THE SMARTPHONE THREAD

[Kurtis]

mandem. if someone was to THEORETICALLY loan an android phone (GSIII) to a lady friend

 

are there any apps to track its location/whereabouts in the background? dont matter if it needs to be rooted

[Lenny]

GPS Tracking pro? or any other GPS tracker in the play store

Just make sure you hide the app in the app draw

Disclaimer: I've never done such a thing

[Kurtis]

can you check its location in like a web browser and stuff?

[Lenny]

I'm pretty sure you can

[Kurtis]

noooice

 

safe

[Benicio del Toney]

Yeah I had 1 of them gps trackers on my blackberry before, needs to stay on.

 

Drains battery like woah tho.

[gattsu]

what happens if she just turns the gps off, like any senseible person would

[time_bomb]

yea ive used them on bb and iphone, must be on android.

[Kurtis]

what happens if she just turns the gps off, like any senseible person would

 

we're talking about a female fam

[Tee]

Lol

[Kurtis]

oh snap MWC starts today

 

thought it was tomorrow

 

this is so sad. but i dont wanna sleep so i can follow it on like 3 blogs

 

ZTE have a firefox OS phone theyre gonna show, Galaxy Note 8 which will show the design Galasy S IV will follow.

 

should be a couple good nuggets in there, man are saying Hyundai may have a tablet

[Kurtis]

could go in the other topic but ill put it here cause it gets more traffic

 

 

 

 

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 preview: an 8-inch S Pen tablet that's also a phone

 

 

 

An updated, larger Galaxy Note from Samsung was inevitable. Given the undeniable popularity of mid-size tablets (see: Apple iPad mini), it's no surprise the Korean electronics giant would want to strengthen its foothold in a category it helped create. It was just three short years ago that Samsung introduced theGalaxy Tab and now, three Notes later, it's ready to perfect the one-handed experience. With this new Note, the company's culled the best of what's around its Galaxy into an 8-inch form factor, housing a 1,280 x 800 TFT display, Exynos 4 Quad with 2GB RAM (clocked at 1.6GHz), TouchWiz-skinned Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 OS, S Pen (and suite of associated apps), as well as radios for HSPA+ and WiFi into that familiar, lightweight plastic body.

But that extra inch alone isn't the Galaxy Note 8.0's main attraction. Samsung's wisely made use of the additional screen real estate to bundle two extra features. Building upon market research that indicates over 80-percent of tablet use takes place within the living room, the company's partnered with Peel for its Smart Remote app, a visual programming guide with remote control functions baked-in that comes pre-loaded on the tab. And, in keeping with its portrait oriented design, the Note 8.0 also incorporates what the company calls "reading mode," effectively optimizing the slate's display for comfortable e-book use.

 

 

If you've spent any amount of time with the Note II, you'll know what to expect from the Note 8.0 as its external design is incredibly similar. You get the same all around plastic build -- ringed here with metal -- ports for microSD and micro-SIM, 3.5mm headphone jack and physical home key. But where the Note 8.0 strays is one of its key improvements: users can now effect the capacitive menu and back buttons using the S Pen. Admittedly, it takes a bit of retraining to get used to -- you'll want to use your finger out of habit -- but it's a wonder Samsung took so long to implement something so crucial. So, you can officially hang up that gripe right now.

At 338 grams (11.9 ounces), the Note 8.0's not much heavier than the iPad mini and as it's made to be held one-handed, you shouldn't feel much wrist strain with extended use. We were able to comfortably grip the entire back of the 7.95mm thick tablet, which measures 210.8mm x 135.9mm (8.3 x 5.4 inches), in our hand while navigating with the S Pen in the other. The Note 8.0's back is non-removable, but that bit's rendered moot by the accessibility of the microSD and micro-SIM slots on the tablet's left edge and a sealed 4,600mAh battery.

 

 

 

With a 1.6GHz Eynos 4 Quad CPU and 2GB RAM under the hood, you'd expect the Note 8.0 to showcase nothing but brisk performance. Unfortunately, that didn't appear to be the case as there were occasional moments where the tablet seemed to slightly hesitate before executing actions -- things like dual window view for multitasking or simple app launches. This being the tablet's official unveiling, it's quite possible the model we handled could still benefit from software optimization. So, we'll refrain from passing definitive judgement until a final review unit is in our hands. Apart from that, viewing angles held up well and display brightness shouldn't pose a major issue outdoors in bright sunlight. Though, it is weird to see a Samsung product without an AMOLED screen -- this one's TFT.

Reading mode and Smart Remote are clearly the Note 8.0's two biggest software features, but to make the tab just a bit more alluring, Samsung's pre-loading two other applications suited to the Note 8.0's form and function. Out of the box, users will have access to an S Pen-optimized version of Flipboard which enables Air View hover functionality and headline previews from the main tile page (up to three, in our experience). Also, as a first for Android and Samsung, Awesome Note (a cloud-based annotation app previously available only on iOS) has been integrated into the device as a free service, exclusive to the OEM for one year.

 

 

 

We'd be remiss if we didn't point out that the global version of the Note 8.0 also packs HSPA+ 21 connectivity (850/900/1900/2100MHz). So, yes, you will be able to hold it up to your head and make voice calls however silly that may look. Of course, it's more likely that prospective users will want to pair the tab with earbuds and thus reduce the risk of public humiliation. But this voice call perk won't be heading stateside. Samsung's confirmed to us that, as of now, the US market will see a WiFi-only variant and its specs could change slightly, too. An LTE variant is also on deck.

Details on pricing and regional release dates are still be announced. Just don't hold your breath for that news to come this week. What we do know for certain is that there'll be two storage configurations -- 16GB and 32GB -- for the global unit's launch sometime this second quarter. So while you wait for the Note 8.0 to make its slow crawl to market, check out our demo video above and feel free to sound off in the comments below.

 

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/23/samsung-galaxy-note-8-preview/

 

video on there

[Kurtis]

[Kurtis]

 

 

ZTE Open announced at MWC 2013, we go hands-on

 

 

 

Alcatel wasn't the only one to flash some Firefox OS hardware at Mozilla's big MWC event. ZTE was also showing off two shades of its new smartphone, the Open. The device will launch in orange and blue in global territories starting in Q2. It has a very handy 3.5-inch screen, meaning there's no issues holding it in one hand but there's not a lot of premium feel going on here. The plastic shell felt like any low-end Android device, though we won't fault the grippy finish here.

Other specs (that we've already snuck a peek at) include a Cortex-A5-based Qualcomm processor that could be clocked at either 600MHz or 800MHz -- we're trying to get a confirmation on that. There's also 256MB of RAM, 512MB of storage and a humble 3.2-megapixel camera on the back. The 480 x 320 screen itself is nothing to shout home about. Again, it feels like a flashback to those sub-$150 smartphones that did the rounds back in 2011. While it's not the flashiest spec sheet, ZTE (and Firefox) are pitching this at those millions of future smartphone users that haven't already plumped for a mobile OS. The search function looks pretty pervasive, able to tap into apps, the web and more in search of the answer you're looking for. Specific carriers will be able to add in their own apps (pre-installed or not) for its customers. We got a quick glimpse at a data monitoring app that could pull together your data habits and respective carrier plans -- even if there's no word on a US release beyond some time in 2014. We're uploading a video right now -- come back soon for the full tour.

 

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/24/zte-open-hands-on/

 

cool for emerging markets

[Kurtis]

 

 

OPTiM outs wireless smartphone-to-smartphone screen sharing and remote control app for Android

 

 

One of the more notable features of BlackBerry 10 is built-in screensharing, but here in Barcelona at MWC 2013, OPTiM has just one-upped Waterloo with a new app for Android. It not only lets users share screens, but it also allows them toremotely control devices over WiFi. Called Optia for Android, it works with handsets running Android 2.3 and up, and has a built-in chat function for facilitating communication while screensharing. Naturally, the app's a boon to IT pros who manage devices from afar, but it should also prove useful for helping you teach mom and dad how to use the fancy new smartphones you got them for Christmas. The app's currently free from Google Play, though only for a limited time. Head on past the break for a video of Optia in action, and you can grab the app at the source link below.

 

 

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/25/optim-android-smartphone-to-smartphone-screen-sharing-app

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUHMNgkOBrs

[Lenny]

Nexus users what ROM are you using?

I'm still on stock

[Shatterstar]

Nexus users what ROM are you using?

I'm still on stock

Same, can't think of a reason too change tbh

[R1.]

Do you man get a 2 seconds delay when you answer calls?

[Kurtis]

There's also a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera, and one of the new features LG's talking up is the ability to film from both lenses at the same time, displaying one feed on top of the other -- perfect for embedding your reaction to something awesome while showing that very spectacle at the same time.

 

 

LG Optimus G Pro

 

thats pretty cool

[Kurtis]

cant wait for a 10" phone

 

 

 

 

 

ASUS FonePad official: 7-inch tablet with phone functionality, priced at $249 (hands-on)

 

 

 

We already knew ASUS was prepping a product called the FonePad, a 7-inch tablet with built-in phone functionality (yes, just like the new Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0). Well, ASUS just formally unveiled it here at Mobile World Congress, which means we've got a few more details to share than we did previously. First off, the speculation about its specs was all true: this does indeed have an Intel processor -- a 1.2GHz Atom Z2420, to be exact -- along with 1GB of RAM, a PowerVR SGX540 GPU, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and an HSPA+ radio. What's more, the 4,270mAH battery is said to get up to nine hours of runtime, which would put this in the same league as other Atom tablets we've tested recently.

In terms of hardware features, the FonePad has a smooth metal back (available in gray and gold), making it drastically different in appearance from the similarly sizedNexus 7. 'Round back you'll find a panel where all the usual antennae are, and hidden underneath are both the micro-SIM slot and the microSD reader. That microSD slot, by the way, supports 32GB cards, which should come in handy considering this has just 16GB of built-in storage. Additionally, the tablet has a 1.2-megapixel front camera, attached to a 7-inch, 1,280 x 800 IPS display.

The FonePad will be available in Europe for £179 / €219. Here at MWC, ASUS also confirmed a US dollar price of $249, though we had heard rumblings it wouldn't actually be sold there. It arrives in March, but the specific on-sale date hasn't been revealed yet. We're hoping to test one ourselves soon enough, but until then, stay tuned for the usual round of hands-on shots.

Update: Our hands-on photos and video are in! Enjoy!

 

 

 

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/25/asus-fonepad-announced/

 

[Kurtis]

 

 

LG Optimus G Pro

Galaxy Note 8

ASUS PadFone Infinity

ASUS FonePad

Hawaii Ascend Mate

 

WHAT ARE MAN DOING TO ME?

[Kurtis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diT6husJHQ8

 

how cool do they look when they have it to their ear?

[Lenny]

Why has it got a Intel Atom though

[Kurtis]

intel prob subsidied it in some way to get that ugly logo on the back

[Tee]

Im lookin to try flash a rom

Im not sure what note 2 rom to use

On that site theres a few note 2 sections so not sure what one im ment to use

Aint lookin to brick my ting

Lil help peaple