R
Robert Nazarian
Guest
We were expecting an ordinary week in the land of Android, but let’s just say that things were very interesting. It all started with rumors that the Nexus line will end soon. Then Google dropped a pretty big surprise bomb by announcing they have sold Motorola to Lenovo. Throw in the news that Google and Samsung now have a cross-licensing patent agreement, and you really have to wonder what exactly is going on? The Nexus 5 in red seems to be ready for a release this week, and we continue to get a leaks regarding the upcoming Galaxy S 5 and HTC One successor (M8). We also got a little more information on the Nokia X, but is anyone excited for it? It’s time to get caught up and get ready for another exciting week.
Editorials
Why did the Google-Motorola marriage end so quickly?
Reviews
Combat Creatures Stealth Stryder App-Attacknid review
Apps – New
THX releases tune-up app for Android to help get TVs just right for the Games
Microsoft brings Bing Rewards to Android and iOS with support for Windows Phone devices in the works
Apps – Updates
Twitter updates app with better photo editing, news feed features
Waze isn’t going anywhere, starts a new beta program to test new features
Android Device Manager update adds extra level of protection
PDF and EPUB support are back with Google Play Books update
Google adds ability to scan loyalty cards to Google Wallet app
Yahoo Mail hacked: You should probably change your password
Cameras
Sony set to launch SPA-TA1 tablet attachment for QX10/QX100 lens-style cameras
Carriers
HTC One now updated to Android 4.4 KitKat on select Candaian carriers
Android 4.4 Kitkat firmware for the AT&T Galaxy S4 leaked
AT&T HTC One X to get Android 4.2.2, Sense 5 by end of week
AT&T Family Plan on Demand delayed by Beats Music [Updated]
AT&T offering $100 bill credit for new lines on all new and existing customer accounts
ZTE Boost Max phablet launches on Boost Mobile
Moto X now available at Phones 4u a few days early
Sprint expands its 4G LTE network to 40 additional markets, bringing the total to 340
Sprint joins other big carriers with launch of its own cloud storage service
Internal Sprint documents suggest red Nexus 5 coming to Play Store on Feb. 4
Android KitKat now available for Sprint’s HTC One [Updated]
T-Mobile press release celebrates AT&T customer buyback offer with Star Wars references
T-Mobile to launch the LG F Flex and Optimus F3Q on February 5th
Soak test invitations being sent out to T-Mobile Moto X users
Tim Tebow finally makes it to a Super Bowl courtesy of T-Mobile
What does “Unlimited” even mean anymore? US Cellular offers new plan, but read the small print
Verizon offering 250MB plan for only $45
Chromebooks
Lenovo announces two Chromebooks to join the ThinkPad brand, targeted at schools
Deals
Best Buy once again offering $50 gift card with upgrades and number ports
Gaming
Amazon rumored to launch Android powered gaming and media console this year
TegraZone Android app updated with more device support, Google Play integration
Dead Trigger 2 receives massive update
Marvel Run Jump Smash! bursts into the Play Store
Flappy Bird, the game sweeping iOS users across the world, is in the Play Store
Sony adds live video streams with latest PlayStation companion app
OUYA with updated hardware priced at $129 for 16GB, 8GB model sticks around at $99
Will the Google Nexus line end in 2015?
Chrome Apps coming to mobile devices using new toolchain based on Apache Cordova
Google and LEGO partner for new Build with Chrome app
Users may have accidentally deleted mail because of Gmail bug, says Google
In unexpected news, Lenovo acquires Motorola from Google for just under $3 billion dollars
Project Ara, Motorola’s Advanced Technology and Products department will remain with Google
Google purchased Nest for the product team, not thermostats
Google didn’t really lose out on the Motorola deal with Lenovo
Lenovo chimes in on deal to buy Motorola
Google has a strong Q4 thanks to big sales from Chromecast, Nexus 5, and the Play Store
AOSP commit could point to next version of Android using ART over Dalvik
Google Glass
New Google Glass Titanium Collection offers 4 feather-light titanium frames for prescription lenses
Several U.S. states consider banning Google Glass while driving
Google TV
Search apps updated for Google TV
Phones – ASUS
ASUS announces middle man PadFone E
Phones – Geeksphone
Geeksphone provides more info on the Revolution smartphone
Phones – HTC
HTC M8 May Finally Do Away with Capacitive Buttons
Upcoming HTC M8 may launch with four color options
HTC One 2 and One 2 Dual Sim listed on a French government website
HTC M8 mini could be coming soon, specs not yet available
HTC appears to have brightly colored mid-range octa-core phone in the works
HTC One now receiving Android 4.4.2 KitKat in Europe
KitKat update for U.S. HTC One delayed “one to two weeks”
Android KitKat now available for Sprint’s HTC One [Updated]
HTC One now updated to Android 4.4 KitKat on select Candaian carriers
AT&T HTC One X to get Android 4.2.2, Sense 5 by end of week
HTC Butterfly Receiving Android 4.3 and Sense 5.5, DROID DNA to get Android 4.4.2 by March or April
HTC Desire 310 accidentally unveiled in Europe
Phones – LG
LG G Pro 2 leaked image shows rear power and volume controls
T-Mobile to launch the LG F Flex and Optimus F3Q on February 5th
Phones – Motorola
Lenovo to honor Motorola’s current device timeline for 2014 and 2015
Canadian Moto X users will get Android 4.4.2 first
Can’t decide on a Moto X design? Motorola’s Randomizer generates one for you
Moto X now available at Phones 4u a few days early
SIM-free Moto X drops to £300 in the UK
Soak test invitations being sent out to T-Mobile Moto X users
Phones – Nexus
Red Nexus 5 in retail packaging leaks
More images of red Nexus 5 show up online
Internal Sprint documents suggest red Nexus 5 coming to Play Store on Feb. 4
Press image of red Nexus 5 appears online, could launch Feb. 4 on Google Play
Lenovo rumored to make one of the last Nexus devices
Phones – Nokia
Latest Nokia Normandy leak reveals more specs before being pulled
Nokia X spotted in bright orange
Phones – Samsung
KGI Research Predicts Specs for Galaxy S5
Samsung SM-900H certified in Indonesia, could be another Galaxy S5 variant
All Samsung SM-G900 model numbers confirmed
Screen resolution of Galaxy S 5 leaks, shows 1080p, not quad HD
Samsung Galaxy S 5 leak points to a fingerprint scanner being included
Samsung Galaxy S5 rumors revealed by @evleaks
Alleged 16MP Samsung Galaxy S5 camera sample leaks
Samsung AMOLED QHD smartphone confirmed, 4K devices to follow
Samsung reverses course on Note 3 accessory compatibility issue
Android 4.4 Kitkat firmware for the AT&T Galaxy S4 leaked
Samsung unveils the Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo gets priced in Germany
New “Black Edition” Galaxy S4 and S4 Mini Announced
Samsung adds Galaxy Core, Fame Lite, and Trend to LeFleur lineup
Phones – Sony
FCC filings for Sony Xperia Z2 and new tablet show up
Phones – ZTE
ZTE Boost Max phablet launches on Boost Mobile
Security
The NSA might be spying on you while you’re playing Angry Birds
Rovio affirms it does not share user data with NSA, other surveillance agencies
Yahoo Mail hacked: You should probably change your password
Smartwatches
ASUS has a ‘feature packed’ smartwatch in the works
Limited edition white Qualcomm Toq smartwatch now available
Pebble Steel smartwatch begins shipping today
Pebble Appstore to launch on February 3, will make its way to Android shortly after
Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 could debut as soon as March/April with a flexible display
Tablets
Archos announces 3 low-end tablets
ASUS announces middle man PadFone E
AMOLED tablet displays from Samsung slated for February production
Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 pre-orders starting in the UK, ships on February 4
Samsung announces Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 for schools, preloaded with KitKat
Samsung device appears in Bangalore for testing, could be Galaxy Tab 4
FCC filings for Sony Xperia Z2 and new tablet show up
Sony set to launch SPA-TA1 tablet attachment for QX10/QX100 lens-style cameras
Updates
Android 4.4 Kitkat firmware for the AT&T Galaxy S4 leaked
AT&T HTC One X to get Android 4.2.2, Sense 5 by end of week
HTC One now receiving Android 4.4.2 KitKat in Europe
HTC Butterfly Receiving Android 4.3 and Sense 5.5, DROID DNA to get Android 4.4.2 by March or April
KitKat update for HTC One delayed “one to two weeks”
Samsung launching stand-alone stores in Europe thanks to partnership with Carphone Warehouse
Samsung toning down its own software, agrees to promote Google services in future devices
AOSP commit could point to next version of Android using ART over Dalvik
Android KitKat now available for Sprint’s HTC One [Updated]
Wearables
Samsung’s Galaxy Glass could debut at IFA
Miscellaneous
Latest market share figures from Kantar show Android dominating but Samsung is feeling the pressure
HTC faces another branding speedbump as Microsoft renames SkyDrive as OneDrive
LG shipped 13.2 million smartphones in Q4 2013
Samsung’s lead over Apple in market share grows, other OEMs start to show substantial growth
According to the IDC: More than a billion smartphones shipped in 2013
Samsung working on an app called Life Times
NFL Now gets announced, personalized video service slated for 2014 season
Lenovo CEO says the goal is to surpass Samsung, Apple
Microsoft’s Xbox team tweets Xbox news – from an Android device
Nokia wins fourth German patent lawsuit against HTC
Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Weekly Recap for January 27 – February 2, 2014
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