Many countries have been enjoying Google Maps' free turn-by-turn navigation feature for a couple of years, but so far Mexico's been left out of the fun. That changes today with the launch of Google Maps Navigation (in beta, natch) in the country.
Just like the English-language version, Navigation for Mexican users features turn-by-turn directions, complete with voice playback, and real-time traffic updates. There's also Spanish-language voice search, and the ability to search for businesses or other places along your route.
Mexican Android users running OS version 2.2 Froyo or greater can take advantage of the new feature by jumping into the latest version of the Google Maps app.
Pioneer has announced that it's updating firmware on its range of 2012 networked AV receivers with support for HTC Connect streaming capabilities. Announced back in June, Pioneer's HTC Connect support lets users with HTC smartphones stream multimedia content to supporting Pioneer devices, similar to the way HTC's own Media Link HD works.
Pioneer is the first manufacturer to roll out HTC Connect support. Currently-supported AV receiver models include VSX-822-K, VSX-1022-K, VSX-1122-K, VSX-42, VSX-60, SC-1222-K, SX-1522-K, SC-61, SC-63, SC-65, SC-67 and SC-68.
On the HTCside, phones supporting HTC Connect include the One X, One S, EVO 4G LTE, Droid Incredible 4G LTE, One X+, One VX and Droid DNA. On early 2012 phones like the original One X and One S, you'll want to make sure you're running the latest firmware update before attempting to use HTC Connect.
Pioneer says supported devices can be updated through a network update or via a manual update method using a USB drive.
More details in today's presser after the break.
HTC CONNECT WIRELESS MUSIC STREAMING NOW AVAILABLE ON PIONEER AV RECEIVERS VIA FIRMWARE UPDATE
Pioneer Electronics has released a new firmware update for all Pioneer 2012 networked audio video receiver models to support the exciting HTC Connect technology, a feature that allows owners of compatible HTC smartphones to stream music content directly to their Pioneer Audio Video receiver(s) via a wireless connection*. With HTC Connect, consumers can turn their phones into never-ending sources of entertainment, with the ability to control music playback and volume easily while simultaneously using the device for other functions, from making and receiving calls and taking pictures to downloading the latest apps and surfing the Web.
Pioneer is the first manufacturer to add compatibility with the HTC Connect technology through its line of SMA wireless speakers introduced in June, and is now expanding compatibility with its wide array of extremely popular Pioneer and Elite branded A/V receivers. Compatible receiver models include VSX-822-K, VSX-1022-K, VSX-1122-K, VSX-42, VSX-60, SC-1222-K, SX-1522-K, SC-61, SC-63, SC-65, SC-67 and SC-68, with suggested retail pricing starting at $379.99.
The Pioneer Audio Video receivers and SMA wireless speakers are compatible with the latest HTC series phones, a total of seven in their lineup, including three of the most recent introductions, HTC One X+, HTC One VX and HTC Droid DNA. A complete list of compatible phones and HTC Connect certified devices can be found on www.pioneerelectronics.com/htc or here.
The folks who do this sort of thing have updated the Google Apps package today, handing you a shiny new flashable to go with that 4.2.1AOSPROM you're about to download.
Technically a grey area, Google doesn't release their closed source applications for redistribution. Instead, they get sucked out of a phone running the current version, and blood, sweat, and scripts are used to create a package that gives you all the Googleyservices you would expect from an Android phone.
Yesterday's 4.2.1 updates didn't bring about any new versions of the Gapps, so we imagine this update is more along the lines of streamlining and enhancing the installation process -- the biggest step in the whole process. Grab em from the source link below so you have them the next time you need them.
The holiday season is upon us, and that means that the deals keep on coming. Over in the U.K., Vodafone is offering some pretty solid discounts on devices to go along with its PAYG (Pay As You Go) plans. It will be offering the Samsung Galaxy SIII(S3) for just 399, which is 100 off. The Xperia Miro, a mid-ranger, is just 100 instead of 130. You can also save a few on the Desire C if you're looking for a budget option.
There's also a decent assortment of sales on BlackBerry and Windows Phone handsets, you know, if that's your kind of thing. Hit up the source link below to see more.
One of the cool things about Android is the open market model. The folks at Google don't mind at all if you sideloadapps, or use your phone to build apps of your own, or even if you install a whole separateapplication market. That's the real meaning of open when you hear the word being tossed around so freely. Because the platform is open, we get to see things like F-Droid.
F-Droid is a third party application "store" that hosts FOSS (Free andOpen Source Software) in a repository for easy installation and updating. The repo is full of open-source software written under a variety of licenses, but all nice and FOSSy enough to please most any die-hard fan.
Having it laid out all nicely this way offers a few benefits as well. You can choose which version of an app to install, track which FOSSapps you have installed, and turn on update notifications right in the app settings. It's an excellent way to manage things, and closely mimics software repos from populardesktop Linuxdistributions. Even the F-Droid app itself is FOSS and licensed under the GPLv2+.
Of course we can't mention any third party application centers without thinking of security. F-Droid tackles this in a pretty novel way. Developers can upload a pre-built apkfile, but the preferred way is to upload the source. F-Droid then builds an signs the code, creating an apk file they guarantee is 100% derived from the source code anyone can look through. Community oversight has long been a staple of the FOSS world, and when source is readily available you'll find that very few shenanigans are tried. The guys and gal who can read the code will let everyone know if they find something shady. Everyone.
There's quite a few interesting apps in F-Droid, and I'm going to give it a spin. If you're a fan of FOSS, I recommend you do the same.
Following hot on the heels of the latest Nook tablet hardware going on sale in the U.K. last week, Barnes & Noblehas updated its Android app today to support users in that market as well. The latest version makes over 2.5 million U.K. books, magazines and newspapers available to users.Additionally -- and as you would expect -- the update brings added language support forBritish English, French, Italian, German and Spanish, although full dictionary support is only for British English at this time.
One quick thing to note for all users of the Nook app is that the app name will change after this update, and will now be labeled simply as "Nook" rather than "B&N Nook." You can grab a download of the Nook app at the Google Play Store link above.
LG's Optimus G isn't even available in some countries yet, but already it seems a successor could be in the works. Reports from Korea's MK Business News suggests that the "Optimus G2" (said to be a provisional name) could be scheduled for launch as early as next May. Key upgrades are said to include a a 5-inch, 1080p display, up from the 4.7-inch1280x768 panel in the original, and a 2GHzquad-core Qualcomm CPU. LG will reportedly pit the G2 against the successor to Samsung's Galaxy S3.
But here's the kicker -- the article also claims the "Optimus G2" will come with Android "Key Lime Pie" on-board. KLPis the widely-expected codename for the next major iteration of Android, presumably either version 4.3 or 5.0. We'd be very(very) surprised to see a fresh version of Android so quickly after 4.2, especially considering the short interval between the two flavors of Jelly Bean.
Nevertheless, as a Nexus partner, LG would have privileged access to code ahead of time, which might help it get devices running newer versions of Android to market more rapidly than other OEMs. Stranger things have happened, but we're still inclined to take this part of the story with a large pinch of salt.
The 5-inch screen size and1080presolution lookset to become the new standard for high-end phones in 2013.HTChas already launched the Droid DNA on Verizon in the states, while Sony's next high-end device, "Yuga," is rumored to sport a similar display. Likewise, Samsung is rumored to be hard at work on a 4.99-inch1080pSuperAMOLEDpanel for use in future phones.
Whatever form it takes, the Optimus G's successor will find itself among plenty of competition.
With recent rumors and leaks surrounding a possible global version of the Droid DNA (aka HTC J Butterfly), many in Europe have been hoping they too might be able to pick up the device in the lead up to the holidays. But if a recent Facebook post by HTC Germany is to be believed, Europeans wanting to buy the 5-inch, 1080p monster may be out of luck.
Responding to a fan question about the rumored device, HTC Germany hit back with what seems a fairly conclusive statement. Translated, it reads --
"The Deluxe will unfortunately not come to Europe."
Deluxe, of course, being the widely-rumored name (or codename) for the global version of the device.
We should also mention that a global version of the DNA/DLXhas yet to be officially announced, and that all the rumors we've heard until now have focused on Asia-- specifically China and HTC's native Taiwan -- rather than Europe.It'd also be somewhat unusual for HTC to launch such a device in Europe at this time of year. Typically, the company saves its big European devices for Mobile World Congress, which takes place in February.
Regardless, the Facebook remark should be taken with a pinch of salt, as manufacturers' social media reps don't have a spotless record when it comes to accuracy.So it looks like just we may just have to wait and see where else theDLXcrops up in the weeks ahead.
HTC declined to comment on today's developments, saying telling Android Central it "does not comment on rumor or speculation."
It didn't sell out quite as quickly as Nexus 4 and 10, but the 3G/HSPA version of the Nexus 7 was nevertheless unavailable from the UK Google Play Store shortly after it went on sale. Now the tablet's back on sale, and the Play Store listing indicates a standard 3-5 day shipping window for the device.
The 3G Nexus 7 sells for 239 in the UK, and comes with 32GB of storage. The two Wifi-only Nexus 7's are still available to buy from the British Google Play Store too, priced at 159 and 199 for 16 and 32GBstorage options respectively. The Nexus 4 remains sold out in the UK Play Store for the time being, though it is available elsewhere. Meanwhile the Nexus 10 is listed with a 2-3 week shipping timeframe.
If anyone's already picked up a 3G Nexus 7 over the past couple of weeks, let us know how you're getting on down in the comments.
Half the fun of getting a new Android phone like the Nexus 4 is talking about it with others who got one as well. This is where forums come into play. A place where like minded folks can share tips and tricks, complain about the inevitable bugs, and generally chat it up about their new toy tool. Since it's pretty slow today, I spent the afternoon trawling through the Nexus 4 forums and ran across a couple threads you won't want to miss,
Nano SIM adapter discussionGreat info for those swapping iPhone and Nexus 4 phones on A&T.
Anyone using Nexus4 on Straight Talk?Is $45 unlimited too good to be true? Some say yes, some say no, here's where you can discuss.
Question about Syncing Facebook contacts with Nexus 4This is always a popular discussion.
HSPA+ 42 data speed on T-MobileCheck these speed tests!
When will there be restock?Everyone wants one, and we're waiting for them to get back on the shelves.
You'll find plenty more in the Nexus 4 forums, so jump in and join the fun!
For those of you in the states, we hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Those of you outside the states... hope you had a great Thursday. We took the day off to come up with some great app picks for your enjoyment, regardless. We've got a couple of great games and some phone utilities for you to check out this week, so stick around after the break and see how we did.
Sean Brunett - Wreck-it Ralph
I saw Wreck-it-Ralph this week and really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it to adults and kids alike. There are plenty of references to gaming that only certain age groups will get, which was enjoyable. Nevertheless, after the film, I checked out the official game. Within the game, you can switch between three different arcades, Fix-it-Felix Jr., Hero Duty, and Sweet Climber. However, you must unlock Hero Duty and Sweet Climber first by playing Fix-it-Felix Jr. You play as Felix, where you must fix everything that Ralph wrecks. If youve seen the film, you know what Im talking about. There is a fourth game listed ,Turbotime, which says its coming soon. Much like the movie, this game is surprisingly a lot of fun. It costs $0.99, but is well worth it in my view.
Download: Wreck-it Ralph ($0.99)
Simon Sage - WordHero
Sometimes I use big words just because I can. Thanks to WordHero, now I can do that, get scored for it, AND lord it over others online. When folks log in to WordHero, they're presented with a 4 x 4 grid of letters, each tile scored Scrabble-style, and they have to trace paths through those letters to compose words. Letters can be used twice, and words can be composed by any direction. You can even rotate the board to view tiles from a new perspective. The clincher here is that once you've done up as many words as you can in the span of two minutes, your score is compared to other players online that were also scrambling at the same moment as you. It's a fun little time-waster with an excellent online twist, and it's free to boot. I played a lot of Anachraphobia back in the day, and this had a very similar feeling.
Download: WordHero (Free)
Michelle Haag - Pizza Boy
What a bad day. You bought a delicious pizza, wrapped it up, and took it to your girlfriend as a present, only for some pesky bird to swoop in and steal it right out of your hands. So, what do you do when someone steals your pizza? You go take it back, that's what! Pizza Boy is a retro-styled platform style game where your mission is to get back the pizza that was stolen from you. Along the way you have to watch out for angry dogs, mad birds, and pits of doom all while collecting strawberries, slices of pizza, and lost kitties. Throw bottles of soda at your enemies to knock them out, and return kittens to their owners for bonus points. This game features over 40 different enemies, obstacles, and items, bonus levels, retro music and sound effects, and an epic boss fight. If you miss your old handheld games and want to relive some of that old timey fun, Pizza Boy is well worth the $2.25 price tag.
Download: Pizza Boy ($2.25)
Jerry Hildenbrand - Ultimate Custom Widget
Here's one for all the folks who love to play with the way their phone looks. On it's surface it's yet another customizable widget, but UCCW takes things further than any of the others I've tried. Using a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor, you create a widget for your home screen or lock screen (lock screen widgets require Android 4,2) using pre-built information blocks. Choose from battery graphs and gauges, analog and digital clocks, weather icons and data, even SMS and Gmail unread counts. On top of this, every visible element is customizable, meaning your widget can be any color, and shape, and any size.
Now comes the cool part. You can export and save these creations as a zip file or theme apk -- so of course Google Play has plenty of great pre-built widgets you can download. It's a great way to share your creation or to try others. Grab it free from Google Play (for devices running 2.2 or higher).
Download: Ultimate Custom Widget (Free)
Richard Devine - Falcon Pro (Beta)
Another week, another Twitter client. But, with some of the recently released offerings ceasing development, there's going to be room for others. This might be just the ticket for some. Falcon Pro (Beta) is still a work in progress, but builds from the already popular Falcon Widget available in the Play Store.
With it still being in beta, several of the key functions are not yet activated. But, the core functionalities are, and the developers are keen for people to try it out and update them with feedback. It looks fantastic, scrolls pretty smoothly, and has a really nice slide out menu accessed by a swipe to the right. It has all the makings of a great Twitter client, and we'll be following it's progress closely. It will be a paid app when it hits the Play Store, but for now the beta is free so if you're OK with installing apps from third-party links go and grab a copy.
Download: Falcon Pro (Beta) (Free)
Chris Parsons - Pixlr Express
There is no shortage of photo editors available in the Google Play Store. Some work great and some -- not so much. One recently new one that I've been trying out is Pixlr Express. It's built by the folks from Autodesk and it's a pretty compelling package over some of the other offerings available. It has over 600 effects, overlays and borders all together and of course, the generic 'auto fix' is included as well. Social integration is built in so getting your pics out to others isn't a problem and best of all it's available for free. If you're a photo editing junkie, give it a go.
Download: Pixlr Express (Free)
Andrew Martonik - BeyondPod Podcast Manager
Everyones got their favorite podcast manager, but they all seem to offer a similar set of features. BeyondPod has been my choice for the dozens of podcasts I listen to every week, and it has been working just great for the last few months Ive been using it. Ill be the first to admit it doesnt have the cleanest UI, but its functional. It offers both downloads and streaming of episodes, and it can import from your Google Reader podcast list as well. It also has widget and lockscreen playback support.
BeyondPod is free, but purchasing the unlock key is a good choice if you want automatic feed updates and downloads. The unlock key is in the Play Store normally for $6.99, but theres a promotional price this weekend and it can be yours for just $1.99. Not a bad price for a full-featured podcast manager.
In a rather quick turn-around since the code has gone live, ZTE has just announced that it is pushing an Android 4.2 update to one of its devices. Interestingly enough, this update is pushing to a mid-range device only being sold in the Chinese market, the N880E. This device has a 4-inch WVGA screen, 1GHz processor and just 512MB of RAM, but ZTEhas still given the green light to push the update. The N880E was one of the first devices in the world to ship with Android 4.1 (which was nearly stock as well), so in that regard it's fitting that this was the device chosen to receive the first 4.2 update as well.
This is an astonishingly quick update cycle that ZTE is operating on considering that even Nexus devices just received the update a couple of weeks ago, some of which likely still haven't pulled it down. We really wish more manufacturers out there could operate this quickly when it comes to software updates.
Nexus 4 and 10 orders continue to roll through the time zones as the Android 4.2 download links start to come in as well. We've seen one go live for the GSM Galaxy Nexus, and now we've got one for the Nexus 7 as well.
Eager users with a Nexus 7 on stock Android 4.1.2 can download and apply the update at their convenience, provided they have a few of the right tools and a little time on their hands. We have a great how-to guide available that explains how to do just that right below, just substitute in the file names included in 4.2. There's also no shame in waiting for the OTA to hit your device, as it'll surely be rolling out shortly.
How to manually update your Nexus 7 to the latest Android Version
The consumer release version of Android 4.2 just hit our review devices, and I had to dive in and check out multiple user accounts on the Nexus 10. It's been in the works since Honeycomb, and quite a few of us are looking forward to being able to share one device with our significant other, or with our kids, or anyone. All without the privacy concern of letting them have access to your Google credentials.
I'm not sure just what we were expecting (myself included), but the process was super simple. You can add and remove users at will, and the whole process only takes a minute or two.
According to the information we have, each user gets their own space for their own apps, desktop customizations, Google account, and just about every personal setting that would apply. Of course some global settings -- for example Wifi settings or app permission updates -- are global, but for the most part it seems a lot like switching users on your computer at home.
Our devices aren't yet rooted (I did unlock but had to stay ready for the OTA -- that will change shortly) so I can't really dive into the data folder and see how things are separated. The good news is that with the Nexus 10 secure and not rooted, there's no way I can get to the settings and data of the other account. Of course, all this goes out the window once you break security and root.
Enough talk. Hit the break and see how simple it is to add and remove users, and the easy way to switch users and login.
For a better look at the dialogs and what they say, here's a few images grabbed during the process.
AT&T has finally announced the availability of the HTC One X+, as well as the HTC One VX, on their press site this afternoon. The One X+ (check our review of the European version) will be available in stores and online starting November 16, for $199.99 with a new agreement, and pre-orders start tomorrow (November 13). The One VX will be priced at just $49.99 with a new agreement, and also be made available starting November 16.
The One X+ offers a processor change for AT&T customers, as it ships with the Tegra 3 quad-core at 1.7 GHz. The phone will perform very comparable to the original One X, but offer the ability to play those TegraZone only games that catch so many of our eyes. Of course, the 4.7-inch 720p screen is still there, as well as the awesome HTC camera hardware. To make things really sweet, AT&T has put 64GB of storage into the One X+, which may just be the deciding factor.
The One XV really impressed us at AT&T's holiday event. Billed as a budget phone, we went away impressed with the size, performance, and value it has to offer. The 4.5-inch qHD display and dual-core Snapdragon processor make for a nice Android experience, and the same ImageSensesystem is on-board for an excellent camera. It sounds like a great device for those not wanting to break the bank. If you've been watching all the Nexus 4 news, but decided it was not the phone for you, here are two you should take a good long look at. AT&T's press release, and a short video from their social media team follows.
HTC One X+ and HTC One VX Arrive at AT&T Nov. 16; Pre-orders for One X+ Begin Nov. 13
Dallas, Texas, November 12, 2012
Customers looking for a smartphone that combines outstanding design, authentic sound, an amazing camera, HD entertainment, and the power of a quad-core processor will surely add the HTC One X+ to the top of their wish list. Available in AT&T* stores and online beginning Nov. 16 for $199.99 with a two-year agreement, customers can also pre-order the HTC One X+ beginning Nov. 13 at www.att.com/onexplus. A look at the HTC One X+ in action is available in this video.
Additionally, AT&T announced the HTC One VX, an affordable Android smartphone that offers a premium mobile experience, will be available in-store Nov. 16 for $49.99 with a two-year agreement. Running on AT&Ts 4G LTE network, the HTC One VX delivers an amazing camera and authentic sound experience in a more compact size for even greater mass-market appeal. HTC One X+
The HTC One X+ will be the first smartphone to combine Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) with the 1.7 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 4-PLUS-1 quad-core processor with a battery saving fifth core. The HTC One X+ will also be the first smartphone in the U.S. to feature performance improvements and benefits of HTC Sense 4+. Continuing with the iconic HTC One X design, this powerhouse now comes in an exclusive Carbon Black finish and adds increased performance, longer battery life and 64 GB of internal storage.
Improved battery life comes from a larger 2100 mAh battery and the smartphones ability to allow the four cores to operate in the most efficient way possible with each core independently and automatically enabled and disabled based on workload. The single battery-saver fifth core (or companion core) handles low-power tasks like active standby, email, browsing, music and video. Intelligent Power Saver settings further optimize battery life, giving you all the power you need, when you need it.
The HTC One X+ has a 4.7-inch, 720p HD screen and builds on the camera of the HTC One X. It has a superfast auto-focus and integrates the HTC ImageChip which reduces noise, removes color bias and enhances the overall picture quality. The 64 GB of internal memory is non-partitioned to store more high quality photos, video, music, movies and apps however the user wants.
The HTC One series set the standard for imaging with HTC VideoPic (the ability to take still photos and shoot videos at the same time), one-press Continuous Shooting and better quality images in low light environments. The HTC One X+ combines the outstanding camera capabilities of its predecessor** with a series of intelligent features powered by HTC Sense 4+. The new Auto Portrait mode on the front camera helps you capture high quality photos by detecting the human face at various angles. Sightseeing mode makes it easier to capture the moment, as only one touch of the power button bypasses the lock screen and launches directly into camera mode. Additionally, two new ways to view photos and videos in the gallery allow you to display albums according to when or where they were taken.
For more information, please visit www.att.com/onexplus. HTC One VX
Exclusive to AT&T, the HTC One VX sports one of the slimmest unibody form factors in the industry at just 9.19 millimeters thin, making it easy to hold and navigate at a size that fits easily in anyones hand. The stylish new smartphone comes in a crisp white color finish with silver accents and features a 4.5-inch qHD display protected with scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass which aids in durability and reduces light reflection. Featuring advanced imaging capabilities, the HTC One VX includes a 1080p HD video recorder and 5-megapixel camera with HTC ImageSense, improving every part of the camera and integrating HTC ImageChip. Within seconds, customers can launch the camera from the lock screen and enjoy one-press continuous shooting at four frames per second. The One VX also features HTC VideoPic. The HTC One VX is NFC-ready for the seamless, wireless sharing of playlists, Web sites, contacts and more with other NFC-enabled devices.
The HTC One VX runs HTC Sense 4 with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). In the future, the original HTC One X and HTC One VX are planned to be upgraded to HTC Sense 4+ with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), which will include the improved camera capabilities and new Tap and Go function currently available on the HTC One X+, which allows customers to connect the phone and music to Beats speakers when tapped them together***. The HTC One VX comes equipped with a microSD card slot for up to 32 GB of additional storage space.
For more information, please visit www.att.com/onevx.
HTC has the only smartphones, including the HTC One X+, HTC One X and HTC One VX, that include Beats AudioTM which provides authentic, studio-quality sound that delivers the spirit of the original recording, from crisper vocals and deeper bass to more immersive gaming effects and video.
AT&T customers have access to the nations largest 4G network****, covering 285 million people. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. That means AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you may be on a much slower 3G network.
For more information, please visit www.att.com/onexplus.
Sources are claiming that Samsung has cranked up the price of application processors for iPad and iPhone devices by 20%. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple rejected the price change, but after being unable to find anyone else that could fill the order, they accepted the hike. Just to put atht in perspective - Samsung's shipment of processor is expected to be going up to 200 million this year from 130 million last year.
While Samsung is big enough that their chips business operates more or less independently of the handset side, it's hard not to see that as a direct result of Apple's ongoing smartphone patent tiffs with the electronics giant. Most recently, Apple has been skirting the issue of posting a public apology in the UK for claiming that Samsung devices had copied their design, and have ultimately been ordered to pay Samsung's legal fees.
So, is a move like this fair game? is Samsung shooting themselves in the foot by estranging a high-volume customer, or a natural repercussion of Apple being so antagonistic in courts? Is there any chance that the increased price in application processors has nothing to do with what's happening on the legal side at all? What are the odds that Apple will be able to pick up the slack on these processors themselves eventually?
Previously on Patent Wars -- Apple sues Samsung in the UK over alleged copying of its iPad design, loses, appeals, loses again, and is ordered to publish statements in leading publications and its on own website indicating that Samsung didn't infringe upon its registered design. Only Apple's initial (and rather passive-aggressive) statement, referencing legal victories in other countries, saw it falling foul of the British judiciary. In recent weeks, a revised statement appeared on Apple's site and in some UK newspapers.
Now the Court of Appeals of England and Wales has ordered Apple to pay all of the costs of Samsung's legal defense on an indemnity basis, on account of the court's "disapproval of [Apple's] conduct." Today's judgment reads --
As to the costs (lawyers' fees) to be awarded against Apple, we concluded that they should be on an indemnity basis. Such a basis (which is higher than the normal, "standard" basis) can be awarded as a mark of the court's disapproval of a party's conduct, particularly in relation to its respect for an order of the court. Apple's conduct warranted such an order.
The judgment also deconstructs Apple's original statement line-by-line, variously describing it as "false and misleading" and "calculated to produce huge confusion," and taking particular issue with references to rulings in Apple's favor in Germany and the U.S. As such, Apple must now open its wallet, in addition to continuing to display the legally-mandated statement on its UK site.
The revised statement must remain on Apple's site for one month.
Mobile Nations Network Movember Funds Raised so far: $6,639 (USD)
Welcome to our second Mobile Nations Movember update. We'll be bringing you these updates every Sunday throughout the month of Movember (formerly known as November) as we grow out our moustaches and raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research and men's mental health issues.
Our Mobile Nations effort has grown to 95 individuals from around the world taking part and together we have already raised over $6,000 for the cause. We want to end the month with over $10,000 raised, so while we are on track we still need your support! Donations can be made easily over the web. Simply jump over to our Mobile Nations Network page, click on the name of any of the individuals listed as part of the network, and hit the donate button. All funds donated to an individual will pass through to the network total.
We're now 11 days into Movember, which means for most of us our moustaches have sprouted nicely, but are still a long way off from that luxurious full bloom look we seek. Some of us are having more success than others. For myself, my moustache is still looking pretty pathetic, so just yesterday followed Nick Offerman's How to Grow a Moustache Advice (and Derek Kessler's dare) and ate a raw onion to fuel my moustache growth. Watch the video above to see how that all played out.
Keep reading for more on Movember and to see some great moustache photos from the team!
What is Movember?
The League of Extraordinary Moustaches
If you troll youtube this Movember, you'll find lots of videos popping up. Movember participants are extraordinary and do extraordinary things. We loved this video.
Week 2 Photos from the MO-bile Nations Movember Network
Click on the names to jump over to the user's page on Movember.com for more photos and to donate!
Adam Zeis, he may not have electricity but he has a powerful moustache!
Our man James Richardson in the UK has a mighty moustache underway.
For being a giant of a man, our own Simon Sage's moustache is growing slow...
Darren Robertson in Australia has a good start!
Jay Harker in Canada... ready to grow mo!
Mark Kashman shows off his classy 'stache.
Tim O'Brien with the before and after shots!
Tommy Thompson with a look of fierce determination.
Jeffrey Smith shows off his growth so far.
Daniel Kollehn, 10 days in and looking spec-stache-ular!
Graeme Flack shows off his dapper mo-stache in the UK.
Paul Johnson puts his best 'stache forward in the US.
Props to all the Mo Bros for posting their mugs to the web for a good cause (and props to all the Mo Sistas for supporting their men). Be sure to visit our Mobile Nations Movember Network page for more photos from all our team members. You can click through to any team member's name to see their Mo Space pages and to donate to them. All donations made to individuals show up in the Mobile Nations Network totals.
Note to Mobile Nations Movember participants: Be sure to update your Mo Space with updates, photos and videos. And send us an email at movember@mobilenations.com with your favorite photos and other details. We want to tell your story and help spread the the Mo Love!
Welcome to Round 2 of our "Should I upgrade?" series. We've already taken a look at the obvious -- the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
So let's move on to another of the flagship devices of the past year -- the HTC One X, and perhaps the new and improved HTC One X+ for good measure. (And you can basically apply all this to Sprint's EVO 4G LTE as well.) It's the pinnacle of the 2012 rebirth of HTC and packed quite the hardware punch, with HTC's usual design chops as well.
So let's break it down: Should you upgrade to the Nexus 4 from the HTC One X?
External hardware
It's almost night and day here. The HTC One X is one big slab of polyc arbonate. It's beautifully designed -- HTC's certainly no slouch in that department -- but over time I've grown weary of the plastic. Part of that has to do with my having a white One X. It just gets dirty. The gray version has no such problem, though it still shows some scuffing. (The new One X+ with its soft-touch coating is freakin' gorgeous, though.) The back of Nexus 4, while beautiful with its glossy cover and "Crystal Reflective Process" design, is prone to scratches, but it's just so much more visually appealing.
The HTC One X has probably the best display we've used all year, with its 4.7-inch Super LCD2 panel. Images are almost floating on top of it, and we challenge you to spot an individual pixel. The Nexus 4's IPS display comes close -- very close -- to the One X in terms of viewing quality, but there's something about the display (polarization, I think) that gives it a strange shimmering effect when you tilt it. That's not anywhere near a showstopper, bu t it is noticeable.
The HTC One X has capacitive navigation buttons, whereas the Nexus 4's are on the display themselves and can disappear if an application calls for it. Save for Motorola, other manufacturers have been slow to adopt the on-screen buttons, and it's caused inconsistencies with application design. I'm going to call that one a wash. Both designs have their merits, and both have their issues. Edge: Nexus 4
Internal hardware
This is where things get interesting. On one hand, you've got the original One X, with its original quad-core Tegra 3 processor running at 1.5 GHz, or a dual-core Snapdragon S4. (Depending on whether you've got an LTE radio in your p hone). The newer HTC One X+ bumps things up to the AP37version of the Tegra 3 system on a chip, still with 1GB of RAM. But storage is being offered at 64GB, which is great considering the phone doesn't have a microSD slot.
If you've got an original One X, the Nexus 4 will be a pretty decent bump up in the specs department, with its quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2 GB of RAM. If you've got the One X+, it's not going to be as big a leap. Edge: Nexus 4, if you've currently got an original One X; a draw if you have the One X+.
Lifespan
Let's face it, a few previous HTC phones didn't cut the mustard (looking at you, ThunderBolt!). But the One X is solidly built. After 6 months of solid use, I don't have any major concerns about mechanical breakdowns, aside from the odd cosmetic blemish. And while we have to wait on empirical data, I still have some serious concerns about the longevity of the Nexus 4's glass-like back. Edge: HTC One X
Software
A lot of people like to hate on HTC's custom user interface, called "Sense." And that's cool -- to each his own. But to dismiss it without tying Sense 4 or the newer Sense 4+ is to miss out on some great features, some great design -- and slower updates to the operating system itself because of it.
The original One X line is just starting to get upgraded to Jelly Bean. The One X+ ships with it. But neither looks to have Android 4.2 anytime soon, whereas the Nexus 4 is the first (for obvious reasons). I've got no idea how many of the front-facing Android 4.2 improvements HTC will implement. It's got its own version of wireless display sharing in MediaLink HD, so Miracast may be a moot point. HTC has shunned quick settings in recent versions, so there's no promising that it'll implement Google's new version of them. Edge: Nexus 4, untilHTCfinds a way to engineer updates more quickly.< /p>
The camera
The HTC One X has a great camera, thanks to its sensor and ImageChip processor. It's got filters built in as well. The Nexus 4 camera doesn't appear to be quite as good, but it's still above average. (And we're still waiting on final retail software before passing final judgment.)
But the Nexus 4 has the cool new "Photo Sphere" 360-degree panoramas built in. That's not to say there aren't third-party apps that can do the same thing, but Photo Sphere is already on board, and it shares wonderfully to Google+. Edge: If you have to have Photo Sphere, get the Nexus 4 (or hack it onto your One X). Otherwise, the One X has the edge, but just slightly.
The bottom line
Six months after its launch, the HTCOne X remains a very viable Android smartphone, and the One X+ breathes new life into the line.
If photos are your main concern, you can't go wrong with either one, but I think HTC's got the edge here. On the other hand, Photo Sphere is pretty damn cool on the Nexus 4. (Oh, and if you're into the audio thing, don't forget that the HTC One X has Beats built in.)
Pricing is another thing to take into consideration, though. If you're looking to buy SIM-free, the Nexus 4 costs nearly half as much. That's hard to argue with. If you're looking to upgrade and sell your HOX, chances are you can recoup a good bit of the $299 or $349 cost.
For my money, if I had an HTC One X in hand, I might hold off on upgrading just yet. It's still a fine, powerful smartphone. The glass back on the Nexus 4 is untested in mass quantities, both phones are pretty equal in the camera department, and the HOX should se rve you well for more months to come.
![Nexus 4 posts you will want to read [From the Forums]](http://cdn.androidcentral.com/sites/androidcentral.com/files/imagecache/w680h550/postimages/9274/nexus4.jpg "Nexus 4 posts you will want to read [From the Forums]")
This is where things get interesting. On one hand, you've got the original One X, with its original quad-core Tegra 3 processor running at 1.5 GHz, or a dual-core Snapdragon S4. (Depending on whether you've got an LTE radio in your p hone). The newer HTC One X+ bumps things up to the AP37version of the Tegra 3 system on a chip, still with 1GB of RAM. But storage is being offered at 64GB, which is great considering the phone doesn't have a microSD slot.
The camera
