Tablet sales up in 2013, Android overtakes the iPad for the first time

Gartner says Android tablet sales grew 121 percent last year, Microsoft a distant third

Android tablet sales are on the rise and according to the latest numbers from Gartner, now outsells iOS tablets – so that's the iPad, then – quite substantially. OK, there's also plenty more Android tablets on the market that there are iPads, but the growth of 121 percent over 2012 is still staggering.

The tablet growth in 2013 was fueled by the low-end smaller screen tablet market, and first time buyers; this led Android to become the No. 1 tablet operating system (OS), with 62 percent of the market.

That's a pretty important statement to consider. Apple corrnered the tablet market with the launch of the iPad, but launched its first smaller tablet quite late on – and it wasn't that hot, either. With affordable Android tablets on sale from the likes of Google, Samsung and Amazon to name but a few, it's hardly surprising to see the rise of the Android tablet.

Apple probably isn't going to be getting too worried since Gartner says it sold around 70 million iPads in 2013, but the strength of the Android hardware ecosystem just keeps on growing. Apple's iPad mini just can't match comparible small Android tablets on price, with the cheapest Retina model costing a substantial amount more than something like Google's Nexus 7 or Amazon's Kindle Fire.

At the other end of the table, Microsoft lies in a distant third cornering just 2.1 percent of the tablet market in 2013. It too grew pretty significantly over 2012, but it's a long way off the clear leaders. Small tablets look like where it's at.

Samsung outs Galaxy Tab 4 in its own small print

7-, 8- and 10.1-inch unannounced tablets mentioned on Gear Fit site

It's a safe bet that we'll be seeing more Galaxy Tab devices from Samsung at some point, but if the small print on one of its own websites is to be believed then we might be seeing them sooner rather than later. On the official Gear Fit features page, the some 20 compatible devices are listed which includes the as yet unannounced Galaxy Tab 4.

Following the Galaxy Tab 3, there looks to be three size options again, a 7-, 8- and a 10.1-inch version. We know that the Gear Fit will be compatible with all three, but after that, nothing.

So they exist. All we need now is to see them. Thanks, Samsung.

source:androidcentral

Karbonn planning to launch an Android and Windows Phone 8 hybrid

Who put that Windows in my Android

Word out of India is that Karbonn, a locally based smartphone maker, is set to launch an Android/Windows Phone 8 dual-OS hybrid device later this year. Karbonn's presence is predominantly emerging markets, but according to The Times of India it is full steam ahead on an unholy union of the two mobile operating systems.

Karbonn was recently announced as a new partner for Windows Phone following Microsoft easing its regulations around the platform. Things like dual-sim and support for the likes of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 200 and 400 chipsets opens up Windows Phone further to emerging markets, and also it seems to running the platform on the same hardware as Android. The question as to why comes up, but Karbonn says the devices will be targeted at professionals and tech-savvy individuals.

Android and Windows 8 have been seen on the same devices already. But, with rumors of Android app support being looked at for Windows Phone and Nokia going down the Android path this past week, there may be interesting – and weird – times ahead this coming year.

Samsung Galaxy S5 camera and gallery walkthrough video

Selective focus, Shot & More, 4K video and Studio Mode are just some of the GS5's new imaging features

Samsung introduces not only a new 16-megapixel sensor and a revamped flash to the Galaxy S5, but also a wealth of new software features to go with them. The revamped Samsung camera app mostly does away with the big carousel of shooting modes, arranging various features in a grid layout, accessible from the settings icon. Here's where you'll finds options like photo and video resolution — the GS5 shoots at up to 16MP in 16:9, 12MP in 4:3 and video at 4K — as well as the selective focus and HDR modes. The former takes a bunch of exposures, does a little math, and then lets you choose whether you want to focus on the foreground of background. (There's also a "pan focus" option that tries to keep everything sharp.) HDR has been revamped too, giving a live preview of what HDR images will look like. Capture speeds — generally, and in HDR mode in particular — are also noticeably improved.

 

'SHOT & MORE' LETS YOU TAKE PHOTOS NOW AND APPLY SHOOTING MODES LATER.

The "Modes" button, once overflowing with options, has been pared back significantly. Many of the older modes, such as HDR, now live in the main settings grid. Instead the scrolling list of modes is reserved for a few fancier shooting modes, such as panorama and the new "Virtual tour" mode, which is best described as a series ofPhotosphere images stitched together — similar to Google Maps Street View. Many of the Galaxy S4's advanced photo modes — Eraser Shot, Best Face, Best Photo and Drama Shot, for example — now live under the Shot & More feature. This solves the problem of being overwhelmed by the wide array of "smart" photo modes offered by previous Samsung cameras by letting you take your shot first, then decide which mode is best. (Some shooting modes which aren't relevant may be grayed out, depending on the image.) What's also useful is that you can save the original images and go go back and change output modes later through the Gallery app.

This is one of the many settings found in the Gallery app's "Studio" section. Others include a video trimmer, Photo studio — a straight-up photo editor similar to the one found in stock Android 4.4 — Collage studio, which can be used to stitch several photos together into an artistic image. There's also Video clip studio, which produces videos similar to HTC's video highlights. First select the shots or video you want to include, then apply filters and add music to create a personal montage of shots.

Google Now Launcher availability expands to Nexus and Google Play edition devices

No longer for just the Nexus 5

Attention Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Google Play edition device owners: You too can now use the Google Play Launcher that was previous reserved for just the Nexus 5. That's right, no longer must you suffer with Google Nowbeing a tap-and-hold or widget away, you can now install the Google Now Launcher and swipe right to launch right into Google Now.

It's not just easy swiping access to Google Now. That omnipresent search box is updated in the Google Now Launcher to be always listening for the phrase "Ok Google" — just say it to launch voice search. And it's a visual update with larger icons, relocated widget preferences, and other tweaks that make it easier and faster to use.

So long as your Android device is a Nexus or Google Play edition (that'd be the HTC One, LG G Pad 8.3,Moto G, Samsung Galaxy S4, and Sony Z Ultra) running Android 4.4, you can install the Google Now Launcher. It's not visually perfect on our HTC One Google Play Edition (there's some weird spacing), but it's nothing that can't be fixed with a few tweaks and an update. Check it out and let us know what you think.

HTC One wins GSMA's top smartphone of the year at Mobile World Congress

LG honored for its innovation, AT&T lauded as well

We're all patiently awaiting HTC's March 25 events in London and New York, where it's all but official that we'll get a new version of one of our favorite smartphones of the past year. (We did get a smaller announcement this week, with the Desire 816.) But today, at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, HTC's current (and very much still relevant) flagship is receiving a pretty major accolade by the GSMA, the group that puts on this little show that we call MWC.

The HTC One wins "Best Smartphone," breaking Samsung's two-year winning streak (for the Galaxy S2 and Galaxy S3).

For HTC and the smartphone industry, from the folks in the suits to the boots on the ground, this is a pretty big deal. 

We all have our favorites, of course. And while some of us here at Android Central were leaning in other directions toward the end of the year (hello, Moto), nobody — and I do mean nobody — would not recommend the HTC One. That's a pretty strong statement by us, and validated today by the GSMA, we believe.

And it's also worth another mention that the HTC One is one of the first carrier-branded phones (this really goes for us in the U.S.) to be updated to Android 4.4 KitKat. That's not a small thing, either.

Other winners of note:

AT&T and Filip Technologies Inc. for FiLIP, and AT&T for Digital Life

A wearable for children that gives them emergency contact capability and parents a little more piece of mind. We've got one in to review, by the way, which will happen once we're home from Spain. Here's a very short preview.

AT&T also was honored for best consumer mobile service with its Digital Life offerings, which tie your home into your smartphone.

LG, most innovative device manufacturer of the year

LG moved the volume and power buttons to the back of the phone starting with the G2 and taught us all toknock-on to wake our devices — and it worked!

Not a bad showing at all from the Android manufacturers.

Sony Xperia Z2 hands-on

Iterative improvements across the board add up to a sleeker, more capable Xperia phone

Sony likes to release two flagship phones each year. We've bemoaned the fact before, but the Japanese electronics giant continues to persue an aggressive timetable of half-yearly replacements for its high-end "Z" series. Back in September at IFA, we met the Xperia Z1; just six months later we're getting our first look at the Xperia Z2 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. At first glance it's tough to tell the Z2 apart from the Z1 — they're both more or less the same size and shape — big, blocky phones, and products of Sony's "Omnibalance" design language. If you weren't a fan of Sony's Z series phones before, there's little here to change your mind. But even if it doesn't lend itself particularly well to good ergonomics, it's a solid look, and one Sony's sticking to.

There are physical differences to be found if you look hard enough — the ports are somewhat differently arranged, and the speaker grille is less of a grille, more a collection of holes. And the Z2 is slightly lighter than its predecessor, weighing in at 158 grams.

THE XPERIA Z2 BOASTS AN ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS IPS DISPLAY

On the whole, the Z2 is more about component and software upgrades more than any exterior changes. The biggest and most noticeable improvement is the new IPS-based "Triluminos" display, which looks absolutely gorgeous. With a couple of exceptions, Sony has traditionally struggled to get smartphone displays right, with even recent models suffering from poor viewing angles. Thankfully that's fixed on the Xperia Z2, which can boast a screen rivaling any other we've seen on a phone. The Z2's 1080p display is also larger than the Z1's, at 5.2 inches compared to 5.0, while fitting in more or less the same footprint.

Enhancements have also been made in the audio space, with Sony introducing stereo speakers and digital noise cancellation for use with headphones.

UPGRADED INTERNALS ENABLE 4K VIDEO THROUGH SONY'S EXMOR RS CAMERA

On the inside, the Z2 runs one of the latest processors from Qualcomm — a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801, paired with an ample 3GB of RAM and 3,200mAh batter. Given Sony's track record with the Z1 and Z1 Compact, there's no reason to expect anything less than stellar longevity out of the Z2. And around the back is the same 20.7-megapixel Exmor RS camera found on the Z1 handsets. It's a great (though not quite perfect) smartphone camera, though we're just a little disappointed to see that the camera hardware hasn't been changed at all. The camera software has been upgraded, however, with the addition of 4K video support, the defocus camera app from the Xperia Z1s, and built-in Vine support, if you're into that sort of thing.

ANDROID 4.4 TOPPED WITH A REFRESHED XPERIA UI

And Sony's software and Xperia UI has received a welcome facelift on the Z2. The device runs Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box, and Sony has tweaked its builtin apps to take advantage of the new version of Android. The launcher uses transparent top and bottom bars, and the Gallery app supports immersive mode. It still closely resembles Sony's existing design language, but it looks just a bit sharper on the Z2. (And that beautiful new IPS display certainly helps out here, too.)

The Xperia Z2 comes preloaded with Sony's new Lifelog app, among the usual suite of bundled Sony content. Demoed at CES but as yet unreleased, Lifelog connects to Sony's Smartband and other accessories using the "Core" gadget, and can be used to track exercise, and movement data, along with other stuff you might be doing on your phone.

On the entertainment side, Sony has given its "What's New" app prominent placement by adding it to the swipe-up menu usually reserved for Google Now. The app gives you a scrolling list of movies, music, games and other stuff through Sony's entertainment properties. Tighter integration between different parts of Sony isn't surprising to see, but the swipe-up shortcut icon will put this stuff front and center on the Z2.

Besides that, the Z2's software is about bringing things up to a new version of Android and making the UI looks a bit more modern, and perhaps closer to the look of stock KitKat.

So the Z2 is another incremental upgrade, but a solid one that addresses one of our longstanding gripes with Sony phones — the display — while freshening up the Z1's hardware and building on the "Omnibalance" design language. The device is expected to arrive globally starting in March, so we won't have long to wait before we can get our hands on Sony's latest. At the time of writing, however, the company isn't talking about any U.S. launch plans for the device.

Samsung Galaxy S5 hands-on and initial review

Samsung’s best gets even better in the Galaxy S5 — we take it out for a spin

Behold, the Samsung Galaxy S5. The Korean manufacturer at Mobile World Congress unveiled the fifth iteration of its flagship Android smartphone. And as we’ve come to expect, this one’s better than every one that’s come before it.

Let’s start with the basic Galaxy S5 specs:

• 5.1-inch display. Android 4.4 KitKat.
• 16-megapixel rear camera.
• 2 gigabytes of RAM.
• Storage options of 16 or 32 gigabytes.
• MicroSD card storage.
• Waterproofing with a IP67 rating.
• 802.11 ac Wifi, with MIMIO (2x2).
• Bluetooth 4.0 LE
• USB 3.0.
• NFC.
• IR port.
• 2,800 mAh (removable) battery.

What else could you want in the Galaxy S5? And we haven’t even mentioned all the software customizations. We’ve gotten a brief look at the Galaxy S5 here in Barcelona. Come with us now as we walk you through the GS5, as only Android Central can.

See also: Full Galaxy S5 specs | Galaxy S5 image gallery | Join the discussion in our Galaxy S5 forums

The Samsung Galaxy S5 video hands-on

Samsung Galaxy S5 hardware

IT'S PLENTY APPARENT THAT SAMSUNG'S LEARNING FROM USER FEEDBACK

Samsung continues to improve on its hardware quality, and the Galaxy S5 shows. Moreover, it's plenty apparent that Samsung's learning from user feedback, and the Galaxy S5 is a reflection of that.

The phone is just a smidgen bigger than the Galaxy S4 — the Super AMOLED display has been upped to 5.1 inches as well. The bezels seem a little larger than we'd expect, but not grossly so. The standard 1080p resolution is at hand here — no "2K" displays yet — and it looks great. That's in part because the default backgrounds and images are designed to show off (as well they should) and also because the Galaxy S5 has an improved "Adaptive Display" that will work the color gamut depending the lighting situation. It doesn't just get brighter or dimmer — it changes the way the colors look.

The Galaxy S5 is unmistakably a Samsung phone — right down to the home button. But this time around it's swapped out the legacy menu button for a proper multitasking key, and it's about time that happened. (We've previously seen this on the company's "Pro" series tablets.)

THE GS5'S GORGEOUS SOFT-TOUCH BACK IS UNLIKE ANY PREVIOUS SAMSUNG DESIGN

The rear of the phone deserves some serious attention. While we'd figured Samsung would continue with its faux-leather (complete with stitching trend), it's nary to be seen on this initial crop of Galaxy S5. Instead, we're treated to a textured soft-touch back — not unlike the 2012 Nexus 7 tablet from ASUS, actually. The Galaxy S5 will initially be offered in charcoal black, shimmery white, electric blue and copper gold — and the colors themselves are pretty stunning.

Ridged edges make up the sides of the phone. The volume and power buttons are in their usual places. The Galaxy S5 most certainly looks and feels like a Samsung product, as it should. But it's probably the best Samsung's come up with so far.

If we had to pick one thing to gripe about, it'd be the camera stack out back. It's not a huge bulge, but it's noticeable. There's also some additional bulk that has to come with the inclusion of waterproofing, and the plastic flap covering the charging port may become an annoyance for some. But that's us looking for nits to pick. The GS5's hardware looks and feels solid, more so than any Galaxy S phone for the past couple of years.

Samsung Galaxy S5 software

The industrial design is but the first way Samsung has improved things in the Galaxy S5. Software's the next. The Galaxy S5 is running Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box, and it's paired quite nicely with Samsung's custom user interface.

You read that right. Five years into the Galaxy S line, TouchWiz has come around. Maybe some of that is Google's doing — the white status bar fits right in. Launcher and menu icons have taken a turn for the flat.

Truly, this no longer is the clown-colored user interface we've for so long tried to hide.

THIS NO LONGER IS THE CLOWN-COLORED USER INTERFACE WE'VE FOR SO LONG TRIED TO HIDE.

That's not to say there's not a lot going on — because there is. Samsung has still crammed so many features into this phone. The quick settings, for instance, had 20 buttons when we took a look. There's a veritable armada of Samsung apps. (And plenty more you can download on your own.) And on the whole, they're a little sharper and less visually cluttered than earlier TouchWiz efforts, even if everything remains bright and vivid on the phone's SuperAMOLED panel.

And the ever-clever Samsung has put its Magazine UI where Google Now lives on the Nexus 5 — at the far left of the homescreen.

For enhanced security, the Galaxy S5 also supports biometric authentication through its finger scanner — up to three fingers can be stored, swipe you finger down from just above the home button to unlock the device or perform other security-related functions. One such feature shown to us used PayPal — the company has partnered with Samsung to use the GS5's biometric capabilities — to confirm a purchase with the user's fingerprint.

Another feature we're liking is Private Mode, which lets you keep pictures, music, documents, video and voice files behind a secondary password and away from prying eyes.

So, yeah. There's a whole lot going on in the Galaxy S5, but it's nicely done, and a bit more professional-looking than before.

Samsung Galaxy S5 camera

HDR MODE NOW GIVES YOU A LIVE PREVIEW OF YOUR HDR SHOT.

The Galaxy S5 packs a 16-megapixel rear camera with dual LED flash and a slew of shooting modes, but Samsung is focusing on a handful of new features. Selective focus lets you adjust depth of field after you've taken your shot — we've seen similar stuff from Sony and Nokia in recent months. And HDR mode now gives you a live preview of how your high-dynamic-range image is going to look. Samsung's also touting the speed of the GS5's autofocus as a key camera feature, saying it can focus in as little as 0.3 seconds depending on lighting — and side-by-side with the GS4, the difference in focus speed is pretty striking.

As for image quality, we'll have to reserve judgment until we've spend some more time with the device, but photos shot in our relatively small demo area looked great on the Galaxy S5's screen, and capture speeds were about as fast as any smartphone we've used.

THE GS5'S FLASH DOUBLES AS A HEART RATE SENSOR.

In addition, there's an interesting secondary function for the GS5's camera flash — it doubles as a heart rate sensor when used with the S Health app. Hold you finger over the flash and it'll glow red, allowing the phone to monitor your heart rate. And of course you can track all this stuff over time through S Health, which, as on the GS4, is designed to be your health and fitness hub on your phone.

The bottom line

A STEP FORWARD FOR SAMSUNG IN A BUNCH OF IMPORTANT AREAS.

Our main takeaway from our brief time with the Galaxy S5 so far is that Samsung is has been listening to customers and critics alike, and has finally gotten around to addressing many of our gripes with its build quality, software and UI. It's still a plastic phone, and a plastic phone running TouchWiz at that, but the GS5 represents a clear improvement for Samsung in a bunch of important areas. The new Samsung UI strikes us as something we might enjoy using, rather than software that's just there. And the soft-touch back feels infinitely nicer in the hand than the glossy, slimy plastic of old.

The most interesting development out of the GS5's announcement might be the arrival of waterproofing as a mainstream feature. Other Android manufacturers, notably Sony, have been doing this for a while, but a waterproof GS5 is a big commitment on Samsung's part 

We'll be seeing a lot more of the Samsung Galaxy S5 in the months ahead, and our opinions are sure to evolve as we spend more time with the phone. For the moment, though, it's a promising start to 2014 for the world's biggest maker of Android phones.