R
Robert Nazarian
Guest
The Galaxy Note 4 is shaping up to be a fantastic phone, but don’t count out the Moto X+1. Speaking of Motorola, is there a lack of concentration with so many phones in the pipeline? The Nexus 8 seems ready to drop, but when? Asus is teasing a smartwatch. Will anybody care with the Moto 360 looming? Sprint is playing copycat with another carrier, but are they too late? And what is Android L going to be called? It’s time to get caught up and get ready for what is sure to be another big week in the world of Android.
Reviews
Amazon Fire Phone review: The smartphone that shouldn’t exist
Accessories
Samsung to offer an ultrasonic cover for the Galaxy Note 4
Samsung announces stylish Level Box mini wireless speaker with 25 hours of playback
LG announces Music Flow, a multi-room music streaming system
Samsung videos show the difference between Samsung Level and conventional audio products
Mophie battery case for the Galaxy S 5 shipping on September 8
Convenient, but is it efficient? Samsung’s upcoming USB cable charges three device at once
Android Auto
Google selects Joyride as an Android Auto launch partner
Android Wear
MacroDroid update brings Android Wear compatibility
LG G Watch R teaser video shows the round smartwatch coming at IFA 2014
Apple vs Samsung
Judge Lucy Koh sides with Samsung, says Apple won’t be reimbursed for $16 million in legal fees
Apps – New
Ignore No More lets parents lock a child’s device if they refuse to respond to calls and texts
YouTube Music Key is on the way, will bundle Google Play Music Key with it
Sprint to include ‘App Pass’ on all Android phones starting August 29
New App: WeTransfer hits the Play Store, allows file transfers of up to 10GB at once
Apps – Updates
Newest Mozilla Firefox nightly adds experimental Chromecast support
Microsoft OneNote optimized for Android tablets with handwriting support
1Password update brings new features and pricing changes
Facebook adds internal browser to app on Android
PayPal bringing One Touch payments to mobile devices in the near future
Dropbox updates Carousel with new features and support for Android L
PushBullet hopes to copy messaging success to copy/paste function
Yahoo app gets updated with access to digital magazines
Nova Launcher Beta updated to include new drawer animations
Carriers
Sprint offering 20GB of shared data for $100 per month with up to ten lines
Sprint officially announces the Sharp Aquos Crystal for Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA
Sprint to include ‘App Pass’ on all Android phones starting August 29
HTC has mysterious smartphone compatible with Sprint working its way through the FCC
Sprint’s new Unlimited plan is a strong response to T-Mobile
You can now add up to 10 lines to T-Mobile’s family plans
Android 4.4.3 update rolling out to T-Mobile’s HTC One (M8)
T-Mobile takes aim at Sprint customers with latest offer to help
Verizon offering extra gigabyte on new plans or phone upgrades
Verizon HTC One Max receiving Sense 6
Verizon considers opening another Android app store, this time with help
Verizon isn’t actually planning its own app store
Chrome
Chrome Remote Desktop to get a recording option
Chromeboxes
Acer Chromebox CXI to hit stores in late September
Chromecast
Price of Chromecast in the UK slashed
Microsoft reportedly working on Chromecast competitor
Google Chromecast regains Rootability
Deals
[Deal]: Grab a Samsung Galaxy S5 from Radio Shack for $79.99 with a new two year contract
Gaming
LEGO Fusion arrives for Android devices, merges physical and virtual bricks
Take a look at Swing Copters, Dong Nguyen’s first project since Flappy Bird
Humble Bundle launches mobile deals section and Sega Android bundle
Dong Nguyen’s Swing Copters released on Google Play
Pac-Man Friends comes to the Play Store with a unique twist on classic gameplay
Google pulls all Swing Copters knock-offs from Play Store
YouTube Music Key is on the way, will bundle Google Play Music Key with it
Google exploring paths to tap into the kids market
Image analysis app Jetpac purchased by Google
Google ordered to remove Secret from Play Store by Brazilian judge
There are a lot of Android devices, seriously
Google acquires Gecko Design to integrate with research lab
Google Knowledge Vault will be presented next week as a massive information repository
Google Glass
New Google patent hints at a more traditional Glass design
Make contact with latest Google Glass update
Hardware
Leaked Qualcomm roadmap shows what is ahead for Snapdragon
Phones – Amazon
Amazon Fire Phone gets update to Fire OS 3.5.1
Fire Phone losing ground quickly to LG G3, AT&T exclusivity to blame
Phones – HTC
HTC teases new device, could be the Desire 820
HTC has mysterious smartphone compatible with Sprint working its way through the FCC
HTC Butterfly 2 released to Asian markets
Verizon HTC One Max receiving Sense 6
Android 4.4.3 update rolling out to T-Mobile’s HTC One (M8)
Phones – Huawei
Huawei schedules event for September 4
Huawei teases upcoming flagship with cryptic IFA teaser
Huawei’s Ascend G7 makes an appearance in pictures online
Phones – Lenovo
Leaked Lenovo roadmap shows 5 devices to be released by the end of the year
Phones – LG
LG announces two new budget devices, the L Fino and L Bello
LG G3 customers having issues with cracks in microphone area
Phones – Motorola
Hello Moto X+1
Upcoming Motorola Moto X+1 said to have 3D display and optical zoom
Motorola’s next flagship could actually be called the Moto X One
Alleged Motorola DROID Turbo (XT1254) specifications show eye-opening 640 ppi display
Moto X+1, Moto G2 details surface on Brazilian retailer site
Motorola is possibly releasing eight new devices before Christmas
The Moto G2 display assembly shows up online
Phones – Nexus
Motorola XT1112 shows up in shipping manifest, possibly another “Shamu” contender
Phones – OnePlus
OnePlus launches Summer Shots Contest with 10,000 One invites at stake
Phones – Samsung
Galaxy Note 4 camera features leaked
Samsung to offer an ultrasonic cover for the Galaxy Note 4
Samsung releases teaser video for September 3rd event
Samsung details manufacturing process behind the upcoming Galaxy Alpha
Samsung Galaxy Alpha pre-ordering opens August 28 in the U.K.
Galaxy S 5 4G+ announced for Singapore
Samsung’s Galaxy Mega 2 close to announcement as phone’s firmware appears online
Samsung Galaxy S 5 issues Ice Bucket Challenge
Phones – Sharp
Sprint officially announces the Sharp Aquos Crystal for Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA
Phones – Sony
Sony Xperia Z3 specs divulged in China certification
Alleged selfie-focused Sony smartphone leaks, looks absolutely bizarre
Affordable and waterproof Xperia M2 Aqua announced by Sony
Sony Xperia C3 to go on sale in Russia in early September
Phones – ZTE
ZTE nubia 5S mini LTE coming to the U.S. at a competitive price
Project Tango
Project Tango tablet gets torn down, shows some custom parts
ROMs
Cyanogen poaches executives from Electronic Arts, Facebook
Smartwatches
ASUS starts teasing new smartwatch to be released at IFA 2014
LG G Watch R teaser video shows the round smartwatch coming at IFA 2014
Pebble officially gets ESPN app for live scores
Details on upcoming Samsung Gear 3 leak, could debut in two weeks
Sony teases what is likely the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact and new smartwatch
Tablets
Motorola rumored to be getting back in the tablet game
Nabi’s Big Tabs are computer-sized, kid-friendly Android tablets
Upcoming Nexus tablet manufactured by HTC gets WiFi certification
Sony may be working on Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact version
Sony teases what is likely the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact and new smartwatch
Updates
Lemon Meringue Pie looking likely as Android L nickname
Amazon Fire Phone gets update to Fire OS 3.5.1
Android 4.4.3 update rolling out to T-Mobile’s HTC One (M8)
Barnes & Noble, Samsung unveil the Galaxy Tab 4 nook tablet
Hands on with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook
Toyota Connecting Car with a Nexus 7 Dock
Verizon HTC One Max receiving Sense 6
Virtual Reality
Photos of Samsung’s upcoming Gear VR have surfaced showing off sleek design
Miscellaneous
LG plans to bring G3′s UX to future entry-level and midrange phones and tablets
New Samsung patent for flexible display spotted at USPTO
Samsung opening office in New York City to house Brand Marketing Team and enterprise mobile solutions
Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Weekly Recap for August 18 – August 24, 2014
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