Chinese consumer group sues over Samsung, Oppo bloatware

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
Chinese consumer group sues over Samsung, Oppo bloatware

Although manufacturers and carriers have backed away from loading up smartphones with a bunch of useless software in recent years, at least two hardware makers are being taken to task in Chinese courts for doing just that.

Shanghai Daily today reported both Samsung and Oppo face legal action in China in an effort to protect consumers from smartphone "bloatware," or the practice of loading up devices with software of questionable utility or worth.

The Shanghai Consumer Rights Protection Commission announced the action on Thursday, which has already received approval in separate cases from the The Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People's Court.

Cited as two of the worst offenders were the Samsung SM-N9008S with 44 preinstalled apps, while the Oppo X9007 model tipped the scales with a whopping 71 pieces of bloatware, including "various games and other programs."

Take that, bloatware

Shanghai's consumer rights defenders studied 20 different smartphone models prior to taking legal action, noting that many of them were sold with preinstalled apps that could not be removed from the device.

Perhaps more damning, the Commission also claimed some of the handsets "stole" cellular data - accusations Samsung and Oppo will have 15 days to respond to before trial dates are set.

"We hope it will force other companies in the sector to end the unreasonable, but common, practice of preinstalling apps without telling consumers. This is something that is very much necessary for the healthy development of the whole industry," Commission Secretary General Tao Ailian said yesterday.

The consumer rights group hopes to force Samsung and Oppo to clearly indicate on the packaging which apps have been preinstalled, as well as "instructions on how they can be removed." Godspeed, good people!










135B songs streamed by US listeners in first half of 2015

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
135B songs streamed by US listeners in first half of 2015

When it comes to streaming music, Apple's new service has been the talk of the town this week - but a new report claims US growth has nearly doubled even before Cupertino sauntered onto the scene.

Re/code reported late Thursday that American music listeners appear to finally be warming up to the concept of streaming music, with a total of 135.2 billion songs and music videos served up in the first half of this year alone.

According to Nielsen data (via Billboard), that number marks a 92 percent increase over the same period a year ago, when Americans streamed a mere 70.3 billion tracks by comparison.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this figure is that it came during a period when the usual suspects like Spotify, YouTube, Google Play Music and others had no new competition - notably Apple Music, which only launched this past Tuesday, right at the tail end of the six-month mark.

Now stream this

"Obviously, the streaming piece is really great news, when you're talking about darn near 100 percent growth … with no new players," Nielsen Senior Vice-President Dave Bakula told Re/code yesterday.

The growth in streaming comes somewhat at the expense of more traditional delivery methods, with sales of digital songs down 10.4 percent to 531.6 million; album sales in both CD and digital format also dipped slightly to 116 million units, a four percent drop.

Perhaps ironically, streaming critic Taylor Swift's latest album "1989" dominated the top of the charts with two million physical copies sold, but only a mere 188,213 streams following her rather vocal protest with Spotify.

TaySwif's streaming numbers should receive a nice boost for the remainder of the year now that she's front and center on Apple Music, after crying foul over the iPhone maker's "no payments" policy during the free three-month trial.










Buying Guide: 10 best Android keyboard apps reviewed and rated

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
Buying Guide: 10 best Android keyboard apps reviewed and rated

Best Android keyboard apps to download

When it comes to movies, the first in a series is almost always the best. The same also applies to Android, which had customizable, third-party keyboards long before Apple ever dreamed of adding this feature to iOS 8.

Over the years, developers have knocked out some impressive wares for text entry on smartphones and tablets, meaning there are more choices than ever before - literally hundreds of them are on Google Play alone!

Thankfully, TechRadar is here to whittle this enormous list down to only 10 of the best options, and there's something here for every kind of typist. We've even tossed in a few eccentric and off-the-beaten path options you may not be aware of.

Google Keyboard

Google Keyboard

Call us crazy, but we've always been partial to Google's own flavor of keyboard, and thankfully it's no longer only limited to devices running stock Android. Best of all, it's absolutely free, so there's no reason not to at least try it out.

Aside from good looks, Google Keyboard (free) also offers a responsive, silky smooth typing experience with predictive voice dictation that gets smarter over time. Naturally, this keyboard will also autocorrect and predict words as they're typed, and there's even a handy Gesture Typing option that allows you to just glide right through.

Download this if… You hate the custom keyboard on your device!

Avoid this if… Wait, scratch that. Download immediately!

Verdict: 5/5

Swype

Swype

The granddaddy of gesture-based keyboards, Swype ($0.99, free trial available) is so good Samsung pre-installed it on some of its early flagship handsets before the app was finally unleased on Google Play. It may cost you a buck, but this is one of the most fluid and accurate "swyping" experiences you're likely to find on Android.

Featuring a customizable personal dictionary, multiple keyboard layouts and themes, lots and lots of possible languages and now support for emoji in the most popular dialects, one of the best keeps only getting better.

Download this if… You've forgotten how to type.

Avoid this if… You still can't get used to this whole swiping business.

Verdict: 5/5

Adaptxt

Adaptxt

A holdover from our previous list of nine best Android keyboards, Adaptxt (free) still gets our nod as one of the most beautiful available. We've previously described it as having a "spacious and airy layout" with translucent graphics that give off a premium laptop vibe, and those words still apply nearly three years later.

With support for more than 90 languages - the most of any keyboard we could find - Adaptxt includes location-based suggestions, corrections and predictions with a unique 12-key layout, plenty of great themes and loads of personality.

Download this if… You appreciate good looks and functionality.

Avoid this if… It's just too damned sexy for your device.

Verdict: 5/5

SwiftKey

SwiftKey

Imagine Google's awesome keyboard, but infused with the power of all the typing you've ever done in Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, or text messages to help predict the next thing you've going to write. That's the power of SwiftKey (free), the award-winning keyboard that nearly rivals the stock Android board.

If you love most everything about Google Keyboard, SwiftKey offers one thing that one doesn't: Lots and lots of themes, and even more available via in-app purchase. Shiny veneer aside, it's equally fast and accurate as well.

Download this if… You like shiny-looking themes.

Avoid this if… You're paranoid about data privacy.

Verdict: 4.5/5

Smart Keyboard

Smart Keyboard

Some might consider it bold to name your app Smart Keyboard ($2.50, free trial available), but the Google Play ratings don't lie. There's support for multiple languages, voice input, a Smart dictionary (of course), custom auto-text and yes, the kind of predictive typing we've all become accustomed to.

So what makes Smart so smart? For starters, this is one of the few keyboards we've run across that actually lets users adjust the height of the keys, making them smaller or larger depending on the size of your digits. And hey, if you miss the T9 input from your old feature phone, this is the keyboard for you.

Download this if… You want to control the size of your keyboard.

Avoid this if… You have an aversion to paying for keyboard apps.

Verdict: 4/5

Even more great Android keyboards

Fleksy

Fleksy

Any app billing itself as "the fastest keyboard in the world" certainly warrants a closer look, especially when it holds a Guinness World Record for that accomplishment. Fleksy ($1.99, free trial available) goes beyond the predictive typing hoopla, jumping the shark with support for GIFs, licensed themes from the likes of Frozen, Peanuts and The Hunger Game, and a Rainbow Pop effect you'll have to see to believe.

Okay, so it's great fun to use and efficient enough that you can practically take your eyes off the screen while typing, but is it any good (and more importantly, worth paying for)? If you can adapt to the flat, square keys, it's certainly worth a look.

Download this if… You're a speed demon at typing.

Avoid this if… GIFs, themes and Rainbow Pop make you break out in hives.

Verdict: 4/5

Thumb Keyboard

Thumb Keyboard

Forget about emoji and all the other gimmicks - we just want a clean keyboard that doesn't require thumb gymnastics to use. Look no further than Thumb Keyboard ($2.49), which is the perfect companion for your phablet or tablet thanks to the insane number of available layouts.

Users can switch between standard or patent-pending split portrait or landscape view, each with custom themes and background combinations for a seemingly endless variety. There are even special layouts designed strictly for larger displays, and a slick one-handed mode for banging out text on your phablet screen. Best selling point? It's all emoji-free.

Download this if… You own larger devices or hate emoji.

Avoid this if… You're still rocking a device with smaller screens.

Verdict: 4/5

GO Keyboard

GO Keyboard

Literally packed to the gills with themes, emoji, emoticons and more, GO Keyboard (free) has some of the highest Google Play user ratings of any keyboard app. Supporting more than 60 languages, over 1,000 themes with weekly new arrivals and QWERTY, QWERTZ and AZERTY keyboards, this is one of the few apps capable of adding special characters and sounds to messages without missing a beat.

Clearly geared toward teens and younger Android users, our only real grievance is how much valuable screen space GO takes up above the keyboard to make sure you'll shop for custom themes and more in its online market. Otherwise, this is a solid choice with a lot to offer.

Download this if… You can't get enough choices.

Avoid this if… You're not a teenager or young at heart.

Verdict: 3.5/5

Minuum

Minuum

Designed for users with larger fingers, Minuum ($3.20, free trial available) is great if you have a device conducive to typing with one hand or just want to be able to mash those virtual keys and have the software figure out what the heck you're trying to get across.

The developer promises you'll be up to speed with Minuum after a mere 15-second tutorial, and we were pleasantly surprised to find that was a pretty accurate claim. If you have an Android Wear smartwatch, this will also be money well spent - just sign up for the mailing list and you'll be ready to tap those tiny keys on more than 10 different wearables.

Download this if… You're a sloppy typist with obese fingers.

Avoid this if… You don't trust those tiny keys to do all the work for you.

Verdict: 3.5/5

TouchPal

TouchPal

We may be more than a little disappointed that TouchPal (free) has rebranded as an "emoji keyboard," but that doesn't mean it's still not a perfectly great keyboard for the rest of us as well. This one is all about creating the perfect customized board for each user, so it features a dizzying array of ways to do just that.

For example, users can turn personal photos into emoticons (which is pretty neat!), and there are more than 800 emoji, emoticons, smileys and text faces available across 100-plus themes, all of which can be constructed to your liking. Despite the big push toward emoji, this is still a darned fine keyboard with contextual prediction and all the usual tricks (swipe typing, et al) to improve your mobile typing experience.

Download this if… You love to customize everything you own.

Avoid this if… You're not a fan of emoji. (But please try it first!)

Verdict: 3.5/5








Bling out your Apple Watch in 18K gold on a budget

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
Bling out your Apple Watch in 18K gold on a budget

Don't have $10,000 (about UK£6,464, AU$12,779) or more lying around to buy a gold-plated Apple Watch Edition model? That's okay, because a new service can make it look like you're a big spender for the same cost as Cupertino's cheapest wearable.

9to5Mac today published an unboxing and hands-on video featuring an Apple Watch with gold plating and a link bracelet costing far less than you might imagine.

That's because the customized Apple Watch was bling'ed up by a new service called WatchPlate, who can turn even the cheapest Sport model into an 18-karat gold-plated beauty in only four business days for a mere $399 (about UK£258, AU$510).

Better yet, these experts with nearly a century of combined experience at gold plating can make you look like a million bucks, complete with free round-trip shipping courtesy of FedEx.

Big spender

Naturally, spending upwards of $17,000 (about UK£10,988, AU$21,724) on an honest-to-goodness, 18-karat Apple Watch Edition does come with at least a few perks, such as the VIP treatment you'll receive from the Apple Retail Store or posh boutique you'll need to visit to buy one.

However, this third-party approach does have a few benefits: The gold plating is available in either yellow or rose gold (Apple's is only available in the former), and WatchPlate can even set you up with bands like the Link Bracelet shown here, a configuration unavailable to regular Edition buyers.

The end result is described as "stunning" and "absolutely gorgeous" and the gold plating appears to have held up nicely after the first week of wear and tear, but the best part may be that you won't have to take out a second mortgage just to replace this customized wearable, should it get stolen by an unscrupulous thief.








IN DEPTH: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge vs LG G Flex 2

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
IN DEPTH: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge vs LG G Flex 2

Smartphones have reached the point where designs are more iterative than innovative. While the look and feel changes only slightly on new models each year, manufacturers haven't done much to wow consumers beyond the traditional rectangular slab of glass, metal and plastic.

LG attempted to shake things up last year with first G Flex, a 6-inch smartphone with a curved display and slightly flexible frame, and Samsung soon followed with their own take on this concept, courtesy of the Galaxy Note Edge, a phablet-sized model featuring a display that wraps around the right side.

These Korean tech titans wasted no time announcing all-new versions of these devices for 2015, and we sat down with both in an effort to determine whether curved and flexible displays actually enhance the experience or are little more than a marketing gimmick.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge display

Screen

Although it won't hit stores until April 10 (with preorders now available in 20 countries), the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is little more than a variant of this year's Samsung Galaxy S6, featuring nearly identical specs with one notable exception: The Edge's display gently wraps around both sides of the front.

Otherwise, the Galaxy S6 Edge offers the same 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display as its less curvaceous sibling, with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 that packs in a whopping 577ppi.

The new LG G Flex 2 one-ups Samsung's latest with a 5.5-inch Full HD P-OLED display which curves slightly from top to bottom, and like its predecessor, can handle a bit of bending without breaking.

Despite the larger screen, the G Flex 2 tops out at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 with a pixel density of only 403ppi, but LG attempts to make up for this shortcoming by comparing the curved display to its high-end televisions, offering a more cinematic viewing experience in landscape mode with three modes (Standard, Vivid or Natural) to make any content look great.

LG G Flex 2 profile

Design

Weighing only 4.66 ounces (132 grams), Samsung's curved Galaxy S6 Edge offers a premium feel that's slightly less ergonomic along the edges, but the aluminum frame and 7mm thickness make the device feel lighter than the Galaxy S6.

Roughly the size of an iPhone 6, Samsung borrowed a somewhat annoying trait from Apple's latest flagship handset: The rear camera protrudes from the back ever so slightly, presumably a design compromise to keep the device slim and trim.

Instead of curving around the edges, LG's G Flex 2 bends the entire case inward vertically, and because of the larger display size, its contoured body weighs slightly more at 5.36 ounces (152 grams) with a 5.87 x 2.96 x 0.37-inch (149.1 x 75.3 x 9.4mm) frame.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge both sides

Processor and Storage

Just because it looks so nice on the outside, that's no reason to be a slouch when it comes to what's on the inside.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge obliges with an octa-core, 64-bit Exynos 7 Octa 7420 processor clocked at 2.1GHz capped off by a Mali-T760 MP8 GPU and a whopping 3GB RAM and up to 128GB of storage for good measure.

LG mostly made up for the lack of oomph on the first G Flex by slapping an octa-core, 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor into the sequel, clocked at 2.0GHz with Adreno 430 GPU and the same 3GB RAM.

Unfortunately, the built-in storage on the G Flex 2 maxes out at 32GB, but up to a totally insane 2TB of additional storage is available from an optional microSD card – a feature sadly lacking on the otherwise hardware-rich Galaxy S6 Edge.

LG G Flex 2 back cover removed

Battery

If you love the flexibility of swapping in a new battery when the current one runs out, neither of these curvy smartphones are likely to make you smile.

It's too early to know what the battery life will be like on the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, but the 2600mAh power pack doesn't offer a whole lot of encouragement on this front.

By comparison, the G Flex 2 packs a 3000mAh battery (reduced from 3500mAh in the previous model), but before LG can boast about having more power, there's the matter of that larger 5.5-inch display to consider.

Thankfully, the fast charging capabilities of both models should have you back in action quickly – our own review of the LG G Flex 2 topped up from a complete discharge in just over an hour and a half.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge camera

Cameras

Samsung hasn't held back when it comes to the Galaxy S6 Edge camera: Rocking a 16MP, f1.9 aperture sensor with dual LED flash and optical image stabilization capable of shooting 4K video up to 3840 x 2160, the rear camera is no slouch.

By comparison, the LG G Flex 2 borrows liberally from the LG G3 to provide a 13MP sensor that otherwise checks off the same feature list above on the Galaxy S6 Edge, although the laser auto focus is one noteworthy addition.

Neither model breaks much new ground with the front camera, however: Samsung touts a "best-in-class" 5MP sensor with 120º wide angle lens, while LG's tops out a 2.1MP, which the manufacturer claims is enough to use it as a "full HD camcorder."

LG G Flex 2 in hand

Features

The remaining feature checklist is relatively the same for both handsets: Each ships with Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the gate, with the usual Bluetooth 4.1, NFC and 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac wireless on board.

Aside from curved edges, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge also offers built-in Qi and Powermat-compatible wireless charging.

LG instead opted to include a selfie-friendly "Gesture Shot" mode on the G Flex 2, which provides a three-second timer on the front-facing camera that can be activated with a gesture; tilting the camera down allows the user to review images instead.

Like the original G Flex, the sequel also features that bizarre self-healing back, which didn't do all that much to impress in our own review of the G Flex 2. More impressive is the Glance view, which offers a peek at what's happening without the need to actually turn on the device.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge connected

Galaxy Edge 6 vs G Flex 2 Verdict

This two-horse race ultimately comes down to just how curvy you want: Along the edges of the handset with the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, or on the entire smartphone with the LG G Flex 2.

LG has a slight advantage since the handset is already available from two carriers for early adopters to take home, but to be honest, the whole concept of curved displays on a smartphone still causes us to scratch our collective heads more than be impressed.

Samsung isn't likely to woo many potential Galaxy S6 buyers away from the flagship device in favor of the Galaxy S6 Edge either, but those in search of a more premium edition worthy of making friends envious will want to wait it out a bit longer – assuming you can afford it, that is.








Pair of new HTC One M9 renders look awfully familiar

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
Pair of new HTC One M9 renders look awfully familiar

We're not saying this is the definitive look at HTC's next flagship smartphone, but the latest pair of renders out of China sure seem to be lightly salted with a hint of authenticity.

PhoneArena today published a pair of images that appear to be marketing materials for the forthcoming HTC One M9, which the company is expected to make official on March 1, mere hours before MWC 2015 kicks off in Barcelona next week.

Similar to M9 renders originating from Germany last weekend, the pair of new images provided by the @upleaks Twitter account (1, 2) appear to throw cold water on the idea of a centered front-facing camera as shown in some earlier leaks.

In fact, there's not an awful lot to separate this purported M9 from its predecessor, last year's flagship HTC One M8, aside from potentially ever-so slimmer front bezels and what appears to be a single rear-facing camera with dual-LED flash.

HTC One M9 leaked render

Same as it ever was?

Despite some initial confusion over leaked renders, the general consensus among HTC One M9 watchers is that the Taiwanese manufacturer appears to be spending more time on what's inside the smartphone, rather than attempting to reinvent the wheel externally.

Speaking of inside being what counts, previous rumors have pointed to an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor with 3GB RAM, a spacious 2900 mAh battery and improved BoomSound speakers, not to mention 32GB of internal storage capable of being expanded via micro-SD card.

The M9 is also said to come packing a five-inch, 1080p HD display, but if that's not big enough for you, the rumored HTC One M9 Plus is said to up the ante to 5.2 inches at 1440 x 5260 pixels, and toss a fingerprint scanner into the mix.

As you bask in the warm glow of these new leaks, we'd advise taking them with a grain of salt, same as most other images that slip through the cracks - especially when the real deal is coming 'round the mountain so soon.








Android 5.1 should fix some of Lollipop’s stickiest problems

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
Android 5.1 should fix some of Lollipop's stickiest problems

Android One owners abroad have already gotten a taste of the next Android update on their entry-level devices, and as a result, details are leaking about how Google may address some of its little quirks.

PhoneArena today reported that the upcoming Android 5.1 update to Android 5.0 Lollipop will apparently take aim at a number of nagging issues related to the look and feel of Google's mobile operating system.

Rumors have pegged a release across the rest of the planet for next month, although it's unclear why Google is remaining so secretive about the point-one update, which includes making the factory images unavailable to developers and end users for now.

Thanks to an early release on a handful of low-end handsets now available in the Philippines, we have a clearer idea of some of the visual flourishes and little improvements being planned for the next Lollipop update.

Android 5.1 hide invert colors

Tap, hold, hide

Google+ user @AnjoCerdeña posted an image of one such change that enables Android users to hide quick settings that have inadvertently become activated, specifically Invert Colors and Wi-Fi Hotspot.

Android 5.0 Lollipop users have already discovered that the aforementioned quick settings can't be removed - at least not without trickery, such as changing the date and time on the afflicted handset.

Google engineers apparently hope to address this unintuitive "feature" with the ability to hide such settings once they've been accidentally triggered, which can be done with a tap and hold on the option in question.

Last week, an HTC executive appeared to confirm that Google plans to roll out Android 5.1 in March, an update also expected to restore silent mode, improve RAM management, solve notification issues, and a raft of other improvements.








OnePlus One will now be tasting Android Lollipop by late March

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
OnePlus One will now be tasting Android Lollipop by late March

The month of February is rapidly coming to a close, and there's still no sign of the latest flavor of Android on one of the coolest flagship smartphones around - but the wait may soon be over.

Android Police today reported that the popular OnePlus One smartphone is now expected to receive a CyanogenMod-infused update to Android 5.0 Lollipop sometime in the next five weeks, a bit later than initially expected.

Back in mid-January, Cyanogen founder Steve Kondik promised a stable version of CyanogenMod 12 for Lollipop would arrive this month, a precursor to OnePlus updating their wildly in-demand handset.

According to a Twitter conversation Monday morning with OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, the expected CyanogenMod 12S update will now arrive in "mid to late March," along with the company's own OxygenOS ROM.

Go your own way

The upcoming CyanogenMod 12S update is particularly noteworthy since it could be the last vestige of the partnership between OnePlus and Cyanogen, who are currently mired in a licensing spat regarding devices sold in India.

As the world awaits the OnePlus Two, the smartphone maker has started working on its own forked version of Android, which will arrive in March as a user-installable ROM that will extend the life of the One handset another two years.

After numerous delays, OnePlus One owners are rightfully eager to get their hands on a taste of Lollipop made expressly for their favorite handset, which co-founder Pei blamed on "proprietary drivers, code, QA [and] certifications."

The OxygenOS team has promised a version of Android uniquely optimized for the company's hardware, with improved quick unlock and settings and the promise of no bloatware, a trend we can certainly get behind.








US carriers combat Apple Pay with preinstalled Google Wallet app

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
US carriers combat Apple Pay with preinstalled Google Wallet app

Tired of feeling like second-class citizens next to Apple Pay, contactless mobile payment pioneers Google Wallet and Softcard have teamed up with three of the nation's largest wireless carriers.

The Google Commerce Blog today announced plans to ramp up adoption of Google Wallet, the near-field communication (NFC) based mobile payment technology first introduced in 2011.

Rather than attempt to compete with carrier-backed rival Softcard against the Apple Pay behemoth, Google has chosen to partner with the service formerly known as ISIS Mobile Wallet.

A joint venture between US carriers AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless, Softcard will relinquish "some exciting technology and intellectual property" to Google Wallet, which will soon come preinstalled on Android 4.4 KitKat or higher smartphones sold by the three carriers.

Strength in numbers

Having Google Wallet already installed on new Android handsets could presumably go a long way toward fending off Apple Pay, which is baked right into iOS 8.1 on Touch ID-enabled iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones, as well as the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3.

The move also gives Google Wallet a whiff of legitimacy, given the service has a somewhat checkered history with US carriers (we're looking at you, Verizon) who favored their own competing Softcard technology.

The announcement specifically singles out the "tap and pay functionality" of Google Wallet will be a big part of the mix when AT&T, T-Mobile US and Verizon begin offering the app preinstalled on Android devices later this year.

In the wake of Apple Pay's launch last fall, Google Wallet and Softcard also faced setbacks as major US retailers such as CVS and Rite Aid blocked all three tap-and-pay services from stores in favor of a fourth competitor known as CurrentC, which has yet to hit the market.








Toyota taking detour around Apple CarPlay, Android Auto for now

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
Toyota taking detour around Apple CarPlay, Android Auto for now

Silicon Valley is quickly shifting gears to create software capable of powering the next generation of automobile dashboards, but at least one Japanese automaker plans to keep that work entirely in-house for the time being.

As part of a larger piece documenting Google and Apple's efforts to power car dashboards, The New York Times reported Sunday that Toyota "currently has no plans" to adopt either tech titan's automotive platform in the United States.

Toyota's National Manager of Environmental, Safety & Quality Communications John Hanson confirmed that neither Android Auto nor CarPlay were on the automaker's roadmap, despite frequent talks with both Google and Apple.

"We may all eventually wind up there, but right now we prefer to use our in-house proprietary platforms for those kinds of functions," Hanson said.

Bumps in the road

Toyota certainly isn't dismissing the concept of incorporating smartphones into automobile dashboards, which are being positioned as one of the next great battlegrounds between industry heavyweights like Google and Apple.

Unlike Toyota, automakers like General Motors, Audi and Japanese rivals such as Honda and Hyundai were quick to jump on the Android Auto bandwagon, which is now backed by nearly two dozen manufacturers.

Many of these brands intend to also throw their support behind Apple's CarPlay, a competing system exclusive to the iPhone, while Android Auto works with a variety of smartphones running Google's mobile operating system.

Both of the voice-activated dashboard platforms have been slow to roll off the assembly lines, with Ford estimating all of its vehicles sold in the US will incorporate either Android Auto or CarPlay into the automaker's SYNC system by the end of 2016.

  • Find out the latest Apple CarPlay news in our up-to-the-minute report!







Leaked 2015 Lenovo Vibe lineup has something for everyone

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
Leaked 2015 Lenovo Vibe lineup has something for everyone

Smartphone manufacturers put a lot of faith in the annual Mobile World Congress kicking off in Barcelona on March 2, but as usual, tantalizing renders and details continue to leak out ahead of the big event.

Taiwanese blog MXPhone (via Android Police) today reported that Lenovo is likely to arrive at MWC 2015 with one less surprise under its belt, thanks to a stack of images that appear to spill the beans on the company's latest Vibe lineup.

Out of the five models leaked, the Lenovo Vibe Shot looks the most promising, a smartphone available in white, black or red trim and powered by a Snapdragon 615 processor with 3GB RAM and 32GB of onboard storage, expandable via micro-SD.

Featuring a five-inch 1080p HD LCD display, the Vibe Shot resembles a swanky point-and-shoot digital camera, but the 16MP sensor with optical image stabilization, tri-tone flash and physical shutter button presumably will take better snapshots.

Lenovo Vibe 2015 lineup (leak)

I feel your Vibe

Lenovo's Vibe flagship for 2015 is the X3, with a luscious 5.5-inch 1080p display with stereo speakers encased in an all-metal frame, plus a whopping 20.7MP camera and a seemingly random fingerprint sensor located around back.

However, the Vibe X3 isn't technically the biggest in the batch: That honor goes to the Lenovo Vibe Max, a six-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) monster featuring a stylus described as being close to the "same size and resolution as the Nexus 6."

The report offers only scant details on the Lenovo Vibe P1 aside from the inclusion of a 4000mAh battery with quick-charge, while a beefier Vibe P1 Pro steps up the juice to 5000mAh; both models are said to include LTE and 64-bit, octa-core processors as well.

Last but not least, the Lenovo Vibe S1 will be reported for duty at the low end of the spectrum, with a selfie-friendly front-facing camera and a variety of color options; all of the new Vibes will ship with Android 5.0 Lollipop, but we'll have to wait for MWC 2015 to find out exactly where (probably not the US), when and for how much.


Regular folks may soon be able to play with iPhone, iPad betas

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
Regular folks may soon be able to play with iPhone, iPad betas

Software bugs are never fun, but Apple appears to be going on the offensive to stomp out problems before they become public, by letting end users get in on the fun prior to release.

9to5Mac today reported that Apple may be planning to expand its existing AppleSeed program, which allows non-developers to tinker with early software builds and contribute to the process of catching bugs.

Last fall, Apple released a public beta of OS X Yosemite 10.10 to one million registered participants who signed up for the program, a move that apparently successful enough to make Cupertino consider doing the same for the company's mobile products.

The report claims some version of iOS 8.3 currently being put through its paces by developers could soon expand to a more exclusive club of up to 100,000 brave souls willing to give it a try, along with select Apple retail employees who started receiving beta builds back in January.

Road to iOS 9

Apple's latest beta program expansion appears to be an effort to pave a smoother road to iOS 9, which the iPhone maker is expected to introduce in June at the annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), with a public beta expected later in the summer ahead of a presumed fall release.

In the meantime, developers have been juggling builds of iOS 8.2 with Apple Watch support in tow since late last year which is not expected to become part of the public beta offering, instead kicking off with iOS 8.3 as early as March.

Bearing the internal codename "Stowe," the initial iOS 8.3 beta introduced wireless CarPlay support, Siri voice enhancements, a more streamlined Google login process and upgrades to the Emoji keyboard; a second beta is expected sometime next week.

Although not yet in the hands of developers, sources claim Apple engineers are also hard at work on iOS 8.4 (codename: "Copper"), which is expected to integrate Beats Music into what's being described as an "all-new streaming music service."








Motorola has an ‘exciting’ announcement planned for February 25

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
Motorola has an 'exciting' announcement planned for February 25

Fresh off their president defending the company's design ethos, Motorola is planning to unleash something new next week, courtesy of a mysterious box being hand-delivered to the press.

9to5Google today reported that Motorola is busy emailing members of the tech press, giving them a heads-up about a mystery package scheduled to arrive on just in time for the mid-week "hump day" on February 25.

Unfortunately, Motorola is playing coy on exactly what the box might contain, beyond the invitation's teaser which explains that "everything you need fits inside one box, which we will deliver to your doorstep on Wednesday."

It hasn't been that long since Motorola last refreshed its flagship Moto X smartphone, and the report speculates a followup to the Moto 360 smartwatch could be what's in store, but details are otherwise scarce.

Jack in the box

"Motorola is making an exciting announcement next week and wants you to be in the front row. The best part? You get to choose where and when you'd like to experience it," the media invitation from Motorola reads.

That will likely come as music to the ears of journalists still recovering from the Consumer Electronics Show last month, who will soon be on a plane bound to Barcelona, Spain for Mobile World Congress 2015, which kicks off March 2.

Assuming none of Motorola's mystery boxes wind up leaking out before next Wednesday, we'll all have to wait and see what kind of potential new product the now Lenovo-owned manufacturer might have up its collective sleeves.








Samsung Galaxy Round sequel could soon show off its curves

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
Samsung Galaxy Round sequel could soon show off its curves

With Mobile World Congress (MWC) just around the bend, tipsters are beginning to shed light on exactly what smartphone giants like Samsung might have up their sleeve in Barcelona.

PhoneArena today reported that Samsung appears to be working on a new high-end smartphone bearing the model number SM-G930, a device that could be a follow-up to the company's curvy Galaxy Round.

The report came to this conclusion with a bit of deduction, noting that the rumored Samsung Galaxy S6 appears to bear the model number SM-G920, while all evidence suggests the Galaxy S6 Edge variant adds five digits to arrive at the model number SM-G925.

Samsung's Galaxy Round, by comparison, sported the model number SM-G910, a number exactly 10 digits higher than last year's Galaxy S5 (SM-G900), which gives us some idea of where a potential sequel might fall in the lineup.

Look at those curves

A successor to the Samsung Galaxy Round would be noteworthy, given that the original device curves from the side edges, rather than from top to bottom like the competing LG G Flex 2.

Presumably, Samsung would take the same approach with the mysterious SM-G930, positioning it as a curved, high-end alternative to the Galaxy S6 we're all expecting to soon make its debut.

Of course, the Korean manufacturer could surprise everyone by bestowing another Galaxy S6 variant onto this rumored SM-G930 handset, but the reporter seems pretty confident we're looking at a Galaxy Round sequel instead.

MWC 2015 is less than a week and a half away, so the good news is, we may not have to wait all that much longer to find out.

(Source: @upleaks)








Google’s Inbox cozies up to iPads, Safari and Firefox

Posted on by JR Bookwalter
Google's Inbox cozies up to iPads, Safari and Firefox

Many folks are still scratching their heads wondering why Google felt the need to create an entirely separate Gmail client for mobile devices late last year, but few could argue the search giant is moving quickly to improve that product.

The Official Gmail Blog today announced a couple of big enhancements for its fledging Inbox by Gmail app, which debuted back in late October on iPhone and Android smartphones.

Billed as "a completely different type of inbox," Inbox by Gmail offers a completely different approach to managing email than Google's native Gmail client, using features such as Bundles, Highlights and Reminders to help prioritize busy inboxes.

There was just one problem: Inbox by Gmail was limited to smartphones and Chrome web browsers, at least until now.

Now in more places

With a free update to the mobile app now available from Apple's App Store or Google Play, tablet owners can now see what all the hype is about, now that the Inbox by Gmail app works natively with the iPad and a wide range of Android-based slates.

Perhaps more importantly, Google has lifted its self-imposed restriction that limited Inbox to its own Chrome web browser, and Safari and Firefox users also now get a taste of a whole new Gmail experience.

One thing unfortunately hasn't changed: Google is still limiting Inbox by Gmail access to users with an invite, although the company has gone out of its way to make sure everyone who wants one can do so, offering extra invites to existing users that can be shared with friends.

Those without already connected friends (or possibly lacking friends of any kind) can instead send an email the old-fashioned way to [email protected] and politely request to be added to the invite list.