https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ezKK778heg
This week in your world of Android: the new HTC One leaked some more, OnePlus teased its own One, new feature and design tweaks came to several Google apps, Samsung’s CEO denied the existence of a premium Galaxy S5, Intel’s Windows-Android plans went bust, and more specs of the LG smartwatch leaked.
These are the essential stories, the summary of an entire week in just a few words. It’s Android Weekly.
New HTC One leaks are getting ridiculous
If any more details about the new HTC One emerge over the next ten days, there won’t be anything new for HTC to show on stage on March 25. This week, we finally learned what that secondary camera on the back of the phone does, as well as more details on the M8’s specs and software features.
- Ad reveals features of HTC One’s Duo Camera, double-tap to wake function
- More HTC One 2014 leaks: hands-on images, video, cases, and wallpapers
- 2014 HTC One specs and features detailed in yet another leak (Bonus: Verizon version pics)
- Alleged pictures of the Verizon HTC One (2014) surface in Ebay listing
All aboard the OnePlus hype train
What the OnePlus marketing team is doing right now is either very smart or very stupid. Drip feeding the internet one detail of the OnePlus One at a time builds up the hype, but if the real product isn’t worth the hype, the backlash will be vicious.
- OnePlus One will feature hands-free voice control, similar to the Moto X
- OnePlus One to feature a 3100mAh battery and some new “mystery tech”
- OnePlus One will pack a 5.5-inch 1080p display, no wider than Xperia Z1
Google’s dog food screw up
“Dogfooding” is the practice of testing out new releases internally before pushing them out of the public. You know, as in eating your own dog food. This week Google accidentally pushed a “dog food” version of YouTube (complete with an adorable bone icon) to the public. Hilarity ensued. Oh, and we had a bunch of good updates to other apps as well.
- Google Wallet app getting a new ‘orders’ feature for tracking all online purchases
- Google Translate update brings handwriting support for 13 new languages
- Google lets test build of the Youtube app out in public release – Includes dog food?
- Google Drive receives hefty price cuts, 100GB for just $1.99 a month
- Google Play Store update rolling out, in-app purchases take center stage
No premium Galaxy S5 for you!
Despite persistent rumors that claimed otherwise, we didn’t get the premium version of the Galaxy S5 we’ve been expecting. And if Samsung CEO JK Shin’s word can be trusted, we won’t ever get it. Then again, admitting a better version is coming would not be that good for Galaxy S5 sales, would it?
Google, Microsoft join forces to crush Intel’s dream
Intel wanted to make Android and Windows play nice on tablets and laptops, but Google and Microsoft were not that pleased with the idea. The project is as good as dead, report says.
LG/Google smartwatch specs
Some of the essential specifications of the smartwatch that LG is making for Google have leaked, courtesy of @evleaks. The specs are not groundbreaking, but again, great user experience doesn’t require cutting-edge specs.
What is this week’s top Android news? Tell us in the comments.
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