Android Atlas Weekly (MP3)

Android tablets under $300

podcast@cnet.com (CNETTV.com) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 12:13:37 PDT

Best budget 7" Android Tablets

No matter how small or how affordable Apple can make the iPad, nothing can change the fact that it's a newcomer to the market of mini tablets.

Small, inexpensive Android tablets have been around for years and are finally hitting their stride. Through trial and error, manufacturers have figured out the sweet spot of features, design, and performance that seems to be resonating with customers.

What's more surprising is that the players in this space aren't the typical cast of characters that Apple is used to fighting. Sure, Samsung makes an appearance, but so does Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Personally, I think this is the most interesting battlefronts in tech right now. The profit margins are razor sharp. Every component and every design decision counts. And in the end, the battle is as much about content and ecosystem as it is about hardware and price.

And so, I present to you the top 7-inch Android tablets under $300, most of which are right around $200. This Top 5 video is pulled from Eric Franklin's roundup of iPad Mini competitors over on iPad Atlas.

Subscribe:

iTunes (HD) | iTunes (SD) | iTunes (HQ)

RSS (HD) | RSS (SD) | RSS (HQ)

Originally posted at Top 5

Reasons not to buy a Nexus 7

podcast@cnet.com (CNETTV.com) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:33:51 PDT

Reasons not to buy a Nexus 7

Subscribe:
RSS (SD) RSS (HD) iTunes (SD) iTunes (HD)

The Nexus 7 is my favorite tablet right now. Google nailed the price, the interface, and the features, and avoided the mistake of selling it exclusively through a mobile carrier. It's enough to make the Motorola Xoom feel like a distant memory.

But no gadget is perfect, and the Nexus 7 is no exception. If you honestly think a $200 tablet can be made without cutting any corners, let me know. I have a bridge I'd like to sell you.

Android fans, I recommend following this one up with the Top 5 reasons not to buy an iPad.

Have a complaint about the Nexus 7 that didn't make the list? Let's hear it. Leave a comment.

Originally posted at Top 5

Zillow launches Android app for rentals (podcast)

podcast@cnet.com (CNETTV.com) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:24:10 PDT

If you've ever been curious about the price of a particular house in America, chances are you've been to Zillow.com. That's the site that lets you type in an address to find out its estimated sale price (called a "Zestimate") along with details about the house and, in most cases, the exact date and price it last sold for as well as information about property taxes, nearby schools, and neighboring homes.

In addition to sale prices, the company also estimates rental prices and displays rentals in your area.

Zillow Rentals Android App displays listings of nearby rental units

(Credit: Screen shot by Larry Magid)

Having all this on the Web is great, but if you're looking for housing -- whether to buy or rent -- at some point you have to go out and look at properties, which is when mobile apps are key. The company had earlier released listing apps for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, iPad and even the Kindle Fire. But now it's offereing a rental app for Android, designed to help people who are looking to rent houses, apartments, condos, or townhouses.

The new app allows users to enter their location or draw on a map to select the area they're searching in. They can specify the type of housing they're looking for and get notifications when new rental homes that meet their criteria come on the market. They can also compare homes to side by side.

In an interview (scroll down to listen to podcast), Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff said the new app has "hundeds of thousands" listings, rent Zestimates, and other data on rental properties." There is currently no dedicated iPhone rental app, but the general iPhone real estate app does have rental estimates. He said that rent estimates typically come in within 7 percent of actual rental prices.

Audio interview with Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff

Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff

(Credit: Zillow.com)

Listen Now: Download Today's Podcast
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | RSS (audio)

Originally posted at For the Record Podcast

Android Atlas Weekly 92: Farewell, until 2020 (Podcast)

podcast@cnet.com (CNETTV.com) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:00:00 PDT

This marks the end of the Android Atlas Podcast

Justin, Jaymar, Antuan & Stephen predict the future of the Android Operating System all the way in the year 2020. All that and more on this week's edition of Android Atlas Weekly

Android Atlas Ep. 92: Farewell, until 2020

Listen Now: Download Today's Podcast

Jaymar’s Predictions for 2020

Google Play Movies will be re-rebranded as YouTube
Android will be available as a standalone desktop OS, and it will come loaded with Chrome Browser (a la Windows & IE). (This, of course, means that Chrome OS is dead)
Android@Home initiative will be in full swing: lights, appliances, security systems, etc. will be powered by Android
Android will become self-aware, at which point it will send an Austrian bodybuilder back in time to pre-emptively end any hope for a human rebellion. This bodybuilder will, of course, be wearing Android-powered sunglasses
Instagram will announce that it is coming to Android “very, very soon”

In the year 2020: by Justin

Motorola will cease to exist as a separate entity
iOS will just be a skin on top of Android
Zucchini Bread will be released for the Sonysung Nexus Quasar
GoogleTV will be 20x better than today, and still no one will be using it
Most Android phones will have Lytro cameras built in

Antuan Goodwin 2020

Singularity happens and we will be powered by Android… or civilization ends on Black Friday 2012 and we don’t have to worry about it.
Android custom skins (Sense UI, TouchWiz) grow out of control, morphing into offshoot branch OSes of themselves. OEMs build their own app stores and music markets to get around Google’s rules
Google attemps to tighten control over the look and feel of AOSP, there will some headbutting between OEMs and Google and the search giant will need to decide how “evil” it will be.
Google self driving cars will evolve into an ad-supported Google Cab service. You’ll be able to call a robo cab with your Android phone and have it automatically come pick you up and take you to a location.
Someone finally builds an Android powered iPhone killer… faced with defeat, Apple reverts to full time patent trolling.

—————

END OF SHOW DETAILS:

BLOG cnet.com/android-atlas
TWITTER @androidatlas
JAYMAR @jaymarcabebe
JUSTIN @notmyrealname
ANTUAN @antgoo
STEPHEN @stephenbeacham

Android Atlas Weekly 91: Segues? We don't need no stinkin' segues! (Podcast)

podcast@cnet.com (CNETTV.com) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:10:09 PDT

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

CNET editors Lynn La and Eric Franklin join us to dish on tablets, ICS updates, and apps on one of our roughest shows to date!

Android Atlas Ep. 91: Segues? We don't need no stinkin' segues!

Listen Now: Download Today's Podcast

NEWS:

-Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 review

-Possible Nexus Tablet giveaway at Google IO?

-Rumor: Jelly Bean coming in Q3?

-AT&T announces slew of other devices getting ICS update

-Samsung, LG not done with 3D yet

-BlueStacks beta is out, and it puts Android apps on your Windows computer

-Bluestacks-app-player-beta-goes-live

-Instagram for Android imminent

-Angry Birds Space

APP of the WEEK:

-Temple Run

EMAIL:

Hi Team,

I have finally taken the plunge and switched from
my ageing iPhone 3G to a new Samsung Galaxy Note. The Note is
very impressive.

My question pertains to location services and privacy settings.

With my iPhone, I can customise which applications can have access to my
GPS location. I cannot find this option with my Android 2.3
Gingerbread OS. Is this option available? Upon downloading
applications in the Play Shop, the app will tell me it wants to monitor my location;
however, I see nowhere post download that I can deactivate this without
deleting the app.

Please help?

From Kevin, Melbourne, Australia.

———————

Not without first rooting the phone, no. There are apps that you can use
to deny certain apps access to GPS location (Permissions Denied http://bit.ly/GWnKz5 springs to mind), but these apps usually require root access since you’re messing with locked permissions.

His non-rooted options are
a) turn off GPS access on a global level via the “Location & security” menu in the Settings or
b) pay attention to the permissions asked for by the apps before installation and simply not install apps that he doesn’t want to know where he is.

END OF SHOW DETAILS:

BLOG cnet.com/android-atlas
STREAM cnet.com/live/
TIME Wednesdays @ 10am PT
EMAIL androidatlas@cnet.com
TWITTER @androidatlas
JAYMAR @jaymarcabebe
JUSTIN @notmyrealname
ERIC FRANKLIN @nidopal
LYNN LA @lynnlaaa
STEPHEN @stephenbeacham
PHONE 866-344-CNET (2638)

8 tips for ditching your cell phone contract early

podcast@cnet.com (CNETTV.com) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:26:39 PDT

Ditch your cell phone contract

We talk a lot about early-termination fees, or ETFs, here at CNET because we have a love/hate relationship with signing a two-year service agreement (or three years if you're in countries like Canada). On the one hand, who doesn't love being able to own a $500 or $600 smartphone for $200, $50, or even a penny? You just can't swing that in the unlocked phone market.

On the other hand, few people enjoy being tied to a carrier, and to their carrier's phone selection, over the course of two years or longer. What if you change your mind about the service quality, what if your dream phone just came out on another carrier -- what if? Once you sign your name on the dotted line, there's little you can do to avoid an up-to-$350 fee to jump ship.

Carrier's insurance
ETFs may seem evil when you're trying to break free of a contract (remember, though, you signed it), but for carriers, they're a practical business measure for recouping costs. After all, carriers are the ones buying phones from Apple, Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and so on, which they then sell to you at cut rate along with your full-price service. Charging you an ETF helps recover carriers' upfront phone costs should you want or need to break the contract before your time is up.

With that in mind, here are some facts and tips you should tuck away for a rainy day.

(Credit: CNET)

0. ETFs deflate
Your ETF may cost somewhere near $350 when you just buy the phone, but carriers like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile will reduce your ETF a little each month, usually by $10 per billing cycle.

1. Keep an eye on that grace period
If you're new to a carrier and just bought a new phone you're unsure of, you'll usually have at least 14 days (or up to a month) to return it without penalty. The same applies to purchases from big-box stores like Best Buy. So if you're having second thoughts about that phone; don't wait to act.

2. A silver bullet you don't want
There is one ironclad way to get out of a contract without paying for your ETF: expire. I really, really don't recommend it (or faking your own death).

3. Report it
Carriers clearly want to offer you a great network experience, so you'll stick with their service rather than bail. If your service degrades over the course of your contract (or "materially changes") then you might be eligible for recourse like a signal booster or bill credit, or in extreme situations, a pronounced service drop-off might warrant releasing you from your obligations.

This snippet from Verizon's contract pretty much sums it up for all the post-paid carriers:

If you're a Postpay customer and a change to your Plan or this agreement has a material adverse effect on you, you can cancel the line of Service that has been affected within 60 days of receiving the notice with no Early Termination Fee if we fail to negate the change after you notify us of your objection to it.

In some cases, you may need to reach out in writing.

4. Freeze it
If you're more concerned about pausing service rather than abandoning it, you can temporarily freeze your account. Each of the Big Four carriers participates in seasonal suspension, usually without billing (your ETF won't budge) or with billing (you'll pay every month not to use your phone, but you'll work off your ETF cap). It's more ideal for long vacations (Verizon's offer tops out at 180 days), and it usually extends to people who have paid their bills in full.

For instance, Sprint charges $8.99 per month for up to six consecutive months, and AT&T charges $10 per month to suspend the account, and T-Mobile will hold your phone number and rate plan for six months without penalty.

5. Swap your service
One of the theoretically simplest, cheapest, and most clever ways to avoid breaking your contract is to pass it off to somebody else. You'll have to go through some paperwork and phone calls with customer service, but if you can find someone to pay out your contract for you, you can avoid the fee and still be free.

Carriers won't charge you to swap the deed, called a transfer of responsibility, but finding a replacement can be tricky. There's always Craigslist or eBay, but a surer solution is to go through a service like CelltradeUSA. You can think of the Web site and others like it as a brokerage for buying up and selling contracts. The business will collect a $20 fee to move ahead with any swaps, but it will walk you through the legal steps. "Sellers" often offer the phone and accessories at cut rates, or as part of the deal.

Dialed In #216: All about ETFS (early termination fees)

I have not personally tried any services like CelltradeUSA or any others, but I did spend some time looking into the business a while ago, and found positive writeups. (Disclosure: The Celltrade service is powered by CNET cell phone reviews.)

6. When all else fails, escalate
I want to idle on hold for a customer service representative as much as the next person, but I'd rather invest a half hour of my day to settle an issue or clear up confusion than suffer in silence. In my experience, asking to speak to a supervisor can open new doors or supply critical additional information. Being a squeaky wheel--but a polite one--often pays off.

Carriers often respond speedily to Twitter complaints.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

7. Take it to Twitter
In addition, carriers have become extremely responsive to Twitter and Facebook queries, and often have a customer care account in addition to their regular online persona. For carriers, social media offers a chance to interact with -- and with luck, assuage -- disgruntled subscribers on a more personal level.

8. Arbitration, your last resort
Consulting a lawyer is another angle I wouldn't encourage outside of rare, extreme situations. About a year ago, the Supreme Court decided that carriers could shield themselves from class action suits (full PDF) by offering arbitration instead. When you sign a contract, you waive the right to levy a class action suit. Yet, if you do think that you're unlawfully being charged, you could approach a lawyer to sue in small claims on your own, or approach the carrier to arbitrate a case. The carrier generally shoulders arbitration costs.

Originally posted at Dialed In

Android Atlas Weekly Ep. 90: Awkward segues (Podcast)

podcast@cnet.com (CNETTV.com) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:47:15 PDT

Samsung Galaxy S III?

(Credit: Reddit)

Sprint and HTC are gearing up for a big announcement. Linux and Android's not-so-secret affair goes public, and the Galaxy S II plus one equals Galaxy S III. We will check out the latest rumors surrounding what could be the next big phone on this week's episode of Android Atlas Weekly.

Android Atlas Weekly 90: Awkward segues

Listen Now: Download Today's Podcast

NEWS:

-Samsung Galaxy S III image could be the real thing

-Samsung-Galaxy-SIII-to-allow-for-wireless-charging-up-to-2-meters-away/

-Sprint and HTC hosting big event April 4

-Linux and Android together at last

-Free Android apps waste 75 percent of power on ads, study says

-HTC and Beats Audio set to acquire music subscription service Mog?

-Reddit app banned from Play Store for being NSFW

-Get the ICS launcher on your Gingerbread device

-Find tablet-optimized apps with Tablified

VOICEMAIL:

Caller would like some advice on how to switch from the iPhone to Android

-How to switch from iPhone to Android

EMAIL:

If I get an android tablet, and I uninstall the apps from my DroidX, can I download the paid ones to my tablet for free? U guys do good work. ~Lee Dresser

SHOW DETAILS:

Android Atlas Weekly 89: YouTube vs Android: a war for content (Podcast)

podcast@cnet.com (CNETTV.com) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:44:04 PDT

Ice Cream Sandwich at Mobile World Congress

A nexus tablet, Instagram is here, but not really and google fails to entertain, all that and more on this week's episode of Android Atlas Weekly for March 14th, 2012.

Android Atlas Ep. 89: YouTube vs Android: a war for content

Listen Now: Download Today's Podcast

NEWS:

Jessica Dolcourt with the Samsung Galaxy S II on US Cellular
-Samsung Galazy S II

-Google Pin Frenzy

-Google’s entertainment strategy is in disarray

-Nokia Maps gives turn-by-turn walking navigation to all

-Hottest new apps out of SXSW 2012

-Instagram coming to Android ‘really soon’

-Android Tablets Will Overtake iPad by 2015, IDC Says

-Digitimes echos our "Nexus tablet" by ASUS rumor, could launch as early as May

-Tag Heuer launching eye-wateringly priced Android smartphone

VOICEMAIL:

Caller has a question about the Chrome browser.
-How-to-switch-from-iphone-to-android/

EMAIL:

Listening to the broadcast yesterday and by the way I like the little more involvement Stephen Beacham has been adding, he's funny and brings a lot to BOL would love to see you guys let him loose on Android Atlas as well. But that's a different topic.

In reference to the email about Android Tablet apps. It was situation you both are right and both are wrong. The emailer was right in the fact there are a lot more Tablet Optimized apps then what is either thought to be out there and is reported on. Justin was right in the fact that Google does a horrible job of centralizing them. I found this website which is also an Android app called Tablified Market HD. It's actually both a wonderful app and website that does a great job of finding Android Tablet optimized apps. You guys should check it out. There is both a free and a paid version. And maybe even consider it as an app of the week? I think it will be very helpful to Android users who have tablets .

Website:

http://www.tablified.com/

APP:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tablified.tablifiedmarket_pro&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS50YWJsaWZpZWQudGFibGlmaWVkbWFya2V0X3BybyJd

Thanks love the show and how Jaymar is coming into his own.

Willia

——

Hi,
This is the first time I am writing to you. I have been listening to your show for a couple of weeks now, I’ve really enjoyed it.
In the last show (Ep. 88) you mentioned several times, that you do not want to pay for the applications that you use on your phone. Come on, guys, do not bite the hand that feeds you. If you want to have a high quality software on your phone, you should sometimes support the effort of developers and pay for the application every now and then. You often review cool Android apps in your, show after all. Where do you think these apps come from ?
And boasting about blocking the internet access in order to prevent ads from displaying on your screens in your FREE apps… this is not what I would expect from the journalists that – among other things – write, speak and do shows about Android “”ecosystem”".

There are many decent applications that were not preinstalled on my phone or that are way better than stock counterparts.
- gReader Pro for RSS reading,
- Read It Later Pro for saving interesting URLs,
- Pocket Casts for podcast listening (I will not believe that any of you, guys, really like the Google Listen app),
- Winamp, for listening and synchronizing my mp3 music,
- Smart Keyboard Pro, great keyboard by the way,
- ezPDF reader, for reading PDFs, making notes in PDFs and much more,

to name only a few. Without these apps, my smartphone would not be “”smart”" at all.

In the last show, you asked “”Who buys the apps, anyway?”". Well, I do. If I like the application, I do not mind spending a couple of bucks on it.

Best regards,
Pawel

——

SHOW DETAILS:
BLOG cnet.com/android-atlas
STREAM cnet.com/live/
TIME Wednesdays @ 10am PT
EMAIL androidatlas@cnet.com
TWITTER @androidatlas
JAYMAR @jaymarcabebe
JUSTIN @notmyrealname
JESSICA @jdolcourt
PHONE 866-344-CNET (2638)

Android Atlas Weekly Ep. 88: Google plays, Apple pays, Android listens (Podcast)

podcast@cnet.com (CNETTV.com) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:45:10 PST

Android Jelly Bean OS

(Credit: Photo courtesy of iBN Live)

Google plays, Apple pays, and Android listens, all that and more on this week's episode of Android Atlas Weekly for March 8th, 2012.

Android Atlas Ep. 88: Google plays, Apple pays, Android listens

Listen Now: Download Today's Podcast

NEWS:

-Goodbye Android Market, hello Google Play

-Google Play offers apps, albums, more for a quarter

-Google planning Siri rival for later this year?

-New Android voice assistant, Robin, rides shotgun

-Key Lime Pie, after Jelly Bean?

-Sprint promises 10 Google Wallet devices this year

-More than just mobile payments. Quick mention

-Verizon officially dishing out ICS to more than 12 devices

-Apple offers Samsung and Motorola licensing deals of $5 to $15 per unit to settle litigation

APP OF THE WEEK:

-Draw Something is the new hotness

-Draw Something Video on CNET TV

EMAIL:

Hey Android Atlas I found your input engine you know in love from back in the day with your palmOS trios and what not…
There’s also a free version with ad support.

Check out “”Graffiti Pro for Android”"

-Graffiti Pro

—–

I’m sitting here playing the android game Burning Sands 3 on my ASUS Prime well watching your show, and find myself utterly puzzled with your statement that there are a lack of tablet apps for android tablets. ALL android apps work on tablets. There’s 300,000 tablet apps to choose from. Maybe you need to put down your beloved iPad and spend a little more time researching android. – Max

—–

Hi guys you said you thought there was a difference between tablet & phone graphics but that is not entirely true. When you make an Android app you create a high, a middle, and a low definition image. so a 10″” tablet will use the same image as a phone with a high res screen like the Galaxy Nexus. However in many cases you will want to make a separate UI for a tablet but this is still fairly easy in that UI is done by click & drag and XML.
Keep up the good work, love the show. – Dane

—–

I’m a fan of the google play branding, except for the market. I’m going to be calling it the market as long as I use android regardless, but that’s beside the point.

My question is “”why?”" I was reading an interview from cnet with Jamie Rosenberg where she said
“”Google Play will become a single experience for users. This creates a more powerful experience around Android and also increases opportunities for content partners to interact with more of Google’s offerings.

Did google change the privacy policy again, only this time slipping it in under a rebranding?

With the news for Assistant coming out now, google’s moves to change privacy to share content between more sources only makes sense in the effor to build something a step above siri.

Anyway, it makes sense to me, but I’m also the only place I’ve heard this from, so I wanted to hear your opinion.

Missed having a show this week, otherwise keep up the good work!
- Stephen Colbert

—–

SHOW DETAILS:

Android Atlas Weekly 87: Updates from Mobile World Congress (Podcast)

podcast@cnet.com (CNETTV.com) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:32:39 PST

Android Jelly Bean

(Credit: PC Magazine)

Andy Rubin dishes on Android tablets, we examine a bowl of jelly beans, and we discuss the exciting new devices coming out of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Android Atlas Ep. 87: Updates from Mobile World Congress

Listen Now: Download Today's Podcast

ANDROID NEWS:

-Android chief: We must ‘double down’ on tablets, win the market

-Google VP Dishes On Android Tablet and App Strategy

-Android crosses 850,000 activations per day with 450,000 apps in the store, Andy Rubin says

-Andy Rubin speaks out on Google, Motorola acquisition; wants nothing to do with Moto

-Google Hints at ‘Android Jelly Bean’

-Samsung announces Galaxy Note 10.1 at MWC

-Asus Padfone turns your phone into a tablet, notebook

-Pico Projector infused Samsung Galaxy Beam shines its light at Mobile World Congress

-Touchnote

EMAILS:

Hi,

You wondered if there was a cultural reason why Koreans would want a phone with a stylus.
Well one reason might be their alphabet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_language
It’s a lot easier to write with a pen, than with the round-about way it can be done with a qwerty-keyboard.

The same would be true for quite a few other Asian languages. –

Martin

—–

I just wanted to compliment Jaymar on how well he is doing now with his volume level! When I wrote the original email I had no idea how much of a “”thing”" this was going to turn into.

Go Jaymar!
- Marc

VOICEMAIL:

Chris wants to know when the Galaxy S II will be getting ICS

END OF SHOW STUFF:

BLOG cnet.com/android-atlas
STREAM cnet.com/live/
TIME Wednesdays @ 10am PT
EMAIL androidatlas@cnet.com
TWITTER @androidatlas
JAYMAR @jaymarcabebe
JUSTIN @notmyrealname
STEPHEN @stephenbeacham
PHONE 866-344-CNET (2638)

Android Atlas Weekly (MP3)

Android tablets under $300

Best budget 7" Android Tablets

Reasons not to buy a Nexus 7

Reasons not to buy a Nexus 7

Zillow launches Android app for rentals (podcast)

Android Atlas Weekly 92: Farewell, until 2020 (Podcast)

Android Atlas Ep. 92: Farewell, until 2020

EPISODE 92

Android Atlas Weekly 91: Segues? We don't need no stinkin' segues! (Podcast)

Android Atlas Ep. 91: Segues? We don't need no stinkin' segues!

EPISODE 91

8 tips for ditching your cell phone contract early

Ditch your cell phone contract

Dialed In #216: All about ETFS (early termination fees)

Android Atlas Weekly Ep. 90: Awkward segues (Podcast)

Android Atlas Weekly 90: Awkward segues

EPISODE 90

Android Atlas Weekly 89: YouTube vs Android: a war for content (Podcast)

Android Atlas Ep. 89: YouTube vs Android: a war for content

EPISODE 89

Android Atlas Weekly Ep. 88: Google plays, Apple pays, Android listens (Podcast)

Android Atlas Ep. 88: Google plays, Apple pays, Android listens

EPISODE 88

Android Atlas Weekly 87: Updates from Mobile World Congress (Podcast)

Android Atlas Ep. 87: Updates from Mobile World Congress

EPISODE 87