Android 4.2.2 is beginning to become something of a common occurrence, having already been seen running on a Nexus 4 in Brazil earlier this week. Today, more evidence has arose, as the new software has once again been spotted in a Czechoslovakian hands-on video. Despite the bump in the version number, the new firmware appears to remain mostly untouched. Although there’s no way to know if this is official, the surmounting evidence is making an impending update seem highly likely. » Read the rest
Harman showed off enough of its infotainment center at CES to make most of us instantly hate our car stereos. The system runs a virtualized platform where QNX runs the vehicle specific functions and an Android overlay takes care of the user interface. For now, it looks like users will have access to apps via a Harman curated appstore as well as one run by individual automakers. The unit has the usual array of mobile entertainment apps as well as a pretty cool augmented reality heads-up display. As you might expect, it’s controlled via touch screen but also has a set of gesture controls with Google voice (and Siri) functionality to come.
If you’re hoping to add another device to your shared-data plan, Harman is promising LTE connectivity support. Its being offered to OEMs but we haven’t heard of a partnership with any automakers so no telling where this might end up. CES addicts should click here for our complete CES 2013 coverage!
Press Release after the break
It seems Samsung hasn’t forgotten about its Galaxy S II users just yet. Today, Samsung Korea posted details to its website regarding an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy S II (it seems to be for the Korean version only for now, but that means the international update should be just around the corner). The update will be available soon via Samsung’s Kies software and will take about an hour to complete. Since it’s such a large update, Samsung will need to reformat your phone’s memory and allocate an extra gigabyte for its “system” memory (where it keeps all the important files). This means you’ll end up with 11 gigabytes of internal memory for your apps, music, pictures an other media. Besides all the normal Jelly Bean goodies like “Google Now”, you’ll be getting Samsung’s “Smart Stay” (a feature that keeps your screen on by using your front facing camera to see if you’re eyes are looking at your phone), and some other stock Google apps like Books and Google+. No word yet on if and when the US variants of the phone will be getting an update, but we will keep you posted if we hear anything. For a full list of improvements, jump past the break.
The last time we talked about Android version distribution, Gingerbread was running on more than 50% of devices. That’s impressive for software that’s over two years old. Looking at it now, the different iterations of Gingerbread still hold the top spot, but it’s fallen below the halfway mark down to about 47.6%. That’s still quite a bit, but it’s slowly being replaced by current software. Ice Cream Sandwich climbed from 27% up to 29.1%, and both versions of Jelly Bean are running on a combined 10.2% of devices. While I think we would all like to see that adoption rate happen just a little faster, Jelly Bean is still keeping up that momentum we talked about a month ago.
There’s definitely room for improvement, but I think it’s a safe bet to say that Android updates are being managed a little better now than they were just a year ago. It helps that big OEMs like Samsung are launching their devices with current software, and keeping their older flagships updated as much as possible, barring the occasional cellular carrier interference, of course. Hopefully this keeps up for the next month. And hopefully we’ll see the last 0.2% of users still on Donut get a new phone…
source: Android Developers
If you’re like me and live in New York City, you know that the subway schedules can be hit or miss at times, so it’s fairly common to miss a train or two during any given day– potentially causing some major angst. Fortunately, relief is finally at hand as the MTA has announced it is giving real-time updates via public data for all of its riders. The data (which is iOS-based), is pushed through to a newly-released app called Subway Time by a third-party developer called The Holodeck, giving riders a greater sense of peace knowing how soon a particular train will be at a particular station.
The app is currently in beta at this time, so naturally the app has its fair share of gaffes and bugs, but we’re optimistic everything will be worked on and hopefully, we’ll possibly see a perfected app sooner than later. The app is available now for all of you in the New York City area, so head on down to the Play Store link and give it a whirl today.
AT&T already announced that today would mark the initial rollout of an update for Galaxy Note II users, bringing the highly touted multi-window feature to eager multitaskers. Thankfully, things seem to be right on schedule as a large number of users are reporting a hefty update waiting to be downloaded.
Measuring in at 178MB, the update appears to be hitting devices in phases, so if you don’t see it straight away, you may have luck checking for the update manually by heading to Settings > About Phone > Software Updates. We’ll see you on the other side.
Source: Android Central
If you’re an original Galaxy Note owner, we’ve got some good news for you. Samsung recently released a statement stating that they’re getting ready to release an update for the original Galaxy Note that includes all of the multi-window “Premium Suite” features that have made their way to Samsung’s more recent flagship devices. Once the update hits, the 5-inch “phablet” will get Air View, Multi-window apps and the “easy clip” functionality that allows you to crop and share images and text all with a few taps of the stylus. Best of all the update is based on Android Jelly Bean, so you’ll get to enjoy the sweet flavor of Google Now. No word yet on when the update will begin rolling out, but it probably won’t be too much longer. Check back here and we’ll keep you posted as soon as the update goes live. » Read the rest
It’s been a long time coming, but we’re finally seeing HTC’s One S smartphone starting to get the coveted Jelly Bean update rolled out… well for owners of the global version of the device at least. There are numerous reports coming in that select owners have finally gotten the Android 4.1.1 update notification indication and have successfully been able to finally experience the joys of Google Now and Project Butter. Additionally, as if that wasn’t enough— the gang at XDA also was able to find a welcome direct HTC link to the update. It’s a wonderful Christmas for owners of the global One S, isn’t it?
Interested parties can grab even more deets once they hit the source link.
source: Engadget
Just last month Apple managed to retake the number one position in terms of mobile OS market share in the US, overtaking Google’s Android in the process. Today, it appears that trend has continued through the month of November, with Apple reaching its highest ever smartphone market share in the United States.
Figures released today show Android falling to 41.9%, a decline of nearly 11% over the previous year. On the other end of the spectrum, Apple now sits at a staggering 53.3%, a rise of 17.5% year-over-year. While Android has managed to reach nearly 60% at one point, this is the first time in the Cupertino company’s history that it has passed the 50% mark. For comparison, Microsoft’s Windows Phone is having a tough time reaching 3%, having been stuck in limbo since last year. RIM, on the other hand, has all but fallen completely off of the map, dropping nearly 6 points in just 12 months. » Read the rest
Yet another affordable Google TV alternative is set to hit Amazon with a low price of $99. The HiSense Google TV box is essentially similar to the VIZIO Co-Star if you all remember that one. Here’s what the HiSense offers:
Google TV hasn’t exactly started off in a successful rate, but with these low prices it may just entice the right customers. Hit up the source link below to get yours!
source: Amazon