HTC unveiled the selfie-centric Desire Eye and the RE Camera, but are they too gimmicky? Sony is finally bringing a flagship to the U.S., but will consumers take notice? The Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 seem primed and ready for a release, which could be as soon as this week. Let’s also not forget about the DROID Turbo, which should launch by the end of the month. MMS messaging finally comes to Google Voice (North America), but Verizon customers were left in the cold. It’s time to get caught up and get ready for what is sure to be another interesting week in the Android world.
Guides
Best Android Wear apps for creating, sharing, and finding the coolest watch faces
Reviews
Moto G (2014) review: The best budget Android phone just got better
[App Review] WPS Office is Kingsoft’s beautifully repackaged office suite
Accessories
Here are the accessories for the HTC RE Camera
Android Wear
Endomondo updates Android app to support Android Wear
GoToMeeting now supports Android Wear
Microsoft develops Android Wear keyboard with drawing as input method
Apps – New
Adobe releases preview of Creative Cloud for Android
Amazon will offer a new Washington Post application for Kindle tablets and other devices
HERE Maps available for select Samsung Galaxy devices
New Microsoft Xim app lets groups view photos together
Glympse Express shares your location temporarily with specified apps and contacts
Snowball tries to pack messaging platforms into single app
Apps – Updated
Google enables MMS for Google Voice for North American carriers
Google rolls out more image editing options for Google Slides
HTC’s Zoe exits beta and reaches version 1.0, update will be available on the Play Store
Chrome for Android update brings “additional Material Design”
Verizon launches Slacker Radio Tones for custom ringtones and ringback tones
Google Now gets Accuracy Improvements and Reservation Capabilities
Motorola Camera App gets Wear Update
Snapchat images may have been breached through third-party service
Cameras
HTC RE camera gets made official, offers a portable way to capture wide-angle HD video and photos
Hands-on with the HTC RE Camera
Here are the accessories for the HTC RE Camera
AT&T to offer Desire Eye and Re Camera in time for the holidays
Carriers
AT&T issues apology for customer data breach
Moto G LTE to touch down on AT&T in just 4 days time
AT&T to offer Desire Eye and Re Camera in time for the holidays
Samsung Galaxy Note Edge may be coming to AT&T and US Cellular
ZTE launches the jumbo-sized Grand X Max on Cricket Wireless
Straight Talk launches ‘Bring Your Own Tablet’ program
Sharp Aquos Crystal heading to Sprint on October 17, Boost Mobile carrying it today
Verizon tweets image of DROID Turbo, but pulls it shortly after
HTC Desire 612 to land on Verizon’s XLTE spectrum Thursday, October 9
Virgin Mobile releases new Unlimited plans
DROID Turbo user manual leaked, specs all but confirmed
DROID TURBO may have 3,900mAh battery
Sony introduces the Xperia Z3v and SmartWatch 3 for Verizon
Verizon launches Slacker Radio Tones for custom ringtones and ringback tones
Chrome
Google updates stable build of Chrome OS to include Media Transfer Protocol
New ‘Chatheads’ style desktop Hangouts app live
Four additional Android apps make their way over to the Chrome Web Store
Chromebooks
New Chromebook for Work features coming to enterprise users
Chromecast
Google adds Backdrop feature to Chromecast allowing users to customize their Chromecast wallpapers
Google gives three months free Now TV to UK Chromecast owners
Deals
[Deal] LG G Watch price knocked down to $159 at Best Buy
Gaming
Samsung Gear VR release date and pricing revealed
Activision launches a Skylanders: Trap Team version for Android devices
Gear VR overheating causes Samsung to limit demo times in stores
Humble Bundle 9 hits the web today with six excellent games at launch
Google Fiber’s Achilles’ heel: The cost of doing business with TV studios
Google worked on native multi-window support for Android, but future implementation unclear
You can now pre-order big-screen hits on Google Play
Google looking into letting users trial apps without a full app download
Google Now bests Siri and Cortana in voice search
Tech companies dominate Best Global Brands report, Apple still No. 1
Google Street View goes for a camel ride
Google appeals dispute with Oracle to the Supreme Court
Google X boss acknowledges that “wearables are tough”
Google testing doctor video chats with Search
Google+
New Google+ lead David Besbris says it’s here to stay
Google+ will soon let you add polls to your posts
Hardware
Phones – HTC
HTC unveils the Desire Eye, a plastic, waterproof device focused on photos and videos
Hands-on with the HTC Desire Eye and the Eye Experience software
AT&T to offer Desire Eye and Re Camera in time for the holidays
HTC announces “Eye Experience” with tons of new camera features
HTC rolls out Eye Experience update to One M8′s in Europe
HTC’s New EYE Experience to be released in coming months
HTC releases detailed videos outlining the features of their new Eye Experienc
HTC One (M8 EYE) gets a quiet launch in China and creates further confusion
Front panel of an HTC device leaks with slim bezels but no one knows what it belongs to
HTC One (M8 Eye) and Desire Eye pricing revealed
HTC Desire 612 to land on Verizon’s XLTE spectrum Thursday, October 9
HTC Desire 510 now exclusively available from TELUS
Phones – Motorola
Motorola device, likely the DROID Turbo’s GSM version, arrives at the FCC
DROID Turbo user manual leaked, specs all but confirmed
DROID TURBO may have 3,900mAh battery
Verizon tweets image of DROID Turbo, but pulls it shortly after
Report confirms that Motorola will manufacture a Nexus phone for Google
Unlocked 2nd gen Moto G now available through Best Buy
Moto G LTE to touch down on AT&T in just 4 days time
Phones – Nexus
Google to issue fix for Nexus 5 bug that drains battery
Phones – OnePlus
OnePlus One CM11S update adds support for RAW images and high-resolution audio
Phones – Samsung
Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5 show up on video along with Galaxy A5 official renders
New leak about Samsung Galaxy A7 seems to confirm previous info
Indian retailer shows off the new Samsung Galaxy Core Prime
Samsung releases video showcasing the Galaxy Note 4′s S Pen features
Unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 4 available through Amazon
Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge, and other Samsung devices could get banned from entering the U.S.
Watch a Galaxy Note 4 get thrown around in Samsung’s drop test video
Due to ‘amazing interest and demand’ the Galaxy Note 4 will be delayed in the UK
Samsung Galaxy Note Edge may be coming to AT&T and US Cellular
Samsung launches ‘Protection Plus Mobile Elite’ warranty scheme in the US
Phones – Sharp
Sharp Aquos Crystal heading to Sprint on October 17, Boost Mobile carrying it today
Phones – Sony
Sony introduces the Xperia Z3v and SmartWatch 3 for Verizon
Phones – ZTE
ZTE launches the jumbo-sized Grand X Max on Cricket Wireless
ROMs
CyanogenMod 11 M11 up for download with fixes and support galore
Security
Snapchat images may have been breached through third-party service
Smartwatches
You can now pre-order the ASUS ZenWatch, LG G Watch R, and Sony Smartwatch 3 in the UK
ASUS ZenWatch to launch in November, but could be very limited
HTC delays wearables launch to 2015
[Deal] LG G Watch price knocked down to $159 at Best Buy
LG confirms G Watch R will launch in South Korea next week
LG G Watch R heading to Europe in November for €299
Sony introduces the Xperia Z3v and SmartWatch 3 for Verizon
Smart Glasses
Toshiba shows off eyeglasses with embedded display
Tablets
Makers of the secure Blackphone are launching a tablet
HP 10 Plus, a tablet running Android 4.4.2, available for $279
HTC returning to the tablet market following Nexus launch this fall
Nexus 9 to be unveiled next week, but might not be available till next month
Lenovo announces new YOGA Tablet 2, Pro model has a built-in projector
Here’s the back of the Nexus 9
Taiwan FCC shows HTC and Nexus 9 in one database entry
Samsung officially announces ruggedized, business-oriented Galaxy Tab Active
Updates
Android L developer preview emulator image released by Google
OnePlus One CM11S update adds support for RAW images and high-resolution audio
HTC rolls out Eye Experience update to One M8′s in Europe
Wearables
Google X boss acknowledges that “wearables are tough”
Miscellaneous
Samsung’s Q3 earnings to reveal declining profits
Samsung focusing more on enterprise with 360 Services for Business
Burger King’s failed marketing material creates some interesting device mashups
Plastc Card is the card that stores your cards digitally
New patent for Samsung reveals work on Iconic UX user interface
iOS and Windows phone slowly catching up to Android in the US according to latest comScore report
Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Weekly Recap for October 6 – October 12, 2014
More gadget review in www.38today.com.
