Shelved Android Code Hints That Way Better Camera Apps Are Coming

  

Android has come a long way as a platform in the last couple of years, but one drawback of the phones is that for the most part their cameras lag behind what’s available for Windows Phone and iOS ). A batch of comments discovered in the Android source code hints that the cameras might be getting a lot better soon.

The Android documentation hints at a new Camera API for the platform. It was discovered by enterprising Google+ user Josh Brown and initially reported by Ars Technica. In short, it appears that Google started working on a new API to be launched with KitKat but that it couldn’t be completed in time, so an entry was added the documentation hiding it it from the final product.

The most intriguing part of the new API, some of which is documented here, is that it appears the camera application will be able to access RAW image sensor data rather than merely data that’s already been processed to JPEG. Beyond letting you write RAW files to your phone’s flash memory so that you can edit them later in programs like Adobe Lightroom, the RAW camera support opens the door for more sophisticated on-board editing, as well as new, better processing developed by third parties. There are also signs of a burst mode in the offing, something that it’s always surprising to remember Android doesn’t already have by now.

RAW files on a camera certainly isn’t a new idea. Back in October, Nokia announced that it’s building RAW support into its Pro Camera app. Still, adding it to Android — with its much larger user base — would be a huge deal. 

Galaxy Gear Update Allows Notifications for All Android Apps

One of our—and pretty much everyone else’s— biggest complaints with the Galaxy Gearwas its extremely limited functionality. Samsung’s smartwatch felt extremely rushed at launch, and could only display notifications from a handful of pre-selected apps. The wearable device took a huge step forward today however, thanks to a software update that lets you pick and choose which apps will sync with the Galaxy Gear.

The new Gear Manager app is available through Samsung’s app store as a free update as long as you’ve already downloaded the latest firmware update. Once you’re all updated you can pick and choose which of your favorite apps will send notifications to Samsung’s smartwatch, from Hangouts and WhatsApp to eBay and Facebook. Literally any Android app that uses notifications can now be synced with the Galaxy Gear.

There are still plenty of problems with Samsung’s smartwatch, from the bulky design to its extremely limiting user interface, but this is a solid first step for the Galaxy Gear. If the South Korean company wants its first major wearable device to be a success giving more control to the users is a good first step.

BlackBerry updates Android runtime with support for native code, Bluetooth, spellchecking, and more

BlackBerry today released Android Runtime for BlackBerry 10.2.1, featuring a slew of new features. The was announced on November 13 (two days ago) and released on November 15. The release notes are here and the previous article from November 13 follows below.

BlackBerry today announced what developers and users can expect in the next Android runtime update for BlackBerry 10. Both highly-requested features and APIs are “arriving soon” as part of a BlackBerry 10.2.1 SDK OS release for developers, the company promises.

More specifically, BlackBerry 10.2.1 will feature the following increased compatibility improvements:

Android Native Support: Android apps that use shared libraries written in native-code, such as C and C++, will now be supported on BlackBerry 10. Support is limited to the recommended system headers and APIs as documented by Google. Headers and APIs outside this scope may not function correctly.

Bluetooth: Android applications using Android Bluetooth APIs will now work on BlackBerry 10. Bluetooth Low Energy for Android is planned to be supported in a future OS release. As a reminder, Bluetooth LE is supported in the BlackBerry 10 Native/Cascades SDK.

MapView v1: Applications that use MapView from Google Maps v1 API are now supported using OpenStreetMaps. Support for MapView v2 API is being planned for a future release.
Share Framework: Android applications that register with the share framework in Android will now also appear as share targets on the BlackBerry 10 share menu.

Spellcheck: Applications that use text input can now leverage support for spell checking and correction, and the ability to add words to the BlackBerry 10 dictionary.

Developers will see the benefits of these additions first, and they’ll be able to test and submit their new apps to BlackBerry World. Once that happens, BlackBerry users will start being able to benefit as well.

For those who don’t know, the BlackBerry Runtime for Android apps (or just Android Runtime for short) lets you run Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 apps on the BlackBerry 10 operating system. While the process isn’t seamless (developers must first repackage their Android apps to a BAR file, the file format required by BlackBerry 10 OS), it certainly speeds up the app porting process from Android to BlackBerry.

Samsung Galaxy S4 for AT&T receiving Android 4.3 update

The Android 4.3 update rollout to Samsung Galaxy phones continues – this night AT&T users may have seen their Galaxy S4 handsets notify them of a new update available. The download is a hefty 720MB, but it's well worth it.

If you haven’t gotten a notification yet, you can manually check for an update (from About in the Settings menu). The build number is JSS15J.1337UCUEMJ9. You'll have to be patient though, users are reporting that the update takes a while to download.

The changelog includes support for the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, speed improvements (TRIM support, less lag in the launcher, better RAM management), KNOX enterprise security, better color reproduction on the screen and a new camera software.

PS4 launch prep begins now: Day 1 update, iOS and Android apps are ready to download

Just as promised, Sony has delivered the mobile companion apps on iOS and Android for its PlayStation 4 console ahead of launch. Another thing to know for gamers that have already pre-ordered a system or plan to pick one up Friday, is that the v1.50 day one update is also out. The mobile apps (found in Google Play and Apple's App Store) can pull in info about games or your friends latest activities, with links to check out trophies, invitations and game alerts, all without even turning on (or owning, yet) the newest system. The apps have a pretty bare bones design however, with basic layouts and the need for a separate web browser to log in. One final treat for those already camping outside their local retailer: the apps contain a link to the PS4's web-based manual so you can get every detail possible right here.

We've downloaded the 323MB patch on a system ourselves, while forum posters on NeoGAF point out a link (update: it's official, check out the instructions here) to Sony's servers where you can nab a copy in case they're completely crushed on launch day. Unlike the Xbox One you'll still be able to play games without the update, but features like logging onto the PSN, playing games while they download or watching Blu-ray movies require this patch. One way or another, all the software is lined up for the PS4's big debut in two more days, now all we need is the green light to purchase hardware (or a retailer with an itchy "ship now" trigger finger).

Android dominates 81 percent of world smartphone market

For the first time ever, Android has hit more than 80 percent market share for smartphone shipments worldwide.

The new Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker was released on Tuesday by IDC, which detailed third-quarter numbers for all smartphone shipments worldwide. A total of 261.1 million smartphones were shipped during this quarter, 81 percent of which run Google's operating system. A study by Strategy Analytics last month revealed nearly the same numbers, showing that Android gobbled 81.3 percent of the global smartphone market in the third quarter.

There are several smartphone manufacturers that run Android on their devices. Of these vendors, Samsung gained the most market share. The Galaxy S4-maker ruled 39 percent of all Android smartphone shipments in the third quarter. The majority of the other vendors saw market share within the single digits or less.

Not only must Google be giving itself a pat on the back, but Microsoft should also be pleased by the third-quarter numbers. During the quarter, Windows Phone shipments jumped 156 percent year-over-year. While Windows Phone market share is still small -- less than 5 percent -- these numbers do show that people are purchasing the smartphones at a rapid rate. Kantar Worldpanel ComTech reported similar numbers in September showing that Windows Phone is increasingly gaining in the world market.

For Windows Phones, Nokia appears to be the smartphone maker of choice. A whopping 93.2 percent of all Windows Phones shipped in the third quarter were made by Nokia.
"Android and Windows Phone continued to make significant strides in the third quarter. Despite their differences in market share, they both have one important factor behind their success: price," IDC's Mobile Phone team research manager Ramon Llamas said in a statement. "Both platforms have a selection of devices available at prices low enough to be affordable to the mass market, and it is the mass market that is driving the entire market forward."

Overall smartphone shipments were up 39.9 percent year-over-year in the third quarter. According to IDC, average smartphone selling prices have decreased as of late as demand for cheaper phones grows. The average price is now at $317, which is 12.5 percent lower than last year.

One exception to the lower price is for large-screened smartphones, or phablets. The average phablet price is currently hovering around $443; however, this is still 22.8 percent lower than last year's average phablet price of $573.

"Almost all successful Android vendors have added one or more 5- to 7-inch phablets to their product portfolios," IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker program director Ryan Reith said. "And Nokia's recent announcement of the Lumia 1320 and 1520 put them in the category as well. In 3Q13, phablet shipments accounted for 21 percent of the smartphone market, up from just 3 percent a year ago. We believe the absence of a large-screen device may have contributed to Apple's inability to grow share in the third quarter."
And, this brings us to Apple. While iOS does well in the US, it's not as popular in the world market. In the third quarter, Apple held 12.9 percent of the market share, which is a 1.5 percent decline from last year. However, the company's shipments were up from 26.9 million during last year's third quarter to 33.8 million in this year's third quarter. According to IDC, some of this market share decline could be due to soft demand in the weeks before the launch of the iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, and iOS 7 in September.

Google Maps taking the back seat to Apple’s Maps

 Remember back when Apple introduced their first maps app with navigation? Recall all the complaints and poor service? As we fast-forward to today, it seems as though Apple has made a huge comeback. Not too mention Google at first telling every iPhone user they would not develop an iOS Google Maps app after Apple cut them out of the default mapping app on iOS devices. Shortly after Google changed their mind and everyone rejoiced. After all, Google Maps was king for so long in the free mapping apps and especially Android having navigation support for so long before Apple finally got the long awaited Apple Maps. 

Long story short, according to some research there are a ton more Apple Map users versus Google Maps users for iOS. As a matter of fact, 23 million iPhone users dropped Google Maps last year! In September results revealed that 35 million used Apple Maps compared to just 6 million users on Google Maps. A key item is out of the 6 million, 2 million of the users were on older model idevices and cannot update to the supported iOS 6 at the minimum.

Personally, I have had experience with both Apple Maps and Google Maps as an iOS user as well as an Android user. From the experience it would be safe to say I prefer Apple Maps over Google Maps. For the most part Apple Maps always seemed to give better directions. Not too mention when using an iPhone it’s just easier to use Apple Maps because it is fully intergrated into the OS. It also saves space by not having an extra map app that does the same thing Apple maps does (generally).