Are you curious about the long history of mobile phones? Here’s your chance to feed that curiosity it in less than a minute, as HTC takes us on a memory trip down the smartphone lane. The descriptions on the “Evolution of the Smartphone” infographic are full of witty remarks and some pop culture reference. You’re bound to learn some interesting facts.
For instance, brick phones of the ‘90s were nothing compared to the first mobile phone back in the old day — as in 1922 old — that required the strange combo of a fire hydrant and an umbrella to work.
I’m sure you’re all familiar with the complaint that smartphone batteries just don’t seem to last long enough, offering only a few hours of screen-on time before running out. While quick charge technologies are helping to sidestep the problem, what we really need is extra capacity in our gadget-sized battery cells.
Fortunately, Sony is one of a growing list of companies that is working on improving battery capacities. According to a report from Nikkei, Sony plans to introduce a new high capacity battery in 2020 that should last 40 percent longer than lithium ion batteries currently on the market.
If you’re a subscriber to one of Virgin Mobile USA’s Data Done Right plans, you’ll soon be able to use more data for less money per month. Starting Saturday, May 16th, the carrier is increasing the amount of 3G/4G data in its Data Done Right single line plans by 500MB, and dropping each tier by $5 per month. Now customers will have access to unlimited text, 300 minutes of talk and 3GB of 3G/4G data per month for $30.
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French company Archos will release an electric scooter with an Android phone built into the handlebars. Connected to the motor, the phone will feature software that allows the user to see and control the scooter’s functions. The phone is no powerhouse, but is 3G-connected and enables data while on the move. There’s a certain demographic of city-dwellers who love electric scooters. Smaller and lighter than a bicycle and requiring only a small amount of physical exertion to operate, an electric scooter is a fun and easy way to get quickly from one area of a large city to another.
David Imel / Android Authority
TL;DR
Sony has outlined when its phones will get Android 11 updates. The Xperia 1 II will be the first to get updates in December, followed by others in January and February. It’s not clear if or how Sony will update older phones. Sony has outlined just when eligible Xperia phones will get Android 11 updates, and it’s good news if you have a cutting-edge model — if not so much for everyone else.
The numbers are in for how many tablets where sold during the last quarter of 2012 and although Apple remains at the top, strong competition from companies selling Android based tablets means that Apple’s Q4 market share decreased by nearly three percent.Overall the number of tablets shipped far exceeded predictions and according to preliminary data, from the International Data Corporation (IDC), a record-breaking 52.5 million units were shipped worldwide during the last three months of 2012.
Kiwi Browser is probably one of the best Android browsers out there, offering an OLED-friendly dark mode and an intuitive UI. The latest update has just dropped this week, and it brings a rather noteworthy feature to the table.
The update, spotted by XDA-Developers, brings support for Google Chrome extensions to the Chromium-powered browser. The outlet notes that any Google Chrome extension that doesn’t rely on x86 code should work fine, so do expect a few incompatible add-ons.
All eyes might be on the LG G2, but that’s not the only new device in the works from LG. If two newly leaked images are to be believed, LG is also preparing to release the LG Vu 3.
The first of these images comes from Picasa. As you will see below, it is an image supposedly taken from the camera of the upcoming LG Vu 3. The photo details reveal the model number as LG-F300L, and the image itself is named as vu3-vr-panaroma.
Welcome back to our Meet the Devs segment! In this piece we take a little time to get to know the people who really make Android what it is today and that is the app developers. In this week’s developer interview, we are talking to Jamie Merchant.Name: Jamie Merchant
Developer Name: Wilmer Studios
Country: Canada
How many people on your team? 2
Apps Wilmer
Super Wilmer
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Samsung India has announced that users can now pre-book its upcoming phones. Users will need to spend Rs 2,000 to pre-book the devices, but get a Smart Tag for free. The pre-booking fee will be subtracted from the cost of the device. Samsung confirmed that it’ll be showing off new Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold phones at its Unpacked event on August 11, allowing users to pre-reserve these devices as well.