Android tablets were the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 and the Amazon Kindle Fire, and the latter was, in part, the motivation behind Google jumping into the tablet game. Suddenly, wanting to buy an Android tablet with more than decent specifications didn’t require you to fork over $500+, and while not without its flaws, the Nexus 7 became the go-to tablet for a lot of consumers.

With the possible arrival of the next Nexus 7 this week, we take a look at some of the reasons why the first-generation model managed to shake up the tablet landscape.

Specifications vs Cost

The rumors surrounding the release of the Nexus 7 last year meant that we knew almost exactly what to expect by the time the tablet was released. But unlike with other device leaks, the pre-launch confirmation of the Nexus 7specifications didn’t do anything to  quell the excitement. Things got even better during the launch, with the announcement of the $199 and $249 price tags for a device with high-end specifications.

At the time, falling in the same price range was the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, which featured a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage for $249. Packing a 7-inch IPS display with 1280 x 800 resolution, 1.2Ghz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, and 1GB RAM, the price of the Nexus 7 was surprisingly low, and is obviously one of the many reasons the tablet was popular. Granted, compromises were made including the lack of a rear camera and microSD slot and the limited 8GB internal storage (the effectively 5.5GB space available to the user wasn’t nearly enough). But the last issue was corrected later that year, with the 8GB version being dropped, and the price of the 16GB version falling to $199. A 32GB version was also introduced.

With the arrival of the Nexus 7, you could now get your hands on an almost high-end tablet at a comparatively low price. The device completely shook up the tablet market, as far as the question of specifications vs  cost was concerned.

The latest software

The biggest advantage with any Nexus device is the fact that you’ll always be the first to receive any software updates, with a gap sometimes as big as six months before non-Nexus smartphones and tablets catch up, and that is, of course, if OEM “support” isn’t discontinued. Of course, this (as well as the previous point) is true for all Nexus devices. But while Nexus smartphones were already around for a while, the Nexus 7 was the first tablet to provide this edge.

The Nexus 7 was launched with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on board, and also introduced Google Now. All subsequent minor and major (up to Android 4.2) updates were available immediately after they were announced. With that in mind, if the latest iteration of Android is announced this week, the Nexus 7 and the Nexus 10 will be one of the first tablets to receive it (keeping in mind that the rumored new Nexus 7 will release with the latest version).

Android tablet (and smartphone) manufacturers have had a difficult time with timely updates for their devices, and with the Nexus 7, users could finally get their hands on a tablet that would always feature the latest Android software.

In a weekly segment, I’ll be doing a roundup of the mobile technology news in India, including new device announcements and releases from Indian manufacturers, network carrier news, and anything else that captures the pulse of  the Android scene in India. 

This week on the Weekly News Roundup – India, we continue to see an increase in the number of budget-friendly quad-core smartphones available in the country, with new device announcements from Karbonn, Celkon, Xolo, and Chinese manufacturer Gionee. Surprisingly, there are no new Android tablets from local manufacturers launched this week. There’s great news for music lovers with Tata Docomo detailing a new tie up with popular music streaming app, Saavn. Unfortunately, there’s also some bad news, for RCom subscribers, with the company increasing its tariffs by up to 30%.

As you can see, there’s a lot to talk about. Let’s get started!

Android Smartphones

Karbonn Titanium S2

Micromax started the trend of budget-friendly 5-inch quad-core smartphones, and almost every other Indian manufacturer has jumped on the bandwagon. Karbonn earlier released the Titanium S1 and S5, and have now followed that up with the Titanium S2, which joins the ever-increasing list of low-cost quad-core smartphones in country. The specifications of the Karbonn Titanium S2 include -

Specifications-wise, the Karbonn Titanium S2 falls right in between the S1 and S5, and is priced similarly as well. Priced at Rs 10,790 (~$203) by online retailers Infibeam, the latest 5-inch quad-core smartphone from Karbonn will be available from May 14, with an estimated delivery of 2-3 days. Ordering the device now will also get you a flap cover for free.

Source – NDTV Gadgets

Celkon A119Q Signature HD

Celkon, which launched the A119 Signature HD back in March, has now released the A119Q Signature HD. As you can see from the name, the difference between the two devices is the Q, which in this case, stands for quad-core. The specifications of the Celkon A119Q Signature HD include -

The Celkon A119Q Signature HD joins the small list of smartphones available in India that run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. The specifications are similar to the Micromax A116 Canvas HD and the Karbonn Titanium S5, and is priced around the same as well. Available for Rs 12,499 (~$235), you also get a flip cover worth Rs 1,500 for free. You can pre-book the device from SnapDeal here, and will be on sale from May 15. You can find out more about the Celkon A119Q Signature HD from the company website here.

Source – Fone Arena

Xolo Q700

Xolo, a sub-brand of Lava International, has slowly become a major player in the Indian smartphone market, with the company being the first to release some great Android devices powered by Intel processors, along with a slew of budget-friendly non-Intel smartphones. Joining that second list is the Xolo Q700, which is yet another low-cost smartphone powered by a quad-core MediaTek processor. The specifications of the Xolo Q700 include -

The specifications of the Xolo Q700 are similar to most other quad-core smartphones from local manufacturers, but what makes this device stand is the fact that it is one of the cheapest smartphones available in its specs category. Priced at just Rs 9,999 (~$188), the Xolo Q700 has been listed as “Coming Soon” by online retailers Flipkart.

Source – IBN Live

Gionee GPad-G2

Gionee announced the GPad-G2 earlier last month, and officially launched the 5.3-inch smartphone in India this week. The smartphone from the Chinese manufacturer boasts decent specifications which include -

Apart from featuring one of the larger batteries in its segment, the Gionee GPad-G2 also boasts an in-built DTS audio system for great sound quality. Apart from the much larger 5.3-inch display (compared to 4.65-inch), the specifications of the GPad-G2 is very similar to the Gionee Dream D1. The smartphone is priced at Rs 13,999 from online store Tradus, and also from retail stores around the country.

Source – The Mobile Indian

Network Carrier News

RCom increases tariffs of discounted voice and data plans by up to 65%

Reliance Communications has decided to increase the tariffs of its discounted voice and data plans, some by up to 65%, with “the aim to increase profitability.” Most other operators, including Vodafone, Idea, and Airtel have made similar moves recently, and while RCom resisted the change initially, it makes sense for the company to do so now.

All the popular discounted plans, known as “commitment plans,” have now been changed to reflect the new policy. The smallest change have been for the STV 21 and STV 45 plans, which have seen a hike of it’s local call rate by 20%, from 1p/sec to 1.2p/sec. The 2p/sec rate for STD calling remains the same.

The biggest changes have been to the STV 48 and STV 46 plans. The “by-the-minute” plans have seen a huge slash in the minutes that are available, with the STV 48 dropping from 500 minutes to just 160 minutes, while the STV 46 plan sees a drop from 200 minutes to 140 minutes.

The changes are applicable immediately for all new and existing Reliance Communication subscribers.

Source – Think Digit

Tata Docomo partners with Saavn to launch special data plans for music streaming

Tata Docomo has announced a partnership with popular music-streaming service Saavn to launch a number of special data plans that will allow users to stream music, as well as access exclusive international music content.

The announced plans include -

The plans are available for prepaid Tata Docomo subscribers who have Android or iOS devices. Music streaming can require a lot of data depending on how much you use it, and these plans certainly make things a lot easier.

Source – BGR India

Indian manufacturers have all been releasing budget-friendly quad-core smartphones, with only minor differences in specifications and price between them. The good thing is that such devices are now beginning to feature Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on-board, something that even some internationally-renowned manufacturers are lacking.

What are your thoughts? Will you be buying any of the quad-core smartphones announced this week? What do you think of the new music streaming data plans from Tata Docomo and Saavn? As an RCom subscriber, are you disappointed at the tariff hike? Let us know in the comments section below.

See you next week!

Here we go again! Joining the evergreen list of smartphone debates that includes such greats as “Android vs iOS,” “Apple vs Samsung,” and recently, “plastic vs metal,” is the question of whether Nokia should have gone the Android way, and if it isn’t too late, maybe still should. This debate makes it to the forefront every time Nokia releases its quarterly financial results, and while things may ever so slightly be looking up, not surprisingly, a lot of shareholders are looking for better results.

For most of us, a Nokia device was our first phone, and while the mobile landscape has changed a lot with the emergence of the smartphone, there is always a nostalgic twinge behind all the “only cockroaches and the Nokia 3310 can survive a nuclear explosion”-type jokes. When asked the question of whether I’d buy a Nokia smartphone running Android, I, without any hesitation, said yes. Granted, Nokia does have to catch up to the hardware specs offered by current Android devices, but I’m sure for a lot of people, Nokia and Android would be a match made in heaven.

But will that actually ever happen, and even if it does, it is already too late? Let’s take a look!

How is Nokia doing right now?

Since signing a deal with Microsoft back in February 2011, Nokia took up the cause for the Windows Phone OS, and things have been far from easy. 2012 hasn’t been a good year for the Finnish company, with estimated losses of around $3 billion for the period, but still managed to end the year with an ever-so-small glimmer of hope with a profitable Q4 2012.

Nokia reported a Q4 profit of $585 million (on total revenue of $10.73 billion). Granted, a lot of credit goes to the company’s Nokia-Siemens Networks division, but the Devices and Services department posted a (less) profitable quarter as well, in part due to the well-received Windows Phone 8-running Lumia 820 and Lumia 920 smartphones. The numbers aren’t crazy of course, with Nokia selling 4.4 million Lumia smartphones, with only 700,000 units in North America. But, it was a start.

Nokia delivered a preliminary Q1 earnings report last month, with good news as far as the Lumia lineup of smartphones is concerned. While only 400,000 Lumia units were sold in North America, overall sales were up to 5.6 million, beating the number from the previous quarter. But, while this number has gone up, Nokia managed to sell 55.8 million handsets overall, which includes all devices offered by the company, down a whopping 30% from the previous year. The report also mentioned an even worse Q2, with margins expected to fall by 2%.

Nokia promised a turnaround of 2 years, and with that time period passing, things haven’t gone as smoothly as expected.

Nokia shareholders are unhappy

Image credit: Engadget

Needless to say, the overall poor performance of the company, which once promised to be able to compete successfully against the likes of Apple and Samsung, has left shareholders unhappy. These shareholders were given the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction during Nokia’s Annual General Meeting held in Helsinki, and they certainly didn’t pull their punches. As reported by Reuters, nothing sums up the past couple of years Nokia has been having, than a statement made to Stephen Elop by Nokia shareholder Hannu Virtanen:

You're a nice guy.....and the leadership team is doing its best. but clearly, it's not enough. Are you aware that results are what matter? The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Please find a new road.

And while many may agree, Elop reiterated his commitment to Windows Phone, stating that WP is what will help the company compete with Samsung and Apple. But the comment about finding “a new road” raises, once again, the two-year old question of, should Nokia have switched to Android, and is it too late to do so now.

There was an excitement in the air with the official launch of the HTC One in India. Considering the high price point at which the HTC Butterfly had released with, the Rs 42,900 price tag of the HTC One was comparatively reasonable. HTC had also got the timing of the launch right, with a promised arrival of the company’s 2013 flagship a week or so before the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4. With a device boasting a premium build and some great new features, HTC was ready to make waves in an Indian market that it has had difficulty capturing in the past.

Everything was in place for HTC, but somewhere along the way, something went wrong. The problem is that there hasn’t been any word on what. Of course, the obvious reason is the ultrapixel camera component supply shortages that had plagued the availability of the HTC in other major markets as well, so that issue may not have been fixed after all.

After the device didn’t show up by the previously expected April 22 availability, the folks at AndroidOS.in found out from a listing by online retailers Saholic that the availability of the device may have moved to May 7. A quick glance at your calendar will confirm that yes, May 7 was yesterday, and still no HTC One. The same listing on Saholic now lists an arrival date of May 15, while some electronic stores suggested a May 20 availability. Further, an AndroidOS.in reader who had signed up for the “Keep me Informed” newsletter on the HTC website mentioned receiving an email that said that the device would be available in stores only by the end of this month.

When will the HTC One finally be available? While the smartphone could show up even tomorrow, the end of the month timeline seems most accurate. Saholic mentions May 15. Another online retailer, ShopYourWorld, has the HTC One listed as “In Stock,” but with a notice stating “Due to popular demand, the HTC One will be shipped in 2-4 weeks,” which is as vague as it gets. Another point to notice is that other popular online retailers like Flipkart, Infibeam, and others, don’t even have the listing yet. Usually, at worst we’ll see a “Coming Soon” tag, and at best, the phone will be up for pre-order, with a definite shipping date mentioned. With both not online yet, the mystery of when the HTC One will finally be available deepens.

This delay is certainly going to affect HTC negatively, considering the fact that both the Sony Xperia Z, and the recently launched Samsung Galaxy S4 are already available around the country. All priced around the same, it all comes down to how eagerly you’ve been waiting for the HTC One. If you’re in the market for any high-end smartphone, then the alternatives are already there for you to pick from, and at this point, only fans of the HTC One are going to wait around for the device to be released. So is it worth the wait? Check out your detailed hands-on review of the HTC One, as well as the comparison between the One and the Galaxy S4, to decide -

There’s a lot to love about the HTC One, and I think it’s definitely worth the wait, but if this goes on for any longer, HTC’s comeback year may not go as smoothly as hoped.

What are your thoughts? Are you planning to pick up the HTC One? Are you disappointed at the delayed release? Let us know in the comments section below.

Helium, RunKeeper, and Viber (from left to right)

In today’s app update roundup, Carbon gets renamed to Helium, along with other updates to the app, RunKeeper makes it even easier to track your fitness activities, and Viber gets a face-lift and a desktop client! Let’s take a look.

Helium (Carbon)

If you use Carbon backup, you must have noticed that the app has now been renamed to Helium, because of a possible trademark infringement notice received by app creator Koushik Dutta, who you all may be familiar with as the creater of ClockworkMod. Don’t worry, the features of this very popular application sync and backup app remain the same, and in fact, because “Carbonite” is so very similar to “Carbon,” the app is not only renamed but, includes some other additions as well, such as -

Even though installation requires an extra step or two, the best part about Helium backup is the root access is not a requirement. You can find the free version of Helium on the Google Play Store here, which allows you to backup information to your SD card and PC, while the premium ad-free version, which includes more features such as cloud backup and restore, can be found here. Don’t forget to check out our how-to video (and related post) on using Helium, known “back then” as Carbon, here -

RunKeeper

RunKeeper is a great way to keep up to date with your outdoor fitness routines, which tracks your walking, running, hiking, and cycling using the GPS on your smartphone. Apart from tracking your fitness activities, you can also see stats, measure your heart rate, control your workout music, check your progress against preset goals, and share your achievements with friends via Facebook and Twitter. Today, RunKeeper has been updated to make it even easier to access the app while “on the run,” with new features that include -

The very popular fitness tracker app is available for free from the Google Play Store here. Joe Hindy says that RunKeeper is worth checking out, and if you can’t trust Android Authority’s App Guy when it comes to apps, who can you trust?

Viber

If you’ve missed it, today, Viber announced its new desktop client for Windows and Mac (with one for Linux on the way soon) which will also allow for video calls, along with a completely overhauled Android app featuring a new user interface, and a host of other changes and improvements. The complete change log includes -

The new UI is pretty amazing, and I’ve tried out most of the new features already, like live call transfer from phone to desktop, and sending video messages and photos, which are really useful as well. Viber is already one of the most popular apps around, and this update and the latest features will only take it to new heights. If you haven’t tried out Viber yet, you can find it on the Google Play Store here.

What are your thoughts on the latest app updates and features? What do you think of the completely redesigned Viber app and its desktop client? Let us know in the comments section below.

In  a new weekly segment, I’ll be doing a roundup of the mobile technology news in India, including new device announcements and releases from Indian manufacturers, network carrier news, and anything else that captures the pulse of the Android scene in India.

This week on the Weekly News Roundup – India, we have just one smartphone announcement, but that’s more than enough when the one is a budget-friendly glasses-free 3D smartphone priced at less than Rs 10,000. While the smartphone sector has been relatively quiet, the tablet market has been witness to four new low-cost tablets from Intex, new market entrants Fly, WickedLeak, and Zync, and Vodafone has some great deals and offers available for you. Let’s get started!

Android Smartphones

Micromax A115 Canvas 3D

Both international and local manufacturers have been taking a shot at capturing consumer attention with glasses-free 3D smartphones. We’ve seen the highly-priced LG Optimus 3D and the HTC Evo 3D, and quite a few 3D smartphones from local manufacturers, that have tried and failed to generate an interest in this segment. Riding high on the success of the Canvas A116 HD, Micromax must be feeling bold , because the company is now launching a 3D smartphone of its own, the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D.

Joining the very popular Canvas lineup of devices, the specifications of the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D include -

Compared to rest of the Canvas series, the specifications of the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D, such as the low resolution for such a large display and just 512MB of RAM, are somewhat disappointing. Of course, the selling point of this device is its stereoscopic 3D which means that you won’t need those annoying 3D glasses to enjoy 3D content. Granted, it’s not easy to get your hands on 3D content either, but Micromax helps out there as well. The Micromax A115 Canvas 3D will come pre-loaded with 3D games, along with “Micromax 3D Space” giving you access to 3D videos. Check out the introduction video of the device below -

Rest assured the video is exaggerated, but the 3D feature may be appealing to a lot of consumers. The smartphone is available for Rs 9,999 (~$192) from all leading online and physical retail stores. You can find out more about the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D here.

Source – Tech2

Android Tablets

Intex i-Buddy Connect 3G

Intex is following up the i-Buddy Connect released last year with a 3G version of the tablet, which also features some updated specifications. The specifications of the Intex i-Buddy Connect 3G include -

While the specifications are quite good, the disappointing part is the fact that even though most manufacturers have been moving towards Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the Intex i-Buddy Connect 3G comes with Android 4.0 on-board. Targeting the youth and student markets, the i-Buddy Connect 3G also comes pre-loaded with a host of apps like Nimbuzz, Skype, Facebook, Yahoo Messenger, and Google Talk. For students, the tablet also features an Educlass app that contains NCERT text books from grades 1 to 12, numerous question banks and sample papers, along with other interactive educational content.

The Intex i-Buddy Connect 3G will be available, in black and brown color options, for Rs 9,990 (~$191).

Source – The Mobile Indian

Fly F8s

Fly is a new entrant to the already over-crowded local Android device manufacturer arena. It won’t be easy for a new company to establish itself against such stiff competition, but the first step is to always release a great product. Fly, with their Fly F8s tablet, has attempted to do so. The specifications of the Fly F8s include -

If you’re surprised at the 2.5GB of internal storage, Fly is one of the first company’s to advertise just the usable internal storage. That is, while the internal storage capacity of the tablet is actually 4GB, only 2.5GB is free and available to the user. The Fly F8s boasts some good specifications, but unfortunately is priced accordingly as well. At Rs 13,499 (~$260), the cost of the tablet is somewhat steep.

Source – NDTV Gadgets

WickedLeak Wammy Desire Tab 2

WickedLeak is known for releasing some great devices at very reasonable price points, and more importantly, with the latest Android OS iteration. So imagine my surprise when I see the first tablet launched with the company to come with Android 4.0 ICS out of the box. Of course, there’s a catch! But before we get into that, let’s take a look at the specifications of the WickedLeak Wammy Desire Tab 2 -

Aside from marveling at the great specifications, the final one on the list might have confused you. Let me explain. When buying the WickedLeak Wammy Desire Tab 2, you can choose whether to go with Android 4.0, or if you want to try your luck with a beta Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean version. Even though everything works, the beta version may have a few bugs, and if you don’t want to risk it, ICS is the choice for you. Whichever option you choose now, the company promises an update to a stable Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean by June.

A good display, a quad-core Samsung processor, 8GB of internal storage, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (either now or eventually). Looking at these specifications, I’m sure you’re wondering how expensive this tablet is going to be. And this is one area where WickedLeak has managed to surprise us again! Starting next week, the WickedLeak Wammy Desire Tab 2 will be available for just Rs 9,999 (~192).

If you’re interested, you can pre-book the device here, with delivery starting from May 15.

Source – NDTV Gadgets

Zync Quad 10.1

While the selling point of most other tablets from local manufacturers is the low price point, Zync is one company that manufactures tablets with specifications that are similar, or sometimes even better, than those that are available from internationally-renowned OEMs, while being budget-friendly as well. Following the release of the Quad 8.0 and Quad 9.7 (which featured a retina display), Zync has launched another amazing tablet with the Quad 10.1. Here’s a quick look at the specifications -

The specifications are very similar to any high-end tablet currently available in the market, but still manages to remain reasonably priced. At just Rs 14,990 (~$288), the Zync Quad 10.1 is a steal. You can find out more about the Quad 10.1, and also order it, here.

Source – Tech Tree

Network Carrier news

Vodafone partners with Samsung to launch “All in One” plans for the Galaxy S4

When the Samsung Galaxy S4 was officially launched in India, we knew that Vodafone would be announcing special offers and plans for owners of the flagship device. If you’ve been waiting to find out, here are the details -

It’s really easy to subscribe to these plans. All you need to do is insert your Vodafone SIM card into the Samsung Galaxy S4. You will then get an SMS within 24 hours with instructions on how to activate the plans you are eligible for. You can find out more about the special Vodafone plans for the Samsung Galaxy S4 here.

Source – Think Digit

Vodafone launches RedBox initiative to help make switching smartphones easy

It’s feels great when you pick up a new smartphone, but then you realize that you now have to suffer through the somewhat tedious process of transferring all your important data from your old phone to the new. Vodafone to the rescue! The network provider has launched an amazing program, called RedBox, to help their customers easily make the switch between devices.

Launched at various “Retail of Tomorrow” Vodafone stores around the country, trained customer service reps will help you transfer all your data including contracts, images, videos, apps, and documents from one device to another. This will be really helpful for those not as technologically-inclined, making this inevitable step a lot easier to handle. The best part is that you’ll be able to use their services regardless of what device you’re using, and of course, it’s completely free.

Source – BGR India

As with every week, we’ve seen some great devices on offer from various manufacturers, but I must say that the Zync Quad 10.1 and the WickedLeak Wammy Desire Tab 2 sound absolutely amazing.

See you next week!

What are your thoughts? What do you think of the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D? Will you be picking up any of the tablets that were released this week? If you’re planning to pick up a Samsung Galaxy S4, will you be subscribing to any of the special plans from Vodafone? How useful do you think the Vodafone RedBox initiative is going to be? Let us know in the comments section below.

Nexus 4 (top) vs Galaxy Nexus (bottom)

We’ve seen some amazing flagship devices being released by Sony, HTC, Samsung, and LG this year, but Android geeks, or connoisseurs if you will, are still waiting to see what Google has planned for its 2013 flagship Nexus smartphone. There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to a Nexus device, such as a more than reasonable price for a high-end device, timely Android updates straight from Google, and continued software support for a long time. But nothing is more important than what defines a Google Nexus device.

No skins. No Bloatware. Just pure Android. No OEM-specific software features that eat up internal storage space, no UI skins and “enhancements” that hide some of Android’s best features (such as Google Now), and no pre-loaded apps. Just a “vanilla” Android experience. The increasing number of users favoring custom ROMs is a clear indication that a lot of people prefer Android the way it was meant to be, and that’s what you get with a Nexus device.

Nexus smartphones and tablets are sold off-contract directly from the Google Play Store and Google’s software engineers develop the software and are responsible for releasing updates. But, as far as the hardware is concerned, Google has been all over the place. The first ever Nexus device was manufactured by HTC, Samsung made the Nexus S and the very popular Galaxy Nexus, as well as the Nexus 10 tablet, while Asus got a chance to build the Nexus 7 tablet. And of course, LG manufactured the 2012 Nexus flagship smartphone, the Nexus 4.

So with the expectation of a Nexus 5, the question on everyone’s mind is, “Which manufacturer is going to make the next Nexus smartphone?” While we can’t tell which will, we can tell which should, and what they’d have to offer if given the opportunity. Let’s take a look!

Highly likely

LG

LG had some great devices on offer last year with the Optimus 4X HD and the Optimus G, but really stepped out of the shadows after being given the opportunity to manufacture the Nexus 4. The company faced well the pressure of following the very successful Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and LG and Google got a lot right with the Nexus 4. After all, what’s not to love about a device with high-end specifications at a very reasonable price point, which was less than half the full price of other flagship smartphones. Granted, the 8GB version, which has only around 5.5GB of usable storage, was a let down, but the 16GB version was completely worth it for that price.

The anticipation and popularity of a pure Android experience was evident once again in the fact that the Nexus 4 sold out quite quickly, and the high demand led to Google being forced to admit to supply shortages. Those issues seem to have been sorted out, and the Nexus 4 is still one the more popular smartphones around. Given the success, it’s not difficult to imagine Google giving LG the chance to manufacture the next Nexus smartphone. In fact, if rumors are to be believed, that is exactly what is going to happen.

What can we expect from an LG manufactured Nexus 5? If the specifications of the Nexus 4 were similar to the LG Optimus G, we can expect the Nexus 5 to boast similar specs to that of the LG Optimus G Pro, (maybe the 5-inch Japanese version) or the rumored Optimus G2.  A 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, and (hopefully) 16/32GB of internal storage. It’s definitely wishful thinking to hope for a removable battery and microSD slot, but we can always dream. More rounded edges as opposed to the rectangular design favored by LG, and definitely no physical home button that has shown up on the 2013 LG flagship.

LG has done it before with the Nexus 4, and with a few changes, the Nexus 5 should prove to be another feather in the company’s cap.

Motorola

As far as Motorola is concerned, the question isn’t whether Motorola should be given the chance to manufacture a Nexus device, but rather, “why hasn’t this happened already?” Even though one of Google’s intentions behind the acquisition of Motorola was to bolster its patent portfolio, many of us thought, or maybe hoped, that Google was going to make a jump into the hardware game as well. Unfortunately, we haven’t  heard a peep from Motorola in the last year, other than the Intel-powered RAZR i and the new RAZR M, RAZR HD and RAZR Maxx HD models. But 2013 is shaping up to be completely different.

The Motorola-made Google X Phone has been one of the most-rumored and hotly debated smartphones recently, and with good reason. Expectations have been soaring, and it’s crazy to imagine that Google may finally be developing a smartphone, technically, in-house. There have been a lot of leaks and speculation about this device, and while the Nexus tag hasn’t been bestowed upon this smartphone yet, the Google X Phone, when/if released, should definitely qualify as one. But, if the Google X Phone isn’t it, there’s always the possibility of a Motorola Nexus.

What can we expect from a Motorola manufactured Nexus smartphone? A large battery. A well-built smartphone that can endure the drop tests we’re definitely going to put it through. Somewhere between a 4.3-inch and 4.7-inch display, and top of the line specifications that should match up to the rest of the currently available flagships.

Without MotoBLUR and the lack of update issues that Motorola has faced in the past, a Motorola Nexus device could be absolutely amazing.

Read on to see the other major contenders!

With so many great options available, it’s always a difficult choice to make, when picking you’re next smartphone. More so in the US, considering the fact that this will likely be your primary device for the next 2 years. Even with T-Mobile, regardless of the fact that there aren’t any contracts, if you choose a smartphone with the monthly payment plans, it takes 24 months to pay off the device. With the LG Optimus G Pro joining the already amazing lineup of high-end smartphones offered by AT&T, we decided to do a quick comparison, to help make the decision easier for you.

With so many devices in the running, the best way to find out any differences is a comparison table, which you can find below (All prices mentioned require a 2-year contract, with qualifying voice and data plans) -

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The $299.99 price tag of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, and the very surprising $199.99 cost of the Galaxy Note is a clear indication smartphones with a display greater than 5-inches is still considered a niche category. It looks like AT&T is banking on the fact that if you want a smartphone with a larger display, you’ll go for it regardless of the cost, even with newer, and better specced, smartphones now available at the same, or a cheaper, price.

While comparing the various factors considered by consumers before choosing a smartphone, the LG Optimus G Pro comes out ahead more often than not. Here’s my take -

Granted, it’s not only about specifications, but what features it has. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is packed with features, and the HTC One takes a more minimalist path, which is preferred by some. Check out our hands-on review of the LG Optimus G Pro to see what the device has to offer -

To answer the original question, the LG Optimus G Pro is definitely a great choice for its price point, especially if you’re looking for a smartphone with a larger-than-5-inch display. If you’re interested, don’t forget the Optimus G Pro will go up for pre-order from tomorrow, May 3, and will be available online and from AT&T stores around the country from May 10.

What are your thoughts? Do you think the LG Optimus G Pro is worth it? Will you be picking up the smartphone from AT&T when it’s available? Let us know in the comments section below.

When Google+ Sign-In was first announced, one of the features introduced was App Activities, that allowed users to share their activity on a particular app or a site on their Google+ profile, giving the app or site more exposure to a larger audience. At the time, the Google+ Sign-In team mentioned that, “we’d be exploring even more ways activities from your app can surface across Google,” and now, we get to see one of those ways.

In a blog post, Google introduced the integration of App Activities into Search results. This means that now if you search for an app or site on Google, and if the app or site uses Google+ Sign-In, popular and aggregate user activity will now show up to the right of the search results. The image below provides a good example. If you search for Fandango, you’ll now be able to see a list of movies that are popular among Googlers. Or if you’re searching for SoundCloud, you’ll not only see how many Google+ users use the app, but also what the most popular songs (or podcasts, etc.) are. The added benefit also is that clicking on a listing will take you directly to the page on that particular site.

With Google+ Sign-In slowly making its way across to numerous sites and apps, that is a lot of activity data that Google is collecting, and looks to be putting to good use. It’s great to see social results integrated directly into Search, giving both new, and old, app users the chance to see what other Google+ users are interested in. I think this is going to prove to be incredibly useful, and be another way Google has made Search, and our lives, easier.

This feature will be available over the next few weeks on desktop Search, with a small number of music and movie apps like Deezer, Fandango, Flixster, Songza, Slacker Radio, TuneIn, and SoundCloud already signed up, with more apps, that integrate Google+ Sign-In, sure to be added soon.

What do you think of app activity results showing up alongside Search? How useful do you think this feature is going to be? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Anyone who owns a smartphone must have noticed that there is a difference between the advertised internal storage of the device, and the free space actually available to the user. The difference, which varies from device to device, is because of the installed Android OS, and other pre-installed apps and features that the device manufacturer packs the smartphone with. Considering the extensive features list of the Samsung Galaxy S4, you know where this is headed.

According to Geek, and people I’ve spoken to who’ve already got their hands on the Samsung Galaxy S4, only 8.82GB of internal storage is available to the user, which is just a little more than half the advertised space. Granted, the latest iteration of the Android OS itself takes up about 2GB, and loading a device up with features and apps is going to cut down on the available storage as well. But it certainly raises eyebrows when you’re missing almost 45% of the internal storage right out of the box.

Of course, microSD expansion is available up to 64GB, along with various cloud storage solutions, which you can use to store all your pictures, music, and documents. This doesn’t really help though as far as app storage is concerned, since not all apps can be stored on the microSD card. If you’re an avid gamer, just a few titles that require at least 1GB of space, like The Dark Knight Rises, Asphalt 7, The Amazing Spiderman, NFS Most Wanted, and Iron Man 3, together is more than enough to use up all the available space. Even without HD games, it’s quite easy to fill up 9GB of storage.

Another obvious solution is to pick up the 32GB or 64GB version of the device. This gives rise to another issue. For some reason, these versions aren’t available anywhere yet, with only the 16GB Galaxy S4 being released in worldwide markets for now. It’s great to be an early adopter, and one of the first few to show off the “latest and greatest” smartphone, but if device storage is a big concern for you, I’d recommend holding off till the versions with higher storage capabilities become available.

For the more technologically-inclined, another way to get around this is to root the device, but is a process that is definitely risky and difficult, and isn’t for everybody. That being said, rooting the device will remove all the bloatware the device is pre-loaded with, and should free up a lot more space for you to play around with.

You can check out some of the features that is taking up so much space in our hands-on review of the Samsung Galaxy S4 here -

When I got my first Nexus device, which I followed with the HTC One X, it didn’t take too long to get used to life without microSD expansion, so this isn’t something we can’t get used to as well. But some difficult questions do arise, that I’ll leave to you, our readers, to answer.

Is it okay for device manufacturers to use up almost half the advertised internal storage for their own bloatware? When there is such a big difference, should OEMs now tell us what the actual available space is? Is it deceptive to advertise 16GB of storage when only a little more than half is available? Is almost 8GB of bloatware really necessary? Sound off in the comments section below!