No beating around the bush, locked bootloaders are pure evil. We pay good money to our carriers in order to enjoy the latest smartphones, so shouldn’t we be able to do with them as we please (within reason)? That’s why it was so frustrating when we found out that AT&T and Verizon were both locking down the Samsung Galaxy S4.

The good news is that Samsung’s official online shop has now revealed that the Samsung Galaxy S4 Developer Edition will soon be coming to AT&T and Verizon, featuring an unlocked bootloader right out of the box, as well as 16GB storage. Keep in mind that this is NOT the same thing as the Samsung Galaxy S4 “Nexus” version. You won’t be getting faster updates or stock Android with this one.

You might be thinking, “But why bother with this one considering the dev community has already found a way around the AT&T/Verizon bootloader?” For many of you, it probably won’t be worth getting. Still, there are some that would rather go the official route, so it’s nice to have the option.

So how much will the GS4 Developer Edition set you back? No official pricing is currently mentioned, though we’d take a guess at around $650, and more than likely it won’t have a subsidized pricing option.

For those on AT&T’s network, it probably makes more sense to go with the GS4 with stock Android over this, unless you really love TouchWiz. For those on Verizon, it’s good to see that Big Red wasn’t left out of this one like they were the Nexus edition of the GS4. What do you think, anyone interested in getting the Developer Edition of the GS4?

When it comes to watching them HD videos of kittens, we need a fast connection that can keep up with our important agenda. That’s where a solid Wi-Fi connection comes in handy. Wi-Fi has certainly changed a lot in recent years, with new standards like 802.11ac (aka 5G Wi-Fi) pushing the limits on both range and speed.

Unfortunately, there are few devices that actually use the latest and greatest 5G Wi-Fi, especially in the mobile world. In fact, the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 are the only two handsets using Broadcom’s tech, at least that we’re aware of. The good news is that this will soon be changing, as Broadcom has now announced its first 5G Wi-Fi combo chips designed for entry-level consumer devices.

Current mobile devices and PCs utilize the more expensive BCM4335. The next-gen BCM4339 and BCM43162 are designed to cut down costs by integrating a complete front-end, power amplifier and Low Noise amplifier. So what sets the BCM4339 and BCM43162 apart from one another? The former of these is geared towards smartphones and tablets. The later is the solution aimed at PCs and notebooks.

Broadcom says that they already have companies sampling the chips and expects volume production in the second half of the year. In other words, it shouldn’t be too long before these chips show up in actual devices.

For those that have the HTC One and Samsung GS4, are you fully utilizing the power of 802.11ac? What do you think of its performance?

There are quite a few different opinions out there when it comes to wearable tech. Some say it is a fad. Others that it is the future, and that devices like Google Glass will lead to a revolution. Then there is talk of privacy concerns, social concerns and even the belief that development of wearable technology is the first step towards a dystopian future where “the man” is always watching.

Short of inventing a time machine, we can’t say for sure how wearable tech will affect our lives in the years to come. But we can take a look at a few potential scenarios or situations where wearable tech could make life better, or in some cases worse.

A world with no privacy

Organizations like “Stop the Cyborgs” feel that Google Glass and other wearable tech could soon lead to major privacy concerns throughout the globe. Even the United States senate has some potential worries. There are clearly folks that don’t like the idea of tech that is always on, always watching and could even be recording your every move.

If Google Glass leads the way for other smart wearable devices that allow free and easy recording no matter where you are, you could be left with something that looks a great deal like a sci-fi movie’s vision of a dystopian future.

Leaving your house would mean that you would surrender all privacy (which arguably is the case even today), as everyone could be watching you and reporting any action you do, with video footage to prove it.

It also means that you as a wearable-tech user could be subject to tracking from companies, the government and any would-be super-hacker (which is also arguably the same case today). That means not just what you look up with wearable tech, but also possibly what you see, what you’re doing and where you are currently located at.

But is this scenario really likely? Yes and no. I’d love to say “Absolutely not!” – but it’s more complicated than that. It would really depend on the country and the people in it.

I have no doubt that many governments would take advantage of this kind of technology to “protect” everyday citizens. It really wouldn’t be the tech at fault here, though.

Wearable technology could certainly be an enabler of privacy invasion, but it isn’t the real cause of privacy concerns. Governments, pervs, businesses and stalkers already use technology and general information to exploit us for their own ends.

If we want to solve privacy concerns for future wearable tech, it’s about making changes and setting real boundaries in the present.

Making the world a safer place

So the invasion of privacy is a possible concern, but there are also many great future uses for wearable technology that could truly make our lives better, or even safer.

Last month we reported on how the New York City police department was utilizing Android phones for quickly accessing information about the area around them, in ways that are much more efficient than on-board car computers. Not everyone likes the idea of the police having easy access to information about warrants, building crime stats and other data, but honestly I feel that there is a lot of potential for crime reduction that outweighs the downsides.

Building on that concept, imagine that police officers could take the same information and have it within their Google Glass or other wearable device. No need to fumble with a phone to find what they need.

A perp starts running? The police could use GPS information to help them figure out the best ways to chase after them, avoiding dead ends and other obstacles along the way.

Then again, maybe giving police officers this kind of tech is almost as scary as helpful.

What about for emergency response? Recently a video from Playground Labs showed a few ideas for Google Glass, one of them included how in the future, wearable devices could be used for placing 911 calls and receiving “in-your-eye” help on what to do in an emergency situation, like performing CPR, etc.

Beyond that, I could also see paramedics using the tech. Imagine the emergency responder streaming live video to the ER, allowing them to see what is going on and giving them time to prepare for what might need to be done when the patient arrives. For surgeries, there are also teaching applications, like a surgeon streaming live footage of a surgery (with permission of course) to students. The list goes on, but you get the idea.

How wearable tech could affect the consumer directly

So Google Glass opens the door to possible privacy invasion, but it also opens the door to more effective crime prevention and emergency response.

What about us as consumers, how else can we benefit on a day-to-day basis? Immediate first-gen wearable tech like Google Glass and smartwatches seem focused on giving us access to basically the same information as we have right now, just quicker.

Our own Nate Swanner recently had the opportunity to use the device for an evening. His takeaway?

“I got exactly what I expected with Glass, really. It’s fun, and exciting, but doesn’t fit into my lifestyle. What Glass offers and what I’d like to see from it are just too disparate right now.”

Right now, Glass is about It’s about checking the net, keeping up with your social network, getting quick directions and the like. In current form, it’s not for everybody.

Long-term? Google Glass developers are just now playing around and learning what they can do with the 1st-generation Google Glass. Ten years from now, their ideas will be more developed, and the original Google Glass hardware will look like a Fisher-Price toy compared to what will then be possible.

The future for wearable tech is in creating augmented reality that enhances payment options, conversations and everyday life – without getting in the way.

Imagine visiting a landmark and your wearable watch/glasses/contacts automatically recognize the location and provide you with virtual tour guide information. For businesses, there could also be paid content, where you can learn more about buildings and locations simply by paying a small fee.

The holy grail of wearable computing is about moving beyond just providing quick access to the web: its about overlaying connected data over everything we do.

Social concerns with wearable glass

Right now, we already have seen a major change in the way young people use technology, even when compared to just 5 or 10 years prior. Many of us are constantly locked to our phones or tablets. From checking messages every few minutes, to looking up stuff on the net just about everywhere, bathroom included.

When the computer is with you 24/7, what kind of impact will it have? It will certainly be different. Worse? That’s probably a matter of opinion. It will mean that people might be even further enslaved by technology than ever before, but ultimately even that is not the tech’s fault.

I love my phone, my tablet and my PC. I’m a nerd all the way, and proud. I am clearly on-the-grid and loving it. That said, there are times when I break free.

Camping, fishing, hell just an evening with the family without worrying about what’s going on over at Google+ or Twitter. I make the choice to power off my devices and take a few moments to enjoy life unleashed from the world of modern communication. I use tech to enhance my life, not to take it over.

I’m biased towards wearable tech, I’ll admit it. But I do understand that there are real concerns around wearable and augmented technology. The point is that these technologies don’t have to control us or throw us into a Big Brother dystopian world.

Prevention is simple. We need to create clear etiquette for the use of these devices, and hold others accountable for their actions while using wearable technology.

By understanding how the tech should be used, we prevent the abuse of it, as seen in this amazing short-film:

What do you think of wearable technology like Google Glass, any great possible uses for the tech that I didn’t mention? Will it change the world for the better, or for the worst?

For the last several decades your living room has largely been controlled by one powerful force: your cable (or satellite) company. This is slowly changing as companies like Apple, Roku and Google work to steal some of the spotlight.

It’s true that Google TV has had mixed success so far, but there is a ton of untapped potential for the Google TV platform. Will Google ever reach it? That’s hard to say, but the pressure is certainly on now more than ever, especially with Microsoft’s announcement yesterday of the Xbox One.

The Xbox One might be a game console, but Microsoft is clearly pushing multimedia and TV integration with its next-gen console in its own major play for the living room. As you’d expect, this draws quick comparison between the Xbox One and devices like Google TV.

The Xbox One takes a familiar idea and expands on it

Like Google TV devices, the Xbox One doesn’t actually replace a cable box. Instead, you hook your Xbox One up through HDMI and the signal is sent from the cable box over to Microsoft’s console.

So how does Xbox One handle TV differently? The biggest difference is that in right conditions you can control your TV content by using extremely polished voice commands. Instead of grabbing the remote, you simply say “Watch MTV” and it will switch to MTV, there are also hand gestures using Kinect’s camera. As an added bonus, the Xbox One is extremely fast at switching between Live TV and other Xbox One content.

Xbox One also has sleek multi-tasking abilities, making it easy to snap an app on one side of the screen and watch TV on the other 2/3 of the display. This is particularly useful if you are watching a show and want to look up something about it on the net.

That said, Xbox One’s great TV communication setup is a bit of an illusion. Why’s that? Because it only works perfectly like this under the right conditions. Not all cable providers will partner with Microsoft to make everything work, and not all cable boxes allow channel changing through HDMI. That means that for many users, you will still need to grab the cable box remote to change channels and get things done.

Should Google TV and other competitors worry about the Xbox One?

The Xbox One is a gaming console. That means it will be targeted primarily at gamers who are looking to get a multimedia and gaming experience through just one device. Could Microsoft’s Xbox One steal away people who might have otherwise considered a Google TV device or even an Apple TV or Roku? Yes it certainly could, but pricing will be a factor for those who don’t need the “fancier” gaming features.

The Xbox One’s price is currently unknown, but a price tag between $400-$600 wouldn’t be too far-fetched. In contrast, the recently released Google TV-based Asus Cube is just $139.99, and many other boxes cost even less than that.

Google should pay attention to what Microsoft is doing with multimedia, but they shouldn’t worry. Instead, they should build on what Microsoft announced, and do it better.

Everything Microsoft does, Google can do better (and cheaper!)

Obviously I have a slight Google bias working for an Android site, but I also have a Windows PC and an Xbox 360 console. I don’t consider myself against Microsoft, I try to stay objective, and will strongly consider purchasing an Xbox One in the future.

The thing is that just about everything we saw with the Xbox One, Google can match – sans high-end gaming and perhaps the camera abilities of the Kinect.

Google has already shown what it can do with voice technology, and could easily one-up Microsoft here with a little work. Google also has the advantage of being an open platform, which means that it will likely allow many more apps into its store than Microsoft will push to the Xbox.

That leaves pricing and multi-tasking. While partner devices might not be able to compete with hardware while keep price low, a revamped Nexus Q could. Such a device could be sold at cost, which would allow it to pack decent hardware that would allow it to switch back and forth between TV just as flawlessly as demo’d with the Xbox One.

Hell, throw in optimized Google Play Games support on Google TV and Google might even been able to attract some casual and family gamers that would have otherwise considered a conventional console. No, Google TV can’t compete with Microsoft on a gaming level and certainly won’t replace consoles EVER, but they don’t have to. The Wii wasn’t a powerful console, but it still played a big role in the living room wars and stole some of the sales and hype away from Sony’s PS3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

What do you think of the Xbox One? Will it stomp all over Google TV and other living room devices, or are they two completely different products that won’t see much overlap?

Ruggedized handsets are all the rage these days. Sony’s flagship Xperia Z has a waterproof and dustproof design. Sammy is also reportedly looking to bring its own rugged Galaxy S4 Active to the market. That’s why it comes as no surprise that LG has now officially announced the Optimus GJ E975W.

So what’s so special about the Optimus GJ? Honestly, not much. In essence this is nothing more than an Optimus G, wearing slightly modified clothing that allows for IPX7 certification.

That means the Optimus GJ is good for thirty minutes of playtime in the water, as long as it doesn’t go any deeper than a meter. The only other noticeable difference is that the GJ is a bit larger and thicker from its older sibling, at 131.9 x 68.9 x 8.5mm versus 136.9 x 68.9 x 9.9mm.

All hardware specs carry over from the Optimus G. For those that need a refresher, this means that the phone is powered by a quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU and features 2GB of RAM. The display is 4.7-inches and has a resolution of 1280 x 768. Other specs include a 13MP rear cam, Bluetooth 4.0, 16GB storage, microSD, and a 2,280 mAh battery. As for the OS, you get Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean out of the box.

At least for now, the Optimus GJ looks to be coming exclusively to Taiwan with a planned June arrival. The phone will set you back $17,990TWD, or about $600. There will be two color choices: black or black/red.

Creating rugged handsets that can handle active lifestyles is a smart move, but it would have probably made more sense if LG would have held out and gave this kind of design to the rumored LG Optimus G2 instead. That said, I’m sure there is still a market for the handset among those that don’t need the newest hardware and are simply looking for a capable rugged device.

If the LG Optimus GJ came to your local market, would you consider it? Or are there just too many other waterproof alternatives that pack more punch?

Today’s mobile devices are not only expensive, they also often contain sensitive data and precious photos. Keeping our phones safe and out of the wrong hands is certainly important, and that’s why there are quite a few security apps out there that can not only remotely wipe the content of your mobile device, they can even lock or track the device.

These types of apps certainly add an extra layer of protection, but they rarely result in the return of your lost or stolen smartphone. Not only that, it is possible that an experienced thief could find a way to wipe the phone, removing your ability to track it down. That’s where Samsung comes in, bringing Absolute Software’s LoJack for Android over to the Samsung Galaxy S4.

With LoJack software you not only get an easy way to wipe sensitive information, you also receive the assistance of LoJack’s recovery specialists. While Absolute Software doesn’t fully guarantee they will be able to get back your phone, their service agreement does promise you some level of compensation in the event that it can’t be returned to you.

Okay, but what about the whole app wiping thing? Unlike most security apps, LoJack isn’t an app. Instead, the service exists as a firmware layer. That doesn’t make it completely foolproof, but it certainly makes it much more difficult for a thief to get around it. You hear that would-be thieves!? As Lil’ Wayne would put it: “You ain’t got nuthin on me the GS4!”

The only catch to the LoJack service is that it is in a dormant state unless you choose to activate by paying for a subscription, which starts at $29.99 per year. Subscriptions range in terms from one to four years.

This is certainly a great move for Samsung, and an appreciated feature for those of us that want to take our phone security to a whole new level. Expect LoJack for Android service to become available sometime this summer, perhaps as early as June.

What do you think, is LoJack for Android worth the cost? Or do you feel there are better solutions already out there?

Earlier today at CTIA 2013, Android Authority’s Joshua Vergara took some time to show off the heavy-duty Cat B15. Not everyone needs such extreme protection for their phones, however. What if you are just looking for a little extra durability at a budget price? If that’s the case, you might want to join us as we go hands-on with Kyocera’s new Hydro XTRM and EDGE handsets.

Let’s start with the champion model in the Hydro line-up, the XTRM. The Hydro XTRM features a 4-inch display with an 800×480 resolution. The heart of the phone is a 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor and 1GB of RAM. Other specs include a 5MP rear cam, 1.3MP front cam, LTE support, 4GB storage, microSD, a 2,000 mAh battery and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.

As already mentioned, the XTRM is waterproof, but even more interesting, it’s also shockproof. According to Kyocera, the phone can even be dropped 26 times from a height of 4 feet without any major issue – not that we’d ever recommend beating the crap out of your phone just for fun (or would we?).

As for carrier choice, the XTRM will only be available in the United States through U.S. Cellular. The phone will arrive May 24th and will cost just $29.99 with two-year agreement.

Moving on to the lower-end Hydro EDGE, we get a 3G smartphone with the same 4-inch display, though a slightly “cheaper” design. The EDGE also shares many of the same specs as found on the XTRM, with the biggest differences being a slower 1GHz dual-core processor and the lack of a front cam and LTE. The EDGE also has a smaller 1,600 mAh battery.

No word on how much the Hydro Edge will set you back or exactly when it is coming, but we do know it will arrive both through Boost Mobile and from Sprint. If we had to take a guess on the price? Considering the original Kyocera Hydro arrived to Boost Mobile for $129.99, we wouldn’t be surprised if the new EDGE model aims for a similar price.

For those looking for a closer peak at the EDGE and XTRM (as promised) here’s some hands-on footage:

Bottom-line, these phones might not be super-powered quad-core devices, but they could be perfect for those that need a bit more durability without having to pay top-dollar to get it.

What do you think of Kyocera’s latest Hydro handsets, could you see yourself picking one of these models up?

Back in April, Caterpillar’s Cat B15 arrived in the United Kingdom and several other European countries such as France, Spain, Portugal and Norway. Now it looks like the phone will soon be making its way over to the United States as well.

The North American version of the Cat B15 will be shown off at CTIA tomorrow, though it is largely the same as the international version. The biggest difference is that the phone will now support both GSM 850/1900 and the AWS bands 1700/2100. Otherwise the B15 packs the same extremely rugged, grippable anodized aluminum and rubber body.

Other specs include a 4-inch display, dual-core 1GHz MediaTek MT6577 processor, a 5MP back cam, VGA front cam and the ability to withstand a six foot drop. It’s water resistant as well, for those keeping track. As for the OS, the phone comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The specs aren’t exactly exciting, but they should be more than capable of handling the job as long as your needs aren’t too demanding.

The big question is when the phone is coming, and how much it will set you back. Right now Caterpillar is still working to find retail partners and carriers for the launch, so no specific date seems set. We can tell you that the company plans to sell the phone for around $350, unlocked.

If they do end up with a carrier as a partner, that basically leaves just AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S., considering this is a GSM phone.

For those that need an extremely durable handset, would you consider purchasing the Cat B15?

Today’s smartphones are rapidly evolving when it comes to screen size, processor speeds, RAM and even aesthetics. Unfortunately, there is one area that might not be advancing as quickly as we would like: security.

Sure, there have been some improvements in phone security. Largely though, most folks still stick to just using PINs, patterns or (even worse) no security method at all. What if we could instead use the power of our fingerprint for accessing sensitive data on our phones? Samsung might be working on such a solution, at least if a new rumor is to be believed.

The rumor is sparked by a series of images that were received by SamMobile in an email earlier today. The images where allegedly ripped from a leaked firmware build for the Samsung Galaxy S3. As you can see below, these pictures show off fingerprints and related imagery.

The obvious theory is that these graphics might indicate that Sammy has been working on testing some kind of fingerprint tech. Keep in mind that these images are the only ‘evidence’ we have of such a move, so take this all with a grain of salt.

We certainly hope that Samsung would consider some kind of fingerprint reader built in place of the traditional home button, though. It would not only improve security, it would also be yet another bragging right for Samsung handset owners.

If any Samsung device is getting the tech in the near future, my vote would be for the Galaxy Note 3. Considering the Note series tends to be popular among BYOD users and businesses, it would make sense to have this kind of tech present.

It’s worth mentioning that rumors also suggest that Apple might also be working on some kind of fingerprint tech for the iPhone 5S. Before we start pointing fingers at who is copying who, remember this kind of tech has been around for a while now. Really, it just makes sense that it would eventually make its way over to smartphones.

What do you think, would you love to see Samsung phones start rolling out with a fingerprint scanner or do you feel it would really be more of a gimmick than a truly game-changing feature?

Wearable tech isn’t exactly new, but it has certainly seen a major resurgence as of late. A large part of this is because technology is finally starting to advance enough to make watches, glasses and other wearables truly useful. While the most ambitious wearable is Google’s Glass, devices like the Pebble smartwatch have also received quite a bit of attention. Now it looks like Pebble is about to get itself a new competitor, the “Agent”.

The Agent is the brainchild of Secret Labs and is designed by NYC watchmaker, House of Horology. Like Pebble, this watch is taking to Kickstarter in hopes of bringing the smartwatch scene to the next level. You might wonder what makes this watch different from the Pebble. At first glance, not much.

Both watches have Sharp displays that are similarly sized and even the watchfaces look alike. Feature-wise, the Agent also supports much of the same as the Pebble: pushing notifications, showing you the weather, acting as a pedometer and controlling music. It also works with any Android 2.3+ mobile device.

If it’s basically just a Pebble ‘clone’, why bother? Secret Labs hopes that you’ll see past that obvious similarities, and look a bit deeper. The differences here are two: processor design and wireless charging.

For the later of these, the Agent utilizes Qi wireless technology. The watch will come with its own charger pad, but should also work with existing pads.

As for the processor, the Agent uses a 120MHz ARM Cortex-M4, designed with speed and performance in mind. To prevent the processor from draining away the battery, it is actually kept in sleep-mode most of the time, with the secondary processor handling basic actions like displaying the time.

The end result is that the Agent can last 30 days in “watchface-only” mode, or up to 7 days with smart functions activated. This is at least a little bit better than most of the other smartwatches on the market.

Ease of programming

Secret Labs claims that their watch design will be more efficient that competitors, due to the use of Microsoft’s .NET runtime environment. They also boast that making apps will be easy, allowing programmers to use C# and Microsoft Visual Studio.

For those that might be interested in developing for the watch, Secret Labs says that an SDK will be rolling out immediately after the Kickstarter campaign ends.

Is the Agent too late to the game?

The Agent seems to be an interesting idea, but ultimately, it isn’t much different from the Pebble. The watch does have wireless charging and slightly improved battery life, but it also is planning a price of around $249, versus the $150 for the Pebble. It is worth mentioning that early bird Kickstarter pledges can pre-order it for $129.

Besides not truly offering much to set itself apart from the Pebble, there is also the possibility that by the time the Agent arrives to its backers, either Apple or Samsung might already have announced a smartwatch of their own.

If this had released six to twelve months earlier, the Agent could have been big. Now we aren’t so sure. What do you think of the Secret Labs Agent, would you consider it over devices like the Pebble?