Monday, December 29, 2014
Qualcomm’s China Worries Predicted To Result In Snowball Effect For The Company
Qualcomm is an extremely popular company in recent times. Barely a device is released without one of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors contained within. MediaTek are biting into the Snapdragon dominance, however ‘Snapdragon’ has become a kind of buzzword for the industry and when listed as part of the specs seems to automatically offer users reassurance of a good processor. In spite of the continued rise and popularity of Qualcomm and their Snapdragon range of processor, they have more recently been very much on the backfoot. Especially in China. For those that don’t know, this is because of an antitrust investigation China has been conducting into the behavior of Qualcomm.
Now the investigation is not new news and in fact is pretty much concluded now. In fact, it is already widely understood that the result of the investigation is not good news for Qualcomm, This will consist of what is expected to be quite a hefty financial fine. The fine will inevitably hurt Qualcomm’s bottom line. However, that will not be anywhere near as worrying as the other demands of the investigation. As well as a fine, Qualcomm are highly expected to have to reach some form of agreement to the way they conduct patent licensing in China. This will be the real kicker for Qualcomm, as it means they will not be collecting (or controlling) patent licenses like they have in the past. As patent licensing actually equates to a large proportion of Qualcomm’s overall income (again, especially in China), it is expected that this will be what really hurts the San Diego company. For instance, it is being reported that half of Qualcomm’s 2014 global revenue (total equating to $26.5 billion) came from China. Furthermore, it is reported that more than half of Qualcomm’s $8 billion net income was based on royalties received (which was relative to the selling prices of the devices). Which interestingly (and due to the patent licensing in question) includes royalties on devices which contain Qualcomm competitor chipsets instead of their own. This is why the patent aspect of the ongoing antitrust investigation is what will hurt Qualcomm more than anything.
However, to add further weight to Qualcomm’s worries, the patent agreement will not actually be the end of the situation. Instead, analysts are predicting that such an agreement will actually result in a snowball effect for the chip company resulting in even further problems and losses worldwide. This is thought to be because the patent licensing is an integral part of the relationships and contractual agreements between Qualcomm and the big OEMs like Samsung and LG. As the China licensing changes come into effect, it is is predicted that this will have a knock-on effect for Qualcomm’s already in place agreements with the big manufacturers, who will be then looking to further redress the situation and the way in which patent licensing benefits them. Although, at the moment, this is only speculated, we might find sooner rather than later we will hear of what the knock-on effect for Qualcomm is. Either way though, it does look like Qualcomm have some worrying issues to address in both the near and long term futures.
The post Qualcomm’s China Worries Predicted To Result In Snowball Effect For The Company appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.
from AndroidHeadlines.com | http://www.androidheadlines.com/2014/12/qualcomms-china-worries-predicted-result-snowball-effect-company.html
HTC Hima shows up in AnTuTu benchmark with Snapdragon 810, 3GB RAM, and 1080p display
We’re barely a few days away from 2015 and the rumored HTC Hima — the manufacturer’s followup to this year’s stellar HTC One M8 — is making an appearance in an AnTuTu benchmark as the HTC6535LVW.
Tipped off by famed leaker @upleaks, the benchmark seemingly confirms many of the next-gen specs we’ve been hearing about the device, listing off such hardware as a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 5-inch 1080p display (yes!), 20.7MP / 13MP front facing cameras, 3GB of RAM, — all running on Android 5.0.1 Lollipop.
Really, the info here doesn’t reveal anything new. It wasn’t too long ago @upleaks posted a much more detailed “leak,” with info on the phone’s alleged physical dimensions (144.3 x 69.4 x 9.56), accessories, color palette (gray, silver, gold, gun metal/gold), battery size (2,840mAh) and expected launch date: March 2015.
Also worth noting is the name “Hima” is likely only being used for internal purposes and will launch under something much different (although we’ve heard rumors HTC will ditch the current M_ naming convention). We expect this is just the first of many leaks to come and a great way to usher in the coming new year.
from Phandroid http://phandroid.com/2014/12/29/htc-hima-antutu-benchmark/
XKCD Debuts Their 2014 Offering With The XKCD Phone 2 Complete With Coin Slot And Bug Drawer
XKCD, a popular webcomic that focuses heavily on the satire and sarcasm has released an update to their smartphone offering from last year, called the XKCD Phone 2. If you thought your smartphone had it all, (here’s looking at you Samsung) XKCD is here to tell you that it doesn’t, and they’re here to entice you with all the important features that you just won’t be able to live without once you see them. Blood/Oxygen sensors, fingerprint readers, who needs those when you have a coin slot on your phone? The XKCD Phone 2 features the most up to date coin slot for giving you that nostalgic feel of feeding quarters to your favorite arcade machines.
You’ll fall in love with the always on speaker, and why shouldn’t you? It’s truly ahead of its time. It pales in comparison though to the bug drawer, because we all know how annoying it can be when things just won’t work correctly because of an annoying bug. Thankfully with this device you can overcome bugs with ease, as you can simply just open up the bug drawer and do away with them, problem solved. Never feel alone again as the XKCD Phone 2 can always be there for you to give you that warm feeling of comfort thanks to the cheek toucher. It’s not only your phone, it’s your friend and a companion.
We’ve seen the awesome accessories to smartphones this year that can help you locate your phone if you misplace it around the home, usually connected to it through Bluetooth, but who needs those when the XKCD Phone 2 offers a feature where it cries when lost? It could also double as a way to annoy your friends or roommates, just lose the phone in their room on purpose and let it cry for hours. Still not impressed? Behold! The MaxHD screen with over 350 pixels per screen is sure to blow away your friends and family to the point that will make them second guess everything they thought they knew about high-resolution displays. So, how much does this phone cost? Well, it’s free of course, because it’s fake. It will however cost you a couple of laughs, unless you don’t have a sense of humor.
The post XKCD Debuts Their 2014 Offering With The XKCD Phone 2 Complete With Coin Slot And Bug Drawer appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.
from AndroidHeadlines.com | http://www.androidheadlines.com/2014/12/xkcd-debuts-2014-offering-xkcd-phone-2-complete-coin-slot-bug-drawer.html
Report: Samsung discontinues the Galaxy Alpha to focus on more affordable smartphones
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha was a very important smartphone for the company. It marked the first time they made a big change in their Galaxy lineup’s design language, using a fair amount of metal to introduce a phone that felt more “premium.”
But it looks like it isn’t doing so hot. The company is reportedly preparing to end production on the Samsung Galaxy Alpha once they exhaust their remaining stock of build materials. The reasoning? To introduce something a bit more affordable.
That’s not to imply Samsung is going to go back on their word and return to their plastic roots, though, so those hoping to see some of that love inside the Samsung Galaxy S6 or Samsung Galaxy Note 5 don’t have reason to worry. Instead, Samsung’s going to continue in their new direction with a wrinkle that sees them making use of more moderate specs to keep costs down.
The Galaxy Alpha, for instance, has an Exynos 5 Octa chipset, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 4.7-inch 720p display and a 12 megapixel camera. While that’s not all too impressive next to their top-line flagships, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A5 will look to take on a similar build and style as the Alpha, except it’ll do so with a Snapdragon 410 chipset (though it’s worth noting other specs are an improvement on paper, including a 5-inch 720p display and a 16 megapixel camera sensor).
Samsung has a lot of work ahead of them if they want to slow down the bleeding their mobile division is suffering, and this tweak in focus can be seen as a big first step toward turning that boat around. Let’s just hope they’ll continue to fill their cornerstone flagships with the class-leading horsepower we’ve grown accustomed to.
from Phandroid http://phandroid.com/2014/12/29/galaxy-alpha-discontinued-rumor/
[Deal Alert] New 2013 Nexus 7 16GB Going For Just $135 After Coupon At Groupon
The Nexus 9 is the new hotness, but last year's Nexus 7 is still a speedy piece of tech. I have one on my desk right now, and I'll vouch for it. The little tablet has handled everything I've thrown at it with ease.
Anyone looking to pick one up may want to hop over to Groupon right this moment. The site is currently offering the Nexus 7 for $149.99, which you can get down to $135 with a coupon code.
[Deal Alert] New 2013 Nexus 7 16GB Going For Just $135 After Coupon At Groupon was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
from Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AndroidPolice/~3/QCNbSwWpUos/story01.htm
Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Smartphone of 2014
As the finals days of 2014 slip away, it is time to name the best Android smartphone of the year as voted on by your fellow Phandroid readers. Voting in this category was tight, and each of the top three phones could have easily taken home the award, but only one prevailed in the end.
Our 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards wrap up when we name the winners for Biggest Fail and Manufacturer of the year in the coming days. You can see all the winners so far by clicking here.
Honorable Mention: HTC One M8
With 265 total votes HTC’s 2014 flagship scores an honorable mention in this year’s awards. The One M8 was the first of the flagship releases from major Android manufacturers to be announced, but its quality design and slick software updates have made sure it has stayed foremost in many a user’s mind.
Read our HTC One M8 review
Runner-up: Nexus 6
The Motorola-made Nexus 6 edged out HTC One M8 by one vote to land in second place. A total of 266 votes were cast in favor of the Android 5.0 Lollipop flagship device. While it’s massive display size doesn’t appeal to every user, the prestige of the Nexus line makes the Nexus 6 a desirable smartphone for the Android purist.
Read our Nexus 6 review
And the winner is: Motorola Moto X (2014)
The second-generation Moto X took the top spot, but it was less than 20 votes that made the difference. The Moto X has been praised for its appealing design, powerful hardware, and unique approach to sales that offers consumers the chance to customize the look of their device.
Read our Moto X review
Here is the breakdown in voting for Best Smartphone 2014:
from Phandroid http://phandroid.com/2014/12/29/readers-choice-best-smartphone-2014/
Samsung Galaxy Grand Max and Galaxy A7 leaks out
The Samsung Galaxy Grand Max and the Galaxy A7 smartphones have just been revealed by a leak in Korea. Both appear to be midrange offerings with a launch expected to take place in South Korea next month. It is said that both smartphones will join the Galaxy A5 in Samsung’s midrange smartphone lineup.
The Galaxy A7 is the better equipped of the two with its 5.2 inch 1080p display, a 1.5 GHz octa core SoC (Snapdragon 615), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front camera and Android 4.4 KitKat with a 2,500 mAh battery. The A7 will carry a thickness of just 6.3mm, making it one of the slimmest midrangers going around.
The Galaxy Grand Max on the other hand is the supersized version of the Galaxy Grand and sports a 5.2 inch display, but with a 720p resolution. It is also packing a 13-megapixel camera, a 5-megapixel front facing shooter, a 1.2 GHz quad core chip, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage with a microSD card slot, 2,500 mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat.
The two smartphonealso s should eventually make their way out of South Korea to other global markets. Pricing of the devices shouldn’t exceed $300 considering the hardware on offer.
Via: Sam Mobile
Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy Grand Max and Galaxy A7 leaks out
from Android News, Rumours, and Updates http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AndroidNewsGoogleAndroidForums/~3/aAgYCVQlMaI/
Franco Kernel makes its way to the Nexus 6
Francisco Franco has brought his much-loved kernel to Google’s latest enthusiast device. The developer, who says he’s fallen in love with the device in his time having it, says the upgrade is being pushed out at some point later today. The previous version of the kernel already works seamlessly with the Nexus 6, though this upgrade will likely brings changes specific to the Nexus 6 and the hardware packed inside.
Franco’s Kernels have long been celebrated due to their clean, fast performance and advanced features, and anyone hoping to keep their device in tip-top shape a few years past its purchase date would be wise to use it (or any decent after-market kernel) on their Nexus 6. For those interested, you’ll simply have to install the Franco Kernel Updater on your rooted Nexus 6, and wait for the goodness to arrive to your phone over-the-air.
[via Google+]
from Phandroid http://phandroid.com/2014/12/29/franco-kernal-nexus-6/
Get 10% off Everything at Groupon in their Year End Sale
That’s right, you can get 10% off of any one item from Groupon priced at $50 or more right now. You just need to use the code SALE10 at checkout. They have a bunch of amazing products on sale right now too, some of which are included below. Like the Google Nexus 7, and select Roku products.
- Samsung Galaxy S 16GB 8.4″ or 10.5″ Tablet – $279.99
- Sharp 60″ LED 4K 240Hz Quattron Smart TV – $1249.99
- Sony 500GB PlayStation4 Console – $399.99
- Nikon D3200 24.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with One or Two Lenses – $399.99
- Microsoft Xbox One 500GB Console – $399.99
- Monster N-TUNE On-Ear Headphones with Control Talk – $89.99
- Jawbone Mini Jambox Bluetooth Speaker – $69.99
- ASUS Google Nexus 7 16GB – $149.99
- PS3 500GB Core System with Wireless DualShock Controller – $249.99
- Jabra Solemate Wireless Bluetooth Speaker with Bonus Car and Wall Combo Charger – $79.99
The post Get 10% off Everything at Groupon in their Year End Sale appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.
from AndroidHeadlines.com | http://www.androidheadlines.com/2014/12/get-10-off-everything-groupon-year-end-sale.html
VAIO Smartphones Rumored To Be In The Works And Maybe Announced At CES 2015
Any Sony fans out there will recognise Sony for probably three iconic reasons. If you a mobile fan then the Xperia range of devices probably spring to mind. If you are a gamer then of course it is all about the Playstation range of consoles. However, if you are a laptop fan then there is no doubt that VAIO will be the name you associate with Sony. Over the last years, Sony have grown the VAIO brand and had quite good success with the brand. Perfectly positioned with the right amount of specs for the right price, the VAIO brand of laptops offered a really good alternative to the other laptop options.
Well, the relationship between Sony and VAIO ended earlier this year when Sony decided to sell off the brand. This was thought of as an intention by Sony to streamline its future offerings with a clear focus on the mobile market. For the VAIO fans out there, this was disappointing. That said, since then, the VAIO range has continued and now lives on in its own post-Sony era and is still enjoying a good level of success and sales based on the trust in the VAIO name. Likewise, Sony have moved forward and the mobile industry is highly expecting the release and launch of a number of new Sony Xperia devices come next month at CES in Las Vegas.
Well, the latest news is quite interesting as it now suggests that Sony and its previously branded VAIO range might soon be going head-to-head. The latest is that a VAIO branded range of smartphones are imminently about to drop. In fact, the suggestions are that this new brand of devices will also be unveiled at CES next month as well as Sony’s Xperia Z4 and relative variants. In terms of what will be offered, the details are still too limited. In fact, the only suggested ‘known’ is that the VAIO smartphones(s) will come with a 5” display. AT present, no further details are known. That said, CES is only a matter of days away now and so it won’t be long until we know more and whether Sony should be worried about a new VAIO branded smartphone. Are or were you a VAIO owner? Do you like the idea of a VAIO branded smartphone even if it is not made by Sony? Let us know your thoughts.
The post VAIO Smartphones Rumored To Be In The Works And Maybe Announced At CES 2015 appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.
from AndroidHeadlines.com | http://www.androidheadlines.com/2014/12/vaio-smartphones-rumored-works-maybe-announced-ces-2015.html
Gionee rebrands as Kazam, lays claim to world’s thinnest smartphone
Although major manufacturers of smartphones like Samsung, HTC or Apple will talk about how thin their flagship devices are, there is a whole class of companies that walk the walk in pursuit of the title of world’s thinnest smartphone. One of those companies that is always in the hunt is Gionee. Their most recent device, the Gionee Elfie S5.5 managed to lay claim to the title for much of 2014. They appear to have released the successor to that smartphone, pushing the boundaries a little bit while at the same time rebranding themselves as Kazam.
The new device is the Kazam Tornado 348 which clocks in at only 5.15mm thick and has been registered with the Guinness book of records as the world’s thinnest smartphone. Along with the extremely thin frame, the Kazam Tornado 348 comes with a 1.7 GHz octa-core processor from MediaTek, 1 GM of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, and a 4.8-inch screen running at 1280 x 720 resolution. Unfortunately, the Kazam Tornado 348 does not include a microSD slot for memory expansion. The smartphone gets its power from a 2050 mAh battery which also helps energize an 8 MP rear-facing camera and a 5 MP front-facing camera. The Kazam Tornado 348 runs Android 4.4.2.
It should be noted that Vivo has announced the Vivo X5 Max which will come in at only 4.7mm thick as part of their bid to take the title for world’s thinnest smartphone. That device was supposed to be available December 22nd, but we have not seen verification that it is actually available for purchase.
You can check out a couple videos below from Kazam, which has apparently taken a “sex sells” approach to their sales strategy for the new device. If the videos and images of the devices entice you to buy one, hit the source link where you will find you can order the Kazam Tornado 348 for £249 ($387 USD)
Click here to view the embedded video.
Click here to view the embedded video.
source: Kazam
via: phoneArena
Come comment on this article: Gionee rebrands as Kazam, lays claim to world’s thinnest smartphone
from Android News, Rumours, and Updates http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AndroidNewsGoogleAndroidForums/~3/_wRZeE7z8H8/
Today’s Amazon GoldBox deal of the day is all about accessories (up to 50% off)
Amazon has a big accessories bonanza going for today’s gold box deal of the day. If you were the lucky recipient of a smartphone, tablet or any other delicate piece of electronic this holiday season that needs to be protected, coddled and adorned, this is likely a good opportunity to make that happen.
Amazon has memory cards, capacitive stylus pens, cases, wireless speakers, headsets and headphones, travel chargers and more going for up to 50% off. The list is rather big so be sure to take your time to peruse it and decide if you want anything. Decide fast, though, because like all Gold Box deals these will only last until the end of today.
Link to Amazon’s GoldBox Deal of the Day
from Phandroid http://phandroid.com/2014/12/29/amazon-goldbox-accessories-deal/
Featured Review: Mpow Muze Touch Bluetooth Headphones
I’ve recently discovered a love for over-ear headphones. In 2014 I purchased over-ear cans from Logitech, Sennheiser, and Sony. I was excited when Mpow contacted me and said they had some wireless headphones of their own that they’d like to send over. The Muze Touch Foldable Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 Stereo Headphones can be used with either a wired or wireless connection, but how do they sound? How comfortable are they to wear for a long listening session? How’s the battery life? Let’s jump in and answer some of these questions about Mpow’s new cans.
Design
The Mpow Muze Touch Bluetooth Headphones are solid black, soft touch plastic. The cups are made of leather, as is the padded head cushion that rests on the top of your head. On the outside of the left cup is the Mpow logo. The bottom of that side houses the 3.5mm auxiliary jack for using the headphones with a wired connection. The right side has the charging port below the cup, the power button on the right front, and the touch controls on the outside of the earpiece. These touch controls are probably the coolest feature of these headphones. We’ll get more into that later.
The Muze Touch headphones can be extended to fit larger heads, so if you have a big head like mine they will still fit you without a problem. The extensions are a little too stiff, but I’m guessing they will loosen up a bit after using the headset for a while. Mpow includes a micro USB charging cable, a 3.5mm auxiliary cable, and an instruction manual in the box with the headphones.
The headphones fold up to make it easy to carry them. The cups are padded and are pretty comfortable. They do an admirable job of sealing out external noise. I didn’t test them out on an airplane, but I can tell you they block out the sound of the TV and my rambunctious 3 year olds without an issue. The cups did create a vacuum on my ears that was a bit uncomfortable when I first put them on. After a few seconds the suction resided and wasn’t noticeable anymore.
Pairing the headphones with your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other device is incredibly simple. You just press the power button for about 5 seconds to put the headphones into pairing mode. The LEDs in the power button will begin flashing blue and red. Then just head into the Bluetooth settings of your device, select the headphones and the process will automate itself from there.
Touch Controls
The touch controls on the outside of the right ear cup are really neat to use. When you’re listening to music, you can simply swipe your finger up or down to increase and decrease the playback volume. You swipe your finger forward or backward to move between tracks. This movement is really intuitive and works very well. It’s very convenient to be able to control the volume and tracks without needing to reach for your phone. You don’t even have to look at what you’re doing. Just swipe your finger. I do want to note that the touch controls only work when you are connected to your device via Bluetooth. If you are using the auxiliary cable and listening over the wired connection, the touch controls don’t work.
The power button doubles as the play/pause button, and the power also answers ay incoming calls that you may get. You press the power button again to hang up the call. If you’d rather reject a phone call and keep listening to your music, just press the power button for about 2 seconds to reject an incoming call.
Sound Quality
The Mpow Muze Touch headphones have “highly tuned 40mm neodymium drivers produce provide pitch perfect audio with a thumping bass and detailed high end.” Overall, the sound profile of these cans is uneven and leans heavily on the low-end. The thumping bass is certainly there. The high end is there but it’s not particularly bright. Mid-range is lacking and sounds hollow. For the price point, these will get you decent sound along the lines of something from Beats By Dre.
I’ve also made mention before that I’m not a big fan of streaming music via Bluetooth because of the way the Bluetooth standard compresses audio streams. It reduces sound quality. This is pretty obvious with the Muze Touch headphones. The sound is noticeably better when played over the wired connection.
Battery Life
It takes about 2 hours to charge the headphones fully. While they are charging, the LED in the power button glows red. Once the headset is fully charged the light will turn off. Mpow says they will last “up to 12 hours music play time.” I was able to get 9-10 hours of playback between charges, which is still decent. You’ll get a full 8-hour work day out of these headphones, streaming music wirelessly. The nice thing is that if the battery dies, you can just plug them up with the AUX cable and keep right on listening.
Wrap-up
For the money you’ll spend on wireless headphones, the Mpow Muze Touch Bluetooth Headphones are a great value. The sound is decent, battery life is very good, and the touch controls are intuitive and fun to use. These headphones are comfortable to wear for long periods and they are one of the few pairs of wireless headphones that also offer the option for a wired connection. The Muze Touch headphones retail for $159 but you can get them on Amazon for $69.99. You can also find more information on Mpow’s website.
Click here to view the embedded video.
The post Featured Review: Mpow Muze Touch Bluetooth Headphones appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.
from AndroidHeadlines.com | http://www.androidheadlines.com/2014/12/featured-review-mpow-muze-touch-bluetooth-headphones.html
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