TalkAndroid Daily Dose for March 31, 2014

With hectic schedules, it can be hard to keep track of everything in your news feed. That's why we created the TalkAndroid Daily Dose. This is where we recap the day's hottest stories so you can get yourself up to speed in quick fashion. Happy reading!!

April Fools' Day Jokes

Google April Fools' Day jokes for 2014

Samsung Fingers gets announced, the first entrant into the smartglove game

HTC unveils the revolutionary new wearable HTC Gluuv

Moto X and Moto G get new April Fools' Day boot animation

Apps

HTC Sense 6 apps now unofficially available for non-HTC devices

Crackle app now supports Google's Chromecast

Rdio app updated with support for Chromecast

Themer will now let you switch icon packs

Carriers

Moto Maker finally available for Republic Wireless customers

LG G2 Mini (LS885) gets tabbed for Sprint

Sprint pushes out KitKat update for the LG G2

Verizon variant of the Galaxy Tab 4 arrives at the FCC

Verizon's HTC One M8 and last year's HTC One rooted with WeakSauce

Chromecast

Crackle app now supports Google's Chromecast

Rdio app updated with support for Chromecast

Google+

Google+ adds view counts to user profiles

Phones

Verizon's HTC One M8 and last year's HTC One rooted with WeakSauce

HTC One M8 Mini may launch in May

HTC Butterfly Android 4.4 KitKat update gets the "coming soon" label

Sprint pushes out KitKat update for the LG G2

Moto Maker finally available for Republic Wireless customers

OnePlus One screens reveal a little bit of the interface

LG G2 Mini (LS885) gets tabbed for Sprint

Galaxy S 5 sports the 'best performing smartphone display' ever tested

Development of the LG G Flex 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Round 2 diverging

Smartwatches

Music Boss now supports control of Chromecast volume and playback from your Pebble smartwatch

Pebble smartwatch takes aim at Target shoppers

Tablets

Verizon variant of the Galaxy Tab 4 arrives at the FCC

Updates

Sprint pushes out KitKat update for the LG G2

HTC Butterfly Android 4.4 KitKat update gets the "coming soon" label

Miscellaneous

HTC admits to boosting benchmarks on the M8

Motorola's Moto G, LG's G2 keep manufacturers in play

Google likely to play key role in latest Apple patent trial with Samsung

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HTC unveils the revolutionary new wearable HTC Gluuv

Smartwatches are lame, and HTC isn't afraid to tell everyone that. Instead of wasting time developing something that no one would want, HTC has (probably) spent millions developing the wearable tech of the future, the HTC Gluuv.

Designed to function as a companion device to the new HTC One, the Gluuv is, well, a glove. It fits perfectly on your hands and puts tons of different technology literally at your finger tips. The Social Fingerz of the device let you gesture to interact with different social networks, so you can "thumbs up" that restaurant you just visited on Facebook, then take an "armie" in front of the restaurant with the Gluuv's phenomenal 87.2 megapixel camera.

The Gluuv is the wearable device we've all been waiting for. Who's ready to buy one?

source: HTC Gluuv

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Sprint pushes out KitKat update for the LG G2

Spring has begun pushing out the Android 4.4 KitKat update to their version of the LG G2. The changelog for the update isn't very detailed, listing that it's just an upgrade to Google's latest version of Android and a fix for Sprint's Next Radio audio problems. You'll still get all of the improvements that KitKat brings to all devices, however.

If you own a G2 on Sprint's network, be sure to start periodically checking for the update. Let us know in the comments if any of you have gotten it already.

source: Sprint

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Pebble smartwatch takes aim at Target shoppers

Expanding the network of retailers offering the Pebble smart watch, Pebble has announced Target will be carrying the devices for $149.99. As part of a special promotion, Target will be the exclusive retailer for the Arctic White version of the smart watch for a limited time. Jet Black and Cherry Red versions of the device will also be available.

In making their announcement about availability at Target, Pebble highlights some ways the smart watch can be used to help "Pebblers" stay fit. These include apps like the Couch to 5K running app or the 7-Minute Workout app.

If you are interested in a Pebble, you can head on down to the closest Target location or visit them online at target.com to place an order.

source: Pebble

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Google likely to play key role in latest Apple patent trial with Samsung

Apple and Samsung were scheduled to return to the courtroom today in the latest round of legal disputes between the two smartphone giants. Unlike the first trial that focused heavily on hardware issues, this new round will emphasize software, especially features found in the Android and iOS operating systems. That focus on software features found in Android means Google will play a much larger role this time around.

Apple is accusing Samsung of violating a total of five patents including those covering conversion of data in messages into hyperlinks, background syncing of data, universal search like that found in Siri, auto-complete, and "slide to unlock." As part of their defense, Samsung is claiming that all of the features, except for "slide to unlock" are actually Android features.

This is going to draw Google into the fight, something Google has managed to avoid for the most part. Google plans to make a variety of engineers available to take the stand, including a possible appearance by Andy Rubin, the former head of the mobile business for Google. Rubin worked for Apple from 1989 to 1992.

Apple is seeking $40 per phone for the patents. They claim violating devices include the Samsung Galaxy S 3 which sold in huge numbers in 2012. This raises the stakes to around $2 Billion if Apple is able to succeed. Apple would also like to get a permanent injunction on sales of some devices in the U.S., but legal experts think that is unlikely.

Countering Apple, Samsung says Apple violated two of their patents. However, Samsung is only asking for $7 million in damages. That small amount is part of Samsung's legal strategy to make a point that smartphone patents are not worth nearly as much as Apple is claiming. Santa Clara law professor Brian Love seems to agree as he has indicated Apple's figure seems excessive. He points out that the typical smartphone uses approximately 250,000 patents and there is no solid basis for thinking the five patents in question are any more valuable than the others.

source: Wall Street Journal

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Motorola Updates Boot Services App With April Fools Animation, 'Powered By Android' Branding

A few days ago, it was confirmed that Google had started asking manufacturers to brand boot animations with a specific "Powered by Android" lockup as part of Google's Mobile Services license. Samsung's Galaxy S5 and HTC's new One M8 both carry the branding, and today Motorola's Moto X and Moto G have joined the party, but Motorola has something else in store as well - a new boot animation just in time for April Fools Day.

Done With This Post? You Might Also Like These:

• [New App] Motorola Boot Services App Brings A Festive Wintry Boot Animation To The Moto G


• Here Is The CyanogenMod 10 Boot Animation - Clean, Gorgeous, And Done Exactly Right [Video]


• [Bootscreen Animation Roundup Part 3] Five Times The Pleasure, Five Times The Fun


• AOKP's Boot Animation Contest Ends And The Winning Entry Is Awesome

Motorola Updates Boot Services App With April Fools Animation, 'Powered By Android' Branding was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

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Galaxy S 5 sports the ‘best performing smartphone display’ ever tested

Other than the extra 0.1-inches, you might think the Samsung Galaxy S 5 features the same exact display as the Galaxy S 4 since they are both 1080p, but think again. There is a lot more going on than the display resolution. DisplayMate Technologies knows a thing or two about displays, and they just posted the results of their extensive tests with the GS5.

They found this year's model to be 22 percent brighter than last year's Galaxy S 4 and 13 percent brighter than the Galaxy Note 3. As far as power efficiency, the GS5 has a 27 percent improvement over the GS4. If you set the GS5 and the Gs4 at the same screen brightness, the Galaxy S 5 will use 18 percent less power, which will obviously increase the battery life. Viewing angles are also improved. Typical LCD displays will show a 55 percent or greater decrease in brightness when viewed at a 30 degree angle, but the Galaxy S 5 shows only a 22 percent decrease.

So how does the Galaxy S 5 measure up against all the displays that DisplayMate has ever tested? According to them, it's the "best performing smartphone display that we have ever tested."

Be sure to hit the source link because they detail a lot more info.

source: DisplayMate

via: TechnoBuffalo

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Google+ now shows the number of times your profile or content has been viewed online

Google's budding social network, Google+, is seeing somewhat of a strange update today. In what could seen as little more than an effort to prove engagement on the site — and to address claims that it's nothing more than a ghost town — profile pages will now show view counts just under the profile picture.

The number factors in not only profile views, but every time someone has viewed the content you've posted from your account. Whether it was a wacky YouTube video, that wacky cat gif (hard "G"), or that picture of your lunch, it's all tallied up and put on the front of your profile for all to see.

Since these numbers are available to anyone viewing your page/content, Google also provides the option to turn them off in your Google+ settings. These numbers aren't quite available on the Google+ apps for Android/iOS, but we're guessing they'll arrive in a future update.

Should you find yourself on Google+ today, why not drop a circle 'round Phandroid and/or myself. Could always use a few more Android friends. Cheers.

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T-Mobile is killing off employer discounts starting tomorrow

In what couldn't possibly be any worse timing, T-Mobile has announced that — starting tomorrow, April 1st — the nation's 4th largest network will effectively end all employer discounts. And no, this isn't a joke.

This means that anyone who was enjoying discounted service rates through their employer will soon be greeted with a higher monthly bill. As a sort of consolation prize, T-Mobile says that they'll be giving a $25 T-Mobile gift card for every new employee device purchase which isn't much, but at least it's something.

The logic, T-Mobile says, behind the move is that those old employers discount programs were designed to help big carriers close corporate contracts while using employees as their "bargaining chips." T-Mobile doesn't play that way. And while Legere would have you believe this is yet another phase in their Uncarrier movement, we'd be willing to bet it has more to do with Magenta's overalls earnings slipping during Q4 of last year.

Anyone out there soon to be affected by this new move?

[T-Mobile | Photo: Geekwire]

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HTC admits to pulling a Samsung, optimizing HTC One (M8) for benchmarks

About a year ago, Samsung was hit with some serious controversy over a trivial addition to the software on its flagship device, the Galaxy S4. It wasn't some spyware or large bloat, but optimization code for benchmarks. Basically, when a benchmark is run, the software will push the hardware to its limits for the duration of the benchmark, instead of using the regular software that balances performance and battery life. This resulted in significantly higher benchmark numbers.

As you would expect, people reacted very poorly and spewed hate at Samsung for such a move. And I do agree that it's somewhat scummy to do so, because it basically lies about how powerful the device is in comparison to the competition. But it wasn't a big deal because benchmarks mean very little. Yet due to the hate, Samsung removed this code in the KitKat update so the Galaxy S4 now runs benchmarks normally.

HTC, apparently oblivious to the reaction Samsung received, has done the same thing with the HTC One (M8). The company freely admits that it optimized the software to run the hardware at full speed to boost benchmark numbers, explaining the high numbers the device receives. Yet unlike with Samsung, whom everyone loves to hate, HTC isn't receiving all that much hate for this move. You know, despite it being no less scummy when a different manufacturer does it.

Benchmarking tests look to determine maximum performance of the CPU and GPU and, similar to the engine in a high-performance sports car, our engineers optimize in certain scenarios to produce the best possible performance. If someone would like to get around this benchmarking optimization there are ways to do so, but we think most often this will not be the case.HTC

No matter what, it's still not a big deal whatsoever. Benchmarks don't show the true everyday performance of a device, so you should never buy a device strictly on benchmark performance. Either way, let's throw some complaints HTC's way to show the company we don't like being lied to.

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Republic Wireless Moto X heads to Motomaker April 1st – first 2,000 orders get wood for free

Aside from the absurdly low service plans Republic Wireless offers on their "hybrid network" (a combination of WiFi calling and piggy backing on Sprint's network when out and about), the Motorola Moto X was also another great reason to try out the MVNO.

Having launched the Moto X back in November of last year, Republic Wireless is hoping to tap into prospective buyers' creative side, by offering the option to make the devices truly "theirs." The Republic Wireless Moto X will officially arrive tomorrow on Motomaker (we know, bad timing), giving customers the chance to pick up their own custom tailored — off-contract — Moto X on the cheap.

As part of a special promotion, Motorola will be giving the first 2,000 orders receiving a complimentary wood back upgrade (a $25 value) but only if they sign up here . Sign ups don't start until tomorrow at 11:00AM ET, with Motorola emailing promo codes to the first 2,000 who sign up.

Republic Wireless mentions that because a phone purchased through Motomaker is coming direct from Motorola, you'll need to go to them should you require support for the phone. Another thing to be mindful of is you'll be paying more by buying through Motorola/Motomaker, with the 16GB model running $350 vs the standard white/black 16GB model purchased from Republic Wireless for $300.

[Republic Wireless]

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HTC One (M8) performs factory reset if you get the password wrong 10 times

When you incorrectly enter a lock screen password too many times, most devices block further attempts for a certain period of time. This is incredibly annoying when your friend is messing with your device, but it's a smart feature. The HTC One (M8) takes this security method one step further, but that step is a mile long.

After 5 incorrect password attempts, the One (M8) blocks you out for 30 seconds. That's good. After 5 more attempts, though, it factory resets itself. This means that your apps, accounts, and data (photos, music, videos) is permanently deleted and the device starts over fresh. So if a child happens to get your phone when you're not looking, it could delete all of the content on your HTC One (M8) in less than a minute.

This is absolutely ridiculous. I understand that this is a security measure, but it does exactly what a thief wants. It's a dead easy way to get the One (M8) to a factory state to sell it after it's been stolen. And in any other case, it's nothing but a hindrance. Friends, family, children, anyone could accidentally wipe the device your job depends on. And there's no way to turn it off.

To be fair, after the first 5 incorrect attempts, the One (M8) gives a warning that it will soon factory reset itself. However, that still opens you up to some seriously malicious jokes. Our suggestion is that if you have an HTC One (M8) with a password-protected lock screen, keep it away from everybody. For now we'll just have to wait and see if HTC decides to change its position and allow people to turn this feature off. Tell us your thoughts on this safety feature in the comments!

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