No matter how hard Samsung is criticized for its business choices, especially regarding handset design and software, the company still remains the largest Android device maker in the world, and the most profitable one thanks to its very strong marketing team. Even though the company said it would dial down marketing spending this year, it appears Samsung is ready to take over the world’s busiest terminal if that helps it sell more Galaxy S5 units.
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What’s the only thing better than an awesome Android app? That’s right — an awesome paid Android app that becomes available for free. Amazon’s Google Play store rival, the Amazon Appstore, is perhaps best known for providing users with one paid app for free each day. For one day only, however, Amazon is apparently feeling particularly generous. Instead of offering just one paid app for free on Friday, the company has made 9 awesome photo editing apps completely free for 24 hours.
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Samsung’s rumored Galaxy S5 Prime model looks more real than ever, even though the company is yet to fully acknowledge it. A version of the phone, believed to have model number SM-G906X (among others), has been spotted on Bluetooth SIG, a website belonging to the body that governs Bluetooth development and certification. Model number SM-G906L was listed on Bluetooth SIG this week, confirming this sub-family of Galaxy S5 handsets – the Galaxy S5 has model number SM-G900X.
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If there’s any game that’s going to help Microsoft catch up with Sony in the console wars, it’s this one. Per Gamespot, Microsoft and 343 Industries on Friday confirmed that the latest game in the hugely popular Halo franchise would officially release on the Xbox One in the fall of 2015. 343 is promising that the new game, called Halo 5: Guardians, will be “a bigger effort than Halo 4,” the last game in the franchise that was well received by that failed to match the huge sales of Halo 3. 343 Industries general manager Bonnie Ross went on to explain that this “bigger effort” extends to “the content and scope of the game, as well as the technology in what’s now a brand new and more powerful engine.” We can expect to hear much more about Halo 5 next month at the E3 gaming conference.
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Google on Thursday revealed it’s ready to support even more payment methods for Google Play purchases, thus encouraging buyers to spend money on apps, movies, TV shows and music. The company announced additional payment options for its online store, including PayPal support, which will let people in 12 countries pay for apps and other digital content.
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Net neutrality is currently one of the hottest topics in tech, as the FCC voted on Thursdsay on its chairman’s controversial fast lane / slow lane system proposal, but not all Internet users really know what the fight between ISPs and Internet companies is all about. Re/code has a short video explaining what net neutrality means, why users should voice their concerns, and what the FCC’s new proposal is all about.
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It’s been over a month since we checked in on the fascinating Popcorn Time saga, and it appears that even after a few bumps in the road, progress on the torrent streaming app is progressing smoothly. The Next Web reports that the latest version of the revived Popcorn Time app is able to stream TV show torrents as well as movies, expanding the catalog of content immensely. Additionally, the group behind Time4Popcorn (another spin-off of the original program), has released an Android app, complete with all the features of the desktop app.
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Xiaomi on Thursday unveiled a brand new Android-based product, a 49-inch 4K TV that will cost just 3,999 yuan, or around $640, Engadget reports. Even though 4K TVs aren’t necessarily must-have products just yet, its price certainly makes this Xiaomi smart TV very interesting, assuming international customers will actually get a chance to buy one.
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Earlier this week, we shared a video that explained the incredible potential of graphene, a transparent material that is just a single atom thick. According to the video, graphene is “stronger than diamond, more conductive than copper, more flexible than rubber and it’s so thin you can barely see it with the naked eye.” We also noted that Samsung developed a manufacturing process last month for graphene that could speed up its use in actual commercial products. Graphene could be key to the future of flexible displays, wearable devices, and even batteries. Bloomberg says graphene could lead to phones that stay “charged for a week and recharges in 15 minutes.”
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Dos Owls’ Odin is a tiny gadget that measures just 4.3 x 6 x 1.8 inches, weighs up to 2.2 pounds (the steel version), and could replace your computer, TV and cable. The Odin is basically an Android-powered computer with access to Google Play store apps and content that’s ready to be used for entertainment and business purposes, and can be easily carried around. The device isn’t available for purchase just yet, as it’ll soon kick off a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign.
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