News from Androidosphere

T-Mobile, AT&T, and pretty much every other no-contract carrier have at least one more wireless provider to keep an eye on.  The carrier is called Zact and it aims to make things easier and/or provide more options than the other guys. Zact, offers a pair of entry-level Android handsets at un-subsidized prices in the LG Viper and LG Optimus Elite. ...The post Zact enters the no-contract fray with custom-built plans appeared first on AndroidGuys.

A 14-page XDA thread, thorough analysis by an audio engineer, and a 100+ comment Reddit thread have revealed that some of Samsung's Galaxy S4 handsets are experiencing serious sonic problems with certain headphones. Headphone audio on smartphones is something we rarely think too much about, because, well, most people don't really care. As long a smartphone produces sound that is listenable and loud enough, your average Joe isn't particular concerned about the quality. But according to a grow...

  Sony released specs today regarding its newest addition to the Xperia Z family today in the form of the Xperia ZR. The ZR packs many of the same components and waterproof capabilities as the Xperia Z, putting it in the mid to high-end range. Sony’s putting a lot of emphasis on the ZR’s higher IP rating ... Come comment on this article: Sony unveils Xperia ZR, a mid to high-end waterproof device made for underwater photography Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android g...

Earlier this year, Amazon announced that it was preparing a proprietary virtual currency specifically for its Appstore. Then the incorrigible Eric Ravenscraft spent a few thousand words explaining exactly why Amazon Coins, and any system that substitutes real money for meaningless points, is just a pretense for sucking money out of people's wallets. If you can't wait to pay Amazon's tax on those without common sense, you can now hand over your real dollars for fake ones to spend on apps and i...

  Another shot of the white Nexus 4 has surfaced, which seems to backup earlier photos of a white Nexus 4 we reported to you back in January. But as we near Google I/O 2013, we’re expecting an official announcement (or maybe even a release) of the device, hopefully with some bumped up specs. This time, the device ... Come comment on this article: Another white Nexus 4 appears in the wild, preparing for a Google I/O release? Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and...

Unveiled in December of 2010, Notion Ink's original Adam was intended to be an innovative, disruptive Android tablet that could compete with the iPad. Its primary selling point - besides a relatively high-end (at the time) dual-core Tegra 250 processor and 1GB of RAM - was a UI overlay known as Eden, which promised to make underlying the Android 2.2 more tablet-friendly. Launched to much fanfare in January 2011, the Adam never quite caught on the way Notion Ink had hoped; shipping delays, sof...

T-Mobile is currently in the process of pushing a fairly major update to its version of the Galaxy S III, which brings Android 4.1.2 and a slew of new don't-call-it-Touchwiz features. New Features: Multi-Window Auto-pairing via NFC enhanced Camera options Sound Balance Paper Artist Samsung Gallery Blocking Mode Easy Mode Before grabbing this one, you'll need to be on build T999UVDLJC, have at least 50% battery, and not be rooted. If those bases are covered, you can either elect to pull...

Until now we had only seen the Galaxy S 4 available in white frost and black mist, but Japanese provider DoCoMo will apparently have a new color variant available for their customers. Promotional materials by DoCoMo show a “Blue Arctic” version, shown above, expected to be announced on May 15 and available next month. We knew ... Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy S 4 in ‘Blue Arctic’ color spotted in Japan Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guide...

Most mobile users these days are happy to get LTE service (and a few of us just wish we could get 3G reliably) but there is already a surprising push towards the next big thing in wireless speeds. Samsung thinks it has the solution, or at least what might become one: expanding existing LTE networks into the super-high 28GHz range, the lower part of what's known as the millimeter wave bands. The company is calling this system 5G, and expects to have it ready for cellular networks in 2020. An...

Zact is a brand new Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that might just change the way you think about cell phone providers. Its unique approach is built on software provided by parent company ItsOn, and enabled with a mix of Android hardware and proprietary services. The result is unlike anything else available at the moment. With a completely customizable selection of voice, text, and data features, a la cart app-based data, and unprecedented sharing and parental controls, Zact might jus...