Tayla Lyell: October 2013

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Samsung beats Apple in J.D. Power tablet satisfaction survey

Apple products usually win in customer satisfaction surveys, but this time around Samsung managed to come out on top.

Apple has been dethroned from the top of J.D Power’s tablet satisfaction survey, according to a recent release by the consultancy.

This is the first time Apple has not won in this survey in over two years. Samsung was the only manufacturer to net a better score since the last survey, which was conducted in April. Samsung’s score went from 822 to 835, and has barely edged out Apple’s score of 833. Amazon came in third at 826 points on a 1,000 point scale. Samsung has been on a tear lately, and has posted its highest quarterly profits last quarter. The launch of tablets like the Galaxy Tab 3 and the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition has worked out in the favor of the South Korean manufacturer.

J.D. Power says 59 percent of tablet buyers purchase their device at a store, while 41 percent buy the devices online. It has been found that buyers purchasing online have a better overall experience (8.5 on a scale of 10) against consumers buying at a store (8.3). Online customers also have a higher satisfaction score for in terms of the pricing of the tablet (7.8 vs. 7.5).

The study was conducted on 3,375 tablet owners from March to August and measured consumer satisfaction across five key segments: performance (26 percent); ease of operation (22 percent); styling and design (19 percent); features (17 percent); and cost (16 percent). The survey found that half of the customers who were looking to buy a tablet device sought recommendations from friends and family, while 49 percent gathered the relevant information from the manufacturer website.

Source: J.D. Power

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Motorola, HTC confirm Android 4.4 update for select devices

It’s been a few hours since Android 4.4 KitKat was (finally) made official, and Motorola and HTC have already confirmed that they’ll be updating select devices to the latest version of the OS.

HTC was the first to speak out on its rollout plans, and Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC America, confirmed that the HTC One will be receiving the Android 4.4 update within 90 days, at least on the US carrier variants. The Google Play Edition, which runs stock Android and is sold and updated directly by Google, will receive it in the next 15 days, while developer editions should get updated in a month.

The 90 day commitment is commendable, though there’s no word on when global variants of the device will be updated. Mackenzie promises that updates will be pushed out rapidly in the future as well, saying*”we’re not going to [roll out updates] in a lazy fashion. We’re going to make it a priority to have every dot release out on the One within 90 days.”

As for Motorola, the Google-owned company unsurprisingly confirmed that the Moto X would be tasting the chocolate-themed version of Android, but failed to specify a timeline. Also in line to receive Android 4.4 are the DROID Mini, Ultra, and Maxx – that’s four devices Motorola will be updating, and it shouldn’t be a tough job considering the DROID Ultra, Mini, and Maxx only differ in screen sizes.

Manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, and LG haven’t made official statements yet, but I’m sure that will change in the coming days. Android 4.4 is quite a major and important update, aimed at making Android faster, lighter, and overall more cohesive, so let’s hope manufacturers manage to push it out to as many devices as possible.

Via: Engadget, Android Police

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Mikoto Misaka wins the 'A Certain Summer' popularity poll

After months of voting, the results for “A Certain Summer” popularity poll are finally in and the winner is quite a shocker… literally!

The original Mikoto Misaka wins Dengeki Bunko’s ‘A Certain Summer’ popularity poll *as she beats out the surprisingly popular serial killer Jinsaku Hino for the top spot. Meanwhile, one of Mikoto’s clones, #10,032 takes the third seed while the Roman Catholic Pope, Mattahi Reese takes the fourth spot. Here are the complete results:

1. Misaka Mikoto

2. Hino Jinsaku

3. Misaka 10032

4. Pope (Matthai Reese)

5. Baba Yoshio

6. Laura Stuart (Archbishop)

7. Kihara Gensei

8. Saronia A. Irivika

9. Shokuhou Misaki

10. Mjölnir

11. Agnese Sanctis

12. Last Order

13. Accelerator

14. Eiker Lugoni

15. Hitotsui Hajime

16. Harzak Lolas

17. Kamijou Touma

18. Index

19. Kinuhata Saiai

20. The person who gives Group missions

21. Saten Ruiko

22. Leivinia Birdway (Birdway)

23. Frenda Seivelun

24. Meigo Arisa

25. Gekota

26. Musujime Awaki

27. Kakine Teitoku

28. Matthai Reese (Pope)

29. Itsuwa

30. Magical Powered Kanamin

31. Shirai Kuroko

32. Orsola Aquinas

33. Kuroyoru Umidori

34. Kiyama Harumi

35. Nunotaba Shinobu

36. Uiharu Kazari

37. Kanzaki Kaori

38. Lessar

39. White Beetle

40. Tsuchimikado Motoharu

41. Mugino Shizuri

42. Wannai Kinuho

43. Thor

44. Lancis

45. Hamazura Shiage

46. Sogiita Gunha

47. Aogami Pierce

48. Kongou Mitsuko

49. Othinus

50. Himegami AisaMikoto who won the poll*will be featured in a message card illustrated by series illustrator Kiyotaka Haimura along with a special message*from series author Kazuma Kamachi himself. She already has her own spin-off series, A Certain Scientific Railgun which has proven to be extremely popular. Perhaps the recently concluded A Certain Scientific Railgun S has contributed to her win.Hino Jinsaku on the other hand is a very surprising entrant and he has taken over the #2 spot. He first appeared on the Angel’s Fall arc in the light novels but was not featured in the anime. This may be the reason why fans of “A Certain” series voted for him.A Certain Scientific Railgun S may have also attributed to #10,032 taking the #3 spot. Her crucial role in the anime made her even more endearing to the fans.Another big surprise is that popular characters like Accelerator, Touma, Kuroko and Index did not even make it to the top 10. Perhaps fans are still fuming on Accelerator killing all those Misaka clones. But as this poll shows, one thing is for sure, “A Certain” series is still going strong.

Read more on your favorite*anime*and*mangas*here on SGCafe!

Also join in on the community’s discussions at*http://forums.sgcafe.com

Via Dengeki Bunko

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Keep track of the days with Madoka Magica planner

Fans may be facing a life without another Madoka Magica movie to look forward to, but they can at least keep track of their days with this handy themed planner.

Just in time for the release of the latest Madoka movie comes a bundle that fans can use to help keep track of how many days it’s been since Urobuchi broke their hearts last. The bundle features a planner, high-grade pen, some stickers and even a pen case to hold all your writing needs in.

The planner will span from October 2013 all the way to January 2015, giving you a chance to finish up 2013 in style and an extra month in 2014 to find a new one. The interior will feature a new original illustration for each month, with all of the magical girls present to greet you everyday. It also has a section to help you remember just why the girls decided to become magical girls.

A set of stickers featuring close-ups of Madoka, Homura, Mami, Syaka, Kyouko and Kyubey’s faces are also included should you need them on your notebooks or to seal a letter.

Ultimate Madoka has made her way into the set, where she adorns the high quality ball point pen.

If you’re afraid she might get hurt or lost in the line of duty, a pen case featuring several Kyubey and grief seeds is also bundled with the set.

The entire package retails for 1,950 yen, which is quite a bargain as a schedule book alone can sometimes go for 1,200 yen.

Keep up with all your anime news here on SGCafe!

Feel free to join in the community discussions going on in the forums.

Source: AnimeAnime

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Motorola Moto G gets leaked, is a more affordable variant of the Moto X

Moto G has similar internal hardware as the Moto X, but will allegedly be offered for free on contract.

@evleaks mentioned in a tweet that the Moto G, Motorola’s next smartphone, will be available for free on contract. He also mentioned a few hardware details in the tweet, which include a 4.7-inch HD screen, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro clocked at 1.5 GHz, 8MP camera at the back, internal memory variations of 8/16 GB along with a 1,950 mAh battery. There is no mention of how much RAM will be included in the device, but considering the other hardware, we should be looking at 1 GB. The device is allegedly manufactured by LG.

From the image, it looks like the device will feature Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Although Motorola is now owned by Google, it does not look like the manufacturer is getting preferential treatment as the Moto X similarly did not come with the latest version of Android when it launched. However, Android 4.4 KitKat does work well with devices with less RAM, so if the Moto G were in fact to have 1 GB RAM, we might also see Android 4.4 KitKat.

Motorola had a link for the Moto G live on their site for a few minutes earlier this week, so it is likely that the device will be announced in the near future. From the image in the tweet, it looks like the device will feature a chrome finish around the front. The Moto G might in fact be the low-cost Motorola DVX device that Motorola is said to be working on. @evleaks does mention in the tweet that this information is via a*tip, so final details of the device might differ.

Source: Twitter

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Here are the key changes in Android 4.4 KitKat

Google unveiled the Nexus 5 along with Android 4.4 KitKat today, and the latest version of Android comes with a host of new features.

One of the key changes that have been included in Android 4.4 KitKat is a new immersive mode which lets you focus on the task at hand while hiding all background elements, like the status bar and navigation buttons. There is also a new screen recording utility that allows you to record your screen, and saves the resulting video in a MP4 file format.

Another key feature is voice recognition. In Android 4.4 KitKat, users can just say” OK Google” and launch the voice search feature. This works when a user is in the home screen or in Google Now. Essentially, it includes functionality that is first seen in the Moto X, but at a software level.

Google Now will also see contextual cards, which will be added in the coming weeks.*Memory optimization is also better on Android 4.4 KitKat, with Google mentioning that it has reduced memory consumption and the way background services run. What this means is that Android 4.4 KitKat will work smoothly on devices that have 512 MB of RAM, which is what a majority of affordable Android devices in emerging countries like China and India come with. It is clear that Google wants to tackle the issue of fragmentation, and by including these changes in the latest version of Android, is ensuring that low-end devices do not get left out.

A new document framework means that you can access files from your cloud storage accounts faster on your device. You can access your Quickoffice files and us the same UI to save the file onto Google Drive, for instance.

When you’re listening to music, you will now be able to see full-screen album-art, and dedicated controls on the lockscreen give you the ability to play, pause, or seek from the lockscreen. The same functionality is also added to movies that you stream to Chromecast. You will also be able to listen to audio longer, thanks to the low-power audio playback feature that tunnels audio digital signal processor instead of using the system processor.

Hangouts now collates all your SMS and MMS in a single interface, and includes threaded conversation views so that it is easier for you to track your conversations.*Furthermore, Android now supports Bluetooth Message Access Profile, which means that devices on Android 4.4 KitKat will be able to communicate with more in-car entertainment systems. Bluetooth HID over GATT allows you to connect your Android device to mice, joysticks, and keyboards.

In the camera segment, a new feature called HDR+ is introduced, which allows you to take a lot of images in a burst mode setting. Android also has a unified standard for dealing with IR blasters so that you can use your Android device as a remote for your TV. Earlier, manufacturers had to resort to eternal solutions to enable this feature in devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One.

Android also includes functionality for sensors like step counters, which means that it can interface with wearable devices better. Google Wallet has also been retooled, and there is a new architecture that deals with how NFC transactions are conducted. Google Wallet will now come with an Instant Buy feature that allows you to buy content more easily.

Google has mentioned that devices like the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will be able to make the switch to Android 4.4 KitKat in the coming weeks. A device that has been noticeably left out is the Galaxy Nexus, with Google mentioning that the device will not receive the latest version of Android.

Source: Android

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Google officially announces the Nexus 5, available today starting $349

After months of leaks and rumors, the Nexus 5 is finally official. The device will be available starting today, and costs $349 for the 16 GB version.

Google’s latest Nexus offering, the Nexus 5, is also manufactured by LG, and like the Nexus 4 last year, shares a lot of design elements with one of LG’s flagship, the LG G2. It however does not have any irregular button placement, and the volume and power buttons are located where you would usually look for.

The Nexus 5 includes a lot of firsts. It is the first full-HD Nexus mobile device, and is the first one to include LTE connectivity off the bat. The mobile comes with a 4.95-inch full-HD screen that packs in a pixel density of 445 ppi. The screen is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3. The Nexus 5 weighs 130 gms, and although the device has a 4.95-inch screen, it does not look gargantuan thanks to extremely thin bezel size. The device has ceramic power and volume buttons.

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Under the hood, the Nexus 5 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 mobile SoC. And this version of the Snapdragon 800 includes the higher-binned 2.3 GHz quad-core Krait 400 CPU, along with a 450 MHz Adreno 330 GPU. Also included is 2 GB RAM, an 8MP camera with Optical Image Stabilization along with a 1.3MP front shooter, LTE connectivity (Bands: 1/3/5/7/8/20), Wi-Fi ac, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, 2,300 mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat. A new feature that is being touted by Google is the HDR+ mode, which is essentially a burst mode that allows you to take a lot of images in one go.

Google announced that the Nexus 5 will be available in two storage variations, with the 16 GB model costing $349, while the 32 GB variant will set users back $399. The Nexus 5 is available to order from the Play Store today in countries like the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Korea and Japan, and will be available in India soon. Google also announced accessories for the device, which includes the likes of LG smart covers and*wireless charging pads.

Retailers like Sprint, T-Mobile, Amazon, Best Buy and RadioShack will be stocking the Nexus 5 in shelves in the coming weeks.

Source: Google

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How Apple is likely to replace those iPhone 5s units that have manufacturing defect

It was reported recently that a number of iPhone 5s units suffer from a manufacturing defect. Apple is going to replace those units, and the procedure it is likely to follow has been explained in a new report.

Apple has already confirmed that there are iPhone 5s units out there, albeit in very limited numbers, which suffer from a manufacturing defect. This defect causes issues with the battery, which might not charge at all, might take longer to charge or might result in very low battery life. The company has already said that it is going to replace such units, a new report explains the procedure Apple is expected to follow in order to replace the defected units.

It is claimed that Apple will call customers who have these defected units. The company will know who to call because it has a list of serial numbers of the defective units. If someone who believes that they have such a unit, but don’t receive a call from Apple, can call AppleCare who will try to find if that unit’s serial number is included in the company’s list. If not, then AppleCare will troubleshoot the unit like it normally would.*Customers with units that are to be replaced will receive a Genius Bar appointment, or their AppleCare advisor will set up a replacement at a local reseller. Affected customers will also have the option to get replacement units shipped to them.*In such a case, Apple will also send along material for return shipping of the defective unit.

Apple hasn’t said exactly how many iPhone 5s units have this manufacturing defect, but rumor has it that the number is in the low-thousands range.

Source: 9to5Mac

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iPad Air stock begins arriving at Apple Retail Stores and resellers

Ahead of the launch on Friday, November 1, iPad Air stock has now started arriving at Apple Retail Stores as well as at third party retailers and resellers.

As per reports, the company doesn’t expect any stock shortages on launch day. So far it has been widely believed that iPad Air supply will be able to meet with launch demand, despite the fact that iPads are popular products which usually see people lining up outside stores to get one, or two. The iPad Air might particularly be in high demand, seeing as how its the first iPad to come with substantial design changes since the iPad 2 was released back in 2011.

It is said that larger Apple Retail Stores have received as many as 500-1,000 units of the iPad Air, multiple storage options, ahead of the launch. If these numbers hold up, then there should be plenty of stock as far as launch day purchases are concerned. Apple is also expected to offer in-store personal pickup service on launch day, which would reiterate its belief that supply is going to be able to meet added demand on launch day, though this has not been confirmed as yet.

The iPad Air goes on sale on November 1, the 16GB Wi-Fi base model costs $499. Apple will start taking orders for home delivery at 12:01 AM Pacific, on the very same day. Pre-orders have not been taken for the new tablet.

Source: Macrumors

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