R
Robert Nazarian
Guest
By far the biggest story of the week had to be Google unveiling Android Wear, a modified version of Android for wearables. Shortly after, LG and Motorola announced upcoming smartwatches, but Motorola clearly stole the thunder. It can’t come out soon enough. Sick of reading about all the leaks of the All New HTC One? Well the unveiling is finally here. We will finally get our paws on it this Tuesday, and who knows, it just might be available for purchase the very same day. The Game Developers Conference was this week and Google announced Google Play Games will place nicely with iOS. Speaking of iOS, could iTunes come to Android? It’s time to get caught up and get ready for what is sure to be another exciting week in the world of Android.
Accessories
Premium headphones from Samsung leak, prices from $149 to $349
Apps – New
[New Chromecast App] Cast Store for Chromecast is a storefront… just for Chromecast apps
Galaxy S 5 Experience app lets you preview the upcoming flagship
Link Bubble offers chat heads for links
Apps – Updated
Pocket Casts now comes with Chromecast support
Facebook introduces beta program for Messenger
New Swiftkey Beta includes Evernote and Google+ personalization
Motorola Care app updated to become Motorola Help
Sonos details new music controller app to be released later this year, Android beta available now
Updated Skype application promises to save more battery life
Beautiful Widgets update brings new Color Widgets
Dayframe 2.3 updated to make Chromecast slideshow feature free
Buying a Chromecast in the UK? BBC iPlayer already supports it
Pandora announces subscription pricing changes
Dropbox will add multiple account support to its app in April
Turntable.fm shuts down, founder launches ‘Ketchup’ social app
Google Keyboard 3.0 brings personalized word suggestions
Google knows the YouTube app has been crashing, and they’re working on a fix
Latest Motorola Camera update now lets users snap pictures via the volume button
Firefox Beta for Android gets updated to support Firefox accounts, data sync
Carriers
Android 4.4.2 update released for Moto X on AT&T
AT&T’s Galaxy S 5 will be available for pre-order on March 21 for $199, gives Samsung’s wearables a price too
AT&T offering chance to win “amazing new HTC device”
Sprint taking pre-orders on Galaxy S 5 starting today, releases pricing and shipping information
Sprint to close 55 stores and lay off 330 employees
T-Mobile taking preorders for Galaxy S 5 on March 24th, no down payment required
Sony’s Xperia T2 Ultra for T-Mobile passes through FCC
US Cellular getting the Galaxy S 5 in two colors along with $50 Play Store credit
Vodafone offering gold Samsung Galaxy S 5 in the U.K.
Chromecast
Pocket Casts now comes with Chromecast support
[New Chromecast App] Cast Store for Chromecast is a storefront… just for Chromecast apps
Chromecast arrives in 11 new countries
Dayframe 2.3 updated to make Chromecast slideshow feature free
Buying a Chromecast in the UK? BBC iPlayer already supports it
Deals
Amazon Appstore is turning 3, two weeks of deals incoming
Gaming
Cross-platform support for Google Play Games is now official
Big update for Google Play Services rolling out
Amazon’s set top device could support full PC game streaming
Latest Amazon set top box rumor puts release in April
Looking forward to Rovio’s upcoming Angry Birds Epic game? Check out the gameplay trailer
Godzilla – Smash3 game coming to mobile devices this May
Dong Nguyen tweets Flappy Bird is returning, but ‘not soon’
OUYA changes course to give devs choice about free-to-try model
Cross-platform support for Google Play Games is now official
Big update for Google Play Services rolling out
Google officially enters the wearables game with Android Wear, smartwatches coming later this year
Android Wear UI explained and detailed
Google may be partnering with LG for the LG G Watch
Google could be preparing to kill off Google Voice, merge into Hangouts
Google Play Movies expands to 37 new markets
Play Store’s Games subcategory reorganization has gone live, oddly includes Live Wallpaper and Widgets still
Google Now reminders to possibly include person-proximity
New Google Now voice command will launch your camera
New Google easter egg is a cheat code for unlimited free searches
Give the Android Wear launcher a try on your phone or tablet
Google’s next update to KitKat could be close to release
Google announces changes that will keep our emails safe from prying eyes
Project Tango may give robots the ability to freely navigate the International Space Station
Google knows the YouTube app has been crashing, and they’re working on a fix
Developers can have varied “What’s New” descriptions in the Play Store for different builds
One developer shares his experience with his Project Tango prototype
Google Now rumored to include an ‘Inferred Events’ feature
Telling Google Search to “play some music” will launch “I’m Feeling Lucky” radio
Google Glass
Will Google ditch Glass?
Google takes a shot at weakening Glass haters
Layar develops Glassware for added augmented reality experience
Wear Glass, get a free drink at San Francisco bar
Google TV
YouTube for Google TV reappears in Play Store, features improved stability
Hardware
2K display devices may be limited in 2014
Phones – Amazon
Report: Amazon smartphone could finally land in 2014
Analyst weighs in with predicted specs, release date of Amazon smartphone
Phones – HTC
New HTC One (M8) to be available in U.K. on March 25
Leaked specs for HTC’s All New One may finally confirm dual-camera resolutions
HTC launches a countdown for next week’s live stream of their announcement
Marketing poster for Verizon’s all new HTC One (M8) leaks online
AT&T offering chance to win “amazing new HTC device”
Latest promotional video for HTC All New One shows off HTC Zoe
All new HTC One to retail for $600 off-contract
Phones – Huawei
Huawei will not release a Dual OS smartphone
Phones – LG
Android 4.4 KitKat update now available for the international LG G2
ePrice and Amazon Germany post the price of the LG L70, will be available from April 1
Phones – Motorola
Motorola to release 6-inch phablet in Q3
The Moto X is finally coming to Australia
Moto X coming to India tomorrow
Android 4.4.2 update released for Moto X on AT&T
Latest Motorola Camera update now lets users snap pictures via the volume button
Phones – Nexus
Nexus 5 and 7 now available in 20 total countries
Phones – Nokia
“Android apps” is the most favorite feature of the Nokia X, according to a poll conducted by Nokia
Phones – OnePlus
OnePlus One camera won’t compete with DSLRs, but will take great pictures
OnePlus unveils StyleSwap covers for its upcoming ‘One’ smartphone
Phones – Oppo
Oppo Find 7 officially unveiled sporting a 50MP camera
Camera Samples of the upcoming Oppo Find 7 leaks
Oppo preparing a 5-inch mini version of Oppo N1
Phones – Samsung
Best Buy making sample units of Galaxy S 5 and Galaxy Gear 2 available to shoppers starting today
Galaxy S 5 camera has a new six-lens optics that Samsung is having trouble producing
South Korea decides not to label Samsung Galaxy S 5 as a medical device
Vodafone offering gold Samsung Galaxy S 5 in the U.K.
The Galaxy S 5 will be priced lower than the Galaxy S 4, at least in one market
Galaxy S 5 Experience app lets you preview the upcoming flagship
AT&T’s Galaxy S 5 will be available for pre-order on March 21 for $199, gives Samsung’s wearables a price too
T-Mobile taking preorders for Galaxy S 5 on March 24th, no down payment required
US Cellular getting the Galaxy S 5 in two colors along with $50 Play Store credit
Sprint taking pre-orders on Galaxy S 5 starting today, releases pricing and shipping information
Samsung to announce “high-class device” tomorrow, likely just some fancy colors
Samsung to offer low-end smartphone running KitKat
Samsung SM-G9098 flip phone gets certified
Benchmark entry suggests Android KitKat for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 could be around the corner
Phones – Sony
Sony halts SIM free Xperia Z2 pre-orders
No delays for Sony Xperia Z2, but supplies could be limited
Sony’s Xperia T2 Ultra for T-Mobile passes through FCC
Sony begins rolling out KitKat update for several Xperia devices
Phones – Xiaomi
Xiaomi Redmi Note gets confirmed by CEO
Xiaomi Redmi Note will cost $130 in China
Phones – YotaPhone
First gen YotaPhone now available in UK
Phones – ZTE
ZTE teases full-metal body and extremely high-resolution camera for its Nubia X6
ZTE Nubia X6 spotted on Tenaa with a 6.44″ display
Project Tango
One developer shares his experience with his Project Tango prototype
ROMs
Paranoid Android ROM gets new Peek feature, similar to Moto X Active Notifications
Security
Google announces changes that will keep our emails safe from prying eyes
Smartwatches
Google officially enters the wearables game with Android Wear, smartwatches coming later this year
Android Wear UI explained and detailed
Give the Android Wear launcher a try on your phone or tablet
Google may be partnering with LG for the LG G Watch
Motorola announces the Moto 360, an Android Wear smartwatch coming this summer
Learn more about the Moto 360 smartwatch during tomorrow’s Google+ Hangout
Moto 360 smartwatch could be very limited
Moto 360 to include OLED screen, wireless charging and sapphire glass
Highlights and Video from the Moto 360 Hangout
Pebble Steel gets price cut to $229 if you don’t want a metal band
Pebble sold 400,000 devices last year, ready for the Android Wear onslaught
Qualcomm says Snapdragon power coming to smartwatches
Samsung Tizen SDK now available for all, more apps incoming
Is another Samsung Gear 2 variant on the way?
Samsung plans on expanding Gear compatibility to outside devices at some point
Samsung announces Gear 2 and Gear Fit prices in Taiwan
AT&T’s Galaxy S 5 will be available for pre-order on March 21 for $199, gives Samsung’s wearables a price too
Vueling is a boarding pass you can wear with the Sony SmartWatch 2
Tablets
Google Nexus 8 may come with an 8.9-inch screen
Nexus 8 could come at a premium price point
Nexus 5 and 7 now available in 20 total countries
Samsung goes after Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon in latest TabPRO ‘I Can Do That’ ad
Samsung has an 8.4-inch AMOLED tablet in the pipeline
Second AMOLED tablet from Samsung spotted on benchmark site with 10.5-inch display
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Tab 4 line will have AMOLED displays from 7 to 10.5 inches
Xperia Z2 Tablet available for sale in the UK from Sony’s website
Updates
Android 4.4.2 update released for Moto X on AT&T
Sony begins rolling out KitKat update for several Xperia devices
Android 4.4 KitKat update now available for the international LG G2
Google’s next update to KitKat could be close to release
Benchmark entry suggests Android KitKat for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 could be around the corner
Wearables
Google officially enters the wearables game with Android Wear, smartwatches coming later this year
Android Wear UI explained and detailed
Give the Android Wear launcher a try on your phone or tablet
Samsung’s Activity Tracker (formerly known as S Band) gets introduced in Germany with a modest price
LG’s awkward slap-bracelet stylus leaks
Miscellaneous
Latest Amazon set top box rumor puts release in April
White House may drop BlackBerry after testing Samsung, LG smartphones
Samsung releases teaser video for new DESIGN.SAMSUNG.COM site
Lenovo spends $100 million on 3G and 4G technology patents to be used in new markets
Apple reportedly considering iTunes store for Android
Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Weekly Recap for March 17 – March 23, 2014
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