Samsung has a penchant for over the top marketing campaigns, but this latest one is probably one of the zaniest yet.
Here�s the premise: soccer stars including German legend Franz Beckenbauer and Argentinian demigod Leo Messi will have to fight off a bunch of mean-looking aliens hell bent to take over our planet. Luckily (we think), the extraterrestrial bullies have agreed to an all-or-nothing soccer match against Earth�s finest, that will decide our collective fates.
Back to earth for a second, the campaign is dubbed Galaxy 11, and has just kicked off in earnest. So far, Samsung teased it with crop circles-style markings in London, New York, and Rio de Janeiro, and the presence of �aliens� at a few high-profile European matches. Beckenbauer will play the coach and Leo Messi (who�s no stranger of Samsung ads) will be the Galaxy 11�s captain. More big players will probably fill out the team�s roster in the following weeks.
Here�s Messi�s grand entrance:
You may ask, what do aliens, soccer, and Samsung have in common? Well, obviously, the Galaxy 11 will use Samsung�s Note 3, Galaxy Gear, and Note 10.1 to stave off the attacks of galactic invaders, in an Ender�s Game with balls kind of mash up. Head over to TheGalaxy11.com if you want to learn more or just stick around and tell us your opinion on Samsung�s latest stunt.
Samsung has a penchant for over the top marketing campaigns, but this latest one is probably one of the zaniest yet.
Here’s the premise: soccer stars including German legend Franz Beckenbauer and Argentinian demigod Leo Messi will have to fight off a bunch of mean-looking aliens hell bent to take over our planet. Luckily (we think), the extraterrestrial bullies have agreed to an all-or-nothing soccer match against Earth’s finest, that will decide our collective fates.
Back to earth for a second, the campaign is dubbed Galaxy 11, and has just kicked off in earnest. So far, Samsung teased it with crop circles-style markings in London, New York, and Rio de Janeiro, and the presence of “aliens” at a few high-profile European matches. Beckenbauer will play the coach and Leo Messi (who’s no stranger of Samsung ads) will be the Galaxy 11’s captain. More big players will probably fill out the team’s roster in the following weeks.
Here’s Messi’s grand entrance:
You may ask, what do aliens, soccer, and Samsung have in common? Well, obviously, the Galaxy 11 will use Samsung’s Note 3, Galaxy Gear, and Note 10.1 to stave off the attacks of galactic invaders, in an Ender’s Game with balls kind of mash up. Head over to TheGalaxy11.com if you want to learn more or just stick around and tell us your opinion on Samsung’s latest stunt.
After the high profile Moto X, Motorola is gearing up to launch a new device, and this time it�s all about the booming entry-level market. The Google-owned company will launch the Moto G tomorrow, at an event in Sao Paolo that will livestream on Google Plus.
The device�s mid-range specifications and attractive price have apparently been confirmed by a listing on Amazon UK, which pegs the actual availability of the Moto G, for Wednesday, November 14.
The listing refers to the device as the Motorola DVX, the internal codename of the Moto G, and was put up by Amazon, rather than a third-party seller. If the listing is accurate, the Moto G will sell for a very appealing �159.99, the equivalent of $256. Since UK and European prices are generally higher than those across the pond, it�s safe to assume that the Moto G will sell for $200 if it ever becomes available in the US.
The Amazon Moto G listing states that the device is due for selling on November 14, just a day after its official unveiling. Looking at the details provided by Amazon, one thing that sticks out is the �Advanced Android with guaranteed upgrade� spec, potentially alluding to stock Android.
In related news, the Moto G/XT1032 showed up in the GFXBench benchmark database with Android 4.4 and a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8226 processor. Whether that�s a test device or the actual Moto G, we�ll find out in about 24 hours.
After the high profile Moto X, Motorola is gearing up to launch a new device, and this time it’s all about the booming entry-level market. The Google-owned company will launch the Moto G tomorrow, at an event in Sao Paolo that will livestream on Google Plus.
The device’s mid-range specifications and attractive price have apparently been confirmed by a listing on Amazon UK, which pegs the actual availability of the Moto G, for Wednesday, November 14.
The listing refers to the device as the Motorola DVX, the internal codename of the Moto G, and was put up by Amazon, rather than a third-party seller. If the listing is accurate, the Moto G will sell for a very appealing £159.99, the equivalent of $256. Since UK and European prices are generally higher than those across the pond, it’s safe to assume that the Moto G will sell for $200 if it ever becomes available in the US.
The Amazon Moto G listing states that the device is due for selling on November 14, just a day after its official unveiling. Looking at the details provided by Amazon, one thing that sticks out is the “Advanced Android with guaranteed upgrade” spec, potentially alluding to stock Android.
In related news, the Moto G/XT1032 showed up in the GFXBench benchmark database with Android 4.4 and a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8226 processor. Whether that’s a test device or the actual Moto G, we’ll find out in about 24 hours.
Android 4.4 KitKat is only officially available on the Nexus 5 so far, but various custom ROM makers have further detailed their KitKat-related plans, including AOKP, CyanogenMod, OmniROM and Paranoid Android.
AOKP
The AOKP team announced that it’s working both on Android 4.3 and Android 4.4 builds. Half of the team is preparing the final Milestone build for Android 4.3, while the other half is going to focus on Android 4.4 in a “clean” fashion.
In other words, the first KitKat AOKP build will actually be a “nearly barebones” AOSP ROM, with more AOKP features expected to arrive soon after that first release. Nightlies for KitKat are expected to arrive “soon.”
Speaking of a launch date, there isn’t one available just yet, so “soon” could mean just about anything.
But a release date for CM11 is not available yet, and there’s no list of devices that will get it either. However, several devices have been named:
The source code for Android 4.4 began its release on October 31st (yay Halloween!). From there, it took us roughly 4 days to get the code whipped up into shape and pushed up to our Github repository, with a manifest to match. […] This milestone also kicked off the bulk of the device bring-up efforts, and we are already seeing good results. Just to showcase a few: Xperia T, HTC One, S4 Mini, Galaxy Tab, Nexus 10, Skyrocket and many more (yes, including the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (12/13) and Nexus 5).
Furthermore, the team said that “just because KitKat is touted as being better for lower RAM devices, doesn’t mean [they’ll] be bringing back support for devices that [they’ve] dropped in the past.”
However, the good news is that CM11 nightlies are expected by the end of this month, with an “unofficial alpha” already started by “individual maintainers.”
In fact, “experimental” KitKat Omni versions are already available for the Galaxy Note, Galaxy S3, Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, LG Optimus G, Galaxy S2, Oppo Find 5, Xperia T, with “many more” to come in the future.
The team has also detailed some of the features that will be available in Omni 4.4 – here’s a list:
Our universal, open source Omni Installer (which actually already works with a couple devices)
A lightweight, and fully open and secure, OTA system
More customization… Than what you ever could think of
Never-before-seen security features (deniable PIN, NFC challenge unlock, different encrypted locations…)
Multi-workspace
OmniLink, an open interface for multiple backend providers of various services (it’s cooler than it sounds)
More (useful) audio filters in DSP Manager to enhance your audio experience
Roadrunner mode
Non-intrusive call notification
Stock SMS app enhancements
Stock Dialer app enhancements
Daydream enhancements
Paranoid Android
Paranoid Android has already released its first AOSP builds for KitKat, and just like AOKP, the team is “starting over with a pure AOSP base” for its KitKat ROM, and “incrementally adding custom functionality.
A release date for the updated Paranoid Android ROM is not available at this time, but the team did say that it will try to offer users an “as close to stock as possible” experience.
That said, we’re not going to advise you to install any custom ROMs on your hardware, and we’ll also remind you that you’re going to be the only person responsible for whatever happens with your devices during such procedures.
What KitKat-based custom ROM are you looking forward to install on your devices?
A set of reportedly leaked images shows the Google Play Store running on a BlackBerry handset with a new operating system version on board, but that’s a feature yet to be confirmed by the Canadian handset maker.
A CrackBerry forum poster has shared the images below, which seem to suggest that BlackBerry users running the upcoming 10.2.1 OS update will get direct access to the Play Store on their handsets.
However, we’ll point out that there’s no way to confirm at this time whether these images are genuine or fake.
Aside from its BBM messaging platform that’s doing tremendously well on Android and iOS devices, BlackBerry doesn’t really have many reasons to be happy about right now.
The company has decided to try to reinvent itself instead of accepting bids from various rumored buyers interested in at least some parts of the BlackBerry operation, so it’ll be interesting to see if this former giant of the mobile business will survive.
In case the images are real, should we understand that one way to reinvent itself would be for BlackBerry to officially support the Google Play Store? We’ll be back with more details for you once we have more evidence to back up the story the images above seem to tell.
Would you buy a BlackBerry handset with Google Play Store support?
As you can see in these images, Verizon’s Moto X will come with the mobile’s operator branding – after all, custom AT&T Moto X handsets have carrier branding on the back as well.
Droid-Life reports that back engravings are also going to be available to buyers, although that’s yet to be officially confirmed.
We expect the MotoMaker landing page for the Moto X to go back up again soon, so make sure you keep checking that URL in case you want to buy a customized Verizon Moto X handset.
This week in your world of Android: Android 4.4 hit (unofficially) a bunch of devices, we learned more about the Google Experience Launcher and the new ART compiler, Samsung teased its future tech, a bunch of core Google apps received updates, and we got a peek at HTC’s future flagship phone.
These are the essential stories, the summary of an entire week in just a few phrases. It’s must read Android.
Android 4.4 update news
Google is keeping mum on its Android 4.4 update plans, but mercifully, some OEMs have been more forthcoming. Meanwhile, hackers and tinkerers have begun to release their own unofficial KitKat-based ROMs.
This week we learned the ins and outs of the new Google Experience Launcher on the Nexus 5. The bad news is that the new app may not make it to other devices.
At Samsung’s Analyst Day event this week, execs talked about tech coming to mobile devices starting next year: from ultra-crisp displays to custom 64-bit processors, the future is bright for Samsung fans.
One of the oldest parts of Android, the Dalvik virtual machine, is approaching retirement. Google’s working on a new VM called ART, that should bring faster app execution and increased stability.
As we get closer to 2014, upcoming flagship devices begin to leak, and the successor to the HTC One is among them. The new M8, due early next year, can’t come soon enough.
Blizzard’s Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft has been confirmed to launch on Android as well, in addition to other platforms, but a release date is not yet available.
Blizzard chief creative officer Rob Pardo made the announcement a BlizzCon earlier this week, revealing that both the iPhone and Android version of the free-to-play Warcraft digital card collectible trade game will be available to mobile users in the second half of 2014.
The game will be available to iPad owners at some point next month, and it’s already playable in closed beta on PC and Mac.
The game promises to offer a lot of Warcraft-based action, although it’s a card game, so don’t expect any World of Warcraft-like play on your mobile devices any time soon.
However, the game will offer access to lots of hero classes, various cards to improve their skills, and leveling up for better cards.
The video above should better help you understand how Hearthstone is played, and why it’ll be a great game for mobile devices.
After the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3, the Galaxy Note 2 seems to be the next in line to get the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update, which is apparently available already in service centers.
Sam Mobile reports that Samsung service centers have access to the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 build, with one phone user in India having already had his device updated to the latest Jelly Bean version (see screenshot below).
According to the publication, the new Galaxy Note 2 firmware is N7100XXUEMJ9, having an October 31 build date.
We have already seen Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 test ROMs leak in the past weeks, so we’re not surprised to see that Samsung is getting ready to roll out the update.
However, while it’s not clear when that will actually happen, we’ll remind you that carriers are also involved in Android update roll outs, which means some Galaxy Note 2 versions will get their Android 4.3 upgrade sooner than others.
We’ll be back with more news about the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update once we have them.
When it comes to advertising, Google’s been doing a great job, better than most Android manufacturers we’d say. Relatable, sweet, feature-focused, and snappy, clips like the Camping TV ad for the original Nexus 7 or the Fear Less spot for the second generation have contributed to the growth of the Nexus range from a niche device to a formidable crowd-pleaser.
Here are two more great Nexus 7 TV ads that you might begin to see over the following weeks. Google highlights the simplicity and convenience of consuming media and apps on a tablet, be it a Shakespeare play or a frantic shoot-em up game.
Speaking of ads, Black Friday, the crazy start of the holiday shopping season is just around the corner. Expect a big marketing push from small and big players alike. Looking forward to anything in particular?
First up this week is the Helpouts app. Google has finally launched helpouts so people who need help can find it by people who can help. The app has launched so far with great reviews and if you haven’t checked out the service yet, now is a great time to do so.
Root users who have the Galaxy Note 3 have been pining for Titanium Backup to fix a problem with restoring backups. With the latest update, that issue is now fixed and you can now restore apps freely without using the restorecon command in the terminal emulator. Also, it’s just a nice root app to have.
Asphalt 8: Airborne, Gameloft’s latest racing game, is now free in the Google Play Store. The game has transitioned to an in-app purchase model, which will probably condemn it to some people but if you want a fairly decent racing game for free, then this is a good pickup.
Google Keyboard has been updated so now you can get the Kitkat version. The biggest and most noticeable feature is the blue being replaced by white. You’ll also have better access to emojis and improved, space-aware gesture typing.
Last on our trending apps list is the popular MMORTS game Clash of Clans. The game has been consistently updated since it was released on Android a short time ago and the most recent one has added some new stuff. These include re-arming bombs instead of replacing them and being able to upgrade explosive traps.
Earlier today the Nexus 5 arrived to Sprint, for $199.99 with special offers and a rebate that brought it’s price down to as low as $50. Now T-Mobile has officially chimed in with its own plans for Google’s latest Nexus.
Just yesterday a report surfaced that suggested that T-Mobile would be getting the Nexus 5 on November 20th. As it turns out, this date was partially correct. While T-Mobile retail stores and select dealers won’t see the handset until the 20th, T-Mobile’s website will start offering the handset on November 14th.
The Nexus 5 will set customers back $41.99 down, with 24 monthly payments of $17. While this is more expensive than getting the device through Google Play, this could still be an appealing option for those that don’t want to pay the full costs upfront.
While the Nexus 5 might not has as strong of a battery or as good of a camera as other comparable flagship devices, it also has a much more affordable price point and the bonus of providing a pure up-to-date Android experience.
For those that need the refresher, the Nexus 5 features a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU with 2GB of RAM. Other specs include 16GB storage, a 1.3MP front cam, 8MP rear cam with OIS, a 2300 mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat with the new Google Experience Launcher.
So how about it, anyone planning on picking up the device from T-Mobile?
Amazon isn’t the first name that comes to mind when you think of Android devices, and that’s understandable – the internet giant took Android and stripped it down to a basic operating system that is geared primarily to consuming Amazon content.
If you live in Amazon’s walled garden, that’s perfectly fine, but how good are the Kindle Fires for a regular Android user? Sure, the price tag is enticing, but is that enough to balance the limited ecosystem and incompatibility with Google’s apps?
We’ll try to answer these questions, and some more, in our Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 review.
Design and build quality
The days when Kindle was synonymous with monochrome displays that were great for reading and not much else are long gone. The third generation Kindle Fire is a fully-fledged tablet that can go toe to toe with just about any competitor. And this shows in the HDX 7’s design and build quality: while its appearance is subdued for the most part, the device has a nice feel and a few design traits that set it apart from the competition.
On the front, the massive bezels stand out a bit, especially if you compare the HDX 7 with competing Android and iOS offerings. Chunky as they are, the bezels do have a big benefit – they make it really easy to hold the tablet, giving you a nice spot to rest your thumbs in portrait or in landscape mode. At 311 grams, the Fire HDX is just a bit heavier than the Nexus 7, but it’s lighter than the iPad Mini 2. The soft touch of the rubbery back cover further improves grip.
The sides of the Kindle Fire HDX are slanted outwards, but you may not notice it until you see that the USB cable or the headphones plug in at a slight angle. This doesn’t take away from the experience, it’s just something we rarely see these days. The angle motif continues on the back, which is a combination of rubbery and glossy materials, reminding us of the design of Google’s Nexus 7. The power and volume buttons on the chamfered sides are round and concave, another design choice that sets the Kindle Fire apart from most devices out there. You may not find them very elegant, but they are easy to spot and press, without having to move your fingers from the holding position.
The orientation of the glossy Amazon logo and buttons clearly indicate that the Kindle Fire HDX 7 is made to be used in landscape mode, ideal for watching movies rented from, where else, Amazon. In this position, the dual stereo speakers are on the top, on the glossy plastic band, so they won’t suffer much from muffling.
Overall, the Kindle Fire HDX 7 feels utilitarian, rather than elegant, with its rubbery cover and conspicuous buttons. It doesn’t look premium, for sure, but that was probably on purpose.
Display
The Kindle Fire HDX is a media consumption machine, through and through. So it’s great that Amazon equipped it with an excellent IPS LCD of Full HD resolution, on par with any other 7-inch tablet out there. In terms of crispness, the 322ppi Fire HDX 7 is on the same level with the Nexus 7 (2013) and iPad Mini 2, making reading small text a pleasure.
Brightness is excellent, so reading in daylight won’t be a problem, though it’s obviously no match for the perfect legibility of E-ink Kindle readers. Watching movies is a joy, thanks to the vivid colors and good contrast levels, and the fine details of video are crystal clear in Full HD.
Amazon didn’t skimp here: the Kindle Fire HDX 7’s screen is as good as they get.
Performance and hardware
Another area where, thankfully, Amazon didn’t skimp is the processing package. You get a Snapdragon 800 processor, coupling four Krait 400 CPU cores running at up to 2.3GHz with an Adreno 330 GPU, along with 2GB of RAM. At least until next year’s generation comes along, this is the best configuration you can get on an Android tablet. Not only is hardware up to snuff, but the simplistic Android-based Fire OS won’t put much strain on it, so the user interface is buttery smooth.
In terms of storage, there are 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB options available, though we can’t really recommend the base version, which has less than 10GB of storage space. Downloading high definition content will quickly fill it up, and there’s no expandable storage to fall back to. Sure, Amazon has a vast collection of cloud offerings, but even so, 32GB or 64GB are just better.
You get a modicum of camera functionality thanks to the front facing 1.3MP webcam, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and that’s about it. You can acquire the Kindle Fired HDX 7 with LTE connectivity, though the version that we tested was WiFi only.
Complementing the great display, the stereo speakers do a surprisingly good job. Not only they are loud enough that you will rarely have to pump up the volume to the max, but they also have a sense of dimension to them, probably thanks to the Dolby enhancements.
Another solid component is the 4550 mAh battery that Amazon rates at 11 hours of usage, a claim backed by our own unscientific test based on binge video watching.
While the Kindle Fire HDX lacks bells and whistles like NFC, rear camera, or microSD, all the essentials are present and of good quality.
Software and ecosystem
This is the department where Amazon’s Kindle Fire strays away from what we’re generally used to in the world of Android.
Amazon tore down Google’s free operating system and rebuilt it in its own image. That means most of the elements you associate with Android are gone, replaced by a minimalist interface centered on a carousel that displays the most recently used apps and media. Swipe up from the carousel and you are shown all the installed apps, in giant, cheerful icons. Above the carousel, there’s a menu that directs you to Amazon’s various offerings, such as Books, Apps, Music, Video, and of course an app for browsing through the retail giant’s catalog.
As an Android fork, Amazon’s Fire OS, which is now on version 3, codenamed Mojito, doesn’t have Google’s blessing, and more importantly, Google’s apps. Staples like Gmail, Google Maps, or YouTube are nowhere to be found, leaving users to do with alternative services or to use the web version of Google’s services. The good news is that, while you’ll miss the power and speed of a native app, you should do pretty well with the web apps alone. And, if you must have your apps, Amazon does offer some basic, yet functional ones, for stuff like email and calendars.
Many of the top apps in the Play Store are available on the Kindle through Amazon’s Appstore, including big names like Facebook or Evernote. As a last resort, you can even sideload applications designed for Android to the Fire HDX 7, which is fairly easy and quick. Not all sideloaded apps work well, and not everyone has the time or skill to do it, but it’s an option.
The sole reason for the Kindle Fire to exist is the huge catalog of, well, everything that Amazon peddles through it. From diapers to laptops, from ebooks to TV series, you can buy anything on the Fire HDX, quickly and without hassle, especially if you subscribe to Prime, Amazon’s premium service that gives you free shipping and free access to Instant Video.
For parents, the Kindle Fire HDX 7 has a nifty little feature called FreeTime, that allows them to set a time limit on activities that kids can do on the device, such as web browsing, watching video, using apps, or reading.
The most striking feature of Fire OS 3, though, is Mayday, the video-based customer support channel that’s built right into the OS. Just drop down the notification shade, press the Mayday button, and in 15 seconds at most (so Amazon claims) you will be in contact with a support representative, ready to walk you through the OS, help you troubleshoot, or simply answer your questions. The support reps can see your screen and even draw on it, but they can’t see you. Mayday may not be a compelling feature if you’re a techie, but for so many less savvy users, it’s a godsend. And, regardless if you need it or not, it impresses through its speed and simplicity.
Pricing
Depending on the configuration you choose, the Kindle Fire HDX 7 can set you back between $229 for the 16GB, Wi-Fi Only version with Special Offers, and $424, for the 64GB, LTE model with no Special Offers. Special Offers is basically an ad subsidy – you get to buy the device for $15 less and in exchange Amazon gets to display ads on the lockscreen of the device. It’s not as obtrusive as it sounds, because you only see the ads when you unlock the screen.
Final thoughts
The Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 is a great little tablet. It has high-end specs, a beautiful, crisp display, nice speakers, and solid battery life. In terms of hardware, it’s exactly what you need from a tablet geared for entertainment and consuming media. Games are speedy, watching movies is a joy, as it is reading and shopping for content.
If you’re perfectly happy with the Amazon ecosystem, you don’t really need more than the Kindle Fire HDX. However, know that you will be missing out Google’s entire set of apps, as well as on many Android apps that you won’t be able to run on your Kindle. Also, Fire OS is far less flexible than Android, though again, that might not matter unless you’re a power user.
