Google exploring customization with Google Workshop

Google has had relatively good success over its Nexus products, building technologies and interfaces for devices on the bleeding edge of Android development. When it comes to accessories and whatnot, Google’s history has not been that great, and it has been trying to rectify that recently with the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (putting out different colors of cases for the devices). With the experimental Google Workshop, the company may be trying to break into that market a little bit more.

Google Workshop is a little tool that apparently allows users to design custom cases and even their own live wallpapers. If Google finds that this strategy works, this can mean a whole new push for custom accessories for your Google devices. For now, though – in its exploratory phase – the tool is just available for the Nexus 5 device.

There are two elements right now to Workshop. First is the “MapMe” element, which allows users to build a customized phone case and a live wallpaper based on a map location that is significant for the user. The second element is called “Moments”, and as the name suggests, this feature encourages users to upload their own photos and choose one for case design, and others for the live wallpaper. Of course, users can customize the look the casing using different colors or adding specific text.

There is very little else to Google Workshop for now, and there is no word yet on whether this service will be expanded to other devices (and upcoming devices?) as well. It’s clearly in an experimental phase and is very much a work in progress. Let’s all wait a bit more to see if this is something Google will pursue to the big time.

VIA: Android Police

Story Timeline

• Firefox OS nightlies now available for the Nexus 5


• Android L developer preview now rooted on Nexus 5 and 7


• AnTuTu Q2 surprises: Snapdragon 800, Nexus 5 at the top

Microsoft brings Samsung to court over Android patent deal

On Friday, the Redmond-based global software giant Microsoft announced that it has brought South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung to court over a contract dispute in their patent deal for Android devices. Microsoft, in very basic terms, has a contract with Samsung where it receives royalties for every Android device it sells, and it is suing Samsung because according to them, the latter has not been keeping its part of the contract.

According to Microsoft’s deputy general counsel David Howard, this legal action was done “simply to enforce our contract with Samsung.” In 2011, Microsoft signed one of those landmark Android patent deals, claiming that every Android device Samsung sells infringes on its patents, hence the royalties. As of late, Microsoft claims that Samsung has not been paying them the royalties they’ve agreed upon based on that 2011 contract, a situation that started last year – specifically after Microsoft’s Nokia acquisition.

What Microsoft is asking is actually for the court to enforce the contract as legal and binding, where Samsung has already made clear its disagreement to it. “After spending months trying to resolve our disagreement, Samsung has made clear in a series of letters and discussions that we have a fundamental disagreement as to the meaning of our contract,” Howard said.

Samsung has replied with a standard answer to the lawsuit, saying in a published statement: “We will review the complaint in detail and determine appropriate measures in response.” This patent contract has made Samsung – and many other Android device manufacturers – beholden to Microsoft, something that Google has vocally lambasted over the years. “This is the same tactic we’ve seen time and again from Microsoft,” Google said in a statement when the patent deal was signed in 2011. “Failing to succeed in the smartphone market, they are resorting to legal measures to extort profit from others’ achievements and hinder the pace of innovation.”

VIA: Recode

Story Timeline

• Microsoft sues Motorola for patent infringement


• JXD tablet S7100 just begs for an Apple, Sony and Microsoft lawsuit all at once


• Microsoft patent lawsuit looks to ban Google Maps in Germany

Epic Arena is like chess but with swords, magic, and cards

There are no dearth of games on Android, that's for sure. But perhaps it isn't an exaggeration to say that majority of them simply reuse the same old material, same old gameplay, or same old idea over and over again. There are times, however, when something unique comes along, either by offering something completely new or through a rather creative mashup of familiar elements. Epic Arena is one of the latter.

Creator Travian Games describes Epic Arena as "chess on steroids", but that doesn't really capture the essence of this game. In truth it's like chess, with Magic the Gathering inspired summoning and power ups, with MOBA-style "destroy the enemy's tower" goals, and Plants vs. Zombies progression system. Sounds confusing? Sounds interesting! You take the role of an unaffiliated commander who must make the decision to join either the Brotherhood of Order or the Legion of Chaos (DotA anyone?). Each battle consists of putting down your units (chess pieces) on hexagonal cells, summoned from a randomly shuffled deck of cards. You are allowed a fixed number of moves before you hand over the turn to your opponent. Cards can either power up your own units, heal them, or deal devastating magic to your enemies. A mission is over when you destroy the other side's "artifact", basically their tower of power. That just about sums up the basic setup of the game.

Epic Arena's graphics isn't as resource intensive as some "Triple A mobile games" (can we use that term now?) on Android, but that's not to say they're not good. They're done well enough that they don't look disturbing or distracting, but they do lack a bit in detail. You won't find any gorgeous card artwork here either, but that's not really surprising. This isn't Magic 2015, even if it may, at times, feel like it. Controls are simple, easy, and all touch-based. Considering the nature of the game, there is no need for kludgy virtual joysticks. Everything happens at a tap. Tap and hold brings up more details about units and cards, and swipe and pinch manipulate the view, which you might want to do especially when units start filling the board.

Likening the game to chess isn't completely inaccurate either. While soloists might find the game playable in solo missions, the game really shines through in online player vs. player matches. So yes, you can play with a real, live human being (presumably) from some other part of the world. Or maybe just down the street. You can take your time in the Duel Mode, where asynchronous gameplay is allowed, or you can feel the rush of adrenaline in Blitz Mode, where time is not your friend. Epic Arena is a cross-platform game, and by that they mean Android, iOS, and Facebook. It is also free to download and play, but after a while, but you will be met with (optional, they say) in-app purchases. But you probably already expected that.

Download: Epic Arena on Google Play Store

Samsung Galaxy Alpha leak: Exynos 5433, 12MP camera, August 13

It looks like the somewhat mysterious Galaxy Alpha is shaping up to be quite a contender. What started out as an almost negligible semi-metallic mid-range smartphone is now turning into another mini flagship, bearing a decent set of specs inside a partly aluminum shell. Whatever the Galaxy Alpha may be, Samsung may have scheduled to reveal it to all in two weeks' time.

Samsung isn't exactly in trouble, but it got a rather shocking wake up call when its Q2 profits dipped for the first time in about three years. Now it seems that the manufacturer is quickly assuring the public, fans or otherwise, that it's not yet through and that is has aces up its sleeves. A company executive revealed that it has two high-end smartphones in the works. One we all know to be the next Galaxy Note to be unveiled next month. The other, according to the exec, is built out of new materials, fueling rumors of a metal clad Samsung smartphone.

The Galaxy Alpha might be that device, since it was leaked to have a metallic frame, unfortunately still with a plastic rear. However, early leaked specs didn't exactly inspire confidence, especially the 4.7 or 4.8 inch 720p screen that was consistent across leaks. Now, however, there might be some meat to those expectations after all. AnTuTu places a certain SM-G850F, believed to be the Galaxy Alpha, with a Samsung Exynos 5433. This is the very same processor rumored to drive the Galaxy Note 4 and has been seen to blow even the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 out of the water. With a 4.8-inch 720p screen, also confirmed by this AnTuTu sighting, the SoC has less to drag it down in performance. There is also a good amount of RAM at 2 GB. Also interesting is that it will have a 12 megapixel camera on the rear.

A last minute photo confirms some of the other features of this device, including a nano SIM card slot, a heartrate monitor, and the lack of a microSD slot. Samsung is reported to now be eying an August 13 unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, instead of August 4, but still well ahead of the announcement of Apple's iPhone 6 that this smartphone is being poised to compete with directly.

VIA: SamMobile

Story Timeline

• Galaxy Note 4 Exynos proc faster vs. Snapdragon variant


• Samsung Galaxy Alpha (Galaxy F) rumored to launch in August


• Samsung Galaxy Alpha leak: semi-metallic mini Galaxy S5


• Samsung Galaxy Alpha now leaked with 4.8-inch HD screen

$75 gets you $100 in Android App Credit Today on Amazon

We see a fair number of iTunes gift card deals around these parts, but discounts on Android app credit are basically nonexistent. Today though, Amazon is filling the void with $100 in Amazon Coins, valid for the purchase of apps and in-app purchases from the Android Appstore, for just $75.

Read more...

GripSnap is the magnetic monopod to solve selfie problems

Have you ever gone on a vacation on your own, was too embarrassed to ask strangers to take your pictures and so ended up with crappy selfie shots? Or are you tired of taking actual selfies with your friends because people are starting to call you the selfie queen? A new product is trying to solve all of the world’s selfie-related problems by creating something that we’ve probably thought of but never thought of actually creating: a magnetic monopod.

Monopods have been a very popular mobile phone accessory the past few months since the advent of the selfie culture. But GripSnap is a bit different as it is a portable but magnetic monopod that will supposedly stick to any metallic object like a lamppost, a fire hydrant, a street sign and even a car. As long as you have something metallic around you, then all you need to do is screw on your mobile device, stick it to the metal object and voila, strike a pose.

But wait, how will you be able to control the camera from afar. As with a lot of problems nowadays, the answer is simple: there’s an app for that. GripSnap can work with any camera timer apps like Camera+, CamMe, TimerCam, etc. There are even some that are voice and sound activated, like vapp, where all you need to do is clap your hands for the smartphone to take your picture (Of course, sometimes you’d look a bit silly doing it, but hey, it’s for a nice picture!)

GripSnap works not just with mobile phones, but also with small point and shoot cameras and GoPros. So if you think this is something you can get behind (or, in front of) , then you still have 40 days to support this Kickstarter project. They’ve already gotten 60% of their target $16,000 and are planning to start shipping by fall.

SOURCE: Kickstarter

Qi spec to include resonance for long distance charging

Wireless charging, once seen simply as an eccentricity, is becoming more common as more devices and accessories advertise the feature. Taking the widely-used Qi standard to the next level, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) revealed what's in store in the upcoming version 1.2 of the specification: resonant charging or the ability to charge a device without having it lie directly on the charging plate.

The current Qi v1.1 specification only has support for a gap of 5 to 7 mm between the power transmitter, like a charging pad, and the receiver, like a smartphone. The WPC, however, believes there is definitely room for improvement and so has invested in resonant inductive technology to take wireless charging even further, literally. Last month, the WPC met at Leeuwarden to give an update on the planned v1.2 of the specification and the results they are now sharing are quite impressive. Regular v1.1 receivers are now able to extended the charging distance from 7 mm to 30 mm. But with v1.2 prototypes, it can be extended even further to 45 mm.

Before you write this off as a minor improvement or a simple gimmick, imagine the implications of this distant charging. The first is that wireless chargers will no longer be limited to the present forms they take today, basically flat or inclined plates that require users to place their devices directly on the surface. Now power transmitters can be embedded deeper into everyday household objects, like furniture, desks, and other structures. Second, charging multiple devices will also be easier. Qi v1.1 actually already supports charing multiple devices at the same time but, given the spatial restrictions above, it is hardly ideal, practical, or cheap. In v1.2, a single transmitter can charge multiple devices no matter where they are placed, as long as they are within a 45 mm radius.

Users and manufacturers of current Qi-compatible devices and accessories need not worry about the new spec, as the WPC is making sure that both versions will be compatible with each other. That is, a v1.1 receiver can be charged on a v1.2 transmitter, and a v1.2 receiver can be charged on a v1.1 trasnmitter, albeit withouth the maximum benefits of the new distance. It almost does sound like a dream come true, except that the WPC will still need to actually finalize this new version of the specification before manufacturers can even start applying it to products that we can all actually buy.

SOURCE: Wireless Power Consortium (1), (PDF)

Story Timeline

• Wireless charging gets needed clarity as A4WP and PMA sign agreement [UPDATE: WPC comments]


• Starbucks to have wireless charging through Duracell Powermat


• AT&T LG G3 eschews Qi, goes with PMA wireless charging