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Author Archive: Gareth
Seasoned tech blogger. Host of the Tech Addicts podcast.
Google officially announced their new Google Play Store update. The new version 4.0.25 update is designed to be more colourful and easier to use with larger text and a cleaner interface. The new changes work on both phones and tablets providing an easier to use experience. Google is taking a Card-like approach, just like the with Google Now. Here’s a quote with Google’s statement from their blog,
Quote:
Whether you’re in the mood to listen to Justin Timberlake’s new album, read Harlan Coben’s latest bestseller or discover a new game to play, you want the experience of finding and making your purchase to be quick and easy. Today we’ve started rolling out a redesigned Google Play store on Android phones and tablets that is simple, clean and – most importantly – helps you find great entertainment, fast.
The new design focuses on bigger images that jump off the page. Similarly themed content is grouped together so you can hone in on a magazine to read or an app to try. As you move down the page, new recommendations continue to appear so there is always more to see and explore. We’ve also simplified purchasing so you can breeze through checkout and get to enjoying your movie rental or other content.
The redesigned Google Play store app starts rolling out today for Android phones and tablets running Android 2.2 (Froyo) and above. People around the world should see it over the next few weeks. Get ready for a simpler Google Play.
A little Googleing for the Play apk will allow you to try it out before it’s release.
Posted by: Gareth
Rumour has it the next generation of Nexus 7 would still be from Asus and would likely come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor instead of the current NVIDIA Tegra processor. A new report from Reuters confirms a lot of the speculation. According to their sources, the new Nexus 7 will again be made by Asus and will launch in July of this year. Furthermore, the new tablet will be coming with the Qualcomm Snapdragon instead of NVIDIA tech. Here’s a quote with more info,
Quote:
The latest version will have a higher screen resolution, a thinner bezel design and adopt Qualcomm’s chip in place of Nvidia Corp’s Tegra 3, which was used in the first Nexus 7s released last year, the sources said, declining to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media.
In a blow to Nvidia, Google weighed both U.S. chipmakers’ processors but finally decided on Qualcomm’s for power reasons, one of the sources added.
If this report turns out to be accurate, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise. NVIDIA is great at making powerful processors and GPUs but Qualcomm is just flat out better at building a more power efficient product right now. Additionally, there is speculation Google is planning a price drop for the tablet to just £149.99(ish). Right now their pricing plans are in flux and they may stick with their current plan, but if there is a price drop it will likely be an attempt to increase sales of the Nexus 7 to put even more market pressure on Amazon and Apple. Here’s another quote with more of the details:
Folks who own the newer versions of Amazon Kindle Fire products will be happy to know that some software updates have started pushing out OTA. The 2nd Generation Kindle Fire and the Kindle Fire HD 7-inch & 8.9-inch devices are all getting the updates. Here’s a quote with more of the details,
Quote:
For each device, the update provides enhancements for viewing textbooks, with the 2nd generation Fire and the Fire HD 7" getting "X-Ray for Textbooks". This feature allows users to access the most important terms and concepts, with glossary definitions and links to relevant pages within books.
The update also provides enhancements for print replica textbooks across each device. Thumbnails of each page are now available at the bottom of the screen, and you can make notes and highlights in your books, as well as jump from one chapter to another.
Other improvements include "Time To Read", which calculates how much longer you have left until completing a book based on your reading speed, and each device can now read books with audio and video clips, too.
The update will be downloaded to devices automatically, but if you want to force the update to happen more quickly, you can initiate it from your Kindle and get it straight away.
These are great new features that Amazon added to their product line-up. It’s great to see the company continuing to support their device by making it do new and useful things.
Posted by: Gareth
According to unconfirmed insider sources, a slew of Samsung devices will be getting the upgrade to Google’s Android 5.0/Key Lime Pie, and several won’t. Google’s next Android 5.0 is expected to launch at Google I/O in May, and Samsung is supposedly already working on a list of devices they plan to upgrade. We will share the list below, but a rumour and could easily be subject to change without notice.
Android 5.0 is expected to come to:
- GT-I9300 – Samsung Galaxy S III
- GT-I9305 – Samsung Galaxy S III LTE
- GT-I9500 – Samsung Galaxy S 4
- GT-I9505 – Samsung Galaxy S 4 LTE
- GT-N5100 – Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
- GT-N5105 – Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 LTE
- GT-N5110 – Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Wi-Fi
- GT-N7100 – Samsung Galaxy Note II
- GT-N7105 – Samsung Galaxy Note II LTE
- GT-N8000 – Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
- GT-N8005 – Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE
- GT-N8010 – Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Wi-Fi
The following devices will likely not get updated past Android 4.2.2
- GT-I9080 – Samsung Galaxy Grand
- GT-I9082 – Samsung Galaxy Grand DUOS
- GT-I8160 – Samsung Galaxy Ace 2
- GT-I8190 – Samsung Galaxy S III mini
- GT-I8350 – Samsung Galaxy Beam
- GT-I8730 – Samsung Galaxy Express
- GT-I9070 – Samsung Galaxy S Advance
- GT-I9100 – Samsung Galaxy S II
- GT-I9105 – Samsung Galaxy S II Plus
- GT-I9260 – Samsung Galaxy Premier
- GT-N7000 – Samsung Galaxy Note
- GT-S6310 – Samsung Galaxy Young
- GT-S6312 – Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS
- GT-S6810 – Samsung Galaxy Fame
- GT-S7710 – Samsung Galaxy X Cover 2
Posted by: Gareth
Asus is supposedly working on a couple of intriguing new devices that will hit this summer. The first is an Intel-powered smartphone that supposedly will be using the Atom Z2580 processor, with two cores running at up to 2GHz. This is the same chip that is in the new Lenovo K900 smartphone. This new device is supposed to include a 5 to 5.5 inch display and is likely for emerging markets in China, (although it is possible we will see it elsewhere internationally). The earliest it will launch will be in June.
The second new device from Asus is actually a newly updated and improved Nexus 7 tablet. It is expected to launch in May, which coincides Google I/O happening that month. No real details were given about this new Nexus 7 other than it will have enhanced internals and will probably sell for around a similar price to that we saw the Nexus 7 launch at before. Here’s a quote with the details:
In addition to its entry-level Fonepad, Asustek Computer is set to launch a new smartphone featuring Intel Atom Z2580 processor (Clover Trail+), targeting the mainstream market segment in June at the earliest, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.
The smartphone is expected to adopt a 5- to 5.5-inch display, similar to that of Lenovo’s K900 smartphone, which also uses the Atom Z2580 and will be available in China in April, the sources said.
Meanwhile, Asustek’s second-generation Nexus 7 is expected to appear in May with enhanced specifications and a price of US$249 to challenge its 7- to 8-inch competitors including the Apple iPad mini, the sources added.
Posted by: Gareth
There is a larger majority of people out there who believe that the iPad is the be all and end all of tablets. Some who would never entertain the idea of looking elsewhere. There are more and more choices out there, and perhaps the history of Android tablets doesn’t paint an inviting ecosystem. Samsung’s latest tablet campaign looks set to dispel the idea that their Android tablets are cheap and nasty alternatives. Samsung’s ad literature highlights the primary differences between their upcoming Galaxy Note 8.0 Tablet and the iPad Mini.
Here are a series of pics from Samsung detailing 6 reasons why their product might be the better choice. Obviously the usefulness of some of these differences will be relative to each user. Also, since this comes straight from Samsung, it is obviously biased, but it could still prove useful to a customer.
It is with great sadness we are informing you that there will be a delay for the much anticipated 200th installment of The Mobile Tech Addicts podcast. Our decision to have a short hiatus is down to a number of things. Firstly, we want to make it a memorable occasion, injecting every resource we have to celebrate this milestone. Secondly, we had hoped to have a couple of special “features” in place for the show that didn’t quite come together in time. Thirdly, I, Gareth, am in the process of building an elaborate command centre for the show and this has suffered a couple of set backs. There is a fourth reason but it just seems like I’m making excuses. sorry.
We will, however, reconvene in the very near future and provide you with that injection of tech you so obviously crave.
Posted by: Gareth
When Asus gets motivated to go all out on a device, they throw everything but the kitchen sink at it, and yesterdays unveiling is a prime example of that. Asus officially announced the full specs, pricing and availability dates of their new Asus Transformer AiO. Here’s a full breakdown on this beastly device.
For the PC half of the device:
- 18.4-inch display with Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 pixels resolution – with 10-point touch
- Windows 8
- Intel Core i5-3350P processor
- Up to 8 GB of RAM
- 1 TB HDD
- GeForce GT 730M GPU
- SuperMulti DVD Drive there
- USB 3.0, HDMI, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and an SD card reader
For the Tablet Half: (Asus Eee Pad design aesthetics)
- 18.4-inch display with Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 pixels resolution – with 10-point touch
- Nvidia Tegra 3 processor
- 2 GB of RAM
- 32 GB of on-board storage
- A microSD support
- 1 MP front-facing cam
- 32 Whr battery capable of around 5 hours of continuous use
- Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
- 5.28 pounds by itself
Of course, a monster device like this does come with a monster price. It will hit retail outlets April 12th for $1299. Still, many AiO PCs sell for the same price, so ultimately the fact that you have a fairly powerful new PC that doubles as a dock for your multi-OS Android/Windows 8 tablet, is a pretty good deal overall.
Posted by: Gareth
Gareth and Dan get together to chat about Mobile World Congress 2013, the ups and downs, what it lacked and the highlights.
Featuring Gareth and Dan
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It’s Gareth and Dan this week with Dan speaking from the Barcelona based tech show. What can be expected from this years Mobile World Congress? Are there any surprises in store? The guys discuss!
Featuring Gareth and Dan
Direct Download
iTunes
Download the iPhone App
Download the Android App
RSS Feed
Google officially announced their new Google Play Store update. The new version 4.0.25 update is designed to be more colourful and easier to use with larger text and a cleaner interface. The new changes work on both phones and tablets providing an easier to use experience. Google is taking a Card-like approach, just like the with Google Now. Here’s a quote with Google’s statement from their blog,
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