One of the major issues with the YouTube app on Android is that it only plays back HD videos if your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network. Over 3G, the app only provides the option to playback videos in “HQ” mode.
With Android devices now packing full HD and higher resolution screens, watching videos on HQ mode is quite an eyesore. At the very least, Google should provide an option to view videos in HD mode even when streaming videos over mobile network.
Thankfully, a developer over at XDA forums has released a modded version of the YouTube app that allows for 720p/1080p video playback over 3G or Wi-Fi. The app will be especially handy for DROID DNA, HTC One, Galaxy S4 and other 1080p Android handset users, where videos in HQ mode don’t do justice to the screen of these phones.
The Galaxy Note II’s 5.5-inch display makes it one of the biggest smartphones on the market, but it’s still a pocketable device that can be used comfortably all day every day. Samsung could be planning to make it even bigger next time around, however. According to a source in the company’s supply chain, the Galaxy Note III will have a larger 5.9-inch display with a full 1080p resolution.
BARCELONA, MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS — Thanks to the original PadFone’s rather disappointing start, we thought the probability of seeing a successor at Mobile World Congress was slim at best. But we couldn’t be more wrong. Asus has just unveiled the PadFone Infinity, a 5-inch smartphone that transforms into a 10.1-inch tablet with the help of a clever docking station.
The device has some impressive specifications, including a 1080p display, a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, and a 13-megapixel camera. But do you really want a smartphone that transforms into a tablet? We went hands-on with the device to find out.
Archos has today unveiled a trio of new ‘Platinum’ tablets, with displays ranging in size from 8 inches to 11.6 inches. These are the most advanced tablets the French company has released to date, and it has clearly taken a leaf out of Apple’s book when it comes to design. Not only do they look a lot like the iPad from the front, they also have similar displays.
The 8-inch model offers a 1024×768 resolution, just like the iPad mini; while the 9.7-inch model has a very impressive 2048×1536 resolution, just like the third- and fourth-generation iPads with Retina display.
I’ve lost count of the number of times the HTC One has been leaked ahead of its February 19 unveiling. Today another render is making its way around the web, this time showing the device in black. Previous renders have revealed the white and silver model, but this is the first time we’ve seen its sibling.
The Huawei Ascend P2 has already shown its face once ahead of its Mobile World Congress unveiling later this month, and now it’s been pictured out in the wild. The new pictures dismiss any doubts about the previous leaked press shot, which surfaced late last month.
If you live in the United Kingdom and you’re planning on picking up the Xperia Z, then you might want to get your order in as early as possible. Sony is giving those who pre-order before February 27 a free pair of its MDR-1R headphones, which usually sell for $299.99 (approx. £190).
The Huawei Ascend P2, a new high-end Android smartphone that’s expected to get its grand unveiling at Mobile World Congress next month, has already shown its face in a leaked press shot. A previous rumor claimed the device would be more of a midrange handset than a high-end contender, but according to the latest information, there’s nothing midrange about this device.
Despite announcing a number of new smartphones at CES just two weeks ago, Huawei has more handsets up its sleeve. In Germany today, the company announced the Ascend G615, another high-end smartphone with a 4.5-inch 720p display, a quad-core processor, and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera.
The Sony Xperia Z, believed to be Sony’s next-generation flagship smartphone, leaked a number of times last week, leading us to believe it would get its grand unveiling at CES in Las Vegas this week. In case you were at all skeptical, here’s a picture of the handset on the CES show floor ahead of Sony’s official announcement later today.
