Android Authority » Bogdan Petrovan

Would you like a foldable tablet that looks like this?

Bogdan Petrovan — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:37:00 +0000

A render based on a recent patent application shows us what a future Samsung tablet with a flexible screen might look like.

Samsung has been teasing us with its Youm line of flexible displays for a while now, most recently on the stage of CES, where we were shown a phone with a flexible screen that wraps on its side, acting like a smart bezel. But that display was encased under a rigid layer of glass, which took away much of the excitement.

How about a real bendable device, that you can fold, roll, or bend? While we’re, sadly, no closer to something palpable in this direction, we do have something to whet your appetite for bendy gadgets.

Click to enlarge

This render based on a recent patent application from Samsung was sent to Mobileleaks, along with a set of specs that we are almost sure are made up. Still, the render is interesting, and given the correspondence with the diagram we saw in the patent, it might be realistic as well.

For the record, Samsung has been experimenting with foldable displays for a while. Check out this demo from 2009, courtesy of The Register.

The main problem with this tech was the fact that the area where the screen folds tended to lose brightness after repeated bending. For Samsung to make bendable gadgets a reality, it has to solve that issue.

In related news, LG is apparently trying to steal Samsung’s thunder in the flexible display department. The second largest Korean phone maker just unveiled a new flexible display at SID, and claimed that a smartphone incorporating it would hit the market later this year.

Further confirmation that the new Nexus 7 is coming in July

Bogdan Petrovan — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:29:40 +0000

robertnelson/Flickr

A report from a supplier of tablet components adds further credibility to rumors about a new Nexus 7 coming this summer.

By now, the fact that a new version of the Nexus 7 is coming is almost confirmed. Many expected to see it at Google I/O, and were disappointed when Google called it a day without showing off any new hardware. But that doesn’t mean that a refresh of the popular Nexus 7 isn’t on its way.

Most rumors suggest that the refreshed Nexus 7 would come in July, and today we have another report supporting this timeline.

Elan Microelectronics, a Taiwanese supplier of integrated circuitry for touchscreen devices, is reported to have already begun shipping touchscreen controllers for the next generation of the Nexus 7. The caveat is that the source of this information are the notoriously hit-and-miss “industry sources” of Digitimes.

Thanks to the order for Nexus 7 controllers, Elan is said to boast increased revenues in May and June. This tells us that the device itself is being manufactured in June, which goes nicely with the earlier reports about the release of the Nexus 7 in July.

The device is said to be launching along a new version of Android, 4.3. In addition, a research note from an analyst revealed some of the supposed specifications of the tablet, which include a Snapdragon 600 processor and a 1920 by 1200 display, while the price will remain the same as the first generation.

Bottom line, if you plan to buy a Nexus 7 this summer, you might want to wait until July.

It’s not all bad news: HTC One sales hit 5 million so far

Bogdan Petrovan — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:13:48 +0000

Amidst a flurry of negative reports, a glimmer of hope for HTC – the One is selling relatively good, moving five million units since launch.

The last few days brought us a series of worrying news about HTC. According to insiders cited by The Verge, there’s an executive exodus going on at the embattled Taiwanese phone maker, with the company’s Chief Product Officer and top marketing exec leaving for sunnier shores. Then CNET Asia reported that two top executives from HTC Asia, one of the company’s critical markets, have also decided to pursue other interests.

The wave of departures is a sign of internal struggle, but amidst all the bad news, there is a glimmer of hope. According to an anonymous HTC executive cited by WSJ, the crucial HTC One is selling “pretty good so far.”

The executive revealed that HTC sold about five million One units since launch, a performance that is deemed encouraging. However, sales have been limited by the persisting supply issues (documented here and here) that still plague the production of the HTC One.

Here’s the key quote from the HTC executive:

Orders are pretty good so far and are still more than what we can supply. This is partly due to the shortage of components. When the issue is resolved next month, we will have a better idea if it's doing really well or not.

As you can see, the demand for the One is larger than the supply, and the component shortage is only partially responsible, which could be good news for HTC. To speculate, it may mean that customers love the HTC One and that sales could further increase once the manufacturing issues are finally solved.

How good is the 5 million sales figure? Samsung just trumpeted today the reach of the 10 million sales milestone for the Galaxy S4. The HTC One began selling in late March in Germany and the UK, and in late April, in the US, China, and other markets. Given the supply issues and the stuttered release, it’s probably safe to say that the One and the Galaxy S4 have been out for about the same time on the market.

I think that the fact that HTC managed to sell 5 million Ones in about a month of full availability is encouraging. Consider that HTC is nowhere near the influence it had in its heyday, and it now lacks the carrier clout and marketing spending power that Samsung uses so liberally. So the fact that HTC managed to sell half as many phones as Samsung is a pretty good sign.

We’ll see how the HTC One does once the supply issues are fully resolved, but so far, it’s good news for Peter Chou, who reportedly vowed to step down from the top of HTC if the One fails to bring a turnaround to the company.

It’s official: Galaxy S4 hits 10 million milestone, more colors coming this summer

Bogdan Petrovan — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:53:15 +0000

Samsung announced that the Galaxy S4 has broken previous sales records, selling 10 million units in less than a month of availability.

It isn’t actually a surprise, but the Galaxy S4 is selling like hotcakes. Samsung announced today the first major milestone in the life of its latest flagship, and, predictably, the fact that the milestone was reached faster than ever before.

Less than a month since the Galaxy S4 became available in the first market, Samsung clocked in the 10 millionth sold unit. How impressive is this performance? Well, the original Galaxy S needed seven months to sell ten million units, the Galaxy S2 needed five months, while last year’s popular Galaxy S3 reached the milestone in 50 days.

Put another way, Samsung sold four Galaxy S4’s every second since the device went on sale, 27 days ago.

While this is a huge performance for Samsung, we have to note that the Galaxy S4 is still not the bestselling smartphone ever, the title belonging (for now) to Apple’s iPhone.

To go with the festive mood today, Samsung also announced the upcoming availability of several new colors for the Galaxy S4. Just like last year, the Koreans are aiming to provide a color scheme for every taste, meaning that, in addition to the Black Mist and White Frost models out now, we’ll also see a Blue Arctic (already out in Japan), Red Aurora, Purple Mirage and Brown Autumn. The new models are slated to start selling “this summer”.

Buying guide: Best Android phones – Canada, May 2013

Bogdan Petrovan — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:13:17 +0000

Andreasivarsson/Flickr

This spring a variety of top-notch Android devices have been released, including Samsung’s fourth generation Galaxy S smartphone, the fully aluminum One from HTC, and the Xperia Z, a sleek high-end phone from Sony.

Android has truly become the benchmark for all mobile operating systems. Sure, the market is fragmented and filled with cheap devices that no one wants or needs, but there are also some truly fantastic devices available, that have groundbreaking features and stunning designs. Many exciting announcements have come over the last few months, and it is no wonder that Android is holding its throne at the top.

Let’s take a look at some of the best Android phones available in Canada this month, on contract and on pre-paid.

Best phones on contract: high-end

HTC One

In recent years, HTC has been losing the momentum it once had. They released too many flagship phones with confusing names and have fallen behind in marketing compared to Samsung. With the One, HTC is trying to bring itself back into the game as a true contender to Samsung’s flagship.

HTC has vastly improved Sense with the new version 5.0, presenting it with a cleaner, more responsive interface. The Taiwanese company has also added in extra features, such as BlinkFeed, a Flipboard-style news feed that resides on the One’s homescreen, and Zoe, which brings your photos to life. There is also a range of added camera features to go along with the improved four ultrapixels sensor.

The ultrapixel sensor is one of the most impressive features of the HTC One, allowing it to take fantastic, dynamic photos, even in low-light conditions. The secret is the novel technology that allows each pixel to capture more light, thus packing more information in each image. However, the low pixel count can be worrying; in some situations, the low-resolution sensor causes images to turn out blurry or lacking in details.

More coverage

HTC One video review

HTC One availability and pricing

Rogers – available for $149 on a new 3 year plan
Telus – available for $149 on a new 3 year plan
Bell – available for $149 on a new 3-year plan
Virgin Mobile – available for $149 on a new 3-year plan

Samsung Galaxy S4

After building up Apple-style hype, Samsung launched last month the new Galaxy S4, sending shockwaves throughout the industry.

The Galaxy S4 is filled with software features, but some of them come off as gimmicky or of questionable utility. These new features include things such as scrolling a website with your eyes, hovering over the screen for previews, a useful health app, and a lot more. They are not necessarily groundbreaking, but they do add a lot to the user experience.

Much ink has been spilled over the fully plastic build of Samsung’s flagship phones. Plastic is perhaps not the best material in the world, but it does ultimately hold up well and doesn’t take away from the user experience. It also allows the back cover to be taken off, revealing the replaceable battery and SD card slot, which are widely considered important smartphone features. We thoroughly enjoyed this device and found it to be the best contenders in many categories, with its super-fast quad-core processor, stunning display, and brilliant 13-megapixel camera.

More coverage

Samsung Galaxy S4 review

Samsung Galaxy S4 availability and pricing

Rogers – available for $199 on a new 3-year plan
Telus – available for $199 on a new 3-year plan
Bell – available for $199 on a new 3-year plan
Virgin Mobile – available for $199 on a new 3-year plan

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

With the success of the Galaxy S3 on their belt, Samsung proceeded to introduce the second generation of the Note series, which was remarkably successful amongst consumers.

The Note line was introduced with the primary aim to make a phone which doubled as a tablet. The result was a device with a large screen, though not large enough to be considered a tablet. Despite the massive size, many people find the idea of such a large device appealing, especially when combined with the S Pen.

One of the unique features of the Galaxy Note 2 is its S-Pen, which is a stylus that can perform many tasks around the Galaxy Note 2, such as the ability to write down notes quickly and without hassle using the fabulous S-Note app.

The Galaxy Note 2 is no spec monster by 2013 standards, but it still holds up well, with its 5.5-inch 720p screen, quad-core processor, and 8-megapixel camera. It also features a removable battery and an SD card slot. So, If you’re looking for a compromise between a phone and a tablet, with lots of extra features added on, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is a solid choice.

More coverage

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 review

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 availability and pricing

Rogers – available for $149 on a new 3-year plan
Telus – available for $149 on a new 3-year plan
Bell – available for $149 on a new 3-year plan

Sony Xperia ZL

The Sony Xperia ZL is the smaller brother to the Xperia Z. It retains the same 5-inch Full HD display, high-powered quad-core processor, and 13-megapixel camera that the Xperia Z has, but in a smaller, more portable package, which helps with one handed use. The handset is running Sony’s custom UI, which is not the best interface on a smartphone, but it does add some extra features and is smooth and reliable.

We have however, noted that the display lacks great colors and wide viewing angles, which could potentially be a problem, but if you look past the display, the Xperia ZL is still a great on-contract choice.

More coverage

Sony Xperia ZL review

Sony Xperia ZL availability and pricing

Rogers – available for $124 on a new 3-year plan
Bell – available for $99 on a new 3-year plan

Next page: phones on contract (budget) and unlocked.

Hands-on with the HTC One Stealth Black – image gallery and video

Bogdan Petrovan — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:46:46 +0000

We’re live from the CTIA 2013 convention in Las Vegas, where we got some hands-on time with the Stealth Black version of the popular HTC One.

There’s no question about it – the HTC One is one of the best looking (many say the best looking) smartphones on the market right now. It’s a beautifully worked piece of aluminum with smooth curves and seamless transitions between its design elements.

HTC has touted the attention it put into designing the make-or-break One more than once, as well as the work that goes into machining each and every unit. Our Kristopher Wook was impressed with the device when he reviewed the HTC One, and our drop test against the iPhone 5 shows that the One is as sturdy as it is pretty.

Up until now, we only got to play with the Glacial Silver HTC One, with the Stealth Black model eluding us for some reason. Well, not anymore, because Joshua Vergara paid a visit to the CTIA 2013 convention and got to spend some quality time with the black HTC One. Here are his impressions.

And here’s a gallery of the HTC One Stealth Black, showing us its best positions.

Which version of the HTC One do you prefer? A red edition was also rumored. Which one would you buy?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Google Plus Android app updated with photo enhancements, locations (Latitude), and more

Bogdan Petrovan — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:49:49 +0000

The latest version of the Google Plus Android app brings some of the features that came last week to the web version.

We now know what kept Vic Gundotra from sleeping last night. After last week brought us a major redesign and no fewer than 41 new features to the web version of Google Plus, the 42^nd feature has just been revealed (with a sweet reference to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to boot).

The Google Plus Android app has been updated with a series of features that were until now only available on the web version. Check them out.

New photo functionality

Auto Backup – automatic upload to the cloud, full size
Auto Highlight – the app will pick the best images from your collection, avoiding blurry shots and duplicates and focusing on images of people close to you
Auto Enhance – the app will automatically enhance your images, by improving contrast, fixing under and over exposure, and more
Auto Awesome – the app will automatically create animations based on similar images on your phone
New filters based on Snapseed – think Drama, Retro, and Sepia; similar to Snapseed and Instagram

New Locations section

A new Locations section is available in the left pane
Google Plus friends that enable shared location will show up on the map, similar to Latitude and Foursquare

Related hashtags

The app will automatically tag your posts with related tags, like it currently happens on the web version
Tags can be tapped, which opens a stream of posts related to the hashtag

Others

One tap Hangouts integration
Improved notifications
More profile fields can be edited on mobile

According to Google’s Bradley Horrowitz, the new Google Plus version 4.0 app will roll out throughout the day, so keep an eye open for a notification.

What do you think of the new changes? Do you like the web version of the new Google Plus?

LG to demo 5-inch OLED flexible display, world’s first Full HD 7-inch tablet panel

Bogdan Petrovan — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:46:15 +0000

Credit: Yonhap

LG announced it would showcase a 5-inch OLED flexible screen at SID this week, along with the world’s first full HD 7-inch LCD display.

There’s a serious rivalry going on in Korea over the leadership in the booming OLED business. While Samsung, through its daughter company Samsung Display, makes a vast majority of the OLED displays sold today, LG Display is coming hard from behind and makes its own claims of industry leadership.

LG has recently launched the world’s first curved OLED TVs, and is said to be working to deliver the first mass produced flexible OLED screens ahead of its crosstown rival, Samsung. But up until now, only Samsung has demoed working flexible OLED displays, branded Youm, and even some neat prototypes based on Youm, like those shown on stage at CES in January.

LG Display is about to introduce its first flexible panel at the Society for Information Display’s (SID) Display Week trade show in Vancouver. Visitors to the event will get to see a 5-inch OLED flexible screen, apparently mounted on a smartphone that is due for release later this year. LG’s official press release doesn’t offer, however, any details on this device or on the flexible panel.

Along with the new OLED bendable display, LG announced a couple of noteworthy developments in LCD technology as well. The Korean company will show a 5-inch panel based on the Oxide TFT technology with a bezel that is just one millimeter wide, allowing for the manufacturing of virtually borderless phones. Also, LG teased an upcoming 7-inch tablet with Full HD resolution and over 300ppi pixel density, which would be a world first.

Product demoes and prototypes are exciting, but what we really want are commercial products coming to the market. When should we expect them? Rumor has it that LG might actually beat Samsung to market with a flexible OLED device this year. As for the new 5-inch and 7-inch LCD panels, we hope we’ll see them in products by the end of 2013.

LG Display Introduces Next Generation Display Technology at SID 2013

Curved 55-inch OLED TV and 5-inch plastic OLED panels on exhibit

Seoul, Korea (May 20, 2013) – LG Display [NYSE: LPL, KRX: 034220], a leading innovator of display technologies, will showcase the latest TV, mobile, and other products representing the future of display technology at the Society for Information Display’s (SID) Display Week 2013. Underscoring its leadership in OLED technology, the company will introduce both a curved 55-inch OLED TV and a 5-inch plastic OLED panel. Also exhibited will be mobile panels applied with Oxide Thin Film Transistor (TFT) which is viewed as the next generation TFT technology.

“Recent trends indicate that the small- and medium-sized display market is moving towards high resolution and low power consumption, and the large panel market to OLED and Ultra HD,” said Dr. Sang-Deok Yeo, CTO and Executive Vice President of LG Display. “With the resulting rapid need for new display advancements, LG Display, at the forefront of these trends, is well positioned to lead the market with its differentiated and cutting-edge technologies.”

Industry Leadership in OLED

LG Display will demonstrate its industry leadership in OLED technology by showcasing a curved 55-inch OLED TV, as well as its award-winning standard 55-inch OLED TV at SID 2013. Based on the same WRGB OLED technology as the standard set, now widely adopted as the most effective OLED application for large-sized panels, the new curved 55-inch OLED TV offers a glimpse into the future of TV design.

In addition, for the first time to the public, the company will unveil an unbreakable and flexible 5- inch plastic OLED panel for mobile devices. The development comes at a crucial time when smart devices are being used more than ever and at increased risk for damage from drops, hits, and other accidents.

Next Generation TFT LCD Method

LG Display will also introduce 5-inch and 7-inch HD LCD panels based on Oxide TFT, seen as the next generation TFT technology as it offers high investment efficiency in producing thin, high transparency, and low power consumption displays. LG Display, which utilized this technology in its large-sized OLED displays for the first time in the world, will expand its expertise to LCD panel development thereby leading the market.
The 5-inch HD panel will feature 1.0mm bezel allowing production of borderless smartphones that are lightweight and emit significantly less heat. The 7-inch HD LCD panel is equipped with touch function-embedded technology enabling superior touch functionality in thin and lightweight mobile products.

Superior High Resolution for Monitors and Tablets

LG Display, which was first to introduce an 84-inch Ultra HD TV, now advances the high-definition trend further with the world’s first Ultra HD panel for 23.8-inch monitors. In addition, the company will showcase a 14-inch Quadruple HD (2,560X1,440) panel for laptops, and the world’s first 7-inch Full HD panel for tablets that exceeds 300 pixels per inch (PPI).

Other Innovative Advancements on Exhibit

LG Display will also present a new type of LCD which can depict the highest level of color reproduction ratio for implementation across various industries. Products, on exhibit, applying this technology include a transparent 47-inch LCD panel for refrigerators featuring a 15% increase in transparency while maintaining NTSC 72% or the same as generic HDTVs, a 12.3-inch Full HD LCD panel for automotive dashboards with 800nit high brightness and 85% color reproduction ratio, and a 24-inch Adobe RGB monitor panel for professionals with 100% color reproduction ratio.

The company will also spotlight it’s commitment to heightened design standards based on borderless technology with a 5-inch HD LCD panel for smartphones with 1.0mm bezel, as well as products boasting the world’s most narrow bezels including a 13.3-inch Full HD LCD Neo Edge panel for laptops with 1.5mm bezel, a 23.8-inch Full HD LCD Neo Blade panel for monitors with 3.5mm bezel, and a 55-inch LCD panel for video walls with 5.3mm bezel.

SID Display Week 2013

SID Display Week 2013 will be held in Vancouver, Canada from May 19 to 24. LG Display’s products will be showcased at Booth #1012, and allow visitors to experience the latest offerings from the world’s leading display company.

In addition to product exhibits, LG Display will also present its distinguished technology with 17 major dissertations on a variety of display topics. Also, Dr. In-Byung Kang, Senior Vice President and Lead Laboratory Chief of LG Display, will be recognized with a special achievement award for his work in FPR 3D and IPS LCD technology.

Android 4.2.2 firmware leaks for Galaxy S3, complete with Galaxy S4 features

Bogdan Petrovan — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:34:38 +0000

A leaked Android 4.2.2 firmware for the Galaxy S3 surfaced online. Features like a new Settings UI, a new lockscreen, and more are coming to the Galaxy S3 in the future.

It’s no surprise that Samsung is planning to bring some of the software features launched on the Galaxy S4 to the Galaxy S3. The Korean giant confirmed it, with the obvious limitation being that features depending on hardware, like Air View, won’t be making it to last year’s flagship.

Thanks to a test firmware that leaked online, we now have an idea of what features are likely to make the jump to the Galaxy S3. The firmware, codenamed I9300XXUFME3, has been made available online by the guys at Sam Mobile, who specified that this is a test firmware, and that more features could be included in the final release.

A video of the firmware in action reveal some of the features that Galaxy S3 users should expect in the close future, starting with those coming from the S4:

Improved lock screen, similar to that on the Galaxy S4: users will get to use multiple widgets, change the appearance and size of the clock, new unlock effects, and more
The new screen modes launched on the Galaxy S4, Adapt Display and Professional Photo
New Settings UI, identical to the S4’s
Voice controls (from S4)
Improved S Voice (from S4)
Daydream
Navigation mode
Actionable notifications

Notably absent are the many software features that Samsung introduced for the camera of the Galaxy S4. Features like Eraser mode or Sound and Shot aren’t hardware dependent, and should work in theory on the Galaxy S3, the Note 2, and other Samsung devices.

For the full list of new features in Android 4.2.2 for the Samsung Galaxy S3, head over to the source.

Sam Mobile also provides instructions on how to install the new firmware. Note that this isn’t by any mean an official release, though the leakers claim that they have tested it and that it works just like an official version.

As for a release date, insiders quoted by the source say that the Galaxy S3 will get the bump to Android 4.2.2 sometimes in June. We’ll keep you posted.

Riptide GP2 demo shows new Play games services multiplayer in action

Bogdan Petrovan — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:56:24 +0000

The developers of Riptide GP2 released a video demoing the multiplayer support coming to the game thanks to the implementation of the new Play games services.

If you watched the Google I/O keynote on Wednesday, you probably remember the awkward moment when Hugo Barra tried to demo cross-platform multiplayer gaming on stage using the hotly anticipated Riptide GP2. To the disappointment of the audience, the multiplayer session failed to work for some reason, leaving us curious about how the new Play games services will look and work.

If you need a primer, Play games services is basically the Android equivalent of Xbox Live or a similar service. It provides a way for game developers to implement achievements, cross platform multiplayer, cloud saves, and leaderboards.

The team behind Riptide GP2, Vector Unit, put up a little video to show us what Google couldn’t demo on stage due to technical difficulties. Check it out.

As you can see, Play Services lets users instantly set up multiplayer games with up to four players. The system also supports game invites, which are received both in-game and outside of it via the Android notification system. The system works across devices, Android or iOS, and even with web-based games. The three players in the demo use a Tegra 4-powered Shield console, a Nexus 7 coupled with a Moga controller, and a Galaxy S4.

Vector Unit says that it recorded the video in real time, meaning that the connection times are pretty good. The process of setting up and joining the multiplayer seems simple and fast, which is crucial for the success of the platform. To be fair though, connection times will also depend of server load, so it’s possible that the process will be slower when games services roll out on a wide scale.

Games services is a feature that promises to boost the quality of Android gaming, at a time when more companies work on Android-powered gaming consoles. What do you make of it?