Android

A couple of previously rumored Samsung devices have been spotted in an app update over in he Google Play Store, while a third new phone -- the Galaxy S4 Mega -- makes its debut in the rumor mill.

The current Android titans — that’s how the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One are referred to these days. They’re Samsung’s and HTC’s most powerful offerings to the high-end Android market, and the two phones bring with them not just processing might or camera power, but also display prowess. Both 1080p Full HD phones, the S4 and the One can be expected to deliver rich details, amazing color, and overall visual pleasure on their respective screens. However, at the end of the day, what will most likely sway you will not be what technical experts say but what your very own eyes tell you when they see the awesome display on either phone. And, I’m telling you right now that whichever of these two phones you choose, you’ll find very few reasons — if at all — for disappointment over its display. I’m not saying that the two phones are equals in terms of display power. They aren’t. One simply has an edge over the other in certain aspects in the display department. In this comparison of the Galaxy S4 vs HTC One displays, we take a closer look at the display on both phones and find out which one seems better, how, and in what area. (For a video version of this comparison, jump ahead to the end of this post.) Display Specs Galaxy S4 HTC Screen size 5.0 inches 4.7 inches Screen resolution 1080×1920 1080×1920 Screen technology Full HD Super AMOLED IPS Super LCD 3 Pixel density 441 ppi 469 ppi Pixel Arrangement PenTile RGBG matrix RGB matrix Screen protection Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Corning Gorilla Glass 2 The HTC One packs all its Full HD glory inside a smaller screen (0.3 inches smaller than the Galaxy S4′s), resulting in higher pixel density, which technically makes the HTC One’s display sharper and crisper. The two phones also differ in screen technology: Full HD Super AMOLED on the Galaxy S4 and Super LCD 3 on the HTC One. Samsung’s Super AMOLED screens have been quite known for bright, vibrant, and saturated colors, while Super LCD 3 screens are known for realistic colors and overall brighter display. For protective cover, the Galaxy S4 uses Corning Gorilla Glass 3 while the HTC One uses Corning Gorilla Glass 2. According to Corning, Gorilla Glass 3 has Native Damage Resistance, which makes it more damage-resistant than its former glass components and up to three times damage-resistant than Gorilla Glass 2. Though scratch-resistant, both phones aren’t shatter-proof. See our drop tests for both HTC One and Galaxy S4 for more info. Matrices: PenTile RGBG vs RGB The HTC One’s display uses the RGB (red-green-blue) matrix, a pixel arrangement in which each pixel consists of three subpixels — one each for red, blue, and green. Here’s how the HTC One’s RGB matrix looks like up close: RGB matrix on the HTC One (image credit: AnandTech) In contrast, the Galaxy S4 stayed with the PenTile RGBG (red-green-blue-green) matrix, which the Galaxy S3 also used. In this pixel arrangement, a picture element consists only of two subpixels (either red and green together, or blue and green together). Since the two subpixels need a third one to form the trinity of primary colors, they do so by borrowing the appropriately colored subpixel from a neighboring pixel. According to DisplayMate Technologies’ Raymond Soneira, screens using such pixel arrangement reportedly are easier to make, cost less, appear brighter, and “reduce aging effects.” On the Galaxy S3, the PenTile RGBG matrix looks like this: PenTile RGBG matrix on the Galaxy S3 (image credit: AnandTech) But, on the Galaxy S4, the subpixel shapes and layout have changed : PenTile RGBG matrix on the Galaxy S4 (source: Samsung via DisplayMate Technologies) Soneira explains that, to pack the most number of subpixels and reach the highest possible density (ppi), Samsung used Diamond Pixels — for red and blue, in particular — the shape of which

Credit: Yonhap LG announced it would showcase a 5-inch OLED flexible screen at SID this week, along with the world’s first full HD 7-inch LCD display. There’s a serious rivalry going on in Korea over the leadership in the booming OLED business. While Samsung, through its daughter company Samsung Display, makes a vast majority of the OLED displays sold today, LG Display is coming hard from behind and makes its own claims of industry leadership. LG has recently launched the world’s first curved OLED TVs, and is said to be working to deliver the first mass produced flexible OLED screens ahead of its crosstown rival, Samsung. But up until now, only Samsung has demoed working flexible OLED displays, branded Youm, and even some neat prototypes based on Youm, like those shown on stage at CES in January. LG Display is about to introduce its first flexible panel at the Society for Information Display’s (SID) Display Week trade show in Vancouver. Visitors to the event will get to see a 5-inch OLED flexible screen, apparently mounted on a smartphone that is due for release later this year. LG’s official press release doesn’t offer, however, any details on this device or on the flexible panel. Along with the new OLED bendable display, LG announced a couple of noteworthy developments in LCD technology as well. The Korean company will show a 5-inch panel based on the Oxide TFT technology with a bezel that is just one millimeter wide, allowing for the manufacturing of virtually borderless phones. Also, LG teased an upcoming 7-inch tablet with Full HD resolution and over 300ppi pixel density, which would be a world first. Product demoes and prototypes are exciting, but what we really want are commercial products coming to the market. When should we expect them? Rumor has it that LG might actually beat Samsung to market with a flexible OLED device this year. As for the new 5-inch and 7-inch LCD panels, we hope we’ll see them in products by the end of 2013. LG Display Introduces Next Generation Display Technology at SID 2013 Curved 55-inch OLED TV and 5-inch plastic OLED panels on exhibit Seoul, Korea (May 20, 2013) – LG Display [NYSE: LPL, KRX: 034220], a leading innovator of display technologies, will showcase the latest TV, mobile, and other products representing the future of display technology at the Society for Information Display’s (SID) Display Week 2013. Underscoring its leadership in OLED technology, the company will introduce both a curved 55-inch OLED TV and a 5-inch plastic OLED panel. Also exhibited will be mobile panels applied with Oxide Thin Film Transistor (TFT) which is viewed as the next generation TFT technology. “Recent trends indicate that the small- and medium-sized display market is moving towards high resolution and low power consumption, and the large panel market to OLED and Ultra HD,” said Dr. Sang-Deok Yeo, CTO and Executive Vice President of LG Display. “With the resulting rapid need for new display advancements, LG Display, at the forefront of these trends, is well positioned to lead the market with its differentiated and cutting-edge technologies.” Industry Leadership in OLED LG Display will demonstrate its industry leadership in OLED technology by showcasing a curved 55-inch OLED TV, as well as its award-winning standard 55-inch OLED TV at SID 2013. Based on the same WRGB OLED technology as the standard set, now widely adopted as the most effective OLED application for large-sized panels, the new curved 55-inch OLED TV offers a glimpse into the future of TV design. In addition, for the first time to the public, the company will unveil an unbreakable and flexible 5- inch plastic OLED panel for mobile devices. The development comes at a crucial time when smart devices are being used more than ever and at increased risk for damage from drops, hits, and other accidents. Next Generation TFT LCD Method LG Display will also introduce 5-inch and 7-inch HD LCD panels based on Oxide TFT,

New Samsung handsets outed in changelog for WatchON TV application Rumors have been circulating for a few weeks that Samsung is working on a "Galaxy S4 Mini," as well as a ruggedized version of its current flagship device. Today an app changelog entry for the Galaxy S4's pre-loaded TV app could indicate that both are on the way, along with another device known as the "S4 Mega." The shot above, sent our way by tipster Paul, shows that the recent 5.0.4 update for Samsung WatchON adds "support for [the] upcoming S4 Mega, S4 mini and S4 Active." The changelog has since been updated to remove the reference, suggesting that someone let the cat out of the bag a little early. The S4 Mini name has been rumored for some time, and the device is refers to extensively leaked. The S4 Active name would seem to refer to the rumored "waterproof" S4 variant. But the S4 Mega is a bit more of a mystery -- could the existing Galaxy Mega have been renamed? Or might this be a different large-screened S4 variant. Whatever the case, the fact that WatchON has been updated with support for all three devices suggests that they'll likely include the S4's TV-controlling capabilities. We'll have to wait and see if and when the Galaxy S4 Active, Mini and Mega emerge. Whatever form these handsets take, Samsung looks set to fully capitalize on the halo effect created by its high-profile Galaxy S4 launch. Thanks to Paul for tipping us the image above through the new Android Central app!

HTC flagship comes to Japan with oft-requested removable storage HTC and Japanese carrier KDDI have announced the HTC J One -- a new variant of the HTC One designed fro the Japanese market. The J One packs much the same internal hardware as its international cousin, but with the addition of a microSD slot, allowing storage to be expanded by up to 64 gigabytes. The HTC J One also supports FeliCa NFC-based wireless payments and 1Seg digital terrestrial TV broadcasts. (There's a new opaque area below the camera lens which may be part of the internal hardware for one of these two features.) HTC's also debuting some new accessories alongside the J One. There's a hard shell cover with kickstand, and the HTC J One Mini -- a version of the HTC Mini handset already released in China, or a "phone for your phone," if you prefer. This isn't the first localized HTC One we've seen with removable storage. Last month a Chinese variant of the phone appeared with a removable back cover, microSD support and dual-SIM capabilities. It isn't clear whether the J One will incorporate a similar removable back, but as HTC's already manufacturing this kind of device for China, we'd bet that's probably what's going on here. The HTC J One is due to go on sale in Japan from early June. Source: KDDI via Engadget, YouTube, HTC read more

Lock screen widgets, re-vamped settings, driving mode and more Samsung has a track record of bringing key software features to older phones with major firmware upgrades, and it seems last year's Galaxy S3 is about to see such an update along with Android 4.2.2. Leaked firmware obtained by SamMobile brings the international Galaxy S3 -- the quad-core Exynos-powered GT-i9300 -- up to Android 4.2.2, and adds many features previously reserved for the Galaxy S4. New features include a familiar array of lock screen widgets and unlock effects, new display modes, a re-tooled quick settings area in the notification pull-down, a new driving mode and an updated version of the S Voice assistant app. Some of the headline Galaxy S4 features like air view aren't included, though that's because they're dependent on the S4's hardware. SamMobile has published the new -- and very much pre-release -- firmware version I9300XXUFME3 online, and it comes with all the usual warnings associated with using unfinished software on your phone. In addition, it'll increase your binary counter (the difficult-to-reset counter telling you how many unofficial ROMs you've installed) by one, even though it's marked as an official Samsung firmware. If you want to live dangerously, you can find the download and installation details over at the source link. If not, you'll find video after the break. Source: SamMobile read more

Via: The Verge British mountaineer Daniel Hughes and HTC One just secured their own footnote in the history of mountain climbing with the first video call made from a smartphone on top of Mount Everest. Hughes has used the HTC One together with Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network service (a satellite Internet service), to talk live to BBC News from the peak of the highest mountain in the world. The image and sound quality came out pretty good, considering the conditions, as you can see in the video below. Note that the low resolution and stuttering were likely caused by the limited bandwidth and big latency that is typical to satellite connections. The most impressive moment of the call is, probably, when Daniel shows everyone the view at his current location, which is absolutely incredible. The HTC One is an integral part of Daniel Hughes’ kit (HTC is also the lead sponsor for Hughes’ adventure), as he’s trying to achieve his dream of putting a red nose on top of Mount Everest. The ultimate goal is to raise £1 million for charity Comic Relief, which fights poverty and social injustice around the world. Currently, Daniel Hughes’ efforts have only raised a little over £40,000, but hopefully his luck will turn. While the HTC One may have been keyed, knifed, and hammered in the past, this stunt most certainly takes things to a whole new level and helps Android climb even more (literally).

About a month ago, we covered a preview for the game Quadropus Rampage, a new game from Butterscotch Shenanigans. In the month since then, the game has entered the Beta stage and quite a few things have changed in the game, so we’ll go through a few of those things now. The menus have been completely revamped in appearance and functions. Most notable is the addition of the Library and the Shop; the Library is a… library for all the items you pick up and tells you what each one does. Kind of like a Pokedex. Anyone? The Shop is the other new inclusion which will allow you to purchase orbs or doubloons, which are the two primary currency items in Quadropus. Orbs are generally used for purchasing upgrades and in-game items, and doubloons are mostly used for resurrecting your octopus friend, Tak, when you inevitably die. The other menu items like Masteries and  Upgrades have been streamlined and in the case of Upgrades, two extra upgradable skills have been added: Bubble and Bingo. Bubble is a new shield ability which we’ll have a look at later and Bingo is your dog. Speaking of your dog, this version of Quadropus has included a story for the game, and while the intrudes very little on each run you’ll have through the depths, it does give some premise to all the meaningless destruction. We won’t spoil any of the story here, but your dog, Bingo, will now accompany you through the ‘deep blue’, giving you some support fighting the masses of unruly enemies. Combat-wise, the game still retains the core mechanic of just smashing things. The only variation in this area is the inclusion of a new blocking action, the aforementioned Bubble. The Dash feature has also be altered slightly to not require ink as a fuel source. This has necessitated a bit of a control scheme shuffle as the Dash button now intrudes on the space that was previously dominated by the Attack button. As long as you aren’t a dope like me, you won’t accidently press Dash instead of Attack, but the risk is always there. There has also been the inclusion of several mechanics that will help aid (or hinder) your progress into the depths. The first are the treasure chests that you are rewarded with if you clear that depth, giving you a nice cache of orbs and health; this addition has also required that you cannot progress down a depth unless you kill all your enemies on that depth, or fall off the ledge to the next depth. The risk is up to you. The second mechanic added is Grubby the Merchant, who will bring you either weapons or items that will cost a pretty orb penny, but will usually be a great addition to your arsenal. The levels themselves have been touched up and now they look properly beautiful as well as all the different character models. Butterscotch has also added some menu options which will make Towelfight veterans happy; the damage markers from those games have been included as an option in all their non-sensical glory. All-in-all, all the tweaking and changes to Quadropus Rampage from the alpha have made it into an even more addictive and frantic game and I’m sure it will occupy quite a lot of my own free time once it is released. Have a look at the Progress Preview video below to get a brief walkthrough of what’s changed and snippets of that glorious gameplay: Quadropus Rampage is expected to release June 6th for Android devices, so keep your eyes and octopus ears open for news when we get it. Game: Quadropus Rampage Developer: Butterscotch Shenanigans Release Date: 6th June 2013

Some people mistakenly think that all Android phones that come out of China are white-label devices with no support and no hope of future upgrades. That is true of some phones, but not all. China has several popular international brands including ZTE, Huawei and Lenovo. ThL is another brand that is popular in China where it has over 340 stores across the country. Its phones are also for sale internationally from places like Chinavasion. The ThL W100 is its latest smartphone and it was launched only this week. Not only does this phone have a 4.5 inch IPS display, sport a quad-core Cortex A7 based processor, include an 8MP rear camera along with an amazing 5MP front-facing camera, it only costs $169! That makes it the first branded quad-core Android smartphone to be offered internationally for less than $200. Hardware At the heart of the W100 is the MTK6589, a quad-core A7 processor designed for low power but yet quad-core performance. A7 cores are becoming increasingly popular and are starting to replace the Cortex A9 cores that were popular in dual-core phones. By using the A7 core the MTK6589 is able to reduce its energy needs, but at the same time offer quad-core performance. Here are the full specs of the ThL W100: 4.5 inch, 960 x 540, 5 point multi-touch IPS display Android 4.2 1.2GHz MTK6589 quad-core CPU PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU 8MP Rear Camera + 5MP Front-Facing Camera RAM: 1GB Dual-SIM 3G: WCDMA: 850/2100MHz 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n GPS Bluetooth Full support for Google Play Micro SD Card Slot Proximity Sensor Accelerometer Sensor Light Sensor Magnetic Field Sensor The device is 134 mm long, 70 mm wide and 9 mm thick which is reasonable considering the 4.5 inch display. However the phone is amazingly light. It weighs just 102 grams and when I first picked it up I thought I had forgotten to put the battery in! Much of this lightness is achieved by using lots of plastic, so no aluminum uni-body designs here, but still it is pleasure to hold. The phone only comes with 4GB of internal storage that is divided into 1GB phone storage and 3GB external storage. This can be a problem for larger apps or games as they simply won’t fit into the 1GB of phone storage. However the good news is that a microSD card can be added and in the settings the microSD card can be set as the default write location. This helps keep the price down but doesn’t leave the user frustrated with no hope of expanding the storage. Although the resolution of the screen is “only” 960 x 540 the display is remarkably high quality. The IPS screen has excellent viewing angles, the colors are vibrant and when on full brightness the screen doesn’t look washed-out.  Below is a photo comparing the same image on a HTC One S, a Nexus 7 and the ThL W100. Although the HTC One S offers deeper coloring, I think the W100 is actually the best of the three displays (in terms of color at least). Connectivity The phone has all the standard connectivity options like Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth, 2G GSM and 3G. It doesn’t have NFC nor does it support LTE but for only $169 that isn’t a problem! There are two SIM card slots both of which can be used for normal GSM services and messaging but only one of which can be used for 3G. It doesn’t matter which slot is used for 3G as everything is configurable via the settings. Which SIM is used by default to make calls, which SIM is the default for SMS and which SIM should be used for 3G can all be set accordingly. Both slots are unlocked and will work with any SIM card, contract free. For 3G the phone only supports 850 and 2100MHz.  The latter number is the “normal” 3G frequency and should work in most places around the world, however a lot of carriers also use a secondary 3G spectrum range. In Asia this tends to be 850MHz, as supported by the W100, while in Europe it tends to be 900MHz. I tested the 3G slot with a local carrier which uses 2100MHz and 900MHz netwo

SamMobile was nice enough to unleash some Android 4.2.2 for the Galaxy S III  a little bit ago. Seems that the build is still in its testing phase, and the actual update will be rolled out in June. I know a lot of you have been anxious for this, so here we go. New enhancements in Android 4.2.2 update - Android 4.2.2 – Build ID: JDQ39 - New S4 Lockscreen: Multiple Widgets, two Unlock effects (Ripple and Light), improved ripple effect than Android 4.1.2, ability to change clock size and set a personal message - New Screen modes (From S4): Adapt Display and Professional Photo - Daydream - Driving mode - Actionable notifications - New Additions in Notification Center - Completely revamped Settings UI (Tabbed interface – Exactly like the S4) - Addition of Voice controls (Let’s you control various parts of the phone using voice commands – Galaxy S4 feature) - Gallery modes have white background (When changing gallery modes to 3D the background changes to white) - Full screen Samsung apps - New S-Voice (from S4) - New smart switch widget - Found more? Tell us about them in the comments below! WARNINGS - This firmware will increase your binary counter but the current binary and system status will remain official. - We have re-packaged this firmware from dump files. - There is no modem in this firmware, so the Modem you will be using before flashing this firmware will remain the same. - This is a pre-release firmware and not official from Samsung. - We have fully tested this firmware and this firmware works perfectly as any other official firmware. So if you want to try Android 4.2.2 on your Galaxy S III, hit the download links, and follow the directions carefully. Let us know how it is. Flashing Instructions - Unzip the file - Open Odin 3.04 (already included in the firmware package) - Restart phone in download mode (Press and hold Home + Power + Volume down buttons) - Connect phone and wait until you get a blue sign in Odin - Add I9300XXUFME3_I9300OJKFME1_HOME.tar.md5 to PDA - Make sure re-partition is NOT ticked - Start flash, sit back and wait a few minutes. - If you encounter any issues with the firmware (Any FC, Bootloop etc) - Boot into recovery mode (Home+power+vol up) - Choose to wipe/factory reset. (THIS WILL ERASE ALL OF YOUR DATA INCLUDING YOUR INTERNAL SD CARD!) - Then choose reboot and you should be good to go! Download: I9300XXUFME3_I9300OJKFME1_ILO.zip