If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought leaks of a smartphone that tips the scales with a 6-inch screen, an alternate ego to the oft-leaked Sony 'Honami' and the return of unlimited data to a certain AT&T MVNO. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of August 12th, 2013.
Courtesy of the ever-reliable @evleaks, it appears the Galaxy Mega 6.3 is indeed coming to AT&T. A purported press render shows the device colored in a navy blue plaid with the carrier's globe logo below the rear-facing camera. Of the few versions that passed through the FCC, you may recall that this one (SGH-I527 Melius) features Ma Bell-compatible LTE connectivity. There are currently no other details aside from all that, but it seems this behemoth of smartphone should hit the States soon.
This week's episode begins with Myriam and Brad singing a Rick Astley tune -- yeah, you've been warned. Stream it below to catch their extended thoughts on the Moto X, Xperia Z Ultra, Lumia Amber update and more!
Hosts: Myriam Joire, Brad Molen
Producer: Joe Pollicino
Music: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International)
Hear the podcast
The Spanish had first dibs on ZTE's Open smartphone, but earlier this month we were told Americans and Brits would eventually be able to buy the Firefox OS device through ZTE's local eBay storefronts. Well, the pages are now live, so in exchange for $80 or £60 (delivery is free), you can get yourself an unlocked Open in the eBay-exclusive orange hue; and, if the stock figures represent all ZTE has to hawk, it appears this initial batch will sell out before too long. We wouldn't say the handset's performance is good enough to disguise its miserly specs, but having a new mobile OS to poke around in for well under a Benjamin? Let's just say that we're having a hard time suppressing the impulse-buy urge.
[Thanks, Steve]
Canadians frequently wait longer for new technology than their American counterparts, but they're catching a break today. Following a MobileSyrup leak, Rogers has confirmed to Engadget that some of its stores will be selling the Moto X in "limited quantities" this weekend -- a full week ahead of the AT&T release. We wouldn't count on finding the Android flagship after dealing with spotty availability during previous early launches, but the news is still a pleasant surprise for Motorola-minded Canucks.
Seems that one of the better smartphone values on the market today is about to reintroduce itself to AT&T's customers, as @evleaks has just tipped the LG Optimus G Pro in white. Up until this point, the carrier has sold the phone only in black, but its large 5.5-inch, 1080p display, Snapdragon 600 SoC and 13MP camera seem to grab all the attention. AT&T currently sells the Optimus G Pro for $100 on contract or $440 outright, but there's no definitive arrival date for this pearly creation.
If you're one of many Windows Phone 8 users who downloaded the Fresh Paint app when it arrived on mobile devices a few weeks ago, you might've been disappointed to find it wouldn't run on certain devices. That's because the initial release of the program was only for higher-end WP8 phones with a healthy dosage of RAM. Now, however, it has been updated to run on Windows Phone 8 handsets with just 512MB of RAM, which includes models like the HTC 8S, the Nokia Lumia 520/521, 620, 625 and 720. So if you now have a qualifying handset, feel free to hit up the Windows Phone Store link below to unleash that pent-up creativity on a digital canvas.
A mere couple of days after the latest version of Google+ arrived for Android, iOS users are finally getting a taste of it courtesy of today's version 4.5 release. The latest update brings a number of notable features, one of which is integration with Google Drive, which lets G+ fans view, edit and share images via the cloud service. Like the Android version of the app, Hangouts has replaced the Messenger function for messaging and calls, and you can now start a Hangout with someone directly from the person's profile page. Domain-related features for Apps for Business users are also supported. Those itching to find out what else is new can go ahead and download it from the App Store link below.
Tired of Apple offering iPhones solely in black or white? If photos obtained by MacBoutic are accurate, you'll get some variety soon... and some bling, for that matter. The repair shop's images reportedly show an iPhone 5S shell in a simulated gold color, supporting recent spec predictions from KGI analyst (and frequent AppleInsider tipster) Ming-Chi Kuo. While it's difficult to verify the snapshots when MacBoutic has erased all logos, this doesn't look like an aftermarket project; the hue extends to normally inaccessible parts of the phone, for example. As a result, we won't be surprised if we see a flashy gold iPhone at Apple's rumored September 10th event.
Every week, a new and interesting human being tackles our decidedly geeky take on the Proustian Q&A. This is the Engadget Questionnaire.
In the latest installment of our collection of queries, hip-hop producer, MC and Detroit native Black Milk chats about wireless workspaces and the dangers of an unfettered iPhone. If you venture to the other side of the break, there you'll find the full rundown of answers.
We've heard you, and we agree -- our iPhone app has needed a re-envisioning, and we're thrilled to announce that the fruits of a lot of behind-the-scenes labor can now be seen in the App Store. Engadget's iPhone app has been completely rebuilt from the ground-up, with an all-new design taking center stage. Behind the new visuals, you'll find plenty of new functionality. Here's a quick breakdown on what's new and what has changed:
Our devs are also working hard right now to implement additional features (yes, beyond just tweaks and fixes) later this year. As for our loyal readers that rely on Android and Windows Phone, be assured that we're overhauling those builds as well in order to elevate our entire stable to a new standard. Our hope is to have those platforms served with a redesigned app before the year's end. Give it a download right here, and be sure to submit any issues to our support staff within the app itself (pull up the right rail -> Send Feedback). We'll be poring over each submission in a bid to make things even better as we go. Thanks for reading, and enjoy!
Hankering for a new Moto X, are you? If you're an AT&T loyalist (or just can't figure out a way to slip out of your contract), the carrier has just published its launch details surrounding the most monumental Motorola handset in a decade. The vanilla black and white models will be available for sale starting August 23rd, with the 16GB version going for $199.99 on a two-year agreement and the 32GB variant for $249.99. (With AT&T Next, the 16GB model is available for $27 per month and the 32GB model is $32 per month.)
Moto Maker shipments will begin on 8/23 as well, with a "lucky few" who registered for early access able to get their orders started on the 19th. Moreover, AT&T will be stocking Skip, and all Moto Maker orders will include a Skip gratis for a limited time. If you're curious to see what kind of crazy coloring options are at your disposal, we're told that major (but not all) AT&T retail outlets will boast a table like the one shown above -- decisions, decisions.
In Africa, only 15.6 percent of residents have an internet connection and that figure clocks in below half of the global average. Google, Carlson Wireless and several other outfits are teaming up to employ Cape Town's unused TV frequencies, or white spaces, in order to bring high-speed connectivity to the masses. Darren Murph made the trek to South Africa get a behind-the-scenes look at the project and his account nabs top billing in this week's issue of our tablet mag. Eyes-On ogles Organic Transit's ELF; Weekly Stat tallies up the heroes of YouTube; and Modem World pleads the Hyperloop's case. Grab a copy from the source links below if your slate of choice hasn't already alerted you to do so and get comfy for another large dose of tech e-reading.
Distro Issue 103 PDF
Distro in the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Google Play Store
Distro in the Windows Store
Distro APK (for sideloading)
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We had a walkthrough with Motorola's dedicated Moto X assembly site during the company's launch event earlier this month, but we've since had a chance to log on and build our own device, selecting front, back and accent colors with a live preview updating along the way. Not much has changed since August 1st, but considering you'll be walking out of an AT&T store with a $200 scratch-off card and a two-year contract, it's worth taking another look at what you'll find when you get home. Click past the break for our hands-on video to see what we managed to make.
Skip for Moto X surfaced on Motorola's site briefly yesterday, giving us some insight into the company's new PIN-free unlocking tool before the $20 product was pulled. Today, though, Google's smartphone arm has returned to detail the new gadget, which is set to ship for free when you order a device through Moto Maker. According to this morning's blog post, the typical phone user unlocks their handset 39 times each day -- in theory, a device like Skip, which clips to your belt, shirt sleeve or anywhere else you want, will help you reclaim several minutes daily. After pairing the compact NFC accessory with your phone, simply tap your device to unlock it. Each kit also includes three Skip dots, which you can stick onto any surface and use in the same way. Initially, Skip will ship in gray with a black accent, but Motorola plans to make colored versions available as well, beginning this fall.