R
Robert Nazarian
Guest
Things are really heating up for the upcoming LG G3, which will be officially unveiled on May 27. Motorola also has big plans this month as they will announce an affordable phone for everyone. Could it be the Moto E, and is this the $50 phone they hinted at? The infamous Amazon phone appears to be real and ready for prime time very soon. Samsung loses to Apple again, but it’s not as bad as round 1. It’s time to get caught up and get ready for what is sure to be another exciting week in the world of Android.
Reviews
UpTo, the expansive calendar app, is ambitiously returning to the Play Store
Accessories
Samsung launches Level series, new line of premium mobile audio products
Android Books
HP readying first Google approved laptop running Android
Apple vs Samsung
Apple-Samsung case jurors have 53 pages of instructions to go through before a verdict is reached
Latest update on the Samsung vs Apple patent infringement case
Jury denied additional information about Steve Jobs intentions in Apple v. Samsung case
Jury finds Samsung infringed on two of Apple’s patents, Apple awarded $119.6 million
Apps – New
QuickCamera brings Moto X camera launching gestures to all Android phones
Google releases standalone mobile apps for Docs and Sheets
Yahoo Screen released to Android
Samsung’s new app allows you to follow LeBron James in Twitter fashion, but only James
Sony introduces their latest open source project ‘EvolutionUI’
Apps – Updates
LastPass updated, adds biometric security on Galaxy S5
Redbox Instant adds Chromecast support
Spotify finally brings latest interface redesign to Android
Hulu bringing free, ad-supported TV to mobile devices this summer
Google Search update brings parking assistance and nicknames
AllCast app will soon be able to stream to devices from Google Music app
AllCast “headset” feature for Fire TV being worked on
Facebook announces “Anonymous Login” that prevents personal information from being shared
Play Music Android app updated to 5.5, share and edit playlists
Snapchat adds texting and video calling
To focus on recommendations, Foursquare splitting service into two apps
Revamped HD Widgets 4 exits beta stage, will soon be available on the Play Store
Google Now makes shopping at a mall easier
Twitter experimenting with a mute feature in its mobile app
Google Drive Android app update to version 1.3, removing some features
Carriers
AT&T building 4G LTE in-flight service
AT&T’s VoLTE believed to be coming on May 23, no word on Verizon’s
Sprint’s LG G Flex to receive Android 4.4 today
Sprint partners with Spotify in effort to shore up Framily Plans, stem subscriber losses
Sprint unveils the HTC One (M8) Harman Kardon edition
Sprint looking to make a bid for T-Mobile as soon as June or July
Sprint rolling out Android KitKat update for Samsung Galaxy S III
Sprint adds international call and text plan for $15 a month
T-Mobile’s 2014 first quarter results show record-breaking success of Uncarrier strategy
Xperia Z2 for Verizon appears in image posted by Sony on Google+
Verizon Wireless is discounting flagship phones for Mother’s Day
Verizon could be getting two Samsung and two Amazon tablets for its lineup
Samsung explains Galaxy S 5 ‘Camera Failed’ error, issue is ‘very limited’
Verizon pushing Android 4.4 to Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition
Chromebooks
Upcoming Acer Chromebook to feature Intel Core i3 Haswell CPU
Google, Intel co-hosting Chrome OS event next week to showcase new devices
Chromecast
Redbox Instant adds Chromecast support
VideoStream for Chrome allows you to stream any video to Chromecast
Deals
Amazon Appstore having “May the Fourth Be With You” Sale
Gaming
Gameloft dishes details on upcoming Modern Combat 5: Blackout
Google Play Games updated to version 1.6
Easter egg hunt for Google I/O 2014 registration codes concludes
Android Silver program may be headed to a carrier near you
Google’s Pokemon Map Hunt winners to receive surprise gifts for completion
Check out the latest news on Google’s attempt to expand Google Fiber
Google Play having “May the Fourth Be With You” sale on Star Wars content
New Antitrust lawsuit suggests that Google has a monopoly on internet and mobile search
Google Now works offline after latest update
Google acquires Rangespan, a company that assists retailers on what products will be hits
Latest Android distribution numbers show KitKat slowly climbing towards 10% of all devices
Google Glass
Google patents dual-Glass design, suggests Google Glass with two lenses may be in the works
‘Explore Nearby’ command feature for Google Glass is live and is paired with ‘Field Trip’ app
What to expect in this week’s Google Glass updates
New Google Glass teardown estimates cost of hardware at under $80
Icon Packs
Still on the hunt of awesome icon packs? Check out the newly released Velur
Phones – Acer
Acer announces Liquid Jade smartphone with accompanying Liquid Leap fitness tracker
Acer announces the Iconia Tab 7, the perfect smartphone for your pet gorilla
Phones – Amazon
Here’s what the upcoming Amazon smartphone is going to look like
Phones – Blackphone
BlackPhone will pack the NVIDIA Tegra 4i processor
Phones – BLUE
BLU announces its new flagship in the Life Pure XL smartphone
Phones – HTC
New HTC One M8 Ace to have plastic unibody, high-end specs with low price
HTC rumored to be readying premium version of M8 codenamed M8 Prime
Image of possible HTC One (M8) Mini surfaces
HTC One (M8) Mini to be called the HTC One Mini 2
HTC One (M8) will soon be available in red, blue, and pink
Sprint unveils the HTC One (M8) Harman Kardon edition
Jealous that your HTC One M8 isn’t the Harmon Kardon edition? As always, XDA has your back
Unlocked and Developer Edition HTC One (M8) receiving update that brings Extreme Power Saving Mode
Phones – Huawei
Huawei working on Ascend P7 mini to be released alongside P7
Huawei Ascend P7 set to be announced on May 7th; Several photos of device shown off
evleaks provides us a closer look at Huawei’s upcoming Ascend P7
Phones – LG
The LG G3 is arriving even earlier than we thought
LG G3 and possibly the G Watch to be unveiled May 27
Rear buttons of the LG G3 leak, modified from last year
LG G3 in a rugged case leaks, shows new user interface and a fresh rear setup
LG G3 appears in best pictures yet, specs confirmed
LG G3 press render leaks once again, this time in white and seemingly within a case
Alleged press render of the LG G3 in black leaks, seems to be covered by a black case
Sprint’s LG G Flex to receive Android 4.4 today
The LG L80 is now official in Indonesia
Phones – Motorola
Motorola will announce a smartphone “priced for all” on May 13
Moto Maker website hints at upcoming Moto X+1
Moto X and Moto G get new Spring-themed boot animation
Phones – Nexus
Nexus 6 could sport a fingerprint scanner
Phones – OnePlus
OnePlus ends its destruction campaign with more than 140,000 applicants, adds a donation option
Phones – Pantech
Pantech Vega Iron 2 picture leaked, device may not come with Snapdragon 805 CPU
Phones – Samsung
Samsung officially announces the Galaxy K zoom, a camera-specialized smartphone
Galaxy S 5 Google Play Edition shows up in Play Store, but you can’t purchase it yet
Samsung explains Galaxy S 5 ‘Camera Failed’ error, issue is ‘very limited’
New Samsung Galaxy S 5 commercials show off new features
The Galaxy S 5 and Samsung unpacked teaser icons explained… sort of
Samsung confirms the existence of what could be a Galaxy S5 mini (SM-G800F)
Samsung ready to bring Android KitKat to the low end market
Yet another Samsung smartphone shows up on shipping manifest
Samsung Galaxy S 5 Mini support page goes live in Finland, not much info for now
Sprint rolling out Android KitKat update for Samsung Galaxy S III
Phones – Sony
Xperia Z2 for Verizon appears in image posted by Sony on Google+ [Updated]
Sony India will hold a press event on May 8th for the Xperia Z2
Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition price gets slashed to $449, saves $200
Sony Xperia Z Ultra LTE can be yours, unlocked, for $449 in the U.S.
Phones – Xiaomi
Xiaomi receives 15 million ‘signups’ for new phablet, the RedMi Note
Xiaomi Mi3S specifications leak again, some hardware shots too
Project Ara
One of Google’s Project Ara suppliers shares a bit about 3D printing advances
ROMs
[Video] Paranoid Android team introduces ‘Hover’ feature in their ROM
Smartwatches
LG G Watch launches in Europe this June; priced at €199
LG G3 and possibly the G Watch to be unveiled May 27
Set-top boxes
AllCast app will soon be able to stream to devices from Google Music app
AllCast “headset” feature for Fire TV being worked on
Tablets
According to the IDC, tablet sales are heavily declining
Mysterious unnamed HP tablets leak in silver, red, and gold
Verizon pushing Android 4.4 to Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition
Verizon could be getting two Samsung and two Amazon tablets for its lineup
Updates
Sprint’s LG G Flex to receive Android 4.4 today
Verizon pushing Android 4.4 to Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition
Sprint rolling out Android KitKat update for Samsung Galaxy S III
Unlocked and Developer Edition HTC One (M8) receiving update that brings Extreme Power Saving Mode
Wearables
Acer announces Liquid Jade smartphone with accompanying Liquid Leap fitness tracker
Miscellaneous
According to latest report Android edging up in US market share as iOS dips
OnePlus issues statement about Oppo situation
Samsung’s global smartphone domination showing signs of weakness
Samsung plans an event for May 28th; Expect it to be centered around your ‘health’
Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Weekly Recap for April 28 – May 4, 2014
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