Eurovision Song Contest launches official Android app

The flared trousered bosses of Eurovision have finally managed to launch an official app to accompany this year’s block-voting musical event, with the Eurovision Song Contest Android app offering such amazing delights as live streaming lyrics for each song (!), background details for the artists as they appear and – YES! – live score updates come the end of the bizarre evening.

Sounds like it’s a stonking attempt at a “second screen” app by the Euro makers. Here’s what it looks like:

eurovision-2013-android-app-1 eurovision-2013-android-app-2

And it’s free. This year’s Eurovision final takes place on May 18th. Get the nibbles ready and begin the warming up process by listening to Gina G at least five times a day.

Link via the Guardian.

Samsung Galaxy Note Jelly Bean update now live for unlocked phones

Those who are in possession of an unlocked original GT-N7000 Samsung Galaxy Note are emailing us in MASS EXCITEMENT today, thanks to the UK arrival of the Jelly Bean update for Samsung’s first monster mobile. The software update, now live for those with unlocked phones bought outside of the mobile networks, takes the Galaxy Note up to version 4.1.2 of Google’s mobile OS, complete with plenty of new features from both Google and Samsung.

Here’s actual evidence:

galaxy-note-jelly-bean

Thanks to Ian, Tony for the pic and long-running occasional thing-contributing content workhorse Phorenzik for tipping us off.

Tesco Mobile launches account management UK Android app

The mobile arm of the massive supermarket chain has long been offering some great mobile deals, now it’s got an accompanying Android app to help users of the virtual network track their minutes, text messages and data consumption. The Tesco Mobile app lets monthly contract users check their details (it’s “working on” supporting PAYG users), usage and SIM and account allowances, all in a relatively attractive Tesco Value style clean white interface.

Here it is:

tesco-mobile-android-1 tesco-mobile-android-2

Tesco Mobile’s a virtual network that uses the O2 infrastructure to operate, if you’ve ever considered switching to one of its contracts or SIMs. And now there’s an app.

Samsung Galaxy Core – 4.3″ dual-core model

Samsung’s shown a BLATANT DISREGARD for the British bank holiday by choosing to announce its new Samsung Galaxy Core Android 4.1 model today, showing a 4.3″ mobile that has much in common with it flagship Galaxy S range in terms of physical appearance. The compromises here are the Galaxy Core’s display resolution (480×800) and the processor power (1.2GHz dual-core), plus there’s only a 5MP main camera and a VGA chat cam up front.

But there’s 1GB of RAM onboard and given this is likely to be something of a budget model for people not overly concerned about the clock speed or brand of their phone’s onboard GPU, that’s not too shabby a feature set. Here it is from front and back:

samsung galaxy core 1 samsung galaxy core 2

And here’s the full thing from Samsung, complete with full Galaxy Core tech specs below. It’ll launch in May, with a dual-SIM option hitting the shops first in some countries.

Samsung Introduces the GALAXY Core for Ideal Portability and Power

The smartphone combines dual core processing power, compact design, and Dual SIM technology

SEOUL, Korea – May 06, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a leader in mobile technology and digital solutions, today announced the Samsung GALAXY Core, a smartphone designed to offer users dual core processing power for multitasking, Dual SIM technology for easy transition between work and play, and a wealth of innovative smart features. The GALAXY Core is a device that can operate seamlessly and effectively in all aspects of life.

Read the full article »

Carmageddon hitting Android on May 10th

Morally dubious car-crash of a game Carmageddon is finally set to launch on Android, with developer Stainless Games announcing that it’ll appear on Google Play next Friday, May 10th. And as a special little treat for early adopters, the full game will be free to download for the first 24 hours. Carmageddon has been available on iOS for months, and has a respectable 4.5/5 user rating score.

That’s it. Set yourself a calendar reminder or you will literally pay.

carmageddon-launch

Thanks to our ever vigilant internet friend “GigerPunk” for lifting his weary arms from the sofa for long enough to tell us about this.

BEST DEALS: Sony Xperia Z “free” on £20.50 tariff

Online retailer Mobile Shop has a rather stonking couple of deals on offer for those after the new Sony Xperia Z, offering the 5″ Android model on a choice of Orange SIM bundles for £20.50 a month including a “free” phone.

There are twin SIM options on offer at that price, one with 100MB of mobile data and 200 calling minutes, or another which upgrades that to a much more impressive 500MB of data but chops the minutes to 100. Not amazing, but pretty cheap for such a new and cutting-edge model. Here’s proof:

xperia-z-20

I could easily live on 100 calling minutes a year, so that’d do any similarly anti-social mobile users after an Xperia Z on the cheap. Check the bundles out here.

Link via HUKD.

STATS: Android powers 58.4% of UK smartphone sales in 2013

Analyst Kantar Worldpanel has issued some updated analysis of the UK and European smartphone scene, revealing that Android powered a whopping 58.4% of all smartphones sold in the UK during the three-month period to the end of March 2013. As in, the three months before the Galaxy S4 and HTC One launched. It’s going higher.

iOS is down as a result, dropping by 1.4% to take 28.9% of smartphone sales, while Windows Phone actually saw some GOOD NEWS for once – Microsoft’s mobile market share is up to 7% from the 2.9% it had in the same quarter of 2012. Smartphones accounted for 84% of all phone sales during the three-month period.

galaxy s4 official 13

Bizarrely, Android’s absolutely SMASHING IT in Spain, where it holds an amazing 93.5% of the smartphone market according to Kantar’s stats. Good on you, Spain. Read more over at Kantar.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 – 7″ Wi-Fi and 3G budget option

Samsung appears to be downgrading its tablet hardware in an attempt to battle the popular Nexus 7 at the cheaper end of the market, with the newly announced Galaxy Tab 3 offering a 7″ display running at the low-ish resolution of 1024 x 600 and powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core chipset and 1GB of RAM. Storage options will be either 8GB or 16GB, plus you get twin cameras (3MP and 1.2MP), a 4,000mAh capacity battery and Android 4.1 as its launch OS.

As with Samsung’s previous attempts at cracking the tablet market it’ll be offering both 3G and Wi-Fi versions of the Galaxy Tab 3. Here it is:

galaxy tab 3 7-inch-1 galaxy tab 3 7-inch-2

Samsung says the Wi-Fi model should launch globally this May, with the 3G version arriving in June. Hopefully for an aggressive price. Here’s the thing from Samsung with full tech specs beneath:

Samsung Unveils GALAXY Tab 3

April 29, 2013

SEOUL, Korea, April 29, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced the introduction of the GALAXY Tab 3 – 7-inch tablet featuring sleek design and enhanced capabilities that bring capabilities that bring better performance and multimedia experiences to your fingertips.

With the new GALAXY Tab 3, Samsung has evolved its range of innovative tablets, making them smaller and easier to carry, while increasing the user experience overall

Read the full article »

Asus Fonepad now available – 7″ tablet/phone hybrid for £179

Asus has launched its bonkers Fonepad in the UK today, with the 7″ tablet now available on the likes of Amazon for £179.99 including delivery. For that you get an Intel Atom powered 7″ tablet running Android 4.1 at 1280 x 800 resolution, alongside 1GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard media storage space. Which is quite unremarkable these days, BUT…

…it is ALSO A TELEPHONE. Support for 3G connections means you can hold it up to your ear and talk to people on it, although you might want to lock yourself in a toilet cubicle before doing so to lessen the inevitable ridicule that’ll come from using a 7″ device as a mobile phone.

asus-fonepad-launched

That said, if you’ve been looking for an excuse to finally treat yourself to a decent 7″ tablet, perhaps the fact it can also make and receive calls — and therefore use mobile data connections — could actually make the Fonepad quite a winner. Pair this with a decent data SIM and you’d have a very usable little 3G field tablet.

BEST DEALS: Samsung Galaxy S4 free on £30 tariff

Mobile network TalkTalk is currently offering a very affordable way to get the new Samsung Galaxy S4, offering the high-spec Android phone for “free” on a £30 a month tariff. That’s the cheapest deal out there by miles. For that price you’re obviously a little limited on goodies, with the TalkTalk SIM offering 200MB of data, 250 SMS messages and 100 calling minutes for that bargain price. But still.

TalkTalk’s a virtual network that uses the Vodafone infrastructure to power its business, so if you get good Vodafone coverage this’d do you too. Here’s the screencapture of undeniable truth:

s4-talktalk

Such a good deal in comparison to what the other networks are offering for the S4 we had to call someone over to check we weren’t getting it confused with something else. Check it out over at TalkTalk.

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