We had another busy week at TalkAndroid so here’s a recap of all the top stories.The excitement and speculation surrounding the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 Kit Kat continues to build. A decent amount of information has been uncovered thanks to a Nexus 5 log file and the service manual, as well as a slew of screenshots from Android 4.4. Samsung and LG are about to embark on the next big battle: flexible displays. Samsung will probably get first dibs, but LG won’t be too far behind. The woes continue for HTC, but they deserve a round of applause for getting the Android 4.3 update out faster than everyone else. Google continues to keep the Chromecast from blossoming, but we are excited that Hulu Plus is now supporting it. It’s time to get caught up and get ready for another exciting week.
Guides
Accessories
Remote Wireless charging could be a reality in 2015 thanks to Cota technology
Premature SPIGEN Nexus 5 case on Amazon met with sarcastic reviews, hints at October 31 release date
Pioneer updates their heads-up displays to restrain drivers from being distracted
Samsung jumps into wireless audio speaker market with new Shape product
Apps – New
‘Agent’ app promises to offer a more effective, useful personal assistant
Samsung releases PEN.UP in the Play Store, allows Note II and Note 3 owners to share S Pen artwork
Sony explains PlayStation app, set to release alongside PlayStation 4
CBS releases new app providing streaming, full HD episodes of shows
Gameloft’s Modern Combat 5 to be delayed until 2014
Cut The Rope 2 to be released by Zeptolabs in time for the holiday season
Apps – Updates
Samsung’s ChatOn instant messaging service hits 100 million registered users
Google Play Music All Access arrives in seven new European countries
Hulu Plus now supports Chromecast
Watch ABC streaming app updated to add support for seven new devices
Rdio enables free streaming for their 20 million songs
Google Search updated to include redesigned results and notifications for people
Ads are now showing up in Gmail’s Promotions folder in the Android app
Instagram aims to add “natural” advertisements to your feed
Carriers
AT&T to begin deploying fiber network in Austin, Texas to compete with Google Fiber
Target confirms previously leaked Brightspot prepaid mobile plan
MetroPCS adds LG Optimus F6 to portfolio
Sprint HTC One to receive Android 4.3 today
T-Mobile bringing Classic plans to an end at national retailers
Leak suggests refreshed partnership between T-Mobile and Target
T-Mobile kicking off October with no money down on ‘Amazing Devices’
T-Mobile tweet teases Phase 3 of #UnCarrier Revolution, features Shakira
MotoMaker likely heading to Verizon on November 11
HTC One Max images show the phablet with Verizon logo
Verizon leads pack in smartphone sales, T-Mobile marks a change
Verizon to honor unlimited data upgrades from this weekend, fixes loophole
Chromebooks
Chromebooks now account for 22% of computers in schools in the US
Chromecast
Hulu Plus now supports Chromecast
Is Amazon Set to Release a Chromecast/Apple TV Competitor?
Gaming
Humble Mobile Bundle 2 updates with three new games
Google Play vending machines arrive in Japan
Apple and Google overtake Coca-Cola as most valuable brands, but Apple gets the edge
Google rolling out updates to Chrome for Android and for the desktop
Tech startup Flutter acquired by Google
Jelly Bean now on just about 50% of Android devices, Gingerbread keeps on ticking
Recent Google report suggests Android malware at a minimum on Google Play enabled devices
Google Glass
Google now accepting Glassware applications for review process
Hardware
LG to match Samsung by unveiling their own smartphone with a flexible display in October
Quad and octa-core MediaTek processors to come to Samsung devices in 2014
Phones – Amazon
Amazon smartphone project seems to be back in the works according to latest rumors
Phones – HTC
HTC Butterfly 2 front panels leak
HTC One Max will still have Beats Audio, despite selling off remaining stake
More images of the HTC One Max leak, shows off removable back and poses with Galaxy Note 3
HTC One Max images show the phablet with Verizon logo
Canadian carriers updating HTC One to Android 4.3
HTC faces U.S. import ban after ITC judge rules in favor of Nokia
HTC takes home gold thrice at T3 Gadget Awards, including ‘Phone of the Year,’ ‘Gadget of the Year’
HTC to roll out Android 4.3 to AT&T’s One next week
Sprint HTC One to receive Android 4.3 today
Verizon approves minor DROID DNA update, doesn’t include Sense 5 or Android 4.2.2
Phones – Lenovo
Lenovo announces Vibe X and Vibe Z smartphones to tackle the international market
Phones – LG
LG to match Samsung by unveiling their own smartphone with a flexible display in October
LG’s first curved smartphone to be called the G Flex
LG F340 shows up in benchmarks, could be curved G Flex
LG G Pro Lite Dual may have a stylus
MetroPCS adds LG Optimus F6 to portfolio
Phones – Motorola
AT&T’s Moto X receiving camera and Touchless Control update
MotoMaker likely heading to Verizon on November 11
Images of low cost Motorola DVX surface thanks to FCC documents
Phones – Nexus
Nexus 5 to sport a nano SIM card slot
Another Nexus 5 image surfaces, looks like previous shots
Nexus 5 Android 4.4 log file reveals OIS, USB OTG support, and updated stock apps
Nexus 5 to raise the bar with MEMS camera technology
Premature SPIGEN Nexus 5 case on Amazon met with sarcastic reviews, hints at October 31 release date
Nexus 5 specs all but confirmed due to purported service manual leak
Phones – Pantech
Pantech to release the Vega Note, a stylus-wielding phablet, on October 10th
Phones – Samsung
Samsung to unveil Galaxy Note 3 with curved display next week, LG to follow up with the curved LG Z
Possible Samsung curved screen smartphone spotted on benchmark site
Samsung caught juicing benchmarks again, this time with the Galaxy Note 3
Samsung responds to Galaxy Note 3 benchmarking issues
Samsung releases 60-second commercial spot ‘Dreams’ to promote Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear
Galaxy Note III with dual-SIM launches in Asian markets, not region-locked
Galaxy S4, Note 3 will not be receiving full 8-core Exynos performance patch
Android 4.3 test firmware leaked for Samsung Galaxy S 4
Phones – Sharp
Sharp announces Aquos Xx and Aquos Xx Mini
Phones – Sony
Xperia Z1 f (aka Honami Mini) specs and pictures leak
Sony Xperia Z1 f likely to appear at NTT DoCoMo’s Winter Presentation in Japan
Sony Xperia Z1 f brochure leaks with images
Phones – Xiaomi
Xiaomi MI3 with Tegra 4 to be released October 15, variant with Snapdragon 800 to come later
Phones – ZTE
Unlocked ZTE Grand S and Nubia 5 coming to the U.S. available for pre-order October 5
Smartwatches
Samsung releases 60-second commercial spot ‘Dreams’ to promote Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear
Samsung Galaxy Gear firmware based on Android 4.2.2
Rumor: Nexus smartwatch codenamed ‘Gem’ could be unveiled October 31
Tablets
Archos launches three new “Platinum” Android tablets
ASUS Nexus 10 nearing a release according to @evleaks
Dell announces Venue 7 and Venue 8 Android tablets, beginning at $149
Nexus 7 LTE 2013 receives surprise Android 4.3.1 update
Upcoming RCA Internet Music System includes a removable 7-inch Android tablet
Updates
A slew of Android 4.4 screenshots leak, plus an Easter Egg
Canadian carriers updating HTC One to Android 4.3
Android 4.3 test firmware leaked for Samsung Galaxy S 4
Sprint HTC One to receive Android 4.3 today
Early Android 4.3 test firmware for Samsung Galaxy Note II leaked
Nexus 7 LTE 2013 receives surprise Android 4.3.1 update
Verizon approves minor DROID DNA update, doesn’t include Sense 5 or Android 4.2.2
HTC to roll out Android 4.3 to AT&T’s One next week
AT&T’s Moto X receiving camera and Touchless Control update
Miscellaneous
Samsung invests in PowerbyProxi to push the Qi standard for wireless charging
Android tablet sales surpass Apple’s iPad for the first time ever in Q2 of 2013
Jimmy Kimmel offers a cure for iOS 7 motion sickness victims
Samsung Mobile chief product officer leaves company
Samsung HomeSync will be available in the US on October 6 for $299
Samsung could invest in Best Buy
HTC posts large losses in Q3 2013, continuing on their downward spiral
ComScore numbers for August shows a slight dip in Android while Apple and Samsung see growth
Google, Cisco, and SAP may be placing bids on BlackBerry
Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Weekly Recap for September 30 – October 6, 2013
Powered by WPeMatico
