R
Robert Nazarian
Guest
Computex took place this past week so we had some new devices from ASUS. We also got the official announcement of the HTC One (E8) and the Samsung Galaxy W. This coming week we have Samsung’s unveiling of their new AMOLED tablets. Is Samsung overdoing it in the tablet segment? The Amazon phone is no urban legend folks. It will finally be unveiled in mid-June. Google finally released Android 4.4.3 to Nexus / GPE devices, and Motorola wasn’t far behind in releasing the same update to the Moto G and Moto X. Finally, could the “Android” logo get changed? It’s time to get caught up and get ready for what is sure to be another exciting week in the world of Android.
Contests
Contest: Win 1 of 10 tickets to Lookout’s Annual Kickoff party at Google I/O 2014
Reviews
Moto E Review: A cheap smartphone worth buying
Accessories
Motorola announces Moto Stream, makes a speaker wireless for $50
Apps – New
Acer reimagines “Extend” app
Microsoft Office Touch will likely be released on Android before Windows 8
Apps – Updates
You can now save all your Spotify tracks for offline playback with just one tap
Pushbullet launches Google Play beta program
Redesigned dialer app introduced in Android 4.4.3
Instagram 6.0 update brings new editing tools
Nova Launcher update brings “OK, Google” hotword and slight design fixes from the beta
Motorola Assist updated to improve driving detection
SmartGlass app can now control TV through Xbox One
Hangouts update fixes bugs, adds custom ringtones and gives you access to your blocked list
Chrome Remote Desktop for Android gets updated with immersive mode [APK Download]
YouTube for Android updated with better stream quality selections
theScore updated with a focus on the FIFA World Cup
Tinder will let you share photos with matches, but they disappear
Netflix update brings Post-Play once a TV episode or movie ends
Carriers
AT&T adds Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1, Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 to its lineup
AT&T offering $50 of Google Play credit after purchasing new phone or tablet with new contract
AT&T HTC One M7 getting HTC Sense 6.0
New information ratchets down size of Samsung Galaxy Mega 2
AT&T to expand offering of tablets on GoPhone pre-paid plan
Cricket to offer mid-range LG L70 for $49.99 after rebate
Sprint offering open enrollment for device protection packages all throughout June
Sprint and T-Mobile merger finally a reality
John Legere to remain CEO if T-Mobile successfully merges with Sprint
T-Mobile introduces Underground for limited stock devices
Image of Verizon branded Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet surfaces
HTC One Remix for Verizon press render shows the device’s front and back
Motorola DROID line (2013) going directly to Android 4.4.3
Verizon adding Glamour Red and Amber Gold HTC One (M8) on June 5
[Deal] Prepaid Moto G on Verizon Wireless now $49.99 off contract
Chrome
New Chrome add-on helps secure users emails
Chrome Web Store now links to Android apps
New Chrome OS app allows Play Movie watchers to store movies offline
Chromebooks
Google expanding Chromebook availability to nine more nations
Chromecast
WatchESPN, MLS Matchday, Google+ Photos, and Crunchyroll support Chromecast
Aereo gains Chromecast support in beta form
Gaming
Angry Birds Stella spin-off coming this fall, Rovio shares gameplay screenshot
New FCC filing appears to be NVIDIA Shield 2
Mad Catz M.O.J.O. adds support for OnLive
Android 4.4.3 could start rolling today
Android 4.4.3 factory images released for Nexus 4, 5, 7 and 10
Google adds permissions shortcut to Play Store listings
Could this be Android’s new logo?
Google Translate now shows definitions, synonyms, usage history, and more
Latest Android distribution numbers show KitKat approaching 15%
Google Maps gets support for viewing 12 World Cup stadiums in Street View
Ingredients can be displayed and sorted when using Google Search for recipes
New Hangouts feature allows sketch-messaging through your browser
Google to possibly buy music streaming company Songza
Google will soon introduce “Nearby” to send you notifications when you’re around certain people or places
Google Glass
Google expands frame offerings for Glass with selections from Diane von Furstenberg
Hardware
According to Intel, 130 tablets will ship with their processors this year
Huawei claims that their first octa-core chip will deliver faster LTE
Laptops
The ASUS Transformer Book V is the first 5-in-1 Android / Windows device
Phones – Amazon
Amazon announcing new device on June 18, probably its first smartphone
Amazon’s new smartphone to use Omron’s OKAO Vision technology
Phones – ASUS
Asus debuts Fonepad 8, MeMO Pad 7 and MeMO Pad 8
Phones – HTC
Look out for HTC “Eye” coming later this year
HTC officially takes the wraps off the HTC One (E8)
Verizon adding Glamour Red and Amber Gold HTC One (M8) on June 5
HTC One Remix for Verizon press render shows the device’s front and back
AT&T HTC One M7 getting HTC Sense 6.0
Phones – LG
LG G3 Mini (LGD722) appears on Indian shipping site
LG G3 outselling Samsung Galaxy S 5 in Korea by three times
According to design lead, a metal LG G3 would cost $300 more
LG’s G3 does indeed contain metal — some metal, at least
Cricket to offer mid-range LG L70 for $49.99 after rebate
Phones – Motorola
New Motorola codenames surface along with the Moto X+1, Moto 360
Motorola running a Moto X ‘Try Then Buy’ promo on June 9
64GB Moto X coming to Motomaker on Sunday
[Deal] Prepaid Moto G on Verizon Wireless now $49.99 off contract
Motorola releases information about Android 4.4.3 on Moto X, Moto G and Moto E
Motorola DROID line (2013) going directly to Android 4.4.3
Phones – OnePlus
First invitations to purchase a OnePlus One finally get sent out
Phones – Samsung
New certifications point to Samsung Galaxy S 5 Prime release in near future
This could be the Galaxy F (aka Galaxy S 5 Prime), launch now expected to be in September
Samsung Galaxy S 5 Prime spotted at FCC
Google Play Edition of Samsung Galaxy S 5 may be in the works
New information ratchets down size of Samsung Galaxy Mega 2
7-inch Galaxy W makes debut in Korea
Samsung dips supply chain orders on Galaxy S5 for Q3 by 25 percent
Phones – Sony
Sony teases a “next big thing” of its own, likely Xperia Z Ultra successor
Latest Sony Xperia Z3 rumors say September release, compact version but no Ultra
Sony Xperia T3 officially announced
Phones – Vertu
Vertu unveils newest luxury device for over $11,000 — packs titanium, sapphire and leather
Phones – ZTE
First image of high-end ZTE Nubia Z7 released
Project Tango
Google announces Project Tango Tablet Developers’ Kit with NVIDIA Tegra K1
Smartwatches
Turn your watch into a smartwatch with the Glance attachment
LG G Watch may have Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 inside
New LG G Watch leaks include possible boot animation, cellular option
Picture of Moto 360 appear in Google development post, appears to be massive
New Motorola codenames surface along with the Moto X+1, Moto 360
Samsung could include fingerprint scanners on wearable devices as early as Q2 2014, Synaptics CEO says
Tablets
Asus debuts Fonepad 8, MeMO Pad 7 and MeMO Pad 8
The ASUS Transformer Book V is the first 5-in-1 Android / Windows device
Fuhu and DreamWorks finally launch the nabi DreamTab HD8
Leaked pictures of an aborted Motorola Xoom 3 project appear online
Images and specs of supposed Nexus 8 leak
2013 Nexus 7 WiFi model Android 4.4.3 update rolling out OTA
Samsung prepping 4K tablets for end of 2014, already has an impressive prototype
AT&T adds Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1, Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 to its lineup
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 specs leaked
New images reveal additional details about Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5
Samsung releases countdown teaser for next week’s Tab Into Color event
Samsung, Barnes & Noble announce Galaxy Tab 4 Nook
Image of Verizon branded Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet surfaces
Updates
Android 4.4.3 could start rolling today
Android 4.4.3 factory images released for Nexus 4, 5, 7 and 10
2013 Nexus 7 WiFi model Android 4.4.3 update rolling out OTA
Motorola releases information about Android 4.4.3 on Moto X, Moto G and Moto E
Google Play Edition devices receiving Android 4.4.3 update
Motorola DROID line (2013) going directly to Android 4.4.3
AT&T HTC One M7 getting HTC Sense 6.0
Wearables
Sony releases SmartBand in the U.S. for $99.99
Samsung could include fingerprint scanners on wearable devices as early as Q2 2014, Synaptics CEO says
Miscellaneous
Tech-friendly cities prefer iOS over Android devices
HTC experiences sales dip in May, looks ahead to June for rebound
Android, Samsung maintain strong positions in U.S. smartphone market in April
Samsung partners with Vogue to glamorize products in upcoming spread
Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Weekly Recap for June 2 – June 8, 2014
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