R
Robert Nazarian
Guest
Once again, The LG G3 dominated the news, but the leaks are just about done since it will officially get unveiled in two days. Will it be the device that finally makes LG a household name for mobile? We finally got a good look at the HTC One (M8) Prime and yes, we are drooling. Will HTC One (M8) owners feel jaded when this bad boy gets released? We are now exactly one month away from Google I/O, and everyone who thought Google+ was dead, think again because a bunch of cool new features were added this past week. Speaking of Google I/O, what else is in store for this year? It’s time to get caught up and get ready for what is sure to be another exciting week in the world of Android.
Guides
Best Android educational apps and games for kids [May 2014]
How to setup Google Drive on your desktop for syncing
Accessories
LG unveils new QuickCircle case prior to the G3′s announcement
Refreshed Fitbit Force may have leaked, plenty of displayable info included
Apple vs Samsung
Apple and Samsung working on settlement talks once again
Apple wins patent lawsuit over Samsung in The Netherlands
Apps – New
Koush releases AllCast Receiver in the Play Store
Shhh – Secret is now available for Android
Paranoid Android’s Peek app now available to purchase in the Play Store
Motorola Modality Services now updateable through Play Store
New mobile app and features coming soon for YouTube creators
Apps – Updated
Gmail for Android gets updated with new features and UI improvements
Google+ updates UI on Android, adds Stories and Movies feature
Chrome for Android updated with undo tab close and Chromecast support
Box for Android receives major update, partners with LG
Netflix announces European expansion for late 2014
Facebook will soon recognize what song your are listening to or what show your are watching
IFTTT announces a new FitBit channel
Shazam announces update that brings more television and music content
Google knows Hangouts is draining your battery, working to fix it
Google Now can now handle timer queries through device’s native timer apps
Any.Do takes its productivity to the web
Allcast gets Twitch.tv support
IFTTT adds eBay and Netatmo Weather Station to its lineup
Setting reminders with Google Now just got a little easier
Carriers
AT&T gets Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, the first device to support HD Voice
Buy an HTC One (M8) through AT&T and get $50 off a Fitbit Flex or Fitbit One
Cricket Wireless relaunched by AT&T with new, inexpensive data plans
Walmart offering low-cost T-Mobile tablets with ‘free data for life’
Galaxy S 5 on T-Mobile gets SMS/MMS fix in latest update
Encased LG G3 T-Mobile developer edition photos leak
Comcast may be another company eyeing a bid for T-Mobile
LG G3 for Verizon press render leaks, Big Red’s stamp is on the front once again
Mid-range LG G Pro 2 Lite for Verizon spotted at FCC
Verizon branded Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 image discovered
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 for Verizon spotted
Verizon announces XLTE with 2X data speeds
Verizon aims to launch its VoLTE network this year alongside video calling
LG G3 for Verizon sign up page appears unofficially, ready to go for Tuesday
Verizon said to be adding Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet to its rotation
Chrome
“OK Google” comes to latest stable build of Chrome
Chromecast
Koush releases AllCast Receiver in the Play Store
Gaming
Samsung preparing a VR gaming headset to be announced later this year
Chrome OS, Android merger rumors spark as patent reveals smartphone in Chromebook
Google is going after the Enterprise market with purchase of Divide
Google officially jumps on the Instagram bandwagon
Italian Antitrust Authority investigating Google, Apple, Gameloft, and Amazon over in-app purchases
Google overtakes Apple as world’s most valuable brand
Google advertising could appear just about everywhere
Google to provide ‘heavily subsidized’ wireless network equipment to small businesses to provide free WiFi
Google amps up productivity and security with new Google Apps Mobile Management features
Nest’s Tony Fadell says there will be no ads on their thermostats
Gmail interface redesign hinted at in leaked images
You can now ask Google about your upcoming car rentals
Google Play Store quick purchases of Google-endorsed hardware and accessories.finally has a mobile-optimized site
Google+
Google+ Stories and Movies coming later this week
Google Glass use has been linked to eye strain and fatigue
Google Glass
Roger Federer takes Google Glass for a spin on the tennis court
Google TV
Hisense H6 Smart TV finally hits the market, available for less than $700
Home Automation
Nest permanently eliminates wave to silence as part of recall
Nest’s Tony Fadell says there will be no ads on their thermostats
Sony debuts MESH for handling all the connected things
Phones – HTC
New details regarding the HTC One (M8) Prime come forward
Image hints at forthcoming HTC One (M8) Prime
Leaked press render shows all 360° of the HTC One (M8) Prime
HTC One M8 Prime to be first handset to feature Sense 6.5
HTC teases something with “beautiful curves” that is coming soon
HTC One (M8) Ace render with ‘beautiful curves’ leaks
HTC One Ace could debut in early June
Here’s another good look at the HTC One (M8) Ace
Buy an HTC One (M8) through AT&T and get $50 off a Fitbit Flex or Fitbit One
HTC One (M8) camera lens reportedly gets scratched easily
Phones – Huawei
Photos of Huawei’s Ascend D3 leak online
Huawei announces Honor 3X Pro and Honor 3C 4G
Phones – Lenovo
Lenovo Golden Warrior S8 leaked
Phones – LG
Leaked advertising reveals everything you need to know about the LG G3
LG G3 QuickWindow case functions leak
LG unveils new QuickCircle case prior to the G3′s announcement
Leaked photos of LG G3 appear to show off removable battery, microSD slot
New teaser videos from LG give us an official look at the LG G3
LG G3 for Verizon press render leaks, Big Red’s stamp is on the front once again
LG G3 for Verizon sign up page appears unofficially, ready to go for Tuesday
LG G3 benchmark leaks but does not show any performance figures
Encased LG G3 T-Mobile developer edition photos leak
Mid-range LG G Pro 2 Lite for Verizon spotted at FCC
Budget LG L35 smartphone made official in Germany
Phones – Motorola
Moto X+1, codenamed Victara, to be on the four major carriers in the U.S.
Moto E already rooted with unofficial TWRP recovery
Motorola adds super-cheap Moto E to Bootloader Unlock program
Motorola Moto X with 64GB of storage seemingly on the way
Phones – Nokia
Nokia X2 benchmarks appear, not a whole lot going on
Phones – OnePlus
OnePlus opens contest to win an invitation to buy a OnePlus One
Phones – Oppo
Oppo N1 Mini confirmed by FCC filing photos
Phones – Samsung
Details about the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 display released
Galaxy Note 4 rumored to release on September 3
Several new features for Samsung Galaxy Note 4 currently being tested
Galaxy S 5 Active finally revealed in leaked images and video
Hands-on videos of upcoming Galaxy S5 Active leak online
New leaked video shows Galaxy S 5 Active having 5.2-inch screen
Samsung Galaxy S 5 Active for AT&T press render leaks
Galaxy S 5 on T-Mobile gets SMS/MMS fix in latest update
Variant of Samsung Galaxy Mega 2 could launch as the Galaxy W
Copper gold Samsung Galaxy S 5 coming to all major carriers this summer
AT&T gets Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, the first device to support HD Voice
Phones – Sony
New rumors surface regarding Sony Xperia Z3 coming later this year
Sony D2403 pops up in benchmarks, looks to be entry-level device with a high amount of internal storage
Project Ara
Project Ara processors to be made by…Toshiba?
Project Tango
Google’s Project Tango on its way to an upcoming tablet
Security
Samsung to add biometric sensor functions to Knox
Set-top Boxes
Amazon Prime Instant Video adds several HBO shows to its catalog, HBO Go for Fire TV still on the way
Amazon invites customers to free 30 day trial of Fire TV
Smart Glasses
Samsung to call its Google Glass competitor “Gear Blink”?
Smartwatches
Google employee encourages Android Wear app developers to reach out for support
In preparation for G Watch launch, LG says that a smart watch is a fusion of IT and fashion
Motorola’s Moto 360 smartwatch price, release date leak
Motorola hosts Moto 360 watch face design contest and confirms $249 average retail value
Motorola plays down rumored $249 price for Moto 360 on Google+, could still hold true
Samsung planning stand-alone smartwatch
Tablets
Asus launches refreshed FonePad 7 for $137
$100 HP 7 Plus tablet makes its way to the US
Walmart offering low-cost T-Mobile tablets with ‘free data for life’
HTC teases something with “beautiful curves” that is coming soon
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Wi-Fi version starts to receive Android 4.4 KitKat update
Verizon branded Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 image discovered
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 for Verizon spotted
Verizon said to be adding Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet to its rotation
Updates
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Wi-Fi version starts to receive Android 4.4 KitKat update
Sony upgrades multitude of devices, includes Android 4.4 and other updates
Galaxy S 5 on T-Mobile gets SMS/MMS fix in latest update
Wearables
Best Buy now selling LG Lifeband Touch for $149
HTC teases something with “beautiful curves” that is coming soon
Qualcomm reportedly powering wearables this year, could make proprietary processors if market grows
Refreshed Fitbit Force may have leaked, plenty of displayable info included
Miscellaneous
Root app developers to be challenged by upcoming Android versions
Samsung WW9000 washing machine packs a full 5-inch touch screen
Samsung to kill off Music Hub service July 1, officially replace it with Milk Music
Apple plans on fixing iMessage issues to alleviate the horrors for those that switch to Android
Samsung and LG to use sapphire-covered screens
Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Weekly Recap for May 19 – May 25, 2014
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