HTC EVO 4G LTE set to receive Android 4.3 and Sense 5 by end of year

Announcement continues transparency on update schedules from the manufacturer

President of HTC America Jason Mackenzie has just announced on Twitter at the EVO 4G LTE on Sprint will receive Android 4.3 and Sense 5 by the end of 2013. Following hot on the heels of news that the HTC One on AT&T would join the Android 4.3 upgrade party next week, this is great news for those who have this slightly older handset.

A few users may have been a little disappointed to see an update hit their EVO LTE a couple of days agowhen it wasn't the big jump to Android 4.3, but it's great to know that the update is actively being worked on. We don't have a better time frame than the "end of the year," but we're not going to look this gift horse in the mouth.

Archos launches new 'Platinum' Android tablets

Archos 97b Platinum HD, 101 Platinum and 80b Platinum announced

French manufacturer Archos has today announced the launch of three new Android tablets at varying sizes and spec points. First up, the Archos 80b Platinum packs an 8-inch, 1024x768-resolution IPS screen and 1GB of RAM. The more premium-focused Archos 97b Platinum HD doubles the resolution to 2048x1536 on a 9.7-inch panel, while the Archos 101 Platinum includes a 10.1-inch 1280x800 display. The 9.7 and 10.1-inchers both include 2GB of RAM.

All three tablets are powered by an unnamed quad-core Cortex A9 CPU at 1.6GHz. They're running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, including the Google Play Store, and include 8GB of internal storage, expandable through a microSD card. Archos declined to include any pricing information in today's press release, but claims its tablets will arrive at a "better" price than rivals from Apple and Samsung.

ZTE to bring Grand S and Nubia 5 to the US market Oct. 5

Two competitively-priced unlocked handsets coming to the US

A full 10 months after it was announced, ZTE is finally ready to bring the Grand S, and another device the Nubia 5, to the US market. Following launches around the world — and even on Sprint in the US under a different name — this is the same Grand S we've seen before. We're looking at a 5-inch 1080p display in an extremely thin chassis, powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, 1780mAh battery and with a 13MP camera.

The Nubia 5 is a new device, and shares the same 5-inch 1080p screen, Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and camera with the Grand S — but has a larger 2300mAh battery, 2GB of RAM and a new design. Both devices run Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with a few of ZTE's own tweaks as well.

ZTE says that both devices will go up for "preorder" starting on October 5th from "Amazon and other channels," with pricing of $399 and $449, respectively, for the unlocked HSPA+ (sorry, no LTE) handsets. Hit the break for a few press images and full specs on these two phones.

ZTE’s Grand S™ Makes a Grand Entrance in the U.S.

Available for Preorder Oct 5, ZTE’s Slimmest Smartphone is Elegant, Stylish and Open

RICHARDSON, Texas, October 3, 2013 – ZTE USA, the fastest-growing smartphone provider in the United States, today announced the U.S. pricing and availability of the award-winning Grand S, a beautifully-crafted smartphone decorated with the 2013 iF International Design Award.

First introduced globally at CES 2013, the 0.27-inch Grand S is ZTE’s slimmest smartphone available in the United States, and is compatible for use with GSM/UMTS carriers. The phone is available for preorder on Saturday, October 5 with an MSRP of $399.99, through Amazon and other channels.

With a large, eye-catching five-inch display and 13 megapixel camera, the Grand S caters to today’s design-conscious consumer by providing the perfect combination of aesthetics and technology. Its quad-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and use of several MiFavor applications designed by ZTE provide the brains behind the elegant uni-body design, capturing true user demands.
“For many consumers, technology and design are inseparable. Today’s higher-end smartphones must be both physically and emotionally compelling, and the Grand S offers this winning combination of form and function,” said Lixin Cheng, Chairman and CEO of ZTE USA. “We’ve been looking forward to bringing the Grand S to the U.S. since we announced the device at CES. Our goal is to launch more products like this in the future.”

ZTE Grand S technical specifications include:
•             OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
•             Display: 5” FHD (1920 x 1080), 440 ppi with scratch-resistant glass
•             Processor: Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM S4 Pro processor with 1.5 GHz quad-core CPUs
•             Cameras: 13 megapixels Auto Focus with Flash, and 2 megapixels Front Facing camera
•             Battery: 1780 mAH
•             Dimensions: 5.59” x 2.72” x 0.27”
•             Memory: 16GB in ROM, 2 GB in RAM

For additional information on the ZTE Grand S features, please visit www.zteusa.com/grands.html.

The ZTE nubia 5™ Packs Advanced Photography and Entertainment Into the Palm of Your Hand

Available for Preorder Oct 5, ZTE’s nubia 5  Features Full HD Display, Dolby Digital Plus, and a 13MP Camera

RICHARDSON, Texas, October 3, 2013 – ZTE USA, the fastest-growing smartphone provider in the United States, today announces the U.S. pricing and availability of ZTE nubia 5™, a high-end smartphone packing entertainment and performance into an approachable industrial profile. The ZTE nubia 5 is compatible with GSM/UMTS carriers, and is available for preorder on Saturday, October 5 with an MSRP of $449.99, through Amazon and other channels.

Whether you’re a photo enthusiast looking to capture and edit amazing pictures using a 13 megapixel camera with a Konica-Minolta lens and intelligent stabilization, an always-on road warrior looking to stay connected via countless apps, or an audiophile looking to plug into Digital Dolby Plus audio with specially-designed earbuds, the ZTE nubia 5 packs a punch.  With a low-profile bezel, matte finish and glowing red custom fixed buttons complementing the industrial design, the ZTE nubia 5 creates a mobile experience unlike any other Android smartphone.

“As the software and apps available on today’s smartphones replace more and more of the other devices we use on a daily basis, the specifications for features like cameras, displays and speakers are becoming increasingly sophisticated.  The nubia 5 really pushes that trend further,” said Lixin Cheng, Chairman and CEO of ZTE USA.  “Moreover, the launch of the ZTE nubia 5 builds on our ongoing commitment to the U.S.  ZTE will be working closely with our customers to make devices like this available in the U.S.”

The nubia 5 offers one of the most versatile smartphone photography experiences available through three photography modes – Fun Mode, Auto Mode and Pro Mode.  Fun Mode is for taking quick snapshots and applying filters, while Auto Mode provides a step up in features, like smile recognition and HDR.  Lastly, Pro Mode brings the core functions of a professional SLR into the phone through features like 4-direction panoramic shooting, burst mode continuous shooting, and putting control of light, focus, and gradient into the user’s hands.

ZTE nubia 5 technical specifications include:
•             OS: Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
•             Display: 5” FHD 16.7M Color 1920 x 1080, 443PPi
•             Processor: Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM S4 Pro processor with 1.5 GHz quad-core CPUs
•             Cameras: Konica-Minolta 13 MP Auto Focus with LED Flash and Sapphire Lens, and 2 MP Front Facing camera
•             Battery: 2300 mAH
•             Dimensions: 5.43” x 2.71” x 0.30”
•             Memory: 16GB in ROM, 2 GB in RAM

For additional information on the ZTE nubia 5, please visit www.zteusa.com/nubia5.html.

About ZTE USA
ZTE USA (http://www.zteusa.com/), a subsidiary of ZTE Corporation, is a leading global provider of mobile handsets, telecommunications equipment and network solutions. Operating since 1998, ZTE USA is dedicated to making cost-efficient, quality communications technology accessible to all. The company provides a magnitude of devices to every major US-based carrier generating over $16 billion dollars’ worth of business for U.S.-based companies and devotes more than 10 percent of its revenue to R&D.  ZTE USA is headquartered in Richardson, TX and operates 11 Sales Offices, 5 R&D centers and 1 Distribution Center  ZTE is ranked as the country’s fourth-largest supplier of mobile devices overall, and third-largest supplier of prepaid devices, by independent analysts.
For more information, please connect with us on our social networks – http://www.twitter.com/ZTE_USA and http://www.facebook.com/ZTEUSA.

O2 UK customers experiencing network outage

Third widespread outage in 18 months for the UK carrier

British mobile network O2 is experiencing a major service disruption this evening, with users on Twitter reporting trouble using the operator's voice and data network.

We've confirmed that O2 seems to be experiencing issues using a SIM of our own — for us, the data network was dead, while texts and calls were working. Other O2 subscribers are tweeting about more widespread problems, however. The network's official Twitter account is offering its apologies to affected customers, and the O2 service status page confirms an "intermittent issue," which it says its engineers are monitoring.

It's the third high-profile network disruption for O2 in the past 18 months. In July 2012 users experienced up to 24 hours of downtime due to a software error, which resulted in compensation being offered to customers. A similar issue emerged last October, affecting some 10 percent of subscribers.

If you're on O2 in the UK and have been affected by the outage, shout out in the comments. 

HTC announces $101 million operating loss for Q3 2013

First operating lo​ss in company history despite strong sales of HTC One

HTC has just released its preliminary unaudited financial results for the third quarter of 2013, and the company has posted an operating loss of over $101 million (NT$2.97 billion). Just as it warned back in July, this is HTC's first operating loss in company history and it wasn't even close to breaking even. Here's how the quarter's financials break down:

• Total revenues of $1.6 billion (NT$47.05 billion)
• Operating loss before tax of $119.4 million  (NT$3.50 billion)
• Operating loss after tax of $101.3 million (NT$2.97 billion)
• Earnings per share after tax of -$0.12 (-NT$3.58)

Compare that to earnings in Q2 2013 that hit its own estimates with $2.35 billion (NT$70.7 billion) in revenues, $42 million (NT$1.25 billion) in operating income and earnings per share of $0.05 (NT$1.50). That's quite the downturn, and even though the company predicted it, it still hurts when the numbers finally come through.

Sprint HTC One getting Android 4.3 update

First U.S. carrier-branded HTC One to get the OTA

Following rollouts for the U.S. developer edition and Canadian HTC Ones, the Sprint device has become the first U.S. carrier-branded version to get its Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update. HTC America president Jason Mackenzie took to Twitter to confirm that the update is now pushing out, and AC reader Tony tells us he's already got it on his Sprint-branded device in New Orleans.

In addition to the latest version of Android, the update brings new Sense features including Instagram support in BlinkFeed and new video highlight templates. If you're rocking an HTC One on Sprint, jump in the comments and let us know if you've gotten the update.

Getting bad battery life from 4.2.2 on your Verizon Nexus? Try a factory reset

Did the 4.2.2 update for your Verizon Galaxy Nexus cause horrible battery life? You're not alone, and a reset may just fix you up.

Now that the Verizon version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus finally got the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Beanupdate, there's a number of folks out there with some serious complaints about battery life. If you're one of the unlucky folks affected, you know exactly what I mean. If not, a quick look across the Internet will get you up to speed about the troubles these folks are having. Make no mistake, it's a real issue.

Now you'll need to keep in mind that the Verizon Nexus is one of those early LTE devices that will never have stellar battery life, but plenty of folks have found a way to get back to where they were before the OTA (in regards to battery life). Their secret? A factory reset. It's something that nobody ever likes doing, but sometimes you have to bite the bullet and just do it. We'll discuss why, and talk about how it's done after the break.

Why do I need to factory reset?

Let's pretend that your phone has Android version 1 running on it. This is a hypothetical number, and has nothing to do with any real version, but we're going to use it because it's a simple, easy to read numbering system. You're happily rolling along, running version 1, and your phone is creating data. This data gets saved -- sometimes forever, sometimes it's just cached. The important thing to remember is that you have a bunch of data that Android version 1 uses to operate. 

Monday, you got a notice to update to Android version 2. It's all new and exciting, and you've been waiting for it for a while. So you do it. What you're downloading will overwrite all your system files and Google applications with version 2, but it won't touch the data version 1 created.

When it restarts, you have a brand new system using version 2, using data created by version 1. Most times, this is fine. Other times, it causes issues. This depends on the data itself, what it is doing, and how much the structure has changed from version 1 to version 2. It's not bad coding, or bad apps, though sometimes those happen, too. It's the way things may have been moved in database tables, or new entries that get created incorrectly, or old data that gets moved to the wrong place. It happens.

If you do the whole custom ROM thing, you know about wiping between flashes. If you don't, just know that the more things change in the system files, the higher the chance that your phone is going to act a little wonky using that old data. One of the things usually affected is battery life. As a general rule, the bigger the changes to the OS, the higher the likelihood that things can go wonky.  In this case we're talking Android, but you'll find the same issues on iOS, Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and any other advanced operating system. And the bump to 4.2.2 was a pretty big change.

Protip: If you're an advanced user, you can possibly get away with seeing just what is killing your battery and manually clearing that data and cached data. This is hit or miss, but the option is there. 

How to factory reset?

It's pretty straightforward. The first thing you'll want to do is back up anything you want to keep from your internal storage. This includes pictures, movies, music, and any personal documents. Just plug your phone into a computer (or use a wireless transfer application, like Airdroid or Wifi File Transfer) and copy the files you want to keep to a folder on your desktop. Once you're sure you have everything backed up, delete everything else. You don't want any errant data left on the internal storage to influence your newly wiped system when you reboot. Don't worry about the folders, Android will recreate what it needs.

If you have a custom recovery, boot into it and choose the factory reset option. You've likely done this before.

If you phone is stock, go into Settings > Backup & reset. You'll see a menu item that says "Factory data reset; Erase all data on phone". Tap it. That takes you to a warning screen reminding you that you'll lose everything, including all the data you've accumulated for accounts you're logged into. That's exactly what we want to happen. Tap the Reset phone button at the bottom, and wait.

When your phone reboots, go through the sign in process again. Apps may or may not begin to download, depending on your backup and restore settings. That's OK, let them install and let things settle down and get synced. Then copy the files you backed up back to the phone. 

Hopefully, this will fix the battery life issues you've been seeing