LightBlog

mercredi 26 octobre 2016

Exclusive: Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) renders and video leaked

samsung-galaxy-a5-2017-leak-android-authority-1

These new CAD renders, obtained exclusively by Android Authority in collaboration with @OnLeaks, show the new design direction Samsung has in store for next year's Galaxy A5. The renders show that next year's mid-ranger will inherit the high-end design of this year's Galaxy S7, following the trickle-down design pattern Samsung has established with the Galaxy A5 series.

samsung-galaxy-a5-5of13See also: Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) spotted, A-series refresh incoming14

As you may recall, the design of the current Galaxy A5 (2016) is part Galaxy Note 4, with its "scalloped" sides and flared corners, and part Galaxy S6, with the two phones looking near-indistinguishable from the rear. But the upcoming Galaxy A5 (2017) looks to be a near straight copy of the Galaxy S7, complete with rounded edges on the back.

According to our source, the display of the Galaxy A5 (2017), with a model number of SM-A520F, comes in at 5.2 inches with dimensions around 145 x 71 x 7.8 mm. This makes the A5 (2017)'s footprint nearly identical to the current A5, but with a half millimeter thicker body, hopefully for housing a larger battery (the 2016 A5 packs a 2,900 mAh battery). Take a look at the renders in the gallery below.

Side-mounted speaker?

Perhaps most interestingly, the Galaxy A5 (2017) will have a side-mounted speaker and a completely flush camera lens on the back. The headphone port looks to have switched sides (but at least it's still present) but the 2017 A5 will make the switch to USB Type-C. While we can't guarantee materail choices, it does look as though the A5 (2017) will feature the same metal-and-glass construction as the Galaxy S7.

https://youtu.be/fXqwK4lpihs

Previous Galaxy A5 (2017) specs leaked via import listings and a benchmark database indicate 3 GB of RAM paired with an Exynos 7880 chipset, featuring four 1.87 GHz Cortex-A72 cores and four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.3 GHz along with a Mali-T860MP4 GPU. We have no idea about storage capacity, but the renders do seem to show both a SIM tray as well as an SD card lot.

The new Galaxy A5 (2017) should launch sometime around December 2016, if past A5 launches are anything to go by.

What do you think about the new Galaxy A5 design?



from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2eb5J1R
via IFTTT

Gary Sims interviews beloved online Android development teacher Rob Percival

rob-percival

Our team has recently discovered that our readers are very interested in online courses for things like game design and Android development.

One class we found drew more attention than any other: the Complete Android Development course by Rob Percival. It turns out our readers seem very attracted to his teaching style and pace.

Rob has just released a brand new Complete Android Developer course that includes Android Nougat content, so we thought it'd be a good opportunity for our own Gary Sims to have a chat with him to see how he got into teaching Android development online.


Tell us a little bit about you! How did you get into Android development?

As a web developer I'd built a few Android apps using Cordova, and played around a little with Eclipse, but it wasn't until I wanted to build The Complete Android Developer Course that I seriously started getting into it. I'd built iOS apps before, but hadn't worked with Java, so there was much that was familiar, and a lot that was new.

Back in 2015 your "The Complete Android M Developer Course with Android Studio" did very well on kickstarter, what has happened since then?

The course itself was released in November 2015, and became the most popular Android Udemy course ever, which is great! We had some problems when Parse closed down in January, but the open-source Parse Server was a welcome option, and my new Android N developer courses uses that, so hopefully we're not so vulnerable to company closures now!

You also teach courses about iOS, what are the pro and cons of learning Android development rather than iOS?

I love the openness of Android, and the feeling that they want you to be able to do interesting, OS-level stuff with your apps, whereas with iOS development you very much feel like your playing by some very strict rules. I also enjoy the stability of Android development – frequent Swift updates that change core commands make it very hard to keep up, and often send you back to the drawing board!

Having said that, I do prefer Xcode to Android Studio – it's a more pleasant, modern-feeling development environment, and 2 to 3 minute compiling times for simple apps does get frustrating.

If there was something you could change about how apps are developed for Android, what would it be?

As I mentioned, I would like to see an improved Android Studio with a better interface and faster compiling times. I also think the basic themes are pretty ugly compared to iOS, and would like it to be easier to create attractive-looking apps.

On a more technical level, I ran into the 64K method limit in my recent course, and had to resort to using Multidex, which was a nightmare – would definitely like to see that fixed, but it's unlikely without some core changes to the OS.

How can you Android 7.0 Nougat course make it possible for complete beginners to start down the Android developer path?

I don't assume any coding/development experience at all, so anyone can use the course to start building apps. The advantage of using a course like this is that I show you every step in screencast form – in tutorials (Android ones especially), all too often, you get to a screen that doesn't have the option you're seeing, or a weird error message that takes you hours to fix.

We start by going through the Android Studio installation process (much smoother now that Java is included), and then start building apps straight away. I really do believe anyone can learn how to make apps using a course like this.

What new material did you add to the Nougat course compared to your previous Complete Android M Developer Course.

I've switched out quite a few of services we use, so we now use the Open Weather API for example, and Parse Server running on AWS (students get $50 AWS credit too). I've also introduced sections on Firebase, and of course Android N specific topics like multi-window and picture-in-picture mode.

Is it fun to learn about Android development or is it just lots of study and theory?

Of course it's fun! I've always believed the best way to learn something is to dive right in, and coding is no exception. Learning to code is very difficult if you're applying that to something, but if you take the right path, and apply what you're learning straight away, to build, say, a Brain Trainer or Instagram Clone, it's a great challenge, and loads of fun. Plus the ability to make any app your imagination can conceive and share that with over a billion people is mind-boggling.

The default language for Android development is Java, do you cover Java programming as well?

Absolutely – that's a big part of the course. For non-programmers we actually take some time out from Android Studio near the beginning of the course to focus on Java basics like loops and classes, but the majority is taught as we're building apps.

Is your course only for beginners? What about those with existing software development experience? What about iOS developers?

The course would be perfect for anyone who hasn't had much Android experience before. It's pretty fast moving, so even if you're familiar with other languages, you should find the pace about right (and certainly a lot quicker than piecing it all together from youtube videos and stackoverflow posts!).

Intermediate Android devs should have a look through the contents, as there may be specific areas, such as Parse Server or Bluetooth, that they are not familiar with and it may well be worth the price of admission to cover those topics quickly.

What can students expect to be able to achieve after they take this course?

My aim when putting the course together was to enable students to build any app they can imagine, and that's still the case. Students have built a huge range of different apps, and once you have all the basics skills (as well as a strong sense for googling), the sky is very much the limit.

In this course I've also added sections on marketing apps, which was a highly requested topic for my students.

Tell us some about your past students?

I can show you some apps that past students have created:

Here's a roundup of a few Android apps created by students in the last month. If you have an app which you want featured, do let us know!

Cosmic Maneuver
This visually stunning looking app requires you to move a cosmic ball around space and collect coins to accumulate points while avoiding a foray or asteroid from hitting you. You can also collect bombs which you can use to blast all the asteroids on the screen to give you some breathing space to collect those coins. There are several difficulty levels and the game has scored highly from reviews after its release.

You can get Cosmic Maneuver from the Google Play Store.

Gravity Force
Another space related game Gravity Force puts you in control of a ball for you to guide through rough obstacles. You do this by weaving through space and change gravity settings. Make sure you don't go near those obstacles flying around in space or the black holes because it could be a disaster!

Have a look at Gravity Force from the Play Store here.

Weight Log
If you go to the gym and lift weights you probably keep track of your exercises. There are some apps available for this but Weight Log no grills simple and easy to use app which will keep a list of all your exercises which is neatly categorised. You can enter your weights in either kg or lb and you'll receive warnings if it's been a while since you last increased the weight for an exercise to help encourage you to progress.

Weight Log is available from the Play Store.

White House Race 2016
With the US presidential elections fast approaching there's a host of election related apps being released. White house race is a simple reaction game where you tap (or smack) on the faces of Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton as they appear on screen. You do this as quick as you can within a short time. There are two difficulty levels to this game. A very simple game which can help past the time.

You can get this app from here.

Trying to learn something new on your own isn't always easy, if a student gets stuck can they get help?

Definitely! The course Q&A area is a very active community – I aim to answer every question that is posted within 24 hours, and most often several other students will chime in as well. I also show you the best ways to find help on the web, so hopefully you'll end the course a confident developer, as well as a capable one.


Rob's Android N developer course is 270 lectures long and spans over 32 hours. Lifetime access to the course materials normally costs $200, but we've struck a deal with Rob so that Android Authority readers are able to get the full course for 95% off.

That's the all the lectures and course materials from the highest ranked Android development instructor with Udemy all for just $10. If you decide you're not satisfied, you can even get a refund within 30 days.

To take advantage of this offer, just click this magical link, and the discount will be applied to your purchase!

AA Picks is a team devoted to finding products or services that we think our readers would value. We attempt to secure discounts for these, and sometimes we see a small share of revenue from purchases. Let us know in the comments if you would be interested in more online courses like this one!



from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2eLYpLK
via IFTTT

Watch Hugo Barra unbox and explain the Mi MIX and Mi Note 2

mimix-2

The Xiaomi Mi MIX caught many of us off-guard when it was launched yesterday. The bezel-less Xiaomi phone is both eye-catching and well-equipped, featuring a Snapdragon 821 processor, 4 or 6 GB or RAM and a 6.4-inch, 17:9, 2040×1080 resolution display.

In case you missed it, why not come watch a video of Xiaomi Global Vice President Hugo Barra unboxing it?

In the Xiaomi video, you'll see Barra following what he describes as "possibly the biggest launch event in the history of the company" discussing the upcoming Mi MIX and the curved-display bearing Mi Note 2 in detail.

Barra also took to Twitter today to thank YouTuber Marques Brownlee for his hands-on impressions of the Mi MIX, and OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei stepped in to give his two cents on the handset.

The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 will go on sale in China on November 1 and the Mi MIX will follow on November 4. Availability details are scarce but don't expect to see the latter outside of China.

Which do you prefer? Mi MIX or Mi Note 2? Let us know in the comments.



from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2ffVNbv
via IFTTT

HTC posts $63 millon operating loss in Q3 2016 earnings report

htc10 vs htc one m9 9of10

HTC has posted its financial results for Q3 2016, ending September 30, which reveal an NT$2 billion operating loss, equivalent of around US$63.30 million. Despite the current shortfall, however, the Taiwanese manufacturer's NT$22.2 revenue for Q3 helped it climb from a -NT$4.2 billion (-US$132.92 million) operating loss in Q2 2016.

Looking at HTC's figures for September also shows big changes, with a 41.84% month-on-month increase and 31.35% year-on-year increase in revenue. Additionally, HTC's operating margin improved significantly, moving from -23.1% to -9.0% in the past 12 months.

"We are delighted at how our flagship products, the HTC 10 smartphone and the HTC VIVE virtual reality system, have been embraced by the market; it endorses our revitalized focus on design, engineering and manufacturing," said Chairwoman and CEO of HTC Cher Wang in the report.

htc 10 review editors (1 of 1)See also: HTC 10 review!191

HTC also stands to generate strong sales numbers in Q4 thanks to its partnership with Google on its recently released Pixel smartphones and may gain an unforeseen boost from Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 fumble.

HTC has appeared for several years to be teetering on the edge of failure, but after branching out into VR and cameras, and working on the well-received Pixels, the tide may be turning.



from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2eLFTDi
via IFTTT

Are the Pixel and Pixel XL just overpriced Nexus phones? Or are there more to them?

google pixel xl initial review aa (42 of 48) unboxing featured
While the media and Google's PR machine have been positively praising and pushing the Pixel family so far, the Pixel and Pixel XL aren't without criticism by any means. One of the biggest issues that long-time Google and Nexus fans seem to have with the phone is its price relative to its feature set.

In many ways the Pixel and Pixel XL seem more like a simple rebranding of the Nexus family, with a higher price tag. Is this a fair assessment? And if it's not just a more expensive Nexus, what about its design, features, and philosophy set it apart from the Google phones of old? It's a good question, but obviously a largely subjective topic.

While not everyone is going to have the same opinion, in this feature I'll discuss my overall thoughts on the Pixel XL and whether or not it's a true jump from the Nexus or just a money/attention grab.

google pixel xl initial review aa (19 of 48) front featuredSee also: Google Pixel XL initial review: first 48 hours170

The Nexus family's philosophy

nexus 6p vs nexus 5x aa (15 of 25)

As an owner of pretty much every recent Nexus starting with the Nexus 4, and with exception of the 5X, I think it's fair to say I have a reasonably good grasp of what the Nexus line was and wasn't.

Originally the Nexus line was largely released with the philosophy that it was a handset made for developers and hardcore Google enthusiasts that wanted the purest, most optimized Google experience possible. Over the years it was also the playground for experimentation, being the device that launched new versions of stock Android, as well as a phone that would adapt new strategies for the company like no expandable memory, no physical buttons, etc.

Beginning with the Nexus 4, and excluding the Nexus 6, the Nexus line would continue this same general approach while also evolving into a line that would challenge assumptions consumers had about "lower priced" handsets, offering reasonably high-end specs while still being highly affordable.

The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X were arguably the most perfect Nexus phones ever released.Yet, like every Nexus before it, they were also relatively unknown outside of techie circles.

By the arrival of the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X, the on-paper philosophy and strategy remained the same, but it's fair to say that the overall strategy was beginning to shift. Google introduced the idea of offering two phone sizes, and brought its most solid specs to date while fixing common Nexus problems (battery, camera, etc).

The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X were arguably the most perfect Nexus phones ever released. And yet they were still largely developer and techie focused. They were also still relatively affordable. But, like every Nexus before it, they were also relatively unknown outside of techie circles.

The Pixel XL's philosophy, and how the phone stands apart from the Nexus line

google pixel xl vs nexus 6p quick look aa-6
So if that's what a Nexus is about, what's different with the Pixel? On the surface, the Pixel and Pixel XL carry over some of the same tenets as the last-generation Nexus line: high specs, solid builds, great cameras, and even better batteries. They also have the newest version of Android, Nougat 7.1. Where things start to shift is largely in marketing philosophy — and obviously the price, which we'll talk about a bit more later.

While Nexus commercials certainly existed, I can't say I remember ever seeing them to the degree that I have with the Pixel. Live TV, Hulu, online advertisements… the Pixel is everywhere. The same situation can be found in Verizon stores. I've gone by two different locations and chatted up with their staff to see how the reception has been for the Pixel so far. A lot of people have been asking about it, according to more than one staffer. More than asking about it, consumers are buying it.

Unlike the Nexus line, the Pixel and Pixel XL are primarily targeted towards everyday users

One of the people I talked to worked with Verizon long enough to remember previous Nexus phones that happened to make their way to the carrier and she claimed the same level of interest simply wasn't there. That's anecdotal obviously, but if you ask the average non-tech-loving Joe what a Nexus is — you'll probably get a blank stare.

In short, the Pixel and Pixel XL are primarily targeted towards everyday users. This change in marketing can be further seen in the existence of the "Support" system that is built into the Settings menu, allowing you to phone or chat Google for help if you run into any problems with your device.

Okay, so the Pixel XL isn't aimed at hardcore enthusiasts to the same degree that the Nexus was before it. Is there any other major changes that set it apart?

In many ways, no, it feels a lot like a Nexus. That said, the Pixel and Pixel XL really aren't stock Android. Despite the fact that many are referring to the Pixel experience as "Pure Android", it's more like a "Pure Google-driven experience". This can be seen in the fact that there are a number of extras like the Pixel launcher and integrated Google Assistant that, at least for now, seemingly are exclusive to Google's own (non-Nexus) phones. In this way, the software present with the Pixel XL is more akin to the Moto family, stock-like, than "pure Android".

Is this change enough to ask such a premium?

google pixel and pixel xl first look hands on together aa-2

That's the most interesting question– is it worth the cost? While this obviously my opinion, I feel that there are real changes that make the Pixel worthy of a new name in order to showcase the new software and marketing strategy, but I'm less certain about the pricing.

While the Pixel software is essentially "skinned Android", the number of add-ons aren't anywhere at the same level as something like the LG V20 or Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. So I can see how some might feel you aren't getting enough extras to justify the cost.

After using the Pixel XL for nearly a week, however, I can tell you that the software here feels more optimized and fluid than not only my S7 Edge, but also my Nexus 6P. Sure, some of that is down to amazing specs, but it's pretty obvious Google worked hard to optimize the software for its phone at a level that arguably rivals what we've seen with Apple's hardware/software integration. Similarly, while the metal on the Pixel is a bit more dent/scratch prone than I'd like, it has a solid feel and look to it that turns heads in a way my Nexus 6P simply didn't.

Pricing the Pixel lower than the high-end Galaxy and iPhone lines would have led to a perception problem

At the end of the day, I personally think the Pixel and Pixel XL aren't probably massive enough leaps forward in design, specs, or even software to justify such a high price when compared to the Nexus. But then again, there are things that we as end-users aren't considering such as increased costs of higher marketing, as well as increased costs of improved support (chat/phone, etc). There's also the fact that pricing the Pixel lower than the high-end Galaxy and iPhone lines would have led to a perception problem.

Fickle as people can be, you can take two products with the same specs, design, everything. Yet the one priced high will be perceived as a premium, higher-end offering, while the other is a "budget" item and therefore not worthy of the same adoration, or capable of holding the position of being a status symbol.

Bottom-line, sure, after years of great Nexus phones, it's hard to swallow the Pixel and Pixel XL's pricing, especially when the two lines are so very similar in many key ways. That said, we need to remember that in order for Google to get its phones recognized by those outside of the hardcore techie community, it needs to make some changes to marketing and perception. For better or worse, the Pixel and Pixel XL so far seem to be doing this reasonably well. As a result of Google's change in direction, the Pixel and Pixel XL may not appeal to all of those in the Nexus community, especially those lured by the lower pricing structure, but it doesn't necessarily make the Pixel line a bad move. Only time will tell for sure.

Thus concludes my thoughts on what the Nexus family was, what the Pixel is, and why they are priced so very different. What are your thoughts? Do you feel that Google overpriced these, or do you think that their new consumer-focused strategy (that also costs more to market) makes the uptick in pricing understandable? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments.



from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2ffy37m
via IFTTT

ZTE ZMAX Pro makes its way to T-Mobile for $130

ZTE ZMAX Pro Review 20

The ZTE ZMAX Pro is now available from T-Mobile for the no-contract price of $129.99. The budget-priced phone was previously released by T-Mobile's subsidiary MetroPCS earlier this summer.

zte-z-max-pro-review-thumbSee also: ZTE ZMAX Pro Review – is a $100 smartphone worth buying?13

In case you need a refresher on the phone's specs, the ZTE ZMAX Pro has a large 6-inch 1080 x 1920 display. Inside, buyers can expect an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor with a clock speed of 1.5GHz, along with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage. There's also a microSD card slot for adding up to 128GB of additional storage.

ZTE videos

  • ZTE Axon 7 mini hands on
  • Nubia Z11 hands-on
  • ZTE Axon 7 vs OnePlus 3
  • ZTE ZMAX Pro Review
  • Taking audio to the next lev...
  • Getting to know the ZTE Axon...

The phone also comes with a 13-megapixel rear-camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, a 3,400mAh battery and a fingerprint sensor. For those folks who might think the T-Mobile version is somehow different from the one that is already available at MetroPCS for the price of just $99 (after mail-in rebates), we can report that the carrier says there is no difference at all, besides the price tag. It's up to you if you want to pay over $30 more for the T-Mobile version.



from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2eLlyO8
via IFTTT

Passing of the torch: Samsung’s “crown-prince” steps up

lee-jae-yong

Following the steady transition of power that has been occurring for a while now, Lee Jae-yong, current vice chairman of Samsung Electronics and only son of ailing Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee, will be appointed to Samsung's board of directors at a shareholder meeting to be held Thursday morning.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Olympic Edition-13See also: Sorry, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will not be launching early24

The appointment will signal the dawn of a new era for Samsung under the increasing control of a younger generation of the Lee family. But it will also finally provide the younger Lee with the opportunity he has been waiting for to implement real change at Samsung Electronics.

As The Korea Herald reports, "Expectations are high on what the 48-year-old grandson of Samsung Founder Lee Byung-chull has in mind to save the tech giant". (For what it's worth, the vocal American hedge-fund that has been encouraging Samsung to list the company on the U.S. stock market is positive about the move, saying they are "optimistic".)

Lee's appointment will put Samsung in a difficult position to ignore outside views and investors.

Against this backdrop, Korean analysts claim Lee's appointment "will put Samsung in a difficult position to ignore outside views and investors". Lee will share the boardroom with three other internal directors along with five external directors. However, the external directors have not voted against the agenda in 15 years, making Samsung's own directors the real decision makers.

samsung-logo-mwc-big

Despite the historical significance of the appointment, which is expected to occur smoothly tomorrow morning at 10 AM local time, some observers think it doesn't go far enough. Park Sang-in, a professor at the Graduate School of Public Administration at Seoul National University told The Korea Herald:

To deal with the crisis the company faces, Lee needs to take up a CEO role, not a board of director role, to show responsibility in management.

South Korean cultural norms prevent Lee from assuming full responsibility for the company while his father is alive. Becoming a registered board member is, however, the final hurdle to Lee being appointed as Samsung chairman. But more than that:

It is a symbolic move for Samsung. Starting from Oct. 27, Lee Jae-yong will be taking the substantive responsibility, leadership and governance over Samsung Electronics.

Following Lee's appointment, we will not only finally find out how much money he makes (all directors are required to publicly disclose salaries exceeding $441,000), we will also finally see what the next generation of Samsung's ruling family has in mind for the company in this, its most desperate hour.

What do you think Lee should do? Should he take the role of CEO?



from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2dWhRWO
via IFTTT