Category Archives: Android

Thanks to my HTC One – news notoriety

Android, , ,

Just after 10.30pm on Monday 13th May 2013, a snow blizzard was in full swing in Princetown, Dartmoor. I discovered this when I went to walk one of my dogs. My next reaction was to pull my HTC One out of my pocket and snap in continuous mode 20 shots. I had a quick look at them, and agreed with the phone’s choice for the best shot of the 20. I quickly shared the photo via twitter.

There has been much discussion around the HTC One camera, it’s strengths and weaknesses, but one can’t deny that it’s super fast shutter speed enabled me to capture the snow as shown below.

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And that is why I like the camera on the HTC One. It always captures that moment. Sometimes the 4mp shooter lacks details on scenic far away shots but the fast shutter speed is a good compromise.

Following my tweet, little did I know that I would be contacted by Apex news agency, ITV news, BBC news, Channel 4 news and Channel 5 news. The photo has appeared in all of these channels and also in the Daily Mail online and the Metro. Photo taken from the Metro (thanks to Glenn for noticing this and taking the photo from the paper)

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I am also expecting the photo to appear in a number of national and local newspapers. Below are some of the online links. If you happen to see any other references can you please let me know.

BBC News

ITV News

Channel 4 News

Daily Mail

Funny thing is snow is not unusual at here on the Moors. In 2009 I opened my front door to over 4 foot drifts.

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And using the classic HTC HD2 I took this snow photo of the local church.

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Larry Page – Google’s Vision

Android, Tech News

At the end of keynote speech at Google’s Developer conference, Larry Page appeared on stage.

With his croaky groggy voice he managed to detail his vision. In fact the more he spoke, the more compelling he became. Larry outlined a vision of a world where technology is simply freeing us from remembering phone numbers, calendar reminders, or even being lost again. He added that he imagined a world where everyone has access to the latest in ideas and education. And where those who already have the access and the technical skills bear a responsibility to help spread the best technology has to offer to everyone else.

Larry Page started talking about himself, about every Google employee, the 6,000 in attendance at the conference and the 1 million people watching on YouTube. Just a shame it couldn’t stream smoothly. Larry Page continued as to how he wanted an army of tech-savvy people to help him transform, not just Silicon Valley, but every industry, from automobiles to healthcare, and every institution,from law to every type of industry.

I believe he was after world dominance, but selling it as a flowery vision. Larry Page also added how the world’s tech companies don’t share and end up leeching off each other. Ironically, after the speech, Google’s lawyers issued a cease and desist letter to Microsoft over their WP8 YouTube app.

Whatever your views on Google, it clearly is a company being spearheaded by a man with a vision. And that is a powerful one.

My only concern is that once Google become the master of their apps and services, will there be any competition left to compete with them. Are we moving to a monopolised tech world, and will this provide simplicity or make us into dumb humans who no longer think for themselves.

Google lays down the gauntlet

Android, Tech News

Google started their 3 day developer conference with a 3 hour keynote speech. What was clear was the message. Services and apps where the focus more than hardware. Hardware is the smartphone industry has sort of plateaued with very little change between models. But with apps and services you can dictate a user experience to one that keeps them using your platform over a competitors.

Yesterday and the day before I wrote about the announcements so if you want to read the headlines scroll back a few pages. But in a nutshell from maps, search, music, development of apps for different tablet sizes, notifications, game services, smart photo editing, messaging and so much more all got major improvements. And Google is using its Chrome web browser to offer these services too, so your platform of choice won’t hinder you from using these great products. And the the crazy Samsung S4 Developer edition with stock android was announced. Still can’t fathom that one out.

Whilst I wasn’t jumping off my seat in excitement, I was nonetheless very impressed. I really think Google is taking the lead in the mobile space and will have a cross platform Eco system to take on the might of Apple’s matured Eco system. Apple needs to respond next month. This is going to be a great year for software and services!

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 latest

Android, Tech News

After the S4 got released in a plastic finish, and the HTC One in metal, pressure was placed on Samsung to release the Note 3 in metal or something similar.

Well bad news, it will be made in a similar design to the S4. However, the bezel of the screen isn’t that thick like previous Note devices, it’s more like the S4. The Galaxy Note III should have an Octa-Core processor: Quad-core 1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 & Quad-Core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A7. 13 megapixel back camera, 2 megapixel front camera, latest version of Android, Samsung’s own TouchWiz and oa 5.99” Full HD AMOLED display.

Personally I didn’t mind the S4 look, but they’re is no denying the HTC One and now Nokia Lumia 925 look more premium.

Google I/O Developer Conference – update details part 2

Android, Tech News

Following on from my first update, below is the rest of the news from Google’s conference.

Google+ now gets a new look with cards, multi columns and hash tags. The home page for G+ now has up to 3 columns with individual cards for posts and pictures. It can intelligently learn the content of your posts and automatically add related hashtags as well. Columns appear or disappear depending upon the size of your screen, and cards can be flipped to reveal editing options, or moved . If you have the requisite screen real estate, pictures and videos expand to the width of the multiple columns.

Google+ launched Hangouts along with mobile apps. Hangouts replace Talk. The messaging service puts Android, Chrome, Gmail and iOS all on the same space, focusing the interface on conversations that carry from device to device with consistent notifications and shared photo pools. Contacts are still there, but they’re pushed to the side in the mobile view. Live group video is new, too, while text chats have watermarks to clarify who’s reading and typing. Hangouts is available today, including the new Android and iOS apps.

Google launched new photo editing tools: Auto Enhance and Highlights. Auto Enhance allows you to do adjust exposure, soften skin, minimize wrinkles, remove red-eye and reduce noise in low-light shots. Additionally, there is settings for collage, HDR, panorama, smile and motion. Motion creates a GIF when it detects a series of shots taken at the same place and time. Neat. Highlights, automatically selects your best photos and forgetting your not so decent shots.

Google Now includes reminders , transit and music options.

Google conversational search arrives on the desktop via chrome.

Google Maps redesigned with clearer design ,offers, ratings , improved search, a tablet UI and new apps coming for iOS and android.

Google Wallet will soon allow payments via a Gmail attachment.

Google asks Microsoft to remove its YouTube app with a cease and desist letter

Android, Tech News, Windows,

The YouTube app has just arrived on the Windows Phone 8 but it’s arrival may be short lived. Google has requested that Microsoft remove the app from it Windows Phone Store, and that it disables installations on its devices and immediately. This is due to the fact that no ads are shown and videos can be downloaded. This is against Google’s TOS. The deadline provided to Microsoft to comply is 22nd May.

Google I/O Developer Event -the key updates so far

Android, Tech News

A snap shot of the new developments from Google’s Developer conference.

900 million android activations and 48 billion app installs so far.

Google Play Services to integrate gaming services across all platforms including iOS and the web using your Google+ sign in. This will be used for real-time multiplayer, leaderboards, cloud saves and achievements.

Google Cloud Messaging part of Google Play Services. This will include persistent connections, which push out messages quickly, upstream messaging for sending data from your app to developers servers and synced notifications across devices. This means that if you dismiss an alert on your phone, it will similarly hit the get killed on your tablet. Neat.

New Maps and Location API’s for geofencing capabilities and low power location services.

Google introduces Android Studio an IDE to make building apps easier.

Google Play All Access. This is its answer to Spotify. All Access will come in both free (ad-supported) and paid flavors. A subscription costs $9.99 a month in the US, and all users will get a 30-day free trial. The service is live today only in the US at the moment. If you sign up before June 30th, you’ll get $2 off the monthly fee.

Google Play store gets redesign and a separate section for tablet apps. Finally.

Unbelievably Google announced a stock android Samsung Galaxy S4 unlocked, unlocked boot loader. But $649. Ouch. It does have LTE , 16gb and a memory card. But no Samsung tweaks.

Google releases Check Out. A one button approach to shopping.

Google launches Play for Education. This is a portal for apps and books.

More updates as they arrive later.

TONIGHT – BBC Watchdog Consumer Programme features the Samsung S4

Android, Tech News,

Don’t forget to tune in to the BBC 1 Watchdog consumer programme at 8pm.

This week Anne Robinson is taking aim at the Samsung S4 and what Samsung forgot to tell us about its 16gb phone.

I hope this forces Samsung’s hand to announce the availability of the 32/64gb versions at a sensible cost, direct from their website.

If you do decide to opt for the 32gb model, the available memory is around 23gb.

The Samsung S4 memory saga and the Advertising Standards Agency

Android, Tech News

I contacted the ASA regarding the Samsung S4 and the lack of memory with the 16gb, the changes in how memory is managed now by using internal memory only for apps and games, and the lack of the 32gb or 64gb models. This is the response.

“Dear Mr Fabiani-Laymond

Thank you for contacting us about an entry on the Samsung UK website.

You raised two points: the availability of the higher memory Galaxy S4 models and also that the ad did not clarify that not all of the 16GB would be available for customers to use.

In relation to the latter point, I’m afraid we have decided not to pursue this aspect of your complaint. We understand that it is standard industry practice for manufacturers of electronic devices to advertise their product in this way. It reflects the actual size of the product memory and in the case of the Samsung UK website, the type of content that can be incorporated is clarified. It’s always difficult to evaluate cases such as this, because each user will have differing requirements and we must look at the content of ads as a whole to ascertain whether they are likely to mislead consumers about the product’s capability. In this example, we don’t believe that to be the case.

On your first point, we put your concern about the availability of the higher memory Galaxy S4 models to Samsung. They explained that Samsung UK sells the Galaxy S4 to retailers and mobile networks, which in turn sell them to consumers. The retailers and mobile networks are able to order any version of the Galaxy S4 (e.g. 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB). However, they said to date, the only version of the Galaxy S4 ordered by the retailers and mobile networks in the UK has been the 16GB version. This is primarily due to the huge demand for the 16GB version.

They did say that consumers may be able to order the 32GB and 64GB from retailers based elsewhere in Europe, and retailers and mobile networks in the UK may order the 32GB and 64GB from Samsung UK if there is consumer demand, so they had included reference to the 32GB and 64GB versions to clarify that those models did exist. However, in order to avoid confusion, they have decided to remove reference to the 32GB and 64GB Galaxy S4 devices until a retailer or mobile network orders them. Having checked the website today, I notice that the amendment has been made.

Given Samsung’s response, we won’t take matters further this time. We would like to thank you, however, for raising your concerns with us. If you would like more information about our work, please visit http://www.asa.org.uk.”

The response is disappointing and weak in my view. All Samsung had had to do is amend their website and now everything is fine. In addition it is apparently ok to mislead consumers with memory claims as well.

Update:

I have challenged the ASA with regards to the memory claims and now am waiting for a further response.

BBM arriving this summer on iOS and Android

Android, Apple, RIM, Tech News

Finally BBM is coming to iOS and android in the summer. This might be the turning point for the company. The official news release is as follows –

WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – May 14, 2013) – BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: BBRY)(TSX: BB) today announced plans to make its ground-breaking mobile social network, BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), available to iOS® and Android™ users this summer, with support planned for iOS6, and Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher, all subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play. BBM sets the standard for mobile instant messaging with a fast, reliable, engaging experience that includes delivered and read statuses, and personalized profiles and avatars. Upon release, BBM customers would be able to broaden their connections to include friends, family and colleagues on other mobile platforms.

In the planned initial release, iOS and Android users would be able to experience the immediacy of BBM chats, including multi-person chats, as well as the ability to share photos and voice notes, and engage in BBM Groups, which allows BBM customers to create groups of up to 30 people.

“For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are inseparable from the mobile experience, and the time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service. BBM has always been one of the most engaging services for BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily connect while maintaining a valued level of personal privacy. We’re excited to offer iOS and Android users the possibility to join the BBM community,” said Andrew Bocking, Executive Vice President, Software Product Management and Ecosystem, at BlackBerry.

BBM is loved by customers for its “D” and “R” statuses, which show up in chats to let people know with certainty that their message has been delivered and read. It provides customers with a high level of control and privacy over who they add to their contact list and how they engage with them, as invites are two-way opt-in. iOS and Android users would be able to add their contacts through PIN, email, SMS or QR code scan, regardless of platform. Android users would also be able to connect using a compatible NFC-capable device.

BBM has more than 60 million monthly active customers, with more than 51 million people using BBM an average of 90 minutes per day. BBM customers collectively send and receive more than 10 billion messages each day, nearly twice as many messages per user per day as compared to other mobile messaging apps. Almost half of BBM messages are read within 20 seconds of being received; indicating how truly engaged BBM customers are.

Today, BlackBerry also announced BBM Channels, a new social engagement platform within BBM that will allow customers to connect with the businesses, brands, celebrities and groups they are passionate about. BlackBerry plans to add support for BBM Channels as well as voice and video chatting for iOS and Android later this year, subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play.

If approved by Apple and Google, the BBM app will be available as a free download in the Apple® App Store(SM) and Google Play store. Additional details about system requirements and availability will be announced closer to the launch.