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Real Racing 3, the best game on mobile!
mobilekiwi - Apr 23 2013 07:14 AM
Latest News
May 20 2013 07:04 PM mobilekiwi in Android
Samsung are cleaning up in the Android market with their Galaxy lineup going strong powered by the latest Galaxy S4. The results are in for Q1 2013 and it's reported that Samsung hold 95% of the US$5 billion of Android profits.
Android now accounts for 43% share of the smartphone market. The global smartphone market made a staggering US$12.5 billion in operating profits in Q1 alone.
So, what manufacturer came in second under the Android banner? I was a little shocked at this, but LG holds second spot with 3% of the market.
Research analysts believe that Samsung may be making more in profits from Android than Google is. That's a scary thought considering the size of Samsung may be able to dictate the direction that Android takes. If you take Samsung out of the picture for Android, there's very little market share. This is certainly a possibility considering Samsung are working on their own platform, Tizen.
Do you own a Samsung? I certainly do, but HTC could probably pry the Note 2 out of my hands by giving me an HTC One.
Source
Galaxy S4 $984 - $1149
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TecTiles, what are they?
May 20 2013 07:48 AM mobilekiwi in Android
There's an increasing number of NFC enabled devices hitting the market. 2013 will see an explosion in NFC. Samsung are looking to take advantage of this by launching TecTiles (also known as NFC badges) to help you get the most out of an NFC enabled device. Basically a TecTile is a sticker of sorts that you can place around the house or office and use them as a shortcut to get your phone to do something. For example, I might have a TecTile sticker near the front door. As I enter the house I hold the phone to the TecTile and it enables WiFi for me. Another example would be using a TecTile to turn on your Bluetooth and fire up Google Play Music so you can wirelessly stream music to some bluetooth speakers.
You can use TecTiles for:
Settings and Applications:
- Change phone settings (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ringer/media volume, screen brightness, etc.)
- Launch an application
- Join a Wi-Fi Network
- Show a message
Communication:
- Make a call
- Send a text message
- Start a Google Talk conversation
- Share a contact or business card
Location and Web:
- Show an address on a map
- Open a web page
- Foursquare or Facebook check-in
Social:
- Automatic Facebook “Like”
- Update Facebook status
- Post a tweet or follow a contact on Twitter
- Connect on LinkedIn
I can certainly see these TecTiles as being useful. The TecTiles only currently support the Galaxy S3, the Note, and the Note 2. You'll need to get TecTiles2 to get the compatible version for the Galaxy S4. Download the TecTile app here. If you have a non-Samsung device, search for NFC badges.
A quick search on Trademe pulls up nothing. It looks like MobiCity has some available.
Would you think about using TecTiles or NFC badges?
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Get the Galaxy Note 2 for $743!
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New Google+ Hangouts
May 15 2013 07:19 PM mobilekiwi in Android
More goodness from Google IO this morning. Google have announced their new unified messaging platform called Hangouts. The new hangouts platform will bring together Android, iOS, Chrome and Gmail users. The conversations will be the same from device to device.
Key benefits of the new Hangouts:
- Messaging is richer, and more responsive. Photos and emoji make conversations more fun, while real-time activity indicators really bring them to life.
- Your conversations can last. With conversation history, you can swipe back in time and relive all your favorite moments. (You can also turn off history, if you want.)
- No more annoying notifications. Once you see a notification on one device, we'll clear it from your other Android devices and computers. You can also snooze notifications when you don't want to be interrupted.
- You can always say hello, face-to-face-to-face. Whether you’re 1-on-1 or with a group of friends, you can always make a free video call to everyone you're with.
- The app is available in lots of places. You can download Hangouts from Google Play, the App Store, and the Chrome Web Store. It’s also part of Gmail and Google+.
Pick up the new HTC One for $899!
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New Google Galaxy S4 announced!
May 15 2013 06:56 PM mobilekiwi in Android
In the wee hours of this morning, Google announced a new Samsung Galaxy S4 variant. The Galaxy S4 Google edition will be hitting the Google Play store on the 26th of June running vanilla Android, that's pure Android 4.2.2. There will be no touchwiz user interface over the top from Samsung. This is a great move as there's a huge following of Android users wanting to use stock Android on flag ship devices.
This is not a Nexus device. Nexus devices are Google designed devices running pure Android. This is Samsung working closely with Google to offer a different variant of its Galaxy S4. The Google S4 will receive prompt system updates as it won't have to wait for Samsung to overlay touchwiz on the latest version of Android code.
So how much will it cost? The phone will set you back US$649. Not bad in the grand scheme of things thanks to our very strong NZ dollar.
This is going to be a very good year for Samsung!
Source
Get a Galaxy S4 for as low as $985!
May 15 2013 09:03 AM mobilekiwi in General
We've all been there. You're on TradeMe or in a shop and you can't seem to locate a suitable case for your new device. It's either because your toy is so new or it's because the offering on TradeMe or in the shop doesn't take your fancy. Well here are some other ideas for where to go for a new case or cover.
Lets look at Ebay first. A lot of people believe that Ebay is out of reach for New Zealanders. It's not. Many sellers on Ebay ship worldwide which includes good old NZ. Go to www.ebay.com and search for your case. You'll be surprised at how cheap they are on Ebay. Just make sure the seller looks trustworthy ie. has a load of ratings and that they ship to NZ. Then you're good to go. I order a lot of my cases from Ebay.
Mobile Fun out of the UK is one of my favourites. They have soooo many different options when it comes to cases and covers and they ship to NZ. I've used them a load of times. One of the strengths of this site is that the cases/covers are all brands. There's no knock off items from China. Ok I'm certain most of the cases and covers would still come from there, but a brand means quality in the mobile world of accessories.
The last suggestion for places to go is Deal Extreme or dx.com. You'll find a huge range of cases and covers as well as electronics. These are goods made in China. So you'll get a low price point and shipping to NZ is free. Quite a few of the guys on Mobile Kiwi have used them, they are trustworthy.
If you have any other secret squirrel suggestions on places to go then please let us know.
Get the HTC One for $899!
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Nokia Lumia 925 announced
May 14 2013 08:49 PM mobilekiwi in Windows Phone
The Nokia Lumia 925 comes with a sleek, metal-finished design, a new AMOLED display to make it possible to view the content from more angles, and new features and advances in our PureView imaging technology for capturing even clearer, sharper pictures.
The design is quite clearly stunning, and in a first for the Lumia range, features metal. The metal frame on the Lumia 925 not only draws attention to the phone’s slim-line good looks, but also lends robustness and functions as an antenna. The polycarbonate body and metal frame are fused together to create a perfect whole.
Snappy features
At the heart of the new camera improvements is the next generation of image processing software and the most advanced lens technology to make every shot clear and sharp.
One of the new features is the new Nokia Smart Camera mode that allows you to create the perfect high quality image. Nokia Smart Camera offers an easy way to take ten shots at once and then edit them afterwards with tools and effects like Best Shot, Action Shot and Motion Focus.
As well as updated software, the camera on the Lumia 925 also comes with the most advanced lens technology. Together, the improvements deliver clearer and sharper pictures and video. And allow you to capture the best pictures in the dark. Even better, the imaging software improvements will be made available to existing compatible Windows Phone 8 Lumia smartphones in an update called Nokia Lumia Amber, which will be rolling out this summer.
Bright spark
The Nokia Lumia 925 also boasts a new 4.5-inch AMOLED display which offers superior brightness and sunlight performance making it easy to see the content even on the sunniest summer day. Add-on covers, sold separately, can add wireless charging to the phone and will come in yellow, red, white and black.
And, of course, the Nokia Lumia 925 comes with all the exclusive Nokia services that contribute towards making our phones better than the rest. Notably, you’ll find the HERE suite of location services for always finding your destination, and Nokia Music for free, unlimited streaming of music playlists, even when offline.
Availability in NZ is unknown at this time. We'll no doubt get it, the question is when. It will be available in Europe from June 1st.
Source: Conversations Nokia
Get a Galaxy S4 from $985
