Apple’s revamped user interface in iOS 7 hasn’t exactly been welcomed with open arms by everyone, but apparently enough people like it that one Android developer has decided to copy it. MyColorScreen has created a theme called jbOS 7, short for “Jelly Bean OS 7,” that is compatible with handsets running Android 4.0 and later. Once installed, the theme mimics the look and feel of many aspects of Apple’s iOS 7 interface, including the lock screen, home screens, several apps and even Apple’s controversial new app icons. Images of the jbOS 7 theme on a Galaxy S4 follow below along with a video of the new theme in action, and the files needed to install the theme can be found on the developer’s site. More →
Google has confirmed that its highly anticipated Moto X smartphone will launch later this year. The company has remained quiet about the handset’s specs and design, however. According to @evleaks, an anonymous Twitter account that has been accurate with mobile rumors in the past, the Moto X will be equipped with a 720p display, a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro and a 10-megapixel camera. It is also rumored to include 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. The smartphone’s display size remains a mystery, although earlier reports suggested it will measure between 4.3-inches and 4.7-inches diagonally. The Moto X will be manufactured in the United States and will be available sometime this fall across multiple carriers.
BlackBerry boasts that its operating system has the ability to run Android apps, although the current version of BlackBerry 10 only works with apps from Android 2.3 Gingerbread and earlier. BlackBerry users are about to get a whole lot more apps to choose from, however, because the company on Thursday announced that BlackBerry 10.2 will finally add support for Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, which will give BlackBerry users access to apps that are more recent than the builds most Android devices are running. A beta release of the new BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps and Plug-in for Android Development Tools was made available to developers, but BlackBerry 10.2 isn’t expected to arrive on devices until later this year. BlackBerry previously announced that the update will also bring support for standard Unicode emojis, multiple alarms, level 1 notifications, reminder timers and more.
Acer’s smartphone business is struggling to distinguish itself in the crowded Android market, however a company executive has confirmed that it still has no plans to launch smartphones on another operating system. Despite being a longtime partner of Microsoft, Acer smartphone vice president Allen Burnes explained that Windows Phone isn’t yet a safe bet for the company. In an interview with Pocket-lint, the executive revealed that Acer would like to produce Windows Phone 8 handsets sometime down the road. He praised the platform as a whole, however he explained that Acer could not invest in the operating system until Microsoft built it up more. Burnes noted that app selection was still a serious problem, as was brand awareness. For the time being, Acer remains focused on its Android smartphones.
European officials are investigating Google over allegations that it has anti-competitive deals in place with various smartphone vendors, the Financial Times reported. Microsoft and Nokia reportedly claim that Google is forcing Android vendors to delay the launch of smartphones based on competing operating systems. The commission will also investigate whether the company has agreements in place that require its manufacturing partners to preload Google’s services on their devices. A Google spokesperson denied the allegations, citing the open source philosophy of Android. A company spokesperson explained to the Financial Times that “handset makers, carriers and consumers can decide how to use Android, including which applications they want to use.”
The latest rumors suggest that Sony is preparing to launch a new flagship smartphone in the coming weeks. French website Nowhereelse.fr on Thursday posted an image of what is said to be the Xperia Z Ultra. Earlier reports claimed the smartphone will be equipped with a massive 6.44-inch full HD 1080p display, a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a microSD slot and an 8-megapixel rear camera. The Xperia ZU will seemingly be the largest smartphone in the crowded Android market, beating both the 6.3-inch Galaxy Mega and 6.1-inch Huawei Ascend Mate. Sony is expected to announce the Xperia ZU at a press conference on July 4th. The leaked image follows below. More →
Much as he dismissed the significance of the iPhone when it first released, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer also dismissed Google’s free-to-use Android platform when it launched because Google wasn’t charging any money for OEMs to use it. In the five years since launching Android, however, it’s clear that making money from the direct sales of Android devices was never part of Google’s plan. To understand why this is, take a look at eMarketer’s new report on mobile advertising showing that Google took home $4.61 billion in mobile advertising revenues in 2012, or more than half of all mobile advertising revenues in the world. More →
A new version of the Nexus 7 tablet was expected to be the highlight of Google’s I/O Developers Conference last month, but the device was a no-show. According to a report from Digitimes, the second-generation Nexus 7 will debut this summer instead. Oddly enough, the website claims the device will be priced higher than its current $199 price point to “avoid competing directly against entry-level tablets.” Earlier reports have suggested that the new Nexus 7 will be equipped with a 7-inch 1,920 x 1,200-pixel display, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a 4,000 mAh battery and support for Qi wireless charging. The second-generation Nexus 7 is reportedly scheduled to launch in July with the 16GB model starting at $229
A new report suggests that Google will release a brand new and fully optimized version of Android later this year. According to VR-Zone, Android Key Lime Pie, which the website specifically calls Android 5.0, will be an “optimized OS” that is compatible with devices running 512MB of RAM or higher. Earlier rumors had claimed that Google would release a small update, known as Android 4.3, sometime this summer that would include only minor changes. The company is reportedly preparing to launch Key Lime Pie in October. The website speculates that Google will use the launch of the Moto X, which is scheduled to occur in the late third or early fourth quarter, to showcase its new operating system, similar to what it has done in the past with Nexus devices.
It has been widely reported that HTC is planning to launch a scaled-down version of its flagship HTC One smartphone. Engadget on Wednesday posted an image of what it claims is the HTC One mini next to the full-sized One smartphone. The website confirmed that the handset will be equipped with a smaller 4.3-inch 720p display, a 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor and an Ultrapixel rear camera. Like HTC’s larger smartphone, which BGR called one the best designed Android devices of all time, the mini will feature an all-metal body, front-facing speakers and run Sense 5 atop Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Bloomberg reported earlier this week that the HTC One mini will be available in the U.S. in August.
Apple introduced a completely revamped version of iOS at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday. The latest version of the operating system includes a radically different layout with new icons, an improved notification center, enhanced multitasking and easy access to settings. iOS 7 is nothing new for Android users, however, who have long had access to a helpful notification bar, premium multitasking, quick settings and the ability to customize their icons. One feature that stood out in Apple’s operating system was the motion response interface, a feature that responds to the device’s movements and creates a 3D effect in the background. Luckily for Google users, this feature can also be done on Android. An application on Google Play called 3D Image Live Wallpaper by Opotech gives Android users a similar effect and is compatible with any wallpaper. The 3D Image Live Wallpaper app is available now in the Google Play store for $1.60.
Steve Kondik, the founder and lead developer of CyanogenMod, announced on Wednesday that he is developing a new privacy feature for his popular third-party Android software. The feature, known as “Run in Incognito Mode,” is designed to help keep personal data secure by allowing Android users to run applications in a restricted mode. While operating in Incognito Mode, an application will not be able to access GPS location or personal data such as contacts, messages, browser history, calendar or call logs. CyanogenMod is an open source replacement firmware for Android devices that is designed to give smartphones and tablets more functionality and stability. “Run in Incognito Mode” is expected to debut in nightly builds of CyanogenMod in the near future.
