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Here we go folks! We are going to jump right into announcing our 5 winners of the Seidio Active Case/Clarivue Screen Protector for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Giveaway! The 5 lucky winners that were chosen at random are...........

• ruvy01
• djsiva
• warped1987
• p1ngputts
• jkaod

Congratulations everyone! We hope you are enjoying your brand spanking new Galaxy S4's and we know you will love the gifts you just won! Congrats!

For those of you who didn't win, you can take advantage of a 20% Discount on all their screen protectors! See details below!

Get 20% off any Clarivue Screen Protector
Excludes TV Screen Covers
Coupon Code: droidforum
Expires: July 31, 2013

There is a multitude of trivia games on the Play Store that can be had, played and enjoyed. There is one particular trivia game, however, that promises you a “twisted experience,” entitled YOU DON’T KNOW JACK! This amusing and fun app has finally made it over to Android, much to the delight of many fans. I can usually tell when non-Android apps have been ported over to Android. They tend to have a very well designed interface with exceptional graphics, and YDKJ is no exception. From the opening JellyVision logo, straight into the game, it is evident that the design team has taken great care into the aesthetics of the game interface, and, if you know me, you know I am all about aesthetics.

The objective of this game is really nothing earth shattering. It is a trivia game in which you get asked questions that you try and answer correctly. You can challenge friends on Facebook or just play against complete strangers. It is like Words With Friends but with FUNNY added in. What really shines here is the narration and dialogue. It is simply hilarious. As a parent I would definitely say this is a PG-13 rating, but please review the content before letting your kids play. The narrator/host Cookie Masterson is brilliant, with one liners and zings that sometimes make you forget you are playing a mobile game. The light-hearted insults are sometimes so good and bad you can’t help but just laugh, even when you lose like a total idiot.


(Continue Reading @ Android Dissected)

For folks who like to use PdaNet and/or FoxFi, but just got the new Samsung Galaxy S4, you might be running into some problems. Luckily, our amazing forum members are already discussing the subject and working out solutions. It looks like, for the most part, it works better on the SGS4 than it did on the SGS3 (although some folks didn't seem to have any problems on that phone either). It's interesting that these apps/services don't list the SGS4 as compatible, yet it can be made to work. Even though it can function properly on the device, it seems there can be some confusion regarding a few of the features.

If this is of interest to you, head over to the thread and join in on the discussion: http://www.droidforums.net/forum/sam...galaxy-s4.html

As I sit here at FF HQ in Austin, TX staring out the window, it is raining. The sky is dark like the evening even though it is only 3PM in the afternoon. A slow rumble of thunder can be heard in the distance, and all of these elements come together painting a somber picture. I can't help but think this must be what it is like to be working for HTC right now as I am about to share the latest news from them.

There are two new dark clouds gathering over the horizon for HTC. First, HTC is being assailed from the outside again. Nokia, now firmly in bed with Microsoft, has just filed to block the US import of the HTC One, claiming six new patent infringements added to the 44 it has already claimed against the beleaguered OEM. Here's a quick quote with some of the details,

The ITC legal attack sees six patents join the 44 Nokia has already claimed infringement of by HTC, and includes how internal components are arranged in a unibody device, how signal-to-noise ratio is handled in speech and data, and several elements to do with Google’s Android OS.

For instance, Nokia claims HTC infringes its patent on the video encoding/decoding with Android’s VP8 codec, something FOSS Patents suggests might even force Google to look instead to H.264 which may be more legally palatable. H.264 would involve royalties, but at least avoid wholesale import bans of the sort which Nokia is chasing.

“We began actions against HTC in 2012 to end the unauthorized use of our proprietary innovations and technologies” Nokia said in a statement on the newly added patent action. “Since then, despite the German courts confirming infringements of Nokia patents in HTC products, HTC has shown no intention to end its practices; instead it has tried to shift responsibility to its suppliers. We have therefore taken these further steps to hold HTC accountable for its actions.” ~ SlashGear

This isn't the worst news for HTC right now, however. It seems the recent exodus of executives from the company is actually the least of their worries. According to the reputable and reliable blogger Sascha Pallenberg, who supposedly has insider information of the inner workings at HTC right now, the real problem at HTC is the large number of engineers and designers who have left for sunnier pastures. This has left the company hobbled and broken from within, and according to Pallenberg, HTC is now "in survival mode."

At this point it's hard not to feel sorry for the embattled former industry leader. At the same time that HTC's leadership is imploding over the failure of the HTC First (Facebook Phone), we find out there is also a mass departure of engineers and designers. On top of that, they are now getting hammered with more lawsuits designed to stop the sale of the only phone that can save them. It's like Nokia is still kicking an already defeated opponent.

It's amazing how quickly the sky can go from sunny to scary. The HTC One is selling very well and has hit 5 Million units shipped, but will that be enough for HTC to weather the storm?

Source: Google+ Sascha Pallenberg

We have a couple of interesting pics for you guys this afternoon. At a Thailand Mobile Expo these pics were snapped of Android 4.3 running on a Nexus 4 device. As you can see, the device is running a new build, JWR45B. From the second pic you can also notice that the UI doesn't look very different, but that is not unexpected since this is likely just an incremental update.

The timing of this could mean we might see the new version of Android fairly soon. Of course, no specifics are forthcoming, but we will keep an eye out and share any developments as soon as we spot them.

Update: Video added showing some new Camera UI





Source: XDA

The new super-phone from Samsung, the Galaxy S4 has been in people's hands for a few weeks (or days in the case of Verizon). Now that you guys have had a chance to spend time with the new device, we would like to get your perspective of it.

We also wanted to call attention to a great conversation thread already started on the subject here: http://www.droidforums.net/forum/sam...pressions.html

In the mean-time here is a poll to gauge your relative excitement for the SGS4 now that you guys have it in hand.

Are you?

A: Blown away by this incredible device!

B: Happy but not overly impressed, finding it to be solid but unremarkable.

C: Slightly disappointed because it wasn't as awesome as you expected.

D: Other

AT&T just enacted a new administrative fee of $.61 cents to the bills of its wireless subscribers. Most people won't even bat an eye at such a paltry price increase, and apparently AT&T is counting on that. At worst, when some folks see the fee they may have a twinge of frustration that a new fee has been added, but its small amount might not even get the attention of others. What is interesting is that this new fee will actually generate over $500 Million more dollars for the company, and there is no reason for it whatsoever. In fact, a research analyst recently commented that the only reason they are adding this fee is simply "because they can."

Joe Hoffman, principal analyst at ABI Research said, “Why would AT&T do this? Because they can, and it is all in the pricing strategy. Now that AT&T is comfortable with their shiny new pricing tools and flexibility that comes with them, looks like someone in the Executive MBA program has discovered Price Elasticity of Demand.” Furthermore, there is talk that they may even introduce slight increases to this fee over a period of six to nine months, just to gauge the reaction.

Mr. Hoffman elaborated,

“Why 61˘, why not $1 or $5 or $10? Because AT&T understands price elasticity of demand. When AT&T raises the price by 61˘, they know hardly anyone is going to bail on them, and so can impose this with impunity. $1 or $5 or $10 is just too much to swallow all at once, but give them time. For now, $500 – $600 Million will flow right to the bottom line. Brilliant! No fancy software tools, no focus groups, no high priced engineers and programmers, and no iPhone subsidies. Just a raw, brute force price increase.”

What do you guys think? At what level would a price increase start sending you heading for another carrier?

Source: BGR

It looks like forces are moving in the industry and the manufacturing phase of Google Glass is pushing forward. New intel has surfaced that Samsung will be providing the OLED displays for the consumer version of the Google Glass wearable computer. Here's a quote with the details,

The current versions of Glass, which Google has so far sold to developers and enthusiasts through the Explorer program, is said to feature a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) microdisplay, though official technical information isn’t available.

If the report is accurate, Samsung will provide OLED on silicon displays to replace the LCOS technology. OLEDs (organic light emitting diodes) require no backlighting, as liquid crystal displays do, which may let Google save space in the Glass by removing the lighting source. In addition, OLEDs have lower power requirements than LCDs, which is important in applications where the size of the battery is limited, such as Glass.

At the Society for Information Display convention in Vancouver, Samsung Display’s CEO hinted at this collaboration: “OLED on silicon may be used for glasses-type, augmented-reality devices much like the Google Glass”. The executive went on to say that Samsung’s flexible OLED technology could be used in other wearable devices, such as smartwatches and health bands. Sources told Android Authority ahead of Google I/O that the Mountain View company is working on a smartwatch that has been demoed internally in several offices. ~ AndroidAuthority

It's interesting how hindsight allows us to read between the lines of statements made in the past and see the hidden meaning. It's also interesting to see the relationship between Google and Samsung continue to strengthen despite all the media speculation that Samsung is looking for a way to dump Android in favor of Tizen. Perhaps Samsung is simply "hedging their bets" and creating a backup plan in case things go sour with Google. After the way things went with Apple, it's hard to blame them.

If you are in the market for an ultra-affordable tablet, you might want to head into your nearest Walmart. Hisense just officially launched two new super-cheap tablets that are already on sale there. They are the Hisense Sero 7 LT which retails for $99.99 and the Sero 7 PRO for $149.99. Despite their inexpensive price, these tablets have decent specs. In fact, they are fairly comparable to last year's Nexus 7 tablet. Here's a press release with all the details,

Hisense Launches Sero 7 LT and NVIDIA Tegra 3-Powered Sero 7 PRO Android Tablets Exclusively at Walmart

Category-Leading Battery Performance, Screen Quality And Pricing Redefine Value For Broadest Market Appeal

New York, NY, May 23, 2013 – Hisense today entered the tablet marketplace with the Sero 7 Series, delivering category-leading battery performance, stunning screen quality and exceptional value. The Hisense Sero 7 PRO ($149) and the Sero 7 LT ($99) are available in Walmart stores and on Walmart.com on May 24.

“Hisense is proud to introduce cutting-edge tablet technology that is accessible to the broadest demographic, with unmatched performance in the current market landscape,” said Jonathan Frank, Vice President of Marketing, Hisense USA. “Our new Hisense Sero 7 tablets provide Walmart customers with an attractive, robust and highly powerful entertainment, communication and productivity tool.”Powerful, High Quality Tablet at $149

Hisense Sero 7 PRO is a 7-inch 1280 x 800 High Definition touch screen powered by NVIDIA's Tegra 3 quad-core processor and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Key features include:• NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor

• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

• 7 inch, 1280 x 800 IPS display

• 1GB of RAM

• 8GB of on-board memory

• 2.0MP front camera

• 5.0MP rear camera with flash and auto-focus

• Mini HDMI, SD, and USB ports

• 10-hour battery life – Twonky Beam, which allows users to share local and Internet resources with other equipment via a DLNA network• Built-in NFC (Near Field Communications) to share pictures, playlists and videos clips

• Bluetooth enabled, providing secure transmission of data to and from devices

“Tegra 3′s quad-core processor and fifth battery saver core deliver outstanding performance and amazing battery life,” said John Lonergan, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Americas, NVIDIA. “The Hisense Sero 7 PRO, powered by Tegra 3, functions effortlessly with battery-saving technology and brilliant graphic capabilities, providing an amazing experience at a fantastic price for consumers.”$99 Tablet With Stunning Screen, Unmatched Features

The Sero 7 LT is a feature-packed introductory tablet that is the foundation for the Sero 7 family. It is a perfect gift, PC companion or introduction of technology to a young child at just $99. Features include:• 1.6 GHz dual core processor

• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

• 7 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display

• Built-in WiFi, Mini HDMI, SD, and Micro USB ports

• 1GB of RAM

• 4GB internal memory

In addition to being Google Play certified which provides users with an almost-endless array of apps, games and more, the Hisense Sero 7 tablets come preinstalled with VUDU, walmart.com, sams.com, Nook eReader, Pandora Internet Music, Facebook and NVIDA's TegraZone applications.

“Driven by enthusiastic, technology-loving consumers combined with dynamic and progressive app stores, the tablet has quickly evolved from a standalone computing device into a highly connected, eminently-useful component of the home ecosystem. As one of the largest and most advanced true CE manufacturers – with offerings in entertainment, communication, HVAC and white goods – it's fitting that Hisense makes a strong showing in the tablet sector and today's introduction of Sero 7 comprehensively achieves this goal!” concluded Frank.

For more

... [Read More]

This intel comes from DigiTimes, which has a sketchy history on reliability, but because they sometimes get it right, we felt it was worth sharing with you guys. Supposedly, AUO (AU Optronics) will be providing the newly improved 1900 x 1200 display panels for the next generation Nexus 7. Google is still partnering up with Asus for the overall device, but even Asus uses third parties for its displays, making this rumor more likely to be accurate. Here's a quote with some of the details,

Co-created by Google and Asustek Computer, the second-generation Nexus 7 will start shipping the end of the second quarter and is expected to hit market shelves in the third quarter, according to supply-chain sources. The new tablet will feature a 7-inch low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) panel, produced mainly by AU Optronics (AUO), the sources claimed.

DigiTimes also shared that Asus and Google expect to ship a great deal more units of the new Nexus 7, to the tune of 8 Million for all of 2013. If this information turns out to be correct, that means we are only a couple months away from a launch for the new Nexus 7. As always, stay tuned and we will share more details when they hit the electronic highway.

Source: DigiTimes

It's amazing what a truly talented digital artist can come up with sometimes. The above pic is a concept render of a device idea that Samsung patented not too long ago. The idea is a flexible tablet whose bottom portion folds to create a stand and keyboard. Below is the picture from Samsung's patent filing to show you a good comparison. Here are the supposed specs of the device:

• Flexible AMOLED screen
• 1920X1080 pixels
• 10.1 inch
• 2 GB RAM
• 32 GB internal memory
• Expandable up to 64 GB
• 1.6 GHz Exynos 5 Octa processor
• 3 megapixel front camera
• 8000 mAh battery

There is no word on if this leaked render is actually "official," or is simply a fan's production, although there was some additional info shared with this render suggesting it might be something in the production stages right now.

Source: PhoneArena

Sprint users who are ready to pull the trigger on purchasing the new HTC One flagship will be wise to check out Amazon's new deal. You can grab the phone for just $99.99 on a contract renewal, or if you are signing up for new Sprint service it's only $79.99. This is an amazing bargain for a phone that many consider to be better than the Samsung Galaxy S4 (at least according to a plethora of reviews around the web).

The deal works for either the Silver or the Black version, and is $100-120 bucks cheaper than if you get it directly through Sprint. Here is a link below to grab yours.

Source: Amazon