In Other News: 05/03/2013

• The BBC have confirmed that they will be tweaking their mobile iPlayer website to allow Windows Phone users to make use of the catch up TV service! The user base obviously isn't big enough to convince the Beeb to offer a full app just yet, but for those of us with Windows Phones this is much better than nothing and it'll work on both Windows Phone 7.5 and Windows Phone 8 and as a LiveTile.
  BBC Via Engadget.

• LG of late might be known for some of their Android phones, but the main talking point on these devices has been about how similar they are to Samsung's Galaxy range of phones. In another copycat move LG have announced that Samsung's popular flip covers are being blatantly copied by their South Korean rivals. As you can see to the right, the cases are very similar indeed and there's also the wide range of colours which Samsung offer, with the addition of a purple hue this time too! We can't blame LG for utilising good ideas, but we just wish they'd do something unique!
  Via AndroidAuthority.

• Google have updated Google Maps for iOS to version 1.1 today! The update brings with it new options to save searches specifically for addresses of your contacts and you can now browse for food, coffee, drinks, gas, post offices, hotels, grocery stores, pharmacies, movie theaters, malls, hospitals, ATMs, and attractions. There's also a host of new places where the app is available now, mainly through the Middle East.
  Via Engadget.

• The White House has officially responded to the 100,000+ signatures who don't want their phones to be locked in the States and hurrah the government agrees with the people! R. David Edelman, a senior advisor for Internet, Innovation, & Privacy to the Obama said that 'consumers should be able to unlock their cell phones without risking criminal or other penalties'.
  Via Reuters.

• Virgin UK have confirmed that they are adding a 2Mbps cap to their contract and pay as you go customers. They said that, "We are currently trialling measures to help manage data across the mobile network to ensure all our customers can continue to enjoy the benefits of mobile data on the move".
  Via TheRegister.

• Facebook has added free voice call support to its Messenger app for Android. The option is only available in Canada for the moment, but this is exactly what happened with the iOS roll out, so the update should land in America in two weeks time!
  Via CNet.

And finally, this is the world's thinnest and smallest mobile phone! In a world where companies are offering us giant smartphones, the Japanese carrier Willcom is selling the Phone Strap 2 WX06A. It's a phone which is 32 x 70 x 10.7mm, and weighs a mere 32 grams. In such a compact shell you won't get everything a smartphone would offer, but there's a 1-inch colour display and you can get about two hours of talk time, or 12 days standby time from this phone. We know that's not very much battery life, but this is touted as a backup to your main phone, not a replacement. The device will only be available in Japan, but for all your other needs we point you to the Nokia 3410!
Via PhoneArena.

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13/12/2012: Google Maps for iOS and a plethora of other app updates, Jelly Bean for Verizon Galaxy S3's and much more!

Apps get updates: Everything from GMaps for iOS to iPlayer for Android!

   Everyone loves apps! We use them all the time on our phones and tablets and for whatever reason today has been a hot day for apps and app updates in particular! There's a few major ones to go through so hold tight!

Google Maps for iOS!

Google maps for iOS supports 2D, 3D and Street View(Credit: BBC). 

   This will be the most popular one without doubt! It's the return of Google's maps to iOS! For whatever reason Apple gave Google's solution the boot with the introduction of iOS6. Apple's new maps weren't received very well; Australian police still advise you not to use them and even Tim Cook himself suggested people use other (Nokia (now called Here)) maps while Apple ironed out the teething problems!

   But alas we don't have that problem any more! Google's Maps are back with 2D, 3D and street view options in tow! There's also turn-by-turn navigation, although it lacks the indoor maps, the ability to download maps for offline viewing, and voice search which you get on the Android version of the app, although that shouldn't upset most people!
Via BBC.

Google Now for Android.

   Google Now received another update today, but at the moment we're not sure what this update brings to the organiser!

BBC iPlayer for Android.

   The BBC has today posted a blog post outlining their commitment to providing the best quality of iPlayer for the vast range of devices which run Android. They said it is this diversity which has caused them problems, but they're now working to making Android updates happen quickly and in a comparable time frame to their iOS updates!

   The BBC said their three mains goals are:

1. Improve the playback experience.
2. Achieve feature parity between iOS and Android.
3. Support a variety of screen sizes. 

 The guys finished off by outlining their plans for the future:

"Before Christmas we're going to enable iPlayer on Jellybean 4.2 and offer a richer tablet experience on devices such as the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD.
Thereafter--with Adobe and Google's help--we'll improve playback on devices like the Sony Xperia Arc. Into 2013 we'll prioritise the most popular Android devices so we can deliver the best experience for the biggest audience. As you can see this is just the beginning."

   Hopefully this will mean a much better tablet UI, which isn't too shoddy already, and then much better playback on other devices which have some issues at the moment!

Via BBC.

Google apps for Windows platforms.

   Google has offered a rather brutal condemnation of Microsoft's platforms in a recent interview from Clay Bavor, Google's Director of Product Management for Google Apps. He was speaking with V3 when he said 

“We have no plans to build out Windows apps. We are very careful about where we invest and will go where the users are but they are not on Windows Phone or Windows 8. If that changes, we would invest there, of course."

   Ouch! Sorry Windows users!

Google Magazines comes to the UK.

   And finally, Magazines are available for your phone or tablet in the UK! You have the ability to purchase individual issues or a subscription and have it automatically delivered on publication day. If you're lucky you could also get “Interactive” versions of magazines which have "more in-depth features, videos, animations, and other content."
Via Slashgear.

In other news:

• Verizon has announced that their Galaxy S3's will be getting an update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean over the weekend! One thing to bear in mind is that this update will not give you Google Wallet, you'll have to be content ISIS Mobile payments!
  Via AndroidCommunity.
  
  
  
  
• Sprint has formally offered $2.1 billion for the 48.3 percent of Clearwire that it currently doesn't own, Reuters says. This buyout is now subject to acceptance and regulatory approval and if both of them turn out positively then Sprint will be paying $2.90 per share which is slightly more than Clearwire's share price at the close of play yesterday! We'll have to wait until Softbank’s buyout of Sprint is confirmed before this one will take place!
  Via AndroidGuys.

• ZTE has all but confirmed their Nubia Z5 devices, which has been much rumoured lately. It's been advertise on the CES website and it's been confirmed that it's a 5" smartphone.

 "Be the first to see the brand new Grand S, ZTE’s flagship handset in its high-end Grand Series of products. ZTE’s first FHD smartphone is also the world’s thinnest for 5 inch FHD smartphones. Made of ceramic and featuring traditional Chinese style, the Grand S is the perfect phone for the fashionable set." Via AndroidGuys. 

• Vodafone have a new signal booster called the Sure Signal, it's designed for those of you who have a slightly dodgy signal!  The new device will cost you £100 and you'll need a minimum broadband speed of 1MB is required for stable use, although speeds will depend on how many people are using your internet at the same time!
  Via Slashgear.

• The Korean Times thinks Samsung is getting ready to step the size of the next Galaxy note up again next year! It started at 5.3", not it's 5.5" and next year it's supposedly going to have a 6.3" screen!
  Via Slashgear.

• EE has announced that another 17 towns will be lit up with 4G LTE. On this list there's Bradford, Chelmsford, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Leicester, Luton, Newport, Reading, Rotherham, St Albans, Sunderland, Sutton Coldfield, Walsall, Watford, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. Are you about to get fast mobile internet near you?

• Samsung has today announced that they've hired David Eun, formerly of AOL and Google fame, he has been tasked with leading Samsung's new push into media. We're not sure exactly what his role will be although Samsung said:

“He will play a key role in developing a global media strategy and driving new business opportunities to take advantage of Samsung’s growing number of digital televisions and displays, mobile phones, tablets and other connected devices.” Via AllThingsD.

And finally, Samsung's spicy advert of a couple sharing a video via Galaxy Beam has been given a Christmas make over! You can see the video in all it's filth below!

 

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31/10/2012: Galaxy Premier released, Microsoft is being sued because of their LiveTiles and iOS Maps in alpha? Plus much more!

Samsung announces the Galaxy Premier!

   Samsung is currently the world's biggest smartphone manufacturer and it's quite clear why. Firstly, they have their insanely popular Galaxy S range, which is always their flagship phone and subsequently commands a very high premium. But, aside from the Galaxy S' there's an absolute wealth of options suited to every budget and tailored to every different need.

   Today's announcement though is somewhere slightly below the Galaxy S3 and somewhere slightly above the slightly older Galaxy S2, which is now considered a mid-range phone. As such the Galaxy Premier, or GT-i9260 as it's more affectionately known, is packing a solid spec sheet. There's the same 720p 4.65-inch AMOLED display we saw on the Galaxy Nexus, a dual-core 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4470 processor, 1GB of RAM, and a choice of 8 or 16GB of internal storage, both of which are expandable with the help of a microSD card which can be up to 32GB in size!

   On top of that there's two good cameras; an 8-megapixel rear and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing shooter. This is all topped off with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, LTE connectivity and an ample 2,100mAh battery to get you through the day!

   If you're intrigued by this new offering from Sammy then it's available in Ukraine for the equivalent of $680 USD, which we hope you'll agree seems rather expensive when compared to Google's new Nexus 4!

Via Android Community.

In other news:

• The Wall Street Journal has reported that Asus and Google are shifting about a million Nexus 7's a month now! "At the beginning, it was, for instance, 500K units a month, then maybe 600, 700K. This latest month, it was close to 1 million,” Asustek Chief Financial Officer David Chang told The Wall Street Journal.

• Microsoft is offering a huge 92% discount if you join their development centre at the moment! The only catch is you have to pay $99 upfront and then they'll reimburse you 91 of those dollars within the next 30 to 45 days. If you're interested in this deal head over here! The deal is valid until the 7th of November!

• The guys from Redmond are also being sued for their implementation of live tiles in Windows 8, Windows RT, but not Windows Phone. A company by the name of SurfCast currently owns a patent which says that 'tiles “can be thought of as dynamically updating icons. A Tile is different from an icon because it can be both selectable and live — containing refreshed content that provides a real-time or near-real-time view of the underlying information.” It'll be hard for Microsoft to argue that their tiles are different to that, but we'll see what they come up with! You can find more details here!

• If you live in the UK and would like to get the Nexus 4, on contract, the day it launches then The Carphone Warehouse will have you covered. The phone is available on either Vodafone and O2 and you can get it free from £31 a month! Which seems slightly extortionate to us given the device is available free on the Play Store for either £239 or £279, which would go very nicely with a cheap little sim-only plan! That'll give you something to think about, especially if your network of choice isn't Voda or O2!

• Again for those of us in the UK the famous HotUKDeals website has launched apps for both iOS and Android! You can find them in your app store of choice of for internet links head over to here!

And finally, is this an alpha build of Google Maps for iOS, most places would have you believe so! We'll have to wait and see what this looks like if or when it gets submitted to the app store and approved!

Via Wired.

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